About St. Monica - St. George Parish Newman Center · Cincinnati, Ohio
St. Monica–St. George Parish Newman Center (Uptown Catholic) is a Roman Catholic parish of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati located at 328 W. McMillan St. in the Clifton Heights/Corryville neighborhood near the University of Cincinnati. Formed in 1993 by the merger of historic St. Monica parish (est. 1911), St. George parish (est. 1873, Franciscan), and the UC Newman Center, the parish also serves as the Catholic campus ministry for UC students, branded as 'Catholic Bearcat.' Today it is part of the Uptown Catholic Family of Parishes together with Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Holy Name parishes and operates Corryville Catholic Grade School. The current pastor is Fr. Jeff Stephens, served by Fr. Tim Fahey (Parochial Vicar), Campus Minister John David Kimes, a Director of Development, a Music and Worship team, FOCUS and SPO missionaries, and parish staff.
- Established
- 1911
- Patron
- St. Monica
- Rector
- Fr. Jeff Stephens
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Cincinnati (Metropolitan)
Why belong here
St. Monica–St. George is one of the few parishes in the country that has been a cathedral and still operates as a vibrant neighborhood parish and a fully-staffed university Newman Center. Sunday Liturgy is celebrated in an ornate 1928 limestone church designed by Edward Schulte, and the parish supports Corryville Catholic Grade School, the UC Catholic Bearcat campus ministry (with FOCUS and St. Paul's Outreach missionaries, weekly student Masses, small-group Bible studies, retreats, and a 280-student small-group program), the St. George Food Pantry, full sacramental prep (RCIA/OCIA, First Communion, Confirmation), and a music and worship program in its 22nd year. If you are a UC student, a Clifton Heights/Corryville resident, or simply looking for a historic and active parish in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, this community welcomes you.
Mass times at St. Monica - St. George Parish Newman Center
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM (at St. Monica)
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: 8:30 AM – 9:30 AM (at St. Monica)
- Wednesday: 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM during all-day Adoration (academic year)
Adoration times
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: 8:30 AM – 12:00 PM (at St. Monica)
- Wednesdays during the academic year: all-day Adoration 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM, with sign-up for a holy hour
Our Story
St. Monica–St. George Parish Newman Center grew out of three Catholic communities that served Cincinnati's uptown neighborhoods across the twentieth century. Today's parish is best understood as the heir of all three.
St. Monica Parish (est. 1911)
Catholics in Clifton Heights spent almost twenty years asking the Archdiocese for their own parish before St. Monica was officially established in 1911, with St. George continuing to serve Corryville. The first chapel was a frame school/chapel built in 1912, and St. Monica School opened under the Ursuline Sisters in 1913. The current church was dedicated in December 1928.
St. George Parish (est. 1873) and the UC Newman Center
St. George, a red-brick Romanesque church designed by Samuel Hannaford, served the Corryville neighborhood for nearly a century and was known as a lively, progressive Franciscan community. It launched the University of Cincinnati's Newman Center in the 1970s and a generation of students grew up there.
The 1993 Merger
After Mass attendance at both parishes fell sharply between 1960 and 1992, the Archdiocese merged St. George and its Newman Center into St. Monica, forming St. Monica–St. George Parish Newman Center. Parishioners described the new community as combining the students' youthful energy with the spiritual home of the older worshippers.
End of the Franciscan Era (2020)
The Franciscan friars who had served the parish for decades were reassigned in 2020 to St. Francis Seraph. Fr. Al Hirt, OFM — pastor since 1999 — moved with them, and Fr. Ethan Moore later led a major 2022 sanctuary restoration with the Franciscan Daughters of Mary and 100+ volunteers.
Uptown Catholic Family of Parishes
St. Monica–St. George is one of three parishes that make up the Uptown Catholic region in the 45219/45220 ZIP codes of Cincinnati, alongside Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Holy Name. Together they staff Corryville Catholic Grade School and Annunciation Grade School.
- St. Monica–St. George Parish Newman Center
- Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish
- Holy Name Parish
- Corryville Catholic Grade School
- Annunciation Grade School
Building & Architecture
The 1928 limestone church is considered one of the finest neo-Romanesque churches in the region. Almost every surface — interior and exterior — is carved, stenciled, or painted.
