Meet the Priests
Meet Fr. Stephen Jones, Parochial Vicar
I grew up in Kokomo, Indiana. I attended St. Joan of Arc and St. Patrick school and was also a parishioner of St. Joan of Arc. Both sides of my family were small and close-knit, and it wasn’t until after high school that family members started to move from Kokomo. But even that seemed to be providential. Growing up, I played baseball, participated in Boy Scouts, served at Mass with my best friends, played the trumpet for marching and concert band, and got involved with leading our local youth group. After high school, I attended Franciscan University of Steubenville where I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and Theology. It was at Franciscan that I first met friends from Cincinnati and began to discern joining a diocese I did not grow up in. As that call grew stronger, the family also began to move to Cincinnati and the surrounding area. I knew that I was being called to join the Archdiocese and that God in his goodness had even moved some of my old home closer to me.
Growing up, I had always thought the priest had one of the best “jobs” I could imagine, but I never thought that I could be called to the priesthood. In my head, the priesthood was something only the holiest of holy people were called to, and I was a regular kid that liked scouts, band, and playing video games with friends. It was during my junior year in high school that God shattered that misconception during a Eucharistic procession at a retreat and I began to seriously discern if God might be calling me to the priesthood.
Many priests have helped me to realize a vocation to the priesthood was one of joy, love for people, and for God. During my years of formation, priests helped me to understand what it meant to be a pastor and priest in the parish. Pastors like Fr. Martin Fox, Fr. Barry Stechschulte, Fr. Alexander Witt, and Fr. Thomas McCarthy all generously gave their time to help form me as a seminarian, deacon, and future priest. But priests were not my only examples in life while discerning the priesthood. I had the examples of many holy people such as the catechists who handed on the faith, parish office staff, teachers, maintenance staff, and parishioners who all have all gifted me with their time, insights and expertise. I have met so many people from all over the states and I do not have time to thank everyone who has been a part of my journey in life for these past 30 years, but I hope they realize how much they have done in helping me be who I am today.
I look forward to finally getting to serve the parishes of the Archdiocese as a priest! I have been helping at parishes in many capacities during my time in seminary and the work of serving them in whatever way I can has been a source of great joy in my life and a confirmation of my call. But no matter what gifts and talents I have been able to give, it will not compare to what I will be able to give as a priest. I will finally be able to offer the people God the grace of the sacraments which I have loved and depended on my whole life. How can one not be excited and immensely humbled in preparing to be an instrument of God in bringing such healing and life-giving nourishment that comes to us from the sacraments?
I have always had a devotion to Mary through the Rosary and the beautiful Consecration to Jesus Through Mary that St. Louie De Montfort has provided the church. Mary has helped me grow closer to her Son over these many years as she has gently and lovingly guided my heart to grow in deeper understanding and devotion. Later in Life I added the Divine Mercy Chaplet as I experienced the power of its simple words amid the loss and pain and as a path to restrengthen my trust in the Lord and His mercy. I also continually turn towards St. Joseph of Cupertino, Padre Pio, and St. John Vianney, and St. Philip Neri in their examples of priestly devotion to Jesus and his Church.
When I have free time, I enjoy listening to audio media. I can always put a good book on when I’m driving from one scheduled event to another or while out on a walk. Si-Fi or other fiction, podcasts on historical events, talks from the Lighthouse Catholic Media, or various Catholic books and spiritual works are all in the cue to listen to whenever I get the chance. I also like dabbling with technology. I took apart a camera to figure out how it worked when I was in middle school, and ever since then, I have loved exploring the mysteries of how electronics work. I have been constantly building, tearing apart, upgrading, and repurposing electronics and these skills have been surprisingly useful while in seminary and in the parish.
As an “adopted” seminarian studying for a diocese that I did not grow up in, I wanted to say thank you. Thank you for all these years living in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, welcoming me with such kindness into your parishes and your lives. You have made this a new home for me. You have made the decision to be ordained to a lifetime of serving the Archdiocese of Cincinnati both an easy and a joyful one. I cannot wait to serve you as one of your priests, and I look forward to all the gifts God will give to me through you.
