Our Parish at St. Mary

Welcome to St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Church, a community-driven Catholic parish in Avon, Ohio. Under the patronage of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we are striving to build God’s Kingdom in our world today through lives of prayer and service.

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ST. MARY PARISH OFFICE HOURS UPDATE:  
As a team of staff collaborate to streamline resources for the Avon Catholic Community, we would like to share that effective August 16, open office hours at St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception will be available from 8:00 am through noon on Tuesdays -and- 12:30 pm through 4:30 pm on Thursdays.

Parishioners or guests are asked to visit the parish office located at Holy Trinity during any other times of the week for assistance.  Holy Trinity parish office hours are 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. (closed for lunch from noon - 12:30 pm.

Thank you to all parishioners for their patience as we continue to develop the staffing team to support our community.    

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Friday, May 19th: The parishes of Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception and Holy Trinity will work together to continue advancing the message of Christ within our community and beyond. Beginning as a family of parishes, it is natural to have questions regarding resources, clergy structure and ministries.

In this list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), the goal is to address parishioner concerns during this transitional period.

On Friday of each week, FAQ’s will be updated and/or added to this document and available on this page.

To submit a question, please email: [email protected]

As of May 19, 2023

Question: How will finances be handled between the two parishes?

Answer: Each parish will continue to be financially independent. Activity between parishes, the cost of staffing and/or other expenses may be shared.  

Question: What happens to collections if parishioners decide to move between Masses offered at either location and “bounce” between Saint Mary’s and Holy Trinity for weekend Mass?

Answer:  Parishioners may deposit their collection envelope at either parish. Envelopes will be forwarded to the appropriate parish.

Question: What is a parish administrator and what is his role?

Answer: The bishop of the diocese names an administrator as a placeholder until a pastor of the parish is formally named. In time, the bishop may decide to appoint the administrator as the pastor. The administrator holds all of the rights and responsibilities of a pastor.

Question: What is a parochial vicar?

Answer: A parochial vicar is a priest assigned to a parish in addition to, and in collaboration with, the parish pastor or administrator. He exercises his ministry as an agent of the parish’s pastor, or administrator.

Question: Where will the clergy live?

Answer:  Fr. Deogratias will reside at Saint Mary’s. Once accommodations are updated, Fr. Vince and seminarian intern Sean Neville, or any future intern, will it also reside at Saint Mary. Living in community provides clergy the ability to be spiritually focused, seek pastoral counsel from one another and share in daily social interactions while living out their priesthood.

Question: Will both priests be present at both parishes?

Answer: Yes. Fr. Hawk and Fr. Deogratias will celebrate Mass and perform their regular sacramental duties at both parishes.

Question: Will the time(s) of Mass/ Mass schedule change?

Answer: The Diocese of Cleveland is encouraging all parishes to review Mass schedules in effort to support all clergy within the eight counties the diocese serves; therefore, we will be looking at weekend Mass schedules as we move forward.  We will likely be looking at the weekday Mass schedule more immediately. 

Question: How are sacraments such as baptism, weddings and funerals handled moving forward?

Answer: Sacraments will continue to be celebrated at the parish of which you are a member.

Question: I am a Eucharistic minister / altar server/ lector. How do I continue to serve my parish?

Answer: Parishioners who offer ministries or serve weekdays/weekends are pivotal to supporting the celebration of Mass at each parish location. The schedule of servers and roles at each parish will remain.

The next update to the list of FAQs is slated for Friday, May 26, 2023. If there is no working update, a memo will be posted with the next expected release of information.

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New Administration at St. Mary's:
For fourteen decades the Catholic community of Avon has collaborated in the mission of bringing Jesus to our neighbors and surrounding areas of Lorain and Cuyahoga counties.  Parishioners of Holy Trinity and St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception, past and present, have seen the city of Avon grow and adapt in new ways.

Experiencing generations of change is one of the many things that unifies us.  Most likely, through prayerful petition, parishioners have asked for strength for the Avon community during transitional periods of time. 

Each member of the parish is a faithful steward, doing the best with the gifts God has provided.  Keeping this in mind, I invite you to welcome new initiatives that streamline ministry and resources to better serve both Holy Trinity and St. Mary's. 

Beginning July 1, Bishop Edward Malesic of the Diocese of Cleveland, with the consultation of the clergy personnel board, appointed, Fr. Vincent Hawk as Administrator at St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Avon.  This will be in addition to his responsibilities as pastor at Holy Trinity.

A parish administrator has the same duties and scope of authority as a pastor; however, these may be limited by the bishop.  The bishop in time may decide to appoint the administrator as the pastor.  

In addition, the Avon Catholic community will welcome two additional pastoral leaders.  They are:

    *  Rev. Deogratias Meela Ruwaainenyi, (Fr. Deo) who will serve both parishes as a Parochial Vicar, who currently is the chaplain at Fairview Hospital and resides at St. Clement in Lakewood.  Father was ordained for the Diocese of Cleveland in 2006.

    *  Both parishes will also be sites for a seminary intern.  Sean Neville will begin his internship on September 1, which will then conclude April 21, 2024.  Sean's home Parish is St. Mary of the Falls in Olmsted Falls.  

This shared direction of ministry for our parishes will continue the good work established many years ago while embracing the realities of clergy staffing.  Sharing resources allows clergy to focus on the spiritual work they have been ordained to do and the faithful to be empowered to serve each other as a larger, extended family.

Together with the diocese, Fr. Vince recognizes each parish is unique in structure and what it offers to parishioners.  To mandate a set of changes would mean not recognizing what traditions make each special.  Over time, through respectful conversations and intentional time for discussion, our Avon Catholic community will take steps together with one goal in mind: to foster a deeper relationship with Jesus, his Church and serve others in his name.

While there may be challenges that arise in the months ahead, we must remind ourselves that Jesus never promised carrying his message would be easy, but the triumph would outweigh the tribulation.

Avon, Ohio is radically different than it was 120 years ago a more so over the last decade.  With open minds, accepting hearts and a positive outlook, each of us can serve as a witness of growing together in the unity of the Body of Christ.

Fr. Vince looks forward to continuing to serve Holy Trinity Parish as well as serving St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Parish also.  Please keep our Catholic Community in prayer as we navigate through this time of transition.  

It is only natural to have questions and everyone will work to address those in the coming weeks.

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It is time for our annual Chatholic Charities Appeal for the Diocese of Cleveland. Visit our Catholic Charities page for more information on how you can help. Or scan the QR code below to find out more about this year's campaign. St. Mary's is blessed with amazing and generous parishioners and we hope you can find a way to give to this very worthy cause and benefit our community.

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SERVER UPDATE EFFECTIVE 3/4/23:

During Communion, the servers will stand beside the priest/deacon or EM with the chin paten.  The Chin/Communion Paten is used to catch a host or piece of a host that might otherwise fall to the ground.  It is another reminder of the real, true, and substancial presence of Christ in even the smallest particle of the host.

At the weekend Masses Offertory/Preparation of the Gifts:
The servers will go with the priest to the foot of the altar.  The priest will accept the bread plate, water and wine cruets and hand them to the servers who will proceed to the altar. 
 

Thank you in continuing to support St. Mary's as Father Vince and the dedicated staff work to spiritually support our parishioners.  St. Mary's is grateful for the wonderful and generous support from our parish family.  
Parishioners who are not interested in using the direct deposit/ACH method below are also encouraged to mail your envelopes to the Parish office.  Write your check and drop it in the mail to: St. Mary - Avon, 2640 Stoney Ridge Rd, Avon, OH 44011.  Please know you are in our thoughts and prayers.  God Bless.