Leaven 10-09-15 Vol. 37 No. 10

THELEAVEN.ORG | VOL. 37, NO. 10 | OCTOBER 9, 2015

PHOTO BY SISTER DORIS ENGEMAN, FSHF

Big-time performances took to the stage at the Festival of Families Sept. 26 in Philadelphia. Performers like Aretha Franklin, The Fray, Sister Sledge, Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli and the Philadelphia Ballet performed for the pope.

‘OVERWHELMING’

Pilgrims search for words to describe the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia

By Joe Bollig joe.bollig@theleaven.org

K

ANSAS CITY, Kan. — It might take some folks a million words to describe the recently concluded World Meeting of Families, but with a little bit of coaxing, archdiocesan pilgrims finally made do with just one.

“Oh, where do I begin?” said Father Gary Pennings, archdiocesan vicar general and moderator of the curia. “It was a little overwhelming.”

That’s what Dutch and Kathy tenBroek thought.

“It was the most awesome experience my wife and I have had in quite some time,” said Dutch tenBroek, from Holy Spirit Parish in Overland Park. “Actually, the content was overwhelming, very inspiring.”

It was all so impressive, said Rosemary Crock, a member of Most Pure Heart of Mary Parish in Topeka. It was also . . .

“Somewhat overwhelming at times,”

she said. “Very beautiful, often.”

Yes, that’s the word: “overwhelming.”

The World Meeting of Families, held Sept. 21 to 25, drew tens of thousands of pilgrims from all over the nation and the world to Philadelphia. The crowd swelled to hundreds of thousands when Pope Francis showed for the Festival of Families on Sept. 26 and the papal Mass on Sept. 27.

But the events were not merely “overwhelming” because of the crowd or the content of the keynote presentations and breakout sessions.

It was the joy. That’s what was overwhelming, said Deacon Tony Zimmerman, lead consultant of the archdiocesan marriage and family office.

“I’ve never experienced anything like the pure joy of the 20,000 people in the Pennsylvania Convention Center,” said Deacon Zimmerman. “The presence of the Holy Spirit was there all day during the congress. It was absolutely unbelievable.” >> See “CARDINAL’S” on page 11

Father Gary Pennings, vicar general of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, blesses the pilgrims as they prepare to catch the subway to downtown Philadelphia for that day’s World Meeting of Families events.

OCTOBER 9, 2015 | THELEAVEN.ORG

ARCHBISHOP

2

Pope encourages bishops to win souls, not arguments

M

any people have asked me about my impression of the recent pastoral visit of Pope Francis to the United States. With so many iconic moments, it is difficult to single out one particular event.

It was thrilling to see the pope at the White House, the Capitol, Independence Hall, ground zero and the United Nations. I was moved to witness the affection and enthusiasm of the throngs lining the streets in Philadelphia, the joy of the children at Our Lady Queen of the Angels School in Harlem and the devotion of the million participants at the closing Mass on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

Why does even the secular world pay attention to Pope Francis?

Quite frankly, it is because you and one billion other Catholics consider the pope their spiritual father. The world paid little attention to Jorge Bergoglio until he was chosen by the College of Cardinals to serve as the Successor of Peter.

The pope’s worldwide influence is because of the unity of the church which has been preserved with much difficulty and sacrifice for 2,000 years. There is no other political, intellectual, economic or religious leader in the world for whom so many people feel a bond of filial love.

For me personally, the most significant of his speeches were the two addresses given to bishops — the first to the bishops of the United States in Washington, D.C., and the second to the bishops from all over the world assem-

LIFE WILL BE VICTORIOUS ARCHBISHOP JOSEPH F. NAUMANN

LISTEN to this article online at: www.theleaven.org. bled in Philadelphia for the World Meeting of Families At St. Mathew Cathedral in Washington, Pope Francis provided a meditation and, at points, an examination of conscience for those of us who serve as bishops. The pope reminded us: “We are bishops of the church, shepherds appointed by God to feed his flock. Our greatest joy is to be shepherds, and only shepherds, pastors with undivided hearts and selfless devotion. We need to preserve this joy and never be robbed of it.”

The Holy Father defined our primary responsibilities to be praying, preaching and shepherding. Pope Francis challenged us that our prayer must be a daily personal encounter with the gaze of Jesus. The Holy Father cautioned also against “preaching complicated doctrines” but instead “joyfully proclaiming Christ who died and rose for our sake.” The pope pleaded with us that

our flocks “may always encounter in the heart of their pastor that taste of eternity which they seek in vain in the things of this world.”

Pope Francis, however, spent most of his time reflecting with us on what it means to be a shepherd. He cautioned us from becoming pastors who care for ourselves more than for our flock.

The Holy Father challenged us “to flee the temptations of narcissism, which blinds the eye of the shepherd, makes his voice unrecognizable and his actions fruitless.” The pope exhorted us to be “lucidly aware of the battle between light and darkness being fought in the world” and reminded us “that the price of lasting victory is allowing ourselves to be wounded and consumed.”

The Holy Father urged us not to be “paralyzed by fear” but to know “that we have been given a spirit of courage, not timidity.” His challenge to us was not to retreat from the culture, but counseled that the path forward is one of encounter and dialogue — dialogue with every segment of the church family as well as with the secular society.

In particular, Pope Francis encouraged us to be fearless by entering

into dialogue with those holding positions very different from the ones we know to be certain and true. Without such dialogue we fail to understand the thinking of those we desire to reach and redeem. The Holy Father reminded us that the pastor is about winning souls, not arguments. Hearts are changed by respect and love, not by clever logic or harsh rhetoric.

He concluded his talk urging us to be true fathers by being close to our people — being “pastors who are neighbors and servants.” He made a special appeal to be particularly close to our priests, teaching them by our own example not to become “bureaucrats but, instead, reflect the motherhood of the church, which gives birth to and raises her sons and daughters.”

The pope’s visit for me was a mini-retreat.

It was a sober reminder of how short I fall from the model of the Good Shepherd. I take consolation from the example of the apostles. They reveal in the Gospel their own frailties and weaknesses.

Yet, Our Lord was able to use them to spread his Gospel from India to Spain and every point in between.

Please pray for me that I can become more and more a pastor who strives to be your servant and neighbor. Pray that I can become more and more a shepherd with an undivided heart and selfless devotion.

Pray for a greater willingness on my part to be wounded and consumed so that the Gospel can be effectively proclaimed and the lasting victory of life and light gained.

CALENDAR

ARCHBISHOP NAUMANN

Immaculata adoration — St. Joseph, Leavenworth

Oct. 10 Donnelly College SHINE event

Pastoral Council meeting, vespers and dinner — Savior Pastoral Center

Oct. 11 Mass of Innocents — Curé of Ars, Leawood

Oct. 20 Lawrence regional priests meeting — St. Lawrence Campus Center

Oct. 13 Kansas City Kansas Community College Mass Vespers and dinner with priests ordained in the last five years Oct. 14 Curia meeting — Savior Pastoral Center Santa Marta annual trustees’ meeting and reception Oct. 15 Litigation Management Team — Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph chancery Priests Personnel meeting

St. Mark Parish meeting Annual board formation Oct. 16-17 Conception Seminary board meeting Oct. 17 Kansas City, Missouri, Fire Foundation Gala — Starlight Theater Oct. 18 Installation of Father Quentin Schmitz — St. Francis Xavier, Burlington Project Andrew — St. Joseph, Shawnee Oct. 19 “Shepherd’s Voice” recording

FUNERAL HOME • CREMATORY • MEMORIAL CHAPELS 10901 Johnson Drive Shawnee, Kansas 66203 Telephone 913-631-5566 Fax 913-631-2236 Gregg Amos

www.amosfamily.com

Oct. 21 St. James Academy Mass Confirmation — Annunciation, Frankfort; St. Monica-St. Elizabeth, Blue Rapids; and St. Columbkille, Blaine Oct. 22 Kansas City-St. Joseph cabinet meeting Kansas City-St. Joseph personnel board Confirmation — St. Gregory, Marysville, and St. Malachy, Beattie Oct. 23 Dedication Mass — Holy Cross, Overland Park

Administrative Team meeting

“We are proud to be a locally owned family funeral home serving our community.”

Catholic Charities annual meeting, vespers and reception

ARCHBISHOP KELEHER Oct. 9 Mass and confessions with Little Sisters of the Lamb Oct. 10 St. James Academy auction Oct. 11 Federal camp Mass Oct. 18 Federal camp Mass Oct. 20 Confirmation — Immaculate Conception, Louisburg

Concrete Work

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

Harvey M. Kascht (913) 262-1555

Wagner’s Mud-Jacking Co.

Specializing in Foundation Repairs Mud-jacking and Waterproofing.

Serving Lawrence, Topeka and surrounding areas.

Topeka (785) 233-3447 Lawrence (785) 749-1696 In business since 1963 www.foundationrepairks.com

OCTOBER 9, 2015 | THELEAVEN.ORG

LOCAL NEWS

3

PHOTOS COURTESY OF DONNELLY COLLEGE

Donnelly College students, from left, Ravi Allgood and Cynthia Reyes, read examples of their own poetry to students at Resurrection Catholic School at the Cathedral in Kansas City, Kansas.

THE POWER OF THE PEN

Donnelly College students read original works to Resurrection school kids Christa Rieger Special to The Leaven

poem about the emotions of dancing on stage. To his surprise, the classroom of second-graders clamored to perform for ANSAS CITY, Kan. — In the him when he was done. spirit of learning through ser“They danced for me! Even the teacher vice, 19 Donnelly College freshdanced!” he said. men recently spent the morning Others offered encouragement to the reading short stories and origiyounger students. nal poetry to young students at Resurrection “I told them to work hard. . . . When you Catholic School at the Cahave homework, do it. Then you’ll thedral here. get somewhere far in life,” said More photos Donnelly student Mariela Celaya.

Reading to elementary from this event students is an annual serAt the end of the reading sescan be seen online at: sion, students from the college left vice learning project for www.theleaven.org with new appreciation of what it the college’s preparatory means to be a role model. education classes.

“It gave me more motivation to speak “Reading gives our students an opportunity to show them they can do some- to kids or speak to the community,” said thing that they thought they couldn’t do,” Celaya. said Donnelly assistant professor GretchLisa Stoothoff, director of preparatory en Meinhardt. education, looks forward to planning more Many of the original works were in- read-ins with both public and archdiocespired by the students’ passions. san schools.

Donnelly student Thomas Xiong, who “I am so proud of them,” she said. “It has been dancing for five years, wrote a takes a lot to share your own work.”

