02-19-10 Vol. 31 No. 27

www.theleaven.com | Newspaper of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas | Vol. 31, No. 27 february 19, 2010

Holy Angels spreads its wings

The new Holy Angels Church in Basehor offers much more room than the previous church, nearly quadrupling the seating capacity.

Story by Kara Hansen | Photos by Susan McSpadden

Leaven photo by Susan McSpadden

Joe Brandenburg, chairperson of the Holy Angels, Basehor, pastoral council, hands over the construction documents and the key to the new church to Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann as the parish community looks on.

B

ASEHOR — For members of Holy Angels Parish here, it was love at first sight.

Parishioners walked into their new church building for the first time on Feb. 14 for a dedication Mass — and the reaction was overwhelmingly positive.

“Many parishioners expressed appreciation, awe, and wonder upon seeing the new church for the first time,” said Father Al Rockers, pastor of Holy Angels.

Though the parish’s former church building was relatively young — only

48 years old — growth in the Basehor community over the years has meant that the parish had long since outgrown its space.

“The old building seated 225 people,” said Father Rockers. “For each weekend Mass we had people seated in folding chairs down the aisles and people standing in the vestibule.”

Four Masses were celebrated each weekend at the parish in attempt to accommodate everyone who attended, but the building was still bursting at the seams. The architectural style of the former church — an A-frame —made expansion nearly impossible, and the space was not as conducive to

worship as it might have been.

“The old church did not have any kind of music space at all,” said Laura Beeves, music director at Holy Angels.

“There was really not a space for even a cantor to stand.”

The decision to actually build was slow in coming. But finally, 17 months ago, fundraising was completed and construction on the new church building began.

And parishioners couldn’t have been happier.

“This is something we have been striving for and wanting for 20 years,” said Charlie Peterson, a parishioner at

Turn to “pastor” on page 7

2 ARCHBISHOP

THE LEAVEN • february 19, 2010

THE LEAVEN • February 19, 2010

LIFE WILL BE VICTORIOUS

O

Readers urged to sign Manhattan Declaration online

ne blessing the Lord has brought forth from the tragedy of the legalization of abortion is a bringing together of Christians across denominational lines in support of the sanctity of life.

One recent expression of the ecumenical nature of the pro-life movement was the issuance on Nov. 20, 2009, of The Manhattan Declaration, signed initially by 148 Catholic, Orthodox and evangelical Protestant leaders. I was privileged to be among the original signers.

The Manhattan Declaration addresses three major societal and cultural issues: a) the sanctity of human life; b) the defense of marriage as the union of one man and one woman; and c) the protection of religious liberty.

1) The Manhattan Declaration recognizes the 1973 Supreme Court decisions that “stripped the unborn of legal protection” began a cheapening of human life which “has now metastasized” into destructive embryonic stem-cell research as well as efforts to promote assisted suicide and other forms of euthanasia.

The declaration borrows language from Pope John Paul in its discussion of the battle between a “culture of life” and a “culture of death.” It invites all Christians to defend the sanctity of each and every human life no matter age, stage of development, or physical or mental condition.

2) The Manhattan Declaration recognizes marriage as “the institution on which all other human institutions have their foundation.” An American culture, which 50 years ago was hospitable and supportive of marriage, has changed dramatically. For instance, in less than 50 years, the out-of-wedlock birth rate has risen from under 5 percent to above 40 percent. This is just one of several social indicators (e.g., the high divorce rate, the prevalence of cohabitation, etc.) of the weakening of marriage in our culture.

The declaration calls upon our cultural institutions to “stop glamorizing promiscuity and infidelity,” but instead to restore in society “a sense of the profound beauty, mystery and holiness of faithful marital love.” The movement

Archbishop Naumann’s weekly calendar

Feb. 20

Permanent deacon candidate interviews

to redefine marriage so as to include same-sex unions ignores the societal interest in supporting traditional marriage as the best possible environment for generating, educating and caring for children.

The Manhattan Declaration rejects the claim that same-sex couples have a right to be afforded the societal status and privileges of marriage: “No one has a civil right to have a non-marital relationship treated as a marriage.

Marriage is an objective reality — a covenantal union of husband and wife — that it is the duty of the law to recognize and support for the sake of justice and the common good. If it fails to do so, genuine social harm follows.

First, the religious liberty of those for whom this is a matter of conscience is jeopardized. Second, the rights of parents are abused as family life and sex education programs in schools are used to teach children that an enlightened understanding recognizes as ‘marriages’ sexual partnerships that many parents believe are intrinsically non-marital and immoral. Third, the common good of civil society is damaged when the law itself, in its critical pedagogical function, becomes a tool for eroding a sound understanding of marriage on which the flourishing of the marriage culture in any society vitally depends. Sadly, we are today far from having a thriving marriage culture. But if we are to begin the critically important process of reforming our laws and mores to rebuild such a culture, the last thing we can afford to do is to re-define marriage in such a way as to embody in our laws a false proclamation about what marriage is.”

3) The Manhattan Declaration upholds religious freedom as the right of every human being. The importance of this issue was illustrated in the recent efforts by Congress to draft health care reform legislation. Neither bill passed by the House of Representatives nor the version passed by the Senate provided adequate conscience protections for individuals or institutions.

Moreover, in recent years, there

Mass and installation of Father Jim Ludwikoski as pastor of Good Shepherd, Shawnee

Feb. 21

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

7 p.m. Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults — Sacred Heart, Shawnee

Feb. 22

Adoration and Benediction — St. James Academy, Lenexa Visit correction center — Topeka Confirmation — Christ the King, Topeka

Feb. 23

Feb. 25

Adoration and Benediction — Bishop Miege High School, Roeland Park Adoration and benediction — St. Thomas Aquinas High School, Overland Park Confirmation — Queen of the Holy Rosary, Overland Park

Feb. 27 8:30 a.m. Mass and speech for KEXS Radio Lenten conference — Ascension Adoration and Benediction for Men Under Construction — St. James Academy

Feb. 28

Mass, Jr. High Youth — Prairie Star Ranch 3 p.m. Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults — St. Matthew, Topeka

Archbishop Keleher’s weekly calendar

Feb. 21 Confirmation — St. Matthew, Topeka

Catholic Foundation of Northeast Kansas board meeting

Feb. 21-24

The Shepherd’s Voice recording High school boards orientation

Feb. 27 Mass — Cathedral of St. Peter, Kansas City, Kan.

Feb. 24

Feb. 28

St. Lawrence Campus Center meeting Confirmation — St. Mary/St. Anthony, St. John the Baptist, Kansas City, Kan.

are many examples of the erosion of religious liberty in the United States as well as in other Western nations. For example, Catholic Charities in Massachusetts was forced to discontinue its placement of orphaned children, rather than being forced to comply with the mandate to place some children with same-sex couples in violation of Catholic moral teaching. In other countries, Christian clergy have been prosecuted for preaching and teaching the 2,000year understanding that homosexual activity is immoral.

The Manhattan Declaration concludes: “Because we honor justice and the common good, we will not comply with any edict that purports to compel our institutions to participate in abortions, embryo-destructive research, assisted suicide and euthanasia, or any other anti-life act; nor will we bend to any rule purporting to force us to bless immoral sexual partnerships, treat

Bishops’ prayer group — Portland, Ore.

Confirmation — Christ the King, Kansas City, Kan.

them as marriages or the equivalent, or refrain from proclaiming the truth, as we know it, about morality and immorality and marriage and the family. We will fully and ungrudgingly render to Caesar what is Caesar’s. But under no circumstances will we render to Caesar what is God’s.”

Since the Manhattan Declaration was issued in November, more than 300,000 Americans have signed. Our hope is to have more than 1 million signatures by its first anniversary in November 2010.

If you would like to read and study the Manhattan Declaration, go to the Web site at: www.ManhattanDeclaration.org. I encourage every member of the Archdiocese to sign the Manhattan Declaration, which can be done online.

It is one small, but important, way in which you can join the effort to reclaim our culture.

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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

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SECOND FRONT PAGE 3

Saying no to the death penalty Couple opposes death penalty even after the murder of their daughter

By Steve Johnson

Special to The Leaven ATCHISON — When their daughter moved to Philadelphia to pursue a doctoral degree, Sylvester and Vicki Schieber were no different than any other parents: They worried. They worried about her housing; they worried about her health. And they worried about her safety in the big city.

Sadly, their worst fear was realized in 1998 when their daughter was murdered.

Shannon Schieber died at the hands of the so-called “Center City Rapist.”

In the months and years that followed, the family dealt with the horrific death of a loved one and endured the investigation, capture, trial and conviction of the killer more than four years later.

In a riveting presentation at Benedictine College in Atchison on Feb. 2, the Schiebers told their story.

