About St. John Fisher · Newtown, Ohio
St. John Fisher Roman Catholic Parish is a Eucharistic-centered Catholic community in the village of Newtown, Ohio (Cincinnati mailing address, ZIP 45244), in the southeastern suburbs of Cincinnati in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. Founded on May 11, 1947, the parish was the first Catholic worship site in Newtown and grew out of Catholic families who had been driving their children to Our Lady of Loretto School in the early 1940s. Today it is part of the St. Mary Magdalene Parish Family (also referenced in parish directories as the St. Gregory the Great Family of Parishes), with its pastor serving both St. John Fisher and neighboring St. Veronica. The parish's mission statement identifies the Eucharist as the center of parish life, expressed through Sunday and weekday Masses, a weekly Wednesday Holy Hour of Adoration and Confession, parish faith formation for children and youth, RCIA, and parish-based community outreach.
- Established
- 1947
- Patron
- St. John Fisher (Saint John Fisher, English Catholic bishop, cardinal and martyr; feast day June 22)
- Rector
- Rev. P. Del Staigers (pastor of the St. Mary Magdalene Parish Family / St. John Fisher & St. Veronica Collaborative Pastoral Region)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Cincinnati
Why belong here
St. John Fisher is a mid-sized, family-friendly Catholic parish whose life genuinely centers on the Eucharist: it offers Sunday Mass (Saturday vigil and two Sunday morning Masses), noon weekday Mass on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and a unique weekly Wednesday Holy Hour pairing Eucharistic Adoration with the Sacrament of Reconciliation from 7:00–8:00 PM. The parish supports a strong faith formation program for children in kindergarten through eighth grade, a sacramental Confirmation program for grades 9 and 10, a high-school youth group, RCIA for adults, and parish-based community outreach including a food pantry. Its pastoral team — pastor Fr. Del Staigers, parochial vicars, weekend associate Fr. Pat Crone, and a long-tenured Pastoral Associate for Faith Formation — gives parishioners ready access to the sacraments, and the parish's liturgical music program under Mark Friedman is a point of parish pride.
Mass times at St. John Fisher
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesdays 7:00–8:00 PM (during Holy Hour, Adoration & Confession)
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Wednesdays 7:00–8:00 PM (Holy Hour, Adoration & Confession)
Parish History
Founded May 11, 1947, on the former Turpin estate in Newtown, St. John Fisher was the first Catholic worship community in the village. Catholic families from Newtown and Clough Pike had already been meeting informally — driving their children to Our Lady of Loretto School in the early 1940s — before the parish was officially established. The first Mass was celebrated in a converted outbuilding on the property that became the parish campus. Nine pastors have led the parish across nearly eight decades, with Fr. Paul Galvin (1977–1996) serving the longest tenure. The original church, the 1981 church and social hall, and the current worship space dedicated in December 2005 all remain on the same Newtown campus.
- Founded May 11, 1947 — first Mass in the Turpin estate outbuilding
- 1947–61: Fr. Joseph Wolfer (first pastor)
- 1961–65: Fr. Charles Rohrkemper
- 1965–68: Fr. Vincent Bramlage
- 1968–71: Fr. Donald Behler
- 1971–77: Fr. Bernard Felix
- 1977–96: Fr. Paul Galvin (longest tenure; built 1981 church and social hall)
- 1996–2006: Fr. Giles Pater (oversaw 2005 worship-space dedication)
- 2006–17: Fr. Steven Walter
- 2017–present: Fr. Del Staigers (also serves St. Veronica and the parish family)
- Original 1947 church = Wolfer Education Building (renamed 1997)
- Social hall = Galvin Hall (named for Fr. Galvin)
- 2005: New worship space dedicated in December
- 2007: 60th anniversary celebrated with founding-era parishioners present
Parish Staff and Clergy
The parish is currently led by Fr. Del Staigers as pastor of the St. John Fisher–St. Veronica Collaborative Pastoral Region (now part of the broader St. Mary Magdalene Parish Family / St. Gregory the Great Family of Parishes). He is assisted by parochial vicars Fr. David Doseck and Fr. Alex Biryomumeisho and weekend associate Fr. Pat Crone. The pastoral team also includes Jim Crosby as Pastoral Associate for Faith Formation and Mark Friedman as director of the parish's Liturgical Music program.
