09-16-11 Vol. 33 No. 6

WWW.THELEAVEN.COM | NEWSPAPER OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF KANSAS CITY IN KANSAS | VOL. 33, NO. 6 SEPTEMBER 16, 2011

KANSAS YOUTH

find World Youth Day pilgrimage to Spain, Portugal exhilarating . . . and exhausting

Photography by

Susan McSpadden

Pilgrims from the world over cross the square before the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary at Fatima, Portugal.

2 SPECIAL ISSUE

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THE LEAVEN • SEPTEMBER 16, 2011

LIFE WILL BE VICTORIOUS

Pregnancy clinic to host fundraiser Sept. 22

WYD reminds us that the church is young

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — The Wyandotte Pregnancy Clinic here will hold its second annual Fundraising Banquet on Sept. 22 at the Overland Park Convention Center, at 6000 College Blvd. The reception begins at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. Dress will be business casual. For tickets, send a request by email to: dkelsey@wpcnet work.org, or call (913) 287-8287.

he day after the conclusion of World Youth Day, our seminarians and the other pilgrims from our archdiocese traveled to Fatima, Portugal. They flew out of Lisbon to return to the United States on Aug. 23.

Having been gone from the Archdiocese since Aug. 2, I decided to return a day earlier. I flew out of Madrid, Spain, to Charlotte, N.C., where I had a rather lengthy layover. When I arrived in Charlotte, I was looking for a quiet, underpopulated part of the airport. If you read last week’s column, you may notice a pattern developing. I called Joyce, my administrative aide, to attempt to do as much work as possible over the phone to decrease the pile of unanswered correspondence waiting on my desk in Kansas City.

Everything was great for about an hour. However, the section of the airport that I had made my satellite office gradually became noisier and noisier. The commotion around me was making it more difficult to hear Joyce, so I eventually had to concede that we had accomplished as much as we could achieve that day.

Upon ending my call, I discovered that I was surrounded by a group of World Youth Day pilgrims. They were a parish group from Denver. One of the adult leaders for the group introduced herself to me. They were using the time in the airport to debrief the young pilgrims.

As part of their pilgrimage, each of the participants had been asked to research and prepare a brief presentation about the life and ministry of a saint.

A few, who had not yet delivered their presentations, were given the opportunity to do so. They had evidently been encouraged to examine especially the lives of Spanish saints.

One young woman gave a report on St. Maria Soledad, who is the foundress of the Sisters, Servants of Mary. I had visited, with our seminarians, the Sisters, Servants’ convent in Madrid, where St. Maria is buried. Mother Alfonsa, the superior general for the Sisters, Servants, had previously lived in Kansas City, Kan., where she served as the provincial for the Province of the United States and Mexico. I told the Denver pilgrims about the Sisters, Servants of Mary in Kansas, describing the beautiful ministry they do in caring for the sick and dying. They were grateful that I was able in some small way to testify to the impact this saint and her community were having in a place not very far from Denver.

Next, the adult leaders invited the young people to share what the World

Youth Day experience had meant to them. It was wonderful to hear their testimonies of how God had touched their hearts in beautiful and powerful ways during their pilgrimage. They spoke with great affection about their parish priest, who is Spanish and accompanied them on the pilgrimage. He was not returning to Denver with them, but was taking advantage of the opportunity to visit family and friends in Spain.

I was reminded of a similar session we had with our Kansas pilgrims the night before. The World Youth Day pilgrimage is truly a pilgrimage. The young people are required to make many sacrifices. Through most of the pilgrimage, our Kansas pilgrims slept on the floor of a school gym that was not air-conditioned. They had walked many miles in the scorching summer heat. They had endured a thunderstorm — the only rain we saw the entire time in Spain — the night when they slept outside so as to be in position to participate in the Mass the next day with the Holy Father.

There was much our pilgrims could have chosen to complain about, but instead they spoke about the inspiration they derived from their fellow Kansas pilgrims — from helping the Missionaries of Charity care for the sick and abandoned to the thrill of being with more than one million other young people from every corner of the world who shared the same faith and ideals.

They also spoke with great admiration for the priest participants — Father Bill Bruning and Father Mitchel Zimmerman. They loved Pope Benedict and were grateful for the wisdom of his teaching, but even more for the obvious love he manifested toward them and all the World Youth Day participants.

This summer I had read the book, “A Life with Karol: My Forty-Year Friendship with the Man Who Became Pope”

by Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz. The cardinal recalled how many within the leadership of the church opposed World Youth Day when Blessed John Paul II first proposed it. They were afraid that young people would not show up and worried, if some did come, what they would do with them.

Pope John Paul had spent a significant portion of his ministry with college

students and other young people. He was convinced that, given the opportunity, young people would respond positively to an invitation to encounter Jesus and to follow him, no matter how difficult and demanding.

Cardinal Dziwisz said this specifically about World Youth Day in Denver in 1993: “All the major newspapers were predicting that the meeting in Denver would be a resounding failure. Even the bishops seemed doubtful, if not actually afraid. Well, what happened is that they were expecting 200,000 young people at most, but 700,000 and maybe even more showed up.

“And you had all these young Americans, these children of modernity and technology, resonating with the pope’s passionate appeal: Don’t be afraid to show yourselves in the streets and public places! He challenged them to be like the first apostles who preached Christ and his message of salvation in the city squares and the villages. It’s not time to be ashamed of the Gospel, but to preach it out loud.”

Cardinal Dziwisz observed: “And the youth began to identify with the spiritual, moral, and human values that the Holy Father was proposing to them.

They appreciated his way of dialoguing.

He was demanding, but also convincing, because he was motivated by love for them.”

All I could think, as I listened to the testimonies of our Kansas pilgrims and as I listened to the testimonies of the Denver pilgrims, “Thank God for John Paul II!” World Youth Day is an inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Who else could gather two million young people from every corner of the earth than the successor of Peter, the vicar of Christ?

How many young people’s lives have been changed and influenced by their participation in World Youth Day? I know several of our younger priests identify an experience at a World Youth Day as a key moment in their vocational discernment.

World Youth Day demonstrates the power of the Holy Spirit alive in the church today, despite all the challenges within and outside the church. The Gospel of Jesus remains attractive because it is true and speaks to our deepest longings.

I could not help thinking as the World Youth Day pilgrims shouted often and with great enthusiasm: “Benedicto!

Benedicto! Benedicto!” How true was Pope Benedict’s observation after seeing the young people descend on Rome for Pope John Paul II’s funeral: “The church is young!”

Indeed, the church is young!

Archbishop Naumann’s

Confirmation — St. Michael, Axtell, and Holy Family, Summerfield, at Axtell

Sept. 16-19 Knights of the Holy Sepulcher Northern Lieutenancy annual meeting — Sioux Falls, S.D.

Sept. 22 Catholic Education Foundation board meeting and bus/road trip to Sacred Heart-Ottawa, St. Rose-Garnett, St. Joseph-Olpe and Sacred Heart-Emporia

Sept. 17 Lansing prison

Sept. 19 KCK/KCMO joint priest appreciation dinner

Wyandotte Pregnancy Clinic benefit dinner and opening prayer

Sept. 18 Federal prison

Sept. 20 Administrative Team meeting

Sept. 23 National Catholic Bioethics seminar — welcome

Sept. 19 KCK/KCMO joint priest appreciation dinner

Feasibility Task Force meeting

Sept. 20-22 Teach class at Mundelein Seminary

weekly calendar

Sept. 21 Presbyteral Council meeting

Mass at National Catholic Bioethics seminar

Archbishop Keleher’s weekly calendar

Gaudeamus dinner to honor Catholic school pastors KANSAS CITY, Kan. — The Catholic Education Foundation will honor Catholic school pastors at its eighth annual Gaudeamus dinner on Oct. 8 at the Overland Park Convention Center, at 6000 College Blvd. Funds raised will finance scholarships for children in need at under-resourced inner-city and rural Catholic schools served by CEF. The event will begin with cocktails at 6:15 p.m., followed by dinner at 7:15 p.m. Dress will be cocktail attire. For information, contact Patty Morrisey at: pmorrisey@archkck.org, or call her at (913) 647-0344.

Mass will honor Blessed John Paul II SHAWNEE — The Holy See has granted an extraordinary indult for dioceses around the world to celebrate a Mass in commemoration of Pope John Paul II. Catholics are invited to join Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann for this Mass of commemoration at 10:30 a.m. on Oct. 1 at Good Shepherd Parish, 12800 W. 75th St., Shawnee.

Correction Sacred Heart Church, 1031 12th St., Sabetha, will host its annual parish picnic on Sept. 18, not Sept. 17, as was previously reported. Serving begins at 4:30 p.m. for the chicken and ham dinner with all the trimmings. The cost is $8 for adults; $4 for children ages 10 and under. There will also be bingo, a cakewalk, a country store, children’s games and a raffle at 7:30 p.m.

Don and JoAnn (Yocuis) Lipovac, members of Holy Family Parish in Kansas City, Kan., celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on Sept.

10 with a reception at St. Patrick Parish Center in Kansas City, Kan. ANNIVERSARIES The couple was married on Sept. 9, 1961, at the Cathedral of St. Peter in Kansas City, Kan. Avitus and Elda Haverkamp, members of St. James Parish, Wetmore, celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on Sept. 11 with an event hosted by their children and their spouses. The couple was married on Sept. 8, 1951, at Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Seneca. They have four children, 12 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

THE LEAVEN • SEPTEMBER 16, 2011

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“Experiencing the silence with one million people from around the world kneeling in adoration before Christ the king spoke louder to me than any words ever could.”

- Kate Ruoff, 19, Mother Teresa of Calcutta Parish, Topeka

“Seeing God’s children brought to one place, Madrid, truly reminded me that even today amidst a sinful world, the faith will always prevail. We were reminded that where two or more are gathered in God’s name so he shall be, and so was the case at WYD 2011.”

