09 30 22 Vol. 44 No. 8

CSI: MIEGE

By Jill Ragar Esfeld Special to The Leaven

New program helps students find their path toward future careers

ROELAND

PARK — There is a murder to be solved at Bishop Miege High School here. And it’s up to Mary Beth Summers’ biomedical science students to determine the cul prit.

“We have someone who’s died,” ex plained Summers. “And then we have some unknown samples from the crime scene.”

On the day of The Leaven’s visit, stu dents were analyzing which samples are blood and what blood types are present.

That should help them narrow down their list of suspects.

“And then,” said Summers, “they’re developing an experiment to try to test blood splatter.”

That will determine the cause of death.

Not to worry, this murder is simulat ed; but the lessons learned are not.

As these young sleuths engage in the science behind crime-scene investiga tion, they will discover far more than the culprit in this whodunit.

They’ll find out if they have an interest in forensic science, phlebotomy or any number of professions in the biomedical science field.

On the way to that important discov ery, they’re having some fun.

This class is a hands-on teenage dream of blood sampling, fingerprinting and learning how maggots and flies can help determine time of death.

Welcome to the newest path in the Bishop Miege Project Lead the Way (PLTW) program — biomedical science joins the already successful paths of com puter science and engineering.

Forensic science techniques is the first unit on this path.

The second is clinical care in which students will learn more about the pro fessions of physicians and nurses.

The third unit is called “outbreak.”

“It has to do with a bacterial outbreak that occurs in the hospital,” explained Summers. “Students have to figure out how patients are being moved through the hospital and where a patient might have been exposed.

“So, they’re going to see a little more of the research side.”

Next year, a course in human body systems will be added.

Bishop Miege is seeing a surge in stu dent interest and involvement with these experiential lessons in science.

“We love Project Lead the Way be cause it’s so hands-on,” said principal Maureen Engen.

This new path was added based on stu dent interest.

“We did a survey,” said Engen. “Thirty percent of the students that completed it were interested in health science and medicine.”

Participating in the Forensic Techniques unit of Bishop Miege’s biomedical science pathway, Kaiya Key (left) and Jack Elder are preparing their simulated blood samples to determine blood type.

Saturday,

24, I led the praying of the rosary and the Divine Mercy chaplet at the recently opened Planned Parenthood Clinic on Leavenworth Road in Kansas City, Kansas. We had com petition — a woman and man, sitting in lawn chairs with a mi crophone and speaker system.

Sept.

As soon as we began praying the rosary, she began chanting: “Mind your own business.” Occasionally, the man would intervene by criticizing us for fool ishly believing in God and praying. In order to express the depth of his disdain for us, he spewed a litany of vulgarities.

About 10 days be fore, I had been invited to receive an award at the Missouri Right to Life (MRL) annual banquet in St. Charles, a suburb of St. Louis. The featured speaker for the event was Tim Tebow, a Heisman Trophy winner and former NFL quarter back.

Tebow’s parents served as Baptist missionaries in the Philippines. His moth er contracted amoebic dysentery that result ed in her being in a coma.

It was discovered during her recovery that she was preg nant with Tim, her fifth child. Partially because of the side effects of the medica tions she was given to recover from her se rious disease, doctors feared that her baby would be stillborn and recommended an abortion.

The Tebows rejected the abortion proposal. Tim was malnourished at birth but quickly made up for the prob lems he had in utero, becoming a star athlete at the high school and college level, and enjoying a three-year career in the National Football League.

Tim Tebow’s foun dation does human itarian work. The foundation helped to build a hospital in the Philippines and spon sors the annual event, Night to Shine, that honors young people with various physi cal and intellectual disabilities. A Night to Shine provides a safe prom experience for

ARCHBISHOP JOSEPH F. NAUMANN

these young people.

Pro-abortion pro testers picketed out side the MRL banquet. Tebow had his assistant serve refreshments to the abortion advocates.

In his keynote, he re minded the assembled pro-lifers that the pro testers outside were not our enemies.

In God’s eyes, the protesters — like ba bies in the womb and their mothers — are so precious that Jesus gave his life on Cal vary for them. Tebow exhorted us that even though we vigorously disagree with their ideas, we must pray, hope and work for their conversion and enlightenment.

The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision, is sued on the solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, stunned legal ized abortion pro ponents. The court’s decision was a wakeup call for abortion advocates to elevate their efforts.

No one was more disappointed than me by the failure of the people of Kansas to pass the “Value Them Both” amendment that would have restored to Kansans the ability through our elected representatives to de termine public policy regarding abortion.

For one who sup ports the killing of children in the womb, it is a comparatively small transgression to lie to and deceive fellow citizens about “Value Them Both” as well as the gruesome impact abortion has, not only upon the child, but also the child’s mother and father, their families, friends and the abor tion centers’ employ ees.

Normally, one would expect the secular media to factcheck the claims both

LIFE WILL BE VICTORIOUS

Protesters of peaceful sidewalk rosary are walking wounded, too ARCHBISHOP NAUMANN’S CALENDAR

The most import ant and effective prolife education does not happen at large gatherings, but occurs across kitchen tables, backyard fences, in employee lounges or sincere conversations with friends.

Oct. 1

Consecrated Life Day Mass and lunch — Savior

sides make regarding a public policy issue. However, in the case of abortion, the secular media merely repeat ed and amplified the misinformation and distortions of abortion advocates.

Similarly, the secu lar media has largely ignored the violence and threats to preg nancy resource cen ters that provide free assistance and support to those experiencing a pregnancy with many challenges.

Cal Thomas, a devout evangelical Christian who had a nationally syndicated Op-Ed column, used to quip that he read the Bible and The New York Times every day — just to see what both sides were doing. I echo his sentiments, just substituting The Kansas City Star for the Times. I consider reading The Star as an exercise in opposition al research.

For those of us who support the sanctity of human life — whether it is the unborn child, a mother experiencing an untimely pregnan cy, the refugee, the criminal on death row, the abortionist, etc. — we must respond to the challenge of the increased intensity of abortion advocates by deepening our com mitment to proclaim the “Gospel of Life.”

This is not a mo ment to allow our selves to be intimidat ed or bullied by those who seek not only to keep abortion legal, but to coerce every American to become complicit in the cul ture of death by fund ing abortion through our tax dollars.

Our opponents want us to believe we are an insignificant minority, even though reputable polls reveal that most Americans do not support unlim ited and unrestricted abortion through all nine months of preg nancy.

The defeat of “Value Them Both” revealed that many Kansans are confused and fright ened about the abor tion issue. Fifty years of legalized abortion have convinced some that our society cannot survive without a socalled right to kill our own children.

The roots for abor tion and what St. John Paul called the “culture of death” go back to the sexual revolution. The harm done to marriage, family and especially children by a trivialization of sexu al intimacy has been enormous.

The casualties caused by this revo lution are all around us. The embracing of sexual intimacy with no responsibilities for the adults involved or the children conceived has resulted not only in nearly a million of our children killed each year, but also epidemics of venereal disease, loneliness and anxiety.

Millions of children grow up without their biological fathers. An increased number of women and children live in poverty. Many young women are giv en contraceptives by parents and doctors, assuming they are not capable of chastity.

Children are being targeted by the por nography industry to become early adopters. Millions of American adults are addicted to pornography, harming marriages and remov ing love from sex.

Record numbers of young people are con fused about something as fundamental as their gender. This is by no means an exhaus tive list of the societal cost of so-called free love.

We are engaged in a spiritual battle and surrounded by many wounded victims. We must not retreat from the battlefield. As Pope Francis reminds us, the church is a field hospital. It is our mis sion to bring as many of the wounded as pos sible to experience the

Oct. 2

Respect Life Mass — Curé of Ars, Leawood

Project Andrew — Holy Trinity, Lenexa

Oct. 4

All-school Mass — Maur Hill-Mount Academy, Atchison

Oct. 5

Eucharistic adoration — St. Thomas Aquinas High School, Overland Park

Lawrence regional priests meeting — St. John the Evangelist, Lawrence

Confirmation — St. Joseph, Wathena; St. Charles, Troy; and St. Benedict, Bendena at St. Benedict

Church

Oct. 6

Religious Alliance Against Pornography — Zoom meeting

Communio quarterly priest lunch/meeting — Savior Pastoral Center, Kansas City, Kansas

SHINE — The Abbott, Kansas City, Missouri

Oct. 7

Red Mass —Curé of Ars Church, Leawood

Oct. 8

Foster Care appreciation Mass and respite eve ning — Church of the Nativity, Leawood

Oct. 9 — Project Andrew and teen Mass — Maur Hill-Mount Academy

Oct. 10

“Shepherds Voice” recording — chancery

Santa Marta Members of the Corp meeting and reception for residents — Santa Marta, Olathe

Pastoral Council meeting — chancery

Oct. 10

Final vows for Sister Brenda Lopez — Sisters, Servants of Mary, Kansas City, Kansas

Oct. 11

Priests Personnel board meeting — chancery

Advice and Aid Pregnancy Center banquet — Overland Park Convention Center

merciful and healing love of Jesus.

I continue to wonder about the woman at Planned Parenthood chanting, “Mind your own business.” What motivates her? She is not following her own advice. Why should she care if there are people peacefully praying outside an abortion mill? What is it about our efforts to protect children and care for mothers that offends her? She is not our enemy. She is one of the walking wounded for whom we need to pray

and to love.

As we begin Re spect Life Month, let us ask the Lord to give us renewed strength, wisdom and courage to build both a civili zation of love, where authentic and virtuous love will character ize our families and friendships and a culture of life where every human life will be treasured as one for whom Jesus gave his life on Calvary, one for whom the Son of God suffered and died.

GETTING A KICK OUT OF COLLEGE

PHOTOS BY JAY SOLDNER

By Moira Cullings moira.cullings@theleaven.org

KANSAS

CITY, Kan. — In less than four years, Kansas City will be one of 11 U.S. cities to host the 2026 World Cup.

As excitement builds, Donnelly College in Kansas City, Kansas, has another reason to cele brate.

“After a massive campus renovation that finished this spring, everyone is excited for students to be able to fully utilize the [new] spaces,” said Michae la Remijio, director of marketing and communications at Donnelly.

One of the additions is a mini out door turf soccer field, which is already being recognized as a gem within the area.

“It is one of the best small-sided pitches in Kansas City,” said Brennan Williams, director of youth soccer programming for Sporting KC, “and Donnelly is looking to utilize the field to help create a sense of community on campus.

“The first pickup event we held last week was a great example of the game bringing people together.”

On Sept. 9, representatives from Sporting KC joined the college in hosting a pickup soccer tournament on the field.

Students were invited to play, so cialize and enjoy pizza with their class mates, faculty and the club’s reps. They also had the opportunity to enter a drawing for Sporting KC tickets.

The partnership is one way Sport ing KC is getting involved in the Kansas City community by providing activi ties, community service, and intern ship and coaching opportunities to youth and young adults.

“Kansas City is the soccer capital of America for a reason,” said Williams. “Despite already being far [and] away the most popular youth sport in the city, there is still so much more growth on the way.

“We are hoping to unite and inspire the community through the sport of soccer and develop the next generation of players and fans.”

Msgr. Stuart Swetland, president of Donnelly, was eager to get in on the fun and kick the ball around with his stu dents.

WE ARE HOPING TO UNITE AND INSPIRE THE COMMUNITY THROUGH THE SPORT OF SOCCER AND DEVELOP THE NEXT GENERATION OF PLAYERS AND FANS.

BRENNAN WILLIAMS

OF YOUTH SOCCER PROGRAMMING FOR SPORTING KC

“If you look at John Paul II, who was such a great sportsman himself, what he wrote about the role of sports [is] it teaches virtue,” he said. “It teaches people teamwork and sacrifice.

“And of course, St. Paul used many

athletic metaphors when he talked about the spiritual life. So, we like to re flect on that when we get together and kick the ball around.”

Remijio said that Donnelly has hosted a welcome week for its students for several years now, but this one was special due to the new field.

She hopes the event was a memora ble one for the college community and that the Sporting KC partnership will continue to grow.

“With the exciting announcement that Kansas City will be a host city for the 2026 World Cup and the construc tion of KC Current’s brand-new wom en’s soccer stadium,” she said, “we at Donnelly are grateful to support and be a part of that soccer awareness and growth in the city.”

Williams, who has attended a World Cup in the past, said one of his favorite aspects of the event was how welcom ing the community was to visitors.

“I know this is something that

Attend SHINE

To learn more or show your sup port for Donnelly College, register for the school’s annual SHINE event, to be held on Oct. 6 from 5:30-10 p.m. at The Abbott in Kansas City, Missouri. To register, go online to: shinedc.weebly.com.

Kansas City will also excel in when we welcome the world,” he said.

For now, Donnelly students can focus on enjoying the sport in their own backyard.

“Based off our first event at Donnel ly,” he said, “it is clear that the students already have a passion for the game.

