The source and summit

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Bella Bailey

Multimedia Correspondent

The Office of Youth Ministry hosted the annual SUMMIT retreat, at Thomas More University, Crestview Hills, Feb. 27–March 1. Twenty-two schools and thirty-four parishes were represented at the retreat making it one of the most diverse and robust in retreat history.

The weekend retreat focuses on the Eucharist and how to connect with Christ through the Blessed Sacrament. Hannah Ubelor, core team member and associate director of youth ministry at the Jesuit Spiritual Center, Milford, Ohio, said, “the goal is for the teens to really encounter Christ, specifically in the Eucharist. Our main goal is the Eucharist, it’s adoration, it’s Mass and really having an encounter with Christ and personal relationship with him.”

Between guest speakers and breakout sessions, students had the opportunity for spiritual renewal through confessions, adoration and Mass. On the second day of the retreat, following guest speaker Mercedarian Sister Eucharist, Father AJ Gedney, parochial vicar at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Cold Spring, led the students in Eucharistic Adoration. Joined by seminarians Will Fuller, Joseph O’Bryan, Aaron Batson and Evan Ihrig, Father Gedney processed throughout the Mary, Seat of Wisdom Chapel holding the monstrance containing the Blessed Sacrament.

Many students, moved by the reverence of adoration, chose to lay prostrate as the Eucharist passed.

“They all have a heart for Jesus in the Eucharist,” said Ms. Ubelor. “They were all very reverent. For most of them their favorite part is adoration and just being with Jesus, nothing can beat that.”

Catechumen’s relationships helped him to grow closer to God

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Maura Baker

Staff Writer

One of over 400 catechumens and candidates to enter into the Church in the Diocese of Covington this year, catechumen Chris Santiago of Mother of God Parish, Covington, will be baptized and receive the sacrament of First Communion at this year’s Easter Vigil.

A teacher working for the Cincinnati nonprofit Healthy Visions, Mr. Santiago’s conversion story began with his friend and former girlfriend and her grandfather, and their influence in his life.

Although her grandfather passed away last March, Mr. Santiago describes these interactions as “integral” to his story.

“We went to Church with him all the time,” Mr. Santiago said. “He had stage four cancer.”

Previously having no ties to religion, Mr. Santiago’s time with his previous girlfriend and her grandfather developed his relationship with God.

When they first started going to Mass together, “It was for her,” said Mr. Santiago, “and her family.”

Although Mr. Santiago describes going to Mass with her family as “nice and peaceful,” a turning point occurred during a day of prayer in Cincinnati — where he and his girlfriend were climbing steps, praying the rosary together in a crowd of other faithful.

“All of it was kind of breathtaking,” he said, “And it was, ‘wow!’ … It was something that took me back.”

Her grandfather, who had continued to get sicker, passed away sometime afterwards — and from there, Mr. Santiago’s relationship to God continued to grow.

“I’m building this relationship with God, and it’s just kind of snowballing into this thing,” Mr. Santiagio said. “I started feeling close to God.”

Although Mr. Santiago and his former girlfriend have since separated, the two are still friends — with her still showing up to support him on his faith journey.

“I always appreciate her for bringing me close to God,” he said, “because I feel like this connection that I have … I needed it more than anything. I was getting to a point in my life where I’m 28 years old, I have a good job, I have a good house — I’m doing all the things I’m supposed to do, but I still felt like I needed something … and I didn’t know what I needed. And, come to find out, it was this thing that every Sunday — that I was kind of like ‘Oh, here we go again!’ — but actually putting down my head, paying attention and worshipping … these past couple months have been amazing.”

Mr. Santiagio expressed his excitement as the Easter Vigil approaches, especially towards receiving his first Communion.

“All these conversations we’ve had about the power of God and Jesus, and we’re actually taking him in … it’s kind of overwhelming a bit to me. The idea of doing that as one of the sacraments and being able to do that for the rest of my life — it’s kind of amazing,” he said. “And I can’t wait.”

Diocese invites youths, community, to World Youth Day 2027 in Seoul, South Korea

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Maura Baker

Staff Writer

The Diocese of Covington is coordinating a pilgrimage to World Youth Day (WYD) 2027 in Seoul, South Korea. With the last WYD in Lisbon, Portugal in 2023, this pilgrimage provides an excellent opportunity for young adults ages 18–25 to “Experience the universality of the Catholic Church in the presence of our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, alongside millions of young adult Catholics from around the world,” according to Isaak Isaak, director of the Office of Catechesis and Evangelization and part of the team organizing the trip.

