Reverend Thomas S. Bokenkotter died on Sunday, July 11, 2021, in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was born on August 19, 1924, in Cincinnati, Ohio. He did his preparatory studies at St. Gregory Seminary and Mount St. Mary’s Seminary of the West in Cincinnati. He received his Licentiate in Sacred Theology from the Angelicum University in Rome and his Doctorate in Church History from the University of Louvain, Belgium. He was ordained on September 8, 1950 at Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Norwood, Ohio by Bishop George J. Rehring.
Father Bokenkotter received his first assignment on July 9, 1954, as Assistant at St. Charles Borromeo Parish, Carthage (Cincinnati), and to the faculty of Purcell High School. On June 15, 1956, he was appointed Assistant at St. Thomas More Parish, Withamsville (Cincinnati), and to the faculty of McNicholas High School. On June 22, 1959, he was appointed Assistant at Guardian Angels Parish, Mt. Washington (Cincinnati), while continuing at McNicholas High School. On August 21, 1959, he was appointed to the faculty of St. Gregory Seminary, Mt. Washington, (and continued teaching at McNicholas High School until the end of the 1960 school year). On September 28, 1980, Father Bokenkotter was appointed Pastor at Assumption Parish, Walnut Hills (Cincinnati). Father Bokenkotter resigned as Pastor of Assumption Parish on November 1,1999, and was appointed Administrator of Assumption, the following day, November 2, 1999, where he served until Assumption Parish was closed in 2013. During his years of ministry, Father Bokenkotter opened the first soup kitchen in Cincinnati in1976, which was located in Over-the-Rhine, and a opened a second location in Walnut Hills across from Assumption Parish in 1984.
Reception of the Body: Friday, July 16, 2021, at 9:30 a.m. at St. Margaret of Cortona Church, 6000 Murray Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45227; (513-271-0856). Celebrant: Reverend P. Del Staigers; Visitation until time of the Mass of Christian Burial.
Mass of Christian Burial: Friday, July 16, 2021, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Margaret of Cortona Church. Celebrant and Homilist: Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer.
Burial: Friday, July 16, 2021, immediately following the Mass of Christian Burial in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Montgomery (Cincinnati). Celebrant: Reverend P. Del Staigers.
