Miege breaks ground for Our Lady of Lourdes grotto
By John Sorce john.sorce@theleaven.org
ROELAND PARK — Those who enter the Bishop Miege High School campus here will be greeted with a new addition in the coming months.
Students, faculty and community members were on hand on the morning of March 25 for the groundbreaking of what will be the Our Lady of Lourdes grotto.
“Today marks a glorious new day for Bishop Miege,” said president Phil Baniewicz. “Each one of us in the past 33 days has done a Marian consecration, and today is consecration day.
“On this feast of the Annunciation, what a beautiful time to come together.”
The project, which has been in the works for eight months and will total $800,000, is being donated entirely by the Dunn family in honor of their parents Bill Sr. and Jean. It will be built by JE Dunn construction and designed by HTK Architects.
The lead gift was given by Terry
and Peggy Dunn, who are both Miege alums and now have grandchildren in the school.
“My mother and father have a
devotion to Mary, and we wanted to do something dedicated to them and their family,” said Terry Dunn.
“We believe this is an opportunity to
celebrate our faith and our commitment to Mary and have everybody understand this is a Catholic school with a true experience of Catholicism as they enter campus.”
Also on hand for the groundbreaking was Bill Dunn Sr., who is 101 years old. His wife Peggy passed away in 2022.
“We’re very grateful to the Dunn family,” said Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann. “Bill Dunn Sr. has been a great friend and is a real hero. Everything that’s good and worthwhile, the Dunn family is usually a part of it. We’re grateful to all of them for their support making this happen today.”
Baniewicz said one thing he was hoping to accomplish when he got to Miege was to build something at the school’s entrance that would signify its Catholic identity.
“I love the crucifix that’s at our [football and soccer] stadium, and anyone who watches a game there can’t help but see Jesus,” Baniewicz said. “He is the reason we even have a school, and one of the things I wanted
LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER
Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann, with assistance from Father Anthony Mersmann, chaplain at Bishop Miege High School in Roeland Park, blesses the ground on which the new Our Lady of Lourdes grotto will be built.
LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER
Taking part in the ceremonial groundbreaking of the Our Lady of Lourdes grotto at Bishop Miege High School are, from left, Fran Douthat, foundation board member/treasurer; Holly Bentley, chair of the board of trustees; Bill Dunn Jr., foundation board member; Kevin Dunn; Bob Dunn; Archbishop Naumann; Terry Dunn, board of trustee member; and Phil Baniewicz, Bishop Miege president.
Iam grateful for the prayerful response by so many in the archdiocese regarding the attempt by the Satanic Grotto of Leavenworth to conduct satanic worship in the Kansas Capitol.
The Church of the Assumption of Our Lady as well as St. Joseph Church in Topeka were both full on March 28 for a Holy Hour of adoration followed by a Votive Mass for Mercy. I am also aware that many of our parishes also offered opportunities for prayers for a renewal of faith in the state of Kansas, as well as the conversion of those who worship Satan, the Prince of Darkness and Father of Lies.
The Satanic Grotto is a very small group that sadly sought to blaspheme God and to mock Christians generally and Catholics in particular. Our response was to praise and glorify God for his goodness. The satanic group desired to provoke confrontation, confusion, chaos and disharmony. Our response was to unite in prayer and adoration to God as well as to pray for mercy and conversion of hearts for those who sought to blaspheme God and insult people of faith, particularly Christians.
I encourage you to read an article entitled “A Black Mass in Kansas?” by Joe Heschmeyer, a native Kansan and a member of the archdiocese. It can be found on the Catholic Answers website.
Heschmeyer acknowledges the
ARCHBISHOP
JOSEPH F. NAUMANN
divisions among those who identify as satanists. This should not be surprising, since high among the devil’s priorities is to divide and foster chaos.
Some satanists truly worship Satan as their lord and master. However, probably a greater percentage in our society are actually atheists, who seize upon the figure of Satan as a symbol of rebellion against God and religion. Part of their purpose is to both shock and mock Christians. The leader of the Satanic Grotto has been quoted saying that he does not believe in God or Satan. Most atheists do not mock or attack religion. They simply do not believe there is anything beyond the material world. Personally, I think it takes much more faith to be an atheist than a Christian.
Atheists look at the complexity as well as the order in the cosmos and physical world only to conclude this all just happened by chance. Atheists admire and marvel at the beauty of nature, at
as in the case of our first parents, to reject God in an effort to be our own gods.
the diversity of multiple forms of life, and at the unique abilities of human beings to think, to ponder, to create amazing art, music and literature, only to surmise this just all happened! It all happened against the most impossible odds.
It is more reasonable, I believe, to conclude that all that we can see, touch and encounter in the material world did not just happen. There must be an intelligence that designed the complexity and order within the physical universe. Science itself makes no sense if there is not order, and thus predictability, in the material world. Christians believe something even more beautiful and powerful than that: There must be a Creator. We believe that the Creator of the cosmos seeks to reveal himself to us and desires to have a relationship — actually, a friendship — with us.
God has given to human beings the unique power to choose to embrace his plans and desires for us or to reject them. Among all of creation, we have been entrusted with the ability to love God, to desire goodness, or
We believe the Second Person of the Triune God chose to immerse himself in our humanity by becoming an embryo in the womb of Mary, to be born in the humble circumstances of Bethlehem, grow up in a small town in an obscure region of the world, spend most of his adult life as a laborer, conduct his public ministry of healing, teaching and forgiving in a relatively short time, and eventually allow himself to be physically and emotionally tortured and even crucified on Calvary to reveal the depth of God’s love and mercy.
God entered fully into our humanity so that we could share in his divine and eternal life. On Easter, Jesus defeated sin and death by his resurrection. Our Lord did not promise his disciples that we would never experience adversity or suffering. He challenged his disciples to embrace the cross, to follow Our Lord all the way to Calvary and thus to strive to follow his example of heroic love. This is the essence of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
As Christians, we believe in the reality of Satan. We are wise not to underestimate the power, craftiness and ability to deceive of the Prince of Darkness. We should be wary of his ability to confuse and fool us, just as he did our first parents. Jesus came to reveal to
ARCHBISHOP NAUMANN’S CALENDAR
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
April 11
Mass of Atonement — St. Michael the Archangel, Leawood
us that God does not love us because of our perfection, but because of his capacity to love perfectly, to love us even in our sinfulness.
In the Gospel, we find many examples of Our Lord’s power over the devil. If we remain close to Jesus, then we need not fear Satan. If we place ourselves under the mantle of Mary — his mother and our mother — we need not fear, because she is always drawing us closer to her Son.
We need to have
mercy and compassion for those who do not know God and who do not know Jesus — God’s Word, his ultimate revelation of himself. We need to pray for atheists and satanists, that God might penetrate their hearts with his merciful love. We need to ask the Lord to help us live faithfully his Gospel, so that others will see in us a peace, compassion and joy that will draw them not to us, but to the One who is the way, the truth and the life.
Violence, hate speech met with prayer and unity
TOPEKA — While Satanic Grotto president Michael Stewart attempted to hold a satanic event at the Kansas Capitol March 28, Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann led hundreds of Catholics from all over the state in eucharistic adoration followed by a Votive Mass of Mercy in Assumption Church, directly across from the Capitol. St. Joseph Church, blocks away from Assumption, did likewise and was also full.
Even as protests and counterprotests on the Capitol grounds turned violent, and Stewart was taken into custody by Kansas Highway Patrol, the archbishop acknowledged the satanists’ right to free speech.
“I understand and appreciate our right as Americans to free speech and free expression,” said the archbishop. “What I do not understand is why we are giving our Capitol as a venue for what is truly hate speech.”
Calling it “a sad day for Kansas,” the archbishop said that he was at the same time gratified by the response of the faithful Catholics there that day.
“We unite in prayer and adoration of God, to pray for mercy and grace for ourselves and those who seek to mock our merciful God,” he said.
LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER
Richard Mahoney of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, holds up a large crucifix next to Father Anthony Chendumalli, pastor of Annunciation Parish in Frankfort, St. Monica-St. Elizabeth in Blue Rapids and St. Columbkille in Blaine, at the Kansas Capitol, where satanists planned to hold a satanic event on March 28.
LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER
Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann elevates the host at Mass in Assumption Church held opposite the Kansas Capitol in Topeka on March 28.
LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER
Deacon Robert Ortiz of Mater Dei Parish in Topeka prepares for eucharistic adoration at Assumption Church prior to the Votive Mass of Mercy.
LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER
A red flag with an icon of Jesus Christ flies in front of the Kansas Capitol.
LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER
Demonstrators rally on the steps of the Kansas Capitol to protest an event organized there by a group of satanists.
LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER
Protesters united at the state Capitol against the satanic event that was taking place.
the
Mass of Atonement offers area Catholics chance to offer their support to survivors
By Moira Cullings moira.cullings@theleaven.org
LEAWOOD — When Jane walked into the Mass of Atonement at Holy Angels Church in Basehor on April 26, 2023, she had hopes for continued and deeper healing.