- Emily Kyle, 16, Mother Teresa Parish “One of our Spanish guides told to me that he wasn’t expecting the American pilgrims from the Midwest that he spent the week with to be so faithful. He said we were a real example to the Spanish and Italian youths, in his opinion, who have such a rich Catholic culture yet, nevertheless, may have come to WYD for reasons other than encountering Jesus Christ.”

- John Trecker, Theology I, Ascension Parish, Overland Park “Being away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and focusing a week on God with a million other youth around the world is exhilarating. Just seeing the million people gathered for their faith helps renew our beliefs.”

- Ann Mourlam, 27, St. Agnes Parish, Roeland Park

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“One million people kneeling on rocky ground in the rain to see Christ. THAT is faith.”

- Drew Surmeier, 17, Sacred Heart, Emporia

If it’s Tuesday . . .

W

SPECIAL ISSUE 3

It must be Madrid

ho was the first Christian in Spain?

It might have been a traveling merchant, a returning convert or a retiring centurion. It might have even been St. Paul.

In his Letter to the Romans Paul wrote: “So when I have completed this and safely handed over this contribution to them, I shall set out by way of you to Spain” (Rom 15:28).

There are even a few monuments in Spain commemorating places where St. Paul allegedly preached, sort of along the lines of plaques proclaiming “George Washington slept here” at certain places in the northeastern United States.

Paul isn’t the only alleged apostolic tie to Spain. Another legend places St. James there.

For a thousand years, pilgrims have walked “El Camino del Santiago” (“The Way of St. James) to his reputed tomb in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. Our archdiocese’s own Father Michael Stubbs made a 450-mile pilgrimage on the “camino” in 2010.

Spain has been a deeply,

The archdiocesan group gathers outside the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela to pray the rosary. Pictured are: (front row, from left) Marielena Aguilar, Aaron Rains, Teresa Soboleski and Nathan Haverland; (back row) John Trecker, Anthony Saiki, Brian Jilka, Adam Wilczak and Matthew Nagle.

Archbishop Naumann is at the far end of the row. gloriously Catholic nation for most of its history. Wherever the Spanish flag went, so, too, did Spanish missionaries, including Father Juan de Padilla. He died in 1542 while preaching to the Wichita tribe in central Kansas and is recognized as the first North American martyr.

Unfortunately, Spanish Catholics haven’t always had to go overseas to become martyrs. During the Spanish Civil War of 1936 to 1939, more

than six thousand bishops, priests, seminarians and nuns were murdered by Republican forces. Many more laypeople died for their Catholic faith.

Thus it is a marvel that 80 years later, more than a million World Youth Day pilgrims — and the pope, too — filled the streets of Madrid and other Spanish cities between August 16 and 21.

Joining those thronging tens of thousands were 67 pilgrims from the Archdio-

cese of Kansas City in Kansas.

They didn’t face the traditional pilgrims’ hazards of wolves and brigands, but they encountered many obstacles nonetheless.

No matter where World Youth Day is held — and there have been 13 since 1984 — some things never change: human gridlock, language and cultural hurtles, uncomfortable accommodations, heat, exhaustion, frustration and constant schedule changes.

There are a couple of other things that also never change: Pilgrims push through the physical and mental challenges and reap abundant spiritual graces. For many, World Youth Day is a profound experience of faith.

So join (at least vicariously) Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann, archdiocesan youth and chaperones, seminarians and ace Leaven freelance photographer Susan McSpadden for the grace and the grind of World Youth Day in Madrid.

May you, like they, be blessed with life-changing “Holy Spirit moments” through this special issue.

— By Joe Bollig

It wasn’t home

(but it was air-conditioned)

T

here’s no place like home, but for the Kansas pilgrims at World Youth Day, the Love and Life Center was the next best thing.

The center, in the airconditioned confines of the Palacio de Deportes, was home to English-speaking pilgrims in Madrid during the World Youth Day activities. On its busiest day, it hosted 20,000 pilgrims.

Several groups sponsored the center, including the Knights of Columbus and the Sisters of Life, a New Yorkbased religious community founded in 1991 by Cardinal John O’Connor with a focus on

protecting human life.

When they arrived on the evening of Aug. 16, the pilgrims were treated to concerts

by American artists like the crowd-pleasing Steve Angrisano, a Catholic musicianspeaker, and Scythian, a Celtic rock band out of Washington, D.C. For the next three days, the center was the location for morning catechesis and daily Mass, followed by afternoon breakout sessions that included panel discussions on a wide range of topics.

Each morning, before catechesis, various musical groups would play to wake up the pilgrims and get them charged up for the day ahead.

Catechetical sessions featured world-renowned Catholics, like chastity speakers Jason and Chrystalina Evert,

coauthors of “Theology of the Body for Teens,” and Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York.

Archbishop Dolan told pilgrims that embracing their Catholic faith would challenge them to see today’s world in a different way, “turned around and upside down,” just as the apostle Peter did when he was crucified upside down in Rome.

He also encouraged the assembly to recognize that the church is sometime sleek and beautiful, and, at other times, bruised and bloodied. But it carries on, just as Christ did.

Several pilgrims who had attended multiple World Youth Day pilgrimages said that the Love and Life Center provided the best catechetical sessions they could recall at a World Youth Day, calling them

Publication No. (ISSN0194-9799)

Editor Reverend Mark Goldasich, stl frmark@theleaven.com

Senior Reporter Joe Bollig joe@theleaven.com

Reporter Jessica Langdon jessica@theleaven.com

President Most Reverend Joseph F. Naumann

Managing Editor Anita McSorley anita@theleaven.com

Production Manager Todd Habiger todd@theleaven.com

Advertising Representative Jennifer Siebes jennifer@theleaven.com

“meaningful and engaging.”

Catechesis sessions ended every morning with Mass, concelebrated by the estimated 200 priests and 30 bishops present.

The center also provided places for reflection and connection, including an adoration chapel and a wireless hot spot.

Adoration and Benediction were held on Aug. 19, after celebrating the Way of the Cross with Pope Benedict XVI. The closing session for the center was Aug. 20, when the American bishops celebrated a Mass for all the Americans prior to the pilgrim walk to Cuatro Vientos for the papal vigil and Mass.

— By Kassandra Short and Nancy Ruoff

Published weekly September through May, excepting the Friday the week after Thanksgiving, and the Friday after Christmas; biweekly June through August. Address communications to: The Leaven, 12615 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City, KS 66109.

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“Experiencing and witnessing that over one million youth, young adults, and adults believe in one person, that is Jesus Christ. Also, how we grew as a family in a short amount of time.”

- Melissa Mears, 29, Sacred Heart Parish, Emporia

“Being a college student, I often find myself surrounded by people who do not share my own Catholic beliefs and morals. This pilgrimage to WYD and being surrounded by a million other young people humbling themselves before the Blessed Sacrament has reaffirmed my own faith and has given me courage to stand firm in my faith at KU.”

- Nick Mourlam, 20, St. Lawrence Catholic Campus Center “I was able to concentrate on discernment and, God willing, my future priesthood in Christ through our Most Holy Mother, while at the same time offering to Mary many of my family and friends, which was extremely profound to me. I knew that she held them with her Immaculate sorrowful heart drawing them always closer to her Son. That gives me a lot of peace!”

- Thomas Vehige, Theology I, Sacred Heart Parish, Emporia “There were so many graces, big and small, present on this trip. I think the biggest thing for me was how apparent God showed himself to me in the Eucharist. I experienced a burning for him that I haven’t felt in years and then, after receiving him, I cannot describe the awe I experienced.”

- Teresa Soboleski, 22, St. Paul Parish, Olathe “By far, my favorite experience was having the amazing opportunity to serve Mass in two cathedrals in Madrid.

That was such an honor. And a group of three others [and me] carrying Josh R. up the Metro stairway.”

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- Jeremy Hurla, 16, Mother Teresa Parish, Topeka

THE LEAVEN • SEPTEMBER 16, 2011

Holy Toledo!

(Segovia, Avila and Fatima, too)

I

f the ruby slippers didn’t get the message across, the bright blue T-shirts the pilgrims wore probably did: “Ya no estamos en Kansas” No, to paraphrase a line from the Sunflower State’s most famous fictional character: They weren’t in Kansas anymore.

Carrying little more than a carry-on bag, a group of 67 pilgrims (teens, young adults, seminarians, chaperones, and priests) left the archdiocese on Aug. 11 for a journey of faith — and a week of activities at the 11th World Youth Day, held from Aug. 15 to 21.

The Kansas pilgrims joined more than 500,000 Catholics from 100-plus countries at the event, who were themselves joined by more than 1.5 million Spaniards for the papal vigil and Mass Aug. 20 to 21.

No party, no disco, no foolin’ around Pilgrims — or, in Spanish, peregrinos — are people who journey a long distance to a sacred place as an act of religious devotion.

And this was definitely a pilgrimage, not a vacation, said Rick Cheek, co-consultant for the archdiocesan office of evangelization and Catholic youth formation, and it would challenge the pilgrims — not only spiritually, but mentally and physically, as well.

And challenged they were — by the heat, the miles of walking, the blisters, the wind, the rain, the huge crowds, the lack of sleep and the neverending changes in plans. There were encounters with grace, however, both expected (sacraments) and unexpected.

Spain was not Kansas — from the different kind of heat to the much later meal times: lunch at 2 p.m. and dinner at 10 p.m. Although accommodations at a youth hostel where they first stayed seemed rustic and cramped, it was plush in comparison to what they would experience later.

Toto does Toledo The pilgrims landed in a country rich in saints three days prior to the start of World Youth Day events. They met up with Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann almost immediately, and made a beeline from there to the stomping grounds of the

Mother Teresa of Calcutta parishioner Austin Ruddy looks out over the city of Toledo during one of his group’s many pilgrimages.

