Supporters of the Diocesan Parish Annual Appeal (DPAA) gathered for a reception in the Bishop Howard Memorial Auditorium, Covington, Aug. 24, to celebrate the success of the 2023 campaign.
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St. John the Baptist is seeking a full time DIRECTOR OF MUSIC MINISTRY. The primary function of this position is as follows:
The Director of Music Ministry serves the parish as principal musician, organist, and choir director according to the highest professional standards established by this profession.
Major Responsibilities
Key Skills, Knowledge and/or Abilities
Salary is commensurate with qualifications and experience. Full-time benefits will be provided.
To apply for this job, email a cover letter and resume to Fr. Paul Ruwe at [email protected]
Villa Madonna Academy in Villa Hills, Kentucky, is seeking a varsity boys and girls Tennis Coach who will inspire young athletes to excel on and off the court. If you’re committed to fostering a holistic approach to sports, we invite you to be a part of our team.
Rooted in Benedictine values, Villa Madonna Academy is dedicated to academic excellence and character formation. Join us in nurturing not only athletic skills but also the values that shape well-rounded individuals.
For more information or to apply, contact:
Steve Hesse
Athletic Director Villa Madonna Academy
859-331-6333 ext. 507
Hank Bischoff, Joshua Heskamp, and Michael Schulte share photos and stories of their summer Spanish immersion experience in San Antonio, Texas and Antiqua, Guatemala. Read more on page 3: https://covdio.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/9328Messenger25Aug2023-1.pdf
By Kendra McGuire.
Another summer has come and gone and we find ourselves quickly settling back into the school year routines. As we begin this new school year, our school communities share similar hopes and expectations.
Our faculty, staff, parents, and students all long for a successful year with great growth in learning. We hope for positive relationships that are cooperative and share common goals. But above all, we long to be part of a school community where everyone is welcome, everyone is loved, and everyone feels that they are an important part of the school.
In order for our school communities to meet these hopes and expectations, we have to recognize that Jesus Christ must be the center of all we do. In the book of James 1:17, we learn that “all good giving and every perfect gift is from above.” Together, we must put our faith first and be willing to serve where God calls us. By serving Him, we will become instruments through which God’s gifts of peace, love and joy will flow and fill our schools.
In early August, the teachers in our Catholic schools gathered together to focus on putting our faith first. We learned about the importance of prayer in our lives and discussed new ways to increase prayer in our classrooms and in our schools. We studied Sacred Scripture through the lens of a teacher to learn how Jesus, the Master Teacher, models great teaching. And we learned how we are all called to invite others to choose a relationship with Jesus Christ.
As I reflect upon the learning our teachers experienced, I believe it is helpful to think about this as parents too. We should stop and think about how we pray in our homes. Is it only before meals? Do we pray together as we head to school? This year, resolve to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17) in your home and with your children.
Our homes should also include the study of Sacred Scripture. We are called to live as Jesus lived, to model our actions after Him. Reading a Bible passage together daily or in preparation for Sunday Masses would be a great way to learn about Jesus and open the door to conversations about God and how He works in our lives.
As parents, the primary teachers of our children, we have a responsibility to call them into communion with Jesus. How often does Jesus come up in our conversations? When our children are struggling with the daily challenges of life, do we invite them to pray, visit with Jesus in Adoration, or go to Mass? Do we take them to Mass every Sunday where we can remind them that we go to give glory and praise to God for all the good gifts He has given to us?
This school year, let’s keep our expectations high and hold on to hope for great things. The faculty and staff in our schools are already working hard to help their students learn. We know they will lead our children in prayer and worship and create Christ-centered classrooms.
As parents, let us also make a commitment to strengthen our school communities further by making our homes Christ-centered too. When our communities are united in Jesus Christ, both at home and school, then they will reflect the love of Jesus Christ and become places where all will be welcomed, loved, and filled with great joy!
Kendra McGuire is superintendent of Schools for the Diocese of Covington, Ky.
By David Cooley.
It’s that time of the year again that’s filled with both excitement and anxiety for students, teachers, and parents alike. For most of us the summer is already out of reach, but a new school year brings with it an opportunity for a fresh start and new adventures.
Still, August and everything that comes after can be a little overwhelming. There is always so much to do and lots of pressure to get the school year off to a good start. With all the paperwork, school rules, bus routes, uniforms, practices, homework, etc., it’s important that we find balance each day. And there is only one way to ensure balance. Prayer, our ongoing conversation with God, must be our anchor in our day-to-day life if we are going to have any sense of peace.
The best way we can help our young people navigate through this life is to teach them the art of daily prayer — the importance of finding a place to be quiet and shut out all the noise — and to challenge them to find things to be grateful for every day. Prayer and gratitude, these are treasures of a Catholic school.
