Archives for April 2025

April 24, 2025 by Jennifer Schack

W H A T | Memorial Masses for Pope Francis

W H E N | April 28, May 5, May 12, May 21

W H E R E | Churches throughout the Archdiocese

Release Date: April 24, 2025

Memorial Masses for Pope Francis

The people of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati are invited to join Archbishop Robert G. Casey in remembering and praying for the repose of the soul of Pope Francis.

Four Memorial Masses for Pope Francis will be celebrated by Archbishop Casey throughout the archdiocese during thirty days of mourning.

Monday, Apr 28, 7pm, St. Michael Church, Ft. Loramie

Monday, May 5, 7 pm, St. Francis of Assisi Church, Centerville

Monday, May 12 (Spanish*): Immaculate Conception Church, Dayton

Wednesday, May 21, 7 pm, Cathedral Basilica of St. Peter in Chains, Cincinnati

*Archbishop Casey is the first Archbishop of Cincinnati fluent in Spanish. This will be the first Spanish Mass by an Archbishop of Cincinnati for the local Hispanic community.

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati is the 45^thlargest Catholic diocese in the country, with nearly 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 199 canonical parishes organized into 57 Families of Parishes, and 108 Catholic primary and secondary schools.

Jennifer Schack

Director of Media Relations

Archdiocese of Cincinnati

Office | 513.263.6618

Cell | 859.512.5626

[email protected]

April 23, 2025 by Colin Rahill

April 23, 2025

Download PDF Version

Letter to the Faithful Regarding Catholic Relief Services Collection

By Archbishop Robert G. Casey

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

A long-treasured value of our Church, dating back to its earliest days, has been the care for those who are most vulnerable. As Catholics we are called to love one another and accompany one another in moments of blessing and in moments of challenge. When facing any difficulty, we quickly discover our dependency, not only upon God, but upon each other in the exercise of charity and concern for our neighbor.

It is with this in mind that our archdiocese will take up the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Collection on May 3^rd and 4^th. These have been trying times for CRS. This year, CRS experienced a drastic reduction of funds from the U.S. Agency for International Development, known as USAID. USAID dollars provided more than 50% of the CRS budget. Dozens of life saving projects, providing critical aid to millions of people worldwide, have been impacted. Some of these projects have been permanently terminated.

Historically, the Collection supports Catholic agencies that carry out international relief and solidarity efforts: Catholic Relief Services for international relief and development; Migration and Refugee Services for refugee resettlement; Catholic Legal Immigration Network Inc. (CLINIC) for immigration legal services; Department of Justice, Peace, and Human Development for advocacy; the Holy Father’s Relief Fund for emergency relief; and Secretariat of Cultural Diversity in the Church for evangelization and ministry. These programs include relief and resettlement for victims of persecution, war, and natural disaster; development projects to improve living conditions for the poor; legal and support services for poor immigrants; peace and reconciliation work for people suffering from violence; and advocacy on behalf of the powerless.

These projects do more than save lives. They help lift communities and countries out of poverty. They support local faith-based and church partners that provide services and stability to their communities and to their countries. They demonstrate our Church’s commitment to living out the great commandment of love.

Please prayerfully consider how you can support the collection this year. Thank you for all the support you have given in the past. To learn more about the collection and the people who benefit, please visit https://www.usccb.org/national-collection/catholic-relief-services-collection.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Most Reverand Robert G. Casey

Archbishop of Cincinnati

April 21, 2025 by Colin Rahill

Press Release PDF

Release Date: April 21, 2025

Mourning the Death of Pope Francis

Today, Catholics throughout the Archdiocese of Cincinnati join Catholics and all people of faith around the world in praying for the soul of the Holy Father, Pope Francis. The Catholic Church of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati mourns his recent death.

Most Reverend Robert G. Casey, Archbishop of Cincinnati, has released the following statement:

“As we commend a good and faithful servant to God, let us remember that Pope Francis proclaimed 2025 as a Jubilee Year of Hope — awakening us to Christ, who is alive and present in our midst. In the words of the Psalmist: “Hope in the Lord! Hold firm, take heart, and hope in the Lord!” (Psalm 27:14). May we, then, be filled with hope — hope that Pope Francis will receive the reward of a life poured out in selfless service and love for God’s people and all creation; hope that Christ, who comforts us in our mourning, will send the Holy Spirit to be our Helper; and hope that this same Spirit will inspire and unite us as the Church to stand firm in faith, proclaiming the power of the Resurrection and the joy of the Gospel.”

Most Reverend Dennis M. Schnurr, Archbishop Emeritus of Cincinnati, has released the following statement upon the death of Pope Francis:

“Please join me in praying for the repose of the soul of our beloved Pope Francis, who was Vicar of Christ, the successor of St. Peter and a faithful shepherd of Christ’s Church. The Holy Father will long be remembered for his great compassion for the elderly, the sick, the unborn, the persecuted and all those on the margins of society. He continuously reminded us that we are the stewards of God’s creation and not its master. And he was an unwavering champion of world peace. After a life dedicated to proclaiming the Good News of our Lord’s saving love for us, may Pope Francis now inherit the reward of eternal rest with God.”

