09-25-15 Vol. 37 No. 8

THELEAVEN.ORG | VOL. 37, NO. 8 | SEPTEMBER 25, 2015

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Tracy Allen, owner of the coffee consultancy Brewed Behavior and a parishioner of St. Michael the Archangel, Leawood, created a special blend of coffee for Pope Francis on his trip to the United States.

BEANS

St. Michael the Archangel parishioner creates a special blend of coffee for Pope Francis on his U.S. trip

EAWOOD — Before he became the head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis was known to wander the streets of Rome on foot, searching for a good cup of coffee.

“He’s a big fan of taste and texture and body,” said Tracy Allen, owner of the coffee consultancy Brewed Behavior and a parishioner of St. Michael the Archangel in Leawood.

So it comes as no surprise that the pope’s visit to the United States has been commemorated with a special coffee profiled to his taste.

The surprise is that Allen was asked to roast the pontiff’s special brew.

“You know, it’s still a little bit of you scratch

your head and wonder,” he said. “How did a guy from Lexington, Missouri, end up doing this?”

Incredibly blessed Growing up in a Midwest farming community, Allen’s strong Catholic faith was influenced by his grandparents, who helped raise him, and his mother who worked two jobs to keep her children in Catholic school.

While in college in the early ’80s, he developed an interest in coffee and started experimenting with roasting beans and blending flavors — in his popcorn popper.

Armed with a degree in economics and his af>> See “PAPAL” on page 7

Story by JILL RAGAR ESFELD

POPE FRANCIS’ U.S. TRIP

Did you miss a lot of the coverage of the pope’s visit this week? Visit The Leaven’s new website for live streaming of the final major events AND for stories, video recaps and photo galleries after the fact.

And go to: www.theleaven.org to see how Catholic schoolchildren across the archdiocese are participating in this historic event.

SEPTEMBER 25, 2015 | THELEAVEN.ORG

ARCHBISHOP

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Italian couple witnesses to the true beauty of family

s you receive this edition of The Leaven, I am with our Kansas pilgrims in Philadelphia participating in the World Gathering of Families. With the entire church focused on the importance of marriage and family, I want to share with you a beautiful love story about a remarkable couple.

“My name is Chiara. I am 25, and I have been married to Enrico for a year and a few months.

This evening, if I can do it, I shall tell you the story of our daughter, Maria Grazia Letizia, who was born June 10 of this year.” Thus begins the book entitled “Chiara Corbella Petrillo: A Witness to Joy.” Chiara and Enrico were in many ways a typical young Italian couple. What was not typical of them was the depth of their faith. They first met in the summer of 2002 at Medjugorje, a place of great Marian devotion.

Their friends, Simone Troisi and Cristiana Paccini who coauthored the book, described their romance as ordinary, in that it was “punctuated by arguments, breakups and reconciliations.”

Their courtship was a time of purification for both of them that helped to equip them for the challenges that are part of every marriage, as well as for the unique journey of heroic love that lay before them.

Chiara and Enrico were married on Sept.

21, 2008. Within the first months of their marriage, Chiara became pregnant. They were excited and filled with joyful expectation about the child developing in Chiara’s womb.

Naturally, they were

LIFE WILL BE VICTORIOUS ARCHBISHOP JOSEPH F. NAUMANN

LISTEN to this article online at: www.theleaven.org. also nervous about the serious responsibilities of parenthood, but here, too, their faith gave them comfort and strength.

Early in their pregnancy, they were informed that their baby was diagnosed with anencephaly, a condition where portions of the baby’s brain and skull are not properly developed. Chiara and Enrico were counseled that, because of the severity of the condition, their baby would die shortly after birth.

Sadly if not surprisingly, many of the medical professionals advised Chiara to abort her child, but this was never a consideration for her or Enrico. They understood every child to be a gift from God. They also appreciated their responsibility as parents, no matter the length of their baby’s life, was to do everything possible to lead their child to God. Knowing from the sonograms that their child was a girl, they named her Maria Grazia Letizia. The doctors

were concerned about possible complications with the birth. Chiara was more concerned that Maria Grazia would survive long enough to be baptized. Her prayers were answered. Maria Grazia was born without complications. She lived only 40 minutes in this world, but long enough for her to be baptized in the hospital by the same priest who had witnessed Chiara and Enrico’s wedding vows.

Chiara described the birth as beautiful and the baptism as the greatest gift that could have been given to her and Enrico. She offered this counsel for mothers who have lost children: “What I wish to say to the mothers who have lost children is this: We have been mothers; we have had this great gift.

The amount of time does not matter: one month, two months, a few hours.

What matters is that we have had this gift . . . and it is something that can never be forgotten.”

At Maria Grazia’s funeral, Chiara played the violin and Enrico the guitar. The authors described the funeral as an “opportunity to see that heaven can exist here on earth.” At the end of the liturgy, Chiara and Enrico accompanied the tiny coffin out of the church, while everyone else wept with emotion.

Their friends described

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the event: “Everything was so beautiful that we were nearly led to desire those same difficulties, in order to be able to feel the same consolation. It might be absurd to think that way, but that is exactly what happened. We could call it saintly envy.”

Enrico had prepared a prayer card with the image of Mary holding the Infant Jesus with the simple but profound message at the bottom of the card: “We are born into eternity, and we shall never die.”

Some time later, Enrico and Chiara were invited to give their testimony about their experience of the pregnancy and birth of Maria Grazia Letizia at a gathering of the Science and Life Association of Rome.

Chiara understood her experience through the prism of the example of Mary, who accepted her mission to give birth to “a Son who was not for her, a Son who would die, a Son who would die in her presence [as she stood] under the cross.”

Chiara understood that somehow God was asking her, as he asked Mary, to accept a mission that was intended to touch many hearts.

Enrico observed: “Without God, everything becomes a mishap.” He described their experience as a dance with God and “if you begin to dance, you become aware that yes, suffering is there, but there is also much joy and peace.” Enrico concluded his remarks by recalling that, when Chiara had come home after the birth of Maria Grazia, she said: “You know, I would do it again.”

At the time of this talk, Chiara and Enrico were unaware that they were pregnant with

their second child, a boy, whom they named Davide Giovanni. Incredibly, early in the pregnancy, Davide was also diagnosed with serious health problems. His condition was totally unrelated to Maria Grazia’s anencephaly.

In Davide’s case, the problem was a lack of amniotic fluid which resulted in numerous problems with his vital organs. Though the conditions were completely different, the effect was the same: Davide would not survive long after the birth.

Once again, Chiara and Enrico were asked to collapse a lifetime of parental love into just a half-hour. Davide Giovanni, like his sister, was baptized in the hospital. His funeral touched profoundly the hearts of all in attendance, who were amazed at the serenity and joy of his parents.

Chiara saw Davide as God’s instrument in slaying many giant misconceptions that she and many others have about the meaning and purpose of life. Enrico described the truth that Maria Grazia and Davide Giovanni had helped him and Chiara understand that “the most important goal in life is to be loved. The important thing is not to do something, but to be born, to let ourselves be loved.”

In short, the key to peace and joy is not to do or accomplish anything, but to understand that we are a child of God, children who are loved.

A few months after Davide Giovanni’s birth and death, Chiara became pregnant again.

Next week, I hope you will return to hear the conclusion of this beautiful love story.

CALENDAR

ARCHBISHOP NAUMANN Sept. 28-30 Priest convocation — Conception, Missouri Oct. 1 Religious Alliance Against Pornography conference call Priest convocation — Conception, Missouri Oct. 2 Kansas juvenile correctional visit Oct. 3 Installation of Father Craig Maxim — Queen of the Holy Rosary, Overland Park Oct. 4 Installation of Father Marianand Mendem — St. Dominic, Holton 100th anniversary Mass — St. Francis Xavier, Mayetta Oct. 5 “Shepherd’s Voice” recording — Chancery Oct. 6 Kansas City-St. Joseph priests assembly days

ARCHBISHOP KELEHER Sept. 26 Mass — St. Sebastian, Florida Sept. 27 Mass — St. Sebastian, Florida Oct. 3 Mass — St. Sebastian, Florida Oct. 4 Mass — St. Sebastian, Florida

SEPTEMBER 25, 2015 | THELEAVEN.ORG

WORLD

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POPE TO CUBANS:

Look to future with hope, but care for each other

By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service

S

ANTIAGO, Cuba (CNS) — A key task of a traveling pope is to confirm his brothers and sisters in the faith. For Pope Francis in Cuba, that ministry took on added importance as Cuba and its people stand on the threshold of potentially epochal change.

Many people inside and outside Cuba hope that normalized U.S.-Cuban relations will lead to greater communication, trade and exchanges between the two countries. They also hope those experiences will lead to more freedom and democracy on the Caribbean island.

The immediate experience of some of the former Soviet-bloc countries in their move toward democracy 25 years ago showed that openness leads to change — and not all of it good — with a rise in consumerism, corruption and a loss of a sense of struggling together for the common good.

During his first-ever visit to Cuba Sept. 19-22, Pope Francis called for greater freedom and respect for human dignity in the country. But he also continually added his hope that the Cuban people would love their country, hold on to their tradition of caring for society’s weakest members and would not lose a sense of pride in being Cuban.

Leonardo Fernandez, a Catholic and member of the government-affiliated federation of university students, asked Pope Francis Sept. 20 in Havana for words that would “renew in us the hope that we can grow, study, work, walk and be happy in this complex reality in which we are living.”

“Help us, Holy Father, to be young people who know how to welcome and accept those who think differently” and to avoid the “great evils” of individualism and indifference. Young Cubans, he said, need to “interpret the signs of our times and take hands to build a Cuba, as our national hero Jose Marti said, ‘with all and for the good of all.’”

Pope Francis responded by explaining that “what gives hope to a people” is not simple optimism, but people working together, even when things get tough, to make changes and build something good.

Ideological and even religious “cliques” not only can slow progress, they can sow enmity, he said.

“Social friendship” and “social enmity” are themes Pope Francis has been pondering publicly for weeks and he returned to the notion when he met the youths. Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, the papal spokesman, explained to reporters in Holguin Sept. 21 that “social friendship is solidarity with a heart” and a commitment to dialogue and to caring “for the smallest” members of society.

Pope Francis told the young people to beware of thinking they need to “throw stones at those who are different.”

“Why not extend a hand and look for what we have in common?” he said.

