03-28-14 Vol. 35 No. 32

theleaven.com | vol. 35, no. 32 | march 28, 2014

Leaven photo by Marc Anderson

Above, Kristen Turley signs the Book of the Elect at the Rite of Election ceremony held on March 16 at Topeka’s Christ the King Parish. It was one of three celebrations held in the archdiocese — the other two taking place at the Cathedral of St. Peter in Kansas City, Kan., and at Church of the Nativity in Leawood on March 9. Turley will be baptized, confirmed and make her first Communion at St. Matthew Parish in Topeka. Pictured with her are her sponsor and fiance Alex Dinkel and Father Jerry Volz, pastor of St. Matthew.

‘It just felt right’

Topeka women take next step toward communion

By Marc and Julie Anderson Special to The Leaven

T

OPEKA — The faith journeys of four Topeka women — Lindsay Brees, Pam Karns, Brittany Rygaard and Kristen Turley — converged this Lent as they took one final step toward full communion with the Catholic Church at the Rite of Election ceremony at Christ the King Church here March 16.

The ceremony is one at which those who will celebrate the sacraments of initiation (the sacraments of baptism, Eucharist and confirmation) at Easter formally announce their intentions. Catechumens, or people seeking baptism along with entry into the church, are formally presented to Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann at this liturgy, along with their godparents. Likewise, candidates, or those previously baptized into a Christian faith and now seeking full communion with the Catholic Church, are presented separately. During the ceremony, each catechumen also signs his or her

name in the Book of the Elect as a public witness of his or her desire to enter the church.

For Brees, the anticipation of celebrating the sacraments with her family this Easter has brought great joy.

Lindsay Brees was raised Methodist, but the family did not attend church often. Then, she met Rory Brees. Rory was a cradle Catholic, a graduate of Topeka’s only Catholic high school (Hayden) and a member of a large extended Catholic family.

While the two dated, she often attended Mass with Rory and his family. Eventually, the two married at Topeka’s Sacred Heart Church (part of Sacred Heart-St. Joseph Parish) and had two girls, both of whom were baptized as Catholics.

According to Lindsay, Rory never pressured her to join the church. However, when the children started religious education classes, Brees decided she wanted to learn more.

“It just felt right,” she said.

The family just welcomed a third daughter, and Brees said knowing all five of them will be one faith brings her much joy already. She explained that life is not about material goods, this party or

that activity; it’s about religion and family.

“That’s what I want to instill in my girls,” she added.

Brees has found additional support from her mother Pam Karns, who undertook RCIA preparation when she did. They’ll be entering the church together at Easter.

Kristen Turley, a senior majoring in social work at Topeka’s Washburn University, didn’t attend church as a child — her family just did not go.

As a teen, Turley got involved with a Protestant church in the Kansas City area, which her mother also attended. When Turley moved to Topeka for college, however, she didn’t really know many people. Eventually, she met Alex Dinkel.

Like Rory Brees, Dinkel was a cradle Catholic.

His extended family was involved with his home parish of St. Matthew in Topeka.

“It always really intrigued me,” said Turley. And like Rory Brees, Dinkel never once pressured Turley. She just wanted to learn more about his faith because it was important to him. It had brought him through a difficult period in his life — a bout with cancer when he was in high school.

Turley started going to Mass with Dinkel and his family. She was intrigued by the structure of the Mass, the music and the congregation’s participation. What really impressed her, though, was the indistinguishability of the Mass, no matter whether she attended Mass in Cincinnati or in Topeka.

“I can go anywhere in the world and know what they are doing,” said Turley.

See “FAITH” on page 6

2 archbishop

theleaven.com | march 28, 2014

Life will be victorious

Review of last 10 years leaves archbishop looking forward to next 10

M

arch 19, the feast of St. Joseph, was the 10th anniversary of the Mass of welcome for my arrival in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas.

At that time, I was the coadjutor archbishop, assisting Archbishop Keleher with the pastoral care of the people of the Archdiocese.

On Jan. 15, 2005, Pope John Paul II accepted Archbishop Keleher’s retirement and I succeeded him as the 11th bishop and fourth archbishop to lead what is today the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas.

It is hard to believe that 10 years have elapsed. Anniversaries are a time to recall God’s abundant blessings and give thanks. They are also moments to assess the past and plan for the future. At a recent meeting of the Priests’ Council, I reviewed with our priests what I consider to be some of the highlights of the past 10 years. I am not claiming credit for any of these positive developments. In fact, in reality, these achievements by the priests, religious

Archbishop’s offer to celebrate baptisms for children of larger families To show his personal support for those couples open to raising larger families, Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann has offered to celebrate the baptism of the third or greater child of any family (by birth, adoption, or blending through valid marriage) interested. The first of these baptismal celebrations will take place on May 18 at 2:30 p.m. at Church of the Ascension, 9510 W. 127th St., Overland Park. Additional celebrations are scheduled for July 27, Sept. 7, and Nov. 16. For 2015, celebrations are scheduled for Jan. 18, March 15, and May 17. Please contact your parish office for more information. Additional information is also available from the archdiocesan office for liturgy and sacramental life at (913) 647-0330 or online at: liturgy@archkck.org.

archbishop Joseph F. Naumann and laity of the Archdiocese occurred despite my many leadership weaknesses. These are not listed necessarily in the order of importance.

1) Increase of priestly vocations with 35 seminarians discerning a priestly vocation for the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas 2) The establishment of the School of Faith as a public association of the faithful, providing adult faith formation 3) The ongoing faith formation of all Catholic elementary and secondary school teachers 4) The Year of Faith initiative: “Faith: Love It, Learn It, Live It,” during which tens of thousands of individuals made a personal commitment to deepen their friendship with Jesus as well as increase their knowledge of their Catholic faith 5) Inauguration of the Spiritual Mentorship Program that helps form spiritual mentors who are trained to assist others enrich their prayer life and enhance their relationship with God 6) The arrival of new and the expansion of some existing religious communities, e.g., the Little Sisters and the Little Brothers of the Lamb, the Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George, Sisters of St. Anne, the Franciscans Poor of Jesus Christ, the Society of St. Augustine, the establishment of the male branch of the Apostles of the Interior Life and the expansion of the presence and ministry of the female Apostles of the Interior Life.

Along with the many wellestablished religious communities that have been in the Archdiocese for many years, these new foundations have enriched the spiritual life of the Archdiocese. Religious life, when it is well-lived, is leaven within the church, helping the entire church grow closer to Jesus.

7) The ordination of the first permanent deacons for

the Archdiocese and the establishment of the diaconate office that organizes the formation of new candidates for the diaconate and provides ongoing formation for those already ordained 8) Strengthening of Marian devotion by the promotion of the family rosary and Marian consecration to Jesus Christ 9) The development and implementation of the plan: a) to strengthen the financial foundation of our Catholic high schools; b) to make Catholic secondary education more financially accessible; c) to strengthen youth ministry in the Wyandotte and rural regions; d) to provide a lead gift for Donnelly College’s capital campaign; and e) to assist urban parishes 10) Regional Pastoral Planning has helped in the formulation of a realistic plan for the assignment of the limited number of archdiocesan priests. It has also fostered collaboration and cooperation among parishes to better use our limited resources wisely and to realize their maximum impact. It also has helped us move forward with the consolidation of some schools and the merger of some parishes. It has also fostered parish planning around five pastoral priorities: a) conversion; b) evangelization; c) catechesis and Catholic education in all its forms; d) serving those in need; and e) fostering a spirituality of stewardship.

11) The generosity of the people of the Archdiocese, which has made possible: a) the dramatic growth of the Catholic Education Foundation (providing annually more than a million dollars in scholarships for Catholic elementary schools); b) the doubling of the dollars ($2 million) raised by the Snow Ball to support the ministry of Catholic Charities; c) the near doubling of the amount donated to the annual Archbishop’s Call to Share that supports charitable, educational and pastoral ministries; and d) providing for the operational needs of parishes as well as funding many parish capital projects (new buildings and renovations) 12) Formation of an Archdiocesan Pastoral Council and the expansion of the Archdiocesan Finance Council, allowing me to take advantage of the wisdom and expertise

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calendar archbishop

Catholic Education Foundation board meeting

March 28 Confirmation — Holy Trinity, Lenexa

Catholic Fine Arts Council artists reception and musical performance — Savior Pastoral Center

March 29 Anointing Mass — Curé of Ars, Leawood

April 4 KEXS radiothon

Naumann

March 30 Pastoral visit — Corpus Christi, Lawrence Marian pilgrimage information session — Savior Pastoral Center March 31 Confirmation — Mater Dei, Topeka April 1 Eucharistic adoration — St. James Academy Wyandotte County priests meeting — Holy Name, Kansas City, Kan. Confirmation — St. Benedict, Atchison

April 2 Eucharistic adoration — Bishop Miege, Roeland Park April 3 Eucharistic adoration — Hayden High School, Topeka

of members of the laity 13) The inauguration of the My House ministry: a) to combat pornography; b) to promote the church’s beautiful vision for human sexuality and the dignity of the human person; and c) to provide positive assistance to those struggling with the use of pornography 14) Expansion of Hispanic ministry to the Cathedral of St. Peter, Blessed Sacrament Parish, and St. Patrick Parish in Kansas City, Kan.; Holy Trinity Parish, Lenexa; St. Agnes Parish, Roeland Park; and St. John the Evangelist Parish, Lawrence 15) Strengthening of marriage and family life by: a) the renewal of the marriage preparation program; b) the “Living in Love” retreats; c) the establishment of the School of Love as a public association of the faithful providing marriage preparation and enrichment programs; and d) Dr. Laurie Heap’s Prescription for a Long and Happy Life seminars

Confirmation — St. Michael the Archangel, Leawood April 5 Dedication of new building — Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Topeka

archbishop

keleher March 28 Confirmation — Holy Trinity, Lenexa March 29 Anointing Mass — Curé of Ars, Leawood March 30 Confirmation — Curé of Ars, Leawood April 4 Confirmation — St. Michael the Archangel, Leawood April 5 St. James auction dinner

This is in no way an exhaustive list. However, it helps to paint a picture of how extraordinarily we have been blessed in the Archdiocese in the past 10 years.

I originally planned to list only 10, but I found it too difficult to limit the list to that number. Still, there are many other blessings that I was forced to omit.

If there is something that I have not listed that you think should be on this list of blessings, please send your recommendations to me online at: abnoffice@archkck.org.

In future columns, I will share with you my desire, in consultation with priests, religious and laity of the Archdiocese, to formulate a plan for the next 10 years, identifying the most important things we could do to build up and make even stronger the Catholic Church in northeast Kansas. I am very excited about what the Lord is calling us to attempt to do in the coming decade.

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march 28, 2014 | theleaven.com

Pope forms new commission

Boston cardinal, abuse survivor among members of Vatican’s Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors

By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service

V

ATICAN CITY (CNS) — Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley of Boston, four women — including a survivor of clerical sex abuse — two Jesuit priests and an Italian lawyer are the first eight members of the new Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors.

Pope Francis established the commission in December; announcing the first members March 22, the Vatican said they would help define the tasks and competencies of the commission and help identify other potential members.

Cardinal O’Malley is also one of eight members of the Council of Cardinals advising Pope Francis on the reform of the Roman Curia and governance of the church. When the child protection commission was announced, Cardinal O’Malley told reporters it would take a pastoral approach to helping victims and preventing abuse, given that much of the Vatican’s attention thus far had been on implementing policies and legal procedures for investigating allegations of abuse and punishing guilty priests.

The cardinal said the commission would look at programs to educate pastoral workers in signs of abuse, identify means of psychological testing and other ways of screening candidates for the priesthood, and make recommendations regarding church officials’ “cooperation with the civil authorities, the reporting of crimes.”

The first eight members of the commission include Marie Collins, who was born in Dublin. At the age of 13, she was sexually abused by a Catholic priest who was a chaplain at a hospital where she was a patient.

