Donnelly celebrates 75 years of student-first education
By Lindsey Weishar, Michaela Remijio and Laura McKnight Special to The Leaven
KANSAS CITY, Kan.
— On Sept. 12, 1949, Donnelly College here officially opened its doors.
Cofounded by the then-Diocese of Kansas City in Kansas and the Benedictine Sisters of Mount St. Scholastica in Atchison, Donnelly is now celebrating 75 years of serving the community of Kansas City, Kansas, and beyond.
As an article in the Eastern Kansas Register (The Leaven’s predecessor)
said in its July 8, 1949, issue, the purpose of Donnelly College has always been “to make it possible for the youth of Kansas City and its vicinity to obtain a Catholic college education without needless expense.”
This vision continues today. Part of the college’s mission of “making the love of God tangible in our world” includes beginning the year in prayer and service to others.
Oriented toward service, prayer
In keeping with the college’s values of truth, community and excellence and
the Benedictine charisms of stability and hospitality, staff and faculty welcome students by pairing orientation with community service. This year, students participated in a two-day orientation, the second of which was dedicated to community service with local organizations. Over the years, students have participated in activities like neighborhood cleanups, creating hygiene kits and sorting food pantry items.
These activities make it possible for the students to together practice the corporal works of mercy, a vital component of the holistic education Donnelly offers.
Donnelly also begins each fall semester with a convocation, an allschool Mass of the Holy Spirit celebrated by Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann at
the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle in Kansas City, Kansas.
“We do not merely educate students,” said Dr. Matthew Vander Vennet, Donnelly’s director of mission. “We help to form them as human beings throughout our disciplines. Inviting our students to wonder at the created order and ponder their place in it opens them up to an experience of the divine and a contemplation of the Creator.”
New and expanding programs
Donnelly is now enrolling students
PHOTO COURTESY OF DONNELLY COLLEGE
Donnelly College in Kansas City, Kansas, opened on Sept. 12, 1949, cofounded by the then-Diocese of Kansas City in Kansas and the Benedictine Sisters of Mount St. Scholastica in Atchison. The purpose of Donnelly has always been to provide affordable education to the urban core.
PHOTO COURTESY OF DONNELLY COLLEGE
Donnelly College students in the 1950s use the college’s science lab. Donnelly is now celebrating 75 years of serving the community of Kansas City, Kansas, and beyond.
‘Walk with One’ is a way to become
missionary disciples
These days, I am often asked the question:
“When will you retire?” I turned 75 in early June, and, as required by canon law, I submitted my letter of resignation to Pope Francis. In my letter, I expressed a willingness and preference to remain archbishop for another year or more.
I received a letter from Cardinal Christophe Pierre, the pope’s ambassador in the United States, informing me that the Holy Father received my letter and I remain the archbishop of Kansas City in Kansas until my successor is named.
I ask for your prayers that I will finish my term as archbishop strong — doing as much as I can to strengthen and build up the Catholic community of northeast Kansas. In particular, I wish to continue to implement the three super priorities that emerged from the Archdiocesan Envisioning Process 10 years ago: 1) to create a culture of evangelization; 2) to strengthen marriage and family life; and 3) to foster encounters with Jesus through living the corporal and spiritual works of mercy.
The summer of 2024 was phenomenal! I was privileged to ordain one priest, three transitional deacons (who are on track to be ordained priests in 2025) and 14 permanent deacons. I also participated in a
ARCHBISHOP
JOSEPH F. NAUMANN
leadership retreat with our 25 seminarians.
We have some amazing men in the seminary that are discerning a call to the priesthood.
The highlight of my summer was participating in the 10th National Eucharistic Congress for the Catholic Church in the United States. More than 60,000 Catholics gathered in Indianapolis in mid-July to praise God, adore and receive Jesus in the Eucharist and to encourage each other to live our Catholic faith with fidelity and joy. Many more thousands of Catholics participated in the Congress through EWTN’s telecasts.
I wish all of you could have been present at the congress. It was a Catholic moment. More than 200 bishops, thousands of priests, deacons and seminarians, many thousands of religious Sisters and tens of thousands of laity from across our country participated in the congress.
Each day, there were
LIFE WILL BE VICTORIOUS
several opportunities to participate in Mass and receive Our Lord in the Eucharist. Throughout the day, there were a variety of educational and inspirational sessions about different aspects of our Catholic faith and what it means to be a eucharistic people. Every evening, more than 50,000 gathered to hear some of the best Catholic evangelists and catechists as well as inspiring witness stories from laity, religious and priests. Every night concluded with an hour of adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.
On the final full day of the Congress, more than 50,000 Catholics processed with our eucharistic Lord through the heart of the city of Indianapolis. The procession concluded with eucharistic adoration and Benediction at a huge outdoor venue.
On the final day of the Eucharistic Congress, we were given a mission to “Walk with One.” This mission is not just for those who attended the congress, but it is a mission for every Catholic in the United States.
There are four steps to “Walk with One”:
1) Ask the Lord in
prayer to reveal to you the person with whom he desires for you to journey. Your “Walk with One” companion could be a parent, sibling, child, grandchild, cousin, friend, co-worker or neighbor. It could be someone who is Catholic but not really practicing their faith, which minimally means participating in Mass every Sunday. It could be someone who is unchurched or perhaps does not believe in God.
2) Pray daily for the Lord to bless the person with whom you are called to walk — to remember this person at Mass, during times of eucharistic adoration, during the rosary, during times of praying over the Scriptures and other times of prayer. Part of this step is to do intercessory prayer by fasting, offering suffering, and making sacrifices — imploring the Lord to pour out abundant graces on this special person.
3) Be intentional about cultivating a deeper relationship and friendship with this particular person. This step requires spending more time with this person and making an effort to get to know him or her better. In conversation with them, seek to understand what they enjoy, what inspires them, what challenges they are facing and what burdens they carry.
4) Ask the Holy Spirit to guide your relationship. Do not immediately attempt
ARCHBISHOP NAUMANN’S CALENDAR
Sept. 20
EOHSJ annual meeting — Denver
Sept. 23
Priests convocation — Conception, Missouri
Sept. 27
CFNEK strategic planning session — Savior
Sept. 28
Mercy and Justice Summit — Savior
Catholic Community Health’s Fall Ball — Fiorella’s Event Center, Overland Park
Sept. 29
Installation of Father Justin Hamilton — Holy Spirit, Overland Park
to talk about religion. Rather, in the course of spending time with this person, share with them in a way that is natural: a) the difference your friendship with Jesus makes in your life; b) describe to them your own prayer life; and c) share with them the gift your Catholic faith is for you.
Ask the Holy Spirit to lead you in your friendship. Ask the person: “How can I pray for you?” At some point, the Holy Spirit may inspire you to invite them to pray the rosary with you, to discuss the Gospel or some inspirational book, to come to eucharistic adoration with you or to attend Mass with you. If the person is a non-practicing Catholic, you may want to share with them the gift confession is in your own spiritual life.
There are 180,000
Catholics in the archdiocese. Ponder what it would be like if all of us just walk with one other person in the course of this year? Do not give up on this person. No matter how they respond, persist in your efforts to cultivate a deeper relationship with them. There are no greater gifts we have received than our friendship with Jesus and our Catholic faith. There is no greater joy for a Catholic than to lead another person to Jesus and his bride, the church.
“Walk with One” is really an opportunity to become what Pope Francis terms a “missionary disciple.” The mission statement for the Archdiocese of Kansas City is: “Growing as disciples of Jesus, making disciples for Jesus.” “Walk with One” is a way in which each of us can live our mission statement.
‘SHE IS A GO-GETTER’
New associate superintendent of archdiocesan schools impresses from the start
By Dean Backes Special to The Leaven
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Kirsten Wondra’s journey to becoming the associate superintendent of schools for the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas is a testament to her faith and dedication.
After some two decades in education — most of it spent in public schools — Wondra heeded the persistent call of the Holy Spirit and the encouragement of those around her to embark on this new chapter in her career.
“Looking back, I think God had been pursuing me for a long time,” Wondra said. “[Now] working in Catholic education has enriched me in my own faith in so many ways. I used to have to check my faith at the door and not give it much verbal space until I would come home at night and that, I think, leads to a very kind of fractured experience.
“I love this new role because one of my primary goals is to keep Catholicism thriving in our Catholic schools. We get to start the year with Mass all together. I’m thrilled that I get to be one small piece of God’s plan.”
A former principal herself, Wondra began supporting the 41 schools of the archdiocese July 1. In order to learn more about the needs and challenges of
I LOVE THIS NEW ROLE BECAUSE ONE OF MY PRIMARY GOALS IS TO KEEP CATHOLICISM THRIVING IN OUR CATHOLIC SCHOOLS. . . .
I’M THRILLED THAT I GET TO BE ONE SMALL PIECE OF GOD’S PLAN.
KIRSTEN WONDRA
ASSOCIATE SUPERINTENDENT OF ARCHDIOCESAN SCHOOLS
those schools, Wondra has been building relationships with school leaders and their staffs.
She spent the first weeks in her role, she said, “getting acquainted with people across the archdiocese. I’ve been meeting principals and the fabulous people that work at the chancery. I was able to go to the National Eucharistic Congress.”
“I’ve been listening to see how I can be most effective in this position,” she continued. “What are the needs out there? That’s how I’ve been spending
my time. Getting all of the minute details to the pieces and parts of things that I need to be managing.”
In searching for the perfect candidate to replace Allison Carney, who retired, superintendent of schools Dr. Vince Cascone put together an interview team that included a couple of principals.
The 25-30 applications were then cut down to about six before the interview process began. Cascone has been entirely pleased with the decision to hire Wondra.
“I’ve had a number of school leaders reach out to me and say, ‘She is the right person for the job’ and say that ‘she is going to do an awesome job moving forward,’” Cascone said.
“She fits in very well with our team,” he added. “She attended the National Eucharistic Congress and I think I was able to get good insight into her faith and her dedication, not only to the Catholic Church, but to Jesus.”
Cascone went on to say that Wondra is very good at being able to identify the areas that need to be addressed in her job responsibilities.
“She is a go-getter and she’s very personable,” said Cascone. “I think one of the things that’s very important is for her to be able to interact with and work well with principals and she definitely does that very well.”
Born in Flagstaff, Arizona, Wondra’s circle runs deep in Michigan. After moving to the Great Lake State to work on his MBA, Wondra’s father chose a career in pharmaceutical sales. Due to several moves over the years, Wondra said she grew up in at least seven states, including Kansas.
She attended Kansas State University, where she met her husband Curtis. After marrying, the Wondras transferred to Wichita State, where the self-described voracious reader earned her bachelor’s in elementary education and teaching and a master’s degree in educational leadership and administration.
Wondra and her husband belong to Corpus Christi Parish in Lawrence and have four children — two who attend St. James Academy in Lenexa and two who go to Corpus Christi School.
Over the years, Wondra, who converted to Catholicism in college, said she has never questioned her decision to become an educator.
“At times, you see the worst of the worst and the best of the best,” Wondra said. “But there is nothing like having a connection where you see something click for a kid.
“When they learn something new, it brings them such joy,” she said. “In Catholic education, it’s even better because it’s the full experience. It feels good every day.”
LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER
Kirsten Wondra is the new associate superintendent of schools for the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas. A member of Corpus Christi Parish in Lawrence, Wondra has spent more than two decades in education.
‘Civilize It’ helps Catholics bridge the political divide
By Dean Backes Special to The Leaven
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — As political temperatures continue to swelter this election season, and the nation remains divided, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is once again introducing its “Civilize It” initiative nationwide.
Born of Pope Francis’ desire to calm down the election season, “Civilize It” is designed to help Catholics overcome polarization and division in the church and society by simply following the lead of the good Samaritan. The campaign challenges Catholics to commit to God and to neighbor.
First launched by the Archdiocese of Cincinnati in 2016, “Civilize It” took the national stage in 2019 when the Ohio archdiocese invited the USCCB to take it over.
