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May 2025

Archives for May 2025

Effective May 7, 2025

  • Reverend Bruce Reginald Hoefer, OP, appointed Parochial Vicar of S-13 Family of Parishes which includes St. Gertrude, Cincinnati.

 

Effective May 15, 2025

  • Reverend Bryan Reif appointed temporary Parochial Administrator of SW-5 Family of Parishes which includes St. Ann, Groesbeck, St. Bernard, Taylor Creek, St. James the Greater, White Oak, and St. Margaret Mary, North College Hill.

 

Effective July 1, 2025

  • Reverend W. Robert Hale appointed Parochial Vicar of NE-2 Family of Parishes which includes St. Bernard, Springfield, St. Charles Borromeo, South Charleston, St. Joseph, Springfield, St. Raphael, Springfield, and St. Teresa of the Child Jesus, Springfield.
  • Reverend Stephen Jones appointed Parochial Vicar of S-9 which includes St. Cecila, Cincinnati, and St. Mary, Hyde Park.
  • Reverend Jarred Kohn appointed Chaplain/Director of Catholic Campus Ministry of Wright State University, Dayton.
  • Reverend Kevin A. LeMelle appointed Parochial Vicar of NE-1 Family of Parishes which includes St. Mary of the Woods, Russells Point, St. Patrick, Bellefontaine, and St. Mary, Urbana.
  • Reverend Adam M. Lewis appointed Parochial Vicar of SE-2 Family of Parishes which includes Holy Trinity, West Union, St. Benignus, Greenfield, St. Mary, Hillsboro, and St. Mary Queen of Heaven, Peebles.
  • Reverend K. Scott Morgan appointed Pastor of SE-2 Family of Parishes which includes Holy Trinity, West Union, St. Benignus, Greenfield, St. Mary, Hillsboro, and St. Mary Queen of Heaven, Peebles.
  • Reverend Elijah Puthoff appointed Parochial Vicar of S-1 Family of Parishes St. Gabriel, Glendale, St. John the Evangelist, West Chester and St. Michael, Sharonville.
  • Reverend Andrew Reckers appointed Parochial Vicar of NW-5 Family of Parishes which includes Holy Family, Frenchtown, Immaculate Conception, Bradford, St. Denis, Versailles, St. Louis, North Star, St. Mary, Greenville, St. Nicholas, Osgood, and St. Remy, Russia.

 

Retirement from active ministry

  • Reverend James Duell, Parochial Vicar of NW-6 effective July 1, 2025
  • Reverend Gerard Hiland, Parochial Vicar of SW-1 effective July 1, 2025
  • Reverend David Lemkuhl, Parochial Vicar of S-6 effective July 1, 2025
  • Reverend Michael Holloran, Parochial Vicar of NE-3 effective July 1, 2025
  • Reverend Michael Paraniuk, Pastor of SE-2 effective July 1, 2025
  • Reverend Kenneth Schartz, Parochial Vicar of S-9 effective July 1, 2025
  • Reverend Jeffrey Silver, Parochial Vicar of C-6 effective July 1, 2025
  • Reverend Larry Tharp, Pastor of C-4 effective July 1, 2025

 

PDF of Press Release: Cross the Bridge for Life 2025 PR

W H A T | 20th Annual Cross the Bridge for Life

W H E N | Sunday, June 1 from 1p.m. – 3 p.m.

W H E R E | Riverboat Row Festival Area in Newport, Ky.

W H O | More than 3,000 Participants

 

Release Date:  May 28, 2025

20 Years of Celebrating the Joy of Human Life

 

This year marks the 20th annual Cross the Bridge for Life! For 20 years now—as the summer begins—thousands of people have been drawn to the riverfront in joyful celebration of the gift of life!

 

The 2025 Cross the Bridge for Life will take place on Sunday, June 1, on Riverboat Row in Newport, Ky. Thousands of people from both sides of the Ohio River will come together for a family festival and to walk across the Ohio River to celebrate the beautiful gift of human life, at all its stages, regardless of age or ability. Archbishop Robert Casey of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati and Bishop John Iffert of the Diocese of Covington will both take part in the festival and walk.

