WWW.THELEAVEN.COM | NEWSPAPER OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF KANSAS CITY IN KANSAS | VOL. 33, NO. 31 MARCH 16, 2012
Donna Houtteman, right, a docent for the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, shares details of a painting with Curé of Ars, Leawood, parishioners. About 120 people signed up for the Christian art tour. They split up into smaller groups to tour and learn about the Christian paintings, sculptures and more at the museum. Art, Houtteman explained, was used as a way to teach and share the faith.
Curé of Ars parishioners celebrate
A NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM
M
Story by Jessica Langdon | Photos by Elaina Cochran ike and Patsy Gearheart have been to the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art many times before, but the night of Feb. 10 was a little different. “To have a guide
is special,” said Mike. The Gearhearts, members of Curé of Ars Church in Leawood, joined some 120 of their fellow parishioners that night for a special tour of the Christian art treasures of the renowned museum. Donna Houtteman, a docent at the Nelson for more than a dozen years, led one of the Curé groups through the museum, sharing details about the paintings, frames, statues and other pieces as they walked. “I’m really not a teacher,” she told the group at the beginning, although she knows her subject very well. “I’m a learner, as well.” Some of the art, of course, illustrated stories from the Old Testament, like a statue of Adam. Others — like the art of ancient Rome — provided a stark contrast to what was to come. “If you look around,” Houtteman said as she led them through a room full of cold white stone busts and other sculpture, “there’s nothing Christian in
Famous faith-filled art The vast collections at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art include a good number of Christian pieces from various periods. The European collection includes “Virgin and Child in a Gothic Interior” by Petrus Christus and “Martyrdom of St. Sebastian” by Joachim Wtewael, just to name a few. Visitors will also find “Christ on the Cross” and “The Penitent Magdalene” by El Greco. An oil-on-canvas painting, called “Saint John the Baptist in the Wilderness” by Caravaggio, is one of the Nelson’s best-known pieces. this room.” But the vibrant colors of their next stop provided a dramatic contrast to the white sculpture in the Roman area, as the tour jumped ahead a few centuries. “I’m going to let you imagine we’re alive now in the Middle Ages,” Houtteman announced. “Times are really tough.” Imagine your friends and neighbors — and how a third of them have died, she said, of the bubonic See “SYMBOLISM” on page 4
Cassidy Unland, 11, a fifth-grader at Curé of Ars, examines a crucifix with her teacher, Charlie Huber, on Feb. 10 at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City, Mo. Cassidy enjoys painting and sculpting, and joined about 120 fellow parishioners to see Christian art at the museum.
2 LOCAL NEWS
THE LEAVEN • MARCH 16, 2012
THE LEAVEN • MARCH 16, 2012
LIFE WILL BE VICTORIOUS
I
Concrete Work
Meet Christ in confession this Lent
hope that many of you have heard the radio commercials and all of you have noticed the large posters encouraging every Catholic during this Lenten season to take advantage of the sacrament of reconciliation/penance. Again this Lent, thanks to the generosity of our priests, sacramental confession will be available essentially in all of our churches on the Wednesdays of Lent from 6 p.m. until at least 7 p.m. The most important single thing any of us can do this Lent is to receive the sacrament of reconciliation. Why is this sacrament so important for us? To be able to celebrate truly the paschal mystery — the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus — we must understand why Jesus endured Calvary. The answer to that question is human sin. For us to appreciate Jesus and what he accomplished for us, we must believe that we need a redeemer, a savior. We can only need a redeemer if we are willing to admit that we are sinners in need of saving. The most important ingredient in making a good confession is the examination of conscience. A good examination of conscience begins in prayer. The examination of our own life needs to be preceded by pondering the goodness of God. We need to allow ourselves to become aware of how good God is. Everything that is good in our lives has been ultimately given to us by God. Our life, our health, our talents and abilities, our educational and employment opportunities, our family and our friends, and whatever material comforts we enjoy, if we pursue honestly the source of all these blessings, it always will bring us to God. It is only when fully conscious of how good God is that we are properly disposed to begin to examine our lives and our use of the many gifts that God has entrusted to each of us. There are many excellent tools to help us make a good review of our life in order to recognize and acknowledge our sins. Of course, God himself gave us a very good tool with which to examine our conscience: namely, the Ten Commandments. If we ponder each commandment and how it applies to our life, we will begin to recognize many areas of sin. Many sins are obvious to the sinner and others, but some of the most dangerous ones to our spiritual well-being are those that can be harder to detect. When you receive a dental exam, the most dangerous decay can be that which is hidden under the gum line or under a crown. If it goes undetected for too long, it can cause serious and sometimes irreparable damage. The most violated of the Ten Commandments is the first, but it is also the most infrequently confessed. One could make a case that every serious sin involves placing something or someone above our relationship with God — in other words, having a false God. If we miss Mass on Sunday without a legitimate reason (health or the nonavailability of the Mass), it always
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Archbishop Naumann’s weekly calendar
March 18 Mass, vespers and dinner with the Apostles of the Interior Life in Rome involves placing something before God — e.g., golf, football, hunting, fishing, partying, sleeping, overtime pay, etc. If we fail to make time for daily prayer, it is not usually because we do not have the time, but rather because we chose to spend the time on something else — e.g., television, the Internet, reading, conversing with friends, etc. It is not that any of these activities are bad in themselves. They are occasions of sin for us when we allow them to assume more importance in our lives than God and time with God. Most of us give ourselves a pass on the Fifth Commandment, since we have not committed murder. Yet, we can violate the broader application of this commandment when we destroy another person’s reputation or hurt or wound another with our words. How often do we even think about the Ninth and Tenth Commandments in our preparation for confession? Yet, how many of us have envied another’s success or their material possessions? Underneath the sin of coveting is a lack of gratitude for the many blessings which God has already given us. If an examination of conscience based on the Ten Commandments does not help you appreciate your need for a redeemer, then I suggest you read prayerfully the fifth chapter of St. Matthew’s Gospel, where he challenges his disciples not only to keep the laws of the Old Testament, but to be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect. In this chapter, Jesus challenges his disciples not to grow angry with their brothers and sisters, not to look upon others with lust (using them at least mentally for our sexual gratification), not to retaliate against the injustice of another, and even to love their enemies. Once we have convinced ourselves that we truly do need a redeemer, then we are ready to receive the sacrament of reconciliation. When we go into the confessional, if we have prepared ourselves properly with a good examination of conscience, our focus should not be primarily on our sin, but on Jesus. Certainly, it is important in making our confession that we say clearly and concisely our sins. It is in saying our sins aloud that we begin to become free of them. However, the key to confession and what makes it much more powerful and healing than a therapy session is that we are telling our sins not to the priest, but to Jesus. Our Lord is merely using the priest as a poor human instrument to make himself present to us. Jesus uses the priest to be the vehicle for Our Lord to speak to us the words of mercy and forgiveness that he spoke to so many in the Gospel. If we are focused on Jesus — to whom we are confessing, surrendering our sins — then our confession will never be routine. If we are conscious that Jesus is present in the sacrament — the same Jesus who endured the cross on Calvary to gain for us liberation from our sin — then we will expe-
March 20 Presbyteral Council
Catholic Education Foundation meeting March 24 “Catholic Way” taping
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Institute for Missionary Activity — Benedictine College, Atchison March 25 Pastoral Visit – Holy Name, Kansas City, Kan. Samuel Group meeting — St. Lawrence Catholic Campus Center, Lawrence
Archbishop Keleher’s weekly calendar
March 17 8:30 a.m. Pro-Life Mass — Sts. Cyril & Methodius, Kansas City, Kan. March 18 Mass — Federal prison Mass — Disciplinary barracks March 19 Confirmation — St. Ann, Prairie Village March 21 Confirmation — St. Michael the Archangel, Leawood March 24 Wedding — St. Agnes March 25 Confirmation — Prince of Peace, Olathe
rience a true and authentic sorrow. Our sorrow will not be so much the result of our disappointment with ourselves and our failure to live up to a code of conduct. Our sorrow will come from the realization that we failed a person who has loved us so completely and deserved so much better from us. If we keep our focus on Jesus, then we will know the words that the priest verbalizes are the expression of mercy that Christ has empowered the priest to speak on Our Lord’s behalf. If we keep our confession focused on Jesus, we will experience from the sacrament a joy that comes, not just from having our sins forgiven, but from having encountered the living Christ — the one who loves us beyond all human imagining.
Religious freedom, conscience and the sanctity of human life
T
his is the second in a series of reflections related to the upcoming election offered by the leaders of the four Catholic dioceses in Kansas. The intention of this series of reflections is not to endorse a particular political party or candidate. Rather, these are provided to assist Catholic citizens who are entrusted with making important decisions to do so in a manner that is consistent with the truths revealed to us by our faith.
The role of conscience
March 21 “Shepherd’s Voice” recording Confirmation — St. Michael the Archangel, Leawood March 22 Adoration — Maur Hill-Mount Academy, Atchison
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People often hear the advice that they should “follow their conscience.” But what does that mean? For many people, conscience is based on what they feel about what is right or wrong; they perceive conscience as an opinion about a particular matter. For others, conscience is based on their political view or what appears personally beneficial. Most people think conscience is something private, subjective and personal. As a church, we recognize that conscience is much more than a feeling or opinion. Conscience is a conscious effort to seek the truth about a matter and then to make decisions accordingly. To put it another way, conscience is the process a person undertakes to make judgments about what is true and right, based on God’s revelation to us and the light of reason. The Second Vatican Council described conscience as a person’s “most secret core and sanctuary” where one is “alone with God” (Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, No. 16). It is in the conscience that a person hears the voice of God and, for this reason, the judgment of one’s conscience must be faithfully followed. To betray one’s conscience is to betray oneself and God. We believe that, in the end, God will judge us based on our conscience. That is, we will be judged based on our attempt to act with integrity and according to what we understand to be right.
Respect for religious liberty and conscience Religious liberty is the first freedom in our nation’s Bill of Rights. Religious liberty is the foundation of our democracy and way of life. In the past, our nation has understood that respect for religious liberty includes recognizing the individual conscience of each person. The recognition of conscience allows each person to act with integrity by being true to the call from the “core and sanctuary” of one’s heart where one is “alone with God.” Sadly, this regard for conscience is now being disregarded as evidenced most recently in the “contraceptive mandate” issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The original policy announced by HHS on Aug. 3, 2011, which was reaffirmed on Jan. 20 meant that almost all employers (including Catholic employers) would be forced to offer their employees health coverage that includes sterilization, abortion-inducing drugs, and contraception. In response to the enormous pressure from many people of
CNS photo/Nancy Wiechec
A rule issued in August 2011 and reaffirmed on Jan. 20 by the Department of Health and Human Services mandates coverage of contraception and sterilization in most private health insurance plans.
Conscience is the process a person undertakes to make judgments about what is true and right based on God’s revelation to us and the light of reason.
