A Parish Named for Jesus in Italian

Gesu Catholic Church sits on Parkside Boulevard in West Toledo, Ohio, and has been a Catholic presence in the neighborhood for more than a century. The parish was established in 1920 and serves roughly four hundred registered families and households, drawing Catholics from the Westmoreland, Old Orchard, Bancroft Hills, and Ottawa Hills neighborhoods of west and central Toledo. Visitors from across the metropolitan area also attend, some of whom belong to families that have worshipped at Gesu for generations.

The name itself is a small confession of faith. "Gesu" is the Italian word for Jesus, so the parish is, in a sense, named after the Lord himself. The parish's mission statement reflects that directness: "Gesu is a Roman Catholic Community guided by the spirit of St. Francis de Sales who calls us to Live Jesus."

Salesian Spirituality and the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales

Gesu is one of the parishes staffed by the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales, the religious congregation to which the parish priests belong. The Oblates are a community of priests and brothers who pattern their lives after St. Francis de Sales, a seventeenth-century bishop and Doctor of the Church known for combining deep spirituality with gentleness. The parish features quotations from St. Francis de Sales and other saints, including the line, "Nothing is so strong as gentleness, nothing so gentle as real strength," and the Salesian exhortation, "Hold your eyes on God and leave the doing to him."

The Salesian character shows in small but consistent ways. The parish is paired with a sister community, St. Pius X in West Toledo, since 2021, and the two share their Oblate priests. Day-to-day pastoral life at Gesu is led by Fr. Craig Irwin, OSFS, who serves as pastor, along with Fr. Shaju Kanjiramparayil, OSFS as associate pastor and Deacon Bill Petro. Together they celebrate Mass, prepare parishioners for the sacraments, run the OCIA program for those becoming Catholic, and reach out to young families.

A Twinning with St. Pius X

In 2021 Gesu was twinned with the St. Pius X Parish Community in West Toledo. The two parishes, which already served many of the same neighborhoods, now share their priest staff and have built their Mass schedules around each other in order to meet the needs of both communities. On a typical Sunday a Catholic in the area can choose from the 8:00 AM Mass at St. Pius X, the 10:00 AM Mass at Gesu, or the 11:30 AM Mass at St. Pius X, while the Saturday Vigil at 4:00 PM is celebrated at Gesu. Weekday Masses alternate between the two campuses as well: Tuesday and Friday mornings at Gesu, Monday morning and Thursday evening at St. Pius X.

This twinning has become the backbone of parish programming. Family Ministry events, the CCD religious education program, the Men's Football Nights, the Lenten Soup Suppers, the Mud Hens outings, and the Care for Creation committee all run jointly across the two parishes. Parishioners regularly worship, study, and gather with their neighbors at both churches.

Mass at Gesu

The Catholic Mass is the heart of life at Gesu. The Saturday Vigil at 4:00 PM and the Sunday Mass at 10:00 AM are the parish's primary Sunday worship services, and both are celebrated in English in the main sanctuary. The Mass follows the traditional Roman Rite in its fullest form: an opening procession with altar servers, lectors, the deacon, and the presiding priest; the Penitential Rite and the Gloria; the Liturgy of the Word with a First Reading, a Responsorial Psalm sung by a cantor, a Second Reading, and the Gospel proclaimed by a priest or deacon; the Creed and the General Intercessions; the Liturgy of the Eucharist with the Offertory, the Eucharistic Prayer, and the words of consecration; the distribution of Holy Communion; and a final blessing and dismissal. The homily is usually no longer than ten minutes.

Parishioners who have worshipped at Gesu for decades describe it as a "more traditional Catholic experience." The parish uses an organ and classic choral arrangements, and the music program seeks to honor the Church's beautiful traditions while also providing new and modern worship for those who seek God at the services.

What a First-Time Visitor Should Know

Anyone considering a first visit will find Gesu easy to navigate. The main doors of the church face Parkside Boulevard and lead directly into the narthex, the primary gathering space at the back of the building. Restrooms are accessible from there, and that is where parishioners most often greet visitors, clergy, and one another. Two parking options are available: the easiest for a newcomer is the lot in the median of Parkside Boulevard, while the main lot is next to the St. Francis School stadium.

At the start of Mass, the congregation joins the priest in making the Sign of the Cross. Throughout the liturgy, the congregation generally shares the same posture, whether standing, sitting, or kneeling, a reminder that the Mass is a communal act of prayer. Booklets titled The Order of Mass are available in the narthex near the television screen, and Mass cards at the end of the pews contain the basic prayers and responses. Ushers and greeters welcome people as they enter, help with seating, take up the collection, and pass out bulletins after Mass. Refreshments are served in the narthex after every Sunday Mass.

