03 14 25 Vol. 46 No. 29

ST. PATRICK

By D.D. Emmons OSV News

Few annual events are more universally anticipated and celebrated than St. Patrick’s Day. It seems that no place or people on earth are immune from the activities, the frivolities, the food and drink that take place every March 17.

The day is so highly regarded that during the season of Lent, if St. Patrick’s Day falls on a Friday (which happens about every six years) Catholic bishops in many dioceses lift the law mandating abstinence from meat on that day. Catholics who accept the dispensation are asked to perform some other penitential practice or, in some locales, abstain from meat on another day near that Friday.

Surprisingly, given the popularity and influence of the day, many revelers know little about St. Patrick the man. They might be surprised to learn that he never drank green beer (not even a Guinness), never ate corned beef and cabbage, never drove snakes out of Ireland and had no leprechaun friends. The majority of St. Patrick’s Day customs, myths and fables have

been perpetuated and instituted over a period of 16 centuries.

Stripping away the widespread secular activities, we discover a holy person — a saint — who spent more than 30 years successfully proclaiming the Gospel message, the gift of faith to the people of Ireland. Prayerfully recalling and recognizing his life as God’s chosen missionary is how to uncover the true spirit of St. Patrick.

Born in the late fourth century in the area now known as Scotland, Patrick was raised as a Christian but gave little notice to his religion. At age 16, he was kidnapped and carried off to Ireland, where he was

sold as a slave to a landowner. For the next six years, he tended the owner’s flocks. This was a lonely job, with days and nights spent out on the countryside in solitude, in all sorts of weather. It was during this isolation that he experienced an overwhelming spiritual renewal. According to his own words, he began praying almost constantly, and his indifference toward God turned into adulation and love.

When Patrick was 22, he had a dream that he was meant to escape from his captivity and return to his homeland. Believing this was a heavenly message, he spent some 20 days walking 200 miles to the

sea, where he was able to find transportation on a ship to Gaul (France). God, in his surprising, unpredictable ways, was calling this unknown youth to holiness, to sainthood, to become the apostle to Ireland.

Eventually returning to his family, Patrick soon would experience another vision or dream. He claimed during the dream to have heard the voice of the Irish, “We beg you, holy youth, that you shall come and walk again amongst us.” Patrick discerned that he was destined to return to Ireland and bring the Gospel to a people unaware of Jesus Christ. It would be 20 years before he could fulfill this dream.

Divinely inspired, Patrick sought to be ordained as a priest, but facts about these years of his life differ among writers. The saint tells us that on his way to becoming a bishop, at one time he was rejected by other bishops based on a “sin” or incident that occurred early in his life. He overcame this setback but was confronted by those who questioned his reason for wanting

We transform the culture by being ‘wounds of love’ for the world

Editor’s note: The following was adapted from Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann’s homily at the 2025 National Prayer Vigil for Life, delivered at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.

In 1999, Pope John Paul came to St. Louis for a pastoral visit and, as was his custom, he wanted to meet with young people, so we held a gathering in the hockey stadium. The theme of his talk that night to the young people was to challenge them: “Be light as only young people can be light.” The Lord has this particular love for the young to be his instruments of grace in the world.

Consider Jeremiah, who talks about how the Lord formed him in the womb and who protested that he was too young. God told him, “Say not that you are too young. I will put my words in your mouth.”

Or think of St. John the Apostle, the beloved of the Lord, who was just a teenager when he received the call to follow Our Lord. Think of Joan of Arc, the amazing young woman who heard the voices of the saints and of God calling her to an impossible mission. She was open to the Lord’s call, not so much to preserve France, but to revive the faith of the French people.

Think of St. Agnes, a 12-year-old virgin-martyr of the early church, who inspired some of the

ARCHBISHOP

JOSEPH F. NAUMANN

great saints. There is a beautiful reading from St. Ambrose in the office of readings in the Liturgy of the Hours, describing how her executioner trembled as she willingly submitted her life to martyrdom. Think of modern saints like Carlo Acutis, a great apostle of the Eucharist.

So, my good young people, say not that you are too young to be a light in our culture and society. You have a unique power to be that light.

After the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade, which returned to state Legislatures the authority to determine public policy regarding abortion, the prolife community was celebrative. We have experienced since that time, though, many disappointments with the outcome of state referendums, beginning with our state of Kansas.

Part of the reason that we lost in Kansas, and I think this is true in other places, is that there was a great outpouring of new young voters who voted for legal abortion.

LIFE WILL BE VICTORIOUS

This amendment did not pass particularly because of the young people, and I can understand that in many ways. They have grown up in a culture where they have never known anything but legalized abortion, a culture of death. They have grown up in a culture where they have seen so much infidelity in love. They have grown up in a culture where my generation has failed to protect them from a pornography industry that targets children and young people to addict them to this phony and false kind of love.

I believe Pope Francis chose the theme for this Jubilee Holy Year to be “Pilgrims of Hope” because he noted that in our particular time, our world needs a renewal of hope. In so doing, the pope identified what so many in the social sciences have termed as epidemics of anxiety, loneliness, depression and despair, especially among young people. As Christians, we understand ourselves to be pilgrims. This world is not our final destination. We are on a journey through the world to the heavenly kingdom for which Jesus is the gate and door.

My good young people, you are called to be witnesses to your peers. You are called to help them to come to know what gives you hope. These defeats and epidemics have been sober reminders that we need to reintensify our efforts to build a culture of life. Jesus never promised his disciples an easy life. In fact, he said that if we are going to follow him, we have to follow him all the way to Calvary; that we have to be prepared to take up the cross.

To transform our culture, we must touch hearts by efforts like Walking with Moms in Need, where we try to surround women in difficult pregnancies with a community of love and support; by efforts like Project Rachel, an important healing and forgiving ministry for those who have been involved with abortion; by ministries like And Then There Were None, started by Abby Johnson, a former Planned Parenthood director who began this ministry to bring people out of the abortion industry and to give them a renewed life, freeing them from that culture of death, that culture of darkness.

We must touch minds with the truth of the life and the dignity of every human person, a truth that can be arrived at by reason. But we must also touch hearts. In the First Letter of St. Peter, the first pope reminded us that we must always be prepared to share with others the reason for our hope.

The reason for our hope is the Word

ARCHBISHOP NAUMANN’S CALENDAR

March 19

Groundbreaking for St. Joseph House

Benedictine College Profession of Faith for the theology and philosophy departments and fireside chat and dinner — Benedictine College, Atchison

March 22

Anointing Mass and reception — Curé of Ars, Leawood

Symposium on Transforming Culture — Benedictine College

March 23

Rural Catholic Youth Conference Mass — Prairie Star Ranch, Williamsburg

made flesh. The reason for our hope is a God who pursues us despite our sinfulness, our brokenness. Our reason for hope is anchored in the Creator of the cosmos choosing to become an embryo in the womb of Mary, to be born in the poor circumstances of Bethlehem, to be an infant refugee fleeing a tyrannical king, to be a boy growing up in the small town of Nazareth, to be a laborer, a carpenter, who knew what it was to work hard, to exercise his public ministry in this obscure region of the world, the backwaters of the Roman Empire, according to the worldly leaders of the time, and ultimately to give his life on Calvary so that we could be transformed by divine mercy, and with his Easter victory of life, give us a destiny to live with him and the saints forever.

My friend Bishop (Daniel) Thomas’ episcopal motto in English is: “My Lord and my God,” the words of the apostle St. Thomas, doubting Thomas, after touching the

wounds of the love of Jesus. This is how we transform culture: by allowing ourselves to become wounds of love for our world. Help your peers, dear young people, to know that they are made in the divine image; see in them a reflection of God; help them know that they are of such worth that God died for them as well; and help them to reject all of the false narratives of our modern culture and society. With the love of God revealed in the Word made flesh in Jesus Christ, how can we not have hope?

My dear young people, be witnesses of hope and love in the world; be heralds of the “Gospel of Life”! Jesus, the Word made flesh, who humbled himself to be an embryo in Mary and humbles himself again to be present to you in the Eucharist, will give you food for the journey. Take up the banner to be pilgrims of hope, intent on building a culture of life and a civilization of love!

‘We’re

called to be with the sick’

Hospice volunteer provides spiritual and social support

By Amy Reinhardt Special to The Leaven

LENEXA — For over four years, Tom Farmer has visited and built relationships with hospice patients throughout the archdiocese.

Farmer, a parishioner of Prince of Peace Church in Olathe, already had hospice ministry on his mind when his family moved to the area from southeast Kansas.

“It is a calling, I believe,” claimed Farmer. “It’s an incredible gift to share someone’s journey as they near the end of life.”

The devoted volunteer shared how he used to fear death. After losing his mother to cancer when he was 15, he drifted away from his faith in college. It was after he got married that faith became the cornerstone of his life.

He became a hospice volunteer in 2020 for what is now called Catholic Community Health. He’s provided spiritual care and companionship to 15 patients since then.