What she didn’t expect was the outpouring of support from the Catholic community there.
“As I sat there before Mass observing, I was moved to tears,” she said. “It became clear how important it was for the community to recognize the harm that was done so many years ago.
“For so long, there was little acknowledgment of the harm inflicted by sexual abuse by representatives of the church.”
Jane, whose name has been changed for anonymity, is a survivor of abuse by a representative of the Catholic Church.
For the third year, the archdiocese invites survivors and supporters to a public Mass of Atonement on the Annual Day of Prayer in Atonement for Sexual Abuse in the Church, celebrated by Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann.
This year’s Mass will be held on April 11 at 4:30 p.m. at St. Michael the Archangel Church in Leawood.
“This is particularly relevant because St. Michael’s duties align closely with protecting God’s people from evil and bringing the souls of men to judgment,” said Melanie Savner, client support for the archdiocesan office for protection and care (OPC).
After Mass, members of the OPC will introduce themselves and share about the office’s ministry. The evening will include refreshments and the opportunity to ask questions.
For a number of years, parishes
have been asked to pray for survivors on the Day of Atonement, said Savner, and the Mass has become an important way for Archbishop Naumann and the wider community to pray for people who have been harmed.
“The people of the archdiocese are invited to offer this Mass in atonement for the sins of abuse,” she said. “We hope the survivors recognize how much we care for and support them, that each one matters to us and we, as members of the church, are remorseful for the harm done to them.”
Jane, who attended the 2023 Mass with her sister and a friend, was moved by the experience.
“Archbishop Naumann’s homily was sincere and heartfelt,” she said. “He acknowledged the abuse and that mistakes were made in how the church responded to victims.
“This acknowledgment had no strings attached.”
The OPC works to prevent abuse and care for survivors like Jane, providing individual support and
WE HOPE THE SURVIVORS RECOGNIZE HOW MUCH WE CARE FOR AND SUPPORT THEM, THAT EACH ONE MATTERS TO US AND WE, AS MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH, ARE REMORSEFUL FOR THE HARM DONE TO THEM.
MELANIE SAVNER
CLIENT SUPPORT FOR THE ARCHDIOCESAN OFFICE FOR PROTECTION AND CARE
Fish fries offer fellowship and fine food for the faithful
>> Continued from page 16
gatherings, Knights of Columbus Council 657 delivered meals to parishioners in their cars.
Thanks to COVID, they now have a delivery system, in addition to dine-in and carryout. Residents of St. Marys and Emmett can submit orders by Thursday night and have them delivered before 5 p.m. Friday.
Like Ascension, the Knights do food preparation on Thursday and begin cooking a few hours before the start of the fish fry at 5 p.m., ending two hours later.
In an effort to add more confession opportunities during Lent, pastor Father Edward Ahn offers the sacrament for an hour starting at 6 p.m. the nights of the fish fries.
Immaculate Conception also has Stations of Cross on these Friday nights, which spark a bigger turnout, said Johnson.
St. Marys averages between 160 and 220 meals per fish fry. In 2024 and 2025, they also donate meals to St. Mary’s Manor — the local nursing home.
Many Immaculate Conception parishioners pay to supply these meals to the nursing home staff and residents.
Reach out
The OPC team encourages anyone who has experienced abuse by a representative of the Catholic Church to reach out — no matter how long ago the abuse took place.
The confidential report line is (913) 276-8703, and the victim care advocate can be reached at (913) 298-9244. Callers can choose to remain anonymous.
For more information, visit the website at: archkck.org/ protection-and-care/office.
resources and responding to what they believe will help atone for the harm done to them.
“It is an honor to hear their stories, build these relationships and let them know how much they matter to us,” said Savner.
“However, we think it is powerful for the larger church community to gather in support of those who may have lost trust in the Catholic Church as a sign of our compassion and care,” she added.
Some survivors lose their faith due to what was done to them, said Savner, and it may be difficult for them to enter a church.
She hopes those who are able to attend the Mass of Atonement will experience healing.
“We hope the survivors who come will leave feeling recognized, feeling the church’s remorse and are lifted up by the prayers and care from those in attendance,” said Savner.
“Should they want to disclose their abuse to any of our team, we would be honored to hear their story and offer our support,” she added.
Delivering meals to our parishioners at St. Mary’s Manor lets them still be a part of our parish, Johnson said.
The purpose of these no-meat dinners is building fellowship outside of Mass, and Immaculate Conception is no exception.
“The service goes both ways,” said Johnson. “Our parishioners support the Knights of Columbus fish fry, and we get to cook them a delicious dinner in return.”
Johnson said that he loves the relaxed atmosphere where all kinds of people, Catholic and non-Catholic, can sit and share a meal together.
And since every Catholic church in the archdiocese is unique, no two fish fries are the same!
For a listing of fish fries offered throughout the remainder of Lent in the archdiocese, visit the website at: www. theleaven.org and type “fish fries 2025” into the search box.
Marriage retreat set for April 26
LIBERTY — Married couples in all stages of marriage are invited to a one-day retreat designed to deepen their spiritual connection.
The “God Chose You For Me” retreat, created by Worldwide Marriage Encounter, will take place on April 26 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Precious Blood Renewal Center, 2120 St. Gaspar Way in Liberty, Missouri.
The experience will be led by Tony and Sue Morris. The cost is $100 per couple and includes lunch and materials.
To register, go online to: wwme 4youandme.org/enrichment.php. For questions, send an email to: greaterkc. wwme@gmail.com or call (816) 2864557.
LEAVEN FILE PHOTO BY JOE BOLLIG
Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann, assisted by Father Anthony Saiki, master of ceremonies, celebrates the Mass of Atonement at Holy Angels Church in Basehor on April 26, 2023. This year’s Mass of Atonement will be held on April 11 at 4:30 p.m. at St. Michael
Archangel Church in Leawood.
Seneca parish hosts two-day event for youth and families
By Marc and Julie Anderson mjanderson@theleaven.org
SENECA — St. Paul’s Letter to the Colossians includes a verse that reads: “Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then, your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness” (2:7).
That verse served as the theme for a two-day event held the weekend of March 22-23 in Seneca at Sts. Peter and Paul Parish. Each day focused on a different audience and featured different activities, although both days began with Mass and included a eucharistic procession from the church to the Knights of Columbus Hall a few blocks away, eucharistic adoration, a meal and the music of Jeremy Rodriguez.
A resident of Shiner, Texas, Rodriguez has written songs with Catholic artist Matt Maher and opened for Christian bands such as Mercy Me and The Newsboys. His band, toLoveand Rescue, includes three men who encourage others to “remember that our lives are not measured by what others think about us, but how we take every day toLoveandRescue.” Rodriquez has performed at Catholic HEART Workcamp events across the country, including several in the archdiocese, events which helped inspire the parish event.
Susan Stallbaumer, one of the event’s adult coordinators, said planning began for the event in November.
Calling it the fruit of prayer, Stallbaumer said the theme and much of the planning was the idea of the parish youth, many of whom have attended Catholic HEART Workcamp in the past.
“They come back on fire,” Stallbaumer said. The challenge was to “keep those fires going.”
It was input from the youth who had attended the workcamp that the parish evangelization team started with.
“From that, all of this was born,” said Stallbaumer.
The first part of the event was an evening of worship for those in grades 8-12. Hailing from six different parishes — including Sts. Peter and Paul; St. Mary in St. Benedict; Sacred Heart in Baileyville; St. Bede in Kelly; St. Gregory the Great in Marysville; and St. Michael in Axtell — approximately 75 attended the evening, during which there were opportunities for the sacrament of reconciliation.
The teenagers could also pray about, write down and then pin their burdens to a large cross, among other activities. The evening ended with a worship dance party.
The next day, the Ambassadors of Christ ran the family worship day for around 100 parishioners. After the potluck meal, children were immersed in faith-based activities, all inspired by the theme of “Rooted in Christ.” Activities
As part of the two-day “Rooted in Christ” event, approximately 75 youth in grades 8-12 from six parishes including Sts. Peter and Paul in Seneca, St. Mary in St. Benedict, Sacred Heart in Baileyville, St. Bede in Kelly, St. Gregory the Great in Marysville and St. Michael in Axtell participated in a eucharistic procession following the evening Mass on March 22. The procession started at Sts. Peter and Paul Church and traveled a few blocks away to the parish’s Knights of Columbus Hall.
Cousins Jordan and Rory Haverkamp punch out stickers to place on a paper cross as part of an activity during the family portion of the two-day “Rooted in Christ” event held at Sts. Peter and Paul Church, Seneca. The event featured an evening worship experience for youth of the region and a family worship day for parish families.
included planting a seed while their parents listened to Rodriguez speak about the domestic church.
Olivia Ganstrom, one of the youth ambassadors, shared her testimony both days.
To the youth, Ganstrom said, “They always talk about how you get this spark at Catholic HEART Workcamp that starts this fire within you and you come home and you just want to tell everybody how much fun you had and all the things you
did and how you connected to Jesus.”
