Incarnation

Identity & Parish Mission

The parish's stated mission is to be 'the Catholic, Christian community of Incarnation Parish in Centerville, Ohio,' celebrating faith in worship, the Sacraments of Initiation, and the Eucharist, and committing to 'loving and serving each other' through educational, spiritual, and recreational enrichment. The parish lives out this identity through its sacrament schedule, parish school, and a deep network of service and fellowship ministries.

A Short History of Incarnation

Founded in 1945 with a $6,000 gift from St. Mary Parish in Dayton, the Church of the Incarnation was dedicated on June 3, 1951, by Archbishop Karl J. Alter after the first Mass was celebrated on Christmas Day 1950. Through the leadership of pastors Fr. Raymond C. Kallaher (1951–1979), Fr. Joseph C. Heskamp (1979–1989), Fr. Thomas A. Kuhn (1989–c. 2001), Fr. Lawrence 'Stretch' Mierenfeld (2001–), and Fr. Patrick Sloneker, the parish grew from 64 charter families to more than 4,300 families, built a new 1,100-seat poured-concrete church (1969/1970), opened a parish school (1957), launched a Youth Ministry Office (1986), and completed the Parish Activity Center (1994) and a major school addition (1995) with the 'Family Fund' capital campaign.

• 1945 – Parish established by Archbishop McNicholas with $6,000 gift from St. Mary, Dayton
• 1950 – First Mass, Christmas Day, celebrated by Fr. Charles Hollencamp
• 1951 – Church dedicated June 3 by Archbishop Karl J. Alter
• 1957 – School opens September 23 with 171 students (Sisters of the Precious Blood)
• 1969 – First Mass in new present-day church (Christmas Day)
• 1970 – Blessing of new church, March 1
• 1975 – Church debt retired December 26
• 1989 – Incarnation School named National School of Excellence
• 1992 – 'Family Fund' capital campaign launched
• 1994 – Parish Activity Center completed
• 1995 – Major school addition completed
• 2000 – 50th anniversary
• 2020 – Paired with St. Francis of Assisi in Beacons of Light as 'Our Lady of Light Family of Parishes'
• 2022 – Fr. Brian Phelps appointed pastor (July)

Architecture & Campus

The current church, completed in 1969 and blessed March 1, 1970, seats 1,100 and was built for $850,000 using poured concrete and rough glass — an unusual architectural statement for the Dayton area. The exposed aggregate of the exterior walls becomes smaller and more refined as it moves inward toward the altar. The Parish Activity Center (1994) is the gathering hub of the parish, featuring a metal relief sculpture of the Holy Family and the St. Joseph's Chapel, site of daily Masses. Outdoor Stations of the Cross (originally designed by Deacon Mike Montgomery) line the back of the property, and a Prayer Labyrinth was dedicated August 18, 2019.

• Current church: 1969/1970, 1,100 seats, $850,000, poured concrete & rough glass
• Original mission-style church: 1950, frame building, replaced 1969
• Parish Activity Center with St. Joseph's Chapel: 1994
• Prayer Labyrinth: dedicated 2019 (Eagle Scout project of Zach Haller)
• Outdoor Stations of the Cross: 1994 (renewed by Eagle Scout project)

Beacons of Light & Our Lady of Light Family of Parishes

In 2020 Archbishop Dennis Schnurr announced the Beacons of Light initiative, grouping Archdiocese of Cincinnati parishes into Families served by a single pastor. Incarnation was paired with neighboring St. Francis of Assisi as the NE-4 Family, which was subsequently named the Our Lady of Light Family of Parishes. The two campuses (Incarnation at 55 Williamsburg Lane and St. Francis of Assisi at 6245 Wilmington Pike) share clergy and staff while retaining their own parish histories and identities.

• Two campuses: Incarnation (Williamsburg Lane) and St. Francis of Assisi (Wilmington Pike)
• Family office phone: 937-345-0101
• Pastor Fr. Brian Phelps leads both campuses; Fr. Joseph Chinnabathini serves as Parochial Vicar

Incarnation Parish School

Incarnation School opened September 23, 1957, with 171 students in 10 classrooms, taught by three Sisters of the Precious Blood and three lay teachers; Archbishop Karl J. Alter dedicated it October 6, 1957. A recipient of the National School of Excellence Award (1989–90) and the National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence, it now serves close to 900 children in PreK through grade 8, with 52 classrooms, a collegiate-sized physical activities center, three technology/computer centers, a computerized library, three foreign language rooms, a closed-circuit news room, a full-time nurse, school counselor, speech teacher, and a team of five intervention specialists. All teachers are Ohio-licensed, with religion teachers certified by the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.

