About Visitation of Mary Parish · Akron, Ohio
Visitation of Mary Parish is a welcoming Catholic community of about 249–269 families serving East Akron, Goodyear Heights, Middlebury and the surrounding neighborhoods of Akron, Ohio. It belongs to the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland and gathers at the historic former-Annunciation church on 55 Broad Street, a Tudor Gothic–style building erected in 1923 that seats roughly 750 people. The parish is rooted in the 1907 Annunciation parish, took its current name in 2009 after a merger with St. John the Baptist Parish, and today is led by Father Dismas Byarugaba, A.J., with two priests in residence and a permanent deacon. Known for its lively Swahili Mass on the last Sunday of each month, a hearing-loop-equipped sanctuary, and a Community Hot Meals outreach run through Catholic Charities, it proclaims in its mission: "To proclaim the Gospel of Christ to our local community in word, deed, and truth."
- Established
- 2009
- Patron
- Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (parish founded from merged parishes in 2009); predecessor parish was dedicated to the Annunciation (1907)
- Rector
- Rev. Dismas Byarugaba, A.J.
- Diocese
- Catholic Diocese of Cleveland (Summit County – North)
Why belong here
Visitation of Mary offers the experience of a historic 1923 Tudor Gothic church with a tightly-knit family of around 269 households in East Akron. It welcomes newcomers with personal tours, an open invitation to register and an unusually diverse liturgical life — including a monthly Swahili Mass serving the local African community — alongside a full range of liturgical and charitable ministries. The parish is hearing-loop enabled, actively feeds the hungry through its Catholic Charities Community Hot Meals program, and runs ministries such as RCIA, faith formation, Music Ministry, St. Anne's Guild, Holy Name Society, and Eucharistic Adoration on the first Wednesday of each month.
Mass times at Visitation of Mary Parish
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00–3:45 pm (before Vigil Mass)
Adoration times
- First Wednesday of every month — Evening Prayer with Eucharistic Adoration at 5:00 pm
About Visitation of Mary Parish
Visitation of Mary is a Catholic parish in the Diocese of Cleveland serving East Akron, Goodyear Heights, Middlebury and surrounding neighborhoods. The parish's stated mission is to proclaim the Gospel of Christ to the local community in word, deed, and truth. About 249–269 families are currently involved in various aspects of parish life, making it a vibrant community in spite of its modest size. Father Dismas Byarugaba, A.J., warmly invites newcomers seeking a spiritual home to contact the parish office for a personal welcome and tour, either before or after Mass or during weekday office hours. The parish website allows visitors to register, donate, request Mass intentions, schedule a home or sick visit, and browse a photo gallery.
- Mission: To proclaim the Gospel of Christ to our local community in word, deed, and truth.
- Welcomes roughly 249–269 registered families.
- Visitors are offered a personal welcome and tour.
- Website tools: registration, online giving, Mass intention scheduling, sick-call requests, photo gallery.
History
The parish's roots go back to Annunciation Parish, established on June 20, 1907 by Bishop Ignatius F. Horstmann of Cleveland with about one hundred families, all in east Akron. Its founding pastor, Father Richard A. Dowed, served for roughly fifty years and built the parish around prayer, singing, and Catholic education. He died on July 6, 1957. The current Annunciation/Visitation church on 55 Broad Street was constructed in 1923 in Tudor Gothic style by Graham & Associates of Boston and seats about 750. After 102 years of service, Annunciation merged with St. John the Baptist Parish on November 9, 2009, taking the new name Visitation of Mary Parish, drawn from the Gospel of Luke's account of Mary visiting Elizabeth. The two parishes soon returned to being independent but sharing a single pastor. Father Dismas Byarugaba, A.J., became pastor on September 12, 2021, continuing the parish's evangelizing tradition.
- 1907 — Annunciation Parish founded by Bishop Horstmann with ~100 families.
- 1923 — Tudor Gothic church at 55 Broad Street constructed (architect: Graham & Associates, Boston).
- November 9, 2009 — Merged with St. John the Baptist; renamed Visitation of Mary Parish.
- September 12, 2021 — Fr. Dismas Byarugaba, A.J., installed as current pastor.
- Parish is one of 185 parishes that make up the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland.
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation is described by the parish as a vital element of Catholic life — for children and adults alike — leading to a more intimate relationship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and through the Trinity to the Church, family, friends, neighbors, parish, and community. The parish offers Religious Education classes for Grades 1–8, along with preparation for the sacraments of First Communion and First Penance, Confirmation preparation, and High School Youth Ministry. Deacon Scott Proper serves as the parish's Faith Formation Director. The parish also partners with FORMED, a Catholic digital media platform, to enrich parishioners' faith at home.
