www.theleaven.com | Newspaper of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas | Vol. 32, No. 31 march 18, 2011
Crisis in Japan By Joe Bollig Leaven staff
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — They knew it was coming, the “Big One.” Yoshi Gerner’s relatives in Japan had known it for days. Japan experienced a 7.2 earthquake on March 8, and Gerner called relatives in Tokyo and Sendai, northeastern Japan, to see how they fared. “They were sayYoshi Gerner ing [they] were supposed to have a big one coming, but they didn’t know when,” said Gerner, a member of Most Pure Heart of Mary Parish in Topeka. “They knew
it was coming for a long time.” Just three days later, on March 11, it hit. At 2:46 p.m., a 9.0 megathrust earthquake erupted about 80 miles east of Sendai in the ocean, where the Pacific and Asia tectonic plates meet. The shaking was followed by an enormous tidal wave – a tsunami — that surged over sea walls and poured inland, far along the coast of northeast Japan. Gerner’s sister in California was on the phone with the sister in Tokyo when the line suddenly went dead. It was an ominous development, and the reason for it only became clear when early news reports hit the media outlets. As the hours passed, subsequent news bul-
letins began to paint a canvas of terror, horror, destruction and death. “The first 48 hours I couldn’t get through,” said Gerner. “I almost went crazy.” Yoshi Gerner was born in Sendai. Her family moved to Manchuria, part of China, during World War II. They returned when the war was over. She married Frank Gerner, an American, 40 years ago and they moved to Topeka. But she still has relatives in Fukushima, an inland city approximately 25 miles west of the nuclear power plants near Soma on the coast; in Tokyo, to the south of Sendai; in Sendai, a city on the coast with a population of one million; and in Shichigahama, a town on
Turn to “Japanese” on page 3
How to help In support of the humanitarian efforts of Catholic Relief Services, Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann has asked that a special collection for Japan earthquake and tsunami relief be taken up on the weekend of March 26 and 27. Donor envelopes marked “Disaster Relief” will be sent to each parish as soon as possible. Parishioners should make out checks to their parish and indicate it is for Japan earthquake relief. The parishes will send the contributions to the archdiocese, which will direct them on to CRS.
Co in nfe D th ss o e a ion n du rch is a ’t rin dio va fo g L ce ila r en se ble g t f eve a e ro ry t a t m W ny 6-7 e ch p.m dne urc . sday h
Topeka parishioner prays for Japanese relatives
2 archbishop
THE LEAVEN • March 18, 2011
THE LEAVEN • March 18, 2011
LIFE WILL BE VICTORIOUS
T
Confession is an act of faith in God’s love for us
o begin this week’s column, I would like to share with you a couple of testimonies that were received from Leaven subscribers about their experience of the sacrament of reconciliation.
“I had fallen away from the church for a prolonged period of time,” said one. “I went through the motions, attending Mass on a regular basis, but my pursuit of faith had, in essence, come to a standstill. I decided that it was time for me to turn that around. And what better way to do that but to go to confession? “I decided to attend confession, but it had been such a long time that I was actually embarrassed to go, so I decided to go to reconciliation at another parish than my own. “When I got into the confessional, I hardly knew what to say. I don’t even remember who my confessor was. I began, ‘Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. It has been . . . I’m not sure . . . 20-some years since my last confession, maybe more. I don’t remember.’ The next words that I heard were a pleasure to my mind, heart and soul. The priest said, ‘Welcome back.’ Right then and there, I understood the total forgiving nature of both our God and our Catholic religion. I confessed the sins I could remember and left the confessional in an absolute state of bliss, knowing that forgiveness is truly what the sacrament of reconciliation is all about.” This past Wednesday, we began our Springtime for the Soul initiative, with priests throughout the archdiocese available for the sacrament of reconciliation from 6 to 7 p.m. If perhaps, as in the above testimony, you prefer to go to confession at a parish other than the one in which you are a member, the Wednesdays of Lent are a perfect opportunity. I am certain whatever confessor you approach for the sacrament will receive you with a similar warmth
and understanding, welcoming you back to the church. Would you not like to experience the “absolute state of bliss” that comes from encountering God’s mercy through this sacrament? Another member of the archdiocese shared how receiving the sacrament of reconciliation was a transforming experience: “My life was changed forever by an experience through this great sacrament. I confessed having a vasectomy five years prior to this confession [I am writing about]. I went in to confess, not ever considering my faith and what God thought when I made the decision to have a vasectomy. After confessing this sin, my confessor said, ‘When you walk out of here, you will be forgiven, but it sounds like it would be a great gift to your wife, and I know it would be a great gift to God, to have it reversed.’ My jaw must have dropped, because my confessor quickly replied with ‘but pray about it.’ I e-mailed a Catholic Web site and a couple days later received the message that ‘the church does not require a reversal but it is considered a heroic event.’ “At this time in my faith journey, I wanted to do something ‘heroic’ for God. And I knew I was being called to have it reversed. I told my wife of my desire to have this reversal and her eyes teared up and she said, ‘I never wanted you to do it in the first place.’ I remembered my confessor’s words: ‘It would be a great gift to your wife and a great gift to God.’ After the surgery I felt JOY for the first time in my life. I truly felt that God was pleased. Five months later we were pregnant with identical twin girls. We have since had one more child after our twins. We are committed to practicing NFP (natural family planning) and open to #7 if that is the plan.
“I have since gone back and asked my confessor if he always tells men to get a reversal when this sin is confessed. He said, ‘I only say what the Spirit tells me to do.’ I know that God spoke to me in the confessional that day and that he used this great sacrament to change my heart.” Wow! What a powerful testimony of the power of the sacrament of reconciliation! My greatest desire for each member of the archdiocese is a yearning for holiness, a desire for a deeper friendship with Jesus. The sacrament of reconciliation is one of the great tools that our Lord has given to us to help us grow in holiness and intimacy with him. In our closest human friendships, we feel comfortable sharing our weaknesses and vulnerabilities, because we are confident that our friend will not abandon us. When someone has confided to us some particular difficulty or problem, do we not feel honored and humbled by their trust in us? When we approach Jesus in the sacrament of reconciliation, we are making a beautiful act of faith in his unconditional love for us. The greatest qualities we bring to our relationship with Jesus are honesty, humility and trust. These are precisely the virtues that characterize a sincere reception of the sacrament of penance. We know, when anyone approached Jesus in the Gospels in this manner, he always responded with great tenderness and mercy. In fact, we recognize these same virtues in those who became the closest disciples of Jesus — for example, Peter, Mary Magdalene, and Paul. When we receive the sacrament of reconciliation with authentic contrition, it is a life-changing experience. We are not the same persons each time we leave the confessional. Our friendship with Jesus has been deepened. Our gratitude for his mercy has increased. From this heightened sense of thankfulness comes an energy to avoid our past sins, but even more to be more forgiving and more generous in our love for others. There is nothing more important
Archbishop Naumann’s weekly calendar
March 18-19 Conception Seminary board meeting March 19 Dedication of Chapel of Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha — Prairie Star Ranch March 20 Rite of Election — 3 p.m., Holy Angels, Basehor Rite of Election— 7 p.m., St. Michael the Archangel, Leawood March 21 U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Pro-Life Committee meeting — Washington, D.C. March 22 Administrative Team meeting Confirmation — St. Joseph, Shawnee March 23 Lunch with University of Saint Mary students March 24 Catholic Education Foundation meeting March 25 Mass — Maur Hill-Mount Academy, Atchison March 26-27 Pastoral visit — St. Dominic, Holton, and St. Francis Xavier, Mayetta
Archbishop Keheler’s weekly calendar
March 19 Pro-life Mass — 8 a.m., Sts. Cyril and Methodius Church, Kansas City, Kan. March 20 Mass at the federal prison March 22 Talk at the cathedral in Metuchen, N.J. March 24 St. James Academy benefit dinner
we can do to make this a truly fruitful Lent than to receive the sacrament of reconciliation. What are you waiting for? The Lord is waiting for you!
SECOND FRONT PAGE 3
Japanese character, history will be important to recovery “[The Japanese] are a very organized people. We have no looting. Nobody steals anything from an empty house. If I saw that, I’d be very surprised. We are not that kind of people.”
Continued from page 1 a peninsula northeast of Sendai. Many of her cousins live in other places along the coast of Miyagi Prefecture. Gerner has been glued to her television since the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, and her husband has been scanning the Internet for information. The Gerners also get news from the Japanese national public broadcasting company, NHK, via a satellite channel. Details of how family members have fared have come through telephone calls, as service is gradually restored. As of March 15, 14 members of Gerner’s immediate family have been accounted for. The earthquake and tsunami did not destroy all of Sendai. The house in which Gerner grew up survived the shaking and tsunami, although the contents flew all over the interior. It still has water and electrical power. Otherwise, power availability in the city is very spotty. Her elderly brother-in-law (Gerner’s sister is being treated for cancer at a Sendai hospital) rode out the disaster alone. “He said it was just like being in a ship in a storm,” said Gerner. “He was shaking so he couldn’t stand. He had to hold onto a post. Most Japanese houses have a post.” By and large, the brother-in-law has been forced to fend for himself. “A funny thing about Japanese men,” said Gerner. “My sister is in the hospital, so he has been living by himself. My niece would bring him food, and he would go out to eat.” “But since my niece does not come, he has no food,” Gerner continued. “He said he was not eating anything, so he went out. He couldn’t find any stores. He went 20 miles from home and finally found one store open. He said, ‘Guess what I found? Cup of noodles.’ Japanese men don’t cook. My brother-in-law is typical. I said, ‘Do you know how to make it? Just put in hot water,’ and he said, ‘I can do that.’ “So yesterday I called him and asked, ‘Do you have rice and soy sauce?’ He said yes. ‘Then cook the rice and put soy sauce on it and eat.’ He said, ‘I don’t know how to cook rice.’ We laughed together.”
”
Yoshi Gerner
Leaven photo by Marc Anderson
Yoshi Gerner holds a picture of her sister and brother-in-law. Both survived the earthquake and tsunami. Gerner and her husband have been glued to the TV and scanning the Internet in hopes of finding out how other relatives fared. The missing niece and her family were eventually found at a refugee center set up at a school. They were later able to return to their own home, which was still intact. A nephew, who was also safe, had to walk 10 miles to find drinkable water, however. He found his wife’s parents at another house with friends.
No word has been received about the fate of Gerner’s relatives from her mother’s side of the family in Arahama and Shichigahama, both on the coast. A cousin’s family that lived next to Sendai Airport, which is on the coast, is also unaccounted for. Gerner’s sister in Tokyo said on
March 14 that things were slowly getting back to normal, but there were concerns about the failing nuclear power plants to the north. Gerner isn’t too worried about her brother-in-law in Fukushima (who is sheltering guests from Soma) getting a dose of radiation. The winds tend to blow out to sea in that area. “[The Japanese] are very, very good,” said Gerner. “They are a very organized people. We have no looting. Nobody steals anything from an empty house. If I saw that, I’d be very surprised. We are not that kind of people. Do you know why? Because we were beaten up by the war. [We Japanese] know what to do, and how to help each other.” Likewise, Gerner has experienced an outpouring of concern from her neighbors, her fellow parishioners, pastor Father Brian Schieber and associate pastor Father Shawn Tunink, and even total strangers. Some have sent her emails from out of state. “I’m really amazed how people are,” she said. “I appreciate it. I feel I need to do something, but I don’t know. Every time I think about it, tears come out. I’ve been crying . . .” She has been doing the only thing she can — praying constantly. “I called the Red Cross,” she said. “I asked them if I could be a volunteer to go to Japan, if I could do something. But then I forget my age — I’m 77. What can I do? Maybe I can translate.” She hopes Sendai can be rebuilt. After all, she’s seen that happen before. “But that was 60 years ago,” said Gerner. “Today’s people may not be as strong. “I only hope they are.”
