Archive for month: October, 2024
As the Thanksgiving season fast approaches, Feeding the Hungry is particularly relevant
Bella Young
Multimedia Correspondent
As part of the diocesan wide Campaign of Mercy, The Messenger has been highlighting a different work of mercy each month. The month of November is no different with the focus being on the corporal work, feeding the hungry.
Feeding the hungry is often referred to as the first corporal work of mercy because of Jesus’ mention of it in Matthew 25:35, where he names it first in the list of works of mercy. “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me,…”
Feeding the hungry is mentioned throughout the Bible, once again in Isaiah 58:7 where God says, “Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless.”
Especially relevant during the upcoming Thanksgiving season, there are many ministries within the Diocese of Covington that feed the hungry, both at the diocesan and parish level.
One of the most well know ministries is Parish Kitchen, Covington. Having just celebrated its 50-year anniversary, Parish Kitchen is a fixture of the community, serving hot meals 365 days a year, serviced by approximately 300 volunteers, and serving more than 74,000 meals a year. This ministry, operated by Catholic Charities within the Diocese of Covington, is the embodiment of the work of mercy that is feeding the hungry.
The St. Francis Food Pantry, Covington, is a ministry of the Franciscan Daughters of Mary. St. Francis Food Pantry is open from Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Neighbors may receive donated food to bring home to their families each day the Rose Garden Mission is open, no questions asked, no need to prove there is a need. Bags of food that do not need to be cooked are also available upon request.
At the parish level, feeding the hungry is often done on a more personal level. From parishioners coming together and organizing a meal train for someone who is sick, monetary donations to a food pantry or even donating boxes of stuffing to the parish for those who may not be able to purchase any. Feeding the hungry is a work of mercy that does not need specialized training, it is one that Jesus calls us to.
Feeding the hungry does not have to be a big, performative act. And there’s no reason to reinvent the wheel. It can be as simple as making a double batch of a recipe and donating the extra, it could mean volunteering at Parish Kitchen or the St. Francis Food Pantry.
To find out how to volunteer at both Parish Kitchen and the St. Francis Food Pantry and for a list of other ministries that feed the hungry, go to covdio.org/mercy.
UNHEARDOF brand designer encourages kids to listen and speak up against bullying, adversity
Maura Baker
Staff Writer
A sunny and brisk afternoon, Oct. 24, welcomed aboard children from the Diocese of Covington ACUE schools, alongside those from the CHNK Children’s Home, to a B&B riverboat cruise along the Ohio river.
Phil Lipschutz, founder and designer of the UNHEARDOF brand, is a local to the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky region, and grew up drawing the types of shoes that growing up his family couldn’t afford. Now pursuing a career as a designer, he collaborates with businesses, like the Adidas company, to make some of these dreams come to life — and to give back to his community.
At three years old, Mr. Lipschutz was “dropped off” at the CHNK Children’s Home, and says that the home always has had a “special place in his heart.” As a result, he began sharing the shoes he designs with children from the community — including the Diocese of Covington’s ACUE schools.
The children present all received a pair of UNHEARDOF brand’s newest design, molded with stone brickwork and accented in teal to mimic the look of the John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge. Mr. Lipschutz cites his inspiration both on the man who funded the bridge — who, in part, also helped to establish the Children’s Home — but also from his personal experiences.
“When I grew up in Latonia,” he said, “they always told me not to cross the river, don’t go to Cincinnati. It’s bad there and there’s bad things happening all the time. It’s a dangerous place.” Of course, the first thing he did, Mr. Lipschutz humorously continued, was skateboard across the bridge. “As soon as I skated across the bridge, I stopped and I took it all in for 20 minutes because I couldn’t get over how beautiful it was.”
As the riverboat sailed by the shoe’s inspirational bridge, Mr. Lipschutz got the chance to speak to the children aboard — encouraging them to speak out when it comes to facing adversity with bullies or at home.
“Always ask for help,” he said, “…we all need to do better at listening to one another, because we might not all look the same, but sometimes we all feel the same, and sometimes things go on inside of our heads that we all connect to. So, we all need to speak up, and we all need to be better listeners, too.”
