ASH WEDNESDAY’S EMBRACE ON A JOURNEY TOWARD CHANGE
By Daniel S. Mulhall Catholic News Service
There are three days within the church’s liturgical year that are guaranteed to bring people to a church service. The first two are Christmas and Easter. They are the two most important feasts in Christianity, marking, as they do, the birth and resurrection of Jesus. The third day is Ash Wednesday.
Unlike Christmas and Easter, Ash Wednesday is not a holy day of obligation and Mass attendance is not required. Instead of liturgical pageantry, participants come to a simple and solemn service that focuses on an act of humility.
>> See “RECEIVING” on page 4
The sacrament of reconciliation is essential to a fruitful Lent
One of the best descriptions of the Catholic Church’s understanding of the sacrament of reconciliation I heard articulated by the late Dr. Carl Piepkorn, a former professor at Concordia Lutheran Seminary in St. Louis. Piepkorn described sacramental confession as the opportunity to preach the Gospel to the individual.
We cannot understand Jesus if we do not understand ourselves to be sinners. We have no need for a savior if we do not first understand that we have something (sin) from which we need to be redeemed. When we approach Jesus in the confessional, surrendering our sins with honesty, humility and trust, Our Lord is able to forgive us and liberate us from those things that enslave us and prevent us from experiencing the peace and joy God desires for us.
ARCHBISHOP
JOSEPH F. NAUMANN
In the confessional, it becomes clear that Jesus did not come just to give some global type of general forgiveness for all humanity. Jesus came to forgive me from my sins. Our Lord came to remove the obstacles that can prevent us from experiencing Our Lord’s unique and personal love for each of us. Moreover, confession makes clear to us that Jesus does not love us because of our perfection. Our Lord loves us even in our brokenness and weakness.
For our experience of the sacrament of reconciliation to be most fruitful, we need to make a good examination of conscience. We need to be able to identify and name our sins. You can go online and find many good tools for examining your conscience.
In the Gospel, Jesus gave his disciples the two great commandments: 1) to love the Lord your God with your whole heart, soul and mind; and 2) to love your neighbor as yourself (Mt 22: 36-40). In St. John’s Gospel, Jesus raised the bar for his apostles for the second commandment: “I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another” (Jn 13: 34).
It is spiritually a very good practice to end each day with a brief examination of conscience. It should begin with reflecting on all of the blessings of the day.
LIFE WILL BE VICTORIOUS
Thank God for all the ways you experienced his presence and love. Then, consider if you allowed anything to be more important that day than loving God with all your heart, soul and mind.
In one sense, every sin is a sin against the Old Testament’s First Commandment: You shall have no other gods before me. Think about whether you have other gods that you value more than the one, true God. What do you make more important than spending time in prayer, in conversation with God? It could be watching television, movies, sports, surfing YouTube or playing video games. Ask yourself the question: What material things, experiences, pleasures or relationships, do I make more important than time with God? Secondly, ask yourself: Have I loved others the way that Jesus loves me? Jesus gave his life on Calvary for me! Have I made satisfying my own wants and desires more important than caring for others? First consider how you
have loved those in your own family and closest friends. Then, expand this reflection by considering how you have loved those who do not have a familial claim or with whom you do not have a special friendship, but have a special claim on your heart because they are poor, sick, hurting or forgotten.
If you are serious about your Catholic faith and your friendship with Jesus, it is a good practice to go to confession once a month. If you do an examination of conscience every night, identifying the areas where you need to grow in fulfilling the two great commandments of Jesus, then you will discover many sins that you need to surrender to Jesus monthly to allow yourself to be changed by his mercy and grace.
The most important single thing we can do for a fruitful Lent is to take advantage of the sacrament of reconciliation. In that sacrament, we experience the Gospel of Jesus being preached to us in the unique circumstances of our lives. When we expose ourselves to receiving Our Lord’s mercy in this sacrament, it will also naturally make us more merciful toward others.
Cardinal Marc Ouellet, the former archbishop of Quebec and prefect for the Congregation of Bishops, several years ago gave a retreat to the bishops of the United States. The cardinal shared with us that early in his time as archbishop of Quebec, he convened a meeting of priests, religious and lay leaders.
In his address to the leaders of his archdiocese, he said that what the church most needed was not more priests. He qualified this by saying that Quebec certainly needed more priests, but this was
More
ARCHBISHOP NAUMANN’S CALENDAR
March 8
Men Under Construction — Church of the Ascension, Overland Park
Cathedral Gala — Cathedral of St. Peter, Kansas City, Kansas.
March 9
Rite of Election — Most Pure Heart of Mary, Topeka
Rite of Election — St. Michael the Archangel, Leawood
March 10
“Shepherd’s Voice” recording — chancery
Confirmation — Holy Cross, Overland Park
March 11
Administrative Team meeting — chancery
March 12
National Eucharistic Congress podcast recording
Confirmation — St. Francis de Sales, Lansing
March 13
CFNEK Archbishop High School Art Invitational awards — Savior Pastoral Center
Confirmation of parishes of Resurrection School — Cathedral of St. Peter, Kansas City, Kansas
not the most important need.
He continued by saying that what Quebec most needed was not more consecrated religious women and men. Again, he qualified this by saying that his archdiocese desperately needed more religious Sisters, Brothers and priests, but again this was not the most important need.
The cardinal next said that what Quebec most needed was not more lay leaders. Again, he acknowledged that his archdiocese needed more laity that were active and involved in the life of the church, but this was not the greatest need.
Cardinal Ouellet said that the greatest need of the Archdiocese of Quebec was more sinners. He explained that the church needed more individuals who knew that they needed Jesus, who knew that they needed a redeemer.
I believe that the greatest need for the
Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas in 2025 is also more sinners. We need, beginning with your archbishop, individuals who know they need the forgiveness of God, who know they need a savior. Without this awareness of our sinfulness, we cannot understand the Gospel or the mission of Jesus. When we receive the merciful, unconditional love of Jesus through the power of the sacrament of reconciliation, we become transformed by mercy. It is this encounter with the healing, merciful love of Jesus that has the power to set our hearts afire with love.
I urge you to make a sincere, heartfelt confession this Lent. Allow yourself the privilege of having the Gospel of Jesus preached to you! Our Lord has come to liberate us from all that enslaves us and binds us, in order that we can be his ambassadors of reconciliation in the world.
Lenten dinners
Holy Trinity Parish, 501 E. Chippewa St., Paola, will host fish fries beginning at 5 p.m. on March 7, March 28 and April 11. Menu includes fried fish, French fries, coleslaw, cheese pizza, dessert and drinks. Cost is: $12 for adults; $5 for children ages 5-12; and free for children under 5.
Church of the Ascension, 9510 W. 127th St., Overland Park, will host fish dinners from 5 to 7:30 p.m. in the parish hall each Friday of Lent. Menu includes fried cod, fried catfish, baked tilapia, pizza, sides and dessert. Cost is: $15 for adults; $10 for teenagers (ages 12-17); $5 for children ages 5 to 11; and free for children 4 and under. Carryouts are available.
LAW AND ORDER
Priests balance academic life as law students with parish ministries
By Marc and Julie Anderson mjanderson@thleaven.org
EMPORIA — There are 1,752 canons in the Code of Canon Law of the Catholic Church, and they govern the sacraments, the appointment of bishops, the building of a parish church and every other aspect of church life.
And while every diocese needs canon lawyers, there should always be at least three.
That’s because canon lawyers mostly focus on annulment cases, serving on the marriage tribunal in the roles of judge, advocate and defender of the bond.
As Father Augustin Martinez, associate pastor of St. Paul Parish in Olathe, and Father Carter Zielinski, pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Emporia, are learning.
The two are enrolled in a canon law degree program through Catholic University of America (CUA) in Washington, D.C. The program consists of online coursework throughout the academic year, with intense in-person summer classes. For example, this fall, Father Zielinski is enrolled in three online classes: procedural law, supra-diocesan structures and Latin III.
While courses focus on different aspects of canon law, both priests said the law’s entire focus comes down to one main point.
“The last canon, or the last law, in the Code of Canon Law tells us that everything we do as canonists has to have as its goal the salvation of souls,” Father Martinez said. “Every single process that has to do with the law in the church is there to help us save souls. And law in the church is ultimately there to protect the right relationships.”
Take annulling a marriage, for example.
“I guess there is a general sense that you can get an annulment anytime you want for any reason you want, and everybody gets one,” said Father Martinez. “But that’s not what the law of the church is there to do.
“It’s actually to give us certainty — moral certainty — of the reality that exists there. It’s not there to make up things or to change reality. It’s only there to establish with moral certainty that which is already the case.”
Canon law, the two priests agreed, is similar to but also different from civil law.
“It seeks to bring justice through its different procedures,” said Father Martinez. “Just like civil law, there’s lawyers involved, canons or laws involved. We have our Code of Canon Law just like civil law has its different statutes. . . . In those senses, [the two are] very similar.”
But canon law, said Father Martinez, is based on moral principles that don’t change, although civil law can change based on the will of the people.
For example, Father Martinez said, civil law could say “all day long [something is] legal but canon law would never do that because it’s against a moral principle.”
The nature of marriage, he said, is a case in point. While the 2015 decision of the Supreme Court of Obergfell v. Hodges legalized same-sex relationships as civil marriages in the United States, the Catholic Church does not, as a
result, redefine the sacramental nature of marriage between one man and one woman.
A focus on American law really brings that point home, said Father Zielinski.
“Like a lot of things, [civil law] came from ancient Greece and Rome, through Gaul to England and then to us. So, you can definitely trace the genealogy of the law,” he said. Some things — like the use of Latin, for example — even remain the same. “That goes all the way back to the beginning, even things like common law crimes — the fact that something is evil in and of itself.”
Both priests said balancing the coursework with their ministry is often challenging — but necessary.
“We also understand that this is important for us to do, and this is the only way that we could realistically do it,” said Father Martinez. “Otherwise, a bishop would have to lose us from a parish for two or three years. We don’t
have enough priests to do that.
“It’s been a challenge, but a good challenge.”
Father Zielinski agreed.
“CUA does a very good job of building [the curriculum] around a priest’s calendar as much as that can be done,” he said. But that doesn’t make it easy.
“It’s really a grind,” he said. “It’s basically just full-time class.”
Like any other graduate student completing a master’s or doctoral degree, both Father Martinez and Father Zielinski have to write a thesis. Father Zielinski is writing his on the obligations of the pastor in the governance of a parochial school, a topic he’s somewhat familiar with because his parish operates a grade school.
Which leads him back to his principal focus — his parish.
“That will always be my primary focus — the parish,” he said. “Still, it’s nice to have something that I can do to help, as important as that is.”
LEAVEN FILE PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER
Father Augustin Martinez, associate pastor of St. Paul Parish in Olathe, is enrolled in a canon law degree program through Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.
LEAVEN PHOTO BY MARC ANDERSON
Father Carter Zielinski, pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Emporia, is studying canon law while still maintaining his role as pastor. Father Zielinski said balancing the coursework with his ministry is often challenging — but necessary.
Second annual Savior gala to be held March 29
By John Sorce john.sorce@theleaven.org
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — For 60 years, the Savior Pastoral and Retreat Center here has served the archdiocese in a variety of ways.
From youth sporting events and recreational facilities to the chapel where the Chrism Mass is celebrated, and with room for art exhibits and breakout sessions alike, the SPARC building has proven to be a versatile facility.
“Savior is a front door to many people that come in contact with our archdiocese,” said Mark Blaise, who is the director of campus ministry at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Overland Park and is a leader for Kairos retreats.
“I am so thankful for the staff at Savior that they take this responsibility seriously,” he added, “and they need our support to be a place for all people.”
The second annual SPARC the Night Gala, “Brilliance in Bloom,” is set to be held on March 29 at Savior, located at 12601 Parallel Pkwy.
The gala started last year as a way to fundraise to preserve Savior as the focal point of the archdiocese for many years to come.
“It was very clear to me early on how many people care about Savior and want to see it continue for many years,” said Greg Mies, director of facilities and operations at Savior. “So, we wanted to bring people together and come up with what we could do to keep the building as the heartbeat of the archdiocese.”
The evening’s honorary chairman will be Msgr. Michael Mullen, who was ordained in 1962 and served 22 years as principal, rector and teacher when Savior served as a high school seminary.
When the seminary closed in 1987, the archdiocesan seminary program was moved to Maur Hill-Mount Academy in Atchison, where Msgr. Mullen served as seminarian chaplain. He then
became pastor of St. Patrick Parish in Kansas City, Kansas, from 1995 until 2018, when he was assigned to St. Joseph Parish in Shawnee and remained the co-director of seminarians.
“We’re honored that Msgr. Mullen agreed to be our honorary chairman,” Mies said. “He saw the building from its infancy and still today, 60 years later, is here on a regular basis for gatherings with a small group of priests. We’re grateful that Monsignor [Mullen] is willing to share some of his experiences at the event.”
Doors will open at 4:30 p.m. with Mass celebrated by Archbishop Joseph
F. Naumann at 5 p.m. Hors d’oeuvres and drinks will follow at 6 p.m. and guests will move to the dining room by 6:30 p.m., with the program and dinner lasting until 8 p.m.
The fact that Savior continues to flourish today is a testament to how the initial engineers built the facility.
“It was a testament to the vision they had 60 years ago to put this facility in a somewhat central location to the archdiocese,” Mies said. “It was also built in a way to where it would sustain itself. Savior is an incredibly well-built facility that allows us a lot of flexibility and consistency in how we utilize the space.”
But the impact goes well beyond the building itself, as the people who work inside its walls play a vital role in continuing its legacy as well.
“Everyone that works at Savior from the top to the bottom feels a part of the mission of Savior,” Blaise said. “So, whether it’s a maintenance worker dropping off candy for our students or the management having fruitful conversations with kids during break time, we feel so supported in our mission by those that work at Savior.”
Tickets are $175 and need to be purchased by March 14. To purchase, go online to: archkck.org/savior.
Receiving ashes is only the start of the conversion we are called
>> Continued from page 1
The focal point of Ash Wednesday (and thus, its name) is the reception of ashes smudged in the shape of the cross on one’s forehead, and not the reception of the body and blood of Christ as it is at other Catholic liturgical celebrations. While Mass still occurs and the eucharistic feast is still offered to God, many people come just to receive the ashes. What is it about Ash Wednesday that it exerts such a pull on the lives of Catholics?
As the first day of the six weeks of the Lenten season, Ash Wednesday begins a period of fasting, penitence, almsgiving and abstaining from rich food and drink (such as meat and alcohol). By receiving a cross of ashes on one’s forehead, the Christian (yes, Ash Wednesday is observed in most mainline Protestant traditions as well) expresses a commitment to take Lent seriously and to participate actively in the Lenten practices.
By being marked with the sign of the cross, Christians reaffirm their baptismal commitment to being the Lord’s disciples. The smudged forehead signifies that a person is returning to the Lord. Ashes have been used as a symbol of abasement and repentance throughout human history. It was a practice in
LENT IS A PENITENTIAL SEASON FOR ALL CHRISTIANS. . . . DURING LENT, ALL ARE CALLED TO RETURN TO THE LORD, TO ADMIT THEIR SINFULNESS AND TO CHANGE THEIR LIVES.
ancient Greece and Persia, and is mentioned numerous times in the Old Testament.
People would don garments made of rough cloth (sackcloth) and cover themselves with ashes as an outward sign of their inner sorrow. Through their discomfort — sackcloth is scratchy — and public humiliation, the sinner hoped to be forgiven and accepted back into the community.
In the early days of the church, the sacrament of reconciliation (or penance) was not practiced as we now know it. Confessing one’s sins to a priest was introduced to the church by Irish monks in the Middle Ages. Prior to that, people’s sinfulness was
generally forgiven through the reception of the Eucharist and by public correction within the church.
For serious sins — such as murder, adoration of idols and rejecting the faith — a more serious penance was required. In these cases, a sinner was required to wear sackcloth and ashes for several weeks so that they could be forgiven and received back into the church community at Easter. Aspects of this practice can be seen in today’s Lenten practices.
While public humiliation is no longer required for forgiveness, receiving ashes on Ash Wednesday alone is not enough to bring about the healing of wounds caused by our sinfulness. Personal conversion is still necessary. As Isaiah 58 asks us, more or less, what good does fasting serve (or beating one’s breast begging for forgiveness) while one continues to lie, cheat and steal? God will judge us by how we live as disciples and not by our public displays of piety.
Lent is a penitential season for all Christians, whether one is devout, pious and a faithful churchgoer or one hasn’t stepped foot in a church or prayed for years. During Lent, all are called to return to the Lord, to admit their sinfulness and to change their lives.
The change of heart the Lord asks
to
of us may actually be harder for the devout than it is for those who have been away for years. Those of us who seek to be faithful may be blind to our weaknesses and failures, while many of those who stay away do so because they know all too well their sinfulness.
As Pope Francis continually tells us, the church must act like a field hospital: We must offer care, compassion and love to everyone seeking the healing touch of the Lord. Ours is not to judge or demand that people change their ways to feel the Lord’s blessing.
Let them first be healed from their suffering, and then we can try to help them amend their thinking and behavior. What a powerful image of the Lord’s love and mercy!
There are things that we can do as we embark on this Lenten journey to make the most of this return to the Lord. The prophet Isaiah tells us (Is 58:6-8) what is required: release those bound unjustly, ease the burden of those who struggle, set free those oppressed and give shelter, food and clothing to those in need. Only then shall our light “break forth like the dawn” and our wounds heal.
Ashes are an outward sign of our desire to return to the Lord, but they are only meaningful if they lead us to conversion of hearts and a changing of our lives.
LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER
Greg Mies, director of Savior Pastoral Center in Kansas City, Kansas, talks with Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann during the inaugural Savior gala.
Mark your calendar: Ranch hosts youth weekend conference
By John Sorce john.sorce@theleaven.org
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — A weekend of faith and fellowship is approaching for high school youth within the archdiocese.
The Rural Catholic Youth Conference (RCYC) is set to take place from March 22-23 at Prairie Star Ranch in Williamsburg.
The event began in 2016 out of Topeka and was initially hosted every other year to not interfere with the National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC).
But during COVID, organizers had to pivot to the ranch during the spring, and they have been hosting it there every year since.
According to rural youth ministry outreach coordinator Angie Bittner, having to move the conference to the ranch was a blessing in disguise.
“It’s beautiful to have the freedom to enjoy the beauty of the ranch and nature, especially for people in our rural parishes,” Bittner said. “We’re really blessed to have the ranch and want to make sure everybody gets to experience that.”
On-site check-in will be on March 22 until 9:30 a.m. and the conference concludes on Sunday with lunch served tostay or to-go.
Kids will have the chance to participate in beautiful liturgies and the sacrament of reconciliation, as well as enjoy inspiring messages, great food and hospitality, and music, dance, parish time and free time.
“The weekend is going to be filled with a bunch of different stuff, but there will be an emphasis on developing relationships with those around you and with God,” Bittner said.
Guests include Andrew and Sarah Swafford; The Culture Project; Joe Heron music; and Mike Debus. Mass
Lon Sunday will be celebrated by Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann.
There is a lot of help that is needed to host an event like this, and Bittner credits a lot of the organization to the kids of the rural youth council, who serve in various capacities at different events over the course of the year.
“As an adult, I can’t come up with things that are going to speak to the hearts of teens like they can,” Bittner said. “So, we start the year with a retreat and brainstorm the main things that we want to focus on, and they felt like family relationships were what we
should focus on this year.
“If your relationships within your family are strong, then chances are you will be able to have a good relationship with God.”
There is no cutoff for registration, and anyone is welcome to attend. Students do not have to be from a rural parish or even from within the archdiocese to attend.
Registration for the weekend is $140 and includes meals, accommodations, all sessions, a conference T-shirt and packet.
All payments should be sent direct-
ly to the ArchKCK Youth Office, Attn: RYMO RCYC, 12615 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City, KS 66109.
Bittner hopes at the end of the weekend, the kids will leave different from when they arrived.
“We hope the kids will come away changed,” she said. “That’s what we pray will happen.”
To learn more, visit the website at: archkck.org/rural/events/rcyc for additional details and parish registration or contact Bittner at (785) 221-2644 or by email at: ruralyouth@archkck.org with questions.
Lenexa troop celebrates nine new Eagle Scouts
ENEXA — Holy Trinity Troop 181 celebrated nine new Eagle Scouts on Feb. 23 in a Court of Honor at St. James Academy here.
For his Eagle Scout project, Will Bailey, a senior at De Soto High School, designed, built and installed seven Leopold benches for the climbing tower at TimberRidge Adventure Center, a local Johnson County Parks and Rec facility for summer camps and other similar activities.
Joshua Braun, a junior at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Overland Park, planted about 300 native plants in a nature reserve at Shawnee Mission Park in June and watered them for two weeks for his Eagle Scout project.
Quinton Brungardt, a senior at St. James Academy in Lenexa, created a prayerful space with landscaping, shrubs and a stone bench around a statue of Mary at Savior Pastoral Center in Kansas City, Kansas, for his Eagle Scout project.
Jackson Cantu, a senior at St. James, did a garden restoration/beautification project at Lenexa’s Legler Barn Museum, which consisted of planting over 30 native Kansas plants and flowers, rearranging current plants and flowers, pulling weeds, and watering and maintaining the garden for six weeks for his Eagle Scout project.
Michael Denk, a senior at Rockhurst High School in Kansas City, Missouri, built a picnic table and matching benches that were painted red, as well as a 6-foot-tall, stained wooden frame for a portrait of Jesus for his Eagle Scout project.
Andrew Mitchell, a senior at Shawnee Mission Northwest High School in Shawnee, designed, built
and installed two benches for the Nolan Davidson Memorial Garden at Christa McAuliffe Elementary in Lenexa for his Eagle Scout project.
Jonah Myers, a junior at St. James, designed, built, and installed a life jacket rack for the TimberRidge Adventure Center for his Eagle Scout project. The rack helps keep vests clean and off the ground while they dry for summer campers.
For his Eagle Scout project, Grant Smallwood, a senior at Shawnee Mission South High School in Overland Park, made benches for his school’s outdoor environmental science learning center.
Philip Whiteside, a senior at St. Thomas Aquinas High School, planted flowers and plants in the courtyard at his high school.
LEAVEN FILE PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER
The Rural Catholic Youth Conference (RCYC), scheduled for March 22-23 at Prairie Star Ranch in Williamsburg, offers youth leaders the chance to meet and learn from other leaders.
COURTESY PHOTO
Holy Trinity Troop 181 has nine new Eagle Scouts. They are: (from left) Philip Whiteside, Grant Smallwood, Jonah Myers, Andrew Mitchell, Michael Denk, Jackson Cantu, Joshua Braun and Will Bailey. Not pictured is Quinton Brungardt.
Family is where we learn to serve the least among us
Ask any parent who launched their child only to have them return home or encouraged them through rehab only to watch them relapse. Ask any adult child who has welcomed their parent into their home as aging, illness or disability demands. Ask couples who have blended families after divorce or death of a spouse. Ask families who have weathered unexpected and devastating medical complexities.
Family life is no straight line soaring upward to success. It rises and falls, dips and doubles back, twists and turns in directions we never saw coming. But family is the way that we learn to love, serve and humble ourselves over and over again to care for Christ in our midst.
In families, we are constantly called to rearrange our lives around the ones who need the most help: a newborn baby, a sick child, a broken leg, a stomach flu, a broken heart, a job loss, a new diagnosis or a mental health crisis.
But the school of love that is family life is not simply meant to produce a “finished product,” especially if we hold up able-bodied, successful, healthy and independent adults as the only goal. Instead, we are called to care for the least among us all life long.
In the Old Testament,
God keeps calling the people to care for the widow, the orphan and the foreigner. These three categories were the weakest, the overlooked and the powerless: the least among us. Through the prophets and leaders, God reminds the people over and over again to show special attention, love and mercy to the ones who lack status, influence or resources: “For the Lord, your God, is the God of gods . . . who executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and loves the resident alien, giving them food and clothing. So you too should love the resident alien” (Dt 10:17-19).
Jesus makes the call to care for the vulnerable ever clearer in the Gospels, when he identifies himself with the hungry, thirsty, naked, sick and imprisoned: “Whatever you did for one of
FAMILY LIFE IS NO STRAIGHT LINE SOARING UPWARD TO SUCCESS. IT RISES AND FALLS, DIPS AND DOUBLES BACK, TWISTS AND TURNS IN DIRECTIONS WE NEVER SAW COMING. BUT FAMILY IS THE WAY THAT WE LEARN TO LOVE, SERVE AND HUMBLE OURSELVES OVER AND OVER AGAIN TO CARE FOR CHRIST IN OUR MIDST.
these least brothers of mine, you did for me” (Mt 25:40).
The Catechism of the Catholic Church also teaches that families were created to care for the vulnerable — and also to call societies in turn to care for those in need:
“The family should live in such a way that its members learn to care
and take responsibility for the young, the old, the sick, the handicapped and the poor. There are many families who are at times incapable of providing this help. It devolves then on other persons, other families, and, in a subsidiary way, society to provide for their needs: ‘Religion that is pure and undefiled
before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained from the world’” (CCC 2208).
This is how families work toward the kingdom of God. We clean up when kids get sick, and we teach our children to care for creation. We make
dinner every night, and we share what we can with those who need help. We fold laundry, and we show our children how to vote and contact our representatives. We cheer for each other, and we talk about the daily news in the light of faith. We pray for one another, and we pray for those who have no one to pray for them.
Families embody what it means that the first shall be last and the last shall be first. We cannot ignore the call to serve the least within our walls — and within our world. The kingdom of God demands both.
LAURA KELLY FANUCCI
Laura Kelly Fanucci is an author, speaker and founder of Mothering Spirit, an online gathering place on parenting and spirituality. THE LEAVEN/ADOBE STOCK
In families, we are constantly called to rearrange our lives around the ones who need the most help.
LSister thrived in business and health care professions
EAVENWORTH — Sister Ann Marita Loosen, 101, a Sister of Charity of Leavenworth for 74 years, compassionate health care leader and lifelong advocate for the underserved, died on Jan. 31 .
Born Mary Patricia Loosen on May 1, 1923, in Kansas City, Missouri, she was the eldest of three children born to Irving R. and Mary Loosen. She grew up in the Rockhurst Jesuit parish of St. Francis Xavier, attending the parish school before transitioning to St. Teresa’s Academy and later business college.
Her call to religious life began in high school, though she initially pursued a career in the workforce, becoming a secretary for Trans World Airlines. She quickly advanced into roles traditionally held by men who were being called to military service.
from the University of Minnesota in 1967. She quickly became a leader in Catholic health care, serving in hospitals across California, Colorado and Kansas.
Though she thrived in the business world, she felt something was missing in her life. Conversations with her pastor and the example of her nurse friends, whose work inspired her with their dedication and sense of purpose, led her to realize that she was called to a vocation in nursing and service to God. After prayerful discernment, she was introduced to the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth and, within weeks, was accepted as a candidate. She entered the Sisters of Charity community on Aug. 18, 1950. Upon receiving her habit, she took the name Sister Ann Marita.
Sister Ann Marita earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing education from Saint Mary College in 1965 and a master’s in hospital administration
Over her 54-year career, she held numerous leadership positions, including president and CEO of St. Francis Health Center in Topeka, Providence Medical Center in Kansas City, Kansas, and Saint John Hospital in Leavenworth. Her tenure included significant advancements in hospital administration, leadership development and patient care as she established personnel departments, mentored health care leaders and advocated for patients. She was also instrumental in the founding of the Marian Clinic in Topeka, which provided essential health care services to uninsured and underinsured individuals.
In addition to her leadership in health care administration and improved patient care, Sister Ann Marita was a dedicated advocate for health care justice. As Advocacy and Government Affairs Coordinator for the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth Health System, she engaged with state and national leaders, promoting health care initiatives.
Sister Ann Marita carried the heart of a nurse throughout her life, offering guidance and support to those who sought her wisdom on health matters. She was honored with numerous awards, including the Charles S. Billings Award for Lifetime Service, the Outstanding Kansas Citizen Award and a Lifetime Service Award from Ingram’s magazine.
Sister was a dedicated nurse and talented artist
LEAVENWORTH — Sister Joy Duff, 92, a Sister of Charity of Leavenworth for 57 years, died on Jan. 30.
She was born Diana Joy to Hugh Thomas and Evangeline Marie Duff on Sept. 5, 1932, in Pasadena, California. She was the second of four children. She entered the Sisters of Charity on Jan. 14, 1969, and kept her baptismal name when she received her habit.
Sister Joy grew up during the Great Depression and witnessed firsthand the sacrifices her parents had to make to provide for their family. She deeply admired her father’s work ethic and was grateful for her mother’s presence in the home.
one-on-one patient care.
Among the patients she cared for was Walt Disney during his stay at Saint John’s Hospital. Even after she officially retired and before she returned to the motherhouse in 2017, Sister Joy remained committed to serving others, bringing Communion to patients and offering spiritual comfort in their time of need as a pastoral minister and chaplain.
From an early age, Sister Joy knew two things with certainty — she wanted to be a nurse and she wanted to dedicate her life to God by joining a religious community.
Sister Joy first received her training in nursing and earned her degree. A dedicated nurse, working at Saint John’s Hospital in Santa Monica, California, she encountered the Sisters of Charity and eventually joined the community.
She served in hospitals and home health care programs across California, Kansas, Montana and Wyoming, always finding deep fulfillment in
Sister Joy was a prayerful woman and could truly rest in the presence of God. One of her favorite Scripture passages was: “Be still and know that I am God” (Ps 46:10). Sister Joy also had a deep love for art and found great joy in creating beautiful oil paintings. Through her artwork, she shared her spirituality and the beauty of God’s creation.
Whether through her brushstrokes or her gentle presence, she brought light and warmth to those around her. Her brother Wayne said, “The thing I value most about Joy is that she lived the life she wanted, with no regrets.” Sister Paula Marie Tweet, SCL, and a close friend said, “She was such a blessing and joy to live with. Her name fit her well.”
Sister Joy loved being a Sister of Charity of Leavenworth and it was reflected in her witness as a good and faithful servant.
Sister Joy Duff, SCL
Sister Ann Marita Loosen, SCL
ARE YOU READY TO RALLY?
PHOTOS BY DOUG HESSE
Hundreds of youth from the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas — and beyond — gathered at Prairie Star Ranch on Feb. 23 for the annual junior high youth rally, this year themed “Encounter 2025.” The rally featured nationally known speaker and entertainer Cooper Ray, missionaries from the Cultural Project, a group art project, a Catholic Charities service project, Mass, and eucharistic adoration.
From left, Amy Schofield, Mia Wohletz ed by Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann
Kendyl Ganoung, Hayden Staab, Macie Stahl, Addison Bacon and Maddie Deutscher, members of Sacred Heart Parish in Plainsville — part of the Diocese of Salina — join archdiocesan youth in song and dance at this year’s junior high youth rally, Encounter 2025.
