About The Historic Church of St. Patrick · Toledo, Ohio
The Historic Church of St. Patrick is a Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Toledo, Ohio, serving Toledo's historic 'Irish Hill' neighborhood at 130 Avondale Avenue. Founded in 1862 by Father Edward A. Hannin to minister to Toledo's English-speaking Catholic population, the parish's present Gothic Revival church — built of Amherst blue sandstone and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972 — is one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in the United States. Under the pastoral leadership of Reverend Monsignor Christopher P. Vasko, the parish offers weekend and Wednesday Masses (livestreamed on Facebook), confession, Eucharistic adoration, RCIA, Bible study, and a robust outreach program that includes Deacon Tom's Food Pantry and a weekly Sunday soup kitchen.
- Established
- 1862
- Patron
- Saint Patrick
- Rector
- Reverend Monsignor Christopher P. Vasko, JCD, Ph.D.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Toledo
Why belong here
The Historic Church of St. Patrick is a small, intentional Catholic community rooted in Toledo's oldest Irish-Catholic neighborhood and anchored by one of the country's most beautiful Gothic Revival churches. Worship here is intimate and traditional — three Masses a week (Sunday 8 a.m. and 10 a.m., Wednesday 5:30 p.m., the latter two livestreamed on the parish Facebook page), with a robust music program of choir and organ, weekly Wednesday Eucharistic adoration, the Rosary and confessions before Sunday Mass, and lively devotions such as the Padre Pio Prayer Group and the Traveling Chalice for vocations. The parish is also a serious outreach presence downtown: Deacon Tom's Food Pantry serves hundreds of households a month from the parish garage, and the Sunday Soup Kitchen hands out hot meals and clothing at the LMHA building at the foot of the hill. Newcomers are welcomed into RCIA, Bible study, the Liturgy Committee, and a long list of ministries — making this a place where you can both pray in a national landmark and serve your neighbors in need.
Mass times at The Historic Church of St. Patrick
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 9:30 a.m. on the first Sunday of every month (at Historic St. Patrick)
- During a Communal Penance Service in Advent and Lent
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Wednesday 4:00–5:00 p.m. (preceding the 5:30 p.m. Mass)
- Special Advent Adoration Wednesdays (announced in the bulletin)
History of the Parish
St. Patrick's traces its origin to 1862, when Father Edward A. Hannin was sent to organize a parish for Toledo's English-speaking Catholic population on what became known as 'Irish Hill.' A small brick church was built in 1862–63 at the corner of Lafayette and Thirteenth Streets, but by 1891 it had become unsafe and was demolished. The current Gothic Revival church, designed by Adolphus Druiding and built on the same lot between 1892 and 1901, was dedicated on April 13, 1901. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972, the parish was renamed 'The Historic Church of St. Patrick' in 1987. The 240-foot spire was destroyed by a lightning fire on September 9, 1980; the restored steeple was raised again on September 6, 2007, funded largely by the estate of lifelong parishioner Margaret Kennedy Hays Tank.
- 1862 — Parish organized by Father Edward A. Hannin
- 1863 — First church dedicated (May 17, cost ~$27,000)
- 1892 — Foundation of present church begun
- 1894 — Cornerstone laid July 15
- 1900 — Church first used on Christmas Day
- 1901 — Solemn dedication April 13 (Cardinal Gibbons present)
- 1972 — Added to the National Register of Historic Places (#72001033)
- 1980 — Lightning fire destroys 240′ spire
- 1987 — Officially renamed The Historic Church of St. Patrick
- 2007 — Steeple rebuilt and organ restored (September–October)
Architecture and the Church Building
Architect Adolphus Druiding designed the present church in pure Gothic Revival style. The exterior is Amherst blue sandstone; the interior ceiling is carried by ten cylindrical columns of soft red granite with octagonal bases, carved heads, and capitals of pure white marble. The building measures 180′2″ long with an 82′6″ nave and 119′6″ transept; side walls reach 45 feet and the nave/transept 65′6″. Original seating capacity was 1,400. Almost every window is stained glass — life-size sanctuary figures of St. Ann, the Blessed Virgin, the Savior, St. Joseph, and St. Joachim; a 14 × 40′ Nativity window in one transept (gift of the Daughters of Mary) and a matching St. Patrick / Birth of Christianity in Ireland window in the other (gift of the Ancient Order of Hibernians); eight side windows of the Twelve Apostles and four Doctors of the Church; and a gallery with King David and St. Cecilia looking toward the choir.
