July 1941 "humble beginnings" During the 1930's and beyond, the National Black Congress was instrumental in the establishment of "starter churches" throughout the south that began as Missions with the hope of membership growth and financial sustainability to receive the canonical status of a "parish." The Congress wrote the Vatican for recourse in growing the Black Catholic community in the United States and Rome turned to the religious orders and congregations to respond to establishing "mission churches" throughout the southeast.
The Society of the Divine Savior represented by their Provincial, Fr. Bede Friedrich wrote a letter to the Bishop of Savannah, Most Reverend Gerald O'Hara, DD that the Salvatorians would be willing to staff a mission in Phenix City, Alabama known as Mother Mary Mission serving African- Americans. However, Fr. Bede envisoned the possibility of building a religious house in Columbus, Georgia. That was the beginning of a working relationship between the Salvatorians and the Diocese of Savannah that spanned from 1941-2005.
February 22, 1956 "a domestic church" Fr. Gregory Putzer, SDS celebrated the first "home parish Mass" at the home of Mr. & Mrs. Edward Cox on the corner of Ridgon Road and Baldwin Street. Through the efforts of the Salvatorian priests and the Vincentian Sisters of Charity, who staffed Mother Mary Mission School the Catholic Faith began to grow and spread from Phenix City to Columbus. As the efforts of evangelization grew and the membership began to swell, there was need to build the first parish church, hall and rectory that were built in May of 1958. There were two classrooms, a kitchen, the church complex that could accomodate 100 people.
April of 1959 "Parish Status"
In April of 1959, St. Benedict the Moor was established canonically as a parish with Salvatorian Father, Ignatius Behr as the First Pastor. By January of 1961 property was purchased for a new church building. Ground--breaking for the new St. Benedict the Moor Church took place on Sunday, June 4, 1961. Within a matter of months, Bishop Thomas J. McDonough, DD of Savannah dedicated our present Church on Sunday, October 22, 1961. The A--frame design continues to be a warm and welcoming space for worship and building church--community that has doubled the seating capacity to 200 people.
1969 "St. Benedict the Moor Rectory/House" St. Benedict continued to show signs of structural development as a "new rectory" was built in 1969 under the leadership of Fr. Thomas Leannah, SDS. Today, it serves as a guest house for visiting clergy and religious and will also be used as a archival center.
1983 "St Benedict the Moor Community Hall" Through the efforts of Fr. Mark Sterbenz, pastor of Saint Benedict, who collaborated with the Catholic Extention Society, Chicago, Illinois, together with the Diocese of Savannah, the Black and Native American Commission and St. Benedict the Moor Church were the major donors for the construction of the new St. Benedict the Moor Community Hall. Yet it did not stop there: among our special benefactors are: the Sisters of Mercy, Holy Family Church, Mr. John Amos, Mr. Leroy Burnham, Mr. Vincent McCauley, and the Knights of Columbus, Bishop Gross Assembly. Finally, St. Bendict Choir, the Catholic Council of Women from St. Benedict, and our Youth Club.
For this hurculean effort in gathering financial and relational support from the broader community, we are most appreciative and grateful as we house our church offices, kitchen and hall where we are able to feed the neighboring community through our Outreach Program over the past 32 years.
August 15, 1968 "The Profession of Vows" St. Benedict the Moor Church was the site of the Profession of Perpetual Vows of Sister Julian Griffin, VSC, a native daughter of the Church as a Vincentian Sister of Charity. From good Catholic-Christian families come the seeds of vocations and St. Benedict gave a daughter and a son to consecrated life in the Catholic Church. Sister Julian is remembered in stain glass in the foyer of the Church near the staircase to the Choir. We continue to pray that more women will hear the Lord call their name in service to the needs of the Church of the Twenty--first Century.
June 7, 1977 "Ordination to the Priesthood" On June 7, 1997 St. Benedict the Moor Church-Family witnessed the Ordination to the Priesthood of a "native son of the community" Salvatorian, Father Bruce Greening. Fr. Bruce would later be assigned to St. Benedict the Moor as a pastor between the years 1985-1989. He was a gifted and spirit--filled preacher of the Gospel and the Church grew in membership and ministry.
The gift of priesthood was shared through the pastorates of many of the Salvatorians, followed by the Missionary Society of St. Paul and presently, with the arrival of the Franciscan Friars Conventual in the Columbus Catholic Community. The following is a list of pastors and pastorates:
Society of the Divine Savior/Salvatorians Fr. Augustine Lucca, SDS 1959 Fr. Ignatius Behr, SDS 1959-1968 Fr. Andrew Shimek, SDS 1968-1969 Fr. Thomas Leannah, SDS 1969-1972 Fr. Mark Sterbenz, SDS 1972-1985 Fr. Bruce Greening, SDS 1985-1989 Fr. Neal Durham, SDS 1987-1990 Fr. Paul Brick. SDS 1990-2005
Missionary Society of St. Paul Fr. Donatus Mgbeajuo, MSP 2005-2013 Fr. Charles Atuah, MSP 2013-2018
May we pray in thanksgiving for the gift of consecrated life in the Church that has provided St. Bendict the Moor pastors from the Salvatiorians, the Missionary Society of St. Paul and the Franciscan Friars Conventual. Let us remember those who have preceded us to the House of the Father in the Holy City, the New and Eternal Jerusalem. Amen.
