About Saint Brendan · Hilliard, Ohio
Saint Brendan the Navigator is a Roman Catholic parish in Hilliard, Ohio, a western suburb of Columbus, belonging to the Diocese of Columbus. Founded in 1956 by Bishop Michael Ready to serve the growing Catholic population of west Columbus, it is one of the largest parishes in the diocese with more than 3,500 registered families. The parish runs St. Brendan Parish School (K–8), hosts the Eritrean Catholic Ge'ez Rite Community of Columbus, and is known for its striking asymmetrical 1981 church (expanded 1995), its daily Eucharistic Adoration chapel, and a robust family faith formation program. Its patron, Saint Brendan of Clonfert ("the Navigator"), gives the parish its namesake motif of voyage and discipleship.
- Established
- 1956
- Patron
- Saint Brendan of Clonfert (the Navigator)
- Rector
- Fr. Michael Lumpe
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Columbus
Why belong here
St. Brendan the Navigator is well-suited for families looking for a large, active parish with daily Mass, multiple Sunday Masses, and an unusually robust Eucharistic Adoration schedule (the chapel is open most days, with First Friday hours running into Saturday morning). It runs a fully accredited K–8 Catholic school with a unique four-House pastoral system, offers Family Faith Formation for parish-school children, vibrant high-school (Vine) and middle-school (Roots) youth ministries, OCIA for adults, scouting, and a home for the Eritrean Catholic Ge'ez Rite Community. With more than 3,500 families it has the scale to offer extensive programming (boys' and girls' scouting, American Heritage Girls, men's and women's ministries, a marriage-prep pathway, a homebound ministry, and the Inviting Catholics Home ministry for returning Catholics) while still operating from a single visible campus at the corner of Davidson and Dublin Roads.
Mass times at Saint Brendan
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesdays 6:00–7:00 PM (during Eucharistic Adoration in the church)
- Saturdays 9:00 AM
- By appointment (call parish office)
Adoration times
- Monday 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM
- Tuesday 8:30 AM – 10:00 PM
- Wednesday 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Holy Hour), and 6:00–7:00 PM with Confession
- Thursday 8:30 AM – 10:00 PM
- Friday 8:30 AM – 10:00 PM; monthly First Friday 8:30 AM – Saturday 1:00 PM
- Saturday 8:30 AM – 1:00 PM
- Sunday 6:30 PM – 10:00 PM
- Live-streamed when possible
Parish Identity and Mission
St. Brendan the Navigator frames itself around the legend of its 6th-century patron, presenting the parish community as a fellowship on a 'voyage of faith' that, like Brendan's legendary boat, relies on shared faith to weather life's storms. Its stated mission is 'to share the good news of salvation in Christ and make disciples for Him,' and its vision is 'to renew all things in Christ Jesus.' The parish is one of the largest in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Columbus, with more than 3,500 registered families and a full K–8 school on site.
- Mission: Share the good news of salvation in Christ and make disciples for Him
- Vision: To renew all things in Christ Jesus
- Hosts the Eritrean Catholic Ge'ez Rite Community of Columbus
History of St. Brendan the Navigator
The parish was established in 1956 by Bishop Michael Ready as the Catholic population of west Columbus grew. From an initial 65 families and a combined church-rectory in what is now Wellnitz Hall, the community grew rapidly, added a school in 1963, built and dedicated a new church in 1981, expanded it again in 1995, and finally united church and school buildings through the 2019–2021 Navigator Expansion. Two daughter parishes — St. Brigid of Kildare (Dublin) and St. Joan of Arc (Powell) — were created out of its territory in 1987, but St. Brendan has continued to grow.
- 1956 — Parish established by Bishop Michael Ready; first pastor Fr. Michael Wellnitz
- 1957 — Original church-rectory combined (now Wellnitz Hall)
- 1963 — St. Brendan School opens (Sept 4, grades 5–8)
- 1965 — Cafeteria, gym, kitchen completed
- 1972 — Church wing converted to classrooms; church moves to rectory basement
- 1978 — Fr. (later Msgr.) William Maroon begins pastorate and capital campaign
- 1981 — New (current) church dedicated on parish's 25th anniversary
- 1987 — St. Brigid of Kildare and St. Joan of Arc carved from St. Brendan
- 1995 — Church expanded (gathering area, immersion font, cry room)
- 1998 — Current rectory built; Carter Center created (named for Fr. Raymond Carter)
- 2002 — Maroon Center added; 2003 — name changed to St. Brendan the Navigator
- 2004 — Kindergarten opens in Carter Center
- 2019 — June 30 groundbreaking for Navigator Expansion ('ONE Campaign')
- 2026 — 70th anniversary celebrated under Fr. Michael Lumpe
Pastor Succession
The parish has had ten pastors in its seven decades, with Monsignor William J. Maroon serving two non-consecutive stints (1978–1982 and 1993–2001) and overseeing essentially all the major building campaigns. The current succession reflects the Diocesan practice of assigning pastors for renewable terms.
