Archives for May 2022

May 25, 2022 by Jennifer Schack

May 25, 2022

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Yesterday’s horrific news of the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas shakes us to our core and reminds us once again of the fragility of human life. This senseless, heartbreaking tragedy reinforces the desperate need for conversion to a culture of life in our country, one that respects the inherent dignity and sacredness of every human being from conception to natural death. I join my fellow U.S. Catholic bishops in sharing the following statement:

“There have been too many school shootings, too much killing of the innocent. Our Catholic faith calls us to pray for those who have died and to bind the wounds of others, and we join our prayers along with the community in Uvalde and Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller. As we do so, each of us also needs to search our souls for ways that we can do more to understand this epidemic of evil and violence and implore our elected officials to help us take action.”

God alone is the Author and Lord of life. The intentional taking of innocent human life is intrinsically evil. I implore everyone of faith to join in prayer for the victims, their family members and their loved ones. May we, the Catholics of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, together petition our Blessed Mother to intercede for them so that they might know the peace and healing of Jesus, her Son.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Most Reverend Dennis M. Schnurr

Archbishop of Cincinnati

May 25, 2022 by Jennifer Schack

Release Date: May 25, 2022

Letter to the faithful from Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr

Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr, of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, released the following letter today to the people of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati concerning the tragedy in Uvalde, TX:

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

“There have been too many school shootings, too much killing of the innocent. Our Catholic faith calls us to pray for those who have died and to bind the wounds of others, and we join our prayers along with the community in Uvalde and Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller. As we do so, each of us also needs to search our souls for ways that we can do more to understand this epidemic of evil and violence and implore our elected officials to help us take action.”

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Most Reverend Dennis M. Schnurr

Archbishop of Cincinnati

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati is the 44^th largest Catholic diocese in the country, with more than 450,000 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]

May 20, 2022 by Jennifer Schack

W H A T | Priesthood Ordination Mass

W H E N | Saturday May 21, 2022, 11 A.M.

W H E R E | Cathedral Basilica of St. Peter in Chains: 325 W. 8^th St., Cincinnati OH

Release Date: May 20, 2022

Seven priests being ordained for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati

The Archdiocese of Cincinnati will joyfully celebrate the ordination of seven new priests on Saturday May 21, 2022. The men will be ordained to the priesthood for service to God and the Church. Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr will celebrate the Mass. Within the course of the ordination rite, the archbishop will lay his hands on the men, invoking the authority given by Christ to the apostles to make new priests.

The seven new priests will contribute to the growing trend of men being ordained priests over the last decade. The seven men being ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, this year, is in line with the seven men ordained in 2021, 2016 and 2009. The largest recent class were nine men ordained to the priesthood in 2019. The high number of ordinations in recent years, 26 men in total from 2019-2022, is the strongest four-year group in nearly 40 years! The last time we had 26 or more men ordained over a four-year period was 1980-1983.

The seven new priests have served as transitional deacons for the last year. Their ministry has included baptizing, assisting at marriages, and preaching at Mass. The men graduated on May 15 of this year from The Athenaeum of Ohio, Mount St. Mary’s Seminary, after at least seven years of formation for the priesthood. Parish assignments for the new priests will be announced at the ordination.

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 210 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]

May 17, 2022 by Jennifer Schack

Reverend Francis W. Voellmecke died on Sunday, May 15, 2022, in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was born on October 6, 1935, in Cincinnati. He did his preparatory studies for two years at St. Gregory Seminary, Cincinnati and received a Ph.B. and S.T.L. from Gregorian University, Rome. He was ordained on December 20, 1959, at the Chapel of the North American College in Rome by Archbishop Martin J. O’Connor, Rector of the North American College & Titular Archbishop of Laodicea in Syria.