- Pastor: Rev. P. Del Staigers
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. David Doseck
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Alex Biryomumeisho
- Weekend Associate: Rev. Pat Crone
- Pastoral Associate for Faith Formation: Jim Crosby
- Director of Liturgical Music: Mark Friedman
- Retired pastor: Fr. Steven (Steve) Walter
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Faith formation at St. John Fisher is led by the Pastoral Associate for Faith Formation and includes comprehensive grade-appropriate programs for children, a sacramental Confirmation program, a high-school youth group, and adult opportunities. The program has grown steadily since the 1940s, when Catholic families first collaborated to send their children to Our Lady of Loretto School.
- Family Faith Formation: Kindergarten through Grade 8
- First Reconciliation & First Holy Communion preparation (Grade 2, two-year process)
- Sacramental Confirmation Program (Grades 9 and 10)
- Middle School faith formation (Grades 7 and 8)
- High School Youth Group
- Summer Religious Education Program (since at least 2003; some classes off-campus)
- Adult formation opportunities throughout the year
- Pastoral Associate: Jim Crosby
RCIA — Becoming Catholic
The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults at St. John Fisher is a step-by-step process with no pressure to commit to the Catholic faith. Interested adults — those never baptized or baptized in another Christian tradition — explore Catholic beliefs and traditions over several months or years, then typically receive Baptism, First Communion, and Confirmation together at the Easter Vigil.
- For adults never baptized or baptized in another Christian tradition
- Contact: Roosevelt Morales, [email protected]
- Culminates at the Easter Vigil (Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation)
Sacraments
St. John Fisher prepares parishioners for and celebrates all seven Catholic sacraments through its sacramental-preparation programs. Confession is available every Wednesday evening during the Holy Hour or by appointment. Baptisms, First Communion, Confirmation, and Matrimony are arranged through the parish office; the parish notes that weddings, once very frequent, are now far less common than in earlier decades.
- Reconciliation: Wednesdays 7:00–8:00 PM, or by appointment
- Baptism: parish preparation
- First Communion: Grade 2 sacramental preparation
- Confirmation: Grades 9 and 10 sacramental preparation
- Matrimony: by arrangement with the parish office
- RCIA: contact Roosevelt Morales
Music and Liturgy
Sunday liturgy has been a continuing high priority across pastorates, and the parish's Liturgical Music program — directed by Mark Friedman since at least the tenure of Fr. Steven Walter — is repeatedly described in parish history as 'a source of pride and inspiration.' Music is integral to the parish's identity and draws parishioners into the worship experience.
- Director of Liturgical Music: Mark Friedman
- Sunday liturgy a long-standing priority
- Music program integral to parish identity and Eucharistic-centered mission
Parish Buildings and Campus
The St. John Fisher campus in Newtown occupies the original Turpin estate property and has grown across eight decades. The original 1947 church is now the Wolfer Education Building (offices and meeting rooms, renamed 1997); the 1981 church and social hall complex includes Galvin Hall (social hall named for Fr. Paul Galvin); and the current worship space was dedicated in December 2005 after a major parish-wide building campaign under Fr. Giles Pater. Universal Contracting Corporation later completed interior improvements to the sanctuary to create a more unified and intentional worship environment.
