“It just felt like family,” she added.
It was a reunion of sorts as generations of current and former parishioners returned to the church that has been a cornerstone of the community for 150 years.
The church was established in 1860 and has been at the 901 Lagonda Ave. location since 1870.
Sunday’s hourlong Mass featured tidbits of history by overseeing clergy, prayer and song, including an original hymn written by David Haas in honor of the anniversary called, “We Will Rise Up and Follow.”
Several local and visiting priests attended the event to celebrate the achievement, as well as Cincinnati Archbishop Dennis Schnurr.
Lifelong member Joe Hilbert, 79, said the entire weekend of festivities was beautiful.
“This has always been a good parish,” Hilbert said. “Anything that comes up, they work together.”
St. Bernard’s pastor, the Rev. Paul Hurst, said the jubilee celebration and the lunch that followed on the church’s sun-dappled lawn went without a hitch.
“(St. Bernard’s) is a friendly parish and all the friendliness comes out, but it was even more friendly today,” Hurst said.
Hurst said the church reaching its sesquicentennial is “an encouragement that we’re doing OK and God’s with us.”
Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0374 or boutten@coxohio.com.
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