About Transfiguration Parish · Lakewood, Ohio
Transfiguration Parish is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Cleveland serving the east end of Lakewood, Ohio, in the historic Birdtown neighborhood. It was formed in 2010 when the Slovak-origin parish of SS. Cyril and Methodius merged with St. Rose of Lima (Cleveland) and St. Hedwig (Lakewood) under the diocesan reconfiguration. The parish continues the 120-year-old legacy of its predecessor congregation — founded by Slovak immigrants in 1903 — in the Romanesque-style church built in 1931 at 12608 Madison Avenue. It is pastored by Father Theodore Haag, O.F.M. (a Franciscan), and is one of four Catholic parishes supporting Lakewood Catholic Academy.
- Established
- 1903
- Patron
- The Transfiguration of the Lord
- Rector
- Father Theodore Haag, O.F.M.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Cleveland
Why belong here
Transfiguration Parish welcomes visitors and parishioners into a small but vibrant Roman Catholic community in Lakewood's historic Birdtown neighborhood, offering weekend Mass, Saturday confession and ongoing faith formation. Worship takes place in a beautiful 1931 Romanesque church whose interior murals were finally finished in 1949 — a tangible reminder of a congregation with deep roots. The parish partners with Lakewood Catholic Academy, ensuring that local Catholic children have access to K-8 faith-centered education, and parishioners can grow in faith through the parish's religious education program led by Deacon David Streeter. It is a faithful, multigenerational community committed to worship, evangelization, love of neighbor and ministry to those in need.
Mass times at Transfiguration Parish
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 2:30 PM to 3:30 PM
Parish Identity & Mission
Transfiguration Parish is a Roman Catholic community of the Diocese of Cleveland, located on Madison Avenue in Lakewood, Ohio's historic Birdtown neighborhood. Its mission statement, drawn from its public giving page, reads: 'In the spirit of oneness, we, the members of Transfiguration Parish, a Roman Catholic Community, are called to serve God through His Son Jesus Christ, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We dedicate ourselves to the transformation of our lives and society through worship, evangelization, love of neighbor, and ministry to those in need.' The parish is pastored by Father Theodore Haag, O.F.M., a Franciscan friar, with parish secretary Kathleen McEntee assisting in the rectory.
- Pastor: Fr. Theodore Haag, O.F.M.
- Parish Secretary: Kathleen McEntee
- Tax ID (EIN): 27-1844587
- Diocese of Cleveland, Cuyahoga County Suburban – West
History: From SS. Cyril and Methodius to Transfiguration
The parish traces its origins to August 3, 1903, when Slovak immigrants on Lakewood's east end organized SS. Cyril and Methodius Parish at Lakewood and Madison Avenues — the oldest Roman Catholic congregation in Lakewood. The first Mass was celebrated in a house on the property. A frame church was later built, and construction of the present Romanesque church began with the foundation in 1926 and was completed in 1931. Interior decoration had to wait until 1949 because of the Great Depression. Mass was celebrated in the Slovak language for many years, reflecting the immigrant community's heritage. In 2010, the Diocese of Cleveland merged SS. Cyril and Methodius with St. Rose of Lima (Cleveland) and St. Hedwig (Lakewood) to form the present-day Transfiguration Parish; the old St. Hedwig building became the Museum of Divine Statues in 2011.
- Founded August 3, 1903, by Slovak immigrants as SS. Cyril and Methodius Parish
- Oldest Roman Catholic congregation in Lakewood
- Current Romanesque church built 1931; interior murals completed 1949
- 2010: merger with St. Rose of Lima and St. Hedwig formed Transfiguration Parish
- Predecessor pastor Fr. Jerome J. Duke transferred to Our Lady of Angels in 2010; retired 2013
Worship & Liturgy
The parish offers a simple but consistent weekend Mass schedule, celebrated in English in the historic Romanesque church on Madison Avenue. The Saturday vigil and two Sunday Masses serve the parish and visitors from the surrounding Birdtown neighborhood. Confessions are heard every Saturday afternoon before the vigil Mass.
- Saturday Vigil Mass: 4:00 PM
- Sunday Masses: 8:00 AM and 11:00 AM
- Confessions: Saturday 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM
- Languages: English (historically also Slovak)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation for parish children and families is coordinated through the parish's Religious Education program under the direction of Deacon David Streeter. The parish also partners with Lakewood Catholic Academy (LCA), a K-8 consolidated Catholic school that brings together the four Lakewood-area parishes: St. Clement, St. James, St. Luke and Transfiguration. LCA opened in August 2005 on the former St. Augustine Academy campus, and Transfiguration (then still SS. Cyril and Methodius) joined as a supporting parish in 2010 when its elementary school was faced with closing.
- Director of Religious Education: Deacon David Streeter (216.701.0792)
- Supporting parish of Lakewood Catholic Academy
- Lakewood Catholic Academy: K-8, ~475 students, plus Early Childhood Program
Parish Ministries & Outreach
The parish's published mission highlights four pillars of community life: worship, evangelization, love of neighbor, and ministry to those in need. Parishioners are invited to live out these commitments through faith formation, sacramental preparation, and outreach to the elderly and vulnerable in Lakewood's Birdtown community. The parish has also participated in diocesan fundraising efforts such as #weGIVECATHOLIC's Giving Tuesday, with recent gifts directed to safety and security improvements in the church and rectory.
- Worship & Liturgical Life
- Evangelization
- Love of Neighbor / Parish Outreach
- Ministry to Those in Need
- Religious Education for parish children
Visit, Contact & Location
Transfiguration Parish is located on Madison Avenue (U.S. Route 20) in the Birdtown neighborhood of Lakewood, just west of Cleveland. Visitors are welcome at weekend Masses or for confession on Saturday afternoons. The parish office is reachable by phone and email during business hours.
- Address: 12608 Madison Ave., Lakewood, OH 44107-4997
- Phone: (216) 521-7288
- Email: [email protected]
- Deanery: Cuyahoga County Suburban – West
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Jerome J. Dukeprior to 2010
Former pastor of predecessor SS. Cyril and Methodius Parish; community pillar in Birdtown known for his Stetson hat, white beard and homilies on economic equality. Transferred to Our Lady of Angels, West Park, in 2010 at the time of the merger; retired in 2013.