01-06-12 Vol. 33 No. 20

WWW.THELEAVEN.COM | NEWSPAPER OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF KANSAS CITY IN KANSAS | VOL. 33, NO. 20 JANUARY 6, 2012

2 LOCAL NEWS

THE LEAVEN • JANUARY 6, 2012

THE LEAVEN • JANUARY 6, 2012

LIFE WILL BE VICTORIOUS

I

To appreciate the Mass, we must prepare for it

n my last column for 2011, I wrote about the centrality of friendship with Jesus Christ as the core and foundation of our Catholic faith.

I mentioned my challenge to our Catholic school presidents and principals to strive to foster in every Catholic school student a strong personal relationship with Jesus and a love for his spouse, the church.

I want to begin the new year by reflecting on the second part of that challenge — fostering in our Catholic young people a love for the church. In his Letter to the Ephesians, St. Paul challenges men to love their wives “as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her” (5:25). We cannot really love Jesus and fail to love the church — the spouse whom he cherishes so deeply.

Christianity is a team sport. It is not something that we can live completely by ourselves. Jesus did not reveal or give himself to individuals, but to a community of believers. To be a disciple of Jesus, we must live and celebrate our faith in community.

Central to the life of the community of believers — the church — is our prayer together, the liturgy. Jesus gave a mandate to his disciples to remember him in the breaking of the bread, and he promised to make himself uniquely present to them through the sacrament of his body and blood.

The Eucharist is the heart of Catholic spirituality.

Loving the spouse of Jesus, the church, involves recognizing that despite the failures of its members — bishops, priests and laity — Jesus offers us unique opportunities to meet him through the sacraments, particularly the Eucharist. Each Mass affords the chance to have a profound encounter with Jesus.

Our primary motivation to participate in Mass each Sunday should not

and cannot be what we receive from the Mass. In the Decalogue, God commanded the Israelites to keep holy the Sabbath. The early Christian community moved the Sabbath to Sunday — the day of the Resurrection. Central to celebrating Sunday for the early Christians was fulfilling the command of Jesus to participate in the breaking of the bread, the Eucharist.

Our primary reason for participating in Mass each Sunday must be to fulfill the command of God to keep holy the Lord’s day and to fulfill the mandate of Jesus to “keep memory of him” by celebrating the Eucharist. Simply put, we go to Mass every Sunday because God, who has given us everything, asked us to do so.

Once we have the right motivation, then our attitude toward Mass will change. We will no longer be going to Mass expecting to be entertained, but wanting to give God the one small thing that he has asked from us. Of course, God does not ask us to keep holy the Lord’s day and to gather for the Eucharist because Our Lord needs us to do this. God asks us to follow these simple commands because they are good for us — because we need to do them.

Two people can go to the same football game. One person, who knows nothing about football — does not understand its rules or strategies — can be totally bored. Another person, who is a true fan and knows everything about the intricacies of the sport, can see the same game and find it to be a most thrilling experience.

To receive all that the Lord desires to give us through the Eucharist, we must prepare ourselves for Mass. The single most important thing that we can do to prepare ourselves for Sunday Mass is to

read prayerfully the readings before we come to the Eucharist.

The Lord desires to speak to us each week at Mass. The Eucharist is not primarily for us to tell God everything that we think the Lord should know about us. The Eucharist is much more about listening to what God desires to speak to our hearts.

For married couples and families, reading together the readings for the next Sunday sometime during the previous week is an excellent way for each member of the family to discover what God is saying to them. Allowing each member of the family to express what they found to be most significant in the readings is a wonderful way to prepare for Mass.

Reading at least the Gospel several times on our own will also enrich our experience of the Eucharist. Pondering the readings during a weekly visit to a eucharistic adoration chapel will help the Mass come alive for us. Identify what sentence or phrase seems particularly to speak to you at this moment of your life. Continue to pray over that phrase or sentence throughout the week and notice how it will enrich the way you listen to the readings and the homily at Sunday Mass.

Matthew Kelly, the popular Catholic writer and inspirational speaker, in his book, “Rediscover Catholicism,” has one simple suggestion for how to improve the way we experience Mass.

He suggests in your prayer before Mass to ask God: Show me one way in this Mass that I can become a better version of myself this week! With this question in mind, Kelly suggests that we listen to the words of the music, the readings and the prayer texts.

In his own experience, Kelly says that the things that are revealed to him are usually simple, but also important — e.g., 1) avoid using negative humor; or 2) cherish your wife; or 3) take time to be grateful; or 4) give the Lord what you have been holding back. Kelly actually keeps a Mass journal in which he records the one thing that the Lord is asking him to do that

Archbishop Naumann’s weekly calendar

Jan. 1-3 Quo Vadis Retreat for young men discerning a vocation Jan. 3-10 Region IX bishops’ retreat Jan. 12 Conference call — U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops task force on annual collections Task force meeting Dinner — task force for capital campaign Jan. 13 Mass — St. James Academy Mass, vespers and talk for Spiritual Mentorship program of the Apostles of the Interior Life

Archbishop Keleher’s weekly calendar

Jan. 7-8 Mass — St. Sebastian, Fla.

week. After keeping such a journal for several years, he finds it an interesting written record of the development of his spiritual life.

The best way that we can help ourselves and help our children fall in love with the bride of Jesus, the church, is to develop a love for what is at the center of the life of the church — the Eucharist. If we love the Eucharist, if we love going to Mass, we will deepen our love for the church that makes the Eucharist possible.

Next week, I will continue this reflection on how to enrich our experience of Sunday Mass. Stay tuned!

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SECOND FRONT PAGE 3

Priest remembered for pastoral skill, social activism

By Joe Bollig Leaven staff

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Many people remember Father Anthony E. Blaufuss as a man who cared about many things — the salvation of souls and social justice being at the top of the list.

Father Blaufuss, who retired as pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Ottawa in 2000, died on Dec. 21 at Golden Heights Care Center in Garnett.

Father Thomas Kearns, who was one year behind Father Blaufuss at St. Thomas Seminary in Denver, described the late priest as a friendly, low-key guy who loved sports.

“We used to play handball together at the seminary,” said Father Kearns, now retired and living in Kansas City, Kan. “He was good. I was not necessarily so good. He was good in all sports — basketball and softball. He was a good snow skier throughout all his life.”

As long as he was able, Father Blaufuss and a group of friends would take ski trips to Colorado, or go on pheasant hunts.

He loved to travel oversees and skied the Italian and Swiss Alps.

He even visited China.

Father Blaufuss was “green” before it was fashionable, said Father George Seuferling, now retired and living in Meriden.

“He was really, deep down, an environmentalist,” said Father Seuferling. “He had a love for nature. He raised pecans and walnuts, too. He would get so upset when hordes of blue jays would come and raid his trees, oh boy.”

He knew what to do with all those old missalettes: They made excellent mulch for his trees.

Father Blaufuss cared about people. He expressed this caring not only through his priestly ministry, but also in the way he tied his ministry to his activities for social justice. “[Father Blaufuss] was probably one of the smartest guys I’ve known,” said Father Seuferling. “He was really a people person. And he had a deep sense of personal justice. Injustice really rattled his cage.”

Sometimes he would share

Parish assignments

his concerns about justice through preaching challenging homilies, but he didn’t restrict himself to the pulpit.

“He was very interested in the church as developed after the Second Vatican Council,” said Father Kearns. “I remember at [clergy] regional meetings, how strong he would be on some particular issues.”

He was so opposed to the building of Wolf Creek Nuclear Power Plant near Burlington that he lay on some railroad tracks to protest transfer of nuclear material.

“[Father Blaufuss] was really a people person. And he had a deep sense of personal justice. Injustice really rattled his cage.”

”

Father George Seuferling

Father Anthony Blaufuss had 16 assignments during his ministry as a priest.

• St. Joseph Parish in Topeka, assistant pastor, 1959 • Hayden High School in Topeka, instructor, 1959 • St. Aloysius Parish in Meriden, associate pastor, 1961 • St. Ann Parish in Prairie Village, associate pastor, 1963 • Bishop Miege High School in Roeland Park, instructor, l963 • Immaculata High School in Leavenworth, co-principal, 1966 • Immaculate Conception Parish in Leavenworth, associate pastor, 1966

In his funeral homily for Father Blaufuss, Father Ken Kelly, pastor of St. Pius X Parish in Mission, noted that the late priest always had a “cause,” and that one of his causes was reform and change within the church.

Father Kelly also noted that Father Blaufuss, who came from a farming family, was committed to justice in agriculture. He believed that the small family farm could be viable, and he was very critical of large agricultural corporations. Naturally, he took an active role in the National Catholic Rural Life Conference.

Father Blaufuss was concerned about racism, fair housing, women’s issues and poverty as well. And he cared about empowering the laity.

“He was very kind and trusting, and he knew how to delegate,” said Joyce Klingele, who was director of religious education at St. Patrick Parish in Kansas City, Kan., when Father Blaufuss was pastor. “Once you took a job, it was in your ball

field. You were totally responsible for it.”

His nephew Ken Frank, a member of Holy Angels Parish in Garnett, called Father Blaufuss “a humble servant of God.” “He never wanted to go by ‘Father Blaufuss.’ He always wanted to be called ‘Father Tony’ or just ‘Tony,’” said Frank.

“He was very open to other people’s ideas and thoughts, and was always happy to discuss things with an open mind toward them,” Frank continued.

“I thought he was a very inclusive person who was always embracing other people in the Catholic faith and other Christian faiths. He was always open to communicating with them.”

Father Blaufuss was a caring and effective pastor as well, said Msgr. Michael Mullen, pastor of St. Patrick Parish in Kansas City, Kan. Before he succeeded him in 1995, Father Blaufuss led efforts to build a much-needed multiuse building.

The late priest had two gifts, in particular, said Msgr. Mullen.

“In the area of social justice, he inspired his people and all of us to look ahead and look more critically about society and the church, and see what we could do better,” said Msgr. Mullen.

“He had a prophetic voice like John the Baptist.”

His second gift was bringing people together, said Msgr.

Mullen. Father Blaufuss did this not only for the new building at St. Patrick Parish, but also for a new parish center at Sacred Heart Parish in Ottawa.

And he was a stickler for getting the job done right.

“He would not approve a project until it was done to his satisfaction,” said Msgr. Mullen. “I attribute that to his rural background. He wasn’t afraid to tackle big projects.”

The final blessing and legacy of Father Blaufuss may not be his advocacy, his orchard, or even his building projects. It might be his open, honest gift of himself.

