About St. Louis · Louisville, Ohio
St. Louis Church is a historic Roman Catholic parish in Louisville, Ohio, rooted in a community of five French Catholic families who immigrated from Alsace in 1826. The parish was formally established in 1838, built on land donated by Henry Lautzenheiser, and is dedicated to St. Louis IX, the French king and saint. The present striking Gothic church was constructed in 1870–75 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. As of January 1, 2025, St. Louis Church has merged with Sacred Heart of Mary Parish to form Saint Isidore Parish within the Diocese of Youngstown, while continuing its Sunday Mass and parish life at 300 N. Chapel Street.
- Established
- 1838
- Patron
- St. Louis IX, King of France
- Rector
- Rev. Matthew Humerickhouse
- Diocese
- Catholic Diocese of Youngstown
Why belong here
St. Louis Church offers a deeply rooted Catholic community with nearly two centuries of history, a stunning National Register-listed Gothic sanctuary, and the warm, intimate character of a small-town parish. Worshippers find a traditional Sunday Mass at 8:30 a.m., weekday Masses, Wednesday confessions, and weekly adoration, along with active outreach including a food pantry and bereavement ministry. As part of the new Saint Isidore Parish, the St. Louis community continues to honor its French-Catholic farming heritage while serving Louisville and the surrounding Stark County area.
Mass times at St. Louis
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday 5:30 PM at St. Louis Church (or by appointment)
Adoration times
- Weekly Adoration (time not specified on official schedule)
About St. Louis Church, Louisville
St. Louis Church is one of two worship sites of Saint Isidore Parish in Louisville, Ohio (along with Sacred Heart of Mary Church). It is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Youngstown, with parish code 520, situated in the Stark 1 Deanery of Stark County. The parish office is shared with Sacred Heart of Mary, located at 8267 Nickel Plate Ave NE, Louisville, OH 44641, and is open Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (closed Friday).
- Parish Name: Saint Isidore Parish (St. Louis Church site)
- Diocese: Catholic Diocese of Youngstown
- Parish Code: 520
- Deanery: Stark 1
- County: Stark
- Parish Established (as Saint Isidore): 2025
History & Heritage
St. Louis Parish was born from the faith of five Catholic families who left Alsace in eastern France in 1826 and settled in the Louisville, Ohio area. They formed a mission of Canton's St. John the Baptist Parish and chose St. Louis IX, King of France, as their patron. Masses were first celebrated in homes until 1838, when Henry Lautzenheiser donated land for a small colonial-style church and the community welcomed its first resident pastor. The original brick church was replaced in 1869–75 by the present Gothic structure designed by Father Louis Hoffer, with interior by Cleveland architect Frank Walsh.
- 1826: Five French Catholic families settle in Louisville from Alsace
- 1838: Colonial-style church built on land donated by Henry Lautzenheiser; first resident pastor arrives
- 1869: Original brick church demolished
- 1875: Current Gothic church completed (built 1870–75)
- 1922: New parish school replaces St. Louis College boys' orphanage
- 1979 (Feb 22): Listed on the National Register of Historic Places
- 2018: St. Louis and Sacred Heart of Mary begin sharing a pastor
- 2025 (Jan 1): Merged with Sacred Heart of Mary Parish to form Saint Isidore Parish
Patron Saint: St. Louis IX, King of France
The parish takes its name from St. Louis IX (1214–1270), King of France, a canonized layman who is the patron of the Secular Franciscan Order and is honored for his justice, charity to the poor, and patronage of architecture. The early French Catholic families of Louisville chose him as the patron of their fledgling mission. He is commemorated on his feast day, August 25.
- Patron: St. Louis IX (Louis IX, King of France)
- Feast Day: August 25
- Canonized by Pope Boniface VIII in 1297
- Died near Tunis on the Eighth Crusade, August 25, 1270
Architecture & Historic Building
The present church is a striking example of French Gothic / High Victorian Gothic architecture. It was designed by the parish's own priest, Father Louis Hoffer, reportedly modeled on a small village cathedral in France, with interiors designed by Cleveland architect Frank Walsh. The rectangular plan measures 60 by 130 feet and features two square towers rising roughly 100 feet, which anchor the parish's skyline presence in Louisville.
