How the Jubilee year and diocesan pastoral plan are intersecting with works of mercy

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Laura Keener

Editor

In June, Bishop John Iffert launched in the Diocese of Covington a Campaign of Mercy, an initiative of evangelization coming out of the With One Heart diocesan pastoral plan. As part of the Jubilee Year 2025, Pope Francis has announced that a person can receive as many as two indulgences a day by completing acts mercy. The Messenger sat down with Bishop Iffert to gather his thoughts on how the Holy Spirit may be working in the life of the local and universal Church through the theme of mercy.

Question: Even going back to the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy, Pope Francis was already writing about how service is a journeying to Christ, or a pilgrimage to the face of Christ. This year, Pope Francis is allowing for an indulgence for corporal works of mercy performed. How has the Bull (Pope Francis’ official pronouncement of the Jubilee Year) incorporated the corporal works of mercy as part of the Jubilee Year.

Bishop Iffert: On Christmas Eve, Pope Francis will inaugurate the Jubilee year 2025 in Rome by opening the first Jubilee door. He has chosen the motto of the Jubilee Year, Pilgrims of Hope, and it’s really interesting.

Unlike during the Year of Mercy, where he authorized Jubilee doors all over the world and you could receive the Jubilee indulgence just by passing through one of these doors and praying for the intentions of the Holy Father with all the usual requirements of receiving an indulgence, this year, he has not authorized those Jubilee doors in any diocese outside of Rome.

In one way, you might think, well, he’s really narrowed that offer of mercy, but what he’s really done is broaden this. What he’s doing is, he’s keeping the Jubilee doors and the connection to that indulgence in Rome. But then he’s allowing folks to be able to gain that indulgence in a variety of ways — by visiting any diocesan cathedral or by visiting any other historic church designated by the local bishop, or visiting any number of shrines or and this, I think is very important to us, in performing a work of mercy, especially for a person who is needy.

There is this wonderful sentence, and I’m paraphrasing, I believe it is the letter in which the pope establishes the indulgence for the Jubilee Year, and he says, whenever we spend time with a person who is in need doing a work of mercy for that person, we are entering on a pilgrimage to encounter the face of Christ in our neighbor. I just think that’s beautiful. That is a sentiment that I’m going to be living with for a long time and a truth that I’m going to be living with and teaching for a long time.

This pilgrimage of hope, where we emphasize hope, this virtue that is a kind of fortitude, a kind of an expression, a kind of courage lifted to a supernatural level, this hope that is certain and constant and that knows that God has a plan for us and is bringing it to good, this hope is connected with our acting in a loving and compassionate and merciful way to others.

We know that faith, hope and love they all blend. Faith and hope lead us into love and charity and mercy and compassion. Well, this is, this is the journey we’re on. We’re on this hope-filled journey, not only that God’s compassion will rule in our world, but that we will be made over in the image of that compassion and that mercy.

There are three great things that are happening this year for us here in the Diocese of Covington. One is the inauguration of the Jubilee year. We’re also completing the last year of the Eucharistic Revival, which is focused on walking with another in Eucharistic faith, accompanying another in Eucharistic faith. And then here locally, as part of our pastoral plan, we are inaugurating a Campaign of Mercy. We’re inviting Catholics to enter more fully into regular works of mercy, to make this a regular part, a monthly part, a weekly part, a daily part of our life to be doing works of mercy for those around us.

These kinds of great themes come together, to me, it all speaks of one thing, which is the Church is awakening to this reality that we are the mission of Jesus, the mission of Jesus to be mercy for the world, to be mercy for one another, to proclaim the kingdom and the mercy of the Father, the love that the Father has for each one of us. This is our mission.

Everything about these great celebrations and so much of what we find in our pastoral plan and everything that the Church speaks these days seems to be clarifying that and reinforcing that we’re the living mission of Jesus, and that that mission is a mission of mercy for everyone.

That’s what the point this Jubilee Year is making by connecting that pilgrimage motif with the theological virtue of hope and with the work of mercy. And I’m just inspired by it.