“He had a great sense of integrity,” said Father Seuferling. “What you saw was what you got. There was no guile in him.”

• Corpus Christi Parish in Mooney Creek, administrator, 1966 • St. Patrick Parish in Osage City, pastor, 1971 • St. Patrick Parish in Scranton, pastor, 1971 • St. Francis Parish in Lapeer, pastor, 1974 • Annunciation Parish in Baldwin, pastor, 1977 • Holy Angels Parish in Garnett, pastor, 1979 • St. Patrick Parish in Kansas City, Kan., pastor, 1989 • Sacred Heart Parish in Ottawa, pastor, 1995

Publication No. (ISSN0194-9799)

Editor Reverend Mark Goldasich, stl frmark@theleaven.com

Senior Reporter Joe Bollig joe@theleaven.com

Reporter Jessica Langdon jessica@theleaven.com

President Most Reverend Joseph F. Naumann

Managing Editor Anita McSorley anita@theleaven.com

Production Manager Todd Habiger todd@theleaven.com

Advertising Representative Jennifer Siebes jennifer@theleaven.com

Father Blaufuss 1933-2011 Father Anthony E. Blaufuss, 78, died on Dec. 21 2011, at Golden Heights Living Center in Garnett. His death was attributed to advancing dementia.

Father Blaufuss was born on May 31, 1933, one of the four children of Rose (Hagemann) and Ewald H. Blaufuss. The family belonged to St. Teresa Parish in Westphalia.

He attended St. Teresa School, and then attended grades nine to 13 at St. John Minor Seminary in Kansas City, Mo. The future priest studied at St. Thomas Seminary in Denver from 1952 to 1955, and then went to Rome There he lived at the Pontifical North American College and studied theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University. Father Blaufuss was ordained a priest in the chapel of the North American College on Dec. 20, 1958, by the Most Rev. Martin J. O’Connor, rector of college.

He celebrated his first Mass at the Clementine Altar in St. Peter’s Basilica. After ordination, Father Blaufuss returned to the Gregorian to continue his studies.

He began studies at Catholic University in Washington, D.C., and later returned in 1962 to complete a master’s degree in secondary education.

Father Blaufuss took up his first pastoral assignment as an associate pastor at St. Joseph Parish in Topeka, where his uncle, Msgr. Anthony Blaufuss, had served as pastor during the 1930s.

During his 42 years in active ministry, Father Blaufuss had 16 pastoral assignments before retiring on July 14, 2000. He lived in Garnett.

Father Blaufuss was preceded in death by his parents and three brothers — Leo, Francis and John Blaufuss.

He is survived by a sister, Mary Frank, and her husband George, of Westphalia; sisterin-law Marilyn Blaufuss, of Westphalia; and many nephews and nieces. A nephew, Father Paul G. Frank, is pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Red Cloud, Neb. The funeral Mass for Father Blaufuss was celebrated by Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann on Dec. 27, 2011, at Holy Angels Parish in Garnett. Father Ken Kelly was the homilist. Burial was at St. Teresa Cemetery in Westphalia.

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4 LOCAL NEWS

K

ANSAS CITY, Kan. — If you looked at 2011 in terms of ordinations, this year we hit the jackpot: 26 total.

Here’s how they went by the numbers.

Three men were ordained to the archdiocesan presbyterate. Five members of the Apostles of the Interior Life were ordained — four priests and one transitional deacon.

One man was ordained a transitional deacon for the archdiocese, and the 17 members of the first archdiocesan class of permanent deacons were ordained.

Then there were the ups and downs.

The Kansas Legislature passed the most significant pro-life laws in the history of the state, while the federal government began implementing parts of the universal health care act that the U.S. bishops found fatally flawed.

One of the many legacies of the late Pope John Paul II enriched a new generation of archdiocesan pilgrims as they travelled to World Youth Day in Madrid, Spain. Three months later, 850 archdiocesan teens headed off to Indianapolis to participate in the biennial National Catholic Youth Conference there.

And, most significantly, Englishspeaking Catholics around the world received a new translation of the Roman Missal, which was implemented in the United States on the First Sunday of Advent.

Finally, it was a year of widespread natural disasters, and subsequent collections and mission trips.

Archdiocesan Catholics contributed to relief efforts for several — including earthquakes in New Zealand and Japan, and tornados in Reading and Joplin, Mo. — and sent numerous teams of relief workers to the latter.

New people were greeted in our parishes, schools, institutions and archdiocesan offices. And we said goodbye to those who moved on, retired or died. Most notably, we remember the passings of Father Matthew J. Horvat, Father Francis J. Krische, Father Anthony E. Blaufuss and Father Joseph I. Okoye.

So as the book is closed on 2011, let’s take one last look back at the events and people that affected our lives as the church of northeast Kansas.

THE LEAVEN • JANUARY 6, 2012

THE LEAVEN • JANUARY 6, 2012

2011 ARHCDIOCESAN YEAR IN REVIEW STORY BY JOE BOLLIG

• Sister Carol Ann Petersen, OSB, was presented the 2011 Woman of Achievement Award on Jan. 22 from the Kansas City area chapter of Zonta International. She is the founder and director of the Keeler Women’s Center in Kansas City, Kan. • Greg Wellnitz became the new director of Prairie Star Ranch, Williamsburg.

• Ninety-two Benedictine Sisters from around the country gathered at Mount St. Scholastica in Atchison to examine the past, present and future of monastic life in the United States.

as ordinary of the Diocese of Dodge City on Feb. 2 at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Dodge City.

• Archbishop Naumann was the main celebrant and Bishop Robert Vaza, coadjutor of the Diocese of Santa Rosa, Calif., was the homilist at the White Mass for health care workers on Feb. 12 at the Cathedral of St. Peter in Kansas City, Kan. The sponsor was the Catholic Medical Association.

February

• Benedictine College in Atchison announced the launch of a new academic program, the Gregorian Fellows. Its purpose is to advance intellectual culture on campus.

• A blue-ribbon task force was

• Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann installed Bishop John B. Brungardt

March

January • Jeff Hart, a member of an American drilling crew that helped rescue 33 trapped Chilean miners, lectured students on Jan. 7 at Bishop Ward High School in Kansas City, Kan. • Father Francis J. Krische, 79, longtime pastor of Most Pure Heart of Mary Parish in Topeka, died on Jan. 12 at his Topeka home.

Father Krische • Gov. Sam Brownback addressed some 2,000 pro-life persons Jan. 21 on the south steps of the Kansas Capitol during the annual March for Life.

created by Archbishop Naumann to review needs identified in a feasibility study for a capital campaign.

• A massive 23-foot tsunami, triggered by a 9.0 earthquake, struck the east-central coast of Japan, leaving 15,839 dead and 3,647 missing. Archdiocesan parishes raised $356,100 for relief.

• Archbishop Naumann was the main celebrant at the dedication Mass of the new Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha Chapel on March 19 at Prairie Star Ranch.

• More than 700 people indicated their desire to enter the church during rites of election on March 13 at St. Matthew Parish in Topeka, and on March 20 at Holy Angels Parish in Basehor and St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Leawood.

• The new Atchison Region Serra Club was granted and presented its charter after a Mass celebrated by Archbishop Naumann on March 26 at St. Benedict’s Abbey in Atchison.

• Archbishop Naumann completed his historic, all-parish tour of the archdiocese with a visit on March 27 to St. Francis Xavier Parish in Mayetta and St. Dominic Parish in Holton.

April • Father Harry Schneider led a groundbreaking and blessing on April 2 for a new Heartland Habitat for Humanity house in Kansas City, Kan., built through the cooperation of the Church of the Nativity Parish in Leawood, Church of the Ascension in Overland Park, and the Cathedral of St. Peter in Kansas City, Kan. • Father Joseph I. Okoye, 58, was found deceased in his room on April 7 at Savior Pastoral Center, where he was recovering folFather Okoye lowing surgery.

A memorial Mass was celebrated on April 29 in the Savior chapel, followed by burial at the cemetery of the Basilica of the Blessed Holy Trinity Cathedral in Onitsha, Nigeria.

• Archbishop Naumann presided at the ordinations of the 17 members of the first archdiocesan class of permanent deacons on April 9 at St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Leawood.

• Gov. Sam Brownback signed two historic pro-life bills on April 12.

They were the Abortion Reporting Accuracy and Parental Rights Act Story continues on page 5

Continued from page 4 and the Fetal Pain and Late-Term Abortion Act. • Father Charles Polifka, OFM Cap., the provincial of the Capuchin ARHCDIOCESAN Franciscan YEAR IN REVIEW Province of Mid-America, was the main celebrant at the 25th anniversary Mass of the Catholic Campus Center at Haskell Indian Nations University, Lawrence.

2011

May • Although the store had been in operation since February, the grand opening of the second TurnStyles, at Mur–Len and 151th St. in Olathe, was held on May 14.

• Gov. Brownback signed the Licensure of Abortion Clinics Act on May 20.

• Father Arul Carasala became an American citizen on May 20 at the federal courthouse in Topeka. He is the pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Onaga, St. Patrick Parish in Corning, St. Bede Parish in Kelly, and St. Columbkille Parish in Blaine.

• Deacon Oswaldo Sandoval was ordained to the transitional diaconate by Archbishop Naumann on May 21 at St. Peter Cathedral in Kansas City, Kan. • Tornados caused extensive damage in Reading, in Joplin, Mo., and in other parts of the United States on May 22. Archdiocesan parishes raised $250,925 for relief efforts.

Leaven photo by Susan McSpadden

Deacons Barry Clayton (left), Mike Peterson and Nick Blaha stand before Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann as they prepare to be ordained to the priesthood for the archdiocese.

• Deacons John Blaha, Barry Clayton and Michael Peterson were ordained priests by Archbishop Naumann on May 28 at Holy Trinity Parish in Lenexa.

June • Archbishop Naumann appointed Father Gary Pennings, vicar general and moderator of the curia, as

Wagner’s Mud-Jacking Co. Leaven photo by Al Davis

Archbishop Naumann was the main celebrant at the dedication Mass of the new Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha Chapel on March 19 at Prairie Star Ranch in Williamsburg. Assisting the archbishop are: (from left) archdiocesan vicar general Father Gary Pennings, master of ceremonies Msgr. Gary Applegate, and Deacon Dana Nearmyer.

