About Saint John XXIII · Canal Winchester, Ohio
Saint John XXIII Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Columbus, Ohio, located at 5170 Winchester Southern Road NW in Canal Winchester. The parish was established in 2000 to serve the growing Catholic population in the Canal Winchester and Lithopolis area, with Msgr. Anthony "Tony" Frecker as its founding pastor. Following the 2024 consolidation with neighboring St. Mary, Groveport, the merged faith community was renamed The Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish on June 8, 2024, while continuing to worship primarily at the St. John XXIII campus. Today the parish offers daily and weekend Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, the OCIA (formerly RCIA) process, faith formation, youth ministry, Stephen Ministry, Sandwich Saturday outreach, and a Totus Tuus summer program, under the pastoral leadership of Father Brian J. O'Connor.
- Established
- 2000
- Patron
- Saint John XXIII (Pope John XXIII, Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli)
- Rector
- Fr. Brian J. O'Connor
- Diocese
- Diocese of Columbus
Why belong here
St. John XXIII offers a warm, suburban-rural Catholic community with daily and weekend Mass, weekly Eucharistic Adoration (Wednesday Holy Hour at 6 p.m.), and a robust sacramental life including Reconciliation on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Active parishioners serve through long-running ministries such as the 15-plus-year-old Sandwich Saturday program (delivering sandwiches to St. Lawrence Haven), Stephen Ministry for the hurting, OCIA for those entering or returning to the Church, Totus Tuus summer youth program, faith formation for children and youth, and a free parish-wide subscription to Formed.org for faith growth at home. The recent merger with St. Mary, Groveport into the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish has brought the community together on one campus with a single pastor, Fr. Brian J. O'Connor, making it a faithful choice for Catholic families in Canal Winchester, Lithopolis, and Groveport.
Mass times at Saint John XXIII
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesdays, 5:30–6:00 PM (St. John XXIII)
- Wednesdays, 6:00–7:00 PM (St. John XXIII)
- Saturdays, 3:00–3:45 PM (at St. Mary, Groveport) or by appointment
- By appointment anytime — call the parish office at 614-920-1563
Adoration times
- Weekly Holy Hour: Wednesdays, 6:00–7:00 PM at St. John XXIII
About St. John XXIII Catholic Church
Saint John XXIII Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Columbus, Ohio, located at 5170 Winchester Southern Road NW in Canal Winchester. Established in 2000, the parish was created to serve the rapidly growing Catholic population of Canal Winchester and nearby Lithopolis. In 2024 it was merged with neighboring St. Mary, Groveport and renamed The Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish, while continuing to use the St. John XXIII campus as its primary worship site. The parish offers daily and weekend Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, the OCIA process, faith formation, youth ministry, and a wide range of outreach and fellowship ministries under the leadership of Fr. Brian J. O'Connor.
- Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Columbus
- Established 2000
- Renamed Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish on June 8, 2024 after merger with St. Mary, Groveport
History and Founding
The parish was founded in 2000 in response to suburban growth in southeast Franklin County. The diocese lists its founding among several new suburban parishes created during Bishop James A. Griffin's tenure. Its founding pastor was Msgr. Anthony 'Tony' Frecker, ordained in 1972 by Bishop Elwell and a veteran of multiple parishes across central and southeastern Ohio. After leading St. John XXIII for 15 years, Msgr. Frecker retired in July 2015 and was succeeded by Fr. Brian J. O'Connor. In 2023 the Diocese of Columbus launched its 'Journeying Together' pastoral planning initiative, which paired St. John XXIII with the historic 1871 St. Mary, Groveport parish under a single pastor and led to the 2024 merger and renaming.
- Founded 2000 by the Diocese of Columbus
- Founding pastor Msgr. Anthony 'Tony' Frecker (ordained May 27, 1972)
- Fr. Brian J. O'Connor assumed pastorate after Msgr. Frecker's retirement in July 2015
- Merger with St. Mary, Groveport announced 2023; final consolidation December 2024
- Officially renamed Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish June 8, 2024
Parish Staff and Clergy
The parish staff is led by Pastor Fr. Brian J. O'Connor, who also serves as Administrator of the former St. Mary, Groveport church. Lay staff include Heather Messmer-Frame (Parish Administrator), Andrea Maier (Director of Faith Formation), Teresa Iannaggi (PT Bookkeeper), Lisa Leonard (Music Ministry), Mike Covey (Parish Custodian/Maintenance) and Jim Fonzi (Parish Maintenance). Msgr. Anthony 'Tony' Frecker, the founding pastor, continues to assist in ministry after his 2015 retirement.
- Fr. Brian J. O'Connor — Pastor
- Msgr. Anthony 'Tony' Frecker — Founding Pastor (retired 2015)
- Heather Messmer-Frame — Parish Administrator
- Andrea Maier — Director of Faith Formation
- Teresa Iannaggi — PT Bookkeeper
- Lisa Leonard — Music Ministry
- Mike Covey — Parish Custodian/Maintenance
- Jim Fonzi — Parish Maintenance
Sacraments
The parish prepares members for and celebrates all the major Catholic sacraments. Baptismal Preparation is offered for expecting parents and parents of a first child; Baptisms are typically scheduled following the 11:15 AM Mass on the second, third, and fourth Sundays of the month. Couples should contact Fr. O'Connor for marriage preparation; the OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) process welcomes non-Catholics seeking to enter the Church as well as Catholics returning to the faith. For sacramental emergencies, the pastor can be reached at 740-400-9170.
