About St. Joseph Calasanctius Church · Jefferson, Ohio
St. Joseph Calasanctius Parish is a small Catholic parish in Jefferson, Ohio, and one of the oldest in the Diocese of Youngstown, with roots dating back to 1858. It serves the people of Jefferson, Andover, Kinsman and the surrounding Ashtabula County area as part of a two-parish, three-church collaborative that includes Our Lady of Hope in Andover and a mission church in Kinsman. The parish is known for its warm spirit of outreach — a monthly free community meal, the Manna Food Pantry, prayer groups, and steady care for the sick and homebound — and for keeping the educational and evangelical charism of its patron saint, St. Joseph Calasanctius, alive through robust faith formation for children and adults.
- Established
- 1858
- Patron
- St. Joseph Calasanctius
- Rector
- Rev. John Ettinger
- Diocese
- Diocese of Youngstown (Ashtabula Deanery; Parish Code 209)
Why belong here
St. Joseph Calasanctius is a small parish where parishioners know one another by name and are deeply woven into the life of Jefferson and the surrounding Ashtabula County area. Rooted in a faith community that goes back to 1858, the parish carries forward the educational charism of St. Joseph Calasanctius through faith formation for both children and adults, RCIA, and adult study groups. Outreach is a defining feature: a free monthly Community Meal, the Manna Food Pantry, the Giving Tree, clothing drives with Catholic Charities and St. Pauly Textiles, monthly Mass to the homebound in healthcare centers, and active prayer groups such as the Women's Ministry, the Seven Sisters Apostolate (one holy hour a day for Fr. Ettinger), Coffee & Scripture, and the Praying for Others Ministry. Visitors and new members are warmly welcomed.
Mass times at St. Joseph Calasanctius Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 10:15–10:45 AM (after Mass at St. Joseph)
- By appointment (call parish office)
Adoration times
- Wednesday: 10:15–11:15 AM
- Thursday: 10:15–11:15 AM
Parish History
St. Joseph Calasanctius traces its roots to 1858, when Catholic pioneers in Jefferson gathered for Mass on the Stoekel family's apple orchard. A first wooden church (1868–1870) was destroyed by fire after only five Masses; a new church was begun in 1876 and dedicated that August to St. Joseph Calasanctius. After growing steadily, the community built its present Spanish-Romanesque brick, plaster and tile church between July 6, 1924 and April 2, 1925, with parishioners furnishing the interior themselves. Since 1943, when Jefferson joined the new Diocese of Youngstown, the parish has been cared for by the Oblates of Mary Immaculate (1943–1980) and then by diocesan priests, and today shares a pastor with St. Andrew Bobola Parish in Sheffield.
- 1858 — Catholic mission established in Jefferson
- 1868–1870 — first wooden church built
- 1870 — original church destroyed by fire under suspicious circumstances
- 1876 — new church begun and dedicated to St. Joseph Calasanctius
- 1880 — first full-time pastor appointed
- 1884 — re-established as a parish
- 1924–1925 — present Spanish-Romanesque church built
- 1943 — entrusted to the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate
- 1980 — returned to diocesan clergy
- 2002 — began sharing a pastor with St. Andrew Bobola Parish
- 2025 — 100th anniversary of the current church building, celebrated with a Fall Fest
Our Patron — St. Joseph Calasanctius
Saint Joseph Calasanctius (1557–1648) was a Spanish Catholic priest and educator who founded the Pious Schools and the Piarist Order (founded 1617), the oldest religious order dedicated to education. In November 1597 he opened the first free public school in Europe in Rome, gathering poor and homeless children off the streets. He was beatified in 1748, canonized in 1767, and declared by Pope Pius XII in 1948 to be the Universal Patron of all Christian popular schools in the world. His liturgical feast day is celebrated on August 25. Carrying forward his charism, the parish offers faith formation to both children and adults and ministers to those in need.
- Founder of the Piarist Order (Pious Schools), 1617
- Opened Europe's first free public school, 1597
- Declared Universal Patron of all Christian popular schools, 1948
- Feast day: August 25
- Patron of schools and Christian education
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation is at the heart of the parish's life and is offered for both children and adults. Faith Formation for Children (formerly CCD) meets on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month from 6:00 to 7:30 PM in the Cassidy Center from October through the end of April; Confirmation preparation is offered every other year for 8th and 9th graders, and First Holy Communion preparation takes place the first weekend in May. Adult Faith Formation uses video-guided presentations with discussion and a potluck meal, meeting the second Wednesday of every month from 5:30 to 7:00 PM. The parish also runs RCIA, Bible Study, and a Marriage Preparation Sponsor Couple program.
- Faith Formation for Children (CCD, K–8)
- First Holy Communion preparation
- Confirmation preparation (every other year, 8th & 9th grade)
- Adult Faith Formation with potluck and discussion
- RCIA
- Bible Study
- Marriage Preparation Sponsor Couple program
Ministries & Outreach
The parish carries a strong outreach charism, feeding and caring for the local community and beyond. Regular works include the Manna Food Pantry, a free monthly Community Meal, the Giving Tree, and clothing/personal-needs drives conducted in conjunction with Catholic Charities and St. Pauly Textiles, along with contributions through diocesan programs. Fr. Ettinger offers Mass monthly to the homebound in healthcare centers, and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion bring Communion to the sick at Austinburg Rehabilitation Center and Jefferson Healthcare Center.
