THELEAVEN.ORG | VOL. 41, NO. 6 | SEPTEMBER 13, 2019
TWO OF A KIND
LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER
Retiring archdiocesan director of real estate and construction Leon Roberts, left, and his successor Dan Himmelberg inspect the construction at St. Joseph Church in Topeka. Roberts, who will retire at the end of December, is working with Himmelberg to ensure a smooth transition.
Roberts to retire after 20 years of ‘fun’ with archdiocese By Joe Bollig joe.bollig@theleaven.org
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ANSAS CITY, Kan. — Isn’t work supposed to be work? What does fun have to do with it? Just ask Leon Roberts. In the 1990s, Roberts was a hard-driving executive with a prestigious Kansas City area architectural firm. But the long hours and stress took their toll, so he left the partnership for health reasons. Nobody would have blamed him if he had just coasted into retirement. But he didn’t. On April 11, 2000, he became archdiocesan director of real estate and construction. That’s when the fun began. “When I came here from Hollis & Miller, owning a 60-person architectural firm, I had forgotten you could enjoy work,” said Roberts. “I regained
that knowledge when I came here. “It’s had its moments when it has been difficult. But for the most part, it has just been enjoyable — enjoyable to see our parishes grow and flourish, and take seriously the stewardship of their facilities. “For me,” he continued, “it has been extremely rewarding. In fact, I’ve gotten more out of it than I thought I would.” Roberts, a member of Church of the Ascension in Overland Park, will officially end his 20-year-career with the archdiocese on Dec. 31. He has been working through a transition period since July with his successor, Dan Himmelberg. A lot of people are going to miss Roberts, Carla Mills among them. “He’s a hoot,” said Mills, archdiocesan chief financial officer. “He knows the importance of lightening up.” >> See “ROBERTS” on page 5
‘Hands-on guy’ prepares to take handoff from veteran By Joe Bollig joe.bollig@theleaven.org
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ANSAS CITY, Kan. — The bar has been set high, and Dan Himmelberg knows it. “The first words that come out of everyone’s mouth when I say, ‘I’m the new Leon,’ is, ‘You have really big shoes to fill,’” said Himmelberg. “I’ve probably heard that no less than 100 times since [I arrived] July 22, and I agree,” he added. The “Leon” is Leon Roberts, archdiocesan consultant for real estate and construction for the past 20 years. But he will retire on Dec. 31. That’s why since July, he has been working to ensure a smooth transition for Himmelberg — his successor — and for the archdiocese. Roberts has left a huge legacy — not only as founder of his office, but
also his involvement with every major and minor property and construction action of the archdiocese since 2000. He knows he’s leaving the job in good hands — and feet. “I was asked who I might know who might be interested,” said Roberts, “and I gave (chancellor) Father John Riley three resumes of people who might be interested and had the skill sets needed to take over the position without having a huge learning curve.” One of the three, the one who was hired, was Himmelberg. Himmelberg and his wife Cindy are both graduates of Kansas State University and members of Holy Cross Parish in Overland Park. He earned a bachelor’s degree in architecture in 1985, and she is a graphic designer. They have two adult children. Himmelberg has 35 years of experi>> See “MISSION” on page 4
SEPTEMBER 13, 2019 | THELEAVEN.ORG
LOCAL NEWS
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In the face of discouragement, reasons for hope abound
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ne certain sign that summer is over is the reappearance of my columns in The Leaven. One of the sure marks of the devil’s presence is discouragement. The Evil One wants the disciples of Jesus to despair and feel overwhelmed by the challenges of living the Gospel in a cynical and unbelieving culture. However, it is my conviction and experience that if I am attentive, the Holy Spirit is constantly providing me with reasons for hope. With all the problems in our society and all of the significant challenges the church is facing in the present moment, I want to share with you five reasons that give me great hope. Since I wrote my last column this past May, I ordained six men to the priesthood. It has been many decades since our archdiocese had such a large number of priestly ordinations. The number of ordinations is not nearly as important as the quality of those being ordained. I believe that, in 2019, the archdiocese has been blessed with both quantity and quality. As I move around the archdiocese, parishioners are eager to tell me how impressed they are with the preaching and ministry of our newest priests. My second reason for hope was occasioned by my pilgrimage with our seminarians to Mexico City (see pages 8-9 of this issue). It was thrilling to be able to celebrate Mass with our seminarians in the basilica where the image of Mary is emblazoned on the tilma of St. Juan Diego. One cannot overestimate the impact of this Marian apparition
LIFE WILL BE VICTORIOUS ARCHBISHOP JOSEPH F. NAUMANN upon not only Mexico, but all of America. The principal reason I make these annual pilgrimages is not so much the religious significance of our destinations, but to give me the opportunity to get to know our seminarians better, as well as to take a more personal role in their formation. In addition to the opportunity to deepen our devotion to Mary, the pilgrimage was also designed to provide us with the opportunity to encounter Jesus uniquely present in the poor. We partnered with a ministry, Hope for the Poor, founded by a former evangelical Protestant (Craig Johring). Craig came to Mexico more than 20 years ago to convert Mexican Catholics into evangelical Protestants. Six years ago, Craig became Catholic. Craig gave us several opportunities to recognize Jesus in the poor. We spent a day at a trash dump on the outskirts of Mexico City, where many people live and many more work. Our seminarians set up a taco stand at a crossroads in the dump and went to every corner of the dump to invite the residents and workers to enjoy some delicious tacos.
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I was able to celebrate Mass at a chapel in the dump that was constructed by the local residents from materials and artifacts that they had recovered from the trash. As you can imagine, the odor from the garbage was unpleasant and the conditions in which the people live and work are distressing. However, I found the faith and joy of the people to be inspiringly beautiful. I was also edified by how our seminarians threw themselves into the experience and engaged the dump workers and residents with great respect and kindness. I came back from the pilgrimage excited about the future of the priesthood in the archdiocese. This past Saturday evening, I was able to celebrate a Mass at my residence and share dinner with about 20 Catholic University of Kansas medical students and their faculty advisers. Medical school is one of the most intense, rigorous and demanding academic programs. Also, with some of the complex medical moral issues of our time and our culture losing its ethical bearings, it takes courage and a special strength to remain faithful to Catholic moral principles. My third reason for hope was the desire of these future doctors to serve the sick and the
suffering. I was edified by the depth of their faith and their desire to become human instruments God can use to heal those with intense physical suffering. My fourth reason for hope was the more than 1,200 people who participated in an Evening for Life supporting the Wyandotte and Olathe Pregnancy Clinics. Ashley Bratcher, the actress who portrayed Abby Johnson in the movie “Unplanned,” gave an inspiring address that touched the hearts of everyone in attendance. Ashley shared discovering that she was almost a victim of abortion, the circumstances as a young adult of her own crisis pregnancy, the examples and prayers of her grandmothers that played key roles in her own faith journey and the graces that flowed from accepting the starring role in “Unplanned,” even after being warned it could significantly limit her career opportunities. I was encouraged by the enthusiasm of the audience to help parents choose life for their children and their eagerness to help this life-saving ministry. Earlier in the week, I had the opportunity to have lunch with the leaders of other crisis pregnancy centers in Johnson County, Lawrence, Topeka, Emporia and Leavenworth. I am inspired by the many individuals who are willing to accompany those experiencing difficult or untimely pregnancies. Finally, my fifth reason for hope came from visiting several parishes during the summer months and meeting some of the parishioners who will be attending the Enflame Our Hearts convocation of Catholic leaders at
Appreciation Day dinner — St. Michael the Archangel, Leawood
ARCHBISHOP NAUMANN Sept. 14 “Fire on the Mountain” youth pilgrimage opening Mass — St. Philippine Park, Mound City School of Love benefit — Sheraton Overland Park Hotel Convention Center National Day of Remembrance for aborted children — Gate of Heaven Cemetery Sept. 15 Installation of Father Mark Mertes — St. Patrick, Kansas City, Kansas Baptism of third or more child — Cathedral of St. Peter, Kansas City, Kansas Sept. 16 “Shepherd’s Voice” recording Priests and Seminarians
the beginning of October. These individuals accepted the invitation of their pastors to be part of their parish delegation to the convocation. They are enthused and committed to helping their pastor develop and implement an evangelization plan for their parish. I ask everyone in the archdiocese to pray for the Holy Spirit to pour out his gifts on the convocation. Ask Our Lord to anoint this event so that we may realize God’s dreams and desires for the Catholic Church in northeast
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Sept. 17 Catholic Education Foundation Gaudeamus honorees and School of Excellence breakfast Administrative Team meeting Ethics Council meeting Sept. 18 Catholic Bar Association Episcopal Advisory Committee conference call Presbyteral Council meeting St. Lawrence Welcome Center dedication and blessing St. Lawrence Campus Center board meeting Block Three campaign kickoff event — Savior Pastoral Center Sept. 19 Confirmation — Holy Family, Eudora Sept. 20-23 Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher annual meeting
Kansas. A few reasons for hope that did not make the top five: 1) The Chiefs won their first game in a convincing manner; 2) KU and Kansas State both began the football season with victories; 3) At least at the time of this writing, the St. Louis baseball Cardinals are leading the Central Division in the National League; and 4) The Kansas priests were victorious over Missouri in the Pitching for Priests softball game. Miracles never cease and reasons for hope abound!
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SEPTEMBER 13, 2019 | THELEAVEN.ORG
LOCAL NEWS
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LEAVEN PHOTO BY JOE BOLLIG
Teachers and principals from 26 of the archdiocese’s 36 elementary schools gathered for a daylong workshop on the theology of the body Aug. 13 at the Keleher Conference Center at Savior Pastoral Center in Kansas City, Kansas. The workshop was presented by D. J. Hueneman.