Local artist Mattie Karr leads the youth in a group painting project. Karr has done mural work for Holy Name of Jesus Parish in Kansas City, Kansas.
Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann celebrates Mass at the Junior High Youth Rally: Encounter 2025 on Feb. 23, held at Prairie Star Ranch in Williamsburg. Hundreds of youth from the archdiocese and beyond attended the all-day rally at Prairie Star Ranch in Williamsburg.
Wohletz and Caroline Cosse, members of Sacred Heart Parish in Shawnee, kneel during the Mass celebratNaumann at Encounter 2025.
Tiffin Lanter, a member of St. Leo Parish in Horton, prays during the Mass celebrated by Archbishop Joseph Naumann. After Mass, the girls and guys attended separate breakout sessions.
Keynote speaker Cooper Ray enthralls the crowd with song and storytelling at the Encounter 2025 rally at Prairie Star Ranch in Williamsburg.
From left, Isabella Morales, Samantha Tajchman and Reghan Morgan, members of Sacred Heart Parish in Emporia, work on a large group art project during an afternoon session of the rally.
From left, Cynthia Rogers, Charlotte Dekat, Sophia Matney, Elise Matney, Kenna Hernandez and Debonaire Furse, members of St. Francis Xavier Parish in Burlington, work on a service project for Catholic Charities.
A ‘silent genocide’ is unfolding in Congo, church sources warn
By Fredrick Nzwil OSV News
MAIBA, Congo (OSV News) — A “silent genocide” — mimicking the Rwandan one of 1994 — is occurring in eastern Congo, said some Catholic Church sources, as shock greeted the killing of 70 people in a Protestant church in the North Kivu Province.
The victims were found beheaded with machetes Feb. 15 near the Maiba village in Lubero, a district close to the border between Rwanda and Uganda, according to Fides, a news agency of the Dicastery of Evangelization. Many of those who died in the massacre were women, children and the elderly and had their hands tied behind their back.
The Orthodox Public Affairs Committee, an agency that champions for Christian communities facing persecution, said the victims were taken from their homes days earlier.
“This heinous act, perpetrated within a sacred place of worship, is an egregious violation of human rights and a direct assault on religious freedom,” said the organization in a statement on Feb. 23.
Allied Democratic Forces, an Islamist group originally from Uganda and aligned to the Islamic State group, is believed to have carried out the killings.
According to the Orthodox committee, actions by the Islamist group have instilled fear and chaos in the region, forcing countless Christians to flee their homes.
“The local community is devastated, with churches, schools and health centers shutting down due to the deteriorating security situation,” the statement said.
More than 100 rebel groups operate in the mineral-rich eastern Congo, with the ADF and the Rwanda-backed M23, or Movement 23, being some of the most deadly. The ADF is known for attacking churches, beheading Christians and kidnapping people for use as slaves or fighters.
But as the condemnation of the killings continued, Catholic Church sources said the latest massacre further underlined a genocide that has unfolded in the country for years.
“It is silent genocide that has not been told. It reminds of what happened in Rwanda in 1994,” a Catholic priest who requested anonymity for security reasons told OSV News. “It has been occurring for the last 30 years, but the international community has been silent.”
Since 1996, the conflict in eastern Congo has killed an estimated six million people.
In the first Congo war, Rwanda invaded Zaire (now Congo) in pursuit of Hutu ethnic extremists who had fled there after they committed a genocide in neighboring Rwanda. The 1994 Rwanda
genocide left nearly one million members of Tutsi and moderate Hutu people dead. In the second Congo war, two years later, Rwandan and Ugandan armies fought deadly battles in Bunia and Kisangani regions, resulting in heavy civilian casualties.
Father Dennis Dashong Pam, a Missionary of Africa priest who served in eastern Congo for more than 10 years, said although the killings in Congo did not fit in the actual definition, the huge number of the deaths was equivalent to a genocide.
“Villages of the Congolese have systematically been wiped out. Yes! We can say a genocide is occurring,” said Father Dashong Pam. The cleric feared a repeat of the violence in the mid1990s, when national armies fought in the region, leading to the fall of the
then-dictator Mobutu Sese Seko’s government.
“The people of Congo would not want to see a repeat of that. Too many people died,” the priest said.
Father Dashong Pam said all the fighting and violence is fueled by competition for mineral resources including tin, gold, coltan and cobalt. The last two are minerals which find wide use in electronics. Cobalt is used to make the batteries used in mobile phones and cars, and coltan is refined into tantalum, also used in the production of electronic components.
“It is all about the minerals. This story has to be told. It is a weapon: You terrorize the people and they run away from an area with plenty of minerals. When they are gone, you start exploiting the minerals,” said the priest.
As U.S. stops military aid, EU bishops call for supporting Ukraine
By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News
BRUSSELS (OSV News) — Following the announcement that U.S. President Donald Trump ordered a “pause” on U.S. assistance to Ukraine, Catholic bishops in the European Union called for unity on the continent.
In a statement published March 4, the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union said that given complexities of the conflict, as well as “the unpredictability of actions taken by some members of the international community,” it was up to EU member states “to remain united in their commitment to supporting Ukraine and its people.”
“Ukraine’s struggle for peace and the defense of its territorial integrity is not only a fight for its own future. Its outcome will also be decisive for the fate of the entire European continent and of a free and democratic world,” the statement said.
Tensions between the United States and Ukraine reached an all-time high following a Feb. 28 clash between
Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House. European leaders rallied behind Zelenskyy at a meeting in London where
outlined the framework of a peace plan.
Noting that the “geopolitical landscape remains fraught with instability and uncertainty,” COMECE said that the EU bishops reaffirmed their solidarity
with Ukraine and expressed its gratitude to EU leaders for their continued support of the war-torn country amid Russia’s “blatant violation of international law.”
“The use of force to alter national borders and the atrocious acts committed against the civilian population are not only unjustifiable, but demand a consequent pursuit of justice and accountability,” the bishops said.
Without directly naming Trump, the bishops of COMECE said EU bishops “firmly reject any attempts to distort the reality of this aggression” and that any sincere efforts for dialogue “must involve the victim of the aggression.”
“In order to be sustainable and just, a future peace accord must fully respect international law and be underpinned by effective security guarantees to prevent the conflict from re-erupting,” the statement said. “The peace agreement must establish the necessary conditions to ensure that Ukrainian families can reunite again and live a life in dignity, security and freedom in their sovereign and independent homeland.”
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer
OSV NEWS PHOTO/NINA LIASHONOK, REUTERS
Residents are seen at a site of an apartment building in Odesa, Ukraine, March 4, hit by a Russian drone strike, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine.
OSV NEWS PHOTO/EVRARD NGENDAKUMANA, REUTERS
A child stands next to a police officer as displaced families wait for food at Rugombo Stadium in Burundi Feb. 18 after Congolese fled from renewed clashes between M23 rebels and the armed forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC).
Public prayers for ailing pope show affection, cardinal says
By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The nightly recitation of the rosary for Pope Francis and for all the sick “is a beautiful gesture” of affection and of faith, said Cardinal Leonardo Sandri.
“Anyone can come. Praying together is a sign of ecclesiality, of being church,” said the Argentine cardinal, who is the retired prefect of the Dicastery for Eastern Churches.
Stay informed
To get the most recent update on the pope’s condition go to: theleaven.org/ category/vatican
“Our Lord himself said, ‘Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them,’” the cardinal told Catholic News Service March 4, after hundreds of people had gathered to pray the rosary for Pope Francis at 9 p.m. each night for more than a week.
Twenty years ago, the Argentine cardinal, then-substitute for general affairs in the Vatican Secretariat of State, was leading prayers in St. Peter’s Square for the ailing Pope John Paul II, who left Rome’s Gemelli hospital March 13, 2005, for the last time.
Cardinal Sandri was delegated at the time to lead the recitation of the Angelus prayer at midday on Sundays and to read the texts Pope John Paul had prepared for the occasion while he was hospitalized and once he returned to the Vatican.
The Polish pope died April 2, 2005, as Cardinal Sandri was leading the rosary with tens of thousands of people who started flocking to St. Peter’s Square a few days earlier when it was clear Pope John Paul was dying.
At the time, the cardinal said, the Vatican Secretariat of State organized the prayer on the steps of St. Peter’s Basilica. Now, with Pope Francis hos-
pitalized, the nightly prayer is being organized by the secretariat and the Vicariate for Vatican City State.
While Pope Francis’ doctors have said their prognosis is “guarded,” they had told reporters Feb. 21 that he was not in imminent danger of death. They did say, however, that they expected his condition to have ups and downs as he tried to recover from double pneumonia.
The 88-year-old pope has been in the Gemelli hospital since Feb. 14 when bronchitis led to serious breathing difficulties.
In addition to the pneumonia, they said, the pope has two chronic lung con-
ditions — bronchiectasis and asthmatic bronchitis — caused by years of respiratory problems and repeated bouts of bronchitis. The pope had undergone surgery in 1957 to remove part of his right lung after suffering a severe respiratory infection.
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, led the first public rosary for Pope Francis Feb. 24.
He introduced the prayer by telling those gathered, “The Acts of the Apostles recounts that the church prayed intensely while Peter was in prison. For 2,000 years, the Christian people have prayed for the pope when he was in
danger or infirm.”
“So, too, in these days when our Holy Father, Francis, has been hospitalized at Gemelli hospital an intense prayer is being raised for him to the Lord by individual faithful and Christian communities around the world,” the cardinal added.
Those gathered in St. Peter’s Square, he said, entrust the pope to “the powerful intercession of Mary” and pray that “she who is our caring mother would sustain him in this time of illness and trial and help him to recover his health soon.”
Pope’s spirit ‘remains vigorous,’ nuncio tells faithful
By Mark Pattison OSV News
WASHINGTON (OSV News) — As worshipers entered the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington for the noon Mass March 2, they saw at the base of the sanctuary a large portrait of a bespectacled, smiling Pope Francis, with a vase in front of the portrait bearing gold and white flowers — the colors of the Vatican flag.
The pope’s health was the prime focus of the Mass, celebrated by Cardinal Christophe Pierre, the Vatican nuncio to the United States. Following the Mass, the rosary was recited.
Cardinal Pierre’s homily linked Pope Francis’ situation to the Scripture readings of the day, the Eighth Sunday of Ordinary Time.
The cardinal spoke of the pope’s spirit, “the inner self,” which he said “allows the pope ‘to proclaim [the Lord’s] kindness at dawn and [his] faithfulness throughout the night’,” quoting from Psalm 92, the responsorial psalm for the day.
