WALKING WITH JESUS
National Eucharistic Pilgrimage draws large crowds throughout the archdiocese
The National
By Todd Habiger todd.habiger@theleaven.org
Ncrosses over from Missouri to
priests,” said her mother, Kayla Lock, a member of St. Augustine Parish in Fidelity.
The travelers
ORTONVILLE — Fiveyear-old Hannah Lock had lots of questions about the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage that passed through here on June 25. But her most pressing one was: “Where is Jesus?”
“She thought Jesus was one of the
While the explanation that Jesus was present in the Eucharist in the monstrance may have slightly disappointed Hannah, hundreds of others that took part in the pilgrimage were delighted to have the opportunity to see and process with the eucharistic Christ as pilgrims made their way through the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas June 24-29.
“It was so beautiful,” said Rachael Schmidt, a member of St. Mary Parish, Derby, who attended the Atchison leg of the pilgrimage. “It’s an amazing witness of processing all across America with Jesus.”
Schmidt, who will be a freshman at Benedictine College in the fall, said she knew the pilgrimage was going to be a >> Continued on page 8
LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER
Father Matthew Nagle, pastor of Mater Dei-Assumption Parish in Topeka, leads the procession of the Blessed Sacrament into Church of the Assumption there on June 26. The procession began at St. Joseph Church in Topeka.
LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER
Eucharistic Pilgrimage
Kansas via the Amelia Earhart Bridge, making its way to Benedictine College in Atchison.
Farmer training program yields abundant fruit
By Jill Ragar Esfeld jill.esfeld@theleaven.org
Ca Saw loves farming. From the time he was a small child in Chin State, Burma, and read his first book on the subject, he knew becoming a farmer was his heart’s desire.
But by the time he was old enough to pursue that dream, unrest in his home country forced Saw to flee as a refugee, first to Malaysia and then to the United States.
At that point, he was told his dream of farming was impossible.
“A social worker ask me, ‘What are you going to do in the United States?’” he recalled. “I say, ‘Be a farmer!’ She say, ‘No way. If you don’t have money you can’t do that.’”
Fortunately, in 2017, Saw arrived in Kansas City, Kansas, and discovered New Roots, where he found all the encouragement, support and training he needed to realize his dream.
A collaboration between Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas and Cultivate KC, New Roots is a four-year farmer training program.
“The goal of New Roots is to empower people to start small farm businesses,” said program manager Kristen Selby. “The way we do that is through a stairstep approach.
“The first year, we pay for seeds, their water bills and their farmers market fee. We provide support and do weekly oneon-one meetings to check on the status of how everything is going.”
Each year in the four-year apprenticeship a little less support is provided, and farmers are empowered to do everything on their own.
“They’ll have a real clear idea of what it takes to run a farm business independently,” Selby said. “The goal is that they will be able to find their own land or lease land.”
Training takes place at Juniper Farm in Kansas City, Kansas, where nine acres are currently home to 17 plots being used by farmers.
“We also have a quarter-acre space for community gardeners who aren’t running small farm businesses but want to grow their own food,” said Selby.
All trainee and graduate farmers use organic principles.
“New Roots is a lot of help because I just want to be farmer, but I don’t have any experience,” said Saw. “And the climate, the weather, everything change — very different from Burma.
“And they teach everything; they support people like me.”
Saw, his wife and their two children live with his brother.
Saw farms a quarter-acre behind his brother’s house, as well as a quarter-acre he leases from New Roots.
His brother and his wife work, but Saw is proud to be able to help support the family, as well as saving enough income from farming to help his mother in Chin State and a brother in Malaysia.
Like all New Roots’ farmers, Saw sells his produce at farmers markets. He also earns money through New Roots’ farm share program. (See sidebar.)
“What I’d really like people to know is that when they purchase a farm share,” said Selby, “they’re directly supporting the farm family and they are supporting local sustainable agriculture, which is good for our environment.
“And they’re getting amazing, fresh, organic produce.”
A New Roots farmer harvests carrots. A collaboration between Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas and Cultivate KC, New Roots is a four-year farmer training program.
15-year anniversary celebrated with a new name
In 2008, Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas broke ground at the Juniper Gardens Training Farm in Kansas City, Kansas, and the New Roots for Refugees four-year farmer training program officially began.
Last fall, the program celebrated 15 years of growth and success, with a history of overwhelming support from the community generating more than $2 million in sales.
Today, 46 farming families have graduated and 32 of those are still farming locally.
Mindful of a desire to continue moving forward, New Roots for Refugees changed its name to simply “New Roots.”
Though the program continues to work with refugees, many of the graduate farmers have been settled in the United States for years.
“They don’t see themselves as refugees,” said Selby. “A number have become American citizens.
“So, it’s an effort to be more sensitive to how people want to identify themselves.”
The name change also reflects New Roots’ desire to expand the program to participants that may not have refugee status, but have come to this country with an agricultural background and need help to start a small farm business using organic principles.
Late summer farm shares are available now!
Sign up now to share in New Roots’ late summer produce. Your share will begin the first week in August and span 11 weeks.
Many believe it’s the best deal New Roots has to offer. The season starts at the height of the summer with vegetables like tomatoes, eggplants, peppers and squash. But then by October, it will transition to fall crops featuring more greens, radishes, sweet potatoes and pumpkins.
There are five convenient locations across the metro where customers can pick up their share each week.
Supporters can also purchase a share and, as an option, have it donated to the local food pantry.
Everything grown at the Juniper Gardens Training Farm abides by strict, certified organic principles – no genetically modified or treated seeds, synthetic fertilizers or chemical pesticides are used.
To learn more about New Roots or to purchase a share, visit the website at: catholiccharitiesks.org/new-roots/home.
July 14
Baptism of third or more child — cathedral
Installation of Father Jomon Palatty, MSFS — Annunciation Church, Baldwin
July 15
“Shepherd’s Voice” recording — chancery
July 17
National Eucharistic Congress — Indianapolis
Bishops’ Day of Reflection — Indianapolis
July 18
Mass with Kansas Pilgrims — Indianapolis
July 19
Mass — Indiana Convention Center
July 22
Master’s Cup Invitational — Ironhorse Golf Club, Leawood
July 24
Camp Tekakwitha Mass — Prairie Star Ranch, Williamsburg
“Tracing the Footprints of Faith” podcast recording
July 25
Serra Club dinner with priests, deacons, seminarians
July 28
Echo of Kateri Award and Extreme Camp Mass — Prairie Star Ranch, Williamsburg
July 30
Retired priests lunch
July 31
Archbishop James P. Keleher’s birthday
Artists needed to design Kapaun statue
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — A permanent statue of Father Emil Kapaun will find a home at the Kansas State Capitol in Topeka within the next couple of years, and the search for a sculptor is currently underway. Father Kapaun was an Army chaplain from Pilsen who served during World War II and the Korean War before dying in a North Korean prisoner of war camp in 1951.
He ultimately became a Medal of Honor recipient and now his cause for canonization is under consideration.
A bill for his memorial at the Kansas State Capitol was signed into law by Gov. Laura Kelly on March 22 after it was unanimously passed by the Kansas Legislature.
Proposals for the statue from artists will be accepted until July 31. Donations for the project are also being accepted. For more information on both, go online to: www.kapaunmemorial. com.
COURTESY PHOTO
Dedication of new altar caps
Burlington parish’s renovation
By Joe Bollig joe.bollig@theleaven.org
BURLINGTON — If you want to see a church renovation — really, a restoration — done right, you owe it to yourself to visit St. Francis Xavier Church here.
St. Francis Xavier, built in 1901, looks as new as the day the doors were opened 122 years ago. The renovation began in January and was completed in mid-June.
The parish, which celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2021, celebrated its renovation by inviting Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann to dedicate its new altar during a Mass on June 30. Archbishop Naumann was the main celebrant and homilist.
Concelebrating the Mass were the pastor, Father Colin Haganey; Father Mike Hawken, Church of the Nativity in Leawood (former pastor); Father Daniel Stover, pastor of Holy Angels Church in Garnett and St. John the Baptist Church, Greeley; and Father Brent Stull, associate pastor of Ascension Church in Overland Park and a native of St. Francis Xavier Parish.
A wooden free-standing altar had been installed in front of the original high altar during the 1970s, said Father Haganey, pastor for the past two years.
“We felt that the [former] altar, which served for many years, was out of place with the rest of the sanctuary,” he said, “so we had a new altar built to match the high and side altars.”
Ecclesiastical Studios & Sons of Greenwood, Missouri, built the dark wood altar with gold
highlights and white marble mensa (top). The firm also built a matching ambo and Communion rail. A new, accessible confessional was built in the back of the church, freeing space in the sacristy.
“A good number of people want to kneel for holy Communion,” said Father Haganey, about the rail. “We had a couple of kneelers set in front, but they were out of place. We wanted to include something [that was original] that added both function and beauty to the church.”
The former altar will be installed in a small chapel in the rectory or burned according to canon law.
There isn’t a surface in the church interior that hasn’t been cleaned, stained or painted. This includes the statues, Stations of the Cross, all wood surfaces, the walls and the decorative pressed-tin ceiling. There was a great deal of plaster repair, and a new sound system was installed.
The overall effect is a brighter, more colorful interior.
“An important part of our restoration was to tie the colors of the church together,” said Father Haganey.
The work was generally inside, but the church first repaired the roof and installed new 250-pound, nine-foot-high steel exterior doors — the height of the original doors.
The cost of the entire project was $350,000. It was paid for by gifts from the estates of Mo and Charlotta Merritt, who died in 2009 and 2023 respectively, and Mo’s niece Ann Lafferty of Emporia, who died in 2020.
The parish hosted a lunch after Mass, which was catered by two parishioners who have a catering business and a food truck.
