Catholic Key Magazine | April - May 2024

Stay WITHIN

The magazine of the Catholic Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph

APRIL/MAY 2024

VOL. 4 | ISSUE 3

Bishop James V. Johnston, Jr.

Publisher

Ashlie Hand

Editor

Jenny Pomicter

Graphic designer

To submit story ideas and news, send emails to hand@diocesekcsj.org

www.FAITHcatholic.com

Catholic Key (ISSN 27692353, USPS 024-190) is a membership publication of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, published bimonthly (Feb/Mar, Apr/ May, Jun/Jul, Aug/Sep, Oct/ Nov, Dec/Jan) by the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, The Catholic Center, 20 W. Ninth St., Kansas City, MO 64105. Periodicals Postage Paid at Kansas City, MO and at additional mailing offices.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Catholic Key, The Catholic Center, 20 W. Ninth St., Kansas City, MO 64105. ©2022 Catholic Key, Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph.

ON THE COVER:

Rebecca Fangman often visits her local floral shop, White Farmhouse Flowers and Gifts in Parkville, with her children Luke and Clare to select blooms to mark the Easter season. Photo by Ashlie Hand.

COVER STORY

12

Stay within the victory | Sara Kraft

Many of us concentrate so much on living the liturgical season of Lent — the prayer, penance, and almsgiving — that we miss celebrating the most important part: the victory of Christ’s resurrection. It is crucial that we live the Easter season intentionally for all 50 days in order to reap the full spiritual benefits of the season. Read how three families make a simple effort to keep the Easter season alive within their domestic Church at home, at work, and in their prayer life.

4

On the Way: An invitation to BEHOLD | Bishop James Johnston Consider this an invitation to be a part of a historic moment in the life of our Church. And bring your family and friends, including those who are not Catholic, to BEHOLD.

6 Establishing a culture of prevention | Ashlie Hand

In total, since 2002, 41,000 adults have been trained in how to recognize and report child sexual abuse in our diocese through the VIRTUS® Protecting Gods Children® workshops held each year.

8 House of God | Holy Trinity Parish, Weston | Ashlie Hand and Cory Thomason

At the top of a Missouri bluff, overlooking downtown Weston, Missouri, stands Holy Trinity Catholic Church, its legacy of faith spanning more than 180 years.

Divine Mercy Sunday promises extraordinary grace | Allison Vrooman

The first Sunday following Easter, Divine Mercy Sunday, is a feast day dedicated to the great love and mercy that Jesus has for his people. This feast day is particularly special to Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish in Kansas City.

20 To Serve

and Lift | Generations of faith

| Katie Pike

For more than 2,000 years, generations have passed on to the next their devotion to the Faith. By rooting our young people in the foundations of Catholicism, we see their faith flourish.

28 A new location for the New Year | Karen Ridder

A standing-room only Mass full of color, song and tradition marked a fresh start for Church of the Holy Martyrs Parish this year.

30

To live relying on God’s will | Marty Denzer

Ethan Osborn will begin the next phase of his path to the priesthood when he is ordained to the transitional diaconate at the Cathedral of St. Joseph on May 18.

31

Living in the light of the Good Shepherd | Marty Denzer

Deacon Sam Horan is soon to be ordained a priest in the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph. As he finishes his studies, he reflects on his journey thus far.

33

Volunteer spotlight on Ken and Diane Hansen | Allison Vrooman

To Ken and Diane Hansen of Church of the Good Shepherd in Smithville, acts of charity are a form of prayer.

En Español

25 Gente de Pascua: Semana Santa en la diáspora hispana/latina | Por Leyden Rovelo-Krull

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En el Camino | Una invitación a BEHOLD (CONTEMPLAR) | Obispo Johnston

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Marty Denzer is long-time writer in residence for the Catholic Key.

Ashlie Hand leads the Office of Communications for the Diocese of Kansas CitySt. Joseph.

Sara Kraft

Karen Ridder is a journalist in Liberty, Missouri.

Allison Vrooman is communications specialist for the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph.

AN INVITATION TO

BEHOLD

The word behold appears dozens of times in the four Gospels, but the one that we are most likely to recall is found in the first chapter of Saint John’s Gospel, where Saint John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (Jn 1:29)

This verse was taken up into the Liturgy of the Eucharist, where it takes on added meaning when we hear the priest speak it while holding up the consecrated host and paten or chalice. These words elicit a response of Eucharistic faith on our part, with another verse from sacred Scripture, first uttered by the Roman centurion seeking Jesus’ help in healing his servant: “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only say the word and my servant will be

From the Bishop Bishop James V. Johnston, Jr. is the seventh bishop of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph

healed” (Mt 8:8) , which we modify slightly to apply to ourselves and the healing of our souls: “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my soul shall be healed.” And yet, unlike the centurion, we actually are privileged to experience the Lord “coming under our roof” when we receive him in Holy Communion!

It is very fitting then that the event which is being held on the evening of May 4, 2024, at the Liberty Memorial across from Union Station in Kansas City, bears the title of BEHOLD. The location is a place of community celebration, city pride and, as we experienced in February, a place where we were reminded of our broken world and our desperate need for God’s healing and mercy.

On May 4, we have an opportunity to come together with our community of faith, as “one holy, catholic and apostolic Church,” in collaboration with our neighbors across the state line in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, to celebrate a public Mass followed by a time of Eucharistic adoration, procession and benediction. Many May 4 vigil Masses in the immediate Kansas City area parishes will be canceled so that our priests and laypeople

can be present for BEHOLD.

In this final year of Eucharistic Revival in the United States, our local celebration will serve to rekindle our own Eucharistic amazement and love. Our love for the Mass and the Eucharist is central to our Catholic life. Quite simply, without it, there would be no Church, and we would have no life. It is hoped that it will also be an occasion to draw the inactive and those who do not yet believe into a living relationship with Christ, too.

This event was inspired by our ancestors, who on May 4, 1941, held a similar event in the same place on the occasion of the first Eucharistic Congress in Kansas City. Thousands of people gathered to “behold, the Lamb,” worship him and receive him. That generation, perhaps intuitively, knew that it would need to turn to God on the brink of a terrible world war. It’s my hope that our generation will also turn our gaze to Jesus Christ, who remains the world’s only hope and who gives himself to us completely for our life and our salvation.

So, consider this an invitation to be a part of a historic moment in the life of our Church. And bring your family and friends, including those who are not Catholic, to BEHOLD.

… and behold, I am with you always, to the close of the age.”

— Mt 28:20

PROTECTING

Establishing a culture of prevention God’s Children

The month of April is Child Abuse Prevention month in the U.S. Each year, the diocesan Office of Child & Youth Protection (OCYP) uses this national spotlight on prevention to raise awareness of the harm that has been done through the scourge of clergy sexual abuse, the healing that is taking place, as well as the hard work underway to establish a culture of prevention in our community.

According to the 2022-2023 annual audit of our diocese by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Committee for the Protection of Children & Young People, in the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, reports of clergy

sexual abuse have decreased since 2002. It was in 2002 that the USCCB Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People mandated transparency, accountability, action and an investment of time and resources dedicated to stop

the abuse, prevent future abuse and make reparations to the survivors and their families.

The current trend, in our diocese and nationwide, is an increase in reports of boundary violations. Boundary violations are not reports of abuse, but indicate where there may be a problem developing.

This shift in reporting both points to and reflects an increase in awareness of the activity that could lead to abuse, and allows the OCYP to be more proactive in identifying potential issues.

Carrie Cooper, director of the OCYP, believes the culture within the Church is shifting to one of prevention.

By Ashlie Hand

In 2023, Bishop Johnston and Carrie Cooper, director of the OCYP, joined students at St. Gianna Early Childhood Center in St. Joseph as they planted a pinwheel garden as a symbol of hope and awareness of child abuse prevention.

Read more from Protecting God’s Children workshop educators and volunteers at catholickey.org

“That is significant,” said Cooper. “It doesn’t mean we’re past the abuse, because I don’t think we will ever be, but it means that the training is working.”

In total, since 2002, 41,000 adults have been trained in how to recognize and report child sexual abuse in our diocese through the VIRTUS® Protecting God’s Children® workshops held each year.

“That’s an army of people trained to recognize sexual abuse to know how to report it, to speak up, to address it. That’s huge for our prevention effort,” said Cooper.

Volunteers facilitated 192 Protecting God’s Children workshops in 2022-2023 alone. Each workshop is three hours long, plus preparation and follow up. Over the last five years, volunteers have trained an average of 2,300 adults annually in these workshops.

Becoming a VIRTUS facilitator requires two and half days of training, extensive policy knowledge and on-going time commitment. “I’m deeply grateful for the people willing to give that much time,” said Cooper.

2022-2023 AUDIT REPORT

Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph

Each year, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Committee for the Protection of Children and Young People audits the Office of Child and Youth Protection in each diocese or archdiocese in the U.S. This is mandated by the 2002 Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. This audit provides important data on reports of abuse, response activity and the impact of the prevention efforts taking place within each diocese and archdiocese. The most recent audit reflects data from July 2022-June 2023.

