Catholic Key June/July 2022 by dkcsj

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kc sj ca thol i c.org J UN E/J ULY 2 02 2

FROM THE BISHOP Lessons from the playground P. 4

Ordination Meet our newest priest and deacons P. 10

HEALING Protecting God’s children P. 20

Preparing for Marriage in the Catholic Church binds couples to God

Missouri Rolls Out School Choice Scholarship Program

MISSOURI C AT H O L I C

CONFERENCE School choice advocates take note! The Missouri

Treasurer’s office is rolling out the new Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Accounts program, passed into law last year, that allows qualifying students to apply for a scholarship to attend a private school. Education scholarships like these have been a priority for school choice advocates for years, including the Missouri Catholic Conference, but passing such a bill in Missouri has proven elusive until last year. Learn more about this bill and what it means for Catholic and other private school students’ education scholarship possibilities in the latest MCC Messenger, accessible online at mocatholic.org – scan the QR code below to visit the link.

www.mocatholic.org

MCC FR OM T HE

Scan here to listen

CAPITOL The accompanying episode of MCC from the Capitol features guests Jeremy Lillig from Bright Futures and Nicolette Gibson from MOCape. Join along as we dive into the program, how it works, and what it means for your child. 2

Catholic Key • June/July 2022 • catholickey.org

Scan here to read

Come Home to Communion | One year later

Megan Marley

The diocese launched the “Come Home to Communion” campaign

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

in June 2021 as Bishop Johnston lifted the general dispensation from Sunday Mass. The goal was to en-

JUNE/JULY 2022 VOL. 2 | ISSUE 4

courage a return to pre-pandemic Mass attendance … and it’s working.

Bishop James V. Johnston, Jr. Publisher

Ashlie Hand Editor Megan Marley Assistant editor Jenny Pomicter Graphic designer To submit story ideas and news, send emails to marley@diocesekcsj.org

And marriage makes three

Jeremy Lillig

Ordaining men of faith |

COVER STORY

Growing God’s Family | A new day for our schools

Meet KCSJ’s newest priest

Bright Futures Fund was recently

and permanent deacons

approved for a minimum of $2.5

June is often considered the start of

Marty Denzer

million in tax credit scholarships

wedding season in the United States

Deacon Paul Sappington will be or-

for the 2022-2023 school year,

when mild temperatures and lush

dained into the priesthood on June

opening the door to Catholic ed-

natural environments set an idyllic

25, while 17 men will be ordained into

ucation for hundreds more students

backdrop for a wedding day. There’s

the permanent diaconate on June 18.

this fall.

Ashlie Hand

much more to marriage than the wedding day itself, though, as Jaellan and Veronica Stone learned through their

Healing Our Family | Protecting God’s children

The Feast of Corpus Christi | June 19

experience preparing for their wed-

Ashlie Hand

Marty Denzer

www.FAITHcatholic.com

ding nearly one year ago.

Don Stubbings and Sarah Larson

Also called the Solemnity of the

Catholic Key (ISSN 2769-2353, 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. ©2021 Catholic Key, Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph.

ON THE COVER: Jaellan and Veronica Stone were married last year at Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish in Kansas City. Photo by Jackie Marko

form the team responsible for Safe

Body and Blood of Christ, the Feast

On the Way | Lessons from

Environment training and compli-

of Corpus Christi is celebrated in

the playground

ance in the Diocese of Kansas City-

the United States on the Sunday

Bishop Johnston

St. Joseph, performing the crucial

following Trinity Sunday, which falls

There must be some givens —

role of abuse prevention for the

on June 19 this year.

accepted truths — or there is chaos,

Office of Child and Youth Protection.

disintegration and even war, within countries and within families.

Using Our Resources Wisely | Communication and collaboration

EN ESPAÑOL

To Serve and to Lift |

“Go out to the world”

with Catholic Charities Susan Walker

Bridget Locke

In the 27 counties of our diocese, an

The keys to constructing the church

average of 14 percent of residents

of the future are communication and

live in poverty, while thousands more

collaboration, working closely with

teeter on the brink each month.

experts and the diocesan Construc-

Catholic Charities of Kansas City

tion Management Office and Building

St. Joseph is charged with serving

Commission to ensure project success.

all of them.

M e gan M a r ley

Ashlie Hand

En Camino | Lecciones del Patio de Recreo Obispo Johnston

Creciendo la familia de Dios | Un nuevo día para nuestras

escuelas | Jeremy Lillig

¿Es el matrimonio algo anticuado? | Julio Lara

Ma rt y Den z e r

J e re my Lillig

Susan Wa l k e r

B r i dg e t Lo c k e loves God and

is a writer,

leads the

is long-time writer

leads the Office

leads the Outreach and

photographer,

Office of

in residence for the

of Stewardship

Engagement team at

people. Learn

videographer and

Communications

Catholic Key. Her

and Development

Catholic Charities KCSJ,

more about her

media geek for the

for the Diocese

many years of work

for the Diocese

working to Outpace

life and work at

Diocese of Kansas

of Kansas City-

can be found on

of Kansas City-

Poverty throughout our

bnlcomms.com.

City-St. Joseph.

St. Joseph.

catholickey.org.

St. Joseph.

27 counties.

on t he way

L E SSONS

from the

PLAYGROUND

AS A CHILD, I looked forward to recess at my Catholic school. There, on the playground, I was introduced to new games by teachers and other children. When a new game was introduced, the first step for all who wanted to play was to learn the rules of the game. In other words, the “givens.” Without a common recognition of the basic laws and rules which defined the game, it was impossible to play. Everyone had to accept the givens or there was no play.

Catholic Key • June/July 2022 • catholickey.org

The same is true for all of life. There must be some givens — accepted truths — or there is chaos, disintegration and even war, within countries and within families. Much concern is expressed in the Church and society today about how divided, polarized and inhospitable things have become. Often, the proposed solution for this distressing situation is that we try to be more civil toward others, especially those with differing viewpoints. This civility must include patient listening. This is certainly good advice in any community and is one fruit of the recent exercise in “synodality” which many of us just experienced in the diocese. But something else is required for true communion and peace: acceptance of the givens — that there are real truths that exist

COMPASSIONATE RESOURCES in our diocese EnCourage ministry: kcsjfamily.org/courage-encourageƫ Truth and Love ministry: truthandlove.com Diocesan Marriage and Family Life Office: 816.714.2371 VISIT catholickey.org for more information

Pilate said to [Jesus],

‘WHAT IS TRUTH?’

Getty Images/shuang paul wang

— John 18:37

which express reality, the “game” of life, if you will. At the root of much of today’s polarization is a lack of consensus on many of the givens that had been assumed until recently. This is especially true in reference to what it means to be a human being; what is sometimes referred to as anthropology. Until recently, Western civilization has assumed what might be called a Christian anthropology as a given, revealed by God: that we are created by God, “in his image,” who defines our nature, gives it meaning and bestows it upon us as a gift. That human beings are created as one of two sexes, male or female, and this complementarity of the sexes is ordered toward self-gift in a communion of persons, in marriage,

F ro m t h e Bi s h o p Bishop James V. Johnston, Jr. is the seventh bishop of the Diocese of Kansas CitySt. Joseph

which forms the family. The total self-gift of husband and wife, signified in their bodily communion, is also ordered toward the generation of new life. This divine design reflects two givens that are amazing and wonderful — that we are both made in God’s image and that marriage, and celibate self-giving, image the life-giving communion of the Holy Trinity. Indeed, one of the most fundamental givens is that in our very existence, we are each given by God. This is the basis for the fundamental human dignity of every person, and had been assumed as a given, even by those who had no religious belief. These givens shaped the Western worldview for nearly two millennia. They were reflected in law, art and culture. However, a radical new paradigm has been introduced: namely, that we are not the receivers of a divine Giver, but in our total autonomy, we are each free to define our own reality. In the new paradigm, there are few givens, and our bodies are more or less like a blank canvas to express what the mind determines. This is but a further unfolding of the “sexual revolution.” This has profound implications for marriage, family, and society. When everyone defines their own reality, it is impossible to find common ground, harmony, and peace. It is important to acknowledge that there is no small number of people who experience challenges and difficulties in life around what it means to be male or female, or merely human for that matter. Our human condition is frail, and we are all in need of acceptance, compassion, patience and understanding. But, ultimately, it helps no one to deny that there are givens, truths that describe reality as God made it and as it can be known by common sense and human reason. The challenge before Christians is to not surrender to the chaos, even if that means being labeled a heretic before the new paradigm. Pope Francis has spoken often about the struggle and duty that is ours to repair and heal in a society that is more atomized, harsh and unforgiving. The surest way to do that is to find true common ground without which no society can survive. Ultimately, we find the most important givens about God and what it means to be human in the person of Jesus Christ, the God-man. As members of the Church, Catholics have a duty to the world to proclaim the wondrous Gift of Jesus Christ who is our peace, and all the givens which we have received from God as gifts.

FA I TH AT W O R K Re a d mo re from our conversation with Josh at CatholicKey.org

Is your Catholic faith part of your professional identity, either publicly or privately? Q

FAITH at WORK By Ashlie Hand

he vast majority of the more than 1.5 million people employed in the Kansas City and St. Joseph metropolitan areas work in secular industries. How is faith expressed by devoted Catholics working in our area banks, law

firms, doctors’ offices, restaurants, farms or auto plants? This is “faith at work.”

J o s hu a M c C aig Attorney at Law, Polsinelli PC Joshua McCaig is an experienced commercial litigator with specialization in health care and intellectual property law, as well as consulting for faith-based organizations. He is founding president and international goodwill ambassador for the Catholic Bar Association.

Tell us a little bit about your faith journey.

