About St. Rose · Girard, Ohio
St. Rose Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Girard, Ohio, in the Trumbull Deanery of the Catholic Diocese of Youngstown. Founded in 1892 and dedicated to Saint Rose of Lima, the parish is guided by the Dominican charism of prayer, study, service, and community, and is currently served by the Order of Preachers (O.P.). The parish campus includes a red-brick, early-Gothic church dedicated in 1942, an adjoining Catholic elementary school (preschool through grade 8) founded in 1913, and a rental facility called Rosetta Hall, all on East Main Street in downtown Girard.
- Established
- 1892
- Patron
- Saint Rose of Lima
- Rector
- Very Rev. John Chrysostom Kozlowski, O.P., J.C.D., V.F.
- Diocese
- Catholic Diocese of Youngstown (Trumbull Deanery)
Why belong here
St. Rose is a Trumbull-County parish with deep roots in Girard (founded 1892), the spiritual home of roughly 700 families by 1940 and still an active worship site today. Members grow in faith through daily and Sunday Mass, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, a Rosary prayed before weekday Mass, and a Lenten Stations of the Cross, all grounded in the Dominican charism of prayer, study, service, and community. Children can be educated at the parish school — St. Rose Catholic School, serving preschool through eighth grade since 1913 — and parishioners of all ages can serve through a long list of ministries, including the St. Vincent de Paul Conference (serving the poor since 1930), Lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, religious education, and social-concern outreach.
Mass times at St. Rose
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 – 3:30 PM (parish website) / 3:00 – 3:40 PM (Diocese of Youngstown listing), or by appointment
- Advent and Lent — please refer to the bulletin
Adoration times
- Monday 9:00 – 10:00 AM (following the 8:30 AM Mass); refer to bulletin and calendar for additional special adoration times
History of St. Rose Parish
St. Rose traces its origins to the Irish Catholic families who came to Girard in the 1860s to work in the iron industry. For about fifteen years they gathered for Mass in private homes served by priests traveling from Warren and Youngstown, and by the 1880s Girard had become a Mission of St. Ann's in the Brier Hill district of Youngstown. Land on State Street was purchased in 1889, a 40-by-80-foot frame church was built in 1891, and on May 15, 1892, Bishop Horstmann dedicated the new parish to Saint Rose of Lima. The present red-brick, early-Gothic church replaced the original in 1942, on the parish's 50th anniversary.
- First Mass in Girard: October 21, 1868, in the home of James Kinney (celebrant: Rev. Bernard Kelley of St. Stephen, Niles).
- Cornerstone of original church laid July 5, 1891 — inscribed 'Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam.'
- Parish dedicated to Saint Rose of Lima, May 15, 1892, by Bishop Horstmann of the Cleveland Diocese.
- First resident pastor: Rev. James J. Stewart (appointed April 20, 1892).
- Parish school opened January 1914, taught by the Ursuline Sisters of Youngstown.
- Present church dedicated May 25, 1942 (golden anniversary); new school dedicated April 4, 1957.
- Church remodeled in 1964; renewed social-justice and outreach efforts followed in the 1970s–80s.
Our Patron: Saint Rose of Lima
The parish takes its name from Saint Rose of Lima (1586–1617), the first person born in the Americas to be canonized. Known for her dedication to prayer, penance, and service of the poor, Saint Rose is a shining example of holiness for the peoples of the Americas and the model the Girard community looks to in its Dominican charism of worship, learning, and service. Her feast day is celebrated on August 23.
Parish Staff & Clergy
St. Rose is led by a Dominican pastor and supported by a permanent deacon, a director of religious education, parish administrative and business staff, and the principal of St. Rose Catholic School. The parish office can be reached at 330-545-4351.
- Pastor: Very Rev. John Chrysostom Kozlowski, O.P., J.C.D., V.F. (Order of Preachers).
- Permanent Deacon: Michael Medvec (assigned by Bishop David J. Bonnar on July 6, 2024, from St. Patrick, Hubbard).
- Director of Religious Education: Jeannine Frederick.
- Director of Music (listed on parish staff page).
- Administrative Assistant: Christy Rohrbaugh.
- Business Manager: Michele Seese.
- School Principal: Anthony J. Catale (M.Ed.).
Liturgical Ministries
Liturgical ministries at St. Rose include proclaiming the Word of God and distributing Holy Communion. The parish trains and commissions its volunteers and welcomes new parishioners into these roles.
