After Christmas (another afterword)
The readings for the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time — Cycle A — are: Isaiah 49:3, 5–6, 1 Corinthians 1:1–3 and John 1:29–34.
In the Gospel for the solemnity of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, we heard the story of Mary and Joseph searching for Jesus, and his response to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”
Luke tells us that “his mother kept all these things in her heart.” This is not the only time that Luke says this about Mary. A few verses earlier (the Gospel for Christmas Mass at Dawn), Luke writes that the shepherds came and “made known the message that had been told them about this child,” and that “Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.”
In 1935, G. K. Chesterton wrote an article for The Illustrated London News which he entitled After Christmas (An Afterword). He wrote, “One of the strangest things about our own topsy-turvy time is that we all hear such a vast amount about Christmas just before it comes and suddenly hear nothing at all about it afterwards … Everybody writes about what a glorious Christmas we are going to have. Nobody, or next to nobody, ever writes about the Christmas we have just had.” And then comes the most important sentence in the article: “I am going to plead for a longer period in which to find out what was really meant by Christmas; and fuller consideration of what we have really found.”
One of the strengths of our American culture is that we accomplish things; we get things done. One of the weaknesses of our culture is that we spend very little time reflecting on the meaning of what we have done, or of what was done or said to us. We tend to think that what is important is what happened and miss the importance of what “what happened” means.
If we took seriously what the Scriptures tell us, we would learn this. We read in Revelation 21:1, “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more;” and in 2 Peter 3:10, “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and the works that are upon it will be burned up.” In these and other passages, Scripture reminds us that “things” will pass away.
What will be left, then? “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away,” Jesus says in Matthew’s Gospel (24:35). The Greek word here for “words” is logoi. Logos can mean word, but it can also mean “meaning.” Think of how often we say something like, “She is like that because such and such happened to her when she was a child.” Or how often do we note that two people come from the same neighborhood or the same family, and one succeeds in life but the other fails. Events pass away; their meaning is what remains.
The Christmas season has passed away, but what meaning was there in it for us? What did we learn, or could we have learned? Did it change us? How? Could it have changed us if we allowed it? What did Jesus want to do with us, for us, to us, this Christmas? Did we allow Him to do it? What insights came to us as we celebrated Jesus’ birth, as we heard the stories in holy Scripture again? What did we hear in homilies that we should ponder a little longer? Were there any “holy moments,” to use a phrase of Matthew Kelly’s, in the Christmas season? Perhaps we should go back to them and savor them more.
Some people by personality are more reflective than others, and contemplation comes more easily to some than to others, but everyone can learn to think about what happens to them, and the more we think about the meaning of things, the richer our lives will be. Just as if we eat too fast, we miss the full taste and enjoyment of a meal, if we simply “wolf down” the events, songs, Scriptures, conversations, correspondence and homilies of Christmastime and jump back into Ordinary Time, we will miss the richness and lessons of the season. We must let go of the season; it has passed but let us continue to ponder its meaning.
We have mentioned Mary; there is another image we can take from the Christmas story. Two of the creatures of the story — the sheep and the ox — are ruminants, animals that eat rapidly, but then expel harvested forage for further chewing and digesting. Ruminants typically spend one-third or more of their time eating but can spend almost that much time chewing their cud. We can learn a lesson from them: reflecting on what we have heard and learned is a way of garnering all the spiritual nutrition, or meaning, possible.
Whether we use the image of Mary or of the ox and sheep, let us not let Christmas have been just a passing pleasant escape from life, but a season that has changed our lives. Let us respond to Chesterton’s exhortation and take “a longer period in which to find out what was really meant by Christmas; and fuller consideration of what we have really found.”
Let us pray for each other.
Father Stephen Bankemper is pastor, St. Catherine of Siena Parish, Ft. Thomas, Ky.
