Bella Bailey
Multimedia Correspondent
After a years-long capital campaign and ongoing construction, St. Joseph Parish, Crescent Springs, rededicated its church and consecrated the altar, April 5, in a Mass celebrated by Bishop Emeritus Roger Foys, and with a congregation that filled the church to capacity.
The “Living our Faith, Building our Future” capital campaign began after concerns arose over how the existing facilities and buildings were negatively impacting the mission of St. Joseph Parish. Its mission, “to bring everyone in the Villa Hills and Crescent Springs community to the knowledge of Christ’s love,” as it reads on the St. Joseph Parish website, was being hindered by a leaky roof, poor sound system, loud HVAC unit and an austere sanctuary.
Father Eric Boelscher, pastor, St. Joseph Parish, said, “one of the convictions that runs deep in our parish is that every soul in Crescent Springs and Villa Hills is meant to worship God at our altar. This altar belongs just as much to the person who hasn’t yet heard the Good News as it does to those of us who pack the pews each Sunday. The recent consecration of the altar marks the center point and crown of the many blessings and projects that have taken shape across the parish in recent years.”
In the summer of 2021, the capital campaign officially launched with a feasibility study where it was determined that a goal of $5,000,000 was attainable and likely. Since then, the campaign has raised north of $7,000,000 according to campaign chair Paul Ritter.
The needs of the church, such as new, ADA compliant bathrooms, structural work, HVAC unit, the renovation of Noll Hall, a STEAM Lab for the school children and an overhaul of the parish office, were sorted through and ranked in order of absolute necessity.
“Phase one was basically the water issues, the foundation, the roof, gutter system and then the drainage. The HVAC was also in there because that was basically nonexistent,” said Mr. Ritter.
The water issues to which Mr. Ritter was referring was the small stream that formed in Noll Hall every time it rained.
“It [Noll Hall] is where the school children eat their meals and when it would rain, before we had any of that work done, there would be a river of water that flowed from one end of the building toward the parking lot,” said Mr. Ritter.
Phase two of the capital campaign concerned the sanctuary of the church. In the sanctuary, the upper level was removed to create more space, the original altar table and crucifix have been restored and placed. Additionally, shrines for Mary and St. Joseph draw the focus to the tabernacle and the walls have been lined by murals.
The redesign of the sanctuary, Father Boelscher said, is rooted in the early Italian Renaissance, drawing inspiration from Giotto di Bondone and Blessed Fra Angelico, the patron of Catholic artists.
“This artistic period follows the Gothic era that gave rise to the soaring architecture and stained glass seen in our cathedral and other historic churches in the diocese. St. Joseph’s, however, isn’t trying to imitate those spaces — it has its own unique character, and we wanted the sanctuary to reflect that,” said Father Boelscher
Father Eric Boelscher said about the restoration of the sanctuary, “The panels are all hand-painted frescoes on canvas, created specifically for St. Joseph Parish in the style of Fra Angelico. They tell the story of salvation history through the lens of the Holy Family. Each mural is structured around a visual paring of two actions or episodes. For example, the first panel features the Annunciation to Mary paired with the Annunciation to Joseph.
The murals are intended to be catechetical, inviting the viewer intoa sacred narrative. But ultimately, the eye is drawn back to the still point of the sanctuary — the newly constructed altar. Every element was created uniquely for St. Joseph Parish, with the hope that sincerity and intentionality would sanctify the space.” The murals surrounding the sanctuary include the Annunciation of Mary and the Annunciation of Joseph; the flight to Egypt and the return to Nazareth; the nativity of Christ and the death of St. Joseph; St. Joseph the Worker and St. Joseph the Worshipper; and the presentation in the temple and the finding of the temple.
In the center of the sanctuary is the newly restored altar, which, Father Boelscher said, “retains the original relics from the old church, as well as those buried in the foundation of the precious sanctuary. A new, custom reliquary chamber was added, containing relics of more than 20 saints, making the altar not just a place of sacrifice, but a true spiritual treasury for the parish.”
Behind the altar, above the tabernacle, resides the restored crucifix, original to the 1916 church. Surrounding the crucifix is the baldachin which is, “typical of the early Renaissance, when artists and architects were beginning to introduce balance, human scale and light into sacred spaces,” said Father Boelscher.