LEAVEN PHOTO BY KATHRYN WHITE
Father Colin Haganey, pastor of St. Francis Xavier Parish in Burlington, gives some last-minute instructions to the altar servers before the Mass to dedicate the church’s new altar. Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann was the main celebrant and homilist at the dedication Mass.
LEAVEN PHOTO BY KATHRYN WHITE
Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann anoints the new altar at St. Francis Xavier Church in Burlington with chrism on June 30.
First-time missionary is veteran of Totus Tuus just the same
By Catherine Halbmaier Special to The Leaven
BASEHOR — It’s that time of year: Totus Tuus missionaries in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas are halfway through their summer programs. According to Father Daniel Stover, chaplain of the program, this summer holds several exciting firsts.
“Our last week is ReachKCK in Wyandotte County,” Father Stover said. “The fact that the Wyandotte County Deanery is collaborating is distinctive; it is our only collaboration of multiple parishes, which sets it apart.”
Father Stover, who served as a Totus Tuus missionary in 2009, is directing the program for the first time this year.
“My goal is to have the two teams function well and successfully present the program in the parishes that have signed up,” he said.
According to Father Stover, another standout aspect of this year’s program is one of the mission team itself — Emily Steinlage, a parishioner of Holy Angels in Basehor.
“We have a missionary who grew up going to Totus Tuus in the archdiocese,” said Father Stover. “She’s participating at her home parish, which hasn’t happened for several years — if ever — before.”
“All missionaries are great for various reasons,” he continued. “Several were encouraged by friends, but Emily knew that she wanted to participate. Short of having a returning missionary, it’s nice that she came in knowing what it’s supposed to look like and how it goes.”
Pam Riordan, a consultant for the archdiocesan office of children’s catechesis, grew up with Totus Tuus. For years now, she has helped with the archdiocesan Totus Tuus program, serving as coordinator this year.
She said that Steinlage made her interest clear years before she was eligible for missionary work.
“Two years ago, she told the team she was going to be a missionary. And then last summer, she was back to help,” Riordan said. “Emily was a volunteer during the day, and then she’d come back to participate in the evening program. She was very well aware of the schedule when she took the job.”
Having a local missionary who grew up attending the program is rare. However, Riordan reiterated the exceptional
nature of all missionaries on this year’s team.
“We have eight really great missionaries that all could have taken the spotlight,” Riordan said. “We’re halfway through and there’s been positive feedback so far.”
“Our goals are always to help the participants grow in their faith and their love of the sacraments, but also [to enrich] the missionaries,” Riordan added. “We pour a lot into them during training and checking in throughout the summer.
“Past missionaries have said how vital Totus Tuus has been in their discernment, so we really try to encourage them to embrace the Totus Tuus way of life for the summer and be open to whatever God has in store for them.”
For Steinlage, her time as a Totus Tuus missionary has certainly aided in her discernment of her future.
“I’ll be a freshman at K-State in the fall, studying elementary education,” she said. “Now, I’m a lot more certain
that I want to work with kids and be teaching them.”
While Steinlage does not remember how many years she attended the program as a student, she remembers the impact the missionaries left on her.
“I think, especially in high school, the thing was how joyful the missionaries were. I was so drawn to their relationship with God, and I would leave with a new sense of relationship with Jesus,” she said.
“I never fully understood how much work goes on behind the scenes,” she continued. “The most challenging was learning how to teach a class, how to hit the stuff on my lesson plans while also being present with the kids. As the weeks go on, I’ve gotten a lot better at that.”
As part of missionary work, Steinlage prepared a testimony to share with the students. She explained how her encounter with Totus Tuus missionaries in the past had inspired her testimony.
“The summer before junior year, I saw how joyful the missionaries were and how strong of a relationship they had with Jesus Christ,” Steinlage said. “I realized I wanted that joy. I would invite him into every single part of my day — be that school or sports — and it totally changed my perspective on everything.
According to Steinlage, her testimony has led to meaningful connections with students in the program. And she has forged friendships with volunteers and fellow missionaries as well.
“I didn’t realize how many volunteers I would meet, and hearing their stories has been super cool,” she said. “It’s been neat to get enveloped in their communities, staying with host families and having potlucks. That’s been really neat; I didn’t expect how wholesome that would be.”
Overall, Steinlage says she has been grateful for the experience of being a Totus Tuus missionary in her home archdiocese. In her words, “There’s nothing quite like it.”
COURTESY PHOTO
Returning Totus Tuus missionary Rita Marshall (left) delights in the fun with first-year missionary Emily Steinlage, who was chosen by the campers to be turned into a human sundae. The camp session at Annunciation Parish in Frankfort ran from June 16-21.
‘This is between you and Jesus’
By Tom Racunas Special to The Leaven
OVERLAND PARK — It was the last day of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas. And it might have seemed, at first glance, like the end of something.
Instead, it was just the beginning.
For on June 29, the very first sensoryfriendly eucharistic adoration and Benediction was held at Queen of the Holy Rosary Parish in Overland Park.
Beautiful, peaceful, quiet, moving and intimate are just a few of the words that participants used to describe what they experienced.
Sensory-friendly eucharistic adoration is designed to create a welcoming space for persons with disabilities and their families within Catholic faith communities. The liturgy aims to provide a peaceful and accessible environment for all people, regardless of their abilities, to grow in their faith — to believe more deeply that Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist.
Josh Ruoff, lead consultant for the special-needs ministry in the archdiocese, and Lisa Wagner-Carollo, director of deaf and disability services for the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, serve on the Council for Developmental Disabilities for the National Catholic Partnership on Disability (NCPD).
Ruoff said that when the council discussed the resources available nationally to enhance access and participation for people with disabilities in the life of the church, they realized there were no “how-to” guidelines for eucharistic adoration and Benediction.
“Working with NCPD staff and Lisa,” said Ruoff, “we developed a blueprint for the liturgy which will be shared with dioceses across the country.” The exposition of the Blessed Sacrament on a table closer to the participants, soft music, soft lighting, large-print worship aids, flexible and accessible seating options, a calming area, assistive listening devices, sign language interpretation and the availability of fidget items are possible adaptations suggested in the blueprint.
Before the liturgy began, Father Bill Bruning, pastor of Queen of the Holy Rosary, showed those gathered the monstrance, the luna and the humeral veil, and explained how and why they are used.
Eucharistic adoration, he explained to those gathered, is a quiet time — a time for prayer, a time to give thanks and a time to ask Jesus for help if they or someone they love is sick or hurting.
Father Bruning read from the Gospel of Luke about the woman who was healed from hemorrhages by touching the fringes of Jesus’ clothes. He read it slowly with emphasis and expression so that participants could more easily understand it.
After a few minutes of quiet prayer that followed, Father Bruning then invited the faithful to come forward and touch the long cloth on the altar representing Jesus’ clothes.
“This is between you and Jesus,” he said. “In silence, ask Jesus for healing in your body, mind and heart.”
Nearly every attendee did so.
Denise Gartner brought her daughter Carly, a young adult with severe autism.
“For me, this meant that this is another way that the church is becoming more inclusive,” said Gartner. “It was so low-key and the timing was so good (about 40 minutes), that Carly made it through. We have been to the [eucharistic] adoration chapel before but it was a
quick in-and-out. Carly was able to walk to the altar and touch the hem of Jesus’ clothes. It was a very special moment for me.”
John and Heidi Johnson, who volunteer with the iCare Ministries, were also in attendance. This was Heidi’s first Holy Hour, as she is a recent convert.
“I can hardly describe it. It was spiritually healing,” she said. “It was a big reminder to go out with my heart and continue to walk in the path of Jesus.”
The experience was almost overwhelming to some of the faithful.
“I got to be with Jesus,” shared Lucy Wagner, a young woman with Down syndrome, who then broke into tears.
Her mother Annette, however, finished her thought:
“In a special way, right? You got to touch Jesus’ clothes,” she said.
Lucy nodded in agreement.
Bella DeBrevi, also a young adult with Down syndrome, was equally moved.
“I like adoration. I like to pray,” said Bella.
But her mother Teresa saw her daughter’s experience in light of the Eucharistic Revival as well.
“This was a beautiful culmination of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage that
I just participated in,” she said. “Seeing my daughter adore the Lord with her whole heart moved me. This was intimate for her. It brings me comfort that she is able to approach the Lord.”
Following Benediction, there was a social gathering in the courtyard of the church. That extra time spent together, said Lisa Wagner-Carollo, extended the serenity of the experience within the church.
“The reverence was palpable,” she noted.
Even Father Bruning found it an unusually moving experience.
Ministering to people with disabilities, he said, forces him to slow down and answer questions that they need answered.
“I can’t assume anything,” he said. “Everything must be explained. And what can’t be explained — well, we all share in the mystery!”
“The Gospel becomes so incarnate with people with disabilities,” he continued. “I don’t have to think about Jesus 2000 years ago.
“I was moved to tears to be in this holy, sacred space and watch as people approached the altar and touched the hem of Jesus’ clothes.”
LEAVEN PHOTO BY KATHRYN WHITE
From left, Teresa DeBrevi, Bella DeBrevi, Father Bill Bruning and Fran Bluemke, take part in the first sensory-friendly eucharistic adoration and Benediction event in the country. It was held June 29 at Queen of the Holy Rosary Parish in Overland Park.
Surrendering your own will is the greatest gift you can give
By Gretchen R. Crowe OSV News
One of my favorite things about living in eastern Indiana is our long summer evenings. Being so close to the central time zone, but not yet in it, means that, for a short period of time, twilight lingers until after 10 p.m. That means that generally by around 8:45 p.m., the kids are bathed, brushed, storied, prayed, kissed and tucked up, and I’m out the door for my nightly constitutional. It is a true summertime joy for me — a sanity-reclaiming time of peace and reflection — and I greatly look forward to it.
