Dr. Mandy Sanchez of Culture Reframed presents on the harms of social media and pornography

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Bella Young

Multimedia Correspondent

Invited by the Diocese of Covington Safe Environment Office, Dr. Many Sanchez, director of programming at Culture Reframed gave a presentation entitled “Growing Up in a Porn Culture: How Social Media, Gaming and Pornography Harms Our Youth.”

The November 6 presentation explored the culture we live in today and the affect it has had on young women and teenagers; forced to conform or be invisible. Dr. Sanchez explained social media platforms like Instagram and Snapchat, their relationship to the porn industry and how there is more on the platforms that what meets the eye.

Joanna Angel, a famous pornographer, said in an interview once that girls today come to her set porn ready. “They were ready when they came to her set, she didn’t really have to coach them. They already knew what to do, they knew how to pose, they knew what to wear they knew how to do it,” said Dr. Sanchez. How though, is this generation of young women porn-ready?

The answer, Dr. Sanchez said, lies in a culture of comparison exacerbated by social media.

“Porn sells, and I know we have heard that sex sells, but really it is the same thing,” said Dr. Sanchez. This is an important facet of the conversation to understand because it is what drives posting habits on social media, subconsciously or not. Comparison culture makes teenagers, and young adults crave the validation of their peers, most commonly in the form of likes, comments and reposts of their content on social media.

Dr. Sanchez explained the validation that comes from the engagement of peers on social media posts from the perspective of a teenager, “The more hearts and likes and shares that I get the more social cred I have, the less invisible I become.” Because porn sells, that is often what teenagers, especially young teenage girls will turn to. Posting in a shirt that is a little too cropped, or shorts that are a little too short, will generate buzz and interest. These posts though, are often not seen by parents or guardians. Rather they are hidden beneath the surface.

“75% of 13-17 years olds have at least one social media profile, the average amount of fake accounts that the average teenager has today is five,” said Dr. Sanchez. It is the fake accounts or, “finstas,” where teenagers will seek this validation. Finstas will have specific peers and strangers, curated based on the attention that the poster desires.

While Instagram perpetuates this comparison culture, the beloved platform, Snapchat, had it’s start with a much more sinister motive. “Snapchat was originally marketed as Peekaboo, to send and receive nude photos,” said Dr. Sanchez. Snapchat has also recently released a dangerous new feature known as Snap Maps. This feature, unless disabled in user settings, shares real time location with snap friends in the area.

“This Snap Map will show anyone who you have in your circle where you are. If we don’t turn this off, this will be on. We have worked with anti-trafficking organizations that work with survivors, law enforcement, and Interpol. They said that these Snap Maps are exactly what predators are looking for. If they know that there is a concentration of kids here, they can jump on Snapchat and connect with kids,” said Dr. Sanchez.

The perpetuation of comparison culture and the deep seeded need for validation instilled in young girls reinforces the role of porn in today’s culture. This leads young girls open and vulnerable to predators.

Dr. Gail Dines, founder and CEO of Culture Reframed, was conducting interviews with 12 men who were incarcerated in a maximum-security prison. Each of the twelve men were incarcerated for the sexual assault of a family member. In an interview with one of the men he said, “It was super easy to groom my twelve-year old stepdaughter. I started with little compliments, I told her how pretty she looked, and that was a nice dress, and that skirt made her legs look gorgeous, and that makeup, and the way you’re doing your hair. It was so easy because she already knew what to do, the culture did a lot of the grooming for me.”

The first step to protecting the younger generations against porn culture is a knowledge of how they are being exposed and how the culture is sustained. Through social media and the desire for external validation of peers, porn culture seeps into everyday lives, without many realizing it. Dr. Mandy Sanchez and her colleagues at Culture Reframed are dedicated to addressing the harms of pornography in youth. For more information about the Diocese of Covington Safe Environment Office and the work they do go to covdio.org/safe-environment/.

Chancery, Curia and parish collaboration and integration isa hallmark of the Diocesan Pastoral Plan

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Laura Keener

Editor

Some people develop plans and after the plan is put on paper, shove it in a drawer and never look at it again, said Deacon Jim Fortner, chief operating officer, Diocese of Covington. But, that’s not what’s happening in the Diocese of Covington.

After a year of listening sessions, focus groups and diocesan-wide surveys, which began in October 2022 and continued through April 2023, the Diocese of Covington is now releasing to the public its three-year Pastoral Plan. The Pastoral Plan includes a summary of the Diocese’s priorities and goals. The Diocesan Pastoral Plan can be found on page #.