Photo courtesy of the Topeka Capital Journal

Gov. Sam Brownback signs two historic pro-life bills into law on April 12 at the state Capitol in Topeka. The two bills are the Abortion Reporting Accuracy and Parental Rights Act and the Fetal Pain and Late-Term Abortion Act.

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History was made when Archbishop Naumann presided at the ordinations of the 17 members of the first archdiocesan class of permanent deacons on April 9 at St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Leawood. director of the office of the permanent diaconate.

• The archdiocesan liturgy office offered a series of workshops, from June until October, for the laity about the new Roman Missal translation. Other training sessions were held for archdiocesan clergy.

• Catholic Cemeteries assumed management of Mount Calvary Cemetery in Topeka.

• Archbishop Naumann was the main celebrant and homilist at the 125th anniversary Mass on June 18 at Immaculate Conception Parish in Louisburg.

• Archbishop Naumann was the main celebrant and homilist at the 125th anniversary Mass on June 19 at St. Joseph Parish in Waverly.

• The L e a v e n won one first place, one second place, three third place and one honorable mention awards The Dec. 24 special douat the Cathble issue of The Leaven olic Media won first place for Best Convention One-Time Special Issue.

June 22The issue also took sec24 in Pittsond place for best photo burgh. story.

• Sister Delores Dolezal, OSB, who retired on June 26, was the 255th and last Benedictine Sister assigned to Sts. Peter and Paul Parish in Seneca. Her

retirement ended a relationship between the parish and the Sisters that lasted 135 years.

• Nine Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth marked their golden jubilees on June 26 with a Mass at the motherhouse chapel on June 26.

They were: Sisters Marianna Bauder, Helen Bristow, Carol Depner, Maureen Hall, Paula Rose Jauernig, Barbara Kushan, Roberta O’Leary, and Jean Anne Panisko.

July • Ann Connor became the new associate superintendent for archdi-

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The final Mass at St. Joseph Parish in Lillis was celebrated on July 6. The parish was established in 1865.

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ocesan schools on July 1.

• Jacki Corrigan, consultant for the archdiocesan office of marriage and family life for nearly 16 years, retired.

• Father Pat Sullivan was the main celebrant at the final Mass on July 6 at St. Joseph Parish in Lillis.

The parish was established in 1865.

The current church was built in 1916.

• Five members of the Apostles of the Interior Life were ordained by Archbishop Naumann on June 18 at Holy Spirit Parish in Overland Park.

Deacons Mirco Sosio, Scott Kallal, Vince Huber and Edward Ahn were ordained to the priesthood. Alessandro Borraccia was ordained a transitional deacon.

• Deacon Tony Zimmerman became the lead consultant in the archdiocesan office of marriage and family life on July 18.

• Cardinal Raymond Burke and Gianna Emanuela Molla were among the speakers at “Being Faithful Unto Death,” a national conference on the Catholic perspective on end-of-life issues held July 23 at Savior Pastoral Center in Kansas City, Kan. • The Southern Region Pastoral Plan was accepted by Archbishop Naumann.

• The St. Philippine Duchesne Latin Mass Community took possession of the former Westwood Lutheran Church in Johnson County.

The structure was remodeled to become a chapel for the community, which met at Blessed Sacrament Story continues on page 6

6 LOCAL NEWS

THE LEAVEN • JANUARY 6, 2012

November

Continued from page 5 Parish in Kansas City, Kan. • Reporter Jessica Langdon joined the Leaven staff.

• Nine Benedictine Sisters celebrated their golden jubilees on July 31 at Mount ARHCDIOCESAN St. SchoYEAR IN REVIEW lastica in Atchison. They are: Sisters Eleanor Suther, Genevieve Robinson, Martha Schweiger, Joanne Yankauskis, Therese Elias, Mary Margaret Kean, Loretta McGuire, Linda Zahner and Jeannine Neavitt.

2011

August • The archdiocese was represented by 67 pilgrims at World Youth Day in Madrid, Spain. The pilgrims were joined by Archbishop Naumann and archdiocesan seminarians.

• Xavier Elementary School in Leavenworth moved into the newly renovated, former Muncie public school building, a consolidation from three separate campuses. The school was dedicated on Aug. 20, and opened its doors for class on Aug. 24.

• Archbishop Naumann blessed the site for a new monastery for the Community of the Lamb during a groundbreaking ceremony on Aug. 27 at the site, 36 S. Boeke St., in Kansas City, Kan. The cost is estimated at $2 million.

• Parishioners joined Archbishop Naumann as he broke ground on Aug. 28 for a new church at St. Stanislaus in Rossville.

September • About 350 people attended the first biennial archdiocesan convocation of parish ministries, held Sept.

15 at Savior Pastoral Center in Kansas City, Kan. • The National Catholic Bioethics Center hosted the seminar “Catholic Health Care Ethics: A Tradition of Compassion and Care for the Human Person,” Sept. 23 - 24 at Savior Pastoral Center.

• Wangari Maathal, Kenyan Nobel Peace Prize laureate and graduate of Mount St. Scholastica in Atchison, died of cancer on Sept. 25.

• Kansas bishops wrote Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, of the Department of Wangari Maathal Health and Hu-

Leaven photo by Susan McSpadden

Mikey Needleman, a member of Holy Spirit Parish in Overland Park, rallies the members of his group at World Youth Day in Spain. Needleman was one of 67 archdiocesan pilgrims to attend the event. man Services, to express their emphatic opposition to rules that would force coverage of morally objectionable items — like abortifacients and contraception —under the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. • Brad and Libby DuPont became consultants in the archdiocesan office of marriage and family life.

• The fourth annual Catholic New Media Conference was held Sept. 30 - Oct. 1 at Savior Pastoral Center.

to victims of abortion on Oct. 3 at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Kansas City, Kan.

December • Dr. Nancy Mikhaeel was named full-time medical director of Saint Vincent Clinic in Leavenworth and Duchesne Clinic in Kansas City, Kan. • Father Anthony E. Blaufuss, 78, died on Dec. 21 in retirement at Garnett.

• Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas launches its Father Blaufuss “Give. Hope.” initiative, to offer encouragement as well as temporal support to those in need.

October • A blessing and groundbreaking were held on Oct. 6 for a rosary garden in memory of the late Aubry Williams, 12, at Christ the King Parish in Topeka.

• Archbishop Naumann blessed the new Guardian Angels Shrine and the memorial

Natural disasters prompt outpouring of charity

By Carol Zimmerman

N

Catholic News Service

atural disasters around the world and all across the United States this year prompted prayers, charitable giving and outreach amid unthinkable destruction.

The devastation across the globe included an earthquake and tsunami in Japan, flooding in Australia and a drought in Africa.

The United States also was particularly hard hit with a string of natural disasters: unprecedented summer heat and drought in the Southwest, deadly tornadoes, a massive blizzard in the Northeast, major river floods in the Midwest, an earthquake on the East Coast followed by a hurricane that caused massive flooding.

There also were a record number of wildfires in the Southwest and strong windstorms in Southern California to end the year.

In January, a flood in Queensland, Australia, killed 13 people and devastated much of Australia’s coal, beef and agricultural industries. The Queensland chapter of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul set up a flood relief committee in response to the plight of more than 200,000 people affected in at least two dozen towns.

In early March, a tsunami and magnitude 9 earthquake struck Japan, devastating parts of its coast and leaving nearly 20,000 people dead and hundreds of thousands homeless. It also triggered a meltdown at a nuclear power plant, releasing radiation and forcing tens of thousands of Japanese to evacuate their homes.

Maryknoll Father Jim Mylet, who lives in Japan, noted that in the midst of the devastation, Catholics and others there were buoyed by the support they had received. “The prayers and support from around the world,” he said, “are a great source of strength and reinforce the image of us all sharing a common humanity under God our Father.”

Initially, church relief activities

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• Archbishop Naumann presided over a blessing and groundbreaking on Nov. 1 for a new residence hall at Benedictine College in Atchison.

• Charles Berkel, a member of Sacred Heart Parish in Shawnee, and Father Michael Hermes, president of Bishop Ward High School in Kansas City, Kan., both received the Deo Gratias Award from the Catholic Foundation of Northeast Kansas during its annual Deo Gratias dinner on Nov. 3 at Savior Pastoral Center.

• The Catholic bishops of Kansas and bishops representing two Protestant denominations issued a joint statement about immigration reform on Nov. 9 at the state Capitol.

• Archbishop Naumann was the main celebrant of a Mass of thanksgiving on Nov. 12 for the beatification of Blessed Mary Catherine Irigoyen Echegaray at St. Peter Cathedral in Kansas City, Kan. Sister Catherine, the immediate successor of the founder of the Sisters, Servants of Mary, was beatified in Madrid on Oct. 31.

• A total of 850 pilgrims from the archdiocese attended the National Catholic Youth Conference Nov. 17 - 19 in Indianapolis.

• Father Matthew J. Horvat, 80, pastor of St. Mary-St. Anthony Parish in Kansas Father Horvat City, Kan., died on Nov. 21 while recovering from a stroke.

• Father Jerry Spencer retired on Nov. 22 after serving as a chaplain at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, Kan., since 1975.

• The new English translation of the Third Edition of the Roman Missal was implemented the first weekend of Advent, Nov. 26 - 27.

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CNS photo/Mike Stone, Reuters

People walk through a demolished neighborhood in Joplin, Mo., May 23, after a massive category EF5 tornado struck on May 22.

CNS photo/Stringer via Reuters

A woman walks past carcasses of cattle in the drought-stricken Eladow area in Wajir, northeastern Kenya, Aug. 4. The drought, the worst in decades, has affected millions of people across the Horn of Africa. coordinated by Caritas Japan largely focused on cleanup and delivery of aid to survivors in the disaster zone.

Months later, volunteers were still helping those who took temporary shelter in local schools, gymnasiums and town halls.

Meanwhile, in Africa, the ongoing drought and famine afflicting Somalia and other East African nations this year was “a humanitarian crisis that cries out for help to Christians throughout the world,” said the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, New York Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan, and the chairman of the board of Catholic Relief Services, Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas of Tucson, Ariz.

CRS, the U.S. bishops’ overseas relief and development agency, estimated in October that more than 12 million people were in urgent need of aid in Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia. The drought caused failed crops, deaths of livestock and critical shortages of food and water.

CRS expanded its food distribution program in the region, working with local partners to provide livelihood support, water and sanitation.

Through its appeal campaign, Caritas Internationalis had

raised about $41.7 million by early October and expected to raise another $40 million to provide emergency food aid, clean water, sanitation, drought-resistant seeds, and develop water conservation systems.

