Bella Young
Multimedia Correspondent
Father Sam Owusu, parochial vicar, Mary, Queen of Heaven Parish, Erlanger, celebrated his Silver Jubilee — 25 years in the priesthood, Sept. 15. His celebration was well attended by the priests of the Diocese of Covington, his family, friends and even a king from back home in Ghana. Though Father Owusu has been a priest for 25 years, it took him 15 years and a lot of challenges to make it to the priesthood.
Born in Ghana, Africa, to a large Catholic family, Father Owusu knew from a young age that he wanted to be a priest.
“When I was a kid, it started right from infancy, I was just a small boy. We are born into the Catholic faith; our great grandmothers introduce us to the Catholic faith,” said Father Owusu. “As I grew up, I developed a special interest, going to Mass every Sunday and other weekdays, more especially when I was an altar boy. I was in a mission house with a priest, I was an altar boy. I learned from the priest and that enticed me a lot to be someday like them.”
In Ghana, however, the path to the priesthood is long and difficult, taking 15 total years before becoming ordained. Father Owusu, however, was determined.
“The priests brought the information to those who were willing to enter into the seminary. They have entrance exams, one Saturday we went to the exams and behold, I got admission because I passed. Then it was time for us to get ready for seminary training,” Father Owusu said.
And though he was resolute in his conviction to join the seminary his parents were worried. “It was not until I was ready, when I was about to go, that I told them that this was my plan. I want to go to the seminary and be trained, if possible, to become a priest. They asked me if I could make it because many had attempted but couldn’t succeed. Many went and they failed, and they came back. They were worried if I could make it, if it is my choice, they give me their support,” he said.
With his parent’s support, Father Owusu began “Minor Seminary” which is the equivalent of high school. He attended St. Hubert Seminary in Kumasi for seven years. At the end of each year the seminarians must sit in front of a panel and be asked questions, to ensure that they are ready to move on to the next stage of their formation.
“Every single year you have to appear before a panel at the end of the academic year. You will be with them, and they will give you questions, assessing you. If they have any faults about you, it is there that they make it known to you … When you are in front of the panel, they will be bombarding you with questions. If you are not able to satisfy them, there is another question. During the time you are gone they will cast a lot on you by voting, ‘those who want him to be promoted to the next level show your hand,’” Father Owusu said.
Once Father Owusu completed Minor Seminary he had to complete one year of service to the nation.
“After the seven years we are asked by the Church and the National Government to national service, which is one year. That year is exposure to the world, exposure to people around you, to socialize, to mingle, in school you are not able to, so you are given that freedom and liberty. During that one year I was made a teacher. I was a full-time teacher. I was in elementary,” Father Owusu said.
After the completion of his year of national service he reapplied to attend Major Seminary, which would be another seven years of formation to the priesthood. The curriculum of Major Seminary is broken into three parts. There is one year for the study of spirituality, two years for the study of philosophy and four years for the study of theology.
Major Seminary is the last of many hurdles to becoming a priest, but the greatest of challenges still faced Father Owusu. When it was time to be ordained a deacon, the seminary would send banners to be published at the seminarian’s home parish, and any place they stayed doing mission work. These banners notified people of the seminarians upcoming ordination and invited anyone with grievances against them, or reasons that they should not be made a deacon, to come forward.
“Many people have suffered calamity of that,” said Father Owusu, “because based on the report from those mission churches, from your home parish, from the seminary, it can go against you. Normally, you always have to keep your fingers crossed, praying that you might not fall victim, otherwise it can be a big blow to you. You can become a disgrace to your family, very humiliating, and people look at you in a different eye. You pray that God will always save you out of trouble.”
After being ordained a deacon, Father Owusu was well on his way to being ordained a priest. On July 17, 1999, he was ordained a priest, making him one of only four people from the seminary class of 55 to make it all the way through the 15 years. Once ordained he worked at six different parishes within Kumasi, which is a city in the Ashanti region of Ghana.
In June 2007 he was asked by his Bishop to go serve the West African immigrants in Italy. During his five-year tenure there he was able to establish an additional Catholic church for the immigrant community. While in Italy he had the opportunity to travel to the Island of Malta, Germany, Spain, Sicily and France. While in Spain he attended the 2011 World Youth Day where he and the opportunity to concelebrate Pontifical Mass with Pope Benedict XVI. Upon his return from Italy to Ghana his Bishop asked him if he would consider going to Northern Kentucky.