In Buenos Aires, he said, he watched a new parish building an oratory for the

Publication No. (ISSN0194-9799) President: Most Reverend Joseph F. Naumann

CNS PHOTO/ANDRES MARTINEZ CASARES, REUTERS

Pope Francis reaches out to a child as he moves through a crowd in Holguin, Cuba, Sept. 21.

Cubans hold Vatican flags as they wait for Pope Francis to drive past in El Cobre, Cuba, Sept. 21. young people. All sorts of people turned out to help. “I went at the invitation of the pastor and I saw that one of them, who studied architecture, was a communist. Another was a practicing Catholic, but they were all working together.”

“Social friendship builds,” he said, “enmity destroys, and the world is destroying itself with war because we do not understand that we have something in common.”

Archbishop Thomas G. of Miami, who traveled to Cuba with a group of pilgrims, told Catholic News Service in Holguin, “Cubans want to have hope and they want to have hope for a future here in Cuba.”

Especially for young Cubans, he said, there lingers a feeling that the only way they can realize their dreams is to leave the island.

“We want a future of hope for Cuba and the Cuban people, and that is what the church is working for here,” the archbishop said.

At Mass in Holguin, Pope Francis insisted that even someone who seems to be an enemy — or even “a traitor” like the tax collector St. Matthew was — can change, sharing his conviction that each person has the potential to become a better person and, in fact, a friend.

Throughout his pontificate, the pope

CNS PHOTO/CARLOS GARCIA RAWLINS, REUTERS

has emphasized his belief that goodness exists in every person, including the communists he knew in Argentina.

Although he said their ideology was flatout wrong, it did not prevent him from identifying and admiring what was good in them.

The merciful gaze of Jesus, a motif common in Pope Francis’ homilies, is a filter that recognizes each person as a brother or sister, created by God. It is the same filter that Cubans must use to see each other — whether they stayed in Cuba or emigrated — and one that Cubans and U.S. citizens must use as well.

But while those relationships need to develop further, Pope Francis asked

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Cubans to take care of each other.

Cuba’s Catholic community, he said, has known suffering, yet it knows how to stand “with open arms, to keep walking in hope.”

As things change, he said Sept. 20 at Mass in Havana, “care for and be at the service of the frailty of your brothers and sisters. Do not neglect them for plans which can be seductive, but are unconcerned about the face of the person beside you.”

The importance of an individual or of a nation, he said, is measured by care for one another.

Contributing to this story was Robert Duncan in Holguin.

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SEPTEMBER 25, 2015 | THELEAVEN.ORG

LOCAL NEWS

4

A MISSION OF COMFORT

Programs reach out to those suffering losses of many types MASS OF THE INNOCENTS

By Jill Ragar Esfeld jill.esfeld@theleaven.org

Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann will celebrate a Mass in honor of children lost before or shortly after birth on Oct. 11 at 3 p.m. at Curé of Ars Parish, 9401 Mission Rd., Leawood. Parents, family members and friends are welcome to attend. For information, contact Brad DuPont at (913) 647-0301 or by email at: bdupont@archkck.org.

K

ANSAS CITY, Kan. — Brad DuPont, consultant for the archdiocesan office of marriage and family life, knows what it means to suffer the loss of a loved one.

He also knows how important it is to find a support group that fits a personal grieving experience.

“To have those feelings of loss validated,” he said, “it’s like turning on the lights in a dark room and realizing there is hope.”

The Catholic Church has a tradition of offering support to those grieving the loss of a loved one. It is part of the church’s mission to show Christ is with us in the midst of our suffering.

“God doesn’t want us to be isolated,” said DuPont. “He doesn’t want us to hurt.”

And experience has taught the church that the group approach to grief counseling is most effective.

“It validates our suffering and our experience when we experience the healing with others who are walking the same path,” said DuPont. “And sometimes what helps us in our grief is being able to help someone else.”

Because grief comes in many forms, the archdiocese, through the office of marriage and family life, constantly strives to meet the needs of those seeking support.

So next month, several programs targeted to specific experiences of loss will be made available.

Read on to see if you, or someone you know, might benefit.

Mass of the Innocents Celebrated by Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann on Oct. 11, the Mass of the Innocents is a way to commemorate the lives of children who died before or shortly after birth.

Parents, siblings, other family members and friends are welcome to attend.

The annual event is open to all who have experienced loss through miscarriage, stillbirth, SIDS and other types of infant death.

DuPont can speak personally about the healing that takes place during the Mass of the Innocents.

He and his wife have lost two children in early infancy.

“Every time we’ve gone to the Mass of the Innocents,” he said, “it’s helped us remember our own children, and they become more present to us.”

The Mass also benefits DuPont’s two living children.

“It’s important for them to go,” he said.

“They get the experience of remembering more fervently their brother or sister who is in heaven.

“That’s my own personal experience.

It’s brought deeper healing into my own life and into the lives of our living children.”

DuPont urges those who have lost children in infancy, or through miscarriage, to attend the Mass of the Innocents, no matter what stage of grief they’re experiencing.

“It’s a healing for the parents and the siblings who have lost a member of that family,” he said. “And then when

GRIEF JOURNEY

A new six-week session of Grief Journey will begin Oct. 5 from 7-8:30 p.m. at Holy Spirit Church, 11300 W. 103rd St., Overland Park. The group is designed for young adults (ages 18-40) who have lost a loved one. For more information, contact Marcus Kain by email at: marcusk16@ hotmail.com or call (913) 634-7870. The course is free, but registration is required.

LEAVEN PHOTO BY JILL RAGAR ESFELD

At the beginning of each session of Grief Journey, participants pass a candle while naming the persons for whom they grieve. Kelly Evens, LCPC, passes the candle to Tim Murphy. they look around and see other families, there’s strength and encouragement in realizing they’re not alone.”

Grief Journey Next month will also introduce the second session of a new grief ministry for young adults started by Holy Spirit parishioner Marcus Kain.

When Kain lost both his father and grandfather in a tragic accident, he barely had time to grieve — he had to take over his father’s company within 12 hours.

Because Kain knew he needed help dealing with his loss, he attended a conventional grief support group.

But he found it difficult to relate to his fellow participants.

“I realized, though I was getting value out of it,” he said, “that it wasn’t quite the right fit for me.

“When you have someone that’s 25, and just getting their bearings in the working world, sitting next to somebody in a group that’s 65, you’re at two different points in life.”

Kain thought there must be many young adults like himself who, along with their grief, were dealing with different life challenges.

“A lot of young people are at a point where they’re engaged, or they’re newly married, or they have young children,” he explained. “They can’t take time off work.

“It’s just a different point in life.”

Rather than complain about his own situation, Kain decided to help others by creating a grief support group that focuses on the demographic of young adults as identified by the church.

“To me, it wasn’t about my grieving process,” he said. “That was a secondary consideration.

“It was about helping others because I’d been in that boat and was able to relate.”

With the help of a Catholic Charities bereavement coordinator, Kain set up a curriculum for his support group that targets people between the ages of 18-40.

“Fortunately,” he said, “I have someone that’s a licensed counselor that’s helping me co-facilitate it.”

The group’s first session is already in full swing, and the results have been very positive.

“I think it’s really going well, judging from the reaction of people,” said Kain.

“From the time they walked in the door, there was an outpouring of positive statements and pretty much everybody shared.”

In the process of his own grief journey, Kain has relied on his faith and looks forward to helping others do the same.

“Faith is what kept me on track, kept me holding out hope for the future,” he said. “As I reflected on my dad — the positive memories — faith helped me see how he was going to be a part of my life going forward.

“And I truly felt called to serve in this capacity to help others who have experienced tragic loss.”

Beginning Experience When Angie Strecker was dealing with the heartache of a divorce, she attended a divorce support group through her church, Most Pure Heart of Mary in Topeka.

“It wasn’t enough,” she said. “I needed more.”

She saw an ad in her church bulletin for Beginning Experience, an international peer-grief ministry for individuals grieving the loss of their marriage through death, divorce or separation.

“Beginning Experience was started by Sister Josephine Stewart and her friend Jo Lamia,” said Strecker. “Sister Josephine was a family counselor.

“Those two recognized there was a need to help people in the church who were going through the end of a marriage.”

The organization came to the Kansas City area in 1976.

“I attended a weekend retreat in 2009,” said Strecker. “The people were great and really supportive.

“I stayed peripherally involved in the organization and, in 2010, I joined the team.”

The program is sustained by people who have suffered the loss of a marital relationship themselves and are willing to share their experience to help others.

“We’re all volunteers,” said Strecker.

“And we just pay it forward.”

The trained volunteers lead participants through a series of presentations, personal and private reflection, and small group sharing.

BEGINNING EXPERIENCE

A Beginning Experience weekend will be held Oct. 16-18 at Sanctuary of Hope, 2601 Ridge Ave., Kansas City, Kansas. The weekend is for adults grieving the loss of a marital relationship through death, divorce or separation, who are ready to move forward with their lives. The cost is $160, which includes the program, materials, lodging for two nights, five meals and a follow-up reunion event. Financial assistance is available.

If you’re interested in attending the retreat or providing financial assistance so others can attend, visit the website at: beginningexperiencekc.org.

The archdiocesan office of marriage and family life strives to help married couples and families live Christian family life to the fullest. When people are suffering from grief for whatever reason, it affects them and their families. It is the mission of the church to bring healing to people so they can live their Christian vocations.

If these particular programs don’t meet the needs of somebody suffering, other resources are available. Contact Brad Dupont at (913) 647-0301; by email at: bdupont@archkck.org; or go to the website at: www.archkck.org/family and click on the grief link for additional information.

“The circumstances of the stories are all different,” said Strecker, “but the feelings are the same.

“After a long work day, I come home to no one in the house but me, and I sit at the kitchen table by myself to eat dinner.

“Or I sign only my name to birthday cards and no longer sign my husband’s name.

“So those experiences are universal, regardless of why my spouse is no longer there. The steps through the grieving process are all the same.”

Strecker, who is now board president of Beginning Experience of Greater Kansas City, said the focus of the program is not on what happened in the relationship, but on moving forward.

Indeed, moving forward is the goal of every grief support group. But reaching that goal is dependent on people joining in and supporting one another.

“It’s difficult to make yourself vulnerable,” said Kain, “but this is an environment where there is no judgment, just understanding.”

“And people are remarkably understanding,” said Strecker. “It’s beautiful to hear them minister to one another.”