Addressing a major conference in Rome in 2012 on the protection of children, she said being abused led to depression, despair and deep loss of trust in the Catholic Church. “Those fingers that would abuse my body the night before, were the same fingers that would give me holy Communion the following day,” she said.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

It was announced March 22 that Pope Francis had named eight members to the new Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors. Among them are Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley of Boston, bottom left, and four women — including a survivor of clerical sex abuse, Marie Collins, bottom right.

In 1997, the priest that had abused her — and other young girls over a period of three decades — was finally brought to justice. She founded an organization to help victims of sexual abuse, worked with the

Call Toll Free 888-246-1504 Publication No. (ISSN0194-9799) President: Most Reverend Joseph F. Naumann

Archdiocese of Dublin to set up its child protection office and helped draft the child protection policies of the Catholic Church in Ireland.

Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesman, said

the commission would take “a multi-pronged approach to promoting youth protection, including: education regarding the exploitation of children; discipline of offenders; civil and canonical duties and

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responsibilities; and the development of best practices as they have emerged in society at large.”

“In this way, and with the help of God, this commission will contribute to the Holy Father’s mission of upholding the sacred responsibility of ensuring the safety of young people,” Father Lombardi said.

Jesuit Fathers Hans Zollner and Humberto Yanez, who also were appointed to the commission, were instrumental in organizing the 2012 conference where Collins addressed representatives of bishops’ conferences and religious orders from around the world.

Father Zollner, a German psychologist and psychotherapist, chaired the committee that organized the conference at the Pontifical Gregorian University and is chairman of the steering committee of the Center for Child Protection that developed out of the conference. Father Yanez, director of the moral theology department at the Gregorian, was a member of the conference’s theological board.

Meeting reporters in 2013 to discuss follow-up to the conference, Father Zollner said: “Unfortunately, the matter will be with us for a long time. The church is working much more than people know, but is also the object of criticism because of its errors, its failures and the sins of the past. This is why it is extremely important to continue the work of prevention with every available means.”

In addition to Collins, the other women on the commission are: Hanna Suchocka, a former professor of law, who served as prime minister of Poland, 1992-93, and Polish ambassador to the Vatican, 2001-13; Catherine Bonnet, a French child psychiatrist specializing in helping victims of incest; and Baroness Sheila Hollins, a mental health specialist who has focused her research on people with learning disabilities.

The eighth member of the commission is Claudio Papale, an Italian who holds degrees in both civil and canon law and works in disciplinary section of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. The office is responsible for investigating allegations against priests.

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.

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theleaven.com | march 28, 2014

‘Fireside chat’ focuses on Pope Francis

By Kaihtlyn Schlachter Special to The Leaven

Photo by Kaihtlyn Schlachter

Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann leads a “fireside chat” on March 4 at Benedictine College in Atchison. The archbishop discussed the “Francis effect,” a reference to Pope Francis’ impact on the Catholic Church worldwide.

“This is totally in sync with what Benedict and John Paul II were also saying, but I think Francis has a way of making it capture people’s minds more because he’s acting it out,” said Archbishop Naumann.

Erin Daugherty, a philosophy and political science double major, brought up Pope Francis’ stance on women’s roles in the church and his challenge to engage women in leadership in different ways than before.

Pope Francis has indicated that the question of the ordination of women is not going to be reopened, Archbishop Naumann said.

“He’s speaking from his own experience in Argentina, and I’m not sure what his experience was there,” he said.

In the United States, many women have assumed roles of significant leadership, the archbishop noted.

“The sexes at their best help draw out what is good and best in one another and part of that comes from respecting the distinctions that there are between us as male and female — and the equality,” he added.

Another subject brought up by a stu-

dent was “the Francis effect.” This refers to the renewed interest in the Catholic Church by the media and non-Catholics due to Pope Francis’ immense popularity.

The consensus among the group was that the “Francis effect” is good, but offers challenges.

“He’s been great for the church, but he’s a real challenge as a bishop,” said Archbishop Naumann. “There are a lot of things that Pope Francis says that you have to explain.

“But he’s provided us with a lot of teachable moments because people are actually interested in figuring [out] what the pope is saying.”

Pope Francis’ famous “Who am I to judge?” is a good example, said Archbishop Naumann. The phrase is being used against Catholics making moral stances.

“He is saying that we should have mercy, that we should have compassion, but he’s not saying that there are no moral rules in the church,” explained the archbishop.

Minnis brought up how society seems to say that people can either love the church or serve others, but can’t do

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Defending the faith: It’s not brain surgery

By Jessica Langdon jessica@theleaven.com

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TCHISON — The “Francis effect” — or how Pope Francis is shaking up the Catholic Church and the world — was the subject of a “fireside chat” led

by Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann at Benedictine College here on March 4.

For the past few years, Benedictine College has invited the archbishop to visit with senior theology and philosophy majors about a designated topic on which the students have prepared.

Students then gather around a fireplace with the archbishop to discuss the topic.

The event was inspired by the visit of Cardinal Christoph Schonborn, archbishop of Vienna, to Benedictine in 2010. Cardinal Schonborn talked about how he used to take classes from then-Cardinal Ratzinger. After graduation, each summer, Cardinal Ratzinger joined his old students on a retreat that featured informal discussions on the theological and philosophical issues of the day. Even as Pope Benedict XVI, he continued those retreats.

Archbishop Naumann wanted to create the same kind of experience in the archdiocese, said Benedictine College President Stephen Minnis.

“When Pope Benedict got together with his former students, as Cardinal Schonborn discussed, it was more of a give-and-take,” said Minnis. “It wasn’t an ‘I’m the boss here.’ It was really a discussion among equals, and that’s what the archbishop was hoping would happen at our place, too.”

The group, comprised of some 40 students and faculty members, discussed America magazine’s interview with Pope Francis and his legacy.

“It’s a very pertinent subject,” said Ian O’Hagan, a theology major. Pope Francis has ruffled feathers and challenged Catholics to gain a better understanding of our faith, he said.

“One of our priests said the other day, ‘I used to think I was a pretty good priest until Pope Francis came along,’” said Archbishop Naumann. “Almost every day, he’s saying something that is challenging us.”

The group discussed Pope Francis’ emphasis on first showing people that we care about them and that we see them as good — then inviting them to Christ.

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both. The media has portrayed Pope Francis as valuing the service of others over loving the church, he said.

Archbishop Naumann explained how this, too, distorts the pope’s message.

“If we love the church, which means we love the church’s spouse, Jesus Christ, our capacity to serve others is so much greater,” he said. “If we’re true sons and daughters of the church, true brothers of Jesus Christ, then we love humanity more, and we love humanity for who we, as human beings, truly are.”

At the conclusion of the event, students expressed gratitude for the chance to visit with the archbishop in this informal way.

“It really helped to put a lot of my own personal thoughts into concrete terms,” said Brigita Rotacy, a philosophy and theology major.

And philosophy major Vladimir Mauricico-Perez saw Archbishop Naumann’s visit to Atchison as a reflection of the very closeness to the people that Pope Francis is encouraging.

“The archbishop’s coming to be here with us reflects what a shepherd is like,” he said.

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ANSAS CITY, Kan. — By day, Dr. Paul Camarata undertakes the most critical of operations as a leading neurosurgeon in the Kansas City area.

But around the clock, the parishioner of Church of the Nativity in Leawood is also committed to another vital mission: defending, explaining and sharing his Catholic faith.

He looks forward to delving deeper into its riches at the Envoy Institute’s Catholic Apologetics Academy coming May 1-4 at Savior Pastoral Center in Kansas City, Kan. “Apologetics” is a funny word, he said, because it doesn’t really have anything to do with what it probably sounds like to many people. It’s not about being sorry.

Instead, the word comes from the Greek “apologia,” meaning to speak in defense of something.

“It’s really speaking in defense of the faith,” said Camarata. “We’re being called more and more to defend the faith in the workplace, with our friends.”

So, to him, his practice of neurosurgery goes hand in hand with Catholic Photo courtesy of Patrick Madrid apologetics — and that can be the case Peter Kreeft, professor of philosophy at Boston College and the author of more than 70 books, including “Handbook of Catholic Apologetics,” speaks regardless of someone’s profession. at the Envoy Institute’s Catholic Apologetics Academy last year at Benedictine University in Mesa, Ariz.

Camarata, always active in his faith, felt drawn to study it more deeply after the death of Pope John Paul II, whom hitting ever closer to home. said the archbishop. he and his wife greatly admired.

Questions come up for Catholics, He believes it’s important for CathoEventually, he began podcasting, believes Camarata, whether they’re at lics to know their faith for themselves, creating the widely popular “SaintPatrick Madrid, president of the work, among friends, or maybe talking but also to share the faith with others Envoy Institute, addressed severCast.” to an adult son or daughter who has through answers to questions. al questions he is frequently asked He felt himself particularly conmoved away from the faith.

“I think it’s a tremendous opportuniabout the academy. nected to saints who That’s why he’s ty,” he said of the apologetics academy, were — like him — helped bring the “because . . . even though people may • Is this going to be over my physicians. academy to the Kannot be doing formal evangelization, we head?

He was particusas City area, where all have people in our families or in “The answer is no — no matter larly touched by the participants will hear our networks that we talk [with] about what your background is, no matter When: May 1-4; begins at 6 account Archbishop from leading Catholic faith [that] sometimes don’t underwhat you do for a living or how old p.m. on May 1 and ends at noon Charles Chaput, now apologists like Patrick stand what we believe as Catholics.” you are,” said Madrid. The workshop on May 4. with the ArchdioMadrid, president of The academy is certainly suited to starts with the basics and builds up.

Where: Savior Pastoral Cencese of Philadelphia, the Envoy Institute, priests, deacons and seminarians, said “We’ve never, ever, ever had anyter, Kansas City, Kan. but previously archDr. Peter Kreeft, and Madrid, but the vast majority of people body say, ‘This was over my head,’” Tuition: $355 bishop of Denver, Kenneth Hensley. who attend the sessions are laypeople. he said.

For more details or to regisgave of the martyr In explaining It’s for anyone who wants to take his ter, visit the website at: www.

Franz Jagerstatter a apologetics, Madrid or her knowledge of the faith to a deep• Will it really be worth my time? catholicapologeticsacademy. few years ago. pointed to Chapter er level, he said.

“What value should we put on com. Find the event informa“The gist of the 3, Verses 15-16, of the Apologetics isn’t about being on the the call Jesus gives us to preach and tion under “Events & Registrastory was you can’t First Letter of Peter, defensive or wagging fingers, but rathteach the faith, to share our faith tion.” live a double life,” which urges Chris- er changing the dynamic, spotting falwith others?” said Madrid. “You’ll said Camarata, extians to “always be lacies and engaging people in discusget more than your money’s worth plaining the story of the young man ready to give a defense to anyone who sions by asking them questions. if that’s important to you to be an who had become a devout Catholic and effective apostle for Jesus.” asks you for the hope that is in you, but “They’re very charitable in their ultimately decided he could not recondo it with gentleness and respect.” dealings with people of other faiths • Is it going to be boring? cile joining the German army with his “How you communicate the mes- and explaining their Catholicism to “I guarantee people are going to faith. sage to people is almost as important them and why they do the things they be exhilarated — riveted — by the “You can’t go to church on Sunday as the information that you’re giving do,” said Camarata. faculty,” said Madrid. He considers and keep your faith there and go to them,” agreed Archbishop Joseph F. Camarata is especially pleased that Dr. Peter Kreeft today’s C.S. Lewis. work during the week and keep your Naumann, who encourages local Cath- the setting of the Kansas City area Madrid said he often hears the faith silent and not let it impact your olics to attend the academy. event will allow for Masses and other phrase “life-changing” in the comwork or influence your work,” said CaHe spoke with Madrid on his pod- spiritual opportunities. ments people give after an academarata. “And this is what Franz Jagercast, “The Shepherd’s Voice.”

“A weekend like this will be an inmy ends.

“They’re going to laugh, statter finally decided, and was killed “More and more, we’re living in a credible start to being able to answer they’re going to learn,” he said. “It’s for it in Nazi Germany.” culture that really poses a lot of chal- a lot of questions,” said Camarata. “It not all work and no play.”

And as he delved deeper into his lenging questions, I think, to Cath- will lead you to delve further and read own faith, Camarata found that issue olics and people of faith in general,” more.”