I was born in the 1970s and my parents were only 17 years old when they found out they were pregnant with me. Only a brief time after Roe v. Wade was decided, they could have made a different decision, but they chose to give me life, and I am eternally grateful to them for their decision. Although my parents were young, they brought me up in the Catholic faith, and I am so thankful for their sacrifices and their witness to me of not just the importance of the faith but also of how to overcome so much and what it takes to have a strong marriage.

Catholic Key • June/July 2022 • catholickey.org

It is a difficult question about how to bring your faith into your professional work. The current culture is one that attempts to separate work from faith, go to work but leave your faith at home. I don’t think the question should be how do I incorporate my faith into my work, but it could be stated as how do I incorporate my work into my faith. Your faith is part of who you are, you are a child of God, called to live the teaching of Jesus Christ in everything you do, including your work. With this approach, your work becomes an extension of your faith, and can be seen in the culture that you try to create within your work environment, how you interact with others and how you treat others.

What are some practical ways that you incorporate prayer into your work day? Q

I take personal prayer time each day. Depending on my schedule, it may be in the morning or during the day, and this involves readings from the Bible and then some time for reflection. I try to attend Mass when possible during the work week and going during the lunch hour typically works well with my schedule. My wife and I spend time in the evening praying together, which has been a blessing for our marriage.

Do you have a favorite saint or religious figure who you turn to in facing challenges at work? Q

As an attorney, I look to Saint Thomas More as an example of a holy man who sacrificed his life for the truth and his example is one that I frequently reflect on. Thomas More, even when the consequences of his actions were going to result in his death, stood by his convictions and principles that were grounded in his faith, and he accepted his death with honor, knowing that he was going to a better place with a clear conscience. (Read about Saint Thomas More on p. 26) Josh and his wife are parishioners at St. Andrew the Apostle Parish in Gladstone.

usi ng o u r resour c es w i s ely

KEYS TO CONSTRUCTING THE CHURCH OF THE FUTURE

Photo by Megan Marley

C OMM U N I CAT IO N AND

By Bridget Locke

C OL L ABOR ATIO N

ver the years, Martha Kauffman, construction manager for the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, has seen many construction projects come to fruition. From

minor updates to major renovations and new construction, Kauffman has helped parishes enhance their physical structures to demonstrate good stewardship, gratitude to God for his provision and faithfulness in preserving the

D I O C E SAN B UI LD I N G C O M M I SSI O N •D eacon Michael Lewis, Chairman • Matt Berislavich • Bob Drake • Bill Gagnon • John Giacomo • Chris Hotop

• Bernard Jacquinot • Martha C. Kauffman • Angela Laville • Tim Saxe • Thomas Strahan • Father Paul Turner

Church for generations to come. While reverence to God is paramount, successful construction projects also require meticulous planning. Therefore, under Kauffman’s guidance, the diocese adheres to a structured process flow that helps ensure that the right constituents are convened and accountable through every stage. As part of the Property Management Office, the Construction Management Office is involved with projects that cost more than $150,000 and require the expertise of an architect, engineer or other professionals. The Construction Management Office, led by Kauffman, works in close collaboration with the Diocesan Building Commission. Together, they oversee the design and construction phases of major builds.

GO W I TH TH E (P RO CE SS) FLO W There are several major projects in various phases of completion within the diocese. For example, Downtown Kansas City’s Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception is in the midst of its “Building Glory” capital campaign to construct the new Father Donnelly Hall Evangelization Center, a 300-400 seat, multi-purpose event space that will house parish offices, meeting rooms, a reception area and catering kitchen,

and includes improvements to Morning Glory Ministries, the parish’s mission to the homeless and hungry of the downtown area. Additionally, St. Andrew the Apostle Parish (Gladstone) is in the schematic design phase of its “Church for the Ages” campaign, to erect a new worship space to seat 1,200 and add classroom space, youth program rooms, meeting rooms and a large reception hall. Neither project would have advanced to this point without carefully crafted strategies. So, what are the hallmarks of a good construction plan? It’s important to assess needs, secure proper approvals and engage the appropriate church leadership and professionals in the process. These steps are expounded upon in detail in the comprehensive “Guidelines for New Construction and Major Renovation Projects” document, which is being updated to include information on contracts and different options for Project Delivery Methods. Written by the Construction Management Office and peer-reviewed by the Building Commission, the document offers step-by-step instructions for parishes engaged in major renovation and new construction projects.

... The most important components of a successful construction project are not confined to a written manual; they grow from its pages. They begin and end with transparent leadership and intentional communication.

While the guidelines were created to help parishes of the diocese navigate construction projects with a clear-cut process flow, Kauffman believes the most important components of a successful construction project are not confined to a written manual; they grow from its pages. They begin and end with transparent leadership and intentional communication.

BU ILD IN G B UY I N Building buy-in for projects often starts with conducting a master plan feasibility study, which includes brainstorming sessions that bring in representative groups of people to express needs and opinions, relative to a proposed project. “Forming a committee with a large swath of experience and representation of the parish is key,” said Kauffman. “Pastors who put the right people on parish building committees typically have the most positive experiences with major renovations. Successful parish leadership strives to include all constituents and consider the opinions and needs of others, so there are few surprises or controversies down the line. They build consensus among the parish and communicate the process effectively.” Kauffman names several pastors who understand the importance of bringing all voices to the table — including Monsignor Brad Offutt, pastor of Visitation Parish, where a feasibility study has been launched to assess the potential for upgrades to Visitation Catholic School. His thoughts on collaboration mirror hers. “Major capital projects can be so multifaceted that even when intense, well-meaning pastoral, financial, and technical scrutiny is invested in them, they can still be tricky,” he said. “Therefore, a parish really must not only have the explicit permission of the Bishop, but also the assistance of diocesan architectural, liturgical, legal, and financial staff in planning and executing a serious building project.” Respect is also key. “One of the primary obligations of a pastor is to respect his people,” Msgr. Offutt continued. “From wall colors to worship, a pastor must get to know his folks in their history, habits, and hopes. He needs to learn how things got where they are, where they might go, where he thinks they really need to go, and where the community he serves thinks they need to go. This process takes time and inevitably surfaces disagreements. That is when the work of respect begins in earnest, as consensus slowly forges from the diverse points of view in a given community.” With every project, Kauffman wants one thing to be clear: the Construction Management Office is here to help. “Those of us who work in the Construction Management Office and serve on the Building Commission have multiple years of experience and exposure to major construction builds,” she said. “We are here to help; never to hinder. We are committed to doing our part to make every construction project successful.”

Catholic Key • June/July 2022 • catholickey.org

Images courtesy SFS Architects

C ATHE D R AL O F THE I M M AC UL ATE C O N C E P TI O N NEW DONNELLY HALL · Project Phase – Construction Documentation · Project Delivery Method: Construction Manager as Constructor (CMc) · Architect: SFS Architects · Construction Manager: JE Dunn Construction

Images courtesy of HTK Architects and Clark Architectural Collaborative 3

ST. AN D R E W THE APO STLE PAR I SH NEW CHURCH · Project Phase – Schematic Design · Project Delivery Method: Construction Manager as Constructor (CMc) · Architect: HTK Architects · Liturgical Design: Clark Architectural Collaborative 3 · Construction Manager: Straub Construction

· Total Project Budget: $14 million · New Construction is approximately 19,000 square feet and includes: -E vent space for parish and diocesan functions with seating for 350-400 people - Catering kitchen - Parish offices - Gift shop

ST. MU N C HI N PAR I S H PARISH HALL · Project Phase – Schematic Design · Architect: La Tona Architects · Total Project Budget: $3 million · Renovation and addition to the St. Rita School building. · This project has been under consideration since 2010 and began with an existing building conditions report to determine if the building was viable.

cts

Photo by Megan Marley

Image courtesy La Tona Archite

· Total Project Budget: $26 million · New construction is approximately 52,000 square feet and includes 18,000-square-foot church with seating for 1,200 people

· Project restarted in 2019 with renewed energy and an established building committee. · The current facility was built in 1949 and has a total of 12,950 sf and two floors. · Project is planned in phases and includes: -W indow replacement -N ew HVAC - Installation of new 3-stop elevator -R enovate existing classrooms in school -2 ,500-square-foot building addition, which includes new kitchen and serving area, new restrooms, storage and support functions

or d i nati o n s DEACON PAUL SAPPINGTON grew up in Peculiar, one of six children. Homeschooled through grade 8, he then attended and graduated from Raymore-Peculiar (Ray-Pec) High School. Looking back on his childhood and teenage years, he recalled, “We were certainly Catholic and believed in God; and while never missing a Sunday Mass, much of our time was spent playing sports. I do think my parents did a fantastic job balancing not ignoring the world and not ignoring the Church.”

ORDAINING men of faith

Deacon Paul Sappington to be ordained a priest June 25 By Marty Denzer

Catholic Key • June/July 2022 • catholickey.org

Paul graduated from Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla, with a degree in electrical engineering, then worked at Burns & McDonnell in Kansas City for about a year. He also became active in City on a Hill, Kansas City’s young adult community. “I heard a call to the priesthood just a few months after graduation, and City on a Hill was ‘I hope to helpful in confirming me in the decontinually give my cision to take the next step and enter life over to God …’ seminary,” Paul said. Having to decide whether to go on a field assignment to upstate New York or begin studying for the priesthood, he asked to speak with Bishop James Johnston, as he too had been an electrical engineer before he entered the seminary. “That conversation provided clarity and a new perspective on the situation that was a great help to me,” Paul recalled. Decision made: he entered the seminary. Now, “I am in my fourth year at the North American College (NAC) in Rome, and I attend classes at the Gregorian University, where I study spiritual theology. My first three years, while still living at the NAC, I attended classes at Santa Croce (Holy Cross University), where I graduated with a bachelor’s in sacred theology.” He expects to return home by mid-June. Paul believes his family is excited for him to be ordained. “They have been a great support to me before and during my time in seminary, and my grandma is especially thrilled for me to be ordained.” Father Adam Johnson, director of the Office of Priestly Vocations, said, “Paul Sappington is a great guy, a good athlete. I’m confident he’ll be a good, faith-filled priest!” Paul is looking forward to saying his first Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes in Harrisonville, his home parish. When asked about his hopes or dreams as a priest, Paul said, “I do not have any career goals or aspirations in that sense as a priest. I hope to continually give my life over to God to be his instrument in bringing people into his kingdom. Whatever way God wills for that to take place, I hope to be available.” He concluded with gratitude for the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph. “I’m grateful to the diocese for all of their support throughout my time in seminary, and I am looking forward to serving the diocese as a priest.” The public is invited to attend as Deacon Paul is ordained a priest at 10 a.m., June 25, 2022, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.