- Baptism and Baptismal Preparation
- First Reconciliation and First Eucharist (through Faith Formation)
- Confirmation (through Faith Formation)
- Marriage / Weddings — contact Fr. O'Connor
- Anointing of the Sick / Sacramental emergencies — 740-400-9170
Faith Formation and Education
Faith formation for children, youth, and adults is coordinated by Andrea Maier, Director of Faith Formation. Children and families are served through the Parish Youth Catechesis (PYC) / Family Faith Formation program, while middle- and high-schoolers (grades 6–12) participate in the parish Youth Ministry. Each summer the parish hosts Totus Tuus ('Totally Yours'), a week-long Catholic youth program for students in grades 1 through 12 led by a team of missionaries. Adults exploring Catholicism or returning to the faith enter the OCIA process. The parish also subsidizes free parish-wide access to Formed.org, an extensive Catholic video and study library, and supports Catholic-school families with a tuition-subsidy program that requires a meeting with Fr. O'Connor.
- Parish Youth Catechesis / Family Faith Formation
- Youth Ministry (grades 6–12)
- Totus Tuus summer Catholic youth program (grades 1–12)
- OCIA — Order of Christian Initiation of Adults
- Formed.org parish subscription
- Catholic school tuition-subsidy program
Ministries and Outreach
Active ministries at St. John XXIII provide ways for parishioners of all ages to grow in faith and serve the wider community. The long-running Sandwich Saturday program — over 15 years strong — brings volunteers together at 8:00 AM to make sandwiches that are delivered to St. Lawrence Haven in downtown Columbus to feed the homeless. Stephen Ministry trains lay Christians to provide confidential, Christ-centered caregiving to those experiencing grief, divorce, job loss, or other difficulties. The parish also partners with the Catholic War Veterans group, which has requested handmade patriotic blankets for VA Hospice patients in Chillicothe, and supports diocesan initiatives such as the annual Senior Citizens Day celebration.
- Sandwich Saturday (deliveries to St. Lawrence Haven)
- Stephen Ministry (lay Christian caregiving)
- Catholic War Veterans blanket outreach
- 45th Diocesan Senior Citizens Day participation
- School Supply Drive (annual)
- Flocknote parish communication groups
Music and Liturgy
Music ministry at St. John XXIII is led by Lisa Leonard, supported by other liturgical volunteers. The parish also previously listed Cindi Goldhaber in the music ministry role. Music is coordinated across the merged parishes so that St. Mary, Groveport's Lisa Leonard serves as Organist/Choir Director there while continuing to support worship at St. John XXIII.
- Lisa Leonard — Music Ministry
- Liturgical choir and music volunteers
Parish Life and Communications
Parish life at St. John XXIII is supported by a weekly bulletin (printed and online) and the Flocknote email-and-text communication platform, which offers a parish newsletter plus targeted group sign-ups. Online Giving and Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT) by credit card or checking account are available to support the parish's operations, music, hospitality, and education programs. The parish office is open Tuesday–Thursday 9:00 AM–4:30 PM, Friday 11:30 AM–4:00 PM, and Sunday 9:00 AM–12:45 PM; office hours are restricted on Wednesdays and the office is closed Mondays.
- Weekly printed and online bulletin
- Flocknote parish newsletter and groups
- Online Giving / EFT
- Parish office hours (Tue–Thu, Fri, Sun)
Journeying Together Merger (2023–2024)
In 2023 the Diocese of Columbus launched the 'Journeying Together' pastoral planning process, pairing St. John XXIII with the older St. Mary, Groveport parish (founded 1871). A joint Transition Team was formed and recommended that the consolidated parish make the St. John XXIII campus its single worship site. Key milestones of the merger were: September 8, 2024 — all activities except Sunday Mass moved to the St. John XXIII campus; December 8, 2024 — the final Mass was celebrated at St. Mary, Groveport; December 9, 2024 — all Sunday Masses shifted to St. John XXIII; and the diocesan bishop began the canonical process of relegating St. Mary, Groveport (Can. 1222 §1). On June 8, 2024, the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, the merged parish was officially renamed The Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish, with an 11:00 AM Mass at St. John XXIII followed by a potluck picnic.
- September 8, 2024 — non-Sunday activities moved to St. John XXIII campus
- December 8, 2024 — final Mass at St. Mary, Groveport
- December 9, 2024 — all Masses at St. John XXIII
- June 8, 2024 — official name change to Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish
Diocese and Wider Church
Saint John XXIII is part of the Diocese of Columbus, which covers central and southern Ohio and was established in 1868. The parish was created in 2000 during Bishop James A. Griffin's tenure and listed in the diocesan register as 'St. John XXIII – Canal Winchester (2000)'. It currently participates in the annual Diocesan Appeal and diocesan-wide events such as the Diocesan Senior Citizens Day celebration.
- Diocese of Columbus (established 1868)
- Bishop James A. Griffin — pastor at founding
- Participates in annual Diocesan Appeal
- Participates in Diocesan Senior Citizens Day
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Msgr. Anthony 'Tony' Frecker2000 – July 2015
Founding pastor of St. John XXIII; ordained May 27, 1972 at the cathedral by Bishop Elwell. Previously served as associate pastor at St. Mary (Marion), St. Peter (Chillicothe), and St. Elizabeth (Columbus), and as pastor of St. Sylvester (Zaleski), Sts. Augustine & Gabriel (Columbus), St. Peter (Chillicothe), and St. Mary (Waverly). Also taught at Bishop Flaget HS and Tuscarawas Catholic HS, and was a member of the Priests' Senate and diocesan evangelization director. Retired July 2015; continued to assist at Immaculate Conception Church and elsewhere.
- Fr. Brian J. O'Connor2015 – present
Current pastor of St. John XXIII and Administrator of neighboring St. Mary, Groveport; led the parishes through their 2023–2024 Journeying Together consolidation and the 2024 official renaming of the merged parish as The Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish.