Bishop James Hartley founded St. Aloysius on August 19, 1906, splitting it from Holy Family Church and naming it for St. Aloysius Gonzaga. Father John Cahalan of New Straitsville was appointed the first pastor and held the position until illness forced him to leave in 1910. 

Bishop Hartley purchased land on West Broad Street between Midland and Clarendon Avenues for the church. The first Mass was celebrated in a storeroom at 2219 W. Broad St. A combination school, church, and rectory was dedicated the following year at the corner of Clarendon Avenue and West Broad Street.

The parish was the center of relief activity when the Great Flood of 1913 hit west Columbus. Many parish members opened their homes to help the needy, and many flood victimis decided to relocate to the Hilltop, after the Scioto River returned to its banks. 

By 1920, the parish population had increased to 350 families, and Father Cahalan's successor, Father Rudolph Schwarzz, pastor at St. Aloysius for 30 years, decided it was time to build a new church. This grey stone and brick structure, of modified Renaissance design, continues to serve the parish today.

In 1927, at about the time the current St. Aloysius Church was built, St. Mary Magdalene Parish was split from St. Aloysius to serve about 100 families west of Hague Avenue.

Another split took place in 1954 with creation of St. Agnes Parish. St. Aloysius at the time had a membership of 1,500 families. 

St. Aloysius again served as a flood relief center in 1959, when the Scioto overflowed and caused significant damage in the Franklinton area of the lower west side.

Another milestone occured in 1961, when a new elementary school opened to replace the school that had served the parish since its earliest days.

In 1976, St. Aloysius School was closed. It was served throughout its history by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. Elementary school students from the parish, as well as St. Agnes and Holy Family, became part of a combined school known as Notre Dame Elementary, in the former St. Agnes School. Seventh- and eighth-graders from the three parishes went to St. Mary Magdalene School. Contiuing demographic changes caused Notre Dame School to close in 1993.

The old St. Aloysius School served as a family service center and a branch office for Catholic Social Services until 2006. It remains part of the church property and now is being leased by a charter school.

Saint Aloysius Gonzaga
1568-1591
"Patron Saint of Catholic Youth"
 
Saint Aloysius Gonzaga was born on 9 March 1568. His father was Ferdinand de Gonzaga, Marquis of Castiglione. His mother was Martha de Tana Santena.
 
It was his mother's wish for Aloysius to be a churchman. His father desired for him a career in arms. At the age of five years, he was placed in an army camp of which his father was chief. Within a year he was sent home because of mischievous conduct. As years went on the effects of his mother's teaching began to show in him. He hated the vulgarity in speech or act which ran rampant through the army camp. In 1577, Aloysius pronounced the vow of perpetual chastity. In 1581, he became a page to the heir of the Spanish throne at Madrid. Finally, his father conceded to his wishes and on 28 November 1585, Aloysius signed away his right to the title and lands of Gonzaga. He joined the Society of Jesus ("Jesuits") and for the next six years he lived at Rome, Naples, and Milan. In caring for the sick, he contracted the plague and died in Rome on 20 June 1591, in the 24th year of his life.
His motto was: "I was born for greater things."