The time he spends with each patient varies. Farmer shared the journey of his first patient for 16 months. He stopped by the patient’s home every week for two hours.

Although Catholic Community Health is based in Lenexa, Farmer has been assigned patients who still live in their homes and others who live in facilities, like Our Lady of Grace Hospice House at Villa St. Francis in Olathe. He will go wherever his patient is.

While Farmer was nervous at first, he soon grew very comfortable in his role.

“When you’re doing it from a foundation of faith, I believe it all happens naturally,” he said.

Farmer developed a steady routine as the years passed. He looked forward to visiting his patients. They became a weekly highlight, especially when he prayed with them.

He has found that ministering to those on hospice has enriched his life as well.

“People have a need to give,” said Farmer. “Obviously in the Catholic faith, we’re called to be with the sick. It’s one of the corporal works of mercy.”

Tammy Urriola is the volunteer coordinator for Catholic Community Health. Before accepting her role three years ago, she worked as a hospice certified nurse aide (CNA) for 15 years.

IT DOESN’T MATTER WHAT THEIR RELIGIOUS POSITION IS. WHAT YOU’RE DOING IS SPENDING TIME WITH THEM DURING A DIFFICULT TIME IN THEIR LIFE.

TOM FARMER HOSPICE VOLUNTEER

Getting to know each volunteer helps Urriola identify the right volunteer for each patient. Since Farmer is very spiritual, she links him with very spiritual Catholics.

“I really enjoy making good matches,” Urriola beamed. “It means a lot to me when I know the right volunteer is with the right patient.”

Farmer and Urriola first crossed paths while she was a CNA. She still remembers the memorable first impression he made.

“Tom is remarkable. So giving, compassionate and caring,” she said. “He goes above and beyond. There’s nobody like him.”

Out of 50 volunteers, Urriola said the age range of most volunteers is between 50 and 70. There’s a mix of retirees

and full-time employees, like Farmer.

“I’m really impressed with how much love and compassion these people give,” Urriola said. “It’s really beautiful seeing the friendships.”

Urriola conducts additional training during the first patient visit. From then on, she performs an annual supervisory visit.

Even though she’s not physically present, Urriola receives reports for all visits, which give her insight into the patients, volunteers and situations.

Each patient is visited at least once every two weeks, with weekly visits preferred.

Despite working full-time as the director of grants at Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas, Farmer’s visits

still last one to two hours. He strives to visit his patients weekly, if possible.

Not all Catholic Community Health hospice patients are Catholic, he said.

“I’ve had devout, fallen away and even a few atheists,” said Farmer. “It doesn’t matter what their religious position is. What you’re doing is spending time with them during a difficult time in their life.”

The experienced volunteer always offers to pray with his patients. Whatever their answer, he respects it.

“I’m a people person insofar as I like one-on-one a lot,” he said. “I love learning about peoples’ lives and hearing their stories.”

Farmer is a member of the Knights of Columbus and an active participant in the Breadrunners ministry. But his hospice involvement holds a special place in his heart.

“Out of all the things I do for the church, this is the one thing I would never change,” he said.

Hospice patients not only receive support from their volunteers, they also have access to clergy, like Deacon

Jim Lavin, one of the chaplains with Catholic Community Health.

The deacon’s responsibilities range from offering spiritual and emotional support to providing or coordinating sacraments. He is also another set of eyes on patients.

He views the hospice volunteers as his partners. They’re able to spend more time with the patients, while the deacon’s visits are relatively short due to a large caseload.

During his short 20-minute visits, Deacon Lavin aims to offer a gentle presence, spoken prayer, and words of comfort and encouragement.

“I want them to know God loves them and wants to be united with them,” he said.

“If you have any inkling you may be called to this ministry, I strongly encourage you to pursue it,” Farmer said. “I can’t even explain what it’s done for my faith.”

To learn more about Catholic Community Health or becoming a hospice volunteer, visit the website at: www.catholiccommunity health.org.

LEAVEN PHOTO BY AMY REINHARDT

Tom Farmer spends time praying and reading daily Scripture to one of his hospice patients.

ASHES TO ASHES

Photos by Jay Soldner

Despite the harsh wind and snow that started off the morning, Larry and Linda McGurn were not deterred from the 8:30 a.m. Ash Wednesday Mass at Good Shepherd Parish in Shawnee.

Msgr. Stewart Swetland, president of Donnelly College and pastor of Our Lady & St. Rose Parish, both in Kansas City, Kansas, applies ashes to the forehead of 5-year-old Serena Baker accompanied by her grandmother Marilyn Baker. Msgr. Swetland celebrated Ash Wednesday Mass at 12:30 p.m. at Donnelly College.

Taylor Lee High receives ashes from Deacon Bill Scholl at Our Lady & St. Rose’s Ash Wednesday Mass.

Gerardo Gutierrez and his son Isaac have the cross traced with ashes on their foreheads at St. Paul Church in Olathe on Ash Wednesday, March 5. The 8:30 p.m. Mass was filled to capacity — and beyond.

At All Saints Parish in Kansas City, Kansas, associate pastor Father Miguel Angel Arenas Rocha, MNM, foreground, and pastor Father Peter Jaramillo, SSA, had great attendance at the parish’s 5:30 p.m. Mass.

Mercy of the Lord is waiting in the sacrament, says bishop

By Jeanne Gorman Special to The Leaven

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Deathbed confessions about aborting a child are not uncommon.

Maybe the act wasn’t confessed because the penitent did not feel the act was forgivable, or the guilt was too strong or embarrassing, or they feared judgment.

Yet, by delaying this reconciliation with God and his church, these people have been denied the mercy the Lord wishes to show them and their ability to participate fully in the faith life of the church.

Bishop Daniel Thomas, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities, recognizing the challenges for some to seek forgiveness for their act, has issued an invitation for all burdened by an abortion experience to come home to the Catholic Church this Lent. He is asking all diocesan priests to join him in this crusade.

Why Lent? Traditionally known as a time of repentance and forgiveness, Lent provides a particularly appropriate opportunity to reach out to those who may have had an abortion “experience.”

This includes the woman who has had an abortion, the man who may have influenced or precipitated the abortion, the family and friends who may have aided the abortion, and the medical personnel who facilitated the abortion.

In his invitation, Bishop Thomas said: “As we approach Lent, please allow me to speak to all who carry the unbearable sadness and guilt of an abortion experience. Be assured that Jesus keeps on loving you, no matter what. . . . Jesus’ voice is calling out to you as his beloved daughters and sons and he is waiting to meet you in the sacrament of reconciliation. He desires a relationship with you. This Lent, I personally invite you to come home to the church.”

He goes on to encourage those who have had an abortion experience to find hope in God’s mercy and remember that God loves them unconditionally.

Deacon Ron Zishka of Sacred Heart Parish in Tonganoxie, has been active in

pro-life activities even before he was ordained a deacon. He first became involved as a member of the Knights of Columbus and after he was ordained in 2017, was assigned to ministry in the pro-life office.

Deacon Zishka recognizes that not everyone who has had an abortion experience may be ready for such reconciliation. However, they may be interested in learning how to deal with their deep pain, sadness and guilt.

“Many think that abortion is an unforgivable sin,” he explained, “so they stay away from the church.”

But the sacrament is not the only thing the church has to offer.

“Men and women who are not ready to confess but who are interested in learning to deal with their guilt are invited to contact their parish priest or Project Rachel,” he said.

Project Rachel — and Project Joseph for men — is a confidential ministry of

the Catholic Church that offers hope and healing for those suffering from past abortions (See sidebar.) These groups provide nonjudgmental support through counseling, accompaniment and more.

If you know someone who has had an abortion, said Deacon Zishka, he recommends you pray for them and avoid judging them because you may not know their full story. Encourage them to have hope and to seek reconciliation if they have not already done so.

“I remind everyone that the mercy of God is beyond anything we can do,” said Deacon Zishka. “We find that mercy in reconciliation.”

And he hopes those impacted by abortion will seek the Lord’s mercy and forgiveness this Lent.

“Regardless of when or the circumstances surrounding the abortion, please come back to the church,” he said.

Lifelong educator, Sister Mary Elizabeth O’Rourke, dies

LEAVENWORTH — Sister Mary Elizabeth O’Rourke, 98, a Sister of Charity of Leavenworth for 78 years, died on Feb.10.

The second of the four children of James Patrick and Mary Josephine O’Rourke, she was born Aug. 6, 1926, in Duncan, Oklahoma. Her family relocated to Oklahoma City, where she attended St. Francis of Assisi School. She entered religious life on Aug. 14, 1947, and when she received her habit, she took the name Sister Mary Dismas.

Sister Mary’s childhood memories were filled with the hardships of the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl, featuring red skies from the Oklahoma clay soil. This experience taught her the importance of appreciating life’s gifts and blessings and how to endure the hardships and challenges of later life.

