About St. Saviour · Cincinnati, Ohio
St. Saviour is a Catholic parish in the Rossmoyne neighborhood of Cincinnati, Ohio, established in 1945 and entrusted to the care of the faithful by Father Joseph A. Dauwe under Archbishop John T. McNicholas. Since 2022 it has been grouped with four neighboring parishes into the Crescent Parishes Family of Parishes under the Archdiocese of Cincinnati's Beacons of Light initiative, currently led by Father Patrick L. Sloneker. The parish community worships in a Modern-style church designed by the firm Maguolo & Quick and dedicated in 1963, and continues to serve the Blue Ash / Deer Park / Rossmoyne area with daily and Sunday Mass, faith formation for all ages, and a long-standing partnership with Linden Grove School, which leases the former parish school building to provide alternative education for students with special needs.
- Established
- 1945
- Patron
- Our Saviour (Jesus Christ, under the title of Saviour)
- Rector
- Rev. Patrick L. Sloneker (Pastor of the Crescent Parishes Family)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Cincinnati (South Deanery, Family 6 — 'Crescent Parishes Family of Parishes' under the Beacons of Light initiative, implemented July 1, 2022)
Why belong here
St. Saviour offers the rhythm of a classic parish — daily and Sunday Mass in the quiet Myrtle Avenue church — combined with the broader programming of the five-parish Crescent Family. Parishioners can join the seniors' lunch and games afternoon held on the first Thursday of each month in the St. Saviour Parish Office, gather for Trivia Night in the St. Saviour Undercroft, attend the parish's faith-formation offerings (including the 20-year-old Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Atrium), or take part in family parish life through the choir, Boy Scouts, C.R.E.A., Faith & Fellowship, and the St. Vincent de Paul conference. The parish also has a distinctive community mission: it partners with Linden Grove School, which has leased the former St. Saviour school building since 2003 to provide alternative education for students with special needs.
Mass times at St. Saviour
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00–3:30 PM (St. Saviour)
Adoration times
- Adoration is offered at the Crescent Family Mission and at the Holy Spirit Center (see Crescent Parishes stewardship/program listings)
St. Saviour Parish — Rossmoyne / Blue Ash / Deer Park
St. Saviour is a Catholic parish in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, originally established in November 1945 to serve the postwar Catholic families moving into the Rossmoyne area north of the city. Today, under the Beacons of Light initiative, it is one of five parishes in the Crescent Parishes Family, sharing pastoral leadership and programs with Church of the Resurrection, Holy Trinity, Nativity of Our Lord, and St. John the Evangelist. The parish church sits at 4136 Myrtle Avenue, in a quiet neighborhood setting across the street from Deer Park High School.
- Established November 1945
- First Mass: Easter Sunday, April 6, 1947
- Current church dedicated 1963 (Maguolo & Quick, Modern style)
- Address: 4136 Myrtle Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45236
- Main office: (513) 791-9004
- Email: [email protected]
History & Heritage
St. Saviour traces its roots to the postwar Catholic boom in suburban Cincinnati, when Archbishop John T. McNicholas commissioned Father Joseph A. Dauwe to found a new parish in Rossmoyne in November 1945. Eleven acres of farmland were purchased in May 1946, and the first Mass was celebrated on Easter Sunday 1947. The school, convent, rectory, grotto, Holy Family shrine, and Remembrance Area all followed in quick succession, and a new church was dedicated in 1963 to replace the original worship space.
- 1945 — Parish established by Father Joseph A. Dauwe under Archbishop John T. McNicholas
- 1946 — 11 acres of farmland purchased; first parish festival held September 8
- 1947 — First Mass on Easter Sunday (April 6); school opens with 156 students and 4 Sisters of Charity
- 1950 — New school building dedicated to accommodate growth
- 1963 — Current Modern-style church designed by Maguolo & Quick is dedicated
- 2003 — Former school building leased to Linden Grove School (special-needs alternative education)
Crescent Parishes Family of Parishes
Since the Beacons of Light restructuring took effect on July 1, 2022, St. Saviour has shared pastoral leadership with four neighboring parishes as the Crescent Parishes Family. The Crescent Parishes Vision Statement reads: 'We seek to grow as disciples of Jesus and to follow His example of love and compassion. We welcome all to our diverse and unified Catholic community. We share vibrant celebrations of the Eucharist, engage in life-long faith formation, and offer ourselves in service to others.' In 2025 the parishes announced that Holy Trinity, Nativity, St. John the Evangelist, and St. Saviour are moving forward to merge into a single parish, while Church of the Resurrection will become a free-standing parish under the pastoral care of the Jesuit Community of Cincinnati effective July 1, 2026.
