About St. Clement - Holy Family Parish · Navarre, Ohio
Holy Family Parish is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Youngstown serving the rural communities of Navarre and Brewster in western Stark County, Ohio. Formally merged on July 1, 2011, the parish unites two historic congregations: St. Clement Church in Navarre (established 1832) and St. Therese Church in Brewster (established 1928), with both worship sites still in active use. The parish describes its charism as Rural Life Ministry, home to Knights of Columbus Council #5582, and is known for its annual St. Clement Festival — billed as the longest-running church festival in Ohio — and a strong tradition of weekly Eucharistic Adoration and outreach through the Fairless Food Cupboard.
- Established
- 1832 (St. Clement); 1928 (St. Therese); 2011 (merged Holy Family Parish)
- Patron
- Holy Family (Jesus, Mary and Joseph); with Saint Clement as patron of the original Navarre church and Saint Thérèse of Lisieux as patron of the Brewster church
- Rector
- Very Rev. Kevin Peters, V.F. (also Vicar Forane of Stark 1 Deanery and Diocesan Director of Rural Life Ministry)
- Diocese
- Catholic Diocese of Youngstown (Stark 1 Deanery, Parish Code 526)
Why belong here
Holy Family Parish welcomes families into a close-knit rural Catholic community grounded in the Eucharist and shaped by more than two centuries of combined worship at its two worship sites. Parishioners can join a deep well of ministry life — from the Prayer Shawl Ministry (which has produced over 1,000 handmade shawls) and GriefShare to the Knights of Columbus Council #5582, the Altar Rosary Society, the music and lectors programs, and a robust CCD/OCIA faith formation program for every age. Outreach runs through the Fairless Food Cupboard and Clothing Closet, weekly Thursday Eucharistic Adoration, and signature community traditions such as the legendary St. Clement Festival and Lenten Fish Fry.
Mass times at St. Clement - Holy Family Parish
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:45–4:15 PM at St. Therese, Brewster (regular schedule per parish Sacraments page)
- Sunday 8:15–8:45 AM at St. Clement, Navarre (regular schedule per parish Sacraments page)
- The parish also notes Saturday 4:45–5:15 PM confessions at St. Therese on certain schedules
- First weekend of each month is the published featured Reconciliation weekend
Adoration times
- Thursday 9:30 AM – 8:30 PM at St. Clement, Navarre (cancelled when Fairless Schools are closed)
About Holy Family Parish
Holy Family Parish is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Youngstown formed on July 1, 2011, by the merger of St. Clement Parish in Navarre (founded 1832) and St. Therese Parish in Brewster (founded 1928). The parish carries the patronage of the Holy Family — Jesus, Mary and Joseph — chosen to reflect the family as the essential core of Christian life. Its published charism is Rural Life Ministry, with deep roots in the farming communities of western Stark County and an active Knights of Columbus Council #5582 on site. The parish mission, as stated on the website, is 'To live our faith centered in the Eucharist; To share the Gospel by Word and example; To gain knowledge by serving others with mercy and justice; and to Love by opening our hearts to the world around us.'
- Diocese: Catholic Diocese of Youngstown
- Stark 1 Deanery
- Parish Code 526
- Established July 1, 2011
- Two worship sites: St. Clement (Navarre) and St. Therese (Brewster)
Our History
St. Clement's roots reach back to the early 1830s, when priests from Canton first said Mass in the Navarre home of Anthony Winterhalter. A log cabin church went up in 1832, a brick church in 1844, and a Victorian-style chapel in 1851. The first resident pastor arrived in 1859 and died three months later; a permanent pastorate began in 1867. The parish school opened in 1872, closed in 1917, and reopened in 1945 under the Sisters of the Holy Ghost until declining enrollment forced its closure in 2008.
History of St. Therese, Brewster
St. Therese was founded in 1906 as Catholic Italian, Croatian and Slovenian immigrants working the Wheeling and Lake Erie railroad in Brewster outgrew their dependence on St. Clement. Archbishop Joseph Schrembs of Cleveland granted them permission to form their own parish. First Masses were held in the local theater until the church was dedicated September 16, 1928. A parish hall was added in 1970; renovations in the late 1990s and early 2000s added a shrine to Saint Therese.
- Church dedicated September 16, 1928
- Parish hall built 1970
- Shrine to Saint Therese added in late 1990s/early 2000s
Clergy & Staff
The parish is led by Very Rev. Kevin Peters, V.F., who also serves the diocese as Vicar Forane (Dean) of Stark 1 Deanery and Director of Rural Life Ministry. He is assisted by Parochial Vicar Rev. Frederick Schlueter, Pastor Emeritus Rev. Michael Seifert, Permanent Deacons Alfredo Aguirre and Dave Kenney, and Parish Pastoral Associate Pattie Condello. Lay staff oversee faith formation, music, communications, finances, secretarial work, and facilities.
