About St. Robert Bellarmine · Cortland, Ohio
St. Robert Bellarmine Parish is a Roman Catholic community serving Cortland, Ohio, and the surrounding Trumbull County countryside in the Diocese of Youngstown. Founded in 1952 as a mission of St. Stephen Parish in Niles, the parish built its first church in 1955 with volunteer labor and was raised to parish status with its first resident pastor on June 12, 1966. Today it is led by Rev. Brian Cline as pastor and Rev. Steven Agostino as parochial vicar, sharing clergy with neighboring St. William (Champion/Warren) and St. Thomas the Apostle (Vienna) parishes. Despite being located in an area with relatively few Catholics, the parish carries on a strong legacy of faith formation, outreach, and Eucharistic-centered worship.
- Established
- 1952
- Patron
- Saint Robert Bellarmine
- Rector
- Rev. Brian Cline
- Diocese
- Diocese of Youngstown
Why belong here
St. Robert Bellarmine is a welcoming, faithful worship community in a part of northeast Ohio where Catholics are few, and the parish takes seriously its call to be a visible sign of the Church's presence in the Trumbull County countryside. Worship is centered on a Saturday Vigil Mass, a Sunday morning Mass, and a Wednesday evening Mass, supported by religious education for children, youth ministry for teens, and a music ministry led by a dedicated director. Outreach runs through the Father Kish Scholarship Fund, Bible study, a bereavement group, a St. Vincent de Paul kitchen, and a signing Mass for the deaf offered at one weekend Mass, making the parish a true community hub for Catholics across the region.
Mass times at St. Robert Bellarmine
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- By appointment (per current parish listing on the Diocese of Youngstown site)
- Saturdays 11:15 AM–12:00 PM (per the 2025 Diocese of Youngstown parish directory)
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration is offered (the parish is listed under adoration in the diocesan directory; specific recurring times should be confirmed via the weekly bulletin)
Parish History
St. Robert Bellarmine traces its roots to a small but determined Catholic community in the village of Cortland. After decades of traveling to Warren for Mass, the local Catholics asked Bishop Emmet Walsh of the Diocese of Youngstown for their own priest in 1952. With his approval, the mission was established under St. Stephen Parish in Niles, and the first Mass was celebrated on May 18, 1952, in a local theater. Within three years the community had built its first church on 30 acres of purchased land, laying the foundation on the feast of St. Robert Bellarmine, May 13.
- 1952: Established as a mission of St. Stephen Parish (Niles), Bishop Emmet Walsh approving
- May 18, 1952: First Mass celebrated in Cortland in a local theater; 100+ in attendance
- 1954: 30 acres purchased for a permanent church site
- May 13 (feast of St. Robert Bellarmine): Foundation of the church poured
- 1955: First church completed
- June 12, 1966: First resident pastor assigned; church remodeled, sacristy and parish house added
- 1987–1988: Parish refurbishment nearly doubled the church in size; Masses relocated to Lakeview High School during construction
- January 15, 1989: Bishop Malone blessed the expanded church
Our Patron: Saint Robert Bellarmine
The parish takes its name from Saint Robert Bellarmine (1542–1621), an Italian Jesuit, cardinal, and Doctor of the Church known for defending Catholic doctrine against the Protestant Reformation through both his writings and his life of prayer, meditation, fasting, and almsgiving. He is one of only thirty-seven saints officially named a Doctor of the Church for extraordinary contributions to Catholic theology and doctrine.
- Jesuit priest and Doctor of the Church
- Major Catholic apologist and defender of doctrine during the Protestant Reformation
- Known for holiness of life as well as intellectual work
- The parish's local feast is celebrated on May 13, marking the day the church foundation was poured
Staff & Parish Leadership
St. Robert Bellarmine is part of a collaborative of three Trumbull Deanery parishes sharing one pastor, one parochial vicar, and a diocesan pastoral associate. Day-to-day parish life is supported by a coordinator of religious education, a youth-ministry team, a music director, and parish secretaries.
