OUR LADY of PERPETUAL HELP
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Mission Statement

As members of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, we identify ourselves as the people of God. This community, called together in Sacrament and stewardship, represents a wide range of backgrounds, talents, gifts, and needs symbolic of the Universal Catholic Church.


 

Answering Christ’s call in baptism, we embrace his invitation to enter the Kingdom of God by proclaiming the Gospel in word and deed. In our worship, in our participation in the Sacraments and in our lives, we thereby encourage all to join in the celebration of Christ’s presence.

We pledge ourselves to promote justice, mercy and charity by ministering to the people of our parish, the people of Portage County and those in need throughout the world.

     
 

Our Staff

  
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Parish Staff		 Fr. Joe Witmer was ordained a priest in 1967 and has been pastor at OLPH since 1988. He earned an MA in Philosophy and a Masters of Divinity. He spent five years in parish assignments, seven years in campus ministry, and eight years in full-time national ecumenical work before coming to Aurora. In addition, since 1971, he serves as Ecumenical Officer of the Diocese of Youngstown. His sister lives in Canton, Ohio, where he also enjoys his hobby of singing barbershop harmony.
 
  Sr. Lu Haidnick, CDP, After nine years of office work and ten years as a Business Education Teacher in Dover, she entered the Sisters of Divine Providence from Allison Park, PA (Pittsburgh.) A Buckeye (Cleveland Indians and Browns fan), Sr. Lu is originally from Cuyahoga Falls.
  Assisting Fr. Joe at OLPH, Sr. Lu coordinates and participates in Parish Pastoral Programs and Liturgical Programs as needed. She is the staff liaison for Pastoral Care Ministries (Homebound, Nursing Home and Hospital) and is Director of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. As a Bereavement Minister, Sr. Lu assists in the planning of funerals and occasionally leads a Wake Service or other service as requested by families. Providing Pastoral Care to those homebound or otherwise unable to join with us in worship.
Known for her hugs, she tries to help all who come to worship welcome.
     
  Mrs. Karen Yash serves the parish as Director of Religious Education. She is married and has two sons. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English, with secondary majors in Theology, Philosophy, Psychology, and Sociology and graduated with a Masters in Religious Education  from Loyola University-New Orleans. She served as a volunteer catechist for 25 years before going for her Masters degree. Her responsibilities include overseeing the Parish School of Religion, Youth Ministry, Adult Faith Formation, Generations of Faith, the Family Program, Sacramental Preparation for Reconciliation, Eucharist, Confirmation, and the Rite of Christian Initiation as Adapted for Children. She also serves as the staff liaison for the book club and MOMS group.
Known for her “infectious” (kind way of saying boisterous) laugh, she looks forward to welcoming new members and putting their talents to use.
     
 

Parish History

Early in 1955 a group of Catholic women in Aurora were in the process of organizing a mission guild. During their discussions they considered the possibility of having Mass each Sunday here in Aurora. Representatives went to see Fr John Laveile, pastor of St Joseph’s Mantua OH. He suggested that they contact Mr James Quinn, the owner of the Aurora Inn, to inquire if Mass could be offered there each Sunday for the Catholic families in Aurora. Arrangements were made and the Mission Church in Aurora had its first Mass in the Inn on March 13, 1955.

On July 8, 1955, the members of the Mission Church purchased its present property, some 13 acres with a house and a barn from Gordon and Mary Patterson. As the congregation grew, the facilities became inadequate.

In November 1957 an agreement was made with Msgr Oldrich Mazenec, pastor of St Rita’s Solon, OH, to purchase their church for $5000.00.The moving of the church building was a spectacular event. Bishop Emmet M Walsh dedicated the Church under the title of Our Lady of Perpetual Help parish and the Mission Church moved to parish status on June 24, 1960.

The present church was completed, contemporary in design in 1974. The windows of clear glass allow God’s own "stained glass" to shine forth. Today, the contemporary design facilitates the ongoing development of the congregation’s worship and community.

In 1992, the congregation once again undertook a construction project in designing and building the Parish Center. The Parish Center has become a familiar space for parish and community events. Throughout its history, Our Lady of Perpetual Help has been a beacon of hope, a center for community building and a steward of the many gifts God has so graciously given to the members of the Catholic faith community in Aurora.

     

342 S Chillicothe Rd Aurora,  OH 44202    330.562.8519    Fax 330.562.2529     info@olphaurora.org

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