- Manna Food Pantry
- Free Monthly Community Meal
- Giving Tree
- Catholic Charities / St. Pauly Textiles clothing drives
- Diocesan charitable giving programs
- Communion to the Sick (home, Austinburg Rehab, Jefferson Healthcare)
- Pro-Life Committee
- Vocations Awareness
Prayer Groups & Devotions
Prayer is a vital part of parish life. Groups meet regularly for fellowship, scripture study, and intercession. The Seven Sisters Apostolate commits one holy hour of prayer each day of the week for Fr. Ettinger; the Women's Ministry, Ladies Luncheon, Coffee & Scripture, and the Praying for Others Ministry round out the devotional life of the parish. The annual feast of St. Joseph Calasanctius is celebrated each year, and a Second Sunday Social gathers parishioners in fellowship every month.
- Seven Sisters Apostolate (one holy hour per day for the pastor)
- Women's Ministry
- Ladies Luncheon
- Coffee & Scripture
- Praying for Others Ministry
- Eugene de Mazenod Prayer Circle
- Second Sunday Social (monthly fellowship)
- Annual Feast of St. Joseph Calasanctius
Sacraments
The parish celebrates all seven sacraments. Parents seeking Baptism contact the parish office for preparation and to set a date. Confirmation is offered every other year for 8th and 9th graders; First Holy Communion preparation happens the first weekend in May. Reconciliation is heard Saturday mornings and by appointment. The Anointing of the Sick is available by calling the parish office — families are urged not to wait until the last minutes before death. Couples preparing for Holy Matrimony must meet in person with the pastor, with at least one party a practicing, Confirmed Catholic attending Mass weekly and an active parish member for at least one year; preparation begins at least six months before the wedding. Those discerning a vocation to Holy Orders should contact the pastor or visit www.youngstownvocations.org. Adult initiation takes place through RCIA.
- Baptism — contact parish office
- Confirmation — every other year, 8th & 9th graders
- First Holy Communion — first weekend in May
- Reconciliation — Saturday 10:15 AM and by appointment
- Anointing of the Sick — by parish office request
- Holy Matrimony — at least six months of preparation
- Holy Orders — contact pastor or www.youngstownvocations.org
- RCIA — adult initiation
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is led by its pastor, supported by a permanent deacon, and served by a small team of parish staff and lay leaders. Fr. John Ettinger is pastor; Deacon Michael Gardner assists in pastoral ministry. Lindsay Fuentes serves as Coordinator of Religious Education (D.R.E.), Marnie Terry is Office Manager/Secretary, Denise Welser is Bookkeeper, and Michael Penzenik serves as Administrative and Project Assistant. Music is led by Music Directors Lori Gilhousen and Yvonne Anderson. Marianne Nanti coordinates the Seven Sisters Apostolate.
- Pastor — Rev. John Ettinger ([email protected])
- Permanent Deacon — Michael Gardner ([email protected])
- Coordinator of Religious Education — Lindsay Fuentes ([email protected])
- Office Manager / Secretary — Marnie Terry ([email protected])
- Bookkeeper — Denise Welser ([email protected])
- Administrative & Project Assistant — Michael Penzenik ([email protected])
- Music Directors — Lori Gilhousen and Yvonne Anderson
- Seven Sisters Apostolate contact — Marianne Nanti ([email protected])
Liturgical & Parish Life Roles
Parishioners serve in many liturgical and parish-life roles, supporting the Sunday and weekday Masses as well as the work of the parish office. These roles include altar servers (youth), choir members and instrumentalists, lectors, ushers, greeters, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, collection counters, and those who care for the church's art and environment. Behind the scenes, the Finance Council, fundraising volunteers, and CCD catechists and youth ministry chaperones keep the parish running.
- Altar Servers (youth)
- Choir Member and Instrumentalists
- Lectors
- Ushers
- Greeters
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Collection Counters
- Church Art and Environment
- Finance Council
- Fundraising volunteers
- CCD Catechists and volunteers
- Youth Ministry catechists and mission-trip chaperones
Our Charism & Community
The parish sees itself as blessed with the gifts of feeding and caring for its community and the wider world. Following the example of St. Joseph Calasanctius, who taught and cared for poor children, St. Joseph Calasanctius Parish continues to offer faith formation to both children and adults and to minister to those in need. The community marks milestones together — most recently the 100-year anniversary of the church building with a Fall Fest — and gathers monthly for the Second Sunday Social. The parish is also part of a larger collaborative that includes Our Lady of Hope in Andover and a mission church in Kinsman.
- Charism: feeding and caring for the community and beyond
- Faith formation for children and adults
- Monthly Second Sunday Social
- Annual feast of St. Joseph Calasanctius
- 100th anniversary of the church building celebrated in 2025
- Part of a two-parish, three-church collaborative
Visit, Register & Contact
Visitors are warmly welcomed. New parishioners may register by picking up a form from the church vestibule or downloading the PDF from the parish website; completed forms can be mailed, dropped off at the parish office, placed in the Sunday collection basket, or scanned and emailed to [email protected]. The parish office is open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM and can be reached at 440-576-3651.
- Parish Office: 32 E. Jefferson St., Jefferson, OH 44047
- Phone: 440-576-3651
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri — 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM
- New parishioner registration form available in the vestibule or via website