With One Heart update— Diocese begins a six-month pilot to unify social media presence

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Staff Report

The Diocesan communication team is taking the next step in advancing the communication goals outlined in the “With One Heart” Diocesan Pastoral Plan. During the information gathering phase in developing the pastoral plan, one of the key priorities that emerged from the parish listening sessions, focus groups and Deanery strategy sessions was the desire for a more unified and dynamic social media presence across the Diocese.

To help make this vision a reality, the Diocese is launching an enterprise-wide, 6-month pilot of the “Catholic Social Media” platform by Prenger Solutions Group. This content development and distribution tool will allow the Curia to upload social media content, which parishes and schools can select and share on its own social media accounts.

“Many of our parishes and schools have vibrant social media platforms with engaged subscribers and followers,” said Laura Keener, communications director. “The listening sessions conducted by With One Heart have confirmed that the faithful are eager to gain insights into Diocesan events and happenings. Social media has emerged as a desired platform for them to seek and disseminate this information.”

Already, staff in the offices of Catechesis and Evangelization, Catholic Charities, Stewardship and Missions Services, Youth Ministry and the Messenger have met with the Catholic Social Media team on how to use the platform. They care currently working to load content to Catholic Social Media.

Parishes will be brought onboard in four waves. Pastors in wave 1 have already been contacted and will be onboarded in late March, early April. The following waves will be starting soon.

“We’re excited about the possibilities and can’t wait to see how this collaboration will bring our Diocese closer together as we share the Gospel message,” said Mrs. Keener.

Numerous (arch) dioceses and parishes in the United States utilize the Catholic Social Media platform to oversee their social media operations and have discovered its advantages. The Diocese of Covington will assess the platform’s benefits at the conclusion of its pilot program in June 2025.

The end of training nears for the first group of mentors ready to accompany online Catechetical Institute learners

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Laura Keener

Editor

The Office of Catechesis and Evangelization continues to make strides in implementing its portions of the “With One Heart” Diocesan Pastoral Plan. About 40 people are nearing completion of the five series “Mentoring Workshops,” offered by the Franciscan University’s Catechetical Institute. Sarah Wells, pastoral associate, Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, led Part I of the final session, “Empathic Listening,” Feb. 8, at the Curia’s Bishop Howard Memorial Auditorium. These soon-to-be mentors are from parishes throughout the diocese.

Priority one of the Diocesan Pastoral Plan is for ongoing faith formation. One of the goals in that priority is to empower parishes and families to fulfill their shared mission of ongoing faith formation. One of the strategies the Diocese is employing to achieve this goal is its partnership with the Catechetical Institute of Franciscan University.

Through the Catechetical Institute’s “Franciscan at Home” online courses, everyone in the Diocese has free and unlimited access to over 200 courses, workshops and tracks — in both English and Spanish — that can help them to grow in their understanding and practice of the faith. And while online courses are the meat and potatoes, having a mentor as a guide along the way has been called “the secret sauce” of Franciscan at Home.

“What a mentor does is helps people to tap into what the University offers,” said Isaak A. Isaak, co-director, Office of Catechesis and Evangelization.

Mentors, Mr. Isaak said, will help pastors and people in the parish use the Franciscan At Home library to create small group Bible studies, retreats and even how to pray rosary and other prayers of the Church. They will also accompany individuals as they learn and deepen their faith life by taking individual courses.

“It’s an accompaniment relationship,” said Ms. Wells. “It benefits them greatly to have a spiritual mentor of some kind, some kind of spiritual big brother or big sister that can just walk with them and really accompany them, for the sake of accountability and for someone to reflect back to you the growth that you’re making.”

“When you have a mentor, you have somebody to go to, someone you can interact with in real time, who is familiar with the course that you’re taking, who can affirm and answer questions. A mentor is also somebody, if they don’t know the answer, they’ll find it and get back to you, so you’re not going to be left wondering,” said Jenn Ledonne, director of Religious Education, St. Mary Parish, Alexandria.

Mrs. Ledonne and Ms. Wells are both a part of the leadership team made up of parish directors and coordinators of religious education that is assisting Mr. Isaak with implementation of Franciscan At Home.

