05-24-13 Vol. 34 No. 38

theleaven.com | vol. 34, no. 38 | may 24, 2013

Father Bruce Ansems

Father Gerardo Arano-Ponce

Father Francis Bakyor

Father Lawrence Bowers

Father Francis Burger

Father Lazar Carasala

On the move

Father Efrén Aguilar Castilla

Father Barry Clayton

Father Earl Dekat

Father Jeffrey Ernst

Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann makes new parish assignments See story on page 5

Father Donald Cullen

Father Sylvester D’Souza

Father Matthew Francis

Father Juan Carlos Franco

Father Daniel Gardner

Father Peter O’Sullivan

Father Anthony Ouellette

Father John Pilcher

Father Michael Scully

Abbot Barnabas Senecal

Father Gerard Senecal

Summer schedule

With this issue, The Leaven shifts to biweekly production for the summer. For information between issues — particularly on how you can help the victims of the Oklahoma tornado — visit the website at: www.theleaven.com.

Father Gregory Hammes

Father Nathan Haverland

Deacon Michael Hill

Father Gabriel Landis

Father William Porter

Father Brian Schieber

Father John Schmeidler

Father Daniel Schmitz

Father Quentin Schmitz

Father Andrew Strobl

Father Benjamin Tremmel

Father Shawn Tunink

Father Scott Wallisch

Father Mitchel Zimmerman

Father Roderic Giller

Corpus Christi

Mark your calendar for the annual Corpus Christi procession June 2. Mass will be celebrated at noon at St. Joseph Church, Shawnee. Procession begins at 2 p.m.

ONE STEP CLOSER

Four men are ordained transitional deacons, the final step before become priests.

3

2 archbishop

theleaven.com | May 24, 2013

Life will be victorious

I

The time is now for immigration reform

magine being a young adult who came to this country with your parents when you were two years old.

You have gone to school in the United States. All your friends live in the United States. The only nation you have ever known is the United States. Your dream is to go to college, get a job, marry and raise a family in the only nation you have ever known.

The only complication is that your parents entered the United States illegally.

You live every day under the threat of being deported to a country where you never lived and where you know no one. You are not able to get a driver’s license, a Social Security card and cannot legally work. You love the United States. You want to be a contributing member of American society, but you are forced to live in the shadows with the constant threat of being uprooted from all that is familiar to you.

It is young people, like the one described above, that illustrate why we need immigration reform. Our country needs young workers as part of the solution to funding Social Security and Medicare. We have a pool of them available in our nation, but we make it impossible for them to be employed legally.

For the first time in years, there is hope that Congress might pass immigration reform legislation. The immigration debate has polarized our nation for too long. It is time that our lawmakers enact a solution that protects our borders and effectively prevents future illegal immigration, as well as creates a pathway to legal status for undocumented immigrants who are law-abiding and want to pursue the American dream of freedom and opportunity for themselves

archbishop Joseph F. Naumann and their families.

Our nation has a rich history of welcoming immigrants. Except for those with Native American ancestry, we are a nation of immigrants. This has been one of the strengths of the United States. People from all over the world still desire to come to the United States because we are a free society that provides opportunities for prosperity to anyone who is willing to work hard.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the percentage of foreign-born population in the United States today is not as high as it was from 1860-1920. For example, in 1870, the foreign born was 14.4 percent of the U.S. population; in 1890, 14.8 percent; in 1910, 14.7 percent; in 1920, 13.2 percent. From the 1930s through the 1960s, the percentage of foreignborn population steadily decreased until it reached levels lower than that of 1850. Beginning in the 1970s that trend reversed until, in 2010, it was back to a more normal level of 12.9 percent.

In the Old Testament, the Lord constantly challenges the Israelites to welcome the alien, remembering that they once were aliens themselves in the land of Egypt. If you recall your Bible history, the sons of Jacob immigrated to Egypt because they were experiencing famine in their own country.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states: “The more prosperous nations are obliged, to the extent they are able, to welcome the foreigner in search of the security and the means of livelihood which

he cannot find in his country of origin. Public authorities should see to it that the natural right is respected that places a guest under the protection of those who receive him.

“Political authorities, for the sake of the common good for which they are responsible, may make the exercise of the right to immigrate subject to various juridical conditions, especially with regard to the immigrants’ duties toward their country of adoption.

Immigrants are obliged to respect with gratitude the material and spiritual heritage of the country that receives them, to obey its laws and to assist in carrying civic burdens” (No. 2241).

As I read about the immigrants who came to Kansas City, Kan., a few generations ago, many came to work on the railroads or in the meatpacking plants. They were filling jobs that most U.S. citizens did not find attractive. Today, we see very similar trends. Many of the meat-processing plants in western Kansas would be shut down were it not for the immigrant workers.

Immigration policy is a federal issue. It is a matter that cannot be resolved by the states because, for good order, we need to have a uniform and consistent policy across our nation.

Now appears to be a time where there is legitimate hope that Congress may take action.

I encourage you to, first of all, pray that Congress will enact comprehensive immigration reform that will protect the integrity of our nation’s borders, will create pathways for legal residency for law-abiding and hard-working undocumented immigrants, and will be consistent with our nation’s history of welcoming the stranger.

Secondly, I encourage you to write, email or phone Sen. Pat Roberts, Sen. Jerry Moran, and your U.S. representative (Kevin Yoder or Lynn Jenkins), urging them

Pilgrimage to Italy and Medjugorje October 14-30, 2013

Hosted by Father Jim Ludwikoski Paid only by check or money order 30 people - $2,790; 20 people - $3,087 Air only May be on credit card.

KC to Rome, Rome to Croatia

calendar archbishop

Naumann May 24 Holy Hour and dinner with candidates for priestly ordination, families and seminarians — St. Matthew, Topeka May 25 Priestly ordination of Larry Bowers, Nathan Haverland, Daniel Schmitz and Quentin Schmitz — St. Matthew, Topeka May 28 Administrative Team meeting

May 30 Installation of Archbishop Michael Jackels — Dubuque, Iowa May 31 U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Communications Committee virtual meeting Trust One Greater — Kansas City, Kan. June 1 Mass and blessing of renovation of Sts. Peter and Paul — Seneca June 2 Mass and Corpus Christi procession — St. Joseph, Shawnee June 3 Meeting with Bishop Prasad Gallela from Diocese of Cuddapah, India

June 3-6 Priests’ retreat — Benedictine College, Atchison

to support immigration reform.

The words on the base of the Statue of Liberty from the poem, “The New Colossus” by Emma Lazarus, represent the unique and noble American attitude to immigration: “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.”

The United States, in the

June 6 Blessing at Catholic baseball camp — Mid-America Sports Complex, Shawnee June 7 Mass for Catholic Foundation of Northeast Kansas continuing education program Mass and reconciliation — Camp Tekakwitha

archbishop

keleher May 24 Confirmation for Hispanics — St. Mary-St. Anthony May 25 Priestly ordination of Larry Bowers, Nathan Haverland, Daniel Schmitz and Quentin Schmitz — St. Matthew, Topeka May 26 Confirmation — All Saints, Kansas City, Kan. May 26-29 Bishops’ prayer meeting — Kansas City, Kan. May 30 Confirmation — Our Lady of Guadalupe, Topeka June 1 “Catholic Way” recording

June 2 Federal prison Mass June 5-6 Labor Review Board — New York Wedding rehearsal — Christ the King, Kansas City, Kan.

words of Emma Lazarus, is a golden door to freedom and opportunity. This was true for our ancestors who came to the United States seeking a better way of life for themselves and their descendants.

May it continue to be true today for those yearning to breathe free.

second front page 3

may 24, 2013 | theleaven.com

Four called to ‘prophetic witness’ and service

By Joe Bollig joe@theleaven.com

T

OPEKA — In a church crowded with family, friends, well-wishers, religious and members of the presbyterate, the four newest transitional deacons of the archdiocese were charged with living a life of “prophetic witness of celibate chastity” to a confused world.

Adam Wilczak, Jaime Zarse, Mark Ostrowski, and Anthony Saiki were ordained to the diaconate on May 18 at Most Pure Heart of Mary Parish in Topeka. Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann was the homilist and ordaining minister.

Among those assisting were several seminarians, 13 deacons, 39 priests and Archbishop Emeritus James P. Keleher.

The master of ceremonies was Msgr. Gary Applegate.

Because they are considered to be “transitional,” the time the four men will spend in the diaconate before their priestly ordinations will be brief.

They will return to their studies and, if all goes according to plan, be ordained to the priesthood next spring. Nevertheless, the diaconate has great importance in that it is the foundation of the three ranks of clergy: deacon, priest and bishop.

The duties of the deacon can include proclaiming the Gospel and preaching at Mass; baptizing; witnessing marriages; presiding at funeral vigils, liturgies and graveside services; and other liturgical duties. Deacons also perform many kinds of special assignments at the behest of the bishop. As clerics,

Leaven photo by Susan McSpadden

From left, Jaime Zarse, Adam Wilczak, Anthony Saiki and Mark Ostrowski were ordained to the transitional diaconate on May 18 at Most Pure Heart of Mary Church in Topeka. The four will be ordained to the priesthood next year. they are obliged to pray the Liturgy of the Hours.

In his homily, Archbishop Naumann spoke to the four about the promises they would soon make.

“You make many promises to the church today,” said the archbishop, “to proclaim the Gospel in word and deed, to be men of prayer who pray daily for the church, to serve the poor and the needy, [and] to be obedient to the church — to me, your bishop, and my successors.”

Although each of those promises was worthy of lengthy reflection, he said he would concentrate his words on their most countercultural promise: to live lives of celibate chastity.

Deacon Adam Wilczak

Age: 29 Parents: Ronald and Deborah Wilczak Born: Hutchinson Hometown: Topeka Parish: St. Matthew, Topeka Education: Hayden High, Topeka. Started at Benedictine, transferred to Washburn University in Topeka, then finished last 3 years at Benedictine and graduated with a degree in theology in 2007.

Seminary: Entered the University of St. Mary of the Lake Mundelein Seminary in fall 2009.

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Price includes: accommodations in hotels in Italy. Private home in Medjugorje. Full breakfast and dinners. Porterage service where provided. Private motor coach. Tour includes Canonization of John Paul II. Five guided city tours in Italy. Headsets and entrance fees.

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

“The church asks of her priests to make this commitment to celibate chastity, not because she does not value the beauty and importance of Christian marriage and Christian family life,” said Archbishop Naumann. “No, just the opposite. The church recognizes Christian marriage as a call to heroic love that is not only a noble vocation, but an essential one in God’s plan for humanity and his church.”

The church asks its ordained ministers to set aside opportunities for Christian marriage and family life as a prophetic witness to that which is more important than even happiness and intimacy in Christian marriage, and that is intimacy with God.

Deacon Jaime Zarse

Age: 26 Parents: Robert and Alicia Zarse Born: Joplin, Mo. Hometown: Overland Park Parish: Prince of Peace, Olathe Education: St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Overland Park; Marquette University from 2005 to 2007; University of Missouri-Kansas City, 2007.

Seminary: Entered Kenrick-Glennon in St. Louis in fall of 2010.

“Celibate chastity is a bold proclamation — not just in words, but by the very life of the deacon and priest to place God first, to give God primacy in our lives,” said the archbishop.

Celibate chastity is a bold witness to a world that confuses physical sexual intimacy with love, and has experienced the morally corrosive effects and consequences of the sexual revolution.

“The prophetic witness of celibate chastity is an antidote to the madness of making pleasure our god,” he said. “Happy celibate priests are a contradiction to the proposition that sex is essential for happiness.”

Celibacy does not mean embracing a life of loneliness, but

Deacon Mark Ostrowski

Age: 29 Parents: John and Kathleen Ostrowski Born/Hometown: Topeka Parish: Sacred Heart – St. Joseph Education: Home-schooled; graduated from Benedictine College in Atchison with a bachelor’s in religious studies and history, and minors in music and philosophy.

Seminary: Entered Kenrick-Glennon in St. Louis in fall of 2008.

Editor Reverend Mark Goldasich, stl frmark@theleaven.com

Production Manager Todd Habiger todd@theleaven.com

Reporter Jessica Langdon jessica@theleaven.com

Managing Editor Anita McSorley anita@theleaven.com

Senior Reporter Joe Bollig joe@theleaven.com

Advertising Coordinator Julie Holthaus julie@theleaven.com

a life of authentic love. It is not a retreat into a “cold bachelorhood,” but charging into the world as heralds of true love.

“Priests are not called to be fearful recluses running from the world, but passionate lovers striving to ignite the flame of faith in the hearts of others,” said Archbishop Naumann.

During the promise of the elect, each of the four men stood and pledged to fulfill the duties of the diaconate. After this, they knelt before the archbishop to pledge their obedience to him and his successors.