“Tonight, I really want you guys to feel that same kind of spark — even if it’s the tiniest little glow,” she continued. “It will start a fire in you that makes you want to come back. . . . Take that little spark. Plant it deep down in your soul and start a fire.”
Following Ganstrom both days was Sam Nordhus, another ambassador, who shared how he drifted from his faith after breaking his leg this past year.
To his peers, he said, “I lost who I was. I turned to a lot of different things, God not being one of them. I pushed God out of my life. I asked myself a bunch of times and I asked God, ‘Why me?’”
Nordhus said his family, especially his dad, encouraged him to return to Mass and participate in eucharistic adoration.
“At the start, it was really difficult to go and see Jesus and to try and get him to help me. In the end, I did find God, and he helped me through it because he helps us through the toughest of times,” said Nordhus. “I’m really honored that I was able to help plan this because I want all of you guys to find that same thing I did — that God is always there for you.”
Near the beginning of his remarks during the family worship day, Rodriguez pointed to the cross, asking the adults, “Do you love like this? Do you love your kids and grandkids like this?”
Later, addressing the men, Rodriguez said, “It is your responsibility as dads, grandpas, to bring your family together to pray together. . . . Dads, it is your responsibility to protect the domestic church. I challenge you to speak of faith with your kids. . . . Ladies, look to the example of our Blessed Mother. Look to her. Turn to her. Ask her to cover your family with her mantle.”
“The domestic church is needed now. It is needed now more than ever to fight against evil. Let your home be that place where God’s love is truly transformative.”
Grotto will become a place to spend time with Mary
>> Continued from page 1
to do is make sure anyone who comes in and out of the doors of our school or walks onto our campus knows we are a Catholic school and Jesus is the center of everything we do.”
After opening remarks from Baniewicz, a song from the Miege choir and a prayer from the archbishop,
school chaplain Father Anthony Mersmann read from the First Letter of Paul to the Corinthians (3:9).
Archbishop Naumann then spoke and blessed miraculous medals that will be placed in the ground. He also blessed the ground before the groundbreaking commenced.
“Today, we celebrate this feast of the Annunciation, when Mary was in-
formed by the angel Gabriel that the Holy Spirit would come upon her and she was called to be the mother of Jesus Christ,” the archbishop said. “It was her ‘yes’ to God that was essential to God’s plan for all Jesus would accomplish.”
He is hopeful that members of the Miege community will spend time with Mary and the Lord at the grotto and follow their lead once it reaches completion.
“I hope once this grotto is built, it will be a place where you come and ask Mary to intercede for you to be able to follow her son and do his will,” he said.
“If we seek to know the Lord’s will for us and follow it,” he continued, “then we are going to live happy and fruitful lives that will truly make a difference in the world.”
LEAVEN PHOTO BY MARC ANDERSON
LEAVEN PHOTO BY MARC ANDERSON
Community’s support keeps small KCK parish school open
By Moira Cullings moira.cullings@theleaven.org
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — A small Catholic school on Southwest Boulevard here is “a gem” in its urban neighborhood, said Randy Lopez.
“Holy Name is a place that loves their students, that leads through faith and really values a Catholic education,” he said.
“It makes sure that every student, every family, that walks through those doors feels supported, welcomed and gets what they need through their faith and education,” he added.
Lopez, an alum of Holy Name of Jesus School and one of seven volunteers on its business team, said keeping the school’s doors open wouldn’t be possible without the support of the wider community.
The biggest way supporters can get involved is through Holy Name’s annual Suds & Scholarships fundraising event.
This year’s will be held on April 28 at Boulevard Brewing Company, located at 2501 Southwest Blvd. in Kansas City, Missouri.
The evening will begin at 6 p.m. with a cocktail hour, followed by dinner at 6:30, a program, silent auction and raffles at 7:30, and last call at 9:15. It will include a buffet dinner, complimentary Boulevard beverages and live entertainment.
Holy Name hopes to raise $90,000.
Kristi Ernsting, a parishioner at Curé of Ars Parish in Leawood and member of the business team, said Holy Name receives support from the Catholic Education Foundation (CEF), but Suds & Scholarships provides additional funds that are used for student scholarships, textbooks and other educational materials.
“Holy Name is the smallest parish in the archdiocese with a school,” said Ernsting, “and nearly all of our student families rely on scholarships to attend.”
She stressed the importance of making a faith-based education accessible.
“Catholic education has such a positive
impact on children,” she said, “and it’s critical that we keep schools like this thriving in urban neighborhoods.”
This year’s Suds & Scholarships event will be particularly special as principal Randy Smith, who came to Holy Name in 2020 and helped it grow despite the disruptions caused by COVID-19, is retiring after this school year.
“Hands down, Randy Smith has been one of the best principals that Holy Name’s ever had,” said Lopez. “He has been somebody who has led with compassion, who has led with faith and who cares.”
Smith said his time at Holy Name has been special.
“It’s taught me how to serve others better,” he said. “It’s taught me a new way to love others. . . . And it’s been a great opportunity for me to learn about
other cultures and different ways that we learn and interact with each other.”
Nathan Girard, Holy Name’s incoming principal, will be introduced at Suds & Scholarships.
The attendance of individuals who aren’t affiliated with Holy Name means everything, said Smith.
“Without those people, we would be lost,” he said. “We are so extremely thankful that those individuals and those organizations make an effort to help our families and our staff here at Holy Name.”
Ernsting encouraged all supporters of Catholic education to participate in Suds & Scholarships.
“This event fosters a tremendous sense of community with people from parishes across the archdiocese coming together to learn about and uplift Holy Name,” she said. “We
Join the business team
Holy Name of Jesus School in Kansas City, Kansas, is seeking new business team members. The team offers support to Holy Name’s leadership in a variety of ways, including through fundraising efforts. Those who are interested can send an email to: sudsandscholarships@ gmail.com.
invite you to be part of it.”
To learn more about Suds & Scholarships, visit the website at: one.bidpal. net/holyname25/welcome. To purchase tickets, click on “Purchase Event Tickets.”
COURTESY PHOTO
Holy Name of Jesus School in Kansas City, Kansas, will have its annual Suds & Scholarships fundraising event on April 28 at Boulevard Brewing Company, located at 2501 Southwest Blvd. in Kansas City, Missouri. The school hopes to raise $90,000.
SOCIAL MEDIA SENSATION
Priest influencer on evangelizing through humor, social media
By Lauretta Brown OSV News
Hitting one million followers on Instagram is an achievement often celebrated in creative ways by social media influencers, but when Father David Michael Moses marked that milestone on Ash Wednesday, he used the occasion to remind his many followers that social media and this world are “all ashes” and “passing away,” and the things of Jesus Christ are what lasts.
The milestone video was perfect for Father Moses, 31, who posts humorous videos about his life as a priest alongside simple explanations of different areas of Catholic teaching. His videos have earned millions of views on Instagram, YouTube and TikTok.
Father Moses told OSV News recently that he started making videos when he was very young and has “always found it interesting as a means of conveying a message,” but “didn’t think too much about doing it as a priest.”
That changed five years ago when he was about six months into his priesthood, and it occurred to him that it would have been helpful in his own discernment to see a video of what priests do all day.
“I thought, ‘I am a priest, so why not just make a little video about what we do all day?’” he recalled.
The day he chose for the video included joyful moments such as the baptism of quintuplets and a wedding.
“There’s a bunch of beautiful things that were pretty normal as a priest,” he said, “but I thought most people didn’t really get to see the behind-the-scenes, and so I kind of just filmed it, posted it and I was hoping it would be helpful for a few young guys thinking about priesthood.”
“What I found instead was that just in general people found it helpful, even atheists thought it was kind of interesting what priests did all day,” he said of the video which now has over 160,000 views. “So, I started making a video about once a month.”
He gradually switched to short form content which better fits his busy schedule as associate pastor at Christ the Good Shepherd Church in Spring, Texas.
“I’ve just seen so much fruit for evangelization from it that I’ve been very affirmed to keep going in this direction,” he said. “What I think is especially unique about social media is you’re able to reach people who would not otherwise come in contact with the church.”
His humor often plays off of social media trends and puns. One video he recently posted with over nine million views on Instagram begins with him complaining about soggy French fries and being told he needs a fryer. He then hands the fries to a bewildered looking Franciscan Friar of the Renewal, Father Mark-Mary Ames. In another video with over 13 million views, Father Moses quips that “people ask why priests always wear black” and it’s “because every day is a funeral for the haters.”
He has found a lot of success using humor in his videos, he said, because
“it’s a universal language” and if a video is funny enough, people will show it to their friends “and all of a sudden somebody is watching a video of a Catholic priest.”
“Humor in so many ways in this little culture of social media is the way to connect. So let’s learn the language, let’s learn the culture and let’s bring the Gospel there,” he said. “The church has an ancient tradition of doing that.”
