Archives for July 2021

July 21, 2021 by Jennifer Schack

Reverend Joseph F. Beckman died on Tuesday, July 20, 2021, in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was born on November 5, 1921, in Hamilton, Ohio. He did his preparatory studies at St. Gregory Seminary, Cincinnati and studied theology at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary of the West, Norwood. He was ordained on May 29, 1954 at St. Monica Cathedral in Cincinnati, by Archbishop Karl J. Alter.

Father Beckman received his first assignment on June 17, 1954, as Assistant of Holy Angels Parish and teacher at Purcell High School, Cincinnati. On June 16, 1955, he was appointed Chaplain of Ursuline Convent and School of St. Martin, Brown County. On June 20, 1958, he was appointed to the faculty of St. Gregory Seminary. On August 21, 1959, he was appointed to edit the Confraternity of Suffering paper under the direction of the pastor of St. Mary Church (13th & Clay Streets). On April 22, 1960, he was assigned to help at St. Mary Parish, Oxford on Sundays and Holydays. On June 6, 1961, Father Beckman was appointed Assistant at St. Agnes Parish, Cincinnati, continuing to edit the Confraternity of Suffering. On August 24, 1961, he was appointed Assistant at St. Michael Parish, Sharonville, continuing to edit the Confraternity of Suffering, and to teach part-time at Notre Dame High School, Reading. On June 14, 1963, he was appointed as Assistant of Assumption Parish, Mt. Healthy and continuing to teach at Notre Dame High School. On June 17, 1964, he was appointed Assistant of St. Mary Parish, Oxford, part-time teacher at Hamilton Catholic High School, and to work with the Newman Club, under the direction of the pastor at Miami University. On August 24, 1971, Father Beckman was granted a leave of absence from any regular assignment in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati and to take up residence at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary, Norwood. For 10 years thereafter, Father Beckman spent time traveling to over 80 countries – providing articles and photographs on Third World poverty and concerns, published in Catholic periodicals and newspapers. On July 1, 1982, he was appointed Chaplain at St. Joseph Infant and Maternity Home, Cincinnati. Father Beckman retired from active ministry on December 1, 1989.

Reception of the Body: Monday, July 26, 2021, at 5:00 p.m. in the Chapel of St. Gregory the Great at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary & School of Theology, 6616 Beechmont Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45230; (513-231-2223). Celebrant: Reverend David A. Sunberg. Homilist: Reverend Timothy P. Schehr. Visitation: until 8:00 p.m.

Mass of Christian Burial: Tuesday, July 27, 2021, at 11:00 a.m. in the Chapel of St. Gregory the Great at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary & School of Theology. Celebrant: Most Reverend Dennis M. Schnurr. Homilist: Very Reverend Anthony R. Brausch. (Priests: If you plan on concelebrating, please contact Erin Kepf at [email protected] or 513.231.2223.)

Burial: Tuesday, July 27, 2021, at 2:00 p.m. at St. Stephen Cemetery, 1314 Greenwood Avenue, Hamilton, Ohio 45011. Celebrant: Reverend Larry R. Tharp.

July 20, 2021 by Jennifer Schack

Release Date: July 20, 2021

Statement regarding President Biden’s town hall meeting in Cincinnati

Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr has not been contacted by any involved party about the upcoming visit of President Joseph R. Biden to Cincinnati to participate in a CNN town hall meeting at Mount St. Joseph University. Archbishop Schnurr has therefore not been asked for, nor would he have granted, his approval for any such event to occur on Catholic premises. Mount St. Joseph University operates under the sponsorship of the Sisters of Charity and not under the direct oversight of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati is the 44^th largest Catholic diocese in the country, with more than 440,000 Catholics, and has the fifth largest Catholic school system in terms of enrollment with more than 40,000 students. The 19-county territory includes 211 parishes and 111 Catholic primary and secondary schools.

Jennifer Schack

Director of Media Relations

Archdiocese of Cincinnati

Office | 513.263.6618

Cell | 859.512.5626

[email protected]

July 19, 2021 by Jennifer Schack

Letter to the Clergy and Faithful of the Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati regarding Traditionis Custodes

Since the promulgation of the Apostolic Letter, Summorum Pontificum, regarding the faculty to use the Roman Missal edited by John XXIII in 1962, Pope Francis held it necessary to proceed with a reform of the above mentioned text, emending the norms of the Letter. The Holy Father approved and ordered the promulgation of these revised norms on 16 July 2021 in Traditionis Custodes.

