10-07-11 Vol. 33 No. 10

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WWW.THELEAVEN.COM | NEWSPAPER OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF KANSAS CITY IN KANSAS | VOL. 33, NO. 10 OCTOBER 7, 2011

ALL ABOARD

Pat McAnany, CEF board chair, and member of St. Joseph Parish in Shawnee, conducts a board meeting during the CEF board’s bus tour of Catholic schools in the Southern Region of the archdiocese.

GREEN THUMBS

LET’S TALK

Sacred Heart School in Emporia students Lauren Duncan, Mirka Kasen Fudge, a second-grader at St. Rose Philippine Duchesne Leyva, Alexis Davies, Noel Aranda, Mariah Mendoza, Alex Muck- School in Garnett, tells CEF board member Pat McAnany all about enthaler, Lance Moore, Nathan DeJesus, Emily Irsik and Brecklyn his school over lunch. Williams tell Archbishop Naumann about the school’s greenhouse.

MEETING GETS MOVING

CEF board members hit the road in order to see schools in action

T

By Jessica Langdon Leaven staff

he Catholic Education Foundation works hard to make sure its board meetings don’t turn into bored meetings. But this year, organizers raised the bar. Early the morning of Sept. 22, the CEF board of directors climbed aboard a bus for an unprecedented field trip. “We’ve never been to the four schools in the Southern Region,” said CEF development director Patty Morrisey. “So we packed up the board and took them on a bus trip and had our board meeting on the bus.” First stop: Sacred Heart School in Ottawa. “We do our best to get our board members closer to the mission,” said Michael Morrisey, CEF executive director, so meetings always include a visit to one of the schools that CEF aids. This meeting was no different. “They were able to see the schools, talk to the kids, talk to the teachers, talk to the principals, talk to the pastors,” he said. Basically, they saw a day in the life. At St. Rose Philippine Duchesne School in Garnett, board members were paired with a “lunch buddy,” who showed them how lunchtime works. St. Joseph School in Olpe was the next stop, and, last but not least, was Sacred Heart School in Emporia. The group — including Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann — also visited the “hoop farm,” a covered area where students raise vegetables and then consume the fruits of their labors. The board members concluded their meeting on the drive home, winding up the 10-hour trip at 5:30 p.m. “It was just wonderful that these board members took a whole day off work to spend with us and go to these schools,” said Patty Morrisey.

NO WAY!

Samantha Gast, a kindergartner at Sacred Heart School in Ottawa, seems a little apprehensive about approaching Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann. Kindergarten teacher Lisa McSwain tries to encourage Gast.

HARD AT WORK

Marley Heins (foreground), Gavin Heolting and Max Blaufuss, thirdgraders at Sacred Heart School in Olpe, demonstrate their computer skills on their laptops while the Catholic Education Foundation board looks on.

Photos by Lori Wood Habiger


2 LOCAL NEWS

THE LEAVEN • OCTOBER 7, 2011

THE LEAVEN • OCTOBER 7, 2011

SECOND FRONT PAGE 3

LIFE WILL BE VICTORIOUS

T

Draw nearer to Jesus through Mary, his mother

his summer I had the opportunity to read “A Life with Karol: My FortyYear Friendship with the Man Who Became Pope.” It is a memoir by Cardinal Stanibullet was a killer. So why aren’t you slaw Dziwisz, who served first as the dead?’” secretary for Archbishop Karol Wojtyla. Cardinal Dziwisz recalled: “But my When Cardinal Wojtyla was elected impression, or I suppose I should say pope in October 1979, Father Dzimy interpretation, is that Ali Agca was wisz came to Rome to continue as his terrified by the fact that there were secretary for the almost 27 years of the forces bigger than he was. The fact is papacy of John Paul II. The memoir is that he aimed well, and yet his victim in the form of an interview with Polwas still alive. And ish journalist, Gian there were forces Franco Svidercoschi. ‘The Shepherd’s Voice’ so beyond his control, Cardinal Dziwisz programming notes and he was terrified relates his experiby them. Plus, he Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann’s ence of the fatehad found out that radio program on KEXS 1090 AM ful day — May 13, airs at 10 a.m. on Sunday and is there wasn’t just one 1981, — when John repeated at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday Fatima — MohamPaul II was shot in and 3:30 p.m. on Thursday. med’s daughter — but St. Peter’s Square in another one, whom Rome. He writes that he called the godthe second shot was still echoing in his dess of Fatima. And he himself said he ears “when the Holy Father went limp was afraid that this powerful goddess on one side and then collapsed into would avenge herself on him and get my arms. Instinctively, I glanced in the rid of him. direction where the shots had come “The whole meeting ended up from, although I would see it all again revolving around that. And the Holy in the photographs and on television. Father — as he himself would often In the midst of the tumult, a young recall with deep concern — never once man with dark features was trying to heard the words, ‘Forgive me.’” break loose from the crowd. Only later The assassination attempt took would I find out that it was the pope’s place on the feast of Our Lady of Turkish would-be assassin, Mehmet Ali Fatima. Cardinal Dziwisz recalled how Agca.” the Holy Father came to understand After his recovery, the pope went Mary’s role in preserving his life: to the prison to meet the man who “Truth be told, John Paul II didn’t attempted to kill him. Svidercoschi think about Fatima at all in the days recounts the events of that historic immediately following the assassinameeting: tion attempt. It was only later, after he “The pope had decided to meet face had recovered and was getting back to face with the man who tried to kill some of his old strength, that he starthim. He wanted to repeat his words ed reflecting on what was, to say the of forgiveness to his would-be killer least, an extraordinary coincidence. in person. And he also wanted to give Two thirteenths of May! One in 1917, some meaning — a meaning Ali Agca when the Virgin of Fatima appeared for could understand — to the gesture of the first time, and one in 1981, when Christian love he was performing. The they tried to kill him. first thing he said was, ‘Today we meet “After pondering it for a while, the as men. No, as brothers.’ pope finally requested to see the Third “But as he sat next to Ali Agca in a Secret. The Third Secret, which Mary bare cell in the Rebibbia prison, inclinhad revealed to the three children ing his head to hear the prisoner better, when she appeared at Fatima, was kept the pope was surprised to hear the in the archives of the Congregation for question: ‘So why aren’t you dead?’ the Doctrine of the Faith. “Perhaps Karol Wojtyla was also “It was there in the hospital, that the hoping that this meeting would help Holy Father read the secret. When he him understand why the man sitting was finished, all his remaining doubts next to him had tried to kill him. What were gone. In Sister Lucia’s vision, he he got instead was this strange quesrecognized his own destiny. He betion: ‘I know I aimed right. I know the

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Archbishop Naumann’s weekly calendar

Oct. 13 Guest on “Life on the Rock” on EWTN — Birmingham, Ala.

Oct. 6-7 Kansas Catholic Conference and province meeting — Wichita

Oct. 14 7 a.m. Mass on “EWTN Live”

Oct. 7-8 Jesus Caritas bishops’ prayer group — Wichita Oct. 8 Gaudeamus dinner benefit for Catholic Education Foundation — Overland Park Oct. 9 Mass and installation of Father Michael Koller — Holy Trinity, Lenexa Project Andrew — St. Michael the Archangel, Leawood Oct. 10 Feasibility Task Force meeting Vespers and dinner with Archbishop Keleher’s prayer group Oct. 11 Vocation Day — Topeka

Keynote address at Catholic Radio Conference — Birmingham, Ala. Oct. 15 Keynote address at Florida Respect Life Conference Address youth at Florida Respect Life Conference Oct. 16 Mass and groundbreaking for hall and classrooms — St. Theresa, Perry

Archbishop Keleher’s weekly calendar

Oct. 8 “The Catholic Way” radio recording Oct. 9 Mass at federal prison — Leavenworth

Vitae dinner — Kansas City, Mo.

Oct. 10-12 Bishops’ prayer group — Kansas City

Oct. 12 Serra priests appreciation lunch

Oct. 12-13 Teach class at Mundelein Seminary

Louis and Ella Haefele were married on Sept. 7, 1921, at Holy Trinity Church in Lenexa. Little did they know they would start a tradition that would last for generations.

ask to pray for us? Who better to bring us and our intentions to her son, than his mother, Mary? I encourage you during this month of October to make a special effort to pray the rosary individually or, better still, as a family. Through the rosary, draw close to Mary, who always draws us close to her son, Jesus!

Correction The Sept. 30 issue of The Leaven incorrectly reported the day Michael Scherschligt, founder of the Holy Family School of Faith, will offer free lectures. His lectures take place the evening of the first Thursday of each month at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Overland Park. The Leaven regrets the error.

Carol and Joe Testa became the third generation to be married in Holy Trinity Church, when they exchanged vows on July 25, 1981.

Joanna and Tyler Johnson were married on June 4 of this year, becoming the fourth generation of Louis and Ella Haefele’s descendents to be married in the limestone church.

GOIN’ TO THE CHAPEL

- generation after generation By Jill Ragar Esfeld Special to The Leaven

came convinced that his life had been saved — no, given back to him anew — thanks to Our Lady’s intervention and protection. “One hand shot, and another guided the bullet, was how the Holy Father put it. “And today that bullet, made forever harmless, lies encased with the crown on Our Lady’s statue in Fatima.” Today, Oct. 7, is the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. October is a special month in which we venerate Mary, particularly by praying the rosary. One of the beautiful aspects of our Catholic faith is our devotion to Mary, the Mother of Jesus, thus the Mother of God. Many people ask me to pray for particular intentions, which I am honored and delighted to do. We quite naturally ask people, who we believe are close to God or have a special friendship with God, to pray for us and our intentions. Who is closer to Jesus? Who better to

Patricia and Leonard Haefele were married on Aug. 22, 1951, in the same church as Leonard’s parents.

LENEXA — Almost one hundred years ago, Louis Haefele came here from Seneca to visit his brother, Father John Anthony Haefele, pastor of Holy Trinity Parish. During Louis’ visit, a pretty seamstress named Ella Marie Hurley happened by to deliver some altar cloths she had sewn for the parish’s first stone church, built under Father Haeflele’s direction in 1911. Young Louis was impressed with more than Ella’s handiwork. On Sept. 7, 1921, the couple was married by Father Haefele in the little limestone church that still stands on the grounds of Holy Trinity. They had no idea they were starting a family tradition that would span a century.

1951

Although Louis and Ella married in Lenexa, they returned to raise their two boys and four girls in Sts. Peter and Paul Parish in Seneca. But Ella’s sister lived on a farm in Lenexa, where the family often visited. One visit, in particular, was quite memorable, at least for Leonard, son of Louis and Ella. When Leonard was 18 years old, and the farm work had slacked off for the winter, he decided to make a trip to Lenexa. Little did he know that there, like his father, he would meet his future wife.

“I just thought the church was beautiful. And when I found out more about the history and the tradition, that’s where I wanted to get married.”

Joanna Johnson

“I came down to visit my cousins and my aunt and uncle,” he said. “While I was down here, I was fixed up with a blind date.” Leonard’s date was 16-year-old Patricia Wise, a Holy Trinity School graduate and parishioner. Three years later, on Aug. 22, 1951, they were married in the limestone church — 30 years after Leonard’s parents had been married there. It was a simple ceremony, followed by a dinner for 30 at the bride’s home. After the wedding, the couple started their life together by proving the adage that love can make any place a home. “For the first couple of months, we lived in her brother’s barn between Olathe and Lenexa,” said Leonard. When Patricia’s brother got married, the couple moved in with her parents, and Patricia remained there while Leonard served in the Army.