Having attended nine WYDs himself, Mr. Isaak said that he is “very excited about World Youth Day Seoul, taking place in the Capital of South Korea. This will be the first World Youth Day to take place in continental Asia. I have seen firsthand what World Youth Day can do; how much it positively impacts a pilgrim’s life. It is a celebration of both the unity of being members of the Body of Christ and the diversity of the gifts contained within.”

The diocese’s pilgrimage includes a trip to a sacred landscape of South Korea marked by the sacrifices of early Catholic martyrs. Sites like Danggogae, Saenamteo, Seosomun, and Jeoldusan Martyrs’ Shrine are on the itinerary.

Korea’s martyrs “sowed the seeds for what has become a blossoming and vibrant Church” in South Korea, the Pope Francis wrote in a telegram to Bishop Matthias Ri Iong-Hoon of Suwon, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea, before his passing.

“The youth of today are the heirs of this great testimony of faith, and I pray that they will carry on this precious witness to Christ as they prepare for the World Youth Day 2027,” the pope wrote.

Total costs for the trip are estimated to be around $5,500 per person — with the initial deposit of $800 due March 16 to reserve a spot — with plans for fundraising being considered.

Interested parties can register at https://forms.gle/9JW61qveAUGbdWxy6, or contact Isaak Isaak at (859) 392–1529 or iisaak@covdio.org.

Evening of prayer, reflection and conversation tackles papal documents, Catholic social teaching

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Maura Baker

Staff Writer

A crowd gathered in the Curia’s Bishop Howard Memorial Hall, Covington, for a presentation titled “An Evening of Prayer, Reflection and Conversation”, March 2. The presentation, organized by the Intercommunity Sisters Peace and Justice Committee, welcomed Thomas More University’s Hannah Keegan, director of the Center for Faith, Mission and Catholic Education, as the speaker. The presentation discussed Catholic social teaching and its key principals through the lens of two Papal documents: Pope Francis’s “Dilexit Nos” (“He loved us”) and Pope Leo XIV’s “Dilexi Te” (“I have loved you”).

The documents — which speak mutually on Christ’s human and divine love — are continuations of each other. “Dilexi Te” was originally conceived by Pope Francis before his passing and later completed and published by Pope Leo XIV last October.

The presentation tackled themes such as humility, love and the dignity of the poor — with Hannah Keegan defining key principles within Catholic social teaching. (These principles being human dignity, common good, solidarity, subsidiarity, universal destination of goods and option for the poor and vulnerable.)

“Everything that Pope Leo is saying is built on the non-negotiable reality that all human beings share an intrinsic dignity due to being made in God’s image and likeness,” Mrs. Keegan said. “And this dignity is not dependent on wealth status, economic status, mental or physical functioning.”

She described this with the words “Dignitas Infinita,” or infinite dignity — as outlined in “Dilexi Te.”

“There’s a kind of material dignity that you can’t lose,” said Mrs. Keegan. “Someone who’s living in homelessness is not living in a dignified place, and we have to recognize that, but they can never lose their intrinsic dignity.”

“We, who have enough, have the responsibility — we’re obligated — that we should have a particular preference for the poor and the vulnerable, for those who can not care for themselves adequately,” she said.

Mrs. Keegan also encouraged those at the presentation to read the documents for themselves — citing them as a “great thing to read for Lent.”

“It’s so helpful to put your heart in the place of receiving what the Holy Spirit is asking right now,” she said.

Cathedral chimeras to take their rightful place in the coming weeks

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Bella Bailey

Multimedia Correspondent

The chimeras, which sit atop the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, Covington, will soon make their long-awaited return, as Cathedral construction begins wrapping up. Don Knochelmann, director of Buildings and Properties for the Diocese of Covington, estimates that it will take only one day to bring the 26 chimeras to the roof of the Cathedral.

The tradesmen of Trisco Systems will soon be unloading the terracotta chimeras from their crates and placing them in a lifting basket attached to a crane.

“They’re going to take two at a time, they’ll have 13 trips to place them up there,” said Mr. Knochelmann. Once the chimeras have been safely transported to the roof of the Cathedral, it will take approximately five days for them to be attached in their respective spots.

The original chimeras — also made of terracotta — had been filled with concrete and attached via a metal rod to the Cathedral roof. As the years wore on, however, those rods deteriorated and their concrete interior caused the terracotta exterior to crack. The new chimeras are hollow and will be attached by a threaded, stainless-steel rod, which will be bolted down.

