Holy Men Who Have Served the Men

Holy Men Who Have Served the Mentor-Area Catholics

A complete list of all priests and deacons since St. Mary of the Assumption Parish was founded in 1857.

Cleveland Pastors and Assistants

Rev. Peter McLaughlin                                      1840-1845
Rev. Maurice Howard                                       1846-1848
Rev. Louis De Goesbriand                                 1848-1853
Rev. James Monahan                                                 1848

St. Mary's Parish, Painesville Pastors

Rev. Peter Peudeprat                                        1850-1852
Rev. Charles Coquerelle                                    1852-1867

St. Paul, Euclid Pastor

Rev. Anthony Martin                                        1867-1869

St. Mary's Parish, Painesville Pastors

Rev. John Tracy                                               1869-1887
Rev. Edward John Conway                               1887-1898

Immaculate Conception Parish, Willoughby Pastors

Rev. Gerald Bergen                                           1898-1902
Rev. Kieran Banks                                            1902-1903
Rev. Julius Kitter                                               1903-1909
Rev. William Moseley                                        1909-1922
Rev. William S. Nash                                        1922-1927
Rev. William P. Thorpe                                     1922-1927

Resident Pastors, Saint Mary of the Assumption Parish Mentor

Rev. William P. Thorpe                                    1927-1937
Rev. Daniel O'Shea                                          1937-1940
Rev. Michael Moriarty                                      1940-1942
Rev. John Farrell                                              1942-1950
Rev. Msgr. George Whitehead                           1950-1953
Rev. Thomas P. Murphy                                  1953-1956
Rev. Joseph Dreher                                         1956-1966
Rev. Albert A. Karper                                      1966-1967
Rev. Msgr. Michael Ivanko                               1967-1971
Rev. Nicholas Novosel                                     1971-1977
Rev. Wilfred Smith                                          1977-2002
Rev. Thomas Elsasser                                   2002-present

Assistant/Associate Pastors

Rev. Thomas Serbian                                      1950-1952
Rev. James Killeen                                          1952-1957
Rev. Eugene F. Perme                                     1957-1962
Rev. Ira Still                                                    1958-1963
Rev. John Wittreich                                         1962-1966
Rev. Charles McGuckin                                   1963-1968
Rev. Herman B. Peters assistant
(admin St. Bede the Venerable)         June 1964-Sept 1964
Rev. Walter J. Tulley assistant
(admin St. Bede the Venerable)           Sept 1964-Jan 1965
Rev. Francis Paik                                           1966-1972
Rev. Stephen A. Migalich                                1968-1970
Rev. Thomas Nimberger                                 1970-1974
Rev. James Rannoni                                        1972-1973
Rev. Gregory Mihalek                                     1974-1979
Rev. Francis Mulvanity                                   1974-1977
Rev. James Mulica                                          1977-1980
Rev. Louis Pizhmoht                                       1977-1979
Rev. Thomas M. Sweany                                1980-1985
Rev. Charles McCabe in residence                    1981-1982
Rev. Robert Clancy                                         1979-1984
Rev. Joseph Mach                                                   1985
Rev. Edwin M. Leonard                                   1985-1989
Rev. Russell G. Rauscher                                 1989-1994
Rev. Ronald Turek                                          1994-1997
Rev. Robert Lamby                                         1997-2002
Rev. Robert F. Wenz                                       2002-2006

Deacons

Rev. Mr. Raymond C. Beebe                             1983-2001
Rev. Mr. Carl Varga                                          1980-1992
Rev. Mr. James R. Walters                                 1984-1989
Rev. Mr. James T. Martin                                  1990-2003
Rev. Mr. Joseph R. Kovitch                            1998-present
Rev. Mr. William Brys                                    2006-present