SEPTEMBER 25, 2015 | THELEAVEN.ORG

LOCAL NEWS

5

Parishes urged to become ‘evangelical’

By Joe Bollig joe.bollig@theleaven.org

K

ANSAS CITY, Kan. — The greatest mission statement ever made is 2,000 years old, and Father Gary Pennings wants archdiocesan Catholics to answer this ageless call.

“Go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

And teach them all that I’ve commanded you,” said Father Pennings, paraphrasing Mt 28: 19-20.

The Great Commission, he said, is our common objective and challenge — to sanctify God’s people, to proclaim the Gospel, to serve all people and to make other disciples.

Father Pennings, who is the director of the archdiocesan department of parish ministries, talked about evangelization and discipleship in his opening remarks at the 2015 Archdiocesan Convocation of Parish Ministries, held on Sept. 11 in the Keleher Conference Center of Savior Pastoral Center.

The theme of the convocation was “Building a Culture of Evangelization: Proclaiming the Faith in Spirit, in Word, in Deed.”

Because of prior commitments, Father Pennings addressed the more than 370 pastors, parish leaders and archdiocesan employees via a prerecorded video.

“We all know that an essential element of becoming a disciple of the Lord is grace — supernatural grace — a freely given, unmerited gift,” said Father Pennings. “That’s something we don’t have anything to do with. That’s all a free gift from God. We know it’s necessary because Jesus himself said in John’s Gospel: ‘No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.’ But

LEAVEN PHOTO BY JOE BOLLIG

Curtis Martin, president and founder of the Fellowship of Catholic University Students, gave two talks at the 2015 Archdiocesan Convocation of Parish Ministries, held on Sept. 11. His first talk was “Casting a Vision for Missionary Discipleship,” and the second was “Practical Steps for Evangelization.” discipleship also requires a human response.”

One of the main challenges for those engaged in church ministry is creating the opportunities, places and environments for an encounter between grace and the human heart.

“My hope for today, for this convocation, is that you go away from here with a renewed spirit — with a renewed com-

mitment — to create in your parish and your ministry those conditions for encounter,” said Father Pennings.

The main presenter of the day was Curtis Martin, president and founder of the Fellowship of Catholic University Students. His first talk was “Casting a Vision for Missionary Discipleship,” and the second was “Practical Steps for Evangelization.”

In his first talk, Martin said the key was to view the situation of the church through the lens of hope and to have joy in the Lord.

“Joy is the key to evangelization,” said Martin. “If you lack joy, you will never be a great evangelist, because no one cares what you think — because whatever you’ve got doesn’t work for you.

“Whereas, if you don’t even know how to explain yourself very well, but you’re walking through life going, ‘This is awesome!’ I’m going alongside you [thinking], ‘Either you’re crazy or you’ve got something I want.’”

Martin recommended that disciples do a prayerful, daily reading of the Scriptures (also known as “lectio divina”) and he quoted Pope Benedict XVI: “I am confident that if Catholics were to practice ‘lectio divina’ on a daily basis, it would bring about the new springtime [of faith].”

In his second talk, Martin spoke about the need to build a “culture of encounter and accompaniment.” Saints, he said, come in clusters. Friendships, rather than programs, are key to helping others achieve intimacy with Christ.

Archdiocesan director of evangelization Father Andrew Strobl gave the final talk of the day, “Applications for Parishes.”

“For me, the new evangelization is about personal responsibility,” he said.

“It’s not the job of a specialist, and it’s not

the job of my neighbor. It is my privilege to be involved in this community of missionary disciples.”

We’re all in this together, and we’re all on the team, said Father Strobl. We are all “player/coaches,” and it’s not someone else’s job but ours, too.

We need to get involved — not just keeping busy, but getting involved in people’s lives.

So what can parishes do?

Father Strobl offered five recommendations: Pray for renewal; discuss evangelical efforts and review parish activities through the lens of evangelization; identify and encourage parishioners who have hearts for evangelization; develop by reading “Forming Intentional Disciples,” by Sherry Weddell; and discern evangelical opportunities.

Right now, the archdiocesan office of evangelization is asking parishes to become one of the intentionally evangelical pilot parishes as part of the archdiocesan 10-year mutually shared vision.

“Our goal is for every region to have a pilot parish,” said Father Strobl.

In closing the convocation, Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann expressed optimism about evangelization efforts in the parishes.

“I think that we are on the cusp of a new Pentecost here in northeast Kansas, and I’m thrilled and excited about what the Lord wants to do,” said the archbishop.

“I want to do everything I can to support all of you in your ministries,” he continued. “We know here at the archdiocese if anything is going to happen that is meaningful in the church, it’s going to happen in the parishes.

“It’s going to happen in your ministries through your work.”

Archbishop invites Catholics to ‘great adventure’

By Joe Bollig joe.bollig@theleaven.org

K

ANSAS CITY, Kan. — Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann made the crowd laugh, but they knew he was making a serious point.

“I want to create more work for you to do,” said the archbishop.

He wanted to get them excited about making new disciples by implementing the recently announced 10-year mutually shared vision for the archdiocese.

More than 370 pastors, parish leaders and archdiocesan employees heard the archbishop speak at Savior Pastoral Center on Sept. 11 for the 2015 Archdiocesan Convocation of Parish Ministries.

The theme of the daylong event was “Building a Culture of Evangelism: Proclaiming the Faith in Spirit, Word and Deed.”

At his welcome Mass 11 years ago, Archbishop Naumann said he wanted the Holy Spirit to “set a fire here in northeast Kansas . . . with his love to bring the truth and beauty of God to more people.”

“I feel, really, now we’re on the verge of maybe that fire really igniting,” said Archbishop Naumann. “I’m very excited about what the years ahead bode for us.

You — those [who] are in the parishes and [on] the front lines of our ministries — you are going to be the key individuals in setting this fire and stoking that fire, and making it envelop the whole church

of northeast Kansas.”

In his keynote address, Archbishop Naumann talked about the tremendous evangelizing success on college campuses of the Fellowship of Catholic University Students.

Seeing this success gave him an idea, which he shared with Father Andrew Strobl, archdiocesan director of evangelization.

“We have a lot of FOCUS alums [who] live in the archdiocese, and I asked Father Andrew, ‘Let’s try and get the FOCUS alums together and see if we can’t empower them to do what they were doing on college campuses, but now do it in the parishes they are living in,’” said Archbishop Naumann.

The FOCUS approach is to pray to the Lord and ask who he wants friendship and faith to be shared with — and being bold. When a FOCUS alumnus did this in an archdiocesan parish, the results were fantastic. Clearly, said the archbishop, this shows the potential for evangelizing in our parishes.

“The highest priority that came out of all our listening sessions [for the 10-year mutually shared vision] was evangelization,” said Archbishop Naumann.

“What [recent] Holy Fathers have been calling the whole church to do, in terms of evangelization, is really penetrating the hearts of people — that we know that it’s essential to the church that we are called to be disciple makers,” he continued.

“We’re called to make disciples.”

LEAVEN PHOTO BY JOE BOLLIG

Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann kicked off the 2015 archdiocesan convocation by talking about evangelization, which is the focus of the archdiocese’s recent mutually shared vision plan.

Archbishop Naumann asked all those at the conference — and all Catholics of the archdiocese — to memorize a mission statement.

“When people ask us what our parish is about, what the church in this archdiocese is about, we have a very simple but very powerful, profound answer: It’s about growing as disciples of Jesus, making disciples for Jesus,” said Archbishop Naumann. “I think that really, in many ways, encapsulates what the church is all about.”

Jesus didn’t call us for our own benefit only, but for us to make disciples of all nations.

“Despair and discouragement really aren’t options for us,” said the archbishop. “We are called to be always and ev-

erywhere a people of hope, and the Lord is calling us to make disciples in northeast Kansas. We cannot be content with the church that we are today. We have to be eager to draw more people to Jesus Christ.”

To help archdiocesan Catholics make disciples, Archbishop Naumann pointed to three key initiatives in the 10-year mutually shared vision.

The first is to build a culture of evangelization across the archdiocese. The second is to strengthen the vocation of marriage and family life. The third is to cultivate relationships by engaging in the corporal and spiritual works of mercy.

“Nothing has the capacity to give us more joy than sharing the gift of our faith with others,” said Archbishop Naumann.

“If we truly believe what we profess each and every Sunday when we come together — that there’s nothing more important in our lives than our relationship with Jesus Christ — then how can we fail to share that relationship with others?

“How can we not do everything we can to share that with others?”

“So, we embark on this adventure together,” said Archbishop Naumann. “I hope that . . . this day will give an impetus to begin the implementation of this vision, and together [we’ll] discover what the Lord wants to accomplish with us.

This is a great adventure that I think all of us have been called to be a part of, and I look forward to sharing it with you in the days ahead.”

SEPTEMBER 25, 2015 | THELEAVEN.ORG

LOCAL NEWS Sister Norma Honz, OSB

WEB EXCLUSIVE

A

TCHISON — Sister Norma Honz, 94, a Benedictine Sister of Mount St. Scholastica here, died Sept. 17 at the monastery.

Sister Norma was born to Eleanor and Andrew Honz on Nov. 18, 1920. She was one of four children, growing up on a farm in Panama, Iowa.

After teaching in rural schools in Iowa for four years, she entered Mount St. Scholastica in 1944.

She taught in grade schools in Kansas, Nebraska and Colorado for 20 years and was also a principal for two years.

After earning a home economics degree from Kansas State University in 1967, she taught home economics at Le Blond High School in St. Joseph, Missouri; Lillis High School in Kansas City, Missouri; and the Mount Academy in Atchison.

From 1976-1985, she was chair of the home economics department at Benedictine College, Atchison. She served on the community senate and conciliation board and was a member of the American Home Economics Association and Kansas Church Women United. After she retired from teaching in 1989, she used her skills to work in the monastery kitchen and do sewing for the Sisters. She celebrated her 60th anniversary as a Benedictine Sister in 2006.

Sister Norma was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Andrew Honz and her sister Lucille Mickels. She is survived by her sister Margaret Feldman of Harlan, Iowa.

6

CHURCH OF THE WEEK

A

Holy Angels, Garnett

Brother Lawrence Bradford, OSB

TCHISON — Brother Lawrence Bradford, OSB, died peacefully on Sept. 15, the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows, surrounded by monks and friends. He was

76.

Larry Glenn Bradford was born on May 24, 1939, the son of Harold and Aurice Bradford in Atlanta, Kansas.

He graduated from Palco High School in 1957.

He completed a bachelor’s degree at the University of Kansas in 1961 and, for a while attended St. Benedict’s College, Atchison, and entered St. Benedict’s Abbey as a monk.

