Church History Page 5

After Bishop Rosecrans passed away, Archbishop Purcel appointed Rev. N. Gallagher the administrator of the Diocese during the vacancy. Rev. M.M. Meara was the Rector and was assisted in 1879 and 1880 by Rev. J.Kuehn, Rev. L.W. Mulhane, and Rev. F.M. Woesman. Rev. D.A. Clarke was also stationed at the Cathedral, not as an assistant but as chaplain of the Catholic prisoners in the State Penitentiary.¹⁵

After Bishop Watterson took charge of the Diocese, he took up residence at the Cathedral and made the following changes: Rev. M.M. Meara was transferred in 1882 to pastor of St. Joseph’s church in Circleville. Rev. R.J. Fitzgerald was made rector of the Cathedral, assisted by Rev. L.W. Mulhane and Rev. J.P. White. Rev T. J. O’Reilly succeeded Father Mulhane as Bishop’s secretary in 1885. Father Mulhane was placed in charge of St. Vincent’s Church, Mount Vernon¹⁶. In September of 1889, Rev. Father O’Reilly was given the task of organizing a new parish of St. Dominics and Father Mahoney succeeded him as the Bishop’s secretary.

Bishop Moeller came to Columbus and called Rev. M.M Meara back to the Cathedral to once again be the Rector.

On June 25 1907 the Kelley mansion was purchased for $41,000 to be established as a parish school. The property was located on East Broad Street. It had a colorful background with secret tunnels believed to travel as far as St. Joseph’s Cathedral a block away. ¹⁷

In 1914 it was determined to remodel the Cathedral. The old cluster of iron columns were considered an obstruction and the walls were beginning to look dark. A new main altar and side altars were constructed. The wood altar railing gave way to a new marble one. The columns that hold up the clearstory section of the cathedral were replaced and new lighting was installed. The cost of the renovation was around $105,000. ¹⁸

From the Number 2 edition of the Calendar of St. Joseph’s Cathedral Dated June 1919.

St. Joseph’s Cathedral
Cor. Broad and Fifth St.
Columbus, Ohio

Order of Divine Services

(Standard Time.)

On Sundays. - Low Masses at 5:30, 7:00, 8:00 and Children’s Mass at 9:15 a. m. Instructions are given at all except the 6:00 Mass. High Mass and Sermon at 10:30 a.m.

Holy Hour Devotion 3:00 p.m.

On Holy days- Low Masses at 5:30,7:00 and 8 a. m. Children’s Mass at 9:15 a.m. High Mass at 10 a.m. Rosary and Benediction of Most Blessed Sacrament at 7:30 p.m.

On Weekdays - Low Masses at 6:30, 7:00, and 8:00. Rosary ad Night Prayers every evening at 7 p.m.

First Friday of each month: - Low Masses at 5:30,6:30, 7 and 8. Rosary and Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament and Meeting of the League of the Sacred Heart at 7:30 p.m.

Confessions. - Confessions are heard on Saturdays and the eves of Holy days from 3 to 5:30 p.m. and after 7 p.m. Also at the same hours on the Thursday preceding the first Friday of each month.

Baptisms - On Sundays at 4 o’clock. The father should always be present at the baptism of his child.

Marriages - Should be arranged for during office hours of the pastor, Notice of about three weeks should be given for the due publication of the banns.

Laws of the Church Concerning Marriage. -

Catholics who attempt marriage before others than a Catholic Priest are excommunicated by the very act and are not married at all in the sight of the Church. Mixed marriages are abhorrent to the Church. The banns are to be published three times. The contracting parties should go to confession, receive Holy Communion and be married at a Nuptial Mass.

Sick Calls - Attended at any time. Sick calls should not be sent in at night except in case of urgent necessity. Persons who live outside the parish and do not rent seats in the church cannot expect to be attended form the Cathedral. When there is sickness, and a priest is sent for, see that a table is prepared with a clean cloth, a candle (blessed, if possible) in a candlestick, some holy water, a tumbler of common water, and a crucifix. All who are present should kneel if they know that the priest brings the Blessed Sacrament; they should also kneel and say appropriate prayers during the giving of the Last Sacraments. It is a pious and commendable practice that when the priest comes in the morning to bring Holy Communion to the sick, one of the family should meet him at the door with a lighted, blessed candle.

Funerals. - The time for funerals is 8:30 a.m. Sunday funerals are forbidden.

Regulations as to Seats.

Everyone who attends divine service at the Cathedral should support religion by renting a seat, and thus also identify himself as a member of the congregation. Pew rent is payable quarterly, in advance. Tickets are issued to pew holders who are expected to show them to the ushers, at Mass on Sundays. Those who do not permanently rent seats, contribute to the support of religion by paying for the seat occupied at the Masses on Sundays and Holy days. Anyone who cannot comply with these regulations should inform the Pastor. Ample provision is made for such cases.

Pastor’s Office Hours - Every weekday from 9 to 10 a.m.

In the spring of 1949 the Cathedral rectory and the Bishop’s house on 198 E. Broad was razed by the Angelo Wrecking Company and new buildings were erected on their sites.

In the fall of 1967 the lower levels of St. Joseph’s was executed and deepened exposing the foundations and creating a useable undercroft for the purposes of meetings and programs of instruction. In June of 1968 folk music was introduced to the 12:30 a.m. mass on Sundays. It was first met with skepticism by some of the congregation but eventually became a well attended celebration. June of 1976 saw the first class of permanent deacons ordained at the Cathedral. Bishop Edward Herrmann presided assisted by Father Ralph Hutzinger and Father Thomas Shonebarger. The six newly ordained deacons were: Richard Baumann of Columbus Our Lady of Victory, Terrence Canavan of Westerville St. Paul, Bernard Kenney of Columbus Immaculate Conception, Frank Paniccia and Gene Irish of Columbus St. Andrew, and Charles Brockman of Columbus St. Aloysius.¹⁹ In June of 1978 the cathedral was again being remodeled among the changes are: The wooden screens separating the sanctuary and chancel were removed and used on the rear walls of the apse behind the altar. The first five rows of pews and the altar railing are removed to allow more openness in the nave and to improve site lines. The altar and baldachimo were moved to the front of the present chancel. The chancel floor was raised to the level of the sanctuary. The present Sacred Heart chapel in the west wall was changed to the Blessed Sacrament chapel. The chapel of Our Lady statue was restored. A new shrine of St. Joseph was situated on the left side near the Blessed Sacrament Chapel. One pulpit was build on the right side of the sanctuary. The baptismal font was placed in the Nave and the baptismal room was converted into the reconciliation room.²⁰

Historical events occur at the Cathedral on a continual basis. Changes in clergy, new faces and new organizations are brought into the picture. The intent of this document is not to give an all inclusive description of every event, but to start building a document that can be added to when the need arises. The last two tables supply information regarding the Bishops who have been appointed to the Diocese of Columbus and the final table, a list of all the clergy assigned to St. Joseph Cathedral from the year 1869 to present year of 1999. A total of 131 years.