Leaven 04-15-16 Vol. 37 No. 34

THELEAVEN.ORG | VOL. 37, NO. 34 | APRIL 15, 2016

POWERHOUSE Father Chester Smith stirs revival

LEAVEN PHOTO BY DOUG HESSE

Father Chester Smith, SVD, makes a point during a revival at Our Lady & St. Rose Church in Kansas City, Kansas. Father Chester led a revival for three days at Christ the King, Blessed Sacrament and Our Lady & St. Rose churches in Kansas City, Kansas.

K

By Joe Bollig joe.bollig@theleaven.org

ANSAS CITY, Kan. — God’s man was in the house, and he came to turn on the power.

“It is the custom here at Our Lady & St. Rose to hold hands with our brothers and sisters, get their name — their first name, if you don’t know their name,” said Father Chester Smith, SVD. “At this time, I want to ask that you just close your eyes for a few seconds to pray for that brother and sister whose hand you hold beside you in silence,” he said.

It was a powerful moment, one of many during the revival March 12-14 led

by Father Chester on successive days at Christ the King Church, Blessed Sacrament Church, and Our Lady & St. Rose Church, all in Kansas City, Kansas.

It was no wonder that the final night of the revival had a spirit of warmth and familiarity.

Father Chester — and occasionally his twin Father Charles Smith, also a Divine Word Missionary priest — have led revivals at Our Lady & St. Rose almost DISCOVER THE LEAVEN ON SOCIAL MEDIA

LEAVEN PHOTO BY DOUG HESSE

Anthony Marie Johnson, Phyllis Cason, Carol Welch and Tamara Bailey, members of the acclaimed Our Lady & St. Rose choir in Kansas City, Kansas, sing songs of praise and worship at the parish’s revival on March 14. yearly now for over 20 years.

Chicago-born and raised, Father Chester, now based in Indianapolis, is part of the Bowman Francis Ministry. As a missionary, he is commissioned to minister and evangelize African-American youth and others. It is his work as a missionary that brought him to Our Lady & St. Rose,

a historically African-American parish, on that final night.

“He remembers people — he remembers names and faces,” said Barbara Bailey, Our Lady & St. Rose pastoral associate. “If he doesn’t see someone, he asks about them, or says, ‘What about Vickie?

What about Don?’”

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Whenever he comes to town, certain people tell Bailey, “I need my time with him.”

“He’s so personable,” said parishioner Peggy Robinson. “One of us always has him off in a corner . . . for a personal oneon-one, and he always has time. It’s so easy to relate to him.”

Once, a couple was concerned that their sick relatives would be unable to come to the revival, so they offered to pick up Father Chester at the airport. On the way back, they took him by a Kansas City, Kansas, hospital so he could pray with and bless the relatives. The customary breakfast of waffles and sausage followed, of course.

Father Chester’s ministry extends out from his revivals like the spokes of a wheel.

“There are things that happen when he comes to Kansas City that he expects to do,” said Bailey. “He connects himself with us.”

In addition to visiting hospitals, he has visited schools — public and Catholic — as well as area jails.

“When I took him to talk to the young men at jail, they were really, really attentive because he is a black man and a priest. . . . In our area, we don’t see a lot of black men who are priests,” said Bailey. >> See “MISSIONARY” on page 5

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APRIL 15, 2016 | THELEAVEN.ORG

ARCHBISHOP

2

Pope exhorts pastors to never give up on those struggling

“T

he Joy of Love,” the postsynodal apostolic exhortation of Pope Francis, was promulgated last Friday, April 8, but actually signed by the Holy Father on March 19, the solemnity of St. Joseph, spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

During last year’s second Synod of Bishops on the family, there was a question whether Pope Francis would actually follow the tradition of his predecessors by authoring a postsynodal document. I recall that the Holy Father initially indicated that he intended to write a brief exhortation.

In its current format, “The Joy of Love” is 255 pages. However, given that the pope was writing a document for actually two synods and given the challenge of applying the rich and beautiful teaching of the church to the complex and diverse issues confronting marriage and family life in different parts of the world, the length of the exhortation is understandable.

In light of this, Pope Francis encourages readers not to attempt to digest “The Joy of Love” in one sitting but, rather, to do a slow, meditative reading of each of its nine chapters. Personally, I intend through the course of this year to devote several of these columns to different dimensions of our Holy Father’s teaching on marriage and family.

For this column, I wish to highlight key points of context and perspective to help you interpret what you read and hear about “The Joy of Love” in the secular media. Every married couple, engaged couple,

LIFE WILL BE VICTORIOUS ARCHBISHOP JOSEPH F. NAUMANN

LISTEN to this article online at: www.theleaven.org. parent and actually every Catholic (after all, we are all members of families) will benefit from a prayerful reading of “The Joy of Love.”

There had been a great deal of speculation whether Pope Francis was going to change the church’s teaching on marriage. Even though the pope had assured Catholics that he had no intention of doing so and acknowledged that he did not have such authority, still there was anxiety in some quarters of the church.

It is important to note that an apostolic exhortation is not an encyclical letter.

One commentator, in acknowledging this distinction, suggested that “The Joy of Love” should be read more like a homily than a chapter of the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

Apostolic exhortations, as the name suggests, are intended to be more motivational than a technical explication of doctrinal issues.

That said, those looking for Pope Francis to alter our understanding of

marriage and family, will be disappointed, because the Holy Father reiterates the self-evident truth that marriage is between one man and one woman and that an essential purpose of marriage is the openness to generate new life. The pope makes clear that marriage is by its nature to be faithful, permanent and fruitful.

An essential interpretative key for understanding “The Joy of Love” is the Holy Father’s determined effort to hold together the tension between the truth of our teaching and our compassion toward the individual or couple who struggle with the challenges of marriage and family life. Pope Francis exhorts pastors and individual Catholics never to close the doors on those struggling to live the teaching, but to persevere in manifesting our concern for them, never wearying of striving to accompany them.

The Holy Father’s overriding concern for the poor is particularly evident. Unfortunately, fewer and fewer individuals are benefiting from the experience of a stable family life.

Certainly, more children in our country are being deprived of the advantage, made clear by the social science data, of living in a home with both their biological mother and father.

It is a sad reality that

the lower your economic status, the less likely for children to be raised by both of their parents. Single parenting elevates the likelihood of women and children living in poverty. It is also self-evident that material poverty places great stress on marriages and families.

Pope Francis challenges Catholics not to be content with the status quo. The greater poverty is not the lack of material comforts or even necessities but, rather, the deprivation of experiencing the love of a father and a mother.

However, material poverty can overwhelm and crush marriages or make marriage appear unattainable. The Holy Father challenges us to work to relieve the economic stresses placed upon the poor, particularly migrant families.

I was pleased to see that “The Joy of Love” emphasizes the importance of better marriage preparation but, even more, the need for ongoing marriage formation.

The entire exhortation supports the second super priority of our archdiocesan pastoral vision, namely strengthening marriage and family life. In particular, the Holy Father supports our goal to invite every married couple to participate in some form of marriage enrichment.

Finally, as the title indicates, it is all about joy! Despite all the challenges and difficulties, the joy of family life is the greatest antidote to so many of our world’s ills. Despite weaknesses and imperfections, the family remains the most effective environment for the cultivation of virtue and the therapeutic community where members find resources for healing and the

CALENDAR

ARCHBISHOP NAUMANN April 15 Eucharistic adoration — Bishop Miege High School Private appeal Mass and appreciation dinner — Savior Pastoral Center April 16 Golden jubilee Mass for Sister Sophia of the Sisters of St. Ann — Prince of Peace, Olathe Abbot’s Table — Sheraton Crown Center April 18 “Shepherd’s Voice” recording Confirmation — Holy Trinity, Lenexa April 19 Donnelly College corporate board meeting Vespers and dinner with priests ordained in the last five years April 20 Confirmation — Prince of Peace, Olathe April 21 Confirmation — Prince of Peace, Olathe

capacity for resilience from life’s inevitable wounds.

If you want to do something concrete and significant to make the world a better place, then do something to strengthen the bonds of love with your spouse, children, grandchildren, elderly relatives, etc. It is not rocket science.

Families that pray, play and eat meals together are much healthier.

Authentic and enduring joy is to be found when life and love are shared in family life.

A great initial response to “The Joy of Love” could be simply for married couples to

April 22 Matthew Kelly “Living Every Day with Passion and Purpose” — Holy Trinity, Lenexa April 23 Pastoral visit — Sacred Heart, Emporia April 24 Scouting Mass and reception — Cathedral of St. Peter, Kansas City, Kansas

ARCHBISHOP KELEHER April 15 Confirmation — Queen of the Holy Rosary, Wea April 17 Mass and confirmation — Federal prison April 18 Confirmation — Holy Trinity, Lenexa April 20 Confirmation — Holy Name, Kansas City, Kansas April 23 St. James Academy auction dinner April 24 Confirmation — St. Joseph, Shawnee

ask: What could I do to make my marriage stronger? For parents to ask: How can I spend more time interacting with my children? For children to ask: How can I better express appreciation to my parents and make their lives easier?

If each of us chose to do just one thing to strengthen our families, northeast Kansas would be an even better place to live and raise a family.

The joy of love concretely lived in the family is attractive and infectious. Joyful families are a key to renewing and transforming our culture.

AMORIS LAETITIA

APRIL 15, 2016 | THELEAVEN.ORG

3

‘THE JOY OF LOVE’

Share truth of family with mercy, help those struggling, pope says

By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service

V

ATICAN CITY (CNS) — The same mercy and patience that are essential for building a strong family must be shown to those whose families are in trouble or have broken up, Pope Francis said in his highly anticipated postsynodal apostolic exhortation.

The document, “‘Amoris Laetitia’ (The Joy of Love), on Love in the Family,” released April 8, contains no new rules or norms. However, it encourages careful review of everything related to family ministry and, particularly, much greater attention to the language and attitude used when explaining church teaching and ministering to those who do not fully live that teaching.

“No family drops down from heaven perfectly formed; families need constantly to grow and mature in the ability to love,” Pope Francis wrote. People grow in holiness, and the church must be there to give them a helping hand rather than turn them away because they have not attained some degree of perfection.

The exhortation was Pope Francis’ reflection on the discussion, debate and suggestions raised during the 2014 and 2015 meetings of the Synod of Bishops on the family. Like synod members did, the pope insisted that God’s plan for the family is that it be built on the lifelong union of one man and one woman open to having children.

Synod members — including priests, religious and laypeople serving as experts and observers — talked about everything from varied cultural forms of courtship to marriage preparation and from the impact of migration on families to care for elderly parents.

Pope Francis’ document touches on all the issues raised at the synods and gives practical advice on raising children, urges a revision of sex-education programs and decries the many ways the “disposable culture” has infiltrated family life and sexuality to the point that many people feel free to use and then walk away from others.

“Everyone uses and throws away, takes and breaks, exploits and squeezes to the last drop. Then, goodbye,” he wrote.

Much of the document is tied to the theme of God’s mercy, including Pope Francis’ discussion of welcoming the vulnerable.

