​Over 120 parishioners gathered on a sunny and pleasant Friday afternoon to mark the one-year anniversary of the St. John Church fire with a brief prayer service held in the south parking lot of St. John the Baptist Church. The prayer service offered an opportunity for the community to come together in prayer, offering gratitude for God’s faithfulness this past year and prayers trusting in God for what lies ahead. It has been a year of loss and letting go, reminiscing and reverencing, and now healing and hope. We pray that the process of designing and rebuilding St. John the Baptist Church may strengthen our faith and remind us that we are building more than brick and mortar, a sanctuary of love, hope and worship that is pleasing to God. Click on the St. John Fire Recovery blog for reflections on the One-Year Anniversary and a letter from Archbishop Casey. 

St. John Church has been completely removed and grass planted for erosion control. Most of the security fence has also been removed. The remaining items in the parking lot include bricks that may be used for a memorial in the new church design, as commemorative items for parishioners, or for fundraising. The items also include the cornerstones and other pieces of the sandstone façade that could possibly be used to replicate features in the new St. John Church.  

​Our Freytag/Heyer architect team and building committee have been working on reviewing and validating the insurance settlement. The content list has been determined. For the building, our insurance policy stipulates restoration or “like design.” However, once the “like design” settlement is determined, St. John can modify the design such as making the church larger, and including other components. The architect team has drafted a “like design” that has been sent to estimators and specialty vendors for estimating the cost of building a “like design.” These estimates will be submitted to our insurance carriers (a consortium of 8 insurance companies that handle large claims such as ours) to determine the insurance settlement for St. John Church.  

​St. John Church Planning, Design and Construction Process
The Building Committee has been inviting and receiving parishioner input for the new church since last Fall and are working with the architects to move the planning process forward. There will be two sessions in July and August with members of the Building Committee, Parish Council, Finance and other designated parishioners representing sacristans, music ministry, liturgical ministers, CCD, maintenance and janitorial and other groups to help clarify what needs to be part of the new church and how large it may need to be. Over the next two to three months, the architects will use the information gathered to create a schematic design of the future church focusing not so much on the actual design, but what components, spaces and rooms need to be part of the new church, i.e. spaces for worship, music ministry, sacristy, CCD, gathering, meeting, restrooms, storage, etc. This information will help identify the size of a new church and where it may be located. The schematic design will be sent to estimators for an opinion of probable cost. There will be a community gathering with the parish to review and receive input on the schematic design mid to late Fall.  

​We hope to have the insurance settlement for the church building determined by late Summer or early Fall and the initial opinion of cost for the new church by mid to late Fall. It’s very likely that the new church will cost more than the insurance settlement, so we are also working on a feasibility study and a capital campaign. A feasibility study will include parishioner interviews to:

• Test the schematic design of the new church, including components, spaces, rooms and size. 
• Assess readiness for a capital campaign 
• Help identify and interview key parish leaders, donors, and community leaders
• Evaluate donor support for the proposed campaign
• Recommend a realistic and achievable campaign goal
• Provide strategic guidance on campaign planning
• Identify any areas requiring attention before launching a campaign

​After the insurance settlement has been determined and we have an idea of what funds we are able to raise through a capital campaign, the architects will continue design development of the new church with architectural drawings including the look and features of the new church, site development, structure and building systems.  Opinion of cost will be updated taking into consideration what we can afford with the insurance settlement and funds raised through a capital campaign.  Design development will take approximately 6 months. There will be community involvement in the final design and seeking approval from the Archbishop.   

It will take 8 to 10 months to create construction documents, obtain a final opinion of cost and put the church out for bid. Construction will take approximately two years. We are hoping to have a new church by the end of 2029, but realize there are factors that could delay the project. Click on St. John the Baptist New Church Parish Roles & Responsibilities and Schedule to see an overview of the planning, design and construction process for the new St. John the Baptist Church.  

​Our shared goal is to design the ideal St. John the Baptist Church that will help us grow in our relationship with Jesus, giving praise and glory to God for generations to come We will review and validate funds available from insurance, conduct a feasibility study and capital campaign to identify and maximize the funds that can be raised from our local community and beyond, and then build a church we can afford.   

​We invite your continued prayers and support as we discern the next steps of St. John the Baptist Church.   

