WWW.THELEAVEN.COM | NEWSPAPER OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF KANSAS CITY IN KANSAS | VOL. 33, NO. 32 MARCH 23, 2012
St. Benedict’s Abbey launches capital campaign ATCHISON — No biblical scholar would say the Gospel of Matthew has anything to do with roof repair, but the monks of St. Benedict’s Abbey here could use it to make the case: “[F]or [your heavenly Father] makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes the rain to fall on the just and the unjust” (5:45). In other words, your house may be built for the glory of God, but that won’t stop the rain from falling and the roof from leaking. This is why the Benedictine monks launched their “Share Our Mission” capital campaign last fall to raise $3.2 million. Urgent maintenance issues have arisen in the monastery, completed in 1929, and in the abbey church, completed in 1957. Abbot Barnabas Senecal, OSB, said the monks hope to raise $2.1 million to replace the windows, $900,000 to repair the roof, and $200,000 for an endowment, which will be used for the education of young monks and the retirement of elderly monks. To date, the monks have raised $1.3 million in pledges and gifts. “Our monastery is looking to the future with hope,” said Abbot Barnabas. “We currently have three new novices. Three other young men are in simple vows, working toward the day when they will profess lifetime vows.” “At the same time, we have noble men who have served long and diligently and continue to serve our community in retirement,” he continued. “This campaign is a response to that hope, an effort to care for our home as we care for our community.” For years the monks have had to make do. The 80-year-old windows are single-pane glass in metal frames. When they got bent, the monks would simply bend them back. Now, many of the windows have deteriorated to the point where they have a bad
Photos courtesy of St. Benedict’s Abbey
The Benedictine monks of St. Benedict’s Abbey in Atchison have been a constant presence in northeast Kansas for more than 100 years. The monastery, completed in 1929, and the abbey church, completed in 1957, are in need of major work to the roof and windows. A capital campaign hopes to raise $3 million to address these needs. effect on heating and electricity costs. “I think anyone who lives in a heritage building has a task to maintain it,” said the abbot. “The windows are an example of the way people built buildings 80 years ago.” Also, about 30 percent of the Vermont slate roof needs to be replaced after 80 years of harsh Kansas weather. These improvements are necessary for the long-term integrity and stability of the buildings and will result in dramatic savings. The monks estimate that the abbey will save 50 percent in gas costs and 15 percent in electricity by replacing the original windows. That will produce about $40,000 in annual savings — enough to
send a monk to the seminary for a year. The monks are trying to promote their campaign through personal visits, campaign events, email notices, a new campaign website, the abbey Facebook page and Twitter posts. The abbey is also hosting “Sunday at the Abbey” on April 1 and 15. These days will begin with a 10 a.m. Mass with the monks and Benedictine College students in the abbey church, followed by a tour of the abbey, lunch with the monks, and a presentation about the campaign. Those who wish to attend must RSVP to the abbey at least five days before the event by calling the office of development at (913) 360-7906, or by sending an email to: development@
kansasmonks.org. “The monastic life at St. Benedict’s Abbey has always been a partnership, a shared mission,” said Abbot Barnabas. “We serve as teachers, pastors, spiritual directors, chaplains, by opening our home in Benedictine hospitality, and by gathering each day to lift the world to God in prayer. Our friends generously join us in this work through their prayers, friendship and financial support which make it all possible.” For more information about the campaign, including a short video, go to the abbey’s website at: www. kansasmonks.org. You can access the abbey’s Facebook page and Twitter feeds by going to the campaign website at: http://shareourmission.org.
2 LOCAL NEWS
THE LEAVEN • MARCH 23, 2012
THE LEAVEN • MARCH 23, 2012
LIFE WILL BE VICTORIOUS
Saints offer examples of being true to one’s conscience
W
ith all that has been written recently about the importance of conscience and conscience protections in our laws and public policies, I thought it timely to recall heroic examples of fidelity to conscience. One could choose any martyr as an example of paying the ultimate price for being true to one’s conscience. Perhaps the most famous example of this, at least in the English speaking world, is St. Thomas More. Thomas More was the second most powerful man in England as lord chancellor, when Henry VIII wanted to divorce his wife Catherine in order to marry Anne Boleyn. When the church refused to sanction his desires, Henry VIII declared himself to be the head of the church in England and required everyone to take an oath of supremacy, acknowledging Henry VIII as the supreme head of the church in England. Although almost every noble and bishop succumbed to the king’s pressure, Thomas More refused to take the oath. In a biography by his son-in-law William Roper, we have a firsthand account of the pressure that his own family put on Thomas More to swear to the oath. Thomas More, despite his deep love for his family and his desire to spend more years with them, refused to swear before God falsely on a matter of such importance. In the play, “A Man for All Seasons,” there is a famous scene in which Thomas More encounters his friend, the Duke of Norfolk. The duke asks Thomas More just to sign the oath for “fellowship sake.” After all, Norfolk and so many of his other associates at court had already signed. Thomas More asks Norfolk, when they both stand before God at the judgment with More being sent to hell for betraying his conscience, will the duke accompany him for “fellowship sake”? A less well-known but more recent martyr for conscience is a 20th-century Austrian by the name of Franz Jae-
gerstaetter. I became aware of this modern martyr through the Little Sisters of the Lamb. Near the beginning of each year, it is the custom in the Community of the Lamb to draw by lot a particular saint with whom they strive to cultivate a special devotion throughout the year. They invited me to participate. The saint I received was Franz Jaegerstaetter. He was born in 1907 in the Austrian village of St. Radegund. Franz, though receiving a minimal formal education, was very intelligent and well-read. In his early manhood, he wandered from his faith and failed to live a moral life. In fact, he fathered a child out of wedlock, when that was not as common an occurrence as it is today. At the age of 27, he had a profound conversion. He began reading the Bible daily. His neighbors, who formerly criticized Franz for his rebellious and immoral behavior, now were wary of his public devotion. Franz began to frequent daily Mass and could be seen kneeling in prayer in the fields. In 1936, Franz married a very devout young woman, Franziska Schwaninger. The couple had four daughters. Franz was a devoted father who adored his children. In March 1938, Hitler invaded and annexed Austria. A month later, Austrians went to the polls and approved the German takeover almost unanimously. Franz Jaegerstaetter was the only one in his village to vote against the annexation. Franz was horrified at the many evils of the Nazi philosophy — for example, the policy of euthanasia for people with disabilities. The friends and family of Franz became nervous because they knew the penalty for opposition to the Nazis. The priests from whom he sought advice reminded him of his duty to his family. Franz responded: “I cannot believe that, just because one has a wife and children, a man is free to offend God.” Others argued for his duty to his
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country and stressed his responsibility to obey legitimate authorities. It is those in authority who are to be judged for their decisions, they said, and not ordinary citizens. Franz rejected these arguments, too. It seemed as if he stood alone in his community. For a while, for the sake of the family, Franziska also opposed his risking his life by opposing the Nazis. However, eventually she became a firm supporter, and practically his only supporter, for his commitment to be true to his conscience. In 1943, when he was called to serve in active military duty for the Nazi government, Franz refused and was immediately imprisoned. On Aug. 9, 1943, Franz Jaegerstaetter was beheaded at the age of 37. That afternoon at 4 p.m., Franziska felt an intense personal communion with her husband that was so strong she marked it in her journal. Much later, she found that he had died at that exact moment. On Oct. 26, 2007, Franziska, then 94, had the joy of witnessing a glorious ending to her husband’s story. She and all four of Franz’s daughters were present in Rome to witness Pope Benedict XVI beatify their husband and father. I am very grateful to the Little Sisters of the Lamb for giving me Franz Jaegerstaetter as a special patron this year. I cannot imagine a better friend to have at this moment interceding for me in heaven. These profiles of courage are beautiful examples of fidelity to conscience and make clear to us it is not sufficient for the Christian to “just go along to get along.” We cannot simply compromise our conscience because others choose to violate theirs. Engaged, as we are, in this struggle to protect religious liberty and the rights of conscience, we would do well to invoke the intercession of St. Thomas More and Blessed Franz Jaegerstaetter. We should invite them to pray with us asking the Holy Spirit to renew in our hearts his gift of fortitude so that we will have the courage to stand strong and remain faithful to the truth, no matter how intense the pressure of those in power or how disparaging the disapproval of many of the cultural elite. St. Thomas More and Blessed Franz Jaegerstaetter, pray for us!
Archbishop Naumann’s weekly calendar March 24 “Catholic Way” taping Institute for Missionary Activity — Benedictine College, Atchison March 25 Pastoral Visit – Holy Name, Kansas City, Kan. Samuel Group meeting — St. Lawrence Catholic Campus Center, Lawrence March 26 Confirmation — Our Lady of Unity, Kansas City, Kan. March 27 Administrative Team meeting Priest Personnel meeting March 28 Confirmation — Holy Trinity, Lenexa March 29 Staff day of reflection March 30 Eucharistic adoration — St. James Academy, Lenexa
Archbishop Keleher’s weekly calendar March 24 Wedding — St. Agnes March 25 Confirmation — Prince of Peace, Olathe March 26 Confirmation — Prince of Peace, Olathe March 27 St. James auction dinner March 28 Confirmation — Holy Trinity, Lenexa
Knight vision
SECOND FRONT PAGE 3
Faith helps family keep focused as they navigate life’s adventures Manning is amazed at the energy and activities of this family. “Each one’s given the perfect opportunity to thrive at what they do,” he said. “Each kid has their own personality. It’s fun to see that.” As for Irish dance? “It’s something that gets inside of you and you can’t get rid of it, no matter how hard you try,” Manning said. It’s clearly inside the Knight kids. Kristin enjoys the solo aspects and the teamwork involved. The steps are traditional and disciplined. There’s modesty in the way the dancers dress. And this is something the family can do together. Cecilia attends a “focus” class for dancers who have proven they work hard. Maddox and Audrey have been dancing for a while, and Mary and Veronica began this year. “Of course, the others think they’re going to join, too,” said Kristin.
By Jessica Langdon Leaven staff
L
EAWOOD — Life can call for a little bit of fancy footwork. Especially in a family of 10 — with five kids studying Irish dance! From basic reels to full-blown Irish feiseanna competitions, dance keeps Kristin and Jason Knight and their eight children, all parishioners of Church of the Nativity in Leawood, on their toes. Add piano lessons, running a rosary guild and launching a new online business into the mix, and things can get downright slippery. You see, Help welcome a big part of Anyone is weltheir new come to attend the business — meetings of the called Halos rosary guild. The and Hornguild meets from pipes — is all 6:30 to 8 p.m. on about selling the third Monday bar soap. of each month at Through Church of the Nait, the famtivity in Leawood. ily is helping parishes and Irish dance groups hold fundraising sales with soaps and more. They’re also selling rosaries to fund the work of the guild.
