01-08-2016 Vol. 37 No. 21

THELEAVEN.ORG | VOL. 37, NO. 21 | JANUARY 8, 2016

LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER

LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER

Father Dan Morris, associate pastor of Sacred Heart Parish, Shawnee, makes a move toward the basket as Good Shepherd’s Ben Livingston (3) plays defense.

George Sienes of Nativity Parish, Leawood, goes strong to the hoop as Father Dan Morris and Dan Leikam, a seminarian at St. John Vianney Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota, provide the defense.

LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER

Holy Spirit’s Jack Martin (1) and St. Ann’s Tyler Marchand (12) attempt to block seminarian Dan Leikam’s shot at the Seminarian Showcase All-Star Event at Savior Pastoral Center Dec. 19.

‘Quo Vadis’ builds ‘team spirit’ in vocations quest

By Joe Bollig joe.bollig@theleaven.org

K ..

ANSAS CITY, Kansas — Have you heard this one before? It takes a village to raise a .

Child? Maybe. But it definitely takes more than a village — a team, really — to encourage a young man to discern the priesthood. Discerning alone can be isolating.

Happily, that sense of isolation ends when a young man meets others who feel the same call. Suddenly, he’s on the team.

Teamwork was an obvious theme of a busy vocationsthemed weekend Dec. 18-21 at Savior Pastoral Center in Kansas City, Kansas.

On Dec. 18, archdiocesan seminarians fanned out over both counties to serve as chaplains for 42 eighth-grade basketball teams of the Catholic Youth Organization of Johnson and Wyandotte Counties at games that represented the end

LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER

Msgr. Stuart Swetland, president of Donnelly College in Kansas City, Kansas, was the featured speaker at the “Quo Vadis” retreat Dec. 19-21. “Quo Vadis” is designed to help high school seniors and college-age men decide if they might explore a vocation to the priesthood at a seminary. of the regular CYO basketball season.

When the games concluded, coaches nominated one player

LENTEN DINNERS

from each team to participate in an all-star event, which consisted of two games of eighthgrade players matched up with

The Leaven will publish a list of Lenten dinners in the archdiocese on Feb 5. Notices are due Jan. 26 and are limited to 40 words. Submit your information using a form on The Leaven’s website at: www.theleaven.org, or email to: todd.habiger@theleaven.org with the following:

a team comprised of seminarians.

Then, on Dec. 19, the first game of the Seminarian Show-

• host of the event • place of the event (include address) • type of event (fish fry, shrimp boil, pasta dinner etc.)

• date(s) of event • time of event

case All-Star Event was played, with the CYO and the archdiocesan vocations office cosponsoring the event.

Neither side dominated.

The eighth-grade players and the seminarians each won a game.

And the teamwork didn’t end at the final whistle. As the seminarians and eighth-graders were playing their second game, 26 young men arrived at Savior for “Quo Vadis,” held Dec. 19-21.

“Quo Vadis” — Latin for “Where are you going?” — is the name of an annual Christmas break retreat designed to help seniors in high school and college-age men decide if they might explore a vocation to the priesthood at a seminary.

This was the largest group at “Quo Vadis” in recent years, with more men attending than in the past two years combined, said Father Scott Wallisch, archdiocesan vocations director. >> See “RETREAT” on page 6

Additional information could include: • a phone number for carryouts • website for more information • cost for the event Full menus will not be published.

JANUARY 8, 2016 | THELEAVEN.ORG

ARCHBISHOP Sister Mary Vincentia Maronick, SCL

L LIFE WILL BE VICTORIOUS Archbishop Naumann’s column can be found on page 7 this week with the archdiocesan financial report. The archbishop will return to his regular spot next week.

CALENDAR

ARCHBISHOP NAUMANN Jan. 12 Priests Personnel meeting Administrative Team meeting

Jan. 13-14 Kansas Catholic Conference — Topeka Jan. 16 Catholic Charities Snow Ball Jan. 17 Jubilee Mass for World Day of Migrants and Refugees Mass — Cathedral Baptism of third or more

children — Cathedral

ARCHBISHOP KELEHER Jan. 9 Mass — St. Sebastian, Florida Jan. 10 Mass — St. Sebastian, Florida Jan. 13 Seminary visit Jan. 16 Mass — St. Sebastian, Florida Jan. 17 Mass — St. Sebastian, Florida

EAVENWORTH — Sister Mary Vincentia Maronick, 91, a Sister of Charity of Leavenworth, died Dec. 22 at the motherhouse here.

Betty Jo Maronick was born on July 29, 1924, in Helena, Montana, one of four children of Stephen J. and Marguerite Maronick.

She graduated from Ursuline Academy in Great Falls, Montana.

Influenced by her parents who had been taught by the Sisters of Charity in Helena, she attended Saint Mary College in Leavenworth. Sister Mary Vincentia received a bachelor’s degree in music education from the college and a master’s in mathematics from the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana.

She entered the religious community of the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth on Aug. 14, 1945, and, as Sister Mary Vincentia, made her profession of vows on Aug. 15, 1947.

She taught math at Bishop Hogan High School in Kansas City, Missouri, and at Bishop Ward High School in Kansas City, Kansas.

In 1955, she was named dean of freshman students at the University of Saint Mary. In 1965, Sister Mary Vincentia was asked to become alumni director and to start a development program for the university. She served as director of development for 15 years and, after a sabbatical, returned to Saint Mary and served an additional 15 years as director of major and planned gifts.

In 1992, Sister Mary Vincentia became involved with the Douglas County AIDS Project as a volunteer. In 1996, she resigned from Saint Mary and moved to Billings, Montana, where she became an active member of AIDSpirit Montana, a newly founded volunteer group to support those affected and infected by HIV/AIDS. She lived in Billings for 16 years, enjoying the close proximity of her brothers and their families in Great Falls, and satisfying the passion of her heart in AIDS ministry.

In 2012, Sister Mary Vincentia retired to the motherhouse in Leavenworth.

Topeka regional women’s retreat set for Jan. 23

T

OPEKA — The Topeka Regional Catholic Women’s Retreat will be held on Jan. 23 at Christ the King Church here, located at 5973 S.W. 25th St. The keynote speaker will be Lisa Cotter.

Cotter, a former FOCUS missionary, debunks the myths of modern-day stereotypical womanhood. Using insights from St. John Paul II and the heroic example of other modern-day saints, Cotter gets to the truth about what it means to be an authentic woman. Balancing sound theology with humor and practical insights, Cotter inspires audiences of all ages. Her work has been featured by EWTN, Lighthouse Catholic Media, YDisciple and the Chastity Project. She is a graduate of Benedictine College, Atchison.

Registration and breakfast begins at 6:30 a.m.

Mass is at 8 a.m., followed by the retreat from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Cost is $20 per person.

Register online at: ctktopeka.org. For more information, contact Tonya Campbell at (785) 2218652 or by email at: tanncampbell@gmail.com.

Archbishop offers baptisms for children of larger families To show his personal support for those couples open to raising larger families, Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann has offered to celebrate the baptism of the third or greater child of any family (by birth, adoption or blending through valid marriage) interested. The next baptism will be held on Jan. 17 at the Cathedral of St. Peter in Kansas City, Kansas. Please contact your parish office for more information. Additional information is also available from the archdiocesan office for liturgy and sacramental life at (913) 6470330 or by email at: liturgy @archkck.org.

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JANUARY 8, 2016 | THELEAVEN.ORG

LOCAL NEWS

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HAYDEN HIGH SCHOOL NAMES NEW PRESIDENT

By Marc and Julie Anderson mjanderson@theleaven.org

T

OPEKA — Servant-inchief.

That’s the title Matt Schambari prefers.

And it’s a title that should go well with his new position at Hayden Catholic High School in Topeka. The school’s motto — “Enter to learn. Leave to serve” — will afford him plenty of opportunities to explain, but more importantly to live out, the concept of Christian service, he said.

“I’m here to be a servant to the families, to the students and to the faculty,” Schambari said during a recent telephone interview.

Schambari has been selected as the new president for Topeka’s only Catholic high school. He will begin his new duties on July 1. Currently, he serves as the president of Archbishop Murphy High School in Everett, Washington, just northeast of Seattle. Hayden’s board of trustees made the announcement on Dec. 21.

In high school administration, Schambari said, there’s no such thing as a daily routine. Any given day might find him talking to donors, participating in community engagement activities, reviewing budgets, looking over contracts, sitting in meetings with faculty and staff, or standing on the sidelines of an athletic event.

Yet, Schambari said the one thing he tries to keep constant is his collaborative approach.

“I like to be engaged. I like to be visible. I like to walk around and talk with my team,” he said, adding that many people equate a president’s role with that of a boss. He’d much rather think of himself as the school’s servant-in-chief, one who needs to serve others while helping them secure the resources needed to fulfill the school’s ministry.

“I’m here to serve them, and I take that very seriously,” said Schambari, adding that service should permeate the essence of all Catholic schools.

“I have a passion for campus ministry. I have a passion for service. Those are two areas that I want to make sure I support. Those are two areas in which a Catholic school differentiates itself from public schools and even private schools.

Catholic schools have a strong emphasis on caring for people and on Christian service.”

Over the years, Schambari has made eight different service or mission-type trips. When he takes over at Hayden, he said he’d encourage students to participate in service trips outside the United

Publication No. (ISSN0194-9799) President: Most Reverend Joseph F. Naumann

PHOTO COURTESY OF ARCHBISHOP MURPHY HIGH SCHOOL

Matt Schambari will take over the presidency of Hayden High School from Rick Strecker on July 1.

States with their parishes or the school, as it provides students the opportunity to look beyond themselves.

“Unless kids have an opportunity to go outside the United States and see poverty the way the rest of the world sees poverty, they don’t have a true understanding of what it means to be poor,” said Schambari. “It gives them an opportunity to experience Jesus’ message.”

On his most recent service trip to Guatemala, one sponsored by his current school, he said he saw change occur in the students’ minds and hearts right before his eyes.

“We were among the poorest of the poor,” said Schambari.

The people had dirt floors in their homes and were offering the students bowls of soup — food that would probably feed their families for two weeks.

The people, he said, were apologizing to his students that they didn’t have

more to share.

“You could see the lightbulbs going off [in the kids’ heads.]. . . . Here in the United States we get so insulated [from all of that].”

But how do you get students to want to go on a service trip in the first place?

For Schambari, the answer is simple.

You teach kids the basics, starting with the fact that they are known and loved

by God. “Once a young person knows he or she has value, that opens them up to so much,” he explained. “There’s a cultural element that tells them the opposite and that you should do whatever you want as long as it feels good.”

Instead, he continued, “You tell them, ‘You have great worth’ but, at the same time, you also tell them that with that great worth comes responsibility.”

Schambari often asks students, “Now that you know you matter, what are you going to do about it?”

Editor Reverend Mark Goldasich, stl frmark.goldasich@theleaven.org

Production Manager Todd Habiger todd.habiger@theleaven.org

Reporter Moira Cullings moira.cullings@theleaven.org

Managing Editor Anita McSorley anita.mcsorley@theleaven.org

Senior Reporter Joe Bollig joe.bollig@theleaven.org

Advertising Coordinator Beth Blankenship beth.blankenship@theleaven.org

And that’s a question he answered in his own life more than 15 years ago.

Growing up in Las Vegas, Schambari attended Catholic schools from third grade through high school. His first job was at a hotel where he said he learned a valuable skill — that of being able to talk with people from different backgrounds.

Simply put, not everyone who travels to Las Vegas is necessarily interested in noble pursuits or passions. Yet, being able to talk with people is essential to living the Christian message, he said, as you have to be able to meet people where they’re at and go from there.

After college, Schambari was following the same career path as his mother and other family members — that of banking.

“I was good at it and I enjoyed it,” he said, “but it just didn’t feed me.”

After volunteering at a retreat for a local Catholic high school, he found himself taking a huge pay cut and embarking on a new career path. He’s never looked back, not even once.

Since then, he’s served as president of two regional Catholic high schools, and he said the regional aspect of Hayden appealed to both him and his wife Sally. Another aspect of Hayden that appeals to him is the incredible market value of a Catholic education here in the Midwest.

“That’s a story that we can really share, as well as the return on that investment that comes with the sacrifice,” he said.

Schambari also said he looks forward to learning more about the Catholic community in Topeka and what the school has already done to tap into the legacy of alumni that exists within the community.

“Any investment in that area is going to be a wise one,” he said, adding that investing in the community helps the school maintain its flavor and authenticity.

Most importantly, though, Schambari said he’s excited to help students discover who they are in Christ Jesus, as they are the future of the church. One of his favorite Scripture passages comes from the First Letter to Timothy and reads: “Let no one have contempt for your youth, but set an example for those who believe, in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity” (4:12).

