THELEAVEN.ORG | VOL. 40, NO. 7 | SEPTEMBER 21, 2018
TEACHER’S PET
Nativity therapy dog brings joy to staff and students
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By Susan Fotovich McCabe Special to The Leaven EAWOOD — Each day, Finley Kearney arrives at Nativity Parish School here in her crisp, plaid uniform, ready to work. But Finley is a little different from the rest of the students: She is a two-and-a-half-year-old, 70-pound golden retriever. She’s also the teacher’s pet— literally. Finley joined Nativity principal David Kearney and his family as a nine-week-old puppy. This school year, however, Finley serves as a trained therapy dog for both students and staff. Her mission is to bring peace, calm and comfort to those who may need it. And everyone needs that from time to time, Kearney said. “We’ve had a lot of success stories,” said Kearney, who is a member of Church of the Ascension in Overland Park. “Sometimes, we’ll have a teacher come up and ask for Finley to stop by their class and comfort a student. “Sometimes, one of our staff will say they need a ‘Finley hug.’ And sometimes Finley helps motivate a reluctant learner.” This is Kearney’s first year at Nativity, but not Finley’s first time in the classroom. She accompanied Kearney at his last position in an Olathe school. Finley also gained experience through Pets for Life, an organization that provides pet visits to over 200 facilities in the Kansas City area, including hospice houses, residential homes for adults with special needs and schools. Finley received an initial round of service dog training from a parish friend of the Kearneys. A therapy dog differs from a service dog. To be a therapy dog, Finley had to pass a number of tests, including demonstrating she could sit, stay, leave treats alone, ignore another dog and allow her paws, ears and tail to be touched without reacting. Finley was so excited to join Nativity, she “wrote” a letter to the school, explaining that her tail was “wagging like crazy.” Finley and Kearney are sensitive to students with allergies to pets and those who are fearful. She greets students at arrival and sends them home at the end of the school day. In between, she spends much of her day with the office staff and on walks (on a leash) to various classrooms with Kearney. He is the only
person allowed to walk Finley around the school. There are other Finley rules, too. Students must ask permission to pet or touch her, wash their hands afterward, let Finley smell the back of their hand before petting her, pet her on her back or side and pet her quickly so that others will have a chance. Only three students at a time are allowed to pet Finley, and Kearney does not allow students to get distracted in the classroom or hallways when Finley is around. Finally, Finley is a bit of a fashion icon. Like the students, Finley wears the school uniform, which was designed and sewn by Kearney’s wife Therese. On rainy days, Kearney and Finley wear matching raincoats. “The kids have been awesome with Finley and it’s been good for our community,” he said.
Above, David Kearney, principal of Nativity Parish School in Leawood, has brought his two-and-a-halfyear-old golden retriever — Finley — to school as a trained therapy dog this school year. Her mission is to bring peace, calm and comfort to those who may need it. Finley is very popular with the students. Left, kindergartner Lola Gura pets Finley as she visits Shirley Collier’s classroom. Only three students at a time are allowed to pet Finley.
Leaven photos by Matt McCabe
SEPTEMBER 21, 2018 | THELEAVEN.ORG
ARCHBISHOP
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Judge the church by her saints
his past Sunday, I made a pastoral visit to one of our parishes. In the meeting with parish leaders, it was brought to my attention that the parish had one of its largest groups in memory participating in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults program. In one sense, this was not surprising, because of the vitality of this parish family. At the same time, in light of the recent scandals that have rocked the church, I was encouraged and heartened to see evidence of how the Holy Spirit was inspiring individuals to explore the truth, goodness and beauty of our Catholic faith. A number of people have told me that with the McCarrick scandal and the Pennsylvania grand jury report, they have been asked why they continue to participate in the Catholic Church. I suspect many others have been asked that question. I was only a member of a wedding party twice in my life. Fifty years ago, I was the best man for my brother and, the year before that, I was a groomsman in the wedding of a cousin. At the time, my cousin danced in the Washington (D.C.) Ballet company. All of her bridesmaids were also ballet dancers. I could not dance to save my life and still cannot. I had a fear that I was going to step on my partner’s foot and end her ballet career. It would be foolish to base your opinion on ballet — or dancing in general — by watching
LIFE WILL BE VICTORIOUS ARCHBISHOP JOSEPH F. NAUMANN someone like me attempting a pirouette. The same is true of sports. It would be unfair to make judgments about baseball or soccer or basketball by watching someone who lacked athletic skills and ignored the rules of the game. Similarly, it is not wise to judge Catholicism based on someone who failed miserably
Baptisms for children of larger families To show his personal support for those couples open to raising larger families, Archbishop Naumann has offered to celebrate the baptism of the third or greater child of any family interested. Please contact your parish office for more information. Additional information is also available from the archdiocesan office for liturgy and sacramental life at (913) 647-0330 or by email at: liturgy@ archkck.org.
to live it. There would be no scandals in the church if its members, particularly we clergy, faithfully followed our moral teaching. In part, what makes the clerical sexual abuse scandal so shocking is ordained ministers acting in a way that was completely contrary to the church’s doctrine. If you are going to make a judgment about ballet or breakdancing, watch someone that is really talented with that particular style of dance. If you want to understand why people love baseball, then watch someone like George Brett or Salvador Perez — not someone who does not know which end of the bat to hold. If you want to know about Catholicism, examine its saints — not those who failed so profoundly to follow her moral principles. Many saints were previously great sinners. Yet, we do not venerate them for their sin, but the transformation of their lives by God’s grace. What motivated the saints to live heroic lives of virtue is what Pope Emeritus Benedict identified as the heart of Catholic life — namely, an encounter with a person, the person of Jesus Christ. Catholicism affords
us many opportunities to experience encounters with Jesus — e.g., by praying over the Bible, receiving Our Lord in the Eucharist, baptism in the Holy Spirit, or times of quiet adoration, to name only a few. It was these personal encounters with Jesus that transformed Peter from the coward of Good Friday to the martyr of Rome; changed Paul from a persecutor of Christians to the church’s greatest missionary; inspired Francis of Assisi to abandon a frivolous life of comfort in order to embrace a life of simplicity, poverty and humility; and motivated Thomas More to resign the office of chancellor for imprisonment and eventual martyrdom. It was this personal encounter with Jesus that emboldened the North American martyrs to make the perilous crossing of the Atlantic to evangelize Native Americans, fully aware of the high probability that they would experience violent and brutal deaths; led St. Damien of Molokai to provide pastoral care for lepers, realizing the inevitability that he eventually would succumb to this most dreaded disease; gave Blessed Stanley Rother, a farm boy from Oklahoma, the courage to remain with his parishioners in Guatemala, knowing that he was a target of the government’s death squads; and inspired Mother Teresa of Calcutta to minister to the destitute and dying. Of course, this is only a tiny fraction of Our Lord’s more well-known disciples that discovered abundant life by losing
Archbishop Naumann Sept. 21 Catholic Education Foundation Gaudeamus honorees and School of Excellence breakfast CEF board meeting Sept. 21-24 Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher annual meeting
Sept. 29 Fellowship of Catholic Scholars — Benedictine College, Atchison Sept. 30 Installation of Father Scott Wallisch and 150th anniversary celebration — St. Joseph, Shawnee Commemoration celebration Mass — Sacred Heart Church, Atchison
Sept. 24-27 Priest convocation
Archbishop Keleher
Sept. 27 Bishop Ward Mass and dinner
Sept. 23 Mass — Ballyshannon, Ireland
Sept. 28 Donnelly College Shine — Sheraton Crown Center, Kansas City, Missouri
Sept. 27 Mass — Knock, Ireland
their previous lives in order to follow Jesus faithfully through their efforts to practice heroic virtue. Nor does it include the millions of nevercanonized saints who lived lives of virtue and faith out of sight from most of the world, but whose witness impacted powerfully the lives of their family and friends. Recently, I met a very successful professional woman, who was baptized and raised nominally Catholic by her parents. She identified herself back then as not even a very good Christmas and Easter Catholic. Through God’s grace, she experienced a tremendous conversion. Part of what motivated her to explore Catholicism was the memory of her grandmother with arthritic knees kneeling
Sept. 30 Mass — Cork, Ireland
beside her bed to pray nightly the rosary. Some have suggested that we suspend in the archdiocese our efforts to evangelize while negotiating the aftereffects of the recent scandals. To me, this would be another scandal. We cannot abandon our efforts to share the truth and beauty of the Gospel of Jesus because of fear of being rejected or criticized. In reading the Acts of the Apostles and the Pauline letters, we see that the early Christian communities were not idyllic and free from scandal. However, they did not wait then — nor can we delay now — from proclaiming the Gospel and offering the graces of the sacraments. Too many souls hang in the balance.
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SEPTEMBER 21, 2018 | THELEAVEN.ORG
LOCAL NEWS
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FROM ‘ST. GLENWOOD’ TO HOLY CROSS
Parish reminded of beginnings in movie theater as it celebrates 50th anniversary By Joe Bollig joe.bollig@theleaven.org
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VERLAND PARK — One of the challenges Marilyn Oothout used to face in getting her family to Mass on time was pushing past the candy counter at “St. Glenwood Parish.” Officially, “St. Glenwood” never existed, but that was briefly the unofficial name of Holy Cross Parish when it was founded in the late 1960s. While the church was being built, parishioners gathered for Sunday Mass at the Glenwood Theater at 91st and Metcalf. “My children loved to go there, but they wanted ice cream, popcorn and candy on the way in,” said Marilyn Oothout. “Every Sunday, we went through that. I said, ‘No, we’re here for church.’ They didn’t understand. It took them a while.” When Holy Cross was founded, Johnson County was undergoing a population boom. There were mostly farm fields south of 103rd St., and I-435 wasn’t finished past Metcalf Ave. Men wore suits to church and many women still wore veils. Families were young and there were lots and lots of babies. Holy Cross Parish — as it was and as it is now — was celebrated during a 50th anniversary Mass on Sept. 8. Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann was the main celebrant and homilist. He was joined at the altar by pastor Father Michael Stubbs, associate pastor Father Juan Carlos Franco, former pastor Father Anthony Lickteig, former pastor Father Robert Pflumm, Father Bill Porter, Father Thomas Kearns and Father Anthony Williams. Father Anthony Saiki was master of ceremonies. The anniversary Mass was bilingual — in Spanish and English — reflecting how diverse the parish has become. “In Holy Cross Grade School, 25 percent of the students are Hispanic,” said Father Stubbs. “While we have a significant Hispanic population, we also have families that are Vietnamese in origin, as well as Filipino and from various African countries.” At one time, Holy Cross was the designated parish for the archdiocese’s Korean Catholic community, which has since relocated to Holy Trinity Parish in Lenexa. Although about 800 families are registered in the parish, the true number is closer to 1,000. “A lot of the Hispanic families aren’t registered because they aren’t familiar with that concept,” said Father Stubbs. Despite the influx of all kinds of new parishioners, some of the founding families are still there. They sat together in three designated pews up front and were recognized during the Mass. One “old timer” who had a lot of memories to share was Father Ron Livojevich. “Your first parish is kind of like your first love,” said Father Livojevich, assigned
LEAVEN PHOTO BY DOUG HESSE
Father Mike Stubbs, pastor of Holy Cross Parish in Overland Park, holds up the Book of the Gospels at the parish’s 50th anniversary Mass on Sept. 8. Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann was the main celebrant and homilist. there after his ordination on May 20, 1970. He served there until July 1973. The first, temporary rectory was in a crackerbox tract house at the corner of 93rd and Hadley. He lived in the perpetually damp basement while Father Robert Burger and his mother lived upstairs. The people were excited to pioneer a new parish, he said. Young families predominated. “It was all kids,” said Father Livojevich. “In our CCD program, we had 1,200 kids in kindergarten through eighth grade, and 400 in high school CCD.” One of his standout memories is when the church basement flooded during the 1972 new church dedication. “Archbishop Strecker came down and dedicated the church,” said Father Livojevich. “The basement flooded [during] the reception. Evidently the seal broke on the outside flashing and the water came pouring in the religious education office. . . . The rain was almost tropical, like a monsoon. It rained and rained that afternoon — gosh, it rained.” Fortunately, the weather was great for the day of the anniversary Mass — and for the 28th annual parish festival held after the Mass. Parishioners crowded the tables and dined on Mexican and Vietnamese fare, as well as the traditional American picnic bratwursts and hot dogs. There were games and inflatable play equipment for the kids. A folkloric Peruvian dance troupe “Contigo Peru” performed the “Valicha.” “We’re really pleased by the turnout,” said Father Stubbs. “The weather cooperated. It’s perfect, and the people are perfect, too.”
