THELEAVEN.ORG | VOL. 43, NO. 40 | JUNE 3, 2022
‘THE SOURCE AND SUMMIT’
CNS PHOTO/BOB ROLLER
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops is promoting a better understanding of and belief in the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist — referred to in the Catechism of the Catholic Church as the “source and summit” of our Catholic faith — through a three-year eucharistic initiative.
Archdiocese joins three-year national eucharistic initiative By Joe Bollig joe.bollig@theleaven.org
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ANSAS CITY, Kan. — Phil and Nikki Frerker are making big plans this summer to go someplace different. No, they’re not planning a thrilling
vacation. They’re going to Mass — over, and over, and over again. “My husband said, ‘Hey, let’s go visit some different parishes around the Kansas City area,” said Nikki. “This summer, we’re going to be intentional,” she said. “My husband has made a list of parishes that have something special about them, like St. John the Baptist in Kansas City, Kansas, which was founded by Croatians.” The Frerkers love their home parish Curé of Ars in Leawood, but they want to give themselves and their children
experiences of how the Mass is celebrated at various parishes. This is one of the personal ways they plan to participate in a three-year nationwide initiative launched by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The initiative will promote understanding of and belief in the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist — eucharistic amazement. Nikki is on the archdiocesan committee promoting the USCCB initiative. In the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, this effort is called Revival: Eucharistic Amazement. It begins on the solemnity of Corpus Christi, June 19. The U.S. bishops were shocked when a 2019 Pew Research study found that approximately 70% of Catholics do not believe in the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist (although some argue that the way the questions were phrased could have been confusing). Similar findings were produced in a study by the Center for the Applied
Research for the Apostolate (CARA). “The bishops are concerned about the decline of Mass attendance in the United States as well as some studies that indicate that many Catholics do not believe in the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist,” said Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann. “Our hope is to help some Catholics discover, and many more recover, a great awe and love for the Eucharist.” After the launch on June 19, the initiative will move through four phases, said Deacon Dana Nearmyer, archdiocesan director of evangelization. They are: • the Diocesan Year of Eucharistic Revival, June 2022 to June 2023 • the Parish Year of Eucharistic Revival, June 2023 to July 2024 • the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis, July 17-21, 2024 • the Year of Going Out on Mission, July 2024 to Pentecost 2025 “This Corpus Christi starts not only
the Diocesan Year [of Eucharistic Revival], but it launches a year of preparation for parishes to figure out what they want to do in response to this revival,” said Deacon Nearmyer, who leads the archdiocesan Eucharistic Amazement task force and advisory board. “One of the genius [aspects] of this movement is that it is not for parishes only. It’s for parishes, apostolic movements, religious orders and for all Catholics of good will,” he said. “Bishop Andrew Cozzens (chairman of the U.S. bishops’ committee on evangelization and catechesis) asked the Knights of Columbus to be lead advocates for this [revival].” Revival: Eucharistic Amazement will have three “areas of concentration” for the archdiocese as a whole and individual parishes. They are: • The Lay Faithful: Provide Eucharistic Formation >> See “EUCHARISTIC” on page 2
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Educator/attorney offers refresher in Catholic education and the law By Therese Horvat Special to The Leaven
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EAVENWORTH — Drawing on her extensive experience as an educator and attorney, Sister Mary Angela Shaughnessy, SCN, JD, Ph.D., shared insights about legal issues facing Catholic schools during a recent presentation hosted by the University of Saint Mary here. She emphasized recurring themes, including the importance of schools staying true to the teachings of the Catholic Church; educators’ role in ensuring the safety of students to the extent possible; and the value of up-to-date and well-written handbooks. Sister Mary Angela also advocated for administrators to understand their schools’ relationship with their diocese, and that they ensure participation of faculty, staff and volunteers in safe environment training. Sister Mary Angela explained that because Catholic schools are private institutions, faculty, staff, parents, students and volunteers surrender their constitutional rights and the protections of the U.S. Constitution when they enter these facilities. Contract law is the main source of law for Catholic educational institutions. In an increasingly litigious society, she described handbooks as contractual legal agreements that delineate policies, responsibilities, expectations and other content targeted to different audiences. She recommended that individuals affected by these contractual agreements sign statements that they have read and agreed to be governed by the respective handbook. Allison M. Carney, associate superintendent of schools for the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, appreciated this refresher. “I was reminded of the importance of our handbooks,” she said, “and being sure that all stakeholders,
Sister Mary Angela Shaughnessy, SCN, shared insights about legal issues facing Catholic schools during a recent presentation hosted by the University of Saint Mary, Leavenworth. students, parents, teachers and staff know what is in the handbooks and their responsibility to comply with them.” Using the framework of a true and false exam, Sister Mary Angela offered practical advice and perspectives on a variety of legal issues. Among them, she discussed medication administration; field trips; student-to-student harassment; accommodation of students with learning or other disabilities; injury liabilities; use of school logos; search and seizure of items, including cellphones; and confidentiality. She cautioned that outside of the sacrament of penance, there is no absolute confidentiality. “Where health, life and safety are concerned, courts will never allow a teacher or staff member to keep information confidential,” she explained. Comments made by students with the request they be held in confidence can be subject to subpoena. As they strive to provide safe environments, Sister Mary Angela encouraged administrators to keep specific, behaviorally oriented and
verifiable documentation of situations and behaviors that are or could be considered problematic. She stressed that demeaning behavior, harassment, hazing and discrimination have no place in Catholic schools. Administrators can be held liable for student and teacher harassment of others. “Sister Mary Angela was very informative and relatable,” said James Sandstrom, principal of Hayden High School, Topeka. “She did an excellent job of explaining Catholic school law covering a variety of topics and noting handbook ‘must haves.’” The Sister of Charity of Nazareth has served in education in nearly every capacity — as teacher, principal, professor, graduate school dean and university vice president. She holds a doctorate in educational administration, has a law degree and has practiced law for 30 years. She is the founding director of the Education Law Symposium, is the author of more than 30 texts and is the recipient of numerous awards. The speaker’s emphasis on upholding teachings of the Catholic faith was the part that resonated most with Theresa Lein, principal of St. Matthew School in Topeka. “Within our Catholic school, we have the right [and the responsibility],” she said, “to live and teach our faith. Parents and faculty accept this when they enter our buildings and join us in the responsibility of sharing our faith with our students.” Sister Mary Angela concluded her presentation by advising the administrators of the following: “Remember to ask for God’s help and guidance each day. Pray. Prayer is not optional. Be faithful to prayer and practice due diligence.” Sister Mary Angela is teaching a summer course on educational policy, ethics and law in the higher education leadership track of the University of Saint Mary’s doctor of education program (EdD) through July 1.
ARCHBISHOP NAUMANN’S CALENDAR June 3 CFNEK continuing ed program Mass — Savior Pastoral Center June 5 School of Faith “Value Them Both” rosary — Fiorella’s Event Center, Overland Park June 6 St. Lawrence Center board meeting — St. Lawrence Catholic Campus Center, Lawrence June 6-9 Priests’ retreat — Benedictine College, Atchison June 10 Pitching for Priests — Kansas City Monarch Stadium June 12 Msgr. Michael Mullen 60th anniversary Mass and reception — St. Joseph, Shawnee 50th wedding anniversary Mass and reception — Church of the Nativity, Leawood June 13 Camp Tekakwitha Mass — Prairie Star Ranch June 14 Confirmation — St. Catherine, Emporia June 15 Jesus Covenant prayer meeting
Pitching for Priests set for June 10
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ANSAS CITY, Kan. — The 8th annual Pitching for Priests softball game will be held at 7 p.m. on June 10 at the Kansas City Monarchs Stadium, Legends Field Ballpark here, located at 1800 Village West Pkwy. The event — which benefits seminarians — features priests from the Diocese of Kansas City - St. Joseph vs. priests from the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas. Tailgating will begin at 4 p.m. For tickets or more information, go to the website at: PitchingforPriests.com.
Eucharistic focus will take many forms >> Continued from page 1
Three Boy Scouts from Troop 395 were awarded the rank of Eagle at a Court of Honor April 24 at Curé of Ars Church in Leawood. Pictured, from left, are: Nathan Klump, Jack McGurren and Jake Whitmore. For his Eagle project, Klump collected dog food for KC Pet Project during the pandemic when donations were down but the demand was still great. McGurren organized and collected hygiene products for his Eagle project for Lazarus Ministries KC, which provides for the unmet needs of Kansas City’s urban core. For his Eagle project, Whitmore collected 462 pounds of hygiene products for Catholic Charities, which ran short of these types of items during the pandemic.
• Clergy and Liturgical Ministers: Enhancing Eucharistic Zeal • Offer Transformative Eucharistic Experiences Information about archdiocesanbased podcasts, presentations, study days, conferences, workshops, formation opportunities and other offerings during this Diocesan Year of Eucharistic Revival can be found on the website at: archkck.org/revival. Since Catholics celebrate the Eucharist every Sunday and virtually every weekday, the first thing that can be done is for every priest, deacon and layperson to be aware of what we do when we gather at the table of the Lord, said Michael Podrebarac, archdiocesan consultant for liturgy and sacramental life. “That awareness under the leadership of pastors may incorporate hosting a formational session or one of the archdiocesan workshops for musicians and liturgical ministers that I’m going to start rolling out next month,” said Podrebarac. “Participation in one of
the devotionals — such as eucharistic Holy Hours, eucharistic adoration, eucharistic processions — are things the archdiocese needs to kindle and rekindle.” Thus formed, the most important work begins, he said, and that is making sure that all our parishioners are centered around the Eucharist, which is the source and summit of the life and mission of the church. Revival: Eucharistic Amazement is for all Catholics, said Archbishop Naumann. “Like with any friendship, we must continue to nourish and grow the relationship,” he said. “Friendships that are static are actually dying. The Eucharistic Revival is an opportunity to deepen our life for Jesus uniquely present in the most Blessed Sacrament. “Do they consider the Sunday Eucharist the most important event in their week? How can anything be more important than receiving Jesus in the Eucharist? We all can deepen our experience of God’s love revealed in the Eucharist.”
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PHOTO BY SARAH CARSON
From left, Colm Larkin, George Rhodes and Timothy Skoch kneel at the altar of Christ the King Church in Topeka during their ordination ceremony to the transitional diaconate. The three will be ordained priests next year.