Theology of the body becomes part of K-12 curriculum By Joe Bollig joe.bollig@theleaven.org
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ANSAS CITY, Kan. — This fall, some archdiocesan students will be learning about the theology of the body from an exciting new
curriculum. By the fall of 2021, all archdiocesan students at all schools — kindergarten through 12th grade — will be learning it, too. On Aug. 13, 224 teachers and principals from 26 of the archdiocese’s 36 elementary schools gathered for a daylong workshop at the Keleher Conference Center at Savior Pastoral Center in Kansas City, Kansas. It was sponsored by the archdiocesan school office. The training itself was provided by Ruah Woods, a not-for-profit educational center in Cincinnati. The push to teach the theology of the body to all students comes from Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann, who learned about the curriculum at the Convocation of Catholic Leaders in 2017 in Orlando, Florida. “I was shown at that time some of the work [Ruah Woods] had done, and how they engaged some of the very best people in terms of communications, art
and artistry . . . to communicate this great gift that St. John Paul II gave to the church,” said Archbishop Naumann in his welcome address to the workshop participants. He went on to say how it had been adapted to every age level, and how he looked forward to seeing this consistent teaching made available throughout the schools. The theology of the body is already being taught in archdiocesan middle-school grades and in the high schools, said Allison Carney, archdiocesan associate superintendent of schools. At the heart of the curriculum is that each child is a gift created in the image and likeness of God. “It’s not a sex education course you’d see in a public school,” said Carney, who organized the training. “It’s about morality and our relationship with God.” The day was divided into two parts: an introduction to the theology of the body and then a session on how to teach it according to various grade levels. The Ruah Woods presenter was D. J. Hueneman. Principal Kelli Wolken from St. Rose Philippine Duchesne School in Garnett was at the workshop, and her school
President Most Rev. Joseph F. Naumann
Publication No. (ISSN0194-9799)
Editor Rev. Mark Goldasich, stl frmark.goldasich@theleaven.org
What is the theology of the body? The theology of the body is St. John Paul II’s integrated vision of the human person. The human body has a specific meaning, making visible an invisible reality, and is capable of revealing answers regarding fundamental questions about us and our lives. SOURCE: WWW.THEOLOGYOFTHEBODY.NET
will introduce the curriculum this fall. “We’ve really enjoyed the day,” said Wolken, who attended with some of her teachers. “It’s a lot better than we anticipated. I think there are a lot of things we can use in our lives daily in conversations with the students. I saw a lot of the teachers jotting down information about videos they’d like to share and quotes from saints they’d like to use.” David Livingston, who teaches math and religion at Most Pure Heart of Mary School in Topeka, found the training beneficial and sees application of the theology of the body in all subject areas. “[The theology of the body] is something we [now] allude to, but this
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training will help us teach it in a more effective way,” said Livingston. “I think I can help my students to understand that math is really a natural language, much like the body itself,” he continued. “Although math is created by human beings, it does actually describe truths put into creation by God himself. And so, the more we understand mathematical concepts, that can be a bridge to understanding God better.” The teachers from his school at the training were “very open to it, excited and also challenged,” said Livingston. “Based on the training we’ve had for the teachers so far, I’m looking forward to it quite a bit,” he added. “I’m very enthusiastic about it.” This enthusiasm was shared by many other participants. “I had some really great responses from people,” said Carney. “Teachers were excited to teach it at such a young age . . . and thought it was important [that] there be consistency all the way through — K-8 — and eventually all the way through high school. The program is consistent, and that’s why we want everyone to use the same program.” The archdiocesan school office will host another training next year and in subsequent years until all teachers have had an opportunity to attend.
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SEPTEMBER 13, 2019 | THELEAVEN.ORG
LOCAL NEWS
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Pro-life running team winds up relay with big weekend in KC By Ellie Melero @eleanor_melero
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VERLAND PARK — After covering a collective 5,359 miles across the country, runners completed the last leg of the 7th annual LIFE Runners A-Cross America Relay here on Aug. 11. The relay started on July 4 in four cities: San Francisco, New York City, Grand Forks, North Dakota, and San Antonio. Since then, participants wearing bright blue jerseys with the words “REMEMBER The Unborn – Jer. 1:5” have been completing 5Ks across the country to create a cross over the United States. LIFE Runners is the largest pro-life running team in the world, with 12,094 members worldwide in 38 nations. The A-Cross America Relay is one of its largest events of the year, and it’s meant to bring awareness to abortion issues and the pro-life cause. Participants in the relay could run or walk 5Ks in one of the 1,528 legs along the cross route or participate remotely, as many LIFE Runners in other countries did. The point, according to Pat Castle, co-founder and president of LIFE Runners, was to get people out in their jerseys to bring more visibility to the pro-life cause. “The nonrunning LIFE Runners are really better [messengers] because they’re moving slower and we can read the back of their jersey,” said Castle. “That’s really the ministry. The ministry is a messaging ministry that gets people to do exactly what that message says: Remember the unborn.” In addition to completing the final four legs of the relay on Sunday, LIFE Runners came out in force to participate in a weekend full of events to celebrate the completion of the relay. Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann, the chair of the Committee on Pro-Life Activities for the U.S. Conference of Cath-
olic Bishops, and Bishop Joseph Coffey, from the Archdiocese for the Military Services and LIFE Runners board member, concelebrated Mass at Divine Mercy Parish in Gardner on Aug. 10 to kick off the Finish Line weekend. After Mass, the LIFE Runners went out to dinner and then attended a special screening of “Where There Is Darkness,” a movie about the murder of Father Rene Robert and his opposition to the death penalty from beyond the grave. “The movie, really, is just a beautiful movie about mercy,” Castle said. “How does it relate to LIFE Runners? Without mercy and compassion, we’re not going to reach post-abortion women, we’re not going to reach abortion workers, we’re not going to reach abortionists and we’re not going to end abortion.” The message of the movie resonated with the runners, who believe the pro-life movement is about much more than opposition to abortion. “The pro-life movement actually adds value to those that are already living,” said Cayleigh Heron, a parishioner of St. Paul Church in Olathe. “That’s what the pro-life movement should be about: just valuing life just because of what it is. There is value in each and every beautiful creation here on earth, starting in the womb.” The celebration continued on Sunday, when the LIFE Runners attended Mass together at St. Michael the Archangel in Leawood before heading to a prayer rally in front of Planned Parenthood in Overland Park and finishing the final legs of the relay. The relay is over, but Castle encourages people to join LIFE Runners online at: www.liferunners.org and wear the jerseys on the first Wednesday of every month. “It matters,” Castle said. “Get a shirt, wear it as a public witness to impact hearts and minds for saving lives, and be all in Christ for pro-life.”
LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER
Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann holds up a LIFE Runner T-Shirt during Mass at Divine Mercy Church in Gardner on Aug. 10 to kick off the Finish Line weekend for LIFE Runners.
Mission drives the process, explains Himmelberg >> Continued from page 1 ence in architecture and construction, and is a licensed architect in Kansas and Missouri. After graduating from KSU, he worked for FCO Architects of Kansas City, Missouri. “I was the designer who worked on a lot of Kroh Brothers stuff and AMC Theatres,” said Himmelberg. “My big project I worked on as a designer was the AMC Theatre at Disney World. It was the first privately owned building ever built on Disney property. I left there in 1989, to work at Gould Evans Architects. I was there for 12 years and left as a vice president.” While at Gould Evans, he developed the firm’s “charrette” process. This is sort of a brainstorming session, an intense period of design or planning activity to generate solutions and integrate interests of a diverse group of people. When he began his own firm Xpress Ideas in 2000, he specialized in leading charrette processes for a variety of clients, as well as doing other kinds of architectural work. One notable project he has already worked on for the archdiocese was the renovation of a former Lutheran church in Johnson County into a chapel for the St. Rose Philippine Duchesne Latin
LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER
Dan Himmelberg and Leon Roberts check out the outside structure of St. Joseph Church in Topeka. Roberts will be handing over some large projects to Himmelberg when he retires at the end of this year. Mass Community. He has also worked on the project to replace windows at Holy Cross School, and the new adoration chapel at the Church of the Ascension in Overland Park.
So far, Himmelberg has enjoyed the transition. A big part of the job is managing relationships with all sorts of people — from the fix-it guy with his pickup truck to construction giants
like JE Dunn. Therefore, he and Roberts have been having lots and lots of meetings and visits with a lot of people, transferring relationships. Roberts is also handing over some big projects: the new St. John Paul II School in Olathe, and the Curé of Ars School addition in Leawood. It’s a really hands-on kind of job, which suits Himmelberg, who considers himself a “hands-on” kind of guy — always willing to get his hands dirty and unwilling to administer exclusively from behind a desk. The church has the greatest mission of all time, he believes, and his job is to help parishes and other archdiocesan entities see how their projects must be guided by a sense of mission. “The first question to be asked when a parish wants to do something is: ‘How does it fit in your mission?’” said Himmelberg. “You’d think it would be: ‘What is it?’ or ‘How much money do you have?’” But it’s mission that drives the process — and that comes from the top. “To get approval from the archbishop,” said Himmelberg, “the first thing they have to answer is: ‘How does it fit in your mission?’ “If they can’t answer that question, it isn’t going to happen.”
SEPTEMBER 13, 2019 | THELEAVEN.ORG
LOCAL NEWS
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Grieving parents find closure in community By Joe Bollig joe.bollig@theleaven.org
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ANSAS CITY, Kan. — Joseph and Chloe Langr — indeed, their whole extended family — looked forward to the birth of their first child, a boy. But it was not to be. They lost the boy, named Marion, to miscarriage in March 2017. The aftermath was difficult. There was no funeral. There was no grave that would serve as tangible For more inforevidence mation about the of his exisMass of Innocents, tence or as contact Brad DuPont a place to by calling (913) 647grieve. 0301, or by email at: “When bdupont@archkck. we first lost org. Marion, I know a lot of my prayers — whether I was at eucharistic adoration or at Mass — those initial prayers were prayers of anger, ‘Lord, why did you take our son from us? Why are we going through this?’” recalled Chloe. Some members of their family encouraged them to attend a special liturgy for parents, families and friends who had experienced such a loss: the annual Mass of Innocents, sponsored by the archdiocesan office for marriage and family life. Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann will celebrate the commemorative Mass of Innocents for all children lost during pregnancy or in early infancy at 1 p.m. on Sept. 29 at Holy Spirit Parish, 11300 W. 103rd St., Overland Park. No registration is required. After the Mass, there will be a light reception of cookies and punch. The purpose of this Mass is to give parents, grandparents, siblings or other loved ones the opportunity to receive consolation, whether the loss was recent or many years ago. “So many couples suffer silently from the pain of losing a child to miscarriage, stillbirth or early infant death,” said Libby DuPont, consultant for the office for marriage and family life. “Traditionally, couples were just expected to move on with life,” she continued.
LEAVEN FILE PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER
Participants in the Mass of Innocents sign the name of their deceased children lost during pregnancy or early infancy in the Book of Remembrance. “But if we really believe that life begins at conception, then as a church we need to honor the lives of these little ones and honor the grief of their [families].” These grieving parents and family members need to know that the church grieves with them. “This is an opportunity for these families to gather with their archbishop, who cares deeply for them and understands what they’ve been through,” said Brad DuPont, consultant with the office for marriage and family life. “We have some families that attend this Mass annually as a way to remind their living children about a sibling who has died,” he added. “Other people come once for closure they never had. We’ve had many people whose loss was decades ago, but [at this Mass] have finally found healing and closure.” That’s exactly what the Langrs discovered. “It was such an opportunity to celebrate our son’s life with our parish community at Holy Spirit, and other couples and families in the archdiocese who had a similar story,” said Chloe. “It was really beautiful to know we weren’t alone in that suffering, that miscarriage and infant loss was something a lot of couples experience,” she added. “Our community gathered around us to
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“IT WAS SUCH AN OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE OUR SON’S LIFE WITH OUR PARISH COMMUNITY AT HOLY SPIRIT, AND OTHER COUPLES AND FAMILIES IN THE ARCHDIOCESE WHO HAD A SIMILAR STORY.” support us in our grief, and the church herself was drawing around us.” She was particularly touched when Archbishop Naumann told them how he prays over the names written in the Book of Remembrance in his private chapel at his home. “I really liked the opportunity . . . to share our son’s life with the church, and the way the church honors his life,” said Joe Langr. “It helps with our healing process. And working through losing him, as a couple, brought a lot of conversation
about where our son is, and we have this hope he is in heaven. It brings us a lot of peace.” The feeling of loss never goes away, but there is peace and healing through the Mass of Innocents that makes the burden bearable. “When you first lose a baby, it’s like carrying around a giant boulder,” said Chloe. “It feels like you’ll never be out from underneath the weight of this raw sorrow. We’ve found that now, years later after losing Marion, that rock has shrunk to a pebble.” The Langrs have attended the Mass of Innocents twice — and this year, they are bringing Marion’s little sister, 3-month-old Maeve. “One of the most important aspects of the Mass of Innocents is that you don’t have to do this alone,” said Chloe. “There is support out there. “Sometimes that support can be hard to find and it can be a vulnerable ask. But at the Mass of Innocents, it’s so tangible. You can go up to anyone in the pews to ask for prayers or advice on how they grieved. “They’re all in the same boat. That’s why I’d encourage people to go. The body of Christ wants to honor the life of your baby.”
