Bella Bailey

Multimedia Correspondent

The annual Mass opening the new school year had the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, Covington, filled to max capacity as faculty and staff from schools across the Diocese gathered to celebrate the start of the 2025-2026 school year. The Mass, celebrated by Bishop John Iffert and organized by the Diocese of Covington Office of Catholic Schools, is a way for these school faculty and staff to gather in communion with one another before the hustle and bustle of a new year.

“In just a few days, you will welcome students into your classroom,” said Kendra McGuire, superintendent. “Each child in your class will be unique coming to you from different families, backgrounds and experience, their interests, talents and abilities will be unique too.”

Mrs. McGuire continued saying, “This year, let’s teach by looking at each child as Jesus would, to love them as Jesus would.”

A sentiment reaffirmed in the first reading, Numbers 11:4b-15, and Gospel reading Matthew 14:13-21, which showcased Jesus’ merciful love and unending patience as a teacher to all.

In his homily, Bishop Iffert reflected on the first reading, where God provided for the Israelites in the desert with manna. This manna, said Bishop Iffert, would provide all they would need to sustain life, but still, they griped.

“Oh yeah, the Lord saved our lives. But what a monotonous and terrible life it is. Manna every morning, manna every noon time, manna every evening,” Bishop Iffert said, echoing the cries of the Israelites. After hearing the plight of Moses and his people, in his infinite mercy, God provided the Israelites with quail, giving his people meat.

Perhaps a moment many teachers have experienced, when they have given all, they have to give, and still the student entrusted to their care asks for more.

“There will come a day this year,” said Bishop Iffert addressing the teachers in attendance, “when you’re tested, when you feel like ‘I have nothing left to offer.’ In that moment Jesus invites us, ‘What do you have? What’s left? What scrap?’ And when we bring it to him, he will bless that, he will break that, and he will give for the life of the world.”

In the same way that Jesus, grieving the death of John the Baptist in the Gospel reading, fed the 5,000 that followed him, though he was tired, grief stricken, and “he’s had just about enough,” said Bishop Iffert.

“Jesus teaches us the way to respond when we feel alone and tired and put upon and ground down and abused,” said Bishop Iffert. For, in spite of his grief and exhaustion, Jesus took five loaves and two fishes, and from these scraps fed the masses.

This year, as teachers bring to the feet of Jesus their scraps, Bishop Iffert said, Jesus will break it, as he did the loaves and fish, “and this is the promise, it will be plenty. It will be plenty for you, it will be plenty for them. That is the promise,” said Bishop Iffert.

Echoing the early message from Mrs. McGuire, Bishop Iffert said, “Trusting in Christ, we hold our heads high. We commit ourselves to these children and to their families. We strive to be like Christ, and we beg him to be our support.”

“Thank you,” he continued, “for leading these children to the truth. I thank you for giving them the example of one who follows Jesus Christ, even unto the cross. I thank you for your dedication and devotion this year”

As the new school year opens, teachers remember, that when there seems to be no more to give, offer the scraps to God, and he will make it plentiful, “that is the promise,” said Bishop Iffert.

Laura Keener

Editor

The major councils of the Church were highlighted at St. Ann Church, Covington, as the mission celebrated its 138th annual St. Ann Novena, July 18–26. Father Aby Thampi, pastor, welcomed a variety of diocesan priests and deacons to preach each night of the novena. Father Eric Boelscher, pastor, St. Joseph Parish, Crescent Springs, was celebrant and homilist on evening five; his topic was the Lateran Councils.

A quick show-of-hands survey determined that attendees were not adept on their knowledge of the Lateran Councils, alleviating any fact-checking, Father Boelscher humorously acknowledged. The Lateran Councils are five ecumenical councils that were held at the Lateran Palace in Rome over the course of about 400 years — First (1123), Second (1139), Third (1179), Fourth (1215), and Fifth (1512-1517).

It was a time, Father Boelscher said, when Church leaders couldn’t agree on almost anything. The first three councils occurred in quick succession because of this inability. And while there was an abundance of issues to discuss, during the fourth council Church leaders were determined to at least agree on the basics and were able to formally define the doctrine of transubstantiation, stating that in the Eucharist, the bread and wine are substantially changed into the Body and Blood of Christ.

“There is one thing we need to agree on, we all need to be real clear about who this is on the altar at each Mass. And once we get that, every promise and problem will be taken care of. All we are supposed to do is go and tell everyone we have seen the Lord,” Father Boelscher said.

Every evening of the novena has been recorded and is available for viewing on the “Saint John and Saint Ann Churches” Facebook page.

