www.theleaven.com | Newspaper of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas | Vol. 32, No. 13 october 29, 2010 The Catholic Campus Center at Washburn University in Topeka entered a float in the university’s homecoming parade on Oct. 23. On the float are: (standing) David Brandon White, Father Andrew Strobl, and Renea Langer; (seated, back to front) Steve and Teresa Schiffelbein; Sarah Ganser; Paul Wagner, the faculty advisor to the Catholic Campus Center; and Chris Sachs, husband of former director, Janelle Sachs.
Visiting during the center’s open house held on Oct. 24 as part of the activities to mark its 40th anniversary are: Msgr. Vince Krische, the first director of the Catholic Campus Center at Washburn University; Kathleen Rosetta, the center’s bookkeeper; and Toni Lippincott.
a capital idea
Leaven photos by Marc Anderson
Father George Seuferling (left), Msgr. Vince Krische, Father Matthew Schiffelbein, and Father Andrew Strobl celebrate the 40th anniversary Mass of the Catholic Campus Center at Washburn University on Oct. 24. Begun in August 1970, the center opened in October that same year with Msgr. Krische as its first director. Fathers Strobl and Schiffelbein are both former members of the center and were ordained as archdiocesan priests in May 2009. Father Strobl served as student president of the center from 2003-04. Retired from active ministry, Father Seuferling often celebrates Mass at the center.
Washburn Catholic Campus Center recalls unusual beginings at 40th anniversary Mass Story by Marc and Julie Anderson
T
OPEKA — The knock on the door of Dorothy Palmquist’s home on a Sunday afternoon in July 1970 was a surprise. The bigger surprise was who knocked. The three men weren’t salesmen, but two Catholic priests and an archbishop. They weren’t selling. They were buying. This unorthodox beginning to the Washburn Catholic Campus Center was related by Msgr. Vince Krische in his homily at a Mass at the center Oct. 24 celebrating its 40th anniversary. Archbishop Ignatius J. Strecker was the visionary who saw the need for a Catholic stu-
dent center at Washburn University and he personally got it going. One July afternoon in 1970, Archbishop Strecker invited then-Father Vince Krische and Father Jack Quinlan, pastor of Most Pure Heart of Mary Parish in Topeka, on a little road trip. “He was such a great real estate man,” said Msgr. Krische. “He knew location, location, location.” The archbishop took them to a house at 17th and Jewell, directly opposite the Washburn campus. They got out and knocked on the door, and a puzzled Palmquist answered. The archbishop asked Palmquist if she would be interested in selling her house to the Turn to “CAMPUS CENTER” on page 3
2 archbishop
THE LEAVEN • october 22, 2010
THE LEAVEN • october 29, 2010
SECOND FRONT PAGE 3
LIFE WILL BE VICTORIOUS
A
It makes no sense to be a lukewarm Christian
couple years ago, I had the chance to see the movie, “The Cinderella Man.” The film was about a boxer in the 1920s and ’30s by the name of James Braddock.
The movie begins by showing Jimmy Braddock as a young, promising boxer. He is on a path to have a chance for the championship. Then, the story leaps forward a few years into the middle of the Great Depression. Jimmy Braddock, like so many, lost all of his savings in the stock market crash. As a result of injuries and having to fight hurt, he had lost several fights and eventually had his boxing license revoked because of his failure to compete effectively. He begins working on the docks, but there are not enough jobs to go around. He does not get hired every day, and the pay is minimal. To keep his family together, he has to go on welfare and endure the added humiliation of begging for assistance from his former acquaintances in boxing. At one point, the film shows Jimmy Braddock painfully watching his wife watering down the milk to make it last for their children. Actually, it probably was not that bad for the children. During that era,
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everyone drank whole milk. Braddock’s wife was perhaps the first to make 2% milk. Nevertheless, not being able to provide enough milk for his children was symbolic of Jimmy Braddock’s utter frustration of not being able to care properly for his family. When things seem most desperate, he is given the opportunity to box again, filling in for an injured fighter. Without any chance to train, he is thrown into the ring with one of the leading contenders. Surprising everyone, Jimmy Braddock wins. This sets in motion a series of unlikely events that actually give him the opportunity to fight for the championship. The boxing professionals fear a huge mismatch. The current champion has killed two of his previous opponents. Some of the boxing hierarchy feared this fight may turn out to be a disaster for boxing if Braddock is killed in the ring. At one point, the promoter makes Jimmy Braddock watch film of the champion killing those two previous opponents. The promoter’s lawyer wants
MT CALVARY – KS John F. Abbick Sr. Berta Aguirre Florence Arias Angeline C. Breitenstein Bernice M. Bukovac Eileen J. Burger Pedro Antunez Caballero Michael A. Del Percio Ronnell E. Dennis Gustavo Duran Josefina F. Juarez Marguerite M. Keuchel Hortense Kiec George E. Kolich Helen M. Kovac Louise H. Kuzila George E. Mills Antonio Muro Lawrence E. Murray Pauline E. Newell Charles Pestock Albert C. Relic Annette G. Schutte Dorothy M. Steinmetz Emma P. Stimach Edmund J. Tluscik Irma L. Vesel Ada M. Vrbanac Mary A. Wolfe RESURRECTION Michael P. Barrick Jeanne Belker Robert M. Bettendorf Gina M. Boos Oneta L. Cusack Beverly J. Denk Felski Triplets Gregory G. Gomez William M. Hambleton Mary I. Kennedy Charles P. Kraft Harry R. Kratzer Dylan Michael Lavery Caitlyn V. LeClerc Margaret E. Lenhausen Albert R. Lockhart Jr. Dr. Michael J. Malis
John C. McAnany Eugene O. Mense Dorothy A. Mercer Matthew Mulcahy Kenneth D. Newhouse John E. Nolan Mary F. Nunnink Cynthia Oregel Ruth M. Overton Bertha E. Pilcher Deborah S. Price Hope Isabella Reasons Joseph S. Rydzel Erna Schelhammer Erwin O. Schelhammer Margaret M. Schrick Beverly A. Schulze Luetta L. Sheehan Dorothy M. Smith Larry J. Smith Helen M. Smolec James E. Watson Marcia L. Werp Edwin F. White Paul E. Willey Sr. Harley D. Williams Cynthia Witwer Kenneth Zickwolf ST JOSEPH Regina L. Bates Cleo F. Byrd Edward Moore Sr. ST JOHN –LeneXa Celina A. Bourquin Bob R. Sullivan Sr. Carolyn J. Warren
Braddock to sign a release acknowledging that he is completely aware of the risk that he is taking. Jimmy Braddock responds, “Do you think you are telling me something, by telling me that boxing is dangerous?” Braddock is more than willing to subject himself to the risk in the ring in order to provide for his family. In a press conference, Jimmy Braddock is asked: “What has changed?” The reporter wants to know what has suddenly made him able to win again when he was so ineffective in the ring just a few years ago. Braddock first responds that before he was fighting injured, but now he is healthy. Then he says, “Now I know what I am fighting for.” The reporter asks, “Jimmy, what are you fighting for?” Braddock simply responds, “Milk!” Jimmy Braddock now realized that he was fighting for his wife, his children, and his ability to provide for his family. I am certain every husband and father reading this column believes that his wife and his children are worth fighting and even dying for. As Christians, we value the importance of marriage and family — more so, I believe, than anyone else in society today. Yet, we believe even these most precious of human relationships are built upon something even more fundamental and more important: our relationship with God, our relationship with Jesus Christ.
My time in the Holy Land was truly inspiring. I hope to write about some of the experiences in future columns. However, I could not help but be struck, traveling as a part of a group that traces its roots to the knights who risked life and fortune to recover access to the places sacred to Christians, that the Crusaders had found something, or rather someone, worth living and dying for: Jesus Christ. They staked their lives and fortunes on serving him and, in particular, protecting and preserving the places made sacred by Jesus when he walked this earth. They gave their lives so that others might have the opportunity to make a pilgrimage, following in the footsteps of Our Lord. The courage of the early Christians, many of whom were martyred because they refused to renounce their faith in Jesus Christ, epitomizes what is required to be a true disciple of Jesus. It is nonsensical to be a lukewarm or mediocre Christian. Either Jesus Christ is who he claimed to be, the Son of God, who redeems us from our sins and offers us eternal life, or he is not. If we believe that Jesus is indeed the Son of God who gave his life for us, how can we fail to believe he is worth everything — even sacrificing our life in this world? Indeed, friendship with Jesus, the “Man Who Lives,” is worth living and dying for!
Foundation honors mom’s memory By Joe Bollig Leaven staff
OVERLAND PARK — Mackenzie and Sydney Lutz never knew what it was like to have a mother who wasn’t sick. Mackenzie was only five, and Sydney only two, when Kelly Lutz was diagnosed with breast cancer. “She was sick for pretty much my whole life,” said Mackenzie, now 16, and a junior at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Overland Park. “It was a normal part of who we were.” Kelly and Shane Lutz, members of Prince of Peace Parish in Olathe, tried their best to make a happy family life for their girls, despite Kelly’s life-anddeath struggle. “When a parent is sick, it has an emotional effect on you, too,” said Mackenzie. “I remember one of the first times she had chemotherapy and began losing her hair — how it came out in patches. I felt really afraid. It was hard for a five-year-old mind to wrap around it. It was kind of scary.” Sydney, now an eighth-grader at Prince of Peace School, also remembered how difficult it was. “It was hard to know that my mother was in pain and that she didn’t really have a way of escaping that, and had to live with it every day,” said Sydney. But there were good things, too: how their mom would give them “rides” up and down on the motorized hospital bed set up in the dining room; all the beautiful flowers people sent; all the family and friends who dropped off meal after meal to help them. Shane, Mackenzie and Sydney might have only been left with memories after Kelly died on May 2, 2008. However, Shane was determined that her life would not end there. “As her life began to diminish, I began to think of a way to capture all that goodness we had going on at that moment and to carry it into the future,” he said. And so he founded the Kelly Lynn Lutz Scholarship Foundation, established to help children who have lost a parent to cancer pay for college. Kelly and Shane were married in 1989. Although she was trained as a teacher, Kelly chose to be a stay-athome mom and raise their two girls. The Lutz family moved to Olathe in 1997 and immediately joined Prince of Peace Parish. “From the beginning, she was a big supporter of the parish,” said Shane. “She volunteered for various activities. She substitute taught and worked in the office. She ran the book fair and helped with the annual parish gala, and really became an icon of support and volunteerism.” Even after she was diagnosed, she continued volunteering as best she could. At one point, the doctors thought the cancer went into remis-
Continued from page 1
Leaven photo by Joe Bollig
From left, Sydney, Mackenzie, and Shane Lutz were determined that good would come out of the death of their mother and his wife, Kelly Lynn Lutz. The foundation in her name awards children of cancer victims with scholarships to college. sion. Later, however, they found out that it continued to spread until it took her life. “During the whole time she was sick, especially in the last two years, the whole family was blessed with a lot of support not only from [Prince of Peace Parish], but the whole community,” said Shane. “It was overwhelming.” The KLL Foundation is his way of giving back. The foundation pursues its mission — to help young adults achieve a college education — in two ways. The first is to award an annual $1,000 college scholarship, which is renewable for up to four years. So far, the foundation has new two scholarship recipients. The second is to give financial help to families who are struggling after the loss of a parent to cancer. “For example, there was a family where the husband was lost to cancer five years ago,” said Shane. “The children ranged from the third grade to first year in college. [The mother] was on the verge of losing her utili-
ties when we stepped in and not only got her caught up, but paid forward through the remainder of the summer to give her a head start.” The foundation is a family affair. Mackenzie and Sydney have been appointed honorary board members by their father. They help pick out the candidates for scholarships, assist with the awards dinners, and help run fundraising events. The most recent was a 5K run/walk on May 1 at Heritage Park in Olathe. In this fashion, the girls have a way to carry their mother’s memory and their father’s good work far into the future. When they reach adulthood, they will become full-fledged board members. “I want to do it,” said Sydney. “It helps me remember everything about her, and I can continue her message she was trying to send everyone: to live life each day like it was your last.” For information about the KLL Scholarship Foundation, go to the Web site at: www.kllscholarshipfund. org. The KLL Foundation can also be found on Facebook.