“And I, like the prophet Isaiah said, ‘Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying: whom shall I send and who will go? Then I said here I am Lord, send me,’” Father Owusu said.
Father Owusu’s first assignment in the Diocese of Covington was to St. Joseph Parish, Cold Spring. After leaving St. Joseph Parish he was assigned to St. Timothy Parish, Union, before landing in his current position as Parochial Vicar at Mary, Queen of Heaven, where, he said, he thoroughly enjoys saying Mass and the people of the parish and school.
St. Paul School celebrates the100-year anniversary of its reopening
/in Featured StoriesBella Young
Multimedia Correspondent
Bishop John Iffert gathered with the Florence community and St. Paul Church, Florence, parishioners to celebrate Mass in honor of the parish school’s 100-year anniversary. Saturday, Sept. 28, St. Paul Church was standing room only with overflow seating in the narthex, a testament to the impact that the school and church have had on the Florence community.
Bishop Iffert took a moment in his homily to reflect on the last 100-plus years of St. Paul Parish and School, using a “History of the Diocese of Covington Kentucky” by Paul E. Ryan as his main point of reference.
“There was a fellow who came here, his name was Cornelius Ahern. He moved into the Florence area, and he tried to find out how many Catholics were here, and he could identify three Catholic households in Florence,” Bishop Iffert said.
One of the Catholics living in Florence was the wife of a protestant doctor, Mrs. Scott. The others were Mr. and Mrs. Ferneding, keepers of the local tavern. Despite the absence of Catholic church in Florence, Mr. Ahern traveled to Covington where he met with the pastor of St. Mary Church, Father Thomas Butler and asked him to come back to the village of Florence and celebrate Mass for the small number of Catholics. It took a few months, but Father Butler made his way to Florence, and in 1851, in the small living room of the Ahern house, the Catholic faith had a new spark in Florence.
That first gathering was larger than expected, however. As Father Butler made his way to Florence, in those few months word had reach Boone County and Taylorsport. People traveled from up to 15 miles away, across counties, to come to the celebration of Mass.
“People came from all over … keep in mind in those days that would be 15 miles of walking, or 15 miles of horseback,” said Bishop Iffert. “Father Butler continued to send a priest out there every couple of months to celebrate Mass in this small Catholic community. In 1855 he established a parish, and the first church was built in 1856, the first resident pastor in 1873,” said Bishop Iffert.
It was that first resident pastor, Rev. Joseph Bent, who worked to open St. Paul School sometime between 1873 and 1877.
“To have the courage to go ahead and build a little room on the back of the small church and start a school. Open to educating Catholic children, hoping to keep them from falling under the influence of the anti-Catholic Know Nothings. Can you imagine how lonely that felt, and how difficult it was,” asked Bishop Iffert. “It was a one room school along the back of the church, and it functioned until 1913, when it closed. I don’t know why it closed, but I know exactly why. It closed for the same reason that Catholic schools always close. Three things open Catholic schools, three things close Catholic schools — Catholic faculty, sufficient students and money,” said Bishop Iffert.
However, as had been made evident, the resiliency of the Catholic community of Florence shone forth once again, and in 1923 Father Herbert Egbring re-opened the school under the care the Sisters of St. Benedict.
In 1924, 100 years ago, the interior of the church was decorated and a new altar installed. It took only two years after the reopening of the school for the number of pupils to outgrow the small one room classroom and in 1925 ground was broken for a new school building. Twenty-six years later, once again, the need for a new school building arose and in 1951, the new, modern school building was blessed upon completion of construction.
The intertwining history of St. Paul Parish and St. Paul School have left an impact on not only the city of Florence but also on the counties surrounding them. It was the bravery of Cornelius Ahern, Rev. Joseph Bent and Father Herbert Egbring, that brought St. Paul Parish and School to the city of Florence where it has shone as a beacon of faith for those near and far, for over 100 years.
Congregation reminded of the uniqueness of the individual, to ‘see Jesus in everyone’ at pro-life Mass
/in Featured StoriesMaura Baker
Staff Writer
The twilight of Oct. 1 brought together people across the diocese in support of life. The Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, Covington, had its pews filled for the 2024 annual Pro-life Mass, organized by the diocesan Pro-life Office.