K

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

Thomas Xiong reads a poem about the emotions of dancing to Resurrection second-graders. Following his presentation, the second-graders performed a dance for him.

Editor Reverend Mark Goldasich, stl frmark.goldasich@theleaven.org

Production Manager Todd Habiger todd.habiger@theleaven.org

Reporter Moira Cullings moira.cullings@theleaven.org

Managing Editor Anita McSorley anita.mcsorley@theleaven.org

Senior Reporter Joe Bollig joe.bollig@theleaven.org

Advertising Coordinator Beth Blankenship beth.blankenship@theleaven.org

Published weekly September through May, excepting the Friday the week after Thanksgiving, and the Friday after Christmas; biweekly June through August. Address communications to: The Leaven, 12615 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City, KS 66109. Phone: (913) 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.

OCTOBER 9, 2015 | THELEAVEN.ORG

LOCAL NEWS

4

First vows grows family of local Augustinians

By Joe Bollig joe@theleaven.org

K

ANSAS CITY, Kan. — It was an unusual question, and it took Father Joseph Arsenault, SSA, by surprise.

He was at a Mass on Aug. 28 at St. Mary-St. Anthony Parish in Kansas City, Kansas, during which Brother Elias Thelen professed first vows to become a member of the Society of St. Augustine.

Afterwards, a Sister asked him a question.

“She said to me, ‘So, how does it feel to have a son now?’”

Men who are intersaid Father ested in learning Joseph, who more about the Sociwas Brother ety of St. Augustine Elias’ novice can visit the website master. at: www.augustinian. “ A n d us, and fill out the I said, ‘I contact form. Father feel very Peter, the prior, can p r o u d ,’” be reached at the said Father priory by calling (913) Joseph, who 621-2120. is the archdiocesan LEAVEN PHOTO BY RACHEL THOMPSON ecumenical officer and works in the Father Peter Jaramillo (seated), SSA, the prior of the Society of St. Augustine, presents Brother Elias Thelen with a the cross that completes the order’s tribunal office. “He’s a wonderful, won- habit, as Brother Elias professes first vows to become a member of the society. He is assisted by Father Joseph Arsenault, SSA, and Michael Smith (right). derful young man. He’s filled with the What followed was a lot of study faith and just really wants to seek God.” fifth-grader, while serving Mass, that he might want to be a priest someday. and prayer. Now, as a junior professed The entry of Brother Elias into the That went away, but it returned while living temporary vows, he has three Society of St. Augustine, a public ashe was a junior at Aquinas. years before he can ask to take final sociation of the faithful, represents a “I was kind of set on entering [the] vows. kind of Augustinian renaissance in the seminary for the archdiocese after high “I still feel called to the priesthood,” Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas. school, but my parents encouraged me to said Brother Elias. “That’s something The Order of Augustinian Recolgo to university first. So I went to the Uni- my community knows and they also lects ended their 63-year history in the archdiocese when they sold their mon- versity of Kansas and got really involved have to discern with me.” in the St. Lawrence Catholic Campus Brother Elias brings some wonderastery at 33rd and Parallel Parkway in Center there,” said Brother Elias. ful things to their community, said Kansas City, Kansas, on Dec. 18, 1986.

He learned about religious orders Father Joseph.

Some OAR members formed a new there and, after his junior year, began “He brings two very important eleentity, the Society of St. Augustine, in discerning and looked at ments to the community,” he said. “The 1981 in Texas. The SSA religious communities. first thing he brings is his youth and enestablished itself in the More photos thusiasm. The second thing he brings archdiocese in 1996, with from this event can be He left KU to become a to the community — which is extremethe arrival of Father Peter seen online at: www. postulant with the Norbertine Order in Califorly important and really is why he’s Jaramillo, SSA, and Broth- theleaven.org nia for a time, but realized such a great fit — is his great desire to er Thomas Akers, SSA. seek God and to seek God with others, Currently, the priory of St. Augus- that it wasn’t for him. He returned to which really is who we are.” tine consists of Father Peter Jaramillo, KU to finish his degree, spending time studying in Germany.

He graduated in Brother Elias also brings a higher SSA, the prior and current pastor of St. August 2012 with a bachelor of arts in profile.

His students at Aquinas have Mary-St. Anthony, St. John the Baptist LEAVEN PHOTO BY RACHEL THOMPSON German with a minor in French. asked him a lot of questions. and Holy Family, all in Kansas City, Brother Elias signs the profession book where Brother Elias began teaching “Yes, especially last year when I first Kansas; Father John Melnick, SSA, the he had written out his vows. Brother Elias — German at Aquinas, but the thought of showed up in the habit,” said Brothsubprior and a teacher at Donnelly formerly Bryan Patrick Thelen — was born er Elias. “They were very curious — College in Kansas City, Kansas; Father joining a religious order wouldn’t go and raised in Shawnee.

He graduated from St. away. He began receiving spiritual dikind of: ‘What is the habit, why are Joseph; and their new “son,” who is Thomas Aquinas High School in 2008. rection from Father Joseph Arsenault, you doing what you’re doing, what is a also like a new brother in the family: but didn’t think he wanted to join the Brother and what do you do?’”

Brother Elias, whose religious name is always looking forward, said Father Augustinians.

Some wondered if he could cele“Brother Elias del Socorro Nieves of Joseph. It’s great to have him in the “I was saying, ‘Gosh, Father Joseph, brate Mass. the Sacred Heart.” family.

I feel so at home here [with the Au“I told them to think of everything a Brother Elias — formerly Bryan Pat“St. Augustine called together a gustinians], I want to be called to this priest does in the church,” said Brothrick Thelen — was born and raised in group of friends to seek God together,” community,’” he said. “‘It feels right, er Elias. “I told them, ‘I can’t do any of Shawnee. His parents Phil and Terri said Father Joseph. “That’s what we but I’m just not sure.’ And he kind of that.’ Religious are consecrated to God, Thelen and his siblings Megan and Jeff strive to be.

We’re a group of people laughed and said, ‘Think about what and that is our first calling.

Most of the were all members of St. Joseph Parish who come together in friendship to you just said.’” kids thought it was really cool.

They in Shawnee. He went to the parish seek God together.

We try to be a Brother Elias decided to move in to love the habit.

They think I look like a school and then to St. Thomas Aquinas family, because it’s important for us to Jedi Knight, which is hilarious.”

High School in Overland Park, gradu- experience their communal life in the relate to each other in those terms.” summer of 2014 and, on Aug. 27, he enBrother Elias is personable, a thinkating in 2008. tered the novitiate. er, has a great sense of humor and is The thought occurred to him as a

Catholic Foundation of Northeast Kansas • Catholic Bequests

• Donor Advised Funds

• Gift Annuities

• Named Scholarship Funds

• Endowments

• Memorial Funds

Remember a gift to the church in your will

(913) 647-0325 CFNEK@archkck.org www.cfnek.org

OCTOBER 9, 2015 | THELEAVEN.ORG

LOCAL NEWS

BRIGHT FUTURES

Gaudeamus offers a celebration of Catholic education

By Jill Ragar Esfeld jill.esfeld@theleaven.org

W

hen describing this year’s Gaudeamus, Catholic Education Foundation (CEF) executive director Michael Morrisey said, “We’ve seasoned it with students.”

Students are the beneficiaries of the foundation’s biggest fundraiser and they’re always an important part of the evening.

“We can’t do it without them,” said Morrisey.

As greeters, entertainers and distributors of special guest gifts, students are visible reminders that the purpose of Gaudeamus is to celebrate Catholic education and support CEF’s mission to make it accessible for every child in the archdiocese.

Topeka’s Mater Dei School Drum Line will once again set the tone of the evening as they lead guests from a cocktail reception into the ballroom, where patrons will find excellent food and constant entertainment.

Big-screen televisions will feature KSHBTV 41 Action News anchor Christa Dubill interviewing the evening’s guests and asking for two-sentence descriptions of their favorite teachers.

Several videos will follow throughout the evening including a segment, produced by KSHB, which will amuse as much as it informs.

Another video will feature the Angels Among Us honorees: the Ledom, McAnany and Newcomer families, who chose this format to deliver a message about the importance of Catholic education.

And a third video features a CEF family illustrating how scholarships can change lives.

Overland Park’s Church of the Ascension School choir will also have a debut performance at the event this year.

“We’re looking forward to getting them involved,” said Morrisey.

They’ll accompany Gaudeamus past favorite vocalist Ron Gutierrez.

Along with Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann and Archbishop Emeritus James P. Keleher, there will be a host of priests and Catholic school supporters.

“As a special feature this year,” said Morrisey, “CEF has invited each CEF school to have a teacher representative attend Gaudeamus.

“Those guys and gals will go up on the stage; they’ll be recognized, and the schools that they’re from will be acknowledged as well.”

Another highlight of the evening will be a student speaker from Bishop Ward High School in Kansas City, Kansas.

“Everyone will love this young lady,” said Morrisey. “She’s very dynamic, very outgoing.

“I believe she will truly endear the world to her and, as a result, to CEF.” And, of course, the recipient of the School of Excellence award will be announced, and the award presented.

A generous matching gift from an anonymous donor will be a great incentive to give generously, believes Morrisey.

Young adults will be welcomed at the event with an opportunity to gather downstairs after dinner for networking and entertainment catered to their tastes, while more seasoned patrons will enjoy a coffee bar and an opportunity to mingle.

“I think there are a lot of dinners, a lot of fundraising events out there,” commented Morrisey, “and they’re all good.

“We believe Gaudeamus is different simply because it’s an evening where everybody has the opportunity to join with us in celebrating Catholic education.”

T

Three couples honored as ‘Angels Among Us’

hough all who support Catholic education are considered Angels Among Us, this year’s honorees stand out in their longtime support of the Catholic Education Foundation.

All three men — Mark Ledom, Nelson Newcomer and Pat McAnany — have served as CEF board chairs, and their wives have been constant champions of their efforts.

Ledom, supported by his wife Lisa, was first to take on the responsibility of CEF board chair during a time of transition — meaning he managed the foundation until an executive director was hired.

“I believe Catholic education is important for all families trying to raise children in this secular society,” said Ledom. “In our CEF schools, where the socioeconomics are so much different, it is especially important.”

All children need an environment where they feel valued, loved and protected.

Ledom believes CEF schools offer that environment to children in need.

And CEF teachers offer so much more than an excellent education.

“In our CEF schools,” said Ledom, “teachers so often become counselors, surrogate mothers and friends.”

He’s proud to be part of the Gaudeamus celebration.

