Cathedral chimeras to take their rightful place in the coming weeks

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Bella Bailey

Multimedia Correspondent

The chimeras, which sit atop the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, Covington, will soon make their long-awaited return, as Cathedral construction begins wrapping up. Don Knochelmann, director of Buildings and Properties for the Diocese of Covington, estimates that it will take only one day to bring the 26 chimeras to the roof of the Cathedral.

The tradesmen of Trisco Systems will soon be unloading the terracotta chimeras from their crates and placing them in a lifting basket attached to a crane.

“They’re going to take two at a time, they’ll have 13 trips to place them up there,” said Mr. Knochelmann. Once the chimeras have been safely transported to the roof of the Cathedral, it will take approximately five days for them to be attached in their respective spots.

The original chimeras — also made of terracotta — had been filled with concrete and attached via a metal rod to the Cathedral roof. As the years wore on, however, those rods deteriorated and their concrete interior caused the terracotta exterior to crack. The new chimeras are hollow and will be attached by a threaded, stainless-steel rod, which will be bolted down.

To extend the new chimera’s life, each has been equipped with vents and “weep holes,” said Mr. Knochelmann, “so that if moisture were to get in, it would weep out.”

Because the chimera will sit on the very top of the Cathedral, they are the last to be installed. Their gargoyle counterparts were installed throughout the winter months. Before the chimera can be transported to the roof, there are a few remaining projects to be completed.

“The big piece that remains is the center colonnade. It’s a centerpiece between the two towers … that has a structural problem. There are four new beams that are going in to replace beams that were corroded from the original construction,” said Mr. Knochelmann.

Once the beams of the colonnade have been replaced, the crew will begin “unloading the roof,” said Mr. Knochelmann. “They’re going to take all the scaffold down and take all the materials, all the protective covering on the roof down.”

“I am looking forward to wrapping this up and finishing what has really been the project of my life,” said Mr. Knochelmann. “You don’t really get to work on a building as beautiful and historic as this Cathedral. It’s an incredible building, and to be able to be the person that’s working on it and helping form what we’re doing to fix it has been a dream.”

Supporters invited to ‘let their light shine’ as first dinner kicks off public phase of DPAA

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Laura Keener

Editor

The public phase of the Diocesan Parish Annual Appeal kicked-off, March 3, with the first of two dinners. Over 50 people gathered with Bishop John Iffert, Lisa Knochelmann, DPAA general chair and Dr. Greg Salzman, DPAA leadership gifts chair, at Blue Licks State Park for the event.

Before the dinner, guests perused a mini-ministry fair with eight diocesan offices and 3 community ministries benefiting from the DPAA sharing their good works.

With her involvement leading the DPAA this year and last year, Mrs. Knochelmann said, “I’ve learned more about many of the organizations that the campaign helps support. It’s a blessing to hear their stories and see the good works they do.”

The theme for this year’s DPAA is “Live as Children of Light,” from St. Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians (5:8–9): “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light, for light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth.”

“When I read that Scripture, I can’t help thinking of that great proclamation also from the Gospels, ‘you are the salt of the earth, the light of the world. Let your light shine,’” Bishop Iffert told attendees.

This year, in addition to monetary goals each parish has been assigned a participation goal. According to Jennifer Cox, DPAA secretary, the DPAA team has been noticing a trend. Each year, while the DPAA monetary goal is greatly exceeded, fewer parishioners have been making pledges.

“By giving a participation goal, we thought it would encourage those that just want to get started,” she said, encouraging everyone to give a little.

The participation goal is calculated using last year’s number of parishioner participants and adding five percent. It’s important to note that an increase in participation and any increase in DPAA monetary donations does not affect a parish’s future DPAA goal. Instead, DPAA goals are calculated using a three-year average of a parish’s weekly collections. Also, like in year’s past, all monies collected over and above a parish’s goal is rebated back to the parish for parish projects.