He often gets feedback from people who have been away from the church or who are atheists who “thought the videos were kind of funny, so they followed and then next thing they know, they’re watching a video about going back to confession or they’re watching a video about the Virgin Mary or about the rosary and about Catholicism. And that’s really a touchpoint for them to start to either go back to the church or to start to rev up their spiritual lives.”
His more serious videos include simple explanations of Catholic observances during Holy Week, the sacrament of reconciliation, transubstantiation and addressing questions like “How late can a Catholic be to Mass?”
Father Moses said that two people in the process of entering the church at his parish began attending church events after seeing his videos, which gradually led to their decision to convert. He was also told of a young man entering the seminary who mentioned his videos as a help in his discernment process.
Gospel there,” he emphasized.
Regarding Catholics who might struggle with balancing social media use in their lives, Father Moses said he would tell most people that “if they’re not sure, just to get off social media, just delete it, get rid of it.”
“For most Catholics, I’d say especially for parents with children, keep your kids away from social media,” he added. “I use it as a tool for evangelization. Otherwise, I’m not sure necessarily what the value is.”
He called social media “morally neutral,” saying “it’s all about how you use it,” but added that “social media has a natural way of kind of tending toward the negative in terms of the effects on people’s lives” and cited studies suggesting social media “makes you less happy when you have it.”
He said if people have “a healthy relationship with it, if it’s helpful for them in terms of business or education or whatever, I think it’s OK for them to use it. But if you’re on the fence, I would say, just get off it.”
In his time as a young priest ministering to young people online, Father Moses addressed some of the common troubles that he sees youth face in today’s culture.
“I think there’s a misconception among young people that if God loves you, then you won’t have to suffer,” he said. “It’s not scriptural, it’s not in the tradition of the church, but the enemy kind of pushes that, he takes something that’s true, which is God loves you and he wants what’s good for you and he has a plan for you — that’s all true — and then, he kind of whispers, ‘So, you won’t have to suffer.’ And then, that’s not true, right? That’s the opposite of the whole Gospel. Jesus says take up your cross and follow me.”
“When you suffer for something, then that’s how you love,” he emphasized.
HUMOR IN SO MANY WAYS IN THIS LITTLE CULTURE OF SOCIAL MEDIA, IS THE WAY TO CONNECT. SO, LET’S LEARN THE LANGUAGE, LET’S LEARN THE CULTURE AND LET’S BRING THE GOSPEL THERE.
“Not everybody gets the social media stuff,” he said. “But when you see the concrete fruit like that from it, this is what we’re trying to do as a church and this is helping us do it.”
He is also very conscious of the pitfalls of social media, including how addictive it can become and how much of the content can pose threats to purity.
He likened social media to “a bad neighborhood,” saying “I think I would tell people to be very cautious in a bad neighborhood, but I do think every bad neighborhood needs the church and every bad neighborhood should have a priest.”
“We should have certain people who know how to deal with the danger and are properly trained in it and are intentional and are trying to really bring the
He added that young people sometimes are “missing a real desire for greatness,” saying, “one of the gifts that young people actually offer to the world, to the church, is a zealous — maybe a little over-the-top sometimes — desire for greatness.”
“A lot of young people have decided they can just kind of settle for less. They don’t need an incredible marriage, they don’t need to live a life of heroic sacrifice,” he said. “They don’t need to be a priest” and they think, “‘I’m just going to coast along and try to feel good’ and I think that’s very dangerous. And, ultimately then, people are missing out on all the good that God wants to do in their lives.”
As someone who was ordained at age 25, Father Moses believes, “It’s all about just saying ‘yes’ when he (God) calls.” He said that while some people advised him that he didn’t need to enter the seminary at such a young age, he recognized his calling.
“I think people can be scared of commitment [while] young sometimes. But, for me, when you go about it in a discerning way and deliberately and intentionally, commitment is actually very freeing,” he said, “to actually focus your entire life on the one thing that you committed to, the thing that you value most. And so, I’m just super grateful to have been called young.”
OSV NEWS PHOTO/VIA FATHER DAVID MICHAEL MOSES
Father David Michael Moses, 31, who posts humorous videos about his life as a priest alongside simple explanations of different areas of Catholic teaching, is pictured in an undated photo during the blessing of the animals. His videos have earned millions of views on Instagram, YouTube and TikTok.
FATHER DAVID MICHAEL MOSES
What is Catholic social teaching?
By Adam Fitzpatrick and Janine Ricker OSV News
When asked to name the most important commandment in all of the law, Jesus responded: Love God and love others (Mt 22:36–40). In these simple commands lies the heart of our baptismal call.
Catholic social teaching is one of the tools given by the church to guide us in living this call. Founded in Scripture and developed further through a series of papal documents, the social teaching of the church provides direction for how we are to live with our neighbor.
By starting with the most basic unit of humanity — the family — and embracing Jesus’ teaching, we can live out Catholic social teaching in the way that he taught us. This then must lead to working with the community, which is a collection of families, then society at large, which is a collection of those communities.
The church’s social teaching can be divided into seven themes: life and dignity of the human person; call to family, community and participation; rights and responsibilities; option for the poor and vulnerable; the dignity of work and the rights of workers; solidarity; and care for God’s creation.
Living according to the principles of Catholic social teaching allows us to respond to Jesus’ command to love others, to recognize God’s presence in each person (Eph 4:6), and to grow in relationship with them and with Christ.
Life and dignity of the human person
All of Catholic social teaching is based on this central theme. Scripture tells us that we are made in God’s own image (Gn 1:27). All human life is an outpouring of God’s love and a part of God’s divine plan. Therefore, all people have the right to life, from conception to natural death. A life willed and created by God is sacred and entitled to a full existence.
As a child of God, each person also has intrinsic dignity. As a reflection of God’s own being, all people have a right to realize this dignity in their daily existence, including through access to clean water and food, health care, education and a safe living environment.
Take action: In your own parish community, reaching out, even just having a conversation with those who are lonely, displays respect for the dignity of each person.
Call to family, community and participation
Because of the primacy of the family in God’s eyes, people should be encouraged to build families, and society should promote family living. Stable societies arise from stable families, in which people can learn about healthy community living. People have the right to meaningful participation in society through voting, participation in cultural and communal events, and representation in society,
which help preserve their dignity.
“To promote the participation of the greatest number in the life of a society, the creation of voluntary associations and institutions . . . ‘relate to economic and social goals, to cultural and recreation activities, to sport, to various professions and to political affairs’” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1882). Society should be ordered in a way that allows people to participate in important events — as well as having time for rest — within their various communities, with special concern for the poor and vulnerable.
Take action: See if there are any organizations in your parish in which you could provide support through volunteering.
Rights and responsibilities
All people are entitled to certain rights and have certain responsibilities because they are made in God’s image. Everyone within a community has the right to be treated with dignity and respect, and the responsibility to care for the common good of the community. For society to be healthy, people need to be aware of both their rights and their responsibilities.
Examples of rights include food, shelter and health care. Responsibilities include paying taxes, voting and respecting public property. The catechism
praises “those nations whose systems permit the largest possible number of citizens to take part in public life in a climate of genuine freedom” (1915). The use of rights and responsibilities must be both meaningful and reciprocal in order for society to be well balanced.
Take action: Participating in ministries that feed the hungry or shelter the homeless might be difficult, but such ministries promote the dignity of all and improve society.
Option for the poor and vulnerable
Jesus’ ministry indicates the intense concern he had for the poor and vulnerable. Their trials often moved him to pity — for example, his care for a crowd that hadn’t eaten in three days (Mt 15:3239); a leper who asked to be cured (Mk 1:40–45); and a widow who had just lost her son (Lk 7:12–15). Christ’s deep and profound response to the experiences of those on the fringes of society is one we are commanded to imitate; indeed, our response to those who are “least among us” is the basis on which we will be judged (see Mt 25).
Our faith is one of action. “If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, keep warm and eat well,’ but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it?” (Jas 2:15–16).
LEAVEN PHOTO/ADOBE STOCK
Reaching out to those in need or who are lonely displays respect for the dignity of each person.
Clothing drives, as well as food drives, are ways to help serve the poor.
Christ was not a bystander. Likewise, we are compelled by our faith to engage in solutions that address the needs of the helpless and outcast in our communities. Take action: Many parishes have food collections, clothing drives or other ways to serve the poor. What can you do to help?
Dignity of work and the rights of workers
Work, at its best, is a meaningful expression of a person’s gifts and talents. Scripture tells us work has been an important human endeavor since the beginning of creation (Gn 2:15). We should build society so that every person has the opportunity to discern his or her gifts and to apply them in meaningful work.
While work is a way in which people are able to use their gifts to improve the world, it is also how most people support their families. Every person has the right to humane treatment in the workplace, including just pay, reasonable working hours and time to care for sick family members.
Take action: Supporting better working conditions is a key step in making sure everyone has adequate food and safe shelter.
Solidarity
Our faith teaches us that we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world (Mt 5:13–16). How we live has a direct effect on how others experience Christ. We are called to be examples of Christ to the world, modeling his love, mercy and compassion to all.