- Architect: Adolphus Druiding
- Style: Gothic Revival (described on the parish site as 'pure Gothic')
- Exterior: Amherst blue sandstone
- Interior: 10 cylindrical red-granite columns; white-marble capitals
- Stained glass: donated by parishioners, the Daughters of Mary, and the Ancient Order of Hibernians
Parish Leadership and Staff
The parish is led by Monsignor Christopher P. Vasko with a weekend associate, three deacons, and a committed lay staff handling music, business, outreach, and maintenance. Weekend Mass is assisted by Deacon Paul Nungester and Deacon Tom Carone; Deacon David E. Smith also serves in the parish.
- Pastor — Rev. Monsignor Christopher P. Vasko, JCD, Ph.D.
- Weekend Associate — Rev. Rudi Schwarzkopf, OSFS
- Deacon — Thomas S. Carone
- Deacon — David E. Smith
- Deacon — Paul Nungester
- Business Manager — Rusty Belcher
- Administrative Assistant / Compliance Officer / Wedding Coordinator — Sherri Gaudet
- Accountant — Trish Shaffer
- Bookkeeper — Helen Yensz
- Parish Musician / Organist — Eric Hite
- Choir Director — Jeff Weiser
- Maintenance — John Williams; Michael Perry Jr.; Jeff Hallock
- Custodian — Charlene Leestma
- DeSales Outreach Center — Sherri Gaudet
- Sacristan — Rosalie Mills
- Usher Captain — Dave Meegan
Sacraments
The Historic Church of St. Patrick celebrates the full range of parish sacraments. Baptisms are normally celebrated during or after Sunday Mass, with preparation arranged through the Parish Office. RCIA (called OCIA on the parish's current materials) meets Thursday evenings from September through Easter, with catechumens received at the Easter Vigil. Couples planning to marry must contact the parish at least six months in advance. The Sacrament of the Sick and Communion to the homebound or hospitalized are arranged through the Parish Office.
- Baptism — Sunday during/after Mass; Baptismal Preparation class required
- OCIA / RCIA — weekly meetings September to Easter; Easter Vigil reception
- Penance — first Sunday 9:30 a.m., Advent/Lent services, or by appointment
- Matrimony — six-month preparation required
- Anointing of the Sick / Communion to the Sick — by arrangement through the Parish Office
Outreach: Deacon Tom's Food Pantry and the Sunday Soup Kitchen
The parish's outreach to downtown Toledo is one of its defining ministries. Deacon Tom's Food Pantry, run from the garage between the church and the rectory, serves the 43604 ZIP code three days a week — Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from noon to 2 p.m. (clients must bring an ID). In a recent month the pantry served 305 households, including 135 seniors, 374 adults, and 179 children — 688 people in all — and distributed 67 hygiene kits. The Sunday Soup Kitchen, located at the LMHA Building at the foot of the hill, serves meals and distributes clothing every Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., and volunteers are always welcome. The parish also participates in the Meijer Simply Give campaign to benefit the food pantry.
