Dear Parish Family,

I want to share with you today the great things that are happening here at St. Catharine. This Impact Report will give you some important details and metrics that we will return to again annually. More importantly, it will show the deep faith that is the beating of heart of our parish family. Statistics and metrics are important but they can only show the skeleton of what we are doing here. 

The skeleton is obviously important as it is what keeps us upright and moving, but like the Valley of Dry Bones in Ezekiel 37 the bones need more. 

They need the Word of God to come upon them and put flesh and sinew on them, and the Spirit of God to breathe into them the new life of the kingdom. 

Thank you for everything that you do every day - Mass, Adoration, Bible study, fellowship groups, entrusting your children to our School and Preschool and much more - to make this community come to life. And thank you, too, for your generous financial giving without which we cannot sustain what we are doing as a parish. 

I also want to thank our wonderful staff and volunteers - especially the parish finance committee and the school advisory board - for their input and support. While I may be the figurehead out front, a lot of people hold me up every day with their help, counsel and hard work. Please remember to thank them when you see them! 

Wishing you God’s richest blessings,

Fr. Bob

Pastor

Click Image to Download a PDF of the Impact Report

St. Catharine Parish was created in 1931 on what was then the far east side of Columbus. On May 12^th, Bishop James J. Hartley, who presided over the Diocese of Columbus from 1904 until his death in 1944, purchased 11.86 acres east of Gould Road, between Fair Avenue and Bexley Park Road. The new parish would draw from the existing parish of St. Thomas to the north and Holy Rosary to the west.

After acquiring the land, the bishop authorized construction of a wooden church and attached classrooms, intending them as a temporary measure to launch the parish during the years of the Great Depression. The chapel, with three altars, and a four-room school, were built at a cost of $16,000. The first parish census consisted of approximately 100 families.

As we approach our centennial in 2031, the mission of St. Catharine is not simply to remember our past, but to reclaim the zeal that built it. Our founding families gave generously so that others they did not yet know could encounter Jesus Christ and experience the salvation that He promises. That same call now rests on us. In an age when so many are searching for meaning and belonging, our parish must continue to be a beacon of invitation — not waiting for people to come to us, but boldly going out to meet them.

Through intentional stewardship of our time, resources, and ministries, we can ensure that St. Catharine remains not just a church people attend, but a spiritual home that actively forms disciples for Jesus Christ and sends them into the world.

Can you move up one more step in your giving?

This is a time to stretch our faith, step out of what’s comfortable, and invest in what matter most: Jesus Christ, and the mission of saving souls for Him.

Not giving yet? Consider starting at 1%.

Already giving? Consider stepping up one level—perhaps from 5% to 7%.

Every step, no matter the size, helps our parish grow and supports the work of Christ in our community.