Fr. Hilarion Kistner, OFM, died Saturday, September 21, at around 9:30 a.m. He was 90 years old.

Funeral arrangements:
Wednesday, September 25 – St. Clement Church, 4536 Vine St., Cincinnati, OH 45217
5:00 PM – reception of the body
7:00 PM – Mass of Christian Burial
Thursday, September 26 – St. Mary Cemetery, 701 E. Ross Ave.
10:00 AM – Rite of Committal (burial)

Franciscan Fr. Hilarion Kistner, OFM, whose preaching touched many and whose editorial work inspired thousands, died Sept. 21 at St. Margaret Hall in Cincinnati. He was 90 years old.

A native Cincinnatian, he was Retreat Director and a popular preacher at Friarhurst Retreat Center for 17 years, beginning in 1985. In 2002 he became editor of Sunday Homily Helps for St. Anthony Messenger Press (now Franciscan Media), for 12 years producing a practical, widely used resource for fellow preachers. Fr. Hilarion was one of six children of Anthony and Hilda (Plogman) Kistner. After graduating from St. Clement School in St. Bernard, he entered St. Francis Seminary (High School) in Mt. Healthy and followed the call to life with the friars. He professed first vows in 1947, solemn vows in 1950, and was ordained a Franciscan priest in 1955 at Holy Family Friary in Oldenburg, Ind. As a teacher, Fr. Hilarion gave student friars a deeper understanding of the Scriptures. After obtaining graduate degrees from Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., and the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome, he taught Scripture for six years at St. Leonard College School of Theology in Centerville, Ohio, and was Guardian and Master of Clerics for many of those years. He mentored friars in formation as Associate Novice Director from 1978-1985. For most of his retirement Fr. Hilarion lived at St. Francis Seraph Friary in Over-the-Rhine and assisted at parishes in Greater Cincinnati. He was especially faithful to St. Stephen Parish, where he was known for his down-to-earth preaching and his gentle, pastoral care.

Fr. Hilarion was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Anthony and Edward, and his sister, Mary Nimeskern. He is survived by his sisters, Sr. Amy Kistner, OSF, and Eileen Massarella, as well as nieces and nephews.