Trio ordained to transitional diaconate By Marc and Julie Anderson mjanderson@theleaven.org
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OPEKA — It’s the foundational ministry for those ordained to be servant leaders in the Catholic Church. That’s how Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann explained the role of deacons at a Mass celebrated on May 21 at Christ the King Church, Topeka. During the Mass, the archbishop ordained Colm Larkin, George Rhodes and Tim Skoch as transitional deacons. Next year, the three men will be ordained priests. During the ordination rite, the men knelt before the archbishop, promising obedience to him and his successors. But it was through a separate step that he actually ordained the men to the office of deacon. During what is called the laying on of hands, the archbishop invoked the power of the Holy Spirit to consecrate or set aside the men for service to the church in a variety of ways. As deacons, the men will proclaim the Gospel, preach homilies and teach in the name of the church. Additionally, they will baptize people, lead the faithful in prayer, witness marriages, conduct funerals and assist priests at Mass. After the laying on of hands, the three men were vested with the dalmatic and stole, both symbolizing their new office. Assisting in the investiture were Father Trevor Lontine; Father Anthony Mersmann, associate pastor of Holy Cross Parish in Overland Park and chaplain of Bishop Miege High School; and Father
PHOTO BY SARAH CARSON
From left, deacon candidates Colm Larkin, George Rhodes and Timothy Skoch lay prostrate while the congregation intone the Litany of the Saints. Joseph Walsh. Finally, the new deacons received the Book of Gospels from the archbishop as he exhorted the men: “Receive the Gospel of Christ whose herald you have become. Believe what you read, teach what you believe and practice what you teach.” In his homily, the archbishop discussed the role of deacons within the church. “The ordained ministry, properly understood,” the archbishop said, “is all about service. It is not about titles and honors, recognition, vestments or power. It’s about being a servant to the people of God. It is a call to lay down one’s life in love for the bride, which is
the church.” After Mass, the newly ordained deacons summarized their emotions. “It’s very exciting. It was beautiful just to be consecrated for service to the church and to definitely promise my yes to God. He’s been generous to me, and it’s just a chance to try and be generous the way he’s calling me to,” said Deacon George Rhodes. “I think one of the things I’m looking forward to most is preaching homilies. You know, deacons have always been charged with preaching the Gospel,” he said. “That is not a light task, and there’s quite the lineage of people who have been doing it for 2,000 years, dating back to the apostles. So, that is a President Most Rev. Joseph F. Naumann
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beautiful office and responsibility that I’m looking forward to participating in to the best of my ability.” “I’m very grateful to God for my vocation,” Deacon Skoch said, adding he’s particularly looking forward to baptizing children. In fact, while at the Easter Vigil celebration at Holy Angels Church in Basehor, he was invited to sing the Exultet. “It’s one of my favorite prayers,” he said, “and after that, a couple asked me to baptize their son two weeks after this ordination.” When asked how he felt now that the big day of his diaconate ordination had arrived, Deacon Larkin said, “Just joyful. It’s surreal that what I’ve been studying for six years has finally happened. It’s the beginning. This isn’t the capstone. I’m being sent out on mission now. It’s just very beautiful.” During the ordination rite, Deacon Larkin said he was particularly touched in a profound way as he and the other two newly ordained deacons lay prostrate while the congregation intoned the Litany of the Saints. “It was just a very intimate moment speaking with the Lord,” he said. “Everyone around you was praying for you, and you were just laying there, talking to Jesus, giving your life up.” And like Deacon Skoch, he, too, is looking forward to baptizing children and drawing the faithful closer to Christ, especially through the sacraments. “I can’t wait to be back home and be with the people I’m called to serve,” he said. Managing Editor Anita McSorley anita.mcsorley@theleaven.org
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Archdiocese launches Helping Kansas Women campaign By Marc and Julie Anderson mjanderson@theleaven.org
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ANSAS CITY, Kan. — Helping Kansas Women. That’s the name of a new campaign aimed at helping Kansas women facing challenging pregnancy circumstances to “discover real resources that are helping Kansas women.” According to Deb Niesen, who serves as consultant to the archdiocesan pro-life office, the campaign consists of two parts, the first of which is the launch of a new website (helping kansaswomen.org) to “raise awareness of all of the amazing pregnancy resource centers and life-affirming organizations located in Kansas, including maternity homes and adoption agencies.” Currently, the website features more than 40 pregnancy resource centers across Kansas. Its search capability allows users to type in a location or ZIP code to find resources. If none are listed for a location, the website allows users to drag a map to find resources in other towns and cities. “We have all of these amazing pregnancy resource centers that are individually doing amazing work,” Niesen said, adding she was unaware of any other website or resource which lists all of the pregnancy resources available throughout the entire state. In addition to the website, Niesen said the campaign also features 30second TV and digital media ads, most of which are running right now to ensure women know that help and support are available to them. The videos can also be found on the website. That’s where Leah Conner, executive director of the Wyandotte Pregnancy Clinic, and Ruth Tisdale, executive director of Advice and Aid, helped — by matching film crews with clients served by the centers. “We really wanted to show the real deal and be authentic in what we presented,” said Tisdale. “We could have gone out and hired professional actors to share these stories, but there’s nothing like the real woman who’s really going through an experience.” Most pregnancy resource centers,
SCREEN CAPTURE
The archdiocese has launched a new website (helpingkansaswomen.org) to raise awareness of all of the pregnancy resource centers and life-affirming organizations located in Kansas. she explained, provide support not only during pregnancy but beyond, sometimes up to three years after the birth of a child. “I always say we all have the same mission,” Tisdale said. Pregnancy centers offer everything from medical services to parenting classes to mentorship programs. It just depends on the center’s location, budget and focus. What services a client chooses also vary, depending on needs and their own personal support systems. For example, Tisdale said one of the women who shared her story said she felt alone at first, but from the minute she walked through the doors of Advice and Aid, she “immediately felt loved and accepted.” After an ultrasound, the staff and volunteers of Advice and Aid walked with her, assisting with her material needs but also providing access to a support group and parenting education classes for two years. The woman’s child is now 7 years old, and Tisdale said she recently received an invitation to the woman’s upcoming wedding. Like Tisdale, Conner said she is gratified by the campaign. “In this climate, women need to know that we are here to help. They’re not alone, and I love how [the website]
Other resources The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas is also trying to raise awareness about two other ministries, a relaunch of Walking with Moms in Need at the parish level and a digital ad campaign about Project Rachel. For more on Walking with Moms in Need, a parish-level initiative aimed at supporting women facing challenging pregnancies, visit the website at: archkck.org/ prolife/activities/walking-with-moms/. For more about Project Rachel, a postabortive healing ministry, go online to: projectrachel. com.
is laid out for people to key in their ZIP code and find out where there is help close to them. If that’s not enough, they can also see other women who have been in difficult situations and were able to get help,” Conner said. Today, Conner said, the work of pregnancy resource centers is more important than ever. “It’s time for us to continue to be what we’re called to be — which is available for those women who are still going to be facing crises and going to have a hard time with their circumstances and probably be very, very fearful, not knowing how this is going to turn out for them.”
Announcement Father Shawn Tunink announced at weekend Masses on May 14 and 15 at St. Patrick Parish, Kansas City, Kansas, that Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann has granted him a leave of absence from priestly ministry to further discern whether he is able to continue to live joyfully the promises made at his ordination. His leave of absence is for an indefinite period.
Ken and Mary McCauley, members of St. Ann Parish, Hiawatha, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on June 10. The couple was married on June 10, 1972, at St. Mary Church, Purcell. Their children are: Traci Biesemeyer and Brad McCauley. They also have seven grandchildren. Larry and Anita Marstall, members of Immaculate Conception Parish, St. Marys, will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary on June 12 with a family dinner. The couple was married on June 9, 1962, at Sacred Heart Church, Paxico. Their children are: Barbara, Daniel and Ann Marie. They also have eight grandchildren. Terry (Rieke) and Donald Goode, members of St. Joseph Church, Shawnee, will celebrate their 50th we d d i n g a n n i versary on June 3. The couple was married on June 3, 1972, at Holy Trinity Church, Lenexa. Their children are: Jennifer Goode Tetu, Angie Atkinson and Franny Boland. They also have seven grandchildren. Marianne
(Kurtenbach) and Harvey Sylvester Jr., members of St. Paul Parish, Olathe, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on June 10. The couple was married June 10, 1972, at St. John the Evangelist Church, Herington, by Father Larry Pierce. They have two daughters: Ann and Karen. Jean and Claude Aldridge, members of Church of the Nativity, Leawood, will celebrate their 50th we d d i n g anniversary with a family dinner. The couple was married on June 3, 1972, at St. Ann Church, Prairie Village. Their children are: Claude Aldridge, Beth Uden and Kelly Argubright. They also have eight grandchildren.
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Popular Argentinian priest inspires Hispanic Catholics By Matt McCabe Special to The Leaven
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ANSAS CITY, KANSAS — A eucharistic conference hosted by the Cathedral of St. Peter here brought together Hispanic Catholics from across the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas for a Mass and two presentations May 14. Father Javier Olivera Ravasi, an Argentinian priest, scholar and notable social media influencer, gave two talks to Hispanic Catholics who attended. He gave similar talks during the same trip to the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph and the Diocese of Lincoln, Nebraska. The event drew a sizable audience to the cathedral. Hosting Spanish speakers and connecting with the Hispanic community is an important mission for the cathedral’s rector, Father Anthony Saiki. “We try to incorporate both languages as much as possible into the life of the parish, because really, ministry has to be in both English and Spanish here,” he said. Father Olivera’s first talk explained the importance of the Eucharist as the center point of Mass. It was held inside the cathedral following the Mass. At a second talk during an informal reception in the parish hall, Father Olivera answered questions from the audience and spoke about some of his more scholarly endeavors, such as his study of the Cristero movement, which was a period of persecution against Catholics in Mexico in the early 20th century. His words inspired “eucharistic amazement” in the eyes of the parish, Father Saiki said. “The bishops are beginning this eucharistic revival, this pastoral movement, to really re-instill in all of us a sense of love and faith and devotion for the Lord’s presence in the Blessed Sacrament, that he’s truly present in there — body, blood, soul and divinity,” Father Saiki said. The Cathedral rector is experienced in issues of diversity and inclusion from his former pastoral assignments. Before he came to the cathedral, he was at Holy Cross Church in Overland Park. It
was there that he hosted an educational movie night during the canonization of José Sánchez del Río, a 14-year-old Mexican Cristero killed by the oppressive government. One of his former parishioners attended the recent eucharistic conference. “It felt very personal,” said Claudia Bustos, a parishioner of Holy Cross. “I don’t know if it was because it was inside the church, but it just almost at times felt like he was talking to me directly. It was a very moving talk, and I got a lot out of it. I really did.” During the Q&A portion, Father Olivera related many of his personal experiences to his appreciation of the liturgy, which he said is centered around singing. “In reality, the more singing that can be done, the better, because the liturgy actually has to be much more,” said Father Olivera. “But I had a partner in the seminary who had been forbidden to sing at Mass,” he said to a room full of laughs. “It’s so bad, so bad I couldn’t listen to it.” His message resonated with a room full of adults, but also with many youth, including Janegro Herrera, a Hispanic high school student from Shawnee. “They could probably find something in themselves or learn something from the priest they could use in the future,” Herrera said about the young people listening to Father Olivera’s first talk in the cathedral. In a blog post published after his series of talks, Father Olivera made a note of his support of Catholic education in the United States and its importance in protecting the prosperity of Hispanic Catholic Americans. “Unfortunately, those who arrive [from their homelands] . . . manage to maintain the faith that they bring from their countries, but not so the following generations, who did not even have a Catholic school education,” Father Olivera wrote. “Hence, the need . . . to ensure that Catholic schools, in addition to being Catholic not only in name, are financially accessible to all.”
LEAVEN PHOTO BY MATT MCCABE
Father Javier Olivera Ravasi, an Argentinian priest, scholar and notable social media influencer, gave two talks to Hispanic Catholics who attended a eucharistic conference hosted at the Cathedral of St. Peter in Kansas City, Kansas.
