St. Angela Merici Parish has anchored Catholic life in Fairview Park, Ohio, since 1923, drawing roughly 3,200 families from Fairview Park, Rocky River and the surrounding western suburbs into a community that gathers around the Eucharist each day of the week. The parish sits on Lorain Road on the east side of town, with the school tucked a block away, and its reach extends well beyond the city limits through a school, preschool, religious education programs, youth ministry and a busy Social Justice Commission. A century after its founding, the parish still describes itself as a place where people of all faiths and all walks of life are always welcome.
Mass on Lorain Road, Daily and Sunday
The rhythm of the parish begins with Mass. A weekday Mass is offered Monday through Friday at 8:30 a.m., and that same liturgy is livestreamed on Facebook and YouTube each morning. The Sunday schedule opens with the Vigil at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, then continues with Sunday Masses at 7:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. The 9:30 Sunday Mass is the parish's livestreamed Sunday liturgy. Reconciliation is heard every Saturday from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m., with other times available by appointment. Holy Day Masses are scheduled individually and announced in the bulletin.
A Hundred Years on Lorain Road
The story of St. Angela Merici is the story of a parish that built its plant in just over a decade and has continued to grow and rebuild ever since. Father Francis J. Stanton, the founding pastor, organized the first 80 families for Mass in the Fairview Village Town Hall in May of 1923, and the school opened that October with three Sisters of St. Joseph from the Congregation of St. Joseph teaching 58 students in four classrooms. A frame church and school were dedicated in 1924.
Father Michael Stevenson became the second pastor in 1937 and blessed the first six classrooms of a new brick schoolhouse in 1940. Ground was broken for a new church building in July 1947 and the cornerstone was laid on February 28, 1948. The new church, without the present sanctuary, was dedicated in November 1948. The frame church was moved eastward in April 1950 and renovated into the convent for the Sisters of St. Joseph, formally dedicated that October. A new rectory was first occupied in January 1953. The expanded sanctuary, designed to seat 1,100 worshippers, was dedicated in June 1960.
In 1988 the former convent was renovated into the Parish Center, which now houses the parish offices. A 1994 capital drive under Father Richard E. Hudak funded a school addition dedicated in May of that year, with six classrooms, a library, a computer room, a cafeteria and the Rini Multi-Purpose Center. The parish marked its Golden Jubilee in May 1973 under Monsignor Robert C. Wolff, and in 2010 a new crucifix was installed in the nave to visually tie together the 1947 church and the 1959 sanctuary. The school earned national recognition as a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence from the U.S. Department of Education in 2011 and was designated a STEAM school by the Ohio Department of Education in 2019.
The succession of pastors reads like a chronicle of the parish itself: Father Stanton (1923 to 1937), Father Stevenson (1937 to 1956), Monsignor Francis J. McGlynn (1956 to 1960), Father James P. Brennan (1960 to 1972), Monsignor Wolff (1972 to 1989), Father Hudak (1989 to 1999), Father Douglas M. Proehl (1999 to 2003), and Father Michael J. Lanning, who was named the eighth pastor by Bishop Anthony J. Pilla in January 2004 and served until 2026. The current pastor, Father Richard J. Samide, was appointed in 2026.
Pastor, Staff and Parish Office
Father Rich Samide leads the parish and can be reached at the Parish Center. Deacon Erick Lupson assists him. The Co-Directors of Religious Education are Mrs. Patti Horner and Mr. David Becker, with Mrs. Horner also serving as the First Eucharist Coordinator. Confirmation preparation and youth ministry are in the hands of Mrs. Caitlin Smith, and Mr. Danny O'Brien heads the music ministry shared by parish and school. Mr. Ed Doubrava is the Business Manager, Mrs. Jaclyn Burlingham the Office Manager, Mrs. Sue File the Bookkeeper, and Mrs. Jennifer Fitzpatrick the Data Processor who handles parish registration. Mrs. Suzanne Weber-Quinn coordinates the bulletin, communications and development work, and Mrs. Therese Whitmore serves as Parish Nurse.
The Parish Center, located on the east side of the church on Lorain Road, is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and can be reached at (440) 333-2133. Newcomers are invited to register by completing a Parish Registration form, dropping it off in person, or emailing it back to dataprocessor@samparish.org. Forms are also available at the office.
The Sacramental Life of the Parish
All seven sacraments of the Catholic Church are celebrated and prepared for at St. Angela Merici. Baptisms are scheduled with the parish office and may take place at any weekend Mass, at the community Baptism after the 9:30 Sunday Mass, or at another approved time. First-time parents attend a one-time orientation class, usually held at 10:30 a.m. on the first Sunday of January, March, May, July, September and November. Godparents must be at least 16, baptized Catholics who have received Eucharist and Confirmation, and in valid Catholic marriages if married.
