03 17 17 Vol. 38 No. 30

THELEAVEN.ORG | VOL. 38, NO. 30 | MARCH 17, 2017

LEAVEN PHOTO BY LORI WOOD HABIGER

Holy Trinity fourth-grader Savannah Mohow pays eighth-grader Logan Morales for the items she bought at the Holy Trinity School Store as eighth-graders Garrett Willis (far left) and Michael Kluck look on.

TAKIN’ CARE OF BUSINESS

L

By Moira Cullings moira.cullings@theleaven.org ENEXA — If you walk into Holy Trinity School here on any given weekday morning, you’ll discover young business professionals in the making.

Thanks to a class called School Store, created by computer technology teacher Lori Henneberg, seventh- and eighth-grade students are gaining real world experience in the form of a merchandise shop.

“This is the most hands-off class I’ve ever had,” said Henneberg proudly.

Ordinary products like fruit snacks and pens now serve as tools for her students to master invaluable business skills.

And with all profits going back to Holy Trinity, participants are realizing how good it feels to give back to the school they love.

Outshining the expectations School Store sells a variety of products before school, which the students who signed up for the class purchase, price and sell — almost entirely on their own.

“I was pretty excited [at first] because I knew a lot of the little kids were going to like it,” said Rylee Loftus, an eighth-grader at Holy Trinity.

“I got to work it the first day and it was completely packed,” she added.

Many of the student participants had more modest expectations.

MAKING THE GRADE

Fourth-graders from St. Paul School in Olathe cheer on the promotion of their favorite firefighter.

Page 3

>> See “IT’S” on page 5

LEAVEN PHOTO BY LORI WOOD HABIGER

Holy Trinity fifth-grader Joe Lamfers looks over the offerings at the School Store. The store is open each morning before school and draws about 25 customers daily.

OF FISH AND MEN

There’s something fishy going on in Nortonville. The Leaven’s Todd Habiger gets the answers.

Pages 7-9

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MARCH 17, 2017 | THELEAVEN.ORG

LOCAL NEWS

A

few months ago, Drs. Tom and Jeanne Doyle shared with me a remarkable moment of grace they experienced while on a Jubilee of Mercy family pilgrimage to Poland.

Tom and Jeanne are parishioners of Most Pure Heart of Mary Parish in Topeka. For the Jubilee of Mercy, they decided to do a family pilgrimage by visiting the places that were significant in the lives of the two great saints of Divine Mercy — St. Pope John Paul II and St. Faustina.

The night before their scheduled departure, their youngest child Catherine remarked while examining her newly acquired passport: “Look, Dad, they misspelled my name.” Tom replied by telling Catherine that she should not joke about something so serious. Catherine held her ground: “No, Dad, I am serious. They really did misspell my name.” He examined her passport like it was the EKG report of one of his heart patients and, sure enough, the last name on her passport was Doyce, not Doyle.

Tom’s heart sunk.

He feared their entire pilgrimage could be compromised by a clerical error. Jeanne reassured him: “We are not going on vacation. We are making a pilgrimage.

God is going to take care of us.”

They agreed that they would go as planned. If

2

There is nothing too small for God’s attention

LIFE WILL BE VICTORIOUS ARCHBISHOP JOSEPH F. NAUMANN the error on Catherine’s passport prevented her from boarding a plane along the way, Tom would remain with Catherine and Jeanne would continue with the rest of the family to Poland.

Tom said he trusted God’s providence in the big things, but he had his doubts that their family pilgrimage was important enough to receive God’s attention. After all, the world was not going to be at risk or adversely affected if the Doyle family did not make it to Poland. He wondered: Does God really care about the “little things” of our lives?

Catherine did not have a problem boarding the plane in Kansas City.

Since it was a domestic flight to Chicago, they used identification other than her passport. When they arrived in Chicago, the Doyles discovered their international flight was delayed because of a mechanical problem with the plane.

When this mechanical issue had been successfully resolved, the airline personnel were eager to expedite the boarding process. The boarding agent looked at the Doyles and asked: “Are you all one family?” They replied: “Yes.” The agent inquired: “Do you all have passports?” When they responded affirmatively, she waved them through the boarding checkpoint without ever looking at the children’s passports.

Tom was relieved.

However, their Chicago flight was not a nonstop to Poland. They had to catch a connecting flight in Brussels. Tom was encouraged that they were going to make it to Europe at least, but he was concerned about the boarding process in Brussels. With the recent terrorist attack at the Brussels airport, he assumed security would be heightened.

However, when they approached the boarding agent in Brussels, it was déjà vu — Chicago all over again! The agent asked them if they were all one family and if they all had passports. When they answered affirma-

tively, the agent waved them through and welcomed them on board!

Once they were in Krakow, Poland, they went to the American consulate and were able to get Catherine’s passport corrected. They had a fabulous pilgrimage with many amazing experiences.

One of the highlights was visiting the Divine Mercy Sanctuary, where St. Faustina had lived and the Divine Mercy devotion was born. One of the Sisters of St. Faustina’s community gave them an incredible tour. This saintly Sister spent a great deal of time with their family, describing the life of St. Faustina and how her famous diary came to be.

At the conclusion of the tour, as the Sister was bidding them farewell, she turned to Tom and said specifically to him: “Remember, God has the little things!”

Tom was startled. He asked the Sister why she had made that remark to him. The Sister replied: “I don’t know. The Holy Spirit told me to say it to you.”

I think many of us doubt God’s providence in the seemingly insignificant events of our lives. The Doyle family pilgrimage experience was a good illustration to me that when we are striving to do God’s will, there is nothing too small for God’s attention.

Jeanne Doyle is a psychiatrist who has chosen to set aside her professional career in order to devote all of her

ARCHBISHOP NAUMANN March 10-17 Seminary visit — Pontifical North American College, Rome March 20-22 U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops meeting — Washington, D.C. March 23 Confirmation — Divine Mercy, Gardner March 25 Parish Benchmark workshop talk March 26 Pastoral visit — St. John the Evangelist, Lawrence Baptism of third or more children — Cathedral of St. Peter, Kansas City, Kansas March 27 “Shepherd’s Voice” recording Mass — Curé of Ars School, Leawood Confirmation — St. Francis de Sales, Lansing

attention to raising and forming her eight children. She has recently written a book entitled “Kids for the Kingdom,” published by Christian Faith Publishing, Inc. In the book, Jeanne shares her insights gained from her efforts to raise virtuous and faith-filled children. I

March 28 Eucharistic adoration — St. James Academy, Lenexa Administrative Team meeting Confirmation of students of Resurrection School and Kansas City, Kansas, religious education students — Cathedral of St. Peter March 29 Presbyteral Council meeting

ARCHBISHOP KELEHER March 19 Confirmation — Curé of Ars, Leawood March 21 Mass — Bishop Miege High School, Roeland Park March 22-24 Labor Review Board — New York March 26 Mass — Federal prison camp March 28 Confirmation — St. Mary-St. Anthony, Kansas City, Kansas

recommend “Kids for the Kingdom” to Catholic parents. The book is provocative, in that it challenges many popular cultural assumptions about parenting. It is also filled with eminently practical advice on how to raise kids for the kingdom.

Call or stop by to learn about the options of advanced planning, and pick up your FREE Personal Arrangement guide.

We Guarantee your services at today’s prices.

Helen Skradski

Steve Pierce

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MARCH 17, 2017

LOCAL NEWS

3

SURPRISE!!!

St. Paul School students celebrate Olathe’s newest captain

By Jill Ragar Esfeld

jill.esfeld@theleaven.org

O

LATHE — Firefighter Michael Rutten thought the highlight of the City of Olathe Fire Department pinning ceremony would be the moment he was promoted to captain.

He was wrong.

For Rutten, the high point came a moment later when a cheering group of fourth-graders from St. Paul School in Olathe marched in waving handmade signs of congratulations.

Led by school principal Tonia Helm, the class was excited to share this special moment with the firefighter who had taught them life-saving lessons.

“I had no idea they were coming,” Captain Rutten will s a i d be defending his title Rutten. as top chef at the next “That was St. Paul Chefs Classic awesome. event on April 29. For “I’ve more information, visit got the the website at: www. signs they spcatholic.org/Chefs m a d e Classic. in my truck,” he continued. “I’m going to put them up in the fire station.”

Through their Adopt-A-School program, Olathe fire crews visit schools once a month to present fire and life safety lessons to third-graders.

Rutten was St. Paul’s firefighter last year, and he bonded with this class.

“They were a small group,” he said, “so they were easy to get to know.”

These fourth-graders had nothing but good to say about Capt. Rutten.

“He was very kind to us,” said Elizabeth Bethea. “He taught us to stay away from frozen ponds because whenever you fall into a freezing pond, you can’t feel anything.

“And he filled a bucket with freezing cold water and ice and we had to try to grab pennies with our hands.”

“He’s nice and he’s smart,” added her twin sister Eva. Classmates Ty Mormandin and Roberto Gomez recalled the day Rutten helped the kids learn fire safety in a trailer designed for that purpose.

“When the smoke alarm went off,” said Ty, “smoke came down and you had to get down and crawl so you could breathe.”

“When we were in the trailer, he made us get out through the window,” added Roberto. “He’s a really kind man.”

A few weeks before the pinning, Helm just happened to run into fire Capt. Bill Schneider at the grocery store. He told her Rutten was getting pinned captain.

“And I said, ‘Can we go?’” recalled Helm. “And Bill said, ‘That would be really good; let’s make it a surprise.’

Chefs Classic

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

LEAVEN PHOTO BY JILL RAGAR ESFELD

Olathe firefighter Michael Rutten was surprised when St. Paul fourth-graders showed up at his pinning ceremony with signs of congratulations.

“The kids got all excited and wanted to make posters.”

Helm was happy for students to see a clear example of hard work paying off — especially work that involved helping others.

“This was a really big deal for him and his family,” she said. “So, we wanted to go and support him.”

Not only is Rutten a favorite with the kids at St. Paul, the entire school community considers him to be pretty special.

He’s helped raise funds to support the school because, in addition to being an awesome firefighter, he’s a trained culinary chef.

And he’s currently the reigning champ of St. Paul School’s annual Chefs Classic cooking challenge.

The Chefs Classic, held at St. James Academy in Lenexa, features chefs from all over Kansas City cooking up more than 800 cold and hot hors d’oeuvres.

“Our ticket holders sample all the different selections from each of the chefs,” said Helm. “They use their ticket stubs to vote for their favorite.

“The top two do an ‘Iron Chef’ cook-

“

“THIS WAS A REALLY BIG DEAL FOR HIM AND HIS FAMILY. SO WE WANTED TO GO AND SUPPORT HIM.” St.Paul School principal Tonia Helm

off in the St. James gym.”

