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

Ludwig Cemetery, Sandusky County

Ludwig Catholic Cemetery was the original cemetery for Millersville St. Mary's parish, from 1857 to 1887; many of the tombstones are in German. The cemetery is located on County Road 12 in Jackson Township, not far from Bettsville.

St. Joseph, Fremont

FYI, I'm planning a visit to the shrine of Ven. Solanus Casey, in Detroit, sometime this week. Expect pictures.

Our Lady of Consolation, Carey

St. Joseph Cemetery, Fremont

Over in Cleveland ...

An exhibition of reliquaries, “Treasures of Heaven: Saints, Relics and Devotion in Medieval Europe,” will be at the Cleveland Museum of Art through January 17, 2011.


A review of the exhibit HERE.


Cleveland Museum of Art website.






"Arm Reliquary of the Apostles," from about 1190, German.

Sorrowful Mother Shrine, Bellevue

Crucifix in memory of World War I.

Our Lady of Mt. Carmel.

Shrine to Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Shrine chapel.


Christ's Agony in the Garden.

Gong Show

Some time ago on this blog, we were wondering about an unusual object near the altar in old photos of Peru St. Alphonsus and Bascom St. Patrick. (See pictures HERE.)

Thanks to the online Benzinger Brothers catalog, we now know it is a gong, used similarly to the bells at consecration/elevation.

St. Wendelin, Fostoria

The former grade school, built in 1909.

Our Lady of Consolation, Carey