At the dinner, Dr. Salzman announced that the DPAA’s first phase, the leadership gifts phase, has raised $690,065 in pledges from 146 donors towards the DPAA’s $2.754 million goal.  During the leadership gifts phase, 50 solicitors reached out to the top 250 donors of last year’s DPAA asking them to match or increase their gift to the DPAA.

“To those who have already donated and committed, we say ‘Thank You,’” said Dr. Salzman.

The second DPAA kick-off dinner is planned for March 5 at Receptions, Erlanger. Other important dates are announcement weekend, March 14–15 and commitment weekend, March 21–22, both in parishes.

Junior high students visit relics of ‘first millennial saint’

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Maura Baker

Staff Writer

Junior high school students from St. Catherine of Siena School — joined by teachers Bill Arnzen, Sue Seta and Shannon West — visited relics of St. Carlo Acutis, Feb. 12.

These relics, which included a first-class relic of a piece of St. Carlo’s heart membrane (pericardium), and second-class relics of his favorite shirt and hospital blanket, were displayed at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Peter in Chains, Cincinnati.

Students at the cathedral attended for the veneration of these relics and were allowed to touch prayer cards and other items to them forming them into third class relics. A talk on miracles of St. Carlo Acutis, given by Msgr. Anthony Figueiredo of Italy, was given prior to the veneration.

“Our students were greatly impacted and moved by their experience at the Cathedral. They were first struck by the beauty of the images inside the church and chapel and the overall peace that blanketed us during our visit,” Language Arts teacher Shannon West said about the experience. “I feel like time stood still as we listened to the stories of miracles and stood in line to venerate the relics. Prior to Carlo’s canonization, we showed our students his movie, Roadmap to Reality, so our students were already familiar with his life and some of his miracles. This experience helped connect our students more deeply to Carlo’s life!”

Students also reflected positively on the experience, as eighth grade student Lillian said, “It was very impactful, and it was very special to be able to venerate the relics and even obtain a third-class relic for myself.”

Another student, seventh grader Nyhla, commented that “The thing that inspired (her) was that St. Carlo was not afraid of dying. He saw it as a new life, an eternal life in Heaven with God. St. Carlo Acutis was different from other kids his age in this time. He was really connected with God … I learned that anyone can become a saint. It doesn’t matter what year it is. It matters that you put God above others and above material things. It inspired me because God never stops performing miracles.”

“I am so glad we went and I hope this opportunity can come up again,” Alex, another eighth-grade student said. “It truly felt like Carlo was with us in the moment and that nothing could hurt us. If a saint relic is around, don’t pass the opportunity.”

Record numbers respond to ‘God’s grace’ and call at Rite of Election and call to continuing conversion

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Laura Keener

Editor

At the Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion, Feb. 22, Bishop John Iffert welcomed 420 people from across the Diocese seeking full communion with the Catholic Church. This is a record-breaking number, an increase of 57.3 percent over last year and a 105.9 percent increase over the five-year average.

In an interview with Father Daniel Schomaker, diocesan director for the Office of Worship and Liturgy, the dramatic increase, he said, can only be attributed to God’s grace and the Holy Spirit.

“God’s grace is moving and people are paying attention,” Father Schomaker said. “God’s grace is always moving; the Holy Spirit is always active and drawing people back to him.” What’s happening now is “all of a sudden people are paying attention a little bit more and responding to that grace.”

In two ceremonies, Feb. 22, pastors from 36 parishes in the Diocese of Covington and Thomas More University presented 171 catechumens and 249 candidates to Bishop John Iffert. Catechumens are unbaptized individuals seeking to enter the Catholic Church. During the Rite of Election each is called forward by name, receive a blessing from Bishop Iffert and had their name inscribed in the Book of the Elect, which Bishop Iffert signed, declaring them the Elect — God’s chosen people.

Candidates are baptized Christians seeking full communion with the Catholic Church. Included with the candidates is 46 baptized Catholics seeking to complete the sacraments of initiation. They, too, are called by name and received a blessing from Bishop Iffert.