- Wolfer Education Building — original 1947 church, repurposed 1997
- Galvin Hall — 1981 social hall, named for Fr. Paul Galvin
- Current worship space — dedicated December 2005
- Sanctuary interior renovated by Universal Contracting Corporation
- On-site parking lot; can be crowded at peak Mass times
Outreach and Community
St. John Fisher's mission statement commits the parish to worship, Christian education, and community outreach. Beyond parish life, the parish is registered in regional social-service directories as a food pantry, and its volunteer ministries and parish council/Shepherd Groups structure are central to how parishioners serve both the Newtown community and the wider Archdiocese of Cincinnati.
- Parish food pantry (community outreach)
- Parish Council / Shepherd Groups (parish leadership model)
- Volunteer ministries across the parish
- High-school community-service requirements linked to Confirmation prep
- Connection to the broader Archdiocese of Cincinnati pastoral planning
Pastoral Region and Parish Family
In 2017, St. John Fisher and St. Veronica Parishes became a Collaborative Pastoral Region when Fr. Steve Walter retired, sharing a pastor (Fr. Del Staigers), parochial vicars (Fr. David Doseck, then Fr. Alex Biryomumeisho), and a weekend associate (Fr. Pat Crone). The collaboration has since been grouped into the broader St. Mary Magdalene Parish Family (also referenced as the St. Gregory the Great Family of Parishes in diocesan directories), of which Fr. Staigers remains pastor.
- 2017: Collaborative Pastoral Region formed with St. Veronica Parish
- Pastor: Fr. Del Staigers (assigned 2017)
- Parochial Vicars: Fr. David Doseck, then Fr. Alex Biryomumeisho
- Weekend Associate: Fr. Pat Crone
- Now part of the St. Mary Magdalene Parish Family / St. Gregory the Great Family of Parishes
Visit, Contact, and Office Information
The parish office is open Monday through Thursday, 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM, and is closed on Fridays and Holy Days. Visitors are welcome at all scheduled Masses and the Wednesday Holy Hour. The parish is located on Church Street in Newtown, in the southeastern suburbs of Cincinnati.
- Address: 3227 Church Street, Newtown, OH 45244-3405
- Phone: (513) 561-9431
- Website: https://sjfchurch.org/
- Office Hours: Monday–Thursday 8:30 AM–4:00 PM (closed Friday and Holy Days)
- Facebook: facebook.com/pages/Saint-John-Fisher-Roman-Catholic-Church
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Joseph Wolfer1947–1961
First pastor of St. John Fisher. Also a faculty member of St. Gregory Seminary and a Chancery staff member. The original 1947 church was renamed the Wolfer Education Building in his honor at the parish's 50th anniversary.
- Rev. Charles Rohrkemper1961–1965
Also had pastoral care of St. Ann Church in Williamsburg.
- Rev. Vincent Bramlage1965–1968
Also had pastoral care of St. Ann Church in Williamsburg.
- Rev. Donald Behler1968–1971
Also had pastoral care of St. Ann Church in Williamsburg.
- Rev. Bernard Felix1971–1977
First full-time resident pastor as the parish grew.
- Rev. Paul Galvin1977–1996
Longest-tenured pastor. Oversaw the construction of the church and social hall in 1981; continued traditions such as the Cana Dinner, summer picnic, and Solemn Annual Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. Galvin Hall was named in his honor.
- Rev. Giles Pater1996–2006
Led a period of remarkable expansion in programs and parishioner involvement. Oversaw the parish building campaign that produced the new worship space dedicated in December 2005.
- Rev. Steven P. Walter2006–2017
Made Sunday liturgy a high priority and supported the Liturgical Music program under director Mark Friedman. Retired in 2017, at which point St. John Fisher and St. Veronica became a Collaborative Pastoral Region.
- Rev. P. Del Staigers2017–present
Assigned in 2017 as pastor of the new St. John Fisher–St. Veronica Collaborative Pastoral Region with parochial vicars Fr. David Doseck and Fr. Alex Biryomumeisho and weekend associate Fr. Pat Crone. Continues to lead the parish as part of the broader St. Mary Magdalene Parish Family / St. Gregory the Great Family of Parishes.