Columbus Our Lady of Peace Church in the Beechwold/Clintonville neighborhood hosted a pickleball mixer on Friday, Aug. 18 that attracted almost 50 tournament participants plus numerous volunteers and spectators.
“My staff is always thinking of new and different ways to evangelize,” said Father Sean Dooley, church pastor. “They asked if we could do a pickleball mixer, and I thought it sounded like a great idea.”
The event was advertised to the Clintonville community using social media and other outlets.
“We try to host events that are welcoming to our entire community,” Father Dooley said. “Our staff had a long discussion recently about how, when we pray in the petitions for the ‘people of our parish,’ we are actually praying for everyone within our parish boundaries, Catholic or not, parishioner or not. We’re always looking for ways to not only pray for them but invite them in.”
Parish school alumnus Joe Cockerell attended with his food cart, Mangiamo Handmade Street Food, along with Taylor Graffeo, founder of GLORY Pickleball, a pickleball products and apparel company based in Columbus. Parish staff member Kyle Davis provided DJ service and facilitated the tournament.
Columbus Our Lady of Peace pickleball champions are Marty Hicks (left) and Jeri O’Donnell. Photo courtesy Our Lady of Peace Church
Volunteers, including six students from Columbus St. Charles Preparatory School, were recruited by event team member Katy Ryan Paolini. Many local businesses provided gift cards and prizes for the winners, who included runners-up Dan Zuccarelli and Sam Davis and champions Marty Hicks and Jeri O’Donnell.
“I’m always encouraging my staff – and they’re always encouraging me – to think outside the box when it comes to reaching people we might not currently be reaching,” Father Dooley said. “We have a lot of other plans and ideas for letting people know that they’re welcome at Our Lady of Peace.
“For example, our director of evangelization, Anthony Rosselli, has recruited nearly 50 parishioners to handwrite postcards to every single household in our parish boundaries, just to say ‘hello’ and to let them know we’re here.
“We also have a pet blessing in October and a Christmas tree lighting and Nativity blessing in December, both of which we advertise to the Clintonville community. We see quite a few people from the neighborhood at those events.
“And, of course, the neighborhood favorite is our Fall Fest, which will take place on Oct. 13 and 14 this year. Our membership has really grown over the past few years, and I’m sure these events have something to do with that.”