 

The event will be held rain or shine. Any changes to the schedule will be posted the day of the event on the Facebook page: www.facebook.com/CTBforLife/. The festival will include free t-shirts, hot dogs, Knights of Columbus Holy Donuts, face painting, balloon twisting, live music by Lee Roessler band and more.

 

Free T-shirts (while they last) will be distributed beginning at 1 p.m. At 2 p.m. the program begins, which includes the American Heritage Girls reciting the Pledge of Allegiance followed by remarks by Archbishop Casey and Bishop Iffert. The emcee for the event is Chris Adams of Star 93.3. After the program, bagpipers from the Ancient Order of Hibernians and an American Heritage Girls color guard will lead walkers over the Purple People Bridge. With the Purple People Bridge back open this year, walkers will journey over the Ohio River and back—the highlight of the day’s activities.

 

This event is organized by more than 25 area pro-life organizations that work to serve mothers, children and families. More information about the event and the coalition of sponsors can be found at www.CrossTheBridgeForLife.org. The Diocese of Covington and Archdiocese of Cincinnati are proud sponsors of Cross the Bridge for Life.

 

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Covington is comprised of more than 90,000 Catholics with 48 parishes and five missions, 37 Catholic primary and secondary schools and one Catholic university. Within the diocese around 11,000 students are under Catholic instruction.

 

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati is the 45th largest 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.

 

Media Contacts:

Laura Keener 

Director of Communications

Diocese of Covington

Office | 859.392.1500

Cell | 859.630.3726

[email protected]

Jennifer Schack

Director of Media Relations

Archdiocese of Cincinnati

Office | 513.263.6618

Cell | 859.512.5626

[email protected]

 

 

 

 

 

Press Release PDF

W H A T | Priesthood Ordination Mass

W H E N | Saturday, May 17, 2025, 10 A.M.

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

 

Release Date:  May 14, 2025

Two Men Being Ordained Priests for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati

The Archdiocese of Cincinnati will joyfully celebrate the ordination of two new priests on Saturday May 17, 2025. The men will be ordained to the priesthood for service to God and the Church. Archbishop Robert G. Casey 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 two new priests will contribute to the growing trend of men being ordained priests over the last decade. Since 2015, 52 men have been ordained the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.

The two 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 10 of this year from Mount St. Mary’s Seminary and School of Theology, after at least seven years of formation for the priesthood. Parish assignments for the new priests will be announced at the ordination.

 

Men to be ordained:

Deacon Kevin LeMelle

Deacon Adam Lewis

 

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati is the 45th largest 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]

Reverend Dennis P. Dettenwanger passed away on Friday, May 9, 2025, in Fairfield, Ohio. He was born on October 8, 1937, in St. Louis, Missouri, and was baptized at Holy Family Church, St. Louis. He did his preparatory studies at St. Gregory Seminary, Cincinnati and studied theology at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary of the West in Norwood, Ohio. He was ordained on May 30, 1964, at St. Peter in Chains Cathedral in Cincinnati by Archbishop Karl J. Alter.

Father Dettenwanger received his first assignment on June 17, 1964, as assistant at Annunciation Parish, Cincinnati and part-time teacher at Mother of Mercy High School, Cincinnati (until 1966).  On June 20, 1973, he was appointed to part-time staff at St. Ursula Academy, Cincinnati and to continue at Annunciation Parish.  On July 15, 1974, he was appointed assistant at St. Matthew Parish, Norwood and to teach at Marian High School, Cincinnati.  He was appointed to faculty at Seton High School, Cincinnati on August 1, 1979, continuing as assistant at St. Matthew Parish.  On August 19, 1980, he was appointed resident associate at St. Aloysius Parish, Delhi, continuing at Seton High School.  Father Dettenwanger was appointed pastor of St. Ann Parish, Hamilton on June 8, 1992 for a period of six years.  He was appointed pastor of St. Joseph Parish, Hamilton for a period of six years, effective July 1, 1994, while continuing as pastor of St. Ann Parish.  He was re-appointed pastor of St. Ann Parish, commencing on June 9, 1998 for another six years.  Father Dettenwanger remained pastor of St. Ann and St. Joseph until he retired from active ministry on July 1, 2007.