Next, the ordinandi prostrated themselves on the floor before the altar during the Litany of the Saints. After this, each man approached the archbishop and knelt to receive the laying on of hands. When they each received the Book of the Gospels, Archbishop Naumann charged them to “believe what you read, teach what you read, and practice what you teach.”

At this point, the new deacons were vested with their stole and dalmatic. Deacon Wilczak was vested by Father Jerry Volz; Deacon Zarse was vested by Father Mitchel Zimmerman; Deacon Ostrowski was vested by Father Brian Fischer; and Deacon Saiki was vested by Father Michael Stubbs and Msgr. Timothy Cronin.

Each newly vested deacon was welcomed and embraced by the other deacons present. Each of the four newly ordained deacons then joined their brother clerics at the altar for the Liturgy of the Eucharist.

A reception was held for the new deacons in the parish hall after the Mass and ordination.

Deacon Anthony Saiki

Age: 25 Parents: John and Virginia Saiki Born: Wichita Hometown: DeSoto Parish: St. Paul, Olathe Education: Home-schooled through high school; one year at Johnson County.

Community College Seminary: Entered Kenrick-Glennon in St. Louis in August 2007.

Published weekly September through May, excepting the Friday the week after Thanksgiving, and the Friday after Christmas; biweekly June through August. Address communications to: The Leaven, 12615 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City, KS 66109. Phone: (913) 721-1570; fax: (913) 721-5276; or e-mail at: sub@theleaven.com. Postmaster: Send address changes to The Leaven, 12615 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City, KS 66109. For change of address, provide old and new address and parish. Subscriptions $18/year.

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4 local news

theleaven.com | MAY 24, 2013

A guest of the Emperor

St. Agnes parishioner recalls his time as a Japanese POW

By Joe Bollig joe@theleaven.com

Friends indeed make daily Mass possible

K

ANSAS CITY, Kan. — Not just anyone can call Benjamin Lohman a “jarhead.”

“Wait a minute,” said the 95-year-old Lohman, a member of St. Agnes Parish in Roeland Park. “You’ve got to be in a good squad with a good first sergeant before you can call anyone a jarhead. If you’re called a jarhead, you’ve either got to fight or . . . think. Take your pick.”

There aren’t many left like Benjamin “Benny” Lohman: a genuine China Marine, defender of Corregidor Island, “guest” of the Japanese emperor.

In other words, a survivor.

Many men came back from World War II and tried to forget, to get a job and raise a family. Mostly, they succeeded. But it wasn’t easy. Some things just can’t be forgotten.

Lohman was born and raised in Lansing, which seemed small to him. By the time he was 22, the country still hadn’t made it out of the Great Depression.

“I was shoveling coal at 10 cents a ton, and that ain’t much,” he said. “And I got tired of doing that. I heard someone say, ‘Hey, the Marines are paying $30 a month,’ so I went to Kansas City and signed up.”

The young Kansan had a cousin in the Marines. If his cousin could do it, so could he. And, oh boy, wouldn’t it be great to see the world?

So on Jan. 5, 1940, Lohman went into the U.S. Marine recruiting office in Kansas City and signed up. Only a few days later, he was on a three-day train trip to San Diego. There, he learned to drill and “prepare to be shot at” in a war.

“And don’t be crying about every little thing that comes down the road,” said Lohman.

Six weeks later, he and a whole platoon of newly minted Marines were hustled aboard the USS Harrison and sent directly to Shanghai, China. He was in Company E, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment.

“We didn’t even make a liberty in the United States,” he said.

Powder keg City Shanghai was one of the most unusual cities in the world in 1940. Nominally Chinese, thousands of Americans and Europeans lived in the International Settlement.

The International Settlement, created after the Opium War of 1842, was one of several Chinese ports that Western powers forced open for trade.

The city was basically divided into French, British and American sections, or concessions, although many other nationalities claimed enclaves in the American Concession: German, Italian, Russian and Japanese. Old Shanghai was Chinese.

This Babylon on the Huangpu River was known both for its elegance and decadence. Startling contrasts of different cultures — and extremes of wealth and poverty — existed cheek and jowl.

The various nationalities formed a municipal government that provided

ROELAND PARK — Benny Lohman faithfully attended daily Mass at St. Agnes Parish here — until he ran into a little problem.

Lohman, 95, had a minor traffic accident almost two years ago and that convinced him it was time to hang up the car keys.

But with his wings clipped, how would he get to daily Mass?

Enter the Men of St. Agnes.

The men’s group — of which Lohman is a member — stepped up to provide drivers so Lohman could make it to daily Mass and to the group’s prayer meeting held each Thursday after Mass. It was there that the group learned of Lohman’s wartime sacrifices.

“He’s very strong in his faith, very strong,” said Dennis Rues, one of the Men of St. Agnes who gives him rides.

Storm clouds

Leaven photo by Joe Bollig

Benny Lohman holds a wooden daily ration box given to him by his Japanese captors. This box, a couple of spoons (one he made), a mess kit and a canteen cup are among his few possessions while a Japanese prisoner of war from 1942 to 1945.

‘We regret to advise you . . .’

The Commandant U.S. Marine Corps regrets to advise you that according to the records of this headquarters your son Private First Class Benny L. Lohman U.S. Marine Corps was performing his duty in the service of his country in Manila Bay Area when the station capitulated X He will be carried on the records of the Marine Corps as missing pending further information X No report of his death has been received and he may be a prisoner of war X It will probably be several months before definite official information can be expected concerning his status X Sincere sympathy is extended to you in your anxiety and you are assured that any report received will be communicated to you promptly X = T. Holcomb, Lt. Gen. USMC Commandant U.S. Marine Corps = Western Union.

the services needed for a major city.

They even had their own small “army,” supplemented by American and British troops.

“Our regiment protected American lives and property in Shanghai, from robbers, thieves and anyone else who wanted to do something against Americans,” said Lohman.

The U.S. Marine Corps in 1940 was smaller than the New York City Police Department, so Marines considered themselves an elite brotherhood.

In that exclusive world, the Shanghai duty station was considered a choice

assignment.

“When you got to China, there was an exchange rate,” he said. “It varied from [16 Chinese Yuan to One American dollar], so we were millionaires.”

One of Lohman’s complaints, however, was that it was difficult to get to Mass on Sundays.

“I was scared to ask the first sergeant,” he said. “The other guys would think you were getting off. [First sergeant] would have to relieve someone so you could go to Mass, and they didn’t like it.”

Japan, which had been waging an incremental war against China for years, finally invaded Shanghai in 1931 and dominated the city. As the Japanese grew ever more aggressive, relations with the United States deteriorated.

Occasionally, the Americans and the Japanese would trade shots.

But it was not until Nov. 27, 1941, that the 4th Marines were withdrawn from Shanghai and were shipped to the U.S. naval station Olongapo in the Republic of the Philippines.

They arrived there on Dec. 2 and, five days later, the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. The Philippines were attacked the next day.

“We were getting our gear squared away and a place to stay when word came down, ‘Pearl Harbor has been bombed. We are at war,’” said Lohman.

“That’s when things really started to get bad. Nobody believed how bad it was.”

On Dec. 26, the 4th Marines were deployed to Corregidor Island at the mouth of Manila Bay, known as “the Gibraltar of the East.” The Marines, who only numbered about 1,500, were the primary defenders of the tadpoleshaped island. After the fall of the Bataan Peninsula, they were joined by a motley assortment of American and Filipino military personnel.

They didn’t have enough food, ammunition, weapons, medical supplies — or anything else. Corregidor was under constant air attack and naval bombardment. Finally, a Japanese invasion force landed on May 5, 1942, and Lt. Gen. Jonathan Wainwright surrendered the next day.

Guests of the emperor The first order of business was the destruction of the Marines’ weapons.

Some men tried to escape Corregidor on the tide, but they forgot that the tide could bring them back. Those who had escaped were recaptured, all covered >> See “It was” on page 10

local news 5

may 24, 2013 | theleaven.com

New parish assignments announced

F

ather John A. Riley, chancellor, announces the following appointments made by Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann, effective July 5, 2013:

St. Louis Parish, Good Intent, and St. Ann Parish, Effingham.

Pastors

Parochial administrators

Father Gerardo Arano-Ponce, from pastor of St. Agnes Parish, Roeland Park, to pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Topeka.

Father Barry Clayton, from parochial vicar of Holy Trinity Parish, Lenexa, to pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Sabetha, St. Augustine Parish in Fidelity, and St. James Parish, Wetmore.

Father Mathew Francis, from parochial administrator of St. Joseph-St. Lawrence Parish, Easton, to pastor.

Father Gregory Hammes, from pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Sabetha, St. Augustine Parish in Fidelity, and St. James Parish, Wetmore, to pastor of Most Pure Heart of Mary Parish, Topeka.

Father Gabriel Landis, OSB, from pastor of St. Joseph Parish, Atchison, and St. Patrick Parish, Atchison County, to pastor of the to-be-consolidated parish of Atchison.

Father Mitchel Zimmerman, from vocation director of the archdiocese and assistant chaplain of the St. Lawrence Catholic Campus Center, to pastor of Christ the King Parish, Topeka.

Father Francis Bakyor, from parochial vicar of Holy Trinity Parish, Lenexa, to parochial administrator of St. Joseph Parish in Wathena, St. Benedict Parish in Bendena, and St. Charles Parish, Troy.

Father Lazar Carasala, from parochial vicar of Church of the Ascension, Overland Park, to parochial administrator of St. Joseph Parish in Nortonville, Immaculate Conception Parish in Valley Falls, and Corpus Christi Parish, Mooney Creek.

Father Sylvester D’Souza, from parochial administrator of St. Benedict Parish, Bendena, to parochial administrator of St. Leo Parish, Horton, and continuing as parochial administrator of St. Ann Parish, Hiawatha, until Sept. 5. Effective Sept.

5, from parochial administrator of St. Ann Parish and St. Leo Parish to parochial vicar of Christ the King Parish, Topeka.

Father Peter O’Sullivan, from pastor of Christ the King Parish, Topeka, to pastor of Queen of the Holy Rosary Parish, Overland Park.

Father Gerard Senecal, OSB, from pastor of St. Benedict’s Parish and Sacred Heart Parish in Atchison to parochial administrator of Immaculate Conception Parish, St. Marys, and St. Stanislaus Parish, Rossville.

Father Anthony Ouellette, from pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Topeka, to pastor of All Saints Parish, Kansas City, Kan.

Parochial vicars

Father John Pilcher, from pastor of St. Bernard Parish in Wamego, St. Joseph Parish in Flush, Sacred Heart Parish in Paxico, and Holy Family Parish, Alma, to pastor of Mater Dei Parish, Topeka.

Father William Porter, from pastor of St. Michael the Archangel Parish, Leawood, to pastor of St. Agnes Parish, Roeland Park.

Father Brian Schieber, from pastor of Most Pure Heart of Mary Parish, Topeka, to pastor of St. Michael the Archangel Parish, Leawood.

Father Michael Scully, OFM Cap., from priestly ministry outside of the archdiocese to pastor of St. John the Evangelist Parish, Lawrence. (Effective Aug. 1.)

Father Andrew Strobl, from parochial vicar of Prince of Peace Parish, Olathe, and chaplain of St. Thomas Aquinas High School, Overland Park, to pastor of St. Bernard Parish in Wamego, St. Joseph Parish in Flush, Sacred Heart Parish in Paxico, and Holy Family Parish, Alma.

Father Benjamin Tremmel, OSB, to pastor of St. Mary Parish, Purcell, and continuing as pastor of

Father Efrén Aguilar Castilla, MNM, to parochial vicar of Our Lady of Unity Parish, Kansas City, Kan., and continuing as parochial vicar of All Saints Parish, Kansas City, Kan. Father Bruce Ansems, from parochial vicar of Holy Spirit Parish, Overland Park, to parochial vicar of Holy Trinity Parish, Lenexa, and continuing in the office of the tribunal.

Father Lawrence Bowers, from ordination to the priesthood to parochial vicar of Curé of Ars Parish, Leawood, and chaplain of Bishop Miege High School, Roeland Park.

Father Jeffrey Ernst, OFM Cap., from priestly ministry outside of the archdiocese to parochial vicar of St. John the Evangelist Parish, Lawrence. (Effective Aug. 1.)

Father Juan Carlos Franco, MNM, to parochial vicar of Our Lady of Unity Parish, Kansas City, Kan., and continuing as parochial vicar of All Saints Parish, Kansas City, Kan. Father Nathan Haverland, from ordination to the priesthood to parochial vicar of Church of the Ascen-

sion, Overland Park.

Father Daniel Schmitz, from ordination to the priesthood to parochial vicar of Prince of Peace Parish, Olathe, and chaplain of St. Thomas Aquinas High School, Overland Park.

Father Quentin Schmitz, from ordination to the priesthood to parochial vicar of St. Joseph Parish, Shawnee, and assistant chaplain of St. James Academy, Lenexa.