Roberts proud of parishes now taking proactive approach >> Continued from page 1 Large, complex projects costing thousands or even millions of dollars can be difficult to manage, if not downright exasperating. Getting all the parties to work harmoniously requires finesse, diplomacy, patience and good humor. “Leon’s very collaborative,” said Mills. “His approach is always to come to a conclusion that makes everyone happy. We may start down one path and suddenly encounter a roadblock. Leon is the one who finds a way around the roadblock to still make things happen.” What was his greatest achievement during his 20-year tenure at the archdiocese? “Staying,” Roberts deadpanned. “Surviving.” Actually, he hates to use the term “greatest achievement.” He also hates to use the word “proud.” Excitement will have to do.
“One of the things I’m most excited about is the relationships that my office has established with each of the parishes and their willingness to call me and ask for help,” he said. “And I’m really excited about the fact that most have moved away from a deferred maintenance arrangement to being proactive about taking care of their facilities,” he added, “and truly being good stewards of their facilities.” Perhaps his greatest achievement, however, is being the founding father of his role. “It did not exist,” he said. “[My responsibilities] were folded into several offices, with each playing a role somewhat, but no one grabbing the reins and executing what needed to be executed.” Having an archdiocesan office dedicated to real estate and contracting meant that projects became easier and more manageable. “Another thing that came about was more consistent response for contracts
— architectural, engineering, construction — so therefore, there were more opportunities for successful outcomes,” said Roberts. It helps that he had been on both the architect’s and the contractor’s side of the equation. “So, I understand what the right roles are for the architect, the engineer and the contractor,” he said, “and know how to get the most out of those roles.” Name any big, Catholic project of the past 20 years — St. James Academy, Santa Marta retirement community, new church construction and renovations — and Roberts has played a role. Not all of it has involved new construction, however. He has advised parishes what to do with buildings following clustering, managed the fix of that leaky toilet at the archbishop’s residence or made sure vacant land was mowed. Managing relationships was a big part of his job.
Mills said she appreciated how Roberts was able to connect personally with the many people he’s had to work with on the various projects. “He got to know the pastors, the building committee chairpersons, the different parishioners involved in each project,” she said. “It’s a very confusing process if you don’t work with it every day,” she added. “He [could] take it down and walk people through every step, making sure they got what they want and got value for what they [paid].” What does Roberts plan to do for retirement? “Whatever I want,” he said with a smile. But he did mention mentoring young architects and volunteering his services to his parish as high on his list. “My wife and I have decided not to plan anything,” said Roberts. “It’s just going to be: ‘If we want to do something today, that’s what we’ll do.’”
SEPTEMBER 13, 2019 | THELEAVEN.ORG
FAMILY LIFE
iCare offers classes for those with special needs
Make room to rest in the Lord By Deacon Tony Zimmerman Special to The Leaven
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retreat that I experienced at the University of Notre Dame had a full schedule from early morning until late at night. There were talks and time for reflection, along with processions to the grotto while praying the rosary. It was a very blessed time as well as very tiring. The retreat ended with our group attending Sunday Mass at the basilica. I had trouble keeping my eyes open on that rainy morning. My wife kept nudging me as my eyes closed, reminding me that Mass was televised and a camera was aimed at where we sat. I told her I was “resting in the Lord,” but she was not convinced. Try as I might, I couldn’t keep my eyes open and I missed what I was told was a good homily. Later, as I watched a recording of the Mass, I was relieved to see that there were no close-up camera shots that would show this deacon seeming to sleep during Mass.
Seriously, what about “resting in the Lord”? St. Augustine said, “God made us for himself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in thee.” What about making some time for God, to rest in his love and hear his voice? Time given to silence opens the door for God in our life.
What are the distractions that keep us from resting in the Lord? One huge distraction in life today is the electronic items that keep us connected to all media. What is the first thing I reach for when rising from sleep or before going to sleep? Is it my cellphone? Am I drawn
to that device? Is it the first thing I reach for along with my morning coffee? If I am out for a meal with family, would I be seen checking my messages or the latest news? Do other family members have cellphones or tablets that make a sound to alert them that they have a new message? Does everyone scramble to check their electronic devices? I realize that certain professions require that someone is reachable night or day. For the rest of us, consider: 1. Instead of our electronic device on the nightstand, have the Gospel for the upcoming Sunday present. Read one line before sleeping and another on rising. What word or phrase stands out? 2. Make Sunday a day of freedom from these devices and all media. Turn off the phone on Saturday night. Leave it alone until late Sunday evening. Devote your time to Mass and a Sunday meal with the family. At the end of the day, quietly reflect on how God has spoken to you in the Eucharist and the little church of your family.
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VERLAND PARK — iCare Ministries, Inc., will present the option of three courses from Sept. 14 to May 9, 2020, from 5-5:45 p.m. at Queen of the Holy Rosary Parish here, located at 7023 W. 71st St. iCare is a ministry for all people with special needs and their families. The courses are for children and adults with special needs and their families. Participants can choose one of the following courses: • “God Chats” for participants • “Sacramental Preparation” for participants • “God Says Whaat?!” for parents and participants to discuss the Sunday Gospel readings iCare teachers prepare courses using the VARK (visual, auditory, reading/writing and kinesthetic) method. Though not limited to, they will incorporate movement, silence, fellowship, centering prayer, church tours, music and art. An adaptive Mass will be held the second and fourth Saturday of each month at Queen of the Holy Rosary at 6 p.m. For more information, send an email to: peggy.icare@gmail. com.
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SEPTEMBER 13, 2019 | THELEAVEN.ORG
LOCAL NEWS
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What Catholics believe is real about the Real Presence By Olivia Martin olivia.martin@theleaven.org
becomes something completely and entirely different. The appearance never changes, but it becomes a whole different reality. This is what happens during the consecration when the bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ. Transubstantiation is one of the great mysteries of our Catholic faith.
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ANSAS CITY, Kan. — On Aug. 5, national think-tank Pew Research Center released new information on the number of U.S. Catholics who believe in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. Their research shows 69 percent of U.S. Catholics believe the bread and wine distributed during Communion (the Eucharist) are just symbols of Jesus’ body and blood. And 43 percent think the church teaches the bread and wine are just symbols of Christ. But what is the truth? What does the church actually teach? The Leaven spoke with Father Justin Hamilton, associate pastor at St. Joseph Parish in Shawnee and chaplain of Bishop Miege High School in Roeland Park, to get the facts. Q. What is the “Real Presence”? A. The real presence is the belief that Jesus Christ himself is physically present in the Eucharist — that it’s his body, blood, soul and divinity. Q. Isn’t the Eucharist just a symbol of Christ’s sacrifice? A. No, the Eucharist is not a symbol. “Whenever a piece of bread and wine is consecrated validly at Mass,” explained Father Justin, “that really becomes Jesus, not just a symbol of
with
FATHER JUSTIN HAMILTON
Jesus. That’s why we call it the ‘real presence,’ indicating that Jesus is really, truly right there in front of you and with you in the form of that bread and in that wine.” In the Eucharist, Christ is just as really physically present as the person standing next to you in the grocery checkout line. Q. What is the foundation for Catholics’ belief in the Real Presence? A. Belief in the Real Presence is grounded in Scripture, specifically in Chapter 6 of the Gospel of John. Jesus tells his disciples in order to have eternal life, they must eat his flesh and drink his blood. “He then goes on to clarify that statement because people are shocked,” said Father Justin. “They can’t understand; they think it’s too graphic and too strange. Today, we would say that’s outrageous, too. “But Christ didn’t back
Steve and Carol Dellinger, members of Church of the Ascension, Overland Park, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on Aug. 23. The couple was married on Aug, 23, 1969, by Father Robert Burger at Queen of the Holy Rosary Church, Overland Park. They have one son, Douglas Michael Dellinger. To celebrate, the couple returned to the Lake of the Ozarks where they traveled 50 years ago, along with the same good friends who accompanied them on their honeymoon.
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Q. When do the bread and wine become the Real Presence?
Associate pastor of St. Joseph Parish, Shawnee
Q. The Romans and others accused the early Christians of cannibalism because of their belief in the Real Presence. How should we understand that? A. Because we receive Christ in the Eucharist under the appearance of bread and wine, consuming the Eucharist is not cannibalism. For cannibalism to occur, one must eat flesh and blood and it must actually look, taste, smell and feel like flesh and blood. When we receive Christ in the Eucharist, we receive his glorified, resurrected body.
Q. What does transubstantiation mean? A. Transubstantiation means something’s substance, the essence of the very thing itself, changes and
Marilyn (Jungers) and Dan Diltz, m e m b e rs of Sacred H e a r t Parish, Shawnee, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on Sept. 6. The couple was married on Sept. 6, 1969, at St. Mary Church, Bellevue, Nebraska. They celebrated with a family trip to their original honeymoon destination, the Black Hills of South Dakota. Their children are: Shelby Diltz, Rebecca Moore, Brian Diltz and Tom Diltz. They also have seven grandchildren.
Sister Dorothy Heideman, OSB
TCHISON — Sister Dorothy (Mary Robert) Heideman, 89, a Benedictine Sister of Mount St. Scholastica here, died Aug. 29 at the monastery. Sister Dorothy was born in Seneca on Jan. 17, 1930, one of nine children of Fred and Laura (Blocker) Heideman. After graduating from Sts. Peter and Paul High School in Seneca in 1948, she received a scholarship to Mount St. Scholastica College. She entered the Mount community in 1949 and became a teacher. She taught
A. The bread and wine become the real presence of Jesus Christ during the Mass. Specifically, this happens during the consecration, when the priest prays the eucharistic prayer. When the priest says, “This is my body which will be given up for you,” the bread becomes the body of Christ. When he says, “Do this in memory of me,” the wine becomes the blood of Christ.
down.” To dispel any confusion about what Jesus was talking about, the Gospel uses the Greek word “trogon,” which has one specific, literal meaning: to gnaw. “[Jesus] used the more graphic word to describe what we’re called to do in terms of receiving the body of Christ to make sure we didn’t accidentally mistake his words for something else,” said Father Justin. At the end of the passage, John reports that many people leave Jesus because of this teaching. And he does not stop and assure them he means for his body to be eaten symbolically. He lets them go. The church believes Jesus meant what he said — and meant it literally.
at schools in Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, California, Iowa and Colorado. After receiving a master’s degree in education from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, she was also a principal for several years. Earning a master’s degree in library science from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1980, she served as librarian at Donnelly College in Kansas City, Kansas, from 1981-87 and Benedictine College, Atchison, from 19872000. After her retirement, she worked in the monastery library.
