Archives for May 2023

May 24, 2023 by Jennifer Schack

Reverend John E. Porter passed away on May 22, 2023, in Englewood, Ohio. He was born on April 4, 1930 in Dayton, Ohio, and baptized at Our Lady of Mercy Parish in Dayton. He did his preparatory studies at St. Gregory Seminary, Cincinnati, and studied theology at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary of the West, Norwood, Ohio. He was ordained on May 26, 1956 at St. Monica Cathedral in Cincinnati, Ohio by Archbishop Karl J. Alter.

Father Porter received his first assignment on June 15, 1956, as Assistant at St. Teresa of Avila Parish, Price Hill (Cincinnati), followed by an Assistant appointment on August 29, 1963, at St. Raphael Parish and to teach part time at Catholic Central High School, Springfield. On June 18, 1965, he was appointed Assistant at the Cathedral of St. Peter in Chains, Assistant Director of the Catholic Youth Organization (C.Y.O.) for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, and Director of the Main Street Bible Center. On February 12, 1966, he was appointed Director of the C.Y.O. while continuing as Director of the Main Street Bible Center, and was asked to serve as the Archdiocesan Chaplain for the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and Campfire Girls. Father Porter remained Director of the C.Y.O. until September 15, 1977. During his time as the C.Y.O. Director, he was appointed Assistant at St. Patrick Parish, Downtown Cincinnati, effective January 18, 1971, appointed Pastor of St. Stephen Parish, Cincinnati, effective June 20, 1973, appointed Chaplain of the Fontbonne, effective on June 27, 1974, and served as the director of Fort Scott Camp for many years. On January 15, 1978, he was appointed Pro-tem Director of the Mission Office (until October 16, 1978). On September 1, 1978, Father Porter was appointed Pastor of St. Bartholomew Parish, Cincinnati. He was appointed Pastor of St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish, Liberty Township, on July 13, 1989, for a period of six years, and re-appointed as Pastor for another six-year term, commencing on July 14, 1995. Father Porter retired from active ministry on July 1, 2003. After retirement, he held temporary Parochial Administrator appointments at St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish (August – December 2003); St. John Neumann Parish, Cincinnati, (December 2003 to June 2004); and St. Denis Parish, Versailles, and Holy Family Parish, Frenchtown (March – October 2005).

Reception of the Body: Wednesday, May 31, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. at St. Maximilian Kolbe Church, 5720 Hamilton-Mason Road, Liberty Township, Ohio 45011; 513-777-4322. Celebrant: Reverend James J. Riehle. Visitation: until 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday and from 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, June 1.

Mass of Christian Burial: Thursday, June 1, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Maximilian Kolbe Church. Celebrant: Most Reverend Dennis M. Schnurr. Homilist: Reverend William J. Dorrmann. A luncheon immediately following, in the gym.

Burial: Friday, June 2, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, 11000 Montgomery Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45249. Celebrant: Reverend David P. Vincent.

May 18, 2023 by Jennifer Schack

W H A T | Priesthood Ordination Mass

W H E N | Saturday May 20, 2023, 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 18, 2022

Seven men being ordained priests for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati

The Archdiocese of Cincinnati will joyfully celebrate the ordination of seven new priests on Saturday May 20, 2023. 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 Mass will be live-streamed on the Archdiocese of Cincinnati YouTube channel.

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, 2009 and 2022. The largest recent class were nine men ordained to the priesthood in 2019.

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 14 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 51^stlargest Catholic diocese in the country, with around 435,000 Catholics, and has the fifth largest Catholic school system in terms of enrollment with nearly 40,000 students. The 19-county territory includes 208 canonical parishes organized into 57 Families of Parishes, and 113 Catholic primary and secondary schools.

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Jennifer Schack

Director of Media Relations

Archdiocese of Cincinnati

Office | 513.263.6618

Cell | 859.512.5626

[email protected]

May 15, 2023 by Jennifer Schack

Effective March 6, 2023

Reverend Gianluca Roso, MCCJ, Parochial Vicar of S12 Family of Parishes which includes Holy Family, St. Boniface, St. Joseph, St. Leo the Great, and St. Therese Little Flower, Cincinnati.