Following the announcement of the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, on February 13, 2013, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Buenos Aires, Argentina was elected pope on the second day of the subsequent conclave, March 13, 2013. Taking the name Francis, he was the first pope from the Southern Hemisphere and first pope from the Americas. Pope Francis was the first non-European elected in almost 1,300 years. Pope Francis was the 265^th successor of St. Peter.

Pope Francis was born on Dec. 17, 1936. He died April 21, 2025 at the age of 88.

Further information about Pope Francis can be found here: https://www.usccb.org/pope-francis-timeline

Jennifer Schack

Director of Media Relations

Archdiocese of Cincinnati

Office | 513.263.6618

Cell | 859.512.5626

[email protected]

April 14, 2025 by Jennifer Schack

Press Release PDF

Release Date: April 7, 2025

Holy Week Celebrations at Cathedral Basilica of St. Peter in Chains & Praying the Steps

Beginning this year, several Holy Week liturgies and prayer opportunities will be led by the new shepherd, Archbishop Robert G. Casey.

Holy Thursday – April 17
Catholics commemorate the institution of the Eucharist and the Priesthood by Jesus Christ at the Last Supper. The Mass of the Lord’s Supper will be celebrated by Archbishop Robert G. Casey at 5:00 P.M. at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Peter in Chains.
Good Friday – April 18
This solemn day commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus. It is an obligatory day of fasting (one full meal and two smaller meals that together do not equal a full meal) and abstinence from meat for Catholics.
- The Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion will be celebrated at 12:00 P.M. at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Peter in Chains.
- “Pray the Steps” in Mount Adams:
  A tradition for more than a century, thousands will gather to pray the steps leading to Holy Cross-Immaculata Church.
  - Gathering begins at 11:30 P.M. on April 17 at the base of the steps on St. Gregory Street.
  - Just before midnight, Archbishop Casey will bless the steps and the first pilgrims will then begin to ascend the steps in prayer.
  - On Good Friday, an estimated 10,000 to 12,000 pilgrims will ascend the steps in prayer.
  - Good Friday Services at Holy Cross-Immaculata Church:
    3:00 P.M. and 7:00 P.M.
    Confessions will be available throughout the day.
    (More information here.)
Holy Saturday, Easter Vigil – April 19
The Easter Vigil Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Peter in Chains will begin at 8:45 P.M. This Mass celebrates the Resurrection of Jesus and the initiation of new members into the Catholic Church through the O.C.I.A. (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults). Many will be baptized and received into the Church during this Mass.
Easter Sunday – April 20
Mass will be held at 10:00 A.M. at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Peter in Chains.

Jennifer Schack

Director of Media Relations

Archdiocese of Cincinnati

Office | 513.263.6618

Cell | 859.512.5626

[email protected]

April 1, 2025 by Jennifer Schack

Download PDF Version – English | Download PDF Version – Spanish

For these past fifteen years it has been my great privilege to serve as the Archbishop of Cincinnati. With the acceptance of my resignation and the appointment of the next archbishop, an opportunity presents itself to reflect on these years of priestly ministry.

This is a bittersweet moment for me. On the one hand, I look forward to passing on the reins of ecclesiastical administration to my successor. On the other, I will miss the experiences of active ministry through which I had the opportunity to interact with so many of you. One never truly retires from being a priest, though, and I look forward to assisting as I am able with the celebration of the sacraments in service to the faithful of this archdiocese.

It is through the sacraments that Christ is made present to us. He nourishes us, forgives our sins, gives us the strength to fulfill our respective vocations, and protects us on our final journey back to the God who created us. It has been a special grace to witness the many ways in which Christ is at work in your lives and continually cares for His flock. Jesus promised to remain with us to the end of time. To the faithful of this archdiocese and beyond, He has kept that promise. I am grateful to have collaborated with many priests, deacons, religious women and men, and lay people to help build up the Kingdom in our local Church.

There have undoubtedly been challenges over the years. Even in these moments, however, when the Cross is more readily present to us, God’s grace triumphs. As Saint Paul reminds us, “All things work for good for those who love God” (Romans 8:28).

Soon after arriving in the archdiocese, I invited us all to pray frequently for vocations. The Prayer for Vocations is not simply a means of asking God to send us more young people to serve the Church as priests or consecrated religious. Rather, it is a reminder that God has called each of us to some definite purpose in this life. He calls us to be sharers in His mission and He equips us to do our unique part to contribute to the faith journey of the entire People of God. There is much good happening across this archdiocese, and that is due to the faithfulness with which so many of you are striving to know and follow your vocation.

From the beginning of His ministry, Jesus called men and women to follow Him. He continues to call us today. Our response demands that we constantly seek the face of the Lord – to recognize His presence in our lives and enter into relationship with Him. This is essential to the life of a Christian, and because of that I chose those words, Seek the Face of the Lord, as my episcopal motto. We constantly seek Him and, in knowing Him, we then bring others to experience His love for them. This is how I have approached my own vocation, and I hope that in some way God has worked through my priestly ministry to be present to you.

Know of my prayers for all of you, and please pray for me as I enter this new phase of my vocational journey with the Lord. Please pray as well for Archbishop-designate Casey, that the Lord may guide and strengthen him as he takes on the responsibility of being our archbishop and shepherd.