Both the candidates and catechumens have been participating in the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA) at their parish. At this year’s Easter Vigil they will receive the sacraments of initiation — baptism (catechumens), first Communion, and confirmation (catechumens and candidates) — and will become the newest members of the Church.

In his homily, reflecting on the Gospel passage of the temptations of Christ in the desert (Matt 4:1-11), Bishop Iffert said that Jesus is the perfect model for us to resist sin that strains both our relationship with God and each other.

“Jesus takes this stand with us, relying on the spiritual gifts and powers that are available to all of us,” he said. In refusing to deny his human nature, “Jesus makes himself the source of our inner strength and inner freedom to resist the tempter in our own life. He makes himself the source of our unity and the supreme example of human solidarity. We are most united by baptism in Jesus Christ.”

Acknowledging the catechumens, who are preparing for baptism, Bishop Iffert said, “the Church rejoices with you and invites you to this period of purification and enlightenment that you might be prepared to receive Christ and his Holy Spirit with full and open hearts; to be united through Christ with your Father in heaven and in the grace that flows from that union to truly become peacemakers and reconcilers in the world and in the Church.”

Addressing the candidates, Bishop Iffert said, “Your fuller incorporation into this body where the marks of the Church established by Christ perdure in their fullness, even if sometimes they are obscured because of sin, and your union with us at the table of the Lord will always remind us of our duty to embrace the spirit of God’s love, to eschew the division that comes from sin, and to work for reconciliation and unity among all who profess the name of Jesus.”

To the baptized Catholics, “who now respond to the call of the Holy Spirit to draw near to the table of the Lord with us, we rejoice that the day of your rebirth has led you here to us and that together, united in Christ, we may work that Christ’s name may be embraced by all and for all, everywhere in the world,” Bishop Iffert said.

Bishop Iffert thanked all those journeying to full Communion with the Church “for calling us again to this most fundamental of vocations.”

“The greatest gift we have, the greatest gift we are empowered to share, is renewed life in Christ,” said Bishop Iffert. “This is the gift we long to share with you all. This is the gift we long for and we strengthen in our own life. This is the gift we call you to today.”

Candidate seeks community in her faith ahead of Easter Vigil

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Bella Bailey

Multimedia Correspondent

Candidate Katie Foster is one of over 400 to enter the church in the Diocese of Covington at this years Easter Vigil Mass, joining in full communion with Catholics of the diocese, the worldwide Church and her loved ones.

Growing up in Toledo, Ohio, Ms. Foster was introduced to the Catholic faith when her mother went through the Order of Christian Initiation (OCIA), before marrying her stepfather. “I was probably about fourth or fifth grade, and my mom got remarried to my stepdad, who was Catholic … My mom went through OCIA because they wanted to continue raising their kids in a Catholic household. That was kind of my first introduction,” she said.

Ms. Foster’s four stepsisters are all Catholic and, in their footsteps, Ms. Foster attended Notre Dame Academy in Toledo, an all-girls preparatory high school. It was there that she became infatuated with the Catholic faith beyond the pew.

“Once I got the chance to be in theology classes and kind of understand the background behind the religion, the history and tradition is something I really enjoyed,” she said.

Beyond an academic love for the faith, a love for the Catholic community was taking root in Ms. Foster. “I really enjoyed the community, specifically, that the Catholic faith offers,” she said. “Being in that environment, all of my friends ended up being Catholic. I think the more that I was around them and their families, around the Catholic faith, the more I started to think about wanting that for myself.”

A recent move to Newport, Kentucky, spurred Ms. Foster to make the leap and register for OCIA at the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, Covington. “I think that’s special, the center of the Diocese, was something that was really appealing to me,” she said.

At the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, Ms. Foster found the community she was looking for at first instance when she inquired with Sarah Wells, pastoral associate. “This is a community I want to be around, I really enjoyed talking with her about it,” she said.

