Fr. George F. Kuntz – St. John’s 8th Pastor

After Fr. Siefert’s passing in May 1947, Fr. George F. Kuntz was appointed pastor on June 10, 1947. During his administration, St. John’s parish more than quadrupled in size—from a little over 100 families to more than 440 families by 1960.

Under Fr. Kuntz’s leadership, the school underwent an expansion of four to eight classrooms to make room for the increasing number of students. Two tracts of land were also purchased. In 1949, a 0.9 acre opposite the rectory was obtained from the estate of Fr. Siefert, who had purchased it in his own name to be held for the parish. The other tract, 24.8 acres opposite the school, was purchased in 1958. This land was turned into the playing fields we have today, thanks to the hard work of the  Athletic Association founders along with parish volunteers and the Associate Pastor at the time, Fr. Mark Gratsch.

Unfortunately in the summer of 1962, Fr. Kuntz became ill of a heart condition and also underwent abdominal surgery. During his absence, Fr. William Huseman was appointed administrator. Fr. Kuntz moved to St. Joesph Orphanage and lived there until he died on July 16, 1970.

Mary’s Grotto

The original grotto

During the new construction

Current grotto

The original grotto was taken down before construction began on our current church around 1995. It’s said that the rocks used to build the original grotto may have came from the Miami river and possibly the creek running near Sheits Road. After our current church was complete, the intention was to rebuild the grotto using those original rocks, unfortunately the rocks were misplaced. A new grotto reminisant of the old one was built around 1999.

If you know anymore history about the grotto, please share in the comments section or email us at stjohns150@aol.com.

The Sisters of Divine Providence

The Sisters of Divine Providence from Melbourne, KY have been a part of St. John’s parish for more than 100 years. Below is list of Sisters we know of.

1905 – 4 mos. Sr. Cecilia Mary Brill

1905 – 4 mos. Sr. Mary Prudentia Merkle

1912 – 1916 Sr. M. Celeste Boesch (see 1921 & 1931)

1912 – 1918 Sr. Mary Severina Schell

1912 – 1921 Sr. Mary Kuntz

1916 – 1921 Sr. M. Julietta Kippert

1918 – 1922 Sr. Mary Oliva Dettlaff

1921 – 1923 Sr. M. Isabella Ridzenska

1921 – 1924 Sr. M. Celeste Boesch (see 1912 & 1931)

1921- 1927 Sr. M. Helena Zeh

1922 – 1927 Sr. Philomena Mary Simon

1923 – 1928 Sr. M. Juliana Stiegler

1924 – 1928 Sr. Mary Mechtildis Admirallie

1927 – 1932 Sr. Mary of Calvary Wilson

1927 – 1933 Sr. M. Joan Stoeckle

1928 – 1930 Sr. Margaret Mary Lewis

1930 – 1932 Sr. M. Raymond Greis

1931 – 1932 Sr. M. Celeste Boesch (see 1912 & 1921)

1932 – 1933 Sr. Joseph Mary Kelly

1932 – 1933 Sr. M. Evangelist Mueller

1932 – 1938 Sr. M. Concepta Burlando

1933 – 1947 Sr. M. Alphonsa Thomas

1933 – 1953 Sr. Mary Alice Stein

1933 – 1965 Sr. Marie Grace Brueggemann

1936 – 3 mos. Sr. M. Euphrasia Weber

1938 – 1948 Sr. M. Alphonsa Thomas

1940 – 1966 Sr. M. Aimee de Jesus Albert

1947 – 1948 Sr. M. Justinian Quinn

1948 – 1961 Sr. Mary Gabriel Germann

1951 – 1952 Sr. Mary Hope Schenk

1952 – 1964 Sr. Mary Esther Geiger

1953 – 1956 Sr. Mary Cletus Hehman

1953 – 1958 Sr. Mary Tarsicia Ryder

1953 – 1960 Sr. Rose Mary Rizzo

1954 – 1970 Sr. Mary Rose Reckers

1956 – 1964 Sr. M. Theonilla Oldsen

1958 – 1962 Sr. Mary Martin Wood

1960 – 1971 Sr. Mary Roberta Moran

1961 – 1966 Sr. M. Innocentia Ducey

1962 – 1964 Sr. Mary Lea Marsili

1964 – 6 mos. Sr. Marie Claire Aubertin

1964 – 1966 Sr. Alice Marie Schmersal

1965 – 1967 Sr. Margaret Ziser

1965 – 1968 Sr. Maria of the Blessed Sacrament Miller

1966 – 1970 Sr. Marie Michele Carruba

1967 – 1968 Sr. Mary Aidan Curran

1968 – 1969 Sr. Ann Marie Capal

1968 – 1977 Sr. Marie Celine Schwallie

1969 – 2008 Sr. Georgianna Applanalp

1970 – 1975 Sr. Rose Agnes Bruegger

1970 – 1979 Sr. Marion Osterhage

1971 – 1972 Sr. Theresa Falkenstein

1971 – 1973 Sr. Rose Marie Burlando

1971 – 1973 Sr. Francis de Sales Herb

1973 – 1979 Sr. Mary Alberta Utrup

1975 – 1977 Sr. Maria Schnipke

1977 – 1979 Sr. Francis Marie Boler

1977 – 2008 Sr. Elizabeth Kelemen

Happy anniversary!

