About St. Rita · Solon, Ohio
Saint Rita Parish is a Catholic parish in Solon, Ohio, part of the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland. Founded in 1929, it serves more than 3,000 families in southeastern Cuyahoga County and runs a Blue Ribbon parish school (preschool through 8th grade) that has educated local children since 1949. The parish offers a full sacramental life — daily and weekend Masses, Saturday confession, Thursday adoration, faith formation for all ages, vibrant liturgical and music ministries, and outreach through the St. Vincent de Paul Society and a parish Giving Garden.
- Established
- 1929
- Patron
- St. Rita of Cascia
- Rector
- Fr. Thomas J. Behrend (currently on sabbatical; parish administered by Fr. Joseph G. Seebauer)
- Diocese
- Catholic Diocese of Cleveland
Why belong here
St. Rita offers a complete Catholic life in one parish: five weekend Masses with two livestreamed, daily Mass, Saturday confessions, and Thursday adoration, alongside a Blue Ribbon parish school that has shaped generations of local children since 1949. Faith formation runs from PSR and sacramental preparation through a Children's Choir, youth altar servers, and a Children's Liturgy of the Word at the 10:45am Sunday Mass. Outreach is real and visible — the St. Vincent de Paul Society runs a twice-monthly food pantry, and the parish Giving Garden in the Twinsburg Community Garden grows produce for local food ministries.
Mass times at St. Rita
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm
- By appointment (the parish notes Reconciliation is offered 2 days per week)
Adoration times
- Thursday 9:30 am – 2:00 pm (Eucharistic Adoration)
History of St. Rita Parish
St. Rita began in 1925 as a mission of St. Joseph Parish in Mantua, with Mass said at Geauga Lake Park in summer and at a public house on Aurora Road in winter. By 1929 Solon had grown enough to merit its own parish; Msgr. Olrich Mazanec was named founding pastor and the first Mass was celebrated on Thanksgiving Day, November 28, 1929, in a frame church seating 200 at Parkway and Baldwin roads. The 1959 church replaced the original on the same site, and the present church was dedicated in 1992. Across its 90+ years the parish has been served by only five pastors and has been the seedbed of Catholic life in southeastern Cuyahoga County, giving rise to four daughter parishes.
- 1925 — Mission of St. Joseph Parish, Mantua
- 1929 — Parish established; first Mass Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 28, 1929; founding pastor Msgr. Olrich Mazanec
- 1959 — Second church built (500 seats), same Parkway-and-Baldwin corner
- 1992 — Current church dedicated; crucifix, altar marble, light fixtures, holy water fonts, statues and Stations of the Cross carried over from 1959 church
- November 23, 2019 — 90th anniversary Mass celebrated by Bishop Nelson Perez
- March 2023 — Fr. Thomas J. Behrend installed as fifth pastor
Clergy & Staff
The parish is currently led by Administrator Fr. Joseph G. Seebauer while Pastor Fr. Thomas J. Behrend is on sabbatical. Fr. Renard Lawrence serves as Parochial Vicar and Deacon Mark D. Janezic assists with parish ministry. The parish office is staffed Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.
- Pastor — Fr. Thomas J. Behrend (on sabbatical)
- Administrator — Fr. Joseph G. Seebauer
- Parochial Vicar — Fr. Renard Lawrence
- Deacon — Mark D. Janezic
Saint Rita School
Saint Rita School has educated children in a faith-filled environment since 1949 and is recognized as a Blue Ribbon School in northeast Ohio. The school serves preschool through 8th grade and partners closely with the parish to form the whole child — academically, creatively, emotionally, and spiritually.
- Preschool through Grade 8
- Blue Ribbon School designation
- Little Falcon Learning Center Preschool (half-day 8:15–10:45 am; full-day 8:15 am–2:45 pm)
- Kindergarten–Grade 8 hours: 8:00 am – 2:50 pm
- Located at 33200 Baldwin Road, Solon
- Principal — Mrs. Ali Harris; Assistant Principal & Preschool Director — Mrs. Faith Kirtley
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The Faith Formation Commission coordinates catechesis for parishioners of all ages — children, teens, and adults — in the areas of knowledge of faith, liturgical life, moral formation, prayer, community, and missionary discipleship. The Parish School of Religion (PSR) is the parish's religious-education program for parish children whose families have chosen non-parochial schooling.
