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Colin Rahill

Colin Rahill

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Release Date:  May 18, 2024
Seven men ordained priests for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati

The Archdiocese of Cincinnati joyfully celebrated the ordination of seven new priests on Saturday May 18, 2024. 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 Mass was live streamed on the Archdiocese of Cincinnati YouTube channel.

The seven new priests will contribute to the growing trend of men being ordained priests over the last decade. The seven men being ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, this year, is in line with the seven men ordained in 2023, 2021, 2016, 2009 and 2022. Since 2014, sixty men have been ordained the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.

 

New priest assignments:

  • Rev. Brice Berger
    Parochial Vicar at (C3 Family of Parishes):
    • Saint Francis de Sales Parish, Lebanon
    • Saint Philip the Apostle Parish, Morrow
  • Rev. Adam Berning
    Parochial Vicar at (NW2 Family of Parishes):
    • Holy Rosary Parish, Saint Marys
    • Immaculate Conception Parish, Celina
    • Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Montezuma
    • Saint Patrick Parish, Glynwood
    • Saint Teresa Parish, Rockford
  • Rev. John Grusenmeyer
    Parochial Vicar at (NW3 Family of Parishes):
    • Saint Aloysius Parish, Carthegena
    • Saint Bernard Parish, Burkettsville
    • Saint Francis Parish, Cranberry Prairie
    • Saint Henry Parish, Saint Henry
    • Saint Wendelin Parish, Saint Wendelin

  • Rev. Benjamin Mersch
    Parochial Vicar at (C2 Family of Parishes):
    • Holy Family Parish, Middletown
    • Holy Name of Jesus Parish, Trenton
    • Our Lady of Sorrows Parish, Monroe
  • Rev. Matthew Montag
    Parochial Vicar at:
    • Saint Maximilian Kolbe Parish, Liberty Twp.
  • Rev. Anthony Sanitato
    Parochial Vicar at (NE5 Family of Parishes):
    • Ascension Parish, Kettering
    • Saint Albert the Great Parish, Kettering
    • Saint Charles Borromeo Parish, Kettering
  • Rev. Jeremy Stubbs
    Parochial Vicar at (S8 Family of Parishes):
    • Holy Cross-Immaculata Parish, Cincinnati
    • Our Lord Christ the King Parish, Cincinnati
    • Saint Rose Parish, Cincinnati
    • Saint Stephen, Cincinnati

 

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati is the 51st largest Catholic diocese in the country, with around 435,000 Catholics, and has the fifth largest Catholic school system in terms of enrollment with nearly 40,000 students.  The 19-county territory includes 206 canonical parishes organized into 57 Families of Parishes, and 109 Catholic primary and secondary schools.

 

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

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W H A T | Priesthood Ordination Mass
W H E N | Saturday, May 18, 2024, 11 A.M.
W H E R E | Cathedral Basilica of St. Peter in Chains: 325 W. 8th St., Cincinnati OH

Release Date:  May 15, 2024
Seven men being ordained priests for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati

The Archdiocese of Cincinnati will joyfully celebrate the ordination of seven new priests on Saturday May 18, 2024. The men will be ordained to the priesthood for service to God and the Church. Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr 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 seven new priests will contribute to the growing trend of men being ordained priests over the last decade. The seven men being ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, this year, is in line with the seven men ordained in 2023, 2021, 2016, 2009 and 2022. Since 2014, sixty men have been ordained the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.

The seven 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 12 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 Brice Berger
Deacon Adam Berning
Deacon John Grusenmeyer
Deacon Benjamin Mersch
Deacon Matthew Montag
Deacon Anthony Sanitato
Deacon Jeremy Stubbs

 

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati is the 51st largest Catholic diocese in the country, with around 435,000 Catholics, and has the fifth largest Catholic school system in terms of enrollment with nearly 40,000 students. The 19-county territory includes 206 canonical parishes organized into 57 Families of Parishes, and 109 Catholic primary and secondary schools.

 

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

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Many families annually prepare a special May Altar in their homes to honor the Blessed Mother. This space, set aside with an image or statue of Mary and decorated with flowers and candles, is just one example of the various ways in which Catholics show their devotion to the Mother of God during the month of May. It is the season of May Crownings and Rosary processions. Others will participate in devotions of Marian Consecration either alone or in small groups. For some, it is a fitting time to read a book on Mary’s virtues or of meditations on her life. In all these ways and more, this month is an opportunity to grow closer to Mary in prayer and to learn from her how to be a better disciple of her Son.