9,973 children completed Circle of Grace workshops

4,500 adults trained and screened

192 Protecting God’s Children training workshops

Annual Day of Prayer in Atonement

Friday, April 26 12:15 p.m. Mass

Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Kansas City

JoAnn Axtell, parishioner at Visitation Parish in Kansas City, was among the first facilitators trained in our diocese when Bishop Boland initiated the VIRTUS program in 2002. She has single-handedly trained more than 2,400 adults through the Protecting God’s Children workshops. When asked what drives her passion for this particular ministry, she said, “I’m working side-byside with many caring, dedicated, and persistent people — everyone from the participants who attend our sessions, to our facilitators, to our SECs, to the leadership in the OCYP office, and especially to the brave survivors among us. We are working together, investing time and energy for the welfare of children and families and communities. We are Catholic. Deeply aware of the sins of

the past, we vow to do better. This is our faith in action, and I can tell you, there are saints in our midst.”

Sandy Gagnon leads the RCIA program at St. James Parish in Liberty, and serves as a VIRTUS facilitator. “We cannot protect our children by pretending the problem is ‘someone else’s.’ The Protecting God’s Children program is an excellent tool to provide adults with an understanding of the scope of the problem,” she explains.

Colleen Haberkorn serves as director of religious education at St. Mary’s Parish in Nevada, is a Safe Environment coordinator and has been a VIRTUS facilitator since 2003.

“I am heartened by the difference in the level of knowledge I see in current attendees as compared to those I worked with 20 years ago,” Haberkorn said. “That tells me that the topic of child sexual abuse is becoming more acceptable to discuss, and I think that programs like the VIRTUS training have made that happen.”

Joan Patterman Barrett was drawn to volunteer as a VIRTUS facilitator following the explosive Ratigan crisis

more than a decade ago in our diocese. She feels the requirement for all diocesan clerics, employees, volunteers and students to undergo age-appropriate child sexual abuse training (Protecting God’s Children and Circle of Grace®) has helped develop a proactive culture of prevention versus reaction.

“These courses empower each person to maintain a safe and holy environment for our children and vulnerable adults,” she said.

An important role of the OCYP and its corps of volunteers is the continued mission of restorative justice.

Barrett said, “We are still on a slow path to developing a culture of total trust in our local Church. Multi-pronged outreach, including the bishop’s prayer services and Masses of forgiveness, the Journey to Bethany program, survivor services, full support for the Office of Child and Youth Protection, transparency in communications and more are critical in creating that trust. I believe our diocese has done a good job paving and leading us on that path, but it will take a long time for many of our faithful to develop full trust in the Church.”

Getty Images/NAimage

Photo by Ashlie Hand

House of God

Holy Trinity Parish, Weston

By Ashlie Hand Photos by Cory Thomason

At the top of a Missouri bluff, overlooking downtown Weston, Missouri, stands Holy Trinity Catholic Church, its legacy of faith spanning more than 180 years. An original church building stood from 1847 - 1911 when it was torn down. The cornerstone of the current church building was laid and the building dedicated in October 1912. The church seats 160 and today is home to 165 families. This Far by Faith, Vol. II

Holy Trinity in Weston is a simplified Gothic structure built of stone with vertical spires. The facade entrance is adorned with a structural pointed arch, constructed to draw the eyes up to heaven. This Far by Faith, Vol. I

Many items from the original church building exist inside Holy Trinity Church today. The bells in the south bell tower are the original bells of the 1844 church, affectionately called Peter and Mary after the couple who donated them. The crucifix, a large Mission cross made by Anton Schmidt, was hung in 1858 and is the oldest interior furnishing in the present church. The side altars serve as devotional shrines dedicated to Our Blessed Mother and Saint Joseph. This Far by Faith, Vol. II

The high altar, side altars, and sanctuary lamp were all gifted to the parish. The high altar was dedicated on Sept. 8, 1892, built by Mr. Bauholtz of Leavenworth, Kan. of pure Gothic design. Statues of Saint Boniface and Saint Eberhard flank the central statue of the Holy Trinity on the high altar, added in March 1908, the gift of the Rumpel family in memory of their sons (named Boniface and Eberhard). This Far by Faith, Vol. II

The statue of the Holy Trinity was given to the parish as a gift to accompany the new altar in 1892. The carving of the Holy Trinity, a rare and unusual work of art, was reportedly from a single block of wood. It weighs 1,500 pounds and originates from Belgium. This Far by Faith, Vol. II

All of the stained-glass windows are original to the 1912 church building. The sanctuary rose window was given in memory of Joseph and Victoria Kurtz by their sons Charles B. Andrew and Joseph M. The Saint Cecilia rose window was given by Louise Kurtz, church organist from 1877 - 1927. This Far by Faith, Vol. II

MidWest

MARCH FOR LIFE

By Ashlie Hand

Photos by Deborah Sheppard

The MidWest March For Life began in 2010 and commemorates the tragic Jan. 22, 1973, U.S. Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion in our nation. It witnesses to the right to life of all unborn children in our state and our nation. It is an opportunity to call upon our state government officials and courts to respect the right to life of all God’s people from the moment of conception, to pray for an end to abortion in our state and nation and to encourage one another to remain strong in our pro-life work during the coming year.

Bishop Johnston will join a group of adults and youth to attend the MidWest March for Life in Jefferson City on May 1, in coordination with the Office of Life and Justice.

“Bishop Johnston encourages all of us to exercise our rights and duties as citizens and to grow as Catholics,” said Deb Sheppard, director of the diocesan Office of Life and Justice. “By organizing and participating in the march, he is leading by example and demonstrating how to live according to social teaching.”

Sheppard emphasizes that with the June 2022 Dobbs decision by the U.S. Supreme Court, responsibility for abortion legislation now resides with each individual state, making it even more important to express our Catholic values to the Missouri Legislature.

Chelsea Voboril, diocesan program coordinator for respect life and human rights, attended the MidWest March for Life for the first time in 2023 and says, “It is imperative to use this opportunity to make Missouri a safe harbor for life … as Missouri faces proposed ballot initiatives and surrounding states are passing similar legislation which harms women and parental rights.”

Charter buses will depart from a few parishes across the diocese on the morning of May 1. The cost to attend is $30 per person and includes transportation and light snacks. Attendees should pack a lunch or plan to purchase a meal from the Knights of Columbus.

Attendees will meet and travel with

Learn more at lifeandjusticekcsj.org

other parishioners from throughout the diocese who want to advocate for life; hear from national speakers such as Melissa Ohden, CEO of The Abortion Survivors Network, and Ivy Almon with Support After Abortion; visit with pregnancy resource centers and groups from across the state and learn of their advocacy work; and prayerfully witness by marching around the State Capitol to show the strength in numbers of constituents in the state of Missouri asking their representatives to protect and value life.

The MidWest March For Life also hosts a youth rally as part of the event to inspire and educate our youth as prolife leaders in their communities. Brad Horn, director of diocesan Youth Ministry, has witnessed youth courageously embrace the mission to advocate for the dignity of life. They return from the march inspired to share the message through love and compassion. Some have even started or joined pro-life clubs at their schools or have started praying a daily rosary for pregnant mothers and their babies.

“They become joyful witnesses to the love of Jesus Christ and they embody the instruction from Saint Peter: ‘Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope but do it with gentleness and reverence.’” (1 Pt 3:15)

Attendees from the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph at the 2023 MidWest March for Life (here and below, left).

Mary, the New Eve

Marc Cardaronella is the director of the Office of Catechesis and Faith Formation.

The Blessed Virgin Mary holds a unique position in the vast landscape of Catholic theology. Mary has a more critical role in God’s plan of salvation than anyone in history, and it relates to how her life and actions resonate with the story of humanity’s first mother, Eve. All of salvation history pivots around their connection and illustrates a powerful maxim for our own spiritual lives.

The early Church grasped this significance in one of Mary’s earliest titles, “The New Eve.” Quoting the Vatican II document Lumen Gentium, the Catechism of the Catholic Church (494) reflects, “As Saint Irenaeus says, ‘Being obedient she became the cause of salvation for herself and for the whole human race.’ Hence not a few of the early Fathers gladly assert ... ‘The knot of Eve’s disobedience was untied by Mary’s obedience: what the virgin Eve bound through her disbelief, Mary loosened by her faith.’ Comparing her with Eve, they call Mary ‘the Mother of the living’ and frequently claim: ‘Death through Eve, life through Mary.’”

Biblical theology sees certain figures, events, or institutions in the Old Testament prefiguring their fulfillment in the New Testament. Like a tapestry, the Old and New Testaments are interwoven and interconnected. You can’t pull one thread without affecting another. In this light, Eve represents the beginnings of humanity’s journey, marked by the promise of communion with God and the tragic consequences of sin. Her disobedience in the Garden of Eden ushered in the fall of humanity, bringing the stain of original sin and estranging mankind from God’s grace.

In stark contrast to Eve’s disobedience, we find the radical obedience and humility of Mary. Her resounding “yes” to the angel Gabriel’s announcement of God’s plan marks the beginning of a new chapter. Mary was the linchpin of salvation history. Everything depended on her willing participation. What if she rejected God’s plan as Eve did? Everything would be ruined. But God had prepared her for that moment.

