About St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception · Avon, Ohio
St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception is a Catholic parish in Avon, Ohio, in Lorain County, and one of the oldest parishes in the Diocese of Cleveland, established in 1841 by immigrant German Catholic farmers. The parish worships at 2640 Stoney Ridge Road, where the present historic church was completed in 1893, and operates the adjoining St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception School (founded 1885, the first multi-room schoolhouse in Avon). Today it forms the Avon Catholic Community together with neighboring Holy Trinity Parish and is pastored by Fr. Vincent J. Hawk with a parochial vicar and a full parish staff of deacons, catechetical leaders, a music minister, and youth and evangelization directors.
- Established
- 1841
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary, under the title of the Immaculate Conception (named in 1850 to honor the First Council of Baltimore's designation of Mary of the Immaculate Conception as patroness of the United States).
- Rector
- Rev. Vincent J. Hawk
- Diocese
- Diocese of Cleveland (Roman Catholic)
Why belong here
St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception is the spiritual home of a historic Avon Catholic Community that combines a nearly 185-year-old parish, a K-8 school, and a full range of ministries for every age — from preschool faith formation through youth and campus ministry, to adult choirs and care-and-consolation outreach. Daily and Sunday Masses (with the 10 a.m. Sunday Mass livestreamed on Facebook and YouTube), weekly Eucharistic Adoration, Miraculous Medal devotions, and a robust Rosary tradition make this an unusually active devotional parish. Families especially appreciate the parish's 'One Campus, One Community' philosophy, which weaves the school, parish, and surrounding Holy Trinity Parish into a single supportive Catholic network in Lorain County.
Mass times at St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday 7:00 – 7:25 PM (after 7:30 PM Mass)
- Saturday 2:30 – 3:30 PM
Adoration times
- Thursday 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM (Eucharistic Adoration)
Parish Identity & History
St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception traces its roots to 1841, when a small group of German Catholic farmers in the French Creek area of Avon began worshiping in the wagon shop and home of Jacob Conrad. The community built its first church in 1848 and adopted its current name in 1850 to honor the U.S. bishops' designation of Mary of the Immaculate Conception as patroness of the United States. The present historic church was completed in 1893 and remains the spiritual heart of the parish today, while the adjoining St. Mary School (founded 1885) was the first multi-room schoolhouse in Avon.
- Founded 1841 — seven years before the Diocese of Cleveland
- Originally called 'Marienkirche' (Mary's Church); renamed in 1850
- First church built 1848; present church completed 1893
- School built 1885 — first multi-room schoolhouse in Avon
- A 1841–1991 parish history is archived with the Lorain Public Library
Avon Catholic Community
St. Mary shares a unified pastoral identity with neighboring Holy Trinity Parish on Detroit Road. Together they form the Avon Catholic Community, sharing pastoral staff, faith formation programs, and administrative offices so that 'no matter where you've been, there's a place for you here.' The community's tagline is 'One Parish, One Community.'
- Partner parish: Holy Trinity, 33601 Detroit Road, Avon
- Combined offices at Holy Trinity (open Mon–Fri 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM)
- St. Mary Parish Office in the old Convent (west end, door faces the Mary Garden)
Clergy & Staff
The parish is served by Pastor Rev. Vincent J. Hawk (installed October 31, 2024) and Parochial Vicars Rev. Deogratias Ruwaainenyi and Rev. Anthony Donatelli, together with two deacons assigned across the community. A robust lay staff supports faith formation, evangelization, youth ministry, music, business, and pastoral care.