I had just pulled on my tennis shoes on a recent weeknight when, very unusually, our 2-year-old started screaming. Now, this kid is by far the best sleeper we have ever had. He goes to bed like a dream, is a fantastic napper and sleeps in late. But on this night, he was far from his usual placid self. I headed to his room, thinking I’d soothe him for a minute, tuck him back up and be on my way. Nothing doing. I tried a few little tricks:
getting him a drink, singing a few lines from his favorite song (currently “Da doo ron ron,” naturally), and telling him, very sensibly, that it was time for bed so he needed to lie down and go to sleep. Three strikes. Little arms reached out for Mama from the crib, silhouetted in the light from the setting sun. And so we rocked in the nursery slider — the same chair I nursed all three of my babies in, the same chair that, in those blurry newborn months, all too often doubled as a bed — and I sang a little more.
I checked my watch. 9:05. A glimmer of hope remained.
But my evening outing was not a priority of my littlest little man. For whatever reason, right then, he needed me. And so I made the decision to surrender.
I smiled at him, got his blanket and we settled down. We had a little chat, mostly about his nose, stuffy from his tears, and he started laughing. We giggled together for several minutes. I kissed him on the nose. I sang him “The Itsy Bitsy Spider,” and he put his hands over his head when the sun came out. I told him
how much I love him, and he listed the names of everyone in our family, telling me in his own way how much he loves all of us.
As I stopped resisting the call of my child, as I gave up my own desire, small as it was, I was given a joyful connection with my toddler that I don’t get often enough. This little anecdote of surrender was nothing remarkable. Parents around the world make sacrifices for their children every second of every day. Mothers, especially in the newborn phase,
live in a perpetual state of surrender, as they give their very bodies to the children who depend on them for everything. “Stay-athome” parents, especially those who can and do opt to school at home, like my amazing husband, surrender their time and sometimes their sanity.
But all of us, in every state of life, are called to surrender, to give of ourselves freely, especially when we might not feel like it. To this end, I have come to greatly appreciate this prayer by Blessed James Alberione,
founder of the Pauline Family, which demands surrender of one’s will to that of God.
Prayer for unity with Christ
Holy Spirit, in a profound spirit of adoration
I ask you to unite my heart, my will, and my mind with those of Jesus.
May the affections of Jesus be my affections.
May the desires of Jesus be my desires.
May the thoughts of Jesus be my thoughts.
May Jesus himself live in my heart, my
will, my mind.
I give Jesus my heart, so that he may be the one who loves others in me and with me.
I give Jesus my will, so that he may be the one who lives in me and with me.
I give Jesus my mind, so that he may be the one who thinks in me and with me.
I want what he wants.
In me, may he love. In me, may he decide.
In me, may he act. And may it be he himself who fulfills his mission through me. Amen.
Rita and Ron Potter, members of Christ the King Parish, Topeka, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on July 20 with a party at their farm. The couple was married on July 20, 1974, at Most Pure Heart of Mary Church, Topeka. Their children are: Erica Gruebler and Alexis Varner. They also have six grandchildren.
Rosemary and Bob Fulmer, members of St. Bernard Parish, Wamego, will celebrate their 65th wedding anniversary on July 18. The couple was married on July 18, 1959, at Immaculate Conception Church in St. Marys. Their children are: Edward, Stephen, Terence, Timothy, Mary Teresa, Jeffrey, Sarah and Thomas. They also have 14 grandchildren and one great-grandson. They will celebrate with a family dinner.
Donny and Sallie (Duffin) McGlinn, members of Sacred Heart Parish, Topeka, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary with a family party. The couple was married by the groom’s brother, Msgr. Charles McGlinn, on July 13, 1974, at Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, Leavenworth. Their children are: Melanie, Katie, Colleen and Eddie. They also have 12 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
George and Dorothy Haskin, members of St. Vincent de Paul Parish, Onaga, will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary on July 20 with a Mass and a family barbecue. The couple was married on July 18, 1964, at Annunciation Church, Frankfort. Their children are: Nancy Bosse, Janet Zarndt and Greg Haskin. They also have three grandchildren.
Richard and Sharon (Osterhaus) Broxterman, members of the Sacred Heart Parish, Sabetha, celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on July 7 with a reception at the parish hall for family and friends. The couple was married on Aug. 22, 1964, at St. Mary Parish, St. Benedict. Their children are: Kevin, Ken, Dean, Rhonda, Brenda and Travis. They also have 20 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
Robert and Frances Handke, members of St. Benedict Parish, Atchison, celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary with a Mass and reception at St. Patrick Church, Atchison. The couple was married on June 6, 1949, by Father Cyprian Nordhus, OSB. They have seven children, 21 grandchildren, 37 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.
Janet (O’Sullivan) and Dennis Cawley, members of St. Joseph Parish, Shawnee, celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on July 11. The couple was married on July 11, 1964, at Francis Xavier Church in Kansas City, Missouri. A private family celebration was hosted by their family. Their children are: Mike Cawley (deceased); Carolyn Cawley, Lenexa; Michelle Masoner, Lenexa; and Jennifer Cawley, Kansas City, Missouri. They also have six grandchildren.
Charlene (Ladish) and Jim Enneking , members of Holy Angels Parish, Basehor, will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary on July 20 with a 4:30 p.m. Mass at Holy Angels. The couple was married on July 25, 1964, at St. Benedict Church in Kansas City, Kansas. Their children are: Brian Enneking, Cindy Reynolds and Melanie Thompson. They also have seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Announcement of abuse allegations concerning Dennis Schmitz
With deep sorrow for the suffering of victims and survivors of abuse, the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas announces that former priest Dennis Schmitz, who was laicized from the priesthood in 2005, has been the subject of additional substantiated allegations of sexual abuse of minors and adults over whom he held a position of authority. Schmitz served in a number of locations and capacities in the time frame of the abuse in the late 1990s and early 2000s, including St. Joseph, Shawnee; Bishop Miege, Roeland Park; St. Mary – St. Anthony, Kansas City, Kansas; St. Lawrence Catholic Campus Center, Lawrence; and as vocation director for the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas.
In October of 2002, Schmitz was convicted of indecent liberties with a child that occurred in 1998. He was removed from parish ministry, and the church began the process of laicization. Schmitz was sentenced to 32 months in prison and was ordered to register on the Kansas Sexual Offender Registry for 25 years. In 2018, Schmitz was included in the archdiocesan list of substantiated clergy offenders: Substantiated Clergy Offenders - Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas (archkck.org).
Through this announcement, the archdiocese reaffirms its commitment to all who have been harmed by an agent of the church,
ARichard and Shannon (Shore) Howell, members of Church of the Ascension, Overland Park, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary with a dinner for family and friends on July 21. They were married on July 21, 1974, at the First United Methodist Church in Johnson City. Their children are: Kelly Howell Bukaty and Patrick Howell. They also have three grandchildren.
Donald and Mary-Theresa Madill, members of St. Francis de Sales Parish, Lansing, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on July 27. The couple was married on July 27, 1974, at St. Joseph Church in Huntington, West Virginia. They celebrated with a cruise to Hawaii and French Polynesia. Their children are: Miriam Madill and Angela Burgess. They also have four grandchildren.
to atone for the harm, and to accompany survivors using restorative processes as they work toward healing and peace.
Along with the locations listed above, Schmitz served in the following churches/schools during his parish ministry in the archdiocese:
• St. Ann, Prairie Village
• Queen of the Holy Rosary, Overland Park
• Bishop Miege High School in Roeland Park
• St. Joseph, Shawnee
• Vocation Director, Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas
• St. Mary-St. Anthony, Kansas City, Kansas
• St. Lawrence Catholic Campus Center, Lawrence
• St. Gregory, Marysville
The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas takes all allegations of misconduct by church personnel very seriously and works to respond to survivors’ needs with urgency, respect and compassion. The Catholic Church has a zero-tolerance policy for the sexual abuse of minors, which is applied in the broadest sense of the term. We encourage anyone with knowledge about any misconduct by a church volunteer, employee, religious or clergy member — regardless of when the abuse may have occurred — to contact civil authorities first, and then call or text the archdiocese’s confidential report line at (913) 276-8703 or online at: www.archkck. org/reportabuse.
Sister, health care provider, dies
TCHISON — Sister Mary Teresa Morris, 72, a Benedictine Sister of Mount St. Scholastica here, died June 5 at the monastery.
A native of Kansas City, Kansas, she was born Oct. 15, 1951, the only child of T. Harold and Helen (Williams) Morris. She graduated from Wyandotte High School and attended St. Margaret’s School of Nursing and Donnelly College before earning her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, and a Master of Public Health degree from Saint Louis University.
A nurse since 1972 and a member of Mount St. Scholastica Monastery since 1978, Sister Mary Teresa served in hospitals, long-term care facilities and home health settings. She specialized in caring for the poor, homebound, high-risk infants, and children with special needs, going above and beyond basic health care to minister to the whole person. During the pandemic, she provided infectious disease services at Dooley Center, the Mount’s licensed care facility. Not only a graduate but also a former instructor at Donnelly College, she was inducted into the college’s Alumni Hall of Fame in 2023.
Sister of Charity, psychologist, dies
LEAVENWORTH — Sister Therese Zimmerman, 91, a Sister of Charity of Leavenworth for 73 years, died on June 19. She entered religious life on Aug. 18, 1950, and took the name Sister Therese Martin when she received her habit.
Born Anna Lee in Selden, she was the seventh of nine children of Frederick and Margaret Zimmerman. The family moved to Denver where she first met the Sisters of Charity of
Leavenworth while volunteering at St. Joseph’s Hospital. After seeing the Sisters’ joyful, holy work, she decided to pursue a religious vocation. Trained as a nurse, Sister Therese worked as a director of nursing in hospitals in Colorado, Kansas and Montana. She later returned to school to earn a master’s degree in psychology and maintained a private clinical psychology practice in California.
Sister Therese Zimmerman
Sister Mary Teresa Morris
‘The Lord provides’
Continued from page 1
powerful event.
