‘OUR
LIFE, OUR ENERGY AND OUR JOY’
Story by MARC AND JULIE ANDERSON
Photos by KATHERYN WHITE
INDIANAPOLIS — “Go. Don’t stay. Go. Go and tell others about the gift you have received.”
That’s what Bishop Andrew Cozzens of the Diocese of Crookston, Minnesota, told more than 50,000 pilgrims gathered from across the country for the closing session of the
10th National Eucharistic Congress held July 17-21 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Sparked by a study conducted in 2019 indicating only 31% of Catholics believed the Eucharist is the true body, blood, soul and divinity of Jesus Christ, the National Eucharistic Congress was the first one since 1941. It’s just one part of the Eucharistic Revival campaign undertaken by the
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in 2022 and continuing through Pentecost 2025, a campaign that Bishop Cozzens is leading.
At times becoming emotional, Bishop Cozzens instructed the pilgrims to leave as eucharistic missionaries.
“As Cardinal Tagle said so beautifully in his homily, ‘What you have received as a gift, you must give as a gift. . . . What
would happen if each of you thought of one person you know who’s currently away from the faith and you decided to pray for them and to befriend them and then to invite them to take one step closer to Jesus and his church?
“What would happen if 70 million Catholics did that? . . . Commit yourself to becoming a eucharistic missionary, someone who lives deeply a eucharistic life and — having received that gift — allows themselves to be given as a gift.”
Pilgrims fired up to bring home new appreciation of the Eucharist: >> Continued on page 8
LEAVEN PHOTO BY KATHRYN WHITE
Bishop Andrew H. Cozzens of Crookston, Minnesota, and an alum of Benedictine College in Atchison, carries the monstrance in a procession during eucharistic adoration at the opening night of the 10th National Eucharistic Congress July 17 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Bishop Cozzens spearheaded the National Eucharistic Congress for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
LEAVEN PHOTO BY KATHRYN WHITE
Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann celebrates Mass and delivers the homily on July 19 at the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis.
LEAVEN PHOTO BY KATHRYN WHITE
Father Dan Morris, Father Brian Schieber and Father Mark Mertes join priests from around the nation for Mass on July 19 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
LEAVEN PHOTO BY KATHRYN WHITE
Thousands of pilgrims make their way down the streets of Indianapolis to Lucas Oil Stadium, site of the National Eucharistic Congress.
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
Aug. 1
Religious Alliance Against Pornography board meeting
Aug. 3
Joint vocations event with the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph — St. Therese Church, Kansas City, Missouri
Aug. 4
Mass — Christ the King, Kansas City, Kansas
Seminarian send-off — St. Joseph Church, Shawnee
Aug. 5-9
University of Saint Mary renews its effort to educate the imprisoned
By John Shultz Special to The Leaven
LEAVENWORTH — Three years after the University of Saint Mary here began a renewed effort to offer undergraduate degree programs at the Lansing Correctional Facility, a half dozen students there donned caps and gowns to walk a makeshift graduation stage this summer, earning their bachelor’s degrees and joining the ranks of USM alumni.
The six students — Michael Gaynor, Charles Johnson, William Mason, Sean Murphy, Danny Pickerill and Zachary Smith — all earned a bachelor’s degree in computer information science. Their accomplishments were made possible by the Second Chance Pell Experimental Sites program initiative.
USM began offering undergraduate degrees inside the correctional facility in 2021, after being selected as a participating educational institution for the Second Chance Pell program.
“We are grateful that we are able to return to providing bachelor’s degrees behind the walls,” said Sister Diane Steele, SCL, university president. “We believe in the dignity of all people’s ability to learn, and we know that education greatly reduces recidivism. Evidence shows that quality education changes lives for the better.”
For Saint Mary, it marked a return to a mission of serving the incarcerated. USM has a long history of offering postsecondary education at penal institutions. From the early 1980s to the mid-1990s, the university established
WE BELIEVE IN THE DIGNITY OF ALL PEOPLE’S ABILITY TO LEARN, AND WE KNOW THAT EDUCATION GREATLY REDUCES RECIDIVISM. EVIDENCE SHOWS THAT QUALITY EDUCATION CHANGES LIVES FOR THE BETTER.
SISTER DIANE STEELE, SCL UNIVERSITY OF SAINT MARY PRESIDENT
programs at four correctional sites in the Leavenworth area.
Three of this summer’s grads — Mason, Pickerill and Johnson — began taking courses from Saint Mary at the Lansing Correctional Facility in the early 1990s. They stopped when their Pell Grants ended in 1994. Thirty years later, the students finished their degrees and celebrated with family at a graduation ceremony in May.
The University of Saint Mary also offers degrees at the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks and the Joint Regional Correctional Facility, both located on Fort Leavenworth. The USM Prison Education Program offers an associate degree in business administration, a bachelor’s degree in business administration-management and a bachelor’s degree in computer information science at the various locations.
USM hopes to expand this effort at additional facilities.
Equal access to education is not only for the incarcerated — although the USM Prison Education Program strives to reduce recidivism and transform the lives of incarcerated individuals and their families through postsecondary education.
It is in the best interest of the community at large as well, according to expert analysis.
Studies from the Bureau of Justice Statistics of the U.S. Department of Justice have found high rates of recidivism among released prisoners. One study, which tracked 404,638 prisoners in 30 states after their release from prison, found that about two-thirds (67.8%) of released prisoners were rearrested within three years of release and more than three-quarters (76.6%) were rearrested within five years. More than half (56.7%) of these rearrests were in the first year after release.
However, there is a 43% reduction in recidivism rates for those prisoners who participate in prison education programs. Indeed, the higher the degree, the lower the recidivism rate is: 14% for those who obtain an associate degree; 5.6% for those who obtain a bachelor’s degree; and 0% for those who obtain a master’s degree.
“USM has witnessed the impact on students firsthand from our experience educating incarcerated students,” Sister Diane said.
“We believe our participation in Second Chance Pell will improve opportunities for incarcerated people and lead to safer prisons and communities,” she added.
Seminarian pilgrimage — Branson, Missouri
Aug. 10
Grandparents Matter workshop — Holy Trinity, Lenexa
Installation Mass of Father Joseph Sellas — Holy Trinity, Paola
Longtime educator, Sister Julia Golkoski, SCL, dies
LEAVENWORTH — Sister Julia Golkoski, 88, a Sister of Charity of Leavenworth for 70 years, died here on July 3. The eldest child of John William and Julia Golkoski, Doris Ann was born in Kansas City, Kansas. Called to a vocation early in life, she entered the novitiate at 17 years old on Aug. 20, 1953, and took the name Sister Mary Julia when she received her habit. She later used the name Sister Julia.
Following her initial two years in the novitiate and her studies at Saint Mary College in Leavenworth, Sister Julia embarked on a diverse ministry in education. She served as a teacher and principal in schools across Colorado, Kansas, Illinois, Missouri, Montana, Oklahoma and Wyoming. She completed her bachelor’s degree at Saint Mary’s and then earned a master’s from the University of Missouri — Kansas City. She also pursued further studies at Boston College and the University of San Francisco.
Sister Julia retired in 2005 but that did not mark the end of her service, as she continued to volunteer at the Sisters’ motherhouse in Leavenworth.
Sister Julia Golkoski, SCL
PHOTO BY HAYDEN PARKS/UNIVERSITY OF SAINT MARY
Charles Johnson receives his diploma for completing a bachelor’s degree in computer information science at the Lansing Correctional Facility from University of St. Mary president Sister of Charity of Leavenworth Diane Steele, Ph.D. In the background are (from left): USM provost Dr. Michelle Metzinger, USM registrar Maureen Schuchardt and USM assistant professor of history and theology Dr. Michael Hill.
Relationships at heart of success of building projects
By Joe Bollig joe.bollig@theleaven.org
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — There is a very simple reason why Kurt Heinen wanted to become the new archdiocesan architect and real estate consultant.
“I wanted this job because it fulfills two main things,” he said. “I can do something with my faith and my talents.”
On June 17, Heinen succeeded the retiring Dan Himmelberg, who held the position since July 22, 2019. Himmelberg is currently assisting Heinen during a brief transitional period.
Heinen and his wife Katie have two young children, Millie and Alex. They’re members of Holy Trinity Parish in Lenexa.
He’s a native of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, growing up with his four siblings on the family farm about five miles north of Kelly. Heinen knows about early rising and hard work because his family had about 125 dairy cows to milk and grew soybeans and corn. His ancestors settled there in the early 1900s.
“We’d get up at 5 a.m. and tried to get done by 7 p.m.,” he said.
Like many boys, he became an altar server at the family’s parish, St. Bede.
“I ENJOY THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF ART — PAINTING, STAINED-GLASS AND THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF ARCHITECTURE. THOSE THINGS ARE VERY INTERESTING TO ME.”