He left in 1967 and went on to acquire a master’s degree in teaching from Northwestern University, Chicago, in 1970 and began teaching at the high school level.

In 1978, he returned to St. Benedict’s Abbey and entered the novitiate. He professed his first vows on Aug. 15, 1979, and solemn vows on Aug. 15, 1982. While in first vows, he taught mathematics and science at Maur Hill Prep, Atchison, and

served as assistant organist and sacristan for the abbey liturgies. Upon professing solemn vows, he began doctoral studies in microbiology at the University of Kansas, completing that degree in 1989. While at KU, he also helped as organist at the St. Lawrence Catholic Campus Center.

In addition to serving as a professor of microbiology at Benedictine College, Atchison, Brother Lawrence was kitchen master and assistant organist of the abbey. He loved to cook for the monks and guests. For a time, he belonged to a gourmet cooking club in Atchison. He relished conversations with monks at social gatherings, with colleagues and students in the college, and with family and visitors. He was a popular figure on campus.

Brother Lawrence enjoyed going to lectures and concerts on campus and in the area. One of his favorite books that he often encouraged young monks to read was Father Chrétien Leclercq’s “The Love of Learning and the Desire for God: A Study of Monastic Culture.”

Address: 520 E. 4th Ave., 66032 Phone: (785) 448-1686 Pastor: Father Matthew Schiffelbein Mass Times: Saturday, 5:30 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m.

Email: hasjparish@centurylink.net Website: http://hasjparishes.com

Video

A video tour of St. Joseph is available online at: www.theleaven.org.

More photos of this church can be seen online at: www.the leaven.org.

The Leaven’s website will feature a video tour and photo gallery of one archdiocesan church each week.

Check this space every week to find out what church will be featured.

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SEPTEMBER 25, 2015 | THELEAVEN.ORG

LOCAL NEWS Janet (Hopkins) and Dale Moore, members of St. Patrick Parish, Kansas City, Kansas, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on Sept. 27 with a reception from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Garnett. The couple was married on Sept. 25, 1965, at St. Francis Church in St. Paul. Their children are: Kelly Moore, Topeka; Kris Moore, Iola; Karen Rossetti, Shawnee; and Kimberly Nienstedt, Fredonia. They also have 10 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Joe and Joan (Graham) Desch, members of Christ the King Parish, Topeka, will celebrate their 65th wedding anniversary with a family dinner on Sept. 27. The couple was married on Sept. 30, 1950, at Holy Name Church in Topeka. Their children are: Joleen Aeschliman, Joe Desch, Janelle Moses, Jay Desch, Jerilyn Rodgers, and Jeremy Desch. They also have 14 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Mary Ann (Hamera) and William Schnieders, members of the Sacred Heart Parish, Shawnee, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a family cruise to the Caribbean.

They were joined by their son Mark Schnieders (DeSoto) and daughter Kathleen Coup (Shawnee) and their spouses and seven grandchildren. The couple was married at St. Joseph Church in Easton, Missouri, on Oct. 2, 1965.

Henry and Rosie Falk, members of St. Ann Parish, Effingham, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on Sept. 25.

The couple was married on Sept.

25, 1965, at St. Patrick Church, south of Atchison, by Father Jude Burbach.

Their children are: Alan (Olathe), Steven (Effingham) and Karen (Effingham). They also have seven grandsons. They celebrated in June by renewing their vows at the archdiocesan golden wedding anniversary Mass at the Cathedral of St. Peter in Kansas City, Kansas.

7

Papal brew no ordinary cup of joe >> Continued from page 1 fection for coffee, Allen was recruited

by Procter and Gamble, where he developed their Folgers and Millstone brands.

He went on to co-own a rotisserie and coffee shops in Seattle. Then, after almost 20 years in the business, he had a bit of an epiphany.

“I had a roasting company and lots of retail stores,” recalled Allen. “And I listened to people complain about how bad their lives were every day.

“And I thought, ‘I want to go help people that really have true problems.’”

Allen knew firsthand about faming and how farmers are often exploited — and that’s where his heart led him.

Eight years ago, he started Brewed Behavior and based it on the principle of sustainable sourcing.

“I feel like that’s my calling,” he said.

“And I’ve been incredibly blessed in everything that we’ve done so far.”

So far, from his home office in Overland Park, Allen has expanded to offices in Italy and Costa Rica.

And in the process, he’s made a big difference for coffee farmers and roasters all around the world.

Doing the right thing The goal of Brewed Behavior, said Allen, is to get coffee consumers, buyers and everyone in the value chain as close to the dirt as possible.

“We do two things,” he explained.

“There are about 50 coffee-producing countries; we work in around 30 of them currently.

“We’ll go in and do assessments or any type of project with coffee producers that will improve quality or openly raise the GDP (gross domestic product) of that country in the coffee sector.”

On the other side of the business, Brewed Behavior works in consuming countries.

“We’ll take buyers from our consuming countries to [where the coffee is grown] and teach them about production,” said Allen.

“We help a coffee roaster learn how to roast coffee, how to sort coffee, how to grade coffee — everything they need to be prepared to continue the value chain to the consumer,” he added.

The beauty of the process is that Brewed Behavior facilitates relationships between farmers and buyers.

“We introduce the two,” said Allen, “so the buyers can go down and meet the producers and create relationships with them.”

Led by his Catholic faith, Allen has truly found his vocation.

“The business came from seeing an opportunity and knowing in my heart that was the right thing to do — to facilitate those relationships, educate producers and buyers, and raise the bar on quality,” he said.

And of course, it has given him an opportunity to make coffee for the pope.

The Lamborghini connection Through his European office in Italy, Allen connected with a renowned Italian family — the Lamborghinis — and fame soon followed.

“The Lamborghini family sold the car company,” he explained. “They started a food company and I was paid to manage the coffee piece of that company.

“So there was a lot of media and stuff about that in Italy.”

As a result, Allen travels to Italy three or four times a year, often speaking at coffee and food events.

His notoriety got him connected, through a client, to the Vatican.

The pope’s handlers, familiar with Allen’s reputation, requested his expertise in making a special coffee for the U.S. tour.

And how did Allen feel when he got the request?

“Every day, we just get caught up in our typical lives,” he said. “And we just think today is another day, just be grateful for another day.

“But some days, you’re a little bit more grateful for.

“And I have to be honest, without sounding entitled or anything — that will always be one of the sweetest days of my life.”

Profiled, not blended A first rule in coffee creation, said Allen, is never use the word “blend.”

“Blend is like a recipe,” he explained.

“A pinch of salt, a cup of flour, and it never changes.

“The problem with coffee is it changes month to month, year to year.

So the real test is to create what we call a profile.”

Simply put, a profile is built based on 10 components that are evenly weighted and equal 100 points on a scoring form.

Allen approached the pope’s profile by considering demographic factors such as age, race and heritage.

“We basically did trial and error on those cups,” he said. “And then I took some liberty with things that I wouldn’t typically do in that demographic.

“I know [the pope] appreciates certain types of acidity and certain types of mouth feel — body — which is basically the fat content in coffee.”

After months spent testing and honing the perfect mixture, Brewed Behavior sent a handful of samples to the Vatican.

In the back of his mind, Allen had an idea of which one the pope would choose.

“I knew he wasn’t a guy who was just going to pick hot, brown water,” he said. “The one that he picked was really the most interesting as far as complexity.

“And it shows me that he recognizes quality.”

More important, Allen knows the pope appreciates what goes into the making of a single cup of coffee.

“He understands the plight of the farmer,” he said. “And he understands all the nine sets of fingers that coffee goes through before it gets to us.”

Freewill offering It’s important to Allen that the public understand no money has been exchanged in this process.

“I don’t want anyone thinking the church spent a bunch of money to stroke somebody’s ego,” he said. “We wouldn’t take a dime for this.

“This is just a celebration of the pope’s visit. It’s a reaffirmation of the future of Catholicism in the United States.

And Allen’s own attitude is one of gratitude for the experience.

“I go to church,” he said. “And I tell God how grateful I am for everything I achieve or receive — everything that’s ever happened in my life.

“And I’m always quick to tell my kids, ‘Don’t have conversations that ask God for things. Let things happen and go and thank God.’ “And I just remember the day I got that call. I wanted to stop what I was doing and go to church.”

Allen admits he will reap some benefit from his efforts.

“That will happen,” he said. “People will be like, ‘He’s the guy that made the pope’s coffee.’”

But the real benefit is seeing his mother’s joy.

“My mother is on top of the world,” he said. “She’s, like, ‘I put those kids through Catholic school and finally God validated one of them.’”

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LEAVEN PHOTO BY MARC ANDERSON

Approximately 400 parishioners from St. Charles Parish in Troy, St. Benedict Parish in Bendena and St. Joseph Parish in Wathena participate in an outdoor Mass and a potluck that Father Francis Bakyor, pastor of all three parishes, called a celebration of koinonia or “fellowship” on Sept. 13. The celebration was held at St. Charles Parish and was the first time in nearly 50 years that the three parishes held an event together other than the administration of sacraments.

KOINONIA Rural communities emulate early Christians with celebration

By Marc and Julie Anderson mjanderson@theleaven.org

T

ROY — Saint Luke might have written the Acts of the Apostles between 80-90 A.D., but he certainly would recognize “koinonia” if he saw it today.

From the Greek for “fellowship” or “community,” the idea served as the theme of the Sept. 13 celebration hosted by St. Charles Parish in Troy, which drew members from three neighboring parishes under the leadership of Father Francis Bakyor.

Besides St. Charles Parish, Father Bakyor also serves as pastor of St. Benedict Parish in Bendena and St. Joseph Parish in Wathena.

Several months ago, Father Bakyor brought the idea of hosting a celebration for all three parishes to the respective pastoral councils and parish committees. As it’s been nearly 50 years since all three parishes held a joint celebration of any kind (other than celebrations of first Communion and confirmation), the idea was enthusiastically received.

But Father Bakyor added a few twists of his own.

Drawing on his African heritage, Father Bakyor, a native of Ghana, invited members of St. Francis Africans Catholic Community from the Kansas City metro area to join in the celebration. Members sang hymns of thanksgiving in Swahili and danced in procession before the outdoor Mass began. And they accompanied the offertory hymn with instruments from Africa, including the kayamba. Made of reeds or sugar cane and filled with

LEAVEN PHOTO BY MARC ANDERSON

Archbishop Gregory Kpiebaya, archbishop emeritus of Tamale, Ghana, and Father Francis Bakyor, a native of Ghana, sing a hymn of thanksgiving in their native tongue at the end of the archbishop’s homily. seeds, the flat instrument is played by shaking it horizontally with both hands.

