Catherine Connette

May 22, 2020 by Catherine Connette

Reverend Patrick M. McMullen passed away on Wednesday, May 20, 2020 in Batavia, Ohio. He was born on March 18, 1959 in Frankfurt, Germany. He received a B.S. in Elementary Education from Xavier University, Cincinnati and a M.Div. in Theological Studies from the Athenaeum of Ohio/Mount St. Mary’s Seminary of the West, Cincinnati. He was ordained on May 20, 2006 at St. Peter in Chains Cathedral, Cincinnati, Ohio by Archbishop Daniel E. Pilarczyk.

Father McMullen received his first assignment on July 1, 2006 as Parochial Vicar of Holy Angels Parish, Sidney. On July 1, 2008, he was appointed Parochial Vicar of St. Peter Parish, Huber Heights. On July 19, 2011, he was appointed Parochial Vicar of Our Lady of the Visitation Parish, Cincinnati. Father McMullen was appointed Parochial Administrator of St. Peter in Chains and St. Joseph Parishes, Hamilton, effective July 1, 2013. On July 1, 2016, he was appointed Parochial Administrator of St. Therese Little Flower Parish, Cincinnati.

Reception of the Body: Thursday, May 28, 2020 at 5:30 p.m. at Good Shepherd Church, 8815 E. Kemper Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45249; (513-489-8815). Celebrant and Homilist: Reverend Martin E. Bachman. Visitation will continue until 7:30 p.m. at the church.

Mass of Christian Burial: Friday, May 29, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. at Good Shepherd Church. Celebrant: Most Reverend Dennis M. Schnurr. Homilist: Reverend Martin E. Bachman.

Burial: Friday, May 29, 2020, immediately following the Mass of Christian Burial at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, 11000 Montgomery Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45249. Celebrant: Reverend Martin E. Bachman.

Associates of the Marian Pact are asked to offer, as soon as possible, one Mass for the repose of the soul of Father McMullen, and when convenient, to provide for the celebration of two other Masses.

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May 20, 2020 by Catherine Connette

Effective May 1, 2020

Reverend Robert Thesing, S.J., temporary Parochial Administrator, St. Francis Xavier, Cincinnati, effective May 1, 2020 through August 31, 2020.

Effective July 1, 2020

Reverend Craig Best, to Pastor of Holy Trinity, West Union, and St. Mary Queen of Heaven, Peebles.
Reverend Adam Puntel, to Pastor of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Mt. Repose, and St. Andrew, Milford.
Reverend Barry Stechschulte, to Pastor of St. Susanna, Mason.
Reverend Alexander Witt, to Pastor of Holy Rosary, St. Marys, and St. Patrick, Glynwood.
Reverend James Ackerman, S.J., to Parochial Vicar of St. Francis Xavier, Cincinnati.
Reverend Robert Farrell, to Parochial Vicar of St. Francis de Sales, Lebanon, and St. Philip the Apostle, Morrow.
Reverend Christopher Komoroski, to Parochial Vicar of St. Monica-St. George Parish Newman Center, and Holy Name, Cincinnati.
Reverend Benson Lotiang’a Lokidiriyo, to Parochial Vicar of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Mt. Repose, and St. Andrew, Milford.
Reverend Ignatius Madanu, to Parochial Vicar of Incarnation, Centerville.
Reverend Andrew Reckers, to Parochial Vicar of Coldwater Cluster (Holy Trinity, Coldwater; St. Anthony, St. Anthony, and St. Mary, Philothea).
Reverend Jeff Stegbauer, to Parochial Vicar of Winton-Wyoming Pastoral Region (St. Matthias, Cincinnati, Our Lady of the Rosary, Greenhills, and St. James of the Valley, Wyoming).
Reverend Andrew Smith, to Parochial Vicar of St. Christopher, Vandalia, and St. John the Baptist, Tipp City.
Reverend Jedidiah Tritle, to Parochial Vicar of Petersburg Region (St. Joseph, Wapakoneta, St. John the Evangelist, Fryburg; St. Lawrence, Rhine, and Immaculate Conception, Botkins).
Reverend Lambert Ulinzwenimana, to Parochial Vicar of St. Aloysius Gonzaga, and St. Jude, Bridgetown.
Reverend Timothy Fahey, to Director of Campus Ministry for Wright State University, Fairborn.
Reverend Ethan Moore, to Pastor of St. Monica-St. George Parish Newman Center, and Holy Name, Cincinnati.
Reverend Jason Williams, to Vice-Chancellor while continuing as Master of Ceremonies to Archbishop Schnurr.

