Archive for category: Featured Stories

Maura Baker

Staff Writer

People gathered in the pews of the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, Covington, for a prayer service, Sept. 26. This service commemorated National Migration Week — calling back to the late Pope Francis’s jubilee theme, “Migrants, missionaries of hope.”

The service opened with words from Rosario Osnaya, an immigrant herself, who shared part of her story with those gathered.

“I want to thank the United States for giving me the opportunity to live with dignity and hope,” she said, in a tearful but touching testimony. Mrs. Osnaya sent her prayers and gratitude to all immigrants, as well, asking God to “protect them,” and for the same doors opened to her will be open to them, as well.

Bishop John Iffert, who led the service, further commented in his homily on the dignity of the migrant, especially under their title as “missionaries of hope.”

“The theme reminds us that migrants are not takers,” said Bishop Iffert, “They are and always have made a contribution to society and are a powerful force for the growth of the Church.”

He spoke on the Diocese of Covington’s legacy as built on migrants and missionaries, as well, with previous bishops themselves having immigrated or came to America from countries such as Germany and Belgium.

“We know that all people who are baptized in the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit are our brothers and sisters in Christ,” Bishop Iffert continued. “We understand that those who are of Christ are never truly at home in this world, but living as a pilgrim people in anticipation of fullness of life.”

He emphasized further, that “migrants and refugees are more than brothers and sisters who deserve our compassion and mercy … migrants bear an infinite dignity, and are entitled to keep that dignity … They are the foundation upon which church buildings,” referencing Bishop Camillus Maes, a former Bishop of Covington and Belgian immigrant who began construction of the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, “and Church, the people of God, spring from and are supported by.”

Quoting Pope Leo XIV, who called migrants “messengers of hope,” Bishop Iffert said, “Many migrants, refugees and displaced persons are privileged witnesses of hope … Indeed, they demonstrate this daily through their resilience and trust in God as they face adversity, while seeking a future in which they glimpse that integral human development and happiness are possible.” He goes on, Bishop Iffert said, that “in a world, darkened by war and injustice, even when all seems lost, migrants and refugees stand as messengers of hope.”

Circling back, Bishop Iffert once again brought light to the legacy of the Diocese of Covington, and the Church as a whole.

“It was the missionary mission of a migrant who first envisioned this place for you. It was a migrant architect who translated those dreams into stone and glass … these people who come to us, whether because of a missionary zeal or from fear of violence or from desire for economic opportunity — they are not merely a duty. They are not a burden. They are certainly not, as some people have said, an infestation, a plague or a problem. They are brothers and sisters in Christ; they are messenger of hope,” Bishop Iffert said.

Maura Baker

Staff Writer

Lights are on St. Pier Giorgio Frassati — one of two saints canonized this September. An Italian saint from the early 20^th century, St. Frassati became patron to young Catholics, students and mountaineers — dedicated to works of social action.

The Angelico Project, a Cincinnati non-profit focused on revitalizing the Catholic arts, is teaming up with Open Window Theatre to bring the young saint to life with the play “Frassati,” coming to Cincinnati’s Aronoff Center for the weekend of Oct. 17–19.

Jeromy Darling, an actor with Open Window, will be portraying the titular saint. “We’re privileged to do any of this for the Lord and for the Church,” said Mr. Darling. “And I think that’s really before all of us, and there’s a great desire to honor St. Frassati and to do right by him.”

Mr. Darling, who has been performing the role for some time as the theatre tours, has developed a special devotion to the saint, even before his canonization.

A convert, he describes his becoming Catholic as the “single most destructive force” in his life. “I lost pretty much every relationship that mattered to me,” Mr. Darling said. “The truth exacts a terrible price … to be a disciple of Christ is to embrace being perpetually misunderstood — Jesus, of course, is still the most misunderstood figure in all of history.”

He described Frassati’s life also as “a wonderful picture of a man who embraced being misunderstood.”

