Parish Staff

 

 

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Fr. Alan (Al) Hirt, OFM, Pastor, alhirt@sfsparish.org

Fr. Al has been a Franciscan priest since being ordained in 1977. Thirty-Nine of those years have been in parish work.

Born and raised in Batesville, IN, when his studies were completed, he went to his first 4 year assignment as Assistant Pastor at St. Mary of the Angels in New Orleans, LA, an African-American church.  From there he was appointed pastor of St. Joseph Church in Kansas City , MO, also an African-American parish (originally St. Monica Catholic Church for Colored People founded by the Franciscans in 1910). He pastored there for 9 years.

He then spent 9 years (1990-1999) in administration for the Franciscan Province in Cincinnati, OH.

From 1999-2020, he pastored St. Monica-St. George Parish and Newman Center for the University of Cincinnati.

In October 2020, he became pastor here at St. Francis Seraph.

Brother Timothy (Tim) Sucher, OFM, Pastoral Associate

Bro. Tim Sucher, O.F.M is a professed religious brother in the Franciscan Order. He professed his first vows in 1976 and final vows in 1985.

Bro. Tim earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Philosophy from Duns Scotus College Seminary, Southfield, Michigan in 1977. He studied theology at St. Leonard Seminary, Centerville, OH, The University of Dayton, and Catholic Theological Union, Chicago, IL. From 1978-1981, he served on the faculty of Bishop Luers High School, Fort Wayne, IN. From 1985 until 1990, He was the live-in manager of St. Vincent Hotel for the Homeless in Dayton, OH. He was the Director of Franciscan students preparing for final vows and ministry from 1990-1996. During this time, he also served on the faculty of Catholic Theological Union, a graduate school of ministry, as the Director of Field Education. In 1996, He was transferred to St. Christine Church, an inner-city parish, in Detroit, MI where he served as the Pastoral Associate and Outreach Director until 2004. He came to Cincinnati, OH in 2005 where he was named the Guardian of St. Francis Seraph Friary, the Administrator of St. Francis Seraph Ministries which includes St. Francis Seraph Church, St. Francis Seraph School, a soup Kitchen, a hospitality center for homeless people (Canticle Café), a women’s empowerment program (Sarah Center), and a lunch bag program for day laborers.

During his time at St. Francis Seraph Bro. Tim is responsible for establishing a 501-C3 for all the outreach ministries once sponsored by the parish. St. Francis Seraph Ministries is a sponsored ministry of the Franciscan Province and is governed by a board of directors. This ensures the continuation of the Franciscan charism as well as financial stability.

He currently is the Guardian of St. Francis Seraph Friary.
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Joe Pearce, Parish Secretary & Admin. Asst.

Joe was born in Albuquerque, NM, and raised in Indianapolis, IN. He moved to Cincinnati in 1982. He holds a B.S. degree from Indiana University, where he studied philosophy, theology, religious ethics, and education.

Throughout his life, he’s been a school principal, associate pastor, evangelist, gospel recording artist, stockbroker, and is now a writer and artist (oil painter). He works for St. Francis Seraph part-time as “the office guy.” He came to St. Francis Seraph in July of 2017.

Joe is a long time resident of  downtown Cincinnati, OH and enjoys spending his time in the revitalized Over-the-Rhine arts district where he has an art studio at the Pendleton Art Center. He loves to give back to his community.  You can follow Joe’s art and writing at www.JoePearceArt.com.
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Judith (Judy) Cox, Parish School Accountant

Judy has been with St. Francis Seraph since 2014 and handles the finances for the Parish and School.

With a degree in Business Admin from Miami University in Oxford, OH, and a Master’s degree from UC, she has over 40 years of non-profit accounting experience.

Steve Cox her husband of 44 years is an Electrical Engineer and together they have three children, Robin, Stephanie, and Dan.

Judy enjoys working with the Franciscan Friars and hearing the stories of their studies in Oldenburg, IN, where the nuns from her grade school also studied.
   

Jeanette Tepe, Parish Office Assistant

 

Jeanette Tepe, Parish Office Assistant

Jeanette works one day a week completing accounts payable transactions. In other words, she pays the bills!