About St. Paul · North Canton, Ohio
St. Paul Parish is a Roman Catholic community in North Canton, Ohio, founded in 1845 by thirty German Catholic families in the village then known as New Berlin. A mission parish of Canton for much of its early history, it received its first resident pastor in 1896 and built its current church in 1910–1911. Today the parish worships in a renovated sanctuary seating up to 1,000, runs a PK–8 Catholic school (St. Paul School), and is known for ministries including OCIA, youth ministry, small-group Bible studies, the Knights of Columbus, a Women's Guild, a Men's Club, and a Right to Life Committee. It belongs to the Diocese of Youngstown (Stark 2 Deanery, Parish Code 527) and shares its pastor with Holy Spirit Parish in Uniontown.
- Established
- 1845
- Patron
- Saint Paul the Apostle
- Rector
- Rev. Matthew Zwilling
- Diocese
- Diocese of Youngstown (Stark 2 Deanery, Parish Code 527)
Why belong here
St. Paul is a longstanding North Canton parish (founded 1845) where the people 'strive to answer God's call to love, serve, and worship,' with daily Mass, a Saturday Vigil, three Sunday Masses, weekly Eucharistic Adoration on Tuesdays, and a full sacramental and formation life. Members can grow through OCIA, an active high school youth ministry called Illuminate YM, parish-wide small-group studies (Walking with Purpose and others), children's and family ministries, and a parish school serving preschool through eighth grade. Outreach and fellowship are anchored by a Knights of Columbus council, a Women's Guild, a Men's Club, a Right to Life Committee, and a music ministry that supports the church's worship.
Mass times at St. Paul
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 8:30 AM
- First Tuesdays 5:15–6:15 PM
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration every Tuesday following Daily Mass until 8:00 PM
- First Tuesdays 7:45 AM – 6:30 PM (diocesan listing)
- First Tuesdays 6:45 PM – 7:45 PM (parish website listing)
History of St. Paul Parish
The parish was formed in 1845 by thirty Catholic families in the village of New Berlin (today North Canton), more than six rough miles from the nearest Catholic church in Canton. Construction of the first church began in 1845 and was completed in 1847. St. Paul was served as a mission parish for decades, receiving monthly Masses from the pastor of St. John Baptist in Canton starting in 1858 and only gaining its first resident pastor in 1896. The present church was built in 1910–1911. The parish's story — including the 1919 founding of the school and the early 2000s construction of the Parish Life Center — is told in depth on the parish's own historical pages.
- Land purchased August 1, 1844; construction begun 1845
- First church completed and dedicated 1847
- First resident pastor appointed 1896
- Current church foundation laid April 1910; dedicated May 7, 1911
- Original 1847 church converted into a school, opened September 8, 1919
- Sisters of the Holy Spirit (Pittsburgh) taught at the school 1946–1975
- Parish Life Center built in the early 2000s with Catechesis of the Good Shepherd atriums
- Church renovated, expanded to ~1,000 seats, and rededicated 2006
- Preschool opened 2007; school celebrated 100th anniversary in 2019
Faith Formation — OCIA, Bible Studies, and Prayer Ministry
The parish calls its adult initiation process 'OCIA — The Journey' (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults), gathering on Thursday evenings from 7:00 to 9:00 PM beginning each September. OCIA welcomes inquirers, baptized Catholics preparing for Confirmation and Eucharist, and lifelong Catholics seeking a refresher, with candidates typically welcomed into full communion at the Easter Vigil. A parallel OCIA Prayer Ministry invites parishioners to 'adopt' a catechumen or candidate for prayer and encouragement. Adult formation is enriched by bi-monthly Small Group Studies such as Walking with Purpose's 'Opening Your Heart: The Starting Point,' a 22-lesson Bible study offered on Monday mornings, Tuesday evenings, and Wednesday evenings.
- OCIA weekly Thursdays 7:00–9:00 PM (contact Michele Blate, ext. 108)
- OCIA Prayer Ministry — 'adopt' a catechumen or candidate
- Walking with Purpose 'Opening Your Heart: The Starting Point' small group
- Other small-group studies (e.g., 'The Foundational Study'; 'Aquinas for Beginners Part II')
Children, Family & Youth Ministry
Children's sacramental preparation, family catechesis, and family-life ministry are led by the parish's Children & Family Ministries coordinator. The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program for children is housed in dedicated atriums within the Parish Life Center. High-school youth ministry — branded 'Illuminate YM' — has its own webpage and Flocknote mailing list, inviting teens to gather as 'a community of believers to love, serve, worship and to pray for and with one another.'