Channeling energy
God’s plan “It truly has got to be God’s plan,” said Kristin of her large family. “It’s worked out wonderfully.” She wasn’t Catholic when she and Jason married after college, but she agreed to raise their children in the faith. Although not intending to convert, Kristin did start researching natural methods of family planning. Her research kept leading her to Catholic resources and Scripture. “Wow, this stuff really makes sense,” she thought. Before long, she was going through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults with her husband as her sponsor. “It really renewed his faith,” Kristin added. Today, faith is a central part of life for the whole clan, which includes 11-yearold Cecilia, 9-year-old Maddox, 8-yearold Audrey, 6-year-old Mary, 4-year-old Veronica, 3-year-old Benedict, Peter, who will be 2 in April, and the baby, Lucy. “We home school during the day,” said Kristin. “And we dance a lot at night.”
Leaven photo by Susan McSpadden
Erin Perila, left, learns the basics of rosary making from Kristin Knight, while Cecilia Knight works with Jack Heppner, 9.
Watching it grow
Feet in motion
Leaven photo by Susan McSpadden
“Riverdance” caught Cecilia’s attention when she was only five. She immediately wanted to learn how to do it. So the family turned to the O’Riada Dance Academy — now the O’Riada-McCarty-Manning Academy — for lessons.
The Knights look for ways to channel the energy of their eight offspring into responsibility and productivity. One way that’s proved successful for them is the rosary guild at Nativity. It’s an ongoing charity and is something everyone can do, Kristin said. A busy parent can make a rosary in the car waiting on kids, she learned, while waiting for her own Irish dancers to finish. The Knights at first made rosaries as a family, then approached the church about starting a guild. It caught on. The meetings from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on the third Monday of each month draw people from across the area. “At first, we were just doing mission rosaries,” explained Kristin. Each of the sturdy rosaries with knots and plastic beads costs only about 11 cents to make. The guild has sent literally thousands of them around the world — to India, Africa, and Latin America, to name a few.
Jason Knight teaches Stephen Brooks, 9, how to start a rosary during the rosary guild at Church of the Nativity in Leawood. “Cecilia just immediately took to it,” said Kristin. And while her instructor Christine O’Riada was demanding, Cecilia pushed herself and thrived.
“It’s just fun,” Cecilia said. “I get to fly across the floor.” Emily McCarty and Joseph Manning now run the studio, which has just moved to a new location in Westwood.
Susan and Troy Heppner and their kids —15-year-old Megan, 13-year-old Tommy, 11-year-old Michael and 9-yearold Jack — are regular attendees of the monthly guild meetings. The Heppners, who are members of Prince of Peace Parish in Olathe, were among the founding families of the guild, Susan Heppner said. Her dad made rosaries, and this has been a neat way to honor his memory after his death. “It tickles me to see my kids following in their grandpa’s footsteps making these,” she said. The rosary was a big part of her family life as she grew up. She sees making rosaries as a great way for any family to spend time together. And since her boys love working with See “ONLINE” on page 4
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Publication No. (ISSN0194-9799)
Editor Reverend Mark Goldasich, stl frmark@theleaven.com
Senior Reporter Joe Bollig joe@theleaven.com
Reporter Jessica Langdon jessica@theleaven.com
President Most Reverend Joseph F. Naumann
Managing Editor Anita McSorley anita@theleaven.com
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Published weekly September through May, excepting the Friday the week after Thanksgiving, and the Friday after Christmas; biweekly June through August. Address communications to: The Leaven, 12615 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City, KS 66109. Phone: (913) 721-1570; fax: (913) 721-5276; or e-mail at: sub@theleaven.com.Postmaster: Send address changes to The Leaven, 12615 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City, KS 66109. For change of address, provide old and new address and parish. Subscriptions $18/year. Periodicals postage paid at Kansas City, KS 66109.
4 LOCAL NEWS
THE LEAVEN • MARCH 23, 2012
THE LEAVEN • MARCH 23, 2012
Bishops ponder latest HHS mandate proposals KANSAS CITY, Kan. — On March 16, the Obama administration offered new proposals and a 90-day comment period for religious organizations that object to the U.S. Health and Human Services contraception, sterilization and abortifacient mandate. The proposals were contained in a 32page document called “Advance notice of proposed rulemaking,” published in the Federal Register. The document, issued by six federal agencies, including HHS, said the advance notice announced the intention of the agencies to propose amendments to regulations pertaining to preventive health services under the Affordable Care Act. The comment period is for those nonexempt religious organizations that object to contraceptive coverage. “This document serves as a request for comments in advance of proposed rulemaking on the potential means of accommodating such organizations while ensuring contraceptive coverage for
plan participants and beneficiaries covered under their plans (or, in the case of student health insurance plans, student enrollees and their dependents) without cost sharing,” the document read. In it, the administration proposes that mandated coverage found objectionable by religious organizations be paid for by third-party administrators of health plans, or an independent agency that would receive funding from other sources such as rebates from pharmaceutical companies. It also clarified, in some ways, its earlier position on self-insured institutions, such as employees of a diocesan school. “If [a] school provides health coverage for its employees through the same plan under which the diocese provides coverage for its employees,” reads the statement, “and the diocese is exempt from the requirement to cover contraceptive services, then neither the diocese nor the school is required to offer contraceptive coverage to its employees.”
It is not immediately clear how these “clarifications” apply to church entities other than parish schools. The administration did specify, however, that most college student health insurance plans must include free contraceptive coverage. Religiously affiliated colleges would be given an additional year to comply. Colleges with self-insured student health coverage plans will not be required to offer free contraceptive coverage, but rather a third-party administrator or some other independent entity would assume this responsibility to provide contraceptive coverage. As of press time on March 20, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops was still reviewing the Obama administration’s proposals. “The bishops are studying the announcement which the HHS put forth late Friday afternoon,” said Mercy Sister Mary Ann Walsh, director of media relations for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Online business now helps others raise funds Continued from page 3 their hands, they often make rosaries in their free time. They’ve even graduated from making the simple mission rosaries to creating nicer ones.
Pieces coming together As rewarding as it is to contribute to people’s faith in so many places and ways, the shipping costs were adding up into the thousands for the Knights. They began to think about marketing some of their nicer rosaries for sale. At the same time, the family was also looking for ways to offset some of the costs of lessons and Irish dance materials for their kids. They knew other groups — from youth groups to Irish dance schools — could use help with fundraising. They found a way to bring it all under one umbrella — through their online business: www.halosandhornpipes. com. The Irish-inspired website now offers products ranging from rosaries to religious items to soaps and candles and more. Sales of the rosaries will fund the rosary guild’s efforts. The site also provides information on fundraising sales for church and Irish dance groups. The business handles
For more information, visit: www.halosandhornpipes.com. a lot of the advance work — without many upfront costs for the groups, Kristin said. One such sale is coming up at Nativity before and after Masses the weekend of March 24-25, where the rosary guild will sell rosaries, sacrifice beads and rosary bracelets. Nativity’s youth group members will sell soaps — featuring Easter eggs and bunnies — at the same event to cover some of the costs of their upcoming Prayer and Action mission trip.
True witness From their openness to life, to their work with the rosary, to the Christian ways in which they spend their time, said Heppner, the Knights are something special. “They’re truly a witness of the Catholic faith,” she said. Leaven photo by Jessica Langdon
Cecilia Knight practices Irish dance at O’RiadaMcCarty-Manning Academy. She’s been dancing since she was 5. Her younger siblings soon followed her lead.
Benedictine Sister celebrates 75 years of commitment ATCHISON — Sister Helen (Egberta) Buening, OSB, celebrated the 75th anniversary of her monastic profession on Feb. 12 with the renewal of her vows at Mount St. Scholastica here. In addition to her commitment to her religious community, her long life has been dedicated to the visual arts on paper and in pottery. She has been both art instructor and prolific artist. After her many years of teaching, especially at Mount St. Scholastica College/ Benedictine College, she became the “picture lady,” visiting elementary schools to introduce students to the great artists and their famous works. The experience led her to write a book for art teachers, entitled “Old Masters, Young Masters.” Her creative work has always reflected her deep spirituality. Sister Anne Shepard, prioress, describes the jubilarian as “both a blessing to us as well as one who has a special ministry of blessing others. She is an example of one who sees beauty within everyone and all of creation.”
Join the Sisters of Charity for Holy Week reflective journey LEAVENWORTH — Join the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth during Holy Week, April 1-8, with special time of quiet and reflection on the Scriptures. The week will include liturgies; morning and evening prayer with special music; and Scripture reflections. Guests can participate for a day, a morning or several days. The event will begin at 6 p.m. on April 1 with evening prayer. All the following days start at 9:30 a.m. Reservations are required. Overnight accommodations are available as are meals for a fee. Services are in Ross Chapel in the motherhouse, 4200 S. 4th St., Leavenworth. For information, go to the website at: www.marillaccenter.org and click on the special retreats link; send an email to: retreats@scls.org; or call (913) 758-6522.
Sister celebrates 75 RICHMOND — Sister Mildred Katzer will celebrate her 75th anniversary as an Ursuline Sister on April 14 with a reception following 6 p.m. Mass at St. Therese Church here. She requests no gifts.
LOCAL NEWS 5 Roger and Linda (Bertsch) Putthoff, members of Queen of the Holy Rosary Parish in Overland Park, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with an open house for ANNIVERSARY family at the home of Robert and Becky Hughes. The couple was married on March 17, 1962, at St. Louis Church in Kansas City, Mo. Their children and their spouses are: Paul Putthoff; Phil Putthoff and Laura Mortick; and Steve and Sarah Putthoff. They also have two grandchildren and one greatgrandson.
DEFENDERS OF THE FAITH Bishops see need to defend church, but also explain its teaching
ANNIVERSARY POLICY
CNS photo/Paul Haring
Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann concelebrates Mass at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls in Rome March 8. He was on his “ad limina” visit to report on the status of his archdiocese to the pope and Vatican officials. During the visit, the archbishop and several other U.S. bishops were interviewed by Catholic News Service on the topics of religious freedom and the teaching authority of the church, among others.
