Community support makes this school EXCELLENT
By Jill Ragar Esfeld jill.esfeld@theleaven.org
ATCHISON — “It’s our mission to help kids to grow in their faith,” said Kevin Lunsford, principal of St. Benedict School here. “That’s first and foremost, every day.
“We want to shape those minds and hearts to be better Christians out there in the world.”
This daily commitment is one of the many reasons St. Benedict has been named this year’s Catholic Education Foundation (CEF) Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann School of Excellence.
“We are incredibly proud to recognize St. Benedict,” said CEF executive director Vincent Anch. “Their faculty and staff have shown extraordinary dedication to ensuring every student receives
a well-rounded education that prepares them for future success.
“Their commitment to academic rigor, faith-based learning and community service embodies the mission and values of CEF.”
The school’s reaction to the announcement was one of excitement — and humility.
“Humble, actually, just because we know how many great schools are out there,” said Lunsford.
On Sept. 11, the school welcomed the archbishop and representatives from the CEF for a visit.
Students greeted the guests with heartfelt enthusiasm, proudly holding up welcome and thank-you signs.
“It was one of the more moving things I’ve seen as part of CEF over the last
>> See “SCHOOL” on page 7
I THANK THE LORD WHO ALLOWED ME TO DO AS AN ELDERLY POPE WHAT I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO DO AS A YOUNG JESUIT! I WANTED TO BE A MISSIONARY. POPE FRANCIS
LEAVEN PHOTO BY JILL RAGAR ESFELD Above, Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann, followed by St. Benedict School principal Kevin Lunsford, walked through a corridor of thank-you signs made by students to welcome guests from the Catholic Education Foundation. St. Benedict has been named this year’s CEF School of Excellence.
Left, second grader Xavier Haroldson holds up his sign of gratitude for the Catholic Education Foundation. Many St. Benedict students benefit from CEF scholarships. CEF board chair RJ Gildea called St. Benedict School “the heartbeat” of Atchison.
With abortions rising, we are all called to be ‘islands
The “Twilight Zone” reruns can be found on late night cable stations. For its time, “The Twilight Zone” was considered state-of-the-art science fiction. I remember an entire episode that was filmed in a hospital room. The doctors and nurses all wore surgical masks to protect the patient from infection.
As the show unfolded, it became clear that the patient, whose face was completely bandaged, had been through a series of plastic surgeries attempting to correct a severe disfigurement.
The lead doctor informed the beleaguered patient that only one more surgery could be attempted. However, the doctor was hopeful this time they would succeed. Most of the episode builds up to this last-chance surgery. In the closing scene, the final surgery had been completed some days ago. Now is the moment of truth. The nurses remove the bandages uncovering the patient’s face. The woman is stunningly beautiful.
However, the doctors and nurses shake their heads in disbelief and dismay. They apologize profusely to the patient for their failure as they remove their own surgical masks revealing their grotesque and hideous faces. The closing music comes on as you begin to realize that in the “twilight zone,” beautiful is ugly, and the hideous is considered gorgeous.
In 2024, we are living in a culture that is in a moral twilight zone where evil is revered as good, and what is noble is considered disgraceful. In this ethically topsy-turvy twilight zone, abortion — described by early feminists Susan
ARCHBISHOP
JOSEPH F. NAUMANN
B. Anthony and Alice Paul as the ultimate exploitation of women — is now hailed as the cornerstone of women’s rights.
Abortion is euphemistically referred to as “reproductive health care.” How can anyone take seriously the label “reproductive health care,” when it results in one patient (the child) dead and the other (the mother) emotionally, psychologically, spiritually and often physically scarred?
Margaret Sanger, the foundress of Planned Parenthood and a racist who embraced eugenics and the idea that an answer to eliminating poverty was to kill poor children, is still heralded by many pro-abortion advocates as a heroine and visionary.
On the other hand, the late Dr. Jerome Lejeune, who identified the chromosomal abnormality causing Down syndrome and spent his life caring for these special children and their families, is reviled by some because he opposed using his discovery to abort the very children he sought to serve.
A couple of years ago, the country of Iceland claimed to have eliminated Down syndrome when, in reality, they had aborted almost all of these innocent children. This is a stark example of what Pope St. John Paul
LIFE WILL BE VICTORIOUS
II meant by a “culture of death.”
How pitiful a culture where a Planned Parenthood van parks outside a national political convention, offering women to kill for free their unborn children and men nocost sterilization by vasectomy.
The abortion industry makes hundreds of millions of dollars annually by preying on the fears of pregnant women and killing innocent children. No wonder this grisly industry is willing to kill a few children for free with the hope of electing politicians who will provide tax dollars for their gruesome, socalled services.
In a democratic society, we get the leaders we deserve. It is a sad reflection of societal values when extremism in support of the abortion industry is considered a political advantage.
In contrast, pregnancy resource centers surround an expectant mother with a community of love and provide free care. The staff and volunteers of pregnancy resource centers are cultural heroines and heroes. They truly care about pregnant women and are prepared to accompany a mother and her child for a couple years or more. The goal of our pregnancy resource centers is to help both mother and a child thrive.
One of the greatest disappointments of my time as archbishop was the defeat of the “Value Them Both”
amendment. The abortion industry spent millions of dollars deceiving Kansans about the amendment. They were able to do this because of a complicit secular media that did not fact-check but instead echoed the deceptions of the abortion industry.
What was the impact of the defeat of “Value Them Both”? Abortions in Kansas have skyrocketed from less than 7,000 annually to an estimated more than 20,000 this year. As predicted, Kansas has become an abortion destination state.
In the abortion industry’s anti-“Value Them Both” propaganda, Kansans were led to believe that the current legal protections for pregnant moms and their children would remain in place. Instead, the Kansas Supreme Court declared basic abortion clinic licensing and inspection laws to be unconstitutional. The abortion industry has also filed a lawsuit against the Kansas Woman’s Right to Know Act that provides informed consent for women, the provision of abortion risk information, the right to see an ultrasound and abortion pill reversal protocols.
With the failure of government to fulfill its basic responsibility to protect women and children, the church has increased our support for: 1) pregnancy resource centers; 2) the Gabriel Project, providing mentors for pregnant women; 3) Project Rachel, providing postabortion healing and reconciliation;4) Catholic Charities adoption ministry; and 5) foster care.
In addition, the church has launched Walking with Moms in Need, mobilizing parishes to help local pregnancy resource centers with financial aid and volunteer support.
Sept. 27
of mercy’
ARCHBISHOP NAUMANN’S CALENDAR
CFNEK strategic planning session — Savior Pastoral Center
Sept. 28
Mercy and Justice Summit — Savior
Catholic Community Health’s Fall Ball — Fiorella’s Event Center, Overland Park
Sept. 29
Installation of Father Justin Hamilton — Holy Spirit, Overland Park
Oct. 1
New staff luncheon — chancery
Administrative Team meeting — chancery
Oct. 3
Keynote speaker at Illinois Catholic Health Association annual meeting
Donnelly College’s SHINE — The Abbott, Kansas City, Missouri
Oct. 4
Eucharistic Revival bishops’ advisory group — Zoom
Oct. 5
Consecrated Life Day Mass and brunch — Savior
The church has also: 1) increased our support for sidewalk counseling efforts outside of abortion clinics; 2) launched Embrace Grace — a parish-based support group for pregnant women; 3) increased youth education through the Culture Project; and 4) given additional support for maternity homes.
Pope Francis has called for our parishes to be “islands of mercy in a sea of indifference.” We can all do something. We must always begin with prayer, asking the Holy Spirit to help us discern how we can best help build a culture of life.
Consider generously supporting financially a local pregnancy resource center, as well as possibly volunteering your time and talent. Perhaps Our Lord is calling you to make a sacrificial gift
to our archdiocesan special Respect Life Fund that supports all of the church’s many pro-life initiatives. Perhaps you are being called to become part of the Walking with Moms in Need ministry in your parish. A society that celebrates the killing of its own children cannot survive for long. Cultures can be changed one person, one decision at a time. We must not just accept the status quo of this moral twilight zone. Our society has come to believe that legalized abortion is necessary to allow for a sexual freedom that, in reality, enslaves us. Together, we can break free from this moral twilight zone that perceives evil as good and virtue as impossible. We can build a culture of life, where every life is cherished, respected and loved.
Historic parish installs new pastor, marks 175th
By Marc and Julie Anderson mjanderson@theleaven.org
ST. MARYS — It’s the cradle of the archdiocese.
And while the archdiocese is today headquartered in Kansas City, Kansas, parishioners at Immaculate Conception Parish in St. Marys recently had a chance to celebrate the fact that the archdiocese really started there in the late 1840s.
That’s because the parish just finished a yearlong celebration of activities to celebrate the parish’s 175th anniversary with a Mass of thanksgiving celebrated Sept. 8 by Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann.
One of the parish’s former pastors, Father John Riley, now the archdiocesan chancellor and vicar general, concelebrated the Mass, which doubled as the installation Mass for Father Edward Ahn. Father Ahn was appointed pastor of the parish, along with St. Stanislaus Parish in nearby Rossville, in July.
Other festivities included parishioners gathering for the praying of the rosary, Christmas caroling, a parish picnic and a mini-pilgrimage of all the religious sites in the area led by the St. Marys Historical Society. The pilgrimage included stops with talks, prayers and a verse of “Immaculate Mary” at each historical site.
In his homily, Archbishop Naumann recalled that in 1848 members of the Potawatomi Nation were forced to relocate to the area from near present-day Mound City. Jesuit missionaries and Sisters of the Sacred Heart followed them, eventually building schools to instruct the Native American children.
Calling the area “the cradle of the archdiocese,” the archbishop shared the story of the archdiocese’s first bishop, John Baptist Miege, who thought his fellow Jesuit priests were playing a prank on him when he first received a letter from the pope in 1850 directing him to serve as the head of the Vicariate Apostolic of the Indian Territory.
The vast area extended from near Denver to east of the Rockies and as far north as the Canadian border. So, it wasn’t until 1851 that Bishop Miege made his way to St. Marys.
Meanwhile, a log cabin-style church which the missionaries had dedicated to the Immaculate Conception was
built in 1848. The following year, a more permanent church was built, one that served as the archdiocese’s first cathedral until Bishop Miege moved to Leavenworth in 1855.
Elsewhere in his homily, the archbishop noted he enjoys formally installing pastors during Sunday Masses because it allows him to celebrate Mass with people throughout the archdiocese and gives him “the opportunity to preach on the importance of the priesthood and the Eucharist.”
Formally introducing Father Ahn, Archbishop Naumann said, “I’ve always been edified by his holiness. . . . I’m confident that he will be a good shepherd for this community.”
After the homily, Father Ahn stood before the archbishop and members of the two parishes’ pastoral councils, promising an oath of fidelity to the archbishop and the parish communities. Father Ahn then led the people in the Nicene Creed.
After Communion, Father Ahn expressed his commitment to the community.