As disaster unfolds, world’s Catholics offer prayers, help
Publication No. (ISSN0194-9799)
Editor Reverend Mark Goldasich, stl frmark@theleaven.com
Senior Reporter Joe Bollig joe@theleaven.com
Advertising Representative Jennifer Siebes jennifer@theleaven.com
President Most Reverend Joseph F. Naumann
Managing Editor Anita McSorley anita@theleaven.com
Production Manager Todd Habiger todd@theleaven.com
Reporter Kara Hansen kara@theleaven.com
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) 7211570; fax: (913) 721-5276; or e-mail at: sub@theleaven.com.
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TOKYO (CNS) — As the magnitude of the disaster in Japan unfolded, religious and humanitarian aid organizations stepped up efforts to provide assistance. The earthquake was followed by tsunamis that wiped out entire cities and by fears of catastrophe at nuclear power stations damaged in the quake. Government officials estimated that tens of thousands of people lost their lives in the March 11 disasters. The Diocese of Sendai includes the areas hardest-hit in the disaster, reported the Asian church news agency UCA News. Father Peter Shiro Komatsu, diocesan chancellor, said March 14 that Bishop Martin Tetsuo Hiraga of Sendai was unharmed but had not received complete reports on the damage because telecommunications remained disrupted. The priest said diocesan officials did not know about what had happened to several churches along the coast. He said one church in Fukushima was to-
tally damaged and eight churches in Sendai were either unaffected or only slightly damaged. The diocese said Father Andre Lachapelle of the Quebec Foreign Mission Society had died en route from Sendai to his church about nine miles away. There were conflicting reports of whether he suffered a heart attack or was lost in a tsunami. Niigata Bishop Isao Kikuchi, president of Caritas Japan, said, “We have received so many e-mails from all continents, filled with words of compassion and prayer. We are very grateful for this solidarity. We believe that aid activity is needed, but prayer is also important in such a situation.” Pope Benedict XVI was among those sending his prayers. The U.S. bishops’ Catholic Relief Services was working with Caritas Japan. A CRS spokeswoman said her agency was ready to help in other Asian countries where it already worked.
In a statement, Caritas Japan said it would concentrate its efforts on meeting the needs of people with no access to public services and on the rehabilitation phase of recovery. In Manila, Philippines, the leak of radioactivity and explosions at the damaged Fukushima nuclear power station prompted renewed calls for the government to abandon any plans to use nuclear energy for power generation in the Philippines. Bishop Deogracias Iniguez, head of the public affairs committee of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, said the church has been proven right in consistently opposing the revival of the nuclear facility. “I think they should intently follow what is happening in Japan,” he told the Philippine bishops’ news agency. “We have long been opposing it due to its possible negative effects in the country.” The Salesians, who lost 250 children and adults at one school during
the January 2010 Haitian earthquake, reported that most of the order’s convents, schools and churches were south of Tokyo and incurred only minor damage. The Salesian news agency reported from Tokyo that there was no news from one house in Nojiri, in the quake zone. The Sisters of Charity of Jesus reported all their Sisters were safe, but the Salesian news agency said some students were missing from the nursery in Fukushima. UCA News reported that Catholics in mainland China were among Asian Catholics who expressed solidarity with the earthquake victims in Japan and added prayers to their Masses March 13. Jinde Charities in northern China’s Hebei province also offered an initial $10,000 to support Caritas Japan’s relief efforts. In Seoul, South Korea, Cardinal Nicholas Cheong Jin-suk offered prayers and an initial $50,000. Korean Protestants and Buddhists also offered prayers.
4 LOCAL NEWS
THE LEAVEN • March 18, 2011
THE LEAVEN • March 18, 2011
LOCAL NEWS 5
Father of five looks forward to new vocation By Kara Hansen Leaven staff
LEAWOOD — Six years ago, becoming a deacon was not on Mark Stukel’s radar. At the time, Stukel was unof the diaDeacon aware conate program profile gearing up in the archdiocese for the first time. But there were a couple of other people who thought the St. Michael the Archangel parishioner would be a perfect fit for it. “Father Bill Porter and Father Mitchel Zimmerman asked to talk to my wife and me and arranged to come over to our house,” said Stukel, who has been a parishioner at the parish since its founding in 1999. Unsure what the meeting was about, Stukel was a bit cautious, wondering what the topic might be. Once the four met, Father Porter and Father Zimmerman asked the Stukels to consider pursuing the diaconate.
“First, I was relieved everything was OK,” said Stukel. “My next reaction was feeling humbled and flattered. They wouldn’t take an answer then, but asked us to think about it, pray about it, and talk about it with our family.” Stukel did just that and, together with his wife and family, decided that becoming a deacon was worth pursuing. “There’s a certain amount of uncertainty at this point, but I’m really looking forward to the sacramental side of being a deacon, as well as being involved in the charitable side of the parish community,” said Stukel. Though being a deacon will involve some time away from his family, Stukel said that potential benefits are there for them as well. “Selfishly, I’m looking forward to the opportunities for our children to learn to help others and appreciate the community,” he said.
Profile
Name: Mark Stukel Parish: St. Michael the Archangel, Leawood Age: 45 Family members and ages: wife, Kim; children: Jacob, 15; Joshua, 15; Michael, 15; Nathan, 14; Lexi, 12 Occupation: client executive for IBM Favorite food: a great steak What I’m looking forward to most about being a deacon: Having the opportunity to help people grow closer to Christ — this includes myself and my family. Something people might be surprised to learn about me: Kim (my wife) and I both grew up in South Dakota but we met in Florida. I was born and raised on a farm/ranch operation in south-central South Dakota. Favorite saint: St. Joseph — there is no better model of a husband and father. How do you top being that close to Christ and Mary? If I could visit a period of church history, it would be: How cool would it be to participate in the first Mass? I’d visit the Last Supper in a heartbeat. Hobby: Keeping up with the activities of five kids! I do enjoy organizing and cataloging photos to create slide shows and videos. I hope that having the photos and videos easily accessible will help my kids to always remember how important family is to them.
Deacon candidate impressed by church’s servant mission Leaven photo by Marc Anderson
Josh Compton signs the Book of the Elect while his godfather Andrew Lynch supports him at the March 13 celebration of the Rite of Election held at St. Matthew Parish in Topeka. Father John Pilcher, of St. Bernard Parish in Wamego, looks on.
Turning rite
More than 700 prepare to join the church By Marc and Julie Anderson Special to The Leaven
TOPEKA — “I’ve often said that God has a sense of humor,” claims Frank Crosson of St. Matthew Parish here. And he points to how he met his wife Karin as example. As a student at Ottawa University, he said, “a Methodist met a Catholic at a Baptist school.” In May 1982, the Methodist married his Catholic sweetheart at St. Matthew in Topeka. And although he did not convert, Crosson agreed to raise any future children in the Catholic faith. Prior to the births of his children, Crosson said, he attended Mass sporadically. After the couple had welcomed both a son and a daughter, Crosson decided to join his wife regularly. “I felt it was the best thing to do,” he said. Over the next two decades, both children grew — celebrating their first Communion, receiving the sacrament of confirmation, and finally heading off to Catholic colleges. During all that time, Crosson attended Mass with his family, but never considered joining the church himself. “My wife never brought it up. I never mentioned it to her. I think we were both just comfortable in the situation as it was,” Crosson said. Last summer, though, Crosson began to consider what he might have been missing all these years — like receiving the Eucharist with his family at the baccalaureate Mass of his son’s graduation
from the University of Notre Dame. With his daughter starting her senior year at Benedictine College in Atchison, Crosson thought it time to do some serious soul-searching. “I began to think there was something missing in my life,” he said, adding he regretted not being able to receive Communion at important moments in the lives of his children. When he finally decided he wanted to join the church, ironically, he had no idea how to begin the process. About that same time, though, St. Matthew pastor Father Jerry Volz sent out a letter to every non-Catholic who was married to a Catholic in the parish and invited them “to learn more about the Catholic faith which their spouse practices through the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) and to consider joining him or her and the rest of our community for Sunday Mass.” Father Volz was delighted when Crosson felt led to act upon the invitation. Now, each week takes him closer to that full communion — with his family and its church. March 13 marked one final important step in Crosson’s faith journey, when he joined other candidates in standing before the archbishop and the archdiocesan church family and indicated his desire to be received into full communion with the Catholic Church. This ceremony, called the Rite of Election, took place at St. Matthew Parish, but the rite will also be celebrated on March 20 at Holy Angels Parish in Base-
hor and St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Leawood. All told, there are more than 500 candidates across the archdiocese who will become members of the Catholic Church. Josh Compton, on the other hand, is one of the 200 catechumens that will enter the church at Easter, and he, too, attended the Rite of Election ceremony at St. Matthew. (Catechumens are those not yet baptized, while candidates are baptized Christians seeking to enter into full communion with the church.) But if someone had told him five years ago he was going to become Catholic, he would laughed at the thought. Growing up, faith was important to Compton’s family, but church attendance was sporadic. His family tried several churches and more than one denomination, finally settling on a non-denominational church in north Topeka. “I think while I was in high school, I maybe went to church once a month, twice rarely, and I never had been to a Catholic church for anything other than funerals or weddings,” he said. At college, however, Compton met his future wife, Annie, at the local movie theaters where they both worked. After several dates, Compton was invited to celebrate Christmas with Annie’s family — which included Midnight Mass on Christmas. “I remember being struck with how beautiful the church was,” Compton said. After their wedding in 2006, Compton said he was hit with an important
realization — that, as head of his family, someday he would stand before God and be judged for his spiritual leadership to his wife and children. So, he talked with Annie about their church attendance. Compton’s religious roots were not only Protestant, however; they also contained an anti-Catholic bias. He did not want to join the Catholic Church, and Annie had no interest in the Protestant churches he liked. It took some years, but about six months ago, Compton finally decided to read some books a high school friend, Andrew Lynch, had lent him about the Catholic faith. Halfway through the first one, he put the book down in amazement. “It just kind of floored me. This is amazing,” he said. “This is the faith that Jesus founded.” Since reading that first book, Compton, an avid reader, said he has devoured almost every form of Catholic reading material he can get his hands on, many of them supplied by Lynch, who will be his godfather when he is baptized at St. Bernard Parish in Wamego at the Easter Vigil on April 23. Compton’s son Alaster will be baptized at the same Mass. “There is a line that I have said a lot in the past several months: You’re convicted by truth,” said Compton “That describes me,” he concluded. “I don’t consider myself anything but Catholic now.”