“Dedication and concern shown to migrants and to persons with special needs alike is a sign of the Spirit,” he wrote. Both are “a test of our commitment to show mercy in welcoming others and to help the vulnerable to be fully a part of our communities.”

The synod issues that garnered the most headlines revolved around the question of Communion for the divorced and civilly remarried, as well as Catholic attitudes toward homosexuality.

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

CNS PHOTO/SID HASTINGS

Children spend time with their grandmother on the front porch of their home in Hillsdale, Missouri. Pope Francis’ postsynodal apostolic exhortation on the family, “Amoris Laetitia” (“The Joy of Love”), was released April 8.

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“NO FAMILY DROPS DOWN FROM HEAVEN PERFECTLY FORMED; FAMILIES NEED CONSTANTLY TO GROW AND MATURE IN THE ABILITY TO LOVE.” Pope Francis “In no way must the church desist from proposing the full ideal of marriage, God’s plan in all its grandeur,” Pope Francis said.

He repeated his and the synod’s insistence that the church cannot consider same-sex unions to be a marriage, but also insisted, “every person, regardless of sexual orientation, ought to be respected in his or her dignity.”

On the question of families experiencing difficulties, separation or even divorce and remarriage, Pope Francis said responses to the questionnaires sent around the world before the synod “showed that most people in difficult or critical situations do not seek pastoral assistance, since they do not find it sympathetic, realistic or concerned for individual cases.”

The responses, he wrote, call on the church “to try to approach marriage crises with greater sensitivity to their burden of hurt and anxiety.”

Particularly in ministry to divorced

and civilly remarried Catholics, Pope Francis said, pastors must help each couple look at their actions and circumstances, recognize their share of responsibility for the breakup of their marriage, acknowledge church teaching that marriage is indissoluble and prayerfully discern what God is calling them to.

Pope Francis said it would be a “grave danger” to give people the impression that “any priest can quickly grant ‘exceptions’ or that some people can obtain sacramental privileges in exchange for favors.”

At the same time, he insisted, “the way of the church is not to condemn anyone forever; it is to pour out the balm of God’s mercy on all those who ask for it with a sincere heart.”

Divorced and civilly remarried couples, especially those with children, must be welcomed in Catholic parishes and supported in efforts to raise their children in the faith.

Generally, without an annulment of their sacramental marriage, such a couple would not be able to receive Communion or absolution of their sins unless they promised to live as “brother and sister.” But every situation is different, the pope said, which is why the church does not need new rules, but a new commitment on the part of pastors to provide spiritual guidance and assistance with discernment.

The diversity of situations — for example, that of a spouse who was abandoned versus being the one who left — makes it unwise to issue “a new

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set of general rules, canonical in nature and applicable to all cases,” the pope wrote. Quoting St. John Paul II, he said, “‘since the degree of responsibility is not equal in all cases,’ the consequences or effects of a rule need not necessarily always be the same.”

Pope Francis used the document’s footnotes to specify that the consequences include whether or not the couple might eventually be able to receive Communion: “This is also the case with regard to sacramental discipline, since discernment can recognize that in a particular situation no grave fault exists,” he wrote. Those who are in a state of serious sin are not to receive Communion.

Another footnote commented on the church’s request that remarried couples who had not received an annulment and who want to receive the sacraments forgo sexual relations. “In such situations, many people, knowing and accepting the possibility of living ‘as brothers and sisters’ which the church offers them, point out that if certain expressions of intimacy are lacking, ‘it often happens that faithfulness is endangered and the good of the children suffers,’” he wrote.

Pope Francis wrote that he understood those “who prefer a more rigorous pastoral care which leaves no room for confusion. But I sincerely believe that Jesus wants a church attentive to the goodness which the Holy Spirit sows in the midst of human weakness, >> See “POPE” on page 4

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AMORIS LAETITIA

APRIL 15, 2016 | THELEAVEN.ORG

Church leaders hail document’s mercy

W

ASHINGTON (CNS) — Church leaders from around the world hailed the tone of mercy in Pope Francis’ apostolic exhortation, “Amoris Laetitia” (“The Joy of Love”), but cautioned against a hurried reading of the document.

“What is new about this exhortation is its tone,” Cardinal Wilfrid Napier of Durban, South Africa, told Catholic News Service after the document’s release April 8. He said it calls on all ministers “to be warm and caring in the way they deal with people in difficult circumstances.”

“There is no one-size-fits-all” approach and “local churches are urged to adapt church teachings from the synod to their particular circumstances,” he said, noting, for example, that “different cultural understandings of marriage within South Africa would give the church here different challenges to those faced by churches in other parts of the world.”

Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin called “Amoris Laetitia” an “encyclopedic document and, like all encyclopedic documents, much of its most valuable content runs the risk of being bypassed by a preoccupation with one or two of its aspects.”

“It is not just a collection of separated chapters,” Archbishop Martin said in a statement. “There is a unifying thread: The gospel of the family is challenging and demanding, but . . . with the grace of God and his mercy, is attainable and fulfilling, enriching and worthwhile.”

The exhortation reflecting on the 2014 and 2015 synods of bishops on the family contains no new rules or norms. However, it encourages careful review of everything related to family ministry and, particularly, much greater attention to the language and attitude used when explaining church teaching and ministering to those who do not fully live that teaching.

“It is a long document. As Pope Francis says, you can’t whiz through it.

It needs reflection,” said Bishop Peter Doyle of Northampton, England, a synod participant and chairman of the English and Welsh bishops’ Committee for Marriage and Family Life.

“It has particular focus on the need to walk with those of us who feel excluded and to let everyone know that they are loved by God and that that love is a tender love, but also a love that challenges us all to change,” he said.

“Some people will be disappointed that it is not full of black-and-white solutions but, as Pope Francis says, every situation is different and needs to be approached with love, mercy and openness of heart,” Bishop Doyle said.

In the pope’s home country of Argentina, Bishop Pedro Maria Laxague of Zarate-Campana, president of the laity and families commission of the Argentine bishops’ conference and participant in the last synod, said the document embraced the papal vision of the church being a field hospital, treating the wounded and attending to those with needs.

“There is not a good family or a bad family,” he said. “All require pastoral attention.”

4

Pope: the way of the church is not to condemn

>> Continued from page 3

CNS PHOTO/PAUL HARING

Copies of Pope Francis’ apostolic exhortation on the family, “Amoris Laetitia” (“The Joy of Love”), are seen during the document’s release at the Vatican April 8. The exhortation is the concluding document of the 2014 and 2015 synods of bishops on the family.

He said the exhortation “touches all the realities that a family might experience.”

“Today the church can say that it has woken up to the realities of the family,” he told CNS. “We will be able to accompany [all] types of families as a church, as a community, in all situations.”

The Archdiocese of Mexico City welcomed the document and praised it for incorporating of various points of views, including conservative ones, and allowing local Catholic leaders some “discernment” in deciding how to go about opening the church to those traditionally left on the outside.

The encyclical “reflects the many [diverse] viewpoints expressed at the synod,” said Father Hugo Valdemar Romero, spokesman for the Archdiocese of Mexico City.

“There is an opening, but within the church doctrine,” he added. “There is an inclusiveness . . . on a case-by-case basis and the discernment of the local bishop.”

Jesuit Father David Neuhaus, patriarchal vicar of the Hebrew-speaking community of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, said people looking for “juicy” headlines would be disappointed. He said the exhortation was meant for people to read and ponder and said the document could help priests and bishops realize that “nobody is beyond the care of the church.”

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“SOME PEOPLE WILL BE DISAPPOINTED THAT IT IS NOT FULL OF BLACK-ANDWHITE SOLUTIONS BUT . . . EVERY SITUATION IS DIFFERENT AND NEEDS TO BE APPROACHED WITH LOVE, MERCY AND OPENNESS OF HEART.” Bishop Peter Doyle, Northampton, England

“No one is outside, no matter what the circumstances. . . . You can’t just take out the law book and say, ‘You have gone out of the boundaries.’

Every person has to be treated with love and respect,” said Father Neuhaus.

He added that, in the Holy Land, families are meeting challenges such as poverty, tensions and the breakdown of the family, a reality he described as “true for us and the whole world.”

Archbishop Paul-Andre Durocher of Gatineau, Quebec, who attended both synods, called the apostolic exhortation “a precious tool, a guide for pastoral workers accompanying couples. It’s an approach that many pastoral agents and priests have been promoting for a long time, but it now gives stronger theological foundations.”

“It invites us to take the teachings of the Bible and the church very seriously while welcoming in a true and realistic way couples experiencing hardships,” he said.

He said church leaders “have work ahead of us” regarding homosexuality.

“This synod wasn’t the time to have this discussion, with its strong cultural impacts in our world.”

Australian Archbishop Mark Coleridge of Brisbane, who attended the 2015 Synod of Bishops on the family, said the document “is full of contemplative vistas but also downto-earth practical wisdom which could come only from long pastoral experience of spouses and their families. It moves constantly between the ideal and the real.”

In an article for The Weekend Australian, he said the exhortation “insists that we have to deal always with the facts, however messy they may be; we have to be in touch with the reality of marriage and the family, not clinging to some romanticized sense of what the family should be. A genuinely pastoral approach to marriage and the family begins with the facts.”

“Francis doesn’t claim to be the final word settling every controversial question. Nor does he claim to offer a comprehensive pastoral plan to be implemented around the planet. His claims are more modest — and for that reason more compelling,” he said.

a mother who, while clearly expressing her objective teaching, always does what good she can, even if in the process, her shoes get soiled by the mud of the street.”

Turning to those who believe allowing divorced and remarried Catholics to receive Communion waters down church teaching on the indissolubility of marriage, the pope said, “we put so many conditions on mercy that we empty it of its concrete meaning and real significance. That is the worst way of watering down the Gospel.”

In many respects, Pope Francis wrote, church members themselves have presented and promoted such a dreary picture of married life that many people want nothing to do with it even though they dream of a love that will last a lifetime and be faithful.

“We have long thought that simply by stressing doctrinal, bioethical and moral issues, without encouraging openness to grace, we were providing sufficient support to families, strengthening the marriage bond and giving meaning to marital life,” he wrote. “We find it difficult to present marriage more as a dynamic path to personal development and fulfillment than as a lifelong burden.”

“We also find it hard to make room for the consciences of the faithful, who very often respond as best they can to the Gospel amid their limitations, and are capable of carrying out their own discernment in complex situations,” the pope wrote. Yet, “we have been called to form consciences, not to replace them.”

The role of an individual’s conscience made frequent appearances in the document, not only regarding the situation of those who may determine their new union is best for their family, but also regarding decisions over how many children to have.

Pope Francis praised Blessed Paul VI’s encyclical “Humanae Vitae,” which insisted every sexual act in a marriage must be open to the possibility of pregnancy, and included a large section reiterating what has become known as St. John Paul II’s “theology of the body.”

The saintly pope definitively opposed an old idea that considered “the erotic dimension of love simply as a permissible evil or a burden to be tolerated for the good of the family,” Pope Francis said. “Rather, it must be seen as a gift from God that enriches the relationship of the spouses.”

Pope Francis called for church leaders to ensure more married couples are involved as leaders in designing and carrying out pastoral programs for families. Their witness is key, he said.

