One of Cincinnati's oldest Catholic parishes is set to close after 166 years of service, as the Franciscan order that maintains the historic church and friary reportedly faces declining personnel and mounting costs.
Cincinnati Archbishop Robert Casey is scheduled to preside over St. Francis Seraph Church’s final Mass June 28, the last Mass before the parish officially closes, according to WKRC News, a local outlet.
Reflecting on the parish's legacy, Archbishop Casey said, according to WKRC, that "the story of this church will not be forgotten” and its "history and heritage will live on.”
The closure marks the end of the parish's adjoining friary, which once housed as many as 40 Franciscan friars. Largely vacant for the past two years, the remaining friars have relocated to St. Clement Parish in nearby St. Bernard.
Brother Tim Sucher, who served at the parish for over 20 years, told WCPO News, an ABC affiliate, that the closure stems from a shortage of friars available to staff the area, calling the closure “extremely sad.”
The closure also follows years of challenges around the church property. According to WCPO, parish leaders responded to crime, drug activity, and large crowds by installing surveillance cameras, posting no-trespassing signs, and hiring security guards.
The outlet reported that Franciscan leaders have not announced a buyer for the property, though parishioners and friars have expressed hope that the historic buildings will continue serving the community. St. Francis Seraph School will remain open.
Brother Sucher told WCPO that St. Francis Seraph's closure reflects broader challenges facing the Franciscan order, which he said has seen similar ministries and communities close across the country due to declining personnel and limited resources.
Built on the site of what is considered Greater Cincinnati's oldest Catholic church property, St. Francis Seraph was dedicated in 1859 after Franciscan friars arrived to minister to the city's growing German-speaking Catholic population.