In the United States this spring, over the course of several weeks, tornadoes caused death and destruction in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Virginia and Wisconsin.

Tornadoes leveled parts of Joplin, Mo., and Tuscaloosa, Ala. The tornado that ripped through Joplin May 22 claimed some 161 lives and flattened every building in its path, including St. Mary Catholic Church. Parishioners retrieved the Blessed Sacrament from the church’s shattered tabernacle. Only the large steel cross at what had been the church’s entrance remained, towering over the wreckage.

The storms that tore through Alabama killed more than 350 people.

“Quite tragically, the severity of this spring tornado and storm season has taken lives and created destruction in unheard of proportions,” said Father Larry Snyder, president of Catholic Charities USA, April 28.

Catholic Charities USA and Catholic

Charities agencies provided immediate relief to disaster survivors.

In August, Hurricane Irene swept up the Atlantic Coast, causing dramatic floods, wind damage and other disruptions.

More than 40 people in various states were reported to have been killed by floodwaters, falling trees, car accidents and powerful waves.

Parts of New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont experienced extreme flooding.

Immediately after the storm, Catholic Charities USA said its agencies up and down the East Coast were assessing damage and assisting people with food, shelter and other needs.

An Aug. 30 statement said the year’s natural disasters were straining financial resources at agencies around the country.

In the Southwest, wildfires burned for 296 straight days, particularly in drought-stricken Texas. After a surge of blazes in early September, more than 1,000 homes in the state were destroyed and four deaths were attributed to the fires.

Ascension Parish in Bastrop, Texas, served as a shelter and nerve center for relief efforts related to the wildfires.

“We’re not turning anybody away,” said Steve Venzon, one of four parishioners who oversaw relief efforts. The town of Bastrop and Bastrop County were in the heart of the fire zone in the 25-county Austin Diocese.

Christian Gonzalez, diocesan communications director, said the wildfires were a combination of drought, heat and the winds of Hurricane Lee. This year, most of Texas, and significant portions of New Mexico and Oklahoma, were in a “D4” drought zone as assessed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. D4 is equal to “exceptional” drought — the most intense level on USDA’s scale.

The year came to a close with fierce winds sweeping through Alaska and Utah and the Santa Ana winds hitting Southern California.

Arab Spring roils Middle East, opens new era

By Patricia Zapor

W

By Patricia Zapor

W

Catholic News Service

hat turned out to be a yearlong Arab Spring of grass-roots uprisings in 2011 left several countries with new leadership and a death toll in the tens of thousands, most from a full-scale civil war in Libya.

Meanwhile, protests in Israel and efforts by Palestinians to obtain full recognition in the United Nations ramped up pressure for achieving a two-state solution to peace.

The wave of protests began Dec. 18, 2010, in Tunisia after Mohamed Bouazizi set himself on fire to protest police corruption and to publicize his problems with trying to run a small business. By the time Bouazizi died of his injuries in early January, public protests had taken root in Tunis and other cities.

Longtime President Zine el Abidine Ben Ali stepped down under pressure Jan. 14 and fled to Saudi Arabia.

Since then, Tunisia has dissolved its political police force and other institutions associated with the Ben Ali regime and moved toward creating a new government.

The spirit that overtook Tunisia in January spread, leading to the resignation of Yemen’s prime minister and to the overthrow of the governments of Egypt and Libya, following protests that turned violent, and then to outright war in Libya.

In a dozen other countries, unprecedented protests ranged from peaceful and fairly restrained — as in Jordan and Lebanon — to brutally violent in Syria.

By May, border clashes in Israel were connected to the uprising spirit.

Across North Africa and the Middle East, grass-roots protests continued and escalated through the fall. In August, after a sustained battle over the Libyan capital of Tripoli, rebels overwhelmed President Moammar Gadhafi’s compound and began taking over national government functions.

Libya’s bloody civil war ended with the Oct. 20 capture of Gadhafi in a drainage pipe near Sirte. He died later that same day, reportedly after being brutalized and shot by his captors. An estimated 30,000 people were killed in Libya’s civil war.

Though the region is mostly Muslim, the protests had repercussions for people of all religions.

For instance, in Libya, most Catholics were foreign workers. Several missionaries told Catholic News Service they remained in the country to help those people, although they serve Muslims, too.

Although some migrants were evacuated, many who stayed behind lost their jobs and had nowhere else to go, leaving them searching for food, medicine, clothing and, most of all, rent money.

In Egypt, the unity between Christians and Muslims forged after the revolution seemed to deteriorate as Islamic fundamentalists began attacks on Christians, Cardinal Antonios Naguib, Coptic Catholic patriarch of Alexandria, said in early November.

Christian leaders, including Father Rafic Greiche, spokesman for the Catholic Church in Egypt, said the army and

Immigration action came in the states and courts

CNS photo/Bob Strong, Reuters

A Libyan rebel fighter raises his weapon as rebels enter Tripoli’s Qarqarsh district Aug. 22. Libyan government tanks and snipers put up scattered resistance in Tripoli after rebels swept into the heart of the capital, cheered on by crowds hailing the end of Moammar Gadhafi’s 42 years in power. police were confronting the Copts. He said that “people — not just Christians but many Muslims, too — are frightened for the future of our country.”

Coptic Christians make up about a tenth of the 81 million people of Egypt.

As the year drew to a close, the only ongoing grass-roots revolution was in Syria. In early December, the United Nations estimated more than 4,000 people had been killed in an uprising against President Bashar Assad since March.

World leaders had since fall increasingly called on Assad to step aside to avoid a full-scale civil war.

Syriac Catholic Patriarch Ignatius Joseph III Younan told CNS in October that attempts from outside Syria to collapse the government “will very

probably lead to chaos.”

“This chaos, surely — with no means to implement security — will lead to civil war,” said the patriarch, who stressed that a civil war in Syria would not merely be a struggle among political parties to control the power. “It will be confessional (religious), and war in the name of God is far worse than a political struggle. And this is what we fear.”

Religious leaders of many denominations weighed in on the Israel-Palestine conflict during the year, encouraging Israeli and Palestinian politicians to work together toward a peace agreement that would allow both countries to exist, generally called a two-state solution.

Those efforts included an interfaith plea from dozens of Christian, Jewish

and Muslim leaders to U.S. President Barack Obama to provide strong leadership in Mideast peace talks “before it is too late.”

“We believe that, in exercising strong U.S. leadership for peace, you can count on substantial support from members of churches, synagogues and mosques across the country,” said the May 20 letter to Obama.

Pressure on world leaders to support Palestinian statehood ramped up late in the summer as Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian Authority, submitted a formal request for U.N. membership and statehood Sept. 23.

The effort has gone nowhere, however, as it is opposed by several members of the U.N. Security Council.

Catholic News Service

ith a politically divided Congress putting immigration on the don’t-even-bother list of stagnant legislation, action on the subject in 2011 fell to state legislatures and federal courts — where challenges focused on whether states have the right to act on immigration.

Between court cases and electionyear rhetoric, however, 2012 promises to give the issue a much higher profile.

The Supreme Court agreed Dec. 12 to consider the constitutionality of Arizona’s S.B. 1070 — a package of restrictions on immigrants and requirements for law enforcement officers to determine people’s immigration status — which was to have taken effect in summer of 2010.

Injunctions have blocked some of the most-criticized parts of the law, including mandatory requirements for police to check on immigration status and criminalizing various forms of assistance to undocumented immigrants.

That includes the response to a lawsuit filed by the Department of Justice challenging the state’s right to step into immigration law, normally the purview of the federal government. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in April upheld the federal District Court’s prohibition on parts of the law from taking effect.

That set up the state’s appeal to the Supreme Court.

That case will likely be heard by the court in April, with a ruling expected by the time the court adjourns for the summer.

The major Republican candidates for president have largely staked out positions in favor of strong enforcement and calling any possibility of a path to legalization for the undocumented immigrants already in the country “amnesty.”

Although former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney previously has supported broader immigration proposals, he recently has taken a firm line against possible legalization and opposes in-state tuition for young adults brought here illegally as children — a component of the perennial legislation known as the DREAM Act. His fellow Republican, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, said in one candidates’ debate: “I don’t see how the party that says it’s the party of the family is going to adopt an immigration policy which destroys families that have been here a quarter-century. And I’m prepared to take the heat for saying, let’s be humane in enforcing the law without giving them citizenship but by finding a way to create legality.”

Meanwhile, the legal battle faced in Arizona hasn’t stopped other states from passing their own laws, but their most dramatic provisions also have been blocked by courts. Nevertheless, their effects have been felt broadly.

In Alabama, for example, farmers complained that they lost millions of dollars worth of produce that rotted in the fields after many farmworkers moved out of state — including some who are in the United States legally but

New missal translation introduced

By Nancy Frazier O’Brien

C CNS photo/Gael Gonzalez, Reuters

People wave U.S. flags and hold signs calling for action on immigration reform as President Barack Obama visits El Paso, Texas, May 10. In a speech at the U.S.-Mexico border, Obama called for comprehensive immigration reform and also said his administration has improved border security. feared being profiled.

The arrests of a German MercedesBenz executive and a Japanese Honda employee, both in the U.S. legally — and whose companies have auto plants in Alabama — underscored the problems with a law that mandates arrests in a wide range of situations. Charges against both men were dropped but not before the arrests were publicized worldwide.

Repercussions included high rates of absenteeism in Alabama schools, even among U.S. citizen children, as parents sought to keep a lower profile, or pulled out their kids and moved to another state. A provision that said municipal utility companies could require proof of legal residency led to some people being unable to get water or electricity service.

Alabama’s Gov. Robert Bentley said Dec. 9 the law “needs revision,” echoing state Attorney General Luther Strange, who said earlier that parts of it should be scrapped.

The National Conference of State Legislatures reported in early December that more than 1,600 immigrantrelated bills and resolutions were considered in all 50 states and Puerto Rico in 2011. As of Dec. 7, 42 states and Puerto Rico had passed 197 laws and 109 resolutions.

In addition to Alabama, Utah, Georgia, Indiana and South Carolina adopted wide-reaching laws, all of which have been challenged in court. The Justice Department is among those suing to stop the laws in Alabama, South Carolina and Utah.

Several were modeled on Arizona’s law, others attempted to ease pressures on undocumented immigrants. For example, Utah’s law included provisions for local enforcement of immigration laws, but also would seek a federal waiver to create a state work-permit program for which people already in the state could apply.