Laura Keener

Editor

In the summer of 1943 — during the years of segregation (the 58 years between the 1896 Plessy v. Ferguson Supreme Court decision, which legalized “equal but separate accommodations for the white and colored races” and the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education decision, which made racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional) — Bishop Francis Howard, the Diocese of Covington’s fifth Bishop, erected Our Savior Church and School.

Our Savior Church and School served as a mission of the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, Covington, for the worship and educational needs of black Catholics. The diocese purchased two properties on East Tenth Street, Covington, converting a single-family house into a church building and a two-family house into classrooms and a convent for the Sisters of Divine Providence, who staffed and operated the school. Divine Providence Sister Francis de Sales was the school’s first superior. She was assisted by Sisters Rita Marie and Mary Clementia.

The grades one-through-12 school opened September 1943, with an enrollment of 56 pupils — 14 of whom were Catholic. Our Savior School was one of only two schools in Northern Kentucky accepting black students and the only Catholic school to do so. During segregation, some states would allow white private schools to accept black students. Kentucky was not one of those states. In Kentucky, it was illegal for both public and private schools to accept both white and black students.

Under state law at the time, blacks paid property taxes that funded schools that excluded blacks from enrollment. In Northern Kentucky, Covington’s Lincoln (elementary school opened in 1880) – Grant (high school opened 1886) school, located just blocks from Our Savior on Seventh Street, was the only public school accepting black students. Parents from neighboring counties wanting a formal education for their black children would need to travel to one of these two Covington schools.

Due to desegregation, Our Savior high school closed in 1956, with the elementary school following in 1963. Its public-school counterpart did likewise with the high school closing in 1965 and the elementary school closing in 1976. In 1981, Bishop William Hughes elevated Our Savior from a mission of the Cathedral to a parish.

“Many people have already forgotten that. They don’t know that there was a black Catholic school here,” said Divine Providence Sister Janet Bucher, July 12, at the unveiling of the state historical marker dedicated to Our Savior Church and School. “We need to keep that history alive and let people remember.”

Dignitaries attending the marker unveiling included Father Mark Keene, vicar general, Diocese of Covington; Ronald Washington, mayor of Covington; Jim Seaver, community engagement coordinator, Kentucky Historical Society; and Divine Providence Sister Barbara Rohe, provincial superior, Congregation of Divine Providence, Melbourne. The voices of Covington’s own Brotherhood Singers added to the celebration with an acapella rendition of Curtis Mayfield’s “People Get Ready.”

“In 1963, the school closed but the building and the graduates that came from it are still alive today and contributing to our society,” said Mayor Washington, who spoke at the unveiling. “Imagine how many buildings did the children back then walk past to go to one of these two schools. And would you imagine that today you have a black mayor. This speaks volumes to you all, to our community. This marker represents so much about what’s Covington. The City of Covington thanks you and we look forward to the next stages of this great journey we are all on.”

After the unveiling of the marker, Father Keene blessed the marker and the people in attendance.

“I’m very honored to be here to do this blessing,” Father Keene said. “I read years ago about how important it is for us to be reminded, and maybe even more importantly to be taught. A marker like this reminds us and teaches us about our heritage, those who have gone before us, those whose shoulders we stand. Hopefully we will be good stewards of the gifts that we got from all of them.”

Getting the historical marker at Our Savior Parish took about three years and was not without struggle. Recently, the Kentucky Historical Society had updated the historical marker program to classify cemeteries and houses of worship as local history topics, “and not necessarily the best fit for the state-level program,” said Mr. Seaver. “But Sister Janet was very adamant. She said there is a story here that is more than just the local community. There is a story worth celebrating. There is a story that has a footprint well beyond just the neighborhood where this historical marker would be.”

From that initial phone call, Mr. Seaver said, he and Sister Janet developed a wonderful working relationship.

“The thing that always shone through in our communications was that there was so much love that Sister Janet and so many others have for this house of worship, for the community it serves, for the story and for the heritage of Our Savior Church and School,” Mr. Seaver said. “It was truly a blessing for me to be involved in this project.”

Also in attendance were Divine Providence Sister Alice Marie Schmersal (formerly Sister Monica Joseph), who taught at Our Savior School, and former students, Ella Blackwell Helmes, Owen Lewis, James Penman, James Stowers and Jeff Stowers. Rosa Hollis-Bird, an Our Savior elementary school student who went on to finish her high school education at Notre Dame Academy, (1962) Park Hills, was also in attendance.

“As a first grader it was a little scary at first,” said Mr. Penman. “I had a good teacher here who made us feel welcome,” he said nodding toward Sister Alice Marie.

“I was kind but firm,” Sister Alice Marie said. About her students, Sister Alice Marie said, “Each, as an individual, can learn.”

