St. Vincent de Paul Parish sits in the heart of Akron, Ohio, at 164 West Market Street. It is the oldest Catholic parish and the oldest Catholic school in the city, a Catholic community that has welcomed, formed, and served Akron families since 1853. The parish's motto, "Welcome. Grow. Share.," captures the daily life of a congregation that gathers for early morning Mass, runs a thriving elementary school, and feeds neighbors through a food ministry and parish society that bear the saint's imprint.
Father Norm Douglas, the pastor, often reminds parishioners of what Pope Francis has said: "Everyone Belongs." That spirit runs through a parish where visitors are told, "If God is the center of your life, no words are necessary. Your mere presence will touch hearts," and where a daily relationship with Jesus Christ is the heart of lifelong faith formation, evangelization, and community outreach.
Daily Mass, Sunday Mass, and Confession
The Mass schedule is built around a daily Eucharist at 6:28 AM Monday through Friday, with two Sunday Masses at 8:30 and 11:00 AM and a Saturday Vigil Mass at 5:00 PM. Confessions are heard Saturday from 3:30 to 4:30 PM, with an additional Thursday confession from 3:30 to 4:30 PM on the Thursday before the First Friday of each month. Eucharistic Adoration follows on Saturday from 3:30 to 4:45 PM, beginning alongside confession.
All Masses are livestreamed daily on YouTube and Facebook, and the parish YouTube channel keeps a full archive of daily and past livestreams for those who cannot attend in person. Worship aids with the order of Mass, the postures, and the words to each prayer are available in every pew for visitors who would like a guide through the liturgy.
Non-Catholics are warmly welcomed at worship. The parish explains that communion, or the Eucharist, is the most intimate expression of Catholic faith, and Catholics believe the host is truly the body of Christ, transformed from bread by the priest presiding over the service. Visitors who are not Catholic are invited to come forward with their arms crossed over their chests for a special blessing in place of receiving communion.
What to wear is left up to the visitor. "We want you to feel comfortable," the parish notes. "After all, we are thrilled that you're joining us and want you to be more focused on the service than what you're wearing." In the summer, sandals are not uncommon; others still prefer their Sunday best. Visitors are not expected to put money in the offering, and the basket may be passed by without giving.
Two Centuries of Parish School Education
St. Vincent de Paul Parish School is the oldest Catholic school in Akron, dating to 1853. The first schoolhouse was a stone building constructed in 1856 behind the churchyard. By 1892, a red brick school had been built behind the current church at 17 South Maple Street. A high school program was added in 1907 on the third floor of the grade school; in 1974, Saint Vincent - Saint Mary High School separated from the grade school and moved across the street to its current location.
The old school was torn down in 1956 and replaced within months. In 2015, generous donors funded a state-of-the-art Engineering Lab, and the school earned the Ohio State STEM Designation in 2016. Five religious communities have served as teachers over the years: the Sisters of the Holy Cross, the Sisters of Notre Dame, the Sisters of Saint Joseph from Baden, Pennsylvania, the Immaculate Heart of Mary Sisters, and the Sisters of Saint Dominic.
The school develops young Catholic men and women with creative minds, a sense of understanding for one another, and the ability to change the world while keeping Christ in mind, body, and heart. Children of every social, ethnic, and economic background work together in a supportive Catholic atmosphere, and the dedicated staff is enriched by the generous support of devoted parishioners and parents. CYO Athletics, including basketball and cheerleading for grades 1 through 8, runs through the parish as a volunteer-led program with games on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.
Becoming Catholic and Lifelong Faith Formation
Faith formation is one of three core parish priorities, alongside evangelization and outreach. Children in public school who are not enrolled in the parish school are welcomed into the Parish School of Religion, which meets once a week on Sunday mornings from September through May. Confirmation preparation is offered for current eighth graders, and older teens or adults who have not been confirmed are invited to reach out as well. Baptized Catholics who need the sacraments of Reconciliation or Eucharist can also connect with the parish for help.
Deacon Andy Davis leads the parish's OCIA process, formerly known as RCIA, the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults. The parish explains that the process is not about a single event but a lifelong journey through several rites, and sessions led by Deacon Andy welcome anyone who would like to become Catholic or deepen an existing Catholic faith.
Adults can grow further through CONNECT Gatherings and Life Groups. A Life Group is a small faith-sharing community of four to six people who meet weekly or biweekly, in person or online, for six weeks to share thoughts on the Sunday readings and pray together. Deacon Andy presents on how to study the scriptures and helps people get connected even if they cannot attend a gathering.
Music, Lectors, Greeters, and Altar Servers
Music is described as a very integral part of the liturgy. The Adult Choir enriches sung prayer at the 8:30 AM Sunday Mass, and the Canticum Novum Choir does the same at the 11:00 AM Mass. Both choirs hold weekly rehearsals, and teens and adults with pleasant singing voices are welcome. Guitar practice before Mass is part of the regular calendar, and a Canticum Novum Chamber Choir rehearses for more advanced choral work. The Music Director works with singers and instrumentalists across the parish.
Lectors proclaim the Word of God at Masses and special liturgies, and comfort with public speaking is the only skill needed. Greeters welcome parishioners and guests at the doors of the church; families, couples, and singles are all invited, and greeters can schedule their own Masses through an online system, arriving twenty minutes before Mass. Mass Altar Servers, open to anyone from sixth grade through adulthood, assist the priest at the altar, with training provided at the parish; adult servers assist at Holy Days and funerals. Ushers help with seating and collections and serve at their preferred Mass on a routine basis. Baptism Preparation teams explain the sacrament to families and set up the symbols used during the rite.
