Life on the Borderlands: Thomas More University students experience all sides of the southern wall

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Maura Baker

Staff Writer

Every year, a class of students from Thomas More University travels south to El Paso, Tx. In conjunction with the Annunciation House, a nonprofit that serves migrants in the region, the students engage in what is known as a “Border Awareness Experience” — which delves deep into the realities of immigration and life on the borderlands of west Texas.

Dr. James Camp, a member of Annunciation House’s board as well as a professor at Thomas More, leads the class in learning all they can before making the journey west — where students spend their Spring Break living and sharing meals among the guests of Annunciation House.

The class made Casa Vides their home, named for the Vides family who formerly were guests of Annunciation House themselves. One of the many hospitality houses operated by the Annunciation House nonprofit, Casa Vides is described as a “longer-term house of hospitality for guests with ongoing needs, such as political asylum cases, other proceedings or medical situations.”

During their stay, students shared their temporary home with a family of three, as well as another type of guest, the Mexican widows of American citizens who are required by U.S. law to spend a certain amount of time in the United States a year to receive Social Security benefits.

The class started their week exploring the surrounding area — visiting points along the border wall, places they could approach and see the other side, and places they couldn’t, and climbing Mt. Christo Rey in Sunland Park, NM, a point where the wall can not be built, making it a popular crossing for migrants on the southern border — as well as heavily patrolled by mounted border patrol officers. They also found themselves crossing the border to neighboring Juarez, Mexico, and seeing life from the other side.

The rest of the week was spent learning. With immigration, especially at the southern border, becoming (and having been) a divisive topic in the United States, students heard stories from the people of El Paso, ranging from active border patrol agents and migrant guests of the Annunciation House themselves to paint the fullest picture.

One of these storytellers was an attorney representing Estrella del Paso — a ministry of the Diocese of El Paso which provides legal aid to migrants and refugees at zero cost. The attorney taught students about the immigration process and clarified misconceptions about migrants in the United States.

“The rhetoric that immigrants leech off of government benefits is false,” she said, “Even permanent residents do not qualify for these services.” In fact, most social welfare services are only available to naturalized citizens of the United States — earned either through birthright, or after maintaining permanent resident status for five years.

And, while Catholic social teaching teaches compassion towards the migrant, the process of immigration was described as long and often impractical, with waiting times for appointments spanning months to years — a fact that leads many migrant families to desperation.

This reality is harshened by the fact that an individual must be territorially on U.S. soil to apply for asylum — something sought often by migrants from South American countries — “whether or not a person arrives through a valid point of entry,” according to Estrella’s attorney.

The attorney also explained the poor and often harsh treatment of migrants and refugees crossing the border, saying that “the problem arises when government agencies such as ICE and port of entry officers see people crossing the border as a law enforcement problem, entering conversations defensively as if every person is here to harm them or their family. Immigration policy could be improved with just a simple switch in mission — to approach the migrant with humanity,” Estrella’s attorney said.

Border patrol Officer J. Navarro was another individual to share his experience in the borderlands. Officer Navarro noted that border patrol along the southern border is overwhelmingly male — 90 percent — and overwhelmingly minority — 70 percent — with many coming from immigrant families themselves. When apprehending individuals illegally crossing the border, Officer Navarro said that “80 percent–90 percent are good people who just want their day in court, and 85 percent of people arrested by border patrol are good people with no previous criminal record.”

“Immigrants think this place (America) is the best place in the world,” said Officer Navarro, “that’s why they risk everything to come here.”

And risks are extremely prevalent, with Officer Navarro talking about how the illegal smuggling of people across the border becomes trafficking and extortion. The “coyotes,” or individuals who work in the smuggling of people, take advantage of migrants in their vulnerability and extort them for money or use them to mule illegal substances. Officer Navarro mentioned that some coyotes will even purposefully hurt someone or push them over the border wall to distract officers, including “stragglers” like children or the elderly.

These harsh realities met with the stories of the migrants themselves as students spoke to and listened to the guests of the Annunciation House. Nearly every migrant had a harrowing story to tell — either extorted or kidnapped by gangs or criminals, or having to traverse the dangerous, dense and mountainous rainforests of the Darién Gap.