“Marital love is not defended primarily by presenting indissolubility as a duty, or by repeating doctrine, but by helping it to grow ever stronger under the impulse of grace,” he said. “A love that fails to grow is at risk. Growth can only occur if we respond to God’s grace through constant acts of love, acts of kindness that become ever more frequent, intense, generous, tender and cheerful.”

APRIL 15, 2016 | THELEAVEN.ORG

LOCAL NEWS

Students join Sisters in serving up hospitality

By Elizabeth Walden Special to The Leaven

L

EAVENWORTH — For Nishimwe Maria-Goreth, a student at the University of St. Mary here, the Sisters of Charity live up to their name — they dispense charity to anybody and everybody. They are always ready to help with their beautiful faces and radiant smiles.

“I admire their spirit, which is why I love working with them, especially at events like this,” said Maria-Goreth.

Maria-Goreth was one of a handful of USM volunteers serving a community meal at St. Joseph Church on March 17.

On the third Thursday of every month, members of the Sisters of Charity, Wal• 4 - 6 p.m. lula Christian • St. Joseph Church, 306 N. Church and Broadway St., the University Leavenworth of Saint Mary come together to serve a community meal for the Leavenworth area known as Third Thursday Meal.

Sister Rejane Cytacki, assistant campus minister at USM, said, “We have been serving meals for almost three years now. Each month, approximately 500 meals are served between dine-in and carryout.”

“I knew from the Sisters of Charity standpoint that we would love to participate in a community meal, but we could not do it alone,” said Sister Vickie Perkins, founder of Third Thursday Meal.

Because Wallula Christian Church is known for its strong advocacy of social justice, Sister Vickie approached its pastor and proposed collaborating on third Thursdays. Soon after, the partnership with Wallula and the Sisters of Charity began. Members of Wallula provide the entrées and sides for each meal, as well as prepare all of the carryout meals.

When Paula D., the lead member for Wallula, was discussing her pas-

Third Thursday Meal

“We’re seeing more and more deacons, of course.”

“They had all kinds of questions for him,” she continued. “They couldn’t believe that he didn’t want to get married or have sex. They were just, ‘How do you do it?’”

Now, she continued, “it’s something that will always be planted in their minds — that, yes, there are black men who are priests. There aren’t just white Catholics; black people are Catholics, too! Maybe they don’t know that there are as many as there are.”

The theme for this year’s revival was “You’ve Been Framed” and the “Urgency of God’s Purpose.” Framed, not in a bad sense of an innocent person being “set up,” but rather in the sense that God has set boundaries in our lives.

“God has built a fence, a boundary, around your life,” said Father Chester.

“Nothing can penetrate your frame that God does not allow. Did you hear that?

Instagram contest open to archdiocesan high schools On April 18, The Leaven will post photos of all seven archdiocesan high schools on its Instagram site: theleavenkc. The school that gets the most “likes” will win a day in which a Leaven photographer will document a day in the life of the school on Instagram in late April or early May. To vote for your favorite school, go to The Leaven’s Instagram, follow The Leaven, then “like” your school of choice. Voting will close at 5 p.m. on April 22.

Correction The Leaven misprinted the date of Father Ed Hays’ funeral in the last issue.

His funeral was on April 8. The Leaven regrets the error.

The Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth, Wallula Christian Church, and the University of Saint Mary partner together every third Thursday of each month to serve a free community meal at St. Joseph Catholic Church for the Leavenworth area.

Students like Nishimwe Maria-Goreth at the University of Saint Mary use opportunities like Third Thursday Meal to exemplify the core values from USM which are respect, justice, community and excellence. sion for this meal in particular, she said, “We are all here. We are all humans. It does not matter what state anyone is in. We are all here to share and to love.”

For one family, this has been a

singular blessing to them for almost a year now and it continues to be a blessing for others as well.

“We have been coming since last summer, and it is helpful,” said one guest. “Community meals here are meals that I do not have to make at home which frees up a little bit of money.”

“After the last month’s meal,” said Sister Vickie, “the next Sunday one of the salons in Lansing was giving free haircuts to some of our folks, and I drove some of them down. One of the guys that I took said that they had a great lunch, but he could not eat much because he had not eaten anything since the spaghetti meal on Thursday.

“Moments like that — and the number of meals we serve each month — tell me this is needed.”

At the same time, said Sister Rejane, “this is a great opportunity for [the students] to connect with Sisters and a good experience with working with people in need.”

“I would definitely recommend volunteering at these meals to anyone,” said USM freshman Margaret Stark.

“It shows you how to serve others,” she added, “and teaches you to not take anything or anyone for granted.”

Missionary brings uplifting message ‘home’ >> Continued from page 1

5

Trouble may come into your life, but it cannot penetrate your frame. Sickness might come into your life, but it cannot penetrate your frame.”

“He always has a theme,” said Robinson. “And he centers each segment of the revival about that theme. I like that he always tells us to take out our ‘swords,’ our Bibles, and gives us readings to study at home for the next time or for the same day. And that really encourages me.”

“The readings relate to what he says,” continued Robinson. “And I like that he’s so down to earth and he injects a little humor into his talks. I get so much out of it that way.”

Father Chester’s message is always gentle and uplifting — and firm.

“I think parishioners respect him because of some of the things he says,” said parishioner Carole Kelley. “He hits the nail on the head. It hurts, but you can relate to what he says.”

Sometimes what he says elicits a loud “Ouch!” from someone in the pews. Call and response, a casual back-and-forth

banter, are part of the African-American style of worship, explained Kelley.

Other parts of that heritage were evidenced at the revival by individuals stepping forward to give a “personal testimony” or for an “altar call,” which included the revival participants gathering around the altar for intercessory prayer.

“To me, the high point is the altar call,” said Kelley. “It is a very moving experience. It opens your mind and heart for very sincere prayer for your fellow man — for anyone who’s struggling with life issues as well as for yourself.”

After his Kansas City, Kansas, revival was concluded, Father Chester flew down to Jamaica. This was no vacation.

He would substitute for an overworked parish priest who otherwise would not have some time off.

Jamaica was just one more stop on a circuit that will inevitably bring Father Chester back to his home base in Indianapolis — and next Lent to his other home: Kansas City, Kansas.

Mary Sue (McClaskey) and Arthur J. Ercolani, members of St. Paul Parish, Olathe, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on April 24 with an 8 a.m.

Mass of thanksgiving at St. Paul, followed by a reception at the parish.

Friends are invited.

A family luncheon will be held at the home of Michelle and Mike Davis in Leawood.

The couple was married on April 23, 1966, at St. Leo Church in Horton. Their children are: Terry Ercolani, Bel Aire; Michelle Davis, Leawood; and Darren Ercolani of Doha, Qatar. They also have seven grandchildren.

Kathy and Jeff Bailey, members of Church of the Ascension, O ve r l a n d Park, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on April 16. The couple was married on April 16, 1966, at St. Agnes Church, Roeland Park. Their children are: Stephen Bailey, Pam Protzman and Erin Finkelmier. They also have six grandchildren. They will celebrate later this summer with their family.

Evelyn (Skoch) and Larry L. Lierz, members of St. Augustine Parish, Fidelity, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on April 3 with a Mass and dinner for family. The couple was married on April 16, 1966, at St. Augustine.

Their children are: Rodney Lierz, Powhattan; Terry Lierz, Holton; Kevin Lierz, Topeka; Cherie Grimm, Sabetha; Darin Lierz, Fairview; and Lane Lierz, Sabetha. They also have 18 grandchildren.

Linda and Don Allen, members of Curé of Ars Parish, Leawood, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on April 16.

The couple was married on April 16, 1966, at the Cathedral of St. Peter. The couple will celebrate with a family vacation and traveling to watch the Kansas City Royals. Their children are: David Allen and Jeff Allen. They also have five grandchildren.

APRIL 15, 2016 | THELEAVEN.ORG

LOCAL NEWS Cardinal Dolan will be Benedictine College’s commencement speaker ATCHISON — Benedictine College has announced that Cardinal Timothy Dolan, archbishop of New York, will deliver the college’s commencement address on May 14 in the Ralph Nolan Gymnasium on the Atchison campus.

Time magazine named Cardinal Dolan one of the “100 Most Influential People in the World” in 2012 when he was president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and quoted him saying, “The public square in the United States is always enriched whenever people approach it when they’re inspired by their deepest-held convictions.”

Past commencement speakers include: Rep. Paul Ryan, Kansas City Royals general manager Dayton Moore, Bob Hope, Lou Holtz, Father Flanagan, Gov. Sam Brownback, both Bob and Elizabeth Dole, Dick Vermeil and Erma Bombeck.

University of St. Mary selected for Steelcase grant LEAVENWORTH — The University of Saint Mary De Paul Library here has been selected to receive the installation of an active learning classroom worth $62,000 through the Active Learning Center program — a grant initiative funded by Steelcase Education.

Only 12 schools and universities from over 800 applications were chosen. Of the 12 schools awarded, six are higher education institutions, and USM’s De Paul Library is the only library making the list.

WEB EXCLUSIVE

CHURCH OF THE WEEK St. Augustine, Fidelity

Encouraging ‘a heart for service’ >> Continued from page 16 positive impact and watching the kids flourish in an atmosphere of service is what makes this job worth it.

“As far as our youth group, we hope to encourage a heart for service and a desire to never cease trying to become the best version of themselves,” said Eastes.

Laying the groundwork Fortunately for the duo, a little online research and some good old-fashioned brainstorming is all they really need to overcome their lack of training.

“We bounce many ideas back and forth,” said Eastes. “There are also many generous people in our parish who offer us encouragement and support and are always there to help us out.”

Independent research has allowed the directors to mold their communi-

cation style to the learning needs of each of their students.

Like any youth ministry staff, especially at a small parish, Eastes and Lanza fight through frustrations when the turnout is not what they had hoped for.

“But [for] those kids that are here, we just want to make the most of it for them,” said Eastes, “because they’ve taken time out of their evenings to come.”

It’s a work in progress, but the directors are eager to continue building a foundation for this enhanced youth ministry program.

“I think that’s what the biggest reward of this job is,” said Lanza.

“We’re making a difference, if only for a little bit.

“If I can say at the end of the day that I helped build the foundation, and as long as there’s still that foundation there, it’s good.”

Address: 1948 Acorn Road, Sabetha Phone: (785) 467-3130 Pastor: Father Barry Clayton Mass Time: Sunday, 8:30 a.m.

Email: info@nekansascatholics.org Website: http://nekansascatholics. org/home/st-augustine-churchfidelity

Video

A video tour of this church is available online at: www.theleaven.org.

More photos of this church can be seen online at: www.theleaven.org.

ONE-DAY RETREAT FOR HEALING THE HURT OF ABORTION Saturday, April 23 8:30am - 5 p.m.

The Project Rachel ministries of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas and the Diocese of Kansas City – St. Joseph in Missouri will be working together to host these one-day retreats. Women and men, even grandparents, are all welcome. Sometimes... one day really can change everything. Come and experience God’s mercy and healing.

For more information...

In Kansas ~ please call Pat at (913) 621-2199 or toll free at (888) 246-1504 or email projectrachelkc@archkck.org .

