About St. Paul · Fort Recovery, Ohio
St. Paul Parish is a small, rural Roman Catholic parish in the hamlet of Sharpsburg, southeast of Fort Recovery in Mercer County, Ohio, with deep roots in the 19th-century German Catholic settlement of southwestern Ohio. Established in 1868 by nine pioneer farm families, it is today one of seven parishes in the Holy Cross Family of Parishes and is pastored from the family offices at 403 Sharpsburg Road in Fort Recovery. Worship is celebrated in a Gothic-Revival church whose 15 stained-glass windows depict the life of St. Paul the Apostle; the parish grounds also include a parish hall built in 1973 and a small historic cemetery. With roughly 220 families (as of the 2018 sesquicentennial), St. Paul is known for its strong parish identity, its very large CCD religious-education program, and the tenacity of its German-heritage descendants of the original founders.
- Established
- 1868
- Patron
- St. Paul the Apostle
- Rector
- Rev. Alexander T. Witt
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Cincinnati (Metropolitan Archdiocese of Cincinnati); member of the Holy Cross Family of Parishes
Why belong here
St. Paul is a small, close-knit rural parish where the same German-heritage family names that built the church in 1868 still fill its pews, and many parishioners are descended from those original pioneer families. Worship is celebrated in a beautiful Gothic-Revival church with 15 imported German stained-glass windows, and the parish grounds include a parish hall (built 1973) for CCD, fellowship, and rental. With about 220 families, the parish runs an unusually robust CCD program — averaging roughly 150 children on Wednesday evenings — and offers daily opportunities for confession, Thursday Mass, and extended Thursday Eucharistic Adoration. It is also a place where faith and farm life visibly meet, with as many as 25 infants sometimes present at a single Sunday Mass and a strong tradition of helping neighbors in need after storms and other emergencies.
Mass times at St. Paul
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday: 10:25 am – 10:45 am (30 minutes before Mass)
- Thursday: after the 7:15 am Mass
Adoration times
- Thursday: 7:45 am – 5:00 pm
Parish Identity and Location
St. Paul Parish sits in the unincorporated hamlet of Sharpsburg, southeast of the village of Fort Recovery in rural Mercer County, Ohio — part of the historic 'Land of the Cross-Tipped Churches' of southwestern Ohio. Its mailing address is 517 Meiring Road, Fort Recovery, OH 45846, and it shares family offices at 403 Sharpsburg Road with the rest of the Holy Cross Family of Parishes. The patron is St. Paul the Apostle, whose life is depicted in the church's 15 German stained-glass windows.
- Parish address: 517 Meiring Road, Fort Recovery, OH 45846
- Family office: 403 Sharpsburg Road, Fort Recovery, OH 45846
- Parish phone: 419-375-4153
- Coldwater family office: 419-678-4802
- Established 1868; member parish of the Holy Cross Family of Parishes since July 1, 2022
History of St. Paul Parish
The parish's story begins in 1867, when Archbishop John B. Purcell of Cincinnati bought the future church site from Peter and Mary Ann Wourms for $100. In the spring of 1868 nine neighboring families met to plan and build a modest wooden church, which was completed that same year for $1,000. A lightning strike on August 18, 1886 destroyed most of that first structure, and a new Gothic-Revival church designed by Anton DeCutins was built in its place and dedicated in 1889. Over the following century the parish added a one-room schoolhouse (later expanded to eight rooms before closing) and a CCD/Parish Hall in 1973. The 150th anniversary was marked on June 24, 2018 with Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurch presiding, and in 2022 St. Paul joined the Holy Cross Family of Parishes under the Beacons of Light initiative.