Jo-Anne
(Harp)
and Richard Thompson, members of Curé of Ars Parish, Leawood, celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary on Sept. 4. The couple was married on Sept. 4, 1954, at All Saints Church, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Their children are: Rick Thompson, Susan Lybarger and Linda Thompson Stertz (deceased). They also have six grandchildren.
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“But we think in very human terms, which are the only terms we have,” said Father Justin. “We only know human bodies as they are on this earth. . . . But Christ rose from the dead and his resurrected flesh is not as we understand flesh in our earthly experience.” Q. Do Protestants believe in the Real Presence? A. Generally, Protestants do not believe in the Real Presence. Q. If not, what do they believe the Eucharist is? A. They believe the Eucharist is a symbol; they believe it is bread and wine. Q. Is belief in the Real Presence an essential teaching of the Catholic Church? A. Yes, belief in the Real Presence is an essential teaching. Father Justin explains: “Even if you don’t understand the real presence of Christ or how that works, which is OK — it’s something in which we continue to grow in understanding — we are called to believe in the real presence of Christ and to ask for a greater understanding. “Pray for gratitude for the Eucharist and a deeper faith. St. Thomas Aquinas says in his hymn ‘Tantum Ergo’: ‘Lord, where my senses fail, I ask for faith to believe what you’ve said, taught and given me.’ “This is how we should pray if we doubt the Real Presence.”
USM community band seeking musicians
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EAVENWORTH — The University of Saint Mary Division of Humanities and Liberal Arts is seeking local musicians for the University and Community Band. Rehearsals started at 6 p.m. on Sept. 9 in the Mead Hall Walnut Room on the Saint Mary Leavenworth Campus here, located at 4100 S. 4th St. This ensemble is open to all students (through registration) and all community members. For more information, contact Dr. Vance by email at: david.vance@stmary.edu.
Sister Helen Smith, OSU
APLE MOUNT, Ky. — Sister Helen Smith, 73, an Ursuline Sister of Mount Saint Joseph, died Sept. 2 at Mount Saint Joseph here. Sister Helen was a creative woman, from her beautiful knitting to developing spiritual programs for the children she loved to lead into the mystery of God. She was an Ursuline Sister of Paola prior to the merger with Mount Saint Joseph. She was a teacher at Queen of the Holy Rosary, Overland Park, and St. John
School, Greeley. She was principal and teacher at Holy Trinity School, Paola; principal at Holy Cross School, Overland Park; and Holy Rosary School, Bucyrus. Sister Helen was director of sacramental preparation for children and youth at the Church of the Nativity in Leawood from 2010 until moving to Maple Mount in 2018. She was elected as a councilor for the Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph in 2016 and, this year, began serving as manager of the Mount Saint Joseph gift shop.
‘BUT THE GREATEST OF THESE IS LOVE’
Seminarians make a pilgrimage to the peripheries By Joe Bollig joe.bollig@theleaven.org
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ANSAS CITY, Kan. — In Mexico City, homeless street children live wherever they can. At one park, they open a manhole cover and shelter in an underground
space. It’s not a place most people would want to visit. But archdiocesan seminarian Will Carey went down there, because he wanted to meet the poor where they live. “We had an opportunity to go down inside one of these manholes where 10 or 12 kids would live at a time,” said Carey, who attends Kenrick-Glennon Seminary in St. Louis. “It was dirty. It was gross. There was a lot of trash, and roaches,” he said. “They told us that, at times, certain people or even police would throw [fireworks] down there, with children and pregnant moms [present]. “Sometimes people died. It was a small space for 10 to 12 kids to sleep.” Carey’s visit to that underground space and other places where he encountered the poor were transformative, he said. In looking into their eyes, he “looked into the eyes of Jesus.” He learned about the harsh realities of poverty — theirs and his. “We are all poor in one way or another,” he said. “As Mother Teresa of Calcutta said, spiritual poverty is the greatest poverty. We’re living in a country and time when spiritual poverty is more abundant than it has ever been. “We need to notice real poverty, because it reminds us of own poverty and the poverty of those around us. I am poor — a poor sinner. I need Jesus, too.” By no means was Carey alone in this realization. It was shared by the other archdiocesan seminarians who, like him, were in Mexico City to encounter God and the poor.
To holy places, holy people As he has done annually since 2009, Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann led archdiocesan seminarians on a summer pilgrimage from July 21 to Aug. 2, this year to Mexico City. He was accompanied by vocations director Father Dan Morris, and co-directors of seminarians Father Scott Wallisch and Msgr. Michael Mullen. These annual seminarian pilgrimages are done for several reasons. One is for the spiritual benefit to be
Seminarian Tim Skoch walks up a mountain of trash
Seminarian Brian Jacobson heads underground to where a handful of street kids used to live. “It was dirty. It was gross,” said fellow seminarian Will Carey.
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THE SEMINARIANS WEREN’T THERE TO TELL THEM WHAT THEY WERE DOING WAS WRONG, RATHER, THEY WERE THERE TO TELL THEM THAT THEY WERE LOVED gained. Another is the building up of fraternity among the seminarians, who go to four different seminaries and don’t have many opportunities to interact. Yet a third is the opportunity for the seminarians and Archbishop Naumann to get to know each other better, so he can be a spiritual father to his spiritual sons. A final reason is to provide service activities to the seminarians, because there’s nothing like hands-on work in a new environment to take you out of your usual routine and encounter people you might not otherwise have met. In Mexico, the pilgrims visited the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, sites associated with the apparition and the relics of Blessed Miguel Pro, priest and martyr. But this pilgrimage was not only to the holy places, but also to the holy people — the poor. Hosted by the ministry Hope for the Poor, the pilgrims visited a shelter for homeless elderly women, a huge garbage dump where more than 1,000 people live and earn their living, and a park where homeless persons live — including children.
Learning firsthand the power of presence When Benjamin Reinhart heard that one of the pilgrimage places was a huge garbage dump, he talked to a friend who had been there with the Catholic Medical Association earlier this year. “She said the dump smelled really bad, and seeing the poverty of the people was really jarring,” said Reinhart, who attends St. John Vianney Seminary in Denver. She was right. “As you get off the bus, the smell smacks you in the face,” he said. “What tugged at our hearts was seeing the kids run around. . . . These kids were really living in poverty.” As Mexico City grows, so do the dumps, which are surrounded by the shacks of the people who make their living scavenging there. In addition to the men, women and children foraging, there are a lot of wild dogs and flies. And the smell of decay was pervasive. “It was several football fields square,” said seminarian Anthony Mersmann, who attends Kenrick-Glennon Seminary in St. Louis. “It was just massive, massive hills of trash. The walkways were about 10 feet wide. It was the rainy season, so they were really sludgy, almost like used car oil. There were people on the hills sorting trash.” Hope for the Poor asked the seminarians to hand out food and drink, and simply exercise the ministry of presence. “When we got there, [the director] told us, ‘Go to it, go out and love people,’” said Reinhart. “I was really proud of the seminarians. They just jumped in. If there was any aversion or repulsion, it
Seminarian Will Sutherland plays a game of chicken Jacobson, left, and Geoffrey Calvert, background. wasn’t visible. They went out in groups of three or four. They walked up mountains of trash to bring drinks and tell [those scavenging] we were going to have Mass and tacos.” Archbishop Naumann jumped right in, too, as did the other archdiocesan formators. “There were a lot of people who were open to talking to us,” said Reinhart. “I thought they might be closed off, [like,] ‘Leave us alone. We’re working.’
h toward his fellow seminarians. More than 1,000 people make the huge garbage dump their home in Mexico City where they scavenge for a living.
was really powerful hearing his stories. He’s beaten up on a regular basis. He had a lot of makeup to cover his face wounds. He’s trying to get housing so he can get off the streets and stop working as a prostitute.” “He was one of the most caring persons we encountered all week,” said Jacobson. “He loved being with us.” The seminarians weren’t there to tell them what they were doing was wrong, said Mersmann. Rather, they were there to tell them that they were loved, and that the seminarians cared about them. “One man, Willy, was my age,” said Mersmann. “He had only been off the streets for a month and lived at the park, so he knew a lot of people [in the park]. He met his current wife on the streets and they had four children. He was addicted to drugs then, using most drugs available. “[Hope for the Poor] got him into a [drug treatment] facility and a room. His wife [and their kids] live with her mom. It’s hard for them to be apart, but it’s necessary for him to get healthy and be able to provide for himself and them.” Echoing St. Francis of Assisi, one seminarian gave something to a homeless man. “There was this guy with a really [terrible] shirt with a lot of holes, all beat up, full of dirt,” said Jacobson. “It was a shirt he wore a long time without washing.” Moved to give the man his own shirt, Jacobson admits to hesitating at first because he had no way to explain what he was proposing to the man. But then, using minimal Spanish, he convinced the man to take his gift. “And then I put on his shirt,” he said. “It smelled as bad as the rest of the place. But it was only three more hours until I got back to the convent. “Although I don’t think anyone wanted to sit next to me [on the bus]!”
The things they learned
Archbishop Naumann visits with Deacon Anthony Mersmann. The archbishop uses the seminarian pilgrimages to talk with and get to know his future priests better.
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“WE’RE LIVING IN A COUNTRY AND TIME WHEN SPIRITUAL POVERTY IS MORE ABUNDANT THAN IT HAS EVER BEEN.”
n with the dump kids and fellow seminarians Brian “But people would stop what they were doing and talk with us.” Language was a barrier because most of the seminarians don’t speak Spanish. Still, they managed to connect. “[Seminarian] Cesar Gomez was an incredible translator, [because] he grew up in Mexico. . . . Cesar allowed for a lot of [us] to pray for the homeless so they knew what they were being prayed for,” said fellow seminarian Will Carey.
“What I liked best was the intimate encounters with the poor,” said seminarian Brian Jacobson, who attends Conception Seminary College in northwest Missouri. “Even though we were unable to have any deep conversations, we realized the power of presence.”
Chance encounters It was at a shelter for homeless women that the seminarians witnessed how faith and love can make a difference at an otherwise joyless place.