​Many of us can recall that fateful day in May, standing here in the parking lot and elsewhere around the church, watching fire rage across the roof top, flames breaking through the steeple and the billowing black smoke overshadowing the church. Many of us were overwhelmed with emotions, disbelief and shock, fearing the unknown and the worse, lamenting our loss and reverencing our past with memories, memories of joyful celebrations - baptisms, first communion, confirmation and wedding days; memories of healing and peace - reconciliation, prayer services for healing and anointing of the sick; and memories of sorrow and loss - mourning loved ones and celebrating lives.  ​

Over the next six months we watched and wondered, as precious items were recovered from the ashes and over 200 tons of debris were removed. Smaller items were retrieved first, candlesticks and chalices, vestments and the tabernacle, and then larger items including statues, windows, organ pipes and beautiful wood work. The church became dormant as snow began to fall, but that was shattered December 29th as strong winds brought down the west wall. Once again, our hearts turned to the heavens, this time to watch the rest of the steeple and the church brought down. Since then, the church has been razed and another 191 truck loads of bricks, stones and debris have been removed.

​It has been a year of loss and letting go, reminiscing and reverencing, and now healing and hope. When Jesus appeared to the disciples after rising from the dead, he was glorious in appearance, yet still bearing the scars of death that had been transformed into sacred wounds. What seemed the end was now new life.   

​St. Paul tells the Ephesians and us that we are “no longer strangers and sojourners, but fellow citizens with the holy ones and members of the household of God, built upon the apostles and prophets, with Jesus Christ himself as the capstone. Through him the whole structure is held together and grows into a sacred temple in the lord; in him you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.” 
​
St. John the Baptist Church was more than bricks and mortar, it was a dwelling place of God built of living stones, our ancestors in faith and now us, the people of St. John Parish. Our wounds too are being transformed, becoming sacred wounds, and now signs of hope and promise for the future.

​We pray that the process of designing and rebuilding St. John the Baptist Church may strengthen our faith and remind us that we are building more than brick and mortar, a sanctuary of love, hope and worship that is pleasing to God.   ​

     Even in the midst of smoldering ashes, the crosses and the devastation in our lives, there are signs of hope and new life. Even while St. John Church was being ravaged by fire, firemen were saving precious artifacts, sacred vessels, statues and vestments. The first pictures inside the church after the roof had caved in revealed the large cross above the choir loft still hanging on the wall. Many other items were later recovered.
     Indeed, the fire and devastation of St. John Church is a tragic and heart wrenching loss for all of us, but even in the ashes and rubble of the church, there are signs of hope. We are sifting through the loses, estimating the insurance values and beginning the process of building a new St. John the Baptist Church reminiscent of what was there. The four foot tall cross above, used for the Good Friday veneration, is a stark reminder of the new life and hope that comes forth even from devastation and loss. This cross was hewn from the charred roof timbers of St. John Church and given to us by a Holy Redeemer parishioner. It will have a place in the new St. John the Baptist Church.
     While the cross of Jesus at first seemed to be total devastation and loss, we know that far from being the cross of defeat and useless suffering, it has become the cornerstone and central focus of the entire Christian world. It has become the primary sign of our hope and glory. And it helps us see that even the crosses we carry, the pain and suffering, devastation and loss, does not end in emptiness and hopelessness, but through the cross of Jesus, we too can find hope, we too can be raised in glory.  ​

basement, seed and straw for storm water pollution prevention, and abandon underground sewer and waterlines. FIRST ONSITE has been coordinating the required EPA documents and oversight and assure that all dust protection/control steps are in order.  It is estimated that the remaining demolition, salvaging of materials, hauling off debris and backfill could take 3 to 4 weeks, depending upon masons for removing the sandstone façade and weather.  ​

​Architect & Insurance Settlement Update
     Freytag and the Archdiocese have finalized the contract for their services. They have been working on the sandstone façade with Cleveland Quarries identifying pieces to salvage. They are reviewing the initial insurance estimates for the building and contents, establishing a team of cost analysis professionals and coordinating efforts with the Archdiocese and Sedgwick serving as the claims administrator for these complex, high value claims.  
     Insurance payouts are categorized into distinct areas. The first category covers mitigation costs, which include most of the work done on St. John Church to date. These mitigation expenses are separate from and do not reduce the funds available for rebuilding the church. There is a category to rebuild the church and a separate category for church contents.  There are additional categories for the rectory repair and rectory contents. 
     Sedgwick engages consulting vendors and other resources to evaluate fire-related loses and develop a detailed line-item inventory of all components necessary to either repair the existing structure or rebuild a new like structure from the ground up. While Sedgwick provides initial estimates of each line item in the claim, they also state it is an estimate and that identifying and estimating each line item can be very difficult. Part of Freytag’s scope of services, including their team of cost analysis professionals, is to assure the item list is complete and the estimated values for rebuilding are accurate.  