”
faith and criticisms from every direction, the president announced on Feb. 10 an accommodation to respond to the concerns raised by so many. Unfortunately, the president’s accommodation does not solve the moral dilemma created by the HHS mandate. The accommodation retains the narrow definition of “religious employers.” While the accommodation broadens who would be “exempt” from the mandate, it continues to propagate a very narrow understanding of who qualifies as religious. If allowed to stand, this is a dangerous precedent. The accommodation, while broadening organizations and entities which will not have to list these services in their health plan, mandates that their insurers will have to provide them at no cost. Somehow, these so-called services have to be funded. It is difficult to believe that insurers will not build them into their premiums. The accommodation will require all insurers to provide contraception, abortion drugs and sterilizations. This mandate will force Catholic individuals and entities (e.g., Catholic health systems) out of the health insurance business. Moreover, the accommodation means that even religiously exempt organizations will not know what that exemption
really means until late into 2013. Self-insured plans, where the religious organization is both the employer and insurer, will evidently be required to provide morally objectionable services. Similarly, there is no exemption for Catholic employers and other employers who find the HHS contraceptive mandate morally objectionable. Nor does the accommodation provide any protection for individuals who have a conscience objection to the mandate. The president’s proposed accommodation does not solve the numerous moral problems and infringements on religious freedom and conscience created by the HHS mandate.
Formation of conscience To make decisions in conformity with God’s love and truth, a conscience must be formed. If not well-formed, a conscience can lead a person to make erroneous judgments about what is right, good and true. There are various reasons why a conscience may mislead or misguide a person. Some of the sources for bad or erroneous judgments include ignorance, neglect of the truth, habitual sin, lack of conversion, bad example of others, or rejection of the church and its teaching. This is why the church teaches that the education of a well-formed conscience is a “lifelong task” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, No. 1784). Catholics have a responsibility to form their conscience. This is done in a variety of ways, including consulting Christian sources of truth and wisdom, such as sacred Scripture, especially the words and actions of Jesus. Growing in the knowledge of moral law, the documents of the church and the lives of the saints
Publication No. (ISSN0194-9799)
Editor Reverend Mark Goldasich, stl frmark@theleaven.com
Senior Reporter Joe Bollig joe@theleaven.com
Reporter Jessica Langdon jessica@theleaven.com
President Most Reverend Joseph F. Naumann
Managing Editor Anita McSorley anita@theleaven.com
Production Manager Todd Habiger todd@theleaven.com
Advertising Representative Jennifer Siebes jennifer@theleaven.com
are other important resources for conscience formation. Regular prayer, participation in the sacraments, and asking for the grace of ongoing conversion to what is true is a part of the development of a well-formed conscience. The more we pray in communion with God, the more sensitive and open we become to hearing God speak in the depths of our hearts.
Conscience and the dignity of the human person Following our conscience requires that we search for the truth and then act accordingly. One of these truths is that human life is created in God’s image and likeness. This means that there is something holy and Godlike in every human being. This means God has a relationship with every human being, whether they are fully aware of it or not. Those entrusted with an office of public service have a duty to uphold the dignity of each person, who is made in God’s image, first of all by defending their right to life itself. Without this first right, all other rights are meaningless. Those in public life are also required to work for policies that uphold the dignity of the human person by assisting the poor and providing access to health care, education and employment opportunities for everyone. Over 25 years ago, Pope John Paul II observed that a culture of death has taken root and spread in the world. A culture of death is a pervasive attitude that accepts the intentional killing of a human life as a solution to a personal, social, or economic problem. God’s word in sacred Scripture and our Catholic See “VOTERS” on page 7
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4 LOCAL NEWS
THE LEAVEN • MARCH 16, 2012
THE LEAVEN • MARCH 16, 2012
Symbolism pervades art of the faith
Benedictine’s Institute for Missionary Activity sponsors symposium
Continued from page 1
‘AD LIMINA’ Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann joined other bishops from Region IX (Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, and Kansas) in making their “ad limina” visits to Rome to report on the status of their dioceses to the pope and Vatican officials. The archbishop is in Rome from March 5-19. He submitted an 80-page document comparing the life of the church in northeast Kansas today to what it was like in 2004 — the date of the last “ad limina” visit for the archdiocese.
CNS photo/Paul Haring
Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann celebrates Mass at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls in Rome on March 8.
Pope Benedict XVI greets Archbishop Naumann during a March 9 meeting with bishops from Nebraska and Kansas on their “ad limina” visits to the Vatican. CNS photo/L’Osservatore Romano
Archbishops Robert J. Carlson of St. Louis, left, Joseph F. Naumann, and Bishop John B. Brungardt of Dodge City concelebrate Mass with fellow bishops from Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas and Missouri at the Altar of the Tomb in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican March 7. CNS photo/Paul Haring
plague. That was the way it was during the time of the plague, when life expectancies reached the mid-20s to early 30s. “What you’ve learned,” Houtteman said, describing this period of time, “is the most important thing is the salvation of your soul.” And that idea was expressed in art. Houtteman stressed that the art created for the church was never meant to be worshipped, although that misconception exists even today. Instead, the paintings and sculptures were visual aids to help teach the faith. “This is why we have all this great art,” she said. But most pieces teach far more than the obvious lesson of the parable or saint’s story represented. Symbolism pervades Christian art, so much so that each piece actually has to be decoded for its layers of meaning, or teaching. For example, the use of two fingers in a painting of the Madonna, said Houtteman, represents the dual natures of Jesus — human and divine. In another painting, the baby Jesus wears a tiny piece of sea coral, which was thought in the Mediterranean world to ward off evil. In still a third painting, Mary’s long hair represents her virginity. Curé parishioners of all ages were enthralled with the tour. “Art can move you as you see things through other people’s eyes,” said Beckie Yocum, who brought her daughter, 11-year-old Curé fifth-grader Cassidy Unland, to the tour. “It’s like time travel,” said another parishioner, Annette Stoerman, as the group looked at paintings from the 1500s. “This was really so much more than what I thought it was going to be.” Mike Gearheart agreed. “I highly recommend it,” he said. “If they do it again, I’ll be in line.” Houtteman was gratified by the response. “I would love every parish in the world to come here,” said Houtteman, noting that Curé of Ars has already sponsored several tours of the museum. “Monsignor Charles McGlinn loves the arts,” she said, and each tour has seen a good turnout. It would be a great type of tour for Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults classes, she said, or eighth-grade confirmation classes, which could do saints tours. “It’s a really fun way for the students to get to know the lives of saints,” she said. To request a special docent-guided Christian art or saint-centered tour of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, call the museum at (816) 751-1278, and press 2 when you reach the general menu to get in touch with a scheduler.
LOCAL NEWS 5
Leaven photo by Susan McSpadden
Archbishop Emeritus James P. Keleher — with the help of assistant chaplain Father Justin Nolan, FSSP, left, and Msgr. Gary Applegate — blesses the new bell for the St. Rose Philippine Duchesne Latin Mass Community church on March 3.
Sky-high blessing Archbishop Keleher blesses bell for Latin Mass community By Joe Bollig Leaven staff
WESTWOOD — Sometimes going above and beyond really means just that. On March 3, Archbishop Emeritus James P. Keleher went to considerable heights — in windy conditions, no less — to bless a bell at the former Lutheran church at 5035 Rainbow Blvd. in Westwood. The building will be used as a chapel by members of the St. Rose Philippine Duchesne Latin Mass Community after renovations are finished by the end of August, said chaplain Father John Fongemie, FSSP. Archbishop Keleher — accompanied by an acolyte, Msgr. Gary Applegate and assistant chaplain Father Justin Nolan, FSSP — were taken approximately 25 feet in the air by a lift normally used in construction. Archbishop Keleher admitted he was a little nervous. “[The lift] only could sustain 750 pounds safely and, for four rather large guys, it went up creaking all the way,” he said. “It was very shaky as it was windy that day. And the higher we got, the windier it got. We hung on to the rails until we got high enough to bless the beautiful bell.”
The community rang the bell for the Angelus. just as the archbishop and the others were lowered to the ground. “I told the crowd that I trust that, when Jesus ascended, it was quicker and less dangerous than I did that day,” quipped the archbishop. This was a new experience for the archbishop, and not just because he was up in the wind. “This was the first bell I had the privilege to bless,” he said. “When I was a young priest, I ministered for seven years before the changes in the church’s liturgies. So in those days, either the pastor or the bishop would have [blessed the bell].” New churches tend to be built without bells, and the bells in older churches are already blessed, he said. The opportunity did not present itself before now. But the experience was well worth the wait. And this particular bell is of a very good quality, said Father Fongemie. It was cast in England and rings in the key of D. When the community bought the building, they discovered that the bell was only attached to the yolk by one of its four bolts, and the yolk itself was deteriorating. Anyone who attempted to ring the bell would have taken their life in their hands. Now,
having been repaired, it’s ready to be rung for Mass and the Angelus. “Bells are usually consecrated with sacred chrism or blessed solemnly if the church is to be consecrated,” said Father Fongemie. “In this case, the church and bell received a blessing, because there’s a chance we may move again and we don’t want to do a full church consecration if the building might be sold.” There’s a lot more to a church bell than noise. Church bells call worshippers to prayer, to service, and to give glory to God, said Father Fongemie. A ringing church bell lets people know that, at that moment, God is being worshipped, he continued. A blessed church bell is a sacramental action, and its ring brings comfort to believers and rebuke to the enemies of Christ. Traditionally, bells are rung to warn of storms or peril to the community. Appropriately enough, these heralds are often dedicated to angels — this one, to the great defender, St. Michael the Archangel. The St. Rose Philippine Duchesne Latin Mass Community currently worships at a 6:30 a.m. Low Mass and 11 a.m. High Mass on Sundays at Blessed Sacrament Parish, 2203 Parallel Pkwy., in Kansas City, Kan.
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ATCHISON — Benedictine College’s recently launched Institute for Missionary Activity here will sponsor its first big event March 23-24, bringing together top professors, field experts, and clergy from around the country to discuss the new evangelization. The Symposium on Advancing the New EvanWhat: Symposium gelization on Advancing the will also New Evangelization be a showcase for the When: March 23-24 college’s brand-new Where: Benedictine Ferrell AcaCollege, in the Ferdemic Cenrell Academic Center ter, which o p e n e d March 12 with new classrooms and faculty offices for four academic departments as well as administrative offices and a conference center. “This symposium affords us a time to come together in friendship, conversation, and scholarship,” said David Trotter, the director of the institute. “We will have the opportunity to think critically on how various disciplines play a critical role in advancing the church in our modern age.” There are two keynote presentations. On March 23, Barbara Nicolosi, founder of Act One, Inc., will be the featured speaker. Nicolosi is an award-winning screenwriter who teaches at Pepperdine University and Azusa Pacific University. She founded Act One in 1999 as a training program for Christians pursuing careers in the mainstream entertainment industry. Her vision is to change the culture of Hollywood, as well as the content of the products it puts out. On March 24, Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann will deliver the evening’s keynote address. Archbishop Naumann sits on the Committee on Pro-Life Activities and the Committee on Marriage and Family Life of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. In addition to presentations from a variety of Benedictine College professors, others taking part in the colloquium sessions include the Fellowship of Catholic University Students, Benedictine University (Chicago), Justice for All, the University of Kansas, the Archdiocese of Omaha, Manhattan Christian College, the Center for Advanced Leadership and Catechetics, and OneBillionStories.com. Friday night includes Nicolosi’s keynote address and an opening reception. Saturday features three sessions with concurrent panel presentations throughout the day, followed by Mass, a dinner and the archbishop’s keynote speech. For more information or to register, go to the website at: www.benedictine. edu/ima.