“Whatever charge or delegation any pastor in northeast Kansas receives is only given with the permission of the local ordinary,” he said. “I am fully aware of that. I’m grateful for that vote of confidence, and I take obedience very, very seriously, especially since my days as a religious. . . . I’m deeply, deeply grateful to be part of these parish communities — Immaculate Conception and St. Stanislaus. I have no difficulty in commitments, and I am fully committed to these parish communities, these parish families.”
It seems as if parishioners have no trouble being committed to the parish either.
In 1992, Doug Wietharn moved along with his wife and family to St. Marys, joining the parish. Now, he cannot imagine being anywhere else.
“I feel honored to be here, to be part of a community so well-established with so much history behind it,” he said. “I think the community here supports the parish. Everybody knows everybody, and in some bigger parishes, you may not have that.”
Recalling her own memories of the parish, member Mary Ellen Reese echoed similar thoughts, saying, “It’s extremely humbling to think this has been handed down from generations, and we are all still here.”
“I remember growing up here,” she added. “I remember the Jesuits. I remember the Sisters of Charity. I remember the sacrifices our parents made.
“I think we’re doing our best to keep it (the faith) alive,” she said in conclusion, “and I feel like our town is especially blessed because we are under the mantle of Mary as her town and her parish.”
LEAVEN PHOTO BY MARC ANDERSON
Father Edward Ahn greets parishioner Elaine Devader after Mass. In addition to celebrating the parish’s 175th anniversary, Father Ahn was also installed as pastor.
LEAVEN PHOTO BY MARC ANDERSON
Father Ahn talks with Michelle Fortunato, grandson AJ, son Anthony and Shannon Fortunato following the 175th anniversary Mass at Immaculate Conception Parish in St. Marys.
LEAVEN PHOTO BY MARC ANDERSON
Barb Brockoff, a parishioner and member of the local historical society, shares historical artifacts with Kevin and Jolene Fox during the luncheon after Mass.
LEAVEN PHOTO BY MARC ANDERSON
Father Edward Ahn, pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish in St. Marys and St. Stanislaus in Rossville, left, along with Father John Riley, a former pastor who currently serves as archdiocesan chancellor and vicar general, prepare for Communion during Mass on Sept. 8. The Mass was celebrated by Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann and was the culmination of yearlong festivities to mark the parish’s 175th anniversary.
At long last, Good Shepherd Parish in Shawnee pipes up
By Jeanne Gorman Special to The Leaven
SHAWNEE — Music has played a major role in the Catholic Church since earliest times. Whether vocal or instrumental, music has lifted the prayers of the faithful to heaven in beautiful ways transcending the spoken word alone.
With the advent of the pipe organ, the churches and cathedrals of Europe and eventually, the United States, filled with what can only be described as heavenly music that supported and enhanced worship and the voices of the faithful.
Now, in many churches here in the archdiocese, they are coming back.
Good Shepherd
From its founding in 1973, Good Shepherd Parish in Shawnee embraced contemporary music in its worship. Indeed, as proudly relayed by its pastor, Father Kent O’Connor, Good Shepherd’s choir has rightfully earned a fine reputation for its contemporary music.
But adding a pipe organ had long been envisioned for the parish just the same. Now the dreams of a former staffer and the gift of a generous benefactor have somewhat unexpectedly coalesced to provide the church with a pipe organ.
The visionary
Around the time the current Good Shepherd Church was being planned more than 20 years ago, Sister Claudette Schiratti, SM, then the music director at the parish, urged that the church, which was being designed as a relatively contemporary structure, be architecturally designed and constructed to accommodate pipes for a pipe organ. This led to the construction of a soaring space behind the altar that stood relatively barren until recently.
Other churches have found that because of their architecture, there is no space left for a pipe organ. But Sister Claudette’s prescience helped make her dream of a pipe organ for Good Shepherd possible, more than 20 years after the church was built.
The benefactor
A few years ago, the parish received an end-of-life gift in the amount of $515,000. The bequest specified that the money be used to purchase/build a pipe organ for the sanctuary. To the best of Father O’Connor’s knowledge, no one at the church, including him, knew that Eleanor (“Ellie”) Miller intended to leave this generous gift to her parish upon her death.
The plan
Upon learning of the Miller gift, Father O’Connor put in motion a plan to fulfill Miller’s wish. When he contacted the dean of the organ department at the University of Kansas, he was told the expert in the field was in the pastor’s own backyard — Kevin Vogt, music director at St. Michael the Archangel in Leawood — who then consulted with the parish and assisted with the selection
of the organ that was ultimately purchased.
The organ was purchased from Greenleaf Organ Company, whose
personnel, said Father O’Connor, were “self-professed organ geeks who are into their work for its artistry, science and craftsmanship.”
The parishioners
Because of the parish’s long tradition of commitment to artistry, especially contemporary music, Father O’Connor anticipated there would be some questions — and even opposition — to the acquisition of a pipe organ.
Accordingly, he sent a letter to all parish families explaining the reasoning behind the purchase. He emphasized the nature of Miller’s gift, and how it could enhance an already rich music tradition at the parish.
“We did not want to simply build a ‘run-of-the-mill’ organ,” he wrote, “but one that is special and unique to Good Shepherd.”
He need not have worried, however. In a show of support, a group of parishioners gathered at the church one evening to assist with installing the organ by forming a “pipe brigade” — passing pipes from the back of the church one to the other up to the space in the front of the church where the pipes were being installed.
This greatly assisted the installation of the century-old used organ, which it had refurbished to meet Good Shepherd’s specifications. The organ had originally been constructed and installed for a church in Cambridge, Massachusetts, but fits beautifully in its new home.
The beneficiaries
Sister Claudette’s vision and Miller’s generosity came together in a most providential way. Sadly, neither of them lived to see their shared dream become a reality.
The parishioners of Good Shepherd, however, will benefit from their vision. The organ will not replace or displace the contemporary music which has been a staple of worship at Good Shepherd since its founding. But it will bring a new dimension to sacred music at the parish for years to come.
PHOTO COURTESY OF DEAN DAVISON
Parishioners of Good Shepherd Parish, Shawnee, gathered at the church one evening to assist with installing the new organ via “pipe brigade” — passing pipes from the back of the church one to the other up to the space in the front of the church where the pipes were being installed.
PHOTO COURTESY OF DEAN DAVISON
Father Kent O’Connor, pastor of Good Shepherd, takes a piece of the parish’s new pipe organ from a member of the “pipe brigade” and passes it down the line.
PHOTO COURTESY OF DEAN DAVISON
Daniel Hancock, owner of the Greenleaf Organ Company, fits two of the larger pipes of the new organ into place.
ANGELS OF MERCY
Two Sisters celebrate 60 years of caring for the sick
By Therese Horvat Special to The Leaven
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — While the world around them has changed dramatically, two Servants of Mary, Ministers to the Sick who are marking their 60th anniversaries this year agree that the charism and lifestyle of their religious congregation have remained basically — and gratefully — the same.
With only minor modifications, the habits the Sisters wear today closely resemble those worn by the founding members of the congregation in Spain in the 1850s.
The hours they devote to prayer and the primacy of spirituality in their lives are still foundational to their ministry.
As Servants of Mary are available, they continue their founding mission of providing nursing care for the sick and dying in their own homes during the day and night. Relying on divine providence, they do not charge for their services.
Sure, the Servants of Mary use computers and cellphones for communications related to their ministry.
“But our lives don’t depend on a computer or a phone,” explained Sister Fabiola Fernandez de Leceta, SM. “Nothing deep, nothing affecting the heart of our ministry has changed. Our spiritual life remains the priority for fulfilling our ministry.”
The extent of the Sisters’ ministry has been challenged in recent years due to fewer women entering the community. Sister Carmela Sanz Arribas, SM, acknowledges that the influx of vocations to the Servants of Mary has slowed down.
The congregation also has increasing numbers of Sisters who are elderly and unable to serve. “We are closing convents due to the lack of Sisters,” she said.
To address this shortage of consecrated women religious, the Servants of Mary have invited laypersons to join in their ministry. Lay Sons and Daughters of St. Maria Soledad now fill this important role, directly serving the sick in their homes as the Sisters do.
Ever hopeful, ever joyful, Sisters Carmela and Fabiola trust in God and express gratitude to their religious superiors for their guidance. After all, the two jubilarians have experienced the breadth of God’s goodness and the wisdom of their leaders across their 60 years as Servants of Mary.
Different vocation paths, shared mission
Both Sisters are originally from Spain, but from different parts of the country.
Sister Carmela was the seventh of nine children and from an extended family rich with religious vocations, including four priests and eight women religious. Her own sister and an aunt were Servants of Mary. She admired persons dedicated to religious life.
“One evening, I was coming home with my mother, and I saw a Servant of Mary entering a home to care for a patient, and I was touched,” she recalled. Sister Carmela attended a boarding school to further discern her vocation.
OUR LIVES DON’T DEPEND ON A COMPUTER OR A PHONE. NOTHING DEEP, NOTHING AFFECTING THE HEART OF OUR MINISTRY HAS CHANGED. OUR SPIRITUAL LIFE REMAINS THE PRIORITY FOR FULFILLING OUR MINISTRY.
SISTER FABIOLA FERNANDEZ DE LECETA, SM
She completed her novitiate as a Servant of Mary in Azpeitia, Spain, the birthplace of St. Ignatius Loyola.
Sister Fabiola’s path was somewhat different. As a young girl, she hadn’t thought about becoming a Sister. However, once while preparing for the sacrament of reconciliation, she felt something in her heart — a voice telling her she
plans that led them to join the congregation. Sister Fabiola completed her studies and made her first profession at the motherhouse in Madrid in 1964.
Sisters Carmela and Fabiola met for the first time in October 1965 in Madrid. They were among a group of Servants of Mary missioned to the congregation’s convent in New Orleans where the two jubilarians subsequently made their final vows.
From there, their paths diverged. Sister Carmela remained in New Orleans to study nursing. Sister Fabiola came to Kansas City for her nursing education. Each continued to care for the sick.
For a brief time in the early 1970s, both Sisters lived at the Kansas City, Kansas, convent, which is also the provincial house for the Servants of Mary in the United States and Mexico. Sister Carmela assisted the young Sisters preparing to make final vows. Sister Fabiola studied nursing, ministered to the sick and served as treasurer for the local convent. As time progressed, each of the two jubilarians spent a year in Rome for theological studies and served in California.
Leading and serving
In 1988, Sister Carmela returned to Kansas City as the provincial secretary for 12 years. She next became the local superior of the Kansas City convent and then was named provincial superior of the Servants of Mary in the United States and Mexico. When her term concluded in 2017, Sister Carmela assumed household duties at the convent — greeting guests, answering the phone, and chiming the bell to call the Sisters to Mass, prayers and meals.
Since 1991, Sister Fabiola has served in Kansas City. For 15 of these years, she was treasurer of the local convent. In addition to her ongoing nursing ministry, Sister Fabiola is the liaison to the Mary Health of the Sick Guild and the Men’s Group, both of which host events to support the charitable work of the Servants of Mary.
was going to be a Sister.
“I looked at the tabernacle,” she said, “and told Our Lord that if the priest asked me after confession what I was going to do with my life, I would tell him. If he didn’t ask, I wouldn’t say anything.”