In his homily Bishop Foys remarked on the beautiful transformation of the church and what makes it a holy place.
“What is it that makes this place a holy place? Is it the artwork or the furnishings, the beautiful marble, the stainglass windows? Its none of those things. What makes this place holy and what make this place sacred are the liturgical rites that we are going to perform … when we conclude this ritual here tonight, that is what this place will be, it will be elevated in service to the Lord. It will be a holy place, a place where the Eucharist, in the tabernacle, the Lord resides. A place where the community gathers regularly and especially Sundays to offer the sacrifice of the Mass.”
For Father Boelscher, it was the very community Bishop Foys talked about that is the driving force behind the restoration of the church.
“There is something wild and beautiful that the Spirit is doing here. Every person I meet, every family I talk to, seems to share the same desire — to build up this parish, to serve our children with love ad excellence, and to discover an ever more sincere and fitting way to worship God and His Church. It has been a profound privilege to witness the generosity, unity and devotion that make this parish what it is. I am deeply grateful to God and to each parishioner. We are truly a parish family, and I’m honored to be the spiritual father called to lead in both worship and work. I pray God continues to bless this parish and all those who call it home,” said Father Boelscher.
‘ A life without love is not a life at all’: Pope Francis remembered at Requiem Mass
/in Featured StoriesMaura Baker
Staff Writer
Following the death of Pope Francis, the Diocese of Covington concluded a trio of services commemorating the deceased pontiff with a Requiem Mass, April 26, held at the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, Covington.
A Requiem, known also as a Mass for the dead, is a special service in the Catholic Church offered for the repose of the souls of the deceased and is typically held in the context of a funeral.
The Requiem Mass was celebrated by Bishop John Iffert alongside many of the priests of the diocese, Bishop Emeritus Roger Foys was the homilist.
“Do not grieve like those who have no hope,” Bishop Foys quoted St. Paul, continuing to say that that greeting is often misunderstood. “People say that Paul is telling us we shouldn’t grieve,” he said, “He’s not. We grieve because we love. If we never love we never grieve, but a life without love is not a life at all.”
Instead, Bishop Foys stressed the words that St. Paul said: not to grieve like those who have no hope, and he reminded the congregation gathered that Easter Sunday, celebrated a week prior “is our hope.”
“So, we grieve, yes,” he said, “We grieve the loss of someone we love. We grieve the loss of someone who is dear to us … the difference is we have hope.”
Before his death, Pope Francis declared 2025 as a Jubilee year, with the theme “Pilgrims of Hope,” which Bishop Foys said was “especially important.”
“It sometimes seems to be a hopeless world,” he said, “… you might feel hopeless. In those times, you cling to the hope of Lord Jesus.”
The one thing that doesn’t end in death is love, said Bishop Foys at annual Mass for Loss of a Child
/in Featured StoriesMaura Baker
Staff Writer
Over 100 people attended this year’s Memorial Mass for the Loss of Child, April 7, at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, Burlington. The annual Mass, hosted by the diocesan Pro-Life Office, invites parents, grandparents and others grieving the death of a child to gather to memorialize their child and to surrender to God’s loving embrace. Bishop Emeritus Roger Foys was the celebrant and homilist at the solemn event.
“A child is a child to their parents for as long as they live,” said Bishop Foys. “… one of our hopes, that all of us, please God, being faithful to the Lord, to his word and to his Church, will one day enter the Kingdom of Heaven. We firmly believe that we will join those who have gone before us. So, mothers and fathers can hope to embrace those children who have gone on before them, just as they embraced them in this life. The one thing, St. Paul said, that does not end in death is love. Love remains, that bond of love between parent and child. That is where our comfort comes and hopefully lessens our grieving.”
Annual ACUE donor luncheon thanks donors for their contribution to urban Catholic education
/in Featured StoriesBella Bailey
Multimedia Correspondent
The mission of the Alliance for Urban Catholic Education (ACUE) is to ensure that all children within the inner-city areas of the Diocese of Covington have access to a Catholic education. This mission is accomplished through administrative and financial means; and it would not be possible without the many donors who donate their time, talents and treasure to the ACUE mission.
