About Church of the Resurrection · New Albany, Ohio
Church of the Resurrection is a Roman Catholic parish in New Albany, Ohio, belonging to the Diocese of Columbus. Tracing its roots to a 1982 mission first housed in a New Albany elementary school, the parish was formally established in July 1983 under founding pastor Fr. Thomas McLaughlin and now serves a vibrant community in northeast Franklin County. The parish is known for its long-standing Deaf Ministry (since 2004) with weekly interpreted liturgy, its strong Eucharistic Adoration program, and a growing campus that is currently expanding with a new parish community center as part of the Faith in Motion capital campaign.
- Established
- 1983
- Patron
- The Resurrection of the Lord (the parish is named for the Resurrection of Christ)
- Rector
- Father Denis Kigozi
- Diocese
- Diocese of Columbus
Why belong here
Parishioners who join Church of the Resurrection find a mid-sized Catholic community with a deep Eucharistic devotional life — including a reservation chapel open during daylight hours, monthly Sunday Eucharistic Exposition with Benediction, a monthly First Friday Adoration, and a monthly Parish Holy Hour — together with one of the few Deaf Ministries in central Ohio that provides American Sign Language interpretation at the 9 a.m. Sunday Mass. The parish runs a full sacramental and formation program (Becoming Catholic/OCIA, faith formation, youth ministry), a Social Concerns Ministry rooted in Catholic Social Teaching (Habitat for Humanity, Respect Life, Little Dresses of Love, International Hospitality, Adopt-A-Highway), and is actively investing in its campus through the Faith in Motion: Realizing the Plan for the Century capital campaign that will add a new 17,000-square-foot parish community center connected to the church via the atrium.
Mass times at Church of the Resurrection
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday: 7:30 PM (following the 7:00 PM Mass)
- Saturday: 4:00 PM – 4:30 PM
- Or by appointment
Adoration times
- Reservation Chapel open during daylight hours (north/outside door)
- Monthly Eucharistic Exposition and Adoration on the third Sunday, 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM (Exposition in Our Lady of the Resurrection Chapel; concludes with Benediction at 3:45 PM)
- Monthly Parish Holy Hour with praise, worship and quiet time on the first Tuesday after the 7:00 PM Mass in the Main Sanctuary
- First Friday Adoration with Exposition in Our Lady of the Resurrection Chapel, 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM
Our History
Church of the Resurrection traces its roots to 1980, when the Diocese of Columbus purchased seven acres of farmland in New Albany. A mission was established in 1982 with Father Paul Smith of St. Matthew Church providing pastoral care; the first Mass was celebrated June 20, 1982, at New Albany Elementary School, then moved to the Lions Club on Central College Road. In April 1983 Bishop Herrmann appointed Father Thomas McLaughlin as founding pastor; the mission was elevated to a parish in July 1983 under the name Church of the Resurrection. A first worship center opened in 1985, a Parish Social and Learning Center in 1997, and the current church was dedicated on June 27, 2004, by Bishop James Griffin. Under Father Denis Kigozi (pastor since July 10, 2018), the parish is now realizing 'The Plan for the Century' through its Faith in Motion capital campaign, beginning with a new parish community center.
- 1980 — Diocese purchases seven acres in New Albany
- 1982 — Mission of New Albany established; first Mass June 20 at New Albany Elementary School
- 1983 — Fr. Thomas McLaughlin named founding pastor; mission becomes parish (July)
- 1985 — First worship center opens
- 1997 — Parish Social and Learning Center (PSL) opens
- 2000 — 'The Plan for the Century' long-range plan completed
- 2002 — Groundbreaking for new church
- 2004 — New church dedicated by Bishop James Griffin on June 27
- 2018 — Fr. Denis Kigozi named current pastor
- Recent groundbreaking for new parish community center as part of Faith in Motion campaign
Pastoral Leadership & Succession
The parish has been led by a succession of pastors since its 1983 founding, with Father Jerome Rodenfels serving twice (1988–1998 and 2003–2016) and returning as Administrator pro tem in 2018. Father Denis Kigozi has served as pastor since his appointment by Bishop Frederick Campbell on July 10, 2018, and is assisted by parochial vicar Father Anish Thomas, HGN, and deacons Kevin Murrin and David Fesenmyer.
- Fr. Paul Smith (St. Matthew) — pastoral care for the 1982 mission
- Fr. Thomas McLaughlin — founding pastor (1983–1988)
- Fr. Jerome Rodenfels — 2nd pastor (1988–1998)
- Msgr. J. Colby Grimes — 3rd pastor (1998–2003)
- Fr. Jerome Rodenfels — pastor again (2003–2016)
- Fr. Jim Csaszar — pastor (July 2016–Nov 2017)
- Fr. Michael Lumpe — Administrator pro tem (Nov 2017–Jan 31, 2018)
- Fr. Jerome Rodenfels — Administrator pro tem (Feb 1–July 9, 2018)
- Fr. Denis Kigozi — current pastor (July 10, 2018 – present)
Deaf Ministry
Church of the Resurrection has provided a Deaf Ministry since 2004, with American Sign Language interpretation at the 9:00 AM Sunday Mass so that deaf and hard-of-hearing parishioners and visitors can fully participate in the liturgy. The parish has also hosted multi-state deaf Catholic retreats — including one titled 'Mary Calls Us to Be Holy' that drew more than 60 deaf Catholics from Cincinnati, Cleveland, Kentucky and Michigan, concelebrated by Father Denis Kigozi, Father Anish Thomas HGN, and Father Mike Depcik, OSFS (a deaf priest). The parish encourages deaf Catholics to take part in all church ministries and programs.
