Laura Keener
Editor
Thomas More University announces an affiliation with Covington Latin School following a unanimous vote of its board of trustees on March 6, that gives final approval for Covington Latin School to become a part of the university.
“This is a transformative step forward for Catholic education in Northern Kentucky,” said Thomas More University President Joseph Chillo. “The affiliation unites the academic rigor and Catholic classical education Covington Latin School is known for with the resources of Thomas More University to enrich the mission and academic programs of Covington Latin and secure a thriving future for generations of students.”
The announcement follows a comprehensive, year-long assessment to define the benefits and processes of affiliation. The assessment was conducted by a team that includes members of the diocesan Curia and university leadership. Through townhall-style forums, surveys of alumni, parents, teachers and staff and one-on-one meetings with stakeholders, the team has utilized feedback from the Covington Latin School community to create a strategic vision for the school as part of the university.
“True to its mission as a classical Catholic school for gifted learners, for over 100 years Covington Latin School has formed students to engage with the world thoughtfully and critically, fostering a sense of responsibility to contribute positively to society and the Church,” says Bishop John Iffert of the Diocese of Covington. “I am truly grateful to the Thomas More University Board of Trustees for its support of the affiliation and to Dr. Chillo and his team for continuing the Covington Latin School legacy of teaching ‘Goodness, Discipline and Knowledge.’ I am confident that Covington Latin School’s affiliation with Thomas More University will enhance its rigorous academic standards by providing access to advanced resources, faculty expertise and a broader academic community, while maintaining a deep commitment to the values of the Catholic faith.”
While plans for curriculum are still being fully formed, under the affiliation Covington Latin School students will be able to access Thomas More University courses as part of defined pathway programs and dual credit. This integrated approach will allow Covington Latin students to begin their college journey early and explore their academic interests.
“Knowing the success of university-affiliated schools in the United States, it is exciting for Thomas More to be the first instance of a private, nonprofit university in the Commonwealth to undertake this model,” President Chillo says. “It is yet another demonstration of the innovative mindset that is shaping the future of Thomas More University as the regional leader in Catholic higher education.”
In an interview following the announcement, Dr. Kevin Reynolds, senior vice president, Mission and University Advancement, Thomas More University, who has been leading the affiliation process, said that the Board’s approval sets in motion several key steps, the first of which is hiring a permanent Head of School for Covington Latin. For the last year, Dr. Racheal Noll has been leading Covington Latin on an interim basis.
“From the very beginning of the process, we’ve said that our goal was to do a full search for that next leader,” Dr. Reynolds said.
To aid in that search, a committee has been formed made up of TMU representatives, and CLS faculty, alumni and current and prospective parents, he said.
Additionally, the TMU/CLS affiliation team will, next week, begin meeting with CLS faculty and staff to discuss things like compensation and employee benefits.
“For a lot of the current faculty, they’re excited about the opportunity for tuition remission at Thomas More University, which is something that we’re going to be offering to them,” Dr. Reynolds said.
While details of the curriculum have yet to be finalized, the school will still be dedicated to a classical, Catholic liberal arts curriculum. “It fits very well in alignment with Thomas More University’s mission as a Catholic liberal arts college, as a curriculum founded in the Catholic intellectual tradition. Certainly, those things are highly synonymous and work well together,” Dr. Reynolds said.
Some enhancements that will be new and unique to Covington Latin School that the affiliation will bring is access to college resources.
“We intend on operating Covington Latin out of its current building in Covington, that doesn’t change. Certainly, our (TMU) facilities, our labs, our faculty, our expertise, can be brought in to advance and supplement that educational experience,” said Dr. Reynolds.
As examples, Dr. Reynolds said that already this year the CLS Christian Awakening Retreat was held on TMU’s campus, the schools upcoming Spring musical, “Shrek,” will be performed at TMU’s theater. TMU is home to an LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified biology field station, a state-of-the-art observatory and anatomy lab. “These are resources that the faculty at Covington Latin will now have access to use for their students to assist in their educational experience,” said Dr. Reynolds.
