About St. Patrick · Kent, Ohio
St. Patrick Catholic Parish is a historic parish in Kent, Ohio — the Catholic heart of a college town minutes from Kent State University. Founded in 1864 and part of the Diocese of Youngstown, the parish has served generations of Kent Catholics from its present church on North DePeyster Street, built in 1952–53 and adorned with stained-glass windows depicting the life of its patron, Saint Patrick of Ireland. Today it operates St. Patrick School (K–8), a religious-education program, adult formation, the Route 59 collaborative youth ministry, and an active music ministry, while sharing its pastor with the University Parish Newman Center and Immaculate Conception Parish in Ravenna as part of the Kent Catholic Community. In 2026 the parish will formally merge with those two sister parishes to form the new Saint Katharine Drexel Parish.
- Established
- 1864
- Patron
- Saint Patrick of Ireland
- Rector
- Very Rev. William B. Kraynak, VF
- Diocese
- Diocese of Youngstown
Why belong here
St. Patrick offers the full rhythm of a historic parish life in a college town — daily and Sunday Mass, a long-standing K–8 Catholic school, the Parish School of Religion, the Route 59 collaborative youth ministry for grades 9–12, OCIA for adults, and Bible study. Parishioners worship in a 1950s church filled with stained-glass windows telling the story of their patron saint, and they take the faith outward through weekly ministries to local nursing homes, the homebound, and Portage County Jail inmates. As St. Patrick enters a new chapter — joining with the University Parish Newman Center and Immaculate Conception, Ravenna to form the Saint Katharine Drexel Parish on July 1, 2026 — it remains a warm, active community for Kent State students and longtime Kent families alike.
Mass times at St. Patrick
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:45 PM (St. Patrick Church)
- Saturdays 11:00 AM in the church (per parish website; also by appointment with Rev. David Bridling)
Adoration times
- Tuesday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM, ending with Benediction (St. Patrick)
St. Patrick Catholic Parish, Kent, Ohio
St. Patrick Catholic Parish is a historic parish in the Diocese of Youngstown, founded in 1864 and centered on North DePeyster Street in downtown Kent. Today it shares a pastor with the University Parish Newman Center at Kent State University and Immaculate Conception Parish in Ravenna, together forming the Kent Catholic Community. By decree of Bishop David Bonnar, the three parishes will formally merge on July 1, 2026, to become Saint Katharine Drexel Parish.
- Founded 1864
- Diocese of Youngstown (Parish Code 403, Portage Deanery)
- Current church built 1952–53 on N. DePeyster Street
- Pastors: St. Patrick School (K–8), Parish School of Religion, Route 59 Youth Ministry, OCIA, Music Ministry
A Brief History of the Parish
Catholics began gathering in Franklin Mills (later Kent) around 1850, traveling by horse to St. Mary in Hudson for Mass. With the arrival of the Atlantic and Great Western Railroad and a growing Irish Catholic workforce, a visiting priest began offering weekly Mass in the town hall in 1862. In 1864 Kent and Ravenna were separated under Father Patrick Henry Brown, who raised funds for a permanent church; with land donated by town philanthropist Marvin Kent, the brick-and-stone church was completed in 1868 with a 120-foot steeple. The parish grew steadily through the late 19th and 20th centuries, building its first school in 1881, a larger four-classroom school and convent in 1885–86 (staffed by the Sisters of the Holy Humility of Mary from Villa Maria, Pennsylvania), a new rectory in 1902, an eight-classroom brick school in 1924, and the present church on North DePeyster Street in 1952–53.
- 1850s — Catholics in Franklin Mills gather in a home on South Water Street
- 1862 — Visiting priest begins weekly Mass in the town hall
- 1864 — Kent and Ravenna become separate parishes under Fr. Patrick Henry Brown
- 1867–68 — First brick-and-stone church built with a 120-foot steeple
- 1872 — Land on North Mantua Street purchased for St. Patrick Cemetery
- 1881 — First parish school built by Fr. Joseph D. Bowles
- 1886 — Four Sisters of the Holy Humility of Mary arrive to teach at the new school
- 1902 — Rectory built on N. DePeyster and Portage Streets
- 1924 — Eight-classroom brick school built by Fr. James Nolan
- 1950–53 — Present church on N. DePeyster Street constructed under Fr. Mulroy
- 2003 — Gymnasium added to the school under Msgr. Timothy Kenney
Worship & Sacraments
St. Patrick offers a steady rhythm of weekday and Sunday Masses, Saturday confessions, and a full weekly Eucharistic Adoration with Benediction each Tuesday. The parish is also a hub for the celebration of the sacraments across the Kent Catholic Community.
