About St. Joseph Parish · Avon Lake, Ohio
St. Joseph Parish in Avon Lake, Ohio, is a vibrant Catholic community rooted in faith, family, and service, celebrating 75 years of resilience and growth. Guided by the Holy Spirit, the parish emphasizes Eucharistic celebration, Gospel proclamation, stewardship, and forming missionary disciples. It serves as a spiritual home for over 1,800 families and supports Catholic education through St. Joseph School, which educates 250 students from kindergarten through eighth grade. The parish is part of the Diocese of Cleveland and collaborates with Holy Spirit and St. Raphael parishes in a diocesan clustering initiative.
- Established
- 1949
- Patron
- Saint Joseph
- Rector
- Rev. Ronald J. Wearsch
- Diocese
- Diocese of Cleveland
Why belong here
Join a community that celebrates the Eucharist, proclaims the Gospel, and fosters stewardship, faith formation, and service. Through ministries like Carpenter’s Call and PSR, parishioners build camaraderie, support local ministries, and grow in discipleship. The parish offers a welcoming environment for families, with strong Catholic education and opportunities to live out the Gospel together.
Mass times at St. Joseph Parish
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. in the Confessional
Our History
Founded in 1949, St. Joseph Parish began with Masses held in the Avon Lake Theater while the school was being built. The original church served as classrooms for grades 1–8 until the new St. Joseph School opened in September 1950 under the Ursuline Sisters. The parish has grown from 800 to nearly 1,800 families over 18 years under Father Timothy O’Connor’s leadership. In 2013, it completed its eighth year as a Stewardship Parish and continues its sister relationship with St. Francis Xavier Cathedral in Nassau, Bahamas. The parish also participates in the Diocesan Clustering initiative with Holy Spirit and St. Raphael parishes.
Ministries
- Carpenter’s Call
- PSR (Parish School of Religion)
- Vacation Bible School
- Sacramental Prep
- Evangelization Ministry
- Caring Ministry
- Worship Ministry
- Reach More
Faith Formation
The parish offers sacramental preparation for children in public schools through the Parish School of Religion (PSR) program, which serves students in grades Pre-K through 8. St. Joseph School, a benchmark school in the diocese, educates 250 children from kindergarten through eighth grade.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Carl Wernet
- Father Edward Dickard
- Father Albert Kunkel
- Father J. Norman Riley
- Father Timothy O'Connor18 years
Led parish growth from 800 to nearly 1,800 families and oversaw construction of new worship space and doubled school classrooms.
- Father Ronald J. Wearsch2013–present
Arrived June 15, 2013; installed July 28, 2013; has Avon Lake roots.