HISTORY OF OUR COMMUNITY

Several years ago, Pope John XXIII Parish was merely an idea...today it is a living, ever growing actuality!  Monsignor Anthony Frecker, filled with the love of Jesus Christ, and a total commitment to build God's church, began gathering his flock in the spring of 2000.  The 'parish office' consisted of Monsignor's car, and a cell phone.  We've come so far since then.  Twenty two families registered at the first of three Town Hall Meetings which were held in the Canal Winchester High School Cafetorium.  At the conclusion of the third meeting, the number of families registered had grown to fifty three.  After prayerful consideration our Parish took the name of Pope John XXIII...a very humble and holy man who championed the love and compassion of Jesus Christ with his every word and deed.  Our first Mass as a parish family was held in July, 2000.  Our parish continued to grow, and by October 1, 2000, the number of families totaled one hundred and sixty eight.   On October 13th, 2000, Bishop James Griffin formally installed Monsignor Frecker as our Parish Pastor.  In the meantime, the new parish rectory was nearing completion, and a second Sunday Mass was added.  We began celebrating Mass at 5 p.m. on Saturday evenings at Faith Methodist Church, and two Masses on Sundays in the Canal Winchester High School Cafetorium; the first at 9 a.m. and the second at 11:30 a.m.  Parish Council, its commissions, PSR, RCIA, Adult Sunday School, Small Group Faith Sharing, Community Ministry, Youth Ministry and many other programs were up and running. The parish family continued to grow, and as it did, and continues to do, our bond grows stronger.  In late April of 2004 our Phase I Building was completed and we began gathering for Mass as a church family in May.  We now have our own church home located at 5170 Winchester Southern Road NW, Canal Winchester, Ohio.  Our growth is such that we have added another Mass to our Sunday Mass schedule.  We continue to have Mass at 5 p.m. on Saturday, and our new Sunday Mass schedule is 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.   In all this, our main focus continues to remain that of mirroring the gospel of love and compassion (to ALL people) as demonstrated by Jesus Christ.  Our parish theme song is "ALL ARE WELCOME" and assuredly, everyone is!  We have been blessed indeed!

HISTORY OF OUR PATRON, POPE JOHN XXIII

Pope John XXIII reigned for only five years, but left an indelible mark on the Church.  He was born Angelo Roncalli, one of thirteen children to a peasant farm family in northern Italy.  He was a very humble man of God and acutely aware of the problems of the poor, the suffering, the horrors of war, and the gap that existed between the Church and the common man.  In 1958 he ascended to the papacy taking the name of John XXIII.  Many saw him as an interim pope, but three months into his reign he astounded his colleagues by calling a council of all the bishops to "open the windows and examine the state of the Church."  This was the birth of Vatican II Council.  On October 12, 1962 John XXIII delivered the opening address at the Council, saying its chief duty was to protect the truths handed down but "at the same time (the Church) must look to the present, to the new conditions and new forms of life introduced into the modern world which have opened new avenues to the Catholic apostolate."  John XXIII opened the door to ecumenism which today can be seen throughout the church as we openly communicate with our Protestant brothers and sisters in Christ. From his earliest days, he cultivated a cheerful but powerful spirituality that tied him intimately to Christ and allowed him to trust the impulses of the Holy Spirit as they arose in his heart.  John XXIII goes down in history as "The Pope Of The Modern Church."  On the way to sainthood, he was beatified by the Church on September 3, 2000.  Thus we honor him by taking his name for our Parish as we continue his mission.  We are equally honored, and humbled, to have been granted his name.

WE ARE...

We are a close, loving, enthusiastic Catholic community of  believers who strive to serve the Lord in all that we do by mirroring the gospel of love and compassion demonstrated by Jesus Christ.  We are your neighbors, your friends, and your family; brothers and sisters in Christ.  Our ministry encompasses not only outreach to the members of our parish, but to members of the civic and ecumenical communities as well.