By Kara Hansen Leaven staff
LEAWOOD — Sometimes a Catholic finds his or her vocation; sometimes the vocation finds them. had Deacon an “Iitchhave for some profile time to do more within the church and give back to Christ,” said John Weist. “I didn’t know anything about the diaconate and had no experience with deacons.” But a visit from Weist’s parish priest, Father Bill Porter, planted the idea of becoming a deacon. “So I started reading about it, praying about it, and talking to people about the diaconate,” said Weist. “The more I looked into it, the more I felt it was something I was called to do.” Weist said he was especially intrigued by the role deacons play in bringing Christ to people. “The diaconate formation period has really reawakened in me
a love of Scriptures and the Gospel message,” said Weist. “It has also helped me become better aware and more understanding of the church’s servant mission.” Mass and the sacraments, as well as the strong Catholic community, are some of the things Weist most appreciates about Catholicism, and he finds himself looking forward to helping others experience the depth of the Catholic faith. Still, he knows as a husband and father with a professional job, becoming a deacon will be an exercise in balance. “The biggest challenge will be balancing my family life, work requirements, and deacon ministry,” said Weist. “Maintaining a balance is something I need to work on most as I begin this ministry. I need to make sure I am still being a servant to my own domestic church at home. Because if I’m not serving them, I can’t serve the needs of others.”
Villa St. Francis
16600 W. 126th Street • Olathe, Kansas 66062 Phone: (913) 829-5201 Fax: (913) 829-5399 Daily Mass in the Chapel at 10 a.m. • Medicare and Kansas Medicaid certified • 24 - hour nursing care • Dementia/Alzheimer’s unit • Physical, occupational and speech therapist on staff/ Rapid recovery • Nutritious Home cooked meals • Private and Semi Private rooms • Beauty and Barber Shop • 24 hour snacks Affiliated with the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas
Profile
Name: John Weist Parish: St. Michael the Archangel, Leawood Age: 42 Family members and ages: wife, Zena; children: Logan, 12; Michaela, 11; Landon, 7; Aviana, 5 Occupation: attorney (civil litigation) Favorite food: pizza from LaCasa’s (in Omaha, Neb.) What I’m looking forward to most about being a deacon: The encounter with Christ through serving others. Something people might be surprised to learn about me: My first job was being a caddie, which I did for seven summers from age 10-17. Favorite saint: St. Thomas More. He’s the patron of attorneys, but more so because he was faithful and courageous (and even maintained his sense of humor) until death. If I could visit a period of church history, it would be: mid-first century — to visit the Blessed Mother after Pentecost. Favorite book (nonreligious): “Goodnight Moon,” by Margaret Wise Brown (only because it reminds me of reading to my kids) Hobby: coaching soccer
6 LOCAL NEWS
THE LEAVEN • March 18, 2011
THE LEAVEN • march 18, 2011
Kansas bishops oppose proposed immigration bill
Sister Elizabeth Coffey, OSB
By Joe Bollig Leaven staff
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Concern about a proposed law’s impact on undocumented individuals led the Catholic bishops of Kansas to object to an immigration bill. On March 14, the House Judiciary Committee voted not to move the bill forward. Acting on behalf of the Kansas Catholic Conference, attorney Jeanne Gorman submitted the bishops’ testimony in opposition to HB 2372 (see sidebar) and offered her own testimony on March 10 to the committee. While recognizing the rule of law, and the right and duty of the federal government to regulate the nation’s borders, the bishops decried this particular bill’s potential ill effects on individuals and families. The bishops were specifically critical of Section 3 of the bill, which would make it unlawful to “intentionally conceal, harbor or shield an alien from detection in any place in this state, including but not limited to, any building or any means of transportation.” This section could detrimentally impact the church’s mission, said the bishops. “[The bill] would potentially criminalize the offering of assistance to a person here illegally by a representative of the church,” said the bishops. “We do not believe that a church should be held liable for ministering to an illegal immigrant in material and/or spiritual terms.” Rather than this law, the bishops pled for broad reform of the current ineffective immigration laws, which they said impose unreasonable burdens on those who want to immigrate to the United States.
LOCAL NEWS 7
CNS photo/Nancy Wiechec
Tens of thousands of people rally in the “March for America” demonstration for comprehensive immigration reform last year in Washington, D.C. An immigration bill under consideration in Kansas has led the Kansas bishops to denounce the bill and call for immigration reform on a national level.
Statement on proposed immigration legislation By the Catholic bishops of Kansas March 10 House Judiciary Committee hearing on HB 2372 We recognize and fully support the rule of law in order to promote the common good of all citizens. We also recognize the right and duty of the state (in this case, the federal government) to control our national borders and to regulate the flow of immigrants into our country. We are nonetheless painfully aware of the fact that our immigration system is broken. Ineffective immigration laws and inconsistent application of them have resulted in making it unreasonably burdensome for many to immigrate legally into the United States, while at the same time allowing millions to enter illegally. In this light, rather than insist on the enforcement of an ineffective system, we would plead for broad reform. With respect to the oft-cited need for border control, we would urge the federal government in the
most humane way possible to solve this issue and then move expeditiously to expand significantly the opportunity for legal immigration. Attempts indiscriminately to punish undocumented immigrants currently in the United States can only result in chaos for our nation. Why would we expel hardworking, family-oriented, God-fearing, and otherwise law-abiding members of our society who have come to acquire those things needed for basic human dignity? Our country would stand to benefit, for example, by their providing a much-needed labor force and by younger workers contributing to the Social Security system. We find particularly objectionable the portion of the bill that would potentially criminalize the offering of assistance to a person here illegally by a representative of a church. We do not believe that a church should be held liable for ministering to an illegal immigrant in material and/or spiritual terms. The full scope of our immigration system is so dysfunctional that it cannot be “fixed” by simply insisting that people go home and
take their place in line, or by criminalizing productive members of our national, state and local communities. The United States and Kansas can and must do better. Thank you for your consideration. Yours in Christ,
Most Reverend Joseph F. Naumann
Archbishop of Kansas City in Kansas
Dedication
Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann celebrated Mass and dedicated the oratory at Our Lady’s Montessori School in Kansas City, Kan., on March 10. The school is a nonprofit Montessori preschool operated by the Catholic missionary community of the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity (SOLT). Above, from left, Sister Melinda Marie Shellenbarger, SOLT, and Sister Mary Mediatrix of All Grace, SOLT, chat with Archbishop Naumann after Mass. Right, Sister Mary Heather Danda, SOLT, and students Dax Thomas and Mia Gadson prepare to bring up the offertory gifts at the Mass. Photos by Jim Wendling
Most Reverend Michael O. Jackels
Bishop of Wichita
Most Reverend John B. Brungardt
Bishop of Dodge City
Very Reverend Barry E. Brinkman
Diocesan Administrator of Salina
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ATCHISON — Sister Elizabeth (Sylvester) Coffey, 94, a Benedictine Sister of Mount St. Scholastica, died March 8 at the monastery here. Born Feb. 17, 1917, to James Patrick and Ellen McQuinn Cofobituary Julia fey, Elizabeth grew up in Wymore, Neb. Her mother died when she was 11, and her father sent her to Mount St. Scholastica Academy where she graduated in 1934. She entered the Mount community in 1936 and made monastic profession in 1938. She graduated from Mount St. Scholastica College in 1939 and taught in community schools, notably the Mount Academy; Lillis High School, Kansas City, Mo.; and Donnelly College, Kansas City, Kan. For brief periods, she taught at St. Mary’s High School, Walsenburg, Colo., and at Benedictine College, Atchison, where she also later served on the board. Sister Elizabeth earned a master of arts in speech with a minor in speech pathology from Northwestern University, Evanston, Ill. She also did extensive graduate work in counseling and drama. Her interest in the elderly and in rural life led her to study at Bryan Memorial Hospital in Lincoln, Neb., where she became certified for advanced pastoral education through a program there. She served as a pastoral associate at Christ the King Parish, Kansas City, Kan., and presented training sessions for eucharistic ministers and lectors for the Kansas City, Kan., archdiocesan liturgy office. For 10 years, she represented Catholic Community Services in the NemahaMarshall Region. Sister Elizabeth served her religious community in many capacities, including the monastic council and the senate. Her professional activities included the core committee of the Kansas City, Kansas Chapter of Kansans for the Improvement of Nursing Homes and membership in the Foster Grandparent Program advisory board.
A new way to pray The Roman Missal has undergone some significant changes — and they will affect how Mass is celebrated
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By Joe Bollig | Additional reporting by Marc and Julie Anderson
OPEKA — The Book of Ecclesiastes says, “There is an appointed time for everything” (3:1). And Michael Podrebarac’s appointed time is Sat., Nov. 26. The longtime liturgist has the whole day blocked off for the end — and the beginning — of two eras for Catholics in the United States. On that morning, Podrebarac will be at a church for the last celebration of the Mass as he has always known it. In the evening, he’ll be at another church for the celebration of the Mass as it will be for the rest of his life — and unforeseen years to come. “There will be a sense of sadness for these words, particularly for these phrases that have so much meaning for us in the liturgy,” said Podrebarac, archdiocesan consultant for liturgy. The First Sunday of Advent on Nov. 27 is the first time the new translation of the Roman Missal can be used, although that includes the anticipatory vigil Mass on Nov. 26. In a single day, the old Sacramentary will be replaced by the new translation of the Roman Missal — the book that orders our public, divine worship in the Mass.
A time to grow, a time to change It’s OK to be sad, and it’s OK to celebrate this transition to a new translation, said Podrebarac. Some will likely do both. “There are those phrases that I’ve become accustomed to that I am going to miss, and I think that’s true for all of us,” said Podrebarac. “Even for those of us who . . . are very excited about and welcoming these changes, change is difficult for all of us.” “But in the end, there are many beautiful turns of phrases in these revised texts, and they will become part of our expression of faith,” he continued. Many Catholics have questions about the changes. Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann addressed some of these questions at a presentation he gave on the new Roman Missal Feb. 24 to the Serra Club in Topeka. “‘Why do we need a new translation? What was wrong with the old translation that we have had all these years?’” he said some people have asked. And if something was wrong with the old translation, he continued, they wondered whether we’d been celebrating the Eucharist improperly for all these years. But that is not the case at all, the archbishop explained. The order, content and essence of the Mass will not change, said Podrebarac, who gave a workshop on the new translation of the Roman Missal to parish ministers on March 5 at Mother Teresa of Calcutta Parish in Topeka. “This will be a more articulate way of
Present text Priest: The Lord be with you. People: And also with you.
new text Greeting Priest: The Lord be with you. People: And with your spirit.
Penitential Act, Form A (Confiteor) I confess to almighty God, and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have sinned through my own fault, in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done, and in what I have failed to do; and I ask blessed Mary, ever virgin, all the angels and saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God.
I confess to almighty God and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have greatly sinned in my thoughts and in my words,in what I have done and in what I have failed to do, through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault; therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin, all the Angels and Saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God.