“If [they could] just stop and see the difference we’re making in the lives of these children,” he said, “everybody would go and support this cause.”

While Ledom was board chair, Nelson Newcomer and Pat McAnany were on the CEF board. When Ledom stepped down, Newcomer took over.

His wife Marcia was his enthusiastic supporter.

“My wife and I have been blessed,” said Newcomer of the decision. “And in the Gospel it says, ‘To those whom much has been given, much is expected.’”

Newcomer said Catholic schools are the only place children can grow both spiritually and intellectually.

“My wife and I have been tremendously blessed in being able to send our kids to Catholic grade school, high school and college,” he said.

“I know they have seen the benefit of that.”

Gaudeamus is about extending that opportunity to every family in the archdiocese.

“It’s giving families who

“MY WIFE AND I HAVE BEEN TREMENDOUSLY BLESSED IN BEING ABLE TO SEND OUR KIDS TO CATHOLIC [SCHOOLS].I KNOW THEY HAVE SEEN THE BENEFIT OF THAT.”

Nelson Newcomer, pictured with his wife Marcia

“IF [THEY COULD] JUST STOP AND SEE THE DIFFERENCE WE’RE MAKING IN THE LIVES OF THESE CHILDREN, EVERYBODY WOULD GO AND SUPPORT THIS CAUSE.”

Mark Ledom, pictured with his wife Lisa

“HERE WE HAVE IN OUR BACKYARD PEOPLE WHO NEED OUR MERCY. AND I THINK ONE OF THE GREATEST GIFTS WE CAN GIVE THEM IS A CATHOLIC EDUCATION.

Pat McAnany, pictured with his wife Mel

otherwise could not afford a Catholic education an opportunity to go to a Catholic school,” Newcomer said.

“And Catholic education gives these children an opportunity to go on through high school and college and be successful.

“So that’s what Gaudeamus is all about.”

Pat and Mel McAnany followed the Newcomers with equal dedication.

“It’s part of our Catholic responsibility to live out the Gospel,” said Pat McAnany.

“That’s what we’re doing.”

McAnany talked about Pope Francis and his call for mercy.

“Here we have in our

Gaudeamus: ‘Let us rejoice!’

The Catholic Education Foundation (CEF) will recognize Mark and Lisa Ledom, Nelson and Marcia Newcomer, and Pat and Mel McAnany as Angels Among Us at the organization’s 12th anniversary Gaudeamus dinner on Oct. 24 at the Overland Park Convention Center.

The foundation provides scholarships for needy families in northeast Kansas, so they may attend Catholic schools sponsored by CEF. Individuals who can’t attend the Gaudeamus event can still help sponsor a scholarship for a child.

Tickets for the Gaudeamus dinner are still available. For registration and sponsorship information, visit the website at: www.cefks.org/events/gaudeamus-2015; contact Patty Morrisey at (913) 647-0344; or send an email to her at: pmorrisey@archkck.org.

backyard people who need our mercy,” he said. “And I think one of the greatest gifts we can give them is a Catholic education.

“It’s a lifelong gift.”

McAnany sees Gaudeamus as a celebration of that mercy.

“I love Gaudeamus because it’s a very Catholic event,” he said. “I feel blessed to be a small part of it.

“The children are there and you can see them. It is absolutely a way to celebrate our Catholic faith.”

Michael Morrisey, CEF executive director, is grateful for the contributions of these dedicated families.

“They all go way back with CEF,” he said. “We have our founding fathers we address and acknowledge every Gaudeamus dinner.

“But if there were founding fathers 2, it would be these three guys.”

5

OCTOBER 9, 2015 | THELEAVEN.ORG

LOCAL NEWS

Archdiocesan seminarian ordained a transitional deacon

6

WEB EXCLUSIVE

R

OME — Agustin Martinez of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas was among 39 seminarians from the Pontifical North American College here who were ordained to the transitional diaconate during a celebration of the Eucharist on Oct. 1.

Cardinal Timothy Dolan, archbishop of New York, was the ordaining prelate at the ordination Mass, celebrated at the Altar of the Chair of St. Peter in St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. Cardinal Dolan, a native of the Archdiocese of St. Louis, an alumnus of the North American College and past rector, has been the archbishop of New York since 2010.

In his homily, Cardinal Dolan spoke to those about to be ordained about the paradoxes of the Christian faith, which are manifested in the ordination rite itself.

“You were called forth and were said to be found worthy, and yet we began our prayer with an acknowledgment to God of our sinfulness,” he said. “You come here freely and yet will make a promise of obedience to your [bishop]. You are raised up to serve at the altar, yet, in a moment, you will lie down prostrate in a symbol of sub-

CHURCH OF THE WEEK Sacred Heart, Baileyville Address: 357 Third St., 66404 Phone: (785) 336-6464 Pastor: Father Edward Oen, CPPS Mass Times: Saturday, 7 p.m.; Sunday, 8:30 a.m.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE PONTIFICAL NORTH AMERICAN COLLEGE

Video

Agustin Martinez (fourth from left), an archdiocesan seminarian, was ordained a transitional deacon in Rome by Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York.

A video tour of this church is available online at: www.theleaven.org.

mission to the supplication to the saints on your behalf.”

Cardinal Dolan continued that this is all perfectly fitting in the basilica dedicated

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

to the apostle Peter, whose own martyrdom, on a cross upside down, allowed him more clearly to see right side up the Jesus whose love he had come to imitate.

Teresa found union with God praying with her eyes open >> Continued from page 1 setting, she couldn’t achieve the recollection and attention to prayer she needed. She and some friends brainstormed about starting a small convent, based on the hermit roots of the Carmelite order in the Holy Land.

Here, a loving community of only a few nuns would focus on a life dedicated to prayer — so that in Teresa’s plan, “all would be known, all would be loved,” which she felt couldn’t happen easily in a huge religious house.

Being few in number, Teresa reasoned, the nuns also would have few needs. This would free them for the life of prayer they came for. But the prayer Teresa envisioned was not simply to be repetitive recitations or purely out of obligation. It was to flow from a deep friendship with Christ. Prayer, she explained in “Life,” “means taking time frequently to be alone with the One who we know loves us.”

Teresa wanted all her nuns to enjoy mutual respect and equality. She set the example herself by putting aside her title of Doña, common among upscale Spanish families, and chose to be called simply Teresa of Jesus.

Teresa’s grass-roots movement caught on quickly. More and more women were attracted to her Discalced (meaning “shoeless”) Carmelite life.

Soon, Teresa was traveling to found other monasteries throughout Spain — first of nuns and then, with the help of St. John of the Cross and others, of friars as well.

Now, 500 years later, Discalced Carmelites number about 12,000 contemplative nuns in 98 countries, nearly 4,000 mendicant friars in 82 countries, and some 40,000 lay Carmelites throughout the world.

A saint for today During the period of her life when she had already reached the highest stages of mystical prayer and union with God, Teresa was simultaneously juggling many demanding down-toearth duties that would challenge the busiest multitasker. Her whirlwind of activity, recorded in the book “Foundations,” reads like a blend of an entertaining travelogue and a Fortune 500 executive’s schedule. While reediting her manuscript on prayer (her censor/

K E A T I N G Mud Jacking FOUNDATION REPAIR

MUD JACKING

Cracked • Bowed • Settled Wall Repair v Wall Bracing v Waterproofing v Steel Underpinning Kansas City (913) 262-9352

Raise & Level

Lawrence (785) 865-0006

v Patios v Drives v Garage Floors v Slab Houses Topeka (785) 246-0128

editor was aiming to keep her away from the clutches of the Inquisition), she was corresponding with superiors of her convents about issues ranging from personnel problems to property lines. In one case, a bishop attempted to renege on his promises to her regarding a convent, and Teresa had to call in a lawyer on the matter. In the meantime, she noted, college students who had taken over the building had trashed the place.

If this doesn’t mesh with your idea of what a mystic’s life is about, that is precisely Teresa’s message. She wanted to sweep away the cobwebbed notions that we grow in holiness only when life is tranquil and untroubled.

Teresa might have preferred that kind of calm, stress-free life (she did, after all, set out to be a cloistered nun!), but she discovered through experience that it wasn’t going to happen. And she learned in that process that being very busy and having worries and problems didn’t prevent God from loving her — or her from loving and serving God. Perhaps St. Teresa’s greatest gift to busy people committed to the spiritual journey is the truth that ordinary life and holiness are not in conflict. There

need be no separation from immersion in the real world and its challenges, and ongoing, prayerful union with God. When she died, the following thoughts in her handwriting were found written in the margins of her breviary. We don’t know if Teresa composed what has come to be called “St. Teresa’s Bookmark” or not, but its message is one we know inspired her. It’s one she might well share with us today for her 500th birthday: Let nothing disturb you.

Let nothing frighten you.

All things pass away.

God never changes.

Patience obtains all things.

They who have God lack nothing.

God alone is enough.

Pat Morrison is editorial director for ICS Publications, the publishing ministry of the Discalced Carmelites in the United States. A longtime contributor to the Catholic press, Pat is a vowed laywoman in the Carmelite tradition. Morrison writes from Miamisburg, Ohio.

OCTOBER 9, 2015 | THELEAVEN.ORG

LOCAL NEWS Ronald and Joanne (Doherty) Miller, members of Christ the King Parish, Topeka, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on Oct. 9. The couple was married at Corpus Christi in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, and renewed their vows at the archdiocesan golden wedding anniversary Mass on June 14 at the Cathedral of St. Peter in Kansas City, Kansas. They recently returned from an Alaskan land/sea cruise. They have one child, Eric Miller, and one grandchild.

Cheryl (Cordon) and Kenneth Stuke, members of Mother Teresa of Calcutta Parish, Topeka, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on Oct. 17 with a Mass and family dinner. The couple was married on Oct. 16, 1965, at St. James Church, Wetmore.

Their children are Lance Stuke and Kendra Stuke. They also have four grandchildren.

Parish to hold fall bazaar MERIDEN — St. Aloysius Parish here, 615 Wyandotte, will host its fall bazaar and dinner on Oct. 11 from 11:30 a.m.

- 3:30 p.m. There will also be a lots of ac-

tivities. For more information, contact the parish office at (785) 484-3312.

