From a High School Auditorium in 1946
Saint Raphael Catholic Church has served Bay Village, Ohio, for nearly eighty years. The first Mass was celebrated on September 22, 1946 in the Bay Village High School Auditorium, and the parish moved into its own church on Christmas Eve 1948. From those 165 founding families, the parish has grown to roughly 3,700 households and nearly 11,000 members, with a day school serving more than 600 students and a Parish School of Religion (PSR) reaching around 400 more.
The parish takes its name from Saint Raphael the Archangel, whose blessing has been invoked over the community since those first Christmas Eve Masses. The parish mission is to invite and connect the people of the community to encounter Christ, to equip them as His disciples, and empower them to love God and serve His people, with a vision of fostering encounters with Jesus Christ through prayer and the sacraments.
Parish life is led by Father Daniel F. Schlegel, who became pastor on November 20, 2023, and Father Ryan Arto, parochial vicar. Deacons Larry Gregg (retired), Zakary Jester, and Mark Cunningham assist with pastoral care, youth ministry, and communications. The parish sits at 525 Dover Center Road and serves the lakeshore communities west of Cleveland.
Mass Times, Adoration, and Reconciliation
The weekend schedule follows a steady rhythm. A Saturday Vigil Mass is offered at 4:30pm, and three Sunday Masses are celebrated at 8:00am, 10:00am, and 12:00pm. The 10:00am Sunday Mass is livestreamed on YouTube and Facebook for those unable to attend in person.
Daily Masses are celebrated at 7:45am on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday, and at 9:15am on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. Confessions are heard on Saturdays from 3:00 to 4:00pm in the church and by appointment with a priest. Eucharistic Adoration runs continuously from 10:00am Friday through 4:00pm Saturday in the chapel, with the Blessed Sacrament reposed at 4:00pm on Saturday.
The Blessed Sacrament is offered under both species at every Mass. Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Lectors, Sacristans, and Volunteer Mass Coordinators serve alongside the priest and deacon under the direction of the Director of Liturgy. Servers and other liturgical ministers are scheduled through a software tool families can access online, and parents manage their children's assignments through a household account.
Children's Liturgy and Littlest Angels Childcare
Two programs welcome the youngest members of the parish during the 10:00am Sunday Mass. Children's Liturgy is offered for children ages four to six. After the Collect, a Prayer Leader escorts the children from the church to a classroom in the school to hear the Readings and Gospel, reflect in a child-friendly way, and pray together before rejoining their families during the Offertory. Older siblings may accompany younger brothers and sisters to help them feel at ease. The program is free, and no registration is required.
Littlest Angels Childcare provides supervised play for toddlers in the Zwilling Room from 9:45 to 11:00am during the 10:00am Mass. Middle school and high school teen volunteers help set up, entertain, and clean up the toys, set out snacks, and assist with restroom breaks. Diaper changing is not available.
Parish School of Religion and Sacramental Preparation
The Parish School of Religion (PSR) is the Catholic religious education program for parish children attending public schools, serving students in kindergarten through fifth grade. Classes meet on Mondays from 4:30 to 5:45pm and from 6:30 to 7:45pm in classrooms of Saint Raphael School adjacent to the church, running from September through May. The classroom fee is $125 per child, with financial assistance available through the parish's Scholarship Fund for Religious Education.
Curriculum is drawn from Christ our Life (Kindergarten) by Loyola Press and Alive in Christ (Grades 1-5) by Our Sunday Visitor, both approved by the Diocese of Cleveland. Each grade focuses on a particular theme: God loves us (Kindergarten), Jesus Christ (Grade 1), the Moral Life (Grade 3), the Seven Sacraments (Grade 4), and the Word of God in the Old Testament plus an introduction to the Bible (Grade 5). The program includes Mass, Confession, the Parish Mission, Stations of the Cross, Empowering God's Children lessons, a Campus Prayer Walk, Jesus Buddies, and a May Crowning. Approximately 25 volunteer catechists, all VIRTUS-compliant and background-checked, are needed each year, alongside volunteers for parking lot, hallway, and classroom support.
