Father John Judie speaks on racism past and recent at annual MLK Breakfast

Bella Bailey

Multimedia Correspondent

Our Savior Parish, Covington, upheld a long-standing tradition by once again hosting the annual Martin Luther King Discussion Breakfast. The yearly gathering of parishioners and community members boasted a crowd large enough to fill the parish hall. Father John Judie, humanitarian and retired priest from the Archdiocese of Louisville, was the keynote speaker.

Father Judie is well known for his speaking engagements both in the Archdiocese of Louisville and in various countries throughout Africa. His primary ministry, however, is Father John Judie Ministries Inc., which works to provide humanitarian aid to economically undeveloped areas of Africa.

“It is wonderful to be here with all of you,” Father Judie began, “I always look forward to the opportunity when I can come to Covington. Most of the time it is celebrating the Mass and preaching but it is just so wonderful to see everyone today,” he said addressing the crowded parish hall.

“We know so much about Dr. King and his work, and his ministry, and the influence and the impact he had on this country. Raising people’s level of awareness about racism and particularly the injustice that has been rendered against people of color for years and years and years. Part of honoring him and his ministry and his life, we have to really take a look at the larger picture that he recognized and was clearly focused on at the end of his life and ministry. That means we have to go back a lot further than Dr. King and his ministry,” said Father Judie.

His presentation, entitled “Racism Yesterday and Today,” focused on the history of racism and its origins in the United States, as well as modern racism in society today.

The origins of racism in the United States, Father Judie said, began as soon as European settlers stepped foot in and took over the modern-day United States of America.

“Racism has been labeled as Americas original sin. Since there was an America before the Europeans came, it is more accurate to say that racism is the United States of America’s original sin, there is a difference. The indigenous people of this land inhabited it for more than 12,000 years before the Europeans and other settlers showed up,” said Father Judie.

While racism is deeply rooted in the history of the United States, it permeates through society today. Father Judie turned the attention of those in attendance to the language used for immigrants. Today, when someone would like to immigrate to the United States of America, they must apply for Resident Alien Status.

“Why would we call any human being on this planet an alien,” Father Judie said, posing the question to the crowd. “You can see how the lie continues. Alien means you don’t belong here. You came from some outer space; therefore, we don’t know anything about you, so we fear you and we’ll treat you that way. Why would anybody want to be labeled, or have your loved ones labeled, as an alien? We ourselves have to be aware.”

The audience participation portion of the breakfast gave way to personal testimonies of those in the audience who have experienced racism or racial injustice in the Northern Kentucky area and beyond. Racism is not an alien issue; it effects people close to home.

Father Judie encouraged people to look inward and reflect on racism in their own lives as a first step.

“It occurs to me; we may need to dig more deeply into the essential elements of racism at work in our own lives and in our involvements with others,” he said. “We can always talk about something not there, but we need to bring it home, we need to deal with it at home. We have to recognize it first and then know how we are prepared to respond to it once we encounter it in our everyday interactions with others.”

St. Charles Communities geographic footprint expands to current site of St. Joseph Heights

Bella Bailey

Multimedia Correspondent

In a joint statement by the Sisters of Notre Dame and St. Charles Community, it was announced that the two organizations had “reached a preliminary agreement for an expansion of the St. Charles’ ministry to take place on the Dixie Highway campus of the SND.”

The Dixie Highway campus is known by many as the beloved St. Joseph Heights, Park Hills. With St. Charles Community acquiring the property, it was announced that St. Joseph Heights will be razed this summer.

In January of 2023 the Sisters of Notre Dame began officially moving out of the historic, storied home at St. Joseph Heights. Though the physical moving process began in 2023, the spiritual process of discernment began many years ago as the Sisters’ need for physical space began to diminish.

As the average age of the sisters grew, so too did the number of sisters whose level of care exceeded the capabilities available at St. Joseph Heights. As a result, the hallowed halls of St. Joseph Heights became increasingly empty as did the need for such a large space.

“Two years ago, that was a big piece of it, where we had to come to grips with what was happening. Here we had a big building, the number of sisters was shrinking, the expense was beginning to outweigh the gift of what was happening … We realized that it’s too big for us, and also, not necessarily the best for us,” said Notre Dame Sister Shauna Bankemper, assistant provincial and Leadership Team Member.

