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Villa Madonna Academy celebrates the dedication of new Chase & Cole Fischer STEM Wing

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Maura Baker

Staff Writer

Faculty, staff and students gathered with members of the Villa Madonna Academy, Villa Hills, community to celebrate the blessing and dedication of the newly opened Chase & Cole Fischer STEM Wing. Named for brothers and Villa Madonna students Chase and Cole Fischer, who tragically died in 2023, the renovated classrooms and laboratories will be opening for students in the freshly begun 2026–2027 school year.

“So many in our Villa community have helped transform our campus, creating learning environments that reflect the excellence of a Villa education. We remain deeply grateful to all who help lay that foundation,” Pamela McQueen, president, Villa Madonna Academy, remarked during the wing’s dedication. “And now, the Chase and Cole Fischer STEM Wing represents the next step in that commitment — a place where curiosity is encouraged, creativity flourishes and students are challenged to prepare for the opportunities of tomorrow.”

Made possible through the generosity of private family donors and St. Elizabeth Healthcare, the STEM wing, which includes equipment for engineering and dedicated laboratories for scientific disciplines such as biology, chemistry and physics, will allow for “students and teachers will design and prototype solutions, build and test engineering projects, explore robotics and automation, investigate scientific questions, create digital media, collaborate across disciplines and solve authentic, real-world problems,” said Mrs. McQueen. “And, as they do, they will discover that the greatest innovations are those guided by wisdom, compassion and a desire to bring love and light into the world.”

Scott Seifert, a mathematics and physics teacher at Villa Madonna Academy, remarked that he was “amazed” when the faculty first walked in the newly renovated space.

“This new STEM spot,” he said, “it encourages us to create, to innovate, to learn, to enjoy and to dream. It compels us to do those things … what I like about science is that when you study it, you start seeing it all around you … But beyond that, which is probably most important, is you start seeing the order in the universe when you study science, you start seeing intelligent design, you start seeing God’s hand at work, and this STEM wing is going to help us in that endeavor. What a blessing.”

Bishop John Iffert who was present at the dedication, blessed the space. After his blessing, he reflected on the Gospel of Matthew, where Christian people are described as the “salt of the earth.”

“Jesus teaches that we are the flavor and the joy of life,” Bishop Iffert said. “Jesus, with these words, extends that mission to all of us in everything we do. In the face of the many problems of the world, like violence, materialism, poverty, moral relativism, Jesus challenged us to ask, ‘What can I do to share God’s love in the world?’”

“Christians are called to be light to the world,” he said, “and the world will be impacted for better or for worse by the way we live our lives. … When we misuse creation and its scientific principles, without any regard for the wisdom God has planted within us, we add to the chaos. But when we imitate Christ’s love, mercy and generosity — when we use our minds to effectively serve the dignity of our brothers and sisters — well, then we glorify our heavenly Father.”

Father James Schaeper installed as pastor at St. Joseph Parish and St. Edward Mission

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Bella Bailey

Multimedia Correspondent

Bishop John Iffert officially installed Father James Schaeper pastor of St. Joseph Parish, Warsaw, and St. Edward Mission, Owenton, through the Rite of Installation of a Pastor, Aug. 16. Father Schaeper was gifted the keys to his parish, and vowed to fulfill his duties as pastor, making sacraments regularly available to his flock and sharing the word of God in accordance with the Church.

Father Schaeper’s elevation to pastor comes after two years as Parochial Administrator to the parish and its mission. “What’s the difference? What’s the difference between a priest who is an administrator and a priest who is a pastor,” asked Bishop Iffert to the congregation of St. Joseph Parish. Answering his own question he said, “To us biblical language, you might say it’s the difference between a hired hand and a shepherd … When a man becomes pastor, he becomes the shepherd of a local flock.”

This role comes with increased duties and responsibilities, said Bishop Iffert, explaining that Father Schaeper now has “responsibilities toward you,” he said to the congregation. “As pastor, he is in a sacred obligation to provide for you all of the instruments of sanctification that the Church extends. To assure that you have access to regular sacramental life, to the Eucharist, to the forgiveness of sins. He has a responsibility for the catechesis of every person in the parish,” said Bishop Iffert.