With the affiliation, student enhancements will also continue outside of the classroom. “Our intent is to grow the co-curricular and extracurricular opportunities within the school,” said Dr. Reynolds. “Certainly, athletics is a big part of that. There’s something to be said about how young people grow in the athletic experience. Even if you’re not winning state championships, it’s the competition that takes place on the field, on the court, in the practice. The personal growth that happens learning how to work as a team, overcoming adversity, perseverance — these are all things that students today need. Athletics is a big way of providing that opportunity, and so we’re going to invest there.”
Dr. Reynolds said that TMU/CLS’s first investment will be in its faculty. “The best thing we can do for students is to make sure they have the best possible teachers. So, we’re going to be investing in the teachers. We’re going to be providing continuous education opportunities for teachers to get advanced degrees, and provide the opportunity to, if they’re not yet certified, to get certified, and then just continuing that pedagogy. Professional Development is going to be really important for us to make sure that our teachers are the most prepared to serve the region’s most gifted learners and leaders. That’s the biggest thing for us right now, investing in the teachers.”
In an interview about the affiliation, Bishop Iffert said that what he believes will be a benefit with CLS/TMU is a “collegial” approach to education. An approach that is foundational to CLS.
“When I look back on the strength of Covington Latin School, one thing that was very clear to me is that the strength of the school, for years, was the priests who were teaching there and some of the lay people, too,” said Bishiop Iffert. Noting that at one time in CLS’s history over 30 priests were involved with the school, as faculty members or administrators. “When priests work together like that, they function as a college. That’s one of the things that people often miss about priests, and that priests sometimes we forget, is that we are not lone rangers, we are not working independently, but we function properly as a college. That strength was so important for establishing the strong reputation that this school has.”
To capitalize on that foundational strength of CLS, Bishop Iffert said he began to search for a current resource that functioned similarly. “We have a college with its administrative team, with its faculty, who are experienced
in working with gifted young people, and people who are preparing for both college and graduate study, who can bring their expertise and their wisdom to bear on helping gifted young people who are developing those kinds of study and career tracks,” Bishop Iffert said. “It seemed to me like the application of that collegial approach was likely to bear the best fruit for Covington Latin School.”
“Covington Latin School continues to be a school with a program that is strong,” Bishop Iffert said. “We are committed to trying to strengthen that program. We hope to capture again that commitment to a classical, Catholic curriculum so that students can be distinguished as being students who are well educated, well-rounded students going into their college years. Many of the faculty who have brought so much excellence and joy to Covington Latin School in the past several years will continue there, under the leadership of Thomas More University.”
A list of responses to frequently asked questions for Covington Latin families is available online at https://more.thomasmore.edu/wp-content/uploads/CLS-and-TMU_-Frequently-Asked-Questions.pdf.
Phase two of the DPAA concludes with the second kick off dinner
/in Featured StoriesBella Bailey
Multimedia Correspondent
The second Diocesan Parish Annual Appeal (DPAA) Kick-off Dinner was held, March 20, at Receptions Event Center, Erlanger, where 311 people gathered to learn about the ministries that benefit from the DPAA. The theme of this year’s DPAA, “Pilgrims of Hope, Missionaries of Mercy,” was projected around the room as guests toured the ministry fair, highlighting the work throughout the Diocese supported by the appeal.
“It is the financial generosity of people like you that enable the Diocese to execute the mission and theme of the DPAA … In our 2025 video Bishop Iffert talks about the meaning of our theme and several groups of individuals who are served through DPAA ministries,” said Lisa Knochelmann, leadership gifts chair.
The DPAA video, a message from Bishop Iffert encouraging people to donate, will be shown in parishes across the Diocese on March 23. The video, shorter than in years past, will be shown after the completion of the Communion Rite, rather than replacing the homily.
