03 28 25 Vol. 46 No. 31

Donnelly College boosts first-generation college students to

NEXT GENERATION SUCCESS

By Moira Cullings moira.cullings@theleaven.org

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — A small Catholic college here is a rare beacon of hope for the students who come through its doors.

“Donnelly is a pretty unique entity across the country,” said Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann.

“I don’t know that there’s any other college precisely like Donnelly that is focused on serving first-generation college students and really changing that equation,” he added.

Since 1949, Donnelly College has provided students who might not otherwise be served with a pathway to a brighter future.

“According to Donnelly’s founders,” said president Msgr. Stuart Swetland, “their mission was to provide local high school graduates with a Catholic postsecondary education close to home and ‘without needless expense.’

“For 75 years, Donnelly has maintained this focus on providing an excellent education while keeping costs low.”

LEAVEN

PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER

Msgr. Stuart Swetland, president of Donnelly College in Kansas City, Kansas, visits with students in the Academic Building.

LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER

Matthew T. Vander Vennet, Ph.D., director of mission and assistant professor of theology, teaches a class at Donnelly College. Despite its low student-to-teacher ratio, Donnelly is one of the most affordable colleges in the area.

Don’t get distracted from the gift of God’s love as revealed in Jesus

At the time I write this column, it appears that Satan’s Grotto of Leavenworth will be allowed to conduct some form of satanic worship, during which they promise to desecrate a Bible, a crucifix and probably other symbols of Christian devotion. We have sworn testimony from their leader that they do not have the Eucharist, contradicting his earlier claim to be in possession of a consecrated host. If it is proven that he lied under oath about this, he could be convicted of perjury — a felony resulting in both monetary fines and jail time.

One media source claimed that I had reached an agreement with the Satanists. The only agreement that we reached was that the Satanist admitted to being a liar when he claimed to possess the Blessed Sacrament. I still believe that it is a travesty of America’s core values to allow this satanic group to engage in hate speech on the grounds of the Capitol by denigrating and mocking Christianity in general and Catholicism in particular.

The devil wants to distract us with bizarre claims and offensively provocative language. Wherever Satan reigns, there is inevitably confusion and chaos. The best protection against the devil is prayer through which we praise and glorify God. This is why I have invited Catholics throughout the archdiocese for a

ARCHBISHOP

JOSEPH F. NAUMANN

eucharistic Holy Hour and Mass at Assumption Church in Topeka. I also encourage every Catholic to consecrate yourself to Jesus through Mary. Lent is a time to ponder the miracle of our baptism when we received the very life of Jesus and were given a destiny to live with him and the saints forever. We need to take advantage of the sacrament of reconciliation, receive the Eucharist frequently, spend time in adoration before the Blessed Sacrament, pray the rosary daily and, in general, turn more frequently to God in prayer. This will drive the devil crazy and throw him into confusion and the depths of despair.

There is so much good happening on a daily basis in the church.

This past weekend was a great example. On Saturday morning, I preached at the annual anointing of the sick Mass that is planned and sponsored by the Knights and Dames of Malta.

Bishop James V.

LIFE WILL BE VICTORIOUS

Johnston was the principal celebrant with priests from Kansas and Missouri concelebrating and assisting with the anointing of the sick. Our Catholic faith allows us to recognize meaning even in our suffering. Even as we prayed for their healing, we honored our sick who have been called to be configured more closely to the crucified Christ.

Saturday evening, I was in Atchison celebrating Mass for presenters and participants from all over the United States at Benedictine College’s annual Symposium on Transforming Culture. The focus of this year’s symposium was on the importance of Christian marriage and Christian family life in the transformation of society. Christian married couples, in living their vows of faithful, fruitful and forever love become icons of God’s love in the world.

On Sunday morning, I celebrated Mass in the Kateri Tekakwitha Chapel at Prairie Star Ranch for the Rural Catholic Youth Conference. It was beautiful to share the Eucharist with a couple hundred of our young people from our

rural parishes. Their love and devotion for the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist was edifying.

On Sunday afternoon, I baptized the fourth child of a beautiful couple from Holy Spirit Parish in Overland Park. I thanked the parents for their marriage and their generous openness to new life. I encouraged them to do their best to help their baby daughter know the importance of her baptismal day, when she received the very life of Jesus, became a temple of the living God and was given a destiny to live with Jesus and the saints forever.

The entire Lenten season is a time to ponder the gift of our own baptism. At the Easter Vigil or Easter Sunday Mass, we will be invited to renew our baptismal promises and our faith in the risen Jesus’ victory of life. I hope you will take advantage of the sacrament of reconciliation during the Lenten season to renew the grace of your baptism and experience again through a fresh encounter with God’s mercy our liberation from the dreariness and sadness of sin.

What a gift is our Catholic faith! The devil has no power over us. Do not permit Satan and his disciples to distract you from the truth of God’s love for you revealed in Jesus. Let us throw the devil back into his natural state of confusion and despair by celebrating the beauty and joy of God’s merciful, faithful love.

ARCHBISHOP NAUMANN’S CALENDAR

March 29

Prayer at Planned Parenthood — International Day of the Unborn Child

March 30

Catholic Committee on Scouting Mass — cathedral

March 31

Confirmation — Good Shepherd, Shawnee

April 1

Catholic Community Health staff meeting — Villa St. Francis, Olathe

Benedictine Center for Family Life talk (George Weigel, keynote) — Sacred Heart, Shawnee

April 2

Bishop Ward eucharistic adoration — cathedral

St. Lawrence Center board meeting — St. Lawrence Catholic Campus Center, Lawrence

April 3

Religious Alliance Against Pornography board meeting

St. Paul’s Outreach Late Night Event — Midwest Trust Center, Overland Park

April 5

Abbot’s Table XII — Overland Park Convention Center

April 7

“Shepherd’s Voice” recording — chancery

National Committee for Human Life Amendment board meeting

Confirmation — Most Pure Heart of Mary, Topeka

April 8

Focus leaders Mass and breakfast — residence

Priests Personnel board meeting — chancery

Administrative Team meeting — chancery

Confirmation — Holy Name, Kansas City, Kansas

April 9

Curia meeting — Savior

Confirmation — St. John-Mary Vianney, Maple Hill

April 10

Eucharistic adoration — Bishop Miege, Roeland Park

Savior Pastoral and Retreat Center gala rescheduled for June 7

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Due to unexpected scheduling conflicts, the Savior Pastoral and Retreat Center (SPARC) gala originally scheduled for March 29 is being rescheduled for June 7.

“We needed to adjust the date to ensure the best possible experience for everyone involved,” said Greg Mies, director of Savior Pastoral and Retreat Center. “We truly appreciate everyone’s understanding and continued support.”

The gala is a fundraiser for Savior, which hosts many events

throughout the year. This is the second year of the SPARC gala. Mies said that the schedule of events will be the same and that there is no need to re-register for those who have already committed. The pastoral center will reach out to those who have already registered to communicate the changes.

For any questions or concerns, send an email to Mies at: gmies@ archkck.org, or call (913) 721-1097.

Tickets can still be purchased for the gala. They are $175. To purchase, go online to: archkck.org/ savior.

Students display work at Archbishop’s Invitational Art Exhibit

By John Sorce john.sorce@theleaven.org

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — For Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann, the annual Archbishop’s Invitational High School Art Exhibit is a time to appreciate our divine Creator.

“God is the divine artist and all of the creative world is really his artwork,” the archbishop said. “When you strive to capture and represent beauty through various forms of art, we are really imitating the divine Creator and participating in God’s creativity.”

Such creativity is on display in one of the hallways at Savior Pastoral Center in Kansas City, Kansas, through the end of April and was recognized at an awards ceremony on March 13.

Judging was based on creativity and artistic expression of the annual theme and technique, demonstrating the student’s ability in using the medium to achieve the desired outcome. This year’s judges were Donna Coleman, Donna Houtterman, Lesle Knop and Father Mark Mertes.

The theme this year was “Where Heaven Meets Earth” and eight total awards were given out.

Roeland Park’s Bishop Miege sophomore Mary Alice Solano took home the Archbishop’s Award and a first-place prize of $200.

Her pencil drawing called “Finally” shows a man and a woman resting on earthly ground and looking up at an angel from heaven.

She said the idea went through several drafts, with some help from Bishop Miege art instructor Michael Long.

“I’m good at face sketching and I had that idea from the beginning,” Solano said. “My art teacher Mr. Long helped me with my first draft, where I had the two people reaching to each other instead of lying down. But he told me something that I didn’t think of and that’s how I came up with the second draft, and I agreed that it looked good.

“I wanted to include the angel in the middle because with the two people, male and female, on the ground, it was my idea from the start for it to be where

ing for the feet of Jesus on the cross.

THIS IS A CELEBRATION OF FAITH, CREATIVITY AND THE INCREDIBLE TALENT OF OUR STUDENTS.

