The next installment of out Three Acts Quarterly Lecture Series will take place on Wednesday, March 11 at St. Francis Seraph Catholic Church at the corner of Vine and Liberty Streets (1615 Vine Street). Doors will open at 6 pm and the program will begin at 6:30pm.
Reserve your seat today! Tickets can be reserved on a “pay what you would like” donation basis.
The cornerstone for Saint Francis Seraph Church was laid in 1858 on the site of Cincinnati’s first Catholic Church and cemetery. For the last 168 years the church, school, and friary have been essential fixtures of the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood, witnessing sixteen decades of neighborhood change. On January 22, The Franciscan Friars announced they will close the historic church in June 2026. With the future of Saint Francis in flux, we are devoting our March Three Acts Lecture to celebrating the history of this important landmark. We hope you'll join us to learn about the building as it is today and as it has been in the past.
Doors open at 6:00 PM and speakers begin at 6:30 PM. Walk-ins are welcome until we reach room capacity. This Three Acts event will be held at St. Francis Seraph Catholic Church. Donations to support this program are welcome!
SPEAKERS
Michelle Smith, Archivist at the Archdiocese of Cincinnati
Michelle Smith is the Archdiocesan archivist at the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. She grew up in Sharonville and attended Ursuline Academy.
Michelle will present a short history of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, founded in 1821 and initially covering the entire Northwest Territory. What started as mission and frontier country—with scattered Catholics and long wilderness circuits—grew steadily into a lasting regional church.
Mary Pat Raupach, Executive Director, Saint Francis Seraph Ministries
Mary Pat Raupach became the executive director of St. Francis Seraph Ministries, a sponsored ministry of the Franciscan friars of the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe, in 2021. She has extensive experience working with individuals from marginalized and high-poverty communities and serves as a tireless advocate for people experiencing homelessness.
Mary Pat’s presentation will explore the history of St. Francis Seraph Ministries in relation to the Franciscan friars in Over-the-Rhine and St. Francis Seraph Church. It will also discuss current-day activities at the St. Anthony Center, where St. Francis Seraph Ministries is located.
Brother Tim Sucher, Saint Francis Seraph Church
Brother Tim Sucher has been a Franciscan brother for 50 years. He has ministered in the inner city in several cities in the Midwest and has served as the pastoral associate at St. Francis Seraph for 21 years.
During this event, he will present the history of the Franciscans for the past 166 years in Cincinnati.
ABOUT THREE ACTS
Three Acts in Over-the-Rhine is an innovative lecture series designed to expose attendees to stories of the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood. Each event features three, fifteen-minute talks and concludes with a group question and answer period. The Over-the-Rhine Museum welcomes your support for these provocative stories. Donate online at www.otrmuseum.org/donate.