Question: You mentioned that the Campaign of Mercy, the Eucharistic Revival and now the Jubilee Year as having a common theme of serving and journeying with each other. That seems to me to be a work of the Holy Spirit. With the Campaign of Mercy, we’re using the corporal and spiritual works of mercy as tools for evangelization. Tell me more about that concept.

Bishop Iffert: In the Campaign of Mercy, that comes out of our pastoral plan, which came out of consultations with people at the grassroots level, what we’re doing is, we’re inviting, first, ourselves to enter into works of mercy so that we can be more deeply converted to Christ. Not only to do volunteer work, but to do it specifically as a work of mercy for another inspired by the love of Christ. In other words, we love Christ, and so we’re going to, in action, love our neighbor, especially our neighbor who is in need. We’re going to commit to that, and we’re going to live that way.

Then we’re going to do the next step, too, which is we’re going to reflect on that experience, both alone and with others, with other Catholics. We’re going to reflect on that. We’re going to ask ourselves, where did I encounter Jesus in my neighbor? Where did I encounter Jesus in this work of mercy? Where did I meet the crucified Jesus who suffers on the cross for us for mercy? Where did I meet that Jesus? And what is Jesus asking of me? What is that merciful Jesus asking of me in my attitude towards others? Then at some point, I’m going to invite people to say, okay, let’s reach out to someone who we know is a Catholic person, but who maybe isn’t as connected with the life of the Church, maybe isn’t as connected with this life of merciful care of others. Let’s invite this person to join us in doing that work of mercy and then join us in reflecting on it and encountering Jesus there. We’ll take that risk.

The whole idea, of course, is that we encounter Jesus in this way of life. And so, we’re going to invite people back to this way of life, trusting that they, too, will encounter Jesus there, and that meeting Jesus face to face in service to those who are in need, that that will be an impulse for conversion, for deeper conversion in Christ.

At some point, we’re going to, again, put out a call and say, okay, now think of somebody in your life who is not churched at all, who maybe even hasn’t heard much about Jesus, and invite them, take the risk of inviting them to do this work of mercy with you. And then maybe dare to invite them to pray with you about it. And again, the whole idea being that we believe that we will encounter Jesus in the face of our neighbors, and that that encounter with Jesus calls us to deepening conversion.

We’re going to employ this doing of these works of mercy, as a way to invite people to meet Jesus and to respond to His invitation to love others. It’s going to become really one of the great strategies for evangelization. That’s a 50-cent word that just literally means sharing the good news of Jesus, sharing the good news of Jesus with others. That’s going to be a primary strategy for us for three or four years of the Diocese of Covington. That’s a response to what we see as coming out, that it is this work of the Spirit.

Another thing, you said that all of this coming together really does seem like it’s the Holy Spirit. You know, there’s this theological concept, we speak of two offices in the Church — the magisterium, which is the teaching office, which is primarily the bishops around the world teaching in union with the Pope, but also, this office that we call the “sense of the faithful.”

The Church believes and proclaims that the whole body of believers cannot be misled. That the Holy Spirit speaks, yes, through our pastors, through the magisterium, but also in the body of believers. And that while individual believers can be misled, that the Holy Spirit dwells within the temple that is the whole Church. The whole Church, the temple of the people of God, cannot, as a body, be completely misled about the work of God and the movement of the Holy Spirit and the life of the Church, especially about anything that would jeopardize our salvation.

I really do think that this rediscovery that we’re the living mission of Jesus, we’re the living mission of the Spirit of Jesus, that we’re all called to carry on his mission of mercy, compassion, self-sacrifice, gifted self-donation, we’re all called to be that. I really do believe this is a sense where the Holy Spirit is inspiring the sense of the faithful and inspiring the magisterium towards the sense of truth to bring new life and new birth to the Church.

Question: You’ve said before about acts of service performed during the Campaign of Mercy and then here again with the indulgences, that we’re not doing these things to tick boxes. I often hear people say that when they’re involved in works of mercy that they get more out of the experience than what they give. How can acts of mercy, then, develop someone’s personal faith life?