Penitential Act, Form B Priest: Lord, we have sinned against you: Lord, have mercy. People: Lord, have mercy. Priest: Lord, show us your mercy and love. People: And grant us your salvation.
trying to express the Christian mystery,” said Podrebarac. “I think if we go into it with the attitude that ‘no matter how well we try to express [the mystery], our words will always fail,’ these words can carry us to a deeper appreciation, if we let them.”
Priest: Have mercy on us, O Lord. People: For we have sinned against you. Priest: Show us, O Lord, your mercy. People: And grant us your salvation.
Gloria
How and why we got here Pope John Paul II announced in 2000 that, in commemoration of the jubilee year, there would be a third edition of the Roman Missal, one of the fruits of the Second Vatican Council, 1962-65. Before the council, the Mass was celebrated in Latin universally. The council fathers deliberated over the use of the vernacular languages in the liturgy. Seeing this as being potentially beneficial to the faithful, they granted such use of the vernacular in the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy (“Sacrosanctum Concilium”). It was Pope Paul VI himself who granted permission for the entire liturgy to be celebrated in the language of the people. In the United States, the first edition of the Roman Missal of Pope Paul VI made its debut in Advent 1969. Some minor revisions were made to the first edition in 1974. The U.S. bishops approved a second edition of the Missal in 1998 but, soon after it was submitted to Rome for approval, Pope John Paul announced the third edition, which came out in Latin in 2002. “And so, how does one translate from a language like Latin into a language like English — two of the most persnickety languages that ever came after the tower of Babel?” said Podrebarac. The translation of the first edition was guided by the 1969 instruction “Comme le prévoit,” issued by the Consilium for Implementing the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy. It called for the approach called “dynamic equivalency.” “The idea was [to] take what is there in Latin and create a dynamic equivalent which maintains the essence of that prayer but is not a formal [literal] translation,” said Podrebarac. After the dust settled from the adoption of the vernacular, the Vatican issued an instruction to guide translations, “Liturgiam Authenticam,” in 2001. “It said the that the older way of dynamic equivalence can sometimes hide certain points of the Latin prayer that are really beneficial and necessary for the people,” said Podrebarac. The intent behind “Liturgiam Authenticam” was to take the Latin and create a translation with a little more formal equivalence — one that didn’t leave out little phrases, Scriptural gems, and turns of phrases that better clarify what the church teaches. There were other reasons for a new translation as well. The church’s calendar had changed, and there were more saints. Also, the Vatican had approved additional options for various needs and occasions,
Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth. Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father, we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory. Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world: have mercy on us; you are seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our prayer. For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will. We praise you, we bless you, we adore you, we glorify you, we give you thanks for your great glory, Lord God, heavenly King, O God, almighty Father. Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son, Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us; you take away the sins of the world, receive our prayer; you are seated at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us. For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
Nicene Creed
While the structure of the Mass will remain the same, some of the words and phrases Catholics use will change. as well as additional eucharistic prayers. “The Eucharist is the most important thing that we do as a church,” said Archbishop Naumann in his talk in February. “It is the center of our prayer as Catholics. It is the source and summit, as the Second Vatican Council spoke of it, in terms of our Catholic faith and Catholic life.” “And so,” he continued, “how we celebrate the Eucharist is really very critical in living our Catholic faith and that we do it with the greatest care and devotion possible.” The ancient Latin principle is: “Lex orandi, lex credendi, lex vivendi,” or “As we worship, so we believe, so we live.”
Words fail me, and you, too The challenge of translation goes beyond choosing between a literal or a dynamic equivalent approach. What about all those idioms? What about differences in culture among the English-speaking peoples of the world? What about different understandings of identical words? And then there is the biggest challenge of all: We’re human. We don’t speak angel. “No matter what language we use, or words we use to express the mysteries of the Mass, we will never outdo the mystery; we will never satisfy the mystery,” said Podrebarac. “In other words, the ex-
pression of the mystery will never quench the mystery.” A good example of the limitations of language can be examined in two phrases, he said. One is: “I love you”; the other, “I’m sorry.” Neither can express the fullness or depth of those two phrases. In the case of the language used in the Mass, sometimes one word will mean just a bit more than another word, or put a different slant on things. This is the case with the words “fellowship” and “communion.” Currently in the introductory rites of the Mass, the priest prays that “the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” In the new translation, “communion” replaces “fellowship.” It’s not that fellowship is a negative thing, or the word here is somehow deficient or wrong, said Podrebarac. It’s just that “communion” is a deeper and closer way of translating the Latin “communio.” “Communion means that we are not here simply of our own will,” he said. “We have been drawn here by a power higher than ourselves. We have been given grace. . . . Communion means we just don’t come together. We enter into one another. We belong to one another. We live for one another, because we are all members of the mystical body, and that mystical body is Christ.”
A time to study, a time to practice Archdiocesan Catholics — along with all English-speaking Catholics around the
world — will have to learn the new translation. The words of the priest will change. The responses of the people, both sung and recited, will change. The prayers of the people will change. Music will change. Some changes will be quite noticeable, and others could easily be missed. This change might remind older Catholics of the changes following the council, when there was a bit of fumbling at first. In time, these words will become as familiar as those we currently use, said Podrebarac. Priests will receive copies of the new missals in October, but they’re already taking workshops to prepare for the change. They received instructions during their annual workshop in September 2010, and a singing workshop is scheduled this year. “I think our priests received well the opportunity that this new translation presents us, not only with making people acquainted with the translation and the rationale behind it,” said Archbishop Naumann, “but also to re-catechize ourselves of the importance of the Eucharist in our lives.” The laity are being prepared through the distribution of monthly bulletin inserts, and by regional and parish workshops. The times, dates and places will be announced later. For more information on the new Roman Missal, go to the Web site of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops at: www. nccbuscc.org/romanmissal.
We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, one in Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit he was born of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered, died, and was buried. On the third day he rose again in fulfillment of the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. I confess one baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Mystery of Faith (formerly the Memorial Acclamation) Priest: Let us proclaim the mystery of faith:
Priest: The mystery of faith.
People: A – Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.
People: A – We proclaim your death, O Lord, and profess your Resurrection until you come again.
or B – Dying you destroyed our death, rising you restored our life. Lord Jesus, come in glory. or C – When we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim your death, Lord Jesus, until you come in glory. or D – Lord, by your cross and resurrection, you have set us free. You are the Savior of the World.
or B – When we eat this Bread and drink this Cup, we proclaim your death, O Lord, until you come again. or C – Save us, Savior of the world, for by your Cross and Resurrection, you have set us free.
10 nation
THE LEAVEN • March 18, 2011
U.S. bishops support unions but also call for their cooperation WASHINGTON (CNS) — Amid ongoing battles between Republican governors and organized labor in Midwestern states, U.S. Catholic bishops have echoed the long-standing church tradition of workers’ rights. But they have also noted that there are no easy-fix solutions in today’s battered economy. They have urged workers and government officials to work for the common good and called on the members of public employee unions to make sacrifices. Catholics on both sides of the issue also have weighed in on what’s best for workers and the country as a whole. “Hard times do not nullify the moral obligation each of us has to respect the legitimate rights of workers,” Milwaukee Archbishop Jerome E. Listecki said in mid-February, during angry protests in Wisconsin over Gov. Scott Walker’s proposal to curb public employees’ collective bargaining power for benefits and increase the premiums they pay for health care and their pension contributions. After a three-week standoff that brought tens of thousands of protesters to Wisconsin’s state capitol, the state’s Senate Republicans passed the governor’s plan March 9, bypassing Democratic senators who fled the state to block the legislation. The next day, the state Assembly passed a slimmed-down version of the bill that stripped nearly all collective bargaining rights from public workers. The country has been watching Wisconsin as a possible indicator of a larger trend since legislatures in Ohio, Indiana, Iowa, Idaho, Tennessee, Kansas and Michigan also are looking at ways to curb union rights.
Publisher ships out first copies of newly revised Bible CHARLOTTE, N.C. (CNS) — A newly revised Bible hit bookstore shelves on Ash Wednesday across the United States, thanks in part to St. Benedict Press/Tan Books here. The longtime publisher of Bibles and Catholic classics shipped out more than 10,000 copies of the New American Bible Revised Edition, or NABRE, in just one week — and that’s just from pre-orders taken since approval of the new Bible translation was announced Jan. 6. NABRE includes the first revised translation since 1970 of the Old Testament. The New Testament translation is the same as in 1986 and later editions of the New American Bible. It also includes the updated Book of Psalms, which was revised between 1991 and 2010 and has been included in versions of the New American Bible published since 1991.
THE LEAVEN • march 18, 2011
Practices of Lent bring strength, says Pope Benedict
Cockfighting, hog’s lard once concerns for Lent
By Cindy Wooden
By James Breig
Catholic News Service
Catholic News Service
ALBANY, N.Y. (CNS) — Planning to attend a cockfight on a Sunday during Lent this year? What seems like an odd question was actually a point of contention in 1855, according to News of the Day, a newspaper in Vincennes, Ind. In its April 10, 1855, issue, the newspaper opined that “to all believers in the religion of Christ, the season of Lent, which terminates with ‘Passion Week,’ should be observed as a period of deep interest and solemn import. It marks the most important epochs in the life of our Savior, except, perhaps, his birth.” However, the paper continued, “strange as it may seem, the Catholics profess to observe this period with more devotion than any other sect, and yet they permit, or at least wink at this barbarous custom of cockfighting on the Sabbath.” The writer conceded that “some of the members of that church would shudder at the very idea of participating in such degrading conduct; yet, it must be admitted that it is tacitly allowed by the head of the church, or why does it exist?” Another Vincennes newspaper, The Weekly Gazette, outlined in its March 14, 1867, issue some rules that Bishop Maurice de St. Palais, head of what was then the Vincennes Diocese, outlined for Catholics during Lent. If you’re a fan of hog’s lard, you’ll be pleased. Along with the usual abstinence and fasting rules, set forth these Lenten guidelines: • [Catholics] are to make only one full meal a day, Sunday excepted, which meal should be taken about noon. • Both fish and flesh are not to be used at the same time, either by way of sauce or condiments. • General usage has made it lawful to take in the morning, a cup of tea, coffee, or thin chocolate made with water, with a small slice of bread or cracker. • The use of hog’s lard instead of butter is permitted in preparing fish, vegetables, etc.
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Wishing all Christians a “happy Lenten journey,” Pope Benedict XVI said fasting, almsgiving and prayer are traditionally suggested for Lent because they have proven to be effective tools for conversion. Lent is a time “to accept Christ’s invitation to renew our baptismal commitments” in order to arrive at Easter in a new and stronger state, the pope said at his weekly general audience March 9, Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent for Latin-rite Catholics. “This Lenten journey that we are invited to follow is characterized in the church’s tradition by certain practices: fasting, almsgiving and prayer,” he told the estimated 7,000 people gathered in the Vatican audience hall. “Fasting means abstaining from food, but includes other forms of self-denial to promote a more sober lifestyle. But that still isn’t the full meaning of fasting, which is the external sign of the internal reality of our commitment to abstain from evil with the help of God and to live the Gospel,” Pope Benedict said. In the church’s tradition, he said, “fasting is tied closely to almsgiving” and is the sign that after having given up an attachment to things and to sin, the Christian has embraced good works. “Lent is also a privileged time for prayer,” the pope said. “The church knows that because of our weakness it is difficult to be silent and sit before God,” even though we are “sinners who need his love.” “For this reason, during Lent, the church invites us to be more faithful and intense in our prayer and to meditate at length on the word of God,” the pope said. The Lenten period is the church’s gift to Christians to help them prepare to truly celebrate Easter, he added. Especially during Lent, Christians should be “a living message” of the joy and beauty of being saved by Christ because “in many cases we are the only Gospel that people today” will know, he said.