MT CALVARY – OLATHE Dolores E. Hughes Joseph H. Smith Mary C. Smith GATE OF HEAVEN Howard L. Belt Jill M. Mullin Janice L. Rogers Kayla Lynnette Jessica Scott
Campus center celebrates 40 years
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
archdiocese to provide a place for Washburn University’s Catholic students. She agreed, provided the archbishop could find her another home. “She moved out, and we moved in,” said Msgr. Krische. “It was the start of this great ministry.” The Washburn University center actually began its 40th anniversary celebrations with an open house on Oct. 22. The following day, current and former students rode on a float in the university’s homecoming parade held Oct. 23. Additionally, students and alumni participated in a tailgate party prior to the homecoming game. Approximately 150 people attended the Mass celebrated by Msgr. Vince Krische, the center’s director for the first seven years of its existence. Concelebrants included Fathers Andrew Strobl, currently associate pastor of Prince of Peace Parish in Olathe, and Father Matthew Schiffelbein, currently associate pastor of Church of the Ascension in Overland Park. Both priests are Washburn alumni and former members of the Catholic Campus Center. Retired now from active ministry, Father George Seuferling often celebrates Mass at the center and also concelebrated the anniversary Mass. Since the center’s official establishment on Aug. 18, 1970, and its opening in October that same year, Msgr. Krische recalled that many students have been formed in the Catholic faith and have formed friendships that helped shape them into the men and women they are today. Such individuals include Jack and Benje Foster. They met at the center, later married and are leading lives of active service to the church. “It (the center) gave us a religion we could relate to,” Jack said, adding that he remembers setting up chairs for Mass as well as just being available for whatever the center needed him to do. Benje agreed, and said their handson involvement helped to solidify their Catholic faith. Without these experiences and friendships, the Fosters said they might not have been as inclined to take on a variety of leadership roles later in life within their own parish, such as teaching baptism classes and assisting and/or leading religious education classes. These experiences, Msgr. Krische said, would not be lost on recently beatified Cardinal John Henry Newman. “I find it another gift to celebrate this occasion at the same time that our patron, John Henry Newman, has been declared blessed,” he said. “Archbishop Strecker believed that Newman provided a formula to help us bring the church to the university. With the studies the center offers to the students today and the spiritual opportunities, his vision continues to build.”
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4 LOCAL NEWS
THE LEAVEN • October 29, 2010
THE LEAVEN • october 29, 2010
LOCAL NEWS 5
Couple’s generosity helps dream come true for rural parish By Kara Hansen Leaven staff
ROSSVILLE — When Jesus said, “Blessed are those who have not seen, yet believe,” he might have had Don and Kathleen Damon in mind. When the Great Bend couple donated $1.1 million to St. Stanislaus Church’s building fund in Rossville, the two had never set foot on parish grounds. Fortunately, the Damons did make it to the church when the announcement about the donation was made because the parish reaction was priceless. “There were no more than one to two sets of dry eyes in church that day,” said the couple’s nephew, Kevin Bittner. “Most people believed building a new church would never happen in their lifetime,” he said. “Now, in six months, we hope to be breaking ground.” So how did a couple from Great Bend ever come to make the dreams of this Rossville parish come true? In November 2009, Don, a retired truck driver, purchased a $1 lottery ticket in a Dillons grocery store. It turned out to be the best financial investment he ever made: It was the winning ticket for a $96 million jackpot. “After winning,” said Bittner, “they asked what they could do for us.” Bittner, his wife Angie, and their five daughters had long been active parishioners at St. Stanislaus. He is a member of the building committee, where parish members for several years had been discussing the possibility of building a new — and much needed — church building. But the price tag of the project, roughly $2 million, seemed to put it out of reach. “We told them we would love to see the building project move forward,” said Bittner. “They had never even been to our church or seen it, but they knew I was on the building committee and knew we were working hard to get the church built.” It didn’t take the Damons long to respond. Incidentally, Kathleen is Catholic; Don is not. Kathleen grabbed her checkbook and wrote out a check immediately — to the tune of $100,000. The parish was thrilled at the donation, said Bittner. “That much money was worth a long time of people putting in what they could afford,” he said. Only a few weeks later, while catching up at lunch, the Damons asked Bittner how the building plans were going. The building committee was brainstorming, Bittner told them, on ways to use the Damons’ donation to get the funds up to half the projected cost. (Fifty percent cash in hand is the magic number in terms of getting permission to build from the archdiocese.) Thirty minutes after returning to work from lunch that day, Bittner received a call from Don’s lawyer. “What did you say to your uncle?” the lawyer asked Bittner. The Damons, the lawyer told him, wanted to contribute to the parish building fund again — this time with a gift of $1 million. “They have used their funds to help others in a lot of ways, but they really wanted to do something that meant something to a lot of people,” said Bittner. And mean a lot, it did. “We thought a $100,000 donation was awesome,” said Shelly Buhler, a parish member and building committee
Father Curtis Carlson, OFM Cap., associate pastor of St. John the Evangelist Parish in Lawrence, explained to his young audience the process of becoming a Capuchin Franciscan friar.
Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann closes out the vocations day with a short presentation about his own ministry. He was the main celebrant and homilist at the closing Mass.
Vocations Day sports new format By Joe Bollig Leaven staff
Don and Kathleen Damon contributed $1.1 million to the St. Stanislaus Church building fund in Rossville, despite not being parishioners and never having set foot in the church in their lives. chair. “Then when we got word we were given a million dollars — well, it took awhile to sink in.” The funds could not have come at a better time. The current 100-year-old church building is sorely in need of repairs, some of which the structure might not withstand. And yet until their miraculous windfall, there seemed no alternative but to try to keep repairing the unrepairable. “The building is in need of roof repair, new heating and air conditioning, and it has structural concerns,” explained Deidre Michael, capital campaign chair along with her husband Harold. “During hard winds,” confirmed Buhler, “we’re often holding our breath the 100-year-old steeple doesn’t come flying off.” Buhler said the size and physical condition of St. Stanislaus Church was identified as the second biggest challenge in the pastoral planning process for the St. Marys Region, with weekend Masses being regularly well over capacity. “If you’re not there by 8:30 for 9 o’clock Sunday morning Mass, your family will be sitting in different spots around church or standing in the back,” said Buhler. Many sacraments, such as first Communions and weddings, cannot even be held in the current church. A new structure would also be able to accommodate elderly and disabled parish members in ways the current structure cannot. “To have these members of our parish back is really a priority for us,” said Buhler. Plans have been made for a new church structure in a Roman basilica style. Every effort has been made to salvage parts of the old church to use in the new one. “We are planning to use the stainedglass windows from the current church,” said Michael. “There is a lot of history there and we want to try and use the things we have, especially because they often mean something to a family.” A groundbreaking is tentatively
An artist’s rendering of the new St. Stanislaus Church. The dream of a new church became a reality with a $1.1 million gift to the building fund. scheduled for spring 2011. Plans also include building four additional classrooms onto the existing parish hall to provide additional space for religious education. “We’re hoping to break ground within six months, pending archdiocesan approval,” said Buhler. “At that point, we would need to have all our funds pledged or have the project costs come down.” Even with the generosity of the Damons, St. Stanislaus parishioners have work left to do to ensure their new church can be built. The current capital campaign goal is set at $600,000. Currently $330,000 has been pledged from 100 of the 175 parish families. “The donation is definitely inspiring us to do our part to finish the fundraising and make sure this happens,” said Buhler. But the challenges are obvious, given the current economic climate. Still, St. Stanislaus Parish has seen what the generosity of one couple can do. And it has made a difference in more ways than one. “There was another person in the community who milled flour for companies and asked if we would be able to use some,” said Father Bruce Ansems, pastor of St. Stanislaus.
“He donated 200 five-pound bags of flour, which we announced was available after Mass and asked for a freewill offering from the people. Those who could not afford it but needed some were welcome to it, and we passed on what was unused to a food bank.” Father Ansems said the unique donation has inspired parishioners to think more creatively about what they can offer to assist with fundraising efforts. “It has helped people realize there are many ways they can support the church. We do need monetary support to complete the project, but there are other ways that help, too,” said Father Ansems. Father Ansems said the building committee is also actively seeking corporate sponsorships and planning a number of fundraisers. “For me as a priest, it’s an incredible experience to see them constructing and forming something that will last for generations,” he said. “Parishioners will get to see their kids and grandkids baptized and married here,” he added. “It’s exciting, because needing to build a new church is a sign of vitality and new growth.”
TOPEKA — The process of discerning a vocation to the priesthood or the religious life can seem very mysterious — especially when you’re in the fifth grade. For example, one boy asked Karen Lombardi, a college student now in the process of discerning her vocation, if she “saw visions.” Nope. No visions, she said. Lombardi, a graduate student at the University of Kansas, was just one of 12 presenters at the annual fifth-grade vocations day, held on Oct. 6 at Christ the King Parish in Topeka. The event drew 360 fifth-graders from 16 schools in Topeka and other parts of the archdiocese. Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann, six priests, six women religious, and Lombardi gave talks during half-hour sessions. “I think they’re curious; they want to know,” said Lombardi of her young audience. “My hope is that they’ll hear that it takes a lot of prayer — daily prayer — and a lot of small steps of saying ‘yes’ to God — not something you get all at once.” One girl asked Lombardi if she had always been interested in being a religious. “I told her, no, you had to consider both vocations [of religious life and marriage],” said Lombardi. “I mentioned that I had a boyfriend before, and they all thought that was very interesting.” Even young Catholics don’t see as many priests or nuns as earlier generations, so some of the students’ questions centered on the ordinary aspects of a priest’s or nun’s daily life. “What kind of songs do you sing?” one girl asked Sister Sylvena Ajong, a member of the Sisters, Servants of Mary in Kansas City, Kan. “I sing religious songs, of course,” said Sister Sylvena. “I don’t sing like Shakira.” The group of boys that listened to Father Shawn Tunink’s presentation were interested in his initial resistance to his vocational call. “Did you really yell at people who asked you [about being a priest]?” asked one boy. “No, I didn’t exactly yell at them,” said Father Tunink, an associate pastor at Most Pure Heart of Mary Parish in Topeka. “In my mind I was kind of yelling. I didn’t want to become a priest, so I was trying not to listen to all the people who were asking me to be a priest,” he continued. “In my mind, I was kind of yelling at God to leave me alone, because I
Karen Lombardi (above), a doctoral student from the University of Kansas, presented a session on what it was like for a young adult, like herself, to consider a vocation as a religious. Father Shawn Tunink (right), associate pastor at Most Pure Heart of Mary Parish in Topeka, shares with the boys his passion for flying. was doing good here, and I didn’t want to listen to God’s call. Maybe I was a little scared about what it meant to be a priest.” Father Curtis Carlson, OFM Cap., thought the discussion was quite lively. “The boys had very interesting questions,” said Father Curtis, associate pastor of St. John the Evangelist Parish in Lawrence. “It showed that they had put quite a lot of thought into the idea of a religious vocation, and their answers to some of my questions showed that they already had some idea of what it was all about.” The archdiocesan vocations office has sponsored fifth-grade vocations days for many years now, but this year the format saw some changes. A game called “Vocations Jeopardy!” was dropped and two sessions were added. In one, a college-age student shared her discernment process; the other was devoted to eucharistic adoration. “We added things that would be good for [the students’] discernment,” said Melanie Savner, administrative assistant in the vocations office. “We felt the young discerner would be someone a little younger, who the kids could relate to more easily.” The addition of eucharistic adoration was designed not only so the kids
could learn about the devotion, but also to cultivate friendship with Christ. “The most important thing we [did] today was pray and introduce to them all the possibilities that there are of vocations,” said Father Mitchel Zimmerman, vocations office director. The event also included lunch and a
recreational period, a talk by the archbishop, and a closing Mass. The next archdiocesan fifth-grade vocations day, mainly for students in Johnson and Wyandotte counties, will be on March 2, 2011, at Prince of Peace Parish in Olathe.
