2025 Third Place Essay

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Ryan Bennett, Villa Madonna Academy

Walking down the long hallway leading to the turf field ahead, I saw children; some young, old, unable to speak, and in wheelchairs. Sitting with their parents-water in one hand, soccer ball in another- the children waited eagerly to play soccer. I don’t know how this will go…What if they don’t have fun with me? I wondered. Volunteering at All Ability Sports started off as a way to get service hours, but in the end, taught me a valuable lesson I will never forget. I am a witness to God’s love by learning to see the gifts of the Holy Spirit in all people, regardless of their physical or mental disabilities.

The organization All Ability Sports brings children with special needs from across the area and gives them the chance to play soccer. Playing soccer myself, I thought I could easily get my service hours done. To my surprise, these interactions deepened my understanding of God’s presence in every person. My partner (we’ll call her Rose) walked into the building excited to play soccer but had trouble focusing on the drills. Every time Rose got the ball; she would take off running in all directions and wouldn’t stop! While I loved her passion throughout the sport, I found it confusing running her through drills. Not only that it proved hard to keep her focused, but I also wondered how Rose kept so much joy inside her. Rose’s life presented struggles and burdens, but instead of letting that hold her down, Rose allowed herself to embrace what she loved to play: soccer. The courage Rose showed reminds me of Scripture, “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Watching Rose play soccer gave me a clear example of what this Bible verse meant. When Rose could have let fear allow her to quit, Rose showed fortitude. From Rose, I realized that even though struggles may keep her down, she never seemed sad or negative about them-only positivity. The huge amount of fortitude a younger child could show in the face of adversity helped me learn that every problem you encounter should be tackled head on and with positivity and confidence, because the Lord guides you throughout the whole time.

Many of the parents at All Ability Sports display counsel and sacrificial love. Despite the parents facing so many obstacles raising their children, they provide unwavering support for their children. Everyday, parents care for their children, dedicate time, and worry endlessly about how their child’s life will end up. Referring to the Catechism of the Catholic Church “To love is to will the good of another.” The parents could have abandoned or aborted their child when receiving news that their child will have a disability. Instead, parents saw the beauty of God’s creation and meaningful life their child has. The parents decided that to love their child, they must give them the best they can offer. To do this, the parents displayed counsel and used their lives to show their children agape love. Doing this helped their children see God’s love in person.

At All Ability Sports, a dad –“William”- provided a clear example of what agape love should look like. When I trained his son, William asked if he could help teach his son how to shoot a soccer ball. After saying yes, I watched the dad put so much effort into helping him. William never checked his phone, took a break, or gave up. The children’s laughter and celebrations showed that the bond between father and son proved strong.

From volunteering at All Ability Sports, I’ve learned that everyone has the ability to show the gifts of the Holy Spirit in their own unique ways. Rose displayed fortitude by showing courage when playing soccer instead of cowering away. The parents of those disabled children showed counsel by not giving up their children when they saw their burdens. Instead, they reminded themselves that their children, children of God, should be prioritized and respected above all. While society focuses on the large aspects of maintaining the dignity of human life, we must also realize that the dignity of human life is prioritizing and respecting life through everyday actions.

 

 

Naturalization event held at Newport Central Catholic High School confirms 57 legal immigrants as U.S. citizens

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Bella Bailey

Multimedia Correspondent

Newport Central Catholic High School’s gymnasium was transformed into a court room, Sept. 19, as 57 legal immigrants, representing 24 nationalities, became United States citizens. The naturalization event was presided over by The Honorable David Bunning, chief judge of the Eastern District of Kentucky for the United States District Court, who is a 1984 graduate of NCC.

The process of becoming a United States citizen is not an easy one, with tests and interviews between applicants and officers, oftentimes the process is lengthy, last years.

Judge Bunning said of the applicants presented to him, “Each has met the requirements of law concerning the ability to read, write, speak and understand the English language. And, has further satisfied the United States Citizenship and Immigration services that he or she has a satisfactory knowledge of the history and the form of government of the United States.”