Archdiocesan seminarian Nathan Haverland, outside the Cathedral of San Salvador in Avila, joined other seminarians in walking the town of Avila barefoot in honor of St. Teresa. event’s two patron saints — St. John of the Cross and St. Teresa of Avila — in Segovia, Toledo and Avila.

Their first stop was Segovia, known for its well-preserved Roman aqueduct, majestic castle and towering cathedral.

There, the pilgrims attended Mass in a chapel at an ancient Dominican convent and prayed the Liturgy of the Hours at the tomb of St. John of the Cross, a spiritual master known for his great insights into suffering.

Next, they visited Toledo, the former capital of Spain, which boasts a historic castle, cathedral and collection of El Greco paintings. Saint John of the Cross wrote some of his greatest spiritual works while imprisoned in that city in 1577.

Finally, they stopped in Avila, the home of the great Carmelite reformer and spiritual master, St. Teresa of Avila.

They prayed at the very place where, on the solemnity of the Assumption many years before, the doctor of the church experienced her spiritual visions.

Having been fortified by these spiritual experiences, the Kansas pilgrims took a step down in the world and settled into — or rather, onto, their new accommodations: the hard, wooden floor of an nonair-conditioned gym. Joining them were 40 English-speaking pilgrims from Australia, England and other countries.

They didn’t complain, however. They, at least, had warm,

The friendly invasion The friendly invasion had taken over every inch of Madrid. The streets were thronged with joyful pilgrims, belting out hymns, cheers and chants in a babble of languages. The Kansas pilgrims took to the streets with their state and American flags held high — and a dainty pair of ruby slippers on a pole leading the way.

The crowds were larger than anyone ever anticipated. In fact, the streets were so packed that the archdiocesan group couldn’t even make its way to the opening Mass on Aug. 16. It soon became clear that there was no hope of seeing the opening Mass, even from a distance, or the papal welcome and the Stations of the Cross at the Plaza de Cibeles.

With no assigned areas for groups, tens of thousands of pilgrims were jostling and vying for a spot. The Kansas Continued on next page

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Continued from previous page contingent finally found a spot where they could catch at least a glimpse of the events on a huge screen. But then, for unknown reasons, a large dump truck moved through the crowd and parked in front of them, blocking even that view.

At that point, group leaders Rick Cheek and Father Mitchel Zimmerman, archdiocesan vocations director, made a command decision. The group would abandon the futile effort to attend the opening Mass and head instead to the opening session at the Love and Life Center, an English-speaking catechesis site sponsored by the Knights of Columbus and hosted by the Sisters of Life from New York City. There, the pilgrims attended Mass for their group that evening.

As they were leaving the papal opening Mass, however, two Spanish-speaking pilgrims commented on the ruby slippers that heralded the progress of the archdiocesan pilgrims.

“Los zapatos, por qué?” (“Why the shoes?”) asked one.

The other was impatient with his compatriot’s ignorance.

“Dorothy!” he exclaimed, as if it was obvious.

‘Pilgrim up,’ Kansans

indoor showers. A group from New York shared six portable outdoor showers with 800 other pilgrims.

SPECIAL ISSUE 5

THE LEAVEN • SEPTEMBER 16, 2011

The days following the opening Mass began with morning catechetical sessions led by bishops from around the world. One of the highlights of the sessions was a presentation by Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York, who mixed humor, history and the Gospel with the World Youth Day theme of being “planted and built up in Christ, firm in the faith.”

But both blessings and challenges continued to shower the pilgrims as the week continued. Cheek challenged them to “offer it up,” and indeed they offered up and “pilgrimed” up in the face of difficulties and disappointments. Four fellow pilgrims, for example, formed a team of Sherpas for 16-yearold Josh Ruoff, each time the wheelchair-bound youth from Mother Teresa of Calcutta Parish in Topeka encountered one of the many staircases.

But Friday evening found the group enjoying a World Youth Day tradition — a profoundly moving experience of the Stations of the Cross.

The pilgrims sat in silence and prayer as they watched the World Youth Day cross travel from station to station — actually, elaborately decorated floats called “pasos” — as meditations were read and grand orchestral pieces were played.

The ‘grim’ in pilgrim On Saturday, the pilgrims travelled to Cuatro Vientos Airfield for the final events of World Youth Day, an evening vigil with the Holy Father under the stars and a closing Mass on Sunday.

“Visiting Our Lady of Fatima was also a high of my trip. I am blessed with a deep love and affection for our Mother, and seeing a site where she made herself present on the earth was a very powerful experience for me.”

- Luke Doyle, 4th-year College, Most Pure Heart of Mary Parish, Topeka

Seminarian Daniel Schmitz, in his third year of theology at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary in St. Louis, finds a quiet place to pray the Liturgy of the Hours during a trip to Segovia.

One of the hottest days of Madrid’s entire summer, the World Youth Day pilgrims loaded the Metro system beyond capacity. Upon arriving, the Kansas pilgrims were greeted with a breathtaking view of the vast crowd filling Cuatro Vientos. Some pilgrims commented that it looked like a massive refugee camp.

This eventually became a cause of frustration, however.

Volunteers and security told the Kansans that the “reserved” section to which they had been assigned was already full and they’d have to move more than a quarter of a mile away to find a new place — bare ground covered by straw and bordered by gravel access roads.

Many had prayed for relief from the unrelenting sun — and they got their prayers answered in spades. Shortly after the pope arrived and began the vigil, a sudden storm with rain, lightning and strong winds pummeled Cuatro Vientos and brought the liturgy to a sudden stop. Pope Benedict and hundreds of bishops and dignitaries remained on the stage while at least a million pilgrims tried to shelter themselves and prevent their gear from being blown away.

After no worse than some damage to adoration tents, the storm departed and the vigil recommenced. Several of the seminarians noted that when the Eucharist was finally exposed for adoration, the rain let up and held off until Benediction was complete.

According to one pilgrim, one of the most inspirational moments of World Youth Day was when a sea of exhausted and wet pilgrims knelt in silent prayer with the Holy Father in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.

“Experiencing the silence with one million people from around the world, kneeling in prayer in adoration before Christ the king, spoke louder to me than any words ever could,” said Kate Ruoff, of Mother Teresa Parish.

Perhaps the most disappointing moment to be “of-

fered up” was an announcement Sunday morning prior to the papal Mass.

Due to the storms and a crowd number well above the organizers’ estimates, the Eucharist had been removed from the adoration chapels overnight for safety and security reasons. Also, Communion from the papal Mass would be available only to a small number of people, including concelebrants and a few sections of pilgrims closest to the altar.

The announcement, made in multiple languages, encouraged pilgrims to stay for the papal Mass and offer up this disappointment as a “sacrifice for the Holy Father,” and then to find another Mass that evening in Madrid to receive Communion.

“Perhaps our inability to receive the Eucharist at [the papal] Mass today will help us realize how precious the Eucharist is, and how often we can take [the Eucharist] for granted,” said Archbishop Naumann during a reflection following an afternoon Communion service.

Of apparitions and exhaustion Although the Kansas pilgrims were already exhausted, there was one last place to visit: Fatima, Portugal.

Although the Marian apparition site was not originally a part of the pilgrimage, a change in plans was made when it was discovered the group would be flying out of Lisbon, which is not far from Fatima.

Tucked away in a corner of rocky real estate, Fatima has been built up into a quiet place for peaceful prayer. It was here in 1917 that the Blessed Mother appeared to three shepherd children. Today, as then, the Virgin Mary touches the lives of people at Fatima.

The bus journey from Madrid to Fatima took much longer than expected — 10 hours — leaving the pilgrims only two-and-a-half hours to

visit, pray, souvenir shop and attend Mass. There, they saw the jeweled Marian crown containing a bullet removed from Blessed Pope John Paul II after the assassination attempt on his life in 1981. He credited Our Lady of Fatima for saving his life that day.

Providentially, it just so happened the day of the visit was the memorial of the Queenship of Mary.

Many of the Kansas pilgrims decided, despite their fatigue, to do the traditional walk on their knees around the Chapel of Apparitions.

“Walking the distance on my knees was not an easy task, but it was so humbling to be on the ground [where the apparition took place],” said 17-year-old Mary Khadivi, of Holy Trinity Parish in Lenexa.

“I thought of how Jesus was looked down upon all his life, and the crosses that Christians have to bear.”

No place like home Due to the lateness of their arrival in Lisbon and poor directions for the bus drivers, the group was forced to abandon their dreams of showers and a few hours of rest in real beds before the flight home.

Instead, the Kansas pilgrims camped out in the Lisbon airport for an expected 1 a.m. departure.

Those who couldn’t sleep participated in an impromptu session of “Airport Olympics” at 2:30 a.m., organized by seminarian Mark Ostrowski and chaperone Susan Beam.

The events included baggage relays, wheelchair obstacle course, and sleeping bag shuffleboard.

Even mechanical delays and gate changes couldn’t dampen the enthusiasm of the pilgrims, however, as they returned home with their mission: spread the Gospel.

By Nathan Haverland and Nancy Ruoff

“This whole trip I have been looking for St. Peregrine, since my grandma has been suffering with cancer, but I couldn’t find him. Then, at Fatima, after we made the walk on our knees, I was praying for my grandma. Soon after we went to the gift shop, I picked up a random saint card and it was him!”

– Danielle Yadon, 17, Mother Teresa Parish “I experienced something amazing in the city of Fatima.

In Fatima, we had the option of walking down and around the chapel on our knees. At first, I was excited and ready for the challenge. But halfway through, I started feeling pain in my knees. I was praying for my family, and I saw the ending for most people. All of a sudden, I felt a strong urge to go back up the hill on my knees, even though I was suffering. I followed that urge, and I have a strong feeling that my prayers will be answered when I get home.”