To Father Schaeper, being a pastor means “leading others to Christ,” he said. Through regular use of the sacraments, of Communion and reconciliation. “With faith … and with love and an open heart,” he said. “We bring the sacraments, and being there for people in difficult times, but also in joyous times … helping them to do God’s will and to live out their vocation with faith and cooperating with God’s will.”

The Gospel story for the day of Father Schaeper’s installation was the story of the Canaanite woman who was begging Christ for the healing of her daughter, who was wrought with evil spirits.

“Her only thought is the freedom of her child,” said Bishop Iffert, “and she has come to believe that Jesus can free her child, and in freeing her child, free her.” The woman pleaded with Jesus, calling out to him, “Lord, help me,” said Bishop Iffert.

“Father Jim,” said Bishop Iffert addressing Father Schaeper, “everything you and I do in service to the people of God should begin with that prayer of faith. Everything we do must begin with trust in the Lord God, and with crying out to the Lord to help us in everything we do.”

In begging for the healing of her child, the woman makes Jesus and his disciples “uncomfortable,” said Bishop Iffert, for they believe there is no way they can help her. This uncomfortable tension exists in the world today, said Bishop Iffert, “Our life together as the family of God is not going to be perfect this side of Heaven.”

From this Gospel reading, it is taught that amidst that tension “to persist in charity, to persist in love … always in enduring love, always go on teaching, pleading administering mercy with a persistent need in Christ,” he said.

“It’s great instruction for us today, we celebrate this priest who has become your pastor, and this people who has become your flock. Begin everything you do together in faith,” said Bishop Iffert.

During his remarks at the conclusion of Mass, Father Schaeper said, “we’ve done really great things here by cooperating with God’s grace … God bless you all and thank you.”

Sisters of St. Joseph the Worker celebrate Sister Philomena Marie’s first profession of vows

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Bella Bailey

Multimedia Correspondent

Tucked away from the rest of the world, down a winding drive in Walton, Ky., occurred a moment of total abandonment to the Lord as Sister of St. Joseph the Worker Philomena Marie made her first profession of vows, Aug. 15. Inside the small convent chapel gathered Sister Philomena’s mother, father and brother who traveled from Oklahoma, along with friends of the Sisters St. Joseph the Worker.

The profession of first vows is an important milestone in the life of any consecrated religious as it leads them deeper into life with their community and prepares them for their final vows, where they become fully consecrated to Christ. Sister Philomena professed these vows during Mass celebrated by Bishop John Iffert, concelebrated by Bishop Emeritus Roger Foys; Father Matt Cushing, chaplain for the Sisters of St. Joseph the Worker; Father Daniel Schomaker, pastor of Blessed Sacrament Parish, Ft. Mitchell; Father Kelly Edwards, a priest of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and Sister Philomena Marie’s former campus minister and spiritual director during her vocational discernment. Also in attendance were Deacons Hudson Henry, St. Joseph Parish, Crescent Springs, and Chuck Melville, St. Barbara Parish, Erlanger, as well diocesan seminarian, Will Fuller.

In preparation for her first vows, Sister Philomena participated in a silent retreat, where she spent six days reflecting on this next step in her discernment to consecrated life. When the day came to profess her first vows, Sister Philomena said she felt only, “a profound sense of peace.” Though nervous in the days leading up to the event, “when I walked into the chapel right before Mass, I just felt this space, like the peace that surpasses all understanding that the Lord gives and it’s like, ‘yes, I’m here. I’m ready, and here I am Lord. I come to do your will,’” she said.

During the profession of vows, Bishop Iffert blessed the crucifix and chain that each sister of the order wears, as an outward manifestation of their union to God, something that Sister Philomena likened to a wedding ring. She recalled a moment, the night before she was to profess her vows, “sister was setting up the chapel, and she had the crucifix on a little table, and that was the moment, like ‘oh, this is for real.’”