The Candidates • Joe (Donna) Arnone, Nativity of Mary Parish, Independence. • Mike (Jamie) Casteel, St. Gregory Barbarigo Parish, Maryville. • Juan (Zulema) Garcia, St. Mark Parish, Independence. • Jim (Kathy) Hall, Twelve Apostles Parish, Platte City. • Randy (Susie) Holtman, St. Gregory Barbarigo Parish, Maryville. • Richard (Stephanie) Isaacks, St. John LaLande Parish, Blue Springs. • Carl (Marilyn) Johnson, Our Lady of

“Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace …” SIXTEEN MEN of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph will be ordained to the permanent diaconate on June 18 at St. James Church in Liberty. These men mirror the complexity of the makeup of our diocese. Deacon Paul Muller, director of the Office of the Diaconate, evoked a jigsaw puzzle as he described the candidates hailing from 13 different parishes in 11 towns across the diocese. “Our diocese is blessed to have people from many cultures. A growing segment of our country comes from different cultures of the world, many from Spanish speaking areas of the world. Five of the newly ordained deacons are bilingual. Their ages range from 37 to 62 years of age,” said Deacon Muller. The candidates have spent four and a half years in formation, a system Deacon Muller calls “a long but good process, a time of continued discernment and growth.” Throughout the formation period, the men and their wives have attended classes, retreats, seminars and workshops. Permanent deacons are called by God to serve their local Church, the bishop, priests and members. If married, their wives and families play an important role in their formation and their ministries. After ordination, the Catechism of the Catholic Church says they will “assist the bishop and priests in the celebration of the divine mysteries, above all the Eucharist, in the distribution of Holy Communion, in assisting at and blessing marriages, in the proclamation of the Gospel and preaching, in presiding over funerals and in dedicating themselves to the various ministries of charity.”

Guadalupe Parish, St. Joseph. • Mark Nold, St. Aloysius Parish, Maysville. • Julio (Joselina) Lara, St. Anthony Parish, Kansas City. • Corey (Sonja) Morgan, St. Bridget Parish, Pleasant Hill. • Juan (Claudia) Rodriguez, St. James Parish, Liberty. • Raymundo (Onelys) Sanchez, St. Anthony Parish, Kansas City. • Rick (Amy) Schwind, Church of the Good Shepherd Parish, Smithville. • Jordan (Jessie) Schiele, St. Anthony Parish, Kansas City. • Dave (Becky) Talken, Our Lady of the Presentation Parish, Lee’s Summit. • Sergio (Mariana) Ulloa, Holy Cross Parish, Kansas City.

L e a rn mo re about each candidate’s plans to serve at catholickey.org

Think you may be called to the diaconate?

L e a rn mo re about becoming a permanent deacon by visiting kcsjcatholic.org, click on Get Started and scroll down to the Diaconate.

Presently there are 71 ordained deacons in our diocese. Fifty are active, 16 are retired and five others serve in other dioceses. Deacon Muller adds, “The addition of these 16 deacons will witness the love that God has for the poor, the marginalized and those who feel forgotten. They can be a powerful force for evangelization.” Saint Francis of Assisi, founder of the Franciscan Order, was a friar and an ordained deacon. His prayer, “Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace...” is central to the charism of deacons.

TANGLED

parenting

y daughter’s hair has been a problem. It’s tangled — a lot. It is long. She hates to have it brushed. She plays outside and lets it flow

behind, above and below her. It becomes a rat’s nest of tangles needing attention.

When the brush comes out, I feel like I’m introducing her first experience with suffering. I hate that. I don’t want to hurt her, but the hair will not get better on its own. She needs my help. Her little eyes beg me to stop. She squirms. She tries to be strong. I hold her close in my arms, hoping to make it easier, but in the end there’s just no way around it. Once the tangles are there, it’s just gonna take a bit of work, and sometimes pain, to straighten them out. Every time I ask her to have faith, I’ve got her best interests at heart. I don’t know if she believes me. I don’t blame her. I have the same kind of struggles with God. Romans 8:28 says, “We know that all things work together for good for those who love God who are called according to his purpose.” But when that includes struggle, I often doubt. We all have tangles woven into our lives. Little sins and big sins mix together into a rat’s nest of mess we aren’t able to fully untangle on our own. We need God’s help. I wish my 7-year-old understood that coming to me sooner, rather than later, will make the struggle smaller, the pain less, the fight easier. She makes it worse when she pulls away from me. But like her, I often delay getting God’s help. I pull away. It’s so much easier to resist correction, change and the daily need to adjust. Sometimes, I resist so long that the rat’s nest seems impossible to straighten. But of course, that is never the case. God is always there to gently offer correction — to hold us close through the pain of getting things straightened out and promises we will not be disappointed. Romans also states, “... suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces HOPE.” (5:3-4) If we let him, God will gently work through the mess and straighten the paths of our lives. Whatever your problem, take it to God. He longs to take care of your tangles. It may not be easy, but he will hold you close, just like I hold my daughter, and kiss your brow and set you off again when the suffering is done with a stronger hold of hope in your heart.

K a re n Ri d d e r

is a parishioner at St. James Parish in Liberty and a convert to the Catholic Faith. She graduated from the University of Missouri School of Journalism and has written for numerous publications in the Kansas City area. Karen and her husband Jeff have three sons and a daughter.

Catholic Key • June/July 2022 • catholickey.org

m ar r i ag e

In good times … and bad WHEN I WAS A SEMINARIAN, one of my summer assignments was with Father Justin Hoye. He was very intentional and spent significant time helping to prepare me for priestly ministry.

Fat h er Adam Jo hnso n

Getty Images/BRO Vector

is pastor at Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish in Kansas City and director of the diocesan Office of Vocations.

I distinctly remember him sitting down to teach me about his approach to marriage prep. He told me, “Throughout your priesthood, young couples are going to come to you wanting to get married. They are often going to be in love ... giddy with joy ... and over-themoon excited. Your job as their pastor is to dump cold water on that excitement.” Marriage is hard. It is no small thing to promise to be faithful to another person while having no idea what the future is going to hold. Some of the giddy-inlove couples have not thought about life beyond the ceremony and honeymoon, but the Church wants them thinking about a lifelong marriage with everything that entails. They are promising fidelity in good times and in bad. It is easy to daydream about the good times; but the priest is tasked to help the couple contextualize different possibilities for what the bad times might look like. What if the

person you are marrying develops an addiction to alcohol or drugs or gambling? What happens in the case of infidelity? Sin does not invalidate a marriage; it just means you are married to a sinner. The engaged couples who come to Mass at Our Lady of Good Counsel are surrounded by families with six, seven or even 10 or more children. When I speak with those engaged couples about what they desire in marriage regarding children, I am often told: “Oh Father, we want a big family. We would like to have as many children as God wants to give us.” And then I must bring up a cold-water question: what if the number of children God gives you is zero? Infertility is a particularly brutal cross to carry. It isn’t just a one-time disappointment, but a month after month disappointment that can span years of effort, hope and heartache. Infertility and miscarriages happen with greater frequency than is publicly talked about, but their possibility needs to be covered during the period of marriage preparation. The topics covered in marriage prep vary from the mundane to the extreme. The Church wants to ready the couple so they can be successful in keeping

the vows made on their wedding day. I am very grateful for the work that Dino Durando does in directing the Family Life Office for our diocese. He has collaborated with several talented individuals to create a program for couples doing marriage prep called Thrive. Thrive has been a terrific supplement to the work I do when individually meeting with couples in the months leading up to their wedding. Thrive is great at taking the entire person with their unique individual temperaments into account. It balances the various psychological and spiritual aspects of the human person while proposing a future together where virtue can be cultivated, and authentic joy attained. Preparing couples for the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony is one of the joys of being a priest. In one of my first meetings with the couple, I will invite them over to the rectory and cook them dinner. I enjoy getting to know them. In my ten years as a priest, I have married about 100 couples. All of them have been unique and a delight in their own way. The giddy joy they possess is contagious, even if my job is to dump cold water all over it.

c ov e r s to ry

And marriage

makes three

Catholic Key • June/July 2022 • catholickey.org

Jaellan Stone believes that marriage preparation is one of the most important things engaged couples can do when starting a life together.

Preparing for Marriage in the Catholic Church binds couples to God Story by Ashlie Hand Photos by Megan Marley and Jackie Marko

or Jaellan and Veronica Stone, this summer will mark the final few months of their first year as husband and wife. Their story, like

Jaellan grew up in Plattsburg without much of a religious background, but he attended a Christian church with his mom, where he was baptized along with his older sister. At that point, he was left to attend church on his own, but without a strong religious foundation, he found it challenging to make his faith a priority. The one exception in Jaellan’s family was his grandmother, who was a faithful Catholic and would bring Jaellan along to Mass with her on occasion. “She was always a big inspiration to me in that area … seeing the tradition, hearing people singing and speaking in Latin. It always intrigued me,” he recalls. That connection with his grandmother stuck with him into adulthood, even as he traveled the country seeing and meeting people of other religions. When he met Veronica, her faith was one of the first things she shared with him, and it sparked a curiosity that had always been there.

all married couples’ stories, is special in the way that God brought them together and fortified their relationship through faith. Veronica grew up on the south side of Kansas City in a Catholic home as one of 10 children. She recalls that she learned a lot about the Faith academically and intellectually, but it wasn’t really until she reached adulthood that she began to experience a more personal relationship with Jesus. She attended Avila University but struggled to establish a strong Catholic connection or really find a community of active, participating Catholics. “I just had to make those decisions for myself and be Catholic on my own terms,” she says.

