How much do you really know about Mother of God parish? Whether you're a long-timer or a newbie, take this quiz to test your knowledge and see how well you do.

1. How tall is the dome atop Mother of God Church? Give yourself extra points if you know how tall the bell towers are.
   The dome at Mother of God stands 150 ft. tall. The bell towers measure 200 ft. high.
   
   
2. Which MoG pastor was an Army Air Corps pilot who flew on missions over Germany during World War II?
   Rev. William Mertes, pastor from 1971-1981, flew numerous missions over Germany during World War II. Being of German heritage himself, he worried that he might be dropping bombs on distant relatives.
   
   
3. What is the official name of Mother of God parish?
   The parish's official name is "The Annunciation of the Ever Virgin Mary, Mother of God."
   
   
4. On Sunday, April 17, 1983, Mother of God launched which much-needed ministry, the first of its kind in the Diocese of Covington?
   Mother of God held its inaugural ASL-signed Mass for the deaf and hearing-impaired. Later, in 1987, the parish installed a special radio-transmitted sound system for the hearing-impaired. Today, we have upgraded to the Listen system, which works with the user's hearing aids and cell phone.
   
   
5. Who are the "pillars of the Church" depicted on either side of the front entrance to Mother of God?
   Sts. Peter and Paul keep watch over the front entrance to Mother of God. St. Peter is on the east side and is shown holding the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven. St. Paul is on the west side, with a book in one hand representing his authorship of the Epistles in the New Testament, and a sword in the other, which was the instrument of his martyrdom. The statues were designed by Mayer and Company of Munich, Germany, and installed on the front plaza on March 1, 1923.
   
   
6. What other diocesan parishes have merged with Mother of God over the years?
   St. Patrick Church at Philadelphia and Elm Streets, was folded into St. Aloysius Church at 7th and Bakewell, in 1967—a casualty of urban development. Following a lightning strike and fire that destroyed St. Aloysius in 1985, the parish became part of Mother of God. Starting this month, our current pastor, Fr. Comer, will also become pastor of Our Savior Church, but Our Savior will maintain its identity as a separate parish.
   
   
7. What unofficial holiday does MoG celebrate every summer that is unique to our parish?
   MoG observes Hawaiian Shirt Sunday every year, usually during June or July (it's a floating holiday). The origin of the celebration is fuzzy but highly anticipated when parishioners don their brightest tropical attire, including plastic or silk leis and floral hair ornaments. It is a feast for the eyes and the sartorial soul, for sure.
   
   
8. In addition to celebrating the liturgy of the Mass, administering sacraments, and educating children, what unusual service did Mother of God offer to parishioners in the late 1800s?
   Mother of God operated a savings bank for its parishioners. In 1886, the bank reported a phenomenal ending balance of $182,726.41.
   
   
9. Which Mother of God pastor is immortalized in one of the church's large stained windows?
   Fr. William Tappert, pastor from 1879-1907, can be seen praying in the lower panel of the west window (#6). Above him is a scene showing the death of St. Joseph.
   
   

10. In an effort to raise funds for the Mother of God Choral Club, what frightening endeavor did the parish host back in 1972?
      The parish, at the suggestion of then-assistant Fr. Doug Fortner, put on a two-week spectacle from mid-October through Halloween called the Haunted Mansion. It was held in the vacant parish school across the street from the church and featured 12 rooms of spine-chilling scenes, including Dr. Frankenstein and his monster, the Phantom of the Opera, the Werewolf, and many more. Parishioners played the roles of the creatures and guides who led visitors through the scary experience. The fundraiser was so successful, it became a repeat event for several more years.