MESSENGER · 2020. 5. 28. · MESSENGER Serving the Diocese of Covington, Kentucky since 1926 May...

MESSENGERMESSENGERServing the Diocese of Covington, Kentucky since 1926

May 15, 2020

In This Issue

2 Consecration of diocese to MaryMay crowning at the Cathedral

3 Protocols for celebrating the liturgy Amid COVID-19

6 Cross the Bridge for Life Finding new outlets

for pro-life cause

6 Mary, Mother of the Church

7 ‘We Choose Life’

8 Cathedral Basilica’s art treasuresHonor Mary in May

10 General Assembly ends with veto Pro-life bill vetoed by governor

10 Marriage and the annulment process

10 ‘Respect Life’ essay contest

11 Super’s Spotlight

13 Meet the Cathedral videographers

14 Serra Club Honors nearly 200 altar servers

17 Obituary Mary Jane Summe

17 Obituary Sister Janet Marie Hoffman,

SND

Bishop’s Schedule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3Commentary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4People and Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9Saint Snippet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14Shopper’s Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16News Briefs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

Missed an edition? Current and backissues of the Messenger are availableonline at covdio.org/messenger.

May 13, 2020

My dear Friends,

Praised be Jesus Christ!

Since mid-March our lives and the way we live them have changed dramatically in the face of theCovid-19 pandemic. So many people across the world have been making sacrifices they could not

have imagined a mere eight weeks ago.

There are people in the medical profession who have literally been risking their lives to save the lives of others. There are those who have lost their employment or seen their hours cut to the bone. There are teachers at all levelsof the educational spectrum who have had to adapt to teaching in a new way. There are graduates at all levels whowill not see the graduation day that they had anticipated.

There are young couples who have looked forward to sharing their wedding day and professing their love for eachother with their families and friends who have found themselves with ten people or fewer attending their weddingbecause of the safe distancing restrictions placed upon us all for our own good. Priests and deacons who would ordinarily be ordained in the Cathedral with a full church are being ordained with only one or two of their familymembers present because of the limited number of people who can gather during the pandemic.

There are people who have lost loved ones who, falling prey to the coronavirus, have passed away long before their time. There are those who have died alone without the comfort of their loved ones at their side.

These are just a few examples of how so many are continuing to sacrifice during this time. Each has made this sacrifice in order to protect their lives and the lives of their loved ones.

People of faith have also been sacrificing in not being able to worship as a community of faith and, in our case, havenot been able to partake of the Eucharist and the other sacraments. I have received many impassioned letters fromour faithful expressing their deep desire to participate once again especially in the Holy Mass and receive theEucharist which is the “source and summit of the Christian life.” (Lumen Gentium, #36) These letters, always respectful, have at one and the same time made me both sad and happy. Sad, because I know how earnestly our people have desired to attend Holy Mass and were not able to do so, and happy because I realize how important theEucharist is to our faithful and their desire to receive the Eucharist demonstrates their belief in the Real Presence.

It gives me great pleasure to announce to you that beginning on 20 May we will be able to resume daily and Sundaypublic Masses. Now, we must realize that we are simply not able to go back to the way things were in mid March.This pandemic is real. Its effects are real. Over 1.3 million people in our country have contracted the virus and over80,000 people have died because of it. So, we must take the necessary precautions to resume our public worshipresponsibly.

To that end we have issued and will implement protocols for the public celebration of the Eucharist. These protocolscan be found on page 3 and our diocesan website. These protocols are the result of consultation with a broad scopeof people and experts including our own priests. I thank our priests who have continued to minister to our faithfuleven in the midst of such difficulty and who have been such a support to me in these difficult times. I ask that youcooperate with your parish priests and assist them in any way you can with the implementation.

Although we will begin opening our churches for public worship, I am extending the dispensation from the obligation of Sunday Mass and Holy Days. I do this to accommodate those who, for whatever reason, are not yetcomfortable or able to attend public worship.

I pray that the Lord will look kindly on us and that an end to the pandemic will soon be in sight. I ask also that theBlessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, intercede on our behalf.

Be assured of my prayers for you daily. Please, pray for me.

Yours devotedly in the Lord,

Most Rev. Roger J. Foys, D.D.Bishop of Covington

Protocols for

Celebrating

the Liturgy

amid COVID–19

Page 3

Bishop Foys met with the priests of the Diocese of Covington, May 11, at the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption to explain and discuss protocols for resuming public Masses in late May. To demonstrate howchurches are to accommodate the reduced capacity allowable in stateguidelines, pews in the Cathedral were roped off and pews and the aisles were marked for proper social distancing.

2 May 15, 2020 Messenger

Bishopconsecratesdiocese to Mary, Mother of theChurchLaura Keener

EditorMay is Mary’s month. In the Catholic Church, Mary has

rightfully been understood to be a great intercessor forGod’s people as Mother of the Church. On May 1, BishopRoger Foys consecrated the Diocese of Covington to Mary,Mother of the Church pleading for her protection duringand intercession to ending the COVID-19 pandemic. Thelocal consecration was a part of a North American initia-tive started by the Canadian Conference of CatholicBishops and supported by Archbishop José Gomez of LosAngeles and president of the United States Conference ofCatholic Bishops. Several other bishops across the UnitedStates also that day consecrated their diocese to Mary,Mother of the Church.

At the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, the cele-bration included the praying of the decade of the rosaryand a traditional May Crowning — absent of a congrega-tion. The event was live streamed and is available for view-ing on the Cathedral’s website www.covcathedral.com.

The reading, which was recommended by the USCCB,was John’s account of the crucifixion, where from the

cross Jesus entrusts Mary to the disciple John and John toMary — in turn entrusting the Church to the loving careof his mother.

“Mary stood at the foot of that cross because she lovedher son with a love that only a mother can give,” saidBishop Foys in his reflection. “She needed to be there sothat she could see her son and that he could see her, so thateven in the midst of his agony, suffering and pain hederived consolation in that he was not alone — that hewould not die alone.”

Bishop Foys said that a mother’s love is so necessarythat God sent his son to born of a woman.

“God could have sent his son in any number of waysbut he chose that his son, who would be our Savior, wouldbe born of a woman — one of us — who would know amother’s love. How empty Jesus’ life would have been with-out the love of a mother — a love that is so great that shestood along the path to Calvary … How painful her hurtmust have been as she saw her son beaten, bloodied, spitupon, bearing the weight his cross on the way to Calvary.What went through her mind as she stood at the foot of thecross with the beloved disciple and watched her son in his

agony? It is a pain only a mother could imagine,” he said.During this time of pandemic, it is right that the

Church turn to Mary, her mother, asking for her protectionand intercession, Bishop Foys said.

“Mary the Mother of God, the mother of Jesus, ourmother, she is the mother of the Church, the mother of usall and she will intercede for us with her son. She will notabandon us,” Bishop Foys said. “There is no love, at one inthe same time, as gentle and as strong as the love of amother. So we gather today, the bishops across our country,to dedicate our nation and our dioceses, to consecrate our-selves, to Mary, Mother of the Church and we ask her tointercede for us — to make us strong during this time oftesting, during this time of pain, this time of fear and anx-iety. We ask her to take our collective hands into hers andcomfort us. Mary is our mother. She will not disappoint us.She will care for us because she loves us.

“Mary, Mother of God, mother of Jesus, Mother of theChurch — pray for us.”

See related articles about Mary on pages 6 and 8.

On May 1, Bishop Foysled a Renewal of theConsecration of theUnited States ofAmerica to the BlessedVirgin Mary at theCathedral Basilica ofthe Assumption. Theservice included a reading, a reflection, adecade of the rosaryand the annual Rite ofCrowning. Marianhymns were sung to celebrate Our Lady.Deacon JordanHainsey crowned astatue of Our Lady tohonor her during themonth of May.

Keaner photos

Messenger May 15, 2020 3

12 May 2020I. The dispensation from the obligation to attend

Sunday Mass for all the faithful of the Diocese ofCovington is extended until further notice. Additionally,those who are sick should refrain from coming to churchfor fourteen (14) days from when they first began to experi-ence symptoms.

II. Eucharist1. Beginning 20 May, 2020, public celebration of the

Eucharist will resume. The first weekend Mass will be23/24 May, 2020.

2. At this time, no additional Masses are to be added.3. The following precautions are to be observed:

Before Mass• Parishioners are to sit six feet apart, with an exception

made for members of the same household.— Seating in the churches will be limited to allow for

this social distancing. Every other pew will be blocked offto ensure six feet distancing in every direction.

— All open pews will have markers every six feet toassist parishioners in spacing themselves within the pews.

— Once pastors determine the seating capacity, effortsshould be made to inform the parishioners of the newrestrictions in order to limit the number attending a singleliturgy.

• Parishioners should be encouraged to wear face cover-ings.

• Pews, ambos, door handles, railings (indoor and out-door), and bathrooms are to be wiped down after everyMass. Pastors should consider recruiting volunteers tohelp with this process. Only one person at a time should beallowed in the bathroom.

• Everything is to be removed from the pews includingbut not limited to hymnals, missalettes, response cards,guest envelopes, etc. Parishes might consider using dispos-able worship aids.

• Ministers:— Only one lector is to be used at each Mass.— If servers are to be utilized they are required to wear

white gloves and face masks. All server vesture (includinggloves) is to be washed weekly.

— Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion arelimited to two (2) only for each Mass.

— Sacristans should wash/sanitize their hands beforeand after setting up for Mass and should also wear face cov-erings during that time.

— Ushers/Greeters are to wear face coverings.• Musicians— Organist/pianists are to sanitize their instrument

after every liturgy.— All microphones should also be sanitized after each

Mass.— A single cantor is permitted in addition to the organ-

ist/pianist.— Choirs are not to gather and sing together. — Singing during Mass creates a higher risk of spread-

ing infectious particles. Alternatives to congregationalsinging such as instrumental music or antiphonal singingshould be considered.

• Consider having volunteers hold the doors open forparishioners or propping doors as parishioners enter thechurch to reduce the touching of door handles.

• Holy water fonts are not to be used and baptismal fontsare to be covered.

During Mass• Processions should be avoided to maintain safe, social

distancing. If possible, the ministers should enter thesanctuary via the sacristy.

• Consider other methods for the collection if you passa basket from one person to another. Note: maintain allsecurity protocols as it relates to the collection.

• There is to be no procession of the gifts (offertory pro-cession).

• The Sign of Peace is to be omitted.• Distribution of Holy Communion— Only the priest(s), vested deacon(s) and two

Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion may dis-tribute Holy Communion.

— They must wear face masks and sanitize their handsbefore and after the distribution of Holy Communion.

— When there is more than one minister of commun-ion, bread is to be separated into separate ciboria prior toMass.

— Distribution of the Precious Blood to the faithful is tobe omitted. Note: When concelebration occurs, priests anddeacons should receive via intinction.

— Place markers in aisles six feet apart to facilitate safe,social distancing in the communion procession.

— One way communion lines should be utilized; forexample, distribution could occur in side aisles ratherthan the center aisle.

— Communion is to be received by the faithful in thehand and standing.

— It is the decision of the pastor whether or not to allowreception of Communion on the tongue. If this practice isallowed the person distributing Holy Communion mustsanitize his/her hands after distributing to each individ-ual communicant.

— Those with gluten intolerance should make arrange-ments with the pastor.

After Mass• Consider having volunteers hold the doors open for

parishioners or propping doors as parishioners leave thechurch to reduce the touching of door handles

• The priest and deacon should not greet the people forthe safety and wellbeing of both the clergy and the people.

• Until Further Notice, ancillary gatherings connectedto Mass are suspended; for example, Children’s Liturgy ofthe Word or coffee and donuts following Mass.

III. Weddings, Funerals, and Baptisms1. Beginning on 20 May, 2020, public weddings, funerals,

and baptisms are permitted.2. The above guidelines must be followed.

IV. Reception of Catechumens and Candidates Intothe Church

1. Depending on the number of candidates, pastors

should receive the candidates and catechumens at a Massdistinct from the scheduled liturgies in order to reduce thenumber of people in the church.