A relationship blossoms Veronica and Jaellan met at the construction company where Veronica interned. Jaellan came to Veronica’s office looking for a new position and Veronica was asked to show Jaellan around. There was a nearly instant connection and the couple started dating about a week later. “Neither of us had met somebody who we were so immediately on the same page with,” recalls Veronica. Months of genuine, deep and easy to have conversations followed that would last hours as they learned more about each other. “The craziest thing is that when we met each other ... I almost felt like I already knew him,” Veronica adds. “There

c ov e r s to ry

“Then hear, O gracious Savior, accept the love we bring; That we who know your favor, may serve you as our King; And whether our tomorrows be filled with good or ill, we’ll triumph through our sorrows and rise to bless you still: To marvel at your beauty, and glory in your ways, and make a joyful duty, our sacrifice of praise.” — Oh God Beyond All Praising, Gustav Holst/Michael Perry

“I can’t be by somebody’s side who is taking this very serious step and not be serious myself,” she realized. “I began approaching my faith as a child and a daughter of Jesus which also led me to a parish where I fit in and where I chose to be as an adult.”

Preparing to thrive

Photo courtesy of Veronica Stone

Jaellan and Veronica have found a parish home at Our Lady of Good Counsel, where they were married in 2021.

R e ad mo r e

about

Jaellan’s conversion and experience entering the Catholic church just months before marrying Veronica.

was a comfortability there even though we come from very different backgrounds. We had a host of similarities on so many other levels including shared values that were evident very early on.” Within a month of dating, they were already talking about forever. Unlike past negative relationships, the two realized their connection was not only a special commitment, but truly their vocation. They were engaged a year later. God showed up often during this time, perhaps most significantly in the way that their relationship drew Jaellan into his decision to enter fully into the Catholic church. This also created an opportunity for Veronica to experience a reversion to the Faith as he went through the RCIA process at the couple’s chosen parish, Our Lady of Good Counsel in Kansas City.

Catholic Key • June/July 2022 • catholickey.org

Le a r n m o r e In the Diocese of Kansas Cityabout THRIVE and St. Joseph, marriage preparation is meet one mentor coordinated through the Family Life couple from the Office and it includes meetings with diocese working to a priest or deacon, access to a mensupport engaged tor couple and formation through couples on their a program called Thrive. Tradijourney. Visit tionally, Thrive took place during CatholicKey.org in-person weekends where couples would gather for discussion and fellowship. When the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the world for a period of time, the program had to quickly pivot to an online format to ensure engaged couples could continue their preparation. “We found marked improvements, even in categories that were already exceptional, and concluded that the online course was something worth developing further,” Dino Durando, director of the Family Life Office, explains. “The COVID pandemic led us to discover something that we may not have otherwise, that the online course is very effective and, in many ways, better than the in-person weekends.” The Thrive program guides engaged couples through 13 online modules covering a range of topics from building a faith-centered life together to Natural Family Planning to prayer and spiritual health. The program is completed in two parts over 13 weeks with supplementary videos, worksheets and online surveys.

For Jaellan and Veronica, the online format was challenging at times, but the couple kept each other focused and appreciated the flexibility to pause for discussion or reflection, or increase the pace if they had extra time. Within the marriage preparation process, the couple completes several surveys answering questions on topics relating to marriage, children and building a life together. Each person answers individually, then discusses how their answers align together with the help of a priest or deacon. Veronica and Jaellan agree this had the most significant impact on the marriage preparation process for them, along with their spiritual director, Father Andrew Mattingly. “Father Mattingly made a safe space for us to be honest with him and with each other. It was almost like an examination of conscience, but about our relationship. We were learning things I didn’t know or didn’t think to ask about and asking the hard questions with Father there to guide us,” Veronica recalls. The process gave the couple the opportunity to discuss important things like holidays with each other’s families — Veronica’s family are planners, while Jaellan’s are more spontaneous. Their advice is to prioritize your new family unit, respect each person’s individual approach to things and understand that you will have to compromise no matter what. This is just one reason Jaellan believes marriage preparation is the most important thing that couples can do.

Veronica and Jaellan have a shared devotion to Our Blessed Mother, which they have continued into their first year of marriage in praying the Rosary daily.

Marriage for three With few examples of devoted marriage in his family, Jaellan didn't know what married life was really like. His dad is remarried but didn’t have a wedding. It made it harder for him to understand marriage as a sacrament at first, but Father Mattingly opened his mind. “It’s easy to go get married. It’s easy to get up there and say, ‘I do.’ But is it easy to get up there and make a promise to God to take care of this person forever?” he emphasizes. Veronica adds, “The wedding industry tells you that you are getting ready for your wedding, and not that you’re getting ready for your marriage. Peers of mine would talk about getting a dress, a photographer, and I was so glad we were actually setting a foundation for our marriage.” Veronica says that putting everything under the lens of what God wants us to do is the most important message in preparing for marriage. “God’s the third part of our marriage,” she says, and Jaellen enthusiastically agrees. Daily prayer is an anchor for both Jaellan and Veronica, especially making time to pray the Rosary every day. Veronica appreciates having an accountability partner in her husband, and Jaellan sees it as his responsibility. “Knowing that it is my responsibility to make sure she gets to heaven, nothing else matters.”

Read more about Veronica and Jaellen’s big day, including advice for engaged couples and newlyweds, at

CatholicKey.org

“Knowing that it is my responsibility to make sure she gets to heaven, nothing else matters.” — Jaellan Stone

ayConnected Connected ay

Residents Laurence, Werder, Russell Dayton, and Doris Brown visiting the beautiful St. Anthony’s outdoor Residents AletaAleta Laurence, FrankFrank Werder, Russell Dayton, and Doris Brown enjoyenjoy visiting on theonbeautiful St. Anthony’s outdoor patio patio

Cherish your time with family and friends Cherish your time with family and friends atat St. Anthony’s Senior Living, a Catholic retirement community St. Anthony’s Senior Living, a Catholic retirement community

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Resident Jesse Garcia is happy St. Anthony’s is pet Resident Jesse Garcia is happy St. Anthony’s is pet friendly. here, I play cards friendly. He He said,said, “My“My dogdog cancan livelive here, too!too! I play cards with friends and enjoy exercise. ” Jesse’s daughter, Lisa with friends and enjoy exercise.” Jesse’s daughter, Lisa Peralta sister I were looking around Peralta said,said, “My“My sister andand I were looking around for for a good place to move dad with similarly aged people a good place to move dad with similarly aged people he could socialize with. about Catholic he could socialize with. We We readread about thisthis Catholic retirement community a devoted Catholic, retirement community andand daddad is a isdevoted Catholic, so so this was perfect. We live within two miles from here this was perfect. We live within two miles from here andand wanted toclose be close to him, so another reason wanted to be to him, so another top top reason waswas location. Th e community is so welcoming, and location. The community is so welcoming, and the the staffstaff is over When we ask questions, answer is over the the top.top. When we ask questions, theythey answer in in a timely manner. e place is safe clean. Plus, a timely manner. TheTh place is safe andand veryvery clean. Plus, they keep the residents active and happy. ” they keep the residents active and happy.”

Resident Geisel a nice joint. I like Resident Joe Joe Geisel said,said, “Th“Th is isisa isnice joint. I like the the music events and attending daily Mass. ” Joe’s daughter, music events and attending daily Mass.” Joe’s daughter, Bebe Harrington, “Location is the number Bebe Harrington, said,said, “Location is the number oneone reason my brother John and I chose to move from reason my brother John and I chose to move daddad from an Olathe facility to Anthony’s St. Anthony’s tonear be near us. With an Olathe facility to St. to be us. With Assisted Living being located all one on one level, is easy Assisted Living being located all on level, it isiteasy to to get in and out to see him. It is great to have entertaining get in and out to see him. It is great to have entertaining events onsite is getting more challenging to take events onsite as itasisitgetting more challenging to take him on outings. ” him on outings.”

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Stay, Stay,Play, Play,and andPray Praywith withUs Us alone when you can Why live Why live alone when you canbe besurrounded surroundedby byfriendly friendly neighbors and caring staff to support you in your neighbors and caring staff to support you in yourown ownprivate private residence? You’ll appreciate the month-to-month contracts residence? You’ll appreciate the month-to-month contracts with withno nobuy-in buy-infee feethat thatinclude includeall allutilities, utilities,cable, cable,internet, internet, 24/7 concierge services, underground parking, fi tness 24/7 concierge services, underground parking, fitnesscenter, center, special events, clubs and classes. As a faith-based community, special events, clubs and classes. As a faith-based community, residents residentshave haveaccess accesstotodaily dailyMass Masswith withresident residentpriests priestsand and non-denominational bible studies in St. Anthony’s Chapel. non-denominational bible studies in St. Anthony’s Chapel. Should Shouldyou youever everneed needtotomove movefrom fromIndependent IndependenttotoAssisted Assisted Living or Memory Care, the dedicated staff at St. Anthony’s Living or Memory Care, the dedicated staff at St. Anthony’swill will make the transition smooth for you and your family. Regardless make the transition smooth for you and your family. Regardless ofofyour yourindependence independencelevel, level,all allapartments apartmentsare aremove-in move-inready ready and built to accommodate your personal belongings so you and built to accommodate your personal belongings so youwill will feel feelright rightatathome. home.