Abbot Barnabas Senecal, OSB, from parochial administrator of Immaculate Conception Parish, St. Marys, and St. Stanislaus Parish, Rossville, to parochial vicar of the to-be-consolidated parish of Atchison.

Sabbatical Father Daniel Gardner, from pastor of All Saints Parish, Kansas City, Kan., to priestly sabbatical.

Effective Sept. 5, from sabbatical to pastor of St. Ann Parish, Hiawatha, and St. Leo Parish, Horton.

Other Father Ciro Hernando GonzalezLopez, from parochial vicar of Our Lady of Unity Parish, Kansas City, Kan., to return to priestly ministry in the Diocese of Zipaquira, Colombia.

Father John Schmeidler, OFM Cap., from pastor of St. John the Evangelist Parish, Lawrence, to return to priestly ministry outside of the archdiocese. (Effective Aug. 1.)

Father Shawn Tunink, from parochial vicar of Curé of Ars Parish, Leawood, and chaplain of Bishop Miege High School, Roeland Park, to the study of canon law at Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. Father Scott Wallisch, from parochial vicar of St. Joseph Parish, Shawnee, to vocation director of the archdiocese and continuing as chaplain of St. James Academy, Lenexa, residing at Holy Trinity Parish, Lenexa.

Deacon Michael Hill, from diaconal ministry at St. Paul Parish, Olathe, to the Cathedral of St. Peter, Kansas City, Kan.

Retirements Father Francis Burger, from parochial administrator of Mater Dei Parish, Topeka, to retirement.

Father Donald Cullen, from pastor of Queen of the Holy Rosary Parish, Overland Park, to retirement.

Father Earl Dekat, from pastor of St. Leo Parish, Horton, and St. Mary Parish, Purcell, to retirement.

Father Roderic Giller, OSB, from pastor of St. Joseph Parish, Wathena, and St. Charles Parish, Troy, to return to community life at St. Benedict’s Abbey, Atchison.

Robert and JoAnn (Hess) Franken, members of St. Charles Parish, Troy, will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary on June 6 with a family dinner in Atchison. Their children and their spouses are: Vickie Roberts, Topeka; Barbara and Tim Collins, Highland; William and Janet Franken, Wathena; Steve and Lori Franken, Topeka; Michael and Rebecca Franken, Topeka; Paul and Karen Franken, Pea Ridge, Ark.; Robert P. Franken, Fanning; and Brian and Sue Franken, Troy.

They also have 16 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. The couple requests no gifts. Cards may be sent to: Bob and JoAnn Franken, 1556 Heartland Road, Troy, KS 66087.

Ray and Marian (Holthaus) Rottinghaus, members of Sts. Peter and Paul Parish, Seneca, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on June 9 with a Mass of thanksgiving at 11 a.m., a family luncheon, and an open house from 2 to 4 p.m., all at Sts. Peter and Paul. The couple was married on May 25, 1963, at Sts. Peter and Paul Church, Seneca. Their children and their spouses are: Monica and Greg Woolsoncroft, Salina; Dean Rottinghaus, Jacksonville, Fla.; Renae and Chris Altenhofen, Kansas City, Mo.; and Jared Rottinghaus and Andrea Rottinghaus, both of Overland Park. They also have seven grandchildren.

Cletus and Louise Manhart, members of St. Stanislaus Parish, Rossville, will celebrate their 50th anniversary on June 8 with an intimate family gathering that includes their children, children’s spouses, and their nine grandchildren. The couple was married on June 8, 1963, at St. John Church in Beloit. Their children and their spouses are: Steve Manhart, Birmingham, Ala.; Jerry and Karen Manhart, Shawnee; Karen Manhart, Silver Lake; Jo and Brian Fair, Wichita; and Jason and Jamie Manhart, Silver Lake.

Evalena and James H. Davidson Sr., members of Our Lady and St. Rose Parish, Kansas City, Kan., will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on June 1. The couple was married on June 1, 1963, at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, Kansas City, Mo. They have two children — James Jr. and Danyiel — five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Anniversary policy

• The Leaven prints 50, 60, 65 and 70th notices; Announcements are due eight days before the desired publication date; Announcements must be typed. Send notices to: The Leaven, 12615 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City, KS 66109, attn: anniversaries; or send an email to: Todd@theleaven.com.

6 local news

theleaven.com | may 24, 2013

Chastity program targets middle schoolers

Young grads are new kind of missionary

By Joe Bollig Leaven staff

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Photo by Jessica Langdon

Melissa St. Ledger, a Generation Life missionary, offered some “big-sisterly advice” to seventh- and eighth-grade girls at Christ the King School in Kansas City, Kan., on May 15.

Generation Life shares pro-life, chastity messages to foster culture of life

By Jessica Langdon jessica@theleaven.com

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ANSAS CITY, Kan. — You might not meet the person you’re going to marry for years, Kevin Kast told a group of 7th- and 8th-grade boys at Christ the King School here May 15.

But you can start loving her right now.

Respect is the message that Kast, a missionary with Generation Life, brought to his young audience.

And part of that is focusing on respect in every relationship they have.

Kast told them about his own commitment to chastity and how it means more than ever now that he is engaged.

“Guys, I can tell you that I’ve met many guys who’ve chosen to not live a chaste life before they got married, and so many men who regret it,” said Kast.

“I don’t know a single man who regrets enduring the wait.”

Melissa St. Ledger, also a Generation Life missionary, offered some “big-sisterly advice” to seventh- and eighth-grade girls at Christ the King School in Kansas City, Kan., on May 15.

She shared insights on how to live chastely and modestly in the world today and how to prepare for real love in the future.

Several days of Generation Life presentations, especially the talk on chastity, really clicked with Kristen Littleton, an eighth-grader at Christ the King.

She found it easy to relate to the

speakers — who are recent college graduates — and she liked the different way in which this message was presented.

“That is amazing how you can just save yourself for the one person that you love,” said Kristen. “You may date hundreds of people, but there’s only one person that you wait for, and I really think that’s beautiful.”

In talking to the boys about authentic love and true masculinity, Kast emphasized that it’s not always easy — but it’s worth it.

“The devil might try to have you give in to temptation,” said Austin Russell, also an eighth-grader at Christ the King. “But just stick with God, and prayer is the most powerful way to stay with chastity and talk to God.” Generation Life purposely sends young people like St. Ledger and Kast to talk to students across the country.

Just out of college, they could be the same age as siblings of the kids they’re talking to, so they’re not “outdated” as they share their pro-life message, explained Emily Ortiz, director of development with Generation Life.

The organization first started reaching out to college students in the Philadelphia area, but leaders soon realized the message they were delivering to an older audience could really benefit kids who are several years younger.

At its heart, this movement aims to end abortion by spreading a message of chastity, said Ortiz.

They meet with middle school, high school and college students.

Message delivered Generation Life missionaries visited the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas in April and May and shared their pro-life and chastity messages with students at several schools, including: Curé of Ars School, Leawood; St. Paul School, Olathe; Nativity Parish School, Leawood; John Paul II School, Overland Park; Sacred Heart of Jesus School, Shawnee; Bishop Ward High School, Kansas City, Kan.; St. Matthew School, Topeka; Christ the King School, Topeka; Mater Dei School, Topeka; Most Pure Heart of Mary School, Topeka; Resurrection School at the Cathedral, Kansas City, Kan.; St. Joseph School, Shawnee; St. Patrick School, Kansas City, Kan.; St. Agnes School, Roeland Park; and Christ the King School, Kansas City, Kan.

“The witness and the personal testimony and the joy of the Generation Life missionaries is contagious and attractive to people,” said Ortiz.

As they get ready to start high school, both Kristen and Austin said they will remember what they learned from the missionaries about the value of life and chastity.

“Life is a gift,” said Kristen. “Don’t waste that gift.”

ANSAS CITY, Kan. — They’re young, they’re bold and unafraid to proclaim the truths of chastity to young people.

Kevin Kast and Stephanie Brown are a different kind of missionary — youth speaking to youth, right here at home.

Kast and Brown are part of a five-person Generation Life travel team that has visited primarily junior high kids in archdiocesan Catholic schools April and part of May, on a mission to spread information about the pro-life movement and the theology of the body.

“I’m living out my dream,” said Brown, 24, from Baytown, Texas. “It’s been my dream, as long as I can remember, to be a missionary. Especially a traveling missionary.”

Brown became a Generation Life missionary after graduating from the Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio, in 2011, with a bachelor’s in catechetics and a minor in theology.

Previously, she went on a two-week mission to China to teach the theology of the body to Chinese orphans.

“That started my love for the theology of the body,” she said. “After that trip, when I found out about Generation Life and [learned that] it was an organization steeped in those messages of real love, life, and respect of our human dignity and sexuality — I had to join that mission.”

Kast, 24, is from Roseburg, Ore. He joined Generation Life in September 2012, only a couple of days after graduating from John Paul the Great Catholic University in San Diego with an MBA in film production.

He was planning on continuing his film career in Los Angeles after graduation until he heard about Generation Life from a friend.

“My two passions in life have been Our Lord and ‘story,’ and [I wondered if] this was a step in that direction or away,” he said.

Kast said he not only wants to be a filmmaker, but one “who wants to make art that has truth, beauty and goodness in it. It seemed to me that spending a whole year devoted specifically to spreading those virtues — in person and growing in understanding of beauty, especially of chastity — was a great way for me to grow in that virtue . . . and incorporate that into story as well.”

Between the two of them, the young missionaries have covered New York City and other parts of the state, Nebraska, Minnesota, Virginia and Florida. They stayed in some places for as long as a year. Other teams are posted permanently in Philadelphia and New York City.

The seventh- and eighth-grade students have responded well to their talks.

“I think we’ve been received very positively,” said Brown. “All the students I’ve talked with have been really excited and glad to have us for the whole week. . . . We were able to plant seeds in their hearts and cultivate the soil.”

One student even asked how to become a Generation Life missionary.

“For sure, maybe when the talk starts off and I walk in, some of the guys are wondering what it’s going to be, but once we get going everyone starts leaning forward in their chairs,” said Kast.

Will their message stick?

“It stuck with me,” said Kast. “[It won’t] with everyone, but it will with those who are open.

“If we can plant that seed, the Lord will work with it.”

Come together Xavier Community teaches members about themselves, others and God Story by Jessica Langdon | Photos by Don Wolf

Clockwise, from bottom left, Sister Vicki Lichtenauer, SCL, Sister Mary Rachel Flynn, SCL, Kate Becker, Laurie Parker, Sister Helen Bristow, SCL, Denise Morris, and Sister Mary Geraldine Yelich, SCL, enjoy an evening around the fire pit at the Xavier Community. The community brings together Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth and laywomen to share much more than living space.

B

ring any eight women — whose ages span six decades — to live under one roof together, and there’s bound to be a lot of commotion.

Which is not a bad thing.

“Laughter,” said Denise Morris, a teacher who lives in the Xavier Community in Kansas City, Kan. “There’s just lots of laughter.”

This unique living situation brings together several Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth and several laywomen to live simply together in what they call an “intentional community.”

The women contribute to expenses and responsibilities, but this isn’t like renting a place out of the classified ads.

“We’re not just trying to recruit roommates,” explained Sister Vicki Lichtenauer, SCL. She is vocation director for the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth and a member of the Xavier Community.

“In a sense, you’re not just allowed to be an apartment dweller here,” she continued.

The residents build relationships, eat together, pray together, serve others together and support one another in their widely varied professions and interests.

“It’s a commitment to share,” said Sister Mary Rachel Flynn, SCL, a Xavier member. continued on the next page

Denise Morris, a teacher, has enjoyed coming home to the Xavier Community. It’s a place where people care about how your day went. Everyone is “very connected,” she said.

Sister Helen Bristow, SCL, has enjoyed working with women who are considering religious life. She has also been encouraged to find younger generations so willing to give.

Laurie Parker found that living in the Xavier Community helped bring focus to her life. “We do make time every day to be in prayer together, to be in community together,” she said.

Sister Mary Geraldine Yelich, SCL, a longtime educator who also worked with the Foster Grandparents program, inspired fellow residents in the Xavier Community with her commitment to service.

Living in the Xavier Community reminds Sister Mary Rachel Flynn, SCL, of a poem by David Whyte called “House of Belonging.” “It’s a house of belonging,” she said.

“We try to be very conscientious,” said Sister Vicki Lichtenauer, SCL. They work to pool their funds and make wise purchases so they can use their resources to share with others.

>> Continued from previous page

Intentional community Named for SCL founder Mother Xavier Ross, the Xavier Community launched in 1999 and has served as home to 26 women over the years.

Women have stayed anywhere from a few weeks to a couple of years in this house near the Cathedral of St. Peter.

Three women this year have moved on to new opportunities — including Laurie Parker, who entered formation with the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth — leaving open rooms.

And three new members will arrive between now and June 1.

Andrea Essner, who will move in at the end of May, is a St. Louis native who went to Rockhurst University in Kansas City, Mo., and now works in admissions at Donnelly College in Kansas City, Kan. She lived in community for a couple of years as a Jesuit volunteer and treasured the experience. So she was thrilled to come across this opportunity.