Effective August 1, 2020

Reverend Eugene Schnipke, C.PP.S., to Pastor of Precious Blood, Dayton, St. Paul, Englewood, and St. Rita, Dayton.

Effective August 15, 2020

Reverend Michael Nartker, S.M., to Pastor of St. Francis de Sales, Cincinnati.

Effective August 24, 2020

Reverend Kenneth Alt, C.PP.S., to Parochial Vicar of Marion Catholic Community.

Effective September 8, 2020

Reverend Matthew Jozefiak, C.PP.S., to Pastor of Marion Catholic Community.

Effective October 1, 2020

Reverend Al Hirt, OFM, to Pastor of St. Francis Seraph, Cincinnati.

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May 16, 2020 by Catherine Connette

Jennifer Schack
Director of Media Relations
Archdiocese of Cincinnati
Office | 513.263.6618
Cell | 859.512.5626
[email protected]

Release Date: May 16, 2020

The Archdiocese of Cincinnati celebrates ordination of three priests

The Archdiocese of Cincinnati joyfully celebrated the ordination of three men to the priesthood on Saturday, May 16th. The men were ordained to the priesthood for service to God and the Church. Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr celebrated the Mass. Within the course of the ordination rite, the archbishop laid his hands on the men, invoking the authority given by Christ to the apostles to make new priests.

The three new priests had 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.

Before the Ordination Mass ended, first assignments were announced. Father Chris Komoroski is assigned as parochial vicar at St. Monica St. George Newman Center and Holy Family parish, Father Benson Lokidiriyo is assigned to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and St. Andrew parishes in Milford as parochial vicar. Father Andrew Reckers is assigned to the Coldwater Cluster of Holy Trinity, St. Anthony, and St, Mary parishes as parochial vicar.

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.

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May 8, 2020 by Catherine Connette

May 8, 2020

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Over the past eight weeks, the Bishops of Ohio have met on a regular basis to discuss recommendations and requirements put in place by the State of Ohio and the medical profession to deal with the coronavirus pandemic. Early in those discussions, we very reluctantly agreed that we had to suspend the public celebration of Mass for the safety of our parishioners and for the common good of our communities. These past weeks and months have been very difficult, but I am grateful to our priests, deacons, and lay leaders who continued to show genuine pastoral care for our people by staying in contact with parishioners in very creative ways. Many parishes live streamed Mass, connected with parishioners through phone calls, opened their churches for private devotions, offered spiritual reflections in online videos, etc. I am deeply, deeply grateful to all who have taken these initiatives. I am also grateful for all of you who have maintained spiritual closeness through these and other means and continued to live the Catholic faith in your homes.

On May 8, the Bishops of Ohio issued a statement by which we informed Catholics in the State of Ohio that, while making every effort to respect the spirit of the governor’s “Responsible Restart Ohio Plan,” we will begin to make the public celebration of Mass available once again. In the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, public Masses will begin on Monday, May 25.

At the same time, I must emphasize that this is not going to be “a return to normal.” Health and safety requirements and recommendations must continue to be followed. Among these are social distancing, the use of face masks, and concern for the most vulnerable.

Because of social distancing, church capacity will be significantly reduced and the number of people who attend a particular Mass will have to be regulated and limited. Please remember that you have been dispensed from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass, and that dispensation will remain in place for the foreseeable future. Thus, those who wish to participate in Mass and receive Holy Communion can do so by attending any Mass that is celebrated any day of the week. I am asking our pastors to make every effort to have a Mass celebrated publicly in every parish/region every day of the week beginning May 25.

Pastors, priests, deacons, parish staff, and volunteers are establishing respective guidelines for public health in each parish church. Please be respectful of these guidelines. Those who are elderly or vulnerable should continue to stay at home, mindful of the dispensation from the Sunday obligation. Parishes are asked to try to find ways to safely bring Holy Communion to shut-ins. People who are fearful that they may be putting their health, or the health of their family, at risk should likewise continue to remain at home.