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Faith journeys lead four to the Catholic Church

Continued from page 1

“I also saw the unity of Alex’s family. I want to seek that out,” she added.

When Turley and Dinkel got engaged, she received encouragement from a surprising source — her mother. She encouraged Turley to plan the big Catholic wedding that would be important to her fiance and his family.

That’s when Turley decided to enroll in the RCIA. “I’m learning so much,” she said, adding she looks forward to being able to participate in the sacraments, especially the Eucharist.

“I’m excited,” she said. “I’ve always been that person in the pew.

[But now] at Easter, I will finally be able to receive Our Lord.”

While Turley might have been that person in the pew, Brittany Rygaard, a native of Hiawatha and also a senior at Topeka’s Washburn University, has had a slightly different experience.

A cradle Catholic, Rygaard made her first Communion as a child.

Shortly thereafter, however, her family left the church.

While a sophomore in college, she

was invited by a friend to the Catholic Campus Center at Washburn University. Over time, she became immersed in the life of the campus center. Participation in Prayer and Action, a weeklong program in which college students combine prayer with outreach to the disadvantaged, also increased her faith.

“That was a life-changing experience for me,” she noted.

This fall, Rygaard decided to enroll in the RCIA. Since the campus center does not offer instruction, she enrolled in the program at St. Matthew Parish.

She also returned to the sacraments of reconciliation and Communion.

That choice led to the end of a relationship with a boyfriend who did not understand her newfound faith.

And although they are not standing in her way, Rygaard said most of her family does not understand her return to Catholicism either.

But there is one person that Rygaard says is overjoyed about her return to her childhood faith — her grandmother. “‘One of my prayers,” she told Rygaard, “‘has finally been answered.’”

Local Catholic writes ‘Pocket Catholic Dictionary’ KANSAS CITY, Kan. — It has no plot or character development (or even characters), but Leon Suprenant is hoping his latest book will be a page-turner.

“It’s not as exciting as a Bible story, or a personal testimony,” said Suprenant.

But the new “Pocket Catholic Dictionary,” which was written

by Suprenant and just came out this month, is part of a multivolume series of small books called “Faith Basics.”

The book, published by Emmaus Road Publishing, can easily fit into a purse or pocket, has 96 pages and costs $5.95.

“They’re the size of booklets rather than books, and are meant to be an easy read — not too theologically intense,” he said. “It’s a good resource for people who want to go deeper in their faith and need material in everyday language to help them come to a greater understanding of some of our teachings and practices.”

The book contains 200 of the most basic Catholic terms, written in 25 to 30 easily understood words.

Suprenant learned recently that the book will be translated into Spanish and he has been asked to write more books for the series.

LOCAL NEWS 7

march 28, 2014 | theleaven.com

Project Rachel billboards dot Kansas City highways KANSAS CITY, Kan. — A ministry to bring help and healing to men and women hurting from abortion received a boost thanks to new billboards recently installed in high-visibility areas in the metro.

Project Rachel, a post-abortive ministry of the archdiocesan pro-life office, has put up five new billboards alongside busy highways in Kansas City, Kan. The billboards, which went up at the beginning of March, will remain for four to 12 weeks. Fundraising events held three times a year pay for the billboards. Project Rachel has posted billboards intermittently since 2008.

The purpose of the billboards is not only to increase public awareness of Project Rachel, but also to encourage people to access the ministry through its Webbased healing outreach.

Digital media conference coming to KC KANSAS CITY, Kan. — The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas will host a national conference for those working in church ministry on how to effectively use social media to evangelize.

The Digital Church Conference will be held June 19 at Savior of the World Pastoral Center, 12601 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City, Kan., from 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.

To register for the conference or for more information, go to the website at: www.archkck.org/digitalchurch.

Sister Madonna Stehno, SCL Leavenworth — Sister Madonna Stehno, 83, a Sister of Charity of Leavenworth for 66 years, died on March 18, three days before her 84th birthday.

Dolores Marie Stehno was born at Providence Hospital on March 21, 1930, in Kansas City, Kan. She was the third child of Joseph and Elsie Magdalene Martin Stehno.

At the time she was born, her dad had been hoping for a boy, but accepted his daughter with much joy and enthusiasm.

Her dad was extremely happy that she turned out to be a tomboy. An athlete himself, it served to forge a strong bond between them. She bowled, played volleyball, tennis, ping-pong, basketball and baseball. She was also president of the Girls’ Athletic Association in high school.

She was educated by the Sisters of Charity at Blessed Sacrament Grade School and Bishop Ward High School in Kansas City, Kan. She entered the community of the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth on Aug. 14, 1947, and was given the name Sister Madonna.

She made her first vows on Aug. 15, 1949. She earned both a bachelor’s de-

gree in education and a master’s in elementary school administration from Saint Mary College in Leavenworth.

For 46 years, Sister Madonna taught or was principal of elementary schools throughout the West and Midwest. She returned to the motherhouse in 1996 and worked in support services until she retired to Ross Hall in 2004.

Sister Madonna loved to walk. As a child, she walked back and forth to school. When she was missioned in the West, she climbed mountains. She started keeping track of her mileage around 1985 in Laramie, Wyo. She was 55 years old then, and noted every mile on odd scraps of paper.

By 2009, she figured she had walked “around the world, logging 25,000 miles.” It took her 24 years.

She said, “I love to walk because then I am alone with God. I even sing ‘Just a Closer Walk’ as I walk. I look at all the beauty around me and am grateful for all my blessings. I wave to people along the way and have gotten acquainted with many wonderful people. We share bits of our lives with each other and that, too, is a blessing.”

Sister Madonna was preceded in death by her parents, brothers — Dale, Joseph, and Charles Thomas — and her sister, Nadine Kratofil. Survivors include her sister, Mary Louise Carroll, of St. Petersburg, Fla.

Gary and Marcia Ross, members of Christ the King Parish, Topeka, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on April 6 with a blessing

by Father Mitchel Zimmerman, pastor of Christ the King. The couple was married on April 11, 1964, at Holy Cross Church, Emmett, by Father George Seuferling.

Their children and their spouses are: Alan and Christi McKenzie, Rossville; Brian and Heather Ross, Rush Center; Scott and Colleen Ross, Rossville; and Jon and Danielle Ross, Topeka. They also have 11 grandchildren. Cards can be sent to the honorees at 11550 S.W. Hwy. 40, Topeka, KS 66615.

Anniversary policy

• The Leaven prints 50, 60, 65 and 70th notices.

• Announcements are due eight days 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.

Include the following Information: • The couple’s names; their parish; the date they were married; church and city where they were married; what they are doing to celebrate; date of the celebration; names of children (if desired); number of grandchildren and great-grandchildren; Send notices to: The Leaven, 12615 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City, KS 66109, attn: anniversaries; or send an email to: Todd@theleaven.com.

Mountain &

Street

The Franciscans of the Poor live their vocation of prayer and service

K

ple of the city, the people are moved ANSAS CITY,

by God to respond to the Sisters’ needs Kan. — As a girl with love. growing up in Sister Magdalena’s connections led Brazil, Sister AgFather Gilson to come to the archdiatha of the Divine ocese to participate in the missionary Mercy thought cooperative program 10 years ago. everyone in the Sister Magdalena then asked Father United States was John Pilcher, pastor of St. Bernard Parwell-off, if not downright rich. ish at the time, to ask vicar general FaMissionary work in the Kansas City ther Gary Pennings if there was a need area has taught her otherwise, much to the fraternity could fulher surprise. fill in the archdiocese.

“In Brazil, everybody Story and photos by Father Pennings sugthinks in the United gested ministry at ShaStates, there are not lom House, which is poor people here,” she operated by Catholic said. “When we came, Charities of Northeast we saw yes, there are Kansas. poor people here. There are homeless “It was perfect,” said Sister Magdahere. It changed our minds.” lena.

When they arrived in January 2012, the first three members of the Franciscans Poor of Jesus Christ established a convent on the second floor of the Shalom House shelter for men in Kansas A life of “mountain and street” City, Kan. keeps the Sisters busy.

Not only do they help care for the For the “mountain” part of their homeless men of Shalom House, but lives, the Sisters have a daily routine the Sisters also go out and make themof prayer that includes Mass, a rosary, selves part of the community, a welthe Liturgy of the Hours (communal come sight as they go about in their prayer at set times during the day), a simple brown habits and black veils Holy Hour and Marian devotions. and rope cinctures from which hang The “street” part of their lives is their well-worn rosaries. varied.

“We say, ‘Mountain and street,’” said The Sisters lead rosary pilgrimagSister Paula of the Unbloody Sacrifice. es in English and Spanish at people’s “We go to the mountain to see the Lord, homes in the area. Images of the Blessand then [to] the street for the service.” ed Mother travel from home to home, staying for a week at a time during which the family will pray daily rosaries, often with neighbors joining in.

The religious order of the FrancisWhen the week is over, the image is cans of the Poor was founded 12 years taken to another home. ago in Brazil by Father Gilson Sobreiro, The Sisters give talks and sing at rePJC. Currently the order works in Bratreats and parish gatherings, often on zil, Paraguay, Bolivia and Kansas. weekends.

The order’s connection to Kansas And, always, the Sisters and lay volcame about through Sister Magdaleunteers take food, clothing, personal na of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a forhygiene items and other useful donamer member of St. Bernard Parish in tions to the homeless in the Kansas Wamego. Like many religious, the SisCity area. ters take new names when they become “In street ministry, what impacted novices. They receive their names from me was the difference in the poverty Father Gilson, after prayer and consulbetween Brazil and here,” said Sistation. Their new names symbolize ter Miracles of the Little Way. “The not only their personal spirituality, but young people who come with us don’t their mission in religious life. discriminate [against the homeless].

Sister Magdalena, then still the lay American culture has a feeling of solivolunteer Sally Savery, went to Brazil darity among Americans.” in 1995 to help poor children and orFather Scott Wallisch, archdiocephans in the Amazon region. Later, she san vocations director, participates in discerned a vocation to the Franciscan the Sisters’ homeless ministry once a order. month.

“Our charism is to belong complete“It has been a wonderful experily to Jesus and to live completely for Jeence,” said Father Wallisch. “The Sissus,” said Sister Magdalena, who is the ters’ joy and humility and desire to find community’s leader, or custodian. the homeless where they are — and to They do this by serving Jesus as he bring Jesus to them — has been really presents himself in the many faces of inspiring to me.” the poor, said Sister Paula. They also “And they are just a blast to be strive to “live like Jesus.” They rely toaround,” he added. tally on divine providence for support The Sisters also minister to the men — which means, as they serve the peostaying at Shalom House. They talk

Jeff Fink (seated), a University of Dallas student, and Sister Maria Goretti talk to a homeless man in an alley behind a convenience store/gas station on Independence Avenue in Kansas City, Mo.

Joe Bollig

Mountain and street

Sister Miracles talks with a homeless man after giving him food and personal hygiene products at one of their “group” drop-off sites: the parking lot of a large liquor store on Southwest Boulevard in Kansas City, Kan. Often, the Sisters will scout an area to find individual homeless persons who do not frequent the drop-off sites.

“The thing that impacted me was the welcoming we have received form the priests, the other religious and the people,” said Sister Magdalena. “I feel very strongly that this was a big help in the way the Sisters adjusted to life here.”

Some adjustments are easy for the Sisters, but some — like learning a new language — are harder.

“We are immigrants here anyway, because we belong to heaven,” said Sister Paula. “But, in our daily lives as missionaries, we have to go very open — our hearts open, our minds open.

There is no wrong place. We have to make this country, this culture, our new home and just learn.”

Warm, fraternal bonds

To live like Jesus

Ben Thomas, a volunteer, helps Sister Maria Goretti make sandwiches from food donated

by Thomas’ employer, Willie Dugan. The Sisters depend on donations not only to feed the homeless, but also themselves.

The Sisters, college students from the University of Dallas, and local volunteers gather for prayer behind Shalom House before going out into the Greater Kansas City metropolitan area to offer food, companionship and prayer to persons who are homeless in the community. and pray with them, and even teach them guitar. On Saturdays, the Sisters prepare meals and do “deep cleaning” of the facility.