6 LOCAL NEWS
THE LEAVEN • october 29, 2010
THE LEAVEN • october 29, 2010
Teachers get helping Hahn More than 1,200 teachers from around the archdiocese gathered on Oct. 11 at Christ the King Church in Topeka to hear presentations by Scott Hahn (right), a professor of theology and Scripture at Franciscan University of Steubenville and the founder and director of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology, as well as by the Apostles of the Interior Life, a group women religious that provides spiritual direction at the St. Lawrence Catholic Campus Center at the University of Kansas. Following the presentations, Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann (below) celebrated Mass to close out the day.
— Photos by Lori Wood Habiger
Military chaplain to speak on Veterans Day lenexa — Father James Ludwikoski, pastor of Good Shepherd Parish in Shawnee and a retired Air Force chaplain, will be the guest speaker during the annual Veterans Day observance on Nov. 11 at 2 p.m. at Resurrection Cemetery here, located at 83rd and Quivira Rd. Veterans, family members and friends are invited to attend Father James the flag-raising Ludwikoski ceremony at the Veterans Memorial at the cemetery. Father Ludwikoski was a military chaplain from 1980 to 2009. He retired with the rank of lieutenant colonel. During his military chaplaincy, the archdiocesan priest served at several bases in the United States and was deployed for combat service. The American Legion Band will provide a musical prelude to the ceremony at 1:30 p.m. The brief ceremony will include the flag-raising, patriotic music, a salute to veterans, a 21-gun salute, and the playing of taps. Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7397 will be the color guard. Small flags will be available for gravesite decorations. The Veterans Memorial at Resurrection Cemetery features monuments and flags representing the five branches of the Armed Forces and the Merchant Marines. Family and friends can remember and honor veterans by arranging to have their names engraved on the granite walls adjoining the monuments. Adjacent to the memorial is a section dedicated for burial of veterans and their spouses. For more information, call Catholic Cemeteries at (913) 371-4040; send an e-mail to: information@catholiccemeterieskc.org; or visit the Web site at: www. catholiccemeterieskc.org.
LOCAL NEWS 7
Gift Gallery gives new meaning to retail therapy By Kara Hansen Leaven staff
LEAWOOD — Wouldn’t you love to help someone less fortunate than you — by buying something new for yourself? Well, that’s exactly the opportunity the Gift Gallery at Curé of Ars Parish in Leawood will be offering shoppers this Nov. 13. The event comes just in time for holiday shopping, but also at an ideal time of year to benefit several important causes. “This one-of-a-kind shopping event allows each shopper to donate 20 percent of every dollar they spend,” said Gina Foster, a member of Curé of Ars and Gift Gallery co-chair. “They are having a direct impact in the lives of countless children in our community.” The Gift Gallery is organized by women in the Mothers of Young Children (MOYC) group at Curé. The group is comprised of 100 women, who each must have a child age five or younger to belong. Various social and spiritual activities are offered throughout the year, and members organize and coordinate the Gift Gallery as a way to support one of their primary aid organizations. “Each year we support a variety of charities,” said Foster. “St. Benedict’s Children’s Center [in Kansas City, Kan.] is our primary philanthropy, which we also support throughout the year with monthly visits to help celebrate birthdays and to do a special
The Curé of Ars MOYC Gift Gallery will be held Nov. 13 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Curé of Ars School cafeteria and gymnasium. Admission is $3 at the entrance.
activity; countless donations — including the establishment of a donation room from which the young parents can earn credits to shop; and Christmas in October ‘angel adoption’ for both the students and staff.” Kasie Garlington, director of St. Benedict’s Early Education Center, said the support from Curé’s MOYC group is invaluable. “Proceeds from the Gift Gallery will offer tremendous support to St. Benedict’s Early Education Center,” said Garlington. “Because of Curé of Ars’ MOYC’s continued support, Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas will be better able to provide care and education for children and families in need.” Members of MOYC hold the center in high regard and are committed to serving it, many after volunteering there. “MOYC supports our program in many other ways as well,” Garlington said. “We enjoy our monthly visits, which include a project for each classroom, birthday cake, and a book for everyone that has a birthday that month. They often bring in used items to place in our donation room, as well as diapers and wipes for the classrooms.” “At Christmastime,” she add-
ed, “the teachers receive a gift card and each child enrolled is adopted and receives items that they are in need of and want. Everyone is always so friendly. I am not sure what we would do without all of their help and support!” Each year, 100 percent of the Gift Gallery’s proceeds are donated after costs. The group has donated $47,000 since it opened the gallery in 2003. Besides St. Benedict’s, MOYC has taken on a number of other charities, some closer to home. “Camp Tekakwitha [in Williamsburg] and Curé’s school receive multiple scholarships to support camp tuition and those continuing on to Catholic high school, respectively,” said Foster. “Last year we were able to donate over $15,000 [to those causes].” For those wanting to get a jump on their holiday shopping, the Gift Gallery’s 45 vendors and artisans have a number of items from which to choose. Additionally, Foster said the event was far from what you might expect at a typical craft fair. “The festive atmosphere is beautiful and the perfect kickoff to your holiday shopping,” she said. “There is live entertainment, food and beverages, and a true spirit of giving throughout the event. “The products featured at this event are unique, upscale and fabulous.”
The Gift Gallery at Curé of Ars Parish in Leawood offers many unique items just in time for the holiday season.
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Africans are Us
Story and photos by Bill Scholl
I
Archdiocesan social justice consultant Bill Scholl poses with a group of young children during his tour of African villages helped by Catholic Relief Services.
A chorus of women sing a song of gratitude for Catholic Relief Services during a CRS tour of the Goro Gutu Woreda district of Ethiopia.
never expected to be talking to the archbishop about toilets — much less on the radio. But there we were, recording his local weekly show, “The Shepherd’s Voice,” and I was spouting off about how to make and use latrines in Africa. Recently, I had the privilege of traveling to Ethiopia
and Tanzania with Catholic Relief Services (CRS) to see some of the work and meet the people that the American Catholic Church helps through our support of that agency. Archbishop Naumann had invited me on his show to talk about Africa, and I felt compelled to share with him and his listeners how important community sanitation is to the developing world. “One of the things I wasn’t really aware of till I went there was just how sick people get because they don’t have proper community sanitation,” I explained. “There’s so much we have in this country that we just don’t have to think about.” I then proceeded to expound on arbor loos and ash (see sidebar on next page) and how CRS educates and helps people avoid getting sick. My short explanation started with latrines, which led to wells, and then to smart farming practices. Capitalizing on the subject change, Archbishop Naumann made the follow-
ing comparison. “Back in St. Louis,” he said, “there was a priest years ago. . . . He was revered; he was known as Alfalfa George. “He taught the farmers there to do contour farming,” the archbishop continued, “and it changed their lives, and it made them very successful. . . . It’s the same kind of thing now that we are doing in other parts of the world, trying to help people have the same knowledge of what can make them more productive.” With that, the archbishop summed up all my sentiments and suppositions on my solidarity experience: Africans are us.
They are now where we once were, and our Catholic faith calls us to a solidarity that seeks to help them make a better life as once the church helped us to make a better life here. As we tumbled along in a CRS Land Cruiser on the Ethiopian rough, clay dirt roads on our way to see a water project in a Muslim village, Lane Bunkers, the country representative in Ethiopia, shared this story. “We went to a Muslim village to discuss with them their needs,” he said. “In the town there was a brand-new, very nice mosque and minaret equipped with
A young boy tends sheep at Same, Tanzania, along the tour. CRS projects ensure that the village has access to clean water, which helps prevent disease. loudspeakers for daily prayers. It had been funded with Saudi money, but the people did not have access to clean water. I can’t understand how you could build something like that before helping the people get clean water.” Water was to be a constant theme throughout the trip. After some harrowing four-wheeling, we stopped at a village where we were greeted by hundreds
of beautiful black faces dressed in bright colors. “You are going to want to record this,” Bunkers predicted. A chorus of women sang in unison, as 30 men, huddled in a circle, chanted a welcome to us. The chords reverberated their gratitude for what we, as Catholics, through CRS had done. I felt a little like the donkey on Palm Sunday — swallowed up in the joy and celebration in which I was playing such a slight role. But I was swelling with pride to be representing the Catholics of northeast Kansas, who support CRS. Eventually, the crowd reluctantly stopped and the speeches began. We were touring the Harrar Catholic Secretariat (HCS) water project. Before CRS came, the villagers had limited access to water from various streams. During the dry season, water was scarce, and even when it wasn’t, it was unsanitary: Water was shared by both humans and livestock. But with CRS help, these villagers developed a cooperative plan that secured a clean water supply for themselves and their families. “It’s a project we call the ‘Multiple Uses of Water,’” explained Bunkers. “We develop a water point for a community or a group of households with two purposes in mind: One would be the personal use for the families to drink; the other . . . would be for economic reasons — to serve as irrigation for their crops and as water points for their livestock.” The plan involved drilling a well and running pipelines to separate supplies for human consumption and that of livestock. The cost of such a well runs between $30,000 to $40,000, a price completely out of range for a village whose inhabitants make less than a dollar a day. A plan required the villagers to build a road — more like a wide dirt path cleared with ax and shovel — to provide access to the village by the CRS drilling rig. It also involved the forming of a governing board of 10 villagers to oversee the regulation and upkeep of the well. In order to ensure all stakeholders were represented, at least three of the members had to be women. Although the culture is a patriarchal one, the women do the lioness’ share of the water carrying. Every family that used the well also had to agree to pay a small fee (about ten cents a month) to cover its upkeep. Once sufficient funds are raised to ensure solvency, the funds will be used to start a micro-loan program that villagers can borrow from for business ventures. “Ever since the well, we don’t get sick like we used to,” explained one of the villagers. A distressing reality in the developing world is that diarrhea from drinking bad water can kill. Waste passes through the body so quickly that it takes out all the water with it, and the victim dies of dehydration. Because children are especially vulnerable, CRS works with schools to teach the children hygiene. The children bring these lessons home to their families, and soon the entire village is living healthier, more productive lives. The village of Yeme Umame Tokuma is lucky. It is on a hill with a good watershed so it retains enough water to supply the well throughout the year. Other parts of the country and the continent are not so lucky. When our trip took us to Same, Tanzania, I spoke to Harold Hmsanya, a CRS staffer who works on the “Multiple Uses of Water” project. “CRS has been working with the Diocese of Same for quite a number of years, and the problem of water has been mentioned every time we go to the community. The critical problem here is water,’’ Hmsanya said. Each community is unique in that it has special challenges and different resources. CRS works with each commu-
Low-tech ways to save lives: On arbor loos and ash In the developed world, we are blessed not to have to worry about getting sick from our drinking water or getting rid of body waste. But in developing countries it is still a tremendous problem. Here are some of the low-tech ways CRS helps.
