About St. Mary · Painesville, Ohio
St. Mary Catholic Church is a welcoming Roman Catholic parish in Painesville, Ohio, established in 1850 and part of the Diocese of Cleveland. The parish is bilingual (English and Spanish), offering Masses and sacramental preparation in both languages, and is known for its rich cultural diversity, particularly its large Hispanic community. Worship is centered on the Eucharist and supported by a 24/7 Eucharistic Adoration Chapel, an active Parish School of Religion, and outreach through the St. Vincent de Paul Society. The parish occupies a prominent spot at 242 N. State Street in downtown Painesville and operates Historic St. Mary Cemetery, one of the older Catholic cemeteries in Lake County.
- Established
- 1850
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary
- Rector
- Rev. R. Stephen Vellenga (Fr. Steve)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Cleveland
Why belong here
St. Mary's is a parish that openly embraces its bilingual, multicultural identity: every Sunday the community gathers for four Masses (three English and one Spanish, plus a bilingual noon Mass) and pours that same energy into outreach through the St. Vincent de Paul Society, a 24/7 Eucharistic Adoration Chapel, an active Parish School of Religion for roughly 500 children, and an annual Hispanic Faith & Culture celebration. Long-tenured pastor Fr. Steve Vellenga, fluent in Spanish and himself shaped by ministry in El Salvador, frames the parish as a place where 'you can be at home and find God.' For a visitor, that combination of historic roots, daily Mass options, perpetual adoration, and concrete service to the poor in Painesville is the real reason to belong here.
Mass times at St. Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- First Friday of the Month: 1:00–1:30 PM
- Saturday: 3:00–4:00 PM
- Sunday (Spanish only): 5:30–6:00 PM
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration Chapel: open 24 hours / 7 days a week
- Monthly communal Adoration: Last Friday of the month at 8:00 PM
Welcome and Parish Identity
St. Mary Catholic Church describes itself as 'a welcoming Roman Catholic community, rich in history, made strong by our diversity and unity of purpose.' The parish centers its life on the Eucharist — coming together to 'celebrate, learn, and serve' — and welcomes both English-speaking and Spanish-speaking families as one Catholic community. The parish mission, as posted on the website, is 'to proclaim the Gospel of Christ to our local community in word, deed, and truth.' A bilingual welcome on the homepage greets visitors in English and Spanish.
- Bilingual welcome: 'Welcome! Bienvenidos!'
- Parish mission: proclaim the Gospel in word, deed, and truth
History of St. Mary Parish
The parish was founded in 1850 under the leadership of the diocesan bishop, and the parish website points to those founding Catholics as 'our spiritual forefathers.' Bishop Richard Gilmour purchased land for a Catholic cemetery in May 1873, and Bishop Fitzgerald of Little Rock blessed St. Mary Cemetery on June 27, 1875. The elementary school ran for 147 years before closing in 2008; the building now houses the Parish School of Religion. Bishop Edward Malesic celebrated a bilingual Advent Mass at the parish in 2020, calling St. Mary's 'an image of the Church that is made up of many peoples, languages and cultures.'
- Established 1850
- St. Mary Cemetery blessed June 27, 1875 by Bishop Fitzgerald
- School closed 2008 after 147 years
Pastoral Leadership and Staff
Fr. R. Stephen ('Steve') Vellenga has been pastor since October 1, 1997. He was ordained on June 13, 1981, studied in Rome, served in the Cleveland Latin American Mission in El Salvador, and traveled extensively as Director of the Propagation of the Faith for the Diocese of Cleveland. He is assisted by Parochial Vicar Fr. James A. Parisi. The parish staff also includes Business Manager Michael Manary, Bookkeeper Diane Swatowski, Secretary Diana Olvera, PCL (Pastoral/Parish Catechetical Leader) Maria Chavez, Music Director MaryAnn Ratchko-Gamez, Maintenance staff, and a Bilingual Outreach contact, Oscar Ornelas.
- Pastor: Rev. R. Stephen Vellenga
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. James A. Parisi
- Business Manager: Michael Manary
- Bookkeeper: Diane Swatowski
- Secretary: Diana Olvera
- PCL: Maria Chavez
- Music Director: MaryAnn Ratchko-Gamez
Music and Liturgical Ministries
Music Ministry aims to 'deepen the experience of shared prayer and worship through song,' and St. Mary's supports multiple choirs reflecting its bilingual character. A range of liturgical volunteer roles — lectors, Eucharistic ministers, greeters, ushers, sacristans, altar servers, and the linen service — round out the parish's worship life.
