LIMA, OHIO (WLIO) - A Lima landmark reaches the century mark and continues to bring faith and service to the south side of the city.
The building is a testament to the faith of the parishioners that wanted their own place to worship.
St. John the Evangelist Parish celebrated their 100th anniversary of the dedication of their church building. In the beginning, Lima’s second Catholic parish met at a couple of different locations, including the Catholic school, which was built first. In 1910, parishioners started collecting money to build the church. The basement was finished first, and they met there for 12 years until the upper part of the church was dedicated on Thanksgiving 1924. The building is a testament to the faith of the parishioners that wanted their own place to worship.
“I think this is an icon in south Lima. It’s the second Catholic parish in Lima, and we have really been able to be a great service to the folks. When the community started, there were a significant number of Italians down in this part of Lima. The north end of Lima, where my other parish is, St. Rose, was Irish; the Italians were here; the Germans were here. A lot of other folks came to this area, and they worked at BLH, Baldwin, Lima, Hamilton, and they worked on the railroads. It’s a great community here. Now we have a lot of people come from outside the city; they come every weekend, and we are very pleased at what they are able to bring to this parish,” says Father David Ross.
Throughout the years, St. John continues to be a symbol of the generosity of the people who were dedicated to building their church.
Throughout the years, St. John continues to be a symbol of the generosity of the people who were dedicated to building their church.
“We are a vibrant parish, I think, and we continue to reach out to serve populations that are just coming to Lima, for example, the Haitian community. We reach out to serve the Haitian community, the Hispanic community. And I am hoping for the future, our community continues to remain as vibrant as it does right now,” adds Fr. Ross.
St. John currently has a social justice ministry, and the parish works with the Saint Vincent De Paul Society and its neighbors to continue to help in the south end of Lima.
