Second Sunday of Advent

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Father Suraj Abraham

Guest

A farmer once walked through his field after a wildfire had swept across the land. Everything was black and lifeless. He stood there in silence, heartbroken at the loss. But a few weeks later, as he walked the same path, he noticed tiny green shoots pushing up through the charred soil. Surprised, he knelt down and whispered, “Fire doesn’t destroy the promise of life; it prepares the ground for new things.”

On this second Sunday of Advent, this is exactly the kind of hope the prophet Isaiah offers us (Isaiah 11:1–10). Israel, too, felt like a burnt and barren field, cut down, exhausted, discouraged. Yet the Lord promises: “A shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse.” (Is 11:1) From what looked dead, God brings forth the Messiah.

The early Church loved this image. St. Jerome wrote, “From a root that seemed without life, Christ springs forth with divine power.” The season of Advent invites us to believe that God can bring new life from the “burned fields” of our own hearts and situations.

St. Paul (Rom 15:4–9), tells us where such hope is strengthened: In the Scriptures; “Whatever was written … was written for our instruction, that we might have hope.” (Rom 15:4) The Catechism explains Paul: “The Holy Spirit gives a spiritual understanding of the Word of God to those who read or hear it, according to the dispositions of their hearts, so that they can live out the meaning of what they hear, contemplate and do in the celebration.” (CCC 1101)

Advent is therefore not only a season of waiting; it is a season of listening and allowing the Word to wash over us and renew our hearts. Advent is not just a countdown to Christmas; it is a school where God teaches us hope, unity and encouragement.

Then in the Gospel (Matt 3:1–12), John the Baptist stands before us not as a harsh figure, but as a friend of the Bridegroom, who wants us truly ready for Christ. His message is honest and freeing: “Repent! Make straight the paths.”

Repentance is not shame, it is healing. Not punishment, but an invitation. The Catechism says: “It is by faith in the Gospel and by Baptism that one renounces evil and gains salvation, that is, the forgiveness of all sins and the gift of new life.” (CCC 1427) John points us to Jesus, who baptizes “with the Holy Spirit and fire,” the fire of love that purifies and renews our hearts. John wants our hearts cleared, ready and open, so that Christ may plant something new within us.

Dear friends, may this Advent help us recognize the “green shoots” God is already raising in our lives. And may the Lord, who brings life out of ashes, prepare our hearts to welcome His Son with renewed hope and joy. Let us “Bear fruit worthy of repentance.”

Father Suraj Abraham, CMI, is Parochial Vicar at Blessed Sacrament Parish, Ft. Mitchell.

The St. Patrick School community rallied to pack 5,000 bags of food for children overseas

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Bella Bailey

Multimedia Correspondent

Students, families, faculty and staff at St. Patrick School, Taylor Mill, were abuzz with feelings of gratitude and giving, Nov. 21, as they participated in an on-campus service project, Feed the Need. As students packed meals to send overseas, smiles filled the room while they scooped, poured and sealed 5,000 bags of food.

“They [Feed the Need] take meals mostly to third world countries. Most of the food we pack will go to Bangladesh to feed the people there. Then they take them the message of the Gospel along with the meals,” said Pam Nunnelley, principal.

Simon, sixth grader at St. Patrick School, said, “It’s an organization that helps kids get food.”

Fifth grader, May, explained that “Everyone gets a scoop of vegetables, vitamin powdered, rice and lentils. We put it in a bag and then we measure to make sure it’s 380 to 400 grams. Then we seal the bag and put it in boxes.”

Together the school community packaged enough meals “to feed a student for a whole school year,” said Mrs. Nunnelley. “I was just trying to find a way to have the kids outside of themselves and to do something for other people,” she said.

Feed the Need provided St. Patrick School with all the packing supplies, food and event management, but they could not provide the excitement and spirit the students brought.

“They’re excited about being able to do something to help other people,” said Mrs. Nunnelley. “I’m excited to see the excitement on them. Some of them, since the day we talked about doing this … they’ve been asking every day ‘when do we get to do this?’”

Tristin, a fifth-grade student, said about his experience, “I just don’t want kids feeling hungry, especially in the wintertime when they can’t grow crops or anything.” Tristin wants people to remember that “You’re a human and they’re human, they just have a different life than you.”

Franciscan Daughters’ turkey giveaway fed 558 families ahead of Thanksgiving

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Maura Baker

Staff Writer

An annual tradition, 558 families received turkeys, shelf-stable essentials, bread and produce from the Franciscan Daughters of Mary’s “Turkey Giveaway,” held Nov. 25 ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday. Alongside a team of volunteers, the sisters operated the giveaway out of their Rose Garden Mission, Covington.

