02-12-10 Vol. 31 No. 26

www.theleaven.com | Newspaper of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas | Vol. 31, No. 26 february 12, 2010

Photo by Michelle Vander Linden

Wrestlers, coaches, managers, cheerleaders and officials join together for an opening prayer at the 2009 class 3-2-1A state wrestling tournament at Fort Hays State University. The tournament was the first big event at which Silver Lake High School senior Brett LaMar and Burlington High School junior Michael Vander Linden led anyone willing to participate in an opening prayer.

Putting muscle behind their faith

By Kara Hansen Leaven staff

Silver Lake — Most athletes have a pre-game ritual of some sort: They listen to the same songs on their iPod, they perform the same warm-up exercises, or they practice free throws or take downs in their head.

But before wrestling tournaments in Silver Lake and Burlington, they pray.

Together.

And not just the wrestlers — but the coaches, referees, managers, cheerleaders, and fans as well. Anyone who would like to participate is welcome.

“It’s a student-led prayer with the athletes,” said Harry LaMar, head wrestling coach at Silver Lake High School. “When the boys are leading the prayer, the whole crowd goes silent.”

The “boys” LaMar is speaking of

include his son, Brett LaMar, a senior on the Silver Lake squad, and Michael Vander Linden, a junior wrestler at Burlington High School.

The two teens knew each other casually from wrestling tournaments, but got to know each other better on a retreat about a year ago.

“We just started talking about bringing prayer and God to wrestling and how we could do that,” said Brett, a member of St. Stanislaus Parish in Rossville.

Both teams were praying before tournaments already, so it was something of a natural extension to think about including other teams, too.

“We thought it would be cool to get all the teams together and thought we could really do a lot of things with this,” said Michael, a parishioner at St. Francis Xavier in Burlington. “It was a way we could

Turn to “wrestlers” on page 4

Photo by Doug Vander Linden

Silver Lake senior Brett LaMar (left) and Burlington junior Michael Vander Linden are the founders of Wrestlers for Christ. The two lead a pre-match prayer before every wrestling event and invite everyone from the fans to the refs to join in.

Lenten regulations

All Catholics 14 years of age and older are obliged to abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 17, and all Fridays of Lent. Catholics 18 to 59 years of age are obliged to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday — a fast consisting of one normal meal and two lesser meals, with no eating in between. It is also recommended that Catholics find opportunities throughout the Lenten season to complement their fasts with prayer, reception of the sacraments of reconciliation and the Eucharist, and positive works of charity.

Helping haiti

Is your group or orgainization doing something to help Haiti? If so, The Leaven would like to know about it. E-mail Jennifer Siebes at: jennifer@ theleaven.com with the details.

2 ARCHBISHOP

THE LEAVEN • February 12, 2010

THE LEAVEN • february 12, 2010

LIFE WILL BE VICTORIOUS

T

Cardinal’s visit reveals God’s providence at work

he visit of Cardinal Christoph Schönborn will live forever in the memory of our Archdiocese.

Many have thanked me for inviting the cardinal. In reality, I played a very small role in the cardinal’s visit to our archdiocese, but I benefited greatly from his time with us. Cardinal Schönborn’s visit to the archdiocese was a tremendous personal grace. He provided me with a beautiful, if challenging, example of what it means to be a shepherd after the heart of Jesus Christ.

On Jan. 30 around 10:30 p.m. Cardinal Schönborn arrived at the convent of the Little Sisters of the Lamb in Kansas City, Kan. By that time, the cardinal had been traveling for more than 24 hours. If I were him, the only thing that I would have wanted to do at that moment was to go to bed.

When we drove down Boeke Street in Kansas City, Kan., it was lined with people holding candles and balloons.

Musicians and dancers were there to celebrate the arrival of this special guest to their neighborhood. The cardinal could not have been more gracious, attempting to greet personally every individual.

The Little Sisters told me that Cardinal Schönborn was the first person in the chapel the next morning. Despite the busy day that lay in front of him, he asked the Sisters if it was possible to invite their friends and neighbors to come back that night so he could spend more time with them.

On Sunday morning, I arrived at 8:30 a.m. at the Little Sisters convent to join the cardinal and the Sisters for morning prayer. As part of our prayer, Cardinal Schönborn, on behalf of the Community of the Lamb, presented me with a beautiful wooden pectoral cross with an etching of The Lamb. On the back of the cross in Latin is the motto for the community: “Wounded, I will never cease to love.”

The Little Sisters arranged for me to have a private breakfast with the cardinal. He was very interested in hearing about the life of the church in northeast Kansas. He spoke with great admiration for his former professor, Pope Benedict XVI. The cardinal also shared some of the difficult challenges the church faces in Austria and throughout Western Europe.

Cardinal Schönborn related how his own study of the Fathers of the Church as a young Dominican friar had been a great blessing and preserved him from becoming swept up in much of the theological confusion so prevalent in the late 1960s. It was during this same period that the cardinal met Little Sister Marie, the future foundress of the Community of the Lamb. Cardinal Schönborn spoke with great affection about his friendship with the Community of the Lamb and the many blessings he had experienced because of his association with the Little Sisters.

At noon, the cardinal celebrated Mass for an overflow crowd in St. Benedict’s Abbey church in Atchison.

After Mass, he patiently posed for many photos and greeted as many faculty and students as possible. The cardinal’s lecture that afternoon focused on the essential relationship between faith and reason. He made the case why faith never needs to be fearful of science or any authentic pursuit of truth. The cardinal noted that science was premised on an understandable order in nature.

Bluntly he stated, it was simply “stupid” to believe that the world was the product of chance.

After his lecture, the cardinal again patiently posed for pictures with as many groups and individuals as possible until we absolutely had to depart for vespers and dinner with the priests of the archdiocese. In his homily, he spoke words of encouragement and support to our priests. After dinner, the cardinal did not wish to leave until he had the opportunity to greet individually each priest.

Around 9 p.m., we returned to the Little Sisters of the Lamb convent, where quite a crowd had assembled. About 60 people crammed into the biggest room in the convent. The cardinal invited everyone to describe how they had come to know the Little Sisters. It was touching to hear the testimonies of the many blessings the Little Sisters had brought to so many lives in such a short time.

Cardinal Schönborn came to the archdiocese because of his love for the Community of the Lamb. The Little Sisters made their first foundation in Kansas City, Kan., because Father Anthony Ouellette, one of our young priests, became friends with the Little Sisters while he was studying at the Pontifical North American College in Rome.

Father Anthony introduced me to the foundress, Little Sister Marie, during one of my visits to Rome. Like so many others, I was immediately captivated by the Little Sisters of the Lamb — the beauty of their communal prayer, their love for the poor, their simplicity of life and their joyful witness of the Gospel. I assured Little Sister Marie that whenever the Community of the Lamb was prepared to establish a convent in the United States, the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas would warmly welcome the Little Sisters.

And the rest is, as they say, history.

In the turbulence of the 1960s, God used their love for the writings of the early Church Fathers to bring together the lives of a young Dominican friar and a young Dominican Sister. Many years later, a young seminarian would introduce his new archbishop to that same Sister, who had become the foundress of the Community of the Lamb. As a result of the Little Sisters of the Lamb’s convent in Kansas City, Kan., the Dominican friar, who was now the cardinal archbishop of Vienna, came to visit our archdiocese. Is not God’s providence beautiful?

Cardinal Schönborn made a lasting impression on the Catholic community of northeast Kansas. Even more so, the Little Sisters are touching powerfully the hearts of everyone who encounters these joyful ambassadors of the Lamb.

Archbishop Naumann’s weekly calendar

Feb. 12-13 Knights of the Holy Sepulcher weekend meeting — Naples, Fla.

Feb. 14 Mass and dedication of new church — Holy Angels, Basehor Mass for the 40th anniversary of Marriage Encounter — Cathedral, Kansas City, Mo.

Feb. 15 White Mass for Catholic Medical Association — Cathedral, Kansas City, Mo.

Feb. 16 Administrative Team meeting Priests Personnel meeting Mass and dinner — Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George

Feb. 17 Ash Wednesday 6:45 a.m. Mass — Cathedral of St. Peter 5:15 p.m. Mass — St. Lawrence Catholic Campus Center

Feb. 18 Donnelly College board meeting Confirmation — Mother Teresa of Calcutta Parish, Topeka

Feb. 20 Permanent deacon candidate interviews Mass and installation of Father Jim Ludwikoski as pastor of Good Shepherd Parish, Shawnee

Feb. 21 Mass and installation of Father Richard McDonald as pastor of St. Lawrence, Easton, and St. Joseph of the Valley, Leavenworth, at St. Joseph 3 p.m. Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults — St. Joseph, Shawnee 7 p.m. Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults — Sacred Heart, Shawnee

Archbishop Keleher’s weekly calendar

Feb. 12 Our Catholic Way radio taping

Feb. 13 St. James benefit dinner

Feb. 17 Ash Wednesday Mass for chancery staff

Feb. 21 Confirmation — St. Matthew, Topeka

Despite traveling for more than 24 hours straight, Cardinal Christoph Schönborn was more than happy to meet the people of Kansas City, Kan., who welcomed him to the convent of the Little Sisters of the Lamb on the evening of Jan. 30. The cardinal was given the VIP treatment with a street lined with people holding candles and balloons, along with musicians and dancers.

Publication No. (ISSN0194-9799)

Editor Reverend Mark Goldasich, stl frmark@theleaven.com

Senior Reporter Joe Bollig joe@theleaven.com

Advertising Representative Jennifer Siebes jennifer@theleaven.com

President Most Reverend Joseph F. Naumann

Managing Editor Anita McSorley anita@theleaven.com

Production Manager Todd Habiger todd@theleaven.com

Reporter KARA HANSEN kara@theleaven.com

Feb. 21-24 Bishops’ prayer group — Portland, Ore.

Published weekly September through May, excepting the Friday the week after Thanksgiving, and the Friday after Christmas; biweekly June through August. Address communications to: The Leaven, 12615 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City, KS 66109. Phone: (913) 7211570; fax: (913) 721-5276; or e-mail at: sub@theleaven.com.

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SECOND FRONT PAGE 3

Nuns feel Haiti’s pain

Haitian Sisters relieved to finally hear from quake-ravaged homeland

By Joe Bollig Leaven staff

LEAVENWORTH — The shockwaves from the Jan. 12 Haitian earthquake didn’t topple buildings in Kansas, but they really hit home for two women religious at the Sisters of Charity motherhouse here.

That’s because Haiti is home.

Sister Melicia Singleus is from Port-au-Prince and Sister Myrlande Moise is from Cote de Fer. They are members of the Sisters of St. Antoine, Fondwa. The two Sisters arrived in the archdiocese in August 2009 to begin a year of English language study at Donnelly College in Kansas City, Kan. Images and stories from television and the Internet left them worried and numb.

“I see [the destruction] on the TV and Internet, yesterday and Thursday night, and I cry, because I see it. I feel very, very, very [sad],” said Sister Melicia.

They were cut off for more than a week from their bishop, chaplain, and superior. They only knew that Fondwa was in a zone with significant damage.

Fondwa is a small community located south and west of Port-auPrince. Their small order, which was begun in 1996, was in the process of building a motherhouse. The order has six professed Sisters, four postulants, and two novices.

“I think it is very bad, because Fondwa is in the mountains,” said Sister Myrlande.

Sister Myrlande received a brief message from her youngest brother, who lives in Port-au-Prince, through a grandmother living in Miami. She had no idea how her brother managed to make this contact.

Finally, the two Sisters reestablished direct contact with their community on Jan. 20. The news was bad, although it could have been much worse.

