St. John Neumann Parish was founded in 1977 as a mission of St. Paul’s Parish in Westerville, which is located about 10 miles south of Sunbury. The first Mass was held at the American Legion Hall in Sunbury. Within five weeks there was such an influx of people in attendance, the Mass had to be moved to a larger location.
In September 1977, Masses were held in the Harrison Street Elementary School gymnasium until the original church was constructed in 1983. Pauline’s Pavilion was dedicated October 1995 in loving memory of Sister Pauline Devine, the pastoral assistant from 1983 until her death in 1992. The Pavilion was moved in 2012.
The original rectory/office was located on the corner of St. Rt. 36/37 and Domigan Road. In 1996, nine and a half acres of property north of the church grounds were purchased. Originally the house on this property was used as the pastor’s residence, the church office, classrooms and meeting rooms. Presently this house is used as the pastor’s residence. The rectory property behind the pond includes a marble altar for outdoor Masses. In 2007, the office was temporarily moved to 801 W. Cherry Street, Suite 120 until the original church was renovated into offices with classrooms in the lower level the summer of 2012.
Groundbreaking for the new church building occurred September, 2003, with dedication one year later. Building of the new Faith and Family Center began in June, 2011 with dedication one year later. The church expansion project started in spring, 2013, to double the size and to add beauty and symmetry. A Eucharistic Adoration Chapel was also added which allowed our adoration hours to expand from one day a week to six. A dedication Mass was held one week before Christmas 2013.
In 2017 we share our spiritual blessings; there are more than 1650 families at St. John Neumann and the parish continues to grow in God’s favor in the Sunbury area.
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Pastors of St. John Neumann
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| Father Pat Toner, first Pastor | 1983-1985 |
| Monsignor Tom Bender | 1985-1993 |
| Father Carmen Arcuri | 1993-1994 |
| Father James Walter | 1994-2005 |
| Father David Gwinner, associate | 1998-2000 |
| Father David Sizemore | 2005-2017 |
| Father Paul Noble | 2017-present |
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Deacons
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| Elmer Lampe | 1993-2013 |
| Carl Calcara | 2009-present |
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Pastoral Assistants
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| Sister Pauline Devine, O.S.F. | 1983-1992 |
| Sister Carol Ann Spencer, O.P. | 1993-1995 |
| Linda Haas | 1996-1998 |
| Rosemary Halter | 2000-2010 |
| Minister to the Sick
Sister Julie O’Stroske, O.S.F Kim Mazzon |
2000-2014 2013-present |