We are blessed at Saint Raphael with many opportunities to share our time, talent and treasure. Our groups are organized into six key areas: Worship, Evangelization, Spiritual, Faith Formation, Social Outreach, and Community Life.
Our student Altar Server Ministry consists of parishioners in grades 5 to 12. Our mission is stand ready to serve the Lord in the Sacrifice of the Altar, encountering, and helping others to encounter, Jesus in His Eucharistic Presence. Click to learn more.
Joanne Gill, altarserverministry@saintraphaelparish.com
Our Arimathea ministry consists of men and women who assist at funerals.
Terri Telepak in the Parish Office
Dedicated to our sacred place of worship, our ministry focuses on enhancing your liturgical experience through seasonal decorating; it also includes on-going maintenance of the church. We create seasonal visual effects to enhance each participant’s spiritual experience. Your participation (through the Marthas) in this ministry may include a one-time project or an ongoing involvement reflecting your personal talents.
Candy Reese
Our adult altar servers assist the celebrant in liturgical celebrations and funeral Masses.
Contact the Parish Office
Our Liturgical Ministry consists of Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (emHC), Lectors, Sacristans, and Ushers. Ministers are scheduled according to the Liturgical Calendar using Ministry Scheduler Pro (MSP). Click to learn more.
Bill Toler, Director
Our team of parishioners work together to record and livestream our Masses over the internet.
Mark Cunningham in the Parish Office
Martha volunteers are dedicated to supporting the Art & Environment ministry; our primary function is ensuring all of the liturgical needs of the clergy and congregation are met. Functions include, but are not limited to, preparing the altar and surrounding areas for daily Mass as well as seasonal celebrations; we also maintain the laundry for mass, baptisms, and other clergy needs. Additional functions include daily maintenance of the four (4) Shrines in the church, proper displaying of candles and flowers at the altar, and ensuring the church is properly prepared for all weddings, funerals, liturgical school events, and special services. We support; All Souls Mass, Anointing Mass, Advent, Christmas, Lent/Ash Wednesday, Palm Sunday, Holy Week, Easter, Confirmation, First Communion, Corpus Christi, missions & retreats.
Candy Reese
Contact Bill Toler in the Parish Office
The Catholic Church is the largest Christian Church in the world. For every three Catholics who are practicing their faith, there is one who can be classified as an "inactive Catholic." In the United States there are 20 million inactive Catholics. For one reason or another they have decided not to practice their faith. Many people are willing to return to the Church, they only need to be asked. In response to this, St. Raphael Parish presents Catholics Coming Home. This program enables people to reintroduce themselves to their Church in an embracing and compassionate program. The program is conducted in a group format with topics that cover the basics of Catholicism over a six-week series.
~Deacon Larry Gregg, 440 892-9828
Our ministry helps anyone dealing with a significant loss by introducing them to the Grief Recovery Method. Groups run for eight weeks.
~ Tom Pussel, 440-360-7752, tpussel@saintraphaelparish.com
We bring a sense of connection and belonging to parishioners who are homebound through taking the Eucharist and visits that communicate the presense and support of the parish community.
~Tom Pussel, 440-360-7752, tpussel@saintraphaelparish.com
Men’s Huddle helps men to deepen and support their Catholic faith and identity, grow spirituality and strengthen their families. We promote expanded religious education for men, growth of personal faith, active participation in the parish community, and encouragement for men who have lost their yearning for the Catholic faith.
~Tom Pussel in the Parish Office
Metro exists to introduce anyone and everyone in the Cleveland area to the love of God through Jesus. This mission is inspired by Psalm 27:4, where David proclaims his wholehearted desire to “gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple. Click to learn more.
Many Ohio inmates are extranged from their families and lonely. We write letters of encouragement and share prayer requests using "pen names" and the Parish Office mailing address.
~Contact Anne Staitiff in the Parish Office
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is the formation process through which adults are fully initiated into the Catholic faith community. The RCIA process was developed for those who desire the faith and are not baptized. It is also conducive for those who have been baptized in another faith. Catholics who have not been fully initiated through the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist participate to learn more about the faith and sacramental preparation.
~Contact Fr. Jim Winings in the Parish Office
The Men’s Fellowship Ministry helps men to deepen and support their Catholic faith and identity, grow spirituality and strengthen their families. We promote expanded religious education for men, growth of personal faith, active participation in the parish community, and encouragement for men who have lost their yearning for the Catholic faith. To learn more about Men’s Fellowship contact:
Carl Feldkircher, 440 892 7812
Our High School Ministry (HSM) invites and unites teens to encounter Christ, empowers them as His disciples, and inspires them to love God and serve His church. Click to learn more.
