03-04-11 Vol. 32 No. 29 by The Leaven

www.theleaven.com | Newspaper of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas | Vol. 32, No. 29 march 4, 2011

the tale of 20,000 Father Arano-Ponce saw the number as a sign to help rebuild a church in Chile Story by Kara Hansen

Father Jerry Arano-Ponce concelebrated the first Mass in the rebuilt St. Ignatius Church in Empedrado, Chile. The original St. Ignatius was destroyed during a tsunami and earthquake in Chile. Father Arano-Ponce led an effort at St. Agnes Parish in Roeland Park to raise $20,000 for the reconstruction of the church.

he Spirit is said to speak in tongues. But in Father Jerry AranoPonce’s experience, God is fluent in numbers, too. 20,000 to be precise. It all started when the pastor of St. Agnes Parish in Roeland Park heard the news of the tsunami and earthquake that devastated parts of Chile in February 2010.

“I had flashbacks of the Osawatomie flood (where he was pastor of St. Philip Neri Parish in 2007) and my heart ached,” he said. “I felt a strong calling not just to be sad for the tsunami victims in Chile, but to do something for them.” Remembering a Chilean couple in his parish, Gonzalo and Monica Lagos, Father Arano-Ponce asked them whether their family members in Chile were safe.

Turn to “church” on page 5

Lenten regulations

All Catholics 14 years of age and older are obliged to abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday, March 9, and all Fridays of Lent. Catholics 18 to 59 years of age are obliged to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday — a fast consisting of one normal meal and two lesser meals, with no eating in between. It is also recommended that Catholics find opportunities throughout the Lenten season to complement their fasts with prayer, reception of the sacraments of reconciliation and the Eucharist, and positive works of charity.

Confession

8-9

New archdiocesan initiative makes confession available anywhere in the archdiocese every Wednesday from 6-7 p.m.

2 archbishop

THE LEAVEN • March 4, 2011

SECOND FRONT PAGE 3

LIFE WILL BE VICTORIOUS

Absence of mortal sin is no excuse for avoiding confession

hen is a Catholic obligated to go to confession?

The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) states: “According to the Church’s command, after having attained the age of discretion, each of the faithful is bound by an obligation faithfully to confess serious sins at least once a year. Anyone who is aware of having committed a mortal sin must not receive Holy Communion, even if he experiences deep contrition, without having first received sacramental absolution, unless he has grave reason for receiving Communion and there is no possibility of going to confession”(CCC no. 1457). What is a mortal sin? “A grave infraction of the law of God that destroys the divine life in the soul of the sinner (sanctifying grace), constituting a turn away from God. For a sin to be mortal, three conditions must be present: grave matter, full knowledge of the evil of the act, and full consent of the will” (CCC glossary). How frequently does the church recommend that a Catholic receive the sacrament of reconciliation/penance? “Without being strictly necessary, confession of everyday faults (venial sins) is nevertheless strongly recommended by the church. Indeed regular confession of our venial sins helps us to form our consciences, fight against evil tendencies, let ourselves be healed by Christ and progress in the life of the Spirit. By receiving more frequently through this sacrament the gift of the Father’s mercy, we are spurred to be merciful as he is merciful” (CCC no. 1458). I have heard people rationalize that they do not go to confession because they do not have anything, or anything that important, to confess. Praise God if we do not have any mortal sins to confess! Yet, this does not mean that we should not be using the sacrament of reconciliation on a regular basis. If Mother Teresa, Pope John Paul II, St. John Vianney, St. Therese of Lisieux , etc., derived great strength from regular confession, why would we not avail ourselves of the grace of the sacrament? Can it be that they had something to confess and we do not? Or is it more likely that they were more attuned to the presence of sin in their

lives than we are? The problem is not that we do not have anything to confess; the problem is that we are unaware of our sin. This is truly a dangerous state. It is comparable physically to suffering from an illness that is undiagnosed. A minor ailment left untreated can develop into a serious health problem. I have often thought that it would be good for a person who does not believe that they have any “significant” sins to ask their spouse, their children, their parents, their co-workers, their employees, their boss, if they could help them examine their conscience and identify some sins. In the liturgical readings for the past several Sundays, we have been reading Matthew’s account of the Sermon on the Mount, in which Jesus gives us a rather challenging examination of conscience. Some protest: “I haven’t killed anybody; I haven’t committed adultery; I get along well with my family and friends! Why do I need to go to confession?” The response of Jesus to such a question: “You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment. But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment” (Mt. 5: 21-22). “You have heard it was said, you shall not commit adultery. But I say to you, everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Mt. 5: 27-28). “You have heard that it was said, you shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. . . . For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brothers only, what is unusual about that? Do not pagans do the same? So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Mt. 5: 43-44; 46-48). Can we read these words of Jesus and still think that we have no sins to confess and do not need the grace of the

sacrament? This past Sunday, Jesus challenged his disciples that they could not serve both God and money. Our Lord exhorted them: “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.” Have we given God lordship over our hearts or do we value some things or some pleasures or some relationships more than God? As a bishop, when I examine my conscience, I have to ask myself: Have I placed the good of my flock — those entrusted into my pastoral care — over my own wants and desires? Am I willing to lose my life in the service of my people? Similarly, married couples, in examining their consciences, cannot be content with being able to say that they have not been physically unfaithful to their spouse. They have to ask the deeper questions: Have I placed the good of my spouse above my own wants and desires? Is my relationship with my spouse the No. 1 priority in my life or have I allowed other things or people to assume greater importance? When examining our consciences, we should first begin by recalling God’s blessings. We should allow ourselves to become as fully aware as possible of God’s abundant gifts. Only after having pondered God’s blessings, should we then ask ourselves: What have I done with all that the Lord has entrusted to me? Have I given him thanks by using his blessings — life, health, time, talents, job opportunities, relationships — in ways that truly honor God? In making our examination of conscience, we should ask the Lord for the grace to recognize sin wherever it is present in our lives so that we can surrender our sin to him in the sacrament and receive his healing mercy. I have heard people say that they do not go to confession because they do not want to bore the priest! First of all, we should not worry about the reaction of the priest, but we should be concerned whether we are approaching God with complete honesty, sincerity and contrition. As a confessor, I can assure you that I am always edified and inspired by those who have prepared for the sacrament by making a good examination of conscience and who make a heartfelt confession of their sins.

Archbishop Naumann’s weekly calendar

March 4 Adoration and Benediction — St. James Academy, Lenexa “The Catholic Way” recording March 5 Conference and Mass for the sick and suffering — St. James Academy March 5-6 Pastoral visit — St. Boniface, Scipio, and St. Therese, Richmond March 6 Mass for Light of the World group — Topeka March 7 Confirmation — St. Pius X, Mission March 8 Administrative Team meeting Priest Personnel meeting Confirmation — St. Agnes, Roeland Park March 9 Ash Wednesday Mass — Cathedral of St. Peter, Kansas City, Kan. Speak at the National Association of Health Insurers Underwriters March 10 Mass and blessing of new chapel — Our Lady’s Montessori School, Kansas City, Kan.

Leaven photo by Marc Anderson

Internationally known singer, songwriter and storyteller Steve Angrisano performed for a crowd of several hundred on Feb. 23 at Most Pure Heart of Mary Church in Topeka, the second stop on his winter tour of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas. Angrisano has performed at six World Youth Days and several National Catholic Youth Conferences, including the one held in 2009 in Kansas City, Mo. The winter tour was sponsored by the archdiocese’s office of evangelization and Catholic formation of youth.

Confirmation — Leavenworth parishes

magical mystery TOUR

March 12-13 Pastoral visit — Sacred Heart, Baileyville, and St. Mary, St. Benedict March 13 Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults — 3 p.m. St. Matthew, Topeka

Archbishop Keheler’s weekly calendar March 5 Confirmation — Chicago March 9 Ash Wednesday Mass for chancery staff March 13 Confirmation — St. Ann, Effingham, and St. Louis, Good Intent, at Good Intent

Holy Land Pilgrimage with Mike Scherschligt, Catholic Theologian and School of Faith Director June 1 – 12, 2011 Highlights: Daily Mass, Scripture Teachings and Guided Spiritual Reflections: 6 nights Jerusalem, 3 nights Sea of Galilee. $3995.00 per person including airfare from Kansas City, breakfast, light lunch, and dinner daily, airport transfers, tours, entrance fees as noted on itinerary, tips, gratuities and all taxes. Not included: Cancellation Waiver/Trip Insurance $250 per person

Internationally known Catholic recording artist brings his music to the archdiocese By Marc and Julie Anderson Special to The Leaven

TOPEKA — Ever run across a song you just can’t get out of your head? It’s happened to renowned youth minister, songwriter and storyteller Steve Angrisano. It just turned out to be one he hadn’t written yet. Angrisano, who has performed at six World Youth Days and several National Catholic Youth Conferences, including the one held in 2009 in Kansas City, Mo., says almost every one of his recorded songs has a unique story. It was his best-known — “My Soul is Thirsting for You” — that ran through his head for more than a year before he finally put its lyrics to paper. It was a year in which his constant strumming of the melody in his head, in fact, began to get on his wife’s nerves. Angrisano shared the history of that particular song, along with others, at a concert that drew several hundred to Most Pure Heart of Mary Church in Topeka on Feb. 23. Earlier in the day, Angrisano had performed at Hayden

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High School in Topeka as part of a tour through the archdiocese. That tour included stops at St. James Academy in Lenexa, Immaculata High School in Leavenworth, St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Overland Park, Bishop Ward High School in Kansas City, Kan., Bishop Miege High School in Roeland Park, the Men Under Construction conference held Feb. 26 at Church of the Ascension in Overland Park, and the junior high youth rally held Feb. 27 at Prairie Star Ranch in Williamsburg. “I wrote the music first, and I thought it was pretty,” Angrisano said of “My Soul is Thirsting for You.” In fact, he played it over and over throughout the next year. One night, he continued, as his kids were sleeping and his wife Jenni was reading, she asked him to please finish the song, because the constant strumming of the same melody over and over again was starting to get on her nerves. When he explained his writer’s block was getting in the way, in a moment of inspiration, she suggested he open a Bible and figure out something. For the next few minutes, An-

“At the heart of it, my ministry is a call for all of us . . . to be a reflection of God’s light and love.”

”

Steve Angrisano

grisano flipped through the Bible’s pages, searching for its red-letter words — that is, words Jesus actually said, such as those of the Sermon on the Mount. God has a sense of humor, Angrisano said, because within a few minutes, he found himself reading Psalm 63. In less than eight minutes, he finished his most widely published and performed song. Of course, Angrisano joked, all copyrights belong to King David, who lived thousands of years ago. Among the many songs that Angrisano performed, at least one was a mainstream hit. “Lean on Me,” said Angrisano, is a holy song. As anyone knows who has ever listened to the classic hit first recorded and released by Bill Withers in 1972, the song talks about friend-

Publication No. (ISSN0194-9799)

Editor Reverend Mark Goldasich, stl frmark@theleaven.com

Senior Reporter Joe Bollig joe@theleaven.com

Advertising Representative Jennifer Siebes jennifer@theleaven.com

President Most Reverend Joseph F. Naumann

Managing Editor Anita McSorley anita@theleaven.com

Production Manager Todd Habiger todd@theleaven.com

Reporter Kara Hansen kara@theleaven.com

ship and tough times, a theme that Angrisano can easily relate to. Jenni underwent several surgeries this past year. “Sometimes in the most difficult of times, God is most present,” he said. Sponsored by the archdiocese, the concert series was the idea of Rick Cheek, associate consultant for the office of evangelization and Catholic formation of youth and a personal friend of Angrisano. Cheek said he was gratified by the turnout and enjoyed watching the audience’s reactions to the songs and stories. “It’s the Holy Spirit. It was incredible,” Cheek said. “People just want to praise the Lord.” After the concert, Angrisano was available for photos and the signing of CDs. In between autographs, he discussed the essence of his ministry as a performer. “At the heart of it,” he said, “my ministry is a call for all of us as faithful Catholics to be a reflection of God’s light and love in a world that so desperately needs it.”