Benedictine College launches Sheridan Center for Classical Studies
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TCHISON — Benedictine College here is proud to announce the establishment of the Sheridan Center for Classical Studies. The institute is named for Dr. Thomas F. Sheridan, whose multimillion dollar gift is one of the largest the college has received in its more than 160-year history. “Benedictine College is heir to the 1,500-year tradition of Benedictine education. This center will build on that legacy and position the college at the forefront of the movement to examine the foundational truths of culture in order to influence the future,” said Benedictine College president Stephen D. Minnis. The Sheridan Center for Classical Studies will promote and help guide: • the college’s Great Books Program, which has been named one of America’s Top 25 • the newly established classics department, which will contain the classics major and be led by the new Sheridan Chair of Classics, Dr. Edward Mulholland • the Honors program, led by the newly appointed Sheridan Senior
COURTESY PHOTO
This image is part of the fresco in the entryway of St. Benedict Hall on the campus of Benedictine College in Atchison. It represents the liberal arts and classical learning. Scholar, Dr. Susan Traffas, and the Sheridan Center director, Dr. Andrew Salzmann • the Classical Education track in the Benedictine College education department • a proposed new master’s degree in classical education “The Sheridan Center for Classical
Studies is important to our Transforming Culture in America plan,” said Minnis. The college’s strategic vision was developed in two years of meetings of community leaders from a variety of fields with Benedictine College faculty, board of directors, staff and students. Out of it grew four priorities. “This new center meets each of the
plan’s priorities,” Minnis said. “The Sheridan Center will help us to form students in the Catholic intellectual tradition; to prepare them to succeed at a high level; to further articulate the value of liberal arts; and to grow the college’s endowment.” The college’s Transforming Culture in America plan was inspired by St. John Paul II’s apostolic exhortation “The Church in America.” The document calls for American colleges to “train truly Christian leaders in the different spheres of human activity and in society, especially in politics, economics, science, art and philosophical reflection.” With the addition of the Sheridan Center, with its emphasis on classical thought, Benedictine College will now offer centers of distinction in each of the concerns St. John Paul II identified. “Saint John Paul II said, ‘Through [Our Lady of Guadalupe’s] powerful intercession, the Gospel will penetrate the hearts of the men and women of America and permeate their cultures, transforming them from within,’” said Minnis. “The Sheridan Center will help fulfill that promise.”
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JUNE 3, 2O22 | THELEAVEN.ORG
Build your family’s life on the foundation of a solid marriage
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n the occasion of this year’s World Marriage Day, my wife Teri and I attended a diocesan Mass for couples celebrating their silver and golden wedding anniversaries. About 70 couples were present. What a memorable event! What made this celebration notable and beautiful was not just the splendor of the cathedral, recently renovated, or the music and the rituals, but the tender love of those present. Many came into the church holding hands; they helped one another in and out of the pews and throughout the ceremony were aware of each other’s individual needs. Their love was visible especially at the moment of the renewal of their marriage promises followed by a warm kiss. Each kiss spoke volumes: a history of love that over time built a home for their family, amid joys and pains, and struggles and
JOHN BOSIO John Bosio is a former marriage and family therapist, director of religious education and diocesan family life coordinator. He is a member of the National Association of Catholic Family Life Ministers.
accomplishments lived together. Observing the devotion of these couples made me think of the engaged couples approaching marriage today. Will they be able to build a life together that brings such tenderness and joy at their 25th and 50th anniversary? How many of them will make it? Will they have the stamina to endure the challenges?
A few days after that event, an article landed in my inbox that reflected on marriage trends over time. The author pointed out that, in the past 50 years, the age of first marriage for men has moved from age 23 in 1970 to 30 in 2021, and for women from age 21 in 1970 to 28 in 2021. As a society, we have come to believe that a couple who marries later in life is more mature. They have completed their education, started their career paths and sometimes started a family. We accept these marriages as well thought out. On the other hand, we may find ourselves shaking our heads when a 20-something couple decides to marry. We wonder if they are mature enough to make such an important decision. And yet, most of the couples celebrating their silver and golden anniversaries at the diocesan event had married very young, perhaps in their early 20s, and
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they have successful marriages. The authors of the article I was reading were raising the question: Is marrying later in life better than marrying young? The findings from their research show that when it comes to the quality of the relationship and the satisfaction of the couple over time, the differences between the two approaches to getting married are not that significant. The main difference is the negative impact of cohabitation on the future of the marriage. Today, unfortunately, those who marry later in life are more likely than those who marry young to have cohabited. According to the Council on Contemporary Families, (University of Miami) those that cohabit before marriage increase their chances of divorce by 33%. An article by Brad Wilcox published in The Wall Street Journal on Feb. 5, 2022, says it all with its title: “Too risky to wed in your
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20s? Not if you avoid cohabiting first.” The article reports that women who marry between 22 and 30, without first living together with their eventual partner, have the lowest rate of divorce. This brings me back to the wedding anniversary celebration that we attended. In listening to the stories of the couples present, one could tell that most of them had married young and built their future together around their marriage. They had made their marriage the cornerstone of their life. Couples talked about how they met young and decided to marry; how they struggled financially in the first years; how they supported each other while working and going to school to finish their degrees; how some of them depended on their families to support them at first; and how they welcomed their children even when times were tough. Very few of them cohabited.
Good grief! Water closet Territory held in fee “__ porridge hot . . .” Caught sight of (KJV) Sees beforehand Instructional method (2 wds.) Dash Ref Carol Rip Transgression
DOWN 1 Downy 2 Discount 3 Convey 4 Unpermissive 5 Pallid 6 Electric spark 7 Bondage 8 Exploiter 9 Farm building 10 Total 11 Sneer 15 Goofs 17 Cow noises 19 Ocean 22 Recede
25 26 27 28 29 30 31 33 35 36 37 39 40 42 45 46 47 48 49 51 53 54 56 57 59 61 62
Question for reflection: What advice would you give to couples approaching marriage today?
What can we learn from the marriages of the couples celebrating their silver and golden anniversaries this year and from recent research? First, avoid cohabiting before marriage. While the age of marriage is not that significant to your success, cohabitation can be detrimental. Second, make your marriage the center of your life, your priority — the cornerstone around and upon which you and your spouse together build your family’s future. Third, rely on your faith to guide you and to carry you through the rough spots. The Catechism tells us: “Christ dwells with them, gives them the strength to take up their crosses and so follow him” (1642).
Carves Beehive State Dog food brand Look Transparent gem Heavy-set In addition They brought gifts He climbed a tree to see Jesus Economics abrv. Loafer Greek goddess of youth One of the Gospels Offer Respect Gets older Lager Bludgeon Mount (2 wds.) Turn over Lavish party Object of false worship Partial Sports channel __ Jima Bullfight cheer Dashed
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JUNE 3, 2022 | THELEAVEN.ORG
LOCAL NEWS
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After pandemic delay, Benedictine makes final vows at Mount By Julie A. Ferraro Special to The Leaven
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TCHISON — After being delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, a very special eucharistic celebration took place in St. Scholastica Chapel at Mount St. Scholastica here on May 15. The perpetual profession of vows as a Benedictine for Sister Jennifer Halling had originally been planned for September 2021. In order for Sister Jennifer’s family to attend, the liturgy was rescheduled. Abbot James Albers of St. Benedict’s Abbey, Atchison, presided at the Mass. Sister Esther Fangman, prioress of Mount St. Scholastica, accepted Sister Jennifer’s vows on behalf of the community. More than six dozen Sisters present welcomed Sister Jennifer with promises to support her in her vocation, and special blessings. Also during the ceremony, Sister Jennifer received a gold ring with the initials “IHS” — a Greek inscription for the name of Jesus — blessed by the abbot and slipped on the third finger of her left hand by Sister Esther as a symbol of her union with Christ. Sister Jennifer entered Mount St. Scholastica in 2016. She professed first vows — stability, fidelity to the monastic way of life and obedience — as a Benedictine in 2018. The daughter of the late Luke A.
JULIE A. FERRARO/MOUNT ST. SCHOLASTICA
Sister Jennifer Halling professes her perpetual vows as a Benedictine Sister of Mount St. Scholastica during Mass at St. Scholastica Chapel, Atchison, on May 15. Halling and the late Dolores (Will), Sister Jennifer grew up in Leavenworth, graduating from Immaculata High School. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Benedictine College, Atchison, and a master’s degree in pastoral counseling from Loyola College in Baltimore. She worked as a manuscript editor for a medical publishing company and a freelance copy editor prior to entering religious life. She also served on the staff at Shantivanam House
of Prayer, Easton, and volunteered at the Catholic Worker House in St. Louis, while being active in social justice issues and prison ministry. In the monastic community, Sister Jennifer serves as editor of Mount St. Scholastica’s twice-yearly magazine, Threshold, as well as Benedictines, a journal that is also published twice each year. She writes “The Monastic Call” (https://themonasticcall.blogspot. com), a blog, and serves as a director for
the Atchison oblates, lay people who affiliate with the monastery in following the Rule of St. Benedict. “Being a Benedictine Sister is integral to my life and ministry because it helps my work become a prayer,” said Sister Jennifer. “My life as a Benedictine Sister, with its focus on communal prayer and community, increases my awareness of the presence of God no matter what I am doing.” Sister Jennifer’s family has a rich history with Mount St. Scholastica. Local history records that the Hallings were among those who welcomed and protected the first Benedictine Sisters when they arrived in Atchison in 1863. As a nod to those ancestors who kept night watch over the Sisters, lanterns were used as decorations in the chapel and for the reception, which followed the Mass in the monastery’s dining room, bringing together Sister Jennifer’s family, friends and guests. Sister Jennifer will be pursuing her certification as a spiritual director through the Souljourners program offered by the Sophia Spirituality Center at Mount St. Scholastica, Atchison. She looks forward to continued spiritual growth as a Benedictine, seeing her ministry within the community as a source of strength. “It helps me stay centered and provides me with the structure and support I need to effectively share my gifts and talents with others,” she said.
Attendees find end-of-life planning workshop relevant and insightful By Therese Horvat Special to The Leaven
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VERLAND PARK — The 60 guests attending the April 26 session on end-oflife planning at Church of the Ascension here walked away with a wealth of information and invaluable resources. In addition, each couple and individual left with a gift voucher for at least $200 toward services of Catholic Cemeteries of Northeast Kansas, which hosted the event. “We were thrilled with the turnout at Church of the Ascension,” said Sharon Vallejo, Catholic Cemeteries president and CEO. “We continue to reach out to other parishes for the opportunity to offer similar events to help parishioners understand the many steps involved in planning funeral and cemetery services. Bryan Alonzo, our director of sales and marketing, does a very thorough job with his presentation and his responses to questions from attendees.” Sharon Weems, pastoral associate for administration and outreach at Church of the Ascension, found the session very helpful. “Bryan explained what people need to consider as they begin to think about end-of-life arrangements,” she said. “I learned the difference between Catholic cemeteries and Catholic sections
Left to right, Kayla Ardon, office manager, and Sharon Vallejo, president and CEO, both with Catholic Cemeteries of Northeast Kansas, register unidentified guests at the lunch-and-learn hosted at Church of the Ascension, Overland Park. in other cemeteries, and that there are many options for interment.” Ann Short, Church of the Ascension parishioner, described the presentation as excellent and well-organized. The concept of a Catholic cemetery as holy ground resonated with her. The session also reminded Short of the importance of preplanning. She recalled that her parents had made pre-arrangements and how beneficial this was as the family worked to fulfill her father’s
wishes following his death. “Preplanning our arrangements is something we want to do for the benefit of our children,” she said. Alonzo’s presentation encompassed reasons to choose a Catholic cemetery; the Catholic Church’s perspective on cremation; the “Catholic Circle of Protection”; funeral and cemetery services offered by Catholic Cemeteries; Catholic funeral rites; and the advantages of preplanning arrangements. He covered topics ranging from
cremation niches and personalized monuments to interest-free payment plans and new features under development at Resurrection Cemetery, Lenexa. The program began with a complimentary lunch following the noon Mass at Church of the Ascension. Attendees had the opportunity to ask questions throughout Alonzo’s presentation and to visit with Catholic Cemeteries family service advisers at the event. “The questions people asked and the insights they shared were great,” Alonzo said. “Their inquiries and observations allowed us to help enhance their understanding of what’s involved in end-of-life planning and the funeral and cemetery services available through Catholic Cemeteries, a ministry of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas.” “We hope that more parishes will agree to schedule these free events in conjunction with their adult faith formation or funeral ministry programs,” he added. “This enables us to emphasize our shared membership in the Catholic community and the communion of saints.” To contact Alonzo for more information about the free lunch-and-learn information sessions or services of Catholic Cemeteries, call (913) 371-4040 or send an email to: balonzo@cathcemks. org.