Noting that the psalmist also referred
to palm trees and cedars as “vigorous and sturdy,” Cardinal Pierre said, “To be sure, the Holy Father’s body, 88 years old and beset with many infirmities, is not ‘vigorous and sturdy.’ But his spirit: That is what remains vigorous!”
Psalm 92 also says, “The just . . . shall bear fruit even in old age . . . declaring how just is the Lord, my rock, in whom there is no wrong.” Cardinal Pierre noted how in the daily reports on Pope Francis’s health, “there is a simple phrase that has been repeated, which we might pass over easily. It is said, ‘he remains in good spirits.’”
“As simple as that statement is, the word of God in today’s Mass would suggest that there is actually quite a bit of meaning in such a statement,” Cardinal Pierre said.
He added, “In these daily reports about the pope, we sometimes hear that he ‘resumed his work.’ Again, a simple phrase, but actually quite indicative of what motivates Pope Francis. To use the words of Paul (whose First Letter to the Corinthians was proclaimed at the Mass), the Holy Father is ‘always devoted to the work of the Lord, knowing that [his] labor is not in vain.’”
At the beginning of the Mass, Msgr. Walter Rossi, rector of the basilica, said
Pope Francis’ condition was “guarded.”
“The whole world has been praying for Pope Francis,” Msgr. Rossi said. “We
in the shrine have been praying for him as well.”
Nearly 1,000 attended the Mass —more than a typical Sunday when there aren’t diocesan pilgrimages and tourist draws, according to Jacqueline Hayes, the basilica’s communications director. Once the plans were firmed up — on less than a week’s notice, Hayes said —the basilica used social media and other methods to announce the special Mass.
For Xin Liu Wall, this was her first time in any Catholic church. “I hope he gets well soon,” she said of Pope Francis.
Brock Ryan, a member of Holy Redeemer Parish in Kensington, Maryland, added similar sentiments: “I hope he gets well. He’s a good pope.”
“I’ve been praying for him,” John Ojo, a regular at the noon Mass at the shrine who stayed for the rosary, told the Catholic Standard, Washington’s archdiocesan newspaper. “It makes me wonder why the pope should be sick. I wonder why he has to suffer,” he added. But “if you are a human being . . . you have to go through different tribulations,” Ojo said. “God is a very fair God. If it can happen to the poor person on the street, it can happen to the pope.”
CNS PHOTO/PABLO ESPARZA
A religious Sister prays as people gather in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican to recite the rosary for Pope Francis with Cardinal Robert F. Prevost, prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, March 3.
OSV NEWS PHOTO/MIHOKO OWADA, CATHOLIC STANDARD Cardinal Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States, delivers his homily during the March 2 Mass he celebrated at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington for the intentions of Pope Francis.
EMPLOYMENT
Marketing and communications specialist - Are you bubbling with creativity and have professional experience in creating strategic marketing and communications plans that effectively engage and inspire diverse audiences? Are you skilled in graphic design and crafting compelling written communications to support parish events, campaigns and ministries? We may have the perfect role for you! Go online to: https://go.cultureindex.com/p/JpSrpgMyZvMd for more information and to apply.
Catholic elementary school principal - John Paul II School in Overland Park is seeking a dynamic and visionary leader with a passion for Catholic education. The principal will continue the school’s tradition of forming disciples, pursuing academic excellence and spiritual growth. The principal will lead by example and inspire a team of dedicated faculty and staff. Applicants must have or be eligible for Kansas licensure in educational leadership. Apply online at: archkckcs.org/apply. For more information, contact Carla Mills at: cmills@archkck.org.
Executive director - The Catholic Foundation of Northeast Kansas (CFNEK) is seeking to hire an executive director. The executive director works closely with the board of directors of the CFNEK, lay and pastoral leaders, and CFNEK staff to support the mission of the CFNEK. This position is full time and benefits eligible. For more details or to apply, please visit “Employment Opportunities” at: www.archkck.org.
Human Resources administrative assistant - The chancery office of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas seeks to fill an HR administrative assistant position. The job plays a central role supporting the HR team, is full time based on 40 hours per week and benefits eligible, with a flexible schedule. This position is on-site in the chancery office. Please visit “Employment Opportunities” on the archdiocesan website at: www.archkck.org.
Principal - St. Andrew the Apostle School, Gladstone, Missouri, is seeking an elementary school principal to administer and provide student instruction in a preschool through 8th grade Catholic school. This position will supervise teaching, administrative and support staff, and oversee a range of programs and services. This is a full-time position working 40 hours per week.
Loan officer position - Exchange Bank & Trust, Atchison, is seeking a full-time loan officer to join our team. As a loan officer, you will be responsible for evaluating loan applications, determining creditworthiness and making loan decisions. You will also be responsible for building and maintaining relationships with clients and provide exceptional customer service. The primary markets served include Atchison, Leavenworth and Doniphan counties in Kansas and Buchanan and Platte counties in Missouri. Qualifications include bachelor’s degree in finance, business or a related field. Prefer at least two years’ experience in the banking industry. Benefits include competitive compensation, generous bonus potential, health insurance, 401(k) and profit sharing. Salary will be based on experience. For more information or to apply, email resume to: bhawk@ebt.bank.
Assistant girls softball coach - Bishop Miege High School is seeking an assistant girls softball coach for the 2025 spring season. Contact Joe Schramp, athletic director, at: jschramp@bishopmiege.com or (913) 222-5802.
Staff job openings - Donnelly College in Kansas City, Kansas, a Catholic college offering higher education for those who may not otherwise be served, has the following staff job openings available — financial aid director, director of nursing, human resources generalist, and director of development. Find job descriptions and details at: www. donnelly.edu/careers.
Technician Needed ASAP - Do you like to tinker? Are you detail-oriented? Then this is the job for you! A locally owned family business is currently seeking candidates to provide preventive maintenance (cleaning) and repair service on microscopes. No previous experience necessary, on-the-job training provided. Good communication, time management and customer service skills necessary. Expenses paid, out in the field majority of time and each day is different! Some travel is required. Please contact us at: techneeded23@gmail.com.
Executive director - L’Arche Heartland is seeking a compassionate and visionary executive director to lead our community dedicated to adults with disabilities. The ideal candidate will have a bachelor’s degree and caregiving experience, with a passion for fostering inclusive communities. This role requires strong leadership and organizational and relationship-building skills to support our mission of belonging and shared life. To learn more or apply, email: james@larcheks.org.
Teachers - St. Joseph Early Education Center is seeking passionate and dedicated teachers to join our team. The ideal candidate should have experience working with early childhood children and possess a strong background in child welfare, education, development and be enthusiastic about creating a nurturing learning environment for young learners. Interested individuals should apply on St. Joseph website or email/call Kristan Mora at: KMora@stjoeshawnee. org; (913) 631-0004.
Full-time maintenance/custodian - St. Joseph Parish in Shawnee is looking for a full-time maintenance/custodian staff member. Qualified applicants will primarily work in a school and early education environment. Applicants must have similar work history, references, dependable transportation, be Virtus-trained or attend a Virtus training, and participate in a background check. Interested applicants should apply on St. Joseph website or email/ call Richard Williams at: RWilliams@stjoeshawnee.org; (913) 200-2639.
Full-time operator and full-time laborer - Midwest Milling Services, Inc., is a road construction company specializing in asphalt milling of roads and parking lots mostly in the Kansas City metro area. We are looking for a full-time operator as well as a full-time laborer for the upcoming season. If you are interested, please contact Mike Lyons at (913) 208-3022.
Part-time facilities maintenance - Church of the Ascension in Overland Park is seeking applicants for a part-time (25 hours per week) facilities maintenance position. Applicants should possess basic mechanical skills: carpentry, painting, plumbing repair, etc. The role assists the facilities director in addressing daily facility needs, repairs and upgrades. Applicants are required to pass a background check, complete safe environment training and be able to do heavy lifting. Ideal opportunity for a craftsman who is looking to work 4 - 5 hours per day, M - F. Interested individuals should send contact information along with a list of past work experience to Lisa Donart at the parish office at: Idonart@kcascension.org.
Catholic foreign missionary - Does your heart burn to share the good news of God’s love with others? Has your life been radically changed by encountering Jesus in his beloved poor? For nearly 30 years, Family Missions Company has helped form and send over 1,000 missionaries across the globe to preach the Gospel, serve the poor and make disciples. We are authentically Catholic, lay families and singles willing to follow the Holy Spirit wherever he leads. The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few. If God is stirring your heart, please contact us today to start a conversation. Jonathan Oakes - cell: (913) 725-0220; email: jon@familymissionscompany.com.
Catholic elementary school principal - St. Matthew School in Topeka is seeking a dynamic and visionary leader with a passion for Catholic education. The principal will continue the school’s tradition of forming disciples, pursuing academic excellence and spiritual growth. The principal will lead by example and inspire a team of dedicated faculty and staff. Applicants must have or be eligible for Kansas licensure in educational leadership. We also prefer that the candidate be fluent in both Spanish and English. Apply online at: archkckcs.org/apply. For more information, contact Father John Torrez at: jtorrez@archkck.org.
Caregivers needed - Daughter & Company is looking for compassionate caregivers to provide assistance to seniors in their home, assisted living or in a skilled nursing facility. We provide sitter services, light housekeeping and light meal preparation, organizational assistance, care management and occasional transportation for our clients. We need caregivers with reliable transportation and a cellphone for communication. We typically employ on a part-time basis, but will strive to match hours desired. Contact Gary or Laurie at (913) 341-2500 if you want to become part of an excellent caregiving team.
Administrative assistant - Come join our team! A small family-owned company located in Lenexa is looking for an assistant to answer phones; invoicing; product ordering; some shipping/receiving and to assist the owner. We need a team member who is organized; detail oriented; self-motivated; trustworthy; has a positive attitude and above all else, gives excellent customer service. Schedule flexibility. Send your resume to: YourCareer101@gmail. com.
Director of medical services - Wyandotte and Olathe
Pregnancy Clinics are hiring a director of medical services. This full-time director will be responsible for the management of the medical staff, including nurses and sonographers, in both clinics. Responsibilities include handling personnel matters, ensuring shifts at both clinics are staffed, and providing ultrasounds and other clinic services for patients. This is a critical position to our organization, requiring dedication to the mission and vision of WPC Inc. We are looking for a registered nurse and will provide training to the right person to obtain their sonography certification. Please contact Leah Conner at (913) 207-0186 or email at: lconner@wpcnetwork.org.