KURT HEINEN
ARCHDIOCESAN ARCHITECT AND REAL ESTATE CONSULTANT
He also was a lector and an extraordinary minister of Communion.
After graduating from high school in 2007, he attended Johnson County Community College for a year. In 2008, he transferred to Kansas State University in Manhattan to study architecture. He graduated with a master’s degree in architecture in 2013.
He worked for LK Architecture in Wichita as an architect designer; at TK Architects International in Kansas City, Missouri, as an intern architect; for BWI in Kansas City, Missouri, as a senior building consultant manager;
for Paul Werner Architects in Lawrence as an associate architect; and most recently, for HJM Architects Inc. in Kansas City, Missouri, as a project architect.
Over the years, Heinen has worked in a wide variety of settings and on different kinds of buildings, ranging from homes and movie theaters to the recently reconstructed Kansas City International Airport in Kansas City, Missouri. He has even worked with hurricane-damaged structures.
“[That company] was a kind of ‘run to where the danger was’ kind of company,” said Heinen.
He’s worked projects big and small — but the common denominator was always relationships.
“Through my experience I’ve found that good relationships with people and efficient problem-solving are some of the more important keys to success at anything you do,” he said.
One of the interesting — and challenging — aspects of his new job is the variety of structures he will be dealing with: schools, churches, shrines, chapels, rectories, care facilities and more. Also, these structures were built in a variety of styles, materials and methods according to the times they were created.
He will have to draw upon all his knowledge and experience to deal with this diversity.
But he appreciates the variety — especially in the styles of archdiocesan churches.
“I enjoy the different kinds of art — painting, stained-glass and the different kinds of architecture,” he said. “Those things are very interesting to me.”
In his free time, Heinen likes sketching and painting, fishing, hiking and smoking meats. His biggest, latest project? Remodeling the family’s 1987 Colonial-style house in Lenexa.
Working for the church as an architect is different from working in for-profit, secular settings. In his current position, he said, there’s a lot more interaction with people, because they need to be kept “in the loop,” and all play their roles.
Being a consensus builder comes before building structures.
“I like to think of this as a giant puzzle and I’m just one piece,” said Heinen. “To get things done, we need all the puzzle pieces in the right places.”
Already, he’s had the opportunity to get out of the office to see what’s going on construction-wise in the archdiocese, and what’s to come. He’s eager to meet people and to let them know who he is.
“I’m here to serve others, and I want to help them to do what needs to be done,” said Heinen.
LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER
Kurt Heinen is the new archdiocesan architect and real estate consultant. He succeeded the retiring Dan Himmelberg, who held the position since July 22, 2019.
Early educators share challenges, workshop solutions
By Dean Backes Special to The Leaven
KANSAS City, Kan. — Early learning center and preschool directors serve many families across the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas. In the past, however, these individuals often operated in isolation with little to no networking or collaboration.
Recognizing the size of their collective voice, and the responsibilities of these 35 individuals, the archdiocesan Catholic schools office reached out to preschool leaders through surveys, emails, questions and Zooms to get a feel for how they could best serve them.
Several of the directors wished for the opportunity to assemble and discuss everything early childhood. Others acknowledged they didn’t know many of the directors, making it difficult to reach out to them.
With those responses and more in mind, Felicia Holcomb, consultant for marketing and enrollment management for archdiocesan Catholic schools, began facilitating monthly one-hour virtual meetings on Zoom for preschool directors across the archdiocese last August.
Her approach was informed by her mother-in-law Shannon Holcomb. She is the administrator of preschools for Xavier Catholic School in Leavenworth and had shared her experience with the Director’s Network in Topeka.
“We wanted to create an opportunity that brought [child care directors] together and allowed them to discuss current topics that were important to them,” said Felicia Holcomb. “Quite honestly, the challenges of a principal at a high school — or even a grade school — may not be applicable to the preschool directors. This is an opportunity for them to talk exclusively about preschool.”
Held every third Thursday, the meetings are open to all of the archdiocese’s preschool directors. Felicia Holcomb works up the agenda early in the school year, allowing each director to set aside time for the topics that are important to them.
A parishioner at Sacred Heart-St. Casimir Parish in Leavenworth, Felicia Holcomb brings in experts to discuss the topic that has been selected for that month and records the meetings, allowing the directors to review the
Zoom chats they missed or to refresh their memories of the assemblies they attended.
“You get a leadership role. Now you’re a director or an administrator and your resources are your principal or maybe one other person,” said Shannon Holcomb, a fellow parishioner. “Looking for professional development for myself has been challenging. But once I discovered some of these leadership groups, they’ve fed my own knowledge, growth and development in my career.”
The first topic up for discussion last August dealt with curriculum resources. Then in September, representatives from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and Cognia, a global network of educators whose goal is to strengthen schools, talked about accreditation and licensure.
Other discussions included professional development; budget and finance; recruitment of families and staff; and special education.
Sarah Elsen, the executive director of Child Care Aware of Northeast
Kansas, was March’s guest presenter. She talked about legislation impacting early childhood education, discussed legislative issues that were up for debate this year at the statehouse and highlighted different regulations and changes that were being proposed.
Elsen said it’s important to give all children the best start in life.
“There are over 20 years of research that shows quality child care predicts third grade reading level, and third grade reading level is used by states to determine how many prison beds they’re going to need when those children reach 18,” Elsen said. “It all trickles down to that quality child care and that early start of life from zero to five.
“As long as [the directors] are kept current with professional development and trends in child care, they’re able to invest that back into the children and give them the best start in life during that critical stage of development.”
For some, preschool and early learning may be confused with day care. But Felicia Holcomb is quick to point
out that they are doing more than just watching the kids. They’re developing the whole child.
“We want to ensure that kids are prepared for kindergarten when they make that transition,” she said. “It’s important that these individuals are able to come together and discuss their challenges, brainstorm solutions and advocate for early childhood education.”
At St. Ann Parish in Prairie Village, preschool director and parishioner Cara Schwarz enjoys getting into the classroom and being around the kids. She pops in and helps when she can, listens to their stories and prays with them before lunch and at snack time.
“I think that’s a big part of my faith,” Schwarz said when asked about helping others. “I’m always praying to God to guide me in what I can do to do the best at my job and to provide for the kids. These children are the future of our country, our society.
“Instilling Jesus’ love into them is so important.”
Pro-life activist Mark Houck to speak at fundraiser
By Marc and Julie Anderson mjanderson@theleaven.org
OVERLAND PARK — For many Americans, Friday, Sept. 23, 2022, dawned like any other.
For Mark Houck, husband, father of seven and pro-life advocate, the day marked the beginning of a trial of faith, courage and perseverance. Houck will share his story Sept. 11 during the annual banquet for the Wyandotte County Pregnancy Resource Center and the Olathe Pregnancy Resource Center. The fundraiser will be held at the Overland Park Convention Center and has a goal of raising $550,000, according to Leah Conner, executive director of the Wyandotte center.
“We are seeking to provide quality care for women most at risk and to be relevant to these highly vulnerable women,” Conner said. “We have increased our medical staff and have created a more medical environment, offering medical support — including sonograms during all hours of operation at each of our clinics.”
Since the Dobbs ruling two years ago, both clinics, she added, have seen an uptick in clients, especially those from other states and those who are more abortion-determined.
Conner and other clinic staff decided to invite Houck to tell his “beautiful story of heroism” that sprang out of actions he took while praying outside an abortion clinic in conjunction with his pro-life ministry, The King’s Men.
“It’s been a great gift to me to be able
to inspire others through the compelling story that I have,” said Houck in an interview with The Leaven. “To do more, to be more invested, to be more involved — whether it’s financially or with your time and talent as well.”
Previewing his remarks, Houck said, “My message is just going to be, ‘The fight has just begun. We may have won that battle, the Roe v. Wade battle, but the war is far from over.’ Of course, we know that God is faithful and sovereign, but we have to do our part.”
“All we have to do is light those candles in our area,” he continued. “That’s really what it’s about. It’s about making sure those candles are lit in that area and letting God handle the rest.”
For more information about the banquet, visit the website at: lifeandhope team.org/events.
COURTESY PHOTO
Many of the archdiocese’s early educators meet via Zoom every third Thursday to discuss a variety of topics dealing with early education, and in-person when they are able. Above, participants — (from left) Shannon Holcomb, administrator of preschools for Xavier Catholic School in Leavenworth; Felicia Holcomb, consultant for marketing and enrollment management for archdiocesan Catholic schools; Jen Crouch, director of Most Pure Heart of Mary’s Krische Child Development Center; Cara Schwarz, Young Child Center director at St. Ann Parish, Prairie Village; and Donna Hogue, preschool director at John Paul II School, Overland Park — meet to discuss early childhood education.
Mark Houck
New office added to help handle stewardship needs
By Jeanne Gorman Special to The Leaven
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — When Bill Maloney relinquished his duties as director of the archdiocesan office of stewardship and development on May 6, it was not for the well-deserved retirement one might have expected.