“We have a committee of pastors,” said Bishop Iffert, “who gave input to us every year. One of the consistent inputs that I’ve heard for three years now is that these pastors really hated losing a Sunday homily during Lent. These readings during Lent are so profound and correspond with the process of initiation; we have all of these folks who are preparing for baptism, for initiation into the life of the Church and these readings are geared toward helping us accompany those people. Then, what would happen, you get to the second or third Sunday of Lent and they’d have to throw those readings out the window and they’d hear the Bishop talking about the DPAA. So that is what we’re trying to do this year, we’re trying to respond to that.”
The goal of the DPAA this year is higher than years past at $2,700,000, with $904,072 already committed by donors in the leadership gifts phase, the first phase of the appeal. The $904,072 raised in phase one surpasses the amount raised in 2024 by $322,000.
“That’s flat out amazing,” said Jeff Jehn, general chair for the DPAA, “Your pledge to the appeal will demonstrate your commitment to priestly vocations, Catholic education, religious formation of adults and children, as well as provide programs to strengthen marriages, promote respect for life, and offer consolation for those who are less fortunate than we are. Especially, it will help those whose needs are greatest — the poor, the vulnerable, and all of those who are underserved in their environment but served with love by the people of the Diocese of Covington.”
Bishop Iffert said the pledges made by those in the pew are, “for the poor, for those who need education, for those who have served us so faithfully, for the elderly, for those that don’t have the housing that they should have, those are the kinds of things that your help, through the DPAA and the help of so many thousands allow the Church to do in your name.”
“I want to invite you to join me in supporting the Diocesan Parish Annual Appeal,” said Bishop Iffert, “when we ask you to give, keep in mind that in the Catholic Church you don’t hear us tell you how much you should give … because what we believe is that you should give whatever you and God are happy with, whatever you believe God is asking you to give, whatever is the right return for you on the blessing that you have received.”
Life on the Borderlands: Thomas More University students experience all sides of the southern wall
/in Featured StoriesMaura Baker
Staff Writer
Every year, a class of students from Thomas More University travels south to El Paso, Tx. In conjunction with the Annunciation House, a nonprofit that serves migrants in the region, the students engage in what is known as a “Border Awareness Experience” — which delves deep into the realities of immigration and life on the borderlands of west Texas.
Dr. James Camp, a member of Annunciation House’s board as well as a professor at Thomas More, leads the class in learning all they can before making the journey west — where students spend their Spring Break living and sharing meals among the guests of Annunciation House.
The class made Casa Vides their home, named for the Vides family who formerly were guests of Annunciation House themselves. One of the many hospitality houses operated by the Annunciation House nonprofit, Casa Vides is described as a “longer-term house of hospitality for guests with ongoing needs, such as political asylum cases, other proceedings or medical situations.”
During their stay, students shared their temporary home with a family of three, as well as another type of guest, the Mexican widows of American citizens who are required by U.S. law to spend a certain amount of time in the United States a year to receive Social Security benefits.
The class started their week exploring the surrounding area — visiting points along the border wall, places they could approach and see the other side, and places they couldn’t, and climbing Mt. Christo Rey in Sunland Park, NM, a point where the wall can not be built, making it a popular crossing for migrants on the southern border — as well as heavily patrolled by mounted border patrol officers. They also found themselves crossing the border to neighboring Juarez, Mexico, and seeing life from the other side.
The rest of the week was spent learning. With immigration, especially at the southern border, becoming (and having been) a divisive topic in the United States, students heard stories from the people of El Paso, ranging from active border patrol agents and migrant guests of the Annunciation House themselves to paint the fullest picture.
One of these storytellers was an attorney representing Estrella del Paso — a ministry of the Diocese of El Paso which provides legal aid to migrants and refugees at zero cost. The attorney taught students about the immigration process and clarified misconceptions about migrants in the United States.
“The rhetoric that immigrants leech off of government benefits is false,” she said, “Even permanent residents do not qualify for these services.” In fact, most social welfare services are only available to naturalized citizens of the United States — earned either through birthright, or after maintaining permanent resident status for five years.