In Missouri ~ please call Teresa at (816) 591-3804 or email projectrachel@diocesekcsj.org All calls are confidential. www.projectrachelkc.com This is the Holy Year of Mercy...

For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.”

Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

2 Corinthians 6:2

6

APRIL 15, 2016 | THELEAVEN.ORG

NATION

7

FAITH in SPACE

For Catholic astronauts, flying to space doesn’t mean giving up the faith

By Dennis Sadowski Catholic News Service

W

ASHINGTON (CNS) — On the International Space Station there’s a place, while filled with robotic equipment, where astronauts like to hang out. Called the Cupola, the small module has seven large bay windows that give crew members a panoramic view of Earth.

On his first — and thus far only — mission into space in September 2013, astronaut Mike Hopkins was eager to find the Cupola. What he saw he found amazing.

“When you see the Earth from that vantage point and see all the natural beauty that exists, it’s hard not to sit there and realize there has to be a higher power that has made this,” said Hopkins, who is Catholic.

It was in the Cupola that Hopkins found himself praying and at times taking Communion.

Under a special arrangement with the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston and with the help of Father James H. Kuczynski, pastor of Mary Queen Catholic Church in Friendswood, Texas, Hopkins’ parish, the rookie astronaut carried a pyx with six consecrated hosts broken into four pieces. It was enough so that he could take Communion once a week for the 24 weeks he was aboard the ISS. “It was extremely, extremely important to me,” said Hopkins, now 47, who grew up on a farm outside of Richland, Missouri, in a United Methodist family but completed Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults classes and became Catholic just before going into space.

He said he wanted to become Catholic not just because his wife and two teenage sons were Catholic but because “I felt something was missing in my life.”

Hopkins completed two spacewalks to change out a pump module with fellow spacefarer Rick Mastracchio.

Before exiting the ISS, he took Communion as well.

“Those events can be stressful events,” he told Catholic News Service from his office in Houston. “Knowing Jesus was with me when I stepped out the door into the vacuum of space was important to me.”

Such practices of faith, especially among Catholics in the astronaut corps, is hardly unusual. In 1994, astronauts Sid Gutierrez, Thomas Jones and Kevin Chilton, an extraordinary minister of holy Communion, celebrated a Communion service on the shuttle flight deck 125 miles above the Pacific Ocean.

And long before the trio carried out their service, Frank Borman, aboard Apollo 8 orbiting the moon on Christmas Eve in 1968, read from the Book of Genesis in perhaps one of the most memorable broadcasts in U.S. space history. Seven months later, Buzz Aldrin, an elder in his Presbyterian church in Houston, celebrated a communion service for himself after landing on the moon using a kit provided by his church.

Devout Muslim astronauts follow National Fatwa Council guidelines developed in 2007 that define permissi-

CNS PHOTO/COURTESY NASA

Astronaut Mike Hopkins works with a pair of free-flying satellites in the International Space Station’s Kibo laboratory Nov. 4, 2013. Hopkins was able to observe his Catholic faith through prayer and taking holy Communion throughout his flight. ble modifications to traditional rituals such as kneeling during prayer, facing Mecca when praying, and washing. Israeli astronaut Ilan Ramon, who died during re-entry aboard the shuttle Columbia in 2003 when it broke up over Texas and Louisiana 16 minutes prior to landing, carried a microfiche Bible given to him by Israel’s president and had copied the traditional Jewish blessing Shabbat Kiddush into his diary so he could recite it, according to media reports.

On long-term missions to the ISS, schedules give astronauts blocks of private time daily, allowing them to pray, read the Bible or other inspirational works, write in a journal or reflect on God. Hopkins used some of his time to keep up with the Sunday readings and his pastor’s weekly homily, both of which he received via email from the support person for his family assigned by NASA who was a member of his parish.

“My crewmates knew I had the Eucharist with me,” Hopkins said.

“In fact, I coordinated with my Russian commander. He knew everything going on. They were all aware of that, but I never tried to make a large deal about it and publicize it and they didn’t either. They respected my faith and my desire to follow that faith even when I was in orbit.”

Astronaut Mike Good, a member of St. Paul the Apostle Parish in Nassau Bay, Texas, near NASA’s Johnson Space Center, and a veteran of two space flights, spent about 12 days on each of his missions aboard the space shuttle.

Taking Communion into space, he said, was not as imperative.

“But if I was going to do a six-month expedition on the ISS, I would talk to my priest and figure out what we were going to do,” Good said.

From another perspective, Good, 53, and retired astronaut Mike Massimino,

54, told CNS that the opportunity to fly in space offered time to reflect on creation as they gazed upon the spaceship called Earth.

“One thought I had is that God must love us to give us such a beautiful home,” Massimino said. “It’s given me a view of the planet of how special it is and how loved we are to have such a great place and how we should appreciate it.”

Good, Massimino’s spacewalk partner on a 2009 shuttle mission servicing the Hubble Space Telescope, said he felt blessed to see the planet from high above.

“Looking back at the Earth, I can’t really describe how beautiful it is from 300 miles up,” Good said. “Looking down, you can tell it’s a planet. The sky is black. There’s just a thin blue ribbon, what we see as blue sky on Earth. You realize how small it is and how fragile the planet is.

“It just makes it so obvious that God created this beautiful place. The word awe just comes to mind. . . . And looking out into space, it’s just a clear view.

The stars don’t twinkle. It’s like a high definition 3-D TV. You look out into space and feel very small.”

Both men acknowledged that flying into space is dangerous and they prepared before their missions by participating in the sacrament of reconciliation. “You try to be in as good a state as you can because it’s a dangerous event you’re going to partake in,” said Massimino, who also flew on a shuttle mission to Hubble in 2002.

Good, a graduate of the University of Notre Dame, expects that when the moment of launch comes, there’s a feeling of connection with God or a higher power among just about everyone heading to space.

“Heading out to the launchpad is like being in a foxhole,” Good said. “There’s not a lot of atheists in a foxhole. I don’t

think there’s many atheists sitting atop the launchpad.”

NASA and Roscosmos, the Russian space agency, allow astronauts to take a little more than 3 pounds of personal items into space. Some of the Catholics who have flown have taken crucifixes, prayer cards, icons and other religious objects with them.

Among the things Massimino took on his first flight was a Vatican City flag, which he later gave to St. John Paul II. On his second flight, he took a prayer card depicting Pope Benedict XVI, which he gave to the pontiff.

Hopkins, Good and Massimino took mementos, including religious items, from their schools, parishes and friends into space.

One Catholic astronaut, Mark Vande Hei, 49, is preparing for his first mission to the ISS next March. He said he has talked a bit with his Catholic colleagues about what to expect. The next 11 months will be particularly busy as he trains in Japan, around the U.S. and at the Russian-leased Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. For now, his spiritual preparation remains the same with daily prayer and regular Mass attendance at St. Paul the Apostle Church in Nassau Bay. “I pray the rosary while walking the dog,” he added.

To keep astronauts’ spirits high, NASA arranges for occasional calls with celebrities on flights and asks each astronaut with whom they might like to talk. Vande Hei, who holds a bachelor’s degree in physics from St. John’s University in Minnesota, said he suggested Pope Francis.

His request may not be outside the realm of possibility. Pope Benedict communicated with the crew aboard the ISS in May 2011 in a 20-minute conversation.

APRIL 15, 2016 | THELEAVEN.ORG

NATION

Bishop praises Sisters for ‘courageous witness’

By Ann Carey Catholic News Service

N

OTRE DAME, Ind. (CNS) — A standing ovation in a packed Basilica of the Sacred Heart at the University of Notre Dame greeted the Little Sisters of the Poor who were on campus April 9 to receive the Evangelium Vitae Award for outstanding service to human life.

The Little Sisters operate 30 homes in the United States that offer health care and assisted living for more than 13,000 low-income seniors.

The medal has been presented annually since 2011 by the university’s Center for Ethics and Culture.

Awardees are announced on Respect Life Sunday in October, with the honor being conferred the following spring.

The 2016 award event took place about two weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the lawsuit brought by the Little Sisters, Catholic dioceses and other entities, and other faith-based groups against the federal mandate that requires most employers, including religious employers, to offer employee health insurance that covers contraceptives, sterilizations and abortion-inducing drugs — even if the employer is morally opposed to such coverage.

The unusual standing ovation erupted early in the homily of Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades of Fort WayneSouth Bend at the Mass preceding the award banquet. He alluded to the first reading from the Acts of the Apostles, comparing the Sisters’ witness to that of the apostles who were called before the Sanhedrin, a religious court, and told to stop teaching in the name of Jesus.

“At this Mass, there is a community of Sisters with us who, in the face of a terribly unjust mandate of our federal government, have stood up, and by their actions have said what St. Peter and the apostles said to their government in the earliest years of the church: ‘We must obey God rather than men,’” the bishop said.

He added: “I wish to say to the Little Sisters of the Poor who will receive the Evangelium Vitae medal

CNS PHOTO/PETER RINGENBERG, NOTRE DAME CENTER FOR ETHICS AND CULTURE

Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades of Fort Wayne-South Bend, Ind., greets members of the Little Sisters of the Poor at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana April 9. The congregation was awarded the Evangelium Vitae Award for outstanding service to human life, presented annually since 2011 by the university’s Center for Ethics and Culture.

“

“I WISH TO SAY TO THE LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR WHO WILL RECEIVE THE EVANGELIUM VITAE MEDAL THIS EVENING, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COURAGEOUS WITNESS!” Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades of Fort Wayne-South Bend this evening, thank you for your courageous witness!”

The enthusiastic ovation then erupted in the congregation heavy with Notre Dame students.

At the banquet after the Mass, the Evangelium Vitae medal was conferred on Little Sister of the Poor Sister Loraine Marie Maguire, who as U.S. mother provincial of the international order, represented the Sisters. Over a dozen Little Sisters of the Poor and some residents from several of the Sisters’ homes also attended.

Conferring the medal was Notre

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Dame law professor Carter Snead, director of the Center for Ethics and Culture. Recently, he was named to the Pontifical Academy for Life, which advises the pope on life issues.

Sister Loraine Marie said the Little Sisters were “honored beyond words” to receive the award, and she thanked the Sisters’ residents for making the Sisters’ ministry — and the award — possible.

She related that the Sisters had faced many challenges in their legal battle, but also had “received many graces and an outpouring of love and support” and had come to “a new level of faith and trust in God’s Divine Providence over us.”

Sister Loraine Marie credited the power of prayer for helping the Little Sisters through the recent difficult months, saying that prayer is essential for being able to show acceptance and respect for others with a different belief system, while also witnessing to the truth.

She urged supporters at the banquet to consider “our common commitment to the Gospel of life in this ‘Year of Mercy’” by following Pope Francis’s encouragement to “gaze even more attentively on mercy so that we may become a more effective sign of the Father’s action in our lives.”

