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October 2026

Archives for October 2026

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Release Date: October 23, 2026

Archdiocese of Cincinnati Announces New Leadership Roles and Personnel

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Archbishop Robert G. Casey is pleased to announce new leadership personnel for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, inclusive of a newly appointed Chief Operating Officer, Vicar General and Vicar for Clergy.

Archbishop Robert G. Casey has appointed Clarissa Niese as Chief Operating Officer (COO) at the Pastoral Center, effective, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. Ms. Niese will serve as the first COO of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. The COO will oversee the administrative offices in the Pastoral Center, leading efforts to streamline archdiocesan operations to further assist the parishes, schools, and agencies of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati in the mission of the Church.

“This appointment is both a professional privilege and a personal calling. I look forward to serving the archdiocese and bringing my leadership experience to the mission of the Church,” said Ms. Niese.

Ms. Niese joins the archdiocese following more than 25 years of experience in the areas of strategic planning, operations, and change management. An alumna of The University of Cincinnati, and executive leader at Procter & Gamble and Tire Discounters, Ms. Niese has received such recognitions as 40 under 40 and the University of Cincinnati Outstanding Alumni Award from the Lindner College of Business. Originally from Upper Sandusky, Ohio, Ms. Niese and her husband Brent have been married for 21 years and have two daughters, Eliana and Greta. They are members of St. Clement Parish in St. Bernard.

“My faith has been a constant thread through every chapter of my life. Even during my years in the for-profit world, my love for my neighbor has been at the source of all I do. I deeply believe in the mission of the Catholic Church – of service, of community, of sanctuary,” said Ms. Niese.

Working alongside Ms. Niese at the Pastoral Center, Archbishop Robert G. Casey has appointed Fr. Jason Williams, J.C.L., as Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, effective Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. Fr. Williams has served as the Chancellor of the archdiocese for the last four years and Master of Ceremonies to the Archbishop since 2018. The position of Vicar General is canonically required, with responsibilities of assisting the archbishop in his governance of the archdiocese. Fr. Williams holds a licentiate in canon law from the Catholic University of America. This announcement is accompanied by sincere gratitude to Fr. Steve Angi, who has served as the Vicar General of the archdiocese since 2012.

In their leadership at the Pastoral Center, Fr. Williams and Ms. Niese will work together to assist the departments of the archdiocese to strive for best practices in living out the mission of the Church. Fr. Williams will primarily oversee the pastoral work of the archdiocese, while Ms. Niese will oversee the administrative work.

In addition to continuing in his assignment as pastor of St. Gregory the Great Family of Parishes, Fr. Steve Angi will take on new leadership at the Pastoral Center. Archbishop Robert G. Casey has appointed Fr. Angi as Vicar for Clergy for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. In his new role, Fr. Angi will spearhead the creation of a new department of pastoral and professional support that will be an immediate benefit to the clergy of the archdiocese.

Archbishop Casey offers the following comment:

“The strategic planning that began with Beacons of Light and continues as we engage in Synod 2027, has helped us to recognize that a structural change at the Pastoral Center is needed at this time. I believe this leadership arrangement will improve our operations and better allow us to support our parishes, schools, and agencies to carry out the mission of the Church in our day-to-day work.

In addition, I want to express my profound gratitude to Fr. Angi for his years of service as Vicar General. For me personally, his commitment and contributions in assisting me during my transition into governance of this archdiocese, have been invaluable. I also want to express my gratitude to Fr. Williams for accepting the appointment of Vicar General. I have great trust in him and his commitment to leadership while respecting the need for the teaching and sanctifying of the people of God in this archdiocese.”

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The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati is the 45th largest Catholic diocese in the country, with more than 440,000 Catholics, and has the fifth largest Catholic school system in terms of enrollment with more than 42,000 students. The 19-county territory includes 183 canonical parishes organized into 59 Families of Parishes, and 111 Catholic primary and secondary schools.

Jennifer Schack

Director of Communications & Media Relations

Archdiocese of Cincinnati

Office | 513.263.6618

Cell | 859.512.5626

[email protected]

 

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Deacon Joseph “Jack” Pitts, Jr., a deacon of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, died on October 9, 2026, at the age of 89.

Deacon Pitts was ordained by Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk on April 28, 2007 at the Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception in Dayton, Ohio. Upon ordination, he was assigned to serve at St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Centerville. In May, 2019, Deacon Jack and his wife, Virginia, moved to Kernersville, NC to live with his son in order to allow them to provide care for them both. Deacon Jack served for a time at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Kernersville. He faithfully served the Church both in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati and North Carolina for nineteen years.

Deacon Jack was preceded in death by his wife of sixty-three years, Virginia. He is survived by their three children and their spouses, twelve grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.

