My name is Deacon Greg Bornhorst and I have lived in New Bremen all my life.  I have been married for fifty years to my wife Ann and have three children and one foster child with eleven grandchildren.  I have worked with all the parishes over the years as teacher, deacon, Clergy and church groups such as Pre-Cana, and CCD along with programs at the Spiritual Center.  I have been involved in the previous reorganization of our parishes and connected with the deanery office.  Read Full Article

My name is Deacon Steve Broering and I look forward to working with all eight parishes in our newly formed cluster. In the meetings I’ve had up to this point with staff from each parish, and representatives from each parish, I have seen great cooperation. Everyone working together so well to make this family of parishes work for everyone.  We are also lucky to have the four Priests we have.  They have great personalities, are devout and care a lot about you all so much.  Read Full Article

My name is Deacon Brad Feltz, the newest deacon (ordained April 23, 2022) to the NW8 family of parishes. I look forward to working with all the new priests, deacons, and staff, and meeting all the parishioners.  As mentioned by all the other priests and deacons in their articles, I see some wonderful things already happening.  Of course there are some issues and questions, but eventually it will get worked out.  Thank you everyone for your patience.  Read Full Article

Hi to members of my new Beacons of Light, NW-8 Family of parishes! Deacon Roger Klosterman writing to you and offering a brief snapshot of myself. I was born and raised in Celina OH. I am the 2nd of 5 children of Harold & Erma (both deceased). I have lots of 1st and 2nd cousins on the Klosterman & Cron-Boeckman families. I married Lori Tebbe (Minster) on September 9, 1989 and our 33rd wedding anniversary is right around the corner.  Read Full Article

The first Catholic church in New Bremen was a Catholic Mission Church named Most Precious Blood.  It was founded in 1872 on South Walnut Street at a cost of $3,000.  It had only one Mass on Sunday once a month celebrated by Fr. I.G. Selb who was the assistant priest in Minster.  The church was served by the Society of Precious Blood until 1894. The building was then sold in 1907 and is now used as a worship center for Faith Alliance.  Read Full Article

In 1847, Nativity parish was formed.  They built a small log chapel called Maria—Kapelle directly west of the present church.  In 1858, a new brick church was built across the road from the log chapel, where the present day church is standing.  In June 1888, a fire almost destroyed the church.  The four walls were all that remained.  The church was rebuilt and opened in March 1889.  In 1914, it was decided to enlarge the church by digging a basement to the south and erect a sacristy above it.  Read Full Article

In the early 1830’s, the “March of Christ” into southern Mercer County from Minster did not include Chickasaw.  Not until October 1894 did the Chickasaw people join the Catholic March by building a 60x30x16 ft. “chapel (hall)”.   Sometime in the spring of 1895, a petition was made to the Archbishop for a chapel, giving as a reason that some of the elderly would like to go to Mass during the week.  In the “Chapel of Ease” (hall), Mass was one or two days a week, but no service was allowed on Sundays or Holy Days. The first Mass was on Friday, October 11, 1895 at 8am.  On Sundays they attended St. Sebastian or nearby parishes.  Farmers drove their horse and buggies.  Townspeople walked.  Read Full Article

The history of a parish should be more than the simple telling of administrative events or the story of brick and mortar. It is to be the story of the people of God living out their faith. It must tell of their struggles and failures, of their vitality, and of the fruit they bear. Saint John Chrysostom has said that, “If you desire to know the nature of a peoples' faith, then go into their church and observe the art. A measure of the fruitfulness of this parish is hopefully evident the beauty of its church.”  Read Full Article

The first three immigrant families to settle in the St. John area arrived from the Oldenburg area of Germany near Hanover via Stallostown (Minster) on October 13, 1833.  The first order of business was to name their new settlement.  Being a religious and practical lot, as the three men of the little party all shared the first name of John and the new Archbishop of Cincinnati installed that same day was The Rev. John Purcell, the name St. John the Baptist was solemnly chosen as the community/parish name.  The hard work of clearing the land, building structures, and planting a crop ensued.  Read Full Article

St. Joseph, Egypt is a small, but vibrant parish welcoming and ministering to people of all ages. St. Joseph Parish traces its origin to August 14, 1852, when Cincinnati Archbishop John Purcell granted Egypt's residents permission to establish a church in their community. The first church was built due east of the present-day St. Joseph Cemetery, in the southeast corner of Egypt Pike and today's St. Rt. 364, on land belonging to John Heitman. (Today it is the current Tony and Tammy Heitbrink farm.)  Read Full Article

In the late 1830s, several families living in and around the little village of Rose Garden, now St. Rose, met and St. Rose parish was organized. Religious services were held in a farmhouse. The first place of worship was built on the north side of now State Route 119 in 1839. The first log church was erected in 1844 on the south side of the road. On November 24, 1844, the little log church was dedicated, and the cemetery was blessed. In August 1851, it was decided to build a bigger church. On August 15, 1852, the cornerstone for the new church was laid and blessed.  The church would be 76 feet long and 42 feet wide with two doors at the front and two aisles leading to the altar. This was later changed to one door in the front.  Read Full Article