Second annual Mass of Belonging hosted by Fire Foundation of Northern Kentucky to take place Sept. 9

Bella Bailey

Multimedia Correspondent

The Fire Foundation of Northern Kentucky will host its second annual Mass of Belonging at the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, Covington, Sept. 9, 6 p.m. All are welcome.

The work of the Fire Foundation of Northern Kentucky is firmly rooted in the belief that all children are deserving of a high-quality, Catholic education, focusing specifically on students with learning difficulties or special needs. Through fiscal support of teacher training, funding for salaries or partial salaries of special education teachers and paraprofessionals, and the acquisition of adaptive technology, the Fire Foundation of Northern Kentucky seeks to make Catholic schools truly inclusive for all.

“The Fire Foundation of Northern Kentucky makes it possible for Catholic schools to create an environment where students of all abilities learn, grow and thrive … it will allow students with special needs to share in unique opportunities that only our Catholic schools can offer children,” said MaryKaye McDaniel, board member.

As a partner of the Diocese of Covington, the Fire Foundation of Northern Kentucky was started by a group of moms, all of whom wanted more for their children with special needs. Spurred by a desire to have all their children attend school together, as a family, the Fire Foundation of Northern Kentucky was born.

Mrs. McDaniel said, “This foundation was really driven by that, wanting to keep families together in our Catholic schools, learning and growing educationally, spiritually and together.”

As a way to help the students they serve, the Fire Foundation of Northern Kentucky hosts an annual Mass of Belonging, where those with special needs and their families are invited to celebrate Mass as a community.

“It’s about bringing our community together as a whole and saying, ‘You belong,’” said Mrs. McDaniel. “We all belong to this beautiful Catholic faith, in this beautiful Catholic community.”

The Mass this year will be a sensory-friendly event, so more people are able to enjoy the celebration of the Eucharist. “It really is a night to celebrate, to celebrate Jesus, to celebrate the Eucharist, to celebrate our community, and to come together,” said Mrs. McDaniel.

Following Mass, there will be an ice cream celebration in St. Mary’s Park, Covington, across the street from the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, where the community can gather and engage in fellowship. “Once we celebrate the Eucharist, celebrate our faith in Mass, and then afterwards be able to make those connections with other families,” said Mrs. McDaniel on the merit of the ice cream social.

The Fire Foundation of Northern Kentucky emphasizes inclusion among Catholic schools, said Mrs. McDaniel, “so that students, teachers and all staff can more fully live out our Catholic faith on a daily basis.”