Saint Thomas Aquinas Church of Zanesville Celebrates 180 Years and Recognize Historic Item

MUSKINGUM COUNTY, Ohio- The Saint Thomas Aquinas Church is celebrating the 180th anniversary today of the blessing of the cornerstone.

In addition to this celebration service, they will also be acknowledging a 200 year old altar that was used for the first Mass said in Zanesville inside of the home of John Dugan, the benefactor of the Catholic community.

Father Jan Sullivan, Parish Priest of Saint Thomas Aquinas Church in Zanesville talked more on the oral tradition of the altar. 

“The first Mass was celebrated in 1819 by Father Dominic Young, who was a Dominican Friar. He came through here and met Mr. Dugan, who was  the proprietor of the Green Tree Tavern, which stood on the Northeast corner of Main St and North 5th Street,” Father Sullivan stated. “John Dugan was a Catholic and there was a growing number of Catholics here in Zanesville at the time and he asked if Father Young would offer Mass. So the Mass was offered there in the Green Tree Tavern and there were a number of Catholics. Mostly immigrants from Ireland.”

Father Sullivan said that Mr. Dugan home was on the second floor of the Green Tree Tavern where Mass was held and the altar was initially designed for his wife. 

It is also said that the altar has been passed down 10 generations and it came into the church’s possession through a local Catholic family. 

“So we are celebrating the gift that we the Irish, I’m Irish myself, received from the Ministry of Saint Patrick and honor him for bringing us the good news of Jesus by his Ministry and mission to the Irish,” Father Sullivan said. “And then for 200 years this year, the Catholic community of Muskingum County has been faithful to the Gospel of Jesus and the current Saint Thomas Church together with the current Saint Nicholas Church are witnesses to the Catholic faith that was planted here, that was nurtured here and was stained here over many many generations.”

Father Sullivan said Mr. Dugan’s body currently rests under the present Saint Thomas Aquinas and a grave marker is located in the old St. Thomas cemetery. 

The service begins at 7:00 PM this Thursday night at 144 North Fifth Street along with a celebration of the Mass in honor of Saint Patrick and a light reception in the school cafeteria.