The following is a reprint of an article written on cincinnati.com April 4th.
Earlier this year, the Most Reverend Roger J. Foys, Bishop of the Diocese of Covington was named the 2016 Northern Kentuckian of the Year.
Foys will be honored on Friday, May 6, at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center.
The ceremony will include a reception at 11:15 a.m. and a luncheon at noon. The event is presented by sponsor Dinsmore & Shohl, LLP. Supporting sponsorships are provided by REH&A Architects and Thomas More College.
The Northern Kentuckian of the Year luncheon benefits Covington Catholic High School’s financial assistance program. In 2015-16, 106 students were awarded $450,000 in financial aid. Covington Catholic and its alumni positively impact the Northern Kentucky community, and the luncheon provides a vehicle for the business community to support Covington Catholic’s tradition of excellence in education.
During the past 20 years there have been close to 7,100 people in attendance, and more than $1 million has been raised. For reservations or to sponsor this event, visitwww.covcath.org/NKYL or call 859-448-2247, ext. 3.
Northern Kentuckian of the Year Honoree Foys chose the motto “Luceat Lux Vestra” (“Let Your Light Shine”) for his episcopacy. Taken from the Gospel of St. Matthew (5:16) the complete passage reads, “…Your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.” Bishop Foys’ mission and ministry is to spread the Gospel and to build up God’s kingdom – all for the glory of God.
Foys was born July 27, 1945, in Chicago, the third of four children, to Martin and Theresa Foys. Foys was ordained a priest May 16, 1973, for the Diocese of Steubenville. As a priest, he held many diocesan positions: diocesan treasurer, Presbyteral Council chairman, moderator of the Curia, vocations director and several positions in the Tribunal. In 1982 he was appointed vicar general and made a monsignor in 1986. Pope John Paul II made him a Prelate of Honor in 1986 and a Protonotary Apostolic in 2001.
Foys served as pastor at several parishes and was pastor at St. Joseph Parish and St. Francis Parish, Toronto, Ohio, for more than 20 and 15 years, respectively.
Foys was consecrated and installed, July 15, 2002, as the 10th bishop of Covington. When faced with an aging presbyterate to serve the pastoral needs of the diocese and a modest number of seminarians, Bishop Foys placed his faith in God, jettisoned plans to consolidate parishes, and began focusing on promoting vocations to the priesthood. To date Bishop Foys has ordained 29 priests for the Diocese of Covington – 50 percent of the diocese’s active priests. Twenty seminarians are now discerning a priestly vocation for the diocese.
For his efforts in promoting vocations Foys was honored in 2014 with “The Good Shepherd Award” from the Pontifical College Josephinum, Columbus, Ohio.
Foys knows firsthand the value of a Catholic school education not only for individuals but also for communities. When speaking of a Catholic school education he is quoted as saying, “There are alternatives to Catholic schools, but there is no substitute.” Foys has strengthened the Catholic schools in the diocese’s urban core – the diocese’s mission territory – by restructuring the Alliance for Catholic Urban Education (ACUE). Under his leadership over $2.2 million has been raised for tuition assistance for ACUE students.
Building and renovation projects have occurred outside of the urban core, most notably the erection of two dedicated 24-hour adoration chapels at St. Barbara Parish, Erlanger, and St. Patrick Parish, Taylor Mill; the erection and dedication of the Mary, Seat of Wisdom Chapel on the campus of Thomas More College; and the establishment of a new parish, Cristo Rey, Florence (projected to be completed August 2016) which serves the expanding local Latino community.