The applicants, spanning the globe, the furthest of whom coming from Cambodia, gathered in NCC’s gymnasium in front of friends, family and students to fulfill the quintessential “American dream.”

To the applicants, Judge Bunning shared the stories of the framers, many of whom faced consequences for their signing of the Declaration of Independence nearly 250 years ago.

“I chose to share their stories because, like them, each of you has denounced their homeland in the hopes of a better life and future for you and your families … You are not riled by a king or dictator, but by a democratic voting process, with three branches of government that serve as checks and balances on the other. And no less important, a guaranteed Bill of Rights, you are protected by the rule of law,” Judge Bunning said.

As each of the newly declared U.S. citizen were handed a small American flag, the symbol of freedom to many, the students of NCC clapped as loudly as the family and friends gathered.

Ken Collopy, principal of NCC, said, “We got a lot of great feedback from students and staff, just about how unique of an event it was … Overall a very, very positive event as far as the educational experience, learning the process of how legal immigrants become U.S. citizens.”

The decision to invite the students into the courtroom to witness the naturalization proceedings was an easy one, said Mr. Collopy.

“We are very much about the holistic education of students, it’s not just learning within your traditional classroom,” he said. “We really believe that education doesn’t have to happen in your traditional desk, it’s an experience. I feel strongly that students were able to get some of that at the event.”

As the new citizens waved their flags in the air, the words of Judge Bunning stayed ever present, “There is not more a profound sentence than this, ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, and that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness,’” he said. “These are far more than mere poetic words, but the underlying ideas that infuse every sentence of the Declaration that sustained this nation for almost 250 years.”

Twenty-sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time

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Father Phillip DeVous

Guest

“Woe to those the complacent in Zion!” For us to grasp just how thoroughly the Prophet Amos is calling us to task with his proclamation, it is imperative to understand the essence of the prophetic “woe.”

A woe is an anguished cry or lament by those mourning the dead, the future prospect of death, or cataclysm. Prophets pronounce woes as warnings about God’s judgment on sinful cities or nations. They also serve as urgent appeals for repentance from sin.

One of the primary ways we become complacent in our pursuit of holiness is to presume we are good enough; to presume that mercy will just “work” no matter my disposition. Zion, the biblical Jerusalem, finds its fullest expression and fulfillment in the Church, the Body of Christ. In the Church there dwells the fullness of grace of salvation.

Despite the extraordinary reality of Christ dwelling among us, it is easy to fall prey to a kind of presumption that makes us spiritually complacent and neglectful, causing us to slouch towards the prophetic “woe” being pronounced upon us.

How does such spiritual complacency about something as important as our eternal destiny in the Trinitarian God come about? Very often, distracted by the relentless tempo of the unexamined life, we treat the Church like a mere system for good works and emotional uplift, not the place of encounter and communion with the Holy of Holies, the Trinitarian God. When the Church is understood in this manner, the Holy Sacraments get reduced to something like mere signs of aspiration and affirmation, personal goodness, and/or community togetherness, not the means of our repentance, conversion, and sanctification.

When the Church, the Gospel message, and the Holy Sacraments are rendered as a ceremonial system of “moral therapeutic deism,” a phrase coined by the sociologists Christian Smith and Melissa Sundquist Denton, we have entered the realm of complacent idolatry. There are five basic tenets (really senses) of moral therapeutic deism (MTD); senses that hollow out an authentic spiritual life in Christ.

  1. A God exists who created and orders the world and watches over human life on earth.
  2. God wants people to be good, nice and fair to each other, as taught in the Bible and by most world religions.
  3. The central goal of life is to be happy and to feel good about oneself.
  4. God does not need to be particularly involved in one’s life except when God is needed to resolve a problem.
  5. Good people go to heaven when they die.

It would be entirely correct to describe the tenets of MTD as “my way, my truth, and my life” vs. Jesus, the way, the truth, and the life. It is obvious the tenets of the worldly ideology of MTD, with a sprinkling of the spiritual, are rather generic, resisting any definition or direction. Everyone is left to pick whatever meaning one wishes — the notions they find most affirming.