The new year marks the official 150th anniversary of St. John the Baptist parish. Here are some earlier posts you may have missed on this blog. We’ll continue to bring you tidbits of history and stories we hope you enjoy.

- St John the Baptist Church History Video

- History of the Name

- Who were the first families of the parish?

- History of Colerain

- Bells are Ringing

- Remembering our 75th

- Remembering our 100th

- Remembering our 125th

- The Story of the Shed

- Dedication of the Parish Center

- School’s In

- What Was Old is New

Remember, if you’d like to share a story or photo, please email us at stjohns150@aol.com.

“Ceremony” at Dry Ridge

Below is a picture of a Tom Thumb wedding put on by the pupils of St. John’s in 1938.

The students in the photo are: (left to right, first row): Clara Ante, witness; Dorothy Miller, flower girl; Louis Weber, ring bearer, and Lorna Mae Lohr, bridesmaid. (second row) Daniel Shay and Norbert Anderson, witnesses. (third row) Esther Burwinkel, bridesmaid; Dorothy Anderson, bride; Melbourn Blust, groom, and Catherine Moriarity, bridesmaid; Raymond Wuest, Lillian Mae Steiner, witnesses, and Joseph Lierer, usher.

Click on the images to enlarge.

Fr. Francis Siefert – St. John’s 7th Pastor

Father Francis Siefert was appointed pastor on October 1, 1937, succeeding Fr. Rechtin. During this time, St. John’s experienced big growth, going to appromiately 465 parishioners. The school had three classrooms and eight grades, with an enrollemtn of six girls and six boys in the two-year high school.

Most of Fr. Siefert’s labors were during the depression years, but during his pastorate the annual parish income increased from $1640 to $10, 639.

He replaced the wooden tabernacle with one of gold, remodelled the rectory, enlarged the playground, and blacktopped the parking lot. In 1946, the school cafeteria was started under his direction.

To honor the men in the armed forces he procured the large cross facing Dry Ridge Road in the cemetary, but did not live to see its ereection.

Stricken with an illness that proved to be fatal two weeks later, he nevertheless said Mass on the day he left for the hospital, though visibly so weak that he had to support himself at the alter. He passed away in May, 1947, and was buried in St. Joseph Cemetery in Price Hill.

Christmas Past

Here’s a beautiful photo taken on Christmas Day 1994. This was the last time St. John’s celebrated Christmas mass in the little church, as it was torn down that following Spring.

Thanks to Rose Wolterman Putnick for sharing this photo! If you’d like to share a photo or memento from St. John’s history, please email us at stjohns150@aol.com.

Documenting History

We’re able to share the rich history of St. John the Baptist parish today thanks to those before us who took the time to document our beginnings, who took photographs, or saved a special memento.

It’s amazing what we come across when digging through the boxes of St. John’s history stuff. For example, here is an original document written by Fr. Rechtin, dated September 20, 1922 (that’s 87 years ago!). In it he shares the history of St. John’s up until the time when the school and the Sisters’ residence burned down.

Click on the images to enlarge.

 

Help us document history. Share a story, photo, or anything else. Now’s our chance to tell future parishoners of St. John’s what our parish is really all about.

Fr. Herman Rechtin – St. John’s 6th Pastor

Fr. Wirtz was succeeded by Fr. Herman Rechtin on December 5, 1918. He came to our parish ready complete the master plan envisioned by Fr. Wirtz, which was to build a new school and a sisters’ residence to match the architecture of the existing church and rectory.

But, before he could start, a fire of unknown origin destroyed the existing school and the sisters’ residence. The buildings were eventually rebuilt and dedicated on September 16, 1923. You can read more about the school’s history here.

Many other improvements were made under Fr. Rechtin’s direction. For instance, in 1920 St. John’s first telephone was installed in the parish rectory. Other improvements included new electrical lines, cement paving, more classrooms, and the cemetery beautified with hedges, trees and shrubbery.

But in September 1937, Fr. Rechtin’s health was failing and he retired as pastor. He lived in retirement until his death on October 16, 1957 and was buried near St. Martin Church in Cheviot.

1997 Catholic Telegraph article

The article, “St. John the Baptist Parish dedicates new church” was published in The Catholic Telegraph on March 28, 1997.

Click on the images to enlarge.