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ARCHBISHOP DOLAN DISTRIBUTES FOOD IN NEW YORK — Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan of New York distributes food to people in the St. Francis Breadline outside St. Francis of Assisi Church in New York on Ash Wednesday March 9. The longest continuously running breadline in the nation was founded in 1930 by Franciscan Brother Gabriel Mehler to feed people impoverished by the Great Depression.
Repeal of death penalty advances ‘culture of life’ SPRINGIELD, Ill. (CNS) — The repeal of the death penalty “advances the development of a culture of life in our state,” the Catholic Conference of Illinois said March 9. “As we begin the Lenten season on this Ash Wednesday, and we reflect on the crucifixion of Jesus and the mystery of his death and resurrection, there is no better time for this landmark law to be approved,” said the conference, which represents the state’s Catholic bishops on public policy issues. The statement was issued the same day Gov. Pat Quinn signed into law a bill to abolish the death penalty, making Illinois the 16th U.S. state to do so. Effective July 1, the law also will direct funding to services for victims’ families and for law enforcement training. “No longer will there be a risk in Illinois that an innocent person will be convicted and sentenced to death,” the Catholic conference said. At the same time, it added, society will continue to be protected and those who commit crimes will still be held accountable through alternatives to the death penalty, including life without parole. The state conference commended Quinn for his actions and death
penalty opponents for their commitment to working for the repeal. Officials of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in Washington lauded the state conference and others who fought for the law, including the Catholic Mobilizing Network to End the Use of the Death Penalty. “These advocates have worked tirelessly to ensure that Illinois joins the growing momentum to turn away from the use of the death penalty in our country,” said Kathy Saile, director of domestic social development for the USCCB. According to an AP story, Quinn, a Catholic, said his decision to sign the measure was the hardest one he has had to make as governor. His action came two months after the Legislature passed the measure. He also commuted the sentences of the 15 prisoners who remained on death row. The men will now serve life in prison with no chance for parole. In an earlier letter to Quinn, Bishop Stephen E. Blaire of Stockton, Calif., chairman of the USCCB Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, said repealing the death penalty would help “to begin building a culture of life in our country.”
CNS photo/Mohamed Abd El-Ghany, Reuters
MUSLIM SHEIK CLASPS HANDS WITH CHRISTIAN CLERIC — A Christian cleric clasps hands with a Muslim sheik during a rally to demonstrate unity between Muslims and Christians in Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt, March 11. The rally took place after recent sectarian clashes left 13 people dead.
Liberians fear spillover of violence as Ivorians seek refuge By Bronwen Dachs
Catholic News Service CAPE TOWN, South Africa (CNS) — Liberians fear a spillover of violence from Ivory Coast as tens of thousands of Ivorians fleeing political tensions at home seek refuge in neighboring countries, said a church worker in Liberia’s Gbarnga Diocese. As more refugees cross the border into Liberia, “there is concern that among them are supporters of either side who want to consolidate their position from here,” said Manuel Bangalie, who works for the diocesan justice and peace commission. “We don’t know their intentions.” Bangalie told Catholic News Service from Gbarnga that a team of five people from the diocese, Caritas and the U.S. bishops’ Catholic Relief Services visited the border areas in Liberia’s Nimba County early in March to assess the needs of the refugees. They found a vast increase in the number of refugees since visiting the area in January, “because the tension has intensified” in Ivory Coast, he said,
noting that an estimated 3,000 refugees are in the country. The United Nations fears Ivory Coast’s increasingly bloody postelectoral crisis, resulting from presidential incumbent Laurent Gbagbo refusing to leave office after Alassane Ouattara was declared the winner of Nov. 28 elections, could become a full-blown civil war. More than 1,000 civilians have been killed since the beginning of December. Bangalie said the church backs the Liberian government’s plan to expand refugee camps at the border and is involved in plans to “provide more accommodation, food and maternal health facilities.” He said the assessment team found that most refugees at the border are women and children. Many refugees have made their way to the city of Gbarnga and “residents are finding it difficult to provide the necessary accommodation and food for the influx of people,” Bangalie said. Locals are “trying to manage and make the refugees feel at home,” he said, noting that during Liberia’s civil war its refugees were accommodated in Ivory Coast “and now is our chance to reciprocate.”
world 11
In book, pope shows Jesus as reconciler, not revolutionary VATICAN CITY (CNS) — In his new volume on “Jesus of Nazareth,” Pope Benedict XVI presents the passion and resurrection of Christ as history-changing events that answer humanity’s unceasing need to be reconciled with God. The 384-page book, titled “Jesus of Nazareth: Holy Week — From the Entrance Into Jerusalem to the Resurrection,” was officially released March 10. The pope had worked for several years on the text, the second in his series exploring the main events of Jesus’ public ministry. The Vatican said 1.2 million copies of the book had already been published in seven languages, and that an e-book version was also planned. In a foreword, the pope said he did not set out to write another chronological “Life of Jesus,” but instead to present the figure and message of “the real Jesus” — not a political revolutionary and not a mere moralist, but the Son of God who inaugurated a new path of salvation based on the power of love. Through his sacrifice on the cross and his institution of the church, Jesus carried out a universal mission: “leading the world away from the condition of man’s alienation from God and from himself.” It’s a mission that continues today, the pope wrote. “Is it not the case that our need to be reconciled with God — the silent, mysterious, seemingly absent and yet omnipresent God — is the real problem of the whole of world history?” he said. The book analyzes the key events of Jesus’ final days and his appearances to the disciples after his resurrection.
Vatican trains people in the art of saint-making VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Being the point person for promoting a sainthood cause requires the combined qualities of a private investigator, a theologian, a lawyer, a historian and a medical examiner. But, most of all, it seems, patience and attention to detail are what’s needed to be a postulator — the key person promoting and shepherding the cause through each stage of the process, which often takes decades. Teaching future postulators to navigate the process is the job of the “Studium,” a two-month course in Rome offered each year by the Congregation for Saints’ Causes. The congregation runs the course “because it’s the only entity that can teach both the theory and the practice,” said Archbishop Marcello Bartolucci, secretary of the congregation and the lecturer for six of the classes. The 2011 “Studium” sessions, which are offered only in Italian, ran Jan. 10-March 11 and brought together 80 students from a dozen countries; there were laymen and women, civil lawyers and canon lawyers, theology students, priests and nuns.
12 CLASSIFIEDS Employment Principal - Manhattan Catholic Schools, Manhattan, is accepting applications for the position of principal for grades K - 8. Candidate must be a practicing Roman Catholic; have a master’s degree; provide evidence of three years of successful teaching and/ or school administrative experience; and have or be eligible for a Kansas principal’s certificate. Applicants should mail resume, along with three letters of recommendation and three references, on or before March 25, to: Search Committee Chairperson, Manhattan Catholic Schools, 306 South Juliette, Manhattan KS 66502. Principal - Archbishop O’Hara High School, located in Kansas City, Mo., has provided quality Catholic education since 1965. The school currently enrolls 400 students and is seeking an enthusiastic and visionary Catholic school principal to guide our high school program. The ideal candidate should show a strong ability to communicate well with staff, students and parents; possess marketing and recruitment skills; and have a collaborative leadership style. The qualified candidate must be an active, practicing Catholic in good standing with the church; have a minimum of 3 years teaching experience; a master’s degree in education, administration or a related field; and an administrative certificate from the state of Missouri (or the ability to obtain one). Applications are available by contacting the diocesan school office at (816) 756-1858 ext. 274, or on the Web site at: http://jobs.diocese-kcsj.org/jobs/?cid=4&jid=118. Application deadline is April 8. Business office manager - 170-bed, non profit, long term care facility is seeking a business office manager with at least three years experience in LTC billing. Experience in Medicare billing is a must. Financial and supervisory experience a plus. Fax resume to Villa St. Francis at (913) 829-5399 or call (913) 747- 0283 for information. EOE. Development assistant - The Catholic Education Foundation of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas is seeking a part- time development assistant to help with grant writing, social media, and other duties in the CEF office. Applicants must be a practicing Catholic; possess a bachelor’s degree; demonstrate competency in writing, social media, Microsoft Excel and database management. Not-for-profit experience preferred. For information, contact Michael Morrisey, executive director, Catholic Education Foundation, at (913) 647-0383. Candidates may submit a cover letter and resume, via e-mail by March 25, to Michael Morrisey at: mmorrisey@archkck.org. Financial representative - Due to the success and growth of the Knights of Columbus, we are adding financial representatives in the Kansas City area. This position is ideal for a determined, high-energy, high-expectation, professional, self-disciplined, independent individual desiring to serve others, yet earn a better-than-average income. We provide top-rated financial products to our members and their families and will provide excellent benefits and training. For information or an interview, contact John A. Mahon, 307 Dakota, Holton KS 66436; or call (785) 364-5450.
Services Career preparation services - Is your college graduate having trouble landing their first job? We can help! Resume critiques, mock interviews, and more from a real-world hiring manager. Call (913) 850-3874; send an e-mail to: scain@standoutcareer services.com; or visit the Web site at: www.standout careerservices.com. Machine quilting by Lyn - I also do T-shirt, photo, and memorial quilts. Official Hobbs distributor. Located in Overland Park. Call Lyn at (913) 492-8877.
Counseling - Topeka Marriage and family, child, teen, personal Shunga Creek Mental Health Call Ken Zweig, LSCSW at (785) 969-5308.
Bankruptcy - When debt becomes overwhelming, seek professional help. Experienced, compassionate Catholic attorney Teresa Kidd. For a confidential, no obligation consultation, call (913) 422-0610; or send an e-mail to: tkidd@kc.rr.com. Husband and wife cleaning team - Reasonable rates; references provided. Call (913) 940-2959.
THE LEAVEN • MARCH 18, 2011
THE LEAVEN • MARCH 18, 2011 Summer tutoring available - For kindergarten through college students. For information, call (913) 206-2151 or send an e-mail to: Klmamuric@yahoo. com. Tutorial services – Serving south Johnson County. Remedial through gifted; all grades including SAT/ ACT college test prep. 20 years experience. Doctorate degree. Call (913) 387-4044. Piano Lessons- The Brittain Piano Studio offers piano lessons to all ages. If interested, send an e-mail to Theresa Brittain at: tbrittain3@gmail.com, or visit the Web site at: brittmusic.weebly.com. Lawn Care Mowing * spring clean-ups * fertilizing Free estimates Insured, excellent references Call Tony at (913) 620-6063 Tree service - Pruning trees for optimal growth and beauty and removal of hazardous limbs or problem trees. Free consultation and bid. Safe, insured, professional. Cristofer Estrada, Green Solutions of KC, (913) 378-5872. www.GreenSolutionsKC.com. Semi-retired arborist - Available for tree and shrub trimming. Call Bob at (913) 231- 6460. Foley’s Lawn Care Mowing Landscape maintenance Spring & Fall cleanups Residential & commercial Free estimates www.foleyslawncare.com (913) 825-4353 Serving Johnson County Medical supplies and equipment - Home from the hospital and needing supplies and equipment? KC Home Medical Supply has what you need. Come see our retail store, or call Ed at (913) 385-2020.
