About St. Michael [Ukrainian] · Rossford, Ohio
St. Michael Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church is a Byzantine-rite (Ukrainian Greek Catholic) parish in Rossford, Ohio, serving the northwest Ohio region for over a century. It belongs to the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church under the Eparchy of St. Josaphat in Parma, Ohio — a particular Church of the Orthodox tradition in full communion with Rome and organized as a traditional Patriarchate. The parish welcomes all to encounter the beauty, reverence, and rich spiritual tradition of the Eastern Catholic faith, regardless of Ukrainian heritage. The community gathers weekly for the Divine Liturgy and Confession, and continues to preserve Ukrainian customs through fellowship, food, music, and education.
- Established
- 1912
- Patron
- St. Michael the Archangel
- Rector
- Very Rev. Mitred Archpriest Father Steven M. Paliwoda
- Diocese
- Eparchy of St. Josaphat in Parma (Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church)
Why belong here
St. Michael's is a small but enduring Byzantine Catholic community that has witnessed to the Ukrainian Greek Catholic faith in northwest Ohio for more than a century. Visitors of any background are welcomed to experience the Divine Liturgy, and the parish pairs its liturgical life with a rich calendar of Ukrainian cultural traditions — pysanky workshops, Malanka, pyrohy and paska making, Ukrainian language and embroidery classes — alongside parish festivals, fish fries, and Monte Carlo nights. Under the pastoral care of Fr. Steven Paliwoda and Deacon Trevor Fernandes, it remains a close-knit spiritual home where faith, heritage, and hospitality meet.
Mass times at St. Michael [Ukrainian]
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday — 3:30 p.m. (before Vigil Divine Liturgy)
- Sunday — 8:00 a.m. (before Divine Liturgy)
- By appointment
About St. Michael Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church
St. Michael Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Rossford, Ohio, is a parish of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church under the Eparchy of St. Josaphat in Parma. For more than 100 years it has given constant witness to the Greek Catholic faith in northwest Ohio. The parish's welcome page is explicit: 'You do not need to be Ukrainian to experience the Divine Liturgy. All are welcome to come and encounter the beauty, reverence, and rich spiritual tradition of the Eastern Catholic faith.'
Our Eparchy: St. Josaphat in Parma
St. Michael's belongs to the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Eparchy of St. Josaphat in Parma, Ohio. The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church is a particular Church of the Orthodox tradition in full communion with the Church of Rome, organized as a traditional Patriarchate of the first millennium — fully Orthodox and fully Catholic, with parishes not only in Ukraine but worldwide in communion with Patriarch Sviatoslav and the Holy See. The Eparchy's vision calls the parish to be a vibrant, living icon of Christ, an open church for people of all ethnic backgrounds, and an authentic medium of God's presence.
- Jurisdiction: Ukrainian Greek Catholic Eparchy of St. Josaphat in Parma, Ohio
- In full communion with Rome; Ukrainian Catholic Major Archbishop: Sviatoslav Shevchuk
History of the Parish
Founded in 1912 by Ukrainian immigrant families in Rossford, the parish built its first modest wooden church that same year on land donated by Edward Ford. By 1924 Fr. George Krupa had become pastor. Growth led the community to replace the wooden structure with a brick church in 1948. Major renovations in the 1980s — undertaken in honor of the Millennium of Christianity in Ukraine (988) — added a hand-carved iconostasis, stained-glass windows, a shrine, new altars, and other improvements. The 75th anniversary in 1988 was celebrated with a Pontifical Divine Liturgy by Bishop Robert Moskal, and the parish marked its centennial in October 2012.
- 1912 — First wooden church built and consecrated on Walnut Street; land donated by Edward Ford
- 1924 — Fr. George Krupa becomes pastor
- 1948 — Original wooden church replaced with a larger brick church
- 1980s — Major renovation: iconostasis, stained-glass windows, altars, shrine, new entrance/narthex
- 1988 — 75th anniversary + Millennium of Christianity in Ukraine celebrated with Bishop Robert Moskal
- 2012 — 100th anniversary of the parish
Renovation and Renewal
The 1980s project transformed both the interior and exterior of the church in honor of the Millennium of Christianity in Ukraine (988). Parishioners also refurbished the rectory, remodeled the church basement kitchen, installed air conditioning, renovated the church hall basement and storage areas, and purchased and fenced additional parking adjacent to the church hall.
- New entrance door and enlarged narthex
- Shrine addition
- Refurbished pews
- New stained-glass windows
- Hand-carved iconostasis with icons
- New altars and tabernacle
- New embroidered altar cloths
- New carpeting throughout
- Rectory refurbished, kitchen remodeled, AC installed, additional parking acquired
Parish Life and Ukrainian Traditions
Throughout its history, St. Michael's has been sustained by volunteer efforts and a vibrant calendar of cultural and fundraising events. These activities have both supported the parish financially and preserved cherished Ukrainian customs. Parishioners gather to make pyrohy, bake paskas for Easter, and prepare cookies for Christmas. The church has also fostered spiritual and educational growth through choir programs, catechism classes, Ukrainian language instruction, embroidery classes, and pysanky (Easter egg) decorating workshops.
- Festivals and fish fries
- Monte Carlo nights
- Garage sales
- Ethnic dinners
- Malanka (Ukrainian New Year) celebrations
- Holiday baking (paska, Christmas cookies, pyrohy)
- Pysanky workshops
- Ukrainian language instruction
- Embroidery classes
- Choir program
- Catechism for children and adults
Clergy and Pastoral Staff
The parish is currently led as Administrator by Very Rev. Mitred Archpriest Father Steven M. Paliwoda, assisted by Father Deacon Trevor Fernandes. Fr. Paliwoda was honored by Patriarch Sviatoslav with the title of Very Reverend Mitred Archpriest in recognition of his service to the Eparchy. In emergencies, parishioners are invited to call the priest's or deacon's cell phone numbers listed on the parish contact page.
- Administrator: Very Rev. Mitred Archpriest Father Steven M. Paliwoda — cell (440) 213-7507
- Deacon: Father Deacon Trevor Fernandes — cell (419) 206-0751
- Fr. George Krupa — pastor from 1924 (early pastor)
Liturgy and Sacraments
St. Michael's celebrates the Byzantine Divine Liturgy in the Ukrainian Greek Catholic tradition. Weekly services include a Saturday Vigil and a Sunday Divine Liturgy, with the Sacrament of Confession offered before each Liturgy and by appointment. Weddings require contacting Fr. Paliwoda at least six months before the planned date; baptisms should be arranged as soon as possible before the birth.
- Saturday Vigil Divine Liturgy — 4:00 p.m. (Confession at 3:30 p.m.)
- Sunday Divine Liturgy — 8:30 a.m. (Confession at 8:00 a.m.)
- Confession by appointment
- Baptism — contact parish before birth
- Marriage — at least 6 months' notice
- Anointing / emergency pastoral care available
Contact and Location
The parish offices and church are located at 133 Walnut Street in Rossford, Ohio 43460, on land originally donated by Edward Ford to the Ukrainian Catholic community in 1912. Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish by phone during office hours, or by contacting Fr. Paliwoda or Deacon Fernandes directly on their cell phones. Confessions and sacramental needs are also handled by appointment.
- Address: 133 Walnut Street, Rossford, OH 43460
- Parish phone: (419) 666-5627
- Fr. Steven Paliwoda: (440) 213-7507
- Deacon Trevor Fernandes: (419) 206-0751
- On-site parking adjacent to the church hall
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. George Krupafrom 1924
Became pastor of the young Rossford mission in 1924.