“The upkeep of such a large building, we felt, was not a good use of resources … Ten years ago Pope Francis declared the Year of Consecrated Life and one of the things he said to religious communities is look at your buildings and see how they need to be repurposed … For him and for us it is always how can that promote the mission? How can it serve the mission? Because that is why we exist in the first place,” said Notre Dame Sister Marla Monahan, vicar for religious, Diocese of Covington.

“All of us realize that the brick and mortar of this building holds beautiful memories, but we also want our mission of the Sisters of Notre Dame to go forward and if we can provide an environment for that mission … to thrive that’s, what I think, the future of this property is about,” said Sister Shauna.

Sister Marla added to this sentiment, “For us, we tried to see if there was a potential other us for the building. The cost of renovating an old building and what would be the mission needs. To be good stewards of resources, to keep the focus on mission, we first  reached out to Notre Dame Academy to see if their future plans might include some- thing of the property or building and it did not. Secondly, we reached out to our sponsored ministry, St. Charles Community.”

St. Charles Community is one of several sponsored ministries of the Sisters of Notre Dame, and where many of the sisters now live after moving from St. Joseph Heights.

“We made a decision that we would send our skilled care, our infirmary, to St. Charles. They have a wing called the Homestead available and we wanted to be able to pro- vide for our sisters there in that facility and we would bring our own staff… We have 18 sisters that live there and are getting the skilled care that they need,” said Sister Shauna. In addition to the sisters needing skilled care, other sisters wished to be close to healthcare and their fellow sisters.

“We realized that the future of our sisters would be on the St. Charles campus and so the sisters moved to St. Charles Lodge,” said Sister Shauna.

St. Charles Lodge is the assisted  living facility of the St. Charles Community. Its residents are independent enough to live on their own but need more support than what is typically practical at home.

In total, there are 38 sisters now living in the St. Charles Community at either the Lodge or Homestead.

Sister Shauna said that while the decision to move was not an easy one, the 38 sisters now living at St. Charles feel at ease in their new home. “It was a communal decision that we would be moving from the building, that was two years ago, that made the move a little bit easier. The sisters at St. Charles are very happy and content, that makes it a little easier.”

While the Sisters of Notre Dame may not have a use for the building they used to call home, St. Charles Community has found a use for the property on which the building sits.

“We believe that this expansion will enable us to reach more seniors in desperate need of compassionate care and services, while honoring and preserving the legacy of the Sisters of Notre Dame,” said Nichole Smith, executive director of the St. Charles Community, in the joint statement.

Sister Shauna assured those who love St. Joseph Heights that while the building will no longer be standing, the mission for which it stood will remain steadfast.

“In making decisions about the future, our goal is to maximize our mission-related impact and to continue to strengthen our existing ministries. We believe that transitioning the St. Joseph Heights property to St. Charles will provide significant benefits to both the sisters and St. Charles, and to the broader Covington/Park Hills communities,” she said in the joint statement. “This is the next step in St. Joseph Heights’ further service to mission.”

St. Augustine celebrates rededication of the parishes ‘temple of living stones,’ blessing of refurbished altar

Maura Baker

Staff Writer

A cold Sunday, January 12, marked a special celebration for St. Augustine Parish, Covington, as the pews were filled in honor of the re-dedication and the blessing of a new altar for the more than 100-year-old Church.

Father Daniel Schomaker, pastor of St. Augustine, began a capital campaign in February of 2018 with the goal of restoration, conservation and renovation of the church and other parts of St. Augustine’s campus. And now, after the trials of COVID-19 which interrupted and delayed parts of the project’s progress, St. Augustine was able to celebrate these achievements with the final piece — a new frontal was added to the Altar of Sacrifice, featuring the Eucharistic symbol of a mother pelican, and the whole of it was accentuated with gold ornamentation and a reliquary vault. First class relics, including examples of those such as St. Andrew, St. John Vianney, St. Pius X were entombed in the reliquary vault as part of the altar’s blessing.

Bishop John Iffert celebrated the Mass as well as blessed the updated altar and rededicated the Church, in choro with Bishop Emeritus Roger Foys and concelebrated with Father Michael Grady, pastor, St. Therese parish, Southgate; Msgr. Kurt Kemo, vice rector of the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, and Father Stephen Bankemper, pastor, St. Catherine of Siena Parish, Ft. Thomas. The ceremony was joined by many of St. Augustine’s parishioners participating as well.