President Most Rev. Joseph F. Naumann
Publication No. (ISSN0194-9799)
Editor Rev. Mark Goldasich, stl frmark.goldasich@theleaven.org
Holy Cross Parish milestones • July 29, 1968: Archdiocesan consultors and the archdiocesan priests’ senate recommend a new parish be formed in Overland Park. • Aug. 28, 1968: Archbishop Edward J. Hunkeler announced boundaries of the new parish and appointed Father Robert Burger as first pastor. • Sept. 22, 1968: Father Burger and parishioners gathered at Queen of the Holy Rosary in Overland Park for the new parish’s first Mass. Theresa Blaufuss was the first child baptized. • Oct. 13, 1968: Parishioners gathered at the Glenwood Theater, 9100 Metcalf Ave., for the first Mass at the temporary worship facility. Parishioners jokingly called their nascent parish “St. Glenwood.” • Oct. 25, 1968: The Eastern Kansas Register reported the name “Holy Cross” was chosen by 515 votes of parishioners. A temporary parish committee was formed. • April 20, 1969: 150 children received their first Communion at the Glenwood Theater. • March 14, 1971: Archbishop Ignatius J. Strecker presided over the blessing and groundbreaking for the new church at 93rd and Woodward. Father Ron Livojevich, ordained May 20 the year before, was the first associate pastor. • 1974: The first rectory was built. • July 1981: Parish boundaries changed after Holy Spirit Parish was formed. • Aug. 25, 1986: Holy Cross School opened with 179 students. Sister Kathleen Condry, OSU, was appointed its first principal in April. • 1991: Pastor Father Mark Mertes returned from Spanish studies in Mexico and began the parish Hispanic ministry with a Spanish language Mass once a month. • Sept. 12, 1993: The 25th anniversary of the parish was commemorated with a Mass. Founding pastor Father Robert Burger was the main celebrant. • May 31, 1995: Knights of Columbus Council 11534 of Holy Cross Parish received its charter. • July 2, 2000: Archbishop James P. Keleher blessed improvements made to the church and school. • Oct. 23, 2015: Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann presided at the rededication of the renovated Holy Cross Church.
Managing Editor Anita McSorley anita.mcsorley@theleaven.org
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Published weekly September through May, excepting the Friday the week after Thanksgiving, and the Friday after Christmas; biweekly June through August. Address communications to: The Leaven, 12615 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City, KS 66109. Phone: (913) 721-1570; fax: (913) 721-5276; or e-mail at: sub@theleaven.com. Postmaster: Send address changes to The Leaven, 12615 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City, KS 66109. For change of address, provide old and new address and parish. Subscriptions $21/year. Periodicals postage paid at Kansas City, KS 66109.
SEPTEMBER 21, 2018 | THELEAVEN.ORG
LOCAL NEWS
4
Teen program proves a spiritual energizer for youth By Joe Bollig joe.bollig@theleaven.org
Sign up!
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ANSAS CITY, Kan. — There are some things so powerful in a spiritual sense that they draw a person back again and
again. For Juliana Alvey, that thing is TEC — Teens Encounter Christ. The 25-year-old Alvey, a member of Our Lady of Unity Parish in Kansas City, Kansas, attended her first TEC retreat when she was a 15-year-old sophomore at St. James Academy in Lenexa. “What my own mom said, after I came back, was that I was renewed [in my faith] and had a new outlook,” said Alvey. “I was more focused on my faith.” Of course, TEC wasn’t the only spiritual influence in her life as she grew up, but it was a profound one. Since that first weekend, she has participated in more than 15 TEC retreats as a volunteer and has played many roles, eventually becoming a co-director of TEC weekends. “I think I keep coming back for two reasons,” she said. “One is community. I met some of the most amazing people through TEC, and I very much love those relationships. They’re very strong because they’re built solely on faith.” “Also, the way TEC is structured allows for a genuine experience of the Holy Spirit in a true experience of immersion,” Alvey continued. “That’s not exclusive to TEC and you can have that in other places, but TEC has consistently provided that throughout my life. “There’s never an age where you get tired of that kind of communion
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LEAVEN PHOTO BY JOE BOLLIG
Juliana Alvey, a member of Our Lady of Unity Parish in Kansas City, Kansas, attended her first TEC retreat when a 15-year-old sophomore at St. James Academy, Lenexa. Since that first weekend, she has participated in more than 15 TEC retreats as a volunteer before eventually becoming a co-director of TEC weekends.
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“THE THING THAT SETS TEC APART IS THE FACT THAT YOU ARE WITH OTHER CATHOLICS FROM ALL OVER THE ARCHDIOCESE. IT PULLS IN PEOPLE FROM EVERYWHERE AND BROADENS ONE’S PERSPECTIVE. with the Lord and your fellow Christians.”
TEC retreats are held over a threeday weekend and focus on the paschal mystery — the dying and rising of Christ. The program is for high schoolage teens and college-age young adults ages 15 to 20. This is not a new program. This Catholic movement of spirituality, which is international, began in 1965. The first TEC weekend in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas was held in 1977. The local TEC ministry in the archdiocese — Sunflower TEC — conducts three or four TEC weekends a year. They are held at either Savior Pastoral Center in Kansas City, Kansas, or at Prairie Star Ranch in Williamsburg. One more TEC retreat is scheduled this year in November, and there are two planned for January and March of
Currently three TEC weekends are scheduled: • Nov 9-11 at Savior Pastoral Center in Kansas City, Kansas • Jan. 19-21 at Prairie Star Ranch, Williamsburg • March 16-19 at Prairie Star Ranch To register online, go to: www. archkck.org. On the home page, go to the pull-down menu at the top, click on “Ministries,” and then “Youth Formation & Activities.” On the youth office page, click on the “Youth Ministry” icon. This will take you to the “Youth Events” page. In the menu, click on “Teens Encounter Christ.” If you have questions or difficulty registering, call Donna at (913) 6470373 or Rick Cheek at (913) 6470351. Cheek can also be reached by email at: youth2@archkck.org
2019. (See sidebar.) TEC is different in many ways from other retreat experiences a youth might have at his or her parish or Catholic school. “The thing that sets TEC apart is the fact that you are with other Catholics from all over the archdiocese,” she said. “It pulls in people from everywhere and broadens one’s perspective. It encourages you to experience your community of Catholicism as something bigger than your parish, and it connects you to the archdiocese in a really cool way.” The cost to go on TEC is $90, but no one has been turned away because of finances, and scholarships are available. Participants must register online through the archdiocesan website.
Journey to citizenship culminates for Sister María
ANSAS CITY, Kan. — In front of a large contingent of her fellow Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth, Sister María de los Milagros Orozco Olaya took the oath of citizenship with 90 other applicants Aug. 17 during a naturalization ceremony here at the Robert J. Dole U.S. Courthouse. Sister María was one of three Peruvians and — to her knowledge — the only woman religious in the group becoming a citizen. She has been an SCL for 32 years, having joined the community in her native Talara, Peru, as an Hermana de la Caridad (Spanish for “Sister of Charity”). Sister María’s path to U.S. citizenship dates to 1992 when she first came to the Midwest as an observer at an official meeting of the SCL community. She returned in 1996 when U.S. Sisters hosted the Peruvian Hermanas to familiarize them with ministries in this country. During these early trips, Sister María had no plans to remain in the United States. But in 2002, she came to study English at Donnelly College in Kansas City, Kansas, and then eventually requested the opportunity to learn more about the roots of the community in the Midwest. In 2004, Sister María traveled to Kansas for 12 months — a trip that
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE SISTERS OF CHARITY OF LEAVENWORTH
Sisters and Sisters of Charity associates surround Sister María de los Milagros Orozco Olaya (center, holding flag) following the naturalization ceremony. They are (left to right): Sisters Mary Lex Smith, Charlotte White, Mary Rita Winter; Hermana Julia Huiman Ipanaqúe; Sisters Judith Jackson, Maria, Donna Jean Henson, Vickie Perkins, Mary Jo Downey, Helen Therese Mack, Eileen Haynes and Linda Roth; and Sisters of Charity Associates Kitty and Len Bronec. she said expanded into 14 years. She volunteered at All Saints Parish in Kansas City, Kansas, where she was able to help the teachers at the school by communicating in Spanish with the parents of schoolchildren and assisting the staff to better understand their needs. The next part of her journey in-
volved parish ministry at St. John the Evangelist Parish, also in Kansas City, Kansas, with responsibilities for RCIA and formation of parents in family catechesis. In 2007, she added Holy Cross in Overland Park to her ministries. Then, she joined the archdiocesan Hispanic ministry office in adult formation. For several years, she served all
three of these ministries. Gradually, Sister María left parish ministry and became more active in the archdiocesan office. In 2014, she began working full time at her current position as general coordinator of evangelization for the Hispanic ministry office. “Being an American citizen means a lot to me,” she said. “It gives me the opportunity to vote in elections, to keep working with my people in these difficult times and to accompany them as they face challenges.” In her current ministry, Sister helps Spanish-speaking people prepare for the sacraments and look for jobs, and she accompanies them and often interprets for them at immigration offices, detention centers, etc. She’s also available to listen — whatever the problem may be. “I feel that they trust me now even more because I was an immigrant and became a citizen,” she said. “I want to invite those who are still afraid to approach those who are different — whether in language or culture — to take steps to go forward hand-in-hand with God as people who walk in faith,” she added. “We want to foster a world of love and equality to build the kingdom of God,” she continued, “where we can sit at the table with those representing the different faces of God. “For me, this is the kingdom of God.”
SEPTEMBER 21, 2018 | THELEAVEN.ORG
LOCAL NEWS
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BEING YOUR BEST AS ONE
Marriage Enrichment Conference offers couples insights and tools for success By Susan Fotovich McCabe Special to The Leaven
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EAWOOD — Everyone knows that marriage is much more than the ceremony and anniversaries. Yet, few couples understand the “Catholic difference” in marriage and the building blocks for lifelong love. But that’s the focus of the archdiocesanwide Marriage Enrichment Conference to be held Oct. 6 at St. Michael the Archangel Church in Leawood. The day begins with Mass at 8:15 a.m., followed by coffee and doughnuts. The first session begins at 9:30 and features Greg Popcak, Ph.D., and his wife Lisa. The Popcaks are the authors of more than 20 books that apply timeless Catholic wisdom and cutting-edge psychological insights to the challenges of marriage, family and everyday life. Together, they are the founders of the Pastoral Solutions Institute, a Catholic telecounseling practice geared toward helping Catholics around the globe. The conference, said Greg, takes couples back to basics within the church. “Catholics don’t get to define what marriage means for them,” he said. “When you get married in the church, you’re not just asking the church to bless something you’ve decided to do. Rather, you are agreeing to spend your lives learning how to love each other the way God wants you to love each other, the way the church envisions love and intimacy.” “When a couple stands at the altar on their wedding day, they are essentially saying, ‘I feel love for this person, but I don’t really know how to love them — not the way God wants me to. But I want to spend my life learning how to love this person, and I believe that the church has the ability to teach me to do that. That’s why we are here today.’” The Popcaks, who have been married for 27 years and are the parents of three children, are popular guests on many Catholic radio and television programs. Their work has been featured in national media outlets and they are the hosts of the national radio program, More2Life on EWTN. Their marriage advice recently caught the eye of an unlikely person — St. Michael pastor and vicar general for clergy, Father Brian Schieber. But Father Schieber believes Greg and Lisa have a lot to teach everyone — including priests like himself. “The Popcaks spoke at our annual priest convocation. They spoke about marriage and relationships. They offered so many practical tips, that I could
Retreat offered for adoptive mothers ATCHISON — The Sophia Spirituality Center here, located at 751 S. 8th St., is offering a retreat for adoptive mothers on Oct. 6 - 7. The retreat begins at 9 a.m. on Oct. 6 and ends at noon on Oct. 7.
The retreat is for mothers looking for a way to renew and recharge their spirit, and
share experiences with other adoptive mothers. The retreat fee is $75 and includes room and meals. Call (913) 360-6173 or visit the website at: www.sophiaspiritualitycenter.org.
