About St. Clare Church · Cincinnati, Ohio
St. Clare Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in the College Hill neighborhood of Cincinnati, Ohio, founded in 1909 and now part of the Our Lady of Divine Providence Family of Parishes in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. The parish was named for St. Clare of Assisi at the proposal of Archbishop Henry K. Moeller and is led today under the Archbishop's 'Beacons of Light' renewal initiative by Fr. Henry Hoffmann, pastor of the family. Worship at the Cedar Avenue campus includes Saturday morning Mass, a vigil Mass option, and Sunday liturgy alongside weekday Masses and the parish's century-old tradition of Catholic education through John Paul II Catholic School.
- Established
- 1909
- Patron
- St. Clare of Assisi
- Rector
- Rev. Henry Hoffmann (Pastor of the Our Lady of Divine Providence Family of Parishes; Fr. Jacquemin and Fr. Haft also continue to serve on the St. Clare campus as Parochial Vicars / in residence)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Cincinnati (Our Lady of Divine Providence Family of Parishes, formerly Family 7, South Deanery)
Why belong here
St. Clare offers a friendly neighborhood parish rooted in more than a century of College Hill Catholic life, with weekend Masses celebrated in its historic Cedar Avenue church and weekday Masses rotating across the Our Lady of Divine Providence Family of Parishes. Parishioners find a real sense of welcome — priests greet visitors after most Masses — and a wide range of ministries spanning peace and justice, St. Vincent de Paul outreach, a Men's Group, a Stewardship Committee, and liturgical commissions. Families are served by John Paul II Catholic School and by OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults) for those discerning the Catholic faith.
Mass times at St. Clare Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- By appointment with the pastor
- Family of Parishes celebrations during Advent and Lent
- 12:00–12:45 PM Tuesdays/Wednesdays/Thursdays — St. Vivian (during Adoration)
- 7:30–8:15 PM Tuesdays — St. Bartholomew (during Adoration)
- 7:15–7:45 AM Mondays — Assumption
Adoration times
- Tuesday 8:30 AM–5:00 PM — St. Bartholomew
- Tuesday 12:00–1:00 PM — St. Vivian (confession until 12:45 PM)
- Tuesday 7:30–8:30 PM — St. Bartholomew (confession until 8:15 PM)
- Wednesday 12:00–1:00 PM — St. Vivian (confession until 12:45 PM)
- Thursday 12:00–1:00 PM — St. Vivian (confession until 12:45 PM)
- First Thursday of the month 8:30 AM–8:00 PM at St. Vivian (with confessions still heard 12:00–1:00 PM)
Parish History
St. Clare traces its origin to a 1909 petition by twenty College Hill families to Archbishop Henry K. Moeller, who assigned Fr. John G. Stein as founding pastor. The first Mass was celebrated October 3, 1909 at Town Hall with 125 in attendance, and a white frame church was dedicated May 29, 1910 by Monsignor John B. Murray amid a parade of nearly 2,000 people. Steady growth brought the parish school to life in 1912 under the Oldenburg Franciscan Sisters and a permanent brick-and-stone church-school in 1915.
- 1909 — first Mass at Town Hall; Archbishop Moeller proposes the name St. Clare
- 1910 — temporary frame church dedicated May 29 (nearly 2,000 present)
- 1912 — parish school opens September 9 under the Oldenburg Franciscan Sisters
- 1915 — brick-and-stone church and school completed; first Mass there October 3
- 1930 — basement of new church completed during the Great Depression; Masses celebrated August 10
- May 26, 1957 — present church dedicated under Fr. George Gude
- 2005 — groundbreaking for Parish Center (Oct. 9)
- 2006 — school consolidates with other parish schools at St. Bartholomew campus
- 2008 — consolidated school named John Paul II Catholic School
- 2009 — Centennial celebrated with Mass, parade, and luncheon
Beacons of Light & Our Lady of Divine Providence Family
Since July 1, 2022, St. Clare has been part of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati's Beacons of Light renewal, joining St. Bartholomew (Cincinnati), Assumption (Mt. Healthy), St. Vivian (Cincinnati), and St. Bernard (Spring Grove Village) as a single Family of Parishes. The family was named Our Lady of Divine Providence in the spring of 2023. Father Henry Hoffmann currently serves as pastor; Fr. Ronald Haft and Fr. George Jacquemin are parochial vicars, with Fr. Robert Hater as priest-in-residence. Family-wide staff include deacons Rev. Mr. Conrad Kolis and senior deacons Rev. Mr. Gerald Flamm and Rev. Mr. Larry Maag.
- Five parishes: St. Bartholomew, Assumption, St. Vivian, St. Clare, St. Bernard
- Pastor: Fr. Henry Hoffmann
- Parochial Vicars: Fr. George Jacquemin, Fr. Ronald Haft
- Priest in Residence: Fr. Robert Hater
- Family office consolidated at St. Vivian Campus, 7600 Winton Rd., 513-728-4331
Liturgy & Worship
Worship at St. Clare includes a Saturday morning Mass (which does not fulfill the Sunday obligation), a Sunday Mass, and a Wednesday morning school Mass during the academic year alongside family-wide weekday Masses at sister churches. The parish uses Ministry Scheduler Pro to schedule liturgical ministries and maintains a Worship / Liturgical Ministries Commission. First Reconciliation is typically celebrated during Lent and First Holy Communion in Grade 2, with families encouraged to attend the weekend Masses at 8:30 am and 10:30 am as listed on the parish site.