The priest inquired. He had two nieces who were Servants of Mary, and he helped Sister Fabiola and her twin sister with
Sisters Carmela and Fabiola have embraced their various roles out of obedience to their vows with deep spirituality and commitment to doing God’s will. Earthly rewards and things matter little to them. They trust in God’s goodness and the guidance of their superiors.
“God holds us in the cocoon of his hands and heart,” Sister Fabiola said simply.
LEAVEN PHOTO BY KATHRYN WHITE
Sister Fabiola Fernandez de Leceta, left, and Sister Carmela Sanz Arribas chat outside the Sisters, Servants of Mary provincial house in Kansas City, Kansas. Both are marking their 60th anniversary of their vocation this year.
The family’s call to change — and sway
Watch what parents do when they pick up a baby.
Whether a swaddled newborn, a smiling infant or a squirmy toddler, parents start to sway when they hold their child.
Swaying is our primal rhythm, the instinct to move in order to calm and comfort. Slow, steady rocking can soothe a baby, relax their body, soften their cries and even lull them to sleep.
Watch what happens when parents add another child to the family. You’ll see both parents swaying, sometimes bumping into each other. The metaphor is made plain before your eyes: Jostling up against each other is part of change. To sway is to move to meet the needs of others. Isn’t this the heart of family life?
But we don’t just sway with the wee ones. Teenagers and young adults ask us to move in different ways: to loosen our grip, to contract and then relax,
much as we did to bring them into the world. Growing together requires that everyone in the family lean on each other as we lean into the arms of God, the back and forth of love’s rhythms.
Look around church the next time you are in Mass. See how people sway even when they stand alone? Scientists call this movement “postural sway” — part of the body’s unconscious efforts to stay balanced. These micro-movements that adjust our posture are rhythmic and regulating for our nervous systems. The simple motion reminds our bodies of the months we spent in our mother’s womb, gently jostled by her every movement.
Our first rhythms stay with us.
This year, I got to
visit my own mother on Mother’s Day. While my kids ran circles around us, she and I hugged and held each other. Then as if by instinct, we both started to sway. I thought of how she had once held me within her, how she must still long to hold me the way I long to hold my own growing children.
We learn this rhythm from God. The Book of Deuteronomy reminds us how God has carried us throughout our entire lives like a loving parent: “the Lord, your God, carried you, as one carries his own child, all along your journey until you arrived at this place” (Dt 1:31). Even when we struggle or turn away, God is always waiting to take us back and lift us up again.
A friend shared a poignant story after
attending a funeral for a baby who had died shortly after birth. When she looked around the church during the funeral Mass, she saw so many adults swaying gently as they stood and prayed, as if rocking in solidarity with the grieving parents, working through their own waves of sorrow.
Swaying, like prayer, is one of our core movements, our way of being in the world.
Relationships call us to move and change at every age. We learn the flexibility and compromise required for marriage. We develop the adaptability called forth from growing children or aging parents. Whenever we find ourselves becoming stiff and rigid in our interactions with family, this may bring a nudge to pray for greater agility, to ask God for
the wisdom to adapt to each other’s needs.
This summer was a time of transition for families, with weddings, graduations, reunions and the shift from one school year to the next. It was a season for swaying: a time to return to simpler rhythms of family life or to adjust our ways of being with each other.
Children will not always be small enough to pick up and sway, but the adults in their lives will always carry them as they grow. Whenever we pick each other up, physically or emotionally, we can pray for the strength to sway and change together.
How might God be calling you to sway in new ways, to soften your rhythms or change how you carry the ones you love?
LAURA KELLY FANUCCI
Laura Kelly Fanucci is an author, speaker and founder of Mothering Spirit, an online gathering place on parenting and spirituality.
‘School
>> Continued from page 1
is truly the heartbeat of that town’
year,” said CEF board chair RJ Gildea.
The school band added to the festivities with performances of “When the Saints Go Marching In” and the Benedictine College fight song, as students sang along.
“To be able to witness that,” Gildea said, “really brings home the impact that our donors and our donations have on these communities.”
Archbishop Naumann visited several classrooms and took time with students to play what he calls “Stump the Archbishop.”
Students asked a variety of thoughtful questions prompting the archbishop to tell his vocation story, talk about some of his favorite saints and even diplomatically reveal his favorite sports teams.
The following weekend, the grade school was recognized during the halftime of the Benedictine College football game as a part of its Community and Founders Day celebration.
“It was really special,” said Lunsford. “The monks and the Sisters founded both of their orders here so they were honored along with St. Benedict Catholic School, which the Sisters founded many years ago.
“We had our [School of Excellence] banner and Amy Meara was there to represent CEF. It was really a special day for the community to be able to recognize us, as well as CEF.”
In addition to a strong curriculum based in the Catholic faith and a commitment to community service, St. Benedict has students thriving academically.
“If you would picture a bell curve, you would expect as many kids on the right as the left,” explained Lunsford. “But you’ll see a huge amount of our kids in that upper 81 percent and above.
“So, compared to the national standard, our students are going above and beyond.”
Lunsford attributes that success to his school community.
“I’m proud of how hard the teachers work,” he said. “And let me be honest, I truly believe our parents are our students’ first teachers.
“We wouldn’t have the academic success we have without that partnership.”
Gaudeamus, CEF’s annual benefit gala, will be held on Oct. 12 at the Overland Park Convention Center. This year’s honoree is Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann. Proceeds from the celebration support scholarships for students in need. For more information, visit the website at: www.cefgala. org.
Gildea agreed.
“St. Benedict has been a CEF school for a number of years,” he said. “And it’s very moving to see the commitment from the families and the kids and the community — and to see that school is truly the heartbeat of that town.”
Lunsford expressed his gratitude for the support of CEF and its donors who provide scholarships that are critical for so many St. Benedict families.
“With CEF support we open our doors to a wider community,” he said. “We’re able to welcome families that otherwise might not be able to have their children in Catholic education.”
Most Pure Heart of Mary School in Topeka was selected as the first finalist for the School of Excellence, followed closely by the second finalist, Resurrection School in Kansas City, Kansas.
Jack and Benetta (Lambrecht) Foster, members of Holy Family Parish, Alma, recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. The couple was married May 31, 1974, at St. Joseph Church, Topeka. Their children are: Theresa, Tony and Steven. They also have six grandchildren.
Carole J. (Jenkins) and Leon A. Ladish, members of St. Joseph Parish, Shawnee, will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary on Oct. 5 with a party given by their children for family members. The couple was married on Oct. 3, 1964, at St. Benedict Church in Kansas City, Kansas. Their children are: Leslie J. (Ladish) Carroll, Delray Beach, Florida; and Scott A. Ladish, Piper. They also have six grandchildren and two great-grandsons.
Janice (Krogman) and Carl Koch, members of St. Michael Parish, Axtell, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a Mass and dinner party for family and friends on Sept. 15. The couple was married on Sept. 14, 1974, at St. Mary Church in St. Benedict. Their children are: Jason, Kevin and Kyle Koch. They also have seven grandchildren.
Gregg Amos
LEAVEN PHOTO BY JILL RAGAR ESFELD
St. Benedict kindergarten students greeted Archbishop Naumann in the hallway and asked him to join them in a team hand stack.
CNS PHOTO/LOLA GOMEZ
POPE THRIVES,
revisits main themes of his pontificate during Asia-Pacific trip
By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service
ABOARD THE PAPAL FLIGHT FROM SINGAPORE (CNS) —
The 87-year-old Pope Francis not only survived the longest trip of his pontificate, but he drew energy from the crowds who came to see him, and he seemed to enjoy his 12-day visit to Asia and the Pacific.
Unity, respect for one’s culture, interreligious dialogue, care for the poor and for the environment were the main themes of his talks in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste and Singapore Sept. 2-13.
Except for Jakarta, Indonesia, his last event in each country was a meeting with young people. And despite his age, all the meetings he already had sat through, and changing time zones with each country, Pope Francis seemed to draw the most energy from the young.
He did not follow a single prepared text for his gatherings with teens and young adults, and none of the meetings finished on time. Instead, picking up on a phrase or two of what he heard from his young hosts, he’d launch a dialogue, revving up the crowd with “I can’t hear you” when they didn’t respond loudly enough.
The 45th trip of his pontificate took him from predominantly Muslim Indonesia to predominantly Christian Papua New Guinea and from poverty-stricken Timor-Leste to super-affluent Singapore.
While poverty, development and the consolidation of democratic institutions are still challenges for Timor-Leste,
which won its independence in 2002, Pope Francis said he was impressed by how young the population was, by the people’s enthusiasm and by their faith.
In fact, an estimated 600,000 people showed up for Mass with the pope Sept. 10 in a park in Tasitolu; the country itself has a population of only 1.3 million people — 96% of whom are Catholic. Excluding Vatican City State, it was the largest percentage of a local population ever gathered for a single Mass, Archbishop Paul R. Gallagher, the Vatican foreign minister, told reporters.
With government leaders Pope Francis addressed some of the key challenges each country faces, and with churchworkers he pleaded for ministry that was close to the people, willing to share their struggles and always conveying the joy of knowing one is loved and forgiven by God.
He did not shy away from talking about the serious divide between rich and poor in Indonesia.
“Some people want to deal with this” by resorting to “a law of death, that is, limiting births, limiting the greatest wealth a nation has — new births,” he said, referring to a long-running government program promoting the use of contraceptives.
The pope elicited smiles and laughter when he told government and civic leaders Sept. 4 that in some countries, “families prefer to have a dog or a cat.”
Pope Francis visited Jakarta’s Istiqlal Mosque — the largest mosque in southeast Asia — Sept. 5, and he and Nasaruddin Umar, the grand imam, signed a
short document committing members of their religious communities to defending human dignity, especially when threatened with violence, and to defending the integrity of creation.
But recognizing the sensitive situation of Indonesia’s Catholic community, Pope Francis told churchworkers that the Christian call to share the Gospel is not about trying to win converts at all costs, but about living in a way that exudes Christian joy and always treats others
with respect.
“Proclaiming the Gospel does not mean imposing our faith or placing it in opposition to that of others, but giving and sharing the joy of encountering Christ, always with great respect and fraternal affection for everyone,” the pope told bishops, priests, religious and catechists at a meeting Sept. 4.
He made the same point, in a slightly different and less precise way Sept. 13, when he spoke extemporaneously to
Pope Francis delivers his homily during Mass at Singapore’s National Stadium Sept. 12.
Pope Francis greets a child in traditional dress during a welcome ceremony at the presidential palace
Pope Francis makes his contribution to a painting commemorating his trip to Singapore after a meeting College in Singapore Sept. 13.
young adults engaged in interreligious dialogue in Singapore — a country where many religions coexist but where a significant portion of the population follows no religion at all.
“If we always say, ‘My religion is more important than yours’ or ‘My religion is true and yours is not,’ where will that lead us?” he asked the young people.
“Every religion is a path toward God,” who is the creator and father of all, the pope said. And if there is only one God
and father, then all people are brothers and sisters.