6 LOCAL NEWS
THE LEAVEN • MARCH 16, 2012
THE LEAVEN • MARCH 16, 2012
University of Saint Mary launches degree in health information management
ART IN ACTION
Leaven photo by Joe McSorley
Local performance artist Mike Debus shows his stuff at the junior high youth rally on Feb. 26 at Prairie Star Ranch in Williamsburg. Debus performs at a variety of Catholic events and fundraisers throughout the year. To see Debus in action, go to www.theleaven.com and click the Mike Debus link on the main page. Debus’ next live performance will at 7:15 p.m. on April 20 at Sacred Heart Church, Emporia, in the parish hall.
LEAVENWORTH — The University of Saint Mary here is continuing the expansion of its health care education offerings with the launch of a new bachelor’s degree program in the booming field of health information management (HIM). The first classes in the new degree program will begin in the fall 2012 semester. HIM professionals are the key conduit between front-line health care providers and administrators. They retrieve, store, and protect private medical records and work with electronic record data to improve health care delivery and implementation. Industry demand for HIM professionals is already strong and growing, particularly in light of federal initiatives to move health care away from paper records and toward electronic data. U.S. News & World Report has listed HIM as the No. 4 hottest major in the country, and current estimates project that 50,000 new HIM jobs will be created by 2017. The University of Saint Mary would be one of two Kansas City metro area institutions offering a bachelor’s degree in HIM. USM also offers a bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Informatics, which focuses on the creation of data collection tools. Graduates from USM’s HIM program would have the skills necessary to succeed in a variety of career opportunities in HIM, including medical records management, privacy/security officer, risk management, compliance officer, and clinical data analyst. Learn more about USM’s HIM program on the website at: www.stmary.edu/HIM.
1887 – The Christian Brothers in Kansas City – 2011
1910
De La Salle 1971 Alumni Association Memorial Mass
7:00 p.m., Thursday, April 12, 2012 St. Regis Church 8941 James A. Reed Rd. KC MO (north of Archbishop O’Hara High School) Main Celebrant: Father Richard Rocha Our Mass is for all deceased alumni, family and friends. Alumni, relatives, and friends are invited.
Social Hour
in Archbishop O’Hara Commons after Mass
De La Salle Banquet
Friday, April 13, 2012 Finnigan’s – 503 E. 18th Ave. (North of River) Cocktails 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. Dinner 7:00 p.m. Banquet reservations $30 per person Registration Form Name ___________________________________________________________________________________ Class ______________ Enclosed is my check for $______for_______banquet reservations. _____ I am an alumnus but not on your mailing list. _____ I willbeattendingtheMemorialMassNumbercoming ______ List any deceased alumni, friends or relatives to be remembered at Mass. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ If you know of alumni who are not on our mailing list, notify us at the address below or call & leave a message. St. John Baptist De La Salle, Pray for us. Live, Jesus, in our hearts, forever.
Please send your reservation, check or comment to:
De La Salle Alumni Assn. P.O. Box 380083 Kansas City, MO 64138 Phone/FAX (816)767-9800
email: dis@oharahs.org • website: www.diskcalumni.org
Voters must confront deaths of the aborted Continued from page 3 tradition proclaims that it is always and everywhere a grave moral evil to destroy directly or kill innocent human life. Catholics entrusted with civil or secular authority have a strict obligation to oppose intrinsic evil and never to cooperate with intrinsically evil acts that intentionally kill innocent human life. For voters, acknowledging that every human life is made in God’s image means choosing leaders that promote the sanctity of human life and defend it against modern-day threats. This promotion of human life begins at conception and continues until natural death. It is incumbent on conscientious voters to be knowledgeable about the moral stance taken by candidates for public office. While voters must choose between many competing interests and preferences, they ultimately must confront the fact that one million unborn children die due to abortion in America every year. This reality gives the abortion issue a moral weight and an urgency that no other issue can currently lay claim to. Appropriate attention to these considerations is especially imperative during an election year when we choose a president. It is the president who appoints Supreme Court justices, as well as other federal judges who will make decisions affecting the dignity of human life. Sadly, as Americans, we have witnessed over the years many court decisions that have dismissed or ignored the inherent dignity and sanctity of human life. As a result, our nation and society have suffered immensely from the loss of innocent human life.
In the face of such unjust laws and policies, we are called to be heralds of God’s truth and love, especially as it pertains to the most fundamental of rights — the right to life. We are called to exercise humility in the face of God, who is the creator and sustainer of all life. We do not own our life, but are merely stewards of our life and that of others entrusted to our care. We must show ourselves to be good and responsible stewards of life. For the church, upholding this truth means confronting the attitude that accepts the intentional killing of innocent human life as a solution to social or economic problems. The acceptance of abortion, “mercy killing,” assisted suicide, abortifacients marked as “contraceptives,” and the destruction of human embryos for research reveals how far we have to go to build a society where we appreciate every human life as sacred.
‘Love one another as I have loved you’ (Jn 15: 12) The journey from a cultural attitude that disrespects the dignity of all human life to a society where every life is cherished must be informed by the truth of Calvary. The cross manifests the great value that God has placed on every human life. God’s love, revealed in his son Jesus, challenges us to love others to the point that we are willing to die to our personal pride and selfishness — our tendency to view others as obstacles or things to be used. It also means informing our consciences by sincerely searching for moral truth pertaining to all issues that may threaten the dignity of human life. A well-formed conscience
will show us how “to do good and avoid evil” (CCC, No. 1777). A rich young man asked Jesus, “What good must I do to gain eternal life?” Jesus replied that one must learn to love God, and “love your neighbor as yourself” (Mt 19: 16-19). This is the model God has given us. It is a model of love and solidarity with those entrusted to our care. When we live out this model of discipleship, we can inspire others to do the same and, in the words of Blessed John Paul II, we can help “build a world where human life is always loved and defended, every form of violence banished.”
LOCAL NEWS 7 Roger and Linda (Bertsch) Putthoff, members of Queen of the Holy Rosary Parish in Overland Park, will celebrate their 50th wedding ANNIVERSARY anniversary with an open house for family at the home of Robert and Becky Hughes. The couple was married on March 17, 1962, at St. Louis Church in Kansas City, Mo. Their children and their spouses are: Paul Putthoff; Phil Putthoff; Laura and Steve Mortick; and Sarah Putthoff. They also have two grandchildren and one greatgrandson.
ANNIVERSARY POLICY Most Reverend Joseph F. Naumann
Archbishop of Kansas City in Kansas
Most Reverend Michael O. Jackels
Bishop of Wichita
Most Reverend John B. Brungardt
Bishop of Dodge City
Very Reverend Barry E. Brinkman
Diocesan Administrator of Salina
The Leaven only prints 50, 60, 65 and 70th anniversary notices. Announcements are due by 5 p.m. eight days (Thursday) before the desired publication date. Announcements must be typed. They are for parishioners of Catholic parishes in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, or for those who have resided in the archdiocese for a significant period of time. Please include the following Information: Send notices to: The Leaven, 12615 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City, KS 66109, attn: anniversaries; or send an email to: Todd@theleaven.com. If you would like your photo returned to you, please include a self-addressed stamped envelope.
Patricia Barros (left), a graduate student at Kansas State University majoring in family counseling, talks about the day’s schedule with Deb Kiker, a registered nurse and the ministry’s chief operating officer.
Rosemary Helms, one of the founders of the ministry, works from a cramped former bathroom on the second floor in the Wamego office. She keeps a map on the wall to chart locations where people have benefitted from the health supplies the ministry has donated to missionaries.
Carla Malone works at the Wamego office and manages the new site in the former Holy Family Parish rectory in Alma. Increased demand led to the establishment of satellite offices in St. George and Alma. The Alma site offers dental care, a food pantry, utility and transportation assistance, clothes and household items.
Loretta and Ray Burry soak their feet during a foot care clinic in Wamego while chatting with Cheryl Diehl (left), an occupational therapy assistant with PRN Home Health in Wamego, and Michelle Sandy, a registered nurse with the ministry.
Big hearts make huge difference in little towns
W
AMEGO — You might think that this picturesque Flint Hills town, with its antique limestone storefronts and small-town charm, doesn’t have “big city” problems like poverty and homelessness. And you would be wrong. People can fall through the cracks even in a town of fewer than 5,000 people. Deb Kiker and other members of the Community Health Ministry in Wamego recently shocked members of the Chamber of Commerce — many of whom grew up in the town — with this reality check. “In Wichita, I could take you to Story and the parks and the photos by places downtown where the homeless hang out,” said Kiker, a registered nurse and chief operating officer of the ministry. Not so in Wamego. “A year ago, we served 76 homeless clients,” said Kiker. “When we gave that number at a chamber meeting, they looked at us like we had three eyes and horns.” The poor and homeless of Wamego are hidden. They “couch surf” in the winter, if they can find a welcoming home, and camp at county lakes in the summer. These are the struggling, working poor, the destitute young families, the sick and forgotten elderly, and those who’ve been set upon by an act of cruel fate — such as a sudden illness, injury or accident. “You have homeless in Wamego?” a volunteer nurse incredulously asked Kiker a couple of weeks ago. “Yup, yup we do,” replied Kiker, a member of the First Baptist Church of Wamego. But since 2001, when Community Health Ministry was founded by Rosemary Helm, Lorena Carlson and Elizabeth Hesse (now deceased), the homeless — and all who struggle for access to quality health care — have found help. Carlson, a member of St. Bernard Parish in Wamego, remembered how they helped a family soon after the ministry’s founding. “A minister called us about a young family with a lot of kids, and they were beyond his capability to help,” said Carlson, a retired teacher. “They had a goat in their house, and their kids didn’t have shoes. The house was heated with a wood stove.” The ministry helped them with utilities assistance, food, furniture and clothes. One young boy became very excited about
JOE BOLLIG
a pair of red tennis shoes. “He took that pair of red shoes out of that bag and put them on,” said Helms, a retired nurse and member of St. Joseph Parish in Flush. “They were much too big, so when we got ready to leave we said, ‘Why don’t you take a different pair of shoes that fit?’ And he said, ‘Oh no, these are my red Christmas shoes.’”