For in May, it was announced that the office would be divided into two separate ones.
The stewardship office will continue to oversee and administer the Archbishop’s Call to Share, parish stewardship initiatives, special appeals for the archbishop and any capital campaigns the archdiocese conducts. Lisa McKelvey succeeded Maloney as the new director of that department and will continue on with those stewardship duties.
Maloney, on the other hand, will continue to serve full time as executive director of the Catholic Foundation of Northeast Kansas (CFNEK) but in a separate office devoted exclusively to that. He will now be focused solely on the work of the foundation as an employee of CFNEK and will report to its board of directors.
While working in his former post, Maloney began reimagining how the stewardship and foundation sides of the office might both benefit from structural administrative changes. Consequently, about 18 months ago, the CFNEK board engaged a national fundraising firm to conduct a study for the foundation, which manages and provides assistance to the parishes, schools and affiliated organizations within the archdiocese, which have their own endowment, scholarship and other funds.
Among other things, the firm interviewed top donors to the archdiocesan affiliates and concluded there exists a substantial number of planned gifts that will be flowing into the various archdiocesan entities for their use in the future. But, perhaps more importantly, there is potential for additional gifts that will greatly benefit these organizations in ways directed by the individual recipients.
Armed with this information, the CFNEK board concluded that CFNEK needed to direct more effort toward assisting these entities with soliciting such gifts — which required additional staff.
CFNEK STAFF IS GROWING TO BETTER SERVE AND COLLABORATE WITH ALL STAKEHOLDERS AND DONORS.
BILL MALONEY CFNEK EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
To do so, it hired two new employees as gift-planning consultants for — and to work alongside of — parishes, schools, other affiliated organizations and donors to educate and seek potential donations. The staff has now grown to eight people.
The new focus couldn’t be more on mission.
“I’m excited about furthering the mission of the CFNEK,” said president
Ben Clouse, “which is to promote the spiritual mission of the Catholic Church by encouraging stewardship in collaboration with parishes, schools and other affiliated entities in the diocese.”
CFNEK’s consultant provided a road map for the foundation’s efforts to raise funds for Catholic causes within the archdiocese. To date, staff has been organizing monthly meetings at parish sites in which speakers present information about the foundation and how individuals can leave planned gifts for the benefit of their parish endowment and other funds in their wills and trusts. Such gifts can greatly impact the parishes in many ways that Sunday collections and parish fundraisers alone cannot.
Recently, one Johnson County parish hosted such a meeting that was attended by 35 people. Buoyed by that success, the parish scheduled another gathering for the fall.
After a presentation at a Wyandotte County parish, a prospective donor contacted CFNEK about leaving his home as an estate gift.
CFNEK sees these gatherings and its greater work as helping to assist archdiocesan schools, parishes and related entities raise additional resources for their needs.
The endowment funds are controlled by the individual parishes, schools and entities for investment and allocation of funds. They are given three investment options from which to choose and receive semiannual income distributions. The funds are restricted for use solely by the individual fundholders.
CFNEK provides quarterly reports to each fundholder for whom it manages funds to keep them apprised of the performance of their funds. CFNEK charges a modest asset-based fee to support the services it provides to the archdiocesan entities.
While their efforts are paying dividends, additional hands were needed.
“CFNEK staff,” said Maloney, “is growing to better serve and collaborate with all stakeholders and donors to try to maximize the potential for both current and future gifts for the entities.”
LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER
Michael Paoletti (left), VP of experience/creative director for SMI Digital, discusses promotional materials with Jane Schmitt, CFNEK director of development; Bill Maloney, CFNEK executive director; and Greg Alejos and Mitch Nolan, CFNEK gift planning consultants.
How would you like to be remembered when you’re gone?
Sidewalk chalk, that staple of summer, is easy to spot on an early morning walk. You may be tempted to start skipping over the loosely drawn squares of some little person’s hopscotch course. Or, since this chalk often comes in pastel hues, it’s hard to create a convincing Elmo, but an artist has given it her best shot.
You smile when you walk by a house with colorful sidewalks.
But what about the neighbor’s sidewalks?
My granddaughter is a chalk artist, and her creations spilled over to the pathway of the lady next door. My daughter apologized to the homeowner and told her they would be more careful about boundaries.
“Oh, no,” replied her neighbor, who is old enough to be a grandma. “She can draw all she wants on my sidewalk.”
Then she recounted a tale from her youth. This woman recalled her own artwork venturing on to the pavement of her next-door neighbor. After these many years, the woman still remembers the scolding she received from that neighbor, the reprimand, the harsh instructions to clean off the sidewalk.
It made such an impression on her that, after all these years, she wants to make her sidewalks welcoming.
What memories do you want to leave with the people you encounter? What recollections would you like to remain with a child 50 years from now?
We live in angry times. The political discussions are more acrimonious than anything I can remember in my lifetime, and even within the church the disagreements become disrespectful and rude.
When I see the bitter, insulting words slung about, the name calling, I remember the election of 2008 and a rally held for Sen. John McCain, the Republican nominee for president. You can easily search for this encounter on YouTube.
McCain was making his case for why he would be a better president than the Democratic nominee,
then-Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois.
But during the Q-and-A period, McCain fielded a question from a woman who said she doesn’t trust Obama. Then she referred to him as an “Arab.”
At that, McCain, who had been listening and nodding, took the microphone from her hands.
“No, ma’am, no,” he says emphatically. “He’s a decent family man, citizen, that I just happen to have disagreements with on
fundamental issues.”
I was not in agreement with McCain on many of those issues, but I always retain that memory of him in that room that night. A good, brave man who was willing to fight for his principles, but not willing to wallow in the dirt of false accusations. His own decency insisted that he acknowledge the decency of his opponent.
When did our political discourse change?
It may seem a leap from a sidewalk chalk controversy to a
presidential election.
But most of us aren’t players on the national scene. We’re neighbors, family members, parishioners and perhaps social media users, who will be remembered, maybe years from now, by how we speak to each other, how we give each other the benefit of the doubt and how we attempt to create meaningful dialogue. Those are things we live out in daily life. Ultimately, those are the memories and the legacy we leave.
Are we the people who respond in anger? Do we spend hours ruminating on things we see online that irritate us to the point that even our thoughts become embittered? Or do we respond with love to our neighbors and initiate conversation? Do we sincerely listen to those with whom we disagree?
Amid the namecallers, let’s do our part to make things better. Be like my daughter’s neighbor. Be like John McCain.
EFFIE CALDAROLA
Effie Caldarola is a wife, mom and grandmother who received her master’s degree in pastoral studies from Seattle University.
OSV NEWS PHOTO/JERRY L MENNENGA
Maria Loh draws an image of the Madonna on the sidewalk outside of the office of the Siouxland Catholic Radio station and St. Boniface Church in Sioux City, Iowa, April 21, 2022.
Homily series tackles famous eucharistic ‘discourse’
By Joe Bollig joe.bollig@theleaven.org
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Jesus said, “I am the bread of life,” in the Gospel of John, Chapter 6.
Do you know it?
Do you believe it?
Do you want to know more?
Catholics throughout the archdiocese will have an opportunity to delve more deeply into the “Bread of Life Discourse” all through August, thanks to a new, five-week homily series on the Eucharist.
And it couldn’t have come at a better time, just as Catholics across the United States are entering the third year of the National Eucharistic Revival. This series, it is hoped, will help archdiocesan Catholics prepare for the final stage of the revival: Going Out in Mission.
The series will begin on the weekend of July 27-28 with an introduction to the series and will continue through each weekend in August. Providentially, the Gospel readings for that period are from the “Bread of Life Discourse.”
The series is not to be confused with the one developed by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and can be found on the website at: usccb.org by searching “Bread.” The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas already had its in the works when the national one was announced.
“The priests of the archdiocese at our annual convocation last fall listened to Lawrence Feingold, a professor of theology and philosophy at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary in St. Louis,” said Father Brian Schieber, vicar for priests and pastor of St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Leawood. He’s promoting the series to archdiocesan priests.
“He wrote the textbook on the Eucharist: ‘The Eucharist.’ As a fruit of that convocation and a tie-in to the Eucharistic Revival, Archbishop Naumann thought it would be great if we did a homily series on the Eucharist like we did a couple of years ago on the kerygma (the proclamation of the Gospel) during Advent,” he continued. “We’re kind of ahead of the game.”
In his book, Feingold presented
IF YOU DON’T REALLY KNOW WHAT’S HAPPENING AT MASS, IT’S HARD TO APPRECIATE AND ENTER INTO IT.
FATHER BRIAN SCHIEBER ARCHDIOCESAN VICAR FOR PRIESTS
a way to understand the Eucharist through four key considerations: the real presence of Jesus, his love expressed by his sacrifice, our love expressed by communion with Jesus and living a eucharistic spirituality by going out on mission.