“Even for those who are new to soccer, with all that is coming in Kansas City in the next few years, there will be more opportunities than ever for fans of all ages to fall in love with the game.”

Ezequiel Hernandez-Cruz, a student and staff member at Donnelly College in Kansas City, Kansas, stops this would-be goal in flight. Hernandez-Cruz joined other students and staff on Sept. 9 at the college’s new mini soccer field for a pickup tournament with representatives of Sporting KC.

Msgr. Stuart Swetland, president of Donnelly College in Kansas City, Kansas, tries his hand as goalkeeper at Donnelly’s new mini outdoor soccer field. The field is one of many new additions to Donnelly.

Religious Sister finds you can come home again

By Marc and Julie Anderson mjanderson@theleaven.org

confirmation, and then they’re gone. . . . We try to have gatherings every month for them.”

TOPEKA

— Who says you can’t go home again? That’s defi nitely not the case for Sister Mary Delight of the Holy Trinity of the Servants of the Lord.

Also known as Sister Trinity, SSVM, she grew up in Topeka as Anna Hall and graduated from Hayden High School. After graduation, she headed to Rock hurst University in Kansas City, Mis souri, where she first encountered the Servants of the Lord. It was only after spending two years as a Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS) missionary in Oklahoma and Chicago that Hall discerned a religious vocation to the order.

Founded by Father Carlos Miguel Buela in San Rafael, Argentina, in 1988, the Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matará is the feminine branch of the Religious Family of the Incarnate Word. With more than 1,400 members, the order includes both active and con templative Sisters engaged in ministry in 42 countries. Sister Trinity joined the order in 2014. Today, a total of 10 women from the archdiocese serve in the order.

“There’s a good following in our congregation from our archdiocese,” Sister Trinity said during a July 17 re ception following the 10:30 a.m. Mass at Holy Name Church in Topeka, one of two churches maintained by Mater Dei Parish.

The order’s charism, Sister Trinity explained, is to evangelize and elevate the culture, although how that looks is dependent on the country and mission. It might mean working with families or educating the youth. It might mean caring for the elderly who otherwise have no one to take care of them.

The homegrown nun has been in

[ICELAND IS] A VERY RICH COUNTRY, BUT [THE PEOPLE] ARE VERY SPIRITUALLY POOR.

SISTER TRINITY, SSVM

Iceland for the past three years at Com munity Santa Brigida de Suecia in Haf narfjörður, approximately six miles from Reykjavik, Iceland’s capital.

“There’s spiritual poverty, but there’s no material poverty,” Sister Trinity said of Iceland. “It’s a very rich country, but [the people] are very spir itually poor.”

With a population of some 375,000, Iceland most closely resembles Kentucky

in terms of its geographic size. According to the Diocese of Reykjavik, the nation’s only diocese, Catholics number 14,632, or roughly 4% of the population spread across eight parishes. There are only 16 priests in the entire country, most of whom are from missionary religious orders such as the Missionaries of Char ity or the Institute of the Incarnate Word. The priests, Sister Trinity explained, mostly hail from other countries like Poland or the Philippines.

As a member of St. Joseph Parish, Sister Trinity is engaged mostly in parish ministry, especially with chil dren and teenagers.

“The reality is that after confirma tion, like it is here, you lose the chil dren, but it’s an even greater reality there,” she said. “They come for their baptism. They come for their first Communion, and they come for their

The gatherings usually consist of games and a little bit of formation. Additionally, the Sisters also organize outings and hikes for the kids. That way, they can see the beauty of Iceland beyond their own community.

“It’s surprising a lot of them don’t do that on their own. They haven’t seen their own country,” Sister Trinity said.

The little bit of formation mixed in among games and other fun activities, the nun said, are all aimed at getting the youth in the “habit of them wanting to come to church.”

Although Iceland was mostly Cath olic until the Protestant Reformation, the nation’s official religion is Luther an. However, most Icelandic children have not been raised in homes where practicing one’s Christian faith has been prioritized. As a case in point, one recent diocesan gathering drew 30 youth from the entire country.

“If you ask someone what religion they are, they’ll tell you, ‘I’m Icelan dic,’” Sister Trinity said. In fact, there is widespread belief in Nordic gods, gnomes and elves.

“There’s not that many that go to church on Sunday. The churches are very empty,” Sister Trinity said.

Currently, she is taking classes to learn Icelandic, a task she finds daunt ing. Still, the Sisters push themselves to learn the language of whatever culture they find themselves a part of for one main reason.

“We want to be with the people,” said Sister Trinity. “We don’t want to make them become us. They’re there. That’s their language, and so we’re going to learn their language.

“They understand that we’re trying, and they really appreciate that.”

St. Lawrence Center puts mental health at forefront

By Molly Hackett Special to The Leaven

used that as her catalyst in becoming a therapist.

LAWRENCE

— As August begins, students embark on a new school year, moving into the dorms on Daisy Hill at The University of Kansas and into housing around the Lawrence commu nity. When the temperatures spike, so can the many emotions that students face as that new school year begins.

The St. Lawrence Center at KU has worked to change the way that stu dents nurture their spiritual, mental and emotional health by bringing in Lizzy Hollwedel, a licensed profession al counselor and owner of Lux Coun seling LLC. Hollwedel is a practicing Catholic in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas and serves clients at both Corporate Woods in Overland Park and at the St. Lawrence Center. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Benedictine College in Atchison and her master’s degree from Emporia State University.

Hollwedel became interested in helping people after taking a gap year following high school and serving for six months at an orphanage in Zambia, Africa. She saw firsthand how PTSD, anxiety and trauma impacted the lives of the children at the orphanage and

“I saw these sweet children’s intense anxiety, sadness, intrusive thoughts, fear, nightmares and many other diffi cult symptoms,” Hollwedel said. “I was their friend and mentor for six months but knew that I had not done enough. Upon returning to the U.S., I was deter mined to learn the skills to help people heal from mental health struggles like they had, such as PTSD and anxiety.”

Over the course of the last year, she has been able to serve 50 KU students. This partnership has been successful due to the trusting environment that St. Lawrence offers students.

“Lizzy realizes the importance of human formation. And for a person to be healthy, they need to be able to explore thoughts, feelings and desires in harmo ny to relate well to God and others,” said Father Mitchel Zimmerman, director of the St. Lawrence Center.

“It is critical that we offer what we can for their health, and our partner ship with a counselor is a great step in that direction,” he added. “Lizzy knows that only in respecting the whole person — body and spirit — can one arrive at the fullness of life.”

While many students are current ly in spiritual mentorship with staff members at the St. Lawrence Center,

counseling has been able to tend to the emotional and mental health that spiri tual direction doesn’t always cover.

Stacy Cretors, the discernment di rector at the St. Lawrence Center, is cur rently enrolled and studying to become a certified spiritual director through Divine Mercy University in Sterling, Virginia. Her training and time spent as a spiritual mentor has been enlight ening in seeing how these offerings are different, but work in harmony.

“Spiritual direction isn’t going to fix all of our problems,” Cretors said. “The goal is to help us develop our relation ship with God, but if there are things getting in the way of that happening, sometimes a spiritual director can invite a student to look at counseling as an option to help them get rid of or eliminate the things in their lives that spiritual direction alone can’t do.”

Some clients see Hollwedel for as little as one session to learn strategies and implement them. Others see her for a couple of months and still others schedule monthly check-ins for years. Regardless of frequency, therapy can offer a safe place to work through what is taking away peace and joy.

Regardless of what a client’s care plan might look like, Hollwedel be lieves that “God wants us to take care of ourselves, and therapy is one of the

many ways that we can do that.”

Hollwedel’s website can be found at:

PHOTO BY MARY KATE KRAUSE PHOTOGRAPHY

The St. Lawrence Center at KU has worked to change the way that students nurture their spiritual, mental and emotional health by bringing in Lizzy Hollwedel, a licensed pro fessional counselor and owner of Lux Coun seling LLC.

LEAVEN PHOTO BY MARC ANDERSON

Sister Mary Delight of the Holy Trinity of the Servants of the Lord visits with a parishioner after Mass at Mater Dei Church in downtown Topeka during a home visit on July 17. Also known as Sister Trinity, SSVM, she graduated from Hayden High School in Topeka. This past summer, she returned to Topeka for her first home visit in several years. Currently, she is serving as a missionary in Iceland.

Crumbling Assumption towers to come down

By Joe Bollig joe.bollig@theleaven.org

TOPEKA

— Take a good look at the twin towers of Assump tion Church here while you can. Soon, they’ll be coming down.

A century of weather has caused dete rioration in the upper-most parts of the towers, making their removal necessary sometime this autumn.

In the meantime, the city of Topeka prohibited occupancy and a fence was erected to keep pedestrians away from the front of the building. Parking, too, was restricted.

Assumption and Holy Name parish es merged to become Mater Dei Parish on July 14, 2006. Assumption Church is located north of the state Capitol, across S.W. 8th St. The first Catholic church in Topeka was erected at this site in 1862, replaced by a second in 1882. The present church was built in 1923.

Mass is no longer celebrated in the church because of the structural prob lems.

“We were celebrating noon Mass this past winter, but we closed in March,” said Father John Pilcher, pastor of Mater Dei Parish. “We have not celebrated Sunday Mass there since the pandemic. . . . I had not opened it up except for noon Mass. I didn’t want to go back until after con struction.”

An inspection of the church in 2016 re vealed the need to do tuckpointing, said Dale Kirmer, Mater Dei parishioner and head of the parish maintenance commit tee.

More serious deterioration was found in the two towers.

“We think the damage continued be cause of freeze-thaw during the winters,” said Kirmer. “With old towers, there is a secondary roof [within], and that sec ondary roof is failing, so we were getting water inside the church in the tower area. It’s making its way down to the firstfloor men’s room.”

The east tower, which contains the bells, is in slightly better shape but water

is seeping into the building there as well.

The parish wanted to repair or replace the towers in 2018, but couldn’t due to financial reasons and other delays. The

parish had a structural engineer make another inspection in 2021. The deteriora tion advanced and he recommended that the top one-third of the towers be removed.

The remainder of the church is in good structural condition, said Dan Him melberg, archdiocesan director of real estate and construction.

A factor in the structural problems may stem from the way the towers were built. The uppermost parts of the towers are not part of the original church, com pleted in 1923, he said.

These extensions were built between 1928 and 1932, when money became available. The extensions, flanking the peaked center pediment, are built of a slightly lighter-colored brick.

The contractor is Concrete & Mason ry Restoration, Inc., of Kansas City, Mis souri. The work will take place starting in October and will likely be finished by February, said Kirmer. If work goes according to this schedule, Mass will resume sometime next March.

The parish doesn’t have the funds to rebuild the towers, so the bells will be removed and stored, and the top onethird of the towers will be removed and capped off, said Kirmer.

The cost of the project will be approxi mately $945,000. The parish has commit ted $450,000 to the project and that will be matched, with a bit more, from the archdiocesan parish revitalization fund.

The parish hopes to hold a capital campaign to raise funds to rebuild the towers, which will cost $1.3 million or more.

“Our original intent was to do the whole thing (removal and reconstruc tion) but we didn’t have the funds,” said Kirmer.

Due to its location next to the state Capitol, Catholics in government ser vice would often come to noon Mass. As sumption has been the location of special Masses and events, including the annual March for Life. It has been visited by non-Catholics and former parishioners to appreciate its aesthetic qualities.

“It’s a beautiful church that needs a lot of attention,” said Father Pilcher. “If anyone wants to help us, we’d appreciate that very much. We’ll have a capital cam paign sometime.”

Miege paves paths to students’ future on foundation of faith

every career interest, including one in health sciences and medicine.

project-based curriculum aimed at building problem-solving, teamwork, communication and leadership skills.

“It’s important that we’re preparing students to enter these fields,” said Matt Peterie, director of 21st Century Learn ing. “And we want them to have that foundation in Catholic education with stewardship at the center of it.

“At the core, that’s what gave us the motivation to build out these pathways.”

Any time a teacher wants to teach a PLTW class, they have to go through an intense two-week summer training pro gram.

“When I did my training this summer,” said Summers, “we talked about the ethics piece.

“I was glad I could do a little extra re search [into] what the Catholic view is, to speak to that as well,” she added.

With Summers’ help, Bishop Miege now has a HOSA (Heathcare Occupa tions Students of America) club.

“It’s a nationally recognized club,” she said. “I try to get professionals from the fields of health care brought in to Miege so my students can hear from different

health care professionals.

As students discern their interests, they also have the opportunity to join one of seven academic communities at Bishop Miege. The communities span

“The big picture with [these commu nities],” said Peterie, is they “help stu dents connect their interests, strengths and passions to what they may be doing after their time here at Bishop Miege.

“It’s not locking them into a career; it’s helping them find their path.”

Students interested in biomedical science now have a clear path at Bishop Miege that will help them discern the best way to utilize their God-given gifts in that field.

