A Lake County Parish Rooted in 1863
Immaculate Conception Church stands on Hubbard Road in Madison, Ohio, a small town along Lake Erie in Lake County. The parish is a Roman Catholic community in the Diocese of Cleveland, and its identity has been shaped over more than 160 years by daily Mass, the sacraments, and an unusual depth of devotional life for a parish of its size. Its motto is simple and direct: "Loving Christ, Loving Others," and its mission is to "create mature disciples through prayer, education, love and service as Jesus Christ proclaimed."
The parish's story begins on July 15, 1863, when the first Mass in Madison was celebrated by Reverend John Tracy in a private home. From that mission Mass grew a monthly gathering that, until 1934, was served by priests from parishes in Painesville, South Thompson, Jefferson, Willoughby, and Geneva. In 1934 the community was placed under the patronage of Mary Conceived Without Sin and became the Church of the Immaculate Conception, with Reverend Ludwig Virant as its first pastor.
The land on Hubbard Road was purchased in 1945. In 1953 the cornerstone of the present church was laid and 350 families attended Christmas Mass in the still-unfinished building. Bishop Edward F. Hoban dedicated the completed church on October 18, 1955. Ground was broken for the Parish Center on April 9, 1978, and Bishop James Griffin dedicated it in 1980. In 1982 Mary's Shrine was relocated to the parish grounds from St. John's College in Cleveland. Fagan Hall was dedicated in 1995 in honor of Pastor Emeritus Reverend Harry J. Fagan. New altars were installed in 2010 and 2011, and in 2013 the parish marked its 150th anniversary on July 21.
Under the current pastor, Reverend Sean J. Donnelly, MA, D. Min., appointed on November 24, 2003, the parish has celebrated two priestly vocations from its own community: the ordination of Father Kevin Estabrook in 2009 and Father Christopher Stein in 2023. The parish is assisted today by three permanent deacons: Deacon Tom Hupertz, Deacon Ken Meade, and Deacon Dick Kuhlman. Marianne Repinski serves as business manager and Jim Slike as music director.
Mass and Reconciliation Every Day of the Week
The rhythm of parish life at Immaculate Conception is unusually rich. Weekend Mass is offered Saturday at 4:00 PM as the Vigil Mass, and Sunday at 8:30 AM and 11:00 AM. The 8:30 AM Sunday Mass is livestreamed on the parish YouTube channel so that the homebound and those away can join in the Eucharistic celebration.
Weekday Mass is celebrated Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 8:30 AM, and Tuesday and Thursday at 7:00 PM. The Rosary is prayed communally in the church thirty minutes before every Mass: at 8:00 AM on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and at 6:30 PM on Tuesday and Thursday. A Rosary leader guides the prayers each morning and evening.
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is offered Saturday from 3:00 to 3:45 PM and again from 7:30 to 8:00 PM, and Sunday from 9:45 to 10:45 AM. During Lent an Evening of Confession brings every Catholic church in the Diocese of Cleveland into an extended period of confessions, and the parish participates each year.
Two nursing-home Masses extend the parish's worship life beyond its walls: a 10:00 AM Mass at Madison Health Care on the first Friday of the month and an 11:00 AM Mass at Cardinal Woods on the second Thursday of the month. The church itself is also open for personal prayer: Sunday 7:30 AM to 12:30 PM, Monday and Wednesday 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, Tuesday and Thursday 10:00 AM to 7:30 PM, Friday 8:00 to 9:30 AM, and Saturday 2:30 to 8:00 PM, with use of the main entrance.
Eucharistic Adoration Every Wednesday
Wednesdays at Immaculate Conception are built around the Eucharist. After the 8:30 AM Mass concludes, Eucharistic Adoration begins and continues until 6:00 PM. The Blessed Sacrament is exposed on the altar, and parishioners are invited to sign up for a holy hour so that Jesus in the Eucharist is never left unattended. The parish encourages anyone who can commit to a weekly hour to do so, but no experience is required. Visitors may sit in silence, pray the Rosary, read Scripture, or simply rest in the presence of the Lord. The parish's invitation is straightforward: "Come spend time with Jesus. He is waiting for you."
Eucharistic Exposition is also part of the Wednesday calendar in another form: a regular monthly evening of exposition following the morning schedule, allowing the faithful to adore Christ outside the standard Wednesday window.
The Seven Sacraments
The seven sacraments of the Church are the center of parish life at Immaculate Conception.
