July 14, 2022
Please see the most recent video from ArchbishopSchnurr here Introducing Families of Parishes - Archdiocese of Cincinnati (catholicaoc.org)
February 15, 2022
This document depicts the priest assignments by Family of Parishes that will take effect July 1, 2022. Please see them here: Priest Assignments
They can also be found here: Beacons of Light website.
Thanks
Archbishop Schnurr's most recent publication about the Beacons of Light Family Parishes
Letter from Archbishop Schnurr
Letter from ArchBishop Schnurr- SPANISH
December 5, 2021 Second Sunday of Advent
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
This past June 19 was the bicentennial anniversary of the founding of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, marking an important milestone in the life of the local Catholic Church. We give thanks to our generous God for the many blessings He has bestowed on us over our first 200 years and look forward with expectant faith to what is to come.
Today likewise marks an important milestone. I am pleased to announce the final Families of Parishes, bringing to close the first major phase of Beacons of Light. Beginning at noon today, these Families of Parishes can be viewed online at www.BeaconsAOC.org. Thank you to the thousands of Catholics in the archdiocese whose thoughtful feedback has significantly shaped this phase of our pastoral planning. I am deeply grateful.
The enduring mission of the Catholic Church, our mission, entrusted to the apostles by Jesus, is to proclaim the Good News of salvation and make disciples. We have a responsibility to make the best use of all the means which God has provided us to pursue this sacred mission. The purpose of Beacons of Light is to ensure that all our resources – human, physical and financial – are properly ordered to missionary discipleship. I am convinced that Beacons of Light, born of great hope, will enable us to form stronger parishes, centered on the Eucharist, that radiate the love of Christ and joy of the Gospel in a world that is frequently indifferent or even hostile.
We now move on to the next major phase of Beacons of Light, the implementation of the new Families of Parishes on July 1, 2022. This will involve a great deal of planning and preparation over the coming months. Please pray for me and all the priests and lay people of our archdiocese who will play significant roles in this effort. Please also know of my prayers for you.
Our life in Christ is always a response to God’s initiative. As we continue this challenging but exciting endeavor, may we stay attentive to all that the Lord is doing in our midst. God has abundantly blessed our first two centuries and will certainly bless the next. He has promised to never leave us. May God bless and keep all of us as we journey together toward the celebration of the birth of our Lord with certainty in our hearts that Christ remains with us always.
Sincerely yours in Christ, Most Reverend Dennis M. Schnurr Archbishop of Cincinnati
Beacons of Light Map
Archbishop Schnurr's most recent interview with Sacred Heart Catholic Radio about Beacons of Light
https://youtu.be/Dc5ZpQvmzHw
The most up to date letter from Archbishop Schnurr: Beacons of Light September 2021
A message from Father Jim about the Beacons of Light:
The Archdiocese of Cincinnati is again planning for the future of the church. This is mainly because the number of priests who are retiring and/or dying is greater than the number of active priests. We are unable to provide a pastor for all the parishes who need pastors. It is becoming increasingly difficult for a priest to be a pastor for more than one parish. Many of our parishes are restricted to maintaining the current structure at the expense of mission, service, and living the Gospel. The plan is called “Beacons of Light.” It is designed to create parish vitality around a main operating principle or goal: there will be one pastor and one parish per region. The deans are coordinating this process. A professional company has been hired to assist us and facilitate the planning process in conjunction with the Archdiocesan Office of Parish Vitality. Phase One is currently in process. The Office of Parish Vitality has collected data from all the parishes and deaneries to evaluate the pairing of parishes within regions. Regions are now being called “parish families.” St. Boniface and St. Leo are both in the Cathedral Deanery and it will become our task to plan to become a parish family together as one parish with one pastor. I call your attention to the insert in this week’s bulletin, and it is posted on our parish web site. It is a summary of the entire planning process with all phases and a timeline showing when each phase begins and ends. Please familiarize yourself with this process and most importantly hold it in prayer. There is a website to keep you up to date on the process and it has suggestions for prayer. I will also keep you informed.
BEACONS OF LIGHT- ENGLISH
BEACONS OF LIGHT- SPANISH