Sister Mary was bright and inquisitive as a child, loved learning, and by

age 20, graduated from Saint Mary College in Leavenworth with a double major in mathematics and chemistry. Her early missions included teaching for two years at Girls Central High School in Butte, Montana, and another 12 years at Bishop Ward High School in Kansas City, Kansas. During her summers, she pursued master’s degrees at Saint Mary College and Notre Dame and earned her doctorate from Notre Dame. Following her doctorate work, Sister Mary became a chemistry and physical science professor at Saint Mary College, where she taught for 30 years. She also taught at Donnelly College, Kansas City, Kansas; and Rockhurst College and Penn Valley Junior College, both in Kansas City, Missouri. She ministered as an educator in the federal and state penitentiaries in the Leavenworth area and conducted Communion services in the Lansing Penitentiary.

Devoted to her extended family, Sister Mary traveled to Oklahoma City annually to celebrate the holidays, and hosted the family at Saint Anne’s Lodge near Bailey, Colorado, many summers. At age 80, she climbed Mt. Evans. In 2011, she spent six months supporting her sister Teresa in Oklahoma City through rehab and recovery from heart surgery.

Sister Mary suffered a stroke later in life, but that disability did not deter her from ministry to God’s people. Although confined to a wheelchair and unable to speak, she witnessed to the prayer and presence ministry with her eyes, often communicating what her heart felt.

Sister Mary, attuned to the needs of others, intuited when someone needed comfort or reassurance and extended to them a kind smile, an understanding nod, a heartfelt gesture.

She frequently ministered to the dying and grieving through her quiet and loving presence, as she often sat beside the bedside of a dying Sister. Despite her struggles, Sister Mary was outgoing, cheerful and had a grateful heart.

How to contact Project Rachel and

Email:projectrachelkc@archkck.org

Phone: (913) 621-2199 (call or text) 3021 N. 54th St. Kansas City, KS 66104

Or visit on Facebook — Project Rachel in KC,KS

Information may also be accessed through the website of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas at: archkck.org.

The programs are open to everyone, regardless of faith.

Ed and Sharon (Hennessey) Delk, members of Sacred Heart Parish, Topeka, will celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary with a family dinner. The couple was married March 20, 1955, at Tecumseh Methodist Church. They have two children: Debbie Geist and Kevin Delk. They also have three grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

LEAVEN PHOTO/ADOBE STOCK

Bishop Daniel Thomas, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities, has urged all priests and deacons to invite especially those who have experienced abortion to the sacrament of reconciliation this Lent.

What does it take for youth ministry to be successful?

By John Sorce john.sorce@theleaven.org

K

ANSAS CITY, Kan. — One of the most important but perhaps overlooked roles in a parish is that of the youth leader.

Youth leaders are responsible for shepherding the youth of the archdiocese in the Catholic Church.

Kyle Kuckelman, consultant for youth ministry for the archdiocese, started that role last May after serving as youth minister at Sacred Heart Parish in Shawnee and at Prince of Peace Parish in Olathe.

“One of the things I really wanted to do when I took the job was to serve where I felt there was a gap,” Kuckelman said. “The skills required for a youth minister in today’s church are a lot more than just to love Jesus and love young people, and playing games.

“Young people in today’s church want to know the truth and beauty of the Catholic Church, and all the knowledge these leaders have is only good if they know how to relate to teenagers and communicate the message in that way.”

Kuckelman is launching a new onboarding process this year for any youth leader in the archdiocese. The program will run for three weeks, during which he will meet one-on-one with leaders, either in-person or virtually.

Some of the topics that will be covered include safe environment tips and permission waivers. But he will also be providing leaders with a baseline understanding of what is required for youth ministry to be successful at their parish.

“We are moving towards a new model of going to every deanery and putting on a youth leader formation event of some variety once a month,” Kuckelman added. “Every deanery will also have an adult parent formation night once a semester, because I believe our office is called to train parents as to what is going on in the lives of teenagers today.”

Angie Bittner is the primary coordinator for outreach in the archdiocese’s rural communities, and a member of the archdiocesan youth office.

“With rural outreach, we are tasked with taking formation opportunities out to the rural parishes so they don’t always have to travel to Kansas City,” Bittner

Questions?

To identify yourself as a youth leader in a parish, or for further information about youth ministry in the archdiocese, send an email to: kyle. kuckelman@archkck.org.

said. “This year, we have eight different locations set up.

“The majority of youth leaders in our rural parishes are volunteers. So, we just want to give them the tools . . . to do what they need.”

One of the staples of the archdiocese for over 25 years, Camp Tekakwitha in Williamsburg also contributes to the formation of leaders.

Deacon Dana Nearmyer directs the camp along with wife Deborah. He talked about how many of its staff are recent high school graduates that go through a weeklong training process.

“They have daily meetings and constant supervision and mentoring, and that’s been a good feeder system for all kinds of leaders,” he said.

Once out of the camp environment, Deacon Nearmyer noted that its leaders tend to lead in other areas within the archdiocesan community.

“There are leaders that are former camp staff within our city and region that are doing amazing things,” he said. “Archbishop Naumann has said numerous times that he loves what this does for campers, but it also has a double effect. The staff is also being poured into while being able to share their faith over a long period of time.”

While Camp Tekakwitha focuses on youth, Kuckelman’s office focuses on training the adults needed to lead them.

He, Bittner and director of Wyandotte Youth Ministry and ReachKCK Jessica Cabral spend a lot of time on the road traveling to meet personally with youth

leaders in the archdiocese. (Cabral is the third member of the department.)

Bittner said their main priority is meeting people where they are at in their faith journey.

“We love meeting with parish leaders individually and seeing what they need,” Bittner said. “Everyone is at a different space in their faith journey, so the process depends on the needs of the individual and the parish.”

Kuckelman wants leaders in the archdiocese to know that they are seen, and that they play an important role in today’s church.

“A lot of youth ministers tend to feel like the forgotten stepchild of church leadership,” he said. “But what they are really doing is forming the actual church by reaching out to young people who are not the future church, but today’s church.

“It’s important these leaders feel like they are valued, and we take their job seriously.”

LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER

Kyle Kuckelman, consultant for youth ministry for the archdiocese, is launching a new onboarding process this year for any youth leader in the archdiocese. The program will run for three weeks, during which he will meet one-on-one with leaders, either in-person or virtually.

WOMEN RELIGIOUS MAKE HISTORY

THE FORGOTTEN HEROINES OF WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH

By Therese Horvat

Special to The Leaven

Throughout the history of the United States, consecrated women religious (Sisters) have made significant contributions to the Catholic Church, the people it serves and the country.

During this March Women’s History Month and anticipating October’s Jubilee of Consecrated Life, The Leaven is shining a spotlight on five women religious who have responded to their vocational calls with extraordinary zeal and commitment.

Their very lives, in fact, resonate with this Jubilee Year’s theme of “Pilgrims of Hope.”

They are five among thousands of vowed women religious who have had a long-lasting impact on individuals, parishes, education, social services, health care, social justice and, indeed, the very face of Catholic life in this country.

Across the years, these women have bucked the trends of their times and assumed major leadership roles. They have been pioneers and entrepreneurs. They have established institutions and introduced practices that responded to the needs of the times and fostered and perpetuated Catholic values. Religious Sisters have long advocated for justice, served the vulnerable and worked to accomplish systemic change — often decades ahead of their time.

They have withstood the challenges of different forms of prejudice, scarce resources and other seemingly insurmountable circumstances. Catholic Sisters have modeled trust in divine providence, profound charity, resilience, Christian service and a collaborative spirit.

Some have been canonized saints and others are on the path to sainthood. Many have received national and international recognition for their service.

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

Across her short life span of 46 years, Elizabeth Ann Seton was a wife, a mother, a widow; an Episcopalian, then a Catholic; a vowed woman religious and then the foundress of the first community for women religious in the United States. Canonized in 1975, she was the first native-born U.S. citizen to

be named a saint.

Born in New York City in 1774, Elizabeth grew up in a prominent Episcopalian family where she learned to love and serve others. During a trip to Italy for her hus-

band’s health, she discovered Catholicism and was later received into the church in March 1805. Widowed at age 29, Elizabeth had five children under 8 years old. She faced financial hardships and anti-Catholic sen-

timent over the next three years. Her encounter with a Sulpician priest was a turning point in Elizabeth’s evolution as a religious

>> Continued on the next page

OSV NEWS PHOTO/CNS FILE, GREGORY A. SHEMITZ

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, patroness of Catholic schools in the United States, is depicted instructing schoolchildren in a sculpture seen in front of Sts. Philip and James School in St. James, New York.

leader and educator. With provisions made for raising her children, she embraced ministry opportunities in Maryland in 1808, where she laid the foundation for what developed into this country’s Catholic educational system.