Inclusive Education Coordinator
/in Curia Openings, Job Postings, School Related OpeningsThe Diocese of Covington Office of Catholic Schools is seeking a part-time Inclusive Education Coordinator. The Inclusive Education Coordinator will be responsible for overseeing inclusive education in Catholic schools and supporting parishes with guidance to promote Catholic communities that welcome children and adults with disabilities. Candidates must hold a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in education with an endorsement or master’s degree in a special education related field. At least 3-5 years’ experience working with students with disabilities is preferred. Qualified candidates should submit a cover letter and resume to Assistant Superintendent, Dr. Michele Ulrich, at mulrich@covdio.org.
8th Grade Language Arts Teacher (Full-time) – St. Pius X School – 2026-2027
/in Job Postings, Teacher OpeningsOverview:
St. Pius X School is seeking a qualified and faith-filled 8th Grade Language Arts teacher to join our dedicated faculty. The ideal candidate will demonstrate a strong commitment to Catholic education, academic excellence, and the spiritual, intellectual, and moral development of students. This position involves teaching reading, writing, grammar, and literature while integrating Catholic values and fostering critical thinking, communication skills, and a love of learning.
Responsibilities:
Qualifications:
How to Apply: Interested candidates should submit a resume, cover letter, and references to Mrs. Jill Lonnemann, St. Pius X School Principal at jlonnemann@teachers.stpiusx.com
Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
/in Go and GlorifyAfter Christmas (another afterword)
The readings for the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time — Cycle A — are: Isaiah 49:3, 5–6, 1 Corinthians 1:1–3 and John 1:29–34.
In the Gospel for the solemnity of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, we heard the story of Mary and Joseph searching for Jesus, and his response to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”
Luke tells us that “his mother kept all these things in her heart.” This is not the only time that Luke says this about Mary. A few verses earlier (the Gospel for Christmas Mass at Dawn), Luke writes that the shepherds came and “made known the message that had been told them about this child,” and that “Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.”
In 1935, G. K. Chesterton wrote an article for The Illustrated London News which he entitled After Christmas (An Afterword). He wrote, “One of the strangest things about our own topsy-turvy time is that we all hear such a vast amount about Christmas just before it comes and suddenly hear nothing at all about it afterwards … Everybody writes about what a glorious Christmas we are going to have. Nobody, or next to nobody, ever writes about the Christmas we have just had.” And then comes the most important sentence in the article: “I am going to plead for a longer period in which to find out what was really meant by Christmas; and fuller consideration of what we have really found.”
One of the strengths of our American culture is that we accomplish things; we get things done. One of the weaknesses of our culture is that we spend very little time reflecting on the meaning of what we have done, or of what was done or said to us. We tend to think that what is important is what happened and miss the importance of what “what happened” means.
If we took seriously what the Scriptures tell us, we would learn this. We read in Revelation 21:1, “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more;” and in 2 Peter 3:10, “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and the works that are upon it will be burned up.” In these and other passages, Scripture reminds us that “things” will pass away.
What will be left, then? “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away,” Jesus says in Matthew’s Gospel (24:35). The Greek word here for “words” is logoi. Logos can mean word, but it can also mean “meaning.” Think of how often we say something like, “She is like that because such and such happened to her when she was a child.” Or how often do we note that two people come from the same neighborhood or the same family, and one succeeds in life but the other fails. Events pass away; their meaning is what remains.
The Christmas season has passed away, but what meaning was there in it for us? What did we learn, or could we have learned? Did it change us? How? Could it have changed us if we allowed it? What did Jesus want to do with us, for us, to us, this Christmas? Did we allow Him to do it? What insights came to us as we celebrated Jesus’ birth, as we heard the stories in holy Scripture again? What did we hear in homilies that we should ponder a little longer? Were there any “holy moments,” to use a phrase of Matthew Kelly’s, in the Christmas season? Perhaps we should go back to them and savor them more.
Some people by personality are more reflective than others, and contemplation comes more easily to some than to others, but everyone can learn to think about what happens to them, and the more we think about the meaning of things, the richer our lives will be. Just as if we eat too fast, we miss the full taste and enjoyment of a meal, if we simply “wolf down” the events, songs, Scriptures, conversations, correspondence and homilies of Christmastime and jump back into Ordinary Time, we will miss the richness and lessons of the season. We must let go of the season; it has passed but let us continue to ponder its meaning.
