All photos by Rachel Magree
Always Be a Loving Father
By Br. Jerome Masters, O.P.
In the heart of Columbus, Ohio, lies St. Patrick’s parish. Founded in 1852 as an Irish parish under diocesan care, then in 1885, the Dominican Friars were invited to care for the parish and have been here ever since. From a fire that nearly destroyed the church, to a diocesan shrine dedicated to St. Margaret of Castello being established within the church, St. Patrick’s has been through many trials and triumphs. But a constant has been the presence of the Dominican Friars, and in June of this year, Fr. Paul Marich, O.P., was installed as St. Patrick’s newest pastor.
“In January the Prior Provincial called me and asked me to become the pastor,” Fr. Paul said. “I was overjoyed and honored.” Fr. Paul arrived at St. Patrick’s in 2021 as a transitional deacon, since his studies were completed. He spent the year immersed in the parish and was immediately put in charge of their remarkable altar boy program. Upon his ordination in 2022, he was assigned to St. Patrick’s and he took on the role of parochial vicar. He still oversaw the altar boy program and added in youth ministry in his time as parochial vicar.
Fr. Michael Dosch, O.P., who also served as pastor of St. Patrick’s from 2010 to 2016, has said that a man should fall in love with his priesthood, and Fr. Paul was able to do that primarily through his ministry in the confessional. He found that “being a spiritual father to people, and getting to guide and direct souls is so important.” This is where he discovered that he had “earned the title of father,” as Fr. Michael had told him he would in his homily at Fr. Paul’s Mass of Thanksgiving at St. Patrick’s shortly after his ordination.
Being immersed in the life of the parish has given Fr. Paul some key insights into where he would like to direct the parish as he takes the reins of pastor. One goal is for the parish to learn more about our Dominican heritage and charism. “We don’t have a Dominican patron,” he said. Fr. Paul wants to demonstrate, however, that St. Dominic and St. Patrick battled similar problems—Dominic fought heresy in France and Patrick fought paganism in Ireland. Both of these “evangelical men,” show us a similarity in fighting the issues we see today. A related goal of his is for parishioners to see how they benefit from the Dominican charism by receiving the fruits of the friars’ contemplation through different ministries at the parish.
Fr. Paul is excited to take on this new role as pastor at St. Patrick’s and knows that there is “never a dull moment” in the life of the parish. This is a place where he is ready to “work, preach, and celebrate the sacraments.” He knows there are a lot of high expectations that the faithful have for their priests, but Fr. Paul is ready to take on the challenge and serve the community of St. Patrick’s, the Diocese of Columbus, and the Church at large. Please pray for Fr. Paul as he enters into this next step in his vocation as a Dominican priest.
