Jennifer Schack

May 20, 2022 by Jennifer Schack

W H A T | Priesthood Ordination Mass

W H E N | Saturday May 21, 2022, 11 A.M.

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

Release Date: May 20, 2022

Seven priests being ordained for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati

The Archdiocese of Cincinnati will joyfully celebrate the ordination of seven new priests on Saturday May 21, 2022. 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 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 2021, 2016 and 2009. The largest recent class were nine men ordained to the priesthood in 2019. The high number of ordinations in recent years, 26 men in total from 2019-2022, is the strongest four-year group in nearly 40 years! The last time we had 26 or more men ordained over a four-year period was 1980-1983.

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 15 of this year from The Athenaeum of Ohio, Mount St. Mary’s Seminary, after at least seven years of formation for the priesthood. Parish assignments for the new priests will be announced at the ordination.

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati is the 44^th 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 40,000 students. The 19-county territory includes 210 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]

May 17, 2022 by Jennifer Schack

Reverend Francis W. Voellmecke died on Sunday, May 15, 2022, in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was born on October 6, 1935, in Cincinnati. He did his preparatory studies for two years at St. Gregory Seminary, Cincinnati and received a Ph.B. and S.T.L. from Gregorian University, Rome. He was ordained on December 20, 1959, at the Chapel of the North American College in Rome by Archbishop Martin J. O’Connor, Rector of the North American College & Titular Archbishop of Laodicea in Syria.

Father Voellmecke was appointed to his first assignment on August 31, 1960, as assistant at Holy Family Parish, Cincinnati and part-time teacher at Seton High School, Cincinnati. On August 29, 1963, he was appointed as assistant at St. Dominic Parish, Cincinnati and to continue teaching part-time at Seton. On August 9, 1966, he was appointed assistant at St. William Parish, Cincinnati and to teach full-time at Seton. In August 1969, Father Voellmecke was assigned to further studies at Notre Dame University in South Bend, Indiana where he achieved a Ph.D. in Philosophy. On June 20, 1973, he was appointed to the faculty at St. Gregory Seminary and on June 7, 1974, he was appointed as Rector of the Seminary. On August 1, 1980, Father Voellmecke was released from service in the Archdiocese in order to serve on the faculty of the Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio. In December 1988, Father Voellmecke was granted permission to serve for five years in the Diocese of Salt Lake City, Utah and in July 1989, he was released to serve as Pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish and Newman Center in Logan, Utah. In December 1993, his leave for service to the Diocese of Salt Lake City was extended for one more year. On August 12, 1995, he was appointed resident associate at Our Lord Christ the King Parish, Cincinnati. On June 1, 1996, he was appointed pastor of Old St. Mary Parish, Cincinnati, for a period of six years. Father Voellmecke was appointed to the faculty of Mount St. Mary’s Seminary/Athenaeum of Ohio, Cincinnati on August 3, 1998. He was appointed Temporary Parochial Administrator of Sts. Peter and Paul Parish, Reading, effective June 25, 2001, while remaining on the seminary faculty. Father Voellmecke retired from active ministry on July 1, 2010.

Reception of the Body: Monday, May 23, 2022, at 5:00 p.m. at St. William Church, 4108 W. 8^th St., Cincinnati, Ohio 45205; (513-921-0247.) Celebrant: Reverend Jeffrey M. Kemper. Visitation: following Reception of the Body until 8:00 p.m.

Mass of Christian Burial: Tuesday, May 24, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. at St. William Church. Celebrant and Homilist: Reverend Edward P. Smith.

Burial: Tuesday, May 24, 2022, immediately following at St. Joseph (Old) Cemetery, 3819 W. 8^th St. at Seton Ave., Cincinnati, Ohio 45205. Celebrant: Reverend Edward P. Smith.

May 9, 2022 by Jennifer Schack

Reverend James J. O’Connor died on May 4, 2022, in Celina, Ohio. He was born on June 26, 1928, in Fayetteville, Ohio. He did his preparatory studies at St. Gregory Seminary and studied theology at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary of the West, Norwood. He was ordained on August 22, 1954, after his third year of theology, at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary of the West Chapel, Norwood by Archbishop Karl J. Alter. He returned to the Seminary after ordination for his final year of theology.