Mary’s whole life was a continual yes to God. Mary’s greatness didn’t come from her Immaculate Conception and plenitude of grace, although that undoubtedly helped. It was what she did with that grace that made her great. She believed in the promises of the Lord and uncompromisingly agreed to his plan for her. In her willingness to be the handmaid of the Lord, Mary countered Eve and became the vessel through which the promised Redeemer entered the world, inaugurating countless blessings.

In the Catholic theological tradition, the figure of Mary, the New Eve, serves as a powerful symbol. Through her obedience, Mary reversed the disobedience of Eve, ushering in a new era of grace and reconciliation through her son, Jesus Christ. But what lesson does Mary, the New Eve, inspire? Eve chose to reject God’s plan for her, bringing destruction and ruin. It’s often the case that following impulses we know are selfish and contrary to God results in the same for us. We should all be inspired to emulate and strive for Mary’s unwavering faithfulness and devotion to God’s will.

‘The knot of Eve’s disobedience was untied by Mary’s obedience: what the virgin Eve bound through her disbelief, Mary loosened by her faith.’ 11

Getty Images/wirakorn

The Tree of Death and of Life, The Salzburg Missal (15th century), by Ulrich Schreier and Berthold Furtmeyr.

Berthold Furtmeyr, Miniaturmaler des 15. Jahrhunderts, Public domain

Stay

WITHIN THE victory

Keeping the Easter season alive in your home, work and prayer life

By Sara Kraft | Photos by Ashlie Hand

“Easter is the most important feast in the liturgical year. It’s so much more than just a day,” explains Rebecca Fangman, member of Old St. Patrick’s Oratory. “I don’t want my kids to miss the foundation of Easter in our Catholic Faith.”

Each family is a domestic church, or a “little church” in which Jesus is invited to dwell as the family lives out the beliefs we profess each Sunday. As a little church, we should be in tune with the rhythm of the big church — both fasting and feasting within the liturgical seasons.

Many of us concentrate so much on living the liturgical season of Lent — the prayer, penance and almsgiving — that we miss celebrating the most important part — the victory of Christ’s resurrection. Jesus died and rose from the dead in order to unite us with his Father. It is crucial that we live the Easter season intentionally for all 50 days in order to reap the full spiritual benefits of Easter. We’ve just spent 40 days concentrating on Christ’s suffering and death. It’s time to celebrate his victory over death — the foundation of our

Faith and the reason for our hope. After the suffering of Lent, it’s time to party in Easter!

Here we will explore some ways Catholics in our diocese keep the Easter season alive throughout all 50 days in their homes, prayer life and work.

“After being knee deep in the darkness for a while, it’s nice to stay within the victory for a bit,” explains Katherine Swing, member of St. James Parish in St. Joseph. Katherine recommends keeping the Easter celebration going as long as possible, including taking the Octave of Easter (the eight-day period beginning on Easter Sunday, March 30 through Divine Mercy Sunday, April 7) off from work or school if possible.

After being knee deep in the darkness for a while, it’s nice to stay within the victory for a bit.”

— KATHERINE SWING

Katherine Swing, wife and mom of four, recommends taking the Octave of Easter (March 30 - April 7 this year) to do special Easter-centered activities like egg hunts, dying eggs or coloring sheets with Easter themes.

Celebrate the feasts of the Easter season

Easter Monday on April 1 is traditionally seen as a day to renew baptismal promises. Katherine believes fun activities are great teaching tools for children. Activities such as going for a swim or having a water fight (if the weather cooperates) can create strong associations with Baptism for our children.

The Octave of Easter is also a great time to have Easter egg hunts and dye Easter eggs. Children love continuing to hide plastic Easter eggs for their siblings to find. “It’s most important to save the big feast for Easter itself,” added Rebecca.

“Make sure Easter doesn’t get scheduled on Holy Saturday.”

The Fangmans also make Friday in the Octave of Easter (this year on Friday, April 5) an extra special meal to heighten the contrast between Good Friday and the Fridays of Lent with the triumph of the Easter season.

The Church also offers us the great feast of Divine Mercy Sunday on Sunday, April 7. Praying the Chaplet of Divine Mercy throughout the Easter Octave is associated with an

It’s important to know that Jesus has conquered. No matter what happens, Jesus has won. That is the joy celebrated through Easter.”

— TOMMY BENES

indulgence. An indulgence is the remission of the temporal punishment due to sins that have already been forgiven, and it can be plenary or partial. Ice cream sundaes with blue and red fruit or syrup reminds us of the feast. Additionally, a short pilgrimage to the Divine Mercy Park, 3848 N. Forest Ave. in Kansas City, home to the nation’s largest Divine Mercy statue, can emphasize the feast. Read more about this special feast day on pg. 18.

For Ascension Thursday, making a Dutch baby is a fun treat. The sides of this special pancake rise up (just as Jesus rose from the dead).

Throughout the season

Throughout the Easter season, the Fangmans prime their environment for prayer. A prime is a visual trigger used to remind one of something specific (such as the joy of Christ’s resurrection). They keep fresh flowers in the home and put up a banner along with other Easter decor. They transform the house after the children go to bed on Holy Saturday. “It’s almost like Christmas morning when the kids wake up to the house totally transformed,” Rebecca added.

In addition to keeping fresh flowers in the house the entire Easter season, displaying an Easter candle at home (either made or purchased) and Easter decorations can be a visible example of the victory of Easter. At work, keeping a small Easter decoration or fresh flowers can be a helpful prime to remember the Easter season. Sharing an Easter dessert with colleagues can be a great way to share the joy of Easter. No one ever turns down cupcakes.

Visiting a cemetery and praying for the dead is both a corporal work of mercy and a way to remember Christ’s victory over death. During the shutdowns in 2020, one family adopted a cemetery, visited it regularly and prayed for the dead. Their children still pray for “their souls” whenever they drive past that cemetery.

Flower illustrations: Getty Images/rraya

Rebecca Fangman likes to keep fresh flowers in the home and put up a banner along with other Easter decor as a visual reminder of Christ’s resurrection. Her children, Luke and Clare, like to help by picking out a bouquet of fresh flowers for their grandmother, too.

Prayer

Throughout the Easter season, “It’s important to pray more to have a relationship with Christ,” explained Tommy Benes, member of St. Gregory Barbarigo Parish in Maryville. “During Lent, you just got rid of a bunch of gunk. Enjoy living in a relationship with God.”

Continuing the spiritual practices one adopted during Lent is helpful to that relationship. Perhaps that is continuing weekly adoration or daily Mass, reflecting on the daily Mass readings or otherwise frequenting the sacraments. Praying the glorious mysteries of the Rosary, instead of the prescribed mysteries of the day, is another way to bask in Christ’s victory.

Tommy also recommends praying each morning and specifically asking God who he is calling you to share the joy of Easter with that day, at work, school or in your community. Just as we share the joy of the Chiefs winning the Super Bowl with all of our friends, we should also share with our friends that Christ rose from the dead in order to unite us with his Father. “It’s important to know that Jesus has conquered,” states Tommy. “No matter what happens, Jesus has won. That is the joy celebrated through Easter.”

Cut out and display on your refrigerator or other central location in your home as a reminder to keep the Easter season alive.

Tommy and Halle Benes, FOCUS Missionaries assigned to Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, and new parents to their son, Peter, try to continue Lenten spiritual practices throughout the Easter season.

Motherhood within the sanctity of marriage

With Mothers’ Day approaching, I have been thinking about the gift mothers are to us all and the gift that motherhood has been in my life. We mothers often, even daily, feel that we don’t have enough to meet the needs of the souls God has gifted us with. It is this need, this inadequacy, that makes motherhood what it is: our vocation and therefore our path to heaven.

Cathy Durando

is a homeschooling mother of 10 who is married to her best friend and works part-time as a counselor at the Center for Healing. Cathy and her husband Dino are parishioners of St. Ann Parish in Plattsburg.

God has ordained that as spouses our love for one another has a natural result, and that natural result has supernatural consequences. Our motherhood means that we are now the primary source of nurturance and protection for another human being. From the morning sickness to the late night diaper changes to the struggles with discipline, we are faced with our own weaknesses. Perhaps we did not receive adequate mothering ourselves, or perhaps we simply come to the end of our strength and understanding. Eventually, our exhaustion leads us to lean on the husband that God gave us. Sometimes, we have to lean on them more than what we (or they) might be comfortable with, but struggling together to meet the needs of that precious baby is both difficult and rewarding in ways that we often miss in the midst of the struggle.

I remember thinking that I had never really known my husband before I saw

him caring for our newborn daughter. I had no idea of the gentleness, patience and tenderness he had in reserve just for her. I fell in love with him again as I watched the same surprising tenderness with each new baby. When I come to the limits of my own strength or patience, I have learned that (most of the time) he has more when I’ve run out, and I try to return the favor. The fact is that because of our children, I need him in ways that I didn’t before and I can count on him in ways that I couldn’t have anticipated.

I suppose it should come as no surprise that realistically even with two of us our resources are finite. In fact, I would say that trying to be a mother and father apart from our extended community of family and friends would have been unthinkable. God is always driving us through our need into the loving arms of those around us.