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4 LOCAL NEWS

THE LEAVEN • March 4, 2011

Deacon candidate calling ‘in God’s time’

Stations of the Cross

By Kara Hansen

St. Pius X approaches Stations from a different perspective By Kara Hansen Leaven staff

MISSION — It’s the Stations of the Cross with a twist. Each Friday, St. Pius X Parish in Mission will host the Stations of the Cross — just like many other Catholic churches across the country. But each Friday the traditional Lenten prayer will be approached from a slightly different perspective. “We wanted to get back to the richness of the devotion, while at the same time making it a tradition that is accessible to all people,” said Trish Miller, RCIA director for St. Pius. One set of Stations, for example, will focus specifically on suffering, and will feature a reflection from a Catholic hospice chaplain. Another will address the Stations through the eyes of Mary. Mike Debus, live-art performance painter and someone the staff has long wanted to bring to the parish, will be the featured speaker one evening. “Our parish budget didn’t really allow for bringing h i m i n , ” s a i d M i l l e r, “but we are able to do that through the generosity of the archdiocesan evangelization office and our men’s club.” Of the six Friday evenings, Miller said, three would use the Stations of the Cross that Catholics are most familiar with. Three others will be structured around the Stations of the Cross introduced by Pope John Paul II on Good Friday in 1991. An alternative to the traditional Stations, John Paul II’s Way of the Cross is often used in ecumenical settings, said Miller. St. Pius X’s staff has worked to ensure the Friday evenings are tied directly into the traditional Lenten practices of fasting, almsgiving and prayer. In keeping with those practices, a simple soup supper will be hosted at the parish at 6 p.m., followed by Stations at 7 p.m. “We’re really trying to keep it simple — from having a freewill donation that will go to a charity of the speaker of that evening’s choice, to our Green Committee providing and washing dishes so we don’t have to waste any paper dishes,” said Miller. “Dinner will be a choice of soups with some sort of

bread or crackers and a salad or bowl of canned fruit.” Miller said the parish’s hope was to make the Friday evenings accessible to as many people as possible. “We’re not wanting to involve just our parish but to reach out to people who used to be practicing Catholics a n d involve them in this Lenten practice,” said Miller. “We’re wanting to reach out to o u r

Christian neighbors. We would love to have the people who live across the street, or the people who drive by and wonder about the gardens we have on our parish property.” That goal includes embracing the parish’s youngest member s as well, said Miller. One of the evenings includes a “Living Stations” dramaturgy. Additionally, each week children at the parish’s school of religion program and John Paul II Elementary School will be asked to participate in a fun, Lenten-themed question-andanswer activity. “This is something we hope will pass the tradition of the Stations onto our children in a way that is meaningful to them,” said Miller.

St. Pius Lenten Fridays Schedule Unless otherwise noted, the soup supper is at 6 p.m., followed by the Stations of the Cross at 7 p.m.: March 11 – Traditional Stations of the Cross. The Stations of the Cross will be led by Deacon Barry Clayton, a member of St. Pius X who will be ordained to the priesthood later this year. March 18 – For Those Who Suffer. Meditations will focus on Christ’s suffering and crucifixion. Brother Daryl Charron, a Missionary of the Precious Blood and a chaplain for Catholic Community Hospice, will lead the Way of the Cross written by Pope John Paul II. March 25 – Meditation on the Face of Jesus. Mike Debus, artist-inresidence at St. James Academy in Lenexa, will lead the evening with a particular focus on using the sense of sight in meditation and reflection. Miller said this evening will be of particular interest to young Catholics. April 1 – Through the Eyes of Mary. Reflections will highlight Mary’s willingness to say “yes” to God, as evidenced by her witness at the foot of the cross during Christ’s crucifixion. Instead of a soup supper this evening, the John Paul II School PTO will host a fish fry at Queen of the Holy Rosary Parish, Overland Park, at 5 p.m., with Stations following at St. Pius X. April 8 – A Taizé Meditation on the Way of the Cross. The group “In Harmony” will guide this meditation. Taizé is a chant and type of prayer that grew out of an ecumenical movement in France. Christ’s passion will be used for the meditations, said Miller. April 15 – “Living Stations,” a dramaturgy. The evening will be focused on prayer and learning, and especially geared toward children. Instead of the soup supper, a fish fry will be held at St. Pius X at 5 p.m. April 22 – Good Friday. Stations of the Cross will be led by St. Pius X pastor Father Ken Kelly.

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LOCAL NEWS 5

Leaven staff

Each deacon ordained in April has spent five years in formation and preparation. But for Chris Seago, the road was a longer. Deacon little “Becoming a profile deacon is something I first thought about 10 or 15 years ago during spiritual direction,” he said. “I wanted to do more than I could at the time, but we didn’t have the diaconate here. So I waited and prayed and thought there would be an opportunity someday. “It was something I wanted to do, but it was in God’s time.” Since the ministry of a deacon is often not his only vocation — many deacons have wives and families, as well as jobs outside the church — Seago is envisioning a need for balance as his family goes through the transition of him taking on

this new role. “I tell my wife that I said yes to her before I said yes to the diaconate,” said Seago. “I think there is a humility in knowing I can’t be all things to all people and that if I can’t be there for my family, I can’t be there for the church either.” Seago is particularly passionate about working with people who struggle with mental illness. “I have always felt very called to work with people who are suffering and marginalized, especially those who are mentally ill,” he said. He is also looking forward to the other areas of ministry in which the deacons will be serving. “I’m excited about the idea of being a herald of the Gospel, which we all are, but deacons have a unique role with that,” said Seago. “It’s amazing and humbling that God has entrusted this work to me.”

Profile

Name: Christopher Seago Parish: Mater Dei, Topeka Age: 52 Family members and ages: wife, Julia; daughters: Erica, 26; Marissa, 18 Occupation: Program Consultant II for the Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services (SRS). My job is to license and certify private psychiatric hospitals, psychiatric residential treatment facilities and residential care facilities. Favorite food: lasagna What I’m looking forward to most about being a deacon: Helping serve the archbishop, the priests and the people of the archdiocese. Something people might be surprised to learn about me: When I was little I loved to go out at night and catch spiders. Favorite saint: St. Francis, because he was humble and he loved animals and all of God’s creation. If I could visit a period of church history, it would be: the nativity of our Lord, since I would like to tell St. Joseph “thank you” for taking care of Mary and Jesus. Favorite book (nonreligious): Anything that has to do with astronomy, especially the formation of galaxies and the early universe. Hobby: astronomy

Church rebuilding represents ‘hope for the town’ Continued from page 1 “Gonzalo informed me that his mom was OK, but that hundreds of families had lost their houses and that even the church had been damaged,” he said. “I asked Gonzalo to ask the parish priest to contact me via e-mail to see what we could do to help,” he continued. Father Mario Alfonso Agurto, pastor of St. Ignatius Parish in Empedrado, Chile, was quick to respond to the American pastor’s offer. The pictures he sent showed an incredibly damaged church structure. Since the earthquake — which registered 8.8 on the Richter scale — Mass had been celebrated outside. The parish hoped someday to have a space where they could celebrate Mass indoors again. But the plan to rebuild, said Father Agurto, came with a huge price tag — $20,000. “When Father Mario informed me that rebuilding their church would cost them around $20,000, I heard God speaking through that number,” said Father Arano-Ponce. “Why? Because back in the summer, we just put a new carpet in the church that cost us $20,000. “I interpreted that exact number as if God was telling us that if could raise $20,000 for a carpet, we could also raise $20,000 to help the people of St. Ignatius Parish in Chile to have a church.” For St. Agnes, $20,000 was a lot of money to raise. But for St. Ignatius in Empedrado — a town that relies on farming and the timber industry — it was a sum that was next to impossible.

Back in the summer, we just put a new carpet in the church that cost us $20,000. I interpreted that exact number as if God was telling us that if could raise $20,000 for a carpet, we could also raise $20,000 to help the people of St. Ignatius Parish in Chile to have a church.”

”

Father Gerardo-Arano-Ponce, pastor of St. Agnes Parish, Roeland Park

Given that context, Father AranoPonce’s idea was an easy sell to the parish. “I prayed about it and then presented the idea of helping this community in Chile to rebuild their church to the parish council and finance council. They both wholeheartedly endorsed the idea and gave me green light to present this project to the people,” said Father AranoPonce. “I told the people that helping with this ‘Church in Chile’ project was only an invitation,” he said. “And that if they wanted to be part of that, they could give a special donation any time or any Sunday, and that I would not be asking for money.” But the project piqued parishioners’ interest — and help and donations came rolling in.

“Every year our company allocates a certain percentage of our profits to charities, but we often don’t see where the money goes,” said Willie Dugan, a St. Agnes parishioner whose company donated to the project. “Being able to see the transition of the church being renovated in Chile and seeing where the money goes made it more real. It was nice to follow our donation and see how it affected people.” Dugan and his business partner, Tim Prier, a parishioner at St. Michael the Archangel in Leawood, were enthused about the opportunity to assist St. Ignatius in Chile — as were their employees at Prime Lead, a marketing company based in Overland Park. “The idea of helping with this was Catholic, but it was also even more human,” said Dugan. “This building is a center for the community — it has classrooms for meetings. “It’s hope for the town.” Donations came by the way of younger parishioners as well. “One family told me that their kids had donated their savings from babysitting to help rebuild this church in Chile,” said Father Arano-Ponce. Father Arano-Ponce was at St. Ignatius Parish in Empedrado on Jan. 25 when the first Mass was celebrated there and Bishop Tomislav Koljatic Maroevic blessed the parish’s new site. “When I announced to the entire parish that we had reached our financial goal and even surpassed it, a family asked me if I was planning on going to Chile,” said Father Arano-Ponce. “I replied that I had not thought about it yet. They offered to pay for my airfare to Chile so that I could

go and see how our financial gift was making a difference in that parish.” The experience was both gratifying and humbling. “What we helped them accomplish was to renovate an old school gym to become the new church,” said Father Arano-Ponce. “The financial help from St. Agnes parishioners helped rebuild the ceiling, paint the walls, buy new doors and windows, lay a new floor and build a sanctuary. “There is still need of more, such as renovating the old school classrooms so that they can be used for CCD classes and youth group, and renovating an office and a little meeting room. “But our main goal was to help them have a shell, a simple church, where they could celebrate Sunday Mass and receive the sacraments.” Lagos, especially, was touched by the support given his hometown and his mother by his new home and parish. “I was moved by Father Jerry’s concern and willingness to help my hometown after such a devastating earthquake,” said Lagos. “I am very grateful for St. Agnes’ generosity to help a small community in Chile.” All in all, St. Agnes raised $25,000 — $5,000 more than the parish’s original goal. The extra funds provided a sound system, church vestments and flowers for the Blessed Mother at St. Ignatius. “At. St. Agnes we have worried too much about our own financial challenges for the last five years,” said Father AranoPonce. “Now was the time to do the unthinkable and reach out to others.”

6 LOCAL NEWS

THE LEAVEN • march 4, 2011

THE LEAVEN • March 4, 2011

Men Under Construction

Photos by Elaina Cochran Photos clockwise from top: n Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers, the founder and director of Aurem Cordis, a Christian evangelization and apologetics organization, talks about men’s spirituality during his keynote address Feb. 26 at Men Under Construction XV at Church of the Ascension in Overland Park. n Retired Green Beret Michael Cutone talks about leadership, drawing from the teachings of Christ, the Gospels, the lives of the saints and lessons learned during 23 years of service with the U.S. Army. n It was standing room only at Men Under Construction.

