Archive for category: Featured Stories

Maura Baker

Staff Writer

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and, for the 21st year, the Family Nurturing Center kicks off the month with their annual Blue Ribbon ceremony at Tom Gill Chevrolet, Florence, April 1.

At the beginning of the event, a proclamation declaring Child Abuse Prevention Month was given by Kentucky Representative Stephanie Dietz on behalf of Representative Kim Banta, who was ill and couldn’t attend the ceremony.

“I know that elected officials from Boone, Campbell and Kenton County, along with various mayors from the regions, have similar proclamations today,” said Representative Dietz, “and as important as the official designations are, the proclamations are more than just words on paper. They are a call to action. Every child deserves to grow up in a safe, stable and nurturing environment free from abuse and neglect.”

Like in previous years, local students were invited prior to the event to participate in an art contest, this year following the theme “Be the Light, Build a Future.” The winning student’s artwork is printed on the side of TANK buses in Northern Kentucky during the month of April, and a pizza party is won for their class. This year’s winner was Paige Smith, a student of Villa Madonna Academy, Villa Hills, who was presented her award by Mayor Julie Metzger Aubuchon of the City of Florence.

The special guest speaker for the event was Jeff Thomas, the radio host of the WKRQ morning show. Sharing his story as a victim of child sexual abuse, Mr. Thomas expressed his gratitude for the people gathered.

“This is what’s beautiful about today,” he said, “Here, right now, what we’re doing, every person in this room has the power to turn someone’s nightmare into a hopeful outcome. Every person in this room has the power to help end the cycles of abuse in this community and to provide the necessary resources that offer real hope for healing, not just for the victims, but for the families, too.”

In her closing remarks, Family Nurturing Center president Jane Hermes invited individuals to “take the next step.”

“Help create positive childhood experiences for someone today,” she said, “Support parents so they can provide these on an ongoing basis … share what you’ve learned today, spread the message and expand our circle of care … Thank you all for being here today and for your unwavering dedication to building a future where every child grows up safe, supported and empowered.”

Bella Bailey

Multimedia Correspondent

The second Diocesan Parish Annual Appeal (DPAA) Kick-off Dinner was held, March 20, at Receptions Event Center, Erlanger, where 311 people gathered to learn about the ministries that benefit from the DPAA. The theme of this year’s DPAA, “Pilgrims of Hope, Missionaries of Mercy,” was projected around the room as guests toured the ministry fair, highlighting the work throughout the Diocese supported by the appeal.

“It is the financial generosity of people like you that enable the Diocese to execute the mission and theme of the DPAA … In our 2025 video Bishop Iffert talks about the meaning of our theme and several groups of individuals who are served through DPAA ministries,” said Lisa Knochelmann, leadership gifts chair.

The DPAA video, a message from Bishop Iffert encouraging people to donate, will be shown in parishes across the Diocese on March 23. The video, shorter than in years past, will be shown after the completion of the Communion Rite, rather than replacing the homily.

“We have a committee of pastors,” said Bishop Iffert, “who gave input to us every year. One of the consistent inputs that I’ve heard for three years now is that these pastors really hated losing a Sunday homily during Lent. These readings during Lent are so profound and correspond with the process of initiation; we have all of these folks who are preparing for baptism, for initiation into the life of the Church and these readings are geared toward helping us accompany those people. Then, what would happen, you get to the second or third Sunday of Lent and they’d have to throw those readings out the window and they’d hear the Bishop talking about the DPAA. So that is what we’re trying to do this year, we’re trying to respond to that.”

The goal of the DPAA this year is higher than years past at $2,700,000, with $904,072 already committed by donors in the leadership gifts phase, the first phase of the appeal. The $904,072 raised in phase one surpasses the amount raised in 2024 by $322,000.

