St. Robert Bellarmine at Xavier University is both a parish and a university chapel. As late as the 1940s, students (then all men) were not permitted at parish Masses, but attended student Masses as part of their Jesuit formation and education. 1831 The Athenaeum (men’s high school and college) in downtown …

“We are a very active parish, with people who come from all over—about a third come from the neighborhood, and the rest drive in. The most common comment we get is that we’re a very welcoming community.” – Brother Tim Sucher, OFM, pastoral associate. 1819 Irish Catholics built Christ Church. …

BY GAIL DEIBLER FINKE The ancient practice of Eucharistic Adoration is founded in the desire to sit with, contemplate and pray in the presence of the Body and Blood of Christ outside of Mass. Many churches open their doors weekly or monthly for people to pray before the tabernacle, where …

March 25, 1913 Little Miami River levees failed and the Great Dayton Flood began, engulfing most of the city and killing hundreds. Dayton then became one of the nation’s first major flood-control districts. Sept. 21, 1913 First Masses celebrated in the new St. Anthony of Padua parish, headed by Father …

1856 St. Wendelin parish formed from the western part of St. Joseph Church in Victoria. The brick church with decorative corbels was designed by German immigrant J. Anton Goehr. 1870 Bell tower with spire, gold cross and new entrance added. Existing church is sheathed with a faux stone skin. 1905 …

1840 Catholic families first hosted visiting priests to celebrate Masses in their homes and barns. 1853 Milford became a mission of St. Mary’s Church in Hillsboro. Made a parish in 1854, Father Philip Foley became its first resident pastor in 1855. 1865 Original church built on Elm and Water Streets …

Holy Name (Mt. Auburn) Holy Name Church in Mt. Auburn’s spare interior looks tranquil at first glance, but is dominated by apocalyptic imagery and Scripture passages emphasizing the awesome glory and power of God. 1904 Holy Name parish founded in Mt. Auburn; originally located in a large house 1906 Construction …

Written by Gail Finke Illustrated by Emma Cassani Assumption (Mt. Healthy) was once one of the Archdiocese’s largest parishes. Begun for German immigrants fleeing cholera in the city, it served 1,200 families by the late 1950s, the height of Catholic population in the northern suburbs. 1847, 1848, 1850 Cholera epidemics …

1880 Joseph and Elizabeth Nurre bought a country estate at the top of Mt. Airy and donated it to the Franciscan friars. 1888 Cornerstone laid, building constructed, friars moved in. 1889 Archbishop Elder consecrated the chapel on Thanksgiving Day. The large Romanesque brick chapel (which fronts the attached friary and …

Written by Gail Finke Illustrated by Emma Cassani St. Ann Church in Groesbeck built its school first, where it celebrated Masses for six years until the church was built. 1953 Parish established in June by Archbishop Karl J. Alter. Father James Lunn was the pastor. It was named for St. …