“I’m going to share with you tonight the most difficult test my husband and I have ever had to take,” Vicki said. And she was talking about more than dealing with the loss of a child. She was talking about dealing with the killer.

After the initial shock had faded, things took an unusual turn. Evidence mounted and police in Pennsylvania and Colorado began to connect the facts associated with a dozen other cases. A suspect came to light. As authorities closed in, the couple began to think more about the possible charge — capital murder. The district attorney in Philadelphia had made it clear she would seek the death penalty in the case, and the Schiebers were not comfortable with that. The next few weeks would again challenge their faith and test their resolve.

“The prosecuting attorney had gone out and said she didn’t care what the Schiebers’ position was; the appropriate penalty here was the death penalty,” said Sylvester. “The vast majority of people probably would not have stood up to that, but we were not about to be party to another killing.”

The prosecutors pressured the couple to go along with the death penalty for Shannon’s killer, a situation Sylvester suspects most victims’ families are subjected to.

The Schiebers, however, chose to stick to their values, to the stand by their Catholic belief in the sanctity of life and to actually work with the defense attorneys to help save the life of their daughter’s killer.

“If you really believe that life is sacred, then you don’t believe that life is sacred because somebody’s good,” said Sylvester. “You believe that life is sacred because life is sacred. And if that is your fundamental principle, then you have to stand by that principle even when it’s difficult — or [else] it’s not your principle.”

Ultimately, the murderer received several life sentences without the possibility of parole. The entire trial and sentencing process lasted five weeks, mer-

Vicki and Sylvester Schieber speak to students at Benedictine College in Atchison about the murder of their daughter Shannon. Despite pressure from the prosecuting attorney, the Schiebers refused to support the attorney’s request for the death penalty. cifully brief compared to the average 17 years of appeals and challenges associated with pursuing a death sentence.

The Schiebers felt they made the right decision.

“The trial, the constant hearings, and the seething hatred all add up to a real ordeal for the families of the victims,” said Sylvester. “The anger can consume you. We’ve seen it ruin people’s lives — ruin their health, ruin their marriages.”

“Instead of dealing with this for another 17 years, we were done with it in five weeks,” Sylvester continued.

“We have peace.

We haven’t got any anger left, and I haven’t lost a night’s sleep over him since they put him away.”

In addition to their Catholic faith, which they said taught them that life is sacred and Sylvester Schieber hatred is a sin, the strain on the victim’s family is one of the key reasons the Schiebers have since become heavily involved in the move to abolish the death penalty across the country. Vicki has even quit her job to become involved in the movement full time.

“People really don’t understand the system and what it does to families,” she said. “What we went through in the criminal justice system, we call being re-victimized.”

The couple also took the time to explain their position as it relates to the Catholic faith and the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

“The Catholic bishops of the United States have spoken clearly and strongly against the use of the death penalty,” Vicki said. “They explained that their

“If you really believe that life is sacred, then you don’t believe that life is sacred because somebody’s good. You believe that life is sacred because life is sacred.

opposition is based on more than the concern for what it does to the guilty, but for what it does to all of us as a society.”

Sylvester went on to explain that the catechism does allow for capital punishment, but only if it is necessary and no bloodless alternative is available.

“If you read the modern-day catechism, it’s pretty unequivocal,” he said.

“It says that there are, in fact, situations where, within a society, when you cannot bring a criminal under control, like a war-torn society where you don’t know what the institutions are going to be tomorrow. In those kinds of instances, the death penalty is justifiable. But in a modern-day society where these people can be held in a controlled environment so they are no longer a danger to the people in that society, you cannot justify the death penalty.”

To date, Vicki has helped grass-roots organizations eliminate the death penalty in New Mexico and New Jersey. Her visit to Benedictine College coincided with her efforts in Kansas toward the same end.

On Jan. 29, the Friday before their presentation, the Schiebers were pleased to get the news that the Judiciary Committee of the Kansas Senate had advanced SB 375, legislation that would eliminate capital punishment within the state and replace it with life in prison without parole. The bill will now come up for debate on the Senate floor and could then go to the House for consideration.

“We spoke to several senators, and we have hope,” Vicki said. “They love to hear from their constituents, and they listen. You really can make a difference.

Right now we have 15 states that do not have the death penalty on their books.

Kansas can be number 16.”

The Catechism of the Catholic Church on capital punishment 2266) The State’s effort to contain the spread of behaviors injurious to human rights and the fundamental rules of civil coexistence corresponds to the requirement of watching over the common good. Legitimate public authority has the right and duty to inflict penalties commensurate with the gravity of the crime. The primary scope of the penalty is to redress the disorder caused by the offense.

When his punishment is voluntarily accepted by the offender, it takes on the value of expiation. Moreover, punishment, in addition to preserving public order and the safety of persons, has a medicinal scope: as far as possible it should contribute to the correction of the offender.

2267) The traditional teaching of the Church does not exclude, presupposing full ascertainment of the identity and responsibility of the offender, recourse to the death penalty, when this is the only practicable way to defend the lives of human beings effectively against the aggressor. If, instead, bloodless means are sufficient to defend against the aggressor and to protect the safety of persons, public authority should limit itself to such means, because they better correspond to the concrete conditions of the common good and are more in conformity to the dignity of the human person.

4 LOCAL NEWS

THE LEAVEN • february 19, 2010

THE LEAVEN • february 19, 2010

Bishops call Catholics to witness to God’s plan for marriage

By Kevin Kelly

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — OK, so St. Valentine’s Day is another Catholic feast co-opted by secular society.

But to some 200 couples, it was more than cards, candy and flowers. They came to the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Kansas City, Mo., on Feb. 14, many of them with their children small and grown, to renew their vows at a World Marriage Day Mass concelebrated by Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann and Kansas City-St. Joseph Bishop Robert Finn.

The Mass also marked the 40th anniversary of Worldwide Marriage Encounter, a Catholic movement to strengthen marriages that offers four weekend retreats a year for couples in the Kansas City area.

In his homily, Bishop Finn told the couples gathered that they were the bedrock of society.

“God has done great work in calling you and holding you together, blessing many of you with children, calling all of you to be living signs of Jesus Christ’s love for his bride, the church,” he said.

“You are sacraments for us and for the world,” the bishop continued. “You make Jesus Christ present — full of love and life. Thanks be to God for his call and for your response which makes his grace possible.”

Today, more than ever, the world needs “outspoken witnesses of God’s plan for marriage,” Bishop Finn said.

“The lifelong mutual and exclusive fidelity of wife and husband, open to children, is the foundation of our whole human society,” he said.

“Family is the human core of the church,” he continued. “Your love is an image of the life and love of the Most Holy Trinity. There are other vocations but, clearly, priests and religious come from families where faith is taught and nurtured.”

Bishop Finn said God’s plan for marriage is clear.

“It is clear in the order of nature, in the physical and psychological complementarity of male and female, man and woman,” he said. “It is clear in the revelation of God’s holy and eternal word in the Old and New Testament, and it has been and must always be upheld in the law of our society.”

Bishop Finn noted that a lifelong

College Connection: Serrans expand outreach to college students

By Joe Bollig

Catholic Key Associate Editor

Leaven staff

Catholic Key photo by Kevin Kelly

Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann concelebrates the World Marriage Day Mass with Bishop Robert Finn on Feb. 14 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Kansas City, Mo. The Mass also marked the 40th anniversary of Worldwide Marriage Encounter. More than 200 couples from both dioceses attended the event. could join together for the celebration others’ shortcomings and have acknowledged our own failings, we dis- of marriage.

“What a blessing that Archbishop cover more and more how our married friendship is meant to rest in Jesus Naumann and I have been able to do so many things together as neighboring Christ,” he said.

Bishop Finn noted that many of the dioceses. I know I speak for him when married couples in attendance at the I say it is a beautiful sight to behold you Mass had already enriched their mar- as couples and families,” he said.

“Throughout our two dioceses, we riages through the Marriage Encounter have a wonderful opportunity to thank experience.

God for holy matrimony, the vocation It was an experience he, too, was familiar with, dating back to his first as- and sacrament that enriches the world,” signment as a priest working with mar- Bishop Finn said. “We entrust our individual families and the institutions of ried couples.

“You know the process. We would marriage and family to Mary and Joseph, God’s chosen pillars for the fampray, write and share our responses, have a good talk, and usually share a ily, and the husband and wife to whom Bishop Robert Finn snack,” he said. he chose to entrust his eternal Son, the “I am convinced that my participa- savior of the world.”

“With their help and prayers, may all commitment isn’t easy. But a marriage tion was a formative grace of my priesthood,” Bishop Finn said. “I received so we do in fulfillment of authentic marand family with Christ at the center riage give God glory and build up his much.” grows stronger through the struggles. kingdom,” Bishop Finn said.