The prophet Amos was trying to stir people from a complacency, which assumed a false sense of spiritual security among the people, despite the evildoing that thrived in their midst, within them and among them. It was the prophet’s task then, and the Church’s now, to exhort us to the higher and harder path, as St. Paul teaches us, to “pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience and gentleness. Compete well for the faith. Lay hold to eternal life, to which you were called…”

To lay hold of the eternal life, to which we are called, a question confronts us: Do we experience urgency in the need to repent from sin?

In praying the Michaelmas Novena in my parishes, we have been reminded that it is primarily through unexamined, unrepentant and unconfessed sin that the Satanic rebellion takes root in us, hardening our hearts to the truth, love and presence of Jesus Christ. This lulls us into complacency and makes us vulnerable to spiritual evils.

The greatest of all spiritual evils, of course, is a hardness of heart, which leads us down the path towards the spiritual cataclysm of rejecting Jesus Christ. The way to ensure we are not spiritually complacent is to make a searching examination of conscience and a devout, thorough Confession. It is through our Holy Communion with Jesus, ever more perfected by the regular reception of his Divine Mercy that “we keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Father Phillip W. DeVous is the pastor of St. Charles Parish, Flemingsburg and St. Rose of Lima Parish, Mayslick, Ky.

Bishop Iffert commissions and blesses five youth ministry teams

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Bella Bailey

Multimedia Correspondent

The Diocese of Covington Office of Youth Ministry hosted a commissioning of the new youth ministry teams which will be active in the Diocese. All blessed by Bishop John Iffert, there are four total teams: the Youth Commission Evangelization Team (YCET), the CONNECT Team for middle school ministry, the Service and Mission Team, the Teens Encounter Christ (TEC) Team and the Event Teams. Each of these five teams has a dedicated ministry to the youth of the Diocese to help build a faith-filled community.

“Not only do you do one ministry,” said Angie Poat, diocesan youth minister, “you are apostles, or ambassadors, to all of our youth ministries.”

YCET is the largest of the four teams with 20 members and two leaders. The 20 members are high schoolers who have been trained as missionary disciples, serving in parishes, schools and communities. Each present member of the YCET team received a t-shirt bearing the new YCET logo. The t-shirts were blessed by Bishop Iffert and subsequently presented to the team members.

The new logo is a tracing of the large rose window in the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, Covington. Mrs. Poat explained the meaning behind the new YCET logo.

“You represent the Church, you represent the Bishop, and you are the window of God’s mercy, compassion and grace. You are the window through which some people will see God,” Mrs. Poat said.

The middle school ministry team, CONNECT, provides middle school youth with retreat days, also known as CONNECT Retreats. The goal of which is to, “connect junior high, sixth, seventh and eighth graders, give them fun, community-building encounters with each other, with the Church, to come alive and draw them into relationship with each other,” said Mrs. Poat.

The Service and Mission Team focuses on providing opportunities for youth to live the mission of the Church through the corporal works of mercy. Last year, the team hosted a Holy Week, Mission of Mercy retreat for students where they took part in door-to-door evangelization, street evangelization and grew their relationship with Christ.

New to the Diocese of Covington is the Teens Encounter Christ Team. TEC is an international organization which focuses on helping late teens and young adults foster an authentic encounter with Jesus and his paschal mystery.

“It is a three-day, beautiful retreat where the community rallies around young people and walks, and mentors with them and provides a transformative experience,” said Mrs. Poat.

The Event Team offers retreats and experiences for high school students to experience Christian community, grow in faith, spend time with Jesus and learn how to bring his message to others. It is this team that organizes the SUMMIT retreats and is organizing the trip to the National Catholic Youth Conference in Indianapolis this November.

In a recent study, Bishop Iffert said, out of the McGrath Institute, it was found that what helps young people most in maintaining their faith as they move into adulthood is a strong faith community.

“That’s what this seems to me, is we are today commissioning that community,” said Bishop Iffert. “When we come together in that kind of community, we are in a concrete way, the body of Christ.”