Andrew Thomas Kraft and William Michael Kraft, members of Boy Scout Troop 157 and Sacred Heart Parish in Emporia, received their Eagle Scout rank during a Court of Honor Feb. 13 at Sacred Heart. Andrew’s Eagle project was to plan Andrew Kraft and orEagle ganize a Scouts group of volunteer Scouts and adults to power wash, clean and re-stain the main picnic shelter and picnic tables at Jones Park for the city of Emporia. William’s Eagle project was to plan and William Kraft organize a group of volunteer Scouts and adults to power wash, clean and landscape the entry sign for the Flint Hill Technical College in Emporia. Ian Bychinski, a member of Boy Scout Troop 26 and Mater Dei Parish in Topeka, and Adam Malleck, a member of Boy Scout Troop 46 and Most Pure Heart of Mary Parish in Topeka, both earned the rank of Eagle Scout. Their Court of Honor will Ian Bychinski be held at Mater Dei Church at 2 p.m. on March 6. Bychinski’s Eagle project was installing a flagpole and base at the city of Topeka’s Cypress Ridge Golf Course. Malleck’s Eagle project was renovatAdam Malleck ing the resource room at Most Pure Heart of Mary School. Alexander Ho, a member of Queen of the Holy Rosary Parish in Overland Park and Troop 199, has achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. For his Eagle Scout project, Ho collected more than 1,200 books and set up a new library for KIPP Endeavor Alexander Ho Academy, a Kansas City, Mo., charter public middle school.

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LOCAL NEWS 7 Holy Spirit student wins essay contest

Sister Rosaria Schaefer (left) and Sister Lillian Harrington celebrate 75 years as Benedictine Sisters of Atchison.

Two celebrate 75 years as Sisters

Atchison — The diamond, timelessly strong and bright, is the symbol for a 75th anniversary of commitment, a milestone few people ever live to see. The Benedictine Sisters of Mount St. Scholastica here rejoiced at Mass on Feb. 13 as they celebrated the diamond jubilee of two of their own. Sisters Lillian Harrington and Rosaria Schaefer made their first monastic profession on Jan. 1, 1936, and renewed it standing before the same altar. Sister Lillian, who will be 93 years old this month, is a native of Blaine. Her vocation was inspired by the Benedictine Sisters who taught her. “As a child,” she recalls, “I would pretend I was a Sister and teach my dolls.” She taught English, speech and drama in numerous elementary and high schools, then at Penn Valley Community College in Kansas City, Mo. With her deep love of both Scripture and language arts, she became a “pilgrim minister” after her teaching career, traveling to both Catholic and Protestant churches as well as giving workshops in Atchison. Thanks to Sister Lillian, many lay people learned a greater appreciation for the Bible and also improved their skills in proclaiming the readings at liturgy, being eucharistic ministers, and doing biblical storytelling with children and adults. She continues to assist with programs and presentations for Sophia Center. She also spends time with her

We’ve been asked . . . “It’s all paid for ...”

sister, Mary Cummings, a fellow resident of Dooley Center, who is 103. Sister Lillian feels blessed. “I’m grateful to have been accepted back then and throughout my life,” she said. “I try to give to others from who I am. You should take each day as it comes, enjoy life and appreciate living each day.” Sister Rosaria, 95, came from Hays in 1933 to attend Mount St. Scholastica Academy. She was so attracted to the Benedictine life that she entered the monastic community before completing college. She wanted to follow in the footsteps of her sister, the late Sister Mary Felix. “I admired what the Sisters did and who they were,” she said, “and I could see how happy my sister was.” Like Sister Lillian, she went on to receive a master’s degree in English, which she also used for an elementary and secondary teaching career. From 1972 to 1979, she was registrar of Benedictine College, Atchison. She remains active in the life of Dooley Center and the Mount community, still doing some handicrafts and occasionally playing the piano. She downplays her achievements, saying, “I’ve led a pretty normal Benedictine life, and always have felt support from my family and the Sisters. I’ve had many happy experiences and some I’d just as soon forget. And I never dreamed I’d live this long. But the days just roll on and before you know it, here you are.”

October 3-11, 2011

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Shawnee Knights honor Zarda SHAWNEE — Tom Zarda will be honored as “Citizen of the Year” during the annual awards banquet of the Knights of Columbus, Council No. 2332, on March 5 at the council hall here. The honoree is chosen each year by a committee from a list of individuals who have been and are Tom Zarda still involved in the betterment of Shawnee. Zarda is a lifelong resident of Shawnee and is a prominent property developer. His company, R-Z Development, has been in the forefront of developing western Shawnee. He has been supportive of Catholic institutions and charitable activities. He has also served in various leadership positions within the Knights of Columbus.

Archbishop Oscar Romero to be remembered BELTON, Mo. — A celebration to commemorate the 31st anniversary of the martyrdom of Archbishop Oscar Romero will be held at 7 p.m. on March 12 at St. Sabina Church here, at 700 Trevis. Father Estefan Turcios of the Archdiocese of San Salvador will celebrate the Mass.

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Overland Park — Emily Waren, a seventh-grader at Holy Spirit School here, was recently recognized as the overall winner in the Kansas League of Municipalities’ annual essay contest. Waren’s winning essay addressed the theme, “If I Were Mayor.” The Emily Waren league chose winners from six regions in the state and over a thousand entries. Waren was given the opportunity to present her essay to an assembly of Kansas City leaders in Topeka. She received a distinguished engraved plaque and a $250 savings bond. As a Lenexa resident, Waren was also invited to a Lenexa City Council meeting to celebrate and have her achievement recognized.

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The Act of Contrition

Got Sin?

Primer for confession

Oh my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended thee, and I detest all my sins because of thy just punishments, but most of all because they offend thee, my God, who art all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve with the help of thy grace to sin no more and to avoid the near occasion of sin. Amen.

1. I am the Lord your God. You shall not

have strange gods before me. • Do I seek to love God with my whole heart and soul? Does he truly hold the first place in my life? • Have I been involved with the occult or superstitious practices? • Have I ever received holy Communion in the state of mortal sin? • Have I ever told a lie in confession or deliberately withheld confessing a mortal sin?

(Source: Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church)

Initiative seeks renewal of the sacrament of reconciliation

You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain. • Have I insulted God’s holy name or used it lightly or carelessly? • Have I wished evil on anyone?

initiative, we developed a program to deepen the understanding of the sacrament of reconciliation,” said Father Schneider. With the approval of Archbishop Naumann, a slightly modified version of the initiative was given the green light to launch in the archdiocese during Lent 2011.

By Joe Bollig

Remember to keep holy the Lord’s Day. • Have I missed Mass deliberately on Sunday, the Lord’s Day, or on holy days of obligation? • Do I try to keep Sunday as a day of rest?

Honor your father and your mother. • Do I honor and obey my parents? Do I care for them in their old age? • Have I neglected my family responsibilities to spouse and children? • Is my family life centered around Christ and his teaching?

Springtime of your soul

Leaven photo by Lori Wood Habiger

Sierra Van Sickel, a fourth-grader at Mater Dei School in Topeka, receives her penance from her pastor, Father Jon Hullinger (unseen).

eadline writers had a field day when the new iPhone confession app came out. “Got Sin?” one headline read. For most, the answer was self-evident. Of course. The Bible has it down right there in black and white: “All have sinned and are deprived of the glory of God” (Rom 3:23). No, you don’t need to be a social scientist to know that all have sinned. Every. Single. One. Of. Us. That’s Catholic doctrine. But whether or not people do anything about that sin is another question. And there’s where social scientists have some interesting things to say about Catholic belief in and use of the sacrament of reconciliation.

Confession by the numbers In February 2008, the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. surveyed a sampling of adult Catholics about belief and participation in the sacramental life of the church. What CARA discovered about the sacrament of reconciliation (also called penance or confession) was disconcerting: • In terms of “meaningfulness” of the seven sacraments, Catholics were least likely to say that reconciliation was “somewhat” or “very” meaningful to them. Only 39 percent of those surveyed called it “very” meaningful. • In terms of frequency, 2 percent received the sacrament once a month or more, 26 percent received the sacra-

ment once or more a year, 30 percent less than once a year, and 45 percent never received the sacrament at all. • A high number of survey respondents, 62 percent, agreed “somewhat” or “strongly” with the statement: “I can be a good Catholic without celebrating the sacrament of reconciliation at least once a year.” And there lies the rub. According to the Code of Canon Law, Catholics must seek the sacrament of reconciliation if they are conscious of having committed a grave sin (Canon 988.1), and must confess their grave sins at least once a year (Canon 989). But that doesn’t mean that Catholics free of grave sins are also free of the obligation to frequent the sacrament. Numerous saints and popes strongly recommended that Catholics go to weekly confession — including Pope John Paul II, who did so himself. More importantly, as Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann explains in his column

Leaven photo by Lori Wood Habiger

Most Pure Heart of Mary pastor Father Brian Schieber listens to third grader J.T. Tetuan confess during a penance service at Mater Dei Church in Topeka. in this issue (see page 2), the fact that we may not think we have any mortal sins to confess doesn’t mean that we should not make a regular, frequent confession. Do you think you have no significant sins, asked the archbishop? Just ask your friends, family and co-workers. “The problem is not that we do not have anything to confess,” wrote the archbishop. “The problem is that we are unaware of our sin. This is truly a dangerous state. It is comparable physically to suffering from an illness that is undiagnosed.”

Meeting the challenge The results of this CARA social science research confirms the gut feeling

that archdiocesan pastors have had for some time: Many Catholics don’t understand the sacrament of reconciliation and seek it much less frequently than they should. Pastors on the archdiocesan Presbyteral Council, and its Pastoral Life Committee, have been discussing their concerns about the sacrament for several years. The committee chairman was Father Dan Gardner, pastor of All Saints Parish in Kansas City, Kan. “In those discussions, an initiative [about the sacrament of reconciliation] in the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C., was mentioned,” said Father Schneider, pastor of St. Peter Cathedral Parish in Kansas City, Kan. Father Schneider, a member of the six-person committee, was given the responsibility of investigating Washington’s initiative more closely, and he produced a proposal for the archdiocese. “After a lot of discussion, and using the outline of the Washington, D.C.,

The initiative launched by the archdiocese this Lent is called, “Confession: The Springtime of Your Soul.” “[The archbishop’s hope] is that more people will participate in the sacrament of reconciliation, this great gift that the Lord has given us,” said Father Schneider. The initiative was announced by Archbishop Naumann in his Feb. 18 column in The Leaven. In it, he explained the major components of the initiative and expressed his goal. “It is my hope that this initiative will motivate all of us to reflect upon how well and how frequently we take advantage of the gifts of the sacrament of penance,” wrote the archbishop. The first component of the initiative entails some instruction on the sacrament at each of the weekend Masses immediately prior to the start of Lent, on March 5 and 6. The catechesis will include why we have the sacrament, the meaning of sin, the meaning of the sacrament, and how to celebrate the sacrament. Later, on Ash Wednesday, the pamphlet, “A Primer for Confession,” will be distributed to parishioners. The second component involves publicity, with information about the initiative scheduled to appear in parish bulletins, articles and columns in The Leaven, and posters for display in all the churches. A third component is comprised of information and resources made available on the archdiocesan Web site at: www.archkck.org. Click on “Information for Confession and Lent,” and then “This page contains helpful informa-

Examination of Conscience Whether you go to confession frequently or are doing so after a long period of absence, it is important to prepare to celebrate the sacrament. We do this by praying to the Holy Spirit to help us recognize our sins and have true contrition and by making an examination of conscience. Two traditional formats for the examination of conscience are meditations that use the Ten Commandments and the Precepts of the Church, which can be found in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (nos. 2042 and 2043). Two more versions of the examination of conscience, one for adults and another for children, can be found on the archdiocesan Web site at: www.arch kck.org/lent.

5. You shall not kill.

CNS photo/Tony Gentile, Reuters

A priest hears the confession of a woman during a penance service led by Pope Benedict XVI in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.

From 6 to 7 p.m. on all Wednesdays of Lent (excluding Ash Wednesday) Catholics living in metropolitan areas of the archdiocese can find a priest hearing confessions at any Catholic church they drive by. tion.” There you’ll find resources about Lent, Ash Wednesday, and various topics concerning the sacrament of reconciliation. The fourth and final component is designed specifically to address one reason many Catholics give for not

Another version using the Ten Commandments is contained in the pamphlet, “A Primer for Confession” (see sidebar at far right), which will be distributed Ash Wednesday as part of the archdiocesan initiative, “Confession: The Springtime for Your Soul.”