Additionally, ever parish in the diocese used the same data to develop a three-year parish pastoral plan. The parish plans, like the diocesan plan, is comprised of data-driven priorities and goals. A summary of each Parish Pastoral Plan is included in the digital version of the Diocesan Pastoral Plan, which can be found online at www.covdio.org.

Last fall, Bishop John Iffert presented the Diocesan Pastoral Plan to the presbyterate, who affirmed its content. The Curia has been operating under the plan for nearly a year. Deacon Fortner said that there was even a need — the development of a formation program for deacon aspirants — uncovered by the Focus Groups that was so urgent that action was taken without the initiative making it into the Pastoral Plan.

“It was really critical for us to get this done in May,” said Deacon Fortner about the deacon aspirant program, as the next class of deacon aspirants was scheduled to begin in August. “If we had missed the deadline, it would be two years before another class of aspirants would begin,” he said, noting that the timeline for deacon formation is done in collaboration with the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.

The entire pastoral planning process has been led by the Catholic Leadership Institute and Deacon Fortner. During the process two groups — made up of Sisters from local religious communities and parish lay leaders — has been organized. The first group, the Planning Commission, attended the listening sessions and focus groups and reviewed the survey data. Their work was completed in May 2023 when they identified and recommended to Bishop Iffert three priorities for the diocesan pastoral plan. A team of Curia staff then completed the plan by adding goals, strategies, action items and goal dates.

The second group, the Core Team, is meeting quarterly to help keep implementation of the plan on track and to offer feedback.

The three priorities of the Diocesan Pastoral Plan are: Ongoing Faith Formation, Evangelization and Leadership Development. The most strategic part of the plan, Deacon Fortner said, is the integration and collaboration between the Chancery, Curia and parishes that is lifting and moving together the entire Diocese.

Examples of this can be seen by parts of the plan that have already been implemented. First was the hiring of a diocesan Youth Minister to help lead and guide youth ministry. Another is the Diocesan partnership with Catechetical Institute of Franciscan University, with the Diocese making the entire library of Franciscan At Home catechetical workshops available at no charge to every parish and every parishioner.

The Catholic Leadership Institute is leading the leadership development part of the plan. Its programs are also being made available at no cost to the diocese, parishes or participants, thanks to a group of anonymous benefactors. These trainings, too, began immediately.

Leadership development starts with priests and the Good Leaders, Good Shepherds initiative. A first group of 20 priests and Bishop Iffert completed training in June 2024. Immediately following the priest training, 38 Curia and parish staff who work directly with these priests began in August Tending the Talents training, a program similar in content to Good Leaders, Good Shepherds. This first Tending the Talents cohort will conclude in December. A second cohort of priests will begin Good Leaders, Good Shepherds training in April 2025, and Cohort 2 of Tending the Talents will also be held in 2025.

Additionally, pastors were asked to identify and invite parish leaders to attend Parish Missionary Disciples training. A first cohort of 60 concluded training in April 2024 and a second cohort will begin February 2025. All these trainings integrate Chancery, Curia and parish leaders sitting and learning together side-by-side.

Another important collaboration between the Chancery, Curia and parishes has been the continuation, reestablishment or establishment of Professional Learning Communities. These communities of parish secretaries, business managers, principals, media coordinators, youth ministers and directors and coordinators of religious education meet regularly to learn and share best practices. Some, like the principals and parish secretaries, have been meeting for years. Others, like the media coordinators, just getting started. All are being tasked to look at ways they can be a true learning community and not just a group that meets.

“All of these roles we are working with as a collective team to share ideas, share best practices,” said Deacon Fortner. “We are wired into parish life in a much more collaborative way. This is going to be an ongoing process.”

For the complete Diocesan Pastoral Plan that includes summaries of Parish Pastoral Plans visit www.covdio.org

How peanut butter and jelly sandwiches will help form good, Christian men and women at St. Augustine School

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Bella Young

Multimedia Correspondent

St. Augustine School, Covington, focuses on forming good, holy, Christian men and women through practical application of the faith. Father Dan Schomaker, pastor at St. Augustine Parish, Covington, asks the question, “How can we get the students used to understanding that the faith is practical? It’s not just this philosophy, or ideas, or feelings, it engages the whole person.” The answer this time lies in the classic peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

Recently inspired by a story told by Father Salvador Gonzalez, director of the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows, Father Schomaker knew he wanted to instill in the students the virtue in Father Gonzalez’s story. “Father Gonzalez, when he was a young man, was a server at his home parish. Before serving on the weekend, he would have to show up an hour early, he would have to go give a sandwich to one of the homeless people on the property. The pastor required that he had to get to know them, he had to learn their name.” The virtue, feed someone else before you feed yourself.

