About St. Clare · Lyndhurst, Ohio
The Church of Saint Clare is a Roman Catholic parish in Lyndhurst, Ohio, serving the eastern Cuyahoga County suburbs on the north side of Mayfield Road between Brainard and Lander Roads. Founded in 1944 and entrusted to the care of the Diocese of Cleveland, the parish today describes itself as 'a large and diverse parish with countless opportunities for prayer and service,' offering worship, faith formation for children and adults (including adults with special needs), youth ministry, music, outreach, and an on-site academy. Its current pastor is Fr. Kevin E. Estabrook, assisted by parochial vicar Fr. Curtis L. Kondik, and its mission statement centers on cherishing Catholic tradition, celebrating the sacraments, and cultivating lives of Gospel service and stewardship.
- Established
- 1944
- Patron
- St. Clare of Assisi
- Rector
- Rev. Kevin E. Estabrook
- Diocese
- Diocese of Cleveland
Why belong here
Saint Clare offers a full Catholic life in one place: three Sunday Masses plus a Saturday Vigil, weekday Mass on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and a clear confession schedule (Saturdays 3:00–4:00 p.m. and Wednesdays at noon during Adoration). The parish invests heavily in formation — a Parish School of Religion for grades 1–8, sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation, First Communion and Confirmation, a high-school youth ministry (SCYGA), Vacation Bible School, and a unique Wednesday-evening Faith Formation program for adults with special needs. Add to that an on-site academy (Corpus Christi Academy with Pre-K), choirs (Ensemble and VOCE), Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors, Ushers, Scouts, a Bereavement Support group called Walking in Hope, Community Outreach, a Hispanic ministry, and an annual parish Festival the first weekend of June, and new parishioners find a parish that takes seriously its call to worship, form, and serve.
Mass times at St. Clare
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
- Wednesday Noon – 1:00 p.m. in church during Adoration
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Wednesday Noon – 1:00 p.m. (in church; confessions heard during this time)
About the Church of Saint Clare
Saint Clare is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Cleveland, located at 5659 Mayfield Road in Lyndhurst, Ohio. The parish frames itself in a single mission statement: 'Church of St. Clare is a Roman Catholic community that cherishes its faith tradition, celebrates the sacraments, and cultivates lives of gospel service and stewardship.' On its website, pastor Fr. Kevin Estabrook welcomes visitors by describing the parish as 'large and diverse,' with worship, education, social and athletic activities that draw parishioners closer to God and to one another.
- Mission: cherish faith tradition, celebrate the sacraments, cultivate gospel service and stewardship
- Pastor: Rev. Kevin E. Estabrook
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Curtis L. Kondik
- Diocese of Cleveland, Cuyahoga County Suburban – East
History of the Parish
The parish was established on 18 September 1944 by the Diocese of Cleveland. It is a sister-community to St. Catherine Parish on Cleveland's east side: in 1944, when St. Catherine converted its lower church into a social hall, it donated the furnishings and Stations of the Cross to the newly created St. Clare Parish in Lyndhurst. A parish school — St. Clare School — opened in 1945 and served the Hillcrest-area community for more than sixty years. The school era is described on the parish website as '1945 through 2016.'
- Founded 18 September 1944 (Diocese of Cleveland)
- Inherited Stations of the Cross and furnishings from St. Catherine Parish, Cleveland, in 1944
- St. Clare School operated 1945–2016
- Today the parish campus also hosts Corpus Christi Academy (Pre-K through 8)
St. Clare School and Corpus Christi Academy
St. Clare School was part of the Hillcrest-area Catholic community for more than 60 years — an era the parish website marks '1945 through 2016.' Today that educational mission continues on the Saint Clare campus through Corpus Christi Academy, a regional Catholic academy led by principal Matthew Tabar. The Academy office shares the parish phone exchange (440-449-4244) and offers Pre-K through grade 8.
- St. Clare School: 1945–2016
- Corpus Christi Academy — current on-site regional Catholic academy
- Matthew Tabar, Principal
- Loretta Pilla, Admissions Coordinator / Administrative Assistant
- Regina Mathews, Secretary
- Lindsay Sayre, Pre-K Director/Teacher
- Bob Oriti, Maintenance
- Pre-K Aftercare, Clinic, Gym Kitchen and Food Services all on site
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Faith formation is one of Saint Clare's calling cards. The Parish School of Religion serves children in Grades 1–8 with Sacramental Preparation for First Reconciliation, First Communion and Confirmation; Pre-K through Grade 6 meet Saturday mornings 9:00–10:15 a.m., while Grades 7, 8 and 9 meet Tuesday evenings 7:15–8:30 p.m. The parish also runs a Sunday School and Nursery, Family Nights, and Vacation Bible School.
- PSR Grades 1–8 with Sacramental Preparation
- Pre-K–6: Saturday mornings 9:00–10:15 a.m.
- Grades 7–8/9: Tuesday evenings 7:15–8:30 p.m.
- Sunday School and Nursery
- Family Nights
- Vacation Bible School
- Lori Mascia — Director of Catechetics & Faith Formation ([email protected])
Faith Formation for Adults with Special Needs ('Saint Clare True Believers')
Saint Clare is proud to offer faith formation for adults (18+) with disabilities, branded on the parish site as 'Saint Clare True Believers.' The program meets Wednesday evenings from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. and is designed to help adults with disabilities develop their religious faith and participate more fully in the parish community.
- Wednesday evenings, 7:00–8:00 p.m.
- Open to adults 18 and older with disabilities
- Contacts: Barb Heisler (440-221-7808, [email protected]) and Lori Mascia ([email protected])
Youth Ministry (SCYGA)
SCYGA — Saint Clare Youth Group Association — is the parish's high-school ministry. Open to any high school student, it meets on Sunday evenings and combines faith-sharing with service and 'just hanging out.' Newcomers can join simply by attending a meeting.