Bishop John Iffert celebrated the Mass, with Bishop Emeritus Roger Foys in choro, and concelebrated with priests from across the diocese — all having come together to reinforce the Catholic truth of the dignity of life from natural conception to natural death.
Earlier the same day, the Republic of Iran fired missiles upon the state of Israel, with natural disasters and armed conflicts worldwide at the top of many headlines.
Father Daniel Schomaker, pastor, St. Augustine Parish, Covington, and director of the diocesan Office of Worship and Liturgy, served as homilist for the 2024 pro-life Mass, and brought attention to these world events as a pro-life issue.
He began his homily quoting the 1996 film “Matilda,” “Everyone is born, but not everyone is born the same. Some will grow to be butchers, or bakers, or candlestick makers. Some will only be really good at making Jell-O salad. One way or another, though, every human being is unique, for better or for worse.” “It is that uniqueness that makes us so concerned about the preciousness of human life,” Father Schomaker said, “because we have been made unique. There is not now, nor has there ever been, nor will there ever be again in the history of the universe another you.”
“Think about that,” he continued, “There is only ever one you and that is true for every human being God has thought into being.”
Clarifying, Father Schomaker said that existence doesn’t begin at conception — but “at the moment God thinks of you, because it is from that moment God has loved you.”
Because of this uniqueness, “there has to be a dignity in every single one of us,” said Father Schomaker, “because every single one of us brings something new into the world.
During his homily, Father Schomaker recalled a child named Matthew — 24 weeks in utero when he died. When Father Schomaker entered the hospital room, Matthew’s grandfather, who was holding him, said to Father Schomaker, “Look, Father, he’s perfect.”
“That child is perfect because he had been made in the image and likeness of God, and he was unique,” said Father Schomaker.
“Every life is perfect, made as God has chosen,” he said, “which is why we uphold every life as having an innate dignity … the sad thing is, my friends, we live in a world that doesn’t like to recognize the dignity of the human person.”
“As most of you know, there is a conflict going on in the Middle East,” Father Schomaker brought to the congregation’s attention, “and as I was listening to the radio, I hear different sides rejoicing over this conflict — yet no one on the radio seems to be mourning the fact that one group of human beings is taking out after another, and unwilling to recognize the dignity that they each have.”
Towards the end of his homily, Father Schomaker brought up one of his favorite saints: St. Theresa of Calcutta.
“She did not care if you were rich or poor,” he said, “she did not care where you were from; She cared if you were in need.”
Father Schomaker continued, saying, “she was asked one time why she cared for everyone and anyone, and she said ‘I see Jesus in every human being … I serve because I love Jesus.’”
“This is our call, my friends,” he said, “to see Jesus in our neighbor. To see Jesus in our family, to see Jesus in our friends, to see Jesus in the stranger, to see Jesus in the one who might be classified as enemy. It is too easy to get pulled away from recognizing the dignity of every single person who exists on Earth, everyone we are called by the Lord to love. Even those who hate us.”
“Today,” Father Schomaker concluded, “as we come together to pray for life in every stage, from the moment of conception until natural death, let us love. Let us will the good of the other, and see Jesus in everyone.”
Jail Ministry With Chuck Faeth
/in Missionaries of MercyDespite challenging path to priesthood, Father Owusu celebrates his Silver Jubilee
/in Featured StoriesBella Young
Multimedia Correspondent
Father Sam Owusu, parochial vicar, Mary, Queen of Heaven Parish, Erlanger, celebrated his Silver Jubilee — 25 years in the priesthood, Sept. 15. His celebration was well attended by the priests of the Diocese of Covington, his family, friends and even a king from back home in Ghana. Though Father Owusu has been a priest for 25 years, it took him 15 years and a lot of challenges to make it to the priesthood.
Born in Ghana, Africa, to a large Catholic family, Father Owusu knew from a young age that he wanted to be a priest.
“When I was a kid, it started right from infancy, I was just a small boy. We are born into the Catholic faith; our great grandmothers introduce us to the Catholic faith,” said Father Owusu. “As I grew up, I developed a special interest, going to Mass every Sunday and other weekdays, more especially when I was an altar boy. I was in a mission house with a priest, I was an altar boy. I learned from the priest and that enticed me a lot to be someday like them.”
In Ghana, however, the path to the priesthood is long and difficult, taking 15 total years before becoming ordained. Father Owusu, however, was determined.