Turn to “FAMILY’S” on page 6

Leaven photo by Jill Ragar Esfeld

Patricia and Leonard Haefele (seated) pose with their daughter Carol and her husband Joe Testa (standing left) and their granddaughter Joanna and her husband Tyler Johnson in front of a picture of the Holy Trinity Church, where they were all married. Leonard Haefele’s parents Ella Marie and Louis Haefele were also married there.

Publication No. (ISSN0194-9799)

Editor Reverend Mark Goldasich, stl frmark@theleaven.com

Senior Reporter Joe Bollig joe@theleaven.com

Reporter Jessica Langdon jessica@theleaven.com

President Most Reverend Joseph F. Naumann

Managing Editor Anita McSorley anita@theleaven.com

Production Manager Todd Habiger todd@theleaven.com

Advertising Representative Jennifer Siebes jennifer@theleaven.com

Published weekly September through May, excepting the Friday the week after Thanksgiving, and the Friday after Christmas; biweekly June through August. Address communications to: The Leaven, 12615 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City, KS 66109. Phone: (913) 721-1570; fax: (913) 721-5276; or e-mail at: sub@theleaven.com.Postmaster: Send address changes to The Leaven, 12615 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City, KS 66109. For change of address, provide old and new address and parish. Subscriptions $18/year. Periodicals postage paid at Kansas City, KS 66109.


4 LOCAL NEWS

THE LEAVEN • OCTOBER 7, 2011

THE LEAVEN • OCTOBER 7, 2011

Kansas bishops ask HHS to strike coercive rules

Emporia Scout makes Eagle EMPORIA — Brett Williams, a member of Sacred Heart Parish here and Boy Scout Troop 158, has achieved the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest rank in Boy Scouts. Williams was presented with the Eagle Scout Award at a Court of Honor cerBrett Williams emony on Sept. 18. Williams’ Eagle project involved several tasks at Emporia’s Fremont Park, including sanding, painting and installing a new flagpole; power washing, cleaning, and repainting the park’s light poles; and repainting the park’s water fountain, trash can, and park sign lettering.

By Joe Bollig Leaven staff

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Coercive rules about preventive care have prompted the Kansas bishops to write to Kathleen Sebelius, secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services In a letter sent to the former Kansas governor on Sept. 26, the bishops expressed “emphatic opposition” to the final rule on preventive service. These rules implement part of the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The new rules require almost all private health care plans to cover things that Catholics consider morally objectionable — contraception, sterilization and abortifacients — at no cost. “Obviously, those are not areas of disease,” said Ron Kelsey, archdiocesan consultant for pro-life ministry. “The bishops have written to former governor Sebelius, pointing out the flaws in the HHS mandate, and stating that it should be rescinded immediately and entirely.” Anyone who is in the plan will pay for these morally objectionable things, said Kelsey. Religious exemptions are provided for, but they are so weak as to be meaningless. “The bishops point out in their letter that there are several problems with this,” he said. “It provides coverage of at least one abortifacient drug, and that is contrary to existing federal law.” “It’s also an affront to the First Amendment religious liberty of individuals and organizations that object to [these things],” said Kelsey. “Quite frankly, one would have to suspect that this is specifically targeted at the Catholic Church.” The Kansas bishops are not alone in their concern. On Sept. 30, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops formed a new ad hoc committee for religious liberty. The USCCB committee was formed to address increasing threats to religious liberty, among them being the new HHS regulations. The Kansas bishops see these regulations as part of an agenda to define religious freedom in its most narrow sense. “What can we expect? Quite frankly, I’m not very hopeful, because we have a radically pro-abortion president and a radically pro-abortion secretary of HHS,” said Kelsey. “Both of [them] have a strong support base from pro-abortion organizations like Planned Parenthood.” The best course of action now is to support the Respect for Rights of Conscience Act (H.R. 1179/S. 1467) in the U.S. Congress, said Kelsey. “That measure will ensure that those individuals who participate in the health care system will be able to provide, purchase, or enroll in health coverage that is consistent with their religious beliefs and moral convictions,” said Kelsey. “We need to establish in federal law the respect for rights of conscience. This law would trump any HHS mandate.”

Dear Secretary Sebelius: We pray for wisdom for all those who serve in public life. As the former governor of Kansas and as a Catholic, you hold a special place in our prayers. With your important responsibilities as the Secretary of Health and Human Services, we ask the Lord to inspire your efforts to protect the health and promote the welfare of all Americans. We also ask the Lord to give you the courage to uphold the sanctity of all human life and to reject the temptation to use immoral means to achieve the worthy goal of reforming America’s health care system. We are writing to express our emphatic opposition to the interim final rule on preventive services issued by your department on Aug. 3, 2011. The HHS mandate is profoundly deficient in terms of medical, moral, and constitutional good sense. It should be rescinded entirely and immediately. The HHS mandate, which requires all health plans to cover prescription contraceptives and sterilization, purports to advance the cause of “preventive” medicine. However, the services covered by the mandate do not protect patients from sickness or disease. Rather, they function to disrupt the healthy functioning of the reproductive system by preventing pregnancy which, unlike the flu, for example, is not an illness. Particularly disturbing is the fact that the mandate requires coverage of at least one abortifacient drug that can act to end a pregnancy after fertilization, despite the many assurances from the administration that the health care reform legislation would not mandate abortion coverage, and despite the fact that federal law forbids such an abortion mandate. Because the HHS mandate forbids insurers from charging the co-pays and deductibles that are routinely assessed for even lifesaving treatment, the costs of providing contraceptives, sterilizations, and covered abortifacients “for free” will be passed on to consumers and taxpayers, regardless of their moral objections. We believe that the new mandate is an affront to the First Amendment freedoms of religious individuals and organizations that object to contraceptives and sterilization. The mandate’s extraordinarily narrow religious exemption provides no protection at all for individuals or insurers with such objections, and will not apply to Catholic universities, hospitals, and charitable organizations that serve the general public. As a result, many Catholic institutions have no choice but to cease providing employee health care coverage altogether. It is difficult to see how this advances the cause of health care for all. Instead, this policy appears to be in the service of a different agenda, one that would define freedom of

religion down to mean nothing more than the freedom to worship in private. While the HHS mandate is undoubtedly a welcome development financially for organizations like Planned Parenthood that deal in these services and lobbied for the policy’s adoption, it is also surely to be warmly received by those who are uncomfortable with the vital contribution religious institutions make to our national life. It is clear that the implications of this new policy transcend the question of accessibility of contraceptive services, which are already ubiquitous, and betray a minimalist understanding of religious freedom. In August of this year, the federal government ordered millions of Americans to be complicit in the acquisition of contraceptive, sterilization, and abortion services, regardless of their religious and moral objections. This should give all Americans pause. Indeed, it was precisely against this sort of heavy-handed exercise of federal power that the First Amendment was written. Madame Secretary, we urge you and your colleagues in the administration to reconsider this radical departure from our country’s storied tradition of respect for religious liberty. The mandate as proposed will serve to build opposition to the implementation of health care reform for which this administration labored. Using health care reform to trample on religious liberty and specifically to marginalize Catholic health care providers is ill-advised. Please rescind this mandate as soon as possible. With gratitude for your consideration of our concerns and with prayers or the guidance of the Holy Spirit in your important responsibilities, we are Sincerely yours,

Archbishop of Kansas City in Kansas

Most Reverend Michael O. Jackels

Bishop of Wichita

Most Reverend John B. Brungardt

Bishop of Dodge City

Very Reverent Barry E. Brinkman

Diocesan Administrator of Salina

Women invited to annual Day of Boundless Joy By Joe Bollig Leaven staff

KANSAS CITY Kan. — The torch has been passed and the legacy continues. The Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women will present the annual Women’s Day of Boundless Joy. The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Oct. 22 at Savior Pastoral Center in Kansas City, Kan. The theme this year is: “The Joy of Family.” Boundless Joy was originally conceived as an event for all Catholic women in the archdiocese by Jackie Corrigan, the former consultant for the archdiocesan family life office, and Susan Carroll, former archdiocesan director of human resources and administrative services. But the ACCW was always a major player in the event, so it’s natural that the organization would now take the reins. “We are excited to be able to continue the tradition of the Day of Boundless Joy,” said Susan Draftz, president of the

Vickie Broxterman, a mainstay of the annual Day of Boundless Joy, will give the opening address at this year’s event, presented by the Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women. ACCW and member of St. Benedict’s Parish in Atchison. “Our goal is to make it as great a day as Jackie had done, and we appreciate all the work she’s done in the past. We think we can keep the tradition going.”

The purpose of the event is to give Catholic women an opportunity to connect with the everyday beauty of love, laughter and life — and the deep tradition of their Catholic faith. And it gives women the chance to connect with each other, said Draftz. It’s a tremendous networking opportunity. “We can connect on the Internet, but bloggers can’t hug,” she said. “You need to get together to talk with each other and share emotionally sometimes.” Four speakers are scheduled for the event. April and Tom Hoopes, from Benedictine College in Atchison and past editors of Faith and Family magazine, will speak on “how to keep your kids close . . . and knowing how close to keep your kids.” Sister Doris Engeman, of the Franciscan Servants of the Holy Family, will speak on “discovering the true joy in life.” Estelle Boeger, of Mother Teresa Parish in Topeka, will discuss “the joy of the Holy Spirit in my life.” The cost to attend is $40 for adults;

Scout earns Eagle

Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann ordained the first class of deacons for the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas earlier this year. The archdiocese is now beginning the first steps toward forming its second class of permanent deacons.

Looking for a few good men Candidates wanted for second class of permanent deacons

Most Reverend Joseph F. Naumann

Schedule 9 a.m. Hospitality 9:30 a.m. Welcome by Vickie Broxterman 10 a.m. Presentation by Sister Doris 10:45 a.m. Break 11 a.m. Mass 11:45 a.m. Lunch 12:30 p.m. Presentation by Estelle Boeger 1:15 p.m. Tom and April Hoopes 2 p.m. Closing Prayer

$20 for women ages 17 and younger. To register, go to the website at: www. archkck.org/accw. Send name, address, telephone number, email address, parish and all payments to: Loretta Schrick, 17871 Stitz Rd., Winchester KS 66097. Make checks payable to the ACCW. You may combine payments into one check, but indicate for whom you are sending the payments.