Leaven photo by Elaina Cochran Their motherhouse, school, and Haitian Sisters Melicia Singleus from Port-au-Prince (left) and Sister Myrlande Moise from Cote de Fer waited for days for news to trickle in clinic (which was attached to a radio about their communities following the devestating earthquake that rocked Haiti. The two Sisters are studying English at Donnelly College in station) were destroyed. Their guestKansas City, Kan. house and orphanage were badly damaged. Four people were killed: ly starved to death when he was in turn, has contacts with Heart to a novice, an orphan, and two men brought to the Sisters as an infant. Heart International. Heart to Heart The Sisters of Charity are who worked at the school. One Sister The Sisters of St. Antoine nursed him representatives went to Fondwa and gathering funds for Haitian quake back to health. brought medical supplies and water. had a broken leg, relief to be sent through the Penn“He was very They made arrangements to fill a surwhich was later sylvania organization Partners special to all the viving cistern with water for the next set in a cast by a in Progress. If you would like to Sisters,” said Sissix months. visiting medical make a donation, contact Partter Katherine.

Sister Judith Donner, a Sister of team. ners in Progress at its Web site at: “When he got oldHumility from Pennsylvania, had “It could have www.piphaiti.org; by calling (724) er, he would have been working in the Fondwa clinic, been worse,” said 238-9204; or write to: 329 N. Fairgone to the orand she managed to get to Port-auSister Katherine field St., Ligonier, PA 15658. phanage, but he Prince to make contacts and get supFranchett, SCL, was too young.” plies. treasurer of the Now, the 11 “She arrived two days ago with Sisters of Charity, members of the two trucks filled with supplies and “School was out Haiti needs food, water, and mediSisters of St. Anfood, and two great big tents,” said cal help now, but it also needs much at the time the toine and the 60 Sister Katherine. “She brought volun- more help later on, said Sister Melicia. earthquake hit. It orphans they care teers with her. She also has been able wasn’t night, so “Someone can give you food and for are living outto arrange a helicopter with more the orphans were you can eat, but after you finish eatSister Melicia Singleus side under tarps supplies to be dropped later.” outside playing. ing, where are you going to sleep?” and tents.

Doctors from Heart to Heart have The Sisters were she said. “What are you going to One of the Sisters of Charity man- made two trips to Fondwa, and the wear? And the children — where will working in other places.” aged to make contact with the group, organization has promised to keep in The orphan who died was a twothey go to school?” touch with the Sisters. year-old named Jude. He had near- Priority Placement for Physicians. It,

“Someone can give you food and you can eat, but after you finish eating, where are you going to sleep? What are you going to wear? And the children — where will they go to school?”

4 LOCAL NEWS

THE LEAVEN • february 12, 2010

THE LEAVEN • february 12, 2010

Wrestlers go to the mat for Christ Continued from page 1 put God as the focus of what we’re doing.”

All they needed then was an opportunity — something Harry had already been speaking to Burlington’s wrestling coach and Michael’s father, Doug Vander Linden, about via e-mail.

“Coach LaMar’s team had been praying together already, and he knew I was involved in FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes),” said Doug. “Last February, Burlington hosted the class 3A regional tournament and we got to talking about how this would be an opportunity for our two sons to do more than pray with their teams.”

“We asked the kids if they would consider it and take off with it, and they did,” said Harry. “The boys came up with their prayers and avenue on their own.”

Brett and Michael each took a day of the regional tournament and invited those present at the tournament to come down to the mat before leading them in a prayer.

“I was nervous, stressed, scared when my dad approached me about doing this,” said Michael. “But now I know this is what I’m supposed to do.

“I’m no longer scared,” he concluded.

“It’s all on God.” The wrestlers and others present at the tournament came to pray with Brett and Michael before matches began each day.

“They got a great response, and it was even better the next day,” said Doug.

Ever since, the communal pretournament prayer has become a regular way to kick off any wrestling tournament where either the Burlington or Silver Lake teams are present. Wrestlers for Christ was born.

Giving God the glory Both Brett and Michael now have a basic outline of the prayer they lead before each tournament starts. It opens with them thanking God for the opportunity and ability to wrestle and asking him to keep the wrestlers safe from injury. They then pray for good sportsmanship on the part of the athletes and for God’s help in keeping him first in their lives. Finally, they pray for the managers, cheerleaders, coaches, officials and even the fans — that they will keep in mind the wrestlers are student/athletes

and even though the competition may get intense, they still need to be good role models for their kids.

Following the prayer led by Michael or Brett, the entire group is invited to participate in the Our Father.

“It’s so loud, and the crowd is silent, so you can hear the prayer throughout the entire school,” said Harry. “It’s very powerful.”

Far from forcing the prayer on any of those present who might not want to participate, Michael and Brett say they are simply providing the chance for others to join them in bringing their thoughts and words to God before matches start.

“We invite anyone who’s there down to the circle to pray,” said Brett.

Michael agreed.

“If people want to come down and pray, they can,” he said. “We invite anyone who wants to, and leave the decision up to them. We don’t pray over the microphone because we don’t want to force it on people.”

As the groups of people coming to the mat for prayer have grown in size — up to several hundred, at some matches — not using a microphone has become a challenge.

“There are people from every team in the tournament down there on the mat, so you really have to yell to be heard,” said Michael.

And when school administrators at some of the tournaments have been reluctant to allow the teens to lead group prayer, that’s fine, say Brett and Michael. Both are quick to respect what

the administration asks — while still making sure they get their spiritual boost in by praying with their team or in small groups.

The two wrestlers say praying before their matches is a fundamental part of their preparation — just as much as the physical and mental practice that goes into the sport itself.

“I’ve always known the importance of prayer, and a relationship with God is great,” said Michael. “I saw my older brother pray before wrestling. I want to share with others that my number one goal is to glorify God, no matter what happens. And I hope others can see that.”

Spreading the faith People are noticing. It has been over a year since the two wrestlers began leading pre-tournament prayer, and each report a positive response — both in increasing numbers of people joining them in prayer as well as feedback from those present.

“I have about five to 10 wrestlers come up and tell me ‘Thanks’ at each meet. And the coaches and refs will often tell me, ‘Thanks for doing this,’ or give me a pat on the back,” said Brett.

Players and coaches say they have now heard stories of other teams leading group prayer before tournaments when neither the Silver Lake nor Burlington team is present. In Silver Lake, Harry has junior high-age wrestlers asking if they can pray before their matches, too.

“You hear stories about some NFL or college players coming together for prayer, but I’ve never seen anything like this in high school sports at all,” said Harry.

The two coaches say they can see the impact of the prayer in other ways, too.

The first three tournaments after the group prayer got started were completely injury-free, something extremely unusual for such an intense and physical sport as wrestling, said Harry.

Plus, those in and around the high

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LOCAL NEWS 5

Appointments Rev. John A. Riley, chancellor, reports the following assignments made by Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann:

school wrestling tournaments are seeking at least one tangible way to show their pride in their sport and their faith at the same time. Gonz Medina, owner of Blue Chip Wrestling, created some 180 T-shirts with the logo “Wrestlers for Christ” on them that both teams have made available to a wider audience.

“When people first started asking for T-shirts, we knew the idea was getting out,” said Michael. “People seem to love the idea and want the shirts. They’re glad God and wrestling are being combined.”

Rev. Msgr.

Charles McGlinn, pastor of Curé of Ars Church in Leawood, is granted a medical leave of absence for rest and recuperation, effective Feb. 5.

Rev. Msgr. Gary Applegate, parochial administrator of Good Shepherd Church in Shawnee until Feb. 5, is appointed parochial administrator of Curé of Ars Church, Leawood, effective Feb. 5.

Looking to the future Michael and Brett are both hoping to see Wrestlers for Christ become bigger and more accessible to wrestlers across the state.

“Because Brett is a senior this year, we’ve talked a lot about who we can hand this down to who will keep it going,” said Michael. “I really want to push harder next year to see this spread throughout the state, so we can rely on many who can keep this going.

“It could be turned into a huge thing.”

Brett agreed.

“I’m hoping every team can do this at tournaments we’re not at,” said Brett.

“I hope ultimately people want to turn their lives to God and go to church.”

As coaches, both Harry and Doug are supportive of the initiative taken on by Brett and Michael. They are considering putting together a Web site that will allow for more communication among high school wrestling teams and allow them to share their stories of God’s involvement in their tournaments.

But as fathers, Harry and Doug cannot help but be proud of the role their sons have had in creating Wrestlers for Christ.

“Even though wrestling is a physical and intense sport, wrestlers can still carry the qualities of Christian athletes,” said Doug. “You can feel God’s presence there and know they are doing something to carry the Lord’s work forward.”

Harry agrees.

“What they are doing is helping kids by teaching them how to pray — letting them know it’s OK to talk to God — and creating leadership skills,” said Harry.

“It’s very emotional and fills you with pride.”

“Brett is a very good wrestler,” said Harry. “But this will be his legacy.”

Leaven photo by Susan McSpadden

Paul Welsh, a member of Church of the Nativity in Leawood, received the Project Rachel “Friend of the Year” award Feb. 4 at St. Michael the Archangel Parish, Leawood. Barbara Belcher, president of the advisory board, was the presenter.

Friends bring more awareness to Project Rachel

By Kara Hansen Leaven staff

LEAWOOD — If you have ever wanted to get involved with a cause but just didn’t have the time to give, Project Rachel has an opportunity for you.

The Friends of Project Rachel is a newly launched campaign designed specifically to bring support to the post-abortive healing ministry.

“This is a way people can donate and be involved, even if they might not have the chance time-wise,” said Pat Klausner, program coordinator for Project Rachel in the archdiocese.

The purpose of the program is get people involved in Project Rachel by offering their prayers and financial support to the ministry, said Ron Kelsey, archdiocesan consultant for the pro-life office.

“The support of people through the Friends of Project Rachel will help us continue the awareness campaign we’ve been doing with billboards, radio spots, and the Web site,” he said.

“It will help us be able to continue to

conduct the media campaign that’s been going on already.”

Klausner said the media campaign has proven extremely helpful in raising awareness of Project Rachel, so that men and women know where to turn for help if they need it. She is hopeful the ongoing support of Friends of Project Rachel will not only help the program continue to provide its direct services, but also allow the ministry to continue its media campaign.

“We have limited funds to do those things that raise awareness and provide community education,” she said.

“It’s necessary to make Project Rachel known, so men and women can know about it. Many of the people in need of the program are unchurched, so they don’t read about it in their church bulletin.”

Families and individuals who are interested in becoming a part of the Friends of Project Rachel are encouraged to make a suggested $50 tax-deductible donation once a year.

“Of course, there are some people who are comfortable giving more or

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Redemptorist Center Seniors Club invites all area senior citizens to enjoy live music, dancing, refreshments and dozens of door prizes at the annual St. Pat’s Senior Ball, from 1 to 3 p.m. on March 11 in the gymnasium of the Cristo Rey Kansas City High School, 211 W. Linwood Blvd., here.

Admission and refreshments are free for seniors. Free parking and parking assistance is available at the rear of the building.

The Senior Ball features live big band music and always guarantees plenty of dance partners.

Clubs or organizations wishing to attend the dance as a group should RSVP by calling Brother John at (816) 931-9942.

USM to have winter recital Leavenworth — The University of Saint Mary department of fine arts-music presents its winter student recital at 7 p.m. on Feb. 16, in the Walnut Room, Mead Hall 2nd floor, here. The recital is free and open to the public.

The recital will feature USM student pianists, instrumentalists and singers, as well as musicians from USM’s preparatory division. Attendees will be treated to selections by several composers, including Schubert, Ireland, and Fauré.

For more information, contact William Krusemark at (913) 758-6460 or by e-mail at: krusemarkw@stmary.edu.

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less, and we’re open to any donation,” said Klausner.

A blessing ceremony for the new program took place on Feb. 4 at St. Michael the Archangel Church in Leawood, with Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann presiding.

Klausner said an event would be held once a year for Friends of Project Rachel, thanking them for their support.

“With one in six women having an abortion at some point in their lifetime, we’re all going to know someone who has had one,” said Klausner.

“The Friends of Project Rachel gives people a chance to put their love and concern into action and provides an opportunity to reach out in Christian compassion — to give people a place to find help that’s truly transforming.”

