About St. Philomena · Stonelick, Ohio
St. Philomena is a historic Catholic parish in Stonelick Township, Clermont County, Ohio, recognized as the oldest Catholic church in the county. Originally established in the late 1830s and sometimes called the 'Little Church in the Valley,' it is today one of four worship sites in Holy Family Parish (also known as Beacons of Light SE-5) alongside Holy Trinity in Batavia, St. Ann in Williamsburg, and St. Louis in Owensville. Sunday Mass is celebrated at St. Philomena at 8:00 AM, and the church grounds include two historic cemeteries. The parish belongs to the Archdiocese of Cincinnati and is currently served by Father Thomas McCarthy and three deacons.
- Established
- 1837 (log church built); parish formally established 1839
- Patron
- St. Philomena
- Rector
- Father Thomas McCarthy
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Cincinnati (Metropolitan Archdiocese of Cincinnati)
Why belong here
St. Philomena offers a quiet, historic place to worship Sunday morning at 8:00 AM, with the rare privilege of praying in the oldest Catholic church in Clermont County. As part of Holy Family Parish it shares clergy, staff, faith formation, and outreach ministries with three neighboring churches, so parishioners can join OCIA, the A Family of Faith children's religious education program, a Men's Faith and Fellowship group, Bible study, the parish subscription to FORMED.org, and outreach efforts such as St. Vincent de Paul, Pro-Life, Homebound, and Jail ministries. The two on-site cemeteries keep generations of local Catholic families connected to the parish across nearly two centuries.
Mass times at St. Philomena
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Confession is not scheduled at St. Philomena itself; Holy Family Parish offers confession at St. Louis (Saturdays 5:00–6:00 PM) and at Holy Trinity and St. Ann. Call the parish office at (513) 732-2218 for current availability.
Adoration times
- Saturday 9:00–10:00 AM at St. Philomena (occasional, e.g. March 28 per the parish schedule)
- Eucharistic Exposition with Benediction is offered Thursdays 10:00 AM–6:00 PM at St. Louis as part of Holy Family Parish's expanded Adoration program.
Parish History
St. Philomena's roots reach back to the 1830s, when traveling priests from Cincinnati ministered to Catholic families in Stonelick Township — then still part of a frontier Ohio. The community worshipped in private homes from 1835 to 1837, built a log church dedicated to St. Philomena in 1837 for $50, and formally established the parish in 1839. Generations later it remains the oldest Catholic church in Clermont County, affectionately known as the 'Little Church in the Valley.' The parish's two cemeteries — the old cemetery (closed in the late 1800s) and the new cemetery (dedicated 1890, first burial 1891, still in use) — preserve the memory of frontier families, Civil War veterans, and 20th- and 21st-century servicemen and women.
- 1835–1837: Mass said in private homes in Stonelick Township
- 1837: log church built at a cost of $50 and dedicated to St. Philomena
- 1839: parish formally established
- Oldest Catholic church in Clermont County
- Old cemetery closed late 1800s; new cemetery dedicated 1890
- Historical research credited to parishioner Ron Yeager
Holy Family Parish & Beacons of Light
On July 1, 2012, St. Philomena was joined with Holy Trinity (Batavia), St. Ann (Williamsburg), and St. Louis (Owensville) to form the Clermont Catholic Communities, with Father Jerry Hiland as the first regional pastor. Father Martin Bachman followed in 2015, and in 2022 Father Thomas McCarthy was named pastor as the region was reorganized under the Archdiocese of Cincinnati's 'Beacons of Light' initiative as family SE-5, now known as Holy Family Parishes. The four churches share one parish office and staff, located next to St. Louis Church.
- Holy Trinity — Batavia
- St. Ann — Williamsburg
- St. Louis — Owensville
- St. Philomena — Stonelick
- Pastor: Father Thomas McCarthy (since 2022)
Cemeteries at St. Philomena
Two cemeteries sit on the St. Philomena grounds and together tell the story of more than 180 years of Catholic life in Stonelick. The 'old cemetery' was used until the late 1800s and is the resting place of many infants under one year old, reflecting the hardships of frontier life and the scarcity of medical care, as well as Civil War veterans. The 'new cemetery' was dedicated in 1890 with its first burial in 1891 and remains active today, holding veterans from the wars of 1900 to the present. Funeral planning support and cemetery plots at St. Louis and St. Philomena cemeteries are coordinated through the parish office.
