About Saint Brigid of Kildare · Dublin, Ohio
St. Brigid of Kildare Catholic Church is the only Roman Catholic parish in Dublin, Ohio, a fast-growing suburb northwest of Columbus. Established on July 18, 1987, it has grown from a handful of founding families to a community of more than 3,000 households and roughly 12,000 parishioners. The parish sits on a 10-acre former horse farm at 7179 Avery Road and is known for its stone-and-timber church inspired by the 13th-century Cathedral of Kildare in Ireland, as well as for its parish elementary school (preschool through 8th grade), expansive Religious Education program, and 58+ active ministries and committees.
- Established
- 1987
- Patron
- Saint Brigid of Kildare
- Rector
- Father James Black
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Columbus
Why belong here
St. Brigid of Kildare is one of the largest and most active Catholic parishes in the Columbus Diocese, with daily and weekend Masses (livestreamed Monday–Saturday 9:00 AM and Sunday 9:00 AM), Saturday confession, a robust K-8th grade Religious Education 'Family of Faith' program, a National Blue Ribbon parish school, and more than 58 active ministries — including EPIC middle school youth group, The Mantle high school youth ministry, OCIA, St. Vincent de Paul, parish missions, bereavement and healing ministries, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, a thriving athletic association on Brigid's Green, and a strong music and liturgy program. It's a young, family-friendly community rooted in Irish Catholic heritage with the patroness Saint Brigid — known for charity to the poor — as its spiritual model.
Mass times at Saint Brigid of Kildare
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 9:30 AM (after the 9:00 AM Mass)
- By appointment for the homebound, sick, and dying
About St. Brigid of Kildare Parish
St. Brigid of Kildare Catholic Church is the only Roman Catholic parish in Dublin, Ohio. Established in 1987 under the Diocese of Columbus, the parish sits on a 10-acre former horse farm on Avery Road and now serves more than 3,000 families — roughly 12,000 parishioners of all ages. Two resident priests (Father James Black, Pastor, and Father Jason Fox, Parochial Vicar) and a large lay staff minister between the Parish Offices at 7179 Avery Road and the Education Center at 7175 Avery Road.
- 3,000+ registered families
- Approximately 12,000 parishioners
- 58+ active boards, committees, and ministries
- Founded July 18, 1987
Our Patroness, Saint Brigid of Kildare
Saint Brigid is one of the three great patron saints of Ireland, along with Patrick and Columba. Born in the late fifth century in County Louth, she may have been baptized by Saint Patrick and went on to found the monastery of Kildare, the first religious house of women in Ireland. Best known for her generosity to the poor and hungry, she is called 'Mary of the Gael.' Her symbols include the oak leaf, acorn, cow, bowl of fire, and her distinctive woven cross. Her feast day is February 1.
- Feast Day: February 1
- Patronages: schoolchildren, mothers, dairy workers, the sick
- Symbol: woven cross (Brigid's Cross)
History of the Parish
The Diocese of Columbus acquired 15 acres on Avery Road in 1987 — then home to the Dublin Stables horse boarding facility — and about 675 founding families under Monsignor Paul Enke began worshiping. The parish's first Mass on its land was celebrated on Christmas Eve 1987 in a renovated horse stable. The permanent stone-and-timber church, inspired by the 13th-century Cathedral of Kildare, was dedicated on August 15, 1991 (the Feast of the Assumption). St. Brigid of Kildare School opened in the new Parish Education Center in 1996 with 328 students.
- 1987 — Parish established July 18; first Mass on Christmas Eve in the stable
- 1991 — Permanent church dedicated on the Feast of the Assumption
- 1996 — Parish Education Center and elementary school open
- 1997 — Monsignor Joseph M. Hendricks succeeds Monsignor Enke as pastor
- 1998 — Stable chapel renamed Msgr. Paul Enke Hall
- 2004 — Brigid's Green dedicated October 24
- 2007 — Msgr. Joseph M. Hendricks Hall (Pastoral Center) dedicated in September
- 2009 — Robert D. Walter Family Gymnasium dedicated May 10
- 2017 — Parish celebrates 30th anniversary
St. Brigid of Kildare School
St. Brigid of Kildare School (preschool through 8th grade) opened in 1996 with 328 students and now educates more than 560. It has twice been recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School. Students follow a rigorous curriculum in English-language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, and religion, supported by classes in art, music, technology, Spanish, library media, and physical education. The school offers multiple preschool schedules (2-day, 3-day, and pre-K 5-day) and the Wolfhound Clubhouse before- and after-school program.
- Principal: Kathy O'Reilly
- Assistant Principal & Director of Student Learning: Jill Carfagna
- Director of Operations: Chris Mazon
- Director of Student Life: Mackenzie Veeder
- Admissions Director: Meredith Dorley
- Preschool Director: Hillary Bell
- Wolfhound Clubhouse Director: Natalia Banks
- School Safety Coordinator: Todd Heck
- Office: 614-718-5825
Religious Education
The parish Religious Education program, housed in the rear of Enke Hall at 7175 Avery Road, serves K–8th grade children through the 'Family of Faith' model of catechesis, which empowers families to learn and practice the Catholic faith together through shared prayer, learning, and service. The program welcomes roughly 200 First Communions and Confirmations each year, and is supported by the Religious Education Advisory Council. Office hours are 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM Monday–Thursday and 8:30 AM – 12:00 noon Friday.