Additionally, Father Bakyor invited Archbishop Gregory Kpiebaya, the archbishop emeritus of Tamale, Ghana and his ordaining bishop more than 30 years ago, to serve as the main celebrant. The archbishop was visiting the United States to participate in the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia.

Calling the celebration “Koinonia” or Fellowship, Sunday, Father Bakyor thanked the 400 or so in attendance for their participation. He added a special word of welcome to both non-Catholics and nonpracticing Catholics in the crowd.

“The church is yours. Don’t go away,” he said. He added that people were welcome to come to the church, especially if they were looking for a change in their lives.

Father Bakyor also briefly explained the concept of “koinonia” by sharing a few words about how the earliest Christians practiced their faith, an idea further developed by Archbishop Kpiebaya in his homily.

“They devoted themselves to three basic elements of our faith: namely, the teaching of the apostles (that is, Scripture), to the breaking of the bread (that is, the holy Eucharist) and to prayer. Secondly, they were together and held all things in common.

This was an innovation, a new experience known as ‘koinonia,’ a Greek word which means ‘fellowship,’ ‘togetherness,’ ‘commonality.’ Thirdly, they ate together with joy.”

The archbishop connected the early Christians’ practices to the day’s celebration by saying, “What the first Christians did is exactly what you are doing here. They devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles. Is that

Rose Njoroge-Lassiter, a member of St. Francis Af not what you are doing now?”

“They gathered to break the bread and to pray,” Archbishop Kpiebaya continued. “We have gathered to break the bread and pray. So, we are very close to the first disciples of Jesus. They ate together with joy.

“Are you not going to do the same thing here? First, we shall all share the heavenly table. Then, afterwards, we shall all share the human table.”

After Mass, parishioners and guests enjoyed a potluck meal in the church basement and were treated to more singing and dancing by the St. Francis Africans Catholic Community

LEAVEN PHOTO BY MARC ANDERSON

A member of the St. Francis Africans Catholic Community Kansas/Missouri plays the kayamba, an African instrument made of reed or sugar cane. Filled with seeds, it’s played by shaking it horizontally.

LEAVEN PHOTO BY MARC ANDERSON

fricans Catholic Community of Kansas/Missouri, leads a spirited hymn.

Kansas/Missouri.

Shirley Buessing, a member of St. Charles Parish who helped to plan and organize the event, said she hopes the parishes will plan other events together in the future.

It’s very uplifting, she said, when everyone gets together to celebrate their faith.

For Marilyn Young, secretary of St. Benedict Church in Bendena, the celebration also brought much joy.

“It’s a good idea to get everyone together,” Young said, adding she enjoyed the international flair as well.

“I think it really added to the cele-

bration. It was a great addition to our celebration of the liturgy.” This was her first encounter with African culture, she said.

Mike Vertin, a member of the pastoral council of St. Joseph Church in Wathena, said he thought the idea of coming together as one and learning about African culture at the same time was a good one.

“It was the first time for all of us to get together like this,” he said. “We’re very diverse, but we have one faith that is in common, no matter where we are in the world.”

LEAVEN PHOTO BY MARC ANDERSON

Father Francis Bakyor visits with Lynn Rice, a member of St. Joseph Parish in Wathena, during the luncheon.

SEPTEMBER 25, 2015 | THELEAVEN.ORG

CLASSIFIEDS EMPLOYMENT 401(k) and 403(b) compliance specialist - The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas is seeking a full-time 401(k) and 403(b) compliance specialist. Position requires a practicing Catholic; bachelor’s degree in accounting, business administration, or related field; with a minimum of three years in accounting or auditing environment; preferred experience and understanding of tax-deferred retirement plans and federal regulations. Applicant must: be detail-oriented, knowledgeable of 401(k) and 403(b) plans, have mathematical aptitude, and multitasking. A complete job description is available on the archdiocesan website at: www.archkck.org/jobs. Interested individuals should mail cover letter, resume and application by Sept. 30 to Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, Office of Human Resources, 401(k) and 403(b) Compliance Specialist Search, 12615 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City, KS 66109, or send via email to: jobs@archkck.org.

President - Hayden High School, Topeka, has an opening for president beginning in the 2016-17 school year.

Hayden currently has an enrollment of 447 and employs 36 teachers in grades 9 through 12. The school is sponsored by seven parishes in Topeka and is governed by a board of trustees. The president reports to the board of trustees. Applicants for president must be practicing Catholics and understand the mission of Catholic education. The president is the chief administrator of the school and is responsible for all school operations and, in particular, student recruitment, donor engagement, facilities maintenance, strategic planning and overall school advancement. Applicants should possess proven success in leadership, preferably in a Catholic high school or nonprofit setting. Please complete the online application at: www.archkckcs.org and also send a resume and credentials to: Superintendent Dr. Kathleen A. O’Hara, Catholic School Office, 12615 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City, KS 66109. Application deadline is Oct. 9, with the expectation that interviews will begin shortly thereafter.

Floater/substitute - El Centro Academy for Children, a dual-language, NAEYC-accredited early education program for children 2 1/2 - 5 years old, is currently seeking a floater/substitute. The ideal candidate should have a CDA or 12 hours of early childhood classes or closely related field. Applicant must be able to work 10:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Mon. - Fri., with the potential of up to 32+ hours a week when substituting. Applicant must meet all KDHE licensing requirements within 30 days of hire. Preferred: bilingual in English/Spanish. Send resumes by email to Geralyn Sosinski at: gsosinski@elcentroinc.com.

Drivers - Special Beginnings Early Learning Center is seeking part-time drivers for its school-age program located in Lenexa. Candidates must be able to drive a 13-passenger minibus, similar to a 15-passenger van.

CDL not required, but must have an excellent driving record. Candidates would pick up children from area schools and then work directly with them when arriving back at the center. Experience preferred. Must have strong work ethic and the ability to work with children.

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Teacher assistant - Special Beginnings, Lenexa, is seeking full- or part-time after school teacher assistants at all locations. We are looking for a teacher assistant candidate who has an excellent work ethic, heart for children, and a willingness to learn more about early childhood education. Experience and/or education is a plus but we will train the right candidate. Teacher assistants will work with the lead teacher to care for and educate the children. Primary responsibilities include assisting the lead teacher with: care and supervision of children, lesson plan implementation, parent communication, cleanliness and organization of classroom. Starting hourly pay ranges based on experience and education.

Pay increases are based on job performance. Opportunities for advancement are available as the company prefers to promote from within. Apply by sending an email to chris@specialbeginningsonline.com or in person at 10216 Pflumm Rd., Lenexa, KS 66215.

Lead technician - Servpro of Lawrence, an industry leading cleaning and restoration company, is looking for a lead technician. This position will work on water mitigation projects, mold remediation, fire cleanup and restoration, and air duct cleaning. The desired candidate will be a self-starter, motivated, reliable and have a good work history. Please send your resume by email to: toneill@embarqmail.com.

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Student drivers needed - In Overland Park, Olathe, and Kansas City, Kansas. We offer flexible part-time and full-time schedules. For more information, call (913) 2623100 or apply online at: www.assistedtransportation. com. EOE.

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Local handyman and lawn care - Water heaters, garbage disposals, toilets, faucets, painting, power washing,doors, storm doors, gutter cleaning, wood rot, mowing, carpet, roofing, etc. Member of Holy Angels Parish. Basehor. Call Billy at (913) 927-4118.

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Cleanup and grading services It’s time to repair your lawn. 20% discount on lawn renovations with mention of this ad.

Visit the website at: www.goaguafina.com Call (913) 530-7260 or (913) 530-5661 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.

Garage door and opener sales and service - 24-hour, 7-day-a-week service on all types of doors. Replace broken springs, cables, hinges, rollers, gate openers, entry and patio doors, and more. Over 32 years of experience. Call (913) 227-4902.

Last year was a great year, thank you to all my customers! We do decks, windows, doors, house painting, (interior & exterior), wood rot, deck staining, and siding.

You name it, we can do it. No job too big or small, just give us a call. Insured. Call Josh at (913) 709-7230.

HARCO Exteriors LLC Your Kansas City fencing specialists Family owned and operated (913) 815-4817 www.harcoexteriorsllc.com Brick mason - Brick, stone, tile and flat work. 22 years of residential/commercial experience. FREE QUOTES - KC metro area. Small and large jobs accepted. Call Jim at (913) 485-4307. www.facebook.com/faganmasonry.

Detail construction and remodeling - We offer a full line of home remodeling services. Don’t move — remodel!

Johnson County area. Call for a free quote. (913) 709-8401.

Get the job done right the first time Kansas City’s Premier Services Decks and fences Power washing, staining and preserving Call for a FREE estimate Brian (913) 952-5965, Holy Trinity parishioner Jim (913) 257-1729, Holy Spirit parishioner Custom countertops - Laminates installed within 5 days. Cambria, granite, and solid surface. Competitive prices, dependable work. Call the Top Shop, Inc., at (913) 962-5058. Members of St. Joseph, Shawnee.

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 you’ll be glad you did.

Everything is guaranteed 100% (913) 461-4052 www.windowservicesoverlandpark. com drcconswindows@gmail.com Lawn/Landscaping - Mowing, mulch, dirt work, sod, tree trimming, landscape rock, gutter cleaning, and power washing. Mention this ad for special pricing. Call (816) 509-0224.

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Residential care for your loved one in my home - For those who need or want the extra TLC that we would be so willing to provide. If your loved one needs longterm care, 24-hour-care after a surgery, stroke, fall, heart attack, or just a place to stay while you take a muchneeded break or vacation, please give us a call. We offer one-on-one, personal, 24-hour-care, homemade meals, tuck-in service, heat packs for those cool nights, massages, private room with balcony, laundry service, bathing and grooming. We believe in making everyone’s life as full as possible. A lot of time is spent enjoying the simple pleasures, such as socializing, dancing, enjoying the outdoors, crafting and baking. If you are looking for the special place for your loved one to spend the rest of their days in comfort and love, we are here to help.

My home is equipped with an elevator and is handicap accessible. I am certified in dispensing medication, CPR/ FA. References are available upon request. Send an email to: thshealth@yahoo.com or call (816) 746-1564 and ask for Patti.

