Mary Grable to retire from St. Edward School for the second time

Bella Bailey

Multimedia Correspondent

Beloved teacher, mentor and principal Mary Grable is to retire for the second time as principal of St. Edward School, Cynthiana. Her dedication and devotion to St. Edward School was celebrated by the community at the end of year Rose and Candle Ceremony.

This annual ceremony is a farewell to the fifth graders as they prepare to leave St. Edward for the local middle school, however this year the community was also saying goodbye to Mrs. Grable. During the Rose and Candle Ceremony the fourth graders give the fifth graders roses to take with them on their new adventure and the fifth graders give the fourth graders a candle, reminding them to lead the school with the light of Christ.

Mrs. Grable and principal-elect, Mark Hatmaker, teacher at St. Edward School, participated also in this ceremony with Mrs. Grable bestowing the ceremonial candle to Mr. Hatmaker and Mr. Hatmaker presenting Mrs. Grable with a dozen roses.

“Twelve roses is probably not enough for all the dedication you’ve given to the school, but we thank you Mrs. Grable,” said one faculty member as the rose and candle exchange was occurring.

“I want to express my sincere gratitude to Mary Grable for coming out of retirement to serve as the interim principal of St. Edward School. She worked tireless during this time leading the school. Mary is a true servant leader who gave so much of her time to help St. Edward,” said Kendra McGuire, superintendent of schools for the Diocese of Covington, in response to the Messenger request for a comment.

Mrs. Grable has been a tireless servant leader, in both her first and second term as principal, putting first the needs of the students and their faith formation. Upon her first arrival at St. Edward School the pastor at the time said that while academics are important, it was her job to turn them into saints. This was a motto she said that stuck with her throughout her tenure.

“My first year here we had a mirror that we put up,” said Mrs. Grable. She would tell the students, “You should see Christ in everybody, so go look in the mirror. Is Christ looking back at you, or is it somebody else?”

Father Niby Kannai, pastor at St. Edward Parish, Cynthiana, said about Mrs. Grable, “Her deep Catholic identity, lived so faithfully and joyfully, has been a shining example for our children and families. Her tireless dedication and tender love for every child has not only educated minds but also formed hearts in Christ.”

Mrs. Grable’s career started at Southside Elementary School, Cynthiana, where she served for 27 years as a special education teacher, before retiring from public education and transitioning to St. Edward School.

As a principal, Mrs. Grable says her favorite part is watching the kids grow up. “Watching people grow,” she said, “after all these years somebody comes back … it makes you feel like you’ve done something.”

Mrs. Grable expressed her sound support for the incoming principal, Mr. Hatmaker, “He’s interested in learning, but he’s also interested in what their future is going to hold and how close to God they’ll be. That’s what I think we need,” said Mrs. Grable.

Upon his being named principal, Mrs. Grable shared with Mr. Hatmaker a poem,

“Isn’t it strange that princes and kings,

And clowns that caper In sawdust rings, And common people,

Like you and me,

Are builders for eternity?

Each is given a bag of tools,

A shapeless mass,

A book of rules;

And each must make –

Ere life is flown –

A stumbling block

Or a steppingstone.”

Mrs. Grable said she hopes she has built a steppingstone for Mr. Hatmaker, and that he will build one for the next principal. Leaving a lasting legacy for the future students of St. Edward School.

Seventeen parishes underway to receive DPAA rebates, more to go

Maura Baker

Staff Writer

The 2025 Diocesan Parish Annual Appeal (DPAA) is well underway, with a recent mailing encouraging parishioners from across the Diocese to dedicate their contributions if they have not already.

As of the end of April, the DPAA has raised more than $2.6 million which will be used to help fund the ministries of the diocese. This is just short of the $2.7 million goal of the whole campaign — but, more than that, there are goals for the individual parishes that are yet to be met for the campaign.