We have mentioned Mary; there is another image we can take from the Christmas story. Two of the creatures of the story — the sheep and the ox — are ruminants, animals that eat rapidly, but then expel harvested forage for further chewing and digesting. Ruminants typically spend one-third or more of their time eating but can spend almost that much time chewing their cud. We can learn a lesson from them: reflecting on what we have heard and learned is a way of garnering all the spiritual nutrition, or meaning, possible.
Whether we use the image of Mary or of the ox and sheep, let us not let Christmas have been just a passing pleasant escape from life, but a season that has changed our lives. Let us respond to Chesterton’s exhortation and take “a longer period in which to find out what was really meant by Christmas; and fuller consideration of what we have really found.”
Let us pray for each other.
Father Stephen Bankemper is pastor, St. Catherine of Siena Parish, Ft. Thomas, Ky.
St. Timothy group takes on the Big Apple, stuns in Radio City Music Hall performance
/in Featured StoriesBella Bailey
Multimedia Correspondent
Fifty middle school students from St. Timothy School, Union, were selected by Madison Square Garden Group to open for the Radio City Rockettes Christmas Spectacular, Dec. 4. And, after months of preparation with choir director and teacher, Andrew Mason, the students were ready and left to take on the big stage of Radio City Music Hall, New York City.
When Mr. Mason and the students walked onto the stage of an empty Radio City Music Hall to warm up, the reality that soon the 6,000 seats staring back at them would be filled, began to set in.
“They knew what that we were there to do, and that’s to represent our school and represent our Catholic identity … they took that responsibility seriously,” said Mr. Mason. The students sang a medley of Christmas songs, including two church hymns, “Angels We Have Heard on High” and “A Child Is Born in Bethlehem,” and two secular songs, “Somewhere in My Memory” and “Christmas Canon.”
“Our best performance was when we were on the stage singing it, that’s when we sounded our best. I was just super thrilled with how it all came together and how they all work together. It was awesome to see that,” said Mr. Mason.
The grandeur of that moment was not lost on the students, with many noting the sheer scale of the venue and how special the opportunity was.
“I really like New York,” said student Hadley. “It was a lot bigger than I expected and the stage was huge. I didn’t expect it to be that big.”
Another student, Harper, said, “It was really cool to be on the really big stage, and it was a really big city with a lot of lights. It was a really big responsibility since we’re such a small school, it was really cool.”
While standing on the stage, back turned to the audience, focused only on directing his students, Mr. Mason said, an overwhelming sense of pride filled him, knowing how hard the students worked. “Pride, with how hard they worked, their talent, how well they came together as a group. It was just an overwhelming amount of pride,” he said.
“It was kind of a big honor,” said middle school student Lucas, of the opportunity to open for the Rockettes.
Middle school student Ava, said, “It was a once in a lifetime trip, because once we saw the Rockettes go up there, I thought, ‘I was on that stage.’ So, it’s really just a once in a lifetime opportunity.”
The opportunity and experience, Ava said, “shows what we’ve learned here [St. Timothy School] and how far we’ve come.”
St. Mary’s Parish plans Missionary Disciples Workshop
/in Featured Stories, With One HeartLaura Keener
Editor
St. Mary’s Parish in Alexandria is preparing to host a Parish Missionary Disciples (PMD) mini session this winter, aiming to help parishioners grow in faith and learn how to share it with others. The workshop is part of a broader effort to bring evangelization into everyday parish life.
Parishioners Ken Glaser and his wife Amy, along with Russ and Lisa Thacker, are leading the planning. “We thought that doing this workshop would get other people involved and start talking a similar language, similar idea set,” Mr. Glaser said. “We want to see how we can integrate this new evangelization into our parish.”
The idea came after the couples attended the diocesan PMD training as part of Cohort Two. “At first, I was skeptical,” Mr. Glaser admitted. “I went into the first weekend with a thick head. But by the end, I was excited about what would lie ahead. Maybe God had softened my heart a little.”