- Sunday Mass at 9:30 AM
- Saturday 8:30 AM Mass (does not fulfill Sunday obligation)
- Wednesday 8:00 AM school Mass during academic year
- Reconciliation by appointment and during Advent/Lent family celebrations
- First Reconciliation during Lent; First Holy Communion in Grade 2
Faith Formation, School & OCIA
St. Clare was a teaching parish from its earliest days: the Oldenburg Franciscan Sisters opened the school in 1912, and the parish school consolidated with St. Bartholomew in 2006 before being renamed John Paul II Catholic School in 2008. Today the school is at 9375 Winton Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45231. The family offers an OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults) program, youth ministry and Confirmation preparation, Vacation Bible School, and a lay pastoral ministry class hosted on the St. Clare campus each fall.
- John Paul II Catholic School, 9375 Winton Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45231
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults)
- Youth Ministry, Confirmation preparation, Vacation Bible School
- Lay Pastoral Ministry class hosted at St. Clare campus in fall
Parish Ministries & Outreach
St. Clare's ministries span peace and justice, social outreach, faith formation, and liturgy. The parish partners with the St. Vincent de Paul Society, hosts a Shelterhouse Christmas Party for neighbors experiencing homelessness, and engages men through a dedicated Men's Group and the parish's broader Stewardship Committee. Diversity, peace and justice, and worship commissions round out the parish's service opportunities.
- Peace & Justice Commission
- Celebrating Diversity
- St. Vincent de Paul Society
- Men's Group
- Shelterhouse Christmas Party
- Stewardship Committee
- Worship / Liturgical Ministries Commission
Sacraments
Information about each sacrament is available on the parish website. Baptisms for St. Clare parishioners are arranged through Parochial Vicar Fr. George Jacquemin (513-541-2100). First Reconciliation is celebrated during Lent, with First Holy Communion typically in Grade 2. The Sacrament of Reconciliation (Penance / Confession) is offered year-round by appointment, with the reconciliation room providing both screen and face-to-face options, and celebrated as a family during Advent and Lent. Couples should contact the parish office to begin marriage preparation.
- Baptism — contact Fr. George Jacquemin (513-541-2100)
- First Reconciliation during Lent
- First Holy Communion typically in Grade 2
- Reconciliation by appointment; family celebrations during Advent and Lent
- Reconciliation room offers screen or face-to-face options
- Marriage — call the parish office
Visiting & Getting Involved
St. Clare welcomes newcomers, returning Catholics, and visitors alike. A priest is generally available after most Masses to greet visitors and parishioners; specific meetings can be arranged by calling the parish office at 513-728-4331. Those interested in becoming Catholic can learn about OCIA through the Family of Parishes office. Registration and ministry sign-ups are available online and at the parish office.
- Register with St. Clare Parish online
- Meet a priest after Mass or by appointment (513-728-4331)
- Submit prayer requests at [email protected]
- Login to Ministry Scheduler Pro for liturgical ministry scheduling
Location, Contact & Office Hours
The church is located at 1443 Cedar Avenue in the College Hill neighborhood of Cincinnati. Street parking is available on Cedar and Salvia Avenues; a parking lot sits behind the parish center with entrance from Salvia. Handicap spaces are located nearest the elevator entrance. Effective August 17, 2025 the parish office was consolidated with the Our Lady of Divine Providence Family of Parishes office at the St. Vivian campus, 7600 Winton Road, Cincinnati, OH 45224 (open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 8:00 AM–4:00 PM; closed Wednesday).
- Church: 1443 Cedar Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45224
- Phone: 513-541-2100
- Email: [email protected]
- Family of Parishes office: 7600 Winton Road, 513-728-4331
- Handicap parking nearest the elevator entrance of the parish center
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. John G. Stein1909–1910
Appointed by Archbishop Moeller to establish the parish; celebrated the first Mass on Oct. 3, 1909 at Town Hall.
- Fr. Charles Diener1910–1956
Led St. Clare for 46 years; oversaw construction of the 1915 brick-and-stone church-school building and the 1930 basement church built during the Great Depression.
- Fr. George Gude1956–
Named pastor May 19, 1956; completed and dedicated the present church on May 26, 1957.
- Fr. Thomas Axe and Fr. Robert B. Burningmid-1970s
Served as co-pastors of St. Clare; concelebrated the 2009 centennial Mass.
- Fr. George Jacquemin1998–2022 (pastor); 2022–present (parochial vicar)
Ordained 1972; pastor since July 1998; celebrated parish centennial in 2009 and his own 50th ordination anniversary in 2022; now parochial vicar under Beacons of Light.
- Fr. Andrew Umberg2022–2024
First pastor of the newly formed family under Beacons of Light; named the family Our Lady of Divine Providence in 2023; assigned to St. Ignatius Parish, Monfort Heights, in October 2024.
- Fr. Ronald Haft2022–present (interim)
Parochial Vicar from July 2022; named temporary administrator after Fr. Umberg's reassignment in October 2024.
- Fr. Henry Hoffmann2024–present (parochial vicar; installed as pastor in 2025)
Installed as pastor of Our Lady of Divine Providence Family of Parishes.