Schambari said he often shares that passage with young people because it shows that, despite their youth, they can lead the way.

“I tell them,” he added, “‘You can lead the way. You don’t have to wait. You can lead the way now. In fact, we really need you to lead the way now.’”

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JANUARY 8, 2016 | THELEAVEN.ORG

LOCAL NEWS

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Couple makes rosaries to honor Mary • He fainted frequently as a teen due to his heart defect, but doesn’t any longer. His heart healed without surgery.

• The day before surgery to fix a blood problem in his legs, the symptoms mysteriously disappeared and surgery was canceled.

• He accidentally backed a vehicle over his 2-year-old son who escaped with nothing but a tire print across his torso.

• He survived a long fall from a staircase that collapsed beneath him.

“That’s the power of God and the Blessed Mother,” Francis said.

By Todd Habiger todd.habiger@theleaven.org

O

NAGA — The doctor who delivered Francis Koelzer was so sure the baby would die that he didn’t bother to make out a birth certificate. Francis was what they call a “blue baby” — a baby with a heart defect.

Francis’ mother quickly performed an emergency baptism on her son, fearing he might die before she could get him to a priest.

Eighty-six years later, Francis, a parishioner of St. Vincent de Paul in Onaga, can only laugh at the circumstances surrounding his birth. But he knows who to thank for his long life — the Blessed Mother.

“When I was 18 years old, I promised Mary that I would say the rosary every day for the rest of my life,” he said.

He has kept that promise.

The rosary maker

Renaissance man Although he only had eight years of formal education, Francis possesses a brilliant mind.

His home features a greenhouse he built by hand. Inside, a variety of plants flourish — including some that are about 100 years old.

Do you like wine? Francis makes his own.

This is a man who left school to become a blacksmith and was excellent at it. Health problems led him to leave that profession and take a home course from DeVry Technical Institute, which taught him to repair radios and televisions.

Soon he branched off into repairing washers, dryers, refrigerators and medical equipment.

He quickly became one of the best repairmen around. Whenever there was a difficult problem, Francis was the man his company sent to troubleshoot it. He was so good that he was rewarded with free vacations all over the world. He’s been to Rome, India, Africa, Mexico and Fatima — all on the company’s dime.

LEAVEN PHOTO BY TODD HABIGER

Helen and Francis Koelzer of St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Onaga display one of the first rosaries they ever made. The couple makes large rosaries for display and gives them away for free.

Honoring Mary Francis credits the Blessed Mother for helping him make it to age 18 and

beyond.

But it’s not been easy. The list of miracles he attributes to Mary is astonishing.

These days, Francis puts all his efforts into honoring Mary by making rosaries with his wife Helen. Not your run-of-the-mill rosaries but big ones, made to display.

“I feel like making these big rosaries plays a bigger role to the Blessed Mother than little rosaries,” he said. “People will take them home and hang them up and they will see that rosary day after day after day. With a little rosary, they may toss it in a drawer and not see it again for five years.”

The couple has been making large rosaries for about 15 years.

“We figured we have made at least 6,000 rosaries,” Helen said. “We give them away to anyone who wants one.”

For free.

“We’ve been offered money, but we don’t make them for money. We don’t have much money. We have very little, but what do we need with money?”

Francis said with a chuckle.

Father Mariadas Sesetti, parochial administrator of St. Vincent de Paul Parish, has been impressed with Francis’ devotion to the Blessed Mother.

“It’s an expression of Francis’ gratitude,” said Father Sesetti. “He thinks, somehow, that Mary’s intervention is very powerful on him.

“His giving rosaries to people is like giving his devotion to Mary to others.”

God’s love has drowned out the voice of fear >> Continued from page 16 to complete the AVI’s Catholic Spiritual Mentorship Program.

“I felt called to that,” he said. “It is a lay ministry of actually showing people how to have a relationship with Jesus every day through meditative, mental prayer.

“When people learn to depend on that, they become more joyful.”

Cookie came to rely on Gordon’s strength and mentorship of faith when she started her own journey of trust in God’s will.

Cookie’s fiat Shortly after the Moffitts got to know the Apostles, Cookie was diagnosed with a very rare disease — granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), a form of systemic vasculitis.

“I wouldn’t wish the diagnosis on anyone,” she said.

The inflammation resulting from the disease restricts blood flow to various organs, often affecting the kidneys,

lungs and upper respiratory tract.

“Without treatment,” said Cookie, “it’s fatal. So you have to be diligent because a flare-up can kill you.”

Cookie has endured several surgeries and rounds of chemotherapy. She continues to take daily medication to fight the disease. And, occasionally, she is hospitalized for infusions.

“I did have a flare-up recently,” she said. “But I hope I’m going to go into remission and, just like a lot of diseases, if you hang in there and do what you’ve got to do, maybe there will be a cure.”

Watching a loved one suffer is never easy, but Gordon finds strength in the interior spiritual life he has developed through his relationship with the AVIs. “They taught me how slowly, through my prayer life, to build a relationship with Jesus every day,” he said.

“And when something comes up, I just go straight to him for the strength.

“Because I don’t have it.”

With the help of Gordon, the Sisters and her own spiritual mentor, Cookie also has learned to rely on God for her strength every day.

Cookie’s prayer “I don’t believe in accidents,” said Cookie of her disease. “I believe things happen for a reason.

“And I believe the people we run into, like the Sisters, are there for a reason. Sometimes we’re the messenger, and sometimes we’re receiving the message.”

The AVIs have been good messengers for Cookie.

“Every one of them when they approach her will always ask her how she’s feeling,” said Gordon. “And sometimes, she’ll want to tell them because she might be going through a difficult time.

“And if she needs prayers, they will pray. They’re prayer warriors.”

Over time, Cookie has become a prayer warrior, too.

“I journal every day now,” she said.

“I begin my day with meditative prayer and continue it throughout the day.

“The biggest prayer I have that gives me peace is I don’t think I’m walking

alone — I walk in the constant knowledge that God is sharing every step.”

Cookie’s prayer is the secret to the joy of the Apostles.

“I’ve seen this in my own life and discernment journey,” said Sister Ruth.

“Just opening my heart every day, really believing in God’s love for me and saying ‘yes’ with trust to whatever he may have in store [is the secret]. “[It’s] listening to his voice of love instead of listening to whatever fears might arise.”

In Cookie’s journey also, God’s love has drowned out the voice of fear.

“Here’s the deal,” she said. “We’re all living on God’s borrowed time and we choose how we’re going to react to everything in life.

“If we can be humble and grateful and have a servant’s heart, that’s all we’re called to do. Sometimes, we become so intellectual and scientific we don’t want to think it’s that simple.

“But it is.”

JANUARY 8, 2016 | THELEAVEN.ORG

LOCAL NEWS

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Gratitude drives Snow Ball couples to excel

By Joe Bollig joe.bollig@theleaven.org

K

ANSAS CITY, Kan. — Being a co-president or an honorary president for the annual Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas Snow Ball is not about the prestige.

It’s about the good.

For Snow Ball 2016, the co-presidents are Ken and Marilyn Hager, members of the Church of the Nativity Parish in Leawood.

The honorary presidency is actually held by a family: the Rod and JoAnne Cyr Foundation. Representing the family foundation are: Susie (Cyr) Walti from San Francisco; Cathy (Cyr) Nigro and her husband Lorie, members of St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Leawood; and Chris Nigro, a member of Holy Spirit Parish in Overland Park.

“Our job is to really support all the work [of Snow Ball volunteers and Catholic Charities staff], be spokespersons for Catholic Charities and do whatever is necessary to support Snow Ball and the work of Catholic Charities,” said Ken Hager. “To me, it’s an honor.”

Marilyn agreed.

“As my husband said, it is such an honor, but it is such a responsibility,” she said. “You don’t want to let people down. You want to raise as much money as possible — more than the previous year. You want to do your very best.”

Being a Snow Ball president is actually a two-year commitment. A vice-presidential couple shadows the presidential couple for a year, then assumes the presidential role one day after the Snow Ball event.

Presidents solicit donations, invite people to come to the event, promote the sale of tables, help select the food for the meal, help choose the décor, attend weekly conference call meetings, go to committee meetings and much more. In all these, they work with Catholic Charities staff and volunteers.

“The president’s role is a taxing one,” said Ken Williams, president and CEO of Catholic Charities. “They are intimately involved in the fundraising efforts. They attend every parish party that is put on for Catholic Charities to raise funds, starting September and through December. They raise awareness in their own parishes about Catholic Charities and the Snow Ball itself.

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It can be a lot of work, but co-presidents and honorary presidents are pleased to make the annual Snow Ball fundraiser a success for Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas. Serving as co-presidents this year are Ken and Marilyn Hager (left), and honorary presidents Suzie Walti (center, standing), and Cathy and Chris Nigro (right).

They raise awareness in their own parishes about Catholic Charities and the Snow Ball itself.

They are ambassadors.”

Ken Williams, president and CEO of Catholic Charities

They are ambassadors.”

Since its humble beginnings in 1974 as a simple potluck dinner fundraiser — then called the St. Martin of Tours Gala — the Snow Ball has grown to become the single most important fundraiser for Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas.

“Snow Ball, in essence, represents 50 percent of the private donations Catholic Charities takes in every year,” said Williams. “It also introduces Cath-

olic Charities to many people who wouldn’t otherwise know of the work of Catholic Charities and its ministries.

Roughly one-third of the people who attend the Snow Ball do so as guests of someone.”

The Snow Ball will begin at 6 p.m. on Jan. 16 at the Sheraton Crown Center Exhibition Hall, located at 2345 McGee in Kansas City, Missouri. The previous event’s goal was $2 million, and expectations are that the upcoming Snow Ball will match it. Approximately 1,700 people are expected to attend.

The Hagars are a natural choice to be the co-presidential couple. Ken Hagar was on the Snow Ball’s patron committee for a number of years and on the Catholic Charities board for roughly 10 years — serving as chairman for two of those years.

Why did they accept the presidency? Gratitude, basically.

“We know that we’ve been very blessed in our lives and this is an op-

portunity to help others,” said Marilyn Hager. “Catholic Charities is very close to our hearts. It does so much good work in the community, not just for Catholics. They serve people of all [religions], all races and all nationalities.

There are no barriers for them.”

It was also a natural choice for Catholic Charities to choose the Rod and JoAnne Cyr Foundation and family to fill the honorary presidency.

The foundation was formed in honor of JoAnne, who died in 2004, and Rod, who died in 2005. They were members of Ascension Parish in Overland Park.

“We’ve always been very interested in what Catholic Charities does,” said Cathy Nigro. “A year before [Dad] died, he formed the foundation, and asked us to focus on children and seniors.

That’s why Catholic Charities is such a perfect fit for us. They have so many services for children and seniors.”

Members of the extended family have attended the last eight or nine Snow Balls. Since so many of them live on the West Coast, the Snow Ball has become a way to draw the family together.

“Snow Ball has become an important family tradition,” said Nigro.

Although honorary presidents don’t do the same things for the Snow Ball that the presidents do, they have nevertheless interacted with the Hagars, other volunteers and Catholic Charities staff.

“Through Catholic Charities, we have met some of the most wonderful Catholic families,” said Nigro. “It’s not just about the giving and the Snow Ball, but the quality of individuals we’ve come into contact with through Catholic Charities — the volunteers, staff people and people we’ve met at Snow Ball through multiple years. It’s just a wonderful event and wonderful for our family.”

Williams, for his part, is grateful to both the presidential and honorary presidential families for fulfilling their roles.

“Both families have been associated with Catholic Charities for years — both as volunteers and supporters,” said Williams. “By choosing to associate their names with Catholic Charities, they bring us credibility and instill trust from the Catholic community, which we really appreciate.”

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For confidential Catholic support, call the archdiocesan COURAGE helpline at (913) 428-9893.

JANUARY 8, 2016 | THELEAVEN.ORG

LOCAL NEWS

Retreat guys asking the same questions >> Continued from page 1 “It’s the biggest discernment opportunity we have all year,” he said. “It’s an opportunity for men who are seniors in high school or older to spend time with the archbishop, seminarians, some priests, and to be spiritually fed.”

“It’s a chance to spend time with Our Lord in prayer,” Father Wallisch continued, “all in the hopes of helping them better discern — come to a little more clarity — on God’s call for them [and] their vocation in life.”

Msgr. Stuart Swetland, president of Donnelly College in Kansas City, Kansas, was the presenter at this year’s retreat. The participants also attended Mass, lunched with the Sisters, Servants of Mary, and had an opportunity for a one-on-one meeting with Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann.

The participants also attended two panel discussions — one consisting of priests, the other of seminarians — during which they were able to ask questions. This year, 24 seminarians participated in “Quo Vadis.”

