Once again, religious sisters reside in Our Lady of Peace convent

It’s the beginning of a new era at Columbus Our Lady of Peace (OLP) Church.

At the north side church on Saturday, June 25,  the Solemnity of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Bishop Earl Fernandes celebrated Mass for the feast day of the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (FIH). 

On that day, 15 sisters, two priests, one permanent deacon, one seminarian, eight lay faithful and the bishop crowded into the tiny chapel at the OLP FIH convent. Among the guests was Mother Rexia Mary, mother superior of the FIH sisters, whose motherhouse is in Kollam, Kerala, India. 

Since OLP’s founding in 1946, religious sisters have been a part of the parish. For the past 75 years, Dominican sisters have served at OLP, both in the parish and the school. 

The Dominican Sisters of Peace helped mold and shape the parish, fostering a spirit of kindness, charity, faithfulness and hope. The OLP convent has housed up to six Dominican sisters. Through the years, that number slowly declined, with the last Dominican, Sister Barbara Kolesar, leaving last summer to serve at the St. Mary of the Springs Motherhouse.

Father Sean Dooley, pastor at OLP, was presented with many proposals, suggestions and ideas about what to do with the convent. Some suggested it become a preschool, some wanted to more office and meeting space for the parish. 

“But as I prayed about it,” Father Dooley said, “it became clearer and clearer to me that there’s only one appropriate use for that building. Our convent was meant to be, well, a convent.” 

Through conversations with Father Stash Dailey, vicar of religious for the diocese, Father Dooley learned that the FIH sisters were looking for a new convent in Columbus. 

“I served with the FIH sisters in Chillicothe and Waverly,” Father Dooley said. “I knew immediately these sisters would be a good fit for Our Lady of Peace.”

On June 12, Sister Leonard Mary and Sister Zephrina Mary moved into their new home. Soon after, Sister Riya Mary arrived from India. Sister Sheena Mary will join them soon, making a total of four sisters living in the convent. 

Sister Leonard Mary will work with Father Dooley and the OLP staff in a ministerial capacity. Sister Zephrina Mary currently serves as director of the diocesan Missions Office and will be the sister superior for the OLP FIH convent. 

Sister Riya Mary, an attorney, will work at the diocesan Tribunal, and Sister Sheena Mary’s assignment is yet to be determined. 

Sister Zephrina Mary said, “As we are in the residence of this new parish, Our Lady of Peace, the pastor, Rev. Father Dooley, and the parishioners have given us a very warm welcome. We are very fortunate to be here at this lovely parish to serve Christ. 

“Parishioners welcomed us very affectionately and with caring hearts. We are so happy and excited, and we’re looking forward to serving and to becoming part of the parish family. We can together move forward to bring joy and witness to Christ by our way of life.” 

“I’m thrilled to have religious sisters in our community,” Father Dooley said. “For me personally, religious sisters help me be a better priest. They call me to holy accountability and remind me every day Who I serve, and why I am a priest. 

“And by all accounts, my parishioners and staff are excited, too. Many of our longtime parishioners remember the days when religious sisters were an integral part of the life of our parish and school. They’re looking forward to the return of that light which has always been part of Our Lady of Peace.”