Jill Rauh, the USCCB’s executive director of the Office of Justice and Peace, said there are alternate ways to discuss our political differences.
“Polarization is real and it’s a big challenge. There is a better way,” Rauh said. “We can turn to leadership as Catholics to look for a better approach — an approach that is rooted in the dignity of the human person and seeking the common good for all.”
Rauh went on to say that Catholics should desire to be a beacon of light and of hope and not contribute to the problems we have encountered as a nation.
“We [Catholics] have a great opportunity that I think is part of our mission of evangelization,” Rauh said. “We bring a different type of approach that is inspired by love of both God and neighbor.”
Chuck Weber, executive director of the Kansas Catholic Conference, said that Catholics are a lot like other voters in that they are sometimes driven by emotion instead of facts and passion for their positions.
Although he, too, sees the need to reel in our emotion at this time of year, Weber said Catholics still need to be more passionate about the issues.
“Being passionate is different than being emotional,” Weber said. “Emotion often leads to statements that are not factual and not helpful. Passion can lead to the determination about how Catholics feel about issues and about
Lhow they really should ultimately select our elected officials.”
Deacon Bill Scholl of Our Lady & St. Rose Parish in Kansas City, Kansas, said the rest of the country could learn a lot from Kansas because Kansans embrace this sense of being kind, being open to listening to others and not being rude.
Deacon Scholl, who is also the social justice consultant for the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, said there is a tendency for voters to let their party affiliation cause them to view issues that the pope and the bishops are advocating for with some degree of suspicion, requiring him to sometimes apply the principles of “Civilize It” to engage people in dialogue.
“That’s something that the bishops in all of the states are observing,” said Deacon Scholl. “A lot of people are thinking, ‘Well, I thought you were prolife. Why are you advocating for immigration? Isn’t that what the Democrats want?
“There is this suspicion that what you’re advocating for doesn’t line up with a particular party. There is this thought that you’re giving aid to the enemy.”
“The reality is that the church does not endorse one party over another,” he added. “There is no one party in the United States that completely dovetails with Catholic social teaching.”
According to Rauh, anyone that is interested in toning down the rhetoric can get involved in “Civilize It” by taking the pledge for charity, clarity and creativity. Simply go online to: www.usccb.org/civilizeit and fill in the pledge form. Once volunteers tap the submit button, the USCCB will pass along plenty of resources including Pope Francis’ five tips for “A Better Kind of Politics.”
Deacon Scholl said that he thought it would be beneficial for parishioners to take a look at the “Civilize It” website as they continue to discern their political engagement this election season.
“I think it’d be worth their while as they are discerning their political engagement this election season,” he said. “Just take a look at the ‘Civilize It’ website and look at the message. Take it into prayer and to heart.”
“It’s really easy to find yourself in an echo chamber and to fall into the trap of confirmation bias,” he continued. “Try to get a lot of information from a lot of different sources and realize that at the end of the day, God is in charge.”
One final impression that Rauh wanted to leave with parishioners is that “Civilize It” is an everyday initiative.
“It can be applied right at home when we have a get-together with our relatives, or when we’re in the workplace or at school,” Rauh said. “There can be differing views. We can use some help from what we can draw from prayer and from resources that are available through ‘Civilize It’ to help bring a positive approach to those situations.”
Sister Mary Lou Mendel, SCL, educator and nature lover, dies
EAVENWORTH — Sister Mary Lou Mendel, 92, a Sister of Charity of Leavenworth for 72 years, died on Aug. 4. Born in Lewistown, Montana, on Oct. 22, 1931, Sister Mary Lou was the second daughter of Delbert and Nancy Mendel. For the first few years of her life, she lived in a log cabin with a sod roof along the banks of the Missouri River that runs through the Missouri Breaks in Montana, where she played in the water and learned to enjoy nature at an early age.
Her father died when she was 4 years old. Her mother moved to Red Lodge and later married Robert “Bob” Robinson, who raised Sister Mary Lou and her older sister as his own.
Her mother, originally from Kansas City, Missouri, encouraged her daughter to attend Saint Mary College in Leavenworth to be near family. While
there, she got to know the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth as proficient teachers and joyful women and eventually pursued religious life due to their example, and at the encouragement of a Red Lodge priest.
She entered the community on Aug. 21, 1952, and took the name Sister Leo Therese when she received her habit. She later returned to her baptismal name.
Sister Mary Lou earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Saint Mary College and a second master’s from the University of Wyoming. She taught for one year in an elementary school and 16 years in high schools across Kansas, Missouri, Montana and Nebraska.
Institute for Spiritual Leadership from Loyola University in Chicago, she served for six years in Sister of Charity formation as tertian director, director of vocations and director of novices. Her love of community, deep spirituality, gentle nature, and ability to teach and connect with others served her well as a guide and companion for young women entering religious life.
In 1982, Sister Mary Lou returned to Montana, where she served for 39 years. She first served as pastoral minister for Holy Rosary Parish in Billings and then as parish administrator for parishes in Bridger, Joliet and Fromberg. She later ministered at St. Vincent Healthcare in Billings.
Mission, where she continued in parish ministry. In November of 2021, Sister Mary Lou retired to the motherhouse in Leavenworth.
After earning a certificate at the
In 2011, she moved to the Crow Reservation in Pryor, Montana, at St. Charles
Over the years, Sister Mary Lou served as a spiritual director for Sisters, parishioners and people she met along the way. One of her greatest gifts was helping others to see, know and experience God at a deeper and more personal level in their individual lives and relationships. The people she ministered to and with will remember her for her ease with people. Her kind and compassionate nature helped her build meaningful relationships. She enjoyed good humor, even when the joke was on her. While she enjoyed people and her ministry, she also took time to enjoy all of God’s creation, hiking numerous trails in the Red Lodge area as well as Glacier and Yellowstone parks.
In a time of political division, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops is re-introducing its “Civilize It” initiative nationwide. The initiative seeks to have people act, listen and respond respectfully to each other in this political season.
Sister Mary Lou Mendel, SCL
Even in the face of tragedy, Baileyville farmer knows the Lord is NOT
By Catherine Halbmaier Special to The Leaven
BAILEYVILLE — “Faith will carry you through the difficult times in your life.”
That’s what Eugene (Gene) Holthaus, longtime parishioner of Sacred Heart Parish in Baileyville, has learned. And throughout the loss of his wife and daughter — and the caring for his paralyzed son — Holthaus has been a powerful witness to those who know him.
Linus Holthaus, brother of Gene, encouraged him to share his story.
“I told him, God has watched over you time and time again,” Linus said. “You need to tell this story in your words, with your feelings.”
Tragedy strikes
Since their childhood, Gene has been a hard worker, said Linus.
“Gene was a workaholic at an early age,” he said. “He went 100 miles an hour about everything he did. His life reminds me of Job’s story in the Bible. He went through a lot, but it never got him down. God only gives you what you can handle, and he won’t give you any more than you can.”
But God gave Gene a lot.
It started in 1993 when Kevin Holthaus, Gene’s son, broke his neck in a car accident, leaving Kevin paralyzed and requiring the constant care of his family.
Gene and his wife Jeanette would be on call throughout the night, ready to turn Kevin over or get him anything he needed.
“He’s grateful that he can still get around with a chair,” Gene said. “He looks at those who have it worse, and he’s thankful for what he can still do.”
Still, caring for Kevin required constant effort. But it was made much easier by the purchase of a special bed (from ProBed Medical USA Inc.) that could rotate Kevin as needed.
“It wasn’t cheap, but it’s worth every penny,” he said. “I want other families to know about this, in case it can help them take care of someone they love.”
After the passing of his wife, caring for Kevin became even more difficult.
Jeannette
“We met at a dance,” Gene recalled, of first meeting Jeanette. Even then, Jeanette was often sick, and Gene would visit her in the hospital. But the couple would go on to get married and have children before she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006.
“She was a great cook, never had to measure anything,” Gene remembered. “She also made beautiful quilts. After Mass, we would dance alone in our kitchen, I would go to bed, and she would go to her sewing room. She would wake me in the wee hours of the night to show me progress on a quilt. She would always remind me that I never complained when cattle came in the wee hours of the night.”
“One day,” Gene continued, “she came
DONE WITH HIM YET
Eugene Holthaus is pictured above at Sacred Heart Church in Baileyville with grandson Cody Kramer. Holthaus, a longtime parishionerofSacredHeart,hasbeendealthisshareofsorrowsinlife.Butthroughitall,hisfaithhashelpedhimpersevere.
out of the room in the middle of a project and said, ‘I’m done.’ We sat on the couch together and she told me, ‘Will you be OK if I go?’ And I said, ‘Where will you be going’? ‘Home to Jesus,’ she told me. And I said, ‘If the Lord is calling you, and you’re ready, then you go. I will see you on the other side.’
“She almost smiled in relief. She wanted me to find someone I could be happy with,” he said. “I told her that isn’t going to happen. But she wanted me to be happy afterward. That’s true love.”
Shortly after his wife’s passing, Gene described what he believes to be a sign from the heavens.
“The night Jeanette passed had been rainy and cloudy. As I was driving Kevin home, my daughter was following me who was followed by my grandson. When we arrived, they both asked if I had seen the beam of light that had shone on Kevin’s van for about three miles. We took that as a sign that Jeanette was already in a better place.”
According to Gene, Jeanette always wanted to help others, even in her dying days. After her passing, she donated the gift of sight to someone in need.
But Gene’s faith was tested once again when his daughter Shelli took her own life in 2018.
According to Gene, Shelli was an exceptional athlete in her younger years.
She was known as an excellent catcher on the softball team, and she grew to be a loving mother to four sons.
“The last time I saw her, she told me, ‘Goodbye, Dad,’” Gene said. “I knew something was wrong because she never talks like that, she never says goodbye — just, ‘See you later.’”
Gene still vividly recalls his daughter’s funeral service.
“I remember looking into the coffin and begging God to let me take her place,” Gene said. “Every time God talked to me, even when Shelli died, he said, ‘Gene, I’m not done with you yet. You’ve got work to do.’”
Witness
The witness of the unshakable faith of his brother Gene has left an impact on Linus and his children.
“God comes to you in the strangest ways at the strangest times — when you’re 80 or 18,” said Linus. “I think with a lot of people, God appears to them and they don’t realize it.
“But Gene did. He accepted his cross.”
“Gene will be 80,” Linus added, “[but] you’d never know it from the way he works. His faith in God and faith in people is stronger than I’ve ever seen it. He won’t avoid talk of death, because people want listeners. They want to talk about the person they lost, and he
I THINK WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE, GOD APPEARS TO THEM AND THEY DON’T REALIZE IT.
BUT GENE DID. HE ACCEPTED HIS CROSS.
LINUS HOLTHAUS
BROTHER OF GENE HOLTHAUS
can identify with their problem.”
Father Reginald Saldanha, pastor of Sacred Heart in Baileyville, has seen that faith firsthand.
“I have been here for seven years now as [Gene Holthaus’] pastor,” Father Saldanha said. “He is a very faithful Catholic. I see him almost every day for Mass.”
He has also seen the way his parishioner has dealt with immense grief, and himself has drawn lessons from it.
“[Gene] told me he just prays for the grace to live the day,” said Father Saldanha, “and I have noticed that his strength comes from the Eucharist. He never misses Mass and tries to bring his grandkids. He’s a great model to them.”
“His act of enduring suffering,” he added, “I consider it as a treasure. I think anybody who knows him can grow and become a stronger Christian and Catholic by his example.”
“He is a man who faced a lot of challenges in his life,” agreed Father Arul Carasala, pastor of Sts. Peter and Paul Parish in Seneca.
Father Carasala came to know Gene through his daughter Shelli, who was in his parish.
“He was very dedicated to taking care of Jeanette until she passed away,” he said. “Eventually, Shelli took her own life.
“Despite all of that he was solid in his faith. He never blamed any of it on God; rather, he approached God with an attitude of ‘you can help me to get through this.’”