“I couldn’t miss it,” she said. “People everywhere are going to see this and wonder what is going on and see all these people following Jesus.”
The National Eucharistic Pilgrimage is actually four different eucharistic pilgrimages traveling across the United States. The Serra Route, which started in San Francisco, is the pilgrimage that passed through the archdiocese. There is also the Marian Route that started in Lake Itasca, Minnesota; the Seton Route that started in New Haven, Connecticut; and the Juan Diego Route that started in Brownsville, Texas.
Each route will converge on Indianapolis on July 16 and kick off the start of the National Eucharistic Congress, which will be held at Lucas Oil Stadium July 17-21.
Some people traveled long distances to be a part of this pilgrimage.
Lucy Reyes, a member of St. Matthew Parish in Charlotte, North Carolina, was one such pilgrim. Reyes joined the procession in Atchison. Traveling with her sister-in-law, who is from Florida, Reyes said being part of the pilgrimage was deeply moving.
“It’s awesome. It’s amazing,” she said. “The community around the Eucharist was so overwhelming. It’s just beautiful.”
The pilgrimage entered the archdiocese on a blistering hot afternoon, crossing from Missouri over into Kansas via the Amelia Earhart Bridge on June 25. Sweat dripped down the faces and saturated the clothes of the pilgrims, as the body of Christ made its way to Benedictine College in Atchison. The following day, pilgrims processed through the verdant campus of Benedictine College, the dusty roads of Nortonville and the busy streets of downtown Topeka.
Each stop along the way offered an opportunity to adore and/or process with the Blessed Sacrament. St. Joseph Parish in Nortonville relished the opportunity to be part of the pilgrimage.
“It’s overwhelming to consider that a little rural parish with less than 100 families is important enough to be a stop on this national pilgrimage,” said Becky Weishaar, a member of St. Joseph. “To think that this has been making its way all the way from California and will be a huge part of that Eucharistic Revival in Indianapolis is very exciting to us to bring people closer to the Lord in the real presence of Christ.”
They have come
On a national level, interest in the pilgrimages has exceeded expectations. The archdiocesan leg has been no exception, as most churches have been
standing room only for eucharistic adoration, Masses and Holy Hours.
“It’s hard to plan for an event when you don’t know how many people are coming, but the Lord provides,” said Father Nathan Haverland, pastor of Most Pure Heart of Mary Parish in Topeka and one of the organizers of the Topeka portion of the pilgrimage. “We planned the best that we could and he provides for the rest.”
Hundreds of pilgrims processed from St. Joseph Church in Topeka to Assumption Church. At Assumption, the church was packed to capacity and beyond.
“Assumption was completely full today, which was a beautiful sight,” said Father Haverland. “We had no idea what to plan for, what the turnout would be, but we knew the numbers would be big. This is certainly a lot bigger than we thought.”
A lesson in history
June 27 began with Mass at Assumption — standing room only again — followed by a procession to the Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park where, at a prayer service, Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann noted the importance of the Brown Supreme Court decision and its role in combating racism.
“Every time we leave Mass, we’re sent on a mission to change the world and to bring Jesus Christ to every corner of society. We give thanks to all those who were instrumental in this landmark decision that ended segregation in our schools,” he said.
The archbishop said it was a great moment for the church and the pilgrimage to stop at the park and recognize the sacrifices that have been made for racial equality.
The gravity of the moment wasn’t lost on Deacon Dana Nearmyer, division secretary for evangelization in the archdiocese.
“I was moved to be there with men and women who have fought for decades for racial justice and eucharistic amazement,” he said.
Following the Brown service, the pilgrimage shifted to Corpus Christi Parish in Lawrence for lunch, eucharistic adoration and a Holy Hour and then on to Leawood, where the Eucharist processed from the Talk of the Town parking lot to St. Michael the Archangel Parish, where the Blessed Sacrament was present for eucharistic adoration and Mass.
The power of the Eucharist
The following day began what was
LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER
Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann incenses the Blessed Sacrament during Benediction in front of St. Benedict Church in Atchison.
LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER
Bishop Jerry Vincke of the Diocese of Salina carries the monstrance from Assumption Church past the Capitol building in Topeka.
Father Brian Schieber, pastor of St. Michael kneels before the Eucharist as the pilgrims and Mass.
The National Eucharistic Pilgrimage makes its way through the streets of Topeka, from St. Joseph Church
After lunch at St. Joseph Parish in Nortonville, held before the Blessed Sacrament.
LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER
Father Innocent, CFR, was the chaplain of the pilgrimage during its time in the archdiocese. >>
LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER
Archbishop Naumann leads a prayer service for racial healing at Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park. The Brown Supreme Court decision ended racial segregation in U.S. schools.
LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER
Following Mass at Benedictine College in Atchison, pilgrims processed through the college’s campus to the front of St. Benedict Church in Atchison for Benediction.
LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER
Michael the Archangel Parish, Leawood, pilgrims prepare for eucharistic adoration
LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER
Church to Church of the Assumption, where a full house greeted the body of Christ.
LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER Nortonville, pilgrims processed from the church to St. Joseph’s Cemetery, where a short service was
LEAVEN PHOTO BY KATHRYN WHITE
Father Michael Hawken, pastor of Church of the Nativity, Leawood, carries the monstrance from Nativity to Tomahawk Creek Park for a short prayer service.
LEAVEN PHOTO BY KATHRYN WHITE
Father Mark Mertes welcomes pilgrims onto one of two buses returning people to Nativity or on to the next stop at Curé of Ars Church, Leawood.
Pilgrimage is a powerful experience for all involved
>> Continued from page 8
called the Mission on Mission Road. A procession started at Church of the Nativity in Leawood and ended up at Tomahawk Creek Park. From there, the pilgrimage moved to Curé of Ars Parish, where the group processed to Franklin Park. From Franklin Park, the Eucharist moved to St. Agnes Parish in Roeland Park for an hour of eucharistic adoration, lunch and then on to Donnelly College in Kansas City, Kansas. From Donnelly, pilgrims processed to the Cathedral of St. Peter to end its day.
Most of the faithful joined the pilgrimage at one — or at most two — of the stops of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage. But several young people — known as perpetual pilgrims — have been with the pilgrimage since it started on June 16.
Jimmy Velasco, a seminarian for the Diocese of San Francisco, is one of these perpetual pilgrims and has been there every step of the way.
Velasco said it’s been very gratifying to travel with the Lord and to meet the people in different states and communities, all who have a love for the Lord and the Eucharist.
But Velasco said the trip hasn’t been without its challenges.
“This is a really long trip. It’s never been done before. It’s two months. It’s two months away from family. Two months away from home,” he said. “You
have to be very adaptable. A lot of things come up that are unprecedented and alter our plans.”
Archbishop Naumann praised the perpetual pilgrims for their faith and commitment to the pilgrimage.
“These young adult pilgrims, it’s beautiful that they have given this time — basically two months — walking with Jesus, driving with Jesus,” he said. “Thank you for your love for Jesus and your love for the Eucharist.”
The Franciscan Friars of the Renewal are the official chaplains for the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage. A different friar joins the pilgrimage every week or two to care for the body of Christ, as well as the perpetual pilgrims.
Father Innocent, CFR, who joined up with the pilgrimage in Nebraska, said that he has been inspired as he’s traveled with the group.
“Every procession I’ve walked, either when I’m holding Jesus in the monstrance or I’m seeing the faces of the people, I realize how close Jesus wants to be with us,” he said. “I look over in the monstrance and think ‘Man, Jesus is here.’”
On June 29, the archdiocesan leg of the pilgrimage ended with the celebration of Mass at the cathedral by Archbishop Naumann, after which the Blessed Sacrament was off on the next stage of the journey, and the perpetual pilgrims headed to their final destination in Indianapolis.
LEAVEN PHOTO BY KATHRYN WHITE
In its final procession in the archdiocese, the pilgrims journeyed from Donnelly College to the Cathedral of St. Peter in Kansas City, Kansas, for an evening of praise and worship in Spanish and English.
LEAVEN PHOTO BY KATHRYN WHITE
Father Scott Wallisch, pastor of St. Joseph Church in Shawnee, carries the monstrance in the procession from St. Agnes Church in Roeland Park to Rosedale Park in Kansas City, Kansas.
LEAVEN PHOTO BY KATHRYN WHITE
The National Eucharistic Pilgrimage van with Archbishop Naumann and Father Innocent, CFR, on board prepares to transport the Blessed Sacrament from Rosedale Park to Donnelly College.
LEAVEN PHOTO BY KATHRYN WHITE
The eucharistic procession makes its way down Central Avenue in Kansas City, Kansas, on its way to the Cathedral of St. Peter.
EMPLOYMENT
Workforce specialist - Are you seeking an opportunity to advance your career while assisting others to advance theirs? Want to surround yourself with others with a high level of conviction and passion of serving others? Then consider your next career move with our great team as a workforce training and development specialist. For more info, please go to our website at: https://catholiccharitiesks.org/careers.
Case management specialist - Do you have experience in a social service related field? Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas is seeking a case manager with HUD programming and/or HMIS experience. Opening in Olathe Family Support Center. Interested applicants should apply online at: https://catholiccharitiesks.org/ careers.
Math teacher - St. James Academy is seeking a math teacher for the 2024-25 school year. The ideal candidate will be a practicing Catholic with a passion for evangelization who is a licensed and experienced math teacher at the secondary level. The position can be part time or full time and starts on Aug. 7. Applicants should apply through the archdiocesan website at: archkckcs. org/apply and click on the blue link that says: “accessed here” and also send a resume and cover letter to principal Dr. Shane Rapp at: srapp@sjakeepingfaith.org.
Compliance officer – Exchange Bank & Trust is a $500M family-owned community bank located in NE Kansas and NW Missouri. Exchange Bank & Trust has an excellent career opportunity for the right candidate. Primary duties include:
• Responsible for the administration of all aspects of the bank’s Compliance Management Program.
