A Twinned Parish in the Heart of Wood County
Two congregations, one pastor, and a single pastoral council. St. Jerome & All Saints Catholic Churches form a twinned parish of the Diocese of Toledo that stretches across two small towns on either side of the Maumee River - Walbridge, a tight-knit village just east of the river, and Rossford, the working-class city on the south bank where the parish's newer church, school, and food pantry all share one campus. Between them, the parish serves roughly 1,100 families who worship in brick sanctuaries first built in the early twentieth century and, in the case of All Saints, a bright modern church dedicated in 2002 on Lime City Road.
The parish's stated mission is short and memorable: "Rooted in one Baptism, nourished by Word and Sacrament, we come together as God's children to cultivate our Catholic Faith and build community." That single sentence frames everything from the Saturday vigil schedule to the parish food pantry to the festival grounds that open behind the church every July.
Two Histories, One Family of Faith
The two halves of the parish carry very different memories into the same pew.
All Saints Catholic Church in Rossford came together on September 8, 1990, when two parishes barely three blocks apart were merged into one. The older of the two, Saint Mary Magdalene, dates to 1903 and grew quickly enough that a new combination church and school was built on Dixie Highway in 1925, followed by a free-standing church on the same road in 1973. Saints Cyril and Methodius, founded in 1915 to serve the area's Slovak settlers, dedicated a remodeled former Methodist church in 1923 and then a new building on Maple Street in 1939. Both parishes ran their own Catholic schools; in 1973 the two schools merged to form Alter Elementary School, named for the third bishop of the Diocese of Toledo. After the 1990 merger, Father Joseph Steinbauer was named first pastor and the new parish, initially called the Rossford Catholic Community, took the name All Saints in early 1991. The parish spent the next several years gathering input for what became Vision 2000, a master facilities plan that produced a 17-acre campus on Lime City Road, a school that opened in 1997, the McAlear Center for parish activities in 2001, and the present church, dedicated in April 2002.
St. Jerome Catholic Church in Walbridge is younger and smaller, but no less carefully planned. The idea of a Catholic church in the village surfaced on November 9, 1959, when Father Joseph Pastorek and his people began to organize. The first Mass was said on September 9, 1962 in the Walbridge School; the first Mass in St. Jerome Hall followed on December 8, 1962, on land the Diocese of Toledo had purchased in 1956 for $25,000. A school opened its doors on September 7, 1965 with 97 students in grades one through four and grew one grade at a time until reaching grade eight in 1969, when Sister Mary Loyola served as the first principal until her death in October 1971. The convent was completed in August 1965, and within three years the entire parish plant was in operation under Father Pastorek. A sequence of pastors has led the parish since then: Father Jerome Swiatcki (1967-1968), Father Edward Dietzer (1968-1977), Father Henry Szteiter (1977-1987), Father John Stites (1987-1995), Father William Parker (1995-2009), Father David Cirata (2009-2012), Father Eric Schild (2012-2019), Father Anthony Coci (2019-2022), and Father Scott Woods, the present pastor.
The two parishes were paired under one pastor and now share the same pastoral council. The council, advisory to the pastor, includes representatives from both communities and helps identify pastoral needs across the entire parish.
Mass Schedule Across the Two Campuses
Daily and weekend Masses rotate between the two churches so that parishioners and visitors can worship within minutes of wherever they live or work.
- Saturday: 4:00 pm at All Saints, 6:00 pm at St. Jerome
- Sunday: 8:30 am at St. Jerome, 10:30 am at All Saints
- Monday: 8:15 am Communion Service at All Saints
- Tuesday: 6:00 pm at St. Jerome
- Wednesday: 8:15 am at All Saints
- Thursday: 8:15 am at St. Jerome
- Friday: 8:15 am at All Saints
Reconciliation is celebrated at St. Jerome on Tuesdays from 5:00 to 5:45 pm and at All Saints on Saturdays at 3:30 pm in the Reconciliation Chapel. Communal celebrations of the sacrament are scheduled during Advent and Lent. Anointing of the Sick can be arranged through the Parish Office at any time, with visits to homes, hospitals, and care facilities when needed. Visitors who are not Catholic are warmly invited to attend Mass and follow the lead of those in the assembly; worship aids describe the postures and the prayers of the Mass. Those who do not receive Communion are invited to come forward with arms crossed over their chest for a blessing.
