About St. Paul · Akron, Ohio
St. Paul Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in the Firestone Park neighborhood of South Akron, Ohio, belonging to the Diocese of Cleveland. Founded in 1919 through the efforts of Catholic families working in the nearby Firestone tire plants, the parish was made possible when tire magnate Harvey S. Firestone — himself a Methodist — donated fourteen lots on Brown Street for a new church. More than a century later, St. Paul continues to celebrate the Mass, form disciples through faith formation and music ministry, and serve as a guiding light in its South Akron community.
- Established
- 1919
- Patron
- St. Paul, the Apostle of the Gentiles
- Rector
- Rev. Matthew E. Pfeiffer
- Diocese
- Diocese of Cleveland
Why belong here
St. Paul offers a vibrant Catholic life rooted in the Firestone Park neighborhood of South Akron, with daily and weekend Masses, a full adoration schedule, and First Friday Sacred Heart devotions. Families can form their children through Catechesis of the Good Shepherd and adult faith formation sessions between Sunday Masses, while musically inclined parishioners are welcomed into an adult choir, schola, intergenerational handbell choir, and cantor ministry. Visitors find a parish proud of its 100+ year history, served by a long-tenured pastor and active deacon, and committed to evangelization, Eucharistic worship, and community life.
Mass times at St. Paul
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Friday: 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
- Saturday: 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
- Also by appointment (call the rectory at 330-724-1263)
Adoration times
- Tuesday: 7:30 AM – 3:00 PM, with Benediction at 2:50 PM
- Select Sundays: 15 minutes of Adoration with Benediction following the 8:00 AM Mass
- Select Sundays: 15 minutes of Adoration with Benediction following the 10:30 AM Mass
- Select Saturdays: 15 minutes of Adoration with Benediction following the 4:30 PM Vigil Mass (5:30–6:00 PM)
- Select weekends: 9:00–9:30 PM Adoration and Benediction after the 8:00 AM Mass (per parish schedule)
- Note: Adoration was temporarily suspended during COVID-19; check bulletin for current schedule
Parish History
St. Paul's history is bound tightly to that of the Firestone Park neighborhood. Around 1915, Harvey S. Firestone, founder of the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company, purchased a large tract of land south of Akron and created the Firestone Park Land Company to provide housing for his workers. Many of the Catholic families who bought lots in the development petitioned their diocesan bishop, John P. Farrelly, to found a parish. Though a Methodist, Firestone donated fourteen lots along Brown Street for the project. Bishop Farrelly appointed the Reverend James Hanley — a recently discharged WWI Army chaplain — to establish the new parish. The first Mass was celebrated on Columbus Day, October 12, 1919.
- First Mass: October 12, 1919 (Columbus Day), in the new Firestone Park School
- First Mass in the new church: April 4, 1920
- Parish school opened 1926 under Father Clement H. Boeke
- New church completed 2003 under Father John Jenkins
- 100th anniversary celebrated September 2019 with Archbishop-designate Edward Perez
Founding Story & the Firestone Park Connection
The parish exists because of an unusual ecumenical gesture: Methodist industrialist Harvey S. Firestone donated fourteen lots on Brown Street to enable Catholic families living in his employee housing development to have a parish of their own. The neighborhood grew up around the Firestone tire works, and the parish grew with it — so much so that the original church had to be rebuilt in the 1960s, and an entirely new church was constructed in 2003 to serve the community.
- 14 lots on Brown Street donated by Harvey S. Firestone
- Father Hanley's bazaar at the Akron Armory funded the original church
- $65,000 construction debt retired with help from unemployed parishioners and the Firestone Bank
Weekly & Monthly Devotions
In addition to scheduled Adoration, the parish keeps several traditional Catholic devotions on its calendar to help the faithful grow as disciples.
- Rosary before 8:30 AM Mass on Mon, Wed, Fri
- Miraculous Medal devotion after Monday 8:30 AM Mass
- First Fridays: Sacred Heart Devotion after 8:30 AM Mass
- Communal Hail Mary and St. Michael Prayer after each Mass
Faith Formation & Religious Education
St. Paul Parish offers Catechesis of the Good Shepherd for children, with registration open. Adult faith formation is offered monthly on the third Sunday of the month between Masses in the Parish Activity Center (PAC), with topics announced in Father Pfeiffer's weekly 'Culture of Encounter' message — recent themes have included Lenten discipline and the virtue of patriotism.