In July, money collected over the goal amount for any specific parish is returned to the parish as a rebate. This money is used towards parish construction projects and ministries. However, with only 17 parishes having exceeded their goal so far, there is still a long way to go in terms of raising money for diocesan parishes.

St. Henry Parish, Elsmere, has successfully exceeded its DPAA goal this year — and has been setting aside rebates since 2022 for the pavement and restriping of the parish’s parking lot this year, according to Kris Staverman, a parishioner. “The lot was last resurfaced with new asphalt in 1989,” said Ms. Staverman, who notes that additional funds will be put towards a new sound system for the church.

Other parishes who have exceeded their goals include St. Therese Parish, Southgate, whose pastor, Father Michael Grady, hopes to put the money towards tuition assistance for St. Therese’s school. “We see a need there and we try to fill that need so that our families can afford a Catholic education,” said Father Grady.

Holy Spirit Parish has also exceeded its goal, and will be putting their 2025 DPAA rebate into a “transformative project,” according to parishioner Alex Bramel. These projects include a new limestone retaining wall, new landscaping and an irrigation system.

However, with these parishes on track to receive funds towards their projects — many other parishes are still working together to meet those goals.

Giving for the 2025 DPAA is still open — and pledges and contributions are needed to assist not just the parishes of the Diocese of Covington, but the ministries and people, as well. More information, including giving, can be found online at https://covdio.org/ stewardship-missions/.

Graduates possess an ‘unalienable dignity, ’ says Bishop Iffert at Thomas More baccalaureate Mass

Maura Baker

Staff Writer

Thomas More University’s graduates were among the first to graduate as the Class of 2025 this year — celebrating their accomplishments with a baccalaureate Mass, May 16. Held in the campus’s Mary, Seat of Wisdom, chapel — Bishop John Iffert visited to celebrate the Mass with the Class of 2025.

“Do not let your hearts be troubled,” Bishop Iffert began his homily quoting John 14, and reflecting on a story of a young girl he met when he was pastor at Immaculate Conception Parish in Columbia, Illinois. The little girl, a fifth grader, who had been caught cheating, was distraught. “Literally bawling,” said Bishop Iffert.

The little girl believed because of this mistake, she would not get into the best high school, or college, and feared that she would not “fulfill her potential worth.”

“As I sat there and watched this young girl, just riddled with anxiety,” Bishop Iffert said, “I wanted to punish someone. But, it wasn’t her. Her parents, the school, myself, maybe, for ratcheting up the pressure on this girl. That anxiety, it’s a killer.”

“We are the most rejected generation,” Bishop Iffert quoted a young man in an article for the New York Times. College applications, internships and even jobs, all have a lower acceptance rate now than ever, according to the article.

“Rejection reinforces the dark world mentality,” said Bishop Iffert, “that is so prevalent in our culture. The idea that the world is menacing and that people and institutions are untrustworthy. It’s a dark view of the world that believes that our neighbors are out to get us, or even in constant competition.”

“Here at Thomas More University,” he continued, “I hope that you have learned a few things that will help you stand against that dark view of the world. I hope that you have learned that you possess an unalienable dignity that comes to you as a free gift from God, and that can never be taken away from you because of anyone’s judgment or rejection.”

“This dignity is yours by right,” Bishop Iffert said, “You are created with it. You do not have to earn it. It is yours.”

For more graduation coverage including a listing of the Class of 2025 from Thomas More University and all nine Catholic high schools in the Diocese of Covington, see page 9.

Kentucky House Bill 90 passes after a veto; affirms what is and isn’t an abortion in Kentucky law

Bella Bailey

Multimedia Correspondent

Kentucky House Bill 90, AN ACT relating to maternal health and declaring an emergency, was passed on March 27 with a veto override vote in both the House and Senate. The bill, lobbied on by Addia Wuchner, executive director, Kentucky Right to Life, included three main components.