Families who prefer to teach at home may enroll in the Home School Religion (HSR) program for grades K through 5. Parents follow a learning log, attend a September orientation, and submit Winter and Spring reports. The HSR fee is $55 per student. Sacramental preparation for Reconciliation and First Communion takes place traditionally in second grade. Confirmation preparation for eighth graders is offered through Ignite Confirmation Formation within the Middle School Ministry, while high schoolers seeking Confirmation prepare through the High School Ministry. Adults seeking any of the sacraments of initiation are directed to the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA).
Middle School and High School Ministry
Middle School Ministry walks with students in grades 6 through 8 through three programs. Family Formation gathers 6th, 7th, and 8th graders with their parents and siblings five Monday evenings a year from 6:00 to 8:00pm in the PAC for dinner, a speaker, and age-specific and intergenerational discussion. It is the required faith formation for public school students in those grades. Confirmation Formation meets once a month for 8th graders preparing to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. Invite is a free, optional youth group that meets most Mondays at 6:30pm in the Upper Room for games, the Gospel, small group discussion, and prayer. Middle School Minister Julia Mosier, a Bay Village native and longtime Saint Raphael parishioner, joined the parish staff in May 2026.
High School Ministry is open to teenagers from Saint Raphael and surrounding communities, including Westlake, Avon Lake, and beyond. The group gathers for Sunday Insight Nights with discussion, prayer, snacks, and games; retreats at Saint Leonard's Youth Retreat Center in Avon; service projects; camping trips; Eucharistic Adoration; the National Catholic Youth Conference; and outings such as hockey games and laser tag. There is no minimum commitment. The ministry is led by Dcn. Zak Jester, who grew up in North Ridgeville, attended youth group at St. Ladislas in Westlake, served at Ignatius and John Carroll, and now lives with his wife and two children nearby.
Adult Faith Formation and Small Groups
Adult Faith Formation, directed by William Toler, offers continuing education for parishioners throughout the Fall through Spring, covering the Catholic tradition, heritage, and theology. Alpha and Catholic Coming Home are also available for those exploring faith or returning to the Church after time away. The Candid Catholic program, Exodus 90, METRO, and the Parish Mission round out the evangelization offerings.
Men's Fellowship helps men deepen and support their Catholic faith and identity. Coordinated by Deacon Larry Gregg, the group meets on the first and third Saturdays at 8:00am in the Community Room for coffee and donuts, the Sunday Scripture reading, and group discussion. The annual Men's Retreat takes place at the Jesuit Retreat Center.
Men's Huddle meets on Tuesdays from 6:15 to 7:30am in the Community Room. Open to men of any church or no church, the Huddle gathers for coffee, bagels, a talk, and discussion aimed at encouraging men to succeed at work and home life. Past series have covered Thomas à Kempis' Imitation of Christ, Authentic Christian Masculinity, Media and Technology, the Seven Deadly Sings, 12 Pivotal Players, and a Biblical Definition of Manhood. Director of Evangelization and Outreach Tom Pussel hosts the Huddle.
Women's Faith Sharing brings women together in small groups of six to ten to nourish the Eucharistic faith celebrated at Mass through prayer, scripture reading, and reflection on the upcoming Sunday readings. The ministry began in 1994 following the parish's first Women's Retreat, and some groups have been meeting regularly for more than twenty years. Coordinator Karen Kozsey invites new members to join an existing group or start a new one.
Marriage and Family Connections, led by Karen Campbell, hosts date nights, parties, and social activities with guest speakers to help couples live out their sacramental promise and strengthen their bond with God and the parish community.
Liturgical Ministries and the Altar Server Ministry
The parish's motto for liturgical service is drawn from Psalm 84:11: "Better one day in your temple than a thousand elsewhere." Liturgical Ministers offer service to the liturgies and community and continually form themselves spiritually and practically. Formation, fellowship sessions, and diocesan training are offered year-round.