By Cindy Wooden
Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The U.S. bishops’ attempts to defend religious freedom and the traditional definition of marriage must be accompanied by stronger efforts to educate Catholics about the church’s real teaching about sexuality and marriage, several of the bishops said while at the Vatican. “The church doesn’t say ‘no’ because she’s trying to be authoritarian or she’s trying to make life difficult for us. She’s saying ‘no’ because in her wisdom through all these ages, through these 2,000 years of experience, she knows what is best for us and how best to call us to Christ,” said Archbishop John C. Nienstedt of St. Paul and Minneapolis. Several archbishops from the Midwest spoke to Catholic News Service in early March during their “ad limina” visits to the Vatican. They were asked about Pope Benedict XVI’s March 9 speech about marriage and sexuality to bishops from Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. The pope told the bishops that permissive attitudes toward sex, cohabitation before marriage and acceptance of same-sex marriage can damage individuals and are harmful for society. “It is in fact increasingly evident that a weakened appreciation of the indissolubility of the marriage covenant, and the widespread rejection of a responsible, mature sexual ethic grounded in the practice of chastity, have led to grave societal problems bearing an immense human and economic cost,” the pope told the bishops. Concentrating his remarks on the need to promote and explain church teaching on sexuality, the pope said the church’s key concern is “the good of children, who have a fundamental right to grow up with a healthy understanding of sexuality and its proper place in human relationships.” Archbishop Nienstedt said that when he and other bishops from his region met for a more open-ended
discussion with the pope March 8, he told the pope “we have a tremendous way to go to educate people in a proper understanding” of sexuality from a religious, philosophical and anthropological point of view. People need help looking at questions like who is the human person, “what does God intend for me to do, what does God intend for us as sexual beings?” The fact that the media and the general public are watching how the bishops react to the Obama administration’s recent ruling on contraception as a part of health care, and to political campaigns to give legal recognition to same-sex unions, means the bishops have a greater opportunity to be heard when they try to preach or teach about sexuality and marriage, he said. St. Louis Archbishop Robert J. Carlson said that especially in his group’s meeting at the Vatican Secretariat of State, the bishops affirmed their “total commitment to deal with what is a real attack on religious freedom” in the Health and Human Services ruling on providing insurance coverage for contraceptives, “but also to share with the Catholic people what the teachings of the church are.” “This has given us a great opportunity to share the faith” and talk to Catholics “about the need for conscience formation,” the archbishop said. Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann of Kansas City, Kan., said his group also spoke to Vatican officials about the fact that some members of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious and the Catholic Health Association welcomed a revision to the HHS mandate, which the bishops said would still violate the rights of the church. “Those efforts are really undercutting the church and trying to divide it again by setting up two teaching authorities when there’s only one within the church,” the archbishop said. “It’s a very serious issue, I think, particularly when religious try to insert themselves in the role of trying to be the teachers within the church. They have important roles to play but
they are not the ones to teach on these matters,” he said. In his speech March 9, Pope Benedict explained the church’s insistence that marriage was a lifelong union between a man and a woman, open to having and raising children. Archbishop Naumann said, “The secular media immediately tried to reduce what the Holy Father said to bashing gay marriage and there was so much more — it’s true the church has serious objections to the redefinition of marriage — but there was so much more that was part of that catechesis. It showed on the Holy Father’s part a rich understanding of the pastoral challenges that we face.” The archbishop said that after the controversy which followed the 1968 publication of Pope Paul VI’s encyclical “Humanae Vitae” (On Human Life) — which explained the church’s teaching on married love and procreation, reiterating the church’s teaching that artificial contraception is morally wrong — “many priests and bishops became gun shy” about promoting the church’s teaching on sexuality. However, he said, today “I think we’re in a better position to articulate the church’s message because we have the results of the last 50 years and we see the dire consequences of the so-called sexual revolution and sexual freedom, which has really led to so many enslavements.” Archbishop George J. Lucas of Omaha, Neb., said that the overriding impression he got from the pope’s speech and from his group’s discussion with Pope Benedict was “his desire to give us encouragement in our pastoral responsibilities and in the particular challenges that we face in the United States.” “He’s doing everything he can to encourage us and to reiterate the church’s teaching on important issues like marriage, for example, so that in our preaching and in our dealing both with the Catholic community and with the larger society we can have confidence that we speak with the church,” the archbishop said.
The Leaven only prints 50, 60, 65 and 70th anniversary notices. Announcements are due by 5 p.m. eight days (Thursday) before the desired publication date. Announcements must be typed. They are for parishioners of Catholic parishes in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, or for those who have resided in the archdiocese for a significant period of time. Send notices to: The Leaven, 12615 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City, KS 66109, attn: anniversaries; or send an email to: Todd@theleaven.com. If you would like your photo returned to you, please include a self-addressed stamped envelope.
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6 LOCAL NEWS
THE LEAVEN • MARCH 23, 2012
THE LEAVEN • MARCH 23, 2012
Concert talks focus on Divine Mercy By Joe Bollig Leaven staff
OVERLAND PARK — To propagate the message of Divine Mercy, Michael McGlinn travels the shortest route to the heart: through the ear. Last October, McGlinn formally launched an apostolate called Face of Mercy. But the program has been his passion now for some 12 years. His partners are Jerry Baumann from Scranton, Pa., and Father Brian Van Fossen, chaplain at Marywood University at Scranton. He’s the nephew of archdiocesan priest Msgr. Charles McGlinn. “We give concert talks, an experiencedriven event,” said McGlinn, a member of St. Thomas More Parish in Kansas City, Mo. “And we tell the story of Divine Mercy to move families to a place of prayerfulness, to begin to take up prayer in the home daily.” Divine Mercy is a devotion to the merciful love of God, which was begun by St. Faustina Kowalska, a Polish nun. Many Catholics are familiar with this devotion by way of the Divine Mercy chaplet and the Divine Mercy image of Christ. McGlinn’s materials have been approved by the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception in Stockbridge, Mass. “What we’re doing is calling families out for an evening of renewal and healing, to present a very intimate look at the face of Christ, to move them to take the next step in prayer,” said McGlinn. “That prayer is followed through by
St. Patrick offers Spanish language Mass KANSAS CITY, Kan. — St. Patrick Parish here, located at 1086 N. 94th St., is inviting Spanish-speaking Catholics of western Wyandotte County to its first weekly Spanish Mass at 2 p.m. on Palm Sunday, April 1. Parish leaders will be on hand to welcome the newcomers and a reception will follow the Mass. All are welcome.
Dance theater performance set for March 28
Michael McGlinn will present two Face of Mercy concert talks in the archdiocese during Lent. The talks will propagate the message of Divine Mercy. action,” he continued. “Not just any action, but a very specific action that operates through the lens of mercy, which is God’s greatest attribute.” McGlinn’s 10 years as a recording artist in Nashville prepared him well for his self-made ministry — he plays guitar, bass and piano, and writes, arranges and produces music as well. “We use imagery on the altar, including the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament,” he said. “We also narrate a portion of a book we wrote for families, of which they also have a copy . . . and I compose original music on the fly.” McGlinn offers the Face of Mercy concert talks at parishes around the country; his most recent presentation was at
the archdiocesan Pillars of Faith conference on Feb. 11. McGlinn will present two Face of Mercy concert talks in the archdiocese during Lent. The first event will be held from 7 to 8 p.m. on March 24 at Curé of Ars Parish, 9401 Mission Rd., Leawood. The second event will be on March 31 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Holy Spirit Parish, 11300 W. 103rd St., Overland Park. There is no charge to attend these events. Every family at the event will be given two books, one about family prayer and the other about Divine Mercy. For more information about the Face of Mercy apostolate, go to the website at: www.faceofmercy.com.
ATCHISON — Störling Dance Theater will perform “Parables & Prayers” on March 28 at 7 p.m. in the O’Malley McAllister Auditorium on the campus of Benedictine College here. “Parables & Prayers” is a collection of diverse works including “Her Last Prayer,” “High Heel Shoe Blues,” and “Yearning,” first performed in Times Square in 2002 at the Project Dance response to 9/11.
Sisters, Servants will host discernment retreat KANSAS CITY, Kan. — The Sisters, Servants of Mary, Ministers to the Sick will host a vocation discernment retreat here, entitled “Speak, Lord, Your Servant Is Listening,” from March 30 - April 1. All young women ages 17 - 35 are invited to attend. For information, contact Sister Catherine at (913) 371-3423 or send an email to her at: voc servantsmkc@ yahoo.com.
LOCAL NEWS 7
Thanks a million: Ward gets $1 million gift By Jessica Langdon
How to give
Leaven staff
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — When Jim Ferrell first saw the kind of work Bishop Ward High School here does, he liked what he saw. So much so, in fact, he was happy to give when Ward president Father Michael Hermes asked for help in making a new science room a reality. “We were impressed with the school, the way it’s run, the mission behind it, the kids who were going there,” said Ferrell. “And we maintained a relationship after that.” That relationship has led to what Bishop Ward calls a “historic” gift, which nearly doubles the school’s current endowment. Bishop Ward High School announced this month that Jim and Zibbie Ferrell of Ferrell Gas and Ferrell Capital are giving a gift of $1 million to support the endowment fund. The Bishop Ward endowment fund is part of the Catholic Foundation of Northeast Kansas and is important to the future of providing Catholic, college-prep education to students in Wyandotte County. Ferrell said the gift is an investment in “education and values.” Everyone at Ward is committed to two things, he explained. First, they are providing a college-preparatory education, an opportunity some of
Jim and Zibbie Ferrell are giving a $1 million gift to support the Bishop Ward Endowment Fund. Pictured here during the evening prayer ceremony on Feb. 29, where the Ferrells made the announcement, are: (front row, from left) junior Clarissa Fierro-Cheda, sophomore Karla Sepulveda, Zibbie Ferrell, junior Theresa Collins; (back row, from left) Jim Ferrell, Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann, and junior Xavier Tucker. the students might not otherwise have. Second, in working with students, the administration and faculty there strive “to increase their faith and to develop the Catholic values in the kids that the people who are there value so much.” The Ferrells’ generosity has already made an impact on hundreds of students at Bishop Ward, and the school is
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thrilled that their support will continue to touch lives for many years to come. “We are so grateful to the Ferrell family for their generosity to our school,” said Father Hermes. “Their support inspires all of us to continue to work hard to do our best in offering a quality Catholic-Christian formation program and a college-preparatory education.”
Bishop Ward leaders hope gifts like the one from the Ferrells will inspire others to consider giving to the school. Many opportunities exist, and estate planning is one method. More information will be available on many areas of estate planning — from wills and trusts to “The Catholic Declaration on Life & Natural Death” to gifting — at an educational workshop on March 31. The workshop, presented by Evans & Mullinix, P.A., and Bishop Ward, is open to alumni and others. It runs from 9:30 a.m. to noon in Bishop Ward’s Spirit Hall at 708 N. 18th St. in Kansas City, Kan. The workshop will feature alumni who practice law in estate planning. To register, contact Mary Spangler at (913) 371-6901, or by email at: mspangler@wardhigh.org. In this school, Ferrell sees people who are committed to helping children succeed, utilizing a type of education that offers students ways to maximize their talents. “It’s teaching values and infusing kids with a value system that’s been proven for centuries,” added Ferrell.
St. Joseph of Arimathea Hayden High School students, serving as pallbearers, carry a casket and accompany Mater Dei pastor Father Jon Hullinger to the graveside. The boys are part of the St. Joseph of Arimathea Society.
BOYS SERVE IN LIFE AND DEATH Hayden students honor life by serving as pallbearers for those in need of them
T
Leaven photo by Elaina Cochran
From left, Lucas Haefner, Thomas Wittman, Zack Weekley, Patrick Monaghan, Connor Dinkel and Aaron Broxterman, all seniors at Hayden High School in Topeka, are part of the St. Joseph of Arimathea Society that has just begun in Topeka. The society has so far found success in students recruiting fellow students to serve as pallbearers for families who don’t have anyone to serve. The boys have gained a lot from attending the funerals and graveside services. “It becomes more emotional seeing what everyone else is going through, and makes it a more spiritual experience as well,” said Patrick.
STORY BY JESSICA LANGDON
OPEKA — Patrick Monaghan, a senior at Hayden High School here, had an unusual request for a few of his friends. It was a Friday, and he had just been
asked to spend part of the weekend serv-
ing as a pallbearer at a funeral for someone he didn’t know.