“House Bill 90,” said Mrs. Wuchner, “is a comprehensive maternal health bill covering many aspects that concern maternal health in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.”

The three main components are the establishment of a licensing framework for free standing birthing centers in Kentucky, the providing of legal and clinical clarity for maternal health interventions that are not elective abortions and the expansion of access to perinatal palliative care.

A freestanding birthing center is described in the bill language as, “a safe and regulated alternative for maternity care, offering a medically directed care, midwifery-led model that emphasized holistic, patient-centered care.”

The establishment of freestanding birthing centers was the core of House Bill 90 before the two latter elements were introduced to the Bill framework.

The legal and clinical clarity for maternal healthcare helps physicians to distinguish comprehensive and appropriate medical care from elective abortion. It provides clarification on medical conditions that are not abortions and therefore are explicitly protected medical treatments under Kentucky law. Conditions such as miscarriage management, ectopic pregnancy treatment, molar pregnancy treatment, sepsis treatment, hemorrhage control and the management of fetal demise and stillbirth.

This portion of the Bill was cited by Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear as his reason for vetoing the Bill. The primary concern of all those against House Bill 90 was the restrictive nature of an exhaustive list of treatable conditions under Kentucky law.

“No one, including legislators, can possibly create an exhaustive list of emergency situations that may occur in a hospital or medical facility. Gaps in the law are literally a matter of life and death,” said Governor Beshear in his veto.

Mrs. Wuchner refutes this claim, saying that it is necessary to define what is not an intentional abortion so that medical intervention is able to be exercised without fear of legal retribution.

“While we already define what is an abortion, let’s define what isn’t an abortion. We defined an outline that miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, septic miscarriage, are not abortions … The common language defining that these are not considered an elective abortion so that it was clear that women in Kentucky … have the care that they need,” said Mrs. Wuchner.

“Working with the medical community was to assure that there’s no question when it comes to the care that women in Kentucky are going to receive and deserve. We didn’t think that there was a question before, but since it kept being brought up that there were concerns, we wanted to eliminate those concerns,” said Mrs. Wuchner.

Representative Kim Moser, chairwomen of Health and Family Services committee, said, “This is about offering real options and real support when families face incredibly difficult medical news. House Bill 90 brings clarity when a maternal complication requires medically therapeutic treatment or critical life-saving interventions.”

Faye Roch, director of the Diocese of Covington ProLife Office, worked closely with Mrs. Wuchner, in listening sessions and advocating for pieces in the Bill.

“We’re working together to keep a close eye on everything that’s going on in Frankfort,” said Mrs. Wuchner.

When asked what she wanted Messenger readers to know about the Bill, Mrs. Wuchner said, “I hope that when they hear about this, I want them to be proud of Kentucky and proud of what the General Assembly gas done.”

Forty years has brought parish priest both foresight and wisdom

Maura Baker

Staff Writer

“I remember one day during Advent many years ago, I was sitting in the church office by myself. It had been a few years since I returned from a Marian pilgrimage but happened to be reminiscing about it,” Father Jeffrey Von Lehmen, pastor, St. Patrick Parish, Taylor Mill, fondly recalled. “There was a stack of mail which I was not anxious to open, usually just more bills — I felt a sense of spiritual emptiness and exhaustion which sometimes come with the pre-Christmas season. On top of the stack of mail was a brown package. I saw a return address from Florida and recognized that it was someone with whom I had been on the Marian pilgrimage. I opened it, and there was a nice note and a DVD movie — ‘It’s a Wonderful Life.’” Father Von Lehmen, who is this year celebrating his 40- year jubilee in the priesthood, noted that he felt “a little vulnerable and humble” at the gift.

