Our Savior Catholic Church and School now stands with an official Kentucky historical marker. The eighty two year old Black Catholic complex in Covington was honored on July 12 after a long push by Sister of Divine Providence Janet Bucher. Community leaders, former students, clergy, and neighbors gathered to remember a place that gave both faith and schooling when doors elsewhere were closed.
State Marker Celebrates Black Catholic Heritage in Covington
The marker recognizes Our Savior as the first Black Catholic parish and school in Northern Kentucky. It also confirms its role as the only all Black Catholic school to serve the region during segregation. City officials called the honor overdue.
Covington mayor Ron L Washington praised the parish during the ceremony. He said Our Savior provided spiritual and educational support when access was unjustly limited. He added that although the school closed in 1963 its legacy still echoes through the city.
Sister Janet Bucher Led the Marker Effort
Sister Janet Bucher spent more than thirty years helping run the parish. She applied for the state marker in 2024 before retiring this summer. Her goal was to make sure the wider public did not forget the story.
She told organizers her reason was to honor the history of the only all Black Catholic school in Northern Kentucky. She said it is important that this history be remembered. Alumni cheered her work and many returned for the unveiling.
Built for Black Catholics When Schools Were Closed to Them
Our Savior was created under Bishop Francis W Howard to serve African American families who lacked equal access to Catholic worship and education. The parish began as a mission of Saint Marys Cathedral. Two homes on Tenth Street in the Eastside neighborhood were renovated and adapted for school use.
The Sisters of Divine Providence were recruited to staff the school. Classrooms opened before the church building itself and served many students who were not Catholic. A parish church was dedicated in 1944. A high school wing followed in 1946. A new school building opened two years later as enrollment grew.
Father William Leroy Lane and Early Black Catholic Leadership
The parish drew national attention when Father William Leroy Lane arrived from New York. He became the first Black Catholic priest to serve in the Diocese of Covington. His time at Our Savior lasted only until 1947 yet it sent a strong message of welcome and representation.
His early ministry encouraged vocations and community trust during a period of racial tension. Parish elders still recall Father Lane by name when telling younger generations how the church first grew.
Notable Students and Community Pride
Our Savior educated students who later excelled in many fields. One standout is Tom Thacker. He went on to win college, NBA, and ABA basketball championships during a decade long career. Alumni say teachers pushed discipline, faith, and academics in equal measure.
The school built pride in a neighborhood that faced housing restrictions and limited resources. Graduates often credit the parish for giving them confidence to aim higher than the lines segregation tried to draw.
School Closures During Integration
Change came with the civil rights era. Our Savior High School closed in 1956 during diocesan integration moves under Bishop William T Mulloy. The grade school held on a few more years and closed in 1963. Students were folded into other Catholic schools as racial enrollment caps began to lift.
Though classrooms shut their doors, parish life continued. Families kept gathering for Mass, sacraments, and cultural events that anchored Black Catholic identity in the region.
Parish Life Continues as a Community Hub
The parish remains active today. For more than three decades Sister Bucher helped guide liturgy, outreach, and annual school homecoming events each October. The church hosts an annual Martin Luther King Jr Day breakfast and other civic dialogues tied to justice and unity.
Local choirs, including the Brotherhood Singers, have helped keep worship vibrant. Parish leaders say the new marker will draw new visitors and help younger Catholics reconnect with their elders stories.
Why Preserving Black Faith Schools Matters
Sites like Our Savior document how Black families built parallel systems when public and private doors were locked. They also show how faith communities met educational needs long before equal access laws. Remembering these stories helps explain present day gaps in wealth, schooling, and health.
By marking the site, Kentucky is acknowledging that Black Catholic history shaped Covington and the wider Cincinnati metro area. That public recognition can support future preservation grants and educational programming.