- Deacon Tom's Food Pantry — Mon/Wed/Fri 12:00–2:00 p.m., 43604 ZIP, bring ID
- Sunday Soup Kitchen — 11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. at the LMHA Building (foot of the hill)
- DeSales Outreach Center — parish outreach hub
- Meijer Simply Give campaign — benefits Deacon Tom's Food Pantry
Faith Formation, Devotions, and Community Life
Beyond Mass and confession, the parish runs a rich calendar of formation and devotional life. The Padre Pio Prayer Group meets on the second Sunday (9:30 a.m. Rosary & Confession, 10:00 a.m. Mass, 11:00 a.m. meeting at the St. Joseph side altar). The Traveling Chalice program and the Wednesday Litany for Vocations promote priestly and religious vocations. Wednesday evenings also include the St. Patrick's Bible Study (6:30–8:00 p.m.) and an Evangelization Meeting. Children's Religious Education meets after the 10:00 a.m. Sunday Mass. The parish also hosts blood-pressure checks after Mass, a Saturday-morning yoga group, and the Society for the Preservation of St. Patrick's Church.
- Padre Pio Prayer Group — second Sundays
- Traveling Chalice for Vocations — monthly
- Litany for Vocations — Wednesday 6:00 p.m.
- Bible Study — Wednesday 6:30–8:00 p.m.
- OCIA / RCIA — Thursday 7:00–9:00 p.m.
- Religious Education — after Sunday 10:00 a.m. Mass
- Liturgy Committee — Volunteer Spotlight
- Blood Pressure Checks — after Sunday Mass
Music and Liturgical Arts
Music at Historic St. Patrick is led by Music Coordinator/Organist Eric Hite and Choir Director Jeff Weiser. The parish's restored organ — a four-manual Rodgers electronic instrument incorporating 17 ranks of pipes salvaged from the original Kilgen organ damaged in the 1980 lightning fire — was blessed in October 2007 and is a centerpiece of Sunday and Christmas liturgies. Choir members and instrumentalists serve the 10:00 a.m. Mass and special solemnities (the original 1901 dedication featured a 75-voice choir, four soloists, and orchestra performing Mozart's Twelfth Mass).
- Parish Musician / Organist — Eric Hite
- Choir Director — Jeff Weiser
- Instrument — four-manual Rodgers electronic with 17 ranks of restored Kilgen pipes
- Special liturgies feature brass, harp, and choral ensembles
Visiting, Contact, and Getting Involved
The Parish Office is open at 130 Avondale Avenue, Toledo, Ohio 43604 (phone 419-243-6452; fax 419-243-7032; email [email protected]). A pastoral emergency line (419-243-6031) is available when no one is in the office. Visitors and newcomers are invited to attend any Mass or devotion, to inquire about OCIA through Deacon Tom, to volunteer with the food pantry or soup kitchen, or to join the choir or one of the parish ministries listed in the weekly bulletin. Sunday and Wednesday Masses, plus 'Moments with Monsignor' episodes, are available on the parish Facebook page and YouTube channel.
- Parish Office — 130 Avondale Ave., Toledo, OH 43604
- Phone — 419-243-6452
- Fax — 419-243-7032
- Emergency line — 419-243-6031
- Email — [email protected]
- Web — http://www.stpatshistoric.org/
- Facebook — Historic St. Patrick (livestream)
- YouTube — Historic Church of St. Patrick
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Very Rev. Edward A. Hannin1862–1902
Founder and first pastor; built the first church (1862–63), the parish hall (1873–74), St. Patrick's Academy (1865), St. Patrick's Cemetery, and planned Cavalry Cemetery. Designed and oversaw construction of the present Gothic church.
- Rev. James P. McCloskey1903–1922
- Rev. Francis J. Keyes1922–1935
Carried out the extensive 1920s remodeling: new chandeliers, marble sanctuary, stations of the cross, terrazzo shamrock floor.
- Rev. Edmund J. Connolly1935–1968
- Msgr. Jerome E. Schmit1968–1981
Pastor at the time of the 1980 lightning fire that destroyed the steeple.
- Rev. John A. Thomas1981–1990
- Rev. Thomas J. Gorman1990–1991
- Rev. Richard J. Saelzler1991–1997
- Very Rev. Michael R. Billian, VE1997–2005
- Rev. Dennis P. Hartigan2005–2013
- Rev. Monsignor Christopher P. Vasko2013–present
Current pastor; led parish through a stewardship renewal and the full post-restoration liturgical life.