- Abigail Baeten, 16, Mother Teresa Parish “On this pilgrimage, I gained a greater love for and deeper appreciation of the universal nature of the church, the presence of Christ in each face that I saw, and the beauty and fruits of suffering that is offered humbly to Christ.”

- Justin Hamilton, Theology I, St. Joseph Parish, Topeka “The best part for me was getting really close to everyone on the trip. I didn’t notice it as it happened but, looking back, now I see that my favorite moments were the ones just sitting around having conversations about anything with the seminarians and people from around the world. I really saw God’s light shine through them.”

-Kristen Sumpter, 18, Mother Teresa Parish

”

6 SPECIAL ISSUE

“It just so happens that the parish my family attends is named after Blessed Mother Teresa. It was at the exhibition in Madrid that I was so moved by the example of a simple little woman who started an order by God’s request that I, too, might be an instrument of God’s plan to spread the good news of our Lord Jesus Christ.

One person can make a big difference.”

- Troy Kyle, 47, Mother Teresa of Calcutta Parish, Topeka “My favorite part about World Youth Day was when we visited the museum of Mother Teresa.

It was so interesting to learn more about what she did and how she did it. She is an amazing inspiration.”

- Austin Ruddy, 16, Mother Teresa Parish “The quote I will remember the most from the trip to Spain was a quote from Mother Teresa’s mother. . . . [She] said that bad friends rub off on you and make you bad. To prove this, her mom put a rotten apple [in] with good apples and let them set for a while and, after that, all the apples were rotten and bad.”

- Isaac Schultejans, 16, Mother Teresa Parish “The most humbling experience of all was during eucharistic adoration. At that point, all of us, including the pope, looked in awe upon our Lord Jesus in the monstrance.

All of us were just completely taken aback by the beauty of [Jesus’] selfless, incredible gift to the world. I will never forget the feeling of helplessness I felt as I realized that, without him, I could do absolutely nothing, followed immediately by a surge of hopefulness and reassurance as I realized that, because of his sacrificial love, there would never be a moment I would have to be apart from him. God exists, and that affects my life.”

- Juliana Alvey, 17, St. John the Evangelist Parish, Kansas City, Kan. “I never realized how powerful seeing nearly two million people kneel in adoration would be. Seeing that many people do that in the rain and in complete silence was even greater.”

- Kassy Short, 15, Sacred HeartSt. Joseph Parish, Topeka

THE LEAVEN • SEPTEMBER 16, 2011

THE LEAVEN • SEPTEMBER 16, 2011

The ‘other’ Teresa

Holy road trip

Spirit of Mother Teresa shines brightly for pilgrims

Seminarians spend quality time with Archbishop Naumann

N

ot every pilgrimage stop during World Youth Day was at a shrine or church.

A group from Mother Teresa of Calcutta Parish in Topeka found an elderly care center in Madrid every bit as holy.

On Aug. 13, a group of 15 teenagers and chaperones from the parish youth group sacrificed their day trip to Segovia to spend time at a facility operated by Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity.

Upon their arrival, the group spent time in prayer with the Sisters in their chapel in the main building. There, a simple crucifix adorns the wall next to the words that helped inspire Mother Teresa’s mission: “Tengo Sed” (I thirst).

Later, a young lay volunteer from Lithuania directed the group in cleaning the premises and completing other tasks that required attention.

Inside the elderly care center, the youth spent the morning cleaning floors and chairs, washing windows and wiping down doorknobs. Outside, they swept and mopped the main entrances and swept the walkway around the main building.

At first, the elderly residents seemed a bit unsure of what to make of the young Americans.

But it did not take long before random interactions began interrupting the youngsters’ cleaning efforts.

A resident named Max, for example, managed, despite the language barrier, to share his photo album with the visitors, including one of him as a teenager playing guitar in a band.

Volunteers Joseph Hooper, Justin Schmitz, and Kate Ruoff spent much of their time assembling a bookcase to be used in one of the facilities.

But Susan Beam, an adult chaperone, was asked to help out by shaving the AIDS patients in the order’s clinic on the grounds. She was tickled to learn that when word spread that a female volunteer was there to help shave that day — it was usually assigned to a male volunteer — all of the patients lined up.

In fact, the work performed at the care center turned out to be the highlight of the pilgrimage for some.

“The best part of the trip for me was when I had the opportunity to serve with the Mother Teresa Sisters of Charity for the day,” said 15-year-old Marisa Hooper. “Even though my tasks for the day seemed small, they turned out to make a big dif-

”

SPECIAL ISSUE 7 “I expected large crowds, vibrant youth, and beautiful churches. Not only did God bring me those, he brought me graces through the ‘knee walk’ of Fatima, the native guides of Spain, and the virtue of the Kansas City pilgrims.”

Mark Ostrowski, pastoral year, St. Joseph Parish, Shawnee “Archbishop Naumann had never been to Spain before, never been to WYD, nor to the events reserved for the attending bishops. Yet he preferred to spend all of his free time with us. What a spiritual father!”

John Trecker, Theology I, Church of the Ascension, Overland Park

Archdiocesan seminarian Evan Tinker (left) and Mikey Needleman, a member of Holy Spirit Parish in Overland Park, pose in front of a giant image of Mother Teresa. A group from Mother Teresa of Calcutta Parish in Topeka spent a day volunteering with Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity. ference for the residents of the center.”

“I got to meet an individual named Thomas at the AIDS center,” she added. “At first, I was nervous about meeting this patient because he didn’t speak any English and I couldn’t speak Spanish. We ended up playing dominoes for a long time. I was impressed that, even though we couldn’t understand each other, we were still able to learn a lot about each other.”

Abigail Baeten and Joshua Ruoff learned that a smile went a long way as they served lunch to the residents.

Others put their high school Spanish to good use. Accompanied by facial expressions and a lot of hand gestures, many of the youths were able to learn about where an individual was from, what they liked to do — one elderly gentleman liked to salsa dance — and a little about their life.

Despite the fact that formal communication was limited, the pilgrims, volunteers, and residents all spoke a common language: The spirit of Mother Teresa pervaded the work of the Sisters and lay volunteers at the center.

The lay volunteer from Lithuania took time to share her story with a few pilgrims.

Following college, she said, she decided to spend a year doing service work before looking for a job and settling down.

She had served with religious orders in France and Italy before coming to Madrid.

When asked if she was planning to become a Sister, she laughed and said no. But when asked what she would do when her year of service came to a close in a few months, she

grew quiet and simply responded, “I’m not sure.”

“My studies were in fashion design,” she said. “But after all this, material things seem so meaningless.”

The joy and spirit of Mother Teresa blessed the group throughout the week. They prayed a novena to Mother Teresa throughout the pilgrimage and visited the traveling exhibit “Mother Teresa: Life, Spirituality, and Message,” sponsored by the Missionaries of Charity.

The Sisters, too, were happy to visit with the pilgrims and answer questions and share their stories. One of the Sisters presented pilgrim Emily Kyle with a prayer card containing a relic of Mother Teresa — threads from one of her tunics.

The priests and seminarians travelling with the group, as well as the Sisters encountered throughout the week, became catalysts for conversations among the group about what it means to serve Christ and how an individual knows God’s plan for his or her life.

“I was so moved by the example of a simple little woman who started an order by God’s request,” said Troy Kyle, 47.

“I, too, might be an instrument of God’s plan to spread the good news of our Lord Jesus Christ,” he said. “One person can make a big difference. Are you the next Mother Teresa? And even if you are not, you know what they say — ‘Many hands make light work!’

— and there is much to do.”

And a “Holy Spirit moment” — as experiences of grace came to be coined by the pilgrims — gave 17-year-old Mary Khadivi, of Holy Trinity Parish in Lenexa, cause for reflection.

Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann spends some time with seminarians before a meal in Madrid. Pictured clockwise from left are: Justin Hamilton, Dan Morris, David Pratt, Father Bill Bruning, and Nathan Haverland.

A A quote from Mother Teresa is displayed in a park in Madrid, specifically for World Youth Day. Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity have a hospice, soup kitchen and shelter in Madrid.

“For the past few months, and especially on this pilgrimage, I have been open to the vocation of being a nun, but unsure if it was what God wanted me to do with my life,” said Khadivi.

“The first few days of our trip I had been considering the pros and cons of being a Sister, particularly on day six,” she continued. “That same day we visited the Mother Teresa exhibition. I had finished reading and looking at everything and went down to sit with a friend till everyone was ready to go.

“Mrs. Ruoff came by and asked if I had grabbed a slip of paper with a Mother Teresa quote near the chapel. I had not, so I went over and picked up one.”

That slip of paper gave her something to think about.

It read, “Give without counting the cost.”

By Kassy Short, Emily Kyle, and Nancy Ruoff

rchdiocesan seminarians go on a pilgrimage with Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann at the start of every new school year, but this year he put a new twist on it. it.

The archbishop supersized

This year Archbishop Naumann brought 22 seminarians and Father Mitchel Zimmerman on an event-packed, weeklong pilgrimage to World Youth Day in Madrid.

As Archbishop Naumann often says at ordinations, the most important work he does is ordain men to the priesthood. Pilgrimages give him an opportunity to spend a greater amount of personal time with the men he will someday — God willing — be ordaining to the archdiocesan priesthood.

Of course, the archbishop and the seminarians spent a lot of time with the other archdiocesan World Youth Day pilgrims, but they also had opportunities to take special side trips.

“I enjoyed every single moment I had with the archbishop, including the time I got him lost on our way to the Little Sisters of the Lamb,” said Agustin Martinez, a student

David Pratt, a seminarian in his first year of theology at Mundelein Seminary in Mundelein, Ill., works crowd control as his group prepares to head to World Youth Day’s opening Mass.

“I enjoyed every single moment I had with the archbishop, including the time I got him lost on our way to the Little Sisters of the Lamb.”