“The priests brought the information to those who were willing to enter into the seminary. They have entrance exams, one Saturday we went to the exams and behold, I got admission because I passed. Then it was time for us to get ready for seminary training,” Father Owusu said.
And though he was resolute in his conviction to join the seminary his parents were worried. “It was not until I was ready, when I was about to go, that I told them that this was my plan. I want to go to the seminary and be trained, if possible, to become a priest. They asked me if I could make it because many had attempted but couldn’t succeed. Many went and they failed, and they came back. They were worried if I could make it, if it is my choice, they give me their support,” he said.
With his parent’s support, Father Owusu began “Minor Seminary” which is the equivalent of high school. He attended St. Hubert Seminary in Kumasi for seven years. At the end of each year the seminarians must sit in front of a panel and be asked questions, to ensure that they are ready to move on to the next stage of their formation.
“Every single year you have to appear before a panel at the end of the academic year. You will be with them, and they will give you questions, assessing you. If they have any faults about you, it is there that they make it known to you … When you are in front of the panel, they will be bombarding you with questions. If you are not able to satisfy them, there is another question. During the time you are gone they will cast a lot on you by voting, ‘those who want him to be promoted to the next level show your hand,’” Father Owusu said.
Once Father Owusu completed Minor Seminary he had to complete one year of service to the nation.
“After the seven years we are asked by the Church and the National Government to national service, which is one year. That year is exposure to the world, exposure to people around you, to socialize, to mingle, in school you are not able to, so you are given that freedom and liberty. During that one year I was made a teacher. I was a full-time teacher. I was in elementary,” Father Owusu said.
After the completion of his year of national service he reapplied to attend Major Seminary, which would be another seven years of formation to the priesthood. The curriculum of Major Seminary is broken into three parts. There is one year for the study of spirituality, two years for the study of philosophy and four years for the study of theology.
Major Seminary is the last of many hurdles to becoming a priest, but the greatest of challenges still faced Father Owusu. When it was time to be ordained a deacon, the seminary would send banners to be published at the seminarian’s home parish, and any place they stayed doing mission work. These banners notified people of the seminarians upcoming ordination and invited anyone with grievances against them, or reasons that they should not be made a deacon, to come forward.
“Many people have suffered calamity of that,” said Father Owusu, “because based on the report from those mission churches, from your home parish, from the seminary, it can go against you. Normally, you always have to keep your fingers crossed, praying that you might not fall victim, otherwise it can be a big blow to you. You can become a disgrace to your family, very humiliating, and people look at you in a different eye. You pray that God will always save you out of trouble.”
After being ordained a deacon, Father Owusu was well on his way to being ordained a priest. On July 17, 1999, he was ordained a priest, making him one of only four people from the seminary class of 55 to make it all the way through the 15 years. Once ordained he worked at six different parishes within Kumasi, which is a city in the Ashanti region of Ghana.
In June 2007 he was asked by his Bishop to go serve the West African immigrants in Italy. During his five-year tenure there he was able to establish an additional Catholic church for the immigrant community. While in Italy he had the opportunity to travel to the Island of Malta, Germany, Spain, Sicily and France. While in Spain he attended the 2011 World Youth Day where he and the opportunity to concelebrate Pontifical Mass with Pope Benedict XVI. Upon his return from Italy to Ghana his Bishop asked him if he would consider going to Northern Kentucky.
“And I, like the prophet Isaiah said, ‘Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying: whom shall I send and who will go? Then I said here I am Lord, send me,’” Father Owusu said.
Father Owusu’s first assignment in the Diocese of Covington was to St. Joseph Parish, Cold Spring. After leaving St. Joseph Parish he was assigned to St. Timothy Parish, Union, before landing in his current position as Parochial Vicar at Mary, Queen of Heaven, where, he said, he thoroughly enjoys saying Mass and the people of the parish and school.
Holy Cross District High School is recognized as a National Blue-Ribbon School
/in Featured StoriesBella Young
Multimedia Correspondent
Holy Cross District High School, Covington, has been awarded its first distinction as a National Blue-Ribbon School. They are the only school in the Diocese of Covington be awarded the blue ribbon in 2024. The National Blue Ribbon program recognizes outstanding public and nonpublic elementary, middle, and high schools based on overall high academic achievement or success is closing the achievement gap among diverse groups of students.
The path to recognition as a Blue-Ribbon School is not an easy one. The application process is rigorous, requiring the submission of test scores, faculty interviews and a written application. This process alone deters many.