But first, she set up a three-day trial stay to check the fit — which just happened to be during one of this winter’s huge snowstorms.

The entire community was snowed in together.

“It’s a pretty good test,” she admitted. “It was really lovely. Every morning, someone was up making breakfast when I woke up. We went out and shoveled the driveway together. It was a very together feeling.”

Now, Essner can’t wait to share dayto-day life — making decisions based on what is best for everyone — and sharing dinner, prayers and many other experiences.

“I’m looking forward to the growth that will come with that,” she said.

Enriching experience Everyone has something to teach — and to learn — here.

“All of us have outside jobs or volunteer positions,” said Xavier Community member Sister Helen Bristow, SCL, “and so we form community when we’re here, but we’re also connected with ministries.”

Sister Helen works at the Duchesne Clinic in Kansas City, Kan., as a patient advocate.

After 50 years as a Sister and living in houses and convents, she was excited for a new opportunity, but had only a couple of days to decide whether this might be for her.

“I’m really happy that I made the move,” she said. “It’s been very enriching for me spiritually . . . and you never get in a rut here!”

Sister Helen has particularly cherished the opportunity to live and work with young women who are discerning religious life. That’s not a requirement for joining the Xavier Community, but several recent residents have given it some thought.

Sister Mary Geraldine Yelich, SCL —

Sister Helen Bristow, SCL, right, who works at the Duchesne Clinic in Kansas City, Kan., had “felt called to a different depth of community,” and found it in the Xavier Community. She enjoys that the community is committed not to making money, but to serving the poor and the marginalized.

Denise Morris, center, works with her students at Resurrection School at the Cathedral in Kansas City, Kan. Each of the women living in the Xavier Community has her own profession or volunteer commitment, but they also share their ministries and activities. Members have gotten to know Morris’ students — even inviting them to share a holiday cookie-baking party.

Interested in joining Xavier?

The Xavier Community has room for one or two more women.

The ideal candidates will be laywomen between the ages of 20 and 40, with their own health insurance, and the ability to contribute to household expenses and responsibilities.

An interview is required for women seeking to join.

For information about the Xavier Community, call (913) 342-4682, or email Sister Vicki at: vickil@scls.org.

for a while the community’s oldest resident, in her early 80s — worked from home. But she loged countless hours on the phone and online, reaching out to legislators and researching issues as part of the social justice committee.

Kate Becker, a member of the community until this spring when she left for Ecuador, noted that Sister Mary Geraldine was often the last to go to bed at night, and she found her work inspiring.

Sister Mary Rachel has spent many years teaching and has worked at a treatment center for children who have been abused. She currently works at Cristo Rey School in Kansas City, Mo. Sister Vicki’s background is in campus ministry.

To her, living with so many people from such a wide range of ages and experiences adds richness to life, and she loves to see how everyone’s circles overlap.

Sister Vicki Lichtenauer, SCL, right, helps with a cleanup project for youth through Bridging the Gap, an environmental nonprofit organization. Kate Becker, a fellow Xavier member, worked there.

‘It’s real’ Becker didn’t know anyone in religious life very well except through service projects until she moved in with four nuns.

“They’re just real people,” she told friends who marveled at her living situation.

And they have made a very real impact on her life.

“I just feel like my perspective of God has gotten bigger since I’ve been here,” said Becker, who worked at Bridging the Gap, an environmental nonprofit organi-

zation in Kansas City, Mo. “There’s such a wealth of faith.”

Morris, a teacher at Resurrection School at the Cathedral in Kansas City, Kan., agrees.

Like any arrangement that involves living with others, “it’s fun, it’s silly, sometimes it’s painful, sometimes it’s frustrating,” she acknowledged.

But it’s much more.

“It’s fulfilling. It’s joyful,” continued Morris. “The word I was thinking of is ‘real.’ It’s real. There are everyday life situations.”

And while there is plenty of time together, the women have time to devote to their own projects and prayer.

“They gave me the room at the top of the house so I can go hide out there,” said Parker, who is admittedly introverted.

“Everybody’s just very respectful of each other’s space.”

Parker taught music and has been studying music therapy at the University of Kansas.

“Laurie’s major instrument is her voice,” said Sister Mary Rachel, but she plays the piano and guitar, too.

Parker often created musical parodies about her experiences in the community.

One nice evening, the women gathered around the fire pit in the backyard and sang along to a song called “Gas Station Pizza” about the time some of the Sisters treated the house to pizza from a convenience counter.

From the fun moments to serious issues, there’s always someone willing to share.

“Everybody really does pitch in if somebody needs something,” said Morris. “I’m always very moved by the generosity.”

When Morris needs help laminating projects at night for school, she has a friend in Sister Vicki.

They all approach life from different places, but they share a strong commitment to service and prayer, said Parker.

“Coming here, I maybe expected it to be a little more homogenous,” she said.

“But I’m glad it’s not, because I definitely learn from everybody.”

‘Sense of who God is’ Many Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth have committed to live and work in Wyandotte County, said Sister Helen.

“I’m really proud of the fact that our Sisters are committed to be with the poor, the marginalized,” she said. “And we are all doing work not to make money, but to serve others, and we all do that in all of our ministries.”

“I feel very drawn to serve this community,” added Morris.

True to the SCL order’s Vincentian charism, the Sisters believe they are called to those who are most in need, explained Sister Helen.

The Xavier Community has offered hospitality to people who are new to the area and need somewhere to stay for a short time and has opened its doors to college students who are staying in the city during mission trips.

It also reaches out regularly to the wider community, often through its “People of Hope” program.

Sister Mary Rachel, who started the program, said that several years ago, the group became increasingly aware that people wanted to more fully understand the Vincentian charism, so they extended an invitation.

From pastors to neighbors to out-oftowners here on special projects, a group is invited on a regular basis to come to the house for dinner to share food and fellowship.

What do they discover about their hosts?

Well, like members of a family, the women of Xavier finish each other’s stories and sing each other’s praises.

And they provide each other, every day and in every way, a place to come home to.

“You go out and do your thing. Sometimes there’s good, sometimes there’s bad,” said Parker. “But you know you can always come back to a center.”

When someone walks through the door, someone else is likely to announce that they’re home and ask how the day went.

“I think it’s inspiring to come home every day and be with people who have the same passion to serve the marginalized, to stand with the oppressed, through whatever their ministry is,” said Morris.

Sister Helen agreed.

“These are women who are willing to give instead of take.”

Laurie Parker, who has taught music and studied music therapy, performs a musical parody she wrote about one of many experiences in the Xavier Community. Parker was discerning a call to religious life when she moved into the Xavier Community and entered formation with the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth this past winter.

Answering a call

Topeka native enters formation with Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth

By Jessica Langdon jessica@theleaven.com

K

ANSAS CITY, Kan. — Laurie Parker thinks she caught her family a bit off guard when she told them she was looking into religious life.

“I definitely have a very supportive family,” she said. “I think they were surprised, too, when I first started looking at this — as was I, really.”

But the more she discerned, the more she thought this might be right for her.

Parker entered formation with the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth in January.

“I think for me it was sort of a lesson in just being open,” said Parker, who grew up in Topeka. “I think this would not have necessarily been what I envisioned for myself 10 years ago.”

She and her two older brothers attended Catholic schools.

Parker went to Hayden High School, and the young musician studied at Washburn University, then Emporia State. She taught music at Catholic schools in Topeka and has most recently been studying music therapy at the University of Kansas.

Although she encountered nuns during her grade school days, she wasn’t yet thinking that might someday be a path for her.

Only after becoming a teacher herself at Assumption Grade School (now Mater Dei) in Topeka did she discover a strong connection with a Sister — longtime principal Sister Corita Conlan, SCL, who died on Jan. 1.

“She was tough but very, very compassionate,” said Parker, adding that there was a family feel to the school.

“She was really at the center of that,” she said.

The thought of religious life still didn’t truly strike Parker until she attended her first Kansas Catholic College Student Convention as a graduate student and heard from a panel of Sisters.

And then one day, she thought: “Maybe that’s what I’m supposed to do.”

Her best friend has a relative who is a Benedictine Sister, and she looked into that order and a few other possibilities.

But she didn’t feel that monastic life was for her and wanted something near her home.

Soon she realized she enjoyed both the spirit of the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth and the way the community is organized.

“It’s basically that you are working with and among the people,” she said, adding that there is a particular interest in the poor.

“It could be people who are quite literally monetarily poor,” she said. “It could be people who are poor in education, poor in health.”

Parker said she looks forward to making more connections with the SCL community and to eventually learning more about the Vincentian charism.

“For me, it was a big lesson in being open to the voice of God and where he calls you — and trusting that sense that you are being called,” said Parker.

10 local news

theleaven.com | may 24, 2013

‘It was bad, everything was bad’ >> Continued from page 4 with oil from sunken ships, and shot.

The Japanese took the remaining Americans to Bilibid prison camp in Manila.

“We didn’t realize how serious the Japanese would treat us,” said Lohman.

“We knew what prison in the U.S. was like, and we thought it would be something like that, but it wasn’t. [The Japanese] didn’t care if you lived or died. If you were sick, you didn’t get no medicine. You really had to scrounge for yourself.”

American prisoners were marched out every day to other camps. One day, Lohman took a daring chance.

“I was sitting there looking at everything, trying to figure out something.

So I just jumped into a line of troops and marched out,” he said. “They didn’t count. Of course, when you got to where you were going, you got counted.”

Lohman ended up in Cabanatuan One prison camp. It, too, was a rough place.

“It was bad, everything was bad,” said Lohman.

There was disease, bad water, malnutrition, hard work in rice paddies, and brutal treatment by guards. The prisoners lived in huts. Although he didn’t, some prisoners would steal from each other to survive.

One of his worst memories is how he saw a man, weakened by disease, fall into a latrine and drown. This happened more than once, and the Japanese would shoot would-be rescuers.

In October 1944, more than 1,600 prisoners, including Lohman, were

“

“The Japanese commander of the camp . . . he couldn’t hardly speak English. He got up and said, ‘We will now be friends. The war is over.’”

Benjamin Lohman

transported from Cabanatuan to Japan in “hell ships,” so called for the awful conditions aboard.

Lohman survived the trip, and was sent to an Osaka shipyard and put to work making oil tankers as part of a prisoner rivet team. There, an elderly Japanese civilian worker committed a rare act of kindness.

“He never said a word or got mad,” said Lohman. “One day, he brought me a pair of split-toe shoes. (The sandals Lohman was wearing were falling apart.) He gave them to me and didn’t say a darn word. I just want to thank that guy. He’s probably in heaven. I never did see him again.”

Lohman was eventually sent on from Osaka to a copper mine at Akenobe, or Osaka Number 6B. The prisoners working there were American, British and Australian.

The camp was opened on May 16, 1945, according to an investigation for the Supreme Commander for the Al-

lied Powers. The work was hard and sometimes the prisoners were slapped around, but there were no atrocities.

In his postwar memoirs, Japanese camp translator Kazuo Kobayashi recorded the camp commander surrendering his sword to the ranking American on Aug. 17, 1945.

“The Japanese commander of the camp . . . he couldn’t hardly speak English,” said Lohman. “He got up and said, ‘We will now be friends. The war is over.’”

Once word of the Japanese surrender spread, the former prisoners were eager to put the prison camp behind them. Lohman remembered one American Army dentist, however, pausing long enough to scoop up all the camp records he could find before they could be lost or destroyed.

The rescued men commandeered a train in the town below the mine and rode it all the way to the port city.

There, they found Allied ships and personnel.

“I went aboard one of those ships and they treated me like a king,” said Lohman.

A British medic on the ship treated his badly infected leg, and probably saved it — if not his life.

Lohman went home to Lansing, got married in 1946, and eventually had six kids. He had a 29-year career, ironically, as a state prison guard.

“It was a strange experience,” he said, of his life as a prisoner of war.

“You put up with so darn much. . . .

Most of us did depend on our faith, the faith our mothers and fathers taught us when we were young. You really did depend [for survival] on your faith.”

Scout earns Eagle Leavenworth

— Joseph W. Hrenchir, a member of Boy Scout Troop 167 and St. Joseph Parish here, received the rank of Eagle Scout during a Court of Honor on March 3.

For his Eagle project, Joseph W. Hrenchir Hrenchir refurbished a swing set area for the city of Leavenworth.

Horton Scout earns Eagle Horton —Moses Carl Cipat Tinio, a member of Boy Scout Troop 112 and St. Leo Parish here, received his Eagle Scout award on March 17 in a Court of Honor at Horton High School.

For his Eagle project, Tinio Moses Tinio refurbished the rocks and picnic tables around Mission Lake in Horton.

Eagle and Gold Scout policy

• The Leaven prints Eagle Scout and Gold Award notices as space becomes available.