All funeral services for Deacon Jack will take place in his hometown of Charleston, SC. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on November 6, 2026, at Nativity Catholic Church in Charleston.

You may read the full obituary for Deacon Pitts on the funeral home’s website here: Lt. Col. (Ret.) Joseph L. Pitts Obituary October 9, 2026 – James A. McAlister Funerals and Cremation

Please keep the repose of the soul of Deacon Joseph “Jack” Pitts in your prayers, as well as peace and comfort for his family.

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Deacon Richard “Rich” Hobbs, a deacon of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, died on October 6, 2026, at the age of 61.

Deacon Hobbs was ordained by Archbishop Dennis Schnurr on April 24, 2010 at the Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception in Dayton, Ohio. Upon ordination, he was assigned to serve at St. Mary of the Assumption, Springboro. In June, 2022, St. Mary of the Assumption became part of the St. John Paul II Family of Parishes, and Deacon Rich was assigned to serve in this Family.

In addition to his ministry as deacon at his Family of Parishes, Deacon Rich pursued education in Canon Law. He received his Licentiate in Canon Law from St. Paul University, Ottawa, Canada. He served as Assessor for the Archdiocesan Tribunal beginning in August, 2019. He was appointed to the office of Judge for the Tribunal by Archbishop Dennis Schnurr in July, 2021. Most recently, he served as Defender of the Bond for the Tribunal.

Deacon Rich is survived by his wife, Julie, their three children Robert, Nicolas, and Elizabeth, and several nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held Saturday, October 10, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church, 9579 Yankee Rd, Springboro, OH 45066. Mass of Christian Burial will immediately follow the visitation at 11:00 a.m.

You may read the full obituary for Deacon Hobbs on the funeral home website here

https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/franklin-oh/richard-hobbs-13066007

Please keep the repose of the soul of Deacon Rich Hobbs in your prayers, as well as peace and comfort for his family.

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As our Church celebrates Respect Life Month this October, we might give some thought to St. Joseph, who serves as a model for how we can incorporate respect for life into our daily discipleship. We know St. Joseph to be a defender of dignity, a model of faith, and a protector of the vulnerable. As a defender of dignity, Joseph stood by Mary at a time when others would have judged and condemned her. As a model of faith, Joseph demonstrated deep trust in God’s will, even when the path forward for Mary and him seemed unclear and challenging. As a protector of the vulnerable, Joseph embraced his vocation as husband and father, enfolding Mary and Jesus in his shielding embrace.

As we see human life becoming a disposable commodity for many people in the world, we join St. Joseph in proclaiming the goodness and sacredness of all life, so that each person’s dignity may be defended from womb to tomb. We are compelled to educate others about concerning practices that continue to grow. For example, the usage of abortion pills, which dehumanize pregnancy and disconnect couples from the physical, spiritual, and emotional effects of their choices, as well as medical assistance in dying, a practice quite different from hospice ministry that fuels indifference and ignores the worth of those who suffer.

As we see a growing separation between faith and society, we join St. Joseph in declaring that all that we do, from the most mundane daily labor to the most sacred worship, must reveal God to the world. Otherwise, all too easily, faith becomes a private experience. As we struggle to comprehend why things are the way they are, we must strive to prevent ourselves from becoming exceedingly defensive, with hardened hearts and closed minds.

From the unborn to the migrant in our midst, we hear the voice of the vulnerable crying out for our protection today. The world around us may demand we follow a path that divides and conquers. Many will insist that it’s every man and woman for him or herself; individual wants supersede the importance of anyone else’s needs or wants. Yet, like St. Joseph, we believe differently. We hear the voice of Jesus in the voice of the vulnerable, the same Jesus who prayed, “that all may be one.”

This past month, I wrote a Pastoral Letter on the Eucharist to the faithful of our archdiocese in which I discuss the importance of striving for greater unity among all children of God. Our protection of the vulnerable is linked directly to our identity as a Eucharistic people, a community defined by our experience of communion. One with God and one with neighbor, we seek to protect the most defenseless from those who might wish to do them harm, knowing that when one of us suffers, all of us suffer. Unity is at the heart of the Church’s mission. My hope is that my Pastoral Letter, entitled “That They All May Be One,” will be a catalyst for greater communion with God and one another through the liturgical life of our archdiocese and embolden us to defend those who can’t defend themselves.

Through his quiet strength and obedience to God, St. Joseph offers a powerful example of the protection of human life and dignity. Throughout the year, may we imitate his faithful trust and fearless conviction in our efforts to uphold human dignity and celebrate the gift of life. Like St. Joseph, may we offer those around us a powerful witness, teaching through words and example that all life is sacred.