About Mary, Queen of Heaven · Erlanger, Kentucky
Mary, Queen of Heaven is a Roman Catholic parish in Erlanger, Kentucky, belonging to the Diocese of Covington. The parish serves the northern Kentucky community from its campus on Donaldson Highway, where the church, parish office, preschool, and Mary Queen of Heaven School (a PreK-8 elementary school founded in 1957) all share one location. Weekend Mass is offered five times between Saturday evening and late Sunday morning, daily Mass is celebrated Monday through Saturday, and the parish maintains a weekly Eucharistic Adoration hour every Thursday. Faith formation for children is offered both through the parish school and through the CCD (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine) program, while adults are welcomed into OCIA (the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) and marriage preparation is offered to engaged couples.
- Established
- 1957 (school; parish established in the mid-1950s)
- Patron
- Mary, Queen of Heaven
- Rector
- Rev. Michael D. Barth
- Diocese
- Diocese of Covington
Why belong here
Mary, Queen of Heaven offers the full rhythm of Catholic parish life in one walkable Erlanger campus: a Sunday Vigil plus three Sunday morning Masses, a daily Mass Monday through Saturday, weekly Thursday Eucharistic Adoration with Benediction, and Saturday confession. Families can enroll children in either the parish school (PreK-8) or the parish CCD/Sunday School programs, while adults can journey toward full initiation through OCIA or prepare for marriage with a nine-month program of clergy meetings, a diocesan marriage-prep course, and Natural Family Planning instruction. Joining is simple — a new-parishioner envelope from the pew, a phone call, an office visit, or the online form — and the parish welcomes all to 'Stop by the parish office located in the lower level of the preschool building.'
Mass times at Mary, Queen of Heaven
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 PM – 3:30 PM (or by appointment)
Adoration times
- Thursday 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM (Benediction and Reposition at 5:00 PM)
- Thursday 8:30 AM – Eucharistic Adoration following Mass (per third-party schedule listing)
Parish Identity and Diocese
Mary, Queen of Heaven Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Covington, serving the Erlanger/Boone County area of northern Kentucky. It is one of more than 50 parishes listed in the diocesan directory under the Most Reverend Bishop Iffert. The parish sits within the Diocese of Covington's pastoral care alongside neighboring parishes such as St. Barbara (Erlanger), St. Henry (Elsmere), St. Pius X (Edgewood), and Blessed Sacrament (Ft. Mitchell).
Mass and Sacrament Schedule
The parish publishes a full Mass schedule on its website. Saturday Vigil Mass is offered at 4:00 PM and 5:30 PM; three Sunday Masses are celebrated at 8:30 AM, 10:00 AM, and 11:30 AM. Daily Mass runs Monday through Thursday at 9:00 AM, Friday at 8:30 AM, and Saturday at 9:00 AM. Holy Days observe a Vigil Mass at 6:30 PM the evening before and Masses at 9:00 AM and 6:30 PM on the day itself.
- Saturday Vigil: 4:00 PM, 5:30 PM
- Sunday: 8:30 AM, 10:00 AM, 11:30 AM
- Monday–Thursday Daily Mass: 9:00 AM
- Friday Daily Mass: 8:30 AM
- Saturday Daily Mass: 9:00 AM
- Holy Day Vigil: 6:30 PM (eve prior)
- Holy Day: 9:00 AM and 6:30 PM
Clergy and Parish Staff
The parish is led by Rev. Michael D. Barth (ordained May 21, 1994) as Pastor, who also serves as a Judge on the Diocesan Tribunal. He is assisted by Fr. Sam Owusu (ordained February 21, 2014) as Parochial Vicar. Two permanent deacons share ministry: Deacon Larry Kleisinger serves as Director of Religious Education and Deacon Rick Dames supports parish life. The lay staff includes Jenny Kunst (Parish Administrative Assistant), Allison Miller (Business Manager), and Patrick Medovich (Director of Music).