Part-time facilities assistant - St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Leawood is seeking a part-time facilities assistant for 20 - 25+ hours per week in the evenings with occasional weekends. Responsibilities include setup and teardown for events and custodial duties. Go to: stmichaelcp. org/employment for a full description. Submit resume and cover letter to: jim.thompson@stmichaelcp.org.
Faculty and adjunct faculty job openings - Donnelly College, Kansas City, Kansas, is a Catholic college offering higher education for those who may not other wise be served Faculty job openings - Nursing faculty. Adjunct faculty job openings - psychology adjunct instructor for nursing and clinical nursing adjunct. Adjunct faculty Lansing Correctional Campus - Psychology adjunct. Find job descriptions and details at: www.donnelly.edu/careers.
WANTED TO BUY
Will buy firearms and related accessories - One or a whole collection. Honest evaluation and top prices paid. Contact Tom at (913) 238-2473. Member of Sacred Heart Parish, Shawnee.
$$Paying Cash$$ - Antique Furniture, crocks, tin and cast iron toys, old tools, glassware, American coins, jewelry. Most anything old. Please call Patricia at (913) 515-2950.
Wanted to buy
Do you have a car or truck that you need to get rid of? If you do, CALL ME!
I’m a cash buyer. We’re Holy Trinity parishioners. My name is Mark. (913) 980-4905.
Wanted to buy - Antiques & Collectibles: jewelry, military items, railroad, sterling, OLD holiday/toys and more. Renee Maderak (913) 475-7393. St. Joseph Parish, Shawnee.
HOME IMPROVEMENT
Popcorn ceiling texture removal Call Jerry at (913) 206-1144. 30 years’ experience. Interior painting specialist. Member St. Joseph Parish, Shawnee.
STA (Sure Thing Always) Home Repair - Basement finish, bathrooms and kitchens; interior & exterior repairs: painting, roofing, siding, wood replacement and window glazing. Free estimates. Call (913) 579-1835. Email: smokeycabin@hotmail.com. Member of Holy Trinity, Lenexa.
Father and Son Home Remodeling - We specialize in kitchen/bathroom and basement remodeling, from start to finish. We also do decks, covered decks, porches, sun-rooms and room additions! If you’re not sure we do it, just call. From my family to yours, thank you for supporting my small business. To contact me, call (913) 709-7230 and ask for Josh.
Local handyman - Painting, int. and ext., wood rot, mason repair, gutter cleaning (gutter covers), dryer vent cleaning, sump pump (replace, add new), windows, doors (interior and exterior), honey-do list, window cleaning and more! Member of Holy Angels Parish, Basehor. Call Billy at (913) 927-4118.
Haus To Home Remodeling - Let’s give that room a nice face-lift! Specializing in affordable room remodeling. From small projects to bathrooms and basements. Tile, paint, carpentry, wood rot, decks, drywall, etc. Free estimates. Call Cole at (913) 544-7352.
SERVICES
AKC Pros roofing, siding, gutters, insulation - Did you get tired of the door-knocking and constant calls from different roofing companies after the storms this year? Now that the dust has settled, let’s talk. If it’s new damage or old damage, just give me a call. I’ll walk your roof and we will decide together whether to file a claim. Locally owned and operated, licensed and insured. Call Josh at (913) 7097230.
Memory quilts - Preserve your memories in a keepsake quality quilt, pillows, etc. Custom designed from your T-shirt collection, baby clothes, sports memorabilia, neckties . . . Quilted Memories. (913) 649-2704.
EL SOL Y LA TIERRA
*COMMERCIAL & RESIDENTIAL *LAWN RENOVATION *MOWING *CLEANUP AND HAULING
*DIRT GRADING/INSTALLATION
*LANDSCAPE DESIGN* FREE ESTIMATES HABLAMOS Y ESCRIBIMOS INGLES!! CALL LUPE AT (816) 252-1391
Custom countertops - Laminates installed within 5 days. Cambria, granite and solid surface. Competitive prices, dependable work. Call the Top Shop, Inc., at (913) 962-5058. Members of St. Joseph, Shawnee.
Concrete construction - Tear out and replace stamped, stained or colored patios and drives. Retaining walls, footing, poured-in-place safe rooms, excavation and hauling. Asphalt drives and lots. Fully insured, references. Call Dan at (913) 207-4371 or send an email to: dandeeconst@aol.com.
CAREGIVING
Need caregiving at home? Don’t want to move?For nearly 20 years, we have helped seniors stay in their home with personal care, med management and household assistance. We also specialize in dementia care with free dementia training for families, all at reasonable rates and terms. Call Benefits of Home Senior Care at (913) 422-1591.
Home Care - Can provide home care for those needing assistance. CNA, 15 years’ experience, background check available from past employers. Call (913) 5260797.
Caregiving - We provide personal assistance, companionship, care management and transportation for seniors in their home, assisted living or nursing facilities. We also provide respite care for main caregivers needing some personal time. Call Daughters & Company at (913) 341-2500 and speak with Laurie, Pat or Gary.
REAL ESTATE
Wanted to buy - Do you have a car or truck that you need to get rid of or donate? If you do, CALL ME! I’m a cash buyer. We’re Holy Trinity parishioners. My name is Mark. (913) 960-4905.
We want to buy your house - There are so many new companies in town advertising to buy houses. But we’re the only ones that have been here and we’re local Holy Trinity parishioners. I will give you a fair price on any conditions you are up against. Call Mark Edmundson. (913) 986-4905.
Looking to buy or sell a home? - Buy or sell a home with someone who understands your values. We are a Catholic-owned, faith-driven team of Realtors, dedicated to helping fellow Catholics buy or sell homes in our community. We bring integrity, compassion and a commitment to your needs. Let us be part of your journey. Call Kevin Holmes (owner) at (913) 553-0539.
We buy houses and whole estates - We are local and family-owned, and will make you a fair cash offer. We buy houses in any condition. No fees or commissions and can close on the date of your choice. Selling your house has never felt so good. Jon & Stacy Bichelmeyer, (913) 599-5000.
PILGRIMAGES
Pilgrimages - Medjugorje is approved by the Vatican, receiving “nihil obstat” and encouraging people to go. The next pilgrimage date with visionary Mirjana Soldo as our hostess is March 12-20 and April 16-23, 2025. I am also available to speak to groups about Medjugorje. Call Grace at (913) 449-1806.
FOR SALE
Residential lifts - New and recycled. Stair lifts, porch lifts, ceiling lifts and elevators. St. Michael’s parishioners. KC Lift & Elevator at (913) 327-5557. (Formerly Silver Cross - KC)
For sale - Single mausoleum crypt at Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Kansas City, Kansas. Located inside in the Chapel Corridor. The cost is $7600. Currently all inside crypts are sold out. If interested in purchasing this inside crypt, call Linda at (913) 631-9962 and leave your name and phone number and she will return your call.
‘Forgiveness 101’ workshop
Prince of Peace Parish
16000 W. 143rd St., Olathe
March 8 from 8 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Are you struggling with forgiving someone who has really hurt you? You are not alone! “Forgiveness 101” offers a safe and supportive experience of healing for anyone suffering from unresolved conflict and past trauma. In this workshop, you will review the important difference between forgiveness and justice and learn that forgiveness is not about forgetting or excusing the offense. For more information about this ministry, go online to: www. yeabut.org.
Corned beef And cabbage dinner
Immaculate Conception Parish (Miege Hall)
711 N. Fifth St., Leavenworth
March 9 from 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
A corned beef dinner is $15; Irish stew is $10; hot dog, chips and dessert are $5. There will also be a silent auction and a raffle for cash prizes.
BREAKFAST WITH THE KNIGHTS
Divine Mercy Parish
555 W. Main St., Gardner
March 9 from 8:30 - 10 a.m.
The breakfast will include eggs, sausage, biscuits and gravy, pancakes, waffles and drinks. The cost is $6 for those over the age of 13 and free for ages 12 and under. Proceeds are used for charitable works, such as scholarships and other giving throughout the year.
‘Pilgrims of Hope: Ignatian contemplations on Luke’s Gospel’ Church of the Nativity (lower level)
3800 W. 119th St., Leawood
March 11, 18 and 25 from 6:30 - 8 p.m.
Join us for three evenings to spend time with Jesus. Each evening features a reflective retreat talk, a guided prayer experience and time for spiritual conversation in small groups. For more information and to register, go online to: www.ignatiancenter kc.org, click on “Events and Programs,” and scroll down to “Pilgrims of Hope.”
Lenten linger over coffee
Marillac Retreat & Spirituality Center
4200 S. 4th St., Leavenworth March 11, 18, 25 and April 1 and 8 from 9 - 11 a.m.
Join us five Tuesdays during Lent as we reflect on the lives and work of consecrat-
ed and modern-day saints among us. Their lives, methods of prayer, and their struggles and sacrifices invite us to deepen our prayer life. You are invited to conclude your morning with 11 a.m. Mass with the Sisters. No registration is necessary. A freewill offering will be accepted.
‘He loved us . . . nothing can separate us’
Precious Blood Renewal Center
2120 St. Gaspar Way, Liberty, Missouri
March 11 - April 8 (Tuesdays)
In his latest encyclical, “Dilexit Nos” (“He Loved Us”), Pope Francis reflects on how the Sacred Heart is a symbol of how much God loves us. He invites us to experience that love, and then share that love in our various personal living situations. We will study this encyclical on Tuesdays in Lent. Register online at: pbrenewalcenter.org or call (816) 415-3745.
WINE AND WISDOM:
TAX-REDUCING STRATEGIES
St. Joseph Parish (McDevitt Hall)
11311 Johnson Dr., Shawnee
March 12 at 6 p.m.
The speaker will be Bill Eckert, AEP, CAP, senior financial adviser at Renaissance Financial. There will be a social and wine tasting at 6 p.m. and the presentation at 7 p.m. Register by visiting the website at: cfnek.org/events or by contacting Mitch Nolan at (913) 647-3070 or by email at: mnolan@archkck.org.
Singles dance
Camelot Dance Studio
6635 W. 151st St., Overland Park
March 15 from 7 - 10 p.m.
No partner is necessary for this singles only event. Music, played by a DJ, will be ’70s, ’80s, country and disco. There will be free style, line and ballroom dancing. This is sponsored by New Friends Network meetup group. Dress is casual.
Stations of the cross for adults with special needs
Church of the Ascension
9510 W. 127th St., Overland Park
March 15 from 4 - 5:45 p.m.