For its part, the Obama administration continued to voice support for comprehensive reform but began to enact some changes in how government agencies deal with undocumented immigrants.

This summer, the director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement told

field officers to prioritize apprehension and deportation of immigrants with criminal records or repeat offenses.

Homeland Security Director Janet Napolitano followed up in August with orders for prosecutorial discretion in weeding out low priority cases and giving those people a chance to remain in the country.

That policy has been slow to be implemented, according to critics, including Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill., who regularly chides the administration over how it handles immigration cases that fall within administrative discretion.

In an October press release, for example, Gutierrez noted that the U.S. was deporting the maximum number of people the system can handle — 400,000.

“The percentage of criminals among the deportees has risen during the Obama administration,” the release said. “But let’s be clear, we are still deporting a large number of parents, workers, and others who pose no threat to this country and who contribute to our economic well-being as a nation.”

Grass-roots efforts for comprehensive immigration reform continued around the country.

In December, Mercy Sisters in eastern Iowa bought space on a billboard proclaiming the passage from Matthew: “I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” The word “stranger” is crossed out and the word “immigrant” is inserted.

A Dec. 12 message to undocumented immigrants from the U.S. Hispanic and Latino Catholic bishops offered words of encouragement. “You are not alone,” they said, adding that they “open our hearts and arms to you” as children of God. Two states, Utah and Iowa, circulated “compacts” outlining principles for immigration policies. Utah’s compact, drafted late in 2010 by religious, law enforcement, business and political leaders, said immigration is a federal policy issue, and called for policies that support families, focus on criminal prosecutions, not civil violations, and take “a humane approach” to problems.

Iowa’s compact, in its early stages of circulation, also calls for federal solutions, “smart enforcement,” keeping families together, and meeting economic needs of a state with a rich culture.

Catholic News Service

ardinal Donald W. Wuerl doesn’t have a problem with the fact that there will be some missteps and some wrong words spoken during the first weeks of using the new English translation of the Roman Missal at Mass.

“We are going to have to live with the fact that not every celebration is going to be perfect,” the archbishop of Washington said during a Dec. 6 teleconference.

“But that can be inviting to some people who are afraid they are going to do the wrong thing. They might say, ‘That’s the same struggle I’m having.’”

Cardinal Wuerl, who co-wrote “The Mass: The Glory, the Mystery, the Tradition” with Mike Aquilina, joined in a panel discussion about the impact of the new translation, which went into use in the United States on the First Sunday of Advent, Nov. 27.

As 2011 drew to a close, American Catholics were greeting the new missal translation with a mostly positive response and finding some unexpected spiritual benefits in the need to pay closer attention to the words spoken at Mass — at least for a while.

Father Dan Barron, an Oblate of the Virgin Mary who is director of spiritual formation at John Paul the Great Catholic University in San Diego and editor of Magnifikid!, a weekly worship aid for children, said he has been “amazed to see that 18-, 19-year-old students are talking about the liturgy.”

“What brilliant youth minister could have been able to get young people talking about the missal?” he asked. “I give thanks to God for this great moment that I can be a part of.”

Father Barron said children, who are “the least resistant to change,” will pick up the new wording quickly.

But introduction of the new translation throughout the English-speaking world can serve as an “occasion to teach them the traditions that are so much larger than them and their parish” and that they are “united with parishes around the world, from the rising of the sun to its setting.”

Edward Sri, provost and professor of theology and Scripture at the Augustine Institute in Denver and author of “A Biblical Walk Through the Mass,” compared the process of implementing the new missal to the preparations some of his students make for the annual trip to Rome that he leads.

They might have read about and seen pictures of the Vatican before taking the trip, he said, “but there is nothing like walking into St. Peter’s Basilica for the first time” and experiencing it in person.

“That’s the experience that many lay Catholics will be having in the next weeks and months” related to the new missal translation, Sri said. “They have heard about it, but now they are saying it, hearing it. It’s a wonderful opportunity to bring people deeper into the mystery of the Mass.”

10 NATION

THE LEAVEN • JANUARY 6, 2012

Catholic school affordability: Progress made WASHINGTON (CNS) — When educational leaders look at ways to make Catholic schools more affordable, they are happy about some of the positive steps that have been made but fully aware that there is still a lot to do. During a recent conference at The Catholic University of America, a group of panelists focused on the status of tuition tax credits and how they have enabled students who would normally not be able to afford Catholic schools to attend them. Currently, there are 11 school voucher programs in the United States and nine scholarship tax-credit programs. Some states have more than one program. The school voucher programs in Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Ohio, Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Utah and the District of Columbia offer private school vouchers to low-income students, students with special needs or children in failing schools. The scholarship tax-credit programs in Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island also are primarily for students from low-income families or those with special needs. Tuition vouchers are funds awarded by a government agency to a low-income family to spend at any school of their choice. Tuition tax credits generate scholarships for Catholic schools by allowing individuals and businesses to deduct a portion of their income taxes to donate to education. These donations can go to public or private schools. Donations to public schools typically help pay for after-school programs, school trips or supplies.

National Vocations Awareness Week takes place Jan. 9-14 WASHINGTON (CNS) — The U.S. Catholic Church will celebrate National Vocation Awareness Week Jan. 9-14 to promote vocations to the priesthood, diaconate and consecrated life through prayer and education. This distinctive week gives Catholics an opportunity to renew prayers and support for those who are considering one of these vocations. “It is our responsibility to help children and young people develop a prayerful relationship with Jesus Christ so they will know their vocation,” said St. Louis Archbishop Robert J. Carlson, chairman of the bishops’ Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations. “Through a culture of vocation in families, parishes, schools and dioceses, Catholics can nurture an environment of discipleship, commitment to daily prayer, spiritual conversion, growth in virtue, participation in the sacraments and service in community,” the archbishop said.

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THE LEAVEN • JANUARY 6, 2012

Paralyzed Maryland priest begins walking

By George P. Matysek Jr. Catholic News Service

EPHRATA, Pa. (CNS) — When Redemptorist Father John Murray bashed his head against a railing after tripping along a New Jersey boardwalk 15 months ago, the consequences were devastating.

The former pastor of St. Mary in Annapolis and St. Wenceslaus in Baltimore suffered a broken neck that left him instantly paralyzed from the chest down.

Rushed to a hospital, he underwent emergency spinal cord surgery and later began rehabilitation at a prominent New Jersey institute.

Doctors had little encouragement for the once-active priest who was known across the East Coast for his preaching abilities. The chances he would ever walk again were virtually zero.

“When they said I’d never be able to move again, they took away all hope,” Father Murray told The Catholic Review, Baltimore archdiocesan newspaper.

But on Nov. 28, 2010, Father Murray did something everyone said would be impossible. While living and undergoing rehabilitation at Stella Maris in Timonium, Md., he moved his left leg ever so slightly, gently lifting his foot off the ground.

“I was ecstatic,” Father Murray recalled with a smile. “Here I was about six weeks after they told me in New Jersey I’d never move again and, lo and behold, I could move. Just the foot, but it kept going and going and going.”

Today, Father Murray is completely mobile. Using a walker, he is able to walk on his own at his new residence at St. Clement Mission House in Ephrata.

Father Murray sees only one explanation for his renewed gift of independence: An encounter with the miraculous.

When most people think of miracles, he said, they usually bring to mind instantaneous cures of a debilitating disease or terminal illness.

“We think of it as any exceptions to the laws of nature,” the priest explained. “In biblical times, what was called a miracle was anything that showed the power of God. What happened to me wasn’t instantaneous, but it certainly was miraculous.”

Reaching into his pocket, Father Murray pulled out a small object he carries with him at all times. Encased in a

CNS photo/Clare Becker, Catholic Review

Redemptorist Father John Murray uses a walker during his rehabilitation in Ephrata, Pa., Nov. 15.

Father Murray was told he would never walk again after an accidental fall left him paralyzed. small locket, it houses a relic — a piece of bone — of Blessed Francis X. Seelos, a 19th-century Redemptorist priest under consideration for sainthood, who had been a rector of the same Annapolis parish Father Murray once led. The two also share a good sense of humor and a love for preaching.

“I think with those three common qualities, I had a little in with the guy,” said Father Murray, crediting Blessed Seelos for interceding on his behalf.

“Ultimately, all prayers go to God. Seelos can’t give the grace, but he was the conduit for my prayers.”

Dr. Ernestine Wright, medical director of Stella Maris, was shocked by Father Murray’s recovery. She has seen other paraplegics regain limited use of their limbs — but nothing like Father Murray. A born-again Christian, Wright said she believes her patient experienced a touch of the miraculous.

“With spinal cord injuries, it’s always very difficult at the time of injury to determine whether it’s a permanent or temporary injury,” said Wright, who treated Father Murray throughout his year at Stella Maris. No longer in need of nursing care, the priest relocated to Pennsylvania in October.

“We could not have predicted how much he has recovered,” she said. “It’s very unusual.”

Wright called Father Murray, who last December spent 16 days in isolation at Greater Baltimore Medical Center after contracting a highly dangerous

staph infection, an inspiration to other patients and staff at Stella Maris.

“He was determined to get better,” she said. “He was determined that Stella Maris would not be his final place of abode. He was going to get back to ministry.”

Jessica Tewey, Father Murray’s former occupational therapist at Stella Maris, witnessed the priest’s perseverance. She coached him on how to dress, bathe, maintain his balance, cook and get coffee.

“The first day I showed him something, he wouldn’t be sure about it,” Tewey said, “but a week later, he’d be completely independent in whatever I gave him to do.”

Tewey said Father Murray helped the people of Stella Maris as much as they helped him — offering encouraging words, praying for them and being a model of positive thinking.

“The patients loved him,” she said.

“He gave hope to other patients. Some other people are saying, ‘If he can do it, I can do it.’”

The bespectacled priest is grateful to Wright, Tewey and Marialena Firlie, his former physical therapist at Stella Maris — along with many others. Being able to walk, dress and clean himself, and stand to deliver a homily, are all gifts from God, he said.

“You take all those things for granted,” he said. “Not anymore — not anymore.”

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Car-parts maker hosts ecofriendly popemobile contest VATICAN CITY (CNS) — A select group of young international designers will be submitting innovative mock-ups of what an eco-friendly popemobile should look like.

