Catholics Joyfully Celebrate 200 Years!

Jennifer Schack

Director of Media Relations

Archdiocese of Cincinnati

Office | 513.263.6618

Cell | 859.512.5626

[email protected]

W H A T | Bicentennial Anniversary Celebration of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati

W H E N | Saturday, June 19, 2021

W H E R E | Cincinnati, OH

Release Date:  June 15, 2021

On Saturday, June 19, 2021, the Archdiocese of Cincinnati is celebrating the 200^th anniversary of the founding of the Church of Cincinnati. The Diocese of Cincinnati was erected in 1821 as the 9^th diocese in the now defined United States. At the founding, the newly created Diocese of Cincinnati encompassed Ohio, Michigan and even parts of Wisconsin. Today the archdiocese is comprised of 19 counties in western and southwestern Ohio and more than 440,000 Catholics. Join us in celebrating our bicentennial:

Bicentennial Marian Pilgrimage: Ongoing

The longest Marian Pilgrimage in the U.S. is weaving through Cincinnati before coming to an end this Saturday. The bicentennial Marian Pilgrimage began on May 16 in Russells Point, Ohio. Pilgrims have already walked more than 300 miles! Over the last nearly 30 days, thousands of faithful and hundreds of volunteers have participated in events and carried a statue of the Blessed Mother on a pilgrimage that will culminate with the Mass of Thanksgiving and Bicentennial Celebration on Fountain Square in Cincinnati on Saturday, June 19. The media are invited to join the pilgrimage this week. Contact Jennifer Schack if interested. To learn more about the pilgrimage visit: https://www.facebook.com/groups/marianpilgrimage2021 and www.Mary2021.org.

Bicentennial Mass: 11 a.m. Cathedral Basilica of St. Peter in Chains, Sat. June 19

A Solemn Mass of Thanksgiving on the Bicentennial Anniversary of the Founding of the Church of Cincinnati will be celebrated at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Peter in Chains on Saturday June 19 at 11 a.m. The Mass will be celebrated by Archbishop Dennis. M. Schnurr. The public and media are invited to attend. At the conclusion of the Mass Archbishop Schnurr will reconsecrate the archdiocese to Mary through Jesus.

Family Concert: 12 p.m.- 4 p.m. Fountain Square, Sat. June 19

At 12 p.m. the reconsecration of the archdiocese will be live-streamed from the Cathedral Basilica of St. Peter in Chains. Following the broadcast multicultural performances, choirs and food trucks will entertain the crowd through the afternoon. All are invited to join the celebration.

Books written to celebrate the bicentennial:

Three books have been written to celebrate the 200 years of faith in the archdiocese.

1. Seeking the Lordis an engaging illustrated history of the Archdiocese suitable for children and adults alike.
2. Treasuresis a celebration of the great beauty of many of the churches and other holy places across the Archdiocese.
3. A Bicentennial History of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati explores the people and places of one of the nation’s oldest dioceses and the legacy of two hundred years of Catholic faith in Southwest Ohio and beyond.

Media copies of the books are available upon request and authors are available for media interviews.

More information about the bicentennial celebration: https://200.catholicaoc.org/

Images for media use: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/oz7gifalupod4rj/AAAOX6FLrPpiy1_wygXNcIAYa?dl=0

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 211 parishes and 111 Catholic primary and secondary schools.