Caregiving Looking for high quality home care? Whether you’re looking to introduce care for your family or simply looking to improve your current home care quality, we can help. Our unique approach to home care has earned us a 99% client satisfaction rating among the 1,000-plus families we have assisted. We are family-owned and based in Lenexa. Call Benefits of Home-Senior Care at (913) 422-1591 or visit our Web site at: www.benefitsofhome.com. Caregiving - We provide personal assistance, companionship, care management, and transportation to the elderly and disabled in home, assisted living and nursing facilities. We also provide respite care for main caregivers needing some personal time. Call Daughters & Company at (913) 341-2500 and speak with Laurie, Sara or Gary.
Clutter getting you down? Organize, fix, assemble, clean . . . we do it all! For a free consultation, call your professional organizing handyman, Kevin Hogan, M Ed, today at (913) 271-5055. Insured; references. Visit the Web site at: www.koatindustries.com. 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. Brack Home Repair - Call Dan when you need it done! Carpentry, drywall, plumbing, electrical, painting, tile, wood-rot and much more. No project too big or small. For free estimate, call (913) 219-5388 or visit the Web site at: brackhomerepair.com. Insured; senior discount available. Philippians 4:13. Carpet direct – We cut out the middle man and bring the showroom to you! The best place to see your flooring is in your own home or office. Save 40 - 80% on carpet and hard surfaces. Residential and commercial. For a free estimate, call Amanda at (913) 742-4003. EL SOL Y LA TIERRA *Commercial & residential * Lawn renovation* Mowing * Clean-up and hauling * Dirt grading/installation * Landscape design * Free estimates Hablamos y escribimos Ingles!! Call Lupe at (816) 252-3376 STA (Sure Thing Always) Home Repair - Basement finish, bathrooms and kitchens; interior & exterior repairs: painting, roofing, siding, wood replacement and window glazing. Call for free estimates. Cell: (913) 579-1835; phone: (913) 491-5837; e-mail: smokey cabin@hotmail.com. Member of Holy Trinity, Lenexa. Thanks to all my customers for a great fall! We’re looking for indoor work. We can do bathroom, kitchen, and basement remodeling. Includes floors, cabinets, doors, windows, sheetrock, painting, and wood rot. You name it – we can do it; just ask. We’re reasonably priced and fully insured. Call Josh at (913) 709-7230. Adept Home Improvements Where quality still counts! Basement finishing, Kitchens and baths, Electrical and plumbing, Licensed and insured. (913) 599-7998 Woodbright - A very affordable alternative to refinishing, refacing or replacing stained cabinets and woodwork. The average kitchen only costs $500. 18 years experience. Call Woodbright at (913) 940-3020.
Home Improvement Misc. Stained-glass door side panels - Custom-made to overlay existing glass. Privacy and beauty instead of blinds or curtains. Reasonable. JoCo only. Call Ed LeCluyse, member of Curé of Ars Parish, Leawood, at (913) 648-0099. Garage door and opener sales and service 24-hour, 7 day-a-week service on all types of doors. Replace broken springs, cables, hinges, rollers, gate openers, entry and patio doors, and more. Over 32 years of experience. Call (913) 227-4902. Electrician - Free estimates; reasonable rates. JoCo and south KC metro. Call Pat at (913) 963-9896. Custom countertops - Laminates installed within 5 days. Cambria, granite, and solid surface. Competitive prices, dependable work. Call the Top Shop, Inc., at (913) 962-5058. Members of St. Joseph, Shawnee. Clutter problems? Embarrassing garage, basement, attic or any room? Let me help you get organized! Items sorted, grouped, boxed and labeled; areas clean when finished. Great references and insured. Twenty years experience! Handyman repairs also available. To view “before” and “after” pictures, visit my Web site at: www.swalms.com. Tillar Swalm (913) 375-9115.
Donate a vehicle. Make a difference. Donate your vehicle to Catholic Charities to support those in need. Your tax-deductible donation of a vehicle helps children and families served by Catholic Charities and is an environmentally wise way to recycle your vehicle. Cars for KC Kids is a partnership between Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas and Catholic Charities of Kansas City - St. Joseph. Call 1 (866) 430-9499 or visit the Web site at: www.cars4kckids.com.
For Sale American Girl-type solid wood doll furniture - Heirloom quality, handmade, built to last a lifetime. In-home showroom. Custom orders welcome. Call John Hember at (913) 631-4060. Member of St. Joseph Parish, Shawnee. Residential lifts - Buy/sell/trade. Stair lifts, porch lifts, ceiling lifts and elevators. Recycled and new equipment. Member of St. Michael the Archangel Parish, Leawood. Call Silver Cross KC at (913) 327-5557. For sale – Single mausoleum crypt at Mount Calvary Cemetery, Kansas City, Kan. Patio 2, tier 8, crypt 137. Current value $5000; will sell for $3000 cash. Call Roger at (913) 422-3022.
Real Estate Westwood home FSBO - 3 BR, 2-1/2 BA ranch. Low utilities; well-insulated; dry, partially fin. bsmt.; lots of storage; fenced backyard; hardwood floors. SME school district; near St. Agnes Parish and Bishop Miege High School. $157,000. Call (913) 432-2287. Shawnee - 6417 Gladstone. Open from 1-3 p.m. on March 20. Amazing, custom-built 1-1/2-story home with 5 BR, 4 BA, and a three-car garage. Nearly 5,000 sq. ft. of finished space, plus room to grow. 3500 sq. ft. on the main level. High-end appliances, plus granite and marble. Incredible covered patio that overlooks 1.77 private, wooded acres. St. Joseph Parish. $575,000. Collette Fultz, Reece & Nichols, (913) 205-8225.
For Rent Lake Wabaunsee home - Available June and July. Seeking a retired or semi-retired couple to rent our beautiful home, right on the water in the gorgeous Flint Hills, only 45 minutes from Topeka. 2 BR, 3 BA on three levels with extra kitchen and family room on walkout level. Fully furnished. Located on deep water with excellent fishing. References needed. No smokers; pets negotiable. Call (785) 449-2181. Overland Park home - Available now! 3 BR, 2 BA, plus possible fourth BR or rec. room on lower level. Recently remodeled – hardwood floors, large yard with deck, very clean. Holy Spirit Parish. $1200/mo. Call (816) 806-3817 or e-mail: johnch@everestkc.net.
Vacation Take a trip to Italy with Father Jerry Volz!
This 10-day excursion includes: nine nights of first-
class hotel accommodations, select meals, a tour of Vatican City and an audience with the pope, the Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel, the Colosseum and the Roman Forum, an excursion to Naples and the Isle of Capri, Sunday Mass at Montecassino and much more. The trip runs from June 13 - 23. For information, visit the Web site at: www.saintmatthews.org or call Father Jerry at (785) 232-5012. Colorado ski vacation - Winter Park. 2 BR, sleeps 6. Fully furnished, fireplace, rec. center with pool & hot tub. Bus to ski area. $125/night; $700/ week. Call Joe Frederick at (913) 385-5589.
Childcare Infant care available – Experienced, reliable, private care for your little one ages newborn to two years in my home. References provided. Call (913) 642-9637. Member of Curé of Ars Parish, Leawood. Summer nanny available - Catholic, collegebound St. Teresa Academy graduate is seeking to nanny full time this summer in the Overland Park or Leawood area. Has reliable transportation and references. Call or text Alexa Fowlkes at (816) 813-4603.
Wanted to buy Will buy firearms and related accessories One or a whole collection. Honest evaluation and top prices paid. Contact Tom at (913) 238-2473. Member of Sacred Heart Parish, Shawnee. ***WANTED*** I buy coins, older watches, silverware, slot machines, old rifles and shotguns, stoneware crocks and jugs, old furniture from basement or attic. Call Chris at (913) 593-7507 or (913) 642-8269
To purchase a classified ad: Send an e-mail to: jennifer@theleaven. com, or call (913) 647-0327. The cost is $16 per column inch, five lines or less. Each additional line is $1.50. Classified ads will also be posted online at The Leaven’s Web site: www.theleaven.com, at no additional charge.
March 19
After nearly 25 years, the Brian McCarty Polka Band is retiring, so the Shawnee Knights of Columbus will host their final polka dance on March 19 in their hall, located at 11221 Johnson Dr. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m.; the band will play from 7 - 10 p.m. The cost of $10 includes sausage and sauerkraut sandwiches served at 9 p.m. For information or to reserve a table, contact Dan Nicks at (913) 631-4633. The Holy Rosary Sodality of All Saints Parish, 809 Vermont Ave., Kansas City, Kan., will host its annual chicken dinner from 5 - 7 p.m. on March 17 in the parish hall. The cost is $8 for adults; $4 for children. St. Joseph of the Valley Parish, 31151 207th St., Leavenworth, will host a St. Joseph’s table on March 19. The table will be blessed and a spaghetti dinner will be served following the 5 p.m. Mass. There will also be a bake sale and auction. Freewill donations will be appreciated. Proceeds will benefit the Sisters of the Lamb monastery building fund. The Singles of Nativity (SON) will host a St. Patrick’s Day dance from 7 11 p.m. on March 19 in the parish hall at the Church of the Nativity, 3800 W. 119th St., Leawood. “Get your green on,” meet singles and dance to live music provided by the 13th Hour Band. The cost of $15 includes beer, wine, soda, and appetizers. For information, visit the Web site at: http://son-ministry.org. The Cathedral of St. Peter, 409 N. 15th St., Kansas City, Kan., will sponsor its annual St. Joseph table and spaghetti dinner on March 19. The table will be blessed after the 11 a.m. Mass. Dinner will be served from noon - 2 p.m. Freewill donations will be accepted. Homemade baked items, wine, fruit and religious items will be available for purchase. Proceeds will be donated to local food pantries. For information, call Patty McKiernan at (913) 281-2918.
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The youth group of St. Louis Church, Good Intent, will host a spaghetti lunch from 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. on March 20. Freewill donations will be collected. For information, visit the Web site at: www.stlouisgoodintent.org.
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Sophia Center, 751 S. 8th St., Atchison, will host “Prayer in a World of Chaos,” a one-day retreat presented by Benedictine Sister Constance Krstolic, from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. on March 23. Taking time to refocus your life upon God’s magnetic presence is the purpose of this prayer day. The cost is $50. For information or to register, call (913) 360-6151 or visit the Web site at: www.mountosb. org/sophia.html.
