John Ambrose Watterson

Biography

John Ambrose Watterson answered the call to priesthood in the years after the Civil War and was appointed bishop of Columbus in 1880. He shepherded a growing Catholic population with thoughtful sermons, a careful ear for counsel, and an abiding commitment to Catholic education.

He oversaw the building of schools and parishes that deepened the church's roots in Ohio, and the faithful still speak of his patience and integrity as they gather at Mount Calvary Cemetery to honor his memory.