Ethiopian children gather containers to haul clean water back to their homes. Access to clean water can be problematic for Africans because of cost and the time it takes to drill a well. nity individually to help it come up with the best plan to find and manage its water. At one water station in a remote town near Same, there is a sign that says it all. It reads: “Maji Ni Uhai” or “Water Is Life,” in Swahili. Conservation is often key to CRS’ strategy. In many cases, the solution involves building terraces along hills or planting trees in what are called micro-basins so that during the times that it does rain, the hills are able to capture and retain the most water possible to supply the water table for wells. The process is labor intensive, which creates a problem. How can families take time to build village infrastructure when they are already so busy tending their crops just so they can eat? It’s a devilish Catch-22 — you are almost starving because you don’t have enough water, but if you stop farming to solve that problem you will have no food. Chris West, CRS policy advisor and one of the leaders of the tour, explained that CRS projects are prepared for that. The agency recruits villagers to do the labor, but then supports the workers during the time it takes to complete the project. “And all during this time they are working to improve their community, we are able to help offer food through Food for Work programs (sponsored by the U.S. Agency for International Development or USAID) so that everyone’s provided for,” he said. “They don’t have to stop farming and risk going hungry in order to improve their village. Instead, they are free to terrace watershed hills so that they will have more water in future years.” As part of the Farm Bill each year, the United States donates various grains to Africa. In many regions of Africa, CRS is the chief distributor of those grains. West said that as a CRS policy advocate his hope is that every U.S. Catholic would “give at least $10 to CRS and one phone call to a representative, asking him or her to support USAID.” West wants Catholics to know that less than one percent of federal monies go to foreign humanitarian aid, far less than most Americans imagine. But he believes that USAID is perhaps the most effective
investment America can make in promoting peace around the world. And it enables CRS to help millions. Millions who desperately need our help. Africa is a land of contrasts, CRS workers explain. “In Africa, you will find the home of the joyful and the sorrowful mysteries — experience it!” said Dan Griffin, CRS staffer and former head of programs in Ethiopia. And experience it we did, sometimes all at once. On our brief 10-day trip, we experienced it in the agony in the garden of Mother Teresa’s homes for the destitute, where disabled patients don’t have the strength to swat flies away from their faces. We experienced it in the visitation of joyful Africans greeting us in their arid villages all across the countryside. We experienced the mystery of finding Jesus in the faces of the poorest of the poor. We experienced heroic priests and laymen and laywomen striving to enable their countrymen to enjoy more prosperous lives. We witnessed many moments of “preevangelization,” or demonstrating the love of Christ before speaking it. “CRS is not directly about getting souls to heaven,” Griffin explained. “ It’s about getting people out of a life of hell.” At the time, I was skeptical and asked myself, “Why not do both at the same time!?” I was reminded of this naïve sentiment of a comfortable Christian when the archbishop shared a story of another beloved priest in the same radio interview mentioned above. The priest had promoted a sandwich ministry for the homeless in Topeka. “The late Father John Rossiter . . . would say, ‘You can’t preach and you can’t teach someone who is hungry. They are not going to be able to hear the word of God until some of these basic human needs are met,’” said Archbishop Naumann. The wisdom of his words echoes the wisdom of our church. You cannot show you care for a person’s soul, unless you are first able to share a love that wills for that person’s good. Through Catholic Relief Services,
Arbor loos “Loo” is British slang for toilet, and arbor refers to planting a tree. (Do you see where this is going yet?) A quick trip to a nearby bush is fine for a camping trip, but in a village it can pile up, spread disease and contaminate drinking water. CRS helps families by providing them with a concrete pad equipped with a hole out of which they can construct a temporary outhouse. The family is then responsible for digging a three-meter hole and building a portable outhouse structure. Each time someone uses the outhouse, he also pours down some ash (collected from the family’s fire pit) to keep the smell down and kill germs. When the hole is almost full, the family can then move the concrete top and the structure to another hole and bury the old one. Now here’s the best part. After six months, they can plant a papaya tree in the old spot and the tree, because of all the fertilizer, will grow amazingly well, providing the family with an excellent source of vitamins and nutrients. How’s that for a circle of life? Ash Your parents always told you to wash your hands. And they were right. Soap kills many germs that can cause deadly disease. However, some people in Africa can’t afford soap. When Dad makes less than a dollar a day, that soap bill can really add up. So what to do? CRS teaches children to use ash in place of soap. Ash works great for disinfecting the latrine and while not as good as soap, it will kill most germs. CRS micro-loans have funded cottage industries to make soap so soap can be sold at affordable prices for villages and create jobs. The Tippy Tap Plumbing, indoor or outdoor, is still a luxury for most people in the world. So how do you teach people to wash their hands after using the toilet? CRS developed a simple invention called the tippy tap. Two poles stuck in the ground hold up a horizontal pole. Hanging by its handle is a milk jug filled with water. The jug is tied to a string by its nozzle and the string is tied to a lever on the ground that you can push with your foot. When you wash your hands, you just push the lever and water pours out.
“American Catholics are called to witness to Christ’s love through the kind of aid that breaks down prejudices and sees human beings as precious, simply because they are human. Water is life, they say in Africa. And it must be true. Because it was through the waters of baptism that we were all given eternal life in Christ — and made one in him. It is thus fitting for care to be taken to ensure that the waters used for baptism are first accessible to all . . . and free of disease. Africans are, indeed, us.
10 nation
THE LEAVEN • october 29, 2010
Catholic Extension gives over $1 million to campus ministries CHICAGO (CNS) — Catholic Extension is awarding more than $1 million in grants to campus ministry programs at 59 college campuses in 30 under-resourced dioceses served by the Chicago-based organization. “We are determined to reach young Catholics, not only because they need our support during these critical years when they are emerging as adults, but because we need their spirit and innate sense of hope if we are to continue to grow the dynamic presence of the Catholic faith in our country,” said Father Jack Wall, president of Catholic Extension. “Strong, well-funded and well-run campus ministry programs for our college students are the best way to fuel our faith’s bright future in under-resourced regions of America,” he said in an Oct. 19 statement. For example, the University of Wyoming in Laramie, in the Cheyenne Diocese, is receiving $45,000 to support its St. Paul Newman Center which has a 57 percent participation rate among Catholics on campus. The center fosters student leadership through retreats, workshops, community service, mission work, internships and vocational study programs.
Surviving his kidnapping led Colombian back to his faith DES MOINES, Iowa (CNS) — Surviving six months as a hostage of Colombian rebels in 1997 turned Marino Restrepo back to his Catholic faith and made him understand that the extravagant lifestyle he had enjoyed before being kidnapped was wrong. “I was only interested in money, fame, pleasure and living in the fast lane,” he told participants at a “Christ Our Life” Catholic conference here in mid-October. “I thought I was a good guy because I was involved in charities, but I was committing a mortal sin because I was living away from God.” He was kidnapped by members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, known as FARC, during a visit home at Christmas. He has credited his release to “a miracle.” Now a full-time missionary for the church, he travels the world evangelizing; starting in the early 1980s, he spent almost 20 years touring internationally as an entertainer. “Our homework is to learn how to love, how to forgive and giving our possessions,” he said.
THE LEAVEN • october 29, 2010
Active church role sought in ethical debates
Church must use today’s media to tell stories By Ed Wilkinson
Catholic News Service
NEW YORK (CNS) — If Jesus wasn’t afraid to speak about the birds of the air, why should the church be afraid to tweet, Jesuit Father James Martin asked as he addressed a communications luncheon in Manhattan. “You ask church officials if they tweet and they usually laugh,” said the author and culture editor of America magazine. But it isn’t such a ridiculous question, he said, urging church communicators to employ Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. “The lack of attention to these sites conveys the impression that they are somehow beneath you,” Father Martin said. Yet Jesus wasn’t afraid to speak in the language of the people of his time. “The parables were vivid stories, simple stories about farmers planting seeds, women sweeping their house, a man being beaten by robbers — and easily understood by nature — a mustard seed, lilies, birds, clouds,” he said. He spoke about the institutional church’s use of digital media in its mission to proclaim the Gospel in the United States, saying the church succeeds when it has a firm presence on the Web. “Their sites are there for the devout and the doubtful, and are great repositories of useful information,” he said. But he said some are dull, unimaginative, static and hard to navigate. He challenged church communicators to make the sites more interactive and use more than just text. He suggested more video, podcasts, slideshows and conversation. “Otherwise, don’t be surprised at the lack of hits.” Web sites need to be kept up-to-date, he said, because young people are used to fast-flowing and current digital information.
CNS photo/Paul Haring CNS photo/courtesy of Center City District Philadelphia
HATS CHOSEN FOR PERMANENT COLLECTION AT SMITHSONIAN — Thirty hats created by Mae Reeves, right, will become part of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington. The 97-year-old Reeves, a Catholic, is pictured at a July ceremony at the African American Museum in Philadelphia that included designs from her nearly 60-year millinery career. She was the first black woman to start a business in Philadelphia.
Diocese supports public school ban on wearing rosaries By Bill Howard
Catholic News Service COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (CNS) — The Diocese of Colorado Springs said it “does not oppose” a decision by some local public schools to ban rosaries from being worn as an accessory on top of students’ clothing. Although the diocese said it “supports every student’s First Amendment right to openly wear religious jewelry, including bracelets, necklaces and rings displaying crosses, crucifixes and other symbols of religious faith,” it acknowledged the right of school districts “to regulate clothing and other items that have been misappropriated as symbols of gang affiliation.” “Because some gangs in the local area have decided to wear rosaries as jewelry as a symbol of their gang affiliation, the diocese does not oppose the decision by some schools in School District 11 to ask students who choose to wear rosaries to
keep them inside their shirts,” the diocese said in an Oct. 12 statement. Students at Mann Middle School in Colorado Springs were told about the decision in a memo from school officials: “Students, we need to remind everyone that here at Mann, we respect all religious beliefs. Some members of the Catholic faith are offended by rosaries being worn around the neck like fashion accessories.” Msgr. Ricardo Coronado-Arrascue, diocesan judicial vicar and chancellor, said rosaries and other devotionals are not “meant to be jewelry.” He added that the use of religious symbols by gangs is an affront to faith. “To belong in a gang is against Catholic teaching because it involves violent confrontation,” he said. “To use a Christian symbol to express that is contrary to the symbol and contrary to the faith. Rosaries are many times prayed to obtain peace. How can you wear a symbol of peace and have it represent violence and fighting?”
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PRELATES PRAY DURING SYNOD OF BISHOPS — Prelates pray during the closing Mass of the Synod of Bishops for the Middle East in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican Oct. 24.