“I did some research over the last few days,” said Mike Holtz, principal, Holy Cross District High School, “there are over 30,000 high schools and grades schools in the United States of America, only 356 are recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School, and that’s us.”
This distinction sets Holy Cross apart as one of the top 1.2 percent of schools across the United States. Each year, the National Blue Ribbon accepts 420 nominations of which 356 are selected.
Upon seeing their school listed as a Blue Ribbon recipient the students, who had all been gathered in the gymnasium, erupted into cheers as confetti and balloons rained down around them. Students hugged and high fived as chants of “We are H.C.” rang out among them. The students, faculty and staff cheered and jumped for five consecutive minutes, celebrating the achievement that marks not just their success, but the successes of those that helped get there.
“One hundred years ago was Holy Cross’ first graduating class … This honor is a long time in the making. Yes, we sent our test scores in, we filled out the form, answered the questions of what we’re doing now, but there have been a ton of people who have gotten us to this point,” said Mr. Holtz standing in front of teachers past and present, and a few alumni who were in attendance. “What we’re being recognized for now is what we have been doing for a long, long time. This honor is not only about the now, it’s for everybody who got us here.”
“I just want to tell you how awesome it is to be here. You are the only school in the Diocese of Covington who is being recognized for a Blue Ribbon today, so congratulations,” said Kendra McGuire, Superintendent of Schools, Diocese of Covington, as the students erupted into more cheers. “On behalf of Bishop Iffert and the Diocese of Covington, and in particular our Schools Office, we send our sincere congratulations to you for all this hard work. I will tell you; this is a lot of hard work.
“As your principal pointed out, very few schools are recognized each year for this award. This is a testament to the leadership here at Holy Cross, to your incredible teachers and especially you. The only way you can get your Blue Ribbon application in is to have good test scores, so that means you are working hard, and you are doing a great job,” said Mrs. McGuire.
In Favor of School Choice
/in Catholic EducationBy Jason Hall.
In November, Kentucky voters will be asked to approve a constitutional amendment on educational choice. This is a unique opportunity to advance the well-being of all Kentucky students and I encourage everyone to support it.
All of our neighboring states have educational choice programs that provide widespread opportunity for their students. Kentucky has none of these programs.
This is because the Kentucky Supreme Court has interpreted our state Constitution in a very narrow way, preventing the legislature from passing similar laws. In fact, the Court has ruled that any educational support for students outside of public schools is prohibited.
The good news is that Kentucky voters now have the opportunity to right this wrong. A YES vote on Amendment 2 supports giving the Kentucky General Assembly the ability to pass educational policies that support all students.
Opponents of Amendment 2 often paint a bleak picture of destructive policies that the legislature could theoretically adopt if the amendment is approved. They assert that Amendment 2 will destroy public education.
However, that has certainly not been the experience of the 48 states that have some form of educational choice. States like Ohio and Indiana, which have some of the oldest and most robust choice programs, boast public school student outcomes that surpass Kentucky’s.
Furthermore, the opponents’ claims run contrary to the laws that have already been passed in Kentucky, that were subsequently struck down by the Supreme Court.
The primary school choice policy that has been pursued by legislators and thwarted by the Court’s ruling was HB 563, passed in 2021 and strongly supported by the Catholic Conference. HB 563 provided a tax credit for donations to fund assistance based on financial need and required that a majority of the aid awarded go to high need students.
The assistance awarded under this program could have been used for non-public school tuition, but also for many other educational needs. A student could be awarded funds to pay for online learning, tutoring, computers and software, testing fees, educational therapies, fees for dual-credit courses, among other needs.
These accounts would have met the needs of thousands of students and enhanced opportunities for students in non-public schools, public schools, or homeschools, all based on need. And this would have been new educational funding raised through the tax credit program, not money redirected from existing education funding. In fact, the same year legislators passed HB 563, they provided over $100 million in new funding for public school systems.
Education is a justice issue. The state has an obligation to ensure that every student has access to a quality education, and to do that in a way that provides parents with, as Pope St. Paul VI said, “true liberty in their choice of schools.”
There is no reason we should not have well-funded public schools alongside programs providing for other choices where there is a need. Amendment 2 will allow Kentucky to consider and adopt creative solutions to Kentucky’s educational challenges.
Jason Hall is the executive director of the Catholic Conference of Kentucky.
