About Saint Joseph Cathedral · Columbus, Ohio
Saint Joseph Cathedral is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Columbus, Ohio, located at 212 East Broad Street in Downtown Columbus. Completed in 1878 and consecrated that October, the Gothic Revival ashlar cathedral was built to relieve overcrowding at Saint Patrick Church for the growing Irish-Catholic population. It is the seat of Bishop Earl K. Fernandes and today forms a single parish community with the historic Holy Cross Church (the first Catholic church in Columbus) following a 2023 diocesan merger. The cathedral is listed on the Columbus Register of Historic Properties (designated June 14, 1982, reference CR-7) and remains an active downtown worship site with daily Mass, weekday confessions, and a robust choral music program.
- Established
- 1866
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Very Reverend Jan C. P. Sullivan (Cathedral Rector)
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Columbus
Why belong here
Saint Joseph Cathedral is the spiritual heart of the Diocese of Columbus — the bishop's seat and the historic Mother Church — and offers a rare combination of downtown convenience, daily Mass, multiple Sunday Masses, and a respected choral tradition. Parishioners are nourished by weekday confession and a Wednesday Holy Hour with Eucharistic adoration, active liturgical lay ministries (lectors, Eucharistic ministers, hospitality/ushers, altar servers), and an RCIA program led by a dedicated Director. The parish also reaches outward through the Backdoor Ministry (which hands out more than 100 bag lunches a day to downtown neighbors), the Saint Vincent Family Center, the Saint Francis Evangelization Center, and J.O.I.N. (Joint Organization for Inner-city Needs), making membership a meaningful way to serve central Ohio beyond the church walls.
Mass times at Saint Joseph Cathedral
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday, 9:15 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. (St. Joseph Cathedral)
- Tuesday, 10:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. (St. Joseph Cathedral)
- Thursday, 10:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. (St. Joseph Cathedral)
- Wednesday, 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. (during Holy Hour, St. Joseph Cathedral)
- Saturday following the 11:30 a.m. Mass (Holy Cross Church)
Adoration times
- Wednesday, 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. — Holy Hour with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Confessions (St. Joseph Cathedral)
- Saturday following the 11:30 a.m. Mass — Adoration and Confessions (Holy Cross Church)
History of Saint Joseph Cathedral
Saint Joseph Parish traces back to 1866, when Rev. Edward M. Fitzgerald, pastor of Saint Patrick Church in Columbus, launched a new downtown parish to relieve overcrowding and serve the growing Irish-Catholic population. Fitzgerald raised nearly $37,000 from 250 donors, purchased land on Broad and Fifth Streets, and hired architect Michael Harding to design the church. After Fitzgerald was named Bishop of Little Rock in 1867, Auxiliary Bishop Sylvester H. Rosecrans of Cincinnati took over and, on March 3, 1868, was named the first Bishop of the newly erected Diocese of Columbus — making the unfinished St. Joseph Church the new cathedral. Rosecrans had the design redrawn in ashlar stone by architect Robert T. Brookes, added a bell tower with three clock faces and chimes, and finished the project at a total cost of $218,000. He consecrated the cathedral on October 20, 1878, and died the following day; his tomb lies directly beneath the main altar in the undercroft. The diocese has continued to invest in the building, with major renovations in 1949–1953 (Bishop Ready), the 1960s undercroft (parish hall, kitchen, meeting rooms, bookstore), 1978 sanctuary remodeling, a 1992 sandstone restoration, a 2000 baldacchino/Marian shrine replating, and a 2002 organ installation and apse painting by Polish artist Grzegorz Kucharski.
- Parish founded 1866 by Rev. Edward M. Fitzgerald
- Cornerstone laid November 11, 1866 by Bishop Rosecrans
- First Mass celebrated Christmas Day 1872
- Consecrated October 20, 1878; Rosecrans died October 21, 1878
- Architects: Michael Harding (original) and Robert T. Brookes (cathedral redesign)
- Original architects: cut sandstone (ashlar) Gothic Revival, 185 ft × 92 ft, capacity 700
- Cardinal John McCloskey donated the main and side altar marble
- Listed on the Columbus Register of Historic Properties, June 14, 1982 (CR-7)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The Parish School of Religion (PSR) partners with parents as the primary educators of their children, providing catechetical classes to support family faith formation. Adults preparing for full communion with the Catholic Church are welcomed through the parish's RCIA (now OCIA) program, led by Director of Religious Education Mr. Jake Neal.
- Parish School of Religion (PSR) — children's catechesis
- OCIA / RCIA — adult initiation, Director Mr. Jake Neal
- Sacramental preparation for First Communion and Confirmation
Cathedral Music & Liturgy
The Cathedral Music program, directed by Dr. Richard K. Fitzgerald (Diocesan Director of Music and Organist of St. Joseph Cathedral), is recognized across the diocese as a flagship liturgical-music ministry. The program supports the sung Masses of the cathedral and presents a regular choral concert series listed at cathedralmusic.org. The present pipe organ was installed in 2002.
- Director of Music & Organist, Diocesan Director of Music: Dr. Richard K. Fitzgerald
- Cathedral Choir and choral concert series
- Concert and event information: cathedralmusic.org
Liturgical Ministries
Parishioners serve the liturgies of the cathedral as lectors, Eucharistic ministers, hospitality ministers/ushers, and altar servers. A volunteer Liturgical Ministry scheduler coordinates weekend assignments. The parish regularly recruits new liturgical volunteers — forms are available in the sacristy.
