Christmas at OLC Shrine

Restoration of the stained glass windows continues . . .

Catholic Architects

"Architects in America of Catholic Tradition," a 1962 book by Francis Kervick, can be accessed and searched online here:

http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015014054434

All Saints, Rossford

St. Mary Magdalen

St. Methodius

St. Cyril

All Saints parish in Rossford was formed in 1990, bringing together two parishes -- Ss. Cyril and Methodius and St. Mary Magdalen. (For more photos of the impressive exterior, enter "Rossford" in the search box above.)

Christmas on a Steamboat, 1843

After a long journey sailing from Europe, Precious Blood Fr. Francis Brunner and his party of 7 priests and 7 students arrived in New Orleans on Dec. 21, 1843. From New Orleans, the group traveled the Mississippi River by steamboat to Cincinnati, where they would receive their assignments in Northern Ohio from Bishop Purcell.

“Before midnight all arose, recited matins in common, and then celebrated the midnight Masses. Lauds in common followed. By this time they were able to celebrate the second Mass of Christmas, as the first rays of dawn reddened the sky. When these Masses were completed, the sun had risen and the third Masses of Christmas were offered. Thus, with the celebration of twenty-four Masses upon a steamboat moving up the Mississippi, the Society observed its first Christmas in America.”

From Paul Knapke’s History of the American Province of the Society of the Precious Blood, Vol. 1.

St. Patrick, Bascom

Built in 1914.

"The Infant Christ" at Toledo Museum of Art

The Toledo Museum of Art has added The Infant Christ by Spanish 17th-century sculptor Juan Martínez Montañés (1568–1649) to its collection.

More details HERE and at the Museum web site. "All Art News" notes, "The sculpture has strong resonance with the Museum’s Spanish 17th-century paintings, including St. Joseph and the Christ Child and Murillo’s The Adoration of the Magi, all on view in the Great Gallery."

St. Mary, Tiffin

St. Paul, Norwalk

St. Mary, Norwalk

Immaculate Conception, Bettsville

From 1875 to 1897, the mission church of Immaculate Conception served the village of Bettsville (on the right in above photo, at the intersection of King and Thomas Streets). It was attended by priests from Fostoria and Millersville. The congregation dwindled, and the building was sold sometime after 1900, when it was used as a social hall. The building was torn down before 1920.
(from A History of Bettsville by John E. Durrett.)

Sorrowful Mother Shrine, Bellevue

St. Mary, Clyde

The church was dedicated in 1890

John Baptist Verment

From the Massillon paper, an interesting article about John Baptist Verment, architect and stone carver whose work can be found throughout Ohio. He's credited with designing St. Hedwig's in Toledo, and his carvings can be seen in cemeteries in Tiffin and Milan.

Pictured above, a crucifix he carved at St. Francis Convent, Tiffin.

Christmas Concert at Carey

The Carey Ecumenical Christmas Choir will hold their 39th annual concert on Sun., Dec. 12, 2010 at Our Lady of Consolation Basilica in Carey. Doors open at 6:30 pm, with harp music beginning at 7:00 pm. Concert begins at 7:30 pm. Open to the public; freewill offering.

Fr. Patrick Hennebery, C.PP.S.

Fr. Patrick Hennebery was the first English-speaking member of the Society of the Precious Blood in America. A native of Ireland, he came to the seminary in Thompson, Ohio, in 1847 after meeting the Precious Blood order in Wisconsin. After his ordination at New Riegel in 1853, he served many parishes/missions in the area, and started several, including Spencerville, Kirby and Bascom.

In 1865 he went to California, where he tried for years to establish a Catholic college -- details here.

Later he gave missions in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and India. There’s a chapter about his efforts in the book, "The Irish in New Zealand": Patrick Hennebery in Australasia, 1877-1882.

Upon his return to America, he continued his missions in the West Coast until his death in 1897. He is buried in Silver Terrace Cemetery, Virginia City, Nevada.

His full story can be found in the book “A Time to Sow and a Time to Reap,” by Paul Link C.PP.S.

St. Mary, Tiffin

St. Patrick, Bascom

The stained glass windows were added to the church in 1949.

St. Joseph, Tiffin

The large paintings of the Stations of the Cross are credited to Austrian artist Joseph Vittur.


The dogwood flower, a symbol of the crucifixion, is repeated in wood carvings.

Pieta Chapel, St. Joseph's, Tiffin

The Baptistry at Tiffin St. Joseph, most recently used as a library, is now serving as a chapel for the Pieta.


View of the Baptistry from the outside of church.

Sacred Heart, Bethlehem

Solanus Casey Center, Detroit