ASSISTANT PASTORS

In supplying the spiritual needs of a congregation growing so rapidly Father Eis had the assistance at different times of several priests. Father Hormisch assisted from 1878 to 1880, then Father Hochmiller of the Josephinum College. It was not until 1889 that a regular assistant was appointed by Bishop Watterson. Rev. Hugh Ewing had been ordained but a short time when he was sent to Sacred Heart Church and remained there until the formation of St. Peter's Parish of which he was made the first pastor. After Father Ewing, the Rev. Augustine Vassal aided Father Eis for eleven years until the spring of 1907. Rev. William Schaeffer served for a few months and was succeeded by Rev. John Curran. The latter--never very strong--fell victim to the flu epidemic and died November 5, 1918. Besides his parish duties, Father Curran was also acting as Superintendent of Schools for the Diocese. He was a native of Bellaire and lies buried in that city.

DEATH OF FATHER EIS

Father Eis was also stricken with influenza in 1918, and he never fully recovered. His condition was complicated with the infirmities of age and he died at St. Francis Hospital, December 9, 1922. Father John B. Eis was pastor of sacred Heart Parish for over forty years. He was a man of great ability with a talent for leadership. One of his gifts was knowledge of several languages, which was most helpful to him in his parochial duties. He was also distinguished for his zeal in preaching the Word of God and unflagging devotion to the progress of Sacred Heart School. Father Eis is buried in St. Joseph Cemetery and the parish shortly after his death marked his last resting-place with a fine monument.

FATHER RYAN APPOINTED PASTOR

During the first illness of Father Eis, Fathers Hackett, Fischer and Kilgallen looked after the spiritual needs of the parish. In July, 1919, the Reverend James M. Ryan who had been serving as Chaplain of the 133rd Machine Gun Battalion in France, was appointed by Bishop Hartley to be Administrator of Sacred Heart Parish and commissioned to build a new church and parish house. Father Ryan had been ordained in 1908 and served as Assistant Pastor in St. Francis de Sales Church, Newark, Ohio, and St. John Church at Bellaire, Ohio. In June 1914, he was appointed Pastor of Holy Cross Church in Glouster, Ohio, and remained there until he entered the Army as a chaplain. Upon his arrival at Sacred Heart, Father Ryan began immediately to lay the groundwork for the new church. A debt of several thousand dollars was paid off and a drive started to raise a building fund. In January, 1920, the Sacred Heart Church Calendar was inaugurated in its present format to record the various activities and progress of the parish. It was a monthly publication and since 1920 has never missed an issue.

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