Father O’Connor received his first assignment on June 16, 1955, as assistant at St. Monica Cathedral, Cincinnati. On June 20, 1958, he was appointed assistant at St. Peter in Chains Cathedral, Cincinnati and to teach at De Porres High School, Cincinnati. On June 11, 1962, he was appointed administrator of St. Augustine Parish, Cincinnati and principal of De Porres High School, until the school closed in 1964. On June 17, 1964, he was appointed temporary assistant at Holy Trinity Parish, Middletown. On August 25, 1964, he was appointed chaplain to the Sisters of Charity at Marian High School; in charge of the religion department, full-time religion teacher, with residence at St. Margaret Hall, Cincinnati. Father O’Connor was appointed principal of Fenwick High School, Middletown (1967-1974) and administrator of St. Peter Claver Parish, Middletown on June 16, 1967. When St. Peter Claver Parish closed in 1969, Father O’Connor was appointed, on July 14, 1969, as assistant at St. John Parish, Middletown, and to continue as principal at Fenwick. On June 17, 1971, he was appointed assistant at Holy Trinity Parish, Middletown and to continue as principal at Fenwick. On June 15, 1972, he was appointed assistant at St. Mary Parish, Middletown and to continue as principal at Fenwick. On June 20, 1973, he was appointed to return as assistant to Holy Trinity Parish, Middletown and to continue at Fenwick. Father O’Connor was appointed pastor of Holy Angels, Sidney, on June 19, 1974. On August 16, 1976, he was appointed co-pastor of Holy Angels, Sidney. On August 8, 1985, Father O’Connor was appointed pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish, Botkins; then appointed pastor of St. Lawrence Parish, Rhine for a period of six years, effective December 1, 1989, while remaining as pastor of Immaculate Conception. Father O’Connor retired from active ministry on July 1, 1998.

Reception of the Body: Saturday, May 14, 2022, at 9:00 a.m. at Holy Angels Church, 119 E Water St., Sidney, Ohio 45365; (937-498-2307.) Celebrant: Reverend Steven L Shoup. Visitation: 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m., following Reception of the Body until Mass of Christian Burial.

Mass of Christian Burial: Saturday, May 14, 2022, at 11: 00 a.m. at Holy Angels Church, Sidney. Celebrant: Reverend Steven L. Shoup. Homilist: Reverend Kyle E. Schnippel.

Burial: Saturday, May 14, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. at St. Patrick Cemetery, Anderson State Road, Fayetteville, Ohio 45118. Celebrant: Reverend Thomas L. Bolte

May 1, 2022 by Jennifer Schack

Devotion to the saints, those holy men and women who have gone before us on earth and are now with God in heaven, has been a vital part of Catholic culture and practice from the earliest centuries of the Church. In particular, we venerate the Blessed Virgin Mary. We honor her as the mother of God, the mother of the Church and our mother, as well.

Depictions of the Blessed Virgin as an aid to prayer have appeared on frescos in the catacombs of Rome, on icons and on statues and paintings in churches throughout the world and over the centuries. Many of our most beautiful Catholic hymns are about Mary, reflecting the affection Christian people have always had for her. She is not a remote figure, but close to us as our model of faith, intercessor and Blessed Mother. In all of these roles, she leads us to Christ.

Mary is often called the first and most perfect disciple of Jesus. She believed in the message of an angel even though she did not know how it could be. In response to her kinswoman Elizabeth’s cry of “Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled” at the Visitation, she responds with the beautiful prayer, the Magnificat: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my savior” (Lk. 1:46-47). Mary is a model of faith, and we draw on her example for courage and strength as she accompanies us during life’s challenging times and big transitions.

In the Gospel according to John, we see Mary as intercessor when she subtly advocates for the bridal party at the wedding feast of Cana. She says just two things: “They have no wine” (Jn. 2:3) and “Do whatever he tells you” (Jn. 2:5). Despite protesting that His hour has not yet come, Jesus turns water into wine at the behest of His mother. Following the ancient practices of the Church, Catholics often ask Mary to go toGod on our behalf. That is what we do when we say such treasured Marian prayers as the “Hail Mary,” the “Hail! Holy Queen” and the “Memorare.”

Mary is the ideal intermediary because she is close to the Lord and close to us, a mother to both. She became the mother of God Incarnate when she told the angel Gabriel at the Annunciation, “May it be done unto me according to your word” (Lk. 1:38). She became the mother of the Church and its members when Jesus said to her at the foot of the cross, “Woman, behold your son” and to the beloved disciple, “Behold, your mother” (Jn. 19:26-27). Later, she was with the other disciples in the Upper Room (Acts 1:13) as a part of the early Church community in Jerusalem.

