The Woods at Josephinum 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.

Erected 2002 by Ohio Bicentennial Commission, The Longaberger Company, Pontifical College Josephinum, and The Ohio Historical Society. (Marker Number 50-25.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Education • Religion & Religious Structures

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. In addition, it is included in the Ohio Historical Society / The Ohio History Connection series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1836.

Location. 40° 7.265′ N, 83° 1.1′ W. Marker is in Columbus, Ohio, in Franklin County. It is in The Woods at Josephinum. It can be reached from the intersection of High Street (U.S. 23) and the Pontifical College Josephinum entrance road, on the right when traveling south. The marker was moved after major reconstruction of U.S. 23 closed the original entrance to the Josephinium. It is now located at the south edge of the north visitor parking lot. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 7625 High St, Columbus OH 43235, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Ohio’s Scioto Valley.

It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Flint Veterans Garden (approx. 0.9 miles away); Orange Johnson House (approx. 1.9 miles away); The Founding of Worthington / Worthington, A Planned Community (approx. 2.2 miles away); Horace Wolcott (approx. 2.2 miles away); Eclectic Medical College (approx. 2.2 miles away); The Bicentennial Oak (approx. 2.2 miles away); Travis Scott House (approx. 2.2 miles away); Topping-Evans House (approx. 2.2 miles away).

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., October 17, 2008

2. Monsignor John Joseph Jessing Marker

Pontifical College Josephinum image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., October 17, 2008

3. Pontifical College Josephinum

Marker in its new location image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Grant & Mary Ann Fish, July 13, 2025

4. Marker in its new location

The marker was apparently moved after major reconstruction on U.S. 23.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 16, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 23, 2008, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 1,357 times since then and 74 times this year. Last updated on July 13, 2025, by Grant & Mary Ann Fish of Galloway, Ohio. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 23, 2008, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. 4. submitted on July 13, 2025, by Grant & Mary Ann Fish of Galloway, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.