“Most people want to work and be paid fairly,” said one of the guests, “In Mexico, you can work for 10 hours and be paid 10 dollars. Living is expensive. We’re only looking for better opportunities for our families.”

The scouts of the Diocese gather to be recognized with badges and awards

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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.”

First step to being a witness of Christ and loving others is to love yourself, says Bishop Iffert at Pro-Life Essay contest

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Laura Keener 

Editor

The top 20 finalists of the 2025 Pro-Life Essay Contest gathered, March 13, with Bishop John Iffert and Faye Roch, director, Pro-Life Office, for an evening of celebration and to award the top three finishers. The essay contest is organized and hosted each year by the diocesan Pro-Life Office and is sponsored by the Knights of Columbus. This year, Rick and Celesta Arnold, Culture of Life Couple, from the Knights of Columbus Kentucky State Council and Jan Buchner, K of C, Northern Kentucky Council, were in attendance.

Nearly 250 eighth graders from Catholic schools in the Diocese of Covington submitted an essay for this year’s contest. The theme, taken from the Jubilee Year of Hope, asked students to “describe how you, a young person, can be a witness to others and convert hearts showing that all life is good and worthy of our care and protection.”

“Your being here tonight, you stand above the crowd,” said Mrs. Roch to the 20 finalists. “Your essays were chosen in the top eight percent of the essays received. That’s pretty incredible. We congratulate you on your achievement. You give us inspiration and hope that the tide is turning and that it will be your generation that can make a difference in promoting the culture of life.”

This year’s top finishers are: Kyndall Ruebusch, St. Anthony School, Taylor Mill, first place; Piper Hagley, Holy Cross Elementary School, Latonia, second place; and Ryan Bennett, Villa Madonna Academy, Villa Hills, third place. Each of the top finishers receives a scholarship from the Knights of Columbus to attend a local Catholic high school. Ms. Ruebusch’s winning essay is published on page 5.

Drawing from the theme, Bishop Iffert emphasized the importance of being a witness for Christ.

“We need the witness of committed disciples of Jesus. We need to live that faith out, and that witness is what is so important,” said Bishop Iffert. “So that theme that you had today, ‘how do I witness to the value of life in my life?’ that’s an extraordinary theme, and I hope it’s a question you ask yourself every day. I hope that you’re growing in that understanding every day of your life, because that means you’re growing towards Christ.”

He also encouraged the students to not only see others as a gift from God, but themselves too.

“How do we witness to the value of life? We accept ourselves as God gives us — our bodies, our minds, our spirit, our limits — and we love ourselves. Having loved ourselves, we can truly love others,” he said. “We’re all the same, going through life having received ourselves as gift and trying our best to be truly grateful for the gift we received. Give that witness. Love yourself. Value yourself the way you are. And when you make friends with that process, then you will be able to love everyone else. Thank you for your witness tonight. And please, please, please, know how good, powerfully wonderful you are, how much are loved in this room and beyond. Love yourself truly, not like ‘I’m so great,’ but ‘I am sheer gift from God to the world.’”

TMU announces affiliation with Covington Latin School

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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.

Rite of Election — a continuation of God’s love for his people

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Bella Bailey 

Multimedia Correspondent

Thirty-four parishes gathered across two separate ceremonies to celebrate the annual Rite of Election, March 9, at the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, Covington. Celebrated by Bishop John Iffert, the Rite of Election marks the moment catechumens and candidates are presented to the bishop. Candidates, baptized Christians seeking to enter into full communion with the faith, are presented to the bishop for approval.

“Candidates for full communion with the Catholic Church, those of you who have already received the grace of baptism and are already one with Catholics in faith in Jesus, we recall that you too, along with all of us are beloved and chosen by God. Now that baptismal gift and the graces you received in that holy sacrament led you to seek to continue your Christian journey in the Catholic Church,” said Bishop Iffert during his remarks.

Catechumens, unbaptized people seeking to enter the Church, are presented to the bishop for their election to participate in the sacraments of initiation at Easter Vigil. Through this process of election, catechumens are registered as “the elect.”