“We want to provide a high-profile space for teachers to deliver project-based learning experiences,” said Engen, “be cause it helps students develop and prac tice essential skills.

“It also lends itself to helping them figure out what they are going to be good at post-high school.”

The future is definitely at the heart of the biomedical science pathway.

“I’m excited we can create that foun dation here,” said Peterie. “We can light that fire so students can go out in the world and serve Christ and build up the kingdom by the work they’re going to do.”

“A lot of the speakers are former graduates who are still practicing their faith,” she continued.

LEAVEN PHOTO BY JILL RAGAR ESFELD

Biomedical science instructor Mary Beth Summers points out to Kaiya Delgado (left) and Sammy Jo Kirk how some of the simulated blood samples look cloudy, indicating what specific blood type is represented.

LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER

One of the towers at Church of the Assumption in Topeka shows lots of wear and tear that has occurred over the years. Because of the damage, the top one-third of the towers will be removed.

Is your marriage ‘drifting’? Reset your course together

During the years of my work with couples, I met many that were com plaining about growing distant — they were drifting apart.

Wives were often those reporting their concerns. One couple in particular stands out. Jim and Mary had been married seven years and were parents of two very active toddlers. They were also both working full time.

Mary complained: “Many evenings, after spending 8 hours at work, I find myself coming home to cook dinner, fold the laundry and play with our sons, Jack and Mike, or give them a bath before put ting them to bed. Mean while, Jim is either in the garage working on his favorite hobby — his car — or playing video games.”

Turning toward Jim, she said: “What about me? When do I get a break? I am exhausted!”

JOHN BOSIO

John Bosio is a former marriage and family therapist, director of religious education and dioce san family life coordinator. He is a member of the National As sociation of Catholic Family Life Ministers.

Mary paused for a few seconds to compose herself, then continued: “I often wonder what has happened to us. We still have the wedding pictures on our coffee table, yet we feel miles apart. How did we end up feeling so distant?”

Mary and Jim were suffering because they were mourning the

intimate connection that they once had with each other. They could still remember their wedding day very vividly, but the warmth of their relationship was slowly fading. All they felt was pain, frustration and anger, and they could not give each other comfort. They felt lonely and they were thinking: Is this all there is?

Jim and Mary are a normal couple. What they were facing was a crisis in their relation ship — a crisis that is common to most spous es. They were drifting.

In “Take Back Your Marriage,” Dr. William Doherty explains that this drifting is some thing that all couples experience throughout their lives. We are all prone to becoming com placent in our relation ship and we tend to take each other for granted. We let our relationship go into autopilot and don’t realize that we are slowly growing distant.

Terrence and Michele are a married couple that shared some of their growing pains with a group of engaged couples during a retreat. They told their audience that they had both been married before and shortly after their wedding, they found themselves growing distant due to frequent arguments and disagreements.

“It felt like we were always mad,” said Michele. Each of them had brought many habits, preferences and assumptions from their previous married and single life, and these were clashing, causing a lot of pain.

Fortunately, Ter rence and Michele had the wisdom to stop themselves before they caused more damage to the relationship and decided to seek some mutual understanding. The first step was to identify what each did that was causing pain to the other. They devised

a calendar with three columns: a column for the plusses (things you did today that pleased me), and one for the mi nuses (things that you did today that grated on me). Another column was for interactions that were neutral. At the end of each day, they shared their thoughts.

For example, one day, Michele wrote in the positive column about Terrence: “[He] called about the license plate. Cleaned up living room — thanks! Really nice evening! Heart you.”

In the negative column she wrote: “Wanders to another project — leaving another project not cleaned up — drives me crazy — especially when there is a lot I want to get done in little time — felt like your ‘mother.’”

Terrence replied to Michele’s negative comments: “Give me a chance — a lot of those projects are related to each other anyway, Mom!” Then, he wrote

about what Michele did that made him happy: “[She] worked very hard on house/dinner. Went to store, prepared for Sunday visit, nice night out with Matthew.”

This helped Terrence and Michele grow in mutual understanding and appreciation, and made it easier to forgive and accommodate one another and to compro mise. Michele told the engaged couples that as the months passed, the plusses increased and the minuses decreased. Prayer guided them and sustained them.

Pope Francis in a letter to married couples on Dec. 26, 2021, wrote: “Remember that forgiveness heals every wound. [Mutual forgiveness] is a gift born of grace poured out by Christ upon married couples when ever they turn to him and allow him to act.

Christ ‘dwells’ in your marriage. With him, you can truly build your ‘house on rock.’”

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LET’S TALK ABOUT SUICIDE

Families struggle for answers. Friends struggle to communicate. And in the end, suicide leaves more questions than answers.

By Marc and Julie Anderson

Purpose.

That word has played again and again in Brenda Quigley’s mind after losing her son Damon to suicide on Jan. 19, 2021. He was 13.

The youngest child of Ron and Brenda Quigley, Damon was a member of St. Patrick Parish in Corning, a town of approximately 200.

“There really were no signs,” Brenda said of Damon’s struggles, not even on the day he died.

Finding a purpose

With few answers, Brenda said her family is left to speculate, but she knows that won’t help much.

Instead, Brenda, Ron and their other two children — Noah, 20, and Taegan, 17 — are determined to help other families through a movement known as Damon’s Purpose. Starting it, though, was the furthest thing from their minds that fateful day.

After the funeral, Brenda said she found it therapeutic to post about her grief on Facebook. She also posted it was OK to ask for help.

“Damon didn’t ask for help, but you can ask for help and you should ask for help,” she recalled posting more than once.

One word kept coming up in her mind.

“There had to be a purpose, “ she said. “His life had to have had purpose, and maybe that purpose was to drive my purpose.”

So, Brenda added #damonspurpose to her Facebook posts, which started garnering more and more attention.

When a friend suggested creating signs with inspirational messages to post around the tiny northeast Kansas communi ty, Brenda agreed.

The first signs were made during a gathering the Quigleys hosted at their home.

“We put it out on Facebook so anyone could see it,” she said. “What surprised me was it wasn’t just our Corning-Centralia com munity. We had people from other towns. You know social media and kids. He knew a lot of kids, and I didn’t know he knew that many kids.”

There are times where someone feels like their life is crumbling away, and yet they suffer in si lence, showing no signs of what they’re going through.

Struggling families seek ways to cope with

“It affected a lot more people than he could have possibly imagined,” she added. “It was just a good day for us to get together and start the healing pro cess.”

Every sign was different, featuring an inspirational message, a Scripture verse or some words of encouragement, accompanied by #damonspurpose.

Eventually, the Quigleys started re ceiving donations to make more signs. Youth groups, religious education classes and high school classes request ed “sign parties,” as they’ve come to be known. Signs dot the town, the country side and regional schools.

‘Just start with six words’

Additionally, the Quigleys have sponsored wellness days with mental health professionals on hand and the opportunity for people to submit ques tions anonymously. The family hoped at least 20 people would attend the first one. Eighty people came, and the event has been viewed at least 400

Need help? Thinking about suicide? Call 988

If you or a loved one are expe riencing thoughts of depression or suicide, call 988.

Since July 16, the new three-digit code “988” will connect you or your loved one via phone, text or chat (depending on preference) to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, a network formed in 2005 of trained counselors at more than 200 crisis centers nationwide. You or your loved one will be connected imme diately to trained counselors who will listen, assess the situation and connect you with local resources as necessary.

Everything Damon’s Purpose sponsors, Brenda said, is to “en courage openness about mental health and promote mental wellness; foster compassion and empathy for those who struggle with mental health issues; empower people to seek profes sional help before life becomes over whelming; advocate for suicide aware ness and prevention; and ultimately strive to end the stigma surrounding mental illness.”

“I know we won’t always have the voice that people are listening to,” she said, “but while we do, we’ve got to keep talking. I tell people all the time, ‘If you’re struggling with your mental health and you just can’t find the words, start with ‘I’ve not been feeling myself lately.’ Just start with those six words. If I hear someone say that, I’m definitely going to explore that further.”

Bringing awareness to a stadium level

Like the Quigleys, Bob and Kelly Specht, members of Holy Spirit Parish in Overland Park, never saw them selves as advocates for mental wellness.

That changed on June 23, 2017, when they lost their son Carl to suicide after years of struggling with depression. He was 27.

Not only has the couple raised thou sands of dollars in partnership with the University of Kansas Health System, but they’ve also become speakers around the region at events, including a suicide prevention workshop held March 6 at Topeka’s St. Matthew Church.

Allowing themselves a year to mourn, the Spechts resisted doing any type of fundraising at first, but eventually, a phrase Bob uttered one day spurred them to action.

“We’ve got to take [mental health awareness] to a stadium level,” he said.

And soon they did.

Now, the Carl’s Cause website fea tures photos from Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, taken during the first-ever mental health awareness event hosted by the Kansas City Royals on July 29, 2021. It’s just one event the Spechts have hosted.

Awareness, Kelly said, is critical.

“About one in five people will suffer some sort of mental health crisis in their lifetime,” said Kelly. “If you think about a stadium and all of the people who are in a row at a game of some sort, just think about all of the people it affects.”

Connecting people with resources, the Spechts said, is crucial.

“There’s a really great resource book called ‘How to Navigate a Mental Health Crisis.’ It may have been available, but we didn’t know about it,” Kelly said.

‘No one can fix it’

Although they advocate for mental wellness, the Spechts said that doesn’t mean it’s easy.

“No one can fix it,” she said, referring to the loss of Carl. “A really good saying that Father [Rick] Storey said to us that first day was that we won’t know in this lifetime the why. Why did this happen? Why did this happen to us? Why did this happen to Carl? We won’t know in this lifetime.

“That statement helped us so much to open up our hands and give it back to God. We don’t understand this, and we certainly can’t fix it, but we have to accept it.”

‘Let them talk about it’

Sometimes, acceptance of a loved one’s passing or letting go of any asso ciated guilt doesn’t come easily, said Deacon Chris Seago, a mental health professional and a permanent deacon serving at Topeka’s Mater Dei Parish.

After Damon Quigley’s suicide in 2021, his mother Brenda found it therapeutic to post about her grief on Facebook.

During the workshop, the Spechts shared Carl’s story. Bob then discussed their nonprofit, known as Carl’s Cause, and the ways it advocates for mental wellness.

Through Carl’s Cause, the Spechts have been able to fund the distribution of hundreds of copies. Published by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), Kelly said the book is a great resource in a crisis, but also a good one to have on hand, just in case.

And when families lose loved ones to suicide, it’s important to surround them with the same kind of love given other loss situations.

“Everyone understands cancer. Ev eryone understands heart failure or heart attacks. Suicide still has a stigma.

JoshRuoff, a licensed social worker and the archdiocese’s lead consul tant for the office of special needs under whose responsibility minis try for mental health falls, said the Catholic Church’s response to suicide and mental health is one he takes extremely se riously.

“I think each of us is impacted by it in some way,” said Ruoff, “and when it comes to these topics that are difficult for us to un derstand, I think it’s important the church is

there. It’s important our faith has a response, because our faith should be the center of our lives, and it’s important that we use our faith to bring understanding to this topic that a lot of times we don’t understand.”

“One of the things we’re working on as an archdiocese,” he continued, “is figuring out how to bring our churches together, our church staff and our laypeople, and encour aging them in starting mental health minis tries within their own parish.”

Ruoff said he has many resources to help priests address suicide from a pas toral perspective, and the archdiocese is looking at ways it can encourage parishes,

through organizations such as the Associa tion of Catholic Mental Health Ministers, to begin or expand upon their own ministries to “be that minister of Christ and support for that individual and what they’re going through.”

Below is a partial list of the resources Ruoff said he hopes parishes and clergy will draw upon in their ministries:

• Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers

A lay association of the Christian faithful whose members “are called to be a heal ing presence in the lives of people with mental illness” and who “work to eliminate

the stigma and discrimination that people living with a mental illness encounter in the church and in human society.”

For more information, visit the website at: www.catholicmhm.org

• “The Catholic Guide to Depression: How the Saints, the Sacraments and Psychi atry Can Help You Break Its Grip and Find Happiness Again” by Dr. Aaron Kheriaty, and Father John Cihak

• “St. Dymphna’s Playbook: A Catho lic Guide to Finding Mental and Emotional Well-Being” by Tommy Tighe

• “The Sanctuary Course for Catholics”

This is a free course designed for small

“Reach out to the family. Let them talk about it,” advises Deacon Chris Seago, a mental health professional and a permanent deacon serving at Topeka’s Mater Dei Parish.

with child’s suicide

‘Well, what was wrong with him?’ ‘What did you do?’ And you have to help people understand and get past that stigma,” he said.

One way, Deacon Seago said, is to simply be present.

“Reach out to the family. Let them talk about it. Don’t dismiss anything they want to say,” he said. “They may for a long time feel responsible. In the be ginning, they just need to feel whatev er the emotions are. Maintain contact with them. Listen to them if they want to talk about it. Reassure them by your presence.”