- Deaf Ministry active since 2004
- ASL interpretation at 9:00 AM Sunday Mass
- Annual/multi-state Deaf Catholic retreats
- Anointing of the Sick and Confession offered in ASL at retreats
Becoming Catholic (OCIA) & Faith Formation
The parish runs the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA — formerly RCIA) for adults exploring the Catholic faith, whether they are unbaptized catechumens, baptized Christians from other traditions, or already-baptized Catholics completing their initiation with Eucharist and/or Confirmation. OCIA at Resurrection meets weekly, with required Sunday Mass attendance, a scheduled Lenten retreat and the formal Rites of the RCIA process. The Director of Evangelization, Brad Romantic, is the parish contact. The parish also offers ongoing faith formation/religious education for children and youth.
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) — weekly sessions
- Catechumens, Candidates, and CIC (Catholics Completing Initiation) tracks
- Director of Evangelization: Brad Romantic
- Faith Formation / Religious Education programs for children and youth
Social Concerns & Outreach
The Social Concerns Ministry exists to support — through engagement, education and prayer — parish and community activities that provide for the social and corporal needs of others. The ministry is explicitly organized around the seven themes of Catholic Social Teaching (dignity of the human person, call to family/community/participation, rights and responsibilities, option for the poor and vulnerable, dignity of work, solidarity, and care for creation), and follows principles of Prayer, Learning, Service and Advocacy. All are welcome; there is no specific time commitment and members can join any meeting or activity that interests them. The coordinator is Beth McNellie.
- Habitat for Humanity
- Little Dresses of Love
- International Hospitality
- Adopt-A-Highway
- Respect Life
- Social Concerns Coordinator: Beth McNellie
Faith in Motion: Realizing the Plan for the Century
Faith in Motion is the parish's first capital campaign in 20 years and the implementation of 'The Plan for the Century,' the long-range planning document completed in 2000. Phase one of the campaign began with the groundbreaking of a new ~17,000-square-foot parish community center that will connect to the existing church via the atrium and accommodate 500 guests banquet-style. Subsequent phases include a parish life center, prayer garden, storage and maintenance building, and overall site improvements. The campaign is co-chaired by Pat and Peggy O'Donovan.
- Phase 1: New parish community center (~17,000 sq ft, 500-seat capacity)
- Atrium connection to existing church
- Future phases: parish life center, prayer garden, storage/maintenance building, site improvements
- Campaign co-chairs: Pat and Peggy O'Donovan
Campus & Facilities
The parish campus on East Dublin-Granville Road includes the current church (dedicated 2004), the Parish Social and Learning Center (PSL, opened 1997), the former Lions Club worship space (now repurposed as a Ministry Center), and — under construction — a new parish community center. The building is wheelchair accessible and offers a private parking lot. The Reservation Chapel and Our Lady of the Resurrection Chapel support the parish's Eucharistic Adoration program.
- Current church (dedicated 2004)
- Parish Social and Learning Center / PSL (1997)
- Former Lions Club — now Ministry Center
- New parish community center (under construction)
- Reservation Chapel; Our Lady of the Resurrection Chapel
- Private parking lot; wheelchair accessible
Parish Identity & Mission Statement
The parish describes itself as 'a family of loving, caring and open persons seeking to respond to the call of Jesus in the Catholic Christian tradition.' It is a praying community committed to providing for the spiritual and corporal needs of God's people and to serving 'all of our brothers and sisters in Christ.' Its scriptural motto — featured prominently on its history page — is Psalm 118:22: 'The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.'
- Parish motto: Psalm 118:22 — 'The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.'
- Mission: A praying community providing for the spiritual and corporal needs of God's people
- Operated as a parish of the Diocese of Columbus
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Paul Smith (St. Matthew Church)1982–1983
Provided pastoral care for the Mission of New Albany before a resident pastor was assigned.
- Father Thomas McLaughlinApril 1983 – 1988
Founding pastor; appointed by Bishop Herrmann; oversaw transition from mission to parish (July 1983), opening of first worship center (1985), and early Time & Talent survey.
- Father Jerome Rodenfels1988 – 1998
Second pastor; served during the opening of the Parish Social and Learning Center (May 1997) and the launch of 'The Plan for the Century' planning process.
- Msgr. J. Colby Grimes1998 – 2003
Third pastor; celebrated first Christmas Mass in New Albany High School Gym; shepherded groundbreaking for new church (2002).
- Father Jerome Rodenfels2003 – June 12, 2016
Returned as pastor for a second tenure; led the parish through the June 27, 2004 dedication of the new church by Bishop James Griffin; retired June 12, 2016.
- Father Jim CsaszarJuly 2016 – November 2017
Fifth pastor; succeeded the retiring Fr. Rodenfels in July 2016.
- Father Michael LumpeNovember 2017 – January 31, 2018
Administrator pro tem during the pastoral transition.
- Father Jerome RodenfelsFebruary 1, 2018 – July 9, 2018
Administrator pro tem; returned to shepherd the parish while a new pastor was appointed.
- Father Denis KigoziJuly 10, 2018 – present
Current pastor; appointed by Bishop Frederick Campbell; previously pastor of St. John XXIII, Canal Winchester/Lithopolis; leads the Faith in Motion capital campaign and new community-center build.