Attached with this letter are the norms regarding the use of the Mass from the 1962 Roman Missal for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. Archbishop Schnurr has promulgated these norms effective July 19, 2021.

From the Chancery Office, Archdiocese of Cincinnati

Most Reverend Dennis M. Schnurr, Archbishop of Cincinnati

Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor

For the implementation norms of Traditionis Custodes in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, click here.

July 13, 2021 by Jennifer Schack

Reverend Thomas S. Bokenkotter died on Sunday, July 11, 2021, in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was born on August 19, 1924, in Cincinnati, Ohio. He did his preparatory studies at St. Gregory Seminary and Mount St. Mary’s Seminary of the West in Cincinnati. He received his Licentiate in Sacred Theology from the Angelicum University in Rome and his Doctorate in Church History from the University of Louvain, Belgium. He was ordained on September 8, 1950 at Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Norwood, Ohio by Bishop George J. Rehring.

Father Bokenkotter received his first assignment on July 9, 1954, as Assistant at St. Charles Borromeo Parish, Carthage (Cincinnati), and to the faculty of Purcell High School. On June 15, 1956, he was appointed Assistant at St. Thomas More Parish, Withamsville (Cincinnati), and to the faculty of McNicholas High School. On June 22, 1959, he was appointed Assistant at Guardian Angels Parish, Mt. Washington (Cincinnati), while continuing at McNicholas High School. On August 21, 1959, he was appointed to the faculty of St. Gregory Seminary, Mt. Washington, (and continued teaching at McNicholas High School until the end of the 1960 school year). On September 28, 1980, Father Bokenkotter was appointed Pastor at Assumption Parish, Walnut Hills (Cincinnati). Father Bokenkotter resigned as Pastor of Assumption Parish on November 1,1999, and was appointed Administrator of Assumption, the following day, November 2, 1999, where he served until Assumption Parish was closed in 2013. During his years of ministry, Father Bokenkotter opened the first soup kitchen in Cincinnati in1976, which was located in Over-the-Rhine, and a opened a second location in Walnut Hills across from Assumption Parish in 1984.

Reception of the Body: Friday, July 16, 2021, at 9:30 a.m. at St. Margaret of Cortona Church, 6000 Murray Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45227; (513-271-0856). Celebrant: Reverend P. Del Staigers; Visitation until time of the Mass of Christian Burial.

Mass of Christian Burial: Friday, July 16, 2021, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Margaret of Cortona Church. Celebrant and Homilist: Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer.

Burial: Friday, July 16, 2021, immediately following the Mass of Christian Burial in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Montgomery (Cincinnati). Celebrant: Reverend P. Del Staigers.

July 7, 2021 by Jennifer Schack

Reverend Ronald J. Piepmeyer died on July 4, 2021 in Liberty Township, Ohio. He was born on December 5, 1946 in Cincinnati, Ohio. He received a B.S. and M.A. in History from Xavier University, Cincinnati and a M.Div. from The Athenaeum of Ohio, Cincinnati. He was ordained on May 17, 1997 at St. Peter in Chains Cathedral, Cincinnati, by Archbishop Daniel E. Pilarczyk.

Father Piepmeyer received his first assignment on June 18, 1997 as Parochial Vicar of St. Martin of Tours Parish, Cheviot. On July 2, 2001, he was appointed Parochial Vicar of Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, Cincinnati. He was appointed Pastor of St. Boniface Parish, Piqua commencing on July 1, 2002. On January 6, 2003, he was appointed Parochial Vicar of St. Cecilia Parish, Cincinnati. Father Piepmeyer was appointed Pastor of St. Philip the Apostle Parish, Morrow on July 1, 2003 for a period of six years, and re-appointed as Pastor on July 2, 2009, for another six-year term. Father Piepmeyer retired from active ministry on July 1, 2015.