- 1867 — Archbishop John B. Purcell purchases the site for $100 from Peter and Mary Ann Wourms
- 1868 — Pioneer families (Wourms, Evers, Schwartz, Timmerman, Susbauer, Schneider, Klingshirn, Schmitz, Detrick) build the original 30 × 40 ft wooden church for $1,000
- August 18, 1886 — Lightning destroys most of the original church
- 1889 — Current Gothic-Revival church, designed by Anton DeCutins, is dedicated at a cost of $8,000
- 1973 — CCD/Parish Hall constructed on the grounds
- June 24, 2018 — 150th anniversary Mass with Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr; 408-page parish history book published
- July 1, 2022 — St. Paul becomes a member of the Holy Cross Family of Parishes
St. Paul Renovation Project (Capital Campaign)
In 2025–2026 the parish launched a multi-phase Renovation Project described on the parish website as 'Renewing Our Parish Home for Today and Tomorrow.' Phase 1, scheduled to begin in Spring, includes replacement of the hall, garage, and rectory roofing; replacement of all hall, bathroom, sacristy, and classroom windows; and cry-room and confessional repairs — fully funded at $111,000 thanks to parishioner generosity. Phase 1 (handicap-accessible hall restrooms) needs an additional $44,233, and Phase 2 (kitchen and hall updates with electrical and plumbing upgrades) needs $158,840, with later phases covering drainage, parking lot, landscaping, classrooms, HVAC, and basement finishing. The project is led by Father Witt and the St. Paul Parish Council, with Family Council representatives Dustin Sudhoff (937-344-1590) and Lindsey Reinhard (419-852-4446).
- Phase 1 — Roofing, windows, cry room, confessional: $111,000 (fully funded)
- Phase 1 — Handicap-accessible hall restrooms: $44,233 still needed
- Phase 2 — Kitchen and hall updates, electrical and plumbing: $158,840 still needed
- Phase 3 — Drainage, plumbing, parking lot, landscaping, upstairs classrooms, HVAC
- Phase 4 — Basement and classroom remodeling
- Target completion of Phases 1 & 2: November 1, 2026 (contingent on funds raised)
Pastoral and Parish Staff
St. Paul shares its clergy with the other six parishes of the Holy Cross Family of Parishes. The pastor is Rev. Alexander T. Witt, who also leads St. Peter, St. Mary (Philothea), St. Anthony, Mary Help of Christians, St. Joseph, and Holy Trinity. He is assisted by three parochial vicars — Rev. Ethan Moore, Rev. Joseph Kumar Pasala, and Rev. Barry Stechschulte — and two deacons, Deacon Daniel Kahlig and Deacon Roger Kaiser. Cluster-wide staff supporting the family include business managers, administrative assistants, a Director of Communications, CCD coordinators, youth ministry, OCIA, bereavement, and a Safe Environment coordinator.
- Rev. Alexander T. Witt — Pastor
- Rev. Ethan Moore — Parochial Vicar
- Rev. Joseph Kumar Pasala — Parochial Vicar
- Rev. Barry Stechschulte — Parochial Vicar
- Deacon Daniel Kahlig
- Deacon Roger Kaiser
Parish Council and Family Representatives
Each parish in the Holy Cross Family sends two Family Council representatives to coordinate cluster-wide life. St. Paul's current representatives are Dustin Sudhoff and Lindsey Reinhard, with Matt Hart, Michele Homan, Kevin Knapke, and Kim Knapke also listed among the parish's parish-council contacts. The council works closely with Father Witt on the Renovation Project and other parish initiatives.
- Dustin Sudhoff — 937-344-1590
- Lindsey Reinhard — 419-852-4446
- Matt Hart — 419-852-2372
- Michele Homan — 419-852-1947
- Kevin Knapke — 419-305-6869
- Kim Knapke — 419-852-3756
Faith Formation: CCD, OCIA, and Adult Evangelization
St. Paul maintains a robust religious-education program for parish children, with CCD classes held on Wednesday evenings. As of the 2018 sesquicentennial, an average of about 150 children attended CCD each week — so many that local public schools reportedly schedule no sports or extracurricular activities during that time slot. Adult formation is led by Cindy Muhlenkamp (Director of Adult Evangelization) and Ginny Fortkamp (OCIA coordinator for the MHC/SJ/SPL/SPT cluster). Family-wide CCD coordination is handled by Harlie Metzger.
