10-16-09 Vol. 31 No. 11

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www.theleaven.com | Newspaper of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas | Vol. 31, No. 11 october 16, 2009

Jewel of the archdiocese

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By Marc and Julie Anderson Special to The Leaven

MERALD — Not much exists anymore of the town known as Emerald. In its heyday, however, the rural community in Anderson County had a post office, a school, a trading post and several other shops. The buildings were all located on the slope of a hill with a church above and farm fields below. But what was once a thriving community is gone now . . . except for one building — that of St. Patrick Catholic Church. Known widely as the “jewel of the archdiocese” and “the cathedral of the plains,” the tiny rural parish celebrated its sesquicentennial on Oct. 3. Parishioners, former pastors and well-wishers from neighboring communities gathered to celebrate the parish’s 150th anniversary with a Mass of thanksgiving celebrated by Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann. Concelebrants included pastor Father Marianand Mendem and former pastors Fathers Ken Kelly and Mike Hawken. A dinner followed in the church basement for all in attendance, including the 48 families who still call the parish their spiritual home. Among those enjoying the festivities was Ed Wilper, who at age 93 is the oldest active parishioner. The name Wilper does not automatically bring to mind all things Irish. Wilper’s heritage is of both Irish and German ancestry, a blend common to many St. Patrick parishioners. A lifelong member of the parish, Wilper never left the area and still recalls the parish’s early days, days when parishioners did a lot of the work by hand — such as digging graves in the parish cemetery. Wilper and his wife Agnes, who have been married for 61 years, have been involved with the parish in a myriad

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Father Marianand Mendem visits with Agnes Wilper after a Mass celebrating the 150th anniversary of St. Patrick Parish in Emerald.

An anniveRsary to remember Curé of Ars Parish in Leawood celebrated its 50th anniversary with a blend of old and new.

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Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann visits with Heather Lee, a member of neighboring St. Joseph Parish in Waverly, following the 150th anniversary Mass of St. Patrick Parish in Emerald.

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Former KCK parishioner Raymond Schrader is made a chevalier of the French Legion of Honor for his service in World War II.

open hearts

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An open adoption made it possible for Julia Griffin (second from left) to enjoy the support of both her adoptive family and her birth mother — and neither would have it any other way.


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