On Sunday, May 3, the first Sunday of the month of May, a month dedicated in a special way to give honor to the Blessed Virgin Mary, I re-consecrated our archdiocese to the maternal care of Mary. In the prayer of consecration, I prayed: “Most Holy Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church and our Mother … In this time of pandemic, we come to you, our sign of sure hope and comfort … bring everyone under your protection and entrust everyone to your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.”

With the Blessed Virgin Mary interceding on our behalf we will get through these challenging times and draw nearer to her Son, the Good Shepherd.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Most Reverend Dennis M. Schnurr
Archbishop of Cincinnati

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May 8, 2020 by Catherine Connette

Jennifer Schack
Director of Media Relations
Archdiocese of Cincinnati
Office | 513.263.6618
Cell | 859.512.5626
[email protected]

Release Date: May 8, 2020

Public Masses will Resume in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati

In the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, public Masses will begin on Monday, May 25. Archbishop Dennis Schnurr has written a letter to the faithful with guidance going forward, insisting that health and safety requirements must continue to be followed as Masses resume. “I must emphasize that this is not going to be ‘a return to normal,'” said Schnurr. Among the requirements when returning to Mass, will be, “social distancing, the use of facemasks, and concern for the most vulnerable,” said Schnurr.

In addition, the Catholic faithful who reside in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati continue to be dispensed from the obligation of attending Sunday Mass. Those who are at risk or fearful that they or their family might become sick are encouraged to stay home and join the Church by viewing live-streaming Masses.

This announcement comes after the Catholic Bishops of Ohio announced today that the bishops of Ohio have “agreed that each diocese will determine a soft opening date later in May.”

The full letter from Archbishop Dennis Schnurr:

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Pastors, priests, deacons, parish staff, and volunteers are establishing respective guidelines for public health in each parish church. Please be respectful of these guidelines. Those who are elderly or vulnerable should continue to stay at home, mindful of the dispensation from the Sunday obligation. Parishes are asked to try to find ways to safely bring Holy Communion to shutins. People who are fearful that they may be putting their health, or the health of their family, at risk should likewise continue to remain at home.

With the Blessed Virgin Mary interceding on our behalf we will get through these challenging times and draw nearer to her Son, the Good Shepherd.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Most Reverend Dennis M. Schnurr
Archbishop of Cincinnati

The Catholic Telegraph has a complete list of live-streaming Masses in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati on their website, found here: http://www.thecatholictelegraph.com/covid-19-live-streaming-massschedule/65683

The archdiocesan website, www.catholiccincinnati.org, is live-streaming daily and weekend Masses from the Cathedral of St. Peter in Chains in Cincinnati. Daily Mass is available on-line at 8 a.m. Monday through Saturday and Sunday Mass is live-streamed at 9:30 a.m. in Spanish and 11 a.m. in English. All live-streaming Masses are also available on the Archdiocese of Cincinnati Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/CatholicCincinnati/ and YouTube page, https://www.youtube.com/user/cincyArchdiocese.

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May 8, 2020 by Catherine Connette

May 8, 2020

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As the “Responsible Restart Ohio Plan” is implemented during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, allowing a gradual return to work and lifting of some of the restrictions regarding consumer, retail and services, returning to operation, we your bishops, together with you, are anxious for the safe return to the public celebration of Mass/Liturgy. While making every effort to respect the spirit of the governor’s instructions, we want to begin in some way to make the public celebration of Mass/Liturgy available. To that end, we inform you that the bishops of Ohio have agreed that each diocese will determine a soft opening date later in May granting permission for the public celebration of weekday Mass/Liturgy, where it can be achieved safely and where pastorally possible, with less than 50 percent occupancy of the Church building, respecting social distancing. This plan provides for the possibility of the gradual return to the public celebration of Mass/Liturgy and prepares us for the Solemnity of Pentecost on the weekend of 30/31 May, when Sunday Mass/Liturgy will be publicly celebrated.

During the next few weeks, we will be working with our pastors and diocesan pastoral staffs to prepare for a soft opening of public celebration of weekday Mass/Liturgy. To this end, we ask our pastors with their parish staffs to prepare to implement a rigorous effort to fulfill guidelines, which will be forthcoming from each Diocese/Eparchy, to include maintaining social distancing, recommendations to provide a safe environment, and instructions for the distribution of Holy Communion.