KIRSTEN WONDRA ASSOCIATE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS

heaven meets earth.”

Lenexa’s St. James Academy senior Ella Zysk received the Popular Choice Award, as well as one of five Judge’s Awards. Her prizes totaled $300.

Her piece was an oil on canvas painting titled “Mary Mourns Her Son,” which depicts the Blessed Mother reach-

“That piece was very significant to my relationship with Mary,” Zysk said. “It took a lot of time, and I honestly wasn’t sure I wanted to paint. But having that relationship with Mary is more important than other daily things and it’s really rewarding to see other people enjoy my work.”

St. James Academy junior Van Par took home the Superintendent Award and a $150 prize for her acrylic painting “Marriage Supper of the Lamb.”

Also receiving Judge’s Awards and $100 prizes were Bishop Miege senior Alessandra Ledesma; Overland Park’s St. Thomas Aquinas junior Emma Sajons; St. James Academy sophomore Joshua Kissel; and St. Thomas Aquinas senior Lauren McNally.

“This is a celebration of faith, creativity and the incredible talent of

our students,” said Kirsten Wondra, associate superintendent of archdiocesan schools. “This event showcases not only artistic skill, but the beauty of storytelling through art inspired by faith and imagination.

“To our student artists, your work speaks for itself,” Wondra said. “But it is definitely an expression of faith, talent and dedication. Know that your creativity is a gift from God and a reflection of the divine spark within you.”

Archbishop Naumann hopes the students continue to glorify God and share him with others through their artistic works.

“Please continue to be imitators of the great Artist, our beautiful God, and continue to give him glory by using your gifts and talents to honor him and reflect the beauty of his creation to others,” he said.

LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER

Bishop Miege sophomore Mary Alice Solano took home the Archbishop’s Award and a firstplace prize of $200. Her pencil drawing called “Finally” shows a man and a woman resting on earthly ground and looking up at an angel from heaven.

LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER

St. James Academy sophomore Joshua Kissel talks with Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann following the presentation of the Archbishop’s Invitational High School Art awards on March 13. Kissel received a Judge’s Award and a $100 prize.

LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER

Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann hands Lenexa’s St. James Academy senior Ella Zysk certificates for her awards as archdiocesan superintendent of schools Vince Cascone looks on. Zysk received the Popular Choice Award, as well as one of five Judge’s Awards. Her prizes totaled $300.

Sophia Center develops ecological ministry

By Hannah Hiester Special to The Leaven

ATCHISON — The Benedictine Sisters of Mount St. Scholastica here have a unique historical legacy that spans centuries.

But through their mission to intentionally care for creation, the Sisters hope to leave an even longer lasting impact on Atchison and the world.

Though the Sisters at the Mount minister to the community and steward the environment in a variety of ways, the Mount’s Sophia Spirituality Center has become one way to increase the impact of their ecological and educational initiatives. Sister Elizabeth Carillo, who has been a Sister at the Mount since 2002, works on creation care programming, ecospirituality, and ecotheology for the Sophia Center.

There is no better person to lead the center’s ecological ministry. Sister Elizabeth shared with The Leaven that she obtained her master’s in religion and environment from the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee, where she learned to integrate science with theology, a combination that she said gave her a “broad picture of interaction between human beings and the environment.”

She said that the Sisters at the Mount periodically set “directional statements” to discern as a community what specific area they want to focus on. The two current statements place an emphasis on the care of creation.

According to Sister Elizabeth, the first statement involves “witnessing to the sacredness and interconnection of creation through Benedictine stewardship and ongoing conversion as expressed through spiritual formation, education, advocacy and collaboration.”

“The second one had to do with being guided and inspired by the Gospel, the Rule of Benedict and the teachings of Pope Francis, how we wanted to live our community life and monastic values from those sources,” she said, adding that the Sisters especially wanted to focus on

Special to The Leaven

O“Laudato Si,’” Pope Francis’ encyclical on care of the environment.

The Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development at the Vatican created an initiative known as the Laudato Si’ Action Platform, which Sister Elizabeth explained consists of seven goal areas in which faithful Catholics can specifically practice creation care. According to the platform’s website, the goal of the initiative is to carry out “concrete actions to protect our common home.”

The Mount signed onto the platform in a seven-year-long commitment in spring 2024, immediately beginning their creation care ministry with the development of a community garden in Atchison. In its first year, Sister Elizabeth said, it generated thousands of pounds of produce, which they donated to Catholic Charities.

The Sisters at the Mount practice other eco-friendly and sustainable habits like beekeeping, organic gardening and composting, but they’re widening their outreach with a summer internship program as well.

The Mount’s Creation Care Internship would allow young adults to practice stewardship of the environment through a Catholic lens, with guidance and spiritual enrichment from the Sisters. Applications are currently open for self-motivated college juniors, seniors or recent graduates.

Sister Elizabeth also said that interns would study “Laudato Si’”

during the summer through a fiveweek online program and have opportunities to work with other ministries like Catholic Charities and Uplift in Kansas City, Missouri, to reach out to poor and marginalized communities.

“We want to make sure that they understand that it’s this integral approach — that it’s taking into [consideration the] care and concern for the dignity of the human person and for human society, at the same time as caring for the integrity of the Earth community,” Sister Elizabeth said.

She added that the Sisters’ focus on the care of creation, in which the internship would provide a profound experience, is deeply rooted in church teaching and Scripture, going all the way back to the creation story in the Book of Genesis.

“God’s creating all of these places for creatures to inhabit and to be living with one another, supporting each other in that network and interconnectedness of creation. And then, humans are to come along and keep that balance,” she said. “That sense of everything being given into the hands of humankind is not just a license to take and plunder, but [a challenge] — how do we keep . . . creation in this beautiful balance?

“There is something about creation care that really is ennobling of the human person because it’s bringing us back to what we’re truly created for and to do.”

E ducator, artist Sister Frances Yarc, OSB, dies

ATCHISON — Sister Frances Yarc, 97, a Benedictine Sister of Mount St. Scholastica here, died March 11 at the monastery.

Sister Frances was born in Kansas City, Kansas, on Dec. 30, 1927, to John and Frances (Safer) Yarc, the second oldest of five children. She attended Bishop Ward High School for a year and a half before leaving to care for her mother.

She entered the Mount community in 1946 and later earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Mount St. Scholastica College. She was a teacher for 22 years in Missouri, Kansas, Iowa and Nebraska.

After receiving LPN training, she served at Providence Hospital in Kansas City, Kansas, and in the Mount infirmary. She earned her RN degree in 1979 at Stormont Vail Hospital in Topeka and was a nursing supervisor in the Mount infirmary for several years.

She later did home health care and care of the aged until she retired in 2000. Sister Frances continued to help with hospitality to guests at the monastery for some time after that. She enjoyed painting and displayed her oil paintings at local art fairs where she won several awards.

Gail (Rausch) and Jim Brungardt, members of Sacred Heart-St. Joseph Parish, Topeka, will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary on April 3. The couple married on April 3, 1965, at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Salina. Their children are: Kristin Hanson (deceased); Deborah Alani, Chicago; LeAnn Brungardt, Topeka; Paul Brungardt, Silver Lake; Aaron Brungardt, Gladstone, Missouri; and Tammy Holmes, Silver Lake. They also have 12 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. The couple will celebrate with their family.

Santa Marta residents unite for ecumenical retreat

LATHE — At Santa Marta here, faith and fellowship thrive, and this was especially evident on March 22 when residents came together for a resident-led ecumenical spiritual retreat in the community’s chapel.

Titled “The Fourth Quarter of Our Lives,” the retreat explored faith and purpose in later years, fostering unity among Catholic, Methodist and other denominational traditions. Residents welcomed Father Scott Wallisch of St. Joseph Church in Shawnee, along with other ministers and pastors, for a day of reflection, discussion and shared worship.

What made this retreat particularly

meaningful was that it was organized entirely by Santa Marta residents who felt called to create a space for spiritual connection. The event saw an overwhelming response, with more than 70 residents participating.

The retreat was a testament to Santa Marta’s commitment to faith, inclusivity and the power of community. Residents left feeling renewed, inspired and grateful for the opportunity to share in this special experience together.

“It was a blessing to be a part of this retreat right here at our home in Santa Marta,” said resident Valerie Bauer. “The messages given by the speakers brought encouragement and hope. The attendance was phenomenal. The ecumenical presence was palpable and very uplifting. I felt nourished and happy.”

COURTESY PHOTO

Participants at Santa Marta’s resident-led ecumenical retreat at the facility on March 22 experienced a meaningful gathering centered on faith, purpose and community.

COURTESY PHOTO

Sister Elizabeth Carillo, OSB (far right), guides a group of students through the herb garden at the monastery.

A SPECIAL WAY OF THE CROSS

By Moira Cullings moira.cullings@theleaven.org

OVERLAND PARK — Adults with special needs gathered at Church of the Ascension here on March 22 to walk the Way of the Cross.