In his homily, Bishop Iffert emphasized the importance of Christ’s baptism — a feast day celebrated the same day as the re-dedication. “People were coming from all over the region to be baptized,” he said, “… amid all the people, Jesus is revealed to be the new temple of God and the hope of divine life for all.”

He mentioned how the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus during his baptism, and that that “same spirit descends upon Christ’s holy people gathered in prayer … it will be made manifest that the same holy people gathered by Christ are the Church. That is the holy people.” Of course, representing the mirror event of the Holy Spirit descending upon the disciples at Pentecost.

“The Church has also been the name given to the buildings in which the Christian community gathers to hear the word of God,” said Bishop Iffert, “and, so, we gather this morning, on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, to rededicate this lovingly restored building and the temple of living stones that worships here, and goes out into the world from here to be the living mission of Jesus.”

“May the renewal of this building bring restored life to the temple …remind us to embody St. Augustine’s sacred truth, ‘One loving heart sets another on fire,’ and may God continue to pour out graces upon the people of St. Augustine and the Diocese of Covington … May the Lord make you and me his Eucharistic people and missionary disciples and use us to convey his peace to our neighbors and to all whom seek the truth.”

At the conclusion of Mass, Father Daniel Schomaker, pastor of St. Augustine, Covington, thanked all who came together for the celebration, but, also, in a special way the bishops present — both Bishop Iffert and Bishop Emeritus Foys, who initially gave Father Schomaker permission to begin the restoration project in 2018.

The bishops were presented with gifts from the parish, including ornaments from St. Augustine’s “Be Their Light” ministry, who care for sick and homebound parishioners, but this year honored specifically parishioners who had passed with ornaments on a tree at the front of the Church. The ornaments given to the bishops included the names of both of Bishop Foys’ late parents, and Bishop Iffert’s mother who passed in 2022.

The bishops were also both presented with images of commissioned pectoral crosses that they will soon be receiving on behalf of St. Augustine Parish. The crosses include a shell-engraved image of the Restless Heart of Jesus, a symbol pertinent to St. Augustine’s patron.

Bishop Iffert names three local churches as sacred sites for Jubilee 2025

Staff Report

With every Jubilee year, the Pope grants the faithful the opportunity to receive indulgences. In the Decree for the Granting of the Indulgence During the Ordinary Jubilee Year 2025, Pope Francis calls the indulgence “a Jubilee grace.”

The gift of the indulgence, Pope Francis says, “is a way of discovering the unlimited nature of God’s mercy. Not by chance, for the ancients, the terms ‘mercy’ and ‘indulgence’ were interchangeable, as expressions of the fullness of God’s forgiveness, which knows no bounds” (Spes Non Confundit, 23).

For the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope, Pope Francis has declared three ways the faithful may obtain a Jubilee indulgence — by making a pilgrimage, through performing works of mercy and penance and by visiting sacred sites designated by the local bishop.

“…the faithful can obtain the Jubilee Indulgence if, individually or in a group, they devoutly visit any Jubilee site and there, for a suitable period of time, engage in Eucharistic adoration and meditation, concluding with the Our Father, the Profession of Faith in any legitimate form, and invocations to Mary, the Mother of God.” (Decree for the Granting of the Indulgence During the Ordinary Jubilee Year 2025)

In the Diocese of Covington, Bishop John Iffert has designated three churches as sacred sites where pilgrims can visit and receive the Jubilee indulgence (see decree below). They are the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, Covington; St. John the Evangelist Church, Carrollton and St. Patrick Church, Maysville.

The Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption is the Mother Church of the Diocese of Covington. The Cathedral is open for visitors Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–3 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Mass and Sunday 11:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. Mass. Pilgrims visiting the Cathedral will find the Jubilee Cross, which will be displayed during every Mass throughout the Jubilee year.

St. John the Evangelist Church is the Diocese’s western-most church. St. John the Evangelist Parish was established in 1854. Its current church building took 14 years to build and was dedicated on June 25, 1916, by Bishop Ferdinand Brossart. The gothic structure was designed by Leon Coquared, the same architect that designed Covington’s Cathedral, and has been fondly referred to as “the cathedral in the cornstalks.” Mass times at St. John the Evangelist Church are: Saturday 4:30 p.m.; Sunday 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Spanish (11:30 a.m. during summer); Monday and Wednesday 6:30 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday 6:45 a.m. and 8:00 a.m.; Friday noon. Adoration with closing Benediction is held Wednesdays, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. and First Friday, 11 a.m. to noon.