- Fr. Ken Schnipke, C.PP.S, Christ Our Light Family of Parishes

Architect & Insurance Settlement Update
Freytag and the Archdiocese have been finalizing the details of the contract for their services, assuring that the scope of the project is clearly defined and accounted for. They have been researching the sandstone façade and vendors who may be needed for removing all or parts of the façade as templates. They are reviewing the initial insurance estimates for the building and contents, establishing a team of cost analysis professionals and coordinating efforts with the Archdiocese and Sedgwick serving as the claims administrator for these complex, high value claims.    

Insurance payouts are categorized into distinct areas. The first category covers mitigation costs, which include most of the work done on St. John Church to date. These mitigation expenses are separate from and do not reduce the funds available for rebuilding the church. There is a category to rebuild the church and a separate category for church contents.  There are additional categories for the rectory repair and rectory contents. 
​
Sedgwick engages consulting vendors and other resources to evaluate fire-related loses and develop a detailed line-item inventory of all components necessary to either repair the existing structure or rebuild a new like structure from the ground up. While Sedgwick provides initial estimates of each line item in the claim, they also state it is an estimate and that identifying and estimating each line item can be very difficult. Part of Freytag’s scope of services, including their team of cost analysis professionals, is to assure the item list is complete and the estimated values for rebuilding are accurate.  

​​​- Fr. Ken Schnipke, C.PP.S, Christ Our Light Family of Parishes

What is the Archdiocese of Cincinnati Assessment?
We’ve heard questions and concerns about the portion of our Sunday collections and capital campaign
gifts that go to the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. We’d like to offer some clarity and context to help explain
why this assessment exists—and how it ultimately helps our parish.
​The parish general assessment is the main funding source for all operations of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.  The assessment funds a wide range of essential services and infrastructure that we would otherwise have to hire—and pay for—on our own, including:

• Legal Representation 
• Financial Oversight and Business Support
• Human Resources
• Insurance and Risk Management

Do all parishes pay an Assessment and what are the rates?
Yes. Every parish within the Archdiocese of Cincinnati contributes a percentage of its revenue to support the church. This practice is standard across all dioceses in the U.S.

• General Parish Revenue: Assessed at 9.5%
• Capital Campaign Contributions: Assessed at a reduced rate of 5.7%

Other dioceses in our region assess between 7% and 22%, placing the Archdiocese of Cincinnati on the lower end.  These rates have remained constant over the last decade.

Is every revenue assessed?
No. Certain types of revenue are exempt from the assessment. These include designated collections, religious education fees, program and activity fees (such as Bible Studies, Little Flowers, CYO, etc.), reimbursements, some festival proceeds, and several cemetery revenue streams.
 
What Does the Assessment Support?
While not a comprehensive list, the following highlights key services and resources provided by the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. By participating in the general assessment, our parish gains cost-effective access to professional support and shared ministries—many of which would be significantly more expensive if sourced independently.
Services Supported by the Assessment Include:

• Property insurance management covering buildings, grounds, and parish vehicles.
• Comprehensive financial reviews conducted every three years.
• Ongoing research and coordination for payroll systems, parish administration tools, and accounting software—including vendor selection and fee coverage for most licenses across all Archdiocesan sites.
• Human Resources support, including guidance on employee onboarding and offboarding.
• Management of employee benefits, such as medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Administration of retirement plans for parish staff.
• Support for capital projects, including vendor evaluations, legal counsel, insurance review, and contract negotiation and execution.
• Business and financial best practices, offered through continuing education and professional development programs.
• Oversight of worker’s compensation and volunteer insurance for all parishes.
• Support for religious education, youth and family ministry, respect life initiatives, campus ministry, evangelization, and outreach programs.
• Ministry services, including hospital chaplaincy, mission outreach, and prison ministry..
• Deaconate formation, Office of Vocations, and oversight of the Athenaeum (the Archdiocesan seminary).
• Religious education collaboration through Northern Network quarterly meetings.
• Support for specialized ministries, including St. Rita School for the Deaf and St. Joseph Orphanage.
• Liturgical, worship, and music ministry support for enhancing parish celebrations and sacramental life.
• We hope this provides clarity how the assessment supports our parish. At St. John the Baptist and all our Christ Our Light parishes, we are deeply committed to being faithful stewards of the financial gifts entrusted to us, recognizing that the ability to support our facilities and parish ministries is a true blessing from God. Thank you for your continued generosity and support.