In favor of school choice
/in Yes on TwoJason Hall
Executive Director of the Catholic Conference of Kentucky
In November, Kentucky voters will be asked to approve a constitutional amendment on educational choice. This is a unique opportunity to advance the well-being of all Kentucky students and I encourage everyone to support it.
All of our neighboring states have educational choice programs that provide widespread opportunity for their students. Kentucky has none of these programs.
This is because the Kentucky Supreme Court has interpreted our state Constitution in a very narrow way, preventing the legislature from passing similar laws. In fact, the Court has ruled that any educational support for students outside of public schools is prohibited.
The good news is that Kentucky voters now have the opportunity to right this wrong. A YES vote on Amendment 2 supports giving the Kentucky General Assembly the ability to pass educational policies that support all students.
Opponents of Amendment 2 often paint a bleak picture of destructive policies that the legislature could theoretically adopt if the amendment is approved. They assert that Amendment 2 will destroy public education.
However, that has certainly not been the experience of the 48 states that have some form of educational choice. States like Ohio and Indiana, which have some of the oldest and most robust choice programs, boast public school student outcomes that surpass Kentucky’s.
Furthermore, the opponents’ claims run contrary to the laws that have already been passed in Kentucky, that were subsequently struck down by the Supreme Court.
The primary school choice policy that has been pursued by legislators and thwarted by the Court’s ruling was HB 563, passed in 2021 and strongly supported by the Catholic Conference. HB 563 provided a tax credit for donations to fund assistance based on financial need and required that a majority of the aid awarded go to high need students.
The assistance awarded under this program could have been used for non-public school tuition, but also for many other educational needs. A student could be awarded funds to pay for online learning, tutoring, computers and software, testing fees, educational therapies, fees for dualcredit courses, among other needs.
These accounts would have met the needs of thousands of students and enhanced opportunities for students in non-public schools, public schools, or homeschools, all based on need. And this would have been new educational funding raised through the tax credit program, not money redirected from existing education funding. In fact, the same year legislators passed HB 563, they provided over $100 million in new funding for public school systems.
Education is a justice issue. The state has an obligation to ensure that every student has access to a quality education, and to do that in a way that provides parents with, as Pope St. Paul VI said, “true liberty in their choice of schools.”
There is no reason we should not have well-funded public schools alongside programs providing for other choices where there is a need. Amendment 2 will allow Kentucky to consider and adopt creative solutions to Kentucky’s educational challenges.
Jason Hall is the executive director of the Catholic Conference of Kentucky
Coming to a yard near you — Yes On 2
/in Yes on TwoStudents from Covington Latin School, Covington, lend a helping hand to the Yes On 2 campaign by taking time out of their school day to assemble yard signs in support of Issue 2. If passed, Issue 2 would amend Kentucky’s constitution to allow Kentucky lawmakers to craft legislation that could provide funds to help students attend non-public schools or receive other educational services outside of the public school system. The amendment puts students first when considering educational opportunities. Kentucky is one of only two states that do not offer financial support for some kind of educational options for parents beyond local public schools. Every state surrounding Kentucky does offer financial support for educational options. In addition to displaying a yard sign, there are many ways to help pass this important amendment for the children of Kentucky. Visit https://covdio.org/yesontwo or contact David Cooley, Diocese of Covington project manager, at dcooley@covdio.org.
Catholic Charities twofold approach to jail and prison ministry gives families and inmates hope, said Dave Capella
/in Campaign of MercyBella Young
Multimedia Correspondent
The jail and prison ministry at Catholic Charities is twofold, with volunteers going into the jails and ministering to inmates and with others leading a support group for families and friends of the incarcerated. Dave Capella, former jail ministry coordinator and current jail ministry volunteer at Catholic Charities, thinks the twofold approach is beneficial to both the families of the incarcerated, and the incarcerated themselves.
“Really both are, I think, equally important. I do like connecting with inmates because … they really are very appreciative of us coming in. Really the same goes for the people whose family members are incarcerated … The support group is important for them to be able to connect with people that are in similar situations,” said Mr. Capella.
Part of what makes Catholic Charities jail and prison ministry unique is the inclusion of the Catholic faith when speaking with the inmates.
“We do emphasis our faith … we are there to share our faith. There is usually a Scripture involved, a Scripture reading, some reflection on that Scripture. We have some discussion around that, and then usually there is some general discussion about how things are going. Sometimes the conversation talks about practical things, but we always start with faith and make sure we have that woven into the discussion,” said Mr. Capella.