It is for their generosity that they are thanked at the annual ACUE Donor Appreciation Luncheon, held this year at Holy Trinity School, Bellevue. The luncheon, sponsored by the ACUE Advisory Board, rotates locations between the five ACUE schools in the Diocese of Covington: Prince of Peace School, Covington; St. Anthony School, Taylor Mill; St. Augustine School, Covington; Holy Cross Elementary School, Covington; and Holy Trinity School. Among these five schools, nearly 500 students are receiving a high quality, Catholic education.
“For decades, Catholic schools have stood out as leaders in education,” said Kendra McGuire, superintendent of schools for the Diocese of Covington. “In addition to our record of academic excellence, we provide an education in the faith, teaching the next generation how to follow Christ and care for their neighbors. Time and time again Catholic schools have seen their graduates succeed in their chosen careers but also become leaders at giving back to their communities.”
Upon arrival to Holy Trinity School donors were met with the smiling faces of students, waiting to meet the people that help make their education possible.
“What it means to be a Holy Trinity student is that we get to get a good education, and not only that, but also a very good Catholic education. We get to learn in a positive and fun environment, and luckily for us, we have great academics and staff,” said one Holy Trinity student.
Mrs. McGuire said to the donors, “For our families, the support that you give eases the fears and worries that parents have when raising children. Education is a necessity, the path to a bright future that every parent wants for their child. In the urban areas, finances often limit their educational options, but your support gives them an opportunity to choose a school where their child is provided an outstanding education, a place where their child is welcome, a place where their child feels safe, and a place where their child is loved.”
As a thank you for their generosity, students from Holy Trinity School performed a medley of songs, accompanied with a chorus line, for the donors. The songs included “There’s No Business Like Show Business,” by Irving Berlin; “Swinging on a Star,” by Bing Crosby; and popular folk song, “Oh Shenandoah.”
“You’re not only transforming the lives of the children today, you’re transforming the community and the future of Northern Kentucky and the Diocese of Covington. So, I hope and pray that God continues to bless you for your kindness and your generosity, and we appreciation your ongoing support for our ACUE schools and their students,” said Mrs. McGuire.
The true testimony for the gratitude felt by ACUE students came on behalf of one Holy Trinity student when she said, “We are extremely glad to have ACUE for several reasons. Without you guys, we wouldn’t have some of the learning resources we have, we wouldn’t have our new playground equipment because we wouldn’t be able to afford it. We wouldn’t even really have enough money to pay bills like heat, electricity, plumbing, so on and so forth, because we just don’t make enough money. And so, that is why we’re glad to have ACUE, because you guys are just so nice to donate to us. We can afford all this stuff. We really appreciate it, so, thank you ACUE donors.”
The eloquent ambiguity of ‘I Believe’
/in Catechesis & EvangelizationBy Bishop Robert Barron.
There is an eloquent ambiguity in the way in which the opening word of the Nicene Creed has come down to us. Our best evidence suggests that in the formula that goes back to the Nicene Fathers themselves, the word is pisteuomen (we believe), but as the Creed has been passed on, translated, and used in liturgical settings, pisteuomen often became pisteuo (I believe). The ancient Latin translation indeed begins with Credo (I believe). For the first several decades of my life, the Church commenced the Creed at Mass with “we believe,” but about ten years ago, it switched back to a rendering of the standard Latin version: “I believe.” I say that the ambiguity is eloquent, for there is value in both forms.
On the one hand, “we believe” effectively emphasizes the communal and corporate dimension of the Church’s faith: we are in this Christian project together and never individualistically. Moreover, it indicates how, in a sense, we believe not only with others but in some cases for others. Perhaps my conviction regarding an article of the Creed is wavering, but yours is strong, and mine is firm with respect to another article, and yours is weak. The “we believe” allows us to find mutual support in our faith.
However, the “we believe” also allows us to escape, at least to some degree, personal responsibility. Do I truly believe this? What is at stake in agreeing to this ancient statement is not a triviality or even a matter of purely epistemic interest. Rather, the issues raised by the Creed have to do with where a person stands most fundamentally. And therefore, in another sense, it is altogether appropriate that the one who recites the Creed commence by saying unequivocally, “I believe.”
