Jennifer Schack

March 28, 2022 by Jennifer Schack

Reverend Michael F. Leshney died on Sunday, March 27, 2022, in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was born on November 15, 1945, in Cincinnati. He did his preparatory studies at St. Gregory Seminary and studied theology at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary of the West. He was ordained on June 2, 1973, at St. Peter in Chains Cathedral, Cincinnati, by Archbishop Joseph L. Bernardin.

Father Leshney received his first assignment on June 20, 1973, as a resident associate at Teresa of Avila Parish, Price Hill (Cincinnati). On July 1, 1977, he was appointed to teach at Elder High School, Cincinnati, while continuing as resident associate at St. Teresa of Avila Parish. On June 30, 1978, he was appointed resident associate of St. Catherine of Sienna Parish, Cincinnati, while continuing to teach at Elder. On May 15, 1981, he was appointed resident associate of Assumption Parish, Mt. Healthy (Cincinnati), while continuing to teach at Elder. On June 25, 1984, he was appointed chaplain of the Madonna Council, #3891, of the Knights of Columbus. On July 28, 1987, he was appointed resident associate of Nativity Parish, Pleasant Ridge (Cincinnati), while continuing to teach at Elder. On August 1, 1991, he was appointed to the faculty at Moeller High School, Cincinnati, while continuing at Nativity Parish as resident associate. He remained on the faculty at Moeller High School until June 2000. Father Leshney was appointed parochial vicar of Good Shepherd Parish, Cincinnati, on July 1, 2000. On November 6, 2001, he was appointed pastor of Sts. Peter and Paul Parish, Reading, for a period of six years, and reappointed as pastor commencing on November 7, 2007 through June 30, 2008. He was appointed parochial administrator of St. Mary Parish, Bethel, and St. Peter Parish, New Richmond, effective July 1, 2008, and on July 1, 2009, Father Leshney was appointed pastor of the two parishes for a period of six years. He was reappointed as pastor of St. Mary Parish and St. Peter Parish for another six-year term on July 1, 2015. Father Leshney retired on November 1, 2017.

Reception of the Body: Friday, April 1, 2022, at 9:15 a.m. at Guardian Angels Church, 6531 Beechmont Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45230; (513-231-7440.) Celebrant: Reverend P. Del Staigers. Visitation: 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m., following Reception of the Body until Mass of Christian Burial.

Mass of Christian Burial: Friday, April 1, 2022, at 11: 00 a.m. at Guardian Angels Church. Celebrant and Homilist: Reverend Anthony J. Marcelli.

Burial: Friday, April 1, 2022, following the Mass of Christian Burial, at Guardian Angels Cemetery, 7150 Beechmont Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45230. Celebrants: Reverend Anthony J. Marcelli and Reverend Thomas M. King.

March 17, 2022 by Jennifer Schack

W H A T | Rosary Novena and Participation in Consecration

W H E N | March 17-March 25

W H E R E | March 25 Mass at Cathedral Basilica of St. Peter in Chains

LINKS:

The Mass with Archbishop Schnurr and prayers to follow will be live-streamed and can be viewed here.

The Consecration by the Holy Father will be live-streamed by Vatican Media Live and can be viewed here.

The Act of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary text can be found here.

Release Date: March 17, 2022

Faithful asked to unite in prayer with the Holy Father and Catholics around the World for peaceful resolution in Ukraine

The following letter has been released from Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr to the faithful of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati:

March 17, 2022

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

In response to the Holy Father’s announcement that he will consecrate Ukraine and Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary on March 25, the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, I invite all Catholics of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati to pray for the intention of a swift and peaceful resolution to the war in Ukraine.

Please join me in praying a Rosary novena over the nine days beginning today, March 17, and culminating on March 25 at the 11:30 a.m. Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Peter in Chains. During this Mass, we will be spiritually united to Pope Francis and Catholics around the world in asking for our Blessed Mother’s intercession for the end to this tragic conflict. Mass will be followed by the public recitation of the Rosary, and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament will be available until Benediction at 5:00 p.m.

For all who are unable to come to the Cathedral Basilica, please offer your daily prayers and, if possible, participation at Mass in your parish for these intentions on March 25.