It is appropriate to set aside May, in particular, to honor Mary. The world around us is speaking of new life: trees have leafed out once more, flowers are blooming, and gardens and crops are being planted with the hope of a fruitful harvest. Through her faithful “Yes” to God’s plan for her life, Mary also brought new life into the world with the birth of Jesus. He would go on to make possible the restoration of a world wounded by sin to the original beauty and order it had at the beginning of creation.

Shortly after being elected, Pope Benedict XVI reflected on his predecessor, Pope St. John Paul II, calling Mary the “Woman of the Eucharist.” In the month of May, surrounded by the beauty of the Vatican gardens, the Holy Father addressed a small group of pilgrims who had just finished a Rosary procession. He said Mary was a “‘Woman of the Eucharist’ through and through, beginning with her inner disposition: from the Annunciation, when she offered herself for the Incarnation of the Word of God, to the Cross and to the Resurrection; ‘Woman of the Eucharist’ in the period subsequent to Pentecost, when she received in the Sacrament that Body which she had conceived and carried in her womb” (Address During the Prayer Meeting in the Vatican Gardens for the Conclusion of the Marian Month of May, May 31, 2005).

Pope Benedict went on to remind the pilgrims that, “Mary, living Tabernacle of God made flesh, is the Ark of the Covenant in whom the Lord visited and redeemed his people.” The presence of Jesus within her filled her with the Holy Spirit and the joy which only He can give. That is also the joy of the Church: “Welcoming Jesus and bringing Him to others is the true joy of Christians!”

Mary, like any good mother, teaches us many things. Most importantly she teaches us that the fullness of life, which we all desire, comes from closeness to Christ and following Him faithfully. Mary said “Yes” to the Archangel Gabriel, and she conceived by the Holy Spirit. Similarly, when we as believers say “Amen” before receiving the Eucharist, we are professing our faith in the Real Presence of the Lord who comes to dwell within us. Mary’s life became caught up in the mystery of redemption through childbearing the Son of God. Our lives, too, if we are open to the transforming power of the Eucharist, can likewise be used by God to renew the world in love.

May Mary, the Woman of the Eucharist, intercede for us so that, welcoming her Son into our lives, we may follow Him and conform ourselves ever more to His holy will!

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Release Date: April 3, 2024

Media Release Concerning Marshall Hyzdu
 
Mr. Marshall Hyzdu has stepped down as president of Archbishop Moeller High School, effective today. We are grateful for Marshall’s many contributions to Moeller and extend our sincere best wishes for his success in future endeavors.
 
“It has been an honor and a joy to lead Archbishop Moeller High School for the past eight years. I am proud of our investment in academics, the arts, and athletics, and I am grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of the legacy of Moeller, alongside its outstanding community. I am also grateful to our board of trustees, our excellent faculty & staff, and students, and the strong supporters of the Moeller Family,” Hyzdu said. “My recent actions did not align with Moeller’s values or those of the Catholic Church. It is in the best interest of the Moeller community that I now step down to allow the school to continue to thrive without distraction.”

Since this is a personnel matter, no additional information will be made available.
 
The Moeller Board and the Archdiocese of Cincinnati will immediately begin a search for a new president with the objective of filling the position for the 2024-25 school year. Mr. Carl Kremer, currently principal, has agreed to serve as interim president during this transition.
 
 
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati is the 51st largest Catholic diocese in the country, with around 435,000 Catholics, and has the fifth largest Catholic school system in terms of enrollment with nearly 40,000 students.  The 19-county territory includes 208 canonical parishes organized into 57 Families of Parishes, and 113 Catholic primary and secondary schools.

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Jesus was not afraid to be controversial. Declaring sins forgiven, speaking of His relationship with God the Father, and teaching the necessity to love our enemies all created a stir in Jesus’ day. Various aspects of His teachings remain controversial to this day. For example, Jesus said, “If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (Jn. 8:31-32). In quick succession He uses the word truth three times, emphasizing the importance of that reality. Yet Pilate would later question Jesus, asking, “What is truth?” (Jn. 18:38).

Even today many people assert that objective truth does not exist outside of subjective experience. We firmly believe, however, that is not the case. In the introduction to his encyclical Fides et Ratio (FR), Pope St. John Paul II said, “God has placed in the human heart a desire to know the truth.” All of us, then, knowingly or unknowingly, are on a quest to learn more about the world around us and our place in that world. For His part, God has constantly been at work to reveal to us the truth underlying all of creation, namely who He is and who we are in relationship to Him.