Unity among Catholics in Holy Land is essential, says synod By Sarah Delaney
Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Division among the different Catholic churches in Jerusalem is a serious problem that must be overcome to ensure the survival of Christianity there, three church leaders from Jerusalem said. Some participants in the Synod of Bishops for the Middle East said they believed that two weeks of talks at the Vatican have helped establish a better spirit of dialogue, which will continue. The special problems facing Catholics in a city that is holy for Christians, Jews and Muslims were discussed by Latinrite Auxiliary Bishop William H. Shomali of Jerusalem; Auxiliary Bishop Salim Sayegh of Jerusalem, patriarchal vicar for Latin-rite Catholics in Jordan; and Jesuit Father David Neuhaus, vicar for Hebrew- and Russian-speaking Catholics for the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. Father Neuhaus said the divisions were principally among the leaders of the different churches, including the Latin patriarchate and the smaller Eastern Catholic communities: the Melkite, Maronite, Chaldean, Syrian, Armenian
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and Coptic churches. “When you look at the bishops, you see the divisions, but the more you get to the grass roots, the more those divisions disappear,” he said. “When you walk through the streets of Jerusalem, Bethlehem (West Bank) or Nazareth, and you ask which group they belong to, the answer from Christians is ‘I am a Christian,’ not ‘I am Roman Catholic or Greek Catholic or Maronite.’” The Christian identity “is very strong among people who realize that the future of Christians depends on them being united,” he said. “Unfortunately, some of the heirarchs are not yet of that conviction, but if we believe in the strength of the grass roots, it will slowly filter upwards,” he said. Bishop Shomali, who works with about 11,000 Latin Catholics in Jerusalem and the Palestinian territories, said that his church needed to build better relationships with other Catholics and reduce conflicts over the contested Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem and holy sites in Bethlehem. “If we strengthen our links together, our testimony, our witness, will be stronger toward the Orthodox, and with the Orthodox our witness will be stronger toward Muslims and Jews,” he said.
RHODES, Greece (CNS) — European Catholic and Orthodox representatives praised a growing awareness of religious rights on their continent and urged governments to allow churches a more active role in ethical debates. In a joint statement from the Greek island of Rhodes, the representatives said bishops and theologians at the second Catholic-Orthodox Forum had welcomed the legal protection given to religious rights by Europe’s democratic constitutions, as well as by international instruments such as the 2000 Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. However, it said, “The legal system on which states and relations among citizens are based cannot depend on the changeable opinions of people, nor on action by pressure groups. Such a system should be based on the intangible human values which are intrinsic to humankind.” “Our churches wish they could participate more actively in the ethical and moral debates concerning the future of the society,” the statement said. The statement was published during the mid-October forum, co-chaired by Cardinal Peter Erdo, Hungarian president of the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences, and Orthodox Metropolitan Gennadios of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. A resolution with recommendations for promoting religious freedom in the EU’s external relations, including a religious rights clause in agreements with third countries, is to be presented to the European Parliament this fall. The Catholic-Orthodox statement said separation of church and state should “leave room for a specific and harmonious cooperation.” It added that governments should not “impose an ideology through the school system,” and said recognition of Europe’s Christian roots was “key for our future in a globalized world.”
world 11
Bshops question effectiveness of dialogue with Muslims VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Two Syrian Catholic bishops living in Lebanon told the Synod of Bishops for the Middle East that the blossoming number of Catholic-Muslim dialogue projects has not and may never lead to real understanding. In his written submission, Archbishop Raboula Beylouni, who works in the Syrian Catholic curia in Lebanon, wrote that formal Catholic-Muslim dialogues are “difficult and often ineffective,” partially because the Quran tells Muslims they belong to “the only true and complete religion.” Muslims, he said, come “to dialogue with a sense of superiority and with the certitude of being victorious.” In addition, the archbishop said, “The Quran allows the Muslim to hide the truth from the Christian and to speak and act contrary to how he thinks and believes.”
Death toll mounts in cholera outbreak in rural Haiti WASHINGTON (CNS) — Haitian President Rene Preval confirmed that an outbreak of cholera caused the deaths of at least 169 people and severe diarrhea and dehydration in 2,000 others in central Haiti within 72 hours. The confirmation Oct. 22 came after clergy in rural communities in the Antibonite department started seeing the illness and reported their concerns to aid workers. Scientists from the Pan American Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta continued testing water and food samples to confirm Preval’s announcement and determine how the disease suddenly appeared. Aid workers were taking steps to stop the outbreak from spreading from communities in southern Antibonite to other parts of the country. Thousands of people fled to the region after the country’s devastating earthquake in January. Water, hygiene kits and antibiotics were being trucked into the area by aid agencies. Information about the disease’s symptoms and prevention tips was passed on to people. The effort was aimed at preventing the disease from reaching vulnerable tent camps in the earthquakebattered capital and surrounding communities, about two hours south of where the outbreak erupted. More than 1.3 million people continue to live in flimsy tents and under tarps in some 1,350 camps with little access to clean water and no place for human waste.
12 CLASSIFIEDS Employment Retail assistant manager - Opening for full- or part-time position at Dennis Uniform store in Overland Park. Computer skills required. For information or to apply, call Pat at (913) 381-6500 or send an e-mail to her at: pam@dennisuniform.com. Early education director - St. John Francis Regis Parish seeks an enthusiastic leader of our family friendly Early Learning Center to guide our 6-weeks through pre-K program, plus our school-age after-care program and summer school-age program. The qualified candidate will be an active and practicing Catholic in good standing with the church, preferably with a bachelor’s degree in early education or related field. A minimum of 12 hours in the field of early childhood is required. A minimum of three years of experience in a supervised child care classroom setting. One year in a supervisory position is required. The director will have skills in marketing, personnel management and budgeting. Familiarity with NAEYC accreditation is a must. The ability to work with both children and adults in an active learning environment and maintain staff development in accordance with diocesan and state standards is also necessary. Applications are available by contacting the Catholic Schools Office at (816) 756-1858, ext. 274, or on the Web site at: http://jobs.diocesekcsj.org/jobs. Part-time bowling machine mechanic - St. John’s Catholic Club, Kansas City, Kan., needs someone to maintain a six-lane house in the men’s club. All late model 1960s Brunswick equipment. Call Kenny at (913) 788-9758. Financial representative - Due to the success and growth of the Knights of Columbus, we are adding financial representatives in the Kansas City and Emporia areas. This position is ideal for a determined, high-energy, high-expectation, professional, selfdisciplined, independent individual desiring to serve others, yet earn a better-than-average 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 Mortgage rates have never been lower!!! Considering a refinance or new home purchase? Call today to see how much money you can save. We make mortgage loans easy and hassle-free. Evening and weekend appointments available. Members of Holy Trinity Parish, Lenexa. Call Kurt or Angie at Approved Mortgage Inc. (913) 599-0004 An equal housing lender. KS mortgage number MC0002252 Housecleaning - Charmaine will provide you with excellent service you can depend on. Years of experience in satisfying customers. Serving the Greater KC metro area. Call Charmaine at (913) 972-7900. Husband and wife cleaning team - Reasonable rates; references provided. Call (913) 940-2959. Old-fashioned cleaning - Hand-mopping; a consistent, thorough job every time! Years of experience; excellent references. Special occasion, party and holiday cleaning. I make a great gift! Call Sharon at (816) 322-0006. Light housekeeping and errand running - I will help with grocery shopping, doctors’ appointments, housekeeping and errand running for the elderly. References. Call (913) 432-8128. Need help with QuickBooks®? - I provide setup, customizing, and maintenance; quarterly and/ or yearly accounting; and support for your certified public accountant. I can help with balancing monthly statements and providing profit and expense tracking. Call Ann at Evans Consulting LLC at (913) 4069778 or send an e-mail to: Annevans401@gmail.com. Member of Curé of Ars Parish. Machine quilting by Lyn - I also do T-shirt, photo, and memorial quilts. Official Hobbs distributor. Located in Overland Park. Call Lyn at (913) 492-8877. Piano teacher - With over 30 years experience, accepting new students. Young beginners through advanced; three through 18 years of age. I provide a caring, creative, and positive learning environment. To schedule a visit to my studio, call (913) 832-7079 or send an e-mail to: ainewendler@hotmail.com.
THE LEAVEN • OCTOBER 29, 2010 Tutoring available - For grades K - 12 and college- level students. Instructor is degreed and has experience in the classroom. For information, call (913) 206-2151 or send an e-mail to: Klmamuric@ yahoo.com. Tree service - Pruning 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. Foley’s Lawn Care Now scheduling fall cleanups. Providing you with mowing, overseeding, aeration, verticutting, gutter cleaning and mulching. Serving Johnson County for over 10 yrs. St. Joseph parishioner. (913) 825-4353 www.foleyslawncare.com. Semi-retired arborist - Available for tree and shrub trimming. Call Bob at (913) 231- 6460. 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. Counseling - Topeka Marriage and family, child, teen, personal Shunga Creek Mental Health Call Ken Zweig, LSCSW at (785) 969-5308. Faith-based counseling to cope with life concerns - Kansas City area. Call Mary Vorsten, Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, at (913) 909-2002.
Caregiving Mature Catholic woman - Available for parttime caregiving. Excellent references. Years of experience. Mid-Johnson County area preferred. Call (913) 579-8914. Retired nurse - Available to care for your loved one. Days, nights, and weekends. Will consider livein; willing to relocate. References; salary negotiable. Call (913) 579-5276. 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. Do you or your parents need help at home? For as little as $60/week, Benefits of Home-Senior 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.
Home Improvement Adept Home Improvements Where quality still counts! Basement finishing, Kitchens and baths, Electrical and plumbing, Licensed and insured. (913) 599-7998 Clutter problems? Embarrassing garage, basement, attic or any room? Let me help you get organized! Items sorted, grouped, boxed and labeled; areas clean when finished. Great references and insured. Twenty years experience! Handyman repairs also available. To view “before” and “after” pictures, visit my Web site at: WWW.SWALMS.COM. Tillar Swalm (913) 375-9115. 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! Lead-certified and insured! Serving the metro since 1997. Call (913) 768-6655. Electrician - Free estimates; reasonable rates. JoCo and southern KC metro area. Call Pat at (913) 9639896. Interior and exterior painting and wallpaper removal - 30-plus years experience. Quality work; excellent references; reasonable rates. Senior discount. Member of St. Ann Parish, Prairie Village. Call Joe at (913) 620-5776.
THE LEAVEN • OCTOBER 29, 2010 Painting, exterior and interior, drywall projects, powerwashing, rotted window sills repaired - Quality products. 20 years experience. References. Call (913) 341-7584. Custom countertops - Laminates installed within 5 days. Cambria, granite, and solid surface. Competitive prices, dependable work. Call the Top Shop, Inc., at (913) 962-5058. Members of St. Joseph, Shawnee. Masonry work – Quality, new or repair work. Brick, block, and chimney/fireplace repair. Insured; second generation bricklayer. Call (913) 829-4336. 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: smokey cabin@hotmail.com. Member of Holy Trinity, Lenexa. Father-and-son team - These guys can do it all — exterior painting, decks, fences, retaining walls, metal buildings, patios, porches, and driveways. We’ll do your job for a reasonable price! Call Josh at (913) 709-7230. 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. Carpet direct – We cut out the middle man and bring the showroom to you! The best place to see your flooring is in your own home or office. Save 40 - 80% on carpet and hard surfaces. Residential and commercial. For a free estimate, call Amanda at (913) 742-4003. 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
Olathe home - Cozy up to a beautiful floor-toceiling, wood-burning, brick fireplace! 3 BR, 1-1/2 BA, finished lower level, two-car garage, raised ranch with wonderfully landscaped front yard. All new paint inside and out; new flooring and carpet; newer roof; new HVAC and dishwasher; new kitchen cabinets and countertops. Appliances stay — including washer and dryer. Large decks, fenced yard, shed and private backyard that backs to woods. Walk to schools. Shopping minutes away. Seller is motivated; move in tomorrow! Best price in Olathe at $144,950. Located at 714 E. 125th Terr. Call (913) 825-4040 or send an e-mail to: becky@divateam.com.