Baptism is celebrated ordinarily in a communal setting, with parents beginning the process through the parish office. Children under the age of seven are baptized through Infant Baptism. Older children and adults enter the Church through the Order of Christian Initiation. The parish reminds families that in an emergency any person can baptize by pouring water and saying, "I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."
First Holy Communion is ordinarily received at the end of second grade, after two consecutive years of Faith Formation. The parish notes that preparation should begin at home as soon as possible and be combined with weekly Mass attendance.
Confirmation is described as the sacrament through which baptismal grace is strengthened and brought to fullness, sealing the baptized with the Gift of the Holy Spirit. The parish prepares candidates in a year-long program and runs a combined Confirmation Class for school-age students. Children who are homeschooled follow diocesan-approved curricula, and parents are asked to meet with Father Donnelly in sacramental years to evaluate readiness.
Reconciliation (Penance) is one of the two sacraments of healing, through which Christ restores the soul. Children ordinarily celebrate their first confession before First Communion, and parishioners are encouraged to approach the sacrament regularly.
The Holy Eucharist is described as the source and summit of Catholic life, citing Saint Pope John Paul II. The parish professes that Christ is truly present under the appearances of bread and wine and that the whole Christ is received whether under one form or both.
Anointing of the Sick is offered to any faithful person facing serious illness, injury, or the frailty of advanced age, not only those near death. A quarterly Mass with Anointing is scheduled each season, and the ICC Prayer Ministry assists at these liturgies.
Marriage preparation begins at least six months before the wedding date. Engaged couples are asked to schedule an appointment with one of the parish priests, allowing time for prayerful preparation and marriage formation.
Holy Orders is presented as a call and gift from God, discerned through prayer, service, and the daily signs of grace. The parish asks the entire community to pray for vocations and provides resources for those considering priesthood or religious life.
Becoming Catholic: OCIA
For adults seeking full initiation into the Catholic Church, the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) meets on Wednesdays from 6:00 to 7:45 PM in the Parish Center, September through May. OCIA is open to those who have never been baptized, Christians baptized in another tradition who seek full communion, and already-baptized Catholics who wish to receive Confirmation or deepen their understanding of the faith.
OCIA is presented as a journey, not a class, with rites that follow the ancient practice of the Church restored by the Second Vatican Council: the Inquiry Period, the Rite of Acceptance, the Catechumenate, the Rite of Election, Purification and Enlightenment, the celebration of the Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil, and Mystagogy. There is no cost to attend, and the parish encourages early registration.
For Catholics who have drifted away from the life of the Church, Immaculate Conception maintains a "Welcome Home" ministry that addresses returning Catholics directly: "There's an old saying that goes, 'Once a Catholic, always a Catholic.' Maybe you have been away from the Church for a little while or quite some time, but somehow you now feel a tug at your heart calling you back home." The parish invites returning Catholics to come to the Sacrament of Confession and to the Eucharist without hesitation.
Parish School of Religion and Youth Ministry
Faith formation for children is organized through PSR, the Parish School of Religion. PSR Grade 1-4 meets Sunday mornings at 9:30 AM and PSR Grade 5-8 meets Wednesday evenings at 6:30 PM. The program helps children learn about the Catholic faith, complements family life, and prepares them for the sacraments.
For older students, the ICC Youth Group serves grades 6 through 12 and meets on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month from 6:00 to 8:00 PM in the Parish Center. The evening begins with the 5:30 PM Rosary in the church. A peer mentor program invites young adults ages 18 to 20 who have recently graduated from high school to remain involved as mentors and helpers. The youth group participates in regional events including CLE 2:16, the Diocese of Cleveland's annual youth conference held at John Carroll University.
Vacation Bible School is held each June for one week. Children entering the program are led through stations that engage Bible memory, explore narratives from Sacred Scripture, and use hands-on experiments that bring the faith to life.
Music Ministry: Choir and Guitar
Music at Immaculate Conception is led by Music Director Jim Slike and Organist Dawn Slike. The music ministry is described as a "growing choral ensemble that practices proper vocal techniques," and it includes both a traditional choir and a guitar group.
The choir rehearses on Tuesdays at 7:30 PM in the balcony, usually sings at the 11:00 AM Sunday Mass, and takes the lead on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and other solemnities. The guitar group rehearses on Wednesdays from 7:00 to 9:00 PM in the library, September through May, and provides music for the 4:00 PM Vigil and other liturgies. Combined rehearsals are held for Christmas and other major feasts, and the music ministry closes the year with a Christmas Concert in the church.