Christ, the incarnate Word of God, speaks the truth not only through His words, but also through His actions and the Holy Spirit, which He sent after His Passion and Resurrection. Reflecting on this reality, the Fathers of the Second Vatican Council stated, “Christ… by the revelation of the mystery of the Father and His love, fully reveals man to man himself and makes his supreme calling clear. It is not surprising, then, that in Him all the aforementioned truths find their root and attain their crown” (Gaudium et Spes, 22).

Through all our scientific and intellectual pursuits, we are ultimately seeking to know the truth about ourselves and to find answers to the most fundamental questions: Who am I? What is the purpose of my life? What is good and what is evil? Is there something more than this life? These questions, though, cannot be answered by science alone; we must rely also on the Revelation we have received from God. It is our faith which opens up the fullness of the mystery of creation and helps us to understand how we are to interact with each other and the world in which we live.

Faith and science thus are not in competition with each other. Rather they inform each other, each contributing to the fullness of knowledge which we seek to possess. Pope St. John Paul II spoke about this relationship clearly: “The world and all that happens within it, including history and the fate of peoples, are realities to be observed, analyzed, and assessed with all the resources of reason, but without faith ever being foreign to the process. Faith intervenes not to abolish reason’s autonomy nor to reduce its scope for action, but solely to bring the human being to understand that in these events it is the God of Israel who acts. Thus the world and the events of history cannot be understood in depth without professing faith in the God who is at work in them” (FR, 16).

As we live in this world and study and explore all its various facets, we must never lose sight of the fact that God has created everything to reveal His love for us and to guide us along the path which leads to fully sharing in that love forever in heaven.

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Deacon William Mullaney, a deacon of the Archdiocese, died on March 17, 2024 at the age of 87. Deacon Bill was ordained by Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati on September 26, 1998. He served the Archdiocese as a permanent deacon for twenty-five years.

Upon his ordination, Deacon Bill was assigned to Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Anderson Township. He served faithfully at the parish throughout his entire ordained ministry.

Deacon Bill leaves his wife, Nancy, to whom he was married for 64 years. He also leaves their five children and their spouses, thirteen grandchildren and spouses, and four great-grandchildren.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, March 21, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, 7820 Beechmont Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45255. There will be no visitation. A reception will be held immediately following the Mass in Heritage Hall at the church.

You may read the full obituary on the funeral home website here.

Please keep the repose of the soul of Deacon Bill Mullaney in your prayers, as well as peace and consolation for his entire family.

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Deacon Manuel “Manny” Vilaboy, a deacon of the Archdiocese, died on March 3, 2024 at the age of 95. Deacon Manny was ordained by Archbishop Joseph Bernadin for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati on September 26, 1976. He was among the thirty-nine men ordained in the first permanent deacon ordination in the Archdiocese. He served the Archdiocese as a permanent deacon for forty-seven years.

Upon his ordination, Deacon Manny was assigned to St. Bartholomew Parish, Cincinnati. In 1983, he was assigned to minister to the Spanish-speaking community at Holy Angels Parish in Cincinnati. He was appointed Moderator of the Hispanic Catholic Community in the Cincinnati area in 1988 by Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk. Deacon Manny was also dedicated to the Catholic Cursillo Movement of Cincinnati, serving as its Spiritual Director for many years until 2005.

Deacon Manny was married to his wife, Eileen, for 36 years before her death in April, 2020. They were the proud parents of eight children and fifteen grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at Saint Mary Magdalene Church in Gilbert, Arizona, where he has been living with family for many years.  The memorial service will be on Monday, March 11th. Burial will take place at the Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Gilbert.

You may read his full obituary here.

Please keep the repose of the soul of Deacon Manuel Vilaboy in your prayers, as well as peace and consolation for his entire family.

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March 4, 2024

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

There is no doubt we live in polarized times.  Virtually every topic seems to be fodder for political division.  In such times, our Catholic faith can be tested even more intensely than usual, especially when our faith runs up against public policy.  Of course, Catholic teaching is not just for the United States in the 21st century; it is universal and enduring.  When we strive to live our Catholic faith and pursue the common good, our work can alternatively be praised or attacked … and sometimes both at the same time.

We experience this dynamic regularly in our advocacy for the unborn and pregnant mothers in need, for example.  Now, we are facing vitriolic backlash online and even in some mainstream media for our care for our migrant brothers and sisters who, like everyone else in our communities, are children of God.

Our nation has a broken immigration system.  Our nation’s migration and border policies fail us.  For decades, the U.S. Catholic bishops have urged Congress and administrations of both parties to revamp immigration law and processes in a way that restores order and promotes human dignity.  To be clear, this does not mean that we condone unlawful immigration or advocate for open borders.  However, in the midst of a broken system and broken world, we do always advocate for every person’s God-given dignity.

