About St. Clarence · North Olmsted, Ohio
St. Clarence is a Roman Catholic parish in North Olmsted, Ohio, in the Diocese of Cleveland, founded in 1978 to serve the growing communities west of St. Richard Parish and north of St. Mary of the Falls. The parish was named in memory of Bishop Clarence Issenmann, and its founding pastor, Rev. Thomas A. Flynn, was appointed in June 1978. Today the Church of St. Clarence describes itself as 'a welcoming community' whose charism is the virtue of hospitality, in the Name of the Lord Jesus. Its campus on Lorain Road includes the modern fan-shaped church, a parish center, classrooms, the Galilee Bookstore & Coffee Shop, the Terrace Room, an outdoor pavilion, and a grotto to St. Joseph.
- Established
- 1978
- Patron
- Named in memory of Bishop Clarence Issenmann (the parish is dedicated as 'Saint Clarence')
- Rector
- Rev. Neil P. Kookoothe
- Diocese
- Diocese of Cleveland
Why belong here
St. Clarence bills itself as a 'welcoming community' whose charism is the virtue of hospitality, with a large campus that offers something for nearly every age and stage of Catholic life. Weekday and weekend Masses are complemented by Saturday confession, a Children's Liturgy of the Word at the 10:00 AM Sunday Mass, a co-op nursery, an extensive PSR and youth ministry (including the Life Teen high-school program), a music ministry with cantors and a funeral choir, Small Christian Communities, Care and Service Ministries, and the well-known Galilee Bookstore & Coffee Shop on the parish grounds.
Mass times at St. Clarence
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 4:00 – 4:30 PM
- Or by appointment (call the parish office)
Parish Identity & Mission
The Church of Saint Clarence names itself 'a welcoming community' whose charism is the virtue of hospitality, lived out in the Name of the Lord Jesus. Its parish mission statement commits the community to comfort the sick, heal the brokenhearted, teach love of God and neighbor, reconcile the alienated, serve the poor, and witness God's Good News — especially to the least of their brothers and sisters. The parish tagline reads 'Alive in Faith. Firm in Hope. Abiding in Love.'
History of St. Clarence Parish
Established in 1978 by Bishop James A. Hickey in memory of Bishop Clarence Issenmann, St. Clarence was created to serve the growing population west of St. Richard Parish and north of St. Mary of the Falls. Rev. Thomas A. Flynn was appointed founding pastor in June 1978. For the first three years, the faithful worshipped at Chestnut School. A parish center was built in 1981, and groundbreaking for the present church took place in April 1989, with the Mass of dedication on April 25, 1990. In September 1997, nine additional classrooms, an administrative center, and the Galilee Bookstore & Coffee Shop building were added. Father Flynn retired in 2003 and was named pastor emeritus; he died on August 31, 2018.
- 1978 — Parish established; Rev. Thomas A. Flynn named founding pastor
- 1978–1981 — Masses celebrated at Chestnut School
- 1981 — Parish center opens
- April 1989 — Groundbreaking for new church
- April 25, 1990 — Mass of dedication of the present church
- July 25, 1993 — Outdoor pavilion (seats 600) opens
- September 1997 — Nine additional classrooms, administrative center, and Galilee Bookstore building added
- November 10, 2003 — Fr. Flynn retires; named Pastor Emeritus
Parish Staff & Clergy
St. Clarence is served by Pastor Rev. Neil P. Kookoothe (ordained May 27, 1995) and Deacon Donald Brandt, with Deacons Wayne Bosau and Neal J. Novak serving as Deacon Emeritus. The parish staff includes a Director of Faith Formation, Director of Music, Youth Minister, Business Manager, parish secretaries, PSR secretary, facilities coordinator, and facilities engineering staff.
- Rev. Neil P. Kookoothe — Pastor
- Deacon Donald (Don) Brandt
- Deacon Wayne Bosau — Deacon Emeritus
- Deacon Neal J. Novak — Deacon Emeritus
- Grace Kincaid Murphy — Director of Faith Formation (x227)
- Natalie Mealey — Director of Music (x231)
- Adam Kruze — Youth Minister (x233); Instagram @saintclarencelt
- Pat Opremcak — Business Manager (x224)
- Karen Bernat — Parish Secretary (x222)
- Jacqui Gentile — Parish Secretary (x221)
- Mary Jo Kyle — PSR Secretary (x229)
- Peggy Kalchert — Rental Facilities Coordinator (x244)
- Ron Sternad & Matt Chihil — Facilities Engineering (x249)
Mass & Sacrament Schedule
St. Clarence offers a full schedule of weekend, weekday, and Holy Day Masses, plus Saturday confession. A Children's Liturgy of the Word is celebrated at the 10:00 AM Sunday Mass, and the co-op nursery serves young children during that same liturgy.