- Religious Education Classes (Grades 1–8)
- First Communion & First Penance preparation
- Confirmation preparation
- High School Youth Ministry
- Director: Deacon Scott Proper
- FORMED digital faith platform available through the website
Parish Ministries and Service
Visitation of Mary offers a wide variety of ministries that parishioners describe as essential to the parish's identity. The liturgical team includes Music Ministry, Altar Servers, Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors, Greeters, Ushers, Sacristans, and a Liturgical Linen Service. Pastoral ministries include Baptism Preparation and RCIA, while parish-administrative bodies include the Parish Pastoral Council and Finance Council. Fellowship and outreach ministries include the St. Anne's Guild, Holy Name Society, Offertory Counters, and a joint Men's Fellowship Group with St. John the Baptist Parish. The Soup Kitchen (Community Hot Meals) at 55 Broad Street is one of the parish's most visible works of mercy.
- Music Ministry
- St. Anne's Guild
- Holy Name Society
- Men's Fellowship Group (joint with St. John the Baptist Parish)
- Altar Servers, Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors, Greeters, Ushers, Sacristans, Liturgical Linen Service
- Parish Pastoral Council, Finance Council, Offertory Counters
- Baptism Preparation, RCIA
- Soup Kitchen / Community Hot Meals
Outreach: Community Hot Meals and Food Pantry
Located in East Akron, Visitation of Mary hosts one of Catholic Charities of Cleveland's Community Hot Meals sites, twice a week. Volunteers prepare and serve thousands of meals a year directly from the church basement kitchen. The program is open to all in need — guests are asked only to check in before receiving a meal. The parish also operates a Saturday food pantry (10:00 am–2:00 pm) serving Summit and Medina counties for those needing documentation with a name and address. During COVID-19, the Community Hot Meals program pivoted to boxed to-go meals distributed at the door.
- Monday — Pick-up 11:30 am–12:30 pm and 4:30 pm–5:30 pm
- Tuesday — Pick-up 11:30 am–1:00 pm and 4:30 pm–6:00 pm
- Saturday Food Pantry — 10:00 am–2:00 pm (Summit & Medina counties)
- Operated in partnership with Catholic Charities of Cleveland
- Volunteers always needed for cooking, serving, and donations
Parish Staff and Clergy
Visitation of Mary is led by an Augustinian (A.J.) priest, Father Dismas Byarugaba, with two fellow priests in residence and a permanent deacon on staff. The lay staff includes an office manager, business manager, minister to the sick, director of liturgy and music, and director of buildings and grounds.
- Rev. Dismas Byarugaba, A.J. — Pastor (ext. 14; [email protected])
- Rev. Bernard Kyara, A.J. — Priest in Residence / Pastoral Assistant; Chaplain, Akron General & Cleveland Clinic (ext. 10; [email protected])
- Rev. Odemary Bahati Kisaka, A.J. — Priest in Residence / Pastoral Assistant; Chaplain, Akron City Hospital / Summa Health System (ext. 10; [email protected])
- Deacon Scott T. Proper — Permanent Deacon; Faith Formation Director & Web Specialist (ext. 10; [email protected])
- Joanne DalSanto — Office Manager (ext. 10)
- Ed Coia — Business Manager (ext. 10)
- Diana Herhold — Minister to the Sick
- Mike Herhold — Director of Liturgy and Music (330-353-4141)
- Ronald Greathouse — Director of Buildings and Grounds (330-535-4141)
Getting Involved / Parish Life
In addition to its liturgical ministries, Visitation of Mary offers many ways to participate in parish life — from serving the poor at the Community Hot Meals program to joining the Holy Name Society, the St. Anne's Guild, or the joint Men's Fellowship Group. The parish encourages anyone with an idea for a new ministry to reach out to the office. Staying informed is easy through the weekly bulletin and the parish calendar on the website.
- Volunteer with the Soup Kitchen / Community Hot Meals
- Join the St. Anne's Guild, Holy Name Society, or Men's Fellowship Group
- Serve as a Lector, Eucharistic Minister, Altar Server, Usher, Greeter or Sacristan
- Stay current with the weekly bulletin and parish calendar
- Enrich faith at home with FORMED
Visit and Contact
Parishioners and visitors can reach Visitation of Mary at the rectory office at 87 Broad Street, Akron, OH 44305. The worship church is next door at 55 Broad Street. The parish is a Hearing Loop–enabled church, allowing those with hearing aids to hear Mass more clearly via the telecoil setting. The Diocese of Cleveland lists the parish in its Summit County – North grouping.
- Phone: (330) 535-4141
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.visitationofmary.org
- Church: 55 Broad Street, Akron, OH 44305
- Rectory: 87 Broad Street, Akron, OH 44305
- Diocese of Cleveland — Summit County North
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Richard A. Dowed1907–1957
Founding pastor of Annunciation Parish; served ~50 years; emphasized prayer, singing, and Catholic education.
- Rev. Leonard Wheatley1955–1965
- Rev. Liam Kitt1966–1971
- Rev. Edward "Tedd" Bedell1971–1976
- Rev. Ray J. Horley1976–1984
- Rev. Paul J. Rosing1984–2002
Returned for the Bishop's 2022 Stations of the Cross and fish fry visit, identified as former pastor.
- Rev. Edwin Leonard2002–2006
- Rev. Jonathan Zingales2006–2021
Left September 11, 2021.
- Rev. Dismas Byarugaba, A.J.2021–present
Current pastor; began September 12, 2021.