The parish was established by then Bishop Watterson on May 24, 1892. The territory included all of Sacred Heart Parish west of High Street to the Scioto River, and from the Pennsylvania Railroad tracks north to the Delaware County line. The founding pastor was Father Alphonse M. Leyden (pic), who came from Toronto, Ohio. He celebrated the first Mass July 12, 1892 in the second floor of an abandoned Methodist church at the corner of Collins and Pennsylvania Aves. (now in the center of Thurber Village). On September 1, 1895 Bishop Watterson laid the cornerstone of the current church; returning August 23, 1896 to consecrate the building (pic). On April 17, 1899 Bishop Watterson died and August 27 1900 Bishop Moeller was installed as bishop. In 1902 Bishop Moeller returned a portion of the parish to the jurisdiction of Sacred Heart parish. On April 27, 1903 Bishop Moeler was named Archbishop of Cincinatti and March 1, 1904 Bishop Hartley was installed as bishop. In 1905 the new parish of Holy Name was formed, removing from St. Francis all territory north of W. 11th Ave. On July 20, 1903 Leo XIII died and Pope St. Pius X was elected on August 4; being installed on the 9th.

September 9, 1907 saw the opening of a newly built school staffed by seven nuns of the Dominican Sisters of St. Mary of the Springs(pic). Some­time between 1900 and 1913 a new pipe organ was installed by the Barkhoff Organ Co. of Pomeroy Ohio. (pic) On August 20, 1914 St. Pius X died and Pope Benedict XV was elected on September 3; being installed on the 6th. On January 22, 1922 Benedict XV died and Pope Pius XI was elected on February 6; being installed on the 12th. Father Leyden remained pastor until his death on November 20, 1925 when Father Joseph Pickard was named Administrator until Father Francis P. Reynolds(pic) was appointed pastor. In 1926 the current rectory was built, replacing the original one built in 1893. On February 10, 1939 Pius XI died and Pope Pius XII was elected on March 2; being installed on the 12th. On January 12, 1944 Bishop Hartley died and January 4, 1945 Bishop Ready was installed as bishop. Father Reynolds served as pastor until August 16, 1945 when Father William F. Connolly(pic) was named pastor. On October 7, 1946 the golden jubilee of the parish was celebrated. In 1951 Father Reynolds died. The parish inaugurated a major remodeling program of the church basement, rectory and sacristy in 1955(pic).

In December 1957 the City of Columbus began its urban renewal south of the church. Over a third of the houses in the parish were torn down and the church lost over 250 families by the end of 1959. On May2, 1957 Bishop Ready died and February 11, 1958 Bishop Issenmann was installed as bishop. On October 9, 1958 Pius XII died and Pope John XXIII was elected on October 28; being installed on November 4, 1960, Godman Guild established temporary offices in the basement of the church, and in 1961 the school was remodeled. On June 3, 1963 John XXIII died and Pope Paul VI was elected on June 21; being installed on the 30th. On October 7, 1964 Bishop Issenmann became bishop of Cleveland and March 25, 1965 Bishop Carberry was installed as bishop. By 1966 the urban renewal program was beginning to build 300 apartments south of the church. In 1967 the parish started its weekly bingo games in the church hall. Father Leo J. Lawler(pic) became the pastor in 1967, and in 1970 the school was closed because of too few students. On February 4 1968 Bishop Carberry became Archbishop of St. Lewis (later a Cardinal) and May 29, 1968 Bishop Elwell was installed as bishop. Father Connolly died in 1969. Monsignor Patrick J. Griffin(pic) was named pastor in 1970 and was followed by Father Eugene D. Yoris(pic) as Administrator of the parish. Father Joseph E. Stanton(pic) became pastor in 1972 and in that year the school(pic) was leased to the Franklin County Mental Health Department for classes. The school burned down the night of December 8, 1973. On February 16, 1973 Bishop Elwell died and August 21 1973 Bishop Hermrmann was installed as bishop. Father Francis Wang began Masses for the Korean Catholic Community in Columbus in 1978.

On August 6, 1978 Paul VI died and Pope John Paul I was elected on August 26; being installed on September 3. On September 28, 1978 John Paul I died and Pope John Paul II was elected on October 16; being installed on the 22th.In 1980 Father Edward F. Healey(pic) was named pastor. In this same year the chaplain of the O.S.U. hospitals (Father Peter Gideon(pic) ) took up residence at the church. On September 18, 1982 Bishop Herrmann retired and August 25 1983 Bishop Griffin was installed as bishop. Father John T. Dittoe(pic) became pastor in 1983; and was followed by Father Wayne Miller(pic) in 1985. In 1986 Father Eugene D. Yoris(pic) was appointed pastor and initiated a major renovation of the church, social hall and rectory  (pic)  (pic). On August 17, 1987 Father John K. Cody(pic) was named pastor and Father William J. Faustner(pic) became administrator while Father Cody completed in Rome. Father Cody completed the renovation of the rectory and continued the renovations of the church. His work on the parish gardens gained awards in 1989, 1990 and 1991. The convent was sold in 1990. Father Yoris died in 1990, new doors were installed in the church and toward the end of that year Father Cody began a complete reconstruction of the roof (the dome was sheathed in copper and the remaining roofs covered in slate). Father Lawler died in 1991. In 1992 Father John Corbett O.P.(pic) began to assist on Sundays and the celebration of the centennial started with a Mass by Bishop Griffith. In 1992 Father Cody and Father Healey were named Monsignors. In 1993 Father Dittoe was named a Monsignor. Father Augustine Nau (from Korea) arrived to assist with the Korean Community in 1995.

In 1995 the Centennial of the Blessing of the church cornerstone was celebrated with a prayer service at Sacred Heart Church and a parade from there to St Francis, where a closing prayer service was held. In this year, also, the old Latin Mass was re-instituted by Monsignor Cody at the Bishop’s request. Father Paul Smith served as associate during 1996. On August 24, 1996 the Centennial of the consecration of the church was held. Bishop Griffith re-consecrated the church a new altar, ambo and tabernacle(pic). A reception and dinner dance was held after the service to complete the celebration.

Deacon Greg Eiden(pic) came as assistant in 1997, in the same year Father Miller died and the Korean Community moved from St. Francis. In 1998 Father Fred Loyd(pic) was named chaplain to Doctors Hospital and took up residence at St. Francis. In August of 1999 Father Arvids Bernans(pic) became Pastor and the Latin Mass left St. Francis.In May 2000, Father Bernans retired for health reasons and Father Richard Weyls(pic) became pastor. In July Father Loyd left, becoming chaplain to Mt. Carmel East Hospital and Deacon Eiden left in August to return to his prison ministry.

In 2001 new an entirely new lighting system was installed, replacing the lanterns from the 1940's. In 2002 the Barkhoff organ was totally renovated culminating in a rededication ceremony and concert. In 2003 Father Wyles took a sabatical in Chicago from August to December leaving the pastoral assistant, Sister Barbara in chargeFather Weyls transfered to St. Catherine's Parish in July 2004 and Father Ron Atwood(pic) became Pastor. On October 14, 2004 Bishop Griffin retired and Monsignor Griffin died in October 2004. Bishop Frederick Campbell was named as bishop, being installed on January 13, 2005. Pope John Paul II died on April 2, 2005. Pope Benedict XVI was elected on April 19; being installed on April 24.

©AD 2005 Christopher Ruder

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