“I encouraged him to join our grief support group,” Father Carasala continued. “After a year of this program, he said that was the best thing he ever did in his life.”
Sharing his story
Gene hopes that by sharing his story and that of his family, he can spread a message of faith and peace.
“Faith gives you inner strength and a sense of balance and a perspective of life that will let you go on living in peace,” Gene said. “I’m not doing this for me. I just hope someone out there can hear this and take something from it.”
“Take care of what the Lord has given you,” he concluded, “and when it is our time, I have faith the Lord will say, ‘Job well done.’
“That is farmer’s talk, but sure seems to be true!”
COURTESYPHOTO
You may recognize these oft-quoted words from St. Teresa of Kolkata: “What can you do to promote world peace? Go home and love your family.”
Beautiful, right? Except — does that really sound like the Mother Teresa we know? The one we saw in the streets and slums of Kolkata, bending down to those covered in filth, lifting up the dying from the gutters?
No. It doesn’t. Because she never said it.
These famous words from Mother Teresa are a twist on what she actually said in her Nobel Prize acceptance speech in 1979:
“And so, my prayer for you is that truth will bring prayer in our homes, and the fruit of prayer will be that we believe that in the poor, it is Christ. And if we really believe, we will begin to love. And if we love, naturally, we will try to do something. First in our own home, our next door neighbor, in the country we live, in the whole world.”
Start at home, but don’t stay there
The movement of her message is essential. We don’t go home, yank the curtains closed and shut ourselves safely inside with our families. We don’t go back to our parishes, lock the doors and concern ourselves only with the people inside. We are called to start first in our own homes, certainly. But then, following in the footsteps of Our Lord, who went out to the people — over and
over, every day of his life, ministering to messy humans in all their sin and suffering — we are called to go out to our neighbors, to strangers, even to our enemies.
We are called, by the power and grace of our baptism, to love and serve a broken, sinful world.
I hope I don’t scandalize your faith by revealing that the saints did not say all the words we often attribute to them. (It
always helps to Google before you quote Augustine or Aquinas or anyone!)
But what we do know for certain is what Jesus Christ said to us. Thank God for the abundance and richness of the Gospels. Because when it comes to the relationship between faith and family, home and world, Jesus offers us challenging words:
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your
neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies” (Mt 5:43-44).
“If any one comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple” (Lk 14:26).
“And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my
brother, and sister, and mother’” (Mt 12:49-50).
God loves families, of course. This most intimate and important community of human life is where we begin our days on earth and where we first learn how to love.
Yet the formation we receive at home is not meant to stay at home. It is meant to prepare us to go out into the world, a world that desperately needs our truth and service but will also reject our Christian witness.
So we must start with home and those closest to us, in our efforts to be peacemakers. But then we must go out — as St. Teresa said (truly said), from our home to our neighbors, then to our country, and ultimately to the whole world.
Right now, we can see ever more clearly the deep and desperate need that our world has for the love of Christ.
May we not keep it locked up at home, but go out to share what we have been given.
LAURA KELLY FANUCCI
Laura Kelly Fanucci is an author, speaker and founder of Mothering Spirit, an online gathering place on parenting and spirituality.
OSV NEWS PHOTO/MIHOKO OWADA, CATHOLIC STANDARD
A family prays during Mass at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington Sept. 24, 2023.
Law enforcement prepared investigator well
By Moira Cullings moira.cullings@theleaven.org
KANSAS CITY, Kan. —
“This is quite frankly the best job I’ve ever had,” said Declan Lowney.
Lowney is the new investigator-auditor for the archdiocesan office for protection and care (OPC). He started the position on April 8.
His eagerness for the work comes from “being able to work not only in something that’s important to me, which is assisting and helping victims,” he said, “but tying that together with the Catholic Church, which has unfortunately suffered over the years with the sexual abuse scandals.
“It means quite a bit to be able to be a small part in helping solve that issue and righting the wrong from so many years ago.”
Lowney is a first-generation American whose parents immigrated to the United States from Ireland in the 1980s.
He was raised in New York and grew up Catholic. He moved to the Kansas City metro around 10 years ago and is married to his wife Rachel.
Lowney became a law enforcement officer in 2015 at the University of Kansas Medical Center Police Department in Kansas City, Kansas, where he worked for three years.
He then joined the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department as a police officer for about five years. During that time, he worked as a patrol officer, field training officer and SWAT team officer.
Lowney earned the Kansas Association of Chiefs of Police Gold Award for Valor and the Metro Chiefs Association Silver Award for Valor.
But he felt pulled to make a career change.
“As I got out of law enforcement, I was looking for opportunities to get into something different,” said Lowney. “This happened to come up on my job search.
“And this opportunity struck me as something [where] I could still contribute by doing something good . . . and still make a difference and help victims in a meaningful way.”
His level of experience is what made him a standout candidate to the OPC, said director Jenifer Valenti.
“While possessing strong expertise in conducting investigations,” she said, “Declan’s trauma-informed and relational approach to interviewing set him apart from the other candidates.
“In addition to his investigative skills, he also had experience assessing and building program structure, which is a talent we were seeking as this role is integral to developing our new parish and school Safeguarding Program.”
As an auditor, Lowney builds relationships with the stakeholders within the archdiocesan community to ensure that children and vulnerable adults are protected in a safe environment.
Katherine “Kitty” and Danny Guetterman, members of Queen of the Holy Rosary Parish, Wea, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on Aug. 31 with a Mass and dinner. The couple was married at Wea on Aug. 31, 1974, and have three children: Jessica Finch, Leigh Vosseler and Mitchel Guetterman. They also have seven grandchildren.
Patricia and Steven Campbell, members of St. Columbkille Parish, Blaine, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary with a reception with family and friends. The couple was married on Sept. 14, 1974, at St. Columbkille Church by Father Al Rockers. Their children are: Kaleb and Kyle. They also have six grandchildren.
with survivors of sexual abuse by clergy and other representatives of the Catholic Church.
THIS OPPORTUNITY
STRUCK ME AS SOMETHING [WHERE] I COULD STILL CONTRIBUTE BY DOING SOMETHING GOOD
. . . AND STILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND HELP VICTIMS IN A MEANINGFUL WAY.”
DECLAN LOWNEY
INVESTIGATOR-AUDITOR FOR THE ARCHDIOCESAN OFFICE FOR PROTECTION AND CARE
By partnering with frontline workers, said Valenti, he will ensure everyone is doing their part to protect those who are vulnerable.
“When there has been a potential harm or abuse,” she continued, “particularly when committed by someone who is in a position of trust, the initial and ongoing response is critical.
“We must have someone who is trustworthy, objective and fair leading the response efforts.”
As an investigator, Lowney assists the OPC in its mission to walk
He investigates all claims — no matter how long ago the alleged abuse occurred — and presents the findings to the archdiocesan Independent Review Board, which then provides its recommendations to the archbishop.
He pursues the truth in each investigation, said Valenti, no matter where it leads.
For Lowney, the work has already been fulfilling, and he looks forward to continuing to advance the OPC’s efforts.
“There’s a lot of harm that’s been caused by the church over the years due to some bad actors,” he said. “This is a good opportunity to right those wrongs and give back.”
The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas takes all allegations of abuse and misconduct by church personnel very seriously and works to respond to survivors’ needs with urgency, respect and compassion. Anyone with knowledge about any misconduct by a church volunteer, employee, religious or clergy member — regardless of when the misconduct may have occurred — is encouraged to contact civil authorities first, and then call or text the archdiocese’s confidential report line at (913) 276-8703 or go online to: www.archkck.org/reportabuse.
Sharon (Phillips) and Tim Trowbridge, members of Sacred Heart Parish, Tonganoxie, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a family gathering. The couple was married Sept. 7, 1974, at St. Patrick Church in Kansas City, Kansas, by Father Dennis Wait. Their children are: Heather Coit, Scott Trowbridge and Rachel Boese. They also have 12 grandchildren.
Tom and Agnes Walsh, members of Most Pure Heart of Mary Parish, Topeka, will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary on Sept. 26. The couple was married on Sept. 26, 1964, at St. Andrew Church, Wright. Their children are: John Walsh, Leo Walsh and Janel Caffee. They also have eight grandchildren.
SOLUTION
LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER
Declan Lowney is the new investigator-auditor for the archdiocesan office for protection and care (OPC). He started the position on April 8.
Church’s Season of Creation reminds us of Pope Francis’ clarion call to stewardship
By D.D. Emmons OSV News
Apriest friend visited a sister parish in Central America. On arrival, a young girl quickly directed him to the village center and excitedly pointed out a newly installed water spigot. Until the previous week, all water used by the inhabitants had to be transported from a nearby lake. The village — the entire village — now had a single source of running water. Eventually, the little girl asked my friend if his village had such a spigot? He was too embarrassed to tell her that he had seven at his house. The availability of clean water is one of the serious problems for mankind.
My friend’s experience comes to mind when reading Pope Francis’ encyclical, “Laudato Si’,” (“Praise be to you”). In it, the pope discusses, among many environmental issues, the worldwide shortage of fresh drinking water which, as he emphasizes, is critical for all life. He points out that the demand for water far exceeds supply in many places, while in others it is plentiful: “Our world has a grave social debt toward the poor who lack access to drinking water. . . . This debt can be paid partially by an increase in funding to provide clean water and sanitary services among the poor” (No. 30).
Much of our planet has been damaged and is under siege by its occupants. The shortage of clean, accessible water is merely one of many self-caused ecological issues facing mankind. The cartoon character Pogo would describe the situation thus: “We have met the enemy and he is us.”
The plight of the planet is largely our doing and should be regarded as among the most serious issues confronting every citizen, but it is not. In the grand scheme of things, man’s harmful impact on creation is not well understood, much less acknowledged by the ordinary person. One who continues the clarion call about this situation and of our sin against creation is Pope Francis. There is no more fervent advocate calling for the protection and caring of the earth than the pope.
Nine years ago, he wrote the extensive, 42,000-word encyclical, “Laudato Si’,” in which he cautions that we must change how we deal with creation both as individuals and as a world community. Last year, he wrote a follow-up apostolic exhortation, “Laudate Deum” (“Praise God”), to further underscore the call. While the encyclical delineates many environmental problems, causes and suggested solutions, more than anything the pope is urging us to be attentive, to wake up to the ongoing defacement we are causing. He enjoins us to change our lifestyle, to end the careless use of natural resources. As Mahatma Gandhi pointed out: “The world has enough resources to meet everyone’s need, but not enough to match everyone’s greed.”
People collect trash that can be recycled and traded from the sea of garbage in the Citarum River, one of the most polluted rivers in the world, located in Bandung, West Java, Indonesia.
The papal encyclical, widely discussed by many Catholic leaders, is not well-known by the average person in the pew. Likely, Massgoers would be squirming if the accusatory, truthful words and thoughts of Pope Francis were part of a Sunday morning homily. Indeed, this is an issue about which many would just as soon see go away. It makes us uncomfortable when someone — in this case, the pope — reminds us of our obvious failures and the potential for long-term catastrophic consequences. But awareness
at the individual level is necessary if we are to begin to make a positive difference in the environment. Often, encyclicals take decades to affect change, but the ecological problems, as highlighted by the pope, need attention now.
Following the issuance of the 2015 papal encyclical, the church proclaimed that a special celebration for creation would be held every year from the beginning of September until the feast of St. Francis, Oct. 4. The time is designated as one of intense prayer
and thanksgiving; it is a special opportunity to be aware of, to focus on, to be attentive to God’s gift of creation and to commit to ways we can protect this gift. It is a time to remind ourselves of our responsibility toward the future of the planet.
The Season of Creation calls for us to pray together as one human family, praying that the Holy Spirit provides us needed wisdom, that through his awesome power we collectively find ways to protect the planet and begin to slow the decay that man has imposed.
On the first day of September, Pope Francis proclaims a World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation. He issues a yearly letter, reinforcing his “Laudato Si’” encyclical, exhorting every Catholic, every person, individually and collectively, to live in harmony with the environment. This message and the day of prayer are the catalysts that start the annual Season of Creation.
