St. Francis Seraph

Parish History

St. Francis Seraph was founded in 1859 on the oldest Catholic ground in Cincinnati — the site of Christ Church, built in 1819 by the city's first Irish Catholic settlers, and the cemetery that surrounded it. Invited by Archbishop John Baptist Purcell, Franciscan friars from the Austrian Tyrol established the parish to serve the booming German-Catholic population of Over-the-Rhine. The cornerstone was laid in November 1858 and the church was consecrated December 18, 1859. The parish's history is documented in detail by Fr. Greg Friedman, OFM, on the parish website, and the parish marked its 150th anniversary in 2009–2010 with a year of jubilee celebrations including a Corpus Christi procession and street fair.

The Franciscan Friars at St. Francis Seraph

Since 1859, the parish has been entrusted to the Franciscan Friars — first the Province of St. John the Baptist, now the Franciscan Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The friars live in the adjoining friary, making this a true Franciscan parish where the men of the order share daily liturgical life with the lay community. Fr. Al Hirt, OFM, has served as pastor since October 2020; Bro. Tim Sucher, OFM, serves as Pastoral Associate and previously administered St. Francis Seraph Ministries, the soup kitchen, the Canticle Café hospitality center, the Sarah Center, and the day-laborer lunch bag program.

• Fr. Alan (Al) Hirt, OFM — Pastor, ordained 1977
• Bro. Timothy (Tim) Sucher, OFM — Pastoral Associate (vows since 1976)

St. Francis Seraph School

Located at 14 E. Liberty Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202, St. Francis Seraph School has been part of the parish's educational ministry since 1860. Today it serves nearly 170 students from Over-the-Rhine and surrounding neighborhoods, preschool through eighth grade, and welcomes children of all denominations. The school is administered by the parish within the Archdiocese of Cincinnati and is supported in part by the Catholic Inner-City Schools Education Fund (CISE). Principal Mr. Joe Clements leads a faculty dedicated to sharing 'the powerful love of Jesus Christ which positively changes lives and communities' in the spirit of St. Francis.

• Address: 14 E. Liberty Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202
• Phone: (513) 721-7778
• Principal: Mr. Joe Clements
• Website: http://www.sfsschool.com/
• Enrollment: ~170 students, preschool–grade 8
• Supported by CISE (Catholic Inner-City Schools Education Fund)

Children's Faith Formation (Parish Religion Program)

The Parish Religion Program (PRP) supports and enhances the religious formation of children that takes place in the family. The parish provides the lectionary-based Pflaum Gospel Weeklies, which interweave the current Sunday Gospel with worship, prayer, activities, practical service, and community. Five group levels meet children from preschool through 8th grade. Sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, and Confirmation is done by parents and the parish together; parents of sacramental-age children are encouraged to contact the parish office in the spring before the year of reception.

• SEEDS: Preschool Level
• PROMISE: K–1
• GOOD NEWS: 2–3
• VENTURE: 4–5–6
• VISIONS: 7–8
• First Reconciliation: 2nd grade (typically December or March)
• First Eucharist: 2nd grade (typically during Easter season)
• Confirmation: 8th grade year (one-year preparation)
• Suggested annual donation: $15 per child for Gospel Weeklies

St. Francis Seraph Ministries (Outreach)

In 2010 the parish's social-service work was incorporated as St. Francis Seraph Ministries, a separate 501(c)(3) non-profit sponsored by the Franciscan Province and governed by its own board of directors. The ministries continue the friars' historic commitment to Over-the-Rhine, offering emergency assistance, daily hospitality, women's empowerment, and feeding programs to the neighborhood. The Ministries are affiliated with the parish through a covenant but operate independently.

• Soup Kitchen
• Canticle Café — daily hospitality center for people experiencing homelessness
• Sarah Center — women's empowerment program
• Lunch bag program for day laborers
• Emergency assistance program

Sacraments

The parish's Sacraments page describes the seven Catholic sacraments as 'portals through which the Lord brings us all the graces that flow from his death and resurrection.' The Eucharist, celebrated at Sunday and weekday Mass, is central; Reconciliation is offered weekly before Sunday Mass and by appointment; Baptism can be celebrated in the baptismal pool added to the rear of the church in 2000; First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, and Confirmation are prepared through the Parish Religion Program; Marriage and Anointing of the Sick are arranged through the parish office.

• Eucharist (Sunday and weekday Mass)
• Reconciliation — Sundays 9:00–9:30 AM and by appointment
• Baptism (baptismal pool at rear of church)
• First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, Confirmation (through PRP)
• Marriage — contact parish office
• Anointing of the Sick

Worship Commission and Liturgical Ministries

The Worship Commission supports the preparation and celebration of liturgy at St. Francis Seraph, working with the pastor to set the yearly calendar, foster a worship environment that promotes faith growth, and oversee the recruitment, formation, and scheduling of liturgical ministers. The commission meets four to six times annually and is drawn from representatives of each liturgical ministry. Parishioners serve as Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, Ushers, Greeters, Servers, Music Ministry, and Art & Environment.

• Lectors
• Eucharistic Ministers
• Ushers
• Greeters
• Altar Servers
• Music Ministry
• Art & Environment

Parish Pastoral Council

The Pastoral Council is the primary consultative voice of the parish community, offering the pastor practical advice on parish mission and long-range vision. It consists of six elected members plus the pastoral associate and pastor, with three-year staggered terms. The council meets at 7:00 PM on the second Thursday of each month (except during summer).

• Kay Brogle — Vice President
• Jack Geers
• Carol Metz
• Don Meyer
• Rita Reichert
• Bert Sheard
• Henry Stacey — President
• Bro. Tim Sucher, OFM — Pastoral Associate
• Fr. Al Hirt, OFM — Pastor

Stewardship and Giving

Parishioners and visitors support St. Francis Seraph through weekly stewardship envelopes found in the pews, secure online donations via PayPal, and donations of stock or from IRA accounts. Checks should be made payable to 'St. Francis Seraph Church' and mailed to 1615 Vine Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202. The parish quotes 2 Corinthians 9:7: 'God loves a cheerful giver.'

• Weekly stewardship envelopes (in pews)
• Secure online giving via PayPal
• Stock and IRA contributions (contact parish office)
• Bequests welcomed
• Parish phone for giving questions: (513) 535-2719

Closure of the Church & Amalgamation with St. Clement

In January 2026, the Franciscan Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe announced the closure of St. Francis Seraph Church and friary. Because the friars (not the Archdiocese) own the church building — unlike nearly every other parish in the diocese — the building will be sold by the Franciscans to 3CDC for as-yet-unspecified uses. The parish entity will be canonically amalgamated with St. Clement Parish in St. Bernard, a model new to the Archdiocese but common elsewhere. St. Francis Seraph School and St. Francis Seraph Ministries will continue operating and will not be affected. Archbishop Casey will celebrate a homecoming Mass on June 21, 2026, with the parish's final Mass scheduled for June 28, 2026 at 10:00 AM. A Transition Team chaired by Kay Brogle is guiding the parish through this change.

• Final Mass: Sunday, June 28, 2026 at 10:00 AM
• Archbishop's homecoming Mass: June 21, 2026
• Transition Team: Kay Brogle (chair), Greg Hyland, Jill Collet-Riester, Don Meyer, Bob Gedert, Bro. Tim Sucher, Sr. Therese Gillman (facilitator)
• School and Ministries continue; SFS School becomes a second school in the amalgamated parish
• Building owned by the Franciscan Province, to be sold to 3CDC