Before he became a firefighter, Rutten was a trained culinary chef working restaurants in the Chicago area. “[St. Paul] asked if I would be interested in doing their cooking competition three years ago,” said Rutten.

“That’s how I got involved.

“I won last year.”

It helps that, during the competition, Rutten has a cheering section of firefighters.

“They’re all in full uniform,” said

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

Production Manager Todd Habiger todd.habiger@theleaven.org

Reporter Moira Cullings moira.cullings@theleaven.org

Managing Editor Anita McSorley anita.mcsorley@theleaven.org

Senior Reporter Joe Bollig joe.bollig@theleaven.org

Advertising Coordinator Beth Blankenship beth.blankenship@theleaven.org

Helm. “And they bring their siren. So if someone gives Michael a compliment at the event, they sound their siren.”

The firefighters also donate a fire-station tour to the event, which includes an auction.

“We look forward to the cooking competition each year,” said Rutten, who will be defending his title again this year. “We have a lot of fun there.”

Though he loves cooking, Rutten is happy he made the change to firefighter.

“I’ve always enjoyed hands-on work,” he said. “I was looking for a job where I could help people, be part of a family dynamic and work with my hands.”

St. Paul students are glad he made the switch, too.

“He’s very kind and this day is very special,” said fourth-grader Ben Kueter.

“He helps our city and he came to St. Paul and showed us what to do in case of an emergency.

“And at the end of the year, we got sprayed with a fire hose!”

Published weekly September through May, excepting the Friday the week after Thanksgiving, and the Friday after Christmas; biweekly June through August. Address communications to: The Leaven, 12615 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City, KS 66109. Phone: (913) 721-1570; fax: (913) 721-5276; or e-mail at: sub@theleaven.com. Postmaster: Send address changes to The Leaven, 12615 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City, KS 66109.

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MARCH 17, 2017 | THELEAVEN.ORG

LOCAL NEWS

4

Archbishop Naumann braves Wildcat country

By Jill Seiler Special to The Leaven

M

ANHATTAN — Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann opened his first visit to St. Isidore Catholic Student Center at Kansas State University here on Jan. 29 with insights into an ancient tradition of the church during the parish’s Mass.

Archbishop Naumann explained that although he was a visitor in the Salina Diocese, as archbishop he has a unique role in Kansas. This role is illustrated by a special piece of clothing he wears, his pallium.

The pallium is worn by the metropolitan, or the archbishop of the metropolitan see, which in this case is the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas.

It is a circular, white band made of lamb’s wool, open at the center, thus allowing it to rest on the shoulders. The pallium shows the unity of the dioceses in Kansas being connected through one faith and under the leadership of the pope.

In his homily, Archbishop Naumann talked about martyrdom and asked whether — if the time came —the students would be willing to give all to the Lord.

Haden Botkin, sophomore in business education at Kansas State University from St. Monica-St. Elizabeth Parish, Blue Rapids, enjoyed meeting the archbishop at a reception held at St. Isidore after Mass.

“He’s my bishop and I always look forward to seeing him and listening to his homilies,” Botkin said. “It’s good to have that dialogue, and for students here at St. Isidore to know who the archbishop is.”

Archbishop Naumann and the other bishops of Kansas were invited to K-State by Father Michael Demkovich, OP, pastor and chaplain of St. Isidore,

Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann celebrates Mass at the St. Isidore Catholic Student Center at Kansas State University. This was the archbishop’s first visit to the campus center in Manhattan, which is part of the Salina Diocese. so students could know the support they receive from their home dioceses and for the bishops to see their students.

“Archbishop Naumann’s visit, as well as the other bishops, allows our students to see the apostolic church here and now,” Father Mike said.

At the reception following Mass, Archbishop Naumann also spoke about the importance of students forming their faith during college.

“This is such an important period in the lives of our young adults. Thank

you for giving them the opportunity to grow in their relationship with Jesus and their love for his church,” Archbishop Naumann told Father Mike after his visit.

St. Isidore Catholic Student Center serves the needs of over 2,200 Catholic students each week, many of whom call the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas home. The student center meets the educational, spiritual and liturgical needs of students during their time at K-State. St. Isidore’s is grateful to all who make this worthy ministry

possible.

“It is the great privilege of our campus ministries to help prepare these young adults to return to their own parishes and become vibrant members,” Father Mike said. “Campus ministry is here to help in the critical journey to adult faith.”

Jill Seiler is a pastoral ministry intern at St. Isidore and a junior studying agricultural communications and journalism at K-State.

Homelessness, suicide among themes addressed by pro-life speaker

By Moira Cullings moira.cullings@theleaven.org

K

ANSAS CITY, Kan. — Over 3,000 high school students heard one resounding message the week of Feb. 20: Your life matters.

Allison Donohue, pro-life consultant for the archdiocese, drove that point home during her presentation on the pro-life movement as part of Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann’s annual Speaker Series.

She presented the topic at all seven of the archdiocesan high schools.

“Because it’s the archbishop’s Speaker Series, we bring in folks with topics that are really close to the archbishop’s heart,” said Deacon Dana Nearmyer, secretary of the archdiocesan evangelization division.

“This year, with [Donohue] coming into the office and bringing a [fresh] view of pro-life, we wanted students to know how they could engage in the pro-life movement,” he said.

That movement goes beyond anti-abortion, added Deacon Nearmyer.

Donohue covered a wider range of topics, including homelessness, physicianassisted suicide, euthanasia and teen suicide.

She spoke on common challenges high school students face, including

Allison Donohue, pro-life consultant for the archdiocese, delivers her presentation on the pro-life movement as part of Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann’s annual Speaker Series. self-doubt and acceptance.

“I think [the students] thought the talk was going to be focused on the issue of abortion,” said Bill Creach, director of campus ministry and theology department chair at Bishop Miege High School in Roeland Park.

“I think [Donohue’s] message of respecting all life and addressing some

key issues that are relevant to teenagers caught them off guard in a good way and gave them a lot to think about,” he said.

Incorporating visuals to make the topics come alive, Donohue was able to capture the attention of her young audience.

And a particularly poignant part

of the presentation involved the faculty and staff at each school wearing T-shirts that said “You Matter” on the front and “All Life Matters” on the back.

At the end of the presentation, they stood together in front of their student body. “[Donohue] asked the teachers to stand to show [the students] that they were surrounded by a network of people that cared,” said Deacon Nearmyer.

The students were then asked to pray over their teachers to demonstrate that everyone’s life is important.

After the assembly, the conversation Donohue sparked continued in the classrooms, said Creach.

“I think it was an important message, but it also helped that our students heard it from a young person,” he said. “[Donohue’s] energy and speaking style helped get her message across to students,” he said.

Deacon Nearmyer hopes the presentation motivated the students on a deeper level than what they’ve typically felt from similar talks.

“There can be financial issues and sociological issues [people face],” he said, “but the Lord is bigger than that.

“We’ve got to be ready to partner with and help people.”

MARCH 17, 2017 | THELEAVEN.ORG

LOCAL NEWS

5

Little Brothers of the Lamb need a lift

By Jill Ragar Esfeld jill.esfeld@theleaven.org

An opportunity to live the Gospel

K

ANSAS CITY, Kan. — The Little Brothers of the Community of the Lamb do not fundraise in the traditional way.

The mendicant order — whose charism is to live out the Gospel and the example of Jesus in small community life — doesn’t plan big gala events or solicit donations for auctions.

But it does have big dreams.

The community of Brothers is currently trying to raise the final funds needed to build its new SCHEDULE OF monastery in PARISH VISITS Kansas City, Kansas, to be • March 18-19: St. called Light Pius X, Mission of Mary — • March 25-26: Mother of Most Pure Heart God. of Mary, Topeka • April 29: “The “We give Spring of the thanks already Three Children” at for how much Bishop Ward auwe have reditorium at 2:30 ceived,” said p.m. (See sidebar.)

Little Brother • May 6-7: St. John Clement.

Paul II, Olathe But more is • June 10-11: needed.

Sacred Heart, Until conShawnee struction actually begins, the total amount to build the monastery is uncertain, but the community estimates they are eighty to eighty-five percent funded.

“We still have a great need of about $200,000,” said Little Brother Joachim.

Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann invited the Little Brothers to establish their community in the archdiocese in 2013, joining the Little Sisters of the same order, whose monastery Lumen Christi is in the heart of Kansas City, Kansas.

The Brothers currently share the former St. Joseph Church rectory in All Saints Parish, but a monastery will allow them to more fully live their life

Members of the Community of the Lamb are preparing to present an original play entitled “The Spring of the Three Children” about the Mystery of the Lamb. The play/musical will be performed by the Little Brothers and Sisters, lay members and friends. They are in need of performers, singers and musicians. If you play an instrument, sing or would be interested in helping out, contact the community by email at: www.com munautedelagneau.org, and click on USA: Kansas City, KS. Or, if you prefer just to enjoy the production, it will be performed for the public on April 29 at 2:30 p.m. in the Bishop Ward High School auditorium, 708 N. 18th, Kansas City, Kansas.

LEAVEN PHOTO BY JILL RAGAR ESFELD

Little Brother Christophe talks to a parishioner of Prince of Peace in Olathe about the order’s plans to build a monastery in Kansas City, Kansas, following a parish mission the Little Brothers of the Lamb led at the parish.

How you can help For more information on the Little Brothers, visit the website at: www. communautedelagneau.org, and click on USA: Kansas City, KS; write to The Little Brothers of the Lamb, 801 Vermont Ave., Kansas City, KS 66101; or call (913) 998-6644.

of contemplative prayer and outreach to the poor.

In order to garner support for this final push, the Brothers are visiting parishes throughout the archdiocese where they will attend Mass, sing for the congregation and get to know parishioners — and encourage parishioners to get to know them.

“It’s beautiful,” said Little Brother Christophe after a recent visit to Prince of Peace Parish, Olathe. “We build a lot of friendships and we are a

little bit more known.

“People learn about the purpose of our community, and that is very great.”

However, an even more immediate challenge has made it difficult for the Brothers to continue even this effort.

“Our car broke down,” said Little Brother Christophe in his accented English.

“A friend of ours took the car to a garage,” he said, “and they said, ‘It’s better to put the car on a cliff and just let it go. It is too dangerous to ride in.’”

This Community of the Lamb, which has its roots in France, is the first in the United States — and it’s the first time community members have felt such a need for private transportation.

Usually the Little Brothers, who live in poverty, are content to walk on their missions, hitchhiking to cover greater distances.

