By the 1860s the congregation of St. Boniface had outgrown the original church and land was purchased at the corner of Miami and South Downing. The congregation began worshiping in the present church upon completion in 1865. In 1878, under the leadership of Rev. George Steinlage, the Sisters of Christian Charity came to teach the children of St. Boniface. The old rectory was converted to a convent and a new rectory next to the church was built.

In 1901, major renovations to the church took place. Sacristies and a large sanctuary were added. A chapel, dedicated to St. Clare and to be used for the daily celebration of the Mass, was built below the sanctuary of the church. The flat ceilings of the church were replaced with a steel ceiling of Gothic design. Members of the congregation donated stained glass windows, oak pews, communion rails, and a pulpit. In 1919, under the leadership of Rev. Aloysius Monter, a vestibule was added to the front of the church. A hallway was built connecting the church to the rectory and the exterior of the church and rectory was stuccoed. Again under the leadership of Fr. Monter, St. Boniface School, at the corner of Wood and Downing Streets, was completed in 1954. In 1969, under Rev. Charles Rohrkemper, the church tower clock was renovated and an electronic chime system installed in memory of Fr. Monter. In addition, Fr. Rohrkemper oversaw the renovation of the interior of the church in light of the renewal of the Second Vatican Council.

In 1990, under the leadership of Rev. Angelo Caserta, Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration began at St. Clare Chapel. Since then, parishioners of St. Boniface, St. Mary (Piqua), St. Patrick (Troy), St. Teresa (Covington), Holy Angels (Sidney), and other surrounding parishes have come to adore the Blessed Sacrament twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. During the pastorate of Fr. Caserta, the school was consolidated with St. Mary (Piqua) Parish School to form Piqua Catholic Elementary School. This consolidation necessitated the building of a new cafeteria, new classrooms, parish meeting rooms, and gymnasium.

Today, under the leadership of our pastor, the parish of St. Boniface is alive and growing. The parish serves as a pastoral training center for students for the priesthood as well as other organizations of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. As their ancestors did, so the present parishioners rely on the past but look to the future. They are a parish family working together on the journey through this world to make Christ visible in their prayer together, their adoration of Christ in the Eucharist, their social outreach to the community, and most of all by their love for one another.

St. Boniface

Bishop and Martyr (675 - 754)

Boniface was an English Benedictine missionary, known as the Apostle of Germany. Born Winfred or Wynfrith in Crediton, Devonshire, he was educated at the monastery in Nursling, Hampshire, England at which he became an abbot about 717. In 718, he was authorized by Pope Gregory II to preach Christianity to all the tribes of Germany. Boniface traveled through Thuringen, Bavaria, Friesland, Hessen, and Saxony (Sachsen).

In 723 the pope called him to Rome, consecrated him bishop, and furnished him with letters to Charles Martel, Frankish ruler of Austrasia, and all princes and bishops, requesting their aid in his work. Returning to Hessen the following year, Boniface destroyed the objects of heathen worship and founded churches and convents. In recognition of his services, Pope Gregory III named him archbishop and primate of all Germany, with power to establish dioceses. Boniface made a third journey to Rome in 738 and was appointed papal legate for Germany.

On the eve of Pentecost in 754 Boniface, while preparing for the confirmation of some of his converts in Dokkum, West Friesland (now in the Netherlands), was attacked by a hostile band. While exhorting his companions to trust in God, he was killed when one of his enemies thrust an axe into his chest. His body rests at Fulda, Germany and his feast day is June 5th. Boniface's emblem is a book, pierced with an ax.