“The retreatants had the opportunity to go on a ‘discernment walk’ with a seminarian to ask about seminary life,” said Father Wallisch. “This year, we had more retreatants than seminarians.”

There were multiple opportunities for prayer, including a time for the Liturgy of the Hours and eucharistic adoration.

Kyle Lavin, a 20-year-old member of Holy Spirit Parish in Overland Park, was typical of those at “Quo Vadis.”

“I have, in the past couple of years,

“I FEEL THAT IT HELPS A LOT TO BE AROUND SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE WHO SHARE THE SAME GOALS AND ASPIRATIONS. THEY’RE ALL STRIVING TO BE THE BEST, LIKE YOU ARE. AND IT’S LIKE A GIANT COMMUNITY.” DANIEL BOOS felt a call to pursue the priesthood as a very high possibility,” said Lavin, now a NET missionary in Minnesota. “I might be fulfilling God’s will by serving in that way.”

Daniel Boos, a 19-year-old sophomore at Johnson County Community College, knows he has a vocation — but not a direction.

“I came to see which vocation God is calling me to,” said Boos, a member of Prince of Peace Parish in Olathe. “Right now, I feel it’s missionary work [but] the priesthood is also a possibility.”

One of the great things about “Quo Vadis” is being surrounded by guys “in the same boat” who are feeling the same things and asking the same questions, said Lavin and Boos.

“I feel that it helps a lot to be around so many other people who share the same goals and aspirations,” said Boos.

“They’re all striving to be the best, like you are. And it’s like a giant community.”

Colim Larkin, a 21-year-old senior at Benedictine College in Atchison, has already made up his mind. He will enter a seminary this fall for the archdiocese.

Nevertheless, “Quo Vadis” helped him a lot.

“The talks by Msgr. Swetland have really affirmed my love and passion for the priesthood,” said Larkin. “The way in which he proposed it to us, explaining the various ministries we’ll be undertaking, really got at the core of what it means to be a priest. It was so good to hear that coming from [him].”

Another of the benefits of attending “Quo Vadis” was having an opportunity to meet some of the men he might eventually study with in the seminary — building that “team” spirit.

“You had 50 guys there who were all wanting to know a little bit better God’s will in their life,” said Father Wallisch.

“Fifty guys who love the church, love the Lord and want to serve him, and are not just telling God how he should let them serve him, but asking how he wants them to serve him.”

The archdiocesan vocations office will follow up on the retreat by staying in touch with the participants.

“We’ll see what the retreat has done for their discernment — if it’s given them any clarity or stirred up any more questions,” said Father Wallisch. “We’ll walk with them — especially guys who might apply for seminary in the spring.

We’ll also invite retreatants to visit a seminary and attend other discernment opportunities.”

6

Announcement

A

rchbishop Joseph F. Naumann has granted Father Daniel Stover, parochial vicar at St. Joseph Parish in Shawnee and co-chaplain at Bishop Miege High School in Roeland Park, a leave of absence in order to participate in a formation program. The leave of absence began Jan. 4.

In a statement to parishioners at St. Joseph Parish, Father Stover said, “I love the priesthood and, after this time away, I’m committed to returning to ministry to serve the people of God in this archdiocese.”

The archbishop affirmed that Father Stover’s leave of absence is not related to any misconduct with a minor, or any financial misconduct, and has not been prompted by any parishioners.

Berneta (Tanking) and Dean Shults, members of Most Pure Heart of Mary Parish, Topeka, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on Jan. 15. The couple was married on Jan. 15, 1966, at Assumption Church, Topeka.

The couple will celebrate with family at a later date. Their children are: Dawn Rottinghaus, Wellsville; Darren Shults, Maple Hill; and Faron Shults, St. Marys. They also have five grandchildren.

Concrete Work

Any type of repair and new work Driveways, Walks, Patios Member of Queen of the Holy Rosary Parish

Harvey M. Kascht (913) 262-1555

ARCHDIOCESANANNUALREPORT2015

Mission, priorities drive archdiocesan budget Dear Friends in Christ,

The tale of two feasts This past Sunday was the Epiphany, the feast recalling the mysterious Magi who left everything that was familiar in order to search for the One whose birth was revealed by the appearance of a new star. Eventually, they were led to Bethlehem and were able to recognize in Mary’s baby all that they were seeking. The Wise Men present gifts to Jesus symbolizing his divinity (frankincense), his humanity (myrrh) and his royal dignity (gold).

This coming Sunday we celebrate the baptism of Jesus by John in the Jordan River. Jesus did not need baptism as we do. Instead, Jesus was beckoning us to follow him into the waters made sacred and life-giving

by Our Lord. The baptism of Jesus was the inauguration of his public ministry. It was the occasion for the revelation of his identity — God in human flesh, beloved Son of the Father, the second person of the Most Holy Trinity.

Through our baptism, we were liberated from sin and given a share in the life of Jesus. In baptism, we became beloved daughters and sons of our heavenly Father. Our baptism is the most important day in our life. Nothing the world can offer us can compare with life with God, the eternal destiny we were given through the waters of baptism.

Confirmation completes our initiation into the life of the Trinity. In confirmation, the Holy Spirit descends upon us just as he came to the apostles at Pentecost.

The Holy Spirit empowers us with the tools to follow Jesus and to be his witnesses in the world.

Gratitude – the natural response to God’s goodness The fundamental starting point for the Catholic worldview is gratitude.

We see all life as a gift. To be given a share in divine life through baptism is the most incredible gift. Our birth and our baptism can only be understood as pure gift. We are not owed life in this world and we certainly are not entitled a share in the divine and eternal life of Jesus.

Properly understood, our response to our birth and baptism can only be profound gratitude that must express itself in a fervent desire to share generously the gifts that have been entrusted to us. A well-formed Catholic does not grasp desperately the abundant gifts God has provided, but instead is seeking opportunities to bring the love of Jesus to others and to bring others to Jesus.

Visioning process This past year, after extensive consultation with the priests, deacons, reli-

ARCHBISHOP JOSEPH F. NAUMANN

Nothing the world can offer us can compare with life of God, the eternal destiny we were given through the waters of Baptism. gious and laity, a vision was developed for the next 10 years for our archdiocese. As part of the visioning process, a concise mission statement was developed: Growing as Disciples of Jesus; Making Disciples for Jesus. I hope every member of the archdiocese will memorize those two simple phrases, because they provide a succinct description of the mission of the Catholic Church in northeast Kansas.

We always have to be deepening our relationship with Jesus. Like any significant friendship, our relationship with Our Lord cannot remain stagnant. In our increasingly secular culture, if we are not growing closer to Jesus and his church, then we are at high risk for having our faith stolen from us.

Jesus, however, did not commission his disciples simply to just keep the faith, but to go and make disciples of all nations. The Christian family is an essential component of how the church strives to fulfill Our Lord’s command. The family is the environment for the formation of the next generation of disciples.

At the same time, the church’s evangelization efforts cannot be confined to

the family. We are called as individuals as well as a community of believers to live in such a way that others desire the One who animates our lives. We should be eager and generous in sharing with others Jesus, who is the source of our hope, our joy and our power to love.

Financial report highlights This year’s financial report reveals how Catholics in northeast Kansas are striving to live grateful and generous lives of service. Once again, I am amazed by the generosity of the people of the archdiocese.

This year’s report is organized according to our five pastoral priorities: 1) conversion; 2) evangelization; 3) catechesis and Catholic education; 4) serving those in need; and 5) cultivating a spirituality of stewardship.

These priorities provide a framework for understanding the essential elements of the church’s life. Each expense line item is grouped under the pastoral priority that is most significantly impacted by this portion of our annual budget.

For example, because our priests and deacons are so critical in their administration of sacraments and preaching, they provide many of the opportunities for Catholics to encounter Jesus. Similarly, Savior of the World Pastoral Center hosts retreats, Cursillos, the Spiritual Mentorship Program, diaconate formation, etc., that provide opportunities for individuals and groups to encounter the Lord in both beautiful and powerful ways.

Thus, these expenses are grouped under the pastoral priority of conversion.

Similarly, one of our largest expense items results from the insurance and employee benefit program administered by the archdiocese as a service to our parishes, schools and ministries. The archdiocese also provides legal counsel, internal auditing, human resource services, safe environment programs to protect our children, and construction and facility maintenance guidance to our parishes and ministries. With economies of scale, we can manage these more efficiently and effectively than an isolated parish or ministry could do on its own. Thus, these services are categorized under stewardship.

The report is also organized according to the streams of income that fund the central operations of the archdiocese.

It identifies the source for funding for each ministry and service. One the significant income sources is the cathedraticum, an annual assessment provided for in canon law in which each parish is obligated to pay a fair portion of the cost for the central operations of the archdiocese.

The bigger picture It is important to note that this report does not include the income and expenses for parishes, elementary and secondary schools, Donnelly College, Catholic Charities, the Catholic Education Foundation, national collections, etc.

While the pie charts show the percentage of expenses of the central administration dedicated to each pastoral priority, this does not represent all the resources the Catholic community of northeast Kansas is devot-

ing to these areas.

For instance, Call to Share funds the operational expenses for the Catholic Education Foundation (CEF) so that every donation given directly to CEF funds scholarship grants. Similarly, Call to Share makes a significant, undesignated grant to Catholic Charities each year that can be devoted to funding essential overhead costs.

It is important to note that our ministries leverage the support from Call to Share in order to do so much more in the areas of conversion, evangelization, education and serving those in need. Also, a large portion of parish revenues, none of which are included in the report, are devoted to religious education in all its forms.

Similarly, parishes dedicate a significant portion of their budgets to worship, the sacramental life, youth ministry, retreat experiences, etc. All of these parochial ministries and activities significantly contribute to implementation of all of our pastoral priorities.

A sidebar does provide the dollar amounts for the services Catholic Charities provides to the poor, as well the scholarship grants provided by CEF. The sidebar also contains the level of contributions made by the people of the archdiocese to the Peter’s Pence collection (the pope’s charitable fund), Propagation of the Faith (support for the church’s missionary activity throughout the world) and the other national collections. None of these dollar amounts are reflected in the pie charts.

Incredible generosity of the Catholic community As I look at the overall financial picture of the church of northeast Kansas, I am amazed and edified at the generosity of so many parishioners. There is no other church community or service organization that comes close to matching the charitable and educational services provided by the Catholic community of northeast Kansas.

For example, thanks to 170 donors participating in a multi-year effort, the private appeal for Catholic high schools reached its $14 million goal by Dec. 31, 2015.

Catholic Charities Snow Ball, for the second consecutive year, raised more than

Continued on next page

Finally, many individuals today are seeking, whether consciously or not, the same Christ born in Bethlehem more than 2,000 years ago. It is our privilege and our responsibility to help make the love of Jesus real and alive in the world today. We are called to live in such a way not to draw others to ourselves, but to Jesus Christ who animates all that we do.

Thank you for your generosity this past year. Like the Magi, you have recognized God in the flesh, Christ the king. Like the Wise Men, you do not come empty-handed, but eager and generous in your desire to share what God has entrusted to you to help others experience his love and to provide them with the opportunity to share in Our Lord’s divine life through the waters of baptism. In this new year, may we together: Grow as Disciples of Jesus and Make Disciples for Jesus.

Gratefully yours in Jesus, the Lord of Life,

+ JOSEPH F. NAUMANN Archbishop of Kansas City in Kansas

The commission that Jesus gave to the church was to go and make disciples of all nations. The church can never be content with itself as it is currently constituted. We must always be guided by a missionary impulse to share the gift of our faith with others.

An essential component of the church’s ministry is the education of the next generation of disciples, as well as the continuing formation of all its members.

CONVERSION

Fees/Other Income

2014

The church is called to make the love of Jesus real and tangible in the world today, especially to the poor, the vulnerable and those on the peripheries.