An archdiocesan-wide Marriage Enrichment Conference, to be held Oct. 6 at St. Michael the Archangel Church in Leawood, will focus on the building blocks for lifelong love. relate in my own life,” said Father Schieber. “For example, in marriage, you have to learn to love your spouse. In order to love, you have to learn to communicate and handle conflict. This is something we all need to learn.” The conference is aimed at couples of all stages, from the newly engaged to those celebrating golden anniversaries and beyond. “The fact is, most Catholic couples have no idea what the Catholic vision of marriage is and why it matters to their day-to-day life. Most Catholic couples don’t pray together,” Greg said. “Other than going to Mass together, most Catholic couples don’t structure their days or their lives differently than any other couple.” The conference is focused on helping all couples recognize how to make faith the source of the warmth in their relationship. Mary Connor, the pastoral ministry coordinator for St. Michael, has been married for 26 years and knows that the preparation for a good marriage does not stop on your wedding day. It’s just the beginning, according to Connor. “Saint Michael the Archangel is committed to supporting marriages after the
altar and ‘I do,’” Connor said. “One of our super-priorities in our pastoral plan is strengthening marriage and family life. Strong marriages need to be rooted in faith, with God at the center. “The Marriage Enrichment Conference will allow couples to take away valuable tools to be used to strengthen their marriage bond. It takes work to have a good marriage, but it is worth it.” One of the tools Father Schieber learned about was the need to become more aware of your own emotions and learn effective coping skills. “The Popcaks have some great information about the importance of praying together, even couples of different faiths,” Father Schieber said. “No matter what faith you are, these skills apply to everyone. Couples of different faiths need to find common ground and learn to pray together.” In their book, “For Better. . . FOREVER!” the Popcaks describe the different stages marriages travel over the course of the couple’s life together. Each stage involves different challenges and requires the couple to learn new skills. For example, said Greg, it’s important for married couples battling complacency to remember that “love doesn’t just
Doctor to discuss the passion of Christ at Benedictine ATCHISON — Dr. Thomas W. McGovern, a surgeon with Fort Wayne (Indiana) Dermatology Consultants, will bring decades of medical experience and a focus on “suffering” to his discussion of the passion of Christ at Benedictine College here. His talk, “Another Doctor at Calvary: Myths and New Understandings Regarding Jesus’ Passion,” is set for Oct. 1 at 7 p.m. in the McAllister Board Room on the fourth floor of the Ferrell Academic Center. The event is free and
open to the public. After attending the Convocation of Catholic Leaders in July 2017, McGovern and two physician colleagues started the weekly Catholic medical radio show and podcast “Doctor, Doctor.” The podcast provides in-depth interviews with experts from around the country — providing trustworthy medical information. He has also written 14 discussion-based catechesis courses based on the writings of St. John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI.
die. To thrive, love needs to be nurtured, protected and nourished.” Similarly, the age-old question — “How do I know if this person is right for me?” — may best be answered by asking this question: “Does this person know how to integrate their faith and everyday life?” “Happy couples recognize that if you want to have a good marriage, you always have to be willing to learn something more about life, your partner or yourself,” said Greg. “Research shows that happy couples argue as much as unhappy couples,” he continued. “They just work harder at taking care of each other during the arguments, encouraging each other through the arguments and working to find solutions together [instead of attacking and blaming].” The conference is open to all married couples. Couples do not need to register for this event and there is no cost to attend. For more information, visit the website at: stmichaelcp.org. Click on the link “Marriage Enrichment Conference with Dr. Greg and Lisa Popcak” or contact Mary Connor at (913) 402-3920.
Olathe parish offers Mass for mental health awareness OLATHE —St Paul Parish here located at 900 S. Honeysuckle, will host a special Mass in conjunction with Mental Health Awareness Week which is Oct. 7-13. The Mass with be on Oct. 6 at 8 a.m. at the church. Join in the celebration of Mass as prayers are offered for a united and compassionate community. There will be the opportunity to receive the sacrament of anointing to ease the burdens of stress, grief and loss, depression and anxiety.
SEPTEMBER 21, 2018 | THELEAVEN.ORG
FAMILY LIFE
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A happy retirement requires family, as well as financial, planning
ecently, I received a message from a reader who thanked me for my columns and offered a suggestion. I always welcome a compliment and, most of all a suggestion. The reader wrote: “Please write an article on retirement — when two spouses are together 24/7, and the challenges it brings.” It is now five years since I retired and I remember vividly those months and weeks leading to my retirement. Teri would ask: “What are you going to do when you retire?” I thought the question was silly. It is retirement; I did not want to plan on what I was going to do. I may go for walks, take pictures, go on trips, etc. Teri would follow my answer with another question: “What will I do while you do that?” She seemed to be anxious about what would happen to her the day I retired. Eventually, through various conversations, it became clear that she was concerned about my presence at home 24/7 and was afraid that I would intrude on her routines and her space. She worried that I would ask her to change her way of doing things — and worst of all, that I would tell her what to do. Together we reached an agreement. We agreed that I would spend my morning upstairs in my office working on my projects, and Teri would stay downstairs and tend to her routines. Later in the day, we would have lunch together, and then in the afternoon, when possible, we would do joint activities, such as shop-
JOHN BOSIO John Bosio is a former marriage and family therapist, director of religious education and diocesan family life coordinator. He is a member of the National Association of Catholic Family Life Ministers.
ping, going to a movie or museum, going for a drive or doing chores together. This agreement on how to structure our days was very beneficial for us. It helped Teri keep her routines and gave me the space I needed to pursue my writing. While for us, the stress brought on by retirement revolved around changes in our lifestyle, for other couples, the stress of retirement comes because of problems that exist in the relationship. Doctor Louis Primavera and Rob Pascale, co-authors of “The Retirement Maze,” write that some couples, when they retire, find that they do not have much in common, they are strangers to each other. During the years of work and raising a family, a couple’s underlying differences and conflicts can be masked by busy schedules and tending to the needs of the family. But unresolved differences come to the forefront when a couple retires and are
Retirement can bring about dramatic changes to a couple’s lifestyle. The stress of these changes can cause problems with the relationship. Marriage therapists encourage couples to share their expectations for retirement. together 24/7. This can be a serious problem. In fact, while the divorce rate for the general population has been slowly decreasing, the divorce rate for couples approaching retirement or retired has almost doubled in the past 25 years, a phenomenon called “the gray divorce.” Just because a couple finds it difficult to adjust to being together 24/7 does not mean that they are doomed to divorce or a miserable life together. To address the lifestyle changes that retirement brings, marriage therapists encourage spouses to share their expectations. For example, a wife may expect her husband to help more with chores. The husband may expect the wife to spend more time with him in leisure activities. If these wishes are not
verbalized and an agreement is not reached, disappointment and resentment will follow. Another area of married life that needs to be addressed is that of social activities. Spouses cannot depend solely on each other to fulfill their social needs. While wives are generally more socially connected, some husbands may expect their wives to keep them socially involved, or they may expect to be the center of their wives’ attention. Counselors suggest that spouses should find areas of common interest, enjoy the grandchildren, become involved in community projects and attend social activities in their community or parish. Then there are husbands who may tend to interfere with their wives’ household management. This is likely to
happen when husbands held supervisory positions and are used to directing others. Wives will resist this activity and react negatively to their spouse’s intrusion on their territory. If you find that there are areas of conflict in your retired marriage relationship, try to resolve them by talking and listening to each other. If you need help, seek the assistance of a counselor. This can be extremely helpful and a wise investment of time and money. Catholic Charities has a staff of professionals who can help you. If you are still in the planning stages of retirement, consider not only your financial needs after you retire, but also your emotional needs by keeping your marriage strong. Teri and I have adjusted to our individual and
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How are you planning for an enjoyable retirement with your spouse? If you are retired, how do you manage your relationship with your spouse? joint routines. Our initial agreement of separate territories is still in effect, but is more flexible since we are more aware of the private space that each needs during the day. Retirement is one of those life passages that ushers the golden years into a couple’s life. Make your retirement joyful, and to that end, do not forget to ask for God’s help through prayer and the sacraments.
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In Lawrence, the Brother Jacoba Fraternity of Secular Franciscans meets the first Sunday of every month to pray the Liturgy of the Hours and receive formation in Franciscan spirituality.
HOLINESS BOUND
Local lay Catholics find spiritual home in religious orders
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By Marc and Julie Anderson mjanderson@theleaven.org OPEKA — When you ask the average Catholic about Franciscans, Dominicans or Benedictines, it is priests and nuns that will jump first to mind. But lay Catholics can become members of these religious orders, too, by making promises or professions — instead of vows — and practicing the order’s spirituality. The key difference is that lay members join what are known as third orders. Within the archdiocese, the Discalced Carmelites of Topeka represent just one of the many third orders. Local groups of third orders often belong to provinces. For example, the Discalced Carmelites in Topeka belong to the St. Therese Province (the Oklahoma Province). In turn, provinces are part of the national and international Catholic Church. Each third order has different membership requirements and charisms or gifts they bring for the good of the church. With more than 45,000 members worldwide, Discalced Carmelites promise to pray the Liturgy of the Hours, spend 30 minutes in daily contemplation, attend daily Mass (when possible), fast before the great Carmelite feasts such as that of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, study the lives of Carmelite saints and live the beatitudes. The
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“WE’RE ALL CALLED TO BE SAINTS. HOW DO WE BECOME SAINTS? THE CHURCH GIVES US SAINTS WHO FOUNDED RELIGIOUS ORDERS IN ORDER TO HAVE AS MANY PEOPLE ATTAIN HOLINESS AS POSSIBLE.”
group meets monthly in community to discuss assigned readings, receive spiritual formation and pray together. For Patty Hurley, past president, being a professed Discalced Carmelite has brought a sense of purpose, order and structure to her life. “It’s contemplative,” said Hurley. “It’s more of a deep and intense spiritual life. You’re drawn to a deeper meaning of your life. “I learned, after I sought out a religious order that had a third order, [that] it provided all the structure I needed to develop a spiritual life. There was a guideline, and it was foolproof.” Marian Ganser, current president, agreed. “It’s a contemplation that gives you more of the ability to try to gradually prepare yourself to receive the graces that God gives you,” she said. “Our whole goal is to be silent and to open ourselves for the grace God will give us.” For her, contemplation meant the difference be-
tween being a stagnant pew-warmer to someone who is always seeking to grow in holiness. In fact, she joined the order because she needed to grow. One Lent, the time when the church focuses on conversion, she realized she was spiritually stuck. “I remember thinking, ‘I’m still at the same place I was last year.’ I was not growing in my faith,” she said. When Ganser saw a bulletin announcement about the Carmelites, she felt drawn to it. “I didn’t really know what the order was about, but I was drawn to attend the meeting,” she said. And she kept going back. “I just kept being drawn there. God wasn’t letting me say no,” Ganser added. After making her definitive promise about 10 years ago, she has “a deeper understanding of what a relationship with God can be and a deeper understanding of her own self — including her weaknesses.” Growing in holiness, Hurley said, is for everyone. “We’re all called to be saints,” Hurley said. “How do we become saints? The church gives us saints who founded religious orders in order to have as many people attain holiness as possible.” For Ganser, that thought, of “Me? A saint?” never entered her mind — well, that is, until she began formation in the Carmelite spirituality. Now, she daily considers that call to holiness, especially as she reads the works of the Carmelites and learns about their spiritual struggles and triumphs. >> Continued on the next page
tunities for conversion as he lives with others in a spirit of fraternity, appreciating everyone’s differences and tolerating faults. “That’s part of your conversion — how to live in that fraternity,” he said. While Discalced Carmelites strive “It’s not a community, but it is pretty to imitate St. Theresa of Avila, other close.” third orders pattern their lives after St. “There’s an expectation in a big Francis of Assisi. Secular Franciscans way that you will help the poor, the are individuals who follow St. Francis’ marginalized,” he continued. “The example while still living in the world friars were not monks. They were out as laity. [in the world]. Nearly 400,000 people are Secular “So, you have to be out doing things. Franciscans, including about 15,000 in You wouldn’t become a Secular Franthe United States. ciscan if you just wanted to pray.” Here in the archdiocese, there exist Fran Hudson, a member of the at least two fraternities of Secular Sacred Heart Fraternity in Emporia, Franciscans. Both groups are part of said that willingness to help the poor the Juan de Padilla Province. and marginalized has inspired her for In Lawrence, the Brother Jacoba decades. Fraternity of Secular Franciscans Originally from Tularosa, New meets the first Sunday of every month Mexico, Hudson said her grandmother to pray the Liturgy of the Hours and was a Third Order, or Secular, Franciscan. receive spiritual formation in Fran“My grandmother was one of the ciscan spirituality. Springing from the sweetest people, and I’ve often thought time spent in prayer and formation, the reason why was because she was a the fraternity discerns opportunities Franciscan,” said Hudson. “She helped for Christian service, especially to the the needy, the poor. She would do anypoor and marginalized. Most importthing for anybody.” ant, according to members, is the spirThat early example inspired itual clarity the order provides them. Hudson decades later. When Cecilia Jean Finch, the group’s formation Torres, a woman who reminds her of director, said it was the witness of the her beloved grandmother, invited her Franciscan Capuchins at St. John the to a fraternity Evangelist Parish meeting, it was in Lawrence that easy for her to drew her closer to accept the invithem and, in doing tation. so, brought her In 2006, she closer to Christ. became a Secular “Watching the “IT’S NOT JUST Franciscan. Now, friars, listening ANOTHER ORGANIZATION. she cannot imagto them preach, ine her life any living next door IT’S AN ORDER. IT’S different, and she to them and finds volunteerhaving them help REALLY SOMETHING TO ing her time in me all the time — HOLD ONTO TO WHEN Christian service I wanted to know at a soup kitchen what made they LIFE GETS HARD.” and pregnancy tick,” she said. resource center Like Finch, to be extremely member Patti fulfilling. Lyon said she, too, “To give as much as you can to was touched by the kindness of the Caother people is amazing. It really puchin priests at the parish, especially comes back as a blessing to you,” she one priest, Father Charles Polifka. said. “It’s really gratifying to be able to “I had been away from the church help someone.” for a long time,” she said. “He just met With nearly a dozen members, me exactly where I was with no judgthe Sacred Heart Fraternity’s eldest ment. I cannot have been received in a member made promises nearly 60 better way. And so, I had asked at the years ago in another state. beginning if there was a third order.” In 1949, Mary Lou Young, the fraAt the time, no such group existed ternity’s formation director, who was in Lawrence. then 17 years old, received instructions Though Lyon missed the initial to become Catholic. announcements of its formation, she Ten years later, a classified ad in St. later learned of the group and joined. Anthony Messenger magazine, proA convert of more than 25 years, vided contact information for anyone Bob Brill and his wife, Ruth Entwistle, wishing to become a third order decided to join St. John the Evangemember. Wasting little time, she wrote list Parish where they eventually met for more information. Finch and Lyon. Over time, he read at Now 86, Young said she remembers least 20 biographies of St. Francis of having a longing or hunger for more in Assisi. her life. “I was just captivated by this guy,” “When I found the church — or the said Brill. His reading started him church found me — I had been a Meththinking about life in a different way. odist. I was looking for a closer union While the first order focuses on with Our Lord,” she said. material poverty and the second on After seeing the ad, she enrolled in prayer and contemplation, the third a correspondence course and learned order, the Secular Franciscans, con“all about St. Francis and the way he centrates on conversion. lived.” With his mind and heart on overInspired by what she learned, she drive, Brill found he yearned for more, eventually made her profession to the especially as he eventually became a order, something she has never regretSecular Franciscan and started meetted. ing with others in fraternity. “It’s not just another organization,” “Nothing accelerates conversion Young said. “It’s an order. It’s really more than the concept of fraternity,” something to hold onto when life gets he said. hard. Daily, Brill said, he receives oppor-
>> Continued from previous page
Secular Franciscans
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s There are nearly 400,000 Secular Franciscans worldwide. A local group consists of, clockwise from left: John Darnell, Ruth Entwistle, Jackie Monroe, Jean Finch, Monica Olivera, Bob Brill, Connie Ehrlich and Gini Shoulberg. s
Deacon Chris Seago, spiritual director of the Secular Carmelites of the Province of St. Therese, witnesses the definitive promise of Toni Halvorsen, middle, and the first promise of Laura Reilly, right, on Dec. 10, 2017.
