Archives for October 2023

October 30, 2023 by Jennifer Schack

Release Date: Oct. 30, 2023

Numerous accounts of theft and vandalism have been reported to police at Catholic schools, churches and cemeteries across the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. Dozens of Catholic properties have been displaying yard signs and large display signs opposing Issue 1 on the November ballot. Many of these locations have reported instances of theft of the signs and, in some instances, vandalism of their property.

Incarnation Catholic Church in Centerville was vandalized on Oct. 18 when the front door window of the church was spray painted to cover the sign posted on the interior of the window. At St. Bartholomew Church in Cincinnati between Oct. 29 and the morning of Oct. 30, vandals removed between six and eight Vote No yard signs from the church property and replaced them with Vote Yes signs. The Vote Yes signs were quickly removed and replaced with new Vote No signs. In early October at St. Monica-St. George Church in Clifton, a large Vote No sign that was secured to the ground was pulled up and thrown in a nearby trash dumpster. It was found and placed back on the property. This sign was then recently stolen. The Cathedral Basilica of St. Peter in Chains in Cincinnati has also had several yard signs stolen and display signs on a fence vandalized. At. St. Mary Church in Oxford, a large 8’x8’ display sign on the property was cut in half while a 4’x4’ sign was vandalized. In addition, yard signs at St. Mary Church are being stolen multiple times a week.

More than a dozen other church properties, Catholic high schools and cemeteries have reported theft of Vote No yard signs.

To learn more about why the Archdiocese of Cincinnati opposes Issue 1 please visit www.WhereDoesItSayThat.com and www.catholicaoc.org/VoteNO. In the Archdiocese of Cincinnati there are more than 30 pro-life centers that assist pregnant women and families in need of assistance. More information about archdiocesan resources for women can be found on the For Life page of our website.

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 206 canonical parishes organized into 57 Families of Parishes, and 109 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]

October 17, 2023 by Colin Rahill

Reverend Harry J. Meyer passed away on Thursday, October 5, 2023, in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was born on November 10, 1939, in Cincinnati, Ohio, and baptized at St. William Church, Cincinnati. He did his preparatory studies at St. Gregory Seminary, studied two years of philosophy at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary of the West in Norwood, Ohio, and received his S.T.L. from the Gregorian University in Rome, Italy. He was ordained on December 16, 1964, at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome by Bishop Francis F. Reh.

Father Meyer received his first assignment on August 25, 1965, as assistant at Our Lady of Victory Parish, Delhi (Cincinnati) and to teach part-time at Elder High School, Cincinnati. On June 16, 1967, he was appointed Assistant Pastor at St. Aloysius on-the-Ohio Parish, Sayler Park (Cincinnati) and to teach full-time at Elder High School. On June 19, 1969, Father Meyer was named a Newman Chaplain for service at the University of Cincinnati. On June 3, 1970, he was appointed assistant at St. Pius Parish, Cumminsville (Cincinnati) while continuing in Campus Ministry for UC. On March 1, 1971, Father Meyer was appointed as Associate Pastor at Assumption Parish, Walnut Hills (Cincinnati). On June 15, 1972, Father Meyer was appointed to St. Leo Parish, North Fairmount (Cincinnati), Our Lady of Presentation of the BVM Parish, English Woods (Cincinnati), and St. Monica, Clifton (Cincinnati), while continuing in Campus Ministry. On June 20, 1973, he was appointed Director of the U.C. Newman Center and on June 20, 1975, he was appointed Director of Campus Ministry for the Archdiocese. On July 28, 1975, Father Meyer was appointed associate at St. George Parish, Clifton (Cincinnati), while continuing to act as associate ad cautellam, at St. Monica. In June 1978 Father Meyer was released from his duties in Campus Ministry to pursue summer studies at the University of San Francisco in the field of theology. On September 4, 1978, he was appointed associate at St. Andrew Parish, Avondale (Cincinnati). On January 15, 1979, he was appointed Administrator pro-tem of St. Andrew Parish, and on April 27, 1979, he was appointed Pastor of St. Andrew Parish. On November 14, 1988, Father Meyer was appointed temporary Administrator of St. Susanna Parish, Mason. On August 24, 1989, he was appointed pastor of St. Susanna Parish where he served until 2005. During his years of ministry Father Meyer was also sent for a year of study at the National Center for Campus Ministry in Cambridge, Massachusetts, was elected as Chairperson of the Association of Cincinnati priests, served on the Board of Trustees of the Newman Foundation of Cincinnati, Inc., agreed to take care of the sacramental responsibilities of St. Joseph Parish, North Bend (Cincinnati) while under the pastorate of Father Joseph Robinson, and along with Father William Williams, served as Chaplain to the Cincinnati Workhouse. Father Meyer retired from active ministry on July 1, 2005.

Reception of the Body: Wednesday, October 11, 2023, at 4:00 p.m. at St. Susanna Church, 616 Reading Road, Mason, Ohio 45040; 513-398-3821. Celebrant and Homilist: Reverend Philip O. Seher. Visitation: following Reception of the Body until 5:45 p.m.

Mass of Christian Burial: Wednesday, October 11, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. at St. Susanna Church. Celebrant: Reverend Philip O. Seher. Homilist: Reverend James W. Meade. Celebration of Life: Immediately following the Mass at the Meyer Center (located behind St. Susanna School).

Burial: Thursday, October 12, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. at St. Joseph’s Old Cemetery, 3819 West 8th Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45205. Celebrant: Reverend Michael A. Savino.