- Saturday Vigil Mass: 4:30 PM
- Sunday Masses: 8:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 12:00 PM (Noon)
- Weekday Masses (Mon–Fri): 8:30 AM
- Holy Day Masses: 8:30 AM and 7:00 PM Vigil
- Confession: Saturdays 4:00–4:30 PM, or by appointment
- Children's Liturgy of the Word: Sunday 10:00 AM
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation at St. Clarence is coordinated by Director Grace Kincaid Murphy. Programs serve the parish's youngest members through adults, including a Parish School of Religion, a Religious Readiness program for ages 3 through Kindergarten, a co-op nursery during the 10:00 AM Mass for children six months to three years, and the RCIA process for adults seeking Baptism, Confirmation, or First Communion.
- Parish School of Religion (PSR)
- Co-op Nursery (ages 6 months–3 years) during 10:00 AM Mass
- Religious Readiness — ages 3 through Kindergarten
- RCIA — Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults
Youth Ministry
St. Clarence Life Teen is the parish's high-school youth ministry, active year-round. Teens gather for service, leadership, fellowship, and faith formation at the Youth House (the white house next to the VFW).
- St. Clarence Life Teen (high school)
- Meets Sundays and Wednesdays, 7:00–9:00 PM at the Youth House
- Contact: Adam Kruze, [email protected] / 440-360-0808
- Instagram: @saintclarencelt
Small Christian Communities
Small Christian Communities are groups of 8 to 12 parishioners who gather regularly to share daily-life experiences and discuss the Scriptures, most often the upcoming Sunday readings.
Liturgical Ministries
Liturgy at St. Clarence is supported by a variety of lay ministries that invite parishioners to share their gifts at Mass. Each role is open to those called to serve the assembled community.
- Altar Servers (open to children through adults)
- Ushers (seating, collections, assisting those who need help)
- Greeters (welcoming all who come through the doors)
- Proclaimers of the Word (Lectors)
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (also bring Eucharist to the sick and homebound)
Music Ministry
The Music Ministry, led by Director of Music Natalie Mealey, supports the sung liturgy of the parish and assists at funeral liturgies. Cantors and members of the Funeral Choir are essential to this ministry.
- Cantors
- Funeral Choir
- Director: Natalie Mealey, [email protected]
Care & Service Ministries
The parish's Care and Service ministries put the mission of 'comforting the sick, healing the brokenhearted, serving the poor' into practice, both within the parish and in the wider North Olmsted community.
- Ministry of Care (visiting the sick and homebound)
- Card Ministry
- Service Ministries (parish outreach)
- Social Ministries
Campus, Facilities & Galilee Bookstore
Beyond the 850-seat fan-shaped church, the St. Clarence campus includes the parish center (built 1981), nine additional classrooms and the administrative center (added 1997), St. Kevin's Chapel, the Gathering Room with kitchen and meeting facilities, the Terrace Room (capacity 250) with its own courtyard, the freestanding Galilee Bookstore & Coffee Shop, the 600-seat outdoor pavilion with a full stage and grotto to St. Joseph, and ample parking behind the church off Lorain Road.
- Fan-shaped modern church (850 seats)
- St. Kevin's Chapel
- Gathering Room with kitchen
- Parish activity center
- Terrace Room (capacity 250)
- Galilee Bookstore & Coffee Shop
- Outdoor pavilion (capacity 600) with grotto to St. Joseph
- Ample parking behind the church off Lorain Road
Contact & Location
The parish office is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and can be reached by phone, fax, or email. The church is located on Lorain Road in North Olmsted, with a large parking lot behind the building.
- Address: 30106 Lorain Road, North Olmsted, OH 44070
- Phone: (440) 734-2414
- Fax: (440) 734-4255
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.st-clarence.org
- Office Hours: Mon–Fri, 9:00 AM–5:00 PM
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Thomas A. Flynn1978–2003 (founding pastor; retired November 10, 2003; named Pastor Emeritus)
Born May 19, 1932, in Cleveland to Irish immigrant parents; ordained May 28, 1960; previously served at St. Mel (Cleveland), St. Rita (Solon), St. Richard (North Olmsted), and St. Mark (Cleveland). Famous for hosting the annual 'Emerald Ball' for 39 years. Died August 31, 2018.