- CCD (religious education) — Wednesday evenings
- OCIA — Ginny Fortkamp
- Adult Evangelization — Cindy Muhlenkamp
- Family CCD Coordinator — Harlie Metzger
- Youth Ministry — Natalie Ashbaugh (MHC/SJ/SPL/SPT cluster)
Music and Liturgy
Music at St. Paul is coordinated by parish musician Susan Bertke, working with the pastor and the cluster's wider music ministry. The parish's worship life centers on its 15 imported German stained-glass windows depicting the life of St. Paul the Apostle, set within the ribbed vaulting of the 1889 Gothic-Revival sanctuary.
- Parish musician — Susan Bertke
- 15 German stained-glass windows depicting the life of St. Paul the Apostle
- Gothic-Revival sanctuary with ribbed vaulting (church of 1889)
Parish Hall and Facilities
The parish grounds include a CCD/Parish Hall built in 1973, used for religious education, parish events, and community rentals. Hall rental inquiries for St. Paul are handled by Jen Thompson at 419-852-1093. The current Renovation Project is dedicated in part to upgrading this hall, including a fully accessible restroom, kitchen refresh, electrical and plumbing work, and eventual re-paving of the parking lot and new HVAC.
- Parish Hall (built 1973) — CCD, parish events, and rentals
- Hall rental contact — Jen Thompson, 419-852-1093
- Renovation Phases 1–2 include accessible restrooms and kitchen/hall updates
Outreach, Bereavement, and Prayer Lines
St. Paul joins its sister parishes in the Holy Cross Family in the annual 'Hope of the Poor' Mission Trip, scheduled for June 4–9. Locally, the parish offers a Bereavement Ministry coordinated by Ginny Fortkamp (419-375-4153) and a 'Call for Prayer' line staffed by Cindy Hemmelgarn (419-678-4084). Rita McEldowney (937-621-3126) coordinates a 'Pray for the Unborn, Pray for Life!' devotion. Father Brown observed at the 150th anniversary that parishioners regularly rally to help one another — including coming to the aid of a fellow farmer after a tornado.
- Hope of the Poor Mission Trip — June 4–9 (cluster-wide)
- Bereavement Ministry — Ginny Fortkamp, 419-375-4153
- Call for Prayer — Cindy Hemmelgarn, 419-678-4084
- Pray for the Unborn / Pray for Life! — Rita McEldowney, 937-621-3126
- Safe Environment Coordinator — Kathy Portz (cluster)
150th Anniversary and Parish History Book (2018)
St. Paul marked its 150th anniversary on June 24, 2018 with an anniversary Mass at which Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr presided, concelebrated by Father Ned Brown (pastor), Father Matt Feist (parochial vicar), and other priests with ties to the parish. More than 350 parishioners and friends attended a festive picnic on the parish grounds. The day included the unveiling of a two-sided historic marker (church history on one side, the village of Sharpsburg and the former Sharpsburg School on the other), a speaker series, and tours — including a talk by Father David Hoying on the German heritage of the founders, a presentation by Dr. Allen Bernard on the Gothic-Revival architecture, a tour of the 15 stained-glass windows led by local historian Mary Ann Olding, and a cemetery tour with Nancy Abels. A 408-page hardbound parish history book was published for the occasion.
- 150th Anniversary Mass — June 24, 2018
- Presider — Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr
- Concelebrants — Father Ned Brown, Father Matt Feist, and other priests with parish ties
- Speakers — Father David Hoying (German heritage), Dr. Allen Bernard (architecture), Mary Ann Olding (stained glass), Nancy Abels (cemetery)
- 408-page hardbound parish history book published
- Two-sided historic marker unveiled on parish grounds
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Ned Brownat least 2018
Pastor at the time of the 2018 150th anniversary Mass; native of Minster, OH; oversaw the Fort Recovery Cluster (St. Paul, St. Joseph, St. Peter, Mary Help of Christians) with parochial vicar Father Matt Feist.
- Rev. Alexander T. Witt2022–present
Current pastor of the Holy Cross Family of Parishes under the Archdiocese of Cincinnati's Beacons of Light restructuring, which took effect July 1, 2022.