2. The above guidelines must be followed.

V. Anointing of the Sick1. Priests are to follow current guidelines as it relates to

the Anointing of the Sick.2. As a reminder, priests are permitted to use an instru-

ment, such as a cotton ball or a cotton-swab, for the actualanointing.

VI. Sacrament of Reconciliation1. Regularly scheduled confessions can resume.2. Lines for confessionals should have markers on the

ground every six feet to encourage safe, social distancing.3. Both the penitent and the confessor should wear

masks.4. Pastors are to take every possible precaution to

ensure that the sacrament is celebrated safely, for example,removing kneelers and offering a chair without arms,offering a means for the penitent to sanitize the kneelerbefore and after confession, or offering sanitizer for thoseentering and exiting the confessional.

VII. Other liturgies and devotions are permitted butare required to follow the above guidelines.

Protocols forCelebratingthe Liturgy amidCOVID–19

May 15Rehearsal for priesthoodordination, CathedralBasilica, Covington, 4 p.m.

May 16Priesthood ordination ofDeacon Jordan Hainsey,Cathedral Basilica, Covington,10 a.m.

May 17Mass of Thanksgiving, Father Jordan Hainsey,Cathedral Basilica, 10 a.m.

Bishop’s Schedule

Official assignments

Effective March 20, 2020

Thomas Lueke

To: Board of Trustees, Thomas More University

Term: Three years

Dr. Donald Saelinger

To: Board of Trustees, Thomas More University

Term: Three years

By order of the Most Rev. Roger J. Foys, D.D.Bishop of the Diocese of Covington

Jamie N. Schroeder,Chancellor

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Covington requests your spiritual participation in the

Ordination of Jordan Hainsey

to the sacred Priesthood of Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit and the imposition of hands by

the Most Rev. Roger J. Foys, D.D., Bishop of Covington

Saturday, May 16, 2020, 10 a.m. at the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, Covington.

The Mass will be live streamed and recorded for future viewing on the cathedral website, covcathedral.com.

9The newly ordained

Father Jordan Hainsey

will celebrate a Solemn Mass ofThanksgiving

for the Priestly Ordination

Sunday, May 17, 202010 a.m.

at the Cathedral Basilica of theAssumption, Covington.

Please join, by viewing the live stream,available at covcathedral.com.

9With praise and thanksgiving

to the eternal Triune God,

Deacon JordanHainsey

Diocese of Covington


COMMENTARY

VOL. 90 MESSENGERNO. 15

Official newspaper of the Diocese of Covington1125 Madison Ave. • Covington, Ky. 41011-3115

Telephone: (859) 392-1500 E-mail: [email protected]

(UPS-403-650) Published by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Covington, Ky.; 44 issues a year(weekly except from June 1 to mid-August, when published every other week; not published the week after Easter and two weeks at Christmas/New Year’s). Subscription rate:$19 per year; $40 foreign. Periodical Postage paid at Covington, KY 41012 and additionalmailing office Cincinnati, Ohio 45203. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to MESSENGER,1125 Madison Ave., Covington, KY 41011-3115.Advertising deadline: Wednesday noon, 9 days prior to publication date.Editorial deadline: Friday noon, 7 days prior to date.Subscriptions, address changes: Contact Circulation Dept. at above address.

Bishop Roger J. Foys................................................................................ PublisherRev. Ronald M. Ketteler ..............................................................Episcopal Liaison Laura Keener ................................................................. Editor, General ManagerAllegra Thatcher ............................................................................Assistant EditorMonica Yeamans........................................................................Editorial AssistantKim Holocher........................................................................Advertising ManagerLaura Gillespie..................................................Production Coordinator/Designer

TheCrossandEasterMercy —“Forhismercyendures forever”…Psalm136The Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church

(2004) roots the Church’s moral tradition on social justicein a panoramic vision of salvation history. The first chap-

ter — “God’s Plan ofLove for Humanity” —traces the movement ofthe divine initiative oflove which was inaugu-rated in creation, enact-ed historically in andthrough the biblicalcovenant, and decisivelyfulfilled in the life,death, and resurrectionof Jesus Christ, theWord made flesh.

The Compendiumdeclares that “(t)he Faceof God, progressivelyrevealed in the historyof salvation, shines in

its fullness in the Face of Jesus Christ crucified and risenfrom the dead.” (CSDC, n. 31) Thus, the mystery ofredemptive incarnation is a revelation of Trinitarian love,for “God is an infinite communion of love.”

A poignant passage recounts the core of salvation his-tory: “God’s gratuitous love for humanity is revealed,before anything else, as love springing from the Father,from whom everything draws its source; as the free com-munication that the Son makes of this love, giving himselfanew to the Father and giving himself to mankind; as theever new fruitfulness of divine love that the Holy Spiritpours forth into the hearts of men.” (cf. Rom 5:5)

The summary concludes: “By his words and deeds, andfully and definitively by his death and resurrection, Jesusreveals to humanity that God is Father, and we are allcalled by grace to become his children in the Spirit (cf.Rom 8:15; Gal 4:6), and therefore brothers and sistersamong ourselves.” (CSDC, n. 31)

“Redemptor Hominis” (“Redeemer of Humanity,”1978), Saint John Paul II’s inaugural encyclical, articulat-ed the all-encompassing vision which had dominated hispastoral teaching over the decades of his Petrine min-istry: “The Redeemer of man, Jesus Christ, is the centerof the universe and history.” (RH, n. 1)

Inspired by a profound spiritual consciousness as theGreat Jubilee in 2000 was approaching, the late HolyFather called for a reawakening of the cornerstone articleof Christian faith — the Incarnation. In particular, theChristology of the Gospel according to John grounds aNew Testament foundation of the doctrine of the redemp-tive Incarnation. Two Johannine passages are seminalinsights: “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us”(Jn 1:14) and “God so loved the world that he gave his onlySon, that whoever believes in him should not perish buthave eternal life.” (Jn 3:16) (RH, n. 1)

“Redeemer of Humanity” developed an extensiveanalysis of the multi-faceted dimensions of the mystery ofthe Incarnation and Redemption. The mystery ofRedemption is marked by both a divine and a humandimension. (RH, n. 9-10)

First, the redemptive death and resurrection of JesusChrist — the paschal mystery — inaugurates the new cre-ation, a restoration of the visible world to “its originallink with the divine source of wisdom and love.” (RH, n. 8)The encyclical explains: “The God of creation is revealedas the God of redemption, as the God who is ‘faithful tohimself,’ and faithful to his love for man and the worldwhich he revealed on the day of creation.” (RH, n. 9)

“Redeemer of Humanity” cited “Gaudium et Spes”(“The Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the ModernWorld,” 1965) in support of the vision of redemption as “anew creation.” In referring to the typology of the firstAdam in Genesis and Christ, the second Adam, thePastoral Constitution asserted that the mystery of the

incarnate Word illumines the mystery of humanity itself.Christ, the “final Adam, by the revelation of the mysteryof the Father and His love, fully reveals man to man him-self and makes his supreme calling clear.” (GS, n. 22)

Secondly, since the Incarnation reveals the mystery ofthe human person, the encyclical likewise highlights thehuman dimension of the Incarnation. Thus, insofar asmen and women “cannot live without love,” Christbecomes the touch point of the communion of the divineand the human. The paschal mystery, accomplished by

leading “through the cross and death to resurrection,” hasrestored human dignity with the “original blessing” ofcreation and returned meaning to life in the world. (RH, n.10)

The human dimension of the mystery of theIncarnation is ultimately rooted in the revelation of themystery of God’s love for humankind, which reaches theapex in Jesus’ self-emptying divine love on Calvary. TheCross stands as “a fresh manifestation of the eternalfatherhood of God, who in Him [Jesus Christ] draws nearagain to humanity, to each human being, giving him thethrice holy ‘Spirit of truth.’”(Jn 16:13) (RH, n. 9)

The Cross and the death of Christ have incarnatedGod’s love for humanity which was first manifested at thebeginning of creation, an affirmation that the God ofredemption is the God of creation.

Two years later, the theme of the divine dimension ofthe redemptive Incarnation was taken up again in the latePope’s second encyclical letter “Dives in Misericordia”(“Rich in Mercy,” 1980).

As an extensive biblical and theological meditation onthe theme of divine love or mercy, the encyclical openswith a proclamation that Jesus Christ is the definitive rev-elation of God as Love: “It is ‘God, who is rich in mercy’(Eph 2:4) whom Jesus Christ revealed to us as Father: it ishis very Son who, in himself, has manifested him andmade him known to us (cf. Jn 1:18; Heb 1: 1-2).” (DM, n.1)

“Rich in Mercy” then crafts a catena of biblicalinsights that radiates a biblical vision of the Mystery ofthe Incarnation.

Christ’s “making known” the Father (Jn 1:18) enfleshedGod’s covenant relationship of love for all men andwomen. Accordingly, God’s “philanthropy” (Tit 3:4) makesvisible the invisible inner life of God but has becomedefinitively visible “in Christ and through Christ, throughhis actions and his words, and finally on the death on the

Cross and his Resurrection.”Jesus incarnates and personifies God’s mercy — ”He

himself, in a certain sense, is mercy.” In the encounter ofthat mercy in Christ, God “becomes ‘visible’ in a particu-lar way as the Father ‘who is rich in mercy.’” (DM, n. 2)

Moreover, “Rich in Mercy” sets forth a theological com-mentary on the principal theme, namely, that “the pres-ence of God who is Father, love and mercy” is revealed inand through the very life and actions of Jesus ofNazareth.

The life, death and resurrection of Jesus discloses that“love is present in the world in which we live, an effectivelove” that embraces and responds to the human condition.In addition, a privileged locus for the revelation of thatlove will be encountered “in contact with suffering, injus-tice and poverty, in contact with the whole historical‘human condition,’ which in various ways manifestsman’s limitation and frailty, both physical and moral …”

The historical human condition, therefore, becomes“precisely the mode and sphere in which love manifestsitself that in biblical language is called ‘mercy.’” (DM, n. 3)

Christ, the Incarnate Word, reveals God “who is Father,who is ‘love,’ as St. John will express it in his first letter (1Jn 4:16); Christ reveals God as ‘rich in mercy,’ as we readin St. Paul.” (Eph 2:4) (DM, n. 3)

The revelation of love has entered human history and“has taken a form and a name: that of Jesus Christ.” (RH,n. 9)

On the threshold of the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000,in “Incarnationis Mysterium” (“The Mystery of theIncarnation,”1998), Saint John Paul II summoned theChurch to spiritual renewal: “Contemplating the mysteryof the Incarnation of the Son of God, the Church pre-pares to cross the threshold of the Third Millennium.”(IM, n.1)

The celebration of the mystery of the Incarnation dur-ing the preparatory period for the Jubilee entailed fixing“our gaze on the mystery of the Trinity,” for “the journeyof faith has its origin and its final goal, when at last oureyes will contemplate the face of God forever.”

Saint John Paul II explained: “Jesus of Nazareth, whoreveals the Father, has fulfilled the desire hidden in everyhuman heart to know God.” The Holy Father continuesthe reflection: “Jesus reveals the face of God the Father‘compassionate merciful’ (Jas 5:11), and with the sendingof the Holy Spirit he makes known the mystery of lovewhich is the Trinity.” (IM, n.3)

The opening line of “Misericordiae Vultus,” (“TheFace of Mercy”) the papal bull announcing the 2015Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, synthesizes theChristological theme of the Jubilee: “Jesus Christ is theface of the Father’s mercy.” (MV, n. 1)

Consistent with that theme, Pope Francis stresses thatthe Gospel of Matthew narrates the account of the institu-tion of the Eucharist in a context of mercy, for Jesus“placed this supreme act of revelation in the light of hismercy.”

In addition, the Holy Father notes that prior to thePassion Jesus prayed Psalm 136 — “For his mercy enduresforever.” Jesus underwent his passion and resurrectionaware of “the great mystery of love that he would con-summate on the Cross.” (MV, n. 7)

Earlier, in the apostolic exhortation “EvangeliiGaudium,” (“The Joy of the Gospel,” 2013) Pope Francisrefers to the revealed truths that explicitly proclaim “theheart of the Gospel.” He affirms that at the core of theGospel “(w)hat shines forth is the beauty of the savinglove of God made manifest in Jesus Christ who died androse from the dead.” (EG, n. 36)

Father Ronald Ketteler is director of ecumenism, episco-pal liaison to the Messenger and professor of theology atThomas More University.