“The idea came from watching my brother struggle with his spiritual life,” said Cathy Oxley. “There wasn’t anything for him as an adult — [a] child, yes, but not as an adult just like me.”

This was the second year Ascension has offered Stations of the Cross for adults with special needs. The Stations were led by Deacon John Stanley, and this year included sign language interpretation by Pat Richey.

“The families love what we are doing [to] keep bringing the Way of the Cross back every year,” said Oxley.

Oxley is involved in Ascension’s

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made, a community of parents and caregivers of individuals with special needs who come together for advice and support.

That initiative, and events like the Stations of the Cross, have had the full support of Father Gary Pennings, pastor of Ascension, said Oxley.

“He wants to bring back the fallenaway Catholics who left because those needs of their loved ones weren’t even being heard or discussed,” she said.

For Oxley, organizing and writing the handout for the Stations has enriched her own Lent.

“This project I prayed over a lot,” she said. “In that process, I came to understand the passion of Our Lord in a deeper way.”

To learn more about Fearfully and Wonderfully Made, visit the website at: kcascension.org/fwm.

Photos by Jay Soldner

Pat Richey, former consultant for the archdiocesan office of deaf ministry, provided sign language interpretation for the Stations of the Cross for adults with special needs.

Church of the Ascension in Overland Park hosted Stations of the Cross for adults with special needs on March 22. Participants walked the Way of the Cross. This is the second year that Ascension has hosted this event.

Ben Gwynn carries the crucifix as Deacon John Stanley leads the congregation in the Way of the Cross devotion. The event was organized by Cathy Oxley, who also wrote the handout for the Stations.

You’re not too late (and neither are the ones late to Mass)

“When I show up to church late, everyone stares and glares. When I show up to a meeting late, everyone stands and applauds — because they know I almost didn’t make it.”

The two-line story took my breath away: a testimony from an alcoholic in recovery who had found a warmer welcome in Alcoholics Anonymous meetings in church basements than in the sanctuaries upstairs.

For several years, I’ve been noticing the ones who come late. Growing up, my family of seven was often scooting into the pew after Mass started, so I’ve long had compassion for how hard it can be to get out the door and into church on Sunday mornings.

But families of young children aren’t the only ones. Visitors who are new to the parish, people with mobility challenges, parishioners without reliable transportation, teenagers slipping into the back pew — at nearly every Mass, I see someone show up late. I’ve decided to start praying for the late ones in a special way, because like the alcoholic hesitating at the door of their meeting, they almost might not have made it. And how much worse it would be to miss the banquet of the Eucharist!

I once heard an exercise instructor remark as she kept the gym door open for a few minutes longer, “I always figure the person who’s latest is the person who needs it most.” What a generous response to human nature — and a gracious acknowledgment that on hard days, getting anywhere on time can feel even harder.

If we pride ourselves on being punctual (since timeliness is understood and valued differently in different cultures), we might struggle with tardiness. In the parable of the workers in the vineyard, Jesus makes the prompt and diligent among us squirm. At the end of the day, every worker is given the same wages, even the ones who showed up late and worked the

least (Mt 20:1-16).

How do we respond to this parable today, as Catholics trying to live out our faith? Do we grumble about others, bitter that God is merciful? Or do we give thanks, knowing that we are in need of mercy and forgiveness in turn?

We can’t always know someone else’s story, what caused them to be late that morning, or how they almost didn’t come to

church this Sunday. Thanks be to God who reminds us that in the kingdom of God, the first shall be last and the last shall be first.

Lent begins each year with the reminder that we are not too late. The first reading every Ash Wednesday comes from the Book of Joel: “Even now, says the Lord, return to me with your whole heart” (2:12).

Even now, when we are sinful and

wrapped up in our own ways, when the world is dark and evil forces are afoot, God beckons us back, to repent and return to the way of truth and love. It is never too late to come home.

If you haven’t yet taken up a Lenten practice, you are not too late. You might even decide to pray for those who show up late to Mass, to soften your heart to see them as Christ sees them.

After all, if we don’t welcome others as Christ, why do we expect they would ever come back again — or try to be on time if they did?

It’s never too late to turn back to God, never too late to come to church, never too late to widen your heart. “Even now, says the Lord, return to me.” Even now, you are not too late.

LAURA KELLY FANUCCI

Laura Kelly Fanucci is an author, speaker and founder of Mothering Spirit, an online gathering place on parenting and spirituality.

More than 800 attend Kansans for Life banquet

By Marc and Julie Anderson mjanderson@theleaven.org

OVERLAND PARK — Within the United States, only about 10% of babies diagnosed with Down syndrome are born, a fact the mother-daughter duo of Rachel Campos-Duffy and Evita Duffy-Alfonso highlighted near the beginning of their keynote address at the Kansans for Life banquet held on March 9 at the Overland Park Convention Center.

Campos-Duffy serves as a cohost of “Fox & Friends Weekend Edition,” while Duffy-Alfonso, 25, is the host of the “Bongino Report Early Edition” daily podcast.

The two opened their presentation with a short video of the youngest member of the Campos-Duffy family, 5-year-old Valentina, born with Down syndrome. She is the youngest child of nine born to Campos-Duffy and Sean Duffy, current secretary for the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Campos-Duffy and Duffy-Alfonso said it’s sad to realize so many of Valentina’s potential friends have been aborted, given the statistics in the United States. In other countries such as Denmark, though, as many as 98% of babies are aborted as a “result of progress,” said Campos-Duffy.

“In ancient pagan civilizations,” she continued, “child sacrifice and disposing of weak, deformed or unwant-

From left, mother-daughter duo Rachel Campos-Duffy and Evita Duffy-Alfonso laugh during their keynote address at the annual fundraising banquet for Kansans for Life held at the Overland Park Convention Center on March 11. Campos-Duffy cohosts “Fox & Friends Weekend.”

More than 800 attended the annual fundraising event during which the pair also discussed the rich Christian tradition of saving babies from abortion beginning with the early Christians and continuing through today.

ed children was pretty commonplace. . . . The Romans routinely abandoned unwanted children on the roadside. . . .

Killing a sickly or deformed baby was considered not only beneficial for the Roman Empire but it was acceptable.”

Christians, however, Campos-Duffy said, believed differently.

“To the Christian, that helpless baby

that was abandoned on the roadside had the same value as any of the aristocrats or even the emperor himself,” she said. In fact, Christianity has “a long tradition” of saving babies. When Constantine converted to Christianity in 312, Christians asked for “this barbaric practice” to be banned.

“Abortion has divided America for

the same grave moral reason that slavery divided America,” said Duffy-Alfonso. “In both cases, the powerful want to decide who is sufficiently human to have rights. . . . In both slavery and abortion, children are separated from parents for profit.”

Campos-Duffy agreed, telling the attendees, “You are here today because you know that America will never be united until the evil of abortion is resolved and until the unborn are legally included into the human family. . . . You are the abolitionists of our time. You have dedicated yourselves to providing women with love and a safe passage from the darkness of abortion to the light that comes from giving life.”

Near the end of the Civil War, concluded Duffy-Alfonso, Abraham Lincoln visited Richmond, Virginia. As he walked through the city, he came upon some freed slaves who sang songs of gratitude to him.

Lincoln said to them, “My friends, you are free. Free as air. . . . Your liberty is your birthright. God gave it to you as he gave it to others and it is a sin that you have been deprived of it for so many years.”

“Isn’t that how we all feel about the innocent human lives in the womb?” Campos-Duffy asked. “That liberty is their right, too, and that it is a sin that so many beautiful souls have been deprived of that right to life for so many years?”

LEAVEN PHOTO BY MARC ANDERSON

LEFT BEHIND: AN AFGHAN STORY

Afghan asylum seekers find home in Kansas

By Jill Ragar Esfeld jill.esfeld@theleaven.org

KANSAS CITY, Kan. –

“God was our only hope when we chose this way,” said Kobra, an Afghan who was recently granted asylum in the United States. “It was not an easy way.

“And we didn’t have anything except God and our prayers.”

Thanks to help from La Luz Immigration Clinic of Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas, Kobra, her husband Mohammad and her mother Zainab are finally safe and beginning a new life.

But their road to freedom was not easy.

No way out

Trained by U.S. Special Forces and issued a Presidential Protection ID card along with a federal firearms license, Mohammad served as an officer on the security detail for the American-backed vice president of Afghanistan. Mohammad was risking his life on a daily basis to defend democracy in his country.

Because of his position, all of Mohammad’s biometric information was in the Ministry of Defense’s database that was taken over by the Taliban after U.S. forces withdrew in August 2021.

The family are ethnic Hazara, and the Taliban aggressively seeks out that ethnicity for persecution. Coupled with the distinctive facial features of the Hazara and the biometric information in the hands of the Taliban, Mohammad was particularly vulnerable to identification and apprehension.