- Saturday Vigil Mass — 5:00 PM
- Sunday Mass — 11:00 AM
- Weekday Mass — Tuesday and Thursday, 8:30 AM
- Confessions — Saturday 3:45 PM (also Saturdays 11:00 AM in church; by appointment with Rev. David Bridling)
- Adoration — Tuesday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM, ending with Benediction
- Baptism of Infants (birth–age 7) with preparation class
- First Reconciliation and First Eucharist (last Saturday in April)
- Confirmation (in collaboration with sister parishes)
- Marriage preparation
- Anointing of the Sick and Communion to the Homebound
St. Patrick School (K–8)
St. Patrick School has been educating children in Kent since 1886, when four Sisters of the Holy Humility of Mary arrived from Villa Maria, Pennsylvania to teach. Now serving grades K–8, the school is staffed by a dedicated lay faculty led by Principal Mr. Howard Mancini and supported by a gymnasium added in 2003. Its eight-classroom brick building dates to 1924, and a major three-story addition completed under Father Mulroy in the late 1950s more than doubled the school's size.
- Grades K–8
- Principal: Mr. Howard Mancini
- Address: 127 Portage St., Kent, OH 44240
- Phone: (330) 673-7232
- Faculty includes Art/Spanish, Music, and guidance/tutoring staff
- Parochial Vicar (school chaplain): Rev. William Wainio (now Vocation Director for the Diocese of Youngstown)
- Parish Bookkeeper: Mrs. Eileen Knotts
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Beyond the school, the parish runs the Parish School of Religion (PSR) for children in Pre-K through Grade 8, the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) for adults seeking to enter or deepen life in the Catholic Church, an adapted OCIA track for older children, and adult faith formation with Bible study.
- PSR (Parish School of Religion) — Sundays 9:45–10:45 AM, Pre-K–Grade 8
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) — Tuesday evenings 6:30–8:00 PM in the Captain's Cabin
- OCIA Adapted for Children (grade 3+) — initiation at the Easter Vigil
- Sacramental Preparation for First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, Confirmation, and Marriage
- Adult Faith Formation and Bible Study
- Director of Religious Education & Office Manager: Jessica DeFrange
- Director of Adult Faith Formation / Safe Environment Compliance Officer: Michal Zabrecky
Music Ministry
Music at St. Patrick is led by a Director of Music and carried out by a volunteer parish choir, cantors at each weekend Mass, and a funeral choir that ministers to grieving families. Rehearsals for the parish choir are held Thursday evenings in the choir loft.
- St. Patrick Parish Choir — sings at one weekend Mass and on Christmas, Holy Week, and Easter; rehearses Thursdays 7:00 PM
- Cantors — solo volunteer singers for each weekend Mass; rehearsals scheduled periodically
- St. Patrick Funeral Choir — provides comforting music at funeral liturgies, no regular rehearsals
- Instrumentalists are welcome to join the music ministry
- Contact: [email protected]
Youth Ministry — Route 59
St. Patrick shares the Route 59 Youth Ministry with the University Parish Newman Center and Immaculate Conception Parish in Ravenna — a collaborative program for high-school-age (grades 9–12) young people combining ministry, catechesis, and service. Meetings are held Sunday evenings from 6:00 to 7:30 PM at the Newman Center, September through April.
- Collaborative program across three parishes
- Meets Sundays 6:00–7:30 PM at the Newman Center
- Open to grades 9–12
- Led by the directors of religious education from the three parishes, with parent and college-student volunteers
- Contact: Jamie Schall — [email protected] — (330) 678-0240
- Social: Facebook and Instagram @RT59YM
Outreach & Pastoral Care
The parish extends its mission beyond its walls through a steady program of pastoral outreach. Weekly ministers bring the Eucharist and companionship to local nursing homes, the homebound, and inmates at the Portage County Jail. The parish also takes part in Soup Suppers during Lent, the Parish Picnic in August, and Breakfast with Santa in December.