Bishop Iffert: That’s exactly right. The Church does offer an indulgence for the Jubilee Year. Indulgences are an important category that bring not only a remission of sin, but also a healing of the effect of sin in our life, a healing of that destructive effect that sin can have on us.

An indulgence is not just a formality. It’s not a trick. It’s not a get-out-of-purgatory-early card, right? What is it? It is an expression of a desire for God’s grace to work in us in a direct and powerful way. To really change us and to help us to grow closer to the heart of Jesus. That’s what this is all about.

When we talk about the Jubilee indulgence, Pope Francis, another way he has made this is, he says you can receive an indulgence as often as twice a day during the Jubilee Year, as long as one of those you are applying not to yourself, but to the poor souls in purgatory — the suffering Church. This is the spirit. It’s not about bean counting. It’s not about adding up the number of days, right?

What is it about? It’s about inviting the Spirit of God to heal us and to draw us into deeper conformity with Christ. That is really what assures our salvation.

We believe that the more we live like Christ, the more the grace of God will be unleashed in our lives. That’s why we’re emphasizing this aspect of being part of the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. These are powerful actions that change us from the inside out; that help us to encounter Jesus. By entering into this pilgrimage to encounter Jesus in our neighbor, we’re making ourselves available so that Christ can meet us, that we can see him face to face, and that he can change us and heal us, and by healing us, heal our world. That’s what it’s all about.

The Processional Cross: a catechism of sacrifice and revelation

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Sir Stephen Enzweiler

Cathedral Historian

It has been a part of the Cathedral Basilica’s pontifical liturgies for decades. It is a golden, bejeweled work of sacred art carried by gloved crucifers in high ceremony and with great solemnity leading the entrance processions of each Pontifical Mass. It is a striking object, made of fine hammered gold and gold filigree, enameled inlays, and ensconced with precious and semi-precious stones.

It is the Episcopal Processional Cross of the Bishop of Covington. Also known as a “processional crucifix,” the cross is larger and heavier than most and dates back more than 70 years to 1953 and the episcopacy of Bishop William T. Mulloy. It was in that year that St. Mary’s Cathedral was elevated to the rank of Minor Basilica by Pope Pius XII. Bishop Mulloy, who was known for his predilection for highly decorative sacred art, commissioned the cross for the occasion.

It is said to have been made for him at the Benedictine Abbey of Maria-Laach in Germany. The cross is elaborately decorated on both sides. The front, or crucifix side, depicts the sacrificial themes of the Old and New Testaments, while the reverse, the Marian side, depicts symbols of Mary and themes related to Revelation and her Assumption and Coronation.

The crucifix side is dominated by the central figure of Jesus Christ in his sacrifice on the cross. Beneath his feet we see the serpent crushed in defeat by the victory of the cross. On either side of Christ’s head are depicted the sun and the moon, titles the Church has given to Jesus and Mary. The sun is the source of light, and Jesus is “the light of the world,” while Mary, like the moon, can only reflect the light of her son. Standing beneath the dying Jesus are the weeping figures of his mother and St. John the Evangelist.

At the ends of the cross are four enameled medallions illustrating sacrificial themes found throughout the Bible. At the top, Moses stands with the bronze serpent mounted on a pole, a reference to Numbers 21:9. Here Yaweh relents and heals the sin of his people, so that anyone bitten by a snake who gazes upon the bronze serpent would live. The passage also prefigures Jesus’ own crucifixion and promise of salvation: “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself” (Jn 12:32).

On the right is depicted the sacrifice of bread and wine offered by Melchizedek, the “priest of God Most High” (Gen 14:18). A messianic Psalm written by King David a thousand years later would compare the coming Messiah with Melchizedek: “You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek” (Ps 110:4). To the left, another medallion depicts Aaron holding a lamb in offering to God, reflecting the passage in Exodus 12 that describes the sacrifice during the Passover ritual. This ritual is repeated in the New Testament, where Jesus fulfills his role not only as high priest but as the Lamb of God who sacrifices himself for his people. A fourth medallion on the bottom speaks to us of the story of Abraham’s sacrifice of Isaac. We see God’s hand reach out to stop him, pleased with Abraham’s unwavering faith.