The pope usually urges everyone to use this monthlong season to offer thanks to the Creator, acknowledge that our natural resources are not without limit and encourage actions that lead to better care of the planet. In his 2020 annual letter, the pope said that creation itself is admonishing us to recognize that “these days, however, our way of life is pushing the
The shortage of clean, accessible water is one of many self-caused ecological issues facing mankind.
of stewardship
planet beyond its limits. Our constant demand for growth and an endless cycle of production and consumption are exhausting the natural world. Forests are leached, topsoil erodes, fields fail, deserts advance, seas acidify and storms intensify. Creation is groaning!” (No. 3).
The Old Testament Book of Genesis, in the first two chapters, tells us that God created everything — not only the earth, the sea and vegetation, but light and darkness, the stars, animals, man and woman. All creation was arranged for us and put into our care for use. But we have not been good stewards.
Man has damaged this magnificent gift from God in horrendous ways, including wars that featured explosives and gases not only killing each other but destroying the environment. Some have seen videos of World War I and II and how countries were destroyed by bombs and shells. We have seen pictures of military aircraft over the jungles of Southeast Asia spraying chemicals, intended to kill the foliage, trees and crops. We know about nuclear accidents that have wiped out plants and animals for centuries. Similar actions continue today around the globe.
But even if we don’t consider the wars, through the centuries man has found many ways to pollute, poison
Reason for creation
By Msgr. Owen F. Campion OSV News
Few sections of Scripture have been debated, discussed and disputed as often, and as intensely, as the first chapters of the Book of Genesis, which scholars call the “Creation Narratives,” the story of how humanity, the earth and all things came into being.
Once, many states enforced laws obligating public school teachers to teach that creation was accomplished in six days, of 24 hours each, and then God rested.
Worldwide attention, in 1925, was drawn to Dayton, Tennessee, about one hour’s drive north from Chattanooga, where a biology teacher in Dayton’s high school, named John Scopes, was tried in court for telling his students about Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution.
It was dramatic, but the trial brought Genesis to every mind in America, regardless of personal religious attachment.
(Scopes was convicted and fined. The Tennessee Supreme Court overturned the verdict on a technicality. Scopes, later a convert to Catholicism, died in 1970. The U.S. Supreme Court in 1968 ruled that laws requiring public school teachers to follow a certain religious opinion about the origins of the world are unconstitutional.)
Years afterward, a screenplay, based on the trial, appeared on
and contaminate this universe God has given us. The pope says, in unambiguous terms, we have turned it into an “immense pile of filth” (No. 21). As occupants of the earth, know that what is happening to the planet is on our watch. We have to pass creation on to the next generation; we are the link in an eternal chain.
Pope Francis, the Vicar of Christ, repeatedly speaks out as one of the few truly international figures who constantly warns of our need to take care of creation. Unfortunately, much of mankind has not yet received the
GOD HAS GIVEN US THE WORLD TO STEWARD, TO GIVE IN TURN TO THE NEXT GENERATION, INTACT AND ABUNDANT.
Broadway, “Inherit the Wind.” A movie followed. Both were popular. Battles continue, in personal conversations, pulpits and still in schools. It is too bad. Arguments distract from the great lessons contained in Genesis. First and foremost, we learn that God exists. God is a person. God is in earthly life. We can speak to God. He hears us. God is in our lives. God is supremely wise.
God has given us the world to steward, to give in turn to the next generation, intact and abundant. Our task is to cultivate and enrich the created world, not exhaust its plenty in our selfishness. God created the world to support and nourish us. God guides us to wholesome and fulfilled lives.
Evil is real. Temptations come upon us, and they can be very inviting. They toy with our instincts and appetites, and, ultimately, they urge us to forget the fact that, as humans, we are limited. We do dumb things.
We bring problems upon ourselves
memo, including many of the church faithful. Here then is an opportunity for the parish, a place where commonsense actions can mitigate some of the environmental damage being done.
Some actions? Words from the pulpit, leadership through groups such as the parish council looking for ways to educate parishioners, and defining positive steps ordinary Catholics can take to protect the planet.
There are numerous sources of information on how to align with and better understand the pleas of Pope
when we ignore the way that God has shown us as the path to personal peace and order. By sinning, we dig our own graves. God warned us of the peril we create for ourselves when we sin. Why?
God loves us. God is merciful. The first humans, Adam and Eve, sinned. By their own free choice, they made a mess of things and had to live with the consequences, but God did not strike them dead. They survived, able to reform.
All humans — whatever their names, whenever they live, wherever they are — sin by their own free choice. They can reform. God strengthens their desire to reform.
What is the Catholic Church’s approach to the Creation Narratives of Genesis? Genesis was written with the best scientific knowledge of its day in mind. That knowledge was improved by updated research, but, regardless, the purpose of Genesis is to present certain religious facts.
The point is not that God hung the sun and the moon on a solid sky as if they were light fixtures attached to a ceiling. But that these sources of light were among the thousands of ways in which Almighty God created everything in love to let humans know that the Almighty exists, is all powerful, unlimited in love, generosity, wisdom and mercy; to teach them that humanity is God’s most wonderful creation, with a very special role in the world and in a special relationship with the Creator.
Francis: “Laudato Si’” can be found at numerous websites. Information on the Season of Creation is found, among many sources, online at: seasonof creation.org and laudatosimovement. org. Study guides on the pope’s encyclical and environmental issues are plentiful, including at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ website at: usccb.org.
This is not an easy task: changing habits, changing attitudes and changing hearts never is.
Ministry for grieving parents back after pandemic hiatus
By Bob Hart Special to The Leaven
“Iturned to Scripture because I didn’t know where else to turn,” said Patty Billinger, whose son Blaine died 13 years ago.
Billinger and other parents who had lost children sought solace for their unrelenting sorrow by ultimately forming Chrysalis, a support group and ministry for grieving parents.
A chrysalis is the shell from which a butterfly emerges.
The group, formed in the latter part of the last decade, brought faith-based comfort and fellowship to mothers and fathers. It was, as they say, “a club none of us wanted to be in.”
The fear and isolation of the COVID pandemic put a temporary halt to the mutual healing, however. Although members tried to continue meeting online, the loss of in-person intimacy was detrimental and the ministry went on hiatus.
As normalcy slowly returned, Billinger and the other parents continued with their busy lives but realized something was missing.
“I received an abundance of requests to bring the group back,” she said. “Once we did, I realized how much I missed these people and how they are so important in my life.”
She was not alone.
“When we started back up, there was
tremendous relief,” said member Christine Downey. “And because I am now 11 years into my journey, it was a gift to reassure parents who’ve more recently lost a child that the path of grieving is very difficult, but with God’s grace you can walk that path.”
Chrysalis is open to any grieving parent, Catholic or not, although members stress that the group is faith-based and includes Scripture readings.
Members at times have also included grandparents, siblings and surrogate parents like aunts and uncles. The majority, however, are mothers and
fathers who share the pain of unanticipated loss.
“We expect to grieve the loss of our parents,” said member Debbie Daly. “We expect to grieve the loss of our grandparents. We do not expect to grieve the loss of our child.”
“It is a gut-wrenching pain,” added Billinger, “because you lose your future. Still, there is hope, and it’s hard to explain what we do. People come to us in various stages of grief. We don’t counsel. We just walk with you hand in hand.”
Daly says the group provides hope that is desperately needed.
“Reading books about grieving is fine, but we don’t really learn how to grieve until we turn to our Blessed Mother Mary. She grieved perfectly. To learn how to grieve, we must ask Mary to teach us, to guide us and be with us on each step of our journey. She grieved the deepest because she loved her innocent son with her entire heart. She will, as she walks with us, always lead us to her son, Jesus. Jesus is the healer of our hearts.”
—
Christine Downey, Chrysalis member
“We can still pray our child along their journey into heaven,” she said. “What more can we ask? To heaven — that is our goal.”
Chrysalis is now meeting the last Tuesday of each month at Church of the Ascension, located at 9510 W. 127th in Overland Park. The next meeting, on Sept. 24, will be held in the conference room at 6 p.m. Those wanting more information may contact Billinger at the church at (913) 681-3348.
“I don’t know that it’s for everyone,” Downey said. “But I think everyone should come to one meeting and find out what it’s about. The timing is different for everyone. Some will want to come right away after their loss, and others will need some more time. But they are always welcome.”
Chrysalis, a support group and ministry for grieving parents, is back with in-person meetings after going on hiatus during the COVID pandemic.
Women’s Conference offers message of hope
On Sept. 5-7, Holy Trinity Parish in Lenexa hosted the Catholic Women’s Conference of Healing and Forgiveness: Women of Hope.
The purpose of the conference was to help women understand that the grace of Christ’s love can heal broken relationships with God, others and even parts of themselves.
The three-day event included inspirational guest speakers, candlelight exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and opportunities to receive the sacrament of reconciliation, as well as life-changing healing prayers each day of the conference.
The keynote speaker was Dr. Mary Healy, a professor of Scripture at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, an international speaker and a bestselling author.
Dr. Mary Healy shares a smile with baby Louis as she prays over mom JoEllen Loughman, who suffers from migraines. Healy led a healing session on Sept. 7 at Holy Trinity Parish in Lenexa during the Catholic Women’s Conference of Healing and Forgiveness: Women of Hope.
PHOTOS BY JILL RAGAR ESFELD
Lauren Marquess, left, and Mattie Karr, center, pray over a woman during a healing session at the women’s conference. The break-out session was led by Andrew Comiskey, director of Desert Stream/Living Waters Ministry, and Eric Wombwell, director of the Kansas City Encounter School of Ministry campus. The women prayed together and learned how to minister Christ’s healing to one another.
Dr. Mary Healy leads a healing session following the Saturday evening Mass on Sept. 7 at Holy Trinity. All were invited to attend.
Msgr. Stuart Swetland places the Blessed Sacrament in the monstrance before leading the women in eucharistic adoration.
EMPLOYMENT
Catholic journalist - The Leaven, the official newspaper of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, is looking for an experienced feature writer to join its small staff as it reports the news of the archdiocese both in its weekly award-winning print publication and on social media. Desired candidate must be able to work independently and as part of a team, covering events and programs around the archdiocese. This position is full time and eligible for benefits, and will average 40 hours per week, with the opportunity for a flexible work schedule. This position is hybrid with work completed in the chancery office and remotely. For details and job description, please visit: archkck.org/jobs, click on “Openings in our Archdiocese” and then click on “Catholic Journalist” to learn more about the position and to apply. The Leaven is hoping to fill this position quickly; applications will be reviewed as they are received.
Executive assistant to the archbishop - The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas is seeking to hire an executive assistant to the archbishop, which is responsible for supporting the mission of the office of the archbishop. Please visit “Employment Opportunities” on the archdiocesan website at: archkck.org for more information or to apply.
Assistant needed - Part-time assistant in life insurance and securities firm. Competitive pay. Office located in Shawnee. If interested, call (913) 593-6016.
Music director - St. Joseph Parish in Shawnee invites applications for the position of full-time director of music. St. Joseph is a large suburban parish which boasts a renovated church featuring an Allen 3-manual organ and Steinway piano. The director of music will oversee all musical aspects of parish liturgical events, including five weekend Masses, solemnities, feasts and special occasions. Responsibilities encompass directing four choirs, supervising four paid organists and scheduling all music ministers. Candidates should demonstrate a strong Roman Catholic faith, deep knowledge of liturgy, and exceptional proficiency in keyboard playing, conducting and voice development. This role requires proactive leadership, effective communication and a passion for nurturing spiritual growth through music. Interested applicants are encouraged to send their resume to: mthomas @ stjoeshawnee.org or call (913) 248-4562.