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he a l i n g ou r fa mi ly

Don Stubbings and Sarah Larson have chosen to devote much of their professional life to the protection of children and young people.

PROTECTING

God’s children By Ashlie Hand

DON STUBBINGS AND SARAH LARSON form the team responsible for Safe Environment training and compliance in the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, performing the crucial role of abuse prevention for

What drew you to your role with the Office of Child and Youth Protection?

DON: After 24 years working in higher education in law enforcement, Title IX investigation and programming, I wanted to find a role where my service to the community continued with a faith-focused effort to make a difference in the Church’s ongoing effort to protect children. SARAH: Having my own children made me aware of all the dangers that they can face from people in general and I wanted to help with the education of adults and children in order to make our environment safer for children.

the Office of Child and Youth Protection. Don and Sarah ensure that all employees and volunteers meet the Safe Environment requirements of background checks, training and commitment to the Ethics in Ministry Code of Conduct.

How long has the diocese had the Safe Environment Program?

In 2002 The Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People outlined the framework required of dioceses, archdioceses, and eparchies around the United States to ensure specific procedures are followed to protect children and vulnerable adults. The Charter also set forth the standard for an effective response to reports of abuse.

Catholic Key • June/July 2022 • catholickey.org

Meet the entire OCYP team at kcsjocyp.org

What is a typical day like for you in your role?

DON: Much of my day is concentrated on reviewing compliance for volunteers and employees who work with children. The Protecting God’s Children workshops, Ethics and Integrity in Ministry policy and our extensive background investigation processes are reviewed for every employee and volunteer during their onboarding, as well as throughout their time working with children. I also partner with local Safe Environment coordinators to assist with their daily efforts to ensure that a parish or school is following our diocese’s policies.

“The most rewarding part of the work is when we see how it has made a difference.”

— Don Stubbings, Safe Environment Coordinator

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month and in 2022, the Office of Child and Youth Protection invited diocesan Catholic schools to submit original artwork on the topic of "Hope." A small gallery show, “Vision of Hope,” was held at the Chancery to display the artwork.

SARAH: I assist people with any questions they have regarding the diocesan Safe Environment policy. I also follow up with the diocesan priests and deacons to ensure they are compliant with their ongoing Safe Environment training. Don and I work together to visit parishes to review compliance.

Artist: Claire, age 12

Artist: Adi, age 5

How does the training you provide help in preventing future abuse of children in our diocese? Q

The Protecting God’s Children workshop allows us to facilitate discussion on several areas of protection of children and vulnerable adults. Knowing the warning signs of adults, screening and selecting employees and volunteers, monitoring the environments where children are present and understanding the clues and behaviors a child may exhibit if they are being abused. One of the critical areas which our workshops cover is how to report abuse based on the concern of the reporting person and the reported abuser, including reporting to civil authorities (law enforcement) in the state of Missouri. Our children's prevention programming is highlighted by the Circle of Grace curriculum, which is presented to all K-12 students in our diocesan Catholic schools and parish religious education programs. The program is an age-appropriate set of lessons which empowers children to advocate for themselves and others to recognize and report when physical, emotional and sexual boundaries are crossed.

Artist: Ellie, age 10

What is the most rewarding aspect of the work you do in our diocese?

Artist: Kaysen, age 12

The most rewarding part of the work is when we see how it has made a difference. Sometimes it is a reflection by a volunteer and how the training gave them new tools to recognize signs of abuse and other times is visiting parishes and schools seeing the effort and vigilance they put into their programming to ensure that abuse has no place within our diocese.

If you experienced sexual abuse as a minor by a member of Catholic clergy, religious or Church volunteer, please consider making a report. Contact Independent Ombudsman Joe Crayon at crayon@ombudsmankcsj.org or contact the MO Child Abuse Hotline at 1.800.392.3738.

Artist: Veronica, age 11

To s e rv e a n d to l i f t

‘GO OUT TO THE WORLD …’ with Catholic Charities

By Susan Walker

APPROXIMATELY 1.5 MILLION PEOPLE live in the 27 counties of our diocese. An average of 14 percent of them live in poverty, while thousands more teeter on the brink each month. It’s a huge number of people. Catholic Charities of Kansas City-St. Joseph is charged with serving all of them — regardless of life circumstance, place of residence or faith tradition. That means we are called to be present and provide needed services across 6,000 square miles.

Catholic Key • June/July 2022 • catholickey.org

This is not an easy task — at-risk families don’t all live on the same block, or in the same zip code. Of course, there are pockets of poverty in our diocese — neighborhoods that have a high concentration of vulnerable residents. There are also the “hidden” at-risk individuals living in stable, mid-income neighborhoods — quite often, silently struggling due to loss of a job or a serious medical diagnosis. Families who reside in rural communities have different needs — and different resources available — than those who live in suburban or urban core areas. Catholic Charities’ permanent offices in Kansas City and St. Joseph were chosen to locate the agency in the areas where

a concentration of higher-need families reside. However, even for the Kansas City metropolitan area, transportation is a looming issue. The public transit system in both Kansas City and St. Joseph is limited and difficult to navigate from certain areas of those cities. Access to buses from suburban or near-rural areas is sparse and inconsistent with our office hours and families’ availability. Establishing multiple permanent office locations is cost-prohibitive and diverts critical funding from support of family needs to infrastructure like office rent and utilities. Yet staff and volunteers at Catholic Charities are firmly committed to answering this call. In Karen Noel’s first weeks as CEO in the summer of 2020, she and other leadership prioritized traveling throughout the diocese and meeting with parish pastors and staff to understand each community’s unique needs and launch collaborative efforts to meet them. From those discussions, the Catholic Charities team developed a mobile outreach program designed for a broad geographic reach, customized services and good stewardship of resources. This program has been fueled by significant donations from Peter and Veronica Mallouk to launch food pantry operations, the estate of Carole Bickimer to purchase vans and the SSM Health System to support outreach activities. First steps were identifying permanent locations for food pantry operations, which could also serve as distribution centers for both emergency assistance and supportive wraparound services. Months of touring potential sites, community engagement meetings and rezoning applications have resulted in the lease of a facility in Cameron and the purchase of one in the Ruskin Heights neighborhood of south Kansas City. The south Kansas City location — the former site of St. Matthew Parish — is being remodeled for efficient, broad use as a destination for food pantry and service provision operations. The Cameron facility launched operations in the first week of May. Volunteer Manager Linda Hopkins and Special Outreach Project Manager Jim Hall laid the foundation for the Cameron center’s outreach over several weeks, exploring collaboration options and community needs with parishes in the northern counties of our diocese. Discussions with pastors, parish staff and community leaders identified community needs and resources already available, allowing for Catholic Charities to complement and support the work already being done in those areas by ministerial alliances and other community organizations. This avoids duplication of ser-

Catholic Charities' Distribution center in Cameron complements and supports community needs and resources in this area of our diocese.

vices and allows our staff to have a broader reach and more effective use of the funds for rent and utility assistance, food and hygiene products. The mobile outreach program provides shelf-stable food, fresh produce and hygiene items for clients who have pre-ordered or for walk-in clients. A resource specialist travels with our mobile outreach van to meet with clients and determine the obstacles that are hindering the person’s path to self-sufficiency. In addition to food and hygiene items, we deliver critical necessities such as clothing, diapers, formula and utility and rent assistance. The Cameron Distribution Center and the mobile outreach program are examples of effective, intentional collaboration between Catholic Charities and Catholic parishes. Staff and volunteers work together — and volunteers greatly outnumber the staff involved in this program. The Catholic Charities staff travel with the van and are available on distribution dates, but parishioners of partner parishes live and work and raise their families in the communities served. They are available to field questions, offer information and make connections in a way that staff cannot. This constant presence between mobile outreach visits means the full resources of Catholic Charities are much more accessible — moving us closer to fulfilling our call to serve those in need in all 27 counties. “Go out to the world,” Jesus instructed his disciples after the resurrection. Now, in a new way, Catholic Charities can answer, “We are trying, Lord. Help us to do more.”

Catholic Charities volunteers are available to field questions, offer information and make connections in a way that staff cannot.

‘Go out to the world,’ Jesus instructed his disciples after the resurrection. Now, in a new way, Catholic Charities can answer, ‘We are trying, Lord. Help us to do more.’

culture “If a man and a woman marry in order to be companions on the journey through earth to heaven, then their union will bring great joy to themselves and to others.” — Saint John Chrysostom

GET MARRIED ON A FEAST DAY

Getty Images/Macrovector

Catholic wedding

TRADITIONS Keeping faith at the forefront of your big day By Megan Marley

une is the wedding month, and there are many popular customs that happy couples keep — wearing a white dress; tossing the

bouquet; incorporating something old, new, borrowed, blue; not seeing each other before the wedding; etc. With all the planning and preparing that goes into having one great wedding day, don’t forget to include religious traditions to help prepare for the marriage of a lifetime. Below are some ideas for keeping faith at the forefront of your big day.

BOUQUET TO MARY Many couples take a moment after communion to honor Our Lady by placing a bouquet or rose at the feet of her statue and saying a prayer. Some brides also incorporate a rosary or miraculous medal in their personal bouquet too. I wore a wrist rosary made by a St. Therese (North) parishioner for my wedding, which I still use often.

CRUCIFIX BLESSING Friends of mine brought a crucifix to be blessed on their wedding day, to serve as a daily reminder in the home to die to self for their vocation.

Catholic Key • June/July 2022 • catholickey.org

Perhaps as a couple you have a special devotion to Mary or a particular saint — sometimes a feast day will line up in the month you’re looking to get married. We chose to get married on the Feast of the Sacred Heart … which often lands on a Friday in the month of June, if you like this idea. Visit with your pastor about how this may affect readings and other aspects of the Mass.

