10-01-10 Vol. 32 No. 9

www.theleaven.com | Newspaper of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas | Vol. 32, No. 9 october 1, 2010

The flavor of guilt

Sto ry by Da n Ma d d e n

|

A

p h otos by J. D. B enning

TCHISON — It started out as a good old-fashioned Catholic guilt trip.

Benedictine Brother Leven Harton, in the process of planning a mission trip to El Salvador for a group of Benedictine College students, sent boxes of peanut brittle and other treats to his income-earning friends with a note that began something like this: “Merry Christmas to you! As you can see, I’ve sent you delicious treats to munch on during the holiday season

— some tasty peanut brittle, decadent peanut clusters and mouth-watering cracker jacks. What is the purpose of such a generous act? To guilt you into giving money to a worthy cause, of course! The high-quality sweets you have received are made with monk-

The nut

Benedictine Brother Leven Harton battled deer and a short Kansas growing season to harvest peanuts for his peanut brittle.

Hot stuff

Brother Leven works over a hot stove to make peanut brittle. The monk spent months perfecting his recipe into something edible.

grown Kansas peanuts and pecans — nuts sown by your friend, Brother Leven Harton himself.”

Slathering it on like his pre-hardened brittle, the young Brother then delivered his cradle-Catholic closer: “Hours and hours of intense, back-breaking labor went into the production of this candy just for you. Can you possibly refuse to offer a gift in return?”

Turns out, they couldn’t. Recipients of the letter responded generously.

Brother Leven’s peanut-laden pleas helped fund mission trips, Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOTurn to “Young monk” on page 6

2 archbishop

THE LEAVEN • october 1, 2010

THE LEAVEN • october 1, 2010

SECOND FRONT PAGE 3

LIFE WILL BE VICTORIOUS

T

‘Little Way’ offers path to holiness for us all

welve years ago, an American by the name of Tara Lipinski surprised the world by becoming the youngest woman ever to win the gold medal for figure skating at the Winter Olympics.

Archbishop Naumann’s weekly calendar

Oct. 2 Sisters, Servants of Mary gala — Church of the Ascension, Overland Park

Having her daughter train to compete in the Olympics was very disruptive to family life. Several times, she and her husband seriously considered not having Tara continue her skating I remember watching the final comcareer. At each critical moment in their petition that year and being struck by decision-making process, they would the enormous pressure on the contesask St. Thérèse to help them undertants, as each of them burst into tears stand God’s will for their family. In the after completing her program. The end, Pat said that she felt St. Thérèse only exception was 16-year-old Tara was leading them to continue Tara’s Lipinski. She had a serenity about her. career — not because the gold medal Tara truly appeared to be enjoying the was important, but because St. Thérèse moment. wanted to use Tara to The following bring others to Jesus.

‘The Shepherd’s Voice’ report appeared in a Tara Lipinski was Catholic newspaper not the only young programming notes after Tara’s victory person ever to find Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann’s at the Olympics: “In inspiration in St. radio program on KEXS 1090 AM the first part of Thérèse. Many deairs at 10 a.m. on Sunday and is her figure skating cades before, a young repeated at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday competition on Feb. woman, who was and 3:30 p.m. on Thursday.

18 when Lipinski born in 1910 in what had just completed is today the Republic what she described as the best short of Macedonia and given the baptismal program in her life, she was shown name Agnes, upon entering religious a replay of her most difficult jump life, chose the name Teresa after the combination and asked what was going Little Flower. Sister Teresa would through her mind as she entered it. become known to the entire world as Before a national television audience Mother Teresa of Calcutta. she answered that she was concentratMother Teresa was attracted to St. ing on making the jump and begging Thérèse, as so many others have been, St. Thérèse for help.” because of the spirituality that she Today, Oct. 1 is the feast of St. practiced and taught, calling it the Thérèse of Lisieux, popularly known Little Way. In essence, the Little Way as the Little Flower. Tara Lipinski and is doing ordinary tasks with extraordiher family had a deep devotion to nary love.

St. Thérèse. In an interview after the It is an excellent spirituality for Olympics, this is how Tara described every baptized, confirmed Catholic. It her relationship with the saint: “With has struck a chord with so many beeverything going on, with what people cause it opens a path for holiness in the think about me and my skating, I ordinary events of everyday life — no feel at ease because I think she (St. matter our age or circumstances. All of Thérèse) will help me. . . . When I go us can do ordinary tasks with extraorout there, I think of her. When I’m dinary love, if we choose to do so. competing, it helps me because I know St. Thérèse entered a Carmelite she’s with me. She wants me to do this. monastery at the young age of 15.

It makes me feel calmer, and I go for She had been given permission by her everything.” bishop to enter monastic life at such Tara’s mother, Pat Lipinski, also a young age because of her persistent has a great devotion to St. Thérèse. petitioning. While making a pilgrimage

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Oct. 3 Mass — Haskell Indian Nations, Lawrence Project Andrew — St. Matthew, Topeka Oct. 4 Vespers and meeting with high school boards Oct. 5 St. Lawrence Campus Center meeting Vespers and dinner — St. Benedict’s Abbey

Oct. 6 Vocation Day — Christ the King, Topeka Confirmation — St. Joseph, Nortonville, and Immaculate Conception, Valley Falls

Oct. 7-8 Kansas Catholic Conference and province meeting — Wichita to Rome with her father, she actually asked Pope Leo XIII — much to her dad’s embarrassment — to intervene with the bishop on her behalf.

St. Thérèse died of tuberculosis at the tender age of 24. In her lifetime, she was completely unknown to the world. For a portion of her life as a religious Sister, she was given the responsibility of being the mistress of novices. In this role, she had the duty to help those entering the convent to grow in their spiritual life. It was with the novices that she first articulated her Little Way to holiness.

Before her death, her religious superior asked her to write a short biographical account of her spiritual journey. After her death, the Sisters of her convent sent a copy of her autobiography to other Carmelite monasteries. Eventually, the nuns of these convents began to share copies of St. Thérèse’s writings with lay friends. Her writings became enormously popular

Oct. 8-9 Jesus Caritas bishops’ prayer group — Wichita Oct. 9 Mass for Sister Yesinia’s perpetual vows — Sisters, Servants of Mary Oct. 10 Installation Masses for Father Mark Mertes — Blessed Sacrament, Christ the King, and Our Lady and St. Rose parishes, Kansas City, Kan. Project Andrew — St. Agnes, Roeland Park

Archbishop Keleher’s weekly calendar

Oct. 1 Practice for ordination — St. Mary-St. Anthony Church, Kansas City, Kan. Oct. 2 Ordination of Father David Kemna of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter — St. Mary-St. Anthony Church Oct. 7 Teach class at Mundelein Seminary because people found her spirituality immensely practical. St. Thérèse helped ordinary people recognize more clearly a path to holiness.

Being a true disciple of Jesus Christ is more challenging than winning an Olympic gold medal. It requires that we love God and others with all of our hearts in the everyday circumstances of our lives. If we are alert to them, the Lord is providing us each day with numerous opportunities to do ordinary tasks with extraordinary love for him and for others. Following this Little Way will give us peace and joy even in the midst of the pressures and adversities of our lives.

If you have not already, perhaps on this feast of the Little Flower you may wish to practice the spirituality that worked so well for St. Thérèse, Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta and even a 16-year-old figure skater. No matter the circumstances of our lives, we can all strive to do ordinary tasks with extraordinary love.

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Pregnancy center offers women lifechanging alternatives

Donna Kelsey, executive director of the Wyandotte Pregnancy Clinic, explains how all the baby clothes hanging behind her were donated to the clinic and will be distributed to clients.

More than 550 attend first fundraiser for pregnancy clinic

By Marc and Julie Anderson Special to The Leaven

OVERLAND PARK — Whether by design, or merely coincidence, the telephone number of the Wyandotte Pregnancy Clinic in Kansas City, Kan., is the first one listed in the yellow pages under the heading “abortion alternatives.”

For some reason, said Donna Kelsey, executive director of the clinic, many women miss the word “alternative” and call the clinic with the intention of obtaining a referral for an abortion.

Such was the case with Nikki.

Without a job or a home, and already unable to support her teenage son, the 35-year-old had no intention of keeping the baby she was carrying.

Determined to have an abortion, she found the Wyandotte Pregnancy Clinic online. She made an appointment for the next day. The appointment would change her life.

Nikki shared her story at the inaugural fundraising banquet for the Wyandotte Pregnancy Clinic Sept. 16 at the Overland Park Convention Center. A total of 560 people attended the fundraiser to help the clinic continue its mission “to reach out to those clients seeking truth about the decision they are facing, especially those abortion-minded clients.”

The clinic offers counseling, education and material aid for everyone who passes through its door and seeks “to meet the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of those in a crisis pregnancy.”

When Nikki arrived at the clinic, she said, the trained counselors never once judged her — but they did provide her with information she’d had no access to before.

First, she was offered a sonogram in which she saw her unborn baby’s heartbeat on the screen. But she remained unconvinced, believing the ultrasound to “clearly be a trick of some sort.”

But then Nikki was offered a chance to see fetal models — but not just any fetal models. These models show an unborn baby at various stages of development in utero.

“I thought, ‘Wow! This is not a blob!’” said Nikki. “I decided to think a little longer.”

But it was a book that Nikki noticed laying out at the clinic about abortion procedures that really turned the tide.

The outside cover warned that the book contained explicit photos.

“Me, being nosy, opened the book,” she said.

Leaven photo by Marc Anderson

When Nikki (center) walked through the doors of the Wyandotte Pregnancy Clinic in Kansas City, Kan., more than a year ago, she was 35 years old — without a home or a job or any means to support herself and her 14-year-old son Trebon (right). During the clinic’s inaugural fundraising banquet held Sept. 16 at the Overland Park Convention Center, Nikki shared her story, saying ultimately it was the free sonogram offered by the clinic that convinced her to change her mind about having an abortion. Fighting back tears, Nikki said she cannot imagine life without her daughter, Tayelor, who is now a happy and healthy one-year-old. The crowd of 560 gave her a standing ovation.

It was the photos she saw in that book, said Nikki, fighting back tears, that made her realize she couldn’t abort her baby.

“It really is not a blob,” said Nikki.

“There was no way I could go through with [the abortion] knowing what I knew.”

Although she had changed her decision about having an abortion, Nikki told the banquet attendees, she was still depressed and trying to figure out how she would care for this unborn baby and her son. The help she received from the clinic in the form of baby clothes, food and counseling — all offered in love —was a gift beyond measure.

“For me, that was amazing . . . just to know that someone was there and cares for you when they don’t have to. . . . I had everything to bring my baby home,” Nikki said.

Where she previously had had no hope, God provided in ways unimaginable to her.

“God has a way of easing you. . . . He knows which way to go. You have just to let go and let God,” she said.

Those in attendance at the banquet also had the opportunity to hear remarks from Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann, who was instrumental in the founding of the interdenominational clinic. He praised its work and that of its volunteers.

Kelsey also expressed her gratitude for everyone who works, volunteers or gives aid to the clinic. With an operating budget of $200,000, the clinic is always in need of support — be it financial, material or spiritual.

Currently, the clinic also has a dream of purchasing a mobile sonogram unit.

The price tag? A mere $150,000.

But the benefits, Kelsey said, would

Publication No. (ISSN0194-9799)

Editor Reverend Mark Goldasich, stl frmark@theleaven.com

Senior Reporter Joe Bollig joe@theleaven.com

Advertising Representative Jennifer Siebes jennifer@theleaven.com

President Most Reverend Joseph F. Naumann

Managing Editor Anita McSorley anita@theleaven.com

Production Manager Todd Habiger todd@theleaven.com

Reporter Kara Hansen kara@theleaven.com

be priceless. The unit would be driven all over the Kansas City metropolitan area on both sides of the state line.

(Currently, about 54 percent of clients come from Wyandotte County; another 27 percent come from Missouri.) The unit would feature a pullout bed with a machine to offer free sonograms to women in the hope they would change their mind about abortion.