Pastors will preach their homilies based on the Gospel of John Chapter 6 and Feingold’s key considerations in order: presence, sacrifice, communion and mission. Each pastor has been provided with resources from the archdiocesan office of evangelization as a resource for their own homilies, and online links to USCCB resources.
“Archbishop Naumann is encouraging all the priests of the archdiocese to band together to preach this homily series,” said Father Schieber.
Why have a eucharistic homily series? Father Schieber pointed to three reasons.
First, because it ties in with the National Eucharistic Revival. Second, because there is a power in the Catholics of the archdiocese being united in hearing the same messages about
something so important. And third, the Gospel readings providentially focus on the Eucharist.
“I am blessed to go to the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis July 17 to 21,” said Father Schieber. “When I get back, I’ll share the highlights and fruits of the congress.”
The Eucharist is the source and summit of Christian life, he said. He hopes the homily series will inform and reawaken archdiocesan Catholics to what is happening during Mass.
“As Saint Thomas Aquinas said, ‘We cannot love what we do not know,’” said Father Schieber. “If you don’t really know what’s happening at Mass, it’s hard to appreciate and enter into it.
“We want to reawaken an awareness of the Eucharist so people will love the Mass more.”
Catholics throughout the archdiocese will have an opportunity to delve more deeply into the “Bread of Life Discourse” all through August, thanks to a new, five-week homily series on the Eucharist.
Pilgrim’s progress
Among those eucharistic missionaries were nearly 250 pilgrims from the archdiocese, including Rob Peschel from St. Gregory the Great Parish in Marysville and Deacon Michael Uhlmansiek from Church of the Ascension in Overland Park.
“It seemed to me one of the common [takeaways] from the conference was the challenge for each of us there to not be afraid to come back home and ‘plant those seeds’ at our parishes,” said Peschel. “Allow the Holy Spirit to give you the courage to have the small conversations with others.
“I think Chris Stefanick said it best: ‘When the Holy Spirit opens the door for you, you need to open your mouth and say something.’ I think sometimes we paralyze ourselves because we feel our conversations need to be some kind of earth-shattering evangelization event.”
Deacon Uhlmansiek agreed.
“I liked the call to ‘go, go, go.’ It is easy to be energized at these types of gatherings,” he said. “After all, we spent the last four days adoring and praising Jesus in the company of 50,000 joyous Catholics, and we are grateful for the experience!”
“As a deacon,” he continued, “my job is to help spread this eucharistic experience to my family, parish and community.”
He and his wife Jeri arrived at the event in time to see the Eucharist being processed into the stadium by Bishop Cozzens as he officially opened the congress with eucharistic adoration.
Eucharist arrives
Prior to eucharistic adoration though, the perpetual pilgrims of the four pilgrimage routes who had traveled with Jesus for 60 days from four sections of the country processed into the stadium to resounding cheers.
Trudy Boynton, who belongs to Holy Trinity Parish in Lenexa, said that was one of her favorite moments.
“That was magnificent, really and truly, to see them coming in as teams with the picture of their patron for the pilgrimage route,” said Boynton. “It was very moving, really and truly. It brought tears to my tears.”
After eucharistic adoration, the evening moved into a general session for all attendees, a pattern repeated every night. Dubbed a revival session, each featured some of the most wellknown speakers, apologists, music ministers and priests found within the Catholic Church today. Among their number were: Father Mike Schmitz, known for his podcasts (“The Bible in a Year with Father Mike Schmitz” and “The Catechism in a Year with Father Mike Schmitz”); Mother Olga, the foundress and servant daughter of the Daughters of Mary of Nazareth in the Archdiocese of Boston; Catholic recording artist Matt Maher and Jonathan
Roumie, best known for portraying Jesus in “The Chosen.” Daily rosaries and liturgies, opportunities for confession, the veneration of relics and a eucharistic procession of thousands who proudly walked behind Jesus along a milelong route, also provided pilgrims a myriad of ways to grow in their eucharistic love.
Messages of hope
For Jeri Uhlmansiek, the speakers moved her deeply.
“There’s so many people on stage just giving their testimony to how the Eucharist has touched their life or somebody else’s life and making it really tangible for people instead of just receiving the Eucharist,” she said.
One talk resonated deeply with participant John Gilchrist, a member of Holy Spirit Parish in Overland Park. During the first revival session, Mother Olga shared four stories of people whose lives had been profoundly changed when she brought the eucharistic Lord to them.
“Her message was real and from one that is living Christ’s
mission on earth,” Gilchrist said. “She evoked images and memories of St. Mother Teresa. Mother Olga’s mission is among the disenfranchised, the sick and the suffering. She’s looking for and finding Christ in all she encounters. She said, ‘We have him, and no one can take him away.’ She said, ‘This is the same Christ in every parish, every church, every diocese. This is
LEAVEN PHOTO BY KATHRYN WHITE
A spotlight highlights the Blessed Sacrament as Father Boniface Hicks, a Benedictine monk of St. Vincent Archabbey in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, processes into Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on the third evening of the 10th National Eucharistic Congress.
the same Jesus in the hospitals, NICUs and in nursing homes. He is the Jesus of yesterday, today and forever.’
“Mother Olga credibly conveyed the power of Christ in the Eucharist and the constant miracles through the Eucharist.”
Joan Henry, a parishioner of Sts. Peter and Paul in Seneca, said perhaps one of the most moving testimonies for her was that of Msgr. James Shea, president of the
University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota. His talk focused on satisfying spiritual hunger through the Eucharist.
“The body and blood of the Lord is the source of our life, our energy and our joy,” concluded Msgr. Shea on a rising powerful note. “So, let’s eat and drink here and every day to our heart’s content and then let’s rush out into a starving world and tell everybody we
meet, ‘Starving people: Listen! We found where the food is! We found where the food is!’”
Henry said Msgr. Shea’s words definitely fired her up as she reflected on “the importance of spending time with God yourself and that’s what feeds you to feed others.” She said she plans to try and do a better job of feeding others around her.
Feeding others, Larissa Smith, director of parish life
and evangelization at Prince of Peace Parish in Olathe, was brought home to her through Damon Owens, founder of joytob, a ministry “dedicated to proclaiming the joy of being made in the image and likeness of God, male and female.”
“He talked about the inhale and exhale [movements] and how everybody needs to breathe,” Smith said, adding, “He said that we want to inhale Jesus
Peter and Paul Cathedral in Indianapolis with other Kansas pilgrims. Trudy said a highlight for her was when the four eucharistic pilgrimage routes that had traveled with Jesus for 60 days from four sections of the country processed into the stadium to loud cheers.
and exhale Jesus, and when you inhale Jesus, that’s you going into [eucharistic] adoration, attending Mass and daily Mass, going to confession and those things for yourselves.”
“But when you exhale Jesus,” Smith continued, “you’re exhaling Jesus out to the people, whether that’s serving the poor or being with the dying or the sick or anybody like that.”
“Too many people think, ‘I’m just going to inhale,’” Smith added. “No, that’s when you die. You have to inhale and exhale.” Smith said she wants to return home with that momentum of “just putting people on mission and being unapologetic about it, walking in and saying, ‘You know what? Jesus loves you. He wants you to be with him, but he also wants you to share it with other people. And you are someone who can share it with other people. You don’t have to be a theologian. You don’t have to know all the facts, but just sharing Jesus’ love for you with somebody else can put somebody else’s heart on fire and help them learn and know Jesus.”
LEAVEN PHOTO BY KATHRYN WHITE Richard and Trudy Boynton, members of Holy Trinity Parish in Lenexa, attend Mass at Sts.
LEAVEN PHOTO BY KATHRYN WHITE
The Servants of the Pierced Hearts of Jesus and Mary process down the streets of Indianapolis behind the monstrance during the final eucharistic procession of the National Eucharistic Congress.
LEAVEN PHOTO BY KATHRYN WHITE
Sam and Beth Meier, members of Prince of Peace Parish in Olathe, kneel as the monstrance makes its way into the stadium on opening night.
LEAVEN PHOTO BY KATHRYN WHITE
Manuel and Azucena Soto, members of St. Patrick Parish in Kansas City, Kansas, enjoy a fun basketball activity during a break in the action.
LEAVEN PHOTO BY KATHRYN WHITE
Father Mike Schmitz, director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry for the Diocese of Duluth, Minnesota, as well as the chaplain for the Newman Center at the University of Minnesota-Duluth, speaks during the second night of the National Eucharistic Congress at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis July 18.
>> Continued from page 9
Time with Jesus
While Dorothy Boyle, a member of St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Leawood, said she enjoyed the various speakers, the many opportunities for eucharistic adoration and Mass also inspired her.
“The music has been absolutely a big contribution to every one of the liturgies and [eucharistic] adoration,” she said. “It’s just beautiful, and the setting with the lighting, and to see all of the priests and the bishops and deacons and then you come out of there and you see all of the religious women and the different habits, especially to see how young they are and how joyful they are.”
