Crosswoods in Columbus in Franklin County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Monsignor John Joseph Jessing
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., October 17, 2008
1. Monsignor John Joseph Jessing Marker
Inscription.
Monsignor John Joseph Jessing, founder of the Pontifical College Josephinum, was born in Germany in 1836. He immigrated to America and, in 1870, was ordained a priest in Columbus. He published a newspaper, the Ohio Waisenfreund (Ohio Orphans' Friend), raising funds to establish a boys' orphanage in Pomeroy, Ohio, in 1875. The orphanage was transferred to Columbus two years later, and in 1888, he opened the Collegium Josephinum, a seminary for boys with the "desire, intention, and talent to study for priesthood." Pope Leo XIII conferred the title "pontifical" in 1892, and the institution was incorporated by the State of Ohio in 1894. Monsignor Jessing died in 1899, but his vision lives on at the Pontifical College Josephinum, the only pontifical seminary outside of Italy. Monsignor Jessing's motto, "If God is for us, who can be against us?" became the official motto of the Pontifical College Josephinum.
Monsignor John Joseph Jessing, founder of the Pontifical College Josephinum, was born in Germany in 1836. He immigrated to America and, in 1870, was ordained a priest in Columbus. He published a newspaper, the Ohio Waisenfreund (Ohio Orphans' Friend), raising funds to establish a boys' orphanage in Pomeroy, Ohio, in 1875. The orphanage was transferred to Columbus two years later, and in 1888, he opened the Collegium Josephinum, a seminary for boys with the "desire, intention, and talent to study for priesthood." Pope Leo XIII conferred the title "pontifical" in 1892, and the institution was incorporated by the State of Ohio in 1894. Monsignor Jessing died in 1899, but his vision lives on at the Pontifical College Josephinum, the only pontifical seminary outside of Italy. Monsignor Jessing's motto, "If God is for us, who can be against us?" became the official motto of the Pontifical College Josephinum.
Erected 2002 by Ohio Bicentennial Commission, The Longaberger Company, Pontifical College Josephinum, and The Ohio Historical Society. (Marker Number 50-25.)
Location. 40° 7.195′ N, 83° 0.983′ W. Marker is in Columbus, Ohio, in Franklin County. It is in Crosswoods. Marker is at the intersection of High Street (U.S. 23) and the Pontifical College Josephinum entrance road, on the right when traveling south on High Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 7625 North High Street, Columbus OH 43235, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., October 17, 2008
2. Monsignor John Joseph Jessing Marker
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., October 17, 2008
3. Pontifical College Josephinum
Credits. This page was last revised on February 3, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 23, 2008, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 974 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on October 23, 2008, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.