24 “Food Rules: Keep Them Simple,” a nutrition presentation spon-
sored in partnership with K-State Extension Services, will be offered from 9:30 - 11 a.m. on March 24 at Keeler Women’s Center, 2220 Central Ave., Kansas City, Kan. For information or to register, call (913) 906-8990 or visit the Web site at: www.mountosb.org/kwc. A Christian widow and widowers organization will host a soup supper at 5 p.m. on March 24 in the Formation Room at Most Pure Heart of Mary Parish, 3601 S.W. Stone, Topeka. For information, call Doris Patterson at (785) 2720055.
25-27 Divorced? Widowed? Beginning Experience Weekend gently
helps people move through their loss to a new beginning in their lives. The next weekend for the Kansas City area will be held from March 25 - 27 at Sanctuary of Hope Retreat Center, 2601 Ridge Ave., Kansas City, Kan. For information or to register, call John at (913) 219-3465 in Kansas City, Michelle at (785) 478-3481 in Topeka, Jerry at (785) 843-2079 in Lawrence, or visit the Web site at: www. beginningexperience.org.
26 “The Art, Prayer and Practice of Meditation and Yoga,” a one-day
seminar presented by Tom Jacobs, will be offered from 9 a.m. - noon on March 26 at Sanctuary of Hope Retreat Center, 2601 Ridge Ave., Kansas City, Kan. The cost is $25 per person. To register, call Julie at (913) 321-4673 or send an email to her at: julie@sanctuaryofhope. org. The annual Greenway auction, a benefit for Xavier Elementary and Immaculata High School, will be held on March 26 in the McGilley Field House on the campus of the University of Saint Mary, Leavenworth. There will be a dinner, live and silent auctions, and live music. For information or to purchase tickets, call (913) 682-7801 or visit the Web site at: www.greenwayauction.org. The charter presentation for the newest Serra Club for the state of Kansas will be held on March 26 at St. Benedict’s Abbey church, Atchison. Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann will celebrate Mass at 11:30 a.m. There will be an installation of officers and an induction of charter members ceremony. A lunch will follow at the abbey. For information on joining Serra or to RSVP, call Tim or Susan Draftz at (913) 367-2227. A healing Mass in honor of St. Peregrine, patron of those suffering from cancer or other serious illnesses, will be celebrated at 9 a.m. on March 26 at Holy Spirit Church, 11300 W. 103rd St., Overland Park. The sacrament of the anointing of the sick will be offered. There will be special devotions and a blessing with a first-class relic of St. Peregrine. For information, contact the parish office at (913) 492-7318 or Marge Hattrup at (913) 492-7682.
27 The Daughters of Isabella, Little Flower Circle No. 503, will host a
covered-dish luncheon at noon on March 27 in Rossiter Hall, 204 S.W. 8th St., Topeka. A business meeting will follow at 1 p.m.
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The Keeler Women’s Center, 2220 Central Ave., Kansas City, Kan., will offer “Cleaning and De-cluttering,” a presentation by Chiquita Miller of the K-State Extension, from 2 - 3:30 p.m. on March 28. Learn how to make spring cleaning projects easier. For information or to register, call (913) 906-8990 or visit the Web site at: www.mountosb. org/kwc.
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Advice and Aid Pregnancy Centers, Inc., is seeking volunteers. A volunteer information meeting will be held from 7 - 9 p.m. on March 29 at 11031 W. 75th Terr., Shawnee. For information or to RSVP, contact Mary Newcomer at (913) 962-0200 or send an e-mail to: volunteer@adviceandaid.com.
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calling (913) 649-3260; leave the correct spelling of your name. The church is handicap accessible.
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The Ignatian Spirituality Center of Kansas City will host “The Discernment of Spirits: An Ignatian Guide for Daily Spiritual Living,” a two-day workshop presented by Father Timothy Gallagher, OMV, from April 2 - 3 on the Rockhurst University campus. The cost for the workshop is $125. Reservations are required by March 28. For information or to register, visit the Web site at: www.ignatiancenterkc.org, or send an email to: info@ignatiancenterkc.org.
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The Daughters of Isabella will host their 10th biennial convention from April 8 - 10 at the Ramada Inn, 420 S.E. 6th Ave., Topeka. The theme is: “Embracing Our Sisterhood in the Light of Faith, Hope and of Holy Love.” Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann will be the guest speaker at the banquet on Saturday evening. For information or to register, call Debbie Kurtz at (785) 3319359 or Betty Little at (785) 286-0486.
April Misc.
Sophia Center, 751 S. 8th St., Atchison, will offer a one-day retreat, entitled “A Discerning Heart: Paying Attention to God,” from 9:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. on April 1, presented by Sister Maureen Conroy, RSM. For information or to register, call (913) 360-6151 or visit the Web site at: www.mountosb.org/sophia.html.
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Sophia Center, 751 S. 8th St., Atchison, will host a retreat, entitled “Three Experiences of Darkness: Spiritual Desolation, The Dark Night, and Depression,” presented by Sister Maureen Conroy, RSM, from 7 p.m. on April 1 until 3:30 p.m. on April 3. This retreat will be very helpful for spiritual directors, pastoral ministers, therapists and health care practitioners. For information or to register, call (913) 360-6151 or visit the Web site at: www.mountosb.org/sophia. html. The Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity (SOLT) lay formation group will host a Lenten retreat from 6 p.m. on April 1 until noon on April 3 at the Franciscan Prayer Center, 2100 Noland Rd., Independence, Mo. For information or to register, call (913) 626-2123 or (913) 220-0610.
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CALENDAR 13
The 15th annual joint diocesan healing Mass will be held at 10 a.m. on April 2 at Curé of Ars Church, 9401 Mission Rd., Leawood. Bishop Robert Finn, Bishop Emeritus Raymond Boland, Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann and Archbishop Emeritus James P. Keleher will concelebrate. The sacrament of the anointing of the sick will be administered. Those wishing to receive the sacrament are asked to preregister by
The annual Jared and Matty 3-on-3 coed basketball tournament will be held from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. on April 30 at Rockhurst High School, 9301 State Line Rd., Kansas City, Mo., The cost is $60 per team. For information or preregistration materials, call (913) 2449725; send an e-mail to: jriordan@prukc. com; or visit the Web site at: http:// kcatholicchallenge.com. The Keeler Women’s Center, 2220 Central Ave., Kansas City, Kan., offers personalized spiritual direction. Spend time in prayer and reflection with other women. Individual monthly appointments are available. All offerings are free; donations are accepted. For information or to register, call (913) 906-8990 or visit the Web site at: www. mountosb.org/kwc. The Catholic Alumni Club International (CACI) will host a young adults weekend in St. Louis from June 2 - 5. For information, send an e-mail to Steve at: valksr@yahoo.com, or visit the Web site at: www.csacstlouis.org/youngadults. html. A support group for women dealing with any type of addiction, at any stage of recovery, will meet from 6 - 7 p.m. on Tuesday evenings at the Keeler Women’s Center, 2220 Central Ave., Kansas City, Kan. For information or to register, call (913) 906-8990 or visit the Web site at: www.mountosb.org/kwc. Calendar items must be received nine days before the publication date. E-mail submissions are preferred; send to: jennifer@theleaven.com.
14 COMMENTARY
THE LEAVEN • march 18, 2011
THE LEAVEN • March 18, 2011
Camp deadline is approaching
Mark my words
Catholic Press Association Award Winner 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
Quote Week
of the
“No matter what language we use, or words we use to express the mysteries of the Mass, we will never outdo the mystery; we will never satisfy the mystery,” said Podrebarac. “In other words, the expression of the mystery will never quench the mystery.” Michael Podrebarac, archdiocesan consultant for liturgy See story on pages 8-9
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I must confess: I don’t like confession
K, now that I’ve got your attention, let me explain. It’s not the sacrament itself that I don’t like. It’s that word: “confession.” My mind conjures up images from old-fashioned police shows, where the accused is ushered into an airless room, handcuffed to a table, and forced to stare into a bright light. The suspect begins to sweat; his mind goes blank. Soon, a disembodied voice barks questions: Do you know so-andso? Where were you last Saturday night around 11 p.m.? While the poor guy tries to collect himself, in the background he hears another police office slowly slapping a rubber hose into the palm of his hand, waiting for the signal to beat the answers out of the suspect. Does this sound pretty much like your last confession? Unfortunately, an image like this pops into some people’s minds when they think about this sacrament. Because they get overly concerned about saying and doing exactly the right thing there, they risk missing out on the essential element of the sacrament. There’s a wonderful story about Father Bernard Haring, a German Redemptorist priest, who was not only a superb moral theologian but also a compassionate pastor. Once, back in the 1930s, he was leading a vespers service, which included Benediction and some instruction in the faith. The topic this particular day was confession, and Father Haring asked, “What’s the most important part of this sacrament?” From the back of the room came the comment: “Obviously, from the name, it’s the confessing of your sins to the priest.” Father Haring agreed that that was a valuable thing, but not the most important. Another responded, “It’s got to be the examination of conscience. If you don’t know your sins, you shouldn’t even go to
confession.” Father Haring agreed that being prepared was certainly good, but it wasn’t the most important thing. Someone then said, “It’s the contrition, right? You’ve got to be sorry for your sins or the sacrament doesn’t ‘work.’” As important as being sorry for one’s sins is for the sacrament to be effective, Father Haring said this was still not the most important thing. A heavy silence descended over the congregation, until a little girl in the very first pew excitedly held up her hand and said, “I think I know what’s the most important thing in this sacrament: It’s what Jesus does for us!” (Adapted from a Catholic Update, “Ten Tips for Better Confessions,” by Thomas Richstatter, OFM.) Don’t we all at times forget this most important part of the sacrament? When we call it “confession,” we focus primarily on ourselves and the wrong we’ve done, or the good we’ve failed to do. But that makes the sacrament all about us. We sometimes refer to it as the “sacrament of penance,” which is a little better, in that it directs attention to the practical ways by which we’ll change our lives for the better. But, even here, the focus is still on us and our actions. Although a mouthful, the word “reconciliation” is definitely the best way to describe this sacrament, because that word turns our attention to where it needs to be: to God, to what Jesus does for us — namely, forgives our sins and fills us with the grace of conversion.
