Archives for August 2025

August 27, 2025 by Jennifer Schack

Release Date: August 27, 2025

Statement from Archbishop Robert G. Casey

Archbishop Robert G. Casey, of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, released the following statement today to the people of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati concerning the tragedy in Minneapolis, MN:

“Our hearts are one with the families of Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis as they grieve and begin to process the senseless tragedy that occurred today. Let us pray for all those impacted, especially those who were injured or lost their lives. May Our Lady of Peace intercede for us and assist us in the care of our children and families.”

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 41,000 students. The 19-county territory includes 199 canonical parishes organized into 57 Families of Parishes, and 111 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]

August 25, 2025 by Jennifer Schack

Reverend M. Edmund Hussey passed away on Friday, August 22, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio. He was born on June 24, 1933, in Sidney, Ohio and was baptized at Holy Angels Church, Sidney. He did his preparatory studies at St. Gregory Seminary, Cincinnati, and studied philosophy and theology at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary of the West in Norwood, Ohio. He was ordained on May 31, 1958, at St. Peter in Chains Cathedral in Cincinnati by Archbishop Karl J. Alter. Father Hussey’s further studies included an M.A. (Latin) and an M.Ed. (English) from Xavier University, and a Ph.D. (Historical Theology) from Fordham University, New York.

Father Hussey received his first assignment on June 7, 1958, as assistant pro tem at St. Louis Church, Cincinnati and to teach at Elder High School. While still continuing at Elder High School he also was appointed to the following: on August 26, 1958, he was appointed assistant at St. William Church, Cincinnati; August 29, 1963, he was appointed assistant at St. Antoninus Church, Cincinnati; August 25, 1964, he was appointed assistant at Our Lady of Grace Church, Cincinnati; he was appointed administrator of Our Lady of Grace Church from April 1968 to January 1969; March 5, 1969, he was appointed assistant at St. Augustine Church, Cincinnati. In June 1969, Father Hussey moved to New York for further studies at Fordham University. On June 1, 1972, Father Hussey was appointed to the faculty at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary, effective September 1972. On July 15, 1982, he was appointed pastor of St. Paul Church, Yellow Springs. He was appointed to the College of Consultors from November 6, 1990, until November 3, 1995. Father Hussey was appointed pastor of St. Raphael Church, Springfield, for a period of six years, commencing on July 1, 1991, and reappointed as pastor of St. Raphael Church for another six year term, commencing on July 2, 1997. Father Hussey retired from active ministry on July 1, 1998.

Reception of the Body: Friday, August 29, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. at St. Agatha Church, 1860 Northam Road, Upper Arlington, Ohio 43221; 614-488-6149. Celebrant and Homilist: Reverend Daniel L Ochs. Visitation: Following Reception of the Body and continuing until Mass.

Mass of Christian Burial: Friday, August 29, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Agatha Church. Celebrant: Reverend Robert J. Farrell. Homilist: Monsignor David R. Funk.

A private committal will follow at a later date.

August 13, 2025 by Jennifer Schack

Reverend Earl Francis Simone passed away on Monday, August 4, 2025, in Beavercreek, Ohio. He was born on November 2, 1940, in Kansas City, Missouri, and was baptized at Mary, Help of Christians Church, Fairborn. He received his B.A. in Philosophy at St. Gregory Seminary, Cincinnati and a M.A. in Theology at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary of the West in Norwood, Ohio. He was ordained on June 11, 1977, at St. Peter in Chains Cathedral in Cincinnati by Archbishop Joseph L. Bernardin.

Father Simone received his first assignment on July 1, 1977, as associate at St. Teresa, Little Flower of the Infant Jesus Parish, Springfield. On August 5, 1977, he was appointed Spiritual Director of the Springfield Council of St. Vincent de Paul. On July 1, 1980, he was released to serve as chaplain in the United States Navy. Father Simone was appointed pastor of St. Peter Parish, Huber Heights on August 11, 1992, for a period of six years. He was re-appointed as pastor of St. Peter Parish for another six year term commencing on August 11, 1998. He was appointed parochial administrator of Our Lady of the Rosary Parish, St. Stephen Parish, Holy Cross Parish, and St. Adalbert Parish, Dayton, effective July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2015, while continuing as pastor of St. Peter Parish. Father Simone remained as pastor and parochial administrator of these parishes until his retirement on April 7, 2015.

Reception of the Body: Friday, August 22, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at Emmanuel Church, 149 Franklin Street, Dayton, Ohio 45402; 937-228-2013. Celebrant: Reverend Brian W. Phelps. Visitation: Following Reception of the Body and continuing until Mass.

Mass of Christian Burial: Friday, August 22, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. at Emmanuel Church. Celebrant and Homilist: Reverend John D. MacQuarrie.

Committal: Monday, August 25, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. at Evergreen Cemetery, 8519 OH-14, Streetsboro, Ohio 44241.

August 1, 2025 by Jennifer Schack

Download PDF Version – English | Download PDF Version – Spanish

Let Christ’s Light Shine Through

Years ago, I heard the story of a little girl who grew up going to church with her mother every Sunday. Each week, the mother would try to keep her daughter entertained during the Mass by pointing out the different elements of the church and their worship. She would have her watch for the Gospel procession with its candles and incense. She would tell her to watch for the consecration when the priest raises up the bread and the chalice. And she would point out the stained-glass windows of the church, explaining how each one told the story of a saint.

When the little girl was in first grade, her mother sent her to religious education class. And when All Saints Day was near, the catechist asked the class, “What is a saint?” The little girl, thinking about the stained-glass windows her mother had pointed out to her in church, replied, “A saint is a person that the light shines through.”

Isn’t this what each of us is called to be? From the moment we first receive the gift of the Light of Christ in Baptism, we hope that the Divine Light may permeate our entire being so that, just like those saints depicted in stained-glass windows in churches all around the world, we also may reflect the Light of Christ for all to see.

Like most windows, over time we accumulate dirt and dust. We find ourselves smeared and smudged and becoming less transparent. When we find ourselves a bit dirty and dusty, or smudged with sin, what are we to do?

We seek out Christ, our Savior. In Jesus, our sins are washed away. In Jesus, our holiness is restored. Through the abundant mercy of God, revealed to us in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, we are led from darkness to light, so that nothing may prevent us from reflecting the Divine Light of God.

Saint Paul’s letter to the Romans reminds us, “What will separate us from the love of Christ? Will anguish, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or the sword? … For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom 8:35, 38-39).

If we look at the lives of the saints, we discover that they did not spend their time here on earth free of any problems, difficulties, challenges, or sins. Instead, we find that when life left them feeling dirty and smudged, and the Light of the Lord did not seem to shine through them so easily, the saints learned how to draw near to Christ and be renewed and restored in grace and holiness.

At this time of year, when our children are headed back to school, we may find ourselves in need of some continuing education. All of us can take a lesson from the saints, learning how to turn away from sin and believe in the Gospel. As that little girl’s story reminds us, a saint is a person that the light shines through. May God guide each of us on the path to holiness, instructing us each day how to reveal the Light of Christ to the world through our words and our actions, and teaching us how to be renewed through the gift of mercy. Like the saints depicted in stained-glass windows, may we allow the Light of Christ to shine bright in us.