As faithful Catholics, we have a responsibility to carefully discern between provocative narratives and the truth of the Church’s work with migrants and refugees in need.  The objectification of any human being or set of human beings is not in keeping with the commandment to love one another.

Through our parishes, schools, and social services agencies in which migrants find themselves, the Church provides an opportunity for us to leave behind political agendas and offer the goodness of basic human interactions inspired by the faith and charity which come from God. Any of the thousands of volunteers and supporters who help make our humanitarian work possible can attest to the great gift this has provided for their own faith journeys and our communities. Working with migrants and refugees is a wonderful way to put our Catholic faith into action, just as is serving any other person in need.

The types of services for which migrants are eligible varies greatly depending on their immigration status.  In providing support for migrants and refugees, it is important to clarify what the Church does and does not do, especially through our local charitable agencies, Catholic Charities Southwestern Ohio and Catholic Social Services of the Miami Valley.
  • We provide humanitarian assistance to anyone who comes through our doors should we have a service for them.  This may involve food assistance, case management and mental health counseling, all supported through private philanthropy.
  • We do not aide or assist in any unauthorized entry into the United States.
  • We provide legal refugee resettlement.  This federal program, which has existed for over 40 years, partners with local agencies to resettle those who have been identified by the United Nations and thoroughly vetted by the U.S. government.  “Refugee” is a formal designation given to a minority of U.S. migrants who have demonstrated a well-founded fear of persecution for their race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group.  When a refugee is qualified for permanent resettlement, it is established through multiple federal agencies that they cannot return to their country of origin and that they pose no threat to our national security.  Our agencies transparently receive federal and local funds to assist in this work.
  • We provide case management services to unaccompanied minors to ensure that they are safe and free from exploitation and human trafficking.  Those children that receive these services are placed by the federal government in our area, and we have no role in directing them here.  Our Catholic Charities is assigned their cases and receives federal funds to assist in this work as well.

If you have a concern about immigration law or practice, please address it with your government representatives. But always remember your deepest calling as Christians: “whatever you did for one of these least brothers [and sisters] of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40).

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Most Reverend Dennis M. Schnurr

Archbishop of Cincinnati

P.S. If you would like to learn more about this topic, please consult the following resources:

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Catholics mark the beginning of the holy season of Lent with the reception of blessed ashes, acknowledging our sinfulness and the reality that one day we ourselves will return to dust. Over the course of these 40 days, the Church encourages us to refocus our lives on the things of heaven and to turn away from the things of this passing world. The spiritual disciplines which we practice with increased fervor during these weeks have an effect beyond this liturgical season. Our prayer, fasting and almsgiving are all directed toward the ongoing conversion of our hearts, so that we who seek pardon for our sins may one day share in the newness of life of the Risen Son of God.

Pope Benedict XVI spoke about the integral relationship between Lent and Easter, saying, “As she awaits the definitive encounter with her Spouse in the eternal Easter, the Church community, assiduous in prayer and charitable works, intensifies her journey in purifying the spirit, so as to draw more abundantly from the Mystery of Redemption the new life in Christ the Lord” (2011 Message for Lent). God is inviting us to prepare ourselves to share in the new life which flows from the Resurrection of His Son. Sin blocks our reception of that new life, which is why the Church especially calls us to the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation during Lent. Other spiritual practices can also dispose our souls to more effectively receive the graces which God desires to pour out upon us.

God knows and loves each of us personally, as unique individuals, and He knows which gifts of His grace each of us needs in the particular circumstances of our lives. God does not encounter all of us in the same way, and not all of us experience God in the same way. For this reason, the Catechism of the Catholic Church states, “many and varied spiritualties have been developed throughout the history of the churches” (CCC 2684).

These spiritualities can be born from individuals’ experiences of God passed on through religious congregations or ecclesial movements. In this sense we refer to Dominican, Ignatian, Benedictine, or Franciscan spiritualities. These also “arise at the point of convergence of liturgical and theological currents, bearing witness to the integration of the faith into a particular human environment and its history” (CCC 2684). Based on our own personalities, it is common to find the devotional prayers, practices and emphases of a particular spirituality to be an attractive or comfortable aid to our encounter with God. This is a beautiful manifestation of the diverse ways the Spirit acts in the Church. Such varied action of the Spirit reminds us of the great desire of God to draw every person back to Himself for all eternity.

We make that journey back to the God who created us together. We each have a unique relationship with God, and He gives each of us unique gifts that we can contribute to the whole Church’s journey back to fullness of life with God. May these weeks of Lent, leading us to the joy of Easter, be a time when our individual spiritual growth builds up the entire Body of Christ!

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