May the Immaculate Heart of Mary, through her powerful intercession, lead to the conversion of hearts and minds and peace throughout the world, especially at this time in Ukraine.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Most Reverend Dennis M. Schnurr

Archbishop of Cincinnati

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 208 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]

March 9, 2022 by Jennifer Schack

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

During the season of Lent, we prepare for our Lord’s passion, death and resurrection by practicing the spiritual disciplines of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Jesus teaches us that some things can only be accomplished through prayer and fasting (cf. Mt. 17:21). As we consider what we can do in response to the horrors of war unfolding in Ukraine, we should keep our Lord’s instruction to his disciples in mind. Please join me in not only praying, but also in fasting and offering up our sacrifices for peace and for all those suffering in this tragedy.

Prayer for Ukraine

God of infinite mercy and peace, we pray for the people of Ukraine who are experiencing fear, violence and death. We entrust all their families to You, and we pray that they may not yield to discouragement or despair but be heralds of hope. Blessed Virgin Mary, Our Lady of Zarvaniza, spread your maternal mantle over all people of goodwill who live in the great nation of Ukraine. We pray in this moment of crisis that people throughout the world may reach out in solidarity to our brothers and sisters in need through prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Bring peace to all troubled hearts. We ask this through our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.

+Dennis M. Schnurr

Please consider contributing to humanitarian relief efforts in Ukraine: https://www.catholicnews.com/update-where-to-give-to-help-ukraine/

March 8, 2022 by Jennifer Schack

Effective December 4, 2021

Reverend Roberto Carlos Becerra Reyes, (Diocese of Coatzacoalcos), Parochial Vicar of Our Lady of the Rosary, Greenhills, St. Matthias the Apostle, Cincinnati, and St. Ann Parish, Groesbeck.

Effective July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2023.

Reverend Mark Hoying, C.PP.S., Parochial Vicar of NW8 Family of Parishes which includes Holy Redeemer, New Bremen, St. Rose, St. Rose, St. Sebastian, Celina, Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Cassella, Precious Blood, Chickasaw, St. John the Baptist, Maria Stein, St. Augustine, Minster, St. Joseph, Egypt.
Reverend Anthony Fortman, C.PP.S., Parochial Vicar of NE6 Family of Parishes which includes Precious Blood, Dayton, St. Paul, Englewood, St. Rita, Dayton, Holy Trinity, Dayton, St. Joseph, Dayton and Emmanuel, Dayton.

Retirement from active ministry

Reverend David Fay, Pastor, St. Gabriel, Glendale, effective July 1, 2022
Reverend J. Dennis Jaspers, Pastor, All Saints and St. Vincent Ferrer, Cincinnati, effective July 1, 2022
Reverend Greg Konerman, Pastor, Church of the Holy Angels and St. Anthony, Dayton, effective July 1, 2022
Reverend Thomas Kreidler, Pastor, Immaculate Heart of Mary, effective July 1, 2022
Reverend Thomas Nolker, Pastor, St. James the Greater, White Oak, effective July 1, 2022
Reverend Dale Peterka, Chaplain, Jewish Hospital, effective April 6, 2022
Reverend Donald Rettig, Pastor, St. Vincent de Paul, Cincinnati, effective July 1, 2022
Reverend Terrance Schneider, Pastor, St. Luke, Beavercreek, effective July 1, 2022
Reverend James Schutte, Pastor, St. Leo and St. Boniface, Cincinnati, effective July 1, 2022
Reverend James Simons, Pastor, St. Denis, Versailles, Holy Family, Frenchtown, and Immaculate Conception, Bradford, effective July 1, 2022

March 1, 2022 by Jennifer Schack

March brings us to Lent, that solemn season of the Church year in which we are called to prayer, fasting and almsgiving. It is also a time to reevaluate our lives, reflecting on how we can more perfectly radiate Christ as joyful witnesses. Given our fallen human nature, this is no easy task. Fortunately, we do not have to do it alone. God gave us the Church and the saints to help.

Although we worship only God, Christians have venerated saints as role models and intercessors since the earliest days of the Church. Images of these holy women and men in stained-glass windows, paintings and statues are like portraits of our family of faith. First-class relics evoke a special reverence, reminding us that saints were real people made of flesh and bone like us. St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome is built over the bones of St. Peter, the first pope, where pilgrims can still view them today.

One of the most moving parts of the Easter Vigil is the singing of the Litany of the Saints, which begins with: “Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us. St. Michael, pray for us. Holy Angels of God, pray for us. St. John the Baptist, pray for us. St. Joseph, pray for us.” Although we can ask anyone to pray for us, we do so with special confidence when we appeal to the saints because we know that they are with God, as we hope to be someday.