- Fr. Michael Wellnitz (1956–1972) — founding pastor, wood carver
- Fr. Robert Manning (1972–1978)
- Fr. William Maroon (1978–1982)
- Fr. Charles Jackson (1982–1992)
- Fr. Martin Ralko (1992–1993)
- Msgr. William Maroon (1993–2001)
- Fr. Rod DiPietro (2001–2011)
- Fr. Bob Penhallurick (2012–2024)
- Fr. Sean Dooley (2024–2026)
- Fr. Michael Lumpe (2026–present)
St. Brendan Parish School (K–8)
Located on the same campus as the church at 4475 Dublin Road, St. Brendan Parish School (614-876-6132) has been in continuous operation since opening September 4, 1963 (originally grades 5–8). It now serves kindergarten through eighth grade under the Diocese of Columbus Office of Catholic Schools, with Mike DeMassimo as principal and Courtney Kreber as assistant principal. A signature program is the 'House System' — every student is assigned to one of four Houses, providing cross-grade mentorship, faith formation, leadership practice, and service opportunities. Kindergarten was added in 2004 and a new school media center was added as part of the 2019 Navigator Expansion.
- K–8 Catholic school operated by the Diocese of Columbus
- Four-House pastoral program (every student assigned a House)
- Weekly House Mass with buddy pairing
- Service hours tracked each quarter; group service projects at House meetings
- Phone: 614-876-6132
Family Faith Formation & OCIA
Family Faith Formation at St. Brendan follows the ancient catechumenal method and approaches faith formation 'in stages, not ages,' pairing at-church Family Sessions with at-home Family Meetings built around Pathways Suite resources from Faith and Family Life Catholic Ministries. The program prepares children in grades 1–8 for sacraments (First Reconciliation, First Communion, Confirmation), with Confirmation currently celebrated in 8th grade and shifting to a 4th/8th-grade model starting Fall 2027. OCIA (the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) accompanies unbaptized adults, baptized Christians, and catechumen Catholics through the same gradual process used in the early Church.
- Family Faith Formation using Pathways Suite
- Confirmation preparation (model change to grades 4 and 8 in Fall 2027)
- First Reconciliation and First Communion
- Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) — coordinator Wendy Ferkany
- Children's Liturgy of the Word at 8:45/10:45 Masses
Youth Ministry — Vine, Roots, and Young Adults
The parish maintains a full middle-school, high-school, and young-adult ministry pipeline. The Roots is the middle school group meeting up to three times a month on Sundays from 6:30 PM–8:30 PM. The Vine is for high schoolers and meets every Sunday 6:30–8:30 PM with additional events such as a Fall Retreat and Winter Mission Trip. STBYA (St. Brendan Young Adults) continues the community into the post-college years.
- The Roots (middle school; Anna Marino)
- The Vine (high school; Kara Shand / Anneliese Johanni)
- STBYA Young Adults
- Fall Retreat, Winter Mission Trip
Music, Liturgy, and the Pipe Organ
Music is led by the Director of Sacred Music, Dr. Ross Williams, DMA, supported by a robust schedule of choirs and several Contemporary Music ensembles that share accompaniment duties with the parish's 1981 Humpe pipe organ. The organ is a two-manual, eight-rank instrument built by Joe Humpe of Humpe Organ Company (Richmond, OH) under the consultation of Msgr. F. Thomas Gallen, then diocesan music director; it was deliberately sized to fit the original 1981 worship space but projects well in the bright, terrazzo-floor acoustic of the larger 1995 sanctuary.
- Director of Sacred Music: Dr. Ross Williams, DMA
- 1981 Humpe 2/8 pipe organ, Richmond, OH builder
- Contemporary Music ensembles share Mass accompaniment
Eritrean Catholic Ge'ez Rite Community
Since 2024, St. Brendan has been home to the Eritrean Catholic Ge'ez Rite Community of Columbus, an Eastern Catholic (Ethiopian / Eritrean tradition) community within full communion with Rome that celebrates the Liturgy in the ancient Ge'ez language under its own rite. The community is served by Capuchin priest Fr. Weldit Tesfazghi Abay, who resides on campus and ministers to Eritrean Catholics throughout central Ohio.