“And it will.” For example, when her husband of nearly 50 years passed away, she learned the value of belonging to the fraternity. “I just really, really relied on my Franciscan sisters,” she said. “You wonder what people do when they don’t have faith of any kind,” she added. “I was really richly blessed that I could rely on my faith and be a Secular Franciscan. It gave me strength.” Recently, Young moved from a house into an apartment and said she learned she has a long ways to go on the path to detachment from stuff in perfect imitation of St. Francis’ poverty. “I learned that sometimes you talk the talk, but you don’t always walk the walk,” she said. “But it’s a goal.” Hudson agreed. “Whatever [St. Francis] had, he would give to someone else who he felt needed it more than he did,” she said. Franciscans, in general, lead “a very, very simple life.” That simplicity is what drew followers to St. Francis, members said, something St. Francis never expected to happen but is what eventually led to the formation of the order.
“He didn’t expect followers. That was a surprise to him,” Brill said. “He didn’t know what to do with these married people who were coming to him and wanted to live that life,” Lyon said. In explaining the third order’s beginnings, St. Francis, Brill explained, set up a rule to provide for the spiritual needs of the people in a way that fit their station in life. And for Lyon, it’s that rule, especially as it relates to living in a spirit of fra-
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PHOTO BY TOM WIERMAN
ternity, that gives her life clarity. “I think it’s given me the community that I needed,” said Lyon, “so that, when I am struggling with an attitude or whatever’s going on in my life, I have members that I can go to.” Deana Kaminksi, minister of the Sacred Heart Fraternity, said the Franciscan spirituality provided her strength and support in her professional career. She worked with kids with drug and alcohol addictions and other heavy challenges, such as suicid-
al tendencies. “I think the prayer life the Franciscan group practices kept me balanced,” she said. “It really balances out your life so you can go forward, stay positive and do your best.”
Family of the Apostles of the Interior Life While Discalced Carmelites and Secular Franciscans have centuries
of tradition, one newer group is the Family of the Apostles of the Interior Life, the lay movement of the Apostles of the Interior Life. Founded in 1990, the Apostles of the Interior Life focus on four pillars: prayer, community life, intellectual formation and apostolate. The group seeks to spread the Gospel as missionaries throughout the world by evangelizing on college campuses, providing retreats and missions for parishes, and doing one-on-one spiritual guidance and direction. It’s a group with which Troy Hinkel and his wife Laura were well-acquainted. While Troy was working at the St. Lawrence Catholic Campus Center in Lawrence, Laura started a mother’s group with former students who had married and had young children. Sister Tiziana Mazzei of the Apostles of the Interior Life joined them on Saturday mornings for spiritual formation, offering them a regular meditation. Sometime later, Troy and Laura were reminiscing about the sense of community they’d experienced at an earlier point in their life, and they realized something. “We longed for community,” Laura said. “We longed for order in our life.” Later, conversations with Mike Scherschligt of the School of Faith led them to a deeper conversation. That’s when they learned many college students were graduating and drifting away from their Catholic faith. However, those who stayed active in the church had strong prayer lives. So, eventually, the Hinkels invited people familiar with the Sisters and their spirituality and charism to their home to discuss the idea of a lay movement of praying spouses and families. At the time, the Hinkels had a busy household of five kids. (They now have six.) The Hinkels wanted to “encourage this to be aimed at both spouses at the same time.” It was important, Laura said, to not divide the couples into men’s and women’s groups, but to focus on the domestic churches, the families. Troy and Laura were two of the first to join the Family of the Apostles of the Interior Life. Now, within the archdiocese alone, there are around 60 members with another 50 or so in Texas, Illinois, Colorado, Ohio and Italy. Members make promises to pray daily, have an active sacramental life, provide and seek spiritual direction, take interest in others’ spiritual lives and evangelize. “Personally, when we started out,” said Laura, “I met with my spiritual director and said, ‘I don’t know how I can pray with all these kids. My prayer is based on St. Thérèse and offering little things to Jesus.’” A suggestion from her spiritual director to try a few minutes at first and then grow the amount of time changed her mindset. “She made it doable. It transformed my life. It made me grow in virtue. It made me want to spend time with Jesus,” Laura said. Within a week, Troy said, Laura was praying both in the morning and evening. “I noticed it, and I saw how it took off in her life,” he said. It made him realize that he, too, needed to work on his prayer life. Prayer is a challenge for many in his profession, he said.
Key terms
Third order: In general, lay associations whose members live in the world while sharing the spirit of a religious institute. Like religious, the members strive for Christian perfection, but do not have a religious title. Regulars: those who live in convents or monasteries Seculars: those who live in the world Solemn promise: In general, a secular is not allowed to take vows of the order. Instead, the individual makes a solemn promise or profession. Member: Any Catholic may join a third order. At the same time, he or she can only belong to one order and may not leave that order without grave cause. There are at least 18 different third orders within the Catholic Church. Rule: A specific plan of life and discipline, approved by the Holy See, under which religious live in order to grow in Christian perfection and perform the works of the apostolate proper to their institute.
Commonalities among third orders Formation period: A period of time in which a candidate goes through an aspirancy or novitiate during which he/she is introduced to the founder’s writings, the rule and the practice of praying the Liturgy of the Hours. Temporary promises: These commit an individual to a specific order for a specific period of time. For example, those who belong to the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites might make promises for three years. Final or definitive promise or profession: After a specific period of time has passed, an individual may request permission to make final promises where the temporary time element is replaced with a phrase similar to “for all my life.”
Those who minister full time often become consumed with evangelization and other tasks, sometimes to the detriment of their own prayer lives. Later, as he witnessed Laura instruct their children in opening their hearts to God, it almost took his breath away. “It’s the greatest thing I have seen in my marriage,” said Troy. His children are now in the habit of praying daily. Laura said they’ve both been blessed to watch other couples and families grow, too, especially as they move from having virtually a nonexistent prayer life to spending time in a weekly hour of eucharistic adoration, a practice encouraged and recommended by the Apostles of the Interior Life. “It seems as if they grow together as a couple. It forms your bond so deeply by spending this time with Jesus together,” Laura said. “It’s really an honor to witness the work of grace and their response to it,” agreed Troy. “It’s so beautiful.”
SEPTEMBER 21, 2018 | THELEAVEN.ORG
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Catholic Charities distributes relief to areas hit by Florence
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ALEIGH, N.C. (CNS) — The Carolinas were hard hit with record rainfall and flooding rivers from tropical storm Florence since it made landfall Sept. 14. And although the storm was downgraded from a hurricane to a Category 1 tropical storm, it still caused extensive water damage. At least 24 people died in storm-related incidents, tens of thousands of homes were damaged and about 500,000 homes and businesses were still without power Sept. 17. Prior to the storm, Catholic Charities of South Carolina was preparing to help those in need. Kelly Kaminski, director of disaster services for Catholic Charities, said the agency activated its Emergency Operations Center and disaster services team Sept. 10 and had been coordinating with county emergency management teams, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Catholic Charities USA. It has been working with local partners to have water, cleaning supplies, baby items and other needed supplies readily available in areas along the coast. Catholic Charities USA has set up its website donation page and textto-give platform to help individuals and families impacted by Hurricane Florence. As it did in response to last year’s hurricanes, the agency forwards 100 percent of funds raised to the local Catholic Charities agencies that serve the affected communities. “We are praying for those affected by the storm,” said Dominican Sister Donna Markham, president and CEO of Catholic Charities USA. “Unfortunately, those most impacted by natural disasters are the individuals and families who are already struggling to make ends meet. “But thanks to the generosity of our donors, the most vulnerable have their
CNS PHOTO/EDUARDO MUNOZ, REUTERS
A boat sits in the backyard of a home in New Bern, N.C., Sept. 17 following Hurricane Florence. The storm, now a tropical depression, is poised to affect more than 10 million the week of Sept. 17. immediate needs met and the longterm recovery support they need to rebuild their lives,” she said in a statement. Catholic Charities USA said its staff members are prepared to deploy to local agencies that may need additional support. Its mobile response unit also is standing by to be sent to the region. The vehicle can be packed with nonperishable food items, health and hygiene kits and bottled water, all of which are ready for distribution. A
trailer connected to the vehicle contains a washer and dryer that will allow survivors to clean their clothes. The mobile response unit also can be used as a field office. Two charity organizations, Food for the Poor and Matthew 25, had teamed up and coordinated efforts with Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Raleigh to distribute disaster relief supplies to the hardest hit areas. Food for the Poor received three tractor-trailer loads of goods from Mat-
Those wishing to donate to Catholic Charities USA disaster relief can text CCUSADISASTER to 71777 or call (800) 919-9338. The latest information on the situation can be found at CCUSA.faith/disaster.
thew 25: Ministries for the relief effort with water, hygiene items, cleaning supplies, paper towels and toilet paper to be distributed by Catholic Charities.
‘Hope Monstrance’ to visit U.S. communities hit by disasters By Peter Finney Jr. Catholic News Service
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EW ORLEANS (CNS) — When the levees broke in 2005 and Lakeview became Lake Pontchartrain, Katrina launched its mad-scientist experiment. What would three weeks of brackish and corrosive water, chemicals and mud do not only to St. Dominic Parish’s Aquinas Hall in Lakeview, which housed a small chapel across the street from the church, but also to the gold-plated, eucharistic monstrance now laid on its side and entombed in the muck at the foot of the altar? As a precaution before the storm, parishioner Susie Veters had removed the Blessed Sacrament from the monstrance and placed it in the tabernacle. She kept the empty monstrance on the chapel altar and locked the doors. The monstrance was no match for the 8 feet of lake water, which lifted it off the altar and dropped it to the floor, burying it in mud. When Veters pulled the sacred vessel from the mud three weeks later, she didn’t think it had a chance to be restored, but Michael McGee, a member of the parish’s contemporary choir, had an avocation for restoring church artifacts in his spare time and worked as quickly as he could to clean
CNS PHOTO/COURTESY L’OSSERVATORE ROMANO
After his weekly general audience in the Vatican’s St. Peter’s Square March 15, 2006, Pope Benedict XVI blesses the Hope Monstrance, recovered from the mud left behind by Hurricane Katrina in 2005 in New Orleans and restored by a parishioner at St. Dominic Church. The Hope Monstrance is making a tour of three communities hit by disasters in 2017: Houston, Hurricane Harvey; Las Vegas, scene of the worst mass shooting in U.S. history; and Santa Rosa, Calif., affected by wildfires. the metal, restore the gold plating and stabilize the long metal rod that held everything together. On March 15, 2006 — six months after the buried monstrance was recovered — Veters and her husband, Pat, and Msgr. Christopher Nalty, a New Orleans pastor, were in St. Peter’s
Square where Pope Benedict XVI personally blessed the vessel after his general audience. He also granted a plenary indulgence to those who prayed before it and fulfilled other necessary conditions. The artifact, ultimately named the “Hope Monstrance,” traveled in 2006
and 2007 to 140 churches across Louisiana and Mississippi to promote the city’s Katrina recovery and the power of perpetual adoration. The monstrance even made a stop at the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola. Now the monstrance has gone on the road again, offering the gift of hope to communities that, like New Orleans in 2005, need a large dose of healing. Over the next month, the monstrance will travel to three U.S. communities still reeling from disasters in 2017: Houston (Hurricane Harvey); Las Vegas (the worst mass shooting in U.S. history); and Santa Rosa, California (wildfires that destroyed 5,000 homes in Sonoma County). The monstrance also will make an appearance at the V Encuentro national Hispanic conference outside Dallas. “It’s just a great sign of hope and trust,” said Lazaro Contreras, director of Hispanic ministry in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. “We still hope and trust in the Lord after all these catastrophic events that we have experienced.” When the Hope Monstrance completes its tour in Santa Rosa Oct. 7, Morris said, there will be an anniversary prayer service bringing together the largest number of Catholic and Protestant faith leaders in memory.