2014

Assessments

2015

2014

Cathe 2015

Vicar for Clergy and Clergy Support Programs Savior Pastoral Center 760,877 667,063 50,000 50,000 200,000 225,000 Christ Peace House of Prayer 80,000 40,000 Liturgy and Sacramental Life 11,094 5,421 133,134 125,033 Office of Hispanic Ministry 14,944 16,046 192,838 268,935 Emporia-Hispanic Ministry 17,500 18,000

Campus Ministry: Donnelly College KCK 45,000 40,000 St. Lawrence Center-KU Lawrence 130,000 130,000 Didde Center-Emporia 70,000 75,000 Catholic Center-Washburn Topeka 71,289 71,289 Catholic Center-Haskell Lawrence 57,700 70,700 Other 99,017 100,227 885,931

788,756

847,461

888,957

200,000

225,000

Evang. & Catholic Formation-Youth, Ranch & Camps 1,337,818 1,096,008 437,743 458,408 Rural Youth Outreach Programs 1,375 1,314 100,096 117,858 Urban Youth Outreach Programs 200 6,185 92,359 97,745 Urban Youth Outreach Capital Needs 50,000 50,000 Evangelization 16,538 4,830 230,888 218,713 Digital Resource Center 16,816 30,733 111,083 145,278 Radio Evangelization 68,700 5,725 Propagation of the Faith 33,049 29,041 Native American Evangelization Fund 3,600 3,600 Other 38,646

Total Evangelization

1,444,442

1,168,111

852,014

831,725

242,455

265,603

Safe Environment 208 157 Leaven Newspaper 975,705 1,076,388 Archdiocesan Education Office 320,620 351,351 142,482 121,043 Perfect Wings Program 9,486 9,586 73,075 75,845 Vocations and Clergy 37,439 40,081 114,068 145,403 Seminarians 1,076,622 1,126,787 Permanent Diaconate Office and Program 5,193 3,674 152,806 156,521 6,615

Continuing Education for Priests 174,735 186,231 Marriage and Family Life 41,433 45,717 261,762 270,034 Communications 5,500 (50) 106,647 75,000 School of Faith - Grant 277,000 277,000 Faith Initiative 170,866

High School Tuition Assistance 225,000 225,000 Catholic Colleges Tuition Assistance 20,000 20,000 Catholic Education Foundation 225,000 252,980 Bishop Ward Operations Assistance 70,000 125,000 Ward H.S. Capital Improvements 100,000 100,000 Donnelly College Scholarships 200,000 200,000 Donnelly College Capital Needs 200,000 200,000 Elizabeth Ann Seton Tuition Assistance 100,000 100,000 189,156 352,106 Other 74,164 60,257

19,822 1,740,614

1,687,161

1,667,840 1,763,648

1,947,128

2,165,124

Archdiocesan Tribunal 66,194 56,486 My House Initiative 4,517 40,683 90,207 98,647 Social Justice 2,500

81,267 84,926 Ministry To the Deaf

10,914 82,650 95,535 Pro Life 2,900 46,732 201,442 181,120 Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas 370,000 400,000 493,852 498,915 Villa St. Francis-Geriatric Assistance

100,000 44,100 125,000 El Centro - Kansas City 40,000 40,000 El Centro-Topeka 40,800 40,800 Other 179,644 235,692 Total Outreach

Catholic spirituality begins with profound gratitude resulting from the realization that everything, including life itself, is God’s gift.

Thus, the question for every Christian is: What is God calling me to do with all that he has entrusted to me?

2015

Archbishop’s Call to Share

Total Education

ARCHDIOCESAN ADMINISTRATION

Conclusion

At the heart of the church’s ministry is facilitating for its members an encounter with the person of Jesus Christ. Central to what it means to be Catholic is the development of a friendship with Jesus through prayer and reflection.

Funded by: ------------------>

Total Conversion

EVANGELIZATION

Nevertheless, there is more that we need to do and can do. We would like to make the love of Jesus tangible by assisting more people not only address immediate needs, but to break out of the cycle of poverty. Even with all the scholarship money we are already providing, there are several hundred children and youth prevented from attending our Catholic schools because of a lack of financial resources.

The No. 1 priority that emerged from our visioning process was to do more to create a culture of evangelization in all of our parishes and institutions. To accomplish this goal, we need to devote more resources to this essential aspect of the church’s life. In part, this will involve the reallocation of existing resources. However, with your generous support, I hope we can accomplish this without diminishing the assistance we provide to other critical charitable and pastoral ministries.

Due to a tepid economy and therefore changing investment assumptions, we have lost ground in our efforts to fund fully our priest retirement program. Moreover, several priests have expressed a desire to have a priests’ retirement independent living residence, where retired priests would have the opportunity to pray together and to enjoy the fraternity of brother priests.

We need to make Savior Pastoral Center accessible to individuals with disabilities. Originally built to be a high school seminary, the architects never considered the challenge for those in wheelchairs to negotiate the various levels of the campus. Donnelly College needs either to do an extensive renovation of its current facility or relocate to another site in the eastern portion of Wyandotte County.

These are just a few of the challenges that we face. In addition, every archdiocesan ministry recognizes opportunities to be able to serve more individuals better, if additional resources were available. My commitment to you is that every dollar you sacrifice to donate to the church will be used carefully and wisely to have the biggest impact in bringing the love of Jesus Christ and the hope of his Gospel to the greatest number of people.

EDUCATION

Present and future challenges

ARCHDIOCESE OF KANSAS CITY IN KANSAS OPERATING EXPENSE

OUTREACH: Serving Those in Need

$2 million, making it again one of the most successful charitable events in the Kansas City metropolitan area. Call to Share 2015 raised almost $6 million.

These are remarkable accomplishments and are tangible expressions of the stewardship and generosity of the Catholic community.

STEWARDSHIP

Continued from previous page

255,754

490,507

950,465 1,066,028

493,852

498,915

Stewardship/Development & Other Appeals 76,593 110,217 250,000 247,018 Private Appeal Distributions 4,822,927 2,082,687 Cor Christi Grants and fees 607,246 590,398 School/Parish Emergency Fund 183,000 32,962 Urban Core Operations Support 275,000 Urban Core Capital Support 150,000 Priest Retirement Fund 100,000 150,000 200,000 200,000 Archives Finance

45 Human Resources 497,385 556,465 Accounting 58,000 113,000 Financial and Controls Auditor Real Estate/Construction

450 Other Property Expenses 64,362 58,638 12,100

Depreciation of physical assets Other 94,360 51,269 Total Stewardship

6,220,873

3,563,169

Total Pastoral Priorities

10,547,615

7,697,704

545,100

854,980

200,000

200,000

4,862,880 5,405,337

3,083,435

3,354,642

4

Archbishop Office and Home 600 600 Archbishop Emeritus Office and Home Administrative Services (Chancellor/VG, IT, etc) 17,304 10 Chancery 282,982 295,872 General Expenses of the Archdiocese 8,100 7,560 USCCB, KS Catholic Conference, Legal & Insurance Deposit and Loan 1,384,472 201,354 Other 336,500 70,467 Health and Dental Claims 17,388,243 17,025,679 Total Administration

$19,418,201

$17,601,541

Total

$30,135,974 $25,299,245 $4,862,880 $5,405,337 $3,083,435 $3,354,642

$

$4

ES FOR 2014 AND 2015

edraticum/Investment Income 2014

Total

2015

2014

Year over Year Change 2015

$ %

706,143 487,041 $706,143 $487,041 1 $(219,102) -31% 146,599 171,114 1,157,476 1,113,177 (44,300) -4%

80,000 40,000 (40,000) -50%

144,228 130,454 (13,774) -10%

207,782 284,980 77,198 37%

17,500 18,000 500 3%

45,000 40,000 (5,000) -11%

130,000 130,000 0%

70,000 75,000 5,000 7%

71,289 71,289 0%

57,700 70,700 13,000 23%

88,250 78,350 187,267 178,577 (8,689) -5%

940,992 736,505 $2,874,384 $2,639,218 $(235,166) -8%

ARCHDIOCESE OF KANSAS CITY IN KANSAS REVENUE ACTUAL 2014 VS 2015

$1,775,562 101,471 92,559 50,000 247,427 127,898 68,700 33,049 3,600 38,646

$1,554,416 2 119,172 103,930 50,000 223,543 176,011 5,725 3 29,041 3,600

$2,538,911 $2,265,438

$(221,146) -12% 17,701 11,371

(23,884) -10% 48,113 38% (62,975) -92% (4,007) -12% 0% (38,646) -100%

$(273,473)

ACTUAL 2014 REVENUES REVENUES 1% YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2014

Archbishop’s Call To Share Annual Appeal $5,815,848 13% 10% Private Appeal 2,911,844 7% Archdiocesan Assessments and Collections 6,699,178 15%

Health and Dental Insurance Premiums 18,994,923 44% Net Investment Income 4,304,739 10%

Bequests and Contributions 400,559 1% Fees Generated by Offices and Other 4,416,523 10%

10% 13% 7%

15%

$43,543,614 100%

-11%

447,141

451,499

$126,597 975,705 463,102 82,561 151,507 1,076,622 164,614 174,735 303,196 269,750 277,000 170,866 225,000 20,000 372,544 70,000 100,000 200,000 200,000 289,156 89,769

$5,802,723

$152,716 1,076,388 4 472,394 85,431 185,485 1,126,787 160,195 186,231 315,750 201,155 277,000 5 225,000 20,000 398,470 125,000 100,000 200,000 200,000 452,106 6 107,324

$6,067,433

$26,119 21% 100,683 10% 9,292 2% 2,870 3% 33,977 22% 50,165 5% (4,419) -3% 11,496 7% 12,555 4% (68,595) -25% 0% (170,866) -100% 0% 0% 25,926 7% 55,000 79% 0% 0% 0% 162,950 56% 17,555 20%

$264,709

227,001 224,915

227,001

224,915

750,281 398,404

16,846 16,850 290,518 257,056 27,927 34,746 352,258 340,233 98,910 105,476 88,271 129,422 215,063 107,215 627,398 624,910

2,467,471 2,014,313

4,082,605 3,427,232

$293,194 94,724 83,767 82,650 204,342 863,852 44,100 40,000 40,800 179,644

$281,401 139,330 7 84,926 106,449 8 227,852 898,915 225,000 9 40,000 40,800 235,692

$1,927,072 $2,280,364

$1,076,874 4,822,927 607,246 183,000

300,000 16,846 290,518 525,312 410,258 98,910 88,271 291,525 627,398 94,360

5%

$(11,794) 44,606 1,158 23,799 23,510 35,062 180,901

56,048

-4% 47% 1% 29% 12% 4% 410% 0% 0% 31%

$353,292

18%

$755,639 10 $(321,235) -30% 2,082,687 11 (2,740,240) -57% 590,398 (16,848) -3% 32,962 12 (150,038) -82% 275,000 13 275,000 150,000 13 150,000 350,000 50,000 17% 16,850 4 0% 257,101 (33,417) -12% 591,212 65,899 13% 453,233 42,975 10% 105,476 6,567 7% 129,872 41,601 47% 165,853 14 (125,672) -43% 624,910 (2,487) 0% 51,269 (43,091) -46%

$9,433,444 $6,632,463 (2,800,982) -30% $22,576,535 $19,884,916 $(2,691,620)

-12%

265,423 299,160 $266,023 $299,760 $33,737 13% 94,338 86,296 94,338 86,296 (8,042) -9% 231,158 292,596 248,461 292,606 44,145 18% 19,675

302,657 295,872 (6,786) -2% 294,464 277,877 302,564 285,437 (17,127) -6% 84,366 296,175 84,366 296,175 15 211,809 251%

1,384,472 201,354 16 (1,183,119) -85% 14,228 4,366 350,728 74,833 17 (362,564) -2%

17,388,243 17,025,679 18 (362,564) -2%

$1,003,651 $1,256,470

$20,421,852 $18,858,011 $(1,563,841)

-8%

4,916,098 $4,683,702

$42,998,387 $38,742,927 $(4,255,461) -10%

15% 4% 17% 48% 4% 2% 11%

1% 4%

11% 15% 3%

48% 17%

$40,899,617 100% Net Investment income Bequest & contributions Fees generated by offices and other Archbishop’s Call to Share Annual Appeal

126,389 152,559 (170,158) (117,507)

157,603 126,205

147,544 145,490

15,605 27,245

$6,035,994 1,451,204 6,907,596 19,641,144 1,701,280 666,856 4,495,542

44%

2015 REVENUES

ACTUAL REVENUES YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2015 %

Private Appeal Archdiocesan Assessments and Collections Health & Dental Insurance Premiums

ARCHDIOCESE OF KANSAS CITY IN KANSAS EXPENSES ACTUAL 2014 VS 2015 2014 EXPENSES ACTUAL REVENUES YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2014

7%

Conversion Evangelization Education Outreach: Serving those in need Stewardship Administrative Health and Dental Insurance Claims

$2,874,384 7% 2,538,911 6% 5,802,723 13% 1,927,072 4% 40% 9,433,444 22% 3,033,609 7% 17,388,243 40%