For Nikki, the sonogram offered to her by the clinic was the first step in changing her mind about having an abortion — an abortion she now cannot believe she ever considered.

“My daughter is a blessing. I just couldn’t imagine my life without her,” she said.

For more information about the Wyandotte Pregnancy Clinic, or to make a contribution, call (913) 2878287. Its Web site can be found at: www.wyandottepregnancyclinic.org.

Published weekly September through May, excepting the Friday the week after Thanksgiving, and the Friday after Christmas; biweekly June through August. Address communications to: The Leaven, 12615 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City, KS 66109. Phone: (913) 7211570; fax: (913) 721-5276; or e-mail at: sub@theleaven.com.

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4 LOCAL NEWS

THE LEAVEN • october 1, 2010

THE LEAVEN • October 1, 2010

Changing of the guard

Sister Maureen Hall takes over as community director of the SCLs

Sisters of Charity at a glance

By Joe Bollig Leaven staff

LEAVENWORTH — The plaque on President Harry S Truman’s desk is as good an encapsulation as any of a chief executive’s job: The Buck Stops Here.

For the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth, the buck stops at the desk of Sister Maureen Hall who became the new community director on July 19. She succeeded Sister Joan Sue Miller, SCL, who served for 12 years.

Unlike other positions of authority and responsibility, it’s not lonely at the top for Sister Maureen. Her council of six, elected or appointed at the same time, has her back. Sister Maureen herself was a councilor from 1992 to 1998, and from 2004 to 2010.

“I would never say that I do it alone,” she said. “As community director I have the responsibilities that go with the office, but we work together as a team to strengthen the community life of the Sisters and Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth associates. We work together to further the mission.”

Many things come across that desk where the buck must stop, but Sister Maureen’s mission is shared by all the Sisters and lay associates: to work together to strengthen the life of the Charities’ community and its mission in the church.

When many Catholics think about the Sisters of Charity, what readily comes to mind are their many sponsored works.

These include: the Sisters of Charity Health System, based in Lenexa; the Mount St. Vincent Home in Denver; and the University of Saint Mary in Leavenworth. All these sponsored entities have their own governing structures, but Sister Maureen serves as a board member on several.

The agenda that Sister Maureen has for the Sisters of Charity over the next six years of her term is not entirely her own.

Rather, it came from 145 delegates, who decided on certain “chapter acts” at the Charities’ June chapter meeting, which was held in Atchison.

This chapter meeting’s focus was on strategic planning that is in line with the Charities’ vision statement: We, the Sister of Charity of Leavenworth, who love the poor, hear a cry and feel an urgency in these times to unite our voices and to

The Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth, founded in 1858, is a community of women religious with a special commitment to serve persons who are poor and to work for justice.

• Roots: The order was founded

by St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louise de Marillac in 17th-century France; the local community was founded by Mother Xavier Ross, who brought the Sisters from Nashville, Tenn., to Leavenworth in 1858.

• Locations: The motherhouse is in Leavenworth, with other locations in 10 states and Peru.

• Ministries: Parish and diocesan administration, health care, medicine, nursing, education, social services, spiritual development, and others • Vowed religious: 288 members • Lay associates: 238 men and women • Sponsored ministries include the University of Saint Mary and the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth Health System, with 11 hospitals and four clinics in four states

Snapshot: Sister Maureen Hall, SCL The new officers of the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth are: (front, from left) Sister Maureen Hall, community director, and Sister Peg Johnson, secretary; (middle) Sister Jean Anne Panisko, treasurer, and Sister Eileen Hurley, councilor; (back) Sister Nancy Bauman, first councilor, and Sister Eileen Haynes, councilor. speak out, to live and move as women of hope.

“The community came together to plan and ‘vision’ what we wanted to see happen in the next six years,” said Sister Maureen. “We took the collected wisdom of [the delegates] and we decided on certain actions that we want to [undertake].”

These actions were accomplished with a lot of “deep sharing and intentional listening,” she said.

“We are also committed to educating ourselves and others in the study of the sacredness of creation — creation-cen-

tered spirituality,” said Sister Maureen.

“As part of this, we see ourselves as advocating for nuclear disarmament.”

A few other goals include: working to deepen their relationship with God and each other by a study of the theology of Eucharist and Scripture; looking at how to adapt the spirit of the Charities’ originators to the here and now; studying the immigration issue in order to take a position and work with the bishops for a just resolution; and working to foster vocations.

Sister Ann Cecile DeDonder, SCL

Appointments Father John A. Riley, chancellor, announces the following assignments made by Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann: Father James Shaughnessy, pastor of Annunciation Parish in Frankfort, St. Monica-St. Elizabeth Parish in Blue Rapids, and St. Joseph Parish, Lillis, is appointed additionally as pastor of St. Gregory Parish,

Sister Maureen Hall, SCL, was born and raised in Billings, Mont.

She became a Sister of Charity of Leavenworth in 1961 and ministered in primary education in Kansas and four other states. She was the community formation director during the 1980s and worked in pastoral ministry from 1999 to 2000 at Good Shepherd Parish in Shawnee.

She has a bachelor’s in education from the University of Saint Mary and a master’s in religious studies from Gonzaga University in Spokane, Wash. She has done continuing education in theology at the Chicago Theological Union, with a practicum at Holy Family Catholic Worker House in Kansas City, Mo.

LEAVENWORTH — Sister Ann Cecile DeDonder, 90, a Sister of Charity of Leavenworth, died Sept. 24 at the motherhouse here.

Isabel Rose DeDonder was born on Feb. 7, 1920, in St. Marys, George Joseph and Cecilia Marie Floersch obituary to DeDonder. She entered the religious community of the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth on Dec. 8, 1939, and, as Sister Ann Cecile DeDonder, made her profession of vows on July 19, 1941. Sister Ann Cecile spent many years teaching on the elementary level at parish schools in the West and Midwest before returning to the motherhouse in 1985. She retired to Ross Hall in February 2006.

Marysville, and St. Malachy Parish, Beattie, effective Sept. 17.

Father Patrick Sullivan, parochial vicar of Holy Trinity Parish in Lenexa, is appointed parochial administrator of Annunciation Parish in Frankfort, St. Monica-St. Elizabeth Parish in Blue Rapids, and St. Joseph, Lillis, effective Oct. 1.

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Apps bring the church to a hightech society

By Kara Hansen Leaven staff

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Technology-savvy Catholics in the archdiocese are keeping in touch with Christ in cutting-edge ways.

Barbara Berg uses several apps on her iPhone that have given her a portable Catholic reference of sorts. Berg, the director of religious education at St. Dominic in Holton and St. Francis Xavier in Mayetta, uses the iMissal app to follow the Scripture readings at daily Mass.

“I often have a hard time hearing the lector and with this app I have the daily readings in my hand,” said Berg. “Our parish missalette gives the reading citations and the psalm for each day, but not the text of the readings.”

Berg also uses the iBreviaryPro app, which includes the Liturgy of the Hours, a set of prayers largely based on the psalms that Catholics can pray throughout the day.

Berg said she finds it helpful because it can make prayer more portable.

“If I am somewhere without what I regularly use to pray the [Divine] Office I can use this app,” said Berg.

Pat Padley, a parishioner at the Church of the Ascension in Overland Park, said he finds Catholic apps helpful by creating an opportunity to access Catholic spiritual resources in a modern, current method.

“I think that people believe that the church doesn’t have a relevant message anymore in this new high-tech society,” said Padley. “However, in reality, the message is even more important and more relevant. The thing is that the church’s message doesn’t need to change . . . but the way we access it and present it to people does.”

Padley, who works in the social media field and produces his own podcast, said he thinks using technology — like smartphone apps — can only serve to help Catholics in our culture keep connected to their faith.

“It’s presenting the beauty of the church in a new way, using new communications tools,” he said. “That’s why people shouldn’t be scared of it; the church has done this for years. It started with word-ofmouth, then went to books, then to radio/ TV, now it’s new media.”

Padley said he uses iPieta, Magnificat, the Catholic Directory and CatholicTV apps currently, but iPieta is his favorite.

“It is the best Catholic app, period,” he said. “Imagine having every Catholic document you ever wanted in one place. This is that to a T. You have the catechism, almost any prayer/devotion you want, the calendar of all the readings . . . and the whole Bible, all in one app. It’s quite useful.”

While having access to so many faithbuilding resources at his fingertips is an advantage, Padley said the method will still take some getting used to for fellow Catholics, particularly those unfamiliar with the world of Catholic smartphone apps.

“I’m sure it looks a little odd when people see me or my good friend Paul Camarata use the [Magnificat app] during Mass,” said Padley. “People are probably like, ‘Why are these guys texting during Mass?’

Instead we’re diving deep into Scriptures and following along.”

The sky is the limit for future use of Catholic smartphone apps, but Padley sees it as only helping the ministry and mission of the Catholic Church.

“Someday, you may find that a traveling priest pulls out his iPad and celebrates Mass with it,” he said. “And to me, that would be perfectly fine.”

LOCAL NEWS 5

‘I can pray the Office anywhere, anytime’ Continued from page 16 ings and a treasury of Catholic prayers, has been downloaded more than 200,000 times for the iPhone, as well as the Android and Symbian operating systems.

While iBreviary is certainly among the most popular of the Catholic applications, or “apps,” it has a lot of company. A quick look through Apple’s App Store for the iPhone shows more than 300 Catholicrelated apps, many dedicated to popular devotions like the rosary or Divine Mercy, as well as the saints, Bible verses and more.

For those who faithfully pray the Divine Office throughout the day, Universalis may be an app of choice. Although it costs more than most apps ($24.99 for the iPhone), it gives you, in effect, the entire multi-volume breviary on your phone or iPod (as well as access to the Universalis Web site, daily e-mails and more). Like other breviary apps, the prayers are laid out in order for each hour, so there’s no need to jump back and forth to different sections, as in the books. A free app from Universalis called Catholic Calendar includes that day’s Divine Office readings.

Bringing the Liturgy of the Hours into the new millennium has been the life’s work of Universalis creator Martin Kochanski since 1995, when he discovered a second-hand breviary at a bookshop at Downside Abbey, a Benedictine monastery in his home country of England.

“I always thought a breviary was something that priests and monks used, but I bought it anyway because it was Easter and the joy of the Resurrection was all around,” he said in an e-mail interview from London, adding that he was “blown away by it.”

“I wanted to share the experience,” he said.

Initial plans for a CD-ROM version instead became a Web site, featuring his own translation of the Latin, and now a portable phone app.

The Web site has free content, including a week’s worth of Divine Office prayers. A onetime fee gives you everything you’d get in a hard copy of the breviary and more.

Nancy Piccione, a writer and blogger from central Illinois, has been a Universalis fan for years, since getting the version for her old Palm Pilot personal digital assistant in the days before smart phones. These days, she’s got the iPhone app.

“What I love most about having the Liturgy of the Hours on my iPhone is that I can pray the Office anywhere, anytime,” she told Our Sunday Visitor. “So if I get somewhere early or have some time waiting for an appointment, I can pray part of the office with a couple of clicks. More often, I usually pray out loud night prayer with the kids at bedtime. And since the phone needs no light, I can do it in a dark room. It’s a really nice way that technology has enhanced our family prayer life.”

When told of Piccione’s comments, Kochanski said such feedback impacts his work “immeasurably.”

“Stories like this remind me that what I’m doing is not just a pious hobby but something that has changed lives,” he said. “I know people who carry Universalis into China or Tehran, where the possession of books would be dangerous. Elderly priests who have resigned themselves to never being able to read their breviary again find that with a high-contrast screen and a gigantic font they can see the words once more.

“There aren’t really any words to describe the effect this sort of story has on me. ‘Humbling’ only begins to scratch the surface.”

Reprinted with permission from the Aug. 15, 2010, issue of Our Sunday Visitor.