The Catholic Church does not practice open Communion. Those who are not Catholic, or who are unable to receive, are invited either to remain in their seats or to come forward in the Communion procession with arms crossed over the chest; the priest or minister will offer a prayer of blessing. Anyone curious about the service can follow along with a livestreamed Mass on the parish's YouTube channel before visiting in person.

Music and the Pipe Organ

Music is one of the defining features of a Gesu Mass. The Adult Choir, open to parishioners of high school age and older, sings at the 10:00 AM Sunday Mass and at special liturgies such as the Christmas Eve Masses at 4:00 and 10:00 PM and the Easter Vigil. Rehearsals are held on Sundays from 11:15 AM to 12:30 PM in the church, and all voices are welcome. Cantors serve as psalmists and song leaders when no choir is present, and additional volunteer and hired instrumentalists round out the music program, particularly for Christmas and Easter. A Resurrection Choir represents the parish at funerals, lending vocal and spiritual support to grieving families.

The parish's Director of Music and Liturgy is Kevin Foos, who also serves as a pastoral associate. Under his direction, the music program aims to reflect the beautiful traditions of the Catholic Church while embracing contemporary worship. The church's pipe organ, a particular point of pride for parishioners who grew up at Gesu, is heard regularly at Sunday liturgies.

First Friday Eucharistic Adoration

On the First Friday of every month, Gesu holds a day of Eucharistic Adoration that runs from 7:30 AM, immediately after the 7:00 AM Friday Mass, until 7:00 PM. The Eucharist is exposed in a vessel called a monstrance on the altar, and parishioners are invited to take an hour-long slot as a "guardian," praying in the presence of the reserved sacrament. The tradition has roots in the parish's Salesian and Jesuit heritage and in the apparitions of Jesus' Sacred Heart to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque. Anyone is welcome to come and worship at any time during the day. On some months a second Friday Adoration is added, particularly in seasons such as summer and Lent.

Family Ministry for the Youngest

Gesu and St. Pius X share an intentional Family Ministry aimed at gathering and serving families with children, especially those with children ages ten and under. The ministry hosts regular Family Masses where the homily is geared toward children and fellowship is offered afterward. A Family Stations of the Cross is offered during Lent, and Family Adoration events note that "children are welcome, even if they might be a little noisy." Throughout the year the ministry plans outings such as the annual trip to Fleitz Pumpkin Farm in Oregon, Ohio, and play dates on the Gesu School playground.

The Sacraments at Gesu

The parish celebrates all seven Catholic sacraments. Infant Baptism is typically celebrated within a weekend liturgy, most often during the 10:00 AM Mass on the last Sunday of the month; the baptism of a first child requires a meeting with the pastor beforehand. Children prepare for First Reconciliation and First Eucharist in the second grade through a program that includes retreats, classes, and parent involvement, with First Reconciliation in December and First Eucharist in May. Confirmation is received in the eighth grade and requires a two-year program of classes, retreats, and service hours beginning in the seventh grade. Adult reception of Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist takes place through the OCIA program and culminates at the Easter Vigil.

Couples interested in marriage at Gesu are asked to contact the parish office before arranging any other details, in order to check availability and to meet with a priest. At least one member of the couple must be Catholic, and any previous marriage must be annulled before a new marriage can take place. Weddings are celebrated in the church itself; the parish's banquet hall, the Sullivan Center, is for receptions only.

The Anointing of the Sick is offered to those facing serious illness, injury, or surgery, and to those experiencing the diminishment of aging. It can be administered at home, in the hospital, or in a nursing home, and may be received repeatedly during a long illness.

Funerals at Gesu are coordinated through the parish office in collaboration with the family's chosen funeral home. A Funeral Planning Guide is available from the parish, and Catholics who wish to pre-plan are encouraged to read it. The parish's Resurrection Choir sings at funerals, and a sanctuary lamp near the tabernacle marks the continuing presence of the reserved Eucharist.

Becoming Catholic through OCIA

Adults and teens over fourteen who wish to become Catholic enter the parish's Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, known by the abbreviation OCIA. The process generally spans an academic school year, beginning in the late summer and concluding at the Easter Vigil, when new Catholics are received into the Church through Baptism, Confirmation, and First Eucharist. The Gesu/St. Pius OCIA team uses the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults as its textbook, walking inquirers through the Nicene Creed, the seven sacraments, and the Ten Commandments. Throughout the year there are moments of public commitment so that parishioners can welcome those going through the process. The OCIA Opening Meeting each year is held in the Sullivan Center.

Faith Formation for Children and Youth

Gesu and St. Pius X run a joint CCD (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine) program for children attending public schools, who otherwise would not receive regular religious instruction. The program is required for the reception of First Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation. Classes for the 2026 to 2027 school year begin on September 20, 2026. Lisa Baumann, the parish's Religious Education Coordinator, oversees registration and curriculum. Families may register online.