And, while Catholic social teaching teaches compassion towards the migrant, the process of immigration was described as long and often impractical, with waiting times for appointments spanning months to years — a fact that leads many migrant families to desperation.
This reality is harshened by the fact that an individual must be territorially on U.S. soil to apply for asylum — something sought often by migrants from South American countries — “whether or not a person arrives through a valid point of entry,” according to Estrella’s attorney.
The attorney also explained the poor and often harsh treatment of migrants and refugees crossing the border, saying that “the problem arises when government agencies such as ICE and port of entry officers see people crossing the border as a law enforcement problem, entering conversations defensively as if every person is here to harm them or their family. Immigration policy could be improved with just a simple switch in mission — to approach the migrant with humanity,” Estrella’s attorney said.
Border patrol Officer J. Navarro was another individual to share his experience in the borderlands. Officer Navarro noted that border patrol along the southern border is overwhelmingly male — 90 percent — and overwhelmingly minority — 70 percent — with many coming from immigrant families themselves. When apprehending individuals illegally crossing the border, Officer Navarro said that “80 percent–90 percent are good people who just want their day in court, and 85 percent of people arrested by border patrol are good people with no previous criminal record.”
“Immigrants think this place (America) is the best place in the world,” said Officer Navarro, “that’s why they risk everything to come here.”
And risks are extremely prevalent, with Officer Navarro talking about how the illegal smuggling of people across the border becomes trafficking and extortion. The “coyotes,” or individuals who work in the smuggling of people, take advantage of migrants in their vulnerability and extort them for money or use them to mule illegal substances. Officer Navarro mentioned that some coyotes will even purposefully hurt someone or push them over the border wall to distract officers, including “stragglers” like children or the elderly.
These harsh realities met with the stories of the migrants themselves as students spoke to and listened to the guests of the Annunciation House. Nearly every migrant had a harrowing story to tell — either extorted or kidnapped by gangs or criminals, or having to traverse the dangerous, dense and mountainous rainforests of the Darién Gap.
“Most people want to work and be paid fairly,” said one of the guests, “In Mexico, you can work for 10 hours and be paid 10 dollars. Living is expensive. We’re only looking for better opportunities for our families.”
2025 DPAA Video
/in DPAA video2025 DPAA Video
/in UncategorizedThe scouts of the Diocese gather to be recognized with badges and awards
/in Featured StoriesBella Bailey
Multimedia Correspondent
As part of a long-standing Diocesan tradition, the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, Covington, was the site of the annual Scout Mass. A celebration of scouting across the parishes in the Diocese of Covington, which has a dedicated committee to scouting.
“We have a committee on scouting here in the Diocese that helps to guide and direct the scouting here in the Diocese of Covington and to build that relationship between our churches and parishes and the scout organization,” said Bishop Iffert in his homily.
“The relationship between scouting and the Church have been so close because our missions parallel one another. The scouts speak of civic virtues, and in their relationship with the churches, especially the Catholic Church, we cap that program with the virtues of faith to help our young people, to give them guidance, to help them resist the temptations that threaten to bring them down in life.”
The deep relationship between the Church and the different scouting organizations has proved fruitful. The award ceremony following Mass in Bishop Howard Memorial Auditorium, showcased 20 different scouts that earned Catholic scouting awards. These awards are meant to help the scouts grow closer in their own relationship with God and encourage them to spread the good news of the Gospel.
In addition to their scouting patch, each scout in attendance also received a special Catholic scouting badge bearing the crest of Bishop Iffert, signifying the close relationship between these troops and the Diocese of Covington.
Though it was a day honoring the scouts of the Diocese, Bishop Iffert reminded those in attendance of the important guidance troop leaders and parents provide.
“Our kids are wonderful and valuable to us, but they are not angels, they suffer from the same temptations that we suffer from. They need guidance, they need to know the teaching of Jesus, they need to know that he is that Lord of light who will see them through difficulty times,” Bishop Iffert said. “Thank you to everyone who has a part in guiding and directing the lives of our young people and remember, we never outgrow the need for guidance ourselves.”