Step-by-step Most confessionals or reconciliation rooms allow for you to choose to confess behind a screen or face to face. First, the penitent enters and kneels at a screen or sits in a chair. The priest greets the penitent, and both the priest and the penitent make the sign of the cross. Second, the penitent may begin with the

frequenting the sacrament regularly: availability. To make the sacrament as available as possible to any Catholic wishing to celebrate it, priests in parishes throughout the archdiocese will be available to hear confessions at the same time every Wednesday of Lent, excluding Ash Wednesday. That means that from 6 to 7 p.m. on all Wednesdays of Lent (excluding Ash Wednesday) Catholics living in metropolitan areas of the archdiocese will know they can find a priest hearing confessions at any Catholic church they drive by. In rural areas, where parishes are clustered, the priest will rotate sites, according to a schedule publicized in advance, but always on Wednesday from 6 to 7 p.m. “We have [something] beautiful in this sacrament — a sacrament so important and essential for our faith lives,” said Father Schneider. “Many in our culture have a lack of understanding of the sacrament of reconciliation and of a sense of sin,” he continued. “This [initiative] will help to deepen our understanding and renew our appreciation and practice of the sacrament for spiritual growth.”

traditional formula, “Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. It has been (indicate time) since my last confession.” Third, the priest invites the penitent to place his trust in God, and then confess his sins in type and number. Fourth, the penitent receives counsel and a penance from the priest. Fifth, the priest asks the penitent to express his sorrow by praying the Act of Contrition or some other appropriate prayer. The priest then prays the prayer of absolution, and the penitent responds, “Amen.” Sixth, the priest dismisses the penitent using one of the formulas found in the ritual. The penitent goes forth to live and continue the celebration of the sacrament by doing penance.

• Have I murdered or physically harmed anyone? • Have I had an abortion? Have I encouraged an abortion? • Have I abused drugs or alcohol? • Have I mutilated myself through any form of sterilization? • Have I encouraged others to have themselves sterilized? • Have I harbored hatred, anger or resentment in my heart toward anyone? • Have I given scandal to anyone by my sins, thereby leading them to sin?

6. You shall not commit adultery.

• Have I been unfaithful to my marriage vows in action or thought? • Have I practiced any form of contraception in my marriage? • Have I used fertility treatments condemned by the church? • Have I been engaged in sexual activity with a member of the opposite sex or the same sex? • Have I indulged in pornographic material? • Am I pure in my thoughts, words and actions? Am I modest in dress? • Am I engaged in any inappropriate relationships?

7. You shall not steal.

• Have I taken what is not mine? • Am I honest with my employer/employee? • Do I gamble excessively, thereby robbing my family of their needs? • Do I seek to share what I have with the poor and needy?

You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. • Have I lied, gossiped, or spoken behind anyone’s back? • Have I ruined anyone’s good name? • Do I reveal information that should be confidential? • Am I sincere in my dealings with others or am I “two-faced”?

9. You shall not desire your neighbor’s

wife. • Am I envious of another’s spouse or family? • Have I consented to impure thoughts? • Do I try to control my imagination? • Am I reckless and irresponsible in the books I read and the movies I watch?

10.

You shall not desire your neighbor’s goods. • Am I envious of the possessions of others? • Am I resentful and bitter over my position in life? (Source: “A primer for confession with an examination of conscience,” pamphlet No. 4005, Faith Guild, St. Martin de Porres Lay Dominican Community, New Hope, KY 40052)

10 nation

THE LEAVEN • March 4, 2011

Wisconsin bishops praised for statement on worker rights WASHINGTON (CNS) — The chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development gave his support Feb. 24 to views on the rights of workers caught in the midst of Wisconsin’s budget battle earlier articulated by Milwaukee Archbishop Jerome E. Listecki on behalf of the state’s bishops. “I write to express support for and solidarity with your clear statement,” said Bishop Stephen E. Blaire of Stockton, Calif., the committee chairman, in a letter to Archbishop Listecki. “You and our brother bishops in Wisconsin are offering a timely reminder of what the church teaches on the rights and duties of workers, including the right to form and belong to unions and other associations, and the obligation to address difficult problems with respect for the rights and needs of all,” Bishop Blaire said. The Catholic Labor Network released a letter it sent to Wisconsin lawmakers echoing the same viewpoint. And in a column for his diocesan newspaper, Bishop Robert C. Morlino of Madison, Wis., called for civility in the debate, urging common ground be reached on what is fair for both sides.

U.S. bishops criticize decision on marriage law WASHINGTON (CNS) — The U.S. bishops’ Office of General Counsel said the Obama administration’s decision to no longer support the Defense of Marriage Act in legal challenges ahead “represents an abdication” of its “constitutional obligation to ensure that laws of the United States are faithfully executed.” The office said in a statement issued Feb. 23 after President Barack Obama instructed the Justice Department to stop defending the federal law passed by Congress and signed into law in 1996 by President Bill Clinton: “Marriage has been understood for millennia and across cultures as the union of one man and one woman.” The Defense of Marriage Act says the federal government defines marriage as a union between one man and one woman and that no state must recognize a samesex marriage from another state. “The principal basis for today’s decision is that the president considers the law a form of impermissible sexual orientation discrimination,” the Office of General Counsel said. In a Feb. 23 statement, Attorney General Eric Holder said that although the administration has defended the 1996 law in some federal courts, it will not continue to do so in cases pending in the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Unlike in the previous cases, said Holder, the 2nd Circuit “has no established or binding standard for how laws concerning sexual orientation should be treated.”

THE LEAVEN • march 4, 2011

What to do when parishioners skip Communion By Angela Cave

Christians, Muslims unite for democracy By Cindy Wooden

Catholic News Service

ALBANY, N.Y. (CNS) — Father Adam Forno occasionally notices parishioners skipping the Eucharist at St. John the Evangelist and St. Joseph parish in Rensselaer, N.Y., where he is pastor. Sometimes, a Massgoer doesn’t receive Communion because he or she has remarried without having a first marriage annulled. Other times, it is because of personal shame. “We’ve got some people who just feel they’re not worthy,” Father Forno explained. “People have a strong sense of not being in right relationship with God, and so they honor that by not going to Communion as they were taught. But my sense is that you need Communion more than ever then.” A man in one of Father Forno’s former parishes attended daily Mass, but he never received Communion. Father Forno approached him and said: “You come to supper with the Lord, but you don’t eat.” The priest asked if the man needed to reconcile anything with God and offered to help. Several pastors throughout the Albany Diocese said they have spotted handfuls of Catholics at their parishes abstaining from the Eucharist, occasionally or habitually. They noted that many parishioners falsely believe being divorced or forgetting to pray are reasons to abstain. Massgoers who stay seated during Communion present pastors and parish leaders with complex tasks of spiritual guidance. Whenever possible, parish leaders are advised to teach about church rules but help people differentiate between mortal and venial sin. “It calls for such pastoral nuancing,” Father Forno said. “It’s not black and white.” According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, parishioners who are “aware of having committed a mortal sin must not receive holy Communion,

ROME (CNS) — The political changes spreading across North Africa and the Middle East show the people’s desire for democracy and equality, said Christian and Muslim leaders, including several from Egypt where popular demonstrations toppled the government of President Hosni Mubarak. Speaking Feb. 23 at the Rome-based Community of Sant’Egidio, Catholic bishops and Muslim leaders from around the region admitted they did not know exactly what the future would hold, but the grass-roots democracy movements seemed to indicate a growing recognition that when one religious or ethnic group suffers systematic discrimination, true democracy does not exist for anyone in the country. The religious leaders, scholars and diplomats participating in the Sant’Egidio discussion about ChristianMuslim coexistence in the Middle East stood for a moment of silence to honor the victims of the recent push for democratic reforms. Franco Frattini, Italy’s foreign minister, told the group that unlike in Egypt and Tunisia where protests were largely peaceful, in Col. Moammar Gadhafi’s Libya, “there has been horrible bloodshed . . . with the deaths of more than 1,000 Libyans.” The Egyptian protests, which saw Muslims and Christians standing side by side calling for democracy and constitutional reforms, demonstrated that “the more democracy and freedom there is, the more the freedom of each individual is respected and guaranteed,” Frattini said. Mohammed Esslimani, a Muslim theologian, was in Cairo during the protests and read from the diary he kept at the end of January and beginning of February. The diary was filled with stories of Christians and Muslims standing together in Tahrir Square and helping one another. “I was able to live the most beautiful days of my life,” he said. Muhammad Rifaa al-Tahtawi, who was the spokesman for Cairo’s al-Azhar University until he quit in early February to join the demonstrators, told the conference that many of the ChristianMuslim tensions and violence in Egypt were the fault of Mubarak’s government. “A despotic regime tried to convince the Christians that they needed its protection and convince the Muslims that Christians were the agents of the West,” he said. But when the demonstrators, mostly young Egyptians, took to the streets

CNS photo/Nacho Doce, Reuters

Priests have different ways of dealing with parishioners who don’t receive Communion. Sometimes people don’t go to Communion because of a misunderstanding of church teaching. even if [they experience] deep contrition, without having first received sacramental absolution, unless [they have] a grave reason for receiving Communion and there is no possibility of going to confession.” For a sin to be considered mortal, its object must be grave matter and it must be committed with full knowledge and deliberate consent, according to the catechism. Often, people falsely believe they are in a state of mortal sin because their actions contradict church teaching, said Father Peter Sullivan, assistant judicial vicar to Albany Bishop Howard J. Hubbard. Father Sullivan said pastors and spiritual directors should counsel people based on their individual situations. He offered the example of 19th-century Eskimos leaving their elders to die on the ice to prevent them from experiencing long, excruciating deaths without the aid of morphine: Today, this might be considered murder; back then, it was mercy.

Culture, Father Sullivan said, “programs you — and sometimes programs you poorly. You just absorb it. You don’t even know how you absorb it.” In turn, culture can affect a Catholic’s feelings of worthiness before the Eucharist. “I tell people Communion is not a reward for having been good, but the spiritual food necessary to continue the journey,” Father Sullivan said, recalling the Gospel story of the vine and the branches: “[Jesus is] saying, ‘If you do not receive my body and blood, you do not have my life in you.’ “You need to go to Communion, and you can do so very humbly. You’re not doing this with pride; you’re doing this out of a need and out of a command.” Father Forno recalled the prayer recited immediately before receiving Communion: “Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I shall be healed.” “If we say those words and believe it,” he said, “then the Lord should be able to heal [us].”

California couple found joy in sailing, handing out Bibles, says priest WASHINGTON (CNS) — The pastor of Jean and Scott Adam, a California couple killed along with two other Americans by their Somali captors on the high seas off the coast of East Africa, said they died sharing the Bible. “They were extraordinary people who wanted to make a difference in the world,” said Msgr. Lloyd Torgerson, pastor of St. Monica Church in Santa Monica. He told the Los Angeles Times and Catholic News Service that the Adams, who were active members of the parish, “died doing what they wanted to do.”

When news of their capture reached the priest Feb. 18, the church offered all of its weekend Masses and a candlelit service in the Adams’ name. According to news reports, the couple had gone on many sailing adventures over the years and carried Bibles with them to distribute to people in the communities they visited, including poor villages and hospitals. “After they retired, they sold their house and bought a boat,” Msgr. Torgerson said. “They decided to bring Bibles to the remote corners of the world.” On this trip they were accompanied

on their yacht, Quest, by Phyllis Macay and Robert Riggle of Seattle. Word that the Quest had been kidnapped by Somali pirates came to light Feb. 19 and a Navy warship began following them. The scene turned deadly Feb. 22 when the Americans were killed in a storm of grenades, gunfire and hand-to-hand combat. When U.S. forces boarded the yacht, they found that all four hostages had been shot. A couple of them were still alive and were given medical attention, but they could not be saved, according to U.S. officials.