Bishop Finn also expressed gratitude “Particularly after love has been testFollowing the homily, the couples reed and matured, we come to see its su- to Archbishop Naumann that the Diopernatural breadth and depth,” he said. cese of Kansas City-St. Joseph and the newed simple vows.

“When we have experienced each Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas

“Family is the human core of the church. Your love is an image of the life and love of the Most Holy Trinity. There are other vocations but, clearly, priests and religious come from families where faith is taught and nurtured.”

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LOCAL NEWS 5

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — This fall, thousands of incoming college freshman will experience one of the greatest transitions of their lives: The Big Disconnect.

Goodbye to life with Mom and Dad. Hello to life as an independent young adult.

Too often, one of the things that gets “disconnected” or lost in the breathless rush is their Catholic faith, and members of the Serra Clubs of the archdiocese want to do something about that.

This year SerraUSA — an organization dedicated to fostering vocations to the priesthood and religious life — is expanding its College Connection program. This national program, now in its second year, seeks to link incoming college freshmen with a local parish or nearby Catholic college ministry.

There are four Serra Clubs in the archdiocese: one each in Kansas City, Kan., Johnson County, Topeka and Lawrence.

By far, the most important reason for hooking a young college student up with the campus ministry program at his or her college or university is in order to foster the individual’s faith. But there are other reasons, too.

Involvement in campus ministry produces many benefits to individuals and the church as a whole, according to a March 2002 report by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate in Washington, D.C. CARA found that campus ministry participants were more likely to attend Mass regularly, to be involved in religious activities outside of Mass, and to donate money to the church. They were also more likely to encourage someone to pursue a vocation to the priesthood or religious life. Young men were more likely to give consideration to becoming a priest or Brother.

Last year saw the inaugural launch of the College Connection program, and Serra Club members sent more than 15,000 information packets to collegebound freshmen, as well as rosters of the new students’ names to the relevant campus ministry programs.

This year, the Serrans are making an even greater push, according to Bill McHale, a member of Holy Cross Parish in Overland Park, and the KCK Serra Club.

Last spring, archdiocesan Serrans sent College Connection letters to some

Kids away from home for the first time in their lives often put their faith on the back burner. College Connection helps keep it in the forefront by connecting students with a local church or their college’s campus ministry program.

700 high school graduates, the vast majority of whom were graduates of Catholic high schools.

“This led [archdiocesan Serrans] to be awarded a certificate of excellence in promoting the College Connection program in 2009,” said McHale.

This year, local Serrans plan to expand their reach beyond the Catholic schools to include public high schools as well, and send out approximately 1,200 three-page information packages.

“Approximately 70 percent of the college students who go to [the] seminary came from public schools,” said McHale. “That’s one of the reasons we are concentrating on the public school system.”

Research from CARA indicates that if campus ministries could reach just 10 percent more of the approximately five million Catholic college students on campus each year, that would translate into 500,000 committed Catholic lead-

ers entering their parishes over a fouryear period, according to McHale.

In addition to spearheading the effort for the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, McHale is responsible for overseeing the College Connection in a four-state area comprised of Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas, as well as coordinating the 12 other area directors.

Serrans work with Catholic high schools and parish vocation committees to build a database of graduating high school seniors who will attend college the coming fall. Once a student has selected the college or university he or she will attend, a letter will be generated that will provide information about Catholic campus ministries at the college and nearby parishes.

“There are three types of letters that will be sent out,” said McHale. “There is a ‘generic’ letter, a letter that can be personalized with an extra paragraph, and a third letter [that can be sent] by the pastor, vocations director or bishop.”

Serrans will also apply a personal touch, when possible, and will hand-deliver them at baccalaureates and graduation ceremonies.

Serrans are not relying entirely on the high school contact, however, and instead are working the system from both ends. Not only will incoming freshmen receive information about the campus ministries, but the campus ministries are given the information they need to identify and contact incoming Catholic freshmen. Serrans will also collaborate with the National Evangelization Teams ministry in its efforts to provide follow-up after the students arrive on campus.

“We think the NET group will be very instrumental in helping us implement this thing and help us track it,” said McHale.

The College Connection program has the strong support of Kathy O’Hara, superintendent of archdiocesan schools; Father Mitchel Zimmerman, archdiocesan director of vocations; and Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann.

“I feel the Catholic College Connection program is one way Serrans can help increase the number of future [seminary] candidates on a yearly basis,” said Archbishop Naumann in a Jan. 14 letter to pastors. “It will also help with my goal to ordain an average of four priests annually in order to . . . better care for the needs of the people of the archdiocese.”

6 LOCAL NEWS

THE LEAVEN • february 19, 2010

THE LEAVEN • february 19, 2010

Special collection has a long history in the church

Call to Share celebrates the diversity of our faith

A

t a meeting of the Hispanic ministry office of the archdiocese, one of the members of the group quoted Archbishop Oscar Romero of San Salvador who was assassinated on March 24, 1980, while celebrating Mass.

“We cannot do everything, and there is a sense of liberation in realizing that.

This enables us to do something and to do it well,” Archbishop Romero said.

These words have helped guide Father Patrick Murphy, of the Missionaries of St. Charles, Scalabrinians, who serves as the animator of Hispanic ministry for the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas.

Father Pat’s office is funded by the Archbishop’s Call to Share. Though the ministry is limited by available resources relative to needs, Father Pat attempts to be successful by offering effective, meaningful programs. When asked what the contributions to the appeal make possible, Father Pat highlighted a few of the more visible outcomes for The Leaven’s readers: • We organize four evangelization retreats for Hispanic Catholics, in which the entire family can attend. After these retreats, people are invited to attend a six-week Discipleship Formation program and then possibly join a small evangelization community that meets weekly. We currently have 250 people living in 29 evangelization communities throughout the archdiocese. ACTS is helping us form new disciples.

• Thanks to the support we received from ACTS, we were able to organize three door-to-door evangelization missions in the areas of Topeka, Wyandotte and Johnson counties. Our teams visited over 750 families to share with them the good news of Jesus Christ.

The office of Hispanic ministry serves as a resource to the growing Hispanic population in the area, providing Spanish-language Masses, retreats and formation in the faith.

• Thanks to support from ACTS, we have had two evangelization retreats for youth and on Feb. 12-14 we offered a new retreat, called “True Love Waits,” that gave 40 teens the opportunity learn why chastity is worth living for.

The next two evangelization retreats are: March 19-21 at Blessed Sacrament Parish in Kansas City, Kan., and March 26-28 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Topeka.

• Acts has helped us offer a threeyear faith formation program that prepares a group of 22 people to become leaders for the new evangelization.

• We hope in the next year, with the support of ACTS, to set up a Pastoral Biblical Institute that will teach the members of the Hispanic community the beauty and the importance of the Bible as a tool that can help them in their daily life “Our Hispanic ministry is an important part of who we are as church,

Editor’s note: This is the last in a series of articles about how the Archbishop’s Call to Share gifts are put to practical and meaningful uses. For more information, visit the Web site at: www.calltoshare.org. a faith community rich with cultural diversity,” said Lesle Knop, executive director of the archdiocesan office of stewardship and development.

“As Christian stewards, we are caretakers of God’s many gifts to us,” she said. “Our challenge is to prayerfully consider how we are using our resources to help everyone in our parish family.

A gift to the Archbishop’s Call to Share enables us to make a gift that benefits many with one single gift.”

To reach Father Pat and the office of Hispanic ministry, call (913) 281-6644 or send an e-mail to: hispanic@archkck. org.

My Dear Friends in Christ, For over 125 years, dioceses across the country have collaborated in evangelizing Native American and African-American people in the United States through the national Black and Indian Mission Collection.

The tradition continues to this day in which many churches and schools in the Native and African American communities are supported in their evangelization efforts through grants to continue their programs and pastoral activities. In our own archdiocese, funds have gone to promote the Gospel to young Native Americans who attend Haskell Indian University in Lawrence and outreach in the urban communities of northeast Kansas City, Kan. Nationally, funds go to support and strengthen evangelization programs among the Black, American Indian, Eskimo, and Aleute communities of the United States.

Please join me as we Catholics carry out our Lord’s great commission to “go out and make disciples of all the nations” (Mt 28:19) by supporting the national Black and Indian Mission Collection which will be taken up Sun., Feb. 21.

Together, we can make a difference in the faith lives of our Black and Indian brothers and sisters when we support the national collection.

Sincerely yours in Jesus, the Lord of Life,

+ Joseph F. Naumann Archbishop of Kansas City in Kansas

LOCAL NEWS 7

Pastor finds new church light-filled, warm and sacred Continued from page 1 Holy Angels and a member of the building committee.

The new Holy Angels church building seats 1,000 people and has significantly more space than the former structure.

