In Loving Memory

In Loving Memory of Fr. Germain Krizmanich, OFM

On Friday, September 8, 2000, Father Germain losing his heroic battle with bone cancer, returned home to his creator.

Longtime pastor of St. Francis Seraph Church in Over-the-Rhine, The Rev. Germain Krizmanich, was both a war hero and hero to the poor. He served with distinction as a tail gunner with the 530th Army Bomber Squadron during World War II.

Born Carl Louis Krizmanich in South Bend, Indiana, he received seven battle stars and the Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters for his service in the Pacific Theater during World War II.

Fr. Germain's 44 years of priestly ministry can be divided in two categories. He gave 22 years of service in parochial ministry in Buras, Louisiana, Southfield, Michigan, and at Saint Francis Seraph Parish in Cincinnati, where he was pastor for 13 years. In 1981, with the assistance of Cookie Vogelpohl and Bud McDermott, Fr. Germain began the Saint Francis Seraph Soup Kitchen.

The other 18 years of dedicated service were given to the Cursillo movement of Cincinnati. Cursillo is a Spanish-based movement that offers a weekend of study and prayer to lay people and priests. In 1962, he succeeded Fr. Fidelis Albrecht, OFM, who brought the movement, with the approval of Archbishop Karl J. Alter, to the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. Fr. Germain became director a year later, and in 1964, had the courage and faith to introduce the Cursillo movement to women.

"He was a great leader and innovator," declared Brother Conrad Rebmann, a profession classmate, citing Fr. Germain's efforts at the soup kitchen and with the Cursillo.

He will be missed.