Juan Vasquez, a seminarian from Christ the King Church in Kansas City, Kansas, said he witnessed the love people have for clergy and religious firsthand, particularly during the much-anticipated eucharistic procession.
“As the seminarians were processing by, people were just shouting, ‘Thank you! Thank you! We need you guys.’ You can really tell there’s this hunger for the Eucharist, and so, I think that’s what it’s been for me, just a renewal in
NEED HELP HEALING FROM A PAST ABORTION?
Call or text 913-621-2199
my heart of what the Eucharist is and has been for me and my life.”
But perhaps it was Nikki Frerker from Curé of Ars in Leawood who best summarized the Congress.
THE SHEPHERD’S VOICE
8:30 a.m. Sundays on 92.9 FM and KEXS AM 1090
Encore Monday at 11:30 a.m.
Sharing thoughts about the closing Mass celebrated by Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, the pope’s envoy for the Congress, she said, “As I watched all the people weaving through the aisles to re-
ceive the Eucharist at the final Mass, it looked from high up in section 418 like the blood of life running beautifully through the mystical body of Christ . . . the people of God, the church. It’s like we all came to Indy to enter into the heart of Christ and his wounds, and in that sacred space, we received new life in him, to take forth and share with the world.”
Father Anthony Chendumalli, pastor of Annunciation Parish in Frankfort, St. Monica/St. Elizabeth in Blue Rapids, and St. Columbkille in Blaine, agreed.
“I loved the cardinal’s homily of how we have received the gift and now we take that gift to others in our parishes. Everyone, as disciples of Christ, can go out and bring [it to] one person who turned away from the faith. Every Catholic must do it. That’s what the real Eucharist means for us today. Let’s pray for God’s grace so that all of us can work for it and bring change in the world.”
To experience more of the National Eucharistic Congress itself and to stay up-to-date on plans for the 11th National Eucharistic Congress currently planned for the year 2033 and/or to learn more about the Eucharistic Revival campaign, go online to: www.eucharisticcongress. org or www.eucharisticrevival.org.
LEAVEN PHOTO BY KATHRYN WHITE
From left, seminarian Gabriel Zuniga, Deacon Dan Mauro and archdiocesan vocations director Father Dan Morris look at the multitude of sessions to choose from at the National Eucharistic Congress.
LEAVEN PHOTO BY KATHRYN WHITE
Thousands of pilgrims — including nuns, priests, religious and laypeople — join the final eucharistic procession of the National Eucharistic Congress in downtown Indianapolis.
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 St. Francis Xavier Church in Kansas City, Missouri. A private family celebration was hosted by their family. Their children are: Debbie Moeller, Shawnee; Carolyn Cawley, Lenexa; Michelle Masoner, Lenexa; and Jennifer Cawley, Kansas City, Missouri. They also have six grandchildren.
Joe and Mickey Sebes, members of St. Francis de Sales Parish, Lansing, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on Aug. 3. The couple was married on Aug. 3, 1974, at St. Jude Church in Havre, Montana. Their children are: Joseph D. III, John and Kathryn. They also have two grandsons.
Larry and Paula Goddard, members of St. Philip Neri Parish, Osawatomie, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on Aug. 9. The couple was married on Aug. 19, 1974, at St. Joseph Church, Humboldt. To celebrate, they canoed with their sons, Josh and Jace Goddard, their wives and their grandchildren in Lebanon, Missouri. They have six grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Diane (Laufketter) and Lee Frerker, members of Church of the Ascension, Overland Park, will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary on Aug. 1. The couple was married on Aug. 1, 1964, at St. Luke the Evangelist Church, St. Louis, by Lee’s uncle, Father Edward Westermann, and cousins, Father John Schaefer and Father Jack Frerker. Their children are: Lisa Austin, Amy Craig and Phillip Frerker. They also have 11 grandchildren. A dinner with family and friends is planned for Aug. 3.
Marilyn (Switzer) and James Schugel, members of St. Michael the Archangel Parish, Leawood, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a trip to France in June with their son, James, and daughter-inlaw. The couple was married on June 8, 1974, at Visitation Church in Kansas City, Missouri, by Father Gerald Waris.
David and Luann Kongs, members of St. Gregory the Great Parish, Marysville, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on July 25 with a trip with their children and grandchildren. The couple was married on Aug. 3, 1974, at St. Joseph Church, Atchison. Their children are: Veronica Olmsted, Jeremy Kongs and Timothy Kongs. They also have four grandchildren.
Dave and Mary Lou (Bennett) Richardson, members of Queen of the Holy Rosary Parish, Overland Park, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on Aug. 10 with Mass and a family dinner. The couple was married on Aug. 10, 1974, at Holy Name Church, Topeka, by Father Vince Krische. Their children are: Scott Richardson, Brad Richardson, Emily Ahern and Katie Mourlam. They also have nine grandchildren.
Martha Estrada-Robinson and Rick Robinson , members of Church of the Nativity, Leawood, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on Aug. 9. The couple was married at Christ the King Church, Kansas City, Missouri, by Bishop George Fitzsimons. Their children are: Rick and Christina Robinson. They also have four grandchildren. They will celebrate with a trip to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, with family. They will also celebrate with a trip to Rome in the fall.
Lynn and Mike Gossman, members of St. Michael the Archangel Parish, Leawood, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a family trip to Florida in June and a trip to California in July. The couple was married on July 27, 1974, at St. Elizabeth Church in Kansas City, Missouri. Their children are: Michelle Hardgree, Melissa Mereghetti, Jenny Smith and Jon Gossman. They also have 17 grandchildren.
Joseph and Johncie Heise, members of St. Patrick Parish, Scranton, will celebrate their 65th wedding anniversary on July 29. The couple was married on July 29, 1959, at St. Mary Church, Marienthal. They will celebrate with a small family gathering. Their children are: John Heise, Dale Heise, James Heise and Dean Heise. They also have nine grandchildren.
Helen and John Graettinger, members of Corpus Christi Parish, Lawrence, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on Aug. 3. The couple was married on Aug. 3, 1974, at Holy Family Church in Mason City, Iowa. Their children are: Eric, Abby and Kristin. They have six grandchildren.
William “Bill” and Janelle Kirchner, members of Holy Angels Parish, Basehor, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on Aug. 4 with a family dinner. The couple was married on Aug. 3, 1974, at St. Agnes Church, Roeland Park, by Father Anthony Lickteig. Their children are: Emily Olson, Joseph Kirchner, Katrina Sobecky, and Derek Kirchner. They also have nine grandchildren.
Joseph and Cheryl Donner, members of St. Agnes Parish, Roeland Park, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary with their children, siblings and members of their wedding party on July 27. The couple was married on July 27, 1974, at Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral in Kansas City, Missouri. Their children are: Eric, Anne and Christopher. They also have five grandsons.
Cyndy (Crimmins) and Mike O’Rourke, members of Curé of Ars Parish, Leawood, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary with their children and grandchildren. The couple was married on Aug. 3, 1974, at St. Ann Church, Prairie Village, by Father Larry Albertson. Their children are: Patrick O’Rourke, Colleen Mazzei and Michael O’Rourke. They also have four grandchildren.
Nancy (Henley) and Bob Nowatzke, members of St. Ann Parish, Prairie Village, will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary on Aug. 3 with a party for family and friends. The couple was married on Aug. 1, 1964, at St. Therese Little Flower Church in Kansas City, Missouri. Their children are: Dennis, Lynne, Craig, Amy and Carol. They also have nine grandchildren.
Marilyn (Sterk) and Stanley Nastav, members of St. Joseph Parish, Shawnee, will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary on Aug. 1. The couple was married on Aug. 1, 1964, at St. Pius X Church, Mission. Their son is Jay Bradley, of Excello, Missouri. They also have five grandchildren.
Joe and Barbara (Neighbors) Weatherford, members of Church of the Ascension, Overland Park, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on June 8. The couple was married on June 8, 1974, at St. Thomas More Parish in Kansas City, Missouri. Their children are: Angie and Joe. They also have two grandchildren.
John and Kathleen (Monty) Hlavacek, members of Church of the Ascension, Overland Park, will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary with their children and grandchildren on Aug. 3. The couple was married on Aug. 1, 1964, at St. Mary Queen of the Universe Church, Salina, by Msgr. Armand Girard. Their children are: Susan Hanson, Kellee Leakey and Kristin Hlavacek. They also have seven grandchildren and two greatgrandsons.
John (“Ace”) and Kathi (Marchin) Acinger, members of Curé of Ars Parish, Leawood, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on July 27.
The couple was married on July 27, 1974, at the Cathedral of St. Peter in Kansas City, Kansas. They have one son, Erik, of Overland Park, and two grandchildren.
ANNIVERSARY SUBMISSIONS
POLICY: The Leaven prints 50, 60, 65 and 70th anniversary notices.
DEADLINE: 10 days before the desired publication date.
INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:
• The couple’s names
• their parish
• the date they were married
• church and city where they were married
• what they are doing to celebrate
• date of the celebration
• names of children (no spouses)
• number of grandchildren and great-grandchildren; WHERE TO SUBMIT: Email: todd.habiger@theleaven.org.
EMPLOYMENT
Preschool aide - Holy Spirit School, Overland Park, seeks an enthusiastic person to be the preschool aide to assist in the 4-year-olds classroom. This well-established preschool runs from 7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. each school day. We want a faith-filled, responsible, organized and creative person who knows about child development and can assist in implementing age-appropriate activities. Applicants must attend Virtus training, ongoing professional development and be at least 18 years old. This is a full-time job with benefits. Contact Tessa Piscitello at (913) 492-2582 or tpiscitello@hscatholic.org for more information.
After-school group leader - Holy Spirit School, Overland Park, seeks an enthusiastic person to be the group leader in our after-school care program. This well-established program runs from 3 - 5:45 p.m. each school day. We want a faith-filled, responsible, organized and creative person. Applicants should know about child development and be able to implement age-appropriate activities. The ability to communicate clearly with children, colleagues and parents is most important to foster positive relationships. Applicants must attend Virtus training, ongoing child care training and be 18 years old. Contact Tessa Piscitello at (913) 492-2582 or at: tpiscitello@hscatholic.org for more information.
Music director - St. Joseph Parish in Shawnee invites applications for the position of full-time director of music. St. Joseph is a large suburban parish which boasts a renovated church featuring an Allen 3-manual organ and Steinway piano. The director of music will oversee all musical aspects of parish liturgical events, including five weekend Masses, solemnities, feasts and special occasions. Responsibilities encompass directing four choirs, supervising four paid organists and scheduling all music ministers. Candidates should demonstrate a strong Roman Catholic faith, deep knowledge of liturgy, and exceptional proficiency in keyboard playing, conducting and voice development. This role requires proactive leadership, effective communication and a passion for nurturing spiritual growth through music. Interested applicants are encouraged to send their resume to: mthomas@stjoeshawnee.org or call (913) 248-4562.
Christian formation ministry coordinator - Church of the Nativity in Leawood is seeking a Christian formation ministry coordinator. This position is an integral part of the Christian formation team, assisting and supporting the work of the DRE (director of religious education), youth minister and the minister of evangelization. The ideal candidate is passionate about using their organizational gifts to help form Christian disciples. As a skillful collaborator, the Christian formation ministry coordinator helps enact the parish’s vision for faith formation and evangelization with a keen attention to detail, strong interpersonal skills and a readiness to support team members in multiple programs and initiatives. This is a parttime position, approximately 15 - 20 hours per week. To apply, please send your resume and cover letter to: jobapplication@kcnativity.org. For a full job description, visit: www.kcnativity.org/employment-opportunities.
Marketing manager - Bishop Sullivan Center in Kansas City, Missouri, is seeking a marketing manager. Inspired by Christian faith, Bishop Sullivan Center shows God’s love to people in financial hardship by providing food, help in finding jobs and other aid. This full-time permanent position will work primarily at our 6435 Truman Rd. location in Kansas City, Missouri, and will be instrumental in shaping and executing our marketing strategy. For additional information and to apply, email: scowan@ omnihrm.com or (913) 653-8085.
Advice & Aid bookkeeper - The bookkeeper performs clerical tasks in support of Advice & Aid’s mission. Under the direction of the operations director and the accountant, the bookkeeper is responsible for accounts payable, payroll and record keeping. The bookkeeper makes entries in QuickBooks in support of Advice & Aid’s accounting activities. The successful candidate needs to be efficient and accurate, completing tasks in a timely manner, and must be proficient in QuickBooks. Must be a committed Christian with a personal relationship with Jesus who actively participates in a local, Bible-believing church, demonstrates a consistently life-affirming philosophy, and subscribes to and supports the vision, mission, statement of faith and policies and procedures of Advice & Aid. Please send a cover letter and resume to Ryan at: rbogard@adviceandaid.com by Aug. 15.
Bilingual financial empowerment specialist - Catholic Charities of N.E. Kansas is seeking a bilingual financial empowerment specialist. This position will pilot a financial program for bilingual individuals and families. This position is based in Wyandotte County and will provide culturally relevant financial education and empowerment to Latino communities within Wyandotte and Johnson counties, as well as serving the general population in Wyandotte County. The caseworker will provide wraparound strength-based case management, which includes completing assessments, developing a spending plan with families, and assisting clients in identifying and monitoring measurable and achievable goals with appropriate action steps. For more information about this position, please visit: catholiccharitiesks.org.
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.
Facilities supervisor - St. Joseph Parish in Shawnee is seeking a full-time facilities supervisor. Primary responsibilities are managing and overseeing the St. Joseph campus comprised of 20 acres, seven buildings, a football field and track and nine maintenance technicians. Primary responsibilities include supervising and coordinating the maintenance and repair of buildings, grounds and equipment; overseeing the operation and safety of buildings systems such as mechanical, electrical, plumbing, HVAC and janitorial needs; communicating with internal and external customers to ensure effective and efficient relations; managing facilities service requests and developing a work order system to ensure that deadlines and standards are met. A successful candidate should be Catholic with strong relationship skills and the ability to work in a collaborative setting. Interested applicants should send their resume to: mthomas@stjoeshawnee. org or call (913) 248-4562.
Part-time registered dental hygienist - Meyer Family Dentistry is excited to hire a part-time RDH to join our growing dental team. We are looking for an enthusiastic and ambitious professional who loves dentistry and is passionate about educating patients on their oral health. Our priority is to provide the best dental experience for each and every patient. If you are looking for an office that invests in you while providing clinical excellence, this is your opportunity. Our office is located just north of St. Thomas Aquinas High School. Please send your resume to: rod.meyer.dds@gmail.com.
Part-time catechist - The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program at Holy Trinity Parish, Lenexa, is growing! We are looking to add another part-time catechist to our team! Hours are flexible up to 18 hours per week, emphasis during school hours. Ideal candidates would be Level II-trained or ready to train in Level II. Send resumes to Diane Jones at: djones@htlenexa.org or (913) 895-0662.
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.
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 computer-related 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Make a meaningful impact today -Join L’Arche Heartland as a Direct Support Professional in our residential homes. Contribute to the empowerment and enrichment of adults with developmental disabilities as they engage in meaningful lifestyles. We have immediate full-time positions available. We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes 100% coverage for medical, dental and vision expenses. Conveniently situated in downtown Overland Park. Training provided. Apply now by visiting our website at: www.larcheks.org/join-out-team or by emailing: james@larcheks.org.
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.
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.
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. 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
Garage door repair expert New Garage Doors Garage Floor Coatings A Total Door Inc., Since ’83. Leaven discount joe@atotaldoor.com; (913) 236-6440.
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.
Faith-based counseling to cope with life concerns - Kansas City area. Call Mary Vorsten, licensed clinical professional counselor, at (913) 909-2002.
Tutor - Piano, guitar, voice and music theory lessons available. Instructor has 18 years’ experience. For more information, please contact Kathleen at (913) 206-2151 or email: klmamuric@yahoo.com.
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.
Double A’s Lawn Service Lawn mowing, Mulching, Gutters, Leaf Removal Brush Removal & Hedge Trimming Free Estimates & Insured Alex Spoerre (913) 488-5195
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. Catholic counseling - Sam Meier, MA, LCPC - (913) 952-2267 and David Walter, MA, LCPC - (402) 9130463 - book an appointment online at: StillWatersKC. com in person or telehealth.
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.
WANTED TO BUY
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.
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.
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).
>> Classifieds continue
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.stjoeshawnee.org/news/400eucharistic-amazement-speaker to register.
GRANDPARENTS MATTER
INTENTIONAL 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.
Parish picnic
St. Stanislaus Parish
701 S. Main St., Rossville Aug. 10 from 3 - 6:30 p.m.
The picnic is in conjunction with
Rossville’s Tall Corn Festival. There will be bingo from 3 - 6:30 p.m. and a fried chicken dinner from 4 - 6:30 p.m. The cost is: $12 for a meal deal; $6 for kids ages 6 - 10; and free for kids 5 and under. Mass will be at 7 p.m.
Rosary rally
St. Gabriel the Archangel Parish
4737 N. Cleveland Ave., Kansas City, Missouri Aug. 11 from 3 - 4:15 p.m.
Please join us to honor our Blessed Mother and Our Lady of Fatima. We will pray the joyful, sorrowful and glorious mysteries of the rosary followed by Benediction and the opportunity for attendees to enroll in the brown scapular. For driving instructions or future dates for the Kansas City monthly rosary rallies, visit the website at: www.rosaryrallieskc.org.
breakfast with the knights
Divine Mercy Parish
555 W. Main St., Gardner
Aug. 11 from 8:30 - 10 a.m.
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.
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 Pain’ 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: ChristsPeace.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.