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Franco Frattini, Italy’s foreign minister

calling for democracy, “they forgot their rifts,” he said. Cardinal Antonios Naguib, the Coptic Catholic patriarch of Alexandria, told reporters at the conference that the government change in Egypt was driven by the dreams of the country’s young people expressing “their desire for values like justice, freedom, peace and equality.” A danger exists that power could fall into the hands of those who want to impose their interpretation of Islam on the whole country, he said, but those who rallied for change will not accept that easily. In his address to the conference, he said Christians and Muslims, recognizing they share belief in one God and in the importance of prayer and of putting the precepts of their faith into practice, need to invest more time and money in projects that promote mutual understanding and concrete action to help society as a whole. Tarek Mitri, a Greek Orthodox professor at the American University in Beirut, told the conference that people throughout the region are beginning to

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understand that full citizenship means not letting one’s confessional identity automatically dictate political choices. “The lessons of modern history and the recent unexpected and powerful emergence of popular movements” across the region encourage people to recognize they are citizens of the same country largely facing the same fate, he said. “We live in a region where civic identity is weak — it’s starting to change now, but it will require time,” Mitri said. In the meantime, educators and leaders must help the region’s people understand that citizenship is based on the individual’s importance and not on his or her belonging to a particular religious or ethnic group. Muhammad al-Sammak, adviser to the chief mufti of Lebanon, told the conference that the Middle East is changing, but it is not clear exactly how the changes will impact the region’s Christian minority. “Liberal democracy is advancing, but the question is: Do political freedom and religious freedom always go together?” he asked. Al-Sammak said the answer may not always be “yes,” and he pointed to the countries of the former Soviet bloc where the post-1989 freedoms have led to a surge in secularism and materialism, not religiosity. Pro-democracy demonstrators in Egypt were very careful to focus on the fact of citizenship and on bringing Muslims and Christians together, he said, “but this does not mean that the [extreme] Islamists won’t try to hijack the process.”

world 11

Vatican official says cheap access to water a right for all VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Reasonable access to clean water is a fundamental human right and its distribution should not be left solely to private companies seeking profit, a top Vatican official said. Bishop Mario Toso, secretary of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, told participants at a meeting regarding the future of water supplies around the world that water is not a commercial product, but rather a common good that belongs to everyone. People have a “universal and inalienable right” to access, a right that is so fundamental that “governments cannot leave its management solely in private hands,” he said. Bishop Toso made his remarks at an international meeting near the Vatican called “Dammi da bere” (“Give me something to drink”), promoted by the Catholic-inspired Italian environmental association Greenaccord. Bishop Toso cited Colombia, Philippines and Ghana as examples of countries where water management “inspired exclusively by private and economic criteria” has failed to produce adequate distribution for the population and where water costs three to six times that of large cities such as New York or London. “The great paradox is that poor people pay more than the rich for something that should be a universal right: the access to drinkable water,” the bishop said. People in poor countries, he said, often suffer not for the lack of water but because “access is economically impossible.”

Christchurch parishes closed until engineers inspect them CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand (CNS) — No Catholic church or school in Christchurch will be used until engineers have declared it safe. Christchurch Bishop Barry P. Jones announced the measure Feb. 25, three days after a magnitude 6.3 earthquake rocked New Zealand’s second-largest city, causing more than 100 deaths and widespread damage. The NZ Catholic newspaper reported that some churches in the quake zone were severely damaged while others escaped relatively unscathed. Bishop-designate Charles Drennan, administrator of the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, said safety is the primary concern. The cathedral sustained severe damage and may not be usable again, said engineers who inspected the building. Bishop-designate Drennan, named to head the Palmerston North Diocese the day of the earthquake, and other priests were asked to leave the cathedral rectory by safety officials for security reasons as authorities cleared much of the central city. Authorities placed the death toll at 113, with about 220 people missing Feb. 25.

12 CLASSIFIEDS Employment Principals - Seeking dynamic Catholic school principals who embrace the Catholic faith and possess spiritual leadership skills blended with strong instructional leadership and managerial skills. Three elementary schools in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas have openings for the position of principal for the 2011 - 12 academic year: Holy Cross, Overland Park - Serves 304 students in grades K - 8 and employs 24 teachers. The preschool is comprised of 84 students and six teachers. The community is looking for a vibrant, faithfilled and skilled principal to lead the school in its continuous improvement efforts and to implement a comprehensive marketing initiative to increase school enrollment. In order to be successful at this effort, the principal will need spiritual skills in prayer and discernment, plus utilize best enrollment management practices to reach the entire Holy Cross community. Bilingual ability is a plus. Holy Name, Kansas City, Kan. - Serves 168 students in grades K - 8 and employs 13 teachers. The preschool is comprised of 18 students and one teacher. The community is looking for a principal with excellent educational and administrative skills to both maintain the current programs as well as effectively address future programs. In addition, the principal is to implement the comprehensive strategic plan and marketing initiative to increase school enrollment and enhance programming. In order to be successful at this effort, the principal will need to have a strong presence in the Holy Name community. Xavier, Leavenworth - Serves 266 students in grades K - 8 and employs 24 teachers. The preschool is comprised of 97 students and four teachers. The community is looking for a strong leader who possesses excellent administrative skills to both maintain the current programs as well as effectively implement future programs. In addition, the principal at Xavier is expected to work collaboratively as part of a leadership team. In order to be successful at this effort, the principal will need to be able to engage parents as well as the entire Leavenworth Regional Catholic School system community. Applicants must be a practicing Catholic and hold (or be eligible for) an administrative license from the Kansas Department of Education. The principal application form is available on the archdiocesan Web site at: http://archkckcs.org/employment.asp. For information, contact Dr. Kathleen O’Hara, archdiocesan superintendent of schools, at (913) 721-1570 or send an e-mail to her at: kohara@archkckcs.org. Application deadline is March 8. Principal - Bishop Miege High School is seeking a principal to begin the 2011-12 academic year, someone that will provide spiritual, administrative and educational leadership for the faculty and students to carry on its mission of academic excellence and service. Candidate must be a practicing Catholic; possess a master’s degree in administration; have principal licensure for Kansas; plus ten years teaching/administrative experience. For information, contact Mariann Jaksa at (913) 262-2701, ext. 232, or send an e-mail to her at: mjaksa@bishop miege.com. The principal application form is available on the archdiocesan Web site at: http://archkckcs.org/employment.asp. Submit a cover letter, resume, transcripts, licensure and principal application to: Principal Search, Bishop Miege High School, 5041 Reinhardt Dr., Shawnee Mission KS 66205. Director of music - Holy Trinity Parish, Lenexa, is seeking a full-time director of music to begin July 15. Candidates should have a music degree, be proficient in organ and piano, and possess strong interpersonal skills. Experience in church music preferred. For information or to apply, contact Dr. Paula Neihouse at (913) 895-0682 or send an e-mail to her at: pneihouse@htlenexa.org. Accountant - Community Housing of Wyandotte County (CHWC), a not-for-profit community development corporation located in Kansas City, Kan., has an opportunity for a full-time accountant. Individuals may submit cover letter, resume and references, via e-mail by March 7, to: hr@chwckck.org. Notre Dame de Sion High School - Located at Wornall in Kansas City, Mo., is seeking qualified applicants for the following positions: library/media specialist, college counselor, varsity cheerleading coach, and assistant volleyball coach. For complete job descriptions and application materials, visit the Web site at: www.ndsion.edu/about_sion/employment_opportunities.cfml.

THE LEAVEN • MARCH 4, 2011 Development assistant - The Catholic Education Foundation of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas is seeking a part- time development assistant to help with grant writing, social media, and other duties in the CEF office. Applicants must be a practicing Catholic; possess a bachelor’s degree; demonstrate competency in writing, social media, Microsoft Excel and database management. Not-for-profit experience preferred. For information, contact Michael Morrisey, executive director, Catholic Education Foundation, at (913) 647-0383. Candidates may submit a cover letter and resume, via e-mail by March 25, to Michael Morrisey at: mmorrisey@archkck.org. Financial representative - Due to the success and growth of the Knights of Columbus, we are adding financial representatives in the Kansas City area. This position is ideal for a determined, high-energy, high-expectation, professional, self-disciplined, independent individual desiring to serve others, yet earn a better-than-average income. We provide top-rated financial products to our members and their families and will provide excellent benefits and training. For information or an interview, contact John A. Mahon, 307 Dakota, Holton KS 66436; or call (785) 364-5450.

Services Tutorial services – Serving south Johnson County. Remedial through gifted; all grades including SAT/ ACT college test prep. 20 years experience. Doctorate degree. Call (913) 387-4044. Piano lessons - Private piano teacher is relocating from Nashville, Tenn. Bachelor’s in music, with piano pedagogy emphasis. Gifted and talented teaching endorsement. Call Janet at (931) 215-4293 (Tenn. area code) or send e-mail to: jjpianostudio@hotmail.com. Husband and wife cleaning team - Reasonable rates; references provided. Call (913) 940-2959. Machine quilting by Lyn - I also do T-shirt, photo, and memorial quilts. Official Hobbs distributor. Located in Overland Park. Call Lyn at (913) 492-8877.

Counseling - Topeka Marriage and family, child, teen, personal Shunga Creek Mental Health Call Ken Zweig, LSCSW at (785) 969-5308.

Semi-retired arborist - Available for tree and shrub trimming. Call Bob at (913) 231- 6460. Tree service - Pruning trees for optimal growth and beauty and removal of hazardous limbs or problem trees. Free consultation and bid. Safe, insured, professional. Cristofer Estrada, Green Solutions of KC, (913) 378-5872. www.GreenSolutionsKC.com. Bankruptcy - When debt becomes overwhelming, seek professional help. Experienced, compassionate Catholic attorney Teresa Kidd. For a confidential, no obligation consultation, call (913) 422-0610; or send an e-mail to: tkidd@kc.rr.com. Need a ride? Where to? I am available to take you to your doctor’s appointment, hairdresser or shopping. Maybe you aren’t driving anymore or just prefer a chauffeur; I’ll get you there. I can also run errands for you or do the grocery shopping. Just give me a call to discuss your needs. Johnson County only. Call (913) 469-6211 or (816) 806-0564. Medical supplies and equipment - Home from the hospital and needing supplies and equipment? KC Home Medical Supply has what you need. Come see our retail store, or call Ed at (913) 385-2020.

Caregiving Looking for high quality home care? Whether you’re looking to introduce care for your family or simply looking to improve your current home care quality, we can help. Our unique approach to home care has earned us a 99% client satisfaction rating among the 1,000-plus families we have assisted. We are family-owned and based in Lenexa. Call Benefits of Home-Senior Care at (913) 422-1591 or visit our Web site at: www.benefitsofhome.com. Caregiving - We provide personal assistance, companionship, care management, and transportation to the elderly and disabled in home, assisted living and nursing facilities. We also provide respite care for main caregivers needing some personal time. Call Daughters & Company at (913) 341-2500 and speak with Laurie, Sara or Gary.

THE LEAVEN • MARCH 4, 2011 Caregiver - Catholic lady with over 30 years experience has part-time availability for elderly care. Excellent references. Johnson County area. Call (913) 579-8914.

Real Estate Price reduced!! Winchester land - 40 acres: 10 timber, 30 prairie grass; two ponds with good fishing; good deer and turkey hunting; located 1-1/2 miles off highway; beautiful building site; excellent schools; only 40 miles from Kansas City. For information, call (913) 683-4488 or (913) 362-3024.

For Rent Country home - 3 BR, 1 BA, redecorated, one-car garage, central heat. On Tonganoxie Hwy 5. Call (913) 724-4204.

