Written by Gail Finke Illustrated by Emma Cassani
St. Boniface in Northside began as one parish, split into two, and reunited 130 years later.
1853 St. Aloysius Parish founded. 1861 St. Aloysius splits into St. Patrick (Irish, on original site) and St. Boniface (German, on new site). 1863 First St. Boniface Church built. 1866 Father Joseph Paul Wittler, St. Boniface’s first pastor, dies of pneumonia at age 37 after spending the previous three years raising money to build and complete the church.
Four Chaplains Mass
Held every February for more than 40 years, the Four Chaplains Mass at St. Boniface honors the chaplains (a priest, a rabbi, and two ministers) who died together on the SS Dorchester in 1943. The service includes color bearers from the Boy Scouts, VFW, American Legion and all military branches; a rifle salute; a tribute to current service members and veterans; and a presentation of “Taps.”
1879 First St. Bonifice School completed. 1927 Current church built on new site in the Romanesque style, featuring an impressive baldacchino made of Italian marble beneath a golden half-dome and topped with a stained glass depiction of the Holy Spirit as a dove.
“We weren’t able to have the Four Chaplains Mass this year because of Covid, but we get calls about it all the time. We tell everyone we’re having it in 2022, if Covid permits it! Anyone and everyone is invited.” - Jenni Lindgren, Business Manager “In the 1930s our school was placed on the official bomb shelter list, and we got a call every year from the government to see if it was still there. They only took us off the list less than 10 years ago, because it’s not handicap-accessible and there are no showers.” - Jenni Lindgren, Business Manager “I grew up in St. Boniface and went to school there. That place is a hidden gem in the city of Cincinnati. The stained glass windows alone are awe-inspiring.” - Bob Dehner, former parishioner
1933 Current school built.
St. Boniface Born in England, St. Boniface evangelized the Franks. Archbishop of what is now Germany, St. Boniface became known for chopping down an oak tree considered holy by pagans, who later converted when no harm came to him. In 754 he and companions were murdered by Frisian bandits who were dismayed to find the dead men’s luggage contained books instead of gold.
1991 St. Patrick parishioners process to St. Boniface with their saint’s statue to reunite the parishes in the St. Boniface building. St. Patrick pastor Father Joseph Robinson named pastor – as was his great-great uncle once – and remains so for nearly 30 years. 2019 St. Charles Borromeo Church in Carthage, largely Spanish-speaking, closes; most Spanish-speaking members move to St. Boniface. D ID Y O U K N O W ? / N O V E MBE R 2021 | 45