To extend the new chimera’s life, each has been equipped with vents and “weep holes,” said Mr. Knochelmann, “so that if moisture were to get in, it would weep out.”

Because the chimera will sit on the very top of the Cathedral, they are the last to be installed. Their gargoyle counterparts were installed throughout the winter months. Before the chimera can be transported to the roof, there are a few remaining projects to be completed.

“The big piece that remains is the center colonnade. It’s a centerpiece between the two towers … that has a structural problem. There are four new beams that are going in to replace beams that were corroded from the original construction,” said Mr. Knochelmann.

Once the beams of the colonnade have been replaced, the crew will begin “unloading the roof,” said Mr. Knochelmann. “They’re going to take all the scaffold down and take all the materials, all the protective covering on the roof down.”

“I am looking forward to wrapping this up and finishing what has really been the project of my life,” said Mr. Knochelmann. “You don’t really get to work on a building as beautiful and historic as this Cathedral. It’s an incredible building, and to be able to be the person that’s working on it and helping form what we’re doing to fix it has been a dream.”

Supporters invited to ‘let their light shine’ as first dinner kicks off public phase of DPAA

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Laura Keener

Editor

The public phase of the Diocesan Parish Annual Appeal kicked-off, March 3, with the first of two dinners. Over 50 people gathered with Bishop John Iffert, Lisa Knochelmann, DPAA general chair and Dr. Greg Salzman, DPAA leadership gifts chair, at Blue Licks State Park for the event.

Before the dinner, guests perused a mini-ministry fair with eight diocesan offices and 3 community ministries benefiting from the DPAA sharing their good works.

With her involvement leading the DPAA this year and last year, Mrs. Knochelmann said, “I’ve learned more about many of the organizations that the campaign helps support. It’s a blessing to hear their stories and see the good works they do.”

The theme for this year’s DPAA is “Live as Children of Light,” from St. Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians (5:8–9): “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light, for light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth.”

“When I read that Scripture, I can’t help thinking of that great proclamation also from the Gospels, ‘you are the salt of the earth, the light of the world. Let your light shine,’” Bishop Iffert told attendees.

This year, in addition to monetary goals each parish has been assigned a participation goal. According to Jennifer Cox, DPAA secretary, the DPAA team has been noticing a trend. Each year, while the DPAA monetary goal is greatly exceeded, fewer parishioners have been making pledges.

“By giving a participation goal, we thought it would encourage those that just want to get started,” she said, encouraging everyone to give a little.

The participation goal is calculated using last year’s number of parishioner participants and adding five percent. It’s important to note that an increase in participation and any increase in DPAA monetary donations does not affect a parish’s future DPAA goal. Instead, DPAA goals are calculated using a three-year average of a parish’s weekly collections. Also, like in year’s past, all monies collected over and above a parish’s goal is rebated back to the parish for parish projects.

At the dinner, Dr. Salzman announced that the DPAA’s first phase, the leadership gifts phase, has raised $690,065 in pledges from 146 donors towards the DPAA’s $2.754 million goal.  During the leadership gifts phase, 50 solicitors reached out to the top 250 donors of last year’s DPAA asking them to match or increase their gift to the DPAA.

“To those who have already donated and committed, we say ‘Thank You,’” said Dr. Salzman.

The second DPAA kick-off dinner is planned for March 5 at Receptions, Erlanger. Other important dates are announcement weekend, March 14–15 and commitment weekend, March 21–22, both in parishes.

Junior high students visit relics of ‘first millennial saint’

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Maura Baker

Staff Writer

Junior high school students from St. Catherine of Siena School — joined by teachers Bill Arnzen, Sue Seta and Shannon West — visited relics of St. Carlo Acutis, Feb. 12.

These relics, which included a first-class relic of a piece of St. Carlo’s heart membrane (pericardium), and second-class relics of his favorite shirt and hospital blanket, were displayed at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Peter in Chains, Cincinnati.

Students at the cathedral attended for the veneration of these relics and were allowed to touch prayer cards and other items to them forming them into third class relics. A talk on miracles of St. Carlo Acutis, given by Msgr. Anthony Figueiredo of Italy, was given prior to the veneration.

“Our students were greatly impacted and moved by their experience at the Cathedral. They were first struck by the beauty of the images inside the church and chapel and the overall peace that blanketed us during our visit,” Language Arts teacher Shannon West said about the experience. “I feel like time stood still as we listened to the stories of miracles and stood in line to venerate the relics. Prior to Carlo’s canonization, we showed our students his movie, Roadmap to Reality, so our students were already familiar with his life and some of his miracles. This experience helped connect our students more deeply to Carlo’s life!”