Include the following Information: • The Scout’s name, parish and what the Scout did for their Eagle/Gold project. Send notices to: The Leaven, 12615 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City, KS 66109, attn: Todd; or send an email to: Todd@theleaven.com.

Catholic Business Opportunity The Trinity House Catholic Books and Gift shop and the Wee Irish Shop, located in Johnson County, Kansas, is for sale. The founder and owner has decided to sell this successful business, which offers a wide variety of books, gifts, and other Catholic items, as well as a selection of Irish-themed gifts.

Trinity House has been a stable enterprise in the heart of the Johnson County Catholic community for more than 16 years. The ideal new owner should be a committed Catholic desiring to continue serving in this ministry and enjoying this rewarding business. The owner plans to retire and will provide transition assistance to the new owner.

Trinity House Catholic Books and Gifts, Windmill Square Center 7287 West 97th Street Overland Park, KS 66212 For More Information Contact Joe- 816-797-5700

nation 11

May 24, 2013 | theleaven.com

Tornadoes exact deadly toll in Oklahoma

O

KLAHOMA CITY (CNS) — Even after the initial death toll was cut by more than half, the human and material devastation of a string of tornadoes that buffeted areas of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City May 19-20 was incalculable.

“Our first concern is for the victims who have lost their lives or loved ones and suffered injury or loss of property,” said a May 21 statement by Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City.

“We are moved by the efforts of the first responders who have put their own lives on hold to help in this time of need. We owe them a debt of gratitude and assure them of our prayers,” Archbishop Coakley said.

St. Andrew the Apostle Church in Moore, an Oklahoma City suburb that bore the brunt of the EF5 tornado that hit mid-afternoon May 20, was reported to have been spared, although it had lost its telephone service in the wake of the twister.

The revised number of those confirmed dead stood at 24, including at least seven children, as of midday May 21, down from the original estimate of 51. A spokeswoman for the Oklahoma City medical examiner at one point had put the death toll at 91 with more than 140 injured, nearly half of them children.

Officials with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul were expected to arrive in Norman by midday May 21 to meet with members of the society’s local conferences in the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City to assess needs of tornado victims throughout the state.

“We’re trying to make a determination of unmet needs and what our appeal will be,” Elizabeth Disco-Shearer, executive director of the society’s south-central region, told Catholic News Service as her three-member team traveled from West, Texas, where she was assisting families who lost homes in a mammoth fertilizer factory explosion April 17.

“We go in and work with the local authorities and integrate into the process. Within the first 72 hours, it’s a fact-gathering mission to determine where we can be most effective,” she said.

Plans call for the agency to bring in specialists in a rapid response team, she added.

Disco-Shearer has been scrambling of late. Her office also was assisting families in the north Texas communi-

CNS photo/Gene Blevins, Reuters

People look for belongings after a massive tornado struck Moore, Okla., May 20. The tornado touched down outside Oklahoma City leaving a 20-mile path of death and destruction. ties of Granbury and Cleburne struck by violent tornados in mid-May. “In the south-central region, we certainly need a lot of prayers right now,” she said.

“Catholic Charities OKC and we as an archdiocese will work with many others to ensure a smooth and comprehensive response not only to the immediate needs of those affected by the violent storms, but also to their long-term needs as they rebuild their lives,” Archbishop Coakley said in his statement. “We’re there for the long term and we’re usually the last ones to leave.”

Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City planned to send teams into the ravaged areas as soon as possible, said Sonny Wilkinson, associate director for mission advancement.

The May 20 twister left a 20-mile path of death and destruction.

In addition to Moore, Wilkinson said teams were planning to head to Edmond and Shawnee.

“None of our parishes suffered any damage,” he said. “We’ll do the assessment and help with immediate needs.”

Meanwhile, Catholic Charities USA’s disaster response program has contacted the local agency asking about the assistance it can offer, but Wilkinson said he will not know what is needed until the initial assessments are made.

“They’ve been great in offering as-

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sistance,” he said. “We haven’t asked them to come but I imagine that is on the horizon.

“We’ve heard from Catholic Charities in Joplin (Mo.), Tulsa, (Okla.), Las Vegas, Baton Rouge (La.). The Catholic Charities network is really responding to this and wanting to help.”

Nationally, the Knights of Columbus has sent $10,000 to the Oklahoma state council to assist with the relief effort.

The organization said in a May 21 statement it is waiting for recovery efforts to “calm down” before sending in a team to assess how else it might respond.

“Our prayers are with the people of Oklahoma today. And we will back up those prayers with deeds for as long as it takes,” President Barack Obama said in remarks at the White House May 21, a day after he signed a major disaster declaration covering the state of Oklahoma and committing federal aid and resources to five Oklahoma counties.

“As a nation, our full focus right now is on the urgent work of rescue, and the hard work of recovery and rebuilding that lies ahead,” Obama said.

“There are homes and schools to rebuild, businesses and hospitals to reopen, there are parents to console, first responders to comfort, and, of course, frightened children who will need our continued love and attention,” he added.

Nation

FCC to try rewriting indecency standards WASHINGTON (CNS) — After running afoul of the courts yet again, the Federal Communications Commission is taking another stab at rewriting its regulations on indecent content on over-the-air television and radio. Whether the regulations need to be rewritten, though, is another matter entirely. The FCC has sustained its court losses in trying to fine networks for profanities uttered at awards ceremonies that aired on Fox and NBC, and also for the Janet Jackson breast exposure during the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show which aired on CBS. But because the court rescinded the FCC punishment, does that weaken the FCC’s enforcement powers?

And if that’s the case, what would a new regulatory framework look like? Currently, no indecent words or images are to be aired between the hours of 6 a.m. and 10 p.m., when children are most likely to be awake and watching TV. The FCC asked for comments on whether those rules should be changed. The original deadline for the public comment period was May 20, but has been extended to June 19. “This has been on the FCC’s plate for a long time,” said Helen Osman, USCCB secretary for communications.

Indiana Catholic family challenges mandate MADISON, Ind. (CNS) — Although Grote Industries in Madison has been in business for more than a century, one date in May holds particular significance to the family-owned, worldwide manufacturer of vehicle lighting products. On May 22, a three-judge panel of the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago was scheduled to hear arguments in the lawsuit the Grote family filed last October to gain relief from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services mandate that forces most employers to provide abortion-inducing drugs, sterilizations and contraceptives to their employees in company health plans. The mandate is a part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, called Obamacare by some, which was signed into law in 2010. The Grote family was granted a preliminary injunction in January. On May 22, however, arguments will be made on the merits of their case that could lead to permanent relief from the mandate. Although many other Catholic organizations and businesses owned by Catholics and other people morally opposed to the mandate have been granted preliminary injunctions, the Grote case is the first to receive a hearing on the merits of their case.

12 classifieds Employment President/CEO - Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas is seeking an outstanding executive leader for its $15M+ operating budget/200+ employee organization located in Overland Park. Candidate must be a practicing Catholic committed to the church’s teaching. Looking for a systems thinker who is customer-focused and goal-driven. Strong executive leadership qualities, business acumen and a commitment to the mission are required. For consideration, email letter of interest and updated resume to Michael Shirley Associates at: admin@mshirleyassociates. com. Candidates will be considered regardless of race, color, sex, age, national origin, disability or veteran status.

Rural youth outreach coordinator - The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas is seeking a dynamic individual for a new position in rural youth ministry. The Rural Youth Outreach Coordinator will assist with the creation and implementation of programs, as well as develop training, for those serving the evangelization, youth ministry and catechesis efforts in the Southern, Topeka, Nemaha, and Atchison regions. The ideal candidate will be committed to Catholic teaching, knowledgeable of theology and catechesis, and possess leadership skills with a track record of innovation and collaboration. This position requires a bachelor’s degree, preferably in youth ministry, theology or related field or equivalent experience, and experience in management and development of Catholic youth ministry programming. Knowledge and experience of rural parish communities is helpful. Knowledge of publishing and developing audio, video and print publications desired. Interested candidates must submit the following: a cover letter expressing your desire to serve the church in this position; resume; letter of support from your pastor; and a completed application form available on the website at: http://www.archkck.org/employment. Send by email to: jobs@archkck.org, or by mail to: Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, Human Resources - Rural Youth Search, 12615 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City, KS 66109. Submission deadline is May 31.

Administrative assistant - St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Leawood is seeking an administrative assistant for the religious education office. This position is a 15 - 20 hour per week position and requires a flexible work schedule (some evenings and weekends). The ideal candidate will be proficient with Microsoft Word, Excel and Publisher, have the ability to multitask, have good communication and organizational skills, and work well with volunteers. Send letter of interest and resume by email to Denise Ogilvie at: denise. ogilvie@stmichaelcp.org.

Youth minister - St. Michael the Archangel, a parish of 2100 families in Leawood, is seeking a full-time youth minister to work with the current youth minister. This position is responsible for organizing and implementing a comprehensive youth program in cooperation with the catechetical staff of our parish. The ideal candidate will be able to lead and guide middle school and high school students to grow in the knowledge of the Catholic faith, in the practice of that faith in light of the principles of Christian morality and social justice, in the celebration of the sacraments, and in the development of their spiritual lives. The youth minister must be a practicing Catholic who lives the Gospel in all aspects of his or her life and be a model of Christian living for the young people of our parish. Additionally, this position requires knowledge of our faith and the ability to teach and share credibly the gift of faith. Preferred skills include a fluent knowledge of Microsoft Office and Photoshop as well as musical and technological abilities. This position requires evening and weekend hours. For more information or to submit a resume, contact Denise Ogilvie at (913) 402-3949 or send an email to: denise.ogilvie@stmichaelcp.org.

Front desk concierge - Park Meadows Senior Living is looking for a part-time office/front desk concierge to work Fridays from 4 - 8 p.m. and Sundays from 8 a.m. 2 p.m. Experience with seniors and office work a must.

Stop by and fill out an application at 5901 W. 107th St., Overland Park, KS 66207.

Co-director of youth ministry - Prince of Peace Church, Olathe, is seeking a dynamic, practicing Catholic with a mature spirituality and solid Catholic values to serve as the youth minister. The full-time position involves responsibility for helping plan and coordinate the high school youth ministry (Life Teen) and the junior high youth ministry (EDGE). Additional responsibilities include: ability to recruit and train volunteers; fundraising; building up the community; overseeing retreats and summer activities.

The position will work in conjunction with the existing youth ministry. The ideal candidate should demonstrate authenticity and maturity and have a sound vision and passion for leading teens closer to Christ. He/she should relate well to both youth and adults and possess the ability to articulately convey church teachings soundly and truthfully to young people. The position will be filled by someone who has experience in working directly with youth in the past. Application deadline is May 21. Submit application to: Prince of Peace Catholic Church, Attn.: Father Bill Bruning, 16000 W. 143rd St., Olathe, KS 66062.

Inclusive education coordinator - The Diocese of Kansas City - St. Joseph, Mo., is seeking an inclusive education coordinator for the 2013 - 2014 year. The Diocese of Kansas City - St. Joseph, Mo., currently has 9,000 students in 35 schools. This is an excellent opportunity for a special education professional to promote inclusive education in our diocesan schools. Applications may be made to the Catholic schools office on the website at: http://jobs.diocese-kcsj.org/?cid=4&lid=118. All applications must be received by May 31.

theleaven.com | May 17, 2013 Ironing - Seeking someone to do ironing of men and women clothing. I’ll deliver and pick up at your house. Expect 3 - 5 items per week. We live in Santa Marta retirement home at 116th St. and Pflumm, Olathe. Prefer someone living within a mile of Santa Marta. Prices to be negotiated. Call Tom Zarse at (913) 440-9890.

Are you ready to make a difference? – Do you have a heart for the poor? Christian Foundation for Children and Aging, a Kansas City-based sponsorship ministry, is seeking an outreach call representative to contact Catholic parishes. Position requires good telephone and database skills, along with basic familiarity of Catholic culture. Bilingual in English and Spanish preferred. Outbound call center/sales/fundraising experience a plus.

Range $11/$13 hour. DOE. Send cover letter, resume, and salary requirements to: CFCA HR, 1 Elmwood Ave., Kansas City, KS 66103, or email in PDF or Word format to: hr@cfcausa.org. For more information regarding this position, visit the website at: http://www.hopefora family.org/EmploymentOpportunities.html.

Principal - St James Parish in St. Joseph, Mo., seeks a principal committed to Catholic education with strong leadership, communication and motivational skills. St. James is a parish school serving approximately 200 pre-K to 8th- grade students with a staff of approximately 15. The qualified candidate must be an active practicing Catholic in good standing with the Catholic Church (magisterium), a master’s degree in educational administration, teaching experience and preferably three years administrative experience. Applications may be made to the Catholic schools office on the website at: http:// jobs.diocese-kcsj.org/?cid=4&lid=118. All applications must be received by May 31.