- Children & Family Ministries & Sacraments (Dustine May)
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd atriums in the Parish Life Center
- High School Youth Ministry — Illuminate YM ([email protected])
- Sign-up via Flocknote for youth ministry updates
St. Paul School (PK–8)
St. Paul School opened on September 8, 1919, in the building that had been the parish's original 1847 church, welcoming about 100 students under the leadership of Fr. Joseph Schmit and staffed by the Sisters of the Humility of Mary (including Sister Dorothy Goodman, Sister Vida Stein, and Sister Alma Mullaly). A fireproof school building was completed in the early 1920s, with classroom wings added in 1956 and 1963; the Sisters of the Holy Ghost of the Diocese of Pittsburgh took over teaching duties in the mid-1940s. The school earned the U.S. Department of Education's National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence designation in 2000–2001, opened a preschool in 2007, and celebrated its centennial in 2019.
- Originally housed in the 1847 church building
- Fireproof school building completed early 1920s
- Wings added in 1956 and 1963; C-Building for K–3 (1962) still serves youngest learners
- Sisters of the Humility of Mary from 1919; Sisters of the Holy Ghost from mid-1940s to 1975
- National Blue Ribbon School 2000–2001
- Preschool opened 2007
- Currently a five-building campus at 303 S. Main St., serving preschool through 8th grade
- Principal: Mr. Michael Brown — 330-494-0223
Parish Life Center & Facilities
The Parish Life Center, completed in the early 2000s, anchors a great deal of parish activity. It contains a multipurpose gym, a stage, a music room, maintenance space, and two atriums dedicated to the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program. The 2006 church renovation expanded the sanctuary to seat up to 1,000, accommodating the parish's continued growth.
- Multipurpose gym and stage
- Music room and maintenance areas
- Two atriums for Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
- Renovated sanctuary seating up to 1,000 (rededicated 2006)
Organizations, Outreach & Fellowship
St. Paul sustains a robust catalogue of parish organizations. Fellowship and service groups include the Knights of Columbus council, a Women's Guild, a Men's Club, and a Right to Life Committee. Music ministry is led by Director of Music Ministry Ben Walther. The parish also runs an active Development office under Monica Dolenc to support fundraising for parish and school missions.
- Knights of Columbus council
- Women's Guild
- Men's Club
- Right to Life Committee
- Music Ministry — Director Ben Walther
- Development Director Monica Dolenc (ext. 109)
- Parish Bulletin & Flocknote communications team
Parish Staff & Contact
Day-to-day parish life is supported by both clergy and a professional lay staff. The pastor shares his assignment with Holy Spirit Parish in Uniontown, and a parochial vicar assists at St. Paul. Faith formation is split between adult (OCIA/small-group) and children's/family ministries, supported by a Director of Finance & Operations and a Development Director.
- Pastor: Rev. Matthew Zwilling
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Simon Mino
- Dir. of Finance & Operations: Peter Olsen
- OCIA & Adult Faith Formation: Michele Blate (ext. 108, [email protected])
- High School Youth Ministry: Mike Boyea ([email protected])
- Children & Family Ministries & Sacraments: Dustine May
- Director of Music Ministry: Ben Walther
- Office Manager: Michelle May
- Receptionist: Natalie Murphy ([email protected], ext. 102)
- Data Manager & Bulletin Editor: Jenny Jencks ([email protected], ext. 105)
- Development Director: Monica Dolenc ([email protected], ext. 109)
- Sacristan: Ann Benedetto ([email protected])
- Maintenance Manager: Richard Samples
- St. Paul School Principal: Mr. Michael Brown — 330-494-0223
Planning a Visit / I'm New
The parish welcomes new visitors and helps them register as members. The 'I'm New' page on stpaulncanton.org offers a printable map and an invitation to call the parish office at 330-499-2201 to learn more about registration, sacraments, and getting involved. Parishes visitors are encouraged to subscribe to Flocknote for parish announcements delivered by email.
- Visit the parish office at 241 S. Main St., North Canton, OH 44720
- Call 330-499-2201
- Sign up for Flocknote email announcements
- Consider registering as a parishioner
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. R.C. Kotheimer
Author of the parish 'Historical Review 1847–1922'; early pastor of St. Paul.
- Rev. Joseph Schmitcirca 1919
Pastor at the time of St. Paul School's opening on September 8, 1919, under whose leadership the school welcomed its first 100 students.
- Rev. Matthew Zwillingpresent
Current pastor; shares pastoral assignment with Holy Spirit Parish in Uniontown.