If you are interested in becoming a part of Friends of Project Rachel, contact Klausner at the Web site: project rachelkc@archkck.org, or by phone at (913) 621-2199 or toll-free at (888) 246-1504. You can also contact Kelsey at (913) 647-0350 or through the Web site at: prolife@archkck.org.

Senior Ball set for March 11

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6 LOCAL NEWS

THE LEAVEN • february 12, 2010

THE LEAVEN • february 12, 2010

Tournament honors deceased seminarians

By Kara Hansen Leaven Staff

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Call to Share supports families, where stewardship begins

his year, the Archbishop’s Call to Share theme is “Love.” The archdiocesan family life office embraces its ministry as an act of love, beginning with the coordination of the archdiocesan 50th wedding anniversary Mass and reception. This celebration is offered in cooperation with parishes’ 50th anniversary celebrants, who are sent an invitation from Archbishop Joseph Naumann.

Last June, more than 100 couples and their guests participated.

Though they have not quite reached the 50th anniversary mark, the honorary chairpersons for this year’s Archbishop’s Call to Share are Bob and Judy Vohs, members of St. Ann Parish in Prairie Village, who have a Christian marriage that some see as an example for others to follow.

“They are humble, faith-filled, and show us what it means to be everconstant and ever-faithful,” said their pastor, Father Keith Lunsford.

They have been married for 46 years and have raised four children and have 12 grandchildren.

Like the Vohs family, the everfaithful life of a married couple begins with the sacrament of marriage — and the preparation for marriage.

In the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, young couples about to begin their married lives together receive a helpful start on their life’s journey through marriage preparation training facilitated by the family life office. More than 1,200 engaged couples each year throughout the archdiocese receive this training.

Parents and families join Archbishop Naumann in a Mass of Remembrance for those who have experienced the loss of a child through miscarriage, abortion, or other before-birth losses, through stillbirth, or in early childhood

The archdiocesan 50th wedding anniversary Mass and reception is one of the many family-centered events planned and executed by the archdiocesan family life office. death. Last September, approximately 300 guests attended both the Mass and a luncheon.

In addition, the family life office sponsored the Day of Boundless Joy, a women’s day of reflection, for 140

guests in October.

Jacki Corrigan, the consultant for the family life office, promotes ENDOW (Educating on the Nature and Dignity of Women) groups within parishes.

She also helps to promote three ongoing groups for men, women and adolescents: “That Man is You,” a 26-week interactive Bible study focused on the development of men in the modern world.

It combines the best research from science with the teachings of the Catholic faith and the wisdom of the saints to develop the vision of authentic men capable of transforming society.

“She Shall Be Called Woman,” a 26week program for women designed to aid women in their spiritual journey within the context of their marriages and family life. By combining the teaching of the Catholic faith, sacred Scripture, and the wisdom of the saints with secular knowledge, “She Shall Be Called Woman” reveals the seven steps by which women can create truly healthy, happy, holy families.

“Project Genesis” is a program that assists parishes and Catholic schools in promoting positive Catholic understanding of human sexuality to adolescents.

Finally, the Archbishop’s Call to Share makes it possible for the family life office to support and promote natural family planning. NFP methods represent authentic family planning through viable scientific methods supporting responsible parenthood within God’s design.

As a family of faith, we are stewards of God’s many gifts. The family life office has a long tradition of supporting and strengthening families, where stewardship begins.

PRAIRIE VILLAGE — When players take to the court for this three-on-three basketball tournament, there will be more than a championship and bragging rights at stake.

All the money raised from the event will go to support seminarians in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas and the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph — and all of it will be raised to honor the memory of deceased seminarians Matty Molnar and Jared Cheek.

“We had been looking for something to do for Jared and Matty, and since we didn’t have anything going for basketball, we thought a tournament would be a good idea,” said Jake Riordan, a parishioner at St. Michael the Archangel in Leawood who is helping organize the event.

Fellow organizer Sara Batenhorst agreed.

“Once we decided that we would like to donate the money to the seminarian fund, we thought it would be appropriate to do it in Matty and Jared’s honor,” said Batenhorst, also a St. Michael the Archangel parishioner. “The young

Jared Cheek Matty Molnar community was severely affected by their death four years ago and many of us still mourn their loss. We also want to make sure that their memory remains with us. There are many new young adults joining Catholic Challenge Sports and young adult communities every day who did not know Matty and Jared, and we would like to make sure that their lives are not forgotten.”

The Jared and Matty Charity Basketball Tournament is being sponsored by Catholic Challenge Sports, a Catholic young adult ministry focused on providing sports events and leagues within the Kansas City metropolitan area.

It will take place at St. Ann Church in Prairie Village on April 17, with games starting at 10:30 a.m. and running until approximately 7 p.m. Games are held on

the half-court; the tournament is double elimination.

There will be three divisions in which teams can compete — female, male recreational, and male competitive. Anyone interested in playing can either register as a team of three to five players or as an individual “free agent” and then be assigned to a team. The cost for team registration is $60; the cost for individuals is $15. The winning teams will receive championship T-shirts.

In addition to the tournament, there will be three-point and free-throw shooting contests for $1 per round. Winners of the contests will receive free registration for an upcoming sport offered through Catholic Challenge Sports.

“We’re hoping to draw around 30-40 teams,” said Riordan. “Of course, more would be great, too.”

If the tournament has a positive response, it will likely become an annual event, said Riordan. All tournament participants are invited to dinner together at a local restaurant following the completion of the games.

To register, visit the Web site at: http://kccatholicchallenge.com; select “basketball tournament” from the choices along the left-hand side of the site.

LOCAL NEWS 7 Glen and Georgia (Allen) Haag, members of St. Joseph Parish in Olpe, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary with a reception on Feb. 21 from 2-5 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus Hall Anniversaries south of the church. Friends and family are invited; they request no gifts. The event will be hosted by their children: Lois and Bob Cox; Patty and Clint Jenkins; Michael and Leanne Haag; and Barbara Haag. They also have 12 grandchildren. The couple was married on Feb. 20, 1960, at St. Ann Church, Excelsior Springs, Mo.

Anniversary policy

The Leaven only prints 50, 60, 65 and 70th anniversary notices. Announcements are due by 5 p.m. eight days (Thursday) before the desired publication date. Announcements must be typed.

Send notices to: The Leaven, 12615 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City, KS 66109, attn: anniversaries; or send an e-mail to: Todd@theleaven.com.

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your last lent

I

’m of the opinion that everything that needs to be said will sooner or later be said best in a country song.

So perhaps it should come as no surprise that when I started to ponder what new angle The Leaven might take on the start of Lent this year, some Tim McGraw lyrics came

to mind.

“Some day, I hope you get the chance,” the refrain goes, “to live like you were dying.”

Like any good country song, “Live Like You Were Dying” tells a story — the story of a 40-something man who is suddenly faced with a life-threatening illness. When he is asked some years later how he responded to the news that he might die, the singer explains that: “I went sky diving/ I went Rocky Mountain climbing/ I went two point seven seconds on a bull named Fu Man Chu/ And I loved deeper/ and I spoke sweeter/ And I gave forgiveness I’d been denying./ An’ he said: ‘Some day, I hope you get the chance/ to live like you were dying’.’”

For Catholics, there is no better time to give some thought to dying than Lent.

The whole season, of course, builds up to the passion and death of Our Lord. But as important as Good Friday is to our faith, it is Easter Sunday that defines us. It is because we believe in Easter Sunday — in life with Christ after death here on earth — that those song lyrics hold special meaning for us.

And so, we’ve challenged a number of writers — including our own — to tackle Tim McGraw’s theme with our Catholic faith and Lent in mind.

After pondering their reflections, however, we’re hoping you won’t stop there. Instead, why not put pen to paper and map out a course to spend this Lent as if it were your last?

You might just find that the only road headed where you want to go, goes by way of Calvary.

— A.M.

Father Joseph Veneroso Lent and Ash Wednesday may not be un-American but they are downright countercultural to modern society.

Death? Never! Old age? Ew! Illness? Suffering? All these reminders of human limits fly in the face of today’s obsession with looks, youth and power. That’s why we need Lent.

As a child, I loved making the Stations of the Cross. In those days they were the traditional prayers of St. Alphonsus. Now, I also find spiritual nourishment in modern Stations such as Pope John Paul II’s scriptural reflections and Maryknoll’s Way of the Cross, that sees Christ in the suffering of people today.

In 2002, my clogged arteries required bypass surgery. Normally patients would be operated on immediately, but I wanted to wait till my surgeon returned from vacation. I had two weeks to work myself into a frenzy. Instead, I went into Lenten mode (although it was September) and said, did and saw things as if it were for the last time: a visit to my sister’s in the Adirondacks, a day in Central Park, a cup of morning coffee, a glorious sunrise, a good novel!

Having “practiced” all my life, I surrendered to the anesthesiologist, confident on my own Way of the Cross, I was only at the Third Station.

— Father Joseph Veneroso is a Maryknoll priest who worked in Korea. He served as editor of Maryknoll magazine from 1991 until 2007. He assists every weekend at the Korean Catholic community in Queens, N.Y., where he suspects he is up to the Ninth Station.

Jill Ragar Esfeld Every day, God gives me a reason to believe in heaven, so the prospect of dying has never bothered me. It’s the path to dying I worry about because, quite frankly, I’m not good at suffering.

But I do believe there is freedom in accepting suffering as part of our human experience.

Suffering serves a great purpose, because it releases us from the burden of temporal wants and strips us down to nothing but the vacuum in our souls that only God’s love can fill.

And God’s love, of course, is Jesus walking the path to Calvary.

So, if this were my last Lent, that’s where I would spend it — trailing behind Jesus, praying and chanting and invoking every saint I know.

This is what I love about the Catholic faith. It gives me so much to hang on to when life presses me down — the Eucharist, daily Mass, rosaries and chaplets and novenas, the communion of saints and, of course, Mary.

I would run to her long before I would think about skydiving or climbing a mountain. I’d lay my burden at her feet and ask her to stay by my side.

She would, of course. Together we would walk the path of her seven sorrows, because this ancient Servite chaplet is the best meditation for suffering. Each sorrow builds so beautifully to that moment of triumph on the cross; through it, Mary is such an awesome example of trust in God’s plan.

My favorite Gospel is Matthew’s account of the Transfiguration. At the moment when God’s voice comes booming out of the clouds saying, “Listen to Him!” I always figure Jesus must have known that whatever he said at that moment would go down in history and be repeated forever. And of all the things he could have said, he chose to say, “Don’t be afraid.”

I’d carry that advice with me on my journey to the foot of the cross. And Mary and I, with nothing left but trust in God, would look toward Easter morning with the eternal hope and confirmed faith that Jesus’ sacrifice had not been in vain.

— Jill Ragar Esfeld is a freelance writer for The Leaven and a member of Holy Trinity Parish in Lenexa.

Anita McSorley

Jan Lewis

I’m betting there’s a special place in heaven reserved exclusively for mothers of teens.

(And if there wasn’t originally, I’m thinking that thing with the 13-year-old staying behind and teaching in the Temple did the trick.)

You know who we are. We’re the ones who hovered over our babies’ cribs, nursed them through those long nights, and cried tears of joy over even their simplest accomplishments.

Now, we’re lucky if we get a four-letter text — “here” — to let us know our precious young driver has reached his destination safely. Only a snarky comment on Facebook confirms the college kid’s still alive.

That is, of course, until things go south.

A season-ending injury. A lost scholarship. A broken heart.

Then suddenly — like a missing stuffed animal finally found at the bottom of a closet — Mom is picked up again and hugged close, first for comfort — and then, of course, so she’ll fix whatever’s broken.

It is both our pleasure and our job to be used like this. We make ourselves instantly and utterly available to these ungrateful little wretches — as hard wired to answer their cries for help now in this painfully awkward, half child/half adult incarnation, as we were when they were babes in arms.

We complain endlessly about them to our friends and family. Yet we are secretly delighted that we are occasionally still clutched close — even if only in desperation.