- Architect: Edward J. Schulte (with Robert Crowe)
- Style: Neo-Romanesque with Byzantine influences
- Modeled on: Basilica of Sant'Apollinare in Classe, Ravenna, Italy
- Dedicated: December 1928
- 144-foot freestanding campanile (bell tower)
- Red clay-tile roof
- German stained-glass clerestory curtain wall
- Eight-sided brass baldachino over the main altar
- Stone-tile floors, multiple reredos, 100+ saint motifs
- Stencils and paintings on the wooden ceiling and trusses
Catholic Bearcat Campus Ministry
Catholic Bearcat is the Catholic campus ministry serving students at the University of Cincinnati. In 2025 it reported more than 400 students at Sunday Mass, about 280 in small-group Bible studies, 222 on retreats, and 25 in the OCIA process.
- Sunday Student Mass at 8:00 PM
- Tuesday Student Mass at 8:00 PM
- Small-group Bible studies
- Annual student retreats
- FOCUS Missionaries
- St. Paul's Outreach (SPO) Missionaries — men's and women's teams
- OCIA / RCIA for students entering the Church
- Spring and fall Adoration sign-ups
Parish Faith Formation & Sacraments
The Parish School of Religion (PSR), Adult Faith Formation, sacramental preparation, and OCIA/RCIA are coordinated through the parish office and the Pastoral Associate.
- Parish School of Religion (PSR)
- Adult Faith Formation
- Children's Liturgy of the Word
- First Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation preparation
- OCIA / RCIA
- Marriage preparation
Music & Liturgical Ministries
The Director of Music and Worship, in their 22nd year, coordinates music for all weekend liturgies, directs the Sunday choirs, and coordinates lectors, Eucharistic ministers, and greeters. The Director also plays for parish weddings and works with couples preparing for marriage.
- Choirs and cantors for Sunday Masses
- Lectors
- Eucharistic Ministers
- Greeters
- Wedding music and marriage-preparation coordination
Outreach & Social Justice
The parish operates the St. George Food Pantry and supports the broader Catholic Ministries Appeal (CMA), which funds the operational costs of the Catholic Center, evangelization events, and student retreat/conference participation.
- St. George Food Pantry
- Catholic Ministries Appeal (CMA) participation
- Student retreats and conferences
Staff & Clergy
Pastoral and administrative leadership listed by the parish.
- Fr. Jeff Stephens — Pastor
- Fr. Tim Fahey — Parochial Vicar
- John David Kimes — Campus Minister
- Ryan Lopez — Director of Development
- Catherine Lopez — Data Administrator
- Hannah Grilliot — Parish Secretary / Communications
- Tom Herzog — Business and Facilities Manager
- Steve McManaman — Regional Director of Music
- Liette McManaman — Regional Parish Assistant
- Lauren Clements — Principal (Corryville Catholic Grade School)
- Joan Callahan — Director, St. George Food Pantry
- Sheila Murphy — Pastoral Associate (per Google Sites staff page)
- FOCUS Missionaries: Abbey Hlad, Delaney Bach, Jessie Vedane, Matthew Lesniewski, Zach Bleckler
- SPO Missionaries: Olivia Hemmelgarn, Elliana Techam (Women's), Will Leija, Zavier Tarrant, Leo Puntillo, Kaitlyn Majek (Men's, Women's, and team leads)
Visit & Contact
The parish office is at 328 W. McMillan St., Cincinnati, OH 45219. Standard office hours are Monday through Thursday 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM, with Wednesday afternoons available by appointment only.
- Address: 328 W. McMillan St., Cincinnati, OH 45219
- Phone: (513) 381-6400
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://uptowncatholic.org
- Campus-ministry website: catholicbearcat.com
- Office hours: Mon–Thu 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM (Wed afternoon by appointment)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Al Hirt, OFM1999–2020
Franciscan friar; led the merged parish for over two decades; reassigned to St. Francis Seraph in October 2020 when the Franciscans were relocated from the parish.
- Fr. Ethan Moore
Prior pastor; in 2022 organized the Franciscan Daughters of Mary and 100+ volunteers for a sanctuary brass-cleaning project.
- Fr. Jeff Stephens2020–present
Current pastor in the post-Franciscan era; leads the parish as part of the Uptown Catholic Family of Parishes.