Director of liturgy and music - St. Matthew Apostle Church, 8001 Longview Rd., Kansas City, Mo., 64134. The DLM is responsible for facilitating the worship life of the parish community. This person develops and is responsible for an all-inclusive liturgical ministry and serves as a cohesive force among the various liturgical ministries.

The DLM develops and supervises musical programs for the parish. Qualified candidates will possess a B.A. (M.A. preferred) in liturgy, pastoral ministry or music, have a working knowledge of Catholic liturgical and theological documents and possess knowledge of sacramental life and the structure of the liturgy. They will be familiar with a wide repertoire of traditional, contemporary and multi-cultural music. They will demonstrate flexibility, sensitivity, compassion, empathy and justice, and have the ability to motivate, mentor and empower others. Call (816) 763-0208 or send an email to Jeanne Marie Miles at: liturgy@stmatthewapostle.org.

School positions - Dickinson Catholic Schools, Dickinson, ND, invites applications for the positions of president, primary and secondary principals to assume duties July 1. President qualifications: Candidates must show evidence of a strong commitment to and practice of the Catholic faith and a desire to promote deep Catholic identity within the school based on the teachings of the magisterium. A master’s degree in school administration and supervision, curriculum and instruction, or a similar field is preferred. A minimum of three years experience required. Minimum principal qualifications: Practicing Catholic who believes, professes, and follows the teaching of the magisterium. Master’s degree in education.

North Dakota teaching certificate. Three year provisional is offered by ND. Minimum of three years experience.

Salary for all three positions is based on qualifications and experience but will be very competitive. Applicants are requested to submit a letter of interest, resume, and three references to the president of the board of directors of Dickinson Catholic Schools by sending an email to: toodk7@gmail.com and frwaltz@me.com.

Services Lawn Mowing Spring Cleanups/Landscaping Local Parishioner Insured/References Free Estimates Call Tony (913) 620-6063 Quality craftsmanship at a reasonable price! - Wood rot and house painting. Fiber cement siding/James Hardie. Window replace or repair, decks, basements and baths. Interior and exterior painting. Call Mike at (913) 991-3955.

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

Call (913) 227-4902.

T-shirt Quilts! Graduation Quilts! Quilted Memories is now accepting graduation quilt orders. Let’s work together to design a unique memory quilt for your grad!

7913 Santa Fe Dr., Overland Park. (913) 649-2704 or (913) 492-8877. Full service long arm quilting shop!

Housecleaning - Old-fashioned cleaning, hand mopping, etc. A thorough and consistent job every time.

References from customers I’ve served for over 17 years.

Call Sharon at (816) 322-0006 (home) or (816) 214-0156 (mobile).

Cleaning lady - Reasonable rates; references provided.

Call (913) 940-2959.

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

Heating and cooling repair and replacement.

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

Tree service - Pruning trees for optimal growth and beauty and removal of hazardous limbs or problem trees.

Free consultation and bid. Safe, insured, professional.

Cristofer Estrada, Green Solutions of KC, (913) 378-5872. www.GreenSolutionsKC.com.

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

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

Visit our website at: www.KOATINDUSTRIES.com.

MEDICATION SETUP & MANAGEMENT - RN support visits for filling weekly pill boxes & managing medication. Affordable and convenient. To learn more, call Home Connect Health Services at (913) 627-9222.

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.

ALL AREA CATHOLICS WELCOME Christ the King Parish Federal Credit Union 5417 Leavenworth Rd., Kansas City, Kan. Good Car Loan and Share Loan Rates (913) 287-8448 or (913) 980-2192 Hours: 7 - 9 p.m., Mon., Wed., Fri. Mike Hammer local moving - A full-service mover.

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

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.bankruptcylawin kansascity.com.

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

Landscape and irrigation design, installation and maintenance.

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

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

Home Improvement Spring is here! I do decks, fences, siding, windows, doors, roofing, exterior house painting and can cover all your landscaping needs. I bid and do the work, and am fully insured. Serving the Leaven parishioners for 12 years. Call Joshua Doherty at (913)-709-7230.

Wood rot and house painting - 25 years experience painting houses and working with wood rot and window repairs. I honestly believe you cannot find a better job out there. Up to 15-year warranty on your paint job!

No job too big or small, and I will be on your job working every day — no subcontracting out work to someone else. Fully insured and plenty of references. Call me today! Mike at (913) 991-3955.

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.

House cleaning in the JOCO and WYCO area – We can clean weekly, biweekly or once a month. Organizing, garage cleaning or good spring cleaning. Call Marcia at (913) 707-7166.

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

Brick mason - Available year-round; installation and repair of all types of masonry work — brick, stone, tile and flat work. 19 years of residential/commercial experience.

Free quote – KC metro area – small and large jobs accepted. Call (913) 485-4307. Yes, we renovate kitchen/ bathroom cabinets and install new floor tile.

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

Custom countertops - Laminates installed within 5 days. Cambria, granite, and solid surface. Competitive prices, dependable work. Call the Top Shop, Inc., at (913) 962-5058. Members of St. Joseph, Shawnee.

Adept Home Improvements Where quality still counts!

Basement finishing, Kitchens and baths, Electrical and plumbing, Licensed and insured. (913) 599-7998 House painting - Interior and exterior; wall paper removal. 20 years experience. Reasonable rates. Call Joe at (913) 620-5776.

Exterior painting, drywall projects, wood rot repair, bathroom and kitchen remodels, and tile work - Quality products. 20 years experience. References. Call (913) 206-4524.

Detail construction and remodeling - We offer a full line of home remodeling services. Don’t move — remodel! Johnson county area. Call for a free quote. (913) 709-8401.

Perfect Roof - Free estimates; roofing repairs if needed.

Hail and wind damage inspections. Insured and reasonable. Call (816) 288-1693.

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for Rent For rent - House in Mission, Kan. Two bedroom, one bath, one-car garage. Four miles to KU Med and Plaza. Available June 1. Call Ron at (913) 568-1395.

vacation Sanibel Island condo - 2 BR, 2 BA, completely furnished, newly remodeled. Enjoy the pristine beaches and warm Gulf waters. For more information, call (913) 888-3032 or send an email to: jdpanjada@ everestkc.net.

Lake of the Ozarks - 2 BR/2 BA house with a large dock. Gravois Arm P-Road. Rent for the summer season, May 1 - Nov. 1. Call (816) 223-3244 or send an email to: johnbrulez@aol.com.

Travel to Tuscany, Italy; 9 days, Nov. 5 - 14 – See Florence, Assisi, Rome, Montacatini and much more.

Travel from KCI, all inclusive, $2,999. For complete information and travel itinerary, call the Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce at (785) 762-2632.

EL SOL Y LA TIERRA *Commercial & residential * Lawn renovation *Mowing * Clean-up and hauling * Dirt grading/installation * Landscape design * Free estimates Hablamos y escribimos Ingles!!

Call Lupe at (816) 252-3376

Mountain cabin in Winter Park, Colo. - 2 BR, 1 BA, fully furnished; sleeps four. View of Continental Divide from deck. Close to points of interest and activities. $95/night. Call (913) 642-3027. For pictures, visit the website at: www.tillmancabin.com.

Caregiving

Looking for an affordable room or a small studio.

Call (913) 579-5276.

Praying for a companion/caregiver for your parent/ spouse or self? Afraid to make a trip alone? – Would you like to go to the movies, opera, theater, grocery shopping, doctor’s office, hospital, or recovering from surgery? Can hire by 4/8/12/24-hour shift. Week or month or special activity. Retired female nurse. $20/ hour. Excellent references. Last position held 21 years.

Have passport, will travel. Your prayers are being heard.

Call (913) 384-2119.

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

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

ComfortCareKC.com.

Caregiving - Personal caregiver with 15+ years experience with excellent references. I am CPR-certified in infant, child and adult. Light housekeeping, meal preparation, medications, bathing, feeding tube, transferring, Foley catheter, trach, Hoyer Lift, vital signs, laundry, companionship. Call (816) 786-1794; ask for Ruth Ann. 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.

For sale - Prime crypt space for four persons in the beautiful Central Chapel Mausoleum at Resurrection Cemetery, 83rd and Quivera, Lenexa. Price negotiable.

Call (816) 665-8408 for information.

Real estate For sale - Ottawa, Kan., 2 - 3 BR, 1.5 BA ranch on full basement. 1-car garage. Fenced. Move-in ready! Ottawa is just 30 minutes S.W. of Olathe off I-35. $99,975. Visit the website at: www.bettybirzer.com or call (785) 4185701. Reece & Nichols TNC, (785) 242-3182.

Classifieds continue on the next page >>

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may 24, 2013 | theleaven.com

Wanted MISCELLANEOUS Home repair help available through Catholic Heart - Are you in the Kansas City, Kan., or Kansas City, Mo., area? Are you in need of some minor home repairs? Or just some general cleanup around home, or do you know of someone in need who may not see this article? Catholic HEART (Helping Everyone Attain Repairs Today) will be in our area July 15 - 18.

Catholic HEART provides the labor and some materials such as paint, tools, and wood. Requests for assistance must be submitted by June 14. If you miss the deadline, please send in your request anyway.

Visit our website for more information and to fill out the work order forms at: https://www.archkck.org/ ministries--offices/ecat-youth/ecat-youth---catho lic--heart-work--camp. For information, call Ernest Boehner at (913) 433-2085, Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas, or Rick Cheek in the youth office at (913) 284-1725.

wanted to buy Antiques wanted I buy old pocket & wristwatches; sets of silverware; souvenir spoons; advertising signs; coins; and Native American turquoise jewelry, arrowheads & rugs. Call Chris at (913) 593-7507 or (913) 6428269.

Wanted - Lionel trains. Call (913) 485-6700.

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 *** Antique/vintage jewelry, paintings, pottery, prints, sterling, etc.

Renee Maderak (913) 631-7179 St. Joseph Parish, Shawnee

Concrete Work

Any type of repair and new work Driveways, Walks, Patios Member of Queen of the Holy Rosary Parish

Harvey M. Kascht (913) 262-1555

May The Daughters of Isabella will hold an open meeting, covered dish lunch, Birthright shower, and fashion show on May 26 at Rossiter Hall – Assumption Church, 8th and Jackson, Topeka. The covered dish lunch will begin at noon, followed by the fashion show, open meeting and baby shower.

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Catholic Foundation of Northeast Kansas will present an estate planning seminar at 9 a.m. on May 29 at Bishop Miege High School. There is no cost to attend. Open to the public. For more information, call (913) 262-2701 ext. 238.

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Prince of Peace Parish, 16000 W. 143rd, Olathe, will host a garage sale from May 29 to June 1. Donations can be dropped off from May 26 - 28. All funds go toward youth summer trips. For more information, call Kyle at (913) 747-7744.

Scripture study, Bible sharing and reflection, lectio and journaling, an eight-week series facilitated by pastoral minister Heather Neds, will be offered at Keeler Women’s Center, 2220 Central Ave., Kansas City, Kan., on Wednesdays, May 29 - July 17, from 9:30 - 11 a.m. This weekly Bible study group will be based on the upcoming Scripture readings from the Catholic Lectionary. Call (913) 906-8990 to register.

St. Monica’s homeschool group is hosting a Kansas City Catholic home school graduation Mass and celebration on May 31 at 6:30 p.m. at Church of the Nativity, 3800 W. 119th, Leawood. Celebration and snacks will follow at Fitness Plus, 4500 W. 107th St., Overland Park.

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June Celebrate the 90th anniversary of St. John’s Catholic Club at the annual Croatian Day picnic after 4 p.m. Mass on June 1 on the Strawberry Hill Museum grounds adjacent to St. John the Baptist Church, 4th and Barnett, Kansas City, Kan. Music is by the Hrvatski Obicaj tamburitzans and Don Lipovac’s polka band. Lamb, beef, and smoked sausage will be served. There will also be salami and ham raffles. Proceeds benefit the church’s building restoration fund.

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A summer festival to benefit the charitable works of the Sisters, Servants of Mary will be held on June 2 from noon - 5 p.m. at the Sisters’ convent, 800 N. 18th St., Kansas City, Kan. Homemade tacos and tamales, Italian sausage and barbecue beef sandwiches, hot dogs, ice cream, and Spanish desserts will be served. There will be games for children and a variety of booths.

For more information, call (913) 371-3423.

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Father Bob Hasenkamp will celebrate his 50th anniversary as a priest on June 2. A Mass of thanksgiving will be offered at 1 p.m. at Most Pure Heart of Mary Church, 3601 S.W. 17th St., Topeka. A reception will follow in the parish hall.

Father Tom Hesse will celebrate his golden jubilee at his home parish of St. Joseph Church, Flush, on June 2 at 11 a.m. A celebration at Father Hesse’s first parish, Assumption Church, Topeka, will take place on June 9 at 5:00 p.m. Father Hesse has served in 22 parishes in the Archdio-

cese of Kansas City in Kansas, was a prison chaplain for 17 years, and served as a chaplain in the U.S. Army Reserve program for 29 years. He is currently retired in Topeka and continues to help out where needed.