Music, Liturgy, and the Live-Streamed Mass
Music ministry at All Saints is led by Director of Music Ministry Luke Rosen, with the choir rehearsing on Monday evenings at 7:00 pm. At St. Jerome, Director of Music Ministry Chris Buzzelli leads the music program. Lectors, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, greeters, ushers, servers, and sacristans are formed and commissioned for each role. Children's Liturgy of the Word sends younger children from the assembly to a separate atrium to hear the Sunday readings in an age-appropriate setting, then returns them to the church for the Liturgy of the Eucharist.
A specially designed Blessed Sacrament Chapel at All Saints provides a place to pray before the Eucharist at any time. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament is offered on Wednesdays from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm, with two adorers needed for each hour; subs and regular adorers are always welcomed.
For those who cannot be present in person, Mass is livestreamed on Facebook and YouTube. A direct Facebook link is provided for each celebration, and the parish's YouTube channel hosts past live-streamed events. Homily recordings and parish bulletins are also posted online for ongoing reflection.
Sacraments for Every Stage of Life
The parish celebrates the seven Catholic sacraments and offers formation for each one.
Baptism is the first step in a lifelong journey of commitment. Parents expecting a child are encouraged to meet with the parish before birth or adoption; baptism applications and a Godparent Eligibility Form are available for download. First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion are normally celebrated in second grade for children in the parish school or the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program. Confirmation is normally received in eighth grade in the Diocese of Toledo. Marriage preparation requires a six-month period in the Diocese of Toledo; couples begin by contacting the Parish Office. Holy Orders and Anointing of the Sick can be discussed with the pastor at any time.
The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) welcomes adults who have never been baptized, adults baptized in another Christian church who would like to become Catholic, and baptized Catholics who would like to complete their initiation through the Sacraments of Eucharist and Confirmation. Inquirers may contact Sister Tina Petrick to begin the conversation.
All Saints Catholic School
All Saints Catholic School, on the Lime City Road campus, provides Catholic education from Preschool through Grade 8. Financial assistance is available for both parishioners and non-parishioners, and enrollment information and tours are offered throughout the year. Students in Pre-K through Grade 2 attend the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd weekly as part of their religion course of study. After school, families can take advantage of an Extended Day Room staffed by parish employees for screening.
For high school, the parish lists Cardinal Stritch Catholic High School & Academy as its partner school. Cardinal Stritch describes itself as a leader in Catholic education, empowering students to grow as disciples of Jesus Christ in a supportive, family-oriented community.
Religious Education for Children in Public School
Children in Kindergarten through Grade 8 who do not attend a Catholic grade school take part in the Parish Religious Education Program (PREP), which meets on Sunday mornings from 9:45 to 10:45 am from mid-September through April. Children in Kindergarten and Grade 1 use the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd approach. Children must be enrolled in Religious Education for one year before receiving the Sacraments of Reconciliation, First Holy Communion, or Confirmation. Registration is offered for non-sacramental years, second-grade Holy Communion, and eighth-grade Confirmation. The high school youth group meets on the first Wednesday of the month at 6:00 pm, alternating between St. Jerome and All Saints, and welcomes young people from any area high school.
Spiritual Formation for Adults and Seniors
Adult faith formation offerings include Bible Studies, guest speakers, parish missions, days of recollection, retreats, and Lenten programs. The Senior Ministry works to enhance faith, strengthen prayer life, and build community through monthly functions open to all seniors of the parish. Sister Tina Petrick, SND, serves as Pastoral Associate for Faith Formation for both campuses and is the contact for catechists, OCIA inquiries, and PREP questions.
Outreach to the Neighborhood and Beyond
The parish's outreach programs reach into Rossford, Northwood, Perrysburg Township, Walbridge, and beyond.
