About Saint Joan of Arc Catholic Church · Powell, Ohio
Saint Joan of Arc Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Powell, Ohio, located at 10700 Liberty Road South in southern Delaware County. It belongs to the Diocese of Columbus and, as of 2023, was canonical-merged with nearby St. Peter Church in Columbus to form the unified St. Peter St. Joan of Arc Parish operating across two campuses under one pastor. The parish was founded in 1987 and now serves nearly 4,000 families with a robust sacramental life, more than 60 ministries, daily Mass, perpetual Eucharistic Adoration, and a new parish school, Ave Maria Academy, the first Catholic school to open in the Diocese of Columbus in roughly 30 years.
- Established
- 1987
- Patron
- Saint Joan of Arc
- Rector
- Father David Schalk
- Diocese
- Diocese of Columbus
Why belong here
St. Joan of Arc offers the full rhythm of Catholic parish life — daily Mass, multiple weekend Masses including a livestreamed Sunday Mass, perpetual Eucharistic Adoration, First Friday devotions, the Rosary after every weekday Mass, and a full array of the seven sacraments. Members can grow through more than 60 active ministries spanning faith formation (RCIA, family catechesis, Catechesis of the Good Shepherd), youth ministry (BLAZE, Trail Life Troop OH-1331), men's and women's groups (Walking With Purpose, Men's Club, Women's Club, Quilt Group), Knights of Columbus Council 10765, St. Vincent de Paul, music ministry, and outreach through St. Teresa's Outreach and the Open Shelter. With the opening of Ave Maria Academy in 2025 — the first new Catholic parish school in the Diocese of Columbus in three decades — and the parish's combined reach of nearly 4,000 families, it provides a vibrant, growing community for families, young adults, and retirees seeking a strong Catholic identity in the Powell/Columbus suburbs.
Mass times at Saint Joan of Arc Catholic Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday - Saturday 9:00 a.m. (after morning Mass, at the St. Joan of Arc campus)
- Saturday 3:45 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. (before the 4:00 p.m. Vigil Mass, by appointment)
- St. Peter Campus: Monday - Friday 6:00 p.m.
- By appointment (call 614-761-0905)
Adoration times
- Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration: begins Monday at 9:00 a.m. and continues through Saturday at 8:00 a.m.
- Weekdays (Mon-Sat) from 9:00 a.m. through 11:55 p.m., concluding before Saturday morning Mass
About Saint Joan of Arc Catholic Church
Saint Joan of Arc Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Powell, Ohio, located at 10700 Liberty Road South in southern Delaware County. Founded in 1987 by Bishop James A. Griffin, it now serves nearly 4,000 families as part of the canonical-merged St. Peter St. Joan of Arc Parish (since July 11, 2023). The parish belongs to the Diocese of Columbus and operates from two campuses — the St. Joan of Arc campus in Powell and the St. Peter campus at 6899 Smoky Row Road, Columbus. The patron of the parish is Saint Joan of Arc, whose feast day is celebrated May 30.
History and Founding
St. Joan of Arc was established in June 1987 alongside Dublin's St. Brigid of Kildare Parish in response to rapid suburban growth in northwest Franklin and southern Delaware counties. Monsignor George Schlegel was the founding pastor. Over the decades the parish grew into one of the four largest in the diocese. In 2012 it marked its 25th anniversary with a commemorative Mass and book, and in 2023 it canonical-merged with Columbus's St. Peter Church under the diocesan 'Real Presence, Real Future' initiative, retaining its Powell campus while gaining a second campus in Columbus.
- Founded June 1987 by Bishop James A. Griffin
- Founding pastor: Msgr. George Schlegel (1987-1993)
- 2012: 25th anniversary Mass and commemorative book published
- 2023: Canonical merger with St. Peter Church, Columbus (Model B)
Clergy and Staff
The parish is led by Father David A. Schalk (Pastor since July 11, 2023) and is served by two parochial vicars, several active and retired permanent deacons, and a large lay staff including directors of Liturgy, Discipleship, Stewardship, Family Catechesis, Youth Ministry, Communications, and School Administration. The Founding Principal of Ave Maria Academy is Dottie Flanagan.
