Ordo Praedicatorum

This past Sunday, Bishop Frederick Campbell, the Bishop of Columbus, OH, said Mass commemorating the 200th anniversary of the first Mass said in the territory of Ohio.  In 1808, the Dittoe family of central Ohio petition Bishop Carroll of Baltimore to send a priest into Ohio to provide sacraments for the Catholics there.  In turn Bishop carroll contacted Fr. Edward Dominic Fenwick, OP, the founder of the Province of St. Joseph, who was then in Kentucky.  Traveling the long distance, Fr. Fenwick arrived in late September and said Mass on the property of the Dittoe farm.  The Bicentennial Mass was said on the piece of property on which Bishop Fenwick celebrated Mass two centuries before.  In addition to Bishop Campbell, in attendance were friars from most of our Dominican houses in Ohio.  Representing the Province, was Very Rev. Raymond Daley, the Vicar Provincial.

Below is an article from the Zanesville Times Recorder on the event.  The photos are all from the Zanesville Times Recorder.

A Show of Faith
First Catholic Mass in Ohio remembered

SOMERSET - Catholics from throughout Ohio gathered in Somerset on Sunday for the bicentennial of the first Catholic Mass ever celebrated in the state.
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“It was very nice,” said Marcella Fleer of Zanesville and formerly of Somerset. “They did a good job and I commend them for doing this.”

The event featured a memorial dedication, Mass and reception on land off of Stage Coach Road, historical site of the first mass in 1808.

“That was really the foundation of Catholicism in Central Ohio,” said Most Rev. Frederick Campbell, Bishop of Columbus. “I trained as a historian at Ohio State University and am interested in historical events. This is a wonderful gathering.”

Campbell served as celebrant and as he looked out at the over 300 gathered, said “I’m guessing this is slightly larger than what Father Fenwick presided over here.”

In 1808, Jacob Dittoe, a farmer living in Somerset, wrote a letter to Bishop John Carroll in Baltimore, Md., about obtaining a priest and establishing a church in Ohio. He sent the Rev. Edward Fenwick, OP, who celebrated the Mass for three families outside a log cabin on the Dittoe farm, where events were held Sunday.

Direct descendants Jacob Thomas and Michael Dittoe read scripture during the Mass.

“It’s a tremendous honor and really brings things full circle,” said Thomas. “To see this site it takes people back to what it must have been like back then.”

“It’s awe inspiring and humbling,” said Michael on thinking of his family connection. “This shows that one person can have an influence throughout the state.”

Another descendent, Robert Dittoe of Dayton, formerly of Cleveland, was in attendance with his brother Jim and his children Erin and Nick.

“When I mentioned this to them they were interested in coming,” said Robert of his children. “When the Dittoe name was said during the Mass you could see them swelling with pride.”

David Snider is a member of St. Joseph’s Church of Somerset and assistant scoutmaster for Boy Scout Troop 257. He had his sons Joseph, Robert and William in their Boy Scout uniforms helping with set up and directing people on where to park their cars.

“We try to be helpful for good community activities, secular or otherwise,” David said. “From a personal standpoint, my sons are members of the community as well and they should take part in pitching in and rolling up their sleeves.”

Peter Thomas of Columbus is a member of the mass committee that formulated the event and a Dittoe relation. In 2000, he was on a plane with Bishop James Griffin and talked with him about the family selling the land they had in Somerset.

“He talked with me about the church grabbing a piece of that land and preserving it,” said Peter.

Peter said that there is a three phase plan for the memorial. A rosary garden has already been constructed, but the first phase is to finish the garden with a permanent statue and cross. The second phase is to build a replica log cabin and the third phase is to create a religion and education center, he said.

“It’s an outstanding turn out and a great showing of faith,” Peter said of Sunday’s event. “They call Perry County the Cradle of Faith in Ohio and this proves that.”

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