Prior to the profession of vows, during his homily, Bishop Iffert said to Sister Philomena, “You are choosing today, with these vows, a life filled with blessing … Those who are consecrated to the Lord Jesus Christ, who go all in on that single most central loving relationship of our lives, is all for gain. Even the hardships you encounter, even the difficulties that come with life, they are for something. They are for learning the language of sacrificial love.”

Sister Philomena Marie will continue to renew these “temporary vows” once every year for at least three years before professing final vows, where she will be bound forever in consecration to Christ.

Bishop Iffert returns to United States from Africa, having met with local Church, faithful

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Maura Baker

Staff Writer

From July 12 to August 3, Bishop John Iffert travelled halfway across the globe to Africa. His trip took him to the countries of Kenya and Madagascar on the East side of the continent, where he met with African bishops and religious sisters, visited the humanitarian compound Akamasoa (“good friends” in Malagasy) in Madagascar and even encountered briefly wildlife such as a white rhino in Kenya and lemurs in Madagascar.

As a member of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishop’s Subcommittee for Solidarity with the Church in Africa, Bishop Iffert’s trip first had him attending a meeting of the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA) in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya.

With one session every three years, Catholic bishops from Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Uganda, Kenya, South Sudan, Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia and associate members Somalia and Djibouti all come together. This year, Bishop Iffert alongside USCCB consultant Fritz Zuger, attended the session for dialogue on how the USCCB Subcommittee for Solidarity with the Church in Africa’s yearly national collection — which genereates three and a half million dollars annually given as grants to the Church in Africa — can best support the needs of the people in these nations. While the Diocese of Covington has previously never taken the subcommittee’s collection for Africa, the diocese plans to begin taking it in 2027 as part of the international missions collection, according to Bishop Iffert.

“This year, the plenary session focused on accompanying young people,” Bishop Iffert said. “Young people from all of these countries came to Nairobi to give their input to the bishops on how they thought the Church could better accompany them as young Catholics.”

While in Nairobi, Bishop Iffert also visited the Sisters of Notre Dame there.

“The Sisters of Notre Dame were founded in East Africa by two sisters from Covington and two from California,” he said, “and started their presence there.”

The Sisters of Notre Dame now have their own province in East Africa, with Bishop Iffert visiting one of their houses of studies and one of their schools.

After Nairobi, Bishop Iffert and Mr. Zuger flew to the island nation of Madagascar, where they visited the National Episcopal Conference there — meeting with Malagasy bishops and staff of the conference and Catholic Relief Services and continuing dialogue of how the USCCB can best assist the nation’s needs.

“The whole mission was to get to know people,” Bishop Iffert said, “to get to know the Church and again to help them understand what our program can do and how we can help them.”

Bishop Iffert’s final visit on the trip was to Akamasoa. Founded in 1989 by Vincentian missionary Father Pedro Opeka, the compound of houses built to aid Madagascar’s poor has turned into a proper community and humanitarian effort — providing food, shelter and education.

The late Pope Francis, who visited Akamasoa himself in 2021, said “This is what one priest can accomplish. This is what one life can accomplish when they follow the will of God,” Bishop Iffert quoted.

“It was just extraordinary,” Bishop Iffert said, reflecting on a Mass of around 5,000 people held at the parish in Akamasoa. “Madagascar is the ninth poorest country in the world … extraordinary poverty, and they’re really struggling to develop. There’s a lot of political corruption there.”

Bishop Iffert commented further on the volunteers and missionaries at Akamasoa. “Just so many good people,” he said, “So many holy people who want to contribute to the life of this church. It was a wonderful visit.”

Diocesan strategic planning process prepares for fall session on governance

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Bella Bailey

Multimedia Correspondent

The public portion of the Diocese of Covington’s spring strategic planning process has all but concluded, with Bishop John Iffert preparing to hear the priorities identified from the three commission.

“The committees have brought their data forward, and probably in the next two weeks we should have a good idea on the priorities that have bubbled up across the three commissions,” said Deacon Jim Fortner, chief operation officer for the Diocese of Covington. “Then, we will draft the priorities based on what we heard. We are going to review that with the commission leaders,” he said, “Then they look at it and then they make adjustments based on what they heard.”

