About Holy Spirit · Whitehall, Ohio
Holy Spirit Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish located at 4383 East Broad Street in Whitehall, Ohio, an eastern suburb of Columbus, in the Diocese of Columbus. Founded in 1947, the parish serves a diverse community and operates Holy Spirit Catholic School (Preschool through 8th Grade), located at 382 Duchene Lane. The parish is currently led by Father Veevin Richard Pitchaisavary, SAC, a Pallottine Father installed by Bishop Earl Fernandes on December 3, 2023, following the retirement of Father William L. Arnold. The parish community is known for its outreach, including a monthly produce market serving income-eligible Franklin County families.
- Established
- 1947
- Patron
- Holy Spirit
- Rector
- Father Veevin Richard Pitchaisavary, SAC (Society of the Catholic Apostolate / Pallottine Fathers)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Columbus
Why belong here
Holy Spirit offers a welcoming, diverse Catholic community on Columbus's east side with a strong Catholic school (Preschool–8th grade), regular weekend and weekday Masses, and a tangible commitment to outreach — most visibly a monthly free produce market in the parish parking lot serving income-eligible Franklin County families. The parish recently absorbed many of the faithful from neighboring St. Philip the Apostle Church, which closed in November 2023, and is being shepherded by a Pallottine pastor, Father Veevin Richard Pitchaisavary, with the ongoing involvement of longtime priest Father William L. Arnold until his retirement. Long-standing features like the Ten Commandments monument at the entrance and the Men's Club-built Shrine to the Blessed Virgin reflect a parish proud of its heritage and devoted to ongoing evangelization and service.
Mass times at Holy Spirit
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Please contact the parish office or consult the online bulletin for current confession times (the Catholic Church Directory lists no fixed confession times — verify by calling 614-861-1521)
Adoration times
- No public adoration schedule published online; contact the parish office at (614) 861-1521 for current adoration hours
Parish History
Holy Spirit Parish was founded in 1947 under the guidance of Father Harry S. Connelly, then serving the eastern Columbus area. The early community was small — a 1948 census counted just 624 Catholics with no church or school building. Bishop Ready blessed the first chapel in April 1951, and the school cornerstone was laid in July 1952. By 1954 the parish had grown to 4,517 Catholics, a second (larger) church was dedicated on September 12, 1954, and the current church at Broad and Yearling opened in December 1960. The territory was progressively carved up as St. Pius (east, 1958), St. Matthew (north), and St. Philip (south, 1956) were formed. The parish has remained a vibrant presence on Columbus's east side ever since.
- 1947: Parish founded by Father Harry S. Connelly
- 1948: 624 Catholics, no church or school
- April 1951: Chapel blessed by Bishop Ready
- July 1952: School cornerstone laid; 167 students enrolled that fall
- September 12, 1954: Second church dedicated
- December 1960: Current church at Broad and Yearling opened (cornerstone laid September 4, 1960)
Holy Spirit Catholic School
Founded in 1952 with 167 students and originally staffed by the Dominican Sisters of St. Mary of the Springs, Holy Spirit School is a Preschool through 8th Grade Catholic elementary school located at 382 Duchene Lane, steps from the church. The school enrolls roughly 250–300 students and offers free/reduced-price meals, EdChoice Scholarship acceptance, a Beta Club, Spanish instruction, music education, and service-learning — including participation in the Bishop Hartley Day of Service and the parish's monthly Produce Market. The school's mission is to 'empower a diverse community by providing academic excellence in a Catholic environment.'
- Preschool through 8th Grade
- Located at 382 Duchene Lane
- Originally staffed by the Dominican Sisters of St. Mary of the Springs (1952)
- Accepts Ohio EdChoice Scholarship (not Jon Peterson)
- Free/reduced-price meals program
- Service-learning integrated with parish Produce Market
Religious Education & Sacraments
Faith formation at Holy Spirit is coordinated through the Parish Director of Religious Education (Maria Berryhill), who works alongside the school principal and pastor. Sacramental preparation for First Communion, Confirmation, and other sacraments is available through both the school and the parish-based PRE program. Adult faith formation, RCIA inquiry, and preparation for Baptism, Matrimony, and Anointing of the Sick are coordinated through the parish office.