If this Lent I were to truly live like I was dying, I would stop treating God like my teenagers treat me.

I would turn to Him in my successes — not just my failures.

For my inspiration — not just in desperation.

I would remind myself every day, every hour, that every gift — even teenagers — comes from Him. Finally, I would thank my Mom for not strangling me before I knew enough to appreciate all she has done for me, and does for me still.

Actually, that one’s easy compared to thanking God every day for my teenagers.

So, thanks, Mom. I love you.

Twelve years ago, my husband and I went on a Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekend. During the weekend, we were challenged to go deeper in our relationship, challenged to face attitudes that drove us apart and challenged to seek the good for the other. At the end of the weekend, we were asked to reflect on the question: “Why do I want to go on living?” Our responses to that question, which we wrote in letters to each other, changed the course of our lives.

When faced with the possibility that your life could end at any moment, you are forced to reevaluate what is important. In my letter, I focused on all of the things that were yet undone in my life, unrealized hopes and dreams for myself, for us as a couple and for our family. It was a letter filled with things to do, but I now believe that what is important in life is not so much about the “doing” as it is about the “being.”

If this is my last Lent, then I need to be more like Mary and less like Martha. I will start by being at the feet of Jesus, spending time each day with my Lord. I will be more loving, especially to my wonderful husband. I will be more patient, especially while standing in long lines. I will be more joyful, celebrating the little things that I used to overlook each day. I will be kinder, especially toward people who normally get on my nerves. I will be more generous — giving my time, talent and treasure without reserve.

If this is my last Lent, then I want to live it filled with faith, hope and love, but especially with love.

Father James Martin

Sister Irene Nowell

Tim McGraw’s song asks the right question: What would it mean to live as if we had only a finite time to live? Well, we would probably want to tell our friends and family how much we love them, thank people for the kindnesses they’ve shown to us, ask forgiveness from those we’ve hurt, and prepare ourselves to meet God. But of course we do have only a finite time to live. So that attitude — living for the future, that is, for our eventual meeting with God — should be an attitude to cultivate every day.

It’s not morbid — it’s honest.

When my father died a few years ago, something surprising happened to him. In his last months on earth, he changed — he became more gentle, more compassionate, more forgiving, even more religious. He talked about the people he hoped to meet in heaven, he treasured holy cards that people sent him (and he was never very religious) and he asked for forgiveness for his sins. When I mentioned this to a friend, a Catholic Sister, she said that she wasn’t surprised at all. “Dying is about becoming more human,” she said. Yes, I thought. We become more human — more aware of our relationship to God — as we near the end of our lives and realize what is really important. When everything falls away, we become more aware of our reliance on God. Lent is a time to remember that we are always called to be in “right relationship” with God and with our fellow human beings.

And that’s true whether our last day will be 70 years from now, next week, or tomorrow.

“Live like you were dying.” There is a current fad for listing the 25 things I want to do or places I want to see before I die. But this advice from Tim McGraw reminds me instead of what the third-century (B.C.) sage said: “Go, eat your bread with joy and drink your wine with a merry heart, because it is now that God favors your works” (Eccl 9:7). To “remember death daily,” as St. Benedict advises his followers, is to treasure every present moment and to live it to the fullest. That’s not easy!

We are constantly tempted to brood over the past or worry about the future. But it is now that God favors our works. The only life we have is right now.

So my Lenten resolution is to live in the present, to try to do the simplest things with careful attention, to take each opportunity to be kind to others, and to receive every moment with grateful joy. Or as one of our wise Sisters once advised, “To be where I am and do what I’m doing.” I consider this a little practice for eternity. Isn’t heaven going to be an eternal NOW?

— Jan Lewis is the executive the Catholic Charities for the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas.

— James Martin, SJ, is the author of “The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything.”

— Anita McSorley is the managing editor of The Leaven, and the mother of three teens.

Sister Charlotte White My first thought when hearing this assignment was, “I always try to live like I’m dying.” Then I thought again. My calendar is full and there’s no time in there to schedule dying! But, what if I knew the last calendar page lay not too far ahead? What would be different if this were my last Lent?

There are a million adventures that I would love to have. Climbing Long’s Peak in Colorado had long been on my bucket list, but I reluctantly crossed that off some years ago.

That book that I may — or may not — write some day? The world will go on if it doesn’t get written. I wouldn’t cram Lent with all of my undone projects.

Would I live this Lent with redoubled penance and hours of solitary prayer? No. I don’t think so. We pray each day, privately and as a community, and those times are powerful.

That prayer spills into our full days, so that work and play are simply prayer lived out. I would not let go of that rhythm. Penance? In community, we learn that our true penance is to face the daily irritants and interruptions of life with grace. So, I would choose my usual small Lenten penances and try – again – to welcome God in each event of the day.

So what would be different? I would stop taking God for granted. I would see God’s gifts in the rainbow winking from a dew drop, in the graceful curve of an overpass that can hold up semi trucks, in the miracle of a light switch that echoes God’s first words in Scripture: “Let there be light.” I would praise God for every person in my life. I would let God love.

— Sister Charlotte White is a Sister of Charity of Leavenworth. Her current ministries include working in Mission in the SCL Health System corporate office, teaching theology at the University of Saint Mary, ministering with the Ladies of Charity, and providing occasional workshops.

— Irene Nowell is a Benedictine of Mount St. Scholastica in Atchison, where she is director for the junior Sisters. She also teaches Scripture for St. John’s University School of Theology. A new book, “101 Questions and Answers on Angels and Devils” will be published this fall by Paulist Press.

Woodeene Koenig-Bricker I just spent several hours with a friend who is dying of melanoma. Barring a miracle, this will be her last Lent. But she isn’t living it as if it were her last, but simply living it. She is making every moment, every action — from savoring a cup of tea to watching the goldfinches outside her window — into an offering, a prayer. When I left her, which may be the last time we are together, she said, “I’ll see you either here or in heaven.”

I held my tears only long enough to get down the driveway and into my car. So if this were my last Lent, I would hope that I would do what my friend Elsie is doing — live deliberately, in the now, using the ordinary as a means of grace. I have the feeling that if I were to do that for 40 days, with full intent every waking hour, Lent itself would become Easter.

— Woodeene Koenig-Bricker spends her Lent (and the rest of the year) in Oregon. She is the author of “10 Commandments for the Environment” and an upcoming book on “Simplify Your Life,” as well as numerous books on Mary and the saints.

Joe Bollig “And Jesus wept” (Jn 11:35).

There is a lot of denial about death, even among Christians, who are supposed to have more hope than anyone else because Jesus conquered death and promised eternal life to the believer.

We talk about other people dying. We talk about death in the abstract. We talk about death euphemistically.

On my bookshelf, I have a very nice book called “Today Someone I Love Passed Away.”

Cars pass each other.

Quarterbacks throw passes. Your teacher gives you a hall pass to go to the bathroom. Some college courses are pass/fail.

Why do we say people “pass” when someone has simply died?

I can see two reasons.

The more positive reason is that our hope is in Christ, and we hope that our loved ones (and presumably ourselves) will “pass” from life on this earth to eternal life in heaven.

The more negative reason is that many seem to consider death to be an obscenity, a sort of “that which shall be unnamed,” because like Col. Nathan R. Jessep said in the film “A Few Good Men,” “You can’t handle the truth!”

You are going to die. I am going to die. Everyone dies. Does thinking about that make you a little uncomfortable?

Sometimes I run into people who say death doesn’t bother them all that much, and I halfway believe them. I’ve had those moments, but I’ve had the other moments, too, when the thought of death — and the deaths of those I love — are depressing and frightening.

Sometimes I’ve wondered about fear of death: Is it a sign of a lack of faith? Still, I’d rather wrestle with my fears and doubts than smother them under the yearbook answer, which is a con and a dodge, and something I’ve been fed too many times.

I’d like to be like the saints I’ve read about, who had such intimate relationships with Christ that they embraced death. An older generation of Catholics called this “a good death,” which is what I want. Where do I want to die? With my family, in church, just after receiving the Eucharist. I’m a realist, though. It probably won’t happen that way.

I take comfort in the story about Jesus and Lazarus in the Gospel of John. Jesus knew Lazarus was going to die — did, in fact, die — and was going to be raised by he himself. But when Jesus got to the tomb of Lazarus, he cried. Death made Jesus cry, so I guess it’s OK for me to cry about it, too.

But not too much. Earlier Jesus said, “Our friend Lazarus is asleep” (Jn 11:11). Jesus wasn’t a euphemistic kind of guy, so there is something important about him saying “sleep” here. I take comfort from this, too.

Death can be ugly, painful, difficult, undignified, horrible, and lonely. But the only way to heaven is through the door marked “DEATH,” so live with it. Or not. You know what I’m trying to say.

“Live Like You Were Dying” is a country song

by Tim McGraw. The subject of the song finds out he’s going to die, so he completely changes the way he lives until The End. Well, yeah, I’d want to clean up my act and tie up loose ends, too, if my death was sooner rather than later. But given the one-to-one birth/death ratio of humanity, shouldn’t a guy be doing that anyway?

Lent is on its way. For some, it will be the last Lent. What are you doing for Lent?

The older I get, the more I appreciate Lent. If Christmas is for the kid in us, Lent is for our inner, grown-up Christian. Lent is when we get serious about stuff, like death and our eternal destiny.

For me, Lent isn’t a downer, but a hopeful time. It gives me a chance to live like I am dying. And that ain’t a bad thing at all.

— Joe Bollig is the senior reporter for The Leaven

THE LEAVEN • february 12, 2010

Local news 11

Start planning for World Youth Day 2011 now KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Repeat after me: “¡Quiero ir al Dia Mundial de la Juventud en Españia!”

Which means, of course, “I want to go to World Youth Day in Spain!”

World Youth Day is Aug. 15 - 22, 2011, in Madrid, and now is the time to mark your calendars and two items from the archdiocesan Web site: itinerary and preregistration. Go to the archdiocesan Web site (archkck.org), then to the “Department of Parish Ministries” pull-down tab.

Next, click on “Youth,” and finally click on “World Youth Day.” The total cost of the pilgrimage is

$2,995; the $400 deposit is due by March 15, 2010.

Youths ages 16 to 18 and chaperones must register with their parish, which will then register them with the office of evangelization and Catholic formation for youth.

Young adults ages 19 to 35 must register with the office of evangelization and Catholic formation for adults.

For information about registration, contact Rick Cheek at: youth2@archkck. org or call (913) 721-1570, ext. 124; or Kimberly Rode at: ecat2@archkck.org or call (913) 721-1570, ext. 127.

The Blaufuss Team “We want to help you and your family with real estate”

Re/max Realty Suburban, Inc.

Washburn launches water project topeka —During February and early March, the Catholic Campus Center at Washburn University here, in partnership with the campus ministry at Washburn, will be challenging the university community to make water their only beverage for two weeks.

By accepting this challenge, which begins on Feb. 21, students and others

are encouraged to save the money they would have spent on other beverages and donate it to the H2O Project, which contributes 100 percent of its funds to well drilling in underprivileged nations.

Participants can donate their savings at the student union on March 8 and 9 from 11 a.m. -1 p.m.

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M-F 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Sat. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. | Summer Months: Sat. 10 a.m to 3 p.m.

Marriage and the Eucharist Celebrating Servant-Love Bishop Robert W. Finn Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph and Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas

invite married and engaged couples for a Mass of Thanksgiving for the gift of sacramental marriage, and to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Worldwide Marriage Encounter.

Sunday Feb. 14, 2010 Mass will be celebrated at 3 p.m. followed by a reception featuring national Catholic speaker Damon Owens Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception 416 W. 12th Street Kansas City, Mo. 64105 Children are welcome!