More volunteers were needed to help him carry the casket. Fellow senior Thomas Wittman was hesitant at first, wondering if it might be a little irreverent to go to the funeral of someone you didn’t know. And he wasn’t alone. But it turned out that a small group of Hayden students would soon realize that serving as pallbearers for those who had no close friends or family to do so was an amazing way to show respect for others — and for life. Each young man has now served as a pallbearer at several funerals. “When we’re at the cemetery and they’re having that procession [to the graveside], it becomes a moment of deep thought,” Patrick said. “Seeing what everyone else is going through — then being able to shake their hands? “That’s a great moment.”
Society just beginning The Hayden students are part of a group, still just forming in the Topeka
community, called a St. Joseph of Arimathea Society. The society’s mission is to provide pallbearers for people in need. They’re often called upon when it comes to the attention of a local funeral home that the family doesn’t have enough — or any — relatives or friends to serve in this way. The society, like others that have started in different parts of the country, gets its name from St. Joseph of Arimathea, a man believed to have been a secret disciple of Jesus. It was he who provided his own tomb for Christ’s burial after the crucifixion. In addition to the physical work of carrying the casket, the society members pray for the deceased and their families. As the Topeka program develops, they also plan to extend their ministry to the dead who have no one left to remember them. On All Souls’ Day, for instance, they’ll visit the graves in the potter’s field on the grounds of the old state hospital in Topeka and spend time praying silently for the people buried there.
Hayden senior Lucas Haefner was surprised, in fact, to find out how much he and the others were gaining from this experience. “At the cemetery, we go through and shake the family’s hands,” he said. “That’s a very touching moment.”
Plans to expand The plan for the Topeka Chapter of the St. Joseph of Arimathea Society is for it to eventually include boys in their sophomore, junior and senior years. Father Nick Blaha, associate pastor at Most Pure Heart of Mary Parish, envisions them serving at funerals regardless of the denomination of the deceased. Organizers also hope to broaden involvement to include Catholic boys who are home-schooled or attend other schools. Hayden High School principal Mark Madsen sees the potential for students here to meet and work with a lot of Catholic kids who don’t go to the same school. It’s also a great way for kids to interact with people from older generations, he said. Several of the boys already involved in the society said the work they’re doing has added to their respect for life. “We’re talking about church from cradle to grave,” said Madsen.
A new perspective Aaron Broxterman, a senior at Hayden, has played a different role in funerals in the past — as an altar server. His work with the society is different. The high school boys attend the funerals, taking their places near the
St. Joseph was a wealthy councillor responsible for Jesus’ burial. In all four Gospels (Mt 27:57; Mk 15:43; Lk 23:50-51; Jn 19:38), Joseph asks Pilate for Jesus’ body, which he places in a new rock tomb. Matthew and John make him a disciple. Mark and Luke simply say that he awaited the kingdom of God. (Found in “The HarperCollins Encyclopedia of Catholicism.”) The members of the St. Joseph of Arimathea Society in Topeka understand that Christ was indigent when he was taken to the tomb. “The remnants of what he owned were gambled away by others, and it was only through the merciful act of Joseph of Arimathea that Our Lord was provided with a dignity that he was not given during the hours that preceded his death,” reads a description of the Topeka society. “To stand in the sandals of Joseph of Arimathea and serve those deceased members of our community is an incredible honor and a true corporal work of mercy.”
‘True moments of grace’
Funeral director Mary Brennan, center, tells the pallbearers about the family they’re serving on this day. “The family was very sad,” said Hayden senior Thomas Wittman of one of the funerals he attended. “I was just glad I’d been able to help them.”
Members of the Topeka Chapter of the St. Joseph of Arimathea Society offer their sympathies to a family at the cemetery. Hayden students have served at several funerals, and they find their interactions with the families to be very touching. They also pray for the deceased and their families.
front of the church. “You feel that special connection with the family,” Aaron explained. Connor Dinkel, also a senior, had served as a pallbearer before at his great-grandfather’s funeral. “That one was emotional,” he said. So he understands how important the gift of his presence can be at such a time. “After the funeral, you can see how grateful the people are that you were there for them,” he said. “I think people need to understand how important this really is to the families in need,” said Thomas.
ciate pastor Father Nick Blaha, as well as leaders of the archdiocesan office of evangelization and Catholic formation of youth. Hayden‘s administration embraced the idea. Most Pure Heart of Mary parishioner Jim Johnson presented the concept to funeral home director Kevin Brennan, who assured him there was, indeed, a need for such a ministry. But even Brennan didn’t realize how quickly he’d have to call the society for help. “Before this all was finalized, Mr. Brennan contacted us for a funeral that needed pallbearers,” Deacon Ondracek said. So Mike Monaghan — assistant principal at Hayden and Patrick’s dad — started recruiting boys and rounding up jackets and ties for them to wear.
A real need From the outset, it was clear that the group would be addressing a vital
“IT’S JUST A GOOD FEELING TO KNOW WE’RE HELPING A FAMILY AND DOING A CORPORAL WORK OF MERCY.” need of the community. Deacon Dan Ondracek, who is assigned to Most Pure Heart of Mary Church, had read an article about high school boys in Ohio who were serving as pallbearers for those in need. “I thought this is such a simple and profound way for Catholic youth to serve communities,” said Deacon Ondracek. He broached the possibility of doing something similar in Topeka with asso-
Ready to pray and serve Despite their rapid recruitment, the young men were nevertheless ready when that Saturday morning came. “The boys were reverent and prayerful,” said Deacon Ondracek. In fact, Monaghan has received many compliments from people at the services about the boys’ demeanor and actions. Zack Weekley had mixed emotions when he first thought about volunteering but, once he began, he wanted to keep serving. “It’s just a good feeling to know we’re helping a family and doing a corporal work of mercy,” Zack said. “I think that we’ve all talked about it. We can go out and help people who need it, and it’s a great feeling to know we’re helping people.”
Rain or shine, warm or freezing, in the middle of a school day or early on a Saturday morning, whenever the call comes, the boys are ready to serve. They take pride in what they do, and they focus on respect for the deceased and those mourning. Some of them attended services for a U.S. Army veteran and were touched by the folding of the flag for the family. And when some of the boys arrived at the cemetery for another service, a few pointed out sites where their own relatives were buried. “After the graveside service they went to those graves and, standing like sentinels, bowed their heads and were obviously saying prayers,” said Deacon Ondracek. “These were not scripted moments, but true moments of grace.” In some ways, this isn’t a difficult task, said Father Blaha. “On another level, it takes a lot of character. It takes a lot of humility,” he added. He told the boys they’re really in a position to leave a legacy. And Aaron, knowing he’ll be heading off to college soon, said he’d like to start this program there. It’s a way to “spread the word for this ministry that’s needed.”
10 NATION
THE LEAVEN • MARCH 23, 2012
Slain journalist was committed to ‘telling the story’ OYSTER BAY, N.Y. (CNS) — The mother of slain journalist Marie Colvin told reporters the day after she was killed Feb. 22 in Homs, Syria, that her daughter was “totally committed to what she did.” She knew “the importance of telling the story and writing it and getting it out to the world no matter what. That was her life,” Rosemarie Colvin said. Marie Colvin’s body arrived at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York March 6. On March 12, family, friends and colleagues gathered to bid farewell to the 56-yearold veteran correspondent at her funeral Mass at St. Dominic Church here, which was followed by a private interment. She was killed when a makeshift media center in Homs was shelled. French photographer Remi Ochlik also died in the attack, which was part of the ongoing effort by Syrian forces to dislodge rebel fighters. In its obituary, The Associated Press noted that her distinctive eye patch — she lost the sight in her left eye in a 2001 ambush in Sri Lanka — was “a testament to Marie Colvin’s courage, which took her behind the front lines of the world’s deadliest conflicts. To write about the suffering of individuals trapped in war.”
Pastors advised to spend more time on church suppers WASHINGTON (CNS) — Harvard public policy professor Robert D. Putnam has a tongue-in-cheek suggestion for pastors: “Spend less time on the sermons, and more time arranging the church suppers.” That’s because research by Putnam and Chaeyoon Lim, assistant professor of sociology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, shows that the more church friends a person has, the happier he or she is. “Church friends are super-charged friends, but we have no idea why,” noted Putnam. The researchers found that nonchurch friends do not provide the same benefit in terms of well-being and that other measures of religiosity — belief in God or frequency of prayer, for example — do not serve as a reliable predictor of a person’s satisfaction with life. And churchgoing alone without making friends does not improve well-being, they found. “In short, sitting alone in the pew does not enhance one’s life satisfaction,” Putnam and Lim wrote. “Only when one forms social networks in a congregation does religious service attendance lead to a higher level of life satisfaction.”
THE LEAVEN • MARCH 23, 2012
Water is a human right, not a for-profit commodity
Farmworkers end fast for fair prices in Florida By Laura Dodson
By Carol Glatz
Catholic News Service LAKELAND, Fla. (CNS) — Ethel Kennedy said showing support for 61 farmworkers coming off a six-day fast was a matter of charity and justice. The widow of Sen. Robert Kennedy spoke to a reporter as she broke a loaf of bread and began distributing it to the farmworkers and their nearly 1,000 supporters who were in Lakeland to urge officials of a supermarket chain based there to the needs of those who toil in the fields to pick the produce sold in their stores. It was March 10, the 44th anniversary of Cesar Chavez’s breaking his justice fast for the migrant workers of California. Kennedy, who was present at the 1968 event, now joined the farmworkers of Florida gathered at the headquarters of Publix Supermarkets Inc. in Lakeland. “It’s an honor to come here,” Kennedy said in an interview. “We’re supposed to lead lives of charity, but we’re lacking in justice. The Jenkins family needs to know that there are people suffering and there are people willing to speak out.” She was referring to the family of George W. Jenkins, founder of Publix, an employee-owned supermarket chain. Led by Lucas Benitez, founder and director of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, the group had been fasting since March 5 to call attention to what organizers say is a refusal by officials of the Publix supermarket chain to discuss the need for fair wages and safe and humane conditions for workers in the fields. The coalition, through its Campaign for Fair Food, is calling for more human wages a penny-per-pound increase in what farmworkers are paid for tomatoes and other crops they pick. The campaign has successfully brought major restaurants, 90 percent of Florida tomato growers and retailers such as Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s to sign an agreement for a just wage and decent working conditions.
Catholic News Service
CNS photo/Paul Haring CNS photo/Tom McCarthy Jr., Catholic Review
PRIEST SMILES DURING CONGRESS FOR PASTORAL LEADERSHIP — Jesuit Father James Martin smiles as he speaks about hope to those gathered March 9 at the inaugural Mid-Atlantic Congress for Pastoral Leadership in Baltimore. Hundreds gathered at the conference to learn about strengthening pastoral ministry at parishes.
