Father John Sterling, the pastor of St. Barbara Church, grew up locally in a family of seven children. After studying Aviation Administration at Northern Kentucky University and working in this field for 13 years with Delta Airlines, Father followed his call to the priesthood. He studied at both St. Pius X Seminary and St. Mary of the West Seminary before being ordained in 1996. He served the Diocese of Covington first as Parochial Vicar at St. Agnes Parish, Ft. Wright, and then St. Joseph Parish, Crescent Springs. Following these parish assignments, he was the Vocation Director for the Diocese for eight years, as well as the campus chaplain at Covington Catholic High School. Next came his role as secretary to the Bishop before returning to parish life at St. Edward Parish, Cynthiana and St. Joseph Church, Cold Spring. Finally, in 2007 Father Sterling was assigned to St. Barbara Church as the pastoral administrator for one year before becoming its pastor one year later. Under Father Sterling's leadership, the parish has tripled its membership numbers and expanded its worship space with the building of a much larger church for its growing population. So much progress has been possible mainly through Father Sterling's constant reminder, "Envision it with faith, and it will become a reality."