“Here is someone who could see who I really was and how I felt at the time,” he said, “Like George Bailey, I didn’t set out to be extraordinary. I just kept showing up — one day at a time, one person at a time. And somehow, mysteriously, God uses these small, ordinary choices to touch lives. Pope Benedict said it best speaking about priests: ‘God makes use of us poor men in order to be, through us, present to all men and women.’ That’s the miracle of the priesthood. It’s not about doing great things — it’s about making Christ present in the quiet corners of people’s lives … This particular memory has helped me remember what I need to be as priest. People don’t need you to be impressive. They need you to be real — to be an example. That’s when they see Jesus.”

Father Von Lehmen mentioned that his “favorite” part of his calling is when “through the gift of priesthood, the people I am called to serve can feel and know God’s favor upon their hearts and minds — those freeing and loving graces now accessible in Christ.”

He recalled a memory in the old Good Shepherd convent, with a retired Irish nun, Sister Rita, whom Father Von Lehmen said spiritually adopted him, along with the Mother Superior, Sister Kevin. “Surrounding me at a distance in the back of the chapel where I had Mass and heard confessions from time to time were orphans, prostitutes, the lost, angry, hurt — darkened hearts and misguided minds from intense brokenness,” he said. “I saw there on the table a book or article called: ‘You Ain’t Nothing But A Nobody.’ In this true story, a young boy comes home with good grades for the first time and his mom tears up his report card, saying, ‘You ain’t nothing but a nobody.’ I thought to myself the people surrounding me right now have probably lived this story. I wondered how many people in the world must feel this way in various degrees whether wealthy or poor, educated or uneducated.”

Twenty years later, Father Von Lehmen recalled being “privileged to encounter these very same persons again” at the retirement of Sister Kevin. “They gathered to thank her for her vocation and how they came to know God’s favor and grace upon each of them.”

“That evening, I learned what the favorite part of my vocation is: to participate in Christ’s Priesthood to form others, to bring out their true selves in the image of God in this space called grace,” he said. “In short, to evangelize and form others as God’s favorites is a favorite part of my vocation. And formation here does not mean to be better than others, but to help persons to be better for themselves and others in the Kingdom of God.”

Looking back on these experiences in the past 40 years, Father Von Lehmen said that he has learned “some foresight and much more wisdom.”

“Much of my wisdom has come from being with the youth all these years in the classroom and as a chaplain,” he cited, “together each year we learn how easily and with not much thought people misperceive themselves, their image of God, their image of the Church and their image of different cultures. … How many people, including very intelligent and well-educated people, have misinterpreted reality let alone the Scriptures? And how much has false accusation or gossip contributed to false perceptions? … so, my wisdom I have learned over 40 years is this: we must develop a prayer life to see ourselves and each other through God’s eyes with the help Mother Church.”

“Interestingly,” Father Von Lehmen said, “Forty is a number meaning thresholds. I think I have grown inwardly enough to better cross these thresholds through integration from self-knowledge to self-restraint to self-gift for others. St. Pope John Paul II said in his book, ‘Threshold of Hope’, that the real threshold can be summed up in two words of Jesus: ‘Follow Me.’”

Cohort 2 completes Parish Missionary Disciples training adding more witnesses to ignite parish life

Laura Keener

Editor

Cohort 2 completed four weekends of Parish Missionary Disciples training, May 17, at St. Joseph Parish, Cold Spring. Carla Molina, leadership consultant, Catholic Leadership Institute, led the training, with Deacon James Fortner, diocesan chief operating officer and Jamie Schroeder, chancellor, leading the sending at the final meeting.

In his comments, Deacon Fortner emphasized the importance of PMD as a model of how diocesan offices and parishes should work together, as envisioned by Bishop John Iffert.

“To him, this is the model of a lot of our ministries, where we provide some training, some accompaniment, some skill building and then we turn the lay faithful loose, to go work back at their parish,” said Deacon Fortner. “Parish life is ground zero, that’s where relationships are struck, that’s where we lead people to the sacraments.”