Join us for Stations of the Cross for adults with special needs — for ages 16 - 18 and over. There is no cost, no need to make reservations. The church is handicap accessible. For questions, please call Cathy Oxley at (816) 210-8181 or send an email to: 3oxleys@gmail.com.
IRISH FEST
Evergy Plaza
8th St. and Kansas Ave., Topeka
March 15 at 10 a.m.
Mater Dei Parish in Topeka is hosting this event. Enjoy Irish food, kids’ activities, live music, a beer garden, whiskey tastings, vendors and a 5K run. For more information and to register for the 5K, visit the website at: topekairishfest.com.
Rosary Rally
Church of the Holy Cross 8311 W. 93rd St., Overland Park
March 16 from 3 - 4 p.m.
We will pray the joyful, sorrowful and glorious mysteries of the rosary followed by Benediction and the opportunity to enroll in the brown scapular. For driving directions or future dates for the Kansas City monthly rosary rallies, visit the website at: www.rosaryrallieskc.org.
wine and wisdom: tax-reducing strategies
Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish (Room 37)
5501 Monticello Rd., Shawnee
March 26 at 5:30 p.m.
The speaker will be Bill Eckert, AEP, CAP, senior financial adviser at Renaissance Financial. There will be a social and wine tasting at 5:30 p.m. and the presentation at 6 p.m. Register online at: cfnek. org/events or contact Jane Schmitt at (913) 647-3060 or by email at: jschmitt@arch kck.org.
Deo Gratias appreciation dinner
Church of the Ascension 9510 W. 127th St., Overland Park
March 27 at 5:30 p.m.
The evening will begin with Mass at 5:30 p.m. with Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann, followed by cocktails, dinner and program, and a final blessing. Deo Gratias honorees are: Distinguished Family - Marty and Beth Krebs; Distinguished Organization - Church of the Ascension. Register online at: www.cfnek.org/events/ deogratias or send an email to: Mwade@ archkck.org.
Hope Ball
Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center 2345 McGee St., Kansas City, Missouri
March 29 at 5 p.m.
Get ready for an unforgettable night of elegance, joy and purpose at Hope Ball 2025. Purchase your ticket or tables or sponsor today. Ticket sales close on Feb. 28. All proceeds benefit Catholic Charities of Kansas City-St. Joseph. Learn more online at: www.catholiccharitiesball.org.
Lenten retreat on Strawberry hill
Holy Family Parish
274 Orchard St., Kansas City, Kansas
April 2 from 8 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
It is a special time in our archdiocese when the community gathers together to gain insight into a faith-filled life with talks and stories from Father Richard Gielow, CM. Father Richard, director of the Vincentian Parish Mission Center in Kansas City, Missouri, is a respected theologian and dynamic speaker who has conducted thousands of missions throughout the country. Mass will be held at 8 a.m. Snacks and brunch will be served by the Strawberry Hill Altar Societies. Register online by sending your name, email address and phone number to: csandysangels@aol. com or by calling (913) 396-1564 no later than March 30. The cost is a freewill offering.
estate planning 101
Most Pure Heart of Mary Parish (Culhane Room)
3601 S.W. 17th St., Topeka
April 23 from 6 - 7 p.m.
The speaker will be Vince Cox, attorney at law, Cavanaugh, Boggs & Lemon, PA. Register online at: cfnek.org/events or contact Mitch Nolan at (913) 647-3070 or by email at: mnolan@archkck.org.
CAlled to love again divorce support
St. Pius X Parish
5500 Woodson St., Mission April 27 at 6 p.m.
Do you feel as if you will never heal? Wondering if you’re ready for a relationship? Join us once a month at 6 p.m. for fellowship and formation.
wills and trusts workshop
Matt Ross Community Center (Crown Room)
8101 Marty St., Overland Park
April 30 at 5:30 p.m.
The event will begin at 5:30 p.m. for social time and snacks. The presentation on wills and trusts will begin at 7 p.m. The speaker will be Casey Connealy, estate planning attorney, Gaughan & Connealy. Register online at: cfnek.org/events or contact Jane Schmitt at (913) 647-3060 or send an email to: jschmitt@archkck.org.
‘GOSPEL OF NONVIOLENCE: LIVING THE WAY OF JESUS’
Keeler Women’s Center
759 Vermont Ave., Kansas City, Kansas 1st and 3rd Wednesdays from 1 - 3 p.m.
Join us for a presentation on the Gospel of nonviolence by learning how to live the way of Jesus.
SOLUTION
DAILY READINGS
FIRST WEEK OF LENT
March 9
FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT
Dt 26: 4-10
Ps 91: 1-2, 10-15
Rom 10: 8-13
Lk 4: 1-13
March 10
Monday
Lv 19: 1-2, 11-18
Ps 19: 8-10, 15
Mt 25: 31-46
March 11
Tuesday
Is 55: 10-11
Ps 34: 4-7, 16-19
Mt 6: 7-15
March 12
Wednesday
Jon 3: 1-10
Ps 51: 3-4, 12-13, 18-19
Lk 11: 29-32
March 13
Thursday
Est C: 12, 14-16, 23-25
Ps 138: 1-3, 7c-8
Mt 7: 7-12
March 14
Friday
Ez 18: 21-28
Ps 130: 1-8
Mt 5: 20-26
March 15
Saturday
Dt 26: 16-19
Ps 119: 1-2, 4-5, 7-8
Mt 5: 43-48
CUTHBERT
c. 634 - 687
Cuthbert likely was a Northumbrian Englishman, orphaned as a child. He tended sheep and fought the Mercians, then became a monk at Melrose Abbey, and later its abbot. In 664, he accompanied St. Eata to Lindisfarne, or Holy Island, off the northeastern coast of England, and later undertook long journeys on horseback or foot, ministering to Christians scattered around northern England and helping his monks accept Roman liturgical customs. After living as a contemplative for nine years on a remote islet, he was elected bishop of Hexham in 684. But he exchanged sees with Eata, becoming bishop of Lindisfarne. According to Bede’s history, Cuthbert was a holy, patient, practical leader, a miracleworker beloved by all. He is a patron of sailors and of Northumbria.
“E-YOW!”
This exclamation was followed by an intense intake of breath and a quick look down at the damage. Yeah, it was not good . . . at all. Let me give you the details. On Feb.19, my day off, I got excited that an Amazon package had just been delivered. As I went to retrieve the package, I kept the front door ajar to keep in the heat. I reached to grab the package with my left hand, slipped on some snow and reflexively pulled on the door to keep my balance. Unfortunately, my right index finger was still in the metal door as it closed. Without getting too graphic, I had a deep gash on that finger right above the top knuckle. The injury was not something I could doctor at home. Since I didn’t trust myself to drive, I asked Jennifer, one of our religious ed directors
I know who to point the finger at
MARK MY WORDS
FATHER MARK GOLDASICH
Father Mark is the pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Tonganoxie. He has been editor of The Leaven since 1989.
at the parish, to take me to the emergency room.
I was relieved that the emergency room at St. Luke’s near the Legends in Kansas City, Kansas, was not crowded. I was quickly ushered into one of the rooms where I knew I’d have to explain how the injury happened. How embarrassing to say that I shut my own finger in a door
rather than injuring it preparing a gourmet, five-course meal!
After they cleaned things up and took a couple of X-rays, they said I needed some stitches. (Incredibly, I’ve never had stitches before.) I’m not going to lie: getting some shots in my finger to deaden it was not the most pleasant thing. And after they dressed the wound and put a big splint on it, I got a bonus: a tetanus shot.
Over the next week, I took antibiotics and then visited a hand surgeon where I found out that, thanks be to God, I wouldn’t require surgery. I do
have a much smaller splint on my finger now for the next few weeks but that’s a small price to pay for my stupidity.
Sadly, though, my “pro bowler’s career” on Monday nights in Lawrence is now in the gutter.
Naturally, my right hand is my dominant one. I never imagined how inconvenient it is not to have the use of that pointer finger. Everything’s more complicated – tying shoes, buttoning things, turning a key in a door, showering, handwriting. And for a touch typist like me, composing this column last week was an “adventure,” leading to scads of misspelled words and “colorful” language. (Yes, it’s now on my next reconciliation list.)
I recount all this not for your sympathy, but because of what came to mind these past couple of weeks. In this season of Lent, we often focus only on
the things that we’re giving up. But that can obscure the many blessings that are still a part of our lives.
The use of my right finger has been inconvenient but, wow, I’m still so blessed: the fact that only one finger and not my entire hand was injured; having gracious people to give me a ride to the emergency room and wonderful medical people; having access to medicine and insurance; and even the opportunity to make my left hand do more work for a change.
One other blessing is finally having a microphone — that I didn’t have last week — so I can dictate this column and watch the words magically appear on my computer. My patience and my language have both improved markedly! So, it’s already a really good Lent for me! Thanks be to God!
Early Lenten readings share a simple message: God is with us
What the church seems to whisper through these readings at the beginning of Lent is a simple message. “God is with you” is that simple message. Nothing esoteric, nothing too dramatic, only the plain truth: It is God’s ancient and contemporary and constant assurance. God is with you as you begin this season of Lent; he, of course, is always with you.
It is a constant truth. It is found throughout the Scripture. “I will be with him in distress,” God says in Psalm 91:15. It is the same thing he said to Jacob at Bethel
Father Joshua J. Whitfield is pastor of St. Rita Catholic Community in Dallas and author of “The Crisis of Bad Preaching” and other books.
while wrestling that stubborn patriarch: “Behold, I am with
you and will keep you wherever you go” (Gn 28:15). It is the same thing prophesied and fulfilled in the Gospel of Matthew: “I am with you always, to the close of the age,” Jesus said (28:20). It is what God has always done — he has always stuck with us — since at least that time in Eden when he went looking for us in the cool of the day (Gn 3:9).
Thus, it remains true even when you enter the desert, even when Satan draws near in the battle of temptation — God is still with you. That’s how I’ve always interpreted the little detail Luke gives, that Jesus was
“led by the Spirit” into the desert (Lk 4:1). The interior battle, the brutal moral battle for the soul: It is also a spiritual struggle. The darkness of it is not like the darkness of a horror story but more like the shadows of a quest. God allows the struggle; we can only mysteriously describe it that way. Somehow, the battle is necessary. Between earth and heaven, there are not just stars but a desert, too. These, of course, are images of purification and redemption, images of the soul’s return to God.