Born out of needs Community Health Ministry started out with high ideals and no resources, so quixotic in nature that the founders might as well have jousted with the historic windmill in town. Helms, Hesse and Carlson were retiring from their respective careers and they wanted to do something for their community. They began at absolute zero: no building, no money, no material goods of any kind — nothing. In the beginning, they worked out of the back seats of their cars. At first, they thought they’d focus on the neglected elderly, said Carlson. After talking with the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services and other social service entities, including the nowdefunct Wamego-based Reach Out, they discovered the need was greater than they knew. “We started going around to the 64 churches [in Pottawatomie and Wabaunsee counties], and met with the pastors and church councils, or boards, or elders,” said Carlson. “We told them what our goal was and they got behind us,” she continued. “We started out with parish nursing because Rosemary [Helms] is a registered nurse.” The ministry began to take off when it got support from the churches. The First Presbyterian Church of Wamego donated a century-old house it had been using as offices. Today, about 40 of the two counties’ churches give support of one kind or another. The ministry began to attract volunteers, too. Now the ministry has five doctors, a nurse practitioner, two dentists, and 118 other volunteers. Other staff members include five nurses (two full time, two part time and one volunteer) and a number of compensated part-time employees. Kiker remembers how she was recruited by Helms. “Rosemary said to me, ‘You need to come, you need to come,’” said Kiker.
“Finally, I decided I needed to meet with her and tell her why I couldn’t do it,” she continued. “I came prepared with a list of eight reasons. She took the list and crossed every one of them out, and said, ‘So, when do you want to start?’”
Peeling the onion The ministry is one of 40 “safety net” clinics in Kansas, but it offers social as well as health care services. “We feel that, in order for people to remain healthy, they need to have all this other care,” said Carla Malone, an assistant office manager and member of the First United Methodist Church of Wamego. The ministry offers the most compre-
hensive services of all the safety net clinics in Kansas, said Kiker. Two things that make this possible are the intake process and the handoff process. Often a person will come for the lowest level of service, such as a box of food from the pantry. But during the intake process, that individual is asked all sorts of questions. Usually, a number of needs are uncovered. Kiker likens it to peeling an onion, exposing layer after layer of need. The handoff is also critical. In Wamego, all the services are located in one building. In larger social service entities, the various services are parceled out to other locations and times, and this discourages clients. “Our doctors,” said Kiker, “can stick their head out the door and say, ‘When I’m done, she needs to see a counselor; her electricity
has been shut off and she’s running low on propane. She needs food and medicine.’” “When she’s finished, the propane truck is on the way, arrangements have been made to turn on the electricity, the food box is ready, the medications are ready at the pharmacy, and the counselor’s at the end of the hall waiting for her,” said Kiker. “We take care of the whole person.” Keeping collaboration close is beneficial in many ways. When the ministry switched its lab and X-ray work from a Junction City lab to the Wamego Community Hospital, patient lab compliance went from 17 to 100 percent. Everyone is helped in some way, and no one is turned away, unless their own personal choices make it impossible for the ministry to help them. At the very least,
Volunteer Gretta Burnnett sorts donated food in the ministry’s food pantry. Each food pack has eight to 10 varieties of nonperishable food. The ministry also has a mobile pantry to reach those unable to travel. each client that walks through their doors receives food, a sleeping bag and prayers.
Growing to meet need The number of persons served last year was down slightly for budgetary, weather and staff reasons. Demand, however, remains strong and the long-term trend is ever upward. For example, in counseling alone, the increase was from 75 clients in 2008 to 600 in 2011.
For all services in 2011, the ministry served 5,831 clients who made 10,566 visits, or 1.8 visits per patient. And the ministry reaches way beyond Pottawatomie and Wabaunsee counties. Most clients are from the two counties, but they’ve also seen individuals from 35 other counties and three other states. The ministry has even sent dressings to a leper colony in India, prosthetic legs to Africa, and medical supplies to the PRAY mission in Brazil’s Amazon region. One of the remarkable things is how much the ministry does with the resources it has, including its “elderly” headquarters. The century-old dwelling that houses the ministry in Wamego is only 1,000 cramped and inadequate square feet. Privacy is difficult because the two medical clinic exam rooms are only separated by an accordion-style divider. Rosemary Helms’ office is a cramped former bathroom on the second floor; her little desk sits over the capped-off pipes where the toilet once stood. “There’s a group of people in town I always tell, ‘I need a building; make it happen,’” said Kiker. “In January, [Richard Weixelman] walked in and I said, ‘Hey Richard, I haven’t seen you in a long time. I need a building, and you’re the one who’s going to make it happen.’” Kiker didn’t know that Weixelman just closed on the perfect building. The next week, he called Kiker and offered five offices on the front, but Kiker said she wanted the whole 4,600-square-foot structure. He protested that he had plans for most of the building but, after talking to his wife Theresa, Weixelman offered the offices, warehouse and a large open area. The ministry is planning a capital campaign to raise funds to purchase the building. The ministry is also expanding to nearby communities. Satellite offices have been established to the west in St. George and to the south in Alma. The Alma office is housed in the former Holy Family Parish rectory, a large two-story house. The parish retains ownership, but has allowed the ministry to use the space since last November. This site offers case management, rent and utility assistance, a food pantry, clothes, dental care, household items, counseling and prescription assistance. What services each of the clinics will offer in the future is unknown. “Like I told the parish council [in Alma], what we’ll become is what is needed, just like in Wamego,” said Malone, who man-
Services Social Services • Transportation • Case management • Household goods • Vouchers for utilities, rent and gasoline • Food pantry and commodities • Mobile food pantry • Legal services • Budgeting assistance • Employment assistance • Clothing Health Services • Physician clinics • Dentist clinics and hygiene • Durable medical equipment • Counseling and mental health • Prescription assistance • Community education (i.e., diabetic instruction) • Foot and hygiene clinics • Visits to the homebound • Respite care
Ministry sites Wamego • 903 Sixth St. • 785-456-1651 • Hours: Mondays through Fridays, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Alma Outreach Center • 206 W. First St. (former Holy Family Parish rectory) • (785) 756-2254 • Hours: Tuesdays through Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. St. George • At Lighthouse Baptist Church, 308 N. Lincoln • Dental clinic, foot and hygiene clinic • Fourth Tuesday of the month at 9 a.m.; other services available by appointment (Call Wamego)
ages the Alma site. As they have since the beginning, the ministry’s volunteers will look for the “holes” where the poor of the community are falling through. They’re not only confident that God will guide, but also supply. “God’s in the supply business,” said Kiker. “We’re simply distributors.”
10 NATION
THE LEAVEN • MARCH 16, 2012
Diocese apologizes to student chided for using native language GREEN BAY, Wis. (CNS) — The Diocese of Green Bay has apologized to the family of a Native American Catholic school student who was reprimanded for speaking in her native language during class and to the Menominee Nation, the tribe to which the student’s family belongs. The apologies followed an incident Jan. 19 in which 12-year-old Miranda Washinawatok, a seventh-grader at Sacred Heart School in Shawano, was suspended from playing in a basketball game at her school because of the classroom reprimand. The reprimand and game suspension led to meetings between the Washinawatok family, Menominee tribal leaders and school officials. Later, according to the family, after public apologies promised by the Sacred Heart principal Dan Minter were not delivered, representatives of the Diocese of Green Bay became involved. The letters were written by Minter and Joseph Bound, director of the diocesan Department of Education. According to Bound, the situation at Sacred Heart School has revealed the need for cultural diversity training, not only at Sacred Heart School but at all Catholic schools in the Green Bay Diocese. He announced that a partnership with the Menominee Nation will be implemented to begin training at Sacred Heart in the coming months.
Cuban-born bishop leads U.S. Catholics to see pope JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (CNS) — Meeting for the first and only time as a group before they board planes for Cuba later this month, a group of North Florida Catholics recently shared their hopes for an upcoming pilgrimage to the island nation with so many historic ties to their area. Coinciding with Pope Benedict XVI’s historic visit to Cuba, nearly a dozen people from the Diocese of St. Augustine accepted the invitation of their bishop to travel to Cuba March 26-29 on a religious pilgrimage to see the pope in both Santiago de Cuba and Havana. The pilgrims will travel under the spiritual direction of one of the few Cuban-born U.S. bishops, Felipe J. Estevez of St. Augustine, who himself fled Cuba to the United States as a young man under Operation Pedro Pan. Bishop Estevez told the group gathered at the St. Augustine Diocesan Catholic Center March 5 that the purpose of the pilgrimage is to build bridges of peace and mutual understanding among the faith communities of Cuba and the United States.
THE LEAVEN • MARCH 16, 2012
Prelate, staff members receive death threats
Bishops urge Congress to remember the poor WASHINGTON (CNS) — Congress should base all federal budget decisions on how they provide for those in need, whether they protect or threaten human life and dignity, and if they promote the common good of “workers and families who struggle to live in dignity in difficult economic times,” said the chairmen of two U.S. bishops’ committees in a letter to Congress. “In the past year, Congress and the administration have taken significant action to reduce the federal deficit, while attempting to protect programs that serve poor and vulnerable people,” said Bishops Stephen E. Blaire of Stockton, Calif., and Richard E. Pates of Des Moines, Iowa. Bishop Blaire is chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development and Bishop Pates is chairman of their Committee on International Justice and Peace. “Congress will continue to face difficult choices about how to allocate burdens and sacrifices and balance resources and needs,” the bishops said. “We fear the pressure to cut vital programs that protect the lives and dignity of the poor and vulnerable will increase. As Catholic bishops, we have tried to remind Congress that these choices are economic, political, and moral.” The bishops said they joined other Christian leaders in calling for a “circle of protection” around the poor and vulnerable, both “at home and abroad,” as members of Congress craft and debate a budget resolution and spending bills. The bishops said access to “affordable, life-affirming health care that respects religious freedom” is an urgent national priority and warned against shifting rising health care costs to vulnerable seniors, people with disabilities and the poor. They voiced support for programs that help low-income people such as improved workforce training and development. They also pushed for efforts to restore funding cut from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps, and to make permanent an expansion of lowincome tax credits.
By Barbara J. Fraser Catholic News Service
CNS photo/Bob Roller
COWS GRAZE IN IOWA — Cows graze on a farm just outside Postville, Iowa. Five U.S. Catholic clergy and lay leaders, in a March 6 letter to key members of a Senate committee that works on agricultural issues, called for a new farm bill that helps those who are hungry, living in poverty or struggling to keep farming a viable way of life.