Home Improvement Brack Home Repair - Call Dan when you need it done! Carpentry, drywall, plumbing, electrical, painting, tile, wood-rot and much more. No project too big or small. For free estimate, call (913) 219-5388 or visit the Web site at: brackhomerepair.com. Insured; senior discount available. Philippians 4:13. Clutter getting you down? Organize, fix, assemble, clean . . . we do it all! For a free consultation, call your professional organizing handyman, Kevin Hogan, M Ed, today at (913) 271-5055. Insured; references. Visit the Web site at: www.koatindustries.com. Clutter problems? Embarrassing garage, basement, attic or any room? Let me help you get organized! Items sorted, grouped, boxed and labeled; areas clean when finished. Great references and insured. Twenty years experience! Handyman repairs also available. To view “before” and “after” pictures, visit my Web site at: www.swalms.com. Tillar Swalm (913) 375-9115. EL SOL Y LA TIERRA *Commercial & residential * Lawn renovation* Mowing * Clean-up and hauling * Dirt grading/installation * Landscape design * Free estimates Hablamos y escribimos Ingles!! Call Lupe at (816) 252-3376 STA (Sure Thing Always) Home Repair - Basement finish, bathrooms and kitchens; interior & exterior repairs: painting, roofing, siding, wood replacement and window glazing. Call for free estimates. Cell: (913) 579-1835; phone: (913) 491-5837; e-mail: smokey cabin@hotmail.com. Member of Holy Trinity, Lenexa. Thanks to all my customers for a great fall! We’re looking for indoor work. We can do bathroom, kitchen, and basement remodeling. Includes floors, cabinets, doors, windows, sheetrock, painting, and wood rot. You name it – we can do it; just ask. We’re reasonably priced and fully insured. Call Josh at (913) 709-7230. Adept Home Improvements Where quality still counts! Basement finishing, Kitchens and baths, Electrical and plumbing, Licensed and insured. (913) 599-7998 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. Roof repair or replace – Insurance work welcome. Free inspection. Quality work; reasonable rates. Call (913) 206-4524. Custom countertops - Laminates installed within 5 days. Cambria, granite, and solid surface. Competitive prices, dependable work. Call the Top Shop, Inc., at (913) 962-5058. Members of St. Joseph, Shawnee. Electrician - Free estimates; reasonable rates. JoCo and south KC metro. Call Pat at (913) 963-9896.

Woodbright - A very affordable alternative to refinishing, refacing or replacing stained cabinets and woodwork. The average kitchen only costs $500. 18 years experience. Call Woodbright at (913) 940-3020. Carpet direct – We cut out the middle man and bring the showroom to you! The best place to see your flooring is in your own home or office. Save 40 - 80% on carpet and hard surfaces. Residential and commercial. For a free estimate, call Amanda at (913) 742-4003.

Misc. Donate a vehicle. Make a difference. Donate your vehicle to Catholic Charities to support those in need. Your tax-deductible donation of a vehicle helps children and families served by Catholic Charities and is an environmentally wise way to recycle your vehicle. Cars for KC Kids is a partnership between Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas and Catholic Charities of Kansas City - St. Joseph. Call 1 (866) 430-9499 or visit the Web site at: www.cars4kckids.com.

Vacation Ireland roundabout tour - April 26 - May 9, 2011. Fully escorted by Irishman Gerry Buckley. Limited space available. For details, call (913) 648-1560 or send an e-mail to: gerry@completetrav.com. Colorado ski vacation - Winter Park. 2 BR, sleeps 6. Fully furnished, fireplace, rec. center with pool & hot tub. Bus to ski area. $125/night; $700/ week. Call Joe Frederick at (913) 385-5589. Ski cabin in Winter Park, Colo. – 2 BR, 1 BA, on free ski shuttle route. $110/night. Call (913) 642-3027. For pictures, visit the Web site at: www.tillmancabin. com. Lake of the Ozarks rental - Osage Beach; million-dollar view; fully furnished; 2 BR, 2 BA; sleeps six. No smoking, no pets. For special rates or pictures, call Steve or Sheryl Roederer at (913) 244-2022.

Wanted to buy 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*** I buy coins, older watches, silverware, slot machines, old rifles and shotguns, stoneware crocks and jugs, old furniture from basement or attic. Call Chris at (913) 593-7507 or (913) 642-8269

For Sale Rascal Scooter - Candy-red four-wheel handicapped accessibility scooter for sale. Only used twice! Call Joe at (913) 299-6873 or send an e-mail to him at: joetnovak@yahoo.com. 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. American Girl-type solid wood doll furniture - Heirloom quality, handmade, built to last a lifetime. In-home showroom. Custom orders welcome. Call John Hember at (913) 631-4060. Member of St. Joseph Parish, Shawnee. For sale - Mausoleum burial crypt; Resurrection Cemetery, Lenexa. For details, call (913) 909-3738.

March

Sacred Heart-St. Joseph Parish, Topeka, will host its inaugural German Fasching Mardi Gras on March 5. The evening will include Mass, a German buffet, a polka dance, a silent auction, and raffles. For information, visit the Web site at: www.sacredheartstjosephcatholic.org. The Holy Family Social Club will host a pre-spring dance from 7 - 10 p.m. on March 5 at Mejak Hall, 513 Ohio, Kansas City, Kan. Music will be provided by Jim “the DJ” Taylor. The cost is $5, payable at the door. For information or to reserve a table in advance, call Richard Schutte at (913) 669-3677. The Curé of Ars Singles will host a Mardi Gras dance from 7:30 - 11:30 p.m. on March 5 in the school cafeteria, located at 9401 Mission Rd., Leawood. Music will be provided by Carl the DJ The cost of $15, payable at the door, will include hors d’oeuvres, desserts, and beverages. For information, call (913) 631-6873. Father Mitchel Zimmerman, archdiocesan vocation director, will host a “Venite et Videte” (“Come and See”) retreat for young men in grades 6 - 8 on March 5 from 2 - 8:30 p.m. at Savior Pastoral Center, 12601 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City, Kan. Come enjoy some sports, inspiring talks, question-and-answer time, prayer, pizza and small group discussion. The cost is $10. For information or to register, visit the Web site at: www.kckvocations. com, or call (913) 647-0303. St. James Academy and the School of Faith will sponsor a conference and Mass for the sick and suffering from 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. on March 5 at St. James Academy, 24505 Prairie Star Pkwy., Lenexa. There will be veneration of the first-class relic of St. Padre Pio’s blood. The cost of $25 includes lunch. For information or to register, call (913) 2544200 or visit the Web sites at: www.sjakeepingfaith.org or www.schooloffaith. com. Queen of the Holy Rosary Parish, 7023 W. 71st St., Overland Park, will host a Mardi Gras dinner dance on March 5. Music will be provided by the Harvest Moon Band. The cost of $20 includes dinner and beverages. For information or to RSVP, call Patty at (913) 384-4644. Our Lady and St. Rose Parish, Kansas City, Kan., will host a Mardi Gras dinner on March 5 in the Blessed Sacrament Family Center, 2215 Parallel Pkwy.. Dinner wlll be served from 3 - 9 p.m. There will be games and activities for all ages from 3 - 7 p.m. The cost is $7 per person. Adults only party from 9 - 11 p.m. For advance tickets, call Barbara at (913) 321-1958.

6 The Knights of Columbus at St. Matthew Parish, 2700 S.E. Virgin-

ia, Topeka, will host a breakfast from 7 a.m. - noon on March 6 in the parish hall. A freewill offering will be collected.

Proceeds will benefit the Tim Burghart medical expense fund. Boy Scout Troop 295 at Queen of the Holy Rosary Parish, 7023 W. 71st St., Overland Park, will host a pancake and sausage breakfast and bake sale on March 6, following all the morning Masses. The cost is $6 per person; $20 maximum per family. Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann will celebrate Mass for past Light of the World retreatants and their families and friends at 6 p.m. on March 6 at Most Pure Heart of Mary Church, 3601 S.W. 17th St., Topeka. A reception will follow. For information, contact Matt Karr at (913) 7211570. St. Joseph Church, 11311 Johnson Dr., Shawnee, will host its annual St. Joseph table and pasta dinner on March 6 in McDevitt Hall. Father Mike Hawken will bless the table at 8:30 a.m. Viewing will be from 8:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. Home-baked breads, cookies, pies and cakes, along with candies, fruit, wine, floral arrangements and religious articles will be available for purchase. A pasta dinner will be served from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Freewill donations will be accepted. Proceeds will benefit the needy of the parish. For information, call Christine Marion at (913) 268-6677.

12 Sophia Center, 751 S. 8th St., Atchison, will host “Teresa of Avila: High-

Spirited Mystic,” a one-day retreat presented by Benedictine Sister Sheila Carroll, from 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. on March 12. This retreat will include talks on the writings of Teresa, prayer experiences, quiet time, and a video. The cost is $50; $100, if staying overnight. For information or to register, call (913) 360-6151 or visit the Web site at: www.mountosb.org/sophia. html. A celebration to commemorate the 31st anniversary of the martyrdom of Msgr. Oscar Romero will be held at 7 p.m. on March 12 at St. Sabina Church, 700 Trevis, Belton, Mo. Father Estefan Turcios of the Archdiocese of San Salvador will celebrate a Mass. A fiesta and music will be provided by a marimba group from Chicago. All are welcome!

Mary Health of the Sick Guild of the Sisters, Servants of Mary will gather for Mass at 9 a.m. on March 13 at the convent, located at 800 N. 18th St., Kansas City, Kan. A meeting will follow. All who are interested in joining the guild are invited to attend. St. Patrick Parish, Corning, will host a pancake breakfast from 7 a.m. - 1 p.m. on March 13 in the Corning Community Center. A freewill offering will be collected. There will also be a country store and raffles.

The vocation office will sponsor its annual Runnin’ Revs fun night at 7 p.m. on March 7 at Bishop Miege High School, 5041 Reinhardt Rd., Roeland Park. Priests will challenge area youth in a competitive basketball game. Donations will be accepted; proceeds will benefit the seminary fund. One Camp Tekakwitha session will be auctioned. For information, call (913) 647-0303.

8 & 10 “Godspell Junior” is being presented by the Holy Trinity

School, Lenexa, 7th- and 8th-graders in the parish center. Set in a camp environment, “Godspell Junior” offers a unique reflection of the life of Jesus, with a message of kindness, tolerance, and love. Performances are March 8 (7th grade) and March 10 (8th grade) at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tickets are $5 for adults; children 12 and under are free.

9 The Keeler Women’s Center, 2220 Central Ave., Kansas City, Kan., will

offer a Lenten lectio group that will meet from 1:30 - 2:30 p.m. on Wednesdays, beginning March 9. For information, call (913) 906-8990 or visit the Web site at: www.mountosb.org/kwc.

St. John the Baptist Parish, 708 N. 4th St., Kansas City, Kan., will host the monthly Fatima rosary rally devotions at 3 p.m. on March 13. All are welcome.

The Keeler Women’s Center, 2220 Central Ave., Kansas City, Kan., will offer a Lenten lectio retreat from 6 - 9 p.m. on March 16. A light supper will be served. For information or to register, call (913) 906-8990 or visit the Web site at: www.mountosb.org/kwc.

16 & 23

“How to Discipline Without Yelling, Threatening or Putting Down,” a two-part parenting program presented by Nona Boyd of the Wyandot Center, will be offered from 9:30 - 11 a.m. on March 16 and 23 at the Keeler Women’s Center, 2220 Central Ave., Kansas City, Kan. For information or to register, call (913) 906-8990 or visit the Web site at: www.mountosb.org/kwc.

A healing Mass, sponsored by archdiocesan charismatic prayer groups, will be held at 7:30 p.m. on March 17 at Curé of Ars Church, 9401 Mission Rd., Leawood. Father Anthony Kiplagat will preside; fellowship follows. For more information call (913) 649-2026.

17-18 The auxiliary of St.

CALENDAR 13

Joseph Hospital, I-435 and State Line Rd., Kansas City, Mo., will host a book fair from 7 a.m. - 3 p.m. on March 17 and from 7 a.m. - 3 p.m. on March 18 on the first floor of the medical mall. The book fair will feature quality books and unique gifts for all ages.

A memorial liturgy for deceased loved ones will be held at 8 a.m. on March 19 at Curé of Ars Church, 9401 Mission Rd., Leawood. The bereavement ministry will have its monthly meeting following Mass in the Father Burak Room. The topic will be: “Walking Through Grief.” For information, call (913) 649-2026.