There are many ways in which the faithful can devote themselves to Mary, including the rosary, the Angelus, Mary gardens, Marian pilgrimages and May crownings. And since her assumption into heaven body and soul, the Church has found many apparitions of Mary worthy of belief, generating special devotions and feast days to Our Lady of Fatima, Our Lady of Lourdes, Our Lady of Guadalupe and others.

In my own life and in my ministry as priest and bishop, I have always felt close to the Blessed Virgin and valued Marian devotions as a means to follow her to Christ. Last June 19, on the bicentennial of the founding of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, I was pleased to re-consecrate our local Church to Jesus through Mary culminating a 33-day pilgrimage during which a blessed statue of Our Lady of Fatima was carried to 36 parishes across the archdiocese. This March 25, I again called upon Mary, asking her to watch over our archdiocese. We can be sure of Mary’s maternal care as we strive to be faithful disciples and joyful witnesses.

Holy Mary, Mother of God and our mother, pray for us!

April 21, 2022 by Jennifer Schack

Notice of Death of Archdiocesan Deacon

Deacon John Gobbi, a Deacon of the Archdiocese, died on Tuesday April 12, 2022 at his home in Fort Myers, Florida, where he was living with his granddaughter. He was 90 years old. Deacon John was ordained on June 22, 1985 and has served the Archdiocese for thirty-six years. His wife Kathleen died in December, 2000.

Visitation will be Friday, April 22, at 10:00 a.m. at St. John Neumann Church, 12191 Mill Road, Cincinnati 45240. The Mass of Christian Burial will immediately follow at 11:00 a.m. Bishop Joseph Binzer will celebrate.

Deacon John’s remains will then be transported to St Peter’s Church, 620 Center Street, Lewiston, NY 14092 for Mass and burial on Tuesday, April 26, 2022 in Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Lewiston, next to his wife, Kathleen.

Please keep the repose of the soul of Deacon John Gobbi in your prayers, as well as consolation for his entire family.

April 14, 2022 by Jennifer Schack

Release Date: April 14, 2022

Holy Week Celebrations at St. Peter in Chains Cathedral Basilica & Praying the Steps

Holy Thursday Masses will be celebrated today, Thursday, April 14. On Holy Thursday, Catholics commemorate the institution of the Eucharist and the Priesthood by Jesus Christ at the Last Supper. Most Reverend Dennis M. Schnurr, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, will celebrate the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Peter in Chains at 5 P.M.

Friday, April 15, is Good Friday. This day commemorates the day that Jesus was crucified. It is an obligatory day of fasting (one full meal and two smaller meals that together do not add up to the one full meal) and abstinence from meat for Catholics. The Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion will be celebrated at St. Peter in Chains Cathedral at 12 P.M. Fr. Jan Schmidt, rector of the Cathedral Basilica of St. Peter in Chains, will celebrate the liturgy.

For more than a century, thousands have gathered to “Pray the Steps” in Mount Adams on Good Friday. In preparation for the pilgrims who will pray the steps leading to Holy Cross-Immaculata Church, the faithful will gather at 11:30 P.M. on the evening of April 14, at the base of the steps on St. Gregory Street and, just before midnight, Fr. Anthony Brausch will bless the steps. Around 200 people are expected for the blessing. Fr. Brausch will then lead the group in prayer up the steps. Throughout Friday, April 15, around 10,000 to 12,000 pilgrims will ascend the steps in prayer.

The Easter Vigil Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Peter in Chains will be held at 8:45 P.M. on Saturday, April 16. Archbishop Schnurr will celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ for hundreds of local Catholics. The Easter Vigil Mass is also when new members are initiated into the Catholic Church. Many will be baptized and received into the Church through the R.C.I.A. program (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults).

Easter Sunday Masses at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Peter in Chains will be held at 9:00 A.M. and 11 A.M. on April 21. Fr. Jan Schmidt will celebrate the 11 A.M. Mass on Easter morning.

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati is the 44^th 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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Jennifer Schack

Director of Media Relations

Archdiocese of Cincinnati

Office | 513.263.6618

Cell | 859.512.5626

[email protected]

April 12, 2022 by Jennifer Schack

Deacon John R. Collins, a Deacon of the Archdiocese, died on Saturday, April 9, 2022, following an short illness. He was 79 years old.