Bishop Iffert invites civil servants to ‘dare to be merciful’ at annual Red Mass

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Maura Baker

Staff Writer

Civil servants came together for the annual Red Mass, held Sept. 18 at the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, Covington.

Organized and sponsored by the St. Thomas More Lawyers Guild of Greater Cincinnati, the Red Mass is a tradition celebrated throughout the United States and Europe, through which lawyers and public officials seek to “invoke God’s blessing and guidance on the administration of justice.”

Bishop John Iffert was the celebrant and homilist of the Mass. In his homily, he spoke on humility, recounting the Gospel reading that accompanied the service.

In the reading, a woman, described as sinful, falls to the ground to anoint Jesus’s feet and washes them with her hair. When the Pharisees question this, Jesus asks them a simple question; “Do you see this woman?”

He’s not asking if they “see” her in the ordinary sense, Bishop Iffert said, but rather if they have taken her into account. “Have you noticed her, or is she just the sum total of her public reputation?” He elaborated, “Have you stopped to think about her, who she is, how she came to be at this point, how desperate she was to hear the good news?”

Bishop Iffert then went on to reference a 2017 TED Talk from the late Pope Francis, given at a conference discussing “how technology might reflect ethical decisions.”

In that context, Bishop Iffert says how Pope Francis questioned, with the many people facing hardships in the world, “Why them and not me?”

This falls in to the second question in the Gospel reading that stood out to Bishop Iffert, the question of “Who even dares to forgive sins?”

“Now,” Bishop Iffert said, “we who stand 2,000 years after these events, we have memorized these answers. We can answer with credo formulas — God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God.”

After a pause, he asks again, “‘Who is this man?’ still rings as the question in our ears. Who dares to forgive? Who dares to be merciful? Who dares to notice and see one another? … Is he a cover we use to justify our own opinions, a kind of argument that we project into the world? Or, is he a living, acting friend of ours?”

“Luke poses that question,” Bishop Iffert said.

He goes on to reference the same TED Talk by Pope Francis, in which the pope also called for a “revolution of tenderness.” He drew from it a quote; “Tenderness is not weakness. It is instead fortitude.”

“It is the path of solidarity, the path of humility,” he said, “The more powerful you are, the more your actions will have an impact on people, the more responsibility you have to act humbly. If you don’t, your power will ruin you, and you will ruin the other.”

Thomas More announces direct admissions agreement with Covington Latin School

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Staff Report

Thomas More University (TMU) President Joseph Chillo joined Covington Latin School (CLS), Covington, Head of School Randy Dennis, Sept. 16, to announce a “groundbreaking” direct admissions agreement between TMU and the high school. This agreement, which begins this year with the graduating class of 2026, promises all eligible CLS students automatic, direct admission to TMU — and financial aid totaling up to $30,000 a year. Based on the 2025-26 tuition, students who earn the full $30,000 will have effectively the same cost to attend Thomas More as their current costs at Covington Latin School.

CLS students who meet TMU’s minimum admission requirements will receive an automatic award of $27,000 to which incremental increases based on ACT/SAT scores, as well as a $1,000 incentive for FAFSA qualifying students.

“As we continue to expand the affiliation between Thomas More University and Covington Latin School, this investment in our students will provide opportunities to advance the benefits of a Catholic Education for our region,” said Dr. Chillo. “This agreement invests in the future of these high-achieving students and removes the financial barrier to a Catholic Liberal Arts education.”

“This is a great day for the students at Covington Latin School,” stated Mr. Dennis. “Thomas More University has consistently stepped up to the plate for our institution, and this scholarship offering is just another example of their commitment to furthering Catholic education in Northern Kentucky and the Cincinnati Tri-State area.”

Construction is complete on the Mustang Athletic Complex with the addition of a baseball and softball field

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Bella Bailey

Multimedia Correspondent

Bishop Brossart High School, Alexandria, students, faculty and staff welcomed Bishop John Iffert, community members and donors to the blessing and dedication of the newly completed Verst Family Baseball Field and Bishop Brossart Softball Field. The Sept. 17 ceremony celebrated the hard work and dedication of all those involved in the completion of the Mustang Athletic Complex (MAC).