6 LOCAL NEWS

THE LEAVEN • october 1, 2010

THE LEAVEN • october 1, 2010

Young monk carries on ancient tradition

Parish works to give parishioners a lift

By Paula Glover

Continued from page 1 CUS) conferences and other worthy ventures. Especially popular was the peanut brittle, a recipe Brother Leven received from his mother.

Now he’s taking Mom’s recipe to a wider audience in the form of “Benedict’s Brittle,” a new home ministry to support the works and life of prayer at St. Benedict’s Abbey in Atchison.

Packaged in tins bearing the image of a pious-looking St. Benedict holding a plump peanut, “Benedict’s Brittle” arrives this autumn, just in time for the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons.

Before launching his initiative, however, Brother Leven visited the monks of Subiaco Abbey in Arkansas, who have sold peanut brittle for several years.

There he learned all he could about the business.

“They have more orders than they can serve,” Brother Leven said. “I came away really fired up. I realized that after production, packaging and shipping, this can still be a lucrative cottage industry for our community.”

Brother Leven did considerable cost analysis and market research before proposing his plan, knowing that it would take time away from his studies and formation. But when he reported back to his Benedictine superiors, he received the hearty approval of Father Denis Meade, his junior master, and Abbot Barnabas Senecal, who were both impressed with his resourcefulness.

In true Benedictine spirit, Brother Leven’s business has sprung from humble beginnings.

Like centuries of monk/entrepreneurs before him, if his peanut brittle business meets with sweet success, it will be the result of almost obstinate persistence.

You see, in 2007, the young monk originally set out to make peanut butter, with the intention of growing the peanuts at the Kansas abbey — where the growing season is too short and the muddy, clay soil too dense. Why? “I just love peanut butter!” he replied with a grin.

Two years later, after battling hungry deer and uncooperative weather,

Editor’s note: For more on Brother Leven’s work with peanuts, see the Winter 2008 issue of Kansas Monks magazine, or visit the Web site at: www.kansasmonks.org.

“Benedict’s Brittle” is available for purchase through the above Web site; by calling (913) 360-7906; or by e-mail at: brittle@kansasmonks.org.

Brother Leven is taking his mother’s peanut brittle recipe to a wider audience in the form of “Benedict’s Brittle,” a new home ministry to support the works and life of prayer at St. Benedict’s Abbey. he “succeeded” in raising a “weed farm with a few peanuts.”

But he did harvest some 10,000 usable peanuts.

Over time, he nurtured about 300 to 400 plants. The trouble was, it took about 30 plants to make just one jar of peanut butter. That’s about 70 to 80 hours of hot labor for 10 jars of peanut butter.

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Then came Mom’s visit and the peanut brittle recipe. Like a mad scientist, the young monk set to work, experimenting in the abbey kitchen. The first few batches were inedible. By Christmas, he had concocted four batches, but only one was worth eating.

“The three others were really chewy, but I didn’t want to waste them, so I set them out for the monks,” he recalls.

“Brother Robert and Brother Anthony each lost a filling eating it.”

It took a hundred or so more batches for Brother Leven to perfect his craft to the point where he felt comfortable sending his candy out for fundraisers.

But now, he says, it’s a lot better than anything you’ll buy in the store. He recently bought some from the biggest brand on the market and declared it “awful.”

“It has no character,” he said. “It’s full of preservatives.”

Brother Leven is not at all bashful about claiming that his is much better: lots of peanuts — no preservatives.

“There’s a 30-second window in the process that determines whether it’s undercooked or burned, and a candy thermometer isn’t as precise,” he explained. “I go by color and density. I’ve got it down now . . . more or less.”

While Brother Leven will have to import a lot of peanuts to supplement his own, a handful of his tasty “Carolina blacks,” home-grown out behind St. Benedict’s Abbey, will be sprinkled throughout every order he ships.

Despite some initial costs, like restructuring the abbey kitchen and purchasing tools, Brother Leven says a peanut brittle business is still a lowrisk investment for his community. He noted that he had to guarantee to his superiors that he could sell a few hundred orders in the first year to get the go-ahead.

But he’s not worried. He’s confident the abbey’s friends will help him hit his target.

Of course, if all else fails, he’s got the best of all fallback positions: good, oldfashioned Catholic guilt.

Special to The Leaven FLUSH — Many hours of volunteer work and fundraising efforts by the small parish of St. Joseph here, just east of Manhattan, culminated on Sept. 26 with the blessing and dedication of the church’s new elevator.

Parishioner Lucille Heptig has been unable to attend the church because she can’t climb the steep stairs at the front of the building.

But she was in the front row this Sunday, using the new elevator to reach the sanctuary. Then, she took the elevator to the basement for the reception that followed the Mass and blessing. Many people took a moment to visit with her during the reception.

Heptig’s son Kevin noted that the elevator was more than a practical asset — the addition actually enhanced the church’s appearance. He said that over the years many options were discussed, “but I think they went about it the right way.”

The stained-glass windows that were removed from the side entrance where the elevator was installed were used again in the elevator area.

“I can’t tell you how happy I am to see some of the parishioners who haven’t been able to be with us in church,” said parishioner Ellen Wilson.

Dale Magnett and his wife Marge were instrumental in the push for the elevator, which also includes new bathrooms in the basement and a small

Leaven photo by Paula Glover

Father John Pilcher, pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Flush, blesses the new addition that houses a much-needed elevator, while parishioners look on, including some of the elderly who will use the elevator. bathroom off the sacristy.

“It was really the Holy Spirit that led this effort,” said Dale Magnett, “and many prayers to St. Anthony the builder.”

He credited Lardner Stone in Topeka with matching the stone of the existing church. In comments during the recep-

tion, Magnett noted that people visiting the church didn’t realize that there was a new addition; it blends in so successfully.

Although discussions about the need for an elevator started almost 20 years ago, a new push was begun early in 2009 to raise the necessary $275,000.

In addition to the fundraising, many volunteers gave time to the project, which helped keep the cost down.

Father John Pilcher, pastor of St. Joseph, said that, in the end, it was a matter of justice.

“We need to help people to get into the church,” he said simply.

Divine Mercy and the death penalty

By Bishop Robert W. Finn

“T

S

he greater the misery of a soul, the greater its right to My mercy. . . . On the cross, the fountain of My Mercy was opened wide by the lance for all souls—no one have I excluded!”

“Help us O God of our salvation . . . according to thy great power, preserve those doomed to die!”

— Ps 79:9, 11

An alternative to the death penalty Prior to his intervention in St. Louis, Pope John Paul II had laid out his case for the limitation of the use of the death penalty in his 1995 encyclical “The Gospel of Life” (“Evangelium Vitae”) and in his extraordinary 1997 modification of the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC). He still allowed for the application of the death penalty as a just choice that authority may make in its responsibility to safeguard society from the unjust aggressor. Yet the revised text goes on to say: “Today, in fact, as a consequence of the possibilities which the state has for effectively preventing crime, by rendering one who has committed an offense incapable of doing harm — without definitively taking away from him the possibility of re-

across international borders each year for commercial sex or forced labor, approximately 80 percent of whom are women and children. This figure does not include the tens of thousands trafficked within their own countries. The U.N. Office of Drugs and Crimes reported in 2009 that 79 percent of all global trafficking is for sexual exploitation, with increasing numbers of children involved.

The U.S. Department of State estimates that in the last ten years 145,000 to 175,000 foreign nationals have been trafficked into the United States for commercial sexual exploitation or forced labor. Data suggests that at least 100,000 U.S. children are currently being exploited in the commercial sex trade in the United States, and another 200,000 are at risk.

By Diane Bayly

lavery was officially abolished in the United States in 1865. Yet slavery is now flourishing in the country out of public view.

— “Diary of St. Maria Faustina Kowalska: Divine Mercy in My Soul” (1182)

In January 1999, Pope John Paul II made a pastoral visit to St. Louis.

When he met with Gov. Mel Carnahan of Missouri, the Holy Father asked him to commute the death sentence of Darrell Mease, who was scheduled to be executed in the next weeks. Carnahan granted the pope’s wish, saying he was moved by the pope’s appeal for mercy.

The pope did not request a reevaluation of the merits of the condemned man’s case. Rather, he presented a simple and straightforward petition for mercy. The sentence was changed from death by lethal injection to life imprisonment without parole. The common good of society remained protected from the perpetrator. Justice was not confounded, but a higher purpose was served in putting aside the irreversible remedy of death.

The church’s stance on capital punishment has always been based on the responsibility to protect society. St. Thomas Aquinas says that the legitimate civil authority is obliged to defend people from a dangerous criminal. At the same time, he cautions, “The execution of the wicked is forbidden wherever . . . the wicked are not clearly distinguished from the good.”

Besides reminding us of well-known cases where innocent people were condemned to die, this should remind us that as Christians we are urged not to see anyone as irredeemably wicked.

Sex trafficking: The new slavery

CNS photo/Tim Hunt, Northwest Indiana Catholic

Face of death Father Tom McNally prays with death-row inmate Eric Wrinkles at Indiana State Prison in Michigan City in this Dec. 18, 2008, file photo. Wrinkles, who experienced a religious awakening in prison, was executed Dec. 11, 2009, for the 1994 murders of his estranged wife Debra, her brother Mark (Tony) Fulkerson, and Fulkerson’s wife Natalie.

God did not abolish justice. Rather, he intended by the offering of his Son to purge human justice of any sense of wrath or revenge. Time and again we see that violence begets violence in a seeming unending spiral. deeming himself — the cases in which the execution of the offender is an absolute necessity ‘are very rare, if not practically nonexistent.’”

The sworn responsibility of authority to secure the common good is not easily laid aside. But here the church, convinced that society can be protected without executing dangerous criminals, charges us to look to a less violent, less final remedy. The catechism directs us to a solution that preserves the common good without definitively curtailing the individual good of the perpetrator, offering him the opportunity for redemption. Each man, no matter how sinful and flawed, has a final purpose and call to salvation, one that we ought not too easily or unnecessarily preempt.

The above is the “ought” for laying aside the death penalty: Legitimate authority can fulfill its responsibility using lesser but sufficient means for protecting the common good. But we should add that the argument of Divine Mercy, while never violating justice, transcends the human “ought.”

Mercy surpasses justice & heals hurts The correct dispensing of justice al-

ways seeks to provide something which is well-suited to the person and the circumstance. Justice is giving each person his “due” (CCC, no. 1807). When Jesus freely submitted to human “justice,” he provided by means of his cross an act of justification that, because he was divine, satisfied all our sins.

God did not abolish justice. Rather, he intended by the offering of his Son to purge human justice of any sense of wrath or revenge. Time and again we see that violence begets violence in a seeming unending spiral. God told St. Faustina: “Mankind will not have peace until it turns with trust to My mercy.”

In the Divine Mercy, God receives and quenches human vengeance in Jesus’ own wounded heart. In this heart, which is an abyss of love, mercy overcomes hatred. Mercy brings healing that is impossible on a merely human level. Divine Mercy can restore hope, because it flows from the heart of the risen Christ who, once and for all, has vanquished the finality of death. The deep truth that faith teaches is that only in the context of mercy — God’s mercy and our own forgiveness and mercy — can we, as wounded human men and women, find healing and hope. “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy” (Mt 5:7).

A prayer of reparation The Chaplet of Divine Mercy, which God gave to the world through St. Faustina, is a beautiful prayer that has a powerful efficacy to repair the hurt wrought by sin.

As we respond to God’s call to continuing conversion, the invocations of the chaplet may be offered as a litany of reparation. With our hearts turned to the Father, we use the chaplet to profess and invoke God’s Mercy accomplished in Christ’s sorrowful passion. We unite

ourselves with the sacrifice of his body, blood, soul and divinity, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.

When human efforts seem futile and human solutions leave us empty, we pray the chaplet to beg for a new beginning: the healing of the damage done by our sins and those of others. Our plea for mercy will not fail to reach the Father.