CROWNING One old tradition, still commonly carried out in Eastern Christianity, is the placing of crowns (or wreaths) upon the heads of the newly married couple. It serves as a reminder of the united role of leadership they now have over their new family, and also as a “crown of martyrdom” in dying to themselves for Christ and each other.

EL LAZO Popular in Hispanic cultures, a lazo is a rope or double-loop rosary placed over the couple after the exchange of vows that symbolizes their union. A friend of mine keeps theirs over the spot where they pray together as a family.

NUPTIAL VEIL One ancient custom I’ve seen is the velatio nuptialis, or nuptial veil — a canopy held over the couple as the priest gives them the nuptial blessing during the wedding Mass. It serves as a visual reminder of God’s blessing coming upon this couple, and that the two are now one.

PRAY TOGETHER BEFORE AND/OR AFTER THE WEDDING Many couples I have taken wedding photos of incorporate a moment of prayer together before or after the wedding. Sometimes, it’s part of a first look moment, or while holding hands on either side of a wall or door to preserve tradition. Some also arrange for Eucharistic Adoration or Confession to be available for themselves and guests, too.

PRAYING A NOVENA One way of spiritually preparing for your wedding is to pray a novena leading up to it. Conversely, one way to jumpstart a habit of prayer together after marriage is to pray a novena starting on your wedding day. Either way, praying together not only helps you grow in holiness but also keep focus on the sacrament you’re undertaking.

St. Benedict wrote: “As we progress in this way of life and in faith, we shall run on the path of God’s commandments, our hearts overflowing with inexpressible delight of love.”

The Benedictine Monks of Conception Abbey gather six times a day for the common chanting of the Divine Office and celebration of the Eucharist, offering prayers for the Church and the world. This rhythm of our daily life gradually forms us into what Christ has called us to be, men seeking holiness and constant conversion towards God. We welcome you to explore our way of life and invite you to support us in our ministries of prayer and work.

Join us in our mission of ora et labora, work and prayer. Become an oblate | Explore a monastic vocation Join us via livestream | Pray for us | Make a gift

www.conceptionabbey.org

Nati o nal Headlines R o u nd u p

Getty Images/AndreyPopov

The United States sent a new ambassador to the Vatican in April. Ambassador Joe Donnelly is a former professor at the University of Notre Dame and has served as a representative and a senator from Indiana in Congress. More can be found on CatholicNewsAgency.org. Local bishops are among the 90-plus signers of a letter cautioning Germany's bishops against possible schism. Both Bishop James V. Johnston, Jr. and Archbishop Joseph Naumann of the neighboring Archdiocese of Kansas City, Kansas signed the letter expressing concern that sweeping changes to Church teaching advocated

by the multi-year process in Germany, known as the “Synodal Path” or “The Synodal Way,” which could lead to an official split in the Church. Controversial topics of The Synodal Way include issues of Church leadership, sexual morality, the priesthood and the ordination of women. More can be found on CatholicNewsAgency.org or PillarCatholic.com. A 3-year national Eucharistic Revival effort is being launched on the Feast of Corpus Christi 2022. These three years will culminate in a National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis, the first such congress in the United States in almost 50 years. This year,

the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph will host Eucharistic processions for the Feast of Corpus Christi at both Cathedrals, as well as its fourth annual “In His Real Presence” Eucharistic Congress in September; see page 32 for more details. Learn more about the national Eucharistic Revival at eucharisticrevival.org and about the local Eucharistic Congress at kcsjcatholic.org/ eucharistic-congress.

t o re a d m o r e n e w s visit kcsjcatholic.org/news and catholickey.org/news

s ai nt the faith in their children and foster children, and provided them a fine classical education. The girls were as well-studied as his son too, which was unusual for the time. As his children grew, More’s legal and political career also rose in prominence. He was a renowned lawyer, member of Parliament and a judge known for fairness and efficiency. He eventually joined the court of King Henry VIII, and was later promoted to lord chancellor — the highest office next to the king. The work was stressful — Utopia, by and the spectacle of court disSaint Thomas More tasteful, but Thomas saw it as a call to follow Christ in the chaos and worked hard with peace and good humor. At the time, Henry VIII was a staunch defender of the Catholic Faith against Protestantism. He even received the title ‘Defender of the Faith’ from Pope Leo X for his book defending the sacramental nature of marriage and the supremacy of the pope (a note of tragic irony). As chancellor, it was one of More’s duties to enforce laws against heretics — he made every effort to have them recant before resorting to By Megan Marley more extreme measures. Having no male heirs to inherit the throne, SAINT THOMAS MORE is best known as the lord chancellor of England beheaded Henry VIII sought an annulment from his wife Catherine of Aragon, which the pope did not for his refusal to take an oath approving of King Henry VIII’s divorce, remarriage grant. In escalating measures, the king began and establishment of the Church of England. But who was this man, beyond how purging clergy who were against him and moved and why he died? more and more towards schism with Rome. Faced with being forced to actively support Thomas More was born in 1478, the second theological, literary and social scenes of the Henry's break from the Church, More resigned of six children born to a lawyer and judge, John day. Despite his successful secular career, at his post as chancellor and did not attend the More, and his wife, Agnes. The family was one time More seriously considered joining the coronation of Anne Boleyn. In 1534, he was well-connected, and intelligent young Thomas Carthusians or Franciscans. His discernment ordered to take the Oath of Supremacy and became a protégé of Archbishop John Morton, led to ascetic and spiritual practices such as swear allegiance to Henry VIII as head of the lord chancellor. As a teen, he attended college at fasting, physical mortifications and a daily Church of England. In good conscience, More Oxford for two years, becoming well-versed in schedule of prayer he continued throughout could not accept a secular man as head of the languages, mathematics, music and literature. his life as a layman. Church. He was arrested, tried for high treason, His studies fueled a lifelong love of the written Thomas More married Jane Colt at age 27, convicted and sentenced to death by beheading. word — More wrote poetry in both English and and the couple had a happy but brief marriage. His sentence was carried out July 6, 1535. Latin, scathing responses to Martin Luther’s Left with four young children upon Jane’s death, Pope Pius XI canonized Saint Thomas More criticisms of the Church, theological treatises, More quickly married widow Alice Middleton. in 1935, a great example of a layman standing an incomplete history of King Richard III and A wealthy silk merchant with a sharp tongue up for his faith and resisting tyranny for a world the socio-political commentary novel Utopia, and a daughter of her own, Alice kept a kind then facing the horrors of Hitler. Saint Thomas among other things. and efficient home, and Thomas loved her as More is the patron saint of lawyers, politicians, More followed in his father’s footsteps as well as, but differently than, his previous wife. public servants and adopted children. His feast a lawyer and was involved in the political, Thomas and Alice took special care to instill is June 22.

“You must not abandon the ship in a storm because you cannot control the winds ….What you cannot turn to good, you must at least make as little bad as you can.”

A man for our seasons

Catholic Key • June/July 2022 • catholickey.org

co m e h o m e to co m m u n i on

Come Home to Communion:

One year later By Megan Marley

ou may or may not have seen the magazine articles, fliers, mailers, social media posts, newspaper ads, bulletin notices and billboards last summer inviting all to “Come Home to Communion” as pandemic restrictions

began to loosen and Bishop Johnston lifted the general dispensation from Mass. One year ago, the Office of Communications launched the “Come Home to Communion" campaign to assist diocesan parishes in welcoming and encouraging the faithful to return to the Eucharist, community worship and fellowship and attendance at in-person Mass. A measurable objective of the campaign was to assist in achieving pre-pandemic Mass attendance by fall 2022. Historically, Mass attendance is tracked via an annual “Spirituality Report” submitted by parishes each September that includes weekend Mass counts over the course of one month. Reports submitted pre-pandemic in fall 2019 show approximately 40,877 Mass-goers. Attendance fell to 17,700 in 2020. The 2021 Spirituality Report indicates an average 31,752 people in attendance at weekend Masses, just three months into the campaign. Data for 2022 will be available this fall. Converts entering the Church also impact the number of people in the pews. More than 311 entered the Church in 2020, and our diocese welcomed 213 catechumens and candidates in 2021. This year, at least 130 catechumens and 127 candidates entered the Catholic Church in our diocese at the 2022 Easter Vigil. Enrollment in our diocesan Catholic schools has also rebounded. In the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph there was a 6.2 percent decline

in enrollment between the 2019-20 and 202021 school years. This was primarily from parents delaying enrolling their preschool and kindergarten-age children due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Enrollment for the 2021-22 school year rebounded with an increase of 3.4 percent over the previous year —the first school year in a decade in our diocese to have an increase in enrollment. While there are a number of ways at the diocesan level we can encourage people to “Come Home to Communion,” ultimately the number one way people are invited is through personal connection with YOU, the people in the pews. Consider asking a friend, neighbor or family member to come to Mass or a church event — sometimes, all it takes is an invite and a welcoming smile.

WANT TO LEARN MORE? Find “Come Home to Communion” resources on kcsjcatholic.org/comehome

R ECOVE RY in Mass attendance (as of October 2021)

R ECOVE RY in new Catholics entering the Church (as of Easter 2022)

3.4

INC R E AS E

in diocesan Catholic school enrollment (as of Fall 2021)

SUPPORT

future communication efforts like the Come Home to Communion campaign and Catholic Key magazine. Give to the Catholic Communication Campaign June 18-19 and half of your gift stays in our diocese. Visit usccb.org/ccc for more details.

e n e l ca mi n o

L ECCIONES del

PATIO DE RECREO

COMO NIÑO, me emocionaba la hora del recreo en mi Escuela Católica. Allí, en el patio de recreo, aprendí nuevos juegos de los profesores y de otros niños. Cuando se introducía un nuevo juego el primer paso para todos aquellos que querían jugar era aprender las reglas del juego. En otras palabras, los "datos que asumimos". Sin un reconocimiento común de las leyes básicas y reglas que definían el juego, era imposible jugar. Todos tenían que aceptar las reglas o no había juego. Lo mismo es cierto para toda la vida. Deben existir algunos datos que asumimos — verdades aceptadas — o habrá caos, desintegración y aun guerra , entre los países y entre las familias.