“We are excited for our entire community to have an athletic complex, not just these fields, but an entire complex which is second to none in Northern Kentucky,” said Chris Holtz, principal.

Construction on the baseball and softball fields began Nov. 22, when ground was broken at the site of the now completed fields. Each field has synthetic turf, a green monster, dugouts, fencing and lighting. The addition also included a press box, concession area and additional parking.

“These new fields provide the baseball team with more chances for games throughout the season, the turf field will reduce the number of rainouts and cancelled games, and the added lights will allow us to play later into the night,” said senior baseball player Landon Ruth.

The completion of the fields now means that Bishop Brossart High School will be able to host both home and regional tournament games.

Hosting these games is a highlight of the new fields, said Mr. Ruth, “these events will show spectators how strong the Brossart community is.”

For senior softball player Rachel Shewmaker, the highlight of the new fields is the community which they represent.

“Brossart wants to use these fields, not just for athletes, but also for the community,” she said to the crowd, “You all shared with us, and we want to share this facility with others. You have helped us to make our dreams of having an all-encompassing sports complex come true.”

Before blessing the field, Bishop Iffert took a moment to speak, “I’m excited for you because you’re demonstrating your commitment to help young people grow in virtue and to learn how to embrace the best of what is youth culture in a way that’s going to help them develop into bright, successful, capable young people — to learn how to win well and to lose well,” he said.

The presence of God through the athletes on the new fields was not understated by the Brossart community. Mr. Ruth said in his remarks, “We are building an establishment where coaches, players and fans will be able to experience God’s grace on and off the field.”

Bishop Iffert blessed the fields saying, “Bless this place. We entreat your kindness that this place will contribute to leisure activities that renew the spirit and strengthen mind and body. Grant that all who meet here may find the enrichment of companionship and together, offer you the praise.”

Then, taking the aspergillum, Bishop Iffert blessed the fields and the crowd, so that they all might be filled with the spirit of God’s grace as athletes take the field for the first time in March.

Season of Creation is a ‘good time’ to renew commitment to life, the environment, says Divine Providence sister

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Maura Baker

Staff Writer

In 2015, the late Pope Francis established Sept. 1 as the first World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation. This year — now 10 years ago — also marks the publishing of the Laudato Si’ (Praise Be to You) encyclical, which further promotes all people towards stewardship to the planet and natural world.

This devotion to caring for the earth grew in 2019, when Pope Francis encouraged Catholics to participate in the Season of Creation — a month lasting from Sept. 1 to Oct. 4 — a fitting conclusion as the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, patron of ecology. The Season of Creation is an ecumenical celebration — inviting all Christian churches to participate.

Religious sisters, and notably the Sisters of Divine Providence, have a special devotion to the mission of Laudato Si’, and thus, the Season of Creation. According to Divine Providence Sister Kay Kramer, the sisters internationally have committed to the Laudato Si’ action platform, a platform established by the Vatican dicastery that outlines ways to put into action care for the environment. The platform gives seven different goals to help guide dioceses, religious communities and anyone who wishes to involve themselves in the mission.

“Celebrating the Season of Creation is, for us, part and parcel of our commitment to Laudato Si’,” Sister Kay said, with care for the poor and defending human life being their goal of focus for the 2025 year. In their community, the sisters encourage one another to adopt their Laudato Si’ commitment, and a prayer service in October will allow them to celebrate the Season of Creation together.

“Hopefully, the more people learn about Laudato Si’ and the Season of Creation, they will want to get involved,” said Sister Kay. “It’s a great way to introduce young people to caring for the earth and to seeing the connection between living out our faith and that caring … there’s so many Scripture references to creation and caring for the earth … I think it’s integral to our faith.”

Laudato Si’ reaffirmed this aspect of the Catholic faith, Sister Kay said, and thus, “the connection between living our faith and taking care of this beautiful earth that God has given us.”

