In honor of his one-year anniversary, The Catholic Telegraph sat down with Archbishop Casey and posed questions to get to know him better. He kindly shared a little bit about himself and his experience in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati so far.

What has surprised you most in your first year as Archbishop?

I think what has surprised me most is the reality of God being so good at surprising us. That has been evident in my life continually. So, moving to the Archdiocese of Cincinnati and seeing how God has introduced me to unexpected people and unexpected places where I have discovered God present and active in the Church here [has surprised me]. It’s been the same experience of Church—the same of Father, Son and Holy Spirit—that I had in my life in Chicago. It’s been a wonderful surprise, being able to settle into this archdiocese and feel at home.

Do you have a favorite memory from year one or something you recollect fondly that you’d like to share?

I can think of a few standouts from this first year. One that comes out of sadness was the fire in Maria Stein when St. John’s burned. The chancellor and I drove up to the parish the next day for a Mass with the people, and they were surprised to see us there. … Our family had a tragedy. When families have tragedies, we pull together. So, it was important for me. … But then to see the people in this archdiocese respond with such charity and compassion towards their brothers and sisters who had suffered the loss of that church; that was a beautiful moment.

On a happier note, I would say my experience of throwing the first pitch at the Reds game was a great experience for our local Church. … Without a word, we evangelized that night because people saw the joy of being Catholic and the presence of the Catholic community here in our archdiocese.

What opportunities stand out to you here in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati?

Here in the archdiocese, we face the same opportunities that we see across the country. The opportunity to proclaim Jesus alive and present and in our midst. There are so many [people] that don’t realize that our belief is not something of our imagination. Our experience of Christ is real and Christ is truly present—not just in our church, but in our streets, our neighborhoods. When our Church can live that more fully and truly give people an encounter with Christ, that’s the opportunity that I look forward to. We cannot just be satisfied with those coming into our churches, but [we must ask] how can we go out into our communities and really help people experience the joy of the Gospel that we know to be true.

What was your first job?

My first job was mowing the lawn and shoveling snow for an elderly woman in my neighborhood. That was before I turned 16. In my family, when you turned 16, you got a job. And I remember that day: I got on my bicycle, and I was not going to work at McDonald’s where my brother and sister worked. I was going to do something different. I ended up working at McDonald’s. And I was very good, by the way. I could handle the drive-thru better than anybody—that was my domain.

Who is your favorite musical artist?

I have a very eclectic musical palette. I listen to everything. And so, you might hear classical music or pop music in my office.

A highlight for me since coming to the Archdiocese of Cincinnati was seeing the Petersens live in concert. I have followed this family bluegrass band out of Branson, Missouri, and I was able to go to their concert in Russia, Ohio. That was a highlight, because I have loved listening to their music for years, and to see them in person was really a treat.

What is your favorite season? Spring, summer, fall, or winter?

My favorite season is the fall. I love the changing colors. I love those crisp autumn mornings where it’s just starting to turn cold.

What’s your favorite local lunch spot in the archdiocese?

Well, there’s a taco place [attached to] the Pastoral Center, Taqueria Mercado. I love the Mexican food from that place. But I also have enjoyed getting some Asian noodles from Harry & Shan and a sandwich from Silverglades.

Do you have a favorite coffee spot?

Coffee Emporium. I always get a great cup of coffee and a scone from there.

What’s your favorite Graeter’s ice cream flavor?

This is probably a little controversial because I think I’ve heard the top flavor is black raspberry chip, and I prefer black cherry. My favorite Graeter’s ice cream is more the black cherry with chocolate chips. That’s the one that I really enjoy.

What are we likely to find in your refrigerator?

I’m very good about breakfast, so you will always find milk, yogurt, and orange juice. Then I struggle with my lunch and dinner. A lot of times, you must go to the freezer for lunch and dinner options. Right now, my refrigerator is very empty because I’ve been on the road for many confirmations. It seems like every evening I’m heading to a different part of the archdiocese for confirmation. So, I’m not doing very much cooking these days.

What’s something you learned recently?

I learned how to throw a baseball. That is something my family still cannot believe. It took me coming to Cincinnati to become a baseball fan. I was never a sports kid—that was my brothers and sister.

I think the other thing is that I’ve never been the ordinary of a diocese. I was an auxiliary bishop up in Chicago. And so, to have Pope Francis invite me to take on the leadership of this local Church, that’s something new. I’m very grateful to Cardinal Bernardin, who ordained me a priest 32 years ago. I’m grateful to Cardinal George and Cardinal Cupich—these bishops who helped school me and prepare me, not knowing that what they were teaching me in word and example would lead to this, but I’m learning how to take on the mantle of being the shepherd here.

This article appeared in the April 2026 edition of The Catholic Telegraph Magazine. For your complimentary subscription, click here.