Six kinds of precious and semi-precious stones ensconce the cruciform front. These include Chrysolite (a type of yellow quartz), Topazos, Calcedony, Beryl, Amethyst, and Chryoprase. Each stone was selected because each decorated the breastplate of the high priest Aaron in the Old Testament; they were also chosen because they are listed in Revelation as among the foundation stones in the New Jerusalem (Ex 28:15-30 & Rev 21:20). Encircling the figure of Jesus are twelve individual stones made of Beryl and Calcedony, a reference to the 12 stones of Aaron’s breastplate, the 12 tribes of Israel, 12 Apostles, and the 12 foundation stones in the New Jerusalem.

Inscribed on the round stem node beneath the cross is the promise of Christ himself: “I am the way, the truth, and the Life.”

The reverse side of the processional cross is devoted to Marian imagery and evokes her as the Mary of the Book of Revelation. In the center, surrounded by gold filigree and 12 semi-precious stones, she ascends in the glory of her Assumption and Coronation as the woman clothed with the sun, the sun and moon beneath her feet (Rev 12:1). Above her, two angels with the Holy Spirit gently place the crown of glory upon her head. Four gold medallions surround the scene with images of her royal titles: the New Ark of the Covenant, the Tower of David, Mystical Rose, and Gate of Heaven.

Together, both sides of the processional cross speak to Revelation history, the prophecy and prefigurement of the Old Testament revealed in the new sacrifice made in Christ and brought about through Mary, the premiere member of the Church whose Fiat brought about Emmanuel, God with us.

St. Mary’s Park Christmas tree to feature custom ornaments

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Maura Baker

Staff Writer

In preparation for the 2024 Bambinelli Blessing and Christmas Tree Lighting, parishes, schools and institutions from across the Diocese of Covington were invited to design ornaments to be displayed on the Christmas tree to be lit in St. Mary’s Park, Covington, on the night of the Bambinelli. Ornaments spoke to the mission, culture and history of these diocesan facilities — some examples provided as we prepare for the Bambinelli and the coming of Jesus at Christmas.

(left) The ornament by Thomas More University, Crestview Hills, was hand-painted by student Kendra Yurt, class of 2026. Amidst the gold patterns is an image of the belltower of the campus’s Mary, Seat of Wisdom chapel.

(center) St. Patrick school, Maysville, features a Celtic “trinity knot” over a green background — representing the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. This imagery ties to the school and connects to the parish’s Irish heritage, as well as to its patron, St. Patrick, who is also the patron saint of Ireland.

(right) The red ornament designed by Our Savior parish, Covington, is decorated with repeating designs in Pan-African colors black, gold, white and green. These designs represent and point to the parish’s black and African American history

Divine Providence sister, like many religious, recalls a life of love and service

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Maura Baker

Staff Writer

As a young girl, the prospect of becoming a religious sister was one Divine Providence Sister Carleen Schumacher avoided. “I kept thinking ‘no, no, that’s not for me,’” she said. Years later, in 1968, Sister Carleen overcame that avoidance and joined the Sisters of Divine Providence, and she “never regretted it a day.”

“Thank goodness God kept nudging at me,” said Sister Carleen, “I did finally follow through.”

Sister Carleen served in schools for 30 years, 17 years as a primary teacher, and 13 as an administrator. However, in 1994, Sister Carleen was elected to the CDP’s provincial council as part of the leadership team full time, and left teaching. She was re-elected in 2004 but decided not to go back to teaching following her second term.

“I worked from 2009 to 2014 in Parish Kitchen,” a Catholic Charities run organization that provides food and other necessities, “and I would still be there today if I didn’t get re-elected in 2014,” Sister Carleen said. At the Parish Kitchen, Sister Carleen said she learned “far more from the people at Parish Kitchen” than she believed she helped them. “It was five wonderful years,” she said.

Sister Carleen said that she has loved each of her ministries, from teaching, to leadership, to serving the poor — and, now, Sister Carleen serves as the administrator for Holy Family Home, the retirement home for the Sisters of Divine Providence.