Vacation Ski Winter Park, Colo., this spring break! Fixed week #9 from 2/26/11 - 3/5/11. Very nice condo. 2 BR, 2 BA, with kitchen and fireplace. Pets are OK. Rent for $400 per week, or buy for $1200. To view, Google “Inn at Silver Creek.” Call (913) 649-7596. Vacation rental - Marriott Frenchman’s Cove time share, St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands. Jan. 8 - 15, 2011. 1 BR, 1 BA, suite with two queen beds, private entrance, balcony and kitchenette. To view, visit the Web site at: www.marriottvacationclub.com. $1,000/ week. Call Amy at (816) 853-0307. Ski cabin in Winter Park, Colo. – 2 BR, 1 BA, on free ski shuttle route. $110/night. Call (913) 642-3027. For pictures, visit the Web site at: cabin.forcadeassociates.com. Lake of the Ozarks rental - Osage Beach; million-dollar view; fully furnished; 2 BR, 2 BA; sleeps six. No smoking, no pets. For special rates or pictures, call Steve or Sheryl Roederer at (913) 244-2022.
Misc. Donate a vehicle. Make a difference. Donate your vehicle to Catholic Charities to support those in need. Your tax-deductible donation of a vehicle helps children and families served by Catholic Charities and is an environmentally responsible way to recycle your vehicle. Cars for KC Kids is a partnership between Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas and Catholic Charities of Kansas City - St. Joseph. Call 1 (866) 430-9499 or visit the Web site at: www.cars4kckids.com.
For Rent
For Sale
Lenexa duplex - 3 BR, 1-1/2 BA, updated, fireplace, hardwoods, one-car garage. One year lease, $825/month. Call Traci or Greg at (913) 768-6447.
For sale – One cemetery plot at Mount Calvary Cemetery, Kansas City, Kan. Section 4; lot 189; space 3. Asking $800. Price is negotiable. Call (816) 4527382.
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. For rent – 1 BR, 1 BA apartment in Shawnee near Nieman and Johnson Dr. $500/month; utilities included. 10911 W. 59th Terr. To view, visit the Web site at: www.shawnee-rentals.com. Call (913) 649-7596.
Real Estate Westwood home FSBO - 3 BR, 2-1/2 BA ranch. Low utilities; well-insulated; dry, partially fin. bsmt.; lots of storage; fenced backyard; hardwood floors. SME school district; near St. Agnes Parish and Bishop Miege High School. $169,500. Call (913) 432-2287. Ottawa home - 3 BR, 3 BA ranch. Full fin. walkout bsmt. Across from country club. Easy access to I-35. Next to park. $149,950. MLS#1692987. Call Betty Birzer, Reece & Nichols, at (785) 418-5701 or (785) 229-8890 or visit: www.betty birzer.com. Walk to St. James Academy - 9621 Appleridge Lane, Lenexa.Beautiful 4 BR, 4-1/2 BA, plus main level office. Exquisite open floor plan with mud room, semi-finished basement, and more. On a cul-de-sac. For information, call Cynthia Sowle, Coldwell Banker, at (913) 240-3263. Wonderful true 5-bedroom home - Prince of Peace, Olathe. Only $175,000. Great updates; excellent condition. Fenced yard. Master with bath; laundry on main level. Motivated seller. 1430 E. Wells Fargo Dr. Minutes from Garmin and hwys. Call Rita Moley Dickey, Reece and Nichols, at (913) 269-4786.
Residential lifts - Buy/sell/trade. Stair lifts, porch lifts, ceiling lifts and elevators. Recycled and new equipment. Member of St. Michael the Archangel Parish, Leawood. Call Silver Cross KC at (913) 393-2042.
Wanted to buy ***WANTED*** I buy coins, older watches, silverware, slot machines, old rifles and shotguns, stoneware crocks and jugs, old furniture from basement or attic. Call Chris at (913) 593-7507 or (913) 642-8269 Will buy firearms and related accessories One or a whole collection. Honest evaluation and top prices paid. Contact Tom at (913) 238-2473. Member of Sacred Heart Parish, Shawnee. Antique/Vintage Costume Jewelry ***Wanted to Buy*** * Member St. Joseph Parish Renee Maderak (913) 631-7179
Entertainment DJ Irishman - Colm Delahunt is available for parties, weddings, graduations, and any other function. Playing all your favorite hits from the Village People to U2. Call (913) 548-6765 or visit the Web site at: www.djirishman.com.
To purchase a classified ad:
Send an e-mail to: jennifer@theleaven.com, or call (913) 647-0327. The cost is $16 per column inch, five lines or less. Each additional line is $1.50.
Oct.
For reservations, contact Mary Cheney at (913) 468-1026 or Bev Vyhanek (913) 362-7397. This event is not limited to women; men are welcome to attend.
4-6 The Ladies of Charity of 30 The Catholic Education Metropolitan Kansas City will host Foundation will hold its annual Gaude- their annual holiday boutique from 4 -
amus dinner at 6:15 p.m. on Oct. 30 at the Overland Park Convention Center, 6000 College Blvd. For information or to register, call (913) 647-0344 or visit the Web site at: www.cefks.org. Holy Family Church, 513 Ohio, Kansas City, Kan., will host its annual Halloween dance from 7 - 11 p.m. on Oct. 30 in Mejak Hall. Music will be provided by the Don Lipovac Orchestra. Tickets cost $12 per person. Hamburgers and hotdogs will be available to purchase. Wear your favorite costume; children are welcome! For information or to purchase tickets, call Richard Schutte at (913) 6693677 or Mike Waliczek at (913) 342-1785.
31
Sacred Heart Parish, Paxico, will host an old-fashioned German sausage supper from noon - 6 p.m. on Oct. 31 in the Knights of Columbus Hall in Newbury, located 1-1/2 miles north of Paxico. The cost is: $8 for adults; $3.50 for children ages 6-12; and $2.50 for children ages 2-5. There will also be bingo, a beer garden, a silent auction and games for all ages. The Leavenworth Region of the Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women will host their quarterly meeting and potluck luncheon at 12:30 p.m. on Oct. 31 in the community room of the Leintz Funeral Home, 4701 10th Ave. For information, call (913) 682-8899.
7 p.m. on Nov. 4; from 9 a.m. - 8 p.m. on Nov.. 5; and from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. on Nov. 6 at the Ritz Charles, 9000 W. 137th St., Overland Park. There will be a “Cruising to the Emerald Isle” opening night gala reception on Nov. 4. Social hour will begin at 6:30 p.m. and dinner will follow at 7:30 p.m. Come enjoy an evening of dinner, live music, silent auction and a chance to win a trip to Weaver’s Lodge, Kenmare, Ireland. For ticket information and/or reservations, call Mary at (816) 363-7838. All proceeds will benefit Duchesne Clinic, Seton Center and Villa St. Francis.
4, 6 & 7
The performing arts department of St. Thomas Aquinas High School will present the musical “West Side Story” at 7 p.m. on Nov. 4, 6 and 7 and at 2 p.m. on Nov. 7 in the school’s theater. Tickets cost $6 per person. For information or to purchase tickets, call (913) 345-1411 or visit the Web site at: www.stasaints.net/theater.
5
The eighth-grade class of St. Agnes School, 5130 Mission Rd., Roeland Park, will host a bingo night from 7 - 10 p.m. on Nov. 5. The cost is $5 in advance; $7 at the door. Advance tickets will be sold after all Masses during the weekends of Oct. 23 - 24 and Oct. 30 - 31.
6
Nov.
The Knights of Columbus of Sacred Heart Church, 2646 S. 34th St., Kansas City, Kan., will host an all-youcan-eat fried chicken dinner from 5 - 7 p.m. on Nov. 6 in the parish hall. The cost is $20 for adults; $5 for children under 12.
St. Agnes Parish, 5250 Mission Rd., Roeland Park, will celebrate vespers for the Solemnity of All Saints at 7 p.m. on Nov. 1. The prayer service will include eucharistic adoration, singing the litany of the saints, and Benediction.
1
The Knights of Columbus of Sacred Heart Church, 2646 S. 34th St., Kansas City, Kan., will host a fundraising dinner and Texas hold’em poker tournament at 6 p.m. on Nov. 6 in the parish hall. A suggested donation of $30 is appreciated. For information, call (913) 963-9095.
2
Curé of Ars Parish, 9401 Mission Rd., Leawood, will host its inaugural 5K and one-mile fun run and pancake breakfast on Nov. 6 at 9 a.m. on the church grounds. For information or to register, visit the Web site at: www.cureofars5k.com.
Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann will preside at a special ceremony on Nov. 2 at 4:30 p.m. to bless and dedicate the cross in a section of Mount Calvary Cemetery, 38th and State, Kansas City, Kan., that has been newly designated for the Sisters, Servants of Mary. The 8-foot granite cross rises above the section of the cemetery recently donated to the Sisters by Catholic Cemeteries. For information call (913) 371-4040 or send an e-mail to: catholiccemeterieskc.org. Catholic Cemeteries of Johnson and Wyandotte Counties will host two special All Souls Day Masses at 9:30 a.m. on Nov. 2 in the Prince of Peace Mausoleum at Resurrection Cemetery, 83rd and Quivira, Lenexa, and in the St. Joseph Mausoleum at Mount Calvary Cemetery, 38th and State Ave., Kansas City, Kan. For information, call (913) 371-4040 or send an e-mail to: information@catholic cemeterieskc.org.
4
The women’s club of St. Ann Parish, 7231 Mission Rd., Prairie Village, will host their annual luncheon, card and game party from 10:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. on Nov. 4 in the parish hall. A suggested donation of $10 is appreciated.
Donnelly College, 608 N. 18th Street in Kansas City, Kan., will host “Donnelly Dash” a 5K run/walk on Nov. 6 at the campus. Registration and check in will begin at 8 a.m., followed by the race at 9 a.m. Early registration costs $15 per person; $5 for students; children under age 12 are free. After Oct. 25, the cost is $20 per person. For information or to register, visit the Web site at: www.donnelly.edu/dash. 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 Nov. 6 at Holy Spirit Church, 11300 W. 103rd St., Overland Park. The sacrament of anointing of the sick will be offered. There will also be special devotions and a blessing with a first class relic of St. Peregrine. For information, call the parish office at (913) 492-7318 or Marge Hattrup at (913) 4927682.