Students also reflected positively on the experience, as eighth grade student Lillian said, “It was very impactful, and it was very special to be able to venerate the relics and even obtain a third-class relic for myself.”

Another student, seventh grader Nyhla, commented that “The thing that inspired (her) was that St. Carlo was not afraid of dying. He saw it as a new life, an eternal life in Heaven with God. St. Carlo Acutis was different from other kids his age in this time. He was really connected with God … I learned that anyone can become a saint. It doesn’t matter what year it is. It matters that you put God above others and above material things. It inspired me because God never stops performing miracles.”

“I am so glad we went and I hope this opportunity can come up again,” Alex, another eighth-grade student said. “It truly felt like Carlo was with us in the moment and that nothing could hurt us. If a saint relic is around, don’t pass the opportunity.”

Record numbers respond to ‘God’s grace’ and call at Rite of Election and call to continuing conversion

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Laura Keener

Editor

At the Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion, Feb. 22, Bishop John Iffert welcomed 420 people from across the Diocese seeking full communion with the Catholic Church. This is a record-breaking number, an increase of 57.3 percent over last year and a 105.9 percent increase over the five-year average.

In an interview with Father Daniel Schomaker, diocesan director for the Office of Worship and Liturgy, the dramatic increase, he said, can only be attributed to God’s grace and the Holy Spirit.

“God’s grace is moving and people are paying attention,” Father Schomaker said. “God’s grace is always moving; the Holy Spirit is always active and drawing people back to him.” What’s happening now is “all of a sudden people are paying attention a little bit more and responding to that grace.”

In two ceremonies, Feb. 22, pastors from 36 parishes in the Diocese of Covington and Thomas More University presented 171 catechumens and 249 candidates to Bishop John Iffert. Catechumens are unbaptized individuals seeking to enter the Catholic Church. During the Rite of Election each is called forward by name, receive a blessing from Bishop Iffert and had their name inscribed in the Book of the Elect, which Bishop Iffert signed, declaring them the Elect — God’s chosen people.

Candidates are baptized Christians seeking full communion with the Catholic Church. Included with the candidates is 46 baptized Catholics seeking to complete the sacraments of initiation. They, too, are called by name and received a blessing from Bishop Iffert.

Both the candidates and catechumens have been participating in the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA) at their parish. At this year’s Easter Vigil they will receive the sacraments of initiation — baptism (catechumens), first Communion, and confirmation (catechumens and candidates) — and will become the newest members of the Church.

In his homily, reflecting on the Gospel passage of the temptations of Christ in the desert (Matt 4:1-11), Bishop Iffert said that Jesus is the perfect model for us to resist sin that strains both our relationship with God and each other.

“Jesus takes this stand with us, relying on the spiritual gifts and powers that are available to all of us,” he said. In refusing to deny his human nature, “Jesus makes himself the source of our inner strength and inner freedom to resist the tempter in our own life. He makes himself the source of our unity and the supreme example of human solidarity. We are most united by baptism in Jesus Christ.”

Acknowledging the catechumens, who are preparing for baptism, Bishop Iffert said, “the Church rejoices with you and invites you to this period of purification and enlightenment that you might be prepared to receive Christ and his Holy Spirit with full and open hearts; to be united through Christ with your Father in heaven and in the grace that flows from that union to truly become peacemakers and reconcilers in the world and in the Church.”

Addressing the candidates, Bishop Iffert said, “Your fuller incorporation into this body where the marks of the Church established by Christ perdure in their fullness, even if sometimes they are obscured because of sin, and your union with us at the table of the Lord will always remind us of our duty to embrace the spirit of God’s love, to eschew the division that comes from sin, and to work for reconciliation and unity among all who profess the name of Jesus.”

To the baptized Catholics, “who now respond to the call of the Holy Spirit to draw near to the table of the Lord with us, we rejoice that the day of your rebirth has led you here to us and that together, united in Christ, we may work that Christ’s name may be embraced by all and for all, everywhere in the world,” Bishop Iffert said.

Bishop Iffert thanked all those journeying to full Communion with the Church “for calling us again to this most fundamental of vocations.”

“The greatest gift we have, the greatest gift we are empowered to share, is renewed life in Christ,” said Bishop Iffert. “This is the gift we long to share with you all. This is the gift we long for and we strengthen in our own life. This is the gift we call you to today.”

