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].