About Saint Peter · Columbus, Ohio
St. Peter Roman Catholic Church is a parish in the Diocese of Columbus located at 6899 Smoky Row Road on the northwest side of Columbus, Ohio, in the Worthington area. It is now united with nearby St. Joan of Arc Church in Powell as the merged St. Peter St. Joan of Arc Parish. The parish offers Mass in English and Spanish, an attached Catholic school, a full family catechesis program, and a range of ministries serving youth, families, seniors, and the homebound.
- Established
- 1970
- Patron
- Saint Peter (the Apostle)
- Rector
- Father David A. Schalk
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Columbus
Why belong here
St. Peter offers the warmth of a long-established suburban parish combined with the breadth of a fully merged two-campus community. Worshippers can choose from several Sunday Masses in English, a weekly Spanish Mass, a parochial school on site, a robust Family Catechesis program (including Catechesis of the Good Shepherd), dedicated middle- and high-school youth ministry, Knights of Columbus and Women's Auxiliary chapters, a caregivers' support group, monthly sandwich collections for the poor, blood drives, and a Super Neighbors partnership with Catholic Social Services — making it a practical spiritual home for families, Spanish-speaking Catholics, seniors, and young adults alike.
Mass times at Saint Peter
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saint Peter Campus: Monday–Friday at 6:00 p.m. (until all are heard)
- Saint Joan of Arc Campus: Monday–Saturday at 9:00 a.m. (until all are heard)
- Appointments available by calling the parish office at 614-761-0905
Parish Identity and History
St. Peter Roman Catholic Church was canonically erected in 1970 by Bishop Clarence G. Elwell of the Diocese of Columbus to serve Catholic families in the growing Worthington/northwest Columbus suburbs. For its first three years the new community worshipped at Perry Middle School, then moved to its present home at 6899 Smoky Row Road after a parish-wide fund drive (1972) and groundbreaking (October 19, 1972). The current church, school and parish complex were dedicated in 1973. In 2016 St. Peter was merged with St. Joan of Arc Church in Powell, forming St. Peter St. Joan of Arc Parish, with the St. Peter campus on Smoky Row Road and the St. Joan of Arc campus at 10700 Liberty Road South, Powell.
- Founded 1970
- Church dedicated 1973
- Merged with St. Joan of Arc in 2016
- Founding pastor: Fr. Kevin Lutz (until 1978)
- Current pastor: Fr. David A. Schalk
Mass and Liturgy
St. Peter offers multiple Sunday Masses in English and one in Spanish, plus a full weekly schedule of morning and evening Masses. The Sunday 11:00 a.m. English Mass and the Sunday 1:00 p.m. Spanish Mass are livestreamed; incense may be used at livestreamed Masses. Weekday Masses are celebrated at 8:30 a.m. at St. Joan of Arc and at 5:30 p.m. at St. Peter, with confessions following each Mass. Spanish-language Masses are also offered on Wednesdays and Fridays at 7:00 p.m. at the St. Peter campus.
- Sunday English Masses: 9:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m. (livestream), 5:00 p.m.
- Sunday Spanish Mass: 1:00 p.m. (livestream)
- Saturday Vigil: 4:00 p.m. (at St. Joan of Arc)
- Weekday Masses: 8:30 a.m. (St. Joan of Arc) and 5:30 p.m. (St. Peter)
- Spanish Weekday Masses: Wed & Fri 7:00 p.m.
Clergy and Staff
The parish is currently served by pastor Father David A. Schalk (who also serves as Vicar Forane of Vicariate #1 of the Diocese of Columbus), along with several parochial vicars and a large team of permanent deacons (active and retired). Parish staff includes a Director of Discipleship, Director of Liturgy, Director of Family Catechesis, Director of Communications, Director of Stewardship, Business Manager, Director of Maintenance, and a Marriage Prep Coordinator. The school is led by Principal Dottie Flanagan.
- Pastor: Fr. David A. Schalk
- Parochial Vicars: Fr. Joseph Rolwing, Fr. Stanislaus John SAC, Fr. Víctor Méndez Cano CR, Fr. Tomas Carvajal Basto
- Deacons (active): Fidel Pitones, Todd Tucky
- Deacons (retired): Phil Paulucci, Hector Raymond, Thomas Berg Sr., Hank Orlik, James Rouse
- Director of Liturgy: Crystal Bensonhaver
- Director of Family Catechesis: Holly Monnier
- Principal: Dottie Flanagan
Faith Formation and Family Catechesis
Faith formation for children and families is centered in the parish's Family Catechesis Office, which serves ages 3 through grade 8 and includes the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd atrium program. Sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation, First Communion and Confirmation is coordinated through Family Catechesis, with a dedicated Sacramental Make-up coordinator. Adult formation is supported through the parish's Director of Discipleship and programs such as 'The Rescue Project' offered in small groups on Wednesday afternoons and evenings.