In Papua New Guinea, where some 98% of the population is Christian, Pope Francis asked for a greater focus on “the peripheries of this country” with “people belonging to the most deprived segments of urban populations, as well as those who live in the most remote and abandoned areas, where sometimes basic necessities are lacking.”
“I think too of the marginalized and
wounded, both morally and physically, by prejudice and superstition, sometimes to the point of having to risk their lives,” the pope said. “The church desires especially to be close to these brothers and sisters, because in them Jesus is present in a special way.”
A group of missionaries — priests and Sisters — from Argentina were ministering in the jungle, and Pope Francis decided to pay them a visit.
The Australian Royal Air Force flew
him 600 miles to Vanimo near Papua New Guinea’s border with Indonesia Sept. 8 for a meeting in a field with about 20,000 people and then a short drive to the missionaries’ church and school in Baro. Father Tomás Ravaioli, one of the Argentine Incarnate Word missionaries working in Baro, told reporters, “at his age, in his condition, this is an enormous sacrifice. But it shows that what he says, what he writes, he also demonstrates” in his closeness and service to people.
CNS PHOTO/LOLA GOMEZ palace in Dili, Timor-Leste, Sept. 9.
CNS PHOTO/LOLA GOMEZ
Pope Francis offers comfort to an individual during a meeting with a group of the sick, people with disabilities and the poor, supported by various charitable organizations, at the Indonesian bishops’ conference headquarters in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Sept. 5.
CNS PHOTO/VATICAN MEDIA meeting with young people at the Catholic Junior
CNS PHOTO/LOLA GOMEZ A woman holding a child stands tall above the crowd gathered to see Pope Francis during his meeting with the faithful outside Holy Cross Cathedral in Vanimo, Papua New Guinea, Sept. 8.
‘We need to not be afraid to talk about suicide’
By Gina Christian OSV News
DETROIT (OSV News) — As National Suicide Prevention Month draws to a close, a Catholic mental health expert told OSV News that open, ongoing conversations about suicide are crucial.
“We need to not be afraid to talk about suicide,” said Capuchin Franciscan Father Fred Cabras, a licensed clinical social worker, board member of the National Catholic Partnership on Disability and board liaison for the NCPD’s Council on Mental Illness. Established in 1982, the NCPD works with dioceses, parishes, ministers and laity to promote the full inclusion of people with disabilities in the life of the church and society.
Since 2008, the U.S. has designated the month of September as a time to focus on suicide awareness and prevention, expanding upon the 2003 establishment of World Suicide Prevention Day (Sept. 10) by the World Health Organization and the International Association for Suicide Prevention.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, suicide rates have climbed steadily throughout the first quarter of the 21st century, rising among both
A suicide prevention sign is seen on the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco in 2008. Catholic ministry leaders shared with OSV News pastoral strategies for preventing suicide, as the nation observes Suicide Prevention Month in September.
sexes across almost every age and race group. Suicide ranked as the 11th leading cause of death in the U.S. in 2022, with just under 49,500 Americans dying of suicide and an estimated 1.6 million suicide attempts in the nation during that year. Some 13.2 million adults and 3.4 million adolescents ages 12 to 17 had serious thoughts of suicide in 2022, with 3.8 million adults and 1.7
million teens making suicide plans.
While the Catholic Church teaches that suicide is “gravely contrary to the just love of self” and condemns assisted suicide, the catechism also notes that “grave psychological disturbances, anguish, or grave fear of hardship, suffering, or torture can diminish the responsibility of the one committing suicide” — and according to statistics cited by the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 46% of people who die by suicide had a diagnosed mental health condition, with as many as 90% possibly experiencing symptoms of a mental health condition.
In October 2023, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops unveiled its National Catholic Mental Health Campaign, amid a global crisis in mental health and a decline in mental health resources in the U.S. With the support of the NCPD and other key organizations, the initiative seeks to raise awareness of the issue, remove the sense of stigma for those suffering from mental illness, and advocate for help for those suffering from mental illness.
Leading the initiative are Archbishop Borys A. Gudziak of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Develop-
ment; and Bishop Robert E. Barron of Winona- Rochester, Minnesota, chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth.
The church has a critical role to play in addressing mental health issues, said Father Cabras, who urged priests “not to be afraid to talk about mental health at the pulpit, and not to be afraid to talk about the interwovenness of spirituality and mental health, because they’re strongly connected.”
“Sometimes people, especially priests, are afraid to talk about it because they’re like, ‘Well, I’m not an expert, I’m not a clinician, I’m not a therapist,’” said Father Cabras. “But you are a human being, and you experience sadness and depression — maybe not to the scale of some individuals, but you can understand somebody’s pain. And to speak from that experience I think is so vital.”
Father Cabras highlighted the need for compassion and clarity in evaluating mental and spiritual distress.
“Something that I always tell to people in the confessional or in my practice is that our emotions are not sinful,” he said. “What we do with our emotions and how we respond to them is where sin can enter in.”
OSV NEWS PHOTO/GREGORY A. SHEMITZ
Prayer, thought and peaceful presence will be banned in the U.K.
By Simon Caldwell OSV News
LIVERPOOL, England (OSV News) — The English and Welsh bishops have criticized a decision by the British government to put “buffer zones” around all abortion clinics, which could see Christians arrested for offering private prayers.
This legislation, contained in the Public Order Act 2023 and which will come into force from Oct. 31, criminalizes a range of activities within 492 feet or 150 meters of an abortion facility, the Home Office announced in a Sept. 18 press release.
Such activities potentially include prayer, thought, peaceful presence, consensual communication and offers of practical support to women in vulnerable situations.
“Safe access buffer zones will make it illegal for anyone to do anything that intentionally or recklessly influences someone’s decision to use abortion services, obstructs them, or causes harassment or distress to someone using or working at these premises,” the government’s press release said.
Anyone who breaks the law could be punished with an “unlimited fine.”
Auxiliary Bishop John Sherrington of Westminster, the lead bishop for life issues, said: “This legislation constitutes discrimination and dispropor-
Adam Smith-Connor, the father and army veteran criminally charged for praying silently near an abortion facility in Bournemouth, prays outside Poole Magistrates Court with Isabel Vaughan-Spruce, who was arrested twice for praying outside an abortion facility. The English and Welsh bishops have criticized a decision by the British government to put “buffer zones” around all abortion clinics, which could see Christians arrested for offering private prayers.
tionately affects people of faith.
“Religious freedom is the foundational freedom of any free and democratic society, essential for the flourishing and realisation of dignity of every human person,” he said in a Sept. 18 statement posted on the website of the Bishops’ Conference of England and
Wales.
“Religious freedom includes the right to manifest one’s private beliefs in public through witness, prayer and charitable outreach, including outside abortion facilities,” he continued.
“As well as being unnecessary and disproportionate, we have deep
concerns around the practical effectiveness of this legislation, particularly given the lack of clarity in relation to the practice of private prayer and offers of help within ‘safe access zones.’”
The bishop said: “This would represent, in effect, a new form of discrimination and authoritarianism’.”
He added: “By legislating for and implementing so-called ‘safe access zones,’ the UK Government has taken an unnecessary and disproportionate step backwards in the protection of religious and civic freedoms in England and Wales.”
At present, buffer zones exist around a small number of abortion clinics where local authorities have introduced them.
Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips said, however, that the Labour government wished to roll out the exclusion zones nationally because it was keen to prevent women from feeling “unsafe” when they went for abortions.
She said: “We will not sit back and tolerate harassment, abuse and intimidation as people exercise their legal right to healthcare, which is why we have fast-tracked this measure to get it up and running without further delay.
“For too long abortion clinics have been without these vital protections, and this government is determined to do all we can do to make this country a safer place for women.”
OSV NEWS PHOTO/COURTESY ADF INTERNATIONAL
EMPLOYMENT
Agriculture loan officer position - Exchange Bank & Trust is seeking a full-time agriculture loan officer who will make and service loans of any type directly or indirectly related to agriculture and keeps abreast of agricultural loan trends. The primary markets served include Atchison, Leavenworth and Doniphan counties in Kansas and Buchanan and Platte counties in Missouri. We prefer a candidate with an agriculture background from northwest Missouri. The position would be located in Rushville, Missouri. Benefits include competitive compensation, generous bonus potential, health insurance 401(k) and profit sharing. Salary will be based on experience. For more information or to apply, email resume to: bhawk@ebt.bank.
Victim care advocate - The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas is seeking to hire one full-time and one parttime victim care advocate, which would be responsible for providing support and resources to victims and their families. Please visit “Employment Opportunities” on the archdiocesan website at: archkck.org for more information or to apply.
School facilities manager - Bishop Ward High School is seeking a full-time facilities manager. This position entails a 12-month work schedule. This position oversees the maintenance and operation of the Ward campus, both the high school and athletic facilities. Applicants will work with the dean of students, school resource officer, administrative team, vendors and contractors, performing routine maintenance needs, implementing emergency response plans, coordinating drills, managing facility projects and the budget, and ensuring timely completion of projects within budget constraints. Qualifications: proven experience in facilities management, preferably in an educational setting. Must have excellent communication and interpersonal abilities; knowledge of safety and environmental regulations; and familiarity with budget management and cost-control principles. Strong candidates will also embrace Ward’s organization values: educating students’ body, mind and soul in Christ, and excellence in teaching and learning. Bishop Ward is located in Kansas City, Kansas, and offers a comprehensive benefit program, including: medical, dental, vision, vacation and retirement. All employees will be required to pass a background check. Interested applicants must send a cover letter and resume with three professional references to Jay Dunlap, president, via: jdunlap@wardhigh.org.
Catholic journalist - The Leaven, the official newspaper of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, is looking for an experienced feature writer to join its small staff as it reports the news of the archdiocese both in its weekly award-winning print publication and on social media. Desired candidate must be able to work independently and as part of a team, covering events and programs around the archdiocese. This position is full time and eligible for benefits, and will average 40 hours per week, with the opportunity for a flexible work schedule. This position is hybrid with work completed in the chancery office and remotely. For details and job description, please visit: archkck.org/jobs, click on “Openings in our Archdiocese” and then click on “Catholic Journalist” to learn more about the position and to apply. The Leaven is hoping to fill this position quickly; applications will be reviewed as they are received.
Executive assistant to the archbishop - The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas is seeking to hire an executive assistant to the archbishop, which is responsible for supporting the mission of the office of the archbishop. Please visit “Employment Opportunities” on the archdiocesan website at: archkck.org for more information or to apply.
Administrative assistant - Come join our team! A small family-owned company located in Lenexa is looking for an assistant to answer phones; invoicing; product ordering; some shipping/receiving and to assist the owner. We need a team member who is organized; detail oriented; self-motivated; trustworthy; has a positive attitude and above all else, gives excellent customer service. Schedule flexibility. Send your resume to: YourCareer101@gmail.com
Music director - St. Joseph Parish in Shawnee invites applications for the position of full-time director of music. St. Joseph is a large suburban parish which boasts a renovated church featuring an Allen 3-manual organ and Steinway piano. The director of music will oversee all musical aspects of parish liturgical events, including five weekend Masses, solemnities, feasts and special occasions. Responsibilities encompass directing four choirs, supervising four paid organists and scheduling all music ministers. Candidates should demonstrate a strong Roman Catholic faith, deep knowledge of liturgy, and exceptional proficiency in keyboard playing, conducting and voice development. This role requires proactive leadership, effective communication and a passion for nurturing spiritual growth through music. Interested applicants are encouraged to send their resume to: mthomas@stjoeshawnee. org or call (913) 248-4562.