“For those of you who are preparing for baptism,” said Bishop Iffert, “you are gathered here today to receive a new designation, a new name, a new way to be called. You will be recognized, those of you who, until now, have been called catechumens, you will be called ‘the elect.’”

The change in name is rooted in ancient Scripture said Bishop Iffert. Saul became Paul, the great apostle to the Gentiles; Abram became Abraham, the father of nations; and Simon became Peter, the rock on which Jesus built his Church. The changing of names in Scripture indicates the acceptance of a new vocation.

Bishop Iffert said, “election, to be chosen, is an act of gratuitous, unmerited love on Gods part. However, to be chosen also implies a vocation a response to a calling. A responsibility to be chosen and received.”

One by one, the catechumens and their godparents shook Bishop Iffert’s hand and shared a brief conversation before Bishop Iffert turned to sign the parishes Book of Elect, which holds the names of those seeking to be elected. Once the book is signed, the catechumens are now the elect, having been granted permission to seek the sacraments of initiation. There were 29 parishes with catechumens for a total of 130 catechumens, marking a 21.5 percent increase from the year prior.

The candidates stood to be recognized by Bishop Iffert where he asked the candidates sponsors to confirm that their candidate has been diligent in their preparation of first Eucharist and confirmation. Bishop Iffert then greeted each candidate and sponsor, of which there were 111 from 27 different parishes, an increase of nearly 3 percent from the prior year.

As the newly elect and candidates enter this Lenten season, for them, a period of purification, they are showered in the love and support of their brothers and sisters in Christ.

Bishop Iffert said, “We have entered into this desert season of Lent. For you who are making a journey to the sacraments we call it the period of purification and enlightenment. Your call by God is an act of gratuitous love and your election, by me, in the name of the Church, is an act of our brotherly and sisterly love. It is a continuation of the way God has loved you all along.”

Pornography is ‘as pervasive as a public health crisis, ’ said Dr. Mandy Sanchez at March presentation

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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.”

Faithful of the Diocese attend first of four regional jubilee pilgrimages with Bishop Iffert

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Bella Young 

Multimedia Correspondent

Thirty faithful of the Diocese of Covington boarded a bus with Bishop John Iffert, March 1, to participate in the first of four regional jubilee pilgrimages. This pilgrimage, to the shrine of St. Mother Theodore Guerin on the campus of St. Mary-of-the-Woods College, Indiana, served as a way for these faithful to participate in the jubilee theme, Pilgrims of Hope.

“In declaring this jubilee year, Pope Francis established a theme,” said Bishop Iffert on the bus ride, “and his theme was pilgrims of hope. It emphasizes for us that we are on a journey … That’s why we undertake these pilgrimages, reminding us that we are moving through this world, that this world is not our truest home and that our truest home is with God.”

Along with participating in the theme of the jubilee year, the faithful were also able to receive a plenary indulgence. A plenary indulgence, “restores, so that it removes us from the temporal punishments that is also due to us because of our sin. It actually fixes us in a way, it restores us to health,” said Bishop Iffert.

There are a few requirements to obtain a plenary indulgence: prayer for the intentions of the Holy Father, receiving the Eucharist, confession and making a pilgrimage. While at the shrine of St. Mother Guerin the pilgrims gathered in the Church of the Immaculate Conception on the grounds of St. Mary-of-theWoods College. Mass, celebrated by Bishop Iffert, aided the pilgrims in furthering their mission for a plenary indulgence by providing the Eucharist and a group prayer for the intentions of the Pope.

As the faithful of the Diocese arrived on campus the members of the Sisters of Providence, who still live on the grounds of St. Mary-of-theWoods College, were waiting outside the Providence Spirituality and Conference Center, where the shrine of St. Mother Guerin is located.

The events of the day began with a provided lunch in the historic O’Shaughnessy Dining Hall inside the Providence Center before the 30 pilgrims were split into two groups. The first group, including Bishop Iffert, went on the outdoor campus tour where they observed many important landmarks in the life of St. Mother Guerin. The second group stayed at the Providence Center and toured the shrine and museum of St. Mother Guerin. Inside the museum there were many second-class relics, and replicas of the items Mother Guerin would have used every day. Also on display was a first-class relic, three finger bones hung in a casing in the shrine portion of the museum. Pilgrims had a chance to venerate these relics before continuing the tour.