LOCAL NEWS 5

By Jessica Langdon Leaven staff

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — For some men in the archdiocese, this fall will be a time of learning, discerning and praying — leading up to a decision that could shape the rest of their lives. The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas is taking the first steps toward forming its second class of permanent deacons. The archdiocesan office of the permanent diaconate will begin accepting applications for the next class of permanent deacons in December. Before a man even asks the office for an application, though, a lot of prayer, discussion and discernment go into the process. Learning more about the role is a key part of that. The diaconate office will hold several information sessions in October. The sessions are for anyone interested in learning more about the diaconate, especially men who want to know whether this vocation might be for them. If they are married, their wives are also encouraged to attend because they will play key roles in this discernment. The first session will be held Oct. 11 at St. Francis de Sales Parish in Lansing. The second will be Oct. 20 at Mater Dei (Assumption Church) in Topeka; the third, on Oct. 27 at Holy Spirit Parish in Overland Park. All sessions start at 7 p.m. Leon Suprenant, pastoral associate for administration in the diaconate office, plans to add a few more sessions in Wyandotte County and Emporia this fall as well. Father Gary Pennings, director of the office of the permanent diaconate, associate director Father Greg

Hammes, and Suprenant will provide information at the sessions. Attendees will also hear from deacons who are currently serving in parishes. That will really give potential candidates a firsthand look at how the vocation works with family life, said Suprenant, or what it’s like to prepare a homily while also working a full-time job. Those interested in applying for the diaconate will be sent home with some discernment questions to consider in the coming weeks. “In today’s world, today’s church climate, deacons play a tremendous role in the church,” said Suprenant. “They’re clergy, and yet they’re also in the midst of the world.” The archdiocese’s first class of permanent deacons was ordained in April, so many area Catholics have now seen deacons both in their churches and out in their communities. “There’s already a certain kind of built-in interest,” said Suprenant. But because it’s still a fairly new program for the archdiocese, there is plenty of education yet to do. From Archbishop Joseph F. Nau-

“In today’s world, today’s church climate, deacons play a tremendous role in the church. They’re clergy, and yet they’re also in the midst of the world.”

Leon Suprenant, pastoral associate for administration in the archdiocesan diaconate office

Diaconate information sessions The first three sessions are scheduled for 7-9 p.m. on the following dates: Oct. 11 — St. Francis de Sales Parish, Lansing Oct. 20 — Mater Dei (Assumption Church), Topeka Oct. 27 — Holy Spirit Parish, Overland Park For more information, visit the website at: www.archkck. org/deacons; contact the office by email at: diaconate@arch kck.org; or call (913) 647-0358.

mann’s radio show to the office’s website — www.archkck.org/deacons — the archdiocese is using various avenues to get the word out about the diaconate. The website also provides a way for men interested in the diaconate to indicate their interest to the diaconate office. Suprenant urges those who feel this might be a vocation for them to attend one of the sessions. But entering the diaconate isn’t an overnight process. Once a class is formed, there is a year of aspirancy followed by four years of candidacy. The next archdiocesan class is scheduled to start in September 2012, with ordination planned for 2017. A deacon is a minister of word, sacrament and charity. “They’re like flesh-and-blood icons of Christ the servant,” said Suprenant. “That’s an important witness that we need in today’s world and also allows people to see the face of Christ.”

WEA — Randal Chushuk, a member of Holy Rosary Parish here and Boy Scout Troop 483, sponsored by the First Baptist Church of Stilwell, recently earned the rank of Eagle Scout. Eagle Scout is the highest ranking a Boy Scout can achieve. Randal Chushuk For his Eagle project, Chushuk supervised the removal and planting of new evergreen trees at the First Baptist Church of Stilwell.

Musica Sacra to perform Durante, Bach, Handel KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Musica Sacra Chorus and Orchestra opens its 21st season at 7 p.m. on Oct. 9 with music by Durante, Bach and Handel in St. Francis Xavier Church here, at 52nd and Troost Ave. The ensemble will perform the regional premiere of the “Litaniae Lauretanae” (“Litany of Loreto”), by Neapolitan baroque composer Francesco Durante. Also on the program is Johann Sebastian Bach’s Easter cantata “Christ lag in Todesbanden” (“Christ Lay in Bonds of Death”), composed in 1708. The concert will conclude with several choruses from George Frideric Handel’s “O Praise the Lord with One Consent.” Tickets for Musica Sacra Chorus and Orchestra are $18 for adults; $12 for students and senior citizens. Purchase tickets by calling the Central Ticket Office at (816) 235-6222; on the website at: www.rockhurst.edu/mstickets; or at the church before the performance. Artistic director Timothy McDonald will present “Live Program Notes” at 6:15 p.m.

University earns approval to launch doctorate program LEAVENWORTH — The University of Saint Mary here has passed a major milestone in its work to establish the university’s first doctorate program — the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT). The Higher Learning Commission this month approved an extension of USM’s accreditation to include the DPT program, which is under development. The university now has the green light to move forward with seeking specified accreditation for the DPT program from the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education. The next step for the Saint Mary DPT is to seek candidate status from CAPTE, which will allow the university to begin accepting students in the spring.


6 LOCAL NEWS

THE LEAVEN • OCTOBER 7, 2011

THE LEAVEN • OCTOBER 7, 2011

Family’s wedding tradition spans 90 years Continued from page 1

90 years of weddings

“When I got home from service,” he said, “we built a little house and raised our family.”

When the first Haefele couple married in 1921, weddings were quiet affairs shared with a few immediate family and friends; a single wedding photograph was a luxury. When Leonard and Patricia Haefele were married in 1951, they had pictures taken at a photographer’s studio before the ceremony. After their wedding, they had a simple dinner at home for their 30 guests. In 1981, Carol Haefele and Joe Testa had 200 guests at their wedding, with a reception at the VFW Hall down the street. Carol’s mother provided refreshments. In 2011, Joanna and Tyler Johnson also had about 200 guests – the maximum seating for Holy Trinity’s limestone church. Unlike their grandparents, they had a professional photographer capturing the entire event. Their reception, at Holy Trinity’s Father Quigley Center, was a catered barbecue.

1981

Leonard and Patricia raised five children in St. Paul Parish, Olathe, never once imagining that one of those children would get married exactly 30 years after them, again, at Holy Trinity Church. But their daughter Carol was invited to play volleyball one evening with a singles’ group called the Catholic Alumni Club. There she met Joe Testa. They fell in love and, purely by coincidence, set their wedding date for July 25, 1981 — continuing the 30-year tradition. As fate would have it, the family was now in the newly formed Prince of Peace Parish, Olathe, which had not yet built its church. “So we were attending Mass in a school,” recalled Carol. “And we wanted to get married in a church. “We asked our pastor if we could get married in Holy Trinity and he helped us make those arrangements. We knew we had family ties to that church.” Carol’s father said it was “thrilling” to walk his daughter down the aisle in the same church where he and his parents had been married. “They were delighted,” Carol said of her parents. “I think my mom always felt like that church was home.”

2011

The Testas raised their family in Prince of Peace Parish. But their daughter Joanna was always aware of all the family history that had taken place within the walls of Holy Trinity’s limestone church. And she was charmed by it. “Ever since she was a little girl, she wanted to get married in that church,” her mother said. “She thought that was very special.” “I just thought the church was beautiful,” said Joanna. “And when I found out more about the history and the tradition, that’s where I wanted to get married.” But she didn’t think it would be possible to hit the 30-year mark again. “I thought that would be really neat if I could get married in 2011,” she said.

Patricia (Wise) and Leonard Haefele received a special blessing from Father Jim White, SJ, after morning Mass at Holy Trinity Church on their 60th wedding anniversary. Four generations of Haefele descendents have been married in Holy Trinity’s old limestone chapel, each one coming 30 years after the one before it. “But I hadn’t really planned on it. “It just kind of worked out that way.” Indeed, Joanna met her future husband, Tyler Johnson, through mutual friends at Kansas State University, where they both went to school. The couple started talking and then dating and then spending more and more time together, and . . . On June 4, 2011, 30 years after her parents, 60 years after her grandparents, and 90 years after her great-grandparents, Joanna was married in Holy Trinity’s little limestone church. “It was very surreal,” Joanna’s mother

said about the wedding. “You just feel like you’re at home.” The family was especially pleased that Joanna’s grandparents could be at her wedding and dance at her reception. “Well, I’m kind of stiff,” said her grandfather. “But we were out there.”

Tradition The Haefele family recently celebrated another milestone when Leonard and Patricia returned to Holy Trinity to

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receive a special blessing commemorating their 60th wedding anniversary. Friends and family gathered afterwards to congratulate the couple and reflect on the good fortune that has come from their Holy Trinity tradition. “The history of it just means a lot to me,” said Joanna. “And it’s nice to see not just my parents, but my grandparents and my great-grandparents, were married there, and to see the nice tradition that followed — they’ve all had long-lasting marriages. “Hopefully, we can learn by example.” And what is her grandfather’s advice for staying happily married for 60 years? “Perseverance,” he said. “Every marriage has its ups and downs. Probably there were times when both of us said, ‘Why did I do this?’ But we stuck with it, and had a lot of good years.” “Put in [The Leaven] that if I had it to do over,” he added, “I’d do it again. “For me, that says it all.”

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Serra

T

A lay ministry supporting vocations

he Serra Clubs of Kansas City in Kansas and the Johnson County Serra Club invite you to join them in their sacred ministry of prayer and action in promoting and supporting vocations to the priesthood and religious life. For meeting times, activities and membership information contact:

Serra Club of Kansas City in Kansas

Gary McCoy, VP membership | garyemccoy@aol.com | Phone: 913 338 4105

Serra Club of Johnson County in Kansas

Janice Lawless, VP Membership | janice.lawless@yahoo.com | Phone: 913 642 8397

Bernard and Pat (Treff) Callaghan, members of St. Patrick Parish, Kansas City, Kan., will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on Oct. 7. The couple was married at Christ the King Church in Kansas City, Kan., on Oct. 7, 1961. Their children ANNIVERSARIES and their spouses are: John and Sheila Callaghan, Mary and Rick Windholz, and Tim and Stacy Callaghan. They also have nine grandchildren. In late August, they celebrated with a family dinner at Cinzetti’s in Overland Park. Theresa (Evans) and James Muckenthaler, members of Sacred Heart Parish in Emporia, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on Oct. 11 with a Mass offered by Father Rich Warsnak. The couple celebrated an anniversary weekend in June in Kansas City, so all their children and grandchildren could be in attendance. Their children and their spouses are: John and Vickie Muckenthaler, Jay and Becky Muckenthaler, and Joe and Kristine Muckenthaler. They also have eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild. They were married at St. Anthony Church in Strong City in 1961. Louie and Patsy (Ernzen) Penning, members of Sacred Heart Parish, Atchison, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on Oct. 14. The couple was married on Oct. 14, 1961, at St. Patrick Church, Atchison, with Father Augustine Rottering officiating. Their children and their spouses are: Amy and Mike Rindom, Delray Beach, Fla.; Laura and Shayne Denton, Liberty, Mo.; Stacy and Ken Mercer, Celebration, Fla.; Scott and Kim Penning, Kansas City, Mo.; and Midge and Bryan Botts, Shawnee. They also have 13 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. The couple received a blessing from Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann during the June golden wedding anniversary celebration at the Cathedral of St. Peter in Kansas City, Kan. They also recently enjoyed an Alaskan cruise.

