About St. John Neumann · Strongsville, Ohio
St. John Neumann Roman Catholic Church is a Eucharistic-centered parish in Strongsville, Ohio, founded on July 4, 1977, and belonging to the Diocese of Cleveland. Guided by the patron saint of parish founder Father Frank LaRocca's vision, the community gathers around the motto 'Encounter Christ while serving others,' offering daily and weekend Mass, Eucharistic Adoration on Wednesdays, and a robust slate of ministries for all ages. The parish serves approximately 2,100–3,000 families from its single campus on Pearl Road and shares Sts. Joseph and John Interparochial School with neighboring St. Joseph Parish.
- Established
- 1977
- Patron
- St. John Neumann
- Rector
- Fr. Barry Gearing
- Diocese
- Diocese of Cleveland
Why belong here
St. John Neumann is a worshipping community organized entirely around the Eucharist — daily Mass, a Wednesday day-long Eucharistic Adoration, and a Sunday evening Life Teen Mass anchor the parish's spiritual life. Whether you are a longtime Catholic, returning after time away, interested in becoming Catholic through RCIA, or navigating divorce and remarriage, the staff invites you to call them personally. With a thriving music ministry, choir, and contemporary Life Teen band; family faith formation; Bible study; men's, women's (Mom's & More), and senior adult groups; a vibrant St. Vincent de Paul outreach; and a long-running fish fry and Weekend of Hope, the parish offers concrete ways for every age and stage to encounter Christ while serving others.
Mass times at St. John Neumann
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 9:00 am – 10:00 am
- Monday 5:15 pm – 6:00 pm
- Friday 5:15 pm – 6:00 pm
- By appointment with any priest at a more convenient time
Adoration times
- Wednesday 9:30 am – 5:45 pm (Eucharistic Adoration)
Parish History
St. John Neumann Parish traces its origins to July 4, 1977, founded by Father Frank LaRocca less than one month after the canonization of St. John Neumann. The community first gathered in the Strongsville High School Auditorium before moving to its own church on Easter Sunday 1982. The parish has been shaped by three pastors — Fr. Frank LaRocca (1977–1989), Fr. Bob Kraig (1990–2018), and current pastor Fr. Barry Gearing (2018–present) — and by a steady rhythm of building campaigns, retreats, and outreach programs that have grown the parish to roughly 2,100 families.
- Founded July 4, 1977 by Fr. Frank LaRocca; first Mass July 2, 1977 at Strongsville High School Auditorium (~50 families)
- Christ Renews His Parish retreats began in the mid-1980s
- Life Teen youth ministry adopted on November 1, 1992
- New offices, activity center, meeting rooms completed 1994–1996 under Fr. Kraig
- Outdoor Stations of the Cross added in 1998
- Fish Fry fundraisers (since 1998) raise ~$30,000/year for the needy and have funded roofs in El Salvador
- Weekend of Hope outreach began the first weekend of December
- Fr. Bob Kraig retired April 29, 2018 after 28 years
- Fr. Barry Gearing installed by Bishop Nelson Perez on Aug. 26, 2018
Parish Staff
St. John Neumann is led by Fr. Barry Gearing and supported by two deacons, plus a lay staff who oversee faith formation, youth ministry, music, and facilities.
- Fr. Barry Gearing — Pastor
- Fr. Greg Olszewski — Parochial Vicar (part-time)
- Deacon Ken Piechowski — Pastoral Associate
- Deacon Keith Walcutt — Pastoral Associate
- Annette Klanac — Director of Family Faith Formation
- Ann Marie Ong — Director of Youth Ministry
- Melissa Massery — Director of Music Ministries
- Nick Kawalac — Facilities Manager
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation for children and teens is offered through both Sts. Joseph and John Interparochial School (the only Catholic elementary school serving Strongsville) and the parish's Family Faith Formation program, which meets Tuesday evenings September through May. Sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation and First Communion begins in 2nd grade, with additional required evenings for First Communion families. Baptized adults who have not yet received First Communion participate through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA).
- Sts. Joseph and John Interparochial School (serves St. John Neumann, St. Joseph, St. Colette in Brunswick, and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Columbia Station)
- Family Faith Formation — Tuesday evenings, Sept–May
- First Reconciliation / First Communion prep begins in 2nd grade
- Confirmation preparation for high-school teens
- RCIA — Thursdays at 7:00 pm, Sept–April; contact Deacon Ken at 440-238-1770
- Support for the divorced and remarried through the parish office
Life Teen & Youth Ministry
Since November 1, 1992, the parish has used the Life Teen model of youth ministry — a Eucharist-focused program that meets teens on emotional, intellectual, social, and spiritual levels. The signature Life Teen Mass is celebrated Sundays at 5:00 pm (September–May) with a contemporary Christian band, and is open to all parishioners.