“In France, normally we have no cars,” explained Little Brother Christophe. “But here in the United States, traveling great distances without a car

is hard.

Little Brother Joachim agreed.

“If you have an appointment in the morning,” he said, “it can be complicated to hitchhike.”

“Like coming to a parish at 7:30 in the morning, or if we have to go back late at night,” agreed Little Brother Clement.

“That’s why we are looking for a car now,” said Little Brother Christophe.

And so, as the Brothers continue to visit parishes and raise funds for their monastery, they’re also praying for the donation of a car.

“A simple sedan with four doors,” said Little Brother Clement.

And they ask for the prayers of the entire archdiocese for the success of their effort. They also encourage anyone who would like to visit them in their community to do so.

“People are always welcome to come and visit us,” said Little Brother Clement. “That’s one of the aspects of us coming to all these different parishes.

“It lets people know they can come into our neighborhood and get to see what’s going on there.”

‘It’s not just in the book anymore,’ says young entrepreneur >> Continued from page 1 “I was nervous it was going to be a first time thing and then no one else would come after a while,” said seventh-grader Audrey Mellick.

Eighth-grader Seth Filipsen didn’t worry about it too much either way.

“It was just a little extracurricular activity to do before school to get active and involved,” he said.

Little did the students know that the class would be one of the highlights of their year.

Those involved dedicate one to two mornings a week running the store and one afternoon in a classroom setting — both about 20-minute sessions.

“Usually there’s four to six people working at a time,” said seventh-grader Nathan Nichols.

Jobs include an accountant, a manager, a seller and a crowd controller. “[The store] is completely theirs,” said Henneberg. “I just stand back and offer assistance when they need it, but they love it because they get to take that leadership.”

“They have really stepped up and filled the shoes of such big leadership

roles,” she continued. “And they’ve done it very well.”

So well, in fact, that the store continuously receives customers each morning, feeding the confidence that drives the students’ work.

“It’s much better [getting hands-on experience], especially being an accountant,” said Nichols.

“It’s not just in the book anymore,” he added. “It’s good to have a real-life situation.”

Tangible rewards For the students, the perks of the real-world experience are only exceeded by the opportunity to give back to their school.

The profit they make goes back to the school in a way the students collectively choose.

Their choice this year?

A new water fountain for the entire school to enjoy.

“Originally, their goal was to just get one [fountain] this year,” said Henneberg.

“But we were actually able to buy

one by halfway through the year, so now we’re able to talk about getting a second one,” she continued.

Not only is the new water fountain — located in the cafeteria — a huge hit with all the students, it’s also eco-friendly.

“It helps the world and helps the school,” said Filipsen.

Now when the students pass the fountain, they feel a deeper sense of purpose.

“I feel like I made a difference on the school,” said Mellick.

“Every time you see it, you’re like, ‘Hey, I helped get that,’” said Loftus.

And for Nichols, it’s even more rewarding knowing the entire school contributed in some small way.

“We as a group accomplished this,” he said, “and everyone helped.”

Lifelong values Another unique aspect of the class is the sense of community it builds.

“Sometimes, you get to talk to some eighth-graders, and you get to talk to people who you don’t really expect to

talk to during class or passing periods,” said Mellick.

“It’s a great sense of community,” said Filipsen.

For Henneberg, the values her students are learning are crucial to a successful future in whatever field they choose.

“We talk about honesty and being prudent with our time and our money,” she said. “And being kind to others in our attitudes and the way we approach everyone else.”

“Hopefully, they’re taking those Christ-like skills with them and becoming more than just an employee somewhere, but a really outstanding employee by using some of the skills that other people who don’t get that Catholic education don’t have,” she added.

Both Henneberg and the students hope the class carries on next year.

“I taught them the business skills and the entrepreneurship,” said Henneberg, “but they are the ones who made it happen.

“It’s really neat to step back and watch them learn by doing.”

MARCH 17, 2017 | THELEAVEN.ORG

LOCAL NEWS

WORKERS thein VINEYARD

TOOLS FOR FAMILIES Growing as Disciples of Jesus

Lent hits home

M

any of us are familiar with the Lenten formula of increased prayer, fasting and almsgiving, but what if we took that formula and focused it on our family members?

• Pray one Hail Mary for each member of the family each day.

• Offer our fasting and Friday abstinence from ARTWORK BY NEILSON CARLIN, 2015 meat for a different family member each week.

• Give the alms of increased affirmation each day to children and spouse.

— Brad DuPont, consultant for the archdiocesan marriage and family life office

WEBSITE EXCLUSIVE

CHURCH OF THE WEEK

Holy Family, Eudora Address: 820 Birch St., 66025 Phone: (785) 524-2788 Parochial administrator: Father Mike Scully, OFM Cap. Mass times: Saturday, 5 p.m.; Sunday, 9:30 a.m.

Email: hfceudora@sunflower.com Website: http://holyfamilyeudora.com MORE PHOTOS AND A VIDEO TOUR of this church can be seen online at: www.theleaven.org

WEBSITE EXCLUSIVE

TEAM OF THE WEEK Championship roundup

T

his week, The Leaven will highlight all the archdiocesan teams and individuals that won state championships in winter sports.

All this and more can be found online at: www.theleaven.org.

6

Volunteer works to feed the hungry

By Moira Cullings moira.cullings@theleaven.org

B

ONNER SPRINGS — Carol Coyle’s hometown here holds a special place in her heart.

So much so that she has been feeding the hungry on her native soil every week for nearly four years.

“I don’t have any children, but I know a lot of people who do,” said Coyle, a parishioner of Sacred Heart of Jesus in Shawnee.

“I have seen children who would not have food [without help],” she said. “And I’m blessed that that’s not the case for me.”

To help the hungry in her hometown, Coyle volunteers for Feed His Lambs, a multi-denominational program created in 2011 as a way to serve the Bonner Springs and Edwardsville communities.

It is now comprised of a group of about 25-30 volunteers who purchase, prepare and serve meals to families of children in the Bonner Springs/Edwardsville school district.

Volunteers ask school counselors in the district if there are families of students who might not have enough food for the weekend.

They then buy and prepare what’s needed to serve those in need.

“We serve these meals on Friday evenings, and we have enough for the families that we hope it will last at least for the weekend,” said Coyle.

It is designed to help the families who are already receiving assistance stretch a little further.

“Although the kids will get food during school,” she explained, “there isn’t always enough food over the weekend.”

Coyle, who was born and raised in Bonner, is grateful for the ability to give back to her hometown in a tangible way.

“I just want to help my community,” she said.

Coyle began volunteering for Feed His Lambs in 2013 after talking to her hairdresser Patti Ward, who founded the program, about its work.

After retiring from AT&T where she worked as a computer programmer for more than 33 years, Coyle started to dedicate more time to the program.

She now spends five to six hours each week volunteering.

“I’m not a cook by any means,”

L

LEAVEN PHOTO BY JOE BOLLIG

Carol Coyle prepares food for the hungry through Feed His Lambs, a multi-denominational program created in 2011 as a way to serve the Bonner Springs and Edwardsville communities. said Coyle, “so I do the odds and ends of things that need to be done.”

Coyle goes to Restaurant Depot in Kansas City, Missouri, with about seven of the other volunteers each Thursday. She then goes to Bonner Springs United Methodist Church Friday mornings, where the cooking and preparation takes place.

Coyle returns to the church each Friday evening to help serve the meals — one of her favorite parts of the ministry.

“Especially when the kids come in and find out it’s cookie night, they get so excited,” she said. “I’ve gotten to know some of the families, too.”

Volunteering is nothing new for Coyle.

At AT&T she was part of the company’s community involvement council, which did volunteer work across the city.

She is also in charge of the “beep” Easter egg hunt that takes place each year for stu-

dents at schools for the blind in Kansas and Missouri.

“I’ve pretty much volunteered my whole life,” she said.

But this program is special.

With its multi-denominational group of volunteers, Coyle is able to work with people from a variety of religious backgrounds.

“Before everyone leaves every Friday morning,” she said, “we have a small prayer service.

“We pray for any needs that we know people [have], and we thank God for having us be able to do this ministry for our community.”

“It’s multi-denominational,” she added, “but everyone is there to thank God that we can help our community.”

For Coyle, helping those in need is a necessary part of life.

“I’m very blessed,” she said.

“I’ve had a wonderful life and job, and I just like to help people out.

“If there’s something I can help someone with, I love to do that.”

Summer Leadership Camp set for June 19-21

EAVENWORTH — Young women entering sixth, seventh and eighth grades are invited to the Summer Leadership Camp on the campus of the University of Saint Mary here June 19 through 21.

Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth and the Benedictine Sisters of Mount St. Scholastica in Atchison host this event.

Participants will learn: • how faith works.

• how Catholic Christian values and leadership go together.

• how to set goals and make decisions.

• how to like themselves — and others will like them back.

They will also have the opportunity to enjoy crafts, games, athletic events, music and more.

The registration fee of $125 covers lodging, meals, special activities and a T-shirt for each participant. Partial scholarships are available. Registration deadline is April 1.

Contact Sister Vicki Lichtenauer by email at: vickiL@ scls.org or call (816) 718-2660 for more information. For a brochure with registration form, visit the website at: www.scls.org.

The fish that saved

Nortonville STORY BY TODD HABIGER | PHOTOS BY LORI WOOD HABIGER

ALL SMILES

Katherine (center) and LeRoy Servaes check out the dessert table as Angie Funk makes sure the table is full at all times.

PIMP MY RIDE

An old school bus was converted into the fish fry command center to accommodate the needs of St. Joseph Parish’s fish fry in Nortonville. Equipped with six fryers, the bus can keep up with the rigors of 600-800 people all wanting fish.

“P

eople will come, Ann. They’ll come to Nortonville for reasons they can’t even fathom.

They’ll turn up in the church parking lot not knowing for sure why they’re doing it. They’ll arrive as innocent as children, longing for fish. “‘Of course we have fish,’ you’ll say. ‘It’s only $10 per person.’ They’ll pass over the money without even thinking about it, for it’s money they have, and fish they crave.

People will come, Ann. People will most definitely come.”

— The ghost of Bishop Miege to Ann Funk

OK, so maybe that’s not quite how it happened.

The ghost of Bishop John Baptist Miege didn’t appear out of the rolling fields of Nortonville telling Ann Funk to start a fish fry to save St. Joseph Parish.

But there’s definitely some divine intervention going on here. How can a town of 600 people host Lenten fish fries and draw anywhere from 600 to 800 people a week?

Well, that’s a tale worth telling.

A fish fry is born St. Joseph School in Nortonville was failing. The year was 1995 and enrollment was dwindling. In a town of this size, the fact that it even had a Catholic school was something of a miracle.

