Welcome to our new Pastor, Fr. David Howard!

As we welcome our new pastor, here is a short biography to get to know him better!

I was born in Dayton, Ohio, baptized at Mary Help of Christians Catholic Church in Fairborn, Ohio, and, in fact, grew up in Fairborn, where my mother and most of my family still resides.  I attended the Fairborn Public School System and graduated from Fairborn High School in 1988. 

Upon graduation, I worked for National Amusements, Inc. as a House Manager and a Managing Director for Showcase Cinemas.  In 1993, I decided, through personal discernment, to pursue a college degree, and so I left my place of employment and entered Wright State University. 

I attended Wright State University for about a year, and, discovered that I had an interest in studying Law.  So, in 1994, I entered an Associates Degree Program in Legal Assisting at Rets Tech Center as a “stepping stone” to such a career.  And, upon graduation, I worked part-time as a Paralegal and full-time as a maintenance worker at St. Luke Parish in Beavercreek, Ohio, which is the parish at which I came back into Full Communion with the Catholic Church through the RCIA in 1991 and received Holy Confirmation and my First Holy Communion.

My life discernment eventually led me to consider the priesthood.  And, so, I entered college seminary in 1997.  And, I attended the Pontifical College Josephinum and graduated in 2001 earning a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major area of concentration in Philosophy, as well as minor areas of concentration in Literature and Classical Languages. 

Upon graduating from the “Josh”, I began my graduate studies at the Athenaeum of Ohio in 2001 and earned a Master of Divinity degree and was ordained to the Sacred Priesthood in 2006.

During my years of formation I was involved in various practica and apostolates in many different parishes located in both the Diocese of Columbus, Ohio and the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.  Such archdiocesan parishes would include St. Luke Parish in Beavercreek, Ohio; Holy Family Parish in Price Hill; Corpus Christi Parish in New Burlington; Our Lord Christ the King Parish in Cincinnati; and, the Coldwater Cluster in Coldwater, Ohio. 

One of the great highlights of my seminary experience involved traveling to the Holy Land and visiting those most awesome and impressive sites visited by our Blessed Lord.

Currently, I am serving as the Parochial Vicar at Immaculate Heart of Mary in Anderson Township, where I have been involved over the past two years, save a few months when I was recovering from my second major back surgery.

Prior to my injuries, I avidly enjoyed exercising, in particular power and weight lifting, as well as playing sports, especially basketball, tennis and golf.   Presently, I enjoy watching from the sidelines, and I take pleasure in exercising and playing sports as I am physically able.  And, since I have lived in Cincinnati for the past seven years, I am a both a Cincinnati Reds and a Cincinnati Bengals fan.  I also enjoy reading and studying as well, especially subject matter regarding Catholic Orthodoxy and Orthopraxis.

It is a great joy for me to have received the opportunity to be able to serve you as the new Pastor of Sts. Peter & Paul Parish in Reading.  I have heard many wonderful things about the parishioners of Sts. Peter & Paul, and I look forward to being with you.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. Howard