- Rev. Michael D. Barth — Pastor (Diocesan Tribunal Judge)
- Fr. Sam Owusu — Parochial Vicar
- Deacon Larry Kleisinger — Director of Religious Education
- Deacon Rick Dames
- Jenny Kunst — Parish Administrative Assistant
- Allison Miller — Business Manager
- Patrick Medovich — Director of Music
Parish School (Mary Queen of Heaven School)
Mary Queen of Heaven School is a co-educational, parish-affiliated Catholic elementary school serving students in PreK through grade 8 at 1130 Donaldson Highway (directly adjacent to the church). Founded in 1957 — when the Benedictine Sisters of St. Walburg Monastery in nearby Villa Hills helped staff it — the school has offered more than 65 years of continuous Catholic education. According to NCES, current enrollment stands around 186 students, and the school is accredited through the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) and the Diocese of Covington. Curriculum emphasizes religion, language arts, math, science, social studies, plus music, art, physical education, Spanish, library, computer, STEM, and a weekly guidance counselor.
- Founded 1957 (over 65 years of parish Catholic education)
- Grades PreK through 8, co-educational
- Originally staffed by Benedictine Sisters of St. Walburg Monastery
- Accredited by NCEA and the Diocese of Covington
- Weekly school Mass; classes take turns preparing liturgy
- Monthly Eucharistic Adoration for two grades each week
- School website: mqhschool.com
Faith Formation for Children
In addition to the parish school, Mary, Queen of Heaven offers two formal religious-education programs for children. CCD (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine) provides weekly religious education for public-school children in grades 1 through 8, meeting every Tuesday from 6:30 PM to 7:45 PM, August through May, under Director Deacon Larry Kleisinger. Sunday School — also called 'God's Word for Children' — introduces preschool and kindergarten children (ages 4–7) to God through prayer, song, and craft, meeting each Sunday during the 10:00 AM Mass, September through May.
- CCD — Tuesdays 6:30–7:45 PM, August–May
- Sunday School — Sundays during 10:00 AM Mass, September–May (ages 4–7)
- Director: Deacon Larry Kleisinger
- Sunday School Coordinator: Jojo Santos
Adult Faith Formation — OCIA
The parish's OCIA program (formerly known as RCIA — Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) offers classes teaching the basic faith formation of the Catholic Church. It is the customary path for adults seeking full initiation through the Sacraments of Baptism, Holy Eucharist, and Confirmation, and it is also open to already-baptized Catholic adults who have not yet been Confirmed or who simply wish to grow in knowledge of the faith that 'comes to us from the Apostles.'
- Adults seeking Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation
- Catholic adults preparing for Confirmation
- Catholics desiring deeper formation in the faith
Sacramental Preparation — Baptism and Matrimony
Baptism preparation requires a meeting with Deacon Larry Kleisinger for first-time parents, completion of the Baptism Information Form and Godparent Information Form, and submission of all paperwork before scheduling. Children over age 7 must enroll in MQH School or CCD, while older children and adults enter through OCIA. For Holy Matrimony, couples must contact the parish office at least nine months before the desired wedding date, meet three times with a cleric, complete a diocesan marriage-preparation program and a Natural Family Planning program, and provide a current annotated baptismal certificate with Confirmation date. A $325 deposit (out of $650 total) secures the date on the calendar; non-parishioners also need a letter of permission from their own pastor.
- Baptism: parent meeting + paperwork; for children over 7, OCIA path
- Matrimony: 9-month preparation, 3 cleric meetings, diocesan prep + NFP
- Wedding contribution: $650 ($325 deposit)
- Civil marriage license required within 30 days of wedding
Leadership Councils and Service Committees
Lay leadership at Mary, Queen of Heaven is organized through several councils and committees. The Parish Finance Council oversees financial stewardship; the Religious Education Board supervises parish religious-education programs in conformity with diocesan regulations; and the School Board guides the parish elementary school. The Parent Teacher Organization (PTO), led by President Stephanie Bogenschutz and Vice President Lauren Wiese, supports MQH School by raising funds for educational programs, partially funding school renovations, and sponsoring family community-building events.
- Parish Finance Council
- Religious Education Board
- School Board — Chair Tina Ryan
- Parent Teacher Organization (PTO)
- School Principal Meg Piatt ([email protected])
Joining the Parish
There are several ways to register at Mary, Queen of Heaven. Newcomers can stop by the parish office (in the lower level of the preschool building, open 8:00 AM–4:00 PM Monday through Friday), call 859-525-6909, complete a New Parishioner envelope from the church missalette, or fill out the online form on the contact page.
- Office visit — lower level of preschool building
- Phone: 859-525-6909
- Email: [email protected]
- Online registration form on mqhparish.com/contact/
- New Parishioner envelope from the pew missalette