About St. Clare Chapel · Cincinnati, Ohio
St. Clare Chapel is a Roman Catholic chapel located on the 35-acre St. Clare Convent campus in the Hartwell neighborhood of Cincinnati, Ohio, within the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. It is operated by the Franciscan Sisters of the Poor (SFP), an international religious congregation founded in 1845 in Aachen, Germany, by Blessed Mother Frances Schervier. The chapel serves the Sisters, their Associates, neighbors, and the wider community, offering Sunday and weekday Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, weddings, and a place of prayer and retreat. All are welcome to join the liturgy, walk the Stations of the Cross, visit the labyrinth, or tour the historic grounds.
- Established
- 1895
- Patron
- St. Clare of Assisi
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Cincinnati
Why belong here
St. Clare Chapel is a peaceful, historic Catholic chapel open to all who wish to worship, pray, or simply find a quiet place on the Sisters' 35-acre grounds. Visitors can attend Sunday and weekday Mass, spend time in Eucharonic Adoration on the first Friday of each month, walk the Stations of the Cross or the prayer labyrinth, and even host their wedding in the same Neo-Gothic chapel that has served Cincinnati Catholics for more than 125 years. The Franciscan Sisters of the Poor and their lay Associates extend a warm welcome to neighbors, retreatants, and anyone seeking to share in a healing, Franciscan spirituality rooted in the legacy of Blessed Frances Schervier.
Mass times at St. Clare Chapel
Weekly Mass schedule
Adoration times
- First Friday of the Month, 10:30 am – 12:00 pm
About St. Clare Chapel
St. Clare Chapel is the heart of the St. Clare Convent campus in Hartwell, Cincinnati, Ohio. Operated by the Franciscan Sisters of the Poor (SFP), the chapel is open to all — neighbors, retreatants, wedding parties, and anyone seeking a place of prayer. Set on 35 acres of beautifully maintained grounds, it offers daily and Sunday liturgy, Eucharistic Adoration, and a quiet setting for weddings and private devotion.
- Sunday Mass: 10:00 am
- Weekday Mass: 10:00 am (when a priest is available)
- Livestreamed weekday liturgy: 10:00 am (when no priest is available)
- Eucharistic Adoration: First Friday of the month, 10:30 am – 12:00 pm
- All are welcome
History of the St. Clare Campus
The Franciscan Sisters of the Poor were founded in 1845 in Aachen, Germany, by Blessed Frances Schervier (1819–1876). Mother Frances traveled to Cincinnati in 1868 to visit her Sisters' ministries. In 1895 the St. Clare Chapel and adjoining convent were constructed in the Neo-Gothic style by German architect Adolphus Druiding. The Hartwell property has remained the congregation's largest Midwest convent ever since.
- Founded 1845 in Aachen, Germany by Blessed Frances Schervier
- Mother Frances Schervier visited Cincinnati in 1868
- Chapel and convent built 1895 in Neo-Gothic style
- Architect: Adolphus Druiding
- Archbishop Daniel E. Pilarczyk opened Mother Frances's Cause for Canonization in 2008
Architecture & Grounds
The Neo-Gothic chapel seats 250 and is surrounded by 35 acres of fields, mature trees, and a gazebo — a popular backdrop for photographs and quiet walks. The grounds also include a Stations of the Cross Walk, a prayer labyrinth, a cemetery, congregational archives, and a museum that can be visited by appointment.
- Neo-Gothic style, built 1895
- Seating occupancy: 250
- 35 landscaped acres with gazebo and fields
- Stations of the Cross Walk
- Prayer labyrinth
- Sisters' cemetery on the grounds
- Archives and museum (by appointment)
Weddings at St. Clare Chapel
Built in 1895 in the Neo-Gothic style, St. Clare Chapel is offered as an intimate wedding venue surrounded by 35 acres of scenic grounds. Couples may choose weekday, Saturday, or Sunday ceremonies in a chapel that seats up to 250 guests.
- Neo-Gothic chapel built 1895
- Seating capacity: 250
- 35 acres of grounds for photography
- Weekday, Saturday, and Sunday options
- Wedding Coordinator: Mary Langenbrunner
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: 513-761-9040 Ext. 176
Franciscan Ministries & Outreach
The Franciscan Sisters of the Poor continue Blessed Frances Schervier's healing mission through a wide array of ministries serving the poor and marginalized in Cincinnati and beyond. Many of these programs are run from or supported by the St. Clare Campus.
- Franciscan Peddler Thrift Shop
- Franciscan Haircuts for the Poor
- Tau House volunteer programs
- St. Elizabeth's Center for Women
- Centennial Barn events center
- Community Garden (~100 gardeners)
- Prayer Shawl Ministry
- SFP Associates (lay associate program)
Franciscan Spirituality
St. Clare Chapel is rooted in the spirituality of St. Francis and St. Clare of Assisi. The Franciscan Sisters of the Poor describe four foundation stones of their Gospel life: ongoing Conversion, a lifestyle of Poverty, Humility, and Prayerful Contemplation. Visitors and retreatants are invited into this healing, contemplative tradition.
- Conversion — openness to be changed by the Gospel
- Poverty — living simply so others may live fully
- Humility — embracing the truth of self before God
- Contemplation — attentiveness to the still, quiet voice of God
Visiting & Contact
St. Clare Chapel and the surrounding convent campus are located at 60 Compton Road, Cincinnati, OH 45215, in the Hartwell neighborhood. Tours of the chapel and convent grounds are available by appointment. The main office can be reached at 513-761-9040 Ext. 101 or by email at [email protected].
- Address: 60 Compton Road, Cincinnati, OH 45215
- Phone: 513-761-9040 Ext. 101
- Email: [email protected]
- Tours: by appointment only
- Archdiocese: Archdiocese of Cincinnati