Event Celebrates BFS Benefactors

Bishop Fenwick Society (BFS) members enjoyed Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr’s annual thank-you dinner May 4 at the Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza Hotel. Five hundred BFS members, seminarians, faculty priests, lay faculty, and staff attended the invitation-only event as an acknowledgement for their spiritual and financial support.

Father Benedict O’Cinnsealaigh, outgoing president and rector of the Athenaeum of Ohio / Mount St. Mary’s Seminary offered a personal thank you to those gathered, and welcomed the parents and families of the current ordination class. After the opening prayer, led by Br. Victor-Antonio Moratin, C.P.M., Father Benedict introduced his successor, Father Anthony Brausch.

“Being rector has been a lot of hard work, but even more so, it has been a lot of fun, a time of great grace, a time of energy and enthusiasm, a time of blessings from the Lord,” Father O’Cinnsealaigh said, “I will always be grateful for the opportunity and the grace to have been part of this Athenaeum / Mount St. Mary’s Seminary. Thank you for all your support and kindness, your hard work and dedication. Thank you all for the privilege of serving you as rector. I’m truly blessed.”

“As I end my term, I believe that our next rector will be the best rector our seminary has ever had, and that’s saying something considering the long list of outstanding rectors in our long history,” he added.

Archbishop Schnurr expressed his gratitude to benefactors for their “passionate, steadfast support” and thanked Father O’Cinnsealaigh for “his hard work in shepherding this institution.”

Father Anthony Brausch invited the seminarians to come up on the stage to surprise Father Benedict with a proper send-off. Two Irish songs, The Rocky Road to Dublin and The Parting Glass, were energetically performed to the delight of all and obvious enjoyment of Father Benedict.

If you are interested in joining or renewing your Bishop Fenwick Society gift please go to http://www.mtsm.org/SupportUs/give-online.aspx or contact Mr. Kyle Isaack, Director of Advancement, at 513-233-6161.     

Text Credit: Sr. Eileen Connelly.  Photo Credit: E.L. Hubbard Photography.