Full-time custodian - Nativity Parish School has an immediate opening for a full-time custodian. Applicants should have prior custodial experience, specifically in a school environment. Maintenance experience would be a plus. The position is scheduled to work Monday - Friday from 4 - 9 p.m.; some holiday work is expected. Applicants must have a compatible work history, references, dependable transportation and be willing to participate in a background check. The Church of the Nativity pays a competitive compensation commensurate with experience and qualifications. Nativity has a history of retaining its employees, who work in an environment that is vibrant, collaborative and Catholic faith-based place of worship and education. Nativity Parish School is located at 3700 W. 119th St., Leawood, Kansas. Nativity offers a comprehensive benefit program including medical, dental, vision, vacation and 401(k). Interested applicants should send resumes and work history to: mhyde@kcnativity.org. No phones calls, please.
Housekeeper - The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas is seeking to hire a housekeeper, which would be responsible for a variety of cleaning tasks in order to ensure a clean and hospitable retreat environment. Please visit “Employment Opportunities” on the archdiocesan website at: archkck.org for more information or to apply.
Head baseball coach - Bishop Miege High School is seeking a head basketball coach for the 2024-25 school year. Previous coaching experience required. Contact Joe Schramp, athletic director, at: jschramp@ bishopmiege.com or (913) 222-5802.
Bookkeeper - The bookkeeper performs clerical tasks in support of Advice & Aid Pregnancy Center’s mission. Under the direction of the operations director and the accountant, the bookkeeper is responsible for accounts payable, payroll and recordkeeping. The bookkeeper makes entries in QuickBooks in support of Advice & Aid’s accounting activities. The successful candidate needs to be efficient and accurate, completing tasks in a timely manner. Proficiency in QuickBooks. Must be a committed Christian with a personal relationship with Jesus who actively participates in a local, Bible-believing church, demonstrates a consistently life-affirming philosophy, and subscribes to and supports the vision, mission, statement of faith, and policies and procedures of Advice & Aid. Please send a cover letter and resume to Ryan at: rbogard@adviceandaid.com by Sept. 30.
Part-time catechist position - Holy Trinity Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is growing! We are looking to add another part-time catechist to join our team! Hours include Mon., Tues., Thurs. afternoons serving the Holy Trinity School with additional hours up to 18 per week. Ideal candidates would be Level II-trained. Additional job description can be found on the Holy Trinity website at: htlenexa.org. Click on “About Us” and go to “Job Openings.” Send resume to Diane Jones at: djones@htlenexa. org or call (913) 895-0662.
Safe driver needed - Driver needed to transport young adults with special needs to and from their job locations. Company-owned vehicles. The Mission Project, a not-forprofit organization, is based in Mission. See our website at: www.themissionproject.org. 10 - 20 hours per week; $14.50 per hour. Retirees encouraged to apply. All clients are able to enter and leave the vehicle without assistance. Excellent driving record, background checks and references are required. Call Alvan at (913) 269-2642.
Technician Needed ASAP - Do you like to tinker? Are you detail-oriented? Then this is the job for you! A locally owned family business is currently seeking candidates to provide preventive maintenance (cleaning) and repair service on microscopes. No previous experience necessary, on-the-job training provided. Good communication, time management and customer service skills necessary. Expenses paid, out in the field majority of time and each day is different! Some travel is required. Please contact us at: techneeded23@gmail.com.
Make a meaningful impact today -Join L’Arche Heartland as a Direct Support Professional in our residential homes. Contribute to the empowerment and enrichment of adults with developmental disabilities as they engage in meaningful lifestyles. We have immediate full-time positions available. We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes 100% coverage for medical, dental and vision expenses. Conveniently situated in downtown Overland Park. Training provided. Apply now by visiting our website at: www.larcheks. org/join-out-team or by emailing: james@larcheks.org.
Workforce training and development specialist - Are you seeking an opportunity to advance your career while assisting others to advance theirs? Then consider your next career move with our great team as a Workforce training and development specialist. This position will work between our Leavenworth and Atchison locations. Please go online to: catholiccharitiesks.org/careers for more information.
Staff accountant - Seeking a staff accountant (full time) with a local CPA firm. Bachelor’s degree in accounting required. Duties include individual and business income tax return preparation, payroll processing and general business accounting services. QuickBooks experience is desirable. Send cover letter and resume to: pam@heatoncpa.net.
Sonographer - Wyandotte and Olathe Pregnancy Clinics are in need of a full- or part-time sonographer. In addition to performing ultrasound, this person will also help medical staff meet the needs and answer questions of clients experiencing an unexpected pregnancy. Call Kim at (913) 907-9558.
Administrative assistant - Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth seek an experienced professional to support our leadership team at our beautiful campus located in Leavenworth. Primary duties include taking minutes; arranging travel; creating booklets; managing calendars; and assisting with general office duties. An associate’s degree and five years’ experience in a similar position are preferred. Proficiency in Microsoft Window, Microsoft Office Suite and Adobe Acrobat Pro are required. For more details, please visit our website at: www.scls. org. To apply, please email a cover letter and resume to: recruiting@scls.org. EOE.
Coordinator of youth ministry - Queen of the Holy Rosary Parish, Wea, is looking for a passionate and dedicated individual to join our parish team as a part-time coordinator of youth ministry. This role is integral in nurturing the faith of our young parishioners and fostering their growth as disciples of Christ. This position is part time, 20 hours per week. Salary is negotiable based on experience. Queen of the Holy Rosary Parish, Wea, is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a vibrant faith community. To apply, please send your resume and a cover letter to Kimberly Zubilaga at: formation@qhrwea. org. For more information about our parish, visit: www. qhrwea.church.
Faculty and adjunct faculty job openings - Donnelly College, Kansas City, Kansas, is a Catholic college offering higher education for those who may not otherwise be served Faculty job openings - none. Adjunct faculty job openings - adjunct instructor for nursing and clinical nursing adjunct. Adjunct faculty Lansing Correctional Campus - business adjunct, English adjunct and math adjunct. Find job descriptions and details at: www.donnelly.edu/careers.
Marketing manager - Bishop Sullivan Center in Kansas City, Missouri, is seeking a marketing manager. Inspired by Christian faith, Bishop Sullivan Center shows God’s love to people in financial hardship by providing food, help in finding jobs and other aid. This full-time permanent position will work primarily at our 6435 Truman Rd. location in Kansas City, Missouri, and will be instrumental in shaping and executing our marketing strategy. For additional information and to apply, email: scowan@ omnihrm.com or (913) 653-8085.
Caregivers needed - Daughter & Company is looking for compassionate caregivers to provide assistance to seniors in their home, assisted living or in a skilled nursing facility. We provide sitter services, light housekeeping and light meal preparation, organizational assistance, care management and occasional transportation for our clients. We need caregivers with reliable transportation and a cellphone for communication. We typically employ on a part-time basis, but will strive to match up hours desired. Contact Gary or Laurie at (913) 341-2500 if you want to become part of an excellent caregiving team.
Staff job openings - Donnelly College in Kansas City, Kansas, a Catholic college offering higher education for those who may not otherwise be served, has the following staff job openings available - director of nursing, human resources generalist, director of development. Find job descriptions and details at: www.donnelly.edu/ careers.
Youth minister – Divine Mercy Parish is seeking a 9th - 12th grade youth minister. Come work in this young and energetic parish. This is a part-time position (less than 20 hours per week). To inquire, contact: parish@ divinemercyks.org or call (913) 856-7781.
Now hiring - drivers and aides - Assisted Transportation is hiring safe drivers and aides to transport students in Johnson and Wyandotte counties, in company vans. Drivers earn $16 - $20 per hour. Aides earn $15.50 per hour. Part-time and full-time schedules available. CDL not required. Retirees are encouraged to apply. Make a difference in your community by helping those in need! Call (913) 521-4955 or visit www.assistedtransportation. com for more information. EEO.
Paraprofessionals - Do you love working with kids? Ascension Catholic School is looking for part/full-time paraprofessionals for our intermediate grades and also for Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. Previous educational experience is preferred. To apply, please email your resume to Becky Wright at: bwright@acseagles. org.
Bilingual financial empowerment specialist - Catholic Charities of N.E. Kansas is seeking a bilingual financial empowerment specialist. This position will pilot a financial program for bilingual individuals and families. This position is based in Wyandotte County and will provide culturally relevant financial education and empowerment to Latino communities within Wyandotte and Johnson counties, as well as serving the general population in Wyandotte County. The caseworker will provide wraparound strength-based case management, which includes completing assessments, developing a spending plan with families, and assisting clients in identifying and monitoring measurable and achievable goals with appropriate action steps. For more information about this position, please visit: catholiccharitiesks.org.
Business manager - St. Ann Parish in Prairie Village is seeking a full-time business manager to oversee all financial, operational and human resources for the parish. The position will have responsibilities for budgeting, financial reporting and cash flow management, as well as managing the facility administration, HR and IT functions. The individual will work closely with the pastor, school principal and young child care director on financial, human resource and other administrative matters, and positively interact with volunteers and parishioners to support the parish mission. The successful candidate will have a business-related or human resource degree with a working knowledge of accounting principles and practices. The ideal candidate will also be a proactive, team-oriented leader and possess strong communication and interpersonal skills. The individual should have at least five years of demonstrated supervisory experience and be a practicing Catholic. A complete job description can be found at: www.stannpv.org/jobs. Interested candidates should email a cover letter and resume to Father Mitchel Zimmerman at: frmitchel@stannpv.org.
SERVICES
Garage door repair expert
New Garage Doors Garage Floor Coatings
A Total Door Inc., Since ’83. Leaven discount joe@atotaldoor.com; (913) 236-6440.
Catholic CounselingSam Meier, MA, LCPC - (913) 952-2267 & David Walter, MA, LCPC - (402) 913-0463 Book an appointment online at: StillWatersKC.com, In Person or Telehealth
Rios Drywall - I offer services of framing, sheetrock/ drywall finish, knockdown textures, popcorn ceiling, flat, smooth, skim, sand, paint, patches and demolition. Send a text message to (432) 307-4667 or find me on Facebook at Rios Drywall. Free estimates.
EL SOL Y LA TIERRA
*COMMERCIAL & RESIDENTIAL
*LAWN RENOVATION *MOWING *CLEANUP AND HAULING
*DIRT GRADING/INSTALLATION
*LANDSCAPE DESIGN* FREE ESTIMATES HABLAMOS Y ESCRIBIMOS INGLES!! CALL LUPE AT (816) 252-1391
Faith-based counseling to cope with life concerns - Kansas City area. Call Mary Vorsten, licensed clinical professional counselor, at (913) 909-2002.
MIKE HAMMER MOVING - A full-service mover. Local and long-distance moving. Packing, pianos, rental truck load/unload, storage container load/unload. In-home moving and office moves. No job too small. Serving the KC metro since 1987. St. Joseph Parish, Shawnee, parishioner. Call the office at (913) 927-4347 or email: mike@mikehammermoving.com.
Masonry work - Quality new or repair work. Brick, block and chimney/fireplace repair. Insured; secondgeneration bricklayer. Member of St. Paul Parish, Olathe. Call (913) 271-0362.
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.
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.
Concrete construction - Tear out and replace stamped, stained or colored patios and drives. Retaining walls, footing, poured-in-place safe rooms, excavation and hauling. Asphalt drives and lots. Fully insured; references. Call Dan at (913) 207-4371, or email: dandeeconst@ aol.com.
Double A’s Lawn Service Lawn mowing, Mulching, Gutters, Leaf Removal Brush Removal & Hedge Trimming Free Estimates & Insured Alex Spoerre (913) 488-5195
Free estimates - We are offering free estimates to all those thinking about painting this year. At Stone Painting, we put the customer first. We provide interior, exterior house painting along with deck staining, fence painting, etc. Stone Painting ensures a professional, clean and fair-priced job. Call today for your free estimate. (913) 963-6465.
FOR SALE
For sale - Two plots at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Lansing. Located in section 15, row 5, lot 14x, spaces 3 and 4. Traditional ground space. The original price is $2595 for each plot ($2257 plus $338 for perpetual care), asking $2200 each. Contact Ralph at (913) 306-4024 or email: grassman177@gmail.com.
