Fairfield parish celebrates Golden Anniversary

By David Eck

HAMILTON DEANERY — Georgianna Kiep remembers when the parishioners at the brand-new Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Fairfield celebrated Sunday Mass in the gym at Fairfield Central Elementary School on Ohio Route 4. There was a small alter on the stage and hundreds of chairs covered the gym floor. Weekday Masses were held in the parish rectory’s garage.

That’s why the June 15 celebration of the parish’s 50th anniversary was so special to Kiep and other charter members of the parish.

"Its hard to believe all this happened," said Kiep. "The first Mass we went to was at a school building. We’ve watched it grow."

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Concelebrants included Sacred Heart’s priests from 1960 to the present.

The large procession into and out of the church, led by David Endres, Sacred Heart’s first seminarian, also included about a dozen 4th-degree Knights of Columbus in full regalia.

For the priests, some of whom are now retired, the night was a homecoming.

"A lot of people are still here that I know," said Father John Wall, who was pastor or co-pastor at the parish from 1984-90 and who oversaw construction of the current church, which opened in 1989. "The parish has expanded very well. The parish is very lively."

About 600 people filled the church as the choir, made up of about two dozen, sang hymns before the Mass. Parishioners smiled and watched the procession. One woman whispered to a child "Do you see him?" referring to Archbishop Pilarczyk.

"When we honor the Sacred Heart, by naming parishes in its honor or observing the liturgical solemnity, we are not just paying honor to a physical organ in the human body of Jesus," Archbishop Pilarczyk said in his homily. "Rather, when we honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus we are referring to what the heart stands for symbolically in our culture, and that is love. We thank our heavenly Father today for the half century of love that Jesus has shared with his people in this congregation of the Sacred Heart here in Fairfield."

The Mass went off perfectly, parish organizers said.

"Everything came together," said Jan Creed, a parishioner since 1979 who also chairs the parish’s 50th anniversary committee. "It was wonderful to have all the priests. It’s just another step in the family tradition. Our parish is like a family."

The anniversary is special, even though the parish is still relatively young.

"It’s a sign that the community experience is real," said Father Larry Tharp, pastor. "It’s a validation of the community experience."

Following the Mass, parishioners moved into the parish’s fellowship hall, where Archbishop Pilarczyk blessed a quilt made by parishioner Julie Bauer. He also blessed a photograph.

The quilt, which will be encased on a wall in the fellowship hall, traces the parish’s history from its beginning. There are photographs of Sacred Heart Church, the parish school, pastors, women religious who served the parish, events and local scenes.

"We’ve made a milestone," said Jeanette Gieske, the parish’s lay pastoral associate. "Now we have a history."

In addition, Creed and Gieske spearheaded a project to make a parish historical DVD. The DVD tells the parish story through dozens of photos and interviews of charter members and former pastors.

"It was fun to go back and see how this parish evolved," Creed said.

After the Mass and blessings, parishioners munched everything from appetizers to desserts. The hall was decorated with white and gold balloons, and 1957-2007 was formed in gold lettering on the walls.

Parishioners studied the quilt and looked over a collection of photos of the parish’s 40th celebration.

The parish was created in June, 1957 in Fairfield, Ohio’s newest city, with 452 families. The first Mass was attended by 700 people, church records show.

Now with 2,000 families, the parish remains close-knit, despite its burgeoning size in a growing suburban area. Parishioners remain active on church committees and socialize regularly.

While the Mass and reception were highlights, other anniversary events are planned. A 5K run is slated for August 18, and on September 16, the parish will host a music festival at the church. Local choirs from the Fairfield and Hamilton areas will join the Sacred Heart parish choir for performances. A parish picnic is scheduled for October 14.

Planning for the anniversary events began late last year.

"We want to make everyone aware of the 50th anniversary celebration," Creed said. "We just want to make everything this year remember our roots."