- Director of Religious Education: Andrea Komenda
- Administrative Coordinator: Jen McManus
- Administrative Assistants: Lauren Geibel, Beth Kelty
- Family of Faith model (K–8th grade)
- Children's Liturgy of the Word, Vacation Bible School, Children's Play Group
Youth Ministry
St. Brigid of Kildare runs two signature youth programs: EPIC, the Middle School Youth Group, which meets monthly from September through April with 200+ students and combines 12:15 PM Mass, faith discussion, and service projects; and The Mantle, the High School Youth Ministry for grades 9–12, which focuses on leadership formation, prayer, fellowship, and service.
- EPIC Middle School Youth Group (grades 6–8)
- The Mantle High School Youth Ministry (grades 9–12)
- High School Youth Minister: Ellie Dills (614-718-5832)
- OCIA for older teens and adults each year
Sacraments & Sacramental Preparation
The parish celebrates the full sacramental life of the Catholic Church: about 250 infant baptisms, 200+ First Communions and Confirmations, 30 weddings, and 20–30 funerals each year. Adult sacramental preparation is offered through OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults), which welcomes 15–30 new Catholics each year. Reconciliation is available every Saturday morning and during Advent/Lent Penance Services.
- Baptism preparation
- First Communion (2nd grade)
- Confirmation (8th grade)
- Matrimony preparation
- Anointing of the Sick & Visitation to the Sick and Homebound
- OCIA — Order of Christian Initiation for Adults
Outreach & Parish Life
St. Brigid of Kildare's Outreach ministries include the St. Vincent de Paul Society, Parishioners Helping Parishioners, Healing Ministries, Visitation to Hospitals, Visitation to the Sick & Homebound, Bereavement Ministry (Bereavement Luncheon Committee, Funeral Ushers, Ministry to the Bereaved), and the Prayer Shawl and Prayer Chain groups. The parish hosts more than 58 boards, committees, and ministries in total.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society
- Bereavement Ministry & Funeral Luncheon Committee
- Prayer Chain & Prayer Shawl Ministry
- Healing Ministries
- Parishioners Helping Parishioners
- Boy Scouts Troop 117, Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts
Music & Liturgy
The Sacred Music program supports all parish liturgies with choirs and musicians. Paul Melcher serves as Director of Sacred Music and Chelsea Melcher as Assistant Director. The Robert D. Walter Family Gymnasium hosts parish-wide performances including school musicals such as Beauty and the Beast Jr.
- Director of Sacred Music: Paul Melcher
- Asst. Director of Sacred Music: Chelsea Melcher
- Liturgical choirs and cantors
- Annual musicals in the Walter Gymnasium
Campus & Facilities
The parish campus includes the church, Parish Offices (7179 Avery Road), the Education Center (7175 Avery Road) housing the school and Religious Education, Msgr. Paul Enke Hall (the renovated stable), Msgr. Joseph M. Hendricks Hall (15,000 sq ft Pastoral Center dedicated 2007, with multipurpose rooms, the Kelty Library, Massey Teen Room, Youth Group offices, catering kitchen, Carr Family Child Care Room, and Parish Administration offices), the Robert D. Walter Family Gymnasium (wood-floor court, 500-seat bleachers, performance stage, dedicated May 10, 2009), and Brigid's Green (eight acres of athletic fields and overflow parking across Avery Road, dedicated October 24, 2004). Overflow Mass parking is also available at the Radiant Life Activity Center at 7055 Avery Road.
- Church: open daily 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM
- Hendricks Hall: 4 multipurpose rooms + 1 conference room
- Educational Center: gym, cafeteria, Enke Hall
- Brigid's Green: football, baseball/softball, concession/storage
- Robert D. Walter Family Gymnasium
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Monsignor Paul Enke1987–1997
Founding pastor who led the 675 founding families; oversaw purchase of the 15-acre former Dublin Stables site and the 1991 dedication of the permanent church; the renovated stable chapel was renamed Msgr. Paul Enke Hall in his honor in June 1998.
- Monsignor Joseph M. Hendricks1997–~2020s
Arrived as resident priest in January 1988; became pastor in 1997. Led the four-phase expansion including Brigid's Green (2004), Hendricks Hall (2007), the Robert D. Walter Family Gymnasium (2009), and the church expansion. Launched a $50 million school endowment campaign; the 15,000 sq ft Pastoral Center was named Msgr. Joseph M. Hendricks Hall in his honor in 2007.
- Father James Black2023–present
Current pastor; previously pastor of another Columbus-area parish before assignment to St. Brigid of Kildare.