PMD is a training program designed to equip parishioners with the skills needed for effective evangelization. This includes knowing and be able to articulate a personal faith witness and to engage with others through prayer. PMD is part of the With One Heart initiative and a Leadership Development strategy of the Diocesan Pastoral Plan. PMD training is led by consultants from the Catholic Leadership Institute (CLI) and has been offered to members in the Diocese of Covington at no charge, thanks to generous donations from benefactors committed to promoting evangelization efforts in the diocese.

“We’re blessed to have CLI that brings this capability,” Deacon Fortner said.

Cohort 1, a group of 60 witnesses, completed PMD training in April 2024. Cohort 2 adds another 31 witnesses to Bishop Iffert’s goal of 500 witnesses, impacting 90 percent of parishes in the Diocese. Two initiatives begun by two couples from Cohort 1 will help the diocese to meet its goal.

The first is the establishment of the GYMM, an acronym for Growing Your Missionary Disciples Muscles. Bill and Kim Dehlinger, parishioners, Blessed Sacrament Parish and Jerry and Bridget Otto, Mother of God Parish, host a monthly meeting for PMD witnesses. At the GYMM, witnesses practice what they learned — praying together and sharing their faith story.

“The idea for the GYMM is that this is a place where you can go back and review and be refreshed and be renewed and get support and network with everybody else that’s been through Parish Missionary Disciples,” said Mrs. Schroeder. “I really encourage you to do that, just to keep this going and to keep that fire burning.”

The second is to continue honing a shorter, more easily presentable discipleship program to implement at parishes. Mr. and Mrs. Otto have already taken leadership of this program. With the blessing of the CLI, the Otto’s took the information from PMD training and distilled it into three two-hour sessions. Last month, the Otto’s held the first presentation at Mother of God Church. “It was a big success,” said Deacon Fortner noting that about 25 people from parishes across the diocese attended. “Honestly, that’s kind of what we’re thinking is the path forward, to reformulate this and to do an intermediate kind of a program.”

Having quantitative measures is certainly a worthy goal, but Deacon Fortner said, more important “is transformation.”

“You guys need to take this competency and run with it,” Deacon Fortner said, “We’re never going to have all the training, trust me. You’re never going to feel like you got it all, because we don’t. It’s all about the Holy Spirit. You know how to love. Invite others to dinner, invite them into a relationship and let the Holy Spirit come lead.”

The voice of the shepherd grants peace, said Bishop Iffert at Mass celebrating newly elected pontiff

Maura Baker

Staff Writer

Clergy and laity came together from across the diocese to celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving for the election of Pope Leo XIV, a Chicago native recently elected Pope by the cardinal conclave succeeding the late Pope Francis. The Mass was celebrated by Bishop John Iffert, May 12, at the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, Covington.

Also the homilist for the Mass, Bishop Iffert recalled a quote from St. Augustine he had heard twice in recent times — from the installation of Archbishop Michael McGovern of Omaha, and from Pope Leo XIV when he was first introduced as pope.

“For you, I am a bishop, but, with you, I am a Christian,” Bishop Iffert repeated the quote. But, he said, the quote is taken out of context, explaining that “the former is a duty, the latter is a grace. The former is danger, the latter is salvation.”

Bishop Iffert recalled Cardinal Joseph Tobin’s words during the conclave. He recalled Pope Leo XIV’s fear as the voting ended and his apparent peace after the tally that declared him the next pope.

“Where does that peace come from,” Bishop Iffert asked the congregation during his homily, “for one who is facing stepping onto the world stage in a way that so few will ever have to face? To bear the burden of the weight of shepherding the entire Church of Christ on earth. How does one bear under such a strain?”

“There’s only one way,” Bishop Iffert explained, “These men, Francis, and now Leo — they are practiced at listening for the voice of the shepherd. They are practiced at hearing his call and letting it be their comfort … He is joined to the body of Christ, and he finds there among us, with Christ, the strength to allow himself to be sacrificed in all the various ways he will be sacrificed.”