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion are commissioned by the Bishop and assist at Mass when the assembly is large enough that distribution would otherwise be prolonged. They check in at the kiosk at least fifteen minutes before Mass, walk in procession with the other ministers, and approach the sanctuary at the Lamb of God. Distribution follows the General Instruction of the Roman Missal: "The Body of Christ" and "The Blood of Christ." Any mishaps with the Precious Blood are addressed according to diocesan instruction.
Lectors proclaim the readings (except the Responsorial Psalm and Gospel), prepare the Word throughout the week, and may announce the intentions of the Universal Prayer in the absence of a deacon. They bow at the sanctuary steps with their partner and follow the second reading by returning to their reserved seats.
Sacristans prepare the credence and offertory tables before Mass and clean the vessels afterward, following detailed procedures for the tabernacle count, ciboria and cruets, gluten-free hosts, purification of vessels, and sacrarium use. Volunteer Mass Coordinators (VMCs) assist ministers with sign-in, fill empty slots, and attend the priest at the altar during Communion when no deacon is present.
Students in Grades 5 through 12 may join the Altar Server Ministry (ASM). New server training takes place annually in September on two consecutive Saturdays, with families welcome to attend and celebrate Mass together. Ongoing Spiritual and Practical Formation sessions are held monthly on Sunday afternoons at 3:30pm in the church, covering topics such as the Pilgrimage of the Mass, the Real Presence of Jesus, the Sacrifice of the Mass, the Thurible, and how to assist at the altar. Servers are ranked Novice, Skilled, Captain, and Master, with Captains and Skilled servers mentoring newer servers. Roles differ at Wedding Masses, Confirmation Masses, and Stations of the Cross. Incense is used on Holy Days and solemnities including Holy Thursday, the Easter Vigil, Corpus Christi, Christmas, Epiphany, Ascension, Pentecost, the Solemnity of Saint Raphael, Christ the King, and whenever the Bishop presides. Joanne Gill serves as ASM Lead Coordinator, and Dcn. Zak Jester is the Spiritual Director.
Martha Ministry and Art and Environment
The Martha Ministry has been active at Saint Raphael for more than fifty years. A group of women ensure the liturgical needs of the clergy are met under the direction of the Lead Sacristan. Responsibilities include maintaining altar cloths, laundering small linens, caring for priests' vestments, the sacristy and sanctuary, the confessionals, candles, vessels, baptismal supplies, the chapel, holy water fonts, and shrines. The ministry also prepares the liturgical needs for Advent, Christmas, Ash Wednesday, Lent, Palm Sunday, Holy Week, Easter, Pentecost, First Communion, Confirmation, and Corpus Christi.
Art and Environment enhances the liturgical experience of the parish community through seasonal decorating of the church and parish campus, working in collaboration with the Martha Ministry. The ministry decorates the Gathering Area, Zwilling Room, Good Shepherd Square, and Community Room during Easter and Christmas and cares for indoor plants and outdoor planters. Coordinator Nancy Keis leads the team.
A School Across the Parking Lot
Saint Raphael Parish School, the parish day school, shares the campus with the church and PSR classrooms. The school educates more than 600 students and is supported by a School Advisory Council that promotes Catholic identity and educational excellence. CYO Athletics is offered for parish youth, and adults have their own Men's Golf league (Thursdays May through August at Bob-o-Link) and Hoopsters Basketball (Sunday evenings 8:00 to 10:00pm in the PAC). The parish also offers a Divine Mercy Cenacle, the Guild, the Archangels, the Hearts Afire Parish Program, and a Cancer Support ministry.
Habitat Builds, Pope Leo Village, and Helping Hands
Saint Raphael maintains a long-standing partnership with Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity, with annual Faith Builds and on-site workdays. The current project, Pope Leo Village, is the building of 15 affordable homes on Elwell Avenue, inspired by Pope Leo's devotion to serving others. Volunteers from Saint Raphael assist with on-site workdays. Past projects include the 2025 Faith Build in the Mount Pleasant neighborhood and the Sleep in Heavenly Peace Bed Build, which has produced dozens of beds for children in the Greater Cleveland area in partnership with the Travis Manion Wounded Warrior Project and F3 (Faith, Fitness, and Fellowship).