Solidarity means taking care of one another — family, friends and strangers alike. It may be difficult to see how our actions — right where we are — can affect the world. But this approach can lead us to accompanying our brothers and sisters on their life journeys to help create communities in which all are respected, protected and treated with fairness. This requires us to do more than works of charity when addressing the needs of those who are poor and vulnerable. We must also address any policies that create an imbalance of equality. In this way, we help build the kingdom of God, a place of peace and justice here on earth, and provide witness of Christ’s love to others.
Take action: Talk with family and friends about what action best shows Christ’s love to those most in need.
Care for creation
All creation is beautiful in the eyes of God, who made it our responsibility to take care of creation (Gn 1:27–31). Earth needs care, and there are things we can do to help care for creation. Being aware of our own habits concerning use of energy and then working to be more efficient is a great way to preserve creation for everybody. All can do something, and even small efforts build up society in cooperation with God to form a more just world.
Take action: Pick up trash in your neighborhood, plant flowers in your yard or hang a bird feeder in a tree. All can beautify and preserve creation.
Conclusion
Each of the seven themes of Catholic social teaching have grown out of God’s teaching in the Bible and have been developed by the church over time to help us better live Christ’s commands. Meditating on these themes and acting on them, even in small ways, can help society in a much broader way.
With each way you choose to live Catholic social teaching, pray for the people you encounter that they may know and experience Christ by these examples of loving others.
LEAVEN PHOTO/ADOBE STOCK
A simple way to be a good steward of the planet is to pick up trash in your neighborhood.
LEAVEN PHOTO/ADOBE STOCK
Catholics seek to forgive medical debt
By Kimberley Heatherington OSV News
MAPLE GROVE, Minn. (OSV News)— When God instructed Moses how to declare a Jubilee Year — “And you shall hallow the fiftieth year and you shall proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you” (Lv 25:10) — the commanded celebration was to include forgiveness of debt.
It is an ancient social justice principle still encouraged during the current Jubilee Year, inaugurated by Pope Francis on Christmas Eve 2024. In his New Year’s address, the pope made the emphasis clear: “The first to forgive debts is God, as we always ask him when we pray the Lord’s Prayer. . . . And the Jubilee asks us to translate this forgiveness on a social level, so that no person, no family, no population is crushed by debts.”
In the United States, groups of Catholic faithful are specifically committed to erasing American medical debt — whatever the season — because they are grimly acquainted with the damage it can do.
“Medical debt can be crushing for people,” said Barry Shay, director of discipleship and mission at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Community in Maple Grove, Minnesota. “And it can happen to anybody — because everybody knows how expensive it can be.”
Being insured, Shay noted, is no guarantee of avoiding debt.
“If you’re not insured, or underinsured or even catastrophically insured — even if you have insurance, it can still strap you up. People wind up with debts that they cannot possibly repay,” he said.
“So to then have somebody that just writes it off and says, ‘You don’t owe anything’ and expects nothing in return — how theological is that?” he asked. “It’s exactly what happens to us in our own lives, through the mercy of Jesus.”
The channel for that mercy is a unique nonprofit called Undue Medical Debt — a name that refers both to its ability to pay off (“undo”) med-
Bishop Michael G. McGovern to lead Omaha Archdiocese
WASHINGTON (OSV News) — Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Archbishop George J. Lucas, 75, from the pastoral governance of the Archdiocese of Omaha, Nebraska, and has appointed Bishop Michael G. McGovern of Belleville, Illinois, as his successor.
Michael G. McGovern
The resignation and appointment were publicized in Washington March 31 by Cardinal Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States.
ical debt, and that such debt is an excessive (“undue”) burden for many Americans.
Founded by former debt collectors, Undue Medical Debt uses donations to buy large medical debts at a discount. Every $10 donated relieves $1,000 on average of medical debt for families in financial need. Individuals are then notified their qualifying debt has been forgiven.
Since its 2014 founding, Undue Medical Debt has retired more than $14.8 billion worth of debt for over 9.85 million Americans.
Undue Medical Debt does not target individual’s debts, but rather whomever’s debt is held within purchased portfolios. Because of HIPAA laws, Undue Medical Debt does not disclose to donors the names of people whose debt has been relieved.
Fundraising campaigns can be started by anyone — and several Catholic parishes and organizations have opted to do so, or to participate in collective campaigns. St. Joseph the Worker partners with 20 other Minnesota faith congregations in donating to Undue Medical Debt.
During his initial research, Shay
recalls thinking, “It can’t really work that easily.” But as he soon found, “It turns out that yes, it can.”
The relief of those whose debt is forgiven, Shay said, is spiritually rewarding to witness.
“This is a miracle to them, and they can’t believe this has happened,” he said, noting that it lifts “the stress that it had brought on their life.”
Shay said some recipients offer to pay the organization back. “And it’s like, no, it’s done — there’s nothing to pay back,” he said.
A reported 66.5% of people who file for bankruptcy cite medical bills as the primary reason, resulting in around 530,000 “medical bankruptcies” per year.
While numbers vary, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau indicated in October 2024 that about 100 million Americans owe over $220 billion in medical debt.
Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker — a website resource for U.S. health care system information — noted in 2024 that approximately 14 million (6%) American adults owe over $1,000 in medical debt; about 3 million (1%) owe more than $10,000.
Archbishop Lucas has headed the Omaha Archdiocese since 2009. Archbishop McGovern, 60, has been Belleville’s bishop since 2020.
The archbishop will serve as apostolic administrator until his successor is installed May 7 as the sixth archbishop of Omaha.
Archbishop Lucas called it a “privilege” to have served as the Omaha Archdiocese’s shepherd for almost 16 years.
“It gives me great joy to know that such a good shepherd has been sent to guide us on our pilgrim way in the coming years,” he said in a statement. “Please join me in praying for Archbishop-designate McGovern as he prepares to leave the people in the Diocese of Belleville whom he has served with such dedication and to make his home here in the Archdiocese of Omaha.”
Archbishop McGovern expressed gratitude for “the clergy and people of southern Illinois for their support and the many ways they have shared their faith with me over the past five years.”
“I look forward to meeting the clergy and faithful in the Archdiocese of Omaha. The church in Omaha has a great reputation for supporting Catholic education, including many parochial schools, high schools and two Catholic universities,” he said in a statement.
OSV NEWS PHOTO/GREGORY A. SHEMITZ
An usher uses a collection basket during the offertory portion of the Mass in this file photo from April 16, 2023. In the United States, groups of Catholic faithful are specifically committed to erasing American medical debt through a nonprofit called Undue Medical Debt. Founded by former debt collectors, the organization uses donations to buy large medical debts at a discount.
Bishop
Myanmar earthquake death toll surpasses 2,000
By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News
MANDALAY, Myanmar (OSV News) — People in Myanmar are in desperate need of humanitarian supplies and medical support as the death toll from the devastating earthquake that rocked central Myanmar March 28 continues to rise.
The president of Myanmar’s bishops’ conference called for an immediate ceasefire in a country already experiencing civil war and now hit with a new tragedy.
As the number of deaths exceeded 2,000, according to Reuters news agency, some 3,900 were injured. However, hundreds more are still missing or feared dead in the wake of the massive quake.
In an X post published March 30, the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, or OCHA, in Myanmar said that the disaster has placed “more pressure on already vulnerable people facing an alarming humanitarian crisis.”
“People urgently need shelter, medical care, and water and sanitation support,” OCHA Myanmar said.
The epicenter of the 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck near Mandalay, the country’s second largest city, destroying roads, buildings and religious sites.
The U Hla Thein Buddhist monastery in Mandalay was destroyed during the quake while an estimated 270 monks were taking an exam. According to The Associated Press, some 70 monks were able to escape. However, 50 were found dead and over a hundred more are still buried underneath the rubble.
Members of the city’s Muslim community also suffered as the earthquake struck while hundreds were gathered in prayers at local mosques during the month of Ramadan. An estimated 700
Muslim worshipers were killed while dozens of mosques in the country were damaged or destroyed, AP reported.
Burmese Cardinal Charles Muang Bo of Yangon, president of the Catholic bishops’ conference of Myanmar, issued a statement expressing condolences “for those who perished in places of worship in pagodas and mosques.”
Assuring that the Catholic Church would “mobilize support to assist with the life-saving needs of food, medicine, and shelter,” Cardinal Bo said a ceasefire in the country’s ongoing civil war was
“imperative” to provide humanitarian relief “for those affected by both the earthquake and the prolonged conflict.”
Prior to the earthquake, Myanmar was in the throes of a civil war being fought between the military junta after overthrowing the democratically elected government in 2021. Since then, the governing military junta has been accused of violence against civilians opposed to its rule and has been engaged in multiple conflicts with armed groups in the country.
While resistance movements in the country have unilaterally called for a
two-week ceasefire in areas affected by the earthquake, Tom Andrews, the U.N.’s special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, expressed outrage following reports that the governing military junta continued bombing rebel-held areas after the quake.