7

Olympian urges students to slow down, listen movies like “The Lion King” and “Batman Begins,” and played games with little lessons woven in. All of these had a central theme: We are all TCHISON — When Maur beloved sons and daughters of God. Hill-Mount Academy’s With so many distractions in topresident Phil Baniewicz day’s world, Father Fitzgerald pointasked students here who ed out how difficult it can be to pay they wanted to give their attention to the right messages and to all-school fall retreat, he gave them hear God’s invitation. His advice to the four options: a priest from New York, students was to slow down, quiet their a national champion college quarterhearts and allow God’s mesback, a former college basesage to be heard. ball player or a former U.S. To help make this point Olympian. palpable, he initiated a game Murmurs of discussion of “Jockey Says.” Two stuand debate filled the air as dents from each family (a students struggled to choose division of MH-MA’s house between the four enticing system, which is its form of possibilities. Then, Baniewicz student government) comshocked them all by announcpeted in the game similar to ing that the retreat director “Simon Says.” would actually be all four.

The point of the game?

Father Joe Fitzgerald is an Father Fitzgerald Pay attention to the right Ithaca College graduate, where commands. The moment you he studied history, played third hear the wrong message, you make the base for the baseball team and won a wrong move, disqualifying yourself Division III national championship as from the rest of the game. quarterback for the football team.

“By slowing down, tuning out the He then went on to represent the other voices and paying attention, you United States as a member of the naallow God’s invitation to be heard,” tional handball team during the 1996 said Father Fitzgerald. “What you Olympic games. Father Fitzgerald was allow yourself to hear will lead to who ordained in 2007 and is now the vocayou become.” tions director of the Diocese of RockGoing back to his athletic roots, ville Centre, where he assists men disFather Fitzgerald recounted a story cerning the call to priesthood. from one of his most profound footFather Fitzgerald shared stories of ball memories during his sophomore his athletic glory days and his journey year of college. After being called on to the priesthood during the two-day to lead the team at practice, his lack retreat. He read Scripture, asked reof preparation was exposed, causing flection questions, showed clips from

By Erin Hunninghake Special to The Leaven

A

a weak performance, and in turn, extreme self-doubt.

“My teammates didn’t think I had what it took to be the starting quarterback,” he said. “I was so caught up in what others thought of me that I had forgotten who I really was.”

Father Fitzgerald’s coach recognized this internal struggle. In a way that only a coach knows how to, he built Father Fitzgerald’s confidence back up, helping him re-identify who he really was.

“If we can’t identify whom we are ourselves, we can’t identify who we come from,” Father Fitzgerald said.

“A huge part of my life has been sports, but it’s not everything,” he said.

“You see my collar and think, ‘He’s a priest.’ But that’s not everything. My main identity is beloved son of God.” Once again, Father Fitzgerald stressed to the students the importance of never losing one’s true sense of self.

“In this whole world’s history, there has never been anyone like you,” he said. “God made you for a specific purpose. He made you for greatness.”

Father Fitzgerald ended with the same, poignant message he had stressed the entire retreat: “You are, and will always be, [God’s] beloved.”

The 2015 all-school fall retreat is one the students of Maur Hill-Mount Academy are sure to remember, thanks Father Fitzgerald: a priest from New York, a national champion college quarterback, a former college baseball player, a former U.S. Olympian . . . and a beloved son of God.

10/15

WORLD MISSION SUNDAY Oct. 17-18

Thousands of missions worldwide benefit from your support My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, Every year, we remember in a special way our baptismal call to mission as we celebrate World Mission Sunday. On Oct. 18, on this World Mission Sunday, we will gather at the Eucharist — as will Catholics throughout the world — in a spirit of love for evangelization so that through our prayers and concrete acts of solidarity the gift of faith may be shared with all. This year’s celebration is further enriched as we mark the 50th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council’s Decree on the Church’s Missionary Activity (“Ad Gentes”) which proclaims: “The pilgrim church on earth is missionary by its very nature,” reminding us that all of us are called to be on mission.

In his message for World Mission Sunday, Pope Francis writes, “Mission is part of the ‘grammar’ of faith, something essential for those who listen to the voice of the Spirit who whispers, ‘Come’ and ‘Go forth.’ Those who follow Christ cannot fail to be missionaries.”

On World Mission Sunday, as our archdiocesan family joins our brothers and sisters around the world responding to the voice of the Spirit, we connect with our world on mission: with Africa, where six million children receive an education in some 16,000 church-run elementary schools . . . with Asia, where those who are sick are provided with loving care at 5,000 Catholic hospitals and small clinics . . . with the Americas, where catechists travel to remote areas to bring the good news of God’s great love to families . . . with Oceania, where young men are supported in their studies for the priesthood, to bring the Lord’s healing hope and peace to those in need . . . with Europe, where new churches are being built to welcome faith communities renewed after years of persecution.

Your financial help on World Mission Sunday, offered in the collection for the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, supports such efforts in 1,150 young mission dioceses in our world, reaching the poorest communities with a message of hope and healing, mercy and peace. Pope Francis emphasizes that “mission is a passion for Jesus and, at the same time, a passion for his people.” Let us have that same passion this World Mission Sunday, as we share the joy of the Gospel and help the poor by our fervent prayer and through generous hearts!

T

Sincerely yours in Jesus, the Lord of Life,

+ Joseph F. Naumann Archbishop of Kansas City in Kansas

MISSIONARY WORK BY THE NUMBERS

Finding the face of Christ in the ‘Dining Room’

hink about what $1 would buy at your favorite fastfood restaurant — a small order of French fries, a drink or a small order of chicken nuggets. In Peru, that same dollar would buy ten loaves of bread! And those ten loaves could help feed the 90 children who gather at Comedor del Niño Trabajador (Dining Room for Child Laborers) every day. The Dining Room is located in Pucallpa, a city in eastern Peru founded in the 1840s by Franciscan missionaries. Today, the Dining Room is managed by Father José, a Franciscan priest.

The local Catholic Church runs the Dining Room to help poor families who can’t afford to feed their children. Because of the poverty in the town, most children attend public school for only a few hours each day. Then they come to the Dining Room to eat lunch, study and receive religious education.

When they have finished eating and completed their studies, the children go out to work to help their families. Some children work as shoeshiners or sell small items like gum or candy at local markets.

“This is the only meal of the day for most of these children,” said the Father José. “Most importantly, the children receive attention and experience the love of Jesus.”

Celebrating life and joy in Angola

“I

n Angola, the birth of a child is a special event in the life of the village, and everyone rejoices,” said Bishop Joaquim Lopes, OFM. Bishop Lopes, a missionary priest, is the ordinary of Viana, Angola, on the continent of Africa.

He tells a story about a very special baby he met while working as a missionary priest in St. Anthony Parish in Luanda, Angola.

“One morning, we heard a knock on the door of our rectory,” he said. “Outside, a young man named Manuel was holding a newborn baby.”

The baby’s mother had just died. Manuel was sent to St. Anthony Parish by members of the village to get help. The missionary priests took the child in and, with Manuel, prayed for guidance. As the day began, more people began to find out about the baby.

Although she was very poor, one of the teachers at the mission school told the priests that she would adopt the baby and care for him as one of her own sons.

“We could see that God was present among us at this very moment,” said Bishop Lopes. “We thanked God because on that day a child had been saved!”

Lack of clean water and good sanitation cause most illnesses among children in Angola. The Missionary Childhood Association has provided help for supplies for the parish school, including materials for religious education

$25

$15

$75

is one month’s support for a mission catechist.

is a week’s help for a young man preparing for the priesthood in a mission seminary.

provides for the work of religious Sisters.

Pope Francis says:

“

“Being a missionary is not about proselytizing or mere strategy; mission is part of the ‘grammar’ of faith, something essential for those who listen to the voice of the Spirit who whispers, ‘Come’ and ‘Go forth.’

“ “

“A true missionary is passionate for the Gospel. Saint Paul said: ‘Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel!’ (1 Cor 9:16) The Gospel is the source of joy, liberation and salvation for all men and women.”

“Today, the church’s mission is faced by the challenge of meeting the needs of all people to return to their roots and to protect the values of their respective cultures.

With Missio app, help is at your fingertips What is Missio?

Missio is an online tool that connects people to people to change the world, providing a variety of ways to show your support: Give, share and act.

What is new about Missio compared to other online giving?

Missio offers you an unfiltered experience of communicating and supporting people directly: We present all the necessary information — as well as access to the project leaders — and let you decide how you want to engage. You can ask questions, learn about what is really going on and offer support in a variety of ways.

Saving the children of India

What projects will I find on Missio?

The people leading Missio projects are engaged in a variety of holistic humanitarian activity through development projects that go to the heart of people’s basic needs — caring for abandoned children in Egypt, teaching a child to read and write in Uganda, and fighting to stop and prevent human trafficking in Thailand, as examples — while in every moment, offering spiritual comfort and guidance to the suffering and those in need.

T

welve-year-old Vandoosha is one of the girls rescued by Sister Clara and the Sisters at Marialaya.

Vandoosha was sold to a neighbor to work in the family’s home; that neighbor sold Vandoosha again.

“I had to work from 5 a.m. to midnight every day,” Vandoosha said. “I was doing all the washing, cooking and cleaning for the whole family, and looking after their 2-yearold child.” Vandoosha was also beaten by the mother in the home and abused by the other children.

Today, five years after she was rescued, the memories of her time as a domestic worker are still fresh in her mind. However, thanks to Marialaya, Vandoosha is happy and healthy and doing exceptionally well in school.

Having experienced severe heartbreak and numerous challenges in her short life already, Vandoosha does not take anything for granted, including her education. She is determined to study hard and one day become a police offer, so that she can give protection to street children and bring them to Marialaya.

What are the real-world outcomes?

On Missio, you can follow the real-world outcomes of a project. Project leaders will have the ability to share in words and images the ways your support has helped a child, a family and a community.

What is a Missio Project?

A Missio Project is a project located in some of the poorest areas of the world operated mainly by priests and Sisters, mostly in developing countries. They tell you what they need and how they plan to carry out their project. You follow their progress, offering financial support, insights from your own experience or highlighting the work being done through your own networks (or what we call GIVE, SHARE and ACT).

How much of my donations reach the project? Does Missio take a percentage for overhead?

No. One hundred percent of the donated money is transmitted directly to the project.

We will, however, ask for a modest financing charge to cover the expenses related to operating the app and to engage in education and training around Missio.

Can I see how my gift has helped a project?

Yes! After a project is funded, status updates are provided through the “My Projects” area within Missio. You can follow the project, learning about the people involved and, perhaps, offering ongoing personal encouragement.

$80

$100

80,000

supports the care of one child at a church-run center for street children.

is a month’s help for a village mission.

seminarians all over the world are supported by the Pontifical Society of St. Peter the Apostle.

To contribute, use your parish’s World Mission Sunday envelope and donate the weekend of Oct. 17-18.