- Community Choir (Saturday 4 PM or Sunday 10 AM Mass; rehearsal Thursday 7 PM)
- Children's Choir ages 5–15 (rehearsal Thursday 6 PM)
- Bilingual Choir (Sunday noon Mass; rehearsal Sunday 11 AM)
- Spanish Choir / Coro Misa (Sunday evening Mass; rehearsal Thursday 7 PM in Guadalupe Hall)
- Angels & Saints Funeral Choir
- Cantors at all Masses
- Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors, Greeters, Ushers, Sacristans, Senior Altar Servers, Liturgical Linen Service
Faith Formation: Religious Education (PSR)
After the closure of the elementary school in 2008, the parish redirected catechetical efforts into the Parish School of Religion (PSR), now serving about 500 children in grades 1–8. Classes meet on weekday evenings, and sacramental preparation is offered for First Communion, First Penance, and Confirmation.
- PSR Grades 1–8, First year Pre-Communion: Mondays 6:00–7:00 PM
- Pre-Confirmation: Tuesdays 6:00–7:00 PM
- Children's Mass participation: alternating Sundays at 12:00 noon, meeting in the Father Hanzo Center at 11:00 AM
- Confirmation prep follows one full year of pre-confirmation, also at the 12 noon Mass
- PSR registrations begin in early August
RCIA and Adult Initiation
The parish offers the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) for adults preparing to enter the Catholic Church or complete their initiation through the sacraments.
- RCIA — preparation of adult candidates for Catholic sacraments
Sacraments and Sacramental Preparation
St. Mary's offers preparation for the full range of Catholic sacraments, with bilingual options that reflect the parish's identity.
- Baptism Preparation — English by appointment; Spanish on the last Saturday of every month at 7:00 PM
- First Communion and First Penance preparation
- Confirmation preparation (after one full year of pre-confirmation)
- Matrimony — contact the rectory
- Anointing of the Sick and Communion to the homebound via the Eucharistic Minister ministry
Outreach and Social Justice
Outreach is anchored by the parish's St. Vincent de Paul conference, which runs multiple food and clothing ministries for the Painesville community, and Project Hope Meal, which prepares food monthly for roughly 50 residents.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society — home visits for rent, utilities, food, and clothing
- Pre-packed food pantry: Tuesdays 10 AM–12 PM
- 'Choice' Food Pantry: Saturdays 9–11:30 AM
- Mobile Food Pantry: 2nd Tuesday, March–November, 2:30–7:00 PM
- SVdP Clothing Room: Tuesdays and Saturdays 9 AM–Noon
- SVdP meetings: 1st and 3rd Mondays at 7 PM
- Project Hope Meal — 4th Thursday/month; prepare a part of a meal at home and deliver to FHC
Annual Hispanic Faith & Culture Celebration
Each September, during Hispanic Culture Awareness Month, St. Mary's hosts its annual Hispanic Faith & Culture celebration, opening with a procession of national flags and bringing together the diocese's Hispanic community for Mass and fellowship. In 2022 the gathering also marked the start of the diocese's three-year Eucharistic Renewal.
- Held annually in September
- Opens with a traditional procession of flags
- Hosted by Fr. Vellenga; in 2022 launched the diocesan Eucharistic Renewal
Historic St. Mary Cemetery
St. Mary Cemetery was purchased by Bishop Richard Gilmour in May 1873 and blessed by Bishop Fitzgerald of Little Rock on June 27, 1875. Located at the end of South State Street, it is open to non-parishioners and offers traditional burial, in-ground cremation, and above-ground cremation niches in the Memorial Garden columbarium (48 niches per unit).
- Located at the end of South State Street, Painesville
- Land purchased May 1873 by Bishop Richard Gilmour
- Blessed June 27, 1875 by Bishop Fitzgerald
- Traditional burial, in-ground cremation, and columbarium niches
- Open to non-parishioners — contact the rectory at 440-354-6200
Parish Life and Getting Involved
Beyond the sacraments, St. Mary's encourages parishioners to stay connected through the weekly bulletin, the parish calendar, and a wide range of ministries. The website points to youth ministry, men's and women's groups, the annual parish bazaar, and many other ways to serve, inviting anyone with an idea for a new ministry to contact the parish office.
- Weekly bulletin and parish calendar
- Youth ministry
- Men's and women's groups
- Annual parish bazaar
- Parish Pastoral Council and Finance Council
- Open invitation to propose new ministries
Contact and Location
St. Mary Parish is located in downtown Painesville, Ohio, on North State Street. The parish office can be reached by phone or email, and the website hosts an inquiry form for baptism requests, sponsor certificates, and parish registration.
- Address: 242 N. State St., Painesville, OH 44077
- Phone: (440) 354-6200
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.stmarypvl.org/
- Facebook: facebook.com/stmarypvl
- Online forms: Baptism Request, Sponsor Certificate, Registration Form
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Michael CandelessAround 2008
Referenced in local coverage as a parish priest around the time of St. Mary School's closure.
- Rev. R. Stephen VellengaOctober 1, 1997 – present
Ordained June 13, 1981; studied in Rome; served in the Cleveland Latin American Mission of El Salvador; was Director of the Propagation of the Faith for the Diocese of Cleveland; pastor of St. Mary since Oct. 1, 1997.