COMMENTARY

Father Ronald Ketteler

‘With our eyes fixed on Jesus

and his merciful gaze,

we experience the love

of the Most Holy Trinity.

The mission Jesus received

from the Father was that of revealing

the mystery of divine love

in its fullness,

“God is love” (I John 4: 8, 16) . . .

This love has now been made visible

and tangible in Jesus’ entire life.

His person is nothing but love,

a love given gratuitously.’’— Pope Francis, “Misericordiae Vultus”

(2015): n. 8.


COMMENTARY

Hindsight in2020Somewhere along the way, once upon a time not that

long ago, I read a wondrous bedtime story wherein afather, somehow, someway, was dead-set on convincinghis young son to go to bed. Though tired, but not to beoutwitted, the boy made the following offer: “Tell me theone about the virus again. Then I’ll go to bed.”

“But my boy, you’regrowing weary, sleepythoughts around yourhead.”

“Please! That one’s myfavorite. I promise ... justonce more.”

“Okay, snuggle down,my boy, though I know youknow full well this storystarts before then in aworld I once would dwell.”

(Try to imagine a bookcalled “The GreatRealization” by ProbablyTom Foolery. Please don’t

bail out — stay with us: the father, the boy and me.)“It was a world of waste and wonder, of poverty and

plenty, back before we understood why hindsight’s 2020.You see, the people came up with companies to trade,across all lands. But they swelled and got much biggerthan we ever could have planned. We’d always had ourwants, but now it got so quick. You could have anythingyou dreamed of in a day and with a click. We noticed peo-ple had stopped talking. That’s not to say they neverspoke.”

(Picture a family sitting on a couch, chained to theircell phones or iPads.)

“But the meaning must have melted and the work/life

balance broke. And the children’s eyes grew squarer andevery toddler had a phone. They filtered out the imperfec-tion, but amidst the noise, they felt alone. And every daythe skies grew thicker, till you couldn’t see the stars. So,we flew in planes to find them while down below we filledour cars. We’d drive around all day in circles. We’d forgot-ten how to run. We swapped the grass for tarmac, shrunkthe parks till there were none. We filled the sea with plas-tic because our waste was never capped. Until, each daywhen we went fishing, you’d pull them out alreadywrapped. And while we drank and smoked and gambled,our leaders taught us why, it’s best to not upset the lob-bies, more convenient, to die.”

“But then, in 2020, a new virus came our way. The gov-ernment reacted and told us all to hide away. But whilewe all were hidden, amidst the fear and all the while, thepeople dusted off their instincts. They remembered howto smile! They started clapping to say thank you, and call-ing up their mums. And while the car keys gathered dust,they would look forward to their runs. And with the skiesless full of voyagers, the earth began to breathe. And thebeaches bore new wildlife that scuffled off into the seas.”

(Picture a little pig-tailed darling running through agreen open field.)

“Some people started dancing, some were singing,some were baking. We’d grown so used to bad news, butsome good news was in the making. And so when wefound the cure and were allowed to go outside, we all pre-ferred the world we found to the one we left behind.”

(See a family walking hand-in-hand up a grass knoll atsunset.)

“Old habits became extinct and they made way for thenew. And every simple act of kindness was now given itsdue.”

Hopeand healingfor thecherishedguestsGoodfriendsmust‘stay intouch’ Rose Garden Mission helps those in need of hope and

cherishment. Many people who come in are seen as a bur-den to society, but in Rose Garden they are cherished.During my time working with the Franciscan Sisters, Ihave figured out how to help provide hope for the hope-less. I have been volunteering at the Rose Garden Mission

in Covington, the Centerfor Hope and Healing, forwhat seems like decades.My family and I work any-where from the front desk,to the warehouse and thehospitality room. Theseexperiences with theFranciscan Daughters ofMary, and the wonderfulpeople that visit, havehelped form my beliefs inhelping everybody whenev-er I can and guided me tobecome the person I amtoday.

The volunteers provide hope for everybody who needsit. For example, an elderly lady who has been through alot of surgeries and tough times. She comes in all thetime. She doesn’t need food; however, she comes in forspiritual/emotional healing. She waits in a chair off tothe side for hours just so she can talk to my mom orgrandma and get a hug to cheer her up. That is how shegets her hope from Rose Garden.

John is the most polite person in the mission by far —holding the door open for all the other guests and gettinghis food last. When he comes to the front desk, he greetsyou with a smile. One day, he was curious about a prayerwritten on a card by the desk. My mom had it memo-rized, so she taught him the prayer and he was eager formore. The Catechism of the Catholic Church says, “Thedesire for God is written in the human heart, becauseman is created by God and for God; and God never ceasesto draw man to himself.” John is ever drawn closer toGod and tries his very best to show him to others. Now,whenever he comes in, he always asks my mom, “his spir-itual advisor” in his own words, for a prayer card so hecan learn a new prayer and become closer to God. That is

how he gets his hopes and needs filled in Rose Garden.Rafael, may have been the friendliest person you

would have ever met, whenever he came in he had asmall smile that spread around the room. Even though hewas confined to a wheelchair nothing got in the way ofhis happiness. He spreads joy through the mission when-ever he comes in, always asking to take a selfie with youand he provided hope for others by sharing his joy withthem and giving them hope for their futures.

Rose Garden gives clothes, food, shelter, drink and wel-comes the neighbors. In the Bible, Matthew 25:35-36 says“I was hungry and you gave Me food, I was thirsty andyou gave Me drink, a stranger and you welcomed Me,naked and you clothed Me, ill and you cared for Me, inprison and you visited Me.” This is practically RoseGarden’s mission statement. The sisters eagerly serveeverybody to the very best of their abilities, and the vol-unteers such as my cousins, grandparents, family, schoolgroups and other caring families come in to provide carefor those in need.

The mission is literally a food pantry, but many peoplecome in for the physical nutrition and the mental andspiritual healing. It is such a heartwarming place. Evenwhile washing dirty and smelly potatoes with SisterCatherine, I couldn’t help myself from smiling and hav-ing a good time because I know how much the peoplecome in to Rose Garden appreciate it. It feels amazing todo good things for others. The Bible says that, ”When wedeal with each other, we should do so with a sense of awethat arises in the presence of something holy and sacred.For that is what human beings are: we are created in theimage of God.” (cf. Gn 1:27) When the visitors are outsideof Rose Garden, they are seen as a burden to society, justuseless people without jobs and futures. About half ofthe people that come in are drug addicts, homeless, job-less, immigrants, or disabled. But in Rose Garden, theyare cherished and cared for. They are at home at RoseGarden. They may seem like an odd bunch to be aroundbut they are some of the nicest people you will ever meet.

Adam Kolar is an eighth-grader at Villa MadonnaAcademy, Villa Hills. This is the essay he submitted to the2020 Pro-Life Essay Contest sponsored by the diocesan Pro-Life Office, which was awarded first place.

The readings for the sixth Sunday of Easter — Cycle “A”are: Acts 8:5-8, 14-17; 1 Peter 3:15-18; and John 14:15-21.

Good relationships often catch us by surprise. I can recallseveral vacations I’ve taken that were more rewarding forthe people I got to know than for the sights I went to see orthe relaxation I sought to have. The highlight of the tripwould end up being the time I spent with people I had notknown before. It is rather amazing how, in such a short time,we can become very close to other people. Those vacationswere the ones I hated to see end. On departure day my new

friends and I would vow to“stay in touch.” But we sel-dom did.

In today’s Gospel, Jesusmakes a similar promise.The circumstances areeven strikingly the same.He has spent some consid-erable time with his disci-ples. The time of departureis quickly coming.(Ascension is only a fewdays away.) So he promisesto “stay in touch.” “I willnot leave you orphaned; Iwill come back to you.”

The means by which hewill continue to be with his disciples (us) is the Holy Spirit.The Father “will send you another Paraclete to be with youalways: the Spirit of truth whom the world cannot accept …”

Jesus speaks of “another” Paraclete, because he himselfis the original Paraclete, a term, which in the Greek refersto a legal advocate, a helper, one who takes up the cause ofanother. The Lord took upon himself our cause and our sin-fulness and he now promises not to abandon us.

But there is a catch. The promised Paraclete will be sent“if you love me and obey the commands I give you.” TheSpirit can flourish only in a life that is filled with love andobedience. Obedience is a word that we like to shrink from,especially in our culture. We like to believe that once I’vereached a certain level of responsibility, maturity andenlightenment, I need be obedient to no one except myself.Indeed, freedom of conscience and personal responsibilityare legitimate considerations. But the Lord’s teaching is thatthe will of the Father is just as valid a concern.

Jesus’ own love of the Father is one that is ultimatelyexpressed in obedience to the Father’s will. I never forgetthat the Lord prayed repeatedly that he not have to drink ofthe cup of suffering which was the Father’s will. It’s com-forting to know that Jesus, too, did not always find obedi-ence to the Father all that easy to accept. That’s helpful toremember when I might find it hard to accept God’s will,Church teaching or my superiors’ wishes.

Jesus expressed his love through obedience. That is whathe asks of us as well. “He who obeys the commandments hehas from me is the man who loves me; and he who loves mewill be loved by my Father.”(today’s Gospel) Love and obedi-ence go hand in hand.

The scenes that today’s first two readings paint are onesthat give us a glimpse of the early Christian communitythat had received the promised Paraclete. In the first readingfrom the Acts of the Apostles, Philip, a deacon in theChurch, gained many converts. True to the discipline of theearly Church, it was Peter and John — leaders from theJerusalem Christian community — who were called upon topray and impose hands on these neophytes that they mightreceive the Holy Spirit.

The second reading, taken from the First Letter of Peter,is one that is filled with encouragement. Those Christians towhom he wrote were finding it quite difficult to remainfaithful in obedience to the Lord. They were undergoing per-secution. Yet, because the Lord had not left them“orphaned,” they were able to persevere. Peter tells us thatthey were filled with hope, a strength imparted by the Lord’scontinuing presence in his Spirit, the Paraclete.

We confidently approach the celebration of the Lord’sphysical departure in the feast of the Ascension because we,too, have the hope and confidence that he will continue to“stay in touch” through his Holy Spirit.

Father Daniel Vogelpohl is pastor of Blessed SacramentParish, Ft. Mitchell.

Father Daniel Vogelpohl

EIGHTH DAY

Ray Smith

ALONG THE WAY

Adam Kolar

GUEST

(Continued on page 14)


Allegra ThatcherAssistant Editor

When sponsors for the Cross the Bridge for Life 2020sent in their donations, they no doubt pictured hundreds ofparticipants out in the sun showing their in-person sup-port. Yet when the spread of COVID-19 caused organizersto cancel the event, many donors decided to pay it forward.

To celebrate Cross the Bridge for Life’s15th year, the planning committee was con-sidering a Grant Program to offer financialsupport to Life Coalition pregnancy centers.While this support was intended to be anaddition to the physical event, it comes as awelcome way to continue supporting thepro-life cause and is now in full swing.

“While the decision to cancel the eventthis year was difficult, the safety of our com-munity is the most important thing,” saidPeggy Piccola, Cross the Bridge SteeringCommittee member and assistant to thedirector of the Diocese of Covington Pro-Life Office. “Through the dedication andgenerosity of our faithful sponsors, we willbe able to offer financial support to our LifeCoalition members. These life-affirmingagencies are no doubt feeling the ramifica-tions of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Meg Wittman, executive director,Cincinnati March for Life, agreed. “While

we cannot celebrate life at Cross theBridge this year, we are able to do it nowin a uniquely meaningful way. Thegrant program is precisely what ourpro-life community needs right now.Although we are saddened by this

change of events, we welcome the opportunity to live outour pro-life values in the community by financially sup-porting our life partners.”

The rapidly growing and family friendly event was ini-tiated in 2005 by pregnancy care directors from theCincinnati and Northern Kentucky area. It brings togeth-

er some 20 life-affirming organizations, over 25 sponsorsand various communities to raise public awareness of thevalue of all human life. The walk itself takes place on thePurple People Bridge, followed by a festival at FestivalPark Riverboat Row. The event is conducted with the aus-pices of the Diocese of Covington and Archdiocese ofCincinnati. The Steering Committee was formed in 2016.