- Old cemetery — used until late 1800s
- New cemetery — dedicated 1890, first burial 1891, still active
- Contains Civil War and 20th/21st-century veterans
Mass & Liturgical Schedule
Sunday Mass at St. Philomena is celebrated at 8:00 AM. The parish participates in Holy Family Parish's wider liturgical calendar, which assigns specific Mass times, confessions, and Eucharistic Exposition across the four church sites. Confession is offered at St. Louis (Saturdays 5:00–6:00 PM), Holy Trinity, and St. Ann; Eucharistic Exposition with Benediction is offered Thursdays 10:00 AM–6:00 PM at St. Louis. St. Philomena also occasionally hosts Adoration on Saturday mornings and a special Feast Day Mass on its patron's feast day.
- Sunday Mass — 8:00 AM at St. Philomena
- Confession — Saturdays 5:00–6:00 PM at St. Louis
- Eucharistic Exposition — Thursdays 10:00 AM–6:00 PM at St. Louis
- St. Philomena Feast Day Mass in early August
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation across Holy Family Parish serves every age and stage. Adult Faith Formation includes Bible Study after select Sunday Masses, OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) for those exploring the Catholic faith, Thursday classes with Fr. McCarthy, a Men's Faith and Fellowship group meeting twice monthly, and a parish subscription to FORMED.org. Youth Faith Formation uses the 'A Family of Faith' program for elementary and junior-high students not attending a Catholic school, preparing them for the sacraments and walking with parents as the primary educators of their children. St. Louis School serves as the parish's Catholic elementary school.
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults)
- Bible Study after select Sunday Masses
- Thursday classes with Fr. McCarthy
- Men's Faith and Fellowship Group — 1st & 3rd Wednesdays at 7:00 PM
- A Family of Faith — K–8 religious education program
- FORMED.org parish subscription
- St. Louis School (parish school)
Outreach Ministries
Holy Family Parish lives the Gospel through a wide range of outreach ministries that serve both parishioners and the wider Clermont County community. These include a St. Vincent de Paul food pantry housed at Holy Trinity Church, ministries to the homebound and the homeless, Jail Ministry that brings prayer and the sacraments to inmates, Pro-Life advocacy, an Evangelization Committee that welcomes newcomers, and the Sisterhood of Faith, a needlework group that builds community while creating items for charity.
- St. Vincent de Paul food pantry (at Holy Trinity)
- Homebound Ministry
- Homelessness Ministry
- Jail Ministry
- Pro-Life Ministry
- Evangelization Committee
- Sisterhood of Faith
Parish Life & Service Opportunities
Parishioners of all ages are invited to take an active role in the life of Holy Family Parish. Liturgical roles include altar servers (4th grade and up), greeters, ushers, and lectors. Scouting programs welcome boys in Kindergarten through age 18, with Cub Scouts (K–5) and Boy Scouts (post-5th grade through 18) fostering character through activities and community service. Pastoral and Finance Councils, led by the pastor with input from parishioner representatives and Deacon Mike Muse (Director of Administration & Facilities), help guide the four-church region through the Beacons of Light process and beyond.
- Altar servers (4th grade and up)
- Greeters, ushers, lectors
- Cub Scouts (K–5) and Boy Scouts
- Pastoral Council representatives
- Finance Council members
Clergy & Staff
Holy Family Parish is served by Father Thomas McCarthy as pastor along with three deacons: Deacon Joseph Leep, Deacon Kelly Mocahbee, and Deacon Mike Muse, who also serves as Director of Administration & Facilities. Parishioners Ron Yeager (St. Philomena historian), Pam Edwards (Director of Religious Education), and Jonathan Morasse support faith formation and parish life.
- Father Thomas McCarthy — Pastor
- Deacon Joseph Leep
- Deacon Kelly Mocahbee
- Deacon Mike Muse — Director of Administration & Facilities
- Pam Edwards — Director of Religious Education
- Jonathan Morasse — staff
- Ron Yeager — St. Philomena historian
Visit & Contact
St. Philomena Church is located at 5236 Stonelick Williams Corner Rd, Stonelick, OH 45103, and shares the Holy Family Parish office with the three other church sites. The parish office can be reached at (513) 732-2218. Sunday Mass at St. Philomena is at 8:00 AM, and visitors are warmly welcomed to share in this historic Clermont County parish's worship and community life.
- Address: 5236 Stonelick Williams Corner Rd, Stonelick, OH 45103
- Phone: (513) 732-2218
- Sunday Mass: 8:00 AM
- Shared Holy Family Parish office
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Jerry Hiland2012–c.2015
Oversaw the 2012 formation of Clermont Catholic Communities; previously pastor of St. Louis and St. Philomena.
- Father Martin Bachman2015–2022
Assigned to the four-parish region in 2015.
- Father Thomas McCarthy2022–present
Named pastor in 2022 as the region became Beacons of Light SE-5 / Holy Family Parishes.