About St. Simon the Apostle · Cincinnati, Ohio
St. Simon the Apostle is a Roman Catholic parish in Delhi Township on Cincinnati's west side, established August 9, 1966 as the 261st parish of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. It is one of five parishes that together form the "Mary, Queen of All Saints" Family of Parishes (along with St. Dominic, St. Aloysius on the Ohio, St. Vincent de Paul, and Our Lady of Victory). The parish is served by a pastor, two parochial vicars, and a dedicated lay staff, with liturgy centered on a Saturday Vigil Mass and a single Sunday Mass, supported by weekday Masses and traditional devotions such as the Rosary and Devotion to Our Blessed Mother.
- Established
- 1966
- Patron
- St. Simon the Apostle
- Rector
- Fr. Benedict O'Cinnsealaigh
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Cincinnati
Why belong here
St. Simon offers a faithful, accessible Catholic community on Cincinnati's west side with a strong rhythm of daily prayer: weekday Mass, a Saturday Vigil, and a single Sunday Mass at 11:00 AM, complemented by the Rosary and Devotion to Our Blessed Mother. As a member of the Mary, Queen of All Saints Family of Parishes, parishioners benefit from shared clergy, broader fellowship, and a wider set of formation and youth programs including PSR (Parish School of Religion), OCIA for adults, and a parish Youth Group.
Mass times at St. Simon the Apostle
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Friday 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM (First Friday of the Month)
- Friday 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM (First Friday of the Month)
Parish History & Identity
St. Simon the Apostle was established August 9, 1966, as the 261st parish of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, planted to serve the growing Catholic population of Delhi Township on Cincinnati's west side. The current church was dedicated on September 12, 1980. The parish today identifies itself as part of the Mary, Queen of All Saints Family of Parishes, while retaining its own parish name and identity.
- Established August 9, 1966 — 261st parish of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati
- Current church dedicated September 12, 1980
- Member of the Mary, Queen of All Saints Family of Parishes (SW3 district)
Clergy & Staff
The parish is currently served by a pastor, two parochial vicars, and a Pastor Emeritus, with a small but dedicated lay staff handling parish operations, music, and sacramental preparation.
- Pastor: Fr. Benedict O'Cinnsealaigh
- Parochial Vicar: Fr. Chris Lack
- Parochial Vicar: Fr. Mike Cordier
- Pastor Emeritus: Fr. Don Rettig
- Deacon Mark Bardonaro — Safe Environment Coordinator (Mary, Queen of All Saints Family), based at St. Dominic, 513-471-7741
- Parish Secretary: Cindy Delaney
- Regional Business Manager: Charlie DeZarn (513-471-7741)
- Music Director: Elaina McCormick
- Church Sacristan: Connie Nanney
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation at St. Simon is anchored by the Parish School of Religion (PSR), with separate tracks for children and youth, and the OCIA process (formerly RCIA) for adults seeking full initiation into the Catholic Church. SafeParish volunteer training is required for those working with minors.
- PSR – Parish School of Religion (K-8 religious education program)
- OCIA – Order of Christian Initiation of Adults
- Youth Group (with Welcome Letter, RSVP links, and Medical Release form)
- SafeParish Volunteer Training
- Family DREs Karen Brandstetter and Beth Schumacher serve St. Simon and St. Aloysius on the Ohio within the Mary, Queen of All Saints Family
Mary, Queen of All Saints Family of Parishes
St. Simon is one of five parishes united in the Mary, Queen of All Saints Family of Parishes in the SW3 district of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. The family shares clergy and formation leadership while each parish keeps its own identity and traditions.
- St. Dominic
- St. Aloysius on the Ohio (St. Al's)
- St. Simon the Apostle
- St. Vincent de Paul
- Our Lady of Victory
Music & Liturgy
Music at St. Simon is directed by Music Director Elaina McCormick, with Connie Nanney serving as Church Sacristan. The parish relies on a community choir and lay liturgical ministers — lectors, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, ushers, and greeters — to support the Sacred Liturgy.
- Music Director: Elaina McCormick
- Church Sacristan: Connie Nanney
- Parish Choir
- Lectors and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Ushers and Greeters
Outreach & Parish Life
Parish life at St. Simon extends well beyond Sunday Mass, with active ministries of charity, respect life work, food pantry support, community meals, youth athletics, and parish fundraisers that bring families together. The pastor's own writings highlight how parishioners serve by cleaning churches, teaching CCD and OCIA, coaching sports, visiting the homebound, and protecting unborn life.
- Respect Life ministry
- Food pantry / community meals
- Visits to the homebound and hospitalized
- Parish athletic programs (basketball, volleyball, football, baseball)
- Parish musical / theater for children
- Fundraising and parish committee work
- WeShare online giving program
Sacraments
St. Simon prepares parishioners for the sacraments of initiation, healing, and vocation, working in coordination with the Mary, Queen of All Saints Family where appropriate.
- Baptism — contact the parish office
- First Holy Communion — through PSR preparation
- Confirmation — through PSR preparation
- Marriage — contact the parish office
- Anointing of the Sick — contact the parish office
- OCIA — adult initiation into the Church
Visit, Contact & Office Hours
Parishioners and visitors are welcome to stop by the parish office during its limited weekday morning hours or call the main parish number. Online giving is available through WeShare, and weekly bulletins are hosted on DiscoverMass.
- Address: 825 Pontius Road, Cincinnati, OH 45233
- Phone: (513) 941-3656 — Fax: (513) 941-1562
- Office Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday — 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM
- Online Giving: WeShare (https://stsimonparish.weshareonline.org)
- Weekly Bulletins: hosted on DiscoverMass
- Driving Directions: I-75 west to Hwy 50, right on Anderson Ferry, left on Rapid Run, left on Pontius Rd.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Robert (surname truncated on parish site)pre-2012
Listed among past pastors on the parish site
- Fr. Bryan T. Reif2012–2019
Past pastor whose tenure included joining the Pastoral Region
- Fr. Don Rettig
Now Pastor Emeritus
- Fr. Benedict O'Cinnsealaigh2019–present (current as listed)
Current pastor; also referenced as 'Fr Ben' in parish writings; led parish into Mary, Queen of All Saints Family of Parishes