- Lectors
- Eucharistic Ministers
- Altar Servers
- Hospitality / Ushers
- Liturgical Ministry scheduling: [email protected]
Parish Outreach & Charity
Outreach is central to parish identity. The Backdoor Ministry hands out more than 100 bag lunches every day from the rectory to anyone in need. The parish supports Saint Vincent Family Center (children's behavioral health), the Saint Francis Evangelization Center in Vinton County, and the Joint Organization for Inner-city Needs (J.O.I.N.) in Franklin County. An annual Giving Tree at Christmas collects gift cards and gifts for these partner agencies. The Alms for the Poor Box is located near the Broad Street entrance.
- Backdoor Ministry — 100+ daily bag lunches (9:30–10:00 a.m. and 4:00–4:30 p.m.)
- Saint Vincent Family Center (Central Ohio)
- Saint Francis Evangelization Center (Vinton County)
- Joint Organization for Inner-city Needs (J.O.I.N.)
- Annual Giving Tree at Christmas
- Alms for the Poor Box
Sacraments
Baptism, Matrimony, Anointing of the Sick, Reconciliation, and Funeral Ministry are all coordinated through the Cathedral Parish Office. Couples preparing for marriage should review the parish's published guidelines online and contact the wedding administrator early in their engagement.
- Baptism — contact Carol, 614-224-1295
- Matrimony — Cathryn Geppert, ext. 2102; [email protected]; sjchcc.org/sacraments/marriage
- Sacrament of the Sick / Home Communion — 614-224-1295
- Funeral Ministry — contact rector at 614-224-1295 before meeting funeral director
- Reconciliation — see Confession Times
- Mass Intentions — $10 stipend, scheduled through Parish Office
Community & Fellowship
The parish family gathers socially through Fellowship Sundays (typically after the 10:30 Mass on the first Sunday of the month) and parish events planned by the Events Committee. New parishioner registration forms are available by the main entrance of the cathedral, on the parish website, or through the Parish Office.
- Fellowship Sundays with coffee and hospitality
- Events Committee
- New parishioner registration via form, sjchcc.org, or Parish Office
Holy Cross Church — Worship Site of the Parish
In 2023 Bishop Earl K. Fernandes merged Holy Cross Parish into St. Joseph Cathedral Parish, leaving Holy Cross Church (204 South Fifth Street) open as a worship site. Holy Cross is the first Catholic church in Columbus and adds an additional Sunday Mass (9:00 a.m.) and Saturday Mass (11:30 a.m., followed by Adoration and Confession) to the parish's worship schedule.
- Address: 204 South Fifth Street, Columbus, OH 43215
- Sunday Mass: 9:00 a.m.
- Saturday Mass: 11:30 a.m., followed by Adoration and Confession
- Merged into St. Joseph Cathedral Parish in 2023
Clergy, Staff & Governance
The cathedral is pastored by Very Rev. Jan C. P. Sullivan, Cathedral Rector, who also serves as Vicar Forane of Vicariate #6 (Center-South Columbus Deanery). Rev. Joseph P. Puthuparampil Thomas, OSB, serves as Parochial Vicar. Rev. Adam Streitenberger (Diocesan Director of Evangelization) is in residence at the cathedral. The Most Rev. Earl K. Fernandes is Bishop of Columbus; Bishops Emeritus Frederick F. Campbell and James A. Griffin are also prayerfully remembered.
- Cathedral Rector: Very Rev. Jan C. P. Sullivan
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Joseph P. Puthuparampil Thomas, OSB
- In residence: Rev. Adam Streitenberger
- Bishop of Columbus: Most Rev. Earl K. Fernandes
- Business Manager: Mr. Michael P. Agriesti
- Administrative Assistant: Ms. Carol Stollenwerk
- PT Administrative Assistant: Ms. Bobbie Meyers
- Director of OCIA and Religious Education: Mr. Jake Neal
- Director of Music & Organist / Diocesan Director of Music: Dr. Richard K. Fitzgerald
- Wedding Administrator: Mrs. Cathryn Geppert (ext. 2102, [email protected])
- Operations: Mr. Michael Pirik
Visiting & Practical Information
The parish office is located at the cathedral and is open Monday–Thursday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Friday 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (closed weekends and major holidays). The cathedral is downtown on East Broad Street, near the Capitol Square, with COTA bus routes and the CBUS circulator serving the area; parking is available in nearby downtown garages and metered street spaces.
- Office: 212 East Broad Street, Columbus, OH 43215
- Phone: 614-224-1295
- Fax: 614-224-1176
- Office hours: Mon–Thu 8 a.m.–4 p.m.; Fri 8 a.m.–2 p.m.; closed weekends
- Websites: sjchcc.org and cathedralmusic.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Edward M. Fitzgerald1866–1867
Founder of St. Joseph Parish; pastor of Saint Patrick who initiated the new downtown church; named Bishop of Little Rock in 1867.
- Rt. Rev. Sylvester H. Rosecrans1867–1878
Succeeded Fitzgerald at Saint Patrick in 1867; became first Bishop of Columbus on March 3, 1868; finished and consecrated the cathedral in 1878; died the day after consecration and is entombed beneath the main altar.
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