Gene and Darlene (Weishaar) Sittenauer, members of St. Joseph Parish in Nortonville, will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary on Oct. 15 with a Mass of thanksgiving at St. Benedict’s Abbey in Atchison, followed by a family dinner. The couple was married on Oct. 16, 1951, at St. Joseph Church, Atchison. Their children and their spouses are: Patty and Ed Clinkinbeard; Jeanne and Norman Clark; Diane and Larry Babcock; Karen and Calvin Ledbetter; Annette and Mike Steinke; Cathy and Arlin Mast; Mark and Francie Sittenauer; and Beth and Mark Wilson. They also have 20 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. Kenny and Mary Ann Weishaar, members of St. Joseph Parish in Nortonville, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on Oct. 9. The couple was married in the same church on Oct. 7, 1961. They will celebrate with an open house for the public from 1 – 3 p.m. on Oct. 9 at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Nortonville. They had a son, Greg, who is deceased. Their daughters and their spouses are: Barbara and the late Dan Easthouse; Deanie and Marvin Keehn; Donna and Steve Noll; Sandra and Donnie Sommers; and Jenny and Don Leonard. They also have 17 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Sophie and Norman Stallbaumer, members of Mater Dei Parish in Topeka, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on Oct. 14. The couple was married on Oct. 14, 1961, at St. Benedict Church, Kansas City, Kan. Their children and their spouses are: Charlene and Tony Finney, Topeka; Vincent and Annie Stallbaumer, Omaha, Neb.; and Ray and JoAnn Stallbaumer, Topeka. They also have five grandchildren, four step-grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

Jack and Anne (Scullin) McGranaghan, members of Holy Spirit Parish in Overland Park, celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on Oct. 6. They were married at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Syracuse, N.Y. They have four children and two grandchildren. Gene and Dorothy (Stallbaumer) Peschel, members of St. Gregory Parish, Marysville, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary with an open house on Oct. 16 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Marysville. The couple was married on Oct. 14, 1961, at St. Bede Church in Kelly. Their children and their spouses are: Teresa and Gary Koch; Kate and Kenny Manley; and Dan and Cindy Peschel. They also have five grandchildren. Alice and Dale Putman, members of Curé of Ars Parish in Leawood, celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on Oct. 6 with a family celebration. The couple was married on Sept. 8, 1951, at St. Mary Cathedral, Lincoln, Neb. They have seven children, 17 grandchildren and three 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. Announcements must be typed. They are for parishioners of Catholic parishes in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, or for those who have resided in the archdiocese for a significant period of time. Send notices to: The Leaven, 12615 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City, KS 66109, attn: anniversaries; or send an email to: Todd@theleaven.com. If you would like your photo returned to you, please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope.

LOCAL NEWS 7 Eighth-grade pro-life forums set for Oct. 16 and 19 KANSAS CITY, Kan. — The 19th annual eighth grade pro-life forums will be held Oct. 16 and 19. For School of Religion and homeschooled students, the forum will be held on Oct. 16 at Church of the Ascension, 9510 W. 127th, Overland Park. The evening begins with Mass at 5 p.m., followed by free pizza. The forum will be held from 6:30 to 8:45 p.m. For Catholic school students, the forum will be held on Oct. 19 from 9:30 to 11:45 a.m. at Church of the Nativity, 3800 W. 119th St., Leawood. The pro-life forums feature church teachings relating to the unborn, along with personal testimonies about abortion. Speakers will also address modesty, abstinence and more. Each student (and adult) will be given a packet of information, a rosary, prayer cards and stickers. For more information, contact Courtney Williams at (913) 642-1730, or by email at: scj4x@aol.com; or Ron Kelsey at (913) 647-0350, or by email at: prolife@archkck.org.

Pancake breakfast to benefit Sisters, Servants of Mary KANSAS CITY, Kan. — A pancake breakfast is scheduled for Oct. 23, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. in St. Peter Parish center here, at 425 N. 15th St., to benefit the Sisters, Servants of Mary. These Sisters provide in-home nursing care for persons who are dying or terminally ill. They supply these services free of charge. Tickets are $6 for adults; $4 for children under 10. Tickets can be purchased at the door or in advance by calling (913) 371-3423.

Bible series to start LEAVENWORTH — Persons of different denominations and faiths are invited to “Lingering over Coffee with Challenging Women of the Bible” — four sessions on Tuesday mornings, Oct. 18 through Nov. 8, at Marillac Center here. Sister Kathleen Wood, SCL, will facilitate discussion with other members of the Marillac team. Sessions will run from 9:30 to 11 a.m. For questions or more information, call (913) 758-6552; send an email to: retreats@scls.org; or visit the website at: www.marillaccenter.org.


LIFE MATTERS Persons with Disabilities

I

t says a lot about a society when a group of obstetricians and geneticists needs to be told by an 11-year-old girl that her life is worth living. According to The New York Times, “Sarah” told a roomful of medical specialists that she

“I am so lucky I get to do so many things. I just want you to know, even though I have Down syndrome, it is OK.”

likes to read. . . . Math used to be hard, but it is getting easier. She plays clarinet in her school band. She is a junior Girl Scout and an aunt, and she likes to organize, so her room is very clean. Last year she won three medals in the Special Olympics. “I am so lucky I get to do so many things,” she concluded. “I just want you to know, even though I have Down syndrome, it is OK.”1 Why would such a gathering be necessary? Because many of these specialists — like so many others in our society — have begun to think of babies as material goods, as products adults create to enhance their lives. And if the “product” is flawed and beyond the power of medicine to correct, we simply send it back. Tragically, the attitude of such experts carries enormous weight when couples are confronted with a diagnosis of disability in their unborn child. In an attempt to offer couples full disclosure of potential health and learning challenges,

many specialists present a gloomy picture of the child’s prospects. And many urge parents to consider abortion, contributing to the shameful fact that about 90 percent of unborn children diagnosed with Down syndrome are aborted. Given this high “termination” rate, in the future it will be even less likely that parents and specialists personally experience the love and joy that children with Down syndrome or other disabilities can bring to their families and communities. Unborn children diagnosed with physical or mental limitations are particularly at risk of being killed because abortion is legally available throughout the United States, and many people believe parents have a “right” to decide to end the life of an unborn child who may not measure up to their expectations. But the threat to the lives of people with disabilities does not end at birth. Parents of special-needs children, and adults with disabilities who are able to seek their own medical care, often have to fight for

medical treatment that routinely would be given to someone with no overt disability. It’s as if those with disabilities bear the burden of proving to medical personnel that they are better off alive than dead! And, of course, millions of Americans who have enjoyed excellent health and fitness throughout most of their lives may discover firsthand in their later years the pervasive bias against providing treatment to those with diminished mental and physical abilities. Further, when dementia robs an individual of the ability for “meaningful” communication, many people today misguidedly consider that individual to be expendable. This must change. IN HIS ENCYCLICAL letter “The Gospel of Life,” Blessed John Paul II identified “the heart of the tragedy being experienced by modern man: the eclipse of the sense of God and of man” (no. 21). In fact, “when the sense of God is lost, there is also a tendency to lose the sense of man, of his dignity and his life” (Ibid.). How often Blessed John Paul II reminded us that “every human person — no matter how vulnerable or helpless, no matter how young or how old, no matter how healthy, handicapped or sick, no matter how useful or productive for society — is a being of inestimable worth created in the image and likeness of God.”2 Our secular culture’s blindness to the fundamental rights of persons with disabilities led Blessed John

Paul to say: The starting point for every reflection on disability is rooted in the fundamental convictions of Christian anthropology: Even when disabled persons are mentally impaired or when their sensory or intellectual capacity is damaged, they are fully human beings and possess the sacred and inalienable rights that belong to every human creature. Indeed, human beings, independently of the conditions in which they live or of what they are able to express, have a unique dignity and a special value from the very beginning of their life until the moment of natural death. . . . In fact, it is in the more difficult and disturbing situations that the dignity and grandeur of the human being emerges. The wounded humanity of the disabled challenges us to recognize, accept and promote in each one of these brothers and sisters of ours the incomparable value of the human being created by God.3 Paradoxically, in some respects our society has made considerable progress in recognizing, accepting, and promoting the equality of persons with disabilities. Likewise, medical science has found cures for, or at least ways to alleviate, some handicaps, so persons with disabilities can live out their lives as fully as possible while making extraordinary contributions to society. But there are many worrisome trends today that reflect a fear and an inability to embrace persons with disabilities as brothers and sisters.

We are becoming more utilitarian, less compassionate, and less generous in making the sacrifices needed to treat all persons with dignity and respect. Often those with disabilities, the very ill, and the elderly are spoken about as burdens, and their care is evaluated by a crude cost/ benefit analysis that ignores their equal and inherent dignity. CONSIDER THE celebrated English pundit, Virginia Ironside, who announced on air to the stunned moderator of a television talk show: “If I were the mother of a suffering child . . . I would be the first to want to put a pillow over its face.” She added that any “loving mother” would feel that way. And if she were to smother her child, claiming to have acted out of compassion, she might well get away with murder, as another Englishwoman did in 2010. Although the facts were clear, a jury acquitted the mother of assisting in the suicide of her 31-yearold daughter, a beautiful young woman who had chronic fatigue syndrome. The trial judge applauded the verdict as showing “that common sense, decency and humanity which makes jury trials so important in a case of this kind.” To condone a mother’s role in her

Amy Harmon, “Prenatal Test Puts Down Syndrome in Hard Focus,” The New York Times, May 9, 2007. 2 Remarks at departure ceremony at the Detroit Airport, Sept. 19, 1987. 3 Message to the International Symposium on the “Dignity and Rights of the Mentally Disabled Person,” Jan. 5, 2004, used with permission of Libreria Editrice Vaticana. All rights reseverved. 4 Homily at the Shrine of St. Joseph, Kalisz, Poland, June 4, 1997. 1

daughter’s death with terms like “decency” and “humanity” is to strip these words of all meaning. The trend toward doing away with these lives reflects a fear of embracing those who pose a challenge to our love and generosity, who upset our comfort levels. And it is a measure of our worth as a people how we embrace that challenge, as Blessed John Paul II has explained:

The measure of civilization, a universal and permanent measure which includes all cultures, is its relationship with life. A civilization which rejected the defenseless would deserve to be called a barbarian civilization, even though it had great success in the field of economics, technology, art and science.4 Not every person with a disability can make a concretely measurable contribution to society. Many will simply require our care and service. But in meeting this need, we discover a great truth: Persons with disabilities challenge us to be more fully human and compassionate, to recognize the presence of God in each human being. This requires us to sacrifice, to “stretch our hearts,” as Pope Benedict XVI has said. This requires us to gradually become more like Christ, which is, after all, the goal of every Christian life. In short, as persons with disabilities share their gifts and needs, they bring out the best in our mutual humanity. They challenge us to live the Gospel precepts of charity in the real world, to sacrifice some of our comfort for others, to take the time to enable them to be full members of society. They need to feel our solidarity with them, and to know their true dignity and worth as fellow sisters and brothers in Christ. Our own future with Christ depends on it. Copyright © 2011, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, D.C. Reprinted with permission.


THE LEAVEN • OCTOBER 7, 2011

LOCAL NEWS 11

New exhibit, amenities bring faith to life By Jessica Langdon

What: Catholic art — paintings and sculpture — featuring the works of some 20 artists Where: Savior Pastoral Center, 12601 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City, Kan. When: Now through Advent during business hours (8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.) Additional information: The exhibit is free. Some of the works are for sale. For more information, contact Tim Chik, director of Savior Pastoral Center, at (913) 721-1097.

Leaven staff

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Faith flows within the walls of Savior Pastoral Center here, and some colorful Catholic touches also line the walls — in the form of a new art exhibit. What once might have looked like any other hallway now welcomes visitors with a collection of paintings and sculptures. “We’ve converted it into an art gallery with the intention of creating a space where we can celebrate beautiful Catholic art,” said Tim Chik, director of Savior Pastoral Center. The exhibit — featuring the works of some 20 artists — opened in September, and will be on display through Advent.