Looking for high quality home care? - Whether you’re looking to introduce care for your family or simply looking to improve your current home care quality, we can help. Our unique approach to home care has earned us a 99% client satisfaction rating among the 1,000-plus families we have assisted. We are family-owned, with offices in Lenexa and Lawrence. Call Benefits of Home Senior Care, Lenexa: (913) 422-1591 or Lawrence: (785) 727-1816 or www.benefitsofhome.com.

FOR SALE Residential lifts - Buy/sell/trade. Stair lifts, porch lifts, ceiling lifts and elevators. Recycled and new equipment.

Member of St. Michael the Archangel Parish, Leawood.

Call Silver Cross KC at (913) 327-5557.

For sale - At Resurrection Cemetery, two easements in mausoleum. Contact A. Kelly at (913) 649-9691.

For sale - Seven plots, side by side, at Resurrection Cemetery, Lenexa. Queen of Heaven Garden. $2,300 each or best offer. Call Judy Savage at (405) 843-4323 or (405) 517-4949, or send an email to: judysavage@ cox.net.

For sale - Two plots, side by side, at Chapel Hill Garden of Valor. $4,200 or best offer. Retails at $5,390. Please call David Nichols at (816) 686-1131 or send an email to: susannichols811@yahoo.com.

WANTED TO BUY Wanted to buy - 1950s, 1960s, 1970s convertible wanted in running condition. Call (913) 593-7507.

Wanted to buy - Lionel trains. Call (913) 485-6700.

Wanted to buy - Antique/vintage jewelry, lighters, fountain pens, post card collections, paintings/prints, pottery, sterling, china dinnerware.

Renee Maderak, (913) 631-7179.

St. Joseph Parish, Shawnee Will buy firearms and related accessories - One or a whole collection. Honest evaluation and top prices paid.

Contact Tom at (913) 238-2473. Member of Sacred Heart Parish, Shawnee.

VACATION Great Colorado Getaway! - Completely furnished three-story condo, sleeps 10. 3 BR, Wi-Fi, all cooking facilities, satellite, deck with gorgeous views! Hunting, fishing, hiking, train rides through the mountains and much more! For rates and reservations, visit the website at: www.cucharavacationrentals.com, then Aspen Valley Lookout.

House painting Interior and exterior; wall paper removal.

Power washing, fences, decks.

30 years experience. References. Reasonable rates.

Call Joe at (913) 620-5776.

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) 491-5837 or (913) 579-1835. Email: smokeycabin@hotmail.com.

Member of Holy Trinity, Lenexa.

Swalms Organizing - Downsizing - Clean Out Service.

Reduce clutter - Any space organized. Shelving built on site. Items hauled for recycling and donations. 20 years exp, insured. Call Tillar: (913) 375-9115. WWW.SWALMS ORGANIZING.COM.

Concrete Work

Any type of repair and new work Driveways, Walks, Patios Member of Queen of the Holy Rosary Parish

Harvey M. Kascht (913) 262-1555

CAREGIVING

HOME IMPROVEMENT

Caregiving - We provide personal assistance, companionship, care management, and transportation to the elderly and disabled in home, assisted living and nursing facilities.

We also provide respite care for main caregivers needing some personal time. Call Daughters & Company at (913) 341-2500 and speak with Laurie, Debbie or Gary.

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.

Caregiving - Registered nurse with 30-plus years experience in physical rehabilitation and elder care. Assistance provided with bathing/dressing, medications, meal preparation, light housekeeping, shopping and transportation to appointments. Daytime hours available Mon. - Fri. in northern Johnson County area. Excellent references. Call Mary at (913) 231-2408.

Want to help someone heal from an abortion?

Call Toll Free 888-246-1504

SEPTEMBER 25, 2015 | THELEAVEN.ORG

CALENDAR BOW TIES FOR BABIES BENEFITING ALEXANDRA’S HOUSE Grand Street Cafe, 4740 Grand Ave., Kansas City, Missouri Sept. 25 at 6 p.m.

There will be a reception, silent and live auctions and dinner. The cost to attend is $150 per person. For more information, visit the website at: www.bowtiesforbabies.com.

“THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE WARD” Bishop Ward High School, 708 N. 18th St., Kansas City, Kansas Sept. 26 at 5:30 p.m.

Bishop Ward High School will host its 37th annual auction, with a silent auction, food and more. The live auction will begin at 7:30 p.m. For more information, visit: www.ward high.org/auction2015 or call (913) 371-6901.

PRAIRIE STAR UNDER THE STARS Prairie Star Ranch, 1124 California Rd., Williamsburg Sept. 26 at 5:30 p.m.

church hall, gym and school grounds. There will be music and dancing featuring The Brian McCarty Band and Hrvatski Obicaj. Activities also include a traditional Slovenian dinner, silent auction, raffles, games and cultural booths. For more information, contact the church office at (913) 371-1561 or send an email to: holyfamilychurchkck.com.

ANNUAL BAZAAR St. John the Baptist Church, 427 S. Prairie, Greeley Sept. 27 from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.

There will be turkey, ham, homemade noodles, vegetables, homemade pies and bread. It is handicap accessible. Takeouts are available.

children age 10 and under. There will also be a silent auction, bingo, a cakewalk, baked goods, a country store and games for kids.

The menu will include roast beef, mashed potatoes and gravy, chicken and noodles, Scipio’s famous sauerkraut and more. The cost to attend is: $9 for adults; $5 for children ages 5 - 10; and free for children under 4. Carryout dinners are available for $10.

PUBLIC SQUARE ROSARY Kansas State Capitol, 300 S.W. 10th Ave., Topeka Oct. 10 at noon

Personal stories of evangelization will be shared. For more information, contact Michael Shirley by email at: mshirleykc@gmail. com or call (913) 558-1678.

100-YEAR CELEBRATION St. Francis Xavier, 301 E. James St., Mayetta Oct. 4 from noon - 2 p.m.

Mass will begin at noon with Archbishop Naumann as celebrant, followed by a blessing of a monument to the unborn.

Dinner will follow. Please RSVP by email to: stfrancisxavier100@gmail.com or call Jeri at (785) 771-2681.

OKTOBERFEST St. Pius X Church, 5500 Woodson Rd. Mission Oct. 3 from 5:30 - 9 p.m.

ROME SWEET HOME ITALIAN FESTIVAL Christ the King Parish, 25th and Wanamaker, Topeka Sept. 26 from 2 - 11 p.m.

An open house, with parish founder and school alumni recognition, begins at 2 p.m.; an outdoor Mass is at 4 p.m.; food and entertainment starts at 5:30 p.m., including a sit-down Italian dinner.

Advance ticket purchase is required for the dinner and can be reserved at: www.ctktopeka.org.

There will be food trucks and vendors, a wine and beer garden, DJ and live bands, children’s activities and inflatables, and fireworks.

SLOVENEFEST Holy Family Church, 274 Orchard St., Kansas City, Kansas Sept. 26 at 4 p.m.

The festival begins with Mass at 4 p.m., followed by festivities from 5 - 10 p.m. at the

Stair lifts & More We’ll lift you up!

Scooter/bath/wheelchair/pool Free consults. Leaven discounts!

Member Good Shepherd, Shawnee

Call Ed Toll Free 1-855-543-8632

Wagner’s Mud-Jacking Co.

Specializing in Foundation Repairs Mud-jacking and Waterproofing.

Serving Lawrence, Topeka and surrounding areas.

Topeka (785) 233-3447 Lawrence (785) 749-1696 In business since 1963 www.foundationrepairks.com Call Toll Free 888-246-1504

Dinner includes homemade German food, as well as German wines and beers available for purchase. The Alpen Spielers Band plays from 6 - 9 p.m. There will also be a silent auction. The cost to attend is: $15 for adults in advance ($20 at door); $5 for children ages 6-12; and free for children under the age of 5. Ticket price includes dinner, band and dance. For more information, contact Marisa Bade at (913) 244-5732 or send an email to: marisabade@yahoo.com or call the parish office at (913) 432-4808.

ANNUAL FALL BAZAAR St. Theresa Church, 209 3rd St., Perry Oct. 4 from 11 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

A turkey and ham dinner with homemade pie will be served in the parish hall from 11 a.m. 2:30 p.m. Carryout dinners will be available.

The cost of the meal is $9 for adults; $4 for

al harvest moon dance. The cost of $20 at the door includes meat hors d’oeuvres, desserts, wine, beer, soda and bottled water. For more information, call (913) 631-6873.

ANNUAL FALL BAZAAR St. Boniface Church, 32292 N.E. Norton Rd., Garnett Oct. 4 from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.

EVANGELIZATION WORKSHOP Church of the Nativity 3800 W. 119th St., Leawood Sept. 28 from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Youth groups and families are invited to join Prairie Star Ranch for a day of adventure followed by a night of camping under the stars.

Prairie Star’s annual family day event will also take place on Sept. 27.

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FALL FEST Sacred Heart - St. Casimir Parish, 1405 2nd Ave., Leavenworth Oct. 4 from noon - 3 p.m.

A turkey and ham dinner will be served along with a silent auction, country store, white elephant, games and entertainment, and two different raffles: one for a furnace and airconditioning unit and the other for cash.

50 YEAR CLASS REUNION Bishop Lillis High School, Kansas City, Missouri Oct. 10

Bishop Lillis High School, class of 1965, is having a 50 year reunion. For information, send an email to: jgonzales16@kc.rr.com or jack.flores@rti1.com.

HARVEST MOON DANCE Curé of Ars Parish, 9401 Mission Rd., Leawood Oct. 10 from 7:30 - 11:30 p.m.

The Cure’ of Ars Singles will host their annu-

America Needs Fatima will host a public square rosary on the Kansas Capitol south steps. This is a world wide event. Participants will be praying for the end of abortion, for world peace and religious liberty, along with many other national and worldwide concerns. For more information, contact Ron Shirrell by email at: rlshir@yahoo.com, or call (785) 267-3901.

‘THÉRÈSE OF LISIEUX’ RETREAT Sophia Spirituality Center 751 S. 8th St., Atchison Oct. 10 from 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Come and spend the day with talks, a guided meditation, DVD and personal sharing on this saint of “The Little Way”. Benedictine Sister Sheila Carroll will conduct this retreat.

For more information or to register, call (913) 360-6151 or visit Sophia Center’s website at: www.sophiaspiritualitycenter.org.

SANCTUARY OF HOPE 10TH ANNUAL HOPE BENEFIT Abdallah Shrine Temple 5300 Metcalf, Overland Park Oct. 10 from 5:30 - 10 p.m.

