Camillus Paul Maes served as the third bishop of Covington from 1885 to 1915. When he arrived, he found the aging, wood-framed cathedral falling into disrepair, and the growing Catholic community in dire need of a larger building for worship. The cathedral that he built, Covington’s mother-church, stands as a testament to the great vision of Bishop Maes, who wished to give the city of Covington a token of his affection, and a monument to speak for centuries to come of the love of Christ, for as he said, “indeed, the message of the cathedral is the message of Christ himself.”
In gratitude for Bishop Maes’ lasting impact and contributions to the Church in northern Kentucky, H.E. Roger Foys, bishop of Covington, will celebrate a funeral Mass for the repose of his soul, followed by the solemn interment of his remains in a new tomb at the heart of the cathedral-basilica which he built. Located in the church’s former baptistery, the new tomb features a sarcophagus of white and green marble, designed to blend with the surrounding marble work. The lid features a hand-carved white marble effigy of Bishop Maes lying in repose, wearing the full set of pontificals, each item of which is modelled on something worn by a previous bishop of Covington. The entire tomb will sit beneath a starry vault, reminding God’s people that our ultimate goal is Heaven. The Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, October 26th, starting at 10 am; the cathedral is located at 1140 Madison Avenue. (Thanks to our good friend Dcn Jordan Hainsey for letting us know about this.)