• Founded 1957 by the Sisters of the Precious Blood
• PreK–8, approximately 900 students
• National School of Excellence (1989–90) and National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence
• School phone: 433-1051

Liturgy, Mass, and Sacraments

Sunday Mass at the Incarnation Campus is offered at 8:00 AM, 10:30 AM, and 12:00 PM, with a Saturday Vigil at 5:00 PM. Weekday Masses follow a Monday–Friday rotation (Mon 8:30, Tue 6:30, Wed 8:30, Thu 6:30, Fri 8:30 during summer break). Confession is heard Saturdays 9:00–10:00 AM and Tuesdays 12:00–1:00 PM, with additional Advent and Lenten Reconciliation Services. Monthly Eucharistic Adoration is offered Tuesdays (7:00 AM–6:30 PM, 3rd Tuesday) and Mondays (7:00–8:00 PM, 3rd Monday), and a Patriotic Rosary is prayed the 1st Monday of the month.

• Sunday Masses: Sat Vigil 5:00 PM; Sun 8:00, 10:30, 12:00
• Weekday Masses: Mon 8:30, Tue 6:30, Wed 8:30, Thu 6:30, Fri 8:30 (summer)
• Confession: Sat 9–10 AM, Tue 12–1 PM; Advent/Lent services
• Adoration: Tue 7:00 AM–6:30 PM (3rd Tue); Mon 7–8 PM (3rd Mon)
• Patriotic Rosary: 1st Mon, 7–8 PM
• Baptism: first three Sundays after noon Mass; 4th Sunday during 12:00 Mass
• First Eucharist: 2nd grade, during Easter season
• Confirmation: 8th grade, celebrated in spring
• Anointing of the Sick & Communion to homebound
• Matrimony: 6+ months preparation; Saturdays 2:00–3:30 PM, some Friday evenings

Religious Education, RCIA, and Youth Ministry

Faith formation is provided for children and adults through parish-school religion classes, a Confirmation program for 8th graders (with preparation also available for older children and young adults), and the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA), which meets Tuesday evenings from September through Easter under Pastoral Associate Stacy Stang. The Office of Youth Ministry, opened in 1986, serves Junior High, High School, and Young Adults, and continues as a major outreach of the parish.

• RCIA – Tuesday evenings, September through Easter
• Religious Education Office – 2nd floor of the Pastoral Center (433-3377)
• Youth Ministry Office – 2nd floor of the Pastoral Center (433-5589)
• Junior High, High School, and Young Adult programs

Service, Outreach, and Pastoral Care

Parish service flows through the St. Vincent de Paul Conference (utility, rent, food aid; Bundle Sunday clothing drive; Handi-pak Drive; Christmas Kindness; St. Vincent Meals at Dayton shelters), the Social Outreach Commission (Dakota Center, Rebuilding Dayton Together, Mercy Manor), and parish-wide seasonal drives. Pastoral care is provided through the Bereavement Ministry (Pastoral Associate Stacy Stang), the Healing/Homebound Ministry, the Lean on Me Ministry (temporary meals, light household help, visits), and the Prayer Shawl Ministry, whose volunteers knit and crochet shawls for those in need of being 'wrapped' in God's love.

• St. Vincent de Paul Conference (Incarnation Campus)
• St. Vincent Meals Ministry (Kathy Farrey / Candy Huttinger)
• Social Outreach Commission
• Lean on Me Ministry (Carolyn Moran)
• Prayer Shawl Ministry (Pat Thieke)
• Bereavement, Healing, and Homebound Ministry
• Respect Life / All Babies Count

Parish Organizations and Fellowship

Lay organizations have been a hallmark of Incarnation since its earliest years. The Knights of Columbus St. Leonard Council 10215, chartered in 1990, serves as the parish home council (membership open to all practicing Catholic men 18 and older) and currently serves as Greeters at Mass. The Madonna Guild and the Athletic Association continue traditions established in the 1960s, including the Time and Talent Auction and Infant Jesus activities. Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, and Girl Scout troops also operate out of the parish.

• Knights of Columbus – St. Leonard Council 10215 (chartered 1990)
• Madonna Guild, Athletic Association
• Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts
• Parish Council, Worship Commission, Social Outreach Commission

Pastoral Staff and Parish Office

The parish is led by Fr. Brian Phelps, Pastor, with Fr. Joseph Chinnabathini as Parochial Vicar. Deacons Chris Rauch (also Managing Director of Operations), Roger Duffy, and Robert Zinck assist. Pastoral Associates, a Music Minister, school principal and assistant principal, business and plant managers, religious-education coordinators, and Youth Ministry staff round out the team. Office hours are Monday–Friday 9:30 AM–4:00 PM (closed for lunch noon–1:00 PM; offices open 1:00 PM Thursdays after staff development).

• Parish Offices in the Pastoral Center (formerly the convent)
• School Office phone: 433-1051
• Religious Education: 433-3377
• Youth Ministry: 433-5589
• Email convention: [email protected]