Fr. Paul Wohlwend to Mark 65th Anniversary
2023
Congratulations to Fr. Paul Wohlwend, C.P.P.S., who this year is celebrating the 65th anniversary of his ordination.
Fr. Wohlwend was born in Akron and raised in Suffield, Ohio, and in his home parish of St. Joseph in Randolph, Ohio. He entered Brunnerdale, the Congregation’s minor seminary in Canton, Ohio, in 1942, and was ordained in 1954. After his ordination, he served at St. Charles Seminary in Carthagena, Ohio. He then served at the following parishes: St. Gabriel, Detroit; Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament, Cleveland; Precious Blood, Dayton; and St. John the Baptist in Whiting, Indiana.
In 1972, he became administrator of St. Peter Church in Winamac, Indiana. While at St. Peter’s, the parishioners gave him a very special gift for the 25th Anniversary of his ordination. It was a quilt with all the furnishings. This quilt was planned and promoted over two years, during his vacation times. Each family was given a square patch to draw or paint something on that identified them There are about 500 patches on this quilt, pillow shams (2), and lap blankets (2).
In 1979, Fr. Wohlwend became pastor of Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Otttawa, Ohio. During that time, he also served two terms on the Congregation’s senate. In 1989, he because pastor at Mary Help of Christians Parish in Fort Recovery, Ohio.
He retired to St. Charles Center in 2004.
The Missionaries of Precious Blood will celebrate Fr. Wohlwend’s anniversary in addition to the milestone anniversaries of eight other priests and brothers during a Mass on the Feast of the Precious Blood, July 1, at the St. Charles Center.
“We’re inspired by the lives of service of these men. They said yes to God through their vocation to religious life many years ago, and continue to say yes to this day,” said Fr. Jeffrey Kirch, C.P.P.S., provincial director of the Cincinnati Province of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood. “May God bless them with many more years in which to live out that call.”
The Missionaries of the Precious Blood is a religious society of priests, religious brothers, and lay associates founded in 1815 by St. Gaspar del Bufalo. Society members work as missionaries in parishes in the U.S. and abroad, in education, and in a wide range of apostolates promoting the cause of God’s reconciliation worldwide by proclaiming the Word.
A Prized Gift
Just after the new year (2023), Father Paul Wohlwend made a phone call to his former parish of St. Peter Catholic Church in Winamac. St. Peter is now part of the Fulton/Pulaski Pastorate, comprised of six churches located within the two counties. Father Paul connected with the office and spoke with Administrative Assistant Lisa Brady. He wanted to share something with the people he once served.
He left this written note. “Among the surprising gifts I received from my parish, St. Peter’s at Winamac, Indiana, for my 25th anniversary of my ordination, was a quilt with additional furnishings. This quilt was planned and promoted over two years, during my vacation times. Each family was given a square patch to draw or paint something that identified them. There are about 500 patches on this quilt. Someone recently suggested that sharing a prized gift would be a great idea. This is my prized gift, and it is from the parish I served. I wanted you to be able to see it before it goes unwanted.”
After hearing his request, Lisa was so moved that she planned a weekend trip to Ohio to visit Father Paul and carefully brought back this prized gift. The quilt and furnishings have been on display in the Social Hall at St. Peter since March (2023). Knowing the tremendous historic significance of this quilt, Lisa contact the Pulaski County Historical Society, where they agreed for the quilt to be given a forever home. Father Wohlwend is currently residing the St. Charles Senior Living Community in Carthagena, Ohio. He served as the Administrator at St. Peter Catholic Church from 1972 through 1979 and has been a priest for 69 years.
Lisa Brady stated, “I believe everyone who sees this display and reads Fr. Paul’s description will certainly appreciate its tremendous significance and beauty. Thank you for sharing, Fr. Paul.”
As of October, 2023, Father Wohlwend was living in St. Charles, Ohio and had been a priest for 69 years.
The Quilt
The quilt, two pillow shams, and two lap blankets contain 440 blocks.
- 32 blocks are on the double-sided shams.
- 58 blocks are on the two lap blankets (one side each).
- 311 blocks are on the two sides of the quilt.
- 38 decorative blocks help with sizing.
- One large block is in the center of one side of the quilt. It contains the statement of dedication.
