About St. John the Baptist · Akron, Ohio
St. John the Baptist is a small Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Cleveland, located at 1044 Brown Street in South Akron, Ohio. Founded in 1907 to serve the wave of Slovak immigrants then settling in this part of the city, it remains an active worship community of roughly 78 households under the leadership of Father Dismas Byarugaba, A.J. Today the parish shares a pastor with neighboring Visitation of Mary (the former Annunciation Parish) and continues to minister in word, sacrament, and outreach from its Brown Street church.
- Established
- 1907
- Patron
- St. John the Baptist
- Rector
- Fr. Dismas Byarugaba, A.J.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Cleveland
Why belong here
St. John the Baptist offers a small, family-sized Catholic community where parishioners are known by name — the parish itself estimates only about 78 households, so newcomers can quickly become part of the family. It celebrates a regular Sunday Mass, weekday Mass on Thursday, the full sacramental life (baptism preparation, first Communion, confirmation, Communion to the sick and homebound), and an extensive list of lay ministries from Music Ministry and Altar Servers to Finance Council, Greeters, and Flowers and Grounds. With Faith Formation through first sacraments, confirmation, and a High School Youth Ministry, it is a welcoming home for Slovak-heritage families and any Catholic seeking an intimate parish in central Akron.
Mass times at St. John the Baptist
Weekly Mass schedule
About St. John the Baptist Parish
St. John the Baptist is a small, family-sized Catholic parish in South Akron. According to the parish's own welcome letter on the About page, roughly 78 families are currently registered, making it easy for newcomers to be known and welcomed. The parish's stated mission is 'To proclaim the Gospel of Christ to our local community in word, deed, and truth,' and its overall description is 'a welcoming Catholic community called by God to live out the message of Christ in love and service to all people.' Father Dismas Byarugaba, A.J., invites visitors to arrange a personal parish tour either before or after Mass or during weekday office hours.
- About 78 registered families — 'Family' is the parish's self-description
- Parish mission: to proclaim the Gospel in word, deed, and truth
- Pastoral office number: 330.535.4141 (in addition to the main parish line)
History & Heritage
The parish was founded in 1907 to minister to Slovak Catholic immigrants who had begun arriving in Akron from the Austro-Hungarian Empire starting around 1890. Over the following decades, the parish church on Brown Street became the spiritual center of South Akron's Slovak community, supported by the First Catholic Slovak Union (FCSU) Branch 553, founded in 1908, and a parochial school. A seventy-fifth anniversary history was published in 1982. The school closed in 1986 due to declining enrollment, and on November 9, 2009, St. John the Baptist merged with Annunciation Parish to form Visitation of Mary Parish. The two were later separated again into independent parishes while continuing to share a pastor.
- Founded 1907 for Slovak immigrants in South Akron
- Parochial school operated on Brown Street until 1986 (building now Main Preparatory Academy)
- 75th Anniversary history published 1982
- Merged with Annunciation Parish on November 9, 2009 to form Visitation of Mary; later returned to independent status
- Close historical ties with FCSU Branch 553 (Akron 'J Club') on Morgan Avenue
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is led by Father Dismas Byarugaba, A.J., who also serves as pastor of Visitation of Mary Parish. He is assisted by two priests in residence — Fr. Odemary Bahati Kisaka, A.J., who serves as chaplain at Akron City Hospital, and Fr. Bernard Kyara, A.J., chaplain at Akron General Cleveland Clinic — as well as Permanent Deacon Scott Proper, who directs Faith Formation and serves as the parish Web Specialist. Office operations are handled by Office Manager Joanne DalSanto, with Ed Coia serving as Business Manager, Ray Schmidt as Music Director, and Ron Greathouse as Director of Facilities.