Folks around here tend to hold on tightly to the past. The school had been around since the early 1900s and parishioners wanted to see it continue.

But, with declining enrollment, the school needed money to continue to operate.

“We didn’t have enough kids attending,” said Ann. “We didn’t have sports and things like that. We just

had religion.”

Ann knew that her brother’s parish in Omaha, Nebraska, had had great success raising money with Lenten fish fries.

So, the parish decided to give it a go, with Ann at point.

“The first night, I said if we feed 100 people, I’d be happy and we fed 75,” Ann said.

In the end, the fish fries couldn’t save the school.

Although the fish fry numbers were growing each year, the number of students at St. Joseph School in Nortonville was not.

“We had good teachers, but you can’t keep a school open for 20 kids,” Ann said. “We were one of the smallest schools in the archdiocese.”

The school closed in 2007.

But the fish fries lived on.

The legend of St. Joseph The 75 people that were served at the very first fish fry was the low-water point. Numbers grew >> Story continues on the next page

HOT STUFF

Richard Bertels keeps an eye on all the pots on the stove to make sure the food is done just right.

Everyone who volunteers at the St. Joseph fish fry knows their job and how to do it well. >> Continued from previous page every week and every year that followed.

In five years, the fish fries were averaging more than 300 people a week.

Within 10 years, anywhere from 700 to 800 people were being served.

“We get regulars from St. Joe, Topeka, Atchison and Leavenworth,” said Al Funk, Ann’s brother-in-law and fellow volunteer.

“People say they can’t go anywhere else to get what they get here,” Ann said.

“There are a variety of salads. All the pies are homemade. Most of the salads are homemade. The only thing that is bought is the fish. Most of the stuff is made right here.”

Father Lazar Carasala, pastor of St. Joseph, said he’s never seen anything like it.

“I was really surprised that this small town was getting these types of crowds,” he said. “I was in Overland Park for one year at [Church of the] Ascension, but I see the same crowd numbers here.”

Dean and Nancy Swafford drove from Savannah, Missouri, to attend this year’s opening fish fry.

And they’re not even Catholic!

“It’s worth every penny,” said Nancy.

Dean, who works at Atchison County Community Schools in nearby Effingham, said he loves the camaraderie of the people of Nortonville.

“We live in a town of 5,000 in Missouri and you don’t see this type of thing there,” he said.

The magic school bus The kitchen was becoming a mess. As the staging ground for everything at the fish fry, the kitchen was overcrowded in the early years. As the fish fries started serving more and more people, the chaos almost became too much. Something had to be done.

Then the school bus arrived.

St. Joseph parishioner Robbie Weishaar’s friend had an old, nonworking school bus that he wanted to get rid of. Weishaar traded him a semi tire for the school bus, and suddenly St. Joseph had a staging area to cook the fish.

They ripped the seats out of the bus and started out with propane burners but quickly found that they couldn’t keep up with the demand.

They then converted to restaurantstyle fryers. The bus grew from one fryer to the six they use now.

“We were fortunate enough that we had a guy that was acquainted with McDonald’s,” Al said, “and he helped us find some used cookers.

“That’s how we started cooking this way.”

Opening night St. Joseph’s fish fry is supposed to start at 5 p.m. As visitors approach old St. Joseph School, where the fish fry is held, they can see the parking lot is full and cars have spilled over onto the grass. It’s only 4:30 p.m.

Inside, the gymnasium is already three-quarters filled. Apparently, the townspeople know a secret — if you get there early, you will be served. But you have to wait until Father Carasala says grace. No grace, no food.

By 5 p.m., the line is halfway around the gym and stays that way practically to the end of the evening.

There are many heroes of this event.

A few have been named in this story, but the reality is, it’s a community effort.

There’s 91-years-young Vincent Bertels, greeting people as they enter. Years ago, he had a more active job but, as age crept up, he found a way to continue to contribute.

There’s Jim Wolfe, a non-Catholic who nevertheless is very active in the community. He directs traffic downstairs and offers a friendly voice and smile to all who enter.

There’s Nancy Balinger, a mail carrier in Atchison, who rushed to the school from work and immediately started busing tables, still in her postal uniform.

One family makes 300-400 dinner rolls each week. Another donates sweet corn from their summer harvest to the cause. Another family makes all the corn bread. The list goes on and on and on.

“It’s gotten to the point where everyone has their area of expertise,” Al said.

“Everybody knows where to go, what needs to be done and what to do.”

The word gets out. Despite competing fish fries popping up all around them, St. Joseph’s continues to flourish.

Father Carasala put it best: “It’s because of the expert hands.”

FRY GUY

Larry Lohman keeps the fish and shrimp cooking at a good pace. Close to 500 people showed up for St. Josep

The legacy Although the fish fry couldn’t save the school, it has saved the parish from financial hardship. It put a new roof on the church, the school and the rectory.

It bought a new heating and air conditioning unit for the church.

The parish is debt free. None of this would be possible without the fish fry.

“We’re a poor parish, but we all know how to work,” Ann said. “We are in a farming community. It’s one thing that this parish has always done — come together and work to pay our bills.”

OVER AND OVER

From left, Lavern Davis, Clariene Falk, Anne Weishaar, Autumn Bertels and Alice Domann continue an endles ware in napkins. As the silverware is washed and dried, it’s brought to this table to be wrapped and rewrapp

WONDER WORKERS

Ann and Donald Funk put in countless hours to help make the St. Joseph fish fries a success. Their day typically starts at noon on fish fry days, and they are always among the last to leave.

FULL HOUSE

A steady flow of people moves in and out of the old St. Joseph School from 4 to 7 p.m. on the opening night of the parish’s fish fry. In all, 499 people were served. According to organizers, opening night is always the least attended.

SEASON’S GREETINGS

Jim Wolfe directs traffic and serves as a greeter in the basement of the school.

Though he’s not Catholic, Wolfe is very much invested in the parish and the community.

FAMILY FUN

Beverely Jeffery, from the nearby town of Effingham, enjoys the fish dinner with her 18-month-old grandson MaCoy Jeffery.

ph’s opening fish fry.

ss cycle of wrapping silverped.

NIGHT FISHING

Even as the sun goes down, the people keep streaming into the St. Joseph fish fry. From left, Daryl Kramer and John Madden keep the fish flowing from the cookers in the bus to the crowd inside.

MARCH 17, 2017 | THELEAVEN.ORG

NATION

10

Effort to rescue Blessed Sacrament recalled as act of great faith

By Mike Latona Catholic News Service

R

OCHESTER, N.Y. (CNS) — When they awoke Feb. 20, 1967, Father George Weinmann and Sister Lilian Marie McLaughlin did not know that by early afternoon they’d perform actions that would cost them their lives — and render them modern-day martyrs in the eyes of many.

Yet when danger stared them down, in the form of a fire spreading through St. Philip Neri Church, they responded as only people with great faith might.

Father Weinmann, the pastor, rushed into the burning building to save the Blessed Sacrament inside the tabernacle. Sister McLaughlin, a School Sister of Notre Dame, who was a teacher at the parish school, soon followed to assist him.

Neither made it out. Sister McLaughlin, who had turned 26 just two days earlier, died on that Monday afternoon. Father Weinmann, 77, lost his life two days later.

Fifty years after the fact, the profundity of their heroic deeds is still felt deeply, as evidenced by the overflow crowd at the Church of the Annunciation Feb. 26 for a 50th anniversary memorial Mass celebrated by Rochester Bishop Salvatore R. Matano.

Among the attendees were family members of both Father Weinmann and

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People attend a 50th anniversary Mass Feb. 26 at the Church of the Annunciation in Rochester, N.Y., honoring Father George Weinmann and Sister Lilian Marie McLaughlin, a member of School Sisters of Notre Dame, who were killed in a 1967 fire at St. Philip Neri Church in Rochester.

Sister McLaughlin, as well as parishioners of the former St. Philip Neri Parish.

The homilist, Father Dennis Bonsignore, said the priest and nun provided a stirring example of their belief in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist.

Sister McLaughlin’s brother, Jim,

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who traveled from his home in Los Angeles for the memorial Mass, said he wasn’t surprised that his sister was brave enough to defy the common safety logic of getting away from a fire.

“There are few people who would go toward it. She was one of them,” he told the Catholic Courier, Rochester’s

diocesan newspaper.

Bishop Matano told the congregation that Father Weinmann and Sister McLaughlin are models for all Catholics to follow in giving fully of themselves to Jesus.

“We pray that in imitation of Sister Lilian Marie and Father George Weinmann we can say, ‘It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me,’” Bishop Matano said, quoting Chapter 2, Verse 20, of St. Paul’s Letter to the Galatians.

During his homily, Father Bonsignore noted he had acknowledged the St. Philip Neri fire on the 25th anniversary, in 1992, while serving at Irondequoit’s St. Cecilia Parish.

On that day, he said, Peter Fantigrossi happened to be present not knowing that Father Bonsignore would be preaching about the fire. Fantigrossi was the firefighter who carried Sister McLaughlin out of St. Philip Neri. The incident had left him so distraught that he fell away from church for many years.

But after the 1992 Mass, Father Bonsignore said, Fantigrossi experienced healing and renewal. A poem written

by Fantigrossi, who died in 2016, can be found at http://nerifire.webs.com. It is titled “I Held an Angel in My Arms.”

At a reception following the Feb. 26 memorial Mass, Jim McLaughlin and his sister, Evelyn McLaughlin Sabino, met several members of the Fantigrossi family for the first time.

MARCH 17, 2017 | THELEAVEN.ORG

WORLD

El Salvador hopes for a miracle and another saint

Egyptian priest praises Muslim support of threatened Christians

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (CNS) — El Salvador’s Catholic Church circles swirl these days with news about a possible miracle attributed to the intercession of Blessed Oscar Romero, one that many hope will lead to his canonization. But in the not-soquiet whispers of hope, there’s also the yearning that the momentum will help the beatification cause of his martyred Jesuit friend, Father Rutilio Grande. Father Grande was killed 40 years ago — March 12, 1977 — while on his way to a novena. More than a dozen bullets went through his body, killing him and parishioners Manuel Solorzano, 70, and 16-year-old Nelson Rutilio Lemus. “We’re waiting” for word that will make Father Grande El Salvador’s next saint-in-waiting, said Andrea Perla, of the Archdiocese of San Salvador’s canonization department.

By Jonathan Luxmoore Catholic News Service

O

XFORD, England (CNS) — A spokesman for Egypt’s Catholic Church praised local Muslims for helping embattled Christians after a series of Islamic State attacks in Sinai.