For sale - Two plots at Resurrection Cemetery in Lenexa. Located in the Communion of the Saints area, lot 33, section B, spaces 2 and 3. Valued at $5990 for both, asking $5,500. I will pay the $250 conveyance fee. Call (913) 230-7872 or (703) 477-4000.
For sale - Four plots for sale at Johnson County Memorial Gardens, Overland Park. Located in the Garden of Apostles, lot 213, spaces 1, 2, 3 and 4. Asking $3750 per space for a total of $15,000 or best offer. Retail is $19,500. Contact Bailey at (913) 449-4699.
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 crypts (tandem) at Resurrection Cemetery, Prince of Peace Mausoleum, Nativity Cove. Call (913) 631-4348 for more information.
HOME IMPROVEMENT
Popcorn ceiling texture removal Call Jerry at (913) 206-1144. 30 years experience serving Johnson County. Member St. Joseph Parish, Shawnee. 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.
Father and Son Home Remodeling - We specialize in kitchen/bathroom and basement remodeling, from start to finish. We also do decks, covered decks, porches, sunrooms and room additions! If you’re not sure we do it, just call. From my family to yours, thank you for supporting my small business. To contact me, call (913) 709-7230 and ask for Josh.
Haus To Home Remodeling - Let’s give that room a nice facelift! Specializing in affordable room remodeling. From small projects to bathrooms and basements. Tile, paint, carpentry, wood rot, decks, drywall, etc. Free estimates. Call Cole at (913) 544-7352.
Local handyman - Painting, int. and ext., wood rot, mason repair, gutter cleaning (gutter covers), dryer vent cleaning, sump pump (replace, add new), windows, doors (interior and exterior), honey-do list, window cleaning and more! Member of Holy Angels Parish, Basehor. Call Billy at (913) 927-4118.
REAL ESTATE
We are local people who can buy your house - Big companies from all over the nation come here buying houses, but that’s not us. We are parishioners of Holy Trinity Parish and we enjoy giving you personalized service. We can offer you a fair price and are flexible to your needs. If I can help, call me, Mark Edmondson, at (913) 980-4905.
We buy houses and whole estates - We are local and family-owned, and will make you a fair cash offer. We buy houses in any condition. No fees or commissions and can close on the date of your choice. Selling your house has never felt so good. Jon & Stacy Bichelmeyer, (913) 599-5000.
CAREGIVING
Family member with dementia or need help at home? - We specialize in helping seniors live SAFELY at home, where they want to live! We also offer free dementia training and resources for families and caregivers. Benefits of Home - Senior Care, www.Benefits ofhome.com or call (913) 422-1591.
Home care - CMA, 15 years experience, background check available, references available from past employers. Call (913) 999-4340.
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) 3412500 and speak with Laurie, Pat or Gary.
FALL & HOLIDAY CRAFT & BAKE SALE
501 S. Willow Dr., Olathe
Sept. 20 and 21 from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Oct. 10, 11 and 12 from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Come visit our craft and bake sale. There will be wonderful craft and baked goods for sale. All profits support Catholic Charities. Cash/check only.
CALLED TO LOVE AGAIN
CATHOLIC DIVORCE SUPPORT
Church of the Nativity
3800 W. 119th St., Leawood
Sept. 21 at 6 p.m.
Join us for a time of healing, fellowship and formation on how to navigate life after divorce. For more information, send an email to: katie@thecall2love.com.
ICE CREAM SOCIAL
St. Patrick Parish
1086 N. 94th St., Kansas City, Kansas
Sept. 21 from 5 - 9 p.m.
Come enjoy ice cream and visit with friends. There will be a quilt raffle. You need not be present to win. The cost of raffle tickets is $2 for one ticket or $5 for three. The funds benefit the Altar Society.
FALL BAZAAR
St. John the Baptist Parish (hall)
427 S. Prairie, Greeley
Sept. 22 from 10 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Dinner will feature turkey and dressing, chicken and noodles, ham, side dishes (mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, apple salad, cranberries, sauerkraut) as well as homemade bread and pies. There will be raffles, a country store and a bake sale. The cost is: $15 for adults; $6 for children; and $15 for carryout. The parish hall is handicap-accessible.
DAUGHTERS OF ISABELLA LITTLE FLOWER CIRCLE
Christ the King Parish (Yadrich Hall) 5973 S.W. 25th St., Topeka
Sept. 22 at 12:40 p.m.
A rosary will be said, followed by the business meeting and social time. If anyone knows of a member or family member of Daughters of Isabella in need of the circle’s prayers, call Shirley Gustafson at (785) 5543028 or Gen Orozco at (785) 230-2473.
MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID
Corpus Christi Parish
6001 Bob Billings Pkwy., Lawrence
Sept. 23 from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
This is a free, faith-based training. It’s a blended class consisting of two hours of self-paced, solo online work completed prior to a 5-1/2-hour, in-person, instructor-led session. Registration closes Sept. 16. To register, send an email to: jgaughan@bertnash.org. Participants must be 18 or older. The event is hosted by the Corpus Christi mental health ministry team.
BLUE MASS
Queen of the Holy Rosary (Fiat Center) 7023 W. 71st St., Overland Park Sept. 23 at 11 a.m.
Join us in a show of mutual support for all active and retired members of our local law enforcement, fire department and EMS communities and their families. Lunch will be provided by the Knights of Columbus, Father Carl Zawacki Council. All faiths are welcome. Attendance in uniform is encouraged. For more information and to RSVP, send an email to: www.queenoftheholyrosary.org/ blue-mass.
WILLS AND TRUSTS WORKSHOP
Queen of the Holy Rosary (Fiat Center)
7023 W. 71st St., Overland Park
Sept. 24 at 6:30 p.m. (snacks and social); 7:30 p.m. (presentation)
Join us for this workshop on wills and trusts. The speaker will be Casey
Connealy, estate attorney at Gaughn & Connealy. Register online at: cfnek.org/ events or contact Mitch Nolan at (913) 6473070 or by email at: mnolan@arckck.org.
POTLUCK DINNER
Most Pure Heart of Mary (Culhane Room) 3601 SW 17th St., Topeka
Sept. 26 from 5 - 7 p.m.
The Christian Widow and Widowers Organization will host a potluck dinner. There is no cost to attend. For more information, text Gen at (785) 230-2473.
16TH ANNUAL SLOVENEFEST
Holy Family Parish
274 Orchard St., Kansas City, Kansas Sept. 28 at 4 p.m.
Slovenefest will begin with a Mass at 4 p.m. The festivities will run from 5 - 9 p.m. There will be games for the children, face painting, tattoos and jewelry. Spin the wheel for a chance to win an apple strudel, povitica, or sausage. There will be a cultural booth, souvenirs, a silent auction and options to win a mini- and mega-money raffle. The parish Altar Society is offering a chance to win a 15-quart Kitchen Aid mixer, fire pit and Chiefs tailgating party. For more information, contact the church office at (913) 413-0022; send an email to: holyfamily church1025@gmail.com; visit the website at: www.holyfamilychurchkck.org; or find us on Facebook.
DANIEL OBERREUTER PARISH MISSION CONCERT (‘COME HOLD MY SON’)
Valley Heights Schools Gym
2274 6th St., Blue Rapids Sept. 29 at 7 p.m.
St. Monica/St. Elizabeth, Annunciation and St. Columbkille parishes will host a concert by Catholic singer Daniel Oberreuter. The concert will take listeners on a journey through the mysteries of the rosary. The singer reveals his soul through stories and images that challenge and push each listener to greater conversion of heart. He emphasizes the need for monthly confession and spending time with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. He will share a moving testimony on the rosary, and challenges the audience to recommit to Jesus and the Catholic Church. The cost is a freewill offering. For more information, go online to: www.comeholdmyson.com.
‘JESUS: THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE’
Precious Blood Renewal Center
2120 St. Gaspar Way, Liberty, Missouri
Oct. 1 - Dec. 3 from 6:30 - 8 p.m.
“Jesus: the Way, the Truth and the Life” is a 10-week Scripture study program using texts and videos to explore Jesus’ life by examining all four Gospels at once. What emerges is a composite sketch of who Jesus is, what he taught and how he wants us to live. To register, go online to: pbrenewalcenter.org/events.
TEACHING TUESDAYS WITH FATHER BILL BRUNING
Queen of the Holy Rosary (Fiat Center)
7023 W. 71st St., Overland Park
(Available on Zoom - registration required) Oct. 1 at 6:30 p.m.
Do you know why we genuflect on the right knee? What is the meaning of the little piece of the host placed into the chalice? How would I explain the details of the sacred liturgy to a non-Catholic friend? Why do we only invite Catholics to Communion? These and many more questions about Mass will be answered. For more information and to register, go online to: queenof theholyrosary.org/teaching-tuesdays.
WILLS AND TRUSTS WORKSHOP CREATING YOUR LEGACY
St. Joseph Parish (McDevitt Hall) 11311 Johnson Dr., Shawnee Oct. 2 from 6 - 7 p.m.
Join us for this workshop on wills and trusts. The speaker will be Casey Connealy, estate attorney at Gaughn & Connealy. Register online at: cfnek.org/events or contact Mitch Nolan at (913) 647-3070 or by email at: mnolan@arckck.org.
51ST ANNUAL MEXICAN SUPPER
Sacred Heart School
102 Cottonwood St., Emporia Oct. 4 from 4:30 - 7 p.m.
Bring the family. Enjoy two tacos, rice, chips, salsa and dessert. Advanced donation is $12; donations at the door are $14. Dine-in, carryout, drive-thru are all available. For tickets, call Sacred Heart School at (620) 343-7394.
GERMANFEST
St. Joseph-Immaculate Conception Parish 711 N. Broadway, Leavenworth Oct. 5, Mass at 4 p.m.
Dinner from 5 - 7:30 p.m. (gym)
Germanfest begins with a German Mass at 4 p.m. Dinner will consist of sauerbraten, German potato salad, red cabbage, sauerkraut, brats and a dessert. Drinks are included. The cost for dinner tickets is: $14 for adults and $5 for kids (hot dog, chips and dessert). Music will be provided by the Festhaus-Musikanten German Band. There will also be a raffle. Tickets can be purchased after Masses or that night in the gym. First prize is a quilt (in German colors). There will also be cash prizes and a basket of German food. The youth group is making cotton candy, doing face painting and balloon creations. Questions? Call Sharon Winkelbauer at (913) 7729465.
DIVINE MERCY FALL FESTIVAL
Divine Mercy Parish 555 W. Main St., Gardner Oct. 6 from 11:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Join us for food, crafts, inflatables, games, balloon artists, pumpkin decorating, cakewalk, face painting, silent auction, raffles, bingo, free popcorn, brats and hot dogs. There’s fun for the entire family. Fried chicken dinner is: $15 (presale) or $18 at the door for adults; $10 (presale) or $12 at the door for kids ages 10 and under; meals for families with two parents and three or more children are $60 (presale) or $70 at the door. A wristband ($10) includes bounce house, kids games and pumpkin decorating. Also available for preorder are tamales, bierocks, mums and cinnamon rolls. There will be a raffle for a side of beef, two quarter sides of beef and a 36-inch Blackstone grill. For more information and to purchase tickets, see our website at: divinemercyks.org.
FALL BAZAAR
St. Theresa Parish (hall) 209 Third St., Perry Oct. 6 from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
There will be a turkey and ham dinner plus homemade pie available from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Carryout meals will be available. The cost of the meal is: $15 for adults and $5 for kids age 10 and under. Outdoor activities are open until 3 p.m. and include games for kids, silent auction, bingo, cakewalk, country store, baked goods and more. Fun for all ages.
STRAWBERRY HILL GOLF TOURNEY
Sunflower Hills Golf Course 12200 Riverview Ave., Bonner Springs Oct. 7 at 1 p.m. Strawberry Hill Altar Societies Golf Tourney will be a four-person scramble with 1 p.m. shotgun start. The cost is $100 and includes golf, cart, dinner, snacks and beverages. Contact Carol Shomin by phone at (913) 897-4833 or send an email to: shomin@everestkc.net.