- Ge'ez Rite (Eritrean/Ethiopian Catholic tradition, in communion with Rome)
- Liturgy celebrated in Ge'ez
- Served by Capuchin priest Fr. Weldit Tesfazghi Abay (formerly of the Queen of Peace Friary, St. Paul, MN)
Sacraments — Baptism, Marriage, Anointing
Baptisms are celebrated at 12:00 PM most Sundays with a required preparation class on the first Sunday of each month. Marriages are arranged through a Marriage Request form on the parish website with at least six months' notice, in keeping with diocesan policy, and a parish wedding planner (Valerie Scheel) coordinates logistics. Anointing of the Sick can be arranged through the parish office.
- Baptisms most Sundays at 12 PM; prep class 1st Sundays
- Marriage prep required, minimum 6 months' notice
- Anointing of the Sick on request through the office
- Homebound ministry brings Eucharist to homes and facilities
Outreach, Scouting, and Community Life
Beyond its sacramental and faith-formation work, St. Brendan runs several non-liturgical ministries, including Boys' and Girls' scouting programs, an Inviting Catholics Home ministry for returning Catholics, a Ministry of Care for the Homebound, and the parish's Safe Environment / Protecting God's Children training (through VIRTUS). The parish publishes a weekly bulletin (PDF available online) and the Navigator News e-newsletter through ParishStaq.
- Boy Scouts Troop #859 and Cub Scouts Pack
- American Heritage Girls
- Inviting Catholics Home
- Ministry of Care for the Homebound
- Protecting God's Children (VIRTUS) Safe Environment
- Weekly Navigator News via ParishStaq
- Live-stream via YouTube and Facebook
Architecture and Sanctuary Features
The 1981 sanctuary (with 1995 expansion) is laid out in a semi-circular plan around the altar and tabernacle. It has no interior windows, no columns or obstructions between any pew and the altar, angled pews, terrazzo floors, and stone walls that together create a bright, reverberant acoustic. The most distinctive single object is the 8-foot smooth-granite tabernacle, modeled on the Monolith from the film 2001: A Space Odyssey. Furnishings include the wood-carved Stations and statues by founding pastor Fr. Wellnitz; a Humpe pipe organ from 1981 sits to the left.
- Asymmetrical semi-circular plan
- Tabernacle — 8-foot granite Monolith in the style of 2001: A Space Odyssey
- No interior windows, no columns, angled pews, terrazzo floor, stone walls
- ~1,100-seat capacity
- 1995 expansion: gathering area, immersion baptismal font, cry room
- 2021 Navigator Expansion united the church and school via a connector
Getting Involved
Newcomers can register with the parish by completing a New Member Registration form (online or via the parish office) and joining the ParishStaq group to receive Navigator News. Parishioners are invited to volunteer as liturgical ministers (sign-ups through Ministry Scheduler Pro), catechists, OCIA sponsors, adoration adorers, nursery workers, or Scout leaders. The pastoral staff office is open 9 AM–4 PM weekdays, and the parish website lists current job openings (including pastoral associate roles) under About → Employment.
- New Member Registration form (online or printable PDF)
- ParishStaq parish-communication platform
- Ministry Scheduler Pro for liturgical ministry sign-ups
- Open positions posted at stbrendans.net/about/employment
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Michael Wellnitz1956–1972
Founding pastor; began with ~65 families; wood carver who carved the Stations of the Cross and the statues of Jesus, Mary, Joseph, and St. Anthony still in the church; original church-rectory combined 1957 in what is now Wellnitz Hall.
- Fr. Robert Manning1972–1978
Succeeded founding pastor; oversaw school growth and the 1972 conversion of the church wing to classrooms.
- Fr. William Maroon1978–1982
Launched the capital campaign for the new church, dedicated 1981 on the parish's 25th anniversary.
- Fr. Charles Jackson1982–1992
Served through the era when St. Brigid of Kildare (Dublin, 1987) and St. Joan of Arc (Powell, 1987) were created from parts of St. Brendan's territory.
- Fr. Martin Ralko1992–1993
Brief tenure bridging Jackson's pastorate and Maroon's return.
- Monsignor William J. Maroon1993–2001
Returned as pastor; led school expansion (multi-purpose room/gym + 10 classrooms), the 1995 church expansion (gathering area, immersion font, cry room), the 1998 rectory, and the Carter Center (named for Fr. Raymond Carter). Died January 30, 2009. Honored in 2002 by naming the Maroon Center.
- Fr. Rod DiPietro2001–2011
Continued campus development; oversaw 2004 opening of Kindergarten and 2007 move into main building.
- Fr. Bob Penhallurick2012–2024
Stewarded the multi-million-dollar ONE Campaign and 2019 groundbreaking for the Navigator Expansion, uniting church and school.
- Fr. Sean Dooley2024–2026
Succeeded Fr. Bob; short tenure before assignment change.
- Fr. Michael Lumpe2026–present
Current pastor; led the parish's 70th anniversary celebrations in 2026.