“It’s very open, light-filled, and has an uplifting ceiling,” said Father Rockers. “It seems very sacred and warm and has a welcoming flavor to it.”

The dedication Mass was celebrated

by Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann, with Father Rockers and several other priests of the archdiocese concelebrating. A choir made up of 40 parishioners was put together specifically for the dedication. Beeves said she felt the experience would set the tone for music ministry at future Masses in the new building.

“We had been practicing for the past month, and the choir just sounded amazing. I had several people come up afterward who wanted to know who we had hired in to sing for the dedication,” said Beeves.

“Since this is the first time we have ever had any kind of music space at all,” she continued. “I would anticipate members are going to want to be more involved. People seem really enthused and interested, and really wanting to participate.”

A celebratory reception followed the dedication Mass. The new church will allow for the parish to go from offering

four weekend Masses to three, which will still provide ample elbow room for those attending.

“It’s a great improvement over the old space,” said Peterson. “There’s plenty of room for us and anyone else who wants to come.”

Father Rockers agreed.

“I’m most looking forward to having more space, so people coming to Mass will not have to be crowded,” he said.

“It’s a much more welcoming space for everybody. That’s a strong plus for the new building.”

The former church will still be utilized by the parish for daily Mass and as an adoration chapel.

Peterson said the process of building a new church was as meaningful to the parish members as the final result.

“We’re a close, friendly group and everyone did their share and part in getting this done,” he said. “If people had not done that, this new church would not have happened.”

Beeves agreed.

“This was a real togetherness project that was successful, and everyone benefited from it,” said Beeves. “Everyone really came together to work with Father Al on this.”

“It’s been a great three-year project, and it’s been good for the parish working together and contributing together,” agreed Father Rockers. “Hopefully this event will be in the minds of this generation and the next for years to come.”

Father Al Rockers, pastor of Holy Angels Parish in Basehor, lights the candles in the new church at the dedication ceremony on Feb. 14.

Join Us for the 14th Annual Healing Mass and Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick.

10 a.m. on Saturday, March 6, 2010 at Curé of Ars Church, 94th and Mission Road, Leawood, Kansas

Concelebrated by Archbishop Joseph Naumann, Bishop Robert Finn, Archbishop Emeritus James Keleher and Bishop Emeritus Raymond Boland.

The anointing of the sick in both dioceses will be administered to Catholics whose health is seriously impaired by illness or old age. All are invited to participate. The ceremony will follow the Lourdes pilgrimage format.

Among those who may be anointed, the ritual mentions, in particular:

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• Those undergoing a surgery whenever serious illness is the reason • Elderly people when they have become noticeably weakened even if no serious illness is present • Sick children if they have sufficient use of reason to be strengthened by the sacrament We are asking those who wish to receive the sacrament at Mass, to register on the form below, or call 913-432-5266 and 913-649-3260 and leave your name. Name cards are made for those receiving the sacrament.

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‘Write amazing stories’

Kristen Strathman Holy Trinity kindergartener

Danelle Booth

Holy Trinity kindergartener

Chase Ellis

Holy Trinity kindergartener

Mason Walters

Holy Trinity kindergartener

Mary Kate Ellzey

Holy Trinity kindergartener

The Leaven through the eyes of our youngest readers

I

Story by Joe Bollig | Photos by Elaina Cochran

t’s true. The world really does look different through the eyes of little children.

To help the journalists here at The Leaven celebrate Catholic Press Month — and to find out how they can better serve the young church — senior reporter Joe Bollig decided to go to the experts. With the help of their principals and teachers, he consulted a group of kindergartners from Holy Trinity Parish in Lenexa and first-graders from Good Shepherd Parish in Shawnee on topics large and small.

He asked them a lot of questions — and got a lot of interesting answers. We hope you’ll enjoy them as much as we did.

Media savvy

It probably won’t surprise you to learn that these young students prefer the masters — like Dr. Seuss — over the journalists here at the official newspaper of the archdiocese.

What do they like read about? Ninjas, said Carson Conner; Star Wars, said Thomas Sojka; and horses, said Lilli Tyler.

“I like to read books about mammals, because you get to see all different types of mammals,” said Lilli Tyler.

Regrettably, The Leaven’s coverage of ninjas and horses has been a bit skimpy of late. Mammal coverage is much better.

The Leaven does have a readership in their families, however — usually their parents and grandparents. And what do they say about it?

“That [The Leaven] has really great stories about people, and you can learn about those people,” said Kristen Strathman.

But always do better

Julie Johnson suggested that The Leaven write “holy stories,” and Carson Conner suggested more stories about Jesus. Mason Walters suggested a follow-up story on Noah’s ark. One child said a story about their dog Lizzy was warranted.

But it was another student whose name Joe didn’t catch, that put it best.

“Write amazing stories,” was all he said.

Several students said The Leaven stories should include reminders to read the Bible and go to Mass on time.

After reviewing a couple of re-

cent issues featuring the Haiti earthquake and Cardinal Christoph Schönborn’s visit, however, they had only one question.

Could you fight with the snowballs at the Catholic Charities gala?

Saints preserve us

The official patron of the Catholic press is St. Francis de Sales.

But the students offered substitutes that included Saint Christopher, St. James, St. Elizabeth, and the heretofore-unknown St. Jack.

“I don’t know,” said Chase Ellis, when he was asked for suggestions.

“St. Anthony? Because he finds things?”

Saint Anthony as the patron of investigative reporting? It just might fit.

Thomas Sojka suggested St. Thomas Aquinas, “because he writes and you write.” And Julie Johnson offered St. Patrick, “because if it’s really hard, he knows how to do tough stuff.”

Catholics all over

The students observed that the Catholic Church is really, really big.

“It’s bigger than my house,” said Danielle Booth.

“It’s bigger than two houses,” said Mary Kate Ellzey.

But it was Chase Ellis who really captured the magnitude of the Roman Catholic Church best.

“It’s bigger than a long-necked dinosaur,” he announced definitively.

Things got a little iffy when the discussion moved in another direction, however.

The students weren’t sure, for example, whether there were any Catholics in Canada, but they were pretty sure there were at least some

Andrew Evans

Holy Trinity kindergartener

in places like Mexico, France and Argentina.

And there is at least one Catholic at the North Pole, they decided.

“I think Santa Claus could be Catholic,” said Lilli Tyler Carson Conner agreed.

“Because he goes into this cave made of ice and talks with God,” he said.

Megan Ward

Holy Trinity kindergartener

Universal faith

Our panel of experts

But the students were quite certain of one thing: Wherever they lived, Catholics were Catholics the world over.

Catholics in other countries pray just like we do, for example, said the students. They pray for the poor, and to be good, and for sick members of their family. And, in so many words, they thank God for the Incarnation and the Resurrection.

“Like, ‘Thank you for giving God,’” said Mason Walters. “When it’s Easter, [Jesus] comes up from the place. When it’s Easter, he rose again and came down from heaven.”

Because prayer is so important to Catholics, the two groups of students ended the focus group sessions with prayer.

Not surprisingly, both groups have the Sign of the Cross down pat. But while the first-graders opted to end with the Our Father, the kindergartners deployed their full prayer arsenal right then and there: The Appleseed Grace, the traditional grace before meals, the bedtime Guardian Angel Prayer, and a rousing version of “Alleluia.”

Gwyneth Vogel

Good Shepherd first-grader

Marching orders

The next editorial meeting at The Leaven might be interesting as the staff considers the “Catholic angle” on ninjas, horses and possibly galactic invaders.

More likely, however, our writers and editors will be searching our parishes, schools, ministries, services and religious orders for stories of how Catholics are helping to build the kingdom of God right here in the archdiocese.

That will yield, we hope, exactly what we need to carry out the vital mission the young church tasked us with: “Write amazing stories.”

Lilli Tyler

Good Shepherd first-grader

Thomas Sojka

Good Shepherd first-grader

Julie Johnson

Good Shepherd first-grader

Max Heller

Good Shepherd first-grader

Carson Connor

Good Shepherd first-grader

10 NATION

THE LEAVEN • february 19, 2010

Signs of hope, challenges among younger Catholics WASHINGTON (CNS) — American Catholic adults under 30 share the commitment of older generations to philanthropy and volunteerism, but are more likely to believe that morals “are relative,” according to a new survey commissioned by the Knights of Columbus. The Marist College Institute for Public Opinion in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., conducted the survey Dec. 23-Jan. 4 among 2,243 Americans, including an oversample of 1,006 “millennials” — those 18 to 29. The survey asked a wide range of questions about ideology, religious practices and beliefs, life goals and feelings about the nation’s future, comparing the answers across generations and among Catholics in general, practicing Catholics who attend services at least once a month and Americans in general. The majority of Americans (57 percent), millennials (58 percent), American Catholics (61 percent) and Catholic millennials (66 percent) said abortion was morally wrong, while more than half or nearly half of each group said gambling was not a moral issue. The highest degree of unanimity was on claiming someone else’s work as your own — with more than 90 percent of each group saying it was morally wrong — and on marital infidelity, judged morally wrong by percentages ranging from 87 percent (Catholic millennials) to 90 percent (Americans in general).