Farm bill can help hungry, farmers, rural United States WASHINGTON (CNS) — Five U.S. Catholic clergy and lay leaders said they want to work with lawmakers for a new farm bill that “provides for poor and hungry people both at home and abroad, offers effective support for those who grow our food, ensures fairness to family farmers and ranchers, and promotes stewardship of the land.” “The farm bill affects us all, but most significantly, those who are hungry, living in poverty and struggling to keep farming a viable way of life,” they said in a March 6 letter to key members of a Senate committee that works on agricultural issues. The farm bill is a reauthorization package that generally comes up for renewal every five or six years. “The 2012 Farm Bill is an opportunity to address our nation’s broken and outdated agricultural policies. This is a crucial time to build a more just framework that puts poor and hungry people first, serves small and moderate-sized family farms, promotes sustainable stewardship of the land and helps vulnerable farmers and rural communities both at home and in developing countries,” the letter said. The letter was signed by Bishop Stephen E. Blaire of Stockton, Calif., chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development; Bishop Richard E. Pates of Des
Moines, Iowa, chairman of the bishops’ Committee on International Justice and Peace; Father Larry Snyder, president of Catholic Charities USA; Carolyn Woo, president of Catholic Relief Services; and James F. Ennis, executive director of the National Catholic Rural Life Conference. It was addressed to Sens. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., and Pat Roberts, R-Kan., chairwoman and ranking member, respectively, of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry. The Catholic leaders targeted domestic hunger and nutrition, international food security and development, conservation, subsidies and rural development in their letter. In an era of budget constraints, “government resources (subsidies) should assist those who truly need assistance and support those who comply with environmentally sound and sustainable farming practices,” they said. “We also call for a careful consideration of the economics and ethics of subsidizing food to produce fuel.” On domestic hunger and nutrition issues, “we call on you to support access to adequate and nutritious food for those in need and to oppose attempts to weaken or restructure these programs that would result in reduced benefits to hungry people,” they said.
CNS photo/Jamal Saidi, Reuters
REFUGEES SIT IN SHELTER IN LEBANON — A Syrian boy and other refugees who fled the violence in Syria are seen at a temporary shelter in a school in the Wadi Khaled area of northern Lebanon March 7.
Caritas seeks shelter for those fleeing Syrian violence By Doreen Abi Raad
Catholic News Service
BEIRUT (CNS) — Church aid workers scrambled to find housing for hundreds of Syrian refugees who have fled to neighboring Lebanon because of ongoing violence between Syrian forces and armed rebels. About 200 families — more than 1,000 people overall — made their way to the border town of Qaa in the Bekaa Valley in eastern Lebanon March 5 and were struggling in the region’s nearfreezing temperatures. Father Simon Faddoul, president of Caritas Lebanon, told Catholic News Service that “women and children and the elderly are coming out in the cold, with nothing but the clothes on their backs, to seek safety.” “It’s very cold, and they have nothing,” he said. The U.N. refugee agency said that as many as 2,000 Syrians crossed into Lebanon March 5-6 to escape the violence that has claimed hundreds of lives. Father Faddoul said most of the refugees arrived on foot from areas near the besieged city of Homs. “They are leaving the young men behind in Syria to guard their houses” from attack, Father Faddoul said.
“These are people fleeing from war, their homes under bombardment. Things are getting out of hand,” he added. Before the latest surge, about 100 families had fled to Lebanon in recent weeks and were receiving assistance from Caritas, the priest said. Faddoul estimated that about 40 of the newly arrived families were Christian, while the rest were Muslim. “This has nothing to do with religion. Whenever there is suffering, we have to be there with them and to help them,” he said. Caritas has deployed two social workers and about 15 volunteers in Qaa. They have distributed 300 blankets and personal hygiene kits. Father Faddoul said the availability of adequate housing in the povertyravaged town of Qaa is limited. About 30-35 refugees are crammed into rooms that are about 126 square feet in size. Caritas is collaborating with municipal officials to locate homes that three or four families could share. Caritas Lebanon has had a regular presence in the Bekaa Valley, with coordinating programs in agriculture, farming and irrigation to address the region’s poverty in the region.
LIMA, Peru (CNS) — Huancayo Archbishop Pedro Barreto Jimeno received a death threat just two days after releasing a statement calling for a controversial smelter to meet environmental requirements before being allowed to resume operations. Two laypeople on the archdiocesan team managing an environmental project to clean up air and water in the Mantaro River Valley, where the smelter is located in the town of La Oroya, also received death threats made from a public telephone to their mobile phones. “They want to silence the voice of truth,” Archbishop Barreto said in a statement after the March 2 threats. “We are not going to turn back. We will stand firm in the defense of life.” The prelate has received death threats in the past related to the smelter. Several years ago, demonstrators in La Oroya displayed a coffin bearing his name. Emissions from the smelter, owned by Doe Run Peru, a subsidiary of the New York-based Renco Group, have been linked to lead poisoning in La Oroya residents, especially children. The smelter shut down in mid-2009 because of financial problems but is likely to resume operations this year, possibly as early as May. When Doe Run bought the plant from Peru’s state-run mining company in 1997, it was required to upgrade environmental controls. The deadline for reduction of sulfur dioxide emissions has been extended several times, and the company is seeking another extension so it can start up again. Employees and local congressional representatives support such an extension, but in a statement Feb. 29, the archdiocese called for the company to comply with environmental requirements. The archbishop has repeatedly said that local residents should not have to choose between jobs and a healthy environment.
WORLD 11
Migration offers opportunity for growth, mission ROME (CNS) — While migration brings struggles for the migrant and the host country, in the long term it provides opportunities for stability, cultural enrichment and religious growth, said speakers at a Rome event sponsored by the U.S. Embassy to the Holy See. U.S. Ambassador Miguel H. Diaz, a Cuban-born theologian, told the audience that while balancing humanitarian and legal concerns is a challenge for modern states dealing with migration, “by finding ways to integrate migrants, communities can become stronger than before. The experience of migration can be an opportunity to embrace positively human diversity.” The ambassador led a panel discussion, “Building Bridges of Opportunity: Migration and Diversity” March 8 at the Pontifical North American College that brought together Vatican officials, experts on migration, other ambassadors, students, priests, religious and people working with immigrants. Archbishop Silvano Tomasi, the Vatican observer at U.N. agencies in Geneva and at the International Organization for Migration, told the conference, “In the long experience of the church, migrants are a contribution [to society]; they bring something positive, constructive, even though they take the dirty and difficult and dangerous jobs in society, they bring themselves, their tradition, their identity” to a new land.
Eucharistic congress won’t ignore abuse scandal VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The International Eucharistic Congress in Dublin will be characterized by humility, moderation and a renewed focus on the Eucharist as the source and nourishment of unity in the church, said the president of the Vatican committee charged with overseeing the gathering. Archbishop Piero Marini, president of the Pontifical Committee for International Eucharistic Congresses, said the congress June 10-17 will reflect that this year is the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council, but also that Catholics in the host country, Ireland, are still reeling from the clerical sex abuse scandal and are engaged in a process of repentance and reform. The archbishop said the congress will have “two very positive aspects: the lack of triumphalism — and, so, a congress based on interiority, on moderation, also because of the difficult economic situation. The other aspect is the focus on the Second Vatican Council’s teaching that communion is the center of the Eucharist, its primary aim.”
Trinity Travel presents three pilgrimages June 8 – 19
Pilgrimage to the Holy Land with Mike Scherschligt, Director of Holy Family School of Faith $3925 per person based on double occupancy – includes roundtrip airfare from Kansas City, breakfast and dinner daily, 7 lunches, all tours and all gratuities Travel with Fathers Brian Schieber, Regie Saldanha, Shawn Tunick, and Tom Aduri June 18
Pilgrimage to Rome with the Apostles of the Interior Life
$3999 per person based on double occupancy – includes roundtrip airfare from JFK, continental breakfast daily, all tours, and all gratuities Aug 31
Pilgrimage to Poland and Prague $3725 per person based on double occupancy – includes roundtrip airfare from Kansas City, breakfast and dinner daily, all tours, And all gratuities. Call for more information & brochure Trudy Boynton & Marsha Holland 913-422-4141 | www.trinitytravelonline.com | trinitytravel@kc.rr.com
12 CLASSIFIEDS Employment St. James Academy - Is seeking a mathematics teacher for the 2012 – 13 school year. Interested applicants should complete the teacher application available on the archdiocesan website at: www.archkckcs. org. Send a letter of interest and resume, via email, to Karla Leibham at: kleibham@sjakeepingfaith.org. For information, (913) 254-4232. Montessori teacher - Seeking a motivated Montessori teacher for age 7 - 12 class in Eudora. Catechesis of Good Shepherd is part of curriculum. Position open now or in fall. Call (785) 691- 5356. Administrative assistant – The Tribunal Office of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas is seeking a part-time assistant, 30 hours per week. Duties include data entry, transcription, filing, scanning and mailing correspondence. Position encounters a variety of confidential information, necessitating discretion at all times. Ideal candidate will be a practicing Catholic; have good communication skills, both written and verbal; demonstrated attention to detail; strong computer aptitude with knowledge of Excel; and 3 - 5 years administrative experience. A complete job description, application and benefits information are available on the archdiocesan website at: www. archkck.org/employment. Interested individuals may mail cover letter, resume, and application by March 23 to: Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, Office of Human Resources, Tribunal Search, 12615 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City KS 66109, or send, via email, to: kthomas@archkck.org. Receptionist - Advice & Aid Pregnancy Centers is seeking to fill a part-time receptionist position immediately. Responsibilities include: answering and directing incoming calls; greeting clients and visitors; ensuring atmosphere is welcoming and inviting; and providing administrative assistance as needed. Applicant must be a pro-life advocate and fully agree with AAPC’s vision, mission, and statement of faith. Applicant must be organized, have excellent verbal and written communication skills, and be proficient in Microsoft Office programs. Twenty hours per week, working primarily at the Shawnee site, with one day in Overland Park. For consideration, send a cover letter and resume, via email, to Brenda at: office@ adviceandaid.com. Part-time driver - Medical transportation company is seeking a dependable, friendly, part-time driver. No CDL needed. For information, call Gary at (913) 927-0047 or send an email to him at: gary@ ridefreedomtransit.com. Medical practice office manager - Single physician practice is seeking an experienced medical practice office manager who has: excellent computer skills; the ability to interact professionally with insurance adjusters, case managers and patients; and the ability to do in-office billing. Email resume and salary requirements to: Cynrn04@aol.com. Financial representative - Due to the success and growth of the Knights of Columbus, we are adding financial representatives in the Kansas City, Topeka and Atchison areas. This position is ideal for a determined, high-energy, high-expectation, professional, self-disciplined, independent individual desiring to serve others, yet earn a better-than-average income. We provide top-rated financial products to our members and their families and will provide excellent benefits and training. For information or an interview, contact John A. Mahon, 307 Dakota, Holton KS 66436; or call (785) 364-5450.
Job Seeking Catholic worship leader – Classically educated musician with 11-plus years experience leading contemporary liturgy and Life Teen ministry is seeking full- or part-time work as a parish music director or teacher. Contact Ray Martin at (913) 709-5737 or visit the website at: worshipmusicministry.com.
Services Mowing & lawn care - Catholic young man with small mowing business is looking to add clients. Mowing, trimming, and blowing. Reliable and dependable. Saving for college. Member of Queen of the Holy Rosary, Overland Park. Serving northern JoCo area. Call Collin at (913) 648-5903.