The way of faithfulness we’re asked to imitate is that of
Jesus. And he entered the darkness of Good Friday, that felt forsakenness which demanded of God nothing; we are called to be faithful like that, come what may. God’s “hesed” is what that is — his steadfast “loving kindness” we’re called to make our own. Trusting in the word of God, renouncing Satan’s power, insisting only upon faith and not any reward — that’s the deep teaching of Jesus in the desert. That’s how God is with us as we enter our own deserts; he is with us by means of his truth. If only we will keep close to his truth and heed not today’s devils.
Even from hospital, pope gives powerful witness of faith, prelates say
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Despite his illness, age and hospitalization, Pope Francis is still demonstrating his deep faith and exercising his role as pontiff, said a cardinal who once served as an auxiliary bishop of
“The pope offers profound meaning to human suffering — that same suffering that he himself has always flagged
as part of the ‘throwaway culture,’” Cardinal Augusto Paolo Lojudice of Siena, Italy, told the Italian newspaper La Stampa Feb. 26.
The pope has continued to work, nominating new bishops, issuing new rules for the governance of Vatican City State, calling the Holy Family Church in Gaza, and most recently, advancing some sainthood causes, said Bishop Francesco Savino of Cassano all’Jonio, vice president of
the Italian bishops’ conference.
“Even during this time of suffering, Pope Francis is serving the church even more,” he told La Repubblica Feb. 26. “He is extremely hard-working” and offering “stupendous testimony” from a pulpit of pain. Bishop Savino said the church and the world still need Pope Francis, “his witness, his courage, his being a reforming pope who has launched processes for change.”
FATHER JOSHUA J. WHITFIELD
Catholic conference gears up for spring legislative session
Taxes and spending are dominating much of the 2025 Kansas legislative discussions. The Catholic bishops and their public policy voice, the Kansas Catholic Conference (KCC), typically do not weigh in on economic issues, focusing instead on “culture of life” legislation.
People sometimes cynically (and unfairly) claim that Catholics are the “church of no.” But for every “thou shall not,” there is a more important “yes,” to God’s design and the beauty of the human person.
With that in mind, here is a brief legislative update:
CHURCH AND STATE
After two unsuccessful attempts punctuated by appeals of misplaced compassion, SB 63, Help Not Harm, is now the law. Children in Kansas will no longer be subjected to surgical amputations and/or chemical
Lent is an invitation to transformation — a season of reflection and renewal when we are encouraged to examine our hearts and recommit ourselves to deepening our relationship with Christ.
Throughout this Jubilee Year, we are called to live as pilgrims of hope. In a world often shadowed by uncertainty and despair, this Lent offers us a powerful opportunity to live as a witness to hope.
manipulations for an attempted gender change. Gender dysphoria can be real. Responsible counseling, parenting and friendships are superior solutions, not life-altering, discredited experiments.
Kansans with an intellectual disability moved a step closer toward better representation of their rights at the end of life,
thanks to HB 2359. The KCC is working with the Disability Rights Council (DRC) of Kansas and others on this legislation.
HB 2307 is a promising bill requiring educational support and resources for parents of a child with a disability, either prebirth or after-birth.
HB 2062 is a measure allowing a judge to consider requiring child support payments from the biological father of a child (so-called “deadbeat dads”), dating back to the time of conception to help cover pregnancy- related expenses.
Abortion in Kansas is at record-high levels with no meaningful legal protections from the abortion industry in place for women or
their preborn children. What cannot be done with the law must be done with love.
The KCC supports legislation providing financial support to maternity homes and pregnancy resource centers (PRCs) serving women with unplanned pregnancies who wish to bring their child into the world. Funding for the two-year-old Kansas Pregnancy Compassion Act (part of HB 2007) will likely face a governor’s veto and override vote.
HB 2311 is a religious liberty bill protecting the rights of foster and adoption parents. In some states, prospective parents have been denied children because they
Living Lent as a witness to hope
guidance and helps us remain steadfast even when challenges arise. This spiritual discipline reinforces our identity as children of God and nurtures a hope that transcends worldly difficulties.
would not use transgender names and pronouns. Let’s ensure that doesn’t happen in Kansas.
The KCC offered our qualified support for SCR 1602, a nonbinding resolution that calls for “encouraging the governor to fully cooperate with federal enforcement of immigration laws.” Our testimony also called for the Catholic Church to care for every person with respect and love, no matter their citizenship status. Despite some inaccurate news media drama, these two objectives are not in conflict.
Sign up for KCC newsletters and action alerts online at: www. KansasCatholic.org. Look under “Current News.” We persevere!
Through prayer, fasting and charity, we recognize our dependence on God and the work that he can do through us for others. In looking beyond our present struggles and sacrifices, we have hope in the gift of the cross — Jesus’ redemptive and eternal love for each of us.
life. Setting aside time each day to engage in quiet contemplation and Scripture meditation allows us to draw closer to God. Reflecting on passages that speak of God’s unfailing love and the redemption offered through Jesus provides comfort and strength.
Daily prayer is the foundation of a hopeful
Prayer opens our hearts to divine
Fasting is another vital practice during Lent that teaches self-discipline and reliance on God’s grace. When we willingly abstain from certain foods or comforts, we are reminded that our true sustenance comes from divine mercy rather than material abundance. This act of sacrifice not only purifies our bodies but also sharpens our focus on the needs of those who suffer. Fasting becomes a symbol
of solidarity with the poor and an invitation to transform personal deprivation into collective generosity. Almsgiving converts our inner hope into outward action. By offering our time and resources to those in need, we manifest Christ’s love in practical ways. Every act of charity, whether large or small, sends a message that hope remains alive even in the darkest corners of society. In practicing almsgiving, we become beacons of light and catalysts for change, inspiring others to also recognize and embrace hope.
By integrating prayer, fasting and almsgiving into our
daily lives during Lent, we not only deepen our own faith but also become living testimonies of hope. In every moment of sacrifice and each act of compassion, the transformative power of hope shines forth, reminding us that renewal and redemption are always within reach.
As we journey through this sacred season, let us commit to being authentic witnesses to hope, trusting that our actions can bring joy to even the bleakest places. This Lent, let our lives model a faithful love for Christ and others, reflecting an enduring hope in the eternal life promised in his resurrection.
CHUCK WEBER
Chuck Weber is the executive director of the Kansas Catholic Conference.
EMILY LOPEZ
Emily Lopez is the lead consultant for adult evangelization.
ALONG THE WAY
By Sister Jennifer Halling, OSB Special to The Leaven
Sister Grace discovers the poet within Passing Through
When Sister Cyprian Vondras, OSB, celebrated her 100th birthday in 2020, she offered a piece of sage advice to Mount Sisters in Atchison about how to stay active in their elder years: “Get a hobby!”
Sister Grace Malaney, OSB, took this advice to heart. Overachiever that she is, she took up not one but three hobbies: playing “killer” sudoku, learning to play the piano and writing poetry. Sudoku comes naturally to her, having been a math teacher at Donnelly College in Kansas City, Kansas, for 30 years. Getting the hang of playing the piano wasn’t too much of a stretch as she was a musician in her teen years (she played trombone in the Lillis High School marching band in Kansas City, Missouri). As it turns out, Sister Grace’s connection to poetry has even deeper roots.
YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN INSPIRATION WILL STRIKE, SO YOU ALWAYS NEED TO BE ATTENTIVE.
SISTER GRACE MALANEY, OSB
“My mom read poetry to me when I was a child, and when I was eight years old, she gave me a notebook that lay flat and a pen I could dip in brown ink to write down my favorite poems,” Sister Grace remembers. Among those she transcribed were “Thanatopsis” by William Cullen Bryant (“I thought the last lines were about taking a nap,” she said) and “The Song of Hiawatha” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (“By the shore of Gitche Gumee . . .”). In retrospect, Sister Grace realizes that her mom was trying to distract her from worrying about her father, who was serving as a sailor in World War II.
Sister Grace’s current practice of writing poetry was inspired by something Sister Susan Barber, OSB, said during a community choir practice: “Sing on the soft side of light.”
“Those were the words I needed to free up the muse in me,” said Sister Grace, and they led her to write her first poem, “A Liturgist’s Request.”
Since then, Sister Grace has written hundreds of poems.
“When I feel a poem coming on, it’s like someone else formulated it and I just write it down,” she said. “I get so excited when I write a poem; I feel humbled, like someone gave it to me.”
The psalms are a steady source of inspiration for Sister Grace’s poems; she finds it helpful to read different translations of the psalms, including a Portuguese version she reads every morning. (Sister Grace learned to speak and write Portuguese during her time as a missionary in Brazil in the 1970s and early 1980s.) Some of her poems are inspired by ringing the bells at the beginning of morning prayer, which has been her practice for many years.
Sister Grace also muses about aging in her poems.
“I’m old, and I’ve probably accomplished what I’m supposed to,” she says, “but wonderful things can happen when you’re old, too. Poetry helps me keep noticing things — the common, ordinary, everyday things that now seem to be enough.”
With the help of fellow Benedictine Sisters Esther Fangman and Judith Sutera, Sister Grace has compiled some of her poems into a book, “Passing Through.”
“It’s my last chance to be famous,” she commented (or maybe not, as a second book is in the works!). “Passing Through” is available for $10 through the Mount’s Monastery Goods gift shop (www.mountosb.org/gift-shop).
Sister Grace is grateful for Sister Cyprian’s advice about getting a hobby, especially because writing poetry has helped her to be more mindful.
“You never know when inspiration will strike, so you always need to be attentive,” she says.
Reprinted with permission from “Threshold,” a publication of the Sisters of Mount St. Scholastica, Atchison, Kansas.
By Sister Grace Malaney, OSB
I know I am not home yet.
Just on my way . . .
But could I take a little something with me
When I leave?
I am sure I will need the moon, And the sun, and all the stars.
All the grass, and rain, and bird song.
Definitely I’ll need thunder, and lightning. Well, and oceans.
And all the people.
You may have to cheat a little there, But I think I need them all.
I guess this means I am not ready. But I would also need trumpets, And tulips,
Rubber bands and safety pins.
Yes I am not ready. That’s for sure.
Eye has not seen Nor ear heard . . .
And that’s a problem for me.
I’d like to feel at home,
And I don’t like surprises. I am a planner. So I plan.
Then I do what I plan.
Yes, I know. It’s never really worked.
OK I will just let go.
Have it your way.
But don’t surprise me.
Just give me my heart’s desire.
Oh . . . and forests.
PHOTO BY MARY KATE ROCHE.