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Saint Francis De Sales Church

20 De Sales Avenue
513-932-6501

Mission

St. Francis de Sales Parish supports local and international missions. Locally, we support the Lebanon Food Pantry each week with donations. Check the bulletin for the current items in need. We also help Interfaith Hospitality Network with donations to aid displaced families. Our parish St. Vincent de Paul Society helps Warren county families with emergency needs such as heating bills and other necessities. Archbishop Pilarczyk has requested that every parish “twin” with a charitable cause in Latin America. St. Francis de Sales’ twin is the new Santa Maria de Guatemala School. See the link for more information on Santa Maria


A Brief History

The history of the Catholic Church in Lebanon began in the early 1800's when there were few Catholics and no organized congregation. As early as 1847, Mass was being offered in the Daly and Shay homes.

In 1857 work began on a permanent church on West Silver Street. The project was interrupted by the Civil War and was never completed. Then in 1874 the parish of St. Francis de Sales was organized, and in 1883 it was officially founded with Rev. Henry Brinkmeyer as the first pastor. the cornerstone for the new church sat East Orchard and South Mechanic Streets was laid in May 1883. Archbishop William Elder officiated and returned in six months to dedicate the new church and nearby rectory.

In 1958, Rev. Joseph Zimmer received permission to erect a church and school on ten acres of land north of Lebanon. The cornerstone was laid December 4, 1960 with a new rectory across the street built by George Hartz, Sr. and Sons. Dedication of the new church took place September 26, 1961 by Archbishop Karl J. Alter.