Mentors, Mrs. Ledonne said, can help learners break out of their comfort zone and explore courses and workshops that they might not otherwise choose.

“Everybody has different areas that they’re trying to grow in ministry, and having a mentor in those areas, I think is especially beneficial. When clearly there’s a need, they can help identify that offer suggestions and affirm you throughout the process,” she said.

Every parish and school in the Diocese of Covington is already registered and waiting for parishioners to create their own free account. Simply go to https://franciscanathome.com/diocese-covington to create a free account. Then choose from the dozens of courses, workshops and tracks available through Franciscan at Home. And, if you are interested in finding a mentor, contact Isaak Isaak at iisaak@covdio.org.

Chancery, Curia and parish collaboration and integration isa hallmark of the Diocesan Pastoral Plan

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Laura Keener

Editor

Some people develop plans and after the plan is put on paper, shove it in a drawer and never look at it again, said Deacon Jim Fortner, chief operating officer, Diocese of Covington. But, that’s not what’s happening in the Diocese of Covington.

After a year of listening sessions, focus groups and diocesan-wide surveys, which began in October 2022 and continued through April 2023, the Diocese of Covington is now releasing to the public its three-year Pastoral Plan. The Pastoral Plan includes a summary of the Diocese’s priorities and goals. The Diocesan Pastoral Plan can be found on page #.

Additionally, ever parish in the diocese used the same data to develop a three-year parish pastoral plan. The parish plans, like the diocesan plan, is comprised of data-driven priorities and goals. A summary of each Parish Pastoral Plan is included in the digital version of the Diocesan Pastoral Plan, which can be found online at www.covdio.org.

Last fall, Bishop John Iffert presented the Diocesan Pastoral Plan to the presbyterate, who affirmed its content. The Curia has been operating under the plan for nearly a year. Deacon Fortner said that there was even a need — the development of a formation program for deacon aspirants — uncovered by the Focus Groups that was so urgent that action was taken without the initiative making it into the Pastoral Plan.

“It was really critical for us to get this done in May,” said Deacon Fortner about the deacon aspirant program, as the next class of deacon aspirants was scheduled to begin in August. “If we had missed the deadline, it would be two years before another class of aspirants would begin,” he said, noting that the timeline for deacon formation is done in collaboration with the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.

The entire pastoral planning process has been led by the Catholic Leadership Institute and Deacon Fortner. During the process two groups — made up of Sisters from local religious communities and parish lay leaders — has been organized. The first group, the Planning Commission, attended the listening sessions and focus groups and reviewed the survey data. Their work was completed in May 2023 when they identified and recommended to Bishop Iffert three priorities for the diocesan pastoral plan. A team of Curia staff then completed the plan by adding goals, strategies, action items and goal dates.

The second group, the Core Team, is meeting quarterly to help keep implementation of the plan on track and to offer feedback.

The three priorities of the Diocesan Pastoral Plan are: Ongoing Faith Formation, Evangelization and Leadership Development. The most strategic part of the plan, Deacon Fortner said, is the integration and collaboration between the Chancery, Curia and parishes that is lifting and moving together the entire Diocese.

Examples of this can be seen by parts of the plan that have already been implemented. First was the hiring of a diocesan Youth Minister to help lead and guide youth ministry. Another is the Diocesan partnership with Catechetical Institute of Franciscan University, with the Diocese making the entire library of Franciscan At Home catechetical workshops available at no charge to every parish and every parishioner.

The Catholic Leadership Institute is leading the leadership development part of the plan. Its programs are also being made available at no cost to the diocese, parishes or participants, thanks to a group of anonymous benefactors. These trainings, too, began immediately.

Leadership development starts with priests and the Good Leaders, Good Shepherds initiative. A first group of 20 priests and Bishop Iffert completed training in June 2024. Immediately following the priest training, 38 Curia and parish staff who work directly with these priests began in August Tending the Talents training, a program similar in content to Good Leaders, Good Shepherds. This first Tending the Talents cohort will conclude in December. A second cohort of priests will begin Good Leaders, Good Shepherds training in April 2025, and Cohort 2 of Tending the Talents will also be held in 2025.