For further information, please call MO Family Life Office: 816.756.1850, x 553 KS Family Life Office: 913.721.1570, x 145

12 CLASSIFIEDS Employment Superintendent of Catholic Schools - The Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, under the direction of Bishop Robert Finn, is accepting applications for the position of superintendent of schools. The ideal candidate will have the pedagogical knowledge, skills, theological depth and experience to provide leadership and vision in the areas of Catholic identity, religion curriculum and staff formation and will demonstrate organizational, management and interpersonal skills required to develop and sustain a high quality educational system. The selected individual must be faithful to the tenets of the Catholic faith, and be a fully participating and practicing Catholic. Other required skills include: effective writing, speaking and instructional skills; exceptional leadership, administrative and organizational skills; the ability to work collaboratively with diverse groups of people; and technological expertise. The diocese is comprised of more than 130,000 Catholics. The superintendent of schools will provide Catholic-based diocesan leadership for four secondary schools, 28 elementary schools and 7 free-standing early childhood centers, with a total enrollment of 9500 students. The position offers excellent insurance, pension and time-off benefits, a supportive and creative working environment and a workplace that values the Catholic school system.

If you want to make a difference in Catholic education and possess the qualifications listed above, send your resume, via e-mail, to: Stucinski@diocesekcsj.org or mail to: Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, P.O. Box 419037, Kansas City, MO 64141-6037.

Music director needed - Position open immediately for St. John LaLande Church in Blue Springs, Mo. Essential responsibilities: Establish music liturgy for weekend Masses, holy days, special liturgies, funeral and wedding Masses; direct and accompany on piano/organ cantors and choirs (vocal, bell, etc.) during these Masses; coordinate musician rehearsals; cultivate music ministry within the parish. Required: strong organ and piano skills; excellent leadership, interpersonal and communication skills; strong knowledge of Catholic liturgy and liturgical music. Desired: experience leading volunteer musicians. Salary commensurate with experience. Submit cover letter, résumé, and references, via e-mail, to: mverstraete@ stjohnlalande.com.

Friends of the Johnson County Library This not-for-profit organization that supports the library is seeking to fill two part-time positions: bookstore supervisor and operations assistant. For a complete job description or to submit a resume, send an e-mail to Connie Messner, operations manager, at: cmessner.jclfriends@yahoo.com.

Part-time bowling machine mechanic - St. John’s Catholic Club, Kansas City, Kan., is looking for someone to maintain a six-lane house in the church’s men’s club. All late model 1960s Brunswick equipment. Call Kenny at (913) 788-9758.

Financial representative - Due to the success and growth of the Knights of Columbus, we are adding financial representatives in the Kansas City and Emporia areas. This position is ideal for a determined, high-energy, high-expectation, professional, self-disciplined, independent individual desiring to serve others, yet earn a better-thanaverage income. We provide top-rated financial products to our members and their families and will provide excellent benefits and training. For information or an interview, contact John A. Mahon, 307 Dakota, Holton KS 66436; or call (785) 364-5450.

Wanted - Retired handyman looking for parttime work. Electrical, mechanical, and electronics background helpful. Call Jenny at (913) 383-2636.

Services Bankruptcy - When debt becomes overwhelming, seek professional help. Experienced, compassionate Catholic attorney Teresa Kidd. For a confidential, no obligation consultation, call (913) 422-0610; or send an e-mail to: tkidd@kc.rr.com.

THE LEAVEN • FEBRUARY 12, 2009

Spring is coming! - Protect kids and pets from chemicals. Use safe organic fertilizers. Save 30 -40% over commercial fertilizer. Call (913) 2692750, or send an e-mail to: wmiller38@att.net.

Counseling - Confidential and affordable individual, marriage and family counseling and outpatient substance abuse treatment. JB Strong, MA, LCPC, AAPS (913) 722-1118.

Tree service - Pruning ornamental trees for optimal growth and beauty and removal of hazardous limbs or problem trees. Free consultation and bid. Safe, insured, professional. Brad Grabs, Green Solutions of KC, (913) 244-5838. www.GreenSolutionsKC.com.

Machine quilting by Lyn - I also do T-shirt, photo, and memorial quilts. Official Hobbs distributor. Located in Overland Park. Call Lyn at (913) 492-8877.

Housecleaning - I will clean your house the old fashioned way – hand mopping, etc. 20+ years exp., excellent references, free estimates. Call Sharon at (816) 322-0006.

Retired nurse - Will provide child or elder care, do housecleaning, run errands, and provide transportation to/from appts. Reasonable rates, excellent references. Years of experience with seniors. Call Pam at (913) 579-5276.

Do you intend to leave a Catholic charity in your will? What are you waiting for? The Catholic Foundation of Northeast Kansas helps people with charitable intent to put their instructions into place. We help stretch your gift further and last longer for the people you love and the causes you care about. For a free, confidential consultation call (913) 647-0365 or for free estate planning information, visit the Web site at: www.cfnek.org.

Home care services - We provide care management, medication administration, transportation, companionship, shopping and other needs to the elderly and disabled at home. Reasonable rates. Full time and part time. Days/night/weekends. Call Pamerick Home Health and speak with Mimi at (913) 488-5993.

Do you or your parents need help at home?

- For as little as $60 per week, Benefits of HomeSenior Care can provide assistance with personal care, shopping and many other daily needs. For details, visit our Web site at: benefitsofhome.com or call (913) 422-1591.

Caregiving - Mature lady experienced with elderly care will care for your loved one in their home. Good references, reliable transportation, well qualified. Available any time. Honest and dependable. Leawood, OP and Prairie Village areas.

Call Flora at (816) 322-9956, mobile, or (816) 9218223, home.

Caregiving - We provide personal assistance, companionship, care management, and transportation to the elderly and disabled in home, assisted living and 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, Sara or Gary.

Computer repair / virus and spyware removal / PC upgrades - Microsoft certified; 10 yrs. experience. Member of Sacred Heart Parish. Call Matt at (816) 876-6619 or send an e-mail to: matt computerfix@gmail.com.

Home Improvement Swalms Organizing Service - Basements, garages, attics, and shop spaces organized! Items sorted, boxed & labeled; areas cleaned when finished! Clean out services also available. Great references and insured. For pictures of current projects, visit the Web site at: www.swalms.com. Call Tillar Swalm at (913) 375-9115.

THE LEAVEN • FEBRUARY 12, 2010

Interior and exterior painting and wallpaper removal - 30-plus years experience. Quality work; excellent references; reasonable rates. Senior discount. Member of St. Ann Parish, Prairie Village. Call Joe at (913) 620-5776.

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 Parish, Shawnee.

Electrician - Free estimates; reasonable rates.

JoCo and southern KC metro area. Call Pat at (913) 963-9896.

Woodbright - A very affordable alternative to refinishing, refacing or replacing stained cabinets and woodwork. The average kitchen only costs $500. 18 years experience. Call Woodbright at (913) 940-3020.

Everything plumbing - Leaks, faucets, toilets, sinks, disposals, repairs and replacements. Over 20 years experience. Fully licensed. Service anytime – days/nights/wknds. Contact Mike at (913) 488-4930. Member of Church of the Ascension Parish, Overland Park.

Brack Home Repair - “Call Dan when you need it done.” I do all types of home repair. Carpentry, drywall, plumbing, electrical, painting, tile, wood-rot and more. No project too big or small.

Senior discount and insured. Free estimates. Call (913) 219-5388 or visit my Web site at: brackhomerepair.com. Philippians 4:13.

Painting, exterior and interior, drywall projects, powerwashing, rotted window sills repaired - Quality products. 20 years experience.

References. Call (913) 341-7584.

STA (Sure Thing Always) Home Repair Basement finish, bathrooms and kitchens; interior & exterior repairs: painting, roofing, siding, wood replacement and window glazing. Call for free estimates. Cell: (913) 579-1835; phone: (913) 491-5837; e-mail: smokeycabin@hotmail.com. Member of Holy Trinity Church, Lenexa.

EL SOL Y LA TIERRA *Commercial & residential * Lawn renovation * Mowing * Clean-up and hauling * Dirt grading/installation * Landscape design * Free estimates Hablamos y escribimos Ingles!!

Call Lupe at (816) 252-3376 Tim the Handyman - Insured; free estimates.

Carpentry: new and repair deck, doors, windows, siding, screens. Plumbing: faucet, garbage disposals, toilets. Electrical: switches, outlets, ceiling fans, light fixtures. Light landscape: fill dirt, trimming, planting, garden tilling and mulching. Serving Johnson County. Call Tim at (913) 859-0471.

Real Estate Nativity Parish villa-like home - Live the villa lifestyle in this great, single-family home! This 3 BR, 3-1/2 BA house has large living areas and is the newest home in Waterford. Custom-built in 1996 for the current owners, it is directly across from the poolhouse. 13200 Howe Dr., (132nd & Mission Rd.) Leawood. To view online, visit: www.awesomehouse.info. Call Chris Smart, Re/Max Premier Realty, at (913) 226-4672.

Lake Perry lots for sale - Call Marisa at Kansas Land Brokers at (913) 915-9151 or visit the Web site at: www.KansasLandBrokers.com.

Westwood home for sale - Charming Tudor on cul-de-sac. 3 BR, with updated kitchen and bath. Close to St. Agnes Parish and School and Our Lady of the Angels Parish. 4733 Booth, Westwood. $185,000! For information, call (816) 456-5330 or visit the Keller Williams Web site at: www.kw.com.

Concrete Work

Any type of repair and new work Driveways, Walks, Patios Member of Queen of the Holy Rosary Parish

Harvey M. Kascht (913) 262-1555

For Rent Living at its best on a budget! - 1 BR apt., with rent based on income; all utilities paid; no voucher needed. Section 8 assistance. Great location, only 5-10 minutes from The Legends in Kansas City, Kan. Edwardsville Court Apartments Highrise, 531 S. 4th St., Edwardsville. Call (913) 441-6007.

EHO. Handicap accessible.

Vacation Ski cabin in Winter Park, Colo. – 2 BR, 1 BA, on free ski shuttle route. $110/night. Call (913) 6423027. To view pictures, visit the Web site at: cabin. forcadeassociates.com.

Ski vacation - Winter Park, Colo. 2 BR, 1 BA, sleeps 6. Fully furnished, fireplace, rec. center with pool & hot tub. $125/night; $750/week. Call Joe Frederick at (913) 385-5589.

For sale For sale - Lawn crypt and two internment fees at Mount Calvary Cemetery, Kansas City, Kan. Valued at $7600. Asking $5300. Call Larry at (913) 831-3026.

Residential lifts - Buy/sell/trade. Stair lifts, porch lifts, ceiling lifts and elevators. Recycled and new equipment. Member of St. Michael the Archangel Parish, Leawood. Call Silver Cross KC at (913) 393-2042.

Wanted to buy ***WANTED*** I buy coins, older watches, silverware, slot machines, old rifles and shotguns, stoneware crocks and jugs, old furniture from basement or attic.

Call Chris at (913) 593-7507 or (913) 642-8269 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.

Miscellaneous Freedom from pornography - Men’s group and counseling; call Sam Meier, MA, LPC, at (913) 647-0378. Women’s group; call Beth Meier, MA, at (913) 647-0379. Visit the Web site at: LoveIsFaithful.com.

Entertainment Disc jockey - For your wedding, kolos, nightclubs, corporate parties, teenage celebrations, holiday parties, sock-hops, ethnic, birthdays, holiday parties, hip-hop/rap, golden oldies. Member of St. Therese Parish, KCMO. Call Zepster’s A to Z Party DJ’s at (816) 741-4777.

DJ Irishman - Colm Delahunt is available for parties, weddings, graduations, and any other function. Playing all your favorite hits from the Village People to U2. Call (913)548-6765 or visit the Web site at: www.djirishman.com.

To purchase a classified ad: Send an e-mail to: jennifer@theleaven. com, or call (913) 647-0327. The cost is $16 per column inch, five lines or less. Each additional line is $1.50. Classified ads will also be posted online at The Leaven’s Web site: www.theleaven.com.

