From Humble Beginnings ...
|
| The history of Our Lady of the Visitation starts in 1946. After
the Word War II, Cincinnati’s suburbs grew rapidly, including Bridgetown
and Mack. Archbishop John T. McNicholas purchased a 23 acre farm
between South and Werk roads for $21,000. Father VonderBrink was
appointed by the Archbishop to organize what would be known as Our Lady
of the Visitation Parish.
There was no church. Fortunately, the Diocese was able to purchase
several army barracks one of which was designated for Visitation as a church.
To move it from the Wright Plant in Lockland, a downtown suburb of Cincinnati,
to Werk and South roads, it was cut into three sections and moved by truck
then reassembled.
Then it was time to turn the barracks into a Church. Only electricity
was available. Andy Haas hauled water from his cistern using a sled
and a team of horses. With water, the new parishioners could mix
plaster for the inside walls and concrete to build an entrance and a room
for the furnace. White siding was added too. The Luken family
and other men of the parish built forty-six benches. Unfortunately,
they used green wood, which was the only wood available and it bowed
as it dried. The Archbishop, realizing that the parish was
already concerned about their debt, paid for the cost of covered padding
for the kneelers.
The first Mass was offered on February 2, 1947 on the feast of the Presentation.
Sixty families celebrated in this little rural Church with its 8 foot ceilings
and a seating for only 275. |
| Father VonderBrink lived in the Fenwick Club and commuted each day.
Clifford Schneider loaned him the use of his house while he was away on
business for six months. A friend of Father VonderBrink designed a rectory and an
aid to the Archbishop built the present house. On the day of the
framing, 25 carpenters from the parish arrived and under the direction
of Al Carle, they had framed the house in 5 hours. For the price
of sandwiches and beer, Visitation parishioners showed what team work could
do.
The basement of the rectory became the center of parish social activities
with Friday night Bingo, Fish Fries, Rummage Sales & Turkey Raffles.
With a young parish, it became obvious that the parish needed a school.
In January of 1950, the first 140 students enter a brand new school building.
Soon playgrounds were needed and many students lived outside of walking
distance. In those days, not everyone owned a car so the parish purchased
a school bus and Andy Haas, the maintenance man became a school bus driver
too. He and Father VonderBrink toured the parish, mapping the best
routes and, with stopwatch in hand, estimated the pickup times. Later,
a bus garage was build next to the rectory.
The parish grew quickly and before long, Visitation had outgrown the
converted army barracks. The Master Plan called for a
new church and in the immediate future, more classroom space too.
In 1959, Archbishop Karl J. Alter gave permission to build a new church
with five classrooms in the basement once the parish was clear of debt.
After a successful fund drive, work began.
Easter Monday in 1961 was the last Mass offered in the little barracks
church. The south wing of the school became the interim church and that
day, the seventh and eight grade boys carried the pews from the old church
to the school. The barracks were demolished and construction began
in June. |
| The first and second grades moved into their new classrooms in
the church basement in the Fall of 1962. The church dedication took
place in November of 1962. Seating 700 parishioners, its unique
cruciform design is the product of architect Elmer Schmidt. The
altar facing the congregation was added two years later in accordance with
the liturgy changes coming from Vatican II. |
|
Under the leadership of Fr. Vogelpohl, Fr. Rettig, and the Worship Commission, our Parish began making changes to reflect decisions of Vatican II. In order to comply with the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, a wood altar was placed in the sanctuary in 1964, so the priest would have room to stand behind the altar to face the people. The credence table was placed in front of the altar. A Baptism takes place in the baptistry in 1973. By 1979, this room became the cry room and the reconciliation room. This room was entered by way of the vestibule before the remodeling of 1979.
The Baptismal font was then moved into the sanctuary. By 1979, the wood altar was removed and the main altar was moved away from the back wall. In 1982, the communion rail was removed, and the sanctuary was opened to all.
Mr. Mike Carnevale was hired to repair the terrazzo floor, as the brass pins connecting the rail to the floor pulled up much of the floor. The stand which holds the tabernacle is part of the original communion rail.
|
|
In 1991, a decision was made to add on to our present church. A meeting room, 2 restrooms, and a large foyer were added upstairs. A meeting room, 2 restrooms, 2 offices, and a teachers' lounge were added downstairs. Another addition to the school was needed and a junior high building with eight classrooms and a larger School Office was completed in 1997. A new Auditorium was extended toward Werk Road, and the Pavilion was constructed near the fields to replace the Scout Cabin, Locker Room and offer a Concession Stand and storage.
|
|
HOME PAGE 
Driving Directions