Archdiocesan Assessment on St. John Recovery Funds to Resume
One of the obvious ways the Assessment has helped St. John the Baptist Church are the staffing, resources, support and guidance the Archdiocese has been providing following the May 29, 2025 fire. Since the fire, the Archdiocese has taken the unprecedented step of not collecting a financial assessment from the funds received for the recovery of St. John the Baptist Church, while at the same time providing unparalleled guidance, support and resources. A few examples of the help and resources provided include the Archdiocese coordinating personnel and heavy equipment in the immediate aftermath of the fire, holding weekly meetings with vendors and insurers since the fire, coordinating mitigation and advocating on our behalf. They have provided gift processing services that normally would cost 10% or more of the total funds received and they have provided media relations staff to help respond to numerous inquiries from news outlets.  This generosity has been a tremendous blessing during a very difficult time in the life of our parish. As we continue to make progress and look toward the future with hope, this temporary arrangement is coming to an end. Beginning March 22, we will resume paying a financial assessment to the Archdiocese on fire recovery funds received. Insurance settlement funds will not be assessed. 
 
We are grateful to all who have continued to give faithfully and generously to our parish. Your support has sustained us in many ways. We encourage everyone to continue your stewardship support as we move forward into this important rebuilding phase for the parish.  ​

Share the Memories, the Story of St. John the Baptist Church
As we continue walking together through this season of rebuilding and renewal, we hold close the full story of our beloved parish — the joy of its beginnings, the sorrow of the fire, and the difficult but necessary steps of demolition. Every chapter has shaped us, and every moment has rested in the care of God. We warmly invite you to share any photos (along with its story) you may have from throughout the life of our church. Whether they reflect earlier parish memories, moments surrounding the fire, or images from the demolition, your contributions will help us preserve our shared story with love, honesty, and faith. Together, we can remember, rejoice, and continue healing as a community.
Your photos will be gathered into three albums and posted on MCC Facebook page and MCC's Website:

• Historical
• The Fire
• Demolition

Thank you, for the unwavering love, prayers, and support for our faith community. May the Lord bless our community as we honor where we have been and look with hope toward what He is building among us. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph — pray for us.
Google Form to Upload Photos:  https://forms.gle/irk45xWbQJr9P9f86
​

Call for Memories: Share Your Story of the Day of the Church Fire
As we continue preserving the history of our parish, we are gathering personal stories or reflections from parishioners who remember the day of the church fire. Your reflections—whether big or small—are a vital part of our shared story. We invite you to write down any memories, experiences, or stories from that day:

• Where you were when you heard the news
• What you saw or felt
• How the parish or community came together
• Any moments of faith, hope, or resilience you recall

These memories will help us honor our past and ensure that future generations understand the impact this event had on our parish family. Please submit your information to stjohnchurchmemories@gmail.com

​​​- Fr. Ken Schnipke, C.PP.S, Christ Our Light Family of Parishes

The Building and Architect Committees are happy to announce that Freytag and Associates, Inc., Sidney, Ohio https://www.freytaginc.com/ have been hired as the Architect and they in turn have contracted for the services of William Heyer https://www.heyerarchitect.com/  Columbus, Ohio as their liturgical consultant. Freytag and Associates had been closely monitoring the church fire and contacted us offering their services. Freytag and Associates are a local firm, who know and understand our local area, are familiar with local contractors and resources as well those in the larger surrounding area. They have the staffing and resources for large projects such as our future church and have renovated several local churches including IC Celina, St. Joseph Wapakoneta and Holy Angels Sidney https://www.freytaginc.com/worship Designing a new church is more extensive than renovation and so we requested that they seek out the services of a liturgical consultant who has experience in new builds.  