The verb itself is of crucial importance: “believe.” Especially mindful of the army of the unaffiliated, those who have either never been exposed to a serious presentation of the faith or have actively left religious practice behind, I want to stress, as strongly as I possibly can, that authentic faith or belief has not a thing to do with naïve credulity or accepting claims on the basis of no evidence. Faith, in a word, is never below reason, never infra-rational. The Church has absolutely no interest in encouraging superstition or intellectual irresponsibility. Rather, real faith is supra-rational, above what reason can grasp. If we must speak of a certain darkness in regard to the matters of faith, it is the darkness that comes from too much light, rather than from defect of light.
If I might propose a somewhat homely analogy, the play between reason and faith in regard to God is something like the play between reason and faith in regard to coming to know another human being. To be sure, investigation, examination, research, and observation all play a role in this process, but finally, if one wishes to know the heart of another person, he has to wait until that other reveals himself, and then he has to decide whether he believes what he has been told. An aggressive reason that seeks always to grasp on its own terms will never come to know deeper dimensions of reality, including and especially the personal. Such depths can be plumbed only through something like a faith that accepts and receives.
It is worth noting that in Thomas Aquinas’ religious epistemology, faith is a rare case of the will commanding the intellect. Typically, in Aquinas’ account, it is just the opposite: will is a function of the intellect, responding to what the intellect presents to it. But when it comes to faith, the will, in a way, comes first, for it commands the intellect to assent, and it does so out of love. Because the will loves God, it directs the mind to accept what God has revealed about himself, even though the mind cannot clearly see or understand it. Again, lest this sound anomalous, much the same dynamic obtains in an interpersonal relationship. Is she telling me the truth about what is in her heart? I cannot possibly know directly, but my will, which loves her and has come to trust her, commands my intellect to assent.
“Faith” is tantamount to a willingness to attend to a voice that transcends one’s own, a trusting surrender that there is a reasonability on the far side of reason. It is, therefore, an openness to adventure.
Bishop Robert Barron is bishop of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester, Minnesota. Article originally published at WordOnFire.org.
Curia staff experience service to others in a different way at annual Day of Service
/in Campaign of MercyMaura Baker
Staff Writer
The Diocese of Covington’s Curia staff held its second annual Day of Service, April 3. An extension of Bishop John Iffert’s “Campaign of Mercy,” the annual Day of Service begins and ends with reflection and prayer — offering staff a break from routine and an opportunity to serve the diocese in a different way, both physically and spiritually.
Curia employees divided their work in groups between different ministries — some played with and cared for children, or served lunch at ACUE schools, while others played bingo with seniors or helped clear out the now closed Holy Family School, Covington.
Kelly Linkugel was a member of the planning committee for the Day of Service, and said that she “thought it was very evident from my colleagues how much they all cared about this day and how much we could collaborate and make sure we were serving different segments — not just older folks, or kids — we made sure we got a full circle of people to take care of.”
“I think the Day of Service was a meaningful day for everyone who was involved in it,” said Sister Margaret Stallmeyer, another member of the event’s committee, “We all were stretched and experienced different than what we have every day. It was a time for us to see the diocese, see the work that’s going on in this Church and this community and to recognize the role that we have in strengthening the Church and the community.”
“The annual Day of Service is a really good opportunity for the Curia staff to move beyond the office,” said Sister Margaret, “and to experience time with the people whom we are serving here in the Curia in a different way. It all becomes real for us, and I think that’s a blessing.”
Step four of the Walk with One initiative invites people on the path most suitable to them
/in Walk with OneBella Bailey
Multimedia Correspondent
As the end of the holy season of Lent draws near, it is pertinent that those who have been following along with the Walk With One initiative take a moment and reflect on the journey.
So far, readers have been asked to identify someone in a spirit of humility, through prayer and discernment with the Lord. Once they had identified the person, they were asked to intercede for them in a spirit of humility through intercessory prayer. Most recently, readers were asked to connect with that person in Eucharistic friendship, building a bond of friendship through Christ. The fourth and final step will be to invite the person on a path most suitable for them.
This step is crucial in cementing their relationship with the Lord, each person prays and is present with the Lord in different ways. Some, through quiet prayer and meditation, others, through ministry work and involvement at the parish level. Building a relationship with God on their own terms is crucial to staying involved in the faith.