Tech use by congregations mirrors that in society By Mark Pattison
Catholic News Service WASHINGTON (CNS) — The rise in congregations’ use of technology over the past decade mirrors its use in the wider society, according to the results of a survey released March 14. Email usage by congregations, gauged at 22 percent in 1998, had soared to 90 percent by 2010, according to the study, “Virtually Religious: Technology and Internet Use in American Congregations.” In 2010, only 7 percent of congregations surveyed used neither email nor the World Wide Web, but two-thirds used both, the study said. “If you put all the technology that we asked about together, you’d find that a quarter [of all congregations] are major users of technology, one-third are modest users, and 42 percent are marginal users,” said the study’s author, Scott Thumma, during a March 13 teleconference tied to the study’s release. Thumma, a professor of the sociology of religion and director of distance education for the Hartford Institute for Religion Research at Hartford Seminary in Connecticut, defined “major” as using seven or more computer applications, “modest” as three to six applications, and “marginal” as two applications or fewer.
The study did not look solely at Catholic parishes, but both Christian and non-Christian congregations. But “Virtually Religious” did examine tech usage by congregation size. And of those congregations that had 250 or more members — the vast majority of Catholic parishes are of this size — 46 percent were major users of technology, 35 percent modest users, and 20 percent marginal users. “It’s the chicken-and-egg question: If you have size, you need technology,” Thumma said. In the study, the only feature that found less favor this time around than in an earlier study was maintenance of a congregation website. In a similar study conducted 2007-08, congregations running their own site peaked at 77 percent, but this figure dipped to 69 percent in 2010. However, 41 percent of congregations have a page on the ultra-popular Facebook social networking site. “Give me that new time religion,” read the headline for one chart in the “Virtually Religious” study, which showed that, compared to 2005, 28 percent of congregations now contact visitors by email as opposed to 19 percent seven years ago; 12 percent use podcasts, 3 percent use blogs, and 10 percent use other forms of technology.
HISTORICAL TROUPE ATTENDS PAPAL AUDIENCE — Members of a historical troupe are seen before the start of Pope Benedict XVI’s general audience in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican March 14.
Belgian Trappists’ brew ranked as world’s best on website By Jonathan Luxmoore
Catholic News Service
OXFORD, England (CNS) — A hearty dark brown beer produced at a Trappist monastery in Belgium has been rated the world’s best brew by an online community of beer lovers. Coincidentally, the monks are temporarily boosting production of its special brew to pay for renovation work at its western Flanders abbey. The monks at the Trappist Abbey of St. Sixtus of Westvleteren said they will temporarily make one additional batch per month and offer it at participating supermarkets, a first for the order. The monks’ Westvleteren 12 brew — with an alcohol content of 10.2 percent — was rated the best in the world by Fulton, Calif.-based Ratebeer, which offers beer connoisseurs the chance to discuss and rate their favorite brew. Until now, the Trappists sold their beer only to individuals — never to distributors or retail outlets — directly from the abbey. Customers must call ahead to reserve their purchase, which is limited to two crates of 24 bottles each every 60 days. The extra income will “finance important works” at the abbey, which dates to 1831, monastery spokesman Mark Bode, told La Croix, France’s Catholic daily newspaper. The 30 monks usually produce 100,000 gallons of their popular Westvleteren 12 brand annually. For the short
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term, the monks have launched a sixpack for supermarket customers. The packaging is inscribed: “I’ve contributed to building a monastery.” Customers must obtain a voucher and present it a participating store to claim their share of the brew. Directly from the monastery, a crate of Westvleteren 12 sells for about $51. There is an additional $16 deposit on the bottles and the crate. The newspaper reported that the monks also were seeking customers in the United States and Canada but would revert to selling the beer only from the monastery once “current stocks are exhausted.” A commentary on the Ratebeer website describes the Trappist brand as “a vast canvas of intense Belgian yeasts, sweetness, brown sugars, caramel, plum, raisin, Danish breads, malty depth, cereals and gentle hops.” Drinkers habitually “notice a gentle warmth on the throat without even tasting any hint of alcohol,” the website said. The Trappists also brew Westvleteren 8, which ranks 16th on the Ratebeer list, and Westvleteren Blond, a lighter beer. The monks’ website cautions that purchases require “a lot of patience as well as a lot of luck.” The Trappist order, whose 170 monasteries worldwide follow the Cistercian tradition of prayer, penance and silence, is widely noted for its brewing and culinary skills.
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VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Clean and potable water is a human right, not a forprofit commodity dependent on market logic, said the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace in a recent document. Unfortunately, “there persists an excessively commercial conception of water which runs the risk of mistaking it for just another kind of merchandise, and making investments for the sake of profit alone, without taking into account water’s worth” as a public good, it said. “There is a risk of not seeing one’s brothers and sisters as human beings possessing the right to a dignified existence, but rather seeing them as simply customers,” which leads to making water and sanitation available only to those who can pay, it added. The document, “Water, an Essential Element for Life,” is an update to previous documents of the same title by the council. The update, which focused on effective solutions to the world’s water crisis, was presented at the Sixth World Water Forum being held March 12-17 in Marseille, France. Representing the Vatican, members of the justice and peace council attended the forum along with leaders from government, private enterprises and local communities in an effort to study and develop just and sustainable policies and practices concerning the world’s water resources. While the international community has recognized access to clean and potable water as a human right, about half of the world’s population still does not have guaranteed access to potable water, and more than a billion people have no access to proper sanitation, the document said. The Vatican delegation said effective solutions were urgently needed and underlined that individual communities and nations could not solve the problems alone. Solutions required international commitment, cooperation and enforcement, it said.
WORLD 11
Church officials decry suicide bombing at Nigerian parish LAGOS, Nigeria (CNS) — Nine highranking Nigerian church leaders called upon the government of President Goodluck Jonathan to step up actions against an Islamic sect accused of targeting Christians in the northern part of the country. Led by Lagos Cardinal Anthony Olubunmi Okogie, the bishops issued a statement March 14 denouncing the March 11 bombing of St. Finbar Church in Jos as Mass was being celebrated. The attack killed three worshippers and led to retaliatory violence that resulted in at least seven deaths around the city. To salvage Nigeria’s unity, the statement said, government security forces must do more to rein in the actions of Boko Haram. Hours after the bombing, Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama of Jos, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, called the attack by a suicide car bomber an “evil, irrational, beastly and criminal” act. Archbishop Kaigama also called on Christians to remain calm after the bombing and to resist committing retaliatory violence. “We want those that are behind this crisis to come and seek dialogue rather than attacks,” Archbishop Kaigama said hours after the bombing.
Vatican’s offices switch sponsorship of soccer series VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The Pontifical Council for the Laity withdrew its support for a Rome-based seminarian soccer series, not because players and fans were having too much fun, but because organizers weakened their focus on the importance of human formation, said said Legionary of Christ Father Kevin Lixey, head of the laity council’s church and sport desk. The council withdrew because the organizers neglected to offer, as they had other years, a seminar aimed at helping the future priests develop values-based sports initiatives and pastoral programs in their parishes. However, the Pontifical Council for Culture, which has just opened its own sports desk, has decided to sponsor the Clericus Cup tournament. The culture council made the move because “we are interested in the cultural phenomenon” of sports, said Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, president of the culture council. The culture council’s new sports desk will look at the cultural dimension of sports. It plans to look at the human dimension of sports and how sports shape a person’s “joys, anxieties and expectations,” the cardinal said.
12 CLASSIFIEDS Employment Superintendent - The five Catholic parishes of Bismarck, N.D., are seeking a well-qualified Catholic school administrator to lead and develop their newly formed Catholic school system. The candidate will be a practicing Catholic in good standing with the minimum of a master’s degree in educational administration or related educational field; a minimum of 10 years current and successful experience in Catholic school administration which includes central office experience; a current N.D. superintendent credential or the ability to qualify; expertise in school finance, marketing and development, public relations and the ability to implement and give vision to the strategic plan. Candidates should send a letter of interest, resume and salary requirements to: Catholic Education Consulting Services; 13862 E. Grand Ave., Aurora CO 80015; ATT: Bismarck Superintendent Search or bhboyle@me.com. Director of development - For St. James Academy, Lenexa. The director of development fosters relationships with constituents, manages fundraising, and conveys the school’s mission in their professionalism. The director will work with the president in coordinating and integrating activities throughout the school community, infusing Catholic faith and culture into all programs. Responsibilities include overseeing the development portion of the operational income, cultivating alumni relations, working with volunteers and managing the booster club. A bachelor’s degree — preferably in marketing, public relations, sales, or a related field — is required. Three years experience in an education setting or development office is preferred. For a complete position description and application information, visit the website at: www.sjakeepingfaith. org/about-us/employment. St. James Academy - Is seeking a mathematics teacher for the 2012 – 13 school year. Interested applicants should complete the teacher application available on the archdiocesan website at: www.archkckcs. org. Send a letter of interest and resume, via email, to Karla Leibham at: kleibham@sjakeepingfaith.org. Custodian/maintenance person - For Sacred Heart Parish, Shawnee. Part time, with the possibility of full time in the future. General duties include: cleaning the church; meeting room setup and teardown; light maintenance and repair work; and grounds work. Complete the application available on the website at: http://fe.gd/17K. Interested candidates may apply in person at 5501 Monticello Rd., Shawnee. Carpet cleaning technician - Love interacting with people and being part of a team? Have a passion to serve others and enjoy the benefits of some physical work? Then join one of the most respected, progressive service companies in Kansas City. Make top industry pay and be appreciated for a job well done. Bock’s Steam Star is accepting applications for two positions. $10 - $40K. Call (913) 438-7767 or visit the website at: www.steamstar.net. Medical practice office manager - Single physician practice is seeking an experienced medical practice office manager who has: excellent computer skills; the ability to interact professionally with insurance adjusters, case managers and patients; and the ability to do in-office billing. Email resume and salary requirements to: Cynrn04@aol.com. Financial representative - Due to the success and growth of the Knights of Columbus, we are adding financial representatives in the Kansas City, Topeka and Atchison areas. This position is ideal for a determined, high-energy, high-expectation, professional, self-disciplined, independent individual desiring to serve others, yet earn a better-than-average income. We provide top-rated financial products to our members and their families and will provide excellent benefits and training. For information or an interview, contact John A. Mahon, 307 Dakota, Holton KS 66436; or call (785) 364-5450. Catholic worship leader seeking position– Classically educated musician with 11-plus years experience leading contemporary liturgy and Life Teen ministry is seeking full- or part-time work as a parish music director or teacher. Contact Ray Martin at (913) 709-5737 or visit the website at: worshipmusicministry.com.
Services Affordable house cleaning - Southern Johnson County. For information, call Kathy at (913) 593-3795.