For the first time, the annual Autostyle Design Competition will have a special category for a popemobile, according to L’Osservatore Romano, the Vatican newspaper. The vehicle design must meet standards for low-emissions, as well as the Vatican’s safety and security standards, it said. Out of a pool of about 200 candidates, a commission will choose 12 student finalists who will then have seven to eight months to create a new popemobile design, said Sara Ferraccioli, marketing and communications officer for Berman, the Italian car-parts manufacturer sponsoring the competition. A panel of judges, including design directors from Audi, Bentley, Fiat, Ford, Ferrari, Maserati, Nissan, Toyota and the University of Florence, will pick the winners “based on their coherence with (a major carmaker’s) brand, their originality and innovation, the comprehensiveness and elegance of the work and the feasibility of the projects,” according to cardesignnews.com. The final winners in the three categories of sports car, SUV/ urban cars and popemobiles will be selected in October, Ferraccioli said. She said the idea to add the popemobile category to the 2012 contest happened after Berman’s CEO, Roberto Artioli, got the go-ahead from a friend who is friends with Salesian Father Giuseppe Costa, head of the Vatican publishing house.

Castro says Cuba will free 2,900 political prisoners HAVANA (CNS) — Cuban President Raul Castro announced his country will free 2,900 political prisoners in the spring, a move he partially attributed to Pope Benedict XVI’s upcoming visit. In a speech to the National Assembly, Castro said the Council of State had taken into account the papal visit as well as requests from prisoners’ family members and top Catholic officials. He also mentioned the 400th anniversary of the Virgin of Charity of El Cobre, patroness of Cuba. Pope Benedict XVI has said he will visit Cuba and Mexico before Easter, although official dates have not yet been announced.

Cuba released approximately 50 political prisoners in 2010, a move that Havana Cardinal Jaime Ortega Alamino said was popular within the country but even more important for foreign relations. Cuba’s treatment of political opponents has long been a key element in the 50-year U.S. economic embargo of the nation.

WORLD 11

West Bank landowners can’t get to their land

By Judith Sudilovsky

Catholic News Service

BETHLEHEM, West Bank (CNS) — Jamal Salman stood on one side of the double chain-link fence, on land belonging to his family. On the other side of the Israeli-erected fences, only a few hundred yards away but beyond his reach, was more family land with a grove of olive trees.

In November, Salman and more than 180 Bethlehem landowners were informed that Israel had placed their olive groves — more than 1,700 acres of land located beyond the barrier — under the Guardian of Absentee Property, deeming the owners of these lands as “absentees.” This is the last step before formal confiscation.

“I stand here . . . and I can look onto my land over the fence as an absentee [property owner],” Salman said, pointing across the fences to the trees. The last time he was permitted through the barrier to work his olive grove was 2009.

The 73-year-old is leading a campaign of mostly Christian landowners in an attempt to prevent yet more of their land from being confiscated. They are considering challenging the absentee decision in the Israeli Supreme Court, he said.

The expropriation of land is not a new story here, said Salman, a Catholic and the former town manager of Bethlehem.

After Israel built the separation barrier in 2002, farmers were not allowed to cross through the fence to the valley to reach their olive groves. Salman was left with only 360 square yards of land, while the other 1,560 square yards of his property was confiscated and now lies on the other side of the barrier, he said.

“These lands used to earn us and our families a lot of money,” from the olive oil produced from the olives, he said.

“We also got our own olives and olive oil from there. We lost everything.”

After the farmers’ case was taken to the Supreme Court by Israeli human rights lawyer Danny Seidmann, the court ruled that gates be built into the series of double fences and special permits be issued to the farmers during harvest time so they could to have access to their property.

In addition, said Seidmann, in 2004 he was given a written understanding from government officials that the landowners would be given access to their

CNS photo/Debbie Hill

Palestinian Catholic Jamal Salman, 73, stands beside the Israeli-erected barrier that divides his olive groves near Bethlehem, West Bank, Dec. 22. The Israeli government, which will not allow him to cross the barrier, has declared him and others absentee landowners. The growing Israeli settlement Har Homa is seen in the background. land. A year later the attorney general’s office also ruled it illegal to use the Law of Absentee Property against West Bank residents whose land was located on the Israeli side of the barrier.

But the reality was different. The gates were opened only at specific times, and the farmers were issued permits to access their lands only three times since 2005, said the landowners.

The permits were given only to the person to whom the land is registered, all of whom are now in their 60s, 70s and 80s. No other members of the families were allowed to enter to help with the harvest, said Jallal Hanouna, 61.

Salman said that, since Israel took control of the West Bank from Jordan in 1967, Palestinians have been prevented from transferring ownership of property even to their children, so they were unable to transfer land deeds to younger members of the family.

“It is impossible for us to cultivate the land ourselves,” said Salman. “They don’t allow any other relatives or members of our family to help us. They didn’t give us authority to go to our lands, and now they are saying they consider us absentee from our lands, which we can see with our own eyes. I am not absentee. I am right here.”

One year, when the farmers were permitted onto their land, they arrived on their property to discover that all the olives had already been harvested by

someone else, said Hanouna.

Seidmann said it was unclear whether the decision to claim the land under the Law of Absentee Property was simply an attempt by the government to try something illegal during a U.S. election year when the attention in the United States is directed elsewhere, or if has become a government policy.

The Israeli Civil Administration responsible for issuing the permits did not respond to requests for comment.

Hanouna said the land not only represents their future in terms of income from the olive harvest, but it also symbolizes their ability to provide a future for their children in Bethlehem. Other property parcels threatened are the last remaining land where the city, and specifically Christian residents, can expand, since Bethlehem is surrounded on all other sides by Israeli settlements, he said.

“We feel abandoned by the whole world. We are all Christians. This is 99 percent Christian land,” said Hanouna.

“This land was the hope for the Christian people, for our sons to expand.

That is all we own.”

If there is no room for their children to build their own homes, the exodus of young people from the city will continue and increase as they seek to make lives for themselves somewhere where they do not feel imprisoned, he said.

12 CLASSIFIEDS Employment Hospice chaplain - Full-time (40 hours/week) salaried position. Requirements include: a minimum of two years hospice experience; completion of one unit of Clinical Pastoral Education, or the willingness to obtain; graduation from an accredited seminary or school of theology. To download an application, visit the website at: www.catholiccharitiesks.iappicants. com/application.php. (EEO) Associate superintendent of Catholic schools - For the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph. The ideal candidate will have the knowledge, skills, and theological depth and experience to provide leadership and vision in the areas of Catholic identity, curriculum and technology integration. Candidates who are interested in making a difference in Catholic education, hold an advanced degree in education, professional credentials in educational administration and have a minimum of five years experience as a Catholic school administrator, are encouraged to call Christine Ostrom at (816) 756-1850, ext. 277. To apply online, visit the website at: http://jobs.diocese-kcsj. org/?cid=4&lid=118. Application deadline is Feb. 1.

Nurse manager - Advice and Aid Pregnancy Centers, Inc., is currently seeking a registered nurse, licensed in the state of Kansas with a minimum of five years experience, to assume the position of nurse manager. Certified in limited sonograms and experience working in Christian ministry is a plus. For a complete job description and required qualifications, call Brenda Estell at (913) 962-0200 or send an email to her at: office@adviceandaid.com.

Extended day care group leader - For Holy Spirit School, 11300 W. 103rd St., Overland Park. Part time from 3 - 6 p.m., Mon. - Fri. on school days; full day when all-day care is offered. Applicants must be 18 or older; have a high school diploma or GED; have experience working with school-age children, knowledge of child development, and the ability to communicate clearly and implement the program of activities while fostering positive, healthy relationships with children. Firstaid and CPR/AED certification are a plus. Virtus training is required. For consideration, send resume and cover letter to Eileen Colling, via email, to: ecolling@hscatholic.org or call (913) 492-2582.

Financial representative - Due to the success and growth of the Knights of Columbus, we are adding financial representatives in the Kansas City, Topeka and Atchison areas. This position is ideal for a determined, high-energy, high-expectation, professional, self-disciplined, independent individual desiring to serve others, yet earn a better-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.

Job seeking Bookkeeper/office manager - Seeking a parttime or full-time position as a bookkeeper or a clerical position in the Johnson County area. 30 years experience. Member of St. Patrick Parish, Kansas City, Kan. For a resume, contact Nancy at (913) 788-3563 or send an email to: powellna2001@yahoo.com.

THE LEAVEN • JANUARY 6, 2012 Fire & water damage restoration - Framing, insulation, painting, tile and mold treatment. Lead safe certified; fully insured. Serving Wyandotte and Johnson counties for 22 years. Call Jerry at (913) 631-5241.

QuickBooks® for small business - Setup, customization and maintenance; quarterly and/or yearly accounting; support to your CPA, balance monthly statements, profit and expense tracking. Free consultations! Call Ann Evans Consulting LLC at (913) 4069778.

Computer repair and upgrades/virus, spyware & malware removal - Microsoft certified, 11+ yrs. experience. Member of Sacred Heart Parish. Call Matt at (816) 876-6619 or send an email to him at: mattcomputerfix@gmail.com.

Housecleaning - Old-fashioned cleaning, hand mopping, etc. A thorough and consistent job every time. References from customers I’ve served for over 17 years. Call Sharon at (816) 322-0006 (home) or (816) 214-0156 (mobile).

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 email to: tkidd@kc.rr.com.

Mike Hammer local moving - A full-service mover. Packing, pianos, rental truck load/unload, storage container load/unload, and in-home moving.

No job too small. Serving JoCo since 1987. St. Joseph, Shawnee, parishioner. Call Mike at (913) 927-4347 or send an email to: mikehammermoving@aol.com.

Semi-retired arborist - Available for tree and shrub trimming. Call Bob at (913) 231- 6460.

Tree service - Pruning trees for optimal growth and beauty and removal of hazardous limbs or problem trees. Free consultation and bid. Safe, insured, professional. Cristofer Estrada, Green Solutions of KC, (913) 378-5872. www.GreenSolutionsKC.com.

Caregiving Experienced CNA - Available to care for your loved one. Experience with dementia and Alzheimer’s patients. Excellent references; background check welcome. Full time, during the day preferred. Johnson and Wyandotte County areas. (913) 999-4340.

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, Debbie or Gary.

Looking for high quality home care? Whether you’re looking to introduce care for your family or simply looking to improve your current home care quality, we can help. Our unique approach to home care has earned us a 99% client satisfaction rating among the 1,000-plus families we have assisted. We are family-owned and based in Lenexa. Call Benefits of Home-Senior Care at (913) 422-1591 or visit our website at: www.benefitsofhome.com.