New gauges being developed to measure domestic poverty WASHINGTON (CNS) — While there is considerable agreement that the longstanding federal government definition of domestic poverty is outdated, little has been done to develop new measures to gauge it. Candy Hill, senior vice president of Catholic Charities USA, said the original poverty measure depended in large part on the cost of food. Today, though, one also must take into account the cost of housing and health care, as well as the impact of other societal factors on American adults’ earning power and wealth accumulation. For instance, when Catholic Charities began an anti-poverty campaign in 2007, it issued a paper outlining the breadth of poverty. Soon after, though, it issued a second document on race, Hill said, “because we can’t talk about poverty in the United States unless we talk about race.”

THE LEAVEN • february 19, 2010

Salvadoran bishops back Romero’s sainthood

Saints’ win another sign of hope for city

By Peter Finney Jr. Catholic News Service

NEW ORLEANS (CNS) — New Orleans Archbishop Gregory M. Aymond said the New Orleans Saints’ win in Super Bowl XLIV win was “not just a football victory.”

“I think it’s another sign of hope in that our rebuilding is not just a possibility — it’s a reality,” the New Orleans native said after the underdog Saints — playing in their first Super Bowl — won the game with a 31-17 comeback victory over the Indianapolis Colts.

“The spirit of the city has changed,” he added. “It’s another sign that God is faithful.”

Archbishop Aymond celebrated a Mass Feb. 7 for New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson and his wife, Gayle, and relatives, friends and team officials at their Miami hotel before the Super Bowl.

“All week long, people have been asking me, ‘Who will win the Super Bowl?’” the archbishop told the 300-member congregation, all dressed in Saints’ black and gold.

“And it’s obvious, of course. History gives us a glimpse as to the answer,” he said. “We know historically that many of the saints of old went into battle for the faith. And when they did so, they rode on colts. In the battle, the colts got wounded, but the saints had victory in eternal life. So, the Saints will win.”

Those at the Mass included retired New Orleans Archbishop Philip M. Hannan, 96, two Dominican Sisters from St. Louis Cathedral Academy in New Orleans and several other clergy and religious invited to the game by Benson.

Archbishop Aymond said he was thrilled that his prediction had come true.

“Wow, what a great gift to the Saints, to Mr. Benson and to the city,” Archbishop Aymond said. “We’re just so grateful that they made us very proud. All we can say is, ‘Bless you, boys. Bless you for representing our city very well.’”

August 17-29, 2010

Shades of Ireland

with Father Pat Sullivan. A castle stay, Irish music, a panoramic tour including Northern Ireland and roundtrip Kansas City Airport transfers to/from your front door. $3749 per person including Kansas City airfare.

October 2 – 9, 2010

Fall Foliage of Canada and New England

with Father Tom Dolezal. 7 night cruise onboard the lovely NCL Spirit from Quebec City to Boston. Oceanview cabin, roundtrip Kansas City airfare, and all taxes -$1678.42 per person based on double occupancy.

Chocolate covered strawberries await you in your cabin and a bottle of wine with dinner.

(CNS photo/Robert Galbraith, Reuters)

CASE WORKER COUNSELS UNEMPLOYED — Case worker Jessica Yon discusses eligibility for unemployed people at a jobs center in San Francisco Feb. 4. Last month’s unemployment rate fell to 9.7 percent from 10 percent in December. Employers cut 20,000 jobs in January, according to the Labor Department.

Health, immigration reform top White House priority list

By Patricia Zapor

Catholic News Service WASHINGTON (CNS) — A White House adviser told people at the Catholic Social Ministry Gathering Feb. 8 that the Obama administration remains committed to passing health care and immigration legislation, despite political setbacks in Congress.

Cecilia Munoz, director of intergovernmental affairs at the White House, told more than 200 social ministry workers who made it to Washington despite weather-related travel problems that it will take continued hard work by the faith community to pass health care reform and new immigration policies.

Munoz, who started her career working for Catholic Charities in Chicago on immigrant legalization, said the lessons learned in that job continue to shape her approach in the administration.

Working to improve the world “one person, one family, one community at a time” as she learned from the church is still a solid way to approach public policy, she said.

In a teleconference two days later, a

panel of religious leaders and members of Congress described just such an approach toward rallying the religious community to push for immigration reform.

Within the next month more than a million postcards will be delivered to members of Congress, sent by people reached through their churches, synagogues, mosques and other religious communities.

Munoz said at the ministry conference that health reform and immigration reform are both important parts of the administration’s focus on the economy, because of the high costs implicit in continuing current health and immigration policies.

“If our goal is economic recovery, it’s hard to imagine setting up that on top of a broken immigration system,” Munoz said. “Our goal is to take a system nobody believes is working and make sure we have one that is functional.”

Advocacy for immigration reform, Munoz acknowledged “inspires a bit of emotion . . . yelling.”

“That is no reason to back down,” she urged conference participants. “But it’s a reason to lean forward. You have a particular role to play in describing what you see and hear [from the people you serve].”

K E AT I N G

CNS photo/Paul Haring

PEOPLE JOIN PROCESSION TO ST. PETER’S — People in wheelchairs join a procession to St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican Feb. 11 for Mass marking World Day of the Sick and the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. Relics of St. Bernadette Soubirous were carried into the basilica for the service.

Religions see human suffering as part of life’s mystery

By Sarah Delaney

Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The fact that human beings must endure illness, grow old and experience pain in body and spirit is a mystery that all the major religions seek to understand, said speakers at a Vatican conference.

Representatives of various faiths who gathered at the Vatican Feb. 9 to discuss the nature of illness and the care of the sick also agreed that faith and spirituality help people find meaning in human suffering and that faith offers a comfort that physical or medical solutions cannot provide.

The approach to suffering and pain in the Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu and Islamic traditions was explored at a conference of the Pontifical Council for Health Care Workers.

Archbishop Zygmunt Zimowski, president of the council, said, “It is clear that suffering and pain is always a mystery, and every religion seeks to understand why we must suffer.”

For Christians, the answer lies in try-

ing to understand the suffering and sacrifice of Jesus Christ, said Archbishop Zimowski and other Vatican leaders.

Rabbi Gianfranco Di Segni, a biologist and a professor at Rome’s rabbinical college, said that in Jewish teaching the reason for suffering is never clear. “There are those who believe that it is the consequence of our actions and those who say our actions are not the cause. In any case, suffering brings on an examination of our conscience, and should be a stimulus to correct our life path by giving, by caring for the sick and doing good works. The point is, we don’t understand the why of suffering, or the mystery of pain,” he said.

In any case, he said, “it’s better not to have it” and so the Jewish religion requires the pursuit of ways, especially in medicine, to alleviate suffering and pain.

Arvind Singhal from India, a Hindi businessman, said that a key notion in the Hindu tradition is that of “Vasudhaivya Kutumbakam,” or “the world is my family.” Much suffering could be alleviated if people would abide by that idea, share with others and act responsibly.

SAN SALVADOR (CNS) — As the 30th anniversary of the murder of Salvadoran Archbishop Oscar Romero approaches, El Salvador’s bishops have agreed to write a letter to the Vatican supporting Romero’s canonization.

“As church, it is our great desire that Archbishop Romero be canonized as soon as possible,” San Salvador Archbishop Jose Escobar Alas told reporters Feb. 7.

Archbishop Escobar said the Vatican Congregation for Saints’ Causes is considering the matter.

“We have had no communication from the congregation about dates or how things are going,” he said. “This is a process that the church does with privacy. The process demands silence, secrecy and respect for the person being examined.”

He said the bishops had agreed to form a commission to write a letter “that would help in the process of canonization,” but had not yet drafted the missive.

“I ask you, the Salvadoran people and the world, to pray to God by the intercession of Archbishop Romero,” he said.

Archbishop Romero was gunned down while celebrating Mass March 24, 1980, shortly after a radio broadcast in which he urged Salvadoran soldiers to stop turning their weapons on civilians in El Salvador’s civil war.

The canonization cause entered the verification phase in 2000. In 2005, around the 25th anniversary of the prelate’s death, the Vatican informed the Salvadoran bishops that the cause had passed the first phase of verification.

Although formal canonization is a slow process, many Salvadorans have considered the archbishop a saint since his murder. His image hangs in many churches, and there are icons of “St. Romero.”