Reflecting on her life as a sister, Sister Carleen says that, while she would have loved to have gotten married, she was “called to a deeper life of prayer.”

“It’s really wonderful to live with women who are committed to the same thing I am,” she said, “They’re all committed to community life like I am, to a life of prayer, a life of living the vows. I think there’s a deep satisfaction for me and knowing I’m doing what I really felt God called me to do.”

Now, as she works closely with her fellow retired sisters, Sister Carleen recognizes the importance of supporting retired religious. “We really count on everybody’s prayers, naturally,” she said, “but there’s a really big financial piece to any nursing home.”

Contributions to collections like Dec. 14–15’s Retirement Fund for Religious provides care for women religious as they age, and, while Sister Carleen stated that she would “never want our sisters to live an extravagant life, we weren’t called to that,” many retired religious have medical needs which are often costly to meet.

The National Religious Retirement Office (NRRO) estimates an annual care cost of over $1 billion for the nation’s more than 20,000 retired religious. In 2023, parishioners of the Diocese of Covington contributed $43,198.43 to the Retirement Fund for Religious in the diocese.

Assistance with these needs is greatly appreciated, said Sister Carleen, as well as the “support of the Diocese, and gratitude for what these sisters have done all their years.”

200 nativities help bring the community together during Advent

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Bella Young

Multimedia Correspondent

A church of German Gothic design nestled in Covington welcomed a full congregation on the evening of Nov. 23 to celebrate its centennial anniversary. For the past 100 years, St. John the Evangelist Parish, Covington, has served its local community in faith.

The formation of the parish and building of the church began with a need, Bishop John Iffert, who celebrated the Mass, began his homily. The History of the Diocese of Covington, a book published in the 1950’s, has a brief but “interesting” entry on St. John the Evangelist’s Parish. “The reason the neighbors began gathering and began to work on founding a parish here,” said Bishop Iffert, “is because they wanted to build a school.”

The commute to the next closest school at Mother of God was “too long of a commute,” he said, “especially given the condition of the roads at the time. So, apparently, it was easier to build the school and start a parish than for them to fix the roads!”

While the comment was made partially in jest, Bishop Iffert used this origin story to connect to the weekend’s liturgy — the Solemnity of Christ the King. In his homily, he spoke about the promises made by sovereigns and government leaders, such as the Michigan governor who ran on the platform of “fixing the expletive roads.”

“It seems like that’s been a feature of a need for our lives for a long time, especially for folks here in St. John’s Parish,” Bishop Iffert said. “It’s interesting how often our political campaigns, who takes political power … how often it hinges on those very human rights.”

“Jesus remembers something that we and our rulers often forget,” he continued in his homily, “We hear the kings of the world speak of themselves in the third person: the royal ‘we.’ In our democratic age, it sounds officious … that language comes from the idea that the king no longer has a private life, that the king no longer has a self-interest … The king is supposed to be the one who does not promote his own good, but instead lives for the good of others.”

Bishop Iffert said, “Jesus reveals to us that this is the way God cares for us. This is the way God loves us. This is the way God pours out his life, ruling from the cross, emptying himself for the love of us, you and me. This is the way we are called to govern our own lives in a way that we live in service to others.”

Circling back, Bishop Iffert concluded his homily, saying that while the origin of St. John’s Parish was so that “children didn’t have to walk on muddy roads for long distances, the purpose has always been the same. Share that power of love with everyone you meet.”

“That’s what we celebrate tonight,” he said, “100 years of God’s grace, supporting you in that kind of loving service — service that looks like the cross of Jesus, the cross on which he reigns. King of the universe, high priest and champion of our hearts.”

Turkey give-away fills hearts and tables

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St. John the Evangelist Parish celebrates 100 years of God’s grace and loving service

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Maura Baker

Staff Writer

A church of German Gothic design nestled in Covington welcomed a full congregation on the evening of Nov. 23 to celebrate its centennial anniversary. For the past 100 years, St. John the Evangelist Parish, Covington, has served its local community in faith.