Faith-based counseling to cope with life concerns - Kansas City area. Call Mary Vorsten, Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, at (913) 909-2002.

CNA home health care professional - Provides excellent service and personal assistance for seniors and the homebound. Over 20 years experience. Excellent references and reasonable rates. Let me reduce your stress by helping you keep your loved one comfortably at home. Call Rosalyn at (816) 830-7455.

Machine quilting - by Jenell Noeth, Basehor.

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

Private senior care - Registered nurse offering medical and nonmedical services. Keeping seniors at

Services

CALENDAR 13

THE LEAVEN • JANUARY 6, 2012 home and independent. Call (913) 522-4938 or send an email to: jcseniorcare@gmail.com. Member of Holy Trinity Parish, Lenexa.

Home Improvement Master electrician - Licensed in Missouri and Kansas. 35 years experience in residential and commercial electrical needs. Call Rick, L & M Electric, at (913) 362-1501 or (816) 781-1501.

Handyman - Light hauling, electrical, plumbing, painting and carpentry. Efficient and affordable. Call Michael Broton at (816) 728-6109.

Tim the handyman - Small jobs are my specialty! Faucets, garbage disposals, toilets, light fixtures, ceiling fans, handrails, window screen repair, bush trimming and garden tilling. Free estimates. JoCo only. Call (913) 859-0471.

Helping Hand Handy Man - Home maintenance, upgrades and chores available by the hour. Special rate for senior and single-parent households. Electrical, painting, wood refinishing, wood rot repair, deck repair, yardwork, small to medium tree trimming, gutter cleaning, shelving and organizing. Most home problems and needs solved. Member of Prince of Peace, Olathe. Call Mark Coleman at (913) 526-4490.

Roofing insurance specialist - Free estimates; repairs if needed. Hail/wind damage inspections. Insured and reasonable. Call Rob (913) 206-4524.

Heating and air conditioning - Serving Johnson, Wyandotte and northern Miami counties. Seasonal tune-ups, full system replacements, and everything in between. 20 years experience. Call Jon at (913) 850-3376.

Adept Home Improvements Where quality still counts!

Basement finishing, Kitchens and baths, Electrical and plumbing, Licensed and insured.

(913) 599-7998 STA (Sure Thing Always) Home Repair - Basement finish, bathrooms and kitchens; interior & exterior repairs: painting, roofing, siding, wood replacement and window glazing. Free estimates. Call (913) 491-5837 or (913) 579-1835. Email: smokeycabin@ hotmail.com. Member of Holy Trinity, Lenexa.

Exterior painting, drywall projects, wood rot repair, bathroom and kitchen remodels, - Quality products, 20 years experience, references. Call (913) 206-4524.

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.

Swalms Organizing Service - Basement, garage, attic, shop — any room organized! Items taken to donation sites, trash is bagged, and areas are clean and neat when job is complete. To view before-andafter pictures, visit the website at: www.swalms.com.

Over 20 years of organizing experience; insured. Call Tillar at (913) 375-9115.

Clutter getting you down? Organize, fix, assemble, clean . . . we do it all! For a free consultation, call your professional organizing handyman, Kevin Hogan, M.Ed., today at (913) 271-5055. Insured; references. Visit the website at: www.koatindustries.com.

Electrician - Free estimates; reasonable rates.

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

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.

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

For Rent Office space available - Great location in the Ranchmart area of Prairie Village. Ideal for start-ups, professional and small businesses. Flexible terms.

Call Marek at (913) 461-4491.

Vacation 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.

For Sale Max’s rosaries - Custom-made locally for all occasions – first Communion, confirmation, baptism, graduation. Rosary bracelets and beaded earrings too! I also do repairs. Member of the Church of the Ascension, Overland Park. Call (913) 839-3106.

For sale – Medical equipment and supplies; new and used. Wholesale pricing. Scooters, power chairs, wheelchairs, walkers, bath and shower items, lift chairs, vehicle lifts, ramps, hospital beds and other items. Call Ron Coleman (913) 299-9176.

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) 327-5557.

Wanted to Buy Automobile wanted - Working college student needs reliable transportation. Seeking a good value car or SUV priced around $4500. Call Maddy at (913) 909-1613 or send an email to her at: roge0905@ravens.benedictine.edu.

Cash for your antiques - Coins, watches, silverware, old rifles and shotguns, pocket knives, old military items, Zippo lighters, duck decoys, antique toys, old signs, old pine or primitive furniture. Call Chris at (913) 593-7507 or (913) 642-8269. *** Want to buy *** Antique or vintage jewelry Single pieces or entire estate Renee Maderak (913) 631-7179 St. Joseph Parish, Shawnee 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.

Jan. 9will host a

Advice and Aid Pregnancy Centers, Inc., volunteer information meeting from 7 - 9 p.m. on Jan. 9 at 11031

W. 75th Terr., Shawnee. For information or to RSVP, contact Mary Newcomer at (913) 962-0200 or send an email to: volunteer@adviceandaid.com.

St. Michael the Archangel Parish, 14251 Nall Ave., Leawood, will host “Inspiring Moms and Dads,” a seven-part parenting workshop. It will be presented by Amy Hilbrich Davis, a mother of seven and nationally recognized family expert, from 9:45 - 11 a.m. on Monday mornings, beginning Jan. 9. Participants will learn proven strategies and solutions to create a happier, healthier, and more successful family life. Limited child care is available.

For information or to register, visit the website at: www.inspiring MomsAndDads.com.

9 & 11

Do your 2012 prayers include weight loss and spiritual growth?

St. Michael the Archangel Church, 14201 Nall Ave., Leawood, will sponsor a 12week Light Weigh Bible study weight-loss program from 7 - 8:30 p.m. on Monday evenings, beginning Jan. 16. There will be two opportunities to preview the program: on Jan. 9 and 11 at 7 p.m. in Porter Hall at the parish. For information or to order a home packet, contact Christi White at (913) 322-6097 or send an email to her at: christiwhite@christiwhite.com.

10

A support group for women dealing with any type of addiction, at any

stage of recovery, will meet from 6 - 7 p.m. on Tuesday evenings at the Keeler Women’s Center, 2220 Central Ave., Kansas

City, Kan. For information or to register, call (913) 906-8990 or visit the website at: www. mountosb.org/kwc.

A knitting, crocheting, and quilting group meets from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday evenings at the Keeler Women’s Center, 2220 Central Ave., Kansas City, Kan.

Lessons are available for beginners or come work on a project and enjoy an evening of conversation with other women. For information or to register, call (913) 906-8990 or visit the website at: www. mountosb.org/kwc.

The Keeler Women’s Center, 2220 Central Ave., Kansas City, Kan., will offer “Bond-

ing and Attachment,” a four-session parenting series for new and expectant mothers, from 1:30 - 3 p.m. on Tuesdays, beginning Jan. 10. New parents will gain insight and practice on how to develop a secure attachment between parent and child that promotes confidence and trust in the child. Mothers are encouraged to bring their new babies to class. For information or to register, call (913) 906-8990 or visit the website at: www.mountosb.org/kwc.

11

Do you and your spouse need help improving your communication skills? “Marriage for Keeps,” a program of Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas, offers support and resources for married couples seeking to improve their marriage and strengthen their family.

Our eight-part workshops help couples develop strategies that enable them to communicate more positively. Open to couples of all faiths, we are a skillsbased program. The next session begins Jan. 11. For information or to register, call (913) 621-5775, ext. 1403, or send an email to: marriage@catholic charitiesks. org. Space is limited; registration is required.

The Keeler Women’s Center, 2220 Central Ave., Kansas City, Kan., will offer “Be-

coming a Love and Logic Parent,” a 10-session parenting program, from 9:30 - 11 a.m. on Wednesdays, beginning Jan.

11. The sessions will feature video presentations that focus on parenting skills to deal with children’s behavior. This program is free and open to both men and women. For information or to register,

ponder this question as you visit beauty in Scripture, creation, literature, art and daily life. For information or to register, call (913) 360-6151 or visit the website at: www. mountosb.org/sophia.html.

call (913) 906-8990 or visit the website at: www.mountosb.org/kwc.

13-14

Sophia Center, 751 S. 8th St., Atchison, will host “Return To The Land Of Your Soul” presented by Sister Marcia Ziska, OSB, from 7 p.m. on Jan. 13 - 4 p.m. on Jan. 14. Using the “Wizard of Oz” char-

acters as guides, this retreat will focus on the journey home to the true self. For

information or to register, call (913) 360-6151 or visit the website at: www.mountosb.org/ sophia.html.

15

Prince of Peace Church, 16000 W. 143rd St., Olathe, will host a parents of teens workshop, presented by the REAP Team, a retreat ministry of the archdiocese of St. Louis, from 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. on Jan. 15 in the parish hall. Parents of middle and high school students are invited to learn about the teen culture, the pressures they face, and how to help teens keep their faith. A freewill offering will be collected. For information, send an email to Polly Holmes at: pholmes@ princeofpeace.info.

21

The Curé of Ars Singles will host a winter fantasy dance from 7:30 - 11:30 p.m. on Jan. 21 in the school cafeteria located at 9401 Mission Rd., Leawood. The cost of $15, payable at the door, includes hors d’oeuvres, desserts, wine, beer, soda, and bottled water. For information, call (913) 631-6873.

25

Sophia Center, 751 S. 8th St., Atchison, will host “Give Beauty Back To God,” presented by Sister Thomasita Homan, OSB, from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. on Jan. 25. How does one give beauty back to

God, source of all beauty? Come and

Misc.

Sacred Heart-St. Joseph Parish, Topeka, will host its annual German Fasching (Mardi Gras) on Feb. 18 in the Sacred Heart Parish hall, 312 N.E. Freeman Ave. Tickets will be sold after all Masses during the weekend of Jan. 7 - 8 or may be purchased at the parish offices. For information, call (785) 234-3338 or (785) 2322863. For complete details, visit the website at: ww.sacredheartstjosephcatholic. org.

Rediscover your marriage! The Retrouvaille program offers the opportunity to rediscover yourself, your spouse, and a loving relationship. The next Retrouvaille weekend is Feb. 17 - 19. For confidential information or to register, call 1 (800) 470-2230 or visit the website at: www.retrouvaille.org.

Healing from pornography? Monthly theology of the body groups and weekly recovery groups are available for men and women. For information, visit the Website at: LoveIsFaithful.com, or call Sam Meier, MA, LPC, at (913) 647-0378.