Father Rafic Greiche, spokesman for the Coptic Catholic Church, said Christians must differentiate between ordinary Muslims and extremists.

“Ordinary Muslims are kind and try to help however they can — they’re often first on the scene, rescuing the injured and taking them to hospitals,” he told Catholic News Service March 3, as Christians continued to flee Egypt’s North Sinai region.

Father Greiche said the attacks had affected only Coptic Orthodox Christians, but added that Catholic churches and schools in Ismailia had offered shelter to Orthodox families with help from Caritas.

Father Greiche said Islamic State militants were now “strongly entrenched” in North Sinai, having been allowed by the Hamas and Muslim Brotherhood organizations to use tunnels from the Gaza Strip.

He added that civilians were better off not staying in the surrounding military zone, which was now “under attack all the time,” but said he believed the Egyptian authorities were committed to protecting Christians against the Islamist insurgency.

“You can never do enough against jihadist and terrorist attacks, which come, like any criminal acts, at a time no one can foresee,” the priest said. “But while no country can be fully secure, I think there’s will on the government side to act decisively against these constant attempts to destabilize Egypt.”

In Britain, Coptic Orthodox Bishop Angaelos said from December through February, 40 Coptic Christians had been murdered in Egypt.

11

Nuns, Caritas to help malnourished children CNS PHOTO/EPA

Displaced Egyptian Christian families, who used to live in the north of the Sinai Peninsula, sit near their belongings after arriving Feb. 24 at a church in Ismailia. Catholic churches in Ismailia, with help from Caritas, have helped Coptic Orthodox fleeing Islamic State attacks in North Sinai.

“

“ORDINARY MUSLIMS ARE KIND AND TRY TO HELP HOWEVER THEY CAN — THEY’RE OFTEN FIRST ON THE SCENE, RESCUING THE INJURED AND TAKING THEM TO HOSPITALS.” “These horrific attacks have gone largely unnoticed by the international community, but Copts continue to suffer tragic violations daily,” he said in a statement Feb. 28. “The common denominator is that these innocent children, women and men have had their lives brutally and tragically ended for no other reason except that they are Christians.”

Bishop Angaelos noted that dozens of “Egyptian civilians, soldiers and police officers have lost their lives as a result of this wave of

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terrorist activity.”

The 200,000-member Catholic Coptic Church has 14 dioceses in Egypt, including pastoral services for Latin, Melkite, Armenian, Chaldean, Maronite and Syrian Catholics.

The much larger Coptic Orthodox Church, dating its origins from a first-century mission by St. Mark, makes up at least a tenth of Egypt’s population of 82.5 million and has more than 100 churches in the United States.

News reports said that, during the Sinai attacks, some victims had been beheaded and burned alive, while at least 1,000 Christians had fled to Ismailia and Cairo after death threats were daubed on their homes.

Addressing a Feb. 27 Cairo youth gathering, Egypt’s president, Gen. Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, condemned the Sinai attacks as “a cowardly plot by evil people intended to undermine national unity and confidence in the state.” He said he had instructed the defense, interior and intelligence ministries to “resist all attempts to sabotage stability and security.”

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CARACAS, Venezuela (CNS) — A year ago, Miledi Berdu and her husband, Robert Rodriguez, began skipping meals to keep their children fed as Venezuela’s economic crisis continued. Rodriguez’s salary as a welder in Caracas was not enough to cover soaring prices, and shortages made food expensive. One day, Berdu would skip lunch, then the next day, Rodriguez would go without dinner. The goal was to keep their 10-year-old daughter and 2-year-old son from going hungry. Berdu, already slim, dropped 11 pounds. “The kids always had food. We couldn’t tell them there wasn’t food, so we tried to make sure they didn’t realize,” she said. “How would you explain to your baby that there’s no bottle or to your child that it’s all we have to eat?” Sisters Teresa Gomez and Yexci Moreno of the Congregation of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception of Castres say cases like this are becoming too common. To better understand the scope of the problem and help push humanitarian and official organizations into action, the Sisters have teamed up with Caritas Venezuela, the local chapter of Caritas Internationalis, to run nutrition clinics for children under 5. On Saturdays, the nuns’ preschool in the low-income area of Propatria becomes a hive of activity as volunteers and doctors weigh, measure and examine local children at no cost. The clinics — called Survey System for Monitoring, Alerting, and Attending to Health and Nutrition, or SAMAN in Spanish, are designed to collect and monitor statistics and help malnourished children.

MARCH 17, 2017 | THELEAVEN.ORG

CLASSIFIEDS EMPLOYMENT Web manager – The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas is accepting applications for a full-time web manager. Duties include managing and maintaining internal websites and managing the digital media center.

The ideal candidate will be a practicing Catholic in good standing. Position requires bachelor’s degree in related field, and the candidate must have past experience in web design and management. Knowledge of Blackbaud Net Community a plus. A complete job description and required application are available on the archdiocese’s website at: www.archkck.org/jobs. Interested individuals should mail cover letter, resume and application to: Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, Office of Human Resources, Webmaster, 12615 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City, KS 66109, or send via email to: jobs@archkck.org.

Child care - Seeking care for 6-month-old in our home.

Located in Holy Spirit Parish, Overland Park. The hours are from 7 a.m. - 5 p.m., three to four days per week.

No weekends. References and reliable transportation required. Starting at $11 per hour. Email Lauren at: aps1035@yahoo.com.

Director of special events and development - The Catholic Education Foundation (CEF) seeks to hire a director of special events and development (cefks.org).

The director will work with the executive director and staff of the CEF to envision, plan and execute events and to develop and cultivate donor and community relations in support of CEF’s mission of providing scholarships for students in need in targeted Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas. The director of special events and development should have highly polished marketing and presentation skills, a charismatic communication style, exceptional organizational abilities, the capability of working with limited direction, and the ability to speak authentically about the importance of Catholic education. The director will facilitate, plan and manage all aspects of CEF fundraising events, including: advertising and promotion; preparing event budgets and tracking event finances; securing event sponsors and donors to meet event budget goals; coordinating event-related internal and external communication; recruiting and managing event volunteers; and coordinating event-related donor relations. The director will also assist the executive director with CEF general development activities, including: prospecting and cultivating new donors; coordinating existing donor relations; and maintaining accurate development databases.

Candidates should have a bachelor’s degree or higher; demonstrated success in event planning, sales and/or fundraising and donor development; and competency with Microsoft Office. A working knowledge of Catholic school operations is preferred. Must be a practicing Catholic in good standing. Individuals interested in this full-time position should send a cover letter and resume to: CEFAdmin@archkck.org.

Full-time openings - Padre Pio Academy in Shawnee, which offers a classical curriculum, has full-time openings for the 2017-18 school year. For more information and details, contact Joanne at (913) 530-6553.

Bookkeeper position – Catholic Cemeteries of Northeast Kansas has an immediate opening for a full-time bookkeeper position. The bookkeeper will assist with month-end closing activities, balance-sheet account reconciliations, account analysis, a/p, a/r, as well as manage the external audit of financial statements. The position requires a high school diploma or equivalent, two years’ related experience and excellent communication skills. Qualified individuals should email resume to: svallejo@cathcemks.org or mail to: Catholic Cemeteries, Attn: Sharon Vallejo, PO Box 2327, Kansas City, KS 66110.

Teacher assistant - Special Beginnings, Lenexa, is seeking full- or part-time after school teacher assistants at all locations. We are looking for a teacher assistant candidate who has an excellent work ethic, heart for children and a willingness to learn more about early childhood education. Experience and/or education is a plus, but we will train the right candidate. Teacher assistants will work with the lead teacher to care for and educate the children. Primary responsibilities include assisting the lead teacher with: care and supervision of children, lesson plan implementation, parent communication, and cleanliness and organization of classroom. Starting hourly pay ranges based on experience and education.

Pay increases are based on job performance. Opportunities for advancement are available, as the company prefers to promote from within. Apply by sending an email to: chris@specialbeginningsonline.com or in person at 10216 Pflumm Rd., Lenexa, KS 66215.

Teachers - St. James Academy is seeking several teachers for the 2017-18 school year. The ideal candidates will be practicing Catholics with a passion for evangelization and discipleship who are licensed and experienced in their content areas. Current openings include physical education and Spanish teachers, as well as a campus minister. Interested candidates should apply to the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas at: www.archkckcs. org. Send resumes and cover letters to the principal, Dr. Shane Rapp, at: srapp@sjakeepingfaith.org.

Drivers - Assisted Transportation is now hiring caring and reliable drivers to transport K-12 students to and from school and other activities in company minivans. Positions are now available in Olathe, Overland Park and Kansas City, Kansas. Competitive wages and flexible schedules. CDL not required. Retirees encouraged to apply. Call (913) 262-3100 or apply online at: AssistedTransportation.com. EEO.

Cafeteria/catering manager - Bishop Miege High School is accepting applications for the 2017-18 school year for a cafeteria/catering manager to supervise the preparation of daily breakfast and lunch during the school day, as well as catered events throughout the school year. Qualified applicants should have experience in menu preparation, supply management, financial accounting, as well as strong organizational, supervision and personal skills. Email letter of interest and resume to Mariann Jaksa at: mjaksa@bishopmiege.com.

Assistant to ReachKCK coordinator - The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas is accepting applications for a part-time administrative position in the ReachKCK youth ministry outreach of the office of evangelization and Catholic formation of youth. This position is approximately 15 hours per week. Duties include supporting youth programs and events, creating publicity materials, data entry, managing social media and handling various logistics. Ideal candidate will be a practicing Catholic in good standing and have a minimum of three years’ work experience, including at least one year of administrative experience. Knowledge of youth ministry in an urban setting and Spanish preferred. A complete job description and required application are available on the archdiocese’s website at: www.archkck.org/jobs. Interested individuals should mail cover letter, resume and application to: Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, Office of Human Resources, Youth Search, 12615 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City, KS 66109, or send via email to: jobs@arch kck.org.

Principal - St. Peter’s Middle School/McAuley Catholic High School in Joplin, Missouri, is looking for a principal.

Requirements: active Catholic with a passion for Catholic education; Missouri (or other) educator certification.

Master’s in education administration (or in progress) and administrative experience, especially in Catholic schools, preferred. Send resume with three professional references to Georgiana L. McGriff, director, Joplin area Catholic schools at: gmcgriff@jacss.org.

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

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

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

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

Principal/administrator – Sacred Heart School (PreK12) in Sedalia, Mo., is entering its 135th year of Catholic education with remarkable achievements that few schools can rival. Last year alone, the accomplishments of our dynamic student body included numerous state and regional awards in math, science, speech and athletics, to name a few. Our faith community of 380 students, a full-time assistant principal and 33 faculty members are seeking a dynamic and enthusiastic leadership for its next phase of growth. Applicants must be practicing Catholics. Requirements include a master’s degree and principal’s certificate. Applicants should email an application to the Diocese of Jefferson City at: www.diojeffcity.org and send a letter of interest to Father Mark Miller at: millermcpps@gmail.com.