For today’s audience This display is the latest installment in a series of rotating art exhibits. The Catholic Fine Arts Council, which is sponsored by the Catholic Foundation of Northeast Kansas, is responsible for the displays. Gallery owners Eva Reynolds of Leawood and Bob Swain of Topeka assembled this particular collection, which Swain described as “a collection of modern-day artists’ interpretations of orthodox Christian themes.” Many times when talking about Christian art, people think of Michelangelo and Donatello. “It all seems so distant to them,” said Swain. “I think it’s kind of hard for people

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Visitors to Savior Pastoral Center check out the new art exhibit adorning the center’s walls. in today’s modern-day culture to connect to that sometimes.” A collection like this helps make it easier for people today to relate to these “spiritual truths” than something created hundreds of years ago might, he continued. “It’s a very diverse set of paintings,” said Chik. “The diversity does, I think, have a harmonic blend.” The mixed media in this exhibit — which includes both paintings and sculpture — offer some fascinating touches, added Chik.

Celebrating art There is no charge for touring the exhibit, said Chik, and he encouraged peo-

ple to visit during business hours on weekdays, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Some people might take half an hour to take in the sights. Others might want to take much longer, he said. “Just come on by and enjoy the beautiful space,” Chik said. “It’s an opportunity for us to appreciate and enjoy beauty. “Beauty is one of the key ways in which we can access the divine,” he added.

Support for a spiritual journey The exhibit is only one element of Savior Pastoral Center, however, which sees a lot of use by Catholic groups and others. The center is host to a number of retreats and other events on the weekends

and throughout the week. Groups ranging in age from grade school through adults come to Savior for a variety of conferences and other events. The large facility allows for several events to happen at the same time. It specializes, Chik said, in overnight accommodations for adult retreats. A new addition to the center is the small bookstore in the front, designed with the center’s visitors in mind. The bright, remodeled space offers a comfortable place to pick up a few spiritual items during a stay there — such as a rosary, if they left theirs at home, said Chik. It’s basically a small amenity for the guests and a way to support their spiritual journey. Many dioceses don’t own a retreat center, and Chik called Savior Pastoral Center a “gem” of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas. It’s a place where guests can be comfortable and grow closer to God. “It’s a real blessing,” he said.


12 CLASSIFIEDS Employment Youth minister – St. Michael the Archangel Parish, Leawood, a parish of 2100 families, is seeking a full-time youth minister. The ideal candidate will be able to lead and guide young people to grow in the knowledge of their faith; in the practice of that faith in light of the principles of Christian morality and social justice; in the celebration of the sacraments; and in the development of their spiritual lives. The youth minister must be a practicing Catholic who lives the Gospel in all aspects of his or her life and be a model of Christian living for the young people of our parish. Additionally, this position requires knowledge of our faith and the ability to teach and share credibly the gift of faith. Preferred skills include a fluent knowledge of Microsoft Office and Photoshop as well as musical and technological abilities. This position requires evening and weekend hours. For information or to submit a resume, call Denise Ogilvie at (913) 402-3949 or send an email to her at: denise.ogilvie@ stmichaelcp.org. Group leader - Holy Spirit School, Overland Park, is seeking a group leader for its extended day care program. If you enjoy children, have previous experience working with school-age children, have knowledge of child and youth development, are over 18 years of age, and have a high school diploma or GED, contact Eileen Colling, assistant principal, at (913) 492-2582 or send resume, via email, to: ecolling@ hscatholic.org. Hours are Mon. - Fri. from 2:45 - 5:45 p.m., with an occasional full day each month. Salary commensurate with experience. Director- The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas is seeking a new director of Christ’s Peace House of Prayer, a contemplative retreat center in Easton, Kansas, formerly known as Shantivanam House of Prayer. The director will be responsible for the spiritual leadership and administrative oversight of the 120-acre facility. A successful candidate will be a practicing Catholic who embraces the church’s teachings on faith and morals as articulated by the church’s magisterium, and who possesses a comprehensive understanding of the Catholic faith and the traditions of the Catholic Church. The position requires compassionate, effective communication skills; dedication to Christian contemplative prayer; and the values of solitude and hospitality for all guests. Knowledge of or experience in spiritual direction or counseling is desirable. Administrative/management experience in a retreat center/house of prayer setting is preferred. A complete job description, application and benefits information are available on the archdiocese’s website at: www.archkck.org/employment. Interested individuals should mail cover letter, resume, and application by Oct. 31 to: Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, Office of Human Resources, Christ’s Peace Director Search, 12615 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City, KS 66109, or send, via email, to: kthomas@archkck.org. Financial representative - Due to the success and growth of the Knights of Columbus, we are adding financial representatives in the Kansas City area. This position is ideal for a determined, high-energy, high-expectation, professional, self-disciplined, 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 Fall lawn cleanup Aeration, seeding, fertilizing & leaf removal Excellent references; licensed and insured Local parishioner; free estimates. Insured; excellent references. Call Tony at (913) 620-6063 Tree service - Pruning trees for optimal growth and beauty and removal of hazardous limbs or problem trees. Free consultation and bid. Safe, insured, professional. Cristofer Estrada, Green Solutions of KC, (913) 378-5872. www.GreenSolutionsKC.com. Foley’s Lawn Care - fall is coming! Aeration, verticutting & over-seeding Fall cleanup, mowing, mulch, landscaping & gutters. Free estimates; call (913) 825-4353 www.foleyslawncare.com Serving Johnson County for over 10 years. Member of St. Joseph Church, Shawnee

THE LEAVEN • OCTOBER 7, 2011

THE LEAVEN • OCTOBER 7, 2011

Rodman Lawn Care - Lawn mowing, leaf removal, hedge trimming, power washing, snow removal. Call (913) 548-3002 for a free estimate. Member of Holy Cross Parish, Overland Park.

Master electrician - Licensed in Missouri and Kansas. 35 years experience in residential and commercial electrical needs. Call Rick, L & M Electric, at (913) 362-1501 or (816) 781-1501.

Computer repair and upgrades/virus, spyware & malware removal - Microsoft certified, 11+ yrs. experience. Member of Sacred Heart Parish. Call Matt at (816) 876-6619 or send an email to him at: mattcomputerfix@gmail.com.

Electrician - Free estimates; reasonable rates. JoCo and south KC metro. Call Pat at (913) 963-9896.

Faith-based counseling to cope with life concerns - Kansas City area. Call Mary Vorsten, Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, at (913) 909-2002. 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 email to: tkidd@kc.rr.com. Machine quilting - by Jenell Noeth, Basehor. Also, quilts made to order. Call (913) 724-1837. KC girl on the go - Need help with errands and tasks so you will have more time for yourself, friends and family? House- and pet-sitting, shopping, holiday help, home and photo organization, decorating and more. Call Mary Pat at (913) 579-7849 or send an email to: mpjohnston@everestkc.net. Church of the Ascension parishioner for 15 years.

Caregiving Looking for high quality home care? Whether you’re looking to introduce care for your family or simply looking to improve your current home care quality, we can help. Our unique approach to home care has earned us a 99% client satisfaction rating among the 1,000-plus families we have assisted. We are familyowned and based in Lenexa. Call Benefits of HomeSenior Care at (913) 422-1591 or visit our website at: www.benefitsofhome.com. Caregiving - We provide personal assistance, companionship, care management, and transportation to the elderly and disabled in home, assisted living and nursing facilities. We also provide respite care for main caregivers needing some personal time. Call Daughters & Company at (913) 341-2500 and speak with Laurie, Debbie or Gary.

Child Care Day care openings - Infant to preschool age. Mon. - Fri., from 6:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Over 30 years of experience; excellent references; reasonable rates. Located in Kansas City, Kan., with easy access to I-635, I-35 and I-70. Call Sandy at (913) 710-5657.

Home Improvement Tile work - Ceramic tile installation/repair for your kitchen and bathrooms. I also do custom showers and flooring projects. 20 years experience; insured. For a free estimate, call Frank Womack, In Line Flooring, at (913) 485-07454, or send an email to him at: inlineflooringkc@gmail.com. Wood treatment and refinishing - We strip, refinish and treat woodwork. Restoration of pews, altars, stairways, cabinets, desks, paneling and more. Work in churches, homes and businesses. Insured and guaranteed. Family owned. Call (816) 241-1900. Adept Home Improvements Where quality still counts! Basement finishing, Kitchens and baths, Electrical and plumbing, Licensed and insured. (913) 599-7998 Garage door and opener sales and service 24-hour, 7 day-a-week service on all types of doors. Replace broken springs, cables, hinges, rollers, gate openers, entry and patio doors, and more. Over 32 years of experience. Call (913) 227-4902. Tim the handyman - Small jobs are my specialty! Faucets, garbage disposals, toilets, light fixtures, ceiling fans, handrails, window screen repair, bush trimming and garden tilling. Free estimates. JoCo only. Call (913) 859-0471.

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. STA (Sure Thing Always) Home Repair - Basement finish, bathrooms and kitchens; interior & exterior repairs: painting, roofing, siding, wood replacement and window glazing. Free estimates. Call (913) 491-5837 or (913) 579-1835. Email: smokeycabin@ hotmail.com. Member of Holy Trinity, Lenexa. Swalms Organizing Service - Basement, garage, attic, shop — any room organized! Items taken to donation sites, trash is bagged, and areas are clean and neat when job is complete. To view before-andafter pictures, visit the website at: www.swalms.com. Over 20 years of organizing experience; insured. Call Tillar at (913) 375-9115. Clutter getting you down? Organize, fix, assemble, clean . . . we do it all! For a free consultation, call your professional organizing handyman, Kevin Hogan, M.Ed., today at (913) 271-5055. Insured; references. Visit the website at: www.koatindustries.com. 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. 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. Brick masons - Installation and repair of all types of masonry work — brick, stone, and concrete. 17 years of residential and commercial experience. Small and large jobs accepted. KC Metro area. For a free quote, call Jim or John at (913) 485-4307. Masonry work - Quality, new or repair work. Brick, block and chimney/fireplace repair. Insured; second-generation bricklayer. Member of St. Paul Parish, Olathe. Call (913) 829-4336. Father and son team - We do roofing, windows, doors, siding, brick masonry, all types of wood rot, fences and decks, retaining walls, landscaping and concrete. You name it, we can do it — no job to big or small. Reasonable prices; fully insured. Call Josh at (913) 709-7230. 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

Real Estate Newly listed in Kenilworth, Prairie Village $306,000. Thirty years of TLC has been given to this 5 BR, 4 BA, split-level home, located in Curé of Ars Parish. Approximately 3,200 sq. ft.; new composition roof; newer furnace and A/C. Close to Trailwood Elementary School. To view pictures, visit the website at: http://www.4800W96.com. Call Scott Strevell, ERA Manning, at (913) 269-4269. Vacation at home - $339,900. A stone’s throw to the seven-acre lake! Located in Good Shepherd Parish, Shawnee, this beautiful 4 BR, 4-1/2 BA, twostory home has over 3,500 sq. ft.; a four-car, sideentry garage; an unfinished, walkout basement; a master BR suite with sitting room and a huge walk-in closet. To view pictures, visit the website at: http:// www.14600w78.com. Call Scott Strevell, ERA Manning, at (913) 269-4269.