“There’s a series of invitations that are appropriate to the relationship and each person is different, so each friendship is going to be different,” said Tanner Kalina, project manager for the National Eucharistic Congress.
Mr. Kalina continued saying, “Every invitation should be tailored to meeting them where they’re at … Just meeting people where they are at and sending invitations that are appropriate to that stage in the hopes of going even deeper with them.”
The National Eucharistic Congress team suggests inviting the person to a Bible study or book club group, to Mass and coffee, or even for dinner where the participants could have a personal conversation and share the faith.
“Evangelization is easy, its people that are difficult,” said Kris Frank, vice president of growth and marketing for the National Eucharistic Congress, “when it comes to the invitation, rejections can happen but that doesn’t necessarily mean we have to stop inviting. All that we’re doing again is extending the invitation and allowing God to work in that moment.”
Catholic schools provide the tools of faith, and the Lord provides the courage, says Bishop Emeritus Foys at high school senior Mass
/in Featured StoriesMaura Baker
Staff Writer
In commemoration of their final year of high school, senior students, alongside their faculty and administrators, gathered, April 4, at Covington’s Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption to celebrate the annual “Senior Mass.”
Bishop Emeritus Roger Foys was the celebrant in the stead of Bishop John Iffert, accompanied by the diocese’s high school chaplains. Students filled the pews of the cathedral with their fellow classmates, denoted by banners hanging by the aisle.
In his homily, Bishop Foys noted the significance that the Mass occurred concurrently to the feast day of St. Isidore of Seville, a Spanish bishop and saint and the patron of students, technology and computers.
“His family, his mother and father,” said Bishop Emeritus Foys, “were intent on providing them (St. Isidore and his brothers and sister) with the truths of the faith. They schooled them, and gave them the best education they could.”
“You’re all still very young,” Bishop Foys said as he addressed the students present, “You have a full life ahead of you, and there will be times in your life where you will need the courage to not only profess the faith with your lips, but to live the faith by your lives.”
“Catholic schools have given you the tools to do that,” he said, “and the Lord will give you the grace to have that courage.”
“You are seniors,” Bishop Foys proceeded, “You’re at the top of the class. Next year, as I heard from one of the students who spoke before Mass, you’ll be back at the bottom,” he said. “That’s life, you know, peaks and valleys.”
“But, through it all, you can rely on the Lord and rely on the gift of faith that was passed on to you by your parents. It is a day of celebration, it’s a day to be sober about our faith and how we intend to live our that faith,” he said, concluding with a quote from St. Paul, “God begins every good gift in us and, if we are faithful, it will bring every one of those gifts to completion.”
St. Joseph Parish rededicates its church and consecrates its altar after years-long capital campaign
/in Featured StoriesBella Bailey
Multimedia Correspondent
After a years-long capital campaign and ongoing construction, St. Joseph Parish, Crescent Springs, rededicated its church and consecrated the altar, April 5, in a Mass celebrated by Bishop Emeritus Roger Foys, and with a congregation that filled the church to capacity.
The “Living our Faith, Building our Future” capital campaign began after concerns arose over how the existing facilities and buildings were negatively impacting the mission of St. Joseph Parish. Its mission, “to bring everyone in the Villa Hills and Crescent Springs community to the knowledge of Christ’s love,” as it reads on the St. Joseph Parish website, was being hindered by a leaky roof, poor sound system, loud HVAC unit and an austere sanctuary.
Father Eric Boelscher, pastor, St. Joseph Parish, said, “one of the convictions that runs deep in our parish is that every soul in Crescent Springs and Villa Hills is meant to worship God at our altar. This altar belongs just as much to the person who hasn’t yet heard the Good News as it does to those of us who pack the pews each Sunday. The recent consecration of the altar marks the center point and crown of the many blessings and projects that have taken shape across the parish in recent years.”
In the summer of 2021, the capital campaign officially launched with a feasibility study where it was determined that a goal of $5,000,000 was attainable and likely. Since then, the campaign has raised north of $7,000,000 according to campaign chair Paul Ritter.
The needs of the church, such as new, ADA compliant bathrooms, structural work, HVAC unit, the renovation of Noll Hall, a STEAM Lab for the school children and an overhaul of the parish office, were sorted through and ranked in order of absolute necessity.