Review of applications will begin on March 15 and will continue until the position is filled.

Parish administrator - Prince of Peace in Olathe is seeking an exceptional and experienced leader to be our parish administrator. This is a full-time, key leadership position that would work closely with the pastor and would be responsible for the leadership and management of the business operation of the parish. This position includes administration of parish finances, facilities and personnel. Seeking an individual with working knowledge of accounting principles, familiarity with archdiocesan policies and proven management and personnel skills. Full job description and application details may be found at: www.popolathe.org.

Early childhood director - Prince of Peace Parish in Olathe seeks a director for our Early Education Center with strong leadership, communication and motivational skills. This is a full-time year-round position. The program has full-time child care/preschool, part-time preschool and afterschool care for children 2 to 12 years.

Applicant must be a practicing Catholic, have a degree in ECE, taught for a minimum of three years or have administrative experience in early childhood. Full job description and application details may be found at: www. popolathe.org.

Administrative assistant - BGMAC is searching for a highly motivated and hardworking administrative assistant with accounting experience. The candidate must be a great team player with good communication skills and the ability to multitask. This is a full-time position, starting pay $13.50/hour, Monday-Friday. Background check and high school diploma or equivalent required.

Submit resume and cover page to: skemp@bakergroup mac.com.

Drivers needed - Medi Coach Transportation is looking for caring and reliable drivers for nonemergency transportation. CDL is not required. Contact Jeff at (913) 8251921.

Girls basketball coach - St. James Academy is seeking a head girls basketball coach and cheer and dance coaches for the 2017-18 season. The ideal candidates will be practicing Catholics with a passion for evangelization and discipleship with experience coaching at the high school or college level. Interested candidates should email resumes and cover letters to the activities and athletic director, Mr. Mark Huppe, at: mhuppe@sja keepingfaith.org.

Principal - St. Ann Elementary School in Carthage, Missouri, has an open position for principal. Requirements: active Catholic with a passion for Catholic education; Missouri (or other) educator certification; master’s in education administration (or in progress); and administrative experience, especially in Catholic school, preferred.

Send resume with three professional references to: Father J. Friedel, St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church, 812 Pearl Ave., Joplin, MO 64801.

Adult faith formation - Prince of Peace Parish in Olathe is seeking a coordinator of adult faith formation to be responsible for all adult faith formation such as RCIA, ChristLife, CRHP and to assist in a new “Family First” approach to religious education for youth. This is a fulltime year-round position. We seek a committed Catholic knowledgeable about RCIA and adult evangelization in a Catholic setting. Seeking an individual with a degree in theology, pastoral studies, religious education or related field with a minimum of three years’ experience. Full job description and application details may be found at: www.popolathe.org

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

WATKINS TEAM Honest, reliable home selling for over 50 years Parishioner of Queen of the Holy Rosary, Overland Park Doug (913) 593-6362 | watkinsd@reecenichols.com Dirk (913) 219-2965 | dirkw@reecenichols.com Reece Nichols Real Estate Tupperware lady - Can help you with orders, parties, warranties and any questions you may have. Call Susy at (913) 706-9422 or send an email to: SusyRtupperware@ gmail.com or order directly at: susyrodriguez.my.tupper ware.com.

Housecleaning - A range of services provided from housecleaning to organizing closets, rooms and garages, as well as hoarder projects. 15 years of experience.

Professional, energetic and dependable. Call Joni at (913) 206-4403.

Rodman Lawn Care Lawn mowing, aeration, verticutting, fertilizing Hedge trimming, mulching, leaf removal, gutter cleaning Fully insured and free estimates John Rodman (913) 548-3002 Mike Hammer local moving - A full-service mover.

Packing, pianos, rental truck load/unload, storage container load/unload, and in-home moving. No job too small. Serving JoCo since 1987. St. Joseph, Shawnee, parishioner. Call Mike at (913) 927-4347 or send an email to: mike@mikehammermoving.com.

Tree Trimming Tree Trimming/Landscaping Insured/References Free Estimates/Local Parishioner Faith-based counseling to cope with life concerns - Kansas City area. Call Mary Vorsten, licensed clinical professional counselor, at (913) 909-2002.

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

Landscape and irrigation design, Installation and maintenance.

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

Visit the website at: www.goaguafina.com Call (913) 530-7260 or (913) 530-5661 Doll dresses - 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. Call Patty at (913) 3459498.

HOME IMPROVEMENT Swalms organizing - downsizing - cleanout service – Reduce clutter – Any space organized. Shelving built on-site. Items hauled for recycling and donations. 20 years exp.; insured. Call Tillar at (913) 375-9115. WWW. SWALMSORGANIZING.COM.

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EL SOL Y LA TIERRA *Commercial & residential * Lawn renovation *Mowing * Clean-up and hauling * Dirt grading/installation * Landscape design * Free estimates Hablamos y escribimos Ingles!! www.elsolylatierra.com Call Lupe at (816) 935-0176 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.

Local handyman - Painting int. and ext., staining, wood rot, power wash, decks, doors and windows, masonry, hardwood floors, gutter cleaning, water heaters, toilets, faucets, garbage disposals, ceiling fans, mowing and more!! Member of Holy Angels Parish, Basehor. Call Billy at (913) 927-4118.

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

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

Everything is guaranteed 100% (913) 461-4052 www.windowservicesoverlandpark.com drcconswindows@gmail.com Concrete construction - Tear out and replace stamped, stained or colored patios and drives. Retaining walls, footings, poured-in-place safe rooms, excavation and hauling.

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

Kansas City’s Premier Deck, Fence & Concrete - We repair, powerwash and stain wood decks and fences.

We power wash and seal concrete drives, walkway, pool decks and more. Call Brian at (913) 952-5965. Member of Holy Trinity Parish.

Thank you for another great year - Through your support, my family has been blessed and my business has grown. We do windows, trim, siding, doors, decks, interior and exterior painting, wood rot, bathroom renovations, tile and sheetrock. If you need work done around your home, we can do it. Josh (913) 709-7230.

Handyman/remodeler - Quality service with references.

Kitchens, baths, tile, painting, garage doors and openers, decks and wood rot repair. Call Jeff at (913) 915-4738.

HARCO Exteriors LLC Your Kansas City fencing specialists Family owned and operated (913) 815-4817 www.harcoexteriorsllc.com NELSON CREATIONS L.L.C. Home remodeling, design/build, kitchens, baths, all interior and exterior work. Family owned and operated; over 25 years experience. Licensed and insured; commercial and residential. Kirk and Diane Nelson.

(913) 927-5240; nelsport@everestkc.net 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) 5791835. Email: smokeycabin@hotmail.com. Member of Holy Trinity, Lenexa.

Custom countertops - Laminates installed within 5 days.

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

Members of St. Joseph, Shawnee.

Rusty Dandy Painting, Inc. – We have been coloring your world for 40 years. Your home will be treated as if it were our own. Old cabinets will be made to look like new. Dingy walls and ceilings will be made beautiful. Woodwork will glow. Lead-certified and insured. Call (913) 341-9125.

CAREGIVING Looking for assisted living at home? - Before you move, call us and explore our in-home care options. We specialize in helping families live safely at home while saving thousands of dollars per year. Call today for more information or to request a FREE home care planning guide.

Benefits of Home - Senior Care, www.benefitsofhome. com or call (913) 422-1591.

Caregiving - We provide personal assistance, companionship, care management, and transportation for seniors in their home, assisted living or nursing facilities. We also provide respite care for main caregivers needing some personal time. Call Daughters & Company at (913) 3412500 and speak with Laurie, Pat or Gary.

Experienced CNA - Excellent references, flexible schedule, light housekeeping, cooking, errands. Can assist with medications and distribution; can also provide transportation to and from doctor appointments. Can cut and style hair as well as do massages and shaves. Call Chris at (913) 548-7656.

>> Classifieds continue on page 13

MARCH 17, 2017 | THELEAVEN.ORG

CALENDAR ST. PATRICK’S DAY DINNER/DANCE St. Paul Parish (gym) 900 S. Honeysuckle Dr., Olathe March 18 from 6 - 10 p.m.

time. Twenty percent of all lunch and dinner sales will be donated to the good works of the Sisters. To make reservations online, go to the website at: jasperskc.com or call (913) 941-6600.

There will be a traditional Irish dinner of corned beef and cabbage, potatoes, carrots, rolls and dessert. Beer and wine will be available. BYOB welcome. The cost for tickets is $15 each. Ages 21 and over only. Proceeds will be donated to the Knights of Columbus for vocations. For more information, call Chris or Vicki Dieterman at (913) 780-6428.

ST. PATRICK’S DANCE Church of the Nativity Parish (hall) 3800 W. 119th St., Leawood March 18 from 7 - 11 p.m.

POTLUCK DINNER Most Pure Heart of Mary (Formation Room) 3601 S.W. 17th St., Topeka March 23 from 5 - 7 p.m.

The Christian Widow and Widowers Organization will host the potluck dinner. There is no cost to attend. For more information, call (785) 233-7350.

There will be a memorial liturgy for deceased loved ones followed by a grief support meeting in the Father Burak Room. The topic will be: “The Many Shades of Grief.” For more information, call (913) 649-2026.

DAUGHTERS OF ISABELLA, LITTLE FLOWER CIRCLE 503 Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish 201 N.E. Chandler, Topeka March 19 at 8 a.m.

There will be a corporate Communion Mass.

Plan to arrive at 7:15 a.m. to pick up sashes and proceed into church as a group. If anyone knows of a member or family member who is sick or in need of prayers, call Theresa Smith-Lawton at (785) 640-1403. For more information about the Daughters of Isabella, call Theresa Renfrow at (785) 969-1779 or Smith-Lawton at (785) 640-1403.

A dinner of ham or turkey and trimmings, pie and beverages will be served. The cost is: $9 for adults; $5 for kids ages 5 - 12; kids under 5 eat for free. There will also be raffle items available.

ST. JOSEPH TABLE Cathedral of St. Peter Parish (center) 409 N. 15th St., Kansas City, Kansas March 19 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

A blessing of the St. Joseph table will follow the 9 a.m. Mass. There will be an opportunity to purchase various items. Beginning at 11 a.m., a spaghetti dinner will be served. A freewill donation is suggested. All profits go to those in need in the Greater Kansas City area. For more information, call Diane Hinkle at (913) 371-1891.