Holy Angels Parish, 15440 Leavenworth Rd., Basehor, will host its annual craft fair from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. on Nov. 6 in Father Quinlan Hall. Twenty-five booths featuring a wide variety of crafts ranging from woodworking to wreaths to jewelry and dried flower arrangements will be available. The event is free and open to the public. For information, contact Annie Clark at (913) 724-2212. The Mother Teresa Circle will host a friendship tea at 10:30 a.m. on Nov. 6 in Pflumm Hall at Holy Cross School, 8101 W. 95th St., Overland Park. Tickets cost $10 per person. For information or reservations, call Maxine at (913) 3832014 or Donna at (913) 402-6843. Good Shepherd Parish, 12800 W. 75th St., Shawnee, will host its annual fiesta in honor of its sister community, El Buen Pastor in El Salvador, after the 5 p.m. Mass on Nov. 6 in the parish hall. The cost is $7.50 per person in advance; $8.50 at the door. Children ages 5 and under eat free. For information or to purchase tickets, visit the Web site at: www.goodshepherdshawnee.org. The Militia of the Immaculata Ave Maria Village will meet at 10:30 a.m. on Nov. 6 in the banquet hall at Redemptorist Church, 3333 Broadway, Kansas City, Mo. In celebration of the feast of Holy Relics, several first class relics will be on display for veneration. For information, call Christine Rossi at (913) 2680208. The Catholic women’s organization at Holy Angels Parish, 154th and Leavenworth Rd., Basehor, will host its annual craft fair from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. on Nov. 6 in Father Quinlan Hall. Twentyfive booths will feature items including dried flower arrangements, woodworking, wreaths, jewelry and Christmas crafts. Refreshments will be available. For information, contact Annie Clark at (913) 724-2212.
7
The Little Sisters of the Poor will host their annual fall festival and spaghetti dinner from noon - 5 p.m. on Nov. 7 at 8745 James A. Reed Road, Kansas City, Mo. All proceeds will benefit their home for the elderly poor. For information, call (816) 761-4744. St. Mary Church, St. Benedict, will host its annual pancake breakfast from 7:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. on Nov. 7. A freewill offering will be collected. Holy Trinity Church, 601 E. Chippewa, Paola, will host a fall bazaar on Nov. 7. A turkey dinner with all the trimmings will be served from 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. The cost is $8 for adults; $4 for children. Carryouts will be available. There will be bingo, a cakewalk, a country store, children’s games and raffles. The fifth annual pro-life forum for eighth-grade and high school students and parents will be held from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. on Nov. 7 at Immaculate Conception Church, 606 S. Elm, Louisburg. Mater Dei Parish, Topeka, will host a fall bazaar from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. on Nov. 7 at the school, located at 10th and Clay. A traditional turkey dinner will be served from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. The cost is: $7 for adults; $3.50 for youth; children under three eat free. There will be a country store with handmade items, a cakewalk, bingo, children’s games, raffles and more. Bishop Ward High School, 708 N. 18th St., Kansas City, Kan., will host an
CALENDAR 13
open house from 1 - 3 p.m. on Nov. 7. Come learn about Ward’s strong Catholic, college-prep tradition and its unique academic and spiritual programs. For information, call the admissions office at (913) 371-6901 or visit the Web site at: www.wardhigh.org. The Ladies Guild of St. Bernard Parish, 1102 8th St., Wamego, will host its annual stitch ’n’ stuff bazaar on Nov. 7. Lunch will be served from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. There will be a country store with handcrafted items and baked goods, a cakewalk, bingo, children’s games and raffles. For information, call Sharon at (785) 456-2994 or Pam at (785) 4569529. St. Benedict Church, Bendena, will have a turkey and dressing dinner from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Nov. 7. Cost is a free will donation. There will also be a raffle and country store.
8 Looking for a place to volunteer?
Advice and Aid Pregnancy Center will host an informational meeting from 7 - 9 p.m.
on Nov. 6 at 11031 W. 75th Terr., Shawnee. Come learn about our service opportunities! For information or to RSVP, contact Mary Newcomer at (913) 9620200 or send an e-mail to her at: volunteer@adviceandaid.com.
9
Marillac Center, 4200 S. 4th St., Leavenworth, will offer a personal enrichment program, entitled “Living in Full Swing,” from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. on Nov. 9. The registration fee of $50 includes lunch and a book. Scholarships are available based on need. The registration deadline is Nov. 1. For information, call (913) 758-6552; send an e-mail to: retreats @scls.org; or visit the Web site at: www.MarillacCenter.org.
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Holy Cross Church, 8101 W. 95th St., Overland Park, will host Hospitality Rock, featuring Father Mark Mertes, Father Kent O’Connor and Stephanie PinoDressman in their new band The Mama and the Padres, at 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 12 in the school cafeteria. The cost of $25 per person includes a dinner catered by RJ’s Bob-Be-Que Shack. Proceeds will benefit Johnson County Interfaith Hospitality Network, a nonprofit with a mission to empower families challenged by homelessness. To RSVP, send a check payable to IHN, by Nov. 3, to: Kathy Keary, 803 Chisam Rd., Kearney, MO 64060, or call (816) 903-1225.
12-14
Divorced? Widowed? Beginning Experience weekend gently helps people move through their loss to a new beginning in their lives. The next weekend for the Kansas City area will be Nov. 12 - 14. For information or for registration material, send an e-mail to: BEWeekendKC@hotmail.com; call John at (913) 219-3465 in Kansas City, Michelle at (785) 478-3481 in Topeka, or Jerry at (785) 843-2079 in Lawrence; or visit the Web site at: www.beginningexperience. org.
19-21
Enrich you life, enrich your love, and enrich your marriage by spending time with your spouse and learning the tools to a great marriage! The next Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekend will be held from Nov. 1921. For information or to register, call (913) 400-7173 in the Kansas City metro area, (785) 843-9274 in Lawrence, (785) 357-5000 in Topeka, or visit the Web site at: www.neksme.org.
14 COMMENTARY
THE LEAVEN • October 29, 2010
THE LEAVEN • October 29, 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, 2010
Quote Week
of the
“There was a family where the husband was lost to cancer five years ago. The children ranged from the third grade to first year in college. [The mother] was on the verge of losing her utilities when we stepped in and not only got her caught up, but paid forward through the remainder of the summer to give her a head start.” Shane Lutz See story on page 3
I
Saints help us see the light
’m not sure if it was an old-fashioned incandescent or a newer, energyefficient LED. But what I do know for sure is that a light bulb (or two) definitely went on over my head a couple of weeks ago. It all started on Oct. 19, when the church celebrates the feast of Fathers John de Brébeuf and Isaac Jogues and their companions, more popularly known as the North American martyrs. Most Catholic schoolchildren of a certain age grew up on the stories of these valiant Frenchmen of the mid-17thcentury who endured horrible tortures to bring the Gospel to the Huron and Iroquois people. My first glimmer of insight came from a commentary by Father John Petrikovic, OFM Cap., in St. Anthony Messenger’s Weekday Homily Helps on the Mass readings for that day. Father John noted that there’s a real fascination today among young people with “blood and guts and gore” as depicted in various vampire movies and novels. On the surface, these vampires are quite seductive, but it’s just a mask that hides their “beastly interiors.” Eventually, the vampires lead people to an eternal death, “where they can never cross the border to real eternity.” The blood of the martyrs, on the other hand, leads people instead to eternal life. I was still pondering Father John’s insights when a second glimmer of insight hit me. An article in the Nov. 1 issue of Bottom Line/Personal newsletter, entitled “Mind Games: Why We Don’t See What’s Right In Front of Our Faces And Other Ways Our Brains Fool Us,” told of a study done by two professors — Drs. Christopher Chabris and Daniel Simons — when they were at Harvard University. They conducted what’s become
thirty-first WEEK IN ordinary time Oct. 31 Thirty-first SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Wis 11:22 — 12:2; Ps 145: 1-2, 8-11, 13-14; 2 Thes 1:11 — 2:2; Lk 19: 1-10 Nov. 1 all saints Rv 7: 2-4, 9-14; Ps 24: 1bc-4b, 5-6; 1 Jn 3: 1-3; Mt 5: 1-12a Nov. 2 the commemoration of all the faithful departed (all souls) Wis 3: 1-9; Ps 23: 1-6; Rom 5: 5-11; Jn 6: 37-40 Nov. 3 Martin de Porres, religious Phil 2: 12-18; Ps 27: 1, 4, 13-14; Lk 14: 25-33 Nov. 4 Charles Borromeo, bishop Phil 3: 3-8a; Ps 105: 2-7; Lk 15: 1-10 Nov. 5 Friday Phil 3:17 — 4:1; Ps 122: 1-5; Lk 16: 1-8 Nov. 6 Saturday Phil 4: 10-19; Ps 112: 1b-2, 5-6, 8a, 9; Lk 16: 9-15
Concert honors Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth
known as the “gorilla experiment.” In a nutshell, these two professors asked volunteers to watch a videotape of a basketball game and count the number of times the ball was passed. People were so focused on the counting that “approximately half of them failed to notice a person in a gorilla suit walking right across the screen.” The experiment showed that our mind can edit things and “not always observe, remember and reason as well as we would like to think it does.” Zap! On came the light bulb. Is it just me, or does it seem like Halloween becomes a bigger and bigger deal every year? You can’t turn on a TV these days without seeing some “fright night” marathon or episodes of favorite shows featuring a spooky theme. It’s like Father John observed earlier: We seem stuck in the “eternal death” mode, but forget all about eternal life. Halloween, as I’m sure you know, comes from the old name for the eve of All Saints. “Hallow” is another word for “saint,” and so it was originally known as All Hallows Eve(ning), which got shortened to Hallowe’en. And that’s where the “gorilla experiment” comes in for me: We are so focused on the “eve” part — the spooky, frightening, eerie aspect — that we don’t even notice the “hallows,” the saints. It’s as if we come right up to the door, if you will, but never enter to enjoy the real celebration.
And make no mistake about it, the saints are there for us to celebrate . . . and imitate. They are folks just like us who show what powerful things God can do when we let him work through us. They are a mixed bag of people — women and men, young and old, famous and not-so-famous, of all times and places. In what we call the “communion of saints,” they not only live in God’s presence, but pray for us and are ready to help us . . . if we call on them. As Christians today, we’re challenged to move people from being fascinated with vampires, who don’t really exist, to getting familiar with the saints, who really do. A first step might be to rediscover the saints for ourselves. An easy place to start is with “Voices of the Saints” by Bert Ghezzi (Chicago: Loyola Press, 2000; 789 pgs.; $19.95). Don’t let the number of pages put you off. The subtitle of the book clarifies things: “A 365-Day Journey With Our Spiritual Companions.” Each daily entry is only a couple of pages long and includes a short biography of the saint being featured, a sample of that person’s writing, his or her feast day, and what the saint is the patron of. The book goes from the Blessed Mother all the way to Mother Teresa. Even though there are wonderful indexes in the back (by theme or name or calendar date), I recommend going through the book in order, day by day, to get a taste of the variety of people God has chosen to bring his light to the world. Who knows? Maybe one of these stories will trigger a light bulb of inspiration in your heart and help you to shine brightly in our world, leading people from the spookiness of Halloween into the holiness of All Saints.