During the Easter Vigil, Ms. Foster, along with other candidates, will receive the remainder of the Sacraments of Initiation in holy Communion and confirmation. Through those sacraments, she will become a full member of the community she has been around for so long.

“It’s something I’ve been on the outside of but have admired most of my life. So, I think that just kind of making things official, to be a part of that, is really exciting,” she said.

Round two of the DMI marks progress in parishes, continues to guide parish planning

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Bella Bailey

Multimedia Correspondent

Round two of the Disciple Maker Index Survey (DMI) opened diocesan wide on Feb. 18. This survey, distributed throughout the parishes both online and via paper surveys, provides real, tangible data for parish pastors and leaders helping them to understand their congregation, and how to best serve their people in areas of faith formation and parish life.

The first DMI was held during the 2023 Lenten season and helped parishes form parish pastoral plans as part of the diocesan wide With One Heart pastoral plan and leadership development initiative. Now, it is time to take the survey again as a measure of progress in the chosen improvement areas at each parish.

Jeanette Landenwitch, member of the Faith Formation Committee at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, Burlington, and the Parish Point of Contact for round two of the DMI, has been a part of Immaculate Heart of Mary’s pastoral plan implementation team.

“It’s been really fun, and it’s been interesting, talking to people and helping them on their faith journey,” she said.

The top three priorities for Immaculate Heart of Mary’s pastoral plan were: strengthening the youth ministry program, have greater hospitality and to increase adult faith formation and education. “Those came directly from the survey … what our parishioners would like to see.” said Mrs. Landenwitch.

As a result of its pastoral plan, born of the DMI, “We’ve seen more and more people coming back to Masses, more and more people coming back to the different activities and things,” said Mrs. Landenwitch. During round two of the DMI, she said, “We’ll see the results and get the feedback, but I’ve seen great improvements in the activities and participation in the parish.”

The parish began publicizing round two of the DMI in late January, in preparation of the Feb. 18 release. “People are not hesitant at all,” she said. “I think as time keeps going on, more and more people will understand.”

When asked what she would like parishioners to know, she said, “The biggest thing that I would say is to fill out the survey, give us your input. We don’t know what to do specifically unless you tell us what you need. That’s the best way, I think, to help strengthen the parish, to help strengthen people’s faith.”

She continued saying, “We always do this with the help of God, the Holy Spirit guiding us. And that’s the most important thing is that the Holy Spirit is going to lead the hearts and the minds and the souls of the people in our parish. And we hope to assist the Holy Spirit in that guidance.”

The DMI survey portal is open and available for all parishes and parishioners. To find your parish Disciple Maker Index Survey go to: covdio.org/withoneheart/dmi/.

Students connect with peers, leaders and Bishop Iffert at biannual retreat

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Bella Bailey

Multimedia Correspondent

The 2026 Winter CONNECT Retreat brought together 110 middle school students from across the Diocese, Feb. 21, for a day of reflection focused on the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The theme “Take Heart,” was drawn from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops upcoming consecration of the nation to the Sacred Heart, June 12, in honor of the nation’s 250th anniversary.

“The theme was … in concern with where we’re going as an American collection of Catholic churches, we just thought that the message of the Sacred Heart would be great to present to students,” said Bradley Barnes, youth ministry volunteer and CONNECT leader.

“You never know what middle schoolers are going to be excited about,” said Mr. Barnes, “but they seemed to really take the opportunity to see themselves reflected in the heart of Jesus, cared for by the heart of Jesus.”

Students began the day with a surprise visit from Bishop John Iffert, who joined in fun activities before leading the Liturgy of the Hours. Primarily prayed by priests and other religious, Liturgy of the Hours is not well known among lay people, especially middle schoolers. This, however, was the point of the exercise, said Mr. Barnes.

