A Parish Centered on the Eucharist in Portage Lakes
St. Francis de Sales Parish sits at 4019 Manchester Road on the western edge of Akron, serving the Portage Lakes neighborhoods in Summit County. A Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Cleveland, St. Francis de Sales is a community centered on the Eucharist: "What we do on Sunday helps us see what we do the rest of the week. The 'bread and wine' of our lives, the daily gifts and sacrifices, are brought to the altar. There, Jesus Christ transforms them." Under the leadership of Fr. Jeremy Merzweiler, the parish is sustained by daily Mass, a vigorous Adoration schedule, a parish school with deep roots in Salesian spirituality, and dozens of ministries spanning formation, service, and fellowship.
Mass Schedule and the Worship Life of the Parish
Weekend Masses are celebrated on Saturday evening at 5:00 p.m. and on Sunday at 7:30 a.m., 9:00 a.m., and 11:00 a.m. Weekday Masses follow a regular pattern: Monday through Friday at 8:15 a.m., Saturday at 8:15 a.m., and a Thursday evening Mass at 6:30 p.m. All Mass times are subject to adjustment for the spiritual needs of the parish.
For those unable to attend in person, recordings of every Sunday Mass and most daily Masses are published on the parish YouTube channel, with archives stretching back through the previous months. The 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Sunday Masses are recorded weekly, and a "Spiritual Communion Prayer" accompanies each video to assist the homebound.
The parish is also a hub for Eucharistic Adoration, with extended hours throughout the week. Adoration is held on Mondays from 7:00 a.m. to 8:15 a.m. and again from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., and on Tuesdays through Fridays from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. with a pause for the morning Mass. St. Alphonsus Liguori described this devotion: "Of all devotions, that of adoring Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is the greatest, after the sacraments, the one dearest to God and the one most helpful to us."
Reconciliation and the Other Sacraments
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is offered weekly on Thursdays from 5:30 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. and on Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. A detailed "play-by-play" guide to confession walks penitents through a five-step preparation rooted in prayer, examination of conscience, and meditation on the mercy of Christ. Appointments with a priest can also be requested by calling the parish office.
St. Francis de Sales celebrates all seven Catholic sacraments, treating them as the visible signs through which Jesus Christ channels grace. The parish's catechesis holds the sacraments to be "efficacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, by which divine life is dispensed to us." Baptisms for infants and young children are scheduled with the parish office, and parents baptizing their first child at St. Francis de Sales are asked to attend a monthly Baptism Class led by Fr. Cameron, typically held on the second Tuesday in the Memorare Center. Adults seeking baptism move through the Becoming Catholic program (OCIA), the parish's formal initiation process for newcomers.
First Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation preparation are woven into both the Parish School and the Parish School of Religion, with Confirmation celebrated in the spring of eighth grade. Marriage preparation begins before a date is set, with couples meeting first with a priest and then walking through four sessions with a mentor couple as part of the Couple to Couple ministry. The Anointing of the Sick is available upon request for those facing serious illness, hospitalization, or the frailty of old age, and priests will visit parishioners in hospitals and homes when notified. Discernment of Holy Orders is supported through regular conversation with the parish priests and the monthly Avila Holy Hour for Vocations.
Children's Faith Formation: PSR, Ignite, VBS, and the Parish School
Faith formation for children runs from preschool through middle school and centers on the family's role as the primary catechist. The Parish School of Religion (PSR) meets on Monday evenings from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the school for children in grades 1 through 5, welcoming public school, non-Catholic Christian school, and home-schooled students. Middle schoolers in grades 6 through 8 gather for the Ignite Middle School Youth Group, also on Monday evenings, blending classroom catechesis with family-friendly events throughout the year.
Children's Liturgy of the Word is offered at the 11:00 a.m. Sunday Mass from the Sunday after Labor Day through early May, sending children ages 3 through second grade to the Memorare Center to hear the Sunday Gospel at their level before rejoining their families for the Liturgy of the Eucharist. Vacation Bible School returns each summer with a unique theme and welcomes children age 4 through rising fifth grade; teens in grades 6 through 12 and adults serve as volunteers. The parish's annual Pet Blessing and the Memento Mori Hiking Tour through local cemeteries are seasonal events that draw families together around the patron saints of the church.