THE LEAVEN • MARCH 16, 2012 Agua Fina Irrigation and Landscape The one-stop location for your project! Landscape and irrigation design, installation and maintenance. Cleanup and grading services Receive $100 credit toward a landscape or irrigation service by mentioning this ad. Visit the website at: www.goaguafina.com Call (913) 530-7260 or (913) 530-5661 All your lawn and landscape needs - Mowing, trimming, seeding, sod laying, and aerating for your lawn. Plus, spring cleaning – beds cleared, planting, mulching, gutter cleaning, foundation fill dirt, retaining walls, powerwashing and more. Serving the greater Metro area. Call (816) 509-0224. 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. Spring yard cleanup Leaf removal; tree and shrub trimming Free estimates; references. Local parishioner Insured, licensed and bonded Call Tony at (913) 620-6063 Machine quilting - by Jenell Noeth, Basehor. Also, quilts made to order. Call (913) 724-1837. Quilted Memories LLC - New store now open in downtown Overland Park! Machine quilting. Custom-designed memory quilts using your T-shirts and/or photos. Personalized items for sororities, weddings, graduates and more. We also offer quilting classes and studio/machine rental. Call (913) 6492704. For samples of our work, visit the website at: www.quiltedmemoriesllc.com. Bankruptcy consultation - If debts are overwhelming you, seek hope and help from compassionate, experienced Catholic attorney, Teresa Kidd. For a free consultation, call (913) 422-0610;send an email to: tkidd@kc.rr.com; or visit the website at: www. bankruptcylawinkansascity.com. Tutoring available - For students in grades K 12. For information, call Kathleen at (913) 206-2151 or send an email to her at: Klmamuric@yahoo.com. Faith-based counseling to cope with life concerns - Kansas City area. Call Mary Vorsten, Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, at (913) 909-2002. Affordable house cleaning - Southern Johnson County. For information, call Kathy at (913) 593-3795. Housecleaning - Old-fashioned cleaning, hand mopping, etc. A thorough and consistent job every time. References from customers I’ve served for over 17 years. Call Sharon at (816) 322-0006 (home) or (816) 214-0156 (mobile).
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 website 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, Debbie or Gary.
Home Improvement
THE LEAVEN • MARCH 16, 2012 Affordable cabinetry - Are you ready for new cabinets in your kitchen or bath? Our large selection ranges from raised panel to Shaker style with dovetail drawers. We offer many finishes, too! For an estimate, call Wright Cabinets at (913) 850-3956.
Max’s rosaries - Custom-made locally for all occasions – first Communion, confirmation, baptism, graduation. Rosary bracelets and beaded earrings too! I also do repairs. Member of the Church of the Ascension, Overland Park. Call (913) 400-3236.
Handyman - Light hauling, electrical, plumbing, painting and carpentry. Efficient and affordable. Call Michael Broton at (816) 728-6109. Member of Christ the King Parish, Mo. and U.S. Air Force veteran.
Heirloom quality doll furniture - For the American Girl dolls. John Hember (913) 631-4060. Member of St. Joseph Parish, Shawnee. Visit the web site at: www.etsy.com/shop/bedsandthreads.
Master electrician - Licensed in Missouri and Kansas. 35 years experience in residential and commercial electrical needs. Call Rick, L & M Electric, at (913) 362-1501 or (816) 781-1501.
First Communion dress sets - For 18” or American Girl dolls. Includes dress, veil, shoes, tights and cross necklace. Full line of doll clothes and accessories in south Johnson County. For an appointment, call Patty at (913) 345-9498.
Masonry construction - Division 4 Masonry, Inc. 25 years experience; licensed and insured. Brick, block and synthetic stone; repairs; outdoor living; and new construction. Residential and commercial. Call Tom at (913) 927-6203 or send an email to him at: tomdivision4masonry@gmail.com. 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. Custom cabinets & woodworking - 20 years experience creating quality woodworking, design, and detail for all your custom cabinetry and furniture needs. Competitive rates; references available. Serving the KC Metro area. Call Dennis at (913) 850-3956. 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. Adept Home Improvements Where quality still counts! Basement finishing, Kitchens and baths, Electrical and plumbing, Licensed and insured. (913) 599-7998 Get a jump on your home repairs! - I specialize in painting, wood rot, decks, fences, windows, doors, siding, stucco, landscaping, drainage issues, and concrete. Fully insured. Now accepting all major credit cards. Call Josh Doherty (913) 709-7230. STA (Sure Thing Always) Home Repair - Basement finish, bathrooms and kitchens; interior & exterior repairs: painting, roofing, siding, wood replacement and window glazing. Free estimates. Call (913) 491-5837 or (913) 579-1835. Email: smokeycabin@ hotmail.com. Member of Holy Trinity, Lenexa. Electrician - Free estimates; reasonable rates. JoCo and south KC metro. Call Pat at (913) 963-9896. Swalms Organizing Service - Basement, garage, attic, shop — any room organized! Items taken to donation sites, trash is bagged, and areas are clean and neat when job is complete. To view before-andafter pictures, visit the website at: www.swalms.com. Over 20 years of organizing experience; insured. Call Tillar at (913) 375-9115. Brick mason - Installation and repair of all types of masonry work — brick, stone, and concrete. 17 years of residential and commercial experience. Small and large jobs accepted. Free quotes in the KC metro area. Call Jim or John at (913) 485-4307. 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
Masonry work - Quality, new or repair work. Brick, block and chimney/fireplace repair. Insured; second-generation bricklayer. Member of St. Paul Parish, Olathe. Call (913) 829-4336.
For Sale
Perfect Roof - Free estimates; roofing repairs if needed. Hail and wind damage inspections. Insured and reasonable. Call (816) 288-1693.
For sale – Double-depth crypt in the Faith Lawn area of Resurrection Cemetery, Lenexa. Call Ken Christian at (816) 918-4075.
March 16
St. Pius X Church, 5601 Woodson Ave., Mission, will host “The Way of the Cross for Social Justice” at 7 p.m. on March 16 and on every Friday evening during Lent. A soup supper will be served prior to the service. For information, call the church office at (913) 432-4855.
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.
Real Estate Three-acre lot - In a subdivision south of Olathe, just off I-35 at the 198 mile marker in Franklin County. A very easy 15-minute drive to the “city,” this lot is about 1/4 mile from the highway exit. No gravel roads. $28,000. Owner financing possible. Call (913) 9803559.
For Rent Office space available - Great location in the Ranchmart area of Prairie Village. Ideal for start-ups, professional and small businesses. Flexible terms. Call Marek at (913) 461-4491.
Vacation Lakefront home at Lake of the Ozarks - Located at 54 mile marker; Road 135-3. Two master suites plus 2 BR and 2 BA, complete kitchen, two family room areas and additional sleeping accommodations. Extra bedding available for futons. Fish and swim dock. Weekly or weekend rental. Call Harold and Linda Kramer at (913) 451-9412 or Mandy and Rob Harris at (913) 541-2626.
Child Care Summer nanny needed – Seeking a college-age, part-time nanny to care for our two daughters, ages 9 and 11, in our home. Approximately 17 - 22 hours per week. Must have a good driving record, reliable transportation and references. Prince of Peace Parish. Call Suzanne at (913) 220-4672. Olathe - Small, in-home child care has full- and part-time openings for ages newborn to three years. Member of Prince of Peace Parish. Located near 146th and Blackbob. Call Katie at (913) 768-9514.
Wanted to Buy Antiques wanted Call Chris at (913) 593-7507 or (913) 642-8269. Will buy firearms and related accessories One or a whole collection. Honest evaluation and top prices paid. Contact Tom at (913) 238-2473. Member of Sacred Heart Parish, Shawnee.
Miscellaneous Donate a vehicle. Make a difference. Donate your vehicle to Catholic Charities to support those in need. Your tax-deductible donation 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 website at: www.cars4kckids.com.
To purchase a classified ad
Send an email to: jennifer@theleaven.com, or call (913) 647-0327. The cost is $17.50 for five lines or less; additional lines cost $1.50.
17
The Altar Society of Annunciation Church, 740 N. 6th St., Baldwin City, will host an Irish stew dinner and silent auction from 5 - 7 p.m. on March 17. A freewill donation will be collected. The Knights of Columbus at Prince of Peace Parish, 16000 W. 143rd St., Olathe, will host a traditional St. Patrick’s Day dinner from 6 - 8 p.m. on March 17 in the church basement. The cost is $8 for adults; $5 for children under age 12. In addition to the traditional corned beef and cabbage, there will be bratwurst and dessert. Beer and wine will be offered for a donation. For information, call Ed Beck at (913) 782-4891. The Holy Rosary Sodality of All Saints Parish, 809 Vermont Ave., Kansas City, Kan., will host its annual chicken dinner from 5 - 7 p.m. on March 17 in the parish hall. The cost is $9 for adults; $4 for children. For information or to purchase tickets, call Pat Waliczek at (913) 371-4728. A memorial liturgy for deceased loved ones will be held at 8 a.m. on March 17 at Curé of Ars Church, 9401 Mission Rd., Leawood. The bereavement ministry will have its monthly meeting following Mass in the Father Burak Room. For information, call (913) 6492026. The Singles of Nativity will host a St. Patrick’s Day singles dance from 7 - 11 p.m. on March 17 in the parish hall of the Church of the Nativity, 3800 W. 119th St., Leawood. The cost of $10 (members) or $15 (guests) includes a live band, appetizers, beer, wine and nonalcoholic drinks. Remember to wear green. For information, send an email to Bob Kruetzkamp at: kruetzkamp@sbcglobal.net.
pantries. For information, contact Patty McKiernan at (913) 281-2918.
19
The Keeler Women’s Center, 2220 Central Ave., Kansas City, Kan., will offer “Clean and Clutter-free Living” from 1:30 - 3 p.m. on March 19. To register, call (913) 906-8990 or visit the website at: www.mountosb.org/kwc.
21
The Committee of Young Patrons (CYP) will host a networking event from 4 - 6 p.m. on March 21 at Lockton Companies, 444 W. 47th St., Suite 900, Kansas City, Mo. There will be a panel discussion with civic-minded businessmen and women in the community, including Peggy Dunn, Lamar Hunt Jr., Nelson Newcomer and more. CYP is a group of 20- to 40-somethings supporting the mission of Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas. We encourage a donation of five cans of food per attendee. For more information or to RSVP, call (913) 433-2046 or visit the website at: www.catholiccharitiesks. org/cyp. The Keeler Women’s Center, 2220 Central Ave., Kansas City, Kan., will offer “Pathways to Employment,” presented by Patricia McCullough, career adviser at the Workforce Partnership of Wyandotte County, from 9:30 - 11 a.m. on March 21. Attendees must be residents of Kansas. Men and women are welcome. For information or to register, call (913) 906-8990 or visit the website at: www. mountosb.org/kwc. The Keeler Women’s Center, 2220 Central Ave., Kansas City, Kan., will offer “Starting a Home-Based Business,” a five-part class, from 1:30 - 3 p.m. on Wednesdays, beginning March 21. This class is for women only. For information or to register, call (913) 906-8990 or visit the website at: www.mountosb. org/kwc.
