Save St. Michael's Parish

03/27/2026

Come join the experience. Next Thursday, April 2nd.

Next Thursday!

03/05/2026

Spy Wednesday, April 1st, 2026, the Maria Stein Shrine will host a Tenebrae Service of Shadows at 7:30pm in the Adoration Chapel.

https://www.mariasteinshrine.org/

02/10/2026

Thank you Father John! We are so grateful and blessed to have you here. 🙏✝️🙏

After 18 months of conversations, consultations, and a few confrontations, I have decided on a couple of changes that I believe will positively affect how this Family of Parishes functions, and they both involve decentralization. The first item is regarding Parish Pastoral Councils and the Unified Pastoral Council. Fifteen years of pastoring stand alone parishes and nearly six years of pastoring multiple parishes, has led me to the conclusion that most circumstances that require consultation occur at the parish level and not at the Family of Parishes level. Therefore, Parish Pastoral Councils will be re-established at the parish level. St. Michael, Holy Angels, and Sacred Heart will each have 6 members, 3 men and 3 women. The terms will last 3 years, with those rotating off after serving 3 years. Each year there will be 2 newly elected members and 4 members will remain. This ensures continuity as well as freshness each year. Current representatives to the Unified Pastoral Council from Sts. Peter & Paul recommended to have 4 members instead of 6. Each Parish Pastoral Council, along with a member from Finance Council and a member from the Buildings and Grounds Committee, will meet with me 3 times a year. Unified Pastoral Council meetings will occur twice a year and consist of the 3rd year members of the four Parish Pastoral Councils. Nominations and elections of Parish Pastoral Council members will soon be communicated to all parishes.

The other change involves the parish offices. While some things are more efficient at the Family level, e.g. bookkeeping, payroll, scheduling of weddings, funerals, baptisms, and priests, etc., other things can happen more conveniently for parishioners at the parish level, e.g. Mass intentions, signed and sealed sponsor forms, liturgical ministries scheduling, etc. The target date for re-opening the offices at St. Michael /Sts. Peter & Paul and Sacred Heart is July 1st of this year. As the date approaches, more detailed information will be communicated on what items will be handled at the parish level and what items will be handled at the Family level.

These last 3-1/2 years of Beacons of Light have not been easy for any of us, parishioner and priest alike. However, it has forced us to look at our preconceived ideas and biases, our values and beliefs, our hopes and dreams. We will come through this stronger as a community of believers who allow the Holy Spirit to guide us, encourage us, and empower us to truly live as disciples of Jesus Christ, who sends us out into the world as apostles to preach, teach, heal, cast out demons, and raise the dead. All done in His Name!

May God bless us in His mercy,
Fr. John W. Tonkin

"Make this proclamation: The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons." Matthew 10:7-8

02/09/2026

25 men gathered for the Men’s Christ Renews His Parish Retreat at Sacred Heart of Jesus on January 31st—February 1st. The retreat was facilitated by 19 men who had previously attended the retreat. We pray this powerful experience was just the beginning of a deeper, lifelong relationship with Christ.

02/02/2026

For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them" Matthew 18:20
Say yes to that voice in your head asking if you should go. Walk the faith as we are called to each and every day. For without GOD, we are nothing.

With the new year begun and Lent fast approaching, now is a great time to start prayerfully reflecting on where you are in your faith life and how you can grow in it with your brothers in Christ! Prayerfully consider joining us for the Northwest Men's Conference coming up on March 7 where we will have Mass, Adoration with our LORD, listen to excellent talks from our Keynote Speaker Andrew Swafford and our Testimonial Speakers Brother (Br.) Andrew Brébeuf (native Maria Stein) and Deion Hoehne (native to New Bremen). Confession will also be available and a light breakfast and full lunch will be provided.

PLEASE SEE the flyer below for more details.

We would love to have you join us and work together as Children of GOD to build his Kingdom!