Sophia Center, 751 S. 8th St., Atchison, will host “Prayer in a World of Chaos,” a one-day retreat presented by Benedictine Sister Constance Krstolic, from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. on March 23. Taking time to refocus your life upon God’s magnetic presence is the purpose of this prayer day. The cost is $50. For information or to register, call (913) 360-6151 or visit the Web site at: www.mountosb.org/ sophia.html.

25-27

Divorced? Widowed? Beginning Experience Weekend gently helps people move through their loss to a new beginning in their lives. The next weekend for the Kansas City area will be held from March 25 - 27 at Sanctuary of Hope Retreat Center, 2601 Ridge Ave., Kansas City, Kan. For information or to register, call John at (913) 219-3465 in Kansas City, Michelle at (785) 478-3481 in Topeka, Jerry at (785) 843-2079 in Lawrence, or visit the Web site at: www. beginningexperience.org.

Misc. The Keeler Women’s Center, 2220 Central Ave., Kansas City, Kan., offers personalized spiritual direction. Spend time in prayer and reflection with other women. Individual monthly appointments are available. All offerings are free; donations are accepted. For information or to register, call (913) 906-8990 or visit the Web site at: www. mountosb.org/kwc. The Catholic Alumni Club International (CACI) will host a young adults weekend in St. Louis from June 2 - 5. For information, send an e-mail to Steve at: valksr@yahoo.com, or visit the Web site at: www.csacstlouis.org/youngadults.html. El Centro, Inc., will offer classes in financial literacy, home improvement, and home buyer education. The classes are free and open to the public. All classes are held at 650 Minnesota Ave., Kansas City, Kan. Participants are asked to preregister. For dates and times of classes, call (913) 677-0100.

Entertainment DJ Colm - Colm Delahunt is available for parties, weddings, graduations, and any other function. Playing all your favorite hits from the Village People to U2. Call (913) 548-6765 or visit the Web site at: www. djirishman.com.

To purchase a classified ad:

Send an e-mail to: jennifer@theleaven.com, or call (913) 647-0327. The cost is $16 per column inch, five lines or less. Each additional line is $1.50. Classified ads will also be posted online at The Leaven’s Web site: www.theleaven.com, at no additional charge.

Wagner’s Mud-Jacking Co. Specializing in Foundation Repairs Mud-jacking and Waterproofing. Serving Lawrence, Topeka and surrounding areas. Topeka (785) 233-3447 Lawrence (785) 749-1696 In business since 1963 www.foundationrepairks.com

14 COMMENTARY

Catholic Press Association Award Winner 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010

Quote Week

of the

“The problem is not that we do not have anything to confess. The problem is that we are unaware of our sin. This is truly a dangerous state. It is comparable physically to suffering from an illness that is undiagnosed.” Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann See story on page 2

THE LEAVEN • March 4, 2011

THE LEAVEN • march 4, 2011

Mark my words

Making sense out of bioethics

When, exactly, are you planning to live your faith?

Working through death can leave us bitter or better

ever discount the power of small actions! I scribbled these words in the margin of a story that one of my parishioners sent me. The “story” was actually a reprint of a letter sent to the corporate offices of the Union Pacific Railroad in 2008. Apparently back on Aug. 29 of that year, a collision occurred in Medford, Okla., between a UP train and a propane tanker, after the tanker had failed to yield at a crossing. Killed in this tragic accident were the locomotive’s engineer and its conductor. The letter came from a man who happened to be in Medford on business that particular day. This person had once lived in the town and owned property adjacent to the railroad tracks. He wrote: “I cannot count the number of times when, while waiting to cross the tracks or while working in the adjacent field, a friendly wave from the locomotive would greet me along with the resoundingly loud horn. The train would lumber on past to destinations unknown, leaving only a pleasant little reminder of the childhood fascination that all boys have about trains.” On that Aug. 29, the letter writer had gone outside to get something from his car. As he was heading back into the office, preoccupied with other things, a horn tooted loudly. Jerked from his reverie, the man said that he “paused and turned to see the familiar sight of a friendly, comforting wave from the right side of the locomotive. Instinctively, I waved back, my spirits again boosted by someone I did not know, and continued on my way.” Moments later was that terrible accident. The man then explains why he wrote the letter: “I do not know with which man I exchanged waves that day.

. . . I do know that if it had been my family member lost so tragically and suddenly, it would be comforting to know that one of the last gestures of my loved one had such a lasting positive effect on a complete stranger. You are all in my prayers.” Yes, there is power in small actions. I’ve been thinking a lot about that letter above over the past few days. Those familiar with the Kansas City music and theater scene know that we just lost a real treasure. Karen Errington — with her powerful voice, expressive face and infectious humor — had been a mainstay on local stages for the past 20 years. If you saw her once, you remembered her. Karen died of breast cancer on March 1 at the age of 49. I’d just been to a benefit for her on Feb. 25 at the American Heartland Theatre in Kansas City, Mo. That night, an elite group of her extremely talented friends gave a sold-out crowd a once-in-a-lifetime performance. Organizers hoped to raise $10,000. It didn’t happen: They raised double that . . . and then some. So, what’s the connection between the Union Pacific letter and this benefit for Karen Errington? Well, back on New Year’s Eve in 2009, Karen performed in a musical revue with three other singers. After the show, she was standing on stage. I wanted to go up and talk to her but, quite frankly, I was a bit chicken. Being such a star, I didn’t think that a compliment from some “nobody” in the

audience would really matter all that much to Karen. After all, I’d applauded, right? And, I figured, I’ll be seeing her for years and years to come, and it’s late and I should be getting home, etc. Happily, I dismissed those thoughts, swallowed my nervousness and walked right up to Karen. I introduced myself and told her how much I enjoyed all of the performances I’d seen her in. I thanked her for sharing her talents. She broke into a smile and then thanked me for being there and taking the time to come up and compliment her. She could not have been more gracious. I left the theater that night with a warm, contented feeling. I never got another chance to chat with her. I’m so glad today that I took advantage of that unexpected New Year’s Eve opportunity. How many times in our lives do we pass up those small chances to make life brighter for someone? Why do we hesitate to compliment, to thank, or to encourage one another? I think that St. Thérèse of Lisieux got it right: Holiness comes, not so much in big heroic actions, but in the little things that we do for others out of love. A compliment, a wave, a hug or a smile may not seem like much at the time, but their effects can be powerful — on both the receiver and the giver. And, even though many times we do get another chance to act on some missed opportunity to do good, why wait and gamble? This coming Lent, don’t be shy. Live boldly. Encourage and help others in any way you can, as often as you can. And, since the last show I saw Karen in was “1776,” maybe we can all ponder these words of Thomas Jefferson: “He does most in God’s great world who does his best in his own little world.”

aregivers and health care professionals can, and often do, greatly assist those who are suffering and dying. Even with careful pain management and comfort measures, however, the dying process can still be agonizing and difficult. Each death has a unique and particular trajectory, but even the most difficult and unpleasant deaths often have powerful graces and remarkable opportunities for growth mysteriously interwoven into them. Some time ago, I corresponded with a registered nurse about her mother’s final battle with lung cancer. She described the unexpected shifts in her mother’s condition that had taken place over a period of eight days: “Passing through a day of Cheyne-Stokes respirations (a pattern of deep breathing, followed by stoppage of breathing, followed by repetition of the cycle), days of such shallow breathing that death seemed literally one breath away, days of calm coma, two days where the smell of imminent death was detectable, signs of diminished extremity perfusions coming and then going, coming and then going, day after day, no urine output, then urine output, then no urine, then urine again, emerge from this state and embark upon three hours of increasingly severe respiratory distress culminating in a violent respira-

tory arrest.” No stranger to death and dying, this nurse had assisted countless other patients with pain, air and hunger management. During her mom’s final hours, she had significantly increased morphine doses per hospice protocols, but with little or no apparent relief. Her mother’s death ended up being very hard. Reflecting on it afterwards, she realized that if she had not been both a health care professional and a person who trusted deeply in God, she would have been, to use her own words, “out of my mind with horror.” Why certain deaths are so much harder than others is no easier to explain than why certain lives are so much harder than others. It gives us pause, though, to ask whether suffering doesn’t have some hidden but important meaning, however it enters our lives. As we seek to use the tools of medicine to alleviate the suffering of those who are dying, we realize how delicate a balancing act it can be, fraught with

second thoughts on the second reading

Christ’s sacrifice — not law of Moses — redeemed us

The ninth week of ordinary time March 6 ninth sunday in ordinary time Dt 11: 18, 26-28, 32; Ps 31: 2-4, 17, 25; Rom 3: 21-25, 28; Mt 7: 21-27 March 7 Perpetua and Felicity, martyrs Tb 1: 3; 2: 1a-8; Ps 112: 1-6; Mk 12: 1-12 March 8 John of God, religious Tb 2: 9-14; Ps 112: 1-2, 7-9; Mk 12: 13-17 March 9 ASH WEDNESDAY Jl 2: 12-18; Ps 51: 3-6a, 12-14, 17; 2 Cor 5:20 — 6:2; Mt 6: 1-6, 16-18 March 10 Thursday Dt 30: 15-20; Ps 1: 1-4, 6; Lk 9: 22-25 March 11 Friday Is 58: 1-9a; Ps 51: 3-6a, 18-19; Mt 9: 14-15 March 12 Saturday Is 58: 9b-14; Ps 86: 1-6; Lk 5: 27-32

columnists 15

oes the law have anything to do with the pursuit of justice? Or, is the law simply the set of rules by which society operates, comparable to the rules of a board game like Monopoly? Life is not fair. Why would anyone expect that the rules governing the game of life should be fair either? Is the law morally neutral, so that a person can manipulate it to his or her own advantage? Or, can a virtuous person NINth sunday in use the law as a ordinary time vehicle to promote Rom 3: 21-25, 28 justice? These are important questions, receiving different responses, depending upon one’s philosophy. And they bear upon Sunday’s second reading. St. Paul draws upon the language of the law court to discuss God’s relationship to the human race. That is why words such as “righteousness,” “testified,” “justified” appear in the text. The word which our reading translates as “righteousness” can also be translated as “justice.” It is a variation of the word translated as “justified.” St. Paul envisions God as the judge in the law court. In this particular case, God, since he is just (or righteous), has acted outside the limits of the law. God has decided that the law by itself will

not bring justice about. That is why St. Paul writes: “Now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law.” The Scriptures appear as witnesses in this case, to support this claim. That is why St. Paul adds, “though testified to by the law and the prophets.” The phrase “the law and the prophets” means the Old Testament. (See Mt 5:17 for another example of this phrase).“Law” in this phrase refers to the Torah, the first five books of the Bible, not to a set of rules as in the earlier sentence. St. Paul maintains that the Bible, specifically the Old Testament, supplies evidence which proves how God would act to bring justice to the situation. As a just judge, God is impartial and knows no favorites: “For there is no distinction; all have sinned and are deprived of the glory of God.” God recognizes the frailties of the human race. To overcome these deficiencies, God

has provided a remedy in Jesus Christ, a remedy that goes beyond the requirements of the law, a remedy which is pure gift: “They are justified freely by his grace, through the redemption in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as an expiation, through faith, by his blood.” Since we arrive at that gift of redemption through faith, the works of the law, that is to say, the particular rules of the law of Moses, are not required: “A person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.” “Justified” means “found not guilty.” We know that sometimes our legal system will find a person not guilty, even though the person actually committed the crime, for a variety of reasons: lack of evidence, a bungled prosecution, a skillful defense attorney. In our case, we are found “not guilty,” even though we have sinned, because of God’s mercy. And because of God’s love, the verdict of “not guilty” means much more than simply escaping jail. It is a ringing endorsement of how deeply God values us. It leads into how God claims us as his sons and daughters in Christ. Father Mike Stubbs is the senior parochial vicar of Holy Trinity Parish in Lenexa and has a degree in Scripture from Harvard University.

