CHURCH OF OUR LADY OF THE MIRACULOUS MEDAL
A Parish History
On May 26, 1967, the Most Rev. John J. Carberry, bishop of the Diocese of Columbus, issued the decree establishing Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Parish. On June 16, 1967, Fr. Charles J. Foeller, was appointed the founding Pastor. He celebrated the first Mass on July 9, 1967, in the auditorium of Woodcrest Elementary School. Weekday Masses were celebrated in a small rectory chapel. On September 10, 1967, Sunday Masses were moved to Yorktown School. During all his term he built up from a small handful of people a very dedicated community of families that were able to construct a fabulous new church building on Refugee Rd. On May 15, 1971 it was dedicated with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass by all so rightly proud of what they had accomplished.
When Fr. Foeller had completed his term, Fr. Ryan was appointed the new Pastor on July 8, 1980. Fr. Ryan was replaced by Bishop Griffin on September 2, 1986 with Fr. Carl P. Clagett, the new Pastor of Our Lady and he remained Pastor until his term ended on June 30 th 1999. During Fr. Clagett’s term Small Church Communities were initiated and flourished as well as a longstanding and very vibrant RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) program
January 23, 1982, Steve Venturini was ordained a Permanent Deacon and assigned to serve Church of Our Lady, where he and his wife Sandy had been parishioners since 1972. Deacon Steve had been encouraged to enter the diaconate program in September 1978 by Fr. Foeller, and was ordained during Fr. Ryan’s pastorate. On July 16, 1992, Dcn. Steve became Pastoral Associate of Church of Our Lady. He and his wife, Sandy, have ministered to the parish in many ways, including both having served as director of religious education. On February 13, 1991, Dcn. Joe Poland (ordained June 29, 1985) joined the staff at Our Lady, serving in many capacities, including adult education and organizing of a men’s prayer breakfast. Dcn. Joe retired from active ministry and entered eternal life on November 16, 2013.
Fr. William H. DeVille was appointed Pastor of Our Lady on July 1, 1999. He served until his retirement on July 8 th 2008, when he was replaced by the new Pastor, Fr. James Coleman. Fr. Coleman, a former PIME Missionary in the Philippines and the Amazon, had served here previously at Our Lady from 1987 to 1992 as Associate Pastor.