May God welcome His faithful servant to his eternal home in heaven. May he rest in peace. Amen.

October 10, 2023 by Colin Rahill

Release Date: October 10, 2023

Closure of St. Anthony of Padua School in Dayton

St. Anthony of Padua Catholic School, operated by St. Anthony of Padua Parish in East Dayton, will close following the completion of the 2023-2024 school year.

The pastor, parish council and parish finance committee of St. Anthony of Padua Parish — in consultation with the Catholic Schools Office of the archdiocese — recommended closure of St. Anthony Catholic School, after the completion of the current school year. In accordance with archdiocesan procedures, the recommendation for closure was submitted to, and accepted by, Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr.

Over the past several years, the ceiling structure for the underground boiler room, independent of the 108-year-old school building, has deteriorated to the point of being structurally unsound. The weight from the parking lot above has taken a toll. Steps were taken to temporarily shore up the room. Despite the work already done the structural integrity of the underground boiler room remained a major concern. Last year in an effort to explore a permanent solution parish and school leaders hired a professional engineering firm to conduct a Facility Conditions Assessment. The assessment included inspection of the entire working of the mechanical system and associated costs of repair.

The assessment concluded that most of the school building’s mechanical systems are at the end of their functional life and therefore must be repaired, upgraded or replaced. The boiler room structure needs permanent repair. If all the identified needs were addressed, the total cost would be close to $13 million.

“Maintenance of a school building is always a priority, however, the dollars needed for repairs and upgrades can be limited. St. Anthony School has reached a point where maintenance, especially deferred maintenance, has become a serious concern,” said Fr. Satish Joseph, Pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Parish, part of the NE 7 Family of Parishes. “Such decisions are both unwanted and heartbreaking. Unless we can offer excellent education in a building that safely meets the needs of students and staff, we are not fulfilling our responsibility as a parish community.”

St. Anthony of Padua Catholic School was founded in 1915, two years after the establishment of St. Anthony of Padua Parish. The school’s present enrollment is 156 students in kindergarten through eighth grade. The school employs 14 paid teachers and staff.

St. Anthony of Padua Catholic School families, staff, and parishioners have recently been made aware of this decision. For the 2023-2024 school year the three other Catholic schools within the NE 7 Family of Parishes, and surrounding Catholic schools, will be asked to give priority acceptance to St. Anthony of Padua Catholic School students.

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati is the 51st largest 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 110 Catholic primary and secondary schools.

Jennifer Schack

Director of Media Relations

Archdiocese of Cincinnati

Office | 513.263.6618

Cell | 859.512.5626

[email protected]

October 1, 2023 by Jennifer Schack

Download PDF Version – English | Download PDF Version – Spanish

In the Gospel according to St. John, Jesus emphasizes that He came so we might have fullness of life (cf. Jn. 10:10). Most significantly through His Paschal Mystery, but also through every aspect of His life, Jesus worked for our good so that we might have life in abundance, both in this world and for all eternity. It is important to remember that Jesus did this not for humanity as a collective whole, but rather for each one of us as unique, irreplaceable individuals. Each person is perfectly loved by God and, therefore, each human life is precious and immensely valuable. It is for this reason that the Catholic Church constantly upholds the sanctity and dignity of all people at every stage of life, without exception.

On November 7, 2023, Ohioans will have the opportunity to demonstrate how our state views the sacredness of life and the dignity of women. On November’s ballot will be Issue 1, a proposed amendment (deceptively named “The Right to Reproductive Freedom with Protections for Health and Safety”) to the Ohio Constitution that would enshrine the “right” to take the lives of innocent children in the womb while harming women and families in the process. (Please see page XX for details.)

Some may assert that the Catholic Church should not be involved in politics. However, the defense of life and care for women compels our participation in this critical moral issue. As Catholics, we cannot remain silent on Issue 1. The Church must not sit on the sidelines when confronted with such a clear threat to human life and dignity and the primacy of the family. We must reject this extraordinary and dangerous attempt to radically reshape Ohio through a constitutional amendment that does nothing to aid women, strengthen the family or promote life.

But our responsibility to uphold and promote the value, beauty and dignity of every human life is by no means limited to the November vote. God invites each of us to work with Him to lovingly support those in need and to build up a culture of life in our society. This is a work that takes many forms. Generous women and men volunteer countless hours at pregnancy support centers, assisting women in need with material resources and personal accompaniment, both during pregnancy and after their child is born. Prayer groups give public witness to the value of life. Networks of physicians, counselors and other healthcare staff ensure quality care for both mothers and preborn children. Services are available to assist expectant mothers with housing, employment and education. Others help match parents and children through adoption and provide assistance and support to mothers who make this difficult choice.

We know that care for expectant mothers and their children touches on the beginning stages of life, but God calls us to foster a culture of life extending across the whole timeline of human experience. We nurture and educate children so they can have the opportunities necessary for fruitful and fulfilling lives. Young people must be encouraged to not only grow in their faith, but to also learn to defend and share that faith in its richness and beauty. Immigrants and refugees need to feel the embrace of being welcomed into our communities. We reach out and visit the sick and those in prison so they too know they are loved.

Helping others to know and experience God’s love is at the core of creating a culture of life. Let us collaborate with the Lord so every person may have the peace (Jn. 14:27), joy (Jn. 15:11) and fullness of life (Jn. 10:10) which only God can provide.