- Life Teen Mass — Sundays 5:00 pm (Sept–May)
- Life Nights begin immediately after Mass
- Four-year curriculum following USCCB high-school religious education guidelines
- Trained adult core members serve as small-group leaders and mentors
- Fall and spring retreats held at St. Leonard Retreat Center in Avon
- Cardboard Campout held each April (~20-hour experience of homelessness, Eucharistic Adoration, guest speaker, service projects, raising close to $7,000 for various organizations)
- Contact: Ann Marie Ong at 440-238-1770
Music & Liturgical Ministries
The Music Ministry, led by Director Melissa Massery, includes parish choirs for Mass plus the dedicated contemporary Christian band that leads the Life Teen Mass. Liturgical ministers (servers, readers, commentators, choir members) are trained and scheduled to fulfill their proper roles in the celebration, in keeping with the Church's Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy.
- Parish choirs for weekend Masses
- Contemporary band for Life Teen Mass
- Servers, lectors, commentators, and Eucharistic Ministers to the homebound
- Live-streamed Mass produced and archived on YouTube
- Ministry Scheduler Pro used for lay minister scheduling
Parish Ministries & Small Groups
St. John Neumann offers ministries and small groups for nearly every stage of life. From men's and women's spiritual gatherings to senior adults and Bible study, the parish intentionally creates spaces for fellowship, prayer, and formation.
- Bible Study
- Men's Spirituality
- Mom's & More — Catholic women's group supporting one another as mothers, wives, daughters, sisters, and friends
- Senior Adults — spiritual and social gatherings
- Homebound Ministry — weekly Holy Communion visits
- Opportunities for All (catch-all intake for new volunteers)
Outreach & Charity
Outreach is a defining part of parish life, embodied by its long-running St. Vincent de Paul Conference, the Weekend of Hope (first weekend of December), and the annual fish fry fundraisers that together have helped neighbors both locally and abroad.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society — meets 3rd Thursday, 7:00 pm; assists with emergencies, food, expenses; supports the Back-to-School drive, Strongsville Emergency Food Bank, diocesan food banks, and Social Concerns meals
- Fish Fry fundraiser (since 1998) — raises ~$30,000/year; has funded home roofs in El Salvador
- Weekend of Hope — first weekend of December, parishioners go out to help those in need
- Back-to-School drive in August (SVDP)
Facilities, Accessibility & Visiting
The parish campus on Pearl Road houses the church, rectory/administration building, activity center (LAC), school grounds, picnic pavilion, bocce courts, volleyball courts, and outdoor Stations of the Cross. The parish welcomes visitors and invites all — including those returning after time away — to call the office or complete the online registration form.
- Address: 16271 Pearl Road, Strongsville, OH 44136
- Phone: 440-238-1770 (Fax 440-238-2030)
- Office hours: Mon 8:00 am – 6:00 pm; Tue–Fri 8:00 am – 4:00 pm; closed Sat & Sun
- Wheelchair-accessible seating (back of church and front rows); accessible restrooms in church and LAC lobbies
- Hearing-loop sound system broadcasts to hearing-aid coils
- Handicap spaces along the west side of the church near Pearl Road with accessibility ramp
- Online parish registration available on the Join Us page
- E-giving through Faith Direct; online donation via ParishSOFT Giving
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Frank LaRocca1977–October 1989 (founding pastor)
Founded St. John Neumann on July 4, 1977, less than a month after St. John Neumann's canonization. Oversaw groundbreaking for the rectory in November 1977 and the first Mass in the new church at sunrise on Easter Sunday 1982. Implanted a Eucharistic-centered spirit in the community through programs such as Christ Renews His Parish in the mid-1980s. Entered eternal rest in September 1991.
- Fr. Bob KraigJanuary 1990 – April 29, 2018
Second pastor; served 28 years. Led building campaign that produced new offices, activity center, meeting rooms (1994–1996) and outdoor Stations of the Cross (1998). Began the parish fish fries and Weekend of Hope outreach. Retired April 29, 2018, as pastor emeritus.
- Fr. Barry GearingMay 2018 – present (third pastor)
Installed by Bishop Nelson Perez on August 26, 2018. Welcomed Fr. Greg Olszewski as part-time parochial vicar and hired additional staff for parish event promotion.