First step to being a witness of Christ and loving others is to love yourself, says Bishop Iffert at Pro-Life Essay contest
/in Featured StoriesLaura Keener
Editor
The top 20 finalists of the 2025 Pro-Life Essay Contest gathered, March 13, with Bishop John Iffert and Faye Roch, director, Pro-Life Office, for an evening of celebration and to award the top three finishers. The essay contest is organized and hosted each year by the diocesan Pro-Life Office and is sponsored by the Knights of Columbus. This year, Rick and Celesta Arnold, Culture of Life Couple, from the Knights of Columbus Kentucky State Council and Jan Buchner, K of C, Northern Kentucky Council, were in attendance.
Nearly 250 eighth graders from Catholic schools in the Diocese of Covington submitted an essay for this year’s contest. The theme, taken from the Jubilee Year of Hope, asked students to “describe how you, a young person, can be a witness to others and convert hearts showing that all life is good and worthy of our care and protection.”
“Your being here tonight, you stand above the crowd,” said Mrs. Roch to the 20 finalists. “Your essays were chosen in the top eight percent of the essays received. That’s pretty incredible. We congratulate you on your achievement. You give us inspiration and hope that the tide is turning and that it will be your generation that can make a difference in promoting the culture of life.”
This year’s top finishers are: Kyndall Ruebusch, St. Anthony School, Taylor Mill, first place; Piper Hagley, Holy Cross Elementary School, Latonia, second place; and Ryan Bennett, Villa Madonna Academy, Villa Hills, third place. Each of the top finishers receives a scholarship from the Knights of Columbus to attend a local Catholic high school. Ms. Ruebusch’s winning essay is published on page 5.
Drawing from the theme, Bishop Iffert emphasized the importance of being a witness for Christ.
“We need the witness of committed disciples of Jesus. We need to live that faith out, and that witness is what is so important,” said Bishop Iffert. “So that theme that you had today, ‘how do I witness to the value of life in my life?’ that’s an extraordinary theme, and I hope it’s a question you ask yourself every day. I hope that you’re growing in that understanding every day of your life, because that means you’re growing towards Christ.”
He also encouraged the students to not only see others as a gift from God, but themselves too.
“How do we witness to the value of life? We accept ourselves as God gives us — our bodies, our minds, our spirit, our limits — and we love ourselves. Having loved ourselves, we can truly love others,” he said. “We’re all the same, going through life having received ourselves as gift and trying our best to be truly grateful for the gift we received. Give that witness. Love yourself. Value yourself the way you are. And when you make friends with that process, then you will be able to love everyone else. Thank you for your witness tonight. And please, please, please, know how good, powerfully wonderful you are, how much are loved in this room and beyond. Love yourself truly, not like ‘I’m so great,’ but ‘I am sheer gift from God to the world.’”
Step two of the Walk with One journey is to intercede in communion with the Holy Spirit
/in Walk with OneBella Bailey
Multimedia Correspondent
This year, during the holy season of Lent, the Messenger has encouraged its readers to take part in the Walk with One evangelization effort. This initiative from the National Eucharistic Congress is a way for people to participate in the call to evangelize, to be fishers of men.
In the March 7 and 14 editions of the Messenger, readers were encouraged to participate in the first of four steps as they began their Walk with One journey. That step, identifying someone in a spirit of humility, involves prayer and close connection with the Holy Spirit. The second step, interceding in communion with the Holy Spirit, involves much of the same.
The person that was identified through prayer and discernment in step one will become the person that is interceded for in step two. There are a few ways to intercede for someone communion with the Holy Spirit: writing down the person’s name on a sticky note and keeping it in a wallet to remember during prayer, asking God to open the heart of the person identified in step one so that they are receptive to him and/or offering a Mass or Holy Hour for that person. “
The other piece for this intercede step … is that it’s a really important step to ensure that we don’t get into the mindset that this other persons conversion is based on our work, our own effort,” said Kris Frank, vice director of growth and marketing for the National Eucharistic Congress.