Reaching Out: The St. Vincent de Paul Society, Auxiliary, and Giving Tree
Outreach is the third of the parish's Christ-centered priorities. The St. Vincent de Paul Society, named for the seventeenth-century patron saint of Catholic charities, helps the poor with utility bills and provides grocery gift certificates at Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter. The St. Vincent de Paul Auxiliary collects and packs non-perishable food items and groceries for food-insecure neighbors in the St. Vincent neighborhood every week, and also packs food bags for distribution at Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter.
During the holiday season, the Giving Tree invites parishioners to take a tag from the Christmas tree on the altar, purchase the requested clothing, toy, or gift card, and return it as directed. The Prayer Shawl Ministry gathers parishioners who knit or crochet shawls and blankets to give to those in need of hope or healing; the finished items are blessed by a parish priest before distribution, and no crochet experience is required. The Cookie Ministry stocks parish events throughout the year and adds volunteers to a database that is tapped when the inventory runs low.
The parish celebrates a Day of Service each year on the feast of St. Vincent de Paul, inviting volunteers to make a difference in the community. The Caring and Sharing Commission encourages parishioners to share their time, talent, and treasures through ministries, organizations, and short-term projects, while the Community Outreach and Social Justice Commission develops pro-active approaches based on principles of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
Life at the Parish: Grief Support, Knights of Columbus, CYO, and Prime Timers
The Grief Support Ministry meets monthly and is facilitated by people with the background, empathy, and spirituality to bring together those experiencing the death of a loved one, a job loss, or another uncontrollable loss. It is grounded in the spiritual and healing dimension of Catholic Christian faith within a safe small group setting and holds a special Remembrance Mass each All Souls Day. The group meets on the third Saturday of each month from 9:30 to 10:30 AM in the Family Center.
The Knights of Columbus Council welcomes all practicing Catholic men over 18 for monthly meetings on the last Tuesday of the month, 6:30 to 7:30 PM in the Family Center. The council supports educational, charitable, religious, social welfare, and public relief works.
CYO Athletics offers basketball for grades 3 through 8 and coed cheerleading for grades 1 through 8, with practices beginning in October and games on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. The parish also runs a CYO Booster Club, a Parents' Association, and the Prime Timers (55+) social group for parishioners over 55 with activities such as movies, road trips, and tours.
The Altar Society provides altar care, flowers, the parish Christmas Dinner, and a May breakfast, and runs a Caring Parishioner program that delivers meals to families after a loss. The Garden Club tends the flowers and trees on the parish grounds. The Contemplative Prayer Group, "prayer beyond words," gathers twice a month on Saturday mornings for meditative reflection, silent prayer, and fellowship. The Reading and Sharing Group meets Saturday mornings in the Scullen Room. An Open Gym for adults offers half-court basketball on Sunday and Monday evenings. Couple-to-Couple Marriage Preparation trains married couples to meet with engaged couples, and the Prayer Chain Ministry submits prayer requests on behalf of those who ask for them.
Pastoral Staff and Parish Governance
Father Norm Douglas serves as pastor, with Father Joseph Kraker as pastor emeritus. Deacon Andy Davis is the parish deacon and director of evangelization and faith formation, and Deacon Robin Adair is the pastoral minister. The parish offices are open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM, and closed on Holy Days.
The Parish Pastoral Council is the parish's pastoral planning body, chaired by Kris Klee with Tom Mancino as vice chair and Elisa Pizzino as secretary. Voting and non-voting members collaborate in discerning what is best for the parish in light of the Gospel and Catholic Christian teaching. Five Parish Commissions support the parish's work: Evangelization and Faith Development; Caring and Sharing; Community Outreach and Social Justice; Communications; and Building and Grounds. Commissions meet monthly in the Scullen Room or Rectory.
Online Giving, Legacy Giving, and the Wider Catholic Community
Parishioners can give during Mass by cash or check, online through the parish's giving portal, or by mailing contributions to 164 West Market Street, Akron, OH 44303. Legacy Giving supports tuition assistance, facility improvements, and a Family Memorial Scholarship Fund through the St. Vincent Parish Foundation, with options for gifts that help today (automatic offerings, qualified charitable distributions from IRAs, appreciated stock transfers) and gifts that help tomorrow (Family Memorial Scholarship Funds, planned giving through wills or trusts). The parish also participates in #weGIVECATHOLIC, Northeast Ohio's online day of Catholic giving supporting more than 200 Catholic organizations throughout the region.
Fr. Norm shares a weekly video reflection focused on the coming Sunday's scripture, the liturgical season, and faith-enriching moments. Past reflections have explored Dorothy Day, Servant of God, the Bread of Life discourses, and the missionary call to wear Christ as a hat of faith in action. The parish also recommends Catholic media through Formed, Word on Fire, and Ascension Press for ongoing formation at home.
Across its downtown campus, the parish runs an elementary school, a CYO sports program, a Family Center with the Scullen Room and Corrigan Hall, a Rectory, and a worship space that has served Akron's Catholics for more than 170 years. The mission is the same one Father Norm shares with visitors each week: to be a welcoming Catholic community called together by Jesus Christ and guided by the Holy Spirit to live and share the love of God in the parish and in daily life.