“I heard that, and it stuck with me,” said Father Schomaker, “How can I participate in the corporal work of mercy, giving food to the hungry, feeding the hungry?” Turning to Parish Kitchen, Covington, Father Schomaker had an idea, what if there were to-go bags of prepackaged peanut butter and jelly sandwiches that patrons of Parish Kitchen could take with them? Inspired by Father Gonzalez and seeking to get his students involved in practical applications of faith, Father Schomaker decided that while the middle school students waited in line for breakfast, they would make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to be taken to Parish Kitchen.

“We announced yesterday to the kids that after Mass, the kids go to Mass every day and they have breakfast every day, that before they are allowed to eat, they have to feed somebody else. They have to provide food for someone that is hungry,” said Father Schomaker. In his announcement to the students Father Schomaker explained why the sandwiches are to be made before the students eat.

“I get that you are hungry, but you have food right over there, ready for you. There are other people who don’t know if they’re going to have food and so we’re going to provide it for them,” speaking to the students Father Schomaker continued, “You are going to sacrifice three minutes of hunger, five minutes of hunger, to feed someone else.”

Only the middle schoolers will be participating in the making of the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. “They go last anyway to get their food because the little kids go first and so instead of waiting in line doing nothing, they’re going to be making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich,” said Father Schomaker. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are not the only thing students will be making however, because people can be hungry in more way than one.

“Building off of what Mother Theresa has really talked about,” Father Schomaker said, “there is a greater hinger than just for food. There’s more of a hunger for love.” It was with this idea in mind that the students will also be making notes for those that receive the sandwiches.

To promote collaboration the St. Augustine Parish St. Vincent De Paul Conference will be donating the bread, peanut butter and jelly. “I talked to our conference and explained what I want to do to help promote the corporal works of mercy with the school children. I asked if they would be able to help pay for the food, and they said yes. I am very grateful for that,” said Father Schomaker.

“It’s just the practical aspect of the faith, you have to get your hands dirty, ours is not a philosophy, ours is a belief in a person who is Jesus Christ, who is God, who is put on flesh, who is given food to the poor and the hungry. He has done all these things, and we are called to emulate him. Well, this is that practice. How do we emulate the Lord? Here is a simple way that we can do it,” Father Schomaker said.

Long-term Substitute Teacher – Fifth Grade – Immaculate Heart of Mary School

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Immaculate Heart of Mary School is seeking a certified teacher to complete a maternity leave for a fifth grade Language Arts and Social Studies teacher.  The dates may be flexible, but would approximately be from early January through spring break. Any certified teacher (or sub with experience) who may be interested or would like more information on this opportunity, please contact Mrs. Kristin Harper at [email protected].

Drama/Chorus Teacher (Part-time, Long-term Substitute) – St. Henry District High School

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St. Henry District High School, a National Blue Ribbon School in Erlanger KY, is seeking a Part-Time long-term Drama/Chorus sub for the 2024/2025 school year; the approximate time will be January until early February. SHDHS is a 500-student co-ed college prep high school located in a suburban area of Cincinnati. Hard-working and respectful students, small class sizes, congenial colleagues, and excellent support for new teachers are some of the attractive features of the position. An ideal candidate would hold a teaching certificate in the Arts or a related field. Interested parties should click here to apply. 

 

Religion Teacher (Long-term Substitute) – St. Henry District High School

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St. Henry District High School, a National Blue Ribbon School in Erlanger KY, is seeking a Part-Time long-term Religion sub for the 2024/2025 school year, the approximate time will be January until early February. SHDHS is a 500-student co-ed college prep high school located in a suburban area of Cincinnati. Hard-working and respectful students, small class sizes, congenial colleagues, and excellent support for new teachers are some of the attractive features of the position. An ideal candidate would hold a teaching certificate in Religion or a related field. Interested parties should click here to apply. 

