Message From Our Pastor
My Dear Parishioners,
Welcome to our St. Raphael web site. I hope and pray that our parish will help you to grow closer to our Lord Jesus Christ. We are a family committed to building the Kingdom of God. We are blessed with many different ministries for members of all ages to connect you to our Lord and this faith community. Please consider participating in one or more of the ministries that we offer. If you cannot take part in the ministries at this time, your presence at Mass and the sacraments is a blessing for all of us. We treasure your prayer and willingness to be a part of our faith community. If you are not presently a registered member know that all are welcomed and encouraged to be a part of the parish.
Please keep our parish in your prayers and know you will be remembered in our prayers.
God Bless you,
Father Tim
Parish Mission Statement
The mission of the Catholic community of St. Raphael is to continue the work of the Lord. We stay centered in the Eucharist and are committed to living a faith of welcome, love and service to each other. We strive to follow the example of Jesus in caring for the poor, prayer and worship, personal development, teaching, and inviting growth through evangelization.
Parish Prayer
Heavenly Father, help us to continue the work of your Son, Jesus. He is the gift of our salvation and the presence that keeps us united to you. We pray that the Eucharist we receive will be the source and summit of our ministry. As we reach out in service to one another, may we be welcoming, loving, and caring in the name of Jesus, our Lord. You promise us that where two or three are gathered, you are present in our midst. May we always reflect your grace within and be inspired by your Spirit to be living examples of your Gospel for all those we meet. We pray this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
St. Raphael, pray for us.History of St. Raphael Parish
On September 22, 1946 the first worshippers gathered in the Bay Village High School Auditorium for the first Mass of St. Raphael Parish. They established the creative and welcoming spirit that still exists today. It seems fitting that the first Mass in our first permanent building would be held on December 24, 1948. The most reverential celebration of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ resonated with the birth of our new parish.
From that humble beginning the parish has evolved from serving 165 families to serving over 3,200 families and nearly 11,000 members. The parish educates over 750 students in the day school and over 670 students in the Parish School of Religion (PSR). Our numerous commissions and ministries strive to meet the needs of an ever changing faith community.
Through the years, the parish has supported our communal faith through education, spiritual development, liturgy, the sacraments, and social outreach. With God’s grace and our profound belief, we can live our Roman Catholic tradition by continuing the work of the Lord.
Through the intercession of St. Raphael the Archangel, who blesses this parish, we continue to build on the tradition that was established by our founders. We journey together as a Christ-centered people.