• Manage the bank’s BSA Program with assistance from BSA Analyst.
• Organizes and controls the bank’s day-to-day administrative, lending and operational compliance activities and collaborates with senior management in the overall administration of these regulations for the bank.
• Participates in various committees, audits and examinations.
• Interacts with regulators and auditors.
• Conducts staff training related to compliance.
• Advises the board of directors, senior management and bank personnel of emerging compliance issues and consults and guides the bank in establishment of controls to mitigate risks.
Must have a bachelor’s degree from a college or university and at least three years of related experience or training, or the equivalent combination or education and experience. Juris doctorate and related legal experience a plus. Work-related experience should consist of an in-depth background in bank compliance and regulations. Educational experience, through in-house training sessions, formal school or financial industry related curriculum should be applicable to the financial industry. Advanced knowledge of bank administration, lending, operations products and services; related state and federal laws and regulations and other bank operational policies and procedures is preferred. Contact Becky Hawk at: BHawk@ebt.bank.
Director for the Marillac Retreat and Spirituality Center - The Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth are currently seeking a director for the Marillac Retreat and Spirituality Center. The director of the Marillac Retreat and Spirituality Center is responsible for leading the center, drawing on our mission and char-ism to serve the critical spiritual needs of God’s people today by providing an environment of prayer, peace, hope and transformation. As St. Vincent, St. Louise, and Mother Xavier taught us, the Marillac Center is a place of encounter for the poor and marginalized and all those who serve them. The ideal candidate will possess a master’s degree in theology, spirituality or related field; knowledge of, or willingness to, embrace the mission and values of the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth and the Vincentian charism; and previous experience working in a space focused on hospitality, rest or spirituality. To view the full job announcement, please visit our website at: www.scls.org. If you possess the desired qualifications and would like to work for a truly wonderful and outstanding religious community, please email a cover letter with salary requirements and your resume to: recruiting@scls.org.
HR administrative assistant – The chancery office of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas is seeking to fill an administrative assistant position in the Human Resources office. The job plays a central role supporting the HR team, is full time based on 40 hours per week and benefits-eligible, with a flexible schedule. This position is on-site at the chancery office. Please visit: archkck.org/jobs and click on “Openings in our Archdiocese” and then click on “HR Administrative Assistant” to learn more about the position and to apply. Organizing and policy coordinator - The Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth (SCLs) seek an organizing and policy coordinator. This individual will promote justice education and action for the Sisters, associates and staff regarding current issues of justice, peace and integrity of creation in Kansas. The ideal candidate should have a bachelor’s degree with 3 - 5 years of experience in political campaigns, community organizing or advocacy, and a solid commitment to justice and knowledge of Catholic social teaching.
Custodian - Are you a reliable and detail-oriented individual with a passion for keeping spaces clean and welcoming? Do you take pride in keeping spaces spotless and well-maintained? Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Shawnee is seeking a dedicated part-time custodian to ensure our sacred spaces are spotless and inviting for all who come to worship, learn and gather. This is a part-time, 20-hours-per-week position. Apply at: www. shoj.org/employment-opportunities.
Chief executive officer - Santa Marta is a luxury senior living community, deeply rooted in an unwavering commitment to the dignity of life, hospitality and spiritual growth. Santa Marta exists as a Catholic-sponsored continuum of care to enable senior adults to live full and active lives within a secure and faith-filled environment in accordance with Catholic traditions and values. Senior adults are offered an exceptional array of health services, including independent living, assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing and rehabilitation care on 45 acres of beautiful grounds. Santa Marta is a private-pay, entrance-fee community. Santa Marta is seeking to hire a full-time chief executive officer, who is a practicing Catholic and in good standing with the Catholic Church. The chief executive officer is responsible for ensuring the stability and success of the community, providing leadership and implementing policies and programs to carry out the work of the organization. This position is on-site and will average 40 hours per week. Key responsibilities include:
• Promote the Catholic mission of Santa Marta in daily operations, marketing, staffing and health care.
• Ensure that the delivery of care is in alignment with the mission and tenants of the Catholic faith ethical and religious directives and Catholic social teaching.
• Responsible for the strategic planning, managing, directing, coordinating and controlling the overall operations of the community.
• Provide leadership to ensure attainment of strategic objectives and the delivery of quality health care services.
• Initiate and enforce organization-wide policies and procedures that support the community’s goals, objectives and programs.
• Coordinate the development and management to the budget, allocate funds within the budget and ensure the organization operates within the budget.
• Keep the governing body fully informed regarding pertinent activities within the organization which includes quality of patient care, management and financial status, survey results, and the adequacy of physical plant, equipment and personnel by providing regular reports to the governing body.
• Anticipate trends and opportunities affecting company operations to formulate strategies and create new approaches in adverse situations.
• Development of programs promoting a positive image and create awareness of available services to communities we serve.
• Adherence to state and federal laws, regulations and accreditation standards; submit financial records and cost reports to authorized government agencies as required.
• Act as a liaison between Santa Marta and the community, building relationships with fellow health care organizations, legislators and regulators, referral sources and community leaders. Knowledge, skills and abilities:
• Ability to read and write, follow written and oral instructions and communicate effectively.
• Knowledge of management, fiscal and medical/nursing practices and procedures, laws, regulations and guidelines pertaining to long-term care.
• Ability to work with the elderly in a courteous and friendly manner, demonstrating patience and compassion.
• Ability to perform duties with consideration for residents’ rights at all times and demonstrate integrity and discretion in the care of residents and in handling their health information.
• Ability to plan, organize, develop, implement, interpret and manage programs, goals, objectives, policies, procedures and resources necessary to provide quality of care.
• Demonstrate a professional leadership style that earns the respect and cooperation of others.
Licensed civil engineer – CES Group, Inc., is seeking a licensed civil engineer to join our growing team. Ideal candidate will possess a professional engineer license for Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska or be willing to acquire license in these states. Applicant will administer projects related to transportation, public works, municipal sanitary sewer and water. Relocation is not required with opportunity to work remotely. CES Group, Inc., offers health insurance, paid time off and Simple IRA retirement plan. To apply, send cover letter and resume to: aholthaus@cesengineering.com.
Qualifications include: Practicing Catholic in good standing is required; Bachelor’s degree in related field required; Master’s degree preferred; minimum ten (10) years of experience in healthcare management or equivalent required; five years of experience in a senior management position required; active Nursing Home Administrator License is preferred. In addition to a competitive base salary and annual bonus, Santa Marta offers a comprehensive health and welfare benefits plan including medical, dental and vision, a 401k plan that includes matching contributions, as well as generous paid time off policies and paid holidays. To apply, email: jamieo@cornerstone-kc.com or call (913) 754-2095.
Director of youth ministry - St. Peter Catholic Church in Kansas City, Missouri, is seeking a full-time director of youth ministry, with salary and benefits. There is currently no existing youth ministry at St. Peter. This is an exciting opportunity to be able to create a parish youth ministry (for 6-12 graders) from the ground up. There will be an early emphasis on 6th through 8th graders in St. Peter School. Almost every child in the parish also attends the school. For this reason, the youth minister has the opportunity to create a culture and design something in the school that engages and forms kids to be disciples of Jesus while also building from this a vibrant youth ministry that extends beyond school boundaries. We are looking for an innovative thinker and a pioneer spirit to bring fresh ideas to this endeavor. Applicants should send cover letter, resume and list of references to Chad Pirotte at: cpirotte@stpeterskc.org.
Bookkeeping specialist - Are you a meticulous number cruncher with a knack for keeping finances in perfect harmony? Do you love bringing order to the world of debits and credits? If so, Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Shawnee has the ideal part-time role for you! This is part-time, 25 hours per week. Apply at: www.shoj.org/ employment-opportunities.
Parish life assistant - Are you passionate about supporting a mission-driven Catholic parish and making a real impact? We are seeking a dedicated individual to join our team as a parish life assistant and child care coordinator. This is more than just a job — it’s a calling to serve others in our Sacred Heart of Jesus Church community in Shawnee. This is a full-time position. Apply at: www.shoj.org/employment-opportunities.
Accountant - The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas is seeking to hire an Accountant III. This position would be responsible for performing various key accounting duties, including journal entries, bank reconciliations, account reconciliations and analysis, sales tax filings and assist with maintenance of fixed asset records. A minimum of three (3) years’ relevant accounting work experience, including experience maintaining accurate financial records, preparing reports, budgeting systems, preparing financial or auditor statements, schedules and reports is required. To apply, go online to: https://recruiting. paylocity.com/Recruiting/Jobs/ Details/2486629.
Outreach coordinator – Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas is seeking an outreach coordinator. Do you have a passion for educating and advocating on social justice issues? Catholic Charities is seeking a compassionate, joy-filled and motivated individual to serve as an outreach coordinator. Primary responsibilities include collaborating with parishes, school and community organizations in the 21 counties of the archdiocese to educate on the social mission of the church and invite others to respond to live out the Gospel call to love and serve our neighbors. To learn more or apply, visit: catholiccharitiesks.org/careers/.
Now hiring - drivers and aides - Assisted Transportation is hiring safe drivers and aides to transport students in Johnson and Wyandotte counties, in company vans. Drivers earn $14 - $16 per hour. Part-time and full-time schedules available. CDL not required. Retirees are encouraged to apply. Make a difference in your community by helping those in need! Call (913) 2625190 or visit www.assistedtransportation.com for more information. EEO.
Staff job openings - Donnelly College in Kansas City, Kansas, a Catholic college offering higher education for those who may not otherwise be served, has the following staff job openings available: admissions counselor, and director of development. Find job descriptions and details at: www.donnelly.edu/careers.