The dispensation from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass/Liturgy remains in effect. As your bishops, we continue to be cautious and concerned for those who are most at risk, the elderly and those with serious health issues. We also remain deeply concerned for our priests, many of whom we find in this category. We strongly urge those who are most vulnerable and their caregivers to stay at home, and we implore those who are not feeling well, or who fear that their own health or that of their family may be compromised, to refrain from coming to church at this time. We thank you for your patience, understanding, and cooperation as we implement this gradual return to the public celebration of Mass/Liturgy.

Together, we continue to pray for all who are suffering from Covid-19, for all health care workers and first responders, for all the deceased and their families, and for an easing of the anxiety and tension caused by this pandemic. Relying on the Motherly care of Our Lady, Health of the Sick, we unite our sufferings to those of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and we trust in the glorious hope of His Resurrection.

Most Rev. Dennis M. Schnurr
Archbishop of Cincinnati

Most Rev. Daniel E. Thomas
Bishop of Toledo

Most Rev. George V. Murry, S.J.
Bishop of Youngstown

Most Rev. Jeffrey M. Monforton
Bishop of Steubenville

Most Rev. Robert J. Brennan
Bishop of Columbus

Rev. Donald P. Oleksiak
Diocesan Administrator of Cleveland

Most Rev. J. Michael Botean
Romanian Eparchy of Canton

Most Rev. Bohdan J. Danylo
Ukrainian Eparchy of St. Josaphat

Most Rev. Milan Lach, SJ
Byzantine Eparchy of Parma

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May 7, 2020 by Catherine Connette

Jennifer Schack
Director of Media Relations
Archdiocese of Cincinnati
Office | 513.263.6618
Cell | 859.512.5626
[email protected]

Release Date: May 7, 2020

Bishop Joseph R. Binzer Resigns as Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati

In late April, Bishop Joseph R. Binzer offered his resignation to the Holy See from his office as Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. His Holiness Pope Francis has accepted Bishop Binzer’s resignation which is effective today.

Bishop Binzer was previously removed as the Director of Priests’ Personnel after he failed to bring past concerns about Father Geoffrey Drew’s conduct to the attention of Archbishop Dennis Schnurr and the Priests’ Personnel Board.

“I am deeply sorry for my role in addressing the concerns raised about Father Drew, which has had a negative impact on the trust and faith of the people of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. In April, having studied this matter since last summer, the Holy See informed me that it agreed with this assessment. As a result, and after much prayer and reflection, I offered my resignation from the Office of Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati,” said Bishop Binzer. “I believe this to be in the best interest of the archdiocese.”

Bishop Joseph Binzer is a Cincinnati native. He was ordained a priest on June 4, 1994. Binzer served as Chancellor of the archdiocese for eight years before being ordained a bishop and installed as the Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati on June 9, 2011.

Although Bishop Binzer has resigned from his office of Auxiliary Bishop, he remains a priest of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.

“I have been blessed to serve the people of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati as a priest for almost 26 years and hope to do so for years to come. I will continue to pray for all of you, and for all those I have affected,” said Bishop Binzer.

“In this difficult and unfortunate time, please keep Bishop Binzer and all the people of the archdiocese in your prayers,” said Archbishop Schnurr. “Bishop Binzer will continue to serve the people of the Archdiocese with the title of Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus. What exactly that ministry will look like will be determined after discussions between Bishop Binzer, the Priest Personnel Board, and me.”

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May 1, 2020 by Catherine Connette

by Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr

The Archdiocese of Cincinnati will receive three new servant leaders later this month when I ordain Deacons Christopher Komoroski, Benson Lokidiriyo and Andrew Reckers to the priesthood. This moment of great joy for me and for the local Church comes at a time of continuing fear, anxiety, social tension and confusion as we all struggle to deal with the havoc wreaked by the coronavirus pandemic.

How this global health crisis will affect our new priests’ ministry in the coming months and beyond, no one knows. We do know, however, that each of them was called by God to serve the faithful of our archdiocese in Word and Sacrament, no matter the circumstances. Perhaps it is in the darkest of days, such as these, that their service is most needed.