Agustin Martinez, fourth year at Conception Seminary College at Conception Seminary in Conception, Mo., who acted as unofficial interpreter.

When they visited the motherhouse of the Sisters, Servants of Mary, an army of Sisters led by Sister Alfonsa Bellido unloaded a ton of charity and affection upon them.

The Sisters fed them a wonderful breakfast and let the archbishop and seminarians pray in their chapel before the relics of the Sisters’ foundress, St. Maria Soledad.

“Hands down, the Sisters, Servants of Mary know how to love and care for God’s people,” said Evan Tinker, a student at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary in St. Louis. “When I was hungry, they fed me.

When I was tired, they poured me a cup of coffee.”

One thing the seminarians were really excited about was meeting Pope Benedict XVI. The pope carved some time out of his own hectic schedule to celebrate Mass early Saturday morning for 4,500 seminarians at Madrid’s cathedral, Santa María la Real de la Almudena.

Five archdiocesan seminarians received special tickets to be inside the cathedral during the Mass, while the rest watched from the outside, in the cathedral’s plaza.

“It was so humbling to look at the future the Lord is creating for his church,” said Luke Doyle, a student at KenrickGlennon Seminary.

After hearing the confessions of four seminarians, Pope Benedict XVI was greeted by an enthusiastic crowd.

In his homily, he instructed the “dear seminarians” to spend their years in formation discerning if God is indeed calling them to a courageous vocation with “years of interior silence, of unceasing prayer, of constant study and of gradual insertion into the pastoral activity and structures of the church.”

Some of the seminarians were quite moved when the Holy Father, with a big smile, announced that he would soon declare a new doctor of the church: St. John of Avila, the patron saint of Spanish diocesan priests.

Something else made Pope Benedict XVI grin, as well — Martinez shouting at him.

“He turned to me, smiled and blessed me — which I took a picture of,” said Martinez.

“This was probably the most meaningful experience of my life.”

By Nathan Haverland

“I really enjoyed walking the streets of Madrid and the other Spanish cities with the archbishop. For me, he provided a good witness and example of what a servant of Christ should be: humble and available. He treated himself like one of us, a true pilgrim without a word or hint of complaint. He spent time not only with us, but also made an effort to be available to other pilgrims who felt the grace of his presence.”

Jonathan Dizon, Theology I, St. Lawrence Catholic Campus Center “Mass with the Holy Father was like a family reunion with the universal church: past, present, and in heaven. He is like that family member that is the glue holding the entire family together, and the grandfather that delights in each of his grandchildren — full of familial love, family history, and wise advice.”

John Trecker “I am coming back with a renewed spirit and a great zeal for God’s church. I desire to let myself be formed to the best of my abilities and to answer generously the call that God has given me to be in the seminary and, if it is his will, to serve him as a priest in the future, showing his people the same love he has showed me first: ‘Love one another as I have loved you.’”

Agustin Martinez, 4th Year College, St. Agnes Parish, Roeland Park “No other celebrity, politician, or athlete could draw anything like the crowds the pope does for his Masses.”

Matthew Nagle, Theology I, Curé of Ars, Leawood

“I have a better definition for the word ‘Mass.’ That was by far the most epic, ‘Mass’ive, experience I will probably ever be part of.”

- Mikey Needleman, 28, Holy Spirit Catholic Church, Overland Park

FAITH ON THE GO

SO CLOSE

A small archdiocesan group broke off from the rest of the contingent in the hope of catching a close view of Pope Benedict XVI en route to one of the World Youth Day events.

Luck was on their side as the popemobile passed within feet of them.

t SHEPHERD

Archbishop Naumann talks with archdiocesan youth at a stop in Avila. The archbishop made it a priority to spent much of his time mingling and sharing the pilgrimage experience with archdiocesan youth, chaperones, and seminarians.

s IT’S ALL GOOD

Kansas pilgrims had to leave the opening Mass because of overcrowding, but they got to attend a concert at the Sports Palace in Madrid as a consolation prize. Mary Khadivi, Annie Hodges and Emily Kyle soak up the experience.

s THE RAIN IN SPAIN

When overheated pilgrims began to wilt under the relentless sun, Spanish fire departments came to the rescue by pulling out the hoses and spraying down the World Youth Day participants.

“The most moving part for me was seeing how widespread the Catholic faith is. . . . Usually the retreats are local or even national, and I know a majority of the people attending, so sometimes it can feel like the number of people who share my faith is limited and we’re the minority in the world. On this trip though, I saw the magnificent number of people who believe in God just as I do.

- Rebecca Manis, 18, Mother Teresa Parish

s DOWN TIME

Joseph Hooper (left) and Justin Schmitz, both parishioners of Mother Teresa of Calcutta Parish in Topeka, relax by watching video Hooper shot of the day’s events.

s ONWARD SANCHO

Seminarian Agustin Martinez looks ready to tilt at some windmills with Toledo’s Don Quixote.

s

“The most gratifying parts of this trip were the times that our archbishop chose to spend with us. He chose to spend time walking in the heat with us, rather than doing anything else. This and the witness of the seminarians, who consistently encouraged us to persevere in our trials and in our faith, made this trip one of my most meaningful experiences.”

- Joseph Hooper, 19, Mother Teresa

PACKED

Seminarian Evan Tinker (orange hat) rides the Metro, the preferred means of transportation in Madrid. At one point the train was so full that it couldn’t move.

“My favorite experience was sitting in the rain with Dave, Drew, Joseph, Mark, and a few others under our umbrellas telling about our worst and funniest memories while trying to stay dry.”

- Ashley Neiberger, 16, Mother Teresa Parish “Just seeing all of the amazing examples of Christ’s love in all of the other pilgrims that were there with us was my favorite part.”

- Justin Schmitz, 18, Mother Teresa Parish

SPECIAL ISSUE 9

THE LEAVEN • SEPTEMBER 16, 2011

s

”

“Being able to receive the Eucharist on Sunday night at a Communion service, and hearing the Holy Father’s homily in English was my favorite moment. Following the Communion service, the group sharing of highs and lows from the other pilgrims really touched my heart.”

- Tim Ruoff, 42, Mother Teresa of Calcutta Parish, Topeka

THE LEAVEN • SEPTEMBER 16, 2011

s

8 SPECIAL ISSUE

BUST A MOVE

Kate Ruoff, Luke Doyle, Evan Tinker and Justin Schmitz make their own flash mob during a trip to Avila.

s HUMILITY AND HOPE

A side trip to the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary at Fatima, Portugal, was the high point for some of the Kansas pilgrims.

Here, Aaron Rains (front, left), seminarian Jonathan Dizon, seminarian Mark Ostrowski, Isaac Schultejans, Marisa Hooper, Emily Kyle and Juliana Alvey make the traditional walk on their knees across the basilica’s square.

”

“My favorite experience of this pilgrimage was eucharistic adoration with two million people. It was very powerful to experience being in the presence of Our Lord with so many people who practiced the same faith as me, who loved the same God as much as I do.”

– Josh Ruoff, 16, Mother Teresa Parish “There were so many moments of God’s grace on this trip that it is almost impossible to pick just one.

I didn’t attend the papal welcome and was a little disappointed. God had a better plan though, as I saw the pope while he was driving to the papal welcome while at a park. He was a block away, which is closer than I would have been if I had gone to the papal welcome.”

- Tina Keehn, 17, St. Joseph Parish, Shawnee “God spoke loudly to me throughout this trip and allowed me to witness and experience a more intimate union with Christ.”

- David Pratt, seminarian, Theology I, Holy Cross Parish, Overland Park “It was an awesome thing to be in the presence of the successor of St. Peter. . . . And it was exciting to see many men from around the world preparing to be priests.”

- Daniel Stover, seminarian, Theology II, Most Pure Heart of Mary Parish, Topeka “The youth of the archdiocese really edified me with their devotion to Christ, their excitement to see our Holy Father, and their joy amidst trials, challenges, hardships. It really made me excited about the future of the church in our archdiocese.”

- Anthony Saiki, seminarian, Theology II, St. Paul Parish, Olathe “Mass with Pope Benedict XVI was amazing. I was blessed to be inside the church and to find a seat where I was very close to the sanctuary and able to see him most of the Mass. Watching him celebrate Mass was beautiful. You could see that his love of God is in the depth of his identity.”

- Adam Wilczak, seminarian, Theology II, St. Matthew Parish, Topeka

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Employment St. Joseph Early Education Center, Shawnee - Will host a job fair from 9 a.m. - noon on Oct. 1. Positions available are: teachers for infants, toddlers and 2-1/2-year-olds; extended day program coordinator; and a nurse, LPN or RN. Interested candidates should call Ms. Camilla at (913) 631-0004 to arrange an appointment in advance.

Preschool teachers - The Goddard School, 21820 W. 115th Terr., Olathe, is seeking qualified full- and parttime preschool teachers. In our warm, loving atmosphere caring teachers support the healthy development of children ages six weeks to six years. Full-time benefits include: competitive pay, benefits, opportunities for professional development and career growth, and a great working environment. Qualified candidates must meet or exceed Kansas regulations, have strong communication skills, a professional appearance and a desire to learn and implement the Goddard School programs. Lead teachers should have an early childhood education degree or a CDA or a degree in a related field with an emphasis in early childhood education. Prior experience in a child care setting is preferred. Owners are members of the Church of the Ascension, Overland Park. Send resume, via email, to: Olathe2ks@goddard schools.com.

Financial representative - Due to the success and growth of the Knights of Columbus, we are adding financial representatives in the Kansas City area.

This position is ideal for a determined, high-energy, high-expectation, professional, self-disciplined, independent individual desiring 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. For information or an interview, contact John A. Mahon, 307 Dakota, Holton KS 66436; or call (785) 364-5450.