Technician Needed ASAP - Do you like to tinker? Are you detail-oriented? Then this is the job for you! A locally owned family business is currently seeking candidates to provide preventive maintenance (cleaning) and repair service on microscopes. No previous experience necessary, on-the-job training provided. Good communication, time management and customer service skills necessary. Expenses paid, out in the field majority of time and each day is different! Some travel is required. Please contact us at: techneeded23@gmail.com.
Community and family ministry leader - St. Joseph Parish in Shawnee is seeking a part-time community and family ministry (CFM) leader. This leader would be responsible for nurturing and guiding a ministry and evangelism strategy that provides vision, skills and community for single, engaged and married people. The leader will lead a ministry task force responsible for executing this initiative to invite and move church and community through outreach and ongoing engagements into Growth Journeys where relationship skills content is delivered/transformed. The leader will also serve as St. Joseph’s chief liaison with our Communio church strategist. Interested applicants should email resumes to Veronica Quinn at: vquinn@stjoeshawnee. org or call (913) 244-3909.
Caregivers needed - Daughter & Company is looking for compassionate caregivers to provide assistance to seniors in their home, assisted living or in a skilled nursing facility. We provide sitter services, light housekeeping and light meal preparation, organizational assistance, care management and occasional transportation for our clients. We need caregivers with reliable transportation and a cellphone for communication. 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 fulltime 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 Anne at (913) 894-0131, ext. 102.
Faculty and adjunct faculty job openings - Donnelly College, Kansas City, Kansas, is a Catholic college offering higher education for those who may not otherwise be served Faculty job openings - English instructor. Adjunct faculty job openings - adjunct instructor for nursing and clinical nursing adjunct. Adjunct faculty Lansing Correctional Campus - business adjunct, English adjunct and math adjunct. Find job descriptions and details at: www.donnelly.edu/careers.
Communication coordinator – St. Joseph Parish in Shawnee is seeking a full-time communications coordinator. The communications coordinator will coordinate and support the St. Joseph Campus with communication projects. This position will work closely with the school principal, EEC director and parish office to develop and implement communications strategies, media relations, social and digital media, article writing, video production, advertising/marketing initiatives and other communication support as needed. A successful candidate should be Catholic, with strong relationship skills and the ability to work in a collaborative setting. The overall goal for this position is to promote St. Joseph Catholic Campus as the go-to source for relevant, reliable, evidenced-based information. Interested applicants should email resumes and cover letter to Father Scott Wallisch: frscott@stjoeshawnee.org or call (913) 631-5983 for more information.
Director of music – Good Shepherd Parish in Shawnee. Potentially full- or part-time. Good Shepherd is a parish with a long-standing music tradition. The music ministry includes an SATB choir, cantors and musicians. Both musicians and parishioners cherish their diverse repertoire, ranging from traditional hymns to contemporary songs. A state-of-the-art pipe organ will be installed during the summer of 2024, opening exciting possibilities for liturgical music at Good Shepherd. The director of music oversees leading the choir in rehearsals and services; rehearsing with cantors and musicians as needed; keeping the music library organized and updated; and overseeing all the musical aspects of the parish. The ability to play the piano and organ is desirable. Administrative duties include: keeping the equipment functioning and tuned; attending staff, music committee and worship committee meetings; scheduling cantors and accompanists for the weekly Masses; and preparing the yearly budget for the music ministry. Salary commensurate with experience. Start date negotiable. Submit your application via email to: pthacker@gsshawnee.org. Include resume, application letter, three references and (optional) recording of conducting or accompanying at the piano.
Computer systems analyst/senior computer systems analyst - The Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth seek a computer systems analyst/senior computer systems analyst to provide hardware, software and network support to our community of Sisters and employees. The ideal candidate will manage asset inventory, assist with network management and resolve computerrelated issues in a large campus environment. Key responsibilities include evaluating and recommending technology solutions, maintaining computer hardware inventory, managing software patch deployment and providing technical support to end users. The role calls for a bachelor’s degree in computer science or related field, along with 1-4 years of experience in information technology. Strong communication, organization and problem-solving skills are essential. Proficiency in troubleshooting hardware, software and network issues and expertise in Microsoft Office Suite, Windows operating systems and Active Directory are preferred. If you embody our values of caring, compassion and concern and are adept at multitasking, prioritizing work and staying current with industry trends, we would love to hear from you. For more details, please visit our website at: www.scls.org. To apply, please email your resume to: recruiting@scls.org. EOE.
Director of accounting - The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas is seeking to hire a Director of Accounting, which will be responsible for professional accounting activities including analyzing and verifying fiscal records and reports ensuring compliance with regulations, preparing financial statements, providing consultative services to ministries and parishes regarding accounting practices and procedures. A minimum of ten (10) years’ fund accounting experience including areas of accounts receivable and payable, payroll/benefits and accounting supervision is required. Finding the right person with the right combination of skills, experience, and desire to serve the Church can be challenging, and you can help in one or more ways: Share the link on your social media sites; forward this email to family and friends who might know someone with an interest, or could themselves have an interest; ask your parish to put a small notice in their bulletin for 2-3 weeks. A sample ad is attached. To apply go online to: https://recruiting.paylocity.com/Recruiting/ Jobs/Details/2442508.
Youth minister – Divine Mercy Parish is seeking a 9th - 12th grade youth minister. Come work in this young and energetic parish. This is a part-time position (less than 20 hours per week). To inquire, contact: parish@ divinemercyks.org or call (913) 856-7781.
SERVICES
KC creative photography - Quinceañera, weddings, family and videography. We offer great results and can build a package for your budget. Contact: www. kc-creativephotography.com. Spanish - (816) 2251330, ask for Yeny; English - (816) 509-6024, ask for Sebastian. Text or call.
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.
Ros painting - Transforming your home one paint coat at a time. Over 20 years of residential and commercial interior and exterior painting. Reliable, professional and affordable. Insured. Call or text Ramiro today for a free estimate! (913) 579-5016.
>> Classifieds continue on page 15
CHURCH PICNIC
Sacred Heart Parish
357 Third St., Baileyville
July 13 at 5 p.m.
Mass will be at 4 p.m. Dinner will be at 6 p.m. followed by games and concessions at 5:30 p.m. There will also be an auction at 8:45 p.m. The cost is $12 for adults, and $6 for kids under 10. To-go meals are available. The facility is handicap accessible.
CHURCH PICNIC
St. Augustine-Fidelity Parish (hall)
1948 Acorn Rd., Sabetha (7 miles from town)
July 14 at 4:30 p.m.
There will be smoked chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, coleslaw, roll and dessert. The cost is: $12 for adults; $6 for kids ages 4 - 10; and kids 3 and under eat for free. There will also be card games, bingo, dish throw, kids corner, football throw, a bounce house, a chance stand, a cakewalk and a lunch stand with hamburgers and hot dogs. Entertainment will be provided by the Huffles Family Band from 7:30 - 9:30 p.m.
Breakfast with the knights
Divine Mercy Parish
555 W. Main St., Gardner
July 14 from 8:30 - 10 a.m.
The breakfast will include eggs, sausage and gravy, pancakes and drinks. Join us for great fellowship. The cost is $6 for those over the age of 13 and free for ages 12 and under. Proceeds are used for charitable works, such as scholarships and other giving throughout the year.
Women embracing Aging
Keeler Women’s Center
759 Vermont Ave., Suite 100-B Kansas City, Kansas
July 16 from 2 - 3:30 p.m.
This is a support group for women who want to explore aging. Share your experiences, wisdoms and unexplored changes aging is bringing into your life. For more information or questions, go online to: www. keelerwomenscenter.org or call (913) 9068990 or (913) 708-0286 (en Español).
youth ministry rummage sale
Holy Trinity Parish (school gym)
13600 W. 92nd St., Lenexa
July 16 - 20
The dates are: early bird sale on July 25 from 5 - 9 p.m., with a $5 entrance fee; July
26 from 8 a.m. - 7 p.m., no entrance fee; July 27 from 8 a.m. - noon, half-price day. Drop off dates are July 16 - 19, July 22 - 23 from 1 - 8 p.m. and July 20 from 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. For questions, contact Joann Weger at (913) 980-4988 or by email at: rummage@ htlenexa.org.
Bereavement meeting
Curé of Ars Parish (Father Burak Room) 9405 Mission Rd., Leawood July 20 after the 8 a.m. Mass
The bereavement ministry will have a grief support meeting Saturday morning. For more information, call (913) 649-2026.
BISHOP WARD HIGH SCHOOL
alumni soccer game
Bishop Ward High School (Dorney Field)
715 N. 16th St., Kansas City, Kansas
July 21 at 2:15 p.m.
The soccer game is open to men and women alumni. The cost is $25 per player until July 7 and $35 per player after July 7. T-shirts are included with registration. Postgame gathering is at Breit’s Stein & Deli, 712 N. 5th St., Kansas City, Kansas. All proceeds go to soccer team expenses for the 2024-25 school year. For information or to register, go online to: www.wardhigh. org/page/boys-soccer. This year’s game will be played to honor and remember Louie Rebeck, class of 2012. Contact head coach Tony Subasic with questions by email at: asubasic@wardhigh.org.
QUARTERLY INVESTMENT
UPDATE WEBINAR
Zoom
July 24 from noon - 12:30 p.m.
Join the Catholic Foundation of Northeast Kansas for its quarterly investment update webinar. Chuck Maggiorotto, chief wealth officer of Country Club Trust Company, and Bill Maloney, executive director of the Catholic Foundation of Northeast Kansas, will look at the following: portfolio review, economic outlook and foundation highlights. Register online at: www. cfnek.org, click on “Events,” scroll down to “Quarterly investment update” and scroll down to “Register.”
viewing of 106-year-old time capsule items
St. Patrick Parish, Scranton
(St. Bridget Hall in Osage City)
July 27 from 6 - 8 p.m.