Father Dennis Wait and Sanctuary of Hope invite all to come celebrate the beginning of its 20th year in ministry at the 10th annual Hope Benefit. For tickets or more information, call (913) 321-4673, or visit the website at: www.sanctuaryofhope.org.

TURKEY DINNER AND BAZAAR Sacred Heart Parish, 1100 West St., Tonganoxie Oct. 11 from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Carry-outs are available until 2:30 p.m. The cost to attend is: $10 for adults; $5 for children ages 5 to 12; and free for children age 4 and under. There will also be a raffle, country store, bingo, theme baskets and children’s games.

SEPTEMBER 25, 2015 | THELEAVEN.ORG

COMMENTARY TWENTY-SIXTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME Sept. 27 TWENTY-SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Nm 11: 25-29 Ps 19: 8, 10, 12-14 Jas 5: 1-6 Mk 9: 38-43, 45, 47-48 Sept. 28 Wenceslaus, martyr; Lawrence Ruiz and companions, martyrs Zec 8: 1-8 Ps 102: 2, 16-23 Lk 9: 46-50 Sept. 29 MICHAEL, GABRIEL AND RAPHAEL, ARCHANGELS Dn 7: 9-10, 13-14 Ps 138: 1-5 Jn 1: 47-51 Sept. 30 Jerome, priest, doctor of the church Neh 2: 1-8 Ps 137: 1-6 Lk 9: 57-62 Oct. 1 Thérèse of the Child Jesus, virgin, doctor of the church Neh 8: 1-4a, 5-6, 7b-12 Ps 19: 8-11 Lk 10: 1-12 Oct. 2 The Holy Guardian Angels Bar 1: 15-22 Ps 79: 1b-5, 8-9 Mt 18: 1-5, 10 Oct. 3 Saturday Bar 4: 5-12, 27-29 Ps 69: 33-37 Lk 10: 17-24

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W

hat the heck?

Those were the first words out of my mouth as I got ready to go to bed on Aug. 31. I was locking my front door when I looked outside to see what looked like trash on my front lawn. What the heck? My confusion and irritation evaporated, though, as soon as I turned on the outside light to get a better view.

What I thought was trash turned out to be birds — flamingos, to be precise — and there were 15 of them, enjoying my lawn in all their pink, plastic glory.

In a nutshell, I’d just been flocked!

Since Aug. 1, Tonganoxie has experienced a flamingo infestation. But it’s OK, there’s no reason to panic. After all, residents have been warned repeatedly to beware of the flock.

The flamingos are a fundraiser for Team Tongie, which was started in March 2009 after two local high school students battled serious medical issues and a third unexpectedly passed away due to a health issue. As its website states, Team Tongie “became the way for Tonganoxie residents to pull together, help

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Boy, my life is for the birds 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.

LISTEN to this article online at: www.theleaven.org. their neighbors and do whatever they could to help families in trying times. Team Tongie provides funds to families facing serious health and medical issues. Money is used for transportation to doctor appointments and treatments, paying for medication and helping with other day-to-day expenses while a family member is ill.” Almost $10,000 has been given out since its inception.

My pink, plastic friends have raised over $3,400 so far through their flockings. And lest

someone take a shotgun to these surprise visitors, a note is attached to one of the birds’ “legs,” which reads: “Don’t despair. . . .

A friend of yours paid to place these pink darlings in your yard. This flocking is done in good spirits and is not meant to be mean. These flamingos will roost on your lawn until this evening when they will mysteriously migrate to another friend’s (victim’s) lawn. . . . Of course, the removal of these flamingos will be done at no charge, so please don’t hurt our pink, feathered friends.

Again, thank you for your sense of humor and your support.”

What the flockers could not have known is how much I needed a good laugh. A few days before, I’d returned early from my vacation to be with my mom, who had taken a nasty fall at her assisted living facility.

She was in the hospital and I’d been spending a good deal of time there.

My mind was preoccupied with Mom’s comfort and care and, even though I was getting sleep, it was not restful. I was dragging and stressed out until those crazy birds landed . . . and perked me up. There was even a picture of my flocking posted to the Team Tongie Facebook page with the caption: “Bless us, Father, for you’ve been flocked?”

The next morning, I took pictures of my pink visitors, so I could share them with my mom. Her first question was, “What do you have to feed them?” We had a good laugh when I told her they were made out of plastic.

Those silly flamingos boosted Mom’s spirits as well.

I didn’t find out who “ordered” the flamingos for my yard until about a week later. I’m glad that the parishioners fessed up, so that I could thank them in person and tell them how much those birds meant to me. (And, on a side note, I was inspired to send those flamingos on a visit to someone else.)

This flamingo fundraiser shows clearly what is stated on the Team Tongie website: “Many times you don’t need a

miracle, you just need each other.” We should never underestimate the power of kindness, of doing good for others.

I’ve witnessed so much kindness over these past few weeks of my mom’s rehab stint.

She gets so excited when people drop in to visit or when she receives a getwell card. It even brings tears to her eyes — tears of joy, she says — when I tell her that people are thinking of her and praying for her recovery.

Yes, many times all we do need is each other.

Let’s celebrate the season of autumn by looking for creative ways to brighten one another’s day. Don’t wait until “the holidays” to get into the mood of reaching out, especially to those who are lonely or needy. There are endless ways to do this.

A compliment, a smile, a word of encouragement, a hug, an unexpected visit, a handwritten note, a donation of time or “stuff,” a gift for “no reason,” lunch with a neglected friend — these are the things that bring hope into people’s lives and holiness into the world.

And if you become a person of kindness and hospitality, I guarantee that people will flock to you.

No room for jealousy on road to the Promised Land

even days in a week. Seven gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Seven corporal and seven spiritual works of mercy. Seven sacraments.

The number 7 has a magic ring to it. Frequently, in the Bible and in Tradition, it represents fullness and completion.

In Sunday’s first reading, Nm 11: 25-29, God bestows the spirit upon 70 elders in response to Moses’ complaint: “I cannot carry all this people by myself, for they are too heavy for me” (Nm 11:14). Moses wants help.

The number 70 is an amplification of 7. Once again, it symbolizes fullness. Moses will have all the help he needs. And even though Moses only

POPE FRANCIS

IN THE BEGINNING

FATHER MIKE STUBBS Father Stubbs is the pastor of Holy Cross Parish in Overland Park and has a degree in Scripture from Harvard University.

gets these 70 elders, he yearns for cooperation from all the people of Israel. He says as much, in response to Joshua’s

Americans can share a joke with Pope Francis and, by doing so, help support a mission cause.

Celebrities such as Bill Murray, Conan O’Brien, George Lopez, Whitney Cummings, David Copperfield and Al Roker have joined

concern that Eldad and Medad, who were not present with the others, have also received the spirit and are prophesying: “Would that all the people of the Lord were prophets! Would that the Lord might bestow his spirit on them all!”

The 70 elders will assist Moses on behalf of all the people of Israel.

These 70 elders who assist Moses anticipate

the 70 disciples that Jesus will call to share in his mission. (Lk 10:1) Some manuscripts read “72” instead of “70.”

Once again, these 70 disciples represent the totality of all those who follow Jesus. But they do not replace the other disciples. Everyone has a part to play.

In their journey to the Promised Land, the people of Israel face a massive challenge.

They will need everyone’s cooperation.

There is no room for jealousy, for petty rivalries. However, that is part of the basic human makeup. When we form cliques, we tend to shut people out.

This tendency toward exclusiveness surfaces once again in the Gospels. Centuries later, the apostle John

the cause and recorded jokes. Even Jesuit Father Jim Martin has welcomed the pope with a recorded joke about a Franciscan and a Jesuit who reach the pearly gates.

People can visit JokeWithThePope.org and select one of three causes: needy children in Argentina, homeless people in Ethiopia or hungry people in Africa. Then, they

will complain to Jesus about someone who is not a disciple, but who is nonetheless working miracles in Jesus’ name.

Once again, Jesus, like Moses, invites his disciples to a broader vision — to be more inclusive: “For whoever is not against us is for us” (Mk 9:40).

If it happened during the time of Moses, if it happened at the time of Jesus, it can also happen in our day and age. Our parishes and communities can become so accustomed to the usual crowd that we don’t welcome newcomers.

Sunday’s readings invite us to go beyond our comfort zone, to consider that someone outside our usual group may also be acting on behalf of Christ.

assign a written joke or record a joke and assign it to that cause. The funniest participant will be chosen at the end of the campaign to receive the first-ever official title of honorary comedic adviser to the pope, and his or her cause will receive a $10,000 donation.

— CNS

SEPTEMBER 25, 2015 | THELEAVEN.ORG

COMMENTARY

I

New evangelization is work of the entire church

n the weeks leading up to baseball’s postseason, we’ve heard much about the Royals’ efforts to secure “home-field advantage” throughout the playoffs.

In every sport, we recognize that there’s an advantage to being the home team. We naturally want to play in comfortable, familiar surroundings rather than venture into unfriendly territory.

Unfortunately, we tend to apply this principle to life in the church.

Many years ago, I was in a theology class taught by Scott Hahn in which he posed a question about how to respond to a Protestant interpretation of a

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passage from St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans.

Students started offering suggestions based on the Letter of St. James and various church teachings.

Finally, Hahn interrupted, saying, “Wait a minute! Romans is a ‘home game’ for Catholics.” He emphasized that Romans is not a “Protestant” book that needs to be countered with a “Catholic” book like James. Rather, he wanted the students to understand Romans and claim it as their own.

We might all agree that a “new evangelization” is necessary but, as Catholics, we might not consider evangelization a “home game.” We’re

ORDAINED TO SERVE

LEON SUPRENANT Leon Suprenant is the pastoral associate for administration in the office of the permanent diaconate. For more information on the diaconate, visit the website at: www.archkck.org/deacons.

not very good at it. Give

us rosaries, fish fries and Notre Dame games, but not evangelization! We might be uncomfortable at the prospect of leaving our comfortable (or not so comfortable) pews and actually sharing with others about our faith in Jesus.

I get it. It can be

daunting to engage others, perhaps even strangers, on this level — especially when no one has shown us how to do it. But if we’re honest, we’ll also admit that we might lack the passion for the faith that urges us (cf. 2 Cor 5:14) to share it with others.

The church in northeast Kansas is setting out to build a new “culture of evangelization.”

