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 Scott Hipp at 419-668-6044 or scotth@stpaulchurch.org. Scott 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.

Msgr. Ken was ordained in 1973 and served in parish ministry at Tiffin St Joseph and Delphos St John until 1977 when he became the associate pastor of Toledo Rosary Cathedral and began working for Bishop Donovan. In the January 23, 2011 issue of the digital magazine Focus, Msgr. Morman commented, “Those four years serving as Bishop Donavan’s secretary and vice chancellor – that gave me a whole sense of the diocesan church that I did not have before.” In 1981 Bishop Hoffman sent Msgr. Morman to Rome to study scripture at the Pontifical Biblical Institute so he could assist with Scripture education for adults in the diocese. Upon his return he developed a scripture curriculum for the lay ministry program and served as an assistant to Bishop Hoffman in the Chancery of the diocese. He also served on the National Advisory Council to the U. S. Bishops for several years and was elected to the diocesan Priest’s Personnel Board, an advisory body to the bishop for the placement of priests. Other experiences he cites as having a significant impact on his priesthood include teaching students at Tiffin Calvert High School, being chaplain of Bowling Green St. Thomas University Parish and serving as associate pastor of three parishes in the East Toledo north Cluster.

 

In 2005 Msgr. Morman was released for service on loan to the Archdiocese of Cincinnati to serve at Mount St. Mary’s seminary of the West as Dean of Students and co-Director of Field Education and instructor in Holy Scripture. You can contact Msgr. Ken at the parish office or by email at: msgrken@stpaulchurch.org

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 or bevre@gmail.com

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.

Francisco Carrillo is our Hispanic Ministry Coordinator.  Francisco and his wife Patricia (Patty) have three children, one daughter-in-law and one granddaughter.  Francisco can be reached at fcarrillo@neo.rr.com or 419-668-5731.

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.

Joy Tokarsky became the part Time Youth Minister in August of 2012.  Joy is responsible for the PSR program as well as the Norwalk Catholic Youth Group.  There is now a Junior High Youth Group in addition to the High School Youth Group.  Joy has been married to James for 17 years and has three sons, Alex, who attends St. Paul High School, and Nathan and Sam, who attend Norwalk Catholic School.  Joy graduated from Ashland University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Middle School Education and a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration.  Contact info:  (419) 668-6044 or joyt@stpaulchurch.org

Scott Hipp has been a life-long member here at St Paul and graduated from St Paul High School in 1994. He then attended Terra Community College in Fremont and has an associate’s degree in accounting. He has worked at Don Tester Ford since 1997 and at present is an administrative assistant there.  Scott is married to Laura and they have 6 children. Scott should be a familiar face to many at Norwalk Catholic Schools as he has been active in coaching several of the Jr. High and High School football, basketball and baseball teams.  Contact info: (419) 668-6044 or scotth@stpaulchurch.org

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.
Norwalk, Ohio 44857
Monday-Friday 8 am – 4:30 pm
 419-668-6044
419-663-5770 Fax