OCTOBER 9, 2015 | THELEAVEN.ORG

LOCAL NEWS

Shawnee school needs your vote for $100,000

S

HAWNEE — This summer, Kansas City Royals fans made news when eight Royals were the leading vote-getters at one point to start Major League Baseball’s AllStar Game. In the end, four Royals were named starters, and Mike Moustakas won the fans’ vote as the last man in.

St. Joseph School in Shawnee could use that kind of support right now as it is one of 15 finalists for Farmers Insurance $100,000 Dream Big Contest. Winners will be determined by online voting through the end of October.

From February to July 2015, teachers across the country were invited to submit proposals to tell Farmers what they would do with a $100,000 grant. Farmers selected 15 finalists from submissions from teachers all across the country. Of the five finalists from each zone — western, central, eastern — the top two votegetters per zone will each receive a $100,000 grant.

St. Joseph is one of five schools in the central zone, and the only Catholic school to make the cut. Lisa Fox, a kindergarten teacher at St. Joseph submitted the school’s proposal which was called “Coding — Collaborative Opportunities for Differenti-

St. Joseph School in Shawnee is in the running for $100,000 from Farmers Insurance Dream Big Contest. Voting continues until Oct. 31. You can vote online once a day. ated Inquiry to Navigate the Globe.”

If Fox were to win the $100,000 Dream Big grant, she would use the money to purchase computers to integrate coding into St. Joseph’s curriculum, helping reduce barriers to technology for its students and teachers.

In a short video on the Farmers Insurance site, Fox talks about her proposal, explaining her reasons for submitting it, how she envisions the

money being used and the benefits it holds for the children.

To vote for St. Joseph, go to the website at: www.thankamericas teachers.com, click on “vote for a proposal” and then click on “vote for a $100,000 proposal.” From there, you will see the list of proposals as well as instructions on how to vote.

You must have a Facebook account to vote. You can vote once a day.

10

Sister Mary Rita Lavigne, OSU

M

APLE MOUNT, Ky. — Sister Mary Rita Lavigne, 93, an Ursuline Sister of Mount Saint Joseph here, died Sept. 17 in Owensboro, Kentucky. A native of Topeka, she enjoyed playing the piano.

Sister Rita was an Ursuline Sister of Paola prior to the merger of that community with the Ursulines of Mount Saint Joseph in 2008. She was the daughter of the late Harry S. and Elizabeth (Bestgen) Lavigne.

She graduated from Hayden High School, Topeka. Before entering the Ursuline Sisters in 1953, she was employed by Meade Insurance Co., Topeka.

She attended Ursuline Junior College, Paola; Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska; and received a master’s in business administration from the University of Notre Dame.

During her teaching years, Sister Rita taught at the Ursuline Academy, Paola; Holy Name School, Kansas City, Kansas; and Bishop Miege High School, Roeland Park.

She was business administrator of Lakemary Center from 1969-87. From 1992 until the merger in 2008, she returned to the Paola motherhouse to minister as an organist, coordinator of outside retreats and at the Paola Association for Church Action Food Pantry. Sister Rita moved to Maple Mount on June 1, 2009, and served there in the community archives.

Project

ANDREW

Archbishop Joseph Naumann cordially invites single men 16 & over to Project Andrew — an evening of prayer, inspiring priests, dinner, and learning about discernment.

Sunday Oct. 18 at St. Joseph, Shawnee

&

Sunday. Oct. 25 at Christ the King, Topeka Register at kckvocations.com vocation@archkck.org or (913) 647-0303

LOCAL NEWS

OCTOBER 9, 2015 | THELEAVEN.ORG

11

Cardinal’s keynote focused on living in dialogue “Bishop Barron used a golf analogy, which opened my eyes a bit. He said the rules for swinging a golf club are designed to help you swing better, and the better you are at the rules, the freer you are to play the game.

“The same thing’s true with our faith.

The rules are designed to free you up.”

One of the favorite speakers wasn’t Catholic. He was Pastor Rick Warren, the evangelical Protestant pastor of the Saddleback megachurch in Lake Forest, California.

“Pastor Warren had a great presentation about the current state of affairs that Christians are facing,” said Father Pennings. “He said, ‘In today’s society, materialism is idolized, immorality is glamorized, truth is minimized, sin is normalized, divorce is rationalized and abortion is legalized.’”

>> Continued from page 1 The archdiocesan family life office sponsored the official archdiocesan delegation of 55 people, but other parishioners found their own way to Philadelphia, as did Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann, Father Gary Pennings, Father John Riley and Msgr. Michael Mullen.

Happiest (crowded) place on earth It was inevitable that, with the crowds and security checkpoints, there would be long waits in crowds. The stringent security caused some people to miss the papal Mass.

“The week culminated with the Festival of Families on Saturday evening and the papal Mass on Sunday,” said Father Pennings. “Those events were logistical challenges. It was a lot of ‘hurry up and wait’ because security was so tight.”

“On Sunday, some members of our group spent between four and five hours in line waiting to get security screened,” he continued. “A few did not even make it into Ben Franklin Parkway in time to participate in Mass. I personally had never been in such large crowds. On Sunday for the papal Mass, there had to be a million people in or adjacent to the parkway where the Mass was celebrated.”

Although it was quite unplanned, waiting in line for three and four hours became the occasion for the best interaction. And the crowds were well behaved.

“It was a really positive experience,” said Sister Doris Engeman, FSHF, religious education coordinator at Corpus Christi Parish in Lawrence. “Comments

by Secret Service people, Homeland Security and guards of every description were: ‘This is going really well, there are no problems. People are happy, and this is strange.’”

“There was a docility about it,” Sister Doris continued. “We visited with people all around us from all over the world, old and young, people of every description. People were happy and excited. . . . I think with any other crowd the tone would be different.”

Crock and Linden Appel, from Most Pure Heart of Mary Parish in Topeka, met people from the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Philippines, Africa and other American states.

“Joseph from North Carolina was maybe the most single, radiant person we met on the trip,” said Appel. “He had his son with him, who has a severe neurological condition and is in a wheelchair.”

Crock was very touched by a couple from Africa.

“While in line for the Festival of Families, I stood next to a couple from Africa,” she said. “We knew we didn’t have much time together, so we talked about important things quickly. They were very lovely. I told them that I believed Africa

Stair lifts & More We’ll lift you up!

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

Member Good Shepherd, Shawnee

Call Ed Toll Free 1-855-543-8632

Father Mike Mullen, pastor of St. Patrick Parish in Kansas City, Kansas, hears confessions on the streets of Philadelphia at the World Meeting of Families. would lead the Catholic world because that’s the place where there is a lot of leadership. We met so many Africans — wow, these people are really putting their money where their mouths are.”

They met a boy from Guatemala who lives in the United States with an aunt and uncle who don’t go to church, but he does. They also met a priest named Kennedy — from Latin America.

“He didn’t speak English,” said Crock.

“He was trying to find the Mass, but couldn’t find anyone who spoke Spanish.

I found out he speaks French, and I studied French long ago, so we were able to invite him to come with us to Mass.”

The world meeting generated an incredible sense of solidarity on all levels.

“It felt good and safe among Christians,” said Linda March, a member of St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Leawood. “It’s the way the world should be. People were kind and patient. It was a celebration.”

“Our group consisted of two or three people who knew each other at the beginning of the trip,” she continued. “We started off as strangers, but ended up as a unit caring about each other. We were blessed to have Msgr. Michael Mullen and Father Gary Pennings with us. They were great spiritual leaders. . . . [They] led the rosary on several of the bus rides, which gave us a peaceful calm.”

Keynotes and breakouts The main activity for pilgrims was attending the keynote addresses and breakout sessions. Both featured presentations by world-class Catholic speakers.

“I read his books but never had an opportunity to hear Scott Hahn speak [before],” said Shannon Holthaus, a member of Sts. Peter and Paul Parish in Seneca. “It was just amazing. His ability to bring the Bible to life, in regard to

God’s plan for us and our families, was just amazing.”

“Our group [also] had an opportunity to have a private presentation by Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers, from Oregon,” she continued. “He gave the opening remarks and welcome for the World Meeting of Families.”

Several archdiocesan pilgrims were impressed by Cardinal Luis Antonio G. Tagle, archbishop of Manila.

“He spoke to us about the importance of dialogue,” said Father Jim Shaughnessy, pastor of St. Gregory Parish in Marysville and St. Malachy Parish in Beattie.

“In the West, people are concerned about the shrinking influence of the church. But in the East, the Orient, [Christians] have always been a minority and they’ve had to learn to live in dialogue, and to have influence through communication and dialogue with others around them who have the same values and goals,” continued Father Shaughnessy.

“We learn communication and dialogue in the family,” he added, “and that’s how we have to do it with the church as a family with those outside of us.”

Dutch tenBroek liked Cardinal Tagle and the newly ordained Bishop Robert Barron.

“The quality of the presentations was challenging and overwhelming at the same time. We’d go in the morning and almost be numb by the time we came out,” said Dutch tenBroek.

Bishop Barron gave some very practical advice for Dutch and his wife Kathy, who lead marriage preparation classes.

“One of the things we struggle with is the young couples [telling us] ‘You’re really good at explaining the rules, but how [about] explaining the why behind the rules?’

Taking the world meeting home Tom Rangel was listening to a Catholic radio station while driving his truck one morning when he heard a 12-yearold girl asked why she wanted to go to the World Meeting of Families.

“She responded by saying, ‘I want to go see the pope because I want to see the successor of St. Peter,” said Rangel, from Mother Teresa of Calcutta Parish in Topeka. “She was right on target. I just have to stand behind her, raise my hand, and say, ‘Ditto.’”

He and his wife Connie marveled at how friendly the Philadelphians were, and how strong was the witness of their fellow pilgrims.

“Everyone I stood by — front and back, left and right — the conversations were so heartfelt,” he continued. “I had conversations with the most strongwilled Catholics. There were so many beautiful people there.”

Important and wonderful things happened at the World Meeting of Families, but the greatest thing is what the pilgrims will take away: their mission.

“On the one side [of the stage] was a display [with] ‘Love Is Our Mission,’” said Rangel. “Cardinal Tagle talked about that. We should have this love naturally in our immediate family, but the love should also be in our extended family. The love should be in our parish family and it should be in our community family.”

“It’s easy to love your family, but to love your enemies. . . . When those points were brought up I said, ‘Yeah, I’ve got some people in that category I struggle with,’” said Rangel. “You’re supposed to love your neighbor as yourself. My wife and I came away with a stronger will to push that portion of our faith further.

“At Mother Teresa we do a lot — we try to be active. But the message is we need to do more.

