St. Bridget of Kildare Parish

A nonprofit organization

A current parish project is to raise funds to purchase a new church sign. Our hope is to obtain an electronic sign where we can promote parish and group events, Holiday and Holy Day Mass Schedules, and other pertinent information for people driving by to see.


Who We Are

St. Bridget Church was originally founded as a mission of St. John, the Evangelist Cathedral. In 1857, the Irish Catholics in the vicinity of Woodland Avenue and Perry Street formed an organization to establish a new church. The Depression proved to be too great a challenge for the generosity of the people of St. Bridget and, in 1938, the diocese made the decision to merge the parish with St. Anthony Church. The combined parishes struggled financially and when plans for a new inner belt freeway (now I-77) were proposed, the diocese made the decision to close the parishes.

In the 1950’s, the diocese recognized the growing need for a new parish in the Parma area. Fifteen acres of low, swampy land between Hauserman Road and Queens Highway was purchased for $15,000.00. On June 7, 1956, Rev. Theodore J. Blair was appointed to establish the new parish of St. Bridget of Kildare. One hundred fifty members of St. Charles were designated to become parishioners of the new church.

Fr. Blair retired on February 22, 1976, and the parish welcomed its second pastor, Rev Lawrence J. Bayer. Fr. Bayer dedicated twenty-nine years to the parish until his retirement on January 31, 2005.

Rev. Robert W. Wisniewski, Jr. was appointed the third pastor of St. Bridget of Kildare Parish on February 1, 2005 (the feast day of our Patroness).

It is through the faithfulness and generosity of so many people in the community that, over 50 years later, St. Bridget of Kildare Parish continues to thrive today in the Parma area.

Our Patroness
Saint Bridget of Kildare is a Saint of many names: Brigid of Ireland, Brigit, Bridget, Bridgit, Bríd, Bride, Naomh Bhríde or “Mary of the Gaels.” She was born in 451 and died around 525. At a young age, in 468, Brigid converted to Christianity, having been fond of Saint Patrick’s preaching for some time. It has been said that she and St. Patrick became friends and he was her Godfather. She eventually took vows to become a nun.

Together with a group of other women, she established a convent at Kildare (meaning, Church of the Oak), and several other convents. Bridget as an abbess participated in several Irish councils, and her influence on the policies of the Church in Ireland was considerable. Many stories of her younger days deal with her generosity toward the needy.

Her father was not pleased when she felt a longing to enter religious life, keeping her at home. She became known for her generosity and charity. Never refusing any poor who came knocking at her father’s door, the household needed a steady supply of milk, flour and other essentials. Having nothing else to give, she even gave her father’s jeweled sword to a leper. Her father finally gave in, and sent her to a convent, maybe simply to avoid bankruptcy.

Today, Brigid is considered to be one of Ireland’s patron saints, ranking only (and by a small margin) behind Saint Patrick himself in importance. Her feast day is February 1st, also the first day of spring in Ireland.

Giving Activity

Organization Data

Summary

Organization name

St. Bridget of Kildare Parish

Tax id (EIN)

34-0823461

Categories

Faith

Address

5620 Hauserman Road
Parma, OH 44130

Phone

440 886 4434