- Parish Director of Religious Education: Maria Berryhill
- Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation preparation
- Matrimony preparation
- Anointing of the Sick
- RCIA / adult inquiry — contact the parish office
Parish Outreach & Community Service
Holy Spirit has a long tradition of visible charitable works. The Holy Spirit Men's Club erected the Shrine to the Blessed Virgin on parish grounds in 2007, and parishioners funded the 'Ten Commandments' monument at the church's front entrance (dedicated September 11, 2005). Most concretely, the parish operates a monthly Produce Market that distributes free fresh produce to income-eligible families of Franklin County, distributed the second Friday of each month from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM in the parish parking lot (ID required).
- Monthly Produce Market — 2nd Friday, 3:00–5:00 PM in the parking lot
- Holy Spirit Men's Club (Shrine to the Blessed Virgin, 2007)
- Ten Commandments monument (dedicated 2005)
- Bishop Hartley Day of Service participation
Facilities & Notable Features
The church complex at 4383 E. Broad Street includes the 1960 church, the original 1951 chapel, an accessibility elevator added in 2004, and the parish school at 382 Duchene Lane. Notable features on the grounds include the 1983 tower bells (purchased from the former Carmel Community and installed more than 20 years after the church's construction), the Ten Commandments monument at the main entrance (2005), and the Shrine to the Blessed Virgin built by the Men's Club (2007). The parish office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
- 1960 church at Broad and Yearling
- 1951 chapel (still in use for weekday Masses)
- Tower bells installed 1983 (from the former Carmel Community)
- Accessibility elevator installed 2004
- Ten Commandments monument (2005)
- Shrine to the Blessed Virgin (2007)
Getting Involved & Visiting
Newcomers and returning Catholics are welcomed warmly at Holy Spirit. The parish has historically absorbed Catholic populations as surrounding neighborhoods have been re-parished — most recently, after the November 2023 closure of nearby St. Philip the Apostle Church, many of those parishioners were folded into Holy Spirit under the leadership of Father Pitchaisavary. To get involved, prospective parishioners may contact the parish office (614-861-1521), enroll children in Holy Spirit School, or simply attend a weekend Mass and introduce themselves after the liturgy.
- Parish office: (614) 861-1521, open Mon–Fri 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
- Website: holyspiritcolumbus.org
- Address: 4383 E. Broad Street, Columbus (Whitehall), OH 43213
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Harry S. Connelly1947–1949
Founding pastor of Holy Spirit Parish in 1947
- Father John Eyerman1949–1952
Pastor during the chapel blessing and school cornerstone era
- Father Chester Le Blanc1952–1953
Short-tenured pastor
- Father Robert Harwick1953–1974
Long-tenured pastor during major growth and second church dedication in 1954
- Father John Dreese1974–1982
Co-pastor with Father Anthony Missimi from 1974 to 1982
- Father Anthony Missimi1974–1982
Co-pastor with Father John Dreese; Sr. Pauline Devine served as pastoral assistant 1979–1981
- Father Jerome Stluka1982–July 1989
Installed July 1982; oversaw school bells (1983) and remodel (1987)
- Msgr. J. Colby GrimesJuly 1989–1997
Assigned July 1989
- Father Raymond LarussaJuly 1997–2009
Assigned July 1997; oversaw elevator installation (2004), Ten Commandments monument (2005), Shrine to the Blessed Virgin (2007)
- Father William L. ArnoldJuly 2009–December 2023
Assigned July 2009; also served as pastor of St. Philip the Apostle from March 2013 until his retirement on December 1, 2023
- Father Veevin Richard Pitchaisavary, SACDecember 2023–present
Pallottine Father (Society of the Catholic Apostolate); served as parochial vicar at Holy Spirit and assisted at St. Philip since August 2023; installed as pastor by Bishop Earl Fernandes on December 3, 2023