About Church of the Resurrection · Cincinnati, Ohio
The Church of the Resurrection (COR) is a Catholic parish in the Bond Hill neighborhood of Cincinnati, Ohio, within the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. It was created on August 1, 2010 by the merger of four historic parishes — St. Andrew (Avondale), St. Agnes (Bond Hill), St. Mark (Evanston), and St. Martin de Porres (Lincoln Heights) — that had become too small to sustain separate ministries and buildings. The parish worships in the former 1956 neo-Romanesque St. Agnes church on California Avenue and is recognized as one of the predominantly Black Catholic parishes of the Archdiocese, with vibrant liturgical traditions featuring gospel choir, liturgical dance, and preaching that reflect African-American Catholic culture. Currently it is one of five parishes of the Crescent Family of Parishes, and from July 1, 2026 it will become a free-standing parish pastorally supported by the Jesuit Community of Cincinnati with Fr. Paul Lickteig as its incoming pastor.
- Established
- 2010
- Patron
- The Resurrection of the Lord (the parish takes its name from the Resurrection of Christ)
- Rector
- Fr. Pat (current Pastoral Leadership Team of the Crescent Family of Parishes, through June 30, 2026); Fr. Paul Lickteig, SJ (incoming pastor effective July 1, 2026, pastorally supported by the Jesuit Community of Cincinnati)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Cincinnati
Why belong here
The Church of the Resurrection offers a warm, predominantly African-American Catholic community in Bond Hill with liturgies that blend gospel choir, liturgical dance, preaching, and preaching rooted in Black Catholic spirituality in the legacy of Fr. Clarence Rivers. It carries forward the faith and traditions of four historic parishes (St. Agnes, St. Andrew, St. Mark, and St. Martin de Porres), serves the surrounding neighborhood through ministries to the poor, and stands next door to the Xavier Jesuit Academy, giving it a strong Catholic presence and a future-shaped partnership with the Jesuit Community of Cincinnati.
Mass times at Church of the Resurrection
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday 9:30 AM at the Pastor's Residence
History and Founding of the Parish
The Church of the Resurrection was canonically erected on July 14, 2010 by decree of Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr and celebrated its first Mass on August 1, 2010, drawing about 750 people. It was formed from the closing of four historic Cincinnati parishes — St. Agnes (Bond Hill, 1891), St. Andrew (Avondale, 1894), St. Mark (Evanston, 1905), and St. Martin de Porres (Lincoln Heights, 1935) — whose combined membership had fallen to roughly 550 families that could no longer support four buildings and ministries. The St. Agnes Church building on California Avenue (1956, neo-Romanesque) was chosen as the new home, and parishioners chose the name 'Resurrection' to signal that the four parishes were being reborn, not closed.
- St. Agnes Parish, Bond Hill – founded 1891; current church built 1956
- St. Andrew Parish, Avondale – founded 1894; church built 1920 (Samuel Hannaford)
- St. Mark Parish, Evanston – founded 1905; church built 1914 (Henry Schlacks)
- St. Martin de Porres Parish, Lincoln Heights – founded 1935
- Decree of merger: July 14, 2010 (Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr)
- First Mass: August 1, 2010
- Founding pastor: Fr. Dennis Chriszt, CPPS
- Pastoral administrator: Deacon Royce Winters
Worship and Liturgy
COR celebrates liturgies that combine traditional Catholic form with the rich heritage of Black Catholic spirituality — gospel choir, liturgical dance, cantors, preaching that engages social justice, and incorporation of treasured items from each predecessor parish. The Sunday 10:00 AM Mass is the principal parish liturgy, and a Wednesday morning Mass provides a weekly weekday offering. The parish also offers a Liturgy of the Word with Signing for the Hearing Impaired and seasonal devotions including Stations of the Cross and Vacation Bible School.
- Sunday Mass – 10:00 AM (English)
- Wednesday Mass – 9:30 AM (English)
- Liturgy of the Word with Signing for the Hearing Impaired
- Keep the Dream Alive ceremony on Martin Luther King Day
- Annual August Jazz Concert, September Cookout, November Dance
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Through the Crescent Parishes' Lifelong Faith Formation program, COR parishioners can enroll children in PREP (Parish Religious Education Program), Breaking Open the Word (children's Liturgy of the Word), the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Atrium (which celebrated its 20th anniversary in the parish family), Vacation Bible School, High School Formation, and Confirmation Prep. Adult faith formation includes That Man is You Men's Fellowship, Rosary in a Year, Scripture study with Deacon Royce, Wednesday Wonderings with Sr. Janet, and parish missions.
- PREP (Parish Religious Education Program)
- Breaking Open the Word
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Atrium
- Vacation Bible School
- High School Formation
- Confirmation Prep
- That Man is You Men's Fellowship
- Rosary in a Year
- Scripture study with Deacon Royce
- Wednesday Wonderings with Sr. Janet
- Crescent Family Mission
RCIA — Becoming Catholic
Adults who are interested in learning the teachings and traditions of the Catholic Church and preparing to be received into full communion can join the parish RCIA process through the Crescent Parishes' Lifelong Faith Formation program.
- Inquiry and catechumenate formation
- Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA)
- Sacramental preparation at Easter Vigil
Music, Choir, and Liturgical Arts
COR is known for a robust music and liturgical arts program in the African-American Catholic tradition. The Sunday Mass is supported by a full gospel choir with cantor, pianist, and drum kit, and by a liturgical dance ministry that processes in with vestments and banners. These ministries reflect the influence of Fr. Clarence Rivers, the first Black priest ordained in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, whose hymn 'God is Love' premiered at the 1964 National Liturgical Conference.