Oct.

Winter Park, Colo. - 2 BR, 2 BA, fully furnished first-floor condo near the clubhouse and pool/hot tub. Close to downtown shopping, golf, hiking and biking, and on bus line to Winter Park/Mary Jane base ski area. Rental income opportunity also available. Call (816) 809-7739 or (913) 897-0220. Roeland Park home FSBO - New price of $165,000; or for rent, call for monthly rate. Awesome 2 BR, 1 BA ranch located at 5122 Clark Dr. Move-in-ready condition. For information or an appointment to view, call (913) 206-7109.

For Rent For rent - 4411 Francis, Kansas City, Kan. Clean, well-maintained, 2 BR home in nice neighborhood. Walk to KU Medical Center. Kitchen appliances, washer & dryer. Local family-owned and managed. No pets; no smoking. $750/month. Call Ken or Judy at (913) 432- 0820. Office space available - Great location in the Ranchmart area of Prairie Village. Ideal for start-ups, professional and small businesses. Flexible terms. Call Marek at (913) 461-4491.

Vacation 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. Ski cabin in Winter Park, Colo. – 2 BR, 1 BA, on free ski shuttle route. $110/night. Call (913) 642-3027. To view, visit the website at: www.tillmancabin.com.

For Sale For sale – Medical equipment and supplies; new and used. Wholesale pricing. Scooters, power chairs, wheelchairs, walkers, bath and shower items, lift chairs, vehicle lifts, ramps, hospital beds and other items. Call Ron Coleman (913) 299-9176. For Sale - Single burial plot in the Queen of Heaven Garden at Resurrection Cemetery in Lenexa. Lot 120; section A; space 4. Price of $3000 includes plot, liner, opening and closing. Call Mary Ann Tatman at (417) 365-0760. Residential lifts - Buy/sell/trade. Stair lifts, porch lifts, ceiling lifts and elevators. Recycled and new equipment. Member of St. Michael the Archangel Parish, Leawood. Call Silver Cross KC at (913) 327-5557.

Wanted to Buy Cash for your antiques - Coins, watches, silverware, old rifles and shotguns, pocket knives, old military items, Zippo lighters, duck decoys, antique toys, old signs, old pine or primitive furniture. Call Chris at (913) 593-7507 or (913) 642-8269. *** Want to buy *** Antique or vintage jewelry Single pieces or entire estate Renee Maderak (913) 631-7179 St. Joseph Parish, Shawnee Will buy firearms and related accessories One or a whole collection. Honest evaluation and top prices paid. Contact Tom at (913) 238-2473. Member of Sacred Heart Parish, Shawnee.

Miscellaneous Donate a vehicle. Make a difference. Donate your vehicle to Catholic Charities to support those in need. Your tax-deductible donation helps children and families served by Catholic Charities and is an environmentally wise way to recycle your vehicle. Cars for KC Kids is a partnership between Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas and Catholic Charities of Kansas City St. Joseph. Call 1 (866) 430-9499 or visit the website at: www.cars4kckids.com.

To purchase a classified ad:

Send an email to: jennifer@theleaven.com, or call (913) 647-0327. The cost is $16 for the first five lines; $1.50 per additional line.

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St. Aloysius Church, Meriden, will host a 5K run, a one-mile fun run/ walk, and a dodgeball tournament on Oct. 8 at Jeff West Middle School. Registration will begin at 7 a.m.; the 5K and fun run will begin at 8 a.m. For information or to register, call (785) 484-2711. The dodgeball tournament will begin at 9 a.m. The cost is $30 per team of six players. To register, call (785) 945-4066. The Shawnee Knights of Columbus will host their first-ever classic rock dance from 7 - 11 p.m. on Oct. 8 at their hall, 11221 Johnson Dr. The cost of $5 includes brats, chips and snacks. Attendees must be 21 years or older. For information or to make group reservations, contact Keith Winterhalter at (913) 631-2173 or Gary Van DeBerghe at (913) 226-4407. The Catholic Education Foundation will host its annual Gaudeamus dinner on Oct. 8 at the Overland Park Convention Center, located at 6000 College Blvd. This year’s dinner will honor archdiocesan Catholic school pastors. All proceeds will fund scholarships for children in need. For information or to RSVP, call (913) 6470344 or visit the website at: www.cefks. org. Sophia Center, 751 S. 8th St., Atchison, will host “Mystic of the World: Catherine of Siena” from 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. on Oct. 8, presented by Benedictine Sisters Sheila Carroll and Gabrielle Kocour. The cost is $50. For information or to register, call (913) 360-6151 or visit the website at: www.mountosb.org/sophia. html.

9

The archdiocesan vocation office will host Project Andrew, an opportunity for young men ages 15 - 20 to learn about vocations, on Oct. 9 at St. Michael the Archangel Church, 5200 W. 143rd St., Leawood. Young men will meet and pray with Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann and enjoy dinner with archdiocesan priests. Parents are also invited to a special session. Registration is required. To RSVP, call the vocation office at (913) 647-0303; send an email to: vocation@archkck.org; or visit the website at: kckvocations.com. St. Philip Neri Church, 500 Parker Ave., Osawatomie, will host a fall bazaar on Oct. 9 at the city auditorium, located at 5th and Main. A chicken and noodle and chili dinner will be served from 11:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. The cost is $8 for adults; $4 for children ages 5 - 12. There will also be a bake sale, a county store, children’s games, raffles and an auction. St. Aloysius Church, 615 Wyandotte, Meriden, will host a fall bazaar on Oct. 9. A turkey and ham dinner with all the trimmings will be served from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. The cost is: $8 for adults; $4 for children ages 5 - 12; children two and under eat free. Carryouts will be available. St. Bede Church, 7344 Drought St., Kelly, will host its annual soup supper and auction on Oct. 9. The supper will be served from 4 - 7 p.m. A freewill donation will be accepted. There will be games for all ages in the gym from 5 - 8 p.m., followed by a handmade quilt auction at 8 p.m. St. Mary Church, Purcell, will host a pancake luncheon from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. on Oct. 9. A freewill donation will be accepted.

Sacred Heart Church, 1100 West St., Tonganoxie, will host its annual turkey dinner and bazaar on Oct. 9. Dinner will be served from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Carryouts will be available. The cost is: $9 for adults; $5 for children ages 3 - 12; children 2 and under eat free. There will be a country store, bingo, raffles, children’s games and a themed-basket silent auction.

10

St. James Catholic Church, 309 S. Stewart, Liberty, Mo., will host a concert by Steve Angrisano at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 10. Angrisano is a wellknown Catholic youth entertainer who has performed at World Youth Day and the National Catholic Youth Conference. Doors open at 6 p.m. The cost is $10. For information, call Chris at (816) 532-8499.

12

Good Shepherd Church, 12800 W. 75th St., Shawnee, will host a classical music concert, featuring the Goldenberg Duo, at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 12. This world-renowned brother-and-sister duo have performed together for 30 years and will give a one-hour program. A freewill donation will be accepted.

13

The Keeler Women’s Center, 2220 Central Ave., Kansas City, Kan., will host its monthly Holy Women series from 1 - 3 p.m. on Oct. 13. It will feature Hildegard of Bingen, presented by Therese Elias, OSB. Men and women are invited. For information, call (913) 9068990 or visit the website at: www.mountosb.org/kwc.

Holy Name School, Kansas City, Kan., will host its annual Mexican Octoberfest from 7 - 11 p.m. on Oct. 14 at Pierson Community Center, 1800 S. 55th St., Kansas City, Kan. Live music will be provided by the bands La Manana and Picante. There will also be a silent auction, raffles and more. The cost is $25 per person; $40 per couple. To purchase tickets, call the school office at (913) 7221032.

14-16

Rediscover your marriage! The Retrouvaille program offers the opportunity to rediscover yourself, your spouse, and a loving relationship. The next Retrouvaille weekend is Oct. 14 - 16. For confidential information or to register, call 1 (800) 470-2230 or visit the website at: www.retrouvaille.org.

15

The Singles of Nativity will host a dance, called “I Wouldn’t Be Caught Dead Wearing That Outfit,” from 7 - 11 p.m. on Oct. 15 at the Church of the Nativity Parish hall, 3800 W. 119th St., Leawood. Dress in outrageous and tacky clothing. The cost of $10 for members, $15 for guests, includes appetizers, beer and wine. A memorial liturgy for deceased loved ones will be held at 8 a.m. on Oct. 15 at Curé of Ars Church, 9401 Mission Rd., Leawood. The bereavement ministry will have its monthly meeting following Mass in the Father Burak Room. The topic will be: “Managing the Holidays.” For information, call (913) 649-2026.

Donnelly College, 608 N. 18th St., Kansas City, Kan., will host “Coffee on Campus,” an opportunity to learn about all the advancements at Donnelly while enjoying a free cup of coffee, on Oct. 13. Attendees can also request a tour of campus. For information or to RSVP, send a email to: advancement@donnelly.edu.

The Altar Society of St. Mary-St. Anthony Church, Kansas City, Kan., will host its annual Oktoberfest from 5 - 8 p.m. on Oct. 15 at Bishop Forst Hall. The cost is $9 for adults; $4.50 for children 12 and under. Advance tickets are required. For information or to purchase tickets, call the parish office at (913) 371-1408.

The University of Saint Mary will host its annual theology lecture, entitled “Hope in Challenging Times: Where Shall We Turn?,” presented by Father Don Goergen at 7 p.m. on Oct. 13 in Xavier Theatre on the university’s Leavenworth campus, 4100 S. 4th St. The lecture is free and open to the public. Seating is limited.

St. Patrick Parish, 1086 W. 94th St., Kansas City, Kan., will host a chili dinner and bingo night in the parish center on Oct. 15. Serving will begin at 6 p.m.; bingo will begin at 7 p.m. The cost is $8 for adults; $3 for children 10 and under. To purchase advance tickets or to reserve a table, call Sheri at (913) 788-8780 or Margaret at (913) 441-9487.

13-16

Sophia Center, 751 S. 8th St., Atchison, will host a Benedictine immersion experience, presented by Benedictine Sisters Judith Sutera and Marcia Ziska, from 7 p.m. on Oct. 13 through 2 p.m. on Oct. 16. This retreat is for those interested in deepening their spiritual life or just curious about monastic life. The cost is $200; advance registration is required. For information or to register, call (913) 360-6151 or visit the website at: www.mountosb.org/sophia. html. Marillac Center, located on the campus of the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth, 4200 S. 4th St., Leavenworth, will host a poetry workshop from 7 p.m. on Oct. 13 through 5 p.m. on Oct. 16. The retreat, facilitated by Sister Mary O’Connor, a Sister of Mercy from Ireland, will explore seasons in the life of faith. The cost is $75 for the retreat only; $180 for the retreat plus room and board. Scholarships are available for those in need. Registration is requested by Oct. 3. For information or to RSVP, call (913) 758-6552 or visit the website at: www.marillaccenter.org.

14

The Singles of Nativity will host a happy hour at 6 p.m. on Oct. 14 at 810 Zone, 4800 W. 119th St., Leawood.