“We are terribly disappointed that we cannot celebratethe 15th anniversary of Cross the Bridge for Life with thethousands of people who attend every year from through-out the tri-state area,” said Karen Riegler, chair of theCross the Bridge Steering Committee. “Creating the Crossthe Bridge for Life Grant Program is a way for us to ‘pay itforward’ — the 14 years of successful Cross the Bridge forLife events in our community. These agencies and organi-zations that provide support to women and men so thatthey will choose life for their unborn child will no doubtfeel the financial ramifications from this pandemic. Weare so thankful to the businesses who have stepped for-ward to help fund this program in spite of the financialuncertainty for everyone.”

Pro-life citizens are urged to show their support for lifein alternate ways this June 7. Wear a favorite Cross the

Bridge T-shirt from pastyears, get out in the sun on awalk with the family and takea photo to post it to the event’sFacebook page. The pro-lifecause is gaining momentumand will continue to unite peo-ple on both sides of the river.Organizers are looking for-ward to an even higher atten-dance in 2021.

Cross theBridge forLife findsnewoutlets topromote life

David CooleyMessenger Contributor

On the first day of May, Bishop Roger Foys consecratedthe Diocese of Covington to Mary under the title of Mary,Mother of the Church. In fact, bishops all over the UnitedStates and Canada consecrated their respective lands toMary under the title of Mary, Mother of the Church. Whilethe title is a slight turn from tradition in the United States,the consecration reaffirms previous consecrations of ourcountry to Mary, under the title Immaculate Conception,in 1792 and 1846, and to the Immaculate Heart of Mary in1959.

Each year May is a time set aside by the Church to offerspecial devotion to the Blessed Mother — this is very fit-ting since it is also the month we celebrate all mothers onMother’s Day. It is called “Mary’s Month” and usual high-lights include May crownings, rosaries and meditations onMary’s role in salvation history.

This year it is striking that the bishops recognize thatwe find ourselves not in the usual time of joy that comeswith late spring — a time of first Communions, gradua-tions, marriages, reunions and vacations — but a time ofsorrow, which has been thrust upon us by a pandemic, iso-lation and economic uncertainty. It seems that there is a lotof fear, anxiety, loneliness, anger, suffering and death allaround the world. And I’m sure that a lot of individualshave found themselves in situations where they feel over-come by their worries and helpless to do anything aboutthem. However, we, the Church, members of the MysticalBody of Christ, are never helpless.

So, what can we do in times like these? We can turn tothe one who intercedes to her Son on our behalf. We turnto the “woman” of the Bible, who gave her free consent,through a singular grace, on behalf of the entire humanrace. Mary is the one who said yes to God’s plan for humanredemption by accepted the task of becoming the Motherof the Son of God, and is the first person to consecrate her-self to Jesus. In this time of turmoil, at the beginning ofMay, our Church leaders are asking us to be child-like inour faith and ponder the mystery that Mary is our trueMother — yes, in a spiritual way, but also in a very realsense. As the Second Vatican Council puts it, Mary is “aMother to us in the order of grace.” (Lumen Gentium, 61)

Father Hugo Rahner, a Jesuit theologian, once wrote,“Mary, through her position as the Mother of God, standsindeed in a special relationship to all mankind who havebeen formed into a single body through the power of the

redeeming blood of her Son — Mary is trulythe Mother of all the redeemed.” Mary’s obe-dience to God’s will stands in direct contrast

Eve’s disobedience. Just as Eve was the mother of ourrace, Mary is the mother of our race redeemed. She is theNew Eve. It is important to remember that before the Fallof Man Eve was simplycalled the “woman.” (cf.Genesis 2:23; 3:12-20)

According to theChurch Fathers, theChurch began her exis-tence in the womb of theBlessed Virgin Mary andthe whole history of theChurch is an unfolding ofthe mystery that began inher heart. Turning toScripture, we see that fromthe cross Jesus gave us thegreatest gift — after oursalvation, of course — thathe could give; he gave ushis own Mother to be ourspiritual Mother.

Everything that Jesusdoes from the cross has auniversal impact; his uni-versal act of redemptionon Calvary affects everyhuman being as does hisgift of Mary’s spiritualmotherhood. Jesus says toMary “Woman, behold,your Son.” (John 19:26)Referring to his own moth-er as “Woman,” Jesus istelling us that she holds atype of office that goesbeyond their personalmother-son relationship.Mary is the “Woman” ofGenesis (3:15), the“Woman” of Cana (John2:4) and the “Woman” ofRevelation (12:1). ThenJesus turns to John andsays, “Behold, your moth-er” (John 19:27). At the footof the Cross, Mary and

John stand for the whole Church. Mary became thebeloved disciple’s spiritual mother and the spiritual moth-er of all who seek to be “beloved disciples” of Jesus.

Jesus, the New Adam, offers humanity two great fruitsfrom his redemptive suffering: he offers the gift of eternallife through faith in him, and he offers the gift of his moth-

er. It is up to us to accept thesegifts, gifts that came fromJesus at a great price, or not.In our own time of sufferingwe can learn a lot from Jesus’best friend; we can take Maryinto our homes (John 19:27)and into our hearts.

At the “Renewal of theConsecration of the UnitedStates of America to theBlessed Virgin Mary,”Archbishop Jose H. Gomez ofLos Angeles, president of theU.S. Conference of CatholicBishops, said that Mary wasthe first to offer her wholeheart to do the will of God andset the entire plan of redemp-tion in motion.

“We ask God to give us thatsame faith, that same courage... the strength to follow Jesus,to seek his holiness and hiskingdom,” Archbishop Gomezsaid. “We ask God to give usthat same faith, that samecourage ... and strength to fol-low Jesus, to seek his holinessand his kingdom.”

Archbishop Gomez saidthat we should turn to theBlessed Virgin Mary in thisvery difficult time and“implore her maternal carefor her children.” That is agreat start and probably thebest thing that we can do.

David Cooley is associatedirector and general managerfor the Office of Catechesis andEvangelization, Diocese ofCovington, Ky.

Mary,Mother of theChurch

In this Messenger file photo, participants of the 2019 Cross theBridge for Life lead the walk over the “Purple People Bridge.”

CNS photo/Victor Aleman, courtesy Angelus News

Archbishop Jose H. Gomez of Los Angeles, president ofthe U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, is seen during aspecial liturgy in renewing the consecration of the U.S. tothe care of our Blessed Mother May 1, 2020, from theCathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles.


The Cincinnati Club, The Gardens, The Grand, The Pinnacle

Preferred Caterer at Drees Pavilion

Partner Venues

Cincinnati Music Hall, Contemporary Arts Center, Devou Event Center, Fort Thomas Armory,

Freedom Center, The New Riff Distillery, Rhinegiest Brewery,The Center at Fountain Square, Prickel Barn

We Choose

Life

Mission StatementThe Pro-Life Office of the Roman CatholicDiocese of Covington, guided by our bishop,promotes the sanctity and legal protection ofhuman life from conception to natural deaththrough prayer, pastoral care, public policyand education.

Pro-LifeOfficeof the Diocese of Covington

Family vs. Environment: What is a responsible Catholic to do?

Father Raymond EnzweilerToday some people talk as if we are at war with the environ-

ment. To be more precise, they argue people are attacking the envi-ronment and destroying it. After all, nature simply does what it issupposed to do. We are the enemy, the ones damaging the balanceof nature with our selfish choices. They argue that we need toadjust before the environment fully reacts and destroys life. Theyidentify many changes we need to make, including population con-trol. They argue we need to reduce the number of children we arehaving in order to reduce our impact on the environment (andimprove the quality of life now and into the future). It is an argu-ment that gives priority to the environment and fears the comingenvironmental backlash. So strong is this attitude, some will evenridicule parents with a large number of children for their failure todo their duty in this great battle to save the environment.

But, what is our responsibility to the environment? In Genesis1:26-28, we learn that humanity is given dominion over creation.This dominion, however, is intimately connected to our being creat-ed in God’s image and likeness. Rather than domination over cre-ation, it is better understood as stewardship of creation. As stew-ards, we work on behalf of God. We assist in the process of creation.We help bring God’s plan for the glory of creation to fruition andgrow in our own holiness at the same time. We must act wisely andstrive to hand on something better to the next generation of stew-ards — our children. Indeed, our theology has long recognized ourrole as stewards of creation. And, it has been discussed by popesmany times the last half century and well expressed in Pope Francis’encyclical “Laudato Si,” “On Care for our Common Home,” in 2015.

Is family secondary to creation then? No, that same passagefrom Genesis speaks to family. God tells man and woman to befruitful and multiply. It is a blessing from God connected with ourbeing created in God’s image and likeness, a reality expressedthrough marriage. The spouses each choose to unconditionally giveself to other for the good of the other out of love. This reflection ofthe triune unity allows them to grow in self-knowledge and in loveof God. Further, just as the love of God overflows in the goodness ofcreation, the family’s love overflows in creative goodness, especiallythrough children. The family, then, is a sign of God in the world thatinspires faith and goodness. Pope Francis explains it well in anaddress to The National Numerous Family Association on December28, 2014:

“You have come with the most beautiful fruit of your love.Motherhood and fatherhood are a gift of God, but to accept thegift, to be astounded by its beauty and to make it shine in society,

this is your task. Each of your children is a unique creature that willnever be duplicated in the history of humanity. When one under-stands this, or that God wanted each one, we are astounded byhow great a miracle a child is! A child changes your life! We have allseen — men, women — that when a child arrives, life changes, it isanother thing. A son or daughter is a miracle that changes life. You,boys and girls, are exactly this: each one of you is the unique fruit oflove, you come from love and you grow in love. You are unique, butnot alone! And the fact of having brothers and sisters is good foryou: the sons and daughters of a large family are more capable offraternal communion even from early childhood. In a world oftenmarked by selfishness, a large family is a school of solidarity andsharing; and this attitude is to the benefit of society as a whole.”

Indeed, the Church has always affirmed that the family is thefoundation of society and faith. It is the starting point of goodnessin the world. But, family is also very personal with the husband andwife at the center of the familial relationship. Individual couplesneed to use their prudent judgment and determine how many chil-dren they can responsibly rear while being open to and deferring toGod’s will and God’s knowledge of what is best. The Church sup-ports them in their faith and guides them in their discernment, butneither our faith nor the Church dictates family size.

What about the premise, “we are waging war on the environ-ment?” Our knowledge of the world, a fruit of God’s gift of reason,makes it clear: There is some truth there. We need to be betterstewards. We now impact nature on a large scale. We can fulfill ourdesire for immediate satisfaction and often do so without dueregard for the future. It is a self-centered view of the world that iscounter to who we are as God’s stewards in creation.

Is population control the answer? No, but families are the start-ing point for any answer. It is there that we learn to respect and carefor others and their things. It is there we learn how to lovingly usethe resources we have and share them with those around us andwith those yet to come. Life is complex. We cannot oversimplify theissues or the solutions. Yes, we need to take better care of the envi-ronment. But faith tells us the family is not the problem; it is integralto the solution.

So, how does one respond when asked, “How could you haveso many kids in this day and age?” Tell them, “We’re implementingthe best solution possible, a loving family centered on God.” Theyprobably won’t believe you, but you can be confident you planted aseed that God will use.

Father Raymond Enzweiler is pastor of St. Thomas Parish, Ft. Thomas, Ky.

For more information about the Pro-Life Office or to be added to our e-mail newsgroups, visit us online at www.covdio.org/prolife/ or call (859) 392-1500.

Stephen EnzweilerCathedral Historian

For centuries, the Catholic Church has set aside themonth of May to honor Mary, the Mother of God. And foralmost as long, artists and sculptors have decoratedCatholic churches around the world with treasures ofsacred art that evoke her presence for the faithful who visitthese sacred spaces. Few churches in our area containmore examples of this art under one roof honoring Marythan does St. Mary’s Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption.