World 11

With capital in ruins, northern Haiti struggles MILOT, Haiti (CNS) — Fresnel Vildor studied civil engineering in Port-au-Prince until the Jan. 12 earthquake leveled his private university. His “well-built” home withstood the magnitude 7 quake, but he was left with no place to study, no food, no water and no money. After five desperate days and no signs of imminent improvement in Port-auPrince, he boarded a bus with more than 100 other passengers for a 24-hour trip — nearly three times the usual duration — to his hometown here in northern Haiti. Vildor arrived with nothing more than the clothes on his back, but he considered himself lucky: He was able to move in with his parents and five siblings. Vildor was among the masses fleeing Port-au-Prince for the outlying provinces in the days and weeks after the earthquake that destroyed much of the Haitian capital. The earthquake left little damage in northern Haiti, but prompted an influx of injured, homeless and unemployed former residents of Port-au-Prince, along with those who have family ties to the region.

That influx has strained scant resources and incomes in a part of the country that has long been neglected by the central government and has been heavily dependent on Port-au-Prince to provide both public- and private-sector services.

Church officials call for change of strategy in Ciudad Juarez MEXICO CITY (CNS) — The Archdiocese of Mexico City has called on the federal government to change its strategy in the ongoing crackdown on organized crime as the death toll nationwide accelerates and increasing numbers of innocent bystanders fall victim to the violence. The admonishment, published Feb. 7 in the archdiocese’s publication, Desde la Fe, came in response to the massacre of at least 15 individuals — mostly teenagers — at a party Jan. 31 in Ciudad Juarez, where a turf war between rival cartels has turned the city that neighbors El Paso, Texas, into one of the world’s most dangerous urban areas.

Father Hesiquio Trevizo, spokesman for the Diocese of Ciudad Juarez told Catholic News Service a change of strategy is necessary due to the increasing allegations of human rights abuses against the soldiers and police officers patrolling the streets.

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Pilgrimage to Italy

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12 CLASSIFIEDS Employment President of Catholic Charities of St. Louis - The board of directors of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of St. Louis is currently accepting applications for an exceptional individual to provide strategic leadership and management for the agencies of the Catholic Charities of St. Louis Federation, including “hands-on” management and fundraising experience. The selected individual will be the archbishop’s representative to the larger Catholic Charities social services network of the archdiocese. To be considered, a candidate must be an active, practicing Catholic in good standing with the church; well grounded in Catholic life and social teaching; and capable of inspiring others to become involved in the mission of Catholic Charities. For a complete job description, visit the Web site at: www.ccstl.org. Application deadline is Feb. 26. EOE. Social service caseworker – Assess needs; provide consultation, support, direction, assistance, information and referrals to clients in need.

Coordinate and develop support services within St. John Parish’s existing social services in Lawrence.

Requirements include: a degree in social work, human service or related field; a self-starter with the ability to be collaborative; excellent written and verbal skills; computer skills; ability to work and communicate effectively with a diverse client base. Experience with strength-based case management. Spanish-speaking a plus. Full time, with benefits. Mail resume, by Feb. 26, to: Irene Caudillo, Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas, 2220 Central Ave., Kansas City, KS 66102 or send, via e-mail, to: icaudillo@catholiccharitiesks.org. EOE Administrators needed - For Catholic schools in the Diocese of Wichita. St. Patrick, Wichita, and St. Patrick, Chanute. Candidates must be a practicing Catholic; be eligible for Kansas licensure as an administrator; promote a standards-based instructional program; and possess strong interpersonal and organizational skills. Interested candidates may submit resume to: Dr. Fred Saab, Assissant Superintendent, Catholic Diocese of Wichita, 424 N. Broadway, Wichita, KS 67202.

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.

THE LEAVEN • FEBRUARY 19, 2010

THE LEAVEN • FEBRUARY 19, 2010

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.

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.

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.

Have you considered starting a donor-advised fund or family foundation? The Catholic Foundation of Northeast Kansas can help. We assist people with giving plans from trusts to gift annuities. If you are trying to stretch your philanthropy dollars further, contact the Catholic Foundation for ideas and guidance. For a confidential meeting, call (913) 647-0365 or visit the Web site at: www.cfnek.org.

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.

Services Yardwork and tree trimming Local parishioner Many references. Insured and bonded.

Free estimates. Call (913) 620-6063.

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.

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.

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.

Machine quilting - by Jenell Noeth, Basehor.

Also, quilts made to order. Call (913) 724-1837.

Husband and wife cleaning team - Reasonable rates; references provided. Call (913) 9402959.

Cleaning - Housekeeping, small office maintenance, post-construction cleaning. Plaza to Johnson County. Experienced, detailed, reliable, insured. Excellent references. Contact Phyllis at (913) 220-3322 or send an e-mail to her at: pculli61@ yahoo.com.

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.

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.

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

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.

Home Improvement The Drywall Doctor, Inc. - A unique solution to your drywall problems! We fix all types of ceiling and wall damage — from water stains and stress cracks to texture repairs and skim coating. We provide professional, timely repairs and leave the job site clean! Insured and serving the metro since 1997. Call (913) 768-6655.

Tile and painting - Complete tile and paint repairs and renovation. Ceramic, porcelain, certified limestone tile master. Complete interior paint services and drywall texture finishes. Over 20 years experience. Fully licensed. Service 7 days a week.

Contact Mike at (913) 488-4930. Member of Church of the Ascension Parish, Overland Park.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Duplex - Well-maintained, updated duplex in Overland Park for rent. All appliances, trash, and property ammenities. Call Leah at (913) 383-1343.

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 Single grave site - At Ressurection Cemetery, Lenexa. Very nice location in the ground garden, Ascension, section C. Purchased for our mother who since passed away and was laid to rest in Arizona. Asking less than what we paid. $990. Call (913) 538-7377.

Electrician - Free estimates; reasonable rates.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Real Estate Land for sale in Archie, Mo. - 47 beautiful, wooded acres. Two ponds alongside the Grand River.

Call (913) 631-5644.

Recreational land for sale - Gorgeous Anderson County, Kan., land for sale. Enjoy 185 acres of hunting and fishing with great views. Power, cabin, and two stocked ponds. For information or to take a virtual tour, visit the Web site at: www.

KansasLandBrokers.com or call Marisa at (913) 915-9151.

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.

Feb. 19-20

The fine arts department at St. James Academy, 24505 Prairie Star Pkwy., Lenexa, will perform the musical “Once on This Island” at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 19 and 20. Tickets cost $6 at the door. The school will present four performances. For information, call (913) 254-4219 or visit the Web site at: www.sjakeepingfaith.org.

20

A memorial liturgy for deceased loved ones will be held at 8 a.m. on Feb. 20 at Curé of Ars Church, 9401 Mission Rd., Leawood. The bereavement ministry will have its monthly meeting following Mass in the Father Burak Room. The topic will be: “Identity Adjustments After Loss.” For information, call (913) 649-2026.

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.

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.

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

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.

“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.

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.

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) 4927318, or Marge Hattrup at (913) 492-7682.

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.

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.

KEXS, Catholic Radio 1090AM, will host a Lenten conference on Feb. 26 - 27 at the Church of the Ascension, 9510 W. 127th St., Overland Park. Speakers will include Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann, Tim Staples, Johnnette Benkovic, and Dr. Ray Guarendi. For information, visit the Web site at: www.thecatholicradionetwork.com.

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 bingo 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.

23

Keeler Women’s Center, 2220 Central Ave., Kansas City, Kan., will offer

26

26-27

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

CALENDAR 13

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.

nie Swade, program coordinator for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). For information, call Bernadine Asher at (913) 563-5304.

The Johnson County Unos will gather for 4:30 p.m. Mass on Feb. 27 at St. Pius X Church, 5601 Woodson, Mission.

Keeler Women’s Center, 2220 Central Ave., Kansas City, Kan., offers regular opportunities for women to deepen their relationship with God. For information or to schedule an appointment for spiritual direction, massage or an afternoon at the spa, call (913) 906-8990. Programs and services are free. Donations are always welcome.

Immaculate Conception Church, Louisburg, will host St. Cayetano night on Feb. 27, featuring a barbecue dinner, a Texas hold‘em tournament and a raffle. For information, contact Judy Dixon at (913) 837-2550 or visit the Web site at: www.immaculateconceptionlouisburg.parishesonline.com.

Christ the King School, 3027 N. 54th St., Kansas City, Kan., will host its annual dinner auction on Feb. 27 at the National Guard Armory, 18th and Ridge, Kansas City, Kan. Tickets are $35 per person. For information or to purchase tickets, call the school office at (913) 287- 8823.

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. 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.

March 2

A 12-week series with education and support for women dealing with addictions and sexual abuse will be held from 10 a.m. - noon on Tuesdays, beginning March 2, 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.

3

A suicide awareness and support meeting will be held from 7 - 8:30 p.m. on March 3 at Good Shepherd Church, 12800 W. 75th St., Shawnee. The presenter is Bon-

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.