- Open to all high school students
- Sunday evening meetings
- Combines faith, service and community
- Led by Youth Minister Evamarie Cross ([email protected])
RCIA / OCIA
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (now OCIA) prepares women and men to be received into the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil. The parish explicitly welcomes three groups: those never baptized, those baptized in another Christian community, and baptized Catholics who have not yet received the Sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist.
- Year-round inquiry process, culminating at the Easter Vigil
- For unbaptized adults, Christians seeking full communion, and Catholics completing Confirmation/Eucharist
- OCIA Director (parish extension 105)
Music and Liturgical Ministries
Saint Clare leans on the maxim 'He who sings, prays twice.' Its Music Ministry is led by Dan & Nancy Maier and includes the adult choir (Ensemble), the young-adult choir (VOCE), and cantors who lead singing at non-choir Masses. Liturgical lay ministries include Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors, and Ushers.
- Dan & Nancy Maier, Music Directors
- Ensemble (adult choir)
- VOCE (young-adult choir)
- Cantors for non-choir Masses
- Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors, Ushers
Parish Councils
Two consultative bodies assist the pastor. The Parish Pastoral Council supports existing ministries and launches new ones, stages a biannual Ministry Fair, and runs Sunday Coffee & Donuts and other fellowship events; it meets eight times a year on the second Monday of the month. The Parish Finance Council prepares the annual budget, reviews monthly financials, endorses capital projects, and reports annually to the Diocese and parishioners.
- Pastoral Council — meets 2nd Monday of the month, 8x/year; 4-year terms begin in January
- Finance Council — meets last Monday of the month as required
- Both bodies assist the pastor in shepherding and stewarding the parish
Outreach, Caregiver Support and Hispanic Ministry
Community Outreach provides some food, clothing and modest financial assistance anonymously, both within the parish and at local hunger centers. The parish also operates a Caregiver Support line and a Hispanic ministry, signaling its effort to serve the broader community beyond Sunday worship.
- Community Outreach: volunteer line ext. 101; assistance line ext. 161
- Caregiver Support: ext. 165
- Hispanic Ministry
- Anonymous assistance model
Bereavement Support — 'Walking in Hope'
Trained facilitators run 'Walking in Hope,' a bereavement support group that meets for nine 2-hour sessions in the spring and again in the fall. The group welcomes widows and widowers, parents who have lost a child, and anyone grieving a significant person. Facilitators are trained in the Ministry of Consolation by the Diocesan Office of Parish Life.
- Nine 2-hour sessions in spring and fall
- Open to widows, widowers, grieving parents, anyone mourning a significant loss
- Facilitators trained by the Diocesan Office of Parish Life
Annual Festival and Parish Life
Each year on the first weekend of June, Saint Clare hosts its parish Festival — a family-friendly event with food, music, entertainment, rides and games of chance. It is both a fundraiser and a gathering that 'brings our parish family together' and reaches out to the greater community. Volunteer sign-ups are posted in the bulletin each spring.
- First weekend of June, annually
- Family-friendly with food, music, rides, games
- Volunteers recruited each spring via bulletin and online sign-ups
Parish Staff and Contact Directory
The parish phone exchange is (440) 449-4242 with a fax line at (440) 646-9648. Office hours are Monday–Tuesday 9–5, Wednesday–Thursday 9–4, Friday 9–3, and Saturday 9–Noon (closed Sunday). The parish office suite includes pastoral staff, business and administrative staff, the bulletin editor, and the Corpus Christi Academy office.
- Parish Office: 440-449-4242 / Fax 440-646-9648
- Office Hours: Mon–Tue 9–5; Wed–Thu 9–4; Fri 9–3; Sat 9–Noon
- Pastoral Staff: Fr. Kevin Estabrook (105), Fr. Curtis Kondik (107), Lori Mascia, Evamarie Cross
- Business Office: Lisa Gros (113), Pam Hasan (101), Gayle Jameson (115)
- Bulletin Editor: Mark DeSilvio (100)
- Academy Office: Matthew Tabar (117), Loretta Pilla (102), Regina Mathews (118), Lindsay Sayre (129), Bob Oriti (137)
Sacraments at Saint Clare
The parish celebrates the seven sacraments as central to its life. Baptisms are celebrated on Sundays at 1:00 p.m., with first-time parents expected to attend a preparation class. First Reconciliation, First Communion and Confirmation are prepared through the PSR. Adults enter or complete initiation through RCIA/OCIA. Marriages, Anointing of the Sick, and Funeral / Bereavement Support round out the sacramental life of the parish.
- Baptism: Sundays at 1:00 p.m.; first-time parents attend preparation class
- First Reconciliation, First Communion, Confirmation via PSR
- RCIA/OCIA for adults
- Marriage: contact the parish (Business Office)
- Anointing of the Sick / homebound visits
- Funerals and Bereavement Support via 'Walking in Hope'
Visiting Saint Clare: Address, Social Media, and Office Hours
Saint Clare is easy to find on Mayfield Road in Lyndhurst. Visitors are welcomed by phone, email, and on the parish's social channels. The parish shares weekly bulletins, festival announcements and faith-formation updates through Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.
- Address: 5659 Mayfield Road, Lyndhurst, OH 44124-2981
- Phone: (440) 449-4242
- Facebook: facebook.com/churchofstclare
- YouTube: Church of Saint Clare
- Twitter/X: @stclarechurch
- Online Giving available via the parish website
- Bulletin and Mass schedule published on saintclare.net