LEAVENWORTH — The University of Saint Mary department of fine arts-music will commemorate the 1858 landing of the Sisters of Charity in Leavenworth with USM’s annual Founders’ Day concert at 7 p.m. on Nov. 7 in Annunciation Chapel on the university’s Leavenworth campus, at 4100 S. 4th St. The Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth are the founders and sponsors of the University of Saint Mary. The concert is free and open to the public. This year’s concert will feature the University of Saint Mary Concert Chorale under the direction of William Krusemark, chair of the fine arts department at USM. The chorale will perform “The Place of the Blest” by Randall Thompson and Robert Ray’s gospel favorite, “He Never Failed Me.” Briana Janas, a USM sophomore soprano and Leavenworth native, will be the soloist. The program will also include two Italian nocturnes by Mozart, featuring senior Jenna Schwinn, of Leavenworth, and sophomore Starian Porchia, of Bonner Springs. An instrumental ensemble will perform an arrangement of Handel’s “Largo.” University organist, resident keyboard artist, and assistant professor of music Freda Proctor will accompany the vocal selections and direct the instrumental ensemble. Call Krusemark at (913) 682-5151, ext. 6460, for more information on USM music events.
Roger and Frances Jeffrey, members of St. Leo Parish, Horton, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on Nov. 13 by renewing their wedding vows at 5 p.m. Mass, followed Anniversaries by a dinner and reception at St. Leo Parish center at 6:30 p.m. The couple was married Nov. 13, 1960, in Willis. Their children and their spouses are: Charie Barton, Branson Mo.; Sandi and Leland Winkelbauer, Topeka; Mike and Melissa Jeffrey, Onaga; and Angie and Tim Wilson, Horton. They also have nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Dorothy (Yadrich) and MT Lancaster, members of Curé of Ars Parish, Leawood, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on Nov. 5. The couple was married at the Cathedral of St. Peter in Kansas City, Kan., by Msgr. McKenna. Their children and their spouses are: Marc and Jacquelyn Lancaster, and Michelle and Marshall Bass. They also have one granddaughter. A reception will be hosted by their family on Nov. 14 at 2 p.m. at Curé of Ars.
Kenneth and Sara Sue Swickard, members of Queen of the Holy Rosary, Wea, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on Nov. 5. The couple was married at Queen of the Holy Rosary, Wea. Their children and their spouses are: Mark and Michele Swickard; Bruce and Denise Swickard; Greg and Diana Tate; David and Julia Swickard; John and Janice Hanahan; and Michael and Alissa Swickard. They also have 13 grandchildren. They will celebrate their anniversary with a special dinner with their children. Norman and Rosemary Luebbe, members of Sts. Peter and Paul Parish, Seneca, will celebrate their 65th wedding anniversary with a Mass at 5 p.m. on Nov. 6. The couple was married on Nov. 6, 1945, at Sts. Peter and Paul Church, Seneca. Their children are: Jerry Luebbe, Centralia; Carol Kohake, Seneca; Jolene Holthaus, Seneca; Randy Luebbe, Topeka; and Lori Huerter, Seneca. They also have 16 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. The Leaven only prints 50, 60, 65 and 70th anniversary notices. Announcements are due by 5 p.m. eight days before the desired publication date. Send notices to: The Leaven, 12615 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City, KS 66109, attn: anniversaries; or send an e-mail to: Todd@theleaven.com.
Local News 15 Lecture slated for KU LAWRENCE — Peter Kilpatrick, dean of the college of engineering at the University of Notre Dame, will be giving a lecture, entitled “Beauty: The Nature of Discovery in Science and Technology and the Role of the Beautiful in Our Ascendance to God,” on Nov. 8 at 7 p.m. in Alderson Auditorium in the Kansas Union at the University of Kansas. The event is part of the University of Notre Dame’s Hesburgh Lecture Series and is cosponsored by the Notre Dame Club of Topeka and the St. Lawrence Institute for Faith and Culture. The lecture is free and open to the public. A reception will follow. Kilpatrick will discuss how beauty and radiant form play a key role in enabling scientific researchers to discover new knowledge. As Kilpatrick will explain, this same quality of creation is what leads us to contemplate our eternal destiny.
Applebee’s to make donation OVERLAND PARK — On Nov. 4, Applebee’s here, at 11000 Metcalf Ave., will donate 10 percent of the proceeds received from patrons with a flyer to Catholic Community Hospice in honor from National Hospice and Palliative Care Month. Catholic Community Hospice provides care to patients and their families at the end of life and will use the proceeds for its Angel Fund, which provides the things that enhance a person’s human dignity on life’s final journey. To download the flyer, visit the Web site at: www.CatholicCommunityHospice.org.
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word to life
Luke shares a Jesus who is infinitely available to us
T
he young man was rough and poorly educated, but he did a nice job of re-tiling my shower stall. As he finished his work and walked into the hall, he noticed a small crucifix hanging on the wall. “Are you Catholic?” he asked. I said yes. “I have some questions for the Thirty-first pope,” he said. SUNDAY “How can I speak IN ORDINARY TIME to the pope?” Lk 19: 1-10 I suggested he
might write a letter to the Vatican. “I’d really rather talk to him face to face. Where’s his office?” “Rome.” “If I went to Rome, could I go to his office and ask some questions?” I explained that people can’t just walk in and talk to the pope. “Why not?” he asked, genuinely curious. “He’s a busy man. He’s the leader of the church for the whole world,” I
said, but I could see the answer wasn’t satisfactory. “It still seems like I should be able to talk to him.” Seeing the conversation could go no further, I shook my head, thinking this guy doesn’t have a clue. But this weekend’s Gospel points out that Jesus came with the express hope of saving every one of his people. That would include sinners like Zacchaeus and me and uneducated, “unchurched,” tile layers. I couldn’t guess what questions the tile layer had for the pope, but clearly he believed this man had answers he needed. I imagined such a meeting and had to believe he’d come away changed. Luke’s story illustrates that, unlike the pope, bound by space and time and therefore inaccessible to the throngs who may wish to see him, Jesus is infinitely available. No matter how small or insignificant we may seem in the sea of humanity, he wants to be in the presence of each one of us. He looks through the crowd, picks us out and
“He has gone to stay at the house of a sinner.”
— Lk 19:7
Villa St. Francis
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focuses intimately on our unique faces and inadequacies, and he calls us to himself.
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16 respect life
THE LEAVEN • October 29, 2010
Losing a child to suicide: Trusting in God’s mercy
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By Gladys Sweeney
he loss of a child to suicide is one of the greatest tragedies life can bring. We often react with shock, guilt, anger, and depression. Parents may feel profound guilt and responsibility. As a bereaved mother once said: “You think there should be a logical reason, so you’re searching for it. . . . It’s just like a thorn in your side, that you have to figure out the answer. Why? Why? Why? What did we fail to see? Why did she not ask us for help? What support did we not get for her?” Some parents have described their experience as having their hearts broken from devastating grief. Some express the feeling that a vital and core part of them has died or has been ripped away. In their book, “A Child Dies: A Portrait of Family Grief,” authors Joan Arnold and Penelope Gemma describe the process that bereaved parents go through as “the ultimate deprivation.” Suicide can feel like the ultimate failure of parenting. Mental illness and suicide among youth are serious problems in the United States. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), half of all cases of mental illness begin by age 14. The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry states that suicide is the third leading cause of death for 15- to 24-year-olds and the sixth leading cause of death for five- to 14-year-olds. Studies show that more than 95 percent of young people who took their own lives had been diagnosed with a mental disorder. Severe depression is the most prevalent of these disorders. Other psychological diagnoses that increase the risk of suicide among teens include bipolar disorder and addiction to alcohol and/or drugs. These conditions often cause young people distress, irritability, agitation, hopelessness, and feelings of worthlessness. Teenagers experiencing these emotions often tend to isolate themselves from parents and seem to reject any attempts of consolation and outreach. Given the strong correlation between psychological conditions and suicide, it is important to recognize the early symptoms in order to seek professional help that could make a significant impact. The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry lists the following warning signs for parents concerning the risk for suicide in adolescents: • Change in eating and sleeping habits • Withdrawal from friends, family, and regular activities • Violent actions toward self and others • Rebellious behavior or running away • Drug and alcohol use • Unusual neglect of personal appearance • Marked personality change • Persistent boredom, difficulty concentrating, or a decline in the quality of schoolwork • Frequent complaints about physical symptoms such as stomachaches, headaches, or fatigue, often related to emotions • Loss of interest in pleasurable activities • Not tolerating praise or rewards • Complaining of being a bad person or feeling rotten inside • Giving verbal hints with statements such as “Nothing matters. It’s no use” or
Editor’s note: October has long been designated by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops as Respect Life Month. During this month, in particular, Catholics are encouraged to educate themselves on all the issues of life, and how Catholic social teaching informs our understanding of these issues. For additional reading on Respect Life topics, go to the Web site at: www.usccb.org/prolife. “I won’t see you again.” It is important to note that most teenagers who killed themselves had been in treatment for these psychological conditions. Even for families who have lived with mental illness, the actual death still comes as a profound shock. Whatever the circumstances surrounding the death, parents are never prepared for the suicide of their child. They tend to blame themselves for not preventing the event. Although understandable, in most cases, the tragic end was beyond their control, beyond their responsibility. The question of eternal damnation is another source of pain for parents of children who have killed themselves. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that grave psychological disorders may diminish the responsibility of the one who has committed suicide (no. 2282). Teenagers plagued with serious psychological diagnoses make impulsive decisions, clouded by feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness, and despair. They lack the ability to clearly and objectively appraise their life crisis. Their intellects are clouded, their emotions are in chaos, and their wills are weakened. The hope of eternal salvation as it re-
lates to suicide is well portrayed in an example from the middle of the 19th century. A woman was concerned about the salvation of her husband after he committed suicide by jumping off a bridge. She went to visit St. John Vianney in Ars, France. When the saint caught sight of the lady, whom he had never met, he approached her and said, “He is saved” and repeated to her: “I tell you he is saved. He is in Purgatory, and you must pray for him. Between the parapet of the bridge and the water he had time to make an act of contrition. Our Blessed Lady obtained that grace for him. Remember the shrine that you put up in your room during the month of May. Though your husband professed to have no religion, he sometimes joined in your prayer. This merited for him the grace of repentance and pardon at the last moment.” Amid grave suffering, there will always be a tendency to want to know why such tragedies occur. If there were a suicide note, it might shed some light on the motives. If the child had a troubled past or had been receiving mental health services, questions about the appropriateness of the medication and the quality of the services may become obsessive. As time goes on, though, parents realize that the answers may never come, and the why will grow less urgent. Eventually, our faith helps us to let go of the why and to look for the who. There is Someone who can heal us from the wrenching pain of having lost a child: Jesus. Jesus Christ suffered a sorrowful and
painful death, even though he was completely innocent. His death is the ultimate sign of his mercy and of his willingness to suffer with and for us. Neither we nor our children have done anything to deserve his unconditional love and compassion, but we who mourn can entrust ourselves to his mercy. His death gives us hope that there is meaning in suffering. His resurrection also teaches us that there is life after tragedy, even the death of a child by suicide. A bereaved mother said: “I finally made, again, a conscious decision that either I’m going to stay feeling like this or I’m going to allow God to help me. My choice. I can make the choice. So I decided to take a risk and see, and test God. I decided that I was going to open that gift of grace and I was going to allow him to work in my life. And so that’s what I would pray, that God would give me what I needed for the day. That he would put the people in my path that I needed. That he would open my eyes so I could see the people in my path. . . . That is the fight that he gave me.” Every parent who has lost a child is free to make the choice to trust in God’s merciful love and to allow his grace to heal their deep wound. May each have the faith to trust in his love! Dr. Sweeney is the founder and academic dean of the Institute for the Psychological Sciences, a graduate school in Arlington, Va., whose mission is to integrate sound science with the Christian understanding of the nature and dignity of the human person.