Transfiguration of the Lord Parish was established on July 1, 2005, by decree of the
Bishop of the Diocese of Toledo, the Most Reverend Leonard P. Blair. The new parish was created from
the combined membership, ministries and resources of St. Joseph's Parish in Salem Township, St. Mary's
Parish in Kirby, and St. Peter's Parish in Upper Sandusky.
Upper Sandusky was designated as the site for the newly formed parish and Fr. Kent R. Kaufman, who had
pastored the former cluster of the three parishes, was named the first pastor. Although there was a
long history of interconnectedness and cooperation among the three parishes, from the outset it became
evident that becoming one parish would be a difficult venture since each of the former parishes had its
own rich history.
The parishioners of Transfiguration of the Lord Parish have much in common with
agriculture as the center of life. The geographical region of the parish consists of the southern
two-thirds of Wyandot County and includes the communities of Upper Sandusky, Kirby, Wharton, Harpster,
Marseilles, and Nevada, as well as the townships of Salem, Richland, Jackson, Marsielles, Antrim, Eden,
Crane, Pitt and Mifflin. Many parishioners are related by blood, through marriage, or in friendship.
As the parish continues to form its own identity, while respecting the gifts of the people who are working
to become "of one heart," new ways of being a church are becoming evident. With just a few years in it
history, parishioners are building a community of believers as they whitness to the Gospel through
service and reverence for all. Becoming tranfigured in Christ is a life-long goal as the people of God
in Wyandot County continue their journey of Faith.