Another way to help families experi encing loss, he added, is to help remem ber the lives of their loved ones.

“What happens to people when someone they love dies of suicide, they fixate on just that one thing. Why did it happen? What did I miss? Why did they leave us? Why did they do it? They lock in on that one part of that person’s life,” Deacon Seago said. “But remember, there was a whole lot of that person’s life shared with this person before they died.

“Try to encourage them to look at the person as a whole. There was much more to that person than just that one action.”

‘Trust them to the mercy of God’

“No matter how someone died, no matter how far beyond hope they seem to be now or at the hour of their still hope for their salvation.”

Written by Father Chris Alar, MIC, and Brother Jason Lewis, MIC, those words are found in “After Suicide: There’s Hope for Them and for You,” a book which ad dresses two questions. First, do those who take their own lives auto matically go to hell? And secondly, how can we help those who have lost a loved one to suicide?

Father Andrew Strobl, pastor of Holy Spirit Parish

in Overland Park, said he often recom mends the book to others.

During the prevention workshop, he shared how a few years after his ordina tion, he received a call from a friend’s family asking him to preach at the fu neral. His friend had died by suicide.

“It was the most difficult homily I’ve ever given,” he said.

But it was also a teaching moment.

Although the Catholic Church teach es suicide itself is immoral because it’s a violation of the Fifth Commandment and a sin against charity for our neigh bor, it also teaches no one but God can judge the culpability of someone who dies by suicide, said Father Strobl.

Because “in order for an act to be evaluated properly, you need to know the action itself, the intention and the circumstances,” he said, and cited the following passage from the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

“Grave psychological disturbanc es, anguish or grave fear of hardship, suffering or torture can diminish the responsibility of the one committing suicide” (2282).

“The church is very clear here,” he said. “There are mitigating circum stances that can come into play.

“This is the clear teaching of the Catholic Church that we get to hold onto and bring really close to us and try to wrestle with the topic of suicide in light of this teaching.”

And while that passage discusses how culpability can be dimin ished, Father Strobl said the next is equally, if not more, pow

“We should not de spair of the eter nal sal vation of persons who have taken their own lives. By ways known to him alone, God can provide the oppor tunity for salutary repentance. The Church prays for persons who have taken their own lives” (CCC, 2283).

Preventing suicide

Only God can pass judgment. The Cate chism of the Catholic Church has much to say about suicide and salvation.

groups to aid in parishes becoming sanc tuaries for those struggling with mental health challenges of any kind from three different perspectives: psychological, social and theological. For more information, go to the website at: sanctuary mentalhealth.org/ catholics/

• “After Suicide: There’s Hope for Them and for You” by Father Chris Alar, MIC, and Brother Jason Lewis, MIC

• “When a Loved One Dies by Suicide: Comfort, Hope and Healing for Grieving Catholics” by the Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers. The book is com piled and edited by Deacon Ed Shoener,

“That’s quite the statement, isn’t it?” Father Strobl asked simply.

and Bishop John P. Dolan.

• “Responding to Suicide: A Pastoral Handbook for Catholic Leaders,” by the Association of Catholic Mental Health Min isters. This book is compiled and edited by Deacon Ed Shoener and Bishop John P. Dolan.

• Catholic counselors

An archdiocesan-approved list of Cath olic counselors can be found online at: archkck.org/family/care-support/ catholic-counselors/

In

the United States, there is one suicide every 11 minutes, according to Suicide Awareness Voices of Education (SAVE). That means that every day, 125 Americans die by suicide. There’s at least one attempt every 27.5 seconds, and it is the third leading cause of death among 15- to 24-year-olds.

Suicide, though, is not always the result of a mental illness. In fact, in 2016, 54% of deaths by suicide were by people without a mental health diagnosis.

Deacon Chris Seago, a perma nent deacon at Mater Dei Parish in Topeka and a licensed mental health professional who spoke at a suicide prevention workshop held March 6 at Topeka’s St. Mat thew Church, said most suicides are preventable. Recognizing the warning signs and risk factors, he said, can mean the difference between life and death, espe cially if you know how to access mental health resources in the event of an emergency.

Warning signs / risk factors

• Depression • Lack of interest in activities once enjoyed

• Irritability/anger/anxiety

• Shame or humiliation

• Talking about killing oneself

• Saying life has no meaning or purpose

• Reporting feeling burdened, stuck or trapped

• Isolating oneself from friends and family

• Giving away prized posses sions

• Acting recklessly

• Increased aggression

• Increased drug and alcohol use

• Gathering materials (e.g., pills, weapons, etc.)

• Searching about suicide on the internet

• Prior attempts

• A family history of suicide

• Having a friend or co-worker who has died by suicide

• A history of physical, emotional or sexual abuse

• Having disabling pain, long-term or terminal illness

• Sleep problems

• Sudden calmness

• Major life events — Death of a loved one or pet — End of a relationship — Diagnosis of a major illness — Loss of a job/financial problems — Divorce

“As a mental health professional,” said Deacon Seago, “I believe in treat ment for those people who are experiencing depression and mental illness and moodiness and sadness with a combination of therapy and medication simply because studies have shown over and over it works. Does it work for everybody? No. It doesn’t. Just like some people who receive cancer treat ments get better and some people who receive the same cancer treatments don’t. But the large percentage of people who receive therapy and medica tion do recover from their moods and sadness and depression.”

So, if you start noticing behaviors not typically seen in someone, start a conversation, he said.

“The most important thing when it comes to prevention of suicide is to talk to people,” he said. “Talk to them. Don’t be afraid to say, ‘What’s going on? I’m concerned about you. Are you thinking about killing yourself?’”

Sometimes, he added, people are afraid of “contributing to a suicide” by asking that question. But they should ask it anyway, because about 50 to 75% of people will give a friend or relative a warning sign, even if it’s indirect.

“If someone is telling you they want to kill themselves or they’re wanting to harm themselves, that’s a good sign,” he said. “It also means they probably do not want to do it.”

In those situations, he continued, “you sit down and talk with them. You ask them what’s going on. Do you need help? How can we be there for you?”

Depression is one of the major warning signs of suicide.

Russian priest says Catholics fear conscription

By Jonathan Luxmoore Catholic News Service

Asenior

Russian priest dis missed President Vladi mir Putin’s threats of nu clear war as “just words,” but said many young Cath olics now fear being forcibly conscript ed with their priests to join the war against Ukraine.

“Although I’m not a military person, I don’t think the Russian army could even use nuclear weapons — and if it did, this would be much more danger ous for Russia itself than anyone else,” said the priest, who asked not to be named.

“People are certainly frightened here, particularly since Catholic pa rishioners and clergy could now be called up, beginning with those who’ve done military service. But I don’t think there’s much to fear from Putin, who’s just coming out with words.”

Street protests erupted in Russia after Putin’s Sept. 21 order for a nation wide call-up of 300,000 reservists after setbacks in the Ukraine war.

The priest told Catholic News Ser vice Sept. 21 students and young people had “reacted very emotionally” to the mobilization order, with many debat ing its practical consequences.

He added that there had been “no consultation” with Russia’s minority churches and said he had consulted lawyers about the order’s implications for church personnel.

“Some young Catholics have already left the country, and more are doing so now,” the priest told CNS.

“The mass mobilization will very much affect church life here, particu larly since many Catholics are strongly against the war and won’t want to take part. But those with military training up to age 50 may well have to go, while the order could soon be extended to others who haven’t even done military service.”

In his speech, Putin said his “special military operation” was continuing to liberate Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region from a “neo-Nazi regime,” adding that Russia would use “all

means at its disposal,” including nucle ar weapons, to resist attempts by West ern countries to “weaken, divide and ultimately destroy” it, while aggres sively imposing “their will and pseudovalues.”

He added that the partial mobiliza tion would initially concern “only mil itary reservists” with “specific occupa tional specialties and corresponding experience,” who would be given addi tional training for active service.

Western governments criticized the mobilization, and Russians demon strated in Moscow, St. Petersburg and other cities. Human rights groups re ported Sept. 21 more than 1,300 protest ers had been arrested.

The Russian priest told CNS most

protesters had previously been against the war, initiated by Moscow’s Feb. 24 invasion, and that the majority of sol diers had been recruited from Russia’s more remote regions.

A “much larger group” of previous ly undecided citizens could also come out in opposition, the priest told CNS, once the draft gained momentum and the war was “brought closer to people in the main cities.”

“Most are waiting to see what this order will mean for them, and how they’ll be treated if sent to fight,” the priest said.

“Catholics themselves are divided, with around 20% supporting the war, 40% categorically opposed and a fur ther 40% watching to see what happens,

especially if things get worse and their own family members are killed.”

Church leaders in Ukraine have de plored evidence of Russian atrocities in areas recaptured during Ukraine’s counteroffensive, while snap referen da on joining the Russian Federation were to be held Sept. 23 in parts of the Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zapor izhzhia regions still under Moscow’s control.

Addressing Rome pilgrims Sept. 21, Pope Francis said the “tragic war” had left “some people thinking of nuclear weapons, that madness,” adding that he had been told about “the savagery, the monstrosities, the tortured corps es” currently found in “tormented Ukraine.”

Northern Ireland census shows more Catholics than Protestants

DUBLIN

(CNS) — More people in Northern Ireland now identify as Catholic than Protestant for the first time in the history of the ju risdiction, new census figures reveal.

The data has led to calls for a refer endum for voters to decide whether to remain part of Britain or join with the rest of Ireland and form a new country.

It comes 101 years after Northern Ireland was established in the six northeastern counties on the island of Ireland, remaining part of Britain when the 26 southern counties won in dependence from British rule.

The founders of Northern Ireland drew the boundaries of the state along lines that they hoped would guarantee a permanent Protestant majority. Tra ditionally, Protestants have supported being part of Britain, whereas the Cath olic community has traditionally sup ported unity with the rest of the island to form a single independent Ireland.

Deirdre Heenan, professor of social policy at the University of Ulster,

described the first census showing a Catholic majority as “monumental.”

“We have to look back at the history of the state, how it was created, the de cades of discrimination (against Cath olics) and, really, what we then need to do is have a look at where we are at the moment and what we want for our future,” Heenan told Catholic News Service.

Under the terms of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, which brought an end to 30 years of sectarian conflict that killed more than 3,500 people, the constitutional status of Northern Ire land can be changed only with the con sent of its population.

The British government is obliged to call a referendum on Irish unity if it believes there has been a shift in public opinion that would indicate a majority in favor of constitutional change.

In the current census, close to 20% of the population said they have no re ligion, up from approximately 10% re ported in the previous census.

CNS PHOTO/REUTERS

Russian police officers detain men during an unsanctioned rally in Moscow protesting President Vladimir Putin’s announced mobilization of reservists in the Russia-Ukraine war Sept. 21.

ST. JOSEPH HIGH SCHOOL REUNION

The Silo Modern Farmhouse

17501 W. 87th St., Lenexa

Oct. 1 from 7 p.m. - midnight

The reunion is open to anyone that graduated with, or would have gradu ated with, the class of 1972. For more information, go online to: facebook. com/groups/640138040356584. Ques tions? Email Annette (Mirocke) Evans at: evensa1@bellsouth.net or call Tim Rafferty at (913) 645-3896.

RESPECT LIFE SUNDAY MASS AND ICE CREAM SOCIAL

Curé of Ars Parish

9501 Mission Rd., Leawood

Oct. 2 at 10:30 a.m. Mass

8 a.m. - noon breakfast buffet

12:30 - 2:30 p.m.

Join us for a simple celebration of life! Archbishop Naumann will be celebrating Mass for Respect Life Sunday. All are in vited to a breakfast buffet with the Curé Knights of Columbus and to an ice cream social. We would love to have area youth groups and Respect Life clubs attend. For more information, go online to: www. cureofars.com/respect-life.

FALL BAZAAR

St. Theresa Parish (hall)

209 3rd St., Perry

Oct. 2 from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Turkey and ham dinners, plus home made pie, will be available. Carryout meals will be available until 2:30 p.m. The cost is $12 for adults and $7 for kids ages 10 and under. Outdoor activities include games for kids, a silent auction and buyit-now tent, bingo, an old-fashioned cake walk, baked goods and more. Fun for all ages!

PANCAKE LUNCHEON

St. Mary Parish

446 Hwy. 137, Purcell

Oct. 2 from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Join us for pancakes, whole hog sau sage, scrambled eggs, homemade pie and tea or coffee. The cost is a freewill offering.

HARVEST MEAL

St. Mary Parish

9208 Main St., St. Benedict

Oct. 2 from 10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

There will be smoked pulled pork, cheesy potatoes, baked beans and cook ies. There will be dine-in or carryout. The cost is a freewill donation. All are wel come!