133rd Annual parish picnic
Immaculate Conception Parish (Holy Family Hall)
208 W. Bertrand Ave., St. Marys Aug. 17 from 4 - 8 p.m.
There will be a chicken dinner (dark meat only) with fixings. The cost is $10 for adults and $5 for kids ages 10 and under. Dinner will be served from 4 - 7 p.m. Games, bingo (in the hall) and a garage sale will be from 4 - 8 p.m. The night will end with fellowship.
EUCHARISTIC MIRACLES OF THE WORLD
Good Shepherd Parish (social hall) 12800 W. 75th St., Shawnee
Aug. 17 from 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. and 3 - 6 p.m.
Aug. 19 from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Aug. 19 - 22 from 1 - 6 p.m.
The “Eucharistic Miracles of the World” exhibit is a traveling display on loan from Catholic Radio Network. It features 157 beautiful panels that highlight some of the most powerful eucharistic miracles over the centuries. For more information, visit the website at: catholicradio.com/miracles.
Pancake breakfast
St. Patrick Parish
1066 N. 94th St., Kansas City, Kansas Aug. 18 from 8 - 11 a.m.
This all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast
is sponsored by the Knights of Columbus Bicentennial Council. The cost is a freewill offering. Breakfast includes pancakes, sausage patty, scrambled eggs, biscuits and gravy along with juice and coffee.
SPAGHETTI DINNER AND BINGO
St. Patrick Parish (center) 1066 N. 94th St., Kansas City, Kansas Aug. 22 at 6 p.m.
Dinner will include spaghetti with sauce, meatball, Italian sausage, salad, breadstick and an ice cream sandwich. The cost is: $12 for adults; $7 for kids under the age of 12; and a family meal for $35. There will be 10 games of bingo for $12. The average prize is $75 per game with a blackout round for $250. For more information/ questions, call Fritz at (913) 515-0621.
Wills and trusts workshop
St. Teresa of Avila Parish (hall) 404 Garrison Ave., Westphalia Sept. 11 from noon - 1:30 p.m.
What is the difference between a will and a trust? How can I avoid probate, and what exactly is probate? How can I leave money or assets to my church, school, archdiocese or a favorite charitable organization? The presenter will be Thomas F. Robrahn, attorney at law at Robrahn Law Office. Register online at: cfnek.org/events or by contacting Jane Schmitt at (913) 6473060.
women’s bible study
Holy Trinity Parish (Father Quigley Center) 9201 Summit St., Lenexa Sept. 19 - April 24, 2025 Thursday mornings from 9:30 - 11:15 a.m. Join us for the inter-parish Catholic Women’s Bible Study. We will be examining St. Paul’s First and Second Letters to the Corinthians. Register online at: womens biblestudykc.com by Aug. 25. For more information, contact Becca Holman by email at: womensbiblestudykc@gmail.com or call (913) 633-9691. Come meet new friends at all levels of Bible knowledge and discover what a blessing God’s word has in store for you this year. The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program is offered for ages infant to 12 years while we gather for our Bible study. Lap babies are welcome to stay with moms. Teens ages 13 - 15 are invited to our junior Bible study. Our children’s program is currently full, so register soon to be at the top of our wait list.
CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS
DEADLINE: Noon, Thursday, eight days before the desired publication date.
SEND SUBMISSIONS TO: beth. blankenship@theleaven.org.
DAILY READINGS
SEVENTEENTH WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME
July 28
SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
2 Kgs 4: 42-44
Ps 145: 10-11, 15-16, 17-18
Eph 4: 1-6
Jn 6: 1-15
July 29
Mary, Martha and Lazarus
Jer 13: 1-11
Dt 32: 18-19, 20, 21
Jn 11: 19-27
July 30
Peter Chrysologus, bishop, doctor of the church
Jer 14: 17-22
Ps 79: 8-9, 11, 13
Mt 13: 36-43
July 31
Ignatius of Loyola, priest
Jer 15: 10, 16-21
Ps 59: 2-4, 10-11, 17-18
Mt 13: 44-46
Aug. 1
Alphonsus Liguori, bishop, doctor of the church
Jer 18: 1-6
Ps 146: 1-6
Mt 13: 47-53
Aug. 2
Eusebius of Vercelli, bishop; Peter Julian Eymard, priest
Jer 26: 1-9
Ps 69: 5, 8-10, 14
Mt 13: 54-58
Aug. 3
Saturday
Jer
26: 11-16, 24
Ps 69: 15-16, 30-31, 33-34
Mt 14: 1-12
EIGHTEENTH WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME
Aug. 4
EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY
IN ORDINARY TIME
Ex 16: 2-4, 12-15
Ps 78: 3-4, 23-25, 54 Eph 4: 17, 20-24 Jn 6: 24-35
Aug. 5
The Dedication of the Basilica of St. Mary Major
Jer 28: 1-17
Ps 119: 29, 43, 79-80, 95, 102
Mt 14: 13-21
Aug. 6
THE TRANSFIGURATION OF THE LORD
Dn 7: 9-10, 13-14
Ps 97: 1-2, 5-6, 9 2 Pt 1: 16-19
Mk 9: 2-10
Aug. 7
Sixtus II, pope, and companions, martyrs; Cajetan, priest
Jer 31: 1-7 (Ps) Jer 31: 10-13 Mt 15: 21-28
Aug. 8
Dominic, priest
Jer 31: 31-34
Ps 51: 12-15, 18-19 Mt 16: 13-23
Aug. 9
Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, virgin, martyr
Na 2: 1, 3; 3: 1-3, 6-7 (Ps) Dt 32: 35c-36b, 39abcd, 41
Mt 16: 24-28
Aug. 10
LAWRENCE, DEACON, MARTYR
2 Cor 9: 6-10
Ps 112: 1-2, 5-9
Jn 12: 24-26
Honestly, it doesn’t take much to amuse me. I’m constantly on the lookout for verbal or written gaffes or just clever plays on words. Here are some of my favorites:
Some years ago, one young parishioner here was so disappointed after Mass, according to his mom. I’d invited the congregation to check out a display of rosaries in honor of the Blessed Mother that were displayed at the front of church. What was the source of disappointment for the kid? He’d been looking forward to viewing the “groceries,” of which there were none!
Almost 25 years ago, I attended an Eagle Scout Court of Honor. Toward the end of the ceremony, a young woman stood up to read a poem, entitled, “The Uniformed Little Boy.” She read with much passion and sincerity. Unfortunately, throughout the poem — about a half dozen times by my count
The celebration of a National Eucharistic Congress this year invites reflection on the gift and mystery of the Eucharist.
In the writings of the early Christian apologist St. Justin Martyr, we learn that Christians gathered to celebrate the Eucharist according to the order of the Mass, as it is celebrated today. After the word of God was proclaimed, the community was encouraged to live God’s word. Then, as Justin Martyr recounts, the presider took bread and wine, offered thanks to God in the name of the Father, and the Son and
It really is a laughing
MARK MY WORDS
FATHER
MARK GOLDASICH
Father Mark is the pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Tonganoxie. He has been editor of The Leaven since 1989.
— she pronounced “uniformed” as “uninformed.” It got funnier and funnier as she went along but, sitting as I was facing the crowd in attendance, I didn’t dare start laughing. I’m pretty sure I still have scar tissue on the inside of my cheeks from maintaining my composure that day. We once received a news release at The Leaven from LOATHE, KAN. I’ll bet that people from Olathe “hate”
when that happens. My deacon and the parish choir just shake their heads when they’re singing, and I have a mischievous grin. That means that I’m soon going to “ruin” that song forever in their minds. One of my favorites is “Ubi Caritas,” a song that I’ve been mangling (in my mind anyway) since my days as a seminarian at the North American College in Rome. One of the lines that comes up several times is: “Ubi caritas et amor, ubi caritas, Deus ibi est” (“Where charity and love [are], where charity [is], God is there.”) It’s a hauntingly beautiful hymn that can be ruined
matter
by substituting the words, “We’re on CBS” or “Shop at CVS” for “Deus ibi est.” Rest assured that those phrases were never sung during an actual liturgy . . . but afterwards?
I’m sure that you’ve heard the joke about a new usher at church in pre-Vatican II days named Dominic. The pastor noticed that every Mass where Dominic was, the collection was significantly higher. When asked the reason for this by the pastor, Dominic replied, “Well, isn’t that what you ask me to do from the altar? Don’t you always say, ‘Dominic, go frisk ‘em?’” (If you don’t get it, think back to “Dominus vobiscum.”)
I’ll end with this cute story: A mom was worried when Timmy, her son in first grade, wanted to walk to school by himself. She wasn’t convinced it was a good idea, but Timmy said he’d be OK since he walked with a friend.
Eventually, the
Only God satisfies our spiritual hunger
Sullivan is a professor at The Catholic University of America.
the Holy Spirit. Then after exchanging a greeting of peace, the faithful received the “eucharisted” bread and wine as spiritual
nourishment for the journey of faith.