“We come together today to acknowledge the sacrifice our brother is making,” Bishop Iffert said, “and to give thanks to God for choosing him and for supporting him with his grace, for guiding him in the way of Christ.”

Deacon requests prayers as he prepares for ordination to the priesthood

Maura Baker

Staff Writer

“It feels like a big change is coming,” Deacon Joshua Heskamp told the Messenger, in an interview with the Messenger preparing for his upcoming ordination to the priesthood. Having finished his studies as a seminarian, and nearing the end of his year in the transitional diaconate, Deacon Heskamp will be ordained in a public ceremony, June 7, 10 a.m., at the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption in Covington.

Additionally, many members of Deacon Heskamp’s family will be participating in the Mass’s liturgy, with his brothers as lectors and his uncle, Father Jeffrey Von Lehmen, pastor, St. Patrick Parish, Taylor Mill, will concelebrant and vest Deacon Heskamp in priestly robes during the ordination.

“The next big step is ordination,” Deacon Heskamp said, “It feels a bit surreal, in a way, moving out of school and into full-time ministry — preparing myself for that.”

“Getting settled in the new life, a new routine of priesthood that’s unfamiliar to me … there’s a lot of unknown there that gives me anxiety, but I trust in the Lord that things will work out for the best in the end,” Deacon Heskamp said, though, in spite of his anxieties, he looks forward to service in the priesthood — and, in particular, through the sacraments.

“Celebrating the Mass, hearing confessions, doing Anointing of the Sick … being able to be an instrument of grace in people’s lives and leading others to Christ” are among the things that he most looks forward to.

As the date approaches, Deacon Heskamp requests the support of prayers from the people of the diocese. “The number one thing I can ask people for is to pray that I may minister with the heart of Christ,” he said, “that the heart of Christ may shine forth out of my priesthood and my ministry, and that I can fully give myself to them — to the people of God.”

Thomas More University appoints Randy Dennis as Head of School for Covington Latin School

Laura Keener

Editor

Thomas More University announced this week the completion of the Covington Latin School leadership team. Randy Dennis is appointed Head of School for Covington Latin School and will assume the role on July 1, 2025.

Mr. Dennis joins Covington Latin School at an exciting time, with the 2025-26 academic year to be the first under a new affiliation with Thomas More University. As Head of School, Dennis will work collaboratively to leverage the advantages of this new partnership and lead strategic planning initiatives that maintain and advance Covington Latin School’s mission to provide a rigorous Catholic, classical education for the region’s most gifted learners.

“I am thrilled to welcome Randy Dennis as Head of School for Covington Latin School,” says Thomas More University President Joseph L. Chillo, LP.D. “As an experienced and visionary educational leader, Dennis is uniquely suited to lead Covington Latin into a new era.

Mr. Dennis most recently served as principal of St. Lawrence Catholic School in Lawrenceburg, Indiana. He successfully led the merge of St. Lawrence with St. Mary School (Aurora, Indiana), while overseeing a period of record growth in enrollment and demonstrating a strong ability to unite faculty, staff, students and families under a shared mission and vision. He holds a Bachelor of Science in secondary education from Indiana University and a Master of Arts in curriculum and instruction from University of St. Mary.

Earlier this month three people were appointed to the CLS leadership team: Samantha Darpel Rice, Dean of Studies; James Stebbins, Dean of Students and Madison Light, director of Campus Ministry. They join Amy Darpel, director for Advancement and Zack Ryle, director for Enrollment Management and Marketing, both of whom are currently serving in their respective roles.

“We love the energy and the excitement that people are bringing,” said Dr. Joseph Chillo, president, TMU, not only from the leadership team but also from parents, students, teachers, alumni and supporters.

“The leadership team that’s there in the building has just been really youthful excitement and, more importantly, the focus on mission is critically important at a time when we’re trying to redefine Catholic education with this model that we’re working on.”