- Fr. David Schalk — Pastor
- Fr. Tomas Carvajal Basto — Parochial Vicar
- Fr. Joseph Rolwing — Parochial Vicar
- Fr. Víctor Méndez Cano, C.R. — Parochial Vicar
- Fr. Stanislaus John, SAC — Parochial Vicar
- Dcn. Fidel Pitones — Permanent Deacon
- Dcn. Todd Tucky — Permanent Deacon
- Retired deacons: Dcn. Phil Paulucci, Dcn. Hector Raymond, Dcn. Thomas Berg Sr., Dcn. Hank Orlik, Dcn. James Rouse
Pastor History
Saint Joan of Arc has had six pastors since its 1987 founding, each contributing to the parish's growth. The founding pastor and his successors built the parish from a small Delaware County community into one of the largest in the diocese.
- Msgr. George Schlegel (1987-1993) — Founding Pastor
- Msgr. Thomas Bender (1993-1997)
- Fr. Jeffrey Rimelspach (1997-2009)
- Fr. Raymond Larussa (2009-2013)
- Fr. James Black (2013-2023)
- Fr. David A. Schalk (2023-present)
Ministries and Groups
The parish supports over 60 active ministries organized into five major categories: Prayer & Support, Outreach, Community and Parish Life, Liturgy, and Family/Youth. Highlights include Eucharistic Adoration, St. Vincent de Paul, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, St. Teresa's Outreach, Walking With Purpose, Men's Club, Women's Club, Knights of Columbus Council 10765, Youth Ministry (BLAZE, Middle and High School), Family Catechesis (Journey with Christ, Catechesis of the Good Shepherd), Trail Life Troop OH-1331, Marriage Ministry, Music Ministry, and more.
- Prayer & Support: Adoration, Divine Mercy, Prayer Chain, Bereavement, Grief Support, Vocations Committee
- Outreach: St. Teresa's Outreach, SVdP, Open Shelter, Justice Ministry, English Language Learners, Anthony's Garden
- Liturgy: Music Ministry, EMHCs, Sacristans, Altar Servers, Lectors, Art & Environment, Livestream Ministry, Ushers, Greeters
- Family: Youth Ministry, Family Catechesis, Trail Life Troop, Vacation Bible School, Marriage Ministry, BLAZE
- Community: Community Festival, Donut Sunday, Legacy Society, Quilt Group, Young At Heart
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Faith formation is offered through Family Catechesis (Journey with Christ and Catechesis of the Good Shepherd programs) covering age 3 through Grade 8, RCIA for adults, First Communion and Confirmation preparation, and the Middle School and High School Youth Ministry programs. There is also Vacation Bible School and a 'Pray and Play' group for younger children.
- Family Catechesis - Journey with Christ (Grades 1-8)
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
- RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults)
- BLAZE youth group
- Vacation Bible School
Music and Liturgy
The Music Ministry supports all weekend and weekday Masses, with the 10:00 a.m. Sunday Mass featuring a fuller choir and incense. The parish also livestreams the 10:00 a.m. Mass for those who cannot attend in person. Liturgical roles are filled by trained Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Lectors, Sacristans, Altar Servers, Ushers, and Greeters.
- Music Ministry with parish choir
- Livestream Ministry
- Art & Environment
- Extraordinary Ministers, Lectors, Sacristans, Altar Servers, Ushers, Greeters
Ave Maria Academy (Parish School)
Ave Maria Academy opened in August 2025 as the first new Catholic parish school in the Diocese of Columbus in approximately 30 years. Beginning with preschool and kindergarten at the McEwan Center on the St. Peter campus, the school will add one grade per year through eighth grade. Grades 3-8 will ultimately be housed at a new school facility planned for the St. Joan of Arc campus. Founding Principal Dottie Flanagan leads the school. The school's name and identity were supported by a 'Building Our Future' capital campaign that raised more than $16 million against a $15 million goal.
