About Saint Paul the Apostle · Westerville, Ohio
Saint Paul the Apostle Catholic Church is a large Roman Catholic parish in Westerville, Ohio, in the Diocese of Columbus, serving roughly 4,500 registered families (about 14,000 members) and operating one of the largest Catholic grade schools in the state. Tracing its origins to a 1913 mission in a then-predominantly Methodist town, the parish has worshipped in three successive churches, with the current Romanesque-style church designed by David B. Meleca dedicated on June 29, 2011. It is known for its 1,400+ seat sanctuary featuring a blue star-painted ceiling, Jerusalem limestone, and 164 salvaged stained-glass windows from closed Cleveland diocese parishes.
- Established
- 1913
- Patron
- Saint Paul the Apostle
- Rector
- Rev. Jonathan F. Wilson
- Diocese
- Diocese of Columbus
Why belong here
Saint Paul the Apostle offers the rare combination of a large, well-resourced Catholic parish and a tight-knit community life centered on the Eucharist. Worship is supported by daily and Sunday Masses, all-day Thursday Eucharistic Adoration in the church (with weekday adoration continuing in the St. Joseph Chapel), a robust OCIA process for those becoming Catholic, a Parish School of Religion, and a National Blue Ribbon K-8 school. Practical ministries — St. Vincent de Paul outreach, youth and young adult discipleship, an active marriage and family life program, choirs for every age, and Spirit of Peace counseling — give newcomers concrete ways to serve. Few parishes offer a 1,400-seat Romanesque sanctuary with 164 salvaged stained-glass windows alongside this depth of formation and charity.
Mass times at Saint Paul the Apostle
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 9:15 AM (also referenced around 2:30 PM on the parish schedule)
- Thursday 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM during Eucharistic Adoration in the church
- Sunday 9:00 AM
- Weekdays 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM in the St. Joseph Chapel during adoration
Adoration times
- Thursday 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM in the church (church exposition)
- Monday through Saturday 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM in the St. Joseph Chapel (except during church exposition)
Parish History
Saint Paul the Apostle traces its roots to September 28, 1913, when Father Hugh Ewing offered the first Mass of a new mission under the patronage of St. Paul the Apostle in the predominantly Methodist town of Westerville. For over a decade, Catholic families gathered in rented rooms above a bakery and pool hall — the site now occupied by Graeter's Ice Cream. In 1931 Bishop James J. Hartley formally established the parish and invited the Capuchin Franciscan Friars to shepherd it; the Friars built a 150-seat wood-frame church and converted a 13-room red-brick residence into a monastery. The Capuchins retired in 1951 and Father Paul Hammer became the first diocesan pastor. Over the following decades the parish grew to one of the largest in the Diocese of Columbus, built its first school (1961) and second church (1969), and in 2011 dedicated its third and current Romanesque-style church seating 1,400–1,500. The parish is now in its second century and counts more than 4,500 registered families.
- 1913 — Mission founded by Father Hugh Ewing under Bishop James J. Hartley
- 1931 — Parish formally established; Capuchin Friars build the first church (150 seats)
- 1951 — Capuchins retire; Father Paul Hammer becomes first diocesan pastor
- 1958 — Father William McEwan becomes pastor
- 1961 — St. Paul School opens with 218 students
- 1969 — Second church dedicated by Bishop Clarence Elwell (780+ seats)
- 2003 — Father Charlie Klinger begins long-range planning for a new church
- 2005 — Parish raises $12 million for new church and $3 million for school/activity center
- 2011 — Third church dedicated June 29 on the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul
- 2015 — Named one of U.S. Catholic Magazine's '10 National Treasures'
Architecture of the Third Church
The current church was designed by David B. Meleca of Meleca Architecture (Columbus, Ohio) in the Romanesque Revival tradition with influences of Henry Hobson Richardson, drawing on Uptown Westerville's turn-of-the-century architecture. Roughly 38,000–40,000 square feet on a cruciform plan, it seats 1,400–1,500 and was the largest Catholic church in Ohio at dedication.
- Architect: David B. Meleca, AIA — Meleca Architecture, Inc., Columbus
- Style: Romanesque Revival with Henry Hobson Richardson influence
- Exterior: Belden Brick (Canton, OH) and Jerusalem limestone
- Interior columns/capitals: fiberglass gypsum (Plastrglas) faux-painted to resemble the Jerusalem limestone floor
- Ceiling: dark blue with stars symbolizing a 'perfected heaven'; beams faux-painted to look like wood
- 164 stained-glass windows salvaged from three closed Diocese of Cleveland parishes (70–100 years old), harmonized by Henninger's Inc. (Brook Park, OH)
- Murals: Evergreene Architectural Arts (New York) with gilding and American saints
- Lighting fixtures: G Lighting (St. Louis); Pews: New Holland Church Furniture (New Holland, PA)
- Private prayer chapel in a semicircular apse with half dome behind the altar
- Octagonal central dome crowned by a 20–25 foot gilded cross with Romanesque finials
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish offers a full continuum of faith formation from preschool through adulthood. St. Paul Catholic School (preschool and grades K–8) is a National Blue Ribbon School with more than 815 students, and the Parish School of Religion (PSR) serves children in public or non-Catholic private schools with Wednesday and Sunday classes and Sacramental Preparation tracks for First Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation. OCIA welcomes adults and older children into full initiation, with an Adapted for Children (OCIC) track taught by the Daughters of Holy Mary of the Heart of Jesus.