THE LEAVEN • SEPTEMBER 16, 2011

Faith-based counseling to cope with life concerns - Kansas City area. Call Mary Vorsten, Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, at (913) 909-2002.

Computer repair and upgrades/virus, spyware & malware removal - Microsoft certified, 11+ yrs. experience. Member of Sacred Heart Parish. Call Matt at (816) 876-6619 or send an email to him at: mattcomputerfix@gmail.com.

Bankruptcy - When debt becomes overwhelming, seek professional help. Experienced, compassionate Catholic attorney Teresa Kidd. For a confidential, no obligation consultation, call (913) 422-0610; or send an email to: tkidd@kc.rr.com.

Rodman Lawn Care - Lawn mowing, leaf removal, hedge trimming, power washing, snow removal. Call (913) 548-3002 for a free estimate. Member of Holy Cross Parish, Overland Park.

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

Looking for high quality home care? Whether you’re looking to introduce care for your family or simply looking to improve your current home care quality, we can help. Our unique approach to home care has earned us a 99% client satisfaction rating among the 1,000-plus families we have assisted. We are familyowned and based in Lenexa. Call Benefits of HomeSenior Care at (913) 422-1591 or visit our website at: www.benefitsofhome.com.

Home Improvement

Services Tree service - Pruning trees for optimal growth and beauty and removal of hazardous limbs or problem trees. Free consultation and bid. Safe, insured, professional. Cristofer Estrada, Green Solutions of KC, (913) 378-5872. www.GreenSolutionsKC.com.

Landscaping All projects – small to large Local parishioner Free estimates. Insured; excellent references.

Call Tony at (913) 620-6063 Foley’s Lawn Care Mowing, landscaping installation & maintenance Serving Johnson County for over 10 years.

For a free estimate, call (913) 825-4353 or send an email to: john@foleyslawncare.com. Mention this ad to receive a 10% discount on labor for landscape installation.

Tutoring - For students in grades K - 12. For information, call Kathleen at (913) 206-2151 or send an email to her at: Klmamuric@yahoo.com.

Machine quilting - By Jenell Noeth, Basehor. Also, quilts made to order. Call (913) 724-1837.

Tim the handyman - Small jobs are my specialty!

Faucets, garbage disposals, toilets, light fixtures, ceiling fans, handrails, window screen repair, bush trimming and garden tilling. Free estimates. JoCo only. Call (913) 859-0471.

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Replace broken springs, cables, hinges, rollers, gate openers, entry and patio doors, and more. Over 32 years of experience. Call (913) 227-4902.

Adept Home Improvements Where quality still counts!

Basement finishing, Kitchens and baths, Electrical and plumbing, Licensed and insured.

(913) 599-7998 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) 4915837 or (913) 579-1835. Email: smokeycabin@hotmail. com. Member of Holy Trinity, Lenexa.

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.

Brick masons - Installation and repair of all types of masonry work — brick, stone, and concrete. 17 years of residential and commercial experience. Small and large jobs accepted. KC Metro area. For a free quote, call Jim or John at (913) 485-4307.

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

Carpet direct – We cut out the middle man and bring the showroom to you! The best place to see your flooring is in your own home or office. Save 40 - 80% on carpet and hard surfaces. Residential and commercial. For a free estimate, call Amanda at (913) 742-4003.

Swalms Organizing Service - Basement, attic, garage, office, shop – any room organized. Items sorted, grouped, boxed and labeled; areas clean when finished. 20 years experience. $30/hour. Spring special: first two hours FREE with any organizing job lasting one day or longer. To view pictures of current jobs, visit the website at: www.swalms.com. Tillar Swalm (913) 375-9115. Insured!

Real Estate Roeland Park home FSBO - New price of $165,000; or for rent, call for monthly rate. Awesome 2 BR, 1 BA ranch located at 5122 Clark Dr. Move-in-ready condition. For information or an appointment to view, call (913) 206-7109.

Need a maintenance-free townhome with ample space? - 3 BR, 2 BA, 40-foot living room, dining area, and dine-in kitchen. Plus additional bedroom, bath and rec room on lower level. Two-car garage.

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For Sale Residential lifts - Buy/sell/trade. Stair lifts, porch lifts, ceiling lifts and elevators. Recycled and new equipment. Member of St. Michael the Archangel Parish, Leawood. Call Silver Cross KC at (913) 327-5557.

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Clutter getting you down? Organize, fix, assemble, clean . . . we do it all! For a free consultation, call your professional organizing handyman, Kevin Hogan, M.Ed., today at (913) 271-5055. Insured; references.

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The Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women will offer a fall pilgrimage that includes a tour of St. Benedict’s Abbey and Mount St. Scholastica Monastery, Mass, and lunch at the Riverhouse Restaurant in Atchison on Sept. 17. The cost is $20. For information or to RSVP, call Susan Draftz at (913) 367-2227 or visit the website at: http://accwfallpilgrim age.eventbrite.com.

Father Tony Lickteig will celebrate the archdiocesan monthly pro-life Mass at 8 a.m. on Sept. 17 at Sts. Cyril & Methodius Church, 44 N. Mill, Kansas City, Kan., followed by a rosary procession to an abortion clinic four blocks away. Eucharistic adoration is available for those not processing; Benediction concludes services at 9:45 a.m.

A memorial liturgy for deceased loved ones will be held at 8 a.m. on Sept.

17 at Curé of Ars Church, 9401 Mission Rd., Leawood. The bereavement ministry will have its monthly meeting following Mass in the Father Burak Room.

The topic will be: “Being A Survivor.” For information, call (913) 649-2026.

El Centro Academy for Children - Located at 1330 S. 30th St., Kansas City, Kan., is now enrolling children ages 2-1/2 through 5 years. Licensed and nationally accredited. Full day; dual language – English and Spanish.

For information or to schedule a visit, call (913) 6770100 or visit the website at: www.elcentroinc.com.

The Cathedral of St. Peter, 409 N. 15th St., Kansas City, Kan., will host its fall festival from 5 - 9 p.m. on Sept. 17.

There will be a taco dinner, a silent auction, raffles, music, games for children and more.

TOUCH OF HEAVEN Catholic Store 119 SE 18th Topeka, KS (785) 232-2543

Hrs. T-F - 10 a.m. 5:30; Sat. 9 a.m. to noon

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17

St. Joseph of the Valley Church, Leavenworth, will host a family night on Sept. 17. The evening will begin with Mass at 5 p.m., followed by a ham and brisket dinner, hayrides, concessions and a showing of the movie “Up” on the lawn at dusk. A $10 donation for parking is appreciated. Bring your lawn chairs and blankets. For information, call Tracy Heim at (913) 682-1285.

Misc.

Electrician - Free estimates; reasonable rates.

JoCo and south KC metro. Call Pat at (913) 963-9896.

“Regardless of the type of services you desire, we can help to make them special.

We are here to serve you and your family.”

Sept.

The women of Queen of the Holy Rosary Church, 7023 W. 71st St., Overland Park, will host a ladies day retreat from 9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. on Sept. 17 in the church hall. The seven parts of the Lord’s Prayer will be presented. Checkin will begin at 8:45 a.m. A continental breakfast, retreat folder and lunch will be provided. For information or to register, call Patty Miller at (913) 384-4644.

Child care needed - In our home near Prairie Village for our three-month-old boy. Position begins the first week of November, Mon. - Thurs., from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. For information or to apply, call Bryan at (816) 2133545 or send an email to: bryan.potts@asurion.com.

Topeka- (785) 234-0701 Lawrence- (785) 843-4821 Leavenworth- (913) 682-2700 Kansas City-(816)444-7090 Emporia- (620) 342-8600

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or call 24 hrs. toll free 1-800-550-4900

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CALENDAR

THE LEAVEN • SEPTEMBER 16, 2011

St. Matthew Church, 2700 S.E. Virginia Ave, Topeka, will host its annual parish dinner and auction on Sept. 17.

Social hour will begin at 6:15 p.m., followed by dinner at 7 p.m. and the live auction at 8 p.m. The cost of $40 per person includes hors d’oeuvres, drinks and dinner. For information or to RSVP

by Sept. 11, call the parish office at (785) 232-5012 or send an email to: parishoffice@saintmatthews.org.

The Ancient Order of Hibernians, Padraig Pearse Division No. 1, will host a membership drive on Sept. 17 in the John J. Sullivan Hall at Redemptorist Church, 3333 Linwood, Kansas City, Mo. A social hour will begin at 5 p.m., followed by a short video presentation. All men 16 years or older, who are practicing Catholics of Irish heritage or born in Ireland. For information, contact Michael Murphy at (816) 797-3565 or send an email to him at: hibernianmike77@ aol.com.

18

St. Therese Church, Richmond, will host its annual parish dinner

from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. on Sept. 18. The cost is $8 for adults; $5 for children ages 4 - 10 years. Carryouts will be available. There will also be a country store and raffles.

Meals. For information, call Liz Kelly at (913) 491-8675 or send a email to her at: ekelly411@gmail.com.

Sacred Heart Church, 1031 12th St., Sabetha, will host its annual parish picnic on Sept. 18. Serving begins at 4:30 p.m. for the chicken and ham dinner with all the trimmings. The cost is $8 for adults; $4 for children ages 10 and under. There will also be bingo, a cakewalk, a country store, children’s games and a raffle at 7:30 p.m.

Does it too often seem that the two of you are going in different directions? A Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekend may be just the thing to get your relationship realigned. The next Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekend will be held from Sept. 23 - 25 at Savior Pastoral Center, 12601 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City, Kan. For information or to register, call Ralph and Jan Lewis at (913) 400-7173 or visit the website at: www.neksme.org.

Church of the Holy Cross, 8311 W. 93rd. St., Overland Park, will host its annual parish festival on Sept. 18. Mass will be celebrated at noon followed by the festival from 1 - 5 p.m. Mexican food, barbecued beef, Italian sausages, hot dogs and other ethnic foods will be served.