The formation of the parish and building of the church began with a need, Bishop John Iffert, who celebrated the Mass, began his homily. The History of the Diocese of Covington, a book published in the 1950’s, has a brief but “interesting” entry on St. John the Evangelist’s Parish. “The reason the neighbors began gathering and began to work on founding a parish here,” said Bishop Iffert, “is because they wanted to build a school.”

The commute to the next closest school at Mother of God was “too long of a commute,” he said, “especially given the condition of the roads at the time. So, apparently, it was easier to build the school and start a parish than for them to fix the roads!”

While the comment was made partially in jest, Bishop Iffert used this origin story to connect to the weekend’s liturgy — the Solemnity of Christ the King. In his homily, he spoke about the promises made by sovereigns and government leaders, such as the Michigan governor who ran on the platform of “fixing the expletive roads.”

“It seems like that’s been a feature of a need for our lives for a long time, especially for folks here in St. John’s Parish,” Bishop Iffert said. “It’s interesting how often our political campaigns, who takes political power … how often it hinges on those very human rights.”

“Jesus remembers something that we and our rulers often forget,” he continued in his homily, “We hear the kings of the world speak of themselves in the third person: the royal ‘we.’ In our democratic age, it sounds officious … that language comes from the idea that the king no longer has a private life, that the king no longer has a self-interest … The king is supposed to be the one who does not promote his own good, but instead lives for the good of others.”

Bishop Iffert said, “Jesus reveals to us that this is the way God cares for us. This is the way God loves us. This is the way God pours out his life, ruling from the cross, emptying himself for the love of us, you and me. This is the way we are called to govern our own lives in a way that we live in service to others.”

Circling back, Bishop Iffert concluded his homily, saying that while the origin of St. John’s Parish was so that “children didn’t have to walk on muddy roads for long distances, the purpose has always been the same. Share that power of love with everyone you meet.”

“That’s what we celebrate tonight,” he said, “100 years of God’s grace, supporting you in that kind of loving service — service that looks like the cross of Jesus, the cross on which he reigns. King of the universe, high priest and champion of our hearts.”

DCCH Center for Children and Families shelters the homeless year round; Is that your Dad?— soon, one prospective family hopes to answer with a resounding ‘yes!’

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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. For the month of December, the focus is on the corporal work, sheltering the homeless.

Sheltering the homeless is not something that many people feel they can participate in. The image many conjure is of welcoming into their home a stranger; perhaps someone who sits on the corner or sleeps on the sidewalk. Opening your home to strangers can not only be dangerous but for many they feel wary about letting a stranger into their home. It takes specially trained people and organizations to meet the housing needs of this most vulnerable population. For individuals, its best to support these organizations in their mission and ministry.

However, there are other groups to consider when thinking of sheltering the homeless. Instead of picturing a stranger on the corner, picture a small child who had to be removed from his or her home because of unsafe conditions. Picture a teenager, whose whole life has been in and out of institutions, multiple homes and new people. These are the faces of the children in our local foster care and adoption system. And they have many ways for individuals to participate in their mission and ministry of providing shelter for homeless children.

DCCH Center for Children and Families, Ft. Mitchell, receives 400 referrals a month for children that need to be placed with a foster or adoptive family. Ron Bertsch, Therapeutic Foster Care/Adoption/ILP director, said that every month they must turn away referrals because they do not have enough families. Mr. Bertsch, in his role, recruits families, trains them, does their home study and gets them approved so that he can help those 400 children who do not have a home to go to.

“Without the recruitment of resources and families it is hard to do the rest of our job, which is to match homeless children, that need a foster or adoptive family,” he said.

When the job is difficult, Mr. Bertsch said that remembering the work of mercy he is doing helps him stay motivated. “It helps me stay motivated in this job because I feel like it is a ministry that I am doing, and it is God’s work. There are a lot of days that are hard and frustrating, but I feel this is more than a job for me, it truly is a ministry.”

The DCCH Center for Children and Families also has a program that aids older children once they have aged out of the traditional foster care system.