A Wide Net of Prayer Ministries
Prayer is woven through the life of Immaculate Conception in many forms.
The ICC Prayer Ministry offers healing prayer on the second weekend of every month, after the 4:00 PM Vigil Mass and after the 11:00 AM Sunday Mass. The team prays for the needs of the parish community and assists quarterly with the Mass for Anointing of the Sick. Its invitation is direct: "Are you carrying burdens of fear, inner wounds, or physical ailments? Do you long for peace, restoration, and the gentle touch of God's love in your life?"
The Prayerful Shawlers meet on Thursday evenings from 5:00 to 7:00 PM. Members prayerfully create shawls that are blessed by Father Donnelly, gift-wrapped, and delivered to those in need of comfort. Names are recorded and prayers offered at each meeting.
The Legion of Mary meets on Tuesdays at 6:00 PM. Members visit the sick, visit nursing homes and the homebound, reach out to parishioners, and pray the Rosary. Their purpose is to promote a deeper love of God through devotion to Mary and through the apostolic works members perform.
The Avilas, under the patronage of St. Theresa of Avila, gather on the first Friday of each month to pray the Avila Rosary before Mass and the Avila prayers after Mass, and on Mondays after Mass for prayers for priests.
The Neocatechumenal Way Community celebrates the Word of God on the first and third Tuesdays after Mass, along with monthly convivences, forming a community of prayer and evangelization within the parish.
Bible Study with Father Donnelly meets on Mondays at 7:00 PM via Zoom, walking through the books of the Bible in the context of Catholic teaching.
The parish also publishes a long-running audio and podcast series called The Catholic Files, with Father Donnelly walking through the Ten Commandments according to the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Episodes are available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, and YouTube, and may be downloaded directly as MP3s for listening in the car or at home.
A separate feature, The Gift: Life in the Spirit Seminar, is offered as a six-session weekend for those seeking a deeper relationship with God and an openness to the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Sessions cover the Father's Loving Plan, the Joy of the Gospel, the Gift of the Spirit, Unwrapping God's Gift, Encountering the Holy Spirit, and Living in the Spirit. The seminar is presented by the ICC Healing Prayer Ministry together with Mary Cusack of Holy Family Church, and is free.
The Consolation Ministry
The Consolation Ministry is one of the most distinctive ministries at Immaculate Conception. Its mission is to bring the consoling and healing love of Christ to parishioners and families during times of loss. The ministry assists families before, during, and after funeral liturgies, offers prayerful presence and emotional support, helps with funeral planning, provides follow-up care, and connects individuals with parish and diocesan grief resources.
On the fourth Sunday of selected months from 12:30 to 2:30 PM in the Parish Center, the Consolation Ministry hosts a monthly group support program with lunch provided. Everyone is invited. The scriptural foundation is Matthew 5:4: "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted."
The Knights of Columbus Council 5286
The Geneva and Madison Knights of Columbus Council 5286 is closely tied to the parish. Founded on the vision of Father Michael J. McGivney, the Knights pursue the principles of charity, unity, and fraternity through four "Faith in Action" committees: Faith, Family, Community, and Life.
Programs at the local council include the Pilgrim Icon program, Holy Hour, Refund Support Vocations, the Rosary, Eucharistic Procession, Food for Families, Family of the Month, Family Prayer Night, Keep Christ in Christmas Poster Contest, Coats for Kids, Basketball Free Throw Contest, Lunches for VBS, Blood Drives, Veteran Dinner, First Responder Dinner, Grape Jamboree Food Trailer, Mission of Mary in Windsor Food Trailer, Light Up the Night Food Trailer, Columbus Day Celebration, Novena for Life, March for Life, the Mya Pregnancy Center, and the Measure Up Drive for citizens with developmental disabilities. Membership is open to men 18 and older who are practicing Catholics in union with the Holy See.
Reaching the Homebound and Nursing Homes
Faith does not end at the church doors. The Nursing Home and Homebound Reach Out ministry coordinates Mass at Madison Health Care on the first Thursday of each month, Mass at Cardinal Woods on the second Thursday, Communion by the deacons and priest on the first Fridays, and weekly Communion visits to area nursing homes. The aim is "to spread the Word of God and reach out to the homebound."
