Zanesville St. Thomas Aquinas Church reopens

Through 182 years, Zanesville St. Thomas Aquinas Church has endured wind, flood and structural problems, its Gothic Revival structure symbolizing Catholicism in the heart of the city’s downtown.

Parishioners celebrated that legacy as they returned to the church on Sunday, Sept. 8 for the first time in 1,656 days for a rededication Mass concelebrated by Bishop Earl Fernandes and 10 priests from the Dominican Order, which served the parish from its founding in 1820 until 2017.

The church, built in 1842, had been closed for worship since Ash Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2020, because of concerns related to its roof and its foundation, which had shrunk 7 inches into the ground.

While the roof was rebuilt and pilings were installed to shore up the foundation, parishioners attended Mass in the activity center at the parish school across the street. Parish members became adept at putting everything away to convert the worship space back into the activity center for use by the students of the school and for other parish activities.

It was not the first time the congregation had faced difficulties in its long history. A tornado in June 1912 sent the steeple crashing down through the roof of the church, killing three people and injuring 28. More damage occurred the following year when the Muskingum River flooded downtown Zanesville, covering the church with 5 feet of water.

The Dominicans announced on Feb. 19, 2017, that because of a restructuring of the order, they were leaving the parish. Two months later, Father Jan C.P. Sullivan became the first priest of the Diocese of Columbus to serve as its pastor. He led the rebuilding effort until becoming rector of Columbus St. Joseph Cathedral in July 2023. His successor at both St. Thomas Aquinas and Zanesville St. Nicholas Church is Father David J. Young.

When the Dominicans left, a young woman of the parish wrote, “My heart is very heavy right now. But I also know, we’ve been here 197 years. We have the spirit of the Irish immigrants who started this parish. And, to all my friends sad, angry, and afraid, we’re not going anywhere. This is an unexpected change, yes. But we will remain. St. Thomas remains home and will remain. I’m as sure of it as I am anything I hold in my heart.”

On July 20, 2020, former Columbus Bishop Robert Brennan approved Phase 1 of the church rebuilding plan. Bishop Fernandes, his successor, brought hope and comfort to the parish when he celebrated Mass in the activity center on Aug. 7, 2022 and when he returned for Mass and a Eucharistic procession through the streets of Zanesville on June 7, 2023.

Two weeks before his second visit, the diocese announced that as part of its Real Presence, Real Future reorganization plan, there would be one Catholic parish in Zanesville, consisting of both St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Nicholas churches, with one pastor and one school system.

Bishop Fernandes said that when he first saw the church’s windows, which were ordered from Belgium after the flood but didn’t arrive until the end of World War I, he knew the church structure had to be saved.

“I remember visiting the church for the beautiful windows, and I thought, ‘I can’t close this church!’” Bishop Fernandes said. “I also saw the love and devotion of Father (Jan) Sullivan and the people here during the Eucharistic procession.

Bishop Fernandes praised the faith and dedication of parish members, who communicated with him through various means.

“I knew the church had to remain, but I also needed Father Sullivan as Rector of the Cathedral. I took one of our best priests, Father David Young, who was pastor of one of our largest parishes and schools, and assigned him to Zanesville to restore this church, and to bring these two parishes together,” he said. “With the help of (architect) William Heyer, Todd Brausch, Mike Morris and so many others, they beautifully restored this church. The several hundred letters from parishioners didn’t hurt the cause either!”

More than 500 people attended the rededication Mass at 11 a.m. on Sept. 8, filling the church soon after the doors were opened at 9:30 and overflowing into the activity center, where the Mass was live-streamed.  During the Mass, a prayer of dedication was recited, the altar was anointed and incensed and an improved lighting system was unveiled. Special music by the parish choir and string quartet enhanced the liturgy.

Bishop Fernandes and Father Young both referred to the parish as a home and a family.

“Just as the Lord came to visit Zacchaeus in his house and brought salvation there, so too is this church meant to be a place of encounter – a home for all peoples – to encounter the Lord, to listen to Him and to pray to Him, to receive His mercy and His very life,” Bishop Fernandes said. “I certainly hope that all people feel welcome. This is the Lord’s house, a place where God comes to dwell with His people, but it is also the house of the People of God, where all should feel welcome, rich and poor, saint and sinner. We are children, gathered in the Father’s house.”

Parishioners greeted one another with warm embraces and many wept with joy for being back in their beloved church home once again. After the two Mass, a luncheon was provided by the Russo family.

Parishioners are united as a community of faith, hope, and love and plan to move forward with joy and excitement for the next chapter of their parish history. They look forward to continuing to share the Catholic faith and continuing the parish’s community outreach.

With grateful hearts, members thank Almighty God; our Blessed Mother; Bishops Fernandes and Brennan; Father Sullivan; Father Young; Father Stephen Ondrey, the parish’s parochial vicar; Michael Morris, parish finance and facilities director; and all who have contributed to the next chapter in the history of St. Thomas Aquinas Church.

Melanie A. Von Gunten is a parishioner at Zanesville St. Thomas Aquinas Church.