First Holy Communion is ordinarily prepared in the second grade through either the parish day school or the Parish School of Religion, with the celebration typically held in early May. Confirmation is prepared in the eighth grade with celebrations in March or April so a bishop can preside. Reconciliation is heard weekly on Saturday afternoons and by appointment, with a communal celebration sometimes added during Advent or Lent. Marriage preparation begins with a meeting with a priest or deacon and includes four to six sessions over at least six months, plus an annual Pre-Cana one-day retreat hosted at the parish in the spring. The Anointing of the Sick may be requested any time before surgery, after a serious injury or illness, or because of advanced age, with a communal celebration of the sacrament offered twice a year. Funeral Masses are typically scheduled at 10:00 a.m. or 11:30 a.m. Monday through Saturday, and a Funeral Mass Planning booklet helps families prepare the liturgy.
Adults interested in becoming Catholic are invited into the OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults), which meets on Sundays after the 9:30 Mass in the Parish Center West Room from September through Easter, with full initiation at the Easter Vigil.
The School and Preschool at 20830 Lorain Road
St. Angela Merici School is a parish school serving children in preschool through eighth grade at 20830 Lorain Road, a block from the church. Enrollment in grades K-8 stood at 392 students for the 2025-26 school year, and the student-teacher ratio is 20-to-1 with an average class size of 21. The school is led by Mrs. Lisa Whelan as Principal of the Lower School and Preschool Administrator, and Mrs. Lisa Jaeger as Principal of the Upper School.
The school day runs from 7:45 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for kindergarten through eighth grade, with doors opening at 7:30 a.m. All students in K-8 wear uniforms, available through Schoolbelles. Catholic ideals and Gospel values are woven through the day, with religion classes held for a minimum of 30 minutes in the Lower School and 40 minutes in the Upper School. The pastor, parochial vicars and deacon visit classrooms regularly, and the pastor's judgment remains final on all admissions and readmissions.
Religion instruction follows the Diocese of Cleveland's Religion Curriculum. Second graders prepare for First Eucharist and celebrate a Jesus Day retreat, while eighth graders prepare for Confirmation and celebrate Spirit Day with help from the high school youth group. Masses and other prayer experiences include morning prayer, daily prayer routines, All School Masses, Class Masses, Reconciliation, Eucharistic Devotions, Living Stations and Stations of the Cross, May Crowning, and seasonal prayer services. Students serve as lectors, ushers and gift bearers, and older students are encouraged to serve as altar servers. The Service for Others Program channels student volunteer work to places like the West Side Catholic Center, House of Champions, Project Challenge, Cleveland Food Bank, Catholic Charities and O'Neill Health and Rehab Center.
Faith Families pairs students in grades 1 through 8 with partners of a different grade, while sixth graders head off-site to Camp Christopher for a leadership retreat and all students share a Holy Thursday Retreat at the end of Lent.
The Fine Arts Model
The school's Fine Arts Model brings visual arts, music, technology, world languages, library and media, drama and band into the regular curriculum. Visual arts are taught weekly in the Lower School and twice weekly in the Upper School, with students taking part in school showcases, art contests and the annual Fine Arts Night each spring. Music instruction is led by Miss Ceste Stanly, with younger students singing in the annual Christmas concert and the Parish Children's Choir directed by Mr. Danny O'Brien. Older students analyze classical orchestral works and hear them performed live by the Cleveland Orchestra, while fourth through sixth graders can audition for Honor Choir at Oberlin each year. All students study Spanish with a licensed K-8 Spanish teacher, Mrs. Karla Rodriquez, and the library program supports a Makerspace for hands-on STEM exploration. An Upper School Drama Club performs for the school and local community, and students in grades 4 through 8 can join band.
Preschool, Before Care, SAM Cafe and Extended Care
The Preschool at St. Angela Merici prepares three-, four- and five-year-olds for kindergarten in state-licensed, degreed early-childhood classrooms, with a low teacher-to-child ratio and enrichment in Eurythmics, TechTots STEM, Fitness Play, Literacy/Language Arts, Dramatic Play and Art. The preschool is fully accredited by the Ohio Department of Education. Programs include a Three Year Old program on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, a Four Year Old program on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings, a Pre-Kindergarten program Monday through Friday mornings, and a Pre-Kindergarten Enrichment program Monday through Friday from 9:15 a.m. to 2:25 p.m. Tuition runs from $2,000 to $5,000 yearly for the 2026-2027 school year, and there is a $100 annual family registration fee. The Preschool Administrators are Mrs. Lisa Whelan and Mrs. Kristen Barnett.
Before Care opens at 6:30 a.m., with breakfast service starting at 6:45 a.m. and available until 7:45 a.m. for day school students and 9:00 a.m. for preschoolers. Extended Care, run by SAM teachers and staff, is open each day for registered students from 2:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. for grades K-6 and from 2:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. for preschool, and includes snack time, homework help, gym and outdoor play rotations, special seasonal crafts, and Friday family movies.