Bilingual financial empowerment specialist - Catholic Charities of N.E. Kansas is seeking a bilingual financial empowerment specialist. This position will pilot a financial program for bilingual individuals and families. This position is based in Wyandotte County and will provide culturally relevant financial education and empowerment to Latino communities within Wyandotte and Johnson counties, as well as serving the general population in Wyandotte County. The caseworker will provide wraparound strength-based case management, which includes completing assessments, developing a spending plan with families, and assisting clients in identifying and monitoring measurable and achievable goals with appropriate action steps. For more information about this position, please visit: catholiccharitiesks.org.
Full-time custodian - Nativity Parish School has an immediate opening for a full-time custodian. Applicants should have prior custodial experience, specifically in a school environment. Maintenance experience would be a plus. The position is scheduled to work Monday - Friday from 4 - 9 p.m.; some holiday work is expected. Applicants must have a compatible work history, references, dependable transportation and be willing to participate in a background check. The Church of the Nativity pays a competitive compensation commensurate with experience and qualifications. Nativity has a history of retaining its employees, who work in an environment that is vibrant, collaborative and Catholic faith-based place of worship and education. Nativity Parish School is located at 3700 W. 119th St., Leawood, Kansas. Nativity offers a comprehensive benefit program including medical, dental, vision, vacation and 401(k). Interested applicants should send resumes and work history to: mhyde@ kcnativity.org. No phones calls, please.
Bookkeeper - The bookkeeper performs clerical tasks in support of Advice & Aid Pregnancy Center’s mission. Under the direction of the operations director and the accountant, the bookkeeper is responsible for accounts payable, payroll and record-keeping. The bookkeeper makes entries in QuickBooks in support of Advice & Aid’s accounting activities. The successful candidate needs to be efficient and accurate, completing tasks in a timely manner. Proficiency in QuickBooks. Must be a committed Christian with a personal relationship with Jesus who actively participates in a local, Bible-believing church, demonstrates a consistently life-affirming philosophy, and subscribes to and supports the vision, mission, statement of faith, and policies and procedures of Advice & Aid. Please send a cover letter and resume to Ryan at: rbogard@adviceandaid.com by Sept. 30.
Part-time catechist position - Holy Trinity Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is growing! We are looking to add another part-time catechist to join our team! Hours include Mon., Tues., Thurs. afternoons serving the Holy Trinity School with additional hours up to 18 per week. Ideal candidates would be Level II-trained. Additional job description can be found on the Holy Trinity website at: htlenexa.org. Click on “About Us” and go to “Job Openings.” Send resume to Diane Jones at: djones@ htlenexa.org or call (913) 895-0662.
Safe driver needed - Driver needed to transport young adults with special needs to and from their job locations. Company-owned vehicles. The Mission Project, a not-for-profit organization, is based in Mission. See our website at: www.themissionproject.org. 10 - 20 hours per week; $14.50 per hour. Retirees encouraged to apply. All clients are able to enter and leave the vehicle without assistance. Excellent driving record, background checks and references are required. Call Alvan at (913) 269-2642.
Technician Needed ASAP - Do you like to tinker? Are you detail-oriented? Then this is the job for you! A locally owned family business is currently seeking candidates to provide preventive maintenance (cleaning) and repair service on microscopes. No previous experience necessary, on-the-job training provided. Good communication, time management and customer service skills necessary. Expenses paid, out in the field majority of time and each day is different! Some travel is required. Please contact us at: techneeded23@ gmail.com.
Administrative assistant - Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth seek an experienced professional to support our leadership team at our beautiful campus located in Leavenworth. Primary duties include taking minutes; arranging travel; creating booklets; managing calendars; and assisting with general office duties. An associate’s degree and five years’ experience in a similar position are preferred. Proficiency in Microsoft Window, Microsoft Office Suite and Adobe Acrobat Pro are required. For more details, please visit our website at: www.scls.org. To apply, please email a cover letter and resume to: recruiting@scls.org. EOE.
Workforce training and development specialist - Are you seeking an opportunity to advance your career while assisting others to advance theirs? Then consider your next career move with our great team as a Workforce training and development specialist. This position will work between our Leavenworth and Atchison locations. Please go online to: catholiccharitiesks.org/ careers for more information.
Sonographer - Wyandotte and Olathe Pregnancy Clinics are in need of a full- or part-time sonographer. In addition to performing ultrasound, this person will also help medical staff meet the needs and answer questions of clients experiencing an unexpected pregnancy. Call Kim at (913) 907-9558.
Faculty and adjunct faculty job openings - Donnelly College, Kansas City, Kansas, is a Catholic college offering higher education for those who may not otherwise be served Faculty job openings - none. Adjunct faculty job openings - adjunct instructor for nursing and clinical nursing adjunct. Adjunct faculty Lansing Correctional Campus - business adjunct, English adjunct and math adjunct. Find job descriptions and details at: www.donnelly.edu/careers.
Marketing manager - Bishop Sullivan Center in Kansas City, Missouri, is seeking a marketing manager. Inspired by Christian faith, Bishop Sullivan Center shows God’s love to people in financial hardship by providing food, help in finding jobs and other aid. This full-time permanent position will work primarily at our 6435 Truman Rd. location in Kansas City, Missouri, and will be instrumental in shaping and executing our marketing strategy. For additional information and to apply, email: scowan@omnihrm.com or (913) 653-8085.
Caregivers needed - Daughter & Company is looking for compassionate caregivers to provide assistance to seniors in their home, assisted living or in a skilled nursing facility. We provide sitter services, light housekeeping and light meal preparation, organizational assistance, care management and occasional transportation for our clients. We need caregivers with reliable transportation and a cellphone for communication. We typically employ on a part-time basis, but will strive to match up hours desired. Contact Gary or Laurie at (913) 341-2500 if you want to become part of an excellent caregiving team.
Staff job openings - Donnelly College in Kansas City, Kansas, a Catholic college offering higher education for those who may not otherwise be served, has the following staff job openings available - director of nursing, human resources generalist, director of development. Find job descriptions and details at: www.donnelly.edu/ careers.
Youth minister – Divine Mercy Parish is seeking a 9th - 12th grade youth minister. Come work in this young and energetic parish. This is a part-time position (less than 20 hours per week). To inquire, contact: parish@ divinemercyks.org or call (913) 856-7781.
Now hiring - drivers and aides - Assisted Transportation is hiring safe drivers and aides to transport students in Johnson and Wyandotte counties, in company vans. Drivers earn $16 - $20 per hour. Aides earn $15.50 per hour. Part-time and full-time schedules available. CDL not required. Retirees are encouraged to apply. Make a difference in your community by helping those in need! Call (913) 521-4955 or visit www.assistedtransportation. com for more information. EEO.
Business manager - St. Ann Parish in Prairie Village is seeking a full-time business manager to oversee all financial, operational and human resources for the parish. The position will have responsibilities for budgeting, financial reporting and cash flow management, as well as managing the facility administration, HR and IT functions. The individual will work closely with the pastor, school principal and young child care director on financial, human resource and other administrative matters, and positively interact with volunteers and parishioners to support the parish mission. The successful candidate will have a business-related or human resource degree with a working knowledge of accounting principles and practices. The ideal candidate will also be a proactive, team-oriented leader and possess strong communication and interpersonal skills. The individual should have at least five years of demonstrated supervisory experience and be a practicing Catholic. A complete job description can be found at: www. stannpv.org/jobs. Interested candidates should email a cover letter and resume to Father Mitchel Zimmerman at: frmitchel@stannpv.org.
SERVICES
Garage door repair expert
New Garage Doors Garage Floor Coatings
A Total Door Inc., Since ’83. Leaven discount joe@atotaldoor.com; (913) 236-6440.
Rios Drywall - I offer services of framing, sheetrock/ drywall finish, knockdown textures, popcorn ceiling, flat, smooth, skim, sand, paint, patches and demolition. Send a text message to (432) 307-4667 or find me on Facebook at Rios Drywall. Free estimates.
EL SOL Y LA TIERRA
*COMMERCIAL & RESIDENTIAL *LAWN RENOVATION *MOWING *CLEANUP AND HAULING *DIRT GRADING/INSTALLATION *LANDSCAPE DESIGN* FREE ESTIMATES HABLAMOS Y ESCRIBIMOS INGLES!! CALL LUPE AT (816) 252-1391
MIKE HAMMER MOVING - A full-service mover. Local and long-distance moving. Packing, pianos, rental truck load/unload, storage container load/unload. In-home moving and office moves. No job too small. Serving the KC metro since 1987. St. Joseph Parish, Shawnee, parishioner. Call the office at (913) 927-4347 or email: mike@mikehammermoving.com.
AKC Pros roofing, siding, gutters, insulation - Did you get tired of the door-knocking and constant calls from different roofing companies after the storms this year? Now that the dust has settled, let’s talk. If it’s new damage or old damage, just give me a call. I’ll walk your roof and we will decide together whether to file a claim. Locally owned and operated, licensed and insured. Call Josh at (913) 709-7230.
Free estimates - We are offering free estimates to all those thinking about painting this year. At Stone Painting, we put the customer first. We provide interior, exterior house painting along with deck staining, fence painting, etc. Stone Painting ensures a professional, clean and fair-priced job. Call today for your free estimate. (913) 963-6465.
Masonry work - Quality new or repair work. Brick, block and chimney/fireplace repair. Insured; secondgeneration bricklayer. Member of St. Paul Parish, Olathe. Call (913) 271-0362.
Concrete construction - Tear out and replace stamped, stained or colored patios and drives. Retaining walls, footing, poured-in-place safe rooms, excavation and hauling. Asphalt drives and lots. Fully insured; references. Call Dan at (913) 207-4371, or email: dandeeconst@ aol.com.
Custom countertops - Laminates installed within 5 days. Cambria, granite and solid surface. Competitive prices, dependable work. Call the Top Shop, Inc., at (913) 962-5058. Members of St. Joseph, Shawnee.
Memory quilts - Preserve your memories in a keepsake quality quilt, pillows, etc. Custom designed from your T-shirt collection, baby clothes, sports memorabilia, neckties . . . Quilted Memories. (913) 649-2704.
FOR SALE
For sale - Two plots at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Lansing. Located in section 15, row 5, lot 14x, spaces 3 and 4. Traditional ground space. The original price is $2595 for each plot ($2257 plus $338 for perpetual care), asking $2200 each. Contact Ralph at (913) 306-4024 or email: grassman177@gmail.com.
For sale - Two plots at Resurrection Cemetery in Lenexa. Located in the Communion of the Saints area, lot 33, section B, spaces 2 and 3. Valued at $5990 for both, asking $5,500. I will pay the $250 conveyance fee. Call (913) 230-7872 or (703) 477-4000.