There will be a viewing of items
removed from the 106-year-old time capsule saved from the old church before it was torn down. Any one interested in history will find this collection fascinating. The time capsule collection contains local newspapers, books, letters and religious articles from this time period. Come reminisce and share your memories while enjoying refreshments with your friends and listening to the stories of others. There will be an opportunity to participate in a 50/50 raffle and to purchase a $50 chance for a 1994 Honda Gold Wing.
Annual roast beef dinner
Sacred Heart-St. Casimir Parish (Sacred Heart Church hall) 1405 2nd Ave., Leavenworth Aug. 4 from 11:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Join us for a roast beef dinner. The cost is $14 for adults and $6 for kids. Carryouts are available.
An Evening with
Deacon Greg Kandra
St. Joseph Church 11311 Johnson Drive, Shawnee Aug. 9 at 7 p.m.
This Catholic blogger, speaker and author will provide a discussion on “We Become What We Receive.” Deacon Kandra spent nearly three decades in broadcast journalism, most of that time at CBS News, where he was a writer and producer for several programs. Go online to: https://church.stjoe shawnee.org/news/400-eucharistic-amaze ment-speaker to register.
GRANDPARENTS MATTER INTERNATIONAL CATHOLIC GRANDPARENTING
Holy Trinity Parish
13615 W. 92nd St., Lenexa Aug. 10 from 9 a.m. - noon
Legacy of Faith is a Catholic ministry dedicated to educating and equipping Catholic grandparents to become intentional Catholic grandparents and help keep their grandchildren faithful to Christ and his church. We offer our foundational seminar for free to Catholic grandparents to assist them in their sacred mission as spiritual influencers within their families.
RETIREMENT PLANNING WORKSHOP
Most Pure Heart of Mary Parish 3601 S.W. 17th St., Topeka Aug. 13 from 6 - 7 p.m.
Wealth management consultant Bill
Hess, of Commerce Trust, will give a presentation on “Retirement Basics: An Overview of the Retirement Planning Process.” Register online at: www.cfnek.org, click on “Events,” then scroll down to “Retirement Planning Trusts Workshop,” or contact Mitch Nolan at (913) 647-3070.
WILLS AND TRUSTS WORKSHOP
Sacred Heart Parish (St. Rose Philippine Duchesne hall) 729 W. Main St., Mound City Aug. 14 from 6 - 8 p.m.
The evening will begin with a vigil Mass for the solemnity of the Assumption. Following Mass, there will be a workshop on will and trusts presented by John Stanfield, partner and estate planning and administrative attorney at Rees, Kincaid & Stanfield Law. Register online at: cfnek. org/events, scroll down to “Wills and Trusts Workshop: Creating your Legacy” and click on “Register,” or contact Greg Alejos at (913) 647-0365.
‘C.S. Lewis: THe problem of faith’ Christ’s Peace House of Prayer 22131 Meagher Rd., Easton Aug. 16 at 5:30 p.m. - Aug. 18 at 4:30 p.m. If God is good and all-powerful, why does he allow his creatures to suffer pain? Join us alongside C.S. Lewis as he offers answers and shares his hope and wisdom to help heal a world hungering for a true understanding of human nature. Come be transformed by the message that God can use evil and pain to mold us and make us into who we each were made to be. This is God’s love. And it is in this that we can start to give a response to “the problem of pain.” There will be conferences, spiritual direction, eucharistic adoration, Mass, confession, and time for private prayer, reflection and walking. Cabins/courtyard rooms: $180 single/$270 couple; single guest rooms: $110 (meals included). To attend, fill out the individual retreat form online at: Christs Peace.com or call (913) 773-8255.
CROATIAN FESTIVAL
St. John the Baptist Parish 708 N. 4th St., Kansas City, Kansas Aug. 17 after the 4 p.m. Mass There will be fun, food, music, dancing and raffle prizes. This traditional festival is sponsored by the parish and held on the church grounds. For more information, send an email to: KCKCroatianFestival@ gmail.com; go online to: www.StJohn theBaptistCatholicChurch.com; or go on Facebook to 2024CroatianFestivalKCK.
DAILY READINGS
FIFTEENTH WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME
July 14
FIFTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Am 7: 12-15
Ps 85: 9-14
Eph 1: 3-14
Mk 6: 7-13
July 15
Bonaventure, bishop, doctor of the church
Is 1: 10-17
Ps 50: 8-9, 16-17, 21, 23
Mt 10:34 – 11:1
July 16
Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Is 7: 1-9
Ps 48: 2-8
Mt 11: 20-24
July 17
Wednesday Is 10: 5-7, 13b-16
Ps 94: 5-10, 14-15
Mt 11: 25-27
July 18
Camillus de Lellis, priest
Is 26: 7-9, 12, 16-19
Ps 102: 13-21
Mt 11: 28-30
July 19
Friday
Is 38: 1-6, 21-22, 7-8 (Ps) Is 38: 10-12, 16
Mt 12: 1-8
July 20
Apollinaris, bishop
Mi 2: 1-5
Ps 10: 1-4, 7-8, 14
Mt 12: 14-21
SIXTEENTH WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME
July 21
SIXTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Jer 23: 1-6
Ps 23: 1-6
Eph 2: 13-18
Mk 6: 30-34
July 22
Mary Magdalene
Sg 3: 1-4b
Ps 63: 2-6, 8-9
Jn 20: 1-2, 11-18
July 23
Bridget, religious
Mi 7: 14-15, 18-20
Ps 85: 2-8
Mt 12: 46-50
July 24
Sharbel Makhlūf, priest
Jer 1: 1, 4-10
Ps 71: 1-4a, 5-6b, 15, 17
Mt 13: 1-9
July 25
JAMES, APOSTLE
2 Cor 4: 7-15
Ps 126: 1-6
Mt 20: 20-28
July 26
Joachim and Anne, parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Jer 3: 14-17 (Ps) Jer 31: 10-13
Mt 13: 18-23
July 27
Saturday
Jer 7: 1-11
Ps 84: 3-6, 8, 11
Mt 13: 24-30
By the time you get this paper, I’m sure that I’ll still be celebrating 7-Eleven. I should clarify that I don’t mean that chain of convenience stores. Rather, it’s July 11 (7/11) that’s special to me. First, it’s easy to remember; it’s also the feast day of St. Benedict, a favorite of mine; and it’s the date of my ordination to the priesthood, now 43 years ago.
One of the funny things that I recall from that day was convincing my parents that, although a Croatian tradition at my home parish of St. John the Baptist in Kansas City, Kansas, I was absolutely not going to walk the seven or eight blocks from my house to the church in my full vestments. The heat and humidity that day would have killed me about halfway there! They reluctantly agreed with their stubborn son.
While I naturally celebrate this midsummer time, apparently
IThis is the primary health care
MARK MY WORDS
many other people all over the world need to be reminded to do so. That’s the reason behind International Self-Care Day on July 24. If you’re wondering if this is just a silly excuse for a holiday, ponder this reflection called “Life’s Fast Pace,” found in William J. Bausch’s “A World of Stories for Preachers and Teachers”: “Grandpa clocked in long hours on the rail-
road or in the mines, but when he came home there were no faxes waiting for him to answer, no cellular phones or email to interrupt his after-dinner smoke. Home was home, not a pit stop for data gathering before heading back to the office. Today, there is no downtime, no escape from other people. We have cellphones in the car and beepers in our pockets. We carry them to Disneyland, to the beach and to the bathroom.
“Says Dr. Mark Moskowitz of the Boston Medical Center, this means ‘that a lot of people are working twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week,
even when they’re not technically at work. It’s a guaranteed formula for breakdown.’”
Some of the terms in the above reflection might appear a bit dated. That’s because those words were written over 25 years ago. If the pace of life was considered fast then, imagine how much more frantic it is today.
Self-Care Day invites people to prioritize staying well in all aspects of life — physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. As I wrote a few weeks ago, summertime can prove to be much busier than even the school year, as parents who have kids involved in multiple summer sports can attest to.
If we’re not healthy in all aspects of our lives, we not only suffer, but others around us do as well. Happily, self-care doesn’t need to be complicated, as the following suggestions show:
• Practice gratitude.
• Listen to relaxing music or read a good book or magazine.
• Get outside in nature and get some fresh air and exercise.
• Reach for fruits and vegetables for a snack over salty or sugary treats.
• Take a break from “screen time” for a few hours or even a whole day.
• Plan a weekly coffee break with a good friend.
• Learn to say no more often.
• Fix a delicious meal and take time to savor it with family.
• Laugh a whole lot more.
Sadly, sometimes people take a summer break from what is the most important element of self-care, our spiritual lives: going to Mass, prayer and meditation.
Of course, Jesus gave us the secret to a most fulfilling life when he reminded us of a “holy trinity” of love: God, neighbor . . . and self. I suspect if we neglect that very last one, we’ll not do well at those other two either.
The saints show us that it is a radical love we are all called to
n the second book of his Dialogues, Pope Gregory the Great tells of the holiness of St. Benedict, whose memorial is celebrated on the July 11.
We learn that Benedict lived for three years in Subiaco, some 40 miles outside of Rome. He fled the ancient city that was self-destructing in its moral decay and chose instead a life of detachment from worldly goods. Benedict lived a life of prayer, solitude and poverty centered on God that served as the spiritual foundation of monastic communities dedicated to “ora et labora” (“prayer and work”).
Over time, Benedictine monasteries,
is
described by their founder as “a school for the Lord’s service,” would transform Western civilization with the light of the Gospel lived in prayer, manual
labor, learning and detachment from the world. The Rule of St. Benedict laid the foundations for the evangelization of Europe and the flowering of medieval Christianity.
In Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus calls the Twelve Apostles and begins to send them out two by two. This was a key moment for the disciples, as their life with Jesus is transformed into their vocation. It is the moment when the disciples become apostles, sent by Jesus to continue his ministry of teaching, healing and self-giving love.