FAMILIES NEAR AND FAR CELEBRATE TWO NEW PRIESTS STORY BY JOE BOLLIG \ PHOTOS BY KATHRYN WHITE
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ANSAS CITY, Kan. — The ordinations of two men to the priesthood on May 28 at the Cathedral of St. Peter here had an especially poignant moment when Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann spoke of the ordinands’ parents. Following longstanding custom, the first two pews were reserved for family. Both were full. On the left sat John and Lori Gaffney of Topeka, parents of Father Andrew E. Gaffney, and other relatives. But on the right sat Visweswara Rao Mopur, first cousin of Father Sudeep Kodigandla, and others who could only be called “relatives by proxy.” “I regret that because of current travel complications, [Father Kodigandla’s] mother, Puspavathi, and his siblings and other family members are not able to be physically present today for our ordination liturgy,” said Archbishop Naumann, ordaining minister, in his homily. “But I am delighted they are able to participate with us virtually through the wonders of livestream [technology],” he added, “so we hope many are watching in India.” And one very important face was missing — even virtually. “Sudeep’s father Dominic died a little more than a year ago, and sadly because of COVID restrictions, Sudeep was not able to return for the funeral liturgy.” Visweswara Rao Mopur, who is from Anantapur in the state of Andhra Pradesh, has been to a few ordinations in India thanks to his Catholic relatives, although he is of the Hindu faith. He was able to come to the ordination because he lives in Atlanta with his wife and son. A few thoughts, commingled with pride and happiness, filled him as he witnessed Father Kodigandla’s ordination. “I don’t know many things about [Catholic ordinations], but I had one thing in my mind,” he said. “He had a wish to give back to the community, and for that reason he struggled a lot and he went through the tough times . . . and went through all the situations, and he’s here. He made it.”
Also looking on with pride and happiness were Father Kodigandla’s “Kansas parents,” Allan Goodman and Barb Chamberlain, from Most Pure Heart of Mary Parish in Topeka. Allan and Barb befriended Father Kodigandla three years ago when he served at their parish as a seminarian. “Allan and I are very involved in the church,” said Barb. “I serve on the liturgy committee. Father Sudeep was amazing. He jumped in, brought back the youth group, assisted Sister Ann with home visits and taught RCIA classes. He was just incredible. And we just loved him — it was just like having a son.” In his homily, Archbishop Naumann then thanked John and Lori Gaffney for giving Father Gaffney life and laying the foundation of his Catholic faith, which led to his ordination. “He spent a long time in formation, but I’d say since the day he said, ‘I want to be a priest,’ I knew today would come,” said John, with tears in his eyes. “I was thinking of when I asked him why he wanted to be a priest, and he said, ‘I just think this is what I’m supposed to do.’ And I told him all I wanted was for him to be happy, and he is truly happy,” said Lori. The Gaffneys know that parents of priests have to share their sons with many others, and that he’ll be missing from a lot of family get-togethers on Christmases and Easters. They accept that. “I know we’ll still get to see him, and he’ll be a part of all our family celebrations,” said Lori. “And he’ll get to baptize all the grandchildren and have lots of nieces and nephews to keep track of.” “His ministry is to serve others,” said John. “We have to know and respect that is what his role is, to serve others. He’ll still have time for family. When he’s not with us, he’ll be with others doing his work.” Father Gaffney’s first assignment is as associate pastor at Prince of Peace Parish in Olathe, and chaplain to St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Overland Park. Father Kodigandla’s first assignment is as associate pastor at the Church of Nativity Parish in Leawood.
Front left, Father Sudeep Kodigandla and, front right, Father Andrew Gaffney walk down the steps of the Cat
Father Sudeep Ko cessors.
Deacon Sudeep Kodigandla is all smiles as he sits before the archbishop in preparation to be ordained a priest for the archdiocese.
There are hugs al esan priests.
thedral of St. Peter in Kansas City, Kansas, as the newest priests for the archdiocese.
The priests of the archdiocese perform the laying on of hands. Father John Riley, standing at left, lays hands on Father Andrew Gaffney, while Father Joseph Arsenault, SSA, lays hands on Father Sudeep Kodigandla.
odigandla kneels before the archbishop, promising obedience to him and his suc-
ll around as the two newly ordained are welcomed into the fraternity of archdioc-
Father Andrew Gaffney offers a blessing over his parents John and Lori at his ordination ceremony on May 28.
LOCAL NEWS
JUNE 3, 2022 | THELEAVEN.ORG
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Native peoples join Catholics in search for boarding school details By Dennis Sadowski Catholic News Service
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CNS PHOTO/COURTESY RED CLOUD INDIAN SCHOOL
Elyssa Concha instructs kindergarten students at Red Cloud Indian School on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota during a Lakota immersion class on Feb. 13, 2020.
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ASHINGTON (CNS) — Native American tribal representatives are partnering with Catholic dioceses and religious congregations in uncovering vast amounts of information about the church’s role in operating residential schools that for more than a century worked to assimilate Indigenous children into white society. Known as the Catholic Native Boarding School Accountability and Healing Project, or AHP, the effort is helping church institutions learn about their past and aiding Native American communities fill holes in their ancestral history. The “pain of the realization of the immensity of the harms caused” motivated Sister Susan Torgersen of Minneapolis to join the effort as a member of its coordinating team and its Religious Accompaniment Subcommittee working with religious congregations of women and men. She said the AHP seeks to work toward accountability by Catholic institutions and to promote healing among both Indigenous tribes and Catholic entities. “As church, we owe our Native brothers and sisters what it takes in terms of reparations, in terms of healing. I believe we have to do this in a listening way,” explained Sister Susan, who said her religious community, the Congregation of St. Joseph, did not operate any of the schools. The work ahead must include Native American representatives in discerning how to carry out the task of searching thousands of pages of decades-old records in diocesan and congregational archives and how to share what is uncovered with tribal communities, those connected to the research process told Catholic News Service. “One of the things that’s really important in this effort is this is not something that many Native people need more information on. This is part of our family history. The real gap is the lack of awareness of non-Native people across the country,” explained Maka Black Elk, executive director for truth and healing at the Jesuit-sponsored Red Cloud Indian School at Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, South Dakota. “What I have suggested to the AHP is to build more awareness, to engage the non-Indigenous Catholic community and enter into this with an open heart and mind,” he said. Such painstaking research has taken on added significance in the past year since the U.S. Department of the Interior began studying Native and Indigenous boarding school operations covering the period from 1819 to 1969. In a first-of-its-kind report released May 11, the department said hundreds of boarding schools supported by the U.S. government sought to forcefully assimilate Native American and Indigenous
“ AS CHURCH, WE OWE OUR NATIVE BROTHERS AND SISTERS WHAT IT TAKES IN TERMS OF REPARATIONS, IN TERMS OF HEALING. I BELIEVE WE HAVE TO DO THIS IN A LISTENING WAY. SISTER SUSAN TORGERSEN
children into white society. The report identified 408 schools in 37 states or former territories that tens of thousands of children were forced to attend during a time period that largely coincides with the forced removal of many tribes from ancestral lands. It also said there are at least 53 marked or unmarked burial sites associated with the schools. The federal government directly ran many of the schools and contracted with Catholic, Protestant and other churches to operate others, the report said. About 50% of the schools received support or involvement from religious institutions or organizations. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, who is Laguna Pueblo and a Catholic, commissioned the report last June by establishing the Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative to undertake a comprehensive review of the troubled legacy of
federal boarding school policies. Conditions varied in the schools, with some students reporting positive experiences while others lived under “systematic militarized and identity-alteration” practices meant to assimilate them into white society, the report said. School leaders renamed children with English names, cut their long hair, and discouraged or prevented the use of Indigenous languages, religions and cultural practices, it said. Even before Haaland commissioned the report, religious communities and dioceses began digging through archived records to determine the depth of their role in school operations. And in a letter sent last November, two U.S. bishops urged fellow prelates to cooperate with any request from the federal government in its investigation into alleged abuses at the schools operated by church entities. Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City, who chairs the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, and Bishop James S. Wall of Gallup, New Mexico, the past chairman of the bishops’ Subcommittee on Native American Affairs, also encouraged bishops to consider reaching out to local tribal leaders and begin a dialogue about any schools that were located in a diocese. The USCCB is a participant in the AHP. Father Michael Carson, assistant director of Native American Affairs at the conference, regularly attends the organization’s meetings. Father Carson explained that the involvement stems from a new pastoral plan, part of which calls for reconciliation with Native Americans over the
boarding schools. “We’re looking to opportunities to promote healing and reconciliation,” he said. While the USCCB or its predecessor organizations never operated any school, the bishops’ Subcommittee on Native American Affairs wanted to address the painful history as a step in gaining the trust of Native people, Father Carson said. The AHP came together about a year ago, emerging from other such efforts among Catholics, including Catholics for Boarding School Accountability. Brenna Cussen Anglada, who with her husband runs a Catholic Worker movement farm in southwestern Wisconsin, said the role of Catholic organizations in school operations is vital to understand. Catholics for Boarding School Accountability last fall put together a fourpart webinar series to help religious congregations understand how they can work with Native communities in the quest for healing and reconciliation. Cussen Anglada said about 300 people joined each online session. Ensuring that Indigenous people are consulted throughout the research endeavor was a primary message of the series, she said. “Records are scattered all over,” she told CNS. “Many congregations and dioceses don’t know they have them. We don’t want to dump hundreds of thousands of paper records on a [Native American] nation. It’s important to ask the Native communities what they want to do with them.”
Barrett Insurance Agency Inc Erin Barrett CLU ChFC, Agent 13139 Shawnee Mission Parkway erin@insurewitherin.com Bus: 913-648-1100 Hablamos Español St. Joseph, Shawnee, parishioner State Farm, Bloomington, IL 2001738
CALENDAR
JUNE 3, 2022 | THELEAVEN.ORG
GERMANFEST St. Joseph Parish (on the grounds of Scared Heart Parish) 312 N.E. Freeman Ave., Topeka June 4 from 5 - 11 p.m. June 5 from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Come join us in celebrating our heritage with authentic German food, a biergarten, the Chardon Polka Band, mini train, children’s inflatables, silent and oral auctions, cash drawings and more. Visit the website at: sacredheartstjosephcatholic.org or our Facebook page: Sacred Heart-St. Joseph Germanfest for more details, including instructions for satellite parking.
WAR HORSES FOR VETERANS D-DAY MOTORCYCLE RIDE 5600 W. 183rd St., Stilwell June 5 (registration begins at 8 a.m.; kickstands up at 10 a.m.)
The Father Donnelly Division of the Ancient Order of Hibernians is hosting the second annual War Horses for Veterans D-Day motorcycle ride. WHFV is a nonprofit organization that provides compassionate, equestrian therapy for veterans and first responders. This year’s 110-mile ride will begin at WHFV, Stilwell, and proceed to the Leavenworth National Cemetery for a D-Day commemoration. Following the ceremonies, the group will travel back to WHFV for live music, ranch tours, a barbecue lunch and prizes. No alcohol during the ride. Cost is: $25 per rider; $10 per passenger. Registration opens at 8 a.m. For registration and details, go online to: warhorsesforveterans.org/d-day-ride-2022.
HOLY ROSARY, WEA, GARAGE SALE Queen of the Holy Rosary Parish 22779 Metcalf, Bucyrus June 4 from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. June 5 from 8 a.m. - noon
On June 5, all items that fit in a trash bag will be $5 a bag (except furniture and certain marked tables). Questions? Call (913) 244-2403.
TAILGATE AND ROSARY FOR ‘VALUE THEM BOTH’ Fiorella’s 9000 W. 137th St., Overland Park June 5 at 5 p.m. — tailgate 6 p.m. — messages from Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann and the VTB team 7 p.m. — Eucharistic adoration
Join Archbishop Naumann, the Holy Family School of Faith rosary team and local “Value Them Both” grassroots leaders for an evening of community prayer and action for the successful passage of the “Value Them Both” amendment. Bring your family, a flower for the Our Lady of Guadalupe display and an open heart to join the largest Kansas grassroots effort to protect the unborn and women facing unplanned or challenging pregnancies. To learn more, visit the website at: archkck. org/ValueThemBoth.