Reception of the Body: Wednesday, May 14, 2025, at 4:30 p.m. at St. Ann Church, 3028 Pleasant Avenue, Hamilton, Ohio 45015; 513-863-4963.

Visitation: Following Reception of the Body until 7:00 p.m.

Mass of Christian Burial: Thursday, May 15, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Ann Church.  Celebrant: Most Reverend Robert G. Casey.

Burial: Thursday, May 15, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, 11000 Montgomery Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45249.  There will not be a funeral procession to the cemetery.

Press Release PDF

Release Date: May 8, 2025

Archbishop Casey Joyfully Welcomes the Election of Pope Leo XIV

Most Revered Robert G. Casey, Archbishop of Cincinnati, made the following comments upon the election of Pope Leo XIV.

Habemus papam!  We have a pope.  Through prayerful discernment and with the assistance of the Holy Spirit, the Cardinals of our Church have chosen our new shepherd.  This is a unifying moment in the life of the Church, reminding us of the Good Shepherd’s eternal care for His flock.  Christ, who is yesterday, today, and forever, now places the care of this flock in the hands of Pope Leo XIV.  With great joy and gratitude, I join the people of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati in praying for our new Holy Father.  May the Lord grant him wisdom, courage, and strength in carrying out his sacred ministry.”

 

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati is the 44th 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]

Reverend David C. Robisch passed away on Saturday, May 3, 2025, in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was born on July 6, 1937, in Cincinnati, Ohio, and was baptized at St. Peter and Paul Church, Reading. He did his preparatory studies at St. Gregory Seminary, Cincinnati and studied theology at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary of the West in Norwood, Ohio. Father Robisch also received a M.Ed. from Xavier University, Cincinnati. He was ordained on December 22, 1962, at St. Peter in Chains Cathedral in Cincinnati by Archbishop Karl J. Alter.

Father Robisch received his first assignment on June 3, 1963, as assistant pro-tem at St. Peter in Chains Cathedral.  On August 29, 1963, he was appointed assistant at St. Ann Parish, Groesbeck and full-time teacher at Elder High School, Cincinnati.  On August 25, 1964, he was appointed assistant at St. Aloysius Parish, Elmwood and assistant director of the Newman Center at the University of Cincinnati, while continuing to teach at Elder High School.  He was appointed secretary to Most Reverend Edward A. McCarthy and assistant at St. Therese Little Flower Parish, Mt. Airy on June 18, 1965, relieving him of his duties at the Newman Center and Elder High School.  On June 17, 1966, he was appointed assistant chancellor of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, notary in the Tribunal, and assistant at St. Louis Church, Cincinnati, while continuing as secretary to Bishop McCarthy, relieving him of his duties at St. Therese Little Flower Parish.  On January 2, 1970, he was appointed spiritual director of St. Gregory Seminary.  Father Robisch was appointed pastor of St. Albert the Great Parish, Dayton on August 21, 1980.  He was appointed pastor of St. Mary Parish, Hyde Park on July 22, 1991, for a period of six years, then re-appointed pastor of St. Mary Parish for another six years on July 23, 1997.  Father Robisch retired from active ministry on July 1, 2007.

Reception of the Body: Wednesday, May 7, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. at St. Columban Church, 894 Oakland Road, Loveland, Ohio 45140; 513-683-0105. Visitation: following Reception of the Body until 8:00 p.m.

Mass of Christian Burial: Thursday, May 8, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Columban Church.  Celebrant: Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer. Homilist: Reverend P. Del Staigers.  A luncheon immediately following at the church.

Burial:  immediately following the luncheon, Thursday, May 8, 2025, at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, 11000 Montgomery Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45249.