As Jesus sent his disciples out, he gave them instructions that are worth reflecting on
as we ponder the word of God today. Jesus tells his disciples to take nothing for the journey, except a walking stick and sandals. They were not to take food, sack, money or even a second tunic!
Jesus’ words must have surprised his disciples. To take nothing on a journey is counterintuitive. But the radical poverty that Jesus asks of his disciples makes sense only in light of the great mission he is calling them to. To serve the Lord as his missionary disciple demands complete dependence on God.
A disciple is called to trust that God’s providential love provides for the
journey. Rather than being concerned with and distracted by the demands of material possessions, a disciple of Jesus fixes his or her gaze on the mission of sharing the life-giving message of the Gospel with those in physical and spiritual need. The saints of the Christian tradition show that it is possible to live for union with God, in radical detachment from the cares and possessions of this world. Like the disciples, we too are called to forms of detachment, suited to our state in life, as we depend on God to whom we pray, “Speak to me, Lord.”
Pope: Heaven is for ‘everyone, everyone, everyone’
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Heaven is not a secure vault protected from outsiders but a “hidden treasure” that is reached by cultivating virtues, Pope Francis said.
Before praying the Angelus in St. Peter’s Square on the solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul June 29, the pope reflected on Jesus giving St. Peter, the first pope, the keys to the kingdom of heaven.
“The mission that Jesus entrusts to Peter is not that of barring the doors to the house, permitting entry only to a few select guests, but of helping everyone to find the way to enter, in faithfulness to the Gospel of Jesus,” Pope Francis said after celebrating Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica. Heaven, he added, is “for everyone. Everyone, everyone, everyone can enter.”
The pope said that St. Peter
“received the keys to the kingdom not because he was perfect — no, he is a sinner — but because he was humble, honest, and the Father had given him sincere faith.”
Even after many trials and setbacks, the Apostle Peter was the first to experience for himself “the joy and freedom that come from meeting the Lord,” and the first “to understand that authority is a service in order to open the door to Jesus.”
JEM SULLIVAN
Sullivan
a professor at The Catholic University of America.
FATHER MARK GOLDASICH
Father Mark is the pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Tonganoxie. He has been editor of The Leaven since 1989.
>> Continued from page 12
Double A’s Lawn Service Lawn mowing, Mulching, Gutters, Leaf Removal Brush Removal & Hedge Trimming Free Estimates & Insured Alex Spoerre (913) 488-5195
Masonry work - Quality new or repair work. Brick block and chimney/fireplace repair. Insured, second-generation bricklayer. Member of St. Paul Parish, Olathe. Call (913) 271-0362.
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.
Garage door repair expert New Garage Doors Garage Floor Coatings
A Total Door Inc., Since ’83. Leaven discount joe@atotaldoor.com; (913) 236-6440.
MIKE HAMMER MOVING - A full-service mover. Local and long-distance moving. Packing, pianos, rental truck load/unload, storage container load/unload. In-home moving and office moves. No job too small. Serving the KC metro since 1987. St. Joseph Parish, Shawnee, parishioner. Call the office at (913) 927-4347 or email: mike@mikehammermoving.com.
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
Concrete construction - Tear out and replace stamped, stained or colored patios and drives. Retaining walls, footing, poured-in-place safe rooms, excavation and hauling. Asphalt drives and lots. Fully insured; references. Call Dan at (913) 207-4371, or email: dandeeconst@ aol.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.
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.
CAREGIVING
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.
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.
PILGRIMAGE
Pilgrimages to Medjugorje - August 9 - 17, 2024; September 12-20, 2024 (for those recovering from drug/alcohol addiction), December 27,2024 - January 4, 2025, March 12 - 20, 2025 (Marijana’s yearly apparition). Are you being called? Hosted by visionary Mirfana Soldo. Call Grace Legaspi for details at (913) 449-1806.
WANTED TO BUY
Cash paid - for old tools, old jewelry, old furniture, military items, fishing lures, hunting items, old crocks, arrowheads and old signs. I buy all kinds of older things — house or barn contents, an estate or just one item. Call Patricia any time at (913) 515-2950. Parishioner at Holy Trinity Parish in Lenexa.
Wanted to buy
Do you have a car or truck that you need to get rid of? If you do, CALL ME!
I’m a cash buyer. We’re Holy Trinity parishioners. My name is Mark. (913) 980-4905.
Will buy firearms and related accessories - One or a whole collection. Honest evaluation and top prices paid. Contact Tom at (913) 238-2473. Member of Sacred Heart Parish, Shawnee.
Wanted to buy - Antique & Collectibles: jewelry, military items, railroad, sterling, OLD holiday/toys and more. Renee Maderak (913) 475-7393. St. Joseph Parish, Shawnee.
Wanted to buy - I buy coin collections, military items, pocket watches, jewelry, class rings, old toys, holiday items and more. Cash in hand. Call Kirk at (913) 2139843.
REAL ESTATE
We are local people who can buy your house - Big companies from all over the nation come here buying houses, but that’s not us. We are parishioners of Holy Trinity Parish and we enjoy giving you personalized service. We can offer you a fair price and are flexible to your needs. If I can help, call me, Mark Edmondson, at (913) 980-4905.
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 has never felt so good. Jon & Stacy Bichelmeyer (913) 599-5000.
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 - Must sell double crypt #128 by the altar in the Holy Family Mausoleum. Includes 2 Trappist caskets at Resurrection Cemetery in Lenexa. Asking $10,000. Contact May Lou at (816) 517-0305 or (816) 405-1519.
For sale - Two plots at Chapel Hill Memorial Cemetery in Kansas City, Kansas. Plots located in Faith Garden section, lots 63C, spaces 1 and 2, and two spaces in the Apostles lot 32B, spaces 1 and 2. Contact (913) 530-4432.
For sale - 4 cemetery plots for sale. Located at Johnson County Memorial Gardens in the Garden of Apostles, lot 213, spaces 1,2,3 and 4. Valued at $19,500, asking $3750 per lot for a total of $15,000 or best offer. Call Bailey at (913) 449-4699.
For sale - Single plot for sale at Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Topeka. Henry section, plot 254E. Valued at $2350, asking $1500. Call Christine at (913) 727-1916.
For sale - Two plots at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Kansas City, Kansas. Located in section 3 Old, lot 126, plots 6 and 10. Flat markers only. Contact Ann at (913) 620-5687.
HOME IMPROVEMENT
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.
Popcorn ceiling texture removal Call jerry at (913) 206-1144. 30 years experience serving Johnson County. Member St. Joseph Parish, Shawnee.
Local handyman - Painting, int. and ext., wood rot, mason repair, gutter cleaning (gutter covers), dryer vent cleaning, sump pump (replace, add new), windows, doors (interior and exterior), honey-do list, window cleaning and more! Member of Holy Angels Parish, Basehor. Call Billy at (913) 927-4118.
Best Personality ProfileWeekly First Place Against the Odds
By Moira Cullings
Judges: This is a great profile — a highly educational piece about a historical figure that could be used as a lesson for students to learn about multiple aspects of U.S. history. I learned a good amount in reading just this one article. The way the article is presented in various components contributes to making the information understandable and digestible. Just a really nice all-around piece of work that I feel blessed to have been able to judge.
Best Multiple Picture Package - Feature First Place World Youth Day
By Jay Soldner
Judges: Nice look at this event. The photographer covered a lot of ground in order to give viewers a good look. The best photojournalism takes viewers to places they can’t go. This certainly does that.
Best Reporting on a Special Age-Group – Young Adults Second Place World Youth Day
By Jack Figge and Jay Soldner
2024
The Leaven won 13 awards from the Catholic Media Association for articles and photos appearing in print in 2023. The Leaven is dedicated to quality journalism from a Catholic point of view. To reread these awardwinning stories, go to our website at: www.theleaven.org.
Best Weekly Newspaper
Third Place
Judges: Packed with news cover to cover with a great variety of topics, including on-site coverage from Portugal, spot news of important milestone parish events, good visuals and a majority of useful news in each examined edition.
Best Analysis/ Background/ Round-Up News Writing Third Place
Unapologetically Catholic By Therese Horvat
Judges: Fine, in-depth examination of a subject that is so important, with each of the people quoted bringing a different perspective to the table. There is a lot for readers to mull over here.
Best Front Page –Diocesan Newspaper Third Place By Todd Habiger
Judges: Inviting photos pique interest. Engage readers to want to learn more.
Best Reporting on Priesthood, Religious Life or Diaconate
Honorable Mention Give Me that Old-Time Religion By Joe Bollig
Best Multiple Picture Package - Feature Honorable Mention Kelly Youth Rally By Jay Soldner
Judges: Devoting an entire special supplement to World Youth Day chock-full of stories written from a variety of perspectives and bright colorful engaging photos creates a media package that is hard to beat. The insets and quotes add personalization to the mix.
Best Story and Photo Package By Two Individuals Second Place
What’s Seminary Life Really Like?
By Jack Figge and Jerry Naunheim
Judges: This package is phenomenal. The pictures are breathtaking and give extra insight into the story, which is fabulously written. Bravo!
Best Photograph –Spot News Second Place Incense
By Jay Soldner
Judges: This is a creative, artistic photo taken from an interesting perspective. Many really nice elements here. Not sure what is pictured at left, and I think the photo could have benefited from cropping out the people/bodies at left. It’s a nice picture, just the same, and draws in the reader with it artistic qualities. Nice work!
Best In-Depth News/ Special Reporting - Weekly Third Place
Unapologetically Catholic By Therese Horvat
Best Multiple Picture Package - Sports
Honorable Mention Gladiators of the Gridiron By Jay Soldner
Judges: This insightful roundup weaves together research about the growing number of Americans who are unaffiliated with any religion and interviews with Catholics who share their explanations for the trend and ideas for modern evangelization.
Honorable Mention Boys of Summer By Kathryn White