About St. Mary of the Woods · Russells Point, Ohio
St. Mary of the Woods is a Roman Catholic parish in the village of Russells Point, Ohio, situated on the shore of Indian Lake in Logan County. Founded in 1927, the parish belongs to the Mary, Queen of Angels Family of Parishes in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati's Northeast Region #1, which unites the Catholic communities of Champaign and Logan Counties. The parish celebrates weekend Mass in Russells Point (Saturday evening and Sunday morning), offers weekday Masses, monthly Eucharistic adoration, and is well known for its lakeside devotion — particularly an annual outdoor Mass on the Feast of the Assumption celebrated on the Indian Lake foundation, and an annual Eucharistic procession to the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima on the lake shore.
- Established
- 1927
- Patron
- Our Lady (under the title Mary of the Woods / Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima on Indian Lake shore)
- Rector
- Rev. Shawn Landenwitch
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Cincinnati (Metropolitan Archdiocese of Cincinnati) — Mary, Queen of Angels Family of Parishes, Northeast Region #1
Why belong here
St. Mary of the Woods offers small-parish warmth with a distinctive lakeside Catholic identity — parishioners can attend Saturday evening or Sunday morning Mass in the village of Russells Point, and then participate in beautiful outdoor traditions like the annual Assumption Mass at the Indian Lake foundation or the fall Eucharistic procession to the lakeside Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima. The parish runs faith-formation programs for children, a music ministry led by a Music Director and Organist, and Eucharistic Adoration on the 1st Wednesday and 2nd/4th Thursday of each month. As part of the Mary, Queen of Angels Family of Parishes it shares clergy and resources with neighboring Logan and Champaign County parishes while retaining its own identity — making it an inviting community for Catholics who live on, visit, or vacation at Indian Lake.
Mass times at St. Mary of the Woods
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 2nd & 4th Thursday 6:45–7:45 PM (during Eucharistic Adoration, following the 6:15 PM Mass)
- Friday 8:45 AM (following the 8:00 AM Mass)
Adoration times
- 1st Wednesday of the month 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM
- 2nd & 4th Thursday 6:45 – 7:45 PM (following the 6:15 PM Mass)
Parish Identity & Mission
St. Mary of the Woods Parish, founded in 1927, is a community of believers proclaiming that Jesus is Lord. The parish promotes the ideals of Christian community through the recognition that each person is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good, and it fosters spiritual growth through Scripture, the Sacraments, and through the use of each person's gifts in the parish family.
- Founded 1927, on the shore of Indian Lake
- Member of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati
- Part of the Mary, Queen of Angels Family of Parishes (Northeast Region #1)
Pastoral & Office Staff
The parish is led by Pastor Rev. Shawn Landenwitch and Parochial Vicar Rev. Kevin LeMelle as part of the Mary, Queen of Angels Family of Parishes. Office and ministry staff include an Office Manager, Administrative Assistant, Music Director, Organist, Director of Religious Education, Head Sacristan, and maintenance/custodial team.
- Rev. Shawn Landenwitch — Pastor ([email protected])
- Rev. Kevin LeMelle — Parochial Vicar
- Amy Bihn — Office Manager ([email protected])
- Jennifer Harford — Administrative Assistant ([email protected])
- Katie McCabe — Music Director
- Judy Wells — Organist
- Ashley Roberts — Director of Religious Education (937-843-3127)
- Lee McCarty — Head Sacristan
- Joe Rizzo — Maintenance/Custodial
- Connie Wheeler — Assistant Custodial
Parish Office
The St. Mary of the Woods parish office is at 464 Madison Avenue, PO Box 329, Russells Point, OH 43348. Office hours are Monday and Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. The main phone line is (937) 843-3127 and the general office email is [email protected].
- Mailing address: 464 Madison Avenue, PO Box 329, Russells Point, OH 43348
- Office hours: Monday & Friday 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM
- Phone: (937) 843-3127
Religious Education & Faith Formation
Faith formation for parishioners — especially children — is coordinated by Ashley Roberts, Director of Religious Education, who can be reached through the parish office at (937) 843-3127.
- Director of Religious Education: Ashley Roberts
- Contact: 937-843-3127
Music & Liturgy
The parish music program is led by Music Director Katie McCabe and Organist Judy Wells, supported by a Head Sacristan (Lee McCarty). The music and liturgical teams support the weekend Masses, holy days, and special celebrations including the Assumption outdoor Mass and the Eucharistic procession to the Fatima shrine.
- Katie McCabe — Music Director
- Judy Wells — Organist
- Lee McCarty — Head Sacristan
Lake Shrine Devotions & Outdoor Masses
St. Mary of the Woods maintains a distinctive lakeside Catholic identity. The parish holds an annual outdoor Mass on the Feast of the Assumption (August 15) at the Indian Lake foundation, and each fall processes from the church to the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima on the Indian Lake shore.
- Annual outdoor Mass on the Feast of the Assumption at the Indian Lake foundation
- Annual Eucharistic Procession to the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima on the lake shore (first held Sept. 15, 2018)
- Eucharistic canopy gifted by the American Society of Ephesus (Lima, OH)
Centennial Time Capsule
In preparation for the parish approaching its 100-year anniversary (founded 1927), the parish planned a time capsule to be included in a new lake shrine. Parishioners and friends were invited to submit original letters, photos, booklets, or artifacts to the Office Manager Amy Bihn ([email protected]) or by mail to the parish address.
- Time capsule planned for a new lake shrine
- Submissions: care of Amy Bihn, St. Mary of the Woods Catholic Church, PO Box 329, 464 Madison Ave., Russells Point, OH 43348
- Email: [email protected]
Mary, Queen of Angels Family of Parishes
St. Mary of the Woods is one of seven parishes in the Mary, Queen of Angels Family of Parishes (Northeast Region #1 of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati), which unites the Catholic churches of Champaign and Logan counties. The family vision: 'Following in the footsteps of Our Lady, we will welcome and adore the abiding presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, and bring Him with joy to those we encounter.'
- Pastor: Fr. Shawn Landenwitch
- Includes St. Patrick and Immaculate Conception (Bellefontaine), St. Mary of the Woods (Russells Point), Sacred Heart and St. Michael (Mechanicsburg), St. Paris (St. Paris)
- Family website: https://www.queenofangelsfamily.com/
Visiting & Pilgrimage
St. Mary of the Woods welcomes visitors — including the many summer vacationers and lake-house Catholics who come to Indian Lake each year. The annual outdoor Mass on the Assumption (around mid-August) and the fall Eucharistic procession to the lakeside Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima are particularly noteworthy gatherings. Parking is free at the church.
- Free parking at the church
- Best-known gathering: annual Mass on the Feast of the Assumption at the Indian Lake foundation
- Lake shore Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima — maintained by the American Society of Ephesus
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Matthew LeeParochial Administrator for two years (while Pastor of Champaign County parishes, after time as Parochial Vicar there)
Also served as Pastor of the four Catholic churches in Champaign County for five years; had been Parochial Vicar there for four years prior; now pastor at St. Patrick, Troy. Ordained after 12 years active duty in U.S. Air Force as software engineer/network administrator.
- Rev. Shawn LandenwitchCurrent pastor (as of the Mary, Queen of Angels Family of Parishes era)
Pastor of the family of parishes; email [email protected].
- Rev. Kevin LeMelle
Parochial Vicar for the Mary, Queen of Angels Family of Parishes (serves St. Mary of the Woods).