'We wanted to have coordinated through the diocese,' said Mays, the diocesan spokesman, who added that the diocese invited the Paulists to stay and 'be a part of the vision.' The Paulist chaplains would have answered to Streitenberger.

In that meeting, Snatchko said, Fernandes presented Constanza, who became the Paulist Fathers president on June 7, with a proposed memorandum of understanding that stated the diocese would assume control of the Newman Center and that two Paulist priests could remain chaplains for at least one year. René Constanza, the president of the Paulist Fathers, of the diocese's plans for the Newman Center during a meeting in late June. 'We're very sad with what's happening at Ohio State,' said Snatchko, who said that Fernandes informed Paulist Fr. Snatchko said the diocese's move to take over the campus ministry does not reflect 'Pope Francis' admonition of synodality' to listen and journey together. 'This came on quite suddenly,' Paul Snatchko, a spokesman for the Paulist Fathers, told NCR. They and their supporters said that the Paulist priests led a vibrant campus ministry that offered regular Masses, Bible studies, and several activities and events for students. However, that explanation does not satisfy the Paulists, who have been ministering at Ohio State University for nearly 66 years. 'This has to do with coordinating more resources there.' 'The Paulist Fathers have done great things there,' Mays said. Mays said the diocese's vision for the Newman Center includes a plan to invest 'more resources to bolster the good work' that the Paulist priests have already been doing at the center. Jason Mays, a diocesan spokesman, told NCR that Fernandes and other members of the diocesan leadership team have seen the recent open letter and are reaching out to members of the Newman Center community individually to listen to their concerns. The statement also said that all who attend the restructured Newman Center will benefit by 'being integrated into the larger life of the Diocese of Columbus.' The diocesan statement added that the Paulist Fathers were invited to remain as chaplains at the center. Adam Streitenberger, the diocesan director of evangelization, to become the new executive director of the Newman Center, effective July 12.įernandes, who was installed as Columbus' bishop on May 31, was quoted as saying that Streitenberger's appointment was the first step in 'an exciting and renewed vision for vocations and evangelization' in the diocese, in which the Newman Center is to play 'a vital role.' On June 30, the Diocese of Columbus, Ohio, announced that Fernandes was appointing Fr. 'I'm sad and angry, not only at what was done but how it was done.' 'I don't understand this decision by the bishop,' Gentilini told NCR.

Gentilini said he feels that he is losing his spiritual home. 'The Paulist Fathers have been very helpful to me in realizing that God loves me, as I am,' said Gentilini, who is gay and has attended Mass at the Newman Center for 53 years. Several signees, including Joseph Gentilini of Hilliard, Ohio, credited the Paulists with keeping them connected to the Catholic Church. More than 200 signees also offered short written testimonies extolling the Paulists and describing how their welcoming style of ministry and spiritual direction had been of benefit over the years. Thomas More Newman Center have signed a public letter calling on Bishop Earl Fernandes of Columbus, Ohio, to reconsider his decision to remove the Paulist Fathers from their longtime campus ministry assignment. Hundreds of parishioners, students and alumni of Ohio State University's St.

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