Additionally, pastors were asked to identify and invite parish leaders to attend Parish Missionary Disciples training. A first cohort of 60 concluded training in April 2024 and a second cohort will begin February 2025. All these trainings integrate Chancery, Curia and parish leaders sitting and learning together side-by-side.

Another important collaboration between the Chancery, Curia and parishes has been the continuation, reestablishment or establishment of Professional Learning Communities. These communities of parish secretaries, business managers, principals, media coordinators, youth ministers and directors and coordinators of religious education meet regularly to learn and share best practices. Some, like the principals and parish secretaries, have been meeting for years. Others, like the media coordinators, just getting started. All are being tasked to look at ways they can be a true learning community and not just a group that meets.

“All of these roles we are working with as a collective team to share ideas, share best practices,” said Deacon Fortner. “We are wired into parish life in a much more collaborative way. This is going to be an ongoing process.”

For the complete Diocesan Pastoral Plan that includes summaries of Parish Pastoral Plans visit www.covdio.org

Parish Missionary Disciples— Cohort one— flexing its missionary muscle at first quarterly gathering

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Laura Keener

Editor

The GYM is open! That was one of the major fruits coming out of the Parish Missionary Disciples training that was shared at the first quarterly follow-up meeting, Sept. 7.

Parish Missionary Disciples (PMD) is leadership development training for parishioners who are actively involved in ministry at their parish. It is one of three leadership development initiatives, led by the Catholic Leadership Institute, that are part of the With One Heart diocesan pastoral plan. The other two leadership development programs are Good Leaders, Good Shepherds, which is for priests and Tending the Talents, which is for parish and Curia staff.

PMD training for cohort one officially ended in April 2024. Cohort two will begin in February 2025. The over 60 participants of cohort one is so motivated by the Holy Spirit that they asked Deacon James Fortner, diocesan chief operating officer and Jamie Schroeder, chancellor, to bring the group back together quarterly. These quarterly meetings are a way for the group to share progress and offer support as they reimagine parish and personal relationships through the lens of evangelization.

Additionally, four members of cohort one — Bill and Kim Dehlinger, parishioners, Blessed Sacrament Parish, Ft. Mitchell and Gerry and Bridget Otto, parishioners, Mother of God Parish, Covington, have been leading monthly meetings for cohort one. They call these meetings the GYM — Growing Your Missionary Disciple Muscles. At the GYM, PMD members practice what they learn at training, especially how to share personal witness of how knowing Jesus has transformed their life and inviting and walking with others on a journey to Christ.

The reason for both the quarterly meetings and the GYM is obvious — community builds mission.

“We all know what happens to those books (referring to the PMD training manual) when we leave here,” said Mrs. Schroeder, acknowledging that often a person’s best intentions to start or complete anything can quickly disappear once he or she returns to the busyness of day-to-day life.

During the quarterly session, Mrs. Schroeder gave a 15-minute recap of the training. Small groups then discussed the progress and challenges as they work to implement what they have learned at home and the parish.

Anyone who has completed PMD training is welcome at the GYM. To get on the e-mail distribution list contact kimdehlinger17@gmail.com or marybridget.otto@gmail.com.

Signup for Parish Missionary Disciples Cohort 2 will open soon. Anyone who is actively involved in parish ministry is encouraged to attend. The training consists of six, all-day sessions spread out over about three months. PMD cohort 2 training begins in February. Watch your Messenger or visit covdio.org/withoneheart for information on when registration opens.

Like family, ‘With One Heart’ launches

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Laura Keener, Editor

 Blue skies, cooler temperatures and a mostly gentle breeze made for a relaxed and enjoyable celebration and launch party, Sept. 30, at the Curia’s St. Mary Park, Covington. The celebration was for Bishop John Iffert’s one year — to-the-day — anniversary. The launch party was for the diocese’s strategic pastoral planning and leadership development initiative “With One Heart” (WOH). 