In 2021, when Taliban forces captured Kabul, Mohammad was at work.

“It was very scary,” said Kobra, only 20 years old at the time. “Everyone was running to the airport or trying to hide somewhere.

“[Mohammad and his coworkers] just left their job and left all their equipment there. They just got out and tried to get home.”

But by the time Mohammad got home, the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan had turned to chaos. There was no safe route to the airport.

Ways to help

• You can support families like Kobra’s by making a financial donation online to Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas’ Refugee and Immigration Services program at: https://catholic charitiesks.org/refugee-donations.

• ReCONNECT, Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas’ refugee youth mentorship program, is recruiting adults ages 21 and older to help refugees ages 15-25 achieve educational and career goals. For more information, send an email to: ehardy@catholiccharitiesks. org.

• Volunteers are needed to provide essential learning and life skills to refugees of all ages, including tutoring English language and citizenship prep classes. Training is provided. To learn more, go online to: catholiccharitiesks.org/refugee-andimmigration/refugee-learning-center.

“There were so many checkpoints on the way,” said Kobra. “They were going to get your fingerprints, and if they find out you are working [for the United States] they wouldn’t let you go.”

So instead of being part of the evacuation, and welcomed to the United States with open arms, Mohammad and his family, like thousands of others, were left behind. There was not only the risk of detainment; ultimately, 14 members of the Afghan government security detail were executed by the Taliban.

There was no going back.

Initially, the three tried to make their way to the Iranian border, but it was too dangerous and they turned back.

As the Taliban began searching from house to house for Afghans who had worked to preserve the democracy, Mohammad hid with relatives or friends staying just ahead of the militants.

Back home, Kobra and Zainab erased any sign of his existence by burning all his clothes and possessions.

“They were coming in houses and they would look everywhere,” said Kobra. “And you can’t even say anything.”

The family was in the process of securing Priority One (P1) eligibility, a category of the Refugee Resettlement Program for Afghan citizens who worked for the U.S. government.

But they were told processing refugee P1 cases could take months or years.

Mohammad, along with his wife Kobra and her

U.S. forces withdrew in August of 2021 and the country

served as an officer on the security detail for the American-backed vice president

Because of his position, his life was at risk after the Taliban takeover. The family was recently granted asylum in the United States.

“There was no way to wait for that,” said Kobra. “The situation was not OK. He had to keep moving, and we were not working.

“We didn’t have any money.”

Journey to freedom

Out of desperation, they decided to try again to cross the Iran border.

“We were hiding our faces,” said Kobra. “We took public buses, but they still had checkpoints.

“They were coming on the bus looking at everybody; sometimes they had a picture in their hand.

“I don’t know if we were lucky or something, but they didn’t get us.”

The three stayed in Iran for nine months, cleaning houses and doing odd jobs to survive until they were approved to move to Brazil on a humanitarian visa issued to persecuted Afghans.

“But it was just a visa, nothing else,” said Kobra. “When we got to the country, they didn’t have any support.”

The family lived with other Afghan refugees in a makeshift camp in Termi-

Crowds of people wait outside the airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, Aug. 25, 2021, in this picture obtained

COURTESY PHOTO

mother Zainab, escaped from Afghanistan after

was taken over by the Taliban. Mohammad

of Afghanistan.

La Luz Immigration Clinic

La Luz Immigration Clinic is a full-service immigration law firm sponsored by Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas. Run by bilingual (Spanish/English) representatives and an attorney, La Luz provides vital legal assistance on nonbusiness immigration matters.

nal 2 of São Paulo’s international airport. There were no available shelters in the city.

“Some of them were lucky to get some help from organizations,” said Kobra. “But there were people there who had been waiting for a month. We were sleeping in chairs.

“So, we got a group of Afghan people together, and we decided to move.”

By “move,” Kobra means they decided to undertake a perilous trek through nine countries, eventually making their way north to the United States border.

“We were a group of 50 people,” she said. “We just moved country by country. We walked, went by car, bus and airplane, too.”

Throughout the journey, Kobra never lost her trust in God’s plan.

“I just want to say it doesn’t matter how hard life is or how hard your situation is,” she said. “Never lose your faith, never lose your hope.

“Just keep trying hard and everything will be fine; you get what you work for.”

The journey took 45 days.

A fearful welcome

“When we got to the border, we waited on the other side,” recalled Kobra. “And then, the border officers came and they just picked people. Like they pointed and said, ‘You and you can come.’”

The border patrol chose Kobra and Zainab but not Mohammad.

“You didn’t have any choice,” said Kobra. “I told them he is my husband, and they said, ‘You want to come or you don’t want to?’”

Kobra and her mother were handcuffed and bussed to a center for processing.

“They took everything — our phones, our backpacks and whatever we had,” said Kobra. “Then, they moved us to a room that was completely dark.

“You couldn’t see anything, and they were taking us out one by one.”

Kobra was terrified when guards took her out and subjected her to a barrage of questions about where she was going in the United States.

“I told them, ‘I don’t know anybody here.’” she said. “I asked them, ‘I don’t know where to go. Can you help me?’ And they said, ‘I’m not your dad. I didn’t tell you to come here.’”

Because they had no sponsor in the United States, Kobra and Zainab were fingerprinted, processed and transported to a hotel in San Diego where they were finally reunited with Mohammad.

The family’s security depended on finding a contact within the United States. They began making phone calls and fortunately found that Mohammad’s father had a friend in Iran, who had a brother in Kansas, who was willing to help.

“When we got the address,” said Kobra. “They gave us documents we were able to fly with. That’s how we got to Kansas.”

The friend cosigned for an apartment, and an Afghan benefactor helped with the first month’s rent.

But Kobra’s family just had refugee status and was at risk for deportation. The only safe way forward was to apply for political asylum.

A Catholic welcome

The family turned to La Luz Immigration Clinic to navigate the complex path of seeking asylum.

“When you walk in our door here,” said La Luz managing immigration attorney Greg Bole, “the Beatitudes are [displayed] behind the receptionist.

“‘Welcome the stranger’ is part of the Beatitudes, and that’s the mission of La Luz.”

Short on resources to help Kobra’s family, Bole reached out to Bob Lambrechts, senior counsel for Lathrop GPM, who volunteers to do pro bono work for La Luz clients.

Normally practicing as a patent attorney, Lambrechts had a learning curve to master sufficient immigration law but was willing to do the work for a refugee who helped the United States.

“Someone like Bob who sees this need — and realizes I can get up to speed on

this and make a real difference — is just outstanding,” said Bole.

When Lambrechts took the case, he first got the family employment authorization documentation so they could begin working and support themselves.

Then, he was able to accelerate the process for granting asylum.

“Or else it would have been years before they got a hearing on their asylum status,” he said.

Mohammed, Kobra and Zainab had a merit hearing on Feb. 28 and after nearly four grueling hours, were granted asylum that day.

Now, Kobra and her husband are able to work and support their family. Kobra has begun studies at Johnson County Community College in Overland Park and Mohammad and Zainab are taking classes to learn English.

“That family has a unique story,” said Bole. “But everyone who comes here and applies for asylum wants to work and to be a positive member of our society because they weren’t allowed to be a member of the society they were born into.”

For Kobra, this journey to a new life is a gift from God.

“Our faith was our only hope,” she said. “It doesn’t matter how hard situations were — days and nights we were sleeping outside.

“But we believed God is not going to leave us alone, ever.”

CNS PHOTO/TWITTER/DAVID MARTINON VIA REUTERS obtained from social media.

LEAVEN PHOTO BY JILL RAGAR ESFELD

Mohammad’s family turned to La Luz Immigration Clinic of Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas to navigate the complex path of seeking asylum. Immigration attorney Greg Bole connected the family with Bob Lambrechts, above, senior counsel for Lathrop GPM, who volunteers pro bono work for La Luz clients. Lambrechts was able to help the family through the process and, on Feb. 28, they were granted asylum.

Success built on dedicated faculty going above and beyond

>> Continued from page 1

High quality, low cost

During the 2023-24 school year, Donnelly’s annual tuition and fees for a full-time student were $10,350, said Msgr. Swetland.

Comparatively, the cost was $30,265 for other Kansas Independent College Association (KICA) schools, he continued, and $37,696 for other local Catholic colleges and universities.

How does Donnelly keep its costs so low?

“Approximately two-thirds of our students (67%) receive Pell grants,” said Msgr. Swetland, “and 89% receive some sort of scholarship or financial aid support.

“Because the average Donnelly student comes from a household with an annual income under $40,000, this level of financial assistance is critical to making college accessible to the students we are here to serve.”

Donnelly draws a diverse group of students, many of whom are the first in their families to attend college.

The college depends on support from the Catholic and philanthropic communities, receiving between $350,000-$450,000 in grants from local foundations for its programs and scholarships each year.

“We also rely on fundraising events like our annual SHINE fundraising gala,” said Msgr. Swetland.