Christ’s execution and the gift of Divine Mercy

Lena, a student from Eastern Europe, had dreams of visiting the United States and improving her English through a study-abroad program. When she arrived at the U.S. airport, she was told that her study placement had been changed. She was given a bus ticket to a different city. Upon arrival there, traffickers took her passport and enslaved her in the sex industry for almost a year (CNN Opinion, Nov. 25, 2009).

Maria paid a coyote (a crossborder smuggler) $5,000 to bring her into California. When she arrived, the smugglers demanded $6,000 more. Unable to pay, she was forced to work off the “debt” as a prostitute. She reported that her captors tortured her with an electric shock when she did not follow their orders (Fox News, Nov. 16, 2009).

When Rosita was 15 years old, a man walked up to her outside her school. He told her that she was pretty and that he wanted to be her boyfriend. He was a pimp. Over the next three years, Rosita endured an average of eight “customers” a day who were charged $150 each.

All the money went to her pimp. “I just felt like I was put out to die,” she said (CBS Evening News, July 22, 2009).

These are only three of the stories of the tens of thousands of sex slaves in the United States. Modern-day slavery, now referred to as human trafficking, is not just an evil of bygone years that we read about in history books. It is a present reality worldwide. Human beings continue to be bought, sold, and subjected to horrific conditions of bondage. In fact, human trafficking is now the fastestgrowing source of profits for organized crime worldwide and is tied with arms trading as the second most profitable.

The church’s annual novena to the Divine Mercy begins on Good Friday, the day of the execution of Jesus. The hour of mercy is the hour of his saving sacrifice. This is when blood and water gushed out for our salvation: “On the cross, the fountain of My Mercy was Human trafficking opened by the lance for all encompasses the illegal souls — no one have I extrade in human beings for cluded” (Diary, 1182).

Editor’s note: commercial sexual exploiThis is the moment October has long been designated by tation and forced labor. that shook the world and the U.S. Conference of Catholic BishThe Trafficking Victims stirred the faith of the ops as Respect Life Month. During Protection Act (TVPA) of pagan centurion to say, this month, in particular, Catholics 2000 defines sex traffick“Truly, this was the Son of are encouraged to educate theming as a crime in which God” (Mt 27:54). selves on all the issues of life, and “a commercial sex act is As we seek a reason to how Catholic social teaching informs induced by force, fraud put aside the practice of our understanding of these issues. or coercion, or in which the death penalty, perFor additional reading on Respect the person induced to perhaps the best motive is our Life topics, go to the Web site at: form such an act has not desire to imitate God in www.usccb.org/prolife, or watch for attained 18 years of age.” his mercy toward those for upcoming editions of The Leaven.

Children under 18 do not whom Jesus died. Mary, need to prove they were Mother of Mercy, pray for deceived or forced into us and teach us to show commercial sex acts to be considered mercy to others. victims of sex trafficking.

Trafficking should not be confused Bishop Robert Finn is bishop of the with smuggling — the illegal moveDiocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph (Misment of a person across a border with souri) and a consultant to the USCCB consent — but those who are smuggled Committee on Pro Life Activities. into the United States are especially vul-

What is sex trafficking?

Why is trafficking so prevalent?

NO victim Gregory Jean is pictured outside his home in Santiago, Dominican Republic. He participates CNS photo/Dennis Sadowski

in a youth program run by Callejera Action Education Foundation, a Catholic Relief Servicessupported project. The program is aimed at preventing kids from falling victim to unscrupulous traffickers who force youngsters into prostitution, domestic labor, begging, drug running and street hustling. nerable to becoming trafficked.

Lured by promises of a job, an education, a better life, opportunity, freedom, or even romance, women and children come to the United States from Asia, Europe, Central America, Mexico, and other regions. They never suspect that they will be forced to work in brothels, in massage parlors, or for escort services. Many describe being forced to provide sex acts for 30 men or more a day.

To keep these women and children enslaved, traffickers may use beatings, rape, threats to family members, debt bondage, and threats of deportation or imprisonment. For a variety of reasons, victims rarely identify themselves. Often they are unable to speak English.

They are full of fear and shame and unfamiliar with the protective U.S. laws.

They may also be afraid of what will happen to their loved ones if they escape. They are guarded by traffickers, mistrust authorities, and are unaware of how to get help. They do not realize that they can receive assistance and apply for immigration status as victims of the federal crime of trafficking.

Large numbers of children who are U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents are also being exploited for commercial sex purposes. The average age of entry into prostitution in the United States is 12 to 14. Youth running away from unstable home environments, where they suffered sexual or physical

abuse, are lured by pimps with promises of love, security, and belonging. Pimps adeptly use grooming and recruitment practices, similar to those used by child sexual predators, to create trauma bonds and keep youth enslaved.

Regardless of nationality, background, or age, the emotional, psychological, physical, and spiritual scars of enduring sexual servitude cannot be overstated. Sex trafficking survivors often suffer from HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases, mental health problems, violence-related injuries, drug and alcohol abuse, and problems related to pregnancy or forced abortions. It is not uncommon for survivors to have psychological disorders associated with suffering from extremely prolonged trauma and fear. Some survivors recount that they coped by “numbing” themselves, mentally “leaving” their bodies and imagining themselves elsewhere in order to endure daily rape by customers. This can lead to dissociative disorders in which their sense of self ceases to be integrated.

How widespread is this problem?

The statistics are staggering. The U.S. Department of State estimates that 800,000 people are trafficked

The huge demand for prostitution, pornography, and sexual entertainment fuels modern-day slavery. The International Labor Organization estimates that commercial sexual exploitation netted $28 billion in illicit profits in 2005. Sex-trafficked women, girls, and boys are the most profitable of slaves.

Unlike commodities in the drug or arms trade, women, girls, and boys can be bought, sold, and resold, earning pimps and traffickers enormous revenues with little risk of being caught or prosecuted.

Buyers receive few penalties, if any. In the United States, a sex trafficker or pimp can make over $200,000 per victim annually due to the high demand for sexual “services.”

The USCCB response In a 2007 pastoral statement of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Committee on Migration, the bishops wrote: “Human trafficking is a horrific crime against the basic dignity and rights of the human person. All efforts must be expended to end it . . . to ensure that, one day soon, trafficking in human persons vanishes from the face of the earth.”

For many years, the Catholic Church has been actively combating trafficking in a number of ways, including advocacy, education, and direct assistance.

As an example, from 2006 to 2009, the USCCB’s Department of Migration and Refugee Services helped provide assistance to 1,500 foreign national survivors of human trafficking throughout the United States and its territories.

We have only begun the journey to end the evil of modern-day slavery. As Catholics, called to reflect the light of Jesus in places of great darkness, we must speak out and work tirelessly on behalf of our brothers and sisters in captivity. We must educate others on what we can do to eradicate the deplorable trade of women and children for profit.

And we must pray for the rescue and restoration of victims, for the redemption of traffickers, and for the protection of all human life.

Diane Bayly is educational and outreach coordinator for the USCCB Office of Migration and Refugee Services.

10 nation

THE LEAVEN • october 1, 2010

THE LEAVEN • october 1, 2010

Cardinal tells world leaders to fight poverty, not the poor UNITED NATIONS (CNS) — Ghanaian Cardinal Peter Turkson encouraged nations to keep their commitments to the Millennium Development Goals and urged the United Nations not to see population control policies as “a cheap means to reduce the number of poor people.” The goals, set out to halve poverty by 2015, “should be used to fight poverty and not to eliminate the poor,” Cardinal Turkson said Sept. 20 during the U.N. summit of heads of state and government on the goals. The summit Sept. 20-22 was convoked to assess the progress made in the past 10 years toward reducing poverty, combating disease, fighting hunger, protecting the environment and improving access to education.

Cardinal Turkson, president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, represented the Vatican at the summit and told world leaders that he spoke not only as a religious leader, but also “as an African and a man coming from a poor family. I urge the international community not to be afraid of the poor,” he said. The battle against poverty can be won, but it will require solidarity with the poor, favorable financial and trade policies, and assistance in fighting corruption and promoting good government, the cardinal said.

Wardrobe of well-loved statue on display in museum SANTA FE, N.M. (CNS) — A 384-year-old local tradition of reverence and devotion to a 30-inch wooden statue of Mary has crossed over into New Mexico’s museum culture with the opening of “Threads of Devotion: The Wardrobe of La Conquistadora,” displaying a sample of the hundreds of garments in the statue’s wardrobe. The exhibit at the Museum of Spanish Colonial Art will run through Dec. 31, offering a rare chance to see costumes, jewelry and crowns bestowed upon the statue. The image has been revered by the people of Santa Fe since it arrived in 1626, on a wagon train from Mexico with Franciscan friar Alonso de Benavides, the new custodian of the region’s Spanish missions. The extensive collection of gowns, capes and other garments has been forming since soon after the statue came to Santa Fe. Church records from 1686 reflect an inventory of dresses made of silk and satin, some with trim of gold coins, as well as strings of pearls, gold and silver earrings and a filigree cross, noted the program from the Sept. 10 opening of the exhibit. While the use of clothing on statues is unusual in the United States, it was traditional in parts of Europe in the past and is common in Latin America today.

Bishop criticizes policy on illegal migrants

Executions raise many moral issues WASHINGTON (CNS) — Virginia executed 41-year-old Teresa Lewis with a lethal injection Sept. 23, making her the first woman to be executed in the commonwealth since 1912 and only the 12th woman to be put to death since the U.S. Supreme Court reinstated capital punishment in 1976.

Lewis was convicted of planning the 2002 murders of her husband and 25-year-old stepson. The two men who killed the victims received life sentences.

The Virginia Catholic Conference was among the opponents of her execution and had urged people to petition Gov. Robert McDonnell to change his Sept. 17 decision to deny clemency to Lewis.

The alert noted that Lewis had acknowledged her crime and would expect to serve the same sentence as the two men who committed the murders, Matthew Shallenberger and Rodney Fuller.

A last-minute appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court by Lewis’ attorneys to block the execution failed. They argued that her IQ of 72 put her almost at the level of disability that would exempt her from a death sentence.

Her supporters said she also suffered from a personality disorder that was manipulated by Shallenberger, her boyfriend, so that she would go along with the murder of her husband. The Catholic conference alert said that Shallenberger later admitted duping Lewis into believing he was in love with her and that they would take the money from life insurance policies and run away together.

Prosecutors said Lewis bore a greater responsibility than the two men because she planned the killings in cold blood.

In Kentucky, the execution of deathrow inmate Gregory Wilson remained on hold indefinitely after a Kentucky judge stopped it over questions raised about the man’s below-average mental abilities and possible problems with the state’s execution process.

Wilson’s pending execution had been the subject of appeals to Kentucky’s governor and courts by death penalty opponents, including Pope Benedict XVI, the Catholic bishops of Kentucky and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

By Anthony Barich

Catholic News Service

CNS photo/Fayaz Aziz, Reuters

CNS photo/Jose Luis Aguirre, Catholic San Francisco

WORSHIPPER LOOKS AT WAX REPLICA OF ST. JOHN BOSCO — A worshipper looks into a glass casket to view a wax replica of St. John Bosco that contains relics of the saint on display at Sts. Peter and Paul Church in San Francisco Sept. 13. The relics are on a worldwide tour to mark the 200th anniversary of the saint’s birth near Turin, Italy.

Bishop urges Congress not to forget the working poor WASHINGTON (CNS) — The head of the bishops’ domestic policy committee has urged Congress to make the working poor a priority in current tax-policy debates.

“Too often the weak and vulnerable are not heard in the tax debate,” wrote Bishop William F. Murphy of Rockville Centre, N.Y., in a Sept. 20 letter to Congress. He asked Congress specifically to preserve and improve the child tax credit and the earned income tax credit.