St. Patrick Parish, Maysville, was established in 1847 and predates the establishment of the Diocese of Covington (1853). The current St. Patrick Church building was dedicated June 26, 1910, by Bishop William Maes. Mass times at St. Patrick Church are: Saturday 8 a.m., 5:15 p.m.; Sunday 8 a.m., 11 a.m., 1p.m. (Spanish); Monday thru Friday 8 a.m. Adoration is held Wednesdays, 8:30 a.m.–6 p.m.

Bishop Iffert blesses new building for Catholic Charities supportive housing

Maura Baker

Staff Writer

On a chilly morning, December 19, friends of Catholic Charities and residents of its St. Joseph supportive housing came together for a blessing by Bishop John Iffert of a new building on the premises. Built with the skills of parishioners of St. Pius parish, Edgewood, the space will be used as additional storage for residents, as well as a communal space and office space for case workers.

The St. Joseph supportive housing consists of two apartment buildings in Elsmere, which are owned and operated by Catholic Charities of Northern Kentucky. The apartments provide permanent housing to individuals and families in need, as well as case support to help them achieve stability.

Bishop Iffert quoted Pope Francis as he prepared for the blessing, paraphrasing that “When we spend time with a neighbor who needs our help, we are making a pilgrimage to encounter the face of Christ in our daily lives.” Afterward, he thanked the work of Catholic Charities, and the hospitality of the residents of the apartments for welcoming him.

St. Mary’s Park Christmas tree to feature custom ornaments

Maura Baker

Staff Writer

In preparation for the 2024 Bambinelli Blessing and Christmas Tree Lighting, parishes, schools and institutions from across the Diocese of Covington were invited to design ornaments to be displayed on the Christmas tree to be lit in St. Mary’s Park, Covington, on the night of the Bambinelli. Ornaments spoke to the mission, culture and history of these diocesan facilities — some examples provided as we prepare for the Bambinelli and the coming of Jesus at Christmas.

(left) The ornament by Thomas More University, Crestview Hills, was hand-painted by student Kendra Yurt, class of 2026. Amidst the gold patterns is an image of the belltower of the campus’s Mary, Seat of Wisdom chapel.

(center) St. Patrick school, Maysville, features a Celtic “trinity knot” over a green background — representing the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. This imagery ties to the school and connects to the parish’s Irish heritage, as well as to its patron, St. Patrick, who is also the patron saint of Ireland.

(right) The red ornament designed by Our Savior parish, Covington, is decorated with repeating designs in Pan-African colors black, gold, white and green. These designs represent and point to the parish’s black and African American history

Divine Providence sister, like many religious, recalls a life of love and service

Maura Baker

Staff Writer

As a young girl, the prospect of becoming a religious sister was one Divine Providence Sister Carleen Schumacher avoided. “I kept thinking ‘no, no, that’s not for me,’” she said. Years later, in 1968, Sister Carleen overcame that avoidance and joined the Sisters of Divine Providence, and she “never regretted it a day.”

“Thank goodness God kept nudging at me,” said Sister Carleen, “I did finally follow through.”

Sister Carleen served in schools for 30 years, 17 years as a primary teacher, and 13 as an administrator. However, in 1994, Sister Carleen was elected to the CDP’s provincial council as part of the leadership team full time, and left teaching. She was re-elected in 2004 but decided not to go back to teaching following her second term.

“I worked from 2009 to 2014 in Parish Kitchen,” a Catholic Charities run organization that provides food and other necessities, “and I would still be there today if I didn’t get re-elected in 2014,” Sister Carleen said. At the Parish Kitchen, Sister Carleen said she learned “far more from the people at Parish Kitchen” than she believed she helped them. “It was five wonderful years,” she said.

Sister Carleen said that she has loved each of her ministries, from teaching, to leadership, to serving the poor — and, now, Sister Carleen serves as the administrator for Holy Family Home, the retirement home for the Sisters of Divine Providence.

Reflecting on her life as a sister, Sister Carleen says that, while she would have loved to have gotten married, she was “called to a deeper life of prayer.”