“That’s flat out amazing,” said Jeff Jehn, general chair for the DPAA, “Your pledge to the appeal will demonstrate your commitment to priestly vocations, Catholic education, religious formation of adults and children, as well as provide programs to strengthen marriages, promote respect for life, and offer consolation for those who are less fortunate than we are. Especially, it will help those whose needs are greatest — the poor, the vulnerable, and all of those who are underserved in their environment but served with love by the people of the Diocese of Covington.”

Bishop Iffert said the pledges made by those in the pew are, “for the poor, for those who need education, for those who have served us so faithfully, for the elderly, for those that don’t have the housing that they should have, those are the kinds of things that your help, through the DPAA and the help of so many thousands allow the Church to do in your name.”

“I want to invite you to join me in supporting the Diocesan Parish Annual Appeal,” said Bishop Iffert, “when we ask you to give, keep in mind that in the Catholic Church you don’t hear us tell you how much you should give … because what we believe is that you should give whatever you and God are happy with, whatever you believe God is asking you to give, whatever is the right return for you on the blessing that you have received.”

Bella Bailey

Multimedia Correspondent

As part of a long-standing Diocesan tradition, the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, Covington, was the site of the annual Scout Mass. A celebration of scouting across the parishes in the Diocese of Covington, which has a dedicated committee to scouting.

“We have a committee on scouting here in the Diocese that helps to guide and direct the scouting here in the Diocese of Covington and to build that relationship between our churches and parishes and the scout organization,” said Bishop Iffert in his homily.

“The relationship between scouting and the Church have been so close because our missions parallel one another. The scouts speak of civic virtues, and in their relationship with the churches, especially the Catholic Church, we cap that program with the virtues of faith to help our young people, to give them guidance, to help them resist the temptations that threaten to bring them down in life.”

The deep relationship between the Church and the different scouting organizations has proved fruitful. The award ceremony following Mass in Bishop Howard Memorial Auditorium, showcased 20 different scouts that earned Catholic scouting awards. These awards are meant to help the scouts grow closer in their own relationship with God and encourage them to spread the good news of the Gospel.

In addition to their scouting patch, each scout in attendance also received a special Catholic scouting badge bearing the crest of Bishop Iffert, signifying the close relationship between these troops and the Diocese of Covington.

Though it was a day honoring the scouts of the Diocese, Bishop Iffert reminded those in attendance of the important guidance troop leaders and parents provide.

“Our kids are wonderful and valuable to us, but they are not angels, they suffer from the same temptations that we suffer from. They need guidance, they need to know the teaching of Jesus, they need to know that he is that Lord of light who will see them through difficulty times,” Bishop Iffert said. “Thank you to everyone who has a part in guiding and directing the lives of our young people and remember, we never outgrow the need for guidance ourselves.”

Laura Keener 

Editor

Thomas More University announces an affiliation with Covington Latin School following a unanimous vote of its board of trustees on March 6, that gives final approval for Covington Latin School to become a part of the university.

“This is a transformative step forward for Catholic education in Northern Kentucky,” said Thomas More University President Joseph Chillo. “The affiliation unites the academic rigor and Catholic classical education Covington Latin School is known for with the resources of Thomas More University to enrich the mission and academic programs of Covington Latin and secure a thriving future for generations of students.”

The announcement follows a comprehensive, year-long assessment to define the benefits and processes of affiliation. The assessment was conducted by a team that includes members of the diocesan Curia and university leadership. Through townhall-style forums, surveys of alumni, parents, teachers and staff and one-on-one meetings with stakeholders, the team has utilized feedback from the Covington Latin School community to create a strategic vision for the school as part of the university.

“True to its mission as a classical Catholic school for gifted learners, for over 100 years Covington Latin School has formed students to engage with the world thoughtfully and critically, fostering a sense of responsibility to contribute positively to society and the Church,” says Bishop John Iffert of the Diocese of Covington. “I am truly grateful to the Thomas More University Board of Trustees for its support of the affiliation and to Dr. Chillo and his team for continuing the Covington Latin School legacy of teaching ‘Goodness, Discipline and Knowledge.’ I am confident that Covington Latin School’s affiliation with Thomas More University will enhance its rigorous academic standards by providing access to advanced resources, faculty expertise and a broader academic community, while maintaining a deep commitment to the values of the Catholic faith.”