Mary’s presence seems to be everywhere at theCathedral Basilica, giving us a virtual catechism of Mariantheology, which can serve as a source of meditation in the

month of May. An encounter with Mary can befound in everything from the Cathedral’s title to itsmany breathtaking statues, carvings, mosaics,stained-glass windows and symbols that adorn itsinterior and exterior.

Among the art treasures of the Cathedral are twoworks of sculptor Clement J. Barnhorn. They gracethe Cathedral’s front central portico, where thou-sands pass daily on Madison Avenue beneath thequiet gaze of the Virgin herself. These were commis-sioned by the Third Bishop of Covington, CamillusPaul Maes, whose devotion to Our Lady was leg-endary. The Madonna with child was sculpted in1912 and stands high on a pedestal between the twomain doors. Mary, with head inclined forward andeyes cast down, is deep in contemplation. Her infantson sits up in her arms and looks out at us, his righthand raised in blessing, his left hand over his heart.She is the mother of the Man of Sorrows who musttravel the Way of the Cross. She is the handmaid ofthe Lord in the plan of the Father … and a swordshall pierce her heart. Are these her thoughtsreflected in her downcast gaze of quiet contempla-tion?

The other Barnhorn sculpture was begun in 1914and is a bas-relief of the Cathedral’s patroness,Mary, the Mother of God, under the title of herAssumption into Heaven. The completed work is, asit were, a poem in stone, embodying two Marianthemes: the tradition of the women who came to thetomb of Mary where, instead of her remains, theyfound a mass of fragrant roses; and the traditionthat as the Mother of God, she was assumed intoHeaven body and soul.

Inside the Cathedral, Mary’s presence is richlyencountered in the brightly colored stained-glasswindows. Installed in November 1911, the greatnorth transept window is among the largest stained-glass windows in the world and tells the story of the

Council of Ephesus in 431 A.D., which defined the dogmathat Mary was truly the “Mother of God.” It is divided intofour sections: the Litany of Loretto, the Crowning of Mary,the Council of Ephesus, and 16 saints associated withMarian writings and devotion.

The Litany of Loretto, also known as the Litany of theBlessed Mother, was inspired by Marian litanies that datefrom the twelfth century. It depicts in symbols the manytitles by which Mary is known, such as Virgin Most Pure,Queen of Angels, and Ark of the Covenant. In the panelbelow it, the Crowning of Mary commemorates her title asQueen of Heaven and Earth. The Council of Ephesus panelillustrates the council’s pronouncement of Mary as the

Theotokos, (the God-bearer) or Mother of God. The 16 saintsat the bottom were known for their particular devotion toMary and for their defense of orthodoxy and the rights ofthe Church.

While the great north transept window embodiesMary’s divine motherhood and queenship, the ImmaculateConception window, located just above the north entrance,illustrates Pope Pius IX’s 1854 apostolic constitution“Ineffabilis Deus,” which pronounced the dogma of theImmaculate Conception. In the upper left is Adam and Evein the very act of disobedience [Genesis 3:6], and at right isIsaiah the prophet holding a scroll with his prophecy fromIsaiah 7:14 that reads, “Ecce virgo concipiet.” (Behold a vir-

gin shall conceive.) At left,an angel holds an openbook with the words,“Macula originalis est nonin te.” (The original stain isnot in you.) At far right,Michael the Archangeldefeats Satan, who clutchesa book with the prophecyfrom Genesis 3:15: “Ipsaconteret caput tuum” (Shewill crush your head). Inthe window’s center standsMary “clothed with thesun,” one foot on a crescentmoon, the other crushingSatan underfoot.

Symbols of Mary alsoabound throughout theCathedral and remind us ofher constant presence. Themost common is the fleur-de-lis, long a symbol ofpurity and of the Virginherself. We find it inlaid inthe marble floor of themain aisle, centrally placedin front of and below themain altar. It evokes thescene of Mary standing atthe foot of the Cross as shewitnesses the sacrifice ofher son on Golgotha. Today,it evokes this same scene asshe continues to witnessthe perpetual sacrifice ofher son offered at Massdaily on the altar. Fleur-de-lis may also be found in thepatterned screens of thechapels of Mary, Josephand the Sacred Heart aswell as in a carved, stylizedpoppyheads adorning theends of each row of pews.

Visitors to the CathedralBasilica can also experi-ence Mary’s presence in St.Mary’s Park acrossMadison Avenue; in theCathedral’s shrine of OurLady of Guadalupe,patroness of the Americas;in the fourteenth Station ofthe Cross, with its singularmother-of-pearl tear fallingfrom Mary’s eye; in AugustSchmidt’s carved bal-dachin crucifix showingthe Mother of Jesus stand-ing with the Apostle Johnat the foot of the cross; andin the exquisite sculptureatop the baldachin showingMary in her Assumptionrising serenely into the airof the Cathedral’s sunlitapse.


(above) The Virgin Mary gazes directly at us from theAnnunciation window, inviting us to participate in the story that’s unfolding. The Annunciation isone of four major windows on the nave’s south side featuringMary.

(above) The Virgin Mary is assumed into Heaven body and soul.

(above right) Bishop Camillus Maes was so impressed with Clement Barnhorn’sMadonna with Child, that he declared it the “Alma Mater” of the Cathedral.

(below left) Mary in her Assumption atop August Schmidt’s meticulously carvedbaldachin.

(below right) Mary and Jesus above the fountain in St. Mary’s park. St. Mary’sPark is the latest addition of Marian art at the Cathedral Basilica. The park,located at the corner of Twelfth and Madison, is open daily to the public.

(left) Marian symbols abound at the Cathedral Basilica. Here, the first letter ofMary’s name is surmounted by her crown, itself made of three stylized fleur-de-lis. This symbol is inlaid in the Carrera marble altar of Mary’s chapel.

CathedralBasilica’sart treasuresevokeMary’spresence inMay

Enzweiler photos


PEOPLE AND EVENTS

As the response to the COVID-19 virus evolves, eventshave been cancelled.

The weekly TV Mass from the Cathedral Basilica of theAssumption will be broadcast on Sunday, 5–6 p.m. on sta-tion Me TV WLWT, on channels: over the air 5-2; Spectrum188 in Kentucky and Cincinnati Bell 23 or 291.

Have something to list in “People and Events”? The dead-line for event notices is nine days prior to the desired publi-cation date. E-mail [email protected] no later than theWednesday before the week you would like the informationto appear.

Planning an event featuring a speaker or minister fromoutside your parish? In the Diocese of Covington, beforecontracting the services of a priest or deacon, man orwoman religious, or lay person, a request for verification ingood standing must be submitted to the Chancery office nolater than four weeks before the desired date of service.Screening applications and instructions can be found atwww.covdio.org/chancery/.

NewsworthyCongratulations to Nicole Saner, St. Philip Parish, for

winning the annual Christina Verst Memorial

Endowment Scholarship to Bishop Brossart High School

for the 2020-21 school year. The award is given in the

form of tuition assistance to an eighth grade student

every year.

Virtual tea partyKathy Brunot, librarian at St. Pius X School. Edgewood, enjoyed a virtual tea party with Julie Abeling’s kindergarten class.

Food collectionThe Pavia family organized a food collection for “BeConcerned” April 19, at St. Joseph School, Crescent Springs.St. Joseph school and parish families responded generously.

Pictionary from a distanceA first grade class from St. Agnes School, Ft. Wright, had a fun Zoom meeting in late April. The students were able toshare what they have been doing at home and ask their classmates questions. The class even played some virtualPictionary.


Sister Margaret Stallmeyer, C.D.P.Director of the Tribunal

This is the first in a series of short articles presented bythe diocesan tribunal. The intent of these articles is to shareinformation regarding both the purpose of seeking anannulment and the particulars of the annulment processitself. It is hoped that this will encourage members of ourcommunity who are in need of an annulment to take advan-tage of the healing that an annulment can provide andreturn to full communion in the Church.

In order to understand an annulment, it is first neces-sary to review the Church’s teaching regarding marriage.

Vatican Council II, in its document “Gaudium et Spes,”articulated the Church’s understanding of marriage: “Theintimate community of life and love which constitutes themarried state has been established by the Creator.” TheCouncil returned to the biblical theme of marriage ascovenant. Marriage is not just a legal contract but an inter-personal commitment based on trust, self-giving and sacri-ficial love. With this covenant, husband and wife “rendermutual help and service to each other through an intimateunion of their persons and their actions.” With this concil-iar understanding, the 1983 Code of Canon Law’s firstcanon on marriage, canon 1055, reads: “The matrimonialcovenant by which a man and a woman establish betweenthemselves a partnership of the whole of life, is by itsnature ordered to the good of the spouses and the procre-

ation and educa-tion of children.”

T h r o u g h o u tSacred Scripture references to marriage are found begin-ning with Genesis and the creation of man and woman.The unbreakable union of the couple, “they are no longertwo but one flesh,” and the indissoluble bond that isformed, “what God has joined together, let no one put asun-der,” make it clear that marriage is not just a sociologicalphenomenon but a part of God’s plan for the human race.

So, marriage, as instituted by God, is a faithful, exclu-sive, life-long union of a man and a woman joined in anintimate community of life and love. The married couplecommit themselves completely to one another in a lovingrelationship and to the awe-filled responsibility of bring-ing children into the world and caring for them. Unlikeany other relationship, marriage makes a unique and irre-placeable contribution to society. Marriage is truly a gift tobe cherished.

As the “Catechism of the Catholic Church” (#1626)states: “The Church holds the exchange of consent to bethe indispensable element that ‘makes the marriage.’ Ifconsent is lacking there is no marriage.” This is codified inCanon 1057: “Marriage is brought about through the con-sent of the parties, legitimately manifested between per-sons who are capable according to law of giving consent;no human power can replace this consent.”

Consent is an act of the will in which the parties mani-fest what their wills desire when they say “I do.” In orderto give valid consent, the individual must know that mar-

riage is a permanent partnership ordered toward the pro-creation of children and the good of the spouses; he/shemust be able to place an act of the will and he/she mustdesire to bring about the sacred bond of marriage. Theconsent that makes marriage, then, demands a free andknowing “yes” to all that marriage involves – a faithful,loving and permanent partnership of the whole of life thatis open to children.

An annulment, more accurately known as a declarationof nullity, is a judgment by the Church that what seemed tobe a marriage never was in fact a true marriage. A decla-ration of nullity is not a “Catholic” form of divorcebecause it does not dissolve an existing marriage. Rather itdeclares that the absence of one or more essential ele-ments prevented the couple from sharing in the full sacra-mental indissolubility of marriage despite outwardappearances, the establishment of a family or even thegood faith of the couple. A declaration of nullity does noterase the wedding ceremony. The relationship between thehusband and wife is not wiped away. The children of theunion remain legitimate in Church law. A declaration ofnullity declares that a permanent, indissoluble bond ofmarriage was not formed on the wedding day. The coupledid not form a marital bond that bound them together forlife.

In our next article we will try to answer the question,“How does a Church court decide if a permanent, indissol-uble bond of marriage was or was not formed on the wed-ding day of the couple?”

Marriageandtheannulmentprocess

Jessica AbleThe Record

Noting the “chaos” near the end of the 2020 KentuckyGeneral Assembly due to COVID-19, leaders of theCatholic Conference of Kentucky said they saw some suc-cesses and acknowledged numerous setbacks, includingthe failure of Senate Bill 9.

SB 9 — known as the Infant Born-Alive Protection Act— would have required a physician performing an abor-tion to provide life-sustaining care for an infant born aliveafter a failed abortion attempt.

The measure was introduced Jan. 13 and won bi-parti-san Senate approval Jan. 27 with a 32-0 vote. But the House,which has a Republican super-majority, was slow to act,passing it on the last day of the session, April 15, therebyforfeiting the opportunity to override a veto by the gover-nor.

Jason Hall, executive director of the conference, whichrepresents Kentucky’s four bishops on matters of publicpolicy, said he was “disappointed” the bill didn’t pass earli-er in the session, noting the early passage by the Senate.

Senate “leadership has, in response to the veto, prom-ised to pass it early next session to avoid the same situa-tion,” said Hall. “It’s frustrating they didn’t just do thatthis time. The Senate got it to the House very early.”