Father Voellmecke was appointed to his first assignment on August 31, 1960, as assistant at Holy Family Parish, Cincinnati and part-time teacher at Seton High School, Cincinnati. On August 29, 1963, he was appointed as assistant at St. Dominic Parish, Cincinnati and to continue teaching part-time at Seton. On August 9, 1966, he was appointed assistant at St. William Parish, Cincinnati and to teach full-time at Seton. In August 1969, Father Voellmecke was assigned to further studies at Notre Dame University in South Bend, Indiana where he achieved a Ph.D. in Philosophy. On June 20, 1973, he was appointed to the faculty at St. Gregory Seminary and on June 7, 1974, he was appointed as Rector of the Seminary. On August 1, 1980, Father Voellmecke was released from service in the Archdiocese in order to serve on the faculty of the Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio. In December 1988, Father Voellmecke was granted permission to serve for five years in the Diocese of Salt Lake City, Utah and in July 1989, he was released to serve as Pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish and Newman Center in Logan, Utah. In December 1993, his leave for service to the Diocese of Salt Lake City was extended for one more year. On August 12, 1995, he was appointed resident associate at Our Lord Christ the King Parish, Cincinnati. On June 1, 1996, he was appointed pastor of Old St. Mary Parish, Cincinnati, for a period of six years. Father Voellmecke was appointed to the faculty of Mount St. Mary’s Seminary/Athenaeum of Ohio, Cincinnati on August 3, 1998. He was appointed Temporary Parochial Administrator of Sts. Peter and Paul Parish, Reading, effective June 25, 2001, while remaining on the seminary faculty. Father Voellmecke retired from active ministry on July 1, 2010.

Reception of the Body: Monday, May 23, 2022, at 5:00 p.m. at St. William Church, 4108 W. 8^th St., Cincinnati, Ohio 45205; (513-921-0247.) Celebrant: Reverend Jeffrey M. Kemper. Visitation: following Reception of the Body until 8:00 p.m.

Mass of Christian Burial: Tuesday, May 24, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. at St. William Church. Celebrant and Homilist: Reverend Edward P. Smith.

Burial: Tuesday, May 24, 2022, immediately following at St. Joseph (Old) Cemetery, 3819 W. 8^th St. at Seton Ave., Cincinnati, Ohio 45205. Celebrant: Reverend Edward P. Smith.

May 9, 2022 by Jennifer Schack

Reverend James J. O’Connor died on May 4, 2022, in Celina, Ohio. He was born on June 26, 1928, in Fayetteville, Ohio. He did his preparatory studies at St. Gregory Seminary and studied theology at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary of the West, Norwood. He was ordained on August 22, 1954, after his third year of theology, at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary of the West Chapel, Norwood by Archbishop Karl J. Alter. He returned to the Seminary after ordination for his final year of theology.

Father O’Connor received his first assignment on June 16, 1955, as assistant at St. Monica Cathedral, Cincinnati. On June 20, 1958, he was appointed assistant at St. Peter in Chains Cathedral, Cincinnati and to teach at De Porres High School, Cincinnati. On June 11, 1962, he was appointed administrator of St. Augustine Parish, Cincinnati and principal of De Porres High School, until the school closed in 1964. On June 17, 1964, he was appointed temporary assistant at Holy Trinity Parish, Middletown. On August 25, 1964, he was appointed chaplain to the Sisters of Charity at Marian High School; in charge of the religion department, full-time religion teacher, with residence at St. Margaret Hall, Cincinnati. Father O’Connor was appointed principal of Fenwick High School, Middletown (1967-1974) and administrator of St. Peter Claver Parish, Middletown on June 16, 1967. When St. Peter Claver Parish closed in 1969, Father O’Connor was appointed, on July 14, 1969, as assistant at St. John Parish, Middletown, and to continue as principal at Fenwick. On June 17, 1971, he was appointed assistant at Holy Trinity Parish, Middletown and to continue as principal at Fenwick. On June 15, 1972, he was appointed assistant at St. Mary Parish, Middletown and to continue as principal at Fenwick. On June 20, 1973, he was appointed to return as assistant to Holy Trinity Parish, Middletown and to continue at Fenwick. Father O’Connor was appointed pastor of Holy Angels, Sidney, on June 19, 1974. On August 16, 1976, he was appointed co-pastor of Holy Angels, Sidney. On August 8, 1985, Father O’Connor was appointed pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish, Botkins; then appointed pastor of St. Lawrence Parish, Rhine for a period of six years, effective December 1, 1989, while remaining as pastor of Immaculate Conception. Father O’Connor retired from active ministry on July 1, 1998.

