BY ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD, SPECIAL TO THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC On Sept. 1, the Diocese of Owensboro’s committee for producing a new pastoral plan for Hispanic/Latino ministry met via video conference.
All posts by Elizabeth Barnstead
Catholic school faculty, staff and students ‘ecstatic’ to be back
With semester in full swing, safety is top priority for in-person classes BY ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD, THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC Perhaps the experiment didn’t go as planned, but for Joan Butterworth, the science teacher at St. Paul School in Grayson County, not finding microscopic life forms in her students’ petri dishes was a great sign.
Like a friend you’d known your whole life
Gasper River remembers ‘wonderful witness’ of camper Logan Davis BY ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD, THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC Logan Davis’s faith journey received a life-changing boost after experiencing Eucharistic Adoration at Gasper River Catholic Youth Camp and Retreat Center, when he was but a middle schooler.
‘Even if it’s tomorrow or a thousand years’ – ‘Unashamed’ faith of Logan Davis revealed wisdom beyond his 18 years
BY ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD, THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC Logan Davis’s sister, Haley Davis, is the one who discovered the journal. They hadn’t known that Logan had kept a journal. And “it wasn’t something that was filled with lots of pages,” said their mother, Karla Davis. But among the pages, they found the following words: “My…
Beyond ‘flight, fight or freeze’ – Pandemic presents ‘real and complicated’ challenges to caring for your family’s mental health
An interview with Dr. Jill Sauerheber BY WKC STAFF WKC: What particular mental health challenges have you seen impacting families, and individuals, as a result of the many months of pandemic in the United States? I trust that most readers could create a top 10 list of the mental health challenges that families and individuals…
‘Active listening and striving to understand’
How Catholics can help heal society’s wounds of division and disunity BY ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD, THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC From arguments over the upcoming presidential election, to varied attitudes toward the COVID-19 pandemic, to conflicting perspectives when addressing the racial divide in the United States, the year 2020 has shown at least one thing shared…
A Word From Bishop Medley: The Triumph of the Holy Cross
The one symbol most associated with Jesus and his Church is the cross. The image marks churches, schools, hospitals. A cross, often with an image of the body of Jesus and thus called a crucifix, is to be found in hundreds of millions of homes around the world. We wear crosses on our persons as…
‘God was still there…’
Postponed by pandemic, RCIA classes of 2020 joyfully enter the Church BY ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD, THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC Despite needing to postpone their entry into the Catholic Church due to the COVID-19 shutdown and restrictions, those going through RCIA in spring 2020 proved to be a “wonderfully resilient group” according to one parish’s director…
Diocese of Owensboro School Food Service Approved to Serve Free Breakfast and Lunch for All Students 18 and Under
On Friday September 4, 2020 the Diocese of Owensboro School Food Services was approved by the Kentucky Dept. of Education, to begin serving free meals for both breakfast and lunch through the Summer Meal Program. Free meals will begin on Tuesday, September 8 and continue through the end of 2020, or until available funding…
Having fun and staying safe while growing in the Catholic faith
‘Gasper on the Go’ provides camp experience at parish sites BY ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD, THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC It is an understatement to say that Gasper River Catholic Youth Camp and Retreat Center is “significant” for the Reffitt family at St. Stephen Cathedral. “It has become a huge part of our children’s lives,’” said mom,…
Planning committee announced to draft 2021-2025 diocesan Pastoral Plan for Hispanic/Latino Ministry
BY ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD, THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC By the end of 2020, the Diocese of Owensboro’s Office of Hispanic/Latino Ministry hopes to have drafted a 2021-2025 diocesan Pastoral Plan for Hispanic/Latino Ministry.
In prayer, outreach and looking ahead to better days, priests continue to serve their flocks
BY ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD, THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC In the afternoon of March 19, 2020, Fr. John Thomas of Holy Spirit Parish in Bowling Green took out his cellphone and, with fellow parish priests and seminarian intern, began to pray the rosary over Facebook Live.
A Word From Bishop Medley: An abundance of charity
My dear sisters and brothers, As communities across our country and indeed the whole world have struggled to adapt in an age of pandemic, almost all places have found it necessary to implement guidelines and restrictions. These have included stay-at-home directives, distancing guidelines, and the wearing of masks in public or any place where one…
‘You have to lean into God, his people, and grace’ – A conversation with retiring director of social concerns, Deacon Richard Murphy
Note: The following is edited from an interview with Deacon Richard Murphy on June 24, 2020. “I started in July 2001… The people of God are the greatest blessing to work here. Both in my work associates and the people that God’s given me to work with as well… they’re full of love and endless…
Caridades Católicas colabora con grupos comunitarios para compartir recursos de prevención del COVID-19
El próximo evento será el 12 de julio en Santos José y Pablo (Please scroll down for English version.) POR ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD, EL CATÓLICO DE KENTUCKY OCCIDENTAL Varias organizaciones comunitarias están trabajando juntas para luchar contra la propagación del COVID-19 entre las comunidades minoritarias en el área del condado de Daviess.
Newly-ordained Deacon Corey D. Bruns looks forward to re-evangelizing a world – and Church – touched by pandemic
‘God was the one who guided me to this point,’ says deacon BY ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD, THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC As Deacon Corey D. Bruns preached his first homily following his ordination to the transitional diaconate, he was surprised to find himself overcome with emotion.
‘Hope and poignancy’ at 2020 Chrism Mass, postponed for 10 weeks due to pandemic
BY ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD, THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC Chrism Mass in the Diocese of Owensboro looked different this year. Christopher Grief, diocesan seminarian currently interning at St. Stephen Cathedral, told The Western Kentucky Catholic that “amid the current COVID-19 pandemic, life as we know it has been altered.”
Gasper River to bring traveling day camps to youth around western Kentucky
‘Gasper on the Go’ to take place in eight cities within the diocese BY ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD, THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC 7/2/2020 Update: Gasper River Catholic Youth Camp and Retreat Center announced on June 30 that due to lack of registrations, all but two locations have since been cancelled. They will be in Owensboro on…
Feeding hungry children during the pandemic is a ‘fulfilling ministry’ for diocesan School Food Service
BY ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD, THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC The Diocese of Owensboro’s School Food Service didn’t let a global pandemic stop them from serving food to hungry kids – and with schools closed for the summer, they have continued distributing free meals to any young person 18 and under.
Virtual senior retreat gives Class of 2020 a space to reflect, pray and discern
BY WKC STAFF On Thursday, May 21, 2020, the Diocese of Owensboro’s Office of Youth Ministry offered a virtual retreat for graduating high school seniors, who had lost many traditional experiences – such as canceled graduation ceremonies – due to COVID-19 response and regulations.