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Religion must be key part of foreign policy, says Madeleine Albright WASHINGTON (CNS) — Madeleine Albright, former U.S. secretary of state, said she grew up in a generation that was taught to “keep God and religion as separate as possible from foreign policy.” But that’s certainly not her view. In fact, she’s adamant that religion must be at the table in foreign policy discussions. In an April 7 lecture at Georgetown University, she told students and faculty members who filled a campus hall that the greatest modern challenge is to “build bridges of understanding and tolerance. There are some who might want to engage in such a bridge-building effort without bringing religion into the conversation — to them I say, ‘Good luck,’” she added. Albright’s lecture kicked off the 10th anniversary celebration of Georgetown’s Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs. The former diplomat is currently the Michael and Virginia Mortara Endowed Distinguished Professor in the Practice of Diplomacy at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service. She joked that you could write an entire book on the subject of religion and international relations, which she did, 10 years ago. It was titled “The Mighty and the Almighty: Reflections on America, God and World Affairs.” “That had nothing controversial in it,” she told the crowd, laughing.

Pope names papal nuncio to Mexico to be new nuncio to the United States WASHINGTON (CNS) — Pope Francis has appointed Archbishop Christophe Pierre, papal nuncio to Mexico since 2007, to be the new apostolic nuncio to the United States. He succeeds Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, who has been in the post since 2011. Archbishop Vigano turned 75 in January, the age at which canon law requires bishops to turn in their resignation into the pope. As president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, Kentucky, shared “a heartfelt greeting and my prayerful support” of the newly named nuncio “as he embarks on his service to our country.” “A shared closeness with the church in Mexico already creates a strong fraternal bond between us,” said the archbishop about the April 12 appointment.

“With fond affection, allow me also to thank Archbishop Vigano for his selfless contributions to the life of the Catholic Church in the United States,” Archbishop Kurtz added.

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APRIL 15, 2016 | THELEAVEN.ORG

WORLD

Kenyan bishops call corruption a ‘cancer’

By Walter Cheruiyot Catholic News Service

N

AIROBI, Kenya (CNS) — Kenya’s Catholic bishops challenged the government to show commitment in fighting corruption, calling it a “cancer” that “is killing our country.”

“The ordinary men and women are bearing the burden of corruption,” the bishops said in a statement issued at the end of a two-day meeting at St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary.

“The majority of Kenyans are wallowing in poverty and are unable to meet their basic needs,” they said.

“They don’t have access to proper medical care. They lack adequate educational facilities and enough teachers for quality education. The youth see no future because of unemployment and, even where there is the possibility of jobs, they have to pay bribes and kickbacks to secure those jobs.

“Similarly, unless they know somebody high up, nobody will consider

them” for jobs, the bishops added.

“The fact that the cancer has spread to all arms of government and is going on in both national and county governments, as well as other sectors of Kenyan society, tempts one to despair and to give up without a fight. We can’t give up,” the bishops added. “Now is the time to rise and face this malignant disease with all the weapons we have.”

The bishops said that, during his November visit, Pope Francis urged Kenyans to declare war on corruption.

“Nobody should be spared, beginning from the top to the bottom, the mighty or the least, those who have and those who have not. All those mentioned as kingpins of corruption must be investigated and prosecuted when facts are proven,” they said, urging public officials linked with corruption to resign immediately.

“The country is heading into a dangerous direction, and these issues must be addressed to save our nation,” the bishops said in a statement read by the chairman of the Kenyan bishops’ conference, Bishop Philip Anyolo of Homa Bay. In their statement, the bishops noted the International Criminal

Court had dropped a case against William Ruto, deputy president of Kenya, and Joshua Arap Sang, a former radio journalist. The two were charged with crimes against humanity for inciting violence in late 2007 into 2008. During the postelection violence more than 1,100 people were killed and nearly 600,000 people displaced from their homes.

The end of the case offered a chance for the country to start the process of reconciliation, the bishops said, noting that would only be possible if the victims of the violence were compensated.

Bishop Cornelius Arap Korir of Eldoret said victims often were not compensated, and perpetrators were not prosecuted. In these areas, he said, Kenya has a “dark history as a nation and, although some strides have been made toward this direction, a quick glance at the present situation reveals some dangerous trends and practices that should worry anyone who loves this country.”

In his March 31 state-of-the-nation address, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta promised Kenyans there would be no sacred cows in the war against graft.

A Kenyan family stands in front of their home May 6, 2014, in a Kisumu shantytown. Kenyan bishops said in a statement issued at the end of a two-day meeting at St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary that ordinary men and women are bearing the burden of corruption.

CNS PHOTO/ROLAND SCHLAGER, EPA

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Saint’s relics found in rubble of church destroyed by terrorists

By Gaby Maniscalco Catholic News Service

V

ATICAN CITY (CNS) — The relics of Syrian St. Elian, which originally were thought to have been destroyed by members of the so-called Islamic State militia, have been found amid the rubble of the desecrated Mar Elian Church in Qaryatain, Syria.

The sanctuary was bulldozed in August 2015, according to Fides, the news agency of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. Father Jacques Mourad, the prior of the Syriac Catholic monastic community, was kidnapped three months earlier when the terrorists initially raided the church.

Father Mourad, who was freed Oct. 11, reported the discovery of the relics to Fides April 5. “The fact that the relics of Mar Elian are not lost is for me a great sign: It means that he did not want to leave the monastery and the Holy Land,” the priest said.

The relics of St. Elian, a thirdcentury martyr, were discovered after Syrian military forces had retaken control of Qaryatain.

Even while the Islamic State forces controlled the area, however, local Christians preserved their veneration of St. Elian, Fides said.

Father Mourad had told his flock, “It is not important that the monastery is destroyed, it is not even important that the tomb was destroyed. The important thing is that you bear Mar Elian in your heart, wherever you go, even in Canada, or Europe, because he wants to stay in the hearts of his followers.”

A priest of the Syriac Catholic Archdiocese of Homs and monks from the Mar Musa monastery were set to go to Mar Elian to survey its condition, Fides reported. Father Mourad asked that they collect and guard the remains.

“We know that the old sanctuary was destroyed, the archaeological site was devastated, while the new church and monastery were burned and partly bombed,” he said. “The life of grace will bloom again around the memory of the saints. It will be a great blessing for our entire church.”

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Experience and/or education is a plus but we will train the right candidate. Teacher assistants will work with the lead teacher to care for and educate the children. Primary responsibilities include assisting the lead teacher with: care and supervision of children, lesson plan implementation, parent communication, cleanliness and organization of classroom.

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

Office manager - The Didde Catholic Campus Center in Emporia is seeking an office manager who can work closely with college students and has a passion for the Catholic mission to higher education. This position includes receptionist duties, maintaining church records, managing and ordering supplies, training and supervising staff and volunteers, and assisting with fundraising. Experience preferred. Full-time position with benefits. Send cover letter and resume to: DCCC, 1415 Merchant St., Emporia, KS 66801 or send an email to: dccc-emp@sbcglobal.net.

APRIL 15, 2016 | THELEAVEN.ORG Afternoon teachers - Prince of Peace Early Education Center in Olathe is seeking afternoon teachers. There are openings in our 2-year-olds room and our school-age room from 2:30 - 6 p.m., M-F. Experience preferred for the 2-yearolds classroom; one year of experience in a child care center required for the school-age program. We are looking for the right candidates to fill these positions and we offer a competitive hourly wage. Contact Amanda at (913) 829-2728.

Healing Assistance Coordinator - The office of child and youth protection (OCYP) for the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas is seeking an individual to fill a new part-time position, healing assistance coordinator. This position is responsible for providing support to and identifying resources for victims and their families in cases of sexual abuse by clergy or other archdiocesan personnel. This individual will manage treatment referrals and resources for individuals and families affected and foster reconciliation between the church and these individuals. In their role as a staff member of the OCYP, the position works closely with the director of the OCYP, the vicar for clergy and the report investigator. Minimum qualifications include a bachelor’s degree in social work or a closely related field, and/or experience related to victim support; intermediate competency in MS Office Suite; and must be a practicing Catholic in good standing. A complete job description, application and benefits information are available on the archdiocese’s website at: www.archkck.org/ jobs. Interested individuals should mail cover letter, resume, application to: Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, Office of Human Resources, Healing Assistance Coordinator, 12615 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City, KS 66109, or send via email to: jobs@archkck.org.

Seasonal park maintenance workers - The city of Lenexa is seeking seasonal park maintenance workers in our turf, landscape and facilities division of the parks and recreation department. The turf division is responsible for mowing and edging turf using ride-on, stand-on and walk behind mowers. Other responsibilities include caring for the turf by aerating, weeding, removing thatch, or trimming/edging around flower beds, walks or walls. The landscape division is responsible for maintaining all the landscape in the city.

Duties include planting of annuals, perennials, shrubs and trees. The facilities division is responsible for maintaining city facilities and structures such as buildings, fountains, fences and benches using hand and power tools. This position will also be servicing, cleaning and inspecting playgrounds, swimming pools, structures, picnic shelters and other areas for hazards and safety issues. Requirements: High school diploma or GED, valid driver’s license with good driving record.

Offers of employment are conditional upon successful completion of physical, drug screen and background investigation. Starting salary is $13.55 per hour with the position not to exceed 1500 hours in the calendar year. To apply or for additional information, visit our website at: www.lenexa. com/hr/career.html.

Service technician - Growing biomedical company is seeking a service technician. Qualified candidates must be self-motivated with good communication skills, be mechanically inclined, electrical knowledge a plus, have the ability to troubleshoot and be available for overnight travel, up to 50%.

Transportation required. Email resume to: Yourcareer101@ gmail.com.

Preschool cook – The Goddard School in northwest Olathe is looking for a fun, energetic and organized person for our preschool cook position. This person will prepare a.m./p.m. snack and lunch for the entire school. Hours can be either part time or full time. The candidate must be organized, self-motivated, have strong time management skills and enjoy working with children. Responsibilities include: Managing a food budget; ensuring safe handling and preparation of all food; managing and updating a four-week rotating menu that includes a.m./p.m. snacks and lunch for approximately 140 students; ensuring menus are in compliance with state, federal and Goddard regulations at all times; maintain appropriate portion sizes and ensure that all meals are served in a timely manner; maintain a clean, organized kitchen at all times; maintain inventory; place food and paper/cleaning product supply orders weekly. Owners are Ascension parishioners. Send resume to: olathe2ks@goddardschools.com.

Infant teachers - Knowledge and experience preferred in the care of infants. Daytime hours and no weekends. The candidate must complete necessary background checks and qualification requirements. St. Joseph Early Education Center, Shawnee. For more information, contact Theresa at (913) 248-4589.

Drivers needed - Medi Coach Transportation is looking for caring and reliable drivers for nonemergency transportation.

CDL is not required. Contact Jeff at (913) 825-1921.

Career Opportunity - Due to the success and growth of the Knights of Columbus, we are adding a financial representative in the Kansas City metro, Atchison and Topeka 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 at 1275 Topeka Blvd.., Topeka, KS 66612 or call (785) 408-8806. You can also send an email to: john. mahon@kofc.org.

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

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 Mike Hammer local moving - A full-service mover.

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

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Kansas City’s Premier Deck, Fence & Concrete - We repair, power wash and stain wood decks and fences. We power wash and seal concrete drives, walkways, pool decks and more. Call Brian at (913) 952-5965; Holy Trinity parishioner.

