March 15, 2019 In This Issue ESSEESSENGERNGER M Serving the Diocese of Covington, Kentucky since 1926 2 Ash Wednesday Drawstrength fromGod 2 Curia enrichment day andcommunity,Bishop 2 Bishop blesses server awards FoyssaysatRiteofElection Laura Keener Editor 3 Holy Cross District High In two ceremonies at the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, School March 10, 66 catechumens and 120 candidates from 31 parishes were Mass with Bishop Foys presented to Bishop Roger Foys at the Rite of Election. The Rite of Election is held every year on the first Sunday of Lent. These catechu- mens (unbaptized) — now the elect — and candidates (already bap- 3 ‘Rally for Life’ in Frankfort tized) will receive the sacraments of initiation — baptism (catechu- mens) and first Communion and confirmation — at this year’s Easter 3 Deanery penance services vigil becoming full, participating members of the Catholic Church. In his homily Bishop Foys recounted an article he had read when 3 CRS Rice Bowl — stories he was a young priest. In the middle of the night a fire had broke out and enveloped the home of a young family. The mother escaped safely of hope but the fire prevented her from reaching her four-year-old daughter Encounter Annet who was trapped in her bedroom. Firefighters with safety nets plead- ed with the young girl to jump from her window, but all the little girl 8 ‘We Choose Life’ could do was cry. The girl’s father, who had been working the third- shift at a local company, arrived at the scene and called to his daugh- 9 Stan and Rita Bond ter. “I will not let you get hurt.” Seeing her father, the girl stopped cry- ing and hearing his words of assurance, she jumped to safety. Years Honored with Presidential later, now a young woman, a reporter asked her to recount what she (top) As an indication of their Volunteer Service Award was feeling and why she didn’t jump for the firefighters. intent to receive the catechumen The woman told the reporter: I’ve thought about this every day of into their care, godparents place 15 Obituary my life. I knew there was fire on the other side of that door but being their hand on the shoulder of in the confines of my room at that moment and at that age, I felt safe. Edward L. Comer the catechumen at the Rite of The prospect of throwing myself out the window was not something Election, March 10. I was able to do until I heard my father’s voice and I saw his extended 17 Obituary (above, right and left) Each arms. candidate and catechumen is Benedictine Sister Justina “We are called to trust in a God who loves us, who cares for us, who called by name and presented to monitors our every breath, who knows our every thought, who feels Franxman Bishop Roger Foys as they are our every pain — a God who does not want us to be hurt,” Bishop Foys offered for enrollment. said. “And, we don’t have to do it alone. Not only is God there but — (left) Following enrollment, just like all those firemen that were there for that little girl — we also Bishop’s Schedule . .3 Father Eric Boelscher, parochial have our community. Commentary . .4 administrator, St. Charles “Jesus founded the Church as a community of believers. We are People and Events . .10 Borromeo, Flemingsburg, not alone; we don’t have to do this by ourselves. We draw strength from our trust in God and from those around us. Saint Snippet . .11 presents the parish Book of Elect to Bishop Foys for his “To the candidates and catechumens I say ‘thank you’ for being a Classifieds . .16 signature. witness to your trust in God and for your willingness to join this com- VIRTUS . .17 munity of believers.” Entertainment . .18 Keener photos Cooley photos Shopper’s Guide . .18 News Briefs . .19 Missed an edition? Current and back issues of the Messenger are available online at covdio.org/messenger. Bishop Roger Foys, Matthew Zeck, DPAA general chair, and Mary Paula Schuh, leadership gifts chair, address the guests at the Diocesan Parish Annual Appeal (DPAA) kick-off dinner, March 7, at Receptions, Erlanger. At the dinner Mrs. Schuh announced that during the leadership gifts phase 36 solicitors raised $327,995 from 73 donors. The goal for the 2019 DPAA is $2.55 million and the theme is “Our Citizenship is in Heaven…” (Philippians 3:20). Next up is Commitment Weekend, which will be March 23 and 24. At DPAA dinner ministries introduce donorstothe people served Laura Keener ty to visit with 32 ministries — 16 Curia offices Editor and 16 community social service agencies — who The second of two Diocesan Parish Annual benefit from the DPAA, to learn more about its Appeal kick-off dinners was held March 7 at ministry and the people they serve. Receptions, Erlanger. Bishop Roger Foys, Faith Community Pharmacy is one of the com- Matthew Zeck, general