Before and beyond my need for my husband or my community, motherhood has taught me what it means to need God. Over and over, I have had reason to fall to my knees and beg him to do for me what I could not manage to do for myself. Over and over I have decided that I simply could not go on the way it was most comfortable. For the good of my family, I simply had to make some change or another to my schedule, my priority list or my own way of doing things, and I had to ask God to assist me in making those changes for the better. As God stepped in and made a way for me, I have been delighted to see how he never leaves me, no matter how hard the problems have been, or how begrudging my cooperation with his will. This is the unsung gift of motherhood: God allows us to know our weakness and inadequacy and to watch as he makes something beautiful out of all our best efforts. These beautiful souls that I call my husband and children have been his gifts, and through these gifts he is preparing me for the beauties of heaven.

As he was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen. He said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” At once, they left their nets and followed him. Matthew 4:18-20

Conception Seminary College forms seminarians in the philosophical tradition of the Roman Catholic Church. Through academic, spiritual, pastoral, and human formation, we accompany men as they listen for God’s Voice, discern their priestly vocation, and become missionary disciples. Following the model of Jesus Christ, formation and conversion of heart are nurtured in the intimacy of community and deepened by the discipline of prayer in the Benedictine tradition.

DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY promises extraordinary grace

By Allison Vrooman

Photos by Office of Communications Staff

The first Sunday following Easter, Divine Mercy Sunday, is a feast day dedicated to the great love and mercy that Jesus has for his people. This feast day is special to Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church in Kansas City.

In the early 1900s, Jesus appeared many times to a Polish nun, now known as Saint Faustina, asking her to spread the message of Divine Mercy and highlighting five elements of devotion.

Jesus established the first Sunday following Easter as the feast of Divine Mercy. He asked Saint Faustina to have an image of Divine Mercy painted. He requested a novena to Divine Mercy, which runs from Good Friday to Divine Mercy Sunday. He revealed the powerful prayer of the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. He asked that everyone uphold the Hour of Mercy, the three o’clock hour, with particular focus on his suffering and death.

The Lord also promised that there would be an opportunity to receive an extraordinary grace on the feast day. Anyone who goes to confession leading up to Divine Mercy Sunday and receives the Eucharist on Divine Mercy Sunday

with the desire to receive this extraordinary grace will receive it.

When one receives this grace, not only will all their sins be forgiven, but also the temporal punishment due to sin will be wiped away. Temporal punishment refers to the scars left on one’s soul after the guilt of sin has been forgiven in confession. This must be atoned for, making a soul completely spotless and able to go to Heaven.

“The reason that the Divine Mercy Sunday grace is so extraordinary,” shares Father Andrew Mattingly, pastor at Our Lady of Good Counsel, “is that it does the same thing as an indulgence, but it doesn’t have the requirement of total and complete detachment from the desire to commit even small sins.”

In the 1990s, Monsignor William Blacet, then current pastor, dove into Divine Mercy, fostering a great devotion at the parish. In 2005, Bishop Finn raised the status of Our Lady of Good Counsel, declaring the parish a diocesan shrine — The Shrine to Divine Mercy and Saint Faustina.

“Having a shrine to Divine Mercy and Saint Faustina is a great gift to our diocese,” says Bishop Johnston, “and I am certain, a source of many graces. It is a place set apart for not only the devotion, but a central place where Catholics from the area know that the Sacrament of Reconciliation is offered often and at times that are convenient for many.”

Bishop Johnston will be celebrating Divine Mercy Sunday Mass at Our Lady of Good Counsel on April 7 at 9 a.m.

Easter Gente: Holy Week in the Hispanic/ Latino Diaspora

Every Catholic of any ethnicity cherishes Easter. Leaving behind the season of penitence is second only to the resurrection of our Lord. Semana Santa, or Holy Week, is filled with wonderful religious traditions and customs in Latin America. But we can access them right here in Kansas City. Our Hispanic/Latino diversity is experienced in our Mexican, Central American and South American families.

Let’s take a look at how different countries in Latin America celebrate Easter through their food and customs.

Mexican Easter traditions

During the Passion of Christ, large processions of penitents can be seen in various Mexican cities. These processions include reenactments of the Last Supper and the crucifixion, portraying the profound sacrifice and love of Jesus. In Iztapalapa, a district south of Mexico City, one of the world’s largest and most renowned Easter celebrations takes place, involving the entire community in a theatrical representation of the biblical events.

Colombia’s magnificent Easter processions

In Colombia, the city of Popayán is renowned for its extraordinary Easter processions, which have been recognized as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. From Holy Tuesday to Holy Saturday, the streets of Popayán come alive with five processions that traverse the city center.

These processions feature pasos, which are beautifully adorned statues representing crucial moments in the Passion of Christ. Flowers and wooden decorations enhance the visual splendor of these religious symbols. The processions are accompanied by solemn music, creating a deeply moving atmosphere of devotion and reverence.

Honduras’ captivating Comayagua carpets

In Honduras, during Holy Week one of the most cherished traditions is the creation of Comayagua carpets. These exquisite carpets capture the essence of tradition, spirituality and

profound reflection, adorning the streets with their vibrant colors and intricate designs. Crafted with meticulous care using colored sand, chalk, rice and delicate flower petals, these remarkable works of art offer a truly immersive experience, providing a glimpse into the rich cultural heritage of Holy Week in Honduras.

Traditional foods and delicacies of Easter

No Easter celebration is complete without an array of mouthwatering dishes that reflect the culinary traditions of each Latin American country. Let’s explore some of the delectable treats enjoyed during Holy Week and Easter.

Ecuador’s fanesca : A symbol of Easter

In Ecuador, the traditional dish of Holy Week is fanesca, a rich and flavorful soup that symbolizes the diversity of the country’s regions. Fanesca is made with a variety of vegetables, codfish and grains, creating a harmonious blend of flavors. It is typically served with molo, a mashed potato-like dish, and dulce de higos (candied figs). The preparation of fanesca is a labor of love, with families coming together to create this culinary masterpiece.

Paraguay’s delightful chipa

In Paraguay, chipa takes center stage during Holy Week. These cheese rolls are made with cassava starch, milk, eggs, hard cheese, lard and salt. The result is a delightful, slightly chewy bread with a cheesy and savory flavor. Chipa is enjoyed by families as a staple of Easter meals, representing a fusion of indigenous and Spanish culinary influences.

Mexico’s delicious capirotada

In Mexico, traditional dishes like tortas de camarón con nopales (shrimp and cactus fritters) are a staple! However, served on Good Friday, capirotada de vigilia is a rich, cinnamon-infused sweet bread pudding that features layers of nuts, cheese and dried fruit. It is not to be missed!

Easter for all Catholics is a time for celebration and song. For Hispanic/Latinos it is a reminder of what Pope Saint John Paul II said, “We are an Easter gente and aleluya is our cancion!”

By Leyden Rovelo-Krull Director of the

Office of Hispanic Ministry John Asselin/Flickr/ CC BY-SA 2.0

Getty Images/Wirestock

Getty Images/ribeirorocha

GENERATIONS

OF FAITH

Brooke Chirpich

The work of Catholic Charities is a tangible response to the Gospel call to care for the least among us. Involving our youth in this response is a wonderful way to promote a spirit of volunteerism and leadership for our future leaders of the Catholic Church.

“Brooke and Cullen did a fabulous job on a project that will benefit Catholic Charities in serving our clients,” said Luther Solomon, Catholic Charities director of operations. “Service to other people is what Scouting is all about and we’re proud these young people chose Catholic Charities to give back to.”

Food drives are also a wonderful way for young people to get involved. Various high schools frequently organize food drives to stock our pantries at the Serve & Lift Center. We even had a young man, Travis Solomon, who organized a food drive within his neighborhood to benefit Catholic Charities.

A few years ago, a disabled senior adult came to Catholic Charities with a pressing concern: he had been cited by the city and threatened with thousands of dollars in fines due to people dumping huge amounts of trash and construction lumber on his vacant lot in Kansas City. Rockhurst High School students were able to clean up the lot, to the great relief of its owner.

By Katie Pike

When it came time to start on their final Eagle Scout project, Brooke Chirpich and Cullen McCaffery chose Catholic Charities — an organization in which both their mothers worked. One of the most pressing needs was installing foldable stainless-steel shelving in the mobile food and hygiene distribution vans. Completing the project in October 2022, Brooke was instrumental in the design, procuring the shelving system, raising funds and leading her troop in installing the shelves. Cullen followed the same method laid out by Brooke the following year, completing the installation in another distribution van in December 2023.

Catholic Charities is excited to embark on an additional area to develop our youth into future Catholic leaders through the Our Lady of Hope Society, which will honor its first members at this year’s Celebration of Hope Ball on Saturday, April 27. The newly created Our Lady of Hope Society will recognize exemplary high school juniors and seniors who have demonstrated a commitment to acts of charity and living out their Catholic Faith. Following a formal presentation to the community, the hope is that these students, blanketed with the protection of the Blessed Mother, will be guided through the chapters of their lives that lie ahead.

For more than 2,000 years, generations have passed on to the next their devotion to the Faith. By rooting our young people in the foundations of Catholicism, we see their faith flourish.

