About St. Rocco · Cleveland, Ohio
St. Rocco Parish is a historic Italian-American Catholic parish in the Clark-Fulton neighborhood on Cleveland's near west side, officially established in 1922 by Bishop Joseph Schrembs. Conceived by immigrants from Noicattaro in Italy's Apulia region, the parish has been served by the Mercedarian friars (Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy) since 1924 and is celebrated as the 'Do-It-Yourself' parish for the generations of parishioners who literally built and maintained their own church, school, and grounds. Today the parish at 3205 Fulton Road continues to operate an elementary school, faith formation programs, and the beloved Labor Day St. Rocco Festival that has run since 1914.
- Established
- 1922
- Patron
- St. Rocco
- Rector
- Fr. James Mayer
- Diocese
- Diocese of Cleveland
Why belong here
St. Rocco is a parish that has literally been built by its people — and continues to be. Today it offers daily and Sunday Mass in a modern church self-built by immigrant parishioners between 1949 and 1952, an elementary school with touring visits in English and Spanish, a Parish School of Religion (PSR) running September through April for children in pre-K through 8th grade, a Men of Faith Group active in outreach to places like St. Herman's, and family-support resources through the St. Raymond Nonnatus Foundation for those affected by divorce or separation. Add the famous Labor Day St. Rocco Festival with its Greasy Pole Climb, zeppoli, sausage sandwiches and Italian procession — running in some form for more than a century — and you have a west-side Cleveland parish where the Italian-Catholic tradition, neighborhood identity, and present-day family life genuinely meet.
Mass times at St. Rocco
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM
History of St. Rocco Parish
St. Rocco is Cleveland's first west-side Italian parish, conceived in 1914 by immigrants from Noicattaro in Italy's Apulia region and officially established by Bishop Joseph Schrembs on December 8, 1922. From its earliest days the parish was distinguished by self-building: immigrants constructed a small brick chapel on Trent Avenue in 1917–1918 before diocesan recognition, and then, after Father Sante Gattuso O. de M. became pastor in 1924, they built the 1926 combination church-and-school, the 1952 modern church designed by Michael G. Boccia, and decades of additions and improvements — all largely with donated labor and materials. St. Rocco's history is preserved on the parish website and in the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History.
- Founded as a community effort in 1914 by immigrants from Noicattaro, Italy, meeting in John Zaccaro's grocery store
- Officially recognized by Bishop Joseph Schrembs on December 8, 1922; first pastor Fr. Alphonse Di Maria
- Mercedarian Order (Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy) takes charge in 1924; Fr. Sante Gattuso becomes second pastor and serves 42 years
- 1926 combination church and school built on Fulton Road campus; school opens September 1927 under the Sisters of the Order of the Most Holy Trinity
- Self-built additions to school (1933) and parish house (1935)
- Bricks stockpiled during WWII used to build the present church, 1949–1952; architect Michael G. Boccia
- Old church converted into gym in 1956; WWII memorial built 1957; school addition 1959
- Only Italian parish on the west side until Our Lady of Mt. Carmel mission established 1932
- Centennial celebrated 2014; centennial-year Mass with Bishop Roger Gries in 2022
Saint Rocco Parish School
St. Rocco Parish School (216-961-8557) continues the tradition of Catholic education on the Fulton Road campus that began when the Sisters of the Order of the Most Holy Trinity opened the school in September 1927. The school welcomes prospective families through 'Visita Viernes' (Spanish-language tours on Fridays) and 'Touring Tuesdays,' and is currently seeking substitute teachers — no education degree required, only patience, a good disposition with children, a clean record, and flexibility.
- Saint Rocco Parish School (K–8)
- School Office: (216) 961-8557
- Touring Tuesdays and 'Visita Viernes' (Spanish-language guide present on Fridays)
- Substitute teachers being recruited
- Capital campaign 'Saint Rocco Strong' includes a new gym, hall, classrooms and renovated daycare building
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Children's Faith Formation at St. Rocco includes the Parish School of Religion (PSR) and Sacramental Preparation for First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, and Confirmation. Small-group classes provide catechesis for students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade, running September through April on Sunday mornings. Fr. James Chia coordinates registration and inquiries.