 

SUMMIT24 core team member reflects on what makes SUMMIT special as the weekend retreat approaches

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Bella Young

Multimedia Correspondent

SUMMIT24, a high school Eucharistic retreat hosted by the office of Catechesis and Evangelization, is fast approaching. Josie Bozeman, a member of the SUMMIT core team and an active participant in YCET, the Youth Commissioning and Evangelization Team, says that the main goal of the SUMMIT retreat is to bring back the love of the Eucharist, to understand what the Eucharist is and the importance of it.

Having been homeschooled from first through the eighth grade, Ms. Bozeman says a pivotal moment in her journey of faith was a summer camp.

“I really saw missionaries who are on fire with their faith, I saw peers who are on fire with their faith. I realized that Catholicism is an adventure, and its one that is fun. It will come with sacrifices and suffering, but Christ did that too, and so we can lean into him for that support in those ties,” said Ms. Bozeman. “I realized my faith can be fun and it can be exciting; that is the part that I want my peers to know too, is that it don’t always have to be textbooks, it doesn’t always have to be religion class. I am so grateful for the textbooks and religion classes in my life, but Jesus really just wants us to live life and get to him.” Ms. Bozeman hopes that SUMMIT ignites the same love of faith that her summer camp experience did.

“Someone once told me,” Ms. Bozeman said, “that if we truly knew what the Eucharist was, and really believed it in our hearts, that we would fall down weeping every time we got to go to Mass. I think that is true. As Catholics, a unique part of our faith is the ability to receive him, and he gives us that ability. We should treasure it; it is a blessing for sure. Anyone who is desiring, or doesn’t know Jesus but wants to, or maybe knew Jesus and doesn’t know where to pick back up, will benefit from this retreat.”

The SUMMIT retreat will also allow attendees the opportunity to meet new friends and form relationships with peers who are on a similar faith journey.

“I have had people I can lean on and who want me to grow so they’ll push me to finding that community. Coming to this retreat, you will find that,” said Ms. Bozeman. “I am excited to hang out with friends that I don’t usually see at my parish. I am excited to meet new people that I wouldn’t usually meet and I am definitely excited to spend time with Jesus … None of us know what the outcome is going to be, there might be nervousness, there is certainly excitement from a lot of us, but just try to let Jesus work in your life and give the Holy Spirit a chance. I think we will see a lot of miracles this SUMMIT weekend.”

Carmel Manor: 75 years of senior care where ‘the difference is love’

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Sarah Torres

Contributor

Overlooking the Ohio River and surrounded by forest, Carmel Manor provides a tranquil home for those in need of care later in life. Surrounded by Kentucky’s natural wildlife and sharing the view once witnessed by Mary Draper Ingles on her brave escape along the Ohio River, the Manor has become as embedded in our history as the original mansion it was housed in. And it all began with a determined Bishop and two sisters on a mission of love.

Since the time of Bishop Camillus Maes, there had been no home for the aged within the Diocese of Covington, yet the need for one was great. Upon his arrival to the Diocese, Bishop William Mulloy made rectifying this issue one of his top priorities.

In November 1948, the Diocese purchased the 42-acre Kramer Property in Ft. Thomas, which included two buildings — the historic three-story stone “Kinney Mansion” and a smaller six-room frame building. The Kinney Mansion was remodeled, beginning in January 1949, to serve as a home for the aged, which proved to be a large undertaking as the building required steady electricity and running water along with repairs due to years of being vacant. The smaller building was converted into a convent for the Carmelite Sisters, whom Bishop Mulloy asked to run the new home.

The Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirmed had been founded 20 years earlier in New York, with a mission to serve the elderly with love in a cheerful, home-like environment. In July 1949, two sisters, Mother Mary Theresa and Mother Mary Martin, arrived in the Diocese to oversee the final stages of the remodel and to serve as the original staff. On December 13, 1949, Bishop Mulloy blessed the building, bestowing the name Carmel Manor.

The original building was able to house 35 residents and was immediately filled to capacity with a waiting list of over 200. It was clear from the beginning the need was greater than originally expected. In the early 1950s, expansions began leading to the opening of a new wing in 1956, creating space for nearly three times the residents as the original building.

Upon the request of Bishop Richard Ackerman, in 1969, a Priest House was added for the retired priests of the Diocese. The building provided six apartments, a chapel, and a central dining room and social space for the retired priests.

From the founding, Carmel Manor served mostly those who were larging self-sufficient and independent regarding their physical needs. In the 1980s, the need for more intensive care was recognized and 65 skilled-nurse beds were added in 1987. The new expansion, St. Joseph Terrace was opened in 1990 and blessed by Bishop William Hughes. These expansions in care and rooms brought the total resident capacity of Carmel Manor to nearly 150.

