As a child, Franciscan Father Jim Bok said he “never” considered become a missionary. “Like many little boys back then, I used to ‘play priest’ with Necco Wafers. We had mission carnivals at school to raise money, but being a missionary was never in my hopes and dreams. I thought …

A ministry some called an experiment in new evangelization has ended after a successful two-year run. For the past two years the Cincinnati-Based Franciscan Friars of the St. John the Baptist Province staffed a storefront in Cincinnati’s Northgate Mall from Black Friday through Christmas Eve, selling nothing and providing a …

By John Stegeman The Catholic Telegraph Last year the Franciscan Friars of the St. John the Baptist province took up a prime retail spot in a major area mall during the Christmas shopping season and didn’t sell one thing. This year, the Friars’ popular “ministry of presence” will return, bringing …

By John Stegeman The Catholic Telegraph  After hearing directly from immigrants and advocates during public comments, Cincinnati City Council unanimously passed a resolution recognizing the council’s commitment to improving the lives of immigrants and fostering civility and respect for those immigrants living in Cincinnati. The resolution, sponsored by Vice Mayor …