‘HEALING THE DIVORCED HEART’ DIVORCE SUPPORT GROUP

St. Michael the Archangel (Gabriel Room)

14251 Nall Ave., Leawood

Oct. 5 at 7 p.m.

We who have experienced divorce un derstand, 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, go online to: www. stmichaelcp.org/divorce-support.

UNCORKED

Avila University

(Goppert Performing Arts Center)

11901 Wornall Rd., Kansas City, Mis souri

Oct. 6 from 6 - 8 p.m.

Savor specialty wines, whiskeys and fabulous hors d'oeuvres at this benefit for the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelett. Live entertainment will be provided by the St. Therese Little Flower Gospel Choir. Sommelier Jeff Cambiano will have Veri tas wine selections. For more details and to register, go online to: www.csjsl.org/

events.

RED MASS

Curé of Ars Parish

9401 Mission Rd., Leawood

Oct. 7 at 6:30 p.m.

The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kan sas and the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Jo seph, will host the annual Red Mass. A re ception will follow. RSVP online at: cfnek. org/events/red-mass. The event is free.

BISHOP WARD HIGH SCHOOL REUNION - CLASS OF 1972

Oct. 7 - 8

Please go to the website at: www. BWHS72reunion.com to register your con tact information. You may also call Barbara (Griffin) Lewis at (913) 481-3473 or Janet (Basler) Guilfoil at (913) 948-4201. The planning committee needs to know how to reach you.

ST. TERESA OF CALCUTTA

FRIENDSHIP TEA

Holy Cross Parish

8311 W. 93rd St., Overland Park

Oct. 8 at 10:30 a.m.

Join us for a women’s brunch. Our guest speaker is Sherry Kuehl, author of the “Snarky in the Suburbs” book series and newsletters. The title of her talk is: “How female friends shape us and save us.” Tick ets are $15 each. To make a reservation and to purchase tickets, contact Donna Heit by email at: donnam heit@gmail.com or call (913) 402-6843, or contact Maxine Rodriguez by email at: maxine@rmckc.com or call (913) 915-6238.

CHICKEN DINNER AND BINGO

St. Patrick Parish 1086 N. 94th St., Kansas City, Kansas Oct. 8 at 6 p.m.

Dinner will include chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, salad, roll, dessert and drink. The cost for adults is $10 and kids meals cost $5. If you have more than two kids, take advantage of the family meal (two adults and more than two kids) for $30. Bingo is $10 for 10 games. Questions? Call Fritz Vertz at (913) 515-0621. The event is sponsored by the Green Club.

BINGO NIGHT

Sacred Heart Parish 2646 S. 34th St., Kansas City, Kansas Oct. 8 at 7 p.m.

The Sacred Heart Knights of Columbus will be hosting bingo for cash prizes. Re freshments will be sold. For more informa tion, call Bob at (913) 850-3348.

ANNUAL CHICKEN/HAM DINNER

Sacred Heart-St. Casimir Parish

1405 2nd St., Leavenworth

Oct. 9 from 11:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.

The cost for dinner is $13 for adults and $6 for children 12 and under. Carryout begins at 11:30 a.m. There will also be games for the kids, music, a country store, pumpkins for sale, raffles for prizes and two cash raffles.

TURKEY DINNER AND BAZAAR

Sacred Heart Parish

1100 West St., Tonganoxie

Oct. 9 from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

The cost for dinner is: $12 for adults; $7 for kids ages 6 - 12; and free for kids ages 5 and under. There will be a turkey dinner, a country store, bingo and children’s games. There will also be a raffle with prizes total ing over $2100.

ANNUAL BAZAAR St. Aloysius Parish

615 E. Wyandotte St., Meriden

Oct. 9 from 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. A traditional ham and turkey dinner for dine-in or to-go

will start at 11:30 a.m. The cost is: $12 for adults; $6 for kids 5 - 12; and kids 4 and under are free. There will be Knights of Columbus bingo, games, a silent auction, a country store, ice cream, a beer garden, drawings and more. For more information, call the parish office at (785) 484-3312.

SOUP SUPPER & AUCTION

St. Bede Parish (hall)

7344 Drought St., Kelly

Oct. 9 at 4 p.m.

Chili, chicken noodle soup, vegetable beef soup, ham sandwiches, hot dogs, pie and cake will be available. The cost is a freewill donation. There will also be an auction of handmade quilts and many other items.

FALL & HOLIDAY CRAFT & BAKE SALE

501 S. Willow Dr., Olathe

Oct. 12, 14 & 15 from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

The proceeds from the sales will be do nated to the Olathe Pregnancy Clinic. Cash and checks only will be accepted.

ESTATE PLANNING WORKSHOP

Cathedral of St. Peter 409 N. 15th St., Kansas City, Kansas Oct. 13 at 6:30 p.m.

Casey Connealy, an estate planning at torney and member of Holy Trinity Parish in Lenexa, will speak on the differences between wills and trusts and how to maxi mize your financial resources for your heirs and charities. There will be resources, re freshments and door prizes. RSVP to Terri Lynn, office of stewardship and develop ment, by email at: tlynn@archkck.org or call (913) 647-0367.

HOG AND GROG FOR SCHOLARSHIPS

Boulevard Brewing Co. (Muehlebach Suite)

2501 Southwest Blvd., Kansas City, Missouri

Join us for a casual evening including brews, a taco dinner and live music. While you are there, support scholarships for the students and families at Our Lady of Unity School. Many partnership opportunities are available. Learn more online at: https:// olucs.org/hog-and-grog.

‘SHROUD ENCOUNTER: EXPLORE THE MYSTERY, ENCOUNTER THE MESSAGE’

Curé of Ars Parish 9501 Mission Rd., Leawood Oct. 13 at 6:30 p.m.

Could the Shroud of Turin be a docu ment of the crucifixion? Does it provide clues to what happened during the Res urrection? Russ Breault’s highly acclaimed presentation explores the science, histo ry and mystery in a fast-paced, dramatic visual experience. Join us as he peels back each layer of mystery.

RETROUVAILLE

Savior Pastoral Center 12601 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City, Kansas

Oct. 14 - 16

Is your marriage struggling or do you know a marriage that is struggling? Re trouvaille is a program that helps couples restore their marriage and rebuild a loving relationship. This is a practical program to improve communication and help couples connect. Sign up online at: www.helpour marriage.org or call 1 (800) 470-2230.

‘MERE CHRISTIANITY’

Christ’s Peace House of Prayer 22131 Meager Rd., Easton

Oct. 14 - 16

The retreat begins Oct. 14 at 5:30 p.m. and ends on Oct. 16 at 4:30 p.m. What are the foundational beliefs that take us into the heart of what it means to be a Chris tian? Journey with us as we enter into the

thought of C.S. Lewis as he explains and defends the most basic beliefs of Chris tians, hoping to persuade others to come to Our Lord. Immerse yourself in the un equaled opportunity for believers and nonbelievers alike to hear this powerful apologetic for the Christian faith. There will be conferences, eucharistic adora tion, Mass, confession, and time for pri vate prayer, reflection and walking. Cab ins/courtyard rooms: $170 single/$250 couple; guest rooms: $100 (meals includ ed). To attend, send an email to: info@ christs peace.com or call (913) 773-8255.

PRO-LIFE EVENT

Sheraton Hotel at the Convention Center

6100 College Blvd., Overland Park Oct. 21 from 7 - 9 p.m.

Kirk Cameron, known as Mike Seaver from the television show “Growing Pains,” will be the speaker. His newest film feature is about the value of life in the womb and the beauty of adoption. His film “Lifemark” is set to hit theaters in September. He and his wife Chelsea have been married for 31 years and have six children. All proceeds benefit the Vitae Foundation. Dinner and the program cost $100 per person ($70 is tax deductible). To register, go online to: vitaefoundation.org or call (573) 634-4316.

CALLED TO LOVE AGAIN DIVORCE SUPPORT MINISTRY

Church of the Ascension 9501 W. 127th St., Overland Park Oct. 22 at 6 p.m.

We will be hearing a personal witness from one of our longtime members and discuss why forgiveness is necessary for healing and fulfilling relationships.

NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING CLASS

St. John the Evangelist Parish (Extra building)

200 W. 13th St., Lawrence Oct. 21 at 6:30 p.m.

An in-person (or online) course in the sympto-thermal method of natural family planning will be offered by the Couple to Couple league. A reasonable course fee is charged and online registration is re quired at: livethelove.org. Call Shannon or John Rasmussen at (785) 749-1015 for more information.

ORGAN CONCERT

Hope Lutheran Church 6308 Quivira Rd., Shawnee

Oct.23 at 4 p.m.

Dr. Douglas O’Neill, director of forma tion in sacred music and liturgy at Christ the King School in Kansas City, Kansas, will perform the second in a series of the com plete organ works of J.S. Bach.

CRAFT SHOW AND BAKE SALE

Holy Family Parish

820 Birch St., Eudora

Oct. 22 from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Oct. 23 from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Looking for unique, one-of-a-kind craft items? Find that special item as well as de licious treats. Proceeds from the sale will go to support the parish’s peace, justice and human development programs. Craft ers interested in more information or rent ing a booth space should contact Linda by calling (913) 645-5386 or Melanie by email at: 19dobbins83@gmail.com.

NEED HELP HEALING FROM A PAST ABORTION?

EMPLOYMENT

Administrative assistant - The Diocese of Kansas City - St. Joseph has an immediate opening for an administrative assistant in the office of stewardship and development. The duties include support across the entire office in the areas of communication, data entry, organization, record keeping and general of fice tasks. This position is full time and benefits-eli gible. For more information or to apply, visit: www. kcsjcatholic.org, scroll down to “Job Openings” and click on “View all.”

Assistant director - Prince of Peace Early Educa tion Center is seeking a highly qualified, flexible, resourceful, self-starter for our assistant director. The ideal candidate has previous teaching/admin istrative experience and demonstrates excellent communication skills with staff and parents. Job responsibilities include, but are not limited to: as sisting in supervision and operation of the center; staff schedules; assisting with facilitation of staff and program events; ordering and purchasing sup plies as needed; opening and/or closing the center; acting as director when the director is not present; and assisting with marketing and tours. Job require ments: All applicants must meet the following re quirements in order to be considered for hire: a min imum of six months or more teaching in a licensed child care center with proof of work; have a BA/BS or higher in early childhood education or related field with 12 or more college credit hours in early child hood education. We offer competitive pay. Benefits include: paid vacation and sick time; paid holidays; 401(k) match, and health, vision, dental, life, as well as short- and long-term disability insurance. To ap ply or for more information, call Jamie at (913) 8292718 or email: jwessel@popolathe.org.

Director of liturgy and music - St. Ann Church in Prairie Village is seeking a director of liturgy and music to facilitate worship experiences that cele brate and strengthen our parishioners’ faith journey. This position serves as the principal musician and choir director for the parish and assists the pastor in liturgy planning. The director is responsible for: playing the organ and/or piano at weekend, school and holy day Masses; recruiting and directing adult, children and handbell choirs; training cantors; and providing art and environment direction. The direc tor will also assist the pastor and families in planning funerals and weddings. The director must be flexi ble and work well with staff and parishioners. Hours are negotiable. The qualified candidate should be a practicing Catholic; have a bachelor’s degree in mu sic or equivalent program of study; and have prior experience as a music director. Please email your resume with cover letter to: bschafer@stannpv.org.

Volunteer engagement coordinator - Are your compassionate, motivated, mission-driven and de sire to empower others? Do you have experience with volunteer coordination? Catholic Charities is seeking a volunteer engagement coordinator to serve on out volunteer engagement team and as sist with our recruiting and on-boarding initiatives for the 21-plus programs at Catholic Charities. To learn more or to apply, visit: catholiccharitiesks.org/ careers/.

Administrative assistant - Bishop Miege is seeking an administrative assistant for the campus ministry office to assist the campus minister in coordinating and facilitating the mission of the program. This is a full-time position that works August through May when classes are in session. Send letter of interest and resume to: mjaksa@bishopmiege.com.

Director of major and planned gifts - Come be a part of the mission of Catholic Charities as a di rector of major and planned gifts. Drive major, monthly and planned gift strategies. Prospect, cul tivate and engage major supporters of the agency, drive initiatives to engage volunteers and support ers in all fundraising events and in all 21 coun ties served by the agency. To apply, go online to: catholiccharitiesks.org/careers, scroll down to “Job Openings” and then scroll down to: “Director of ma jor and planned gifts.”

Faculty and adjunct faculty job openings - Donnel ly College, Kansas City, Kansas, a Catholic college offering higher education for those who may not otherwise be served. Adjunct faculty job openings include: biology; clinical nursing, math; information systems coordinator. Faculty job opening available for the nursing school. Find job descriptions and de tails at: www.donnelly.edu/careers.

Staff job openings - Donnelly College in Kansas City, Kansas, has the following staff job openings avail able: Chief vice-president of business affairs/chief financial officer; curriculum coordinator; financial aid counselor; career advising liaison; admission coun selor, advancement officer. Find job descriptions and details at: www.donnelly.edu/careers.