22
The Christian Widow and Widowers Organization will host a chicken dinner at 5 p.m. on March 22 in the Formation Room at Most Pure Heart of Mary Church, 3601 S.W. Stone, Topeka. There is no cost to attend. For information, call (785) 272-0055. The Church of the Nativity, 3800 W. 119th St., Leawood, will host Lenten reflections and faith sharing on March 22 and every Thursday evening during Lent. The sessions will be held from 7 - 8:30 p.m. in the St. Joseph Room. Handouts will be provided for the following week’s readings and reflections. For information, send an email to Randall Stevenson at: Gaelwynn@yahoo.com.
18
St. Patrick Parish, 302 S. Boyle, Scranton, will host a feast day dinner in honor of St. Patrick from 11 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. on March 18. A turkey or ham dinner with all the trimmings will be served. The cost is: $7 for adults; $4 for children ages 6 - 12; children under 5 eat for free. There will also be raffles for quilts and a grocery gift certificate. The Cathedral of St. Peter, 409 N. 15th St., Kansas City, Kan., will host its annual St. Joseph Table and spaghetti dinner on March 18. The table will be blessed after the 9 a.m. Mass. Homemade baked items, wine, fruit baskets and religious items from the table will be available for purchase. The spaghetti dinner will be served from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Freewill donations will be accepted. Proceeds will be donated to local food
23
St. Pius X Church, 5601 Woodson Ave., Mission, will host “A Taizé Meditation on the Way of the Cross” at 7 p.m. on March 23. A soup supper will be served prior to the service. For information, call the church office at (913) 432-4855.
24
Sophia Center, 751 S. 8th St., Atchison, will host a one-day retreat, entitled “Elizabeth of the Trinity, Everyday Mystic,” presented by Sister Sheila
Carroll, OSB, from 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. on March 24. Spend a day learning more about this contemporary of Therese of Lisieux. Elizabeth of the Trinity was an “everyday mystic” who held that nothing is trivial and the ordinary is sacred. The cost is $50; advance deposit is $10. For information or to register, call (913) 360-6151 or visit the website at: www. mountosb.org/sophia.html. The Shawnee Knights of Columbus will host a classic rock dance from 7 - 11 p.m. on March 24 in their hall, located at 11221 Johnson Dr. The suggested donation of $5 includes sausage sandwiches, chips, pretzels and a live band. Beverages will be available for purchase. Proceeds from this adults-only event will benefit area seminarians and priests. For information, call Keith Winterhalter at (913) 631-2173. Join the Altar Society women of Holy Family Church at 10 a.m. on March 24 at Mejak Hall, 513 Ohio Ave., Kansas City, Kan., for a strudel-making class. Learn how to make apple strudel, cheese strudel or any-flavor-you-want strudel. A suggested donation of $10 and a bag of Jonathan apples are appreciated. A continental breakfast will be provided. To RSVP, call Sandy Cannon at (913) 4922612; Marcia Wolf at (816) 454-1378; or the church office at (9130 371-1561. The registration deadline is March 21 and space is limited. Training for new respite volunteers will be held from 9 - 9:30 a.m. on March 24 in the Education Center (CSJ Room) at St. Joseph Medical Center, I-435 and State Line Rd., Kansas City, Mo. Respite is a rewarding ministry giving companionship and care to those who are homebound, while allowing their caregiver some much-needed time away. Men and women are needed to become volunteers. Respite is sponsored by the Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women (ACCW), and trained volunteers are insured against liability. Volunteers serve in their own parish. For information or to RSVP, call Pat Scheibel at (913) 8976589. Christ’s Peace House of Prayer, Easton, will host a contemplative prayer retreat day from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. on March 24. Instruction will be provided on request. Full- or half-day attendance options are available, with the noon meal included. The cost is $25 per participant. For information, call (913) 773-8255 or send an email to: info@ shantivanam.com.
24-25
The Rosary Guild and the youth group at the Church of the Nativity, 3800 W. 119th St., Leawood, will be selling gifts for Easter, first Communion, confirmation, and other spring celebrations in the St. Joseph Room before and after all Masses during the weekend of March 24 - 25. Proceeds from purchases will help to fund their mission of placing rosaries around the world. For information, send an email to: kincaid knight@sbcglobal.net, or visit the website at: www.shop.halosandhornpipes.com.
26
Advice and Aid Pregnancy Centers, Inc., will offer a volunteer information meeting from 7 - 9 p.m. on March 26 at 11031 W. 75th Terr., Shawnee. For information or to RSVP, contact Mary Newcomer at (913) 9620200 or send an email to: volunteer@ adviceandaid.com.
29
The Church of the Nativity, 3800 W. 119th St., Leawood, will host
CALENDAR 13
Lenten reflections and faith sharing from 7 - 8:30 p.m. on March 29 in the St. Joseph Room. For information, send an email to Randall Stevenson at: Gaelwynn @yahoo.com.
30
The choirs at Prince of Peace Church, 16000 W. 143rd St., Olathe, will present a musical Stations of the Cross with selections from Handel’s “Messiah” at 7 p.m. on March 30. St. Pius X Church, 5601 Woodson Ave., Mission, will host “Stations: A Musical Dramaturgy,” presented by Theater at VIS, at 7 p.m. on March 30. A soup supper will be served prior to the service. For information, call the church office at (913) 432-4855.
31
The Women of Spirit of Holy Spirit Parish, 11300 W. 103rd St., Overland Park, will hold a mini-retreat from 8:30 a.m. - noon on March 31 in the church. Mass will be celebrated, followed by breakfast and a featured speaker. The cost is $10 for members; $15 for nonmembers. To register by March 25, send an email to Maria O’Bryan at: jmobryan@kc.rr.com, or send a check, made payable to Women of Spirit, to: Maria O’Bryan, 10815 W. 104th St., Overland Park KS 66214.
Misc. The Sisters, Servants of Mary, Ministers to the Sick, in Kansas City, Kan., will host a vocation discernment retreat, entitled “Speak, Lord, Your Servant Is Listening,” from March 30 - April 1. All young women ages 17 - 35 are invited to attend. For information, contact Sister Catherine at (913) 371-3423 or send an email to her at: vocservantsmkc @yahoo.com. Save April 28 to celebrate an allclasses reunion in honor of the 50th anniversary of Curé of Ars Grade School, Leawood. There will be a special vigil Mass, followed by a celebration. Alumni are asked to send an email with name, graduation year, current address, phone and email information to: alumni@cure ofars.com. If you know other Curé of Ars graduates, share this information with them and ask them to help spread the word. A support group for women dealing with any type of addiction, at any stage of recovery, will meet from 6 - 7 p.m. on Tuesday evenings at the Keeler Women’s Center, 2220 Central Ave., Kansas City, Kan. For information or to register, call (913) 906-8990 or visit the website at: www.mountosb.org/kwc.
Calendar submissions:
Are due at noon on Wednesday, nine days prior to the requested publication date. Email submissions are preferred, send to: jennifer@theleaven.com or mail to: 12615 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City KS 66109.
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, 2011
QUOTE WEEK
OF THE
“A year ago we served 76 homeless clients. When we gave that number at a chamber meeting, they looked at us like we had three eyes and horns.” Deb Kiker, a member of the Community Health Ministry in Wamego See story on pages 8-9
THE LEAVEN • MARCH 16, 2012
THE LEAVEN • MARCH 16, 2012
MARK MY WORDS
¿QUÉ PASA? — IN HISPANIC MINISTRY
Coping with life’s downs and ups
Something new to give up this Lent
Fifty-six. When I think of Lent, this is the number that comes to mind. Now, I realize that for most people Lent is associated with the number 40, referring to the time Jesus spent in the desert, prior to beginning his public ministry. I understand that. But I’m sticking with the number 56, which reminds me of a traditional prayer form, particularly appropriate for Lent: the Stations of the Cross. I’m sure that you’re still confused, because you know that there are only 14 Stations. That doesn’t explain why I associate the number 56 with them. Quite simply, 56 is the number of times I get down and up down while doing the Stations of the Cross: “We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.” (Genuflect.) “Because by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.” (Stand.) A short meditation on the particular Station is then followed by a prayer. (Kneel.) After saying an Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be, it’s time to stand up again and move on to the next Station, to repeat the process. Fourteen Stations times four times down and up (each) equal 56. And, believe me, I feel each and every one . . . especially the older I get. (I hope the Lord understands and forgives me when, at the Ninth Station where Jesus falls the third time, I can’t help but think, “Lord, you had the stamina to get up and continue; I’m not too sure I’m gonna make it any farther tonight!”) Stations of the Cross are literally one of my Lenten “exercises.” And, like most exercise in my life, I’d avoid the Stations at all costs if I didn’t have a
roomful of people waiting for me each Friday evening to lead them. So, what gets me through each time? Well, first of all, I do find the Stations both prayerful and meaningful. Secondly, I’m convinced that it’s the grace of God that gives me the stamina I need to complete them. Lastly, though, I’ve been doing something all along, yet never realized it: I take the Stations one at a time. If I looked at the whole picture — all 14 Stations and 56 downs and ups — it would be overwhelming, and I suspect I’d not even attempt it. But taking the Stations one at a time doesn’t seem so intimidating: down-up, down-up, repeat. In last week’s column, I lamented the rationalizing and corner-cutting that I found myself doing in the first part of Lent. Some of that tendency to cheat comes from seeing the season of Lent as a whole — all 40-plus days of it. Just the thought of going without unlimited TV time, for example, for such a long period erodes even my best intentions. It’s a whole different story to look at things one step, one day, at a time. I recently came across a story about the 19th-century historian Thomas Carlyle. After spending two years writ-
ing a book about the French Revolution, he gave his only copy of the finished manuscript to a colleague, John Stuart Mill, to read and critique. Sadly, Mill’s servant used Carlyle’s work as kindling to start a fire. Upon hearing the news, Carlyle went into a deep depression. He reflected on the thousands of hours that he’d spent researching and writing, now wasted. He couldn’t imagine doing the book again. One day, however, as he was walking along some city streets, Carlyle noticed a stone wall being built. It transfixed him. He saw that the tall structure was going up one brick at a time. Drawing inspiration from that process, he began to think of his writing: Do just one page, one day at a time. It worked. He rewrote the entire book that had been destroyed. (Adapted from Rick Christian’s “Alive,” found in “Perfect Illustrations for Every Topic and Occasion,” compiled by Craig Brian Larson and Drew Zahn (Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. 2002.)) Now that we’re at the midpoint of our Lenten journey, how are you doing? Is the only thing you’ve given up this year Lent itself? Don’t get discouraged. It’s still not too late to make the most of the time remaining. Remember this wise advice from St. Ignatius of Loyola: A good or better decision is just one decision away. So, go ahead. Make that one good decision to become holier, one day at a time. And as Jesus shows us in the Stations, you just can’t keep a good man down.