“What a great opportunity for the kids to get to see a way that our bishops and priests pray, a way that religious men and women throughout the world are praying. In the theme of the Sacred Heart, just the idea of that being the prayer of Jesus as our high priest. That’s a prayer where, in a really special way, I feel like we hear the heart of Jesus leading us and guiding us in worship,” Mr. Barnes said.

Mr. Barnes called the visit from Bishop and the praying of the Liturgy of the Hours, “such a cool Holy Spirit moment,” underscoring the emphasis of prayer and connection brought to middle schoolers through this biannual retreat.

“For the first time in a long time I feel like every middle schooler took the times of prayer, the times of song, the times of activity, they took it really well. There was a great openness from their hearts,” said Mr. Barnes.

The goal of each CONNECT retreat is to connect middle schoolers to, “something beyond just their local particular church, to the diocesan and maybe even the universal Church. So, if a kid came and felt seen and known and loved and appreciated, that’s always my goal. That was the same goal for this retreat,” said Mr. Barnes.

St. Thomas Adoration Chapel to celebrate 25 years as ‘heart’ of parish

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Maura Baker

Staff Writer

In 2001, St. Thomas Parish, Ft. Thomas, opened its Adoration Chapel. And now, 25 years later, the parish will celebrate the chapel’s anniversary. The celebration will take place March 1 at the Parish, with adoration at 6 p.m., followed by Benediction then dinner at 6 p.m. All are welcome to join in the commemoration.

According to long-time, now retired, adoration coordinator and adorer of the Chapel, Ellen Curtin, the idea to establish the chapel came from parishioner Gary Smith. From there, he pursued the idea and gathered a committee — the rest is history. And, while open hours have lessened and available adorers have dwindled over the years, especially following the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the chapel has stayed open every week for the past 25 years.

Adorers come from all around the area, according to Mrs. Curtin, reminiscing on her time as coordinator, citing people coming from “every parish,” and some even from the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.

As an adorer herself, Mrs. Curtin said that she “found that committing to an hour made me go … It’s the commitment to me that is the powerful thing. It’s lovely to know that adoration is possible … I have found it powerful for my spiritual growth. Adoration is a beautiful way to spend an hour.”

“Eucharistic Adoration is the quiet heart of a parish, just like prayer is the quiet heartbeat of the individual,” said Father Ross Kelsch, St. Thomas’s pastor. “In adoration, we can bring what we carry: gratitude, grief, decisions, fears, hopes … Adoration creates space for God’s grace to work patiently within real lives. The chapel is where the parish breathes — and everything else draws life from that breath.”

“This anniversary reminds us that for 25 years people have come before the Lord here at every hour of the day and night. Generations have kept watch, often unseen, carrying the prayers of the whole parish,” Father Kelsch continued, remarking on the reduced hours of the chapel since the pandemic. “We have not yet returned to perpetual adoration and currently offer it several days each week. Even so, the chapel remains a place of deep faithfulness — because every hour someone keeps is a gift not only for themselves but for the whole parish. I am grateful to those who built it, those who sustained it for years, and especially those who continue to come now. A chapel lives because people return.”

Looking forward to the future, Father Kelsch said that, “My hope is simple — that more hearts will rediscover the peace found there and that, in time, we may again keep watch around the clock. Not as a program to accomplish, but as a sign of love — a community choosing to remain with the Lord who never stops remaining with us. May the next 25 years see even more people find in this chapel a place of rest, trust and quiet transformation.”

Covington Lenten pilgrimage to return for fourth year — Mass, confession and adoration to be made available

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Maura Baker

Staff Writer

For the fourth year, the annual Covington Lenten Pilgrimage will be returning. The pilgrimage, which consists of a 4.3-mile loop, takes pilgrims to five historic Covington churches — including St. Augustine Church, St. John the Evangelist Church, Mother of God Church, the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption and St. Benedict Church. This year’s pilgrimage will take place March 28 — the Saturday before Palm Sunday — from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

This year, as in years past, the churches on the pilgrimage route will offer times for Mass, confession and adoration — all in preparation for the upcoming Holy Week. Among these opportunities is a Mass held at Mother of God Church at noon, and pilgrimage planning committees are working with parishes to have at least two confessors available and formal Benediction during the pilgrimage’s hours. According to Margie Springelmeyer, who helped establish the pilgrimage four years ago and continues to help coordinate to this day, the publicization of these opportunities is the “main goal” of the planning committee.