In an interview with the BBC, Andrews said the bombings were “completely outrageous and unacceptable,” adding that it was “nothing short of incredible” that the military continued to “drop bombs when you are trying to rescue people.”
OSV NEWS/REUTERS
Rescuers work at the site of a damaged building in Mandalay, Myanmar, March 30 in the aftermath of a strong earthquake that struck two days earlier. People in Myanmar are in desperate need of humanitarian supplies and medical support as the death toll from the devastating earthquake that rocked central Myanmar continues to rise.
EMPLOYMENT
Housekeeper - Housekeeper wanted for older gentleman who resides by himself. Light cleaning, mopping floors, dusting, bathroom, etc. $20 per hour. Please call Mr. Wayne Lee at (620) 340-2465.
In-home care assistant - We are looking for an engaging in-home caregiver for our son with special needs in western Shawnee. He loves music, interacting with others, reading books and is learning new life skills. Help needed on Friday evenings and weekends. $17 per hour. Please call (785) 393-1589.
Full-time maintenance/janitorial position - St. Agnes Parish in Roeland Park has an opening for a fulltime maintenance and janitorial position. This position provides janitorial, cleaning and light maintenance for the parish, rectory, school building, convent, rental units and grounds. Experience with electrical, plumbing and power tools would be desired attributes. To view a full job description, visit our website at: stagneskc.org and click on “Contact Us.”
Coordinator of Children’s Catechesis - part-time position - Are you looking for a rewarding part-time job in a team-oriented environment? St. Joseph Church in Shawnee is seeking an enthusiastic, organized and faith-filled individual to join our formation team. This role involves coordinating K to 6th-grade religious education for the parish and assisting in the growth of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program across our campus. Interested applicants should apply through the St. Joseph website or email a resume and cover letter to Veronica Quinn at: vquinn@stjoeshawnee.org. For more information, call (913) 244-3909.
Villa St. Francis admissions coordinator - Villa St. Francis is seeking a full-time admissions coordinator. As an admissions coordinator, you’ll play a vital role in helping families navigate the admissions process while ensuring every resident’s experience is smooth and welcoming. We are looking for someone with strong communication/interpersonal skills, compassionate and empathetic attitude, who is detail-oriented and has excellent multitasking abilities. Prior experience in admissions or health care is a plus. To apply, contact Kendra at: KUnruh@catholiccommunityhealth.org.
Villa St. Francis LPN/RN openings - Villa St. Francis is seeking full-time day shift nurses Monday - Friday 7 a.m. - 3 p.m. and part-time weekend nurses Saturday and Sunday, 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. To apply, contact Kendra at: KUnruh@catholiccommunityhealth.org.
Catholic elementary school principal - St. Matthew School in Topeka is seeking a dynamic and visionary leader with a passion for Catholic education. The principal will continue the school’s tradition of forming disciples, pursuing academic excellence and spiritual growth. The principal will lead by example and inspire a team of dedicated faculty and staff. Applicants must have or be eligible for Kansas licensure in educational leadership. We also prefer that the candidate be fluent in both Spanish and English. Apply online at: archkckcs.org/apply. For more information, contact Father John Torrez at: jtorrez@archkck.org.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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-MartaRetirement/Care-Coordinator.
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) 9809163. Garage door repair
!!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 - Men’s Mazuno golf irons plus Titleist golf bag. I will add a driver and putter as well as two woods with set of irons. Cash price is $350. If interested, call (913) 685-4378.
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.
EUCHARISTIC MIRACLES
Queen of the Holy Rosary School, Wea 22705 Metcalf, Bucyrus
April 4 - 6
Friday from 5 - 7 p.m.
Saturday from 2 - 6 p.m.
Sunday 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.
IGNATIUS BOOK FAIR
John Paul ll School
6915 W. 71st St., Overland Park
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.
LUNCH AND LEARN
Holy Spirit Parish (Martha and Mary Room) 11300 W. 103rd St., Overland Park
April 9 from 10:30 a.m. - 11 a.m. and April 9 from 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
The first presentation is “What the saints and Scripture tell us about gift planning.” The second presentation will be about “Tax-reducing strategies for preand post-retirees.” Bill Eckert, CAP will be the presenter. RSVP to (913) 492-7318 or send an email to: cfnek.org/events.
HOLY WOMEN SERIES
Keeler Women’s Center
759 Vermont, Suite 100-B Kansas City, Kansas
April 10 from 1:30 - 3 p.m.
This month’s presentation is about Sister Mary Collins, OSB, the first councilor for the Federation of St. Scholastica.
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.
ICARE MINISTRIES MASS
Queen of the Holy Rosary Parish 7023 W. 71st St., Overland Park
April 12 at 6 p.m.
iCare ministries provides two adapted Mass opportunities per month for children and adults with developmental disabilities and their families. For questions, send an email to: icarenek@gmail.com, or visit the website at: icare-ministries.org for more information and upcoming events.
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: Christs Peace.com or call (913) 773-8255.
TALK BY JOAN WATSON, SPEAKER AND WRITER
Mother Teresa of Calcutta Church
2014 N.W. 46th St., Topeka April 12 from 9 - 11 a.m.
Joan Watson, author of the new book “Opening the Holy Door,” will speak about “How to be a Jubilee People” and “Life is a Pilgrimage, not a Highway.” Refreshments will be provided in between the two talks. The book will be available for purchase. This is a free event.
‘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.
‘GOD CHOSE YOU FOR ME’
Precious Blood Renewal Center
2130 St. Gaspar Way, Liberty, Missouri April 26 from 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Come and explore the spirituality of the sacrament of matrimony in a oneday retreat for couples. Together, you will write a prayer that is uniquely your own and transform your home into a house of prayer. To register, go online to: wwme4 youandme.org/enrichment.php. The cost is $100 per couple and includes lunch and materials.
SPAGHETTI AND BINGO
St. Patrick Parish (center)
1066 N. 94th St., Kansas City, Kansas April 26 at 6 p.m.
The meal comes with one meatball, one Italian sausage, breadstick, salad, dessert, and tea and lemonade. The cost is: $12 for adults; $7.50 for kids under 12; and $35 for a family (two adults and as many kids you have under the age of 12). There will also be 10 games of bingo for $12. This event is sponsored by the Communio Group and the Knights of Columbus.
PANCAKE BREAKFAST AND EASTER EGG HUNT
St. Patrick Parish (center)
1066 N. 94th St., Kansas City, Kansas April 27 from 8 a.m. - noon
The cost for breakfast is a freewill offering. Breakfast includes pancakes, sausage, scrambled eggs, and biscuits and gravy. This event is sponsored by the Communio Group and the Knights of Columbus.
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.
CATHOLIC ADVISORS NETWORK
Mater Dei Parish (hall)
1114 S.W. 10th Ave., Topeka
April 29 from 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
There will be a legislative update from Chuck Weber, director of the Kansas Catholic Conference. The event will begin with check-in, lunch and networking, followed by the presentation. Register online at: cfnek.org or by contacting Mitch Nolan at (913) 647-3070 or by email at: mnolan@ archkck.org.
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.
ENCOUNTER SUMMER INTENSIVE
Holy Trinity Parish (Quigley Center) 9150 Pflumm Rd., Lenexa
June 23 - 26 from 6 - 9 p.m. nightly
Eager to encounter the transforming power of Jesus alive and active today? Join us for the Encounter Summer Intensive as we prepare and activate you to more fully participate in the supernatural lifestyle of Jesus Christ and further bring about the kingdom of God here on earth. The summer intensive is a four-evening experience that provides a taste of the lifestyle Jesus has available for every Christian disciple. The topics of each night reflect the teachings offered in the first four quarters of the Encounter School of Ministry: Identity & Transformation, Hearing God & The Prophetic Gifts, Power & Physical Healing, and Inner Healing & Freedom. For more information, go online to: Encounterschool. org/kansas-city.
ST. THOMAS AQUINAS GRADE SCHOOL SUMMER CAMPS
St. Thomas Aquinas High School 11411 Pflumm Rd., Overland Park
May through early August
Our summer camps give students entering grades K - 8th the chance to discover their potential in both sports and other activities like STEM camp, baking, cheer, crafting and more! Camps fill up fast, so register today online at: www.stasaints. net/athletics/summer-camps. We look forward to providing a positive camp experience for your camper! For questions, call the student life office at (913) 319-2416 or send an email to: btriggs@stasaints.net.