Elizabeth was the first vowed member of the new community of the Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph. The community made its home on donated land near Emmitsburg, Maryland. In February 1810, the women opened the first free Catholic school in the United States, staffed by Sisters and serving needy girls. St. Joseph’s Academy, a tuition-based boarding school, followed.

In July 1813, Elizabeth and 17 Sisters professed vows of poverty, chastity, obedience and service of the poor under rules adapted from those of the Daughters of Charity of France. Mother Seton led the community until her death in 1821. These Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph managed the first Catholic orphanage in the United States in Philadelphia. They opened another mission near Emmitsburg to provide infirmary and domestic services for the college and seminary. In New York, they began the Roman Catholic Orphan Asylum.

Mother Seton is said to have lived an ordinary life in an extraordinary manner. She abandoned herself to the will of God. She was known for her compassion and desire to serve others and for her devotion to the Blessed Sacrament and the Blessed Mother. Six congregations of women religious and their many ministries around the world trace their roots to her heritage.

St. Frances Xavier Cabrini

Short in stature, Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini had an expansive view of spreading the Gospel worldwide. Born in northern Italy in 1850, from an early age she wanted to enter religious life and serve the missions in China. Her health and other issues delayed her aspirations until 1880 when she founded a new religious community, the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

The Sisters ministered in Italy and were asked to travel to the United States in 1889 to serve the increasing numbers of Italian immigrants living in dire conditions, unfamiliar with the faith and facing discrimination. Mother Cabrini was not fluent in English nor was she familiar with the culture and politics of New York.

But she had boundless energy and a strong desire to serve God whatever the circumstances. She organized catechism and schooling for children of Italian immigrants. Then, she established an orphanage, schools and a hospital.

Requests for her community’s assistance with serving immigrants and their families arrived from other parts of the country and from Europe and Central and South America. Across her years of service, Mother Cabrini established 67 hospitals, orphanages and schools. She never made it to China, but her missionary heart took her to Denver where she opened a school for children of Italian immigrants and founded an orphanage, both of which served into the

1960s; to Chicago where she bought a farm to supply fresh food to serve patients in the Sisters’ hospitals; to Seattle where she began ministries and became a U.S. citizen; and to other U.S. cities and states and even to Nicaragua.

She was recognized as a shrewd businessperson and as a leader who demonstrated vision, practicality and tenacity. She engaged people of all means to assist her mission efforts with financial and other support.

Ahead of her time, Mother Cabrini espoused a well-rounded philosophy of education and helped shape this country’s social and health care systems in the early 20th century. She was a woman of faith who was devoted to caring for the poor, immigrants, orphans, women and children.

Mother Cabrini died in 1917. She was canonized in 1946, the first U.S. citizen to be named a saint. In 1950, she received the title “patron of immigrants.” In 2020, the Colorado Legislature designated a new state holiday, Frances Xavier Cabrini Day, observed on the first Monday of October, to honor her humanitarian efforts.

Servant of God

Sister Thea Bowman

With her dynamic personality, world-class voice and brilliant mind, Sister Thea Bowman was a powerful witness for Black Catholics in the United States and abroad.

Born into a Christian family in Mississippi and descended from slaves, Bertha asked her parents at age 9 if she could convert to Catholicism. By age 15, she knew she wanted to join the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration who taught her and impressed her with their faith in action. She was their first Black member.

As a high school teacher in her native Mississippi, Sister Thea instilled Black students with a sense of pride in being both Black and Catholic. This was a recurring theme as her sphere of influence expanded when Sister Thea accepted the invitation of the bishop of the Diocese of Jackson, Mississippi, to become a consultant for intercultural awareness.

This role led to presentations across the country in which she blend-

ed preaching and singing from Black traditions with prayer and storytelling directed toward breaking down racial and cultural barriers. Following the Second Vatican Council, Sister Thea adopted clothing reflective of her African ancestry. Into the 1980s, she continued her witness with outreach in the United States and Africa. She was a college professor, an evangelizer and a bridge-builder.

In June 1989, Sister Thea shared her message at a meeting of U.S. bishops.

In this landmark moment in the history of the U.S. church, she probed what it meant to be Black and Catholic. She told the bishops that despite the civil rights movement of the 1960s and socio-educational gains of the 1970s, Blacks in the 1980s were still struggling, “still trying to find home in the homeland and home in the church.” The presentation epitomized her efforts to advance the cause of ministry to Black Catholics.

The year after this presentation,

OSV NEWS PHOTO/CNS FILE, MICHAEL HOYT, CATHOLIC STANDARD

Sister Thea Bowman, a Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration, is shown during a talk she gave at St. Augustine Church in Washington in 1986. Sister Bowman, who died in 1990, is one of six African American Catholics whose causes for canonization are being considered by the Catholic Church.

CNS FILE PHOTO

Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini is the first American to be named a saint. Born in Italy, she became a naturalized American citizen in 1909. She worked among Italian immigrants establishing schools, hospitals and orphanages. Her feast day is Nov. 13.

Sister Thea, 52, died of breast cancer. Inscribed with her name on her family gravestone are the words, “She tried.”

The Diocese of Jackson started promoting her cause for canonization in November 2018. Following the December 2024 dedication of a life-sized bronze statue of Sister Thea on the cathedral grounds, the Mississippi Catholic newspaper wrote that this servant of God “was a beacon of light and hope in her time and . . . continues to challenge us to bring that light and hope to a world so in need of it.”

Sister Carol Keehan

While her predecessors in communities of women religious developed Catholic hospitals into the largest private health care system ever known in the United States, Sister Carol Keehan was instrumental in garnering support for passage of the 2010 Affordable Care Act that extended access to health services to millions of previously uninsured persons.

A native of Washington, D.C., and a Daughter of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, Sister Carol became a registered nurse and advanced into hospital management and leadership roles. She grew well-versed in matters pertaining to governance, insurance and health care delivery and brought practical and extensive experience to her Catholic Health Association of United States (CHA) leadership position.

The passage of the Affordable Care Act was accomplished while Sister Carol

was serving as president and CEO of the CHA, a position she held from 2005 to 2019. An article in the Global Sisters Report (Jan. 7, 2019) described her as a pragmatic leader who got things done; as a policy wonk, consensus builder and moral leader; and as having a commitment to those on the peripheries. During her tenure with CHA, she also strived to ensure that Catholic health care in the United States remain strong and viable in an increasingly challenging environment. Her talents were called into service on multiple other fronts as well.

In 2008, when Pope Benedict XVI traveled to the United States, Sister Carol led his medical team. When a massive earthquake devastated Haiti in 2010, CHA under her leadership organized a fundraising drive to help rebuild the archdiocesan hospital in Port-au-Prince. Sister Carol later led the Health Task Force of the Vatican COVID-19 Commission established by Pope Francis in March 2020. She continues to serve on multiple boards of directors and consults for hospitals operated by her religious community in Israel and Lebanon. Sister Carol is currently the local community superior for the Daughters’ residence in Bladensburg, Maryland. This year, she will mark her 60th anniversary as a Daughter of Charity.

In 2010, Time magazine listed Sister Carol among its 100 Most Influential People. And in 2022, the Catholic Extension Society presented her with its first-ever Spirit of Francis Award for leveraging “her relentless energy and tireless commitment to aid the underserved throughout decades of service.

Sister Norma Pimentel

During a presentation in the Diocese of Trenton, New Jersey, in November 2019, Sister Norma Pimentel encouraged, “We must be fierce as lions to do God’s will. But we also must be gentle souls as we reach out to those who need our compassion” (catholiccharitiestrenton.org). That spirit has characterized her ministry working with migrants at the TexasMexico border.

Describing herself as an “American by chance,” Sister Norma was born in Brownsville, Texas, to two Mexican citizens seeking residency. As a child, she grew up between Brownsville and Matamoros, Mexico. In 1978, she joined the Missionaries of Jesus, a religious community that helps migrants navigate the legal process for entering the United States and provides housing and meals.

For 10 years, Sister Norma worked at Casa Oscar Romero, a shelter that served Central Americans fleeing war-torn countries. She was next a counselor and assistant director of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley that encompasses four counties at the border. In 2004, she became executive director of this multifaceted social service organization.

It was in 2014 with the surge of migrants and particularly unaccompanied minors that Sister Norma’s commitment intensified. She visited detention facilities where migrants were apprehended and processed. She told Global Sisters Report that seeing the children in cells in these

centers “triggered in me a profound sense of commitment and dedication to make sure that I become that voice for them, that I can be that force that can defend and protect life, especially the immigrants’” (Aug. 17, 2019). Sister Norma coordinated a humanitarian response in McAllen, Texas, that continues to assist migrant families and youth provisionally cleared by U.S. Border Patrol.

Sustained by her faith and prayer, Sister Norma advocates for restoring the dignity of people seeking to cross the border. She believes that the United States must be safe and the borders protected with knowledge of who enters the country and response to criminals. But Sister Norma cautions against generalization, dehumanization and politicization of migrants who are asking for a chance for better lives.

