“With grateful hearts, we begin anew.”
The slogan plastered on a sign in the Columbus St. Anthony Church gathering space reflected how many in the Korean Catholic community were feeling after Mass on Sunday, Sept. 14.
The ethnic community relocated to the church in August, marking its eighth move in 47 years. St. Anthony, on the north side of Columbus in the Northland area, will serve as its new home.
Bishop Earl Fernandes celebrated Mass for the Korean community for the first time on the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. Co-celebrants included Father Kyounghun Kim, pastor for St. Andrew Kim Taegon Korean Catholic in the diocese.
St. Anthony closed in October 2023 as part of the diocese’s Real Presence Real Future initiative. It merged with Columbus St. Elizabeth and St. Matthias churches, forming Columbus St. Josephine Bakhita parish.
The St. Anthony church building will now be home for the Korean Catholic community.
“We are grateful to the Columbus diocese and the bishop, the sponsorship of our priest from Korea,” said James Ko, who has been part of the community for 25 years. “We are grateful in the Columbus diocese and the bishop – and the direction – to make this possible.”
To celebrate the beginning of a new place of worship for the diocese’s Korean Catholics, a reception was held after Mass in the gathering space. The community enjoyed an authentic Korean meal with cake and champagne for celebration.
“When he was doing the cheers, the bishop said this is a new beginning, so I add that – we wish to stay here longer, as a permanent place,” said Regina Choi, who formerly served as chair for the Korean Catholic community.
Choi, who came to Columbus in the 1980s, recalled, at the time, the community’s population was more than 50 percent students. It changed, she noted, and now mostly residents in the diocese make up St. Andrew Kim Taegon Korean Catholic.
The community has been part of the diocese for almost 50 years.
The Korean presence in the Columbus diocese traces back to 1969. Dr. Changwon Sunwoo – who later became the first chair for the community –explored the possibility of forming a Korean Catholic community. Formal approval from the diocesan bishop was required.
Dr. Jinchang Im, a former professor at Sogang University, a Jesuit university in Seoul, South Korea, led the dialogue.
“Initially, the timing was difficult due to the influx of Vietnamese and Cambodian refugees in the region, which placed significant demands on diocesan resources,” said Rosa Lee, current chair of St. Andrew Kim Taegon Korean Catholic. “After several rounds of respectful negotiation, the bishop granted approval.”
The first Mass was celebrated for the newly formed community on Dec. 19, 1978 at Columbus St. Dominic Church. Father Bernard McClory served as the celebrant.
The liturgy and homily were delivered in Korean, “marking the joyful realization of a long-held dream for Korean Catholics in Columbus,” Lee noted.
During the next four decades, the Korean Mass relocated to various places, including Columbus St. John the Baptist and Holy Family churches, the St. Thomas More Newman Center and St. Leo Oratory.
St. Andrew Kim Taegon Korean Catholic is eager to establish a permanent home at its ninth church.
“We move around, and then, I hope, finally we settle down in St. Anthony,” said Jerome Kwak, who has lived in Columbus for about two decades and previously served as chair.
“We pray that our time at St. Anthony marks the beginning of a renewed journey — one rooted in faith, community and the enduring spirit of our people after 47 years of diaspora,” Lee added.
Discussions about relocating to St. Anthony Church began in April 2025. As current chair, Lee worked with the diocese to navigate logistics, expectations and the difficulty of a transition.
She said the community was blessed by Bishop Fernandes’ support.
“He deeply understood the challenges immigrant families face: building a life in a new language and culture while striving to preserve their heritage, faith and prayer traditions — especially for the sake of their children,” Lee explained.
“This transition was only made possible through Bishop Fernandes’ presence, unwavering support and deep empathy for minority communities in Columbus. His leadership has been a grace-filled reminder that the Church is a home for all people, especially those who have journeyed far to remain close to their faith.”
Father Kim, who arrived in Columbus in August 2023, was sent by the Diocese of Daegu, South Korea. He supports the community spiritually and educates the next generation of Korean Catholics in the diocese.
The community currently has about 120-140 registered parishioners. Mass attendance declined after the COVID-19 pandemic and is now slightly below 100 people.
“With the LG-Honda battery plant being built nearby, new Korean families are moving into the area,” Lee noted. “We’re hopeful that this influx will mark a turning point in our parish’s growth and vitality.”
“Our Korean community is really small but really vibrant,” Ko added. “You can see the energy – more energetic, a lot of young kids, younger adults, all these families.”
The presence of Ohio State University in Columbus is a significant part of that.
“There are a lot of young students who come in, go study and then stay. Mostly they go back home, and others stay and find a job,” Ko explained. “A lot of students convert to Catholicism, too, eventually.”
Ko, who came to Columbus in 1981 to study at Ohio Dominican College – now Ohio Dominican University – converted to Catholicism in 2000. He has been part of the diocese’s Korean Catholic community since then, previously serving as chairperson.
“There’s a lot of transition going on here, but still, young people come in,” he said. “Our community is a little different than other traditional Catholic church (communities) – the environment, maintaining (a) young generation.”
Lee has chaired the Korean Catholic community in Columbus since January 2024. She previously led the Ladies Club.
The position instilled a deeper appreciation of the faith, she said, and dedication to sustaining the community.
Lee came to Columbus in 2013 after studying in Boston and working in California. Korean churches were present near her previous homes.
She worried about the lack of a Korean-speaking parish in Columbus. Lee wanted to impart the faith to her daughter, then 6 years old.
“Children inevitably go through phases: questioning God’s existence, wrestling with justice and exploring what faith truly means,” she reflected. “I wanted to be present for my daughter in those moments.
“Language plays a vital role in that spiritual connection. Being able to pray, reflect and ask questions in one’s native language allows faith to be passed down more deeply and meaningfully.”
While grateful for a liturgy celebrated in the native language, St. Andrew Kim Taegon Korean Catholic does not want to exist in a vacuum.
The community is eager to communicate and share upcoming events. They hope to connect with the wider diocese.
Ko added his desire that more members join.
“Once they know we’ve got our own church here, it will expand more – the membership here,” he said. “That’s what I’m expecting.”
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