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Paul Schaefer and Joan Weigel
accepting for Father Dunphy

Rev. Thomas R. Dunphy, Father Tom as he is affectionately called, serves the parish of St. Martin of Tours on Station Road in Valley City as their pastor. He was ordained as a Catholic priest from the diocese of Cleveland in 1958. His first assignment was at St. Raphael's in Bay Village followed by his second assignment at the Newman Center in Akron. He was assigned to St. Martin in 1984 and appointed pastor in the fall of 1986.

Father Tom was born and raised in Akron, Ohio where he still keeps in contact with family members and many friends. He is an avid reader and an eloquent speaker. He is active with the Buckeye Area Ministerial Association; he is a member of a fraternity of priests; he ministers to residents at Medina Life Care Center, the local nursing home; and spends many hours visiting and ministering to the home and hospital bound.

St. Martin's new church and complex were dedicated on November 3, 2002. Overseeing a congregation of 1,263 registered households, of 3,789 individuals, keeps him extremely busy. The new church and complex reflect his affinity for combining reverence for God and quality aesthetics in architecture. He also spearheaded the additions of a new cemetery with walkways, granite monuments, and serene landscaping.

He is loved by his parishioners of all ages, from the newborn babies right through those nearing 100 years old! He is extremely proud of his Irish heritage and jokes about his red hair which he hasn't accepted as being gray/white yet! He is a city boy who has settled into our rural community and is respected and welcomed by all of our township residents.