Last year, the gala raised a record $1.1 million. This year’s event is scheduled for Oct. 9 at Fiorella’s Event Space in Overland Park.

Ana Maradiaga, vice president of academic affairs/dean of the college, said Donnelly is driven by its Catholic identity.

The college partners with the community for service projects, and its core courses include The Search for God, The Word of God, Introduction to Philosophy and The Ethics of Everyday Life, she said.

“As part of a comprehensive liberal arts curriculum, these courses are designed to help both Catholic and non-Catholic students discover the truth of what it means to be human,” said Maradiaga, “and to embrace their identity as a beloved child of God.”

Maradiaga believes the college is successful because of its dedicated faculty and staff who go above and beyond to meet students where they are.

Students who score below the level for college readiness can receive personalized academic coaching and training in study skills, she said.

“For non-native English speakers,” she continued, “Donnelly provides a developmental reading and writing class and other ESL supports.

“Professional and peer tutors provide free individual and group tutoring, our Career Services program provides

above and beyond to make sure students have the tools and support they need to succeed,” said Msgr. Swetland.

‘Making a generational difference’

“Despite growing public skepticism about the value of a college education,” said Msgr. Swetland, “postsecondary credentials continue to be key to improving economic and social mobility for lower-income individuals and families.”

And Donnelly continues to be recognized for its success.

U.S. News & World Report has named Donnelly “the Most Diverse College in the Midwest” for seven years in a row.

Last year, the college was ranked third in the Midwest for least debt at graduation, eighth for economic diversity of students and 13th for social mobility of graduates.

“We’re also making a generational difference,” said Msgr. Swetland. “The benefits of college education extend to the children of our graduates and even future generations.

“Studies show that children of collegeeducated parents enjoy reduced unemployment, lower poverty rates, lower levels of incarceration and even better health.”

Donnelly offers multiple associates degrees, a Bachelor of Arts degree in business leadership and a Bachelor of Science in nursing. In fall 2024, Donnelly launched a new public health associate degree program.

It will launch a new RN-to-BSN completion program in fall 2025. Prospective students have begun taking prerequisite classes this spring.

“We are forming the next generation of business, community and parish leaders,” said Msgr. Swetland. “We know that, already, two out of three jobs in our region require education beyond high school.”

connections to internships and employment opportunities, and a full-time licensed professional counselor provides clinical mental health services, wellness programs and referrals to communitybased resources.”

On campus, a food pantry assists students struggling with food insecurity, and a new clothes closet offers them professional clothing and accessories.

“Both the faculty and the staff go

For Maradiaga, setting Donnelly students up for success for the past nine years has been a blessing.

“Everyone in our community — staff, faculty and students — understand that they are a valuable part of a transformational educational experience in which growing in knowledge while serving others helps them become better versions of themselves,” she said.

To learn more about Donnelly, visit the website at: donnelly.edu.

LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER

Ana Maradiaga, vice president of academic affairs/dean of the college, also doubles as a chemistry teacher. Maradiaga believes the college is successful because of its dedicated faculty and staff who go above and beyond to meet students where they are.

Pope knew he ‘might not make it,’ physician says

By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service

ROME (CNS) — For Pope Francis’ medical team at Rome’s Gemelli hospital here, Feb. 28 was the worst day.

“For the first time, I saw tears in the eyes of some of the people around him,” Dr. Sergio Alfieri, the coordinator of his medical team, told the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera.

“We were all aware that the situation had deteriorated further and there was a risk that he might not make it,” Alfieri said in the interview published March 25, two days after the pope was released from the hospital and returned to the Vatican.

The Vatican medical bulletin from Feb. 28 said: “The Holy Father, this afternoon, after a morning spent alternating between respiratory physiotherapy and prayer in the chapel, experienced an isolated episode of bronchospasm. This caused an episode of vomiting, which led to him inhaling some and a sudden worsening of his respiratory condition.”

The doctors aspirated his airways and put him on noninvasive mechanical ventilation, a machine that delivers air with added oxygen through a tightly fitted face mask and using positive pressure to assist breathing.

Alfieri and Vatican officials have said several times that Pope Francis was never intubated and that he always remained “alert and aware.”

The doctor told Corriere, “We had

to make a choice between stopping and letting him go or pressing on and trying all the drugs and therapies we could, running the very high risk of damaging other organs. And in the end, we took that path.”

Asked who made the final decision, Alfieri said, “The Holy Father always decides.”

But he added that Pope Francis had “delegated all kinds of health care decisions to Massimiliano Strappetti, his personal health care assistant who knows

perfectly well the pontiff’s wishes.”

Strappetti, a nurse who worked in intensive care at the Gemelli, joined the Vatican health service in 2002 and has become Pope Francis’ primary health care provider, working in consultation with the pope’s physicians.

Strappetti advised, “Try everything, don’t give up,” Alfieri said. “That’s what we all thought too. And nobody gave up.”

Corriere also asked Alfieri if Pope Francis was aware of the danger he was in.

“Yes,” he responded, “because he was always alert. Even when his condition worsened, he was fully conscious. That night was terrible; he knew, as we did, that he might not make it through the night. We saw the man in pain. However, from the first day, he asked us to tell him the truth and wanted us to be honest about his condition.”

After 38 days in the hospital, Pope Francis returned to the Vatican, but Alfieri and the other members of his medical team have said he will need two months to recuperate.

Greeting people gathered outside the Gemelli hospital before leaving March 23, Pope Francis was obviously weak, and his voice was barely audible.

While his doctors have urged him to avoid meetings with large groups, Cardinal Parolin said he hoped the pope would be able to at least briefly greet Britain’s King Charles III, who was scheduled to make a state visit to the Vatican April 8.

The pope’s first days back home had a rhythm of rest, work, prayer and therapy, both respiratory and physical therapy, the Vatican press office said. A nurse was present 24 hours a day, and the pope was alternating between using high-flow oxygen, oxygen mixed with ambient air and not using the nasal cannula at all.

Pope Francis concelebrated Mass March 25, the solemnity of the Annunciation, in the small chapel near his room on the second floor of the residence, the press office added.

Illinois march takes aim at assisted suicide, abortion proposals

By Simone Orendain OSV News

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (OSV News)

— Pro-life advocates say a lot of attention will be on physicianassisted suicide proposals at this year’s Illinois Pro-Life March in Springfield, the state capital, on March 25.

Organizers also want to highlight multiple bills that would facilitate free abortions for women who do not have legal authorization to be in the United States.

The president of the march’s main organizer, Illinois Right to Life, said she expects a larger turnout than in recent years. Mary Kate Zander said approximately 3,000 people have marched in recent years, but she believed interest in the physician-assisted suicide bills could almost double the crowd at the state march this year.

“This is one of those unique issues that it’s not specific to abortion, so we see sort of a variance of people coming out to oppose this bill,” Zander told OSV News. “And so, I think you could say that there is a pretty large opposition to this legislation more so than your run-of-the-mill abortion bill that we see in Illinois.”

According to the witness slips filed for a then-deferred hearing March 19 on the state House version of the physician-assisted suicide legalization bill, called the End-of-Life Options for Terminally Ill Patients Act, seven people registered support, while 508 opposed it. In previous state Senate hearings, opposition numbers, in the several thousands, were more than

double those of proponents.

The legislation, identically worded in both houses of the Illinois Legislature, calls for two doctors to render a diagnosis of six months or less to live due to illness, and to ascertain a patient’s mental capacity to make decisions and self-administer the lethal cocktail of drugs. The legislation notes the cause of death would be listed as the original illness, not suicide. It also specifies any actions carried out under the legislation does not “constitute suicide, assisted suicide, euthanasia, mercy killing, homicide, murder, manslaughter, elder abuse or neglect.”

Robert Gilligan, executive director

of the Catholic Conference of Illinois, told OSV News this spring session that the issue has at times generated unexpected opposition from certain lawmakers.

“There are quite a few that are expressing opposition that take a different position on the right to life, where we believe it should be protected from conception to natural death,” he said. “There are many lawmakers, unfortunately, that don’t believe that. But those very same lawmakers, some of them, are opposed to assisted suicide.”

Still, Gilligan cautioned it is hard to tell how the lawmakers will ultimately vote should the bills in the House and

Senate be up for any final decision.

Zander said the annual rally — this year renamed the Illinois Pro-Life March — will also call attention to about half a dozen bills in both houses that seek to offer free abortions to women who are also unauthorized immigrants, and include abortion pills as part of health services offered to public university and college students, and other provisions to make abortion in Illinois even more widely available.

Father Dominic Rankin will serve as master of ceremonies for the Mass for Life that will be celebrated prior to the march by Springfield Bishop Thomas J. Paprocki.

He said abortion remains a preeminent issue for the church where “life is attacked and pushed aside and rejected.” He said also that “more and more there’s a devaluing” of the lives of the elderly and the sick whose suffering should not be “thrown away, ignored or belittled.”

