Maura Baker

Staff Writer

Breakfasts, shared Masses and games together — these are just some of the ways that schools in the Diocese of Covington celebrate their grandparents. These celebrations coincide with National Grandparents’ Day — celebrated this year on Sept. 7.

While celebrated internationally on various days, such as the July World Day for Grandparents and Elderly established by Pope Francis in 2021, this national holiday celebrated during the school year is a tradition where schools invite students’ grandparents to join them.

The importance of grandparents and elders in a community is not to be understated — and it is Pope Leo XIV who calls the elderly “signs of hope” in his 2025 message for World Day for Grandparents and Elderly. “In the Bible, God repeatedly demonstrates his providential care by turning to people in their later years. This was the case not only with Abraham, Sarah, Zechariah and Elizabeth, but also with Moses, who was called to set his people free when he was already 80 years old,” Pope Leo said. “God thus teaches us that, in his eyes, old age is a time of blessing and grace, and that the elderly are, for him, the first witnesses of hope.

“The life of the Church and the world can only be understood in light of the passage of generations. Embracing the elderly helps us to understand that life is more than just the present moment and should not be wasted in superficial encounters and fleeting relationships. Instead, life is constantly pointing us toward the future.”

In his last message for World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, Pope Francis also referred to elders as “‘the firm foundation’ on which ‘new’ stones can rest, in order to join in erecting a spiritual edifice.” In fact, throughout his time as pope, Pope Francis often spoke on the importance of the elderly, specifically in the context of their relationship to young people — as stewards and teachers to one another.

Laura Keener

Editor

The “Restored in Christ” Cathedral restoration project began in 2018 when Father Ryan Maher, rector, was taking his dog on her morning walk. There, on the sidewalk, lay a piece of masonry — maybe from a gargoyle, maybe from a chimera, maybe a piece of tracery — that had fallen from the Cathedral.

“He (Father Maher) raised the question, ‘What’s going on with our Cathedral building?’” Bishop John Iffert told the nearly 100 donors, May 22, at the “Gargoyles and Gratitude” event.

Jim Hess, director, Office of Stewardship and Mission Services, has been leading the “Restored in Christ” $7 million capital campaign. To thank major donors of the project, Mr. Hess hosted Gargoyles and Gratitude, an evening of small plates and socialization, which included eight special guests — eight of the newly crafted 26 chimeras.

Restoration of the Cathedral began just as the capital campaign began. Due to safety concerns, the deteriorating chimeras, popularly referred to as gargoyles, were removed from the Cathedral roof in March 2023, the same month of the launch of the capital campaign. True to the biblical saying, “The first shall be last,” returning the chimeras to their rooftop home, anticipated for late October or early November, will mark the completion of the restoration project.

The name, details and photo of the Covington Cathedral and its Notre Dame, France, cousin accompanied each of the chimera. Mr. Hess introduced the benefactors to “The Goat,” one of the chimeras on display at the event with an explosive past. In 1985, lightning struck The Goat, and he lost his head. A local craftsman created a replacement head, but in 2015, lightning struck again, rendering The Goat headless until its removal in 2023. To recreate The Goat for the restoration project, artisans at Boston Valley Terra Cotta, New York, modeled it from its French cousin. The other 25 chimera were digitally scanned and recrafted.

“It’s been such a privilege getting to know these chimeras,” said Mr. Hess. “I wanted to, at least, have an evening like this where we could spend some time with these before they’re on top of the Cathedral forever.”

In his comments to the benefactors, Bishop Iffert expressed his gratitude, calling the restoration a very practical project. “It was about safety for people in and around the building, and it was about preserving what had been handed on to us, preserving that built tradition,” he said.

Bishop Iffert pointed out that the Cathedral restoration project also has a very spiritual significance, in preserving “that witness to the faith.”

Visiting Covington’s Cathedral, he said, is usually listed second on many lists of “Things to Do in Greater Cincinnati,” just behind attending a Bengals or Reds game, depending on the season. And in a very real and awesome way, the Cathedral is “proclaiming the message of Jesus and His love for you. That’s why it’s so important that we preserve this building. It’s so important that this witness be preserved,” he said.

“When you walk into our Cathedral Church, two things happen. First, you are inspired and enthused … your very posture begins to turn you toward the eschaton, the last things, the aim and goal of life. And all around you, in stone and in stained glass, are the stories of the Scriptures, the stories of the saints, the stories of the Councils, the stories of our Jewish forebears, the stories of those who’ve gone before us, trusting in God. It is a catechism in light … It’s necessary to preserve this and to hand it on for generations so that they know of the love of Christ, that the faith of the apostles is planted firmly in the Bluegrass state, and what generations have handed on to us, we now have a responsibility to hand on to others.”

Staff Report

The Our Savior Parish, Covington, community gathered, Aug. 24, to celebrate Divine Providence Sister Janet Bucher. Sister Janet has served the parish as its pastoral administrator for the past 34 years, retiring from that position July 14 of this year. The celebration began with Mass with a reception following. Near the end of Mass, parishioners expressed their gratitude to Sister Janet, especially for her commitment to African American celebrations — such as the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. discussion breakfast and the recognition of Kawanza. They presented her with a plaque. Most recently, Sister Janet championed the dedication of a Kentucky State historical marker recognizing Our Savior School and Parish for being a center of spiritual, educational and civic life during segregation. The Brotherhood Singers, a local a cappella soul and Gospel group with roots at Our Savior Parish and a favorite of Sister Janet’s, were in attendance to sing a song. Scan the QR code to watch a short video of the celebration.

Maura Baker

Staff Writer

In 2008, Bishop Roger Foys hired Dale Henson as the Diocese of Covington’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Now, 17 years later, Mr. Henson will be retiring from the role.

A mandatory position according to the 1983 Code of Canon Law, the financial officer is responsible for the administration of diocesan monetary assets. An important role that Mr. Henson took to well, according to Bishop Foys, allowing Mr. Henson to become a good friend to the retired bishop. “We’ve carried us through our difficulties, and we’ve bonded closer,” Bishop Foys said at a Curia luncheon celebrating Mr. Henson’s retirement.

“Thank you, we’re grateful to you,” Bishop John Iffert also said, congratulating Mr. Henson on his retirement, “We welcome you back anytime — you are not gone from our lives. We will continue to be connected, and we are very grateful for your service.”

Mr. Henson also took the time to thank the bishops and the other Curia staff in turn — saying that when he joined the Curia, he “felt at home immediately. This is where I was supposed to be.”

“My mother told me one time that, as she got older and looked back on her life, she saw the hand of God in so many places that pushed her in the direction that she went,” Mr. Henson tearfully said. “As I look back over my career, I see the same thing … so, it’s been a pleasure, and, as I said to Bishop in my resignation letter, being the CFO has been the honor of my career. I feel very blessed that I could use my talents in this capacity for the Church.”

The successor to Mr. Henson’s role will be Bob Hagedorn — who previously served in the diocese as the controller under Mr. Henson’s leadership.

“I’m very grateful for Dale, of course, because he mentored me basically for eight years,” Mr. Hagedorn told the <<Messenger>>. “I’m looking forward to working more directly with the pastors and the principals and everything. It (CFO) is a more front-facing position than the back-office position of controller I held previously — and that’s scary, but also exciting. I’m looking forward to that and getting to have relationships with all of these people and build trust with them.”