“In the history of our services, many kids turned 18 and aged out and had to fend for themselves,” said Mr. Bertsch. Recognizing the needs of these vulnerable young adults, in 2017 DCCH found some funding, and launched its independent living services.

“Kids that are 18 … if they choose, they can extend their stay in foster care. We find them an apartment, we pay utilities and rent and offer case management and therapy … I have had a lot of success with over a dozen kids since we have been doing that, I feel like I am another father figure to these young men and women,” said Mr. Bertsch.

The best part of the job, Mr. Bertsch said, is being able to tell a child that they found a family. “To be able to tell them, ‘Hey, we found you a family.’ I don’t know if I have the words … but I can see it on their face, it is almost unbelievable, the excitement and the joy … it is the excitement, ‘there is somebody out there in the world that is willing to give me a chance.’”

Anyone interested in learning more about foster care or adoption services, DCCH is hosting a no obligation, informational night, Monday, Dec. 9, 6:30 p.m. at DCCH Center, 75 Orphanage Road, Ft. Mitchell, in its Miller Building — signs will direct you.

One-on-one ZOOM information meetings can be scheduled if the planned info meeting is not convenient. E-mail fosterandadopt@dcchcenter.org requesting a meeting with someone from our team.

For a related story about an upcoming 175th DCCH adoption see page 16

Is that your Dad?— soon, one prospective family hopes to answer with a resounding ‘yes!’

“Following God’s will of caring for orphans can seem like a lot, but God will take your yes and meet you where you are at. My journey began with two years of mentoring Joseph. We got to know each other through Sundays at church and many other diverse activities and events. “Then God saw fit to provide everything needed for me to foster Joseph with the intention of adoption. After 11 months, we have the final court date for adoption on Dec. 3. God is so good. “So, wherever you are in your decision process with mentoring, fostering or adopting know that God will honor your yes and do more than you can imagine changing the life of a child for His Kingdom and glory,” Brian Menendez.

These words were expressed from the heart and mind of Mr. Menendez as he finalizes the adoption of his son, Joseph. Below is the story of how Brian and Joseph will become the 175th family through adoption facilitated by DCCH Center for Children and Families.

Brian Menendez, a 40-year-old single man had recently moved and was getting to know the Northern Kentucky area. He read the bible verse James 1:27 which reads, “religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows”. Something stirred, and Brian did an internet search for places to help orphans and came across DCCH Center for Children and Families, in Ft. Mitchell. He immediately began the process to become a mentor for a child.

DCCH just marked their 175th anniversary of providing care for children since starting in 1848 as St. John Orphanage. Merging with St. Joseph Orphanage forming the Diocesan Catholic Children’s Home focusing on the healing of children abused and neglected entering the foster care system.

Brian was matched with Joseph, a then 10-yr old boy in March of 2022. Brian and Joseph’s visits started on the DCCH campus together talking and building Lego sets. In time, Brian was able to take Joseph out during the day and they would attend church and do fun activities together.

Brian shared that he understood his role as a mentor. He wanted to be a safe and loving person for Joseph. During that time, Joseph was open with Brian about things that were occurring in his life. Brian was praying that Joseph would be able to leave DCCH Residential Program and be with a forever family. Brian shared that it never crossed his mind that he could become his family.

Months turned into years, and Joseph still was without the forever family. Brian and Joseph were out in the community one day and someone asked Joseph if Brian was his dad. Joseph nodded his head yes, while cautiously looking at Brian. For the first time, Brian realized that maybe he could be Joseph’s father. Brian prayed and talked with his pastor and those in leadership at church. They agreed that Joseph had become part of the church family, and he needed to be with us.

Brian was introduced to Ron Bertsch, Foster Care and Adoption Director in the fall of 2023. Brian shared his heart and his desire to be a father and a safe home for Joseph. Brian started foster and adoptive classes through DCCH. When Brian was able to inform Joseph of his intention, Joseph was surprised and excited but still reserved because many other family opportunities had presented for him but had always fallen through.

Joseph progressed to having overnight visits with Brian, and then weekend visits and even spending longer times during school holidays. By February 2024, Joseph and Brian were ready; Joseph moved into Brian’s home full-time.