Despite heavy rain on the day of the event, volunteers and sisters alike described it as both “peaceful” and “beautiful.”

“The Thanksgiving and Christmas giveaways have been part of our holiday season since our kids were babies,” said one volunteer. “We’re humbled to be a small part of the beautiful work the mission does to bring Christ’s love to the community.”

“I got home and was so sore, and it was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. I witnessed the loaves and the fish — the food just kept coming,” said another. “Each person got so much food with their turkey that they needed a volunteer to bring it to their car in a grocery cart.”

Future Deacons take a big step

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Bishop John Iffert, Diocese of Covington, accepted the petitions for “candidacy” of nine men taking the first formal step in deacon formation. With the support of their wives, they were admitted as Candidates for Ordination to the Diaconate at a Mass, Nov. 23. The Mass was celebrated by Archbishop Robert Casey of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati at Mt. St. Mary Seminary and School of Theology, Cincinnati.

The candidates and their wives are: G. Michal and Juliette Bezold, St. Mary Parish, Alexandria; Jeffery and Susan Bier, St. Henry Parish, Elsmere; Kevin and Judine Hooker, St. Paul Parish, Florence; Juan Carlos and Julia Montes, Cristo Rey Parish, Florence; Thomas and Jennifer Paolucci, Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, Burlington; Gregory and Angie Smorey, St. Mary Parish, Alexandria; Jason Snapp, St. Augustine Parish, Augusta; Kevin and Mary Stamps, St. Timothy Parish, Union and Jerome (JJ) and Pamela Wurtz, St. Joseph Parish, Cold Spring.

In the candidacy ceremony, a man makes a public declaration of his resolve to complete his preparation for diaconate so as to give faithful service to Christ the Lord and his body — the Church. In turn, the sponsoring diocese receives the man’s declaration and expresses its joy and support.

Please continue to pray for the men in deacon formation and their wives as they continue to discern a call to diaconal ministry in the Diocese of Covington.

The Retired Fund for Religious helps retired religious and their communities with rising healthcare costs

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Bella Bailey

Multimedia Correspondent

Benedictine Sister Emmanuel Pieper dedicated her life and ministry to students through art. Teaching grade school and high school art classes, Sister Emmanuel saw firsthand the impact that one person can have on another. Now, in her retirement, she stays busy making art and enjoying life at St. Walberg Monastery, Villa Hills. At 97 years old, however, Sister Emmanuel finds herself in need of additional healthcare, living at the onsite infirmary at St. Walberg Monastery.

Like Sister Emmanuel, tens of thousands of retired religious find themselves in need of additional healthcare, with the median age of nuns in the United States reaching 80 years old. As the aged and infirmed population is on the rise, religious orders are facing difficulties with the increasing cost of additional healthcare. Because of this, over 260 religious communities rely on funds from the Retirement Fund for Religious.  The retirement fund for religious has given over $1,000,000,000 to retired religious since their inception in 1988. This year, there will be a second collection for the Retirement Fund for Religious at Masses, December 12-14, so they can continue to provide for those retired religious in need.

“I think I have a wonderful life,” said Sister Emmanuel, “I thank God every morning for a new sunrise and a new day to live in his wonderful world.”

Her vocation story began at baptism, when she was named after her aunt who was a Benedictine Sister. She carried this with her throughout her life. “All my life I had an inclination to enter the monastery,” she said. Sure in her vocation, Sister Emmanuel entered the Order of St. Benedict at 17 years old, where they allowed her to continue her passion for art. She holds both her Bachelor and Master of Fine Arts from the University of Notre Dame, Indiana.

“I think I was born with a love of beauty, anything beautiful just attracts me so strongly,” she said of her affinity for the craft. Her artwork can be seen at Holy Cross District High School, Covington; St. Henry District High School, Erlanger, and Thomas More University, Crestview Hills.

She shared her love of art with the students she taught, whether in grade school or high school. “My favorite part was seeing how kids could develop,” she said, “seeing people catch on to something, be able to do it, be satisfied with themselves.”

Donating to the second collection for the Retirement Fund for Religious will help more sisters like Sister Emmanuel continue their ministry into retirement. Providing funds to those religious communities in need of help to offset healthcare costs.

National Catholic Youth Conference provides opportunities for deepening relationships with Christ

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Bella Bailey

Multimedia Correspondent

Four hundred students and chaperons made their way back to the Diocese of Covington, Nov. 22, following the National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC), Indianapolis. The annual conference has become the premier destination for young Catholics to grow and reignite their faith, while growing in relationship with Christ and others. While there, the students participated in all the conference had to offer, Adoration, confession, prayer, games, breakout sessions, and most notably, a conference wide dialogue with Pope Leo XIV.