In naming Sister Norma among its 100 Most Influential People in 2020, Time magazine described her as being on the front lines of mercy for three decades and as someone who has preached community, acceptance and love. In addition to her Catholic Charities’ position, Sister Norma currently serves as associate to the vicar for religious in the Diocese of Brownsville.

(Note: This article is the result of research of multiple online resources, including national shrines commemorating the two canonized saints; religious communities of the five women religious highlighted; and various religious and other news sources.)

COURTESY PHOTO

Sister Carol Keehan was instrumental in garnering support for passage of the 2010 Affordable Care Act that extended access to health services to millions of previously uninsured persons. In 2010, Time magazine listed Sister Carol among its 100 Most Influential People.

COURTESY PHOTO

Sister Norma Pimentel was born in Brownsville, Texas, to two Mexican citizens seeking residency. Sister Norma advocates for restoring the dignity of people seeking to cross the border. Time magazine listed Sister Norma among its 100 Most Influential People in 2020.

Patrick sought to plant Christianity in a way it could take root

>> Continued from page 1

to return to Ireland. People thought he was demented to choose to go back to a place where he had been held as a slave — a place considered the end of the known earth and populated by barbarians.

As anxious as he was to return to Ireland, Patrick wanted no favors or shortcuts in his rise to the episcopate. He knew that his assignment as a missionary would come from the bishop he served in concert with the pope and, thus, he readied himself as best he could.

Even before Patrick began his mission, parts of Ireland had been exposed to Christianity.

Mariners and traders from countries converted to Christianity often visited Ireland; there also were other Christian slaves in the manner of Patrick. These groups were scattered widely, and in 431, Pope St. Celestine I sent Bishop Palladius to shepherd and organize the dispersed Christians. The mission of Bishop Palladius was shortlived, and within a year he either died or returned to Europe.

Now was Patrick’s opportunity. In 432, St. Germanus of Auxerre, a bishop, oversaw Patrick’s elevation to bishop and sent him (along with several assistants) to Ireland. The saint’s objective was to minister to the Christians in Ireland and evangelize to a people dismissed as heathens by most of the world.

Jesus said to his apostles: “Behold, I

am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves’” (Mt 10:16). This was Patrick’s strategy throughout his ministry. He did not seek to change the culture of the people he wanted to convert; instead, he shrewdly and simply introduced Christianity in a way that made it take root and flourish in their pagan society. While the soil was fertile, sowing the “Good Seed” in this vast land was not without trial.

In fifth-century Ireland, the population lived in thousands of tribal communities, or clans, throughout the

country. Cities and city life were virtually nonexistent. Each tribe was ruled by a king; everyone lived off the land, was beholden to the king and few had ever heard the name Jesus Christ.

They were idol worshipers with many gods, like the Romans during the time of Christ. Patrick and his group would seek out the tribal leader or king and, using bribery if necessary, try to evangelize the king and obtain permission to preach to the people.

Patrick knew the language from his years as a slave and had some knowledge of the culture; however, these people worshiped many different gods, and convincing them to worship the one true God and embrace the Way, the Truth and the Life was challenging. Besides getting approval to preach to the people, Patrick would ask the king for land on which to build a church. In each location, Patrick ordained individuals to carry on his work.

Walking into a tribe and seeking an audience with the king was not without peril. Patrick and his group were captured more than once, but thanks to the Holy Spirit, they were never harmed.

While Patrick did not attack the culture of these people, he made no such exception for the Druid priests. Druids were an ancient Irish society steeped in mystical beliefs fostered by evil priests promoting the ideas of reincarnation and human sacrifices. These priests had great influence among certain tribes, and Patrick often came face to face with this evil.

Divine intervention was on Patrick’s side during these confrontations, and the Druids’ magic and superstitions were repeatedly refuted by the power of the Gospel as witnessed by Patrick. Legend holds that the shamrock was a sacred plant of the Druids, and Patrick used it to explain the Trinity.

Historians estimate that during Patrick’s mission thousands of people were baptized, some 300 bishops ordained and hundreds of churches erected throughout Ireland. Because of his zeal, passion for Christ and commitment to his missionary calling, an entire nation became Christian.

According to the 1905 biography on St. Patrick by John B. Bury: “He organized the Christianity that already existed; he converted kingdoms which were still pagan, especially in the West; and he brought Ireland into connexion with the Church of the Empire, and made it formally part of the universal Christendom.”

Patrick died in 461 and was made a “local” saint in the seventh century. At that time, there was no formal canonization process in the church, and people were called saints in local communities or states based on popular acclaim.

Certainly, Patrick was deserving of sainthood. In the 17th century, his national feast day was added to the annual Catholic liturgical calendar. Besides Ireland, St. Patrick is the patron saint of Nigeria and of many dioceses and churches around the world.

In 432, St. Germanus of Auxerre (above), oversaw Patrick’s elevation to bishop and sent him (along with several assistants) to Ireland. The objective was to minister to the Christians in Ireland and evangelize to a people dismissed as heathens by most of the world.

Amid aid cuts, U.S. bishop urges Catholics to heed ‘very urgent’ CRS collection

By Gina Christian OSV News

WASHINGTON (OSV News) —

Amid the Trump administration’s sweeping cuts to overseas humanitarian aid, an annual collection used to serve the vulnerable in the United States and abroad has taken on “a very urgent significance,” said Bishop Daniel H. Mueggenborg of Reno, Nevada, head of the U.S. Catholic bishops’ national collections efforts.

The Catholic Relief Services collection will be taken up in most of the nation’s Catholic dioceses March 29-30, with donations also accepted directly online at: usccb.igivecatholictogether. org, part of the #iGiveCatholicTogether campaign.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in a statement March 10 noted the funds support six key church-related entities meeting an array of social and spiritual needs:

• Catholic Relief Services, the overseas relief and development agency of the Catholic Church in the United States, which provides both disaster relief and economic development initiatives among the world’s lower-income nations

• The USCCB’s Secretariat of Cultural Diversity in the Church, through which the bishops work to address the pastoral needs of U.S.based Catholics who span an array of cultural backgrounds

• The USCCB’s Secretariat of Justice and Peace, which advocates on behalf of the poor while working for peace

• The USCCB’s Migration and Refugee Services, which had contracted with the federal government for decades, under a congressionally established program, to resettle refugees vetted by U.S. immigration and security authorities until Jan. 24. The

Pope out of danger but to remain in hospital

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis is no longer considered in imminent danger from his lung infection, but he will remain in Rome’s Gemelli hospital for several more days to continue receiving medical treatment, the Vatican said. The improvements in the 88-year-old pope’s condition recorded in the previous days “have been further consolidated” and were confirmed by the results of blood tests and his positive response to drug therapy, the Vatican said in its evening medical bulletin March 10. Doctors had previously noted “a good response to therapy” March 8, adding that his gas exchanges — the intake of oxygen and output of carbon dioxide — had improved and that blood tests showed his condition to be stable. While his doctors’ prognosis for the pope was “guarded” for more than three weeks after he was hospitalized Feb. 14, they lifted that designation March 10, indicating he was no longer in imminent danger from the infection that hospitalized him.

USCCB filed suit against the Trump administration Feb. 18 for suspending the contract, which the administration later terminated altogether on Feb. 26.

• Catholic Legal Immigration Network, or CLINIC, a Maryland-based nonprofit established by the U.S. bishops to provide legal aid to refugees and migrants — including immigrant Catholic clergy and religious, upon whom close to 90% of the nation’s Catholic dioceses rely

• The Holy Father’s Relief Fund, which enables the pope to quickly assist disaster victims

Bishop Mueggenborg said in a statement March 10 that “abrupt stop-work orders on foreign humanitarian relief work” have left CRS and other aid organizations “unable to sustain their work overseas, bringing food, life-saving medicine, and daily necessities to people in need.”

The administration’s suspension

and subsequent termination of its refugee resettlement contract with the USCCB has also impacted “thousands of refugees,” he noted.

The USCCB’s statement on the CRS national collection noted that even when federal funding was still in place, the USCCB still had to supplement the monies, because federal grants did not cover the whole cost of supporting refugees.

The conference also noted that the U.S. government’s funding suspension has forced the USCCB and its local partners to begin laying off employees, damaging their partnerships and future ability to provide refugee assistance. It noted donations to the 2025 collection “will be vital to the Catholic initiatives to reveal Christ’s love to those in need.”

In 2023, the bishops distributed $12.7 million in grants and donations among the CRS collection’s six beneficiary organizations.

Church urges prayers amid Syria violence

AMMAN, Jordan (OSV News) — Syria’s top Christian leaders have condemned recent violence that has left hundreds of Alawite civilians dead or wounded. The killings began on March 6, primarily in the northwest coastal regions of Tartus, Banias, Jabla and Latakia, areas tied to former President Bashar Assad’s regime. The violence, which escalated after an Alawite insurgency, has targeted civilians, including women and children, and has sparked widespread destruction. In a joint statement, senior Christian leaders, including Archbishop Youssef Absi, Melkite Greek Catholic patriarch of Antioch and All the East, condemned the massacres and called for an end to the brutality. Pontifical charity Aid to the Church in Need issued an urgent appeal for prayers. According to reports, over 600 people, including members of the Alawite and Christian communities, have died.

