WWW.THELEAVEN.COM | NEWSPAPER OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF KANSAS CITY IN KANSAS | VOL. 31, NO. 2 JULY 17, 2009
Leaven photo by Elaina Cochran
LET IT FLY Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann throws the first shovel of dirt during the groundbreaking for the new St. Bernard Church in Wamego on July 12.
Small-town parish thinks ‘bigger’ By JOE BOLLIG Leaven staff WAMEGO — Who says you can’t think big in a small town? Members of St. Bernard Parish in Wamego are looking to the future and thinking big — or at least bigger — as they begin construction of their new church on 15 acres of former cornfield on the north edge of town. The current limestone Gothic church, completed in 1908, seats about 240 and is simply too small. The new church will
have almost double the capacity and a lot of other improvements — like space for socializing, off-street parking and handicapped accessibility. Construction began on May 8, but pastor Father John Pilcher and parishioners welcomed Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann for a blessing of the new site after 10 a.m. Mass on July 12. The current church cannot accommodate the congregation, especially for larger liturgies like confirmations and
DIG IT Four-year old Zoe Abitz gets started on her own groundbreaking ceremony a little ear-
Turn to WAMEGO on page 5
ly, as Archbishop Naumann and pastor Father John Pilcher conduct the official blessing in the background.
‘CARITAS IN VERITATE’
THE POPE AND THE PRESIDENT
The pope’s new encyclical deals with the global economic crisis and proposes some concrete solutions.
Pope Benedict XVI and President Obama meet for the first time and touch on many issues of concern to Catholics.
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Leaven photo by Elaina Cochran
AT CAMP The summer is in full swing and that means Prairie Star Ranch is full of action. Check out Susan McSpadden’s amazing photos.
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