Our Lady of Angels Church
3644 Rocky River Dr
Cleveland, Ohio 44111
Phone: 216-252-2332       Fax: 216-252-2383
Pastor: John J. Cregan
E-mail: rectory@olangels.org
www.olangels.org

The Beginning

The beginning really wasn't 1922. In fact, the roots of Our Lady of Angels Parish can be traced much farther back, all the way back to the arrival in this area of the Franciscan Fathers. The Franciscan Province of the Sacred Heart, headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, established two parishes in Cleveland: St. Joseph's at East 23rd and Woodland Avenue, and St. Stanislaus on Forman Avenue. Some time after the turn of the century – the last  century! – property was obtained on Riverside Drive, bordering the Rocky River valley and just a few blocks north of what is now known as Kamm's Corners. The St. Joseph Sisters and the Poor Clare Nuns also purchased properties in the same area at about the same time.

The property on what is now known as Rocky River Drive was purchased by the Franciscans with the intention to establish a seminary and, eventually, a parish for the people in the area. With permission of the Bishop of Cleveland obtained, the plan was set in motion. By 1905, a small frame chapel, with living quarters for the Brothers and Fathers, had been built. The chapel, or church, was known as the Church of The Stigmata of St. Francis until July 13, 1906, when it was then dedicated as Our Lady of Angels. The surrounding area was known at that time as Rockport, later to be changed to West Park. This area had been part of St. Patrick's Parish, an older parish farther south on what is now Rocky River Drive.

In 1907, Our Lady of Angels Seminary was opened. Serving the Sacred Heart Province and, for some years, the far western province of Santa Barbara, California, it was the house of philosophy and theology for the clerics who were studying for the priesthood. After a while, the Santa Barbara group moved out and the theology course was transferred to St. Louis, Missouri.

In the summer of 1921, Father Linus Koenemund, O.F.M. was appointed the superior of the seminary and friary, more commonly called "the monastery". On December 23, 1921, the Most Rev. Bishop Joseph Schrembs, D.D., Bishop of Cleveland, requested that Father Linus, as the superior of Our Lady of Angels Seminary, send in an official request for the establishment of a canonically-created parish. Thus, were the wheels set in motion for the creation of Our Lady of Angels Parish.