IN THE BEGINNING
FOURTH WEEK OF LENT March 18 FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT 2 Chr 36: 14-16, 19-23; Ps 137: 1-6; Eph 2: 4-10; Jn 3: 14-21 March 19 JOSEPH, SPOUSE OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY 2 Sm 7: 4-5a, 12-14a, 16; Ps 89: 2-5, 27, 29; Rom 4: 13, 16-18, 22; Mt 1: 16, 18-21, 24a March 20 Tuesday Ez 47: 1-9, 12; Ps 46: 2-3, 5-6, 8-9; Jn 5: 1-16 March 21 Wednesday Is 49: 8-15; Ps 145: 8-9, 13c-14, 17-18; Jn 5: 17-30 March 22 Thursday Ex 32: 7-14; Ps 106: 19-23; Jn 5: 31-47 March 23 Turibius of Mogrovejo, bishop Wis 2: 1a, 12-22; Ps 34: 17-21, 23; Jn 7: 1-2, 10, 25-30 March 24 Saturday Jer 11: 18-20; Ps 7: 2-3, 9b-12; Jn 7: 40-53
T
COMMENTARY 15
The prophets challenge us still
he strong outrage over the burning of some Qurans in Afghanistan has been amazing. Riots have broken out; people have been killed. We certainly deplore this violence. At the same time, these events reflect the high respect that Moslems show to the Quran and their dismay at its desecration. Can you imagine people acting that way in this country if some Bibles were burned? FOURTH SUNDAY This violent reOF LENT action can give 2 Chr 36: 14-16, 19-23 us a glimpse into how the Jewish people felt when their temple in Jerusalem was destroyed in the year 587 B.C. They also would have been extremely upset, ready to fight. Of course, there are differences. The temple of Jerusalem was destroyed as a result of a war that the Jewish people lost. As a defeated nation, they were in no position to retaliate against the Babylonians, who had desecrated and burnt the temple. It’s one thing when a sacred place is damaged because of a natural disaster, as happened recently to some churches in the path of a tornado. It’s quite another when it happens as a result of a hostile act. Then it is desecration. This is how Sunday’s first reading — 2 Chr 36: 14-23 — describes it: “Then he (the Lord) brought up against them the king of the Chaldeans, who slew their young men in their own sanctuary
building, sparing neither young men nor maiden, neither the aged nor the decrepit; he delivered all of them into his grip. All the utensils of the house of God, the large and the small, and the treasures of the Lord’s house and of the king and his princes, all these he brought to Babylon. They burnt the house of God.” In looting and burning the temple, in shedding innocent blood in its premises, the Babylonians desecrated the house of God. At the same time, Sunday’s reading points out that, in a sense, the Jewish people had already profaned the temple by their inappropriate worship: “All the princes of Judah, the priests and the people added infidelity to infidelity, practicing all the abominations of the nations and polluting the Lord’s temple which he had consecrated in Jerusalem.” The Babylonians’ desecration of the temple is the natural outcome of the people’s earlier sins. And what were those sins? Most likely, they involved the worship of foreign gods and injustice toward other
Israelites. Those are the sins that the prophet Jeremiah rails against. That is why God speaks through the prophet these words: “Are you to steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury, burn incense to Baal, go after strange gods that you know not, and yet come to stand before me in this house which bears my name, and say: ‘We are safe; we can commit all these abominations again’?” (Jer 7: 9-10). The prophet warns the people that observing the prescribed form in worshipping God is not enough. Their worship reflects their lives. Only if they live according to God’s law, will God be pleased. Unfortunately, the people do not listen: “Early and often did the Lord, the God of their fathers, send his messengers to them, for he had compassion on his people and his dwelling place (the Temple). But they mocked the messengers of God, despised his warnings, and scoffed at his prophets” (2 Chr 36: 15-16a). The prophets continue to challenge us to examine the authenticity of our worship and our faithfulness to God. This Lent is an opportune time for that, to prepare us for the fitting celebration of Easter. Father Mike Stubbs is the pastor of Holy Cross Parish in Overland Park and has a degree in Scripture from Harvard University.
I
was attending the ordination of one of my community members in the Philippines about 10 years ago when I came across an interesting headline in one of the city newspapers. It said something like this: “Local priest invites the president to fast from speaking during Lent.” Now without getting too lost in the politics of the Philippines in 2002, let me just say that almost every Lent this headline comes to mind, and I
always end up reflecting on what kind of words do we need to fast from this Lent. So, just in case you haven’t gotten around to giving up anything for Lent, let me offer you a suggestion that can make you a better person come Easter. I would propose that, as of today, we all go on a strict fast and give up immigrant-bashing for Lent. It seems to me that the rhetoric has become way too emotional and, at times, way too violent. So why don’t we just give up anti-immigrant words and statements for Lent?
Perhaps sharing a story about a friend of mine, who by her words and witness reminds me why we as Catholics should never be into the game of immigrant bashing, will help. Her name is, well, let’s just call her “J.” She is 18 years old, from Mexico, attending a public high school and is taking all sorts of college courses for extra credit. J is one of three children and has a great family that is very involved in many ways in one of the local Catholic parishes. This is a family that works very hard and still finds time to help out at church in a variety of ways. J, like any 18-year-old, has a dream — namely, to go to college and become a pediatrician. She sums up her dream in an inspiring way: “I am that kind of person that loves to help others and do kind things for them; that is my main goal.
Giving back to the community is in my culture, because my parents and family had taught me to help others and not be selfish. Following my family values, I would give back to my community by giving them equal opportunities, donating money, organizing employment opportunities and opening health clinics and shelters. “Sometimes, people are selfish, but that is not my case. I will not only help my community but also other communities out there that need my help.” I think J gives us an excellent reason to give up immigrant bashing and work on ways to make things right. Happy Lent to all. Father Pat Murphy, CS, is the archdiocesan animator for the archdiocesan office of Hispanic ministry.
SIMPLY STEWARDSHIP
M
God’s heartfelt love is seen in our priests
sgr. Robert Bergman, pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish in Louisburg, was my pastor at Prince of Peace in Olathe many years ago when my children were small. His kindness during times of trouble left a lasting impression with me. Even though we have both moved to different parishes, Father Bob still greets me with warmth and a smile and never turns me away when I have a concern. He listens intently, no matter how busy he is. So many of our priests are like him:
joyful in the Lord, compassionate, and ready with an answer based on Scripture that is the perfect response to the question that we often didn’t even know we were asking. Thankfully, our priests are trained to be priests. In our work in the office of stewardship and development, our requests to parishes are frequent and sometimes our expectations of pastors are pretty demanding. We ask a lot of our priests. The support our pastors give to the Archbishop’s Call to Share is amaz-
ing. Their leadership is the reason that rates of participation are climbing and that donors continue to sacrificially give to support the many important ministries the appeal helps to fund. I think our priests, like Father Bob, help plant the seeds and cultivate the soil in which the seeds will grow. They transform the lives of the people in their parishes by creating a community of “givers.” They invite people to get involved in some kind of study group, they encourage community service, and they clearly ask for involvement and prayer. Father Bob told me that recently he invited a parishioner to give to the Archbishop’s Call to Share and he did, for the first time, pledging $1. Whether it was his only dollar or one of thousands, his first gift to the Archbishop’s Call to Share served as a demonstration of trust, hope and love.
As people give to our archdiocesan annual appeal, they are, first, being faithful stewards, trusting in God, giving back in some small way in gratitude for all God’s blessings. And second, I think they are demonstrating their love for Jesus Christ and showing their support for the thousands of beautiful, peaceful, harmonious acts of love that are happening throughout northeast Kansas. “God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the holy Spirit that has been given to us” (Rom 5:5). Priests like Father Bob, by their example, help us to express God’s love in everything we do. Lesle Knop is the executive director of the archdiocesan office of stewardship and development. You can email her at: lknop@ archkck.org.
16 LOCAL NEWS
THE LEAVEN • MARCH 16, 2012
St. Joseph’s Table helps parish’s needy through rough patches By Jessica Langdon Leaven staff
SHAWNEE — The sight is breathtaking. A table piled high with cakes, breads, fruits, vegetables and more, decorated with flowers. March 4 marked the 20th year for the St. Joseph’s Table tradition at St. Joseph Parish in Shawnee. Table celebrations started centuries ago in Sicily, where food had been anything but plentiful. “About 500 years ago in Sicily, there was a terrible drought,” explained Christine Marion, who has helped organize the parish’s St. Joseph’s Table since its inception in 1993. The drought led to a famine. Crops couldn’t grow, and people prayed for rain. “They turned to St. Joseph,” Marion said. “When the rains came, they felt it was an answer to their prayers.” And so, for his feast day — March 19 — Sicilians stacked a table high with their most precious commodity: food — mostly pastries, pastas, breads and other items made of grain. And they invited everyone to come and honor St. Joseph. They gave thanks and asked for his intercession throughout the year. The centuries-old tradition has been honored, even here in Kansas City, for decades. “Since the whole tradition of the St. Joseph’s Table was
to feed the hungry at the beginning,” Marion said, “that would be our purpose.” So the items on the table are sold, and a huge Italian dinner — open to the whole parish — follows. The proceeds from the table and the dinner are combined and used to buy grocery store gift cards for families in need throughout the year. Sometimes the cards go to elderly people on fixed incomes when they have been struggling with their health, or to a single parent having a hard time making ends meet. “We try to pay special attention to the summertime, when kids are home from school,” said Marion. Marion recalled a mother who woke up one morning wondering how she was going to feed her family. When she checked the mailbox, she discovered a gift card for groceries. “It meant putting meat on the table after four nights of macaroni and cheese,” Marion said. Three couples make up the steering committee for the St. Joseph’s Table each year, but more than 100 adults and kids help make it happen. Weeks of planning and preparation go into it. People donate time, talent and food. Women of the parish baked 5,000 cookies for the event; men of the parish cooked the meal. The St. Joseph’s Table never includes meat because the saint’s feast day invariably falls during Lent.
So the menu for the meal consists of made-fromscratch bucatini, a spaghettilike pasta, but hollow, covered with either spaghetti sauce or a red Milanese sauce filled with vegetables, and topped with a sprinkling of bread crumbs. Salad, garlic bread, homemade Italian cookies and spumoni ice cream complete the meal. This year more than 700
people enjoyed the food and fellowship and their donations grossed a little over $12,000. It’s a massive endeavor, but it’s a labor of love, said Marion. For her, it all comes down to this: “Community and fellowship and doing good for the needy and helping others during Lent.”
The legend of the fava beans Visitors to each year’s St. Joseph’s Table receive tiny bundles of fava beans wrapped in tulle and tied with a ribbon from the St. Joseph’s Table. Fava beans had traditionally been used to feed livestock — until the famine struck that gave rise to the St. Joseph’s Table tradition. During that famine, Sicilians discovered it to be the one crop that would grow in the droughtstricken earth of Sicily. “The people started eating them, too, to stay alive,” said Christine Marion with the St. Joseph’s Table steering committee. It became a tradition to put fava beans in the pockets of people who left the area so they could grow them if they fell on hard times. “Legend is if you carry fava beans from a St. Joseph’s Table with you, you’ll never be without funds,” explained Marion. It is a tradition that St. Joseph Parish in Shawnee is proud to carry on.
Father Mike Hawken, pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Shawnee, blesses the parish’s St. Joseph’s Table on March 4. The 20-year-old parish tradition originated in Sicily about 500 years ago.
Leaven photos by
Elaina Cochran