“Many of the men have no family — no one for them,” said Sister Maria Goretti of the Spiritual Infancy. “Sometimes they don’t have anyone who asks them how they are today. We arrive there and say hello, and share part of our lives. And they become a part of our lives, so I think our presence helps

a lot.”

“The Sisters also work diligently to bring celebration to [Shalom House], whether that be an Easter Mass or a Christmas celebration,” said Kim Brabits, director of program operations for Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas, which operates the facility. “Having a safe and sober environment for the men during holidays, which are difficult times for the men, is really important.”

The Sisters visit youths at the Wy-

andotte County Juvenile Detention Facility and have recently become involved in ReachKCK, the new youth outreach ministry of the archdiocese, located on the campus of Blessed Sacrament Parish in Kansas City, Kan.

No better place Although inner-city Kansas City, Kan., has a tough reputation, the Sis-

ters feel perfectly at home there.

“I love living here, and I feel very comfortable with the people of the neighborhood,” said Sister Magdalena. “When we walk on the streets, people stop and greet us, and are protective of us.”

The Sisters have a growing ministry among Hispanic and African-American Catholics, and acceptance by non-Catholics.

“Even if they are not Catholics, they are very respectful to us,” said Sister Agatha. “They take off their hats, [and say,] ‘Hello, Sister. Pray for me!’”

This Kansas Catholic-Protestant rapprochement is very different from Brazil, where relations can be tense between new Protestant sects and the long-established Catholic Church.

The Sisters were delighted to discover they are not taken for granted in Kansas.

“When we came here, Father Mark Mertes invited us to go to a meeting and introduced us to a lot of priests there,” said Sister Paula. “They were so nice. Sometimes in Brazil, you are just there. We belong to that country and they know us. And all the priests here — Father Harry Schneider, Father Mark Mertes, Father Tom Hesse and Archbishop Naumann — are very open.”

Many people want to help the Sisters, support them and participate in their ministries. American Catholics, they discovered, are very faithful.

“There are many people who bring us clothes for the homeless and food, and they want to help in any way they can,” said Sister Paula. “The young people, once or twice a month, they go with us, even if it is cold or hot, they go with us to visit the homeless.”

“They are very good Catholics, very faithful,” she continued. “They love Catholicism and they study. They know more than me, and I am a Sister!”

Although the Sisters live within the boundaries of Blessed Sacrament Parish, they also visit Our Lady & St. Rose Parish and the Cathedral of St. Peter, all near downtown Kansas City, Kan. All three parishes have welcomed the Sisters and appreciate their involvement.

“Sister Agatha and Sister Paula helped form our Spanish choir when we began the Spanish Mass here,” said cathedral rector Father Harry Schneider. “The Sisters have ministry to the homeless, so they’ve asked at times for

things they need. We’ve put that in the bulletin, and people have been very generous.”

Father Schneider has also discussed with the Sisters the possibility of working together in evangelization and youth ministry.

The cathedral parish wants to repair the property’s deteriorated driveway and build a garage so the Sisters can store their van and supplies for the homeless ministry.

“We’re leading a fundraising campaign for $20,000 to prepare the pad, build the garage, and provide electricity, a work area and storage for their vehicle and ministry materials,” said Father Schneider. “We’re asking other groups to help us to raise the money to support the Sisters.”

Occasionally, Father Schneider celebrates Mass for the Sisters in their Shalom House chapel.

“What I observe is [they have] a genuine and constant deepening of their love for the Lord,” he said. “They are delightful. They are a joy to have around.”

Places of the heart It’s easy to count the number of meals the Sisters take to the homeless, their hours spent caring for the men at Shalom House, or the number of homes they visit for rosary pilgrimages.

Some influences are harder to see, because they are hidden in the human heart, mind and soul. Nevertheless, the Sisters believe they are making a difference.

“I remember a phrase from St. Francis,” said Sister Maria Goretti. “Maybe we can’t change everything in the world, but in order for the world to be better, we plant the seed of love.”

The longer they stay and the more they become involved in people’s lives, the more integrated they feel.

“Before I was just Brazilian,” said Sister Paula. “Now I think my heart is Brazilian, Mexican and American. I felt very welcome here in this country.”

“So many things, I think, in my life have changed in this mission here,” she said. “I am so blessed to live with all the American people. I think we are helping to bring them together.”

(For more information on the Sisters and their ministries, call (913) 3874696).

10 nation

theleaven.com | march 28, 2014

Stairway to heaven

Boys’ choir from centuries-old monastery in Spain makes U.S. debut

Vatican backs effort to restore Holy Stairs shrine

By Katherine Talalas Catholic News Service

W

ASHINGTON (CNS) — Since the 13th century, the Escolania de Montserrat has sung daily for pilgrims at Santa Maria de Montserrat Abbey in Catalonia, Spain.

It took them 800 years, but they have finally arrived in the United States to share their ministry of sacred music.

“Sacred music is important to us, because a monk knows that when he is in the liturgy he is in the presence of God,” said Benedictine Brother Efrem de Montella, deputy headmaster of the Escolania.

The choir sang liturgical music — some of it dating back to the Middle Ages — in New York, Summit, N.J., and Bethesda, Md. On March 15, the congregation at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington was also treated to two songs after Mass.

The sacred music performed by the choir demands a lot of dedication. The boys leave their homes between the ages of 9 and 14 and spend four or five years at Montserrat. They practice for an hour and 10 minutes a day and sing daily in the church. In addition to singing, the boys play piano and at least one other instrument.

When asked if a chorister’s schedule was tiring, Pablo Morales, 12, said that it could be. However, he thought that element was of minor significance.

“The important thing is not to think about oneself,” Pablo said in an interview at the national shrine. “For the choristers it’s just another day like any

CNS photo/Fred LeBlanc

This file photo shows the damage caused to Cathedral High School, St. Michael’s Academy preschool and middle school in Springfield, Mass. The June 1, 2011, tornado cut a 39-mile path through western Massachusetts.

$28.8 million FEMA grant to help rebuild schools destroyed in tornado

CNS photo/Tyler Orsburn

Members of the Escolania de Montserrat, one of the oldest and most venerable boys’ choirs in Europe, perform at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington March 15. Founded in the 13th century, the choir sings daily for pilgrims at the abbey of Santa Maria de Monserrat in Catalonia, Spain. day, but for the pilgrims that have come to Montserrat it’s a special day. It’s not so much about us, and how we feel — it’s about what we can give to the visitors of Montserrat.”

The boys’ responsibility to the pilgrims is part of the reason why they have toured less extensively than other choirs. The Benedictine abbey on the side of the mountain draws travelers from all over the world. For centuries, the Escolania sang only for their visitors. In 1968, the choir began to leave the monastery to sing.

On tour, audiences listen to selections outside of the Escolania’s normal

repertoire.

“We get to share a little bit of who we are, too, and to share the Catalan culture,” said 13-year-old chorister Marc Garcia. Their performance at the Strathmore in Bethesda included music composed for Our Lady of Montserrat as well as opera and Catalan folk songs.

The group has enjoyed performing in the United States. “It’s not the last time we will come, we hope,” said Brother Efrem.

Americans who appreciate the beauty of this unique and ancient tradition hope that they will come again, too.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (CNS) — A $28.8 million Federal Emergency Management Administration grant will allow the Diocese of Springfield to rebuild three schools destroyed in a 2011 tornado. Springfield Bishop Timothy A. McDonnell said the grant will allow for the demolition of Cathedral High School, St. Michael’s Academy Middle School and St. Michael Academy Preschool to make way for the reconstruction. The federal funds will supplement about $40 million in insurance coverage that the diocese received in the fall. The grant covers about 75 percent of the unfunded costs to replace the schools as determined by FEMA officials. The funds can be used for construction as well as school furnishings.

The June 1, 2011, tornado ravaged the campus on the outskirts of Springfield.

Diocesan officials were uncertain that the school would reopen after the storm, particularly in light of declining enrollment in recent decades. In announcing receipt of the grant at a March 3 news conference, Bishop McDonnell thanked the Cathedral High School community and other supporters for their patience in undertaking the effort to secure the funding. He said it has been “a long haul” since the tornado.

Sister’s dream of Guadalupe shrine to be realized in South Philly

By Lou Baldwin Catholic News Service

P

HILADELPHIA (CNS) — Religious shrines or art in the public places are relatively rare in the United States but quite common in Europe, South America and other areas that have a predominantly Catholic culture.

But if all goes as expected, a shrine honoring Our Lady of Guadalupe is coming to a street corner in South Philadelphia.

Once in place, the shrine will fulfill a dream of Sister Paula Bierschmitt, a member of the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, who died in September.

The shrine will include a bronze image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the Americas, as she appeared on the tilma, or cloak, of St. Juan Diego in 16th-century Mexico.

Sister Paula was an artist and the founder of the American Academy of Sacred Arts in South Philadelphia in 1993.

Her dream grew out of a 2008 visit to Mount St. Mary’s University in Emmitsburg, Md., where she snapped a picture of a mosaic in a prayer garden with an old-fashioned box camera.

After having the film developed, Sister Paula was astonished to find a brilliant image of Our Lady of Guadalupe superimposed on the shrine rather than the mosaic image she photographed.

When neither Sister Paula nor professional photographers could give a reasonable explanation, she took it as a sign that she should make it her mission to promote devotion to Mary and Our Lady of Guadalupe in particular.

Sister Paula’s inner voice told her that she, like Juan Diego, should have a shrine erected. But she was hesitant to act at first.

It was not until Pentecost 2010, as she was walking along Broad Street after Mass, that her voice told her this was where the shrine should be. She happened to be in front of the Carto Funeral Home. She soon approached owner

Nunzio Carto and explained her mission. He enthusiastically agreed.

Sister Paula reached out to friends who were backers of the sacred art academy to help plan the shrine. She also engaged an ecclesiastical sculptor to design and craft it.

Although Sister Paula did not live to see the shrine completed, her friends are determined to see the project through.

“We are sending a mass mailing of 1,500 to 1,600 to her supporters,” said Bill Maffucci, a real estate attorney who worked with Sister Paula as she established the art academy.

“She became a close friend and a spiritual adviser to me. She helped me with a lot of things,” he said in an interview with CatholicPhilly.com, the news website of the Philadelphia Archdiocese.

“Now we are focusing on the project and hope to have the shrine in place when Pope Francis arrives next year. We think it will cost about $200,000, but that is a small cost.”

Maffucci’s comment about the pope

world 11

march 28, 2014 | theleaven.com

arriving “next year” was a reference to the expectation that Pope Francis will come to Philadelphia in September 2015 to attend the last day of the World Meeting of Families, but there has been no official confirmation the pope will be there.

Steven Kilpatrick, a Cherry Hill, N.J., sculptor, was selected by Sister Paula to design the shrine. Kilpatrick has executed sacred art for churches and shrines around the country as well as in Europe, South America and Africa.

“I knew her well; she was an exemplar and a brilliant artist and I considered her saintly,” he said.

To create the model for the sculpture, Kilpatrick obtained a high-resolution digital image of St. Juan Diego’s tilma.

The statue itself, first formed in clay, will be cast in molten bronze through the ancient method of lost wax, with a modern touch: the use of colors in the bronze.

“It will be exactly as seen on the tilma,” he said.

By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service

V

ATICAN CITY (CNS) — Just like someone gently unwrapping a present, a restorer carefully peeled back a thin wet veil of paper from a black sooty wall to see what was hidden underneath.

From behind the layers of grime and dirt emerged the frescoed images of a fallen Roman column, a flock of fluffy sheep and a pink sunset sky over a forgotten ancient city.

The surprise that restorer Chiara Munzi was unveiling was a 16thcentury fresco by Flemish master Paul Bril — a rich, colorful landscape scene that hadn’t been seen with such vivid detail for centuries.

Four levels of scaffolding put restorers and visitors within inches of freshly uncovered images of trailing ivy, angels playing lutes, the solemn and wise faces of doctors of the church and bucolic landscapes.