The SAM Cafe, directed by Mrs. Juliana Gist, is an independently operated school lunch program that serves a daily hot lunch, with monthly pre-orders at $4.10 and daily purchases at $4.75. Milk costs $0.75. Parents manage their children's accounts through Meal Magic. A Reduced Lunch Program, confidential and modeled on the federal guidelines, is available to families in need, along with assistance with before care and breakfast. Birthday certificates can be purchased in place of classroom treats.
Faith Formation Beyond the School
Faith formation continues beyond the school walls. The Parish School of Religion (PSR) gathers public-school students for religious education. Sunday School, open to three- and four-year-olds and kindergartners, meets during the 9:30 Mass on the first, third and fourth Sundays of each month with prayer, Bible stories, crafts and songs. The Children's Choir, led by Mr. Danny O'Brien, invites young singers to take part in Parish Masses and special events.
For older youth, YOSA (Youth of St. Angela) is a comprehensive high school and eighth-grade youth ministry designed by teens for teens, meeting on the first Sunday and third Thursday of school months. The motto is "Pizza, pals, and prayer." Members take part in service projects like the Souper Bowl of Caring, Cleveland Immersion, the West Side Catholic Center and the Cleveland Food Bank. The Confirmation Coordinator and Youth Minister, Mrs. Caitlin Smith, is the contact for YOSA.
CYO Sports give young athletes the chance to compete, while St. Angela Merici Parish charters Cub Scout Pack 401 for boys in grades 1 through 5 and has long supported Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. The parish is proud of more than 70 Eagle Scouts from its scouting tradition.
Men's Faithsharing and Community Groups
The Men's Faithsharing Group welcomes all men of the parish on the first Saturday of each month in the Community Room (Bohlken Park in the summer). The morning opens at 7:30 a.m. with doughnuts, coffee and fellowship, followed by prayer and sharing that wraps up in time for anyone who wants to attend the 8:30 daily Mass. The Finance Council, the Pastoral Council and the Collection Counters all provide structured ways for adults to serve.
Social Justice and the Wider Community
The Social Justice Commission meets on the third Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in the Parish Center West Room, working to promote justice as the way to peace, uphold the dignity of every person, and foster solidarity and respect for the poor. The Commission collaborates with the Social Concerns group of cluster partner St. Christopher Parish. Through the FIAT weekend (Faith in Action Together) each Advent, nearly 300 parishioners serve about 20 agencies across Cleveland, Fairview Park and the parish itself, reaching foster children, nursing home residents, homeless families, low-income men, survivors of domestic abuse, refugees, pediatric patients and families, at-risk youth and first responders. The parish also supports the Moriah House Family Shelter for female veterans and families experiencing homelessness. Four times a year, parishioners host a free themed Saturday meal at St. Colman Parish in Cleveland, and the SAM Ladies Group partners with the Commission on a Giving Tree each Advent. A Lenten Soup Supper gathers the parish for a simple meal of soup, salad, bread and a speaker during Lent.
Giving, Volunteering and the Angel Scholarship Fund
Parishioners may give through the Weekend Collection using envelopes mailed monthly or by setting up online giving, and the parish offers online giving for non-parishioners as well. Long-term giving opportunities include the Guardian Angel Tuition Assistance Fund for the school, the Annual Parish Raffle, Planned Giving, Stock Donations and the Parish Endowment established through the Rooted in Faith, Forward in Hope diocesan capital campaign.
The Angel Scholarship Fund, run through the Catholic Community Foundation, allows donors to direct a 100 percent Ohio income tax credit of up to $750 for individuals or $1,500 for couples filing jointly to tuition assistance at the school. Last year parishioners contributed more than $157,910 in tuition assistance for 130 students through this program, with a 2026 goal of $200,000. The Mary Butler Fund, the Diocesan Tuition Assistance Fund, the Fund a Dream Scholarship and the Guardian Angel Tuition Assistance Fund together help families access a Catholic education.
Tuition for grades K-8 is $6,700 per student for the 2026-27 school year, with a $150 family registration fee due before April 15 and $200 thereafter. Ohio families can apply for the Educational Choice Scholarship (EdChoice) Program, and City of Cleveland residents may apply for a Cleveland Scholarship. Volunteers at the parish and school complete Virtus: Protecting God's Children training, sign Diocesan policy acknowledgements, and pass a background check through selection.com.
From a Town Hall to a Top Workplace
St. Angela Merici Parish and School has been named a Cleveland.com Top Workplace, an award featured on TopWorkplaces.com. The honor reflects the energy of a parish that, since gathering its first 80 families for Mass in the Fairview Village Town Hall more than a century ago, has continued to build and to serve a community that still begins and ends its week at the altar on Lorain Road.