“Phase one was basically the water issues, the foundation, the roof, gutter system and then the drainage. The HVAC was also in there because that was basically nonexistent,” said Mr. Ritter.
The water issues to which Mr. Ritter was referring was the small stream that formed in Noll Hall every time it rained.
“It [Noll Hall] is where the school children eat their meals and when it would rain, before we had any of that work done, there would be a river of water that flowed from one end of the building toward the parking lot,” said Mr. Ritter.
Phase two of the capital campaign concerned the sanctuary of the church. In the sanctuary, the upper level was removed to create more space, the original altar table and crucifix have been restored and placed. Additionally, shrines for Mary and St. Joseph draw the focus to the tabernacle and the walls have been lined by murals.
The redesign of the sanctuary, Father Boelscher said, is rooted in the early Italian Renaissance, drawing inspiration from Giotto di Bondone and Blessed Fra Angelico, the patron of Catholic artists.
“This artistic period follows the Gothic era that gave rise to the soaring architecture and stained glass seen in our cathedral and other historic churches in the diocese. St. Joseph’s, however, isn’t trying to imitate those spaces — it has its own unique character, and we wanted the sanctuary to reflect that,” said Father Boelscher
Father Eric Boelscher said about the restoration of the sanctuary, “The panels are all hand-painted frescoes on canvas, created specifically for St. Joseph Parish in the style of Fra Angelico. They tell the story of salvation history through the lens of the Holy Family. Each mural is structured around a visual paring of two actions or episodes. For example, the first panel features the Annunciation to Mary paired with the Annunciation to Joseph.
The murals are intended to be catechetical, inviting the viewer intoa sacred narrative. But ultimately, the eye is drawn back to the still point of the sanctuary — the newly constructed altar. Every element was created uniquely for St. Joseph Parish, with the hope that sincerity and intentionality would sanctify the space.” The murals surrounding the sanctuary include the Annunciation of Mary and the Annunciation of Joseph; the flight to Egypt and the return to Nazareth; the nativity of Christ and the death of St. Joseph; St. Joseph the Worker and St. Joseph the Worshipper; and the presentation in the temple and the finding of the temple.
In the center of the sanctuary is the newly restored altar, which, Father Boelscher said, “retains the original relics from the old church, as well as those buried in the foundation of the precious sanctuary. A new, custom reliquary chamber was added, containing relics of more than 20 saints, making the altar not just a place of sacrifice, but a true spiritual treasury for the parish.”
Behind the altar, above the tabernacle, resides the restored crucifix, original to the 1916 church. Surrounding the crucifix is the baldachin which is, “typical of the early Renaissance, when artists and architects were beginning to introduce balance, human scale and light into sacred spaces,” said Father Boelscher.
In his homily Bishop Foys remarked on the beautiful transformation of the church and what makes it a holy place.
“What is it that makes this place a holy place? Is it the artwork or the furnishings, the beautiful marble, the stainglass windows? Its none of those things. What makes this place holy and what make this place sacred are the liturgical rites that we are going to perform … when we conclude this ritual here tonight, that is what this place will be, it will be elevated in service to the Lord. It will be a holy place, a place where the Eucharist, in the tabernacle, the Lord resides. A place where the community gathers regularly and especially Sundays to offer the sacrifice of the Mass.”
For Father Boelscher, it was the very community Bishop Foys talked about that is the driving force behind the restoration of the church.
“There is something wild and beautiful that the Spirit is doing here. Every person I meet, every family I talk to, seems to share the same desire — to build up this parish, to serve our children with love ad excellence, and to discover an ever more sincere and fitting way to worship God and His Church. It has been a profound privilege to witness the generosity, unity and devotion that make this parish what it is. I am deeply grateful to God and to each parishioner. We are truly a parish family, and I’m honored to be the spiritual father called to lead in both worship and work. I pray God continues to bless this parish and all those who call it home,” said Father Boelscher.
Connect in Eucharistic friendship as you continue your Walk with One journey
/in Walk with OneBella Bailey
Multimedia Correspondent
Over the last four editions of the Messenger readers have been guided through a Walk with One journey, where they have chosen someone in their life and have walked with them closer to Christ. This initiative, from the 2024 National Eucharistic Congress, is an effort of evangelization that can be accomplished by anyone.