- Pastor: Rev. Vincent J. Hawk ([email protected])
- Parochial Vicars: Rev. Deogratias Ruwaainenyi; Rev. Anthony Donatelli
- Deacons: Michael Puhalla (Holy Trinity); Dan Hancock (St. Mary)
- Music Minister (St. Mary): Jolene Nelson
- Director of Evangelization: Desi Gould
- Youth & Campus Ministry Co-Directors: Rachel Frankart and Clare Sherman
- Parish Catechetical Co-Leaders: Lynette Krych and Anna Shaw
- Care & Consolation Minister: Tammie Frank
- Business Manager: Joseph Ratcliff
Mass & Liturgy
St. Mary celebrates Mass in English seven days a week, with three Sunday Masses, a Saturday Vigil, and morning and evening daily Masses throughout the week. The 10:00 AM Sunday Mass is livestreamed on Facebook (facebook.com/smicavon) and on the parish YouTube channel. Holy Day Masses are split between St. Mary and Holy Trinity, and National Holidays have a single 9:00 AM Mass.
- Saturday Vigil: 4:00 PM
- Sunday: 8:00 AM, 10:00 AM (livestreamed), 12:00 PM
- Monday & Thursday: 7:30 PM
- Wednesday, Friday & Saturday: 8:30 AM
- Holy Day Vigils at Holy Trinity; Holy Days at both campuses
Sacraments
Parishioners can prepare for the full range of Catholic sacraments through the Avon Catholic Community. Baptism requires a Baptism Class of Instruction; First Communion is typically received in 2nd grade through the PSR program; Confirmation is prepared in 8th grade and above, with an individualized track for adults through RCIA. The parish also arranges Anointing of the Sick/Last Rites, weddings, and homebound Communion visits.
- Baptism (with required class)
- First Holy Communion (2nd grade)
- Confirmation (8th grade +)
- RCIA for adults
- Anointing of the Sick / Last Rites
- Matrimony / Marriage
- Homebound Communion visits
Faith Formation & School
St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception School was founded in 1885 and was the first multi-room schoolhouse in Avon; the founding community valued Catholic education so much that they built the school eight years before the present church. Today the school shares an 'One Campus, One Community' philosophy with the parish, offers religion classes daily in all grades, attends all-school Mass on Wednesdays and Holy Days, and has added a preschool program and a multi-purpose parish center/gymnasium in recent years.
- School founded 1885 — first multi-room schoolhouse in Avon
- Daily religion classes in all grades
- All-school Mass every Wednesday and on Holy Days of Obligation
- Living Rosary, Stations of the Cross, May Crowning, seasonal prayer services
- Communal penance services
- New preschool program and multi-purpose parish center/gymnasium
- Continuous school-improvement plans for curriculum and assessment
Ministry & Outreach
Parishioners are invited to share their time, talent, and treasure through a wide range of liturgical and outreach ministries. The Music Ministry — including cantors, instrumentalists, and an adult choir that rehearses Wednesdays at 7:30 PM during the school year — prepares full-choir Masses for Christmas, Holy Week, and Easter. A stewardship approach asks each family to reflect prayerfully on their level of involvement.
- Liturgical ministries: Lector, Eucharistic Minister, Usher, Sacristan, Altar Server
- Music Ministry (adult choir, cantors, instrumentalists)
- Children's Ministry (preschool–grade 5)
- Youth & Campus Ministry
- Care & Consolation Ministry
- Stewardship / Time, Talent & Treasure
- Parish School of Religion (PSR)
Visit, Contact & Giving
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office at (440) 934-4212 or [email protected]. The St. Mary Parish Office, located at the west end of the old Convent (door faces the Mary Garden), is open Tuesday 8:00 AM – Noon and Thursday 12:30 – 4:30 PM. At all other times, visitors are welcomed at the Avon Catholic Community offices at Holy Trinity, 33601 Detroit Road. Online giving is available through ParishSoft Managed Giving.
- Address: 2640 Stoney Ridge Road, Avon, OH 44011-1899
- Phone: (440) 934-4212
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours limited at St. Mary; full-time offices at Holy Trinity
- Online giving: ParishSoft Managed Giving
- Livestream: facebook.com/smicavon and YouTube channel
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Vincent J. HawkInstalled October 31, 2024 – present
Installed by Bishop Edward Malesic as pastor; previously served on diocesan College of Consultors and Presbyteral Council.