The Social Concerns Ministry, coordinated by Michelle Walsh and Judy Cornelius, gathers parishioners around issues of human dignity, poverty, justice, and the common good. Opportunities include Blanket Sunday, Just Dinner for a Cause, Helping Hands Thanksgiving, Adopt-a-Family, the Mitten Tree, Coat Collection, After School Collection, Neighbors Who Care, Sock Collection, Baby Bottle Collection, Summer Hunger Food Collection, Back to School Program, Diaper Collection, Ash Wednesday Collection, and serving meals at St. Augustine and St. Malachi. Donations of food, clothing, and luggage support the St. Augustine Clothing and Luggage Ministry.
The Saint Vincent de Paul Saint Raphael Conference provides direct service to neighbors in need. The Gabriel Project supports mothers and families during pregnancy. The Prison Pen Pal Ministry writes letters to those incarcerated. Pro-Life Ministry gathers for a Prayer Hour for Life on the first Friday of every month at 7:00pm in the Franciscan Chapel (except during Lent) and prays at the local Planned Parenthood on Center Ridge Road in Rocky River on Saturdays at 10:30am. The Pro-Life Ministry is affiliated with 40 Days for Life, Cleveland Prays for Life, and Suburban West Right to Life.
Pastoral Care and the Prayer Life of the Parish
The Homebound Ministry brings a sense of connection and belonging to parishioners who are homebound through the Eucharist and visits that communicate the presence and support of the parish community. Volunteers may serve as Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion at Mass, write letters or send seasonal cards, or make physical visits and phone conversations.
The Prayer Ministry is a group of parishioners who pray daily in their homes, on their own time, and in their own ways for specific requests that come into the parish. Requests are communicated weekly through email and postal mail. Mass Intentions may be requested through the Parish Office, with a recommended donation of $10, and a Book of Prayer Intentions in the Gathering Area near the American Flag allows anyone to add intentions that are included in the Prayers of the Faithful during Sunday Masses.
The Prayer Shawl Ministry encircles others in an eternal shawl of peace, healing, and compassion. Members knit or crochet shawls with prayers and blessings crafted into each one, based on a 3-stitch seed pattern. Shawls are available free of charge from the Parish Office for anyone in need of comfort or celebration, and the shawls receive a final blessing before being given.
The Grief Recovery Method Outreach Program offers an eight-week, evidence-based support group for those experiencing loss, whether from death, divorce, the end of a romantic relationship, or any of more than forty other losses a person might experience. The group is led by Tom Pussel, a certified Grief Recovery Method Specialist.
Communications, Catholic Content, and a Partnership in the City
The parish keeps in touch through an email newsletter that delivers parish updates and a Flocknote login that unlocks access to Bishop Robert Barron's Word on Fire digital library. On-demand Catholic movies, audio books, podcasts, and shows are available through FORMED, and Hallow is offered as a Catholic prayer and meditation resource. The parish also promotes the Diocese of Cleveland's daily prayer recordings, the USCCB Daily Readings, EWTN, the NE Ohio Catholic Magazine, and Fr. Joshua Whitfield's reflections. Homilies from Saint Raphael and from St. Aloysius are recorded and posted online.
On January 7, 2025, Bishop Edward Malesic appointed Fr. Dan as Presbyteral Moderator of St Aloysius-St Agatha Parish in Cleveland, formalizing a partnership inspired by Bishop Pilla's "Church in the City" pastoral letter. The livestream of Sunday and weekday Masses from Saint Raphael is available alongside the livestream from St Aloysius, and the parish encourages prayerful support of both communities.
Online giving is available through the parish's giving portal, and the parish office welcomes visitors during office hours: Monday and Tuesday from 9:00am to 8:00pm, Wednesday through Friday from 9:00am to 5:00pm, and Saturday from 10:00am to 3:30pm. The Welcome Center is staffed at weekend Mass times for those who are new to the parish.