So far, readers have completed the first two steps, they have identified who they will walk with in a spirit of humility, and they have interceded for that person in communion with the Holy Spirit. The third step is to connect with that person in Eucharistic friendship. This uncommon term, ‘Eucharistic friendship,’ is often hard to define, giving people cause for frustration.
Tanner Kalina, project manager for the National Eucharistic Congress, said “Eucharistic friendship has two arms. On one, is friendship with the Lord, your own friendship with the Lord…really nourishing yourself and your friendship first and foremost with our Eucharistic Lord.” This is an essential step, as there cannot be an outpouring of love of Christ, if participants themselves are pouring from an empty cup.
Mr. Kalina continued saying, “The second branch is being a Eucharistic friend to someone else as opposed to being a regular friend or even a spiritual friend. A Eucharistic friend is really willing to sacrifice for the other person. I think the element of sacrifice is essential for a Eucharistic friendship, and willing to unite all the sufferings and joys and angst and anxieties in your own life to the Eucharistic sacrifice for the blessing and deepening conversion of the person you are walking with.”
While the idea of sacrificing for another person is daunting, Kris Frank, Vice President of Growth and Marketing for the National Eucharistic Congress, said, “If you feel nervous, that is probably a good thing. It can be challenging to talk about important things, specifically things that have a stigma around them and I think is one of those things. No one wants to be rejected, nobody wants to step on someone else’s toes and make them feel uncomfortable, or guilty or shame filled, and we definitely don’t want to say the wrong thing and make someone walk away having a bad taste in their mouth of Jesus or the faith.”
There are ways that you can connect in Eucharistic friendship, that are recommended by the National Eucharistic Congress. Meeting up for coffee, sharing lunch together or planning a weekly phone call, are all ways to connect in Eucharistic friendship.
“Modern man listens more willingly to witnesses than to teachers and if they listen to teachers its because they’re witnesses. All we’re trying to do is share what God has already given us. We don’t need to quote the catechism or knock somebody over the head with the scriptures. There might come a time where we get to share the catechism or open the scriptures with somebody but at the end of the day, we’re sharing our heart and what god has done for us and again, it might be a bit scary, but all the best things usually are,” said Mr. Frank.
Child Abuse Prevention Month kicks off with Blue Ribbon Ceremony
/in Featured StoriesMaura Baker
Staff Writer
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and, for the 21st year, the Family Nurturing Center kicks off the month with their annual Blue Ribbon ceremony at Tom Gill Chevrolet, Florence, April 1.
At the beginning of the event, a proclamation declaring Child Abuse Prevention Month was given by Kentucky Representative Stephanie Dietz on behalf of Representative Kim Banta, who was ill and couldn’t attend the ceremony.
“I know that elected officials from Boone, Campbell and Kenton County, along with various mayors from the regions, have similar proclamations today,” said Representative Dietz, “and as important as the official designations are, the proclamations are more than just words on paper. They are a call to action. Every child deserves to grow up in a safe, stable and nurturing environment free from abuse and neglect.”
Like in previous years, local students were invited prior to the event to participate in an art contest, this year following the theme “Be the Light, Build a Future.” The winning student’s artwork is printed on the side of TANK buses in Northern Kentucky during the month of April, and a pizza party is won for their class. This year’s winner was Paige Smith, a student of Villa Madonna Academy, Villa Hills, who was presented her award by Mayor Julie Metzger Aubuchon of the City of Florence.
The special guest speaker for the event was Jeff Thomas, the radio host of the WKRQ morning show. Sharing his story as a victim of child sexual abuse, Mr. Thomas expressed his gratitude for the people gathered.
“This is what’s beautiful about today,” he said, “Here, right now, what we’re doing, every person in this room has the power to turn someone’s nightmare into a hopeful outcome. Every person in this room has the power to help end the cycles of abuse in this community and to provide the necessary resources that offer real hope for healing, not just for the victims, but for the families, too.”
In her closing remarks, Family Nurturing Center president Jane Hermes invited individuals to “take the next step.”
“Help create positive childhood experiences for someone today,” she said, “Support parents so they can provide these on an ongoing basis … share what you’ve learned today, spread the message and expand our circle of care … Thank you all for being here today and for your unwavering dedication to building a future where every child grows up safe, supported and empowered.”