Bringing blackened or dulled walls and ceilings back to their original “brightness and immediacy transports us right back to the moment they were painted,” Paolo Violini, the Vatican Museums’ top expert in fresco restoration, told Catholic News Service.

A team of nearly a dozen restorers spent nine months just on the chapel’s vaulted ceiling. They are using surgical scalpels, pulses of laser light, de-oxidizing chemicals, thin Japanese paper sprayed with ammonium bicarbonate and soft sea sponges to bring back the original splendor of the Medieval sanctuary’s 18,300 square feet of Renaissance frescoes and decorative paintings.

In addition to the frescoed chapels and walls, the pontifical sanctuary houses the “Scala Santa” or Holy Stairs.

According to tradition, the Holy Stairs are the ones Jesus climbed when Pontius Pilate brought him before the crowd and handed him over to be crucified. It’s said that Constantine’s mother, St. Helen, brought the stairs to Rome from Jerusalem in 326 A.D. The 28 marble steps are covered with thick wood panels, now worn smooth from centuries of human traffic. A minimum of 2,000 pilgrims a day visit the shrine, and many of them climb the stairs on their knees, pray at the Sancta Sanctorum — the first private chapel of the popes — and venerate a silver and jewel-covered Byzantine image of Christ.

The sanctuary, which is dedicated to the Passion of Christ, is entrusted to the care and protection of the Passionist fathers, who have a special devotion to Christ’s passion.

The sanctuary’s rector, Passionist Father Francesco Guerra, told CNS

CNS photo/Paul Haring

Chiara Munzi uses special Japanese paper as she restores a fresco by Flemish master Paul Bril in the San Lorenzo Chapel adjacent to the Holy Stairs in Rome Feb. 28. Layers of grime on the chapel’s Renaissance frescoes are being removed, bringing the original splendor of the artwork back to life. The project, which will include frescos surrounding the Holy Stairs, is expected to last another five years. that the Holy Stairs shrine is a unique place of worship in Rome.

“When we pray and at the same time we do something that is physical” — like climbing the stairs on one’s knees — “we may in some way feel that we may touch what Jesus touched at that time, and we feel that we are near Jesus,” he said.

Father Guerra said many people who come to the sanctuary are experiencing a difficult moment in life and they offer “their own suffering to Jesus to be near him, to be helped by him.”

U.S. art gallery curator Mary Angela Schroth is coordinating the Holy Stairs project. She said it was difficult and slow going to get the needed funding and support to restore such a complex and large sanctuary.

“It’s not glamorous like the Sistine Chapel. This is the people’s sanctuary” — a place that has been popular with and loved by simple people of faith for centuries, she said.

The fame of Michelangelo’s frescoes in the Sistine Chapel has, in a sense, overwhelmed its intended spiritual significance and purpose as an active place of worship, she said.

The Sanctuary of the Holy Stairs’ restoration “is really a project to renew faith” and support people’s “spiritual experience of the Holy Stairs,” not just preserve its historic art, Schroth said.

The Vatican Museums is overseeing the restoration project, which should take another five years to complete, culminating in the cleaning of the frescoes along the Holy Stairs; the frescoes depict Christ’s journey from the Last Supper to his passion, death, resurrection and ascension into heaven.

The work is being funded through the Vatican Museums’ Patrons of the

Arts chapters and donors in the United Kingdom, Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina.

The patrons coordinate funding from people worldwide to help restore and preserve, not just the museums’ inhouse collections, but any architectural or artistic treasure belonging to the Vatican. That includes properties outside the walls of Vatican City, like the sanctuary, which is located near the Basilica of St. John Lateran.

The preliminary studies needed for restoring the entire sanctuary had been completed more than a decade ago. “The last piece of the puzzle was the financial support, so that’s why the patrons got involved,” said Legionaries of Christ Father Mark Haydu, director of the museums’ Patrons of the Arts office.

Father Haydu said sacred art is invaluable, not just for its material beauty, but also for its power to help transform people’s lives.

“If it can even bring solace to someone who’s suffering, if it can convince someone mired in a challenge, a difficulty, a weakness, that they can’t find the moral courage to overcome, and have a spiritual experience before the passion of Christ, for example,” then the church needs to care for that heritage, too, he said.

“If that missing link is the atmosphere that helps them get over the hump, well, there’s infinite value there,” the U.S. priest said. “The financial investment, the returns go beyond anything anyone could ever imagine and that’s what’s powerful, that’s what’s beautiful and that’s why the church cares about its art in the end.”

Pope: Sacredness of human life is seen in its fragility VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The fragility of human life is part of its beauty and is something people only really learn by being close to, sharing with and caring for those who are suffering, Pope Francis said. “Even in suffering, no one is ever alone because God — in his merciful love for humanity and for the world — embraces even the most inhuman situations in which the image of the Creator present in each person appears blurred or disfigured,” the pope told members of the Pontifical Council for Health Care Ministry. Meeting council members March 24, Pope Francis said Blessed John Paul II, who will be canonized April 27, was a living example of the call to “do good by suffering and do good for those who suffer.” In response to Blessed John Paul’s example and teaching, he said, people responded “with much affection and veneration, recognizing that God was with him.” God is always present with those who suffer, the pope said, and that was particularly true during the suffering and passion of Jesus. “In him, every human pain, every anguish, every suffering was assumed out of love, out of the pure desire to be close, to be with us.” Contemplating Christ suffering on the cross is the best education for learning to recognize Christ suffering in all those who are sick or defenseless or hurting, the pope said.

Pope to Mafiosi: Turn away now from the road to hell ROME (CNS) — Surrounded by survivors of innocent people killed by the Mafia, Pope Francis made an emotional appeal to Italian gangsters to give up their lives of crime and avoid eternal damnation. “Men and women of the Mafia, please change your lives, convert, stop doing evil,” the pope said at a prayer vigil March 21. “I ask on my knees and for your own good. “This life you have now, it will not give you pleasure, it will not give you joy, it will not give you happiness,” the pope said. “The power, the money you have now from so many dirty deals, from so many Mafia crimes, blood-stained money, blood-stained power — you will not be able to take that with you to the other life.” “There is still time not to end up in hell, which awaits you if you continue on this road,” Pope Francis said. “You had a papa and a mamma. Think of them, weep a little and convert.” Every year since 1996, the Italian anti-Mafia group Libera has observed March 21, the first full day of spring, in memory of innocent victims of organized crime. According to the group, the approximately 700 people gathered with Pope Francis in a Rome church this year represented the families of an estimated 15,000 such victims across Italy. In his greeting, Father Luigi Ciotti, founder of Libera, denounced the Mafia as the “assassin of hope” and recalled a range of its victims. The priest mentioned women caught up in human trafficking, people fallen ill owing to illegal disposal of toxic waste and even children, including Domenico Gabriele, an 11-year-old shot to death while playing soccer in 2009, and Nicola Campolongo, a 3-year old murdered in January, reportedly to avenge an unpaid drug debt.

12 classifieds Employment Principal - Seeking dynamic Catholic school principal at St. Agnes Grade School, Roeland Park, who embraces the Catholic faith and possesses spiritual leadership skills blended with strong instructional leadership and managerial skills. St. Agnes School serves 300 students in grades K-8 and employs 23 faculty and staff members in grades K-8. The school is looking for an excellent communicator who can build upon the strong Catholic identity and academic programming that is a hallmark of the school. Principal applicants must be practicing Catholics and hold (or be eligible for) an administrative license from the Kansas State Department of Education.

Interested individuals should complete the principal application available online at: www.archkckcs.org. Applications are due by April 4. Questions may be directed to Dr. Kathleen O’Hara, superintendent of schools, Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, by calling (913) 721-1570 or by sending an email to: kohara@archkckcs.org.

Positions - Bishop Miege High School is seeking candidates for the 2014-15 school year. Assistant principal, social studies, Spanish and theater/video production teachers, and head boys basketball coach. Send an email with letter of interest and resume to Mariann Jaksa at: mjaksa@bishopmiege.com.

Guidance counselor - St. James Academy, Lenexa, is looking for a full-time guidance counselor for the 2014 2015 school year. The ideal candidate desires to pass on the Catholic faith to the next generation, and possesses or is working toward a KSDE counseling license. Applicant should aspire to work in a faith-filled environment and have experience with: the college admissions process, working with a wide variety of academic, social, and emotional needs, the advanced placement curriculum, and should have in-depth knowledge of the ACT, SAT, AP, and other standardized testing regulations and logistics. The ideal guidance counseling applicant should be able to address social and emotional issues through a Catholic worldview. Interested parties should fill out an application with the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, and send their resume to St. James Academy, Lenexa, to the attention of the principal, Karla Leibham.

Positions - Catholic Charities of Kansas City - St. Joseph is a community leader in providing comprehensive, compassionate services that help individuals and families overcome poverty. Catholic Charities is committed to being an outstanding workplace. We are seeking qualified candidates for the following openings: Director of senior care services, full time. Saint Michael’s Veterans’ Center Site services co-coordinator, full time. Graphic and web designer, full time. Lead in-home caregiver, 30 hours per week. HR generalist, 25 hours per week. For more information and to apply, visit the website at: http://www. catholiccharities-kcsj.org/career-opportunities.

Financial representatives - Due to the success and growth of the Knights of Columbus, we are adding a financial representative in the Kansas City metro, Topeka, and Garnett - Greeley area. 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. Please contact John A. Mahon, general agent, for more information or an interview by sending an email to: john.mahon@ kofc.org, by phone at (785) 408-8806 or at 1275 Topeka Blvd., Topeka, KS 66612.

Hairdresser - Full- or part-time. Rental. Lenexa area. Call (816) 223-5306.

Restoration technician - Servpro of Lawrence, an industry leading cleaning and restoration company, is looking for a lead restoration technician. This position will work on water mitigation projects, mold remediation, fire cleanup and restoration, and air duct cleaning.

Experience in the construction industry is helpful but not required. The successful candidate will be a self-starter with a proven track record. Please send your resume by email to: toneill@embarqmail.com.

Services Mike Hammer local moving - A full-service mover.

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

Housecleaning - Looking for cleaning that’s consistent and thorough every time. A housekeeper you can trust with years of experience and references. Please call (816) 801-0901. Serving your area.

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.

theleaven.com | MARCH 28, 2014 Rodman Lawn Care - Mowing, leaf removal, mulch and more. Call John Rodman, member of Holy Cross Parish, Overland Park, at (913) 548-3002 or send an email to him at: Rodman.Lawn@yahoo.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.teresakiddlawyer.com.

We moved! Come check out our new office in Lenexa.

Time to get your landscaping in shape!

We are offering 10% off mulch in March.

Serving Johnson County. Contact us for an estimate.

John at (913) 825-4353 john@foleyslawncare.com CLUTTER GETTING YOU DOWN? Organize, fix, assemble, install! “Kevin Of All Trades” your professional organizer and “HONEY-DO-LIST” specialist. Call today for a free consultation at (913) 271-5055. Insured. References.

Visit our website at: www.KOATINDUSTRIES.com.

Garage door and opener sales and service - 24-hour, 7-day-a-week service on all types of doors. Replace broken springs, cables, hinges, rollers, gate openers, entry and patio doors, and more. Over 32 years of experience.

Call (913) 227-4902.

Tutoring - Available for K-12th grades and test preps available. For more information, please call Kathleen at (913) 206-2151 or send an email to: Klmamuric@yahoo. com.

Quilted Memories - Your Kansas City Longarm Shop - Nolting Longarm Machines, quilting supplies and machine quilting services. We specialize in memorial quilts - Custom designed memory quilts from your T-shirt collections, photos, baby clothes, college memorabilia, etc., neckties etc. For information or to schedule a free consultation, call (913) 649-2704. Visit the website at: www.quiltedmemo riesllc.com.

Brick mason - Brick, stone, tile and flat work. 19 years of residential/commercial experience. FREE QUOTES - KC metro area. Small and large jobs accepted. Call Jim at (913) 485-4307. www.facebook.com/faganmasonry.

Electrician - Free estimates; reasonable rates. JoCo and south KC metro. Call Pat at (913) 963-9896.

