Diocese of Covington - Messenger at 402 E. 21st Street, Covington, KY 41015 US - Cathedral rector delights in ministry as he celebrates 25th jubilee

Growing up, Msgr. William Neuhaus was always interested in the priesthood, but it was not until he graduated from Thomas More College and University of Cincinnati’s College of Law that he seriously considered his calling.

“I was living in Frankfort and working as a staff attorney for the Legislative Research Commission. I was doing more praying and reading, and I was attending daily Mass. During that time I met a priest on his first assignment in Frankfort, Father Roger Arnsparger. I saw his enthusiasm, his zeal and his piety — he really did have a great influence on me.”

During his 25 years of priesthood Msgr. Neuhaus has been an associate at several parishes, defender of the bond and judge for the diocesan Tribunal, and on the faculty of Thomas More College. He has been pastor at St. John Church, Carrollton, and St. Thomas Church, Ft. Thomas, director of the Lay Ministry Formation Office, and is currently the rector of the cathedral, director of the Deacon Formation Office and dean of the Covington Deanery.

Msgr. Neuhaus grew up in Erlanger, the son of Paul B. and Patricia (Bergman) Neuhaus. He and his four brothers all attended St. Henry grade school and high school. After college and law school, he began his studies for the priesthood at St. Pius X Seminary, in Erlanger, and continued at the Pontifical Gregorian University and the Pontifical Angelicum University, both in Rome.

Because history is one of Msgr. Neuhaus’s passions, Rome holds a special place in his heart, and he feels very fortunate to have been able to study in Rome and receive his degrees in theology and canon law while there.

At his first pastoral assignment, at St. John in Carrollton, he recalls officiating at the congregation’s first Spanish Mass.

“One of the parishioners at the time was a Spanish man who worked at the local steel mill,” Msgr. Neuhaus recalled. “I made a copy of a photo of Our Lady of Guadalupe and put Mass information on it and posted them around town. From there, the ministry has grown to where it is today.”
From Carrollton, Msgr. Neuhaus became pastor at St. Thomas Church, Ft. Thomas, until he was assigned as rector of the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption in 2006.

Msgr. Neuhaus, who was baptized at the cathedral, is honored and grateful to be there.
“What an honor to be at the cathedral — one doesn’t feel worthy of the surroundings. It is a wonderful blessing to be there and to have a bishop who loves the place so much,” Msgr. Neuhaus said. “Bishop Foys has been so incredibly kind and supportive of me over the years. He is supportive of the cathedral and he is supportive of my work there. It is a wonderful situation.”

Bishop Rogers Foys is likewise grateful to Msgr. Neuhaus for his faithfulness and devotion to him and the diocese.

“Msgr. William Neuhaus has been a faithful and devoted priest for 25 years, serving in many responsible positions in the diocese.  His kindness and hospitality are already legendary. One has always felt welcome by him, and this is especially true in his current assignment as rector of our cathedral.
“He is a loyal son of the Church and is faithful to the teachings of the faith. He is an excellent teacher and teaches especially through his example. When I first came to our Diocese of Covington as bishop, Msgr. Neuhaus was exceptionally helpful in introducing me to the diocese and has been a constant source of support and encouragement since then.

“Msgr. Neuhaus is a good person, priest and friend — I heartily congratulate him on 25 years of priestly ministry.”

Over the last 25 years, it is a thrill to see others follow into the vocation of the priesthood, and he credits Bishop Foys for the increase in the interest in vocations.
“The biggest of thrill of my priesthood,” Msgr. Neuhaus said, crediting Bishop Foys, “has been the interest and increase in priestly vocations. That has been a thrill for me.”

When given the opportunity Msgr. Neuhaus tells future seminarians of the kindness not only from the people a priest meets along the way, but of the unexpected happiness in the friendship of other priests.
“Apart from the obvious, one of the biggest happinesses of being a priest is the friendship of the priests.”

<<<Father Richard Bolte, also celebrating his 25th anniversary of ordination, will be profiled in an upcoming Messenger.>>>

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