THE LEAVEN • MARCH 23, 2012 Housecleaning - Old-fashioned cleaning, hand mopping, etc. A thorough and consistent job every time. References from customers I’ve served for over 17 years. Call Sharon at (816) 322-0006 (home) or (816) 214-0156 (mobile). Lawn mowing Free estimates; references Insured, licensed and bonded Local parishioner Call Tony at (913) 620-6063 Mowing & lawn care - Catholic young man with small mowing business is looking to add clients. Mowing, trimming, and blowing. Reliable and dependable. Saving for college. Member of Queen of the Holy Rosary, Overland Park. Serving northern JoCo area. Call Collin at (913) 648-5903. All your lawn and landscape needs - Mowing, trimming, seeding, sod laying, and aerating for your lawn. Plus, spring cleaning – beds cleared, planting, mulching, gutter cleaning, foundation fill dirt, retaining walls, powerwashing and more. Serving the greater Metro area. Call (816) 509-0224. Tree service - Pruning trees for optimal growth and beauty and removal of hazardous limbs or problem trees. Free consultation and bid. Safe, insured, professional. Cristofer Estrada, Green Solutions of KC, (913) 378-5872. www.GreenSolutionsKC.com. Agua Fina Irrigation and Landscape The one-stop location for your project! Landscape and irrigation design, installation and maintenance. Cleanup and grading services Receive $100 credit toward a landscape or irrigation service by mentioning this ad. Visit the website at: www.goaguafina.com Call (913) 530-7260 or (913) 530-5661 Quilted Memories LLC - New store now open in downtown Overland Park! Machine quilting. Custom-designed memory quilts using your T-shirts and/ or photos. Personalized items for sororities, weddings, graduates and more. We also offer quilting classes and studio/machine rental. Call (913) 649-2704. For samples of our work, visit the website at: www.quilted memoriesllc.com. Bankruptcy consultation - If debts are overwhelming you, seek hope and help from compassionate, experienced Catholic attorney, Teresa Kidd. For a free consultation, call (913) 422-0610;send an email to: tkidd@kc.rr.com; or visit the website at: www. bankruptcylawinkansascity.com.
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 familyowned and based in Lenexa. Call Benefits of HomeSenior Care at (913) 422-1591 or visit our website at: www.benefitsofhome.com. Caregiving - We provide personal assistance, companionship, care management, and transportation to the elderly and disabled in home, assisted living and nursing facilities. We also provide respite care for main caregivers needing some personal time. Call Daughters & Company at (913) 341-2500 and speak with Laurie, Debbie or Gary.
Home Improvement Masonry work - Quality, new or repair work. Brick, block and chimney/fireplace repair. Insured; second-generation bricklayer. Member of St. Paul Parish, Olathe. Call (913) 829-4336. 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. Electrician - Free estimates; reasonable rates. JoCo and south KC metro. Call Pat at (913) 963-9896.
THE LEAVEN • MARCH 23, 2012 Get a jump on your home repairs! - I specialize in painting, wood rot, decks, fences, windows, doors, siding, stucco, landscaping, drainage issues, and concrete. Fully insured. Now accepting all major credit cards. Call Josh Doherty (913) 709-7230. Perfect Roof - Free estimates; roofing repairs if needed. Hail and wind damage inspections. Insured and reasonable. Call (816) 288-1693. Affordable cabinetry - Are you ready for new cabinets in your kitchen or bath? Our large selection ranges from raised panel to Shaker style with dovetail drawers. We offer many finishes, too! For an estimate, call Wright Cabinets at (913) 850-3956. Handyman - Light hauling, electrical, plumbing, painting and carpentry. Efficient and affordable. Call Michael Broton at (816) 728-6109. Member of Christ the King Parish, Mo. and U.S. Air Force veteran. Exterior painting, drywall projects, wood rot repair, bathroom and kitchen remodels, and tile work - Quality products. 20 years experience. References. Call (913) 206-4524. Masonry construction - Division 4 Masonry, Inc. 25 years experience; licensed and insured. Brick, block and synthetic stone; repairs; outdoor living; and new construction. Residential and commercial. Call Tom at (913) 927-6203 or send an email to him at: tomdivision 4masonry@gmail.com.
STA (Sure Thing Always) Home Repair - Basement finish, bathrooms and kitchens; interior & exterior repairs: painting, roofing, siding, wood replacement and window glazing. Free estimates. Call (913) 4915837 or (913) 579-1835. Email: smokeycabin@hotmail. com. Member of Holy Trinity, Lenexa.
For Sale For Sale - One lot at Mount Calvary Cemetery, Kansas City, Kan. Section 3; lot 67; space 8. Current value is $1500; will sell for $1250. Call Neva at (913) 352-8861. For sale – Double-depth crypt in the Faith Lawn area of Resurrection Cemetery, Lenexa. Call Ken Christian at (816) 918-4075. Residential lifts - Buy/sell/trade. Stair lifts, porch lifts, ceiling lifts and elevators. Recycled and new equipment. Member of St. Michael the Archangel Parish, Leawood. Call Silver Cross KC at (913) 327-5557.
Real Estate
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.
10225 Rosewood, Leawood - Large family home (3200 sq. ft.); 4 BR, 3-1/2 BA; living and dining rooms; 22 X 24 ft. great room; sunroom; daylight basement with rec. room and fireplace; gourmet, eat-in kitchen with granite, JennAir cooktop, and large pantry; zoned high efficiency furnaces; concrete tornado cellar; fenced yard on a treed lot with a deck; two-car garage; second family room could easily be converted to a fifth BR with a private entrance. Call John, owner/agent, Reece & Nichols, at (913) 226-5710.
Custom cabinets & woodworking - 20 years experience creating quality woodworking, design, and detail for all your custom cabinetry and furniture needs. Competitive rates; references available. Serving the KC Metro area. Call Dennis at (913) 850-3956.
Three-acre lot - In a subdivision south of Olathe, just off I-35 at the 198 mile marker in Franklin County. A very easy 15-minute drive to the “city,” this lot is about 1/4 mile from the highway exit. No gravel roads. $28,000. Owner financing possible. Call (913) 980-3559.
Interior and exterior painting and wallpaper removal - 30-plus years experience. Quality work; excellent references; reasonable rates. Senior discount. Member of St. Ann Parish, Prairie Village. Call Joe at (913) 620-5776.
For Rent
Adept Home Improvements Where quality still counts! Basement finishing, Kitchens and baths, Electrical and plumbing, Licensed and insured. (913) 599-7998
Office space available - Great location in the Ranchmart area of Prairie Village. Ideal for start-ups, professional and small businesses. Flexible terms. Call Marek at (913) 461-4491. For rent – Three-story townhouse located at 123rd Terr. and Ridgeview in Olathe. 3 BR, 2-1/2 BA, full bsmt. $600/mo. Pets for extra charge. First and last month’s rent as deposit; references required. Send an email to: jrobin5135@aol.com, write “rental” in the subject line.
Master electrician - Licensed in Missouri and Kansas. 35 years experience in residential and commercial electrical needs. Call Rick, L & M Electric, at (913) 362-1501 or (816) 781-1501.
For rent - Beautiful 2 BR, 1 BA half-duplex in Overland Park. Walk-out basement and garage; neighborhood pool and exercise room; trash and lawn care included. No pets. Call Catherine at (913) 972-8852.
Detail construction and remodeling - We offer a full line of home remodeling services. Don’t move — remodel! Johnson county area. Call for a free quote. (913) 709-8401.
Vacation
Brick mason - Installation and repair of all types of masonry work — brick, stone, and concrete. 17 years of residential and commercial experience. Small and large jobs accepted. Free quotes in the KC metro area. Call Jim or John at (913) 485-4307. Clutter getting you down? Organize, fix, assemble, clean! “Kevin Of All Trades” your professional organizing handyman. For a free consultation, call today (913)271-5055. Insured; references. Visit the website at: www.koatindustries.com. Swalms Organizing Service - Basement, garage, attic, shop — any room organized! Items taken to donation sites, trash is bagged, and areas are clean and neat when job is complete. To view before-and-after pictures, visit the website at: www.swalms.com. Over 20 years of organizing experience; insured. Call Tillar at (913) 375-9115. EL SOL Y LA TIERRA *Commercial & residential * Lawn renovation* Mowing * Clean-up and hauling * Dirt grading/installation * Landscape design * Free estimates Hablamos y escribimos Ingles!! Call Lupe at (816) 252-3376
Lakefront home at Lake of the Ozarks - Located at 54 mile marker; Road 135-3. Two master suites plus 2 BR and 2 BA, complete kitchen, two family room areas and additional sleeping accommodations. Extra bedding available for futons. Fish and swim dock. Weekly or weekend rental. Call Harold and Linda Kramer at (913) 451-9412 or Mandy and Rob Harris at (913) 5412626.
Wanted to Buy Antiques wanted Call Chris at (913) 593-7507 or (913) 642-8269. Will buy firearms and related accessories One or a whole collection. Honest evaluation and top prices paid. Contact Tom at (913) 238-2473. Member of Sacred Heart Parish, Shawnee.
Miscellaneous Donate a vehicle. Make a difference. Donate your vehicle to Catholic Charities to support those in need. Your tax-deductible donation helps children and families served by Catholic Charities and is an environmentally wise way to recycle your vehicle. Cars for KC Kids is a partnership between Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas and Catholic Charities of Kansas City St. Joseph. Call 1 (866) 430-9499 or visit the website at: www.cars4kckids.com.
March
23
St. Pius X Church, 5601 Woodson Ave., Mission, will host “A Taizé Meditation on the Way of the Cross” at 7 p.m. on March 23. A soup supper will be served prior to the service. For information, call the church office at (913) 432-4855.
24
Sophia Center, 751 S. 8th St., Atchison, will host a one-day retreat, entitled “Elizabeth of the Trinity, Everyday Mystic,” presented by Sister Sheila Carroll, OSB, from 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. on March 24. Spend a day learning more about this contemporary of Therese of Lisieux. Elizabeth of the Trinity was an “everyday mystic” who held that nothing is trivial and the ordinary is sacred. The cost is $50; advance deposit is $10. For information or to register, call (913) 360-6151 or visit the website at: www.mountosb. org/sophia.html. Training for new respite volunteers will be held from 9 - 9:30 a.m. on March 24 in the Education Center (CSJ Room) at St. Joseph Medical Center, I-435 and State Line Rd., Kansas City, Mo. Respite is a ministry giving companionship and care to those who are homebound, while allowing their caregiver some time away. Men and women are needed to become volunteers. Respite is sponsored by the Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women (ACCW), and trained volunteers are insured against liability. Volunteers serve in their own parish. For information or to RSVP, call Pat Scheibel at (913) 897-6589. Christ’s Peace House of Prayer, Easton, will host a contemplative prayer retreat day from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. on March 24. Instruction will be provided on request. Full- or half-day attendance options are available, with the noon meal included. The cost is $25 per participant. For information, call (913) 773-8255 or send an email to: info@shantivanam.com. Join the Altar Society women of Holy Family Church at 10 a.m. on March 24 at Mejak Hall, 513 Ohio Ave., Kansas City, Kan., for a strudel-making class. Learn how to make apple strudel, cheese strudel or any-flavor-you-want strudel.
A suggested donation of $10 and a bag of Jonathan apples are appreciated. A continental breakfast will be provided. To RSVP, call Sandy Cannon at (913) 4922612; Marcia Wolf at (816) 454-1378; or the church office at (9130 371-1561. The registration deadline is March 21 and space is limited. The Shawnee Knights of Columbus will host a classic rock dance from 7 - 11 p.m. on March 24 in their hall, located at 11221 Johnson Dr. The suggested donation of $5 includes sausage sandwiches, chips, pretzels and a live band. Beverages will be available for purchase. Proceeds from this adults-only event will benefit area seminarians and priests. For information, call Keith Winterhalter at (913) 631-2173.