TWO DAYS OF MIRACLES Queen of the Holy Rosary Parish 7023 W. 71st St., Overland Park June 6 from 6 - 7 p.m. June 7 from 6:30 - 9 p.m.
Faith Based Communications is bringing two exhibits and presentations to Queen of the Holy Rosary. Each talk will use faith, science and history to explore miraculous events of God’s presence in our world. The “Eucharistic Miracles” exhibit will be displayed on June 6 and the “Sacred Cloths of the Passion” exhibit will be open on June 7. There is no cost to attend.
RETROUVAILLE MARRIAGE RETREAT Savior Pastoral Center 12601 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City, Kansas June 10 - 12
Retrouvaille is a program designed to help struggling marriages regain their health. It helps a husband and wife rediscover or reawaken the love, trust and commitment that originally brought them together. For more information or to register, go online to: www.helpourmarriage. org or call (800) 470-2230.
PROJECT RACHEL/ PROJECT JOSEPH RETREAT Location given once enrolled June 11 from 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Needing help coping with a past abortion? Start your summer on a path to healing by attending a one-day retreat. All communication is confidential. Call/ text (913) 621-2199 or send an email to: project rachelkc@archkck.org.
CHICKEN DINNER Sacred Heart Parish (hall) 22298 Newbury Rd. June 12 from noon - 3:30 p.m.
The cost will be: $15 for adults; $7 for
ages 5 - 12; and free for kids ages 4 and under. Mass is at 10:30 a.m. There will be bingo, games, raffles and a silent auction.
ROSARY RALLY IN HONOR OF OUR LADY OF FATIMA St. Pius X Parish 5500 Woodson Rd., Mission June 12 from 3 - 4:15 p.m.
We will pray the joyful, sorrowful and glorious mysteries of the rosary. Benediction will follow, as well as an opportunity for attendees to enroll in the brown scapular. For more information, visit the website at: www.rosaryrallieskc.org.
PANCAKE BREAKFAST St. Patrick Parish 1086 N. 96th St., Kansas City, Kansas June 12 from 8 - 11 a.m.
The St. Patrick Knights of Columbus will host a breakfast featuring pancakes, sausage, scrambled eggs, and biscuits and gravy. The cost is a freewill offering.
CHICKEN DINNER AND SOCIAL Sacred Heart Parish 22298 Newbury Rd., Paxico June 12 from noon - 3:30 p.m.
There will be a buffet-style dinner with a choice of pan-fried or deep fatfried chicken, mashed potatoes, salad and dessert. There will also be games for adults and children, along with raffles and a silent auction from noon until 4:30 p.m. Winning Hand is back. Come join the fun!
PICNIC AND AUCTION St. James Parish 306 5th St., Wetmore June 12 at 4:30 p.m.
Come to the St. James Parish annual picnic and auction. There will be a roast beef and ham dinner served buffet-style. The cost is: $12 for adults; $6 for kids ages 4 - 10; and free for kids ages 3 and under. There will also be a battle of the pie, an auction, bingo, cards and games for all ages on the grounds.
‘POPE JOHN PAUL II’S LOVE AND RESPONSIBILITY’ RETREAT Christ’s Peace House of Prayer 22131 Meager Rd., Easton June 10 - 12
The retreat will begin on June 10 at 5:30 p.m. and end on June 12 at 4:30 p.m.
11 This retreat is offered in commemoration of the end of the Year of the Family to help strengthen faith and live God’s joy more fruitfully in family life. We will look at St. John Paul’s defense of Catholic tradition in the teachings about family life and sexual morality through his book, “Love and Responsibility.” There will be conferences, eucharistic adoration, Mass, confession, and time for private prayer, reflection and walking. Cabins/courtyard rooms: $170 single/$250 couple or single guest room: $100 (meals included). To attend, fill out the reservation form at: christspeace. com or call (913) 773-8255.
SLOPPY JOE DINNER AND BINGO St. Patrick Parish 1086 N. 96th St., Kansas City, Kansas June 25 at 6 p.m.
The St. Patrick Knights Bicentennial Council 6781 and the Lt. William T. Fitzsimons Assembly is hosting a sloppy Joe dinner and bingo in the parish center. The cost is: $10 for adults; $5 for children; and $30 for a family meal. For more information, call Fritz Vertz at (913) 515-0621.
ST. MARY ANNUAL PICNIC St. Mary Parish 9208 Main St., St. Benedict June 25 at 5 p.m.
There will be a fresh fried chicken supper with all the sides, served in an air-conditioned hall. The cost is $12 for adults and $6 for kids ages 4 - 10. Concession stand and meals to go available. There will also be games and activities for children of all ages and an auction at 8 p.m.
ENCOUNTER KC SUMMER INTENSIVE St. Agnes Parish (hall) 5250 Mission Rd., Roeland Park July 11 - 14, 6 - 8 p.m. each evening
This summer intensive is an evening school that provides a survey of the content offered in the first four quarters of the Encounter School of Ministry launching in Kansas City in September. With two teachings each night, this quick-paced course will educate, equip and activate you to partner with Jesus and further bring about the kingdom of God here on earth. To register and for more information, visit the website at: encounterkc. regfox.com/encounter-kc-summer-intensive or call Lee McMahon at (785) 2182708.
CLASSIFIEDS
12 EMPLOYMENT Consultant for Evangelization - The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas is looking for a full-time consultant for evangelization. This position collaborates with other members of the department to carry out the archdiocese’s evangelical mandate. The incumbent works with parish leaders to implement pastoral initiatives; researches opportunities; develops resources; and facilitates events. The incumbent’s work in the areas of adult and youth ministry are carried out in light of the church’s vision and Catholic teachings. A bachelor’s degree in theology, catechesis, religious studies, education or related field is preferred; and two years’ experience working for the Catholic Church in the field of evangelization/catechesis. Must be a practicing Catholic in good standing. Qualified individuals should send cover letter, resume and application to: jobs@archkck.org. Position open until filled. Catholic counseling - For individuals, couples, families, adolescents and young adults. Sam Meier, MA, LPC. Call (913) 952-2267 or book an appointment at: StillwatersKC.com, in-person or Telehealth. Part-time custodian - Holy Angels Church in Basehor is looking for a part-time custodian (20-25 hours a week) to clean the five buildings on our church campus. Previous custodian experience is preferred, but not required. The person who fills this position must be able to communicate appropriately with a variety of stakeholders, have the maturity and experience to work independently and must be able to show attention to detail. While the typical work schedule will be 4-5 hours per day Monday-Friday, the person who fills this position must be willing and able to work a flexible schedule, and must be willing and able to work on evenings and weekends when necessary. The custodian may at times need to assist our part-time maintenance staff person, who will also assist the person in this custodian position when necessary. This position is perfect for a retired person who wishes to work part time and still has much to offer a future employer. Please send a letter of interest and resume with the names and phone numbers of three references to Paul R. Rittof, parish business administrator, at: pbaholyangels@gmail.com (the preferred method for submission of application materials) or, Paul R. Rittof, Holy Angels Catholic Church, 15438 Leavenworth Rd., Basehor, KS 66007-9632. Preference will be given to those who apply by July 1. The start date is negotiable, but no later than July 25. Second grade teacher - St. Ann School, Prairie Village, is seeking a second grade teacher for the 2022-23 school year. Applicants should apply online through the archdiocesan website and email principal Liz Minks at: lminks@stannpv.org.
Caregiver needed - Curé of Ars parishioner needs someone to care for husband with dementia 12 hours per week. Two six-hour days from 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. No meal preparation needed. Light housekeeping on first floor. Husband stays in recliner on first floor. Dogs to be let in and out. If interested, respond by text to (913) 481-5169. Administrative assistant, office of evangelization - The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas is seeking qualified candidates to fill a full-time position of administrative assistant for the office of evangelization. Qualified applicants must have experience handling general office duties; assisting with travel arrangements; creating and maintaining databases; using software platforms to create fliers and promotional materials; must be proficient using the Microsoft Suite of Office Products including Word, Excel and PowerPoint, internet and the ability to learn other software and social media as required; file management of both paper and electronic files; must be a practicing Catholic in good standing and an active and faithful steward in their parish. Must have a high school diploma or equivalent plus a minimum of three years’ prior experience working in a professional office environment. Must have strong writing and creativity skills. Must be self-motivated with the ability to work independently as well as part of a team. For a complete job description and to download the job application, go online to: archkck.org/jobs. Position open until filled. Maintenance person - St. Joseph Parish in Shawnee is looking for a maintenance person. Duties will include, but are not limited to, the ability to do minor electrical, plumbing, HVAC, construction and painting repairs. Cleaning as needed, activities setup, the ability to lift 60 pounds and work off a ladder or lift are also required. We will train the right person. Pay will be commensurate with experience. Contact Joe Keehn at (913) 2002639. Financial representatives - Knights of Columbus has full-time openings in northeast Kansas and western Missouri for full-time financial representatives. Ideal for determined, disciplined, professional, high-expectation individual desiring to serve others. We work exclusively with the families of brother Knights and Catholic gentlemen who are eligible to join the Knights. We have established territories where agents devote their working day to the needs of the members in their assigned councils. Excellent, multi tiered training and benefits are provided, allowing the successful field agent to earn a professional level income. This is a career opportunity that may be the right fit at the right time for you, or possibly for someone you know. For further information, contact John A. Mahon, general agent, at (785) 408-8800 or email: john.mahon@kofc.org.
Youth minister - St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Leawood is seeking a youth minister for grades 7 - 12, including confirmation prep. This position requires an active spiritual and sacramental life; the ability to work collaboratively within a pastoral team; and have a heart for working with youth. This role works with another youth minister on staff and is expected to disciple core team members; create new and support existing programs including theology of the body; coordinate volunteers; and manage resources dedicated to youth ministry. This is a year-round, full-time position eligible for full benefits. Complete description at: stmichaelcp. org/employment. Send cover letter and resume to: denise.green@stmichaelcp.org.
Scientific equipment technician - Would you like to make a difference in a small growing company? Seeking individuals looking for flexible part-time work maintaining and repairing small equipment for our family company, which has been in the local area for over 40 years. Service is completed at customers’ locations locally and within a four-state area. Dependable transportation is a must. Positive attitude, dependability, time management and self-motivation skills, as well as being quality and customer-oriented, are required. Mostly OTJ training. Electrical knowledge a plus. Please send resume to: Yourcareer101@gmail.com.
Director of faith formation – St. Bernard Catholic Church, Wamego, is seeking a full-time director of faith formation. This position is a key pastoral leadership and formation role that requires collaboration with the pastor, staff members, volunteers and parishioners to provide Catholic education for all parishioners. The ideal applicant will be a practicing Catholic in good standing with the church who: holds a bachelor’s degree in theology or philosophy, catechesis or similar academic discipline; has some experience in teaching/leading young children, teens and/or RCIA; and leadership and supervisory experience in a Catholic parish setting. Applicant should be motivated and effective in communication and be knowledgeable of current media and technology. Some nights, weekends and occasional travel required. This position is eligible for the archdiocesan benefits package with a start date of June 15. Position open until filled. Please send a letter of application, resume and three references to: stbernard66547@gmail.com.
Cafeteria worker - John Paul II School in Overland Park seeking a cafeteria worker. The main duties of the position includes, but are not limited to: the prep, cleaning and maintaining the salad bar; wash dishes; and clean/ close the kitchen. Hours are 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. on school days, beginning with the 2022-23 school year. To apply, please send a resume/cover letter to Kristy Metzger, cafeteria director, at: kmetzger@archkckcs.org.