Beshear said in his veto message April 24 that existinglaw already protects the lives of infants and that similarlegislation has been struck down as unconstitutional inother states. He said he “was not doing divisive issues”because he was focused on defeating the coronavirus.

Sen. Whitney Westerfield of Hopkinsville, Ky., primarysponsor of the bill, said he was “deeply disappointed butnot at all surprised” by the governor’s veto.

“SB 9, a bill he claims is divisive, was passed with astrong bipartisan vote in both chambers,” he said.

He said he didn’t know why the House didn’t act on itearlier.

“I certainly hoped it would be passed before the vetorecess, giving us an opportunity to override a veto,” hesaid.

The bill was taken up by the House JudiciaryCommittee Jan. 29 and passed through that committee

March 11. On March 17, it was posted in the orders of theday, meaning it could be called for a vote. But the Housedidn’t take a vote until nearly a month later — April 15,when it easily passed with an amendment in a 70-16 vote.The Senate approved changes and it went to the governor’sdesk.

But by sending the measure to the governor on the lastday of the session, there was no time to override the veto.Earlier in the session, lawmakers voted to override severalvetoes.

Westerfield said the bill had “top priority” for him andhas already filed a bill request for the 2021 session.

On March 16, Beshear closed the Capitol to guests andasked nonessential personnel to remain at home.Lawmakers did not meet from March 19 to 26 and againfrom April 2 to 14 in an effort to curb the spread of the coro-navirus.

The public was not permitted to attend meetings in per-son because of health concerns.

This article was originally published in the LouisvilleRecord. It is reprinted here with permission.

GeneralAssemblysessionends withveto onpro-life bill


The Diocese of Covington Pro-Life Office andDepartment of Catholic Schools’ 2019-20 “Respect Life”essay contest took the theme “Christ our Hope in EverySeason of Life.” Eighth-graders from the diocese’sCatholic schools and parish schools of religion were toexplain how, as God’s children, society can help meet theneeds of those whose lives are in adversity so that they rec-ognize the hope they have in Christ.

Essays were judged on a 60-point scale with require-ments such as quoting Scripture, originality and creativityand grammar. Winners of first, second and third placereceived scholarships to diocesan Catholic high schools oftheir choice.

Normally, the annual contest ends in an awards ban-quet at Bishop Howard Memorial Auditorium to celebratethe winners and top 20 finalists. This year, due to theCOVID-19 pandemic, winners were notified over phone calland the awards ceremony was cancelled.

“By cancelling the banquet we are doing our part inpreserving life by taking every means not to transmit thecoronavirus to others, especially to the vulnerable,” saidBishop Roger Foys to the winners. “However, not having

the awards banquet does not lessen in any way youraccomplishment but rather demonstrates for all to seeyour true dedication to pro-life, to the sanctity of life!”

The first place finalist is Adam Kolar, Villa MadonnaAcademy, Villa Hills. His winning essay can be read onpage 5. The second and third place finishers are AnnaWells, St. Augustine School, Covington, and EmmaLinkugel, Immaculate Heart of Mary School, Burlington,respectively.

Mr. Kolar wrote about seeing the humanity and beautyin those he serves at Rose Garden Mission, the Center forHope and Healing. Its stated purpose is as a food pantry,but Mr. Kolar shared how it has meant so much more bothto him and to those who benefit from it. His encounterswith those in need there have changed him, and he offereda reflection on the value of service in creating a home forthem.

Miss Wells offered a unique perspective about the con-tributions of those with disabilities to society, emphasiz-ing that they are equally worthy of value, love and oppor-tunities to those without disabilities. Herself having cere-bral palsy, Miss Wells shared how sometimes she has towork harder than others to achieve similar results, but isalso in many ways the same as others. “We, as a society,

need to make sure that everyone, especially the disabled,have access to whatever they need to help them have a ful-filling life and to succeed in life,” she said.

Miss Linkugel argued for the rights of all children inthe womb, regardless of developmental diagnosis. Theidea that a child with a disability is somehow “abnormal”and doesn’t deserve to live is one from the Culture ofDeath, she said. “We know we have no right to take awaythe gift of life that God has given to impaired children.How can we feel that our evaluation of their value is supe-rior to God’s?”

The remaining 17 finalists are: Lucy Bailey, Casey Birand Grayson Rohmiller, Blessed Sacrament School, Ft.Mitchell; Jocelyn Demler, Lydia Dusing, Hannah Renakerand Claire Williams, Immaculate Heart of Mary School,Burlington; Lea Youtsey, St. Catherine School, Ft. Thomas;Alexis Milles, St. Cecilia School, Independence; AveryLachenman, St. Mary School, Alexandria; SamuelLonnemann, St. Paul School, Florence; David Hagen,Jackson Gronotte and Kimberly Woeste, St. Pius X School,Edgewood; Ashley Fields and Sam Krebs, St. ThereseSchool, Southgate; and Isabella Ramundo, Villa MadonnaAcademy, Villa Hills.

‘RespectLife’essaycontesthelpsstudentsreflect onthose inadversity


First year students learn service, science, sounds, STEAM and studiesThis year on the first day of school we

witnessed the “first step” of approximately 650kindergarteners to our Catholic elementaryschools and 740 freshmen to our Catholic highschools. Now their journey is well underway andthey are counting their steps.

In Catholic schools we have the unique privilege of being able to connect with students,each other and the entire community in a faith-filled environment that nurtures a sense ofbelonging. We do this most simply by how wetreat the person in front of us. We celebrate ournewest students to our K–12 grades and their

new beginning of spiritual formation, academicadvancement, social develop-ment and physical growth.

Yours in Catholic education,

Michael Clines Superintendent of Catholic Schools Diocese of Covington

The Super’sSpotlight

(right) Freshmen fromCovington Latin School,

Covington, enjoyed awell-earned lunch break

from their studies earlier this school year

while they attended in-person classes.

Department of CatholicSchools honors

kindergartners and freshmen

Welcome to the 2019–2020

“Super’s Spotlight,” a Messenger

feature created in collaboration

with the diocesan Department of

Catholic Schools to celebrate

Catholic education. This year, the

Super Spotlight shines its light on

elementary school kindergartners

and high school freshmen.

(above) Freshmen enjoyed providing valuable service to the Care Missionon a past freshmen service day at Bishop Brossart High School, Alexandria.

(above) Villa Madonna Academy freshmen worked on a science experimenttogether in biology class before in-person instruction ended for the school year.Villa freshmen have opportunities for many collaborative projects throughoutthe school year.

(above) Kindergarten students from St. Mary School, Alexandria, celebrated their mastery of all ofthe letter names and sounds by dressing up as their favorite letter person on their annual “LetterDress Up Day” in December.

For more information about the Department of Catholic Schools, call (859) 392-1500 or e-mail [email protected].

(above) Students fromSts. Peter and PaulSchool, California,worked together on aSTEAM project wherethey were challenged tobuild a nest for an eggthat would be strongenough for an elephantto sit on it. This activityoccurred during ReadAcross America Dayearly this year, duringwhich schools celebrateall things Dr. Seuss.

(left) The kindergartenstudents of St. ThereseSchool, Southgate, cele-brated the letters “T”and “B” with a TeddyBear Picnic before in-person classes ended.Mrs. Mullen made eachstudent a homemadebear claw.

While schools moved to NTI (non-traditional instruction) mid-March

due to the COVID-19 pandemic, theSuper’s Spotlight Page will finish

“spotlighting” kindergartners and freshman this 2019-20 school year.

This month’s photos were collected during the time of

in-person instruction.


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Those who watch Mass from the Cathedral Basilica ofthe Assumption might recognize the familiar faces of theCathedral rector, diocesan priests and Cathedral servers —but there’s one face they won’t recognize; one whose min-istry is at the altar but nearly 180 feet away from the altarof every recorded Mass — the face behind the camera.

Recording Mass at the Cathedral has been the ministryof the Broering family for around eight years now. It beganwhen Tim Broering, of St. Thomas Parish, Ft. Thomas,was helping re-wire the sound and video system at theCathedral. An experienced video director, his skillswere well known to Msgr. William Neuhaus, his formerpastor at St. Thomas and rector of the Cathedral at thetime, and associate rector Father Raymond Enzweiler, achildhood friend.

“I’d go over for the occasional thing and the firstthing I directed for them was when they had theDiocesan Synod in 2006,” said Mr. Broering. At the time,the Cathedral staff was looking for a new video director.“They asked me to show my sons how to do it.”

From then on, a Broering son has been behind thecamera at the Cathedral for every Saturday vigil Mass.John Paul and Joseph Broering served at the post forseveral years each before going to college and starting anew job, respectively. Mr. Broering’s youngest son,William, is currently working the min-istry. Mr. Broering comes in as backupor for complicated ceremonies or con-certs such as midnight Mass or ordina-tions.

The philosophy behind the work issimple: “To give the audience the bestseat in the house for whatever is happen-ing at that point in time,” said Mr.Broering.

Mr. Broering has simplified manningthe cameras by establishing pre-setshots for particular times during Mass.

“So we pick the camera that’s goingto get the best angle that we can and there’s times that youwant to frame tighter because that’s what you want theaudience to focus on, and there’s times you want a widershot for more context,” he said.

“I’ve saved a lot of pre-set shots with the camera remotecontrol. You have one person controlling all three cameras,the switcher and the audio, which can be a lot to juggle. Ithelps to have the controller already memorized with theshots.”

From there, the Broerings can fine-tune the views how-ever they want.

William Broering, a 2020 graduate of Newport CentralCatholic High School, Newport, has been recording forabout three years now. He appreciates having inherited thefamily job.

“When (my brothers) went off to college I went in to

help pay for my highschool tuition,” he said.“Dad taught me on the job

and I find it kind of fun.”He enjoys getting different and beautiful shots, especial-

ly to encapsulate special liturgies during Advent and Lent.He’s also filmed ordinations and weddings.

“I arrive early to set up, and I stay later after Mass topad things out for channel 5,” he said. At this point, he’s gotmore experience than most 18-year-olds with videography.

The reason? “I like being able to send it to people whocan’t make it, like if they’re hospitalized or sick, or can’tleave their house,” he said.

The Cathedral Basilica staff started recording Mass

after the 2000–2002 renovations. When theyremodeled, they put in remote control camerasand a small studio rack for switching and direct-ing those. They also purchased time on MeTV

WLWT, which broadcasts the Mass to channel 5. Fundingfor the weekly broadcast is underwritten through the gen-erosity of St. Elizabeth Healthcare.

In May 2018, Father Ryan Maher, vicar general andCathedral rector, made the decision to upgrade the systemto HD, which includes the ability to live stream. Now, theBroerings’ ministry includes a computer-based studiowith video and audio and transmitting the video directlyto channel 5. It also streams on Vimeo and can be foundanytime on the Cathedral or diocesan websites.

“We had no idea of course at the time when we upgrad-ed the cameras and equipment and installed high speedinternet for live streaming that we would need to rely onthe new technology somuch during this currentpandemic,” said Father

Maher. “It is a true blessing that we can not only livestream and broadcast the Sunday Mass but also other cel-ebrations including ordinations, holy hours and the HolyWeek services.”

“I think that upgrading the system to HD this last yearreally put them in a much better position for what they’redoing now and the needs they’re trying to fill with that,”said Mr. Broering. “When this all started happening theyhad everything in place.”

The Mass broadcast usually assists 30-40 families perweekend who are unable to physically attend Mass.

“In the course of the year we receive a number of notesfrom people who are so grateful to be able to participate inMass through the television broadcast especially,” shared

Father Maher. “Sometimes we forgetthat not everyone has internet access orthe ability to watch online.”

Since the outbreak of COVID-19 andthe subsequent suspension of publicparticipation in Masses, views shot upto over 1,000.

“You really see that the capability ofhaving the better system and the abilityto stream have really put them in a posi-tion to try to help make sure people canattend Mass remotely and keep connect-ed to the faith,” said Mr. Broering.“We’ve got 1000 people watching, and wedon’t know how many more are watch-ing on channel 5, as well as on Vimeoreplays.”