St. Francis de Sales Parish School has been educating children of the Portage Lakes area for over 75 years. Rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, in the Roman Catholic Faith, and in Salesian Spirituality, the school integrates Christian values with innovative, individualized instruction. The principal is Kathryn Dougherty, and the school can be reached at stfparishschool.org. As the parish prepares for a campus expansion under the motto "A growing school, a stronger parish," the school continues to welcome new families seeking a Christ-centered education.
Youth Group and Young Adult Life
High school students gather for Youth Group on Sunday evenings from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. in the Memorare Center. Open to teens from any school or faith background, the group combines catechesis, service, worship, and social activities, and offers retreats, conferences, and field trips throughout the year. The fall kickoff typically happens in late September, and registration through a Google form is open year-round for teens who want to join at any time. Abby Gresser coordinates the ministry and can be reached through the parish office. The parish also runs the Avila Prayer Group, which prays for vocations to the priesthood and religious life and hosts a Holy Hour on the second Monday of each month after the 8:15 a.m. Mass.
Adult Faith Formation, Bible Studies, and Retreats
Adult formation is treated as a lifelong process of deepening conversion, blending education, the sacraments, and participation in the liturgy. The parish offers parish-wide book and Bible studies that run five to eight weeks in the fall and spring, alongside two ongoing small groups. The Men's Group meets every Saturday at 7:00 a.m. in the Memorare Center, where adult men share and discuss the upcoming Sunday's Scripture readings under the spiritual guidance of Deacon Ray Herrick. The Women's Study Group meets Tuesday mornings at 9:00 a.m. from September through May, with a break between Thanksgiving and Christmas, reading and discussing books about the faith, the saints, and prayer.
Retreats are offered both as organized parish events and as private retreats in the parish's Poustinia House, a small retreat house on or near the campus for those seeking time away from the busyness of daily life. The Becoming Catholic program welcomes inquirers and catechumens into the Catholic faith, while ongoing Bible and Book Studies provide continued formation for parishioners at every level.
Music Ministry: The Parish That Sings
St. Francis de Sales is "the parish that sings." The Music Ministry, led by Director of Music Colleen McVicker, enhances the liturgies as instrumentalists, choir, and cantors, and its stated purpose is to encourage all parishioners to full, active, and conscious participation. The Traditional Choir is open to singers of all ages, from fourteen to ninety-five and beyond, and serves at the 11:00 a.m. Sunday Mass and at special liturgies throughout the liturgical year, with weekly practices on Wednesdays from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. from September through May. The Youth Choir, formed by children in grades 3 through 8, sings once a month at the 9:00 a.m. Sunday Mass, with a brief practice the Friday before. A separate Children's Christmas Choir prepares during Advent and sings at the 4:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Mass. Cantors and instrumentalists are also recruited from the parish community to lead and accompany the assembly when the choir is not present.
Liturgical Ministries and the Work of the Assembly
Beyond music, the parish draws on a team of liturgical ministers who serve at daily, weekly, and holy day liturgies. Altar Servers, beginning in fifth grade, assist the priest and deacon with the processions, prayers, and chants of the Mass. Lectors proclaim the Old and New Testament readings, lead the Prayers of the Faithful, and read Sunday announcements. Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion assist with the distribution of Communion at Mass and bring the Eucharist to the infirm and to parishioners in area nursing and group homes. Ushers welcome parishioners, help with seating, take up the collection, direct Communion lines, and assist in emergencies.
Service Ministries: A Helping Hand for Neighbors Near and Far
St. Francis de Sales is a parish deeply engaged in works of mercy. The St. Vincent de Paul Society, the parish's flagship outreach, helps neighbors who struggle to pay bills or purchase groceries because of job loss, illness, or other hardship; assistance requests are taken through a dedicated voicemail line. The Meal Ministry, coordinated through the parish office, prepares and delivers nourishing meals to parishioners facing the death of a loved one, recent illness, surgery recovery, the birth of a new baby, or temporary financial hardship. The Funeral Meal Ministry organizes lunches in the Memorare Center for families after a funeral at St. Francis de Sales, and the Consolation Ministry sends cards and prayerful support to the bereaved and helps plan the All Souls Day Mass of Remembrance.
The Stephen Ministry, led by Ann Clark, trains parishioners in 50 hours of formation to provide one-to-one, confidential care for those experiencing grief, illness, loss, or other difficulties, bringing God's love into the lives of people in need. Alcoholics Anonymous and Al-Anon meet at the parish on Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. in the school cafeteria, offering a regular space for recovery and support of family members. The Respect Life ministry supports life in all its stages, while the Church Mice clean the church weekly on Monday mornings after the 8:15 a.m. Mass. The Opus Angelorum Apostolate gathers parishioners in formation to make a formal consecration to their guardian angels or to all the holy angels, meeting monthly on the third Tuesday in the Memorare Center.
