About St. Francis of Assisi · Toronto, Ohio
St. Francis of Assisi Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Toronto, Ohio, belonging to the Diocese of Steubenville (Mother of Hope Deanery). The parish was formally established in 1885 when Father Thomas Delaney was appointed the first resident pastor, and its present church building was constructed in 1923. Today it is clustered with neighboring St. Joseph Parish under one pastor, Rev. Thomas A. Vennitti, and is supported by a wide network of lay ministries, a Parish School of Religion, the affiliated St. Francis Central School, and signature parish traditions like the annual Pastor's Lawn Party.
- Established
- 1885
- Patron
- St. Francis of Assisi
- Rector
- Rev. Thomas A. Vennitti
- Diocese
- Diocese of Steubenville
Why belong here
St. Francis of Assisi is the spiritual heart of a tightly knit cluster of two parishes (with neighboring St. Joseph) in the small Ohio River town of Toronto, offering weekday and Sunday Mass, weekly confession, and a robust sacramental life — baptism, marriage, confirmation, and RCIA preparation. The parish runs a Parish School of Religion for children in public schools, an adult religious education program, a vibrant music ministry with adult and youth choirs, and youth outreach through H.O.P.E., Inc. There is a place for nearly everyone: Knights of Columbus, Catholic Men of Toronto, Catholic Women's Club, lectors, extraordinary ministers, altar servers, ushers, the prayer chain, and small faith-sharing groups. The annual Pastor's Lawn Party each August — grown from 68 attendees in 1981 to more than 600 — is a beloved sign of the warm community life here.
Mass times at St. Francis of Assisi
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 10:30-11:30 AM (at St. Joseph Church)
- Sunday: 9:00 AM (at St. Joseph Church)
Parish History
Saint Francis of Assisi Parish traces its roots to before 1881, when the community then known as Sloan's Station was served by mission priests from the Diocese of Columbus. Mass was said in private homes during the week, and on Sundays families crossed the river into New Cumberland, West Virginia. The parish was formally established in 1885 with Father Thomas Delaney as the first resident pastor, and within a decade had its own school staffed by the Sisters of Loretta. The current church was built in 1923, and 1945 — the year the Diocese of Steubenville was created — also brought Father Raymond Harris as pastor and the planning of a new school dedicated by Bishop John King Mussio in 1948. The parish marked 100 years in 1985 and entered a new era in 1986 with Monsignor Cappelli's retirement and Monsignor Roger J. Foys's appointment as the eighth pastor, who simultaneously retained the pastorate of St. Joseph, launching the cluster arrangement still in place today.
- 1885: First resident pastor appointed (Father Thomas Delaney)
- 1886: Father Alphonse Leyden becomes pastor; cornerstone blessed
- 1892: Sisters of Loretta open the parish school
- 1923: Present church building constructed
- 1938: Church debt liquidated under Father Leo O'Connor
- 1945: Diocese of Steubenville formed; Father Raymond Harris becomes pastor
- 1948: Bishop Mussio dedicates new St. Francis School
- 1949: Ursuline Sisters replace Sisters of Loretta
- 1953: Father Angelo Cappelli begins 33-year pastorate
- 1960s: New convent, school addition, interior redecorations (incl. post-Vatican II)
- 1970: St. Francis School becomes the central school for all of Toronto
- 1985: Parish centennial celebrated
- 1986: Monsignor Cappelli retires; Monsignor Foys begins cluster pastorate
Parish Clergy & Staff
St. Francis of Assisi is currently served by Rev. Thomas A. Vennitti as Pastor. The parishes of St. Francis and St. Joseph share staff under a cluster model introduced by the Diocese of Steubenville to address the priest shortage; advisory bodies and sacramental preparation teams have been merged, though the parishes retain separate canonical identities.
- Pastor: Rev. Thomas A. Vennitti
- Secretary: Michelle Fouts
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Children who do not attend a Catholic school receive catechesis through the Parish School of Religion (PSR), directed by Judy Koehnlein. Classes meet on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month, September through April, covering Pre-K through 8th grade, and include sacramental preparation for First Holy Communion and Confirmation. There is also an Adult Religious Education program and small faith-sharing groups that meet throughout the year.
- Parish School of Religion (PSR), Pre-K–8
- First Holy Communion and Confirmation preparation
- Adult Religious Education program
- Small faith-sharing groups
Sacraments & Sacramental Preparation
An RCIA team walks adults and older children through the process of initiation into the Catholic Church. A combined marriage preparation team helps engaged couples prepare for the sacrament, and a confirmation preparation team supports candidates. Eucharistic Ministers regularly bring Holy Communion to shut-in parishioners on the first and third weekends of each month. Those interested in any of these programs should contact the parish office.