“I’ve often thought wouldn’t it begreat if our Catholic faith took advan-tage of the media more often to try tohelp spread the faith,” he said. WithCOVID-19, the media is more useful thanever, and Mr. Broering has enjoyed see-ing the Church rise to the occasion ofusing media to serve others.

The Broerings service doesn’t gounnoticed by those at the Cathedral.

“I am extremely grateful to the Broering family fortheir generosity in providing the live streaming andrecording of our Sunday Masses,” said Bishop Roger Foys.“Without them we would not be able to provide this much-needed and much-appreciated service to our faithful. I can-not thank them enough.”

“I am very grateful to Tim and his sons for their dedi-cated and faithful service over these years to ministry ofthe Mass broadcast,” said Father Maher. “For them, I knowthat it is a labor of love that flows from their faith in theLord. They are able to use their gifts and talents to servebehind the scenes, as it were, in this most important min-istry.”

“Directing shows is something I’ve done for a while andwhen it comes together well and Mass looked good on air,it’s something that you take pride in,” said Mr. Broering.

Meet the cathedralvideographers

The Broerings direct videography for the Cathedral Basilica of theAssumption. William (left) is graduating this year from Newport CentralCatholic High School, and is the last of Tim’s (above) sons to direct therecorded weekly Masses that air on MeTV WLWT.

Gillespie photo

All Saints Parish, Walton

Noah BlairFritz GheringMakena LainhartKarlye Russo

Blessed Sacrament Parish,Ft. Mitchell

Sarah AlcornChristopher ChunNoah EdwardsEvan HignitePeter Holocher

Brayden IngramAshley KessansCameron KirtleyGeorgi KirtleyEmma LangeIsabella LehmkuhlAshley Neltner

Matthew NerswickPhoenix ParksJack RobkeMichael VinicombeAugust Wendt

(continued on page 15)


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Hindsight in2020(Continued from page 5)

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NOVENA TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN. Oh, most beautifulflower of Mt. Carmel, fruitful vine, splendor of Heaven,Blessed Mother of the Son of God, Immaculate Virgin, assistme in my necessity. Oh Star of the Sea, help me and show mehere you are my Mother. Oh Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queenof Heaven and Earth. I humbly beseech you from the bottomof my heart to succor me in my necessity (make your request).There are none that can withstand your power. Oh Mary, Prayfor us who have recourse to Thee, (three times). Holy Mary, Iplace this prayer in your hands. (three times). M.B.

NOVENA

“But why did it take a virus, Daddy, to bring the peopleback together?”

“Well sometimes you have to get sick, my boy, beforeyou start feeling better.”

(See the father/storyteller sitting on the edge of thebed and wiping away a tear or two.)

“Now, lie down and dream of tomorrow and see all thethings that we can do. And who knows, if you dreamhard enough, maybe some of them will come true. Son,we now call it ‘The Great Realization’ and yes, since thenthere have been many. But that’s the story of how it start-ed, and why hindsight’s 2020.”

(Whoosh! Out went the candle, but enlightenmentremains.)

Kudos and congratulations from this writer to the dis-tinguished and nationally honored, Tomos Roberts (akaProbably Tom Foolery), who wrote and performed thispoetic, eye-opening fiction — well, isn’t it?

Ray Smith is a commissioned Lay Pastoral Minister forthe Diocese of Covington.

SerraClubhonorsnearly300altarserversMonica Yeamans

Editorial assistantFor the second year in a row the annual

server awards vespers honoring parishaltar servers has been cancelled. The2019 awards ceremony was cancelleddue to the forecast of a winter storm.The 2020 awards ceremony was can-celled due to a storm of a different sort— a worldwide pandemic.

“Unfortunately we had to cancel theevent for the health and safety for all therecipients and their families,” said PaulManning, chair for the Altar Servers AwardEvent.

The Server Awards are sponsored by the Serra Club forVocations, Northern Kentucky, and are distributed to

7th-grade altar servers as a way to recognize theirdedication and ministry to their parish. The

Serra Club will distribute this year’s awards toeach parish once the parishes resume opera-tions, Mr. Manning said. And similar to lastyear, each parish is encouraged to have a spe-cial ceremony to award these faithful 7th grade

altar servers, he said.“By receiving the awards in the 7th grade,

servers can proudly wear the award lanyard for therest of that year and for the following year, before they

go to high school,” Mr. Manning said.The servers that are being honored this year are:

Cristo Rey Parish, Florence

Yahir Bonilla Adolfo SanchezMiguel SumbaGhaliya Vinanzaca

Divine Mercy Parish,Bellevue

Celia Kane Maggie Morgan

Holy Cross Parish, Latonia

Matthew Linstead Rage PoeMarissa SmithBrooklynn Stapleton

Immaculate Heart of MaryParish, Burlington

Madison BentleyNate BesslerGreta BitikoferGeorgia DreesMaria EarlsBrianna FarwickGrace GullaAbby HackmanClare Slocum

Mary, Queen of HeavenParish, Erlanger

Isaac AndersonGeorge BattagliaRachel CorcoranSean DuffensKarol FernandezSpencer FrolichMegan GonzalesEdward GruenerJacob GuertinCharlie HaselwoodAva HimonidisKate LawsMax LedbetterCarson MosesNicholas SchroderMarcus SuwinskiAllison Torres-GuzmanGaelen VogelpohlGrayson Vogelpohl

St. Agnes Parish, Ft. Wright

Ava AubergerMarisa BloemerDillon CainLucas CousineauAllison DilbertBrian FinkeMaya LawrieWill LeachAlexa McClureReese McGonigalWill MelchingSamantha MurphyAvery MyersAidan RitzRiley RobertsonMorgan RussellAndrew Weitzel

St. Anthony Parish, Taylor Mill

Cooper BrueWyatt DriscollJoann FaulhaberDerric MullenBrady NeffAbigail Shelton

St. Augustine Parish,Covington

Jordan FabreRyan GloverLacey GrossAriel LipsonLouis LucasKailee SextonEmily WendtMackenzie Zemter

St. Augustine Parish,Augusta

Cora BradfordAustin KiskadenEmma KiskadenJacob LangGrayson MillerEmily SchellenbergerNoland Young

St. Barbara Parish, Erlanger

Rebecca EhrmanSam MenkeTobias RiceKatie SchlenskerTrisha Schlensker

Sts. Boniface and JamesParish, Ludlow

Oliver Rios

St. Catherine of SienaParish, Ft. Thomas

Josie BozemanIsabella CoxCameron DarnellVivian FasslerChase FieldsAdelaide FoleyJoseph FrostSamuel GillenEva GreeneSamuel GreeneMaggie HallauMichael HicksVictoria PowellJustin SmithNathan Youtsey

St. Cecilia Parish,Independence

Joseph CoutinhoLeah DonnellonAndrew HeistKaitlyn KraftLucas McGuireGretchen PhelpsSavannah WeibelBethany Wood

St. Edward Parish,Cynthiana

Cecilia Boland Isaac FurnishGrace Lang

St. Henry Parish, Erlanger

Charlie BihlEmma LinkugelReece McMahonAbby PriceMaddisen Strunk

St. James Parish, Brooksville

Kenyon HughesNicholas Mains

St. John the EvangelistParish, Carrollton

Stephanie Amaro Lilly FryeStephanie Fuentes Jose GomezYarely Gonzalez Heidi GuzmanAlexis HilarioGustavo HilarioSelina RubioAshley SantiagoAzul ValidezOmar Zacarias

St. Joseph Parish, Cold Spring

Branden BurkhardtRyan ClinesMarielle GeardingHenry GoeringDelaney GreenGriffin HatfieldNate HeckNick HeckWill HergetAlex KellerMax KellerTyler KevillCole KnipperMorgan LusbyLeah MalayColin MennerKori ReckersJantzen Wittrock

St. Joseph Parish, Crescent Springs

Cecilia BohmanTabitha CaseJayden FejeranAndrew FinleyLaila JanahLuke SmithAnna Zumbiel

St. Mary Parish, Alexandria

Corrine Blackburn

Lexi BraunElly CliftAddison DoughmanLandon GeverEthan HaubnerJimmy HoltzIsabell HummelKaitlyn KramerEmma LakerSophia McGrathParker MulberryNicholas RoushLeah RuschmanCole SchauffAlia ThomasBen VolmerCaroline WellsSimon Wells

St. Matthew Parish,Morning View

Brody Baker

St. Patrick Parish, Maysville

Bria BauerEmma GallensteinMandi GilbertKahdyn KimballEthan KleeKarlee Mellenkamp

St. Patrick Parish, Taylor Mill

Savannah FranzenDaniela GuerraBo HaneySolomon Pangallo

St. Paul Parish, Florence

Isabella CarotaAlexander SmithJoseph Todd

Sts. Peter & Paul Parish,California

Luke AlwellElliot ReisRiley Twehues

St. Philip Parish, Melbourne

Will CliftMitchell HardenHunter OrmeAidan SchultzBhindi ShurleyPaige ShurleyAustin TwehuesEthan Vogel

St. Pius X Parish, Edgewood

Madelyn ArmbrusterRyan BakerDexter BentNolan BontaKendra CollinsEmily CreedTimmy EliassenColin FlahertySophia FranxmanGabby GoetzJackson GronotteDavid HagenCaroline JoyceMia KentKai KnaselJosie KnollmanJake LarkinTyler LawsTess LenihanJames McDermottAnna NeubacherAislin RossClare ShayElizabeth TabelingZachary ThompsonClaire WeaverGabrielle WhiteJeremy WieheCarleigh WitajewskiKimmie WoesteBradley Zekl

St. Therese Parish,Southgate

Tori EckertCharlie FordAbigail Horan

Christian KuesMitchell MartinAlex NoeJack White

St. Thomas Parish, Ft. Thomas

Audrey ArentsenLouie CollopyTyler Holtz Christopher Meyer Colin O’Dea Joe ReynoldsElizabeth Rhea William SheetsBen Verst

St. Timothy Parish, Union

Ethan BarkerEli BrownHarrison Dierig Alexander DilgerIsabella DilgerLucas DilgerWilliam DowningTommaso FontaniniLogan FordAmber Lense Madeline MahoneyAlexander MurrayStefany NixJack O’HaraAbigail PriceElijah PutnamNicholas RanieroMadelyn WelchAlek Yuskewich

St. William Parish,Williamstown

Giovanni AndrewMallie BatesJohn BradyAaron GutmanTravis Schulcz



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VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The coronavirus pandemic isa “favorable time to rediscover the need for prayer in ourlives; let us open the doors of our hearts to the love of Godour father, who will listen to us,” Pope Francissaid.

At his weekly general audience May 6, the popebegan a new series of audience talks about prayer,which is “the breath of faith, its most appropriateexpression, like a cry arising from the heart.”

At the end of the audience, which waslivestreamed from the papal library in theApostolic Palace, the pope offered a special prayerand appeal for justice for “exploited workers,”especially farmworkers.

Pope Francis said that May 1, InternationalWorkers’ Day, he received many messages aboutproblems in the world of work. “I was particularlystruck by that of the farmworkers, among themmany migrants, who work in the Italian country-side. Unfortunately, many are very harshlyexploited.”

An Italian government proposal to grant workpermits to immigrant workers in the country withoutproper papers has shined a spotlight particularly on farm-workers and their long hours, poor pay and miserable liv-

ing conditions while also highlighting their essential rolein ensuring an adequate supply of fresh fruit and vegeta-bles for the country.

“It is true that the current crisis affects everyone, butpeople’s dignity must always be respected,” the pope said.

“That is why I addmy voice to theappeal of theseworkers and of allexploited workers.May the crisis giveus the opportunityto make the digni-ty of the personand the dignity ofwork the center ofour concern.”

The pope’saudience beganwith reading thestory from theGospel of Markabout Bartimaeus,the blind man, who

repeatedly cries out to Jesus for healing. The pope saidthat of all the Gospel characters who ask Jesus for help, hefinds Bartimaeus “the most likable of all.”

“At the top of his voice,”Bartimaeus cries out, “Jesus,son of David, have pity on me.”

And he does so over and over again, annoying the peoplearound him, the pope noted.

“Jesus speaks to him and asks him to express what hewants — this is important — and so his cry becomes arequest, ‘I want to see,’” the pope said.