The women were elderly and frail. Some were persons with special needs, nonverbal or disabled. Some simply groaned and flailed about. Mersmann was about to leave when another seminarian said, “You should see this woman.” “This woman’s name was Francesca,” said Mersmann. “She was so frail and had no meat on her bones. Her arms and legs were drawn up in a fetal position. . . . Her chest was moving up and down, breathing, [but] not responding and her eyes were closed. I let her know that we were there and we cared about her, and we wanted to pray for her.” Other powerful moments came when the seminarians visited a park frequented by the homeless — many who were street children, drug addicts or prostitutes. Again, they served food and drinks, and tried to talk and pray with those in the park. “That’s where we met Ruby, a 31-yearold man who dresses as a woman and prostitutes himself,” said Mersmann. “It
After the seminarians returned from their pilgrimage, they reflected on their experiences — the kinds of experiences that will inform them in their priesthood. One of the things Reinhart reflected on was language — or rather, communicating when language was a barrier. “For our brothers who could not speak Spanish, it really became a ministry of presence, to be present with people in their poverty and suffering, and just to be with them,” he said. “Love is a universal language,” he continued. “Once you’ve encountered it, it doesn’t matter which language you speak: Everyone’s on the same page.” He also learned the importance of having a sense of dignity. “What these people do [in the dump], they want to know that their work matters,” said Reinhart. “There is human dignity. Everyone wants to know that they are valued and what they do matters.” Pope Francis has talked about Christians “going to the peripheries” to meet those who are there, and bring them Christ. To do this as priests, they must see Jesus in those persons. “[The poor] had compassion and love, and the ability to see past physical appearances,” said Jacobson. “We ate lunch with street kids, drug addicts and prostitutes. You would think they would not want to have anything to do with clergy persons wearing collars . . . but they loved on us as we loved on them. “[We learned] how to encounter people without preconceived judgments.”
SEPTEMBER 13, 2019 | THELEAVEN.ORG
CLASSIFIEDS
EMPLOYMENT Drivers - Assisted Transportation is now hiring caring and reliable drivers to transport K-12 students to and from school and other activities in company minivans. Positions are now available in Olathe, Overland Park and Kansas City, Kansas. Competitive wages and flexible schedules. CDL not required. Retirees encouraged to apply. Call (913) 262-3100 or apply online at: AssistedTransportation.com. EEO. Community assistants - L’Arche Heartland of Overland Park serves adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities in day program support services and in residential services. We are seeking assistants who are looking for a unique opportunity in a faith-based organization. We are in immediate need of day service assistants to work in our day program serving 30 adults. We have a recycling program and community activities. Our core members participate in distributing for Meals on Wheels and Rise Against Hunger. They also attend community events such as the library, movies, bowling and going to parks. We also have a need for live-in and live-out assistants in our five residential homes. If interested, contact Jamie Henderson, community leader, by email at: jamie@larcheks.org. DRIVERS NEEDED Seeking caring and reliable drivers. Work up to 40 hours per week. Transport elderly and disabled individuals to and from medical appointments. CDL not required. Retirees encouraged to apply. Competitive wages and benefits. EOE. Learn more or apply online at: www.assistedtransportation.com (913) 262-5190 Youth minister - St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Leawood is seeking to hire a youth minister. As a member of the Christian formation and evangelization (CF&E) department, our youth ministers are responsible for the planning, organization and implementation of all evangelization and formation for the middle school and high school youth of the parish. The successful candidate for this position must be prepared to manage the financial resources and volunteers available to them to create new, and maintain existing, programs to further the goal of forming, in each youth, a missionary disciple. The ideal candidate should have an active spiritual life that they are willing to share with others and be able to adapt their spirituality to meet the youth where they are in their faith journey. This is a permanent, full-time position and includes the archdiocesan benefits package. Salary will be commensurate with experience. For additional details and a complete job description, go online to: www.stmichaelcp.org and click on “Our Parish/Employment Opportunities.” Custodian - Sacred Heart Parish in Shawnee is seeking a part-time custodian to care for the daily needs of the parish campus. Duties include general custodial and janitorial tasks, as well as lawn care; minor repairs; painting; and other routine maintenance. To be considered for the position, send an email to Mike Billquist at: mike.billquist@shoj.org. Board members - Villa St. Francis, a skilled nursing community sponsored by the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, is actively seeking board members. We are looking for candidates with a strong health care background. If you are interested in giving your time and talent to the Villa’s mission, submit a letter of interest and resume to: rwhittington@ villasf.org. Open positions - Catholic Charities of Kansas City-St. Joseph (CCKCSJ) serves those in need by taking direct action to relieve their anxieties and remove their burdens while simultaneously lifting them to the dignity of self-reliance. CCKCSJ is a fun and faith-based environment. Associates of CCKCSJ enjoy a compressed workweek by working Monday-Thursday weekly (dependent upon each position), with almost every weekend as a three-day weekend. We currently have the following positions open: Family Development Specialist; part-time Receptionist; and Accounting Supervisor. To apply and to view all available opportunities at CCKCSJ, go online to: careers.hireology.com/catholic charities-kansascityandstjoseph. After-school chess coach – The Knight School is looking for a part-time chess coach who is great with kids and has strong integrity and character; a highly gregarious and professional personality; a love for laughter; and reliable transportation. No prior chess knowledge is needed, as we teach the chess. The pay we’re offering is $16/hour. Applicant must pass a background check, be Virtus trained and register for the MVP program at SMSD. To apply: go online to: www.theknightschool.com/after-school-coach-app. html. Email Brian Harris at: brian@theknightschool.com with questions or for more information. We love our teachers - Come see why your want to work here! The Goddard School Olathe Northwest is looking for dynamic, energetic, professional teachers to add to our faculty. The Goddard School is a premiere preschool for children from 6 weeks to 6 years who are encouraged to develop at their own pace in a nurturing environment, lovingly guided by our highly skilled, professional teachers. We are hiring for the following positions: full-time preschool teacher; full-time young toddler or infant teacher; assistant teacher to multiple classrooms; and part-time assistant teacher from 2:45 - 6 p.m. or 1 - 6 p.m. School bus and van drivers - Cristo Rey Kansas City, a Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth high school, is seeking to hire a full-time CDL bus driver and one part-time van driver. A complete job description is available at: www. cristoreykc.org.
Personal assistant - Seeking a female personal assistant to do housekeeping; some cooking; provide rides to the doctor; shop for groceries; and assist client as needed. Call Janet at (913) 605-0212. Career opportunity – Due to the success and growth of the Knights of Columbus, we are adding a financial representative in the Kansas City, Kansas, and Missouri metro areas, St. Joseph, Mo., and Maryville, Mo. This is ideal for a determined, high energy, high expectation, professional, self-disciplined, independent individual, who desires to serve others yet earn a better than average income. We provide top-rated financial products to our members and their families, and will provide excellent benefits and training. This is a full-time position. For more information or an interview, please contact John A. Mahon, General Agent, 1275 S.W. Topeka Blvd., Topeka, KS 66612; call (855) 3564849; or email: mahonagencymail2@kofc.org. Assistant director - Holy Trinity Early Education Center in Lenexa is accepting applications for an assistant director. The successful candidate will have a minimum of three years of experience in a licensed early education program and possess a minimum of an AA in early childhood education. Applicants with good communication skills, an ability to lead and excellent organizational skills are encouraged to apply by contacting Mary Kay Scanlon at (913) 492-7380 or by email at: mscanlon@htlenexa.org. Service technician - Growing company is looking for an enthusiastic candidate to clean and repair microscopes in the Midwest area. The qualified candidate would be able to troubleshoot, be dependable, trustworthy, personable, customer-service oriented and work well with their hands. Electrical knowledge is a plus. Must have dependable transportation and be physically fit. Send resume to: yourcareer101@gmail.com. Executive director of Catholic Cemeteries – Catholic Cemeteries is seeking an executive director that will be responsible for the operation and administration of Catholic cemeteries within the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas. Duties include the management of all aspects of Catholic Cemeteries, including: employee management; financial management; planning and development; sales; and other aspects of day-to-day operations. The ideal candidate will be a practicing Catholic in good standing; have a minimum of five years of experience in cemeteries operation and management; and a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in business administration, marketing, public relations, accounting or related field. Application and benefits information are available on the archdiocese’s website at: www.archkck.org/jobs. Interested individuals should email cover letter, resume and application by Sept. 30 to: jobs@archkck.org. Counselor - Full-time LCPC counselor needed at Keeler Women’s Center, located at 759 Vermont Ave., Suite 100B, KCK, 66101. Contact Sister Bridget Dickason, OSB, at (913) 689-9375 or by email at: kwc@mountosb.org. Administrative assistant - Looking for something new? Use your administrative skills to help a developmental optometrist change people’s lives. The hours are: T/W/TH from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.; summer hours vary. No health benefits. Need to know basic bookkeeping skills. Background needed in Work, Excel and QuickBooks. Customer service and medical office experience helpful. Send resume to: Dr. Beth Bazin, 13600 Washington, Kansas City, MO 64145 or send via email to: bbazin@visiondevelop.com. Health and wellness advocate for clergy – The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas is seeking an experienced nurse, case manager or social worker to fill the part-time (approximately 10-20 hours per week) position of health and wellness advocate for clergy. Duties include: visiting priests on a regular basis; managing priests’ conditions and care; serving as an advocate during appointments and hospitalizations; assisting priests with health insurance and Medicare. The ideal candidate will be a practicing Catholic in good standing; have a minimum of five years’ experience in adult health care, case management or social work; one year of health care management preferred. College degree in related field required, registered nurse preferred. An application can be found on the archdiocese’s website at: www.archkck.org/jobs. Interested individuals should mail cover letter, resume, and application by Oct. 4 to: Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, Office of Human Resources, Health and Wellness Advocate Search, 12615 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City, KS 66109, or send via email to: jobs@archkck.org. Administrative assistant – St. Ann Parish in Prairie Village is seeking an administrative assistant for the ministry office. It is a part-time position, 15 - 20 hours per week. This is a FUN job that offers lots of variety and allows a flexible work schedule. You’ll be working with parish youth in our religious education program and providing support for some of our ministry groups. The ideal candidate will be proficient with Microsoft Office Suite and Google Drive; have database/data entry experience; have the ability to multitask; and have good communication and organizational skills. Send resume and letter of interest via email to: smeeker@stannpv.org.
HOME IMPROVEMENT Painting - Diamond Painting, (913) 648-4933, Residential/ Commercial, Exterior/interior, Free Estimates, Affordable, Decks, DiamondPaintKc.com, Kcmo/Overland Park Metropolitan area.