14 COMMENTARY

THE LEAVEN • February 19, 2010

THE LEAVEN • february 19, 2010

Mark my words

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

“We’re a close, friendly group and everyone did their share and part in getting this done. If people had not done that, this new church would not have happened.”

Charlie Peterson, a parishioner at Holy Angels, Basehor and a member of the building committee See story on page 1

Scripture Readings First Week of Lent Feb. 21 First Sunday of Lent Dt 26: 4-10; Ps 91: 1-2, 10-15; Rom 10: 8-13; Lk 4: 1-13 Feb. 22 THE CHAIR OF PETER, APOSTLE 1 Pt 5: 1-4; Ps 23: 1-3a, 4-6; Mt 16: 13-19 Feb. 23 Polycarp, bishop, martyr Is 55: 10-11; Ps 34: 4-7, 16-19; Mt 6: 7-15 Feb. 24 Wednesday Jon 3: 1-10; Ps 51: 3-4, 12-13, 18-19; Lk 11: 29-32 Feb. 25 Thursday Est C: 12, 14-16, 23-25; Ps 138: 1-3, 7c-8; Mt 7: 7-12 Feb. 26 Friday Ez 18: 21-28; Ps 130: 1-8; Mt 5: 20-26 Feb. 27 Saturday Dt 26: 16-19; Ps 119: 1-2, 4-5, 7-8; Mt 5: 43-48

W

Practice the art of Lent

ow, have I been in a funk lately. Funk with a capital F. I blame at least part of it on the harsh winter weather that we’ve been enduring . . . and the fact that there’s plenty more to go. But part of the funk, no doubt, has come from a sense of feeling “broken.” Do you ever experience days when you feel disconnected from friends, a lack of motivation, or a vague sense of unease? Have you ever had times when no matter how much you seem to accomplish, there’s always way more that’s left undone?

This is where I find myself right now.

And, adding to the fun, along comes Lent. My prayer of late has been, “OK, God, what’s up?”

Well, if you’re going to ask God a question, you’d better be prepared for an answer, and it’s usually not the one that you’re expecting. In my spiritual reading lately, there’s been a lot said about the challenge of seeing ourselves as God sees us. This concept reminded me of a Lenten meditation from last year that I saved.

I hunted down the item and came up with the image that’s going to guide my Lenten season this year. Take a moment to picture in your mind one of the world’s most famous works of art: Michelangelo’s Pietà, found in St. Peter’s Basilica. This breathtaking, captivating, and haunting sculpture captures Mary holding the body of Jesus after he’s been taken down from the cross.

If you’ve ever visited St. Peter’s, you know the sculpture is protected from the public by a thick window of Plexiglas. You might recall why: Back

on May 21, 1972, when the statue was unprotected, a mentally deranged man took a hammer to the Pietà and shattered one of Mary’s hands. Although the man was immediately restrained, the damage was done.

The meditation that I’d saved (from a booklet whose origin I no longer know) recalled this attack on the Pietà and noted that the best artisans from around the world were called to the Vatican to restore the damaged sculpture. For the first month, however, “the shattered hand was covered, and the artists simply studied the beauty of the whole work before attempting any repair.”

The meditation then challenged readers to take to heart these simple words from St. Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians: “we are God’s work of art” (2:10).

In other words, we’re not just ugly, unformed lumps of sinfulness; we are actually works of art, because we’ve been created by God in the first place and then made a member of Christ’s body through baptism. Since I rarely think of myself in this way, I’m using this image to guide my Lent. I find it very easy to concentrate on all that’s broken, all the failures, all that’s undone in my life. Yet even though those

things are present, they are not the sum total of who I am. God sees us like those human artists saw the chipped Pietà: There is beauty and grace still present, just not perfectly so.

We all need Lent because no one is perfect. We live in a world damaged by war and poverty. We live in a land damaged by self-interest, greed and prejudice. Our families are often damaged by impatience and a general lack of respect and gratitude. And our own hearts are damaged — sometimes by the thoughtless acts of others, but, more often than not, by our own sinfulness.

Lent is a time for God to do some repair work to us, his special works of art. Our brokenness and our sins do not define us; God’s beauty and grace do.

During Lent, we give God the chance to fix what’s broken and clean up what’s become messy.

One of the best ways to do this is to plan on receiving the sacrament of reconciliation in these days. In that sacrament, God reminds us of our essential goodness — we are truly works of art that have accumulated the dust and dinginess and damage of sin. Unlike the marble Pietà, though, we are able to work with our restoring Artisan — by adding our Lenten disciplines of prayer, fasting and almsgiving to the mix.

For Lent this year, let’s try picturing ourselves as God sees us — as works of art “in progress.” That image alone might lift us out of our funk and help us embrace our Lenten disciplines as ways that the Artisan is readying us for display one day in his divine gallery of art.

the gospel truth

I

Jesus resists the temptations that defeat us

n our day, people are more likely to fast for health reasons than for religious purposes. They may be preparing to undergo surgery or some other procedure which requires an empty stomach.

Or they may be dieting to lose weight.

Jesus returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the desert for forty days, to be tempted by the devil.

He ate nothing during those days, and when they were over he was hungry” (Lk 4:1-2).

Jesus may have intended his fasting But 2,000 years ago, fasting formed to reinforce his prayer. At an important part of relithe same time, it naturally gious practice. The early first sunday weakened his body. He was Christians fasted on Wednesof lent hungry. The devil seized days and Fridays. They chose Lk 4: 1-13 upon this as an opportunity those days to distinguish to tempt Jesus. The three themselves from the Jews, temptations make up the who fasted on Mondays and Thursbulk of Sunday’s reading. days, according to the first-century The first temptation directly addocument, the Didache. dresses Jesus’ hunger: “The devil said Fasting often accompanied prayer. to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, The life of King David offers a good excommand this stone to become bread.’” ample of that. When his son was sick, That temptation echoes the Hebrew David fasted while praying for him: people’s dissatisfaction with the manna “David besought God for the child. He which fed them during their 40-year kept a fast, retiring for the night to lie trek through the desert. They comon the ground clothed in sackcloth” (2 plained, “Would that we had meat for Sm 12:16). food. We remember the fish we used Accordingly, when Jesus enters into to eat without cost in Egypt, and the the desert for 40 days, it sounds approcucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the priate that fasting should accompany onions, and the garlic. But now we are his prayer. As Sunday’s Gospel reading famished; we see nothing before us but tells us: “Filled with the Holy Spirit,

this manna” (Nm 11:4-6).

Jesus responds to the temptation by quoting from the Bible: “It is written, one does not live on bread alone.”

Those words conclude a passage that refers to the Hebrew people’s complaint about the food: “Remember how for forty years now the Lord, your God, has directed all your journeying in the desert, so as to test you by affliction and find out whether or not it was your intention to keep his commandments.

He therefore let you be afflicted with hunger, and then fed you with manna, a food unknown to you and your fathers, in order to show you that not by bread alone does one live, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of the Lord” (Dt 8:3).

By his quotation from the Book of Deuteronomy, Jesus makes a connection between the experience of the Hebrew people in the desert and his own experience there. It invites a comparison between the two. By rebuffing the devil’s suggestion that he turn the stones into bread, Jesus has resisted the temptation that had vanquished the Hebrews. He has provided us with an example of withstanding temptation. More importantly, he offers us this insight: Our afflictions are testing us to determine if we intend to follow God’s will.

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

Trudy and John (McGrath) Rosner, members of St. Joseph Parish, Shawnee, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on Feb. 27 at the 5 p.m. Mass at the church, followed by dinner with their children and their spouses: Anniversaries Bryan and Colleen Rosner, and Diane and Michael Valencia Sr. The couple was married on Feb. 27, 1960, at St. Joseph.

They also have four grandchildren and one great-grandson.

Judy (Patterson) and Walter Feuerborn, members of St. Joseph Parish, Shawnee, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on Feb. 20 with a Mass at the church, followed by a family dinner hosted by their children. The couple was married on Feb. 29, 1960, at Holy Name Church in Topeka.

Their children and their spouses are: Tim and Vee Feuerborn; Greg and Anne Feuerborn; Lisa and Rob Coplen; Annette and Tony Corigliano; Michelle Kinimaka; Matt and Jody Feuerborn; Molly and Bob Brown; Katie and Nate Looney; and Jennifer and Jeff Koch. They also have 25 grandchildren.

local news 15

Mary M. (Gnip) and Bill Pate, members of Holy Spirit Parish, Overland Park, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on Feb. 20. The couple was married on Feb. 20, 1960, at St. Casimir Church in Leavenworth. They have two daughters: Janice Curry and Joan Pate. They also have two grandchildren. A reception will be held at Meadowbrook Country Club on their anniversary. A Mass for their intentions will be celebrated the following day.