WOMEN’S RETREAT
Sacred Heart Parish (hall) 104 Exchange St., Emporia Oct. 12 from 8:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.
A freewill donation brunch will be
provided. Kelsey Skoch from the archdiocese will direct the retreat. RSVP by email to: brydavidspaf@att.net or call the parish office at (620) 342-1061 by Oct. 5.
FRIED CHICKEN DINNER AND BINGO
St. Patrick Parish (center) 1066 N. 94th St., Kansas City, Kansas Oct. 12 at 6 p.m.
There will be fried chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans, roll, salad, drinks and dessert. The cost is: $12 for adults; $7 for children; and $35 for a family meal. Ten games of bingo cost $12. Cash, check, credit/debit card with chip are accepted. For more information, call Fritz Vertz at (913) 515-0621. Everyone is welcome.
WORKSHOP: TAX REDUCING STRATEGIES FOR PRE- AND POST-RETIREES
Sacred Heart Parish 102 Exchange St., Emporia Oct. 17 - 12 p.m. free luncheon 12:30 - 1:30 p.m. presentation
The speaker will be Bill Eckert, AEP, CAP, senior financial adviser at Renaissance Financial. There will be a lunch and a presentation. Register online at: cfnek.org/ events or contact Mitch Nolan at (913) 6473070 or by email at: mnolan@archkck.org.
RETROUVAILLE OF KANSAS CITY
Location given after registration Oct. 25 -27
“A Retrouvaille Weekend Retreat was exactly what we needed to get our marriage back on track. We learned to communicate in ways that were deeper that we ever had shared before. We knew we had a lot of work to do. But we knew our marriage was worth it.” Register now online at: helpourmarriage.org.
DIVORCE SUPPORT GROUP
‘HEALING THE DIVORCED HEART’
St. Michael the Archangel (Gabriel Room) 14251 Nall Ave., Leawood 1st & 3rd Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m.
We who have experienced divorce understand, as perhaps few others can. We too were sad, lonely, scared and angry, but we have found that with God, time and the support of others, healing is possible. For more information, visit the website at: www. stmichaelcp.org/divorce-support.
>> Continued from page 12
WANTED TO BUY
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
Do you have a car or truck that you need to get rid of? If you do, CALL ME! I’m a cash buyer. We’re Holy Trinity parishioners. My name is Mark. (913) 980-4905.
Cash paid - for old tools; old jewelry; old furniture; military items; fishing lures; hunting items; old crocks; arrowheads and old signs. I buy all kinds of older things - house of barn contents; an estate or just one item. Call Patricia any time at (913) 515-2950.
Wanted to buy - Antiques & Collectibles: jewelry, military items, railroad, sterling, OLD holiday/toys and more. Renee Maderak (913) 475-7393. St. Joseph Parish, Shawnee.
Classified Advertising
The Leaven reaches approximately 50,000 subscribers.
Cost is $20 for the first five lines, $1.50 per line thereafter.
To purchase a Leaven classified ad, email: beth. blankenship@theleaven.org
DAILY READINGS
TWENTY-FIFTH WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME
Sept. 22
TWENTY-FIFTH SUNDAY
IN ORDINARY TIME
Wis 2: 12, 17-20
Ps 54: 3-4, 5, 6-8
Jas 3:16 – 4:3
Mk 9: 30-37
Sept. 23
Pius of Pietrelcina, priest
Prv 3: 27-34
Ps 15: 2-5
Lk 8: 16-18
Sept. 24
Tuesday
Prv 21: 1-6, 10-13
Ps 119: 1, 27, 30, 34-35, 44
Lk 8: 19-21
Sept. 25
Wednesday
Prv 30: 5-9
Ps 119: 29, 72, 89, 101, 104, 163
Lk 9: 1-6
Sept. 26
Cosmas and Damian, martyrs
Eccl 1: 2-11
Ps 90: 3-6, 12-14, 17
Lk 9: 7-9
Sept. 27
Vincent de Paul, priest
Eccl 3: 1-11
Ps 144: 1b, 2abc, 3-4
Lk 9: 18-22
Sept. 28
Wenceslaus, martyr; Lawrence Ruiz and companions, martyrs
Eccl 11:9 – 12:8
Ps 90: 3-6, 12-14, 17
Lk 9: 43b-45
BLESSED MARY TERESA LEDOCHOWSKA 1863-1922
Born in Austria to a Polish count and his Swiss wife, she gave up her position as ladyin-waiting to a Tuscan grand duchess to devote her literary and organizational skills to the African missions and anti-slavery movement. In 1894, she founded the Institute of the Sisters of St. Peter Claver, which was formally approved in 1899. She stressed the importance of lay involvement, promoted literacy among Africans, and produced Bibles, catechisms and periodicals in African languages. She died in Rome at her order’s generalate and was beatified in 1975.
Lord, help us get rid of our devil-may-care attitude
There are times when I want to say to Pope Francis, “Please, stop!” Stop challenging me to live my faith. Stop having me examine my lifestyle. Stop encouraging me to listen to the cries of the poor.
And since we’ve embarked on another Season of Creation on Sept. 1, I’m haunted by the pope’s insistent and heartfelt reminders of the critical need to address the hurts, the abuses, the cries of our planet.
I’ve been rereading “Laudato Si’,” Pope Francis’ 2015 encyclical “On Care for Our Common Home.” I’m saddened at how little I’ve done to take the pope’s words to heart and change my behavior. Apparently, I’m not alone, as Pope Francis issued a sequel of sorts to his encyclical with an apostolic exhortation, “Laudate Deum,” in 2023 — an update on where the world is on taking care of the Earth. It’s not good news,
TFATHER MARK GOLDASICH
Father Mark is the pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Tonganoxie. He has been editor of The Leaven since 1989.
but the pope remains hopeful.
I’ve certainly bought into the customary American belief, described so eloquently by Father Paul Boudreau: “If a little is good, more is better and too much is just right.” It’s what the pope describes as the “harmful habits of consumption,” which lead to a hardening of hearts and a “globalization of indifference” toward
MARK MY WORDS
the rights and needs of the poor.
I’m embarrassed at how many times the Amazon van stops at my house, delivering yet another thing that I wanted but didn’t really need. Heck, there’s times when I see an Amazon box and can’t remember what I ordered.
Change is hard for me. A big motivator, though, comes when I look out on the congregation each weekend and see all the kids there. I ask myself: What am I doing to make sure that they will have a healthier and better world to live in?
It reminds me of the story of an 80-year-old man who was planting
a small peach tree. His neighbor said, “You don’t really expect to eat peaches from that tree, do you?”
The elderly man replied, “No, at my age I know I won’t. But all my life I’ve enjoyed peaches — never from a tree I planted myself. I’m just trying to pay the other fellows who planted the trees for me.” (Story adapted from “Building for the Future,” found in Paul J. Wharton’s “Stories and Parables for Preachers and Teachers.”)
Here are some small practices that I’ve been adopting for this Season of Creation and beyond:
• Not wasting food
• Walking more, instead of driving
• Spending time in nature, savoring fresh air and sunlight
• Conserving paper by not printing what isn’t necessary, using its reverse side, and recycling magazines and junk mail
• Not letting the water run while I brush my teeth or shave
• Trying to shower only for the length of time that it takes my favorite song to play (I’m still working on this!)
• Not buying plastic bottles of water
• Turning lights and electronics off when not in use
• Using rechargeable batteries
• Washing hands with a bar of soap rather than liquid soap I invite you to read our center spread on pages 8 and 9 for more inspiration in this Season of Creation.
May we all take to heart these words of Patriarch Bartholomew — to “replace consumption with sacrifice, greed with generosity, wastefulness with a spirit of sharing, an asceticism which ‘entails learning to give, and not simply to give up. It is a way of loving, of moving gradually away from what I want to what God’s world needs.’”
It’s a tough and often thankless job, but if we Christians don’t start doing it, who will?
God invites us to a ‘first shall be last’ style of discipleship
he lives of the saints reveal the many trials and persecutions that the holiest men and women encounter from within or from outside the church.
Take for instance St. Benedict, founder of Western monasticism, who founded communities of monks dedicated to prayer and manual work. As St. Benedict sought to lead one of the monasteries he founded, some rebellious monks conspired to kill him by offering him a poisoned drink. The saint raised his hand to bless the cup that shattered in front of the wayward monks.
Sullivan
We know that St. John of the Cross also faced rejection by members of his own religious community as he sought to found and direct Discalced
Carmelite communities. As he attempted to reform the observances of the friars, he was met with captivity and physical punishments.
Jesus predicts his betrayal, passion and death at the beginning of Sunday’s Gospel reading. The disciples must have been surprised when Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is to be handed over to men and they will kill him, and three days after his death the Son of Man will rise.”
St. Mark tells us that the disciples did not understand Jesus’ predictions. The full extent of Jesus’ identity and mission as the Son of God incarnate
was still beyond their understanding. Then Jesus asked his disciples: “What were you arguing about on the way?” And the disciples fell silent since they had been discussing among themselves who was the greatest. Instead of focusing on the meaning of Jesus’ words for their lives, they were absorbed with selfish ambition and desire for power and fame.
Jesus goes on to speak of his way of servant discipleship. He has come to serve and not to be served. And he will show the meaning of his words in his loving self-gift on the cross.
Since the disciples
remain occupied with power, prestige and earthly fame, Jesus goes on to explain to his disciples, and us, the true meaning of Christian discipleship.
“If anyone wishes to be first,” he said, “he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.”
God’s word invites us to recommit ourselves to growing into humble disciples of Jesus and to following in his way of suffering, servant love that brings healing and peace to a world in need.
The word of God gives strength and courage to ask God for the grace of true humility as we pray in faith, “Speak to me, Lord.”
Traditional respect for clergy must not be exploited, pope says
DILI, Timor-Leste (CNS) — In a predominantly Catholic country where clergy are treated with great respect, they must make extra efforts to remain humble servants of their people, Pope Francis told the priests of Timor-Leste.
Respect “should not make you think of your ministry as bestowing
social prestige, acting as leaders who crush others,” the pope said Sept. 10 during a meeting with bishops, priests, religious and catechists in Dili’s Immaculate Conception Cathedral.
“The gesture that the faithful make here when they meet priests is meaningful: They take your consecrated hand and bring it close to
their foreheads as a sign of blessing,” the pope said. “It is beautiful to see in this gesture the affection of God’s holy people, for the priest is an instrument of blessing. Never take advantage of this role. You should always bless and console; always be a minister of compassion and a sign of God’s mercy.”
JEM SULLIVAN
is a professor at The Catholic University of America.
To be a disciple, we must make God our singular focus
We’ve now entered the last “year” of our National Eucharistic Revival. The “Year of Mission” is designed to encourage us to share the good news of salvation with everyone we encounter, rooting all our efforts in the Eucharist itself.
This is a beautiful economy of faith and witness, replicating the mission which the apostles themselves undertook following Pentecost. Our faith is compelling. Forged in the sacrament of baptism and strengthened in the sacrament of confirmation, it is renewed in fullness each time we participate in the Mass.
AS THE CHURCH PRAYS
MICHAEL PODREBARAC
Michael Podrebarac is the archdiocesan consultant for the office of liturgy and sacramental life.
From there, and there alone, can it be effectively shared. Provided, of course, that we remain
Icommitted to our baptismal promises, that we make use of those gifts of the Holy Spirit received at our confirmation, and that we live a life of eucharistic orientation, whereby the Eucharist remains for us the “summit toward which the activity of the church is directed”
and the “font from which all her power flows” (Second Vatican Council).
How do we cultivate and preserve such an orientation?
We preserve it by keeping our focus upon Christ. Just like St. Peter, who could walk on the water as long as he kept his gaze upon the Lord, but began to drown once he lost his focus, so it is the same for us.
And this focus, this orientation, begins in the celebration of the Mass itself.