Reception of the Body: Saturday, May 14, 2022, at 9:00 a.m. at Holy Angels Church, 119 E Water St., Sidney, Ohio 45365; (937-498-2307.) Celebrant: Reverend Steven L Shoup. Visitation: 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m., following Reception of the Body until Mass of Christian Burial.

Mass of Christian Burial: Saturday, May 14, 2022, at 11: 00 a.m. at Holy Angels Church, Sidney. Celebrant: Reverend Steven L. Shoup. Homilist: Reverend Kyle E. Schnippel.

Burial: Saturday, May 14, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. at St. Patrick Cemetery, Anderson State Road, Fayetteville, Ohio 45118. Celebrant: Reverend Thomas L. Bolte

May 1, 2022 by Jennifer Schack

Devotion to the saints, those holy men and women who have gone before us on earth and are now with God in heaven, has been a vital part of Catholic culture and practice from the earliest centuries of the Church. In particular, we venerate the Blessed Virgin Mary. We honor her as the mother of God, the mother of the Church and our mother, as well.

Depictions of the Blessed Virgin as an aid to prayer have appeared on frescos in the catacombs of Rome, on icons and on statues and paintings in churches throughout the world and over the centuries. Many of our most beautiful Catholic hymns are about Mary, reflecting the affection Christian people have always had for her. She is not a remote figure, but close to us as our model of faith, intercessor and Blessed Mother. In all of these roles, she leads us to Christ.

Mary is often called the first and most perfect disciple of Jesus. She believed in the message of an angel even though she did not know how it could be. In response to her kinswoman Elizabeth’s cry of “Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled” at the Visitation, she responds with the beautiful prayer, the Magnificat: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my savior” (Lk. 1:46-47). Mary is a model of faith, and we draw on her example for courage and strength as she accompanies us during life’s challenging times and big transitions.

In the Gospel according to John, we see Mary as intercessor when she subtly advocates for the bridal party at the wedding feast of Cana. She says just two things: “They have no wine” (Jn. 2:3) and “Do whatever he tells you” (Jn. 2:5). Despite protesting that His hour has not yet come, Jesus turns water into wine at the behest of His mother. Following the ancient practices of the Church, Catholics often ask Mary to go toGod on our behalf. That is what we do when we say such treasured Marian prayers as the “Hail Mary,” the “Hail! Holy Queen” and the “Memorare.”

Mary is the ideal intermediary because she is close to the Lord and close to us, a mother to both. She became the mother of God Incarnate when she told the angel Gabriel at the Annunciation, “May it be done unto me according to your word” (Lk. 1:38). She became the mother of the Church and its members when Jesus said to her at the foot of the cross, “Woman, behold your son” and to the beloved disciple, “Behold, your mother” (Jn. 19:26-27). Later, she was with the other disciples in the Upper Room (Acts 1:13) as a part of the early Church community in Jerusalem.

There are many ways in which the faithful can devote themselves to Mary, including the rosary, the Angelus, Mary gardens, Marian pilgrimages and May crownings. And since her assumption into heaven body and soul, the Church has found many apparitions of Mary worthy of belief, generating special devotions and feast days to Our Lady of Fatima, Our Lady of Lourdes, Our Lady of Guadalupe and others.

In my own life and in my ministry as priest and bishop, I have always felt close to the Blessed Virgin and valued Marian devotions as a means to follow her to Christ. Last June 19, on the bicentennial of the founding of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, I was pleased to re-consecrate our local Church to Jesus through Mary culminating a 33-day pilgrimage during which a blessed statue of Our Lady of Fatima was carried to 36 parishes across the archdiocese. This March 25, I again called upon Mary, asking her to watch over our archdiocese. We can be sure of Mary’s maternal care as we strive to be faithful disciples and joyful witnesses.

Holy Mary, Mother of God and our mother, pray for us!