- Gospel Choir (multi-voice ensemble)
- Cantor, pianist, and drum kit at Sunday Mass
- Liturgical Dance Ministry (robed dancers)
- Heritage of Fr. Clarence Rivers and the Black Catholic inculturation movement
Parish Staff and Leadership
The parish has been blessed with stable, deeply rooted pastoral leadership from its founding. Deacon Royce Winters has served as pastoral administrator since the 2010 merger and is Director of African American Pastoral Ministries for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. He is supported by Fr. Pat and the Pastoral Leadership Team of the Crescent Family of Parishes. Effective July 1, 2026, the parish will be served by Fr. Paul Lickteig, SJ under the pastoral care of the Jesuit Community of Cincinnati, with Deacon Winters continuing as Parish Life Director.
- Deacon Royce Winters – Pastoral Administrator / incoming Parish Life Director; Archdiocesan Director of African American Pastoral Ministries
- Fr. Pat – Crescent Family Pastoral Leadership Team
- Fr. Paul Lickteig, SJ – Incoming Pastor (effective July 1, 2026)
- Brother Hugh Henderson, CPPS – Pastoral Associate at founding
A Parish of the Crescent Family
The Church of the Resurrection is one of five parishes that make up the Crescent Family of Parishes in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, alongside Holy Trinity, Nativity, St. John the Evangelist, and St. Saviour. The five share faith formation, evangelization, and administrative resources. In May 2026 Archbishop Robert Casey announced that, effective July 1, 2026, COR would leave the Crescent Family to become a free-standing parish pastorally supported by the Jesuit Community of Cincinnati, while the other four parishes continue their merger into one new parish. COR will remain a Catholic parish within the Archdiocese and will continue to participate in Beacons of Light.
- Sister parishes: Holy Trinity, Nativity, St. John the Evangelist, St. Saviour
- Archdiocesan Beacons of Light initiative
- Effective July 1, 2026: COR becomes a free-standing parish under Jesuit pastoral support
Jesuit Partnership and Xavier Jesuit Academy
A major development for the parish is its new pastoral partnership with the Jesuit Community of Cincinnati, beginning July 1, 2026. The relationship builds naturally on the Xavier Jesuit Academy, a Jesuit-run primary school located next door to the church in Bond Hill, which already partners with the parish in mission. Fr. Paul Lickteig, SJ has been assigned as COR's incoming pastor.
- Xavier Jesuit Academy – Jesuit-run primary school, next door to COR
- Jesuit Community of Cincinnati – pastoral support beginning July 1, 2026
- Fr. Paul Lickteig, SJ – incoming pastor
Parish Identity and African-American Catholic Heritage
COR is one of three predominantly Black Catholic parishes in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati and intentionally preserves the spiritual, liturgical, and cultural heritage of its predecessor African-American parishes, especially St. Martin de Porres. The parish draws on the inculturation movement led by Fr. Clarence Rivers, the first Black priest ordained in the Archdiocese (1956), whose work in Catholic music and worship continues to shape the parish's prayer life today.
- One of three predominantly Black Catholic parishes in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati
- Keeper of St. Martin de Porres legacy (Lincoln Heights, 1935)
- Heritage of Fr. Clarence Rivers and Black Catholic inculturation
- Welcoming liturgy with gospel choir and liturgical dance
Outreach and Service to the Poor
Since its founding, COR has placed a strong emphasis on ministries that serve people in need in the Bond Hill community and beyond. Outreach has included food ministries, support for those working to combat hunger, and a robust network of small-group ministries that respond to local needs. The parish's identity is shaped by both prayer and service, in keeping with Catholic social teaching and the lived example of its predecessor parishes.
- Food pantry and hunger outreach
- Ministries serving the poor
- Parish-based community service initiatives
Getting Involved — Stewardship of Time
Parishioners are invited to share their time and talent through the Crescent Parishes' Stewardship of Time process. Adults can sign up for lifelong faith formation, youth programs, sacramental preparation, prayer ministries, and parish council or committee service. COR also welcomes participation in its music, dance, and outreach ministries.
- Adult lifelong faith formation
- Youth faith formation (PREP, VBS, High School, Confirmation)
- Prayer ministries (Mass, adoration, rosary, Liturgy of the Hours)
- RCIA and sacramental preparation
- Pastoral and finance councils
Contact and Visiting
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office through the central Crescent Parishes system. The Church of the Resurrection building is located at 1619 California Avenue in Bond Hill, Cincinnati.
- Address: 1619 California Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45237
- Parish phone: (513) 242-0400
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://crescentparishes.org/
- Crescent Family North Office: 513-791-9004
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Dennis Chriszt, CPPS2010–mid-2016
Missionaries of the Precious Blood priest who served as founding pastor; shepherded the unification of the four legacy parishes and built the new parish's identity with Deacon Royce Winters.
- Crescent Family Pastoral Leadership Team (Fr. Pat and team)2010s–June 30, 2026
After COR joined the Crescent Family of Parishes it was served by the Family's shared pastoral leadership, including Fr. Pat.
- Fr. Paul Lickteig, SJEffective July 1, 2026
Incoming pastor under Jesuit Community of Cincinnati pastoral support, as COR becomes a free-standing parish.