Atrium students learn through encounters with the Divine Teacher— Jesus
Laura Keener
Editor
A bowl of holy water sits on a table in front of an icon of The Good Shepherd outside the door of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Atrium at St. Catherine of Siena School. The holy water is there for catechists, students and visitors to bless themselves as they are about to enter sacred space — a space where children experience a personal encounter with Jesus. Through this encounter, Jesus, the Divine Teacher, makes himself known in the hearts and minds of young students on their terms — through intuitive and structured work.
“Jesus is the teacher in the Atrium, and the role of the catechist is just to bring the children and him together,” said Jeanne Hicks, lead catechist, Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, St. Catherine of Siena Parish, Ft. Thomas.
The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd — also known as the Atrium — is a form of catechesis recently introduced at St. Catherine of Siena Parish. It occupies one classroom at St. Catherine of Siena School. Kindergarteners followed Father Stef Bankemper, pastor, around the classroom, Oct. 22, as he blessed and dedicated the space. The blessing itself is an example of how children learn in the Atrium — by listening to Scripture, praying communally and individually, learning the names of sacramentals and through active participation.
The Atrium is a distinctive educational environment designed for catechizing young children in the Catholic faith, originating from the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, developed by Sofia Cavalletti and Gianna Gobbi in the 1950s. Inspired by Montessori principles, the Atrium is a prepared space that invites children to engage deeply with their faith through hands-on materials and contemplative experiences.
Ms. Cavalletti, an Italian educator and theologian, observed how children could connect with God through their own exploration. The Atrium serves as a sacred space where children can learn about biblical stories, liturgical elements, and the life of Jesus in a child-friendly manner. The curriculum focuses on nurturing a personal relationship with God, fostering a sense of wonder and reverence.
Nearly everything at the Ft. Thomas Atrium was lovingly made or provided by St. Catherine parishioners. And while it typically takes six months to a year to properly outfit an Atrium, the St. Catherine Atrium was ready in three weeks.
“So, you know that God just really wanted this to happen because there is no other explanation for that,” Mrs. Hicks said.
While there are three levels to an Atrium, the Atrium at St. Catherine Parish currently only offers Level 1, which is for children ages three to six. It is hoped that levels will be added as interest and catechists increase. Including herself, Mrs. Hicks has three CGS certified catechists. School students spend an hour in the Atrium, while children not in school attend for an hour-and-a-half. The Atrium is open to the community on Mondays and Wednesdays, 3:30–5 p.m. Class capacity is 11 students. Currently there is a waiting list.
The day starts with the students gathering to listen to a Scripture passage. The children then go to work, visiting various learning stations. Each station has three-dimensional learning aids that invite children to an immersive learning experience through play and quiet contemplation while Jesus speaks to their heart.
A favorite for many of the children is the child-sized altar. The altar comes complete with altar cloth, candles, crucifix, paten, chalice, purificator, corporal, cruets, lavabo and candle snuffer. There are even child-sized chasubles in all the liturgical colors. Each item is clearly identified, and its proper use explained. At this station, the learning comes in repeatedly preparing for and acting out the Mass.
“It helps be engaged more in the worship of the Mass,” said Mrs. Hicks.
Another station, the geography station, features a 3-d map of Jerusalem. A cross sits on a hillside outside the walls. Inside the walls, children will find, in miniature, the building where the Last Supper took place, Harrods palace and Pontius Pilate’s praetorium. A nearby station features the upper room where students can immerse themselves even more in the story of the Last Supper.
Over the decades, the Atrium has gained popularity in parishes and schools worldwide, adapting to various cultural contexts while maintaining its foundational principles. It emphasizes the importance of adult guidance while allowing children the freedom to discover and reflect on their faith.
“It’s almost like a Holy Hour for them,” said Mrs. Hicks. “It’s very quiet. When the children speak, they speak in quiet tones. They walk slowly. They use their body slowly. They’re so respectful of the items in here. They’re asking us, ‘help me to come to know Jesus by myself,’ and through all of these works they come to know that.”