Father Rankin said against the backdrop of legislation that promotes death in a state that welcomes greater access to services that hasten the end of life, marchers will witness “to the joy and hope that is part of the culture of life.”

“If you have a really dark room, how many candles does it take to light it? You still only need one candle. I think that’s just a good reminder to all of us that we shouldn’t become discouraged or despair at the largeness of the issue or the lives that have been lost or the pressure against us,” he said. “All those things are real. But the witness of one life lived for Christ is still a tremendous light to the entire space that surrounds it.”

CNS PHOTO/PABLO ESPARZA

Massimiliano Strappetti, the nurse who is Pope Francis’ primary medical caregiver at the Vatican, adjusts a microphone for the pope as he greets a crowd of well-wishers at Rome’s Gemelli hospital before returning to the Vatican March 23.

OSV NEWS PHOTO/JERRY NOWICKI, COURTESY CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS

The Illinois State Capitol in Springfield is pictured in an undated file photo. Pro-life advocates say a lot of attention will be on physician-assisted suicide proposals at this year’s march for life rally in Springfield March 25.

EMPLOYMENT

High school math teacher - St. Vincent de Paul Academy, an independent Catholic school in downtown Kansas City, is looking for a full-time high school math teacher. The candidate must have at least a BA or BS degree, and prior teaching experience is preferred. The total class time is four 50-minute periods per day teaching either geometry or algebra ll. Class sizes are about 10 students. Salary is negotiable. If you are interested, please contact Father James Trummer at: j.trummer@svdpkc.org.

Facilities manager - Sacred Heart Parish, Shawnee, is looking for a facilities manager. Do the words clean and safe put a smile on your face? Do you take pride in creating a welcoming environment for others? If you are ready to keep the interior and exterior of a campus sparkling and operating like a well-oiled machine, we may have the perfect role for you! Visit our website at: www.shoj.org to apply.

Catholic elementary school principal - John Paul II School in Overland Park is seeking a dynamic and visionary leader with a passion for Catholic education. The principal will continue the school’s tradition of forming disciples, pursuing academic excellence and spiritual growth. The principal will lead by example and inspire a team of dedicated faculty and staff. Applicants must have or be eligible for Kansas licensure in educational leadership. Apply online at: archkckcs.org/apply. For more information, contact Carla Mills at: cmills@ archkck.org.

Staff job openings - Donnelly College in Kansas City, Kansas, a Catholic college offering higher education for those who may not otherwise be served. Job openings: assistant director of nursing, director of admissions and nursing intake coordinator. Find job descriptions and details at: www.donnelly.edu/careers.

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.

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 - Saints. 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.

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.

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.

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 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 to apply, visit:https://recruiting.paylocity.com/recruiting/jobs/ Details/3045125/Santa-Marta-Retirement/Care-Coordinator.

Guest services concierge - Jury & Associates is in search of a friendly and professional guest services concierge to provide personal services and security on-site at The Catholic Center, downtown Kansas City, Missouri. We’re searching for an experienced individual who can provide high quality service to our clients and understands the importance of superb customer service. The successful candidate will have a confident personality, enjoy networking with clients and be equipped with excellent communication skills (written and verbal). For more information and to apply online, go to: https://kcsjcatholic.org/job-openings.

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.

J Heller Construction - A licensed and insured Class

A General Contractor. Residential and commercial projects. New build, basement finishing, kitchen and bath remodeling, decks, docks, outbuildings and commercial build-outs. Call Jake at (913) 433-6042. Member of St. Joseph, 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) 980-9163.

Garage door repair expert

New Garage Doors

Garage Floor Coatings

A Total Door Inc., Since “83. Leaven discount joe@atotaldoor.com or (913) 236-6440.

!!Early 2025 painting discount!! - At Stone Painting we offer interior & exterior house painting services. Check out our work at: www.stonepaintingkc.com.

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.

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.

REAL ESTATE

We are local people who can buy your house - Big companies from all over the nation come here buying houses, but that’s not us. We are parishioners of Holy Trinity Parish and we enjoy giving you personalized service. We can offer you a fair price and are flexible to your needs. If I can help, call me, Mark Edmondson, at (913) 980-4905.

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.

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.

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 - Modular wheelchair ramp, used — like-new condition. Very clean, was installed in a garage. Originally purchased from Lifeway Mobility. EZ Access Pathway 3G Modular Access System. Ramp system is 80 square feet: two 4x4, two 3x6, one 4x3. Asking $3000. Call (913) 908-7343.

For sale - Sit-to-stand lift, used — like new. Used for less than one month. Already assembled and cleaned! Designed for active participation and for adults and seniors to lift and support themselves from a seated position. It promotes mobility by requiring users to participate in standing, transferring and sitting with caregiver assistance. Asking $400.00. Call (913) 908-7343.

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.

Classified Advertising

The Leaven reaches approximately 47,000 subscribers. Cost is $20 for the first five lines, $1.50 per line thereafter. To purchase a Leaven classified ad, email: beth.blankenship@theleaven.org

EUCHARISTIC MIRACLES

Queen of the Holy Rosary School, Wea 22705 Metcalf, Bucyrus

March 28 - 30 and April 4 - 6

Fridays from 5 - 7 p.m.

Saturdays from 2 - 6 p.m.

Sundays from 9:15 a.m. - 1 p.m.

“The Eucharistic Miracles of The World” exhibit was designed by Blessed Carlo Acutis and is a Vatican-approved international exhibit. This free exhibit is on loan from Catholic Radio Network and features 157 panels that highlight powerful Eucharistic miracles.

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.

‘FINDING HOPE IN THE JUBILEE YEAR: A CONVERSATION WITH CARDINAL GREGORIO ROSA CHAVEZ’

Good Shepherd Parish

12800 W. 75th St., Shawnee

March 29 from 2 - 3:30 p.m.

Join us in conversation with Cardinal Rosa Chavez from San Salvador, El Salvador. Pope Francis made him the first cardinal in El Salvador’s history. A year later, Archbishop Oscar Romero was declared a saint. The cardinal has a deep personal connection to St. Romero. Today, the cardinal is deeply connected to the struggles of his people and continues to accompany them with hope, mercy and justice.

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.

SPRING FLING DINNER AND DANCE

Church of the Ascension

9510 W. 127th St., Overland Park

March 29 from 6:30 - 9:30 p.m.

Adults of any faith are welcome. 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.

CALLED TO LOVE AGAIN

DIVORCE SUPPORT

Church of the Ascension

St. Luke’s Room

9510 W. 127th St., 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? Join us once a month at 6 p.m. for fellowship and formation. The topic for this meeting is Forgiveness. For more information, send an email to: katie@thecall2love. com.

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.

IGNATIUS BOOK FAIR

John Paul ll School

6915 W. 71st St., Overland Park

April 2 from 3-5 p.m.

April 3 from 2-7:30 p.m.

April 4 from 2-7 p.m.

April 5 from 2:30-5:30 p.m.

April 6 from 7:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

Looking for a book fair option that provides the best in Catholic books, as well as a wholesome variety of kids fare that will appeal to students K - 8? Come to check it out for your school, buy good and beautiful books for you and your children or pick up some gifts for upcoming sacrament celebrations and Easter. For more information, send an email to Erin Hayes at: erin hayes1000@gmail.com.

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.

MARRIAGE RETREAT: HEALING & RENEWAL

St. Joseph Parish 11311 Johnson Dr., Shawnee April 6 from 2 - 8 p.m.

Come spend a day on retreat led by Father Joel Haug — nurturing your marriage relationship. Register on the church website at: church.stjoeshawnee.org; send an email to: mheim@stjoeshawnee.org; or call (913) 631-8923.

ROSARY RALLY IN HONOR OF OUR LADY OF FATIMA

St. Mary - St. Anthony Parish

615 N. 7th St., Kansas City, Kansas April 6 from 3 - 4:15 p.m.

Please join us to honor the Blessed Mother and Our Lady of Fatima. We will pray the joyful, sorrowful and glorious mysteries of the rosary followed by Benediction and the opportunity for attendees to enroll in the brown scapular. For driving instructions or future dates for the Kansas City monthly rosary rallies, visit the website at: www.rosaryrallieskc.org.

MASS OF ATONEMENT

St. Michael the Archangel Parish 14251 Nall Ave., Leawood April 11 at 4:30 p.m.

The annual Mass of Atonement for Those Harmed by Sexual Abuse in the Church will be celebrated by Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann. After Mass, there will be a short introduction to this critical ministry, followed by a reception where people can visit with staff to ask questions, find resource information and share fellowship. No registration is required.

HOLY WEEK SILENT RETREAT: ‘WALK IN NEWNESS OF LIFE’

Christ’s Peace House of Prayer 22131 Meagher Rd., Easton April 12 at 5:30 p.m. - April 13 at 4:30 p.m.

