THE 1960s - THE BUILDING YEARS

In August 1961, Fr. Francis J. Flanagan was given the assignment by Archbishop Alter of Cincinnati to begin a new parish in northern Hamilton County. The parish, St. Bartholomew, started with 17 acres of farmland Fr. Flanagan, aided by his Associates sought out the Catholics assigned to the new parish and built them into an enthusiastic and dedicated parish family.

(Click here to see our first parish bulletin)

In early 1962, construction was begun on a new building on parish grounds. The entire first floor of this building was designed for the celebration of the Eucharist, while the second floor contained classrooms. When the school began in September of 1962, there were 334 children in grades two through five. In the late 1960s, when the increased school enrollment necessitated converting the first floor worship space into classrooms, the church-rectory-convent complex was built. The new church building was dedicated on December 21, 1969.

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THE 1970s - A DECADE OF CHANGE

The decade of the ‘70s brought many changes to our parish. Our founding pastor, Fr. Flanagan, was succeeded in 1974 by Msgr. Lawrence Breslin who was in turn followed in 1978 by Fr. John Porter. The Permanent Deaconate was reinstated by the Archdiocese, and two men from our parish, Manuel Vilaboy and Michael Ascolese, were ordained as deacons.

Thanks to Vatican II, the role of the laity in liturgical and pastoral ministries increased during this time. In the school, our first lay principal, Thomas Coors, succeeded the Franciscan Sisters.

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THE 1980s - NEW PROGRAMS, NEW PERSONNEL

In 1980, declining enrollment and rising costs in the school spurred us to form a consolidated school with Corpus Christi and St. John Neumann parishes. The consolidation was very successful and kindergarten classes were added to the school’s program. The Network of Care and Communications, a broad based program to address some of the physical and emotional needs of our parishioners, was begun. Under this umbrella were gathered the programs of hospital visitations, emergency home and child care, bereavement, and prayer support, to name a few.

By 1989, the shortage of priests was evident when the Archdiocese could no longer provide us with an associate pastor. In that year, Fr. William Krumpe would become our fourth pastor.

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THE 1990s - ACTIVE YEARS

As we approached the new millennium, St. Bartholomew was shepherded from 1998 - 2000 by Fr. Thomas A. Snodgrass and Fr. Ray Kellerman as administrator. Fr. Robert J. Farrell, our current Pastor, was assigned in 2000. Our parish was again blessed to have a parishioner ordained to the Permanent Deaconate in 1998, Rev. Mr. Conrad Kolis.

Our dream of a Parish Activity Center became a reality in 1994, and was named for Fr. William Krumpe, former pastor.

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THE 2000s - A NEW MILLENNIUM

During the late 1990's and early 2000, our church sanctuary was refurbished and a new organ and piano were purchased to enhance our liturgy. A renewal program of small Christian communities, Vacation Bible School and Liturgy of the Word for Children during a Sunday Mass, a parish library, a Knights of Columbus Council were begun. Our consolidated school remains strong with the addition of Our Lady of the Rosary and St. Clare parishes joining us in 2006.

Fr. Farrell has brought a new vitality to the parish with increased adult religious education and faith formation programs and a greater awareness of our social justice responsibilities.

Our parish now numbers 915 families with approximately 2787 members. St. Bartholomew and St. Vivian parishes are designated a Pastoral Region. We are actively involved in planning for the future of our Church in this area of Cincinnati. Due to a shortage of priests, there may be a day when only one pastor will be assigned to these two parishes.

Some question whether it is a good or bad time to be Catholic. It really doesn't matter. This is the time God has called us to be Catholic. St. Bartholomew, through God's help and support, will continue to be a strong community of faith and an example of Christian care and concern for others.

Excerpts taken from a parish history written by Mary Ellen Wittekind, May 1999

Updated January, 2007

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