In the same way that our bodies cannot survive without food in balanced portions, our spirits and souls cannot thrive without spiritual food.
Only God satisfies our spiritual hunger.
All four Gospel writers relate the miracle of Jesus multiplying a few loaves and pieces of fish to feed the crowds gathered on a mountain. This miracle stands at the heart of Jesus’ identity and mission. In Jesus, God became one of us, offering himself as nourishment for the journey of life. This divine gift
of self-emptying love, symbolized by the multiplication of the loaves and fish, continues in every age of the church in the gift of the Eucharist.
In Saint John’s telling of the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fish, Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks and distributed the blessed bread and fish to the hungry crowd. Jesus’ action of taking and blessing bread, giving thanks to God, breaking and giving it to his disciples and followers, continues in our own day in the Eucharist. Jesus desires to meet our spiritual hunger at the table of God’s word and
mom came up with a creative solution that would ease her worries and yet give Timmy a sense of independence. A neighbor walked her toddler every morning. The mom asked if she would follow the boys to school to make sure they got there safely, but to do so at a distance so they wouldn’t notice. The neighbor agreed.
After a while, the perceptive boys did notice.
“Hey, do you know that woman who follows us to school?” the friend asked.
“Sure,” Timmy answered. “That’s Shirley Goodnest and her daughter Marcy. My mom reads about them every day in the Twenty-Third Psalm. She says, ‘Shirley Goodnest and Marcy shall follow me all the days of my life.’ Guess we’ll have to get used to them!”
God provides humor and joy all around us if you know just where to look . . . or listen. That’s why it’s called the good news!
the sacrament of his body and blood. On the cross, Jesus completed his divine self-gift so that we could share in his divine life as friends of God.
Before this supreme gift and mystery of faith, we are overcome with “eucharistic amazement,” in the words of St. John Paul II.
Just as our bodies need food, we need spiritual food for the journey of faith. Like the disciples and the crowds who followed Jesus in the Gospels, we are each invited again and again to the spiritual nourishment of the Eucharist as we pray in faith, “Speak to me, Lord.”
Pope asks world’s religions to push for ethical AI development
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis called on representatives from the world’s religions to unite behind the defense of human dignity in an age that will be defined by artificial intelligence.
“I ask you to show the world that we are united in asking for a proactive commitment to protect human dignity in this new era of machines,” the pope wrote in a message to participants
of a conference on AI ethics which hosted representatives from 11 world religions. Religious leaders gathered in Hiroshima, Japan, for the conference, titled “AI Ethics for Peace.” They also signed the Rome Call for AI Ethics — a document developed by the Pontifical Academy for Life, which asks signatories to promote an ethical approach to AI development.
In his message to the conference published by the Vatican July 10, Pope Francis noted the “great symbolic
importance” of the religious leaders’ meeting in Hiroshima and noted the increasingly central role that artificially intelligent technology plays in society.
“As we look at the complexity of the issues before us, recognizing the contribution of the cultural riches of peoples and religions in the regulation of artificial intelligence is key to the success of your commitment to the wise management of technological innovation,” he wrote.
JEM SULLIVAN
>> Continued from page 12
For sale - Four plots at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens, Kansas City, Kansas, in the Garden of Devotion, section 112, lot B, spaces 1,2,3 and 4. Located steps away from the inner road within view of the lake. Call or text for details. Priced reasonably. Call Jan at (913) 593-1854.
For sale - Tempur-Pedic Ergo Base, twin size XL, 38”80” 17”deep. Comes with manual; remote for various positions and needs; heat, massage and zero gravity preset, etc. Mattress, mattress covers and sheets included. Original cost nearly $6000, asking $1500. Minimal use. All or many of the electronic cords never unbound since purchase. Located south of Topeka, 30 minutes. Call (785) 806-9140.
For sale - Two plots at Chapel Hill Memorial Cemetery in Kansas City, Kansas. Two plots in Faith Garden, lot 63C, spaces 1 and 2. Valued at $5234 each, asking $6000 for both. Two spaces in Apostles section, lot 32B, spaces 1 and 2. Valued at $5245 each, asking $6000 for both. Contact (913) 530-4432.
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.
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.
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.
Home Care - Available Monday - Friday, days or nights. Serving Shawnee Mission, Gladstone and Overland Park. Background check and references available. Call (913) 999-4340.
Caring Christian companion - I am a retired licensed practical nurse (LPN) with 20-plus years of nursing experience caring for the youth to elderly facing medical challenges. I will work for you, in home, assisted living or nursing home. Qualified to transport to and from physicians or therapy and personal trips. References from past employers are available. I am someone who is caring, honest and dependable. Call Barbara at (913) 645-3779.
New ministry raises awareness of needs, provides ways to help
By Marc and Julie Anderson mjanderson@theleaven.org
KANSAS CITY, KANSAS
— There are more than 400,000 children in the foster care system in the United States and nearly 7,500 of them right here in Kansas.
Those statistics concern Kathy White, hired this past spring to be the archdiocese’s part-time foster ministry and pro-life coordinator.
Every one of those children, White said, have “a heart, a soul and a name, and are deserving of a home.”
And she’s determined to help them thrive. She seems to be off to a running start.
Already she’s visited with parish liaisons, reached out to all of the deaneries to discuss how to start ministries, sat with the archbishop on a podcast of “The Shepherd’s Voice,” enrolled in various kinds of training to learn more about foster care and its complexities, reached out to area government and service agencies and started researching best practices from already established church-based ministries, whether Catholic or not.
Three weeks into her new job, in fact, she coordinated a Foster Care Awareness night at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, hosting 58 people from previously identified foster families from across the archdiocese.
She’s also encouraging Catholics to view “Sound of Hope: The Possum Trot Story,” a film released July 4 by Angel Studios and endorsed by Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann, hoping that moviegoers will be inspired to get involved in foster care in some way, no matter how big or small.
The movie tells the true story of a single church in Possum Trot, Texas, that took in 77 foster care kids — kids that no one else was willing to take a chance on — until 21 families stepped up and supported one another, providing meals, prayer and, above all, love.
“When you have faith — when you have community wrapping around in support for you — is when these families in this area of Possum Trot, Texas, could be successful,” White said. “I do believe watching the film will inspire people to think, ‘Where can I fit in this space?’”
In 2020, when the archdiocese first launched foster care ministry, Debra Niesen, the archdiocesan Respect Life consultant, said between 12 to 15 parishes jumped on board and got involved in the archdiocese’s Thrive Foster Ministry, a name attributed to the archbishop.
“To be truly pro-life, we must also make sure that every child has an environment where he or she can thrive,” the archbishop has often said.
The goals are simple.
Both Niesen and White want to raise awareness about the need for foster families, but also ways archdiocesan Catholics can support foster families.
“Maybe not everyone can take in a family, but everyone can do something,” White said.
One way, she explained, is to provide wraparound support for foster families, something that can take many different forms — from providing a meal to a foster family, praying for a foster family during court-directed appointments or taking
respite training to provide babysitting for a foster care child when the foster parents have to go to an appointment.
A parish that White said is already providing a lot of wraparound support is St. Joseph in Shawnee.
The parish launched its ministry several years ago.
Today, according to Carri Person, who serves as the overall coordinator, it consists of four main areas: a care portal, meal trains, a care community and events.
Calling the care portal the “backbone of the ministry,” Person said it exists to deliver goods or services.
One of the biggest needs, Person noted, is beds.
In June, through its delivery team, the care portal distributed 13 beds to foster families. And that was just one month!
Like White, Person said there are many ways people can support foster families, who often experience burnout due to the complicated circumstances in which they find themselves.
“We want the people who are willing [to serve as foster families] to do it as long as possible and not burn out,” she said. Even just starting a meal train for one foster family can help.
Father Mark Ostrowski agrees.
As an associate pastor, he provides pastoral leadership for the ministry and said he’s witnessed firsthand the heroic love of the foster families and ministering to them in ways, big and small.
“They have no interest in accolades. They have no interest in attention, really. It’s just so beautiful,” he said. And it’s absolutely “essential work,” he said.
“If we’re pro-life, then this is something we should be doing — period,” he added.
To learn more about the archdiocese’s Thrive Foster Ministry and how to get involved, contact Kathy White by email at: kwhite@archkck.org or visit the website at: archkck.org/foster.
PHOTO BY ETHAN WHITE
On hand to answer questions about foster care at a recent ministry event at St. Joseph Parish, Shawnee, are, from left: volunteer Gerri Harrison; Sheri Rice, a member of the foster care ministry team at St. Joseph; and Kathryn White, archdiocesan foster ministry and pro-life coordinator.
LEAVEN PHOTO BY KATHRYN WHITE
Archdiocesan foster ministry and pro-life coordinator Kathryn White organized a Foster Care Awareness night at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. There, 58 people from foster families from across the archdiocese were hosted, including Travis Katzer pictured here.