~Zak Jester, Director
Our Women's Retreat brings women of the parish and outside the parish together to encounter the living Lord Jesus in a deeper, more personal way. It is time set apart from the busy world to be quite and listen to the voice of God within each individually and as sisters united with God and one another under the guidance of outside guest speakers.
~Terri Telepak, ttelepak@saintraphaelparish.com
Our Men's Retreat is an excellent opportunity for quiet prayer and reflection. The Men’s Retreat weekend away from the busy’ness of our everyday lives is an opportunity to rest in the presence of the Lord, and be aware of what the Lord has to say to each of us. Retreatants find that the Lord brings peace and direction to their lives. The Men's Retreat provides an opportunity to be together and share with other men, our Pastor, and the Presenters, in order to focus primarily on our spiritual lives, and to realize the depths of the riches of God’s grace and the special helps available, where busy men can find rest for the soul and the strength to carry on the daily tasks of family, work and other cares, concerns and joys. This Retreat is also a wonderful way to prepare for the Lenten season.
~Deacon Larry Gregg, (440) 892- 9828
Our Bereavement Ministry is a response of a living faith to minister to those who suffer from the death of a loved one. This multi-faceted ministry develops from assessing the needs of the parish community. It attends to the specific needs of children and adults and provides support, education and hope for the grieving.
~Deacon Larry Gregg, (440) 892- 9828
Couple to Couple Ministry focuses on the preparation and enrichment of the Sacrament of Marriage for engaged couples using Prepare Enrich.
Divine Mercy Cenacle centers on learning to live joyfully and abundantly through the lens of love and forgiveness. We delve into the meaning of divine mercy and how to “live” mercy. Our mission is to spread the message of God’s love and forgiveness to all people, through how we live our lives.
Bill Toler in the Parish Office
Contact Fr. Jim Winings in the Parish Office
Adoration takes place in the Franciscan Chapel from 10:00am Friday to 4:00 Saturday. Stop in at anytime or join our schedule of regular participants.
Bring your children/grandchildren to 20 minutes of guided prayers and meditation each Friday that school is in session at 3:30pm.
~Melissa Pillari, 440-785-9086
In the Christian tradition, faith sharing is a time of prayer, reading and reflecting together on the Word of God. The mission is to continue nourishing the Eucharistic Faith we celebrate each Sunday by coming together at regular intervals to share our faith experiences through the Word of God. ~Karen Kozsey, 440-835-1422
The Patriotic Rosary resulted from a Thanksgiving Day (1988) vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in Alabama, to Marija, the visionary from Medjugorje. The prayers of the Patriotic Rosary include quotes from our Founding Fathers, patriotic songs, and a remembrance of each of the 50 states. This special prayer for the consecration of our nation is recited to its Patroness, 2-3 times a year.
~ Pat Dokler, (216) 543-7745
The mission of the Post Cana Couples Connections group is to connect couples within the Catholic faith to live out their sacramental promise and strengthen their bond with God and the Church community.
~ Karen Campbell, postcana@saintraphaelparish.com
We are a group of parishioners that pray daily in our homes, on our own time, and in our own ways for specific requests. Requests are distributed by mail and email. To submit a prayer request, click here.
~ Karen Mackin, (440) 871-2168, kom1026@gmail.com
We value the continuing, life-long education of all parishioners. There are a variety of educational opportunities throughout the year. Our Catholic tradition, heritage, and theology are so rich and deep that each of us is compelled to continue learning about our Faith through our life's journey. See the Parish Calendar for the most up to date times and locations.
Bible Study meets on Tuesdays at 10am in the Community Room. Please see the Parish Calendar for specific dates.
Bible addresses various books of the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures that allow participants to uncover the historical and academic aspects of the Bible. While the intellectual dimension is primary in our scripture study, the sessions also provide the opportunity for participants to uncover the faith dimension of scripture.
~Bill Toler in the Parish Office
Parish School of Religion (PSR) is a Catholic Religious Education Program for parish children in grades 1 to 8 who attend public school. Our co-op program offers a blend of catholic information and spiritual formation and is dependent on parents and volunteer catechists. Click to learn more.