The inclusion of faith woven into the conversation, Mr. Capella said, helps to give the inmates some kind of hope. “I think it does give them hope. I think it is important to let them know that while other people may have given up on them, while other people might judge them, God, Christ, is there for them. God’s mercy is unlimited. There’s always a second, or third, or fourth, however many chances you need, God’s there for you. I think it is important for them to hear that message because a lot of people have given up on them.”
While ministering to the incarcerated is an important part of jail ministry, and often what people first think of when they hear the term, Catholic Charities twofold approach also ministers to those affected by incarceration who aren’t behind bars. It is common, Mr. Capella said, for the family of those incarcerated to be shunned by their peers.
“A lot of times families or people whose relatives are incarcerated will lose their circle of friends because of that incarceration. So, the support group is important for them to be able to connect with people that are in similar situations and know that they are not alone. It’s a place for them to talk about their experiences without being judged,” said Mr. Capella.
Mr. Capella recalled a time where a guest of the support group said, “that the only other people they have ever talked to in their life who had a relative that was incarcerated were people in that group. That gave them an opportunity to talk about it and no one was going to judge them for it.”
If you are interested in joining jail ministry at Catholic Charities, Mr. Capella said not to be concerned if you do not feel like an expert in Scripture or Catholicism. Rather, you must have an open heart and mind.
“You just have to be able to go in and be willing to talk with them and if we read a passage from Scripture just talk about what it means for you. Really, we want the inmates to do most of the talking. You don’t have to be an expert in Scripture, you don’t have to be an expert in Catholicism, you just have to be willing to listen and talk to somebody who has been kind of pushed aside from society,” he said.
For some however, you may not feel a calling to jail ministry, if that is the case Mr. Capella says there is still a way to be involved. “Pray for those incarcerated, pray for them and pray for their families,” he said.
For information on Catholic Charities jail and prison ministry call Catholic Charities, (859) 581-8974
Seminary Ball returns for 2024 event with new location and video focusing on new ‘Propaedeutic Year’ of seminarian formation
/in Featured StoriesMaura Baker
Staff Writer
The Seminary Ball — an annual soiree raising money for the Seminarian Education Fund — is preparing to return for its 2024 event the evening of Oct. 18.
This year, the event will be held at a new location, the Receptions event center in Erlanger, and will feature a full open bar for the entirety of the evening, and a tent-covered outdoors to enjoy during cocktail hour before and after the program. John Garvey, the emcee for last year’s event, will be returning to emcee at the 2024 Seminary Ball — and the seminarian “Q&A” with Bishop John Iffert, which allowed attendees to submit questions for the seminarians, will return as well.
Deacon Joshua Heskamp, who entered the transitional diaconate early this year and will be ordained in the upcoming spring, will be the seminarian speaker at the event.
In addition to these changes, the yearly video that releases for the Seminary Ball as promotion for the Seminarian Education Fund, will be focusing on a new aspect of seminarian formation in the United States — the Propaedeutic Year — with perspectives from seminarians William Fuller and Andrew Pugh, who entered seminary last year and were among the first to experience this additional year of “prayer, study and community.”
“We’ll be talking about the Propaedeutic Year and those new stages of formation, called the PPF, or Program of Priestly Formation,” said Jim Hess, director of the diocesan Office of Stewardship and Mission, which hosts the ball. “That’ll be a knowledge piece — we’re trying to make people more aware of where they are.”
With intention on teaching and sharing more about the process that seminarians go through, changes to both seminarian posters and pages on the diocesan website are being put into place as well. The new PPF is divided into four stages: the Propaedeutic Stage (Build the Basics), the Discipleship Stage (Deepen Faith), the Configuration Stage (Shepherd Like Christ) and the Transitional Diaconate (Unite and Ordain).
“It’s still very much worth looking into the Propaedeutic Year and applying for the seminary,” William Fuller says in the new video, “because here you’ll have more opportunity to pray than anywhere else — and prayer is really where discernment lives.”
Currently, there are five seminarians in the Diocese of Covington — and all the money raised the night of the Seminary Ball goes into funding their education, as well as the money raised in the collection the following weekend, said Mr. Hess. “The ball benefits the collection directly.”
For more information on the Seminary Ball, or to register for the event, visit https://covdio.org/seminaryball/.