SEPTEMBER 21, 2018 | THELEAVEN.ORG
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Words, promises are not enough to prevent abuse By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service
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Palestinian youths run for cover from tear gas fired by Israeli troops during a Sept. 10 protest along a beach in the Gaza Strip. The U.S. budgetary cuts to humanitarian aid institutions providing assistance to Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank could lead to longterm disastrous consequences, said aid workers in the region.
U.S. aid cuts to Palestinians could be disastrous By Judith Sudilovsky Catholic News Service
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ERUSALEM (CNS) — The U.S. budgetary cuts to humanitarian aid institutions helping Palestinians could lead to long-term disastrous consequences, said Catholic aid workers in the region. “There is concern that the humanitarian situation in Gaza, which is already dire, will be made worse,” Hilary DuBose, who represents Catholic Relief Services in Jerusalem, West Bank and Gaza, told Catholic News Service. “These massive budget cuts being made will impact CRS programs, though it is difficult to estimate (at this point) what that will be.” In early September, U.S. President Donald Trump said his administration would cut $200 million of aid to medical and humanitarian aid providers. He had already announced that the U.S. would withhold $350 million from the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East — amounting to more than one-quarter of the organization’s annual budget. DuBose said CRS’ five-year $50-million program “Envision Gaza 2020” program, which is funded by USAID and provides food and ne-
cessity vouchers as well as shortterm employment opportunities for Palestinians in Gaza, will be directly impacted by Trump’s decision. The program has been providing assistance to 155,000 Gazans through USAID funds, she said, and by the end of October they will be serving “zero.” With the aid from other organizations also cut off, the number of Palestinians facing a humanitarian crisis could reach 1 million, she said. “I can only imagine how many people will be impacted, but this decision is only speeding up the humanitarian crisis,” she said. DuBose said many of the recipients of their aid have been calling them worried about what this will mean for them. She said CRS will be able to continue helping a fraction of the families — a mere 760 — with food assistance thanks to special funds provided by Caritas Germany, Caritas Australia and a family foundation from the USA that wishes to remain anonymous. “What we see across the world is that any time there is a crisis and people are not able to meet their basic needs, that causes instability. What shape that will take here, I don’t know, but we do expect some instability,” said Dubose.
Chilean priest guilty of abuse expelled
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ATICAN CITY (CNS) — A priest who was once hailed as a champion of human rights in Chile was expelled from the priesthood by Pope Francis after being found guilty of sexual abuse. The Archdiocese of Santiago announced Sept. 15 that the pope dismissed Father Cristian Precht from the clerical state with “no possibility of appeal.” The decree, sent by Cardinal Luis Ladaria, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, confirmed “the dispensation from all obligations united to the sacred ordination of Father Cristian Precht Banados.” Father Precht was the first vicar of the Archdiocese of Santiago’s Vicari-
ate for Solidarity, an office created by Blessed Paul VI in 1976 to aid victims who suffered human rights abuses during the 1973-1990 dictatorship of Gen. Augusto Pinochet. The Archdiocese of Santiago began an investigation in 2011 into allegations of sexual abuse of minors and adults made against Father Precht. One year later, Father Precht was removed from public ministry for five years after the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith found the allegations “credible.” The announcement comes as Chilean prosecutors continue a nationwide investigation into alleged cover-ups of sexual abuses by clergy, including Archbishop Ricardo Ezzati of Santiago and his predecessor, Cardinal Francisco Javier Errazuriz Ossa.
ATICAN CITY (CNS) — Inviting presidents of the world’s bishops’ conference to the Vatican to discuss abuse prevention reflects an understanding that “lovely” words and promises are not enough — concrete, concerted action by the whole church is needed, said Archbishop Charles Scicluna of Malta. Pope Francis’ convocation of the gathering, to be held Feb. 21-24, sends “a very strong signal of a hearty commitment to defend dignity, to safeguard minors in the church,” Archbishop Scicluna said Sept. 14, on the sidelines of the plenary assembly of the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences. The annual gathering of presidents of the European conferences took place in Poznan, Poland, Sept. 13-16. Archbishop Scicluna, who is also president of a board of review handling abuse cases within the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, told reporters that the pope’s decision to hold the meeting in February reflects a fundamental point: “that the issue of prevention of abuse and safeguarding
CNS PHOTO/ALBERTO VALDES, EPA
Archbishop Charles Scicluna of Malta speaks to the media in in Santiago, Chile. minors requires the whole church and requires everyone in the church” to take part. Vatican News made public the archbishop’s remarks Sept. 14. The February meeting, which was announced by the pope’s international Council of Cardinals Sept. 12, “is also a response to the expectations of the people that (after) documents and words, we now want action,” the archbishop said. People need to know that “lovely words and promises are not enough,” he said. What is needed is “an extensive commitment that concerns everyone, it involves the whole church and everyone in the church.”
SEPTEMBER 21, 2018 | THELEAVEN.ORG
CLASSIFIEDS
EMPLOYMENT Positions open - Cashiers, stockers and warehouse needed. Range of pay is $8 - 12 per hour. Weekday and weekend hours, no nights. Apply in person at Smoke ’n’ Fire, 8030 W. 151st St., Overland Park, KS 66223. Drivers - Ready for the summers off? Join our school transportation division and live like a kid again! Our drivers have the opportunity to serve our community and still get those precious summer breaks. Assisted Transportation seeks caring and reliable drivers to transport K - 12 students in Johnson and Wyandotte counties in our minivans. CDL not required. $12 per hour. Retirees encouraged to apply. Learn more or apply online at: assistedtransportation.com or call (913) 262-5190 for more information. EOE. Director of the diocesan office of evangelization - The Catholic Diocese of Wichita is seeking an exceptional individual to serve as our full-time director, Office of Evangelization. This is a newly created position that will support Bishop Kemme’s pastoral plan and respond to Pope Francis’ call for Catholics to become missionary disciples. This individual will provide resources, training and formation opportunities for pastors, parishes and diocesan offices. This will involve assessment of evangelization models currently in use in parishes, formation of the Catholic faithful in evangelization methods and parish missions with a focus on evangelization. It is expected that candidates will have the following qualifications: practicing Catholic in good standing and an active and faithful steward in one’s parish; enthusiastic, engaging and energetic promoter of evangelization; experience working effectively with pastors in their unique parish situations; proper theological and pedagogical training or proven skills; bachelor’s degree in theology, catechesis or evangelization required; equivalent work experience in evangelization, mission or catechesis would be considered (master’s degree preferred); proven administrative skills; experience in interpersonal relations, conflict resolution, collaborative management style and budget preparation; ability to express ideas clearly in both written and verbal communications; and ability to travel within the diocese as needed. Submit cover letter and resume with references and salary requirements to: powell@catholicdioceseofwichita.org. Application deadline in on or before noon Sept. 25. Assistant organist/chorale accompanist - Holy Trinity Parish, 9150 Pflumm Rd., Lenexa, is seeking a part-time, salaried organist to accompany the Holy Trinity Chorale. Responsibilities include: full service-playing; weekly rehearsals; three Masses per month; and special services from mid-August to mid-June. Salary commensurate with qualifications, plus demonstrated proficiencies in playing and common practices in organ registration and technique. Additional pay for playing two to five more Masses per month with a cantor. Go to the website at: www.htlenexa.org/holytrinity-music for a full job description. Contact Dr. Cholë Stodt, director of music, at: cstodt@htlenexa.org. Victim assistance coordinator - The office of child and youth protection (OCYP) for the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas is seeking an individual to fill a part-time position, victim assistance coordinator. This position is responsible for providing support to and identifying resources for victims and their families in cases of abuse by clergy or other archdiocesan personnel. This individual will manage treatment referrals and resources for individuals and families affected and foster reconciliation between the church and these individuals. In their role as a staff member of the OCYP, this position works closely with the director of the OCYP, the vicar for clergy and the report investigator. Minimum qualifications include a bachelor’s degree in social work or a closely related field, and/or experience related to victim support; intermediate competency in MS Office Suite; and must be a practicing Catholic in good standing. A complete job description, application and benefits information are available on the archdiocese’s website at: www.archkck.org/jobs. Interested individuals should mail cover letter, resume and application to: Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, Office of Human Resources, Victim Assistance Coordinator, 12615 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City, KS 66109, or send via email to: jobs@archkck.org. Position open until filled. Executive director - Wyandotte Pregnancy Clinic is a faithbased nonprofit organization serving women and families facing unplanned pregnancies with Christ-like compassion. We are looking for an executive director at our Wyandotte location. The candidate should have strong leadership and supervisory skills; be flexible and able to work in a constantly evolving work environment; be comfortable collaborating with a wide range of agencies, churches and organizations; have excellent writing and communication skills; familiarity with QuickBooks, databases and MS Office products. Will be responsible for growing donor base and event planning. Being bilingual is a plus. Reports to governing board. Send resume to Donna Kelsey at: dkelsey@wpcnetwork.org. Our client website is: www.wyandottepregnancyclinic.org; our donor website is: www.BabiesAtRisk.org; our Mobile Pregnancy Clinic is: www.mobilepregnancyclinic.org. For more information, call Donna at (913) 904-4050. Evening facility supervisor - St. Michael the Archangel Parish, Leawood, has an immediate opening for a full-time facility assistant for the evening shift. Hours vary occasionally, but will generally be M – F, 1 – 9:30 p.m. Responsibilities include: monitoring building use; setups for meetings; janitorial duties; routine maintenance projects; and securing all buildings at the end of the evening. This position is eligible for the archdiocesan benefits package, and compensation will be commensurate with experience. Go to the parish website at: www.stmichaelcp.org/employment-opportunities for complete details. Extended day coordinator - This position provides supervision for elementary school students outside of their regular school hours. This would include planning activities and coordinating programs that currently exist. The position is full time with benefits. If interested, call Ms. Theresa at (913) 248-4589 to set up an interview.
Sonographer - Wyandotte Pregnancy Clinic is a faithbased nonprofit organization serving women and families facing unplanned pregnancies with Christ-like compassion. We have an immediate opening for a sonographer to perform limited (not diagnostic) sonograms. That person could also serve at our new Olathe location. RDMS and nurse-sonographers who have been trained on ultrasound should apply. Send resumes to Donna Kelsey at: dkelsey@wpcnetwork.org or call (913) 904-4050. Extended care lead teacher - St. Patrick Early Education Center is now hiring a faith-filled lead teacher for our after-school program. The hours are 11:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. each school day. Experience is preferred, but not required. Will train. For more information, send an email to: stpatearlyedcenter@stpatrickkck.eduk12.net. Lay counselor - Olathe Pregnancy Clinic will open in October. We will serve women and families facing unplanned pregnancies with Christ-like compassion. We have an immediate opening for a full-time bilingual lay counselor. Qualified applicants need to be bilingual in Spanish and English; be a faithful practicing Christian; possess strong pro-life convictions; and have a compassionate heart. Training will be provided. Send resumes to Donna Kelsey at: dkelsey@wpc network.org or call (913) 904-4050. DRIVERS NEEDED Seeking caring and reliable drivers. Work up to 40 hours per week. Transport elderly and disabled individuals to and from medical appointments. CDL not required. Retirees encouraged to apply. Competitive wages and benefits. EOE. Learn more or apply online at: www.assistedtransportation.com (913) 262-5190 Infant and toddler teacher - This is a full-time position, at a school in Shawnee, with benefits. Curriculum is in place as a guide for activities. If interested, call Ms. Theresa at (913) 248-4589 to set up an interview. Enjoy working with children? - Curé of Ars Catholic School would like you to join our after-school care program. The hours are 3 - 6 p.m. and can be flexible based on your schedule. Contact after-school care director Rhiannon Mendez at: Rhiannon.Mendez@cureofars.com for more information. Lead consultant for pro-life ministries - The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas is seeking a lead consultant for pro-life ministry. The mission of the pro-life office is to teach respect for all human life from conception to natural death and organize for its protection. All offices for pro-life initiatives are aligned with the USCCB’s “Pastoral Plan for Pro-Life Activities,” and the consultant is charged with assisting the archbishop and his pastors in implementing these initiatives. The role of the consultant is to rally the Catholic faithful and people of good will to build up a “culture of life” through collaborative action with the parishes and pastoral regions of the archdiocese. The position requires strong leadership skills; excellent communication skills (both written and verbal); management skills including planning, executing, evaluating, prioritizing, meeting objectives and proficiency in Microsoft Office applications. Bachelor degree or equivalent required as well as involvement in pro-life activities/organizations. An application and benefits information are available on the archdiocese website at: www.archkck.org/jobs. Interested individuals should send a cover letter, resume and application via email to: jobs@archkck.org, title Consultant for Pro-Life. Position open until filled. Sales position – Do you have sales experience? Are you well networked in the local community? J.S. Paluch Company, national publisher of church bulletins, has full- and part-time positions available. Excellent earning potential; medical benefits; 401(k); life and AD&D insurance available; excellent commission; compensation program. Interested? Call Kay Leane at (800) 621-5197, ext. 2823, or email resume to: Recruiting@jspaluch.com. Safe environment compliance administrator – The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas is accepting applications for a full-time safe environment compliance administrator position in the office of administrative services. Duties include coordinating all aspects of the VIRTUS program, including background screenings, implementation and compliance in parishes, and reporting. Ideal candidate will be a practicing Catholic in good standing and have a minimum of 3-5 years professional experience including proficiency in data management and organization. Application and benefits information are available on the archdiocese’s web site at: www.archkck.org/jobs. Qualified individuals should submit cover letter, resume, and application (available on website) to: jobs@archkck. org, title safe environment compliance administrator. Position open until filled.