- Pastor: Fr. Dismas Byarugaba, A.J. (ext 14, [email protected])
- Priest in Residence: Fr. Odemary Bahati Kisaka, A.J. — Chaplain, Akron City Hospital
- Priest in Residence: Fr. Bernard Kyara, A.J. — Chaplain, Akron General Cleveland Clinic
- Permanent Deacon: Dcn. Scott Proper — Formation Director & Web Specialist
- Office Manager: Joanne DalSanto
- Business Manager: Ed Coia
- Music Director: Ray Schmidt
- Director of Facilities: Ron Greathouse
Parish Ministries
St. John the Baptist runs the kind of broad lay-ministry program typical of small active parishes, with fourteen named ministries spanning liturgical, pastoral, and administrative roles. Liturgical roles include Altar Servers (for adults and children from 3rd grade up), Sacristans, Lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (who also bring Communion to the sick and homebound), Liturgical Linen Service, Greeters, and Ushers. Pastoral and community roles include Baptism Preparation, Music Ministry, Fellowship Committee, and Flowers and Grounds. Behind the scenes, a Parish Pastoral Council oversees parish life, while a Finance Council advises the pastor, and Offertory Counters serve about once a month.
- Music Ministry
- Altar Servers (adults and grade 3+ youth)
- Baptism Preparation
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (incl. to the sick/homebound)
- Finance Council
- Fellowship Committee
- Offertory Counters
- Flowers and Grounds
- Parish Pastoral Council
- Greeters
- Lectors
- Liturgical Linen Service
- Ushers
- Sacristans
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Religious Education at St. John the Baptist is overseen by Deacon Scott Proper and is organized around the standard sacraments of initiation. The parish prepares children for First Communion and First Penance, prepares older youth for the Sacrament of Confirmation, and runs a High School Youth Ministry. Faith-formation enrichment is also offered through the FORMED program, which the parish makes available through its website.
- First Communion & First Penance preparation
- Confirmation preparation
- High School Youth Ministry
- Online enrichment via the FORMED program
Parish Life & Photo Gallery
A Photo Gallery on the parish website documents recent moments of parish life — including the installation Mass for Fr. Dismas (August 23, 2023), the parish's celebration of the Feast of St. John the Baptist (with galleries marked 2022, 2023, and June 24, 2024), the Christmas 2022 season, an Outdoor Church Improvements project, the 40th wedding-anniversary Mass of music director Ray Schmidt and Michelle Schmidt, and parish activities from October 12, 2025. A Fr. Coletta Memorial Page is also linked from the About page, honoring the memory of a former pastor. Parishioners are invited to submit photos via the parish staff.
- Fr. Dismas Installation Mass — August 23, 2023
- Feast of St. John the Baptist celebrations (2022, 2023, June 24, 2024)
- Christmas 2022 gallery
- Outdoor Church Improvements project
- Schmidt 40th Wedding Anniversary Mass
- Fr. Coletta Memorial Page
Visiting, Registering & Getting Involved
The parish welcomes visitors and prospective members explicitly. From the website, newcomers can register with the parish, make a donation, schedule a Mass intention, or request a home visit/sick call. Personal tours can be arranged through the parish office, and the website carries the latest bulletin and a 'looking for a spiritual home?' prompt alongside a link to become a member.
- Parish registration available via the website
- Online giving / donate link
- Mass intention scheduling
- Home visit / sick call requests
- Parish tour available by appointment through the office
Contact & Location
St. John the Baptist Parish is located at 1044 Brown Street, Akron, OH 44301, in Summit County (South cluster) within the Diocese of Cleveland. The main parish phone is 330-535-4502, with a pastoral-office line at 330-535-4141 (extensions listed for each staff member). The general parish email is [email protected]; individuals (Father Dismas, Father Kisaka, Father Kyara, Deacon Proper, and the office manager) use that domain plus their own extensions and direct emails.
- Address: 1044 Brown St, Akron, OH 44301
- Main phone: 330-535-4502
- Pastoral office: 330-535-4141 (with staff extensions)
- Email: [email protected]
- Located in Summit County – South, Diocese of Cleveland
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. A. Jonathan Zingales
Previous pastor; listed as weekend pastoral assistance after the 2021 transition.
- Fr. Dismas Byarugaba, A.J.September 12, 2021 – present
Current pastor; also serves Visitation of Mary Parish.