Contact Lenses • Eye Glasses

McBratney Optical Boutique Fred McBratney - Owner 7702 Parallel • Kansas City, Kan. • (913) 299-6001

Feb. 13

St. Francis de Sales Parish, 900 Ida St., Lansing, will host a Mardi Gras dinner dance from 6:30 - 11 p.m. on Feb. 13 in the parish hall. Dinner will be catered by Cedar Ridge; live music will be provided by Don Spain and band. Tickets cost $50 ($35 is a tax-deductible donation). Free babysitting is provided with reservation. For information or tickets, call the parish office, by Feb. 5, at (913) 727-3742.

The Curé of Ars Singles Group will host a Mardi Gras dance from 7:30 - 11:30 p.m. on Feb. 13 in the school cafeteria, located at 9403 Mission Rd., Leawood. The cost of $15 includes beverages and heavy hors d’oeuvres; music will be provided by Carl the DJ. For information, call (913) 648-2919.

The women of Holy Name Parish, 1007 Southwest Blvd., Kansas City, Kan., will sponsor the Ragin’ Sweet and Spicy Fest from 6:30 - 9 p.m. on Feb. 13. This chili, soup and dessert cook-off will take place in the cafeteria. The cost is $8 per person. For information or to register to compete, call Sharon Staab at (913) 631-1138.

Holy Family Church on Strawberry Hill will host a Valentine’s prime rib dinner and dance on Feb. 13 at Mejak Hall, 513 Ohio, Kansas City, Kan., featuring the Don Lipovac Orchestra. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.; dinner will be served at 6:15 p.m., followed by dancing from 7 - 11 p.m. Tickets cost $25. To purchase tickets in advance, call Richard at (913) 669-3677, Matt at (913) 302-1888 or Mike at (913) 342-1785.

Our Lady & St. Rose Church will host a Mardi Gras dinner from 3 - 8 p.m. on Feb. 13 at Blessed Sacrament Family Center, 2215 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City, Kan. The cost is $6 per person. There will be face painting, games and activities for all ages from 3 - 7 p.m. A New Orleans-style party will follow from 8 p.m. - midnight.

14

Sanctuary of Hope, 2601 Ridge, Kansas City, Kan., will host “Gifts of the Heart,” its annual meditation in music and movement concert, featuring The Ebony Chorale, Grace & Holy Trinity Episcopal choir, Pat Hernandez, Potter’s Clay Dance Ensemble and others, from 2 - 4 p.m. on Feb. 14. Freewill donations will be accepted. For information, call (913) 321-4673 or visit the Web site at: www.sanctuaryofhope.org.

The Daughters of Isabella, Little Flower Circle No. 503, will celebrate their 80th birthday at 1 p.m. on Feb. 14 at Sacred Heart Church Hall, 312 N.E. Freeman, Topeka. Reservations are appreciated.

The Knights of Columbus and the Villa St. Francis Auxiliary will cosponsor a Valentine’s Day pancake breakfast from 8:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. on Feb. 14 in the basement of Prince of Peace Parish, 16000 W. 143rd St., Olathe. Freewill donations will be accepted.

All proceeds will benefit Villa St. Francis.

St. Bede Parish, Kelly, will host its annual pancake breakfast from 7 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. on Feb. 14 in the church basement. A freewill offering will be collected.

15

The University of Saint Mary will host its annual Lincoln Lecture, featuring New York Times best-selling author and Lincoln scholar Ronald C. White Jr., at 7 p.m. on Feb. 15 in Xavier Theater, 4100 S. 4th St., Leavenworth. White will speak on “Abraham Lincoln’s Journey of Faith.” This event is open to the public and admission is free. For information, call (913) 758-6165.

16

go at 2 p.m. on Feb. 21 in Bishop Forst Hall.

The cost of $5 includes a bingo card, popcorn, coffee, tea and desserts. For information, contact Carol Shomin at (913) 897-4833 or the parish office at (913) 371-1408.

17

Keeler Women’s Center, 2220 Central Ave., Kansas City, Kan., will offer Lenten prayer in the Taizé tradition, with beautiful music, Scripture, quiet reflection and prayer from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 23.

For information, call (913) 906-8990 or visit the Web site at: www.mountosb.org/kwc.

The Topeka Catholic Singles group will hold its monthly meeting on Feb. 16 at 7 p.m. at Planet Sub, 2130 S.W. Wanamaker, Topeka. A Mardi Gras party will follow.

Msgr. Mike Mullen will celebrate the archdiocesan monthly pro-life Mass at 8 a.m. on Feb. 17 at Sts. Cyril & Methodius Church, 44 N. Mill, Kansas City, Kan., followed by a rosary procession to an abortion clinic four blocks away. Eucharistic adoration is available for those not processing, with Benediction concluding services at 10 a.m.

“Interviews – First Impressions Last and Last and Last,” a presentation by Diane Taylor Hiles, a professional in workplace development, will be given from 2 - 3:30 p.m. on Feb. 17 at Keeler Women’s Center, 2220 Central Ave., Kansas City, Kan. This workshop will help women sharpen their interview skills and boost their self-confidence. For information or to register, call (913) 906-8990 or visit the Web site at: www.mountosb.org/ kwc.

23

23-24

A centering prayer retreat, conducted by Sister Micaela Randolph, OSB, will be offered at the Sophia Center from 10 a.m. on Feb. 23 to 2 p.m. on Feb. 24.

Centering prayer is a method of silent prayer which prepares us to receive God’s gift of contemplative prayer. It is a prayer of trust and surrender that involves place, posture, word and silence. For information or to register, call (913) 360-6151 or visit the Web site at: www.mountosb.org/sophia.html.

24

18

Join the Singles of Nativity for happy hour, beginning at 6 p.m. on Feb. 24, at Houlihan’s across from Oak Park Mall in Overland Park. Look for the yellow balloon and our greeters, who will be at the table until 7:30 p.m. Questions? Send an e-mail to: social@son-ministry.org.

19-21

“Clean and Clutter-free Living,” a presentation by Chiquita Miller of K-State Extension, will be offered from 1 - 2:30 p.m. on Feb. 24 at the Keeler Women’s Center, 2220 Central Ave., Kansas City, Kan. For information or to register, call (913) 906-8990 or visit the Web site at: www.mountosb.org/kwc.

A healing Mass, sponsored by archdiocesan charismatic prayer groups, will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 18 at Curé of Ars Church, 9401 Mission Rd., Leawood. Father Ken Kelly will preside; fellowship follows. For information, call (913) 649-2026.

Divorced? Widowed? Beginning Experience Weekend gently helps people move through their loss to a new beginning in their lives. The next weekend for the Kansas City area will be Feb. 19 - 21 at Sanctuary of Hope, 2601 Ridge, Kansas City, Kan. For information or to register, call John at (913) 219-3465 in Kansas City, Sue at (785) 331-2216 in Lawrence, Michelle at (785) 4783481 in Topeka, or visit the Web site at: www. beginningexperience.org.

20

The Ignatian Spirituality Center of Kansas City will offer a Lenten guided prayer program beginning Feb. 20. Participants pray daily with selected Scripture, then meet weekly with a prayer guide to review the prayer. Space is limited; application deadline is Feb. 8. The cost is $20; scholarships are available. For information, call (816) 523-5115, ext. 214; visit the Web site at: www.ignatiancenterkc.org; or send an e-mail to: jblumeyer@sfx-kc.org.

The Shawnee Knights of Columbus will host a polka dance featuring the Brian McCarty band on Feb. 20 in their hall, located at 11221 Johnson Dr., Shawnee. The cost of $10 per person includes beverages and sausage sandwiches. The doors open at 6:30 p.m.; dancing from 7:30 - 11 p.m. For information, call Dan Nicks at (913) 631-4633.

A healing Mass in honor of St. Peregrine, patron of those suffering from cancer or other serious illnesses, will be celebrated at 9 a.m. on Feb. 20 at Holy Spirit Church, 11300 W. 103rd St., Overland Park. The sacrament of anointing of the sick will be offered.

For information, contact the parish office at (913) 492-7318, or Marge Hattrup at (913) 492-7682.

The Knights of Columbus of Sacred Heart Parish, 2646 S. 34th St., Kansas City, Kan., will host a Texas hold’em tournament and chili dinner at 6 p.m. on Feb. 20. A suggested donation of $50 is appreciated. For information, call (913) 826-6883.

The Singles of Nativity will host dinner and a bowling night on Feb. 20. Meet at 6 p.m. at Mi Ranchito, 151st and Antioch, Overland Park. After dinner, bowling will be at IncrediBowl next door.

21

St. Mary – St. Anthony Church, 615 N. 7th St., Kansas City, Kan., will host bin-

25

“Guilt-free Ethnic Eating” a presentation by Pat Callaghan, master food volunteer from K-State Extension, will be offered from 9:30 - 11 a.m. on Feb. 25 at the Keeler Women’s Center, 2220 Central Ave., Kansas City, Kan. Bring your favorite recipes and we’ll look for healthy substitutions. For information or to register, call (913) 9068990 or visit the Web site at: www.mountosb. org/kwc.

26

Catholic Community Hospice will host Stations of the Cross at 5:45 p.m. on Feb. 26 at St. Patrick Church, 1086 N. 94th St., Kansas City, Kan.

26-28

Stress in Your Marriage?

Retrouvaille is a program for married couples that feel bored, disillusioned, frustrated, or angry in their marriage. Some couples experience coldness, while others experience conflict in their relationship. Most don’t know how to change the situation or even communicate with their spouse about it. Retrouvaille can help! For confidential information to register for the upcoming program beginning with a weekend on Feb. 26 - 28, call 1 (800) 470-2230 or visit the Web site at: www. retrouvaille.org.

27

The St. Thomas Aquinas High School Spirits Dance Team will host dance clinics for girls in grades K - 5 and in 6th 8th grades from noon - 3 p.m. on Feb. 27. The day will include instruction in various dance team techniques. The cost is $20 per dancer, if received by Feb. 19. Mail check, payable to St. Thomas Aquinas Dance Team, to: 11411 Pflumm Rd., Overland Park, KS 66215. Walkin registration is $25. For information, send an e-mail to Vicki Schroeder at: vschroeder@ stasaints.net. Bring a water bottle and wear comfortable clothes.

27-28

Father Mitchel Zimmerman, vocation director for the archdiocese, will lead a vocation retreat, entitled “Venite et Videte,” for high school-age men on Feb.

CALENDAR 13

27-28 at Savior Pastoral Center, 12601 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City, Kan. The retreat will include prayer, discussion and recreation time. The cost of $25 includes lodging and meals. For information or to register, visit the Web site at: kckvocations.com.

28

The Men of Miege will host brunch and speaker Ron Freeman, AP and Kodak All-American football player, at 11:30 a.m. on Feb. 28. By sharing his life experiences with others, Freeman helps people of all backgrounds understand how drawing on what you can do as an individual will help you to be your very best. The cost is $12.50 per person. Advance reservations are required.

For information, contact Diane Church at (913) 238-8456 or by e-mail at: dbchurch@ sbcglobal.net.

Misc.

The Piece Time Quilters of St. Paul Church in Olathe are hosting a fundraising raffle for their “Hearts Of Kansas,” a handquilted queen-size quilt, pillow shams and throw pillows. This beautiful quilt set will be on display in the parish hall at the celebration potluck dinner following the 5:30 p.m.

Mass on Feb. 12 and throughout the months of February and March at Quilter’s Haven Quilt Shop in Olathe. Chances cost $1 each; six for $5. For information or to purchase chances, call Marge at (913) 782-4811 or Judy at (913) 254-9975. The raffle will be held on Nov. 8.

A Holy Land pilgrimage in the footsteps of Jesus, is planned for June 1 - 14. Spiritual director Father Jorge Ramirez will lead participants on a tour through Bethlehem, Nazareth, Cana, Mount Tabor and Cairo in celebration of the great mysteries of Jesus’ life. The cost is $3295 per person/double occupancy; $445 single supplement. The Cairo extension costs $795 per person/double occupancy.

Space is limited. A reservation and $400 deposit are due by Feb. 15. For information, call Pilar at (913) 341-7779.

