St. Mary Catholic Parish in Vermilion, Ohio, is a growing faith community in the Diocese of Toledo with 1,200 households currently. We offer several opportunities for reception of the sacraments, faith formation and growth, and outreach into the St. Mary and greater Vermilion community. We are glad to be serving the people of God!“Inspired by the Holy Spirit, entrusted to the guidance of Mary, the Mother of God and nourished by the Sacraments, St. Mary Catholic Parish is a welcoming, Christ-Centered community that since 1871 has been committed to developing spiritual growth, serving our neighbors, and making known the eternal love of our Heavenly Father. Through authentic worship and engaging liturgies we give praise to our loving God who has blessed us with all that we are and have.” - Adapted from the Parish Vision Statement
Catholicism has been in Vermilion as early as 1843, when priests occasionally passed through the village to offer Mass. By 1856, a growing number of Vermilion Catholics led to priests from Elyria traveling to Vermilion for weekday mass. A small frame church was finally built in 1862 by Father R.A. Sidley.
As the church building continued to be constructed, Father J. Rouchey was appointed St. Mary’s first pastor in March 1871. Fluctuations in population and priests led to St. Mary becoming a mission church to North Amherst and Huron at times over the following decades. St. Mary received its first resident pastor in twenty-five years in 1924, Father William J. Cotter. He was succeeded by Father William Armitage in 1929, who spearheaded the church’s renovation in 1930 and introduced St. Theresa as the parish’s secondary patron saint.
Father Cletus Gates, St. Mary’s priest from 1953-1968, laid the cornerstone of St. Mary School in 1957 and oversaw its addition in 1966. The church saw further renovations in 1973 and 1974 under Father Arthur Badger. In 1990, Father Stephen Blum built St. Mary’s Family Life Center.