Residential lifts - New and recycled. Stair lifts, porch lifts, ceiling lifts and elevators. St. Michael’s parishioners. KC Lift & Elevator at (913) 327-5557. (Formerly Silver Cross - KC).
HOME IMPROVEMENT
STA (Sure Thing Always) Home Repair - Basement finish, bathrooms and kitchens; interior & exterior repairs: painting, roofing, siding, wood replacement and window glazing. Free estimates. Call (913) 579-1835. Email: smokeycabin@hotmail.com. Member of Holy Trinity, Lenexa.
Father and Son Home Remodeling - We specialize in kitchen/bathroom and basement remodeling, from start to finish. We also do decks, covered decks, porches, sunrooms and room additions! If you’re not sure we do it, just call. From my family to yours, thank you for supporting my small business. To contact me, call (913) 709-7230 and ask for Josh.
Haus To Home Remodeling - Let’s give that room a nice facelift! Specializing in affordable room remodeling. From small projects to bathrooms and basements. Tile, paint, carpentry, wood rot, decks, drywall, etc. Free estimates. Call Cole at (913) 544-7352.
Local handyman - Painting, int. and ext., wood rot, mason repair, gutter cleaning (gutter covers), dryer vent cleaning, sump pump (replace, add new), windows, doors (interior and exterior), honey-do list, window cleaning and more! Member of Holy Angels Parish, Basehor. Call Billy at (913) 927-4118.
REAL ESTATE
We are local people who can buy your house - Big companies from all over the nation come here buying houses, but that’s not us. We are parishioners of Holy Trinity Parish and we enjoy giving you personalized service. We can offer you a fair price and are flexible to your needs. If I can help, call me, Mark Edmondson, at (913) 980-4905.
We buy houses and whole estates - We are local and family-owned, and will make you a fair cash offer. We buy houses in any condition. No fees or commissions and can close on the date of your choice. Selling your house has never felt so good. Jon & Stacy Bichelmeyer, (913) 599-5000.
CAREGIVING
Family member with dementia or need help at home? - We specialize in helping seniors live SAFELY at home, where they want to live! We also offer free dementia training and resources for families and caregivers. Benefits of Home - Senior Care, www. Benefitsofhome.com or call (913) 422-1591.
Caregiving - We provide personal assistance, companionship, care management and transportation for seniors in their home, assisted living or nursing facilities. We also provide respite care for main caregivers needing some personal time. Call Daughters & Company at (913) 341-2500 and speak with Laurie, Pat or Gary.
WANTED TO BUY
Will buy firearms and related accessories - One or a whole collection. Honest evaluation and top prices paid. Contact Tom at (913) 238-2473. Member of Sacred Heart Parish, Shawnee.
Wanted to buy
Do you have a car or truck that you need to get rid of? If you do, CALL ME!
I’m a cash buyer. We’re Holy Trinity parishioners. My name is Mark. (913) 980-4905.
Wanted to buy - Antiques & Collectibles: jewelry, military items, railroad, sterling, OLD holiday/toys and more. Renee Maderak (913) 475-7393. St. Joseph Parish, Shawnee.
Wanted to buy - Vintage baseball cards and collections. Holy Trinity parishioner. Call Matt at (913) 5224938.
ANNUAL SLOVENEFEST
Holy Family Parish
274 Orchard St., Kansas City, Kansas Sept. 28 at 4 p.m.
Slovenefest will begin with a Mass at 4 p.m. The festivities will run from 5 - 9 p.m. There will be games for the children, face painting, tattoos and jewelry. Spin the wheel for a chance to win an apple strudel, povitica, or sausage. There will be a cultural booth, souvenirs, a silent auction and options to win a mini- and mega-money raffle. The parish Altar Society is offering a chance to win a 15-quart Kitchen Aid mixer, fire pit and Chiefs tailgating party. For more information, contact the church office at (913) 413-0022; send an email to: holyfamilychurch1025@gmail.com; visit the website at: www.holyfamilychurch kck.org; or find us on Facebook.
DANIEL OBERREUTER PARISH MISSION CONCERT (‘COME HOLD MY SON’)
Valley Heights Schools Gym
2274 6th St., Blue Rapids
Sept. 29 at 7 p.m.
St. Monica/St. Elizabeth, Annunciation and St. Columbkille parishes will host a concert by Catholic singer Daniel Oberreuter. The concert will take listeners on a journey through the mysteries of the rosary. The singer reveals his soul through stories and images that challenge and push each listener to greater conversion of heart. He emphasizes the need for monthly confession and spending time with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. The cost is a freewill offering. For more information, go online to: www.comeholdmyson.com.
‘JESUS: THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE’
Precious Blood Renewal Center
2120 St. Gaspar Way, Liberty, Missouri Oct. 1 - Dec. 3 from 6:30 - 8 p.m.
“Jesus: the Way, the Truth and the Life” is a 10-week Scripture study program using texts and videos to explore Jesus’ life by examining all four Gospels at once. What emerges is a composite sketch of who Jesus is, what he taught and how he wants us to live. To register, go online to: pbrenewalcenter.org/events.
TEACHING TUESDAYS WITH FATHER BILL BRUNING/THE mass Queen of the Holy Rosary (Fiat Center) 7023 W. 71st St., Overland Park (Available on Zoom - registration required) Oct. 1 at 6:30 p.m.
“The Little Way of Love” looks at the
beautiful life of St. Thérèse the Little Flower, Mother Teresa and St. Francis of Assisi. St. Thérèse of Lisieux inspired Mother Teresa in her beautiful life and care of the poor. We will look at practical ways in becoming saints. For more information and to register, go online to: queenoftheholyrosary. org/teaching-tuesdays.
WILLS AND TRUSTS WORKSHOP
CREATING YOUR LEGACY
St. Joseph Parish (McDevitt Hall) 11311 Johnson Dr., Shawnee
Oct. 2 from 6 - 7 p.m.
Join us for this workshop on wills and trusts. The speaker will be Casey Connealy, estate attorney at Gaughn & Connealy. Register online at: cfnek.org/events or contact Mitch Nolan at (913) 647-3070 or by email at: mnolan@arckck.org.
51ST ANNUAL MEXICAN SUPPER
Sacred Heart School
102 Cottonwood St., Emporia
Oct. 4 from 4:30 - 7 p.m.
Bring the family. Enjoy two tacos, rice, chips, salsa and dessert. Advanced donation is $12; donations at the door are $14. Dine-in, carryout, drive-thru are all available. For tickets, call Sacred Heart School at (620) 343-7394.
GERMANFEST
St. Joseph-Immaculate Conception Parish 711 N. Broadway, Leavenworth Oct. 5, Mass at 4 p.m.
Dinner from 5 - 7:30 p.m. (gym)
Germanfest begins with a German Mass at 4 p.m. Dinner will consist of sauerbraten, German potato salad, red cabbage, sauerkraut, brats and a dessert. Drinks are included. The cost for dinner tickets is: $14 for adults and $5 for kids (hot dog, chips and dessert). Music will be provided by the Festhaus-Musikanten German Band. There will also be a raffle. Tickets can be purchased after Masses or that night in the gym. First prize is a quilt (in German colors). There will also be cash prizes and a basket of German food. The youth group is making cotton candy, doing face painting and balloon creations. Questions? Call Sharon Winkelbauer at (913) 7729465.
does your faith inform your vote?
Precious Blood Renewal Center
2120 St. Gaspar Way, Liberty, Missouri Oct. 5 from 9 - 11 a.m.
Father Mark Miller, CPPS, examines
the most pressing issues of the upcoming election through the lens of Catholic social teaching. The workshop focuses on issues, not political parties or candidates. Register online at: www.pbrenewalcenter. org/events.
DIVINE MERCY FALL FESTIVAL
Divine Mercy Parish
555 W. Main St., Gardner Oct. 6 from 11:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Join us for food, crafts, inflatables, games, balloon artists, pumpkin decorating, cakewalk, face painting, silent auction, raffles, bingo, free popcorn, brats and hot dogs. There’s fun for the entire family. Fried chicken dinner is: $15 (presale) or $18 at the door for adults; $10 (presale) or $12 at the door for kids ages 10 and under; meals for families with two parents and three or more children are $60 (presale) or $70 at the door. A wristband ($10) includes bounce house, kids games and pumpkin decorating. Also available for preorder are tamales, bierocks, mums and cinnamon rolls. There will be a raffle for a side of beef, two quarter sides of beef and a 36-inch Blackstone grill. For more information and to purchase tickets, see our website at: divinemercyks.org.
FALL BAZAAR
St. Theresa Parish (hall)
209 Third St., Perry Oct. 6 from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
There will be a turkey and ham dinner plus homemade pie available from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Carryout meals will be available. The cost of the meal is: $15 for adults and $5 for kids age 10 and under. Outdoor activities are open until 3 p.m. and include games for kids, silent auction, bingo, cakewalk, country store, baked goods and more. Fun for all ages.
STRAWBERRY HILL GOLF TOURNEY
Sunflower Hills Golf Course
12200 Riverview Ave., Bonner Springs Oct. 7 at 1 p.m.
Strawberry Hill Altar Societies Golf Tourney will be a four-person scramble with 1 p.m. shotgun start. The cost is $100 and includes golf, cart, dinner, snacks and beverages. Contact Carol Shomin by phone at (913) 897-4833 or send an email to: shomin@everestkc.net.
‘Sacred Echoes: Exploring Ireland’s Spiritual Heritage’ Keeler Women’s Center 759 Vermont Ave., Suite 100-B, Kansas City, Kansas
Oct. 8 from 1:30 - 3 p.m.
The program will be: “Carved in Stone: Artistry and Meaning in Irish High Crosses.”
WOMEN’S RETREAT
Sacred Heart Parish (hall) 104 Exchange St., Emporia Oct. 12 from 8:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.
A freewill donation brunch will be provided. Kelsey Skoch from the archdiocese will direct the retreat. RSVP by email to: brydavidspaf@att.net or call the parish office at (620) 342-1061 by Oct. 5.
FRIED CHICKEN DINNER AND BINGO
St. Patrick Parish (center) 1066 N. 94th St., Kansas City, Kansas
Oct. 12 at 6 p.m.
There will be fried chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans, roll, salad, drinks and dessert. The cost is: $12 for adults; $7 for children; and $35 for a family meal. Ten games of bingo cost $12. Cash, check, credit/debit card with chip are accepted. For more information, call Fritz Vertz at (913) 515-0621. Everyone is welcome.
Breakfast with the Knights
Divine Mercy Parish 555 W. Main St., Gardner Oct. 13 from 8:30 -10 a.m.
Breakfast will include eggs, sausage
and gravy, pancakes and drinks. The cost is $6 for those over the age of 13; free for ages 12 and under. Proceeds are used for charitable works such as scholarships and other giving throughout the year.
fall Bazaar and dinner
St. Aloysius Parish
615 E. Wyandotte, Meriden Oct. 13 from 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
There will be a ham and turkey dinner with all the fixings and dessert. The cost is $14 for adults and $8 for kids ages 5 - 12. To-go meals will be available. There will also be children’s games, prize drawings, a country store, silent auction, beer garden, silent auction baskets and a money drawing.