- RCIA team
- Marriage preparation team
- Confirmation preparation team
- Extraordinary Ministers visit shut-ins (1st & 3rd weekends)
Music & Liturgy
St. Francis and St. Joseph share a vibrant music ministry that honors the Catholic musical tradition from Gregorian chant to contemporary hymnody. The adult choir enriches congregational singing with harmonies and post-Communion meditations, while cantors lead the responses during the Liturgy of the Word. Organists select hymns and instrumental music to match the readings, and a dedicated group sings at weekday funeral Masses. The Youth Choir (grades 3–8) meets at St. Francis every other Wednesday, half an hour before CCD classes, occasionally offering a meditation during Mass.
- Adult choir — Thursdays (Sundays during Advent/Lent), alternating between churches
- Youth Choir (grades 3–8) — every other Wednesday at St. Francis
- Cantors and organists
- Funeral choir — contact Karen Shell or the rectory
Parish Ministries & Service Organizations
The parishes of St. Francis and St. Joseph have a long history of volunteerism supporting a wide range of ministries. There is always room at the table for more — contact the parish office to learn how to get involved.
- Catholic Men of Toronto
- Knights of Columbus
- Catholic Woman's Club (CWC)
- Altar Servers
- Lectors (Judy Koehnlein, St. Francis; Jerry Solomon, St. Joseph)
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (coordinator: Mary Kay Petras)
- Ushers
- Liturgy Committee
- Parish Council and Finance Council
- Maintenance Committee
- Funeral Luncheon Committee
- School Board
- F.A.I.T.H. — Friends Actively Involved to Help (supports the school)
- St. Francis Central Boosters
- H.O.P.E., Inc. (youth group)
- Prayer Chain (coordinator: Peggy Reynolds)
Facilities & Parish Grounds
The parish complex has evolved significantly over the decades. A new convent was built in 1960; the old rectory and convent were razed in 1962 and a temporary rectory was acquired. With vocations dwindling, the large convent closed in the early 1980s and was eventually sold to Saint John Medical Center for use as a satellite medical facility. Parish parking lots have been reconfigured over the years — one was converted into an early Development Center for St. Francis Central School — and the church has been made handicap accessible, with adequate offices and living space added to the rectory.
- Church made handicap accessible
- Rectory offices and living quarters expanded
- Former convent sold to Saint John Medical Center
- Parking lots reconfigured; one became an Early Development Center for St. Francis Central School
St. Francis Central School & F.A.I.T.H.
St. Francis School was rebuilt in 1947 and dedicated by Bishop John King Mussio in January 1948. After the withdrawal of religious sisters from St. Joseph School in 1970, it became the central school for all of Toronto — St. Francis Central School. Today the school is supported by the F.A.I.T.H. organization (Friends Actively Involved to Help) and the St. Francis Central Boosters.
- St. Francis Central School (parish-affiliated)
- F.A.I.T.H. — supports the school in many ways
- St. Francis Central Boosters
Pastor's Lawn Party
Each year since 1981, parishioners from both St. Francis and St. Joseph have gathered on the parish grounds in late August for what has become known as the Pastor's Lawn Party. It is a way for the priests who serve the parishes to thank parishioners for all they do for the life of the Catholic Church in Toronto. Attendance has grown from 68 people in the first year to more than 600 today.
- Held annually in late August
- Open to both St. Francis and St. Joseph parishioners
- Grown from 68 attendees (1981) to over 600 today
Contact & Location
St. Francis of Assisi Parish is located at the corner of Findley & Euclid in Toronto, Ohio. The Parish Office / Rectory is reachable at 740-537-4433, and the email is [email protected]. As part of the cluster with St. Joseph, the parishes share staff and sacramental preparation teams.
- Address: Corner of Findley & Euclid, Toronto, OH 43964
- Phone: 740-537-4433
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.sfsjtoronto.com/st-francis-of-assisi-parish/
- Clustered with St. Joseph Parish, Toronto, OH
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Thomas Delaney1885
First resident pastor.
- Father Alphonse Leyden1886
Became pastor a week before the blessing of the cornerstone.
- Father J.T. McNally1892
Built new parish house and debt-free church; opened school under the Sisters of Loretta.
- Father Charles Walsh1920
Arrived in 1920; oversaw construction of the present church in 1923.
- Father Leo O'Connor1938
Liquidated the church debt.
- Father Raymond Harris1945
Became pastor the year the Diocese of Steubenville was formed; oversaw new school building dedicated 1948.
- Father (Monsignor) Angelo Cappelli1953-1986
Longest-tenured pastor (33 years); built new convent, renovated church interior twice (second time for Vatican II), oversaw school addition.
- Monsignor Roger J. Foys1986-
Eighth pastor; appointed while retaining pastorate of St. Joseph, establishing the cluster arrangement.