The Blessed Mother is first among the saints, in the litany and in our devotion. She was Christ’s first disciple, conceived without sin by special grace. Last year I reconsecrated the Archdiocese of Cincinnati to her care and protection at the culmination of the archdiocese-wide Marian Pilgrimage celebrating the bicentennial of our local Church. For several years we have made our archdiocesan prayer for vocations “through the intercession of Mary our Mother,” and this has born great fruit in priestly and diaconal ordinations.

Apart from Mary, the saints were sinners just like us. That is why they are not only intercessors, but also role models: Their lives encourage us in our own journey toward sainthood because they faced and overcame the same sorrows and temptations that challenge us. In the hopeful words of the playwright Oscar Wilde, “Every saint has a past and every sinner has a future.”

Many of us have favorite saints to whom we look for help and guidance. For some it may be St. Patrick, whose feast we celebrate on March 17, or St. Joseph, whom we venerate on March 19. My mother had a great devotion to St. Anthony of Padua, the 13th Century Franciscan friar and Doctor of the Church popularly known as the patron saint of lost things. Like her, I frequently turn to St. Anthony and try to follow his holy example.

Not all the saints are so remote from us in time. During the lifetimes of most of us, we have been inspired by the witnesses of St. Teresa of Kolkata and Popes St. John XXIII, St. Paul VI and St. John Paul II, the last of whom I was blessed to know personally.

One of the hallmarks of saints is their concern for others reflected in acts of charity. As part of your Lenten almsgiving, I urge you to pledge what you can to the Catholic Ministries Appeal (CMA), our annual archdiocesan campaign to support six ministries that teach, feed and heal. In this way we together can help meet the material and spiritual needs of our brothers and sisters, as Christians have done since apostolic times. I am very grateful to all who have made the CMA successful in recent years.

May the Blessed Virgin Mary and all the saints accompany us on our Lenten journey toward Easter!

February 25, 2022 by Jennifer Schack

Release Date: Feb. 25, 2022

W H A T | Fat Tuesday celebration with Archbishop Schnurr

W H E N | Tuesday March 1, 2022, from 10 a.m. -11 a.m.

W H E R E | Our Lady of the Rosary School, 40 Notre Dame Ave. Dayton, OH 45404

The friendly wager between Jose H. Gomez of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati over the Super Bowl was a big win for students in both archdioceses. More than $22,000 was raised for tuition assistance scholarships for students.

In addition to the fundraiser, the wager over the Super Bowl has also resulted in Archbishop Schnurr sending Graeter’s Ice Cream to Archbishop Gomez. And out of gratitude and in consolation Archbishop Gomez has sent baked treats to Archbishop Schnurr. The baked treats were donated by the famous Porto’s Bakery in Los Angeles.

As a treat before Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, which is Wednesday March 2, Archbishop Schnurr will share the baked treats this coming Tuesday, Fat Tuesday, with students at Our Lady of the Rosary in Dayton. Members of the media are invited to attend.

Jennifer Schack

Director of Media Relations

Archdiocese of Cincinnati

Office | 513.263.6618

Cell | 859.512.5626

[email protected]

February 17, 2022 by Jennifer Schack

The friendly wager between Archbishop José H. Gomez of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati on the Big Game between the LA Rams and the Cincinnati Bengals was a big win for students in both Archdiocese, with more than $22,000 raised so far for tuition assistance scholarships.

With the Los Angeles Rams 23-20 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, Archbishop Schnurr will now be sending a gift of Cincinnati’s own Graeter’s ice cream to Archbishop Gomez. Out of gratitude and in consolation, Archbishop Gomez has decided to also send his wager of baked treats from LA’s beloved Porto’s Bakery to Archbishop Schnurr. Since the friendly wager was made with the intention of helping Catholic school students, each archbishop has now decided to share his winnings with students at a school in their respective archdioceses.

“As we said before, our bet was with our Catholic school kids all the way,” said Archbishop Gomez. “They are always winners in our book! We want the kids to get in on the fun to celebrate the great sportsmanship of both the Rams and the Bengals who gave us such an exciting game, and the generous support of all those who donated to the Bishops Big Game challenge.”

Archbishop Gomez will be celebrating his victorious ice cream party with students at St. John Chrysostom school in Inglewood, near Sofi Stadium, on March 1, Fat Tuesday. Archbishop Schnurr will gather with students from Our Lady of the Rosary school in Dayton to enjoy cookies, pastries and other goodies, also on March 1.