Covington Catholic senior, Brayden, had the unique opportunity to be part of the group of students from around the country to give input on the discussion topics for Pope Leo.

Even though the students gathered were from across the country, the central themes for their desired dialogue were the same. “Relationships, friendships, discussing things like technology, and things like that,” said Brayden. “We all have the same overarching ideas about our faith and the struggles with our faith and the things we go through in our daily lives.”

“It’s really cool to see how many different people can come together and share ideas and be able to hear different perspectives on things from people around the country,” he said.

Young Catholics uniting and forming relationships is a common theme of NCYC. One Notre Dame Academy, Park Hills, student, Noelle, said, “I really didn’t expect there to be a lot of people my age … but going out there and seeing all these young teenagers around my age and trying to grow deeper in their faith really inspired me to grow deeper in my faith as well.”

While the attendees form relationships with their peers from across the country, the true focus of the National Catholic Youth Conference is forming a strong relationship with Christ.

“I remember something that Pope Leo said and it really stuck with me,” said Noelle. “He basically said you have to deepen your relationship with God and want to have that relationship with him in order to give him your problems or struggles.”

Both Brayden and Noelle identified the Friday evening adoration at Lucas Oil Stadium as one of the most impactful moments of the conference in growing their relationship with Christ.

“Our entire diocese was able to sit down on the main floor of the stadium and so we were basically circled around the monstrance and Eucharist … the focus that people had on the Eucharist was amazing for me,” said Brayden.

Being down on the main floor of the stadium meant that there were approximately 16,000 other Catholics filling the stands of the stadium during Eucharistic adoration. But for Noelle, there was only one person she was focused on.

“I was surrounded by a huge crowd, but I was so zoned in on the Eucharist that I honestly forgot, I forgot everyone else was there, almost like it was just me and God in that instant,” she said. “Staring up at the host really got me feeling a lot about my faith, and very emotional. It brought me to tears a bit.”

The 2026 National Youth Conference will be held in Long Beach, California, and will return to Indianapolis in 2027.

“If you’re ever thinking about going to the conference, go in with an open heart and open arms, wanting to get the whole experience,” said Noelle.

Childcare Program Aide – St. Cecilia’s Early Childhood Learning Center

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St. Cecilia’s Early Childhood Learning Center is currently seeking qualified, enthusiastic individuals to fill aide positions within our childcare program. We offer both full-time and part-time positions with the added benefit of no evening or weekend hours required.

Qualified candidates should:

  • Exhibit strong communication and interpersonal skills
  • Demonstrate professionalism and a collaborative attitude
  • Enjoy working with children ages 1–5
  • Maintain a positive and nurturing presence in the classroom

Our center provides a structured, supportive environment where children participate in engaging activities that promote social, emotional, and developmental growth through both indoor and outdoor play.

To apply or request more information, please contact:
Kim Murphy, Director
📧 [email protected]

Parish Business Manager – St. Henry Parish, Elsmere

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Due to an upcoming planned retirement, St. Henry Parish is seeking a full time Business Manager.  The position is a professional administrator, responsible for assisting the Pastor with the stewardship of the physical and financial resources of the Parish and its School.  The Business Manager directs all business matters of parish operations, including oversight of the parish office staff, and is responsible for School tuition management.

Understanding of accounting principles and previous accounting or bookkeeping experience is required.  In addition to preparing the Parish operating budget and cash flow forecasts, specific accounting duties include account reconciliations, supervision of cash disbursements and receipts, preparation of financial statements including the year-end close and the Annual Financial Report to the Diocese.  Must possess good working knowledge of MS Excel and MS Word software.

A Candidate must be a practicing Catholic in good standing with the Church and committed to its mission.  Must possess strong organizational and interpersonal skills, precision in oral and written communications, and be trustworthy with confidential information.

Qualified candidates should send their resume and cover letter to Fr. Kevin Kahmann, the Pastor, at [email protected]

Preschool/Childcare Facility Staff – Saint Joseph Academy

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Saint Joseph Academy in Walton, Kentucky is hiring persons to work in our Preschool/Childcare facility. Must have at least a high school diploma, be able to demonstrate professional practices and demeanor, like working with young infants and children, and be able to collaborate with others in a positive and professional manner. Full or part time openings available. If you are interested, you may submit your resume with a cover letter and references to Sister Patricia Jean, SJW at [email protected]

Cafeteria Employee (Part-time) – Villa Madonna Academy

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Villa Madonna Academy has an opening for a part time cafeteria employee.  If you would be interested in serving nutritious and delicious meals in an atmosphere of efficiency, cleanliness, and warmth please contact cafeteria manager, Barbara Droege, at [email protected] to set up an appointment for an interview.