24-25 The Rosary Guild and the youth group at the Church of the
Nativity, 3800 W. 119th St., Leawood, will be selling gifts for Easter, first Communion, confirmation, and other spring celebrations in the St. Joseph Room before and after all Masses during the weekend of March 24 - 25. Proceeds from purchases will help to fund their mission of placing rosaries around the world. For information, send an email to: kincaid knight@sbcglobal.net, or visit the website at: www.shop.halosandhornpipes.com.
26
Advice and Aid Pregnancy Centers, Inc., will offer a volunteer information meeting from 7 - 9 p.m. on March 26 at 11031 W. 75th Terr., Shawnee. For information or to RSVP, contact Mary Newcomer at (913) 962-0200 or send an email to: volunteer@adviceandaid.com.
28 The Daughters of Isabella, Our Lady of Fatima Circle, will meet at 1 p.m. on March 28 in Davern Hall at Christ the King Church, 3024 N. 53rd St., Kansas City, Kan. All Catholic women are invited to visit.
The Marian group of Topeka will gather for a pro-life Mass at 7 p.m. on March 28 at Sacred Heart Church, 333 Freeman Ave. Reconciliation will be offered at 6:15 p.m., followed by the praying of the rosary before Mass. A presentation by Ron Kelsey, consultant for the archdiocesan pro-life office, will follow. For information, call Georgette Reb at (785) 232-2543.
CALENDAR 13
29
The Church of the Nativity, 3800 W. 119th St., Leawood, will host Lenten reflections and faith sharing from 7 - 8:30 p.m. on March 29 in the St. Joseph Room. For information, send an email to Randall Stevenson at: Gaelwynn @yahoo.com.
30
The choirs at Prince of Peace Church, 16000 W. 143rd St., Olathe, will present a musical Stations of the Cross with selections from Handel’s “Messiah” at 7 p.m. on March 30. St. Pius X Church, 5601 Woodson Ave., Mission, will host “Stations: A Musical Dramaturgy,” presented by Theater at VIS, at 7 p.m. on March 30. A soup supper will be served prior to the service. For information, call the church office at (913) 432-4855.
31
The Women of Spirit of Holy Spirit Parish, 11300 W. 103rd St., Overland Park, will hold a mini-retreat from 8:30 a.m. - noon on March 31 in the church. Mass will be celebrated, followed by breakfast and a featured speaker. The cost is $10 for members; $15 for nonmembers. To register by March 25, send an email to Maria O’Bryan at: jmobryan@ kc.rr.com, or send a check, made payable to Women of Spirit, to: Maria O’Bryan, 10815 W. 104th St., Overland Park KS 66214. Sophia Center, 751 S. 8th St., Atchison, will host “Why Am I The Way I Am?,” presented by Benedictine Sister Esther Fangman, a licensed clinical professional counselor, from 9:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. on March 31. This workshop offers the opportunity to explore one’s personal stories through the use of a genogram, a psychological family tree that aids in understanding how past influences affect current behaviors and state of mind. The cost is $75. For information or to register, call (913) 360-6151 or visit the website at: www.mountosb.org/sophia.html. The Knights of Columbus of St. Mary-St. Anthony Church, 615 N. 7th St., Kansas City, Kan., will host a taco dinner from 5 - 7 p.m. on March 31 in the church basement. The cost is $6 for adults; $4 for children under 10. Carryouts will be available.
April 3
The Keeler Women’s Center, 2220 Central Ave., Kansas City, Kan., offers a monthly book club for women. The group will meet from 6 - 7:30 p.m. on April 3. This month’s book is “Fly Away Home” by Jennifer Weiner. Free books are provided. Space is limited. For information or to register, call (913) 9068990 or visit the website at: www.mount osb.org/kwc.
4
The Keeler Women’s Center, 2220 Central Ave., Kansas City, Kan., will offer “SOS Parenting Help for Parents,” a four-part program for parents of children ages 2 – 12, from 9:30 - 11 a.m. on Wednesdays, beginning April 4. There is no cost to attend; men and women are welcome. For information or to register, call (913) 906-8990 or visit the website at: www.mountosb.org/kwc.
5-8
Sophia Center, 751 S. 8th St., Atchison, will host a Holy Week/ Triduum retreat from 4:30 p.m. on April 5 through 1 p.m. on Easter Sunday. Experience the beautiful liturgies and the profound silence of the monastery. The cost is $225. For information or to register, call (913) 360-6151 or visit the website at: www.mountosb.org/sophia. html.
6
Holy Family Catholic Worker House will sponsor the annual Good Friday Walk for Justice, Kansas City’s annual reflection on the modern day suffering of Jesus, at 2 p.m. on April 6. Meet at Ilus Davis Park, 10th St. and Oak, Kansas City, Mo. For information, call (816) 753-2677. The Daughters of Isabella, Circle No. 159, will meet at 6:30 p.m. on April 6 St. John the Evangelist Church, 2910 Strong Ave., Kansas City, Kan. The meeting is open to all women from Our Lady of Unity Parish.
14 COMMENTARY
Catholic Press Association Award Winner
1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
QUOTE WEEK
OF THE
“At the cemetery, we go through and shake the family’s hands. That’s a very touching moment.” Lucas Haefner, Hayden High School senior See story on pages 8-9
THE LEAVEN • MARCH 23, 2012
O
THE LEAVEN • MARCH 23, 2012
MARK MY WORDS
FROM THE SUPER
C’mon now: ‘Hope’ to it
Let the Holy Spirit guide you as you choose a Catholic school
ne of the consequences of the traditional Lenten disciplines of prayer, fasting and almsgiving is unexpected blessings. As you know, I’m watching just one hour of TV a day during Lent. I’ve done very well with that, with the exception of a few “peeks” at March Madness games that “might” be on TVs where I “happen” to be. (OK, have I qualified that enough?) Seriously, when I’ve been home at the rectory, I’ve actually watched less than one hour, because I zip through the commercials of the shows that I’ve recorded. Not seeing ads for what is the latest new-and-improved item has made me quite content with what I have. That’s one benefit I’ve seen this Lent. The other benefit, though, is much more significant. Because I have just that one hour, it leaves no time for TV news. Somehow, not having that daily — or even more frequent — dose of reporting on fires, politicians’ posturing, commentary on the posturing, murders, assaults, accidents, etc., has given me a much calmer spirit. Taking a break from the endless drone of tragedy and what is often “non-news” is refreshing. Fasting from this steady diet of misery and negativity has given me a wider — and much more accurate — perspective. In short, I’m rediscovering the virtue of hope. The following story shows some of what hope can do: There was once a young girl named Mollie, who was hospitalized after being hit by a car. Mollie’s legs had been badly broken and, though the doctors performed several surgeries, the little girl faced a strong possibility that she would never walk again. She became depressed, uncoopera-
tive, and cried a great deal. She only seemed to perk up when the morning mail arrived. Most of her gifts were books, games, or stuffed animals — all appropriate items for a bedridden child. One day, though, a different sort of gift came, this one from an aunt far away. When Mollie tore open the package, she found a pair of shiny, black patent-leather shoes inside. The nurses in the room mumbled something about “people who don’t use their heads,” but Mollie didn’t seem to hear them. She was too busy putting her hands in the shoes and “walking” them up and down her blanket. From that day on, her attitude changed. She began cooperating with the nursing staff, and soon she was in therapy. Eventually, Mollie left the hospital, walking on her own and wearing her shiny new shoes. (Adapted from “The Best News of All,” found in Medard Laz’s “Love Adds a Little Chocolate.”) Yes, it’s amazing what hope can do: It transformed little Mollie’s world. What seemed bleak became manageable; what looked impossible became possible. Many folks lately appear paralyzed by all of the problems in our world — both real and imaginary. I would prescribe a shot of hope. Start first by saying that “Act of Hope” that you probably learned as a kid. Remember it? “O my
God, trusting in your infinite goodness and promises, I hope to obtain pardon of my sins, the help of your grace, and life everlasting, through the merits of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Redeemer. Amen.” Ask yourself these questions: Do I trust in God’s infinite goodness? Do I believe in God’s promises? Which attitudes or sins in my life smother hope — despair, rash judgment, prejudice, anger, inflexibility? Do I regularly ask for the help of God’s grace? All too often, we Christians forget that we’re to be a people of hope, messengers of the good news, a light shining brightly in the gloom. No, we don’t ever want to ignore the suffering in the world — or right in our own backyard — but we’re convinced that those hurts are never the last word. We’re not just victims of some cruel fate, but people created in the image of a loving and caring God. To those beaten down by life, our faith propels us to be a helping hand, a hopeful word and a generous heart. Treat yourself to a dose of hope in these final weeks of Lent: At least one day, don’t listen to the news on the TV, radio or computer and don’t watch reality or talk shows. Instead, just live in the world where you live. You will probably be amazed at the many good and positive things you’ll see in yourself, your family, your neighborhood and your parish . . . when you take the time to see. Let the new life of spring that is erupting everywhere, lift you from the doldrums of despair or resignation, so you can, in turn, lift the spirits of those you encounter. Hey, what are you waiting for? “Hope” to it!
IN THE BEGINNING
FIFTH WEEK OF LENT March 25 FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT Jer 31: 31-34; Ps 51: 3-4, 12-15; Heb 5: 7-9; Jn 12: 20-33 March 26 THE ANNUNCIATION OF THE LORD Is 7: 10-14; 8: 10; Ps 40: 7-11; Heb 10: 4-10; Lk 1: 26-38 March 27 Tuesday Nm 21: 4-9; Ps 102: 2-3, 16-21; Jn 8: 21-30 March 28 Wednesday Dn 3: 14-20, 91-92, 95; (Ps) Dn 3: 52-56; Jn 8: 31-42 March 29 Thursday Gn 17: 3-9; Ps 105: 4-9; Jn 8: 51-59 March 30 Friday Jer 20: 10-13; Ps 18: 2-7; Jn 10: 31-42 March 31 Saturday Ez 37: 21-28; (Ps) Jer 31: 10-13; Jn 11: 45-56
S
COMMENTARY 15
Jeremiah’s words continue to offer us hope
ometimes it takes a momentous event to grab people’s attention, to make them address the needs of a situation. For example, after the Titanic sank in 1912, public outcry led to several important changes in maritime law. An increase in the number of lifeboats carried on ship was mandated. The International Ice Patrol was established, to alert ships FIFTH SUNDAY to the presence OF LENT of icebergs. All Jer 31: 31-34 ships were required to have a radio on board, in constant operation. In this way, some good could come out of that tragedy. When the prophet Jeremiah was uttering the words that we would later hear as Sunday’s first reading — Jer 31:31-34 — his country was undergoing a crisis. The capital city, Jerusalem, had either been destroyed or was soon to suffer that fate. Its citizens would be taken into exile in Babylonia. Everything was in ruins. In the midst of this devastation, Jeremiah sees a glimmer of hope. The people of Israel have reached the bottom. The only direction to go now is up. That is why the prophet foresees a future restoration of Jerusalem: “The days are coming, says the Lord, when the city shall be rebuilt as the Lord’s” (Jer 31:38).