Stylists needed - Are you addicted to the TV show “Say Yes to the Dress”? Are you self-motivated, love fashion and enjoy helping people look their best? If so, we want to talk to you! Sincerely Susan, a unique destination shop boutique is a warehouse environment where clients come in by appointment only. You must have a sense of style and a great personality to be able to interact with our “moms.” Hours are flexible. Must be willing to work a minimum of one evening per week and weekends. Must be able to stand and walk on concrete for long periods of time and reach overhead to pull gowns. Previous retail experience preferred, but not necessary. Hourly rate is based on experience. If interested, call (913) 730-8840. Director of advancement - The monks of St. Benedict’s Abbey are seeking a full-time director of advancement to represent St. Benedict’s Abbey and ignite benefactors and potential benefactors to passion and action to support the monks’ lives of prayer and work. Learn more and apply at: Kansasmonks.org/jobs or call (913) 360-7908. Instructional assistants - St. Ann School, Prairie Village, is seeking both full- and part-time instructional assistants for the 2022-23 school year to help in various grade levels. Interested applicants should email principal Liz Minks at: lminks@stannpv.org.
Need a summer job? - Beauty Brands is looking for seasonal help June 13 - Aug. 8 at our eCommerce Fulfillment Center in Lenexa. Sign-on bonus, day/evening shifts, potential overtime and end of season bonus! Must be 18 years old. Visit: https://bit.ly/37iPRes to learn more and apply today!
Eighth grade English/reading teacher – Ascension School in Overland Park is seeking a full-time eighth grade homeroom and English/reading teacher for the 2022-23 school year. This candidate will join an awesome team of junior high teachers! Applicants should send their resume, references and teacher’s license to Becky Wright at: bwright@acseagles.org. Business manager - John Paul II School in Overland Park is seeking a business manager. The business manager is responsible for the business processes such as accounts payable, payroll manager, tuition and student enrollment. Primary lead for communication/marketing administration and school website. Assist the school principal with student and/or personnel matters and serve as liaison to the school fundraising committees. Basic to intermediate experience with Microsoft Office products such as Word, Excel and Intuit QuickBooks Online. Experience using online applications such as Canva, GoDaddy, Mail Chimp and OneCause; and social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. The business manager is responsible for all financial, human resources and facilities matters and is charged with the overall responsibility for optimizing the fiscal strength and efficient operation of the school. This director level position must work collaboratively with the principal and other department directors including preschool, cafeteria, PTO, CYO and QHR/SPX to assure that, as a team, they effectively manage all aspects of the educational opportunities, programs and activities offered at the school. To apply, please send a resume/cover letter to: Jenny Yankovich, principal, at: jyankovich@archkckcs.org.
Staff job openings - Donnelly College in Kansas City, Kansas, has the following staff job openings available: systems administrator; admissions counselor; ADN specialist; business office controller and nursing intake coordinator. Find job descriptions and details at: www. donnelly.edu/careers. Coordinator of youth religious education - Most Pure Heart of Mary in Topeka is seeking candidates for the position of coordinator of youth religious education. This part-time, year-round position will facilitate faith formation for preschool through 8th grade, including sacramental preparation for reconciliation, first Communion and confirmation. This position works in conjunction with the director of faith formation regarding planning and evaluation. To apply, send resume and cover letter to Sarah Holthaus at: sholthaus@mphm.com. Music teacher K - 8 – Ascension School in Overland Park is seeking a full-time multi-talented individual who will teach music to K - 8th grade classes, prepare choir students for Mass and other singing programs for the 2022-23 school year. They might also assist in our drama productions as well, if interested. Applicants should send their resume and references to Becky Wright at: bwright@acseagles.org. Restoration supervisor - An industry leading cleaning and restoration company is looking for a restoration supervisor. This position will work on water mitigation projects, mold remediation, fire cleanup and restoration, and air duct cleaning. The desired candidate will be a self-starter, motivated, reliable and have a good work history. Must also be able to lead a team of employees. Benefits include a 401(k), bonuses, two-week paid vacation, paid holidays and a positive work environment. Email resume to: sp9721@ servpro-lawrence-ottawa.com. Grant accountant - Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas is seeking an organized, passionate accountant. This position is responsible for managing all payable functions; analyzing and verifying documentation for proper approvals; authenticity; account coding designations; and vendor statement reconciliations. Bachelor’s degree in accounting preferred. Apply at: www. catholiccharitiesks.org/careers. DSPs needed - Direct care professionals needed in Overland Park in an intentional living community for adults with intellectual disabilities. Training provided. Live-in or live-out options. Weekends, evenings and overnight shifts available now. $13 - $15 per hour. Email: heartland@larcheks.org. Office manager - Nativity Parish School in Leawood is seeking an organized office manager to oversee and support all administrative duties. This person will work with the principal and school staff to manage special projects and daily operations. Duties include: managing the tuition database; reconciling receipts and disbursements; assisting with human resources; arranging for substitute teachers; managing title funds; assisting PTO with their initiatives; maintaining student record files; and providing a warm, loving Christ-centered professional environment. Resumes can be sent to: luke. jennison@kcnativity.org. Drivers and aides - Assisted Transportation is now hiring safe drivers and aides to transport students with special needs in Johnson, Wyandotte and Clay County, Missouri, in company vans. Drivers earn $14 - $16 per hour. Aides earn $12 per hour. Part-time and full-time schedules available. CDL not required. Retirees encouraged to apply. Make a difference in your community by helping those in need. Call (913) 521-4955 for more information. EEO Full and part-time assistant preschool teachers – St. Ann Young Child Center is currently seeking assistant preschool teachers for the 2022-23 school year. Interested candidates should have a love for children and a willingness to learn more about early childhood education. We offer competitive wages based on education level and experience. If you are interested, please contact Cara Schwarz, preschool director, at (913) 362-4660 and/or send resume and cover letter to: cschwarz@stannpv.org. Seventh/eighth grade science teacher - St. Ann School, Prairie Village, is seeking a seventh grade homeroom and science teacher for the 2022-23 school year. This teacher will also teach eighth grade science classes through a rotation. Applicants should apply online through the archdiocesan website at: archkckcs.org and email principal Liz Minks at: lminks@stannpv.org. Nonmedical caregivers - Saint Rita Home Care is hiring nonmedical caregivers for seniors. Seeking compassionate individuals to fill all shifts. Call or text Renee Margush at (913) 229-4267, or rmargush@saintritahc. com. Member of Prince of Peace Parish, Olathe. Nativity Day School open positions - Our school is growing! We are a private preschool in Leawood that provides a premier school experience. We are open from August-May. We are seeking teachers for the 2022-23 school year. Desired skills and experience: must meet basic requirements of local child care regulatory agency; previous teaching or assistant teaching position in a licensed early childhood program preferred; four-year degree in early childhood or related field required; must meet all KDHE requirements; must be Virtus trained; if not Virtus trained, will be asked to take class and to complete all required bulletins in accordance with the archdiocese. Nativity Day School is an equal opportunity employer. Open positions: lead pre-kindergarten teacher, M - F, full time; lead preschool teacher, M - F, full time; assistant preschool teacher, M - F, part time; and special education teacher, M - F, part time. Interested applicants, please email our day school director Katie King at: Katie.King@kcnativity.org.
JUNE 3, 2O22 | THELEAVEN.ORG Fourth grade teacher - Nativity Parish School in Leawood is seeking a fourth grade teacher for the 202223 school year. Applicants should apply online through the archdiocesan website at: archkckcs.org and email principal Luke Jennison at: luke.jennison@kcnativity.org. Full and part-time lead preschool teachers - St. Ann Young Child Center is currently seeking lead preschool teachers for the 2022-23 school year. The lead teacher is responsible for creating lesson plans and implementing teacher-led activities. All potential candidates should have a love for children and for maintaining the principles of Catholic education. We offer competitive wages based on education level and experience. If you are interested, please contact Cara Schwarz, preschool director, at (913) 362-4660 and/or send resume and cover letter to: cschwarz@stannpv.org. Caregivers - Daughters & Company is looking for several compassionate caregivers to provide assistance to seniors in their home, assisted living or in a skilled nursing facility. We provide light housekeeping/light meal preparation, organizational assistance, care management and occasional transportation services for our clients. We need caregivers with reliable transportation and a cellphone for communication. A CNA background is helpful, though not mandatory. We typically employ on a part-time basis, but will strive to match up hours desired. Contact Gary or Laurie at (913) 341-2500 if you want to become part of an excellent caregiving team. Early childhood educators – With multiple locations in Johnson County, Special Beginnings Early Learning Center provides high quality child care in a safe, loving Christian environment. Our classrooms are full, and we are looking to add to our amazing team. We are looking for both full-time and part-time teachers for all ages of children. If you have an excellent work ethic, a heart for children and a willingness to learn more about early childhood education, we would love to meet you. For more information or to apply, call Carolyn Andruss at (913) 894-0131, ext. 102. Faculty/adjunct faculty positions available - Donnelly College in Kansas City, Kansas, a Catholic college offering higher education for those who may not otherwise be served, has the following faculty job openings include: none at this time. Adjunct faculty job openings include: biology, clinical nursing, math, and sociology. Find job descriptions and details on: www.donnelly. edu/careers. Physical education teacher - Nativity Parish School in Leawood is seeking a full-time physical education teacher for the 2022-23 school year. Interested applicants should apply online at: archkckcs.org and please reach out to principal Luke Jennison at: luke.jennison@ kcnativity.org. Part-time lunch coordinator - St. Ann Young Child Center is seeking a lunch coordinator for the 2022-23 school year. Hours and wages are negotiable. If you are interested, please contact Cara Schwarz, preschool director, at (913) 362-4660 and/or send resume and cover letter to: cschwarz@stannpv.org. Part-time teacher in our after-school care program - Prince of Peace Early Education Center is seeking a year-round, part-time teacher in our after-school care program who has a love for children and a background in early childhood (education and/or experience preferred). Job duties include: care and supervision of children at all times; face-to-face parent communication; closing and cleaning procedures; and implementing activities. We offer competitive wages based on education level and experience You may find the application on our website: popolathe.org/early-education-center. Full-time lead teacher - Prince of Peace Early Education Center is seeking a year-round, full-time, lead teacher in our two-and-a-half-year-olds classroom who has a love for children and a background in early childhood (education and/or experience required). Job duties include: care and supervision of children at all times; face-to-face parent communication; closing and cleaning procedures; and creating and implementing lesson plans and activities. We offer competitive wages based on education level and experience. This position will be available for training in May and teaching at the end of May. You may find the application on our website at: popolathe.org/early-education-center. Director of human resources - The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas is seeking qualified candidates to fill the position of director of human resources. This position is both challenging and rewarding! The archdiocese provides shared services for 120 associated organizations employing 5,000 full- and part-time positions. Shared services include benefits administration, workers’ compensation, retirement plans and a standardized payroll process. Applicants must be a practicing Catholic in good standing and an active and faithful steward in their parish. Applicants must have expertise in creating and implementing HR policies and processes; client employee services and support; legal compliance; HRIS and data management; employee benefit management and administration; workers’ compensation, leave management and related processes; employee relations and performance management; and employer/employee communications. This position manages a staff of four HR professionals; is the chief human resources consultant to parishes, schools and other archdiocesan organizations; and manages all human resource functions at the chancery. The successful candidate will have expertise in multiple HR disciplines, demonstrated skill with innovation and process improvement and have excellent people skills. For a complete job description, please visit: www.archkck.org/ jobs. Position open until filled. >> Classifieds continue on page 13
CLASSIFIEDS
JUNE 3, 2022 | THELEAVEN.ORG >> Continued from page 12 Full-time assistant teacher for preschool classrooms - Prince of Peace Early Education Center is seeking a year-round, part-time assistant teacher in our preschool classrooms who has a love for children and a background in early childhood (education and/ or experience preferred). Job duties include: care and supervision of children at all times; face-to-face parent communication; closing and cleaning procedures; and implementing activities. We offer competitive wages based on education level and experience. You may find the application on our website at: popolathe.org/earlyeducation-center. Administrative assistant/receptionist - The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas is seeking a qualified candidate to fill a full-time position of administrative assistant for the office of the Tribunal and receptionist for administrative services. Qualified applicants must have experience handling general office duties; creating and maintaining databases; must be proficient using the Microsoft Suite of Office Products, including Word and Excel, internet and the ability to learn other software and social media as required; file management of both paper and electronic files; operating main switchboard; receiving calls and visitors; must be a practicing Catholic in good standing and an active and faithful steward in their parish. This position requires a high school diploma or equivalent plus a minimum of three years’ prior experience working in a professional office environment. Self-motivated candidates with the ability to work independently as well as part of a team are encouraged to submit their information for consideration. To apply, please visit: archkck.org/jobs. Position open until filled.