“It’s really wonderful to live with women who are committed to the same thing I am,” she said, “They’re all committed to community life like I am, to a life of prayer, a life of living the vows. I think there’s a deep satisfaction for me and knowing I’m doing what I really felt God called me to do.”

Now, as she works closely with her fellow retired sisters, Sister Carleen recognizes the importance of supporting retired religious. “We really count on everybody’s prayers, naturally,” she said, “but there’s a really big financial piece to any nursing home.”

Contributions to collections like Dec. 14–15’s Retirement Fund for Religious provides care for women religious as they age, and, while Sister Carleen stated that she would “never want our sisters to live an extravagant life, we weren’t called to that,” many retired religious have medical needs which are often costly to meet.

The National Religious Retirement Office (NRRO) estimates an annual care cost of over $1 billion for the nation’s more than 20,000 retired religious. In 2023, parishioners of the Diocese of Covington contributed $43,198.43 to the Retirement Fund for Religious in the diocese.

Assistance with these needs is greatly appreciated, said Sister Carleen, as well as the “support of the Diocese, and gratitude for what these sisters have done all their years.”

200 nativities help bring the community together during Advent

Bella Young

Multimedia Correspondent

A church of German Gothic design nestled in Covington welcomed a full congregation on the evening of Nov. 23 to celebrate its centennial anniversary. For the past 100 years, St. John the Evangelist Parish, Covington, has served its local community in faith.

The formation of the parish and building of the church began with a need, Bishop John Iffert, who celebrated the Mass, began his homily. The History of the Diocese of Covington, a book published in the 1950’s, has a brief but “interesting” entry on St. John the Evangelist’s Parish. “The reason the neighbors began gathering and began to work on founding a parish here,” said Bishop Iffert, “is because they wanted to build a school.”

The commute to the next closest school at Mother of God was “too long of a commute,” he said, “especially given the condition of the roads at the time. So, apparently, it was easier to build the school and start a parish than for them to fix the roads!”

While the comment was made partially in jest, Bishop Iffert used this origin story to connect to the weekend’s liturgy — the Solemnity of Christ the King. In his homily, he spoke about the promises made by sovereigns and government leaders, such as the Michigan governor who ran on the platform of “fixing the expletive roads.”

“It seems like that’s been a feature of a need for our lives for a long time, especially for folks here in St. John’s Parish,” Bishop Iffert said. “It’s interesting how often our political campaigns, who takes political power … how often it hinges on those very human rights.”

“Jesus remembers something that we and our rulers often forget,” he continued in his homily, “We hear the kings of the world speak of themselves in the third person: the royal ‘we.’ In our democratic age, it sounds officious … that language comes from the idea that the king no longer has a private life, that the king no longer has a self-interest … The king is supposed to be the one who does not promote his own good, but instead lives for the good of others.”

Bishop Iffert said, “Jesus reveals to us that this is the way God cares for us. This is the way God loves us. This is the way God pours out his life, ruling from the cross, emptying himself for the love of us, you and me. This is the way we are called to govern our own lives in a way that we live in service to others.”

Circling back, Bishop Iffert concluded his homily, saying that while the origin of St. John’s Parish was so that “children didn’t have to walk on muddy roads for long distances, the purpose has always been the same. Share that power of love with everyone you meet.”

“That’s what we celebrate tonight,” he said, “100 years of God’s grace, supporting you in that kind of loving service — service that looks like the cross of Jesus, the cross on which he reigns. King of the universe, high priest and champion of our hearts.”

St. John the Evangelist Parish celebrates 100 years of God’s grace and loving service

Maura Baker

Staff Writer

A church of German Gothic design nestled in Covington welcomed a full congregation on the evening of Nov. 23 to celebrate its centennial anniversary. For the past 100 years, St. John the Evangelist Parish, Covington, has served its local community in faith.

The formation of the parish and building of the church began with a need, Bishop John Iffert, who celebrated the Mass, began his homily. The History of the Diocese of Covington, a book published in the 1950’s, has a brief but “interesting” entry on St. John the Evangelist’s Parish. “The reason the neighbors began gathering and began to work on founding a parish here,” said Bishop Iffert, “is because they wanted to build a school.”

The commute to the next closest school at Mother of God was “too long of a commute,” he said, “especially given the condition of the roads at the time. So, apparently, it was easier to build the school and start a parish than for them to fix the roads!”

