Center of Catholicism in Preble County

1953: “Preble County Catholics will mark the centennial of Visitation of the B.V.M. parish at Eaton July 12 when Archbishop Karl J. Alter will celebrate Pontifical Mass in the church there and administer the sacrament of Confirmation. ‘From an early beginning in rented quarters,’ said Father F.J. Vonder Haar, pastor, this week, ‘the parish progressed with the years, periodically adding members, property holdings, and prestige in the community. This year, as it celebrates its centennial, it looks back upon a century of service not only to its membership, but to the community in general.’

“The first services of Roman Catholics in Eaton were conducted in 1853 in a building ‘near where Dr. Sewell now lives,’ according to an old report. Since the village had only one or two streets at that time, it is presumed that the location was somewhere in the downtown area. The church, known then as a ‘station,’ was founded by a Father Carney, under the direction of Archbishop John B. Purcell.

“In 1873 the station was made a parish, and a priest was regularly assigned. Father [John] Bowe was the first pastor for the newly created parish.

“The present church edifice was constructed in 1879, during the pastorate of Father Francis Varleman. At the time of the church dedication on Aug. 24, 1879, there were an estimated 350 Catholics in Preble County.” (See The Catholic Telegraph-Register, July 10, 1953)

Precious Blood Sisters Keep Busy Making Fine Vestments on Request

1960: “Original design and embroidery work of high standard in the making of vestments are stressed by the Sisters of the Precious Blood at their Regina Heights motherhouse in Dayton.

“A chasuble rich in symbolism, shown here, is being examined by Sister Mary Terentia, left, and Sister Mary Gregory. This vestment, made for use at the motherhouse on feast days of the Blessed Virgin, has a design in honor of Our Lady of the Precious Blood. Beneath the dove, symbol of the Holy Spirit, is a modernistic representation of the arms of the Blessed Mother embracing a chalice. The grapes represent the Blood of Christ and the squares below symbolize the shedding of His blood seven times. The squares also suggest Our Lady's Seven Sorrows.” (The Catholic Telegraph-Register, July 1, 1960)

Our Lady of Fatima

1964: “Statue of Our Lady of Fatima, said to be the largest of its kind in existence, has been erected on the shores of Indian Lake at Russells Point by George B. Quatman. The 43-foot shrine is located on what has been named "St. Mary's Point," situated at the north end of Sandy Beach Park.

“The 600-pound fiberglass statue rests on a turntable that makes a complete circuit each hour. It is illuminated by black light on a fluorescent surface. Colored underwater lights tint the spray from 33 fountains. The $50,000 shrine, unveiled last week, is dedicated to the discouragement of profanity and prevention of another world war, the owner said.

“Mr. Quatman, a telephone company executive and owner of two Indian Lake amusement parks, is originator and chief promoter of an ambitious project in the ancient city of Ephesus in Turkey. The project includes the rebuilding of the Basilica of St. John over what is believed to be the tomb of the Apostle and the eventual reconstruction of the Basilica of Mary, where the historic Ecumenical Council of Ephesus was held in the Fifth Century.” (The Catholic Telegraph, July 10, 1964)

Renovated Downtown Chapel

1980: “Holy Spirit chapel in downtown Cincinnati will show off its new look at an open house July 6. Recently renovated for approximately $100,000, the 53-year-old facility which once was part of the old Fenwick club on Fifth Street, now stands alone since the razing of the Fenwick following its sale in 1979 to Procter and Gamble.

“Built in 1927 by the late Msgr. Charles Baden, founder of the Fenwick, Holy Spirit chapel has long been a ‘chapel of convenience’ for downtown employees and travelers who take advantage of the daily, Sunday and holy day Masses offered there.” (See The Catholic Telegraph, July 4, 1980)

Note: In 1982, the archdiocese sold the property on which Holy Spirit chapel was located to the Procter & Gamble Company.

New Mercer County Church

1967: “Dedication of this new church for Precious Blood Parish, Chickasaw, will be held July 2 according to an announcement by the pastor, Father Anselm F. Boeke. Archbishop Karl J. Alter will bless the building and offer a Pontifical Mass. The contemporary-style church, erected at a cost of about $250,000, replaces a frame structure built in 1895 as a chapel for Catholics in the area. An addition to the old church was made in 1903, when the parish was officially established. The new building, serving the 125 families of the parish, has a seating capacity of 426. The church includes special rooms for mothers with infants and for ushers and an undercroft for use as a parish center. The contractor was H.A. Dorsten, Minster. The old church was razed last week.” (The Catholic Telegraph, June 16, 1967)

St. Denis Parish, Versailles

1963: “Stone columns on the facade of St. Denis' church, Versailles, enshrine the statue of St. Denis above the aluminum doors of the main entrance. The tower houses the baptistry and also the bells from the former 81-year-old church. (The Catholic Telegraph, June 14, 1963)

Mother of Divine Grace

1962: “Mother of Divine Grace is the title under which Our Lady is honored in a new shrine erected in front of St. Monica's church, Cincinnati. Shown here inspecting the shrine are, left to right, Father Thomas Gavin, assistant pastor; Elmer H. Schmidt, architect, who designed the shrine and its statue; and Monsignor Charles W. Kuenle, pastor. Cincinnati sculptor Ernest Bruce Haswell made the model for the statue. Bishop Paul F. Leibold will bless the shrine June 24 after a Pontifical Low Mass scheduled for 7 p.m.

“The stone structure faces the intersection of McMillan Street and Fairview Avenue. Streams of water issuing from the extended hands of Our Lady will indicate that God's graces are dispensed through her. Blue and white lights will illumine the shrine at night.

“Erection of the shrine was made possible by a gift from parishioners to Monsignor Kuenle on the occasion of his golden jubilee in the priesthood six years ago.” (The Catholic Telegraph, June 22, 1962)

Forestville Mission Chapel

1950: “Another church in the archdiocese will be dedicated in honor of Our Lady June 25 when the Most Rev. Bishop George J. Rehring blesses Immaculate Heart of Mary mission chapel in Forestville.

“The title is especially familiar to devotees of Our Lady of Fatima who expressed the wish that the world would be consecrated to her Immaculate Heart. Fifty-four parishes or missions in the archdiocese, including that at Forestville, are dedicated to Our Lady under her various titles.

“The new chapel, built by Brother Bertrand Bailey along the lines of several other mission chapels in the archdiocese, is a white frame structure that will accommodate about 350 persons in the chapel proper and another 150 in a wing extending from the rear of the building. A folding wall at the point where the wing joins the chapel will permit a direct view of the sanctuary from this room.

“A small wing on the other side of the chapel accommodates the sacristy. A confessional and a platform for the choir are near the front door of the building.

“The altar, made of fumed oak, was built by men of the parish under the direction of Father Joseph Hageman, who is in charge of the parish. An oak crucifix bearing a limewood corpus hangs above the altar. The altar canopy, pews, and stations also are of oak. There are two wood-carved statues, one of Our Lady of Cincinnati and the other of St. Joseph.

“The chapel is located on the north side of Route 125 about 200 feet from the road. The parish’s nine-acre churchyard is also the site of a large residence that has served as the church since the establishment of the mission parish in 1944.“ (See The Catholic Telegraph-Register, June 23, 1950)