Concrete construction - Tear out and replace amped, stained or colored patios and drives. Retaining walls, footings, poured-in-place safe rooms, excavation and hauling. Asphalt drives and lots. Fully insured; references. Call Dan at (913) 207-4371 or send an email to: dandeeconst@aol.com. Interior painting Update your ceilings and walls with a fresh coat of paint. Cracks repaired with no mess! Serving the Leaven readers for over 25 years. Call Jerry anytime at (913) 206-1144. Rusty Dandy Painting, Inc. – We have been coloring your world for 40 years. Your home will be treated as if it were our own. Old cabinets will be made to look like new. Dingy walls and ceilings will be made beautiful. Woodwork will glow. Lead-certified and insured. Call (913) 341-9125. Masonry work - Quality new or repair work. Brick, block and chimney/fireplace repair. Insured; second-generation bricklayer. Member of St. Paul Parish, Olathe. Call (913) 829-4336. The Drywall Doctor, Inc. – A unique solution to your drywall problems! We fix all types of ceiling and wall damage — from water stains and stress cracks to texture repairs and skim coating. We provide professional, timely repairs and leave the job site clean! Lead-certified and insured! Serving the metro since 1997. Call (913) 768-6655. EL SOL Y LA TIERRA *Commercial & residential * Lawn renovation *Mowing * Clean-up and hauling * Dirt grading/installation * Landscape design * Free estimates Hablamos y escribimos Ingles!! www.elsolylatierra.com Call Lupe at (816) 935-0176 Local handyman - Painting int. and ext., wood rot, power washing, staining, masonry (chimney repair, patio’s) gutter cleaning, water heaters, junk removal, lawn mowing, window cleaning, honey - do list and more!! Member of Holy Angels Parish, Basehor. Call Billy at (913)927-4118. DRC Construction We’ll get the job done right the first time. Windows - Doors - Decks - Siding Repair or replace, we will work with you to solve your problems. Choose us for any window, door, siding or deck project and be glad you did. Everything is guaranteed 100% (913) 461-4052 www.windowservicesoverlandpark.com drcconswindows@gmail.com Garage Door Repair New Garage Doors Platinum Amarr dealer, Elite Home Advisor top rating. Call Joe, mention The Leaven discount. A Total Door (913) 236-6440. 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. NELSON CREATION’S L.L.C. Home makeovers, kitchen, bath. All interior and exterior remodeling and repairs. Family owned, experienced, licensed and insured. Member St. Joseph, Shawnee. Kirk Nelson. (913) 927-5240; nelsport@everestkc.net
SERVICES 8 to Your IdealWeight Get Real, Get Healthy, Get Empowered. Release your weight and restore your power in 8 weeks! http://8toyouridealweight.com/coach/kathi/ Tree Trimming Tree Trimming/Landscaping Insured/References Free Estimates/Local Parishioner Tony (913) 620-6063 Custom countertops - Laminates installed within five days. Cambria, granite and solid surface. Competitive prices, dependable work. Call the Top Shop, Inc., at (913) 962-5058. Members of St. Joseph, Shawnee. HARCO Exteriors LLC Your Kansas City fencing specialists Family owned and operated (913) 815-4817 www.harcoexteriorsllc.com Bankruptcy consultation - If debts are overwhelming you, seek hope and help from compassionate, experienced Catholic attorney, Teresa Kidd. For a free consultation, call (913) 422-0610; send an email to: tkidd@kc.rr.com; or visit the website at: www.teresakiddlawyer.com. Please do not wait until life seems hopeless before getting good quality legal advice that may solve your financial stress. Clutter getting you down? - Organize, fix, assemble, install! “Kevin of all trades” your professional organizer and “Honey-do” specialist. Call or email me today for a free consultation at (913) 271-5055 or KOATorganizing@gmail.com. Insured. References.
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Cleaning lady - Reasonable rates; references provided. Call (913) 940-2959. Mike Hammer local moving - A full-service mover. Packing, pianos, rental truck load/unload, storage container load/unload and in-home moving. No job too small. Serving JoCo since 1987. St. Joseph, Shawnee, parishioner. Call Mike at (913) 927-4347 or send an email to: mike@mikehammermoving.com. Win disability benefits - Disabled and no longer able to work? Get help winning Social Security disability benefits. Free consultation. Eight years’ experience. No fee unless you win. Call (785) 331-6452 or send an email to: monte mace2000@yahoo.com or visit: montemacedisability.com. Speedy Guzman Moving and delivery Licensed and insured Anytime (816) 935-0176 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. Rodman Lawn Care Lawn mowing, aeration, verticutting, mulching, Hedge trimming, leaf removal, gutter cleaning Fully insured and free estimates John Rodman (913) 548-3002
CAREGIVING Looking for assisted living at home? - Before you move, call us and explore our in-home care options. We specialize in helping families live safely at home while saving thousands of dollars per year. Call today for more information or to request a FREE home care planning guide. Benefits of Home - Senior Care, www.benefitsofhome.com or call (913) 422-1591. Home care - Caregiver has CMA and 15 years’ experience. Also has a background check for you. Please call (913) 9994340. 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.
FOR SALE Residential lifts - New and recycled. Stair lifts, porch lifts, ceiling lifts and elevators. St. Michael’s parishioners. KC Lift & Elevator at (913) 327-5557. (Formerly Silver Cross - KC) For sale - Two spaces at Resurrection Cemetery in Mausoleum, St. John Corridor. Reasonable rate. Call (913) 894-2448. For sale - Two single crypts at Mount Calvary in the patio mausoleum, tier C. Valued at $14,950; will sell for $10,000. Call Pam at (913) 631-4911.
REAL ESTATE CASH FOR YOUR HOME (913) 980-4905 Any condition in the metro area Mark Edmondson - local parishioner http://www.buykcproperty.com WE SELL HOMES - Looking to sell? This is a seller’s market. Call for a free consultation detailing the steps to selling your home. Ask about our 39-day sales guarantee. Mention this ad for a special offer. Call Jim Blaufuss, Re/Max Realty Suburban, at (913) 226-7442. Jimblaufuss@remax.net. Whole Estates Need to sell a home and everything in it? We buy it all at once in as-is condition. Call (816) 444-1950 or send an email to: www.wholeestates.com. We buy houses and whole estates - We are local and family-owned, and will make you a fair cash offer. We buy houses in any condition. No fees or commissions and can close on the date of your choice. Selling your house as is never felt so good. Jon & Stacy Bichelmeyer (913) 599-5000.
WANTED TO BUY Wanted to buy - Antique/vintage jewelry, paintings, pottery, sterling, etc. Single pieces or estate. Renee Maderak, (913) 475-7393. St. Joseph Parish, Shawnee. Will buy firearms and related accessories - One 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 - Old cars or hot rods. Uncompleted project cars in any condition, with or without titles. Cash buyer. Call (913) 980-3559.
SEPTEMBER 13, 2019 | THELEAVEN.ORG
CALENDAR FALL FESTIVAL St. Joseph Parish 11311 Johnson Dr., Shawnee Sept. 14 at 5 p.m.
Dinner will be served in the church basement from 5 - 7 p.m. The cost for a dinner of fried chicken and sides will be $8 for adults and $4 for kids. There will also be games, raffles and family entertainment. Mouse races are scheduled from 7:30 - 8:30 p.m. in the parking lot. For more information, call Rod and Judy Coday at (913) 268-3145.
BURGERS, BUCKS AND ’QUE Corpus Christi Parish 6001 Bob Billings Pkwy., Lawrence Sept. 14 at 5 p.m.
Following the 4 p.m. Mass, there will be a barbecue dinner and raffle. There will also be music and fellowship. Tickets can be purchased online at: www.cccparish.org/2019 bbq. There will also be a barbecue competition. The entrance fee for each team is $50. The winner in each category will win $50, with the overall grand champion winning an additional $100. For more information or to sign up, go online to: www.cccparish. org/queteam or send an email to Shaun at: shaunw@cccparish.org.
KANSAS CITY MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR VICTIMS OF ABORTION Gate of Heaven Cemetery N. 126th St. and Parallel Pkwy. Kansas City, Kansas Sept. 14 from 1 - 2:30 p.m.
A solemn prayer service will be held nationwide to honor the memory of more than 60 million unborn victims of abortion. This national event is sponsored by Citizens for a Pro-Life Society, Priests for Life and the Pro-Life Action League. The speakers will be Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann and Jim Marcum from the International House of Prayer.
BLUE MASS Divine Mercy Parish 555 W. Main St., Gardner Sept. 14 at 4:30 p.m.
The St. Faustina Fourth-Degree Assembly 3733 is sponsoring a Blue Mass to honor all first responders that serve and protect our communities and to remember those who have died in the line of duty. All first responders, past or present, are invited to attend and encouraged to wear their uniforms. There will be a reception and meal afterward in the church hall. RSVP is encouraged. For questions or additional information, send an email to Steve James at: sjames0192@ gmail.com.
BINGO NIGHT Sacred Heart Parish 2646 S. 34th St., Kansas City, Kansas Sept. 14 at 7 p.m.
Sacred Heart Knights of Columbus will host bingo. There will be cash prizes. Concessions will be sold. For more information, call (913) 850-3348.
ANNUNCIATION CHURCH PICNIC Cigna Center 402 N. Maple, Frankfort Sept. 15 from 4 - 7 p.m.
There will be a dinner of roast beef with all the trimmings for the cost of $10 for adults; $5 for kids ages 10 and under. There will also be a cakewalk, bingo, church poker, children’s games, train rides, pot-of-gold and lots of fun. Takeout meals and home delivery are available. Call the parish office during morning hours (M - F) at (785) 292-4462 to order delivery meals.
BREAKFAST Sacred Heart Parish (hall) 106 Exchange St., Emporia Sept. 15 from 8 - 11 a.m.
The Knights of Columbus will be offering breakfast. The suggested donation is a freewill offering.
DINNER AND BAZAAR Immaculate Conception-St. Joseph Parish 306 N. Broadway, Leavenworth Sept. 15 from 11:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.
The cost for a roast beef dinner is: $10 for adults; $5 for kids 4 - 11: free for kids under 4: and a $3 hot dog meal for kids. There will also be games, food and fun!
ROSARY RALLY IN HONOR OF OUR LADY OF FATIMA St. Michael the Archangel Parish 14251 Nall Ave., Overland Park Sept. 15 from 2:45 - 4 p.m.
We will pray the joyful, sorrowful and glorious mysteries of the rosary. Benediction will follow, as well as an opportunity for attendees to enroll in the brown scapular. For more information, visit the website at: www. rosaryrallieskc.org. Please note the change in time.
POSTPARTUM NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING CLASS Class begins Sept. 18 at 6:30 p.m. St. John the Evangelist Parish 1229 Vermont St., Lawrence
This is a class on how to use the symptothermal method of natural family planning during the postpartum period. Online registration is required at: www.ccli.org. For more information, call Shannon or John Rasmussen at (785) 749-1015.
FINANCIAL PLANNING FOR YOUR LOVED ONE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS Holy Spirit Parish 11300 W. 103rd St., Overland Park Sept. 19 from 6:45 - 8:15 p.m.
A panel of experts will give a workshop to educate parents/guardians with a loved one with special needs on preparing for two generations of financial security. They will discuss special-needs trusts, guardianships and the Achieving Better Life Experiences Act of 2013.
CRAFT AND BAKE SALE 501 S. Willow Dr., Olathe Sept. 20 and 21 from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
potatoes with sides and desserts will be served. The cost is: $10 for adults; $6 for kids over 3; kids under 3 eat for free. There will also be a country store, a bake sale, bingo and a quilt raffle.
FAMILY DAY Prairie Star Ranch 1124 California Rd, Williamsburg Sept. 22 from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Step away and experience a day of prayer, adventure, outdoor activities and time to reconnect. Families, friends and communities are invited to come together and join in activities and prayer. The day will culminate with Mass in the St. Kateri Chapel. Register online at: archkck.org/ranch. The price goes up after Sept. 16.
SLOVENEFEST 2019 Holy Family Parish 274 Orchard St., Kansas City, Kansas Sept. 28 from 4 - 10 p.m.
This celebration of Slovenian culture will begin with Mass at 4 p.m. Following Mass, there will be a traditional dinner. There will also be Slovenian music and many traditional Slovenian foods, games, Laski Pivo and a cultural booth. For more information, contact Sandy at: csandysangels@aol.com or find us on Facebook @holyfamilychurch.kck.