“My whole family went here; we were baptized in this Church and First Communion. We all grew up here, all 13 of us,” said Mrs. Blackwell Helmes about her and her siblings. Mrs. Blackwell Helmes said that a favorite school memory was ringing the bell for recess and playing ball. She has the bell, which has a revered place in her home. And though she has moved away, she said she always comes back to Our Savior Parish. “I’ve always loved Sister Janet and Our Savior.”

Coincidentally, after 34 years as pastoral administrator of Our Savior Parish, Sister Janet retired July 14. (See related story on page 1.) Father Michael Comer has been assigned pastor of Our Savior Parish.

“It’s so nice to see the historical marker here put in just a few days shy of your retirement,” said Mr. Seaver. “It’s a very fitting tribute for all the good work you have done for this community through the decades. Sister Janet, thank you so much.”

For a related story go to https://covdio.org/sisterjanetretires/

Maura Baker

Staff Writer

In the Diocese of Covington, five elementary schools fall under the ACUE (Alliance for Catholic Urban Education) banner. Serving the Covington deanery, ACUE’s mission is to “preserve Catholic education in urban areas,” providing tuition assistance to low-income families, and with it the option for a Catholic education.

While these schools and the aid they provide are in part funded by the diocese’s 13 urban parishes, ACUE relies on donations from parishioners and community as a primary source of funds — and as a way to lessen the load on both the parishes and the diocese at large.

The Summer Mission Collection, which runs from July to the weekend of August 17, is just one of the fundraising efforts on behalf of ACUE and the Office of Stewardship and Mission — encouraging contributions during weekend Masses from not just the urban parishes, but suburban and rural parishes as well.

“Tuition assistance is our greatest thing,” according to Beth Ruehlmann, ACUE’s director of development, “We build on what’s most important — to allow the children access to the schools.”

Although ACUE school budgets are often very lean, children in the diocesan urban schools benefit from a “solid education,” said Ms. Ruehlmann, including small class sizes and “all the hallmarks of Catholic education.” Of all students who attend ACUE schools, a minimum of 90 percent move on to a Catholic High School — and a strong 99 percent of those students attend college, trade school or enter the armed forces.

“We know that the children (who attend ACUE schools) were not being served through the public schools,” she continued, “They were falling through the cracks … those families needed an alternative, and what’s what we are. It’s important to maintain a presence in our urban neighborhoods.”

To learn more about ACUE schools, or to make a financial contribution, visit https://covdio.org/acue/.

Bella Bailey

Multimedia Correspondent

The Jubilee of Young People is set to take place July 28–August 3 as part of the 2025 Jubilee Year: Pilgrims of Hope. Specific jubilee days within the jubilee year are meant to celebrate and recognize groups of people within the Church, highlighting them and their contributions.

The Jubilee of Young People, or youth, recognizes men and women ages 18-35 and invites them to continue on their journeys as Pilgrims of Hope.

In his 2023 message to youth for World Youth Day the late Holy Father Pope Francis said, “As young people, you are indeed the joyful hope of the Church and of a humanity always on the move.”

It is a continuation, then, of this joyful hope that will draw an estimated 1,000,000 young people to Rome, fulfilling their jubilee call to be pilgrims of hope.

“To the young people gathered here I would like to say that you are the promise of hope for so many of us,” said Pope Leo XIV in a video message during Mass at White Sox Stadium, Chicago, June 14, “…As you offer your own experience of joy and hope you find out, you can discover, that you too are indeed beacons of hope.”

The light from that beacon of hope is the radiant faith in Jesus Christ, said Pope Leo XIV, which grows brighter as people grow in unity and communion with others. Pilgrims traveling to Rome for the Jubilee of Young People will have the chance to unite and grow in that communion with others.

For those unable to travel to Rome there are many ways to engage with the local faith community and prayerfully participate in the Jubilee of Young People. Making a pilgrimage to a diocesan cathedral is recommended by the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops (USCCB) as a way to participate and become a pilgrim of hope during the jubilee.

The Diocese of Covington’s own Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, Covington, has been designated by Bishop John Iffert as a sacred site where one could receive a jubilee indulgence, as well as St. John the Evangelist Church, Carrollton and St. Patrick Church, Maysville. A pilgrimage to any one of these sacred sites will allow those unable to attend the celebrations in Rome to have a pilgrimage experience for the Jubilee of Young People.

In addition to pilgrimages to local jubilee sites, the USCCB also recommends taking time for prayer and reflection. Specifically focusing on God’s providential graces and divine mercy, prayer is another way to celebrate the Jubilee of Young People from home.

In his video message Pope Leo XIV said, “When I see each and every one of you, when I see how people gather together to celebrate their faith, I discover how much hope there is in the world. In this Jubilee Year of Hope, Christ — who is our hope — calls all of us to come together that we might be that true living example of the light of hope in the world today.”