While outside, Providence Sister Mary Montgomery led the pilgrims on a guided tour of the grounds. Seeing the rock that denotes the spot St. Mother Guerin and her fellow sisters first arrived on the grounds from France, and a replica of the small log cabin chapel that met them when they first arrived. Also on the outdoor tour, was the St. Anne Shell Chapel, which is adorned with hundreds of shells from the Wabash River that runs near the campus. The outdoor resting place of St. Mother Guerin was visited by the pilgrims, as well as the Our Lady of Lourdes grotto.

Following the official tour portion of the pilgrimage, the pilgrims had free time to return to any sacred site from that day for a moment of quiet prayer and reflection. There was also time for the gift shop inside the Providence Center where paraphernalia of St. Mary-ofthe-Woods College, the Sisters of Providence and St. Mother Guerin were available.

“Our life is a spiritual journey,” said Bishop Iffert, “and we’re called to holiness and that is not just for those people who live in a rarified time or place, but it is for every one of us.”

If you are interested in attending a regional pilgrimage with Bishop Iffert, go to covdio.org/jubilee for more information.

This Lent take the first steps to ‘Walk With One’ in the Campaign of Mercy

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Laura Keener

Editor

With the announcement of the Campaign of Mercy last June, Bishop John Iffert is inviting the people of the Diocese of Covington to prayerfully consider a work of mercy and to engage in service to others, allowing that service to deepen their faith life and to draw them closer to Christ.

In support of the Campaign of Mercy, the Messenger has been highlighting a spiritual or corporal work of mercy and a person, parish ministry or local social service that embodies that work. The goal of the Campaign of Mercy is to evangelize through that work of service inviting someone — a family member, friend or acquaintance — to join you in that service work and through that relationship grow in faith.

With the onset of Lent, the Messenger is pausing its series on the works of mercy and turning attention to the foundational aspect of the Campaign of Mercy — personal and intercessory prayer. Lent is a penitential season of the Church that invites its members to a deepening of faith through the practices of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. For the Campaign of Mercy, the Messenger invites readers on a Lenten journey to Walk With One.

At the conclusion of the Eucharistic Congress last July, the U.S. bishops launched a national evangelization initiative entitled “Walk With One.”

“As we prayed, we realized that perhaps the profundity is found in the simplicity,” said Kris Frank, vice president of Growth and Marking for the National Eucharistic Congress, about the Walk With One Campaign. “That if one person can just reach out to one other person, that’s where we could see great results. That’s where we could see change really start to take root as the revival takes root in each one of us.”

Walk With One and the Campaign of Mercy dovetail perfectly. Both start by developing or increasing a personal relationship with the Lord through prayer. Both invite the Holy Spirit to lead to the person God has in mind for you to journey with. And both encourage daily intercessory prayer for the person so that their heart and mind will be open to Lord.

“When we’ve encountered Jesus, that changes us,” said Tanner Kalina, project manager, National Eucharistic Congress. “The Eucharist is not our private possession. The Eucharist longs to be shared with others and Jesus desires to do that through us.”

Resources developed by Eucharistic Congress organizers for the Walk With One campaign offer a four-step process: identify someone in a spirit of humility; intercede for that person in communion with the Holy Spirit; connect in Eucharistic friendship and invite that person on a path most suitable for him or her. With the help of the National Eucharistic Congress team, each of these four steps will be explored throughout the weeks of Lent, in print, on the web and the diocese’s YouTube page.

“The Church’s invitation for us to Walk With One is not an invitation for us to add one more task to do, it’s actually an invitation for us to step into the fullness of the Christian life by walking with someone and inviting them into different stages of the spiritual journey,” said Mr. Kalina. “We actually become more alive and closer to Jesus. It is about getting us to be a Eucharistic people, a people who are really living the fullness of the Christian life and, therefore, tasting the abundance and joy of the Christian life.”

The Messenger’s Lenten feature will be available online at covdio.org/messenger. For additional Walk With One resources from the National Eucharistic Congress visit eucharisticrevival.org/walk-with-one.