- Pastor: Rev. Brian Cline
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Steven Agostino
- Diocesan Pastoral Associate: Tina McCue
- Permanent Deacons: William (Bill) Bone, Robert (Bob) Mintus (with William Bancroft and Robert Green listed in earlier directories)
- Coordinator of Religious Education: Linda Black
- Youth Ministry: Kevin and Kelsey Quinlin
- Music Director: Jaden Karr
- Secretaries: Patty Mohney, Jamie Freeman
Collaborative Parishes (Trumbull Deanery)
St. Robert Bellarmine collaborates closely with two neighboring parishes in the Trumbull Deanery of the Diocese of Youngstown, sharing pastoral and support staff across the three communities.
- St. Thomas the Apostle Parish — Vienna, Ohio
- St. William Parish — Champion / Warren, Ohio
- Shared offices located at St. William Parish, 5411 Mahoning Ave. NW, Warren, OH 44483-1133
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Religious education for the parish's children is coordinated by Linda Black, supported by a wider diocesan Office of Faith Formation & Lay Ecclesial Ministry. Youth ministry for teens is led by the husband-and-wife team of Kevin and Kelsey Quinlin.
- Coordinator of Religious Education: Linda Black
- Youth Ministry: Kevin and Kelsey Quinlin
- RCIA and adult faith formation available through the parish office
- Diocesan Office of Faith Formation & Lay Ecclesial Ministry supports parish-level catechesis
Music & Liturgy
Music at weekend and weekday liturgies is led by Music Director Jaden Karr, who coordinates cantors, instrumentalists, and the parish choir.
- Music Director: Jaden Karr (current)
- Former Music Director: Michelle Jones
- Liturgy of the Word with Communion and other liturgical ministries listed in the diocesan directory
Ministries & Outreach
Despite its small size, St. Robert Bellarmine runs an unusually wide set of ministries and outreach efforts, ranging from catechesis to charity and accessibility programs for the deaf community.
- Father Kish Scholarship Fund
- Youth Ministry
- Bible Study
- Bereavement Group
- St. Vincent de Paul kitchen (outreach to those in need)
- Signing Mass for the Deaf at one weekend Mass
- 55+ Fellowship Group (monthly)
- Parish picnic with quilt raffle
- Rummage Sale held twice a year (April and October)
Sacraments
All seven Catholic sacraments are celebrated at or through St. Robert Bellarmine. Families and individuals should contact the parish office to begin sacramental preparation.
- Baptism
- First Communion / First Reconciliation
- Confirmation
- Marriage
- Anointing of the Sick
- Holy Orders (vocations guided through the diocese)
- RCIA for adults seeking to enter the Church
Festivities, Fundraisers & Fellowship
Beyond Sunday worship, the parish maintains a lively social life that helps knit together its members across Trumbull County.
- Annual Parish Picnic with quilt raffle
- Rummage Sale in April and Rummage Sale in October
- Monthly 55+ Fellowship Group
Contact & Visit
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office by phone, email, or in person during office hours; the mail/mailing address is shared with the collaborative offices at St. William Parish.
- Phone: 330-637-4886
- Fax: 330-637-0608
- Email: [email protected]
- Worship Site: 4659 Niles-Cortland Rd. (State Route 46), Cortland, OH 44410
- Shared Offices: 5411 Mahoning Ave. NW, Warren, OH 44483-1133
- Website: http://www.strobertcortland.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Ryan G. Furlongthrough 2024-2025 directory year
Listed as pastor in the 2023 and 2024-2025 Diocese of Youngstown directories; no longer pastor in the April 2026 directory update.
- Rev. Brian Clineas of April 2026 directory update
Current pastor; also serves as pastor of St. William Parish (Champion/Warren) and St. Thomas the Apostle Parish (Vienna) in a collaborative arrangement.