Candidate seeks community in her faith ahead of Easter Vigil

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Bella Bailey

Multimedia Correspondent

Candidate Katie Foster is one of over 400 to enter the church in the Diocese of Covington at this years Easter Vigil Mass, joining in full communion with Catholics of the diocese, the worldwide Church and her loved ones.

Growing up in Toledo, Ohio, Ms. Foster was introduced to the Catholic faith when her mother went through the Order of Christian Initiation (OCIA), before marrying her stepfather. “I was probably about fourth or fifth grade, and my mom got remarried to my stepdad, who was Catholic … My mom went through OCIA because they wanted to continue raising their kids in a Catholic household. That was kind of my first introduction,” she said.

Ms. Foster’s four stepsisters are all Catholic and, in their footsteps, Ms. Foster attended Notre Dame Academy in Toledo, an all-girls preparatory high school. It was there that she became infatuated with the Catholic faith beyond the pew.

“Once I got the chance to be in theology classes and kind of understand the background behind the religion, the history and tradition is something I really enjoyed,” she said.

Beyond an academic love for the faith, a love for the Catholic community was taking root in Ms. Foster. “I really enjoyed the community, specifically, that the Catholic faith offers,” she said. “Being in that environment, all of my friends ended up being Catholic. I think the more that I was around them and their families, around the Catholic faith, the more I started to think about wanting that for myself.”

A recent move to Newport, Kentucky, spurred Ms. Foster to make the leap and register for OCIA at the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, Covington. “I think that’s special, the center of the Diocese, was something that was really appealing to me,” she said.

At the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, Ms. Foster found the community she was looking for at first instance when she inquired with Sarah Wells, pastoral associate. “This is a community I want to be around, I really enjoyed talking with her about it,” she said.

During the Easter Vigil, Ms. Foster, along with other candidates, will receive the remainder of the Sacraments of Initiation in holy Communion and confirmation. Through those sacraments, she will become a full member of the community she has been around for so long.

“It’s something I’ve been on the outside of but have admired most of my life. So, I think that just kind of making things official, to be a part of that, is really exciting,” she said.

Round two of the DMI marks progress in parishes, continues to guide parish planning

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Bella Bailey

Multimedia Correspondent

Round two of the Disciple Maker Index Survey (DMI) opened diocesan wide on Feb. 18. This survey, distributed throughout the parishes both online and via paper surveys, provides real, tangible data for parish pastors and leaders helping them to understand their congregation, and how to best serve their people in areas of faith formation and parish life.

The first DMI was held during the 2023 Lenten season and helped parishes form parish pastoral plans as part of the diocesan wide With One Heart pastoral plan and leadership development initiative. Now, it is time to take the survey again as a measure of progress in the chosen improvement areas at each parish.

Jeanette Landenwitch, member of the Faith Formation Committee at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, Burlington, and the Parish Point of Contact for round two of the DMI, has been a part of Immaculate Heart of Mary’s pastoral plan implementation team.

“It’s been really fun, and it’s been interesting, talking to people and helping them on their faith journey,” she said.

The top three priorities for Immaculate Heart of Mary’s pastoral plan were: strengthening the youth ministry program, have greater hospitality and to increase adult faith formation and education. “Those came directly from the survey … what our parishioners would like to see.” said Mrs. Landenwitch.

As a result of its pastoral plan, born of the DMI, “We’ve seen more and more people coming back to Masses, more and more people coming back to the different activities and things,” said Mrs. Landenwitch. During round two of the DMI, she said, “We’ll see the results and get the feedback, but I’ve seen great improvements in the activities and participation in the parish.”

The parish began publicizing round two of the DMI in late January, in preparation of the Feb. 18 release. “People are not hesitant at all,” she said. “I think as time keeps going on, more and more people will understand.”

When asked what she would like parishioners to know, she said, “The biggest thing that I would say is to fill out the survey, give us your input. We don’t know what to do specifically unless you tell us what you need. That’s the best way, I think, to help strengthen the parish, to help strengthen people’s faith.”

She continued saying, “We always do this with the help of God, the Holy Spirit guiding us. And that’s the most important thing is that the Holy Spirit is going to lead the hearts and the minds and the souls of the people in our parish. And we hope to assist the Holy Spirit in that guidance.”

The DMI survey portal is open and available for all parishes and parishioners. To find your parish Disciple Maker Index Survey go to: covdio.org/withoneheart/dmi/.