About St. Jerome · Cincinnati, Ohio
St. Jerome Roman Catholic Church is a small Catholic parish tucked into the river village of California, a historic neighborhood on Cincinnati's east side within the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. The parish traces its roots to a mission established in 1863, which grew into a church and school in 1865 and a parish hall in 1916, and it remains an intimate, welcoming community centered on the daily and Sunday Mass schedule posted on the rectory door. The parish describes itself as 'a place of mercy and hope where everyone is welcome,' and is currently served by Pastor Fr. Steve Angi, Parochial Vicars Fr. Thomas King and Fr. Aaron Hess, Fr. Carl Wollering in residence, and Church Administrator Deborah Glutz. Active ministries include the St. Vincent de Paul Society, the Archbishop Moeller Knights of Columbus Measure Up collection for those with developmental disabilities, and a lector program.
- Established
- 1863
- Patron
- St. Jerome
- Rector
- Fr. Steve Angi
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Cincinnati
Why belong here
St. Jerome offers a small, close-knit Catholic community in the historic California neighborhood of Cincinnati, with daily Mass five days a week and a welcoming spirit the parish describes as 'a place of mercy and hope where everyone is welcome.' New parishioners can register easily by picking up a packet as they leave church and dropping the completed form in the collection basket or mailing it to the rectory at 5858 Kellogg Avenue. Active outreach includes the St. Vincent de Paul Society (collected on the fifth weekend of each month) and the Archbishop Moeller Knights of Columbus' annual Measure Up Program supporting local charities for children and adults with developmental disabilities, giving members concrete ways to serve neighbors in need.
Mass times at St. Jerome
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Reconciliation by appointment (call the Rectory at 513-231-7042)
About St. Jerome Catholic Church
St. Jerome Roman Catholic Church is a small parish in the historic California neighborhood on Cincinnati's east side, part of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. The parish's bulletin describes it as 'a place of mercy and hope where everyone is welcome.' The community worships in the church at 131 Rohde Street, while the parish office and parish hall are just up the road at 5848–5858 Kellogg Avenue.
History of the Parish
Catholic families were present in California by 1851, and the parish was formally established as a mission in 1863, served by priests from what is now St. Mary's Seminary of the Mount Washington area. The current church and an attached school were built in 1865; the school has since been discontinued. In 1916, under the newly appointed Fr. Henry A. Westermann, the parish house was purchased and remodeled and a Parish Hall was added — both still serve the parish today.
- Mission established 1863
- Church (and school) built 1865
- Parish house purchased/remodeled and Parish Hall added 1916 under Fr. Henry A. Westermann
- Full parish history: 'The History of St. Jerome Catholic Church, 1851–1999, California, Ohio' by Fr. Robert Keller (1999)
Clergy & Staff
St. Jerome is currently served by a team of priests and a lay Church Administrator. The parish office, run by Deborah Glutz, is open 11 AM – 3 PM Monday through Thursday.
- Fr. Steve Angi — Pastor
- Fr. Thomas King — Parochial Vicar
- Fr. Aaron Hess — Parochial Vicar
- Fr. Carl Wollering — in residence
- Deborah Glutz — Church Administrator ([email protected])
Other Sacraments & Becoming a Parishioner
Information about Baptisms and Weddings is handled by calling the Rectory at (513) 231-7042. New parishioners can register by picking up a new-member packet from the table to the right as they leave church, completing the form, and either dropping it in the collection basket or mailing it to the Rectory at 5858 Kellogg Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45230.
- Baptisms — call the Rectory
- Weddings — call the Rectory
- Reconciliation — by appointment
- New parishioner registration — packets at the back of church
Parish Ministries & Outreach
St. Jerome runs several ongoing ministries and outreach efforts. The St. Vincent de Paul Society collects donations on the fifth weekend of each month, and the Archbishop Moeller Knights of Columbus Council uses St. Jerome as a collection site for its annual Measure Up Program supporting children and adults with developmental disabilities. The parish also participates in the Archdiocese's annual Catholic Ministries Appeal.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society — (513) 624-3147; fifth-weekend collection
- Archbishop Moeller Knights of Columbus — annual Measure Up Program
- Lector ministry — volunteers needed (especially for the Tuesday 7:30 PM Mass)
- Music ministry — organist/cantor Terry Wenninger (from July); Eva Vandegrift (June fill-in)
- Catholic Ministries Appeal (CMA)
Parish Life & Bulletin News
Recent parish bulletins share a tone of small-parish intimacy: practical appeals for lectors and musicians, prayer requests for community concerns (such as the impact of bird flu on local farmers), and reminders of upcoming collections. The parish also lists pregnancy-assistance and suicide-prevention hotlines in its bulletin as part of its pastoral outreach.
- Pregnancy assistance hotline (nationwide) — 1-800-848-LOVE
- Suicide Prevention Hotline (nationwide) — 1-800-273-8255; local — 513-281-CARE
- Free Narcan Administration and CPR/AED training offered in partnership with Hamilton County Public Health
- Prayer appeals for community concerns (e.g., local impact of bird flu on farms and workers)
Locations, Contact & Office Hours
St. Jerome occupies three closely grouped buildings in the California neighborhood of Cincinnati: the church itself on Rohde Street, the Parish Office on Kellogg Avenue (where day-to-day business and registration are handled), and the Parish Hall next door.
- Church — 131 Rohde Street, Cincinnati, Ohio (in the community of California)
- Parish Office — 5858 Kellogg Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45230; phone (513) 231-7042; email [email protected]
- Parish Hall — 5848 Kellogg Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Office Hours — 11 AM – 3 PM, Monday – Thursday
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Henry A. Westermann1916–
Appointed pastor of St. Jerome's in September 1916; oversaw purchase/remodel of the parish house and addition of the Parish Hall. Born Cincinnati 1885, ordained 1912.
- Fr. Robert Keller
Author of 'The History of St. Jerome Catholic Church, 1851–1999, California, Ohio' (1999).