HOME IMPROVEMENT Swalms organizing - downsizing - cleanout service - Reduce clutter – Any space organized. Shelving built on-site. Items hauled for recycling and donations. 20 years exp.; insured. Call Tillar at (913) 375-9115. WWW. SWALMSORGANIZING.COM. 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@hot mail.com. Member of Holy Trinity, Lenexa. Father-and-son home exteriors and remodeling - Celebrating my 15th year in The Leaven as a small business owner! We do decks, siding, windows, doors, tile work, floors, wood rot, and interior and exterior painting. We can remodel bathrooms, kitchens or basements. We also reface cabinets and redo pesky popcorn ceilings. Call Josh at (913) 709-7230.
Masonry work - Quality new or repair work. Brick, block and chimney/fireplace repair. Insured; second-generation bricklayer. Member of St. Paul Parish, Olathe. Call (913) 829-4336. EL SOL Y LA TIERRA *Commercial & residential * Lawn renovation *Mowing * Clean-up and hauling * Dirt grading/installation * Landscape design * Free estimates Hablamos y escribimos Ingles!! www.elsolylatierra.com Call Lupe at (816) 935-0176 Concrete construction - Tear out and replace stamped, stained or colored patios and drives. Retaining walls, footings, poured-in-place safe rooms, excavation and hauling. Asphalt drives and lots. Fully insured; references. Call Dan at (913) 207-4371 or send an email to: dan deeconst@aol.com. NELSON CREATION’S L.L.C. Home makeovers, kitchen, bath. All interior and exterior remodeling and repairs. Family owned, experienced, licensed and insured. Member St. Joseph, Shawnee. Kirk Nelson. (913) 927-5240; nelsport@everestkc.net Rusty Dandy Painting, Inc. – We have been coloring your world for 40 years. Your home will be treated as if it were our own. Old cabinets will be made to look like new. Dingy walls and ceilings will be made beautiful. Woodwork will glow. Lead-certified and insured. Call (913) 341-9125. DRC Construction We’ll get the job done right the first time. Windows - Doors - Decks - Siding Repair or replace, we will work with you to solve your problems. Choose us for any window, door, siding or deck project and be glad you did. Everything is guaranteed 100% (913) 461-4052 www.windowservicesoverlandpark.com drcconswindows@gmail.com. Local handyman - Painting int. and ext., staining, wood rot, power wash, decks, doors and windows, masonry, hardwood floors, gutter cleaning, water heaters, toilets, faucets, garbage disposals, ceiling fans, mowing and more!! Member of Holy Angels Parish, Basehor. Call Billy at (913) 927-4118. HARCO Exteriors LLC Your Kansas City fencing specialists Family owned and operated (913) 815-4817 www.harcoexteriorsllc.com The Drywall Doctor, Inc. – A unique solution to your drywall problems! We fix all types of ceiling and wall damage — from water stains and stress cracks to texture repairs and skim coating. We provide professional, timely repairs and leave the job site clean! Lead-certified and insured! Serving the metro since 1997. Call (913) 768-6655. Handyman/Remodeler - Quality service with references. Kitchens, baths, tile, painting, garage doors and openers, decks and wood rot repair. Call Jeff at (913) 915-4738.
SERVICES Gas log tuneups - We can do most brands. Email pictures of fireplace to: bbqinfo@smokenfire.com. Smoke ’n’ Fire, 8030 W. 151st St., Overland Park, KS 66223. Water damage restoration - Framing, insulation, painting, Sheetrock, mold treatment and lead-safe certified. Insurance claims welcome. Serving Wyandotte and Johnson counties for 25 years. Call Jerry at (913) 206-1144. Custom countertops - Laminates installed within five days. Cambria, granite and solid surface. Competitive prices, dependable work. Call the Top Shop, Inc., at (913) 962-5058. Members of St. Joseph, Shawnee. Faith-based counseling to cope with life concerns - Kansas City area. Call Mary Vorsten, licensed clinical professional counselor, at (913) 909-2002. 8 to Your IdealWeight Get Real, Get Healthy, Get Empowered. Release your weight and restore your power in 8 weeks! Certified coach: kathioppold.8toyouridealweight.com. Ceilings - Renew your old textured, yellowed ceilings! Interior painting. No mess. Call Jerry at (913) 201-1144. Bankruptcy consultation - If debts are overwhelming you, seek hope and help from compassionate, experienced Catholic attorney, Teresa Kidd. For a free consultation, call (913) 422-0610; send an email to: tkidd@kc.rr.com; or visit the website at: www.teresakiddlawyer.com. Please do not wait until life seems hopeless before getting good quality legal advice that may solve your financial stress. Rodman Lawn Care Lawn mowing, aeration, verticutting, mulching, Hedge trimming, leaf removal, gutter cleaning Fully insured and free estimates John Rodman (913) 548-3002 Tree Trimming Tree Trimming/Landscaping Insured/References Free Estimates/Local Parishioner Tony (913) 620-6063
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Mike Hammer local moving - A full-service mover. Packing, pianos, rental truck load/unload, storage container load/unload and in-home moving. No job too small. Serving JoCo since 1987. St. Joseph, Shawnee, parishioner. Call Mike at (913) 927-4347 or send an email to: mike@mikehammermoving.com.
FOR SALE Residential lifts - New and recycled. Stair lifts, porch lifts, ceiling lifts and elevators. St. Michael’s parishioners. KC Lift & Elevator at (913) 327-5557. (Formerly Silver Cross - KC) For sale - Four burial plots at Mount Calvary Cemetery, lot 354, section 3, spaces 5, 6, 7 and 8 (prime location right on the road). $8740 or make an offer. Call Kelly at (913) 709-9133. For sale - Two side-by-side crypts; tier B, 13 and 15, located in the St. Joseph Chapel at Mount Calvary Cemetery, the only two left in the chapel. Call (913) 269-6176 for pricing. For sale - Burial plot at St. Joseph Cemetery in Shawnee, section E1, lot 5, space 4. The space is worth $2031. Will sell for $1600, but negotiable. Call or text Kathy at (913) 636-0787.
CAREGIVING Just like family - Let us care for your loved ones in their homes. Two ladies with over 50 years’ combined experience. Looking for night shift coverage, some days. Great price, great references. Both experienced with hospice care. Call Ophelia at (913) 570-7276 or Kara at (913) 3431602. Situation wanted - Last month, I cared for a client for over 300 hours. I detected sleep apnea, confirmed. Got equipment in the home. Detected a heart problem, confirmed. Got her a stress test, echo and heart monitor. Detected a heart valve problem and cognitive problems, confirmed. She now has four doctors and superior personalized care. If you want this for your loved one, call me now. Call (913) 701-6381. Experienced RN - Seeking a part-time day or early evening position. Will provide nursing (no lifting), companionship, respite care and concierge services in the Johnson County area. Call Mary at (913) 710-5412. Negotiable rates. CNA - Professional caregiver provides quality private home care assistance for the elderly in the comfort of your home. Part-time or full-time assignments. Will consider live-in arrangements. 25 years seasoned experience. Dedicated to clients. Call (816) 806-8104. Looking for assisted living at home? - Before you move, call us and explore our in-home care options. We specialize in helping families live safely at home while saving thousands of dollars per year. Call today for more information or to request a FREE home care planning guide. Benefits of Home - Senior Care, www.benefits ofhome.com or call (913) 422-1591. Caregiving - We provide personal assistance, companionship, care management, and transportation for seniors in their home, assisted living or nursing facilities. We also provide respite care for main caregivers needing some personal time. Call Daughters & Company at (913) 341-2500 and speak with Laurie, Pat or Gary.
REAL ESTATE Whole Estates Need to sell a home and everything in it? We buy it all at once in as-is condition. Call (816) 444-1950 or send an email to: www.wholeestates.com. We buy houses and whole estates - We are local and family-owned, and will make you a fair cash offer. We buy houses in any condition. No fees or commissions and can close on the date of your choice. Selling your house as is never felt so good. Jon & Stacy Bichelmeyer (913) 599-5000. I NEED HOUSES! - We are members of Holy Trinity Parish and we pay cash for any real estate without any realtor commissions or fees. We buy houses in any condition, including bad foundations. If you would like an easy, no-hassle sale at a fair price, please call me. We have 15 years of experience. Mark Edmondson, (913) 980-4905.
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 - Antique/vintage jewelry, paintings, pottery, sterling, etc. Single pieces or estate. Renee Maderak, (913) 475-7393. St. Joseph Parish, Shawnee.
BUYING AN AD To purchase a Leaven classified ad, email The Leaven at: beth.blankenship@theleaven.org. Cost is $20 for the first five lines, $1.50 per line thereafter. Ad deadline is 10 days before the desired publication date.
SEPTEMBER 21, 2018 | THELEAVEN.ORG
CALENDAR OPEN HOUSE Resurrection Cemetery W. 83rd St. and Quivira, Lenexa Sept. 23 - Oct. 28 from 1 - 4 p.m., (Sundays)
The cost for a dinner of tacos, tostadas, beans and rice will be $7. There will be music from the band Stranded in the City. Proceeds will support scholarships and other projects.
CATHOLIC CHARISMATIC RETREAT Sanctuary of Hope 2601 Ridge Ave., Kansas City, Kansas Sept. 29 - 30
Learn more about the archdiocesan Catholic cemeteries. For more information, call (913) 344-7527.
SLOVENEFEST 2018 Holy Family Parish (Msgr. Mejak Hall) 513 Ohio Ave., Kansas City, Kansas Sept. 22 from 4 - 10 p.m.
This celebration of Slovenian culture will begin with Mass at 4 p.m. Following Mass, there will be a traditional dinner. There will also be Slovenian music and many traditional Slovenian foods, games, Lasko Pivo and a cultural booth. For more information, call the church office at (913) 371-1561 or go online to: www.holyfamilychurchkck.com.
ICE CREAM SOCIAL St. Patrick Parish 1086 N. 94th St., Kansas City, Kansas Sept. 22 at 5 p.m.
There will be a Mexican dinner, a Burmese Chin dinner, burgers, hot dogs, bingo, a raffle, children’s games, music and other activities.
PARISH BAZAAR St. John the Baptist Parish 427 S. Prairie, Greeley Sept. 23 at 10:30 a.m.
A dinner of turkey and dressing, chicken and noodles, ham, sauerkraut, sides and homemade pies will be served. The cost is $10 per meal. Takeout is available. There will also be a country store, bake sale, bingo and a quilt raffle.
PROTECT YOURSELF AGAINST SCAM AND FRAUD Keeler Women’s Center 2220 Central Ave., Kansas City, Kansas Sept. 26 from 1:30 - 2:30 p.m.
Find out how and why someone could be targeted and how to protect yourself.
The retreat will begin on Sept. 29 at 8:30 a.m. and end at 8 p.m.; start at 9 a.m. on Sept. 30 and end with Mass at noon. The theme of the retreat is: “Peace and Joy in the Holy Spirit.”
TACO BINGO Holy Angels Parish 15440 Leavenworth Rd., Basehor Sept. 22 at 5:30 p.m.
The cost for dinner will be a freewill donation. The cost for bingo cards will be $5 each. The event will help support the Kansas Knights of Columbus sonogram initiative. There will also be a 50/50 raffle.
SACRED WHEELS CAR SHOW AND MEXICAN DINNER St. Joseph Parish 8th & Spring Garden, Atchison Sept. 23 from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
A Mexican dinner will be served for the cost of $8 for adults and $4 for kids. There will also be music, a kid zone, raffles, a country store and treasure booth. Beer and margaritas will be available. For information about showing a car, call the parish office at (913) 367-0671.