Once the commission leaders, Deacon Fortner and the strategic planning consultants are aligned on the identified positions, they will be presented to Bishop Iffert. His feedback will then be taken back to the commission leaders for an update. At the end of this process, “we got the priorities ready to go, publish, and then we work on the actual plan underneath it. So, we’ll have the goals, priorities, and then we’ll have an actual planning team…their job is to then take it into a specific action plan,” said Deacon Fortner.

A key element of the strategic planning process so far has been the input of the faithful throughout the diocese, with lay leaders, clergy and religious all coming together. “It’s been beautiful,” said Deacon Fortner, “you’re putting responsibility on the people to help us make these decisions.” He continued saying, “It’s been phenomenal. The amount o support that we got, the passion from people has been invigorating because folks recognize that this is a big opportunity to provide input into a strategic plan,” he said.

Part of the spring’s strategic planning process was gathering data, both quantitative and qualitative, in the form of anecdotal evidence from committee members. Deacon Fortner referred to the data gathered as, “rich insights,” which was gathered by, “listening to people, looking at other diocese, which we’ve done across the board,” he said. This data, and the priorities identified from it, will be key when beginning the fall portion of the strategic planning for diocesan governance.

“We started with the spring commissions, they give input on what they need from the Curia,” said Deacon Fortner. “That’s why it was really important to start with those spring commissions and let that feed the Curia.”

“This is a synodal process,” said Deacon Fortner, “at the end of the day, this is all about salvation of souls, this is all about leading people to a sacramental lifestyle. Everything we do in this strategy work needs to ultimately lead to that.”

Diocesan Pastoral Council and Deanery Council receive name changes, other changes

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Maura Baker

Staff Writer

Changes were announced at a Deanery Council meeting, Aug. 8, affecting both the Deanery Council and the Diocesan Pastoral Council — with their name changes, Deanery Pastoral Council becoming Deanery Council and Diocesan Council becoming the Diocesan Pastoral Council, being the first distinction made.

“Both councils go along with the notion of synodality,” according to Jamie Schroeder, chancellor, “as well as consultation and walking together in terms of decision making and discernment about issues that impact the diocese and the local Church.”

The Deanery Council — which consists of “deans” from each deanery in the diocese, two lay representatives from each parish and a representative of clergy and religious from each deanery as well — as well as the Diocesan Pastoral Council, consisting of two of the lay representatives as well as the Vicar for Religious and Vicar General, both communicate and collaborate with the bishop and the chancery regarding the needs of the parishes and the diocese at large.

Lay members of both councils are chosen typically from their parish councils, so that they may serve as direct liaisons.

The name change was done in an effort to “distinguish” between the two councils, according to Mrs. Schroeder, as the Diocesan Pastoral Council was established later by Bishop John Iffert to allow for more open dialogue with lay people — and the names had previously caused confusion.

In addition to the change of names, it was announced at the meeting that deans, while remaining in leadership positions, can now delegate leadership responsibilities, such as “the logistical and practical duties of leading the deanery council” to Diocesan Pastoral Council members as they deem fit or necessary at their discretion.

“So many things happen in the Church behind the scenes,” Mrs. Schroeder said, “and your average person in the pew doesn’t realize that that’s happening. I think it’s good when the lay people of the diocese can stay informed of these changes at work.”

Bishop Iffert reflects on the virtue of hope at deacon rededication vespers

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Bella Bailey

Multimedia Correspondent

On Aug. 10, deacons from across the diocese gathered with Bishop John Iffert, their wives, fellow clergy, family and friends for solemn vespers at the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, Covington. The vespers, celebrated on the Feast of St. Lawrence, Roman martyr and deacon, celebrated the rededication of the deacons to their diaconal promises of obedience, respect and commitment to sharing the word of God.

Bishop Iffert, who led the vespers, addressed the deacons in his homily. He told the story of a man he’d met the day before. George, who was concerned for his son, set up to accompany him in prayer — committing to praying all four sets of mysteries of the Rosary daily.

Bishop Iffert said that George told him that, “Until this point in my life, I never really thought that I ought to be trying to be a saint. … It never really occurred to me that it was something I should be trying to do with my life, or that it was even possible. And now, it’s all I think about.”