While the comment was made partially in jest, Bishop Iffert used this origin story to connect to the weekend’s liturgy — the Solemnity of Christ the King. In his homily, he spoke about the promises made by sovereigns and government leaders, such as the Michigan governor who ran on the platform of “fixing the expletive roads.”

“It seems like that’s been a feature of a need for our lives for a long time, especially for folks here in St. John’s Parish,” Bishop Iffert said. “It’s interesting how often our political campaigns, who takes political power … how often it hinges on those very human rights.”

“Jesus remembers something that we and our rulers often forget,” he continued in his homily, “We hear the kings of the world speak of themselves in the third person: the royal ‘we.’ In our democratic age, it sounds officious … that language comes from the idea that the king no longer has a private life, that the king no longer has a self-interest … The king is supposed to be the one who does not promote his own good, but instead lives for the good of others.”

Bishop Iffert said, “Jesus reveals to us that this is the way God cares for us. This is the way God loves us. This is the way God pours out his life, ruling from the cross, emptying himself for the love of us, you and me. This is the way we are called to govern our own lives in a way that we live in service to others.”

Circling back, Bishop Iffert concluded his homily, saying that while the origin of St. John’s Parish was so that “children didn’t have to walk on muddy roads for long distances, the purpose has always been the same. Share that power of love with everyone you meet.”

“That’s what we celebrate tonight,” he said, “100 years of God’s grace, supporting you in that kind of loving service — service that looks like the cross of Jesus, the cross on which he reigns. King of the universe, high priest and champion of our hearts.”

Deacon Kaiser remembered for a lifetime of generosity and service

Deacon Bernie J. Kaiser, 83, died Nov. 13. He was ordained a deacon of the Diocese of Covington by Bishop William Hughes, 1985, in the diocese’s first class of deacons. He was the husband of Linda Roaden Kaiser, and father to Tim Kaiser and Chris Kaiser, as well as a grandfather to 10 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren. Deacon Kaiser was preceded in death by his parents, his children Sandy Kaiser and Dave Kaiser, sisters Myrtle Vicars and Alvera McMillan and brother Robert Kaiser.

Deacon Bernie Kaiser grew up on Crescent Ave. in West Covington, attended St. Aloysius school and then Covington Catholic high school for half of his high school career before switching to Holmes and graduating in 1960, after which he married his high school sweetheart, Linda Roaden Kaiser, who was introduced to him by friends in high school.

Deacon Kaiser worked several jobs, but landed eventually in a finance company, according to Mrs. Kaiser, helping to form and lead Consumer Credit Counseling, utilizing his professional and personal experience in finances.

Consumer Credit Counseling is a nonprofit, debt relief program dedicated to helping people regain control of their finances and plan for a debt-free future. Father Gerry Reinersman remembers visiting with Deacon Kaiser at Consumer Credit Counseling. “He very much saw his work as a ministry,” said Father Reinersman. He saw in his work, “reducing stress in people’s lives and as a healing ministry for them and their families. He was a good humble soul.”

Deacon Kaiser grew up poor, according to Mrs. Kaiser, and, as such, “he knew what it was like having these needs that people had. He understood that because he had been there. His father was like that, too. Even though he didn’t have a lot, he was always willing to share what he had.”

After his retirement, Mrs. Kaiser remembers Deacon Kaiser telling her that he wanted to become a deacon — and, while Mrs. Kaiser never foresaw herself becoming a Catholic deacon’s wife, having grown up protestant, she noted how God has a “good sense of humor.”

During his time as a deacon, Deacon Kaiser served his home parish, St. Barbara Parish, Erlanger.

“He enjoyed being a husband and a father,” she said, “he had loved being a deacon because he was in a position where he could help people in so many ways.”

Towards the end of his life, Deacon Kaiser suffered from Parkinson’s and Dementia before passing away — while at his visitation and funeral Mass at St. Barbara’s Church, Erlanger, Nov. 22, Mrs. Kaiser recalls how many people came to her speaking of the help and aid that Deacon Kaiser had offered during their lives.

Deacon Kaiser was laid to rest at Floral Hills Memorial Gardens, Covington. Memorial donations may be made in Deacon Kaiser’s honor either online or in person at services to St. Barbara Church or to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Cincinnati.