Jeremiah sees good eventually coming out of this tragedy. He believes that the relationship between God and the people of Israel will improve and become stronger, as we hear in Sunday’s reading: “The days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah.” Jeremiah compares this new covenant with the covenant established through Moses: “It will not be like the covenant I made with their fathers the day I took them by the hand to lead them forth from the land of Egypt.” That covenant arose, not out of tragedy, but out of a moment of salvation. The Israelites escaped into the desert, to be pursued by the Egyptian army, only to wander for 40 years before entering into the promised land. It was a turbulent time for the people of Israel, a time with many difficulties and hardships, even though it would bring them salvation.
Jeremiah looks forward to this new covenant also following a moment of salvation. God would rescue the people of Israel from captivity in Babylon and have them return to the promised land. But this time, the covenant would take a different form. Instead of external laws, the covenant would be internalized. The hearts of the people would be so softened by their experience of salvation, by God’s love for them, that the covenant would be written upon their hearts: “I will place my law within them and write it upon their hearts.” Did Jeremiah’s prophecy come true? Or, did people fall into sin again, as they had done under the previous covenant? That is not for us to judge. Certainly, human beings are imperfect. At the same time, Jeremiah’s words continue to offer us hope for a fresh start, for a renewed relationship with God. As Christians, we see that happening above all through Jesus Christ. When we experience the salvation which he won for us, our hearts can be softened in such a way that God’s law will be written on them. Then, the words of Jeremiah come true: “I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” Father Mike Stubbs is the pastor of Holy Cross Parish in Overland Park and has a degree in Scripture from Harvard University.
D
ear friends of Catholic schools,
It seems like just yesterday our family was facing the decision about where our children would go to high school. We were blessed to send our children to Catholic elementary schools. However, when we faced the decision about high school, we were heartbroken. We could see no way that we could afford Catholic high school. My husband Jim and I had many reservations about asking for and accepting any financial assistance. Ultimately, we decided to explore financial aid with the understanding that our family, children included, would intentionally find ways that we would contribute and give back beyond any monetary assistance we could receive.
Once we made that decision, our oldest son began the process of touring Catholic high schools, including a private, all-boys school. Jim had attended an all-male Catholic high school in Pennsylvania. It was a great experience for him, so we were open to this as we considered schools. Our choice narrowed to two: the Catholic high school closest to where we lived at the time and an all-boys private school. In the end, what pointed
us in the direction of a coed Catholic high school was the recognition that the world had changed tremendously since the days when Jim and I were in high school. We decided that a coed environment was a better match for our children because the world is coed. Furthermore, we thought it was important for our children to learn about the beauty of God’s plan for the roles of men and women in an environment where they would encounter both genders. I empathize with families making these high school decisions today. We all want to do what we think is best for our children. Now that we have the benefit of hindsight, Jim and I realize that the Holy Spirit guided us in the entire high school decision making process and helped us understand how much more important it is to consider
both the long-term heavenly benefits of Catholic schools as well as the shortterm secular benefits. As I look back, I am so grateful for all who were involved in helping us provide a Catholic, coed high school education for our children. I am grateful that we still have those opportunities for today’s parents. If you are facing the high school decision in your family, I would encourage you to contact the presidents of the Catholic high schools in our archdiocese and also to call upon the Holy Spirit so that he will guide your family as he did ours. I will keep you in my prayers. ¡Vaya con Dios! Kathy O’Hara is the superintendent of archdiocesan schools.
INSIDE CATHOLIC CHARITIES
F
Forgive everyone — even the ones you don’t love
our hundred and fifty words. That’s my word count for my Leaven column. How can I say what needs to be said in 450 words? I weep for our great country. I weep for our beautiful state. I weep for the thousands who may someday come to our door and find it closed because the church has been pushed into a box, stripped of its place in society. When did the tide turn and pull away? When did truth and values and love become dirty words? Pope Benedict XVI in his Lenten message urged us to “be concerned for each other, to stir a response in love and good works” (Heb 10:24). That
good is “whatever gives, protects and promotes life, brotherhood and communion. Responsibility towards others . . . concern for others means being aware of their needs.” He warns us of the danger that our hearts can become hardened by a sort of “spiritual anesthesia” which numbs us to the suffering of others. “What hinders this humane and loving gaze towards our brothers and sisters? Often it is the possession of material riches and a sense of sufficiency, but it can also be the tendency to put our
own interests and problems above all else. We should never be incapable of ‘showing mercy’ towards those who suffer. Our hearts should never be so wrapped up in our affairs and problems that they fail to hear the cry of the poor.” When I pledged my life to Christ through baptism and confirmation, I pledged to subordinate my personal rights and freedoms for the good of my brothers and sisters. Our Founding Fathers wrote in the Declaration of Independence that “with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.” What happened to those pledges? What happened to our understanding that united we stand, divided we fall? As I write this column, we are midway through the season of Lent. The
readings today call us to forgiveness. We are to understand that we stand no higher than the person next to us. We are told that we will only be forgiven as we forgive others, without condition. I can’t simply forgive the ones I love; I must forgive the ones I don’t love — the immigrant, the drug addict, the liberal or conservative, the poor person that I judge is living on the government dole. If we fail to forgive, to love, to understand, to show mercy and compassion, then we have failed Christ. Our church will lose its relevance, our charities will close their doors, and our voice will grow silent. I could have said it all in just three words — “And Jesus wept” (Jn 11:35). Jan Lewis is the executive director of Catholic Charities.
PROTECTING FAMILIES FROM PORNOGRAPHY
Be bold about spreading a beautiful vision of sex and marriage
I
was recently at a local Wal-Mart picking up a few items for my kids. I was shocked to glance over and see that Playboy had a fragrance called Playboy Las Vegas in the store. When I spoke to store managers and said that I felt uncomfortable with my two-year-old son seeing the Playboy logo, they said they were sorry I was offended but that it was an approved product. I asked the managers if they had kids. One of them said that his younger kids probably wouldn’t know what Playboy was, and it was really not
that big of a deal. As a man who has counseled hundreds of men and couples who are healing from the effects of pornography, I can tell you that it really is a big deal. There are so many good men I have talked to who have struggled with damaged trust, isolation, lack of leadership, and even job loss from their use of pornography. I felt shocked about how bold and strategic Playboy has been with mar-
keting and advertising to bring their products into Wal-Mart. I then thought about the amazing level of closeness and intimacy that theology of the body has brought to my marriage, and I felt sad about the many people shopping at Wal-Mart who have probably never heard of theology of the body. On a much happier note, there is a new set of CDs that Jason Evert has released about love, sexuality, and theology of the body. Evert gives people permission to burn unlimited copies of the CDs to spread the message to friends, family members, co-workers, etc. I have listened to the CDs and let’s just say that I laughed and cried a lot in my car for about a week on my way to work. I really wish I would have had these resources in my teenage and college years. I spoke to several CD duplication companies and it would
cost about 30 cents per CD to duplicate these CDs in bulk. There are two CDs in particular that I think every family in our archdiocese should have the opportunity to listen to. Give me a call at (913) 647-0378 if you want me to send you copies of these CDs, and let me know if you are interested in helping to duplicate massive quantities for others. Let’s all think of ways to be a lot bolder and more effective with spreading the true, good and beautiful vision of sex and marriage through the theology of the body and watch as people experience better intimacy, closer relationships, and intense amounts of happiness in their lives! Sam Meier is the consultant for the My House Freedom from Pornography Initiative. You can contact him through the program’s website at: LoveIsFaithful.org.
16 LOCAL NEWS
THE LEAVEN • MARCH 23, 2012
Camp brings together faith, family and fun By Jessica Langdon Leaven staff
WILLIAMSBURG — When Madison Borisov was little, she gave the best compliment a kid could give to family camp at Prairie Star Ranch — and that was before it even started. “This is better than Disney World!” she exclaimed as the family pulled up to the camp in Williamsburg. She’s been to the theme park several times, so she spoke from experience. But the sight of young adults lining the road to greet and pray with each arriving camper really impressed her. The family has returned several times to family camp since then, and the now 12-year-old Madison, a sixth-grader at Prince of Peace School in Olathe, still looks forward to it as much as ever. As do her parents, Dan and Nancy Borisov. Members of the archdiocesan office of evangelization and Catholic formation of youth hope that many new families will be joining the Borisovs this summer for the family session from July 13-15. Unlike the Camp Kateri and Camp Tekakwitha sessions, which are for kids only, family camp is exactly that — a chance for entire families, from toddlers to grandparents, to enjoy the firstrate facilities for a fun- and faith-filled weekend. For the people who have long been associated with the camps, said Deacon Dana Nearmyer, it’s one of the most treasured experiences. Deacon Nearmyer and his wife Debbie have been the camp directors since its inception. “It’s amazing to see families come in and bring all the holiness they have in them — what makes them a family — and watch them spend time together,” said Deacon Nearmyer. “You show up and enjoy that time with your family.” During those three days, there are no errands to run, no chores to catch up on, no laundry or dishes waiting to be done right away. It’s a time without cellphones, TV or other distractions. “It’s really a blessed experience,” said Deacon Nearmyer. There’s room for about 25 families — nuclear or extended. In the past, they’ve even had three or four related families use the opportunity as sort of a spiritually-fueled family reunion. There’s plenty of zip lining, rock climbing, campfires, swimming, and more, coupled with the faith formation, of course. And the nighttime accommodations aren’t as rustic as the word “camp” might suggest. “They have the air-conditioned cabins,” said Nancy Borisov. “It was great.” Families are placed in one- or twobedroom cabins, depending on family
Prince of Peace parishioner Nancy Borisov takes on the high ropes at family camp. The Borisov family is a regular there; this year’s camp is July 13-15.
Camp registration open
Madison Borisov prepares to take off on her mountain board. Family camp at Prairie Star Ranch is one of her favorite destinations. size, and share communal bathrooms. The days offer a few hours of agespecific camp and faith-formation activities for the kids, while the adults get a chance to spend some time together and try some of the camp activities. And there are endless opportunities — from eucharistic adoration to learning about saints and asking for their intercession — to grow in faith. “One year, we worked on how the mysteries of the rosary relate to our family,” said Nancy. They created their
own for their family to meditate on. “It’s just nice to see your family praying and being close to God,” she said. She also found tremendous inspiration in the people who work at the camp. “One of the things we really, really loved and were so overwhelmed by is the respect that the counselors have, the respect for the Catholic faith,” said Nancy. “They were on their knees praying. It was like Jesus was right there.” This inspired her, especially in a time
There is still room available at the family camp session July 13-15. The cost for family camp is $125 per camper age 2 and older. Campers younger than 2 are free, but no baby-sitting is provided. Families with specific questions about this camp may call the archdiocesan office of evangelization and Catholic formation of youth at (913) 647-0331. Registration information and forms for this and other camps are available on the archdiocesan website at: www.archkck.org. Under Ministries & Offices, select Youth Formation & Activities. Then click on the Camp Tekakwitha tab. Camp X-Treme for high school students is full, but there is still space in other camp sessions for each of the age groups. when she had the impression young people were leaving the faith or not taking it seriously. “It just really changed my outlook on the faith and gave me so much hope,” she said. She hopes her own daughter will one day get a chance to work at Prairie Star and can’t wait for this year’s family camp to begin. “It’s just the best place ever,” she said.
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