Over the last year, leaders at Thomas More University and the Diocese of Covington have been transitioning Covington Latin School to TMU as a University affiliated school. On June 1, TMU will begin oversight of the affiliation and begin to run the CLS based on the model. While there will be no changes to curriculum for the upcoming 2025–2026 school year, Dr. Chillo said that plans are already in the works “in terms of what academic pathways are going to like” for the 2026–2025 academic year. Covington Latin School’s name, motto, accelerated program and classical Catholic education will not change.

“That’s the foundation. We are firm believers that there’s lots of similarities between a classical education and the Catholic intellectual tradition, which serves as a grounding for our university,” said Dr. Chillo. “Being able to integrate both the acceleration format along with the Catholic education component are tremendous assets and benefits that will lead into these new academic pathways that will allow students at Covington Latin to earn college credits at Thomas More and then us those college credits regardless of where they want to go to college after their time at Covington Latin.”

About the TMU/CLS affiliation, Dr. Chillo said, “I think this partnership, this affiliation, is really allowing us to utilize the best talents of both places to advance that educational experience for the students and the families who will be here.”

Bishop John Iffert welcomes the new head of school and expressed gratitude for the TMU/CLS transition team.

“I welcome Mr. Dennis to the Diocese of Covington as he accepts the position as Head of School for Covington Latin,” said Bishop Iffert. “In our meeting I found Mr. Dennis to be an energetic and mission-oriented leader. He is an accomplished educator who has effectively led Catholic schools through a period of transition. I thank Dr. Chillo, Kendra McGuire, our diocesan superintendent of Schools, and the TMU and CLS transition team for their expertise in leading this unique and innovative model in Catholic education for Northern Kentucky. My prayers and blessings to all as we continue to provide our children the highest quality academic education, grounded in Catholic teaching and modeled after Jesus Christ.”

Father Ryan Stenger recalls the legacy of Pope Francis during evening vespers

Bella Bailey

Multimedia Correspondent

The death of Pope Francis triggered an outpouring of grief from Catholics worldwide with a reported 400,000 people flocking to Rome for his funeral. Dioceses around the world have been mourning the loss of the Holy Father with stational Masses, Vespers and funeral Masses in his honor. The Diocese of Covington has joined in this mourning, celebrating all three in the week following the passing of the Holy Father.

During the celebration of sung evening Vespers in commemoration of Pope Francis, April 25, Father Ryan Stenger, judicial vicar for the Diocese of Covington and pastor, St. Jospeh Parish, Camp Springs, walked through the hallmarks of Pope Francis’ 12-year papacy.

Father Stenger recalled Pope Francis’ first homily as Pope, “He said, ‘We can walk as much as we want, we can build many things. But, if we do not confess Jesus Christ, nothing will avail.’”

Father Stenger continued saying, “Now he developed that thought a little more a few months later, one of his first general audiences, he said, ‘The Church is not a shop, she’s not a humanitarian agency, she’s not an NGO. The Church is sent to bring Christ and His Gospel to all. She does not bring herself; the Church brings Jesus.’”

Having been in Rome during the conclave of Pope Francis, Father Stenger remembers the feeling in St. Peter’s Square when the cardinal appeared on the balcony ready to announce the next Pope.

“I remember hearing all the different languages being spoken around me in that moment and thinking about whoever stepped out on that balcony would touch the lives of countless people around the world in ways we can never begin to imagine,” said Father Stenger.

The humble nature that often embodied the papacy of Pope Francis, did not escape mention from Father Stenger’s homily, “The Holy Father called us often to go to the very margines of society, to be close to the people most removed from the life of the Church and from a relationship with God,” said Father Stenger.

Humility, a humble heart, is necessary to reach those on the fringes of society in the way Pope Francis so often did. Father Stenger called those at evening Vespers to honor the life of the late Holy Father by humbling their hearts and seeking to renew the love of Christ in others.