There will be bingo, live entertainment, inflatables, children’s games and more.

19

A six-week grief support group will meet from 6 - 7:30 p.m. on Mondays beginning Sept. 19 at Good Shepherd Church, 12800 W. 75th St., Shawnee. All who are suffering the loss of a loved one are invited. For information or to register, call Penny Volmer at (913) 563-5304 or send an email to: pvolmer@ goodshepherdshawnee.org.

20 The Keeler Women’s Center, 2220 Central Ave., Kansas City, Kan., in

conjunction with Susan G. Komen for the Cure, St. Luke’s Healthcare, and Argentine Family Health will offer free mammograms on Sept. 20. Kansas women between the ages of 40 – 64 with no health insurance who meet income guidelines are welcome to apply. To prequalify and/or to schedule an appointment, call (913) 205-0030.

22 “Plate or Pyramid? America’s New Dietary Guidelines,” a nutrition

presentation offered in conjunction with K-State Extension Services, will be held from 9:30 - 11 a.m. on Sept. 22 at the Keeler Women’s Center, 2220 Central Ave., Kansas City, Kan. For information or to register, call (913) 906-8990 or visit the website at: www.mountosb. org/kwc.

The Christian Widow and Widowers Organization will host a potluck dinner at 5 p.m. on Sept. 22 in the Formation Room at Most Pure Heart of Mary Church, 3601 S.W. Stone, Topeka. There is no cost to attend. For information, call (785) 272-0055.

Keeler Women’s Center, 2220 Central Ave, Kansas City, Kan., will offer “Optimizing Your Health,” a six-week program for men and women, from 1:30 - 4 p.m. on Thursdays beginning Sept.

22. 30 – 4:00 p.m. For information or to register, call (913) 906-8990 or visit the website at: www.mountosb.org/kwc.

23

Christ the King Church, 3024 N. 54th St., Kansas City, Kan., will host a novena to St. Thérèse the Little Flower at 6 p.m. on Sept. 23, and Sept. 25 30; at 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 24; and at 10 a.m. on Oct. 1, followed by Mass.

Church of the Nativity, 3700 W. 119th St., Leawood, will host a presentation at 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 23 by Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow, a Catholic named as one of CNN’s top 10 heroes. MacFarlaneBarrow will speak on how his aid relief work from Argyll, Scotland, to Medjugorje during the Bosnian conflict of 1992 led to the global campaign known as Mary’s

23-25

Sophia Center, 751 S. 8th St., Atchison, will offer a retreat, entitled “Losses Of Our Lives,” from 7 p.m. on Sept. 23 through 1:30 p.m. on Sept. 25. Dr. Nancy Copeland-Payton, a spiritual director, hospital chaplain, physician and author, will be the presenter. For information, call (913) 360-6151 or visit the website at: www.mountosb.org/sophia.html.

24

Holy Family Church, 274 Orchard St., Kansas City, Kan., will host its annual Slovenefest on Sept. 24, beginning with Mass at 4 p.m. followed by an authentic Slovenian dinner, dancing, live music, games for all ages and a silent auction. For information, call Wade McCown at (913) 207-3404, the church office at (913) 371-1561, or visit the website at: holyfamilychurchkck.com.

The women of St. Stanislaus Parish, Rossville, will host “Journey of Faith” on Sept. 24. Mass will be celebrated at 8:30 a.m., followed by brunch, a prayer service, Scripture meditation and a keynote speaker. For information or to register, call Colette at (785) 584-6612 or Deidre at (785) 582-5851.

The singles group at Curé of Ars Parish, 9301 Mission Rd., Leawood, will host a Harvest Moon dance from 7:30 -11:45 p.m. on Sept. 24 in the school cafeteria. Carl the DJ will be back! The cost of $15, payable at the door, includes hors d’oeuvres, desserts, wine, beer, soda, and bottled water. For information, call (913) 631-6873.

Church of the Nativity, 3800 W. 119th St., Leawood, will host its annual Spirit of Nativity festival, following the 4 p.m. Mass on Sept. 24. The festival includes dinner, music, inflatables, bingo, PTO class basket raffles, face painting, a photo booth and more. Wristbands cost: $10 for adults; $5 for children; or $35 per family. For information or to purchase wristbands, contact the parish office at (913) 491-5017.

24-25

Prairie Star Ranch, Williamsburg, will offer “Prairie Star Under the Stars,” an outdoor camping experience for youth groups, from 10 a.m. on Sept. 24 through 10 a.m. on Sept. 25. The cost is $5 in advance; $7 at the gate. For information or to register, call Gregory Wellnitz at (785) 746-5693 or send an email to him at: psroffice@ gmail.com.

25

St. John the Baptist Church, Greeley, will host its annual parish bazaar on Sept. 25. A turkey, chicken and noodles, or ham dinner with all the trimmings will be served at 11 a.m. The cost is $9 for adults; $9.50 for carryouts. There will also be bingo, raffles, and a country store. Facility is handicap accessible.

Prairie Star Ranch, Williamsburg, will offer a family day from 10 a.m. - 5

13

p.m. on Sept. 25. Celebrate Mass with your family, bring a picnic lunch and enjoy outdoor activities including canoeing, rock climbing and horseback riding. The cost is $5 in advance; $7 at the gate. For information or to register, call Gregory Wellnitz at (785) 746-5693 or send an email to him at: psroffice@gmail.com.

28

The Keeler Women’s Center, 2220 Central Ave., Kansas City, Kan., will offer “Clean and Clutter-free Living,” presented by Chiquita Miller of K-State Extension, from 1 - 2:30 p.m. on Sept.

28. Register by Sept. 21 to receive free cleaning supplies. For information or to register, call (913) 906-8990 or visit the website at: www.mountosb.org/kwc.

29

The Keeler Women’s Center, 2220 Central Ave., Kansas City, Kan., will offer “Plan Now for a Pretty Spring Garden,” a gardening program presented

by Donna and Steve Walker, from 10 - 11 a.m. on Sept. 29. Register by Sept. 23 to receive free flower bulbs. For information or to register, call (913) 906-8990 or visit the website at: www.mountosb. org/kwc.

Oct. 2

St. Theresa Church, Perry, will host its annual fall bazaar on Oct. 2. A turkey or ham dinner with all the trimmings will be served from 11 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. The cost is $8 for adults; $4 for children. Carryouts will be available. There will also be a silent auction, raffles, bingo, a cakewalk, games, baked goods, and other items for sale.

Sacred Heart-St. Casimir Parish, 1401 2nd Ave., Leavenworth, will host its annual fall fest from noon - 3:30 p.m. on Oct. 2. There will be a turkey and ham dinner, entertainment, an auction, a classic car show, white elephant sale, a country store and games for all ages.

2&4

The archdiocesan vocation office will host Project Andrew, an opportunity for young men ages 15 - 20 to learn about vocations, from 4 - 7 p.m. on Oct. 2 at Most Pure Heart of Mary Church, 1800 S.W. Stone, Topeka, and on Oct. 9 at St. Michael the Archangel Church, 5200 W. 143rd St., Leawood.

Young men will meet and pray with Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann and enjoy dinner with archdiocesan priests. Parents are also invited to a special session.

Registration is required. To RSVP, call the vocation office at (913) 647-0303; send an email to: vocation@archkck.org; or visit the website at: kckvocations.com.

4

St. Philippine Duchesne Latin Mass Community will host its annual pro-life dinner at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 4 at the Civic Center, 13817 Johnson Dr., Shawnee. Proceeds will benefit Alexandra’s House and LifeFront. Tickets cost $30 per person. To purchase tickets, send a check, payable to SPD Dinner, to: Father John Fongemie, 5412 Bluejacket, Shawnee KS 66203.

Email calendar submissions to: jennifer@theleaven.com or mail to: 12615 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City, KS 66109.

14 COLUMNISTS

THE LEAVEN • SEPTEMBER 16, 2011

CHURCH AND STATE

Animus over pro-marriage issue bodes ill for kids

I

f you have been reading the papers this summer, you know that there is something sinister afoot in Kansas.

Strange people from faraway places have been seen slipping into secret meetings, the tails of their black capes flapping in the shadows. Some of the most powerful people in Kansas are implicated in the conspiracy, and the evidence suggests that it goes all the way to the very top.

Fortunately, the Fourth Estate has been up to the task. Kansas’ journalistic establishment has blown the lid off of the Kansas governor’s radical, top-secret plan to . . . promote marriage. Woodward and Bernstein, eat your heart out.

The fact that the mere suggestion that government policy should encourage marriage would be immediately met with charges of right-wing extremism and religious fundamentalism is a sign of the moral confusion of the times.

Yet the fanatical refusal to concede the obvious — that children are best served when they live with a married mother and father — is itself faith-based and hyper-ideological, because the data is conclusive on this point.

According to the 2008 Scafidi report: “When parents part, or fail to marry, their children seem to suffer from increased risks of poverty, mental illness, infant mortality, physical illness, juvenile delinquency and adult criminality, sexual abuse and other forms of family violence, economic hardship, substance

abuse, and educational failure, such as increased risk of dropping out of school.”

When one considers the fact that over one-third of all children in our country are born outside of wedlock, including 46 percent of Hispanic children and 69 percent of African-American children, the proportions of what is doubtlessly a national crisis become apparent.

But Governor Sam Brownback has nonetheless been pummeled in the press for considering ways to shift certain public policies away from default settings that discourage marriage. And as breathlessly reported by the Topeka Capital-Journal in July, he met this spring with a group of national experts on marriage policy.

The conversation was “behind closed doors,” rather than on the Statehouse lawn, where other such discussions are

presumably held. One of the participants, we are told, “preached a gospel that encouraged poor women to marry their way out of poverty” as an official in the Bush administration (subtext: scary Christian). Another, a law professor, once said she “admired Sarah Palin’s devotion to family and professional achievement.” These are very dangerous people indeed!

