Our Story: Saint Anthony Parish
A half-century ago, much of what’s now known as the Northland area of Columbusconsisted of open fields,
especially north of Dublin-Granville Road. But a strong sense of change was in the air, for affordable
middle-class homes were being built between Morse and Dublin Granville roads. At the same time, work was getting started on the city’s first shopping mall, from which the area took its name. Bishop Clarence Issenmann responded to all this growth in 1963 by founding a new parish named for St. Anthony of Padua.
During its first few months, 233 families registered as parish members. They met for Masses at a former Knights of Columbus Hall and St. Francis DeSales High School while a church-school complex was being built. The parish school opened in 1965 for students in grades five, six, and seven, with other elementary grades added in the following two years and kindergarten in 1991.
Today, the Northland Mall is gone, with the space now serving as offices for the Ohio Department of Taxation. Like the parish as a whole, the school's enrollment has fluctuated with the population. Saint Anthony is a place that has had many changes over the last 10 years, but what has remained the same is that it is a place you can always come home to.
Parish Staff
Fr. Thomas Petry
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Judy McElwee
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Chris Iaconis
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