DINE TO DONATE TO THE SISTERS OF ST. JOSEPH Jasper’s Restaurant 1201 W. 103rd St., Kansas City, Missouri March 22; call for reservations

Enjoy a delicious meal and help the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet at the same

LECTURE BY PHOTOJOURNALIST/ DEATH PENALTY ACTIVIST Donnelly College Event Center 608 N. 18th St., Kansas City, Kansas March 23 at 10:40 a.m.

Scott Langley’s lecture will be in conjunction with an exhibit of his work displayed at Donnelly College. The lecture and exhibit are free and open to the public.

PARISH RETREAT Holy Angels Parish 15408 Leavenworth Rd., Basehor March 20 - 23

Mass will be at 6:30 p.m. on March 20 and 21, followed by retreat sessions at 7:30 p.m.

On March 22 from 6 - 7 p.m., there will be an opportunity to go to confession. A retreat session will follow at 7:30 p.m. The retreat will focus on “The Saints and Spiritual Parenthood.”

There will be a 5K fun walk/run for all ages and a 10K trail run that is challenging. A pancake breakfast will be available during and after the run event. The $30 entry includes a T-shirt as long as supplies last. Register online at: active.com; type in “St. Benedict” and Atchison, KS. For more information, call Jason Johnson at (913) 683-8029.

BISHOP WARD SENIOR CLASS TACO DINNER St. Patrick Parish (center) 1086 N. 94th St., Kansas City, Kansas March 25 from noon - 5 p.m.

The cost for a plate of four tacos and rice is $5. Drinks, desserts and raffles will be available for sale. Proceeds benefit the Bishop Ward senior class Project Graduation festivities.

A DAY OF SPIRITUAL REFLECTION St. Joseph Parish (Knights Hall) 308 Iowa St., Olpe March 25 from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Monsignor Swetland will present a day of reflection on “Living Life to the Full.” Topics

K E A T I N G Mud Jacking Cracked • Bowed • Settled Wall Repair v Wall Bracing v Waterproofing v Steel Underpinning Kansas City (913) 262-9352

Schedule an appointment online at: www. savealifenow.org, using sponsor code: st josephcatholic. Walk-in donors welcome.

For more information, call Virginia Wiedel at (913) 268-2874.

There will be a catered dinner, provided by Bruff’s, with a choice of either a 10 oz. KC strip or herbed baked chicken. The cost is $30 per person. Reservations may be made online at: shsemporia.ticketleap.com and then click on 2017 Sacred Heart School Bid ’n’ Bite.

SPIRE FEST InterContinental Hotel 401 Ward Pkwy., Kansas City, Missouri April 1 at 6 p.m.

This event is the largest scholarship fundraiser for the University of Saint Mary, Leavenworth. Over 500 guests come together for a formal dinner, silent and live auctions, entertainment, red carpet activities and more. Sponsorships and auction items are still being accepted. For more information and for tickets, call Sharon Clay at (913) 758-6108; send an email to: Sharon.clay@ stmary.edu; or go to the website at: www. stmary.edu/spirefest.

MUD JACKING Raise & Level

v Patios v Drives v Garage Floors v Slab Houses Lawrence (785) 865-0006

Topeka (785) 246-0128

>> Continued from page 12

CAREGIVING Senior care and helper - I am a registered nurse with a master’s degree in nursing and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Virginia and the University of Mary. I am also a husband and father of two young children. I enjoy working with, learning from and exchanging stories with the senior population and America’s Greatest Generation. This may include, but not be limited to, nursing care, grocery shopping, yard work, medical appointments, companionship and helping around the home. Parishioner of Holy Trinity Parish. Call Matt at (913) 721-6543 to set up a no-obligation meeting to see if we are a good fit for one another.

FOR SALE Residential lifts - New and recycled. Stair lifts, porch lifts, ceiling lifts and elevators. KC Lift & Elevator at (913) 327-5557. (Formerly Silver Cross - KC) For sale - Two lots at Mount Calvary Cemetery, Topeka, numbers 769 West and 769 East; Rossiter section, southeast corner. Will sell for $2250; $1000 for each lot, $250 to transfer names. Call (785) 272-5546.

For sale - Double niche at Resurrection Cemetery in Lenexa. Holy Family Mausoleum, Jesus Son of God corridor, tier A. Includes bronze diamond companion urn.

Current price $6690, selling price $5000. Call (913) 897-6433.

REAL ESTATE For sale - Maintenance free home. Backs up to Ascension Catholic Church. Two bedroom, 2.5 bath, study, open floor plan. Great for entertaining. Call for appointment. (913) 669-8178.

WANTED TO BUY Will buy firearms and related accessories - One or a whole collection. Honest evaluation and top prices paid. Contact Tom at (913) 238-2473. Member of Sacred Heart Parish, Shawnee.

Will buy houses in any condition - We pay cash and you sell as-is with no warranty. You can leave anything behind if you don’t want to move it. My name is Mark and my family is part of Holy Trinity Parish. I hope I can help you. (913) 980-4905.

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

Renee Maderak, (913) 631-7179.

St. Joseph Parish, Shawnee

ST. PAT’S IRISH FEST St. Benedict Parish 1001 N. 2nd St., Atchison March 25 at 9 a.m.

FEAST DAY DINNER St. Patrick Parish 302 Boyle St., Scranton March 19 from 11 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

FOUNDATION REPAIR

BLOOD DRIVE St. Joseph Parish (Knights of Columbus Hall) 11221 Johnson Dr., Shawnee March 27 from 1 - 7 p.m.

SACRED HEART SCHOOL BID ’N’ BITE ‘FOOLS RUSH IN’ Sacred Heart Parish (hall) 101 Cottonwood St., Emporia April 1 at 6:30 p.m.

The dance is sponsored by the Singles of Nativity. The cost for tickets is $20 at the door and includes food, drinks and DJ. For more information, call Maria at (913) 314-9844 or go the website at: www.son-ministry.org.

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

include: “Faith in Secular Life,” “Why Bother with Church?” and “Becoming Who You Are.” Reservations are required by March 22 to plan for food. Call (620) 475-3767 or send an email to: st.joseph_olpe@yahoo. com.

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COMMUNITY GARAGE SALE Sacred Heart Parish (hall) 1405 2nd Ave., Leavenworth April 1 from 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Sacred Heart and St. Casimir parishes are hosting this garage sale. There will be many items for sale along with concessions.

WOMEN’S DAY OF REFLECTION Holy Trinity Parish 13615 W. 92nd St., Lenexa April 1 from 8 a.m. - noon

This is an opportunity to listen, pray and reflect on the topic: “The Dignity of Women — The Role of Our Blessed Mother” with guest speakers, Sister Marie Hessed and Sister Anne Marie Walsh of the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity. The cost is $10 for early registration and $15 at the door. For more information, call Kathleen at (913) 2695369.

Wanted to buy - Cucina LLC is an entity that buys commercial real estate. Lou Serrone, a member of Good Shepherd, and Tom Disidore, a member of St. Agnes, are members of Cucina LLC. Tom and Lou are licensed brokers in both Kansas and Missouri. If you are a seller of commercial real estate, call Lou at (913) 219-9924.

PILGRIMAGE Fatima/Medjugorje pilgrimage - Celebrate the 100th anniversary of apparitions in Fatima with a pilgrimage to Fatima and Medjugorje. Oct. 25 to Nov. 9, 2017. Call Grace at (913) 449-1806 for details. (Dates subject to change.)

MARCH 17, 2017 | THELEAVEN.ORG

COMMENTARY THIRD WEEK OF LENT March 19 THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT Ex 17: 3-7 Ps 95: 1-2, 6-9 Rom 5: 1-2, 5-8 Jn 4: 5-42 March 20 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 21 Tuesday Dn 3: 25, 34-43 Ps 25: 4-9 Mt 18: 21-35 March 22 Wednesday Dt 4: 1, 5-9 Ps 147: 12-13, ,15-16, 19-20 Mt 5: 17-19 March 23 Turibius of Mogrovejo, bishop Jer 7: 23-28 Ps 95: 1-2, 6-9 Lk 11: 14-23 March 24 Friday Hos 14: 2-10 Ps 81: 6c-11b, 14, 17 Mk 12: 28-34 March 25 THE ANNUNCIATION OF THE LORD Is 7: 10-14; 8: 10 Ps 40: 7-11 Heb 10: 4-10 Lk 1: 26-38

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14

These servants aren’t fishing for compliments

E

very Friday of Lent, I say the same thing to them: “This is not a penance.”

The “them” are the Knights of Columbus who take over the parish kitchen for fish fries. I’d venture to say that, across the archdiocese, if you love fish or shrimp, attending fish fries can hardly be counted as a penitential discipline. In fact, the only suffering that’s attached to the fish fries for me comes directly afterwards when I’m leading the Stations of the Cross. Having partaken liberally of the menu offerings — some might crudely say, “stuffed myself” — makes my frequent genuflections associated with the Stations a mighty big challenge.

Each year at the last fish fry, it’s become my tradition to remark to the Knights, “Gee, these fish fries have been so tasty and fun, how about continuing them yearround?” If looks could kill . . .

In this week’s paper, Leaven staffer Todd Habiger takes us to one of the most famous and unusual fish fries in the archdiocese, the one

H

MARK MY WORDS

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

hosted by St. Joseph Parish in Nortonville.

I don’t know of any other group that uses a converted school bus to prepare the fish, nor can any other parish say that they double the town’s population — and then some — each Friday evening of Lent.

St. Joseph’s fish fry highlights what’s true at every Lenten meal offered throughout the archdiocese: Without an incredible amount of teamwork, dedication and perspiration, we wouldn’t have these delicious meals to enjoy.

I find all these hard workers inspirational.

Why? I’ll let Kevin Miller, the senior pastor at Church of the Savior in Wheaton, Illinois, explain through this story about a fishing trip he took with his father when he was 11 years old: Father, son, canoe, water, fish, pines — this was boyhood heaven. I desperately wanted to show Dad I was worthy of the confidence he had placed in me by inviting me on this trip.

Two nights later, I awoke, painfully sick to my stomach. I feared I might throw up. I needed to get to the bathroom now. But the cabin was cold and dark, and I would have to climb out of my warm top bunk. Suddenly, I threw up over the side of the bunk.

My dad . . . came running in, flicked on the light and surveyed the spreading mess.

“Couldn’t you have gotten to the bathroom?” he asked.

“I’m sorry,” I said, knowing I deserved every angry comment that would come.

But my dad didn’t yell. He didn’t call me names. He shook his head a little, then left and came back with a bucket of sudsy hot water and a scrub brush.

