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IMMACULATE CONCEPTION • ST. JOHN • ST. JOSEPH • ST. LAWRENCE
We are a Catholic parish that shares the treasure of Jesus Christ, so that all might seek and find the goodness, truth, and beauty of the Catholic Faith and choose to live in friendship with Christ. Within our parish are four church buildings in which we worship our Lord.
All four churches are branches from the same tree. The original Catholic Church building in our area was built in 1836 in the village of Petersburg and called Saints Peter and Paul Church. The parish church in Petersburg and the village itself no longer exist. In the 1800s, all four parishes spun off of the original Petersburg Church. St. Joseph, Wapakoneta was founded in 1839, St. John, Fryburg in 1850, St. Lawrence, Rhine in 1856, and Immaculate Conception, Botkins in 1865. The current church buildings were dedicated on the following dates: St. John – November 23, 1850; St. Lawrence – July 2, 1893; St. Joseph – October 8, 1911; and Immaculate Conception – August 12, 1962.
In 1989 St. Lawrence and Immaculate Conception came under the leadership of one pastor, Fr. James O’Connor. In July 2009 Fr. Patrick Sloneker, pastor of St. Lawrence and Immaculate Conception, also became the pastor of St. Joseph. At this point the term “Petersburg Parishes” was coined for the new region, reflecting the origins of the congregations. In July 2014 St. John became the fourth parish in the Petersburg Pastoral Region.
Over the next few years, the parishes worked together on many ministries, activities, and initiatives. The growing collaboration presented challenges and opportunities. In 2019, the pastoral staff began working out of the same office and collaborating on more ministries. The following year, the pastoral councils of the four parishes combined into a single council. On July 1, 2024, Archbishop Dennis Schnurr decreed that the four parishes would be merged into a single parish, the Holy Face of Jesus Parish. All four church buildings are utilized and keep their original name. Now, the buildings are church buildings of the Holy Face of Jesus Parish. We are one parish with four church buildings.
The name “Holy Face of Jesus Parish” is unique. To our knowledge, there is only one other parish in the country named after the Holy Face of Jesus (it is located in rural Maryland). Our name went through a multi-month process. We received suggestions from parishioners, had an open house to learn about nine different possibilities, and ended by voting during Eucharistic Adoration. After prayer and discernment, it seemed that this name and identity is part of God’s plan for our parish. We are excited to see how God works in the next chapter of our story.
WHO WE ARE
The Sacred Scriptures regularly mention the Face of God. The Psalmist prays to God, saying, “Let me see your face” (Ps 17:15). We learn, “The Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, as a person speaks to a friend” (Exodus 33:11). We know our friends’ faces; we understand their expressions and know their gaze. Knowing someone’s face means that we share the intimacy of friendship.
Jesus wants to share this intimacy with us. Jesus reveals the Face of God; whenever we see Jesus, we see God the Father (John 14:9). Jesus is constantly looking at His disciples, and they see His Face. His Face communicates His expressions, desires, and emotions, and it invites us into friendship with Him. His Face beckons us to a relationship of love and companionship. He offers rest to the hurried, companionship to the lonely, and direction to the lost.
On Mount Sinai, after Moses would speak with God, his face would become radiant. Similarly, after we speak with God face to face, we should radiate His light, peace, and love. After we have sought the Face of Jesus, we are called to radiate His love, mercy, and friendship to the whole world.
Traditionally, it is believed that Jesus left an image of His Face on the veil of St. Veronica during His suffering. Our logo shows the Face of Jesus on the veil of Veronica.
Surrounding the veil are four symbols, representing each of our churches:
Other details to note:
Artist: Blair Barlow Art
www.blairbarlowart.com
ST. THERESE OF LISIEUX
St. Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face was named the Patron of Holy Face of Jesus Parish by Archbishop Schnurr.
A Carmelite nun in the late 1800s, Sister Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face lived a simple life in the convent. She cleaned, worked in the sacristy, painted, and had a deeply contemplative prayer life. Therese had a profound trust in the Lord and wanted to become little before Jesus, accepting with love all that would come her way.
Therese had a strong devotion to the Holy Face of Jesus. She wrote of herself: “The little flower transplanted to Mt. Carmel was to expand under the shadow of the cross. The tears and blood of Jesus were to be her dew, and her sun was His adorable Face veiled with tears. Until my coming to Carmel, I had never fathomed the depths of the treasures hidden in the Holy Face” (Story of a Soul).
Want to learn more about our patron? Consider reading her autobiography, Story of a Soul. You can also learn more about this great saint here.