Welcome to the web site of St. Paul Parish in Norwalk, Ohio.   We’re not just a good parish; we are a great parish, always striving to become better.  We’ve made a difference in this community of sixteen thousand people for the past 138 years.  We are now a Catholic community of 1550 registered families.  Our ministries are varied, although Catholic School education has been a big priority for the parish since the beginning.  We reach out to all our parishioners and strive to meet their needs.  Our PSR program and adult education programs have become greater priorities in recent years.  Our liturgies are very prayerful and spirited.  Our outreach is to the larger community here in Norwalk and beyond.  We strive to become better disciples and stewards of the Lord.  Our parish mission statement is a constant challenge, because as disciples of the Lord we are called upon to celebrate and live the Eucharist, educate all in the Catholic faith and be good stewards of God’s abundant blessings to us.  We try to live by the principle of the late Cardinal Suenens of Belgium: the greatest good we can do for others is not to show them our goodness, but to show them their own!  We are all so very blessed by God.  You are always WELCOME here at St. Paul.   

Don’t know whom to speak to? Contact Kathleen Sigsworth at 419-668-6044 or kathleens@stpaulchurch.org.  Kathleen will make certain your request is forwarded to the appropriate staff member.

Fr. Franklin P.  Kehres  Fr. Frank was ordained a priest at the Pontifical College Josephinum in Worthington, Ohio in 1968. Originally from Crawford County, Ohio, he is the 8th of nine children born to Louis and Genevieve Heydinger Kehres.  He was raised in the New Washington/North Auburn area. Since ordination he has served as associate pastor at Sacred Heart in Fremont, St. Mary in Defiance and St. Michael in Findlay.  After two years as associate pastor in Findlay he was appointed pastor in 1977 and served at St. Michael until he was appointed pastor of Sts. Peter and Paul in Sandusky in 1988.  After twelve years there he came to St. Paul and has been pastor here since 2000.  Contact info: frfrank@stpaulchurch.org or by calling the parish office.

Father Eric Mueller was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Toledo on May 30, 2009. His first assignment is to St. Paul's Parish as Associate Pastor and Chaplain to Norwalk Catholic School.  Fr. Eric is in charge of RCIA and Altar Servers. He grew up in Landeck, Ohio and graduated from The University of Findlay in 1999 with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental and Hazardous Materials Management and in 2001 from The University of Toledo with a Master of Science in Chemical Engineering.  He worked for two years, one as an engineer and another as a substitute teacher before entering Saint Meinrad School of Theology, where he studied philosophy and theology, earning a Master of Divinity in May 2009. Fr. Eric has two older brothers and a younger sister, and four nephews and three nieces.  Contact info: Fr. Eric at freric@stpaulchurch.org or by calling the parish office.

Deacon James Reichert has been a member of St Paul’s parish for most of his life. He was ordained to the Order of Deacon in May 2005. Deacon Jim’s responsibilities include assisting at Masses, preaching, Mass Coordinators, and Eucharistic Ministers. He presides over or participates in ecclesial events such as baptisms, funerals, prayer services, Stations of the Cross and weddings. He married Bev in 1969 and has 4 children and 7 grandchildren.  Contact info: 419-668-6044.

Pat Krause is our Pastoral Associate. She graduated from St. Paul High School and Bowling Green State University. She received her Master’s degree in Social Work from The Ohio State University and is currently a Master’s student in Pastoral Studies in the LIMEX program of Loyola University of New Orleans. Pat is married to Chuck and has a son, Tully. As a social worker, Pat’s background has been in mental health counseling, homelessness, elderly and administration. As Pastoral Associate she is responsible for Adult Faith Formation, Outreach ministries and Sacramental Preparation. Contact info: patk@stpaulchurch.org or 419-668-6044.

Mark Niese is our Director of Liturgy/Music and has been with St. Paul since 1993. He is responsible for all music and liturgical ministries:  Mixed Choir, Folk Ensemble, Choristers, Funeral Choir, Cantors, Lectors, Ushers, Eucharistic Ministers, Liturgy Committee, and the Art & Environment Committee. He graduated from Heidelberg College with a Bachelor in Music Education. He had been the Director of Liturgy/Music, at St. Peter, Huron for 12 yrs before coming to St Paul. He is married to wife Karla and has 3 children, Jessica, Aaron, and Kevin. Contact info: markn@stpaulchurch.org or 419-668-6044.

Lawrence ‘Pat’ Furlong is the part-time business manager for St Paul. He grew up in the Bellevue area and attended Immaculate Conception school in Bellevue. He attended Sacred Heart Seminary in Geneva, Illinois, for four years of high school and one year of college. After leaving the seminary, he attended the University of Toledo where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting. In 1960 he married Kathleen Rospert and has four boys who are all married, and ten grandchildren.  He spent his adult life working in public accounting. Contact info: patf@stpaulchurch.org or call the parish office.  

Sara Fitzgerald is the part-time Youth Director.  She grew up in Mansfield, Ohio and attended college at Ohio University where she met her husband, Tim. After graduation, they moved several times – Toledo, Cleveland, Athens, and Norwalk. In 1993, she joined the Catholic Church through the RCIA process. Sara & Tim have 3 children and 1 grandchild. For 15 years she taught at St. Paul Elementary, and for the past 3 years ministered to the Sandusky community as the Director of Lifelong Faith Formation. She is responsible for helping parents, help their youth engage in the journey of discipleship. This ministry entails supporting the parents of children in the Parish Religious Education Program (PSR) and Youth Ministry. Contact info: saraf@stpaulchurch.org or call the parish office.

Geri Dow has been the Development Coordinator at St. Paul’s since January 2005. Geri is responsible for the stewardship committee, communications which includes the bulletin, website and newsletter, Health Ministry, and she helps with coordinating volunteers. Geri graduated from McMaster University in Hamilton Ontario Canada and she and her husband, Kevin, have 4 children. Contact info: gerid@stpaulchurch.org or call the parish office.

Kathleen McKinney: Katie is the part-time bookkeeper for St Paul.  She is responsible for payroll, benefits, and accounts payable.  She also takes care of the computers in the office.  Katie met her husband, Rick, while she was serving a five-year stint in the United States Marine Corps as a Computer Programmer.  Rick and Katie have 4 children, 2 dogs and 2 cats. Contact info: katiemc@stpaulchurch.org or call the parish office.

91 East Main St.
Monday-Friday   8 am – 5 pm
Tuesday-Thursday    6 - 8 pm
Saturday 9am - 12pm
419-668-6044