2015 EXPENSES

ACTUAL REVENUES YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2015 %

6% 14% 4%

$2,639,218 2,265,438 6,067,433 2,280,364 6,632,463 1,832,332 17,025,679

7% 6% 16% 6% 17% 5% 44%

7%

15%

44%

6%

22%

$42,998,387 100% 7% $38,742,927 100%

Conversion Evangelization Education Outreach: Serving those in need

Notes 1 Fewer priests on sabbatical or leave 2 NCYC is every other year 3 Not funded by Call to Share in 2015 4 Rising vendor costs 5 Faith Initiative spending ended in 2014 6 Amount varies based on need and funding 7 Anti-pornography video production 8 Addition of part time interpretor 9 Increase in grant from ACTS to support elderly 10 Private Appeal brought in-house in 2015 11 Distributions are made based on receipt of pledges and will decrease over time 12 Based on need 13 First two years distributed in 2015 14 In 2014 St. Benedict’s school was demolished 15 Increase in property and casualty claims 16 Fewer than anticipated bad debts based on better parish financial management 17 ACTS parish rebates discontinued in 2015 18 Healthcare claims experience improved

ARCHDIOCESE OF KANSAS CITY IN KANSAS

HELP FOR THE NEEDY & DISASTER RELIEF FOR THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2015

National Collections: Propagation of the Faith $437,503 Black and Indian Missions $58,649 Church in Latin America $50,916 American Bishops’ Overseas Appeal $85,212 Operation Rice Bowl $62,884 Holy Land $119,382 Peter’s Pence $55,140 Catholic Campaign for Human Development $46,381 Catholic Communication Campaign $14,267 Aid to Church in Central and Eastern Europe $55,861 Retirement Fund for Religious $112,602 Catholic Home Mission Appeal $30,882 Catholic University of America $49,374

Archdiocesan Special Collections: Easter Collection- Priesthood Present and Future 1,579,990 Christmas Collection - Catholic Charities 499,693

Special Emergency Collections: Special Collection for the Middle East 99,160 Disaster Relief - 2013 Philippines Typhoon 3,677 Disaster Relief - 2015 Nepal Earthquake 107,103

$3,468,676

Program Services Provided by Catholic Charities of NE Kansas $17,832,137

Tuition Assistance Provided by Catholic Education Foundation $1,140,356

Assistance Provided to Schools by Corpus Christi Fund $532,270

6%

5%

17%

Stewardship Administrative Health & Dental Insurance Claims

NATION

JANUARY 8, 2016 | THELEAVEN.ORG

10

St. Louis parishes respond to victims of record December flooding

By Dave Leucking Catholic News Service

V

ALLEY PARK, Mo. (CNS) — At about 8:30 on a chilly morning Dec. 30, Mickey Downing of the Valley Park Fire District went house to house in lower Valley Park, knocked on doors and asked people to evacuate for their safety with the Meramec River nearing the top of the levee protecting the small town.

The levee gate was built to withstand a crest of 42 feet and 6 inches, a foot lower than the Army Corps of Engineers predicted crest of 43 feet and 6 inches between midnight of that day and 6 a.m.

Dec. 31. The levee itself could withstand a 44-foot crest. The record crest was 39, set in 1982.

Most of Downing’s knocks in the community 20 miles southwest of St. Louis went unanswered, which was good news — residents already had sought higher ground. Most of the few who answered were packed and ready to leave. A few diehards were staying behind, hoping to stay dry.

However, Dixie Freeman was neither a diehard nor an evacuee. She was stranded, with her disabled 94-year-old mother, a couple of dogs and a cockatiel. She also was cold, shivering in the 33-degree air as she approached Downing a couple of blocks from her home. She wore lightweight pants and a green knitted sweater.

“Can you help?” she asked Downing.

He quickly learned how dire her situation was. She had no phone, no way to communicate with anyone, and a broken-down car. A son was expected to get her, but his arrival was uncertain because of flooding and road closures in his area. Freeman, her mother Nora Dell, dogs Rocky and Fifi, and the cockatiel were stuck.

“My hands are really full,” she said.

“Oh, boy, it’s hard.”

Downing quickly offered advice.

“I am recommending you go to City Hall for transportation and then go to [Sacred Heart] Church as a shelter, especially since you don’t have wheels to get out,” he said.

A couple of bystanders volunteered to take Freeman, her mother and the pets to City Hall, where buses were waiting to evacuate residents. After a few phone calls and help from city workers, bus driver Tamekia Davis drove Freeman to her home, where Rocky and Fifi scampered about as she gathered belongings

CNS PHOTO/LISA JOHNSTON, ST. LOUIS REVIEW

Dixie Freeman, who does not have a car or phone needed to evacuate from her home in Valley Park, Mo., comforts her 94-year-old disabled mother, Nora Dell, Dec. 30 as floodwaters approached the levee capacity. She needed help to get mother, two dogs and a cherished cockatiel out of the house.

She went to City Hall to ask for help with the animals and transportation. in a couple of suitcases and grocery bags.

However, Nora didn’t want to leave. A diabetic, she is partially deaf. She is also blind and uses a walker or a wheelchair.

“What are you doing with me? What are you doing with me?” she asked, repeatedly. Freeman assured her that everything was all right, that they had to leave for their safety. Freeman again faced the prospect of losing everything, as happened in the 1982 flood.

Ultimately, Nora agreed to leave, but she pleaded to bring her dog. “I want my Rocky. I want my Rocky,” she said.

A veterinarian came for the cockatiel, Downing came by with a couple of other firefighters, and Davis got everyone, including Rocky and Fifi, on the bus for the one-mile ride to Sacred Heart Church.

There, pastor Father Denny Schaab greeted them with open arms. Vehicles from lower Valley Park, including U.S. Postal Service trucks and vans from a food pantry, already filled the parking lot.

In an agreement with Fire Chief Rick

Wilken, a parishioner, Father Denny opened the church basement for a shelter, as the parish had done during previous floods. But there was a hitch because the Red Cross had not yet arrived to coordinate efforts, even as parishioners steadily called to volunteer to help.

Father Schaab worked his smartphone and discovered that the Red Cross was shifting the shelter to another church because the flood waters threatened the parish site.

Davis reloaded the bus with Freeman and her crew and off they went again — hopefully to eventually return to a dry home but with uncertainty hanging over their heads.

“We pray for the best,” Father Schaab said, watching them drive away.

Elsewhere, parishes in areas of the St. Louis Archdiocese affected by flooding responded to people in need and made plans for a coordinated community response.

“Keep us in your prayers,” said Pam

Manuel, parish secretary at St. Bridget of Kildare Parish in Pacific, 35 miles southwest of St. Louis.

The parish is allowing people affected by the flooded Meramec River to leave their vehicles and boats in its parking lot, which overlooks the low-lying, water-soaked southern end of the city. Calls came from people seeking housing and while housing options are limited, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul conference at the parish is assisting displaced residents.

Staff at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in south St. Louis were glad that sandbagging of the River des Peres was completed, but they remained on edge in case the water tops the levee. The parish buildings were a possible source of shelter in a community response. Parishioners were among the volunteers in the sandbagging effort.

St. Mark Parish in nearby suburban Affton had some water damage in the chapel of its school.

SANTA MARTA, our local Catholic retirement center sponsored by our Archdiocese, is overseen by a volunteer Board of Directors appointed by the Archbishop. Parishioners who have a concern for our senior citizens, who have a background in health care, business management, law, finance, etc. and who wish to be considered for appointment to the board are encouraged to submit a letter of interest. Please direct your letter of interest to the Board Membership Committee, Santa Marta, 13800 W. 116th St., Olathe, KS 66062,

by February 28th for consideration for a term to be effective January 1, 2017.

Additional information about Santa Marta can be viewed at www.santamartaretirement.com.

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JANUARY 8, 2016 | THELEAVEN.ORG

Canada on track to welcome 25,000 refugees

By Dale Gavlak Catholic News Service

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MMAN, Jordan (CNS) — As a cautious world rang in the New Year with concerns over terrorism and security, Catholics in Canada were continuing to welcome Syrian refugees to their newly adopted homeland.

The Canadian target of accepting 25,000 Syrian refugees by late February “is well in hand, and we should meet it with no problem,” Bruno Saccomani, Canadian ambassador to Jordan, told Catholic News Service Dec. 30. “That includes privately sponsored and governmentsponsored Syrian refugees.”

Martin Mark, who directs the Office for Refugees in the Archdiocese of Toronto, told Catholic News Service in early January, “Even in the night, we received new people and also new notices from Amman, the Jordanian capital, that we will be getting around 300 people.”

Canada has one of the biggest resettlement programs in the world for Syrian refugees, and the Toronto archdiocesan office, known as ORAT, provides advice, support and assistance to civic sponsors in Canada, including parishes, communities and universities wishing to aid refugees.

“I consider it as an emergency evacuation because of the large number of people coming and the last-minute arrangements,” Mark told CNS. “The refugees were en route for one or two days and, with the excitement, everyone was really tired when they arrived.”

Mark was a refugee from Hungary 15 years ago and said he personally understands the difficulties faced by those escaping conflict and discrimination. The former veterinarian was forced to flee factions in his native Hungary who resented his work on behalf of victims of racism.

Mark said ORAT focuses mainly on privately sponsored refugees.

“Only if there is a special need, the government asks us to help with government-sponsored refugees under the joint-assistance sponsorship program,” he said. This is mainly for refugees who face severe medical needs.

“We identify our refugees, select and screen them, do all the preparations and pay the bill,” Mark said of ORAT’s private sponsorship. “So we are financially responsible for each and every refugee that we bring into the country.”

Mark said that in 2015, ORAT initiated sponsorship and resettlement for 2,300 refugees worldwide. Ninety percent, mainly Iraqis and Syrians,

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Bishop: Mayor’s murder was message from organized crime

By David Agren Catholic News Service

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CNS PHOTO/AMMAR ABDULLAH, REUTERS

Children play inside a camp for displaced Syrians in Hama, Syria, Jan. 1. came from the Middle East.

Saccomani said increased numbers of Canadian government personnel on the ground in the Middle East have permitted the processing of refugees to go faster to reach the February goal, without sacrificing stringent security measures.

He said immigration, security, medical and military services have been mobilized for the effort in which “normal vetting processes involved with any immigrating to Canada have been maintained.”

“Let’s not forget that security begins with some of the criteria that we have established when it comes to our selection of Syrian refugees,” the diplomat said. “We are selecting from the most vulnerable groups, including resettling intact families, single women, and people with debilitating diseases and injuries.

“The objective is to help Jordan, Turkey and Lebanon move some of the most complicated and vulnerable cases out of their hands and allow us the opportunity to support such countries,” Saccomani added.

The Catholic Church in Canada recognizes that it is not just Syrian refugees that need help at this time, despite Syria representing the largest humanitarian crisis in the world at the moment. Recently Toronto Cardinal Thomas Collins established Project Hope, a special appeal to help refugees from the Middle East.

Mark said the program helps “everybody from the Middle East, not only Syrian citizens, but Iraqis. And we have some cases of Sudanese in Jordan. We include them also to help, because we feel that we cannot send them away, just because they carry a different passport.”

Often, Iraqi Christians who fled the

Islamic State takeover of their property in the Ninevah Plain in 2014 have been overlooked by the West’s resettlement efforts of Syrians.

“We are very inclusive, but we want to make sure that the persecuted Christians have a significant place. We should never abandon them among other refugees,” Mark added. “We try to make sure that it is a balanced selection of persecuted Christians and other minorities who need help.”

Jordan hosts some 630,000 registered Syrian refugees, but the government says when unregistered refugees are included, the figure is much higher. Jordan has praised Canada’s resettlement program and called on other countries to follow suit, particularly those urging Syria’s neighbors to host even more refugees.

Saccomani said it would be impossible to carry out such a comprehensive refugee resettlement program without backing from the Canadian public.

“This would never be able to work had we not received the complete support of the Canadian population.

After the Syrians land in Toronto or Montreal,” Saccomani said, “they will be received in over 40 communities across the country.”

“That’s the real secret of this operation. Canadians as a whole have embraced this project as a national Canadian one, and we are all very, very proud to be part of it,” the ambassador added.

Mark described Canadian reaction as wonderful.

“This is faith in practice,” he added. “You can see different groups, some with no personal interests getting involved, just because everybody understands that we need to do something,” he added.

Vatican agreement with Palestine goes into effect

ATICAN CITY (CNS) — A historic agreement signed between the Holy See and Palestine that supports a two-state solution in the Holy Land has gone into effect, the Vatican announced.

“The agreement, consisting of a preamble and 32 articles, regards essential aspects of the life and activity of the Church in Palestine, while at the same time reaffirming the support for a negotiated and peaceful solution to the

11

conflict in the region,” the Vatican said in a statement Jan. 2.

The two parties signed the Comprehensive Agreement between the Holy See and the State of Palestine at the Vatican June 26. The accord focuses mostly on the status and activity of the Catholic Church in the Palestinian territories. It assures the church “juridical recognition” and “guarantees” for its work and institutions in there.

The Comprehensive Agreement follows up on the Basic Agreement,

signed in 2000, between the Holy See and the Palestine Liberation Organization, and was the result of years-long bilateral negotiations.