The All Saints Food Pantry is open one day per week and depends on donations from parishioners and the wider local community. The Caring Cooks ministry prepares and delivers meals to fellow parishioners who are hospitalized, recovering from an illness, new mothers, families who have suffered a catastrophic event, or those suffering from long-term illness. The Ministry of Care sends trained visitors to bring Holy Communion and prayer to the sick, elderly, and homebound of the parish and local nursing centers. The Show Them We Care ministry packs and sends military care packages and notes once a month to soldiers serving overseas who are connected to the parish by family or friends. The Prayer Blanket Ministry sews, knits, and crochets blankets that are blessed and made available to anyone going through a difficult time. The Giving Tree is an annual holiday collection of Christmas gifts and food for needy families in the local area. The Saint Vincent de Paul Conference responds to requests for financial assistance from neighbors within the parish boundaries. The Funeral Luncheon ministry serves a luncheon to bereaved families following funeral services, and the Franciscan Garden Ministry connects the school, parish, and food pantry through shared gardening space. An annual Blood Drive is held on the day after Thanksgiving from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm in the McAlear Center.
Music, Fellowship, and the Annual Festival
The parish calendar is anchored by a few well-loved gatherings. The annual parish festival, held on the Friday and Saturday evenings of the last weekend in July, draws the wider local community and relies on the help of the entire parish to succeed. The Chicken Paprikas Dinner, a long-standing tradition, brings parishioners together around the table. The Reverse Raffle in early spring gathers the parish for a fun evening whose proceeds support parish and school. The annual rummage sale in July is a three-day event staffed by parishioners; unsold items are donated to local charities. The Toledo Symphony Neighborhood Concert, a tradition begun in 2002, is a late-afternoon community concert normally held on a Sunday before Christmas.
At St. Jerome, the Altar Rosary Sodality gathers on the second Tuesday of each month at 7:00 pm for prayer, work, and shared fellowship. Bible Studies are offered through the year. The Church Decorating Committee transforms the church for the great feasts of Christmas and Easter. The Funeral Luncheon Committee prepares and serves the meal for families of deceased parishioners. The Greeters offer a warm welcome at every liturgy. The Knights of Columbus Council 11450, founded in 1994 and named after the parish, supports the parish through fundraising and service. The Landscaping Committee tends flower beds around the church and parish grounds. Threads of Faith, Hope and Love, which began in October 2011, meets on Thursdays from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm to make prayer shawls, lap quilts for the homebound, and other creations. An Adult Bowling League competes at Interstate Lanes, with teams of four formed during the summer and league play beginning in September.
At All Saints, the All Saints Athletic Association offers CYO sports for children and young adults in conjunction with the Diocesan CYO Program. Bingo has been a Thursday evening gathering in the McAlear Center, currently postponed. The Hospitality Team promotes a warm and friendly parish environment by organizing refreshments after Masses on Fellowship Weekends and coordinating social events such as the Holy Thursday potluck and the Parish Feast Day celebration. The Knights of Columbus Holy Cross Council #5139 sponsors events throughout the year and supports the parish with time, talent, and treasure.
Facilities Available to Parishioners and Guests
The Lime City Road campus includes the church, a Blessed Sacrament Chapel, a Reconciliation Chapel, the sacristy, the narthex, a Hospitality Room, parish offices, the Steinbauer Community Room (which seats 150 theater style or 98 for dinner), the McAlear Center (which seats 400 for round-table dinners, 500 for long-table dinners, or 650 theater style), the school cafeteria (200 for dinner or 400 theater style), the music room, an atrium, the school offices, a library, and a pole barn. Parishioners who would like to reserve a room may contact the Parish Office; a certificate of liability from homeowners insurance is required. Funerals and weddings are celebrated at both churches.
Becoming a Parishioner and Getting Involved
Newcomers are warmly welcomed. Registration forms are available at the back of church, at the Parish Office, or online through the parish registration form. Information about joining a ministry is offered during the registration process, and parishioners can indicate which areas of ministry interest them - Religious Education, Faith Formation, Sacraments, Music Ministry, Men's Ministry, Women's Ministry, Youth Ministry, Children's Ministry, Vacation Bible School, Event Volunteering, Extraordinary Ministers, Prayer Chain, or other.
Online giving is available through WeShare, allowing parishioners to set up one-time or recurring gifts and to direct donations to specific ministries and outreaches. A mobile app puts parish information and updates in the palm of the hand.
A Parish on the Journey
The parish's stated values are simple: at All Saints, humility, reverence, compassion, and joyfulness; at St. Jerome, faith, hospitality, and stewardship. Together, the two communities describe themselves as rooted in one Baptism and nourished by Word and Sacrament, cultivating the Catholic faith and building community one Mass, one school day, one food pantry visit, and one festival weekend at a time.