DAILY READINGS
FIFTH WEEK OF LENT
April 6
FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT
Is 43: 16-21
Ps 126: 1-6
Phil 3: 8-14
Jn 8: 1-11
April 7
John Baptist de la Salle, priest
Dn 13: 1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62
Ps 23: 1-6
Jn 8: 12-20
April 8
Tuesday
Nm 21: 4-9
Ps 102: 2-3, 16-21
Jn 8: 21-30
April 9
Wednesday
Dn 3: 14-20, 91-92, 95 (Ps) Dn 3: 52-56
Jn 8: 31-42
April 10
Thursday
Gn 17: 3-9
Ps 105: 4-9
Jn 8: 51-59
April 11
Stanislaus, bishop, martyr
Jer 20: 10-13
Ps 18: 2-7
Jn 10: 31-42
April 12
Saturday
Ez 37: 21-28 (Ps) Jer 31: 10-13
Jn 11: 45-56
DISMAS
first century
Two thieves were crucified with Christ; Dismas is the “good thief” who rebuked the other thief for reviling Jesus. In Luke’s Gospel, he accepts his guilt and proclaims Christ’s innocence. He asks Jesus to remember him, and Jesus promises, “Today you will be with me in paradise.” This feast date was assigned because by tradition Jesus died on March 25. But how an unnamed thief came to be called Dismas is less clear. One explanation is that early Syrian representations of the Crucifixion showed a sun and moon over the thieves’ heads; Syrian coins also showed a sun and moon with the words “east” and “west.” And “dismas” is similar to the Greek word for “east.” Dismas is a patron of funeral directors, prisoners and repentant thieves.
Iremember the scene vividly, though it happened years ago.
At the time, my mom was living at Vintage Park in Tonganoxie, an assisted living facility. Coming into her room one day, she somehow scraped the upper left part of her arm. The staff suggested that I take Mom to an urgent care center, since the wound was a bit more than they could handle.
While waiting for a nurse, I tried explaining to Mom what her injury looked like since it was at a spot that she couldn’t see. My descriptive talents must’ve been lacking because she couldn’t picture it. When the nurse came into the room, she heard me and asked, “Do you have a cellphone?”
“Sure,” I said and handed it to her. She immediately went to my mom’s side, took a picture of her injury and then showed Mom the photo. Duh! It was something that never occurred to me
EFATHER MARK GOLDASICH
Father Mark is the pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Tonganoxie. He has been editor of The Leaven since 1989.
to do.
It reminded me of a story about the struggles that we “senior citizens” sometimes have with technology.
An elderly man had a computer problem and called Eric, the 11-year-old next door, whose bedroom looked like Mission Control at Cape Canaveral. He asked the kid to come over and help.
After examining the computer, Eric clicked
MARK MY WORDS
a couple of buttons and immediately solved the problem.
As he was heading back home, the man called after him, “So, Eric, what was wrong?”
Eric replied, “it was an ID ten T error.”
The older guy didn’t want to appear stupid, but he had to ask, “An ID ten T error? What’s that? Just in case I need to fix it again.”
Eric grinned and said, “Haven’t you ever heard of an ID ten T error before?”
“No,” the man replied.
“Just write it down,” the kid said, “and I think you’ll figure it out.”
So, the guy wrote it
down: ID10T.
Grumbling, the older man said, “You know, I used to like Eric, the little brat!” I’ve had many, many ID10T errors in my life . . . and not just with technology. As a young priest, I gave a workshop on storytelling at an archdiocesan Religious Education Congress. I’m not sure of the context, but at one point I mentioned how parents would handle diaper rash on their child by rubbing Dulcolax on the kid.
The room exploded with laughter.
One of the teachers there said, “Uh, Father, did you mean Desitin?”
As I turned bright red, I replied, “Well, I knew it was something that started with D! I guess that’s another reason why it’s good I’m celibate!”
Ah, the ability to laugh at oneself is certainly a gift from God. It keeps us humble and reminds us that we’re not perfect — not to mention that it makes for great stories
afterwards. It can also make us more tolerant of other people when their imperfection is on display.
So, don’t berate yourself the next time that you’re talking on your cellphone while at the same time patting your pockets wondering where you left it. Or when you use the flashlight on your cellphone while trying to find where you dropped it in your car. Or wondering where you put down your glasses when they’re perched on top of your head. It’s these ID10T errors that reduce stress, help us see our foibles with kindness . . . and make God smile at how he made us.
I’ll close with the words of the German theologian and Lutheran pastor Martin Niemöller: “If you can laugh at yourself, you are going to be fine. If you allow others to laugh with you, you will be great.”
Let’s all strive for greatness.
Pharisees are interested not in the truth, but in power
vil isn’t a single thread. Rather, it is, to borrow Sir Walter Scott’s image, a “tangled web.”
Lie upon lie, interlocking deceptions and denials, selfishness, hidden motives, plain old sin and plain old sinners: It often all works together — like the political ruins the pure, like the mob shouts down truth — all of it conspires against the good and the innocent. I am talking, of course, about the world we live in, how the world has always been, how evil so often is not singular but darkly symphonic. That’s the best I can describe it. That’s what this story John
Joshua
tells reveals — the symphonic character of evil. It’s the famous story about the woman caught in adultery.
A complicated story, if you read it closely, you’ll see just what I mean. The wickedness at work is made of evils woven together, designed to ruin both the woman condemned and Jesus. The evils against them are several.
Consider the scene. Jesus comes early in the morning from the Mount of Olives and takes his seat in the temple area. Sat as a rabbi, Jesus is there to teach. But the teacher is forced to be a judge. The scribes and the Pharisees are not interested in truth but in conviction, in the expression and use of power. John is clear that their motives are not pure; they mean to “test
him.” That’s why they bring him this woman “caught in adultery” (Jn 8:4-6). They are not really interested in her fate at all. They’ve made her into a trap to catch Jesus. But the scheme is not ultimately about her. It’s about Jesus. They think that if Jesus counsels mercy, they’ll be able to accuse him of disregarding God’s law. Because, of course, the law of God condemns adulterers to death (Lv 20:10; Dt 22:21; Ez 16:38-40). Yet, if Jesus condemns her to death, then he runs afoul of Roman authority, for only Rome may condemn people to death. That’s the trap they think they’ve set; ruining some poor woman’s
life was simply necessary to the ruse. Jesus is for this woman what Daniel was for Susanna (Dn 13:44-64). He is her savior. Writing something mysteriously in the dirt, Jesus says, “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her” (Jn 8:7). Jesus is not here discounting the seriousness of adultery or sin generally; rather, he is reminding her accusers of the gravity of their responsibility before the truth and the tribunal of God. He frightens them with the truth; he backs them off from their wicked plans by reminding them that they too will one day be judged.
Jesus pursues brokenness to offer healing, pope’s catechesis says
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Jesus seeks out people in their woundedness and isolation to offer healing and hope, even when they feel furthest from God, Pope Francis said in a prepared catechesis.
“Jesus awaits us and lets himself be found precisely when we think there is no longer hope for us,” the
pope wrote in the text prepared for his general audience March 26.
Although Pope Francis returned to his residence at the Vatican March 23 after more than five weeks in the hospital, his general audience and other appointments were suspended to allow time for his recovery.
Jubilee pilgrims, even knowing Pope Francis was not holding an audience,
continued to make their way to the Vatican and to the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica. As part of his catechetical series for the Holy Year 2025, themed “Jesus Christ, our hope,” the pope reflected on Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well as recounted in St. John’s Gospel.
FATHER JOSHUA J. WHITFIELD
Father
J. Whitfield is pastor of St. Rita Catholic Community in Dallas and author of “The Crisis of Bad Preaching” and other books.
Call to Share director invites your questions and your prayers
Archbish-
op’s Call to Share’s 50th year is off to an incredible start thanks to your generosity!
More than 10,000 donors have already supported over 40 ministries that serve the community across northeast Kansas with a gift to ACTS.
I want to take a moment to answer a few commonly asked questions the office of stewardship and development has received about ACTS. Does my gift stay in the archdiocese?
YES! All gifts to the Archbishop’s Call to Share stay here in our archdiocese to support
NLISA MCKELVEY
Lisa McKelvey is the executive director of the archdiocesan office of stewardship and development. You can email her at: lmckelvey@archkck.org.
over 40 ministries and programs from youth, young adult, Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas, marriage
SPIRIT OF STEWARDSHIP
and family support, education, supporting seniors at Villa St. Francis and so many more programs. Read all about the impact online at: www.arch kck.org/call-to-share. How does ACTS help my parish? Programs and ministries supported through ACTS benefit each
parish. There are so many ministries that no one parish alone can provide. From the Blessed Seelos Institute providing continued religious formation to school teachers and parish staff, to campus ministry centers providing young adult formation to the youth from your parish while they are attending college and helping keep them Catholic at a transitional time in their lives, to summer camp at Prairie Star Ranch. The tribunal office helps families from all parishes receive peace and comfort at a difficult time in their life as well as help welcome new Catholics
fully into the life of the church.
Why does my ACTS gift support ministries that also fundraise for their programs? ACTS supports Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas, the Catholic Education Foundation, Catholic Community Health (Homecare/Villa St. Francis/Hospice), and the campus ministry centers. All these programs are tremendous undertakings and no one fundraising event or appeal could fully fund their vital initiatives. Each one of these programs does incredible work in our community and ACTS is able to provide operational support for
programs and staff, so that gifts through their events and appeals can go to work directly in programming. I can’t write a check today, how can I support ACTS? There are many ways to support ACTS. If you are able to give a little, a small monthly recurring gift has a tremendous impact throughout the year. Your prayers are also very powerful. Please pray for the ministries and those who are served by your gifts.