Tim the Handyman - Small jobs, faucets, garbage disposals, toilets, ceiling fans, light fixtures, painting, wall ceiling repair, wood rot, siding, decks, doors, windows, and gutter cleaning. Call (913) 526-1844.

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

Landscape and irrigation design, installation and maintenance.

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

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

Home Improvement 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.

Helping Hand Handy Man - Home maintenance chores available by the hour. Special rate for senior and singleparent households. Electrical, painting, wood refinishing, deck repair, yard work, shelving and organizing. Most home problems and needs solved. Member of Prince of Peace, Olathe. Call Mark Coleman at (913) 526-4490.

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.

Heating and cooling repair and replacement - Call Joe with JB Design and Service. Licensed and insured with 20 years experience. Member of Divine Mercy Parish. Call Joe at (913) 915-6887.

Swalms Organizing Service - Reducing Clutter - Enjoy an Organized Home! Basement, garage, attic, shop, storage rooms - any room organized! Belongings sorted, boxed and labeled, items hauled or taken for recycling, trash bagged. For before and after photos, visit: www. swalmsorganizing.com. Over 20 years of organizing experience; insured. Call Tillar at (913) 375-9115.

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.

Home improvements - Thank you to all my customers for being patient as I underwent a life-saving liver transplant. If there is new work or warranty work, please don’t hesitate to call. We do windows, siding, doors, decks, exterior painting and wood rot. There is no job too big or too small. Call Joshua Doherty at (913) 709-7230.

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 SPRING IS ACTUALLY COMING BEFORE WE KNOW IT! HOUSE PAINTING Call today to get a free estimate on your home. Inside or out, decks, kitchens and bathrooms. Basement refinishing and design also! Improve what you have today to enjoy it tomorrow. Insured/tons of references and a local parish member. Call (913) 209-9926.

STA (Sure Thing Always) Home Repair - Basement finish, bathrooms and kitchens; interior & exterior repairs: painting, roofing, siding, wood replacement and window glazing. Free estimates. Call (913) 491-5837 or (913) 5791835. Email: smokeycabin@hotmail.com. Member of Holy Trinity, Lenexa.

Adept Home Improvements Where quality still counts!

Basement finishing, Kitchens and baths, Electrical and plumbing, Licensed and insured. (913) 599-7998 House painting Interior and exterior; wall paper removal.

Power washing, fences, decks.

30 years experience. References. Reasonable rates.

Call Joe at (913) 620-5776.

ALL THINGS WOOD ROT Windows and fiber cement siding.

New windows, decks, basement remodel or kitchen update. Insured and only the best crews.

Serving Johnson and Wyandotte for over 2 decades.

Call to set up a free estimate today at (913) 209-9926.

Concrete construction - Tear out and replace stamped, stained or colored patios and drives. Retaining walls, footings, poured-in-place safe rooms, excavation and hauling. Asphalt drives and lots. Fully insured; references. Call Dan at (913) 207-4371 or send an email to: dan deeconst@aol.com.

Caregiving 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.

Caregiving - 43-year-old caregiver available all week, nights and weekends. Excellent references. Please call Kara at (913) 909-6659.

Caregiving - CNA home health aide. Will provide care for your loved one, very reliable. Maintain clean and safe environment. 100% dignity for your loved ones. 18 years of integrity. Meal preparation, all personal care, companionship, light housekeeping, errands and vital signs.

Experience with transfers. Experience with Alzheimer’s, dementia and special-needs patients. Overnight. CPR and first-aid qualified. Great references. Call Sarah at (913) 449-8348.

Have a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease? Inquire about our fresh, unique approach to care. ComfortCare Homes, a local, family-owned care option, opened its first home in 2005. We have now grown to four homes located in Overland Park and Leawood. All of our homes are located minutes from highways I-35 or I-435, allowing easy access from anywhere in the Kansas City metropolitan area including Lee’s Summit, Shawnee, Liberty and Olathe. To learn more or take a tour, call Courtney Minter at (913) 609-1891 or visit the website at: www.

Comfort CareKC.com.

Looking for high quality home care? - Whether you’re looking to introduce care for your family or simply looking to improve your current home care quality, we can help. Our unique approach to home care has earned us a 99% client satisfaction rating among the 1,000-plus families we have assisted. We are family-owned, with offices in Lenexa and Lawrence. Call Benefits of Home Senior Care, Lenexa: (913) 422-1591 or Lawrence: (785) 727-1816 or www.benefitsofhome.com.

REAL ESTATE Wanted to buy - Houses that need an upgrade or are very old that you’re having difficulty selling or are in need of selling quickly. I can pay cash within 20 days. Please call Mark Edmondson at (913) 980-4905. Holy Trinity Parish member.

Own Your Own Lodge - Approximately 5,860 square feet. Perfect for large families or a business getaway.

240 feet of lake frontage. Seasonal, summer or winter.

Three stone fireplaces, 3 master suites with 3 additional bedrooms, 6 baths, 2 wet bars, 3 living areas for family and friends. Fully furnished. 3-well oversized dock.

Sunrise Beach, Mo., in the Ozarks. $695,000. Call (913) 208-8074.

for RENT For rent - 4934 Leavenworth Rd., Kansas City, Kan. 2 BR, full walkout basement, laundry hookups, deck. No smokers, no pets. $525 per month. Call (913) 334-0124.

VACATION Colorado vacation - Winter Park; 2 BR, 1 BA, furnished.

Mountain biking, golf, hiking, and fishing. $125 per night or $700 per week. Call (816) 392-0686.

Branson getaway - Walk-in condo on Pointe Royale Golf Course. Sleeps 6. Close to lakes and entertainment. Fully furnished. Pool and hot tub available. No cleaning fee.

Nightly and weekly rates. Discounts available. Call (913) 515-3044.

Irish eyes are smiling when you journey to Ireland with an Irishman!

Complete tour of the entire Emerald Isle April 30 - May 13 Call Gerry at (913) 648-1560 Pilgrimage in France - Sept. 8 - 18, 2014. Our Lady of Lourdes, St. Bernadette, healing baths, St. John Vianney, St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, St. Thérèse, beaches of Normandy (70th anniversary), Mont St. Michel, Our Lady of Pontmain, St. Catherine Laboure, St. Vincent de Paul, Paris. Chaplain: Fr. Ernie Davis, St. Therese Little Flower Kansas City. $4,559. Send an email to: frernie3@gmail. com or call (816) 444-5406.

for sale Residential lifts - Buy/sell/trade. Stair lifts, porch lifts, ceiling lifts and elevators. Recycled and new equipment.

Member of St. Michael the Archangel Parish, Leawood.

Call Silver Cross KC at (913) 327-5557.

For sale - First Communion dress sets for 18” or American Girl dolls. Includes dress, veil, shoes, tights, and cross necklace. Full line of doll clothes and accessories in south Johnson County. Will mail anywhere if needed.

Call Patty at (913) 345-9498.

For sale - Four gravesites located in section 8 of Mount Calvary Cemetery, Kansas City, Kan. Valued at $6,400; asking $5,600. Call (785) 986-6480.

For sale - 3 cemetery lots. Good location, St. Mary’s Cemetery, Louisburg. $600 each. Call (913) 904-4122.

Antique and collectible solid wood furniture - Handcarved, England, France; unique 1840 bed, 7-foot carved headboard, chestnut with walnut trim. 7-foot handcarved walnut grandfather clock. Gorgeous walnut and cherry leaded glass dining room table. Cherry china cabinet. 4 Eastlake chairs. 2 Ethan Allen pieces. Needlepoint ottomans. Tiffany lamps. Original paintings. 1950’s Evening in Paris perfumes, etc. Lots of jewelry, miscellaneous items. All a must-see.

Holy Cross parishioner. Help a Vietnam era veteran. Call Mary Grace at (913) 385-0309 or cell (913) 579-0279.

wanted to buy

calendar 13

march 28, 2014 | theleaven.com

March The Axtell Economic Development Committee/Pride is sponsoring its annual community fish fry at the Axtell Community Building on March 28 from 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. Proceeds will benefit Axtell community scholarships and the Axtell Harvest Festival.

The cost to attend is: $7 for adults; $5 for grades 6-12; $3 for grades K-5; and free for children younger than kindergarten. There will also be a silent auction.

28

A women’s day of reflection, “Unleashing the Power to Conquer Your Demons: Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving,” will be sponsored by the Daughters of Isabella on March 29 from 8 a.m. to noon in the Social Room at Holy Trinity Church, 9150 Pflumm, Lenexa. All women are invited to be a part of this Lenten opportunity to pray, listen and reflect. The guest speaker will be Troy Hinkel, an instructor with the School of Faith. The cost to attend is $10 per person; $15 at the door. Send payment by mail to: Pat Wineland, 8914 Renee, Lenexa, KS 66215. For more information, call (913) 219-4731.

29

The Cathedral of St. Peter will host a traditional Mexican taco dinner from 5 - 9 p.m. on March 29 in the parish center.

The cost to attend is $8 for adults; $4 for children under the age of 12. There will be traditional music and a 50/50 raffle.

Cristo Rey Kansas City High School will host the 8th annual Dancing with the Kansas City Stars at 6 p.m. on March 29 at the Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center. To reserve a seat or to vote for a star, visit the website at: www. dancingwiththekansascitystars.org. For more information, call Meghan Tallman at (816) 457-6044.

The Catholic Men’s Conference of Wichita will be held March 29 from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. in the St. Francis of Assisi Parish gym, Wichita. The featured speaker will be apologist and Holy Land travel guide Steve Ray. Also speaking will be Jake Samour and James Lewis. The cost to attend is a suggested donation of $25, which includes lunch. To register, visit the website at: catholicmenICT2014.eventbrite.com.

For more information, call Rick Riggs at (316) 461-6481.

Father Kent O’Connor will present the “Jesus” concert, a multimedia presentation of music, reflections, and images about the person of Jesus Christ on March 31 at 7 p.m.

The concert will be held at Sacred Heart Church, 2646 S. 34th St., Kansas City, Kan. There is no cost to attend; however, a collection will be taken up for Our Lady of Unity School. All are invited to attend.

31

April Advice and Aid Pregnancy Centers, Inc., is in need of volunteers and will be offering a volunteer informational meeting on April 1 from 7 - 9 p.m. at 11644 W. 75th St., Shawnee. For more information on volunteering in this ministry or to RSVP, contact Mary Newcomer at (913) 962-0200 or send an email to: volunteer@adviceandaid.com.

1

Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University classes will be held at St. Joseph Parish, 5901 Flint, Shawnee, from April 1 - June 10. For more information, send an email to Ginger McCormick at: gingerjmc cormick@gmail.com or call (816) 5882245 (evenings or weekends).

Corita’s Corner Sandwich Ministry will be the recipient of a 2014 Peace Builder Award from the Topeka Center for Peace and Justice on April 3 at the second annual Peace Party and Award Dinner, Ramada Inn, Topeka. A reception for the nominees begins at 6 p.m., and dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m. The cost to attend is $25 per person.

Tickets are available through March 28.

For more information, send an email to: tcpjpeaceawards@cox.net or call (785) 235-0203.

3

A Taize prayer will be held on April 3 at 7 p.m. in Annunciation Chapel on the campus of the motherhouse of the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth, 4200 S. 4th St., Leavenworth. For more information, visit the website at: www.marillaccenter.org or call (913) 680-2342.

The women of Holy Cross Church, 8311 W. 93rd St., Overland Park, will sponsor a soup and salad buffet from 5 - 7 p.m. on April 4. The cost to attend is $6 for adults; $3 for children. At 7:30 p.m., Our Lady & St. Rose gospel choir and Heri-

4

Concrete Work

tage House Dance Ministry will perform.

For more information, call Margi Foley at (913) 381-8145.

A free estate planning informational workshop will be held on April 5 from 9:30 a.m. - noon at the Bishop Ward High School cafeteria, 708 N. 18th St., Kansas City, Kan. All are welcome to attend. Refreshments will be served. Reserve your spot by calling Mary at (913) 371-6901 or send an email to: mspangler@wardhigh.org.

For a complete list of presenters and topics, visit the website at: www.wardhigh. org/estateworkshop.