STA (Sure Thing Always) Home Repair - Basement finish, bathrooms and kitchens; interior & exterior repairs: painting, roofing, siding, wood replacement and window glazing. Free estimates. Call (913) 491-5837 or (913) 579-1835. Email: smokeycabin@hotmail.com. Member of Holy Trinity, Lenexa.

HARCO Exteriors LLC Your Kansas City fencing specialists Family owned and operated (913) 815-4817 www.harcoexteriorsllc.com

Rodman Lawn Care Lawn mowing, aeration, verticutting.

Hedge trimming, mulch, leaf removal.

Fully insured and free estimates.

John Rodman (913) 548-3002

Concrete construction - Tear out and replace stamped, stained or colored patios and drives. Retaining walls, footings, poured-in-place safe rooms, excavation and hauling.

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

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, neckties, etc. For information or to schedule a free consultation, call (913) 6492704. Visit the website at: www.quiltedmemoriesllc.com.

House painting Interior and exterior; wallpaper removal.

Power washing, fences, decks.

30 years experience. References. Reasonable rates.

Call Joe at (913) 620-5776.

American Girl doll Communion dresses - First Communion dress sets for 18” or American Girl dolls. Includes dress, veil, shoes, tights and cross necklace. Full line of doll clothes and accessories in south Johnson County. Call Patty at (913) 345-9498.

Clutter getting you down? - Organize, fix, assemble, install!

“Kevin of all trades” your professional organizer and “Honey-do” specialist. Call today for a free consultation at (913) 271-5055. Insured. References. Visit our website at: www.

KOATINDUSTRIES.com.

Cleaning lady - Reasonable rates; references provided. Call (913) 940-2959.

Housecleaning - A range of services provided from housekeeping to organizing closets, rooms and garages, as well as hoarder projects. 15 years of experience. Professional, energetic and dependable. Call Joni at (913) 206-4403.

Garage door and opener sales and service - 24-hour, 7-day-a-week service on all types of doors. Replace broken spring rollers, gate openers, entry and patio doors and more.

Over 32 years of experience. Call (913) 227-4902.

HOME IMPROVEMENT Custom countertops - Laminates installed within 5 days.

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

Members of St. Joseph, Shawnee.

Swalms Organizing - Downsizing - Clean Out Service – Reduce clutter – Any space organized. Shelving built onsite. Items hauled for recycling and donations. 20 years exp.; insured. Call Tillar at (913) 375-9115. WWW.SWALMS ORGANIZING.COM. The Drywall Doctor, Inc. - A unique solution to your drywall problems! We fix all types of ceiling and wall damage — from water stains and stress cracks to texture repairs and skim coating. We provide professional, timely repairs and leave the job site clean! Lead-certified and insured! Serving the metro since 1997. Call (913) 768-6655.

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.

Thank you for another great year - Through your support, my family has been blessed and my business has grown. We do windows, trim, siding, doors, decks, interior and exterior painting, wood rot, bathroom renovation, tile and sheetrock.

If you need work done around your home, we can do it. Thank you for your continued support. Call Josh 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!! www.elsolylatierra.com Call Lupe at (816) 252-1391 Local handyman and lawn care – Water heaters, garbage disposals, toilets, faucets, painting, power washing, doors, storm doors, gutter cleaning, wood rot, mowing, carpet, roofing, etc. Member of Holy Angels Parish, Basehor. Call Billy at (913) 927-4118.

Masonry work - Quality new or repair work. Brick, block and chimney/fireplace repair. Insured; second-generation bricklayer. Member of St. Paul Parish, Olathe. Call (913) 829-4336.

NELSON CREATIONS L.L.C. Home remodeling, design/build, kitchens, baths, all interior and exterior work. Family owned and operated; over 25 years experience. Licensed and insured; commercial and residential. Kirk and Diane Nelson.

(913) 927-5240; nelsport@everestkc.net

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

Lead-certified and insured. Call (913) 341-9125.

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 at (913) 709-8401.

CAREGIVING Personalized care - Experienced, specializing in dementia, medication setup and activities of daily living. Excellent references. Contact Andrea at (913)548-1930.

Caregiving - We provide personal assistance, companionship, care management, and transportation for seniors in their home, assisted living or nursing facilities. We also provide respite care for main caregivers needing some personal time. Call Daughters & Company at (913) 341-2500 and speak with Laurie, Pat or Gary.

Team of girls - For around-the-clock care or available for one-on-one care with the same caregiver for morning, noon or night help. We care for your loved one just like family. Excellent references. Call Kara at (913) 909-6659.

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.

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.

WANTED TO BUY 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.

Wanted to buy - I’m Mark Edmondson, a local parishioner at Holy Trinity, and I buy and sell houses in any condition. If you have a house “situation,” call me. I might have a solution for you. (913) 980-4905.

WANTED TO RENT Wanted to rent - I am seeking a secure, handicapaccessible ranch home or apartment in Olathe to rent.

Grab bars in bathrooms, no steps and zero level entry are required. Call (913) 724-1989.

VACATION Colorado vacation - Granby, Winter Park, 2 BR, kitchen, sleeps six. Pet OK. www.inn@silvercreek.com. June 25 - July 2. July 2 - July 9. $600 per week. Call (913) 649-7596.

ROOMMATE Roommate wanted - Lady to share furnished 2 BR apartment near The Legends. Private BR and bath. Nonsmoker.

Call (913) 745-6674.

APRIL 15, 2016 | THELEAVEN.ORG

CALENDAR PRAIRIE STAR RANCH FAMILY DAY Prairie Star Ranch 1124 California Rd., Williamsburg April 17 from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

OUR LADY OF UNITY SCHOOL RAFFLE Our Lady of Unity School 2646 S. 34th St., Kansas City, Kansas April 15 - May 26

Raffle tickets are $50 each and only 1000 will be sold. First prize is $10,000, second prize is $3,000 and third prize is $2,000.

The drawing is May 26. Tickets will be delivered. For more information, call the school office at (913) 262-7022.

ABBOT’S TABLE BANQUET Sheraton Crown Center 2345 McGee St., Kansas City, Missouri April 16 at 6:30 p.m.

The monks of St. Benedict’s Abbey will present the Lumen Vitae to Virgil and Ann Dechant and Dr. Daniel and Terri Carey. Mass is at 4:30 p.m. followed by a social. Dinner and program begins at 6:30 p.m. For tickets and information, visit the website at: kansasmonks.org/abbotstable.

MEMORIAL LITURGY Curé of Ars Parish 9405 Mission Rd., Leawood April 16 at 8 a.m.

Spend the day with your family exploring the 300 acres of woods, prairie land and waterfront of Prairie Star Ranch. Tackle the climbing tower, leap from the power pole, ride the horses or fish in the lake. For details and registration information, visit the website at: www.archkck.org/ranch or call (785) 746-5693.

An Ignatian spirituality retreat will be given

by Jesuit retreat master Father Joseph Carola.

Enrich your Catholic spirituality and deepen your love for the Sacred Heart of Jesus during this retreat. There will also be opportunities for daily spiritual direction April 18 - 20. For more information, call (913) 724-1665.

FROM HOPE TO PEACE Sanctuary of Hope 2601 Ridge Ave., Kansas City, Kansas April 17 from 1 - 3 p.m.

Gather at the Sanctuary of Hope for a threemile walk to pray for an end to violence.

We will pray for peace and for the Spirit of God to come and bring reconciliation. We will walk from the Sanctuary of Hope and end at the Shalom House, 13th and Parallel, where we will pray with the men who stay there. Transportation will be provided back to Sanctuary of Hope.

CHUCK’S MOBILITY

“We come to You” Scooters - Stairlifts - Wheelchairs (913) 859-0290 www.chucksmobility.com

There will be a potluck luncheon followed by the quarterly meeting. Please bring used stamps, used cards, pennies for the seminarians and nonperishable food items. For more information, call (913) 683-4304, or send an email to: brosej2002@yahoo.com.

‘STEPPING STONES FOR STEPFAMILIES’ Keeler Women’s Center 2220 Central Ave., Kansas City, Kansas April 18 from 1:30 - 3 p.m.

“MASQUERADE” FUNDRAISER St. Joseph Medical Center 1000 Carondelet Dr., Kansas City, Missouri April 21 from 7 a.m. - 5 p.m.

April 22 from 7 a.m. - 4 p.m.

The Auxiliary of St. Joseph Medical Center is hosting its popular “Masquerade” fundraiser in the lower level atrium of the hospital. Items for sale include a wide variety of jewelry and accessories, adult coloring books, sunglasses, swimsuit cover-ups and sun hats from KC Fanfare. All items are $5. The auxiliary will also have a bake sale on both days. Watch battery replacement will also be available on both days. Proceeds from these events provide care in the metro community area.

SMOKED PORK CHOP DINNER AND COUNTRY STORE Annunciation Parish, Frankfort Cigna Center 402 N. Maple April 24 from 11 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

The cost for dinner is $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 10 and under. There will be a special kids meal available. Takeout meals (and delivery in Frankfort) will be available by calling (785) 292-4351 the day of the dinner or the parish office during morning hours (M-F) at (785) 292-4462. The country store will have crafts, baked goods and much more.

This retreat is geared to help people define and secure new, meaningful work opportunities while exploring their Christian spirituality. For more information, visit the website at: www.centerforlifetransition.net and click on LifeSHIFT.

SYMPTO-THERMAL METHOD OF NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING Topeka April 23 at 7 p.m.

A reasonable course fee is charged, and online registration is required at: www.ccli.org. Call Dana or Eric Runnebaum at (785) 380-0062 or the Couple to Couple League of Kansas City at (913) 894-3558 for more information.

Sister Rosemary Kolich, professor and English department chair at the University of Saint Mary, Leavenworth, will facilitate the poetry retreat. There will be time for reading prayer poems, reflection, quiet, writing and exercise. Participants will leave with their self-written prayers/poems. Guests can attend the full retreat or only attend the Saturday session. Overnight accommodations are $55 per person. Saturday registration is $35. Scholarships are available. To register, go to the website at: retreats@scls.org. For more information, call (913) 758-6552.

All women are invited to come and pray, listen and reflect. The topic will be: “The Psalms: An Ideal Source of Prayer” with guest speaker Sister Irene Nowell, OSB. The program begins with Mass, followed by breakfast, prayer, welcome and presentation. Tickets are $10 per person until April 16, and $15 after that date. Checks should be made out to the Daughters of Isabella and mailed to: Peggy Seifert, 11916 W. 109th, Apt. 211, Overland Park, KS 66210. For further information, call (913) 269-5369.

SPRING FESTIVAL St. Joseph School Building 307 Iowa, Olpe April 24 from 3 - 8:30 p.m.

The cost for the dinner is $8 for adults and $3 for children ages 10 and under. Carryout meals will be available. Dinner and kids games will be from 3 - 6:30 p.m. and bingo will begin at 6:45 p.m. There will also be a raffle with cash and merchandise prizes as well as a grand prize featuring a handmade quilt.

“LIFESHIFT: WORK & THE CHRISTIAN JOURNEY” The Sophia Center 751 S. 8th St., Atchison April 22 - 24

POETRY RETREAT Marillac Center 4200 S. 4th St., Leavenworth April 29 at 7 p.m.