St. Thomas Parish growing and connecting With One Heart

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Laura Keener

Editor

One of the truly unique aspects of the With One Heart pastoral plan is that it includes not only the diocesan pastoral plan but also the pastoral plans of every parish in the Diocese. And while each parish’s pastoral plan is unique, common themes and initiatives have developed, especially around the need for faith formation and evangelization.

St. Thomas Parish, Ft. Thomas, has made great strides in implementing its parish pastoral plan. Its three stated priorities are welcoming, faith formation and outreach. What has been foundational to all three of these priorities has been updating the parish Camino database.

“Before we could do any outreach, we had to make sure that we know who we are and making sure that we have a good, accurate database of our parishioners so that we can communicate with them,” said Father Ross Kelsch, pastor.

Updating the parish database took a lot of time and effort by the parish staff. Data sheets for each family were distributed at Masses. Families that did not pick up a data sheet were called. What the parish found was that for the 1,000 families in the database, nearly 80 percent had inaccurate information — phone landlines were discontinued and replaced with mobile numbers, e-mail addresses had changed, some had new home addresses, children had moved out of the family home and started a new family of their own — all of these updates are important when trying to communicate with parishioners.

“What that has provided us now is a clean snapshot of who our parishioners are,” said Father Kelsch.

With the updated database, parish ministries can now accurately contact parishioners. So far, the parish is working on a new parish directory, with parishioners uploading their favorite photo to the database.

“Now, in the office here, we get to see those photos in Camino. When we’re talking on the phone with somebody, we can see their face and be like, oh, I see him at Mass every weekend or oh, I see her in the school pickup line. It’s been a real community builder to be able to put the face with the name,” said Elizabeth Gruenschlaeger, parish business manager.

Ms. Gruenschlaeger and her coworker, Audrey Wilson, helped Father Kelsch with the arduous task of updating the database. Their hard work is being rewarded. A ministry fair was held which garnered over 150 new registrations for parish and school ministries — from adding lectors and Eucharistic ministers, to servers, choir members, landscape help and more.

“It’s lightened the burden for everyone who has been serving, but it’s also just nice to have more people involved in ministry roles here,” said Ms. Gruenschlaeger.

Parishioners also receive a weekly digital communication from the parish right to their phone or e-mail through Flocknote.

“We went from no clear vision of who our parishioners are to being able to engage them intentionally and get them involved,” Father Kelsch said. “Outreach is not only helping people outside of the parish, it’s also helping us reach our own people and strengthening those connections, deepening those relationships, so that, ideally, people feel like they belong; to know that we would miss them if they were not here.”

Annual Connect retreats seek to strengthen students’ bond with each other and God

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Bella Young

Multimedia Correspondent

The Youth Ministry Office of the Diocese of Covington hosted what is known as a “Connect” retreat, Feb. 22, for sixth, seventh and eighth graders of the Diocese at Thomas More University, Crestview Hills. This retreat, which happens three times a year, serves to bring students together in community and helps them build a relationship with God.

Michelle Bump, senior theology student at Thomas More and a member of the leadership team, said, “The point is really to bring all the parishes together as a community … it is a time for them to come together for community and for faith and to get to know Jesus a little bit better.

“Any retreat, in particular Connect, is an opportunity for students and young people to get away from the craziness of their daily lives. Students are always packed with school and sports and extracurriculars and family time and friends. It can be really overwhelming … Connect is a special opportunity for students to take that step back and remember their roots, get back to the foundation of, ‘I am a child of God, and this is my time to spend with the people around me,’” said Ms. Bump.

During the retreat students break into small groups and hear from different speakers, they play ice breaker games, get know each other, sing worship songs and participate in Eucharistic adoration.

“We start with the ice breakers … get people comfortable with each other because that way when it is time to pray and praise the students feel more comfortable being themselves and openly worshipping Jesus,” said Ms. Bump.

This year, 130 students attended, a welcome increase from the 80 that attended last year. The students came from all over the Diocese, with many also being either homeschooled or attending a public school.

Angie Poat, diocesan Youth Minister, said about the 47 percent increase in attendance, “it’s really special, it speaks to the desire and the need this is filling … it is like casting the nets, come one, come all.”