Deacon John was ordained April 28, 2007 by Archbishop Daniel E. Pilarczyk. He was assigned to St. Joseph and St. Raphael parishes in Springfield upon ordination. He served at the parishes until his death.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 32 years, Susan Irene Collins. He is survived by his children Mary (Bill) Padgett, Jeff (Helen) Collins, Tim (Aida) Scanlon, Vince (Jamie) Scanlon, and Nicholas (Melanie) Scanlon. John and Susan were the grandparents of twelve grandchildren.

Mass of Christian Burial will be on Wednesday, April 13, 2022 at St. Raphael Catholic Church, Springfield, at 1:00 p.m.

Please keep the repose of the soul of Deacon John Collins in your prayers, as well as consolation for his entire family.

April 2, 2022 by Jennifer Schack

Release Date: April 2,2022

Cincinnati’s Fr. Earl K. Fernandes Appointed Bishop of the Diocese of Columbus

The Holy Father, Pope Francis, announced today that Father Earl K. Fernandes, of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, has been appointed Bishop of the Diocese of Columbus in Ohio. Bishop-elect Fernandes will be the 13th bishop of the Diocese of Columbus. The diocese has been under the governance of a diocesan administrator since Bishop Robert J. Brennan was installed as Bishop of Brooklyn in November of 2021. Bishop-elect Fernandes will be consecrated and installed as Bishop of the Diocese of Columbus on Tuesday, May 31, 2022.

A press conference welcoming Bishop-elect Fernandes will be held at 10:30 a.m. this morning, in Columbus. For members of the media unable to attend, a public livestream of the press conference will be available here.

Bishop-elect Fernandes was ordained to the priesthood on May 18, 2002. Most recently he has been serving as pastor of St. Ignatius of Loyola Church in Cincinnati since 2019. Bishop-elect Fernandes has faithfully served the people of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati in many leadership roles throughout the last 20 years. He served as dean, pastor, parochial vicar, seminary academic dean and associate professor, and high school teacher. He holds a doctorate of moral theology from the Alphonsian Academy in Rome. He is the published author of one book and numerous articles and essays and has given presentations, talks, and retreats around the country. He has been a regular contributor to the Archdiocese of Cincinnati’s magazine The Catholic Telegraph.

Bishop-elect Fernandes is a native of Toledo, Ohio, the fourth of five boys, and the son of Indian immigrants. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Toledo and came to Cincinnati to study at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine before discerning a vocation to the priesthood. Additional biographical information about Bishop-elect Fernandes is available on the archdiocesan website: www.catholicaoc.org/bishopelectfernandes.

Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr has released the following letter to the faithful announcing the appointment:

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Today the Holy See announced that Pope Francis has appointed Father Earl K. Fernandes of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati the thirteenth bishop of the Diocese of Columbus. Father Fernandes will be consecrated and installed on Tuesday, May 31, 2022. We will miss his incredible intellect, unflagging energy, and concern for all people, but know that these traits will serve him well as he expands his ministry to shepherd the faithful people of Columbus.

Bishop-elect Fernandes has ministered to the people of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati in many ways since his ordination to the priesthood on May 18, 2002. Over the past 20 years, he has served as dean, pastor, parochial vicar, seminary academic dean and associate professor, high school teacher, retreat leader, and regular contributor to The Catholic Telegraph and other publications. Father Fernandes also served on the staff of the Apostolic Nunciature in Washington, D.C. for three and a half years. Through all his assignments, Father Fernandes has been an ever-joyful witness to the goodness, beauty and truth of the Catholic faith.

Please join me in congratulating Bishop-elect Fernandes on this joyous news. Let us keep our beloved brother in prayer as he starts this new ministry.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Most Reverend Dennis M. Schnurr

Archbishop of Cincinnati

Jennifer Schack

Director of Media Relations

Archdiocese of Cincinnati

Office | 513.263.6618

Cell | 859.512.5626

[email protected]

A PDF of the release is available here.

April 2, 2022 by Jennifer Schack

April 2, 2022

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Please join me in congratulating Bishop-elect Fernandes on this joyous news. Let us keep our beloved brother in prayer as he starts this new ministry.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Most Reverend Dennis M. Schnurr

Archbishop of Cincinnati

A PDF of this letter is available here.

Jennifer Schack

Jennifer Schack

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