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.

• The couple’s names; their parish; the date they were married; church and city where they were married; what they are doing to celebrate; date of the celebration; names of children (if desired); number of grandchildren and great-grandchildren; photo.

Send notices to: The Leaven, 12615 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City, KS 66109, attn: anniversaries; or send an e-mail to: Todd@theleaven.com. If you would like your photo returned to you, please include a self-addressed stamped envelope.

Pictured after their Eagle board of review on Jan. 14 are Immaculata High School’s newest Eagle Scouts from Troop 167: (from left) sophomore Joe Kramer, freshman Jimmy Bormolini and freshman Jacob Chapman. For their Eagle projects, Kramer painted areas at the Leavenworth Knights of Columbus, Council No. 900, hall; Bormolini built a pathway from the parking lot to the outdoor chapel at St. Francis de Sales Church in Lansing; and Chapman helped make over a classroom at Immaculata by painting it for the new Imac Spirit Store.

USM theatre program to present its winter production Leavenworth — The University of Saint Mary department of fine arts/ theatre will present the dark comedy, “The Marriage of Bette and Boo,” at 7:30 p.m. from Feb. 25-27 in Xavier Theatre at the main campus here “The Marriage of Bette and Boo”

by Christopher Durang begins with the wedding of the titular couple. As the play traces the path of their marriage, it deals

with a variety of issues — both serious and comedic — that eventually confront most families.

Tickets are $10 and are available at the door. Call (913) 758-6152 or go online for advance tickets on the Web site at: www. stmary.edu/tickets.

This play contains some mature themes and is intended for adult audiences.

16 LOCAL NEWS

THE LEAVEN • february 19, 2010

Cold for a cause Donate to the Plunge

By Jill Ragar Esfeld Special to The Leaven

Ten Polar Plunges for Special Olympics take place across the state of Kansas through March 6. The overall goal is to raise $250,000.

The Polar Plunge events are critical to the organization’s budget because it receives no government funding, it is not a United Way agency and it does not receive any Kennedy Foundation funding.

Chris Ronan can continue to collect donations for 60 days after his plunge.

If you’d like to donate to Chris or other plunge participants, visit www.firstgiving. com.

MISSION — The first time St. Pius X parishioner Chris Ronan wore his Flash costume, he scared small children.

“I was going to go trick-or-treating with my nieces,” he said. “I got all dressed and I came downstairs. And my niece Avery, who was two at the time, saw me and just went ballistic.”

Avery cried so hard that Ronan had to take the costume off. It sat in the back of his closet gathering dust, destined never to do a good deed — until recently, when Ronan made a pledge to friends and co-workers.

If they would donate $1,000 to Special Olympics, Ronan promised he would do the Polar Plunge on Jan. 30 into Shawnee Mission Park Lake in Lenexa dressed as The Flash.

“I told him, ‘Chris, of course you should have won because you looked so cute in your little outfit, and you were so dashing,’” she said.

Ronan raised more than $2,000 for the Polar Plunge, but his duty as a superhero didn’t end there.

Flash back The Flash persona is an appropriate one for Ronan. He ran cross-country for St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Overland Park and at the University of Kansas. He still racks up at least 50 miles a week running and has competed in several marathons.

“I got the Flash costume because he’s the closest superhero to a runner,” he said.

It was running, in fact, that first introduced Ronan to the Special Olympics.

“At the KU Relays, we would have a Special Olympic section like the 100-meter dash,” he said. “I was always just really impressed with the people I’d see compete in those events, and with the organization as well.”

Now in its 13th year, the Polar Plunge is Special Olympics’ biggest fundraiser and came about because the organization was looking for an innovative way to raise money.

“A lot of nonprofits have to do the golf tournaments, the big balls and galas,” said Donna Zimmerman, senior vice president of marketing and development for Special Olympics. “We were trying to find something unique for our organization.”

Special Olympics holds ten Polar Plunge events throughout Kansas each year. The plunge at Shawnee Mission Park, held in January, is its flagship event and boasts the biggest crowds.

Ronan had done the Polar Plunge in 2003. As he approached the prospect this year, especially in view of the recent economic downturn and the crisis in Haiti, he figured people were probably suffering from donor fatigue.

So to make his donation request more appealing, Ronan teamed up with his wife Rachel, who owns the graphic design freelance company Kiwi Creations.

They put together a video appeal and posted it online through the Web site, firstgiving.com.

There the donations came rolling in, topping $1,000 with surprising speed.

“People seemed to be getting an unnatural amount of pleasure out of the idea of seeing me uncomfortable,” Ronan said. “We started to joke about it.

“My wife would say, ‘I don’t know if people really like you or really dislike you.’”

“It was going to happen one way or the other,” he said. “There’s not much I could do. I stayed as dry and as warm as I could until the moment came. And then I just did it.”

And Rachel Ronan had no interest in sharing her husband’s misery.

“No way,” she said. “I was there for support and to stand on the beach and cheer him on.”

Surprisingly enough, in the midst of the crowd lined up waiting to plunge into Shawnee Mission Lake, Ronan did not look out of place in his Flash costume. There were men dressed in business suits, formal gowns, and diapers.

There were women wearing everything from bikinis to cocktail dresses.

“I certainly wasn’t alone in making a fool out of myself,” Ronan said.

To make matters worse, this year the lake water wasn’t just cold, it was frozen. A hole had to be chopped out of the ice around the beach so participants would have a place to plunge.

“It was a different experience this time,” said Ronan. “It was colder. When I hit the water, I distinctly remember thinking, ‘This was worse than the last time I did it.’”

Flash forward

All the way

Ronan chose to prepare for the event by not preparing.

Ronan’s grandmother, Prince of Peace, Olathe, parishioner Bernie Gasp-

One more good deed

Leaven photo by Jill Ragar Esfeld

Cold flash The Flash, aka St. Pius X parishioner Chris Ronan, prepares to take the Polar Plunge, a fundraiser for the Special Olympics. Ronan helped raise more than $2,000 for the cause.

arovich, ventured out in the snow to watch him plunge. She said she was proud and not at all surprised at her grandson’s selfless act.

“Chris has always been concerned with the charities,” she said. “He’s a very good Catholic. And he lives his faith every day of the week, not just on Sunday.”

Gasparovich also made note of the fact that her grandson’s plunge was superior to everyone else’s.

“Some of them just went in waist deep,” she said. “He went all the way out and then went clear under.”

“I decided if I was going to do this, I was definitely diving in headfirst and full immersion,” said Ronan.

“It did not feel good. It was definitely cold,” he said. “But people gave their money, and I was going to make sure they got full value for what they paid.”

Nor was his wife surprised that he took the plunge headfirst.

“He is very dedicated to whatever he sets his mind to — whether it’s running or jumping into the Polar Plunge,” she said. “He always gives more than 100 percent.

“If it’s something he believes in and wants to be a part of, there’s no doing it halfway. He goes all the way with it.”

At an after-party for participants, Ronan won an award for best individual costume. He was surprised, but his grandmother wasn’t.

While making a donation, one of his co-workers at Crown Center in Kansas City, Mo., where he is the communications manager, asked Ronan what it would take to get him to run through the fountains in Crown Center Square dressed as The Flash.

“I looked and I saw how much money the people in my building and the people who work for Hallmark had raised,” he recalled. “I think the number at that time was $340. So I said, ‘OK, in the next week, if we double that amount, I’ll run through the fountains.’”

Moreover, Ronan promised he would run through all five rows of fountains, and he’d do it on a day the temperature was below freezing.

The word quickly spread and, within two days, the amount had doubled. By the time Ronan did the Polar Plunge, his co-workers had raised $760.

And so, a few days after jumping headfirst into a frozen lake, Ronan became The Flash once again and ran through the fountains in Crown Center Square.

A small group of supporters cheered him on outside. A huge crowd watched from the office windows, and a video was being circulated by that afternoon.

Ronan said it was well worth the effort and humiliation.

“You’re uncomfortable for a few minutes and everybody has a big laugh at your expense,” he said. “But you’re raising so much money, so who cares?”

He said his Catholic faith was the impetus behind his actions.

“As Catholics, we learn the value of helping others,” he said. “Having gone to Aquinas with the service hour projects you do over the years, you just learn the value of helping out — not just the value it provides to someone else, but the value you get yourself.”

“I’ve helped a Special Olympian be able to do some sort of competition, and that’s a really neat thing — to know I’ve played a small part in making that possible for somebody else.”

Zimmerman couldn’t agree more.

“We have 5,489 athletes in the state of Kansas. These Polar Plunge participants have impacted a lot of lives, just by being silly for a few minutes,” she said.

“And” she added, “we just appreciate them more than we can say.”