To help grow the skills learned at PMD, the Glasers began attending the GYMM, (Growing Your Missionary Muscles), a monthly gathering of PMD graduates developed by Bill and Kim Dehlinger and Gerry and Bridget Otto, parishioners at Blessed Sacrament and Mother of God parishes, respectively. Mr. Otto took the six-seminar PMD training developed by the Catholic Leadership Institute and distilled into a mini session of three seminars. Mr. Otto first hosted this mini session at his parish with much success and is now offering it with encouragement to other parishes.
At St. Mary’s, so far, interest has been strong. “Forty people are already registered,” Mr. Glaser said. “About 24 are from St. Mary’s, eight from St. Joe Cold Spring, and the rest from other parishes.” While the workshop is hosted at St. Mary’s, it’s open to anyone in the Diocese of Covington. “We very much wanted to make it something available to the diocese,” Mr. Glaser shared.
The PMD program focuses on helping Catholics feel comfortable sharing their faith. “Evangelization is not a four-letter word,” Mr. Glaser joked. “It’s really just learning how to share your faith and being comfortable with that.”
Mr. Glaser believes that the word evangelization can be intimidating, but in reality, it’s a simple practice of sharing your faith in everyday moments. “When we talk about our faith, even in small ways, we don’t know what effect it will have on somebody,” he said. “All we can do is keep sharing and trust that God is working every day.”
The PMD workshop will give parishioners tools to share their faith in simple, meaningful ways. As Mr. Glaser put it, “It’s exciting to have these conversations and talk about what’s important. We all get caught up in the day-to-day nonsense, but when I spend even 30 seconds talking with God, it makes everything else easier to handle.”
The three-session PMD training will be held on Thursdays, Jan. 22, Feb. 5, and Feb. 19, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at St. Mary Parish, Alexandria. All are welcome! To register, contact Ken Glaser at kenglaser24@gmail.com or call (859) 512-1577.
Faith meets future: educators, parents and leaders explore AI’s role in education at TMU
/in Featured StoriesLaura Keener
Editor
As the global society comes to understand and manage the use of Artificial Intelligence, the Catholic Church, first under Pope Francis and now Pope Leo XIV, encourages bishops, priests, religious and lay faithful, especially educators and parents, to “dedicate themselves to this critical subject with care and attention.” (Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, Antiqua et nova, §5)
As a regional education leader, Thomas More University is hosting an AI summit, entitled “AI & Education: A Catholic Perspective,” Jan. 24. The day will begin 9 a.m. with Mass with Bishop John Iffert at Mary, Seat of Wisdom Chapel on the TMU campus. The presentation will follow in the neighboring Zeigler Auditorium. Everyone is welcome to attend, especially educators and parents — Catholic and non-Catholic.
With all its promise and potential, AI carries with it the specter of misuse and abuse. “…there is broad consensus that AI marks a new and significant phase in humanity’s engagement with technology, placing it at the heart of what Pope Francis has described as an ‘epochal change.’ Its impact is felt globally and in a wide range of areas, including interpersonal relationships, education, work, art, healthcare, law, warfare, and international relations.” (Antiqua et nova, §4)
Of most concern to the Church is “ensuring that its applications are used to promote human progress and the common good.” (Antiqua et nova, §4)
Keynote speaker for the TMU’s AI summit is Matthew Harvey Sanders. Mr. Sanders is CEO of Longbeard, a company founded in 2015 to build AI in service to the Catholic Church. Among its products is the popular Magisterium AI. Unlike ChatGPT, which is an open-source AI platform, Magisterium AI is a closed system sourcing from its own and trusted Catholic organizations in order to provide users accurate information. The Holy See is among its clients.
Dr. John Rudnick, professor at TMU, will also give a presentation on his participation at the 2025 Builders AI Forum in Rome last November. The Forum discussed ways AI can help the Church’s mission of evangelization.