The tax cuts for all individuals, enacted in 2001 and 2003, will expire at the end of the year unless Congress takes action to extend them. President Barack Obama and Democrats in Congress are pushing for an extension of tax cuts for all but the wealthiest Americans, while Republicans want to extend the cuts for all taxpayers.

“Poor children and their families have compelling needs . . . yet they often lack powerful allies and influential advocates,” Bishop Murphy noted.

He particularly stressed the importance of extending the income eligibility requirements for the current child tax credit. He said if this provision is not continued, 600,000 more children will become poor and 4 million children

already in poverty will fall into deeper poverty.

The bishop also emphasized the importance of retaining the current provisions of the earned income tax credit, which Congress modified in 2009. The tax credit currently helps families with three or more children and has increased the amount of tax relief for married couples. These changes, the bishop said, prevented 3 million people from falling into poverty in 2009 and increased the size of credit to 7 million families.

“This is no time to abandon these important parts of the safety net for lowincome families and married couples,” he said.

He drew on Pope Benedict XVI’s 2009 encyclical, “Caritas in Veritate” (“Charity in Truth”), which said that economic decisions have ethical consequences.

Quoting the document, he said: “The church’s social doctrine has always maintained that justice must be applied to every phase of economic activity, because this is always concerned with man and his needs. Locating resources, financing, production, consumption and all the other phases in the economic cycle inevitably have moral implications. Thus, every economic decision has a moral consequence.”

FLOOD VICTIMS STAND NEAR TENT IN PAKISTAN — Flood victims are silhouetted as they stand near a tent at a makeshift relief camp in Charsadda, northwest Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan, Sept. 22. An estimated 20 million people have been affected by flooding in Pakistan since mid-July, said a Sept. 21 report from the United Nations. It estimated that nearly 2 million homes were destroyed and 10 million people were currently without shelter.

Bishop tells schools to stop using gambling for fundraising

By Glen Argan

Catholic News Service EDMONTON, Alberta (CNS) — Archbishop Richard Smith of Edmonton has banned “harmful gambling activities”

by Catholic schools to raise funds, but he admitted it is likely to be years for the new policy to take effect.

The archbishop planned to meet with school officials to set a date to implement the ban, which is among a large number of archdiocesan policies developed in an overall policy review. Most of the policies take effect Oct. 1.

In an e-mail interview, Archbishop Smith said he recognizes that schools have become reliant on gambling revenue and “will need some time to transition away from this.” It “may be a few years from now” before the ban is implemented, he said.

The archbishop took issue with media reports that suggested the gambling ban has created “some sort of antagonistic situation” between school boards and the archdiocese.

School officials, he said, understand that raising money from gambling creates a problem and that the problem must be addressed.

The new policy bans parishes, Catholic institutions and Catholic organizations from fundraising through

“harmful gambling activities” including casino gaming, video lottery terminals and high-stakes bingo.

It also bans Catholic organizations from applying for funding from the Alberta Lottery Fund or other sources that raise money from gambling.

Archbishop Smith questioned why schools and parent councils are in the position of having to raise funds for educational necessities.

“To take but one example, computers and other technology requirements, in this day and age, are not ‘extras’ to be acquired only if additional revenue can be raised through casinos or other methods,” he said. “They are necessary and should be funded directly by the government.”

To put the burden for paying for necessary educational expenses on schools or parent councils is unfair and “introduces inequities among schools,” the archbishop said.

The archdiocese’s new policy statement noted the Alberta bishops have been trying since 1998 to create awareness of the moral issues associated with legalized gambling “and to call for a Christian response.”

“Foremost among the moral and social problems that arise from legalized gambling in this province is the exploitation of the poor and vulnerable,” the policy stated.

PERTH, Australia (CNS) — The chairman of the Australian bishops’ social justice council criticized as cowardly the government’s policy of locking up people who arrive illegally via people smugglers.

Bishop Christopher Saunders of Broome said politicians in both major parties are playing on people’s fears by spreading the lie that Australia is being “flooded” with illegal immigrants.

“It’s the old question of ‘what would Christ have done,’” Bishop Saunders said Sept. 17, three days after the 95th illegal boat was intercepted and arrived at Christmas Island. The number of people in detention there awaiting processing reached 4,900.

“To think that just because they came through [in] some dangerous manner — God only knows how many hundreds have drowned on the way — instead of arriving in a Qantas jet, that we have to lock them up, is an inappropriate response to people in need,” the bishop told The Record, newspaper of the Archdiocese of Perth.

“We only see a tiny proportion of those seeking refuge,” he said, noting that Australia’s allocation of receiving 14,000 refugees each year is small compared to the world’s 16 million refugees and asylum seekers.

“A certain line of cowardice runs through politicians in our democracy and, when they are running neck and neck in an election, they like to trade on people’s natural fears of being overrun by refugees, misinforming the electorate and playing on their lack of education about the issue,” he said.

“This has happened with each wave of migrants to Australia, whether it is the Greeks and Italian migration of the 1950s or the arrival of the Vietnamese boat people in the 1970s,” he added.

The bishop’s Outback Diocese of Broome is where people from Afghanistan seeking refugee status are placed in the Curtin detention center until their claims are processed.

He said that while the Curtin center’s facilities have greatly improved, the farflung Outback location is still unacceptable.

world 11

Vatican bank head named in money-laundering probe VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The president of the Vatican bank, Ettore Gotti Tedeschi, has been placed under investigation by Italian magistrates in a money-laundering probe, the Italian state television RAI reported. RAI, citing judicial sources, said the move followed the seizure Sept. 20 by Italian treasury police of 23 million euros (US$30 million) that had been deposited in a Rome bank account by the Vatican bank. The Vatican expressed “bewilderment and amazement” at the legal action, saying its operations were legitimate and documented. Last fall, Pope Benedict XVI named Gotti Tedeschi, an Italian banker and professor of financial ethics at the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Milan, as president of the Vatican bank, known formally as the Institute for the Works of Religion. The appointment was seen at the time as a move toward greater transparency in the bank’s operations.

According to the RAI report, no proof of money-laundering had emerged in the probe, but investigators said the Vatican bank had failed to disclose information about banking operations as mandated by Italy’s 2007 law against money-laundering. It said a second unnamed official of the bank was also under investigation.

Catholics in Madrid prepare for influx of 2.5 million MADRID (CNS) — August in Madrid usually means a citywide exodus. As families vacation along Spain’s famous coastlines, the traffic eases and the capital becomes a bit less congested. Next August promises to be very different. Members of the Organizing Committee of World Youth Day 2011 expect that up to 2.5 million Catholics will descend on the city for the Aug. 16-21 international event. To accommodate this influx, the committee will secure space in Madrid’s three dioceses at locations such as universities, recreation centers and school gymnasiums. Many pilgrims will sleep on mats or in sleeping bags. Soon the Vatican will release a list of more than 2,000 bishops who will conduct informal catechesis every morning followed by a number of cultural events in the evenings. Young Catholics can look forward to concerts, plays, and some of the best museums and palaces in the world. By mid-September, 144,000 groups from outside Spain had registered for World Youth Day, with two-thirds of them scheduled to attend Days in the Dioceses, which allows them to spend time in other parts of Spain before World Youth Day begins Aug. 16.

Sixty of Spain’s dioceses will participate in the Days in the Dioceses.

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12 CLASSIFIEDS Employment Parish music director/organist - Our Lady of Unity Parish, Kansas City, Kan., has an immediate opening for a part-time organist/music director for the churches of Sacred Heart and St. John the Evangelist, both located in Kansas City, Kan. Jobs include: playing at 1 - 3 Masses per weekend; rehearsing with cantors; directing a small choir; and coordinating the music minister schedule. Competency in both organ and piano is a requirement. An interest/ability to build a successful, comprehensive music program for the parish is ideal. Qualified candidates should send an e-mail to Father Kent O’Connor at: oluparishkck@ gmail.com, or call him at (913) 677-4621 to set up an interview/audition.

Development associate - The Diocese of Kansas City - St. Joseph is accepting resumes for a development associate for the Strong City School Fund. This new fund supports quality Catholic education by providing needs-based assistance to students and schools. Candidate must be a practicing Catholic with a bachelor’s degree, plus 2 - 3 years fundraising experience. This position will contribute to and compliment the work of the executive director. Responsibilities include: grant applications; database management; special events; working with the board of directors; donor follow-up and recognition; prospect research; advertising and direct mail campaigns; and budget tracking. The selected candidate will be an energetic, flexible, creative, self-motivated, organized, detail-oriented team player who is able to handle multiple responsibilities within a limited time frame.

Proficiency in MS Office and Raiser’s Edge a must.

Grant writing experience and knowledge of direct mail execution preferred. We offer excellent benefits and competitive wages. Candidates may send a cover letter, resume, salary requirements, and references to: The Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, Strong City School Fund, 300 E. 36th St., Kansas City, MO 64111, or submit, via e-mail, to: essmann@diocesekcsj.org.

Call center representative – We are looking for telephone professionals seeking top pay and benefits. Prior phone experience preferred. We are growing and need quality people to grow with us. To apply, visit the Web site at: www.cobraguard.net (click on ‘Jobs’ link at the bottom of the page), or forward your resume, via e-mail, to: HR@cobraguard.net. EOE. Bookkeeper - Our company needs a male or female representative to act as our opened position bookkeeper. For more information or to submit your resume, send an e-mail to: mb.appliance@gmail.com.

Part-time bowling machine mechanic - St. John’s Catholic Club, Kansas City, Kan., needs someone to maintain a six-lane house in the men’s club. All late model 1960s Brunswick equipment. Call Kenny at (913) 788-9758.

Accompanist needed - Christ the King Church, 8510 Wornall, Kansas City, Mo., is seeking a piano accompanist for weekend, holy day and special liturgies, and weekly choir practice. Experience and knowledge of Catholic liturgies are a must; organ skills a plus.

Send resume, via e-mail, to: Judy@ctkkcmo.org.

Financial representative - Due to the success and growth of the Knights of Columbus, we are adding financial representatives in the Kansas City and Emporia areas. This position is ideal for a determined, high-energy, high-expectation, professional, selfdisciplined, independent individual desiring to serve others, yet earn a better-than-average income. We provide top-rated financial products to our members and their families and will provide excellent benefits and training. For information or an interview, contact John A. Mahon, 307 Dakota, Holton KS 66436; or call (785) 364-5450.

Services Piano lessons - Accepting students ages K adult. Experience teaching at all levels. Degrees from KU, New England Conservatory, and Julliard. Located in Shawnee. Call Dr. Natalia Rivera at (913) 708-3235 or send an e-mail to her at: riveran@umkc.edu.

Husband and wife cleaning team - Reasonable rates; references provided. Call (913) 940-2959.

Clean House - House Cleaning - Call either Kathy at (913) 649-1276 or Jane at (913) 341-5019. We will e-mail or direct mail our flyer to you. Reasonable rates, references and quality work.

THE LEAVEN • OCTOBER 1, 2010 Machine quilting by Lyn - I also do T-shirt, photo, and memorial quilts. Official Hobbs distributor.

Located in Overland Park. Call Lyn at (913) 492-8877.

Faith-based counseling to cope with life concerns - Kansas City area. Call Mary Vorsten, Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, at (913) 909-2002.

Counseling - Topeka Marriage and family, child, teen, personal Shunga Creek Mental Health Call Ken Zweig, LSCSW at (785) 969-5308.

Therapeutic life coach - If you are depressed, tired, anxious, fed up or aren’t living the life of your dreams, therapeutic life coaching may be the answer for you. Call Adrienne, a professional therapeutic life coach, at (913) 568-5930 or visit the Web site at: www. quantumchangetherapeuticcoaching .com.

Leaven readers receive a 50% discount.

Need a ride? Where to? I am available to take you to your doctor’s appointment, hairdresser or shopping. Maybe you aren’t driving anymore or just prefer a chauffeur; I’ll get you there. I can also run errands for you or do the grocery shopping. Just give me a call to discuss your needs. Johnson County only.