April 30 from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

WOMEN’S DAY OF REFLECTION Holy Trinity Parish (Gast Room) 9150 Pflumm Rd., Lenexa April 30 from 8 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.

Helpful information for family situations and transitions will be presented by Chiquita Miller of K-State Extension.

There will be a memorial Mass at 8 a.m.

Following the Mass, the bereavement ministry will hold a grief support meeting in the Father Burak Room. The topic will be: “Navigating the Loss and Making Decisions.” For more information, call (913) 649-2026.

EASTER RETREAT: ‘MERCY, THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS AND YOU’ Holy Angels Parish 15440 Leavenworth Rd., Basehor April 17 - 20 from 6:30 - 8 p.m.

LEAVENWORTH REGION OF ACCW QUARTERLY LUNCHEON AND MEETING Leintz Community Center 4701 10th St., Leavenworth April 24 at 12:30 p.m.

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LADIES OF CHARITY DESIGNERS SHOWHOUSE SPECIAL EVENT 444 Westover Rd., Kansas City, Missouri April 25 from 10:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.

The Ladies of Charity of Metropolitan Kansas City will host a private showing of this year’s designers’ showhouse. There will be a tour, a boxed lunch, a raffle and a boutique shop. The cost is $30 per person and helps to support the Duchesne Clinic, Seton Center and Villa St. Francis. To register, mail a check before April 15 to: Jean Asbury, 516 W. 119th Terr., Kansas City, MO 64145. For more information, Call Marnie Robinett at (913) 451-2484.

PIZZA DINNER Most Pure Heart of Mary (Formation Room) 3601 S.W. 17th St., Topeka April 28 from 5 - 7 p.m.

The Christian Widow and Widowers Organization will host a pizza dinner. There is no cost to attend. For more information, call (785) 272-0055.

GERMAN-AMERICAN EDELWEISS SOCIETY SPRING DANCE St. Mary-St. Anthony Church (basement) 615 N. 7th St., Kansas City, Kansas April 30 from 6 - 10:30 p.m.

The cost to attend the dance is $20 for adults; $10 for ages 12 - 20; $5 for ages 6 11. Kids under 5 are free. The price includes food, drink and dancing to the music of the Willie Kirst Band. Tickets can be purchased at the door. For more information, call Patty Orth at (913) 371-2468.

SPRING FLING SINGLES DANCE Curé of Ars Parish (school cafeteria) 9401 Mission Rd., Leawood April 30 from 7:30 - 11:30 p.m.

The cost to attend the dance is $20 at the door. The ticket price includes meat, hors d’oeuvres, desserts, wine, beer, soda and water. Drive behind the school for lighted parking. For more information, call (913) 631-6873.

DRC CONSTRUCTION

TOUCH OF HEAVEN

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

Windows - Doors - Decks – Siding

Catholic Store 119 SE 18th Topeka, KS (785) 232-2543 Hrs. T-F - 10 a.m. 5:30; Sat. 9 a.m. to noon

(913) 461-4052

www.windowservicesoverlandpark.com drcconswindows@gmail.com

Catholic Foundation of Northeast Kansas • Catholic Bequests

• Donor Advised Funds

• Gift Annuities

• Named Scholarship Funds

• Endowments

• Memorial Funds

Remember a gift to the church in your will

(913) 647-0325 CFNEK@archkck.org www.cfnek.org

APRIL 15, 2016 | THELEAVEN.ORG

COMMENTARY FOURTH WEEK OF EASTER April 17 FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER Acts 13: 14, 43-52 Ps 100: 1-2, 3, 5 Rv 7: 9, 14b-17 Jn 10: 27-30 April 18 Monday Acts 11: 1-18 Pss 42: 2-3; 43: 3-4 Jn 10: 1-10 April 19 Tuesday Acts 11: 19-26 Ps 87: 1b-7 Jn 10: 22-30 April 20 Wednesday Acts 12:24 – 13:5a Ps 67: 2-3, 5-6, 8 Jn 12: 44-50 April 21 Anselm, bishop Acts 13: 13-25 Ps 89: 2-3, 21-22, 25, 27 Jn 13: 16-20 April 22 Friday Acts 13: 26-33 Ps 2: 6-11b Jn 14: 1-6 April 23 George, martyr; Adalbert, bishop, martyr Acts 13: 44-52 Ps 98: 1-4 Jn 14: 7-14

H

14

Isn’t it time for a talent show?

ave you ever heard of HIM? Think — with those capital letters — that the HIM might refer to Jesus? Although not a bad guess, the HIM I have in mind is something different.

This HIM is a group of professionals who head out “armed with blow dryers, scissors, nail polish — and love . . . to serve those less fortunate.” HIM is an acronym for Hairdressers in the Marketplace, a ministry of Willow Creek Community Church in suburban Chicago. The volunteers offer a monthly Day of Beauty where “needy women receive free haircuts and manicures.” HIM members “also go to nursing homes for the poor, homeless shelters and facilities for the mentally disabled” to provide free services.

The group was founded in 1998 by Teresa Russo-Cox, a hairstylist.

She’d tried a number of volunteer opportunities, but none was a good fit.

Finally, she asked God, “Why did you give me a talent that’s so much about vanity? How can I serve you?”

From God’s answer, HIM was born. The ministry not only touches women in need with

MARK MY WORDS

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

God’s love and care, but it also impacts the stylists.

“That’s what sets us apart from other ministries that offer haircuts to the poor,” said Russo-Cox. “We focus on evangelism to the beauty industry. . . .

Its underlying message is all about external things — glamour and glitz. I want to bring the light of God’s Word into our industry.”

The stylists are often moved by their “clients.”

In 2006, for example, teen girls going through rehab for drug and alcohol abuse told HIM members that they’d never had “sober” fun before.

Another client, a woman

with two preschool children who’d recently left her alcoholic and abusive husband, told a HIM volunteer, “I had no self-esteem. That [Day of Beauty] gave me a boost on the outside, but it helped me on the inside, too. I felt beautiful, special and deserving.” (Story by Keri Wyatt Kent, found in “1001 Illustrations That Connect,” edited by Brian Larson and Phyllis Ten Elshof.)

I regularly meditate on a verse from Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians, where he writes that God “equip[s] the holy ones for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ” (4:12). Sadly, when people hear “the holy ones,” they usually think, “That’s not me!”

And when hearing the word “ministry,” they either think of work done by priests, deacons or religious orders or of service

given by those involved in church roles as lectors, eucharistic ministers, ushers and so on.

HIM corrects those mistaken notions. By our baptism, all of us are “holy ones,” members of the family of God. And our ministry is to recognize our particular talents and then use them, both in the church and beyond.

This ministry doesn’t need to be something dramatic. About a month ago, the flapper in the toilet tank at my house was disintegrating. It was a pain to hang around after flushing the toilet to make sure that it shut off. If not, I had to lift the tank’s lid and reposition what was left of the flapper over the drain. I got online and was relieved to see that the repair was something that even an “unhandyman” like me could not mess it up.

Naturally, though, I waited for an ideal time to get started, and weeks went by.

Finally, my parish staff called the husband of a parishioner to check things out at my house.

He took a quick look at the problem, went to the hardware store and got the flapper installed — all in about 15 minutes. His talent saved me time and worry, and I’m grateful each day to him.

So, what are your talents? The other night, I got to use one of mine after a pastoral council meeting. One member had just gotten an iPhone and wanted to put the next meeting into the calendar, but didn’t know how. He handed the phone to me and I showed him how to access the home screen and enter the meeting date into his calendar. He was grateful, and I felt good about helping.

That’s the wonderful thing about ministry.

It’s always a two-way street. Both parties end up receiving something.

Although one person is on the receiving end of service, the “giver” always gets something in return: a feeling of joy at helping someone, a hug or word of gratitude from the recipient or just the satisfaction of watching someone’s hope get restored.

Celebrate the Easter season by taking stock of your talents, thanking God for them, and asking the Holy Spirit to guide you to wherever they can be of the most use.

By the way, anyone out there have a talent for organizing? If so, I know a “friend” who could use your expertise!

Trinity has confused followers since apostolic times

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O

nce in a while, I will receive an email message from someone claiming to be a close friend. The person informs me that he or she has traveled to the Philippines or some other such exotic location, on vacation. They have unexpectedly run out of money, perhaps because of a medical emergency, or it was stolen. In any case, they want me to wire them money.

While the friend’s name is familiar, it is very unlikely that the person in question would travel to that exotic place.

Certainly, if they ever did go on such a trip, I would have heard about it.

It’s a question of identity. How do we know

POPE FRANCIS

THE GOSPEL TRUTH

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

that a person is who he or she claims to be?

The issue of Jesus’ identity frequently ap-

True harmony within a Christian community ensures that none of its members is left wanting and places the needs of others before the selfish desire for money, Pope Francis said.

“The true ‘harmony’ of the Holy Spirit has a strong relationship with money. Money is the enemy of harmony, money is selfish,” the pope said April 5 during his morning Mass in the

pears in the Gospels. Is he only the son of Mary?

The son of Joseph? Is he the Messiah? The Son of God? The Gospel of John makes it very clear that Jesus is divine. It emphasizes his divine nature even more than the other three Gospels.

Sunday’s Gospel reading, Jn 10:27-30, reflects that emphasis, but also

raises an interesting question when Jesus says: “The Father and I are one.”

In the early days of Christianity, some interpreted this verse to mean that Jesus was the same person as God the Father. In effect, this interpretation would deny the Trinity. It would claim that God consisted of only one person, not three. This heresy was called Monarchianism, and then reappeared in modern times as Unitarianism.

If we take that verse out of context, we also might arrive at that conclusion. But placed into context, its meaning becomes clear. As the good shepherd, Jesus has been speaking about his care for the flock. He mentions that God the

chapel of the Domus Sanctae Marthae.

The pope reflected on the day’s first reading from the Acts of the Apostles (4:32-37), which said the first Christian communities were “of one heart and mind, and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they had everything in common.” There are two signs of harmony exemplified by this community, he said, stressing that the first sign was that no one was needy. Barnabas, for example,

Father is similarly protective: “No one can take them out of the Father’s hand.” It is then that Jesus says: “The Father and I are one.”

Clearly, Jesus is saying that he and God the Father are united in action, not that they are one person.

Catholic theology maintains that Jesus and God the Father are united, not only in their protection of the flock of believers, but also in many other ways as well.

Their wills are in perfect agreement.

At the same time, Jesus still retains his human nature as well.

As such, Jesus provides the model for us weak human beings to also conform our will to that of Almighty God.

sold the property he owned and placed the money “at the feet of the apostles.” However, he continued, the following chapter of the Acts of the Apostles recounts the story of a couple, Ananias and Sapphira, who kept a part of their money for themselves. The pope said that to serve both God and money is not only “irreconcilable” but gives way to a misunderstanding that equates tranquility with harmony.

— CNS

APRIL 15, 2016 | THELEAVEN.ORG

COMMENTARY

15

‘Let’s make this pilgrimage together,’ invites youth leader

P

ilgrimage is defined as “a journey a pilgrim makes to a sacred place for the purpose of venerating it or to ask for heavenly aid, and, ultimately, to come to know God better.”