There is significant room for debate over which, if any, public policies can strengthen marriage. But the ferocity of the criticism directed against those who would even try bodes ill for the children who need no statistical analyses to tell them that having a father in the home would make all the difference.

Michael Schuttloffel is the executive director of the Kansas Catholic Conference.

AS THE CHURCH PRAYS

B

New Roman Missal isn’t perfect — but neither was the old

y now, most of us will have had our first encounter with a few texts from the revised missal. The full use of the new missal, of course, will commence at Advent.

So what do we think? Most likely, some of us are pleased, some are confused, and some are annoyed. Not too surprising, really! In any case, before long, most of us will not remember how we used to speak the Mass, the new texts having become familiar.

So what should we think? I’ve received several calls at the archdiocesan liturgy office asking if I think the new translation is better than the old.

“Yes,” I rather positively reply, “in many instances.” I’ve also received a number of calls asking if I think the old is better than the new. “Perhaps,” I rather diplomatically reply, “in a few instances.”

But my two favorite questions are: “Is the old translation really that bad?” and “Is this new translation supposed to be perfect?”

The answers to these two questions are easy: NO. No, the old translation isn’t bad, or wicked, or deceitful, or the part of a sinister conspiracy to destroy the Catholic faith. It is a product of its time, it has served us well, it has expressed and nurtured faith, and anyone who

really believes that it has been the cause of whatever ails the church today really needs to get some perspective. It is what it is: imperfect, but sincere.

And, no, the new translation isn’t perfect. It’s not bad, either, nor is it an attempt to straightjacket the voice of the faithful, or a syndicated scheme to turn back the clock, or a devious ploy to get us to cry “Uncle!” and return entirely to Latin. It is what it is: imperfect, but sincere.

Imperfect, because all translations are imperfect, simply because it’s impossible to say perfectly in one language what we say in another.

Imperfect, because, for that matter, it’s impossible to perfectly express either the mind of God or the human heart when limited to human words. Mere words like Father, Trinity, Communion,

holy, consubstantial, Son, sacrifice, chalice, and soul only begin to signify what they seek to express. The mystery can never be exhausted by the expression of it.

Perhaps that’s why St. Isaac of Nineveh concludes: “Silence is the language of the world to come.” Only when, as St. John says, we’ve become like God, having perfectly seen the divine countenance in all its perfection, will our expression of that countenance cease being imperfect. Only then.

So, in the meantime, let us learn the new words of the Mass for what they are and let us learn to live them as best we can.

Michael Podrebarac is the archdiocesan consultant for the liturgy office.

SECOND THOUGHTS ON THE SECOND READING

M

Paul gave new meaning to prison ministry

artin Luther King Jr. wrote his “Letter from Birmingham Jail” while incarcerated there on April 16, 1963, after taking part in a civil rights demonstration.

In that letter, he argued that civil disobedience was necessary to overturn unjust laws. In fact, he maintained that it was a moral obligation.

Similarly, Dietrich Bonhoffer, a German Lutheran theologian, spent 18 months in prison before he was executed on April 9, 1945, for taking part in a plot to assassinate Hitler. While in prison, he wrote letters that were smuggled out and published after his death — letters in which he expressed his theological reasons for opposing the Nazi regime.

There is a long tradition of religious figures writing letters while incarcerated.

Someone locked up in jail often spends a lot of time waiting — waiting to face trial, waiting to complete a sentence, waiting to be released, waiting just to find out what will happen. That was the situation that St. Paul had to deal with toward the end of his life. It

was the perfect time for writing letters.

Several of his letters that eventually ended up in the New Testament resulted from his period of imprisonment. While waiting in his cell, he would profit from his spare time by writing to various Christian communities. That explains the Letter to the Philippians, part of which constitutes Sunday’s second reading — Phil 1:20c-24, 27a.

While in prison, St. Paul realized that he might eventually be executed.

Accordingly, he tried to decide which fate he would prefer: death, or release from prison. He saw pros and cons in both. Sunday’s reading reflects this inner struggle.

While in prison, St. Paul did not con-

fine himself to writing. He also engaged in evangelizing others around him, the prison guards and fellow prisoners.

His success in winning souls for Christ reminded him that he could certainly serve Christ while still alive. Imprisonment had not slowed him down: “I want you to know, brothers, that my situation has turned out rather to advance the Gospel, so that my imprisonment has become well known in Christ throughout the whole praetorium and to all the rest, and so that the majority of the brothers, having taken encouragement in the Lord from my imprisonment, dare more than ever to proclaim the word fearlessly” (Phil. 1:12-14).

St. Paul could not decide which to prefer: to continue in this life with his work of evangelization, or to die and enjoy eternal life with Christ. In any case, it was not for him to decide. God would determine his fate, just as God will determine our fate. We place ourselves in his hands.

TWENTY-FIFTH WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME Sept. 18 Is 55: 6-9; Ps 145: 2-3, 8-9, 17-18; Phil 1: 20c-24, 27a; Mt 20: 1-16a

Sept. 19 Januarius, bishop, martyr Ezr 1: 1-6; Ps 126: 1-6; Lk 8: 16-18 Sept. 20 Andrew Kim Taegon, priest, martyr, Paul Chong, Hasang, martyr, and their companions, martyrs Ezr 6:7-8, 12b, 14-20; Ps 122: 1-5; Lk 8: 19-21 Sept. 21 MATTHEW, APOSTLE, EVANGELIST Eph 4: 1-7, 11-13; Ps 19: 2-5; Mt 9: 9-13 Sept. 22 Thursday Hg 1: 1-8; Ps 149: 1-6, 9; Lk 9: 7-9 Sept. 23 Pio of Pietrelcina, priest Hg 2: 1-9; Ps 43: 1-4; Lk 9: 18-22 Sept. 24 Zec 2: 5-9, 14-15a; (Ps) Jer 31: 10-13; Lk 9: 43b-45

16 SPECIAL ISSUE

You know you’ve been to World Youth Day when . . .

1 2 3 4 5 6

You can’t get the ‘Benedicto!’ cheer out of your head.

When the pope first arrived in Madrid, you could hear the cheer from miles away. The cheer went like this: “Benedicto!” *clap* *clap* *clap* *clap* *clap* (Repeat as many times as necessary or until the cheer fades out.)

You have the sudden urge to volunteer everywhere.

Some of the members of the Mother Teresa of Calcutta Church in Topeka spent the day serving with the Missionaries of Charity in Madrid. It reminded the group of Mother Teresa’s encouragement to “do small things with great love.” Those small things could be everything from cleaning the restrooms in the simple lodging facility, fanning a neighbor pilgrim on a hot day, or sharing food with some of the homeless on the streets of Madrid.

You can now say that you can sleep anywhere . . . and have.

The airplane wasn’t so bad, but it went downhill from there: the wooden floor of an Olympic training gym, in a youth hostel, on straw-covered ground at Cuatro Vientos Airport, inside the Lisbon airport, on the Metro . . . well, you get the picture.

You are surprised when there’s not been a change in plans.

Throughout the week, pilgrims grew used to youth ministry coordinator Nancy Ruoff (Mother Teresa of Calcutta Parish, Topeka), and Rick Cheek (of the archdiocesan youth ministry office), delivering those fateful words: “Change of plan, guys.”

The day of the papal vigil, for example, the group travelled to Cuatro Vientos for the overnight vigil and Mass. When they arrived, however, they were told the assigned section in which they were to spend the night was full. They finally found a spot at the very back of the airport, with the closest video screen still about a half mile away.

The lanyard for your credentials weighs about four pounds because of the number of trading pins you’ve collected from other pilgrims.

Trading items representing their countries are brought by pilgrims from all over the world and include pins, hats, flags, bracelets, prayer cards, necklaces, shirts, etc. The items are exchanged between pilgrims from all over the world.

You’ve come to realize that our Catholic faith is amazing.

The overall experience of World Youth Day is hard to describe in words. Seeing everyone getting excited about their faith everywhere they went was truly inspiring.

Whether it was Mikey Needleman playing his guitar while we were walking to Stations of the Cross, or praying the “Memorare” nine times for Mary to watch over the pilgrims, the group was constantly immersed in our faith and fired up about it.

Perhaps 25-year-old Paul Wostenberg of St. Thomas More Parish in Kansas City, Mo., summed up the World Youth Day experience best when he said, “My favorite memory has to be seeing people from all over the world descend onto Madrid for a week, all with one thing in common: our Catholic faith.

“It really showed me that, despite our language, nation, or creed, we really are one body, the body of Christ.”

— by Abigail Baeten and Nancy Ruoff

THE LEAVEN • SEPTEMBER 16, 2011

December 20, 1985 193 Blessed John Paul II announces the

WORLD YOUTH Col 2:7 DAY FAST FACTS 11

institution of World Youth Day

“Rooted and built up in Jesus Christ, firm in the faith”, (Theme of World Youth Day 2011)

by Nathan Haverland

Number of countries represented at this year’s World Youth Day

2,000,000 Approximate number of people that attended the closing Mass of this year’s World Youth Day in Madrid, Spain

Number of International WYDs celebrated

800 / 14,000

Number of bishops and priests attending the closing Mass of this year’s World Youth Day

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Location of the next World Youth Day, from July 23-28, 2013

Giving thanks The archdiocesan pilgrims returned with a much greater appreciation for many things, including:

• Pope Benedict • Archbishop Naumann • Youth of the archdiocese • Seminarians of the archdiocese • Plentiful and private bathrooms • The Blessed Virgin Mary • Those who speak multiple languages • The Eucharist

• Saints, like Teresa of Avila and John of the Cross • Air conditioning • Friends, new and old • Beds • Cheeseburgers • A regular eating and sleeping schedule • Washing machines • Water, water, water

— by Nathan Haverland