chair, and Mary Paula munity non-profits with a booth at the dinner that Schuh, leadership gifts chair, welcomed over 425 received a grant last year. Jill Hilgefort, executive people. director, for the pharmacy said that she likes Before the dinner, attendees had the opportuni- (Continued on page 17) 2 March 15, 2019 Messenger (left) Bishop Roger Foys celebrated Ash Wednesday Mass, March 6, at the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, Covington. Ash Wednesday begins the 40 days of Lent — a season of fasting, prayer and almsgiving. (above and left) Deacon Conor Kunath, seminarian; Father Ryan Maher, rector; and Father Joey Shelton, episcopal master of ceremonies; assist with the distribution of ashes. Cooley photos AshWednesday and external signsofLent remindusthis lifeisfinite centuries the Catholic Church has begun the season of and helpusprepare for the lifetocome Lent by imposing ashes. … I often wonder, what is the David Cooley Lent. draw? People throughout Christendom will pack churches Associate Editor “First of all, the ministers of the Church dress in pur- today, people who — for whatever reason, no judgment on The Lenten season began, March 6, with Bishop Roger ple — violet — which is a penitential color. You will see the them — may not darken a church door any other time of Foys celebrating Ash Wednesday Mass and the distribu- church is without any flowers or decorations. You will not the year, will pack churches to receive ashes and to be told, tion of ashes at the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, hear an ‘alleluia’ in any of the prayers or in any of the ‘You are dust and into dust you will return.’ One wouldn’t Covington. In addition to the Curia staff and students from songs. Today, we will bless ashes and we will be signed with think that would be a draw, to have your head dirtied with Covington Latin School, many guests and Cathedral ashes on our foreheads,” said Bishop Foys. “While all these ashes and be reminded you are going to die.” parishioners attended the solemn ceremony, ushering in are external manifestations of the season, the season of Bishop Foys said that he ponders why Ash Wednesday, the season of fasting, prayer and almsgiving. Lent is meant for us to have the opportunity to work on our which is not a holy day of obligation and has such a Bishop Foys began his homily by drawing attention to interior life, our spiritual life. somber message, draws so many people to church. the outward signs of Ash Wednesday and the season of “External manifestations are important,” he said. “For (Continued on page 16) Keener photos Server award blessing Bishop Roger Foys blesses, March 12, the server awards that will be distributed at the parishes to seventh-grade servers. The forecast of a winter storm caused the cancel- Curia staff enrichment day Cooley photos lation of the server awards vespers The diocesan Curia staff congregated, March 11, for a staff enrichment day in Bishop Howard Memorial Auditorium, Covington. this year and necessitated the Twice a year — once in the fall and once in the spring — Bishop Roger Foys requests that his entire staff come together to reflect on change in the way this year’s awards will be distributed. The and study a particular topic that will help them in their ministry, as they strive to be in service of others. server awards are sponsored by the Serra Club for Vocations Following up on the previous enrichment day, Father Stef Bankemper, pastor, St. Catherine of Siena Parish, Ft. Thomas, continued his of Northern Kentucky as a way to encourage servers in presentation on and walked the staff through different forms of prayer that exist in the Church. The day began with Mass celebrated Church ministry. For information contact Michael Murray, by Bishop Foys at the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, Covington, with Father Bankemper as the homilist. The day ended with president, Serra Club for Vocations, Northern Kentucky, at mid-day prayer. Following mid-day prayer the staff returned to their regularly scheduled day. (859) 392-1500. Messenger March 15, 2019 3 Cooley photos Mass with Holy Cross District High School Bishop Roger Foys celebrated Mass, March 12, for the students and faculty of Holy Cross District High School at Holy Cross Church, Latonia. Concelebrants were the school’s chaplain, Father Thomas Robbins, and faculty member, Father Jeffrey VonLehmen, as well as Father Daniel Schomaker, pastor, St. Augustine Parish, Covington, which is one of Holy Cross’ feeder parishes. Deacon Hudson Henry assisted. Following Mass, principal Michael Holtz thanked Bishop Foys on behalf of Holy Cross District High School for coming to celebrate Mass and Deanery Lenten for his leadership in and support of Catholic education.