Meet Fr. Matt Feist, Parochial Vicar
Hello parishioners of the Northwest 5 family of parishes!
It is with great joy that I will be able to serve our entire family as I continue to live at St. Mary’s in Greenville. I have enjoyed getting to know some parishioners in our different parishes over the last year at various gatherings around Greenville and Darke County and I hope I can meet many more of you very soon.
I would love to schedule a time to meet a big group of parishioners to have a meal or a bourbon. If you see me out and about at Sure Shot or at a restaurant don’t hesitate to say hello and chat.
A little background about me. I grew up in the southern part of our Archdiocese, on the eastside of Cincinnati – Eastgate. My family still lives in that area: my parents Steve and Debbie, my 2 sisters and my brother. I graduated in 2000 from Glen Este High School. Then I graduated from Franciscan University of Steubenville and majored in computer information science. I worked in youth ministry for a couple of years before entering seminary and was ordained for the Archdiocese in May 2016. I have had various assignments with the Archdiocese in Coldwater, Fort Recovery, and Cincinnati.
Some hobbies I enjoy are watching sports (especially the Cincinnati Reds). I plan to visit every MLB stadium. I enjoy playing trivia, and I am a member of the Gem City Bourbon Society.
Please know of my prayers for you and please pray for Fr. Brown and the other priests as we help you through this time of transition.
Meet Fr. James Reutter, Parochial Vicar
My name is Fr. James Reutter. I have been ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati for 18 years now. Since my ordination in 2004, I served a couple of years as a parochial vicar for Holy Angels in Sidney while teaching senior religion at Lehman Catholic High School and then served 12 years as pastor at Our Lady of Victory in Delhi (western suburbs of Cincinnati). More recently, I have served for four years as pastor of two rural parishes in Bethel and New Richmond (Clermont County).
I was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, in a family of 13 children. Together with most of my siblings, I moved to Cincinnati after college where my mother’s family is from, so I entered seminary there.
I am a late vocation so did work in the corporate world for several years before finally answering the call to the priesthood. In that time, I worked as a computer programmer and analyst for auto companies and suppliers and a major pharmaceutical company.
In my spare time I enjoy visiting family, reading, and hiking in whatever woods or mountains I can get to.
I am looking forward to serving in the Northwest 5 region.
Meet Fr. Ned Brown, Pastor
Rev. Ned Joseph Brown Curriculum Vitae
I was born in St. Mary's hospital in 1964 to the parents of George and Mary Brown. I was raised in Minster, Ohio with my 8 siblings of which I am the youngest. I have 2 sisters and 6 brothers (most of you may know my brother Roy when he worked at the Versailles Inn and Restaurant) When growing up my father did candid wedding photography for 40+ years and may have taken pictures of your grandparents and parents weddings.
I graduated from Minster Local High School in 1982. I attended and graduated from Wright State University with an Associates degree in Applied Manufacturing Engineering in 1985. I attended Bowling Green University from 1985 to 1987 but left to join the Legion of Christ before I graduated. In high school and college years I worked at the Wooden Shoe Inn in the kitchen, then as a custodian and lab technician at St Mary’s foundry and weekend night guard at Minster Machine’s foundry. When at Bowling Green University I also worked at the GM Inland plant in Dayton as a co-op statistician and later at Westinghouse in Lima in their engineering department helping oversee their lathe and milling operations.
In 1987, I entered the Novitiate of the Legionaries of Christ in Cheshire, CT. I made my first vows in 1989 in Cheshire. I did my Humanities study year in Salamanca, Spain in the academic year 1989-1990. In October 1990 I began my Philosophy Studies in Rome with the Legionaries of Christ. I completed these 2 years of philosophy studies in 1992.
In the summer of 1992, I was transferred back to the United States to begin a 3 year internship. My first year assignment was on various vocational recruitment assignments that had me working in the mid-western states.
In January 1993, I continued with working on a different vocational road team this time being sent to the West Coast of the United States that included territory from Arizona through California all the way up to Calgary & Vancouver, Canada. In the fall of that year I began what would be a 2 year assignment on a fundraising road team on the Atlantic East Coast (Eastern NY, Philadelphia Maryland & Virginia).
