COVINGTON, Ky. (AP) - Roman Catholics in the northern Kentucky
diocese will be counted for the first time in 17 years when the
Diocese of Covington conducts a census later this year.
The Kentucky Enquirer reports that Boone County has been
selected as the first county to be counted.
Volunteers from the county's six Roman Catholic parishes will
conduct the count on two consecutive Sundays - Oct. 17 and Oct. 24
- to gather information about all residents.
The head count will include Catholics and non-Catholics and be
done by visiting residences.
Bishop Roger Foys said the county is the diocese's fastest
growing one in terms of membership in the church. It has 14
counties.
Chancellor Margaret Schack said Boone County is first because of
the rapid growth, it's an area that Foys wants to examine the needs
of and it has six large parishes but it's a group that is small
enough to work with to begin the census.
Whether to start a new parish would be Foys' decision. The
diocese would look at its present facilities, then look at the
number of people that are to be served to see how it can best serve
the community, Foys said
"Does it mean we build larger churches or does it mean we begin
new Catholic communities? So the very first thing I need to see is
what the needs are," he said. "... Are the present parishes
adequately serving the needs of our people or do we need to expand
that?"
Cristo Rey Parish in Erlanger, which serves Hispanics in the
entire diocese, is the last parish started in Boone County. It
began in 2004. Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Burlington is the
county's largest parish with 6,934 registered members, according to
the diocese.
Catholics will be asked information such as the dates that the
head of household, spouse and children received various sacraments
and the frequency that each member of the couple attends Mass.
Information about non-Catholics will be shared with the faith
community that the person says they attend. Non-Catholics will be
asked to give their name, address, where they worship and the
number of adults and children in the home.
If a person refuses to give information, Schack said they will
not be pressed. Volunteers will leave cards for people who are not
home.
"It is a project of evangelization but it's more of just the
presence of the church in the community," said Father Ryan Maher,
director of the diocese's office of worship and liturgy. "We're
not going to be proselytizing or seeking to make converts or
engaging in intimate spiritual dialogue. But it's about the church
saying 'we're here and we care ... and can we be of assistance?"'
The diocese stretches from Carroll County east to Lewis County.
Besides Boone, Kenton and Campbell counties, it includes Carroll,
Gallatin, Owen, Grant, Pendleton, Bracken, Mason, Lewis, Fleming,
Robertson and Harrison counties. It's not been determined when the
next count will take place and what county or counties will be
included.
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Information from: The Kentucky Enquirer, http://www.nky.com

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