Queen of the Holy Rosary Wea, 1-2 22705 Metcalf Rd., Bucyrus, will hold its parish-wide garage sale on June 1 from 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. and June 2 from 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. For more information, call (770) 335-8244.

Advice and Aid Pregnancy Centers, Inc., is in need of volunteers and will offer a volunteer informational meeting on June 3 from 7 - 9 p.m. The meeting will be held at 11644 W. 75th St., Shawnee. For more information or to RSVP, contact Mary Newcomer at (913) 962-0200 or send an email to: volunteer@adviceandaid.com.

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Keeler Women’s Center, 2220 Central Ave., Kansas City, Kan., will offer “Leaving a Spiritual Legacy,” presented by Mary Fran Zeller, BCC, on June 5 from 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. Comprised of stories and personal reflections, a spiritual will is a statement of core values cultivated over a lifetime. It is a way of passing on important insights gained in the school of life and expresses one’s hopes and dreams for the recipients.

Participants will be led through a process that will enable them to write a spiritual will. Call (913) 906-8990 to register.

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The parish-wide garage sale at Holy Spirit Church, 11300 W. 5-7 103rd St., Overland Park, will be held June 5 - 7 from 8 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. and on June 8 from 8 a.m. - noon (50% off). Proceeds will go to Habitat for Humanity, Uplift, Santa Gertrudis Parish in Honduras, and Alexandra’s House for terminally ill infants.

A prayer vigil for the feast of the Sacred Heart will be celebrated on June 6 at St. Joseph Parish, 11311 Johnson Dr., Shawnee, at 7 p.m. The prayer vigil will include the rosary, vespers, act of reparation, and Litany and Chaplet of the Sacred Heart.

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The Kansas City Catholic Homeschool Conference will be held 7-8 on June 7 - 8 at St. James Academy, Lenexa. Preregistration will conclude on May 10. For more information, visit the website at: www. kccatholic homeschooler.org.

An S.L.K. women’s group in Troy will sponsor the Pickers’ Paradise PLUS sale at the Troy Community Building on June 7 from noon - 5 p.m. and on June 8 from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. A variety of items will be for sale. To reserve a booth space or learn more about this event, send an email to Frankie Barnes at: ffgbarnes@yahoo.com or call (785) 985-2751, or send an email to Barb Winder at: winder@carsoncomm. com or call (785) 850-0640. The sale will raise funds for a scholarship program for local high school students.

Christ’s Peace House of Prayer, Easton, will host a weekend re7-9 treat from June 7 - 9 entitled, “The Three Stages of Prayer: A Practical Guide to Deepen Your Interior Life.” The format will be a series of conferences and discussions, eucharistic adoration, Mass and prayer. Check-in is Friday night between 5 - 7 p.m. The cost is $140 for individuals; $210 for couples. For more information, call (913) 773-8255 or send

Stair lifts & More We’ll lift you up!

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

Member Good Shepherd, Shawnee

Call Ed Toll Free 1-855-543-8632

an email to: directorcp@hotmail.com.

The Benedictine Sisters will offer an opportunity to begin healing the wounds of your childhood as you seek to understand the impact of your past on your present.

The retreat will be led by Benedictine Sister Marie Ballmann from June 7 - 9. For more information or to register, call (913) 360-6151 or visit the Sophia Spirituality Center’s website at: www.mountosb.org/ sophia.html.

St. Joseph Parish, 300 N. Broadway, Leavenworth, will host its 12th annual Germanfest on June 8. The Mass begins at 5 p.m., followed by a traditional German dinner from 6 - 8 p.m. Dinner includes sauerbraten and bratwurst with sauerkraut, German potato salad, red cabbage, and dessert. The cost is $10 for adults; $4 for children. There will also be a beer garden, raffle, and outdoor music by Festhaus-Musikanten polka band from 6 - 9 p.m. For additional information, contact the parish office at (913) 6823953 or visit the website at: www.icsj.org.

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Award-winning author and popular EWTN host Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle will speak at Prince of Peace Church, 16000 W. 143rd St., Olathe, on June 8 at 7 p.m.

The topic will be “Living the Virtues in the Family: Guided by Mother Teresa.” She will draw upon her decade-long friendship with this modern-day saint in providing practical wisdom and inspiration for today’s families. There is no cost to attend, but freewill offerings will be accepted.

O’Boyle’s books, DVDs, and CDs will be on sale after the presentation. For more information, visit the website at: www. donnacooperoboyle.com.

St. Malachy Church, Beattie, will hold its parish picnic on June 9. A beef brisket and pork dinner will be served from 5 - 7:30 p.m. The cost to attend is $8 for adults; $4 for children under the age of 12. The picnic will also include bingo, games, quilts, a country store and a raffle. The auction will begin at 8 p.m.

9

The St. John the Divine reunion committee will be holding a taco dinner fundraiser from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. on June 9 at Sacred Heart Church, 34th and Shawnee, Kansas City, Kan. The cost to attend is a $5 donation per plate.

Sacred Heart Parish, Paxico, will hold its buffet style chicken dinner from noon - 5 p.m. on June 9 at the parish hall, a mile north of Paxico. The cost to attend is: $7 for adults; $3.50 for children ages 4 - 12; and free for children under the age of 3.

Mass is at 10:30 a.m. Bingo, games, silent auction, and raffle begin at 12:30 p.m.

St. James Church, Wetmore, will host its picnic and auction on June 9. A roast beef and ham dinner will be served family style beginning at 4:30 p.m. The cost to attend is: $8 for adults; $5 for children ages 4 10; and free for children under the age of 3. The auction will begin at 8 p.m.

Sanctuary of Hope will host its 14th annual “Run the Good Race” 5K race/walk and pancake breakfast on June 15. The race will start on the Sanctuary of Hope grounds at 2601 Ridge Ave., Kansas City, Kan., at 7 a.m. Registration is $25 until June 13. For more information, visit the website at: www.sanctuaryofhope.org or call (913) 321-4673.

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14 commentary

theleaven.com | may 24, 2013

Sister Darlyne Kern, SCL

mark my words Scripture Readings Eighth week of ordinary time May 26 THE MOST HOLY TRINITY Prv 8: 22-31 Ps 8: 4-9 Rom 5: 1-5 Jn 16: 12-15 May 27 Augustine of Canterbury, bishop Sir 17: 20-24 Ps 32: 1-2, 5-7 Mk 10: 17-27 May 28 Tuesday Sir 35: 1-12 Ps 50: 5-8, 14, 23 Mk 10: 28-31 May 29 Wednesday Sir 36: 1, 4-5a, 10-17 Ps 79: 8-9, 11, 13 Mk 10: 32-45 May 30 Sir 42: 15-25 Ps 33: 2-9 Mk 10: 46-52 May 31 THE VISITATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY Zep 3: 14-18a (Ps) Is 12: 2-3, 4bcd, 5-6 Lk 1: 39-56 June 1 Justin, martyr Sir 51: 12cd-20 Ps 19: 8-11 Mk 11: 27-33 ninth week of ordinary time June 2 THE MOST HOLY BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST (Corpus Christi) Gn 14: 18-20 Ps 110: 1-4 1 Cor 11: 23-26 Lk 9: 11b-17 June 3 Charles Lwanga and companions, martyrs Tb 1: 1, 3; 2: 1a-8 Ps 112: 1-6 Mk 12: 1-12 June 4 Tuesday Tb 2: 9-14 Ps 112: 1-2, 7-9 Mk 12: 13-17 June 5 Boniface, bishop, martyr Tb 3: 1-11a, 16-17a Ps 25: 2-9 Mk 12: 18-27 June 6 Norbert, bishop Tb 6: 10-11; 7: 1bcde, 9-17; 8: 4-9a Ps 128: 1-5 Mk 12: 28-34 June 7 THE MOST SACRED HEART OF JESUS Ez 34: 11-16 Ps 23: 1-6 Rom 5: 5b-11 Lk 15: 3-7 June 8 The Immaculate Heart of Mary Tb 12: 1, 5-15, 20 (Ps) Tb 13: 2, 6-8 Lk 2: 41-51

Strive to be a gentle man or woman

“Y

ou guys, I am sooooooo sorry.”

The words were spoken by a harried waitress on a recent Sunday when my mom and I decided to head out to a popular restaurant for lunch. The place was packed and we were seated in a booth close to the kitchen. Our waitress had just stopped by, for the third time, to refill our tea and Diet Coke glasses.

“Your order should be coming up really soon,” she said. “The cook is kinda overwhelmed back there and . . .”

I stopped her with a smile and said, “Hey, don’t worry about it. I was a waiter once, and you’re doing a great job. We see that the place is jampacked, and the orders are coming out of the kitchen as fast as they can. It’s OK! If this is the worse thing that happens to me today — that I’ve had to wait for my lunch — then this will be a spectacular day.”

A look of relief washed over her face and, in short order (so to speak), out came our food. It was delicious and well worth the wait.

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

As things slowly calmed down, the waitress came by, visited with us and thanked us for being so patient and understanding. I left a nice tip and Mom left her some advice, “You keep smiling and stay as sweet as you are.”

There’s a lot to be said for treating people with gentleness. It’s how I try to live, because that’s how my parents lived. I’m not always successful in that, to be sure, but it’s something that I continue to strive for.

Author and pastor Clark Cothern envisions God as a “gentler,” similar to Tom Booker. Remember him? That was the character Robert Redford portrayed in the 1998

movie “The Horse Whisperer,” which told the story of Booker, who was said to have a gift of “gentling” horses.

You might remember the film: A hard-driven New York editor watches in amazement at the transformation of her daughter’s horse from traumatized to tame. In one scene, when her cellphone goes off, the horse is so frightened that it streaks off to the farthest end of a pasture. Booker walks out to the pasture and then calmly sits down . . . and waits . . . and waits. Eventually, the horse’s curiosity gets the better of it, and it inches closer and closer to Booker until he’s at last able to touch the horse’s nose and lead it back to the safety of the stable.

Cothern says that God often does the same with us who so often stray from him by our sins: God “gentles” us back to him.

Gentleness and patience don’t come easy for us in our hectic world. Heck, I remember watching “The Horse Whisperer” when it first came out. Its leisurely pace — it clocks in at nearly three hours — made me impatient

and wanting things to happen faster in the film! But that was the point, I guess: To teach the lesson that good things come to those who (have the patience to) wait.

Every summer, I get “reschooled” in patience by the “gentler” biweekly schedule of The Leaven, which we enter into with this issue. As gentleness takes hold of me, so too does patience. Gentleness makes me more human, in a sense, and provides perspective.

Let this summertime be a lesson of growing in gentleness. Practice slowing down from the busyness of life.

Take deep breaths, feel the cool grass beneath your bare feet, savor a meal on the patio or porch, watch for lightning bugs, take a nap, get comfortable with a good book, stare at the starry night.

As life relaxes, you’ll probably hear the gentle voice of God in a breeze or in the quiet of your heart. And don’t be surprised if, as you gentle down, you discover in yourself a desire and a gift for “gentling” those around you.

In the beginning

Wisdom takes active role in the process of creation

W

e Americans have earned a reputation in the world for our ability to get things done. Italians excel in the fine arts. French cuisine is known throughout the world. Germans dominate the classical music scene.

But we Americans are very practical. It is no accident that the only philosophical system of thought to originate in this country is pragmatism, developed

by William James. It correlates to our distinctive talent for organizing, for getting things done on a large scale.

The figure of Wisdom which appears in Sunday’s first reading, Prv 8:22-31, fits in well with this stress upon getting things done.

Personified as a woman, Wisdom speaks to us. She tells us of her origins: “From of old I was poured forth, at the first, before the earth.”

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

According to this narrative, Wisdom was present when the universe was created: “When the Lord established the heavens I was there.”

But Wisdom was not present as a passive bystander: “Then was I beside him as his craftsman.”

Wisdom plays a role in creation, in assisting God in some way, although no specifics are given in this passage.

That is significant. It would be possible to think of wisdom as seeking after

knowledge in order to satisfy one’s curiosity, to have a theoretical understanding without any practical applications.

But that is not the way Wisdom appears here. Rather, in the Book of Proverbs, Wisdom is an artisan. She gets things done. She is not content to just think and reflect about the state of the world. She takes an active part in the workings of the world.

We will hear this reading in a few days because it is Trinity Sunday, when we celebrate the mystery of the Holy Trinity, the three persons in one God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The personification of Wisdom in our reading as a person existing with God before the creation of the universe anticipates our understanding of the Son of God as a person existing with God the Father before the creation of the universe. The reading gives

THE PRACTICAL CATHOLIC “A place for everything, and everything in its place.” Well, duh!

Upon further reflection, though, maybe it’s not so “duh.” When I do have a place for something — like the trash or a recycling bin — I’m very good at putting things where they belong. Where I get into trouble is when I don’t actually have a designated place to put “stuff.” And, for the record, a “pile on the floor” is not a place.

