Father Donald Edward Franks
Donald Edward Franks
Born: July l8, 1953
Newark, Ohio
Son of Charles and Margaret Hillis Franks
Siblings: Rosann Marie Franks
Annette Marie Franks
John Charles Franks
Newark Saint Francis de Sales - First through Eighth Grade
Newark Catholic High School - Graduated l971 - National Honor Society
University of Notre Dame : Notre Dame, Indiana - Graduated l975 - with honors - Political Science; Government; concentration Supreme Court History
Catholic University of America: Washington, D.C. - earned Master of Divinity - including further studies after 7 years of priesthood
Ordained Priest May l9, 1979
Catholic Parishes
July l953 - Present Saint Francis de Sales - Newark - Home Parish
September l97l - l975 University of Notre Dame -Sacred Heart Parish -Notre Dame, Indiana
September l975 - l979 Catholic University of America -Theological College -Washington, DC
May l978 - August l978 Christ the King Parish - Columbus / Bexley - Deacon
January l979 - April l979 Saints Peter and Paul - Wellston - Deacon
July l979 - July l982 Holy Spirit Parish - Whitehall - Priest - Associate Pastor
July l982 - July l985 Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish - Pickerington - Priest - Associate Pastor
Sept. l985 - Thanksgiving Catholic University of America - Washington, D.C.
November l985 - July l987 Saint Matthias - Columbus - Priest - Associate Pastor
July l987 - December l987 Saint Mary Parish - Delaware - Priest - Associate Pastor
January l988 - July l990 Saint Joseph Cathedral - Columbus - Priest - Associate Rector
July l990 - July l99l Our Lady Queen of Peace - Columbus - Priest - Associate Pastor
July l99l - July 2000 Saint Mary Parish - Chillicothe - Pastor
July 2000 - August 2011 Saint Mary Parish - Lancaster - Pastor
August 2011 - Saint Mary Parish - German Village - Columbus - Pastor
August 2011 - Saint Ladislas Parish - Columbus - Pastor
August 2011 - Corpus Christi - Columbus - Pastor
Address Beginning August 23, 2011
Saint Mary Parish
672 South Third Street
German Village
Columbus, Ohio 43206-1028
1.614.445.9668
Parish Service
1965 Altar Server of the Year Award - Saint Francis de Sales (5 years)
l975 BA - University of Notre Dame (with honors) - Government - Supreme Court History concentration - 30 Semester Hours Theology
l976 National Institutes of Health - Bethesda, Maryland (Chaplain)
l979 Catholic University of America - Washington, D.C. - Seminary - Master of Divinity to follow
1979 Ordained Priest - Saint Francis de Sales - Newark (May l9, l979) - Catholic Diocese of Columbus
l979 Teacher / Campus Minister - Bishop Hartley High School (six years)
l985 Teacher / Campus Minister - Saint Francis de Sales High School (two years)
l988 Chaplain - Riverside Hospital - Columbus, Ohio
l988 Vicar of Catholic Charities and Social Concerns
Diocese of Columbus (four years including apprenticeship)
Catholic Conference of Ohio - Franklin County United Way Planning Board - Mid-Ohio FoodBank Board - St. Stephen’s Community House Board - Catholic Social Services Board - Diocesan Child Guidance Board -Saint Vincent Children Center Board - Joint Organization for Inner City Needs (JOIN) - Social Concerns / Right-to-Life / Catholic Relief Services - Christ Child Society - (Among some 40 boards, committees, task forces)
l996 Dedication of Saint Mary Family Life Center - Chillicothe
l999 Completion of Restoration and Renovation of Saint Mary Church -
including Gothic Reredos by E.J. Potente of Kenosha, Wisconsin
2000 Bishop’s Exemplary Pastor Award - Saint Mary Chillicothe - Bishop Flaget School
2000 Pastor of Saint Mary Parish - Lancaster, Ohio
2003 Completion of Clergy Chair of Three Year Bishop’s Annual Appeal
2004 Completion of 5 year term on Priests’ Personnel Board
2009 Bishop’s Exemplary Pastor Award - Saint Mary of the Assumption School - Lancaster
2009 Completion of Restoration and Renovation of Saint Mary Church Exterior, Spirit Center, Rectory, Cemetery
2010 Knights of Columbus Religious of the Year - 5 parishes of Lancaster Council 1016
2010 Dominican Courtyard and Green Space in the Heart of the Parish Campus - Church - Rectory - Primary School
2011 Dedication of Centennial 1820-1920 sculpted Georgia Marble Madonna by World Renowned Renaissance Artist Stan Mullins (Completion Date - August 15, 2011)
Community Service
l970 Buckeye Boy’s State - American Legion - Ohio University - Athens
l972 Youth Conservation Corps - Hebron National Fish Hatchery
(counselor / bookkeeper / project manager)
l973 Protege of Winston Churchill Allen - President Ohio Common Pleas Judges
(5 summers) - Newark / Licking County
1988 Columbus Area Leadership Program - Chamber of Commerce
l988 Franklin County United Way Planning Board
l988 Mid-Ohio FoodBank Board
l99l - 2000 Adena Regional Medical Center - Chillicothe, Ohio - Corporate Member (nine years)
l994 Supreme Court of Ohio Task Force on Judicial Ethics -
Commissioned by Chief Justice Thomas Moyer
l994 - 2000 Adena Regional Medical Center - Chillicothe, Ohio - Medical / Moral Ethics Board
l994 Domestic Violence Task Force (Ross County)
2000 - 2011 hosted Lancaster Festival Orchestra, Lancaster Chorale, Fairfield Youth Choir