“That conversation with that man reminded me of the virtue of hope,” said Bishop Iffert.

“We have to believe that it is possible for us to be saints. We have to believe — and even longing for the desired possibility of being a martyr like Lawrence — that we might be capable of laying our lives down for the poor,” he said.

Speaking more directly to the deacons present, he continued, “We have to believe that it’s capable for all of us here who share in Holy Orders that have been ordained deacons. We have to believe that it’s possible for us to serve the Word of God with our whole heart.”

“Our hope is Christ Jesus the Lord,” Bishop Iffert said. “His charity, his grace, is what makes it possible for us both to know that we might live worthily according to these orders we have receives and that without him, we are almost certain going to fail.”

Hispanic ministry grows in the Diocese of Covington, new programs make a difference

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Bella Bailey

Multimedia Correspondent

It has been almost one year since the Diocese of Covington hired Silvia Schmidt, the diocesan Hispanic minister. Since the beginning of her tenure, Mrs. Schmidt has made great strides, acting as a bridge between the Spanish speaking community and the larger diocesan community. As a result of her work, there has been higher attendance of Spanish-speaking individuals at youth ministry events, more Spanish faith formation opportunities and an ever-growing love of Christ’s Church throughout the Diocese.

The role of the hispanic minister in the Diocese is to, “support families in their spiritual journey and facilitate their integration into local parishes,” according to Mrs. Schmidt’s pastoral plan. In working towards this goal, Mrs. Schmidt has brought programs to the Diocese with the goal of helping children and adults grow in a personal relationship with Christ. One such program is Emmaus Retreats, for both men and women. These healing retreats offer a respite from everyday life and help participants “really feel God’s love,” so that they become “on fire for God,” said Mrs. Schmidt.

The men’s Emmaus Retreat concluded at the end of July and was hosted by a group from Miami, with the idea that “once you receive it, you give it,” said Ms. Schmidt. “It’s the beginning of something that will stay in the Diocese,” she explained.

The retreats become self-sustaining, with previous retreatants hosting the next retreat for the next group of people. Through this model, the men who recently completed their retreat will host the women’s retreat.

“It’s a true witness of that they really care, and it’s a true camaraderie between them, but on fire for God. It was just, for me, that was in itself a true witness,” said Mrs. Schmidt who participated in an Emmaus Retreat in Miami.

Cristo Rey Parish, Florence, hosted the men’s and will host the women’s retreat, however parishioners from any parish are welcome to attend. More details will be announced regarding the women’s Emmaus Retreat.

In addition to these retreats, Mrs. Schmidt has also introduced programs offered by the Southeast Pastoral Institute (SEPI). SEPI is U.S. Catholic Bishops regional office for Hispanic Ministry. Their programs will train “the adults, the catechists, the parents, all the adults who deal with children … people train the adults in these parishes who might interact with kids, for those adults to go back and kind of put what they learned into practice,” said Mrs. Schmidt.

The programs will be held for identified staff members at five Diocesan parishes with hispanic populations. Mrs. Schmidt hopes that the program will help “establish that children … have that personal relationship with God. It’s not just a checklist for sacraments, but ‘this God is a real person for me that I can go talk to,’” she said. “To strengthen the child’s sense of belonging in the Church, participating actively in the Mass,” she said.

As hispanic ministry continues to grow in the Diocese of Covington, so too does the body of Christ continue to grow on earth in Covington. Emboldened in the pursuit of relationship with Christ, communion with Christ and community with one another.

Catholic Charities volunteer to be recognized at Great American Ballpark

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Bella Bailey

Multimedia Correspondent

Catholic Family Night at Great American Ballpark, Cincinnati, will bring together the faithful of the Diocese of Covington and Archdiocese of Cincinnati, along with Bishop John Iffert and Archbishop Robert Casey, to celebrate the theme ‘Love in Action.’ This evening will highlight the mission and ministries of Catholic Charities on both sides of the river, and the people who make them possible, embodying Love in Action. One of the volunteers who will be recognized is Notre Dame Sister Nance Hehman, who lives in residence at the St. Augustine Convent, Augusta, and is an integral member of the Mobile Food Pantry team in Bracken, Mason and Pendelton County.