DAUGHTERS OF ISABELLA LITTLE FLOWER CIRCLE Christ the King Parish (Yadrich Hall) 5972 S.W. 25th St., Topeka Sept. 22 at 12:30 p.m.
The afternoon will begin with a rosary. At 1 p.m., there will be a business meeting. A social will follow. If anyone knows of a member or family in need of the circle’s prayers, call Theresa Smith-Lawton at (785) 640-1403. If you are interested in or would like more information about Daughters of Isabella, call Cindy Keen at (785) 228-9863.
PARISH MISSION Mother Teresa of Calcutta Parish 2014 N.W. 46th St., Topeka Sept. 22 - 26 at 7 p.m.
There will be seasonal handmade crafts and homemade treats to purchase while supporting a great cause. All proceeds will go to the Olathe Pregnancy Clinic.
A series of presentations on the topic of parish evangelization and discipleship will be presented by Deacon Ralph Poyo from the Diocese of Steubenville, Ohio. Everyone is welcome.
MEMORIAL LITURGY Curé of Ars Parish 9405 Mission Rd., Leawood Sept. 21 at 8 a.m.
PANCAKE BREAKFAST Queen of the Holy Rosary Parish (hall) 7023 W. 71st St., Overland Park Sept. 22 from 7:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
There will be a memorial liturgy for deceased loved ones followed by a grief support meeting in the Father Burak Room. The topic will be: “Dealing with Stress while Grieving.” For more information, call (913) 649-2016.
ICE CREAM SOCIAL St. Patrick Parish 1086 N. 94th St., Kansas City, Kansas Sept. 21 at 5 p.m.
There will be a variety of foods available: a Mexican dinner, a Burmese Chin dinner, burgers and hot dogs. There will also be games for children, bingo, a raffle and music. Mass will begin at 4 p.m.
HOMECOMING FESTIVAL St. Agnes Parish 5250 Mission Rd., Roeland Park Sept. 21 at 5:30 p.m.
Come and enjoy Cupini’s pasta, tacos, Gus’s Chicken, hamburgers, and hot dogs for the cost of $10 per person/$40 for families of four or more persons. There will also be children’s games, live music and a lot of fun.
PARISH BAZAAR St. John Parish 427 S. Prairie, Greeley Sept. 22 from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
A dinner of turkey and dressing, chicken and homemade noodles, sauerkraut and mashed
Boy Scout Troop 295 will host a breakfast of pancakes and sausages, and biscuits and gravy.
THE 177 PROJECT Holy Trinity Parish 9150 Pflumm Rd., Lenexa Sept. 27 at 7 p.m.
Join us as we celebrate 30 years of eucharistic adoration with the nationally renowned 177 Project. The evening will begin with a rosary followed by a Holy Hour and a concert by musicians affiliated with Adoration Artists, featuring Aly Aleigha.
AMATEUR BBQ COMPETITION Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish 5501 Monticello Rd., Shawnee Sept. 28 at 5:30 p.m.
The Knights of Columbus are sponsoring an adults-only amateur barbecue competition with a band, beer and bean bag tournament to support our seminarians and other parish ministries. Tickets include a pulled pork barbecue dinner prepared by our competitors with a chance to vote for the favorite. Compete in the bean bag tournament or just enjoy the music in the parish courtyard (bring lawn chairs). The cost of $15 per person includes dinner and two drink tickets. For more information on how to compete and where to purchase tickets, send an email to: kevin.friedrichs@gmail.com.
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FALL FESTIVAL Good Shepherd Parish 12800 W. 75th St., Shawnee Sept. 27 at 6 p.m. Sept. 28 from 10 a.m. - 10 p.m.
On Friday, there will be a Family Fun Run at 6 p.m. followed by music, food and drinks. On Saturday, start your day with an espresso bar and breakfast sweets. There will be bingo, a book sale, a silent auction, carnival rides, an inflatable obstacle course and other games. There will be many varieties of Mexican food and local entertainment. There will also be a dance contest at 8 p.m. For more information, go to the website at: www.goodsheperdfallfestival.com.
BISHOP WARD AUCTION Memorial Hall 600 N. 7th St., Kansas City, Kansas Sept. 28 at 6 p.m.
Enjoy an evening of fun and friendship at the HomeWARDbound auction/Cyclone Night. There will be food, music, and a live and silent auction. Tickets are $40 per person. Sponsorships are available online at: ward high.org/homeWARDbound.
FALL BAZAAR St. Theresa Parish 209 3rd St., Perry Oct. 6 at 11 a.m.
A dinner of turkey and ham plus homemade pie will be served for the cost of $10 for adults and $5 for kids ages 10 and under. Takeout meals will be available as well. There will also be games for kids, a silent auction, bingo, an old-fashioned cakewalk, baked goods and a country store. New this year is a beer garden.
CELEBRATION Holy Cross School 8101 W. 95th St., Overland Park Oct. 12 at 6 p.m.
All Holy Cross School alumni, family and friends are invited to Celebration 2019. This fundraiser will feature a live auction, cocktails, dinner and dancing. Tickets can be purchased online at: www.HolyCrossCatholicSchool. com/Celebration.
HOLY ANGELS BAZAAR St. Rose School 530 E. 4th St., Garnett Oct. 20 from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
A dinner of chicken and noodles, turkey, roast beef and sides will be served along with homemade bread and pies. The cost is: $9 for adults; $5 for kids 10 and under; and $12 for takeout. There will also be crafts for sale, a drawing and raffles.
MOTHER OF PERPETUAL HELP DEVOTIONS Queen of the Holy Rosary Parish 7023 W. 71st. St., Overland Park Tuesday evenings at 6:30 p.m.
Come join this group who prays this devotion weekly. Prayer includes the Mother of Perpetual Help novena and Benediction. For more information, call Martin at (913) 213-8810.
CALLED TO LOVE AGAIN RETREAT Conception Abbey 37174 State Highway VV Conception, Missouri Nov. 3 - 10
Delve deeper into being a gift to others as we heal from the pain of divorce. The cost is: $112 for a single room and 4 meals; $102 for a double room (roommate) and 4 meals; or $172 for double room (no roommate) and 4 meals. A deposit of $20 is due by Sept. 22 to secure your spot and registration. Send a check to: Church of the Ascension, Attn: Katie Palitto c/o Jean Hinman, 8519 W. 127th St., Overland Park, KS 66213. Once registered, you will receive more details prior to the weekend. For more information, send an email to: calledtolove143@gmail.com.
SEPTEMBER 13, 2019 | THELEAVEN.ORG
COMMENTARY TWENTY-FOURTH WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME Sept. 15 TWENTY-FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Ex 32: 7-11, 13-14 Ps 51: 3-4, 12-13, 17, 19 1 Tm 1: 12-17 Lk 15: 1-32 Sept. 16 Cornelius, pope, and Cyprian, bishop, martyrs 1 Tm 2: 1-8 Ps 28: 2, 7-9 Lk 7: 1-10 Sept. 17 Robert Bellarmine, bishop, doctor of the church 1 Tm 3: 1-13 Ps 101: 1b-3b, 5-6 Lk 7: 11-17 Sept. 18 Wednesday 1 Tm 3: 14-16 Ps 111: 1-6 Lk 7: 31-35 Sept. 19 Januarius, bishop, martyr 1 Tm 4: 12-16 Ps 111: 7-10 Lk 7: 36-50 Sept. 20 Andrew Kim Tae-gon, priest, and Paul Chong Ha-sang and companions, martyrs 1 Tm 6: 2c-12 Ps 49: 6-10, 17-20 Lk 8: 1-3 Sept. 21 MATTHEW, APOSTLE, EVANGELIST Eph 4: 1-7, 11-13 Ps 19: 2-5 Mt 9: 9-13
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T
hank God for Charles M. Schulz, creator of the Peanuts comic strip. Not only did he give us memorable characters, but often Peanuts imparted great life lessons. In one strip, Charlie Brown is at bat and gets called out on strikes . . . again. He slumps over to the bench and says, “Rats! I’ll never be a big-league player. I just don’t have it! All my life I’ve dreamed of playing in the big leagues, but I know I’ll never make it!” Lucy tries to console him, “Charlie Brown, you’re thinking too far ahead. What you need to do is set yourself more immediate goals.” He asks, “Immediate goals?” “Yes,” Lucy replies. “Start with this next inning when you go out to pitch. See if you can walk out to the mound without falling down!” (Found in “Illustrations Unlimited,” by James S. Hewett, editor.) Now, that’s truly an immediate goal. It’s hard to believe that kids have been in school nearly a month. I feel that a new school year is a chance for adults to learn something as well. Too
This book shows what’s the matter 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.
often, we older folks let life just carry us along, rather than charting our unique course. If you’re up for some reading and reflection, let me introduce you to Chris Lowney, author of the delightful book “Make Today Matter.” Lowney is a former Jesuit seminarian and managing director at J.P. Morgan & Co. on three continents. He’s a motivational speaker on topics of leadership, corporate ethics and decision-making. In other words, he’s been around the block and knows what he’s talking about.
His little book of 109 pages (Chicago: Loyola Press, 2018; $17.95) proposes “10 Habits for a Better Life (and World).” It’s about no longer straying in “the hinterlands of regrets (the past) or dreams (the future).” The book helps each of us to simply live in the present by pursuing immediate goals that help “build a better life one day — one moment — at a time.” I love to read with a highlighter in hand and this book provided plenty of food for thought. I especially liked that each “habit chapter” ended with a section called “Make It Personal.” There, the author invites readers through a couple of questions to discover ways to apply each of the 10 habits in their lives. Lowney notes that
crises, like the recent Hurricane Dorian, tend to bring out the best in people wanting to assist those in need. He wonders why, then, we humans can’t rise to the occasion every single day. His 10 incredibly simple habits want to help do that. Here are a few of those habits: • Point Out the Way • Bring Big Heart Every Day • Don’t Win the Race: Contribute to the (Human) Race • Keep Walking up the Hill and down the Hill: Persevere • Answer This Hurting World’s Call for Happy Warriors The habits can be summarized in a sort of “holy trinity”: “showing gratitude, being altruistic and exhibiting a strong sense of life purpose.” Lowney doesn’t present some lofty, complicated, philosophical theories, but instead peppers each habit with the story of someone who lives it out. You’ll meet high school teacher Father Steve Duffy, emergency room physician Dr. Hughes, tireless worker with the Venezuelan poor Sister Saturnina, Soviet gulag survivor Jesuit Father Walter Ciszek and Charles,
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a hospital custodian. And you’ll come across great lines like: “Gratitude is like cholera. Both are highly contagious, potent and spread person to person. But where cholera induces death, gratitude induces happiness.” The author highlights an overarching theme of the book by quoting poet Nikki Giovanni: “We’re better than we think we are, but not as good as we can be.” Reading, or better yet, living these habits will send you far along that path of being a better person and definitely a more authentic Christian. Lowney advises: “Don’t wait for the golden, world-changing opportunity; extract gold from the opportunity at hand.” Finally, the author pulls all of the habits together by encouraging a daily, simplified practice of the Jesuit “examen,” starting first with reminding yourself of what you’re grateful for. Lowney certainly practices what he preaches. You see, he’s donating all of the proceeds from this book to support schools in impoverished communities. And that, Charlie Brown, is how you make today matter.