HOME IMPROVEMENT
Popcorn ceiling texture removal Interior wall painting specialist. Jerry at (913) 206-1144. 30 years’ experience. Member St. Joseph Parish, Shawnee.
REAL ESTATE We buy houses and whole estates - We are local and family owned, and will make you a fair cash offer. We buy houses in any condition. No fees or commissions and can close on the date of your choice. Selling your house as is never felt so good. Jon & Stacy Bichelmeyer (913) 599-5000. Wanted to Buy – YOUR HOUSE! You’re probably being asked a lot to sell your house. Well, I do the same thing but I’m different. I will actually buy it FOR A FAIR PRICE, and I will make it easier for you than any of the big companies sending out postcards or the ones on TV. We’re local parishioners and I’ve been doing this for over 20 years. Please, CALL ME! My name is Mark Edmondson, (913) 980-4905.
SERVICES Masonry work - Quality new or repair work. Brick, block and chimney/fireplace repair. Insured; secondgeneration bricklayer. Member of St. Paul Parish, Olathe. Call (913) 271-0362. Painting - Diamond Painting, (913) 648-4933, Residential/Commercial, Exterior/interior, Free Estimate, Affordable, Decks, DiamondPaintKc.com, Kcmo/Overland Park Metropolitan area. Pressure washing: Driveways, sidewalks, patios, decks, fences and garage floors Call John for a free estimate. Serving Johnson County KS (913) 827-8616 St. Joseph parishioner & St. James Academy graduate
DRC Construction We’ll get the job done right the first time. Windows - Doors - Decks - Siding Repair or replace, we will work with you to solve your problems. Choose us for any window, door, siding or deck project and be glad you did. Everything is guaranteed 100% (913) 461-4052 www.windowservicesoverlandpark.com drcconswindows@gmail.com
Mike Hammer local moving - A full-service mover. Packing, pianos, rental truck load/unload, storage container load/unload, and in-home moving. No job too small. Serving JoCo since 1987. St. Joseph, Shawnee, parishioner. Call Mike at (913) 927-4347 or send an email to: mike@mikehammermoving.com.
Concrete construction - Tear out and replace stamped, stained or colored patios and drives. Retaining walls, footings, poured-in-place safe rooms, excavation and hauling. Asphalt drives and lots. Fully insured; references. Call Dan at (913) 207-4371 or send an email to: dandeeconst@aol.com.
Garage Door Repair New Garage Doors A Total Door - KC family owned since ‘83. www.ATotalDoor.com or (913) 236-6440 A Total Door (913) 236-6440. (913)205-0926 cell
Nelson Creations LLC. Home remodeling, kitchens, baths, basements. All interior, exterior work. Licensed and insured. (913) 927-5240 or: dknelson2001@gmail.com.
Memory quilts - Preserve your memories in a keepsake quality quilt, pillows, etc. Custom designed from your T-shirt collection, baby clothes, sports memorabilia, neckties . . . Quilted Memories. (913) 649-2704.
Local Handyman - Painting int. and ext., wood rot, masonry (chimney repair), gutter cleaning (gutter covers), dryer vent cleaning, sump pump (replace, add new), windows, doors (interior and exterior) honey-do list and more! Member of Holy Angels Parish, Basehor. Call Billy at (913) 927-4118.
EL SOL Y LA TIERRA *Commercial & residential *Lawn renovation *Mowing *Cleanup and hauling *Dirt grading/installation *Landscape design* Free estimates Hablamos y escribimos Ingles!! Call Lupe at (816) 252-1391
Gearing up for spring! Here is a list of the construction services I offer: flooring; tile; interior/exterior painting, as well as deck and fence staining; ceiling scraping/ retexturing; bathroom, kitchen and basement remodeling; siding; decks and covered porches. We also do cabinet refinishing! Look me up on Facebook at “Father & Son Home Exteriors & Remodeling.” I work on all jobs, no subcontractors. Thank you to all my clients! (913) 709-7230. 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) 579-1835. Email: smokeycabin@hotmail.com. Member of Holy Trinity, Lenexa.
ACT Prep - Founded by a Bishop Miege graduate, Pathway Prep has helped over 250 students during the last four years improve their scores. In-person or virtual sessions available. For more information, visit: path wayprepkc.com and contact Alex Pint at (913) 991-8217 or: alex@pathwayprepkc.com. Free estimates - We are offering free estimates to all those thinking about painting this year. At Stone Painting, we put the customer first. We provide interior, exterior house painting along with deck staining, fence painting, etc. Stone Painting ensures a professional, clean and fair-priced job. Call today for your free estimate. (913) 963-6465.
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Tutoring - for K - Adult. Sessions are fun and meaningful. For more information please call Kathleen at (913) 206-2151 or email: Klmamuric@yahoo.com.
For sale - Single patio crypt with paid interment at Resurrection Cemetery. Patio B, tier E, crypt 6. $4395 value discounted to $3000, obo. Available for multiple remains. Call Sy at (913) 642-2191.
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.
For sale - Two plots for sale at Mount Calvary Cemetery. Section A, lot 7, spaces 8 and 10. Asking $2200 or best offer. Call Levita at (913) 730-8435.
CAREGIVING
WANTED TO BUY
Caregiving - We provide personal assistance, companionship, care management, and transportation for seniors in their home, assisted living or nursing facilities. We also provide respite care for main caregivers needing some personal time. Call Daughters & Company at (913) 341-2500 and speak with Laurie, Pat or Gary.
Wanted to buy - Do you have a CAR or TRUCK that you need to get rid of? If you CALL ME! I’m a cash buyer. We’re Holy Trinity parishioners. My name is Mark. (913) 980-4905.
Family member with dementia or need help at home? - We specialize in helping seniors live SAFELY at home, where they want to live! We also offer free dementia training and resources for families and caregivers. Benefits of Home - Senior Care, www. Benefitsofhome.com or call (913) 422-1591. Saint Rita Home Care - Compassionate care in the comfort of home. We serve people in Miami and south Johnson counties. Kansas state licensed, nonmedical home care agency. Contact us today for supportive care at: www.saintritahc.com; rmargush@saintritahc. com; (913) 229-4267; owner, member of Prince of Peace Parish, Olathe.
FOR SALE Residential lifts - New and recycled. Stair lifts, porch lifts, ceiling lifts and elevators. St. Michael’s parishioners. KC Lift & Elevator at (913) 327-5557. (Formerly Silver Cross - KC). For sale - One plot at Resurrection Cemetery that includes a Hope Lawn Crypt. Plot located in the Garden of Hope; section A, lot 77, space 3. Includes two opening/ closings, granite base and bronze vase. Purchaser will need to buy new bronze marker. Valued at $11,670; asking $8000. Call (913) 579-7873 or (913) 226-5908. For Sale - One plot at Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Topeka. Rossiter section, lot 43-East. Plot sold as is, includes free base stone. Price includes plot space plus perpetual care, open and closing. Total value $3690, asking only $1900. Call (785) 217-0993 after 5 p.m.
Thinking about downsizing? - Just want to get some stuff gone? I am always buying: old jewelry, old coins, pocket watches, pocket knives, old trains, crocks, oil lamps, old toys, glassware, old clocks, old fans, Coca Cola items and spool cabinets. Most old items considered. Call Patricia at (913) 515-2950. Wanted to buy - Antique/vintage jewelry, paintings, pottery, sterling, etc. Single pieces or estate. Renee Maderak, (913) 475-7393. St. Joseph Parish, Shawnee. Will buy firearms and related accessories - One a whole collection. Honest evaluation and top prices paid. Contact Tom at (913) 238-2473. Member of Sacred Heart Parish, Shawnee.
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COLUMNISTS
DAILY READINGS TENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME June 5 PENTECOST SUNDAY Acts 2: 1-11 Ps 104: 1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34 1 Cor 12: 3b-7, 12-13 Jn 20: 19-23 June 6 The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church Gn 3: 9-15, 20 Ps 87: 1b-3, 5-7 Jn 19: 25-34 June 7 Tuesday 1 Kgs 17: 7-16 Ps 4: 2-5, 7b-8 Mt 5: 13-16 June 8 Wednesday 1 Kgs 18: 20-39 Ps 16: 2b, 4-5b, 8, 11 Mt 5: 17-19 June 9 Ephrem, deacon, doctor of the church 1 Kgs 18: 41-46 Ps 65: 10-13 Mt 5: 20-26 June 10 Friday 1 Kgs 19: 9a, 11-16 Ps 27: 7-9c, 13-14 Mt 5: 27-32 June 11 Barnabas, apostle Acts 11: 21b-26; 13: 1-3 Ps 98: 1-6 Mt 5: 33-37 ELEVENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME June 12 THE MOST HOLY TRINITY Prv 8: 22-31 Ps 8: 4-9 Rom 5: 1-5 Jn 16: 12-15 June 13 Anthony of Padua, priest, doctor of the church 1 Kgs 21: 1-16 Ps 5: 2-3b, 4b-7 Mt 5: 38-42 June 14 Tuesday 1 Kgs 21: 17-29 Ps 51: 3-6b, 11, 16 Mt 5: 43-48 June 15 Wednesday 2 Kgs 2: 1, 6-14 Ps 31: 20-21, 24 Mt 6: 1-6, 16-18 June 16 Sir 48: 1-14 Ps 97: 1-7 Mt 6: 7-15 June 17 2 Kgs 11: 1-4, 9-18, 20 Ps 132: 11-14, 17-18 Mt 6: 19-23 June 18 Saturday 2 Chr 24: 17-25 Ps 89: 4-5, 29-34 Mt 6: 24-34
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ee, what a mess! I suspect many people feel this way when looking at the state of the country, the church, their families or even themselves. In the past couple of weeks, we’ve witnessed two instances of horrific, senseless violence in the shootings in Buffalo, New York, and in Uvalde, Texas. On an international level, the continuing war in Ukraine, climate crises and the relentless pandemic can make us feel not only helpless, but hopeless. Whenever I start slipping down that path, I remember a cartoon showing a frog being swallowed by a pelican. Although his head is already in the bird’s beak, the frog’s “hands” are gripping the bird’s throat. The tag line is: Never, ever give up! That should be the rallying cry of Christians. We are called by the resurrection of Christ to be a people of
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f anyone were to ask whether there is a picture that captures what the church is all about, the answer is yes, there is. Look at Pentecost. Sunday’s first reading begins the sketch. The Holy Spirit comes to Jesus’ disciples in a dramatic way. A curious crowd gathers. The disciples declare the “mighty acts of God” — what God has done through his son, Jesus Christ — in a way that, miraculously, is understood by everyone in the crowd of international visitors. As the account continues (beyond our liturgical reading), Peter talks about Jesus’ death and resurrection. His words strike the onlookers to the heart.