- Parish School of Religion (PSR) — registration $110/child for 2025–2026
- Weekly PSR — Sunday mornings 9:30–10:30 am in Saint Rita Middle School
- Family PSR — one Sunday per month in Mazanec Hall (two sessions)
- Junior High Faith Formation (Grades 7–8) — Monday evenings 5:30–6:30 pm, Saint Mark Chapel
- High School Faith Formation (Grade 9) — Monday evenings 7:00–8:00 pm, Saint Mark Chapel
- Sacramental Prep for First Communion (incoming 2nd graders) and Confirmation (incoming 8th & 9th graders)
- Catechist volunteers needed; PSR registration waived for catechists
Children's Liturgy of the Word (CLOW)
CLOW is offered during the 10:45 am Sunday Mass and is aimed at inspiring the parish's youngest members with Jesus' message. Children ages 3–10 are invited to break open the Word with their peers in an age-appropriate setting.
- Held during the 10:45 am Sunday Mass
- Open to parishioners ages 3–10
Liturgical Ministries
St. Rita invites parishioners of all ages to participate in the liturgy through a range of liturgical ministries. Training is provided for altar servers, and Eucharistic Ministers also bring Communion to the home-bound and to local nursing homes.
- Youth Altar Servers — children who have completed 4th grade or older; training each spring
- Adult Altar Servers — assist at one weekend liturgy plus funerals and special liturgies
- Ushers and Greeters — meet, greet, seat, take up the collection, distribute bulletins
- Eucharistic Ministers — daily, weekly and special liturgies; visits to home-bound and nursing homes
- Lectors — proclaim the readings (other than the Gospel) at Mass
Music Ministry
The Music Ministry supports the parish's liturgical life through choirs and instrumentalists for adults, youth, and children. The Adult Choir sings primarily at the 10:30 am Mass; the Children's Choir sings at the monthly Family Mass; and the Bell Choir plays at scheduled Masses about once a month.
- Adult Choir — rehearsals Wednesdays 7:00 pm; sings primarily at the Sunday Mass
- Bell Choir — rehearsals Mondays 7:00 pm; open to adults and students Grade 5+; directed by Ms. Andie Bell
- Children's Choir — open to all parish children; rehearses the Wednesday before the monthly Family Mass; sings at the 10:30 am Family Mass on the third Sunday of each month
- Instrumentalists — parish teens (Grade 10+) and adult musicians, scheduled with the Music Director
- Director of Music — Mr. David Jaronowski
Outreach: St. Vincent de Paul Society
The St. Vincent de Paul Society at St. Rita assists those who are suffering or in need in the local community through personal contact, and partners with Catholic shelters in the diocese, Womankind, and other charitable service groups.
- Parish food pantry — open the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of the month
- Hot meal served every other month
- Monthly service at the Ozanam Center food and clothing banks
- Local and semi-annual food and financial assistance
- Parish contact — Mr. Tom Eldridge (440-248-1350, ext. 125)
Charity & Social Justice: The Giving Garden
The Charity and Social Justice Ministry operates the St. Rita Giving Garden in the Twinsburg Community Garden, growing vegetables that are donated to local food ministries. The garden was started as another way for parishioners to 'do for others' and as a form of community fellowship.
- Located within the Twinsburg Community Garden
- Produce donated to the parish SVdP food pantry, Church of the Resurrection's food pantry, the Thea Bowman Center Food Pantry, and Family Promise
- Planted and maintained by parishioner volunteers
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Msgr. Olrich (Oldric) Mazanec1929–
Founding pastor; first Mass celebrated Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 28, 1929; the parish hall is named Mazanec Hall in his honor.
- Rev. John McNally
Second pastor of St. Rita Parish.
- Rev. Robert M. Wendelken
Third pastor.
- Rev. Richard K. Burchellthrough at least 2019 (14+ years)
Fourth pastor; led the parish's 90th anniversary celebration in November 2019.
- Rev. Thomas J. BehrendAdministrator 2020; installed as pastor March 2023
Fifth pastor; appointed administrator June 30, 2020 from Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Wickliffe; installed as pastor in March 2023; currently on sabbatical.