I don’t have to tell you that childhood today is very different than when we were growing up. But remember, it was a lot different for us than it was for our grandparents. Yet, it seems that many young people in our time are struggling with finding joy. Perhaps without all this technology it was easier to find the simple joys of life. The antidote to this problem is prayer and gratitude.
Children always have and will always need the same things. They need love and family, they need structure and recreation, they need friendship and a sense of understanding who they are in the eyes of God. They need to be humble, but also recognize they have a great purpose in life.
If we are to teach our children to be grateful, then we need to be grateful ourselves. Our gratitude and positive attitudes must be visible to young eyes. Teachers are, after all, witnesses. It is very fitting that in the Diocese of Covington, Bishop Iffert’s episcopal motto is “In all things give thanks,” (Thes 5:18). It is not easy, but it is life changing.
I want to begin this year by expressing how grateful I am for Catholic schools.
First and foremost, Catholic schools provide opportunities every day for students and faculty to encounter Christ. Our schools are at their best when they are providing the opportunity to receive Jesus in the sacrament of His Most Holy Body and Blood — what a gift!
Catholic schools are a place where we find an extended family, people who understand that we are all on this journey together to get to heaven. As the culture becomes more and more secular, Catholic schools are safe havens and beacons of light in the growing darkness. There aren’t many places left where we can trust our young people aren’t being bombarded with all kinds of unhealthy messages.
Catholic schools help our young people prioritize what is really important in life. By orienting their lives toward Christ and to serving others, things begin to make more sense. Sports, art, academics, video games, etc., all have a place, but a good school teaches children that God comes first. If a child learns early to put God first in everything they do everything else will fall into place.
Catholic schools teach children that we are all made in the image and likeness of God, and therefore every individual is unique and has an undeniable dignity as a child of God. This is important because it helps them understand more profoundly why things like bullying is wrong, why we need to respect our bodies and the bodies of others. It isn’t just, “This is wrong because the teacher said so;” it’s a lot deeper than that. Seeing the world this way, helps people learn to love themselves and others.
I could go on and on about why I am grateful for Catholic schools. I am so thankful for the many years I spent in Catholic schools myself and that I am now able to send my own children to Catholic schools.
I think if I had to sum it all up I would say that Catholic schools are a blessing because they minister to the whole person — mind, body and soul. There is a lot to unpack in that statement, and there are a lot of happy accidents in the results when you minister to children this way. Graduating from our schools we see good citizens, we see artists, we see doctors, we see famers, we see firefighters, teachers, the list can go on and on. But most importantly, graduating from our schools we see disciples of Christ, who are going to go out and make this world a better place.
Catholic schools teach us to be grateful to God for our life, for His love, and for His mercy, and they teach us to treat other people accordingly.
David Cooley is co-director of the Office of Catechesis and Evangelization in the Diocese of Covington.
The Diocese of Covington’s Catholic Charities is seeking to hire a Counselor for our Mental Health Programs. The position is 40 hours per week, including some evening hours. This staff person performs all the duties of a licensed counselor for our general counseling practice serving individuals and families. Major areas of responsibility include outpatient screening, assessment, case management, diagnoses, and therapy to children, families, and adults within the outpatient program; and facilitating groups as appropriate. Some services may require delivery off-site, at collaborating community agencies or schools. The successful candidate will be a practicing Roman Catholic individual with a Master’s degree, who has previously worked with diverse populations of families, couples, children, and adults; LCSW or LPCC licensure, experience with DSM 5, and the ability to perform therapist duties independently. Qualified individuals should submit a letter of interest along with a detailed resume or C-V, including compensation history and at least 3 references with contact email addresses, by email Stephen Koplyay, SPHR at [email protected].
The Diocese of Covington’s Catholic Charities is seeking to hire a part time (16 hours per week) Jail Ministry Coordinator. General responsibilities include: Develop and maintain resources that address needs of the incarcerated, the newly released, and their families as well as victims and their families; Provide a diocesan framework for the recruitment, certification, and training of volunteers to participate in jail/prison ministry; coordinate and lead the jail ministry advisory committee and engage with members to provide support to jail ministry volunteers; participate in the Northern Kentucky Reentry Team; and monitor and provide support to the family support group. Necessary qualifications include: a Bachelor’s degree in a human service field; previous experience (preferably in some area of pastoral ministry); an ability to network and coordinate activities with community partners dedicated to working with prisoners, ex-offenders, their families and their victims; knowledge and understanding of community resources in Northern Kentucky; strong personal boundaries; strong, personable communication skills; and excellent details orientation. Interested individuals should submit a detailed resume, including at least 3 references with contact email addresses, along with a cover letter and salary history by email to Stephen Koplyay, SPHR at [email protected].