Drivers and aides - Assisted Transportation is now hiring safe drivers and aides to transport students with special needs in Johnson, Wyandotte and Clay County, Missouri, in company vans. Drivers earn $14 - $16 per hour. Aides earn $12 per hour. Part-time and full-time schedules available. CDL not required. Retir ees encouraged to apply. Make a difference in your community by helping those in need. Call (913) 5214955 for more information. EEO

Music director - Queen of the Holy Rosary Catho lic Church, Overland Park, a parish of close to 1200 families, is seeking a music director and organist. The director is responsible for a range of ministries includ ing volunteer recruitment and support; musical direc tion of the choir; hand-bell choir; and accompanist responsibilities. The director will collaborate and co ordinate with families on music for weddings and fu nerals. The director must be flexible and demonstrate good collaborative skills with staff and music volun teers. Hours are negotiable. Contact Paul Coquillette for more information or to apply. Email: qhradmin@ qhr-opks.org or call (913) 432-4616.

Children’s ministry coordinator with CGA certi fication Seeking organized and caring individual with administrative skills who enjoys working with both adults and children. If hired, applicant would be responsible for both 1) recruiting, organizing and managing adult and teen volunteers/staff on Sunday mornings and during special church events (e.g. book study, workshops, classes) to expand our hospitality network; and 2) teaching Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (levels 1 or higher) weekly on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday between 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Full time, 32 - 35 hours per week. Must be flexible and able to create a positive environment for children and staff in the spaces available. Eager to work as a team with parish and school staff. Im portant to have good communication skills with both staff team members and parents. Applicant sees co ordinating children’s support as their ministry and as a way to make the church a more welcoming place for young families. Interested applicants, please contact Suzy Meinzenbach, coordinator of religious education, at (913) 338-4367 and/or send resume and cover letter to: Suzy Meinzenbach, Church of the Nativity, 3800 W. 119th St., Leawood, KS 66209.

Maintenance technician - Curé of Ars Parish in Leawood is looking for a full-time maintenance technician with a strong work ethic. We prefer a candidate with general knowledge in electrical, plumbing, maintenance and grounds keeping. This position also includes setting up for events. A main tenance technician is a thorough professional with attention to detail. The ideal candidate will be able to work autonomously and responsibly. The candi date needs to be able to lift 50 pounds and work on a ladder or lift. All employees are required to be Vir tus trained and background checked. This position may include some weekend and evenings as need ed. Competitive pay, including benefits, vacation/ sick time and 401(k) match. Interested candidates should send a resume to the facilities director at: matt.rocca@cureofars.com.

Part-time accounting position - Christ the King Church in Kansas City, Kansas, is seeking a part-time employee to handle the accounting functions for the parish. The primary responsibilities will be accounts payable, daily deposits, payroll, and monthly finan cial statements as well as other accounting func tions. Experience with QuickBooks and Microsoft Office Suite is preferred. Compensation will be com mensurate with experience. For a job description and application, go to: www.ctkkcks.org or contact the pastor, Father Nick Blaha, at: nblaha@archkck. org or (913) 336-1550 (call or text).

Minster of infant/nursery care - Seeking organized and caring individual with administrative skills who enjoys working with people and children between the ages of 3 months and 4 years. Responsible for organizing and managing nursery teen and adult staff on Sunday. Flexible and able to create a posi tive environment for children and staff in the spaces available. Eager to work as a team with parish and school staff. Important to have good communication skills with both staff team members and parents. Applicant must be trained in Virtus and pass a back ground check before being hired. Part time: 4 hours per week, Sunday mornings 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Required: high school diploma or equivalent; able to lift at least 30 pounds; Virtus trained. Interested applicants, contact Suzy Meinzenbach, coordinator of religious education, at (913) 338-4367 and/or send resume and cover letter to: Suzy Meinzenbach, Church of the Nativity, 3800 W. 119th St., Leawood, KS 66209.

Senior director of human resources - Catholic Char ities of Northeast Kansas (CCNEK) is seeking to hire a senior director of human resources to join its exec utive team and lead the agency’s people and culture initiatives! The ideal candidate will have the manage rial courage, strategic initiative and leadership expe rience to successfully promote and support the mis sion of CCNEK as guided by Catholic social teachings and in alignment with the agency strategic plan. This position reports to the chief operating officer and is required to be a practicing member of the Catholic Church. For more information about this incredible opportunity, please contact Dan Heiman, president/ owner of Cornerstone Executive Search, at (913) 3417655 or at: danh@cornerstone-kc.com.

Preschool teacher - Holy Spirit Catholic School in Overland Park is seeking a part-time preschool teacher for our 4-year-olds. The lead teacher is re sponsible for developing, planning and executing all activities/learning experiences for the children in the classroom. Requirements: must attend Virtus training; college degree required, elementary ed ucation or special education emphasis preferred. Contact Tessa Piscitello at (913) 492-2582 or email: tpiscitello@hscatholic.org for more information.

Custodian - The Church of Nativity Catholic Parish School has an immediate opening for a full-time hourly custodian. Qualified applicants should have prior custodial experience, specifically in a school environment, and must be able to work 7 a.m. – 3 p.m. shift with some holiday work expected. Appli cants must have compatible work history, references, dependable transportation and be willing to partici pate in a background check. Compensation of $17 to $19 per hour will depend on experience, negotiable with the right qualifications. The Church of Nativity is located just west of 119th and State Line in Leawood. Nativity offers a comprehensive benefit program in cluding medical, dental, vision, vacation and 401(k). Interested applicants should email resumes and work history to: jobapplication@kcnativity.org. Resumes welcome by fax or mail. No phone calls please. Fax: (913) 491-5065; mail to: Church of the Nativity, Attn: Custodial Position, 3800 W. 119th St., Leawood, KS 66209.

Part-time receptionist - St. Michael the Archangel Parish, Leawood, is seeking a part-time reception ist to work two to three days per week from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The position is flexible to arrange specific workdays with another receptionist. Duties include: routing incoming calls; welcoming guests; schedul ing Mass intentions; data entry; database upkeep; and other office duties. The preferred candidate will be a practicing Catholic; compassionate; possess excellent communication skills; proficient with Mi crosoft Office; and comfortable learning new com puter skills. This position represents St. Michael the Archangel to parishioners and guests. The recep tionist reports to the parish administrator. Pay is based on skills and experience. Additional details at: stmichaelcp.org/employment. Send resume and cover letter to Denise Greene at: denise.greene@ stmichaelcp.org.

Part-time center coordinator - Regina Caeli Acad emy Home-school Hybrid is hiring a part-time cen ter coordinator. The center coordinator is the local administrator who oversees the day-to-day quality of the classroom instruction, promotes admissions, provides ongoing coaching of the local staff and provides Christian leadership for the local families in Overland Park. Regina Caeli is a private, indepen dent, classical home-school academy operating in the Catholic tradition. Preschool - 12th grade stu dents attend classical academic and extracurricu lar classes two days a week, and home-school the remaining days following lesson plans provided by Regina Caeli. Apply online at: https://rcahybrid. isolvedhire.com/jobs/.

Part-time director of catechesis - Christ the King Parish in Kansas City, KS is seeking a part-time director of sacramental formation. Basic Span ish skills preferred. The role is responsible for the Catholic faith formation of families through regular catechesis. The goal of this catechesis is to form catechists and parish leaders to share their faith and knowledge in a way that offers people an en counter with the risen Lord Jesus. Compensation negotiable. Experience with Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is a plus. For a job description and appli cation go to: www.ctkkcks.org or contact the pastor, Father Nick Blaha, at: nblaha@archkck.org or (913) 336-1550 (call or text).

Early childhood position - Wonderful opportunity for adults interested in working with young children! Catholic preschool seeks caring individuals to work with children in our three-year-olds classes. Position is part time. Great working conditions and immedi ate benefits. Call Ms. Theresa, director, at (913) 2484589, or email: tgavila@stjoeshawnee.org.

Teacher - Teacher needed to fill a position in St. Joseph, Shawnee, Early Education Center with the three-and-a-half year olds. Related experience is preferred, and candidate must meet state and local requirements. Submit resume to: tgavila@stjoeshaw neee.org. Questions? Call (913) 248-4589, ext. 4589.

Bilingual counselor needed - The Keeler Women’s Center, located at 759 Vermont Ave., Suite 100-B, in Kansas City, Kansas, is seeking a Spanish-speaking counselor. Please contact Sister Bridget Dickason, OSB, at (913) 689-9375 or email: kwc@mountosb. org.

Early childhood educators – With multiple locations in Johnson County, Special Beginnings Early Learn ing Center provides high quality child care in a safe, loving Christian environment. Our classrooms are full, and we are looking to add to our amazing team. We are looking for both full-time and part-time teachers for all ages of children. If you have an excellent work ethic, a heart for children and a willingness to learn more about early childhood education, we would love to meet you. For more information or to apply, call Carolyn Andruss at (913) 894-0131, ext. 102.

Part-time aide - St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Preschool in Leawood is seeking a part-time aide for our 4’s classroom for the 2022-23 school year. This position is Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 8:00-3:30. Teacher aides assist the lead teacher in conducting daily activities, carrying out licensure rules and regulations, and maintaining principles of sound Catholic education. See a full job description at: stmichaelcp.org/employment. Send cover letter and resume to the Preschool Director at: jennie. wente@stmichaelcp.org.

DSPs needed - Direct care professionals needed in Overland Park in an intentional living community for adults with intellectual disabilities. Training provided. Live-in or live-out options. Weekends, evenings and overnight shifts available now. $13 - $15 per hour. Email: heartland@larcheks.org.

Caregiver needed - Looking for daytime and night time care for elderly male in his south Kansas City, Missouri, home. Previous experience required. Will ing to consider live-in care. If interested, please phone Janell at (816) 582-4738 for additional infor mation.

Stylists needed - Are you addicted to the TV show “Say Yes to the Dress”? Are you self-motivated, love fashion and enjoy helping people look their best? If so, we want to talk to you! Sincerely Susan, a unique destination shop boutique is a warehouse environ ment where clients come in by appointment only. You must have a sense of style and a great personality to be able to interact with our “moms.” Hours are flexible. Must be willing to work a minimum of one evening per week and weekends. Must be able to stand and walk on concrete for long periods of time and reach overhead to pull gowns. Previous retail experience preferred, but not necessary. Hourly rate is based on experience. If interested, call (913) 7308840.

Workforce specialist - Looking for a driven per son to promote and support the mission of Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas as guided by Catholic social teachings by providing wraparound case man agement, career coaching and financial education to individuals and families in need through stabilization employment and St. Rita programs. This position will be a collaborative member of the Workforce team whose purpose is to strengthen individuals and fami lies through a holistic approach to education and em ployment. The major components of this role include providing comprehensive employment and financial coaching, intensive case management and facilitat ing one of our Workforce’s services, including job readiness and soft skills classes. Please apply for the Workforce specialist position at: catholiccharitiesks. org/careers/.

Caregivers - Daughters & Company is looking for several compassionate caregivers to provide assis tance to seniors in their home, assisted living or in a skilled nursing facility. We provide light housekeep ing/light meal preparation, organizational assistance, care management and occasional transportation ser vices for our clients. We need caregivers with reliable transportation and a cellphone for communication.

A CNA background is helpful, though not mandato ry. 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.

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) 5791835. Email: smokeycabin@hotmail.com. Member of Holy Trinity, Lenexa.

Interior painting - Wall repair and painting. Serving Johnson County for 30 years. Insured. Call Jerry at (913) 206-1144.

Popcorn ceiling texture removal

Call Jerry at (913) 206-1144. 30 years’ experience. Member St. Joseph Parish, Shawnee.

Gearing up for spring! We now offer financing on all your home improvement projects with approved credit. Here is a list of the construction services I of fer: flooring; tile; interior/exterior painting, as well as deck and fence staining; ceiling scraping/retexturing; bathroom, kitchen and basement remodeling; siding; decks and covered porches. We also do cabinet re finishing! Look me up on Facebook at “Father & Son Home Exteriors & Remodeling.” I work on all jobs, no subcontractors. Thank you to all my clients! (913) 709-7230.

Local handyman - Painting int. and ext., wood rot, masonry (chimney 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) 9274118.

Concrete construction - Tear out and replace stamped, stained or colored patios and drives. Re taining walls, footings, poured-in-place safe rooms, excavation and hauling. Asphalt drives and lots. Ful ly insured; references. Call Dan at (913) 207-4371 or send an email to: dandeeconst@aol.com.

SERVICES

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.

Educator,

Catholic counseling - For individuals, couples, families, adolescents and young adults. Sam Meier, MA, LPC. Call (913) 952-2267 or book an appointment at: StillwatersKC.com, in-person or Telehealth.