Mrs. Hicks is hopeful that the St. Catherine Atrium will be the first of many Atria in the Diocese of Covington. Anyone wanting to learn more may contact Mrs. Hicks at [email protected]
Jr. High Reading/Language Arts Teacher – Saint Thomas School
Saint Thomas School in Ft. Thomas, KY has an immediate opening for a Jr. High Reading/Language Arts teacher. The position can be either full or part time based on needs of the candidates. Interested candidates should submit a resume, cover letter and at least 3 references to Kim Huser at [email protected].
Aftercare Director – Saint Thomas School
Saint Thomas School in Ft. Thomas, KY is seeking a Director for the Aftercare program. The hours are from 2:30-6:00 pm Monday-Friday. Candidates should be at least 21 years of age. All interested candidates should submit a cover letter, resume, and at least 3 references to Kim Huser at [email protected].
Spanish Teacher – Newport Central Catholic – 2024-25
Newport Central Catholic High School is seeking a Spanish teacher to add to our foreign language department for the 2024-25 school year. The ideal candidate would be bilingual in Spanish and English, have a strong knowledge of the grammatical aspects of the Spanish language, and teaching certification or working toward basic proper certification. As of now, this is a part time position, but has flexibility within our daily schedule. Options may become available to find partnership with other schools in a similar part time role to become full time within the Diocese. All interested candidates should send a letter of interest and resume to [email protected].
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https://link.edgepilot.com/s/1fb2c4a2/hSGMpVFNVUSWQYQc1Q7PXA?u=http://www.ncchs.com/ for further details on our family oriented school on The Hill.
Cafeteria Positions – School Lunch Program
The Diocese of Covington School Lunch program is currently seeking dedicated individuals to join our team in various positions within our school cafeterias. These important roles contribute to the successful operation of our school lunch program, ensuring the provision of nutritious meals to our students.
Positions Available:
- Food Prep Staff, Cooks, Servers, Dishwashers
Locations:
Blessed Sacrament, Ft. Mitchell – Part-time staff
Holy Trinity, Bellevue – Part-time staff
St. Patrick, Maysville – Part-time staff
Responsibilities:
- Food Prep Staff: Responsibilities include assisting with food preparation, such as cutting vegetables, portioning food items, and assembling trays or lunch packages according to guidelines.
- Cooks: responsible for cooking and preparing meals following established recipes, ensuring the quality, taste and presentation of the food served.
- Servers: Responsible for serving meals to students in an efficient and friendly manner, maintaining portion control, and ensuring compliance with food safety regulations.
Requirements:
- High school diploma or equivalent. Relevant certifications or culinary education is a plus for certain positions.
- Prior experience in a food service or cafeteria setting is preferred but not required for all positions.
- Knowledge of NSLP guidelines and state health and food safety regulations is desirable for managerial positions.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced environment while maintaining attention to detail.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to work well in a team and individually.
- Reliable and punctual.
We offer competitive compensation and benefits packages for eligible employees. The exact details will be discussed during the interview process.
To apply for any of the cafeteria positions, please go to https://covdio.org/employment/, School Related Openings, Employment Application Non-Teacher, send completed application to: Diocese of Covington, Attn: Laura Hatfield SLP Director, 1125 Madison Ave, Covington KY 41011.
Spanish Instructor (Adjunct/Part-Time) – The Athenaeum of Ohio/Mount St. Mary’s Seminary & School of Theology
The Athenaeum of Ohio/Mount St. Mary’s Seminary & School of Theology, the center for ecclesial formation sponsored by the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, is seeking qualified candidates for the position of part-time Spanish instructor, commencing January 6, 2025 (spring semester).
The part-time Spanish instructor will teach two in-person semester courses (basic and intermediate Spanish, a total of four credit hours) to equip seminarians with Spanish language skills and prepare them for Spanish-language ministry immersion experiences and preaching/celebration of the sacraments in Spanish.
The ideal candidate will be proficient in both Spanish and English and be able to instruct students in speaking, reading, and writing the Spanish language. A bachelor’s degree is preferred along with classroom teaching experience at the secondary or post-secondary level. Catholic candidates are preferred.
Based on the interests of the successful candidate, this role has the potential to expand to include student learning assistance and academic support.
Please send a cover letter, resume, and three professional references to Fr. David Endres, Academic Dean, at [email protected].