Catholic Key • June/July 2022 • catholickey.org

La Iglesia y la sociedad de hoy en día han expresado mucha preocupación acerca de que tan divididas, polarizadas e inhóspitas se han vuelto las cosas A menudo, la solución propuesta para esta angustiosa situación es que tratemos de ser más civilizados los unos con los otros, especialmente con aquellos que tienen diferentes puntos de vista. Esta civilidad debe incluir escuchar con paciencia. Este es ciertamente un buen consejo en cualquier comunidad y es uno de los frutos del reciente ejercicio de "sinodalidad" que muchos de nosotros experimentamos en la diócesis. Sin embargo, se requiere algo más para una verdadera paz y comunión: aceptar los datos, verdades que expresan la realidad, el “juego de la vida”, por así decirlo. La raíz de mucha de la polarización de hoy es la falta de consenso en muchas de las reglas que se habían asumido hasta hace poco. Esto es especialmente cierto en referencia a

RECURSOS COMPASIVOS en nuestra diócesis Ministerio EnCourage: kcsjfamily.org/courage-encourage Ministerio Truth and Love (Verdad y Amor): truthandlove.com Oficina Diocesana de Vida Familiar y Matrimonio: 816-714-2371 VISITE catholickey.org para más información

¿Pilatos le dijo a [Jesús],

‘CUAL ES LA VERDAD’?

Getty Images/shuang paul wang

— Juan 18:37

lo que significa ser un ser humano; algo que muchas veces se conoce como antropología. Hasta hace poco, la Civilización Occidental había dado por sentado lo que podría llamarse una Antropología Cristiana, revelada por Dios: que somos creados por Dios, “a su imagen y semejanza”, lo que define nuestra naturaleza, le da sentido y nos la otorga como un don. Que los seres humanos hemos sido creados como uno de los dos sexos, masculino o femenino, y esta complementariedad de los sexos se ordena en la entrega de sí mismos en una comunión de personas, en el matrimonio, que forma la familia. La entrega total del marido y la mujer, representada en su comunión corporal, se ordena también a la generación de nueva vida. Este designio refleja dos cosas que asumimos que son increíbles y maravillosas, que hemos sido hechos a imagen de Dios y que el matrimonio, y la entrega del celibato, son imagen de la comunión con la Santísima Trinidad que da vida. De hecho,

D e l O bi s p o El obispo James V. Johnston, Jr. es el séptimo obispo de la Diócesis de Kansas CitySt. Joseph

uno de los datos más fundamentales está en nuestra propia existencia, cada uno de nosotros es un don de Dios. Esa es la base fundamental de la dignidad humana de cada persona, y ha sido asumida como un dato, aun por aquellos que no tienen creencias religiosas. Estos datos que hemos asumido han dado forma a la visión del mundo occidental por casi dos siglos. Están reflejados en las leyes, el arte y la cultura. Sin embargo, se ha introducido un nuevo paradigma radical: que no somos los receptores del Divino Donador, sino que tenemos nuestra total autonomía, que somos libres para definir nuestra propia realidad. En el nuevo paradigma, hay pocos datos que se asumen, y nuestros cuerpos son más o menos como un lienzo en blanco para expresar lo que la mente determina. Esto no es más que el desarrollo adicional de la "revolución sexual". Tiene profundas implicaciones para el matrimonio, la familia y la sociedad. Cuando cada uno define su propia realidad, es imposible encontrar terreno común, armonía y paz. Es importante reconocer que hay un número, que no es pequeño, de personas que experimentan retos y dificultades en la vida alrededor de lo que significa ser hombre o mujer, o simplemente un ser humano. Nuestra condición humana es frágil y todos necesitamos aceptación, compasión, paciencia y entendimiento. Sin embargo, al final no ayuda a nadie negar que hay datos, que son verdades que describen la realidad como Dios la hizo y como puede ser reconocida por sentido común y razón humana. El desafío que se presenta a los Cristianos no es rendirse al caos, aun si eso significa ser marcados como herejes ante el nuevo paradigma. El papa Francisco ha hablado muchas veces sobre la lucha y el deber que tenemos de reparar y sanar en una sociedad cada vez más atomizada, dura e implacable La forma más segura de hacer eso es encontrar terreno común sin el cual ninguna sociedad puede sobrevivir. Al final, encontramos las verdades más importantes acerca de Dios y de lo que significa ser humano en la persona de Jesucristo, el Dios hecho hombre. Como miembros de la Iglesia, los Católicos tienen un deber con el mundo de proclamar el Don maravilloso de Jesucristo que es nuestra paz, y todas las verdades que hemos recibido de Dios como sus dones.

g r ow i n g G o d’s fa mily

A NEW DAY FOR OUR SCHOOLS: School choice comes to Missouri and our diocese By Jeremy Lillig

ob Dylan once said “times they are a changin.” Change can sometimes bring about a negative perception but in the case of the new MOScholars program it’s anything but. In

my 11 years at the diocese we have been involved in discussions with various groups about how to overcome the restrictions of the Blaine Amendments — a series of amendments to state constitutions in the late 19th century aimed at preventing the use of public funds to support parochial schools. There have been many attempts but no immediate success … until now.

HB 349, a bill for school choice in Missouri, was signed into law in 2021. Since then, Bright Futures Fund has been at the forefront of discussions with the State Treasurer’s office learning about implementation of this new program. Much to our excitement, Bright Futures Fund was recently approved for a minimum of $2.5 million in tax credit scholarships for the 2022-2023 school year. As one of six newly certified Educational Assistance Organizations, Bright Futures Fund will offer state income tax credits to Missourians and award scholarships to students and families in two categories:

Students with an IEP or ISP (new or currently enrolled) under the Individual Education Disabilities Act. (No income restriction)

New students (having been enrolled in public school 12 months prior) whose families earn no more than 200% of the Free and Reduced Lunch income maximum. (a family of 4 earning less than $102,676 per year.)

Learn mo re about •A pplying for the MOScholars program • Contributing to the MOScholars fund through Missouri income tax designation beginning July 1, 2022

Visit *Both categories must live in Kansas City, Missouri; Jackson County or a city with a population of more than 30,000.

brightfuturesfund.org/ moscholars

Eligible families who meet one of these two requirements and live in an approved area will qualify for $6,375 in scholarship money per year to attend a Catholic school in our diocese.

Catholic Key • June/July 2022 • catholickey.org

Un nuevo día para nuestras escuelas: Escoger una Escuela viene a Missouri y a nuestra Diócesis Por Jeremy Lillig

ob Dylan una vez dijo "los tiempos son un cambio". Los cambios pueden traer consigo una percepción negativa, pero en el caso

del nuevo programa MOScholars es todo menos eso. En mis 11 años en la diócesis nos hemos involucrado en discusiones con varios grupos acerca de cómo superar las restricciones de las Enmiendas Blaine — una serie de enmiendas a las constituciones estatales a finales del siglo XIX dirigidas a prevenir el uso de los fondos públicos para apoyar las escuelas parroquiales. Se han hecho muchos intentos sin éxito...hasta ahora. El Proyecto de ley HB 349 para la escogencia de una escuela en Missouri, se convirtió en ley en 2021. Desde entonces, la organización Bright Futures Fund ha estado al frente de las discusiones con la oficina del Tesoro del Estado para aprender acerca de la implementación de este

m atr i m o ni o

¿Es el matrimonio algo anticuado? QUIZÁS has escuchado decir que el matrimonio es algo anticuado. ¿Pero que es algo anticuado? Algo anticuado es algo pasado de moda, algo obsoleto o quizás expirado. El matrimonio no puede ser anticuado porque el matrimonio no es moda. El matrimonio es la base o fundación de una familia, hogar, comunidad y sociedad. El matrimonio no puede ser obsoleto porque es un sacramento.

Getty Images/monkeybusinessimages

nuevo programa. Para nuestro entusiasmo, recientemente se aprobó a Bright Futures Fund un mínimo de $2.5 millones en becas de crédito fiscal para el año escolar 2022-2023. Como una de las seis Organizaciones de Asistencia Educativa recientemente certificadas, Bright Futures Fund ofrecerá créditos de impuestos estatales sobre la renta a los habitantes de Missouri y otorgará becas a estudiantes y familias en dos categorías:

J u l i o L a ra es Director del Tribunal para la diocesis.

• La relación de Dios para su pueblo es permanente, de igual manera el matrimonio debe de ser permanente.

Estudiantes con un plan IEP o ISP (nuevos o actualmente inscritos) bajo la ley de Discapacidades de Educación Individuales. (Sin restricción de ingresos)

• El amor de Dios por su pueblo da frutos, el matrimonio también debe dar frutos, frutos como: hijos, amor, servicio, alegría, salvación.

Nuevos estudiantes (que han estado inscritos en las escuelas públicas en los 12 meses previos) y cuyas familias ganan no más del 200% del ingreso máximo para Almuerzos Gratis y Reducidos. (una familia de 4 con ingresos por debajo de los 102.676$ por año)

Las familias elegibles que cumplen con estos dos requisitos y viven en áreas aprobadas calificarán para una beca de 6.375$ por año para asistir a una escuela Católica en nuestra diócesis.

• Dios siempre es y ha sido fiel con su pueblo y con la iglesia, el matrimonio de igual manera requiere fidelidad. • El amor de Dios es completo, el matrimonio requiere totalidad, entregarse por completo, ser ayuda idónea. No todos estamos llamados a la vocación del matrimonio, pero si el matrimonio es tu vocación, Dios te dará la gracia para hacer de tu matrimonio un sacramento. Si el matrimonio es tu vocación, el matrimonio es tu camino a la santidad, ¡y la santidad nunca será anticuada!