William Heyer is a well-known traditional/classical architecture firm that has done a lot of Catholic liturgical work in Ohio and 15 states across the country. They have a good mix of new-build and restoration/renovation with a lot of work in the Diocese of Columbus and accolades from Bishop Fernandez.  Members of the Architect committee visited two new builds by William Heyer, including Sacred Hearts Catholic Church, Cardington, Ohio and Oratory of St. Francis on the campus of St. Francis College, Ft. Wayne, IN. We are hopeful these combined services locally and nationally, will provide the best design services for our future St. John the Baptist Church. ​

​St. John the Baptist Church - Building Our Future Together
Sunday, February 22nd 6:30 PM, Marion Local High School Gym   
The St. John Building Committee invites parishioners to a parish gathering to meet Freytag and Associates and William Heyer who will be leading the design phases to prepare drawings and specifications for construction of our new St. John the Baptist Church. The February 22nd gathering will include St. John Church updates, an overview of the professional design services provided, general time lines, and updates on preliminary work underway. The gathering will also include time for parishioner input on the future church. The Building Committee has been using the QR code below to record all input on the future church, along with input mailed to the parish office and sharing that information with our architect team. Parishioners are invited to submit input using the QR code below. Freytag and Associates will develop preliminary concept for building a new church incorporating areas and spaces identified. Conceptual drawings will be shared at a future parish gathering. We look forward to coming together in hope, transparency, and shared commitment to the future of our beloved church. All are welcome to attend.  
​

​What guidelines will be followed for designing the future St. John the Baptist Church?
The design and construction of a new church follows guidelines of the Catholic Church found in the US Conference of Catholic Bishops document “Built of Living Stones: Art, Architecture, and Worship.” These guidelines are intended for use by architects, liturgical consultants, artists and contractors engaged in the design and construction of a church. They are also helpful to those who wish to understand the Catholic Church's tradition regarding church buildings, the arts, and architecture. These guidelines will be followed for the design and construction of St. John the Baptist Church. Information sessions explaining Built of Living Stones were held Nov. 25th & Dec 9th at Precious Blood Church. You can view the presentations by clicking the following  Session 1 on Living Stones   Session 2 on Living Stones
Presenter: Fr. Jeff Kemper is a priest of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati who has served as a pastor, Dean of Mount St. Mary's Seminary & School of Theology, Cincinnati and as Director of the Office for Divine Worship and the Sacraments. Fr. Kemper was pastor during the design and construction of St. John the Baptist Church, Harrison, OH dedicated in 2019.   

​Archdiocesan Assessment on St. John Recovery Funds to Resume
As you may or may not know, since the May 29, 2025 fire, the Archdiocese has taken the unprecedented step of not collecting a financial assessment from the funds received for the recovery of St. John the Baptist Church, while at the same time providing unparalleled guidance, support and resources. A few examples of the help and resources provided include the Archdiocese holding weekly meetings with vendors and insurers since the fire, coordinating mitigation and advocating on our behalf. They have provided gift processing services that normally would cost 10% or more of the total funds received and they have provided media relations staff to help respond to numerous inquiries from news outlets.  This generosity has been a tremendous blessing during a very difficult time in the life of our parish. As we continue to make progress and look toward the future with hope, this temporary arrangement is coming to an end. Beginning next month, on March 22, we will resume paying our regular financial assessment to the Archdiocese on fire recovery funds received. 
 
We are grateful to all who have continued to give faithfully and generously to our parish. Your support has sustained us in many ways. We encourage everyone to continue your stewardship as we move forward into this important rebuilding phase for the parish.  

​​The wind blows where it wills
On December 29, 2025, seven months after fire ravaged St. John the Baptist Church, the west wall of the church collapsed due to high winds and the declining condition of the remaining structure. Over the last five months, the St. John the Baptist Building Committee had explored numerous options for protecting the remaining structure, including options for possible restoration and selective demolition to preserve parts of the remaining structure that could be used in a future church. The stained glass windows were removed and are being stored by Window Creations. Approximately 1,040 of the 1,323 organ pipes were removed and cleaned, and are being stored locally. The beautiful main entry doors, frames and stained glass transom windows were removed and are being stored locally. The inside of the remaining church structure was scanned in hopes of using elements in a future church. While several options were presented for tarping the entire church and for selective demolition, none were pursued due to concerns with the viability of utilizing the remaining structure and cost. In the beginning, God created all things and breathed new life into our world. Perhaps the wind of God is breathing new life into St. John the Baptist Church.

