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History of St. Julie Billiart Catholic Church
St. Julie Billiart was established on August 15, 1978. Bishop James Hickey, Bishop of Cleveland, appointed Father Richard A. Gonser as pastor. Father Gonser is a native Clevelander and is the oldest of five children of Harry and Anne Gonser. His class was the first to graduate from St. Rita School in Solon, Ohio, in 1950. Later that summer, he became the first seminarian, and then the first priest ordained from St. Rita’s. After completing his studies, he entered St. Gregory Seminary in Cincinnati, Ohio. On May 19, 1962, Father Gonser was ordained.
St. Julie Billiart was established on August 15, 1978. Bishop James Hickey, Bishop of Cleveland, appointed Father Richard A. Gonser as pastor. Father Gonser is a native Clevelander and is the oldest of five children of Harry and Anne Gonser. His class was the first to graduate from St. Rita School in Solon, Ohio, in 1950. Later that summer, he became the first seminarian, and then the first priest ordained from St. Rita’s. After completing his studies, he entered St. Gregory Seminary in Cincinnati, Ohio. On May 19, 1962, Father Gonser was ordained.
During his assingments at St. Augustine Church in Barberton, Annunciation Church in Cleveland, and St. Basil the Great in Brecksville, Father Gonser was particularly devoted to, and received awards for, youth ministry. He has continued to support and expand this ministry here at St. Julie's.
On August 15, 1978, Father Gonser was appointed the founding pastor of St. Julie Billiart Parish in North Ridgeville. After moving into the Parish Administration Center on Opal Drive in the summer of 1980, plans were made for the construction of the Church and Catechetical Center. Construction on the church began in July of 1981, and the first Mass was celebrated on Christmas Eve in 1981.
The geographical boundaries of the parish are approximately three square miles of the northeast corner of North Ridgeville. Our membership has grown from the original 200 families to over 600 families in 2009. Many of our parishioners come from seventeen cities surrounding North Ridgeville.
In response to Bishop Pilla’s Pastoral Letter on Vibrant Parish Life in 2001, our parish staff and parishioners committed themselves to a process of self study and reflection that supports our efforts to work in cooperation and mutual assistance with neighboring parishes. The parish continues its mission to reach out to all who are searching for a strong, vibrant, active faith community.
Our parish is one of 15 parishes worldwide that are named in honor of St. Julie Billiart. Julie was a French woman who established a religious order of nuns known today as the Notre Dames. After her death in 1816, the order expanded from France to Belgium to Germany. On June 22, 1969, Pope Paul VI canonized Julie Billiart. Her feast day is celebrated each year on May 13.
On August 15, 1978, Father Gonser was appointed the founding pastor of St. Julie Billiart Parish in North Ridgeville. After moving into the Parish Administration Center on Opal Drive in the summer of 1980, plans were made for the construction of the Church and Catechetical Center. Construction on the church began in July of 1981, and the first Mass was celebrated on Christmas Eve in 1981.
The geographical boundaries of the parish are approximately three square miles of the northeast corner of North Ridgeville. Our membership has grown from the original 200 families to over 600 families in 2009. Many of our parishioners come from seventeen cities surrounding North Ridgeville.
In response to Bishop Pilla’s Pastoral Letter on Vibrant Parish Life in 2001, our parish staff and parishioners committed themselves to a process of self study and reflection that supports our efforts to work in cooperation and mutual assistance with neighboring parishes. The parish continues its mission to reach out to all who are searching for a strong, vibrant, active faith community.
Our parish is one of 15 parishes worldwide that are named in honor of St. Julie Billiart. Julie was a French woman who established a religious order of nuns known today as the Notre Dames. After her death in 1816, the order expanded from France to Belgium to Germany. On June 22, 1969, Pope Paul VI canonized Julie Billiart. Her feast day is celebrated each year on May 13.