A humanitarian aid worker is pictured in a file photo packing Catholic Relief Services relief supplies in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, for distribution to people displaced in war-torn Gaza.

EMPLOYMENT

Care coordinator - Are you passionate about making a difference in the lives of seniors? We are looking for a dedicated and compassionate care coordinator or social worker to join our team. As a care coordinator, you will play a key role in ensuring that individuals receive the highest quality of care and support. You will work closely with health care providers, families and clients to create personalized care plans that promote well-being and independence. This opportunity is open to new graduates. To learn more and apply, visit: https://recruiting.paylocity.com/recruiting/ jobs/Details/3045125/Santa-Marta-Retirement/CareCoordinator.

Catholic elementary school principal - Sts. Peter & Paul School in Seneca 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 Father Arul Carasala at: acarasala@hotmail.com.

Part-time assistant teacher - St. Michael the Archangel Preschool in Leawood is seeking a part-time assistant teacher for our 4’s classroom for the 202526 school year. Hours are Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 8 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. This position aids the lead teacher in conducting daily activities, carrying out licensure rules and regulations, and maintaining principles of sound Catholic education. See the full job description at: stmichaelcp.org/employment. Send a cover letter and resume to: jennie.wente@stmichaelcp.org.

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.

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 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 based on experience. For more information or to apply, email resume to: bhawk@ebt.bank.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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@stjoe shawnee.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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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

CZ Handyman service - 25+ years working in home improvement. Painting, carpentry, flooring, wood rot and much more. Quality work with attention to detail. Clean, honest and fair. Please call Craig at (913) 9899163.

Double A’s Lawn Service Lawn mowing, Mulching, Gutters, Leaf Removal Brush Removal & Hedge Trimming Free Estimates & Insured Alex Spoerre (913) 488-5195

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) 709-7230.

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.

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) 526-0797.

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.

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.

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.

BEREAVEMENT MEETING

Curé of Ars Parish

9405 Mission Rd., Leawood March 15 at 8 a.m.

The bereavement ministry will have a grief support meeting after the 8 a.m. Mass. A grief counselor will speak. For more information, call (913) 649-2026.

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 directions or future dates for the Kansas City monthly rosary rallies, visit the website at: www.rosaryrallieskc.org.

POPCORN WITH THE POPE

St. Pius X Parish (Father Glowacki Room)

5500 Woodson Rd., Mission

March 16 from 2 - 4 p.m.

Join us at St. Pius for the movie “Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot.” Bring your family and friends. There is no charge and everyone is welcome.

CHRIST THE KING

ST. JOSEPH TABLE DINNER

Christ the King Parish

3024 N. 53rd St., Kansas City, Kansas

March 16 from 1 - 4 p.m.

Join us for a baked chicken dinner. The cost is $10 per adult, $5 per child and/or $25 for a family. Cash, card and carryout.

ST. PATRICK’S DAY CELEBRATION

St. Patrick Parish

33721 NW Crawford Rd.,Williamsburg

March 16 from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.

There will be a traditional Irish meal of corned beef and cabbage, Irish soda bread, pies and more. There will be raffle prizes with great prizes. Raffle tickets will be sold during the meal.

STATIONS OF THE CROSS FOR ADULTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

Church of the Ascension

9510 W. 127th St., Overland Park

March 22 from 4 - 5:45 p.m.

Join us for Stations of the Cross for adults with special needs — for ages 1618 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.

DAUGHTERS OF ISABELLA

LITTLE FLOWER CIRCLE

Sacred Heart Parish

312 N.E. Freeman, Topeka

March 23 at 10:30 a.m.

Mass will be followed by a light breakfast in the church hall. If anyone knows of

a member or family member of Daughters of Isabella in need of the circle’s prayers, call Shirley Gustafson at (785) 554-3028 or Gen Orozco at (785) 230-2473.

SHROUD OF TURIN PRESENTATION:

‘SCIENCE LOOKS AT THE EVIDENCE’

St. James Academy

24505 Prairie Star Pkwy., Lenexa

March 25 at 7 p.m.

For many years, the Shroud of Turin has been caught up in controversy about its authenticity. Come see the historic and scientific evidence and decide for yourself. John Gillchrist, a shroud enthusiast, will present both sides of this fascinating story. The presentation is sponsored by the Serra Club of Kansas City in Kansas and is free and open to the public. For more information, call Tom Gaumé or text (913) 305-8538.

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.

POTLUCK DINNER

Most Pure Heart of Mary (Culhane Room)

3601 S.W. 17th St., Topeka March 27 at 1:30 p.m.

The Christian Widow and Widowers Organization will host the potluck dinner. There is no cost to attend. For more information, text Gen Orozco at (785) 2302473.

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.

CALLED TO LOVE AGAIN

DIVORCE SUPPORT

Church of the Ascension

9510 W. 127th, Overland Park

March 29 at 6 p.m.

Do you feel as if you will never heal? Wondering if you’re ready for a relationship? This month’s meeting will have a presentation about forgiveness. Join us once a month at 6 p.m. for fellowship and formation.

LENTEN PARISH RETREAT

Holy Angels Parish

15408 Leavenworth Rd., Basehor

March 31 - April 3 beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Each evening will start with Mass at 6:30 p.m. followed by the talks from 7 to 8 p.m. On Monday, the topic will be “Understanding Sin”; Tuesday, “For what are we supposed to be striving?”; Wednesday, “Real freedom and the goal of a moral life”; and Thursday,“Heaven and Hell.”

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.

YOU WANT ME TO DO WHAT?

Church of the Ascension (St. John Room) 9510 W. 127th St., Overland Park

April 4 from 1 - 5 p.m.

You want me to do what? Are you struggling with forgiving someone who has really hurt you? You are not alone! Forgiveness isn’t about forgetting or excusing the abuse. Come join an interesting time of stories, videos/Scripture, Q&A, and a short prayer led by Chuck Jansen, founder of Forgiveness Institute KC, Inc. There really are predictable “common denominators” in the challenging process to forgive. The cost is $20. Register by sending an email to: yeabut40@gmail.com.

SPRING FLING DINNER AND DANCE

Church of the Ascension

9510 W. 127th St., Overland Park

April 6 from 6:30 - 9:30 p.m.

Adult Catholic special-needs individuals ages 18 and over are welcome to attend the Spring Fling Dinner and Dance. Join us for an evening with dinner catered by Rosati’s and dessert by The Golden Scoop. There will be dancing and bingo. This is a great way to socialize with old friends and meet new friends. Caregivers are welcome. To make reservations, call Cathy Oxley at (816) 210-8181 or send an email to: 3oxleys@gmail.com. An elevator and handicap ramp are available.

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 26 at 6 p.m.

This month Called to Love will have a trivia night. Join us every 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.

WIDOWED WOMEN OF FAITH

Perkins Restaurant (back room) 1720 S.W. Wanamaker Rd., Topeka Third Tuesday of each month

Join us for lunch and companionship. No RSVP is needed, just come. Please invite other widowed women of faith. We meet every month on the third Tuesday and will continue all through 2025. Come join the fun! Questions? Send an email to: WidowedWomenofFaith@gmail.com or call (913) 558-0191.

STRAWBERRY HILL MUSEUM

720 N. 4th St., Kansas City, Kansas

Saturdays and Sundays

March though April

Strawberry Hill Museum has re-opened and is ready for guided tours on Saturdays and Sundays. Come and experience the history and architecture of the mansion built in 1887. Current classes are listed online as well as information about the Tea Room. Please join us for a visit. For more information about tickets and times, go online to: strawberryhill museum.org. Questions? Call (913) 371-3264. Guided tours are March through April at the following times: noon, 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

DIVORCE SUPPORT GROUP

‘HEALING THE DIVORCED HEART’

St. Michael the Archangel (Gabriel Room) 14251 Nall Ave., Leawood 1st & 3rd Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m.

Those who have experienced a divorce understand as perhaps few others can. We were sad, lonely, scared and angry, but we have found that with God, time and the support of others, healing is possible. For more information, visit the website at: www.stmichaelcp.org/divorce-support. Plan to dine in our carryout for breakfast.

ST. THOMAS AQUINAS GRADE SCHOOL SUMMER CAMPS

St. Thomas Aquinas High School 11411 Pflumm Rd., Overland Park May - early August

Our summer camps give students entering grades K - 8th the chance to discover their potential in both sports and other activities like STEM camp, baking, cheer, crafting and more! Camps fill up fast, so register today online at: www.stasaints. net/athletics/summer-camps. We look forward to providing a positive camp experience for your camper! For questions, call the student life office at (913) 319-2416 or send an email to: btriggs@stasaints.net.