Call (913) 469-6211 or (816) 806-0564.

Bankruptcy - When debt becomes overwhelming, seek professional help. Experienced, compassionate Catholic attorney Teresa Kidd. For a confidential, no obligation consultation, call (913) 422-0610; or send an e-mail to: tkidd@kc.rr.com.

Web sites - Let me design a low-cost, effective Web site for you. I can maintain it and update it or train you to! Call Pat at (913) 909-7917, evenings/ weekends.

Foley’s Lawn Care Now scheduling fall cleanups.

Providing you with mowing, overseeding, aeration, verticutting, gutter cleaning and mulching.

Serving Johnson County for over 10 yrs.

St. Joseph parishioners. (913) 825-4353 www.foleyslawncare.com.

Tree service - Pruning trees for optimal growth and beauty and removal of hazardous limbs or problem trees. Free consultation and bid. Safe, insured, professional. Brad Grabs, Green Solutions of KC, (913) 244-5838. www.GreenSolutionsKC.com.

Semi-retired arborist - Available for tree and shrub trimming. Call Bob at (913) 231- 6460.

Fall Lawn Repair Aerate, verticut and overseeding.

Insured and bonded.

Local parishioner. Free estimates.

Call (913) 620-6063.

Caregiving Mature Catholic woman - Available for parttime work. Excellent references. Mid JoCo area. Call (913) 825-0950 and leave a message.

THE LEAVEN • OCTOBER 1, 2010 Fine artistic and decorative painting - Faux wall finishes, custom cabinet and furniture finishes, front and garage doors. 20 years experience. Consultations and free estimates. Excellent quality. Call Bob at (816) 509-3201.

Stained-glass door side panels - Custom-made door panels offer both privacy and beauty instead of blinds or curtains. Reasonable. Call Ed LeCluyse at (913) 648-0099. Member of Curé of Ars Parish, Leawood. JoCo only.

Clutter problems? Embarrassing garage, basement, attic or any room? Let me help you get organized! Items sorted, grouped, boxed and labeled; areas clean when finished. Great references and insured. Twenty years experience! Handyman repairs also available. To view “before” and “after” pictures, visit my Web site at: WWW.SWALMS.COM. Tillar Swalm (913) 375-9115.

Electrician - Free estimates; reasonable rates.

JoCo and southern KC metro area. Call Pat at (913) 9639896.

STA (Sure Thing Always) Home Repair - Basement finish, bathrooms and kitchens; interior & exterior repairs: painting, roofing, siding, wood replacement and window glazing. Call for free estimates. Cell: (913) 579-1835; phone: (913) 491-5837; e-mail: smokey cabin@hotmail.com. Member of Holy Trinity, Lenexa.

The Drywall Doctor, Inc. - A unique solution to your drywall problems! We fix all types of ceiling and wall damage — from water stains and stress cracks to texture repairs and skim coating. We provide professional, timely repairs and leave the job site clean!

Lead-certified and insured! Serving the metro since 1997. Call (913) 768-6655.

Tile and painting - Complete tile and paint repairs and renovation. Ceramic, porcelain, certified limestone tile master. Complete interior paint services and drywall texture finishes. Over 20 years experience. Fully licensed. Service 7 days a week.

Contact Mike at (913) 488-4930. Member of Church of the Ascension Parish, Overland Park.

Interior and exterior painting and wallpaper removal - 30-plus years experience. Quality work; excellent references; reasonable rates. Senior discount. Member of St. Ann Parish, Prairie Village. Call Joe at (913) 620-5776.

Painting, exterior and interior, drywall projects, powerwashing, rotted window sills repaired - Quality products. 20 years experience. References. Call (913) 341-7584.

Carpet direct – We cut out the middle man and bring the showroom to you! The best place to see your flooring is in your own home or office. Save 40 - 80% on carpet and hard surfaces. Residential and commercial. For a free estimate, call Amanda at (913) 742-4003.

Masonry work – Quality, new or repair work.

Brick, block, and chimney/fireplace repair. Insured; second generation bricklayer. Call (913) 829-4336.

Retired nurse - Available to care for your loved one. Days, nights, and weekends. Will consider livein; willing to relocate. References; salary negotiable.

Call (913) 579-5276.

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

Caregiving - We provide personal assistance, companionship, care management, and transportation to the elderly and disabled in home, assisted living and nursing facilities. We also provide respite care for main caregivers needing some personal time. Call Daughters & Company at (913) 341-2500 and speak with Laurie, Sara or Gary.

Tim the Handyman - Insured; free estimates. Carpentry: new and repair deck, doors, windows, siding, screens. Plumbing: faucet, garbage disposals, toilets.

Electrical: switches, outlets, ceiling fans, light fixtures.

Light landscape: fill dirt, trimming, planting, garden tilling and mulching. Serving Johnson County. Call Tim at (913) 859-0471.

Do you or your parents need help at home? For as little as $60/week, Benefits of Home-Senior Care can provide assistance with personal care, shopping and many other daily needs. For details, visit our Web site at: benefitsofhome.com or call (913) 422-1591.

Home Improvement Adept Home Improvements Where quality still counts!

Basement finishing, Kitchens and baths, Electrical and plumbing, Licensed and insured.

(913) 599-7998

EL SOL Y LA TIERRA *Commercial & residential * Lawn renovation * Mowing * Clean-up and hauling * Dirt grading/installation * Landscape design * Free estimates Hablamos y escribimos Ingles!!

Call Lupe at (816) 252-3376 Father-and-son team - These guys can do it all — exterior painting, decks, fences, retaining walls, metal buildings, patios, porches, and driveways. We’ll do your job for a reasonable price! Call Josh at (913) 709-7230.

Vacation

Misc.

love him and treat him humanely. Call John at (913) 522-4416.

Ski cabin in Winter Park, Colo. – 2 BR, 1 BA, on free ski shuttle route. $110/night. Call (913) 642-3027.

For pictures, visit the Web site at: cabin.forcadeassociates.com.

ParentsGoingGreen.com is on a mission! We are a network of parents who have joined together to provide an at-home business opportunity that is changing lives. We provide free support, free training, and your own free Web site. There is no selling, no inventory and no risk! Click on the ‘get free info’ button on my Web site! www.ParentsGoingGreen. com.

For Sale

Jesse the lab needs a new home! - Jesse is a 5-year-old yellow lab. He is a great retriever and swimmer. He loves everyone and is a wonderful companion. Free to a good home with a family that will

Wanted to buy

Vacation rental - Marriott Frenchman’s Cove time share, St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands. Jan. 8 - 15, 2011. 1 BR, 1 BA, suite with two queen beds, private entrance, balcony and kitchenette. To view, visit the Web site at: www.marriottvacationclub.com. $1,000/ week. Call Amy at (816) 853-0307.

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico - Beautiful Villa del Palmar. One-bedroom ocean-front condo. Exceptional views! Available any week of the year except Christmas or New Year’s. $1200/week. Call (913) 4223441.

Lake of the Ozarks rental - Osage Beach; million-dollar view; fully furnished; 2 BR, 2 BA; sleeps six. No smoking, no pets. For special rates or pictures, call Steve or Sheryl Roederer at (913) 244-2022.

For Rent Living at its best on a budget! - 1 BR apt., with rent based on income; all utilities paid; no voucher needed. Section 8 assistance. Great location, only 5-10 minutes from The Legends in Kansas City, Kan. Edwardsville Court Apartments Highrise, 531 S. 4th St., Edwardsville. Call (913) 441-6007. EHO. Handicap accessible.

For rent – 1 BR, 1 BA apartment in Shawnee near Nieman Rd. and Johnson Dr. $515/month; utilities included. 10911 W. 59th Terr. For a virtual tour, visit the Web site at: www.shawnee-rentals.com. Call (913) 649-7596.

Real Estate Mortgage rates have never been lower!!!

Considering a refinance or new home purchase?

Call today to see how much money you can save.

We make mortgage loans easy and hassle-free.

Evening and weekend appointments available.

Members of Holy Trinity Parish, Lenexa.

Call Kurt or Angie at Approved Mortgage Inc. (913) 599-0004 An equal housing lender.

KS mortgage number MC0002252 Open house - From 2:30 - 4 p.m. at 9621 Appleridge Lane, Lenexa. Walk to St. James Academy from this beautiful 4 BR, 4-1/2 BA, plus main level office. Exquisite open floor plan with mud room, semi-finished basement, and more. On a culde-sac. For information, call Cynthia Sowle, Coldwell Banker, at (913) 240-3263.

Westwood home FSBO - 3 BR, 2-1/2 BA ranch.

Low utilities, well-insulated, dry basement, partially finished basement, lots of storage, fenced backyard, hardwood floors. SME school district; near St. Agnes Parish and Bishop Miege High School. $169,500. Call (913) 432-2287.

Land FSBO - Winchester, Kan. 40 acres m/l (10 timber, 30 prairie grass); two ponds with good fishing; good deer and turkey hunting; a mile and a half off the highway; beautiful building site; excellent schools; only 40 miles from KC. Call (913) 683-4488 or (913) 362-3024.

Historic home in Ottawa built by Washburn - 3 BR, two-story home. $149,950 See at: www.betty birzer.com. Reece & Nichols Town & Country Realty Inc. (785) 418-5701 or (785) 229-8890 for appt.

Wonderful true 5-bedroom home - In Prince of Peace Parish. Only $175,000. Great updates; in excellent condition. Nice fenced yard. Master with private bath; laundry room off main level. Motivated seller.

Open Sun., Sept. 26, from 1 - 3 p.m. 1430 E. Wells Fargo Dr., Olathe. Rita Moley Dickey, Reece and Nichols, at (913) 269-4786.

Childcare Child care needed - For infant, starting in Feb. 2011. Prefer location in Prairie Village, Fairway, northern Overland Park, Leawood, or Mission. Call Sara at (913) 314-8399.

Oct.

2 The Singles of Nativity will host a fall dance from 7 - 11 p.m. on Oct. 2 in

the parish hall at the Church of the Nativity, 3800 W. 119th St., Leawood. The cost is: $10 for members; $15 for guests. Light appetizers will be served. The attire is casual. For information, call Kathy at (913) 645-2046, or send an e-mail to her at: kathy13621@hotmail.com.

3

St. Theresa Church, Perry, will host a fall bazaar on Oct. 3. A turkey or ham dinner with all the trimmings will be served from 11 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. The cost is $8 for adults; $4 for children. Carryouts will be available. There will also be a silent auction, a raffle, bingo, a cakewalk, games, a country store, and baked goods for sale.

St. Francis Xavier Church, Mayetta, will host a fall bazaar on Oct. 3. A roast pork and turkey dinner will be served from 3 - 6 p.m. The cost is $7 for adults; $3 for children 10 and under. There will also be a silent auction, raffles, bingo, and a cakewalk.

St. Boniface Church, Scipio, will hold a fall bazaar on Oct. 3. A roast beef and chicken and noodle dinner will be served from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. in the parish hall. The cost is $8 for adults; $5 for children 10 and under. Carryout meals will be available for $9.

Sacred Heart-St. Casimir Church, 1405 2nd Ave., Leavenworth, will host a fall fest on Oct. 3. A turkey and ham dinner will be served from noon - 3:30 p.m.

There will be musical entertainment, an auction, a country store, and games.

Sacred Heart Parish, 122 W. Warren St., Gardner, will host an Oktoberfest on Oct. 3 from 11:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. in the parish center. The dinner will feature American and German foods. The cost is: $8 for adults; $4 for children ages 4 - 12; children under 4 eat free. There will be a silent auction, a craft show, a cakewalk, raffles, bingo and children’s games.

Holy Angels Parish, 15438 Leavenworth Rd., Basehor, will host a pro-life presentation, entitled “Pro-life Issues and Moral Principles for Catholic Voting,” presented by Ron Kelsey, archdiocesan pro-life coordinator, at 6 p.m. on Oct. 3 in Father Quinlan Hall. Voter registration for all Kansas counties will also be available.