Mr. Frank continued saying, “God is the one who changes hearts and so as we go before the Blessed Sacrament and intercede for that person, not only is God filling that person with grace and hopefully beginning the work in the depths of their soul but … it reminds me that I am not the savior of this person, and this person needs Jesus.”
Prayer and discernment are key aspects of the first step of Walk with One
/in Walk with OneBella Bailey
Multimedia Correspondent
In the March 7 edition of the Messenger, the first step on the Walk with One initiative was introduced. An evangelization effort from the 2024 National Eucharistic Congress, the initiative invites all Catholics to find someone in their life and help bring them closer to God. Symbolically walking with them, to the Lord. The first step, identifying someone in a spirit of humility, invites the participant into prayer with the Holy Spirit so that they might discern with the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Recommended ways of prayer and discernment by the National Eucharistic Congress are Eucharistic Adoration and the praying of a novena.
“Our big encouragement for everyone as they do Walk with One,” said Tanner Kalina, project manager of the National Eucharistic Congress, “is to surround it with prayer and that starts first and foremost at the very beginning as you discern who the Lord might be inviting you to walk with.”
Eucharistic Adoration is the practice of quiet contemplation and prayer before the exposed Eucharist, and silently meditating, adoring and listening for God’s word.
Mr. Kalina explained, “That’s just going to prayer, putting yourself in front of the Eucharist, asking Jesus to stir someone in your heart for who to walk with.”
In addition to, or in conjunction with, Eucharistic Adoration, it is also recommended to pray a novena — a nine-day period of prayer which can be dedicated to a specific saint for their intercession on personal intentions. Rooted in Scripture, it is commonly said that the first novena was prayed by Mary and the apostles in the upper room as they were waiting for the coming of the Holy Spirit.
An important part of identifying someone in a spirit of humility is not to become frustrated. Kris Frank, vice president of Growth and Marketing for the National Eucharistic Congress said, “Evangelization, accompaniment is not for the faint of heart. There’s going to be ups and downs, it’s going to be one step forward, one step backward … We might think we know what needs to happen but God truly is the one that can change hearts and so we want to ensure that we are connected to God.”
TMU announces affiliation with Covington Latin School
/in Featured StoriesLaura Keener
Editor
Thomas More University announces an affiliation with Covington Latin School following a unanimous vote of its board of trustees on March 6, that gives final approval for Covington Latin School to become a part of the university.
“This is a transformative step forward for Catholic education in Northern Kentucky,” said Thomas More University President Joseph Chillo. “The affiliation unites the academic rigor and Catholic classical education Covington Latin School is known for with the resources of Thomas More University to enrich the mission and academic programs of Covington Latin and secure a thriving future for generations of students.”
The announcement follows a comprehensive, year-long assessment to define the benefits and processes of affiliation. The assessment was conducted by a team that includes members of the diocesan Curia and university leadership. Through townhall-style forums, surveys of alumni, parents, teachers and staff and one-on-one meetings with stakeholders, the team has utilized feedback from the Covington Latin School community to create a strategic vision for the school as part of the university.
“True to its mission as a classical Catholic school for gifted learners, for over 100 years Covington Latin School has formed students to engage with the world thoughtfully and critically, fostering a sense of responsibility to contribute positively to society and the Church,” says Bishop John Iffert of the Diocese of Covington. “I am truly grateful to the Thomas More University Board of Trustees for its support of the affiliation and to Dr. Chillo and his team for continuing the Covington Latin School legacy of teaching ‘Goodness, Discipline and Knowledge.’ I am confident that Covington Latin School’s affiliation with Thomas More University will enhance its rigorous academic standards by providing access to advanced resources, faculty expertise and a broader academic community, while maintaining a deep commitment to the values of the Catholic faith.”
While plans for curriculum are still being fully formed, under the affiliation Covington Latin School students will be able to access Thomas More University courses as part of defined pathway programs and dual credit. This integrated approach will allow Covington Latin students to begin their college journey early and explore their academic interests.