Although the Comprehensive Agreement is considered as the first official recognition of the state of Palestine by the Holy See, the Vatican has referred to the State of Palestine since January 2013. The Vatican also praised the United Nations’ recognition of Palestinian sovereignty in 2012.

EXICO CITY (CNS) — The assassination of a Mexican mayor the day after she assumed office was a message from organized crime and evidence of its influence in the area around the city of Cuernavaca, said the bishop who celebrated her funeral Mass.

“How is it possible that all of a region of the state is in the hands of organized crime, that people are paying protection money,” asked Bishop Ramon Castro Castro of Cuernavaca, in comments published by the newspaper Reforma.

“This is evidence of our reality,” Bishop Castro said Jan. 3 outside the home of slain Mayor Gisela Mota in Temixco, about 50 miles south of Mexico City in Morelos state. “I’ve been saying it for some time and pleading, and no one has been able to do anything.”

He said Mota’s murder sends the message, “If you don’t cooperate with organized crime, look at what’s going to happen to you.”

“This crime is a signature act that characterizes the failed public security system in the state,” he said at the funeral. “I hope and pray to God that Gisela’s death helps to make us all more conscious.”

Authorities said Mota was murdered after assailants burst into her home Jan. 2, one day after she took the oath of office. Two of the suspects were subsequently killed in a shootout with police, while three more were arrested. The exact motive remains unclear, though Mota promised to clean up Temixco, a suburb of Cuernavaca.

Morelos Gov. Graco Ramirez said the suspects belonged to a drug cartel known as Los Rojos. The mayor’s Party of the Democratic Revolution said at least 100 mayors in Mexico had been attacked over the past 10 years as criminal groups attempt to infiltrate and corrupt local governments.

Drug cartels have been fighting over territory in Morelos for much of the past decade, causing crime to escalate and damaging the tourism economy of Cuernavaca, a city once popular with expatriates and weekenders from Mexico City and known previously for its local pastor, now-deceased Bishop Sergio Mendez Arceo, nicknamed the “Red Bishop.”

Former Mexican soccer star Cuauhtemoc Blanco — controversial for his on- and off-field behavior and a novice to politics — assumed office as mayor of Cuernavaca in late December, sparking a dispute with the state government over policing.

Ramirez took to Twitter to blast Blanco for backing out of a scheme for putting all police in the state under a single commander, a concept promoted as an attempt to prevent police corruption. Blanco, who won the last mayoral race with less than 30 percent of the vote, said the scheme was not working.

Bishop Castro has stayed out of politics and has promoted peace in the Diocese of Cuernavaca since arriving in 2013.

JANUARY 8, 2016 | THELEAVEN.ORG

CLASSIFIEDS EMPLOYMENT Executive director - The Catholic Education Foundation (CEF), an educational ministry of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, is seeking an executive director. CEF provides over $1.5 million annually to 20 schools in the archdiocese to be used for scholarships for children in need. This position is responsible for management of all facets of the organization including: management of five salaried employees, oversight of board of directors and committees, facilitate appointing of new board and committee members, budget goal attainment, donor solicitation, stewardship of foundation resources, and oversight of financial operations and reporting. Applicants must be practicing Catholics in good standing, be able to speak authentically about Catholic education, have a bachelor’s degree and a minimum of five successful years in the for-profit business arena, and be able to facilitate public relations to increase awareness of the CEF. Nonprofit board experience is preferable. The successful candidate’s job skill set includes: executive level leadership, polished marketing and presentation skills, highly organized, superior planning and forecasting skills, team player, good personnel management skills, proficiency in Microsoft Office, and ability to communicate effectively and compassionately with a variety of constituencies including business leaders and families seeking scholarship assistance. An entrepreneurial spirit along with the ability to think outside the box is imperative. Interested individuals should email cover letter and resume to: mmorrisey@archkck.org.

Teacher assistant - Special Beginnings, Lenexa, is seeking full- or part-time after school teacher assistants at all locations. We are looking for a teacher assistant candidate who has an excellent work ethic, heart for children, and a willingness to learn more about early childhood education.

Experience and/or education is a plus but we will train the right candidate. Teacher assistants will work with the lead teacher to care for and educate the children. Primary responsibilities include assisting the lead teacher with: care and supervision of children, lesson plan implementation, parent communication, cleanliness and organization of classroom. Starting hourly pay ranges based on experience and education. Pay increases are based on job performance. Opportunities for advancement are available as the company prefers to promote from within. Apply by sending an email to chris@specialbeginningsonline.com or in person at 10216 Pflumm Rd., Lenexa, KS 66215.

Catholic elementary school principal - Resurrection Catholic School at the Cathedral is seeking a veteran principal with demonstrated skill in spiritual and advancement leadership for the 2016-2017 school year. RCS has approximately 251 students in K-8th grades and 38 preschoolers taught by 26 teachers. RCS is sponsored by five parishes in Wyandotte County. The school is governed by a board of directors, to whom the principal reports. Applicants for principal must be practicing Catholics, understand the mission of Catholic schools and have or be eligible for Kansas licensure in educational leadership. Please apply online at: www.archkckcs.org or send resume and credentials to: Superintendent Dr. Kathleen A. O’Hara, Catholic Schools Office, Archdiocese of Kansas City, KS 66109.

Deadline for applications is Jan. 22.

Director of stewardship and development - The Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph is searching for a director of stewardship and development. This full-time position will direct and implement a comprehensive program, including stewardship education on time, talent, treasure; the annual bishop’s appeal; annual fundraising activities; the coordination of special events; and long-term development efforts such as support of the Catholic Community Foundation, estate planning and corporate donor programs. The position is eligible for benefits, paid time off and two retirement plans. Please visit job opportunities at: www.diocese-kcsj.org for a complete job description or to apply.

Customer service specialist - Wellington is searching for a customer service specialist that interacts with clients and delivers best-practice customer service via the telephone and online. S/he must possess an energetic, customer-focused demeanor and be willing to go the extra mile in solving challenges and meeting client requests whenever possible. In addition, the customer service specialist will assist account management teams with a variety of tasks that require excellent organization and problem-solving skills. Hours are M - F from 4 - 8 p.m.

Please apply online at: https://wellingtonexperience.com/ careers? $15 per hour.

Director of Religious Education - Sacred Heart in Emporia is accepting letters of application for the full-time position of Director of Religious Education. This person will develop and coordinate religious formation programs for people of all ages. A fitting candidate must be well-formed in the Catholic faith, dedicated to prayer, grounded in tradition, in good standing with the church, involved in parish life, self-motivated, creative, collaborative, and eager and able to facilitate an encounter with Jesus Christ for people with diverse histories and backgrounds. An ability to communicate in English and Spanish is appreciated, as is technological aptitude. Applications with letters of reference must be submitted by Jan. 18, 2016, to: fatherfarrar@gmail.com.

Drivers - Assisted Transportation is now hiring caring and reliable drivers to transport K-12 students to and from school and other activities in company minivans. Positions are now available in Olathe, Overland Park and Kansas City, Kansas.

Competitive wages and flexible schedules. CDL not required.

Retirees encouraged to apply. Call (913) 262-3100 or apply online at: AssistedTransportation.com. EEO. Drivers needed - Medi Coach Transportation is looking for caring and reliable drivers for nonemergency transportation. CDL is not required. Contact Jeff at (913) 8251921.

Drivers - Special Beginnings Early Learning Center is seeking part-time drivers for its school-age program located in Lenexa. Candidates must be able to drive a 13-passenger minibus, similar to a 15-passenger van.

CDL not required, but must have an excellent driving record. Candidates would pick up children from area schools and then work directly with them when arriving back at the center. Experience preferred. Must have strong work ethic and the ability to work with children.

Insurance provided. Background check will be conducted. Great opportunity for retired persons or those seeking a second job. Job responsibilities include: ensuring safety and well-being of children who are being transported at all times, including loading and unloading.

Driving short, round-trip routes to elementary schools in Lenexa/Olathe area. Summer only: Driving short, roundtrip routes to two Lenexa city pools. Maintaining mileage log. Keeping interior of vehicle clean. Apply by sending an email to chris@specialbeginningsonline.com or in person at 10216 Pflumm Rd., Lenexa KS 66215.

Administrative assistant/office manager/PT -Looking for something new? Use your experience to help us improve people’s lives. Developmental optometrist needs help with her small practice. M-Th, Noon-6 p.m. No benefits. Background in word processing, Excel, QuickBooks, customer service and medical office experience are helpful. Send resume to: Dr. Bazin, 13600 Washington, Kansas City, MO 64145, or send an email to: bbazin@visiondevelop.com.

Teaching Positions - St. Ann Young Child Center in Prairie Village is seeking to fill a Kid’s Day Out aide position, Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. Also looking for subs for preschool classes. For more info call Tati at (816) 716-4676.

Part-time administrator - Knights of Columbus, Eastern Kansas Insurance Agency, 1275 S.W. Topeka Blvd., Topeka, KS 66612. 20 - 25 hours per week. Please send resume to : john. mahon@kofc.org

SERVICES Clutter getting you down? – Organize, fix, assemble, install! “Kevin of all trades,” your professional organizer and “Honey Do” specialist. Call today for a free consultation at (913) 271-5055. Insured. References. Visit our website at: www.KOATINDUSTRIES.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: mike@mikehammermoving.com.

Garage door and opener sales and service - 24-hour, 7-day-a-week service on all types of doors. Replace broken spring rollers, gate openers, entry and patio doors and more. Over 32 years of experience. Call (913) 227-4902.

Helping Hand Handy Man - Home maintenance chores available by the hour. Special rate for senior and singleparent households. Electrical, painting, wood refinishing, deck repair, yard work, shelving and organizing. Most home problems and needs solved. Member of Prince of Peace, Olathe. Call Mark Coleman at (913) 526-4490.

Tree service - Certified arborist Chris Johnson at Tufts Tree Service performs all tree services including restoration, pruning, training, removal and stump grinding.

Fully licensed and insured. See Chris at: www.tuftstree service@gmail.com. Call (785) 218-1531.

Great Catholic DJ and emcee Affordable, Classy and Entertaining Weddings, parties, fundraisers and church events Good Shepherd parishioner Contact Michael for rates and available dates.

(913)568-1441 Quilted Memories - Your Kansas City Longarm Shop - Nolting Longarm Machines, quilting supplies and machine quilting services. We Specialize in memorial quilts - Customer designed memory quilts from your T-shirt collections, photos, baby clothes, college memorabilia, neckties, etc. For more information or to schedule a free consultation, call (913) 649-2704. Visit our website at: www.quiltedmemoriesllc.com.

Tree service - Pruning trees for optimal growth and beauty and removal of hazardous limbs or problem trees.

Free consultation and bid. Safe, insured, professional.

Cristofer Estrada, Green Solutions of KC, (913) 378-5872. www.GreenSolutionsKC.com.

Bankruptcy consultation - If debts are overwhelming you, seek hope and help from compassionate, experienced Catholic attorney, Teresa Kidd. For a free consultation, call (913) 422-0610; send an email to: tkidd@kc.rr. com; or visit the website at: www.teresakiddlawyer. com. Please do not wait until life seems hopeless before getting good quality legal advice that may solve your financial stress.

Agua Fina Irrigation and Landscape The one-stop location for your project!

Landscape and irrigation design, installation and maintenance.

Cleanup and grading services It’s time to repair your lawn. 20% discount on lawn renovations with mention of this ad.

Visit the website at: www.goaguafina.com Call (913) 530-7260 or (913) 530-5661

Cleaning lady - Reasonable rates; references provided.

Call (913) 940-2959.

Marketing and advertising consultant - Strategic marketing and advertising consultant for your small business. Send an email to: loyedge@yahoo.com or call (877) LOY-EDGE.

HOME IMPROVEMENT Brick mason - Brick, stone, tile and flat work. 22 years of residential/commercial experience. FREE QUOTES - KC metro area. Small and large jobs accepted. Call Jim at (913) 4854307. www.facebook.com/faganmasonry.

Larry Laney Construction Co. - Specializing in kitchen/ bathroom remodeling and home renovation. Finish carpentry, painting, drywall and tile. I’m an honest, hardworking, dependable and very skilled, licensed contractor. Insured, with references. Call Larry at (913) 963-3434.

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Concrete construction - Tear out and replace stamped, stained or colored patios and drives. Retaining walls, footings, poured-in-place safe rooms, excavation and hauling.

Asphalt drives and lots. Fully insured; references. Call Dan at (913) 207-4371 or send an email to: dandeeconst@aol.com.

Detail construction and remodeling - We offer a full line of home remodeling services. Don’t move — remodel! Johnson County area. Call for a free quote at (913) 709-8401.