For information, call Janice at (913) 7241186.

Rockhurst High School, 9301 State Line Rd., Kansas City, Mo., will host a heritage ethnic festival on Oct. 3. A lunch will

be served from 11 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. in the cafeteria. Entertainment will be provided by the Nritya Indian Headdress Dancers, O’Riada Irish Step Dancers, accordion

Prefer less than gigantic automobile; 4- or 5-speed automatic would be great. A/C not necessary. Call (913) 403-9191. ***WANTED*** I buy coins, older watches, silverware, slot machines, old rifles and shotguns, stoneware crocks and jugs, old furniture from basement or attic.

Call Chris at (913) 593-7507 or (913) 642-8269

Residential lifts - Buy/sell/trade. Stair lifts, porch lifts, ceiling lifts and elevators. Recycled and new equipment. Member of St. Michael the Archangel Parish, Leawood. Call Silver Cross KC at (913) 393-2042.

Desperate to buy - A used ’90s car. Can be homely but must pass basic auto mechanic test.

player John Soptick, and various jazz musicians. Advance tickets cost $5 per person or $25 per family and are available on the Web site at: www.rockhursths.edu.

3 & 10 All young men, ages 15 20, and their parents are invited to attend

Project Andrew — an opportunity to learn more about vocations; to meet and pray with Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann; and to have dinner with archdiocesan priests.

Two sessions are available: Oct. 3 from 4 - 7 p.m. at St. Matthew Parish, 2700 S.E. Virginia Ave., Topeka; and Oct. 10 from 4 – 7 p.m. at St. Agnes Parish, 5250 Mission Rd., Roeland Park. There is no charge to attend; however, registration is necessary. For more information or to register, call the vocations office at (913) 647-0303; send an e-mail to: vocation@archkck.org; or visit the Web site at: www.kckvocations. com.

6

All Kansas women without health insurance are invited to attend the Early Detection Works program, which offers free breast and cervical cancer screenings for qualifying uninsured women in Kansas, on Oct. 6 at the Keeler Women’s Center, 2220 Central Ave., Kansas City, Kan. No reservations are needed; just drop in between 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. For information, call (913) 906-8990, or visit the Web site at: www. mountosb.org/kwc.

8 will host a

Holy Name Parish, Kansas City, Kan., Mexican Octoberfest on Oct. 8

from 7 - 11 p.m. in Pierson Hall, 1800 S. 55th St., Kansas City, Kan. The cost of $25 per person includes beer, margaritas, light appetizers, live music and dancing. Proceeds will benefit the school fund. Tickets will be available at the door. For information, call (913) 236-9219.

9

Our Lady’s Montessori School, 3020 S. 7th St., Kansas City, Kan., will host a garage sale from 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. on Oct. 9. Proceeds will benefit the school’s operating budget.

“Planting Seeds of Hope,” a benefit for Cross-Lines Community Outreach, Inc., will

be held on Oct. 9 at Lake Quivira Country Club, 100 Crescent Blvd., Lake Quivira. The cost of $125 per person includes cocktails, dinner, and live and silent auctions. Discounted rates are available for tables of eight or more. For information, visit the Web site at: www.cross-lines.org, or call (913) 281-3388.

“A Practical Path to Prayer,” a program detailing the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, will be presented by Father

Vern Heinsz, SJ, from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. on Oct. 9 at the Finucane Center on the campus of Rockhurst University, 1100 Rockhurst Rd., Kansas City, Mo. The cost of $40 includes lunch. Scholarships are available. Registration is required. For information or to register, call (816) 523- 5115, ext. 212, or send an e-mail to: info@ignatiancenterkc.

CLASSIFIEDS/CALENDAR 13

Will buy firearms and related accessories One or a whole collection. Honest evaluation and top prices paid. Contact Tom at (913) 238-2473. Member of Sacred Heart Parish, Shawnee.

org.

10

Sacred Heart Parish, 1100 West St., Tonganoxie, will host its annual turkey dinner and bazaar on Oct. 10. Dinner will be served from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Carryouts will be available. The cost is: $8 for adults; $4 for children ages 3 - 12; children 2 and under eat free. There will be a country store, bingo, raffles, children’s games and a silent auction.

St. Mary Church, Purcell, will host a pancake luncheon from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. on Oct.

10. Pancakes, sausage, eggs, homemade pies, and coffee and tea will be served. A freewill offering will be collected.

St. Benedict’s Parish, Atchison, will host its annual fall fiesta from 11:30 a.m.

- 3 p.m. on Oct. 10 in the Atchison Catholic Elementary School building, 201 Division St. A barbecued pork or chicken dinner will be served. There will be a raffle, silent auction, homemade food and craft booths, and children’s games.

St. Bede, Kelly, will host its annual soup supper and auction from 4 - 7 p.m. on Oct. 10. There will be games for all ages from 5 - 8 p.m. in the parish gym, followed by the auction.

St. Aloysius, Meriden, will host its annual bazaar from 11:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. on Oct. 10. A ham and turkey dinner with all the trimmings will be served. The cost is: $7 for adults; $4 for youth; children under 4 eat free.

Corpus Christi Parish, Lawrence, will host a showing of the documentary film “BloodMoney: The Business of Abortion” at 2 p.m. on Oct. 10 in the gym. The film, narrated by Dr. Alveda King, niece of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., exposes the truth behind the abortion industry. For information, call Scott Burkhart at (785) 841-3724 or send an e-mail to him at: lsburk@sbcglobal.net.

The annual eighth-grade pro-life forum and essay contest for all school of religion students and home-schooled students will be held on Oct. 10 at Church of the Ascension, 9510 W. 127th St., Overland Park. The evening will begin with Mass at 5 p.m., followed by a pizza dinner and the forum. For information or to RSVP, call Courtney Williams at (913) 642-1730 or Ron Kelsey at (913) 647-0350, or send an e-mail to Williams at: SCJ4X@aol.com or to Kelsey at: prolife@archkck.org. Parents are strongly encouraged to attend.

11

“Journaling for Personal Growth,” a women’s enrichment group, will meet every second and fourth Monday of the month, beginning Oct. 11, from 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. at the Keeler Women’s Center, 2220 Central Ave., Kansas City, Kan. For information or to register, call (913) 906-8990 or visit the Web site at: www.mountosb.org/ kwc.

Antique/Vintage Costume Jewelry ***Wanted to Buy*** * Member St. Joseph Parish Renee Maderak (913) 631-7179

Entertainment DJ Irishman - Colm Delahunt is available for parties, weddings, graduations, and any other function.

Playing all your favorite hits from the Village People to U2. Call (913) 548-6765 or visit the Web site at: www.djirishman.com.

14

The Holy Women series for October will feature prayer and reflection on Mechtilde of Magdeburg from 1 - 3 p.m. on Oct. 14 at the Keeler Women’s Center, 2220 Central Ave., Kansas City, Kan. For information or to register, call (913) 906-8990 or visit the Web site at: www.mountosb.org/kwc.

15

The Center for Spirit at Work will host its annual awards luncheon on Oct. 15 in the Founders’ Hall at Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral, Kansas City, Mo. Tickets may be purchased via the Web site at: www.centerforspiritatwork.org; click on the “Register” tab.

The University of Saint Mary will present “Conjurations,” an exhibition of paintings by painter Elizabeth Kleene of Portland, Maine, in the Goppert Gallery on the Leavenworth campus, located at 4100 S. 4th St. The show opens on Oct. 15 and runs through Nov. 19. The gallery is open Mon. Fri. from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. An artist’s reception will be held from 3 - 5 p.m. on Oct. 15 in Goppert Gallery. This event is free and open to the public.

Misc.

El Centro, Inc., will offer classes in home improvements, including electrical, HVAC maintenance, windows and doors, siding and gutters, insulation and airflow, drywall and painting. The classes are free and open to the public. All classes are held at 650 Minnesota Ave., Kansas City, Kan. Participants are asked to preregister. For dates and times of classes, call (913) 6770100.

Sacred Heart Parish, Gardner, has three openings for the EWTN pilgrimage to Hancesville and Irondale, Ala. The cost of $235 per person includes transportation, lodging, all breakfasts and two dinners. Full payment is due by Oct. 4. For information, call Rose Lozano at (913) 219-7043.

A support group for women dealing with any type of addiction, at any stage of recov-

ery, will meet from 6 - 7 p.m. on Tuesday evenings at the Keeler Women’s Center, 2220 Central Ave., Kansas City, Kan. For information or to register, call (913) 906-8990 or visit the Web site at: www.mountosb.org/ kwc.

St. James Grade School, Kansas City, Mo., is hosting upcoming reunions for the classes of 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962. For information, send an e-mail to: adonaldson@kc.rr.com.

Healing from pornography? Monthly theology of the body groups and weekly recovery groups are available for men and women. For information, visit the Web site at: LoveIsFaithful.com, or call Sam Meier, MA, LPC, at (913) 647-0378.

14 COMMENTARY

THE LEAVEN • October 1, 2010

THE LEAVEN • October 1, 2010

Mark my words

Catholic Press Association Award Winner 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010

Quote Week

of the

“The three [batches of peanut brittle] were really chewy, but I didn’t want to waste them, so I set them out for the monks. Brother Robert and Brother Anthony each lost a filling eating it.”

Brother Leven Harton See story on page 1

B

anjo brawl.

A couple of weeks ago while surfing the KCTV5 Web site, these two words leapt off the screen at me. Believe it or not, in one of our Kansas City suburbs, a young man was charged with aggravated assault and disorderly conduct after he attacked another guy with a knife and a frying pan. The victim warded off the attack with a banjo. (You just can’t make this kind of stuff up.) It probably wouldn’t surprise you much to know that the two were drinking at the time of the incident. By the way, they got into this argument over a band.

I think it’s safe to say that these two gentlemen will probably not be invited to celebrate International Music Day on Oct. 1. The day, begun by American violinist and conductor Yehudi Menuhin in 1975, seeks to promote the arts in “all sections of society” and to advance the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) “ideals of peace and friendship between peoples.”

As we enter October, set aside as Respect Life Month by the church, perhaps it’s appropriate that International Music Day starts us off. If you think about it, music is a universal language. A quarter note is a quarter note in both Quebec and Qatar; a coda is a coda in Moscow and Minneapolis. It’s also a great unifier: If you can read music, then you can come together with others around the world and produce beautiful, harmonious sounds — despite the fact that individually the violinist speaks French; the flutist, Flemish; the cellist, Filipino; and the trumpeter, Farsi.

The key to promoting a harmonious life begins with respect — for God, for our fellow human beings, for the creatures that roam the earth, and for

Oct. 4 Francis of Assisi, religious Gal 1: 6-12; Ps 111: 1b-2, 7-9, 10c; Lk 10: 25-37 Oct. 5 Tuesday Gal 1: 13-24; Ps 139: 1b-3, 13-15; Lk 10: 38-42 Oct. 6 Bruno, priest; Blessed Marie-Rose Durocher, virgin Gal 2: 1-2, 7-14; Ps 117: 1bc, 2; Lk 11: 1-4 Oct. 7 Our Lady of the Rosary Gal 3: 1-5; (Ps) Lk 1: 69-75; Lk 11: 5-13 Oct. 8 Friday Gal 3: 7-14; Ps 111: 1b-6; Lk 11: 15-26 Oct. 9 Denis, bishop, martyr, and companions, martyrs; John Leonardi, priest Gal 3: 22-29; Ps 105: 2-7; Lk 11: 27-28

nature. Sadly, the world today is a very discordant place. People seem more determined than ever to notice, not what unites us, but what divides us. We tend to zero in on the worst, rather than the best, in others. When respect diminishes, it becomes much easier to consider others “less than” us — less deserving of our time, our treasures, our compassion, our attention.