- Opened August 2025 with preschool and kindergarten
- First Catholic parish school in the Diocese of Columbus since St. Brigid of Kildare School (1996)
- Founding Principal Dottie Flanagan
- McEwan Center at St. Peter campus (initial site)
- Future plans to add a grade per year through 8th grade
Outreach and Charity
Outreach is a central pillar of parish life, with St. Teresa's Outreach (STO) coordinating social outreach and St. Vincent de Paul conferences meeting monthly — beginning each meeting by making sandwiches for the homeless. Other outreach efforts include the Heart of St. Teresa's Street Ministry, Anthony's Garden, English Language Learners, Justice Ministry, Open Shelter, and Red Cross Bloodmobile. The parish also operates a community Food Pantry.
- St. Teresa's Outreach
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul
- Heart of St. Teresa's Street Ministry
- Open Shelter
- Food Pantry (canned meats, soups, vegetables, peanut butter, soap, etc.)
- Anthony's Garden
Devotions and Special Observances
The parish cultivates a rich devotional life. The Rosary is recited after every weekday 8:30 a.m. Mass, with different monthly intentions: 1st Friday for Reparation to the Sacred Heart, 2nd Friday for prayer-book petitions, 3rd Friday for priests and seminarians, and every Tuesday for victims and the end of abortion. First Friday and First Monday devotions are also observed, along with the Men's Spirituality (Iron Sharpens Iron), First Monday Monicas (mothers praying for their children), and BLAZE youth gatherings.
- Rosary after each weekday Mass with monthly intentions
- First Friday Devotions to the Sacred Heart
- First Monday Monicas
- Iron Sharpens Iron men's group
- Divine Mercy devotions
Sacraments
All seven sacraments are celebrated at the parish. Baptisms, weddings, and funeral coordination are arranged through the parish office; First Communion and Confirmation are prepared through the Family Catechesis program; RCIA welcomes adults seeking full initiation into the Catholic Church; the Anointing of the Sick is available upon request.
- Baptism — contact Pastoral Assistant Gloria Cardenas Escobar
- First Communion / Confirmation — via Family Catechesis
- Marriage — contact Marriage Prep Coordinator Karri Brady
- RCIA — inquiry groups form in Lent
- Anointing of the Sick
- Funeral coordination — Office Manager Angelita Salyers
Knights of Columbus Council 10765
Knights of Columbus Council 10765 is chartered at St. Joan of Arc and has operated the parish's legendary Lenten Fish Fry every year since 1997 — one of the longest-running fish fries in the Diocese of Columbus. The dinners have grown to serve more than 6,000 people annually across the six Fridays of Lent, occupying nearly every available space in the parish complex. The council also fields a Women's Auxiliary, and the parish has a parallel council at the St. Peter campus (Council 11216).
- Fish Fry every Friday of Lent since 1997
- 6,000+ meals served annually
- Women's Auxiliary of Knights of Columbus
- Council 11216 at the St. Peter campus
Contact and Visiting
Visitors are warmly welcomed at any Mass or during Eucharistic Adoration. The parish office is open weekdays and can be reached at (614) 761-0905; Family Catechesis has a direct line at (614) 761-0903. The two-campus parish (Powell and Columbus) makes it convenient for families across the northern Columbus suburbs to attend Mass or participate in ministries at whichever campus is closer.
- Address: 10700 Liberty Road South, Powell, OH 43065
- Phone: (614) 761-0905
- Family Catechesis: (614) 761-0903
- Website: https://spsjoa.org
- Diocese: https://columbuscatholic.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Msgr. George Schlegel1987-1993
Founding pastor; continued assisting on weekends in retirement as Weekend Assistant
- Msgr. Thomas Bender1993-1997
Second pastor
- Fr. Jeffrey Rimelspach1997-2009
Third pastor
- Fr. Raymond Larussa2009-2013
Fourth pastor
- Fr. James Black2013-2023
Fifth pastor; ordained 1988; previously associate pastor at St. Matthew Gahanna, St. Catharine Columbus, St. Joseph Cathedral; chaplain of Bishop Hartley HS; moved to St. Brigid of Kildare in July 2023
- Fr. David A. Schalk2023-present
Sixth pastor and first pastor of canonical-merged St. Peter St. Joan of Arc Parish; previously pastor of Christ the King and St. Thomas the Apostle, Columbus
- Fr. Jeffrey Tigyercirca 2012
Associate Pastor under Fr. Larussa
- Bishop James A. Griffinretired
Retired Bishop of Columbus served as Weekend Assistant in the 2010s