“That’s what we came away with.

Love needs to move way out forward.”

TOUCH OF HEAVEN

Catholic Store 119 SE 18th Topeka, KS (785) 232-2543 Hrs. T-F - 10 a.m. 5:30; Sat. 9 a.m. to noon

Want to help someone heal from an abortion?

Call Toll Free 888-246-1504

OCTOBER 9, 2015 | THELEAVEN.ORG

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

Music director - St. Matthew Apostle Parish seeks a part-time music director. Candidate will be responsible for planning music, providing instrumentation and vocals for weekend Masses, and directing a choir. Please send resumes by email to: jessica.ast@stmatthew apostle.org.

Parish manager - Holy Cross Church is seeking a fulltime parish manager. This position will oversee the church’s and school’s finances and physical plant. Qualifications include good management and communication skills, familiarity with accounting practices, computer skills and facilities management experience. Salary is commensurate with education and experience. For a role description and application, interested persons should send an email to: churchoffice@holycrossopks.org. Applications need to be received by Oct. 16.

Caregiver - Caregiver wanted, 4 - 9 p.m. daily. Duties include preparing/cleaning up dinner and companionship for elderly, ambulatory woman. Call (573) 286-4364.

Full-time marketer/fundraiser and full-time clinical business developer - LPN preferred. Competitive salary and benefit package available. Please send resumes by email to: jesse@villasf.org, or drop resumes by Villa St. Francis, 16600 W. 126th St., Olathe.

Full-time administrative assistant - To assist with the day-to-day operational functions of the front office.

Competitive wage and benefits available. Please send resumes by email to: jesse@villasf.org, or drop them by Villa St. Francis, 16600 W. 126th St., Olathe.

Drivers - Do you enjoy driving? Do you want to work part time? Full time? The Kansas City Transportation Group currently has positions open to operate shuttle buses for the KU Medical Center campus. These routes operate 18 hours a day transporting doctors, nurses and administrators; we can build a schedule that fits your needs.

CDL (commercial driver’s license) is required; we can help you with the nuances of how to get your license upgraded. The vehicles driven on the routes are 29 passenger mini coaches. Our business is growing and we are in need of those that enjoy working and have a passion in growing with us. Great opportunity for those that are retired, need flexible hours, etc. Great pay and benefits. Please apply by sending an email to: jkalbert@kctg. com or in person on Oct. 15 from noon - 4 p.m. at the Aloft Hotel, Park Place Center, 11620 Ash St., Leawood, KS 66211.

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

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

Insurance provided. Background check will be conducted. Great opportunity for retired persons or those seeking a second job. Job responsibilities include: ensuring safety and well-being of children who are being transported at all times, including loading and unloading.

Driving short, round-trip routes to elementary schools in Lenexa/Olathe area. Summer only: Driving short, roundtrip routes to two Lenexa city pools. Maintaining mileage log. Keeping interior of vehicle clean. Apply by sending an email to chris@specialbeginningsonline.com or in person at 10216 Pflumm Rd., Lenexa KS 66215.

Teachers - The Goddard School, 21820 W. 115th Terr., Olathe, is looking for a full-time infant assistant teacher and full-time floating assistant teacher. In our warm, loving atmosphere, our highly qualified teachers support the healthy development of children from 6 weeks to 6 years. Our teachers write and implement their own lesson plans based on our FLEX program, Goddard Developmental Guidelines and our monthly school theme.

Lead teachers also complete other duties such as electronic daily attendance reports, progress reports and parent conferences. The hands-on efforts of the school owner and directors allow our teachers to focus on their children, their lesson plans and teaching to ensure a fun-filled day of learning. Full-time benefits include competitive pay, paid time off, opportunities for professional development and career growth, and a great working environment. Qualified candidates must meet or exceed Kansas regulations, have strong communication skills and desire to learn and implement the Goddard School programs. Lead teachers should have an early childhood education degree or a CDA or a degree in a related field with an emphasis in early childhood education. Prior experience in a child care setting is preferred. Please specify for which position you are applying. To apply, please forward your resume to: olathe2ks@goddardschools. com, attention: Mandy Ellis, director.

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

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

Student drivers needed - In Overland Park, Olathe and Kansas City, Kansas. We offer flexible part-time and fulltime schedules. For more information, call (913) 2623100 or apply online at: www.assistedtransportation. com. EOE. Drivers needed - Medi Coach Transportation is looking for caring and reliable drivers for nonemergency transportation. CDL is not required. Contact Jeff at (913) 8251921.

SERVICES Professional window cleaning - Residential only. Insured and bonded. Over 40 years experience. Free estimates. Contact Gene Jackson at (913) 593-1495.

Junior high/high school theology individualized instuction - Teacher with degrees in theology and education from Benedictine College, with four years’ experience in teaching within the archdiocese, available to privately teach public school, home school, and/or private school students that are in need of orthodox theology instruction or enrichment! Call (816) 529-4954 for more information.

Junkyard Dawg - Can do cleanup, debris removal and any other odd job you have. Call (913) 575-8522 for an estimate.

Cleaning lady - Reasonable rates; references provided.

Call (913) 940-2959.

College application essay coach - Secondary English teacher with 39 years experience in Catholic schools.

Have mentored students applying to Notre Dame, Rice, and Stanford. Flexible! Initial meeting followed by email consultation. Nativity Parish, Leawood, parishioner. Contact: ludwig.sl@gmail.com.

CLUTTER GETTING YOU DOWN? Organize, fix, assemble, install! “Kevin Of All Trades” your professional organizer and “HONEY-DO-LIST” specialist. Call today for a free consultation at (913) 271-5055. Insured. References.

Visit our website at: www.KOATINDUSTRIES.com.

Quilted Memories - Your Kansas City Longarm Shop - Nolting Longarm Machines, quilting supplies and machine quilting services. We specialize in memorial quilts - Custom designed memory quilts from your T-shirt collections, photos, baby clothes, college memorabilia, etc., neckties etc. For information or to schedule a free consultation, call (913) 649-2704. Visit the website at: www.quiltedmemoriesllc.com.

K-12 tutoring available. Tutor is degreed and has experience in the K-12 curriculum in various subjects and can help in test preps (ACT, SAT, GED, etc.) as well as French, Spanish, piano, guitar, voice and music theory. Sessions are fun and meaningful in context. Sessions are oneon-one and family discount is available. For more info, please call/text Kathleen at (913) 206-2151 or email to: Klmamuric@yahoo.com.

Tree service - Pruning trees for optimal growth and beauty and removal of hazardous limbs or problem trees.

Free consultation and bid. Safe, insured, professional.

Cristofer Estrada, Green Solutions of KC, (913) 378-5872. www.GreenSolutionsKC.com.

Complete plumbing and bath - Master plumber for your entire home. Painting, tile install, bath remodeling.

Onyx Collection Distributor. Serving Johnson County for 20 years. Member Ascension Parish; call Mike at (913) 488-4930.

Mike Hammer local moving - A full-service mover.

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

Need to lose weight, get in shape? Improve balance, coordination and flexibility. Nutrition packages available.

Call Angela, personal trainer, at (913) 558-7759. www. angelanosworthy.jeunesseglobal.com.

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.

HOME IMPROVEMENT Brick mason - Brick, stone, tile and flat work. 22 years of residential/commercial experience. FREE QUOTES - KC metro area. Small and large jobs accepted. Call Jim at (913) 485-4307. www.facebook.com/faganmasonry.

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.

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!! www.elsolylatierra.com Call Lupe at (816) 252-1391 Concrete construction - Tear out and replace stamped, stained or colored patios and drives. Retaining walls, footings, poured-in-place safe rooms, excavation and hauling. Asphalt drives and lots. Fully insured; references. Call Dan at (913) 207-4371 or send an email to: dan deeconst@aol.com.

KIRK’S PAINTING WHOLE HOUSE PAINTING Interior and exterior, wood rot and siding repair and replacement. 25 years experience, licensed and insured, family-owned and -operated.

(913) 927-5240 or nelsport@everestkc.net Local handyman and lawn care - Water heaters, garbage disposals, toilets, faucets, painting, power washing,doors, storm doors, gutter cleaning, wood rot, mowing, carpet, roofing, etc. Member of Holy Angels Parish. Basehor. Call Billy at (913) 927-4118.

NELSON CREATIONS L.L.C. Home remodeling, design/build, kitchens, baths, all interior and exterior work. Family owned and operated; over 25 years experience. Licensed and insured; commercial and residential. Kirk and Diane Nelson.

(913) 927-5240; nelsport@everestkc.net Last year was a great year, thank you to all my customers! We do decks, windows, doors, house painting, (interior & exterior), wood rot, deck staining, and siding.

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

HARCO Exteriors LLC Your Kansas City fencing specialists Family owned and operated (913) 815-4817 www.harcoexteriorsllc.com Detail construction and remodeling - We offer a full line of home remodeling services. Don’t move — remodel! Johnson County area. Call for a free quote. (913) 709-8401.

Get the job done right the first time Kansas City’s Premier Services Decks and fences Power washing, staining and preserving Call for a FREE estimate Brian (913) 952-5965, Holy Trinity parishioner Jim (913) 257-1729, Holy Spirit parishioner 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.

12

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.

Swalms Organizing - Downsizing - Clean Out Service.

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

CAREGIVING 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.

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

REAL ESTATE For sale - Patio home. 2 BR, 1 BA. Single-car garage, Shawnee area. $94,500. Call Lisa at (913) 240-6004.

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

Member of St. Michael the Archangel Parish, Leawood.

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

Max’s rosaries - Custom-made locally for all occasions – first Communion, confirmation, baptism, graduation.

Rosary bracelets and beaded earrings too! I also do repairs. Member of the Church of the Ascension, Overland Park. Call (913) 400-3236.

For sale - At Mount Calvary Cemetery, tandem crypt in mausoleum. Today’s selling price is $7,935. Offering this space for $5,000. Call Marcie at (913) 712-8124.

For sale - Bass boat. 2009 Nitro X-4, Mercury 50 HP with trailer. Approximately 30 hours, like new. $9,980.

Call (816) 985-7128.

For sale - At Gate of Heaven Cemetery, a double cremation niche with companion urn in the mausoleum. It is located in the St. John Corridor, #8 H. Today’s selling price for the double niche and urn is approximately $6,522; offering for $5,000. Call Colleen at (913) 269-6944.

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

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

Renee Maderak, (913) 631-7179.

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

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

Call Toll Free 888-246-1504

DRC Construction We’ll get the job done right the first time.

