Parish Realignment

The Archdiocese of Cincinnati this week announced new priest assignments for area Catholic churches as part of the Beacons of Light realignment of parishes.

The overall process of pastoral planning and establishment of Families of Parishes dubbed Beacons of Light aims to address a shortage of priests and other shortfalls as the Archdiocese of Cincinnati resets for future growth.

The new assignments will take effect July 1 with the implementation of the Families of Parishes, according to an archdiocese news release. Some area priests will be reshuffled among the 25 Catholic parishes in Mercer and Auglaize counties. One priest, though, the Rev. Rick Walling, pastor of what is now the Coldwater Cluster of Catholic Parishes, will transfer south to serve parishes in Hamilton.

"This announcement is the culmination of the Priests' Personnel Board's many months of discernment and work," the release states. "This process included input from each priest regarding his own desires, skills and (where applicable) retirement plans."

Other factors considered were an assessment of each Family of Parishes, which were laid out in December, and its priest staffing and pastoral leadership needs, and "a prayerful determination of best fit between priest candidates and the various Families."

The recommendations were then sent to Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr for evaluations.

Parochial vicar positions for some of the Family of Parishes will be filled by July 1, said Jennifer Shack, director of media relations for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.

"Some of those spots will include newly ordained priests," she said. "For those to be ordained, they are given their assignment at their ordination."

Priests, deacons and parish staff will continue to undergo training, workshops and resources through July.

Local church parishes are part of the new Northwest Families of Parishes and will be served by the following:

• Rev. Alexander T. Witt, pastor of Holy Rosary and St. Patrick parishes in St. Marys, will become pastor of Northwest 1 which includes St. Anthony in St. Anthony, Holy Trinity in Coldwater, St. Peter in St. Peter, St. Mary in Philothea, St. Joseph in St. Joseph, Mary Help of Christians in Fort Recovery and St. Paul in Sharpsburg. Witt will be joined by three parochial vicars, including Rev. Michael A. Kapolka. The other two vicar spots will be filled by July 1.

• Rev. John W. Tonkin, Jr., pastor of St. John the Baptist, Tipp City, and St. Christopher, Vandalia, will become pastor of Northwest 2 which includes St. Theresa in Rockford, Immaculate Conception in Celina, Holy Rosary in St. Marys, St. Patrick in Glynwood and Our Lady of Guadalupe in Montezuma. Tonkin will be joined by two parochial vicars, including Rev. Robert K. Muhlenkamp. The other victor spot will be filled by July 1.

• Rev. Andrew J. Hess, pastor of what is now the St. Henry Cluster of Catholic Parishes, will become pastor of Northwest 3 which includes St. Wendelin in St. Wendelin, St. Henry in St. Henry, St. Aloysius in Carthagena, St. Francis in Cranberry Prairie and St. Bernard in Burkettsville. Hess will be joined by parochial vicar, Rev. Louis P. Jacquemin.

• Rev. Sean M. Wilson, pastor of what is now the Petersburg Parishes, will become pastor of Northwest 4 which includes St. Joseph in Wapakoneta, St. John in Fryburg, St. Lawrence in Rhine and Immaculate Conception in Botkins. Wilson will be joined by one parochial vicar. The spot will be filled by July 1.

• Rev. Ned Brown, pastor of what is now the Fort Recovery Catholic Cluster, will become pastor of Northwest 5 which includes St. Louis in North Star, St. Denis in Versailles, Holy Family in Frenchtown, St. Mary in Greenville, St. Nicholas in Osgood, St. Remy in Russia and Immaculate Conception in Bradford. Brown will be joined by three parochial vicars, including Rev. James G. Reutter and Rev. Matthew S. Feist. The other vicar spot will be filled by July 1.

• Rev. Eric A. Bowman, pastor of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Troy, will become pastor of Northwest 6 which includes St. Teresa of the Infant Jesus in Covington, St. Mary in Piqua, St. Boniface in Piqua, St. Patrick in Troy and Transfiguration in West Milton. Bowman will be joined by three parochial vicars, Rev. Steven L. Shoup, Rev. James S. Duell and Rev. Matthew K. Lee.

• Rev. Jarred L. Kohn, pastor of Holy Angels Catholic Church in Sidney, will become pastor of Northwest 7 which includes St. Michael in Fort Loramie, Sts. Peter & Paul in Newport, Holy Angels in Sidney and Sacred Heart of Jesus in McCartyville. Kohn will be joined by three parochial vicars, Rev. Aaron C. Hess, Rev. Stephen J. Mondiek and Rev. Andrew M. Reckers.

• Rev. Kenneth Schnipke, pastor of Immaculate Conception church in Celina, will become pastor of Northwest 8 which includes St. Sebastian in St. Sebastian, Precious Blood in Chickasaw, St. John the Baptist in Maria Stein, St. Jospeh in Egypt, St. Augustine in Minster, Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Cassella, St. Rose in St. Rose and Holy Redeemer in New Bremen. Schnipke will be joined by three parochial vicars, including Rev. Mark Hoying. The other two vicar spots will be filled by July 1.