CAREGIVING CNA, Home Health Care Professional - Provides TLC in the comfort of the client’s residence. Budget Friendly. Available 24 hours, or part time. Excellent references. 25 years of Seasoned Experience. Nonsmoker. Call (816) 806-8104.

Swalms Organizing - Downsizing - Clean Out Service – Reduce clutter – Any space organized. Shelving built on site. Items hauled for recycling and donations. 20 years exp; insured. Call Tillar at (913) 375-9115. WWW.SWALMS ORGANIZING.COM.

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, with offices in Lenexa and Lawrence. Call Benefits of Home - Senior Care, Lenexa: (913) 422-1591 or Lawrence: (785) 727-1816 or www.benefits ofhome.com.

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.

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, Pat or Gary.

DRC Construction We’ll get the job done right the first time.

Windows - Doors - Decks – Siding Repair or replace, we will work with you to solve your problems. Choose us for any window, door, siding or deck project and you’ll be glad you did.

Everything is guaranteed 100% (913) 461-4052 www.windowservicesoverlandpark.com drcconswindows@gmail.com

Caregiver - 30 years experience in all facets of elder care.

Available nights, part time or fill in. Call (913) 579-5276.

Custom countertops - Laminates installed within 5 days.

Cambria, granite, and solid surface. Competitive prices, dependable work. Call the Top Shop, Inc., (913) 962-5058.

Members of St. Joseph, Shawnee.

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.

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!! www.elsolylatierra.com Call Lupe at (816) 252-1391

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) 400-3236.

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.

Local handyman and lawn care – Water heaters, garbage disposals, toilets, faucets, painting, power washing, doors, storm doors, gutter cleaning, wood rot, mowing, carpet, roofing, etc. Member of Holy Angels Parish, Basehor. Call Billy at (913) 927-4118.

NELSON CREATIONS L.L.C. Home remodeling, design/build, kitchens, baths, all interior and exterior work. Family owned and operated; over 25 years experience. Licensed and insured; commercial and residential. Kirk and Diane Nelson.

(913) 927-5240; nelsport@everestkc.net HARCO Exteriors LLC Your Kansas City fencing specialists Family owned and operated (913) 815-4817 www.harcoexteriorsllc.com Design, construct, remodel – From kitchens, countertops and custom cabinetry to additions, bathrooms, windows, doors, floors, decks and siding, we build your dream from the concept up. See our work at: www.JackHopeDesign.com.

Serving Lawrence and Douglas County. Jack Hope Design.

Call (785) 840-8076.

House painting Interior and exterior; wallpaper removal.

Power washing, fences, decks.

30 years experience. References. Reasonable rates.

Call Joe at (913) 620-5776.

Compassionate caregiver - 45-year-old Catholic woman with 13 years experience. Works nights or days. Flexible. Pay negotiable. Excellent references. Call Kara at (913) 909-6659.

FOR SALE

For sale - At Resurrection Cemetery, two easements in mausoleum. Contact A. Kelly at (913) 649-9691.

Price Reduced! - At Gate of Heaven Cemetery, a Double Cremation Niche with Companion Urn in the Mausoleum.

It is located in the St. John Corridor, #8 H. Today’s selling price for the Double Niche and Urn is approx. $6,522; offering for $3,500. Call Colleen at (913) 269-6944Call: (913) 269-6944 Downsizing! Furniture for sale - Queen Anne cherry veneer dining room table, 6 chairs, matching china cabinet. Kingsized bed frame and headboard, matching dresser with mirrors, armoire and night stand. Sofa and matching love seat, glass-top coffee table, end tables, leather chair and ottoman, lamps and TV, patio table and chairs. Call (913) 709-4267 or (913) 782-6976 for quick sale!

WANTED TO BUY Wanted to buy - Antique/vintage jewelry, lighters, fountain pens, post card collections, paintings/prints, pottery, sterling, china dinnerware.

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.

Wanted to buy - Lionel trains. Call (913) 485-6700.

ROOMMATE Roommate wanted - $400 per month plus one-third of the utilities. Short-term or long-term. Six minutes from Holy Spirit Church in Overland Park. Furnished. Females only. Call (913) 599-5574.

JANUARY 8, 2016 | THELEAVEN.ORG

CALENDAR ‘COPING WITH LIFE ALONE’ — BEGINNING EXPERIENCE WEEKLY SERIES St. Thomas More Church (lower level) 11822 Holmes Rd., Kansas City, Missouri Jan. 10 - Feb. 21 from 1:30 - 3:30 p.m.

This is a seven-week grief support program to help those who have lost a love relationship through death, divorce or separation.

For additional information or to register, call (816) 540-4644 or (816) 305-3760.

bus Assembly 2260 invites all Knights and non-Knights and their ladies to their formal prime rib dinner and dance. Advance ticket purchase is necessary for the caterer. For more details and to purchase tickets, go to the website at: www.kofc2260.org, or contact Richard Witthar at (913) 897-7227.

CHILI COOK-OFF AND TEXAS HOLD ‘EM St. Pius X Church (Kelly Hall) 5601 Woodson, Mission Jan. 16 at 5:30 p.m.

The cost to taste the chili, have dinner and get one drink ticket is $5. Kids 6 and under are free, and hot dogs will be available. The Texas Hold ’em competition will be held after dinner. To enter your chili or for more information, call Marisa at (913) 244-5732 or send an email to: marisabade@yahoo.com.

WINTER FORMAL Prince of Peace Parish hall 16000 W. 143rd St., Olathe Jan. 16 from 7 - 11 p.m.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

St. Philippine Duchesne Knights of Colum-

PANCAKE BREAKFAST St. John the Baptist Church (in the gym) 708 N. 4th St., Kansas City, Kansas Jan. 17 from 9 a.m. - noon

The cost is $5 for all ages. To-go orders will be available. Raffle tickets will be available as well. All proceeds will benefit the Bishop Ward senior graduation night fundraiser.

JANUARY HOLY ROSARY RALLY IN HONOR OF OUR LADY OF FATIMA St. Mary/St. Anthony Parish 615 N. 7th St., Kansas City, Kansas Jan. 17 from 3 - 4:15 p.m.

We will pray the joyful, sorrowful and glorious mysteries of the rosary. Benediction will follow, as well as an opportunity for attendees to enroll in the brown scapular. For more information, visit the website at: www.rosary rallieskc.org.

coats, shoes, hats, gloves, scarves, blankets and purses or bring in your old items and exchange for newer ones.

Following the Mass, the bereavement ministry will have its monthly support meeting in the Father Burak Room. The topic will be: “Grieving in the New Year.” For more information, call (913) 649-2026.

DAUGHTERS OF ISABELLA, ST. FAUSTINA CIRCLE, MEMBERSHIP MEETING Formation Center 555 W. Main, Gardner Jan. 18 at 6:45 p.m.

POTLUCK LUNCHEON Most Pure Heart of Mary (Formation Room) 3691 S.W. 17th St., Topeka Jan. 10 from 1 - 3 p.m.

The Christian Widow and Widowers Organization will host the potluck lunch. There is no cost to attend. For more information, call (785) 272-0055.

MEMORIAL LITURGY Curé of Ars 9405 Mission Rd., Leawood Jan. 18 at 8 a.m.

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Catholic women over the age of 16 are invited to join us. Our mission is to provide a place for Catholic women to meet, grow in their spiritual life, help others in the community, have fun and enjoy fellowship. For more information, contact Mary Ellen Ridgley at (913) 856-6370.

WOMEN’S RETREAT Christ the King Church 5973 S.W. 25th St., Topeka Jan. 23, Mass at 8:30 a.m.

Retreat from 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Using biblical principles and examples of modern-day saints, retreat presenter Lisa Cotter gets to the truth about authentic womanhood.

GIVE ’N’ GET COAT AND SHOE EVENT Prince of Peace Church (cafeteria) 16000 W. 143rd St., Olathe Jan. 24 from 7 a.m. - 2 p.m.

All are welcome to come receive free winter

NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING SYMPTO-THERMAL METHOD St. John the Evangelist School 1208 Kentucky St., Lawrence Jan. 27 at 6:30 p.m.

For information about classes, call Shannon or John Rasmussen at (785) 749-1015 or the Couple to Couple League of Kansas City at (913) 894-3558. Online preregistration for the class is required at: www.ccli.org.

DIVINE MERCY HOLY HOUR Villa St. Francis 16600 W. 126th St., Olathe Every second Friday at 4 p.m.

A Divine Mercy Holy Hour will be offered every second Friday at 4 p.m. during the Year of Mercy.

SUBMITTING CALENDAR ITEMS • List the event • List where the event will take place.

• List the date and time of the event.

Send calendar items to: beth.blankenship@ theleaven.org.

JANUARY 8, 2016 | THELEAVEN.ORG

COMMENTARY

I forgot to remember

FIRST WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME Jan. 10 THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD Is 42: 1-4, 6-7 Ps 29: 1-4, 9-10 Acts 10: 34-38 Lk 3: 15-16, 21-22 Jan. 11 Monday 1 Sm 1: 1-8 Ps 116: 12-19 Mk 1: 14-20 Jan. 12 Tuesday 1 Sm 1: 9-20 (Ps) 1 Sm 2: 1, 4-8 Mk 1: 21-28 Jan. 13 Hilary, bishop, doctor of the church 1 Sm 3: 1-10, 19-20 Ps 40: 2, 5, 7-10 Mk 1: 29-39 Jan. 14 Thursday 1 Sm 4: 1-11 Ps 44: 10-11, 14-15, 24-25 Mk 1: 40-45 Jan. 15 Friday 1 Sm 8: 4-7, 10-22a Ps 89: 16-19 Mk 2: 1-12 Jan. 16 1 Sm 9: 1-4, 17-19; 10: 1a Ps 21: 2-7 Mk 2: 13-17

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I

’m always a sucker for those year-end roundups that appear in newspapers and magazines. As I read them, I’m astounded at all of the things that I either didn’t see the first time around or forgot over the course of the year.

Even though I proofread all The Leaven pages each week, I’m still surprised at how much I’ve forgotten when I read through our year-end roundup. I’m discovering, the older I get, that the big secret to remembering things is to write them down.

That’s why I’m so excited to do something different this year. I’ve seen this idea online for several years but, since I didn’t write it down, it flew quickly out of my mind. Not this time. It’s a simple thing that should yield great benefits over these next 12 months.

It’s called a memory jar. All you need is a jar (obviously), some slips of paper and a pen. Situate the jar in a convenient place, like on a kitchen counter. The idea is to make a note of

T

MARK MY WORDS

FATHER MARK GOLDASICH Father Mark is the pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Tonganoxie. He has been editor of The Leaven since 1989.

LISTEN to this article online at: www.theleaven.org. good things that happen to you during the year, things that make you smile or feel special.

When something like that occurs, grab a slip of paper right away, write down the event and the date, and place it into the jar. Then, on New Year’s Eve of 2016, you’ll open up that jar and read through all of those wonderful things

that were a part of your life the past year.

These don’t need to be life-changing events, either, like the day you won the Powerball jackpot. (If you do, please call me.) A simple smile that you received, a quote from a good book or homily, or something that made your heart feel special are ideal items to take note of. I’ll bet that the smaller the good thing that happens, the more likely you are to forget it . . . if you don’t write it down.

But I’d suggest that you take things a step further. Let me illustrate with this brief story: In 2005, an 8-yearold girl named Briton Nordemeyer from Brandon, South Dakota,

wanted to help the children who had recently lost everything during Hurricane Katrina. So, when her tooth fell out in the fall of that year, she decided to donate the money she’d get from the tooth fairy to the Red Cross.

However, instead of waiting for the tooth fairy to arrive, Briton mailed her tooth to the Red Cross! She put in a note explaining that the tooth fairy would render payment on arrival.

When news of this little girl’s generosity reached the public, an anonymous “tooth fairy” contributed $500 to the charity, thus giving the story a fairy-tale ending.

(Adapted from “Tooth Fairy for Needy Kids,” found in “1001 Illustrations That Connect,” edited by Craig Brian Larson and Phyllis Ten Elshof.)

That’s why I’d recommend that your memory jar contain not only the good things that were done for you or that made you smile, feel cared for or blessed, but also all of the acts of kindness that you’ve done to bring a

smile or a bit of help to other people. Briton has a marvelous spirit. She literally gave of herself — a tooth — to help others. In this brandnew year — to make that memory jar overflow — let’s follow her good example.

Since many people hunker down during these cold winter days, why not spend a little bit of that indoor time paring down your possessions to donate?

Even better is to give of your time in some volunteer effort: serve at a food kitchen, visit with a lonely neighbor, be a tutor to students, read books for the visually handicapped, teach a skill or talent you have (woodworking, knitting, computers, cooking or quilting, for example), or do some handyman chores or run errands for a disabled person. Any of these would make a marvelous entry for your memory jar . . . and theirs.