Continued expansion throughout the 2010s opened a modern skilled nursing setting including private rooms, spacious bathrooms, and, of course, continued breathtaking views of the Ohio River and surrounding wilderness that the Manor has always been known for.

As we come to the 75th anniversary, the once 35 resident building is now licensed for 95 skilled care and intermediate skilled care residents along with 80 personal care residents. A loving staff of 140 provide round-the-clock care, alongside three Carmelite Sisters who continue to uphold the Sister’s charism. Together they work to uphold the belief that “The Difference is Love.”

Sarah Torres is the archivist for the Diocese of Covington, Ky.

St. Vincent de Paul Northern Kentucky food pantry and parish conferences feed body and spirit

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Bella Young

Multimedia Correspondent

For more than 100 years the Northern Kentucky Council of St. Vincent de Paul has been spreading hope in the northern most counties of Kentucky; Kenton, Campbell, Boone, Carroll, Grant and Pendelton. The Northern Kentucky Council acts as the head of 29 parish conferences, among whom resources are spread to help as many people as possible. One such parish is St. Barbara Parish, Erlanger.

Tim Scherrer, president of the St. Barbara Conference, says about the aid they are able to provide, “We gave out almost $30,000 dollars in food last year. When we look at our total economic impact on our geographic area, it is almost $130,000 of impact.”

St. Vincent de Paul provides not only food to those in need, but also financial aid. “That is primarily rent and utilities, we bought water heaters, we buy bus tokens, we do all kind of things,” said Mr. Scherrer.

“When we get a call, we reach out to that individual, try to make contact with them, figure out what they need, and we try to set up a home visit. We prefer actually getting into the house and being able to sit there and talk to someone face to face. That is kind of the gold standard of our mission, to get face to face with people,” said Mr. Scherrer.

When the volunteers, who are often referred to as Vincentians, make home visits to assess the need for aid they never come empty handed, bringing with them groceries.

“Some people will call in and ask for help with a bill, but we ask them ‘Can we bring you food?’ That’s $100-$120 in groceries that now you can spend on your gas or childcare, or whatever you may need,” said Mr. Scherrer.

Even when people max out the amount of financial aid they can be given in a year, Mr. Scherrer says that they can always be given groceries.

People who find themselves in need of aid, whether financial or help with groceries, are often embarrassed to reach out. Mr. Scherrer says that taking food to them helps relieve some of the embarrassment that might come from walking into a traditional pantry.

The Northern Kentucky Council of St. Vincent de Paul does operate traditional pantries that are open and available to the public. They are known as a choice pantry.

As Becca Gerding, programs director with St. Vincent de Paul of Northern Kentucky, explained, “The guests that we serve can actually come through and shop with a volunteer to pick items their family needs and will eat. It caters to dietary restrictions, or even picky eaters. They get to pick the brands and flavors out of what is available to them.”

Ms. Gerding says that often, this choice can empower the family. Backing up the sentiment of Mr. Scherrer, Ms. Gerding recognizes that when a family is need of aid it can be embarrassing and lead to feeling like things are out of their control. The choice pantries, located in Falmouth, Cold Spring and Erlanger, seek to give some control back to the families.

“We couldn’t do it without the wonderful community support,” said Ms. Gerding, “We couldn’t meet the need we are seeing without community support and our community rallying behind us, and the wonderful group of people helping with St. Vincent.”

The emphasis of community drives home the goal of the Campaign of Mercy, which is to increase the number of people who participate in the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. Without the community upholding the St. Barbara Parish Food Pantry and the pantries of St. Vincent de Paul of Northern Kentucky, their mission would not be possible.

For information on St. Vincent de Paul Northern Kentucky and other ministries that help serve the needs of local families, visit www.covdio.org/mercy.

Speech and Language Pathologist (SLP) – Saint Agnes School

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Saint Agnes, a K-8 school in Ft. Wright, KY is seeking a dedicated and compassionate Speech and Language Pathologist (SLP) to join our educational team. This is currently a part-time position with the potential to become full-time.  The SLP will provide comprehensive speech and language services to students with communication disorders. This role involves assessing, diagnosing, and providing interventions for speech, language, voice, and fluency disorders to help students achieve their academic and social potential.  Candidates should have a Master’s degree or equivalent education in the area of speech-language pathology or communication disorders.  Interested candidates should send a resume and cover letter to Erin Redleski at [email protected].