Windows - Doors - Decks – Siding Repair or replace, we will work with you to solve your problems. Choose us for any window, door, siding or deck project and you’ll be glad you did.

Everything is guaranteed 100% (913) 461-4052 www.windowservicesoverlandpark.com drcconswindows@gmail.com

Bankruptcy consultation - If debts are overwhelming you, seek hope and help from compassionate, experienced Catholic attorney, Teresa Kidd. For a free consultation, call (913) 422-0610; send an email to: tkidd@kc.rr. com; or visit the website at: www.teresakiddlawyer. com. Please do not wait until life seems hopeless before getting good quality legal advice that may solve your financial stress.

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.

Agua Fina Irrigation and Landscape The one-stop location for your project!

Landscape and irrigation design, installation and maintenance.

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

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

Lawn/Landscaping - Mowing, mulch, dirt work, sod, tree trimming, landscape rock, gutter cleaning, and power washing. Mention this ad for special pricing. Call (816) 509-0224.

House painting Interior and exterior; wall paper removal.

Power washing, fences, decks.

30 years experience. References. Reasonable rates.

Call Joe at (913) 620-5776.

Center Stage P hotography

www.centerstagephotos.net 913.271.0703

OCTOBER 9, 2015 | THELEAVEN.ORG

CALENDAR GRIEF SUPPORT SESSIONS Good Shepherd Church 12800 W. 75th St., Shawnee Oct. 5 - 26 from 7 - 8:30 p.m.

Understanding the complex emotions associated with grief following a loved one’s death can be very difficult. Mark Fenton will be continuing his discussion on grief with these topics: Oct. 12 - Embracing our Humanness, Oct 19 - Finding Meaning in the Loss, Oct 26 - Moving Forward with a New Normal.

Please join us from 7-8:30 pm in the school library at Good Shepherd Church, 12800 W. 75th St., Shawnee. For more information or to register, call Diane Drouhard, (913) 563-5304 or send an email to: ddrouhard@ gsshawnee.org.

ROSARY RALLY Queen of the Holy Rosary Church, 7023 W. 71st St., Overland Park Oct. 10 at 9 a.m.

In honor of Our Lady of Fatima, on the anniversary of the miracle of the sun, a rosary procession will be held at Queen of the Holy Rosary Church. We will pray for the intentions of the Blessed Mother and for our country and our world.

PUBLIC SQUARE ROSARY CRUSADE The little park at 17th and Gage Oct. 10 at noon

Sponsored by America Needs Fatima, it will be one of 14,000 rallies to be held that day in reparation for sins and offences against the immaculate heart of Mary.

ANNUAL SOUP SUPPER AND AUCTION St. Bede Church 7344 Drought St., Kelly Oct. 11 from 4 - 8 p.m.

A freewill donation will be accepted for supper. There will be games in the parish gym and an auction of handmade quilts and other items.

FALL BAZAAR AND DINNER St. Aloysius 615 Wyandotte, Meriden Oct. 11 from 11:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

There will be a turkey and ham dinner with all of the fixings. Cost is: $8 for adults; $4 for children ages 5-12; and free for children age 4 and under. To-go meals are available for $8. There will also be a country store, silent auction, children’s games, money drawings, raffles, a beer garden, bingo and more. For more information, contact the St. Aloysius Parish office at (785) 484-3312.

PANCAKE LUNCHEON St. Mary Church, Purcell Oct. 11 from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

There will be pancakes, sausage, eggs and pie. Cost is a freewill offering.

SYMPTO-THERMAL METHOD OF NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING Class begins Oct. 21 at 6:30 p.m.

St. John the Evangelist School 1208 Kentucky St., Lawrence

A reasonable course fee is charged and online registration is required at: www.ccli.org.

Call Shannon or John Rasmussen at (785) 749-1015 or the Couple to Couple League of Kansas City at (913) 894-3558 for more information.

friends, unsure of themselves and uncertain about their futures. It helps grieving persons focus on their experience, deal with the natural grief process, and discover an opportunity to turn the pain of loss into an experience of positive growth — emerging from the darkness of grief into the light of a new beginning. For more information, visit the website at: www. beginningexperiencekc.org; send an email to: register.bekc@gmail.com; or contact Jerry at (785) 766-6497.

‘DOROTHY DAY: WOMAN OF THE GOSPEL’ Sophia Spirituality Center 751 S. 8th St., Atchison Oct. 15 from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Learn about Dorothy Day and her lifelong growth in holiness. The retreat will be conducted by Sister Barbara McCracken, OSB, who has served as a consultant for peace and justice with the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas.

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

‘JESUS: OUR HOPE AND OUR FUTURE’ CONFERENCE St. Bernadette Church, Msgr. Bower Hall 9020 E. 51st Terr., Kansas City, Missouri Oct. 16-18

Special guest speakers are Father Dave Pivonka, TOR, Ed Wills and Barbara Heil. The weekend will offer spiritual renewal, powerful teachings, Spirit-filled worship and healing ministry.

Full conference costs $30 per person; married couples $50. Any single session is $10; religious and teens attend free. A limited number of financial scholarships are available. For registration form, meal options or questions, call Carol at (816) 885-2322.

OKTOBERFEST Holy Name School Pierson Community Center 1800 S. 55th St., Kansas City, Kansas Oct. 16 from 7 - 11 p.m.

There will be Mexican food, live music by Stranded in the City and an auction. There will also be a raffle; tickets can be purchased at the door or through the school. Items include a TV, KU basketball tickets and an Apple watch. Contact Sarah Melgozaa at (913) 722-1032 with questions.

BEGINNING EXPERIENCE: A WEEKEND AWAY FOR A LIFETIME OF CHANGE Sanctuary of Hope 2601 Ridge Ave., Kansas City, Kansas Oct. 16 - 18

Beginning Experience serves the widowed, separated and divorced who are suffering the loss of a love relationship and may feel left out by their church, uneasy around married

GIFT AND CRAFT SHOW St. Joseph Parish, 11311 Johnson Dr., Shawnee Oct. 17 from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

The event is hosted by the Ladies Guild in McDevitt Hall (church basement; elevator accessible), with more than 50 tables of gifts and crafts to choose from — featuring items ranging from jewelry to antiques to home decor. Handmade religious items, including rosaries, will also be featured. A continental breakfast, lunch and afternoon refreshments will be provided by the St. Joseph Garden Club at a small cost. For more information, call Hettie Ann Leary at (913) 972-1786.

MEMORIAL LITURGY FOR DECEASED LOVED ONES Curé of Ars Church 9405 Mission Rd., Leawood Oct. 17 at 8 a.m.

Following the Mass, the bereavement ministry will have its monthly support meeting in the Father Burak Room. Grief counselor Denise Brown will speak on coping with grief during the holidays. For more information, call (913) 649-2026.

NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING COURSES Topeka Oct. 18 at 1 p.m.

A reasonable course fee is charged, and online registration is required at: www.ccli. org. Call Dana or Eric Runnebaum at (785) 380-0062 or the Couple to Couple League of Kansas City at (913) 894-3558 for more information and for the class location. Learn more about this class online at: www.nfptopeka. blogspot.com.

FALL SCHOLARSHIP FUNDRAISER Nelson Atkins Museum, 4525 Oak St., Kansas City, Missouri Oct. 18 from 3 - 7 p.m.

The Greater Kansas City Alumni Council of the University of Saint Mary is sponsoring its fall fundraiser to benefit student scholarships. The event will include tours of the new Thomas Hart Benton exhibit at the Nelson Art Gallery followed by a reception at 166 Morningside Dr., Kansas City, Missouri. For information and to make reservations, call Penelope Lonergan at (913) 651-5265 or send an email to: plonergan@kc.rr.com, no later than Oct. 10. The suggested donation is $30.

WHEN A FAMILY CHANGES: DEALING WITH SEPARATION AND DIVORCE Keeler Women’s Center 2220 Central Ave., Kansas City, Kansas Oct. 19 from 1:30 - 3 p.m.

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

Carryouts are available until 2:30 p.m. The cost to attend is: $10 for adults; $5 for children ages 5 to 12; and free for children age 4 and under.

There will also be a raffle, country store, bingo, theme baskets and children’s games.

13

Presented by Chiquita Miller of K-State Extension.

OKTOBERFEST DINNER St. Mary - St. Anthony Parish, 615 N. 7th St., Kansas City, Kansas Oct. 17 from 4 - 6:30 p.m.

The dinner menu is roasted pork, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, sauerkraut, dessert and coffee. The cost to attend is: $10 in advance; $12 at the door; and $3 for children. Raffles will be part of this fun evening.

Father Mike Mulhearn will be entertaining on the piano from 5 - 6:30 p.m. Purchase tickets in advance to assure your meal. For more information or tickets, call the parish office at (913) 371-1408.

LADIES NIGHT AND WINE TASTING EVENT Cathedral of St. Peter Parish center 409 N. 15th St., Kansas City, Kansas Oct. 22 from 5 - 9 p.m.

Join the women of the Cathedral of St. Peter for its first Ladies Night and Wine Tasting event. Come enjoy delicious wines and friendship while browsing our local craft booths. Entry is free and wine tasting tickets are $5. Wine by the glass will also be available for purchase. Join us for our inaugural event and silent auction to raise funds to support the Altar Society. For more information, contact Lil Balliett at (816) 560-5860.

OCTOBER 9, 2015 | THELEAVEN.ORG

COMMENTARY TWENTY-SEVENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME Oct. 11 TWENTY-EIGHTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Wis 7: 7-11 Ps 90: 12-17 Heb 4: 12-13 Mk 10: 17-30 Oct. 12 Monday Rom 1: 1-7 Ps 98: 1bcde, 2-4 Lk 11: 29-32 Oct. 13 Tuesday Rom 1: 16-25 Ps 19: 2-5 Lk 37-41 Oct. 14 Callistus I, pope, martyr Rom 2: 1-11 Ps 62: 2-3, 6-7, 9 Lk 11: 42-46 Oct. 15 Teresa of Jesus, virgin, doctor of the church Rom 3: 21-30 Ps 130: 1b-6b Lk 11: 47-54 Oct. 16 Hedwig, religious; Margaret Mary Alacoque, virgin Rom 4: 1-8 Ps 32: 1b-2, 5, 11 Lk 12: 1-7 Oct. 17 Ignatius of Antioch, bishop, martyr Rom 4: 13, 16-18 Ps 105: 6-9, 42-43 Lk 12: 8-12

ONLINE

www.theleaven.org

FACEBOOK

www.facebook.com/ theleavenkc

TWITTER

@theleavenkc

INSTAGRAM theleavenkc

A

We really can do so much better

h, Facebook.