The IC Charities ministry assists people in local communities who are in financial need, offering material, financial, and spiritual support. The Rosary for Life Outreach gathers on the first Saturday of each month for a pilgrimage to St. Andrew's Abbey, beginning with 8:30 AM Confession, 9:15 AM Mass, and prayer before the abortuary on Shaker Boulevard at 10:30 AM.
Parish Fellowship and Seasonal Events
Parish Fellowship gathers on the last Monday of the month, September through May, at 5:30 PM. Activities include a Meager Meal, the St. Joseph Table, Christmas for the Elderly, a 55+ Valentine Lunch, a Spring Tea, a Chili Cook-Off, and homebound palms distributed at Easter.
The parish calendar carries a deep rhythm of seasons. Lenten observances include a Lenten Day of Faith, Prayer, and Charity with food donations for the Knights of Columbus, Stations of the Cross, the Evening of Confession across the Diocese of Cleveland, a three-day Lenten Mission, the 2026 "The One Experience" mission led by speaker Greg Wasinski and musician Carrie Ford, the Lenten Fish Bake, and a Pancake Breakfast. The parish also marks Memorial Day Mass, the Ordination of Priests and Deacons at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, the Feast of St. Catherine of Siena (whose relic is housed in the chapel altar), the Feast of St. Maria Goretti (whose relic is housed in the main altar), the Assumption of Mary, Priesthood Sunday, Vacation Bible School, the Bethlehem Craft Fair, and the ICC Reverse Raffle. Youth fundraisers include the Spaghetti Dinner and the Jubilee Revival Talk.
Altars at the Heart of the Sanctuary
The altar is central to the sanctuary as the site of the sacramental offering of Christ's Body and Blood. Both the main altar and the chapel altar house relics: the main altar contains a relic of St. Maria Goretti, the young Italian martyr who died in 1902 defending her chastity and whose canonization in 1950 was attended by both her mother and her assailant; the chapel altar contains a relic of St. Catherine of Siena, the Dominican mystic, Doctor of the Church, and only lay Doctor of the Church, who died in 1380 at the age of 33.
The main altar was originally located under a wooden canopy with an Immaculate Conception backdrop. After the liturgical reforms of the Second Vatican Council, the altar was resized and moved forward so that the priest could face the congregation. In 2010 the mensa was replaced with a larger one to give the altar a more prominent appearance, and in 2014 pedestals were added to enhance the balance and beauty of the sanctuary.
What Catholics Believe at Immaculate Conception
The parish describes its Catholic faith as handed down for 2,000 years, beginning with Christ passing the faith to the Twelve Apostles. Beliefs held and taught at the parish include the dignity of the human person, the goodness of all creation as sacramental, stewardship of time, talent, and treasure, the Holy Trinity, the communion of saints, the Incarnation, and the crucifixion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The parish follows the universal liturgical calendar, which moves through Advent, Christmas, Lent, the Sacred Triduum, Easter, and Ordinary Time.
Seven sacraments are central to parish life. The parish also references core documents including the Documents of the Second Vatican Council, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the Code of Canon Law, the New American Bible, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Vatican, the Diocese of Cleveland, the North East Ohio Catholic Magazine, The Rock AM 1260 Catholic Radio (a diocesan affiliate of EWTN), and the Station of the Cross Catholic Radio.
Online and In-Person Connections
Immaculate Conception maintains an active presence on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, Threads, and TikTok, all under the name iccmadison. Recently recorded Masses are posted on the parish YouTube channel, where viewers may also subscribe for ongoing notifications. The parish publishes a weekly bulletin, the ICC Newsletter on Substack, and free music downloads, and offers daily prayers and a Saint of the Day feature online.
The parish encourages online giving through its ParishSoft portal and offers multiple paths of stewardship: weekly offertory envelopes, the Automatic Giving (ACH) Program, Legacy Giving through wills and estate plans, gifts of appreciated assets, IRA Qualified Charitable Distributions, and matching gifts through participating employers. The parish Tax ID is 34-0714436.
Visitors are warmly welcomed at the Parish Office, open Monday through Friday from 9:30 AM to noon and 1:00 to 4:30 PM. New parishioners may register online, and the staff is happy to answer questions about weddings, baptisms, faith formation, or any other need. Whether a lifelong Catholic, a returning Catholic, or someone simply curious, anyone walking through the doors of Immaculate Conception will find the parish ready to walk with them in faith.