In October 2013, a Pastoral Region Coordinating Committee was formed at the behest of Archbishop Dennis Schnurr, to establish a Pastoral Region in the St. Margaret Mary Deanery consisting of St. James of the Valley, St. Matthias the Apostle and Our Lady of the Rosary parishes. The design of the Pastoral Region would allow one pastor to serve all three parishes, with or without additional clergy. On July 1, 2014 Fr. Chris Coleman was installed as Pastor of the new Pastoral Region shepherding the three parishes. Each parish continues to operate fiscally as a separate parish but shares various ministries and ministers. The region adopted the name, Winton Wyoming Pastoral Region (WWPR). Fr. Alex McCullough currently serves as Pastor.
"To save souls by responding to the life we have in Christ by generously sharing that life with others..."
It is of critical importance that parishioners, employees and volunteers in the Winton Wyoming Pastoral Region understand our core values and strive to live them out every day.
Responsible Follow Through – Do what you say you will do and be accountable. At times, we may only have one opportunity to correctly address an issue for someone. Take that opportunity to follow through.
Mission Over Self – Choose to do what is best for the souls in our region over our preferences. Whether it is in the news, or a sports broadcast or some other public setting, people often talk about being a “team player”. Our team should be comprised of team players, and it has only one important mission – to save souls.
Humble Fidelity to Church Teaching – The ingrained need to discover and live the core teachings of the Church. Every day we should commit to modeling Christ in our words and actions, in how we interact with others and how we perform our jobs.
We were first called the Greenhills Catholic Colony in 1938 with Fr. George Kuntz as Administrator. One mass was held each Sunday in the gymnasium of the Community Building. All churches in Greenhills used the gymnasium for services on Sunday and shared the portable church furniture, thus creating a strong bond of ecumenical friendship which still continues to flourish.
In 1941, Fr. Cletus Kunz was appointed as Administrator of the Greenhills Catholic Colony. In July, 1942, the Colony, having outgrown its "mission" status, became Our Lady of the Rosary Parish with Fr. Kunz as its first Pastor.
In 1946, our present site was acquired from the U.S. Government and on January 29, 1947, ground was broken and blessed for the first section of the new school building. In 1951 the basement and partial first floor served as a four classroom school, offices, and church. Fr. Paul Galliger was appointed Pastor in 1950. By 1952 the first floor was completed, and OLR School opened September 2, with 137 students taught by the Sisters of Mercy. The Sisters established temporary living quarters in vacant classrooms until an apartment dwelling on Farragut Road was acquired for their use in 1955.
With the tremendous growth occurring in the 1950's, a new larger church became top priority, so a vigorous building campaign was started: "The Church of 1000 Cornerstones." Each family who pledged 5 percent of one year's income towards the building campaign received a time capsule bearing a brass plate with their name. These capsules held family memorabilia, and were inserted into the walls of the church, visible from the inside. Through the faith and sacrificial spirit of the parishioners, the new church was completed and dedicated with a Mass on July 19, 1959 by Archbishop Karl J. Alter.
In 1960, the rectory was built. Fr. Bernard Felix was appointed Pastor in 1961. The present Parish Activity Center was originally built as the convent in 1968. In August, 1971, Fr. Donald Behler became Pastor.
Fr. Raymond Aichele became out Pastor in February of 1979. He began a spiritual renewal program, "Christ Renews His Parish," which helped to enable parishioners to actively be "the Body of Christ." From 1981-1988, "CRHP" empowered 425 persons.
Fr. Paul Bader served as our Pastor from June, 1986 through June, 1998. In 1991, our Church was Renovated and an addition connected the church to the rectory better utilizing rectory space. The addition serves our needs for handicapped accessible restrooms, and gathering space for funerals, weddings, and parish functions as well as housing our parish library.
In 1996, our Pastoral Staff and Commissions decided to implement a new pastoral vision for becoming a truly Evangelizing parish as our Popes have been requesting. This new plan develops in stages and involves Parish Retreats, Small Church Communities, Missionary Outreaches and Ministries in Neighborhoods.