- Weekly ministry to local nursing homes and the homebound
- Weekly ministry to Portage County Jail inmates
- Lenten Soup Suppers
- Annual Parish Picnic in August
- Breakfast with Santa in December
- Support for Catholic and community organizations
Parish Staff
St. Patrick's day-to-day life is supported by a small, dedicated team of clergy, deacons, and lay staff working together across the Kent Catholic Community.
- Very Rev. William B. Kraynak, VF — Pastor
- Rev. William Wainio — Administrator / Parochial Vicar (now Vocation Director, Diocese of Youngstown)
- Rev. David Bridling
- Rev. John Rovnak
- Deacon Timothy DeFrange — Permanent Deacon / Pastoral Associate
- Jamie Schall — Director of Music
- Dr. David Simms — Director of Communications
- Jessica DeFrange — Director of Religious Education & Office Manager
- Michal Zabrecky — Director of Adult Faith Formation / Safe Environment Compliance Officer
- Eileen Knotts — Parish Bookkeeper
Parish Cemetery
St. Patrick Cemetery has been part of the parish since 1872, when Father W.J. Gibbons purchased land on North Mantua Street for the burial ground of Kent's Catholic families. It remains an active parish cemetery and a tangible link to more than 150 years of parish history.
- Address: 1361 N. Mantua St., Kent, OH 44240-2331
- Established 1872
Visit, Contact, and Getting Involved
Parishioners and visitors are warmly welcomed at St. Patrick Church. As of late 2025, the parish office has moved to the University Parish Newman Center at 1424 Horning Road, Kent, while worship continues at St. Patrick Church on North DePeyster Street. The church is just minutes from Kent State University and easily walkable from campus.
- Church address: 313 N. DePeyster St., Kent, OH 44240
- Parish office: 1424 Horning Rd., Kent, OH 44240 (Newman Center)
- Phone: (330) 673-5849
- Office hours: Monday–Thursday, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM (closed Fridays)
- Mass times: see Worship & Sacraments above
- For inquiries about joining a ministry, contact the parish office or visit kentcatholic.org
Looking Ahead — Saint Katharine Drexel Parish (2026)
Bishop David Bonnar, in consultation with parish leadership and the Diocesan Presbyteral Council, has announced that St. Patrick Parish (Kent), the University Parish Newman Center (Kent), and Immaculate Conception Parish (Ravenna) will merge effective July 1, 2026, to form a new parish community named Saint Katharine Drexel. The three parishes have already been sharing a pastor and collaborating closely since 2024, particularly through youth ministry and combined Confirmation celebrations.
- Announced by Bishop David Bonnar
- Effective July 1, 2026
- New name: Saint Katharine Drexel Parish
- Combines St. Patrick (Kent), University Parish Newman Center (Kent), and Immaculate Conception (Ravenna)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Patrick Henry Brown1864–1872
Founding pastor from St. Mary, Hudson; raised funds, received land donation from Marvin Kent, and built the first brick-and-stone church (completed 1868).
- Fr. W.J. Gibbons1872–
Succeeded Fr. Brown; purchased land on North Mantua Street in 1872 for St. Patrick Cemetery.
- Fr. Francis J. O'Neillfrom 1878
First resident pastor of St. Patrick.
- Fr. Joseph D. Bowles1880s
Irish-born; built the parish's first school in 1881 during his second pastorate.
- Fr. George Leeming1880s
English-born; built a four-classroom school expansion around 1885 and a convent for the sisters in 1886.
- Fr. Ambrose Graham1902
Built the new rectory on North DePeyster and Portage Streets, still standing today.
- Fr. James Nolan1920s
Built the brick eight-classroom school in 1924.
- Fr. Patrick Logan1920s
Succeeded Fr. Nolan during continued parish expansion.
- Fr. Mulroy1950s
Built the new church on North DePeyster Street (1952–53) and oversaw a major three-story school addition (completed 1959) plus a new convent for the Humility of Mary Sisters.
- Msgr. Joseph Kochfrom 1964
Mounted a major effort to retire parish debt and upgrade the school when enrollment peaked at 800.
- Fr. Michael Balash1993 (associate pastor)
Renovated the interior of the present church.
- Msgr. Timothy Kenney1985–2003
Longest-serving pastor in parish history; built a large gymnasium on the school in 2003; died in 2003.
- Very Rev. William B. Kraynak, VFpresent
Current pastor; now serves the Kent Catholic Community (St. Patrick, Newman Center, Immaculate Conception).