About St. Peter · North Ridgeville, Ohio
St. Peter Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in North Ridgeville, Ohio, in Lorain County and the Diocese of Cleveland, founded in 1875 by German Catholic settler families who had begun arriving in the area in 1838. The parish has worshiped in its present church since 1923, a structure built to replace an earlier church destroyed by fire in 1914, and is known for its beautiful stained-glass windows imported from Germany in 1926. The parish operates St. Peter School (founded in 1876, the year after the church), offers daily and Sunday Masses in English, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, and a range of youth, family, and outreach ministries. Father Robert J. (Bob) Franco has served as the 15th pastor since August 21, 2009, and the parish marked its 150th Jubilee Year beginning January 1, 2025.
- Established
- 1875
- Patron
- St. Peter (the Apostle); the parish is also named for Peter Meyer, the layman whose donation led to its naming
- Rector
- Rev. Robert J. (Bob) Franco, appointed 15th pastor on August 21, 2009
- Diocese
- Diocese of Cleveland
Why belong here
St. Peter offers the full rhythm of Catholic life: a historic 1923 church with German stained-glass windows, weekday and Sunday Masses with live streaming, weekly Eucharistic Adoration on Tuesdays, Saturday and Wednesday confessions, and sacramental preparation for Baptism, Confirmation (joint with St. Julie's), and marriage. Parishioners can send their children to St. Peter School (K–8), engage youth through the Ridgeville Catholic Youth (RCY) junior-high group and Vacation Bible School, and serve neighbors through the monthly Community Meal sponsored with Community Care. A active Men's Breakfast fellowship and ministries like 40 Days for Life round out a parish that is rooted in 150 years of North Ridgeville history and still welcoming new families.
Mass times at St. Peter
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesdays — immediately following the 8:15 AM Mass in the Church
- Saturdays — 2:30 PM to 3:30 PM in the confessionals in the Church
- Additional times are scheduled during Advent and Lent (watch the bulletin and social media for specific dates)
Adoration times
- Tuesdays — immediately following the 8:15 AM Mass, concluding at 6:15 PM with Evening Prayer beginning at 6:00 PM and Benediction (no adoration on Christmas Eve; New Year's Eve adoration ends at 3:00 PM)
History of St. Peter Parish
St. Peter Parish traces its origins to 1838, when the first Catholic families settled in what is now North Ridgeville. By the 1870s, thirty-two German Catholic families organized to raise funds for a church of their own; the first cornerstone was laid July 25, 1875, and Father Jacob Heidegger celebrated the first Mass on Christmas Day, December 25, 1875. The parish was named after Peter Meyer, the largest donor to the building fund. The school opened in 1876, just one year after the church. In 1879 the community was granted parochial status with Father Victor Haussner as its first pastor; in 1909 it was permanently elevated under Father Joseph Trapp. A fire on June 15, 1914 destroyed the original church; the present church was built under Father John Rhein and dedicated May 27, 1923, with the rectory added in 1925 and 26 stained-glass windows imported from Germany installed in 1926.
- 1838 — First Catholic families settle in North Ridgeville
- 1875 (July 25) — First cornerstone laid
- 1875 (December 25) — First Mass celebrated by Father Jacob Heidegger
- 1876 — School opens for 45 pupils
- 1879 — Granted parochial status; Father Victor Haussner becomes first pastor
- 1909 — Permanently given parochial status under Father Joseph Trapp
- 1914 (June 15) — Fire destroys the original church
- 1923 (May 27) — Present church dedicated under Father John Rhein
- 1925 — Rectory built
- 1926 — 26 stained-glass windows from Germany installed
- 2025 — 150th Jubilee Year begins on January 1, 2025
Clergy & Parish Staff
The pastoral team at St. Peter is led by Father Robert J. (Bob) Franco, the parish's 15th pastor since August 21, 2009. He is assisted by Parochial Vicar Rev. Isidore Munishi, Deacon Darrel 'Del' Sherman, and retired Deacon Don Jankowski. The parish staff includes a Director of Religious Education and Pastoral Minister (Cheryle Koberna), Music Director Alex Kostritsa, Youth Minister Niki Sherman, Business Manager Regina Wojciechowski, and Secretary Christine Stefanek.
- Rev. Robert J. Franco — Pastor (since August 21, 2009)
- Rev. Isidore Munishi — Parochial Vicar
- Deacon Darrel 'Del' Sherman
- Rev. Mr. Don Jankowski — Deacon, Retired
- Cheryle Koberna — Director of Religious Education & Pastoral Minister
- Alex Kostritsa — Music Director
- Niki Sherman — Youth Minister
- Regina Wojciechowski — Business Manager
- Christine Stefanek — Secretary
- Sr. Sean Groh, S.N.D. — Associate on staff
- Roger Brooks — Principal, St. Peter School
St. Peter School
St. Peter School, founded in 1876 (one year after the parish itself), is a Catholic elementary school serving Pre-K through 8th grade on the parish campus. The current principal is Roger Brooks. The school offers tuition and aftercare payment online and maintains its own Facebook presence. By 2025 the school enrollment had grown to more than 300 students, and it celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2026.
