About St. Therese - Holy Family Parish · Brewster, Ohio
Holy Family Parish is a merged Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Youngstown serving the communities of Brewster and Navarre in Stark County, Ohio. Formally established on July 1, 2011, the parish unites the historic St. Clement congregation in Navarre (founded 1832) with St. Therese Church in Brewster (dedicated 1928), with both worship sites remaining active. The parish's charism is Rural Life Ministry, drawing many farming families, and it maintains a charitable food pantry in collaboration with the Fairless Christian Association. It collaborates in ministry with St. Francis of Assisi Parish (Canton) and St. James Parish (Waynesburg) under the pastoral leadership of Very Rev. Kevin Peters, V.F.
- Established
- 2011 (merged parish; St. Therese Church established 1928; St. Clement Church established 1832)
- Patron
- Holy Family (Jesus, Mary, and Joseph)
- Rector
- Very Rev. Kevin Peters, V.F.
- Diocese
- Catholic Diocese of Youngstown
Why belong here
Holy Family Parish offers the warmth of a small-town, rural Catholic community with two active worship sites — historic St. Clement in Navarre and St. Therese in Brewster — both kept open after the 2011 merger. It is a place where families can worship together, grow in faith through CCD and OCIA programs, serve the broader community through the Fairless food cupboard and homebound ministry, and participate in beloved traditions like the St. Clement Festival (the longest-running church festival in Ohio), the Lenten Fish Fry, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, and the Prayer Shawl Ministry that has now produced well over 1,000 shawls. With a pastor, parochial vicar, two deacons, and a full staff, it is large enough to offer a rich sacramental and ministry life but small enough to know your neighbors.
Mass times at St. Therese - Holy Family Parish
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- First weekend of the month — Saturday, 3:45–4:15 PM (at St. Therese, Brewster)
- First weekend of the month — Sunday, 8:15–8:45 AM (at St. Clement, Navarre)
- Reconciliation is also celebrated the first weekend of the month; additional times by appointment through the Parish Office (330-879-5900).
Adoration times
- Thursday — 9:30 AM to 8:30 PM (at St. Clement, Navarre); cancelled when Fairless Schools are closed.
Our History
Holy Family Parish is the 2011 merger of two older Stark County congregations. St. Clement in Navarre traces to the early 1830s (log-cabin church 1832, brick 1844, Victorian chapel 1851, first resident pastor 1859, school built 1872, reopened 1945 by the Sisters of the Holy Ghost, closed 2008). St. Therese in Brewster began with the town's 1906 founding by the Wheeling and Lake Erie Railroad; Italian, Croatian and Slovenian Catholic immigrants were given permission by Archbishop Joseph Schrembs of Cleveland to form their own parish, celebrated first Masses in the local theater, and dedicated the church on September 16, 1928. The parishes were formally merged on July 1, 2011 under the Diocese of Youngstown.
- St. Clement established 1832
- St. Therese established 1928
- St. Therese church dedicated September 16, 1928
- Parish hall built 1970
- Late 1990s–early 2000s renovations and shrine to Saint Therese
- Holy Family Parish formally created July 1, 2011
Worship Sites
After the 2011 merger both original churches continue to operate as worship sites of Holy Family Parish, sharing one pastor, parish council, and staff.
- St. Therese Church, 512 S. Wabash Ave., Brewster, OH 44613 (established 1928)
- St. Clement Church, 216 E. Wooster St., Navarre, OH 44662 (established 1832)
- St. Clement Parish Hall, 432 N. Market St., Navarre, OH 44662
- St. Clement Cemetery, 552 Market St. NE, Navarre, OH
Sacraments
The Sacraments page on the parish website outlines the requirements and contact points for Baptism, Reconciliation, First Communion and Confirmation, Marriage, and Anointing of the Sick.
- Baptism — arrangements and required parent/godparent preparation class through the Parish Office (330-879-5900)
- Reconciliation — first weekend of the month at both worship sites (see Confession Times)
- First Communion & Confirmation — children must be enrolled in parish CCD or a Catholic school at least two years prior
- Marriage — arrangements must be made with the Parish Office at least six months in advance; marriage preparation classes required
- Anointing of the Sick — for those in serious illness or declining health; arranged through the Parish Office
Faith Formation
The parish's Faith Formation page lists programs for children, youth, and adults seeking full initiation into the Catholic Church.