“It was wonderful to be introduced to his life and to his world, and it’s a very strange way to get to know a saint,” he said. “Most Catholics, we develop devotions to saints through books and stories and novenas — but never would we ever think to spend a couple hours a day dressing like them, talking like them, trying to act like them and embody them. And so, to be introduced to a saint that way … was one of the most transformative experiences of my life.”

Describing it as “sacramental, in a way,” his portrayal and devotion to St. Frassati was instrumental in helping him let go of the hurt, heartbreak and frustration of being misunderstood.

Of course, Mr. Darling said he had no idea that the saint would be canonized in his lifetime.

“We knew right away that this is a very clear sign to take this show on the road,” he said.

“We need folks to come see it. It’s a long way to trek, it’s a big theater, and we really want folks to see this play of this man’s life for the sole purpose of bringing glory to God.”

Bella Bailey

Multimedia Correspondent

Newport Central Catholic High School’s gymnasium was transformed into a court room, Sept. 19, as 57 legal immigrants, representing 24 nationalities, became United States citizens. The naturalization event was presided over by The Honorable David Bunning, chief judge of the Eastern District of Kentucky for the United States District Court, who is a 1984 graduate of NCC.

The process of becoming a United States citizen is not an easy one, with tests and interviews between applicants and officers, oftentimes the process is lengthy, last years.

Judge Bunning said of the applicants presented to him, “Each has met the requirements of law concerning the ability to read, write, speak and understand the English language. And, has further satisfied the United States Citizenship and Immigration services that he or she has a satisfactory knowledge of the history and the form of government of the United States.”

The applicants, spanning the globe, the furthest of whom coming from Cambodia, gathered in NCC’s gymnasium in front of friends, family and students to fulfill the quintessential “American dream.”

To the applicants, Judge Bunning shared the stories of the framers, many of whom faced consequences for their signing of the Declaration of Independence nearly 250 years ago.

“I chose to share their stories because, like them, each of you has denounced their homeland in the hopes of a better life and future for you and your families … You are not riled by a king or dictator, but by a democratic voting process, with three branches of government that serve as checks and balances on the other. And no less important, a guaranteed Bill of Rights, you are protected by the rule of law,” Judge Bunning said.

As each of the newly declared U.S. citizen were handed a small American flag, the symbol of freedom to many, the students of NCC clapped as loudly as the family and friends gathered.

Ken Collopy, principal of NCC, said, “We got a lot of great feedback from students and staff, just about how unique of an event it was … Overall a very, very positive event as far as the educational experience, learning the process of how legal immigrants become U.S. citizens.”

The decision to invite the students into the courtroom to witness the naturalization proceedings was an easy one, said Mr. Collopy.

“We are very much about the holistic education of students, it’s not just learning within your traditional classroom,” he said. “We really believe that education doesn’t have to happen in your traditional desk, it’s an experience. I feel strongly that students were able to get some of that at the event.”

As the new citizens waved their flags in the air, the words of Judge Bunning stayed ever present, “There is not more a profound sentence than this, ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, and that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness,’” he said. “These are far more than mere poetic words, but the underlying ideas that infuse every sentence of the Declaration that sustained this nation for almost 250 years.”

Maura Baker

Staff Writer

Civil servants came together for the annual Red Mass, held Sept. 18 at the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, Covington.

Organized and sponsored by the St. Thomas More Lawyers Guild of Greater Cincinnati, the Red Mass is a tradition celebrated throughout the United States and Europe, through which lawyers and public officials seek to “invoke God’s blessing and guidance on the administration of justice.”

Bishop John Iffert was the celebrant and homilist of the Mass. In his homily, he spoke on humility, recounting the Gospel reading that accompanied the service.

In the reading, a woman, described as sinful, falls to the ground to anoint Jesus’s feet and washes them with her hair. When the Pharisees question this, Jesus asks them a simple question; “Do you see this woman?”