In a letter to participants of the Builders AI Forum, Pope Leo XIV wrote, “Whether designing algorithms for Catholic education, tools for compassionate health care, or creative platforms that tell the Christian story with truth and beauty, each participant contributes to a shared mission: to place technology at the service of evangelization and the integral development of every person.”
Following the presentations, a panel of local educators, a Catholic communicator, and a psychologist will field questions and lead discussion.
“Artificial Intelligence is an enduring reality that will continue to shape our world,” said Dr. Rudnick. “As members of the Catholic Church, we share a profound responsibility to establish ethical frameworks that guide its development and application. This summit is intended to initiate a thoughtful dialogue — one that ensures technology serves the mission of the Church and the common good.”
Thomas More University students and staff attend ‘life changing,’ SEEK conference
/in Featured StoriesBella Bailey
Multimedia Correspondent
More than 30 students, faculty and staff from Thomas More University, Crestview Hills, attended SEEK, January 1-5, traveling to Columbus, Ohio, to experience their faith in a new way. Along with Thomas More University, students from the Newman Club at Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, and students throughout the Diocese of Covington attended.
The annual Catholic conference boasted a record-breaking 26,000 attendees, a 24 percent increase from 2025, busting the “weird narrative,” that, “Gen Z doesn’t care about their faith,” said Amber Konerman, assistant registrar.
Ms. Konerman was one of the staff members to attend SEEK from Thomas More University, chaperoning students like Emily Brown, a second-year psychology and philosophy student. Like many of the other student attendees, Ms. Brown is an active member of campus ministry, leading the organization of on campus Eucharistic adoration for students and community members. When Ms. Brown heard of the opportunity to attend SEEK with Thomas More, she knew, no matter the cost, that she was going to attend.
“I knew I had to go because I’ve never seen that many Catholics my age before, it was a once in a lifetime opportunity,” she said. The lofty $500 conference ticket, in addition to the cost of hotel rooms for the five-day conference, threatened to deter students from attending. However, a donor offered to help pay the way for students, allowing them to “pay what we could,” said Ms. Brown.
Once at SEEK, both Ms. Konerman and Ms. Brown had what they called a “life changing,” experience. “I’ve never seen that many young Catholics in one place before. We were in a room full of 16,000 people who chose to be there on New Year’s Day,” said Ms. Konerman.
In a particularly poignant moment, Ms. Brown was sitting in Mass on the last day of the conference. Listening to the priest’s homily, she closed her eyes and, “I could feel Jesus’ arm around me, like the presence,” she said. This holy moment she attributes to the four days of reveling in likeminded, faith-filled company without the distraction of outside pressures. “I wasn’t thinking ‘Oh, I want to go on my phone right now and look on Instagram,’ I was like, ‘I need to be here right now,’” she said.
As a faculty member, Ms. Konerman said, “It was a really cool experience to see that these students do care about their faith.” A sentiment shared by Ms. Brown, “I can just see in my peers who went, they’re on fire with the Spirit … for young people, the Church is still alive and thriving and we want to spread the word,” she said.
Return of the Disciple Maker Index draws closer — participation from parishioners, parish leadership, needed to develop robust pastoral plans
/in Featured Stories, With One HeartMaura Baker
Staff Writer
In Luke 14:28–31, Jesus asks a crowd travelling with him, “Which of you, wishing to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost to see if he has the resources to complete it? … Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand?”
This quote emphasizes the importance of gathering information — the goal of the upcoming Disciple Maker Index (DMI) survey returning this Lenten season to parishes across the dioceses.
Previously completed by more than 40 percent of parishioners in 2023, the results from the index were pivotal in developing the With One Heart parish and diocesan pastoral plans, which have been put into effect since the previous survey’s completion and the launching of the With One Heart Campaign. Fruits of these plans are already observable, with the establishment of a diocesan youth minister and growth of youth and young adult groups across the diocese, the promotion of the Catholic Leadership Institute and improvements in communications and Hispanic ministry.
Now, the survey returns to read exactly how this progress has changed the responses since the previous round. And, as Deacon Fortner, the Diocese of Covington’s COO puts it, “my intuition tells me that I think this survey’s going to show positive results.”