5

High school and 7th- and 8th-grade students are invited to a night of music, charismatic praise, eucharistic adoration, confession, and Mass by candlelight from 5:15 - 9 p.m. on April 5 at the student union building of Benedictine College, Atchison. There is no cost to attend. For more information, call the Benedictine College ministry office at (913) 360-7735 or visit the website at: www.facebook. com/BCministry.

St. Joseph Parish, Olpe, will host its annual spring festival on April 6 at 307 Iowa St. The dinner and kids’ games will be held from 3 - 6:30 p.m. Bingo begins at 6:45 p.m. in the Knights of Columbus Hall. A ham and roast beef dinner will be served. The cost to attend the meal is $8 for adults; $3 for children ages 10 and under. Carryout meals are also available. There will also be a raffle along with many more cash and merchandise prizes. Raffle tickets are available from St. Joseph CCD students or on the day of the festival. All proceeds benefit St. Joseph Parish religious education ministries.

6

Solemn vespers and Benediction will be held at 4 p.m. on April 6 at St. Michael the Archangel Church, 143rd and Nall, Leawood. Gregorian chant and sacred polyphony will be sung by resident archdiocesan choir Sursum Corda. Public adoration of the Blessed Sacrament will begin at 1 p.m. All are welcome.

Sophia Spirituality Center, Atchison, will host a retreat, entitled “A Lenten Journey With Jesus,” on April 10 from 9 a.m. 3:30 p.m. Follow Jesus closely during his passion, and learn what sustained him

10

and how you can have this power in your own life. The retreat will be conducted by Sister Marie Ballmann, OSB, a spiritual director, member of the Sophia staff and a leader of both private and group retreats and workshops. For more information or to register, call (913) 360-6151 or visit Sophia Spirituality Center’s website at: www.sophiaspiritualitycenter.org.

Holy Angels Parish, Basehor, will host a parish mission, entitled “God, Faith and Being Tested,” from April 11 - 13. The mission will be presented by Father James Swetnam, SJ, a scholar of the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome and now a resident of Jesuit Hall in St. Louis. There is no cost to attend.

For more information, contact the parish office at (913) 724-1665 or visit the website at: holyangelsbasehor.org.

11

Christ’s Peace House of Prayer, Easton, will host a “Prepare for Holy Week” retreat from April 11 - 13. There will be five conferences, eucharistic adoration, celebration of the Palm Sunday liturgy at the local parish, and time for private prayer, meditation, walking and alone time. Check in is at 6 p.m. on April 11, with a soup meal included. If you are interested in attending, send an email to: info@christspeace. com or call (913) 773-8255. The cost to attend is $160 for an individual or $240 a couple.

A course in the sympto-thermal method of natural family planning begins at 6 p.m. on April 11 at St. Michael the Archangel Parish, 14251 Nall Ave., Leawood, and on April 13 at 1 p.m. at the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library, 1515 S.W. 10th Ave., Topeka. The cost to attend is a reasonable course fee. For more information, call Dana or Eric Runnebaum at (785) 380-0062 or the Couple to Couple League of Kansas City at (913) 894-3558.

Online registration is required by visiting the website at: www.ccli.org.

Calendar submissions

• Email submissions to: calendar @theleaven.com • Mail to: 12615 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City, KS 66109, attn: calendar • Calendar notices are due 10 days before the desired publication date.

• Calendar notices may only run two weeks before the event depending on space available.

Stair lifts & More We’ll lift you up!

Any type of repair and new work Driveways, Walks, Patios

Scooter/bath/wheelchair/pool Free consults. Leaven discounts!

Member Good Shepherd, Shawnee

Member of Queen of the Holy Rosary Parish

Harvey M. Kascht (913) 262-1555

Call Ed Toll Free 1-855-543-8632

Learn from the Experts how to Defend Your Faith

Catholic Apologetics Academy Savior Pastoral Center • 12601 Parallel Parkway • Kansas City, KS

May 1–4, 2014

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

Renee Maderak, (913) 631-7179.

St. Joseph Parish, Shawnee 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 Our Lady of Hope. Catholics with an Anglican and Methodist heritage. Formal and friendly. Visitors welcome.

Mass Saturdays at 4 p.m., St. Therese Little Flower, 5814 Euclid, Kansas City, Mo. Fulfills Sunday obligation. Father Ernie Davis. Dr. Bruce Prince-Joseph, organist. For more information, send an email to: frernie3@gmail.com or call (816) 729-6776.

Learn the art of apologetics from Patrick Madrid, Dr. Peter Kreeft, and Kenneth Hensley, apologetics veterans of the first-rank. Attendees have many opportunities to interact and learn from our enthusiastic and encouraging team of professors, making our Apologetics Academy a truly life-changing and intellectually and spiritually energizing experience.

www.CatholicApologeticsAcademy.com

14 commentary Scripture Readings

theleaven.com | march 28, 2014

March 30 fourth SUNDAY OF LENT 1 Sm 16: 1b, 6-7, 10-13a Ps 23: 1-6 Eph 5: 8-14 Jn 9: 1-41 March 31 Monday Is 65: 17-21 Ps 30: 2, 4-6, 11-12a, 13ab Jn 4: 43-54 April 1 Tuesday Ez 47: 1-9, 12 Ps 46: 2-3, 5-6, 8-9 Jn 5: 1-16 April 2 Francis of Paola, hermit Is 49: 8-15 Ps 145: 8-9, 13c-14, 17-18 Jn 5: 17-30 April 3 Thursday Ex 32: 7-14 Ps 106: 19-23 Jn 5: 31-47 April 4 Isidore, bishop, doctor of the church Wis 2: 1a, 12-22 Ps 34: 17-21, 23 Jn 7: 1-2, 10, 25-30 April 5 Vincent Ferrer, priest Jer 11: 18-20 Ps 7: 2-3, 9b-12 Jn 7: 40-53

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Building the culture of Life

mark my words

FOURTH week of lent

H

No one can deny this singer’s gift

ey, are you a fan of Italy’s “The Voice”?

Yeah, me neither. Since I never watch “The Voice” here in the States, it’s no wonder that I didn’t even know that Italy had a similar show. All of that changed about 10 days ago when I watched a YouTube clip of a young woman with a powerful voice belting out Alicia Keys’ “No One.” The singer was a Sicilian, 25 years old, who lives in Milan. And she obviously has a habit . . . as in a nun’s habit. Her name is Sister Cristina Scuccia and she’s a member of the Ursuline Sisters of the Holy Family. And, yes, she is a “real” nun.

The clip is definitely worth the eight minutes — just Google “Italian nun voice” — even if you don’t speak any Italian. In the show, four judges sit with their backs to the stage in swivel chairs. If they like what they hear from the singer, they hit a button and turn around.

It’s quite entertaining just to watch the faces of the judges as they see that the talented singer is a nun. When one of the

Father Mark Goldasich Father Mark Goldasich is the pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Tonganoxie. He has been editor of The Leaven since 1989. judges asks Sister Cristina what the Vatican thinks of her performance, she replies — without missing a beat — that she now hopes for a phone call from Pope Francis.

From the moment Sister Cristina sings her first few notes, the audience is on its feet, cheering. Backstage, some of her fellow Sisters nervously jump up and down as she performs.

Later on, the crowd chants, “So-rel-la,” which means “Sister” in Italian, over and over again.

When asked by the judges why she came on the show, she responds, “I have a gift and now I am giving it to you. Shouldn’t it be that way?” She adds that Pope Francis “always says we should go out and

evangelize. . . . I am here for this.”

There’s much more to Sister Cristina’s story. In the biography submitted to the TV show, she says that she always wanted to be a singer. Quite by accident, in 2008, she participated in a “music hall” sponsored by the Ursuline Sisters. At the time, she was a non-believer and “against the Church, but found instead love.”

Her choice of “No One” might be a subtle reference to the Love that she found.

Think of Jesus as the subject of that song and you get a nice testimony of faith.

As of this writing, there have been nearly 29 million hits on this YouTube video. Obviously, some of the interest is simply curiosity or the novelty of seeing a nun on “The Voice.” But there is absolutely no mistaking the exuberant joy this young nun possesses.

Her eyes sparkle, as does her personality. Her whole being seems to tingle with life.

And she is “normal” in every sense of the word, especially in her enthusiasm for the faith. In a country like Italy, where

the vast majority of people are only nominally Catholic, this young nun may at least put the thought into people’s minds — as Pope Francis unfailingly does — that there is something truly worth examining and pursuing in this “faith thing.”

If the people won’t come to church, then the church needs to go to the people. Even ”The Voice” can be a vehicle for the “culture of encounter” that Pope Francis has talked about.

Sister Cristina’s singing reminded me of another nun, although a “fake” one: Whoopi Goldberg in the 1992 film “Sister Act.” Like Goldberg’s fictional nun, this real life one may bring young people back to church through her angelic singing. When Sister Cristina can bring tears to even a tattooed, Italian rapper — Ja-X — something special is certainly going on.

I do hope that Sister Cristina gets her phone call from the pope. But, let me voice my opinion here and now: “No One” is a bigger fan of hers than me.

In the beginning

God often acts contrary to human expectations

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here are only seven days in the week. As much as we might try, we cannot fit any more days in.

There are only seven sacraments. We do not need any more than those to bring us God’s grace. There are seven gifts of the Holy Spirit.

There are seven corporal works of mercy, as well as seven spiritual ones.

It is no accident that all these occur in groups of seven. The number seven, in the Bible and in Christian tradition, symbolizes fullness or completion.

That is why, when the prophet Samuel interviews the seven sons of Jesse in Sunday’s first reading — 1 Sm 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a — as prospective candidates to be the new king of Israel, we do not expect any more.

commentary 15

march 28, 2014 | theleaven.com

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

We have reached the magic number.

However, contrary to all expectations, it turns out that Jesse has an eighth son, David. He is the youngest, so Jesse did not even bother to call him in for the interview. This eighth son does not look as promising as the others.

Nonetheless, God chooses him as the new king. As

Pope francis On the feast of St. Joseph, patron saint of the universal church and Jesus’ earthly father, Pope Francis urged all dads in the world to stick by their children’s side, teaching them, guiding them and loving them. “I ask that you have the grace to be very close to your children, letting them grow, but being by their side. They need you,

the reading points out: “Not as man sees does God see, because man sees the appearance but the Lord looks into the heart.”

This is not the only story about David’s early life that presents a reversal of expectations. Something similar happens when David encounters the Philistine Goliath.

The boy defeats the giant.

Even the way David is described resembles the earlier description of David in his anointing by Samuel: “When [Goliath] had sized David up, and seen that he was youthful, and ruddy, and handsome in appearance, he held him in contempt” (1 Sm 17:42).

Compare this to how David looks to Samuel: “He was ruddy, a youth handsome to behold and making a splendid appearance” (1 Sm 16:12).

your presence, to be there, your love!” the pope told fathers present in St. Peter’s Square.

Despite a massive citywide transport strike in Rome, more than 80,000 people made their way to the square for the pope’s weekly audience March 19. The pope dedicated his catechesis to the role and example of St. Joseph.

March 19 also marks the celebration of Father’s Day

In choosing David as king, God has once again acted contrary to our expectations. And the meaning of this goes beyond David. This turns out to be a typical way for God to act.

As king, David represents Israel. Despite being such a small nation, Israel will have a huge impact on the world.

Through Israel, God will reverse all our expectations.

As Christians, we see this happening especially in Jesus Christ. Not only did he live in a relatively insignificant corner of the Roman Empire, but he lived in a town that even his fellow Jews considered insignificant. One asked: “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” (Jn 1:46) And yet, he became the Savior of the world.

in Italy, as well as the first anniversary of the formal inauguration of Pope Francis’ ministry as bishop of Rome and pope. St. Joseph’s “great mission is to be a guardian,” the pope said. The saint is a model for all educators, whether they are teachers, catechists, parents, religious or priests, “who are fathers, too, you know!” he said.

— CNS

Public prayer at abortion clinics gives heroic witness

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lthough we are making some marginal progress in changing our culture of death and darkness into a culture of life and light, much remains to be done.

