About St. Boniface · Cincinnati, Ohio
St. Boniface is a bilingual Roman Catholic parish in Cincinnati's historic Northside neighborhood (formerly Cumminsville), part of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Cincinnati. The parish currently ministers in both English and Spanish, offering multiple Masses each weekend and a Spanish weekday Mass with Eucharistic Adoration, and is served by Comboni Missionaries of the Heart of Jesus (MCCJ). The parish community worships alongside an on-site Catholic elementary school (St. Boniface School, PK–8) and supports a range of lay ministries including a Health & Wellness program, St. Vincent de Paul outreach, RCIA, Bible study, faith formation, and liturgical music.
- Established
- 1863
- Patron
- St. Boniface (the Apostle of the Germans)
- Rector
- Rev. Louis Okot, MCCJ (Comboni Missionary)
- Diocese
- Metropolitan Archdiocese of Cincinnati
Why belong here
St. Boniface is a welcoming bilingual Catholic community that has worshipped in Cincinnati's Northside since 1863 and offers daily and weekend Mass in both English and Spanish, regular Eucharistic Adoration, the Sacrament of Reconciliation on Saturdays, and a full sacramental life. Parishioners are formed through RCIA, Bible study, and faith formation for children and adults, while ministries such as the Health & Wellness program, St. Vincent de Paul outreach, and a thriving Liturgical Music ministry let parishioners serve their neighbors. An on-site Catholic elementary school, St. Boniface School, partners with the parish to provide faith-based education to over 200 students in PK–8th grade.
Mass times at St. Boniface
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 5:00–5:45 PM (English)
- Sábado 5:00–5:45 PM (Confesiones en español)
Adoration times
- Thursday following the 7:00 PM Spanish Mass (Eucharistic Exposition/Adoration)
History of St. Boniface Parish
The parish traces its roots to 1853, when Archbishop Purcell established St. Aloysius in Cumminsville to serve Catholic immigrants — many Irish laborers building the Cincinnati, Hamilton and Dayton Railroad. Within a few years the parish split along ethnic lines (April 6, 1861); the German community received $1,500 and built St. Boniface, blessed on November 13, 1863. A school followed in 1879, and by the early 1900s St. Boniface itself seeded St. Clare (College Hill) and St. Pius (Cumminsville). In December 1991, the parish from which it had once split — St. Patrick — closed and merged back into St. Boniface, bringing with it its marble altar and statues of St. Patrick and St. John Vianney.
- 1853 — St. Aloysius Parish founded on Delaney Street
- April 6, 1861 — Parish votes to divide along ethnic lines (Irish / German)
- November 13, 1863 — Solemn blessing of first St. Boniface church (Blue Rock & Lakeman)
- 1879 — School built
- Early 1900s — St. Clare (College Hill) and St. Pius (Cumminsville) formed out of St. Boniface
- 1921 — Property purchased at Chase and Pitts Avenues
- 1927 — Present church completed; school completed 1933
- December 1991 — St. Patrick Parish closes and merges back into St. Boniface
- 2013 — Parish marks 150th anniversary
Architecture & Sacred Art
The current church, completed in 1927, was designed by architects working in the tradition of the great Roman basilicas — specifically the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls. Its 40-foot tall baldachin crowns the main altar, sheltering the Holy Eucharist and surrounded by painted murals of angels. When St. Patrick merged into St. Boniface in 1991, its marble altar was relocated into the church as part of the welcome.
- Modeled on the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls in Rome
- 40-foot baldachin over main altar
- Murals of angels surrounding the altar
- Marble altar of St. Patrick brought over in 1991
Clergy & Staff
St. Boniface is currently served by Comboni Missionaries of the Heart of Jesus (MCCJ). Pastoral leadership rests with Fr. Louis Okot, MCCJ (Pastor), supported by Fr. Samuel Yacob Langena, MCCJ (Parochial Vicar), with Fr. Jim Schutte retired and in residence and Deacon Jerry Yetter assisting. A strong lay staff includes a Business Manager, a Parish Nurse, an Administrative Assistant, the Director of Ministries, and the Bulletin / Ministers' Schedule editor.
- Rev. Louis Okot, MCCJ — Pastor
- Rev. Samuel Yacob Langena, MCCJ — Parochial Vicar
- Rev. Jim Schutte — Retired
- Rev. Jerry Yetter — Deacon
- Jenni Lindgren — Business Manager
- Mary Jeanne Feldkamp — Parish Nurse
- Griselda Geygan — Administrative Assistant
- Doug Mercer — Director of Ministries
- Mel Sonenscheim — Ministers' Schedule / Bulletin Editor
Bilingual & Multicultural Life
St. Boniface's character has always been multicultural — it was born from a split of Irish and German Catholics in 1861, was later home to a thriving English-speaking congregation, and today is a fully bilingual (English/Spanish) community. The parish maintains a dedicated Spanish telephone line (513-277-0391) for sacramental inquiries including quinceañeras, weddings, and presentations.
- Masses in both English and Spanish each weekend
- Spanish weekday Mass on Thursdays
- Spanish pastoral line: 513-277-0391
Ministries & Faith Formation
Lay ministries at St. Boniface help parishioners grow in faith and serve one another. The parish runs RCIA / OCIA for adults becoming Catholic, Bible Study, ongoing Faith Formation for children and adults, a Parish Pastoral Council, a Liturgical Music/Choir program, an active St. Vincent de Paul outreach for those in need, and a distinctive Health & Wellness Ministry (staffed by a parish nurse) that addresses the medical and social needs of parishioners and neighbors.
- RCIA / OCIA — Becoming Catholic
- Bible Study
- Faith Formation / Religious Education
- Liturgical Music / Choir
- Parish Pastoral Council
- St. Vincent de Paul — outreach to the poor
- Health & Wellness Ministry (parish nurse)
- Director of Ministries office
St. Boniface School
On the same Chase / Pitts Avenue campus stands St. Boniface School, a Roman Catholic elementary school (PK through 8th grade) supported by the parish and by the Catholic Inner-City Schools Education Fund (CISE). It serves roughly 210 co-ed students and offers all-day kindergarten, a science lab, music and art rooms, an indoor gym, youth sports, and a wide afterschool program (Friars Club basketball and volleyball, band, Big Brothers Big Sisters, STEM, art, percussion, drama). The school is nicknamed the St. Boniface Blaze, with colors red and black and the motto 'Making a world of difference!'
- Grades PK(3 & 4) through 8
- Roughly 210 students, co-ed
- School hours 7:40 AM – 2:30 PM
- 100% of students receive financial aid
- Tuition may be paid with EdChoice vouchers
- Yellow bus service from Cincinnati Public Schools
- Nickname: St. Boniface Blaze (red and black)
- Motto: 'Making a world of difference!'
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. H. Lange1853 (first pastor of predecessor St. Aloysius)
Original first pastor appointed when St. Aloysius was established.
- Rev. Joseph Paul Wittlerfrom 1861/1862
First pastor of St. Boniface after parish split from St. Aloysius.
- Rev. Godfrey Topmoeller1866–1887
Early pastor; great-great uncle of later pastor Rev. Joseph A. Robinson.
- Rev. Joseph A. Robinson1991–(served into 2010s)
Led St. Patrick for one year, then became pastor of the merged St. Boniface in 1991.
- Rev. Louis Okot, MCCJcurrent
Current pastor; Comboni Missionary of the Heart of Jesus.