It wasn’t the easiest transition as Brian and Joseph had to learn to become father and son rather than mentor and mentee, but the bond was well started. In addition, Joseph enrolled at a new school. Brian and Joseph worked together through many obstacles to grow in attachment and trust with one another.

This summer, Brian took Joseph to his family’s home in Florida to meet Brian’s extended family. This was Joseph’s first time flying on a plane and the first time seeing the Atlantic Ocean and beach. As a 13-year-old, that made for quite a memorable experience.

Brian and Joseph have an incredible community surrounding them. Good friends from their church attended DCCH’s respite training to further support Brian and Joseph, providing childcare and respite when needed.

Much of Brian and Joseph’s church family plans to attend the adoption finalization hearing on December 3. Joseph’s adoption marks the 175th adoption facilitated through DCCH, so a large contingency of DCCH staff will also attend the hearing. Celebrating this momentous occasion and being blessed to witness the young Joseph grow from the little boy in residential, to the young man in foster care to now being adopted by such a selfless, strong Christian man become father is another cherished gift from God.

For anyone interested in learning more about fostering, adopting or mentoring, attend a free informational meeting on Monday, Dec. 9, 6:30 p.m. at DCCH campus or contact (859) 331-2040 or www.DCCHCenter.org

Deacon Kaiser remembered for a lifetime of generosity and service

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Deacon Bernie J. Kaiser, 83, died Nov. 13. He was ordained a deacon of the Diocese of Covington by Bishop William Hughes, 1985, in the diocese’s first class of deacons. He was the husband of Linda Roaden Kaiser, and father to Tim Kaiser and Chris Kaiser, as well as a grandfather to 10 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren. Deacon Kaiser was preceded in death by his parents, his children Sandy Kaiser and Dave Kaiser, sisters Myrtle Vicars and Alvera McMillan and brother Robert Kaiser.

Deacon Bernie Kaiser grew up on Crescent Ave. in West Covington, attended St. Aloysius school and then Covington Catholic high school for half of his high school career before switching to Holmes and graduating in 1960, after which he married his high school sweetheart, Linda Roaden Kaiser, who was introduced to him by friends in high school.

Deacon Kaiser worked several jobs, but landed eventually in a finance company, according to Mrs. Kaiser, helping to form and lead Consumer Credit Counseling, utilizing his professional and personal experience in finances.

Consumer Credit Counseling is a nonprofit, debt relief program dedicated to helping people regain control of their finances and plan for a debt-free future. Father Gerry Reinersman remembers visiting with Deacon Kaiser at Consumer Credit Counseling. “He very much saw his work as a ministry,” said Father Reinersman. He saw in his work, “reducing stress in people’s lives and as a healing ministry for them and their families. He was a good humble soul.”

Deacon Kaiser grew up poor, according to Mrs. Kaiser, and, as such, “he knew what it was like having these needs that people had. He understood that because he had been there. His father was like that, too. Even though he didn’t have a lot, he was always willing to share what he had.”

After his retirement, Mrs. Kaiser remembers Deacon Kaiser telling her that he wanted to become a deacon — and, while Mrs. Kaiser never foresaw herself becoming a Catholic deacon’s wife, having grown up protestant, she noted how God has a “good sense of humor.”

During his time as a deacon, Deacon Kaiser served his home parish, St. Barbara Parish, Erlanger.

“He enjoyed being a husband and a father,” she said, “he had loved being a deacon because he was in a position where he could help people in so many ways.”

Towards the end of his life, Deacon Kaiser suffered from Parkinson’s and Dementia before passing away — while at his visitation and funeral Mass at St. Barbara’s Church, Erlanger, Nov. 22, Mrs. Kaiser recalls how many people came to her speaking of the help and aid that Deacon Kaiser had offered during their lives.

Deacon Kaiser was laid to rest at Floral Hills Memorial Gardens, Covington. Memorial donations may be made in Deacon Kaiser’s honor either online or in person at services to St. Barbara Church or to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Cincinnati.