I believe that one of the most important things that we can do to positively change our culture is to be more actively engaged as witnesses in the broad grassroots pro-life movement.

Remember that a martyr is a witness — a witness who has stood for the truth and has given himself sacrificially for the benefit of others.

Ron Kelsey Ron Kelsey is the archdiocesan consultant for the pro-life office. You can email him at: prolife@archkck. org or call (913) 647-0350.

A martyr is countercultural, and thus requires great courage in order to stand in opposition to prevailing societal attitudes and values.

We are all called to be martyrs — witnesses — to the value and dignity of human beings. I am not stating

that we must be martyrs who suffer being put to death; rather, we must generously give of ourselves, our witness, in the battle for life. We should be actively involved in building a culture of life as our state in life affords us. We need to be a pro-life witness to our family and friends and circles of influences. This will not always be easy. We need to be willing to stand for the truth and be willing to suffer the loss of human esteem or being liked by others.

So, what does this prolife witness look like? It can involve many, many activities as we serve others in their various needs from conception to natural death. In

addition to these important activities, I want to emphasize the special need that the unborn place upon our consciences. The unprecedented scale in human history of the worldwide attack on the unborn demands our attention.

We must stand in witness for the unborn in far greater numbers.

And one exceptional way to do so is to give public witness to the abortions that are occurring in our very communities. Standing and praying at abortion clinics is a powerful way to give this public witness. Your silent witness may help someone choose life rather than abortion for their child.

I have spoken with many

who have a very mistaken view of giving witness at an abortion clinic. Many have visions of radical protesters at abortion clinics. Yet, the opposite is true. Praying on the sidewalk is a very peaceful activity. Sadly, while thousands of babies are killed each year at the Kansas City area abortion clinics, there are relatively few who stand in prayer and give witness to the horrific activity that is taking place in our community.

I would like to challenge you to take 15 minutes to go and pray at an abortion clinic. Be a light in the darkness.

Be a witness, a martyr, for life.

from the super

D

Stress of semester can’t dilute solemnity of season ear friends of Catholic schools,

Although it may not seem like it by looking at any school calendar, this is an extremely “lively” time of year in schools. Teachers look forward to second semester when they can have students’ “undivided attention” for consecutive months in order to solely focus on teaching and learning. Unfortunately, in the Midwest, the weather can play havoc with that plan!

It also is the time of year in which there is

kathy o’Hara Kathy O’Hara is the superintendent of archdiocesan schools. much assessment taking place in schools. Pastors and boards are evaluating school leaders, school leaders are evaluating teachers, and teachers are evaluating students. The results of all of this assess-

ment can lead to change/ transition for the next school year. This, in turn, can lead to an underlying sense of excitement coupled with nervousness.

Add to this the arrival of spring, extracurricular activities that may need to be rescheduled due to weather, and the month of May — a month my predecessor often described as “the month into which everyone having anything to do with schools tries to cram in everything that they did not get to in the first 8 ½ months of the school year.”

Indeed, the last quarter of any school year can be “in-

teresting,” to say the least!

However, you may have noted something missing in the above description of school life. In Catholic schools, the most important aspect of this time of year is our celebration of Lent, Holy Week, and Easter.

How fitting it is that in the midst of what can sometimes be the angst of second semester, we are called back to the one and only truth that really matters — the one that John so beautifully writes: “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not die but have eternal life.”

Regardless of what stress there may be in schools at this time of year, each Friday in Lent Catholic school communities pray the Stations of the Cross and are reminded of what Jesus endured to save us. We are called to remember the great joy that awaits us if we are faithful.

Regardless of the challenges we face in schools, if we remember Good Friday and Easter, we always should have hope and joy.

That is the greatest witness we can bear to our students. Alleluia! ¡Vaya con Dios!

ordained to serve

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Deacon heralds Resurrection at Easter Vigil Mass

ne of my favorite images of the deacon is that of herald, or messenger.

In the rite of ordination to the diaconate, the bishop says to the new deacon, “Receive the Gospel of Christ, whose herald you have become.” In artistic depictions of the Annunciation, the Archangel Gabriel is often depicted wearing a dalmatic, the vestment of a deacon, so as to symbolize his role as herald of the coming of the Christ Child.

The role of the deacon

Leon Suprenant Leon Suprenant is the pastoral associate for administration in the office of the permanent diaconate. He also blogs at: www.archkck.org/blog. as herald of the Gospel of Christ is especially evident in the Easter Vigil liturgy, the greatest feast of the church. He brings the lighted paschal candle into the darkened church, stopping three times, proclaiming “The Light of Christ.” Then the deacon proceeds to the

ambo, where he then sings the Exsultet, a long, magnificent proclamation of the resurrection of Christ.

I should back up at this point and note that the priest or even a lay cantor may sing the Exsultet, but the Roman Missal itself notes that the proper and preferred minister to sing the Exsultet is the deacon.

Why would this be? The reason is that the Exsultet is nothing less than the proclamation of the Gospel, and the deacon is ordained to be a herald, or messenger, of this good news. Just as the faithful stand to hear the priest or deacon proclaim the Gospel at Mass, all the faithful at the Easter Vigil stand during the Exsultet.

And the deacon is dressed in white, recalling the angel at the empty tomb: “His appearance was like lightning and his clothing white as snow” (Mt 28:3).

The Exsultet, or Easter Proclamation, dates all the way back to the fourth century. The version now in use probably originated in the fifth century. The use of the paschal candle goes back even further and is rooted in ancient Jewish customs.

It is a jewel of our Catholic tradition and a call to joyful praise and jubilation.

The Exsultet is a compendium of salvation history.

Christ is presented as the true lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, the one who delivers us not

from slavery in Egypt but from slavery to sin, and the true light that overcomes our darkness.

Perhaps the most famous line from the Exsultet is its reference to original sin: “O truly necessary sin of Adam, destroyed completely by the Death of Christ!

“O happy fault that earned so great, so glorious a Redeemer!”

During these final weeks leading up to Easter, let us reflect on what these words mean for us — that the redemption Christ offers us is even greater than our sins.

As St. Paul wrote: “Where sin increased, grace abounded all the more” (Rom 5:20).

16 LOCAL NEWS

theleaven.com | march 28, 2014

Nobody is perfect

Teens hear unique message at ReachKCK event

By Jessica Langdon jessica@theleaven.com

Learn more

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Stay up-to-date on the happenings at ReachKCK by visiting its Facebook page at: www.facebook. com/ReachKCK; or Twitter page at: www.twitter.com/ReachKCK.

ANSAS CITY, Kan. — It’s a safe bet the group of teens gathered at ReachKCK (Blessed Sacrament campus) here had never heard introductions quite like this.

“My name’s Cindy, and I’m not perfect.”

“My name’s Evangelyn, and I’m not perfect.”

“I’m Shawn, and I’m definitely not perfect.”

Then again, the audience had probably never experienced a presentation like this, either — and for some, it really hit home.

Together, Cindy Wittman, Evangelyn Smith and Shawn Gaupp introduced teens to the message of their organization, Not Perfect, on March 19 at ReachKCK as part of the outreach’s Spring Break Extravaganza.

“We all mess up. We do things we shouldn’t do or say things we shouldn’t say,” Wittman told the teens.

But what they aimed to do on this chilly Wednesday of spring break was help them find a deeper love inside themselves, accept others as they are — and accept themselves for who they are.

The quest for perfection can be huge in young people’s lives, she has found.

Gaupp defined perfect as “being entirely without fault or defect.”

“I only know one person that is perfect, and that is Jesus Christ, the Son of God,” he said.

have to be ashamed of myself. And the program that we did today — Not Perfect — it speaks a lot.”

The words “We are not perfect but we are breaking free” decorated a lifesize door at the front of the room.

At the end of the session, attendees wrote on the door something they planned to break free from in their own lives.

“We believe when you write something down, it can no longer have power over you,” said Wittman.

Not Perfect is already planning to work with ReachKCK in the future.

And organizers of ReachKCK are excited about that and other upcoming events.

Blossoming ministry

Breaking free And when anyone else strives to be perfect, it can result in placing unrealistic goals and expectations on themselves and on others, Gaupp said.

“What’s worse is, it can lead to selfharm,” he added.

“It can also lead us to drugs and alcohol, which are really just temporary escapes from reality,” he said.

Smith shared that an assault at a young age left her questioning why a loving God would allow such a thing to happen.

She struggled for years with hatred, lack of self-worth, deep depression and suicidal thoughts.

Then, at a teen girls’ session at a religious camp, she connected with a woman who shared her own testimony. For the first time, she shared what had happened and what was happening in her life.

She saw that the other woman still believed in God. “She just showed me the love of Jesus, and she told me that he was my creator, and she told me that the way he created me was the way that he desired for me to be made,” said Smith.

“We are not perfect, but we are fearfully and wonderfully made,” Wittman emphasized to the crowd.

“Fearfully” in the biblical context means to have respect for God, she said, and “wonderfully” means distinct and unique.

Leaven photo by Joe McSorley

Participants in ReachKCK’s Not Perfect event on March 19 write something they want to break free of on a door representing transitions. It was part of ReachKCK’s Spring Break Extravaganza.

“God doesn’t make mistakes. He made us just the way he wants us,” said Wittman. “Everybody, look around the room. Look at each other. You weren’t made like that other person. You’re not meant to. He made you just the way you are. He doesn’t place people down here randomly, going, ‘I need a tall one here and a short one over here.’”

Instead, God wants people to take comfort in the way they were created and to not put undue pressure on themselves, comparing themselves to others.

And God wants people to open their hearts wide and let him in, allowing him to replace fears, worries and anxieties with peace and love.

“And you will feel that peace and joy. You’ll be on fire with it,” said Wittman. “You’ll be jumping up and down, and people will go, ‘Wow, I want to be like that.’

“And that’s Jesus.”

Putting God first Wittman shared her story of what she described as “adult bullying” in a dating situation, and the fears she has had to break free from in her life in

order to put God first.

Every morning, she leans on a Scripture passage that tells her, “I can do anything through Christ who strengthens me.”

And she encouraged the teens to “get your strong on in the morning.”

Gaupp also shared some of the struggles he has faced, including breaking free from an addiction to pain medication.

“Every day, I treat it like I’m lucky to be here,” he said.

And he has learned to listen to God and to let God lead.

“God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners,” Smith told the group, talking about redemption.

Gaupp stressed that change comes from within and it’s possible to control emotions and actions.

Donisha Dabner, 17, was one of the local teens who attended Not Perfect.

She was raised in church, and has really returned and reconnected with it in the past several years, she said.

Programs like those at ReachKCK, she has found, “are helping me realize who I am inside. It’s helping me to realize that I can be who I am. I don’t

ReachKCK followed up its public outreach kickoff — a “One Thing Remains” night of eucharistic adoration for youth of the archdiocese in December 2013 — with a Spring Break Extravaganza.

The week opened with a St. Patrick’s Day party that ReachKCK director Liz (Halfmann) Miller described as a blast, and a good chance for attendees to get to know each other.

The week also brought a girls’ night out with Zumba, pizza and games; a Spoken Word workshop, along with time in the coffee shop; and a perennial favorite with the young men — an open gym in which to display their mad basketball skills.

Miller believes ReachKCK is sharing the church and its message with people who might not otherwise have the opportunity to be touched by it.

“The archdiocese has been the one that’s been behind us the whole time 100 percent,” said Miller. “It’s really exciting to watch the seeds be planted and watch the ministry begin to blossom.”

And many of the teens who might visit ReachKCK don’t have cars or driver’s licenses, so it was important to create a center to which many could walk, Miller believes.

Micuela Wright, 17, attended Not Perfect and the St. Patrick’s Day party. She had seen events advertised at school before spring break and was enjoying what she found there.

And every Catholic who gives at his or her parish contributes to youth outreach — in both urban and rural settings — through a special assessment that each parish pays expressly in support of ministry to youth.

“Everything that we’re doing ties back to that,” said Miller, grateful to everyone who helps make her ministry possible.

“It’s my firm belief the youth are not the future of the church,” she said.

“They are the church.”