“As people continue to face challenges with climate disasters and happenings around the world, it’s important for all of us to recognize that we can do things,” Sister Kay concluded, giving examples such as cutting down on waste and conserving energy. “All of those things, which might seem small, they really do make a difference for the earth. The Season of Creation is a good time for all of us to remember that.”

For more information about the Season of Creation, including ways to get involved, visit https://seasonofcreation.org.

Women religious embark on Selma pilgrimage for upcoming Jubilee Day

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Maura Baker

Staff Writer

Jubilee days provide opportunity for prayer and reflection and are dedicated to a certain demographic in the Catholic Church. Declared with the 2025 Jubilee, Pilgrims of Hope, one upcoming celebration commemorates consecrated life.

The Jubilee of Consecrated Life will be celebrated Oct. 8–9, and “includes all consecrated men and women from all forms of religious life are invited to this jubilee event: men and women religious, monks and contemplatives, members of secular institutes, members of the Ordo virginum, hermits and members of new institutes,” according to the official Jubilee 2025 website. In Rome, these days will be set aside for pilgrimage, dialogue and prayer among consecrated men and women.

In the Diocese of Covington, religious sisters in particular are planning a pilgrimage of their own — one that takes place between Selma and Montgomery, Alabama.

In March 1965, hundreds of people gathered in Selma to march on the Alabama capital of Montgomery — led by figures such as Martin Luther King, Jr. The demonstration hoped to ensure African Americans the right to vote and was successful in doing so.

“Selma has such a rich history of persistence and moving forward for what’s right,” said Divine Providence Sister Leslie Keener, one of the sisters working on planning the pilgrimage for all of the diocese’s women religious. “I think it’s important for us to go and bear witness to that,” she said.

“I think it’s important, as we think about hope, that this is not our first time with struggle as people, but there have been successes — and it’s hopeful to remember that,” said Sister Leslie. “For me, being a sister is a lot about accompaniment and service … at the heart of it is presence with people in the way that God is present to me in my own life.”

Sister Leslie said that she, and all women religious, would be “very grateful” for prayers, and uniting in prayer with them as they undertake this pilgrimage and celebrate their jubilee. She also invites people to connect with the sisters.

“We love the people we serve, and we love our friends and neighbors,” she said. “All of us are here in service to people, and so we love when people stay connected with us in whatever way they can.”

Give Catholic NKY announced — join the Diocese in an online day of giving

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Maura Baker

Staff Writer

A “one-day celebration of faith and generosity” in the Diocese of Covington has been announced for this years’ “GivingTuesday,” Dec. 2. Annually recognized the Tuesday following Thanksgiving, the global generosity movement designates it as a day of charity — and the launch of Give Catholic NKY, the Diocese of Covington’s officially established GivingTuesday campaign, streamlines the giving process both for donors and the parishes, schools and ministries they support.

Participating in GivingTuesday was an idea brought to the Office of Stewardship and Mission Services by Bishop John Iffert, but parishes were concerned about competition and resources about managing the campaigns themselves according to Jim Hess, director. And so, the idea to coordinate it at the diocesan level came into play, and Give Catholic NKY was the result.

“We handle running the day of giving,” said Mr. Hess. “So, it’s very low workload for parishes and schools to participate.” Additionally, participation for schools, parishes and diocesan ministries is free — with all money collected during the day of giving going back to them at no cost. “It presents a beautiful opportunity for the entire diocese to come together and to prioritize giving Catholic on GivingTuesday.”

The user experience, Mr. Hess describes, will also be “fun and interactive” — with a displayed “leaderboard” showing all the available ministries to donate to. A “shopping cart” system is utilized as well, allowing individual donors to click through different fundraisers and add multiple donations to their online “cart” before checking out — streamlining the process.

“It’s a service that our office is providing to all the schools and parishes in the diocese, so hopefully people take advantage of it,” Mr. Hess said.

Information regarding the Give Catholic NKY campaign, including access to donating on Dec. 2, is available on the Give Catholic NKY webpage, www.GiveCatholicNKY.org.