While plans for curriculum are still being fully formed, under the affiliation Covington Latin School students will be able to access Thomas More University courses as part of defined pathway programs and dual credit. This integrated approach will allow Covington Latin students to begin their college journey early and explore their academic interests.

“Knowing the success of university-affiliated schools in the United States, it is exciting for Thomas More to be the first instance of a private, nonprofit university in the Commonwealth to undertake this model,” President Chillo says. “It is yet another demonstration of the innovative mindset that is shaping the future of Thomas More University as the regional leader in Catholic higher education.”

In an interview following the announcement, Dr. Kevin Reynolds, senior vice president, Mission and University Advancement, Thomas More University, who has been leading the affiliation process, said that the Board’s approval sets in motion several key steps, the first of which is hiring a permanent Head of School for Covington Latin. For the last year, Dr. Racheal Noll has been leading Covington Latin on an interim basis.

“From the very beginning of the process, we’ve said that our goal was to do a full search for that next leader,” Dr. Reynolds said.

To aid in that search, a committee has been formed made up of TMU representatives, and CLS faculty, alumni and current and prospective parents, he said.

Additionally, the TMU/CLS affiliation team will, next week, begin meeting with CLS faculty and staff to discuss things like compensation and employee benefits.

“For a lot of the current faculty, they’re excited about the opportunity for tuition remission at Thomas More University, which is something that we’re going to be offering to them,” Dr. Reynolds said.

While details of the curriculum have yet to be finalized, the school will still be dedicated to a classical, Catholic liberal arts curriculum. “It fits very well in alignment with Thomas More University’s mission as a Catholic liberal arts college, as a curriculum founded in the Catholic intellectual tradition. Certainly, those things are highly synonymous and work well together,” Dr. Reynolds said.

Some enhancements that will be new and unique to Covington Latin School that the affiliation will bring is access to college resources.

“We intend on operating Covington Latin out of its current building in Covington, that doesn’t change. Certainly, our (TMU) facilities, our labs, our faculty, our expertise, can be brought in to advance and supplement that educational experience,” said Dr. Reynolds.

As examples, Dr. Reynolds said that already this year the CLS Christian Awakening Retreat was held on TMU’s campus, the schools upcoming Spring musical, “Shrek,” will be performed at TMU’s theater. TMU is home to an LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified biology field station, a state-of-the-art observatory and anatomy lab. “These are resources that the faculty at Covington Latin will now have access to use for their students to assist in their educational experience,” said Dr. Reynolds.

With the affiliation, student enhancements will also continue outside of the classroom. “Our intent is to grow the co-curricular and extracurricular opportunities within the school,” said Dr. Reynolds. “Certainly, athletics is a big part of that. There’s something to be said about how young people grow in the athletic experience. Even if you’re not winning state championships, it’s the competition that takes place on the field, on the court, in the practice. The personal growth that happens learning how to work as a team, overcoming adversity, perseverance — these are all things that students today need. Athletics is a big way of providing that opportunity, and so we’re going to invest there.”

Dr. Reynolds said that TMU/CLS’s first investment will be in its faculty. “The best thing we can do for students is to make sure they have the best possible teachers. So, we’re going to be investing in the teachers. We’re going to be providing continuous education opportunities for teachers to get advanced degrees, and provide the opportunity to, if they’re not yet certified, to get certified, and then just continuing that pedagogy. Professional Development is going to be really important for us to make sure that our teachers are the most prepared to serve the region’s most gifted learners and leaders. That’s the biggest thing for us right now, investing in the teachers.”