We understand that the first priority of this venture is the renewal of our own hearts and minds in Christ. Our openness to the Holy Spirit will help us overcome the lukewarmness and fear that holds us back. It’s one thing to know the truth; it’s quite another

to let the love of Christ course through our veins, informing all that we do.

The new evangelization is the work of the entire church — clergy and laity. In our archdiocese, we are blessed not only to have 25 deacons, but another 40 men in formation for the diaconate. St. John Paul II referred to the deacon as putting flesh on the church’s service.

In engaging the materially and spiritually poor, deacons embody the truth that evangelization is not a numbers game or mere social work, but extending the merciful love of Christ to the world around us — at home and away.

How we serve is as important as the service itself

ercy is not a popular concept today.

We tend to enjoy the instant gratification of seeing people “get what they deserve,” as evidenced in the movies we watch, popular novels and, most recently, in peaceful protest marches that turned violent.

But our God is a God of mercy and grace, “who in his great mercy gave us a new birth to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Pt 1:3).

Are we a merciful church? Are we merciful individuals? The Letter of James tells us: “So also faith of itself, if it does

not have works, is dead” (2:17). The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines works of mercy as charitable actions by which we come to the aid of our neighbor in his/her spiritual and bodily necessities. Feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and imprisoned, and burying the dead are all examples of corporal works of mercy.

Instructing, advising, consoling, comforting, forgiving and bearing wrongs patiently are all defined as spiritual works of mercy.

Most people associate Catholic Charities, the social services arm of the church, with the corporal

INSIDE CATHOLIC CHARITIES

KEN WILLIAMS Ken Williams is the executive director of Catholic Charities.

works of mercy (food, clothing and shelter).

Most, if not all, of our churches have some sort

of social concerns group focused on corporal works of mercy. Many of our churches have established Stephen Ministries to console, instruct and comfort those that are hurting. Our pastors and priests provide spiritual instruction, advice and counseling. All are im-

portant works of mercy.

But what would someone tasked to observe us for a month say? What if they could somehow read our minds as we served at the local soup kitchen?

What if they focused on our attitudes while we volunteered? What if someone could peer into the deepest part of our hearts where our true feelings reside about a fellow church committee member or even a family member who offended us two years ago?

Would they see examples of true mercy, the kind that stems from the heart? How we serve those in need is just as important as the service itself.

One of the three key initiatives in Archbishop Naumann’s 10-year vision is to “cultivate relationships by engaging in the corporal and spiritual works of mercy.” On Dec. 5 and 6, coinciding with the beginning of the Year of Mercy declared by our Holy Father, we will all be invited to regularly engage in the corporal and spiritual works of mercy.

Imagine what our parishes and communities will look like if everyone accepts the challenge, and all works of mercy are performed with pure hearts.

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God” (Mt 5:8).

Sometimes it’s time to marshal your forces — and retreat

H

ello and welcome to a brandnew column!

My name is Tim Chik and I am the director of Savior Pastoral Center, a retreat and conference center for the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas.

We host retreats, workshops and conferences throughout the year for various groups.

I have gratefully served here for the last five years, working with some wonderful people on the staff of Savior and the chancery.

“Retreating Forward” is the name of this new column and I will be writing about spirituality, retreats and

hospitality. It is my hope that this column may spark some increased interest for our readers in moving forward along the pathways of prayer.

“Retreating Forward” is often a theme in my mind when I think of the spiritual life. The Catechism of the Catholic Church says: “The great figures of prayer of the Old Covenant before Christ, as well as the Mother of God, the saints and he himself, all teach us this: Prayer is a battle” (2725).

Imagine for a moment Gen. Ulysses S. Grant in the Civil War. His objectives were clear and laid out by President Lincoln: Move

RETREATING FORWARD

TIM CHIK Tim Chik is the director of Savior Pastoral Center, a retreat and conference center for the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas.

forward and win the war for the Union. At times,

though, the best move for Grant was to retreat momentarily, to review the next step in the plan and to strengthen his troops. Then, refreshed and renewed, Grant could move forward again.

You are the general of your spiritual battle.

Are you winning the war? Perhaps, like Grant, you need some time to retreat, to refresh and to strengthen your inner troops. It’s possible that you need to stay in closer contact with headquarters, where our Commander in Chief knows the big- picture plan for your future . . . and for you.

When we go into battle in the spiritual world, we need to be armored in prayer, Scripture and the sacraments. We should use our most powerful weapon: the rosary. We ought to “put on the full armor of God, so that [we] will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil”

(Eph 6:11) and join our efforts with our community. Grant would never have gone into battle without his brother soldiers on every side of him. Don’t fight the spiritual battle alone either.

Our ministry here at Savior Pastoral Center lies at the service of the church, to be a place of refuge and retreat for many “generals” in the spiritual life.

Whether it is a women’s retreat with the Apostles of the Interior Life or a Men’s Cursillo retreat or a personal retreat, we all need time to retreat . . . in order to go forward.

Come away with Jesus and be renewed for the battle!

SEPTEMBER 25, 2015 | THELEAVEN.ORG

LOCAL NEWS

16

WALK THIS WAY

Parishioners support pastor in 30-mile trek

LEAVEN PHOTO BY JILL RAGAR ESFELD

Father Anthony Kiplagat is training for a 30-mile walk and asking for donations for each mile along the way to help fund a new church project for St. Patrick Parish in Scranton. St. Patrick parishioners have decided to walk with him and are inviting everyone in the archdiocese to come along.

By Jill Ragar Esfeld jill.esfeld@theleaven.org

S

CRANTON — Charge your Fitbits and check the tread on your cross trainers, St. Patrick Parish here is hosting an event you won’t want to miss.

Whether you can stroll a mile, hike a 10K, or run a full marathon, you’re welcome to join the fun on Oct. 10 as parishioners gather at Lake Shawnee in Topeka to raise funds to build their new church.

The need is great. The St. Patrick Church building is just shy of 100 years old and worn out beyond repair.

“It was built in 1917,” said parishioner Lori Mock. “It’s not that we really want to build a new church. It’s that we need to build a new church.

“It’s deteriorating and it’s too cost prohibitive to repair it.”

“We’ve been trying to look at renovating it,” confirmed pastor Father Anthony Kiplagat. “But it costs more than building a new church.”

When St. Patrick launched its capital campaign earlier this year, Father Kiplagat wanted to be part of the support effort. But as a priest from the Diocese of Eldoret in Kenya, East Africa, he doesn’t have deep pockets.

“Everybody was giving the contributions and pledges,” he said. “And I had been thinking, ‘How will I participate?’

“And then I came up with the idea of a walk.”

Recalling the long walks of his youth in Kenya, sometimes as far as 160 kilometers (some 99 miles), Father Kiplagat came up with an ambitious plan — to walk 30

miles, asking donations for each mile.

“If I walk one mile, can you sponsor me $5?” he said. “So, I’m calculating maybe I could make like $15,000.

“And that would be my contribution to the church!”

After pitching his plan to his parishioners, Father Kiplagat began to reflect on the long distance he’d committed to.

“Actually,” he said, “I’m realizing, at my age now, 30 miles will be a challenge.”

But not to worry. What Father Kiplagat’s rural parish of 100 families lacks in wealth, it makes up for in spirit.

Parishioners were not about to let their beloved pastor face his challenge alone. They decided to walk with him and are inviting everyone in the archdiocese to come along.

“When I came up with the walk,” said Father Kiplagat, “Lori and the members of the church put this plan together. And they came up with a safe place where we can do the walk.”

Indeed, four treks around nearby Topeka’s Lake Shawnee — on a scenic walking path, no less — equals exactly 30 miles. And best of all, according to the planning committee, there are nice bathrooms located along the way.

“We want people drinking lots of water,” said Mock.

The parish has reserved a shelter house where the walk will begin at dawn.

Water and medic stations will be positioned along the 7.5-mile path.

The shelter house will accommodate participants for lunch midway through the walk — as well as a Mass and dinner at the end of the day.

“The main thing is I wanted to make it a prayerful walk,” said Father Kiplagat.

“We would gather and do the walk as we pray, asking God to make us succeed in

Join the Walking in Prayer event Help Father Anthony Kiplagat reach his goal of raising $15,000 to help build a new church. Or get a pledge sheet of your own and join him in his effort.

The St. Patrick-Scranton Walking in Prayer event will take place on Oct. 10 from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. at Lack Shawnee Shelter House #1; 3400 S.E. Leisure Lane, Topeka.

Prayer walk T-shirts are available for $15 — or free with $125 or more in pledges!

After the Prayer Walk, participants will gather for a Sunday vigil Mass celebration, followed by an evening meal.

The evening meal is open to families and friends of walkers, fellow parishioners and anyone else who wants to show support and solidarity with St. Patrick’s building endeavor. Organizers ask only that you call and let them know if you plan to attend.

For more information, to support Father Kiplagat or to obtain a pledge sheet, contact the church office at (785) 528-3424; send an email to: office@st.patrickchurches.org; or contact Lori Mock online at: tandlmock@satelephone.com.

our campaign.”

To that end, the parish’s capital campaign prayer will be posted along the walking path so participants can occasionally pause and pray it together.

Second to prayer, the main focus of the walk is having fun and doing whatever you can to raise money for the cause.

“We just want people to relax and enjoy each other,” said Father Kiplagat.

“Talk to each other, visit with each other, play together. That’s it.”

“We have told parishioners up front,” added Mock, “do whatever you are able to do. So, we have some people who are close to 85 who are going to do two miles.

“And I’ve heard some families say they’re going to work it like a relay — taking turns with laps.”

Mock’s son Matthew hopes to get a group together from his confirmation class, because the walk would count as service hours.

“I’m going to try to walk and jog intervals to make the 30 miles,” he said.

“That’s a whole day of service with Gatorade and snacks to boot,” said Mock.

Father Kiplagat is hoping for support from former parishioners and friends he’s made during his eight years with the archdiocese.

“I’m asking that people really support us in Scranton,” he said, “because this is a rural parish church and there are not many people like in the cities.

“I’m encouraging especially people who know me, where I have worked before, like Curé of Ars in Leawood, St. Agnes in Roeland Park, Prince of Peace and St. Paul in Olathe and Holy Angels in Basehor.

“If they can really support me by sending a donation or coming here and participating, that would be the best.”

As St. Patrick parishioners have come together to support their pastor in his effort to contribute to the building fund, they’ve learned an important lesson about their church.

“We’ve come to realize St. Patrick church isn’t the building,” said Mock.

“It’s the people, the family.

“And we really do have an awesome church family.”