Finding aid for the Community of Hope, Cincinnati

History of Community of Hope, Cincinnati

The Community of Hope began with Fr. Joseph Frommeyer, Superior of St. Anthony Friary, and a few married couples who would celebrate Mass together on Sunday mornings beginning in late 1968. Within two years, attendance grew to 300 persons each Sunday. Members asked for permission for the sacraments of baptism and marriage to be celebrated in the community. The Community of Hope presented to Archbishop Paul Leibold a written request to be established as a non-territorial experimental parish. This was debated by the Priests’ Senate of the Archdiocese and permission was granted on 10 May 1971. The Community of Hope grew out of a desire for a more laity-involved liturgy, a conversational liturgy with modern music. Liturgy preparation would begin the week before Sunday with the laity giving input, including the topic of homily. Differences in liturgy styles contributed to some splits in the community and the creation of the New Jerusalem Community in Winton Place. By the late 1980s attendance was less than 100 persons each Sunday. At that time Archdiocesan policy required 750 parishioners per priest and a shared pastor was not possible. The Community of Hope was discontinued on 25 June 1989.

Scope and Content

This record group presents a picture of the Community of Hope through its 21 year life. The Parish Council Meeting Minutes run the full course of the community’s recognition as a non-territorial parish. The general files include histories, clippings, financial reports, surveys, and the closing documents.

Statement of Arrangement

Restrictions on Access

This record group is open for research.

The following record groups held by the Archdiocese of Cincinnati Archives contain materials relevant to the Community of Hope, Cincinnati records: RG 1.7 Abp. Paul F. Leibold; RG 1.8 Abp. Joseph Bernardin; RG 7.1 Church Histories

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.

Subjects:

Preferred Citation

Item Description, date, box number, folder number, Record Group Number, Record Group Name, Archdiocese of Cincinnati Archives.

Detailed Description of The Collection