Music can prove a great antidote for this attitude, if we give it a chance to transform us. Unfortunately, because music is so readily available today, it becomes little more than background noise for us. If, though, we take the time to sit down, close our eyes and really open our ears, the melodies we hear will only calm us, but actually motivate us to bring harmony into our daily lives.

As we begin yet another Respect Life Month, maybe we can keep this little Chinese tale in the back of our minds: There was once a man of great wealth who demanded that he be given a place in a court orchestra because he wanted to perform before the prince and thereby increase his influence. The only problem was the man didn’t know how to play a musical instrument.

The conductor reluctantly agreed to let the man sit in the back row of the orchestra. He was handed a flute. Whenever the other flutists raised their instruments, he’d raise his, pucker his lips and move his fingers. He would go through

the motions of playing, but never make a sound. This deception continued for years.

One day, though, a new conductor took over. He told the orchestra that he wanted to audition each player individually. One by one, they performed in his presence. Then came the fake flutist’s turn. He was frantic with worry and pretended to be sick. The conductor was having none of it and insisted that the man appear and demonstrate his skill. With great shame, the man had to confess that he was a fraud. He was, in short, unable to face the music. (Adapted from Brian Cavanaugh’s “Sower’s Seeds of Encouragement: Fifth Planting.”)

Although it’s doubtful that the expression “face the music” originated as described in the story above, its meaning is still clear: There will come a day when we will have to accept the consequences of our actions.

Respect Life Month can be a time for all of us to “face the music.” Many times, particularly in the area of respect, we’re like that fake flutist. We go through the motions, but never really contribute anything. We’re great talkers — to God, to others, and even to ourselves — but sometimes not so great “doers.”

My recommendation for this month is to make music a big part of your life.

As you listen to bands or orchestras or singers, let the music penetrate your heart and soul and move you to bring harmony into your dealings with others.

Respect is the most powerful opening note.

One day we will have to face the music before the great Conductor. When that time comes, will we be glad that we spent time practicing our faith . . . or sad that we wasted time just faking it?

John and Lucille White, members of St. Ann Parish in Prairie Village, will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary on Oct. 10 with family and friends. The couple was married on Oct. 6, 1950, at St. Elizabeth Church in Kansas City, Mo. Their children are: Glen, Brian, Alan, Nancy and Craig.

They also have 10 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Anniversary policy: The Leaven only prints 50, 60, 65 and 70th anniversary notices. Announcements are due by 5 p.m. eight days (Thursday) before the desired publication date.

Scouts earn Eagles Lenexa — Four Boy Scouts from Troop 181 and Holy Trinity Parish here recently received their Eagle Scout Award at the church.

For his Eagle project, Theodore Brisimitzakis chose a beautification project in which he designed a memorial garden Brisimitzakis in his parish of St. Dionysios Greek Orthodox Church in Overland Park. A plaque was placed on a site commemorating all those who served their country in the military.

Brill Matthew D. Brill’s Eagle project was to build shelving units for the local Special Olympics offices. The project consisted of three shelf units secured into the building

along with one free-standing unit.

Benjamin C. Conde’s Eagle Scout project consisted of a book drive, through which he collected about 1000 children’s books. Under his leadership, his fellow Scouts and some parents built and painted bookConde shelves. They fixed a room at Community LINC (an organization that provides housing for the homeless families), in Kansas City, Mo., and converted it into a library.

Feist Devin Feist’s Eagle project entailed moving everything out of the old Holy Trinity preschool into the new Father Quigley Center.

Lawrence native gathers honors CARBONDALLE, Ill. — Father Bob Flannery, pastor of St. Francis Xavier Church here and former parishioner of St. John the Evangelist Parish in Lawrence, was elected to the board of overseers of the School of Theology and Seminary at Saint John’s University in Collegeville, Minn.

In March, Father Flannery was named

a notable alumnus of Saint John’s University in the field of religion. In October 2009, he was honored with the Alumni Achievement Award from St. John’s.

Father Flannery has also been selected as the national chair for the 2012 National Workshop on Christian Unity convention.

word to life

twenty-seventh WEEK IN ordinary time Oct. 3 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

Is it finally time to face the music?

John and Carol (Schultz) Flott, members of St. Joseph Parish in Olpe, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on Oct. 9 with a Mass at 5:30 p.m., followed by a reception at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Olpe 6:30-9 p.m. anniversaries from Friends and family are invited; they request no gifts. The event will be hosted by their children and their spouses: Brian and Kristin Flott and Kevin and Mary Flott, all of Emporia. They have three granddaughters. The couple was married Oct. 8, 1960, at Sacred Heart Church in Emporia.

B

Gospel calls us to put our faith to work

rother Bob handed me a flyer. “Rent to Own,” it read: “$600 per month, $36,000 to own. Newly renovated 2 bedroom home on 2 city lots, 50 x 150 feet,” etc.

This is not a great time to move property in the city, much less in the town I was visiting: tiny Dungannon, Va.; population 317. But such a thought hadn’t crossed Brother Bob’s mind. He has faith.

Twenty-seventh He’s been buildsunday ing, renovating, in ordinary time selling and renting houses in and Lk 17: 5-10 around Dungannon for the last eight years. In that time, the enterprise has earned $100,000 — all of it to support development projects in a community on Lake Victoria in Kenya, East Africa.

Back in 2002, a priest from his Glenmary order had visited the small African town on another matter but, when the people asked for assistance with community development, he brought the request home and put it to Brother Bob. Who had faith; he must have. He was 75 at the time, but saw no obstacles.

“The vision . . . will surely come, it will not be late.”

— Hb 2:3

Today’s readings, particularly the Gospel, describe faith like Brother Bob’s: a faith that believes in God’s vision for his people’s care.

This faith doesn’t see impediments or countenance doubt. It sees even more than mere possibilities. The prophet Habakkuk spoke of the certainty of God’s vision. It has its time, he said, “and will not disappoint.”

Such faith drives a true servant to work beyond normal expectations in order to see the Lord’s desires fulfilled.

So, Brother Bob put his faith to work with his carpentry skills, laboring nine months a year in his Appalachian village and three months in Kenya. He continues still at age 83. So far, his efforts have led to

A Day of Boundless Joy “…act justly, love tenderly walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8 Sister Anne Bryan Smollin, CSJ, Ph.D. — “Live, Laugh and be Blessed” “Tickle Your Soul” Msgr. Thomas Tank — “Scriptural Reflection” Susan Carroll — “Prayer Reflection” Vickie Broxterman — “OK God…Now It’s Personal!!!”

the construction of four churches, two schools, a pastoral center and 10 water wells in Africa.

Furthermore, they’ve brought the Kenyan community into the prayers of the 18-member Catholic parish in Dungannon, as the people earnestly support the work of their beloved brother and witness the fruits of faith.

Saturday, October 23, 2010 Savior Pastoral Center 9:00 am to 4:30 pm Cost: $40.00 (18 and under $20.00) For more Information or to receive a brochure — Call: Family Life Office—913-647-0345 or e-mail: flifesec@archkck.org — website: www.archkck.org

Local News 15 Washburn Catholic Campus Center celebrates 40 years TOPEKA — The Catholic Campus Center at Washburn University here will be celebrating its 40th year from Oct. 22-24.

The weekend celebration includes: an open house at the center at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 22; participation in the homecoming parade at 10 a.m. on Oct. 23; tailgating before the game; a dance from 7 to 10 p.m. on Oct. 23; and Mass with Msgr.

Vince Krische at 10 a.m. on Oct. 24, followed by a reception.

For more information, contact committee chairperson Stephen Schiffelbein at (785) 286-1551 or campus center director Patti Lyon at (785) 233-2204.

Donnelly receives grant KANSAS CITY, Kan. — The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Hispanic Serving Institutions Assisting Communities program has awarded Donnelly College here nearly $600,000 to fund its Housing and Entrepreneurial Support for Low-Income Persons in Kansas City (HELP-KC) project.

HELP-KC is designed to directly support community residents in the urban core through two distinct programming options — one will promote knowledge of and access to home ownership through educational programming; the other supports small business development in urban core communities by offering programs to provide technical support to participants as they develop business concepts.

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16 LOCAL NEWS

THE LEAVEN • october 1, 2010

Catholic smart phone apps, downloads add new dimension to faith life Applications, downloads allow Catholics to pray rosary, Liturgy of Hours from just about anywhere

By Dennis Poust When Fran Rossi Szpylczyn developed complications from routine gall bladder surgery last month, the subsequent 12-day hospital stay could have been traumatic and stressful. Instead, she said, it became a moment of grace thanks to, of all things, her Motorola Droid phone and a Catholic prayer app that she had downloaded on a whim months earlier but had not often used.

“When I got to the hospital, I had my husband bring me this big pile of books, and I just could not touch one of them,” she said. “I had no concentration to open a book. My Magnificat, my Bible, Christian Prayer, my journal which I write in every day, just sat there. But I picked up my phone on the second day I was there and I opened the iBreviary software and I don’t know why, but I was just able to go there.”

The iBreviary app, created by Father Paolo Padrini, an Italian priest, is one of a growing number of Catholic related prayer aids — for smart phones like the iPhone and Droid, as well as for the iPad, the new tablet computer from Apple — that are beginning to transform the way Catholics pray and, perhaps soon, how they worship at Mass.

“It was just so comforting to me to be able to hold my little blocky Droid phone in my hand and yet be able to enter in and engage in my prayer, to let go in a way that books at that point simply did not allow me to do,” said Szpylczyn, a writer who lives in Clifton Park, N.Y. Developers of this new prayer frontier say situations like Szpylczyn’s are exactly what their products are intended to be used for — not to replace the sacred books so associated with Catholicism, but to supplement them.

“I do not think paper books will disappear,” Father Padrini said in an e-mail interview from his home in northern Italy. “The experience of prayer, or even simply reading a paper book, cannot be replaced by that of an e-book.”

However, he added, “I don’t think there should be shock” if in the near future priests use such tools on the

iPad for support during the Mass and performing other sacraments, in addition to “some faithful who use such tools to follow the liturgical functions or meditate on the Scriptures.”

Father Padrini, a consultant with the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Social Communications, made news in June with the announcement of the upcoming release of a new version of iBreviary for the iPad, which will include the complete Roman Missal in various languages, perhaps allowing priests to use the tablet computer during Mass in some

There’s an app for that . . .

While the App Store on iTunes brings up more than 300 apps in a search for the word “Catholic,” here are a few good choices: iBreviary: Includes the Roman Missal, including the readings for that particular day, the major hours of the Divine Office for that day, and numerous Catholic prayers.

(Free)

Universalis: Like the popular Web site, includes the complete Liturgy of the Hours within the app with no need to download a particular day’s prayers, Mass readings, liturgical calendar.

Purchasing the app gives you access to the Web site and other delivery methods. ($24.99, though a free app from Universalis called

situations, such as in remote mission areas, on cruise ships or other travel situations where books may be cumbersome.

But while its use in celebrating Mass may still be down the road, there is no question that iBreviary already has

Catholic Calendar provides limited content) Stations of the Cross: This app from Ave Maria Press includes 14 alternative Bible-based Stations introduced by Pope John Paul II in 1991, rather than the traditional Stations found in most churches. A relevant Bible verse is included with each Station, as are prayers written by author Amy Welborn and her late husband,

made an impact on Catholics worldwide. The free application, which contains the major prayers of the Liturgy of the Hours for the current day, the Roman Missal, including daily Mass read-

Michael Dubruiel. (Free) Saint of the Day: A joint venture of Cantcha Inc., and the Daughters of St. Paul provides biographies of saints for every day of the year, prayers to saints and a searchable patronage listing. ($1.99) iMissal: Another Missal app from Cantcha Inc., includes three

Turn to “I can pray” on page 5

different Bible translation options, a neat audio option for listening to the Mass readings, and even a selection of Mass videos. ($4.99) Rosary Miracle Prayer: While there are many excellent rosary apps, this one from the Daughters of St. Paul rises to the top because it includes audio of the Sisters praying the rosary. ($2.99)