“Knowing the success of university-affiliated schools in the United States, it is exciting for Thomas More to be the first instance of a private, nonprofit university in the Commonwealth to undertake this model,” President Chillo says. “It is yet another demonstration of the innovative mindset that is shaping the future of Thomas More University as the regional leader in Catholic higher education.”
In an interview following the announcement, Dr. Kevin Reynolds, senior vice president, Mission and University Advancement, Thomas More University, who has been leading the affiliation process, said that the Board’s approval sets in motion several key steps, the first of which is hiring a permanent Head of School for Covington Latin. For the last year, Dr. Racheal Noll has been leading Covington Latin on an interim basis.
“From the very beginning of the process, we’ve said that our goal was to do a full search for that next leader,” Dr. Reynolds said.
To aid in that search, a committee has been formed made up of TMU representatives, and CLS faculty, alumni and current and prospective parents, he said.
Additionally, the TMU/CLS affiliation team will, next week, begin meeting with CLS faculty and staff to discuss things like compensation and employee benefits.
“For a lot of the current faculty, they’re excited about the opportunity for tuition remission at Thomas More University, which is something that we’re going to be offering to them,” Dr. Reynolds said.
While details of the curriculum have yet to be finalized, the school will still be dedicated to a classical, Catholic liberal arts curriculum. “It fits very well in alignment with Thomas More University’s mission as a Catholic liberal arts college, as a curriculum founded in the Catholic intellectual tradition. Certainly, those things are highly synonymous and work well together,” Dr. Reynolds said.
Some enhancements that will be new and unique to Covington Latin School that the affiliation will bring is access to college resources.
“We intend on operating Covington Latin out of its current building in Covington, that doesn’t change. Certainly, our (TMU) facilities, our labs, our faculty, our expertise, can be brought in to advance and supplement that educational experience,” said Dr. Reynolds.
As examples, Dr. Reynolds said that already this year the CLS Christian Awakening Retreat was held on TMU’s campus, the schools upcoming Spring musical, “Shrek,” will be performed at TMU’s theater. TMU is home to an LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified biology field station, a state-of-the-art observatory and anatomy lab. “These are resources that the faculty at Covington Latin will now have access to use for their students to assist in their educational experience,” said Dr. Reynolds.
With the affiliation, student enhancements will also continue outside of the classroom. “Our intent is to grow the co-curricular and extracurricular opportunities within the school,” said Dr. Reynolds. “Certainly, athletics is a big part of that. There’s something to be said about how young people grow in the athletic experience. Even if you’re not winning state championships, it’s the competition that takes place on the field, on the court, in the practice. The personal growth that happens learning how to work as a team, overcoming adversity, perseverance — these are all things that students today need. Athletics is a big way of providing that opportunity, and so we’re going to invest there.”
Dr. Reynolds said that TMU/CLS’s first investment will be in its faculty. “The best thing we can do for students is to make sure they have the best possible teachers. So, we’re going to be investing in the teachers. We’re going to be providing continuous education opportunities for teachers to get advanced degrees, and provide the opportunity to, if they’re not yet certified, to get certified, and then just continuing that pedagogy. Professional Development is going to be really important for us to make sure that our teachers are the most prepared to serve the region’s most gifted learners and leaders. That’s the biggest thing for us right now, investing in the teachers.”
In an interview about the affiliation, Bishop Iffert said that what he believes will be a benefit with CLS/TMU is a “collegial” approach to education. An approach that is foundational to CLS.
“When I look back on the strength of Covington Latin School, one thing that was very clear to me is that the strength of the school, for years, was the priests who were teaching there and some of the lay people, too,” said Bishiop Iffert. Noting that at one time in CLS’s history over 30 priests were involved with the school, as faculty members or administrators. “When priests work together like that, they function as a college. That’s one of the things that people often miss about priests, and that priests sometimes we forget, is that we are not lone rangers, we are not working independently, but we function properly as a college. That strength was so important for establishing the strong reputation that this school has.”