Organized by Deacon Jim Fortner, chief operating officer and Jamie Schroeder, chancellor, with assistance from the WOH Core Team and Planning Commission and members of the Curia staff, the event resembled a backyard family cookout. Hamburgers were donated by JTM Food Group and hotdogs by Bluegrass Meats. Local Catholic organizations and groups provided the sides — potato salad, broccoli salad, fruit salad, baked beans and desserts. These groups included the Catholic Order of Foresters, Cursillo, Knights of the Holy Sepulchre, Knights of St. John, Mustard Seed Community, Parish Kitchen, Regnum Christi, Serra Club of Northern Kentucky, Society of St. Vincent de Paul, That Man Is You! and Walking with Purpose. Dan Walsh, parishioner, Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, Burlington, provided musical entertainment; Pam Schneider, parishioner, Divine Mercy Parish, Bellevue, made the cake and members of the Knights of Columbus manned the grill. 

“They asked me what kind of event I wanted to celebrate my first year anniversary and I said I want hamburgers, hotdogs and potato salad. I hope that you like that cuisine as well because it’s my favorite,” said Bishop Iffert as he began leading attendees in the prayer before meals. 

Nearly 300 people attended the event, including Bishop Emeritus Roger Foys, to celebrate Bishop Iffert and to hear his vision for WOH. Bishop Iffert began by sharing some of his many “firsts” as Bishop of Covington — confirmations, ordinations, Masses, classroom visits, parish festivals, etc. (A pictorial exhibit of some of his first year highlights is on display at St. Mary Park through the month of October.) He also recalled that, at the press conference “Weeks after that, I thought I really should have given a better answer than that,” said Bishop Iffert. “What I would like to have said was that there’s no way that I can enunciate for you on that first day a vision or pastoral plan. Because I really believe that God gifts every people with genius … I believe the Diocese of Covington has a genius and that you contain that hope, you have the answer, the ability and the gifts to address every difficulty that the Church faces here in Northern Kentucky today. You all contain all of the resources, have all of the wisdom, all of the knowledge, to address all of those critical problems that we face to carry on the mission of Jesus in the life of the Church. I believe that with my whole heart.” 

After being here a year, Bishop Iffert said, he is ready to announce his vision. “My vision is that God has given us together the gifts that we need to be his living mission. My vision is that we would work together to develop a vision that is in service to the entire body of the Church. That we would step outside of ourselves and our own little preferences and our own special interests and we would think about what is best for this group, this Church, this body that lives here in Northern Kentucky and that we would act and decide together.” 

Because pastors — the way they preach, the way they welcome, the way they interact with their parishioners — are instrumental to creating a parish that others would recommend to their family and friends, Bishop Iffert said, “I am unapologetic about saying, the first group of people we need to focus on are our priests, who put themselves out there to be leaders, to help embolden them, to invest in our priests the skills for leadership. Our priests are excellent priests. Our presbyterate is filled with good and holy and talented men. And to give them the support to be the leaders that they want to be and that we all know they can be, this is the first and centerpiece of the vision that I want to annunciate here.” 

Bishop Iffert said he also wants to empower the laity, to invite the laity to bring the skills that they have developed in all the areas of their life into the life of the Church to assist their priests. 

“That’s part of the vision … I want us to be set free from fear …I want a vision of Church that unleashes that potential; that priests and religious and deacons and laity respond free from fear,” he said. 

The content of that vision, Bishop Iffert said, “that’s up to us to develop together and that’s what this With One Heart initiative is all about. It’s all about assessing the situation together. Planning together. Accompanying one another with leadership formation together, and working to implement those plans, thanking God for them, reviewing them and then doing it again.” 

In closing, Bishop Iffert recognized and praised Bishop Foys for his over 40 years as an administrator both in the Diocese of Steubenville as vicar general for 22 years and as Bishop of Covington for 20 years. 

“I want to appreciate Bishop Foys in a very special way,” Bishop Iffert said. “He told me when I got here that he was going to step back for that first year and let me have some time on my own. Now we’re at the end of that year. I hope now that we can invite you back into the active life of the Church. Thank you, thank you so much.”announcing his appointment, a reporter had asked what his vision and pastoral plan was for the diocese and how he had quipped that he had only been here for 12 minutes. 

Image: Bishop John Iffert announces his vision for the With One Heart strategic pastoral plan and leadership development initiative, Sept. 30, at St. Mary’s Park, Covington. Nearly 300 people attended the event, which included a celebration of Bishop Iffert’s first year in Covington.