Family Life, Fellowship, and Senior Ministry
Family and fellowship are woven into the parish rhythm. Donut Sunday offers coffee and donuts after each Mass on the first Sunday of every month, a simple gathering that builds community. Post Cana Date Nights, held every other month, alternate between spiritual and social topics to build community among couples and deepen marriages. The Couple to Couple ministry, a part of marriage preparation, pairs engaged couples with a mentor couple for four meetings of conversation and discernment. Natural Family Planning is taught using the Sympto-Thermal Method on an as-needed basis, and the ministry connects couples with the Marquette, Creighton, and CCL methods.
For younger families, the Moms of Littles Group meets on the first and third Wednesdays of the month at 10:00 a.m. in the Memorare Center, providing casual, play-date style gatherings for moms and their children. The Vocation Crucifix travels weekly to a different parishioner or family who prays for vocations throughout the week. For older adults, the Senior Euchre Group meets on the second and fourth Wednesdays from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. in the Memorare Center, providing a friendly space for cards and conversation. Flow in Faith offers a $5 donation-based evening of gentle stretching and prayer on the third Wednesday of each month in the Beatitudes Room of the Memorare Center, with proceeds going to the church and school.
Vocations and Parish Leadership
St. Francis de Sales has a long history of fostering vocations to the priesthood, religious life, and the diaconate, and the parish celebrates that legacy in its ongoing formation work. A traveling Vocation Crucifix is sent to a different parishioner each week to pray for vocations, and the Avila Prayer Group meets for a monthly Holy Hour for that intention. The parish offers discernment resources for the priesthood, religious life, and the permanent diaconate, and the priests are open to meeting with anyone considering a call.
The parish staff includes Fr. Jeremy Merzweiler as Pastor and Fr. Cameron Ferrell as Parochial Vicar, along with Deacons Ray Herrick and Richard Butz. Kathryn Dougherty serves as Principal of the Parish School, and Colleen McVicker as Director of Music. The Parish Pastoral Council, chaired by Elena Dunn, supports the communication and organization of ministries and works through three commissions: Be Faith Filled, which nurtures the faith of youth, young adults, couples, families, and seniors; Be of Service, which focuses on parish ministries, communication, and evangelization; and Be Devout, which focuses on prayer life and community.
Parish Communications and Giving
The parish keeps in touch through a weekly bulletin, an active calendar, and a Flocknote-based system of emails and texts. Recordings of Mass and announcements are shared on the parish Facebook page, Instagram, and YouTube channel. Parishioners and friends can support the parish's mission through online giving via ParishSOFT, through a recurring Faith Direct enrollment, by setting up the parish as a payee in their online bill pay, by dropping envelopes in the mail slot at the Memorare Center, or by mail to the parish office. Credit and debit card contributions are accepted through a secure payment service. Newcomers to the parish are invited to register through a Google form available on the parish's main page, and a separate Youth Group registration form welcomes incoming high schoolers.
Beliefs in Brief
St. Francis de Sales is a Roman Catholic parish that confesses the Nicene faith and celebrates the seven sacraments instituted by Christ. Its catechesis centers on the Eucharist as the source and summit of Christian life, on sacramental grace, on the call to holiness, and on the dignity of the human person made in the image of God. The parish holds up marriage, priesthood, religious life, and dedicated single life as particular vocations within the universal call to holiness, and encourages discernment through prayer, the sacraments, and spiritual direction. The Salesian spirituality of St. Francis de Sales, the patron of writers, the patient, and those seeking gentleness, shapes the parish school's approach to education and the broader life of the community.
Around the Parish and Looking Forward
The parish's motto in the current capital campaign is "A growing school, a stronger parish," reflecting the community's commitment to building on more than seven decades of Catholic education in the Portage Lakes. The annual Blue Mass, the Patronal Feast of St. Francis de Sales, the Christmas and Holy Week liturgies, and the school's Night of Giving are highlights of the parish calendar. Generations of parishioners have helped build classrooms, worship spaces, and facilities, and the current leadership invites the next generation to continue that legacy of faith in the heart of Akron's western neighborhoods.