In October of 1995, after internship, I began my final Theological Studies in preparation for priesthood at the Regina Apostolorum Atheneum. I eventually graduated with a Bachelor's degree in theology with Magna Cum Laude honors. I was ordained a deacon on June 29, 1998 in Rome by Monsignor Magistris.
After diaconate ordination I was sent back to the USA to Edgerton, Wisconsin. My assignment was again as a recruiter for the novitiate age vocations and spiritual director of both Regnum Christi (RC) male and female members in the midwest territory. (10 states and 2 territories of Canada)
On December 24, 1998, I was ordained a priest by Cardinal Angelo Sodano in the Chapel of Regina Apostolorum in Rome, Italy. In September 1999, I changed residence to Clarkston, MI until the fall of 2002 while retaining my previous apostolate of vocational recruiter and spiritual guide to RC members in my territory.
In 2002 I was transferred to Dallas, TX and worked as a vocational recruiter in the southern cities of Texas including Houston, San Antonio and Austin. In addition to being a recruiter I was named chaplain to the 2 LC schools in those cities. (Northwoods School in Spring, TX and Rolling Hills School in San Antonio,TX). I was also the coordinator of apostolates and spiritual director of the men’s, young men’s, and women’s sections of Regnum Christiin those localities.
In the fall of 2003, I switched assignments to work as an auxiliary chaplain at the Highlands School in Dallas, TX and vocational recruiter for Dallas and Oklahoma.
In the fall of 2004, I was transferred to Potomac Maryland to work as a spiritual guide and auxiliary priest to the men’s and young men’s sections of Regnum Christi for that area which included the cities of Baltimore, MD, Bethesda, MD. and Raleigh, NC. I also became a once a week chaplain at Notre Dame Academy in Middletown, Virginia.
In the late fall of 2008, I was assigned the additional work of chaplain to the Woodmont School in Cooksville, MD. In March 2010, I was relieved of my duty as chaplain and returned to being a spiritual guide for the Maryland and Virginia sections of Regnum Christi.
In addition to the other responsibilities already mentioned, I regularly preached nights of recollection and Ignatian Spiritual exercises to young men and women as well as adult men and women of Regnum Christi organized by Regnum Christi teams across the nation.
In July of 2010, after 24 years in the Legion of Christ, I asked for and received permission to leave the congregation of the Legion of Christ to seek incardination into the diocese of Cincinnati, OH. I took a 3 month break to discern my next steps helping with Masses at St Augustine parish in my hometown during this time.
On September 1, 2010, I began an assignment as Parochial Vicar at St Albert the Great Parish in Kettering, Ohio until July 2015.
In March of 2014, I was officially incardinated into the diocese of Cincinnati, Ohio.
For the last 7 years I have been Pastor of the Fort Recovery parishes consisting of Mary Help of Christians, St Joseph, St Paul and St Peter’s Catholic churches. In 2020, I was elected to the Bishop’s Presbyteral Council representing the St Mary’s deanery.
In my limited free time I enjoy cooking, smoking and grilling for family and friends. I like to cook a Spanish dish called Paella. I especially like making Italian food and various pasta dishes including homemade ravioli. I enjoy making desserts and candy such as caramels which I make for the youth group to sell and earn money for their mission trips.
I suffer a lifelong mental condition being a Cleveland Browns fan. There seems still to be no cure.
I like to take pilgrims to Europe for tours of the beautiful Churches, scenic views and learn about their rich history. So far I have led pilgrimages to places such as Italy, including Rome, Naples, Pompei, Orvieto, Assisi amongst many other cities. I also have taken tour groups to Spain, Portugal, Barcelona and France including such cities and places like Paris, Charte, Normandy, Lourdes, Santiago de Compostela, Fatima, Lisbon, Madrid and many other cities.
I like to see other places than the corn and bean fields of Ohio and Indiana and am so appreciative for the generosity of parishioners and friends that have made it possible for my travel and enjoy places this side of the Atlantic including Mexico and the Bahamas, Puerto Rico and stateside to Florida and California and so many other states and cities throughout this beautiful country.