In 1950, Archbishop Edward Francis Hoban purchased of the Tarbell estate on Northfield Road for either a new parish or a high school. In 1951, Monsignor Joseph Heruday, a priest at St. Wenceslas Parish, suggested that Archbishop Hoban establish a new parish to help ease overcrowding at St. Wenceslas parish. At this time, Maple Heights, Ohio was fast growing with development. Lear Sigler Developers were proposing new homes on Applegate and Donnybrook as part of the new Southgate Shopping Center. At this time in neighboring Garfield Heights, Ohio, St. Therese Parish was also experiencing overcrowding.