Sister Nance began her involvement with the Mobile Food Pantry in 2020 at its inception, when John Hehman, director of the Mobile Food Pantry and Sister Nance’s nephew, called her for assistance. “She was a big part of getting it started,” said Mr. Hehman, “she was one of the first people that said she would be there to help.”

Since the beginning, Sister Nance has been responsible for helping members of the community register and sign in to the mobile food pantry, understanding first-hand the food insecurity in Bracken County. “I was on the parish phone line, they would call and ask for help…so I knew the need for food down here was pretty drastic,” she said. “Being able to help to serve and help fill that need, that’s why you keep coming back. The people who come are very, very grateful,” she said.

Sister Nance’s time at the registration table has allowed her to form relationships with the community members who take advantage of the ministry. “It’s very moving. I would get to know them, and they would get to know me,” she said.

“She makes a really positive impact on the guests coming in for food,” said Mr. Hehman, “You watch her do the registration. People come in and, if for whatever reason she isn’t able to make it, they ask for her.”

During her six years of work with the Mobile Food Pantry, Sister Nance has found that the most rewarding is “seeing how happy the little kids were when you brought food, or they shop,” she said. Moments like watching children and families realize they will have food in the coming week, “makes you very appreciative of what you’ve been given and what you are able to share,” she said.

For Sister Nance, her experience over the last six years is more than volunteer work, it is a reflection of the community’s willingness to serve each other. “It’s wonderful what these people do,” she said, “all the ones that I’ve ever gone to, the parish community goes all out to make this work, for the whole community, for the whole county.”

Volunteering her own time and resources to the Mobile Food Pantry ministry is the true embodiment of Love in Action, “Everybody needs help sometimes, and if you’ve got the time, and you got the resources. I think it’s an obligation to share.”

Catholic Charities Commission Subcommittee focuses on the role of Catholic Charities in the community

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Bella Bailey

Multimedia Correspondent

Over the summer months, the Diocese of Covington has participated in a new strategic planning process, focusing on key areas of growth for the Diocese in Catholic Charities, a foundation and Diocesan schools, with commissions being formed to focus on each. Each of these commissions consists of subcommittees which help inform the commissions overall recommendations to Bishop Iffert at the conclusion of the information gathering process. For many involved, these subcommittees served as a space for conversation, education and involvement in the overall direction of the Diocese. Mary Paula Schuh, Catholic Charities board member and co-chair of the Catholic Charities Commission’s Parish and Community Partnerships subcommittee, said that her experience on the subcommittee has been an exciting opportunity.

“We had lots of good discussion, we had lots of great ideas as a result of the meeting,” said Mrs. Schuh. Primarily, she said, the discussion revolved around volunteer engagement, brand identity and serving those in rural as well as urban areas. Mrs. Schuh said her co-chair role was an “opportunity to envision more broadly a role for Catholic Charities in our community through partnership with other organizations.”

“We’ve also talked about expanding services in the rural counties. The Diocese consists of 14 counties, and we want to have a Catholic Charities presence in all those counties,” she said. Her hope is that the work of the Catholic Charities Commission and Parish and Community Partnerships Subcommittee builds a “better understanding across the Diocese of what Catholic Charities does, and I hope that as a result of that, that people are more willing to support, both volunteer their time and financially support Catholic Charitie’s efforts to lift up our community.”

Throughout the process, she said, the members of her sub-committee have been engaged and excited about the possibilities that lie ahead. “My biggest takeaway, personally, has just been the passion that people bring to the discussion and the commitment that people have to helping others. It’s heartwarming to see,” she said.

The work has been “gratifying,” she said. “I didn’t expect for as many people to be involved as we’ve had. I mean we had a room full of people, many people, come out and be willing to spend their time on multiple occasions to engage and listen and speak up and share ideas, so that’s been gratifying to me.”

As the work of the first three commissions concludes, the work of the fourth is just beginning. To register for the Diocese of Covington’s Governance Commission and for the opportunity to inform the future of the Diocese, go to covdioplanning.org.