Welcome and welcome back!
Want to sign up as members of the parish? Our registration form is here.
Maybe you have been away from the Church for a little while or for quite some time, but now you feel our Lord’s calling you back to the Catholic Church. That’s wonderful! We’ve missed you, and our Church is not the same without you. A good first step would be to consider discussing any concerns or questions you may have about returning home with a priest, and to receive the Sacrament of confession. Please, begin coming to Mass again and experiencing Christ’s presence through worshipping in the Liturgy. The Bible and the Catechism of the Catholic Church are also there to help you on your journey home, as are our abundant Parish ministries. Know that you are not alone, and do not be afraid to find answers to your questions. We are all here for you.
If you are new, it takes time to get to know the Parish community and to allow them to get to know you. Our website will help you learn more about all we offer!
A message from our Pastor, Father Richard Mowery
Hi! I am Fr. Rick Mowery and I want to tell you a little about myself. I became your Pastor in June of 2021 and I truly love being here. I am originally from St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Mechanicsburg, PA. Before becoming a priest, I served 5 years in the U.S. Coast Guard, 5 years in the Navy Seabees, and 7.5 years in the PA Army National Guard. While I was in the Reserves, I was also an HVAC technician. While in the Army National Guard, I served in Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. While in the desert of Iraq, I had a lot of time to think. I had nowhere to hide, nowhere to run from excuses, and that’s when I started to really turn to God in prayer and fall in love with Him.
When I returned from Iraq, I was invited to make a Cursillo Weekend. That’s when I started to realize that God’s love is unconditional, and it changed my life. To my surprise, I began to feel a calling to the priesthood! In 2008, I entered St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia, and I was ordained to the Priesthood in the Diocese of Harrisburg by Bishop Ronald Gainer on June 4, 2016.
My first assignment was Parochial Vicar at Holy Name of Jesus Parish in Harrisburg; I then came to Bloomsburg where I served as Campus Minister at Bloomsburg University and Administrator of Christ the King Mission in Benton; from there I served as Pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Enola; and then I was blessed to become Pastor of St. Columba.
People sometimes ask me what I do in my spare time. My parents (pictured at my ordination, right) still live in Mechanicsburg and I visit them as much as I can. I like to mention them in my homilies when they visit our parish at St. Columba. My brother, his wife, and four children live in Virginia. Besides visiting with my family, I enjoy hunting, fishing, hiking and other outdoors activities. I also like to cook, bake, and share my creations with others.
Being a Pastor is an awesome responsibility, exciting and challenging. As our staff and many of you know, I am sometimes a bit “quirky,” but I am also very passionate about our faith and love being your Pastor. I am also an introvert with dyslexia, so it’s sometimes difficult for me to put my thoughts into words, so please be patient with me if I seem to be struggling to connect with you. I am truly invested in doing my very best to lead this wonderful parish to a closer relationship with Christ Jesus and to personally get to know you all!