- Founded 1876 — one year after the parish
- Grades Pre-K through 8
- Principal: Roger Brooks (440-327-3212 x123)
- Aftercare program ('Saints Club')
- Pastor on staff: Fr. Bob Franco; Vice Principal: Sister Sean Groh, S.N.D.
- Title I tutoring, intervention specialists, school psychologist, librarian, and nurse on staff
- Online tuition and aftercare payments available through the parish website
Faith Formation & Sacramental Preparation
Religious Education is directed by Cheryle Koberna, who also serves as the parish's Pastoral Minister. Sacramental preparation includes programs for Baptism, First Communion, and Confirmation; Confirmation registration for Fall 2026 (jointly with St. Julie's) is open to students entering 8th grade, with registration closing July 31. Vacation Bible School, 'Change Makers Lab,' is held for children in grades K–5, typically in mid-July at St. Julie Parish.
- Religious Education (Cheryle Koberna, DRE)
- Confirmation Preparation — open to 8th graders (St. Peter's and St. Julie's)
- First Communion preparation
- Baptism preparation (contact parish office)
- Marriage preparation (contact parish office)
- Vacation Bible School — 'Change Makers Lab' (K–5)
Youth Ministry
St. Peter's youth ministry, led by Niki Sherman, includes the Ridgeville Catholic Youth (RCY) junior-high group, which generally meets on the 3rd Thursday of each month for faith, fellowship, and fun. The group takes a break over the summer and resumes in September.
- Ridgeville Catholic Youth (RCY) — Junior High group
- Meets 3rd Thursday of the month
- Confirmation preparation for 8th graders
- Vacation Bible School collaboration
Parish Ministries & Outreach
St. Peter Parish offers many ministries and groups as a way to live out its mission of making missionary disciples. The parish sponsors a monthly Community Meal in partnership with Community Care, served in the gym on the last Wednesday of each month from 6:00 to 7:00 PM and open to all. A Men's Breakfast fellowship rotates between St. Peter's (odd months) and St. Julie Billiart (even months), with a hearty hot breakfast, short video, and discussion. The parish also participates in 40 Days for Life and supports the music ministry under Music Director Alex Kostritsa.
- Community Meal — last Wednesday of each month, 6:00–7:00 PM, gym
- Men's Breakfast — odd months at St. Peter's, even months at St. Julie's
- 40 Days for Life
- Music Ministry
- Pastoral Ministry / Visitation
- Religious Education catechists
150th Jubilee Year (2025)
Beginning January 1, 2025, St. Peter Parish celebrated 150 years of Catholic ministry in North Ridgeville. The yearlong celebration included a proclamation from North Ridgeville Mayor Kevin Corcoran, a holy hour and dinner, a car blessing and ice cream social, tours of the historic parish cemetery, a parish picnic, Mass, a carnival, and the blessing and dedication of a new Rosary Garden.
- 150th Jubilee Year began January 1, 2025
- Anniversary cake after all Masses (April 26–27)
- Ice Cream Social & Car Blessing (May 30)
- New Rosary Garden blessed and dedicated
- Proclamation from Mayor Kevin Corcoran
- Historic parish cemetery tours
Visit, Directions & Contact
St. Peter Church is located at 35777 Center Ridge Road in North Ridgeville, Ohio (Lorain County), part of the Diocese of Cleveland. The parish office can be reached at (440) 327-2201 or by email at [email protected]. Detailed driving directions from I-90, the Ohio Turnpike, and I-480 are posted on the parish website; the church is on the south side of Center Ridge Road between OH-83 and Root Road.
- Address: 35777 Center Ridge Rd., North Ridgeville, OH 44039-3097
- Phone: (440) 327-2201
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: stpeternr.org
- From I-90: Exit 153 (OH-83), south 5 miles, left onto Center Ridge Road
- From Ohio Turnpike: Exit 152, west on Lorain Road, right on Root Road
- From I-480: Exit 2 (Lorain Road/OH-10), west to Lear Nagle Road, then south on Center Ridge Road
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Jacob Heidegger1875–1879 (first administrator; missionary status)
Celebrated the parish's first Mass on Christmas Day 1875.
- Father Victor Haussner1879–1881
First pastor after the parish was granted parochial status in 1879; served until his death in 1881.
- Father Joseph Trapp1909–
Appointed in 1909 when the parish was permanently given parochial status; oversaw construction of a new school staffed by the Sisters of Notre Dame.
- Father John Rhein1920s–1938
Led the construction and 1923 dedication of the present church; the rectory was built in 1925 and German stained-glass windows installed in 1926. Died in 1938 and is buried in St. Peter Cemetery.
- Father Edward Halloran
Arranged for the construction of the present Parish Center (originally the new convent) and led many church renovations.
- Father Liam1975–
- Father Robert Duffy1976–1980
- Father Thomas J. Hyland1980–2003
- Father Stephen J. Kaminski2003–2009
- Father Robert J. (Bob) Franco2009–present
15th pastor; led the 2022 Rock Capital Campaign for a new social hall and parish improvements, oversaw completion of a new maintenance facility, and guided the parish through its 150th Jubilee Year (2025).