GOD Bless and Memento Mori

01/24/2026

Please preserve our parishes. Do not merge, sell or demolish our sacred places.

In his letter to the faithful, Archbishop Robert G. Casey wrote, "Inspired by the story of the disciples on the road to Emmaus, encouraged by Pope Leo’s efforts to create a more synodal Church, and considering the more than fifty years that have passed since our last synod was held, Synod 2027 will offer our local Church a blessed opportunity to recognize Christ in our midst and respond enthusiastically to His call. More details will be forthcoming this spring. In the meantime, information on Synod 2027 can be found at catholicaoc.org/synod-2027 “

01/24/2026

Please preserve our parishes. Do not merge, sell or demolish our sacred places.

Happy New Year! I pray that you had a blessed and joyful Christmas season with your family, friends, and loved ones. A new year calls us to reflection. As we look back . . .

01/17/2026

01/02/2026

Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church, Maria Stein, OH. Unfortunately, demolition is the only option left for this structure, and it’s starting today.

Built in 1889, the church has been a pillar of its community for around 130 years. Designed by the area architect, DeCurtins, the structure boasted a massive tower, taller than many in its area. Unfortunately, a devastating fire destroyed this church May 29th, 2025. Cause has never been 100% determined, but almost certainly is linked to restoration being done above the altar space at the time.
The church has sat for several months, with its future unsure. Due to recent extreme winds throughout the state of Ohio, a large portion of the structures wall collapsed sealing its fate. Today starts the demolition of this beautiful church to insure the safety of the people of Maria Stein, and those passing through via the road in front of it.

Luckily many pieces of the church were salvaged either immediately after the fire, or since, including its windows.

Saint John the Baptist has put up one heck of a fight, but it’s time for her to rest.

It is unsure what the future holds for parishioners of this once great church with many things still undecided. Please be sure to keep the parishioners of Saint John in your prayers as they navigate this difficult time. One could only truly understand what’s happening, if they’ve been in similar circumstances, so please be mindful of that.

12/04/2025

Our beautiful Saint Michael’s Catholic Church in Fort Loramie, Ohio 🙏🙏✝️🙏🙏

11/01/2025

So sad to see so many parishes close. As churches fall silent, my heart cries—Here I am Lord, send me.

We must put on the armor of God. Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in this battle. 🙏✝️🙏

Hineni Shlacheni. 🙏✝️🙏

—————————————————————
THIS IS FROM SAVE OUR SAINT HENRY CLUSTER PARISHES…

Once again with heavy hearts, we regret to inform you that our appeals for St. Bernard and St. Francis parishes were also denied at the Apostolic Signatura in Rome. St. Aloysius, St. Bernard, St. Francis, and St. Wendelin parishes are now all extinct. Their parish status is gone and they are all merged or amalgamated with St. Henry. We are supposed to be one big happy parish per the wishes of our pastor. Unfortunately, it seems we are more divided than we've ever been in our churches' long histories. Our advocate in Rome has warned us that the next step after extinction is usually church closures and advised us to keep our eyes and ears open.

To our mandators, please know that we are still working with our canon lawyer and our diocesan procurator to determine next steps, ways to move forward, etc. Please keep checking your emails regarding updates and happenings on the diocesan level. We have not given up hope!

To our neighboring parishes, let our situation be a warning to you all! Now is the time to be talking to your pastors - let them know how you feel about Beacons of Light and how you would like your pastor to respond. Please start communicating before your pastor and parish councils request a decree. A decree for your parish could include provisions for canonical change for your parish. Thats what happened to our parishes. Please read about canonical change for your parish here:

Your Time is running out! Our Land of the Cross Tipped Churches stands to lose many of our small parishes if you don't do anything to stop this. We've already lost 4 parishes! Please reach out to us if you'd like more information about what you can do now!

Scott Siefring - Procurator of St. Henry Cluster Appeals.
Phone: 419-852-0997
Email: [email protected]