On a recent afternoon, music from The Beatles wafted through the new youth center space that is part of the recently completed $2 million addition at St. Bartholomew Catholic Church in Columbus.
“Let it be, let it be,” came the classic pop vocals from a speaker behind a kitchenette bar.
Bartholomew County’s largest house of worship, with a weekly attendance of nearly 2,000 people, is hardly letting things be these days. Its 2,000-square foot, modern brick youth space — paired with an upstairs, general office space — connected to the church at 1306 27th St. is evidence of a continuing move toward outreach.
And even non-Catholics are part of that.
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Parker Lee, a 17-year-old Columbus North High School senior, is a good example of an outreach that is largely open-ended — done with warmth but with no expectation for teens to become Catholic. Didn’t even The Beatles say that love is all you need?
“This has been introduced as kind of an open space — one where everyone is welcome,” the non-Catholic Lee said, socializing behind the trendy, copper countertop bar with friends who invited him to hang out when the youth center space opened.
Therein lies much of the sign that the investment already is paying dividends for a Christian body of believers aiming to love people right where they are. On nearly any given weekday after school Tuesday through Friday, 10 to 20 teens from grades seven through 12 congregate from 3 to sometimes 7 p.m. or a bit later if there is Bible study on a Wednesday (and yes, non-Catholics such as Lee attend that, too, comprising about half the study attendees many weeks).
On Tasty Tuesdays, when free desserts are featured from 3 to 6 p.m., attendance surges to as many as 50 teens (it helps that St. Bartholomew Catholic School, Northside Middle School, and Columbus North High School all are located within easy walking distance).
“Numbers in youth ministry sometimes mean nothing,” said Scotty Biggs, the parish’s coordinator of youth ministry, although his numbers continue to grow in an age when young people are leaving Christian churches. “But you know you’re successful when the young people start to bring their friends — and the space where they meet really becomes theirs.”
A total of 131 people can relax when stackable chairs — stylish seating donated from Cummins Inc. — are arranged auditorium style for retreats, presentations and other events. Tables and a big-screen TV allow the space to also be arranged cafe-style on an artsy, blue-stained cement floor that covers half the room.
“People should know that the last thing we’re trying to do is to specifically convert people,” Biggs said.
When construction began, Biggs mentioned that the project reflects the parish’s perspective as valuing youth as key components to current ministry. Among 175 active youth, many currently serve in a variety of adult volunteer roles — Scripture readers, greeters, altar servers — during weekend Masses.
Two teens also serve on the actual parish council. Before the space opened last month, youth sometimes gathered in the downstairs of St. Bartholomew Catholic School next door, according to Biggs.
The total, $3.1 million project — one that included updating elements of the sanctuary facility itself — began with a ceremonial Oct. 7, 2017 groundbreaking ceremony. Dunlap & Company Inc. of Columbus handled construction, designed by Steve Risting of atelierRISTING Design and Architecture of Indianapolis.
Risting helped design the church completed in 2001 and dedicated in 2002. Plus, he collaborated on The Commons design in 2011 and has worked on a variety of other local buildings. And unlike some building projects, the effort remained financially on target.
“We worked very aggressively to make sure we stayed within the budgets all along the way,” said Tom Vujovich, capital campaign chairman.
The Rev. Clem Davis, the longtime St. Bartholomew pastor, is pleased with both the new church office and youth space.
“I’m not great at envisioning what things are going to look like beforehand,” Davis said. “But I am happy that we’re now moved in and that the space seems to be very appropriate for the needs. And I’m happy that the kids are happy.”
Church member Aidan Smith, 16, mentioned that most teens are merely happy to have a place for simple unwinding.
“We just like to hang out,” Smith said.
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Where: Located at 1306 27th St. between the St. Bartholomew Catholic Church sanctuary and the St. Bartholomew Catholic School.
Space: About 6,000 square feet total, divided between church office space upstairs and youth group space downstairs.
Cost: $2 million for the addition as part of a total $3.1 million project that included upgrades in the church sanctuary structure.
Website: saintbartholomew.org
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