The Apostles of the Interior Life, along with spiritual director Father Steve Sotiroff, will host a spiritual pilgrimage to Italy from June 11 - 21. Cities to be visited include: Rome, Orvieto, Assisi, Siena, Florence, and Loreto. The cost of $2799 (double occupancy) includes airfare, hotels, daily breakfast and dinner, and sightseeing tours. Optional trip insurance is available for $185. Registration and deposit is due by March 1. For information or to book a reservation, contact Adriatic Pilgrimages at 1 (800) 262-1718 or visit the Web site at: www.adriatrictours.com.

There are 14 men in the My House men’s groups that have broken free from pornography for over one year! Also, the My House women’s group is available for wives and loved ones who are healing from the effects of their loved one’s struggles. For more information, visit the Web site at: LoveIsFaithful.com.

The Serra Club invites all men of the archdiocese to pray with them to increase vocations to the priesthood and religious life.

Meetings are held at noon on every second and fourth Wednesday of the month at the Hilton Garden Inn, 520 Minnesota Ave., Kansas City, Kan. For information, contact Jim Conrad at (913) 432-4162, John Muehlberger at (913) 441-5061, or Bill Peters at (913) 8946967.

Calendar items must be received nine days before the publication date.

E-mail submissions are preferred; send to: jennifer@theleaven.com.

Submissions may be mailed to: 12615 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City, KS 66109.

14 COMMENTARY

Catholic Press Association Award Winner 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009

Archbishop Edward O’Meara Award Winner 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003

Quote Week

of the

“I went sky diving/ I went Rocky Mountain climbing/ I went two point seven seconds on a bull named Fu Man Chu/ And I loved deeper/ and I spoke sweeter/ And I gave forgiveness I’d been denying./ An’ he said: ‘Some day, I hope you get the chance/ to live like you were dying’.’”

Tim McGraw see story on pages 8-9

THE LEAVEN • February 12, 2010

W

THE LEAVEN • february 12, 2010

Mark my words

cef centered

This love has staying power

Help make Catholic education available to all who seek it

ith Valentine’s Day almost here, maybe this story can give you some food for thought:

Years ago, a nurse took a tired, anxious serviceman to a bedside.

“Your son is here,” she said to the old man in the bed.

Heavily sedated because of a heart attack, the old man could barely make out the young uniformed Marine standing outside the oxygen tent. He reached out his hand. The Marine wrapped his toughened fingers around the old man’s limp ones, squeezing a message of love and encouragement.

The nurse brought a chair so that the Marine could sit beside the bed.

Throughout the night, he sat there in the poorly lighted ward, holding the old man’s hand and offering words of love and strength. Occasionally, the nurse suggested that he get up and rest awhile, but the Marine refused.

Whenever the nurse came into the ward, she would hear the Marine whispering gentle words to the dying man.

The man was able to say nothing in return; he only held tightly to his son’s hand.

Toward dawn, the old man died. The Marine released the hand he’d been holding and went to tell the nurse.

When she started to offer words of sympathy, the Marine interrupted her, asking, “Who was that man?”

The nurse was startled. “Why, he was your father,” she answered.

“No, he wasn’t,” he replied. “I never saw that man before in my life.”

“Then why didn’t you say something

when I took you to him?” asked the nurse.

“I knew right away there had been a mistake,” said the Marine, “but I also knew he needed his son, and his son just wasn’t here. When I realized that he was too sick to tell whether or not I was his son, knowing how much he needed me . . . well, I just stayed.”

(As with many stories found on the Internet, this one comes without the author’s name.)

This was probably a different type of love story than you might have been expecting. For me, though, it captures a way to love that all of us can practice — no matter our age or abilities or income or marital status.

And there’s no limit to the ways to live out this love, which has real staying power. Here are a few examples to consider: • Stay in touch. In the immediate days following a death, for example, there are plenty of people around. But what about a month or so later? Simply calling someone who has experienced the death of a loved one or dropping that person a little note several times in that first year of the loss can be a deep source of comfort.

• Stay grateful. At least once a week, remind yourself to thank everyone who, in the course of that day, serves

you in some way. Being grateful to the person who delivers your mail, the sacker at the grocery store, someone who holds the elevator open, or a receptionist who schedules an appointment can help you focus on the great deal of good that still exists in the world.

• Stay calm. Each day gives us plenty of reasons to fly off the handle. Cultivating patience, understanding, and a good sense of humor can defuse many stressful situations.

• Stay around to help. Ever attend a party at a friend’s home or a function at the parish and then wonder — on the way home, of course — how long it was going to take “someone” to clean up that mess? Why not be that “someone” and offer to help put things back into shape.

• Stay alert and supportive. Sadly, there’s no shortage of troubles, both large and small, that can creep in to a person’s life. Noticing someone who is struggling and lending a listening ear (or hand) can be a lifesaver. Simply knowing that someone is thinking of our welfare brings strength and hope.

• Stay . . . a little bit longer. Don’t slink out of church after Communion or during the closing hymn. Take your time leaving, introduce yourself to someone you don’t know, mingle a while before heading to the parking lot.

• Stay healthy . . . so that you can do all the things above.

Growing in communion with others is a practical effect of the holy Communion that we receive. And, as Jesus showed us through his own life, this type of love is definitely here to stay.

the gospel truth

Scripture Readings sixth week of ordinary time Feb. 14 sixth Sunday in ordinary time Jer 17: 5-8; Ps 1: 1-4, 6; 1 Cor 15: 12, 16-20; Lk 6: 17, 20-26 Feb. 15 Monday Jas 1: 1-11; Ps 119: 67-68, 71-72, 75-76; Mk 8: 11-13 Feb. 16 Tuesday Jas 1: 12-18; Ps 94: 12-13a, 14-15, 18-19; Mk 8: 14-21 Feb. 17 ash wednesday Jl 2: 12-18; Ps 51: 3-6b, 12-14, 17; 2 Cor 5:20 — 6:2; Mt 6: 1-6, 16-18 Feb. 18 Thursday Dt 30: 15-20; Ps 1: 1-4, 6; Lk 9: 22-25 Feb. 19 Friday Is 58: 1-9a; Ps 51: 3-6b, 18-19; Mt 9: 14-15 Feb. 20 Saturday Is 58: 9b-14; Ps 86: 1-6; Lk 5: 27-32

I

commentary 15

God uses us to build his kingdom

n recent months, Wall Street has attracted a lot of anger because of the large amounts of money financiers there have made.

Sunday’s Gospel begins: “Jesus It looks scandalous, compared to the came down with the Twelve and stood salaries most people make. It is paron a stretch of level ground.” ticularly troubling, since mishandling Where had Jesus been? He had of financial matters on Wall Street has spent all night in prayer on top of contributed to the financial crisis. a mountain. The next day, he had There is nothing new about disconselected 12 disciples to help him as his tent over the disparity of wages. Even apostles. Then, as Sunday’s within the same company, Gospel tells us, Jesus and one worker might grumble sixth SUNDAY IN the apostles descended to about the money that the ORDINARY TIME heal the sick and teach the worker in the next cubicle Lk 6: 17, 20-26 crowds. makes when compared to his He began his teachor her own. ings with four beatitudes, If anything, that disconfollowed by four woes, corollaries to tent was even greater at the time of Jethose beatitudes: “Blessed are you sus Christ. About half of the population who are poor”—“Woe to you who are belonged as slaves to the rest. A man rich.” The woes are the flip side of the who owed money could be sold, along beatitudes. These beatitudes and woes with his family, to satisfy the debt. The taken together enunciate a central gap between rich and poor was much theme in Luke’s Gospel: the reversal wider than it is now. of fortunes. Those who have suffered What possibly could be done to from bad luck will take their turn to close the gap? Jesus took the first step enjoy good luck, and vice versa. by coming down to be on the same This theme of reversal of fortunes level as the crowd. We see that hapappears early on in Luke’s Gospel: pening in Sunday’s Gospel reading, Lk “He has thrown down the rulers from 6:17, 20-26.

their thrones, but has lifted up the lowly. The hungry he has filled with good things, the rich he has sent away empty” (Lk 1:52, 53).

This redistribution of wealth and power will happen through God’s intervention in the world. It is not a matter of our own doing. At the same time, this action of God correlates well with the ethical teaching of Luke’s Gospel.

Luke reminds the wealthy of their responsibility toward the poor. If God has blessed the rich, they in turn are to share those blessings with the less fortunate. God will redistribute wealth and power above all through the Holy Spirit, who will open the hearts of the rich and powerful to share with others.

The Holy Spirit will inspire them to follow the teachings of Christ: “Sell your belongings and give alms. Provide money bags for yourselves that do not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven that no thief can reach nor moth destroy” (Lk 12:33).

In other words, God will not act entirely on his own, but through human beings to bring about the kingdom.

Jesus has taken the first step toward a more level playing field. The next step is up to us.

Father Mike Stubbs is pastor of St. Francis de Sales Parish in Lansing and has a degree in Scripture from Harvard University.

D

uring the last three years with CEF, I have been asked numerous times, “Why ‘Catholic’ education?” The question makes me think back to my days in Catholic schools.

I have many fond (well, mostly fond) memories of my Catholic school upbringing as follows: • Father Brophy teaching us how to serve Mass and grilling us on our Latin responses. (I am really not that old; I just remember people talking about it.)

• Sister John Joseph suggesting that I stand up straight — it really wasn’t a suggestion.

• Serving Mass at 6 a.m. at St.

John’s Hospital.

• Not believing that Sister Mary Johanna could really make a free throw!

• Father Davern helping Dad and Mom figure out a creative way to make the required tuition payments.

• Father Santa providing “after hours” growing up direction for a kid that really needed it!

All of these memories are good ones. I could go on and on.

We asked the same question of our CEF school kids and received the following responses: • We get to learn about Jesus; we

can talk about God. • The food is good. (I am not sure where this one came from.)

• We pray, sing and listen at church.

• We get to wear uniforms. (Mom sold this one.)

• My friends go to the public school; there is just something different about our school.

• The teachers are great — they are like family.

Catholic schools shape our kids’ spiritual lives and character, in addition to providing quality academics.

School administrators, along with our teaching staffs, are doing what they are doing because they have been called to do it. The ability to talk about God and our faith, plus pray in the structured educational setting that our Catholic schools provide, is like no other.

I know, I know, I am preaching to the choir. However, we still have many children that are not afforded this op-

portunity because of money! Sad, but, true!

CEF provides scholarships for children in need. Our current scholarship drive ends the last day of April. If you have not already done so, I encourage you to help with our mission of making Catholic education available to all that seek it. How can we not? It is the future of our children, and our children are an integral part of the future of the church!

This year, the Catholic Education Foundation will provide scholarships for 1,138 kids. We could help another 1,138 go to Catholic schools if we had the resources.

For more information about CEF and how you can help, please call (913) 647-0383 or go to the Web site at: www.cefks.org.

Michael Morrisey is the executive director of the Catholic Education Foundation.

simply stewardship

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They will know we are Christians by our love

hen the priest approached youngsters at the beginning of Mass a few weeks ago, he began by asking them to answer a simple question: “What does love mean?”

The children fidgeted for a moment, as little ones do when they are stumped. Then a small, spunky girl raised her hand and said, “Love is, like, when you like someone a lot.”

Simple and oh, so sweet.

But love isn’t simply a strong emotion. Or a sentiment on a card.

Although it feels good to “really like someone,” the priest reminded the

adults later in his homily, in order to truly love, “we must put love into action.”

I can think of no better way to put love into action than through a gift to the Archbishop’s Call to Share. The ministries supported by your gifts are ways to show your love.

Like many of you, members of my family have been the recipients of some of the 40-plus ministries funded by the Archbishop’s Call to Share.

My daughter and her fiancé, for example, have recently begun marriage preparation at their parish. The archdiocesan marriage and family life office, which prepares the course materials, is funded by your gifts to ACTS. My husband, a convert to the Roman Catholic Church, was guided on his intellectual and spiritual journey by priests of our archdiocese and the remarkable program called RCIA, the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, coordinated by the archdiocesan liturgy office, which also is supported by your generous gifts.