- Pastor: Rev. Patrick L. Sloneker
- Parochial Vicars: Rev. Jerome J. Gardner, Rev. David A. Lemkuhl
- Sister-parishes: Church of the Resurrection, Holy Trinity, Nativity of Our Lord, St. John the Evangelist
- Director of Evangelization: Cari Craver
- Deacon Royce Winters serves in pastoral leadership
Faith Formation & Religious Education
St. Saviour and its sister parishes offer lifelong faith formation for every age. Programming for children and teens includes PREP, Breaking Open the Word, the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Atrium (celebrating its 20th anniversary at Nativity), Vacation Bible School, high school formation, and Confirmation preparation. Adult formation includes RCIA, That Man is You men's fellowship, a 'Rosary in a Year' prayer program, Scripture study led by Deacon Royce, Stations of the Cross, and other seasonal offerings. Parishioners are encouraged to share their time and talent through the annual Stewardship of Time, Talent & Treasure commitment.
- PREP
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Atrium (20+ years)
- Breaking Open the Word
- Vacation Bible School
- High School Faith Formation
- Confirmation Preparation
- RCIA
- That Man is You Men's Fellowship
- Rosary in a Year
- Scripture Study with Deacon Royce
- Faith & Fellowship
Parish School & Linden Grove Partnership
St. Saviour's parish school opened in the fall of 1947 with 156 students and four Sisters of Charity as teachers. A larger school building was dedicated in 1950, and at its peak the school enrolled nearly 1,500 students taught by 15 Sisters of Charity and 15 lay teachers. The school has since closed, and since August 2003 the building has been leased to Linden Grove School, a private, not-for-profit school that offers an alternative education program for students with special needs. The parish describes Linden Grove as a valued neighbor and an extension of its mission in the local community.
- Parish school founded 1947 (156 students, 4 Sisters of Charity)
- New school building dedicated 1950
- Peak enrollment ~1,500 students
- Building leased to Linden Grove School since August 2003
Parish Life, Outreach & Community
St. Saviour is known for its active parish life, with several gatherings rooted at the Myrtle Avenue campus. A monthly Seniors Lunch & Games afternoon is hosted in the St. Saviour Parish Office on the first Thursday of each month from noon to 4:00 PM, and Trivia Nights draw teams of up to eight to the St. Saviour Undercroft (doors at 7:30, trivia at 8:00 PM). The parish also runs a Boy Scout troop, the C.R.E.A. group, the parish choir (rehearsal Wednesdays), a St. Vincent de Paul conference for those in need, and ongoing Bible Study and Faith & Fellowship small groups.
- Seniors Lunch & Games — 1st Thursday, noon–4:00 PM, St. Saviour Parish Office
- Trivia Night — St. Saviour Undercroft
- Boy Scouts (Undercroft)
- Parish Choir (Wednesday rehearsals)
- C.R.E.A.
- Bible Study
- St. Vincent de Paul Conference
Sacraments
The parish office arranges the Sacraments of Baptism, Marriage, the Anointing of the Sick, and Communion to the Sick and Homebound, and welcomes inquiries about becoming Catholic through the RCIA process. Reconciliation is offered every Saturday from 3:00 to 3:30 PM in the church, and the parish encourages regular reception of the sacrament as part of lifelong faith growth.
- Baptism
- Marriage
- Anointing of the Sick
- Communion to the Sick/Homebound
- RCIA
- Reconciliation — Saturday 3:00–3:30 PM
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Joseph A. Dauwe1945–
Founding pastor; commissioned by Archbishop John T. McNicholas to establish the parish; celebrated the first Mass on Easter Sunday, April 6, 1947.
- Rev. Timothy S. Bunchat least 2018
Listed as Pastor on the parish bulletin of May 6, 2018.
- Rev. Patrick L. Slonekerfrom 2022 (Beacons of Light)
Current Pastor of the Crescent Parishes Family of Parishes, which includes St. Saviour under the Archdiocese of Cincinnati's Beacons of Light initiative.