One of two churches on the island, Mother of Sorrows Catholic Church has been serving the Bass Islands’ Catholic community since 1883. The building itself was dedicated in 1928, constructed with limestone quarried from nearby Kelley’s Island. Mass is Sunday at 10:30 AM year-round. There is an additional Saturday afternoon Mass at 5:30 PM during the summer months to help accommodate the influx of vacationers. Mother of Sorrows Church is also an important part of the Put-in-Bay community. They put on events year-round that bring the people of the island together, such as bingo nights and a 5k run/1k walk in association with Miller Boat Line that is a major fundraiser for the church.

The stained-glass windows and ceiling fresco are breathtaking. This helps make the church quite the tourist attraction when Mass is not happening. So even if you aren’t here when they’re having Mass, it’s definitely worth stopping by to check out. Clergy from Mother of Sorrows, along with St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, take part in the Blessing of the Fleet, blessing the ferries, helicopters, and other sea and air vehicles that serve as the lifeblood of the island. It’s a wonderful island tradition that brings the entire community together, from year-round residents to part-timers.

Welcoming visitors to the island is a favorite tradition of Mother of Sorrows Catholic Church. They welcome guests of all faiths and are looking forward to spending worship time with you.

After Mass at Mother of Sorrows

When Mass is over, you’ll likely be ready for lunch. Fortunately, Mother of Sorrows is located right by downtown, where you can pick from a ton of lunch options. Pasquale’s Cafe is an island favorite, as is the Boardwalk Restaurant and their world-famous lobster bisque. You really can’t go wrong with your dining choices on Put-in-Bay, so pick something that sounds good and hop on in!

Meet the New Pastoral Leader at Mother of Sorrows

This content has been provided by the Put-in-Bay Gazette, putinbay.news

Jim O’Donnell, the new pastoral leader at Mother of Sorrows on Put-in-Bay and St. Michaels on Kelleys Island, has been on the island for a month now and has been busy getting settled in with his wife Christy at the parish home. Jim replaces Deacon Mike Leahy. Jim says Sister Lucille, who was at Mother of Sorrows for several years before Deacon Mike took her place, was one of those who interviewed him for the position.

The two were raised in Fostoria but lived in Findlay, Ohio, where Jim was in the automotive sales business for 30 years and Christy was a manager for a dental practice. Jim is a graduate of the University of Toledo with a degree in communications. For the last ten years, Jim has been involved in ministry at St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Findlay for the last ten years. They had two grown sons, one who lives in Los Angeles and the other who lives in Columbus.

The couple’s move to Put-in-Bay is a big one for them. They sold their home in Tiffin and are making the island their year-round home. Jim and Christy both went to school with Patty Bauer, the bar manager at Tippers. When we interviewed Jim, he mentioned knowing several other people from Fostoria and Findlay who had ties to the island. Jim, who enjoys fishing, says he’s familiar with the island area because they had a small place on Catawba Island for years. As for other things he likes to do, he added reading and studying, and then he added that Christy likes to paint. It turns out she’s not into painting masterpieces, but rooms. She loves to decorate and already has plans for the parish home.

Jim says he will spend about two-thirds of his time on Put-in-Bay and a third of his time on Kelleys Island. He is looking forward to becoming a Deacon when he is ordained in September of 2021 and says he and Christy are looking forward to being part of the community. And we are happy to welcome them to the island community.