When one walks into any Catholic church, central to everything else is the altar. It signifies for us the sacrifice of Christ, the very sacrifice of
our salvation made present during the eucharistic sacrifice of the Mass. Complementing the altar is the ambo, where the word of God is proclaimed in the readings of the Mass.
An image of Our Lord crucified, placed near the altar, reminds us that the sacrifice of Christ is the very foundation of our divine worship, whereby we imitate him who loved us and gave himself for us (cf. Gal 2:20).
And in a fitting place is erected the tabernacle, wherein the Eucharist is reserved for the sick and, as needed, for holy Communion at Mass.
Each of these essential elements of a
church remind us that everything therein is oriented “toward God” — “ad Deum” —and that our orientation during our liturgical worship, if we are to keep from sinking like St. Peter, must also be “ad Deum.” The success of his pilgrimage toward his Lord upon the waves required him to turn his attention, his orientation, “ad Deum.” Otherwise, distractions mitigated his progress.
Our work as missionary disciples begins by offering ourselves, with unmitigated focus, to God — “ad Deum” — so that he can offer us to a world in great need of good news.
‘We are meant to be the bearers of the light to the world’
n a recent conversation with teachers in one of our high schools, they talked about the beautiful witness given by one of their students at a previous school liturgy.
In his witness talk, this young man explained how his participation in daily Mass gave him a sense of peace in his life. He admitted that when he did not attend daily Mass, his days seemed not only less peaceful, but less ordered and focused on God and on God’s plan for his life.
The teachers raved about his beautiful and powerful witness to the importance of the
FROM THE SUPER
VINCE CASCONE
Vince Cascone is the superintendent of archdiocesan schools.
Eucharist in his life.
My wife and I were blessed to be able to attend the Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis in July. It was
amazing to be among over 60,000 people celebrating the beautiful gift of Jesus’ body, blood, soul and divinity truly present in the Blessed Sacrament.
Among the many great talks and presentations was the talk given by Bishop Robert Barron. At one point,
he stated, “Jesus says, ‘This is my body’ but then he adds, ‘given up for you.’ ‘This is my blood, shed for you.’”
The bishop continued by saying, “When we, therefore, consume the Eucharist, we become what we eat.”
He then went on to share a call to action when he said, “We become a body given for others. We become blood poured out on behalf of others. Your Christianity is not for you. Your Christianity is for the world. We are meant to be the bearers of the light to the world.”
The students in the schools throughout the archdiocese have
opportunities each week to receive the Eucharist at Mass during school. Our high schools typically offer daily Mass before school. In addition, our students have the opportunity to pray and reflect before the Blessed Sacrament in eucharistic adoration.
In the same way that we processed through the streets of Indianapolis with the Blessed Sacrament at the Eucharistic Congress, many of our schools have had processions through their classrooms with the Eucharist. It is wonderful to hear how so many of the students hold up the opportunity to
receive and adore the Eucharist as the most enjoyable and uplifting part of their days.
The young high school student who gave a beautiful and powerful witness to his peers about the importance of the Eucharist in his life did precisely what Bishop Barron called each one of us to do. He did not keep his Christianity for himself but he shared it with the world. Because of his witness, the teachers believe more students than ever attend daily Mass before school. Please pray with me for Jesus’ abundant graces to continue to flow to our students.
Mercy and Justice Summit makes for a eucharistic marriage that works
Sometimes in a marriage, a couple has to step back and rediscover the gifts they are to each other.
So, too, with the bride of Christ, the church, which in America has been collectively on a marriage retreat known as the Eucharistic Revival.
DO UNTO OTHERS
encounter with Jesus that God gives us in the Eucharist.
Time will tell if this revival will rekindle the romance that first drew our hearts to the Lord.
We, as the metaphorical wife, have been taking Jesus in the Eucharist for granted. We forgot what a gift it is to have Jesus (the God who left us when he ascended into heaven) also always remain with us; truly present: body, blood, soul and divinity under the appearance of bread
and wine.
DEACON BILL SCHOLL
Deacon Scholl is the archdiocesan consultant for social justice. You can email him at: socialjustice@archkck.org.
Like saying, “I love you” without feeling, even if we still believed, our love did not show. And yet, we were shocked to realize our lack of enthusiasm led many in our faith family to drift away from the intimate
Now is the time for us to put in the work: the work to “Walk with One” as our bishops call it. Soon in our archdiocese on Sept. 28, a group of parish delegates will gather together at a Mercy and Justice Summit to discern how exactly we as a church can “Walk with One” by acts of mercy and justice.
As Archbishop Naumann has observed, “Jesus does not just
want you to share in his life, he wants you to share in his mission.” Jesus is on a mission from God to save the world and we baptized are the crucial agents, for he won’t do it without us.
It is not enough to receive his love by the intimate encounter of Communion; this love must pass over into concrete acts of love. Yes, we do acts of love for friends and family, but, also, we are to do acts of love that look for the lost. This is what it means to “Walk with One,” to ask the Lord, “Whom shall I accompany in their hurting so they can know your
love?” And then we act, trusting God will work through us. Pray with us that the Mercy and Justice Summit will start a movement of mercy in our community by calling all of us to see ourselves as first responders for the Lord. There is a lot of suffering and injustice in our communities, and we can’t solve it all at once. But in the true presence of the Eucharist, we as the bride have told Jesus how much we love him. Now Jesus, in the presence of the poor and suffering, is looking for us to show it.
Our Lady students take ownership of the virtues they study
By Moira Cullings moira.cullings@theleaven.org
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — It takes courage to start at a new school.
New students at Our Lady of Unity (OLU) School in Kansas City, Kansas, were honored for demonstrating that virtue at an assembly on Sept. 6.
It was part of the Education in Virtue program created by the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, and offered through Openlight Media.
OLU began implementing the program last year.
Every month, students learn about a certain virtue in the classroom, at morning announcements, dismissal and after all-school Masses.
At the end of the month, each teacher picks two students who went above and beyond in demonstrating the virtue. They’re honored with a certificate during an all-school assembly.
“Most character traits that we use in social, emotional learning are also part of those virtues,” said school counselor Shanie Perez, “but it’s tied into Catholic faith.”
Last year, OLU chose to focus on courtesy, gratitude, kindness, perseverance, prayerfulness, respect, responsibility, self-control and trustworthiness.
Unique to this past August, every new student received an award for demonstrating the virtue of courage.
Since learning about virtues in this way, there’s been a decrease in behaviorrelated reports at OLU, said principal Cally Dahlstrom.
“We’re seeing more kids using vocabulary words from our virtue program,” she added, “so that they’re owning their behavior and owning leadership qualities.
“It’s been a great program for us.”
Dahlstrom is excited to share the success of the virtues program with attendees of the school’s annual Hog and Grog fundraiser on Oct. 5 at OLU.
The event will start with Mass at 4:30 p.m., and participants will have a chance to tour the school, enjoy dinner,
support the scholarship program.”
WE’RE SEEING MORE KIDS USING VOCABULARY WORDS FROM OUR VIRTUE PROGRAM, SO THAT THEY’RE OWNING THEIR BEHAVIOR AND OWNING LEADERSHIP QUALITIES.
CALLY DAHLSTROM OUR LADY OF UNITY PRINCIPAL
watch a dance performance and listen to a presentation.
The school hopes to raise $120,000.
Dahlstrom said the parish struggles to provide enough opportunities for student scholarships on its own.
“As a school,” she said, “instead of leaning so much on our parish, we’re working hard to find other ways to
OLU benefits from Catholic Education Foundation (CEF) scholarship funds, but there’s still a gap it has to fill to ensure every child can attend the school.
“We focus really hard with Hog and Grog on taking that $120,000 and putting it toward assisting kiddos to come to OLU and fulfill their parents’ dreams of sending them [for] Catholic education,” said Dahlstrom.
Perez said she’s grateful to be part of a community like OLU and to provide a supportive environment where students can thrive.
“I love this school,” she said. “The community that we build here and continuing to build relationships with our students and our parents is a priority in my list of things.
“I know every single kid in this building by name. I talk to them every single day, walk around the building. . . . We’re like a family.”
She and Dahlstrom are excited
that the school’s unique culture can be shared with the wider community through experiences like Hog and Grog.
Last year was the first time the event was held on the school’s campus.
“I think that our donors got more of a taste of our community by being there,” said Dahlstrom.
And the school’s PTO (called Padres Unidos) provided the food and assisted with setting up and tearing down, which gave parents the chance to see the people who support their children’s Catholic education, she added.
“I know every year I show a lot of gratitude,” said Dahlstrom. “But to be able to share that with our parents and let them really see what other people are doing to help support their students go to school was just over the top.
“It was really a gift to be able to see that.”
Those interested in attending this year’s Hog and Grog event can register online at: olucs.org/hog-and-grog.
Advanced nursing degree now one of Donnelly’s offerings
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in a new Associate of Applied Science in Public Health degree.
“In addition to having more students interested in pursuing a health care degree like nursing, we have also seen increased enrollment in environmental science courses,” said Ana Maradiaga, director of liberal arts and sciences. “This degree will give our students an additional way to impact local health and environmental issues through data collection and analysis, community education and policy work.”
Students interested in pursuing a career path that includes advocating for a healthy community will benefit from enrolling in this program.
“Upon graduation, students could pursue a bachelor’s degree in clinical research, health and nutrition, or a variety of other fields,” said Lisa Stoothoff, dean of the college.
In August, the Higher Learning Commission approved Donnelly’s request to add a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. The program will allow Registered
SHINE supports Donnelly
Those interested in supporting Donnelly’s mission are encouraged to attend the college’s annual SHINE fundraiser on Oct. 3 at The Abbott in Kansas City, Missouri. Go online to: donnelly.edu/shine for information.
Nursing (RN) students to complete an advanced degree. Information about the program’s start date will be forthcoming.
The Bloch Scholars Program at Donnelly has also grown, thanks to the support of the Marion and Henry Bloch Family Foundation and the H&R Block Foundation. The program now serves 50 Donnelly students each year.
“The Bloch Scholars Program supports promising students who may have struggled in the past with school but can be successful with support to earn a bachelor’s degree,” said Dr. Karen Lombardi, the Bloch Scholars Program coordinator. “Bloch Scholars earn their Associate of Arts degree at Donnelly
and then go on for a bachelor’s degree at Rockhurst University or UMKC.”
Bloch Scholars have their tuition and fees fully covered at both campuses and participate in regular coaching and programming each semester and throughout the transfer process.
For first-year Bloch Scholar Trevor Stanley, Donnelly has offered a path to learn more about his faith and grow as a person.
“I started college right out of high school, and it was very tough for me because I had a hard time focusing and keeping up with homework,” said Stanley. “I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I was overwhelmed with how big the campus was. So, I withdrew.”
Several years and a conversion to Catholicism later, Stanley now feels “a passion for people” and a desire to “gain more knowledge in my faith and in God, and to keep pursuing the truth.” A couple weeks into his coursework, he has been impressed by the commitment of campus staff.
“The staff truly care and want to see me succeed,” he said.
Second-year Bloch Scholar Karen
Guttierez feels at home at Donnelly.
“It’s close to home,” she said, “and I’m very family-oriented. I love how welcoming it is. You can be yourself.”
In the spring, she will transfer to UMKC and pursue a degree in education. Her dream is to be a first grade teacher.
Celebrating 75 years of student-first education
While much has changed at Donnelly in 75 years, what hasn’t changed is the college’s dedication to fostering student growth.
“Donnelly’s ‘student-first’ approach encourages faculty and staff to work together to meet students’ needs in an individualized, holistic manner,” said Maradiaga.
Students appreciate this personalized approach.
“I like that Donnelly is very diverse,” said second-year student Ivone Borjas. “You see a lot of different faces. Many people here have amazing stories.”
New students at Our Lady of Unity School in Kansas City, Kansas, hold up their virtue leader certificates after an assembly on Sept. 6. Every new student received an award for demonstrating the virtue of courage.