About St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Church · Marblehead, Ohio
St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Church is a Byzantine Ruthenian Catholic parish in Marblehead, Ohio, established in 1897 by Carpatho-Rusyn immigrants from what is now Slovakia who came to work the local stone quarries. The parish serves about 50 families on the shore of Lake Erie, adjacent to the historic Marblehead Lighthouse, and is one of the oldest Byzantine Catholic communities in the region. It belongs to the Eparchy of Parma of the Ruthenians and celebrates the Byzantine (Eastern) liturgical rite in English, with cantors and choir leading congregational singing. The current pastor is Fr. Joseph Repko, who marks more than three decades in priestly ministry.
- Established
- 1897
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary (St. Mary)
- Rector
- Fr. Joseph Repko, M.Div., M.A.
- Diocese
- Eparchy of Parma of the Ruthenians (Byzantine Catholic), within the geographic territory of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Toledo
Why belong here
St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Church offers an intimate Byzantine Ruthenian Catholic community on the Marblehead Peninsula, where the Divine Liturgy is sung with a strong choral tradition under cantors Helen Jean Cooley and Joanne Sauvey. The parish is small — about 50 families — making it easy to be known and welcomed, and it sits directly next to the historic Marblehead Lighthouse on Lake Erie. Visitors and newcomers are explicitly invited to 'join us on our spiritual journey to God's kingdom,' and the parish maintains an active social hall, Ladies Aid Society, Parish Council, and Religious Education program that serve both the parish and the wider Lakeside-Marblehead community.
Mass times at St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Available by appointment — contact the parish office or Fr. Joseph Repko
Parish History & Heritage
St. Mary was founded in 1897 by six Carpatho-Rusyn immigrants — George Boytim, John Dziak, George Gulick, Michael Hitraly, John Juby and Michael Sotak — who worked the local stone quarries and had arrived from what is today Slovakia. Their story is rooted in a 1892 visit by George Gulick, who founded Greek Catholic Union Branch Lodge #58 and helped organize the community for parish life. The first church on Main Street burned; a 1904 replacement — a small white wooden church with adjoining cemetery and rectory — was blessed by Bishop I. F. Horstmann of Cleveland because no Byzantine Ruthenian bishop yet served the United States. Today, more than 129 years later, the parish continues to celebrate its Eastern Catholic heritage as part of the Eparchy of Parma.
- Founded 1897 by quarry workers from Austria-Hungary (now Slovakia)
- Six founding families: Boytim, Dziak, Gulick, Hitraly, Juby, Sotak
- First church destroyed by fire; rebuilt on Main Street in 1904
- 1904 church blessed by Bishop I. F. Horstmann of Cleveland
- Father George Simchak — longest-serving pastor (1928–1930, 1934–1970)
Church Buildings & Grounds
After nearly seven decades in the original wooden Main Street church, St. Mary built its present church at 506 East Main Street in 1976, directly next to the historic Marblehead Lighthouse. The first Divine Liturgy was celebrated on Christmas Eve 1976 before a standing-room-only crowd, and Bishop Emil J. Mihalik of Parma officially dedicated the building on Sunday, April 24, 1977. A parish social hall followed, with groundbreaking in June 1983 and dedication on June 9, 1985; the hall is in regular use for parish and civic events.
- Current church: 506 East Main Street, next to Marblehead Lighthouse
- First Liturgy in new church: Christmas Eve 1976
- Official dedication: Sunday, April 24, 1977
- Social Hall: groundbreaking June 1983; dedicated June 9, 1985
- St. Mary's Byzantine Catholic Cemetery — graves dating from 1900
Clergy, Cantors & Staff
The parish is currently served by Fr. Joseph Repko, M.Div., M.A., who celebrated his 30th anniversary of priestly ordination in October 2025. Liturgical music is led by cantors Helen Jean Cooley (a longtime choir directress who took over from founder Mike Batcha in 1982) and Joanne Sauvey, who primarily leads the Saturday Divine Liturgies. Hall Manager Alex Kolosiwsky coordinates rental of the parish social hall.
- Pastor: Fr. Joseph Repko, M.Div., M.A.
- Cantor: Helen Jean Cooley
- Cantor: Joanne Sauvey (Saturday Divine Liturgies)
- Hall Manager: Alex Kolosiwsky — (216) 903-5726
Parish Ministries & Organizations
A small but active parish of roughly 50 families, St. Mary sustains many of the institutions that have shaped it for generations. The Ladies Aid Society, founded in the 1930s, continues to provide fundraising and parish support; the Parish Council serves as the advisory body to the pastor. Religious Education has long been a parish priority, and the choir tradition begun in 1938 continues under the direction of Cantor Helen Jean Cooley.
- Ladies Aid Society (since the 1930s)
- Parish Council (advisory to the pastor)
- Parish Choir (founded 1938 by Mike Batcha)
- Cantors — Cooley and Sauvey
- Religious Education program
- Greek Catholic Union Branch Lodge #58 (fraternal connection)
Social Hall & Fundraising
The parish social hall, dedicated in 1985, serves both parish life and the broader Lakeside-Marblehead community, hosting banquets, wedding receptions and school award dinners. It is available for rental through Hall Manager Alex Kolosiwsky. The Ladies Aid and parish community have historically used ethnic cookbook fundraisers — including the 1977 Dedication Cookbook, the 1997 Centennial Cookbook, and 'The Best in Cooking' — most recently compiling a new edition to fund roof replacement for the church, rectory and hall.
- Social Hall dedicated June 9, 1985
- Hall Manager: Alex Kolosiwsky — (216) 903-5726
- Banquets, wedding receptions, school award dinners
- Cookbook fundraisers — Centennial (1997), Dedication (1977), 'The Best in Cooking', and current edition
- Current fundraiser benefits roof replacement (church, rectory, hall)
Cemetery
St. Mary's Byzantine Catholic Cemetery lies on parish grounds at the 500 block of East Main Street in Marblehead's Danbury Township and contains graves dating from 1900. Early pastor Fr. Nicholas Stecovich and longtime cantor Mike Meterko are among those buried there.
- Located at 500 block of East Main Street, Marblehead
- Graves dating from 1900
- 447 memorials catalogued (Find a Grave)
- Coordinates: 41.5409 N, 82.7224 W
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Nicholas Stecovich
One of the earliest pastors; buried in the parish cemetery.
- Fr. George Simchak1928–1930, 1934–1970
Longest-serving pastor of St. Mary; served two stints until his retirement in 1970.
- Monsignor Frank Korba
Received Bishop Mihalik's 1973 approval to build the new church.
- Fr. Dennis Hrubiak
- Monsignor Basil Smochko
- Fr. Joseph Radvansky
- Fr. Basil Hutsko
- Fr. Bryan Eyman
- Fr. Robert Kelly
- Fr. Andrew Nagrant
- Fr. Joseph Repko
Current pastor; ordained in 1995; observed 30th anniversary of ordination in October 2025.