History of the Province - Franciscan Friars - Province of St. John the Baptist in Cincinnati, Ohio

In 1209, Pope Innocent III approved a plan by Francis of Assisi for a new way of religious life. This year, Franciscans around the world are marking the Eighth Centenary of the founding of their Order. In 1859, the entity that became St. John the Baptist Province in Cincinnati was formally erected as a “custody.” This 12-part series, commemorating the 150th anniversary of the province, celebrates the lives and contributions of the friars.

1839: Recruited by Bishop Purcell, Bavarian friar Louis Huber arrives in Cincinnati.

1844: Friar William Unterthiner leaves St. Leopold Province for Cincinnati.

1848: Franciscans begin work at St. Stephen Parish in Hamilton.

1849: Friars assume pastorate at St. Boniface in Louisville.

1850: Friars found St. Clement Church in St. Bernard.

Jan. 17, 1857: William Unterthiner dies a year after resigning as pastor at St. John Church in Over-the-Rhine.

Nov. 7, 1858: A crowd of 20,000 gathers for the laying of the cornerstone of St. Francis Seraph Church at Liberty and Vine.

It must have seemed as far as the moon.

On May 13, 1844, a 34-year-old Franciscan named William Unterthiner took one last look at the snow-capped mountains and meadows he loved and embarked on a journey that would take him more than 4,700 miles from his home in the Tyrolean Alps of Austria. His destination: a frontier city in America bursting at the seams with industry and immigrants.

It was concern for those immigrants—for their spiritual well-being—that had prompted Cincinnati Bishop John Baptist Purcell to appeal to the friars of St. Leopold Province for help with his German-speaking flock

Unterthiner, who volunteered for service in the Holy Land, found himself instead bound for a bustling city on the Ohio River. Using every available conveyance—wagon, boat, train, steamship—he arrived in Cincinnati on July 23, 1844. He was not the first friar in these parts; that distinction fell to Fr. Louis Huber, who came from Bavaria in 1839. But Unterthiner was able to accomplish what Huber had not: He inspired other members of his province to follow in his footsteps.

The Franciscans settled north of the city in Over-the-Rhine, the port of entry for immigrants, an ethnic enclave with its own German architecture, restaurants and newspapers. Then they went to work, building churches, starting schools, opening outposts. They endured pestilence, prejudice, and threats from Austria that their mission would be disbanded.

In 1859, by virtue of a decree from Rome, the Cincinnati friars became an organized, recognized branch of the Franciscan family. Unterthiner, so weakened by tuberculosis that he had resigned his pastorate three years earlier, did not live to see that day. But as pastors, teachers, laborers, chaplains, craftsmen and communicators, his brothers went on to accomplish more than he could have ever imagined.

(Adapted from provincial histories and from God Gives His Grace, A Short History of St. John the Baptist Province by Pat McCloskey, OFM, 2001)

Feb. 19, 1859: A decree from Rome establishes the Custody of St. John the Baptist (named for the saint from whom Bishop Purcell took his name). Friar

To all my fellow friars I send my brotherly greetings, and I ask for their prayers. For here more than elsewhere a man needs the strength of an apostle so that he may be glad if he should be slandered or if someone strikes him in the face, verbally or in fact. I have seen and heard both. However, that should not terrify us, for the Son of God was not treated any better nor have the previous missionaries of our Order been better treated. God gives the strength to all.”

--William Unterthiner, OFM, in a letter received by his superiors in Innsbruck on Sept. 9, 1844, describing anti-Catholic sentiment in America (reprinted from God Gives His Grace: A Short History of St. John the Baptist Province by Pat McCloskey, OFM, 2001)

Otto Jair, who had arrived from Austria in 1848, was its “custos” (superior).

Dec. 18, 1859: The twin-towered St. Francis Church, a landmark in Over-the-Rhine, is dedicated and consecrated.

NEXT: Working with and for the poor.
Archived stories


	In 1209, Pope Innocent III approved a plan by Francis of Assisi for a new way of religious life. This year, Franciscans around the world are marking the Eighth Centenary of the founding of their Order. In 1859, the entity that became St. John the Baptist Province in Cincinnati was formally erected as a “custody.” This 12-part series, commemorating the 150th anniversary of the province, celebrates the lives and contributions of the friars.

			1839: Recruited by Bishop Purcell, Bavarian friar Louis Huber arrives in Cincinnati. 1844: Friar William Unterthiner leaves St. Leopold Province for Cincinnati. 1848: Franciscans begin work at St. Stephen Parish in Hamilton. 1849: Friars assume pastorate at St. Boniface in Louisville. 1850: Friars found St. Clement Church in St. Bernard. Jan. 17, 1857: William Unterthiner dies a year after resigning as pastor at St. John Church in Over-the-Rhine. Nov. 7, 1858: A crowd of 20,000 gathers for the laying of the cornerstone of St. Francis Seraph Church at Liberty and Vine.
It must have seemed as far as the moon. On May 13, 1844, a 34-year-old Franciscan named William Unterthiner took one last look at the snow-capped mountains and meadows he loved and embarked on a journey that would take him more than 4,700 miles from his home in the Tyrolean Alps of Austria. His destination: a frontier city in America bursting at the seams with industry and immigrants. It was concern for those immigrants—for their spiritual well-being—that had prompted Cincinnati Bishop John Baptist Purcell to appeal to the friars of St. Leopold Province for help with his German-speaking flock Unterthiner, who volunteered for service in the Holy Land, found himself instead bound for a bustling city on the Ohio River. Using every available conveyance—wagon, boat, train, steamship—he arrived in Cincinnati on July 23, 1844. He was not the first friar in these parts; that distinction fell to Fr. Louis Huber, who came from Bavaria in 1839. But Unterthiner was able to accomplish what Huber had not: He inspired other members of his province to follow in his footsteps. The Franciscans settled north of the city in Over-the-Rhine, the port of entry for immigrants, an ethnic enclave with its own German architecture, restaurants and newspapers. Then they went to work, building churches, starting schools, opening outposts. They endured pestilence, prejudice, and threats from Austria that their mission would be disbanded. In 1859, by virtue of a decree from Rome, the Cincinnati friars became an organized, recognized branch of the Franciscan family. Unterthiner, so weakened by tuberculosis that he had resigned his pastorate three years earlier, did not live to see that day. But as pastors, teachers, laborers, chaplains, craftsmen and communicators, his brothers went on to accomplish more than he could have ever imagined. (Adapted from provincial histories and from God Gives His Grace, A Short History of St. John the Baptist Province by Pat McCloskey, OFM, 2001)
				Feb. 19, 1859: A decree from Rome establishes the Custody of St. John the Baptist (named for the saint from whom Bishop Purcell took his name). Friar
		To all my fellow friars I send my brotherly greetings, and I ask for their prayers. For here more than elsewhere a man needs the strength of an apostle so that he may be glad if he should be slandered or if someone strikes him in the face, verbally or in fact. I have seen and heard both. However, that should not terrify us, for the Son of God was not treated any better nor have the previous missionaries of our Order been better treated. God gives the strength to all.” --William Unterthiner, OFM, in a letter received by his superiors in Innsbruck on Sept. 9, 1844, describing anti-Catholic sentiment in America (reprinted from God Gives His Grace: A Short History of St. John the Baptist Province by Pat McCloskey, OFM, 2001)
			Otto Jair, who had arrived from Austria in 1848, was its “custos” (superior). Dec. 18, 1859: The twin-towered St. Francis Church, a landmark in Over-the-Rhine, is dedicated and consecrated.
NEXT: Working with and for the poor. Archived stories