With a goal of as many answers as possible, parish points of contact will be distributing the survey — which will be made available both physically and through an online portal shared at parishes — beginning Feb. 18, with seven weeks given for parishioners to contribute. From there, the results will be analyzed by individual parishes and updates to plans will be put into effect for a projected June 2026 completion.
“Whether you’re a profit company or nonprofit company or church, the data says that if you have a strategic plan, you have better results,” Deacon Fortner said. “We’re expecting that to hold true here … The data will give pastors insight into what has been working and what needs more focus.”
While it’s the described role of parish points of contact to promote and distribute the survey in their parish communities, Deacon Fortner also emphasized the importance of the clergy’s involvement in the process. “The pastors need to promote this as an important tool as well,” he said. “The better informed the parish leadership is, the better their plans will be.”
Passionist Nuns pray for the Church ahead of World Day of Consecrated Life
/in Featured StoriesBella Bailey
Multimedia Correspondent
A Mass to celebrate the World Day of Consecrated Life will be celebrated by Bishop John Iffert, at the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, Covington, Feb. 7, 10 a.m. The Mass will be attended by consecrated men and women of the Diocese of Covington to celebrate one another, their ministry and service to their communities. Everyone is welcome to attend.
Within the Diocese of Covington there are 11 communities of consecrated religious. While many of the communities live their mission and vocation in the world, ministering to the poor, administering healthcare and teaching, there are others that live a life of contemplative prayer, cloistered from the distractions of the world. The Passionist Nuns, a worldwide community of cloistered contemplative nuns, live to serve their community in prayer. Five of those Passionist Nuns reside in the Diocese of Covington.
Founded by St. Paul of the Cross, the Passionist Nuns, “were founded to pray for the Church,” said Mother Michelle Mudd, superior of the Erlanger community. “The Church needs prayer. One of the models for cloistered contemplative life, Jesus said, he wants us to dedicate our whole life to prayer.”
Passionist Sister Mary Catherine said, “Contemplatives are kind of the heart of the Church, the heart is hidden. I think of us contemplatives as pumping grace to the rest of the Mystical Body.”
“If you remove contemplatives from the Church, and put us all out in the field, the Church would not survive,” said Mother Michelle.
Their robust prayer life flows through their dedication to the passion of Christ. “Our model is ‘May the passion of Jesus Christ be always in our hearts,’ and we bear that in our hearts but then we proclaim it,” said Mother Michelle. “…We proclaim it to the world by living here, maintaining the cloister.”
Sister Mary Catherine said, “It’s our favorite meditation, the Passion, what he (Christ) did. So many people are hurting, they come here for prayers and so to be able to let them know you’re not alone, he knows exactly what you want. In fact, it hit him first, everything was on the cross. I think it gives them comfort to know that, even though they may not feel it, God’s presence is deeper than our feelings.”
“If this is your vocation, this is where you want to be, we don’t want to be out there. We’re called to be in solitude with Jesus,” said Sister Mary Catherine.
Pre-Primary Montessori Co-Teacher (Ages 3-6)
/in Job Postings, School Related Openings, Teacher OpeningsPosition Type: Full-Time
Start Date: 2026-27 school year
About Villa Madonna Montessori
Villa Madonna Montessori is a school in the Diocese of Covington, Kentucky. We are located on the grounds of Villa Madonna Academy alongside St. Walburg Monastery, overlooking the Ohio River. For more than 50 years, we have served families throughout Northern Kentucky.
Position Summary
We are seeking an enthusiastic, child-centered educator to serve as a full-time Pre-Primary Montessori Teacher in a collaborative co-teaching classroom. Montessori certification is preferred but not required.
Key Responsibilities
Qualifications
Compliance Requirements
Employment is contingent upon meeting diocesan and state requirements, including:
Compensation & Benefits
Pay is commensurate with experience. Benefits include a pension plan and health insurance with vision and dental options.
How to Apply
Please email a resume and cover letter to the Director of Villa Madonna Montessori at mbuten@villamadonna.net.