- Pastor: Very Rev. Kevin Peters, V.F.
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Frederick Schlueter
- Pastor Emeritus: Rev. Michael Seifert
- Permanent Deacons: Alfredo Aguirre, Dave Kenney
- Parish Pastoral Associates: Deacon Alfredo Aguirre, Pattie Condello
- Director of Religious Education: Maggie Connor-Spitale
- Bookkeeper: Stefanie Coletti
- Secretary & Rental Hall Coordinator: Amanda Rodriguez
- Maintenance Supervisor: Shawn Roush
- Music Director: Carolyn Collins Soehnlen
- Bulletin Editor: Jill Rohr
- Communications Coordinator: Sarah Kobilarcsik
Sacraments
All seven sacraments are available through the parish, with preparation requirements tailored to each. Baptisms, weddings, Anointing of the Sick, and First Communion/Confirmation arrangements are coordinated through the parish office.
- Baptism — schedule and parent/godparent prep class via the Parish Office
- First Communion & Confirmation — children must be enrolled in CCD or Catholic School for at least two years before receiving
- Marriage — six months' notice required; marriage preparation classes required
- Anointing of the Sick — call the Parish Office; available to anyone in declining health, not only at point of death
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation runs year-round for every age. OCIA welcomes adults seeking full initiation into the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil, while CCD (Cultivating Catholic Disciples) serves children from kindergarten through high school senior year. A summer Vacation Bible School adds programming for preschoolers through fourth graders. A 'Parent's Corner' resource supports parents and grandparents in reinforcing what their children are learning in CCD.
- OCIA — Order of Christian Initiation of Adults
- CCD — Cultivating Catholic Disciples (K through 12th grade)
- Vacation Bible School — Preschool through 4th grade in summer
- Parent's Corner — educational resources for parents and grandparents
- Contact: Maggie Spitale — [email protected]
Ministries & Parish Life
The parish runs a wide slate of ministries serving the spiritual, practical and social needs of its members. Bereavement and Prayer Shawl ministries accompany the sick and grieving; Extraordinary Ministers bring Communion to the homebound and to local nursing homes. The Altar Rosary Society tends the sacred linens, hosts parish fundraisers, and supports Mass supplies. The Knights of Columbus Council #5582 leads charitable and pro-life works; the Fairless Food Cupboard and Clothing Closet distributes groceries and clothing on the 4th Thursday of every month (3rd Thursday in November and December).
- Bereavement Ministry
- Prayer Shawl Ministry (1,000+ shawls gifted)
- Pastoral Care / Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist
- Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors, Altar Servers
- Music Ministry — Adult Choir and cantors
- Altar Rosary Society
- GriefShare
- Knights of Columbus #5582
- Fairless Food Cupboard & Clothing Closet (4th Thursday, 10 AM–Noon, St. Therese Hall)
Festivities & Fundraisers
Three signature events anchor the parish's social and fundraising life: the St. Clement Festival (since the 1920s — described as the longest-running church festival in Ohio, featuring live music, carnival rides, games, quilt raffle, and the famous homemade sausage sandwich), the Lenten Fish Fry hosted by the Altar Rosary Society, and weekly Friday evening Bingo at St. Clement Hall. Soup Cook-offs, Salad Luncheons, and Garage Sales round out the year.
- Saint Clement Festival (annual, June — since the 1920s)
- Lenten Fish Fry
- Friday Evening Bingo at St. Clement Hall
- Soup Cook-off, Salad Luncheon, Garage Sale
Worship Sites, Cemetery & Facilities
The merged parish operates two worship sites and a parish hall. St. Clement Parish Hall at 432 N. Market St., Navarre, hosts Bingo and parish social events. The Saint Clement Cemetery sits at 552 Market St NE, Navarre.
- St. Clement Church — 216 E. Wooster St., Navarre, OH 44662 (est. 1832)
- St. Therese Church — 512 S. Wabash St., Brewster, OH 44613 (est. 1928)
- St. Clement Parish Hall — 432 N. Market St., Navarre, OH 44662
- Saint Clement Cemetery — 552 Market St NE, Navarre, OH
Parish & Finance Councils
A conjoined Parish Council was established at the time of the 2011 merger to guide the unification of the two former congregations. A Parish Finance Council oversees the temporal affairs of the parish; members are listed on the parish website.
- Pastoral Planning Ministry
- Finance Council (members published on the parish website)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Priest traveling from St. John Parish, Canton (early 1830s)circa 1830s
First celebrated Mass in Navarre in the home of Anthony Winterhalter before any church existed.
- First resident pastor1859
Received as St. Clement's first resident pastor but died only three months into his assignment.
- Second resident pastorfrom 1867
Brought stable, permanent pastorate to St. Clement after the brief tenure of his predecessor.