I’ve been greatly helped in this by a little book, the mini edition of “Organizing for Dummies” by Eileen Roth.

us a preview of Jesus before he was born.

We usually think of God the Father in terms of creation. That is what we affirm in the Nicene Creed when we proclaim: “I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible.” At the same time, God the Father was not alone in the creation of the universe. God the Son shared in that work.

That is why we also affirm: “Through him all things were made.”

The Son of God shared in the work of creation. But he did not stop there. Once he was born of the Virgin Mary, he continued to accomplish the will of the Father. He took part in the work of our salvation. That is the new creation. He believes in getting things done. And thank God for that.

Using the word, PLACE, she proposes an easy way to bring order to your possessions: • Purge the junk: less stuff = less to organize • Like goes with like: group similar items together • Access: put items where you use them most often • Contain: gather things into boxes, file folders, etc.

• Evaluate how well your places work occasionally Oh, one more lesson from the book. It’s . . . hm, I wonder where I placed it!

— M.G.

local news 15

May 24, 2013 | theleaven.com

LEAVENWORTH — Sister Darlyne Kern, formerly Sister Scholastica, 85, died May 13 at Providence Medical Center in Kansas City, Kan. She served as a Sister of Charity of Leavenworth for 67 years.

Marie Darlyne Kern was born on Feb. 10, 1928, to Michael John and Mary Wells Kern, in Leavenworth. She was the oldest of their three children. The family lived in St. Joseph Parish, and Darlyne attended St. Joseph Grade School and graduated from St. Mary’s Academy in 1945. That fall, she entered the religious community of the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth.

Given the religious name Sister Scholastica, she professed her first vows on Aug. 15, 1947. About her religious vocation, Sister Darlyne wrote: “When I first entered the Sisters of Charity in 1945, my intentions were to serve the Lord in whatever he wanted me to do. The word ‘vocation’ means calling. God calls us in various ways by showing us where we are needed in various stages of our lives.”

Sister Darlyne engaged in a variety of work during her years in active ministry, beginning by teaching in both elementary and secondary parochial schools for 25 years. She also taught religious education classes for students who attended public schools and was on the summer vacation school circuit.

Following a car accident in 1973, the Lord

called Sister Darlyne to different ministries during the next period of her life. She served as a parish worker in both Billings and Conrad, Mont. Returning to the motherhouse in Leavenworth, she worked as a post office assistant on campus.

In 1978, she was asked by Sister Dolores Brinkel to work with prisoners’ families and thus began 25 years serving in prison ministry. She taught adult religious education in the prisons — both for Saint Mary College credit courses and noncredit Scripture classes. In May of 2000, her service was recognized when she was honored as the Kansas State Volunteer of the Year for the Department of Corrections. The warden who nominated her called her an “unsung hero.”

Along the way, she learned library skills which she put to good use at Sanctuary of Hope in Kansas City, Kan., and at Marillac Center. She also volunteered at the Leavenworth Library.

Sister Agnes Ann Kneib, SCL LEAVENWORTH — Sister Agnes Ann Kneib, 89, died May 15 at the motherhouse of the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth here.

Elizabeth Leone Kneib was born on Jan. 20, 1924, in St. Joseph, Mo. She was the youngest of eight children born to Leo and Anna Regina Fisher Kneib.

Elizabeth grew up on the family’s dairy farm five miles east of St. Joseph with her

four sisters and three brothers. She attended public schools until she was a high school sophomore.

That year, she moved to St. Joseph and boarded at a home where there was a small boy for whom she cared while the mother was at work. After Elizabeth graduated from the Convent of the Sacred Heart High School in 1941, she attended business college and worked for eight years. At Whitaker Cable Soldering, she inspected the solder and the color-coded wiring for accuracy.

Next she was employed in the office of Sun Manufacturing where uniforms were made for soldiers in the U.S. Army.

After researching several different communities, Elizabeth entered the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth on Aug. 18, 1949.

She was given the name Sister Agnes Ann and professed her vows on Aug. 15, 1951.

She received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Saint Mary College in Leavenworth and, after further study, was granted a skilled nursing home licensure.

Sister Agnes Ann taught for two years.

For the next 55 years, she engaged in the health care ministry of the community in different capacities. She worked in the business offices of several Sisters of Charities Health System hospitals and from 19621965, she was the financial manager at Providence Hospital in Kansas City, Kan. In 1965, Sister Agnes Ann began her ministry at Mount St. Joseph Home for the Aging in Kansas City, Kan., where she was administrator until 1977. She was instrumental in transitioning the home to the site of the former St. Margaret’s Hospital. She continued to work with the elderly in pastoral care and as a patient visitor at several facilities until she retired to the motherhouse in 2008.

Catholic cemeteries will host Memorial Day Masses kansas city, Kan. — Catholic Cemeteries of Northeast Kansas will host Memorial Day Masses on May 27 at the following locations and times: • Mt. Calvary Cemetery, 38th and State Ave., Kansas City, Kan., 9 a.m.; celebrated by Father Michael Hermes; new location: west of St. Joseph Mausoleum in the cemetery.

• Gate of Heaven Cemetery, 126th and Parallel Parkway, Kansas City, Kan., 10 a.m.; celebrated by Father John Riley.

• St. Joseph Cemetery, 61st Terr. and Quivira Rd., Shawnee, 9 a.m.; celebrated by Father Scott Wallisch.

• Resurrection Cemetery, 83rd and Quivira Rd., Lenexa; flag-raising by American Legion Post 370 at 8:30 a.m.; Mass at 9 a.m.; celebrated by Father Ken Kelly.

• St. John Cemetery, Lenexa, 8:15 a.m., at Holy Trinity Church, 89th and Pflumm Rd., Lenexa; celebrant to be announced.

• Mt. Calvary Cemetery, 15825 S. 169 Hwy., Olathe, 8 a.m.; celebrated by Father John Torrez.

• Mt. Calvary Cemetery, 801 S.W. Westchester Rd., Topeka, 10 a.m.; celebrated by Father Tim Haberkorn with Msgr. Vincent Krische and Father Nick Blaha, concelebrants.

For more information, call (913) 3714040 or (785) 272-0820; send an email to: information@cathcemks.org; or visit the website at: www.cathcemks.org.

16 Local news

theleaven.com | may 24, 2013

change of plans

God’s call puts future real estate mogul on another track

By Joe Bollig joe@theleaven.com

Personally Speaking

K

ANSAS CITY, Kan. — In the 1965 classic, “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” Lucy’s complaint is: “I never get what I really want. I always get a lot of stupid toys.”

“What is it you want?” asks Charlie Brown.

“Real estate,” replies Lucy.

Deacon Daniel Schmitz and Lucy had something in common. The big goal of his life, too, was real estate.

“I was going to do real estate mostly,” he said. “I was working in a bank as a credit analyst. I was going to be a loan officer and, at the same time, continue buying houses until I had enough rental income to retire. I planned on doing that at age 35, and then do whatever I wanted for the rest of my life.”

God, however, had something else in mind.

Deacon Schmitz was raised in a rather traditional Catholic farm family.

His parents raised him and his four siblings on a small, diversified family farm — storybook stuff that has become increasingly less common.

Both his mother and father came from large families, so he had lots of uncles, aunts and cousins — all Catholic.

“We always knew church was important,” said Deacon Schmitz. “We wouldn’t miss it for anything, except sickness.”

He played in a summer basketball league. There were several Catholics on the team, so his father made sure everybody made it to Mass. Family get-togethers were preceded by Mass.

“We would always start and end our meals as a family with prayer,” he said. “I didn’t realize [until I was in college that] ending meals with prayer was not typical.”

He graduated from high school and pursued a degree that would suit his ambitions in entrepreneurship and finance. While in college, he worked in a bank and bought houses.

Everything seemed to be right on track for his plan to retire at 35. But then a nagging thought bothered him: Then what?

“That’s what got me started thinking about [the] seminary. When I realized, ‘What would I do for the rest of my life?’” he said, “I [decided that I] wanted to help people.”

He reached an unexpected, critical point during his junior year of college when the president of the bank offered him a job as a loan officer.

“That was the first time I really thought hard about what I was going to do,” said Deacon Schmitz. “I realized that I wanted to help people in the most important way possible — through the sacraments. That was the first time the light bulb went off and I thought, ‘Hey, I should be a priest!’”

“

Photo courtesy of nathan Haverland

Deacon Daniel Schmitz, right, poses with Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York, in St. Peter’s Square. Deacon Schmitz will be ordained to the priesthood on May 25 at St. Matthew Church in Topeka.

“I learned in seminary that there aren’t a lot of young, Catholic men whose families will support them. Thankfully, mine did.

Daniel Schmitz “Of course, I ran away from that thought for a while,” he continued. “It just kept coming back more and more.

I was trying to do anything but that. [I thought], ‘I can teach RCIA and catechism classes. I can work for a Catholic family credit union and help people with important things.’

“But I realized all those would leave me unfulfilled. I needed to search out something greater.”

His college chaplain knew.

“I’ve been thinking about talking to you for a while,” he said. “I think you should spend some time in [the] seminary.”

Deacon Schmitz decided to veer off the ambitious road he’d set himself on.

He would complete his degree, then explore the possibility of a priestly vocation at the seminary.

The clincher came while he was on a retreat for college students. The priest leading the retreat talked about how he, too, had been on the fence about his vocation. When he finally made a deci-

sion, it was like “buckets and buckets” of grace being poured on him.

“I thought, ‘I want that, too,’” said Deacon Schmitz. “That was the moment I decided that I had to try it for at least a year.

“And I’ve got to say, it’s been a similar experience of ‘buckets and buckets of grace’ being poured on me.”

Getting support and approval from the family was a big deal. “[My family said] they would support me in my decision,” he said. “They wanted me to be happy in life. If this was what was it, then God bless you.”

“I learned in seminary that there aren’t a lot of young, Catholic men whose families will support them,” he continued. “Thankfully, mine did, and it made it a lot easier for me. The closer I get to ordination, the more excited I get, and the more excited and supportive are my family members.”

He has never regretted his decision.

Following God’s call has brought him a lot of peace.

“When I decided to go to [the] seminary, I was able to take whatever situation I was in as a gift of God and say, ‘Lord, where are you in this situation?’” said Deacon Schmitz.

Being a deacon has been “an amazing experience,” and he’s really enjoyed preaching the word of God. It makes him look forward all the more eagerly to his future priestly ministry.

Deacon Schmitz will be ordained 10:30 a.m. on May 25 at St. Matthew Church in Topeka.

Name: Deacon Daniel Schmitz Age: 28 Born/raised: Holton Parents: David and Gail Schmitz Siblings: Michael, Jennifer, Andrew, and Christopher Home parish: St. Dominic Parish, Holton Education: Jackson Heights High School, 1999 to 2003, Wichita State University, 2003-2007, with a bachelor’s in entrepreneurship and a bachelor’s in finance Seminary: Entered Kenrick-Glennon Seminary in August 2007 Favorite websites: ESPN.com, wsjon line.com, vatican.va, newadvent.com Favorite social networking tool: Facebook Tech I can’t live without: Laptop Favorite musical group/person: Gregorian chant from St. Ambrose My most notable encounter with the famous/infamous: Cardinal Dolan, in St. Peter’s Square The most inspirational Christians I’ve met: The faithful Catholic spouses who are open to life, placing God at the center of their marriage. Their loving witness is a constant challenge for me to give more of myself to God and those he desires me to serve.

Favorite saint and why: St. Joseph; 1) He was always sleeping when God wanted to talk to him; 2) He always did as God asked, no matter how challenging or difficult the task.

Favorite devotion and why: the rosary. Apart from the Mass, there is no more efficacious prayer.

Favorite food: Anything Italian Favorite childhood toy: Basketball Favorite place in the whole world: Home. Second favorite: Rome Dream vacation: Spending nine days in Rome with my friends, celebrating Mass at the tombs of my nine favorite saints Worst job I’ve ever had: I grew up on a pig farm; there were a lot of jobs that are contenders for this: slopping manure is probably the worst of the lot.

Best job I’ve ever had: Anytime I’ve been teaching the faith, whether it is Totus Tuus and Camp Tekakwitha, or adults in homilies and RCIA Hobbies/things I like to do: Play basketball, read (especially history), go camping.

If I were sent on a difficult missionary journey, the saint I’d take with me would be: St. Francis Xavier. Not only is he the most effective saint I know, he is also the patron of the parish (in Mayetta) I grew up next to.

Qualities I admire in priests I know: Integrity, boldness, compassion, and unwavering adherence to truth and love Best advice I received: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” (St. Peter) My advice for someone seeking their vocation: Each vocation is where a heart’s deepest desires meet the world’s greatest needs. This is true for priesthood, religious life, and especially today, holy matrimony.

What I’m looking forward to as a priest: Confession — washing Christians’ white baptismal robes in the blood of the Lamb so that they may once more stand before the throne of grace and praise God for his mercy.