As our archdiocesan prayer for vocations reminds us, every person was created by God with a vocation – a definite purpose in life. And we are happiest when we discern and accept that divine plan. We can see this in Scripture, where almost every biblical narrative is an account of God’s call and a human being’s generous “yes” in response. I am grateful to our new priests, and to all priests, who have accepted their call.

The newly ordained will share the pain that their brother priests feel at being distanced from the faithful in a way that has never happened before, with public celebration of the Eucharist suspended and normal parish functions disrupted. Even hospital and nursing home visits are all but impossible. Most painful of all, there were no full churches at the Easter Triduum to celebrate the Lord’s redemptive passion, death and resurrection. Happily, Holy Week services were live-streamed from the Cathedral and many of our parishes so thousands of you could participate remotely. The technology that our parishes have used with great creativity to keep the faithful connected is a welcome gift from God. However, it does not fully replace physical presence.

Nevertheless, the Church remains the Body of Christ and the Communion of Saints. Not only are we all in this difficult situation together, but Christ is also in it with us. Though we walk in the dark valley, we do not walk alone. The Lord has not abandoned us. I have asked our priests to continue to pray for their parishioners, for the whole archdiocese, and for all our suffering brothers and sisters throughout the world as they offer the Sacrifice of the Mass privately. I pray for each of you as well. At the same time, I ask you to remember our priests as you practice spiritual communion. Pour out your heart and soul to our Heavenly Father, who loves us and who takes care of us.

Speaking on the archdiocese’s “COVID-19 Daily Update on Facebook” at the end of March, I urged viewers to practice almsgiving in the form of checking on their neighbors and offering help. Now I request that you do the same for our priests. Make a phone call or send an encouraging card to let them know you have not forgotten them during these difficult days of separation.

We are all suffering in some ways. Even those who have not lost a job or a loved one to the pandemic feel stressed as we contemplate an unknowable future. However, Christ offers us a consistent message of hope about what lies ahead: Do not be afraid. Or as Jesus says in the Gospel of John: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me” (Jn 14:1).

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April 29, 2020 by Catherine Connette

Jennifer Schack
Director of Media Relations
Archdiocese of Cincinnati
Office | 513.263.6618
Cell | 859.512.5626
[email protected]

Release Date: April 29, 2020

Nearly 200-year-old newspaper to become a magazine

After 189 years as a newspaper, The Catholic Telegraph will become a magazine. The May 2020 newspaper is the last newspaper edition of the publication. Beginning in June 2020, a magazine will arrive in the homes of each registered family in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.

The Catholic Telegraph newspaper was one of the first Catholic newspapers in the United States. It was established in 1831 by the first bishop of the then-diocese of Cincinnati, Bishop Fenwick. Today The Catholic Telegraph is published under the direction of Archbishop Dennis Schnurr, while the publication’s daily operations are managed by the editor-in-chief, Jessica Rinaudo.

“Over the course of its long history, the publication has adapted to meet the needs of the faithful of the day. The new Catholic Telegraph magazine is the next big step in the periodical’s journey. Its design and feel are modern and relevant to the faithful of all ages. It’s exciting to lead the charge on such a big step for a publication with a long-standing history,” said Rinaudo.

The Catholic Telegraph magazine will remain a monthly publication and it will maintain the current columnists and freelance writers, but the look, design and feel will be a noticeable change. Three main components were kept in mind while designing the magazine: goodness, beauty and truth. “The Catholic Church has so many beautiful components – from its architecture and stained-glass windows, to its charitable outreach and the faith itself. The magazine format allows us to elevate and share those things in an inviting and attractive way,” said Rinaudo.

The transition to a magazine has been a work in progress for nearly a year. The completion of this transition comes at an especially opportune moment, when Catholic families are working to foster faith in their homes in new ways during this time of social distancing. Interestingly, The Catholic Telegraph began in a time of another major health crisis. In the year 1832, just one year into the production of the newspaper, it was placed on a short hiatus amid the outbreak of the cholera pandemic. Indeed, since its inception, The Catholic Telegraph has brought the goodness, beauty, and truth of the Catholic faith into the homes of the faithful throughout the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. This new format will enable it to carry on that important mission even more effectively in our world today.

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