In an interview about the affiliation, Bishop Iffert said that what he believes will be a benefit with CLS/TMU is a “collegial” approach to education. An approach that is foundational to CLS.

“When I look back on the strength of Covington Latin School, one thing that was very clear to me is that the strength of the school, for years, was the priests who were teaching there and some of the lay people, too,” said Bishiop Iffert. Noting that at one time in CLS’s history over 30 priests were involved with the school, as faculty members or administrators. “When priests work together like that, they function as a college. That’s one of the things that people often miss about priests, and that priests sometimes we forget, is that we are not lone rangers, we are not working independently, but we function properly as a college. That strength was so important for establishing the strong reputation that this school has.”

To capitalize on that foundational strength of CLS, Bishop Iffert said he began to search for a current resource that functioned similarly. “We have a college with its administrative team, with its faculty, who are experienced
in working with gifted young people, and people who are preparing for both college and graduate study, who can bring their expertise and their wisdom to bear on helping gifted young people who are developing those kinds of study and career tracks,” Bishop Iffert said. “It seemed to me like the application of that collegial approach was likely to bear the best fruit for Covington Latin School.”

“Covington Latin School continues to be a school with a program that is strong,” Bishop Iffert said. “We are committed to trying to strengthen that program. We hope to capture again that commitment to a classical, Catholic curriculum so that students can be distinguished as being students who are well educated, well-rounded students going into their college years. Many of the faculty who have brought so much excellence and joy to Covington Latin School in the past several years will continue there, under the leadership of Thomas More University.”

A list of responses to frequently asked questions for Covington Latin families is available online at https://more.thomasmore.edu/wp-content/uploads/CLS-and-TMU_-Frequently-Asked-Questions.pdf.

Maura Baker 

Staff Writer

Dr. Mandy Sanchez, director of programming at Culture Reframed, an international nonprofit centered around addressing the harms of pornography to youth, returned to the Diocese of Covington, March 3, for a presentation on the dangers of a “pornified world.” Titled “Just a Click Away — Monitoring the Risks and Rewards of Gaming and Apps for Our Youth,” two sessions were held — one in the morning for teachers, counselors and diocesan staff, and an open presentation in the evening for parents and adults of all ages interested in the protection of youth in the digital age.

Previously, Dr. Sanchez visited the diocese in November of last year and spoke on the connection between popular social media apps and the porn industry — which she proposes is “stronger than many think.”

March’s presentation expands on this concept, detailing the specific ways in which teenagers are susceptible to and affected by social media and the sexualization of video games.

“When you combine an adolescent desire for approval with a global digital platform,” said Dr. Sanchez, “this can massively soup up their encouragement to post sexual content.”

Quoting UK psychologist Dr. Elaine Kasket, whose research heavily focuses on social media, apps such as TikTok are called a “supercharged cabinet” for teens, “because he says,” quoted Dr. Sanchez, “teens are naturally interested in taking risks. They are naturally interested in finding out about sex and exploring that. They’re open to flattery. They’re open to seduction.”

Dr. Sanchez posed that if there is “no robust, porn-critical, sexual education curriculum happening, or conversations about the reality of relationships and intimacy, then this (referring to the objectifying and often violent portrayals of sex by the porn industry) is what kids think they’re supposed to do, and other kids think this is what they’re supposed to expect — because porn sets the expectations for violence and abuse. It normalizes the violence and depicts it as enjoyable.”

“We (Culture Reframed) believe that pornography is a stealth public health crisis,” she said, “it’s not an individual failing of morals or a moral failing of society or of an individual. We believe that it’s as pervasive as a public health crisis. So,” Dr. Sanchez said, “We center young people and work to get the message out with all those people who work with young people.”

Between parents and their children, Dr. Sanchez said that “Conversation needs to happen, and we’re going to set reasonable boundaries.” Parental controls are “like putting a band aid on a broken arm,” she said, “we really need to go deeper and have these conversations.”