SOLUTION

DAILY READINGS

SECOND WEEK OF LENT

March 16

SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT

Gn 15: 5-12, 17-18

Ps 27: 1, 7-9, 13-14

Phil 3:17 – 4:1

Lk 9: 28b-36

March 17

Patrick, bishop

Dn 9: 4b-10

Ps 79: 8-9, 11, 13

Lk 6: 36-38

March 18

Cyril of Jerusalem, bishop, doctor of the church

Is 1: 10, 16-20

Ps 50: 8-9, 16bc-17, 21, 23

Mt 23: 1-12

March 19

JOSEPH, SPOUSE OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

2 Sm 7: 4-5a, 12-14a, 16

Ps 89: 2-5, 27, 29

Rom 4: 13, 16-18, 22

Mt 1: 16, 18-21, 24a

March 20

Thursday

Jer 17: 5-10

Ps 1: 1-4, 6

Lk 16: 19-31

March 21

Friday

Gn 37: 3-4, 12-13a, 17b-28a

Ps 105: 16-21

Mt 21: 33-43, 45-46

March 22

Saturday

Mi 7: 14-15, 18-20

Ps 103: 1-4, 9-12 Lk 15: 1-3, 11-32

THERESE COUDERC 1805-1885

Born to a French farm family, Marie-Victoire Couderc joined a new religious teaching order, but was sent to manage a mountain hostel for women pilgrims at the shrine of St. John Francis Regis. It became a successful retreat house under her guidance, and the order split into a teaching ministry, the Sisters of St. Regis, and a retreat ministry, the Congregation of Our Lady of the Cenacle. Mother Therese was superior of the Cenacle Sisters until 1838, when Jesuit advisers began replacing her with a succession of wealthy women. She lived out her days as an ordinary nun, suffering deafness and painful arthritis at the end. She wrote that “the surrendered soul has found paradise on earth,” and was canonized in 1970.

Well, we’re about 10 days into Lent and I’m wondering: How’s it going for you?

Ash Wednesday in Tonganoxie — as in other places around the archdiocese — got off to a tough start due to the blizzard conditions in the very early morning. When I went over to open the church, the parking lot was slick, but that was nothing compared to the sidewalks. “Of all the days . . .” I grumbled to myself. Surprisingly, more people turned up at morning Mass than I’d anticipated. And with the afternoon warmup, the church was packed for the evening Mass. Someone even compared it to a “Christmas crowd”!

It’s heartwarming to see the church so full on Ash Wednesday which isn’t even a holy day of obligation. I think we all recognize that we need to change our lives, that we can be much better people. Sadly, though, as the days of Lent progress, the crowds and our

Will your Lent take flight?

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.

resolutions tend to regress.

Although the desire to change for the better is genuine, we often fail to appreciate how hard it is. Also, we tend to fall into an “all or nothing” mentality. The minute we fail to live up to our Lenten resolutions — even in the smallest ways — we chuck the whole season, hoping for better luck next year.

But the point of Lent is not so much perfection as improvement.

One of the greatest temptations in Lent is to “give up Lent” when we experience failure or difficulties.

Whenever Lent gets tough for me, I call to mind the following story:

On June 17, 1998, an 81-year-old man by the name of Robert Kupferschmid headed to lunch with a pilot friend, 52-year-old Wesley Sickle. They were flying from Indianapolis to Muncie, Indiana, in a Cessna 172 single-engine plane. Sadly, Sickle suffered a heart attack while in flight and died at the controls.

Kupferschmid, who had no flying experience, immediately grabbed the flight stick

of the plane and began to pray.

“The plane started nosing to the ground,” he said. “I got on the radio and asked for help.”

Pilot Mike Bowen was flying about 20 miles away that day, doing aerial surveys for a utility company.

Hearing Kupferschmid’s plea for help, he determined that Mount Comfort had the nearest airport.

“I described to him what I do every day,” Bowen said. “He was concerned, but he never sounded frantic.”

Meanwhile, emergency crews were on the ground anticipating a crash.

Bowen flew close behind Kupferschmid’s plane, giving instructions on climbing, steering and — the scariest part — landing.

Witnesses said the plane’s nose nudged the centerline and bounced a few times before the tail struck the ground. The craft wound up in a soggy area next to the runway, with the only damage a bent propeller.

Incredibly, Kupfer-

schmid was uninjured. That’s because he listened carefully to instructions and followed them faithfully as if his life depended on it . . . because it did! (Story adapted from the L.A. Times archive.)

Imagine that you’re flying a plane this season of Lent. The Lord wants you to land successfully at the end of it — becoming holier, more compassionate and more forgiving. Your “instructions” are found in those familiar Lenten disciplines of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Remember that the rescue Pilot flies behind, especially when the going gets rough, calming our fears and giving us reassurance and encouragement.

Don’t give up and crash and burn this Lenten season. Instead, listen carefully and follow completely those instructions given by our God. “Do Lent” as if your eternal life depended on it . . . because, you see, it really does!

Look. Listen. These are the watchwords of the Lenten season

This Sunday’s readings seem to be all about wonder — in Genesis, we hear about a sky filled with countless stars, and then in Luke, we learn of Christ’s radiant transfiguration on a mountaintop. There is a sense of amazement.

But for me, it says something vital about Lent. And it all boils down to two little words. The first is one we hear when God speaks to Abram — his very first word to him, in fact: “Look.” Such a simple word, packed with so much power.

God wants to show Abram his legacy, his future, what he has

DEACON GREG KANDRA

Deacon Greg Kandra is an award-winning author and journalist, and creator of the blog “The Deacon’s Bench.” He serves in the Diocese of Brooklyn, New York.

planned for him. With that dramatic word, and the opportunity to

pause and consider all the stars in the sky and the limitless possibilities that lie before him, Abram assents to God’s will. The rest is, quite literally, history.

The idea of looking and watching, seeing the incredible made credible, reappears in the Gospel, when we hear Luke’s account of the Transfiguration — another glimpse of what will be, and one that inspires fear in the apostles who were there. The Gospel episode concludes the way the reading from Genesis began — with a reference to the sense of sight.

“They fell silent and did not at that time tell

anyone what they had seen.”

But there’s something else that strikes me. If seeing is vitally important this Sunday, so is another sense: hearing.

Earlier in the Gospel, God has something else to tell the apostles — another command, like the one he gave Abram.

This is the other significant word to remember this Sunday: “Listen.”

Look. Listen. Look at what will be. Listen to the one God sent — the one who has been transfigured, changed, and who will change the world.

Look. And listen. You want to know what Lent entails? This is

where it begins. These are the watchwords of this season we have begun — words to guide our days and change our hearts and inspire us as we continue the long and challenging walk to Calvary. Look beyond the world you know, what is familiar and comfortable, and look to the world beyond and the God who sent his Son to heal and save. Listen to the stirrings in our own hearts. Be attentive to God’s presence in our lives, our jobs, our families. How does he want us to grow and change this season? What is he asking of us this Lent?

Pope prays for wounded families, says forgiveness renews hope, healing

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The best medicine to heal the pain of a wounded family is forgiveness, Pope Francis

“Forgiveness always renews the family, making it look forward with hope,” the pope said in a video message to present his prayer intention for the month of March: “For families in crisis.”

In the message released March 4, Pope

Francis said, “We all dream about a beautiful, perfect family. But there’s no such thing as a perfect family. Every family has its own problems, as well as its tremendous joys.”

“Every member of the family is important because each member is different than the others, each person is unique. But these differences can also cause conflict and painful wounds,” he said.

The best medicine to help heal the pain of those wounds, he said,

is forgiveness. “Forgiveness means giving another chance,” he said. “God does this with us all the time. God’s patience is infinite. He forgives us, lifts us up, gives us a new start.”

Even if there is no possibility of there being a fairytale ending of “happily ever after,” he said, “God’s grace gives us the strength to forgive, and it brings peace, because it frees us from sadness, and, above all, from resentment.”

EThis Lent, commit to putting the most vulnerable first

ach year, as Lent approaches, many ponder what to “give up.” At Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas, we challenge you to “take action,” making the season most meaningful for yourself and others.

Our annual 40 Ways, 40 Days Lenten social media campaign began on Ash Wednesday. This year, we take you on a journey through different Catholic social teachings, offering weekly reflections, real-life program outcomes and stories of hope from our 30-plus ministries. The campaign offers an opportunity to learn about our programs, engage with our mission and call others to do the same for those in need. We begin by focusing on feeding the hungry and clothing the naked. Food and clothing, though basic,

Akey goal of Catholic education and Camp Tekakwitha is to pass on a Catholic understanding of reality. According to the rite of baptism, parents are to be the first and best teachers of their children. Catechism classes, camp and Catholic schools can be powerful allies in passing on a Catholic understanding of reality. Ultimately, the formation that parents consciously and unconsciously immerse their children in is extremely powerful and will likely provide a North Star or at least a reaction point for the rest of their lives.