In July 1998, Fr. Charles Bowes was appointed to serve the people of O.L.R. Fr. Charlie brought a warm and gentle spirit to our parish. He eagerly continued to develop the Pastoral Vision we began in 1996. Further, he actively lead us as we began to collaborate with our pastoral region partners, St. Matthias Parish and St. James of the Valley. Because of the decline in enrollment, Fr. Charlie led us through the painful process of closing OLR School in June 2006. The Parish children then entered the consolidated regional school, John Paul II. Fr. Charlie became ill, and Fr. Tom Snodgrass became our Sacramental Presider in September 2007, sharing his wonderful gifts for detail and making the church look beautiful. After Fr. Charlie died on January 5, 2008, the whole parish celebrated his life with a grand funeral reflecting Fr. Charlie’s deep love for liturgy.
Fr. Peter Helmlinger, became our new Pastor in July, 2008. Fr. Pete had a natural connection with O.L.R’s vision, because he participated in our New Life Retreat in 2006, when we were invited to present it at Incarnation Parish in Centerville, where he was serving as an Associate Pastor. Fr. Pete offers us a wonderful, down to earth, gentle spirit and a great feel for the parishioners’ struggles of trying to live their faith in the “real” world. In July, 2011, Fr. Pete was given the added responsibility of pastoring St. Matthias Parish. Fr. Paul Bader, retired priest in residence at St. Matthias, rotates masses with Fr. Pete at the two parishes.
The First St James Church
With much foresight, but not without much contention, (some wanted the church built in Greenwood, Lockland, some suggested the purchase of the church at Wayne and Worthington Avenues), the site on Crescent Avenue was agreed upon as the most suitable location for a new church. Away from which even in those days seemed destined to be a business section, and centrally located with respect to what seemed would be the future development, the land at Crescent and Cooper Avenues was obtained from Mr Worthington for the sum of $1,500. Mr Worthington, although not a Catholic, immediately offered to donate $500 toward the new church on the condition that it would be for English speaking Catholics. The offer was accepted, some money was borrowed from Mr Puthoff, a pioneer member of the new church committee, and the new congregation became a reality.
Bids were taken for the erection of the new church and the contract was awarded to the firm of Uland and Harper. The cost of the first church building was $4,750. We are told that when the first church was built, there was no other homes or buildings in the neighborhood except the Woodruff Building, then used as a general store and later a shoe factory.
The Enlarged St James Church – 1892
Less than 10 years after the construction of the first church, it became necessary to enlarge the structure. In 1892, and during the pastorate of Father Brinkmeyer, the church was lengthened. The pillars which supported the choir loft rested upon that which was the eastern foundation of the first church. Many who studied this extension contended that it stood as a remarkably fine and skillful piece of building construction.
It was also under the energetic pastorate of Father Brinkmeyer that the first school was started at St James. The school was originally housed in part of the priests’ residence in the rear of the church. The rectory, which is seen at the right of the church, was built while Father Shee was in charge. It was Father Shee who reopened the school, closed by the “panic” of 1893, and engaged the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur to replace the lay teachers who taught during the first few years.
When Fr. John James Cunningham arrived in 1903, it was apparent that with steadily increasing enrollment the old frame classrooms were doomed. His later 1910 census report numbered 148 Catholic families in the parish, with 52 boys and 60 girls attending school. For nearly nine years this gentle, frail priest had worked diligently for a proper school building. And such it was, when ready for dedication April 17, 1911. A substantial, square, two–story buff–colored brick building, with stone trim, on the south side of the church, it contained four large classrooms on the first floor, with cloakrooms. On the second was a spacious auditorium with a 550–seat capacity, along with a stage and two dressing rooms. The basement housed two large playrooms, restrooms, and essential facilities. With the love and help of his parishioners, Fr. Cunningham had completed his final earthly task. He died only a few months later.
The original plan was to build the new church at the corner of Crescent and Worthington Avenues and with this end in view 200 feet frontage to the north of the rectory was purchased from the Hosea Estate.
But with the passing of the years a marked development in the village was taking place to the west of Springfield Pike, and the Pike itself was becoming the principle thoroughfare of the village. When a more attractive property (the Woodruff house, land, barn, cottage) became available, $50,000 was available for expediting the transaction in May 1929.