“It’s a beautiful opportunity for spiritual growth,” Ms. Springelmeyer said. “Capping off your Lenten journey and heading into Holy Week, it’s a perfect transition time.”

Ms. Springelmeyer invites prospective pilgrims to take the pilgrimage as an opportunity to “reflect on the six weeks of Lent” and bring that devotion to Covington’s five churches, even if they have already attended in years past.

“It’s not just about seeing the churches,” she said. “It’s about experiencing the Lord along your journey.”

Ms. Springelmeyer continued, saying, “We never stop coming before the Lord with what’s on our heart — and, to take a day like this and spend the day with him, with whatever intention it is that’s burning inside your heart each year … Each year makes it a new year when you experience the pilgrimag

On Ash Wednesday, faithful are reminded that they do not just live for this world, but for God, said Bishop Iffert

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Maura Baker

Staff Writer

The observance of Ash Wednesday, Feb. 18, marks the beginning of the Lenten season. The Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, Covington, opened the season with a morning Mass — joining together parishioners, guests, Curia staff and students of Covington Latin School.

Ash Wednesday, which is observed with prayer and fasting, is known famously for the ashes distributed at Ash Wednesday Mass — during which the faithful are reminded of their own mortality with words from Genesis: “Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”

Bishop John Iffert served as both celebrant and homilist for the Mass and began his homily referencing the book of Joel — from which one of the day’s readings was taken.

He first described the first part of Joel, where Joel “warns the nation of Judah.”

Bishop Iffert said, “He warns them that they need to repent, that they have turned away from their God … He calls upon them to fast in a way that produces a long change in themselves and in their relationship to God.”

Bishop Iffert then described the second part, which chronicles God’s response to this great fast.

“Here God moves with mercy,” Bishop Iffert said, “and the second proclamation of the book of Joel is that the Holy Spirit of God has filled the nation and once again dwells with his people … and then he (Joel) announces that faithfulness to God has brought a renewal of relationship with God and the strengthening of God’s spirit in the people. One can hardly ask for a better Lent.”

During the Lenten season, “We are called to turn back to the Lord,” said Bishop Iffert. “We have all of these practices and traditions that we keep in place, starting today, with the placement of ashes on our forehead … We are reminded of our own mortality and that we live not just for this world, but that we live for God.”

“This is the call of Lent for us,” he said, “and today, we ask for the grace to respond faithfully.”

Bishop Iffert continued his homily referencing an op-ed where a Catholic man admits to not going to Church on Sunday or praying most days. “But don’t judge him too quickly,” Bishop Iffert quoted. “He comes to church every Ash Wednesday, and he receives the ashes.”

“Well, that’s good for him,” said Bishop Iffert. “If you’re in that position, good for you. But what good is Lent if it brings no change? What good is Lent if it brings no reform in our lives? What good is Lent if it doesn’t position us to receive with gratitude the pouring out of the Holy Spirit upon us, to fill our lives with grace and goodness — to do nothing less than open us up to a more complete relationship with God.”

“That’s the journey of life,” he said, urging the faithful to not only give up chocolates or sweets or alcohol for Lent, but to most of all “embrace the love of Christ Jesus in our hearts, to be completely conformed to his love for the world and to behave that way with one another.”

“Then,” Bishop Iffert said, “this Lent will be a holy season, and our repentance will be true, and the Lord will pour out his Spirit and have mercy on his people and lead our nation in the way of virtue and righteousness — God’s will will be known among us again. What else can we hope for?”