Love in action at the old ball game — diocese and archdiocese take to the diamond for the second annual Catholic Family Night

Maura Baker

Staff Writer

The second ever Catholic Family Night brought together both sides of the river — the Diocese of Covington and the Archdiocese of Cincinnati — to celebrate the theme of “Love in Action” at Great American Ballpark, Cincinnati.

It was a hot and sunny evening, Sept. 5, as Catholics of all ages filled the stadium to watch the Cincinnati Reds take on the Milwaukee Brewers. A parade of people marched around the field as festivities began, a wave of home-team red mixed in with crosses and medals.

Joining them was Bishop John Iffert and Archbishop Robert Casey — along with a handful of representatives from Catholic Charities of Northern Kentucky and Catholic organizations across the river who work to live out the theme and mission of love in action.

Jorja Kremer, a volunteer of Catholic Charities who tends to the Parish Kitchen garden, Sister Nance Hehman, who serves through the mobile food pantry and Chuck Faeth, who helps spearhead Catholic Charities’ prison ministry, were all recognized for their acts of love on the field as excitement for the evening’s game grew.

Also present was Savana Baumgartner, a parishioner of All Saints Parish, Walton, whose “ministry of joy,” as put by Catholic Charities volunteer coordinator Jill Walch, includes a special devotion to the Blessed Virgin. Ms. Baumgartner delivered the evening’s game ball to the pitcher’s mound — smiling all the way.

After the first pitch, the game proceeded through weather delays as a storm overtook the stadium — but after a rough game on wet ground, the Cincinnati Reds still pulled through with 5–3 victory.