About St. Raphael · Bay Village, Ohio
St. Raphael Parish is a Roman Catholic community in Bay Village, Ohio, serving the western suburbs of Cleveland including Bay Village, Westlake, Avon Lake and surrounding areas. Founded in 1946 with 165 families, it has grown into one of the larger parishes in the Diocese of Cleveland, now serving roughly 3,700 families and nearly 11,000 members, with more than 600 students in the parish day school and about 400 in the Parish School of Religion. The parish offers 80+ ministries, daily and weekend Masses, perpetual-style Friday-to-Saturday Adoration, Saturday confessions, and an active partnership with the inner-city parish of St. Aloysius–St. Agatha in Cleveland.
- Established
- 1946
- Patron
- St. Raphael the Archangel
- Rector
- Rev. Daniel F. Schlegel
- Diocese
- Diocese of Cleveland
Why belong here
St. Raphael is a large but grounded Catholic community rooted in the Eucharist and committed to forming disciples. With more than 80 ministries — from a Catholic day school and Parish School of Religion to youth ministry, adult faith formation, evangelization, outreach, and a 'Church in the City' partnership with St. Aloysius–St. Agatha — there is a real place for every age and stage of Catholic life. Newcomers and visitors are welcomed warmly, daily Mass and weekly Confession keep the sacramental rhythm, and Friday-to-Saturday Adoration offers space for prayer in the heart of suburban Cleveland's west shore.
Mass times at St. Raphael
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00–4:00 PM
- Saturday 3:00–4:00 PM & by appointment
Adoration times
- Friday 10:00 AM – Saturday 4:00 PM
Parish History
St. Raphael Parish was established on September 22, 1946 when its first worshippers gathered in the Bay Village High School Auditorium for the inaugural Mass. Founded with just 165 families under Rev. Francis Zwilling, it has grown into one of the Diocese of Cleveland's larger parishes, with approximately 3,700 families and nearly 11,000 members today. Building drives began in 1947, with the first church-school-rectory-convent complex opening at Christmas 1948 and the school launching with 130 pupils. Subsequent milestones include a 1953 groundbreaking for a 1,000-seat church, school enrollment hitting 1,000 in 1962, renovations in 1976–77 and 1994, a Parish Education Center in the mid-1980s, and a new, nearly doubled church dedicated in August 2015. Bishop Edward Malesic celebrated the parish's 75th anniversary Mass on October 2, 2021.
- First Mass: Sept. 22, 1946 in the Bay High School Auditorium
- First Mass in first church: Dec. 24, 1948 (Christmas Eve Midnight Mass)
- School opened Sept. 1948 with 130 students in 4 classrooms
- 1953: groundbreaking for 1,000-seat church
- 1976–77 and 1994: church renovations
- Mid-1980s: Parish Education Center constructed
- August 2015: new, nearly twice-as-large church dedicated (~$5M project including a chapel and community room)
- Oct. 2, 2021: 75th anniversary Mass with Bishop Malesic
Live Stream
Parishioners who are homebound, traveling or unable to attend in person can join Mass online. The parish's live stream schedule includes Sunday morning, plus most weekday Masses, broadcast on YouTube (Saint Raphael Live Stream) and Facebook. St. Aloysius–St. Agatha's live stream is also linked from the parish website for those participating in the partnership.
- Sunday: 10:00 AM
- Monday: 9:15 AM
- Tuesday: 9:15 AM
- Wednesday: 7:45 AM
- Thursday: 9:15 AM
- Friday: 9:15 AM
Clergy & Staff
St. Raphael is currently led by Rev. Daniel F. Schlegel (Pastor), with Rev. Ryan Arto serving as Parochial Vicar. The parish is also blessed with three permanent deacons — Larry Gregg, Mark Cunningham and Zakary Jester — who assist with liturgy, preaching and pastoral care. A larger lay staff oversees the day school, faith formation, liturgy, evangelization, youth ministry, communications, maintenance and parish administration.
- Pastor: Rev. Daniel F. Schlegel
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Ryan Arto
- Deacons: Larry D. Gregg, Mark Cunningham, Zakary Jester
- Director of Faith Formation: Julia Mosier
- Director of Liturgy & Adult Faith Formation: (parish staff)
- Director of Evangelization & Outreach: Tom Pussel
- Pastoral Associate & Youth Minister: Joanna Parsons
- Director of Communications: Anna Synek
- School Principal: Ken Mitskavich
- Assistant Principal: Mary Sak
- Director of Maintenance: William Toler
- Middle School Minister
- Administrative staff: Joanne Gill, Keith Benya, Marcia Beifuss, Bill Sheehan, Cathy Pastron
St. Raphael School
The parish's Catholic day school serves more than 600 students and is part of St. Raphael's commitment to passing on the faith to the next generation. It is led by Principal Ken Mitskavich, with Assistant Principals Sharyl Fuhrer (Students) and Mary Sak (Academics). School inquiries and admissions are handled at (440) 871-6760.
