The Reverend Monsignor Thomas M. Bennett died on Sunday, September 7, 2008, at Mohun Health Care Center. Monsignor Bennett was a Catholic priest of the Diocese of Columbus who devoted his life to the priesthood and the students of St. Charles.

Monsignor Bennett’s body will lie in state at St. Charles Preparatory School’s Mother of Mercy Chapel, 2010 E. Broad St., Wednesday September 10, where friends may call from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. and Thursday from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 12:30 p.m. in the Robert C. Walter Student Commons, St. Charles Preparatory School. Bishop Frederick F. Campbell will be the principal celebrant and Monsignor Kenneth F. Grimes will offer the homily. Interment St. Joseph Cemetery. Friends who wish may contribute to Monsignor Thomas Bennett Scholarship Fund, St. Charles Preparatory School, may mail gifts to 2010 East Broad Street, Columbus, OH 43209 or by using our online donation form. Arrangements by Egan Ryan Funeral Home, 403 East Broad Street. Visit Egan Ryan for condolences.

The son of John and Helen (Strawinski) Zbytniewski, Monsignor Bennett was born November 18, 1931 in Detroit, Michigan. He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers Clarence, Ernest, and John and sisters-in-law Kathleen and Ilene. He is survived by brothers Charles (Carolyn) Bennett and Paul (Deborah) Bennett, sister-in-law Margaret Bennett, nieces, nephews and cousins.

He attended elementary and high school at St. Gregory School, Detroit. Monsignor Bennett studied at St. Charles College Seminary in Columbus, Ohio, where he received a B.A. in Philosophy in 1953 and an M.A. in History from The Ohio State University. He subsequently studied theology at St. Mary Major Seminary, Norwood, Ohio, from which he graduated in 1957. Monsignor Bennett was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Columbus on May 25, 1957, at St. Joseph Cathedral by Bishop Edward Hettinger. In 1992, he was named a Monsignor when the Holy Father John Paul II bestowed upon him the title of Prelate of Honor.

His assignments included assistant pastor St. Joseph Cathedral (1957-1960), Blessed Sacrament Church, Newark (1960-1963) and St. Thomas the Apostle Church, Columbus (1963-1964). He served as an instructor at Newark Catholic High School (1960-1963) before beginning his 46 year tenure as an instructor at St. Charles Preparatory School. During this time, Monsignor Bennett provided sacramental assistance at several Columbus parishes, most recently at Immaculate Conception Church, Columbus. In addition, Monsignor Bennett served as Administrator Pro Tem at St. Catharine of Siena Church, Columbus (1978) and Church of the Ascension, Johnstown (1981-1982). Monsignor Bennett was appointed Diocesan Archivist in 1988 and continued in this capacity until his death.