DAUGHTERS OF ISABELLA LITTLE FLOWER CIRCLE 503 Christ the King Parish (Yadrich Hall) 5972 S.W. 25th St., Topeka Sept. 23 at 12:30 p.m.
There will be a covered dish luncheon followed by a business meeting. If anyone knows of a member or her family member in distress, sick, or in need of the circle’s prayers, contact Theresa Smith-Lawton at (785) 640-1403. If you are interested in or would like more information about the Daughters of Isabella, call Marilyn Unrein at (785) 230-8448 or Cindy Keen at (785) 228-9863.
FAMILY DAY Prairie Star Ranch 1124 California Rd., Williamsburg Sept. 23 from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Step away and experience a day of prayer, adventure, outdoor activities and time to reconnect. Families, friends and communities are invited to come together and join in activities and prayer. The day will culminate with Mass in the St. Kateri Chapel. Register online at: archkck.org/ranch or call (785) 746-5693.
SUICIDE SUPPORT GROUP Precious Blood Renewal Center 2120 Saint Gaspar Way, Liberty, Missouri Sept. 30 from 3 - 4:30 p.m.
This session will be led by a licensed professional counselor. Support groups help us realize we are not alone and offer a way to feel heard, understood, accepted and supported. Freewill offerings will be accepted. Register online by Sept. 28 at: info@pbrenewalcenter. org or call (816) 415-3745.
POTLUCK DINNER Most Pure Heart of Mary Parish (Formation Room) 3601 S.W. 17th St., Topeka Sept. 27 from 5 - 7 p.m.
The Christian widow and widowers organization will host the potluck dinner. There is no cost to attend. For more information, call (785) 233-7350.
DIVORCED: CALLED TO LOVE AGAIN Church of the Ascension (St. Luke Room) 9510 W. 127th St., Overland Park Sept. 27 from 7 - 8:30 p.m.
What’s next after divorce/annulment? Join us for a formation series on the gift of self, which helps us fulfill the call to love again. Various topics will be discussed. Visit our Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/ giftofself143 or send an email to: calledto love143@gmail.com.
45TH ANNUAL MEXICAN SUPPER Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish (hall) 106 Exchange St., Emporia Sept. 28 from 4:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Enjoy two tacos, rice, chips and salsa, desserts and a drink for $8 in advance or $9 at the door. All proceeds benefit Sacred Heart School’s PTO.
TACOS, TOSTADAS AND TUNES Holy Name of Jesus Parish (school) 1007 Southwest Blvd., Kansas City, Kansas Sept. 29 from 5 - 9 p.m.
BURGERS, BUCKS AND ’QUE Corpus Christi Parish 6001 Bob Billings Pkwy., Lawrence Oct. 6 at 2 p.m.
There will be a beer garden and snacks beginning at 2 p.m. There will also be a classic car show from 1 - 4 p.m. Mass will be at 4 p.m. with dinner, music, a reverse raffle and other activities. Dinner tickets cost $25 for adults; $10 for youths; and $5 for kids. Tickets are now on sale and can be purchased from parish staff or choir members. For more information, visit the website at: www. cccparish.org/2018bbq.
ANNUNCIATION CHURCH PICNIC Cigna Center 402 N. Maple, Frankfort Sept. 30 from 4 - 7 p.m.
There will be a roast beef dinner with all the trimmings. The cost will be $10 for adults; $5 for kids 10 and under. There will also be a potof-gold, cakewalk, bingo, church poker, a quilt raffle, a silent auction, kids games and train rides. Takeout meals will be available (and meals delivered in Frankfort). Call the parish office during morning hours (M-F) at (785) 292-4462 to order delivery meals.
MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS WEEK St. Paul Parish 900 S. Honeysuckle, Olathe Oct. 6 at 8 a.m.
Celebrate Mass as we pray for a united and compassionate community and receive the sacrament of anointing to ease the burdens of stress, grief and loss, depression and anxiety.
BISHOP WARD ANNUAL AUCTION BLACK WHITE AND RUBY Uptown Theater 3700 Broadway Blvd., Kansas City, Missouri Sept. 29
The 40th annual auction benefits the student scholarship fund. Tickets are $80 and may be purchased online at: wardhigh.org/ auction2018. Sponsorship opportunities are still available. If you have questions, call (913) 371-6901 or send an email to: development@ wardhigh.org.
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COMMEMORATION MASS AND RECEPTION Sacred Heart Parish 1429 Kansas Ave., Atchison Sept. 30 at 3 p.m.
Mass in commemoration of the closing of Sacred Heart Church will be celebrated by Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann and Abbot James Albers, OSB. A reception will follow immediately in the parking area.
FALL GOSPEL CONCERT Our Lady & St. Rose Parish 2300 N. 8th St., Kansas City, Kansas Sept. 30 at 3 p.m.
Plan to attend the fall gospel concert at Our Lady & St. Rose. Admission is a freewill offering. Your generosity helps our church community fulfill the Gospel and be a positive presence in a challenged area.
FALL FEST Sacred Heart-St. Casimir Parish 1405 2nd Ave., Leavenworth Sept. 30 from 11:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.
The cost for tickets for a turkey and ham dinner will be $10 for adults; $5 for kids. There will also be a silent auction, a country store, games for kids, a DJ and raffles.
GOLF OUTING Heritage Park Golf Course 16455 S. Lackman, Olathe Oct. 1 at 8:30 a.m.
Holy Spirit, Overland Park, Knights of Columbus invite you to join in this golf outing. There will be a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m. Green fees, cart and two beverage tickets with prizes for long drive, long putt and closest to the pin are included in the price of $33 per golfer. Call Greg Davis at (913) 800-0581 to register.
TRIVIA NIGHT Mater Dei School (Rossiter Hall) 204 S.W. 8th St., Topeka Oct. 6 at 7 p.m.
The cost to attend is $100 for an eight-person table. There will be prizes, a raffle, popcorn and more. Tables are filling up fast. Reserve your table now by calling the Mater Dei office at (785) 232-7744. Details will follow upon reservation. Proceeds will benefit the school.
RETREAT FOR ADOPTIVE MOMS: ‘A RETREAT FOR MOMS BY MOMS’ Sophia Spirituality Center 751 S. 8th St., Atchison Oct. 6 - 7
The retreat begins at 9 a.m. on Oct. 6 and ends at noon on Oct. 7. If you became a mom through adoption, are you looking for a way to renew and recharge your spirit and have more to share with your family? Would you like to share with other moms who have similar stories? This is an opportunity to share with others in the same situation. The retreat fee is $75 (scholarships are available) and includes room and meals. Call (913) 360-6173 or visit the website at: www. sophiaspiritualitycenter.org.
CENTERING PRAYER WORKSHOP Cathedral of St. Peter (chapel) 409 N. 15th St., Kansas City, Kansas Oct. 7, 14, 21, 28 from 3 - 4:15 p.m.
Join Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth as they facilitate a four-session workshop on centering prayer. This type of prayer is often called the prayer of the heart and is a contemplative form of prayer.
BEGINNING EXPERIENCE GRIEF SUPPORT WEEKEND Sanctuary of Hope 2601 Ridge Ave., Kansas City, Kansas Oct. 12 - 14
Beginning Experience is offering a healing weekend to men and women of all ages who have suffered the loss of a spouse through death, divorce or separation. It is a time to heal and begin anew. Reservations are required. For more information, visit the website at: www.beginningexperiencekc.org; send an email to: register.bekc@gmail.com; or call Lori at (913) 980-7966.
WINE AND CHOCOLATE Avila University (Whitfield Center) 11901 Wornall Rd., Kansas City, Missouri Oct. 15 from 6 - 8 p.m.
Celebrate the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet’s Founders Day with an evening of specialty wines, gourmet chocolate, hors d’oeuvres and live music. Tours of the Martha Smith, CSJ, Archives & Research Center will also be available. The cost is $35 per person.
SEPTEMBER 21, 2018 | THELEAVEN.ORG
COMMENTARY TWENTY-FIFTH WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME Sept. 23 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. 24 Monday Prv 3: 27-34 Ps 15: 2-5 Lk 8: 16-18 Sept. 25 Tuesday Prv 21: 1-6, 10-13 Ps 119: 1, 27, 30, 34-35, 44 Lk 8: 19-21 Sept. 26 Cosmas and Damian, martyrs Prv 30: 5-9 Ps 119: 29, 72, 89, 101, 104, 163 Lk 9: 1-6 Sept. 27 Vincent de Paul, priest Eccl 1: 2-11 Ps 90: 3-6, 12-14, 17 Lk 9: 7-9 Sept. 28 Wenceslaus, martyr; Lawrence Ruiz and companions, martyrs Eccl 3: 1-11 Ps 144: 1b, 2abc, 3-4 Lk 9: 18-22 Sept. 29 MICHAEL, GABRIEL AND RAPHAEL, ARCHANGELS Dn 7: 9-10, 13-14 Ps 138: 1-5 Jn 1: 47-51
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Oh, Lord, it’s hard to be humble(d)
on’t you just hate when that happens? After this past weekend’s homily, the Lord made sure that I’d live it out on Monday. Let me set the scene: I was at the Royal Crest Lanes in Lawrence, bowling as part of a team of Knights of Columbus from my parish. I arrived early enough to get in a few practice rolls, but confidently said I was OK. I’ve always considered myself a good bowler — not great, but decent. Well, apparently the Lord was listening to my weekend homily, which was on humility. I guess he didn’t want me to just talk the talk, but walk the walk. Or, in this case, bowl the ball. I’m sure that I’ve bowled worse games in my life, but I can’t remember when. It’s like my ball was allergic to the pins, especially the head pin. Early in the first game, as I released the ball, out popped one of the rubber finger grips which flew in the air into the neighboring lane’s gutter about a third of the way down.
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MARK MY WORDS
FATHER MARK GOLDASICH Father Mark is the pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Tonganoxie. He has been editor of The Leaven since 1989.
An employee had to be summoned to recover it. I should have just gone home then. As the evening progressed — or better yet, regressed — I threw two gutter balls in a frame and managed to get about every permutation of a split possible. A few spares I missed by “just a whisker.” As for the other potential spares, I did my best to make sure to leave a pin or two standing. My worst score was a 96. The last time I failed to break 100, I probably wasn’t even shaving yet!
I’m pretty sure that the Lord was looking at that score and chuckling. You see, in my homily, I mentioned that perhaps the cross that the Lord calls us to take up is that of being humble. In our day, many of us find it extremely hard to “deny ourselves,” let alone take up our cross. We seem to live the lyrics of the old Mac Davis song that said: “Oh Lord, it’s hard to be humble, when you’re perfect in every way.” Whenever I find myself feeling puffed up, I call to mind the story of the great conductor Leonard Bernstein. He was once asked which instrument in the orchestra was the most difficult to play. He gave a surprising answer: “Second fiddle.”
“I can get plenty of first violinists,” he said. “But to find someone who can play second fiddle with enthusiasm — that’s a problem. Yet, if there is no one to play second fiddle, there is no harmony.” (Found in Brian Cavanaugh’s “Fresh Packet of Sower’s Seeds: Third Planting.”) Bowling last Monday, I didn’t only play second fiddle, I played fourth (of four!). And that’s perfectly OK. There is some hope, though. In my younger days, I would have been angry at myself or the pins, and my behavior would have reflected that. Now, I could accept my poor performance with humor. It gave me an opportunity to support and encourage the other members of my team . . . and to notice all the talented bowlers on other lanes bashing the heck out of the pins. To be humble means to move from an excessive preoccupation with one’s self toward a life lived in service to others. If you need to take yourself down a peg (or pin!) or two, here are some ways to seek humility: • Acknowledge your
faults and limitations. No one is perfect and no one is great at everything. Thank God for your particular talents, ask God’s help to work on your faults and be genuinely happy for the gifts that others possess. • Don’t brag. Ever. • Be teachable. Don’t think you know it all or have seen it all. Be open to good advice and change. • Be grateful for what you have. • Help others whenever you can, wherever you can, however you can. • Listen. When in a conversation, resist the impulse to interrupt or to “one up” the other with your “better” story. I suspect the world would be a far different place if we all embraced a healthy dose of humility — in other words, denied ourselves, took up our cross and followed Jesus. By the way, if you ever want to see humility in action, head to the Royal Crest Lanes. I’ll be there every other Monday night until early December, humbly cleaning out those gutters.