Reception of the Body: Thursday, July 8, 2021, at 6:00 p.m. at St. Maximilian Kolbe Church, 5720 Hamilton-Mason Road, Liberty Twp., Ohio 45011; (513-777-4322). Celebrant and Homilist: Reverend Patrick L. Sloneker. Visitation: immediately following until 8:00 p.m. Rosary will be prayed at 7:00 p.m. and Divine Chaplet at 7:45 p.m.

Mass of Christian Burial: Friday, July 9, 2021, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Maximilian Kolbe Church. Celebrant: Most Reverend Dennis M. Schnurr. Homilist: Reverend James J. Riehle.

Burial: Friday, July 9, 2021, immediately following Mass of Christian Burial at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, 11000 Montgomery Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45249. Celebrant: Reverend Bernard J. Weldishofer. (A luncheon reception will follow the funeral at the St. Maximilian Kolbe Porter Complex.)

July 2, 2021 by Peter Garcia

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

As we celebrate the bicentennial anniversary of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, we give thanks to our generous God for the many blessings He has bestowed on us and look forward with expectant faith to what is to come.

Much has changed in our archdiocese and in the United States over the past 200 years. For instance, we are an increasingly mobile society, no longer traveling to work or church on foot or horseback. Compared to earlier eras in our country’s history, when waves of European Catholic immigrants faced scorn and discrimination, Catholics have made tremendous progress in educational level, social acceptance, career achievement and affluence. Catholics can now be found in the highest tiers of every profession and public office in this country.

Unfortunately, not all change over the past two centuries has been for the better. American assimilation has brought with it a certain diminishment of distinctive Catholic culture. Religious practice among Catholics, following the overall U.S. trend, is in serious decline. One need only look at the empty pews of an average Sunday Mass to know this. Catholic families are generally not as large as they used to be and fewer parents encourage their children to consider a religious vocation. Here in our own archdiocese, while we have been blessed these past few years with an increase in the number of men ordained to the priesthood and in seminary formation, we have even more in active ministry who are at or beyond retirement age.

Despite these discouragements, our mission – Christ’s great commission to proclaim the Good News of salvation and make disciples of all nations – remains. We are called to be God’s joyful witnesses, to radiate Christ in all we do, so that all people might know, love and follow Jesus through this life and into the next.

As Church, together we always have the responsibility to look ahead and make the best use of all the Lord has provided us. If we are to be the Church as Christ intends, we must understand that “status quo” can have no place in our vocabulary. We must prayerfully ask ourselves, “What in God’s plan must we do next?” Are our resources properly and most effectively aligned with our God-given mission? Is each of our parishes a strong, vital community of evangelization, centered on the Eucharist, that continuously draws its parishioners and attracts new members into a more intimate relationship with Jesus … or is it just struggling to survive? If the latter, why is that? And what might we do about it?

To address these questions, the Archdiocese of Cincinnati has launched Beacons of Light, a process of comprehensive pastoral planning for our third century of faith in this archdiocese. Under the leadership of Father Jan Schmidt, Director of Pastoral Vitality, and in collaboration with our priests and experienced consultants, we are studying every aspect of our archdiocese and parishes to determine how to best array our resources – human, physical and financial – to spread the Gospel far and wide.

This process will naturally bring with it much anxiety and trepidation as you wonder about the future of your beloved parish. This is a testament to the deep affection parishioners have for their parishes, for which I am very grateful. Beacons of Light will challenge each of us to place the best interests of the Church and our future generations at the forefront of our planning. It will require us to be open to solutions with which we may not immediately feel comfortable.

Our local Church is a part of the Lord’s plan for His people, and that plan cannot fail. God’s love is too powerful for that. It is up to us to rely on that love and respond to it, both as individuals and as members of the one Church. As we look to the future, we can be certain that the Gospel will continue to be preached, the sacraments will continue to be celebrated, and the Lord will always be with His people.

The Beacons of Light plan will be finished by the end of this year, but the actual implementation will take several years. You will have an opportunity to comment on the plan in October before it is finalized, and you will be invited to assist your pastor with the implementation at the parish level. I urge you to stay engaged with this initiative by signing up for the free Beacons Update newsletter.

As we embark on this challenging but necessary endeavor, let us together ask for the intercession of our Blessed Mother that God continue to bless us with His presence and His love, as He has our first 200 years.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Most Reverend Dennis M. Schnurr

Archbishop of Cincinnati