By 1939 the parish had a $40,000 building fund, $16,000 from congregational pledges, expected assets of $35,000 from Crescent Avenue's proposed sale, an astutely negotiated loan of $75,000. Architect Edward J. Schulte was commissioned to submit blueprints for three buildings; a temporary auditorium–church, a school, and the ultimate church. The first two were to be completed by September 1940, and were to contain: a large foyer; four classrooms; office; temporary church; rest rooms and lavatory on the first floor. The second floor would contain four classrooms; library; upper part of the temporary church; choir balcony. A music–band room would be in the tower, and in the basement: playrooms; cafeteria; kitchen; lockers; storage; boiler room.
Sunday, October 22, 1939, was the joyous, ground–breaking day. Formal, prayerful, sentimental ceremonies were held at Crescent Avenue.
The privilege of turning the first spade full of earth for the breaking of ground was given to Mrs Fred Hollman on her bid of $125.00. She in turn gave the privilege to her four and a half year old nephew, Frederick, the son of Mr & Mrs Joseph Hollman, both of whom had done considerable bidding for the honor.
By April 14, 1940, partial completion of the building permitted laying the cornerstone after Most Reverend Auxiliary Bishop George J. Rehring blessed it according to the Rituale Romanus.
Dedication of the new church took place on December 8, 1940
Former Pastors and Parochial Administrators:
Revs. John Cusack, 1887–89; John Singleton, 1889–90; Henry Brinkmeyer, 1890–92; John Holthaus, 1892–93; Joseph Shee, 1893–1900; James Moore, 1900–03; John Cunningham, 1903–12; Edward Ryan, 1912–34; Leo Walsh, 1934–52; Matthias F. Heyker, 1952–53; William A. Shine, 1953–73; Hubert T. Unger, 1973–85; Most Rev. Carl K. Moeddel, 1985–93; Robert B. Buening, 1993–98; James R. Collins, 1998–2007; Jack Wehman, 2007-2014; Christopher C. Coleman, 2014-17; Michael Pucke, 2017-18; Alexander C. McCullough, 2018-present
History
Our Church:
The birth of St. Matthias parish began in June 1967 with the purchase of ten acres of land on West Kemper Road near Winton Road in Forest Park. The Archdiocese of Cincinnati made the purchase for $70,000 and appointed Rev. Jesse Lonsway as Founding Pastor.
Eight hundred people were in attendance for the first four Masses celebrated at Cameron Park on August 6, 1967, proving the need for a building of their own.
Eager parishioners attended meeting after meeting to establish proper plans to erect a building to care for the needs of St. Matthias parishioners. On Palm Sunday, April 6, 1969, Sunday Masses began in the new St. Matthias Center.
An associate priest, Fr. George R. Schmitz, was appointed in June, 1969, to assist with the rapidly growing parish.
Early in 1978 two important events took place. Fr. Lonsway left St. Matthias to start another parish; replacing him was Rev. Raymond G. Wiemeyer, St. Matthias’ second pastor. Also, at this time boundaries of the parish were extended to include everything east of South Gilmore Road and South and West of State Route 4.
With the expanding population, religious education programs and many other activities that were happening in the parish center, it was soon obvious that the existing St. Matthias Center was not large enough to accommodate the parishioners and meet all their needs.
More meetings were held to discover ways to accommodate St. Matthias Parish and in December, 1983, the parish successfully completed a three-year fund drive to provide the go-ahead for an addition to the existing site. Construction began in June of 1984, doubling the capacity of St. Matthias, enabling parishioners to have a church, a chapel and parish center.
Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk, assisted by Rev. Wiemeyer and Rev. Gerard Evers, Officially dedicated the completed church and center on March 14, 1985.
Succession of Pastors:
Fr. Jesse Lonsway 1967-1978
Fr. Raymond Wiemeyer 1978-1989
Fr. Anthony Muller 1989-1991
Fr. William Drain 1991-2000
Fr. Robert Gobel 2001-2002
Fr. David Fay 2002-2011
Fr. Pete Helmlinger 2011-2014
Fr. Chris Coleman 2014-2017