Holy Rosary-St. John parishioners express gratitude for 125 years

Thanks to God and to the people who have served and worshiped at the parish and its predecessors since 1898 was the theme for the 125th anniversary Mass at Columbus Holy Rosary-St. John Church on Sunday, Oct. 29.

In his homily, Bishop Earl Fernandes, principal celebrant for the Mass, said, “Today is a day to give thanks to God for the many blessings over these past 125 years – for the opportunity for so many to come to school here and to learn (and) … for the religious sisters who taught here and who still came, even once the school was closed, who still come to worship with the people of the community, who did not want to abandon them.

“We give thanks to our forefathers and mothers in faith who proclaimed the faith and hoped that we would carry it on. We give thanks for the many sacrifices that people have made that we would have the gift of faith.” the bishop said. 

“The Word of God, St. Paul tells us, cannot be changed. It must always go forth, just as it did from Jerusalem. And the Word of God went forth from Jerusalem and came to this place, and 125 years ago the parish was founded.”

The cornerstone for the church on the corner of Ohio Avenue and Newton Street on Columbus’ near east side, near Nationwide Children’s Hospital, was laid on July 3, 1898. Most of its founding families were of German descent. At the time, it was known as St. John the Evangelist.

In the 1970s, its congregation was combined with that of Columbus Holy Rosary Church, and the parish became the Community of Holy Rosary and St. John the Evangelist Church. By that point, most of its parishioners were African American, reflecting changes in the composition of the neighborhood.

Priests of the Jesuit order served the parish for many years, and its former school was staffed by Sisters of St. Francis of Penance and Christian Charity, familiarly known as the Stella Niagara Franciscans. The sisters continued their support of the parish for many years after the school closed. 

The Dominican Sisters of Peace and their predecessor congregation, the Dominican Sisters of St. Mary of the Springs, also have provided many years of service to the parish.

Today, the former school building serves the neighborhood as the site for the Community Kitchen, an independent organization formerly part of the parish that serves meals daily to those in need; the St. John Center, which provides adult education and other community services; and a free clinic operated by the Order of Malta.

“Today we celebrate the fact that for 125 years, God has called people out of their homes through the power of the Holy Spirit to come here, to offer Him their hearts and their very lives and to be transformed by the power of the Eucharist, to go out into the world and share His compassion, His mercy, His love,” the bishop said. 

“The Jesuit fathers who are here today represent a religious order that is committed to making known the love that flows from the Sacred Heart of Jesus – a heart which was pierced at Calvary, a heart which is a burning furnace of charity,” Bishop Fernandes said.

“Sometimes we can be very critical of the Church and the world, but the truer hallmark of the Christian is joy … the joy that comes from knowing that we are loved by Jesus Christ; the joy that comes from knowing that if we have friendship with Him, despite the misery and the suffering of this world, we can have life; the joy of knowing that in Him I have brothers and sisters who love me. 

“And that with Him I can transform this world, and with Him I can offer what I have received, the gift of life and the gift of love.

“My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, never forget that you are loved by Jesus Christ. Never forget that even your enemies are loved by Jesus Christ. Ultimately, we must go forth from this church as missionaries. Of what? Of God’s love. Missionaries of whom? Of God, who is love,” the bishop said.

“This day, let us commit ourselves anew to love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength and to love our neighbor as ourself.

“Who is our neighbor? Every man, every woman. Who is neighbor to him? The one who treated him with compassion (a reference to the parable of the Good Samaritan). You, you go and do likewise,” Bishop Fernandes told the congregation.

Priests in attendance besides the bishop and Father Ramon Owera, the parish’s pastor, included Father Michael Nimocks, who grew up in the parish, and former pastors Father Bob Scullin, SJ, and Father Fred Benda, SJ. The procession to begin Mass was led by members of the Knights and Ladies of St. Peter Claver.