Moses both echoes Abraham and foreshadows Christ
O
ften, when making a transaction, we do not deal directly with the other person, but instead go through someone else to conduct the negotiations. For example, in buying a house, we might go through a realtor. Sometimes, we talk about doing away with the middleman, but that is not always possible. That is also true in our relationship with God. In Sunday’s first reading, Ex 32:7-11, 13-14, Moses appears as a mediator between God and the people of Israel. God does not speak to the people directly, but instead goes through Moses to deliver them a message. Moses then serves as an intercessor on their behalf. Moses pleads
IN THE BEGINNING
FATHER MIKE STUBBS Father Stubbs is the pastor of Holy Cross Parish in Overland Park and has a degree in Scripture from Harvard University.
with God not to destroy them, but to give them another chance. In that respect, Moses echoes the role of Abraham, who pleaded
on behalf of the people of Sodom and Gomorrah. Similarly, Moses anticipates the role of Christ, who also serves as a mediator between God and us and who intercedes for us at the right hand of God. In the conversation with Moses, God threatens to punish the people of Israel by wiping them out: “Let me alone, then, that my wrath may
POPE FRANCIS “Now is the time to abandon our dependence on fossil fuels and move, quickly and decisively, toward forms of clean energy,” Pope Francis said as he marked the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation. “We have caused a climate emergency that gravely threatens nature and life itself, including our own,” the pope said in his message for the Sept. 1 ecumenical day of prayer. Pope Francis urged Catholics to find a naturally beautiful place and think about how God created the universe and declared it good; then he created human
blaze up against them to consume them. Then I will make of you a great nation.” The dialogue between Moses and God in our reading poses a couple of problems for its interpretation. First of all, this threat of destroying the people, which evokes the image of an angry and vengeful God, does not go along with our image of a merciful and compassionate God. What is God really like? Secondly, the action of Moses in pleading with God suggests that it is possible to change God’s mind, that God can be persuaded to change course. But, doesn’t God already have a plan? In asking to change that plan, are we saying that our plan is better than God’s plan? Isn’t that the
height of audacity? Some interpreters suggest that God doesn’t really mean it when he threatens to destroy the people of Israel and to create a new people from Moses. In this scenario, God would be testing Moses to see if he would be tempted to replace Abraham as the father of a great nation. As tempting as that might sound, it would mean sacrificing the lives of those in the existing nation of Israel. Moses resists that temptation, in favor of saving their lives. Consequently, Moses pleads on their behalf. In doing that, Moses proves his worthiness to serve as God’s representative to Israel. He is not seeking glory for himself but, rather, the good of the people.
beings and gave them creation “as a precious gift” to safeguard. “Tragically, the human response to this gift has been marked by sin,” he said. Selfishness and self-interest have turned creation, which was meant to be a place of encounter and sharing, into “an area of competition and conflict.” People have forgotten that they, too, are God’s creation and not lords of the universe, free to exploit anything they want, the pope said. “Now is the time to rediscover our vocation as children of God, brothers and sisters, and stewards of creation,” he said. “Now is the time to repent, to be converted.” — CNS
SEPTEMBER 13, 2019 | THELEAVEN.ORG
COMMENTARY
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Super embraces his new Catholic school families — all 42 of them!
I
t was Sept. 28, 2017. I was in my 17th year as a principal in a Catholic school. There was no better way to celebrate my 45th birthday than with the 535 students in the school. Just like on my previous 16 birthdays, my morning was full with classes of students marching to my office and singing to me in their cherub-like way. I received beautiful cards with a variety of artistic renditions of me drawn and colored with care. Even the eighthgrade students, perhaps begrudgingly forced by their teachers, came and sang to me. That
FROM THE SUPER
VINCE CASCONE Vince Cascone is the superintendent of archdiocesan schools.
morning was filled with countless acts of love by my school family. At 2:30 that afternoon,
I received a phone call that would not only change the mood of that day but also my life and the significance of Sept. 28 each year thereafter. My brother Joe called me at school and told me his 23-year-old son Christopher died earlier
that day. I don’t know how to describe the pain I felt, the sorrow I had for my brother and the loneliness that overcame me when I hung up the phone. I didn’t know how to process what I had just been told. I instinctively went to some of my co-workers, my school family. Linda, our assistant principal, and Bridget, our administrative assistant, saw the pain on my face and led me back to my office. I wept in their arms. It was all I could do. In the days, weeks and months that followed, my school family was there for me at
every turn. They sat with me in my pain. They prayed for me and with me. They met me where I needed them. A Catholic school is a family. We trudge through daily life with one another, celebrate the successes of our brothers and sisters and sit with each other through our sufferings and struggles. We endure the craziness and disagreements that family members will often experience. We challenge one another to do our best. We serve one another and we worship together. As the new superintendent of schools, I am excited and blessed to
join the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, as well as the 42 school families spread throughout northeast Kansas. May God the Father create a spirit of unity in each school community and surround each with abundant graces. May Our Lord Jesus Christ help each person, especially our children, to know they have been redeemed and they are loved. May the Holy Spirit guide the words and actions of teachers and parents to work collaboratively so that each student realizes his/her gifts and talents and uses them in service to others.
Convocation to form missionary disciples to be ‘beacons of hope’ to all
T
he frenetic and cumbersome expectations of others can break us down. The speed and fury of modern life can be a traumatic experience, leaving us withered and longing for authentic connection. According to Psychology Today magazine, “Trauma is the experience of severe psychological distress following any terrible or life-threatening event. “Sufferers may develop emotional disturbances such as extreme anxiety, anger, sadness, survivor’s guilt or PTSD. They may experience ongoing problems with sleep or physical pain, encounter turbulence in their personal and professional relationships and
SEEKING CHRIST’S HEART
DEACON DANA NEARMYER Deacon Dana Nearmyer is the director of evangelization for the archdiocese.
feel a diminished sense of self-worth due to the overwhelming amount of stress.”
Whether we experience clinical trauma or just high stress, many of us, young and old, experience excessive anxiety, anger, sadness, guilt or feelings of being overwhelmed. Simply driving during rush hour is stressful. Students can feel bulldozed by academic and social expectations.
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Meeting ever increasing sales goals and expectations at work can drain us physically, emotionally, psychologically and spiritually — leaving us feeing a diminished sense of self-worth. The Oct 3-5 Enflame Our Hearts convocation will walk 1500 fellow parishioners through “Prayer, Care, Share” methodology and many other approaches rooted in living in the freedom of Christ and joyfully living in a mantle of prayer and Scripture where God is near and present to us. These 1500 delegates are supposed to bring approaches, tools, individual plan templates and parish plans back home to share. They are being commissioned to
be a wave of missionary disciples. Missionary disciples go to anxious and unsettled people that seek peace and offer to walk with them on the pathway to peace in Christ Jesus. Christians are told in the Letter to the Philippians: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice! Your kindness should be known to all. The Lord is near. Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” (4:4-7). We can be beacons of hope to anxious and stressed-out friends and
PANKEY FOUNDATION REPAIR
relatives. The Bible instructs us to slow down, listen to God through Scripture and to live with a peace that surpasses all understanding. We all have stressful and anxious situations, but Christians are instructed by Jesus to give their burdens to him and allow him to guide us through the minefields of life. The Oct 3-5 Enflame Our Hearts convocation will send commissioned missionary disciples out to share the peace of God that surpasses all understanding. Please pray for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the convocation, and for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on our hearts, homes and communities.
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SEPTEMBER 13, 2019 | THELEAVEN.ORG
LOCAL NEWS
16
PHOTOS BY JD BENNING
Physics professor Doug Brothers assembled thousands of pieces in the basement of his home in 1972 to create this full-sized, functioning harpsichord. Brothers and his wife Betsy decided to donate it to Benedictine’s music department in 2017.
A LABOR OF LOVE
Hand-crafted harpsichord now enriching college music department By Olivia Martin olivia.martin@theleaven.org
A
TCHISON — Thousands. That’s how many pieces Doug Brothers assembled in the basement of his home in 1972 to make a full-sized, functioning harpsichord. And it took about six months to complete. But beyond being an intricate, handcrafted instrument, the harpsichord is a gift and a sign of lasting love. In 2017, Brothers, a physics professor at Benedictine College in Atchison since 1968, and his wife Betsy donated the harpsichord to the music department at Benedictine College. And it has become even more precious since Betsy’s passing in February.
Where it began But why a harpsichord? That’s easy, assured Brothers. It all started with a love of music and a love of his wife. “I liked harpsichord music,” he said. “I stayed in a private home during graduate school [and] I bought harpsichord records and I played them until my landlady . . . asked me to stop!” Luckily, he met Betsy, a fellow music-lover; she didn’t mind the tinnysounding instrument. So, later, when they were married, Brothers offered to put his woodworking skills to the test. “My wife played the piano,” he said, “[so] I asked her if she would play the [harpsichord] if I built it.” She took him up on it, and Brothers went to work. Assembled from a kit, the harpsichord is made of birch wood and boasts 17 coats of varnish — it’s as smooth as glass. Indeed, it is a piece of woodworking mastery. Eventually, however, the harpsichord was played less and less. So,
PHOTO BY JD BENNING
Doug Brothers, a physics professor at Benedictine College in Atchison since 1968, assembled a harpsichord made of birch wood from a kit. It boasts 17 coats of varnish. Brothers and Betsy decided to offer it to Benedictine’s music department.
A continuing gift For Ruth Krusmark, recently retired chair of Benedictine’s music department, the donation was welcome on a couple of levels. “On one level, it’s very nice to have an instrument that predates the piano,” said Krusmark. “The harpsichord is basically the father of the piano,” she continued, “so it’s great for our students to be able to rehearse and perform on [it]. . . because we [are] able to do Bach cantatas
and other early works that are more appropriate to the harpsichord.” On another level, the gift was made even more meaningful by the givers themselves. “It has more than symbolic value,” said Abbot Barnabas Senecal, OSB. “[And] it’s better than any plaque on the wall; it’s something people will see as generations pass. “There’s a memory built around it.” Krusmark agreed. “It was just great to have a donation from [Brothers],” she said. “At one point, he told me he and Betsy never had children, but [the harpsichord] was like his child, [something] he built from scratch.”
As for Brothers, knowing the harpsichord is being put to good use is a comfort, especially as he grieves his wife. “Her death has affected me tremendously,” he said. “[But] it’s been a great thing to give [the harpsichord] to the school and see that it’s being used.” And he continues to find support from Benedictine alumni and colleagues and friends from his wife’s parish of St. Francis de Sales in Lansing. “I’m very blessed by the connections I have through the parish, even though it’s not mine,” said Brothers. “I was raised without a faith . . . [but] I’m starting to see that I need it.”
Erin Barrett, Agent www.InsureKCMetro.com
Call or Text: (913) 648-1100 | erin@insurekcmetro.com | St. Joseph Parishioner 13139 Shawnee Mission Parkway, Shawnee, KS 66216 | Bishop Ward Alum