Wanted to buy - Antique/vintage jewelry, paint ings, pottery, sterling, etc. Single pieces or estate. Renee Maderak, (913) 475-7393. St. Joseph Parish, Shawnee.

LEAVENWORTH

— Sister Marie Carmel Dunning, 101, a Sister of Charity of Leaven worth for 71 years, died on Sept. 3 at the motherhouse here. Sister Marie Carmel touched many lives through her ministries in education and health care, and with her poetry.

Anna Lee Dun ning was born on June 12, 1921, in Miles City, Montana, the fourth of 13 chil dren of Forest and Beatrice (Tucker) Dunning. She grew up on a farmstead in the Ashland-Otter Creek-Tongue River area.

This simple, ranch-dwelling family endured poverty during long droughts and the Great Depression. Three wars personally affected the Dunning family, where six brothers and one sister were in the service but fortunately all came home without serious injury. Anna Lee inherited a strong work ethic, a profound respect for others and deep roots that always reminded her of her resilient beginnings.

Before she met the Sisters of Chari ty, she knew about their origins from reading biographies of St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louise de Marillac to whom the religious community traces its origins. On Aug. 21, 1951, at the age of 30, she entered the Sisters of Charity.

She professed her final vows as Sister Marie Carmel on Aug. 22, 1959.

For 23 years, her ministries included teaching in elementary and high schools across the West and Midwest, including three years as principal at Sacred Heart School in Falls City, Nebraska.

She then shifted from education to health care. Upon completion of her clinical pastoral education, Sister Marie Carmel worked in many pastoral care capacities at a variety of hospitals. When she retired, Sister Marie Carmel dedicated her time to social justice ad vocacy.

ACT Prep Founded by a Bishop Miege gradu ate, Pathway Prep has helped over 250 students during the last four years improve their scores. In-person or virtual sessions available. For more information, visit: pathwayprepkc.com and contact Alex Pint at (913) 991-8217 or: alex@pathwayprep kc.com.

Quality painting - Interior, exterior, drywall and wood rot repair. Quality workmanship. Insured. Call (913) 938-7597 or (913) 206-4524; email: robaprinc@aol.com; or visit the website at: aprkansascity.com.

Memory quilts - Preserve your memories in a keepsake quality quilt, pillows, etc. Custom de signed from your T-shirt collection, baby clothes, sports memorabilia, neckties . . . Quilted Memo ries. (913) 649-2704.

Mike Hammer local moving - A full-service mover. Packing, pianos, rental truck load/unload, storage container load/unload, and in-home mov ing. No job too small. Serving JoCo since 1987. St. Joseph, Shawnee, parishioner. Call Mike at (913) 927-4347 or send an email to: mike@ mikehammermoving.com.

Painting - Diamond Painting, (913) 648-4933, Residential/Commercial, Exterior/interior, Free Es timate, Affordable, Decks, DiamondPaintKc.com, Kcmo/Overland Park Metropolitan area.

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

Quality remodeling - Renovates kitchens and bathrooms; tile work; countertops; drywall; cus tom cabinetry. Quality work. Call or text (913) 2064524 or (913) 938-7597; email: robaprinc@aol.com or visit the website at: aprkansascity.com.

Pressure washing: Driveways, sidewalks, patios, decks, fences and garage floors

Call John for a free estimate. Serving Johnson County KS (913) 827-8616

St. Joseph parishioner & St. James Academy graduate

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. Mem ber of Sacred Heart Parish, Shawnee.

Thinking about downsizing? - Just want to get some stuff gone? I am always buying: old jewel ry; old coins; pocket watches; pocketknives; old trains; crocks; oil lamps; old toys; glassware; old clocks; old fans; Coca Cola items and spool cab inets. Most old items considered. Call Patricia at (913) 515-2950.

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.

REAL ESTATE

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

WE WANT TO BUY YOUR HOUSE - There are so many new companies in town advertising to buy houses. But we’re the only ones that have been here and we’re local Holy Trinity parishioners. I will give you a fair price on any conditions you are up against. Call Mark Edmondson. (913) 980-4905.

FOR SALE

Residential lifts - New and recycled. Stair lifts, porch lifts, ceiling lifts and elevators. St. Michael’s parishioners. KC Lift & Elevator at (913) 327-5557. (Formerly Silver Cross - KC).

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 - Se nior Care, www.Benefitsofhome.com or call (913) 422-1591.

Caregiving - We provide personal assistance, companionship, care management, and trans portation 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.

Caregiver - CMA available evening. 15 years ex perience. Background check and references avail able. Call (913) 999-4340.

Classified Advertising

The Leaven reaches approximately 50,000 subscribers.

Cost is $20 for the first five lines, $1.50 per line thereafter.

To purchase a Leaven classified ad, email: beth.blankenship@theleaven.org.

The appearance of advertising in The Leaven is not an endorsement by either the newspaper or the Archdio cese of Kansas City in Kansas. The Leaven attempts to screen advertisers and copy, but is not responsible for claims and representations made in advertisements.

Judy (Feuerborn) and Mike Rues, members of Holy Angels Parish, Garnett, will cel ebrate their 50th wedding

anniversary on Oct. 7. The couple was married on Oct. 7, 1972, at Holy Angels Church. They are planning a family cel ebration on Oct. 2. Their children are: Tracey Ahring and Jarod Rues. They also have four grandchildren.

Raymond and Alice (Vershelden) Zeller, members of St. Francis Xavier Parish, Mayetta, will cel ebrate

their 60th wedding anniversary on Oct. 9 with a Mass at St. Francis Xavier, followed by a family brunch. The couple was married Oct. 13, 1962, at Immaculate Conception Church, St. Marys. Their children are: Wayne, Mayetta; Lori, Hoyt; Charlene, Mayet ta; Patrick, Mansfield, Texas; Andy (de ceased); Marian, Rossville; Bernadette, Louisburg; Ruben, McPherson; Kateri, Basehor; and Matthew, Fort Meade, Maryland. They also have 37 grandchil dren and 21 great-grandchildren.

Mary Jo and George Prock will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary on Oct. 1. Mary Jo is a member of Church of the Nativity, Leawood. The couple was mar ried on Sept. 29, 1962, at St. Teresa Church, Westphalia. Their children are: Jacque Sullins, Michele Wilson, Kim Jenkins, Kris Cole, Lori Turner, Andrea Galich ia and George Prock III. They also have 15 grandchildren. A family celebration is planned.

Thoughtful Care is looking for high quality caregivers to take care of our senior community members. Very rewarding work!

Please call 913-344-0101 or apply at www.thoughtfulhealthcare.com

SOLUTION

Sister Marie Carmel Dunning

DAILY READINGS

TWENTY-SEVENTH

WEEK OF ORDINARY

TIME

Oct. 2

TWENTY-SEVENTH

SUNDAY IN ORDINARY

TIME

Hb 1: 2-3; 2: 2-4

Ps 95: 1-2, 6-9

2 Tm 1: 6-8, 13-14

Lk 17: 5-10

Oct. 3 Monday

Gal 1: 6-12

Ps 111: 1b-2, 7-9, 10c

Lk 10: 25-37

Oct. 4

Francis of Assisi

Gal 1: 13-24

Ps 139: 1b-3, 13-15

Lk 10: 38-42

Oct. 5

Faustina Kowalska, virgin; Blessed Francis

Xavier Seelos

Gal 2: 1-2, 7-14

Ps 117: 1bc, 2

Lk 11: 1-4

Oct. 6

Bruno, priest; Blessed Marie Rose Durocher, virgin

Gal 3: 1-5

(Ps) Lk 1: 69-75

Lk 11: 5-13

Oct. 7

Our Lady of the Rosary Gal 3: 7-14

Ps 111: 1b-6

Lk 11: 15-26

Oct. 8 Saturday

Gal 3: 22-29

Ps 105: 2-7

Lk 11: 27-28

Several years ago, someone knocked on my door in the early evening.

My neighbor’s daughter was stand ing there and asked, “Would you have time to come and say a prayer over George?”

This is definitely not a pet peeve

MY WORDS

I was honored to be asked since George was not a Catholic. Heck, George wasn’t even human. He was this gentle giant of a dog that belonged to my neighbor John, who isn’t a Catholic either.

I found John sitting on a chair in his garage looking over George who was resting on a blanket at his feet. George gingerly lifted his head when I came over. He probably was disappointed that I came empty-handed because I usually gave him “a” (more like three or four) Pup-Per oni stick as a treat.

It was obvious, though, that age and pain had caught up with George. I sat

FATHER MARK GOLDASICH

Father Mark is the pastor of Sa cred Heart Parish in Tonganoxie. He has been editor of The Leaven since 1989.

beside him and pet him as I prayed over him. I thanked God for all the joy he gave to the neighborhood, for his tenderhearted nature, for his loyalty to John.

Lastly, I commended him into the loving hands of St. Francis. As I finished the prayer, the vet pulled up, to ease his transition from this life.

I excused myself,

bravely walked back home and then cried my eyes out.

I like that the feast of St. Francis of Assisi is in October, when the church celebrates Respect Life Month. While our focus during the month is primarily on human life, St. Fran cis invites us to expand our vision of the God of life, all life.

It’s no accident that St. Francis is the patron saint of animals and ecology. He reminds us to respect all God’s creatures, as well as this planet that we call home. And he’d encour age us to learn from the animals around us, as

in this story: A woman once found a small dog near her back door. The poor creature appeared to be hurt, although not serious ly. When she reached down, he licked her hand and let her pick him up. She took him into the house, made him a comfortable bed and fed him.

Over the next few days, the dog got frisk ier. As she opened the door one morning, the little guy zipped out side and ran away. The woman said, “Why you ungrateful little cuss! You left without so much as a ‘thank you’ bark for all I did.”

Later that day, she heard a scratching at the back door. When she opened it, there was her little friend, wagging his tail and jumping. And behind him, he’d brought along six of his friends — all in need of food and care.

Now, that dog was a little evangelist. He

knew the source of food and healing and brought others to experience it as well. If only we Christians were wise enough to do this to our friends and neighbors, to lead them to Jesus, who nourishes and heals us.

If your parish has a blessing of animals, attend it. If not, say this shortened one from “Prayers for the Domestic Church” by Father Ed Hays:

“May we bless this animal with a No ah-like protection from all that might harm him/her. . . . May we never treat (name) as a dumb animal, but rather let us seek to learn his/her language and to be a student of all the secrets that he/ she knows.

“May God’s abun dant blessing rest upon this creature who will be a companion for us in the journey of life. Amen.”

Afterwards, reward these companion(s) with a treat . . . or two!

Our desire for God is written on each human heart

BRUNO

c. 1030-1101

Bruno was born to nobility in Cologne, Ger many. After studies in France, he was ordained a priest and about 1056 began a 20-year stint teaching theology at Reims, France. But when Bruno denounced the archbishop for simony, he was forced to leave.

With six companions, he withdrew to Chartreuse, France, to found the Car thusian order combining solitary and communal living. In 1090, Pope Urban II summoned him to Rome as an adviser, but Bruno was unhap py away from his order. He was allowed to start another charterhouse in Calabria, Italy, where he later died.

St.

Paul was a prisoner for the Gospel who willingly en dured humiliation and hardship out of love for Jesus Christ.

His example be gins a long stream of courageous disciples of Jesus who have en dured imprisonment and martyrdom up and down the centuries. Their courage contin ues in our own time in the bold witness of many modern-day Christians.

Take the example of Jesuit Father Walter Ciszek, an American priest who went to Rus sia as a missionary in the mid-20th century. He began his ministry in Poland just as World War II began and as

JEM SULLIVAN

the war unfolded, he entered Russia, even as many were fleeing the country.

There he began, in secret, his priestly min istry of hearing con fessions, conducting

retreats and engaging in parish ministry, all of which were illegal and dangerous. He was arrested on false charges of espionage and spent more than 20 years in prison and hard labor in the gulag.

Like St. Paul and countless persecuted Christians, the hard ships of imprisonment, torture and hard labor did not stop Father Ciszek from continuing his priestly ministry.

In his memoir,

titled “He Leadeth Me,”

Father Ciszek writes: “[God’s] will for us was in the twenty-four hours of each day: the people, the places, the circumstances he set before us in that time. Those were the things God knew were im portant to him and to us at that moment, and those were the things upon which he wanted us to act.”

St. Paul reminds us that this gift of faith is to be deepened con stantly so that it burns like a bright flame. So, Paul writes: “I remind you, to stir into flame the gift of God that you have through the impo sition of my hands.”

One way we contin ue to stir into flame the gift of faith is by

remaining close to the word of God. Paul en courages us to “take as your norm the sound words that you heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Guard this rich trust with the help of the Holy Spirit that dwells within us.”

In the Gospel, the apostles make a simple and profound request when they say to Jesus, “Increase our faith.” The desire for God is written by God on each human heart.