​​St. John the Baptist Church demolition
The collapse of the west wall and concern that the tower could also collapse and fall onto SR 119 were serious safety issues requiring immediate action. SR 119 was closed and detoured. FIRST ONSITE explored options to remove the upper portion of the tower, but structural engineers and demolition teams were concerned that could not be done safely. A team from Sunesis Environmental arrived onsite Friday, January 2nd and began controlled demolition of the remaining church. A large excavator was used to demolish the West and North walls, including the Northwest work sacristy and storage area above. They were able to preserve the original marker from the 1849 & 1889 churches.  Demolition continued on Saturday including the East wall and Northeast priest sacristy and storage area above.  While demolishing the walls, Sunesis used the brick and debris to build a platform within the church to support a much larger excavator with a boom and claw with a 120’ reach.  After several days of delays, ODOT issued the transport permit and the heavy equipment arrived January 7th. The excavator claw was used to remove the tower from the top down, while striving to preserve the sandstone façade and other decorative work around the church. 

 St. John the Baptist Church demolition and follow up
With the urgent safety concern of the falling tower mitigated, FIRST ONSITE began exploring demolition of the remaining structure and foundation and selective removal of salvable building materials including the sandstone façade, 1889 corner stone and bricks that can be used in the future as a memorial, given to parishioners and perhaps used for fundraising. They will haul off general debris, provide compacted backfill of the basement, seed and straw for storm water pollution prevention, abandon underground sewer and waterlines and coordinate EPA required oversite. It is estimated that the remaining demolition, salvaging of materials, hauling off debris and backfill would take 7 to 8 weeks, depending upon availability of the demolition team, masons for removing the sandstone façade and weather in winter months.  According to St. John history, the façade and other decorative trim is Berea sandstone, possibly from Cleveland Quarries founded in 1868, still operational and known for keeping shop drawings back into the 1800’s. This could help salvaging the sandstone and replacing pieces that may have been damaged. A lot of heavy equipment has been onsite, including the concrete parking lot which is being assessed and monitored for damage that could result in further mitigation.  The St. Isidore statue will be moved to the cemetery and the historical marker will be removed and stored in the garage. 

​​- Fr. Ken Schnipke, C.PP.S, Christ Our Light Family of Parishes​

After consultation with structural engineers and safety officials, church leadership determined that demolition of the church and removal of the bell tower was necessary to protect the surrounding area and ensure public safety. The collapse of the west wall and concerns that the bell tower could also collapse and fall onto State Route 119 were serious safety issues that required immediate action. FIRST ONSITE explored options to remove only the upper portion of the tower, but structural engineers and demolitions teams determined that this could not be done safely. Demolition crews arrived on site on Friday, January 2.


Father Ken Schnipke, pastor of St. John the Baptist Parish, said, “This is a difficult day for our parish. But it is also an important one in the journey of our parish into the future of St. John the Baptist Church.” Reflecting on the wind that collapsed the west wall last week he added, “In the beginning, God created all things and breathed new life into our world. Perhaps the wind of God is breathing new life into St. John the Baptist Church.”


Since the time of the fire, parish leaders have worked diligently to safeguard the church’s patrimony. Over the past four months, significant efforts have been made to preserve sacred items, artwork, furnishings, and architectural elements so they may be respectfully incorporated into a future church. These efforts include: stained glass windows that were removed and are being restored by Window Creations; approximately 1,040 of the church’s 1,323 organ pipes, which were removed, cleaned and are being safely stored; and the removal of the main front entry doors, frames and stained glass transom windows. With the demolition now underway, extensive work, carried out with intentional care, has been done to protect the façade of the front entrance and other decorative stonework around the church.


While today’s work marks the visible end of the striking bell tower that soars above the farm fields in Maria Stein, it does not mark the end of the parish community. Church leaders are grateful for the care, professionalism, and pastoral attention shown throughout this process, as well as for the continued prayers and support of the faithful.


Plans for the future worship space will focus on continuity, remembrance, and hope, honoring the legacy of the past while providing a spiritual home for generations to come.


The St. John Building and Architect Committee is in the final stage of selecting and hiring an architecture firm to help the community envision the future of St. John the Baptist Church. More information will be shared when available. 

Jennifer Schack
Director of Media Relations
Archdiocese of Cincinnati
Office | 513.263.6618
Cell | 859.512.5626 
jschack@CatholicAOC.org 
 
Release Date:  January 7, 2026