- Built 1870–75
- Architect (exterior): Father Louis Hoffer
- Architect (interior): Frank Walsh of Cleveland
- Style: French Gothic / High Victorian Gothic
- Plan: 60 × 130 ft rectangular
- Towers: Two square towers, ~100 ft tall
- NRHP Reference No.: 79001951 (added February 22, 1979)
Saint Isidore Parish Collaboration
Since the January 1, 2025 merger with Sacred Heart of Mary Parish, St. Louis Church worships under the patronage of St. Isidore the Farmer, chosen to honor the area which the community calls home, as he is the patron saint of farmers and rural communities. The combined parish has adopted a charism of outreach to farmers and rural communities. Together the two worship sites host the full weekend Mass schedule, with Saturday Vigil at 4:00 PM at Sacred Heart of Mary and Sunday 8:30 AM at St. Louis.
- Parish Name: Saint Isidore Parish
- Patron: St. Isidore the Farmer
- Charism: Outreach to farmers and rural communities
- St. Louis Church (Established 1838) – 300 N. Chapel St.
- Sacred Heart of Mary Church (Established 1833) – 8277 N. Nickelplate St.
- Regional collaboration with St. Joseph (Alliance, Maximo), St. Ann (Sebring), Regina Coeli (Alliance)
Parish Staff
Saint Isidore Parish is served by a pastor, a parochial vicar, two permanent deacons, and a team of pastoral associates and parish staff, all working across both worship sites.
- Rev. Matthew Humerickhouse – Pastor
- Rev. Robert (Bob) England – Parochial Vicar
- Deacon Randolph (Randy) Smith – Permanent Deacon
- Deacon Greg Wood – Diocesan Pastoral Associate
- Mrs. Amy Benedetti-Dike – Diocesan Pastoral Associate
- Mr. Mario Calandros – Pastoral Associate & Religious Education Director
- Mrs. Stacey Hackney – Administrative Assistant
- Ms. Stephanie Stanek – Secretary / Office Associate (SHM)
- Ms. Tammy Mierzwa – Business Manager
- Mrs. April Markov – Organist & Web Editor
- Mr. Grant Conway – Plant Operations Manager (SHM)
- Mr. Bill Glenn – Plant Operations Manager (St. Louis)
Ministries, Outreach & Faith Formation
The parish's published ministries center on sacramental life, charity, and rural community outreach. Religious education and youth ministry are offered collaboratively between St. Louis and Sacred Heart of Mary, and the parish supports a food pantry and bereavement ministry for local neighbors in need.
- Weekly Adoration
- Food Pantry
- Bereavement Ministry
- Religious Education (collaborative)
- Youth Ministry (collaborative)
Festivities & Community Life
Saint Isidore Parish keeps up a lively calendar of seasonal gatherings and fundraisers that bring the rural community together. Highlights include the popular Lenten Fish Fries, the Feast of Joy Christmas celebration, the parish Halloween Party, and participation in Louisville's 2nd Fridays community events.
- Lenten Fish Fries
- Feast of Joy Christmas celebration
- Halloween Party
- Louisville 2nd Fridays (community involvement)
Parish Cemeteries
The parish maintains two cemeteries for the burial needs of its Catholic faithful in the Louisville area.
- Sacred Heart of Mary Cemetery – 8277 N. Nickel Plate Street, Louisville, OH 44641
- Saint Louis Cemetery – 2811 Ravenna Ave NE, Louisville, OH 44641
Contact & Visiting
St. Louis Church is open for worship at its longtime Chapel Street location, with parish business handled through the shared office at Sacred Heart of Mary Church. Visitors are warmly welcomed at weekend Mass and at the Wednesday evening Mass and confession.
- St. Louis Church: 300 N. Chapel St., Louisville, OH 44641
- Parish Office / Mailing Address: 8267 Nickel Plate Ave NE, Louisville, OH 44641-9543
- Phone: 330-875-1658 (also 330-875-2827)
- Pastor email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Monday–Thursday 9 a.m.–1 p.m. (closed Friday); office located at Sacred Heart of Mary Church
- Website: http://www.saintlouiscc.org/