Parish Councils and Pastoral Leadership

Gesu is served by two advisory councils. The Pastoral Council offers counsel to the pastor about the needs of parishioners and recommends responses; the Finance Council provides oversight of the parish's financial concerns and the administration of parochial goods. Both are composed of parishioners. The current Pastoral Council President is Frank Leinweber, whose family has worshipped at Gesu for more than twenty years. Other council members include Sarah Yecke, Karen Billmaier, Annie Johnson, Heidi Scouten-Best, and Dennis Isabell II, several of whom are multi-generational Gesu parishioners.

Liturgical Ministries

Parish life at Gesu runs on the work of dozens of liturgical volunteers. Altar Servers, who can begin in fourth grade and continue through high school graduation, assist the priest during Mass by carrying the processional cross and candles, helping with the Preparation of the Gifts, ringing bells at the consecration, and handling incense when it is used. Lectors proclaim the readings from Scripture. Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion assist the priest in distributing the Eucharist at Mass and bring Communion to the sick and homebound in hospitals, nursing homes, and private residences. Ushers and greeters welcome people at the door, help with seating, take up the collection, and pass out bulletins after Mass. A Sanctuary Guild cares for the purificators and other linens used at daily and weekend liturgies.

Music Ministries in Detail

Beyond the Adult Choir, the music program at Gesu includes cantors who lead the psalm and other sung parts of the Mass when no choir is present, occasional instrumentalists who join the parish for Christmas and Easter, and the Resurrection Choir that sings at funerals. Volunteer musicians of any age and skill level are welcome. The Music and Liturgy office is led by Kevin Foos.

Service to the Broader Community

The parish's social outreach is centered on the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, an emergency source of short-term financial help for parishioners and others living within the parish boundaries. Assistance is available to those dealing with serious illness, the loss of a job, or an unexpected crisis. Requests are handled with care and confidentiality through the parish office.

The parish also has an active Care for Creation committee that meets at the St. Pius X Parish Center and works with other parishes in the area to address environmental stewardship from a Catholic perspective. The committee organizes an annual Mass for the Care of Creation during the worldwide Season of Creation, which runs from September 1 to October 4.

The 50+ Club and Other Fellowships

Seniors from Gesu, St. Pius X, and other area parishes gather monthly, usually on the first Thursday, for the 50+ Club. The group meets for an 11:00 AM Mass followed by a luncheon and fellowship in the Sullivan Center. Occasional speakers or programs are offered during the lunch.

There is also a Men's Football Night during football season, hosted in the Sullivan Center with snacks and beverages shared among those who come to watch the game together, and an annual Lenten Soup Supper series. Families and parishioners come together for the annual Pancake Breakfast hosted by the Pastoral Council, the Outdoor Mass and Parish Picnic on the front plaza of the church, the Mud Hens outing at Fifth Third Field, and other events through the year.

The Sullivan Center

The Sullivan Center is the parish's gathering and banquet facility, located on the Gesu campus along Parkside Boulevard. It hosts the Pancake Breakfast, the 50+ Club luncheons, Lenten Soup Suppers, OCIA meetings, and parish receptions. Weddings held at Gesu Church use the Sullivan Center for their receptions; the Center itself is not used for wedding ceremonies.

The 1957 Church Building

The current church building was constructed in 1957 and remains one of the most striking houses of worship in Toledo. Visitors enter through the main doors on Parkside Boulevard into the narthex, where the church's worshippers gather before and after Mass. The sanctuary sits at the front of the nave, with the altar at its center and the tabernacle holding the reserved Eucharist marked by a sanctuary lamp that burns whenever the Blessed Sacrament is present. A Marian shrine stands to one side near the side confessional, and a St. Joseph shrine marks the location of the Reconciliation Room along the back wall of the church. The pipe organ, a frequent subject of affection among parishioners, anchors the music program from its place in the loft. Gesu's services are livestreamed on the parish's YouTube channel from this loft, allowing those at home to follow along.

Becoming a Member

New parishioners are welcomed through a registration process. The community is open to all who wish to worship at Gesu and to be part of its life, and there is no formal requirement beyond a desire to join. Once registered, parishioners are invited to participate in the parish's many ministries, from liturgical service to social outreach, from choir to the 50+ Club. Flocknote, the parish's email and text communication system, sends weekly updates on parish life and the wider Church year.

A Tradition of Giving Thanks

Gesu is sustained by the gifts of its parishioners, who support its many ministries, its music programs, its historic buildings, and the salaries of its staff. Online giving is available through the parish's giving portal, and the parish also welcomes contributions of time and talent alongside financial support. Whether one comes to Gesu for the first time at the Saturday Vigil or the Sunday morning Mass, joins the Family Ministry with young children, or walks in having worshipped here for sixty years, the community that has gathered under the Italian name for Jesus continues to welcome those who come to its doors on Parkside Boulevard.