St. Bede’s annual soup supper and auction
St. Bede Parish (hall) 7344 Drought St., Kelly Oct. 13 from 4 - 8 p.m.
There will be homemade chili, chicken noodle soup, vegetable beef soup, ham sandwiches, hot dogs, pie and desserts from 4 - 7 p.m. The cost is a freewill donation. There will also be games for all ages from 5 - 8 p.m. in the parish hall followed by an auction of handmade quilts and many other items at 8 p.m.
WORKSHOP: TAX REDUCING STRATEGIES FOR PRE- AND POST-RETIREES
Sacred Heart Parish 102 Exchange St., Emporia Oct. 17 - 12 p.m. free luncheon 12:30 - 1:30 p.m. presentation
The speaker will be Bill Eckert, AEP, CAP, senior financial adviser at Renaissance Financial. There will be a lunch and a presentation. Register online at: cfnek.org/ events or contact Mitch Nolan at (913) 6473070 or by email at: mnolan@archkck.org.
RETROUVAILLE OF KANSAS CITY
Location given after registration Oct. 25 -27
“A Retrouvaille Weekend Retreat was exactly what we needed to get our marriage back on track. We learned to communicate in ways that were deeper that we ever had shared before. We knew we had a lot of work to do. But we knew our marriage was worth it.” Register now online at: helpourmarriage.org.
DIVORCE
SUPPORT GROUP
‘HEALING THE DIVORCED HEART’ St. Michael the Archangel (Gabriel Room) 14251 Nall Ave., Leawood 1st & 3rd Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m.
We who have experienced divorce understand, as perhaps few others can. We too were sad, lonely, scared and angry, but we have found that with God, time and the support of others, healing is possible. For more information, visit the website at: www. stmichaelcp.org/divorce-support.
‘behold, an angel of the lord’ Christ’s Peace House of Prayer 22131 Meagher Rd., Easton Oct. 18 - 20
The retreat will begin at 5:30 p.m. on Oct. 18 and end at 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 20. When God through the incarnation became man in Jesus Christ, the relationship between humans and angels changed. Angels still have the superior nature, but we have been given the grace of a more intimate friendship with God, a sharing in God’s divinity, through grace, that the angels don’t enjoy. There will be conferences, spiritual direction, eucharistic adoration, Mass, confession, and time for private prayer, reflection and walking. Cabins/courtyard rooms: $180 single/$270 couple, or single guest rooms: $110 (meals included). To attend, fill out the individual retreat form online at: ChristsPeace.com or call (913) 773-8255.
DAILY READINGS
TWENTY-SIXTH WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME
Sept. 29
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. 30
Jerome, priest and doctor of the church
Jb 1: 6-22
Ps 17: 1-3, 6-7
Lk 9: 46-50
Oct. 1
Thérèse of the Child Jesus, virgin, doctor of the church
Jb 3: 1-3, 11-17, 20-23
Ps 88: 2-8
Lk 9: 51-56
Oct. 2
The Holy Guardian Angels
Jb 9: 1-12, 14-16
Ps 88: 10b-15
Mt 18: 1-5, 10
Oct. 3
Thursday
Jb 19: 21-27
Ps 27: 7-9, 13-14
Lk 10: 1-12
Oct. 4
Francis of Assisi
Jb 38: 1, 12-21; 40: 3-5
Ps 139: 1-3, 7-10, 13-14
Lk 10: 13-16
Oct. 5
Faustina Kowalska, virgin; Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos, priest
Jb 42: 1-3, 5-6, 12-17
Ps 119: 66, 71, 75, 91, 125, 130
Lk 10: 17-24
FRANCIS
OF ASSISI
1182-1226
The son of a wealthy Italian merchant, Francis was a playboy who experienced a profound conversion after going to war for Assisi, being imprisoned and enduring a debilitating illness. He renounced his family and riches, and lived a life of radical poverty and service because he believed Christ had asked him to. He founded the new mendicant Order of Friars Minor, or Franciscans, and helped found the Poor Clares and Franciscan Third Order. Pope Pius XII said Francis could be called “a second Christ,” and in 2013, Argentine Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio took this medieval saint’s name when he was elected pope. Francis is the patron of animals, environmentalists, merchants and Catholic Action, and also a patron of Italy.
Incredibly, at least for me, we’re now in the season of autumn and have entered the last quarter of 2024. These next few months are not only filled with many celebrations but can be a hectic and stressful time as well.
Perhaps this following story can be a great reminder of how we’re called to finish out the year:
A college professor gave a balloon to every student in his class to write their name on. Then, he asked them to throw their balloons in the hallway. The students were given five minutes to find their own balloon. Not one of them was able to do so.
The professor then told the students to take the first balloon they found and hand it to the person whose name was written on it. Within five minutes, everyone had their own balloon.
Finally, the professor said to the students, “These balloons
FATHER MARK GOLDASICH
Father Mark is the pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Tonganoxie. He has been editor of The Leaven since 1989.
are like happiness. We’ll never find it if everyone is looking for their own. But if we care about other people’s happiness, we’ll find ours as well!”
(Found in the Jan. 1 entry in “The Christophers Three Minutes a Day,” vol. 58.) What a great life lesson. When we care about the happiness of others first and foremost, our hearts are happy as well. It
MARK MY WORDS
reminds us of Jesus saying that his followers are called “not to be served, but to serve.”
Our modern world can be a very selfish place. Many people spend their days only being concerned about “what’s best for me.” Pope Francis warns that this attitude can lead to a hardness of heart, an indifference to others, particularly the poor.
I truly believe that the Christian faith is easy to understand but difficult to live out. Loving one’s enemies, turning the other cheek and denying ourselves are things that most of us would rather not think about,
let alone practice. But what a different world this would be if we took those commands of Jesus seriously.
Let’s commit ourselves, especially as Catholics, to make the rest of this year a time to bring joy to others. In our hearts, we know how to do this. It can be as simple as paying a compliment to someone; volunteering our time to our parish or a charitable organization; donating some money or our excess possessions to those who minister to the poor; writing a heartfelt thank-you note; or making time for coffee or a meal with a neglected friend.
The website Brain Injury Services suggests a couple of unusual ones like being willing to do the “dirty work” like cleaning up after an event or being kind online (especially in this election year). It’s also great to remember our manners, like saying “please” and “thank you”; holding the door open for
someone; returning shopping carts to the corral; or picking up litter.
One of the easiest, though, is to smile. Consider some of its benefits:
“A smile costs nothing but gives much. It enriches those who receive without making poorer those who give. It takes but a moment but the memory of it sometimes lasts forever. . . . It brings rest to the weary, cheer to the discouraged, sunshine to the sad, and it is nature’s best antidote for trouble. . . . Some people are too tired to give you a smile. Give them one of yours, as none needs a smile so much as the one who has no more to give.” (Found in “Illustrations Unlimited,” edited by James S. Hewett.)
I’ll leave you with one last thought (from the book above) that I hope will make you smile: “You should do something every day to make other people happy . . . even if it’s only to leave them alone!”
Gospel offers powerful and provocative lesson for our own times
In our divided and divisive times, this Sunday’s Gospel should give all of us pause. It poses some hard questions about how we judge others — and asks us to look more closely at how we judge — or fail to judge — ourselves.
Should we be mistrustful or suspicious toward people who aren’t like us? Should we be defensive and territorial? Doesn’t the good work of God carry a copyright? Maybe not.
After John described how Jesus’ apostles tried to prevent someone from driving out demons in Christ’s name — because, as he put it, “he does not follow us” — Jesus disagreed. He proposed another approach.
“Do not prevent
DEACON GREG KANDRA
Deacon Greg Kandra is an award-winning author and journalist, and creator of the blog “The Deacon’s Bench.” He serves in the Diocese of Brooklyn, New York.
him,” he replied.
“There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name who can at the same time speak ill of me. For
whoever is not against us is for us.”
With that, Christ not only turned down the temperature in what was undoubtedly a heated exchange among competing exorcists, but also offered an invaluable lesson in tolerance and understanding: “Whoever is not against us is for us.” In effect, he was saying: Anyone seeking to do good in the name of Jesus should not be prevented or interrupted. Who knows how God might work?
The Catechism of the Catholic Church offers this insight: “Created in God’s image and called to know and love him, the person who seeks God discovers certain ways of coming to know him,” which can include both the
physical world and other people (CCC, 31).
More pointedly, Jesus in this episode went on to suggest that the difficulty isn’t necessarily other people. In fact, he said, we should look more closely in the mirror. Maybe the real problem is closer than you realize.
Consider what might be causing you to sin. Is your hand a problem? Cut if off. Your foot? Cut it off. Your eye? Pluck it out. Again and again, Jesus challenged his followers not to spend so much time concerned with the missteps of others, but to look more closely at their own weaknesses, faults, limitations, sins.
You think other people are the issue?
Think again.
There are powerful and provocative lessons here for our own time, when so much of our culture (especially, these days, our politics) is reduced to tribal factions, disputes and squabbling sides. So many of us are often quick to label others, to be simplistic or paint people in broad strokes. We believe half-truths and misinformation, or only listen to those who tell us what we want to hear.
But one of the important lessons of this Gospel is that seeking to pigeonhole the other can lead us to pay less attention to ourselves and our own shortcomings. That has to stop. We need to begin by working on our own conversion.
Be pilgrims, not tourists in life, pope tells young people
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — To fully experience love and hope, young people must approach the journey of life as pilgrims and not just sightseers seeking the perfect selfie, Pope Francis said.
“Do not be like superficial sightseers, blind to
the beauty around you, never discovering the meaning of the roads you take, interested only in a few fleeting moments to capture in a selfie. Tourists do this,” the pope said in a message to young people ahead of the local celebrations of World Youth Day Nov. 24.
“Pilgrims, on the other hand, immerse themselves fully in the places they encounter, listen to the message they communicate and make them a part of their quest for happiness and fulfillment,” the pope wrote in the message released by the Vatican Sept. 17.
Volunteers make Catholic Community Health’s mission possible
“For I was sick and you cared for me.” (Mt 25:36)
Christ encapsulates the Catholic Community Health mission perfectly when he proclaims that what we do for the most vulnerable in our society, we are doing for him. That’s how we see our patients and residents: They embody Christ before us, giving us the opportunity to serve him by providing care for those who need it most, regardless of their ability to pay.
Of course, running an operation of this kind requires a great deal of generosity
HEALTHCARE, THE CATHOLIC WAY!
and witnessing the ways volunteers give their time to improve the lives of seniors at Villa St. Francis and to pray alongside those in their final days in hospice was, and remains, incredibly inspiring.
from others, and our volunteers are at the heart of this, giving their time to care for those in need.
Prior to becoming CEO, I was asked to
serve on the CCH
board of directors — I thought this would be a great opportunity to give back to an industry that’s given me so much over the course of my life.
I quickly discovered that I wasn’t alone. CCH relies on its volunteers to make our mission possible,
Our staff is intensely dedicated to caring for our patients and residents — their dedication has recently earned all of our services a CMS five-star rating — and our volunteers are an integral part of this overall experience of quality service.