~Terri Telepak, Director
We educate students from kindergarten through grade eight, serving families from neighboring communities. The Mission Statement of our school reads "Saint Raphael School is a Catholic Community where we live our faith, strive for life-long academic excellence, and leave the world better than we found it.” Click to visit the school website and learn more about our academics, athletics, clubs, and activities. Ken Mitskavich, principal (440) 871-6760
Our Totally Catholic Vacation Bible School is a five-day program offered in July. Click to learn more
~Terri Telepak, Director
Women's Cancer Support
Men's Cancer Support
The Gabriel Project is a Christian, church-based outreach offering immediate and practical help to women and families facing an unplanned pregnancy. The Gabriel Project, at the woman’s initiation, establishes a personal relationship with her that offers physical, spiritual, and emotional support, for as long as she wants it, usually until about 6 months after the baby’s birth. The Gabriel Project does not charge for nit’s services and does not discriminate in providing services because of race, creed, color, national origin, age, marital status, or religious affiliation. Click to learn more.
The Social Concerns Ministry provides opportunities for the parishioners to assist the less fortunate in the parish and throughout the community. Examples include: Adopt-a-Family, Helping Hands Thanksgiving Baskets, Blanket Sunday, Christmas in July and more.
~Michelle Walsh, socialconcernsministry@saintraphaelparish.com
The Prayer Shawl Ministry has shawls available for those in need. If you or someone you know could be comforted by one of our shawls, they are avaiable in the Parish Office free of charge. Members have made each one prayerfully with blessings crafted into each one.
~Karen Mackin
Our Pro-Life Ministry's mission is: “To proclaim the sanctity and value of all human life from conception to natural death as a gift from God and the foundation of human dignity.” The committee will promote this mission through spiritual awareness, service and education.
~Judy, 440-541-3787
The Archangels ministry provides opportunities for making life more worthwhile for men and women, 50 years and older, by bringing them together for spiritual growth, friendship, education, entertainment and cultural activities.
Men's Golf offers Christian fellowship while enjoying the game. Foursomes play on Thursdays at Bob-o-Link. Cookouts during league play and a two-man tournament bring the group together. A point system fosters healthy competition. Sharing life with good men is the goal. Fred Bangeman, (440) 933-6686.
Hoopsters Basketball meets on Sunday evenings for friendly games of pickup basketball and some fellowship/reflection time. Mike Stepanek, (440) 835-8847.
The purpose of the Athletic Commission is to promote, coordinate and finance athletic programs. It also serves to provide wholesome opportunities for students to develop favorable habits and attitudes of social living. The objective of the Athletic Commission is to aid in the moral, physical and athletic development of the parish youth both as individuals and as members of a team, while promoting the philosophy, values and objectives of Catholic education through its athletic programs.
The Guild is committed to passing on God’s love in everything we do. Joy Horvath, president joyhorvath@oh.rr.com
Tom Pussel, Director
Our Little Angels Program offers supervised play for toddlers in the Zwilling Room during the 10am Mass on most Sundays. Diaper changing is not available. Teen volunteers are always needed to serve as child care ministers and aides. Contact Terri Telepak ttelepak@saintraphaelparish.com
Girl Scouts Write a description for this list item and include information that will interest site visitors. For example, you may want to describe a team member's experience, what makes a product special, or a unique service that you offer.
Item LinkScouting provides the perfect balance between fun and commitment. Scouting teaches boys critical values such as leadership, responsibility, community service and duty to God. From Cub Scouts Pack 159 to Boy Scouts Troop 159, scouting has been transforming young boys into men through various activities. From mountain climbing to whitewater rafting, boys create adventures for themselves while making time to learn about lifelong skills such as first aid and personal management. The memories made through scouting last a lifetime and friendships are usually transformed into lifelong bonds. Parish members can begin scouting in the first grade and advance through high school.
Boy Scouts: David Madigan
Cub Scouts: Michael Connole
~Inquire with the Parish Office
Saint Raphael Catholic Church
525 Dover Center Rd, Bay Village, Ohio 44140
Parish Office: (440) 871-1100
Email: info@saintraphaelparish.com
School Office: (440) 871-6760
Parish Office Hours
Monday - Thursday: 9:00am - 8:00pm
Friday: 9:00am - 5:00pm
Saturday: 10:00am - 3:30pm
Saturday & Sunday: Welcome Center for weekend Masses
Cluster Parishes
Saint Joseph (Avon Lake) &
Holy Spirit (Avon Lake)
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