I watched, amazed, as he got on hands and knees and began scrubbing each pine board clean again.

As Christians, we face many awful and embarrassing messes. But Jesus has already shown us what we must do in that situation: “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet” (Jn 13:14). (Adapted from “Leaders Mop Floors,” found in “Perfect Illustrations for Every Topic and Occasion,” edited by Craig Brian Larson and Drew Zahn.)

OK, I guess I should have come up with a better story because I don’t mean to imply that the Lenten fish fries

make us sick! My point is that real leaders are, first and foremost, servants. Leaders provide a positive example to others — not by lording over others, but by being willing to roll up their sleeves and pitch in whenever and wherever needed.

At parish fish fries, there’s no shortage of servants: those who prepare the fish beforehand, the folks who set up tables and chairs, the greeters, cashiers, cooks, the runners who deliver refills to the servers, the servers themselves, the people who provide the desserts, the tray collectors, dish washers and cleanup crew. These are not glorious jobs — and those who volunteer don’t do it for glory.

They do it for the love of Jesus and their parish.

They are living examples of what Christian service looks like.

Please make plans to attend a fish fry somewhere during Lent and wear yourself out saying “thank you” to all the workers there. In the meantime, cast aside any hesitancy you might have and begin serving those around you . . . hook, line and sinker.

Dialogue with Christ changes woman’s life

uman trafficking poses a huge challenge for the conscience of our nation.

Young people are entrapped into prostitution and forced into making pornography. It used to be called “white slavery,” but now it involves all colors.

It also posed a problem at the time of Jesus. Slavery was legal — not an underground criminal activity. Often, individuals entered into slavery as war captives or as children of other slaves. Sometimes, the poor would sell themselves into slavery, or sell their children if they were unable to care for them. This was true also among the Jewish people (Lv 25:39-46).

Sunday’s Gospel reading, Jn 4:5-42, tells

POPE FRANCIS

THE GOSPEL TRUTH

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

us of a woman who has “had five husbands, and the one you have now is not your husband.” It is very possible that the woman in question is

Christians should care about reading God’s messages in the Bible as much as they care about checking messages on their cellphones, Pope Francis said. As Christ did in the desert when tempted by Satan, men and women can defend themselves from temptation with the word of God if they “read it often, meditate on it and assimilate it” into their lives, he said before praying the Angelus with those gath-

a concubine, who has been sold into slavery and passed around among several men.

In that case, she would be a victim, not just a loose woman.

That would also explain why she appears at the well at noon, the hottest time of the day, when the well would be avoided by the other women of the town, who would tend to mock and criticize her.

But, you might protest, the woman in question was not Jewish but, instead, a Samaritan. That is true, but to our eyes there would be little difference between the two groups, despite the enormous amount of enmity between them.

Perhaps the principal difference involved the location of the temple.

Instead of Jerusalem, the Samaritans had a temple on Mount Gerizim.

The proper location for worship enters into the conversation between Jesus and the Samaritan woman.

She points out, “Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain; but you people say that the place to worship is in Jerusalem.”

Through her dialogue with Jesus, she comes to recognize Jesus

ered in St. Peter’s Square March 5.

“What would happen if we turned back when we forget it, if we opened it more times a day, if we read the messages of God contained in the Bible the way we read messages on our cellphones?” the pope asked the crowd.

“The Bible contains the word of God, which is always relevant and effective. Someone once said: What would happen if we treated the Bible like we treated our cellphones? What would happen if we always brought it with

as the Messiah. She overcomes her shyness and her awkwardness about her social status, and returns to the town to tell the people about Jesus: “Many of the Samaritans of that town began to believe in him because of the word of the woman.” Faith in Jesus has transformed her. She is motivated to share her faith with others, even those who had previously looked down on her.

The Samaritan woman serves as a powerful example for us to imitate. She engages in dialogue with Christ and, through that, undergoes a life-changing transformation. Her experience of Christ energizes her and enables her to share her faith with others.

That is what we also are called to do.

us, or at least a small pocket-sized Gospel?” he asked. While the comparison between the Bible and a cellphone is “paradoxical,” he added, it is something that all Christians are called to reflect on during the Lenten season.

“If we have the word of God always in our hearts, no temptation could separate us from God and no obstacle would deviate us from the path of good,” the pope said.

— CNS

MARCH 17, 2017 | THELEAVEN.ORG

LOCAL NEWS

16

Luke 18 retreat forms strong leaders

By Moira Cullings moira.cullings@theleaven.org

K

ANSAS CITY, KAN. — Christ sent his apostles to go and make disciples of all nations — and ReachKCK’s youth ministry here is trying to do its part.

In fact, through its Luke 18 retreat, the number of modern-day disciples are likely to see a boost later this month!

Luke 18 forms strong high school leaders, who then pave the way for eighth-graders who attend their retreats to encounter Christ. Those newly formed disciples then, in turn, continue passing on the faith to others.

“Those that come on the Luke 18 retreat form a bond,” said Liz Miller, Wyandotte County youth outreach coordinator. “They form a kind of faith family that helps to support them through high school."

“They have fun together, get to know each other deeper and begin to form genuine friendships that are based in God’s love for us,” she continued.

This year’s retreat will be held at Savior Pastoral Center in Kansas City, Kansas, March 31-April 2 and is open to all Wyandotte County eighth-graders.

Molding modern disciples Last spring, ReachKCK’s Luke 18 event had a deep impact on her two teams of high school leaders, said Miller, and she hopes to see that repeated again this year.

“The high-schoolers are the ones that get to welcome the eighth-graders into high school youth ministry,” said Miller.

“They are the ones evangelizing and planting the seeds of community and Christian friendship,” she added.

The Disciple Team, which leads the “meat” of the retreat, was responsible for giving small talks, leading small group discussions and managing various activities throughout the weekend, said Miller.

The Cori (short for Corinthians) Team worked behind the scenes and prayed over, and for, the retreatants, all while remaining hidden from the larger group while setting up and cleaning for them.

Last year, the leaders found that Luke 18 was full of both challenges and triumphs that forged them into a tight group.

“Some challenges were getting everyone to get involved without making them feel uncomfortable,” said Alan Rosales, now a senior at Wyandotte High School.

Facing their own fears of speaking in public was another.

“It felt weird being a leader,” said Devin Smith, now a junior at Bishop Ward High School. “I usually dislike taking that role on my own.

“However, being a leader kicked in

L

EAVENWORTH — Sister Mary Helen Richstatter , SCL, died at the motherhouse here on March 1 at age 94, in her 73rd year as a Sister of Charity of Leavenworth.

Born on Feb. 22, 1923, Theresa Catherine Richstatter spent her first five years on her family’s farm in Emmett. Charles and Lena Richstatter, her parents, moved to St. Marys in 1928, where Theresa attended grade school and high school taught by the Sisters of Charity.

The summer following high school graduation, she worked as a nurse aide at St. Francis Hospital, Topeka. That fall, she

LEAVEN PHOTO BY JOE MCSORLEY

Devin Smith, a junior at Bishop Ward High School in Kansas City, Kansas, gives the opening talk at a Luke 18 retreat last year.

From left, Erica Baker, Alan Rosales, Ricardo Ramirez, Derek Hernandez, Antonio Hernandez, Jorge Sotelo-Garcia, Seth Meeks, Jayangelo Nunez and Rafael Ramirez get ready to play a game of gaga ball during the Luke 18 retreat. naturally as the retreat progressed."

“The retreat taught me how to show confidence in myself and what true friends are,” he added.

Both Rosales and Smith look forward to participating again in leadership roles at this year’s retreat.

Young evangelists The high school teams put in hours of work to make Luke 18 the best it can be, meeting every week for 10 weeks leading up to the retreat.

“During this time, they’re receiving faith formation on a variety of topics and growing closer as a community through praying together and playing together,” said Miller.

Disciple Team members learn to craft and present personal testimonies and lead small groups, while Cori Team members are taught what they’ll need to do behind the scenes to ensure the retreat flows smoothly, she said.

Seven adults make up the adult leadership team, which oversees the high-schoolers.

“We are forming true disciples among these teens, offering them encounters

PHOTO COURTESY OF REACH KCK

with Christ,” said Miller.

And when the time for the retreat rolls around?

“They’ll realize they now have a chance to share their relationship with Jesus through real evangelization,” she said.

For their part, “the eighth-grade retreatants look up to the high-schoolers so much and learn best from the peer-topeer mentorship that is offered through the retreat,” said Miller.

“When that mentorship is grounded in Christ and what Christ wants for our life, it becomes discipleship,” she continued.

“The high-schoolers choose to walk with the eighth-graders in their faith journey, leading them closer to Jesus.”

This year, every parish in Kansas City, Kansas, is represented by at least one high school-age leader.

And fortunately for those leaders, the retreat is not just a singular opportunity to grow in their own relationship to God, or to help younger teens do so. They can all continue to mentor through ReachKCK’s ongoing activities.

Eric Valenzuela, a senior at Bonner Springs High School and a leader at last year’s retreat, is looking forward to this spring’s.

“It was amazing being able to know that I was a role model for eighth-grade students,” said Valenzuela of his experience.

“From my past experience, I can say that it is much better being able to go through high school close to God,” he said.

To register for Luke 18, contact your religion teacher, religious education teacher or send an email to: reach@archkck.org.

Sister Mary Helen Richstatter , SCL enrolled in the nursing program at Saint Mary College, Leavenworth, and returned later to Topeka to complete her clinical training.

The U.S. was at war, and the military needed nurses. Inspired by her two aunts who were SCLs — Sisters Mary Diomede and Crescentia Sack — she chose “to enter God’s army instead of Uncle Sam’s.” She joined the Sisters of Charity on Sept. 1, 1943, and professed first vows on March 6, 1945.

After completing her nurse’s training

at Providence Hospital in Kansas City, Kansas, Sister Mary Helen began a ministry of service in Catholic hospitals.

Her first assignment at a small hospital in Falls City, Nebraska, introduced her to all nursing specialties. In subsequent years, she worked in hospitals in Colorado, Kansas, Montana and New Mexico, and was responsible for the operating rooms and maternity departments.

Sister Mary Helen returned to Kansas where she worked in Sisters of

Charity hospitals and cared for her aging parents. Her final nursing assignments were ministering to aging Sisters in Ross Hall and serving as infirmarian to motherhouse Sisters.

In her leisure time, she enjoyed sewing and crafts, many of which she worked on while waiting for the Sisters she accompanied to doctors’ offices. Sister Mary Helen next served as sacristan for Annunciation Chapel at the motherhouse.

She became a resident of Ross Hall in March 2009 and remained active assisting at the motherhouse switchboard.