- Parish School of Religion (PSR), pre-K through 8th grade
- Sacramental Preparation for First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, and Confirmation
- Classes September–April, Sunday mornings
- Contact: Fr. James Chia, [email protected]
Parish Ministries and Outreach
Beyond the parish school and PSR, St. Rocco supports a vibrant network of lay-led ministries and outreach programs. The St. Rocco Men of Faith Group is active in service projects (such as serving breakfast at St. Herman's), and the parish partners with the St. Raymond Nonnatus Foundation for Freedom, Family, and Faith — which offers free online support meetings for individuals and families affected by divorce and separation. A Knights of Columbus recruitment flyer is featured on the parish site.
- St. Rocco Men of Faith Group
- St. Raymond Nonnatus Foundation — free online support for those affected by divorce/separation
- Knights of Columbus recruitment
- Festival Committee and Festival Ad Book (110th anniversary edition referenced)
- Parish registration / database update program
Devotions and Feast of St. Rocco
St. Rocco is the patron saint of the sick and is especially venerated as protector against plague — a devotion especially meaningful during the COVID-19 era, when many parishioners prayed to him during the pandemic. The parish prays the Novena to St. Rocco beginning the Friday before the August 16 feast, and the prayer asks his intercession for healing of body and soul.
- Patron: St. Rocco, patron of the sick and protector against plague
- Feast Day: August 16
- Annual Novena to St. Rocco (begins Friday before feast)
- Prayer to St. Rocco included in parish bulletins
St. Rocco Festival and Italian Procession
The St. Rocco Festival, begun by Italian immigrants in 1914 — eight years before the parish was officially recognized — is one of Cleveland's enduring west-side traditions. Held over Labor Day weekend, it features live music (with band sponsorships available), Italian food (zeppole, sausage sandwiches, meatballs, limoncello and limoncello cake), carnival rides, gambling games, and the famous Greasy Pole Climb. On Sunday the statues of St. Rocco (cloak/mantle), St. Anthony, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, St. Potito and St. Nicolo are carried in procession through the neighborhood; offerings may be pinned to specific statues. During COVID-19 the festival pivoted to drive-thru and modified formats but continued each year.
- Festival running since 1914 (110th edition referenced)
- Labor Day weekend at 3205 Fulton Road
- Greasy Pole Climb, carnival rides, eight live bands, Italian food and pastries
- Annual procession with statues of St. Rocco, St. Anthony, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, St. Potito and St. Nicolo
- Pre-Lenten 'Mardi Gras' zeppoli and sausage sandwich fundraiser each February
- Festival food pre-orders: sausage (10 lb/$40), 80–85 meatballs ($150), limoncello ($30), limoncello cake ($35)
Capital Campaign — 'Saint Rocco Strong'
Continuing the parish's century-old tradition of self-building, St. Rocco has launched the 'Saint Rocco Strong' (SRS) capital campaign to raise $1.5 million for a new gym, hall, classrooms, and renovation of the daycare building. The campaign echoes the parish's 'Do-It-Yourself' heritage and is meant to preserve the parish's future in the Clark-Fulton neighborhood.
- Goal: $1.5 million
- Projects: new gym, hall, classrooms, renovated daycare building
- Contact: 216-961-8331 or saintroccocleveland.org
Visit, Register, and Contact
Parishioners and visitors are warmly invited to register with the parish using the 'Update Registration' form available on the church page, which can be dropped in the collection basket or mailed to the parish office. Mass Intentions ($10) and vigil candles ($5) can be arranged by calling the office, and Bread & Wine for a week can be sponsored with a $50 donation. Parish office hours posted on the site are 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
- Address: 3205 Fulton Rd., Cleveland, OH 44109
- Phone: (216) 961-8331
- Fax: (216) 961-1845
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Parish registration form available for download
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Alphonse Di Maria1922–c.1924
First pastor; appointed by Bishop Joseph Schrembs; had been assistant pastor at St. Anthony Italian Church downtown; resigned for health reasons shortly after the Mercedarian friars took charge.
- Fr. Sante Gattuso, O. de M.c.1924–c.1966
Second pastor; a Sicilian Mercedarian friar who served 42 years; led the ambitious self-build programs, including the 1926 combination church/school and the 1949–1952 church designed by Michael G. Boccia.
- Fr. Michael ContardiThrough at least 1995
Listed in the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History as pastor with parish membership exceeding 700 families.