This summer the youth office, Archbishop Naumann, the vocations office, and a few other youth and adults will be making a pilgrimage to Krakow, Poland, for World Youth Day with, at the very least, two million other Catholics from around the world.

World Youth Day is an event organized by the church and started by St. John Paul II in 1985.

Our prayer for this World

R

Youth Day is to get to know God better, grow in our Catholic faith, experience the universal church and set the world on fire. Many vocations have come from making this kind of pilgrimage.

The World Youth Day theme announced this year by our Holy Father Pope Francis is: “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.”

With any pilgrimage, there will be challenges along the way. And that’s where you come in as the church of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas. We ask for your prayers and, in return, ask you to send us your intentions to: youth2@archkck.org.

We will pray for them

DO WHATEVER HE TELLS YOU

RICK CHEEK Rick Cheek is the associate consultant for the office of evangelization and Catholic formation of youth.

on our journey. Let’s make this pilgrimage together.

Young people of faith, even if you’re not going on this trip, you can still make a pilgrimage with your family through the many Holy Doors designated by our archbishop.

This could be a great spiritual journey each family could experience to grow in faith together

and to learn more about each other along the way.

If you’re a young person looking to go deeper in your faith journey or walk a holier road with Jesus, this summer you could travel through the “Holy Gates” at Prairie Star Ranch in Williamsburg for Camp Tekakwitha.

There are slots still open for Kateri, Camp T and high school for both boys and girls. If camp isn’t an option for you as a high school or college-age person, you can travel through the “Holy Gates” to attend the Teens Encounter Christ weekend Aug. 13-15 to get ready for the many challenges that come

with a new school year.

Don’t miss out on an opportunity to walk with God this summer.

Think about these words of Pope Benedict: “The person who abandons himself totally in God’s hands does not become God’s puppet, a boring ‘yes man’; he does not lose his freedom. Only the person who entrusts himself totally to God finds true freedom, the great creative immensity of the freedom of good. The person who turns to God does not become smaller but greater, for through God and with God, he becomes great; he becomes divine; he becomes truly himself.”

Sometimes God’s answer is sitting right in front of us

ecently, a friend at my parish shared a story of God’s mercy acting in the life of her family and I feel called to share this story with the whole archdiocese.

She had been helping her brother who was about to go to prison and coping with that stress. She suspected her brother was in trouble when he stopped talking about his friend; we’ll call him Francisco.

Francisco would encourage her brother to stay clean and she knew it was a bad sign that her brother wasn’t hanging with him anymore.

Then one night,

W

e often think of the word “ministry” as being specific to the role of an ordained priest or a parish program focused on catechesis.

Yet, a deeper understanding of the word invites us to consider our own role as laypersons in this context.

In CYO, we believe it’s important to understand sports as ministry. By doing so, the work of our parents, coaches and administrators is more clearly understood and our mission more clearly oriented to God. The word “minister” can be traced to the

Francisco showed up at her house. Her husband answered the door and Francisco apologetically said, “I am sorry to ask, but I’m in trouble and I need some help.”

The husband replied that he would have to talk with his wife when she got back and he took down some notes.

The guy’s rent was overdue and his landlord was going to kick him out if it wasn’t paid by the next day.

Right away, compassion conflicted with skepticism. Was this true or a scam to get cash? Francisco was clean, but did run with a rough crowd. The husband threw the notepad

DO UNTO OTHERS

BILL SCHOLL Bill Scholl is the archdiocesan consultant for social justice. You can email him at: socialjustice@ archkck.org.

on the kitchen table and was about to escort his

uninvited guest to the door when his eye was drawn back.

His haphazard toss of the pad had landed perfectly over his Call to Share envelope so that the word “mercy” was all that could be seen.

He realized that Christ

was using this to say, “Give this guy mercy!”

So he offered to go to the bank to get the cash Francisco needed and drive him home.

In the car, Francisco asked, “Where do you go to church?” A discussion started that ended with him asking, “You know, God has been good to me. I was raised Catholic and I’ve been thinking of going back.

Do they let strangers join?”

The answer was, of course, “Yes!” and Francisco was invited to join the family for the next weekend’s Mass.

St. Paul said that if he did not preach the Gospel, the rocks would

Service is not reserved to only the ordained Latin word “ministrare,” which translates into “a role of service.” While modern society tends to restrict the role of ministry to a church function, the Catholic Church teaches differently.

Service is not just the role of the ordained but, rather, a part of our baptismal call as Christians. Our CYO strives to realize that call. In the context of sports, our parents, coaches and administrators each need to understand their role as one of service to the participants.

It’s our job to serve children by helping them to grow and develop in areas of faith, virtue, social and cognitive ability, and the skills associ-

THE SPORTS APOLOGIST

PETER J. PISCITELLO Peter J. Piscitello is the executive director of the archdiocesan Catholic Youth Organization. He can be reached at: pete@cyojwa.org.

ated with each sport. It’s a model taught by Jesus himself, who calls us all

throughout the Gospels to serve others.

The idea of sport as ministry is a key component of our formation programs for parents, coaches and administrators. A coach’s journey in CYO begins with an excellent workshop created by the Play Like

a Champion program at Notre Dame, where they refer to individuals as “coach ministers” and demonstrate how their role is understood as a ministry.

This puts the focus on serving the needs of children: what they want and need from the youth sports experience. While a coach minister may be the leader of a team, he or she is a servant leader.

The same is true of our administrators, who this spring will go from being called athletic directors to the new title of directors of sports ministry. This title more effectively defines their role as they serve all our families involved in CYO.

cry out. In this case, God used a Call to Share envelope to cry out his gospel of mercy for the poor among us.

I’m blessed to see the work of the Archbishop’s Call to Share every day, and so I wholeheartedly believe in it. There are a few ways to interpret Francisco’s story — some dark and some light.

However, for me, I just wonder . . . if God can do all this good with just the face of the envelope, what must he be able to do when we put our pledge inside?

Send in your envelope if you haven’t already.

It’s a subtle change, but one designed to promote the role of sports as a ministry within our parish communities.

Sports should be viewed as a gift to be used in the service of God. By understanding sports as a ministry, we are reminded that our goal should be to serve those who participate by leading them closer to God as we teach virtue and develop skill.

Everyone is invited to support this ministry by volunteering as a coach minister or considering an administrative role within your parish.

Join us as we seek to lead youth to Christ through sport!

APRIL 15, 2016 | THELEAVEN.ORG

LOCAL NEWS

16

DUO EMBRACES DOUBLE DUTY Combo approach to ministry works for Tongie parish

By Moira Culling moira.cullings@theleaven.org

T

ONGANOXIE — Jennifer Eastes and Nancy Lanza were a little worried the evening of the Sacred Heart bingo fundraiser

here.

“I was so nervous. . . . We actually stopped in the middle of cooking and went to pray,” said Eastes.

The duo was hired last July as the new youth ministry directors for the parish, and this was their first major fundraiser.

“They were both kind of frantic,” said Father Mark Goldasich, pastor of Sacred Heart.

Despite their nerves, the pair sold over 300 bingo cards, served dinner to about 130 hungry parishioners and raised close to $4,700 in one night — not too shabby for a parish of roughly 450 parishioners.

Eager to serve Both Eastes and Lanza are mothers with a love of helping children, and what they lack in formal training is made up tenfold in creativity and passion for their work.

“Jennifer has an education background,” said Lanza. “And Nancy’s really organized,” said Eastes.

With Eastes’ experience as an elementary school teacher, she offers a unique take on lesson plans and developing exceptional curriculum, noted Father Goldasich.

“Lanza, being the mom of older and adult children, brings a practical experience into the job as to what will likely work with the older kids,” he continued.

The skills they offer apply to both the youth ministry program, as well as the religious education program, which they also run.

So, why the duo? And why are they taking on both roles?

“I think in small parishes, people often wear a number of hats,” said Father Goldasich, “so I don’t think it’s all that unusual to have religious educators double as youth ministers.”

Doubling up also provides a smoother transition for the kids from confirmation into youth group, he added.

“They’re both very dynamic people,” he said, “so we feel that between the two of them, they can really reach a wide group of kids.”

Both Eastes and Lanza have high expectations for their confirmation students.

“One of the major goals of our religious education program is to increase attendance and get the kiddos to class,” said Eastes.

“We feel the more they hear God’s word and have opportunities for fellowship with friends who share their beliefs, the more devoted they will be as Catholic adults,” she continued.

Other goals are to offer activities that promote family togetherness and help the kids understand they are an important part of the parish as well.

“I think the youth of today hear society’s negativity too much,” said Lanza. “They are told they are lazy, not connected and can’t be counted on to

From left, Michael Davenport, sons Merek Davenport and Mason Davenport, and Owen Welsh enjoy a game of bingo at Sacred Heart Parish in Tonganoxie. The bingo night was fundraiser for the parish’s youth ministry.

Nancy Lanza, left, and Jennifer Eastes are the youth directors at Sacred Heart Parish in Tonganoxie. The two have revitalized youth ministry at the parish.

make wise decisions.

“We work to remind them that they do have a lot to offer, not just in our parish, but in the community and world [as well].”

Onward and upward The opportunity for kids to transition from the religious education classes to a youth group under the same leadership is a golden one.

“A lot of times when kids finish confirmation, they’re like, ‘No more religious education for me,’” said Father Goldasich.

“But then they’ve got all their high school years, which are incredibly important years. . . . So [Eastes and Lanza] are making sure that there’s a transition from confirmation to the youth group.”

Both leaders see this as an important part of their ministry.

“The youth group should really be an extension of the religious education program,” said Lanza.

And with two directors, the well of creativity never runs dry.

Each week, the youth group participates in either a fellowship activity or an act of service. Every lesson also incorporates a devotion, which includes a video, prayer service or article reflection.

For both Eastes and Lanza, the service opportunities have been the most rewarding.

“Service can be fun, and we need to

make it fun,” said Lanza. “Because if we instill in them at an early age that this is what you do, then this is what they’ll do as adults.”

One of their most memorable service activities was a competitive scavenger hunt, where kids were given a list of items to find from houses of parishioners and family friends.

“The end result was that we were getting items for the local food pantry,” said Lanza. “All we had to tell them was that the winning team would get a prize.”

The prize, a gigantic chocolate chip cookie, was all the motivation these kids needed.

“To tell them afterwards, ‘You just did a big service — you just gave a lot of needed necessities to people who don’t have the means — and you did that within an hour,’” said Lanza, “that just made it even more fun.”

For the kids involved, the opportunity to serve alongside their peers is a special one.

“I have learned that when you work together with your classmates, serving others is a great way to help the community,” said Dallas Bond, a seventh-grader in Sacred Heart’s confirmation course.

“I’m glad that my church helps us find different ways to serve,” he said.

Dallas’ mom LeAnn is grateful for the opportunities her son has experienced through the religious education program.

“I sincerely hope that Dallas can realize that serving others is more important than PlayStation, Instagram and all the other distractions in a teen’s life,” she said.

“The youth leaders at our church are very passionate about their jobs and are working to make our youth strong,” she continued. “I feel blessed that he has such wonderful role models to help him.”

Both directors agree that making a >> See “ENCOURAGING” on page 6