JUNE 3, 2O22 | THELEAVEN.ORG
I hope we never, ever give up MARK MY WORDS
FATHER MARK GOLDASICH Father Mark is the pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Tonganoxie. He has been editor of The Leaven since 1989.
hope — to never, ever give up. Recently, I picked up a book entitled “Little Pieces of Hope.” Author Todd Doughty unwittingly started it on March 11, 2020, by posting a little list on Instagram of “happy-making things in a difficult world.” Almost every day, he’d “curate a random, zigzag, scatter-shot, hodgepodge selection of stuff that brings joy.” In the process,
Doughty discovered “that everyday things mattered more than ever before. Feeling connected mattered more than ever before. And hope mattered more than ever before.” The book contains literally thousands of simple things that lifted the author’s spirit . . . and they can do the same for you. In fact, you may be inspired to start your own list, by jotting down two or three things that made you smile that day. But hope takes perseverance, as this story illustrates: There was once a piano teacher known simply and affectionately as “Herman.”
One night at a university concert, a distinguished pianist suddenly became ill while performing an extremely difficult piece. As he was being led off the stage, Herman left his seat in the audience, walked onstage to the piano and with great mastery completed the performance. Afterwards, a student asked how he was able to able to perform such a demanding piece so beautifully — without notice and with no rehearsal. Herman replied, “In 1939, when I was a budding young concert pianist, I was arrested and placed in a Nazi concentration camp. The future looked bleak. But I knew that in order to keep the flicker of hope alive that I might someday play again, I needed to practice every day. I began by fingering a piece from my repertoire on my bed late one night. The next night, I added a second piece, and soon I was running through my
entire repertoire. I did this every night for five years. It so happens that the piece I played tonight was part of that repertoire. That constant practice is what kept my hope alive. Every day, I renewed my hope that I would one day be able to play my music again on a real piano, and in freedom.” (Story found in “Illustrations Unlimited,” edited by James S. Hewett.) Practicing hope can help us deal with the messiness of the world. The Christophers organization offers these ways to do that: Hope looks for the good in people instead of harping on the worst. It draws its power from a deep trust in God and the basic goodness of human nature. Hope regards problems, small or large, as opportunities. It pushes ahead when it would be easy to quit. Hope “lights a candle” instead of “cursing the darkness.” May we never, ever give up hope!
Are we open to the Spirit who surprises? ,
KEVIN PERROTTA Perrotta is the editor and an author of the “Six Weeks with the Bible” series, teaches part-time at Siena Heights University and leads Holy Land pilgrimages. He lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Thousands are baptized into life in Christ and the community of his followers. There you have it:
the church in a single scene. Wouldn’t we like the church today to be like that — making Jesus known in a way that connects with people and changes their lives? It can happen. The Holy Spirit given to the community of Jesus’ disciples on Pentecost was never withdrawn. The Spirit is with us. If we were looking for a picture of the action of the Holy
Spirit, that would also be Pentecost. One thing that Pentecost displays is the unexpectedness of the Spirit’s action. The onlookers were astonished — and surely no less than the disciples themselves. The Spirit has his own ways of working, his own moments, his humanly unforeseeable initiatives. At times, we may pose the question: How can we get the Spirit to come and fill our Christian projects with his power? But perhaps that is not the right question. A better question is: What is the Spirit indicating about how he wishes to act and how he wants us cooperate with him?
This raises questions about ourselves. Are we open to the Spirit who surprises? Are we willing to work with the Spirit’s surprises? Challenging questions! The Spirit’s plans may seem too great or too small to us, involving efforts or relinquishments we would rather avoid. Father Robert Bedard, the founder of the Companions of the Cross, a community of priests in Canada and the U.S., once told me that he wanted that community to always be like a runway with the landing lights lit, ready for the Spirit to land whenever he wished. The question for me to ask myself is: Am I keeping my own landing lights switched on?
Do not be afraid to vent to God, have faith in his justice, pope says VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis praised the way people have faced the trials and losses in their lives with a firmness of faith in God’s promises and love. “We have all known people like this. We have been impressed by their cry, but we have also stood in admiration at the firmness of their faith and love,” the pope said during his general audience in St. Peter’s Square.
Admirable examples include parents of children with serious disabilities, those who live with a permanent illness or those who are assisting a member of their family — all situations that are made worse when coupled with economic difficulties, he said. Sometimes these burdens accumulate, seeming to pile on all at once, which is what has “happened in these years with the COVID-19 pandemic, and is
happening now with the war in Ukraine,” the pope said. Continuing his series of talks dedicated to the meaning and value of “old age,” the pope reflected on an event in the life of Job, who suffered a devastating series of catastrophes and losses. Job’s friends tell Job that his plight must be punishment for personal wrongdoing and a call from God to repent.
COLUMNISTS
JUNE 3, 2022 | THELEAVEN.ORG
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ake a very deep breath . . . inhale . . . and exhale. We have survived May and it’s worth a moment of silence! We have acknowledged the end of the school year with everything from kindergarten commendations to college graduations. We’ve celebrated a long season of preparation for key sacraments with first Communions and confirmations. Spring is marked with a flurry of excitement that leaves us counting the days until June. As we head into summer, as our schedules change and our attentions shift, we have an opportunity to establish (or re-establish) some key connections in our life. Every change
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Take the opportunity to ‘reset’ this summer ALONG THE WAY
EMILY LOPEZ Emily Lopez is the lead consultant for adult evangelization.
in our lives offers us a chance to redefine our goals and reset our priorities. This summer, I encourage you to take the opportunity to reset, to plan with a priority on strengthening your connection with God, your family
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and your community. It is tempting to fill the empty spaces in our summer schedule with a different type of busy. We want to be movers and shakers that get stuff done, plowing through our to-do list! Maybe we’re looking forward to taking our busyness on the road, planning that action-packed vacation with all the bells and whistles. We might be
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interested in using our busyness to tackle that house project that has needed our unbridled energy to finish. However ambitious our endeavors might be, I encourage you to also plan times to connect. Look for gaps in your schedule that can be reserved for nonbusy engagements — a weekly family movie or an evening dedicated to eucharistic adoration. If you’re juggling a number of work and family schedules, have a conversation about finding a mutual weekly commitment for everyone. Maybe it’s a Wednesday evening walk? Or a Saturday morning pancake breakfast? It’s also important to encourage each individual to schedule
Young Adult Communities & Partnerships archkck.org/young-adults
time for connecting with God. What opportunities exist to grow in our prayer life? Can we dive deeper into Scripture or seek a quiet place for interior reflection? How are we prioritizing time with God in our daily schedules? Finally, how is God calling us to more deeply connect with our community? Maybe your community shares your refrigerator and driveway. If you have college students or young adults in your life seeking genuine community, have them check out the activities and gatherings offered through our young
adult communities. As this beautiful weather entices us out of our houses, maybe there’s a new neighbor or someone you feel pulled toward engaging in conversation. If you’re new to an area, how are you initiating conversations and/or building community? No doubt you’ve already penciled in a number of fun activities, camps and vacations. But also schedule times for connection . . . and write them in pen. As we shift into summer, let’s limit our busyness and plan moments of encounter with God and others.
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LOCAL NEWS
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PHOTO BY TODD NUGENT/BENEDICTINE COLLEGE
Bishop Robert Barron, auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and founder of Word on Fire Catholic Ministries, was the recipient of the inaugural Prize for Excellence in Theology and the Arts at Benedictine College in Atchison on May 13. Pictured from left are: Benedictine College president Stephen D. Minnis, Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann, Bishop Barron and Dr. Denis McNamara, director of the Center for Beauty and Culture.
Benedictine Prize for Excellence goes to Bishop Barron
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TCHISON — Bishop Robert Barron, auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and founder of Word on Fire Catholic Ministries, was the recipient of the inaugural Prize for Excellence in Theology and the Arts at Benedictine College in Atchison on May 13. The award, presented by the college’s Center for Beauty and Culture and its director Dr. Denis McNamara, recognized Bishop Barron’s work to express the beauty of Catholic truths. “It truly is a pleasure for me to award the Center for Beauty and Culture’s very first Prize for Excellence in Theology and the Arts to a great scholar, dedicated priest, loyal churchman and longtime friend, Bishop Robert Barron,” said McNamara in his introduction. “We see why Bishop Barron and the projects of Word on Fire have been so successful and deserve this award for excellence: Beauty and culture have been central to his mission of evangelization,” said McNamara. “Everything he has done has started with beauty and continued with culture, trying to make the Catholic faith delightful to a world that no longer thinks it needs God.” McNamara said that one proof of the success of Bishop Barron’s use of beauty in the presentation of the Catholic faith lies in his television mini-
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By Steve Johnson Special to The Leaven
WE SEE WHY BISHOP BARRON AND THE PROJECTS OF WORD ON FIRE HAVE BEEN SO SUCCESSFUL AND DESERVE THIS AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE: BEAUTY AND CULTURE HAVE BEEN CENTRAL TO HIS MISSION OF EVANGELIZATION. DR. DENIS MCNAMARA DIRECTOR OF BENEDICTINE COLLEGE’S CENTER FOR BEAUTY AND CULTURE
series “Catholicism.” That series aired on both EWTN and PBS. “In other words,” McNamara said, “it was loved by the nation’s committed Catholics and given a hearing by its secular intelligentsia.” The prize itself is a one-of-a-kind illuminated manuscript page on vellum. Andrew Stewart Jamieson, an artist known for his handcrafted medieval illuminations, painted into the piece direct references to various projects and the personal history of Bishop Barron, including his coat of arms and episcopal motto. For a full explanation of the piece, watch the video on the Benedictine College website at: www. benedictine.edu/prize-for-excellence.
Bishop Barron, who was on the Benedictine College campus as the featured commencement speaker, was impressed by the personal nature and sheer beauty of the award. “I am grateful beyond words,” said Bishop Barron. “When I said ‘just give me something beautiful,’ I had no idea something like this would emerge. It is a very high honor and it means the world to me.” He went on to share some personal anecdotes about his calling to the priesthood and how beauty influenced him. He talked about the year he spent at the University of Notre Dame and Dr. Robert Leader, an art professor at the college. The young Barron attended some of his lectures as a freshman and saw that Leader was a big fan of the art of the Middle Ages, especially the old Gothic churches. “It opened a door in my soul,” Barron said about those lectures. “I never met him (Leader), but he played a decisive role in awakening in me what Dietrich von Hildebrand would call a value response — it’s when something objectively valuable appears.” He left Notre Dame to go to the seminary and told the story of what happened a few years later when he was on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., and looked at the Capitol building. “As I’m looking at [the Capitol], I just began to jump up and down,” he said. “When you’re in the presence of something that is beautiful, that is harmonious, it does something to your soul.”
He also told the story from his days as a doctoral student in Paris and his first day when he saw the Cathedral of Notre Dame. “There was the rose window that I had first seen in Robert Leader’s class when I was 18 years old,” he said. “And now I was seeing it with my own eyes. I didn’t jump up and down, but, boy, it changed me. I must have stayed there for a half-hour.” He noted that Thomas Aquinas, who had written about beauty, had seen that same window, and it changed him forever. “The great moment is not when I invent value; who cares what I invent? The great moment is when the objectively good, the objectively true, the objectively beautiful breaks into me and they stop me,” he said. “The beautiful stops you. It then rearranges you. . . . It doesn’t exist on your terms. It rearranges your framework, and it awakens your authentic freedom.” Bishop Barron said that all these things were graces in his life, and it was all inspired by those lectures from Leader. He said the professor never had any idea that his photographs and talks had such a profound influence on a young freshman sitting in the back of a darkened auditorium. “Maybe through the work that I do there is some kid sitting somewhere that is influenced by it and finds something compelling and beautiful in the Catholic tradition,” he concluded. “That’s my hope: that the Holy Spirit is doing his work.”