“Volunteering can open your mind, your heart, your hands to helping your community and building a better future for all,” said Linda Hopkins, Catholic Charities volunteer manager. “It is wonderful to see young people using their talents for good.”

Volunteering can open your mind, your heart, your hands to helping your community and building a better future for all. It is wonderful to see young people using their talents for good.”

— Linda Hopkins, Catholic Charities Volunteer Manager

Travis Solomon

Cullen McCaffrey and the troop

‘BOAST IN OUR AFFLICTIONS’

My mother taught me to love sunsets.

We’ve watched hundreds together in my lifetime. They are all beautiful but vary greatly: cloudy; clear; red; pink; purple; gold; full of darkness; or too bright to watch until the sun is almost gone.

By Karen Ridder

Mom believes a sunset, like life, is more beautiful with clouds in it. I’m pretty sure that’s why she watches them. The lesson of the clouds is that difficulties in life can turn into a beautiful part of the story for those who wait, watch, and look for the light.

I know she’s right, but it is a hard truth to weave into my own parenting.

No mom wants their child to struggle. We all want them to have the best grades, the most friends, the cutest figures — cloudless skies. That IS beautiful. It is worthy. It is right. But it’s not complete either.

The fifth chapter of the Book of

Romans confirms clouds in life are a gift from God. It tells us to, “Boast in our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance, and endurance produces character and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame.”

The command to “Boast in our afflictions” is tough. What does it even mean? It certainly doesn’t mean we should say, “Look at me, my children have it harder than yours. My life is difficult. Poor me.” No. That’s not it. It’s more like finding a way to understand how your struggles can end you up in a good place. They can make you better. They can draw you closer to God. They can bend the light into something more beautiful than it was before.

At times, the storms can become so big they block out all the light. Grey days don’t seem to produce a sunset at all. Of course, the sun is still there. The earth is still turning around. It’s just our perspective that’s the problem.

As a daughter, I find my mother

continues to remind me at my low moments the clouds make life more beautiful. But all too often I don’t want to hear it. I want clearer skies. I question if she’s taking her own advice. I’m tired.

As a mother though, I also can’t seem to keep myself from pouring this truth into my kids. I see them discouraged and I want to say, “You are just fine. This is but a moment. You’re going to be OK.”

I sound like my mother.

It’s hard to win because as much as we can all recognize clouds make the sunsetting sky more beautiful none of us want them in our lives. But the promise of Romans for those who embrace affliction is endurance, character and hope — and those are all very beautiful things.

Just like the sunset clouds, they add color. They add depth. They tell the story. So, the next time it all seems like too much, look to the skies, pause a moment and remember the story God writes in every sunset.

The lesson of the clouds is that difficulties in life can turn into a beautiful part of the story for those who wait, watch, and look for the light.”

Photo by Karen Ridder

Eucharistic love

Encounter the Lord

By Shelby Gambino

On paper, Jordan Wright and Dave Hess couldn’t seem more different. Jordan is an occupational therapist from Jefferson City and a parishioner at Our Lady of Good Counsel. Dave, a software engineer born and raised in Topeka, calls the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception home. But every other month, they come together, united by a shared love: Christ in the Eucharist.

Jordan and Dave are leaders for KC Underground, an evening of Eucharistic adoration, live music and Confession by City on a Hill, Kansas City’s young adult Catholic community. Together, they help lead a group of volunteers in creating an event where young adults can encounter the Lord at different parishes across the metro.

We sat down with Jordan and Dave to talk about all things Eucharistic revival, from their work in City on a Hill to their excitement for Behold KC and more.

Eucharistic love

Jordan and Dave’s involvement with City on a Hill stems from their Eucharistic encounters. Jordan reflects, “In college, I was blessed to be a part of a friend group that was so in love with Christ. When we hung out, we would spend 5 to 10 minutes in the chapel before anything else. It reached a point where I would notice a real difference in my disposition when I was in his Eucharistic Presence. It became so clear to me how much, in my weakness and humanity, I needed him.”

Dave shares, “Adoration is always calming for me — it provides real time with God in the most tangible way. I always went to KC Underground as just an attendee, so it felt like a no-brainer when they asked me to help with hospitality at the event.”

KC Underground

When asked about his favorite part of KC Underground, Dave offers, “The bar is super low; anyone can go, and everyone is welcome. You can go, sit quietly and just be in the presence of the Eucharist.” Jordan agrees, “KC Underground has so much beauty — there truly is something for everyone, introverts and extroverts alike.”

KC Underground travels to different parishes across the metro. To view the complete list of upcoming events for 2024, including a special June event in conjunction with the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage, visit kansascityonahill.org/kc-underground

Eucharistic Revival

This summer is exciting for the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, as several events converge on Kansas City, all focusing on reviving love for Christ in the Eucharist, from KC Underground, which will play host to the pilgrims traveling with the National Eucharistic Congress, to BEHOLD KC, the Saturday, May 4, evening of Eucharistic celebration including Confession, Mass and adoration on an impressive scale — on the north lawn at the National WWI Memorial.

Dave, a Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception Schola Cantorum member, will be singing at BEHOLD KC. When asked what he’s most excited about, he replies “I’m so excited for BEHOLD KC, just to see the reaction from the city as thousands of Catholics worship the Lord right in the middle of downtown.”

Jordan adds, “It honestly makes me weep to think about it. What an incredible witness to the love of Jesus Christ in this area, and what love his people have for him to witness to him so publicly.”

this historic event.

With all the excitement of these upcoming celebrations, Jordan offers practical advice for anyone looking to go deeper with the Eucharist. “I struggle with attention, like many people — just start with 5 minutes, sitting with Jesus in a chapel. Even set a timer. As our pastor says, the ‘lover wants to be with the beloved.’ No matter how small, take the time you have and go be with him.”

2024 KC Underground Events

• April 18: St. Agnes, Roeland Park, KS

• June 29: TBA

• Aug. 29: Our Lady of Perpetual Help (Redemptorist), Kansas City, MO

• Oct. 24: Holy Spirit, Overland Park, KS

Photo by Ashlie Hand

The Anguish of a Black Soul

In Psalm 13, the Spirit pierces the soul of David, a man favored by God because of his faithfulness and desire to follow God’s statutes. Nevertheless he suffers sorrow and grief in his heart because he dreads the power of his enemies and God’s abandonment.

At the conclusion of his lament, David asks for joy in his heart, and submits his trust to the mercy of God. In these six short verses, we come to know David as “every man” who suffers desolation but seeks consolation from the Lord.

The poem, “The Anguish of a Black Soul,” is the legendary characterization of Elijah Daniel Parrish, a Black man lost in the tribulations of his life. The man is fictional, but his laments are materially real. Parrish speaks the mind and soul of many Black men.

Deacon Ken Greene is husband to Carolyn; father to Wyvonne, Tonya and Dominick; grandfather to five; and great-grandfather to nine. Deacon Greene is the RCIA coordinator for St. Monica Parish.

“The Anguish of a Black Soul”

The Midrash of Elijah Daniel Parrish

How long, O Lord? How long!

How long must we keep dangling in the morass of our afflictions, pain, and sorrow?

The scourge of segregation, discrimination, police brutality, hatred, and racism burn holes in our soul and tortures our mind.

How long, O Lord? How long!

How long must we bear the burden of our enemy’s anger, or the sting of his assaults?

When will the leaders of Church and Society

Lift their knee from the neck of our trampled soul?

How long, O Lord? How long!

Why are we considered the “least among us?”

What is the resistance that compels our enemy

To reject the notion that our lives and our humanity must be valued?

How long, O Lord? How long!

Why did the cruel journey of the Middle Passage

Signal the loss of our freedoms in Africa, But our enslavement and derision in America? Our enemy offered us assimilation and integration, but not inclusion.

We are denied access to the table of power And influence, especially in matters impacting Our station in life.

How long, O Lord? How long!

We stand at the back door

With hat in our hand, Waiting because no one grants us access

To the portal of opportunity

That leads to success.

Swing back the doors of history;

Lift the windows of shame!

Pull back the flaps of our tents

That continually oppress and suppress life in our central cities.

How long, O Lord? How long!

Guide us down the right paths, Lord.

Even though they are narrow, And sometimes difficult, Still, they lead us to your heavenly Kingdom.

Give us an escape from the dark clouds

And deep valleys of our existence.

Allow us access to the mountaintop

Where your Love and Mercy are eternal.

How long. O Lord? How long!

The expressions of Black Catholic spirituality can be found in our anamnesis, remembering so we will not forget, and in our appraisal of the present. We continually assess our spiritual condition, seeking to discern who we are, and Whose we are.

The human condition trembles with fear and apprehension, even though Wisdom reveals that God is good … all the time, and all the time … God is good!

Sometimes, we need to confirm and verify!

image: Getty Images/AbimelecOlan; Background image: Getty Images/Andy445

black catholic spirituality

Don Williams, a revered member of St. Monica Catholic Church’s Hospitality Ministry, radiating the strength, pride and heritage of community during the annual Black History Month Mass.