Calendar submissions: Are due at noon on Wednesday, nine days prior to the publication date.

Calendar items will be publicized according to the date of the event. Email submissions to: jennifer@theleaven. com.

14 COMMENTARY

THE LEAVEN • JANUARY 6, 2012

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, 2011

QUOTE WEEK

OF THE

“[Father Anthony Blaufuss] was really, deep down, an environmentalist. He had a love for nature. He raised pecans and walnuts, too.

He would get so upset when hordes of blue jays would come and raid his trees, oh boy.”

Father George Seuferling See story on page 3

Be a ‘doer,’ not a ‘stewer,’ in the new year

W

ell, it’s a brand-new year. My surest indicator that the calendar has flipped to another January is what’s on sale now in store ads. There’s healthier food, organizing tools, and exercise equipment.

Therefore, to encourage a healthier lifestyle in 2012 for us all, I’d like to share a recipe I recently discovered: “Take twelve fine, full-grown months; see that these are thoroughly free from old memories of bitterness, rancor and hate; cleanse them completely from every clinging spite; pick off all specks of pettiness and littleness; in short, see that these months are freed from all the past. Have them fresh and clean as when they first came from the great storehouse of time. Cut these months into anywhere from 29 to 31 equal parts. Do not attempt to make up the whole batch at one time (so many persons spoil the entire lot this way), but prepare one day at a time.

“Into each day put equal parts of faith, patience, courage, work (some people omit this ingredient and so spoil the flavor of the rest), hope, fidelity, tolerance, kindness, rest (leaving this out is like leaving the oil out of the salad dressing — don’t do it), prayer, meditation and one well-selected resolution. Put in about one teaspoonful of good spirits, a dash of fun, a pinch of folly, a sprinkling of play and a heaping cupful of good humor.” (Adapted from “The Sower’s Seeds — Revised and Expanded Edition,” by Brian Cavanaugh, TOR.) Doesn’t this recipe sound good?

Heck, I’m not much of a cook, but this is something that even I can whip up.

Maybe.

I don’t know about you, but I usually don’t have too much luck with my New

FIRST WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME Jan. 8 THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD Is 60: 1-6; Ps 72: 2; 7-8, 10-13; Eph 3: 2-3a, 5-6; Mt 2: 1-12 Jan. 9 THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD Is 42: 1-4, 6-7; Ps 29: 1a, 2, 3ac-4, 3b, 9b-10; Mk 1: 7-11 Jan. 10 Tuesday 1 Sm 1: 9-20; (Ps) 1 Sm 2: 1, 4-8; Mk 1: 21-28 Jan. 11 Wednesday 1 Sm 3: 1-10, 19-20; Ps 40: 2-5, 7-10; Mk 1: 29-39 Jan. 12 Thursday 1 Sm 4: 1-11; Ps 44: 10-11, 14-15, 25-26; Mk 1: 40-45 Jan. 13 Hilary, bishop, doctor of the church 1 Sm 8: 4-7, 10-22a; Ps 89: 16-19; Mk 2: 1-12 Jan. 14 Saturday 1 Sm 9: 1-4, 17-19; 10: 1a; Ps 19: 8-10, 15; Mk 2: 13-17

Year’s resolutions. In fact, I just ran across the ones that I made for 2011 — I’d hidden them in such a safe place that I only unearthed them by mistake a couple of days ago. After looking them over, all I had to do was cross out “2011” and write in “2012.” I suppose that in some time management effort, I decided to do nothing on any of them in the last year. How depressing.

This year, I’m committed to making my good intentions a reality. Taking a cue from those new year ads and the recipe above, I’ve boiled things down to four areas: diet, organization, exercise and rest.

After giving me a chocolate Santa and a box of Russell Stover’s pecan delights for Christmas, one of my parishioners wrote in her card: “And Fr. Mark, you know it is almost January and The Leaven will say, ‘I am going on a diet.’ So hurry and eat all the good food before January.”

Since the scale tells me that apparently I did just that, a diet is the first order of business. And although nutritious food and portion control are definitely on the list, so is dieting from other destructive things like laziness, too much TV and Web surfing, gossiping and complaining.

Next on my list is organizing. Yes, I resolve to paw through my ever-present, towering piles of papers. Those

I cannot toss or recycle, I’m scanning into my computer to reduce my paper files. I intend to plow through my other possessions (especially my books) as well, and get unneeded items into the hands of those who can use them. But the primary goal of my organizing is to have a life that is free for spending more time in prayer, staying in touch with friends, attending plays and concerts, and simply pondering.

My third goal is exercise. I had to blow the dust off the old pedometer . . . again. But walking and breaking out the Wii Fit are definitely on the to-do list. But I also want to exercise my brain by reading one spiritual book a month and keeping up with all the Catholic periodicals that come into my home. I also want to exercise by being of better service to others, especially by answering emails and phone calls in a more timely fashion.

Finally, and this doesn’t contradict the item above, I’m reminding myself to rest. Many times my impatience is a direct result of my not taking time to get enough sleep or my tendency to over-commit. I’m going to resolve each day, for an hour or so, to unplug from the cell phone or the Net and enjoy the quiet, especially quality time with God. Will I succeed? Yes, if I’m wise enough to follow St. John Vianney’s advice to rely on God’s strength — and not only on my own — in changing my life. Also, the first letters of my goals — diet, organize, exercise, rest — spell “doer” and should “guilt me” into action.

However, if all else fails, let’s all take comfort in the words of comedian Joey Adams: May all your troubles last as long as your New Year’s resolutions.

IN THE BEGINNING

Tradition sees Jesus as the new Jerusalem

W

hen a disaster such as a tornado or a fire strikes a house, the question sometimes arises whether to repair the damages or to rebuild elsewhere. This question becomes even more pressing when an entire city undergoes massive destruction, such as we saw in Joplin, Mo., this last year.

That was the situation when the prophecy was THE EPIPHANY uttered that we OF THE LORD hear now as the Is 60: 1-6 first reading of Sunday’s Mass, Is 60:1-6. The city of Jerusalem had been completely demolished by the invading Babylonian army in 587 B.C. The political capital of Israel, and its religious center, was wiped off the face of the earth. Israel’s hopes had disappeared along with it.

The vision that the prophet proclaims in our reading promises Jerusalem’s rebirth. Its inhabitants who had been driven into exile will return: “Your sons will come from afar, and your daughters in the arms of their nurses.”

But the prophecy goes even further in its promises. Not only will Jerusalem’s former inhabitants return, but

also foreigners will flock to the city: “Nations shall walk by your light, and kings by your shining radiance. Raise your eyes and look about; they all gather and come to you.” These foreigners will stream into the demolished city in order to help rebuild it. And they will bring their considerable wealth with them in order to accomplish that: “The riches of the sea shall be emptied out before you, the wealth of nations shall be brought to you. Caravans of camels shall fill you, dromedaries from Midian and Ephah; all from Sheba shall come bearing gold and frankincense.”

This prophecy originally referred to Jerusalem’s rebuilding, in a very literal sense. But later Christian tradition has reapplied those words to the birth of Jesus Christ. Just as the city of Jerusalem had attracted foreigners, Jesus Christ similarly spoke to the hopes and

dreams of those outside Israel. The gentiles who would respond to the good news brought by Jesus Christ are represented by the Magi who visit the Christ Child in Mt 2:1-12. They bear gifts of gold and frankincense, and travel in from the east, just as described in Isaiah’s prophecy.

It is appropriate that Jesus Christ should take the place of Jerusalem in the prophecy as reinterpreted by Christian tradition. After all, the city of Jerusalem housed the temple, the dwelling place of God. But we, as Christians, believe that God dwelt among us through Jesus Christ: “And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us; and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth” (Jn 1: 14).

The light of faith enables us to see God’s glory. It enables us to see the darkness of sin banished by the grace that comes to us through Jesus Christ.

It enables us to see that which had suffered destruction restored to wholeness by his love.

Father Mike Stubbs is the pastor of Holy Cross Parish in Overland Park and has a degree in Scripture from Harvard University.

World Marriage Day Marriage as Sacrament: The Healing Power of Love ALL MARRIED COUPLES are invited by

Archbishop Joseph Naumann Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas and Bishop Robert Finn Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph and To celebrate their Sacrament at a special Mass for Marriage

Sunday, February 12, 2012

3:00 p.m. Mass followed by a reception in the Woolridge Center with a short presentation by guest speakers Brad & Libby DuPont Office of Marriage & Family Life Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas For information contact Office of Marriage & Family Life 913-721-1570 St. Therese Parish 7207 NW Highway 9 Kansas City, MO. 64152

16 LOCAL NEWS

THE LEAVEN • JANUARY 6, 2012

EPIC YOUTH NIGHT PHOTOS BY FERNANDO UGARTE

MARYSVILLE — St. Gregory Church was abuzz with the voices of close to 200 teens one night last month at the Dec. 18 Epic Youth Night here.

The evening began with a road trip for more than 30 Catholic youth between the Kansas City area and Marysville — the home of St. Gregory’s — in the northwest corner of the archdiocese.

“We chartered a bus and just picked up kids along the way,” said Rick Cheek, consultant for the office of evangelization and Catholic formation of youth.

Upon their arrival, the kids were joined by scores of other teens from about a dozen neighboring parishes, all in order to enjoy an evening of music, fun, fellowship and faith.

The event featured praise and worship, music, performance art and personal stories. The teens in Marysville heard a lot about the larger church in action, in particular, as presenters shared information about various youth opportunities open to them, ranging from Camp Tekakwitha to the National Catholic Youth Conference to the Catholic HEART Work Camp.

Garrett Farlow, a member of St. Matthew Parish in Topeka, Audrianna See, a member of Curé of Ars Parish in Leawood, Aaron Broxterman, a member of St. Matthew Parish in Topeka, and Justin Schmitz, a member of Mother Teresa Parish in Topeka, lead the teens in “Lord, I Lift Your Name on High” at the Epic Youth Night held at St. Gregory Church in Marysville.

Father James Shaughnessy, pastor of St. Gregory in Marysville and St. Malachy in Beattie, joins in the fun at the Epic Youth Night. About 180 youth attended the event.

Mary Khadivi, a member of Holy Trinity in Lenexa, shares her experience at Catholic HEART Work Camp, the National Catholic Youth Conference, World Youth Day, and Teens Encounter Christ with the youth at the Epic Youth Night.

Mikey Needleman, a member of Holy Spirit Parish in Overland Park, was the headlining act of the night and is pictured here performing.