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difficult decisions about dosages and interventions, and not always guaranteed to work. When pain and suffering cannot be alleviated, patients ought to be helped to appreciate the Christian understanding of redemptive suffering. The nurse described how she and her mother had experienced this Christian understanding themselves: “My mom and I prayed hard and much over this past year. She was expected to die a year ago. As we began to understand that she was actually improving and that she (and I) had been given this gift of time, we became increasingly devoted to the Divine Mercy of Jesus. I am of the opinion that God gave Mom an opportunity to be on the cross with him.” Real suffering engages a lot of complex emotions. We may worry that our crosses will be more than we can bear. We may not see how our sufferings could really have any value or meaning. In the end, suffering can make us bitter or it can make us better, depending upon how we respond to it and use it to enter into deeper union with the Lord who suffered and died a hard death for us. I’m reminded of a story I once heard about a priest in Poland who taught at the seminary. Each year, there had been fewer candidates entering the seminary — rarely more than eight or nine — and it was becoming a serious concern for the seminary and the diocese. One day,

this priest learned he had a terminal illness, with only a few months to live. Shortly afterwards, he turned to God and said, “Lord Jesus, I will do my best to offer up the sufferings that lie ahead of me, whatever they may be, but I would ask that you send us 18 new candidates for next year’s incoming class.” The good priest faced an excruciating death, but a few months later when the candidates started showing up at the seminary, there were exactly 18 new students in the class. His story speaks of how suffering has meaning whenever we unite it to the redemptive sufferings of Christ. Our sufferings and struggles are an important, albeit temporary, part of our journey. They are a harbinger of a greater destiny and a promise of our transformation. Pope John Paul II once described it this way: “The cross of Christ throws salvific light, in a most penetrating way, on man’s life. . . . The cross reaches man together with the resurrection.” Our experience of suffering and death, even a very hard death, offers us mysterious and dramatic graces, with the reassurance that God himself is ever near to those who carry their cross. Father Tadeusz Pacholczyk is a priest of the Diocese of Fall River, Mass., and serves as the director of education at The National Catholic Bioethics Center in Philadelphia.

16 local news

Mater Dei Parish, Topeka, will host a family fish fry in Rossiter Hall (basement of Mater DeiAssumption Church, 8th and Jackson) all the Fridays during Lent (except Good Friday) from 5 to 7 p.m. The cost is: $7 for adults; $4 for children ages 6-12; children 5 and under are free. Carryout dinners are available. Stations of the Cross will follow at 7 p.m. in Mater Dei Assumption Church. The Cathedral of St. Peter, Kansas City, Kan., will host fish dinners March 11, 18 and 25 from 5 to 7 p.m. in the parish center, 431 N. 15th, Kansas City, Kan. Baked and fried fish will be served. Cost is $10 for adults; $5 for children under 12. The Cathedral Knights are sponsoring the dinners.

THE LEAVEN • march 4, 2011

Queen of the Holy Rosary, Wea, will have fish fries every Friday during Lent (except Good Friday) from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Cost is: $8 for adults; $4 for children; $13 for a shrimp dinner. Desserts will be provided by the Altar Society. The Leavenworth Knights of Columbus, Council No. 900, will host dinners from 5 to 7 p.m. all the Fridays during Lent (except Good Friday) at the council hall, 205 S. Fourth St. There is a choice of fish filets or spaghetti marinara. Cost is: $8 per person; $15 per couple; or $20 per family (parents and kids). Carryouts are available. For more information, contact (913) 250-5258.

Sacred Heart-St. Joseph Parish in Topeka will have fish and shrimp fries every Friday during Lent (except Good Friday) from 4 - 6:30 p.m. in Sacred Heart Church Hall, 312 N.E. Freeman Ave. Cost is $8 for adults; $3.50 for children 12 and under. Carryouts are available by calling (785) 234-6727. Knights of Columbus, Council No. 657, Immaculate Conception Parish, St. Marys, will host fish fries March 11 and April 15 at the Centennial Building from 5 -7 p.m. Cost is $8 for adults; $4 for children. Proceeds support the parish’s youth activities.

Friday fish fries will be hosted by the Knights of Columbus, Council No. 11126, of Good Shepherd, Shawnee, on March 11, 18, 25, April 1 and 8 at Good Shepherd Church, 12800 W. 75th St. Catfish dinners will be served from 5 to 7:30 p.m.

There will be a Lenten baked potato bar on April 8 in the Holy Cross Parish hall, 8311 W. 93rd St., Overland Park, following the Stations of the Cross. The dinner will be provided by the high school youth ministries. Donations will be accepted and will benefit Mission Trip 2011. The Greeley Knights of Columbus will host Lenten fish fries, beginning at 6 p.m., on March 18, April 1 and April 15 in the parish hall.

The Marysville Knights of Columbus will be sponsoring fish fries in St. Gregory Parish hall all the Fridays during Lent (except Good Friday) from 5 to 7 p.m. Holy Spirit Parish Knights of Columbus, Council No. 11661, is sponsoring all-you-can-eat seafood dinners all the Fridays of Lent (except Good Friday) from 5 - 7 p.m. in St. Elizabeth’s Hall, 11300 W. 103rd St., Overland Park. Cost is: $13 for adults - shrimp and fish; $8 for adults fish; $4 for children ages 4 to 10; $1 for children under 4.

The Knights of Columbus will have their annual fish fry on April 15 at 5 p.m. at St. Francis Xavier Church, Mayetta. Cost is a freewill donation.

St. Michael the Archangel, 14251 Nall Ave., Leawood, will be hosting its annual fish fry, sponsored by the Knights of Columbus, all the Fridays during Lent (except Good Friday) from 5 to 6:45 p.m. Specialty menu items include smoked salmon and shrimp pasta.

The Garnett Knights of Columbus will host Lenten fish fries beginning at 5:30 p.m. on March 11, 25 and April 8 in the Knights Hall in Garnett.

St. Francis Xavier, Mayetta, will host Lenten dinners from 5 to 7 p.m. on March 18, April 1 and 15. Cost is a freewill offering.

St. Dominic Parish, Holton, will host fish dinners from 5 to 7 p.m. on March 11, 25 and April 8. Cost is a freewill offering.

Sacred Heart Parish (St. Rose Philippine Duchesne Shrine), 729 W. Main St., Mound City, will have a Lenten fish fry from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on April 15. Stations of the Cross will follow dinner.

St. Joseph Parish, Nortonville, will host fish dinners every Friday during Lent (except Good Friday) from 5 - 7 p.m. The meal includes baked and fried fish and fried shrimp. Cost is: $8 for ages 11 and older; $4 for children 4-10; children 3 and under are free.

There will be boiled shrimp dinners from 5 - 8 p.m. all the Fridays of Lent (except Good Friday) at the Shawnee Knights Hall, 11221 Johnson Dr., Shawnee.

The Lenten shrimp boats are coming to St. Ann Church school cafeteria, 7241 Mission Rd., Prairie Village. Experienced cooks using special spices are cooking all-you-can-eat adult plates of shrimp, pasta, salad and soda for $15 with a cash bar. A shrimp plate and soda for kids 10 and under is $5, or buy dollar-aslice pizza at the door.

The Holy Name Knights of Columbus will be serving Lenten dinners at Holy Name School, 1007 Southwest Blvd., Kansas City, Kan., from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Mexican Lenten dinners will be served on March 11 and April 15; fish dinners will be served on March 18, 25, April 1 and 8.

St. Paul Parish, 900 S. Honeysuckle, Olathe, will have fish fries all the Fridays during Lent (except Good Friday) from 5 to 7 p.m.

Prince of Peace, Olathe, Knights of Columbus, Council No. 7909, will have fish and boiled shrimp dinners all the Fridays during Lent (except Good Friday) from 5 to 7 p.m., followed by Stations of the Cross in the church.

The Church of the Nativity Knights of Columbus will have fish fries all the Fridays during Lent (except Good Friday) from 5 to 7:30 p.m. in the parish hall, 3800 W. 119th St., Leawood. Cost is: $9 for adults/ $13 for shrimp; $5 for children 5-12 years old; children under 4 are free. Family prices are $35 for fish dinners; $50 for shrimp dinners.

Holy Angels Parish, Basehor, will have a Lenten shrimp dinner from 4 to 7:30 p.m. on April 15 at the parish hall, 15438 Leavenworth Rd. Advance tickets are $15 for adults; $5 for children 10 and younger. At-the-door cost is $20 for adults and $5 for children 10 and under. Tickets can be purchased from the Knights or by contacting Tom Steinmetz at (913) 422-7660.

St. Patrick Parish, 94th and State, Kansas City, Kan., will host fish dinners all the Fridays during Lent (except Good Friday) from 5 to 7 p.m. Catfish, cod, and shrimp will be served.

The Knights of Columbus Council No. 13012 of St. Matthew Parish in Topeka will hold fish fries on March 11 and April 8 from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. Adult and children dinners are available.

The Didde Catholic Campus Center, 1415 Merchant Street, Emporia, will have its annual fish fry on March 11 from 5-7 p.m. Funds from this event help to support various activities and scholarships for Emporia State University students.

There will be a Lenten fish fry from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. on March 25 at Holy Cross School in Pflumm Hall, 8101 W. 95th, Overland Park. The Holy Trinity, Lenexa, Knights of Columbus will host their annual all-you-can-eat shrimp dinner on April 15 from 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. in the parish center. Advance tickets are: $15 for adults; $5 for children; $8 for adult (cheese pizza only). For more information, call Tom Klein at (913) 768-7766.

On March 11, 18, 25 and April 8, from 6 to 7 p.m., St. Pius X Parish, Mission, will host simple suppers of soup, bread and a small salad or canned fruit. Supper will be served in the Ken Kelly Hall. Cost is a freewill offering. Christ the King, Topeka, Boy Scout Troop 11 will host dinners in Yadrich Hall from 5:30 to 7 p.m. all Fridays of Lent (except Good Friday). Main dishes include Parmesan-crusted tilapia and cheese pizza. A freewill offering will be accepted. Atchison Catholic Elementary School, 201 N. Division St., will have a Lenten fish fry from 5 to 8 p.m. on April 1. The Gardner Knights of Columbus, Council No. 10407, will have all-you-can-eat fish fries every Friday during Lent (except Good Friday). Doors open at 5 p.m. at the Sacred Heart Parish center, 144 E. Warren St., Gardner.

Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, 819 N. 5th St., La Cygne, will have a Lenten fish fry from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on April 1. Stations of the Cross will follow dinner.

The Baldwin-Edgerton Knights will have Lenten fish fries from 5 - 7 p.m. on the following dates: March 11 and April 8 at Assumption Church in Edgerton, and March 25, April 1 and April 15 at Annunciation Church in Baldwin.

St. Philip Neri Parish, 514 Parker Ave, Osawatomie, will have a Lenten fish fry from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on April 8. Stations of the Cross will follow dinner.

St. Pius X Parish, Mission, will host a fish fry beginning at 5 p.m. on April 15 in the Ken Kelly Hall.

Sacred Heart Knights of Columbus, Council No. 11917, will host an all-you-can-eat fish fry April 1 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Sacred Heart Church hall, 2646 S. 34th St., Kansas City, Kan. Cost is: $8 for adults; $7 for seniors; and $6 for children under 12.

Queen of the Holy Rosary, 7023 W. 71st St., Overland Park, will host fish dinners from 5 to 7 p.m. every Friday during Lent (except Good Friday). Cost is $8 for adults; $4 for anyone 11 and under. Carryouts will be available.

The Knights of Columbus at Sacred Heart Parish, Tonganoxie, 1100 West St., will have fish dinners from 4-7 p.m. on March 11, 18 and April 1, 8. Cost is: $8 for adults; $7.50 for senior citizens (60+); $3 for children ages 5-12. There will also be spiced shrimp and fish dinners on March 25 and April 15. Cost is: $13 for adults; $12.50 for senior citizens (60+); and $6 for children ages 5-12.

Sacred Heart Church, 5501 Monticello Rd., Shawnee, will have fish fries from 5 - 7:30 p.m. all the Fridays of Lent (except Good Friday). Cost is: $8 for adults; $7 for seniors (65+); $4 for children ages 4-12; children 3 and under are free. Pizza will be available at $1 per slice.