To capitalize on that foundational strength of CLS, Bishop Iffert said he began to search for a current resource that functioned similarly. “We have a college with its administrative team, with its faculty, who are experienced
in working with gifted young people, and people who are preparing for both college and graduate study, who can bring their expertise and their wisdom to bear on helping gifted young people who are developing those kinds of study and career tracks,” Bishop Iffert said. “It seemed to me like the application of that collegial approach was likely to bear the best fruit for Covington Latin School.”
“Covington Latin School continues to be a school with a program that is strong,” Bishop Iffert said. “We are committed to trying to strengthen that program. We hope to capture again that commitment to a classical, Catholic curriculum so that students can be distinguished as being students who are well educated, well-rounded students going into their college years. Many of the faculty who have brought so much excellence and joy to Covington Latin School in the past several years will continue there, under the leadership of Thomas More University.”
A list of responses to frequently asked questions for Covington Latin families is available online at https://more.thomasmore.edu/wp-content/uploads/CLS-and-TMU_-Frequently-Asked-Questions.pdf.
Rite of Election — a continuation of God’s love for his people
/in Featured StoriesBella Bailey
Multimedia Correspondent
Thirty-four parishes gathered across two separate ceremonies to celebrate the annual Rite of Election, March 9, at the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, Covington. Celebrated by Bishop John Iffert, the Rite of Election marks the moment catechumens and candidates are presented to the bishop. Candidates, baptized Christians seeking to enter into full communion with the faith, are presented to the bishop for approval.
“Candidates for full communion with the Catholic Church, those of you who have already received the grace of baptism and are already one with Catholics in faith in Jesus, we recall that you too, along with all of us are beloved and chosen by God. Now that baptismal gift and the graces you received in that holy sacrament led you to seek to continue your Christian journey in the Catholic Church,” said Bishop Iffert during his remarks.
Catechumens, unbaptized people seeking to enter the Church, are presented to the bishop for their election to participate in the sacraments of initiation at Easter Vigil. Through this process of election, catechumens are registered as “the elect.”
“For those of you who are preparing for baptism,” said Bishop Iffert, “you are gathered here today to receive a new designation, a new name, a new way to be called. You will be recognized, those of you who, until now, have been called catechumens, you will be called ‘the elect.’”
The change in name is rooted in ancient Scripture said Bishop Iffert. Saul became Paul, the great apostle to the Gentiles; Abram became Abraham, the father of nations; and Simon became Peter, the rock on which Jesus built his Church. The changing of names in Scripture indicates the acceptance of a new vocation.
Bishop Iffert said, “election, to be chosen, is an act of gratuitous, unmerited love on Gods part. However, to be chosen also implies a vocation a response to a calling. A responsibility to be chosen and received.”
One by one, the catechumens and their godparents shook Bishop Iffert’s hand and shared a brief conversation before Bishop Iffert turned to sign the parishes Book of Elect, which holds the names of those seeking to be elected. Once the book is signed, the catechumens are now the elect, having been granted permission to seek the sacraments of initiation. There were 29 parishes with catechumens for a total of 130 catechumens, marking a 21.5 percent increase from the year prior.
The candidates stood to be recognized by Bishop Iffert where he asked the candidates sponsors to confirm that their candidate has been diligent in their preparation of first Eucharist and confirmation. Bishop Iffert then greeted each candidate and sponsor, of which there were 111 from 27 different parishes, an increase of nearly 3 percent from the prior year.
As the newly elect and candidates enter this Lenten season, for them, a period of purification, they are showered in the love and support of their brothers and sisters in Christ.
Bishop Iffert said, “We have entered into this desert season of Lent. For you who are making a journey to the sacraments we call it the period of purification and enlightenment. Your call by God is an act of gratuitous love and your election, by me, in the name of the Church, is an act of our brotherly and sisterly love. It is a continuation of the way God has loved you all along.”