- OCIA — Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, culminating at the Easter Vigil
- CCD — Cultivating Catholic Disciples: Parish School of Religion for kindergarten through high school seniors, runs during the school year
- Vacation Bible School for Preschool through 4th grade in summer
- Parents Corner — educational resources for parents and grandparents tied to CCD
- Director of Religious Education: Maggie Connor-Spitale
Ministries & Parish Life
The Ministries page describes a wide range of lay opportunities across liturgy, music, pastoral care, and outreach — all coordinated through the Parish Office at 330-879-5900 or [email protected].
- Pastoral Care
- Lectors (training provided)
- Eucharistic Ministers (Communion at Mass and visits to homebound/nursing home parishioners)
- Altar Servers (lay men, women, boys and girls who have received First Communion)
- Bereavement Ministry and Bereavement Luncheon coordination (St. Therese or St. Clement hall)
- Prayer Shawl Ministry (led by Mary Damewood; over 1,000 shawls made)
- Music Ministry — Adult Choir and cantors, led by Music Director Carolyn Collins Soehnlen
Outreach & Community
The parish maintains charitable outreach in the broader Fairless Local School District area and partners with neighboring Catholic parishes on Mass and ministry.
- Fairless Food Cupboard — housed at St. Therese Hall in collaboration with the Fairless Christian Association
- Grief Share
- Knights of Columbus Council #5582
- Rural Life Ministry (parish charism)
- Collaboration with St. Francis of Assisi Parish (Canton) and St. James Parish (Waynesburg)
- Spanish-language Mass listed at St. Anthony/All Saints (Sunday 11:00 AM) in the collaborative schedule
Festivities & Fundraisers
Holy Family Parish continues to host the long-running St. Clement Festival and other annual parish events that serve as both community gathering and fundraiser.
- St. Clement Festival — described on the diocesan page as the longest-running church festival in Ohio; features hot sausage and pepper sandwiches, 50/50 raffle, live entertainment and carnival rides
- Lenten Fish Fry
- Weekly Eucharistic Adoration on Thursdays at St. Clement
- Bingo at St. Clement Hall (216 Wooster St. NE, Navarre)
Meet Our Staff
The parish and diocesan pages list a full pastoral and administrative staff supporting both worship sites.
- Pastor — Very Rev. Kevin Peters, V.F. ([email protected])
- Parochial Vicar — Rev. Frederick Schlueter ([email protected])
- Pastor Emeritus — Rev. Michael Seifert
- Permanent Deacons — Alfredo Aguirre and Dave Kenney
- Parish Pastoral Associates — Deacon Alfredo Aguirre and Pattie Condello
- Director of Religious Education — Maggie Connor-Spitale ([email protected])
- Bookkeeper — Stefanie Coletti ([email protected])
- Secretary & Rental Hall Coordinator — Amanda Rodriguez
- Maintenance — Shawn Roush (per diocese) / Walter Davis (per website, [email protected])
- Music Director — Carolyn Collins Soehnlen
- Bulletin Editor — Jill Rohr
- Communications & Hall Rental — Sarah Kobilarcsik ([email protected])
Contact & Visit
The parish office at 216 Wooster St NE in Navarre is the main point of contact for all inquiries. The mailing address, phone, and fax are the same for both worship sites.
- Parish Office — 216 E. Wooster St., Navarre, OH 44662-1097
- Phone — (330) 879-5900
- Fax — (330) 879-5138
- Religious Education Office — (330) 879-5900
- Email — [email protected]
- Diocese — Catholic Diocese of Youngstown, Stark 1 Deanery, Parish Code 526
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Very Rev. Kevin Peters, V.F.current
Pastor; also V.F. (Vicar Forane) for the Stark 1 Deanery.
- Rev. Michael Seifertprior
Listed as Pastor Emeritus on the parish and diocesan pages.