- St. Paul Catholic School (K–8) — Principal Andrea Pore
- Parish School of Religion (PSR) — Director Susan Streitenberger
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) — Coordinator Scott Osborne
- OCIA Adapted for Children (OCIC) — Daughters of Holy Mary of the Heart of Jesus
- Sacramental Prep for First Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation
- Special Needs PSR class
Music Ministries
Music is integral to worship at Saint Paul the Apostle, with choirs serving every age group and Stephen Smith as Director of Sacred Music. Reading music is not a prerequisite — although the music is challenging, regular rehearsal attendance is required.
- Adult Choir — rehearses Thursday evenings 7:00–8:30 PM; serves the 10:00 AM Sunday Mass and special liturgies (September–May)
- Youth Choir (grades 4–8) — serves a monthly Mass from October through Easter; Tuesday after-school or Sunday afternoon rehearsals
- Teen Choir — Sunday afternoon rehearsals 3:30–4:30 PM, serving the 5:00 PM Mass
- Resurrection Choir — leads assembly song at funerals (parishioners 18+)
- Cantors — solo liturgical singers
Outreach & Charity
Outreach flows through the parish's St. Vincent de Paul Conference and through school and parish-wide service projects. The St. Vincent de Paul helpline (614-973-9772) is monitored by volunteer parishioners who respond to emergency needs — rent, utilities, food, prescriptions, transportation, elder-care, and referrals — for neighbors in Westerville and surrounding communities.
- St. Vincent de Paul Conference — meets 1st & 3rd Tuesday at 7:00 PM in the lower level of the Parish Office Building
- Helpline: 614-973-9772 (cell-phone contact monitored by volunteers)
- Partner ministries: WARM / Paul's Pantry, Birthright of Columbus, Pregnancy Resources of Delaware County, Manor Care Nursing Home, St. Lawrence Haven, Holy Rosary St. John, Dominican Sisters of St. Mary of the Springs
Parish Staff & Clergy
Saint Paul the Apostle is served by a pastor, two parochial vicars, a parochial vicar emeritus, two deacons, and a substantial lay staff covering parish ministry, religious education, administration, finance, stewardship, youth and young adult ministry, marriage and family life, sacred music, communications, sacraments coordination, the Marian Gift Shop, and facilities.
- Rev. Jonathan F. Wilson — Pastor
- Rev. Antony Varghese, CFIC — Parochial Vicar
- Rev. Daniel Olvera — Parochial Vicar
- Rev. David Gwinner — Parochial Vicar Emeritus
- Rev. Mr. Joe Ciaciura — Deacon
- Rev. Mr. Mickey Hawkins — Deacon (Retired)
- Rev. Mr. Dean Racine — Director of Parish Administration / Deacon
- Andrew T. Burson — Director of Parish Ministry
- Susan Streitenberger — Director of Religious Education
- Jeff Adair — Pastoral Associate
- Aron Aziz — Parish Business Analyst
- Dr. Laurie Navin — Coordinator of Marriage & Family Life
- Andrea Lopez — Stewardship Director
- Nathan Forsthoefel — Coordinator of Youth & Young Adults
- Stephen Smith — Director of Sacred Music
- Deb Hawking — Parish Accountant
- Pat Kitzler — Parish Secretary
- Dee Shomo — Parish Office Manager
- Andy Long — Communications Professional
- Annette Ramos — Coordinator of Sacraments and Census
- Ellen Sullivan — Marian Gift Shop Manager
- Michael Larkins — Facilities Manager
- School: Andrea Pore (Principal); Stephanie Speed (Asst. Principal); Luke Patterson (Asst. Principal/Dean of Students)
Sacraments
The parish celebrates all seven Catholic sacraments. Preparation for Baptism, First Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation is offered through PSR, OCIA, or the Sacramental Prep class. Marriage preparation is coordinated through the Marriage and Family Life Office. Funerals and Anointing of the Sick are arranged through the Parish Office.
- Baptism — Coordinator of Sacraments: Annette Ramos
- First Reconciliation & First Communion — Sacramental Prep for grades 3–8
- Confirmation — Director of Religious Education: Susan Streitenberger
- Marriage — Coordinator: Dr. Laurie Navin
- Anointing of the Sick & Funeral planning — by appointment through the Parish Office
- Holy Orders / Vocations — promoted through parish discernment support
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Hugh Ewing1913–1924
Mission founder; offered the first Holy Mass on September 28, 1913; traveled monthly from St. Peter's Church, Columbus.
- Father Conrad Conrardy1924–1931
Of the Pontifical College Josephinum; assumed pastoral care of the young mission due to Father Ewing's declining health.
- Capuchin Franciscan Friars (community)1931–1951
First religious order invited by Bishop Hartley to shepherd the new parish; built the 1931 wood-frame church and converted the 13-room red-brick residence into a monastery.
- Father Paul Hammer1951–1958
First diocesan pastor; appointed by Bishop Michael J. Ready when the Capuchins retired; served until his death in 1958.
- Father William McEwan1958–1970
Led incorporation of St. Paul's into the City of Westerville, purchase of land, and building of the school (opened 1961) and second church (dedicated 1969).
- Father Leo Sullivan1970–1972
Pastor.
- Father Patrick J. Byrne1972–1975
Pastor.
- Father Robert White1975–1976
Co-Pastor.
- Msgr. George J. Schlegel1975–1987
Co-Pastor 1975–1976; Pastor 1976–1987.
- Father Arthur W. Wiles1987–1993
Pastor.
- Msgr. Edward Fairchild1993–2003
Pastor; led into early 2000s as one of the largest parishes in the Diocese of Columbus.
- Father Charlie Klinger2003–2019
Initiated long-range planning for the third church; oversaw the 2011 building campaign and dedication. Klinger Center (gymnasium/activity center) named for him.
- Father Jonathan F. Wilson2019–present
Current pastor; native of Central Ohio, ordained 2003 for the Diocese of Columbus; degrees from Franciscan University of Steubenville and the Pontifical College Josephinum.