- Lectors — proclaim the Scriptures at liturgy; must be registered parishioners of St. Rose; formation and training provided.
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMHC) — assist the celebrant in distributing Holy Communion; must be registered, at least 16 years old, fully initiated (Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation), and living in harmony with the sacramental life of the Church.
- EMHC to the Sick and Homebound — commissioned EMHCs are sent from Sunday Mass to bring Communion to those unable to attend.
Social Concern & Outreach
Rooted in Catholic social teaching, St. Rose supports outreach to those in need in the Girard community and across Trumbull County. The parish's signature outreach arm is its long-running St. Vincent de Paul Conference.
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul — St. Rose Conference, established 1930; affiliated with the St. Vincent de Paul Society of Trumbull County in Warren.
- Vincentian volunteers serve the needy and suffering in the tradition of Blessed Frédéric Ozanam and Saint Vincent de Paul, 'seeing the face of Christ' in those served.
- Volunteer inquiries: Parish Office 330-545-4351 or Trumbull Deanery SVdP 234-223-2933.
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Religious education for parish children and youth is coordinated through the Director of Religious Education. St. Rose also educates students in faith, scholarship, and service through its parish school.
- Director of Religious Education: Jeannine Frederick.
- Parish Religious Education / PSR program (contact parish office for registration).
- Sacramental preparation for Baptism, First Eucharist, Confirmation, and Marriage through the parish.
St. Rose Catholic School
Founded in 1913 by Rev. Edward Kirby and continuously serving students for more than 110 years, St. Rose Catholic School is the parish's ministry of Catholic education. Guided by the Dominican charism of prayer, study, service, and community, the school welcomes students from preschool through eighth grade and combines a strong academic program with faith formation. The school marked its 100th anniversary in 2013.
- Grades served: Preschool through Grade 8 (current enrollment approximately 295).
- Principal: Mr. Anthony J. Catale, M.Ed.; Dean of Students: Mrs. Alaina Chepke.
- Address: 61 E. Main St., Girard, OH 44420-2602; Phone: 330-545-1163.
- Email: [email protected].
- Mascot / spirit: 'Cougars' — 'GO COUGARS!'
- Mission: to educate leaders of faith, scholarship, and service.
Parish Campus & Facilities
The St. Rose campus sits on East Main Street in downtown Girard and combines worship, education, and community space. The parish also offers a rental facility for parish and community events.
- Parish church and office: 48 E. Main St., Girard, OH 44420-2601 (Phone 330-545-4351; Fax 330-545-0119).
- School: 61 E. Main St., Girard, OH 44420-2602.
- Rosetta Hall — parish rental facility at 48 East Main Street, Girard, OH 44420.
- Pastor's office contact: Very Rev. John Chrysostom Kozlowski, O.P., V.F.
Sacraments
St. Rose prepares parishioners for and celebrates the seven Catholic sacraments. Reconciliation is offered weekly, and other sacraments are arranged through the parish office.
- Penance & Reconciliation — Saturday beginning at 3:00 PM, or by appointment (call 330-545-4351).
- Eucharist — daily and Sunday Mass; Communion brought to the sick and homebound by commissioned EMHCs.
- Baptism, Confirmation, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick — contact the Parish Office at 330-545-4351 for preparation and scheduling.
Bulletin, Calendar & Giving
St. Rose publishes a weekly bulletin with the latest schedule, announcements, and reflection material, and maintains an online parish calendar. Online giving and registration forms are available through the parish website.
- Weekly bulletin: strosegirard.com/bulletin/
- Parish calendar: strosegirard.com/parish-calendar/
- Online giving (Donate) and registration forms available at strosegirard.com.
- Pastoral contact: [email protected].
Getting Involved
The parish invites parishioners to grow closer to God by serving others through liturgical, educational, and outreach ministries. Newcomers are welcomed to register as parishioners and to connect with the community of St. Rose.
- Liturgical: Lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, music ministry.
- Outreach: St. Vincent de Paul Society – St. Rose Conference.
- Education: Religious Education (PSR) volunteer catechists; school volunteer opportunities.
- Registration: forms available at strosegirard.com/registration-forms/.
- Contact: Parish Office 330-545-4351.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. James J. Stewart1892 – first resident pastor
Newly ordained from Cleveland; arrived weeks before the May 15, 1892 dedication of the original frame church by Bishop Horstmann.
- Rev. Edward Kirby
Founder of St. Rose School, founded 1913.