Effective April 1, 2023

Reverend Jedidiah Tritle, Parochial Vicar of NE3 Family of Parishes which includes Mary, Help of Christians, Fairborn, Sacred Heart, New Carlisle, St. Augustine, Jamestown, St. Brigid, Xenia, St. Luke, Beavercreek and St. Paul, Yellow Springs.

Effective April 27, 2023

Reverend Edward P. Smith, Pastor of SE4 Family of Parishes which includes St. Columban, and St. Margaret of York, Loveland.

Effective May 1, 2023

Reverend Christopher J. Worland, Parochial Vicar of SE7 Family of Parishes which includes St. Andrew, Milford, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Milford, and St. Veronica, Mt. Carmel.

Effective June 1, 2023

Reverend Luke (John) VanBerkum, O.P., Parochial Vicar of S13 Family of Parishes which includes St. Gertrude, Madeira.

Effective July 1, 2023

Reverend Joseph Vijay Kumar Chinnabathini, Parochial Vicar of NE 4 Family of Parishes which includes Incarnation, Centerville and St. Francis of Assisi, Centerville.
Reverend Anthony Fortman, C.PP.S., Pastor of NE-6 Family of Parishes which includes Emmanuel, Dayton, Holy Trinity, Dayton, Precious Blood, Dayton, St. Joseph, Dayton, St. Paul, Englewood and St. Rita, Dayton.
Reverend James Gaynor, C.PP.S., Parochial Vicar of NE-6 Family of Parishes which includes Emmanuel, Dayton, Holy Trinity, Dayton, Precious Blood, Dayton, St. Joseph, Dayton, St. Paul, Englewood and St. Rita, Dayton.

Effective Fall of 2023

Reverend Anthony Marcelli assigned to graduate studies in Rome at the Pontificia Università della Santa Croce.

Retirement from Active Ministry

Reverend Robert Keller, Parochial Vicar of SW4, effective July 1, 2023.
Reverend Terence Hamilton, Parochial Vicar of SW7, effective July 1, 2023.
Reverend Mark Burger, Parochial Vicar of SW6, effective July 1, 2023.
Reverend Barry Windholtz, Parochial Vicar of S8, effective July 1, 2023.
Reverend Jeffrey Kemper, Parochial Vicar of SE7, effective July 1, 2023.
Reverend Lawrence Tensi, Parochial Vicar of SE4, effective July 1, 2023.
Reverend Thomas Bolte, Parochial Vicar of C1, effective July 1, 2023.

May 2, 2023 by Jennifer Schack

Deacon Robert “Bob” Collins, M.D., a Deacon of the Archdiocese, died on April 22, 2023 at the age of 90. Deacon Bob was ordained by Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati on April 24, 2004. He was assigned to St. Charles Borromeo Parish, Kettering, upon his ordination. He served the Archdiocese as a permanent deacon for nineteen years.

Deacon Bob’s wife, Joan, to whom he was married for sixty-five years, passed away in February of this year. Bob leaves his son and two daughters, their spouses, and his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Mass of Christian Burial was held May 1, 2023 at St. Charles Borromeo Church, Kettering.

Please keep the repose of the soul of Deacon Bob in your prayers, as well as peace and consolation for his family.

May 1, 2023 by Jennifer Schack

Release Date: May 1, 2023

Superintendent Susan Gibbons Retiring; Kathy Kane Stepping in as Interim Superintendent

After 45 years of working in education for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati –including the last seven years as Director of Educational Services and Superintendent of Schools- Susan Gibbons is retiring, effective July 29, 2023. Gibbons has served in Catholic schools of the archdiocese as a classroom teacher, assistant principal and principal and she has served in educational leadership as a regional director in the Catholic Schools Office and as Director and Superintendent of Schools.

“Ms. Gibbons has brought a steady hand to the superintendent role these past seven years,” said Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr. “She has been someone whom I could always count on to represent the Archdiocese of Cincinnati with honesty and integrity. Everything she has done has been with an eye toward providing our students with the best possible Catholic educational experience. I greatly appreciate her service to the Catholic schools of the archdiocese.”

In March 2023, Gibbons was recognized as C3 Educational Leader of the Year by Xavier University, the University of Cincinnati, Mount St. Joseph University, Northern Kentucky University and Thomas More University.