16

The annual eighth-grade prolife forum for School of Religion and home-schooled students will be held on Oct. 16 at Church of the Ascension, 9510 W. 127th St., Overland Park. Mass will be celebrated at 5 p.m., followed by a pizza dinner and the forum from 6:30 - 8:45 p.m. Students will learn about prolife teachings and listen to personal testimonies on chastity and more. Parents are encouraged to attend. For information, contact Courtney Williams at (913) 642-1730 or Ron Kelsey at (913) 6470350. Mary Health of the Sick Guild of the Sisters, Servants of Mary will hold a meeting following Mass at 9 a.m. on Oct. 16 at the convent, located at 800 N. 18th St. in Kansas City, Kan. Anyone interested in joining the guild is invited. St. Pius X Parish, 5500 Woodson, Mission, will host a mini-retreat, entitled “Mary: Mother and Disciple,” with a special presentation by Mike Scherschligt of the School of Faith on Oct. 16. Mass will be celebrated at 8:30 a.m.; the retreat will follow from 9:30 - 12:15 p.m. For information or to RSVP, call (913) 432-4808 or send an email to: trish millerdre@yahoo.com.

CALENDAR 13

A Fatima rosary rally will be held at 3 p.m. on Oct. 16 at St. Andrew the Apostle Church, 6415 N.E. Antioch, Gladstone, Mo. Join in praying the rosary, followed by Benediction and enrollment in the brown scapular. Queen of the Holy Rosary-Wea Parish, 22279 Metcalf, Bucyrus, will host a fall bazaar from noon - 6 p.m. on Oct. 16. The QHR Men’s Club will serve a fried chicken dinner with all the trimmings. The cost is: $10 for adults; $5 for children ages 3 - 12; children under three eat free. There will also be a country store, bingo, children’s games, raffles and more. For information, call the parish office at (913) 533-2462. Donnelly College alumni are invited on a bus trip to Mount St. Scholastica in Atchison on Oct. 16. Enjoy visiting with former classmates and teachers, sing the Liturgy of the Hours with the Sisters, attend Mass, have lunch and tour the monastery. For information or to RSVP, contact Roger Berg, alumni relations coordinator, at (913) 621-8744 or send an email to him at: alumni@donnelly.edu. St. Benedict’s Parish, 1001 N. 2nd St., Atchison, will host a fall festival on Oct. 16 in the ACES old gym, 201 Division St. A roast beef dinner will be served from 11:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. There will also be children’s games, a silent auction, raffles, and more. For information, call the parish office at (913) 367-0671.

17

There will be a Holy Hour for life at 3 p.m. on Oct. 17 at St. Patrick Church, 1086 N. 94th St., Kansas City, Kan.

19

The annual eighth-grade prolife forum for Catholic school students will be held from 9:30 - 11:45 a.m. on Oct. 19 at Church of the Nativity, 3800 W. 119th St., Leawood. Students will learn about pro-life teachings and listen to personal testimonies on chastity and more. Parents are encouraged to attend. For information, contact Courtney Williams at (913) 642-1730 or Ron Kelsey at (913) 647-0350.

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The Women of Nativity will host a presentation by master gardener Debbi Adams from 7 - 9 p.m. on Oct. 20 in the parish hall, located at 3800 W. 119th St. in Leawood. The cost is $15 if paid by Oct. 10; $20 at the door. Admission includes appetizers, beverages and door prizes. For information, call Vinci O’Neill at (913) 232-7224. To RSVP, mail check, made payable to WON, to: Karen Leimer, 3403 W. 132nd St., Leawood KS 66209.

21-23

Divorced? Widowed? Beginning Experience Weekend gently helps people move through their loss to a new beginning in their lives. The next weekend for the Kansas City area will be Oct. 21 - 23 at Sanctuary of Hope Retreat Center, 2601 Ridge Ave., Kansas City, Kan. For information or to register, call John at (913) 219-3465 in Kansas City; Michelle at (785) 478-3481 in Topeka; Jerry at (785) 843-2079 in Lawrence; or visit the website at: www.beginningexperience.org.

Calendar submissions:

Are due at noon on Wednesday, nine days prior to the requested publication date. Email submissions to: jennifer@theleaven.com or mail to: 12615 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City, KS 66109.


14 COMMENTARY

THE LEAVEN • OCTOBER 7, 2011

THE LEAVEN • OCTOBER 7, 2011

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, 2011

QUOTE WEEK

OF THE

“It’s nice to see not just my parents, but my grandparents and my great-grandparents, were married [at Holy Trinity Church in Lenexa], and to see the nice tradition that followed — they’ve all had long-lasting marriages. Hopefully, we can learn by example.” Joanna Johnson See story on page 3

T

Once there was a pastor who was preoccupied and nervous about how he was going to ask the congregation to cough up more money. When he arrived at church, he was annoyed to find out that the regular organist was sick and a substitute had been brought in at the last minute. The substitute wanted to know what songs to play. ”Here’s a copy of the service,” he said impatiently. “But you’ll have to think of something to play when I make an announcement about the finances.”
 After Communion, the pastor said, “Dear brothers and sisters, we are in great difficulty. The roof repairs cost twice as much as we expected, and we need $4,000 more. So, I’m asking each of you to reflect upon your many blessings, to look deeply into your hearts and to respond with great generosity. Please, any of you who can pledge $100 or more, stand up.” At that moment, the substitute organist began to play “The Star Spangled Banner.” And that’s how the substitute became the regular organist at that parish. As we settle in to this month of October, the church asks each of us to stand up for life in all its stages and forms. Sometimes, though, like the congregation in the story above, we need a little push to take that stand. That’s why I’m so grateful to the Knights of Columbus council at my parish. To help us parishioners — especially me — keep the issue of life literally

Oct. 10 Monday Rom 1: 1-7; Ps 98: 1-4; Lk 11: 29-32 Oct. 11 Tuesday Rom 1: 16-25; Ps 19: 2-5; Lk 11: 37-41 Oct. 12 Wednesday Rom 2: 1-11; Ps 62: 2-3, 6-7, 9; Lk 11: 42-46 Oct. 13 Thursday Rom 3: 21-30; Ps 130: 1-6; Lk 11: 47-54 Oct. 14 Callistus I, pope, martyr Rom 4: 1-8; Ps 32: 1-2, 5, 11; Lk 12: 1-7 Oct. 15 Teresa of Jesus, virgin, doctor of the church Rom 4: 13, 16-18; Ps 105: 6-9, 42-43; Lk 12: 8-12

before our eyes during this month, we’ve been asked to participate in BBB, which stands for Baby Bottle Boomerang. Last weekend after all of the Masses, the Knights passed out small plastic baby bottles. The idea behind the bottles is simple: Put it where you’ll see it every day. Instead of milk or formula, however, this bottle is to be filled with something unique: spare change. At the end of Respect Life Month, we at Sacred Heart will “boomerang” those bottles back to the Knights, filled with money to be delivered to the Wyandotte Pregnancy Center in Kansas City, Kan., which assists women with unplanned pregnancies. It’s a practical, neat idea. I got my bottle a little early last Saturday afternoon when I went to unlock the parish center for evening Mass. Just for fun, I went home and started to collect loose change around the house. On my bedroom floor sat a quarter and a couple of nickels that I’d been too lazy to pick up a couple of days earlier. Clink! They went into the bottle. My desk yielded more coins. There was a stray nickel on the stovetop for some reason. I even tipped up the recliner to peek underneath and found a quarter and nickel that must have fallen out of my pocket as I was relaxing. Clink, clink, clink — all the change was deposited into the bottle. My little 10-minute scavenger hunt produced $1.11. Not bad. One lesson that I constantly have to remind myself of is that God doesn’t ask us to do everything. He asks us simply to

do something, to do what we can. The pittance I collect in change this month is not going to stem all abortions in the country or even in Wyandotte County. But my donation will help at least a pregnant woman or two. And, multiplied by the donations of many others, great things can truly be accomplished. As a way to celebrate Respect Life Month, consider saving your change. You don’t need a special baby bottle to collect it in, either. Use a bowl or a little bank to gather funds for a charity of your choice. I’ll bet you won’t be able to pass by that container without being tempted to put something in it. Obviously, respecting life doesn’t only mean collecting money to donate, although those funds are a tremendous help. Be creative in finding ways to make life better for the people around you. Ideally, each day we should do something to bring respect and dignity into someone’s life. Younger people who are computer savvy, for example, might share their expertise with senior members of the family or with the residents at assisted living facilities. Or when these beautiful leaves start to fall off the trees, raking them up for a neighbor, especially someone elderly or disabled, would be a blessing. In this age of instant communication, there’s still great joy in getting a handwritten card or note in the mail. If your parish bulletin lists the names of parishioners who are ill, why not pop a card in the mail to one of them just to let them know that they’re in your thoughts? Better yet, consider calling on the phone or visiting as well. Doing small acts of service for others can make this Respect Life Month truly something special. The church is depending on you. Will you stand up for life? Hey, is that “The Star Spangled Banner” I hear in the background?

SECOND THOUGHTS ON THE SECOND READING

TWENTY-EIGHTH WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME Oct. 9 TWENTY-EIGHTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Is 25: 6-10a; Ps 23: 1-6; Phil 4: 12-14, 19-20; Mt 22: 1-14

¿QUÉ PASA? — IN HISPANIC MINISTRY

Will you stand up for life?

alking about money in church is one of my least favorite things to do. That’s why I empathize with the pastor in the following story:

I

Paul’s letters are both timely — and timeless

didn’t remember doing a favor for (blank). So, why had I received the thank-you card?

On occasion I have found myself in this awkward position. Similarly, we may not recall having done anything for St. Paul. So, why do we hear him thanking us, in Sunday’s second reading, Phil 4: 12-14, 19-20? He writes: “Still, TWENTY-EIGHTH it was kind of SUNDAY IN you to share in ORDINARY TIME my distress.” Phil 4: 12-14, 19-20 The verses omitted from our reading (15-18) reveal the favor in question. The Christian community in Philippi had sent St. Paul a gift of money several times. Consequently, St. Paul is thanking them for their financial support. His gratitude is not directed toward us. We only overhear his expression of thanks toward the Philippians. In this case, we are not the “you” in the letter: “You Philippians indeed know that at the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, not a single church shared

with me in an account of giving and receiving, except you alone. For even when I was at Thessalonica you sent me something for my needs, not only once but more than once. It is not that I am eager for the gift; rather, I am eager for the profit that accrues to your account. I have received full payment and I abound. I am very well supplied because of what I received from you through Epaphroditus, ‘a fragrant aroma,’ an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.” Philippi was a city in northern Greece. It lay eight miles from the sea, on a rich agricultural plain, surrounded by mountains that were mined for gold. Consequently, it was a prosperous area, and many veterans of the Roman army had settled there. St. Paul had established the Christian community in Philippi, which would explain its strong

COMMENTARY 15

attachment to him and concern for his well-being. In this note of thanks to the Philippians, we are reminded that St. Paul wrote his letters to specific communities, while addressing concrete issues and concerns which were often of a limited nature. He was not composing essays on generalized topics for an undetermined audience. Neither did he intend his writings to last for eternity. He did not foresee that they would be included in sacred Scripture. That these things have happened makes St. Paul’s letters all the more amazing. In many cases, they have outlived their original purposes. That these writings still speak meaningfully to us and remain valuable reflects their inspired character. They hold lasting value for us and for the whole world. But they began by being addressed to a group other than ourselves, with a focus on issues that do not have direct concern for us. We find real gems, mingled with the dross of everyday life. Father Mike Stubbs is the pastor of Holy Cross Parish in Overland Park and has a degree in Scripture from Harvard University.