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (registration open)
- Monthly adult faith formation: Sundays 9:20–10:15 AM in the PAC
- Open-forum 'Coffee and mystagogy' sessions
Music Ministries
Music is a major part of parish life at St. Paul. The music director, Heidi Guttermuth, coordinates several ensembles that serve the assembly at Mass. The Adult Choir rehearses Wednesday evenings from September through Corpus Christi and sings on a rotation for the Vigil and Sunday Masses. There is also a Schola (chant choir) and an intergenerational Handbell Choir called the St. Paul Ringers, open to 5th graders through adults.
- Adult Choir — Wed rehearsals 6:30–8:00 PM, sings Vigil and Sunday Masses on rotation
- Schola — chant choir, instruction provided
- St. Paul Ringers — intergenerational Handbell Choir (5th grade through adults)
- Cantor Ministry — open to junior high through adults by audition
- Music Director: Heidi Guttermuth (330-733-0478 or 330-622-2299)
Liturgical Ministries
The parish depends on a strong team of liturgical volunteers. Schedules for Lectors and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion are published on the parish website, and the parish is actively recruiting additional Altar Servers, Lectors, and Ushers.
- Altar Servers (volunteers needed)
- Lectors (published schedule; sub requests to the rectory)
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (three-month rotation; more EMHCs needed)
- Ushers (volunteers needed)
- Cantor Ministry
Parish Staff & Councils
Pastoral and operational leadership at St. Paul is provided by a small core staff supported by elected parish councils.
- Pastor: Rev. Matthew E. Pfeiffer (appointed 2014; ordained 2009)
- Deacon: John J. Amedeo
- Music Director: Heidi Guttermuth
- Business Manager: Jeanne Bearer
- Parish Pastoral Council
- Parish Finance Council
Parish Mission & 'Culture of Encounter'
Under Father Pfeiffer, the parish describes itself as encouraging 'the Culture of Encounter with Jesus Christ, His Church, and All People.' The mission emphasizes three pillars: forming disciples of Christ, building community, and proclaiming the Gospel — particularly by inviting neighbors in the Akron community, regardless of faith background, to encounter the love of Jesus.
- Forming disciples of Christ
- Building community (especially through shared reception of Holy Communion)
- Proclaiming the Gospel
- Use of the FORMED online Catholic study platform
Campus & Facilities
The parish campus at 1580 Brown Street includes the current church (completed 2003), the Parish Activity Center (PAC), and other parish buildings. A sanctuary renovation project — including painting, stars, and lighting — is currently in progress, and the parish is also undertaking summer campus projects (e.g., Parish Activity Center roof replacement).
- Current church completed 2003
- Parish Activity Center (PAC) hosts faith formation and parish events
- Ongoing sanctuary renovation
- Summer 2025 PAC roof work and other campus projects
Visit, Contact & Directions
Visitors are warmly welcomed at St. Paul. The rectory can be reached by phone, and parish bulletins, schedules, and Father Pfeiffer's weekly 'Culture of Encounter' messages are posted on the parish website.
- Address: 1580 Brown Street, Akron, OH 44301
- Phone: (330) 724-1263
- Fax: (330) 724-7680
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.stpaulparishakron.org/
- Directions: I-77 Exit 123 (Wilbeth Rd.), west to Brown St., south two blocks — church on the right
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. James Hanley1919–1920
First pastor; decorated WWI Army chaplain appointed by Bishop Farrelly; died May 21, 1920 of pneumonia attributed to wartime injuries.
- Rev. Edward Gracey1920 (administrator, ~6 months)
Former chaplain; served as temporary administrator after Father Hanley's death.
- Rev. Thomas A. Kirby, D.D.1920–1924
Second pastor; completed the original church and paid off the $65,000 construction debt during the tire-industry depression.
- Rev. Clement H. Boeke (later Monsignor)1924–1961
Built the parish school (opened 1926); enrollment grew to more than 1,500 students; died 1961.
- Monsignor John Gallagher1961–1965
Maintained the aging parish plant and rebuilt the original church.
- Rev. John Clark1965–1973
Steered the school through Vatican II fallout and a financial crisis; died in office in 1973.
- Rev. Thomas Koegle1973–1982
Expanded lay involvement, hired a music director, and launched a contemporary choir.
- Rev. John Jenkins1982–retirement
Realized the longtime dream of a new church, completed in 2003.
- Rev. Ralph Thomasafter Fr. Jenkins
Continued Father Jenkins's forward-looking program and reinvigorated parish organizations.
- Rev. Matthew E. Pfeiffer2014–present
Ordained in 2009; named pastor in 2014; focused on renewing Catholic faith and continuing parish revitalization.