Photo by Kendra Kemp McGee

Gente de Pascua: Semana Santa en la diáspora hispana/latina

Todo católico de cualquier etnia aprecia la Pascua. Dejar atrás el tiempo de penitencia es superado sólo por la resurrección de Nuestro Señor. La Semana Santa está llena de maravillosas tradiciones y costumbres religiosas en América Latina que podemos acceder aquí en Kansas City. Nuestra diversidad hispana/ latina se experimenta en nuestras familias mexicanas, centroamericanas y sudamericanas.

¡Veamos cómo diferentes países de América Latina celebran la Pascua a través de su comida y costumbres!

Tradiciones de Pascua Mexicanas

Durante la Pasión de Cristo se pueden observar grandes procesiones de penitentes en varias ciudades mexicanas. Estas procesiones incluyen recreaciones de la Última Cena y la Crucifixión, que retratan el profundo sacrificio y amor de Jesús. En Iztapalapa, distrito al sur de la Ciudad de México, se lleva a cabo una de las celebraciones de Semana Santa más grandes y reconocidas del mundo, involucrando a toda la comunidad en una representación teatral de los hechos bíblicos.

Comidas Tradicionales y Delicias de Semana Santa

Ninguna celebración de Pascua está completa sin una variedad de deliciosos platos que reflejan las tradiciones culinarias de cada país latinoamericano. Exploremos algunas de las delicias que se disfrutan durante la Semana Santa y la Pascua.

Fanesca de Ecuador: un símbolo de la Pascua

En Ecuador, el plato tradicional de Semana Santa es la fanesca, una rica y sabrosa sopa que simboliza la diversidad de las regiones del país. La fanesca se elabora con una variedad de verduras, bacalao y cereales, creando una mezcla armoniosa de sabores. Por lo general, se sirve con “molo”, un plato parecido a puré de papa, y dulce de higos. La preparación de fanesca es un trabajo de amor, en el que las familias se unen para crear esta obra maestra culinaria.

La Exquisita Chipa de Paraguay

En Paraguay, la chipa cobra protagonismo durante la Semana Santa. Estos rollitos de queso se elaboran con almidón de yuca, leche, huevos, queso duro, manteca de cerdo y sal. El resultado es un pan delicioso, ligeramente masticable, con un sabor sabroso y a queso. Las familias disfrutan de la chipa como alimento básico de las comidas de Semana Santa, lo que representa una fusión de influencias culinarias indígenas y españolas.

Las magníficas procesiones de Semana Santa de Colombia

En Colombia, la ciudad de Popayán es conocida por sus extraordinarias procesiones de Semana Santa, reconocidas como Patrimonio Cultural Inmaterial de la Humanidad por la UNESCO. Del Martes Santo al Sábado Santo, las calles de Popayán cobran vida con cinco procesiones que recorren el centro de la ciudad.

Estas procesiones destacan estatuas bellamente adornadas representando momentos cruciales de la Pasión de Cristo. Flores y adornos de madera realzan el esplendor visual de estos símbolos religiosos. Las procesiones van acompañadas de música solemne, creando una atmósfera profundamente conmovedora de devoción y reverencia.

Las cautivadoras alfombras de Comayagua en Honduras

En Honduras, durante la Semana Santa una de las tradiciones más apreciadas es la creación de alfombras de Comayagua. Estas exquisitas alfombras capturan la esencia de la tradición, la espiritualidad y la reflexión profunda, adornando las calles con sus colores vibrantes y diseños intrincados. Elaboradas con meticuloso cuidado utilizando arena de colores, tiza, arroz y delicados pétalos de flores, estas notables obras de arte ofrecen una experiencia verdaderamente inmersiva, brindando una visión del rico patrimonio cultural de la Semana Santa en Honduras.

La deliciosa capirotada de México

En México, los platos tradicionales como las tortas de camarón con nopales son un alimento básico. Sin embargo, la Capirotada de Vigilia, que se sirve el Viernes Santo, es un rico pudín de pan dulce con infusión de canela que presenta capas de nueces, queso y frutos secos. ¡No te lo puedes perder!

¡La Pascua para todos los católicos es un tiempo de celebración y canto! Para los hispanos/latinos es un recordatorio de lo que dijo el Papa San Juan Pablo II: “¡Somos una gente de Pascua y aleluya es nuestra canción!”

Por Leyden RoveloKrull

John Asselin/Flickr/Creative Commons

Getty Images/ribeirorocha

UNA INVITACIÓN A

Del Obispo

El obispo James V. Johnston, Jr. es el séptimo obispode la Diócesis de Kansas City-St. Joseph

BEHOLD (CONTEMPLAR)

La palabra, contemplar, aparece una docena de veces en los cuatro Evangelios, pero la que más recordamos se encuentra en el primer capítulo del Evangelio según San Juan, cuando San Juan Bautista vio a Jesús acercándose a él, y dijo, “Contemplen al Cordero de Dios que quita el pecado del mundo” (Juan 1:29).

Este versículo se incluyó en la liturgia de la Eucaristía en la que tiene un significado adicional cuando escuchamos al sacerdote decirlo mientras levanta la ostia consagrada y la patena o el cáliz. Estas palabras producen una respuesta de fe Eucarística de nuestra parte, con otro versículo de la Sagrada Escritura, pronunciado por primera vez por el centurión romano al buscar la ayuda de Jesús para salvar a su sirviente, “Señor, no merezco que entres bajo mi techo, pero basta con que digas una sola palabra, y mi siervo quedará sano” (Mateo 8:8), se modificó ligeramente para aplicarlo a nosotros mismos y a la sanación de nuestras almas:

“Señor no soy digno de que entres en mi casa, pero una palabra tuya bastará para sanar mi alma”. Y así, a diferencia del centurión, ¡tenemos el privilegio de vivir la experiencia del Señor “entrando bajo nuestro techo” cuando lo recibimos en la Santa Comunión!

Entonces, es muy apropiado que el evento que se realizará la tarde del 4 de mayo de 2024 en el Liberty Memorial frente a Union Station en Kansas City, lleve el título: BEHOLD (CONTEMPLAR). La ubicación es un lugar de celebración de la comunidad, orgullo para la ciudad, y como lo experimentamos en febrero, un lugar donde se nos recordó nuestro mundo roto y nuestra desesperada necesidad de la misericordia y sanación de Dios. El 4 de mayo, tenemos una oportunidad para ir junto a nuestra comunidad de fe, como “una santa Iglesia católica y apostólica”, en colaboración con nuestros vecinos del otro lado de la frontera estatal, a la Arquidiócesis de Kansas City en Kansas, para celebrar una Misa publica seguida por un tiempo de adoración Eucarística, procesión y bendición. Muchas de las Misas de Vigilia del 4 de mayo en las parroquias del área inmediata a Kansas City serán canceladas de manera que nuestros sacerdotes y laicos puedan estar presentes en BEHOLD.

En este último año del Avivamiento Eucarístico en los Estados Unidos, nuestra celebración local servirá para revivir nuestro propio amor y asombro Eucarístico. Nuestro amor por la Misa y la Eucaristía es central para nuestra vida católica. Tan sencillo como que sin él no habría Iglesia, y no tendríamos vida. Esperamos que también sea una ocasión para atraer a una relación viva con Cristo a los que no están activos y a aquellos que todavía no creen.

Este evento se inspira en nuestros antepasados, que el 4 de mayo de 1941, llevaron a cabo un evento similar en el mismo lugar con el motivo del Primer

“Y yo estaré con ustedes todos los días, hasta el fin del mundo”

— Mateo 28:20

Congreso Eucarístico en Kansas City. Miles de personas se congregaron para “contemplar, al Cordero”, adorarlo y recibirlo. Esa generación, tal vez supo intuitivamente que estando al borde de una terrible Guerra Mundial necesitaría recurrir a Dios. Tengo la esperanza de que nuestra generación también vuelva su mirada a Jesucristo, quien permanece como la única esperanza del mundo, y quien se entrega completamente a sí mismo por nuestra vida y nuestra salvación.

De tal manera, considere esto como una invitación a ser parte de un momento histórico en la vida de nuestra Iglesia. Y lleve a su familia y amigos al evento BEHOLD. Incluyendo a aquellos que no son católicos.

Church of the Holy Martyrs

A new location for the New Year

Astanding-room-only Mass full of color, song and tradition marked a fresh start for Church of the Holy Martyrs Parish this year.

By Karen Ridder

Photos courtesy of Church of the Holy

Martyrs

The parish, which serves the Vietnamese community of the diocese, celebrated the Lunar New Year and the start of Spring as it does each year with a Tet Mass. This year, however, parishioners had a double celebration as they enjoyed the first Tet Mass at a new location in Kansas City.

In Vietnam, “Tet” refers to the festival of the Lunar New Year. It is the most culturally important celebration of the year. Tet in Vietnam often includes a week of activities to celebrate with family and friends.

The Holy Martyrs congregation uses the time to thank God together, remember the traditions of their homeland

This celebration is important at a particular level as they celebrate the New Year for the first time here, but it is also important at a large level as their new parish home will enable the church to grow and blossom even more.”

— Bishop Johnston

and have a large parish dinner. At this year’s celebration, many wore traditional formal outfits, a large choir celebrated with song and Lion dancers entertained. Bishop Johnston handed out red envelopes at the end of Mass to symbolize good tidings for the start of Spring.