Seen in this light, the other elements of the sacrament — the confessing of sins, the examination of conscience, and even the act of contrition — are certainly important, but not the most important. Putting too much emphasis on the structure of the sacrament runs the risk of turning it into a sort of spiritual ATM: Plug in your sins with the right formula and automatically your forgiveness and penance pop out. But Jesus didn’t work that way. He took time with sinners and even ate with them. He didn’t define them by what they had done, but saw them first as people — people who were imperfect, weak, struggling and burdened by their past. Jesus wanted to free them from their heavy burdens and have them stand tall again. In short, Jesus came to reconcile us with God and one another. Sadly, some people have stopped going to the sacrament because of a bad experience there — often several. In those instances, it seems that even the priest forgot what was most important: He was not there as judge, jury and “executioner,” but rather as the mediator of Jesus’ forgiveness, healing, hope, strength and peace. If you’ve been away from the sacrament, give it another try. (Invite someone to go to church with you, so that you don’t talk yourself out of it at the last minute.) If you go regularly, challenge yourself to make the sacrament more than just a “rote recitation” of the same old stuff. Start by using a different examination of conscience — there are plenty out there — to see other areas of your life where God may be directing you to grow. It’s helpful when entering the confessional or room of reconciliation to picture Jesus there with a warm smile asking simply, “What do you want me to do for you?” Don’t be afraid. Tell him.
second thoughts on the second reading second week of lent March 20 second sunday of lent Gn 12: 1-4a; Ps 33: 4-5, 18-20, 22; 2 Tm 1: 8b-10; Mt 17: 1-9 March 21 Monday Dn 9: 4b-10; Ps 79: 8-9, 11, 13; Lk 6: 36-38 March 22 Tuesday Is 1: 10, 16-20; Ps 50: 8-9, 16bc-17, 21, 23; Mt 23: 1-12 March 23 Toribio de Mogrovejo, bishop Jer 18: 18-20; Ps 31: 5-6, 14-16; Mt 20: 17-28 March 24 Thursday Jer 17: 5-10; Ps 1: 1-4, 6; Lk 16: 19-31 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 March 26 Saturday Mi 7: 14-15, 18-20; Ps 103: 1-4, 9-12; Lk 15: 1-3, 11-32
Without faith, the apostles would’ve seen nothing
T
he question asks: When a tree falls in the forest and there is no one present to hear it, does it still make a sound? We might similarly ask: If Peter, James and John had not climbed up the mountain with Jesus, would the transfiguration of Christ still have taken place? If there was no one present to see the vision, would it still count? Would there have been anything to see? Was the presence of Peter, James and John essential for second sunday the Transfiguration, of lent or only incidental? 2 Tm 1: 8b-10 Did the Transfiguration take place for their benefit, or did they only happen to be there? We should notice that Sunday’s second reading makes no specific reference to that dramatic event described in the Gospel reading, the transfiguration of Christ. Rather, in general terms, it discusses the manifestation of God’s grace through the appearance of Jesus Christ. One could argue that God’s grace manifests itself also in other significant events of Jesus’ life besides the transfiguration: in his birth, in the visit of the Magi, in his baptism at the Jordan River. Similarly,
one could argue that the totality of Jesus’ life counts as his appearance in the world. Why single out one event? In any case, the Second Letter to Timothy makes an interesting claim. It maintains that God’s grace was given to us long before any moment of Jesus’ life, long before he even arrived on earth. That is why it refers to “the grace bestowed upon us in Christ Jesus before time began.” At the same time, it does not imply that God had given this grace independent of the events of Jesus’ life, but rather, in anticipation of them. That is what the phrase “in Christ Jesus” means. We might compare it to a buyer making an advance payment before delivery of the purchased item. God gave before Christ delivered. But God had planned what Christ would do for us. It was “according to his own design.”
This long-standing plan becomes apparent in Jesus Christ. One could even say that Jesus Christ is God’s grace made visible. That is the vision that Peter, James and John see on the mountain. It goes beyond the seemingly physical — Jesus’ face shining like the sun, or Jesus’ clothes turning brilliantly white. All these are outward signs of the spiritual reality produced by Jesus, “who destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel.” That is the important insight that the Transfiguration brings to these three apostles. That is also what it can bring to us. If Jesus Christ is God’s grace made visible, why can’t all people see that? Why are there some who have not accepted the Gospel? It takes faith. Otherwise, the vision will remain invisible, even if we climb up the mountain. Our presence is not enough. An open heart and open mind are also needed. Without faith, Peter, James and John would have seen nothing. Father Mike Stubbs is the senior parochial vicar of Holy Trinity Parish in Lenexa and has a degree in Scripture from Harvard University.
WILLIAMSBURG — Registration deadlines at Prairie Star Ranch here are quickly approaching. Family Day is scheduled for March 27. The day includes access to ranch activities like horseback riding, fishing, the climbing wall, and canoeing. Families are asked to bring their own picnic lunch. The day concludes with Mass at 4 p.m. Registration is due by March 20; the cost is $5 per individual, five years of age and older. The maximum fee for any family is $25. Walk-in registrations will be accepted at a cost of $7 per person with a maximum of $35 a family. Spots are still available for several sessions of Camp Tekakwitha this summer as well. These Catholic adventure camp sessions are organized by age to accommodate campers from 9 to 18. Activities include Mass, Bible study, canoeing, bicycling, a challenge course, and rock climbing, to name only a few. To view the list of camp sessions with spots still available and application instructions, go to the Web site at: www. archkck.org. Click on “Retreats and camps” and then “Prairie Star Ranch (youth camp).
Seminar set for March 26 KANSAS CITY, Kan. — “The Art, Prayer and Practice of Meditation and Yoga,” a one-day seminar presented by Tom Jacobs, will be offered from 9 a.m. - noon on March 26 at Sanctuary of Hope Retreat Center here, at 2601 Ridge Ave. The cost is $25 per person. To register, call Julie at (913) 321-4673 or send an e-mail to her at: julie@sanctuaryofhope.org.
Norman & Wilma Ross, members of St. Leo Parish, Horton, will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary on April Anniversaries 10. The couple was married April 9, 1951, at St. James Church in Wetmore. Their children and their spouses are: Louann and Kevin Olley, Manchester, Tenn.; Barbara McClain, Everest; Dennis and Lynda Ross, Horton; Tim and Jana Ross, Horton; Tom Ross, San Juan, Puerto Rico; Dave and Molly Ross, Clinton, Wash.; Kathy and Kevin Brox, Overland Park; and Rich and Susan Ross, Sitka, Alaska. They also have 22 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. They will celebrate with a family dinner. Cards may be sent to: 1208 Central, Horton KS 66439. Anna Lee (Rothmier) and Leland Farlow, members of Christ the King Parish in Topeka, will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary with a family dinner. The couple was married March 15, 1951, at St. Mary Church in Purcell. Their children and their spouses are: Linda Farlow; Colleen Guth; and Gary and Diane Farlow. They also have eight grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
Patricia and Robert Parks, members of St. Ann Parish, Hiawatha, celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary on March 5. The couple was married on March 5, 1946, at Immaculate Conception Church in Rulo, Neb. Their children and their spouses are: Tim and Rhonda Parks; Phillip Parks (deceased); Nancy and Rusty Wright; and Mark and Marinela Parks. They also have nine grandchildren. A celebration, hosted by their children, will be held at a later date. George and Wanda Gregar, members of Queen of the Holy Rosary Parish, Overland Park, will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary on March 17. Their children and their spouses are: Laura Gregar and Gary Hummel, Lenexa; Joe and Carrie Gregar, Louisburg; Margaret and Phil Landon, Kearney, Neb.; Jean Strippoli, Avon Lake, Ohio; Nancy and John Douglas, Shawnee; Judy Gregar, Topeka; and Fran and Ron Chisolm, Crevcoure, Mo. They also have 17 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
local news 15 Catholic soccer camp set for July 18-22 Overland Park — A unique, highlevel soccer camp will take place this summer in Kansas City, Mo. The Catholic Soccer Camp combines soccer training with Catholicism. The camp is for youth and young adults — male and female, ages 7 to 17. It will take place from July 18-22 on the campus of Rockhurst University. Massimo Carli and Luigi “Gigi” Dusatti are the featured professional-level coaches and scouts from Italy. Carli is a regional select coach in the Verona region of Italy. He is the former head youth coach (U-16) for Verona Calcio in the Italian professional league and a former head coach of Castelnuovo in northern Italy (Serie D). Carli played in the Italian Serie D and Interregionale throughout his career. Dusatti is the head youth manager for Rovereto Calcio in the north of Italy and served a similar role with Trento Calcio. He also played in the Italian Serie D and is a pro scout and advisor for numerous professional soccer clubs. Catholic Soccer Camp links sophisticated soccer training with the Catholic faith by incorporating on-field prayer, daily Mass, praise and worship, and confession during the week. Teamwork and self-esteem are advocated at all levels of play and competition, and various aspects of Italian language and culture are shared with campers. For more information or to sign up for the camp, call (913) 549-4871 or visit the Web site at: www.CatholicSoccerCamps. com.
16 local news
THE LEAVEN • march 11, 2011
Rachel Rainforth of Catholic Charities talks about the issue of human trafficking.
Ann Van Zee of Harvesters talks about hunger issues during Immaculata High School’s social justice day on March 4.
Ray Burke and Linda Haller talk about mission work in El Salvador.
justice for all
Immaculata students explore a variety of social justice issues By Kara Hansen Leaven staff
LEAVENWORTH — Every day in a Catholic school is devoted, at least in part, to learning about faith. But students at Immaculata High School in Leavenworth got an especially intense dose with a social justice day for the entire school on March 4. “I think this experience is important because it has the potential to impact people beyond the students at Immaculata,” said Felicia DePriest, a senior who helped coordinate and plan the event. “There are so many injustices in the world. Yet because we are not directly impacted by them, we often overlook them.” Students had the opportunity to select the sessions they attended based on personal interest. The day’s topics included immigration rights, the death penalty, hunger, mission work, women’s advocacy, human trafficking, and the sanctity of marriage. Speakers included two people whose parents were Holocaust survivors. Each student had time to attend four different sessions. “The point of this event is to spread awareness about some of the injustices in the world,” said DePriest. “We don’t want people to walk away depressed.” Rather, she said, “we want people to walk away realizing that there are injustices and that they can make a difference to fight and further prevent them. There is no truth to the idea that one person cannot make a difference alone. One action can bring about change. It can start a chain reaction.” DePriest said she was hoping the day becomes an annual event. In addition to speakers, several local not-for-profit and social service agencies sponsored booths where students could obtain more information on the various topics. Jude Huntz, director of the human rights office for the Diocese of Kansas
Leaven photos by Elaina Cochran
Jude Huntz (second from left), director of the human rights office for the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, addressed students on the church’s position on the death penalty. “The crime rate has gone down in re- release, the Turnaround program’s rate City-St. Joseph, addressed students on of recidivism is an astonishing 8 percent years, even though the death penthe church’s position on the death pencent. alty is being used less and several states alty. “This is where the event has the po“The fundamental question is: Can have abolished it,” said Huntz. “That tential to go beyond,” concluded Dewould suggest the death penalty is not we keep the criminal away from soPriest. “If one student at Imac walks ciety in a way that protects others?” serving as a deterrent to crime.” away with the determination to make a Students also discussed the cost of a said Huntz. “Can we do that in a way difference, they in turn can go out and that will not allow him to harm anyone death penalty case compared with imimpact others. prisoning a criminal for life. else?” “They can help the less fortunate, And Huntz pointed to the success Huntz started by discussing capital of Turnaround, a prison rehabilita- they can inspire others to act, they can punishment within a biblical frameget family members in on the service. work. He then went on to lead a discus- tion program offered through Catholic sion about the rise in crime and prisons Charities in the Kansas City-St. Joseph The possibilities — [and] thus the potential — are endless.” in the past 40 years in the United States, Diocese. Although statistics show that which is largely attributed to the rise in an estimated 70-80 percent of prisoners wind up back in prison after their drug abuse.
Concrete Work
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