If you have other questions, please send an email to me at: lmckelvey@archkck. org. I am happy to answer any and all questions.
Jesus is waiting for you. Run back to him this Lent
ot too long ago I was rewatching the scene from
“The Chosen” when Jesus walks on water in the Gospel of Matthew, when he commands Peter to get out of the boat and come to him.
LEARNING TO LOVE LIKE HIM
Like Peter in this moment of the show, so many of us experience times in our life when we feel like Jesus isn’t listening to us, or that he doesn’t care about us. When we experience this, we slowly begin to turn our lives away from him. We stop praying, going to Mass and participating in the sacraments. I recently heard about someone
JOSHUA RUOFF
Joshua Ruoff is the lead consultant for the archdiocesan special-needs ministry. He can be reached by email at: jruoff@ archkck.org.
who was struggling because their adult children had left the faith. Unfortunately, this is becoming all too common. In fact, a recent Pew Research Center study estimated that for every 100 people joining the
church, 800 leave.
My heart breaks for those that either don’t feel a need to rely on Jesus, or feel like he doesn’t love them unconditionally.
Luckily, just like Peter in “The Chosen” experienced, Jesus is always there for us and always wants to be in a relationship with us, no matter what we have done.
We hear about this again in Scripture in the parable of the prodigal son. When the father saw his son off in the distance, his love for him was so immense that he ran to him.
That is how much
your heavenly Father loves you. This Lent, so many churches are providing extra opportunities for the sacrament of reconciliation. I encourage everyone to take advantage of this opportunity. And not only if you are someone who hasn’t been to church in a while.
All of us need the mercy of our Father. For those of us that love someone who is away from the faith, the graces of reconciliation and the sacraments transform our hearts to be able to love in a way that invites and can bring our loved ones back to
the Father’s arms. If it’s been a while since you’ve been to reconciliation or Mass, ask someone you trust to go with you. If someone asks you to go, even if it’s inconvenient, go with them and go with a smile. Lead them back to their Father who loves them.
If you see someone during Holy Week that you don’t normally see, don’t roll your eyes at them. Embrace them and let them know how good it is they are there. So what are you waiting for? Your Father is waiting for you; run to him.
Support of free speech does not require defense of hate speech
Each Lent, we begin with a reminder of Satan’s works by recalling the temptations of Christ in the desert.
Recently here in Kansas, we received another reminder of this ruiner of souls when a group of misguided Kansans who claim to be Satanists got a permit to perform at our Capitol. They announced they would perform quasiritual acts to insult Jesus and all those who follow Christ.
While it has been heartening to see how Christians have responded to this outrage in a peaceful way, it is troubling that some Kansans
DEACON BILL SCHOLL
Deacon Scholl is the archdiocesan consultant for social justice. You can email him at: socialjustice@archkck.org.
have been tempted to defend such hateful speech as a necessary safeguard to the First Amendment right of
free speech.
In claiming Satanists have a right to expression just like any other religion, they treat the means to sacred as a sacred end in itself and, in doing so, endanger the liberty they profess to save. Put simply, we have rights because we have responsibilities, and
so our right to free expression is understood in terms of our responsibility to be good to each other.
For instance, each of us has the right to criticize, because we each have a responsibility to care for the common good. However, this right to free speech is not absolute, because it is not the final purpose of its exercise.
Consequently, all legitimate free expressions must be, at least implicitly, motivated by good will. So, while Catholic teaching considers the freedom of speech to be a necessary and fundamental human right to share our honest thoughts and opinions, it must not jeopardize
the common good or public morality.
(See “Communio et Progressio,” a 1971 pastoral instruction of the Second Vatican Council.)
In expressing ourselves we must consider the rights and dignity of others. While it is often difficult to discern where to draw the line, it does not follow there is no line, and Satanism, evil for evil’s sake, by definition crosses that line.
Indeed, to say there should be no line actually aborts the free speech right because it severs speech from its responsibility to serve the good. There can be no greater severance from such service than welcoming Lucifer,
who promotes “non serviam,” to goodness itself, God. Even if such sacrilege is done ironically because of personal disbelief in God, it’s like joking about bombs at the airport. We don’t allow it because it shuts everything down. It is no coincidence that the innovator of our modern understanding of how Catholics practice the virtue of social justice — that is, the individual serving the common good — and the St. Michael prayer are one and the same. Pope Leo XIII understood, through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, that nothing is more ruinous to the society than listening to Satan.
Frying up food, faith and fellowship for Lent
Amy Reinhardt
Special to The Leaven
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — After receiving their ashes on Ash Wednesday, Catholics commit to abstaining from meat each Friday until Easter.
Avoiding meat can be challenging. Fortunately, the Knights of Columbus and other groups host Lenten fish fries to minister to Catholic families in Kansas City and beyond.
Serving the biggest catch in Overland Park
It’s been over 20 years since Knights of Columbus Council 10932 at Church of Ascension in Overland Park began offering a Lenten fish fry.
The yearly fundraising event has been Bill Fredrickson’s responsibility for the past 11 years.
While working the fish fry isn’t mandatory, the culinary chairman stated he needs at least 100 volunteers per week.
Preparations begin Wednesday when food is delivered. A small crew unloads the truck and puts everything away.
Thursday and Friday are for prepping, cooking and organizing. Fredrickson oversees key details to ensure that from 5 to 7:30 p.m. everything runs smoothly.
Ascension created a family-friendly menu. Along with baked tilapia and fried cod and catfish, there’s pizza, hush puppies, French fries and mac ’n’ cheese.
Fredrickson said the Knights served 5,000 people in 2024. Before the pandemic, the church served upwards of 6,500 people.
“It’s quite a process, but we have it fine-tuned.” he said. “We have a cash line, credit line and prepaid line. We try to move people through as fast as possible.”
Along with a sign on 127th St., advertising is done in the church’s weekly email and bulletin. Fredrickson highlighted the symbiotic relationship between the Knights and the parish as a whole.
“Our church is looking to get people to be a part of the community, more than just attending Mass,” Fredrickson said.
Pairing Friday night’s fish fry with Stations of the Cross gives parishioners the camaraderie of an all-you-caneat buffet followed by the reverence of
walking with Jesus to Calvary.
From dine-in food servers to those assisting with carryout orders, the Knights make each Ascension fish fry a success.
Serving a school of fish in Leavenworth
A 45-minute drive north of Overland Park will bring you to Leavenworth. It’s typically a church that hosts the Lenten fish fries, but not in this case.
Xavier School sits in the middle of the northern- and southernmost Catholic churches in town. The school includes students from St. Joseph, Immaculate Conception, Sacred Heart and St. Casimir churches.
“Xavier is a great central location for the entire Catholic community,” said Grand Knight Marty Moreno of Council 900.
For the past three years, the Knights have been behind the scenes of these popular meals.
Rather than a Knight serving the fried shrimp and baked potatoes, it is volunteer parents getting in on the
WE WANT XAVIER PARENTS TO BE THE FACE OF THE FISH FRY. WE, THE KNIGHTS, ARE IN THE BACKGROUND, MAKING THE MAGIC HAPPEN IN THE KITCHEN.
MARTY MORENO GRAND KNIGHT
action at Xavier.
“We want Xavier parents to be the face of the fish fry,” said Moreno. “We, the Knights, are in the background, making the magic happen in the kitchen.”
The Leavenworth school advertises a sign up so volunteers can choose which fish fries work for them. The Knights see the roster that evening, Moreno said.
Having Xavier students and parents involved puts a unique spin on these fish fries. They get to interact with the
guests who come to not only enjoy a scrumptious dinner, but to support the school, Moreno said.
For this year’s Lenten season, Council 900 partnered with Council 13354 to engage more Knights in the fundraising event.
“It’s bringing the Catholic community much closer,” said Moreno.
A portion of the money raised during the Lenten fish fries will go back to the Leavenworth Catholic school.
Serving big fish in a small-town
Ninety minutes west of Xavier School is Immaculate Conception Church in St. Marys — a quaint town of less than 3,000 people.
Immaculate Conception hosts three fish fries during Lent. Grand Knight Alex Johnson explained how the 2020 parish hall and kitchen renovation made this possible.
The pandemic spurred the annual Lenten tradition at the St. Marys parish. When COVID prohibited
LEAVEN PHOTO BY AMY REINHARDT
With two serving lines, Knights Jay Reinhardt, Steve Ehart, David McMindes and Tom Fletcher stand ready to dish out helpings of roasted potatoes, green beans, baked tilapia and more.
LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER
Anne Keeley, right, a member of the school board, serves patrons of the Xavier School fish fry on the first Friday of Lent in Leavenworth. Parents, teachers and students are the face of Xavier’s fish fries while the Knights of Columbus offer their support in the background.