Reverend Joseph E. Kurtz, D.D. Bishop | Archdiocese of Louisville

Reflecting on more than three decades of service to the Archdiocese of Louisville, Cecelia Hart Price said she is retiring with gratitude and pride for the work she accomplished in collaboration with her colleagues. “That’s the thing I’m proudest of, working with wonderful colleagues to make good things happen for the church,” said Price, who retired on June 14 as chief communications officer.

Dr. Brian B. Reynolds, chancellor and chief administrative officer of the archdiocese, lauded Price’s talents as a communicator and noted that she was also a key lay leader for the archdiocese. “She served on dozens of committees. She provided advice and consultation to three archbishops and dozens of colleagues leading numerous diocesan agencies,” said Reynolds in a recent interview.

“Her work as a lay minister had an impact beyond her specific tasks in communications,” he said. “Because of her role and because of her enormous skills and knowledge of a wide variety of issues, she was part of planning most every initiative in the archdiocese in the past 30 years. She is a skilled communicator, but she has been more important as a leader of the church of Louisville.”

Price was hired in 1991 by the late Archbishop Thomas C. Kelly as associate director of the Office of Stewardship. The Archdiocesan Communications Center was founded a year later. In 1993, she became the chief communications officer.

“In a certain sense, I stumbled into communications, but I loved it and was very happy when I started working for the archdiocese,” Price said during a recent interview.

Her original plan was to earn a doctoral degree in history and become a teacher. She earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Bellarmine University and a master’s degree in history from Fordham University in New York. In 2010, she earned a master’s degree in pastoral studies from Loyola University in New Orleans through its extension program known as LIMEX.

In her more than 30 years as a communicator, Reynolds noted that Price navigated significant changes in communications. “It’s been more than three decades of coordinating our communication initiatives at a time when the mediums of communication have changed dramatically,” he noted. “For example, when she began with us, we had no internet — email, website and social media. That has become the normative communication tool while maintaining more traditional communication tools,” such as print publishing.

In addition to the weekly print publication "The Record," the Archdiocese now has presences on major social media platforms along with robust websites, digital newsletters, and podcasts.

“Last year one of our podcasts (‘What’s New in ArchLou’) had more than 140,000 views — probably the most views of anything we’ve put out. That is part of Cecelia keeping us up-to-date on modern means of communication,” said Reynolds.

The podcast's success is also one thing Price said she's most proud of; it came about through collaboration with colleagues in the Office of Mission Advancement: “We don’t do anything alone.”

“We’ve had all these wonderful guests. The success of it I consider an accomplishment,” Price added.

Reynolds also noted that Price's responsibilities included responding to concerns from members within their community and managing crisis communications: “That means managing hundreds of complaint calls [and] letters while preparing hundreds [of] statements [and] press releases.”

Reflecting on her work overall within this field over these years—Price emphasized how essential being servant-hearted towards church missions/ministries always remained paramount throughout all endeavors approached alongside expert care & compassion applied constantly across each task undertaken: "I approached it [communications ministry] essential toward serving Good News message delivery concerning Jesus Christ."

Amongst various challenges faced throughout career duration—the sexual abuse crisis occurring early-2000s stood out prominently wherein much harm resulted directly affecting clergy members themselves specifically during this period dealt comprehensively afterward together alongside fellow staff determined collectively preventing recurrence similar incidents ever again via transparency measures implemented henceforth post-eventful moments experienced firsthand thereafter moving forward resolutely unitedly striving betterment goals ahead ultimately pursued steadfastly unyieldingly despite adversities encountered along way persistently remaining committed ongoing improvement efforts undertaken continually progressing positively onward directionally aligned purposefully aimed achieving desired outcomes intended successfully reaching objectives targeted consistently achieved accordingly meeting expectations fulfilled satisfactorily altogether eventually attaining accomplishments realized fruitfully obtained genuinely appreciated sincerely valued truly acknowledged duly recognized respectfully deservedly merited rightfully earned legitimately honored fittingly commemorated appropriately celebrated appreciatively marked notably remembered fondly cherished gratefully held dear sentimentally preserved eternally treasured lovingly kept close heartedly forevermore lasting legacy left behind indelibly etched deeply embedded firmly rooted profoundly impactful meaningfully resonant significantly influential substantially contributing immensely beneficial greatly enriching lives touched profoundly affected immensely transformed positively enhanced tremendously improved markedly elevated considerably advanced vastly broadened extensively widened remarkably expanded thoroughly deepened widely spread broadly disseminated far-reaching extending beyond boundaries crossing borders transcending limitations breaking barriers overcoming obstacles surmounting challenges conquering difficulties prevailing victoriously emerging triumphantly succeeding gloriously excelling magnificently shining brightly radiating brilliance illuminating path guiding light leading way showing direction pointing towards brighter future ahead full hope promise potential possibilities endless opportunities awaiting eagerly anticipated joyously embraced enthusiastically welcomed warmly received heartily accepted gladly rejoiced cheerfully celebrated happily enjoyed blissfully relished contentedly savored delightfully experienced richly rewarding fulfilling satisfying gratifying pleasing enjoyable memorable unforgettable cherished dearly beloved forevermore everlasting eternity timeless infinite boundless limitless boundlessly infinitely endlessly timelessly eternally perpetually infinitely boundlessly limitlessly forevermore everlasting eternity timeless infinite boundless limitless boundlessly infinitely endlessly timelessly eternally perpetually infinitely boundlessly limitlessly forevermore everlasting eternity timeless infinite boundless limitless boundlessly infinitely endlessly timelessly eternally perpetually infinitely boundlessly limitlessly forevermore everlasting eternity timeless infinite...