Bishop Johnston officiated, offering a special blessing of the building during Mass to celebrate the congregation’s recent move from a location in midtown on the Paseo to a new location in Kansas City.

Church of the Holy Martyrs Parish relocated to the former St. Catherine of Siena (SCS) church building when SCS completed its mission as a parish in the spring of 2023 due to shifting demographics in the area.

Holy Martyrs Parish is a “personal” parish — meaning it serves a particular community rather than a geographic community. Bishop Johnston felt proximity of the former SCS buildings to the highway would make it easier for people

coming from a wider area to access. The move also provided a campus for the congregation in one place. The former Holy Martyrs Parish church location straddled two sides of The Paseo.

“They had kids crossing the street in traffic. So, this location just has a lot more room. It has a school building that’s fit for education, and it has a parking lot. So, you don’t have to cross any streets,” said Bishop Johnston.

Johnston says the New Year was a perfect time to mark a fresh beginning for the parish. He noted the much bigger church was packed for the Mass, and the larger gym location for the meal, also seemed to bring many people out to the celebration.

“This celebration is important at a particular level as they celebrate the New Year for the first time here, but it is also important at a large level as their new parish home will enable the church to grow and blossom even more,” said Bishop Johnston.

Giáo Xứ Các Thánh Tự Đạo Việt Nam

Năm Mới Vùng Đất Mới

Thánh lễ đầu năm mang đầy màu sắc, những bài thánh ca và các nghi lễ truyền thống đã đánh dấu một bước khởi đầu mới cho Giáo xứ Các Thánh Tử Đạo Việt Nam năm nay.

Giáo xứ phục vụ cộng đồng người Việt trong địa phận đã tổ chức mừng Tết Nguyên Đán và khai xuân như mọi năm bằng Thánh Lễ Tết (Tạ Ơn). Tuy nhiên, năm nay giáo dân được mừng 2 điều cùng một lúc: Tạ ơn và Mừng Tết đầu tiên trong địa điểm mới ở Grandview.

Ở Việt Nam, “Tết” là một lễ hội Tết Nguyên Đán. Đây là lễ hội văn hóa quan trọng nhất trong năm. Tết ở Việt Nam thường kéo dài một tuần và là dịp để mừng vui cùng gia đình và bạn bè.

Giáo dân của Giáo Xứ Các Thánh Tử Đạo Việt Nam dùng dịp này để cùng nhau tạ ơn Chúa, tưởng nhớ Tết truyền thống ở quê hương, và cùng nhau chia sẽ bữa ăn mừng xuân thật thịnh soạn. Cũng như Tết mỗi năm, có rất nhiều người mặc trang phục truyền thống, ca đoàn

hát thật sống sáng, và các em Thiếu Nhi Thánh Thể cũng giúp vui bằng trình diễn múa lân. Đức Giám Mục Johnston đã trao những phong bao lì xì màu đỏ vào cuối Thánh lễ để tượng trưng cho những may mắn của đầu xuân. Đức Giám mục Johnston đã chủ tế, ban phép lành đặc biệt cho Thánh Đường trong Thánh lễ kỷ niệm việc di chuyển gần đây của giáo xứ từ một địa điểm ở trung tâm thành phố Paseo đến một địa điểm mới ở Grandview.

Giáo xứ Các Thánh Tử Đạo Việt Nam đã chuyển đến khu vực nhà thờ Thánh Catherine of Siena (SCS) sau khi giáo xứ này đóng cửa bởi do tình trạng giáo dân không tăng trưởng.

Giáo xứ Thánh Tử Đạo Việt Nam là một giáo xứ “đặc biệt” - nghĩa là giáo xứ phục vụ một cộng đồng cụ thể hơn là một cộng đồng địa hình. Đức Giám Mục Johnston nhận xét khu vực mới này rất gần với các xa lộ; sẽ giúp những người ở những vùng lân cận đến nhà mới này dễ dàng hơn.

Đức Giám Mục Johnston cho biết “Khu vực này có khuôn viên rộng lớn với một trường học phù hợp cho việc giáo dục và có bãi đậu xe; tất cả cơ sở của giáo xứ đều ở một nơi, không như bên nhà thờ cũ ở đường Paseo; nhà thờ ở đường Paseo có hai ba con đường chung quanh, nên các em nhỏ băng qua đường rất nguy hiểm vì quá nhiều xe cộ.

Đức Giám Mục Johnston cho biết Năm Mới là thời điểm hoàn hảo để đánh dấu một khởi đầu mới cho giáo xứ. Ngài nhận thấy rằng nhà thờ này lớn hơn nhà thờ cũ nhiều nhưng cũng chật kín người đến tham dự Thánh lễ, và địa điểm nhà gym cũng lớn đủ cho mọi người cho dùng bữa, dường như dịp này cũng thu hút được thật nhiều người đến dự.

Việc cử hành này rất quan trọng ở một mức độ đặc biệt khi họ mừng Năm Mới lần đầu tiên ở đây, nhưng nó cũng quan trọng ở mức độ lớn hơn vì giáo xứ mới của họ sẽ giúp họ phát triển và thăng tiến hơn nữa”.

Đức Giám mục Johnston cho biết: “Việc cử hành này rất quan trọng ở một mức độ đặc biệt khi họ mừng Năm Mới lần đầu tiên ở đây, nhưng nó cũng quan trọng ở mức độ lớn hơn vì giáo xứ mới của họ sẽ giúp họ phát triển và thăng tiến hơn nữa”.

TO LIVE relying on God’s will

Growing up in Maysville, Missouri, Ethan Osborn attended the Baptist church with his parents and older sister. After graduating from Maysville’s public high school, he enrolled at UMKC, where he studied pharmacology, and eventually converted to Catholicism in 2012. His home parish is Our Lady of Guadalupe in St. Joseph, where he served his pastoral internship year.

By Marty Denzer

Ethan completed his doctorate in pharmacy at UMKC and worked as a hospital pharmacist for four years. During that time, “I began to seriously discern the priesthood, partly drawn by the satisfaction I got working, serving as a mentor and leader, but realizing a deeper desire to give of myself. When praying, my thoughts gravitated towards the priesthood and I felt excitement and peace imagining that life. Those factors propelled my journey into seminary, which I started in 2018 for the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau, where I was living at the time.”

Ethan completed pre-theology at St.

Meinrad Seminary in Indiana, then attended Mundelein Seminary in Chicago for a year. “During summer of 2021, I felt tugged to my home diocese, Kansas City-St. Joseph, and moved back,” he said. He attended Kenrick-Glennon Seminary in St. Louis, where he has been for the past three years.

Ethan remains impressed by the humility of men being formed for the priesthood; their genuine desire to conform their lives to Jesus; and the huge number of people, time and intensity formation involved. “It’s all necessary, because this is not a life to enter into lightly and it won’t be easy. God wants

freedom of heart for everyone, and this vocation is all gift. I am incredibly grateful that God has called me to be his priest, to serve and love his Church.”

Ethan hopes to be a priest who lives relying on God’s will.

“I want to be generous, a good Father and pastor. I want to be holy; to inspire holiness in all those whose priest I will be. I want to be given, I want to be Christ to others and I want others to come to meet Christ through me and be left with a deeper love for him once I’m gone. I want to be a priest of Jesus Christ.”

In prayer, he feels devoted to the Surrender Novena of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. His favorite Scripture verse, John 15:15-16, “No longer do I call you servants … but I have called you friends…You did not choose me … I chose you,” says it all.

Ethan Osborn will begin the next phase of his path to the priesthood when he is ordained to the transitional diaconate at the Cathedral of St. Joseph on May 18 at 10 a.m.

Photo by Paoletti Photography

Ethan Osborn (far right) participated in the priestly ordination of Benjamin Fenlon in December 2023. In May, he will be ordained as a transitional deacon.

By Marty Denzer

Photos by Paoletti Photography

Living in the light of the Good Shepherd

Deacon Sam Horan is soon to be ordained a priest in the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph. As he finishes his studies, he reflected on his journey thus far.

“The brotherhood present at both St. Gregory the Great and Kenrick-Glennon seminaries was very formative,” he said. “I have made many seminarian friends from all over the country, through healthy fraternal interaction.”

Deacon Sam Horan served his pastoral internship year at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in St. Joseph, working with and learning from the pastor, Father Christian Malewski. “I was amazed at the spirit of evangelization present there. The RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) for instance, was very focused on not just transmitting the faith but also establishing relationships with the aspiring Catholics. I would like to take that focus with me into the priesthood.”

While working with Father Malewski, Deacon Horan observed the priest “living in the light of the Good Shepherd.” What does that mean?

“Living in the light of the Good Shepherd” means being continuously conformed to Christ himself … the Good Shepherd who seeks what is best for his sheep. Part of this is stated in the Rite of Ordination, ‘conform your life to the mystery of the Lord’s cross’ ... giving oneself in charity, accepting the Lord’s desire in one’s life, including the crosses,” he explained.

His first Mass is currently planned to take place at Our Lady of Good Counsel, his home parish. “It will be an honor to celebrate Mass at the parish that nurtured me as a young boy,” he said.

