Our History

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     History

Shortly after the turn of the century, the Most Reverend James Joseph Hartley, then Bishop of the Diocese of Columbus realized the need for a new parish to serve the ever-increasing Catholic population of the Hilltop community. Thus, on August 19, 1906, Bishop Hartley founded that parish and chose Saint Aloysius for its name and patron saint. The first census of the new parish showed thirty-five Catholic families within the parish boundaries.  This number quickly grew, until by 1920, the number of Catholic households had reached three hundred and fifty. It was obvious that the original church structure, dating from 1907, could no longer handle the rapidly growing Catholic population within the parish and plans for the building of a new church were begun.  The cornerstone of the present church building was laid in 1927, and construction was completed the following year. The church was dedicated by Bishop Hartley on April 22, 1928.

Saint Aloysius operated a school from 1907 until 1976. The original school building was replaced in 1961. In the 1976 the students from Saint Aloysius school merged with those of Saint Agnes and the new school was known as Notre Dame and was housed at Saint Agnes. Following the closing of Saint Aloysius school, the school building served as a family service center housing a day care, an after-school program for children, a Christ Child Clothing Closet, Head Start Classrooms, a "Life Care Alliance" lunch center, and a branch office for Catholic Social Services until 2006. It remains part of the church property and now is being used by Columbus Bilingual Elementary School, a charter school which teaches classes in both English and Spanish.

Saint Aloysius parish continues its mission of being the "beacon of hope on the hill" through outreach programs such as the free Thanksgiving dinner and the summer cook-out 

The Church Exterior

The church which serves the needs of the people of Saint Aloysius parish is constructed of grey stone and brick and is of a Modified Renaissance design. The tower rises on the northeast corner of the church and is a landmark seen for a distance from the surrounding area. The exterior walls of the church are inlaid with beautiful red and green tile designs, which are quite typical of the architectural styles from the Renaissance period. The roof is covered with red clay tiles, also a very typical feature of Renaissance-style churches. The three sets of doors which face Broad Street are constructed of solid oak and metalwork is hammered wrought iron.

The Church Interior

The exterior beauty of Saint Aloysius Church is surpassed only by the beauty of the interior. The interior space of the church is spanned by the great arched oak beams which help form and give support give support to the roof. These massive beams, lovely in their own right, were made more impressive during the remodeling of the church interior in 1943. At that time, the wooden beams were decorated with the colorful painted highlights which can be seen to this day. The pews, recessed confessionals, and choir loft are also fashioned of solid oak. The reconciliation room on the west side of the church was the original baptistery. 

The Stained Glass Windows

The magnificently stained-glass windows of St Aloysius Church are the work of German artist, Dr. Oldtmann, who came from his native land to sketch the designs which appear. The windows depict the Apostles' Creed. The windows surrounding the Apse depict the life story of Saint Aloysius. The smaller stained-glass windows in the confessionals and the side rooms as well as the sacristies are of rare beauty.

Dr. Oldtmass was the designer of the windows in the Pope's private chapel in the Vatican and was widely renowned throughout Europe for his artistic work. There are many who feel that the stained-glass windows of Saint Aloysius church are unsurpassed in beauty in the country or very few places in the world.

The Stations of the Cross

The fourteen Stations of the Cross depicts scenes from the last hours of Jesus' Passion and Crucifixion.  The painted scene of each station is of a baked-on-glass technique. The set of stations was made in Munich, Germany and is on of three such sets which exist in the world.

The High and Side Altars

These three beautiful altars are of reddish French and White Italian marble. The grandeur if the altars is enhanced with the bordered insets of colored glass mosaics. The apse above the high altar blends harmoniously with the marble and mosaics work of the altar itself.  The beauty of the Apse was embellished in the 1943 remodeling with painted murals in vivid color which depicted the Twelve Apostles.  Higher in the Apse, the scene of the Transfiguration with the figures of Christ, Moses, and Elijah.  In the peak of the Apse is a painted symbol of the Holy Spirit. The floor of the sanctuary is of colored marble and mosaic work which matches that of the altars.

The Statues

Four hand carved marble stature grace the area of sanctuary. Staues of the Blessed Mother and Saint Joseph surmount the side altars and statues of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and of Saint Aloysius adorn the niches on either side of the Apse. All of the statues in the sanctuary were imported from Italy.  The life-sized Crucifix and Pieta at the rear of the church are hand-painted plaster. In the room at the base of the bell tower you will find an area for private worship adorned with small statues of Infant of Prague and St. Anthony as well as a painting of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

The Organ

Installation of the nine-rank Moeller organ was completed in mid September of 2010. This refurbished pipe organ replaced a 1927 Kilgan