Our daily Mass at Villa St. Francis requires a priest to happen, but it’s our volunteers who give their time to make it
logistically possible: bringing the residents to the chapel, seeing to their needs and enabling them to spend a few minutes with the Lord in the Mass. They’re around to help with meals, activities and so much more, bringing liveliness and color to our residents’ quality of life at Villa St. Francis.
Our hospice volunteers, similarly, offer a great deal to those in our care, often sitting and praying with patients in their final hours.
But that’s not all they do — our hospice volunteers also provide assistance to families during their time of bereavement,
and provide our staff with much needed support, which also helps to continue providing the five-star care that we’re blessed to offer. Ours is the only Catholic hospice service in Kansas City, and we want to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to encounter Christ, right up to the moment they’ll meet him in eternity.
Volunteers are a critical part of our mission, and we’re always looking for more generous men and women to join us in our mission. If you’d like to join us, learn more on the website at: catholiccommunity health.org/volunteer.
Christ calls us to love our spouses the way he loves his church
TFAMILY MATTERS
hroughout history, marriage has been a building block of society. For upper classes, it was a way of creating alliances and producing heirs. For the lower classes, it was a matter of survival, as couples would work together to keep the farm or business going. Marriage is still good for society. In his recent book, “Get Married,” sociologist Brad Wilcox reports that both men and women who get and stay married experience greater wealth and happier lives than their unmarried peers. He also cites evidence that the presence of married parents is a statistically significant benefit to children and communities. Natural marriage is good, but the sacrament of matrimony is something distinct. A
FLibby DuPont is a consultant for the
of
sacramentally married couple becomes an image of Christ’s love for the church. They become one before God, and Jesus the bridegroom enters into a deep intimacy with them. This is not just fancy religious language. If we embrace it, it’s a total game changer!
What God-given gifts
all is my favorite season. While people often think about spring as the season for rebirth, fall for me is the season of new schedules, fresh starts, and for many parishes, it is “stewardship season.”
Throughout my first four months here in Kansas City, many people have asked if my office is the “Call to Share” office. Or what I work on when it is not “Call to Share season.”
will
Pathway to holiness. Even faithful Catholics can see marriage as a living situation, as if it were just the church’s way of repopulating itself. Within this model, it can be easy to seek holiness as two separate individuals, even sometimes considering the romantic love that is proper to marriage as an impediment to the more “serious” pursuits of life. But since Christ is present in matrimony, one way to grow closer to him is by pursuing deeper intimacy with our spouse. Mission mindset. Like all sacraments, matrimony is not a private affair. It’s intended
to bless the whole church with a living witness of Christ’s passionate love. The dignity of our vocation calls us to reconcile quickly and thoroughly, lavish affection and share our hearts and souls. Why? Because that is how Jesus loves the church! We need to love one another with authentic joy, something Christ is eager to give us the grace to do.
Reverence. Matrimony seems so ordinary that it is easy to take for granted, or even disrespect. Can you imagine a group of priests jokingly calling the Eucharist “snack time”? We would be horrified! Yet it’s not uncommon
for Catholic couples to commiserate about the “ball and chain” or the importance of just saying, “Yes, dear.” Preparation and support. Since matrimony is a sacrament, and the call to holiness for the majority of the faithful, the church should be intentional in the ways it invests in it. While this certainly includes considerations on the diocesan and parish level, we need to remember that we are all members of Christ’s body, so we all have a stake in marriage, whether married or not.
How might Jesus be inviting you to support the great sacrament of matrimony?
you use to help build his kingdom?
LISA
Lisa McKelvey is the executive director of the archdiocesan office of stewardship and development. You can email her at: lmckelvey@archkck.org.
I chuckle because it is always “Call to Share season,” but there is so much more! Our team works endlessly to support parishes, schools, and ministries year-round. While yes, the
Archbishop’s Call to Share is a large part of what the stewardship and development office manages each year, we are a resource for donors, parishes and schools.
Building a culture of stewardship across the archdiocese is about
sharing what it means to be an active member of our parish, how we can partner with our fellow parishioners to use our time and God-given talents to improve our Catholic community.
I challenge those of you who receive a parish stewardship renewal form to prayerfully consider how you respond to this request. While a stewardship renewal form is a place to share your gifts, which are needed to keep our ministries flourishing, it is also an opportunity to become part of the active life of the church. Your time,
talent and treasure are all gifts from God that we can use to build his kingdom.
For those of you who would like to learn more about the Archbishop’s Call to Share and the impact you are having across the archdiocesan ministries and programs, I invite you to visit the website at: www.arch kck.org/call-to-share.
Something I am enjoying is sending regular emails highlighting the happenings of the archdiocese and the impact that comes from your time, talent and treasure. If you are not receiving my emails, I invite you
to send me an email at: LMcKelvey@archkck. org, and I will be sure to add you to the list. Also if you are willing to share, I’d appreciate it if you would share with me how I can be of service to you. I truly mean it when I say our office is a resource for you. Our mission statement is to “joyfully serve Archbishop Naumann, pastors, parishes, ministries, parishioners and each other with a spirit of hospitality, prayer, formation and service.” Please let me know how we can be of service to you!
BRAD HEIDRICK
Brad Heidrick is the CEO of Catholic Community Health.
LIBBY DUPONT
archdiocesan office
marriage and family life.
MCKELVEY
SAY IT AIN’T SO, JOE
Icon of Catholic journalism retires
By Jill Ragar Esfeld jill.esfeld@theleaven.org
“I’m just going to goof off for a bit, and I’m not going to think,” said senior reporter for The Leaven newspaper, Joe Bollig. “I’m going to mow the lawn; I’m going to take naps; I’m going to talk to the squirrels.
“There are a million different projects around my house that I need to do, and I have a stack of books as high as the house I’d like to read.”
And so Bollig, an award-winning journalist whose expertise in all things Catholic has benefited The Leaven almost as much as his reporting skills, is hanging up his keyboard for the last time.
As of Sept. 13, more than 30 years after he first started with the paper, Bollig has officially retired.
“Joe is a reporter’s reporter,” said managing editor Anita McSorley. “He won us lots of awards. But it’s also true that he is a very funny guy.
“He was the cut-up of our Leaven family for many, many years.”
And within that family, Bollig was known as the great explainer.
“He gave shape and substance to many a program that started out as just words,” McSorley said. “Priests and ministers talk to each other in a language not always easily understood by us mere mortals.
“It was Joe who served as our translator. He will be sorely missed.”
In 1993, Bollig heard about a job opening at The Leaven — ironically through a Jewish woman who was friends with his brother.
“She saw a notice for The Leaven,” he recalled. “So this nice Jewish lady tipped off my brother and my brother tipped me off, and I applied.
“My gratitude will forever be to the Chosen People for steering me to the Catholic newspaper.”
But The Leaven is a nonprofit newspaper with a tight budget, and Bollig was a seasoned reporter with a background in broadcast and newspaper journalism, as well as a
MAKE
THEM LAUGH, CRY, ANGRY, OUTRAGED; MAKE THEM CURIOUS – BUT DON’T BORE THEM.
JOE BOLLIG ON HIS PHILOSOPHY OF WRITING
master’s degree from the University of Kansas.
“They didn’t want to hire me because I was overqualified,” he said. “And I thought, ‘I really want this job.’
“So, I told them something really corny.”
The Leaven editor Father Mark Goldasich recalls that corny line as one of his favorite memories of Bollig.
“Joe was clearly an experienced journalist, and knowledgeable about the faith,” he said. “But it was when he told us that by hiring him, we’d be getting a Cadillac at a Chevy’s price that I knew we had our man.
“Ever since that time, Joe has put that way with words to use
on behalf of The Leaven — the wider church, in fact. And we couldn’t be more grateful.”
Bollig may have called himself a Cadillac, but he’s never really seen himself that way.
“I’m a simple guy,” he said. “There are times when I’ve broken down complicated things like embryonic stem-cell research. But I consider myself a plain, vanilla, off-the-shelf average reporter.”
Perhaps his most essential quality to the tiny staff was the fact that he was a bit of an iron man.
“Joe could be counted on no matter what,” said production manager Todd Habiger. “After he had a heart attack, he was back at work within a couple of weeks churning out stories.”
Habiger also remembers Bollig’s commitment after an eye surgery to repair a torn retina.
The surgery happened suddenly while Bollig was working on an important story and Habiger went to his house to help.
“Joe has terrible handwriting,” he recalled. “So, he was peering through the bandages wrapped around his eyes trying to decipher his handwriting for me as we attempted
to finish this article on time.”
Bollig grew up in St. Joseph Parish in Hays under the guidance of the Capuchin-Franciscan friars.
“I was an altar boy and I was really into it,” he recalled.
“To me, the church has been a portal to beauty and transcendence and deep thinking.
“Here you are growing up in western Kansas and ‘Smokey and the Bandits’ is playing at the local theater. And then, you go to Mass and you learn about really profound truths of life and eternity.
“I admired the Capuchin Franciscans so much.”
That deep love for the church was central to Bollig’s reporting style.
“He’s read so much about church history,” said Habiger. “This job was like a ministry to Joe and he was absolutely brilliant at it.”
Bollig’s deep faith combined with his sociable personality made him an effective interviewer and an expert storyteller.
“I’ll always remember my first day at The Leaven,” said fellow reporter Moira Cullings, who now succeeds Joe as senior reporter. “I tagged along with Joe as he covered an
archdiocesan convocation.
“As seriously as he took his reporting, he was equally as enthusiastic about the taco bar that was provided for lunch.
“I knew there would never be a dull moment working with Joe.”
The key to Bollig’s talented writing was his motto to always “look for the human being; make every story about people.”
To Bollig, the most important story in The Leaven newspaper was not necessarily on the front page.
“The most important story in the paper is completely subjective,” he said. “It could be the last tiny story buried inside because that’s the story that’s about your parish or it’s a story a grandma sees that mentions her grandson at a Catholic school.”
In addition to finding the human element in a story, Bollig was a consummate master at keeping the reader’s interest.
“You have to make readers want to start the story and finish the story,” he said. “You can’t force people to read. You have to entice them.
“Make them laugh, cry, angry, outraged; make them curious — but don’t bore them.”
What’s next for Bollig after taking it easy and putting a dent in his list of home projects?
What many people may not know is Bollig has won awards and been published as a short-story fiction writer.
“I’ll probably do fun creative writing,” he said. “I’ve already started a hobby of writing fiction. I entered a contest and it kind of went on from there.
“I’ve won several awards and I’ve been published in two anthologies.”
As he continues down this new avenue of creative writing, Bollig carries with him the gratitude and blessings of the archdiocese he served so well.
“Joe was an old-school reporter who taught me a lot about integrity, style and commitment to each assignment,” said Cullings. “He put his best efforts into every story no matter how big or small.
“There will never be another writer like him.”
LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER
Leaven senior reporter Joe Bollig talks with Becki and Tom Racunas along with Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann before an assignment at Prairie Star Ranch in Williamsburg.
LEAVEN FILE PHOTO
Leaven senior reporter Joe Bollig is pictured during a trip to World Youth Day in Canada in 2002.