Prepare for Holy Week with a silent retreat centered on the passion, death and resurrection of Christ through the lens of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Deepen your faith in sacred silence. Participants are eligible for a plenary indulgence for the Jubilee Year 2025 through this retreat. There will be conferences, spiritual direction, eucharistic adoration, Mass, confession, and time for private prayer, reflection and walking. Cabins/courtyard rooms are $180; single, $270; couple or single guest rooms: $110 (meals included). To attend, fill out the individual retreat form online at: ChristsPeace.com or call (913) 773-8255.

‘THE SEVEN LAST WORDS FROM THE CROSS’

St. Mary Parish

9208 Main St., St. Benedict April 13 at 7 p.m.

This will be a reflection in word and song. The short film, “The Veil Removed,” will be part of this year’s reflection. Refreshments will follow in the parish hall. Musical guests will be the Sts. Peter and Paul Knights of Columbus Choir from Seneca. Join us as we find out what Jesus was saying to us in this, the greatest homily ever given.

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 TRIVIA NIGHT

St. Pius X Parish

5500 Woodson St., Mission

April 26 at 6 p.m.

This month, Called to Love will have a trivia night. The cost is $30/person for individuals; groups to fill a table of eight is $240. Walk-ins pay at the door (cash, check or Venmo.) Costumes and table decorations are welcome (if desired). Trivia newbies and children are welcome as well. The evening will consist of 10 rounds, a finale, 10 mulligans and two extra games.

SUDS & SCHOLARSHIPS 2025 Boulevard Brewing Company 2501 Southwest Blvd. Kansas City, Missouri

April 28 from 6:30 - 9:30 p.m.

This event will feature tacos from Ricos Tacos Lupe, drinks from Boulevard Beer and musical entertainment. Suds & Scholarships benefits the students of Holy Name of Jesus School, a small but mighty Catholic school in Wyandotte County, where 95% of students rely on scholarships to attend. Your support will provide life-changing scholarships for students in need. To learn more, go online to: https://one.bidpal.net/ holy name25/welcome.

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 6 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.

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.

SUMMER STREAM CAMPS

Holy Cross Parish

8101 W. 95th St., Overland Park

June 2 - 27

A variety of camps is offered for incoming kindergartners through eighth-graders. For a short description of camp offerings, with dates and times, go online to: https://holy crosscatholicschool.com/CurrentFamilies/ summer-programs.

BLESSED STANLEY ROTHER RETREAT

Spiritual Life Center

7100 E. 45th St., Wichita

June 6 at 6 p.m. - June 8 at noon

This retreat will explore the journey of Father Rother. Most of us will not be given the mission of pastoral services in Guatemala, nor be required to lay down our lives as witnesses to the faith in the face of murderous circumstances. Most of us are not invited to thread our way through life and death decisions to minister to people in our care. For more information and to register, go online to: www.slcwichita.org. The cost is $205 for commuters; $255 for a single and $235 for a double. Sign up by June 5 at 6 p.m.

‘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. For more information about tickets and times, go online to: strawberry hillmuseum.org. Questions? Call (913) 3713264. Guided tours are March through April at the following times: noon, 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

DAILY READINGS

FOURTH WEEK OF LENT

March 30

FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT

Jos 5: 9a, 10-12

Ps 34: 2-7

2 Cor 5: 17-21

Lk 15: 1-3, 11-32

March 31

Monday

Is 65: 17-21

Ps 30: 2, 4-6, 11-12a, 13b

Jn 4: 43-54

April 1

Tuesday

Ez 47: 1-9, 12

Ps 46: 2-3, 5-6, 8-9

Jn 5: 1-16

April 2

Francis of Paola, hermit

Is 49: 8-15

Ps 145: 8-9, 13c-14, 17-18

Jn 5: 17-30

April 3

Thursday

Ex 32: 7-14

Ps 106: 19-23

Jn 5: 31-47

April 4

Isidore, bishop, doctor of the church

Wis 2: 1a, 12-22

Ps 34: 17-21, 23

Jn 7: 1-2, 10, 25-30

April 5

Vincent Ferrer, priest

Jer 11: 18-20

Ps 7: 2-3, 9b-12

Jn 7: 40-53

NERSES I 333-373

Nerses was educated in Cappadocia (Turkey) by St. Basil. He married and had a son (St. Isaac) before his wife died. After becoming an official at the Armenian court, he was ordained a priest. King Arshak chose him as patriarch of the Armenian Church. A reformer, he founded monasteries and built hostels for the poor and lepers. But he ran afoul of Arshak for his model of church governance and was banished when he shunned Arshak for murdering family members. He returned after Arshak’s death, but found King Pap even worse. Pap invited him to dinner and had him poisoned. Nerses the Great has always been venerated as a martyr.

Every time a particular date rolls around, it makes me smile. I recall a column that I wrote years ago here that proved to be a bit controversial. It dealt with some changes that were coming to the archdiocese at that time: Beginning after Easter that year, there would be no more Saturday evening Masses celebrated in the archdiocese, nor would cash or checks be accepted in the collection, only online giving or credit or debit cards that the ushers would handle during the offertory. In the next academic year, all Catholic schools would go to a four-day week to save on energy and personnel costs. And finally, The Leaven was going to double in size from 16 to 32 pages. It was those first two — the cancellation of Saturday evening Masses and the new way to collect funds for church — that upset people the most. The last two about schools

You’ve got to be kidding me!

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.

and The Leaven, yeah, not so much.

Unfortunately, some folks stopped reading that column after the first few paragraphs. It was only later that I directed readers to take note of the publication date of that issue of The Leaven: It was April 1, April Fools’ Day.

That prank happened 14 years ago, and I’ve never attempted anything like that

since. But honestly, I really do enjoy a festive April Fools’ Day. As you might expect, its origins are disputed. According to a post on the Rutgers University website, most historians now believe that it came about in the 1500s in France when the world was switching from the Julian calendar (named after Julius Caesar) to the Gregorian calendar (introduced by Pope Gregory XIII and still used in much of the world today). In the old Julian calendar, the new year began on April 1 while in the Gregorian calendar the new year began on Jan. 1. Since news traveled

so slowly back in those days, not everyone got the word that the new year now began on Jan. 1. So, those who still celebrated it on April 1 were mocked as April fools.

Because I’m not the most serious person in the world, I’m a firm believer in the healing power of fun and laughter. Let’s face it, our world today can be a very scary, depressing and flawed place. Fun and laughter can counteract those dark attitudes and help people to rediscover, especially in this Jubilee year, the power of hope.

The church seems to understand this because even amid this penitential season of Lent, we’re given breaks, times to celebrate, with the feast days of St. Patrick, St. Joseph and the Annunciation. Most of the time April Fools’ Day also falls during Lent.

So, don’t be afraid to have a bit of fun this April Fools’ Day. Just make sure that

your pranks are not demeaning or hurtful. Why not bring a treat to work like a doughnut box filled instead with carrots, radishes and celery sticks or place a few caramel onions disguised as caramel apples in the break room? Or make someone’s drive to work that day much more entertaining by hiding a “honk and smile at me” sign on their car. Or stick a small piece of tape or a sticker over the sensor on the remote control and make folks change channels the old-fashioned way . . . by hand! Or buy a package of googly eyes and stick them on, well, everything.

No matter what, this coming Wednesday as April Fools’ Day unrolls, keep a lighthearted spirit, whether you’re the prankster or the victim for, as the Protestant theologian Karl Barth once said: “Laughter is the closest thing to the grace of God.”

Lent calls us to a deeper desire to heal wounds, mend fences

We usually forget about the running.

When we consider this Sunday’s Scripture and the heart-stopping story of the prodigal son, we tend to overlook or just brush aside this extraordinary detail. We shouldn’t.

As Luke describes it in the Gospel: “While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him.”

This is the moment the son has been waiting for — and the father, too. And it gives

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.

tremendous power and poignancy to one of the most familiar parables

in Scripture, with a statement of love and mercy so many of us desperately need.

What we realize here is that the father isn’t passive. He’s been looking, waiting, watching, worrying about the son who turned away from him. And when he discovers that his son is coming home — in fact, he’s close enough to see — the father doesn’t waste a second. He runs to him.

And before his son can utter a word, he embraces him and welcomes him back. He doesn’t even give the son a chance to explain. He orders celebrations. “This son of

mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.”

Lent should stir in us a sense of humility and a deeper desire to heal wounds, mend fences, bridge differences.

That means: Forgive those who have hurt us or insulted us or done us wrong. Honor and respect those who are contrite.

It means: Run to meet those who are wounded, and ashamed, and hurt and who want to come home. Open your arms to someone who wants to start over.

It means: Know the value of the second

chance. Believe in redemption and conversion and hope.

When we hear the story of the prodigal son, it can be a useful exercise to ask ourselves: Where do I fit into the story? Which character am I?