Aprender más acerca de •S olicitar el programa MOScholars • Contribuir al fondo MOScholars a través de la designación del impuesto sobre la renta de Missouri a partir del 1 de julio de 2022

Visit brightfuturesfund.org/ moscholars

Getty Images/Shtrunts

*Ambas categorías deben vivir en Kansas City, Condado Jackson o en una ciudad con una población de más de 30.000 personas.

Un sacramento es simplemente un signo visible, instituidos por Jesús de una gracia invisible. El matrimonio como sacramento es un signo visible del amor de Dios. El esposo es un signo del amor de Dios para la esposa, la esposa es un signo del amor de Dios para el esposo y juntos son un símbolo del amor de Dios a los hijos y a la sociedad. El matrimonio sacramental es el signo del amor de Dios por su pueblo, como tal el matrimonio tiene cuatro características esenciales que nos muestran el gran amor de Dios:

co r p u s c h r i s ti

The Feast of Corpus Christi JUNE 19 Story by Marty Denzer | Photos by Megan Marley

THE SOLEMNITY OF THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST, the Feast of Corpus Christi, is celebrated in the United States on the Sunday following Trinity Sunday, which falls on June 19 this year. Observed in the Levant since ca. AD 448, the institution of the Eucharist was commemorated on Holy Thursday, a time of sadness emphasizing Christ’s Passion. The commemoration was often forgotten. A 13th century Belgian nun, Saint Juliana, loved the Eucharist. She longed for a Eucharistic celebration, especially following a vision of the Church under a full moon marred by one dark spot which she interpreted as the lack of a celebration.

For years, Juliana appealed to local prelates, notably Robert de Thorete, then-bishop of Liege. Impressed by her vision, in 1246, he ordered a local celebration held in 1247, which continued sporadically. In 1261, Jacques Pantaleon became Pope Urban IV. In 1263, Peter of Prague, a German priest, stopped in Bolsena, during a pilgrimage to Rome. The priest worried about the laxity of the faithful and the clergy and was dubious about transubstantiation. He prayed to increase his faith and ease his doubts. The next day at Mass, during the consecration, the host began bleeding. Awed, Peter tearfully told the congregation, who also were

Catholic Key • June/July 2022 • catholickey.org

awestruck. Placing the host on the corporal, he carefully wrapped both in linen. Peter requested an escort to Orvieto, where Pope Urban IV was in residence. He heard the priest, was shown the host, and ordered an investigation. Although he decreed the Feast of Corpus Christi, and may have placed the host, corporal and wrappings in Orvieto’s Cathedral where they are still venerated, the pope never officially sanctioned the “miracle.” His papal bull, Transiturus de hoc mundo, decreed the Feast of Corpus Christi — the first papally sanctioned universal feast in the history of the Church. Indulgences were granted to the faithful for attendance at Mass and the Divine Office on that day. Saint Thomas Aquinas penned the Office at Urban’s request, along with the hymn “Pange Lingua.” Explorers took the feast’s significance around the world. In 1519, on the Feast of Corpus Christi, Spanish explorer and cartographer Alonzo Alvarez de Pineda discovered a lush, semi-tropical bay on what is now the south Texas coast. Honoring the feast, Pineda named it “Corpus Christi.” The city later founded there adopted the name. Mexico, Panama and Paraguay also named places “Corpus Christi.” In the Kansas City-St. Joseph Diocese, a 5 p.m. vigil Mass will be held June 18 at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in St. Joseph, followed by a procession to The Pro-Life Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. In Kansas City, the Corpus Christi celebration begins with 11 a.m. Mass on June 19 at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, followed by a procession to Guardian Angels Parish for Benediction. June 19 also inaugurates the National Eucharistic Revival, a 3-year grassroots revival of devotion and belief in Christ’s Real Presence in the Eucharist, called for by the U.S. Bishops. This year covers dioceses, and 2023-2024 covers parishes. For more, visit www.eucharisticrevival.org. The fourth annual “In His Real Presence” Eucharistic Congress will be held Sept. 10 at St. James Parish in Liberty. For more information and to register, visit www. kcsjcatholic.org/eucharistic-congress or contact Lorie Sage in the Office of Divine Worship, sage@diocesekcsj.org or 816.756.1850.

S acr e d Heart

The Solemnity of the

SACRED HEART OF JESUS Story by Marty Denzer | Photo by Megan Marley

THE SOLEMNITY OF THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS, added to the Roman Catholic liturgical calendar in 1856, is celebrated 19 days after Pentecost and always falls on a Friday, this year June 24. Devotion to the Sacred Heart is one of the most widely known and practiced devotions in the Roman Catholic Church. The devotion began with the revelations of Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, a French Visitation nun and mystic, who, starting in 1674, received a vision of Christ requesting that his love for humanity be promoted through her. His human heart was to become the symbol of Christ’s divine-human love. Over the next 13 months, she received more revelations of Christ. She also wrote about his revelations and the promises he gave for those souls devoted to his Sacred Heart. Although many of Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque’s peers were hostile to her, her confessor, Saint Claude de la Colombiere, SJ believed and supported her. She died in 1690 and was canonized by Pope Benedict XV in 1920.

“His human heart was to become the symbol of Christ’s divine-human love.”

Devotion to the Sacred Heart was ancient, but it was not widespread. When Saint Margaret Mary’s private revelations received Church approval, the devotion spread dramatically. There are numerous devotions to the Sacred Heart — consecration, prayers, novenas, daily or weekly Mass and receiving the Eucharist are but a few. This prayer seems to encompass it all:

“May the Most Holy, Most Sacred, Most Adorable, Most Incomprehensible and Unutterable name of God be always praised, blessed, loved, adored and glorified, in heaven, on earth and under the earth, by all creatures of God, and by the Sacred Heart of our Lord Jesus Christ, in the Most Holy Sacrament of the altar. Amen.”

It’s not just a symbol of unity that we eat together because we share belief. By the Holy Spirit’s power, it becomes what the words of consecration say it is — the Body of Christ. Jesus is truly present sacramentally in the host.

Why can’t visitors/non-Catholics receive Holy Communion?

ere’s the situation. You’re at a Catholic wedding or funeral and the priest announces the Protestant attendees aren’t allowed to receive Communion. They get upset. They believe in Jesus; why can’t they share

in this sign of unity among believers?

It is true, we are united in our belief in Jesus Christ. However, there are other uniquely Catholic beliefs, which can’t be ignored, that make all the difference. The Sacrament of the Eucharist has several names. In the Catechism of the Catholic Church 1331, we see it called “Holy Communion, because by this sacrament we unite ourselves to Christ, who makes us sharers in his body and blood to form a single body.” At face value, it does seem that believers united to Christ should share in this sign. But what does it mean to be “sharers” in Christ’s “body and blood”? The Catechism also says, “In the most blessed sacrament of the Eucharist ‘the body and blood, together with the soul and divinity, of our Lord Jesus and, therefore, the whole Christ is truly, really and substantially contained.’ ‘This presence is called ‘real’ ...” (CCC 1374) When the

tive or successful in producing the desired or intended result. The Eucharist is not merely something people partake in to show they’re united in belief. That would make it only a human sign. No, this sign is human and divine, an effective sign that causes the communion it signifies. Saint Augustine said regarding reception of the Eucharist, “Believe what you see, see what you believe, and become what you are: the body of Christ.” When you receive the body of Christ, you become the body of Christ. Additionally, to receive worthily, your life, belief and intention must be in conformity with the sign. If those things don’t match up, it’s a contradiction and countersign. Saint Paul warned the Corinthians not to partake of the Eucharist unworthily. If anyone received without properly discerning, they brought judgment on themselves.

minister says, “The body of Christ,” that’s what he/she means. It’s not just a symbol of unity that we eat together because we share belief. By the Holy Spirit’s power, it becomes what the words of consecration say it is — the body of Christ. Jesus is truly present sacramentally in the host. Beyond that, in responding “Amen,” you affirm belief in that Real Presence, which also affirms belief in everything the Catholic Church teaches and holds to be true. Essentially, every Communion is a profession of faith in the Church. Ma rc But it goes much deeper still. C a rda ro n e l l a CCC 1325 says, “The Eucharist is is the director the efficacious sign and sublime of the office of cause of that communion ...” The Catechesis and word “efficacious” means it’s effecFaith Formation.

Catholic Key • June/July 2022 • catholickey.org

(1 Cor 11:27-29)

So, as you can see, it’s not an insult but a safeguard. There’s a lot unsaid regarding reception of Holy Communion, but nevertheless real. We dearly wish all our Protestant brothers and sisters to join us at the Eucharistic banquet, but without proper belief and intentions, it’s truly problematic — for us but also for them.

CatholicStock/Patrick Dunford Photography

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Catholic Key June/July 2022

Articles inside

Annual Reader Appeal

Why can’t visitors/non-Catholics receive Holy Communion?

The Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

June 19: the Feast of Corpus Christi

¿Es el matrimonio algo anticuado?

Un nuevo día para nuestras escuelas: Escoger una Escuela viene a Missouri y a nuestra Diócesis

A NEW DAY FOR OUR SCHOOLS: School choice comes to Missouri and our diocese

LECCIONES del PATIO DE RECREO

Come Home to Communion: One year later

A man for our seasons

National Headlines Roundup June/July 2022

Catholic wedding traditions: keeping Faith at the forefront of your big day

'Go out to the world...' with Catholic Charities

Protecting God's children

And Marriage makes Three

In good times...and bad

Tangled

Ordaining Men of Faith

Communication and Collaboration

Faith at Work: Joshua McCaig

Lessons from the Playground