In 2005 the arrival of the The Missionary Society of St. Paul From the Society of the Savior (SDS), Fr. Paul Brick served St. Benedict as the longest termed pastor with 15 years of pastoral ministry. He is remembered for starting up the "Basketball Team" and for his foresight in Strategic Planning. Upon his departure, the Salvatorians were facing a diminishment of membership in the Congregation. They would be leaving St. Benedict after a 64 year journey that lead to the foundation of the Catholic Community at St. Benedict the Moor.
Once again, St. Benedict would be experiencing another branch in its Tree of Life with the arrival of the Missionary Society of St. Paul. In 2005, a mission pact was entered between the Diocese of Savannah and Bishop J. Kevin Boland with a relatively new religious society of Apostolic Life formed in 1977 by the Nigerian Bishops Conference. In 1986 the Missionary Society of St. Paul were working in partnership with the Josephite Fathers and Brothers in their ministry to African-American Catholics throughout the United States.
Fr. Donatus Mgbeajuo, MSP was assigned as Pastor at St. Benedict to build upon the spiritual legacy and community spirit that the Salvatorians helped shape that is the Church-Family of St. Benedict.
In 2009 50th Church Anniversary 1959-2009 On Sunday, June 28, 2009 St. Benedict the Moor Church celebrated their 50th Anniversary with a Mass of Thanksgiving by Bishop J. Kevin Boland with the theme of: "Our God is an Awesome God." Through the years the Church has developed into a vibrant community of over 120 families. During these past 50 years a working motto of St. Benedict the Moor continues to be: "Where everybody is somebody and Jesus is Lord!"
In 2018 the arrival of the Franciscan Friars to Columbus Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv., the Provincial of the Province of Our Lady of the Angels wrote his confrere Bishop Gregory J. Hartmayer, OFM Conv. regarding being of service in the Diocese of Savannah. Bishop Hartmayer gave a proposal to the Franciscan Friars Conventual gathered in Chapter that included three parishes in the city of Columbus, GA. A DVD presentation gave a the Friars a visual that accompanied Bishop's presentation.
There was an excitement among the Friars in a new venture to the southeast. With the availability of the former Convent of the Sisters of Mercy, it would soon become the canonical home of the Friars to be known as Franciscan Martyrs Friary.
On August 2, 2018 the arrival of the Franciscan Friars Conventual to Columbus and the Catholic Parishes of St. Benedict the Moor with Franciscan Friar, Noel Danielewicz as Pastor to succeed the path of the Missionary Society of St. Paul. While the Church of St. Anne would be pastored by Fr. Robert Schlageter along with two friar parochial vicars: Friar Mark David Skura and newly ordained Friar Manny Vasconcelos. Finally, the third parish of Our Lady of Lourdes and the Mission Church of St. Mary Magdalene would be under the pastorship of Fr. Bob Benko, OFM Conv.
In 2019 " the 60th Church Anniversary" 1959-2019 October 19, 2019 marked the 60th Annivesary Banquet for St. Benedict the Moor that was held at the site of the National Infantry Museum at Fort Benning. A starlight evening was hosted by the Music of Dr. Joseph Saulsbury and S Trio. Yolanda Amadeo served as Mistress of Ceremonies to a studding cast of dignitaries: Dr. Gary Dawson gave the occasion....Mayor Pro Tem, Evelyn Turner-Pugh represented the city of Columbus, and our guest speaker was Fr. Michale Heine, Vicar Provincial of Our Lady of Angels Province.
A Celebratory Mass was offered by Bishop Gregory J. Hartmayer on Sunday afternoon, October 29, 2019 at 2:00 P.M. and concelebrated our Vicar Provincial, Fr. Michael Heine, all the Friars and Fr. Patterson of Holy Family. The Anniversary Choir was led by Dr. Joseph Saulsbury and Mary Beth Kozee, with saxophonist, Lamar Barnett. After the Gospel, Sister Desire' Findlay renewed her Perpetual Vows as a Felician Franciscan Sister, while Deacon-elect Dwayne Tillman served.
Immediately, following the Anniversary Liturgy there was a catered reception at St. Benedict Community Hall. This time of remembrance gave momentum to the mission of "growing the Church" in the spirit of the New Evangelization.
Christmas 2019 "our First African Nativity" This Christmas 2019, St. Benedict would be home for a "New African Nativity" from the studios of Rome, Italy. Mary, Joseph and the Child Jesus arrived on time for Christmas, while the Angel and the Wisemen arrived for the Feast of Ephiphany.
March 2020 "the Covid-19 Virus" During the 3rd week of Lent 2020, the Covid-19 Virus struck the United States from China and all Churches and public venues were closed as a deterrent to the virus. St. Benedict the Moor under the initiative of Gail Buffong began a daily Rosary at 8 PM and continues to gather nightly until the virus ends. In an attempt to keep the lines of communication open, Deborah Thompson is mailing the Church bulletin to all our parishioners. Calling groups check-in on our church members during this time of the pandemic. Finally, Fr. Noel joined the main-streaming efforts of Our Lady of Lourdes every Sunday for Eucharist. He and Friar Bob alternated preaching as a way of visually being present to both of our communities. On May 31, 2020, the churches throughout the Diocese were once again open for Sunday Mass with taking a series of precautions to keep everyone safe and preventing the virus from spreading.