If 2016 is to be a time of joy and fulfillment, then start making those memories right now.

(Just don’t forget to write them down.)

Luke emphasizes prayer, Spirit in Jesus’ life

he essentials of every baptism remain the same, no matter what person is being baptized.

The details may differ.

Compare a screaming infant to an adult catechumen at the Easter Vigil. It may look and sound very different, even though it is the same sacrament.

But why should Jesus have been baptized?

He had no sins to be forgiven, no original sin to wash away.

The answer comes that Jesus consented to be baptized in order to set an example for us and to express solidarity with the crowds who had come to John the Baptist to be baptized.

This Sunday we celebrate the feast of the Baptism of the Lord. It gives us the opportunity to reflect more deeply on Jesus’ baptism. We will hear the account provid-

POPE FRANCIS

THE GOSPEL TRUTH

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

ed in Lk 3:15-16, 21-22.

Luke’s account of Jesus’ baptism closely parallels the accounts in the Gospels of Matthew and Mark. Only a couple of differences stand out.

Both of those differences represent character-

Pope Francis made a surprise visit to the place where his namesake, St. Francis of Assisi, created the world’s first Nativity scene.

“He wanted to visit the sanctuary and places where St. Francis, on Christmas Eve in 1223, represented the first living Nativity in history,” Bishop Domenico Pompili of Rieti told ANSA, the Italian news agency. The pope had

istics typical of Luke’s Gospel.

Compared to Mark and Matthew, Luke likes to emphasize the prayer in Jesus’ life. For example, Luke provides prayer as the motivation for Jesus climbing the mountain where the Transfiguration takes place and describes Jesus praying (Lk 9:28).

Accordingly, Luke brings in the element of prayer at the moment of Jesus’ baptism: “Jesus also had been baptized and was praying.” This is

something that Mark and Matthew do not touch upon.

By mentioning prayer, Luke frames this event as a moment of private communication between Jesus and God, even though a large crowd is present. Jesus is praying, and God responds to Jesus. Luke describes this response: “And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.’”

According to Luke, this response is directed to Jesus, and not to the crowd, as in Matthew’s Gospel.

All three Gospels mention the Holy Spirit descending like a dove upon Jesus at the moment of his baptism.

But only Luke specifies that the Holy Spirit descends like a dove in bodily form.

This detail makes the descent of the Holy Spirit more concrete. When

nothing listed on his official schedule, and so he used the free day to visit the Franciscan shrine in Greccio, a town 60 miles northeast of Rome and 56 miles south of Assisi. The bishop said he and the shrine’s prior were the only people informed a few days ahead of time of the pope’s plans to make the Jan. 4 visit. As the pope arrived in a blue Ford Focus accompanied by two plainclothes security guards, the shrine’s guardian said he was

Mark and Matthew describe the Holy Spirit descending like a dove, they could mean that the Holy Spirit descended as a dove would descend.

They could refer more to the manner, rather than the visible appearance of the Holy Spirit.

Luke’s description of the Holy Spirit as appearing in bodily form places greater emphasis on the Holy Spirit. That greater emphasis correlates well to the rest of Luke’s Gospel, as well as the Acts of the Apostles, which Luke also wrote.

Luke consistently draws attention to the action of the Holy Spirit in Jesus’ life, as well as in the life of the church.

What can we learn from Luke’s account of Jesus’ baptism? He reinforces our belief that our own baptism calls us to a life of prayer and to a life where the Holy Spirit is at work.

caught completely off guard. “I didn’t even have my habit on and I quickly went to the refectory to put it on. Then I opened the gate for the pope,” Franciscan Father Alfredo Silvestri told the Italian bishops’ TV2000. The pope also made an unannounced stop at a local youth meeting organized by the diocese.

Amid loud cheers and chants of “Francesco,” some participants were moved to tears.

— CNS

JANUARY 8, 2016 | THELEAVEN.ORG

COMMENTARY

15

Humans deserve a higher standard than cats and dogs

S

ometimes, people will point out: “We euthanize our pets when they suffer, and they are clearly creatures of God, so why can’t we euthanize a sick and suffering person who wants it? It seems like we treat our dogs and cats better than we treat our suffering family members.”

The way we treat animals, however, should not be the measure of how we treat fellow human beings. We keep animals as pets, but we don’t do the same with humans. We use animals to make clothing and food, but we don’t do the same with humans.

For all our similarities to the rest of the animal kingdom, we are aware of a fundamental difference in kind between ourselves and our furry friends. We are not meant to die just as animals do or be euthanized as they are.

The death of a human is a more complex event that has other important realities associated with it.

In euthanizing a cat or dog, an assessment

about the nature of the creature is rolled up into our decision to proceed. Our pets seem to process the world around them mostly in terms of pleasure and pain, oscillating between these two poles as they instinctively gravitate toward pleasurable experiences and engage in “mechanisms of avoidance” when they come up against pain or discomfort. Animals lack that uniquely human power to reason about, resign themselves to and allow good to be drawn out of pain. Animals can’t do much else in the face of their suffering apart from trying to skirt around it, escape the situation or passively endure it. Because of our strong sense of empathy, humans find it more emotionally acceptable to “put the animal to sleep,” rather than watch it suffer a long and agonizing death.

But it would be false empathy, and a false compassion, to promote the killing or suicide of suffering family members. As human beings, we have real

MAKING SENSE OF BIOETHICS

FATHER TAD PACHOLCZYK Father Tadeusz Pacholczyk is a priest of the Diocese of Fall River, Massachusetts, and serves as the director of education at the National Catholic Bioethics Center in Philadelphia.

moral duties, and better options, in the face of our own pain and tribulations. On an instinctual level, we tend to recoil and do our best to avoid suffering, just like animals. But we are able to respond in a way that animals cannot and even willingly accept our suffering, which is unavoidably part of the fabric of our human existence.

None of us lives out our

life without encountering some suffering, even if it may be purely internal, like the agony that comes from loneliness, isolation, depression or rejection. Every person must, in one way or another, confront suffering along the trajectory of life, and human maturity is partially measured by how we deal with suffering.

Those who live with serious disabilities, through their determined and beauty-filled lives and example, remind us every day of the good that can be drawn from suffering. The way they deal with their struggles manifests the depths of what it is to be authentically human. It

is precisely disability, with its disfigurement, impairment, vulnerability and dependence, that challenges us to grasp the outlines of our human journey in a less superficial way and to value human life and protect human dignity in sickness as well as in health. Victoria Kennedy spoke to this same point when describing Sen. Ted Kennedy’s final months: “When my husband was first diagnosed with cancer, he was told that he had only two to four months to live. . . . But that prognosis was wrong. Teddy lived 15 more productive months. . . . Because that first dire prediction of life expectancy was wrong, I have 15 months of cherished memories.

When the end finally did come — natural death with dignity — my husband was home, attended by his doctor, surrounded by family and our priest.”

As human beings, we reach beyond the limits that suffering imposes by a conscious decision to accept and grow through it, like the

athlete or the Navy SEAL who pushes through the limits of his exhaustion during training. We enter into an awareness of something greater behind the veil of our suffering when we come to accept it as an integral component of our human condition.

We also give positive example, strength and encouragement to the younger generation as they witness our response to, and acceptance of, our own suffering. Our trials and tribulations also teach us about our reliance on God and the illusions of self-reliance.

On the other hand, if our fear of suffering drives us to constant circumlocution and relentless avoidance, even to the point of short-circuiting life itself through euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide, we can miss those mysterious but privileged moments that invite us to become more resplendently human — with all the messiness, awkwardness and agonies that are invariably part of that process.

JANUARY 8, 2016 | THELEAVEN.ORG

LOCAL NEWS

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LIVING ON GOD’S TIME

‘Prayer warriors’ showed artist the way to her personal ‘yes’

By Jill Ragar Esfeld jill.esfeld@theleaven.org

L

ENEXA — For years, it laid buried in the basement — a treasure of imagery and symbolism started, but never finished.

Until Cookie Moffitt, a professional artist and member of Holy Trinity Parish in Lenexa, began purging her house last summer.

When Cookie unrolled the long banner she had stored away and almost forgotten, she was struck by the word at the top — a gold-leafed “Fiat.” (The Latin word fiat means “let it be done” or, loosely translated, “yes.”)

She remembered beginning the artwork during the millennium celebration of the year 2000.

“I always intended to finish it, because that image was in the back of my mind,” she said. “But it got put on the back burner.”

When Cookie saw the banner again, she realized that during the time it had been in storage, she had learned to live everything the artwork symbolized.

She knew then she had to finish the painting in honor of the Apostles of the Interior Life (AVI), a public association of the faithful here in the archdiocese, whose guidance had led her to a full understanding of her own fiat.

“I wanted to complete it for the Sisters,” said Cookie. “Their lives exemplify what the painting represents.”

Gift of gratitude

Above, Cookie Moffitt, a professional artist and member of Holy Trinity Parish in Lenexa, puts the finishing touches on a banner she presented to the Apostles of the Interior Life.

Cookie’s husband Gordon wasn’t sur- Right, Moffitt and Sister Loredana Mazzei, AVI, prised by Cookie’s resolve. stand beside the banner after Moffitt present“The more she was around the Sis- ed it to the Sisters on Dec. 12. ters and saw what they were all about,” he said, “[the more] she just felt like they should have the banner. Fiat is part of their charism — they say ‘yes.’”

On Dec. 12, Ruth Kuefler made her proSister Ruth and Cookie share a crefession of vows as an AVI at the St. Lawrence Catholic Campus Center in Law- ative approach to their walk with God. Sister Ruth is a gifted musician, exrence.

At the same time, in honor of their 25th celling in violin, who writes songs to exanniversary, all the AVI Sisters and priests press her faith.

“Just in the past two or three years, renewed their vows.

Cookie chose this occasion to surprise since I’ve been in formation in Rome,” she said, “I’ve started the Sisters with a prepicking up songwritsentation of her banner. ing.

“Sister Loredana “I feel like it is said she was in shock,” one of the ways that said Gordon after the God has given me banner was revealed at To learn more about the to be able to speak a reception following Apostles of the Interior Life, with him and also to the profession of vows. the Catholic Spiritual Mentorexpress inspirations Indeed, all the AVI ship Program or their monththat he may give me members were moved ly Collaborators of Your Joy in prayer.”

by Cookie’s act of kindgroup, go online to: www.en.

Cookie believes ness. apostlesofil.com. her own art flows “I was very touched from divine inspiraand surprised,” said tion.

Sister Ruth. “I had no “Just as that reflects in the banner,” idea she was giving us this gift.

“I had never seen her artwork before, she said, “I think it reflects in our lives so I was very struck by her generosity in — when we say ‘yes’ to God, things go sharing her talents in that way — and the easy.”

Cookie has painted detailed murals image itself expressing that surrender of in homes and businesses throughout the the fiat.”

The image of Christ and the Holy Spir- area. She’s known for her faux finishes it above a compliant Mary came directly and intricate marble simulations, including architectural relief on the Country from Cookie’s imagination.

“Cookie is a unique artist in that she Club Plaza Kansas City, Missouri.

She’s been featured in national maganever copies or traces,” said Gordon. “Everything she does is freehand, and it all zines, but is best known to local Catholics for creating the icon above the sanccomes from her mind and her heart.” tuary in her home parish.

The art of saying ‘yes’

The Apostles of the Interior Life

Though she has had great success as an artist, Cookie is the first to admit she isn’t always confident she’s worthy of that call.

“Because I’m so flawed,” she said. “I guess the biggest thing that I can say to people about anything they’re going to do in life is don’t underestimate what God can do with a flawed individual.

“When you surrender to God and say yes, it’s a miracle how things fall into place. And that’s our own little personal fiat anytime we act.”

Sister Ruth agreed.

“I said a big ‘yes’ the other day when I took my vows,” she said. “But for me, it’s even bigger than that: It’s saying ‘yes’ to God’s love and his grace, which he offers every day.”

Hearing the call Through the banner, Cookie hoped to express the charism of the AVIs as it

relates their desire to help with the interior formation of all who seek to say “yes” to God’s love.

The Moffitts were first introduced to the Apostles when Gordon heard Sister Loredana speak at a session offered by the School of Faith.

“They reflect joy so much that you’re impressed,” he said. “And you want some of what they have.

“You want to be happy like them.”

The couple deepened their relationship with the Apostles when they accompanied them on a pilgrimage to Italy and attended their Collaborators of Your Joy group each month.

“When Cookie met the Sisters and started to hang around them,” said Gordon, “she also experienced that genuine love that they project.”

“They’re so charismatic,” Cookie said. “It’s hard not to feel their joy.”

Gordon was part of the first group >> See “GOD’S” on page 4