The funds collected through #BishopsBigGame challenge will be split between the Catholic Education Foundations (CEF) of each archdiocese. The CEF of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, by virtue of the Rams’ victory, will receive 60% of the money raised while the CEF of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati will receive 40%. The website BishopsBigGame.com will remain open through the end of the day Friday, February 18, to receive any additional donations.

“The Bengals and Rams certainly brought their A-games to the gridiron, and the fans of both teams did as well through their generous donations in support of Catholic education, and that is deserving of a real celebration,” noted Archbishop Schnurr. “Archbishop Gomez and I are grateful for the generosity of the people of our respective archdioceses and thank everyone who joined us in our friendly wager. We are delighted to celebrate this moment with at least some of our wonderful Catholic school students, teachers and staff members. We look forward to sharing the love and support of our Catholic communities in the form of delicious Graeter’s ice cream and tasty treats from Porto’s Bakery. A win for Catholic education all around!”

The Archdiocese of Cincinnati (established in 1821) and the Archdiocese of Los Angeles (established in 1840) are the presence of the Roman Catholic Church in their respective geographies. Collectively, the two archdioceses minister to more than 5 million Catholics through 496 parishes, 376 schools and numerous charitable ministries.

February 14, 2022 by Jennifer Schack

The assignment plan for the priests in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati is complete. The complete list of assignments is available at BeaconsAOC.org. Assignments include the pastors and parochial vicars for the Families of Parishes that were announced in December 2021. The priest assignments will take effect July 1, 2022, upon the implementation of Families of Parishes.

This announcement is the culmination of the Priests’ Personnel Board’s many months of discernment and work. This process included input from each priest regarding his own desires, skills and (where applicable) retirement plans; an assessment of each Family of Parishes and its priest staffing and pastoral leadership needs; and a prayerful determination of best fit between priest candidates and the various Families. Recommended assignments were then submitted to Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr for his evaluation and acceptance. Regarding those Families of Parishes to be staffed by religious order priests, each order followed its own internal discernment process in recommending their priest(s). These recommendations were accepted by Archbishop Schnurr.

The assignments announcement aids leaders who are preparing for the implementation of Families of Parishes. The first six months of 2022 is a preparatory period with trainings, workshops, and resources for priests, deacons and parish staffs. Some of this work has included:

Beacons Roundtable Meetings: Monthly webinar series for parish leaders across the archdiocese that includes an overview of the Pastoral Planning Pathway and presentations on the Guiding Principles.
Pastoral Planning Pathway: Fleshing out the five phases of the six principles that will guide each Family of Parishes on the path to becoming an evangelizing Beacon of Light. This work includes building a digital platform to assist Families of Parishes in the work of each phase of Beacons of Light. This platform will be aimed at assisting Families in creating their individual pastoral plans
Liaisons: Identifying and training “liaisons” who are faithful Catholics with organizational leadership experience – who will work to assist Families of Parishes in their pastoral planning.
Priest Formation & Training: Three important in-person conferences are planned for priests: Dan Cellucci, Executive Director of the Catholic Leadership Institute, will speak about priestly ministry and parish life in a time of chaos; Father Donald Senior will speak on the role of administrative services in priestly life; and Father James Mallon will speak on the Divine Renovation process.
Lay Parish Leaders Formation & Training: Events planned in the spring for lay parish leaders, include a building skills workshop and a one-day retreat offered in four different locations around the archdiocese.
Journeying Together Study Guide and Videos: These resources will help parish teams understand and reflect on the theological foundations of Beacons of Light.

More information about Beacons of Light, including frequently asked questions and downloadable resources are available at BeaconsAOC.org. A review of information from previous press releases regarding Beacons of Light:

Why is Beacons of Light happening?

The status quo is no longer an option. At this point a comprehensive pastoral planning process is a necessity in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati to garner stability and position the diocese for growth.
Our resources are largely consumed by efforts to maintain the status quo and are spread too thin to be truly effective. In particular, our priests are stretched to the limit, and we will have fewer priests who can serve as pastors over the coming years. The number of archdiocesan priests available for assignment is projected to decline by approximately 20% over the next five years.
Religious practice has been declining in both the United States and in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. From 2010 to 2019, sacramental practice (including baptisms, first communions, confirmations and weddings) in the archdiocese declined by 23%.
Our current infrastructure and schedules were built for a different era. In many cases, our church buildings are grossly underutilized. In the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, the average Sunday Mass is about one-third full.

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.

February 14, 2022 by Jennifer Schack

The Priest Assignments as announced for the implementation of Beacons of Light, can be found here: AoC Priest Assignments 2022

Jennifer Schack

Jennifer Schack

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