St.
Mary of the Springs Dominicans
Bicentennial
of the First Mass in Ohio has Dominican Connections
SOMERSET,
OHIO - The Columbus Diocese's recent commemoration of 200th Anniversary
of the first Mass in Ohio offered much to celebrate. The first
Mass, offered in log cabin in Somerset in late September or early
October of 1808, led to the establishment of the Catholic Church
in the frontier state and marked the city as "the cradle of
Catholicity in Ohio."
It also marked the inauguration of a significant presence of Dominicans
in the state, stemming from the apostolic work of Edward Fenwick,
OP (the celebrant of that first Mass) who eventually became the
first bishop of Cincinnati. Near the site of this first Mass, the
first Catholic Church in Ohio, St. Joseph's, was constructed and
then blessed by Fenwick in 1808. Under Fenwick's direction, the
years following saw the establishment of St. Joseph's Priory, which
served as the seat of St. Joseph Province for a time. And, from
the foundation of Dominican Sisters established at St. Catharine,
Kentucky, Fenwick invited Sisters to Somerset to start an academy
to educate area children. This gave birth to a new congregation
of Dominican Sisters that later became known as St. Mary of the
Springs, now headquartered in Columbus. These Dominican foundations
served as a center of Catholic evangelization in Ohio and beyond,
providing for the education of countless frontier families and
seeing the entrance of many men and women into the Dominican Order.
More than 300 people gathered for the bicentennial celebration
in Somerset. The event featured a memorial dedication, Rosary procession,
Mass, and reception near the site where Rev. Fenwick celebrated
that first Mass with three frontier families in 1808. The bishop
of Columbus presided at the Mass and direct descendants of the
first families read the scriptures. Other descendants of the first
families, local parishioners, and several Dominican friars and
sisters were present to for the occasion.
The festivities took place on an eight-acre plot of land recently
purchased by the Diocese of Columbus, which has a three-phase plan
for creating a memorial there. Those who attended were able to
see part of the first phase in process - a statue of the Virgin
Mary standing in the center of a freshly planted rosary garden.
Completion of the garden with a permanent statue and cross is planned
to be followed by the building of a replica log cabin and the creation
of a religion and education center.
Watch
a slideshow from the Columbus Dispatch
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