- Family Catechesis (Age 3–Grade 4): Margie Gesell
- Family Catechesis (Grades 5–8): Sr. Monika Maria
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd: Grace Blackburn
- Sacramental Make-up: Jennifer Scarpitti
- Family Catechesis Manager: Cindy Guzak
- Director of Discipleship: Jennifer Whitsett
Youth Ministry
St. Peter St. Joan of Arc maintains a dedicated youth ministry program for both middle-school and high-school students, with separate staff coordinators. Programming includes formation, fellowship, service opportunities, and Sacramental preparation support, complementing the Family Catechesis offerings.
- High School Youth Ministry: Grace Morris
- Middle School Youth Ministry: Mia Maguire
St. Peter's School
An on-site Catholic elementary school operates on the Smoky Row Road campus under Principal Dottie Flanagan. The parish also supports the Luther Orick Scholarship, administered through the Columbus Catholic Foundation, which awards up to $1,000 to students entering 1st grade at a Catholic elementary school for parishioners who are registered, contributing, and active in parish ministries.
- Principal: Dottie Flanagan
- Director of School Administration: Lynn Wechselberger
- Luther Orick Scholarship (up to $1,000)
Outreach and Charity
Outreach ministries of the parish include a Social Outreach Coordinator (St. Teresa's Outreach), a monthly sandwich collection distributed to those in need in downtown Columbus, a quarterly Red Cross blood drive, the Super Neighbors Program (in partnership with Catholic Social Services) which sends volunteers age 55+ (or 25+ with a heart for service) to support homebound seniors, and a caregivers' support group with a lending library of resources.
- St. Teresa's Outreach
- Monthly Sandwich Collection
- Red Cross Blood Drives (next: Aug 18, Blue Room)
- Super Neighbors Program (training Aug 14)
- Caregivers' Support Group (monthly Saturdays)
- Homebound Coordinator: Becky Rubal
Parish Community and Organizations
Lay organizations active at the parish include the Men's Club (monthly meetings, typically first Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at St. Joan of Arc), the Knights of Columbus Women's Auxiliary (a Christ-centered ministry dedicated to Charity, Unity, Fraternity, and Patriotism, with an annual Fall Mum Sale fundraiser), and a Child Care Ministry supporting parents with young children. The parish also welcomes volunteers as Eucharistic ministers, lectors, ushers, and music ministers under the direction of the Director of Liturgy.
- Men's Club
- Knights of Columbus Women's Auxiliary
- Child Care Ministry (paid, training & background check provided)
- Liturgical ministries (Eucharistic Minister, Lector, Usher, Choir)
Visiting and Practical Information
Parish Office hours at both campuses: Monday–Thursday 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (closed Tuesdays 12:00–2:00 p.m.), and Friday 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. Family Catechesis Office can be reached separately at 614-761-0903. The parish is located on Smoky Row Road between Riverside Drive and Sawmill Road, with easy access from I-270 and ample on-site parking.
- Parish Office: (614) 761-0905
- Family Catechesis Office: (614) 761-0903
- Saint Peter Campus: 6899 Smoky Row Rd, Columbus OH 43235
- Saint Joan of Arc Campus: 10700 Liberty Rd S, Powell OH 43065
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Kevin Lutzfounding – 1978
Founding pastor of St. Peter Parish, Worthington/Columbus. Celebrated first Masses at Perry Middle School (1970), led the successful 1972 fund drive, presided at the 1972 groundbreaking for the Smoky Row Road church, and served as pastor until his retirement in 1978. As a teenager he had earlier played organ at the original St. Peter's on New York Avenue (1965–1970); he later recovered and preserved many of that church's artifacts, which are now on display at the Jubilee Museum in Columbus.
- Subsequent pastors (names not publicly enumerated)1978 – 2016 (approx.)
Pastors between Father Lutz's retirement and the 2016 merger with St. Joan of Arc are not listed on the public web sources surveyed; diocesan clergy-assignment archives should be consulted for the complete succession.
- Father David A. Schalkcurrent (through 2025)
Current Pastor of St. Peter St. Joan of Arc Parish; Vicar Forane of Vicariate #1 (Marion/Delaware/Union/Madison Deanery) of the Diocese of Columbus. Listed as pastor on the August 2025 parish bulletin.