OINSIDE CATHOLIC CHARITIES SEEKING

are necessities for a quality human life. We take a look at the ways that our food pantries, mobile food distribution, kids summer food, senior commodities and after-school meal programs help fight food insecurity. Next, the focus shifts to prioritizing the well-being of those less fortunate so that

they can become more active participants in society. The deprivation and powerlessness of the poor wounds communities, because everyone has the right to possess a sufficient amount of good for themselves and their family. One way to possess good is through work. The Catholic Church believes that work is more than a way to make a living. The ability to work and earn a fair, livable wage honors the dignity of the human person. The economy exists to serve people — not the other way around. It’s important to defend the rights of workers so that they have safe working conditions,

can adequately take care of their families and contribute to society. We are reminded that we must be in solidarity in recognizing others as our brothers and sisters in Christ and actively working for their good, understanding what life is like for them — the poorest, most vulnerable and overlooked, wherever they are in the world. As a human family, we must work together for the well-being of all to ensure everyone has what they need to live with dignity.

Solidarity also includes the call to welcome the stranger among us — including immigrants seeking

work, a safe home, education for their children and a dignified life for their families. Our campaign concludes with a reminder that “all people have a right to life, food, clothing, shelter, rest, medical care, education and employment. A basic moral test is how our most vulnerable members are faring. In a society marred by deepening divisions between rich and poor, our tradition . . . instructs us to put the needs of the poor and vulnerable first” (Pope St. John XXIII). How are you putting the most vulnerable first this Lenten season and beyond?

Camp experience steeped in Catholic view of reality

HEART

DEACON DANA NEARMYER

Deacon Dana Nearmyer is the director of evangelization for the archdiocese.

A Catholic vision of reality is expansive and bold. Professor Michael Hanby says:

“And necessarily, this vision extends to absolutely everything. For there is no aspect of reality — not nature, not history, not science, not politics, not thinking itself — that falls outside of creation, and that is unaffected in the depths of its being by its relation to God.”

“God is not simply the God of Sunday, but the God of the whole week; not simply the God of religion class, but the God of all classes. Not just the God of the liturgy, although that is a privileged place, but the God of all the aspects of the cosmos,” as articulated by theologian Sebastian D’Amico. Are these truths in the forefront of our minds? Do we show our children that God is near and powerful?

The opening to the Catechism of the Catholic Church says: “God, infinitely perfect and blessed in himself, in a plan of sheer goodness, freely created man to make him share in his

own blessed life. For this reason, at every time and in every place, God draws close to man. He calls man to seek him, to know him, to love him with all his strength. He calls together all men, scattered and divided by sin, into the unity of his family, the church. To accomplish this, when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son as redeemer and savior. In his Son and through him, he invites men to become, in the Holy Spirit, his adopted children and thus heirs of his blessed life.”

Is this the reality that we pass on? How does this impact the bedtime prayers that

we teach our children? Do we model praying to an approachable, personal Father who knows the number of hairs on each of our heads or a distant, passive, anonymous God?

Camp Tekakwitha is based on these understandings. Camp is a quest for God, inviting questions and divine wisdom. Camp Tekakwitha registration is open. May our hearts, homes, camp, schools and parishes pass on a Catholic understanding of reality.

For a deeper dive, check out Hanby’s “Quaerere Deum: What Is Education and Why Is It Catholic?”

Deacon’s role as messenger makes him perfect for Exsultet

ne of my favorite images of the deacon is that of herald, or messenger. In the rite of ordination to the diaconate, the bishop says to the new deacon, “Receive the Gospel of Christ, whose herald you now are.”

In artistic depictions of the Annunciation, the Archangel Gabriel is often depicted wearing a dalmatic, the vestment of a deacon, so as to symbolize his role as herald of the coming of the Christ Child.

The deacon’s role as herald of the Gospel of Christ is especially evident in the Easter Vigil liturgy, the greatest feast

DEACON LEON SUPRENANT

Deacon Leon Suprenant is the co-director of the office of the permanent diaconate. He may be reached at: leons@archkck.org.

of the

ORDAINED TO SERVE

church, stopping three times, proclaiming “The Light of Christ.” Then he proceeds to the ambo, where he then sings the Exsultet, a long, magnificent proclamation of the resurrection of Christ.

I should back up at this point and note that the priest or even a lay

cantor may sing the Exsultet, but the Missal itself notes that the proper and preferred minister to sing the Exsultet is the deacon. Why would this be? The reason is that the Exsultet is nothing less than the proclamation of the Gospel, and the deacon is ordained to be a herald, or messenger, of this good news. Just as the faithful stand to hear the priest or deacon proclaim the Gospel at Mass, all the faithful at the Easter Vigil stand during the Exsultet. And the deacon is dressed in white, recalling the angel at the empty tomb: “His appearance was

like lightning and his clothing white as snow” (Mt 28:3).

The Exsultet dates all the way back to the fourth century. The use of the Paschal candle goes back even further and is rooted in ancient Jewish customs. It is a jewel of our Catholic tradition and a call to joyful praise and jubilation.

The Exsultet is a compendium of salvation history. Christ is presented as the true lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, the one who delivers us — not from slavery in Egypt but from slavery to sin — and the true light that overcomes

our darkness.

Perhaps the most famous line from the Exsultet is its reference to original sin:

“O truly necessary sin of Adam, destroyed completely by the death of Christ!

“O happy fault that earned so great, so glorious a Redeemer!”

During these final weeks leading up to Easter, let us reflect on what these words mean for us — that the redemption Christ offers us is even greater than our sins. As St. Paul wrote: “where sin increased, grace abounded all the more” (Rom 5:20).

church. He brings the lighted Paschal candle into the darkened

LAUREN SOLIDUM

Lauren Solidum is the executive director of Catholic Charities.

Kids’ Kids’

CHRONICLE CHRONICLE

God tells Moses to bring the Israelites out of Egypt

By Jennifer Ficcaglia Catholic Courier

Moses was married to a daughter of Jethro, the priest of Midian. One day, Moses was tending his father-in-law’s flock near Horeb, the mountain of God.

As Moses walked along, something strange caught his eye. A nearby bush was on fire, but the flames were not destroying it.

“I must go over to look at this remarkable sight, and see why the bush is not burned,” Moses said in amazement.

God noticed that the burning bush had caught Moses’ attention.

“Moses! Moses!” God called out from the bush.

“Here I am,” Moses replied as he started to walk closer to the bush.

“Come no nearer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground,” God said. “I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob.”

Moses hid his face because he was afraid to look at God.

God told Moses that he had heard the suffering cries of the Israelites, who were slaves in Egypt.

“Therefore I have come down to rescue them from the hands of the Egyptians and lead them out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey,” God said. “Now, go! I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.”

“Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” Moses asked.

“I will be with you,” God said, “and this will be your sign that I have sent you. When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will serve God at this mountain.”

Moses had another question for God.

“But when I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ if they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what am I to tell them?” he wanted to know.

“I am who I am,” God replied.

“This is what you shall tell the Israelites: I Am sent me to you,” God added. “Thus shall you say to the Israelites: The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is my name forever; thus am I to be remembered through all generations.”

1. What was Moses doing when he saw the burning bush?

2. What did God want Moses to do?

Bible accent

Did you know that Moses, a Hebrew, was raised as an Egyptian?

In Exodus 1, we read that Pharaoh enslaved the Israelites and ordered that all male Israelite babies be killed.

In Exodus 3, we read that a Levite woman gave birth to a baby boy and hid him until he was 3 months old. By that age, she could no longer hide the child. She decided to place the baby in a watertight papyrus basket and set it among the reeds on the bank of the Nile River. She also sent her daughter to watch and see what would happen to the child.

Just then, Pharaoh’s daughter came to the river to take a bath. She saw the basket in the reeds and told her handmaid to bring it to her.

She opened the basket and saw the crying baby boy.

Her heart was moved with pity.

“It is one of the Hebrews’ children,” she said.

The baby’s sister rushed up to Pharaoh’s daughter.

“Shall I go and summon a Hebrew woman to nurse the child for you?” the girl asked.

Pharaoh’s daughter agreed. The girl went away and returned with her mother, who also was the baby’s mother.

“Take this child and nurse him for me, and I will pay your wages,” Pharaoh’s daughter told the woman.

When the boy grew, his mother brought him back to Pharaoh’s daughter, who raised the child as her own.

Pharaoh’s daughter named the boy Moses, because she drew him out of the water.

Mark Rey was born in Sigmaringen, Germany, in 1577. He studied philosophy and law and eventually set up a legal practice in Alsace. He did not like the behavior of his fellow lawyers, so he became a Capuchin and took the name Fidelis.

Fidelis was invited to Switzerland to bring Protestants back to the Catholic Church. In 1622, he was murdered by opponents of his work. We remember him on April 24.

St. Fidelis of Sigmaringen