- Catholic community focused on faith, academic excellence and service
- Principal: Ken Mitskavich
- Assistant Principals: Sharyl Fuhrer, Mary Sak
- School phone: 440-871-6760
Faith Formation & Religious Education
In addition to the day school, the Parish School of Religion (PSR) provides religious education for about 400 students who attend public schools. Adult faith formation, sacramental preparation (Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage), youth ministry and middle school ministry round out the formation offerings, and the Director of Faith Formation (Julia Mosier) and Pastor coordinate preparation for the sacraments.
- Parish School of Religion (PSR) for ~400 students
- Day school with ~600 students
- Adult Faith Formation
- Youth Ministry
- Middle School Ministry
- Sacramental preparation
St. Aloysius–St. Agatha Partnership ('Church in the City')
In January 2025, Bishop Edward Malesic appointed Fr. Dan Schlegel as Presbyteral Moderator of St. Aloysius–St. Agatha Parish in Cleveland, formalizing a partnership between the suburban St. Raphael community and the inner-city parish. Building on the spirit of Bishop Pilla's earlier 'Church in the City' pastoral letter, the partnership includes 'Clergy Express' — a volunteer program in which St. Raphael parishioners drive Fr. Dan or Fr. Ryan to St. Aloysius for the 10:00 AM Sunday Mass, attend Mass there, and bring the priest back home. The hope is that this and similar partnerships across the Diocese of Cleveland will help maintain a Catholic presence in the city during a time of clergy shortages.
- Fr. Dan appointed Presbyteral Moderator of St. Aloysius–St. Agatha on Jan. 7, 2025
- Volunteer 'Clergy Express' driver program
- Mutually beneficial partnership rooted in Bishop Pilla's 'Church in the City' pastoral letter
Outreach, Guild & Ministries
The Diocese of Cleveland describes St. Raphael as serving 'the spiritual needs of the faithful in Bay Village, Westlake, Avon Lake and surrounding communities with more than 80 vibrant ministries and parish groups.' Outreach ministries feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, visit the sick and bring God's mercy to those in need, following the example of the parish's patron, St. Raphael the Archangel. The parish's prayer-request line, the St. Raphael Guild (which marked its 75th anniversary in 2021), youth and middle school ministry, evangelization programs and many small groups give parishioners concrete ways to put faith into action.
- 80+ ministries and parish groups
- St. Raphael Guild (75th anniversary celebrated in 2021)
- Outreach to the hungry, homeless and sick
- Prayer request line
- Youth and Middle School ministry
- Evangelization and adult faith formation
Contact, Visiting & Office Hours
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office at (440) 871-1100 or [email protected]. The office is open 9:00 AM–8:00 PM on Mondays and Tuesdays, 9:00 AM–5:00 PM Wednesday through Friday, and 10:00 AM–3:30 PM on Saturdays. The Welcome Center is also staffed during weekend Mass times to greet new faces. The parish sits on Dover Center Road in Bay Village, on Cleveland's west shore.
- Phone: (440) 871-1100
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: 9 AM–8 PM (Mon, Tue); 9 AM–5 PM (Wed–Fri); 10 AM–3:30 PM (Sat)
- Welcome Center staffed at weekend Mass times
- Address: 525 Dover Center Road, Bay Village, OH 44140
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Francis Zwilling
First pastor (founding pastor in 1946); led the 'dime-a-day' building fund drive and supervised construction of the original combined church-school-rectory-convent.
- Rev. Tim Gareau
Longtime pastor presiding over the lead-up to the 75th anniversary in 2021; reassigned in 2023 to St. Colette Parish, Brunswick.
- Rev. Daniel F. Schlegel2024–present
Returned 'home' as pastor of his family parish in August 2024 after serving other Diocese of Cleveland parishes, including as pastor of Holy Angels Parish. Appointed by Bishop Malesic as Presbyteral Moderator of St. Aloysius–St. Agatha Parish, Cleveland, on Jan. 7, 2025.