YCET welcomes new members, encourages Catholic youth leadership
Members of the Youth Commission Evangelization Team (YCET) met on Thomas More University’s campus, March 8, for an orientation welcoming and introducing the new members to the team.
Catholic Schools Week Mass celebrated united in ‘faith and love of Jesus’
The pews filled with diocesan students, teachers, administrators and supporters, Jan. 31, to celebrate a Mass commemorating Catholic Schools Week. The Mass was held in the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, Covington, and celebrated by Bishop John Iffert. Students representing every diocesan grade school and high school were present among their educators, processing in with banners decorated in school colors.
‘Head up, feet moving,’ Bishop Iffert encourages consecrated religious
Women and men religious gathered with laity for Mass, Feb. 3, at the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, Covington. This special Mass celebrated World Day of Consecrated Life. Bishop John Iffert celebrated the Mass, joined by Father Ryan Maher, the Cathedral’s rector, with Deacons Barry Henry and Gerald Franzen assisting.
The World Day of Consecrated Life was established as a day of prayer for religious men and women in 1997 by Pope St. John Paul II. This celebration is attached to the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord on Feb. 2.
‘Love Them Both’ – 2024 March for Life Ky.
The clouds were gray, and the rain was pouring as hundreds gathered in Frankfort for the first Kentucky march for life. The day started with Mass celebrated by Father John Lijana, pastor, Good Shepard Church, Frankfort.
“Life is good because it comes from God … do with it what he wills.” This was the message that rang throughout Father Lijana’s homily on Jan. 23.
The words hung over the congregation of about 500 as they took in the message that what they will be marching for is the sanctity of life and the dignity of mother and child. The latter of which being the theme of this year’s march, “Love Them Both.”
Upcoming Cursillo weekends offer tools to enrich the Catholic faith for a lifetime
A new year means a new year of Cursillo retreats, with the next scheduled as soon as this month.
Cursillo is named for a Spanish word meaning short course. A Cursillo (pronounced “kur-see-yo”),therefore, is a short course in Christianity. Originating in Spain in the 1940s, today Cursillos are given in more than 50 nations on 5 Continents. It is estimated that more than 2 million men and women of various races and languages have participated. Locally, all Cursillo weekends are held at the Jesuit Spiritual Retreat Center in Milford, Ohio.
Join Bishop Iffert on an 11-day pilgrimage to Greece ‘In the Footsteps of Paul the Apostle’
Have you ever wanted to visit Greece to walk in the footsteps of St. Paul? If so, Bishop John Iffert is inviting 44 travelers to join him on a pilgrimage to Greece. The 11-day trip includes a 3-night cruise through the Greek Islands and Turkey. Travelers will depart from the Northern Kentucky/Greater Cincinnati Airport, Oct. 22 and return home Nov. 1.
Bambinelli blessing returns to St. Mary’s Park for its second year
Last Advent, the Diocese of Covington held its first ever Bambinelli blessing at St. Mary’s Park, Cathedral Square, Covington. This year, the blessing returns after positive reception by the community for its second event.
Sunday, Dec. 17, 6:30–8 p.m. at St. Mary’s Park, Cathedral Square, Covington.
New Seminary Ball video gives insight to seminarians’ daily lives
A new video promoting vocations will be premiered at this year’s Seminary Ball, Oct. 27. Moving away from the past format of seminarian interviews, the new video, which was created by Patrick McNamara of Drawn to the Image Studios, follows the Diocese of Covington’s seminarians through a day in their lives at St. Vincent Seminary in Latrobe, Penn.
Read more on page 2: https://covdio.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/9334MESSENGEROCTOBER62023.pdf
Upcoming Events
Diocesan Pro-life Mass
Oct. 17, 7 p.m.
Rosary at 6:30 p.m.
Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, Covington
All are invited to gather in prayer and celebration of life.
40 Hour Devotion
This year, the three-year Eucharistic Revival is in its parish phase. To help unite parishes around the Eucharist, Bishop John Iffert, at the request of the diocesan Worship Committee, has asked pastors to host 40 Hours of continual Eucharistic adoration.
These 40 Hours will be scheduled sometime during the year, from now until July 2024, when the revival culminates with a Eucharistic Congress, July 17–21, 2024, at Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis. Discounted tickets for the Congress are available through the diocesan Office of Worship and Liturgy; an application is online at covdio.org.
Upcoming 40 Hour Devotions
Oct. 13, 2023, St. Edward Parish, Cynthiana
Oct. 20, 2023, St. Augustine Parish, Augusta
Oct. 27, 2023, St. John Parish, Carrollton
Nov. 3, 2023, Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, Burlington
Nov. 17, 2023, St. Joseph Parish, Cold Spring
May 3, 2024, St. Joseph Parish, Camp Springs
(The schedule will be updated as needed.)
2023 Seminary Ball
An evening of drinks, dinner and dancing in support of our seminarians.
Oct. 27, 6–11 p.m.
Northern Kentucky Convention Center, Covington
RSVP’s available until Oct. 13 at https://covdio.org/seminaryball/.
Cemetery Visitations
Families and friends of our beloved dead are invited to join Bishop John Iffert for a prayer service, Saturday, Oct. 21, at the following diocesan cemeteries:
10 a.m., St. John Cemetery, Ft. Mitchell
11 a.m., St. Mary Cemetery, Ft. Mitchell
12:30 p.m., St. Stephen Cemetery, Ft. Thomas
At each cemetery, the names of those interred from October 2022 through September 2023 will be proclaimed.
“Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon them. May the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen.”
‘To Heal, Proclaim and Teach’
A presentation by Jared Dees, Oct. 14, 8:30–11:30 a.m., at the Curia’s Bishop Howard Memorial Auditorium, Covington.
Mr. Dees is an author, speaker, teacher and creator of the popular website The Religion Teacher, which provides practical resources and effective teaching strategies.
Sponsored by the diocesan Office of Catechesis and Evangelization. The presentation is open to everyone. No cost to attend. RSVP at covdio.org/register or call David Cooley at (859) 392-1592.
Couples celebrating milestone anniversaries ‘show the way God loves’
This year, 102 couples celebrating milestone anniversaries were recognized by Bishop John Iffert. (For a list of the couples see page 13.) The Office of Catechesis and Evangelization distributed a certificate signed by Bishop Iffert to each couple honoring their 1 year, 25 years, 50 years or 60-plus years of married life. Many of these couples joined Bishop Iffert for Vespers and a blessing, Sept. 17, at the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, Covington. Read more on page 1: https://covdio.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/9332MESSENGERSEPTEMBER222023.pdf