Our hearts are rest less because only God fully satisfies the long ings of our heart. Jesus’ response reminds us to strive to grow in faith daily as we pray, “Speak to me, Lord.”

Pope challenges consultancy network to use its power to remedy crises

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Financial consultants, managers and experi enced professionals can help remedy today’s economic, environmental and social crises, and help create a more humane, just and fraternal world, Pope Francis said.

“You have the right skills to cooperate in building that nec essary bridge between the current economic paradigm — based on excessive

consumption and which is experienc ing its final phase — and the emerging paradigm centered on inclusion, mod eration, care and well-being,” he told professionals attending a meeting hosted by Deloitte Global.

“I encourage you to become ‘inte gral consultants’ in order to cooper ate in reorienting our way of living on our planet, which we have dam aged in terms of both the climate and inequality,” the pope said Sept. 22. Deloitte Global is a worldwide

network of independent firms, which together represent approximately 330,000 professionals providing fi nancial, accounting and strategic advice and assistance to businesses and clients.

Pope Francis reminded them how “the world is suffering from wors ening environmental conditions,” and many people still “live in an un dignified manner due to a lack of nu trition, health, education and other fundamental rights.”

Sullivan is a professor at The Catholic University of America.

Greatest blessings might be ones we don’t know to ask for

Iwas

on the way to see my family for the first time after being sent to Cuba as a missionary nearly three years earlier.

Indirect travel and expensive phone calls between the United States and the island had made contact with my family difficult. Needless to say, I was ready to have my feet on the ground in south Texas!

Mom and I had planned a road trip to see her only sister in Houston. Then we were going to just hang out together at home. The TV remote control would be all mine!

My flight arrived on time in Corpus Christi on the afternoon of Aug.

SISTER EVA-MARIA ACKERMAN, FSGM

Sister Eva-Maria Ackerman, FSGM, is the Delegate for Reli gious and Consecrated Life for the archdiocese.

15, 2013, the solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. My sister Rhonda

drove me immediately from the airport to the emergency room of the city’s Catholic hospital where my other sister, Mona, was with Mom in the examining room.

Despite intense pain, Mom greeted us with her charac teristic joy. Without a clear diagnosis, the doctor sent her home

with a large bottle of liquid laxative and pain pills.

Two days later, Mom was back in the emergency room with unbearable pain. This time an image showed a large mass in her abdomen.

Her surgeon soon removed not only a fist-sized cancerous tumor but also her necrotized colon. The stoma necessary to connect a colostomy bag with her small in testines did not work. The doctor said she could not live without intestines.

My siblings and I faced the inevitable: the imminent death of our mother.

As the religious

in the family, I was chosen by my brothers and sisters to interact with the priest and to be the spokesperson with the palliative care team. Soon every one — including the grandchildren who loved “Mimi” and her sister who arrived from Houston — came together to prepare to surrender our moth er, grandmother and sister back to God.

Before Mom was taken off life support, the hospital chaplain anointed her, led us in prayer and encour aged each person in the room to say what they needed or want ed to say to her, even though she never re gained consciousness

after the surgery. One by one, we said our goodbyes.

At 5:25 p.m. on Aug. 21, the vigil of the memorial of the Queenship of the Bless ed Virgin Mary, the Lord — and I believe, his mother — came for Mom.

Despite the com plexities of my mis sionary situation, God gave me the unexpect ed gift of accompany ing Mom in the last days of her life.

Mother Mary led me through the fourth and fifth glorious mys teries of her rosary, and at the end, grasped Mom’s hand and took her away to heaven.

World Youth Day: A transformative experience like few others

About10 years ago, I was constantly praying for and about my vocation.

After I had finally given up and told God, “OK, I’m OK with being single for the rest of my life,” it was then that he brought my wife Rebecca into the picture. I was really OK with being single, too. However, it was when I gave it to God that the fruits of that prayer came to light. Too many times we ask God for what we want, and not what he wants for us.

Spending time in prayer is not the only way for you to discern your vocation. People

RICK CHEEK

Rick Cheek is the consultant for the office of evangelization and Catholic formation of youth.

discerning will often make a pilgrimage to a holy place to spend time in silence or with other people to fig ure out where God is

DO WHATEVER HE TELLS YOU

Day together. It was through prayer and that pilgrimage that Jared knew that this was his calling.

The joy he experi enced being a part of this time with millions of Catholics and other seminarians from all over the world was incredible.

calling them.

I was very blessed to spend time with my oldest son Jared at World Youth Day in Cologne, Germany, in 2005 before he died from a tragic automo bile accident. Jared was in his second year of seminary when we attended World Youth

Pope Benedict XVI’s message to the young people still has so much meaning today and every day: “Do not be deterred from taking part in Sunday Mass, and help others to discover it, too. This is because the Eucha rist releases the joy that we need so much, and we must learn to grasp it ever more

deeply; we must learn to love it.”

Those are memories I will cherish for as long as I live.

You too can make those same memo ries with your son or daughter. The next World Youth Day is just around the corner. If they have been pray ing about where God is leading them, Lisbon and Fatima, Portugal, would be a perfect pil grimage destination.

When you really think about it, World Youth Day is more than just a day. It’s a week filled with speak ers, Mass and worship with people from 150 countries around the world.

Wow! Just, wow!

You will experience a transformation that will last a lifetime.

That’s what Jared expe rienced when he went in 2005. The theme for World Youth Day 2023 is: “Mary rose up and went with haste” (Lk 1:38).

In these next three years of Eucharistic Revival, make haste to grow deeper in your love of the eucharistic Lord.

I’m looking forward to seeing the transfor mation that will take place in the young and older people who will experience World Youth Day for the first time next year.

Catholic schools have important role to teach the truth

“Doyou swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth?”

About 15 years ago, I received the oftendreaded summons for jury duty. I was a Catholic school princi pal and was not excited to fulfill this duty. However, I went to the courthouse on the designated day. With no option of skirting this duty, I offered a prayer to God to use me in whatever way he saw fit.

At 8 a.m. sharp, someone began read ing off the names of those who were to report to Courtroom 1.

FROM THE SUPER

VINCE CASCONE

Vince Cascone is the superinten dent of archdiocesan schools.

About 70 people were sent to this courtroom out of a pool of about 300. As my name was called, I quickly went to Courtroom 1, repeating

my previous prayer to be used in whatever way God saw fit.

After a brief delay, the judge and attor neys began the process of voir dire, which translated means “to speak the truth.” This is the examination of prospective jurors to determine who is

qualified to serve in a particular case. As this process was being completed, I again prayed to be used in whatever way God saw fit.

As the last of 12 people to be called, I immediately went to the jury box. As I sus pected from questions asked during voir dire, the case was focused on the alleged abuse of a young child.

Sparing the horrific case details, our jury was sent to deliber ate after two days of testimony. The major ity of the evidence the prosecution presented focused on the alleged victim’s forensic interview that was

conducted when she was just 3 years old, as well as her testimony during the trial when she was just 5 years old.

Eleven jurors were convinced of the defen dant’s guilt, with one saying he just could not take the word of such a young child.

As the foreman of the jury, I ultimately shared my thoughts.

As a parent of six chil dren and a principal of a school with 500 stu dents, determining the truth or lies of young people was nearly a daily exercise. I shared why I felt the child was being honest and why I thought the man was guilty.

Eventually, our jury was unanimous: guilty.

In my series of arti cles during this 202223 school year, I will be focusing on the topic of truth. In a society that often preaches that there is no univer sal truth and, in fact, that each person has his or her own truth, our Catholic schools have an important role in working with par ents to teach children to recognize, acknowl edge and embrace the truth.

My next article on this topic will be in the Nov. 4 edition of The Leaven.

Preparing principals to prevent the unthinkable

By Joe Bollig joe.bollig@theleaven.org

KANSAS

CITY, Kan. — Answer this one quickly: Who is in charge of school safety?

Possible answers include the staff, teachers, principal, school board or the superintendent. They’re all good answers, and they’re all right — but they’re also all wrong.

No “one” is in charge of school safety. Rather, everyone is.

“It starts with a commitment on ev eryone’s part, every school employee and I would venture to say every stu dent as well,” said Dan Carney, director of safety and security for Blue Valley Schools in Johnson County.

How can students help? They are often the first to notice if a classmate is struggling. If they know they can go to a trusted teacher or administrator with their observations, that might help plenty.

“You need everyone involved,” said Carney. “Everybody should be an un dercover security guard for school. If you hire someone in uniform, that’s fine, but everybody should play that role who works in the school and at tends the school. And they should be committed to the safety of that school.”

This is only one of the insights Carney shared during his 90-minute presentation, “Stopping School Vio lence in its Tracks,” during the annual archdiocesan principals’ kickoff event on Aug. 2 at Holy Trinity Parish in Lenexa.

Some 50 Catholic school principals, presidents, administrators, archdioc esan school office personnel and mem bers of the Catholic Education Founda tion attended.

Carney described his presentation as “a comprehensive approach to pre venting school violence as well as re sponding and recovering from acts of school violence.”

Carney has spent 37 years as a com missioned law enforcement officer with the Overland Park Police Depart ment, director of safety and security for Blue Valley Schools and as chief of police for the Blue Valley Campus Police Department.

School safety is on everyone’s minds since the recent mass shooting on May 24 at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas.

“We [had the presentation] because a number of principals reached out and wanted to touch base on the safety pro cedures,” said Vince Cascone, superin tendent of archdiocesan schools. “With the events at Uvalde, Texas, happening recently, it’s an important thing for us to regularly update our safety proce dures and make sure we’re discussing and reviewing them.”

Cascone says archdiocesan schools are safe but the school office continues

[IN] HAVING DRILLS AND PREPARING FACULTY AND STUDENTS FOR THIS KIND OF SITUATION, THERE IS A FINE BALANCE BETWEEN HAVING THEM BE PREPARED AND KNOWING WHAT TO DO, BUT NOT HAVING THEM LIVE IN FEAR.

CATHY FITHIAN PRINCIPAL, CHRIST THE KING SCHOOL, KANSAS CITY, KANSAS

to update procedures and works with Catholic Mutual Group insurance com pany to ensure that each school takes safety measures. Currently, his office is revising school safety plans.

Although threats to school safety come in different forms — such as fires, storms and disasters both natural and man-made — Carney’s presentation fo cused on the threat of an “active shoot er,” someone who brings a gun to a school to wound and kill.

There are many layers of school se curity, said Carney. It starts with the in frastructure and includes such things

as lockable doors and windows, the layout of the school, fencing, cameras, card access and alarms. It can include a school resource officer, policies, proce dures and drills.

But the most important layer or in gredient of school safety is building re lationships of trust with students.

“The vast majority of school shoot ings are perpetrated by students who are already in the building or have just been recently suspended or expelled from the school,” said Carney.

“The FBI at one time said it was 95 percent . . . especially at the high school and middle school level. The perpe trators of school shootings are most often students. . . . So if you put all your money and effort into just securing the building you may not be getting to the heart of the problem.”

Adults who have trusted relation ships with students will know what’s baseline normal in the school popula tion and what isn’t. Students may notice something “off” with a fellow student or see a possible threat or problem on social media, and they’ll confide to a trusted adult.

“If you build these relationships with kids they’ll tell you,” said Carney. “The relationships we build are key to preventing school violence.”

School safety is a high priority at Christ the King School in Kansas City, Kansas, said principal Cathy Fithian. They do intruder drills three times a year, as required by the state, and have

remodeled an entryway for greater se curity. The archdiocesan school office provides a general set of procedures that archdiocesan schools adapt to their particular situations.

“[In] having drills and preparing faculty and students for this kind of situation, there is a fine balance be tween having them be prepared and knowing what to do, but not having them live in fear,” said Fithian. “Our kids are stressed and anxious enough. They don’t have to worry about some thing that may never happen. . . . [This presentation] alleviated a little bit of my anxiety, but I’m always wary about who is on our property.”

Andy Tylicki, president of St. James Academy in Lenexa, said his school con tinues to build its culture of safety as it also builds on its mission of passing on the Catholic faith to their students.

Additionally, the school has a new, secure entry point. It does active shoot er training on an annual basis and has a close relationship with the Lenexa police and fire departments.

“We work really hard on building relationships through our community system,” said Tylicki. “We believe that’s an area that allows students to have trusted adults that they can go to if they have concerns about anything in the building. We continue to build trust between the faculty and the students — it’s something we’re always working on.”

CNS PHOTO/MARCO BELLO, REUTERS

Archbishop Gustavo GarcÌa-Siller of San Antonio comforts people in Uvalde, Texas, outside the SSGT Willie de Leon Civic Center, where students had been transported from Robb Elementary School after a shooting May 24. On Aug. 2, some 50 Catholic school principals, presidents, administrators, archdiocesan school office personnel and members of the Catholic Education Foundation attended a presentation called “Stopping School Vio lence in its Tracks” as part of the annual archdiocesan principals’ kickoff event at Holy Trinity Parish in Lenexa.