“I have been blessed to know many wonderful people during my 45 years in Catholic education,” said Gibbons. “I have learned so much from so many people. My life has been enriched by those whose mission is the success of our Catholic schools. I am thankful for all the people whom I have come to know and love. Catholic education is more important than ever for our young people. The gift of faith can last a lifetime.”

Upon Gibbons’ retirement, Archbishop Schnurr has appointed Kathy Kane as Interim Superintendent for the 2023-2024 school year. Kane has served the Catholic schools of the archdiocese for 35 years. She currently serves the Catholic Schools Office as Deputy Superintendent of Leadership and Licensure. Kane has held the position for four years and has been working in the Catholic Schools Office for eight years. Previously, she has been a principal, assistant principal and classroom teacher.

“Kathy is dedicated to the mission of our Catholic schools. She is known and respected by many throughout the Archdiocese of Cincinnati,” said Archbishop Schnurr. “I am proud of the dedication of the staff of our Catholic Schools Office and am confident Kathy Kane will continue this tradition of excellence in Catholic Education for the children, families, staffs, and community of the archdiocese.”

During her career, Kane has been recognized as a National Catholic Education Association (NCEA) Distinguished Principal and she has served as an adjunct professor at Xavier University. Ms. Kane will begin her role as Interim Superintendent on July 1, 2023.

“I am inspired by the dedication of our Catholic school leaders, teachers, and communities,” said Ms. Kane. “God calls each of us to courageously and lovingly step out in faith and to use all that we have been given in care and service of others. With devotion, passion, prayer, and compassion, I am thrilled to serve our Catholic schools as the Interim Superintendent. The possibilities for our Catholic school communities are endless.”

Jennifer Schack

Director of Media Relations

Archdiocese of Cincinnati

Office | 513.263.6618

Cell | 859.512.5626

[email protected]

May 1, 2023 by Colin Rahill

May is a month of transitions. Children celebrate the end of the school year and the beginning of summer break. College students return home or perhaps begin an internship related to their area of study. Families gather for First Communion and Mother’s Day celebrations and look forward to upcoming vacations. With the passage from spring to summer, we spend more time outdoors and even contemplate the changes in the natural world as trees, shrubs, flowers and crops burst into life.

This is also a season in which significant milestones are met in the lives of many young people. Graduates look forward to beginning a new stage of their education, starting down a career path or entering a trade. Many young couples begin their married life together. Within our young people’s faith journeys, this is a season when many receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, and guided by the Holy Spirit, set out to discover all that God has in store for them and the gifts they have to offer to the life of the Church.
We also thank God for the continued gift of young men who respond to His call to serve as priests. Later this month, we will gather as a local Church at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Peter in Chains to celebrate the ordination of seven men to the priesthood; seven newly ordained priests who will begin their ministry at parishes throughout the archdiocese.

In a particular way, the Church also looks to Mary during this month and praises God for her example of fidelity and generosity, as well as her tremendous contributions to God’s plan of salvation, even at a young age. Pope Francis recently encouraged young people to look to Mary as a model of faith. “In the heart of the Church, Mary shines forth. She is the supreme model for a youthful Church that seeks to follow Christ with enthusiasm and docility. While still very young, she accepted the message of the angel, yet she was not afraid to ask questions (cf. Lk. 1:34). With open heart and soul, she replied, ‘Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord’ (Lk. 1:38)” (Christus vivit, 43).

Over the centuries there have also been many young men and women, even boys and girls, whom we now venerate among the saints – youthful hearts who sought from an early age to dedicate their lives to God and to service of others. Pope Francis says, “The heart of the Church is also full of young saints who devoted their lives to Christ, many of them even to dying a martyr’s death. They were precious reflections of the young Christ; their radiant witness encourages us and awakens us from our lethargy” (CV, 49). Each of us, no matter our age, can also reflect the radiance of Christ’s love to the world around us.

As we pass through this month which is marked by moments of transition, accomplishment, celebration and change, may we also strive for spiritual renewal, reinvigorating our hearts with youthfulness and grace. Over the years of our earthly life, we must learn to rekindle the fire of God’s love which He infused into our hearts at Baptism, strengthened by the grace of Confirmation, and nourishes each time we receive the Eucharist. The work of conversion to the gospel is never completed. May this time of new beginnings afford us the opportunity to set out again with youthful wonder and hope toward all the good which God has in store for those who love Him.