Is your heart conditioned to receive his word?
ome gardeners get ready for spring planting by tilling the soil during the
fall. The broken globs of earth will freeze and thaw, and consequently become softened. Preparing the soil makes it easier for the plants to grow. In a similar way, God can prepare our hearts to receive the word. Then, like seed planted in the ground, it can take root and flourish. We see an example of that in Sunday’s Gospel reading, Mk 9:30-37. Jesus questions the disciples on the argument they were having as they traveled through Galilee: “But they remained silent.” Their silence reflects
THE GOSPEL TRUTH
FATHER MIKE STUBBS Father Stubbs is the pastor of Holy Cross Parish in Overland Park and has a degree in Scripture from Harvard University.
the guilt that they were feeling. They sense that they were wrong in discussing who was
the greatest. Even though they could not articulate any details, or provide a reason, or put a finger on it, they realized that their ambitions did not line up with the direction that Jesus wanted them to go. It makes them feel very uneasy. They are like children whose parents have caught them in
a misdeed. Their feeling of guilt prepared their hearts to receive the teaching that Jesus would give them: “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.” Because their hearts have been prepared, these words of Jesus ring true. They felt right. They explain what the disciples had already felt in their hearts. So, how does God prepare our hearts? Sometimes, God blesses us with good examples, which stir up in our hearts a desire to imitate. Perhaps it is a family member or friend who impresses us. Or maybe it is a saint that we hear about. The disciples had spent much time with
Jesus, who gave them the best example of all. In any case, our hearts are ready to follow their example. We feel attracted to them. We are receptive to hearing the word of God, which can tell us how to do that. Our hearts have been softened, so that God’s word can take root and grow. All this can remind us of the parable of the sower and the seed (Mk 4:1-9). God’s word is like the seed that is sown in the ground. In some cases, it takes root and flourishes. Then, it produces abundantly. In other cases, it fails to grow and withers up. It all depends on that state of the soil — that is to say, the condition of our hearts.
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Fear often causes people to remain silent in the face of other’s suffering and marginalize the sick and those most in need, Pope Francis said. Instead of being viewed as “an occasion to manifest care and solidarity,” the sick and the suffering are often seen as a problem, the pope said Sept. 9 during his Sunday Angelus address. After praying the Angelus prayer with an estimated 15,000 pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square, the pope
led them in applauding the beatification of Blessed Alphonse Marie Eppinger, a 19th-century nun who founded the Sisters of the Divine Redeemer. “Let us give thanks to God for this courageous and wise woman who, while suffering in silence and prayer, gave witness to God’s love, especially to those who were sick in body and spirit,” the pope said. In his main address, Pope Francis reflected on the Sunday Gospel reading from St. Mark, which recalled Jesus’ healing of a deaf man who had a speech impediment. — CNS
SEPTEMBER 21, 2018 | THELEAVEN.ORG
COMMENTARY
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Art historian and judge keynotes art contest reception
aint John Paul II wrote an apostolic letter nearly 20 years ago in which he called us to “remember the past with gratitude, to live the present with enthusiasm and to look forward to the future with confidence.” In his joyful letter, “At the Beginning of the New Millennium,” he quoted the fifth chapter of St. Luke, when, one day, after speaking to crowds from Simon’s boat, Jesus invited him to “put out into the deep” to catch fish: “Duc in altum” in Latin. With these words, “Put Out Into the Deep,” the Regional Juried Christian Arts Competition and Exhibition sponsored
SIMPLY STEWARDSHIP
LESLE KNOP Lesle Knop is the executive director of the archdiocesan office of stewardship and development. You can email her at: lknop@archkck.org.
by the Catholic Fine Arts Council hopes to challenge contemporary Christian artists to use
their skills and talents to lead others to Christ. Saint John Paul II wrote: “Peter and his first companions trusted Christ’s words, and cast the nets and ‘when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish’” (Lk 5:6). The missionary spirit embodied in this passage
from the lives of the apostles is our invitation to put out into the deep through the thoughtful stewardship of our many gifts that have been entrusted to us. The Catholic Fine Arts Council was founded by the Catholic Foundation of Northeast Kansas in 2009 as a service to everyone in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas. Along with honorary chairpersons John and Pat Menghini, members of Church of the Ascension, the council invited artists to enter its second regional art exhibit, entitled “Duc in Altum: Put Out Into the Deep.” Christian artists were encouraged to submit their artwork for
consideration by a panel of art professionals and Father Kent O’Connor, pastor of Good Shepherd Church in Shawnee, who are volunteer members of the Catholic Fine Arts Council. Nearly 50 exceptional paintings, sculptures and other works of art will be on display at Savior Pastoral Center in Kansas City, Kansas, starting Oct. 16. Winning artists, selected by the competition juror Denis R. McNamara, Ph.D., will receive a total of $3,200 in prizes made possible by the Catholic Foundation of Northeast Kansas. McNamara will present a lecture, titled “Iconic Images: Seeing Heaven on Earth,”
immediately before the artists’ reception on Oct. 16 starting at 4:30 p.m. McNamara, an architectural historian specializing in American church architecture, is an assistant director at the Liturgical Institute of the University of Saint Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary, Chicago, and serves as a liturgical design consultant. I would encourage you to join us for this theologically motivated lecture. I am confident that you will be inspired by McNamara’s words, and, when viewing the art, you, too, may want to “put out into the deep!” Note: The program is free. You may register online at cfnek.org/ christianarts.
Mental health needs to be focus of Oct. 6 Mass
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here is a town in Belgium called Geel, whose residents have been caring for the mentally ill by taking them into their homes for more than 700 years. This tradition, which is marveled over and celebrated by psychologists worldwide as a best practice for mental health care, arose from the Catholic devotion to St. Dymphna. Dymphna was a seventh-century Irish princess who was the spitting image of her mother. She fled to Geel to escape her mentally disturbed father, who sought to make her his wife and queen after her
DO UNTO OTHERS
BILL SCHOLL Bill Scholl is the archdiocesan consultant for social justice. You can email him at: socialjustice@ archkck.org.
mother died. There, she devoted her life and wealth to
care for the mentally disabled until her father tracked her to Geel and beheaded her. The church canonized her as a martyr and, by 1540, St. Dymphna’s church was a popular place of pilgrimage for families who would bring their mentally ill
relatives for healing. Sometimes, the families would leave their mentally ill relatives behind and the townsfolk would take them into their homes. What is amazing about Geel is how the townsfolk don’t stigmatize or shame their mentally ill residents. A woman screaming at lions is likely to have a stranger shoo the imaginary beasts away to help her calm down. Or a boarder who compulsively tears off his buttons throughout the day will have his housemother quietly sew them back on in the evening, because she knows that’s what he needs to cope.
Inspired by St. Dymphna, the people of Geel give a powerful witness to how we as Christians should love those with mental illness. Our call to love the mentally ill is closer than you might think. According to the National Institute of Health, in a given year about one in four people have a diagnosable mental health issue. October 7 – 13 is Mental Health Awareness Week and, as Catholics, we should take this time to look for our neighbors who may be in need. As a faith community, we are called to support individuals and their families who have
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mental health issues. Like the people of Geel, we can offer spiritual comfort through our prayerful presence in people’s lives by acknowledging their pain and supporting them through the healing and recovery process. Please join us for a Mass that will lift up in prayer the needs of the mentally ill and help us do our part to bring the Lord’s healing power to bear by giving us eyes to see and hearts to help the mentally ill. This Mass, followed by anointing, will be held on Oct. 6 at 8 a.m. at St. Paul Church, located at 900 S. Honeysuckle in Olathe.
SEPTEMBER 21, 2018 | THELEAVEN.ORG
LOCAL NEWS
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First-ever retreat invites troubled youth in By Olivia Martin olivia.martin@theleaven.org
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ILLIAMSBURG — Three years is a long time. A child learns to speak, educational degrees are undertaken and completed, and the blue moon comes and goes. But in some places in Brazil, people wait for three years to go on the Rescue Me retreat of the Fraternity the Poor of Jesus Christ. That’s right — three years. “Rescue Me is very intense,” said Sister Mariana, PJC. “It’s a retreat on how you miss God in your life and how he invites you to an encounter with him.” And on Aug. 18-19, the fraternity held the first-ever Rescue Me retreat in the United States at Prairie Star Ranch in Williamsburg. Held in Spanish, the retreat is specially designed for youth struggling with drugs and alcohol and marks a new era in the fraternity’s life in the United States.
In the dark The Sisters and Brothers take the Rescue Me experience very seriously. Like with many other retreats, they don’t want anyone to know what happens until they live it. This presented a special difficulty for their first Rescue Me here, as laypeople were in charge of giving talks, performing in skits and praying for the retreatants. “It’s a good challenge,” said Sister Miracles, PJC. “If you think about it, it’s like a mother preparing others for the birth of her child. She says, ‘Even though we cannot see the face of the baby yet, we can feel the heartbeat.’ “It’s very exciting seeing our first baby being born!” In anticipation of Rescue Me, the Sisters and Brothers have felt blinded themselves. “As this is the first time we’ve done this in the United States,” said Brother Israel, PJC, “we don’t know how it’s going to go, how the American people are going to receive this encounter.” “We hope it’s not too shocking,” Sister Mariana added. “The majority of young Hispanics were born in the States and have the American mentality more than their parents,” said Brother Mateo, PJC, “so there is a cultural difference even within the family.” Often confronted with the difficulties of moving to a new country, pressure to speak both English and Spanish
Ted and Nancy Appelhanz, members of Mother Teresa of Calcutta Parish, Topeka, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on Aug. 17. The couple was married on Aug. 17, 1968, at Church of the Assumption, Topeka. The couple will celebrate with an Alaskan cruise with their family. Their children are: Kimberly, Tonya and Matthew. They also have seven grandchildren.
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE FRATERNITY THE POOR OF JESUS CHRIST
Sister Miracles, PJC, speaks to the crowd at the Rescue Me retreat at Prairie Star Ranch in Williamsburg. The retreat is a cornerstone of the mission of the Fraternity the Poor of Jesus Christ and was the very first to be held in the United States. and frequent translation responsibilities, Hispanic youth feel the weight of their circumstances. “One of the most impactful things I’ve seen in the short time I’ve lived here,” said Brother Mateo, “is that there is a kind of depression in the Hispanic youth.” “We want to help them see that they can be healthy and happy with God,” added Sister Rahamin, PJC. “And our next goal,” said Brother Mateo, “will be to do Rescue Me in English.”
How it all started Years ago in Brazil, newly ordained Father Gilson Sobriero attended a retreat for young drug and alcohol addicts. He was struck by the conversations he witnessed among the youth. At the beginning, they only spoke of the bad things they had done and seen. “But toward the end,” said Sister Miracles, “the subject changed.” They were talking about God in their lives and asking, “Now what?” In response to their question, Father Sobriero co-founded the Fraternity the Poor of Jesus Christ in 2001. “As we work in the streets,” said Sister Mariana, “we call the people to this retreat. It is a place where we can invite them to know God personally.” “Today in Brazil and other countries that have Rescue Me,” said Sister
Janet (Hayes) and Al Weber, members of Queen of the Holy Rosary Parish, Overland Park, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on Sept. 28. The couple was married on Sept. 28, 1968, at St. Ann Church, Hiawatha. Their children are: Kyle Weber, Elisa Trozzolo, Tim Weber and Scott Frazier. They also have eight grandchildren and one great-grandson.
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“IT’S SO IMPORTANT FOR US TO DEVOTE OURSELVES TO THIS GENERATION. WE KNOW THE STRUGGLES THEY FACE BECAUSE WE ARE IN THE SAME GENERATION.” Miracles, “we have about 10,000 young people engaged in our community.” After the retreat, retreatants are accompanied by the fraternity through various formation and catechesis. They meet twice a month for lessons on church texts that are readily applicable to their lives. “It’s so important for us to devote ourselves to this generation,” said Sister Miracles, “we know the struggles they face because we are in the same generation.” With rates of suicidal thoughts, depression and loneliness in youths at an all-time high, the fraternity presents Rescue Me in response. “Our community wants to propose that we are not alone,” said Sister Miracles, “and you have someone here you can trust and share.” “In Brazil, we say the high is crazy,” said Sister Mariana. “It’s the craziest
high we can ever get because we are overwhelmed by the love of God on this retreat.”
Changing lives Ric McDonald met members of the fraternity a few years ago around Thanksgiving. “As soon as I met the Sisters and friars, I instantly fell in love,” he said. Occasionally helping with the Sisters’ street ministry and food pantry, McDonald found himself becoming more involved in their community. “I had a substance abuse problem when I started coming to see the Sisters,” he said. “But over the last three and a half years, they have helped me truly find recovery and find a church and God.” McDonald converted to Catholicism and is now a parishioner of Queen of the Holy Rosary in Overland Park. He has been a lay missionary with the fraternity ever since. And in February, he went to Brazil for three months to visit the origins of the fraternity, where he attended his first Rescue Me retreat “[It] was the most amazing, powerful, perfect thing I’ve ever seen,” he said. “It wasn’t just a weekend,” he continued. “Three months later, these people’s lives were still changed, and they were still with the community. “It changed lives.”
ANNIVERSARY submissions POLICY: The Leaven prints 50, 60, 65 and 70th anniversary notices. They are for parishioners in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas DEADLINE: eight days before the desired publication date. INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: • The couple’s names • their parish • the date they were married • church and city they were married in • what they are doing to celebrate • date of the celebration
• names of children (no spouses) • number of grandchildren and great-grandchildren; SUBMISSION GUIDELINES: • Announcements must be typed. • Emailed photos need to be 200 dpi. • If you would like your photo returned, include a self-addressed stamped envelope. WHERE TO SUBMIT: Send notices to: The Leaven, 12615 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City, KS 66109, attn: anniversaries; or email: todd.habiger@ theleaven.org.