He has taken Saint Francis de Sales as a personal patron. He was known as the “Gentleman Saint” because of his calm demeanor and confidence in God, enabling him to minister extremely effectively. Deacon Horan said he hopes to model this attitude of St. Francis de Sales.

He is “very excited to be approaching ordination. It simultaneously feels right yet overwhelming. I know that God has prepared me and will always help me, but I also know that I am imperfect and have much to learn.”

Deacon Sam Horan will be ordained to the priesthood at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on May 25 at 10 a.m. All are invited, and the Mass will be livestreamed from the Cathedral’s YouTube channel or at kcgolddome.org.

Deacon Sam Horan (far right) and Ethan Osborn (second row, right of Sam) approach important ordination ceremonies this May.

Deacon Sam Horan assists Bishop Johnston in preparing the altar for the Eucharistic sacrifice during the Mass of Priestly Ordination for Benjamin Fenlon in December 2023.

Did Mary suffer from LONELINESS?

POPE FRANCIS has focused our attention on one of his familiar themes — the problem of loneliness in our contemporary culture.

Sister Constance Veit is the communications director for the Little Sisters of the Poor in the United States and an occupational therapist.

The pope has written about this issue in his messages for the World Day of the Sick, for Lent and for this year’s World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly, to be celebrated on July 28, in conjunction with the feast day of Jesus’ grandparents, Ss. Joachim and Anne.

“It is not good that man should be alone,” he wrote for the World Day of the Sick, citing the Book of Genesis.

“From the beginning, God, who is love, created us for communion and endowed us with an innate capacity to enter into relationship with others. Our lives, reflecting in the image of the Trinity, are meant to attain fulfillment through a network of relationships, friendships and love, both given and received. We were created to be together, not alone.” Precisely because communion is so deeply rooted in the human heart, he wrote, the experience of abandonment, solitude, vulnerability and insecurity associated with serious illness can be frightening, painful and even inhuman.

In his Lenten message Pope Francis spoke of Lent as a time to pause in prayer and in the presence of a wounded brother or sister.

“Love of God and love of neighbor are one love,” he wrote. “Not to have

other gods is to pause in the presence of God beside the flesh of our neighbor.”

Prayer, almsgiving and fasting are not three unrelated acts, he said, but a single movement of openness and self-emptying, in which we cast out the idols and attachments that imprison us, enabling our atrophied and isolated hearts to be revived.

“In the presence of God, we become brothers and sisters, more sensitive to one another: in place of threats and enemies, we discover companions and fellow travelers. This is God’s dream, the promised land to which we journey once we have left our slavery behind.”

On the second day of Lent, the Vatican announced the theme for this year’s celebration of Grandparents and the Elderly.

Drawn from Psalm 71, the theme is “Do Not Cast Me Off in My Old Age.”

The Holy See Press Office announcement noted that in choosing this verse it was the Holy Father’s desire “to call attention to the fact that, sadly, loneliness is the bitter lot in life of many elderly persons, so often the victims of the throwaway culture.”

“By cherishing the charisms of grandparents and the elderly,” the press release reads, “and the contribution they make to the life of the church, the World Day seeks to support the efforts of every ecclesial community to forge bonds between the generations and to combat loneliness.”

During the first days of Lent, I’ve been following the traditional devotion of the seven sorrows of Mary and I’ve been

struck by how alone Mary must have felt in her sufferings.

Her vocation was so singular, and her life so unique, that no one with whom she shared her earthly journey could have fully understood her life experiences, no matter how empathetic they strove to be.

Consider how alone Mary must have felt after the angel’s announcement that she had been chosen from among all women to bear the Savior.

Or, how fearful she must have been as she and Joseph hastily packed up their belongings and their newborn baby to flee to Egypt.

Imagine Mary’s anxiety when her son was suddenly missing during their journey home from Jerusalem, how confused she must have been when her neighbors in Nazareth chased Jesus out of the synagogue and tried to throw him off a cliff, how sorrowful and lonely she must have felt after the death of her husband, Joseph, and then how lonely she must have been when her Son had left home to pursue his mission.

Mary’s vocation was so singular, and her life so unique, that no one with whom she shared her earthly journey could have fully understood her life experiences.”

Finally — although there are many other examples that could be cited — imagine Mary’s heart-wrenching sorrow and her sense of abandonment as her Son suffered a hideous death on a cross.

If you are experiencing loneliness or feel abandoned — no matter the cause — ask Our Lady to help you use your suffering to draw you closer to her Son, who suffered for love of us.

And if someone you know is experiencing pain or isolation, ask for the grace to know how to pause in the presence of this wounded brother or sister and to offer them the consolation of Christ who is always with us.

Our Lady of Sorrows, pray for us.

Getty Images/Jaap2

A form of prayer

By Allison Vrooman

“To me, it isn’t how you pray, it’s what you do. Good works are maybe the best form of prayer outside of the Mass.”

To Ken and Diane Hansen of Smithville, acts of charity are a form of prayer. Members of Good Shepherd Catholic Church for the past 40 years, the couple has given of their time and talents to their parish and community in many ways. Ken and Diane have been able to use their skills and experiences from previous professions and passions to guide them in their volunteering efforts.

Previously a teacher and librarian at a local school, Diane now fulfills that passion in generous ways. She volunteers at a thrift store multiple days a week, tending especially to the book section. She has also become friends with a young student as they meet to read together and share insights. Along with these, Diane proofreads her parish’s bulletin every week and has served as secretary for the Altar Society on and off for roughly 11 years.

Like his wife, Ken has a hand in many volunteering positions. After retiring in 2009, he began growing vegetables for a local Smithville restaurant, planting extras to make sure to not run out. Eventually, he started growing even more and donating the abundance of produce to the Bishop Sullivan Center food pantry in Kansas City.

“He always liked to garden, but he needed a purpose,” Diane added.

In 2023, Ken finally met his goal of growing and donating 2,000 pounds of vegetables. With great pride, he shared, “Even the neighbors are growing sweet potatoes because I ran out of room!”

Along with vegetable donations, Ken has spent 10 years volunteering at Camp Quality, gives his time to the Kauffman Center and is involved with Knights of Columbus, working

fish fries, blood drives and other events. In his parish, Ken plays guitar at Mass and has taught a book study during Lent.

The couple recalled a call to action given by Father Terrell Finnell, pastor of Good Shepherd Catholic Church, on the importance of not only serving your parish but also your surrounding communities. This message has continued to motivate Ken and Diane as they seek to do just as was advised.

When asked what encouragement they would tell others who are considering volunteering in any aspect, Ken gleefully exclaimed, “Well, why wouldn’t you?”

volunteer spotlight

Photo by Allison Vrooman

Father Donnelly Parish Hall on track for summer opening

Father Bernard Donnelly, a man possessed of visionary foresight, set in motion the growth of Catholicism in Kansas City and of the city itself.

While serving as pastor of St. Mary’s Parish in Independence, Father Donnelly traveled intermittently to “Kanzas” and foresaw “an immense city” there. In 1849, he switched parishes with Father Denis Kennedy, beginning three decades of service to what became, in 1853, Kansas City.

He was instrumental in the hiring of locals and 300 Irishmen to level the bluffs and begin building and paving roads.

Seeing Kansas City’s rapid growth, Father Donnelly began constructing a cathedral using bricks from his own brickyard. Completed by 1857, he named it the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, the dogma Pope Pius IX defined in 1854.

Father Donnelly died in 1880, but his legacy endures.

Pope Leo XIII established the Diocese

of Kansas City in 1880, naming St. Joseph diocesan Bishop John J. Hogan as bishop. Hogan chose Father Donnelly’s Cathedral as the mother church of the new diocese and laid the cornerstone for the present Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in 1882; then dedicated it in 1883.

Today, where Father Donnelly’s original cathedral stood, construction of the new Father Donnelly Parish Hall is nearing completion. The walls have risen and will soon be clad in limestone “to complement, do homage to and respect” the Cathedral’s limestone accents, Father Paul Turner, pastor, said.

The multi-purpose hall — offices, history displays and ballroom — will connect to the Cathedral’s east side by a second floor glass bridge.

Ed Blasco, building committee chair and capital campaign co-chair, said the 11th Street main entrance is between Broadway and the Cathedral. A corridor leads to parish and Morning Glory Emergency Assistance offices, and a stairway takes you to the second floor. From the bridge entrance on the hall’s west side, a right turn leads to the gift shop, and

opposite walls will house a display of diocesan history. Some displays will be permanent, some moveable.

Zachary Daughtrey, diocesan archivist and a member of the project’s Arts Committee, mentioned several artifacts being considered for permanent display, including Father Donnelly’s journal; wood from the original parsonage; and a recently donated gold-headed cane, bearing the engraved nameplate: “Very Reverend John J. Hogan, Bishop of Kansas City.”

The fully accessible south entrance opens onto the elevator. The parking lot will be landscaped and south windows offer beautiful views. A monochrome rose window, visible from Broadway, will be lit in color, depending on the liturgical season, Blasco said.

The second floor’s pre-event gathering space and ballroom will accommodate 425 people seated theater-style or 325 for seated dinners served from the catering kitchen.

“All is on track for a June blessing and opening,” Blasco said.

By Marty Denzer

Visit kcgolddome.org for event details and updates.

SFS Architecture

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