Why so little interest in our greatest missionary challenge?

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here is a sportscaster who begins his show with some digits. These are a series of numbers that he shouts out to his listeners, such as 9 . . . 24 . . . 100, and then offers his thoughts on these numbers from the world of sports.

I would like to borrow from this model and share with you a few digits from my world: • 101,450: The number in our archdiocese who identified themselves as Hispanic in the 2010 census • 17,026: Hispanics in Topeka • 12,794: Hispanics in Olathe • 10,911: Hispanics in Overland Park

• 11: the number of archdiocesan parishes with Hispanic ministry • 370: the number who attended the archdiocesan ministry convocation • 130: the number who attended the workshop on the Roman Missal • 25: those who attended a workshop on “Your Parish and Hispanic Ministry” • 13: those present at this workshop without active Hispanic ministry in their parish I have no doubt we could look at these numbers from many different perspectives. However, I would just

like to offer us a question for reflection “If we have over 100,000 Hispanics in the archdiocese, how is it possible that in our ministry convocation, attended by 370 people, only 13 ‘new people’ showed interest in Hispanic ministry, while 130 attended a workshop on the Roman Missal?” Now, I have nothing against the Roman Missal. But I am pastorally perplexed as to why there is so little interest in the greatest missionary challenge facing the Catholic Church in this century — namely, the evangelization of the Hispanic community. Perhaps Archbishop Jose Gomez of Los Angeles summarized this challenge best when he said: “In the very near future, the biggest majority in the United States will be Hispanic, but the question remains to be seen if the majority will be Catholic.” The pastoral digits that I am presenting you are very challenging.

For example, just imagine: There are 17,206 Hispanics in Topeka; 12,794 in Olathe; and 10,911 in Overland Park. Yet each of these cities only has one parish with Hispanic ministry. What can one do to offer an adequate pastoral response? The reality is, we have to start by admitting to ourselves that the majority of the Hispanics presently here in the United States are Catholic and we a have responsibility to offer them a missionary outreach. In fact, if we do not offer them a church to call home, I am quite sure other religions are more than willing to welcome them to their churches. These digits are real, and we are called to respond — how and what to do I will share in future articles. Father Pat Murphy, CS, is the archdiocesan animator for the office of Hispanic ministry.

SIMPLY STEWARDSHIP

Y

Amazing grace evident in Deo Gratias honorees

ou never told me it would be like this.

Can you hear the frustration, perhaps even anguish and despair, in those words? In every human life, difficulties happen. Facing foreclosure? A chronic illness? A substance-abusing child? The death of a spouse? These are difficulties that cause real pain. Then there are other struggles: balancing the budget, cranky co-workers, and traffic jams. The question we should ask is: How do we bear life’s challenges? In the Gospel of Mark, we read, “He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and rise after three

days” (8:31). It is the word “must” that tells us that everything that happened to Jesus Christ was part of God’s plan. The pain, humiliation and eventual death on the cross that Our Lord suffered were ordained by God. Without the suffering, there could be no Resurrection. When I think of sacrifice and challenges, I often hear these words from the hymn “Amazing Grace”: “Through many dangers, toils and snares, I have already

come; ‘Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far and Grace will lead me home.” In a few weeks, the Catholic Foundation of Northeast Kansas will honor an individual and a Catholic institution with the first Deo Gratias Awards at a dinner at Savior Pastoral Center. On Nov. 3, Michael Murphy, an excellent speaker and executive director of the International Catholic Stewardship Council, will talk about Catholic stewardship. All fund holders, parish and school leaders, pastors and members of the Catholic Legacy Society are invited. If you would like to attend, please contact me at my email address below. I have thought a great deal about the remarkable recipients of this year’s honors, and the fact that they have exhibited amazing grace in spite of their challenges.

The recipients are Charles Berkel, of Shawnee, and Bishop Ward High School in Kansas City, Kan. They were chosen from among hundreds of Catholic Legacy Society members in the archdiocese and fund-holders of the CFNEK. It is difficult to imagine either Mr. Berkel, who generously supports numerous Catholic causes, or the faculty, alumni and students of the determined high school in the heart of Wyandotte County to ever complain, “You never told me it would be like this.” Instead, I think we would hear these words from them: “Thanks be to God.” Deo Gratias. Lesle Knop is the executive director of stewardship and development. You can send her an email at: lknop@archkck.org.

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16 LOCAL NEWS

THE LEAVEN • OCTOBER 7, 2011

Acclaimed speaker will fill hearts with late pope’s message By Jessica Langdon Leaven staff

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Life comes with more than its share of questions. And many of them boil down into one big one: Why am I here? Deacon Dana Nearmyer, consultant for the archdiocesan office of youth evangelization and Catholic formation, hopes a three-hour experience in late October will offer hundreds of people life-changing answers to that question and others. On Oct. 29, educator, author and theologian Christopher West, along with Mike Mangione & the Union, will present “Fill These Hearts: God, Sex and the Universal Longing.” The event will take place at Johnson County Community College’s Yardley Hall. “Intimacy is something that we all seek in our lives,” said Deacon Nearmyer, “whether we’re celibates or married people or singles.”

A message through words, music and art

The evening utilizes art, music, dance, and video to illuminate the teachings of the late Pope John Paul II on human sexuality. It is described as an “evening of beauty and reflection” on his theology of the body. “This presentation has really been sculpted to help the wisdom of John Paul II just pour out into [people’s] regular lives,” said Deacon Nearmyer. West, who has been embraced by the Kansas City community after previous presentations, is an internationally known speaker on this topic. Mangione’s band released its album “Tenebrae” in 2008 and, since then, has performed an average of 150 shows per year. Mangione is well known to the archdiocese from his performances at Camp Tekakwitha sessions at Prairie Star Ranch in Williamsburg. West, the band and other artists will join forces for Fill These Hearts and explore questions of human desire and the possibility of fulfillment. “There’s a great authenticity to this,” said Deacon Nearmyer. He believes it has the potential to impact the lives of several generations of Catholics — from older teens and young adults, to people who have been married for decades. Deacon Nearmyer estimates that 25 STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP, MANAGEMENT and CIRCULATION (Act of October 23, 1962; Section 4369, Title 39, United States Code) PS Form 3526 1. Title of Publication: The Leaven 2. Publication Number: 0194-9799 3. Filing Date: Sept. 30, 2011 4. Issue Frequency: Weekly September - May, except Friday the week after Thanksgiving and Christmas, and Friday after Easter; biweekly June - August. 5. Number of Issues Annually: 41 6. Annual Subscription Price: $18 7. Complete Mailing Address of Known Office of Publication: 12615 Parallel Parkway, Kansas City, KS 66109

Internationally known educator, author and theologian Christopher West will present “Fill These Hearts: God, Sex and the Universal Longing” on Oct. 29 at Johnson County Community College’s Yardley Hall. Also on tap will be the band Mike Mangione & the Union. men — “faith-filled, great people” who Michael Sheerin, a parishioner of St. are in their 50s — have approached him Joseph Church in Shawnee, has been after studying the theology of the body. studying West’s work with his fiancée, What they say is sobering. who has become an expert on theology “I wish I had the first 20 years of my of the body over the past several years, marriage back because I he said. What it is: “Fill These didn’t adore my wife the Together, they are Hearts: God, Sex and the way that I should before currently reading West’s Universal Longing” with I started studying [the] “The Good News About Christopher West and theology of the body,” Sex and Marriage.” touring folk-rock group they tell him. Sheerin plans to attend Mike Mangione & The “Fill These Hearts.” Union “He’s making someHuman impact When: Oct. 29, 7 p.m. thing that is very comThe theology of the Where: Yardley Hall at plex very simple and body is Pope John Paul Johnson County Commuvery relatable,” Sheerin II’s “integrated vision nity College said. West, he said, comof the human person — Price: Adults, $25; bats misconceptions in body, soul and spirit,” exstudents, military and today’s society, includplains the online resource groups of 10 and larger, ing the idea that men site at: www.theologyof $20. need and use pornograthebody.net. For tickets: Visit the phy as a common pas“As [the late pope] website at: www.fillthese time. explains, the physical huhearts.org (click on the In a world in which man body has a specific “Buy tickets” icon). sex is part of the memeaning and is capable dia and inserted into so of revealing answers remany TV shows, West garding fundamental questions about us sheds light on the “true idea” of sex and and our lives.” purpose, said Sheerin. It addresses questions ranging from Sam Meier, archdiocesan consultant why people were created male and fe- for the My House Freedom from Pornogmale to the purpose of married and celi- raphy Initiative, described the theology bate vocations. of the body as “a new sexual revolution, 8. Complete Mailing Address of Headquarters or General Business Office of Publisher: 12615 Parallel Parkway, Kansas City, KS 66109 9. Full Names and Complete Mailing Addresses of Publisher and Editor and Managing Editor : Publisher: Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, 12615 Parallel Parkway, Kansas City, Kansas Editor: Rev. Mark Goldasich, 12615 Parallel Parkway, Kansas City, Kansas Managing Editor: Anita McSorley, 12615 Parallel P arkway, Kansas City, Kansas 10. Owner: Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas 11. Known Bondholders, Mortgagees, and Other Security Holders Owning or Holding 1 Percent or More of Total Amount of Bonds, Mortgages, or Other Securities: None

15. Circulation: Av. No. copies each issue during preceding 12 mos. A. Total no. copies printed (Net press run) 54,000 B. Paid Circulation 1. Mail Subscriptions 53,083 3. Sales through dealers and carriers, street vendors and counter sales 0 C. Total Paid Circulation 53,083 D. Free or Nominal Rate Distribution 1. Outside-County copies included on PS Form 3541 450

Single issue nearest to filing date

54,000

53,078

0 53,078 425

and a really positive approach to love, human sexuality and what it means to be human.”

Something for everyone Event executive producer Mark Wassmer described West as a translator — and a highly renowned one — of Pope John Paul II’s teaching on the theology of the body. And West uses many forms of modern media — from music to sand art — to “translate” the late pope’s teachings to audiences. “It’s so ‘for the street,’” said Deacon Nearmyer, of Pope John Paul’s message. “But it does take a genius like Christopher West to translate it for us.” In short, the theology of the body examines what love is supposed to be. Some people might say hate is the opposite of love, said Deacon Nearmyer, but in reality, the opposite of proper loving is not hating, but using. West’s presentation, he said, explains all that. “It’s not designed for the ‘choir’ — the choir will love it — but the people who aren’t the choir will love it in a really beautiful way,” he added.

4. Free Distribution Outside the Mail (Carriers or Other Means) 0 0 E. Total Free Distribution 450 425 F. Total Distribution (Sum of C and D) 53,533 53,503 G. Copies not Distributed Office Use, Left-Over Unaccounted, Spoiled 667 497 H. Total (Sum of 15 f and g) 54,000 54,000 I. Percentage Paid and/ or Requested Circulation 99.2% 99.2% I certify that the statements made by me above are correct and complete. Rev. Mark Goldasich, Editor


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