Consider this an opportunity to reflect more deeply on those we love and how much God the Father loves us. As we continue our journey through Lent, with a goal of spiritual healing and growth in mind, maybe this is a good time to break our stride. Sometimes, to get where you really want to be, you need to run.

Pope appeals to communicators to assist peacemakers by disarming words

ROME (CNS) — People in the world of news and communications need to understand the full importance of words, Pope Francis wrote. While war offers no solutions to today’s conflicts, peacemakers need new vitality and credibility, and they should be assisted by people in communications, he said in a letter to Luciano Fontana, editor-in-chief of Corriere della Sera, an Italian daily.

“There is a great need for reflection, calmness and an awareness of complexity” when it comes to working for peace, fraternity and justice, which requires “commitment, work, silence and words,” he wrote. The newspaper published the typewritten letter March 18; it was signed by the pope and dated March 14 from Rome’s Gemelli hospital, where the pope has been recovering from respiratory difficulty and infections since Feb. 14.

He encouraged the newspaper and

“all those who dedicate their work and intelligence to informing through communication tools that now connect our world in real time to feel the full importance of words.”

“They are never just words: they are facts that shape human environments. They can connect or divide, serve the truth or use it for other ends,” he wrote. “We must disarm words to disarm minds and disarm the Earth” and facilitate reflection, calm and deeper awareness of how complex reality is.

After years of observing Lent, it can sometimes feel like you’re just going through the motions, checking off the typical boxes without really digging deeper into the meaning and transformation the season is meant to foster.

The rituals become so familiar that it’s easy to forget their true purpose: renewal, spiritual growth and a deeper relationship with God.

Lent is more than just a time to give up certain things or do obligatory acts. It’s a season to renew your heart and mind, to revive your devotion, and to allow

Are you phoning it in for Lent?

AT THE HEART OF HOSPITALITY

GREG MIES

Greg Mies is the director of Savior Pastoral and Retreat Center. He can be reached by email at: gmies@archkck.org.

the practices of prayer, fasting and almsgiving to draw you closer to Christ in a way that lasts beyond Easter.

Moms-to-be

“Ihave never felt so loved and welcomed by a church before.”

These are words shared by a young woman participating in the “Embrace Grace” support group for single pregnant women at Holy Trinity Church in Lenexa. This is also what happens when a parish community, and specifically group leaders, share the love of Jesus Christ through authentic friendship, kindness and support as part of our “Walking With Moms in Need” ministry efforts.

Holy Trinity is one of four parishes to start this new support group and the fruits already coming from it

Lent is a perfect time to form new spiritual habits, but the goal is for these habits to continue after Easter. If you find it hard to make this season transformative, consider this question: What lasting habit could I begin now that will continue after

Lent ends?

Daily prayer: If you’ve been meaning to spend more time in prayer, try setting aside a specific time each day to pray. Make it a priority now, and by Easter, you might have a new routine that can continue beyond the season.

Fasting with a purpose: Fasting doesn’t have to just be about giving up food or other pleasures. It can be a spiritual discipline that helps you grow in areas where you might be struggling. Instead of just refraining from food, you could fast from something that’s actually a distraction in your life, and replace it

with something spiritually nourishing.

For instance, if you tend to be impatient or judgmental, consider fasting from those behaviors by deliberately choosing to be more patient, understanding and kind each day. Or, if you feel overwhelmed by modern distractions (social media, technology, etc.), try fasting from these sources of distraction and use that time to reconnect with your faith.

Generosity: If you give to charity during Lent, try to make it a part of your regular life — whether it’s financially, through volunteering or by

offering small acts of kindness in your community. Many charities, like the Archbishop’s Call to Share, offer year-round monthly giving programs that allow your donation to be deducted from your bank account throughout the year. This is a great way to extend almsgiving beyond the Lenten season. Lent is about reorienting your life to the things that matter most: prayer, sacrifice and compassion. The hope is that the changes you make during Lent will help you grow spiritually — not just for the season, but for your entire life.

get support they need from Walking With Moms

LIFE MATTERS

DEBRA NIESEN

Debra Niesen is the archdiocesan consultant for the pro-life office.

are truly amazing. At a time when women facing an unexpected or challenging pregnancy may feel overwhelming fear, isolation and uncertainty, the support

group helps them know they are not alone, they have support, and that they are loved by a Father who wants to give them peace and goodness during this moment of trial.

This is exactly what the four moms-to-be experienced during Holy Trinity’s first 12week “Embrace Grace” program that recently

concluded. Terry Geenens, one of the group leaders, shared, “We had an amazing baby shower on Saturday! Deacon Stuart Holland gave a heartwarming blessing to the girls and their families. We had 30-40 people attend and parish and community members donated gifts. It was a beautiful picture of what it looks like to have an entire community surround these brave women in support. The moms truly felt loved by so many people.”

There were many Holy Spirit moments during the session. One mom went to Mass for the first time in a long time and felt an overwhelming sense of peace. One couple

got married. Another’s family, though not Catholic, were inspired by the beauty of the church itself and generosity of the community. The moms enjoyed the friendships and program so much, they don’t want it to end. The leaders are now working on what to do next to encourage these new families to continue growing in their faith.

The Church of the Ascension in Overland Park also recently finished its first support group. Four healthy babies have been born with one mom making a loving adoption plan for her baby. Sue Leick, one of its group leaders, said, “This is the best thing any of

us have done. We’ve fallen in love with these strong, brave women. The best way to love these babies is to love their moms.”

March 25, the solemnity of the Annunciation of Our Lord, marked the fifth anniversary of the nationwide Walking With Moms in Need parish initiative, created by Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann and his USCCB team when he was its pro-life committee chairman. Thank you, Archbishop Naumann! WWMIN has given such hope, support and joy to many in the archdiocese. Visit the website at: archkck. org/walking-withmoms to learn more.

Kids’ Kids’

CHRONICLE CHRONICLE

Mary anoints Jesus’ feet with oil and dries them with her hair

By Jennifer Ficcaglia Catholic Courier

ix days before Passover, Jesus and the apostles traveled to the small village of Bethany, which was located a couple of miles away from Jerusalem.

Bethany was a special place to Jesus, because it was where three of his dear friends lived — the siblings Mary, Martha and Lazarus.

Mary, Martha and Lazarus invited Jesus and the apostles to their house for dinner. Martha served the dinner, and Lazarus reclined at table with Jesus and the apostles.

Bible accent S I

Mary, meanwhile, took a liter of costly perfumed oil that was made from genuine aromatic nard. She used the oil to anoint Jesus’ feet and used her long hair to dry them.

One of Jesus’ apostles, Judas the Iscariot, who would betray him, was upset to see what Mary did.

“Why was this oil not sold for 300 days’ wages and given to the poor?” Judas asked.

Judas was in charge of holding the money bag that contained the contributions the apostles received. He also was a thief and would steal the contributions. So, he did not make the comment because he was concerned about the poor, but rather because he had missed an opportunity to steal the money the oil could have been sold for.

Jesus looked at Judas.

“Leave her alone,” he said. “Let her keep this for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.”

A large crowd of people found out that Jesus was at the home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus. They went to the siblings’ home not only to see Jesus but also to see Lazarus, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.

The chief priests had been plotting to kill Jesus, and they now plotted to kill Lazarus as well, because many people began to believe in Jesus after he raised Lazarus from the dead.

On the next day, when the large crowd of people heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, they took palm branches and went out to meet him.

“Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, [even] the king of Israel,” they cried out.

n John 11, we can read more about Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead.

In Verse 3, we learn that Mary and Martha sent word to Jesus that Lazarus was ill. By the time Jesus and the apostles reached Bethany, Lazarus had been dead for four days.

“Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died,” Martha said.

“I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and anyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” Jesus asked.

“Yes, Lord,” Martha answered. “I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world.”

Martha, Mary and some Jews who were there to comfort the sisters took Jesus to Lazarus’ body, which had been placed in a cave.

Jesus had the stone removed from the cave’s entrance then looked up to heaven.

“Father, I thank you for hearing me,” he said. “I know that you always hear me; but because of the crowd here I have said this, that they may believe that you sent me.”

Suddenly, Jesus cried out in a loud voice.

“Lazarus, come out!” he shouted.

Lazarus, who was wrapped in burial bands and had a cloth covering his face, came out of the cave.

“Untie him and let him go,” Jesus said.

St. Simeon of Jerusalem

St. Simeon of Jerusalem was born in the first century and was a cousin of Jesus.

Simeon became the bishop of Jerusalem about the year 62 after the martyrdom of St. James. During Simeon’s time as bishop, Christians were fleeing Jerusalem because of persecution.

During the reign of the Roman Emperor Trajan, Simeon was arrested, tortured and crucified for being a Christian and a descendant of David.

Simeon died around the year 107, and he was said to have been 120 years old. We remember him on April 27.

1. What village did Jesus and the apostles travel to?

2. What substance did Mary place on Jesus’ feet?