‘We all want to make a difference in the world,’ Bishop Iffert tells educators at Mass celebrating the school year’s beginning
Maura Baker
Staff Writer
As the summer season draws to a close and the school year is on the horizon, faculty, staff and administrators of Catholic schools in the Diocese of Covington gathered for a Mass, Aug. 5, celebrating the opening of the 2026–2027 school year.
Team members from every school filled the pews of the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, Covington, joined by the staff of the Office of Catholic Schools, priests and deacons of the diocese and Bishop John Iffert, who celebrated the Mass.
As the Mass began, Kendra McGuire, Superintendent of Schools, addressed those gathered. “You know that your task is to teach,” she said, “but to do so means you will need to get to know each and every child that enters through your door. You will have to trust that God has placed each of those children in your classroom for a reason … you should strive to be a model of faith.”
Bishop Iffert, in his homily, began with a story regarding a bookmark he received in seminary, one with the message “Remember, all any of them wants to do is make a difference,” printed upon it.
He said that this was the way Sister Judy Connolly, a sister of Notre Dame who had visited his class In seminary, was “encouraging us not to get distracted by the little conflicts … but to remember that all of us are devoted to the Lord Jesus Christ and want to make a difference in the world we live in.”
Having returned just a day prior from Africa, Bishop Iffert continued by speaking of an experience there, where he had met with bishops from the churches of East Africa, as well as the young people there. He said that the young people shared the issues they sensed in their world — such as a lack of access of economic opportunity and education, mental health challenges, violence, especially against women and a perceived lack of support from the older generation or care from them of these struggles.
Bishop Iffert then referenced the day’s gospel reading, from the book of Matthew, about a Canaanite woman calling out for Jesus to heal her daughter, who was being tormented by a demon. Although Jesus first ignores, then discourages the woman, her faith in his mercy kept her persistent, saying that “even the pets eat the scraps that fall off the table.”
“Let’s notice the stance of the Canaanite woman,” Bishop Iffert said, “We who want so desperately to make a difference in the life of our community, in the life of our diocese, in the life of the young people we serve.”
The Canaanite woman “comes to Jesus with faith,” he continued, “She never questions if Jesus can free her daughter, but she trusts in his divine authority … This is the first and fundamental criteria for any of us who would teach in the name of the Church. That we approach with faith in the divine providence and mercy of God.”
The woman also showed “faith and humility,” Bishop Iffert said. “She acknowledges that she has no right or claim on the God of Israel or the concern of the Messiah, but she submits herself nonetheless.”
“This is exactly who we are,” he said, “We have no right or claim to the graces God has shown us. We have no right or privilege just because we’re members of the Church.”
The Canaanite woman “wants community with the Lord and with those who serve him. For her life to have meaning, she needs to belong to the people of God.”
Tying into his anecdote regarding the bookmark, Bishop Iffert echoed, “We all want to make a difference in the world, in our schools, in the lives of young people … None of us will be able to make a difference if we go it alone. If we take that attitude that we ourselves — our superior education, our superior position, our degrees, our particular abilities — none of us will make a difference if we come to believe that that’s all our future depends on.”
“What our young people need,” Bishop Iffert said, “is for us to respect the magnificent humanity that is their gift from God and that we share with them as brothers and sisters in the world … All any of us want to do is make a difference. I believe that’s true,” he said. “Let’s make that difference together with the Lord Jesus Christ as king, as shepherd and as head of household … As we begin this school year, let us dedicate ourselves to this holy task together under the leadership of Christ. This is the only way we really make a lasting difference — submitting ourselves to the Lord and for love of him to one another.”