I am grateful that our gifts allow others to be Christ’s hands and feet — and my brother or sister — in the many acts of love they perform every day for those in need.

I cannot sign for the deaf and hard

of hearing, but I am grateful that ACTS funds allow our deaf ministry to break open the God’s word for those who can’t hear. I am grateful for the work of Hispanic ministry, for Catholic Charities, for the pro-life office. I am grateful that the vocation office helps to counsel young men and women responding to the Holy Spirit’s call to the priesthood or religious life.

God gives us everything we need — every blessing — so that we can share his love with others. As we grow in spiritual maturity, we learn that it is indeed Christ’s love alone that brings all gifts, and our lives, to perfection.

Lesle Knop is the executive director of stewardship and development. You can email Lesle at: lknop@archkck.org.

word of life

New movement helps renew the life of parishes

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e are experiencing today a crisis of community.

God is a communion of persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He created us in his image and likeness. We are created for communion with God and communion with our neighbors! Communion is embedded in our nature.

The effects of original sin broke our relationship with God and with each other. The image of God wounded in the Fall is restored in Christ. Christ restores our communion with God and, through his grace, we can live once again in the love with one another that God intended.

This restored community can be seen lived out in the original Christian community (see Acts 2:42). The early Christians saw their new life in Christ

affecting their relationships with each other.

Today, many of us do not experience this type of community in our lives.

For many, the parish is treated as a sort of sacramental service station where we come to get filled up every week or month or year. We do not experience the sort of community found in Acts of the Apostles.

However, the Holy Spirit is bringing about a renewal in our communal life even in the midst of the crisis of community in our world. The Holy Spirit

is raising up new movements to help renew the life of parishes and institutions. Among those that could be highlighted within our own archdiocese are Christ Renews His Parish, the Light of the World evangelization process, Saint Paul’s Outreach, and SINE. Recently, Mike and Lori Pacer, the national directors for the Light of the World evangelization process (LOTW), were in town doing ongoing training for our LOTW parishes. I had the opportunity to talk to Mike more in depth about the process LOTW uses.

He outlined three simple steps to the LOTW evangelization process: First, you start the fire through a kerygmatic retreat experience. Next, you feed the fire through the formation of small communities, where prayer, fellowship, and formation take place. Last, you spread the fire by inviting friends and neighbors into a relationship with

Christ and the community.

The middle step, where small communities are formed and people make a commitment — not only to Christ but to each other — is an essential part of the renewal the Holy Spirit is bringing about in our day. This renewal includes a deeper commitment to Christ and his teachings, but it also entails a renewal in communal life.

If you are interested in finding out more about the Light of the World evangelization process, the office of evangelization and Catholic formation will be hosting an information day at Savior Pastoral Center on Sat., June 12. You can also contact me directly at the Web site at: ecat@archkck.org.

Matt Karr is the consultant for the office of evangelization and Catholic formation of adults. He can be reached at ecat@ archkck.org.

16 LOCAL NEWS

THE LEAVEN • february 12, 2010

The Knights of Columbus, Immaculate Conception Church, Louisburg, will have fish fries from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. each Friday of Lent (except Good Friday) in the church hall (south entrance), 606 S. Elm, Louisburg.

The Church of the Nativity Knights of Columbus fish fry will be held each Friday of Lent (except Good Friday) in the parish hall at the Church of the Nativity, 119th and Mission, Leawood, from 5 - 7:30 p.m. Cost is: $9 for adults ($4 extra for shrimp); $5 for children 5-12 years old; children under 4 eat free. Family dinner price is $35 for fish and $50 for shrimp.

Holy Rosary Church, 22779 Metcalf, Wea, will serve fish and shrimp dinners on all Fridays of Lent (except Good Friday) from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Cost is: $8 for adults; $4 for children; and $13 for shrimp.

Mater Dei Parish, Topeka, will host a family fish fry in Rossiter Hall (basement of Mater Dei Assumption Church – 8th and Jackson) each Friday of Lent (except Good Friday) from 5 to 7 p.m. The cost is: $7 for adults; $4 for children ages 6-12; children 5 and under eat free.

Carryout dinners are available.

The St. Agnes Knights of Columbus, John Roe Council No. 3020, will have Lenten fish fries in the St. Agnes School cafeteria, 5130 Mission Rd., Roeland Park, from Feb. 26 to March 26. Prices range from $5 for under 12 yrs to $9.50 for adults. Cheese pizza is also available.

Sacred Heart Parish, Shawnee, will have a fish fry buffet every Friday during Lent from 5 to 7 p.m. at the church (Monticello and Johnson Dr.). Cost is: $8 for adults; $4 for children ages 4 to 12; children under 3 eat free.

Pizza is available at $1 per slice.

Holy Spirit, Overland Park, Knights of Columbus, Council No. 11661, will sponsor Lenten seafood dinners every Friday during Lent (except Good Friday) from 5 to 7 p.m. in St. Elizabeth’s Hall, 11300 W. 103rd St., Overland Park. Cost is: adults - shrimp and fish, $13; adults - fish, $8; children, ages 4 to 10, $4; children, under 4, $1.

There will be a fish dinner from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on March 26 at the St. John the Baptist auditorium, 420 Barnett, Kansas City, Kan. Tickets are: $8.50 for adults; $3.50 for children (cheese pizza option). To-go orders are available. For tickets, call (913) 378-3498.

St. Patrick Parish, 94th and State Ave., Kansas City, Kan., will have its annual Lenten fish dinners every Friday during Lent (except Good Friday) from 5 to 7 p.m.

Friday Lenten dinners will be held from 5 to 7:30 p.m. each Friday of Lent (except Good Friday) at Queen of the Holy Rosary Church, 7023 W. 71st St., Overland Park.

Cost is: $8 for adults (12 and older); $5 for children ages 5 to 11; and free for children 4 and under.

St. Michael the Archangel, Leawood, will be hosting its annual fish fry, sponsored by the Knights of Columbus, Council No. 12577, Fridays during Lent (except Good Friday) from 5 to 6:45 p.m.

Sacred Heart Knights of Columbus, Council No. 11917, will host an all-you-can-eat fish fry March 26 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Sacred Heart Church hall, 2646 S. 34th St., Kansas City Kan. Cost is: $7.50 for adults; $7 for seniors; and $6.50 for children under 12.

The Scout troops of Christ the King Parish, 5973 S.W. 25th St., Topeka, will offer Lenten dinners every Friday (except Good Friday) from 5:30 – 7 p.m. in Yadrich Hall.

Freewill donations will be accepted. Suggested donations are $7 per person; $25 per family.

The Shawnee Knights of Columbus will have boiled shrimp dinners each Friday of Lent (except Good Friday) from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Knights’ hall, 11221 Johnson Dr., Shawnee. For more information, call Mike Reichmier at (913) 927-5558, Tom Zarda Jr. at (913) 962-1093, or Rich Hathorne at (913) 248-8278.

The Knights of Columbus, Council No. 709, will have a boiled and fried shrimp/fish dinner from 4 to 8 p.m. on March 19 at St. John the Evangelist Church, 2910 Strong Ave., Kansas City, Kan. Cost is: $12 for a large shrimp dinner; $8 for a medium shrimp dinner; and $6 for a fish dinner. For carryouts, call (913) 677-2069.

Holy Trinity Parish, 601 E. Chippewa, Paola, will host all-you-can-eat fish and shrimp dinners from 5 to 7:30 p.m. each Friday of Lent (except Good Friday). Cost is: $12 for fish and shrimp; $9 for fish only; $5 for children; $30 max for families; and kids under 5 eat free.

The Didde Catholic Campus Center, 1415 Merchant Street, Emporia, will have its annual fish fry on Feb. 19, from 5 to 7 p.m.

The Baldwin/Edgerton Knights of Columbus, Council No. 11853, will have Lenten fish fries at Annunciation Church, Baldwin City, on Feb. 19 and March 12; and at Assumption Church, Edgerton, on Feb. 26 and March 19.

The suppers run from 5 to 7 p.m. Suggested donations are $6 for adults and $3 for kids under 10 .

The Holy Trinity, Lenexa, Knights of Columbus will host an all-you-can-eat shrimp dinner on March 26 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. in the parish center. Tickets are: $15 for adults; $5 for children 6-12; $8 for adult cheese pizza (higher at the door). Tickets are available after all Masses March 13-14 and 20-21 or online at: http://www.htknights. org/shrimp.htm. For more information, call Mike Stompoly at (913) 345-8015.

Knights of Columbus, Lafayette Council No. 826, will host a fish fry on Feb. 19 and Feb. 26 in the basement of All Saints Parish-St. Joseph Church, 811 Vermont, Kansas City, Kan., from 5 to 7 p.m. Cost is $7.50 for adults and $4 for children.

The Knights of Columbus, Council No. 13012, of St. Matthew Parish, Topeka, will be having fish fries on Feb. 19 and March 26 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The fish fries will be held in the parish hall. Cost is: $8 for adults; $5 for children ages 5-12; and children ages 5 and under eat free.

Greeley Knights of Columbus, Council No. 1901, will host fish dinners from 6 to 8 p.m. on Feb. 26, March 12, and March 26 at St. John the Baptist Parish hall, Greeley. Cost is $8 for adults and $4 for children 12 and under.

St. Joseph Parish, Nortonville, will host fish and shrimp dinners each Friday of Lent (except Good Friday) from 5 to 7 p.m. Cost is: $8 for ages 11 and older; $4 for ages 4 to 10; and children 3 and under eat free. For carryouts, call (913) 886-3510.

The Garnett Knights of Columbus, Council No. 1368, will be having fish fries during Lent on Feb. 19, March 5 and March 19 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Cost is $7 for adults; $3 for children 12 and under. Carryouts are available.

Sacred Heart Parish, Tonganoxie, will have Lenten fish fries every Friday during Lent (except Good Friday) from 4 to 7 p.m. Cost is: $7.50 for adults; $3 for youth ages 5 to 12; and free for children 4 and under.

The Knights of Columbus at St. Ann Parish, Prairie Village, are cooking a big shrimp blowout dinner on March 26 from 5 to 7 p.m. The all-you-can-eat dinner will be served in the school cafeteria, 7241 Mission Rd., with a cash bar available.

Holy Angels Parish, Basehor, will have a Lenten fish fry from 4 to 7:30 p.m. on March 26 at the parish hall, 15438 Leavenworth Rd., Basehor. Advance tickets are: $15 for adults; $5 for children 10 and younger. At-the-door cost is $20 for adults and $5 for children 10 and younger.

Tickets can be purchased from the Knights or by contacting Tom Steinmetz at (913) 422-7660.

Knights of Columbus, Holy Cross Church, 8311 W. 93rd St., Overland Park, will hold Lenten fish dinners on March 12 and 19 at 6 p.m. in the church hall.

Knights of Columbus, Council No. 9856, will sponsor a fish fry at Curé of Ars Church, 9401 Mission Road, Leawood, on Feb. 19, from 5-7 p.m. in the school cafeteria.

Advance ticket sales only. For tickets, go to the parish Web site at: http://www.kofccureofars.org/activities.htm Church of the Ascension, 9510 W. 127th St., Overland Park, will be hosting Lenten fish fries each Friday of Lent (except Good Friday) in the lower level of the church.

All you can eat. Cost is: $8 for ages 12 and older; $4 for children 5-11; and children 4 and under eat free. The event is hosted by the Ascension Knights of Columbus, Council No. 10932.

St. Vincent de Paul Parish, Onaga, will have fish fries on Feb. 19 and March 26 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Onaga Community Center. Cost is a freewill donation.

Friday night fish fries will be hosted by Knights of Columbus, Council No. 11126 of Good Shepherd, Shawnee, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. each Friday of Lent (except Good Friday) in Seuferling Hall at the church, 12800 W. 75th St. Cost is: $8 for adults; $7 for seniors (60+); $4 for children 12 and under; and children 5 and under eat free.