Faith, he said, “is having two hands raised (and) a voicethat cries out to implore the gift of salvation.”

Humility, as the Catechism of the Catholic Church says,is essential for authentic prayer, the pope added, becauseprayer arises from knowing “our state of precariousness,our continual thirst for God.”

“Faith is a cry,” he said, while “nonfaith is suffocatingthat cry, a kind of ‘omerta,’” he said, using the word for themafia code of silence.

“Faith is protesting against a painful situation we donot understand,” he said, while “nonfaith is limiting our-selves to enduring a situation we have become accustomedto. Faith is the hope of being saved; nonfaith is gettingused to the evil that oppresses us.”

Obviously, the pope said, Christians are not the onlyones who pray because every man and woman has withinthemselves the desire for mercy and aid.

“As we continue on our pilgrimage of faith, may we,like Bartimaeus, always persevere in prayer, especially inour darkest moments, and ask the Lord with confidence:‘Jesus have mercy on me. Jesus, have mercy on us!’”

Popeencouragespeople torediscovertheneedforprayer

CNS photo/Guglielmo Mangiapane, Reuters

At the end of Pope Francis’ May 6 weekly audience, thepope offered a special prayer and appeal for justice for“exploited workers,” especially farmworkers.


Mary Jane Summe died April 29, 2020.Born Mary Jane Terwort to William E. andSylvia Bressler Terwort on June 22, 1937, shespent 82 years serving and building up the Ft.Mitchell, Ky. community.

Life, faith and family were essential toMrs. Summe. She was the oldest of three chil-dren, and a faithful parishioner of BlessedSacrament Parish. Growing up, she attendedBlessed Sacrament School, Villa MadonnaAcademy High School and Villa MadonnaCollege (Thomas More University). Afterreceiving her degree in education, she taughtsecond grade and sacramental preparation atBlessed Sacrament Parish until she marriedCharles (Charlie) Summe on July 8, 1961.

She was a community builder, both athome and in the local and church communi-ties. She dedicated time to everything fromthe CCH football mom’s group to annualluncheons, and served on various boards,committees and event groups for BlessedSacrament School, Villa Madonna Academy,Thomas More University and others. Shewas especially passionate about Catholiceducation and was proud to have her nameon a Scholarship Fund at Covington Catholic High School.

“Every community she was part of she really lived tothe full,” said her son, Legionnaire of Christ FatherMichael Summe. “Everywhere she went, my mother triedto bring people to God and build community.”

Hospitality was very intentionally her ministry. Herhouse was always open and Mrs. Summe frequently enter-tained guests in the day and night, filling her rooms withreminders of her faith so that guests could absorb theChristian atmosphere. She would welcome priests and

bishops to her home tofamiliarize her children toreligious vocations, andshe loved traditions aboveall things.

Mrs. Summe surround-ed her family life with tra-ditions that drew peopletogether. She enjoyed liv-ing liturgically, said FatherSumme. “For every holi-day, season and everymonth of the year, shewould redecorate thewhole house,” he said.“She had boxes downstairsall marked, lists of whereeverything went, and shecelebrated each monthwith a theme.”

It wasn’t just her familythat she celebrated with,however. “There was asense that everyone wasalways welcome at myhouse,” said FatherSumme. “She had lots ofpeople that called them-

selves her adopted children.” She lit candles for her chil-dren every day of the week, even including her children’sfriends on specific days.

Mrs. Summe didn’t mince words when it came to draw-ing out the best in people. “She had an uncanny ability tolove people in a very real way,” Father Summe said. “Mymother wasn’t scandalized by anything, but she would tellpeople the truth very directly. You never felt judged, butshe said things very clearly. She always told you straightaway what she thought would make you a better person.

All my friends said they knew they werealways welcomed and always loved; theyknew she was clear because she cared about

them.”Ever a teacher, Mrs. Summe would have a

“Grandmother Talk” regularly with each of the 40 grand-children, and she would talk about what she saw in them,such as their gifts and their strengths, then she would tellthem what they needed to work on.

Mrs. Summe was proud of Father Summe’s ordinationto the priesthood in Rome in 2007, as she had taken up hisgrandmother’s prayer for a priest as a son. She later toldhim that he had been born almost exactly nine monthsafter his grandmother’s passing, and was the answer tothat prayer.

She never stopped rallying behind every kind of lifeand vocation, even advocating for a Christian burial of aneighbor who died alone. From the haven of her home tothe love she showed everyone she encountered, Mrs.Summe showed the face of Christ through her generosityand selfless service.

Her parents William and Sylvia Terwort preceded herin death. She is survived by her husband Charles Summe,her brother William Terwort, sister Marianne Woods, andher children Krista (Jeff) Wilmink, Daniel (Peggy) Summe,Kurt (Jennifer) Summe, Brian (Jennifer) Summe, Sheila(Scott) Cooney, Betsy (Gerry) Greenwell, Jennifer (Kevin)Long, Father Matthew Summe, LC, Scott (Karen) Summeand Chad (Kristin) Summe as well as her beloved 40 grand-children and one great-grandchild.

There will be a private Mass of Christian Burial, with acelebration of life to be scheduled later in the summer. Inlieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made toCovington Catholic High School, in care of: Charles andJane Summe Family Scholarship Endowment, or to LCPastoral Services care of: Father John Bullock LC,Legionaries of Christ, 8162 Chestershire Drive, CincinnatiOH, 45241. Middendorf Funeral Home are assisting thefamily. Online condolences to: www.middendorf-funeral-home.com.


MaryJane Summeevangelizedthrough hospitality

Mary Jane Summe

Notre Dame Sister JanetMarie (formerly known asSister Mary Vincente) wasborn Sept. 19, 1940, to Claraand Vincent Hoffman inCincinnati, Ohio. The oldestof three children, sheattended St. AgnesElementary School, BondHill, Ohio, and then gradu-ated from Notre DameAcademy in 1958. Upongraduating, she obtained ajob at Western SouthernLife Insurance Company tohelp support her familyafter the loss of her father.After working for one year,Janet felt the call of God andentered the Sisters of NotreDame in August 1959. Shemade her profession of vows on August 14,1962.

Sister Janet Marie continued her educa-tion and received her BA from VillaMadonna College (Thomas MoreUniversity) and her MA in Education fromEastern Kentucky University. Sister enjoyedteaching business and math classes for 19years at Notre Dame Academy.Unfortunately, in September of 1983, SisterJanet Marie suffered a brain tumor. Afterher recovery, she performed a variety ofduties at both St. Joseph School, CrescentSprings, and the provincial center.

Sister was then missioned to Holy

Trinity Parish and School in Harlan, Ky., asa tutor and the school librarian. On arriv-ing, she realized, along with the other sis-ters there, that the entire Harlan communi-ty needed her help. The sisters’ outreachincluded more than appeals for funds. Theyalso had a convent front porch pantry for dis-

tributing food, diapers,clothing and money formedicine. They turned noone away.

In 2004, after the schoolin Harlan closed, she servedas librarian at St. AugustineSchool, Augusta, Ky., thentaught religion at HolyTrinity Child DevelopmentCenter, Newport, Ky. In 2010Sister Janet Marie retired toLourdes Hall but continuedto serve in the community.She enjoyed volunteering atthe Park Hills AnimalShelter, where she couldexpress her great fondnessfor cats.

Sister Janet Marie wenthome peacefully to God, on

April 26, 2020. She is preceded in death byher parents. She is survived by her brothersLawrence and Jerome Hoffman, her nephewEric Hoffman and her nieces, ElizabethEmerson and Jennifer Lukes.

May the love with which Sister JanetMarie served her God give her eternal hap-piness with Him forever! May she rest inpeace.

Due to the current restrictions regardinggatherings, a celebration of Sister JanetMarie’s life will be held for family andfriends at a later date. A private Catholicblessing and burial took place on May 1 atthe provincial center and convent cemetery.

Obituary

Sister Janet Marie Hoffman,S.N.D.


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NEWS BRIEFS

Nashville parishes begin long processof rebuilding after March tornado

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (CNS) — The historic Church of theAssumption in Nashville has started the long walk back fromthe damage it sustained from the tornadoes that swept acrossthe middle of Tennessee March 3. The repairs to the church,which was built in 1859 to serve German-speaking Catholics inNashville, could take several years to complete and will cost anestimated $4 million to $6 million, said Father Bede Price, pas-tor. “They just don’t know” the full extent of the damage,Father Price said. Construction crews already have beenremoving everything from the church, including pews, statuesand other artwork, the Stations of the Cross, the pipe organand all of the stained-glass windows. The items will be put instorage until they can be reinstalled. The work crew plans toremove the plaster on the ceiling so they can inspect the roofand assess the full extent of the damage, Father Price said. Thechurch “blew up like a balloon,” Father Price told theTennessee Register, Nashville’s diocesan newspaper. “The pres-sure on the windows was tremendous. They were savedbecause the roof popped off, releasing the pressure.”

Divided court reexamines insurancecoverage of contraceptives

WASHINGTON (CNS) — The justices of the U.S. SupremeCourt seemed divided May 6 over Trump administration rulesthat give employers more ability to opt out of providing contra-ceptive coverage in their health plans. The argument, part of ahandful that will take place by teleconference during the coron-avirus restrictions, took another look at an issue that has come

before the court already and again, as in previous terms, ithighlighted the Little Sisters of the Poor, the order of womenreligious who care for the elderly poor. “There are very stronginterests on both sides here, which is what makes the case dif-ficult, obviously,” Justice Brett Kavanaugh said in the May 6arguments, which lasted 40 minutes longer than usual-allottedhour. He said the interests include religious liberty for theLittle Sisters of the Poor and others and ensuring women’saccess to health care and preventive services. “So the questionbecomes: Who decides how to balance those interests?” heasked. The Little Sisters of the Poor, who have been down thisroad before, were represented by Becket, a religious liberty lawfirm.

Beatifications for May, June postponed due to pandemic

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The Vatican announced that due tothe coronavirus pandemic, several beatifications scheduled forMay and June will be postponed, including the beatification ofa mentor and friend of St. John Paul II. In a statement releasedat the end of April, the Congregation for Saints’ Causes saidthe beatifications also would be delayed in order to respectsocial distancing measures in place to prevent the spread ofCOVID-19. “Due to the ongoing pandemic situation and the nec-essary prudential measures that must be taken regarding reli-gious ceremonies involving the presence of numerous faithful,at the request of the bishops concerned, the beatifications thathad been set for the coming months are postponed,” the state-ment said. New dates for the ceremonies have not been set.Among the beatifications that were postponed was that ofCardinal Stefan Wyszynski, who was primate of Poland from1949 until his death from cancer in 1981. He was Poland’syoungest bishop when he was installed as archbishop ofWarsaw and Gniezno during communist rule. In 1953, several

months after he was made cardinal, he was placed under housearrest after he called on the Catholic Church in Poland to resistagainst the communist government. He was released threeyears later after the events of the Polish October revolutionthat ended Stalinism in the country.

Church leaders oppose Israeli plansto annex unilaterally West Bank land

JERUSALEM (CNS) — Moving forward with an Israeli planto unilaterally annex West Bank land could mean the end to thealready languishing Palestinian-Israeli peace talks, said theheads of the Holy Land churches. “An array of plans for Israelto unilaterally annex West Bank land, backed mainly by right-wing factions, raises serious and catastrophic questions aboutthe feasibility of any peaceful agreement to end the decades-long conflict, one that continues to cost many innocent lives aspart of a vicious cycle of human tragedy and injustice,” thechurch leaders said in their statement. Among those whosigned the May 7 statement were Archbishop PierbattistaPizzaballa, apostolic administrator of the Latin Patriarchate ofJerusalem, and Franciscan Father Francesco Patton, custos ofthe Holy Land. Also in early May, Israeli Defense MinisterNaftali Bennett initially approved a construction project thathas been under discussion for 20 years and would see 7,000 newhousing units built in the West Bank Israeli settlement of Efrat,expanding the settlement toward its border with Bethlehem. Anew government coalition agreement between Israeli PrimeMinister Benjamin Netanyahu and opposition leader BennyGantz allows Netanyahu to present his long-discussed annexa-tion proposal to the government as soon as July 1.

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