He’s not asking if they “see” her in the ordinary sense, Bishop Iffert said, but rather if they have taken her into account. “Have you noticed her, or is she just the sum total of her public reputation?” He elaborated, “Have you stopped to think about her, who she is, how she came to be at this point, how desperate she was to hear the good news?”

Bishop Iffert then went on to reference a 2017 TED Talk from the late Pope Francis, given at a conference discussing “how technology might reflect ethical decisions.”

In that context, Bishop Iffert says how Pope Francis questioned, with the many people facing hardships in the world, “Why them and not me?”

This falls in to the second question in the Gospel reading that stood out to Bishop Iffert, the question of “Who even dares to forgive sins?”

“Now,” Bishop Iffert said, “we who stand 2,000 years after these events, we have memorized these answers. We can answer with credo formulas — God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God.”

After a pause, he asks again, “‘Who is this man?’ still rings as the question in our ears. Who dares to forgive? Who dares to be merciful? Who dares to notice and see one another? … Is he a cover we use to justify our own opinions, a kind of argument that we project into the world? Or, is he a living, acting friend of ours?”

“Luke poses that question,” Bishop Iffert said.

He goes on to reference the same TED Talk by Pope Francis, in which the pope also called for a “revolution of tenderness.” He drew from it a quote; “Tenderness is not weakness. It is instead fortitude.”

“It is the path of solidarity, the path of humility,” he said, “The more powerful you are, the more your actions will have an impact on people, the more responsibility you have to act humbly. If you don’t, your power will ruin you, and you will ruin the other.”

Bella Bailey

Multimedia Correspondent

Bishop Brossart High School, Alexandria, students, faculty and staff welcomed Bishop John Iffert, community members and donors to the blessing and dedication of the newly completed Verst Family Baseball Field and Bishop Brossart Softball Field. The Sept. 17 ceremony celebrated the hard work and dedication of all those involved in the completion of the Mustang Athletic Complex (MAC).

“We are excited for our entire community to have an athletic complex, not just these fields, but an entire complex which is second to none in Northern Kentucky,” said Chris Holtz, principal.

Construction on the baseball and softball fields began Nov. 22, when ground was broken at the site of the now completed fields. Each field has synthetic turf, a green monster, dugouts, fencing and lighting. The addition also included a press box, concession area and additional parking.

“These new fields provide the baseball team with more chances for games throughout the season, the turf field will reduce the number of rainouts and cancelled games, and the added lights will allow us to play later into the night,” said senior baseball player Landon Ruth.

The completion of the fields now means that Bishop Brossart High School will be able to host both home and regional tournament games.

Hosting these games is a highlight of the new fields, said Mr. Ruth, “these events will show spectators how strong the Brossart community is.”

For senior softball player Rachel Shewmaker, the highlight of the new fields is the community which they represent.

“Brossart wants to use these fields, not just for athletes, but also for the community,” she said to the crowd, “You all shared with us, and we want to share this facility with others. You have helped us to make our dreams of having an all-encompassing sports complex come true.”

Before blessing the field, Bishop Iffert took a moment to speak, “I’m excited for you because you’re demonstrating your commitment to help young people grow in virtue and to learn how to embrace the best of what is youth culture in a way that’s going to help them develop into bright, successful, capable young people — to learn how to win well and to lose well,” he said.

The presence of God through the athletes on the new fields was not understated by the Brossart community. Mr. Ruth said in his remarks, “We are building an establishment where coaches, players and fans will be able to experience God’s grace on and off the field.”

Bishop Iffert blessed the fields saying, “Bless this place. We entreat your kindness that this place will contribute to leisure activities that renew the spirit and strengthen mind and body. Grant that all who meet here may find the enrichment of companionship and together, offer you the praise.”

Then, taking the aspergillum, Bishop Iffert blessed the fields and the crowd, so that they all might be filled with the spirit of God’s grace as athletes take the field for the first time in March.