Even though I sometimes refer to it as “antisocial” media because of the negative posts and comments there, on many other occasions it serves the valuable purpose of bringing people together and uplifting them.

That was the case a couple of weeks ago when I came across this post from Stuart, a parishioner of mine who works for the Union Pacific Railroad. Here’s what he wrote on Sept.

27: “Friday morning, on my way to work, I heard numerous trains reporting a trespasser on railroad property. Since I was nearby, I decided to check him out and found him pushing his bicycle along the right of way.

He had numerous bags on his bike, possibly all his possessions.

I informed him he needed to leave the railroad property and get on the nearby public road, a couple hundred yards away. I watched him as I backed [my truck] up to leave and the thought came to me, ‘Stuart, you can do so much better.’

I stopped and waited

“S

14

MARK MY WORDS

FATHER MARK GOLDASICH Father Mark is the pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Tonganoxie. He has been editor of The Leaven since 1989.

LISTEN to this article online at: www.theleaven.org. for him to get to me and got out and talked with him. He told me his name was Hadeez(?) — he may or may not have been born on this soil, but spoke English very well. He asked my name and I told him, ‘Stuart.’

With that, his eyes brightened and he told me he was a steward (janitor) and had lost his job and was traveling to find a new job.

I offered him my iced water and gave him

what I had. I asked if he needed food and gave him the food I had in my truck.

I watched him as he continued on, offered a prayer for him and hoped I had given him something to lift his day.

As I started to leave, I passed him. He got way over on the shoulder and waved as I passed.

The thought came to me: By the place of my birth, my education, the people in my life and, most importantly, THE GRACE OF GOD, there go I. I realized at that point it was I who was lifted the most by our chance encounter.”

I smiled as I read Stuart’s words and posted the comment: “Pope Francis would be proud of you, as I am.” His post got plenty of views.

My comment joined 40 others, as well as some 84 “likes.”

I continue to mull over Pope Francis’ visit to the United States.

I don’t know how a 78-year-old man with an excised lung could keep the schedule that he did and still look so energetic and joyful. And he did all of this in a country that speaks a language that he is, by his own admission, not at all good at. Yet, in between powerful talks at the White House and Congress, to name just a few, he managed to spend time with the homeless, visit aging Sisters, greet recent immigrants, tour a Catholic grade school, kiss scores of babies, give encouragement to prisoners, pray for peace with various faith leaders, celebrate families and bless the sick and disabled. And all this in just six days!

Naturally, there were some critics of the pope.

I saw one particularly uncharitable article about him from a noted national columnist and some demeaning tweets from a political commentator and writer. I’m sure that Pope Francis, the pope of mercy, would look upon these

folks with love and forgiveness. (I am so not there yet!) As hurtful and divisive as their words and observations were, the pope’s actions spoke instead of building bridges and healing.

Most of all, though, I think that Pope Francis visited to give all of us an example . . . and a challenge. He would say that just as he visited the sick and prisoners, so can we. Just as he encountered the homeless and immigrants and treated them with respect, so can we. Just as he prayed for peace alongside those of different faiths, so can we. Just as he celebrated with students and families, so can we. Just as he reached out and sought to bring people together, so can we. Yes, we really can do all of these things . . . if we only care enough to take the time.

It’s here that Stuart’s words ring so true for me and many others: You can do so much better! So, what are we waiting for? Let’s get out there and push ourselves to do “so much better.”

After all, don’t we all want to make our Papa Francesco proud?

Wisdom, not wealth, is key to a good life

teps on your career path.”

“Skills for professional development.” Our schools tend to emphasize the practical ways to help a person find a job, earn a salary — in short, to make money. All that is well and good, but there is more to life than just that.

Sunday’s first reading, Wis 7:7-11, respects that insight: “I prayed, and prudence was given me; I pleaded, and the spirit of wisdom came to me.” The Book of Wisdom presents the person speaking as King Solomon, who was famous for his wisdom.

In fact, sometimes the book is titled “The Wisdom of Solomon,” although generally it is be-

POPE FRANCIS

IN THE BEGINNING

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

lieved that a later author centuries after Solomon actually wrote the book.

Tradition ascribed the book to King Solomon in

Less than a week after Pope Francis told a joint meeting of Congress that he backs U.S. efforts to abolish the death penalty, news came of his U.S. nuncio’s letters to authorities in two states appealing on the pope’s behalf to commute death sentences. On Sept. 29, Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano unsuccessfully appealed on the pope’s behalf to Georgia

order to capitalize on his reputation.

At any rate, the speaker in our reading shows great wisdom in preferring wisdom over earthly treasures: “I preferred her to scepter and throne, and deemed riches nothing in comparison with her, nor did I liken any priceless gem to her; because all gold, in view of her, is a little sand, and before her,

silver is to be accounted mire.” So much for practical skills to make money.

The Book of Wisdom falls into the category of writings in the Old Testament that is called wisdom literature.

They include a wide variety, ranging from the Book of Job to the Book of Proverbs. Some of the wisdom provided focuses upon the practical, such as the Book of Proverbs, whose sayings serve as useful guidelines for everyday life: “As the crucible tests silver and the furnace gold, so a man is tested by the praise he receives” (Prv 27: 21).

On the other hand, other books — for example the Book of Job and Ecclesiastes — explore philosophical issues, such as the problem of

officials to commute the death sentence of Kelly Gissendaner, who was executed shortly after midnight the next day. Earlier, speaking for Pope Francis, the nuncio weighed in Sept. 19 on another highly publicized execution scheduled in Oklahoma for Sept. 30, that of Richard Glossip, whose challenge to the state’s lethal injection protocol was rejected by the Supreme Court in June. In the letter to Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin, Archbishop

suffering, the purpose of life and the reason for the universe: “There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every affair under the heavens. A time to be born, and a time to die . . .” (Eccl 3: 1-2).

In any case, these books present wisdom as the means to a fulfilled life. Wisdom can supply us with answers for the nitty-gritty questions on how we should live. Wisdom can help us deal with the larger philosophical questions which have no easy answers.

Above all, these books insist that wisdom is a gift from God. It is not something we achieve on our own.

That is the reason for Solomon’s prayer. We should make it our own.

Vigano cited both Pope Francis and St. John Paul II as well as Oklahoma City Archbishop Paul S. Coakley. At midafternoon Sept. 30, Fallin issued a last-minute stay, prompted by confusion over Oklahoma’s supply of lethal injection drugs. Her action was followed by a statement from the state’s attorney general, E. Scott Pruitt, asking that three scheduled executions be stayed indefinitely.

— CNS

OCTOBER 9, 2015 | THELEAVEN.ORG

COMMENTARY

15

Remember the Planned Parenthood videos in the voting booth

T

he recent undercover investigative videos on Planned Parenthood have exposed the underbelly of the abortion industry and the atrocities and barbarism involved with and surrounding abortion, which includes trafficking in baby parts.

The more people truly understand abortion, the more people abhor abortion and reject abortion.

After all, each abortion kills an innocent human being and in the most violent of ways. At our very core we instinctively know this is wrong.

This rejection of abortion is a good first step; however, it is not

enough. We need to feel compelled to do what we can to stop this killing of innocent children. We need to hear the cries and whispers of Jesus and Our Blessed Mother to end abortion. We need to hear the cries of unborn babies to rush to their defense.

To a large extent, I believe that we still have abortion because not enough of us have done what we can do. Contrast this with what happens when a child goes missing. We have Amber Alerts and, as a society, we leave no stone unturned in our efforts to locate this missing child.

This is the type of energetic response from society that we need in our

BUILDING THE CULTURE OF LIFE

RON KELSEY Ron Kelsey is the archdiocesan consultant for the pro-life office.

You can email him at: prolife@ archkck.org or call (913) 6470350.

battle to end abortion.

The undercover

investigative videos have served to help motivate some to get involved in the pro-life movement. I have met people on the sidewalks of Planned Parenthood who identified themselves as prochoice until they saw the videos. Then the light of truth broke through the

darkness and not only converted them to prolife but also motivated them to get involved in ending abortion.

These videos also have energized the prolife movement. National rallies have been held. As part of one national rally on Aug. 22, over 500 people attended our local rally at Planned Parenthood. Another rally is scheduled for Oct. 10 at Planned Parenthood in Overland Park from 9 to 11 am. Plan to attend and participate.

As we enter the 2016 election season, we must bring our abhorrence with abortion into the voting booth. Do not forget the trafficking in baby parts when you

cast your vote.

Is there any doubt that if no one voted for a pro-abortion politician that abortion would come to an end? Remember that government’s first role is to protect those who live in its borders, including unborn human beings.

If no one voted for a pro-abortion politician, politicians would immediately become pro-life, at least politically for sheer political survival.

Can anyone imagine a politician today getting elected if he supported legalized slavery?

Abortion must reach that same plateau. It must become political suicide to be in favor of killing innocent human beings.

It’s not enough to ponder the church’s mission; we must live it

O

ne of my first assignments as a priest was as chaplain at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Overland Park.

As a new priest trying desperately to be hip and relevant, I would say silly things like, “Let’s pray that God will rock our faces off!” I should have known to be more careful.

Late this summer, I felt a persistent tingle on the side of my tongue. (I blamed that on some old cupcakes I had eaten.) Then my mouth and left eye stopped responding properly. After a visit to the emergency room, I was diagnosed with

Bell’s palsy. The left side of my face was temporarily paralyzed — my face had indeed been rocked!

My paralysis was very minor and temporary compared to many types of paralysis, but it was noticeable. I could no longer take my smile for granted. As Catholics, we should not take for granted what the church looks like either.

The four “marks” of the church are, in a way, what she looks like: one, holy, catholic and apostolic. However, they can sometimes be difficult to appreciate — especially the mark of holiness.

The church is full of sinners. Even Pope Fran-

CALLED TO DISCIPLESHIP

FATHER ANDREW STROBL Father Andrew Strobl is the archdiocesan director of evangelization.

cis takes ownership of his personal sinfulness.

And yet, the church is

holy by her nature.

In order to better recognize the holiness of the church, we may need to consider another feature. Pope Benedict XVI once claimed that “the church’s holiness and missionary character are two sides of the same coin.”

While not one of the four marks of the church, the missionary character of the church is part of what makes her the church of Jesus Christ.

Jesus called the apostles by name to share in the mission of proclaiming the good news. The second paragraph of the Catechism of the Catholic Church explains: “Strengthened by this mission, the apostles ‘went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by the signs that attended it’” (Mk 16:20).

The church looks like something in the world.

One of her main features

is her mission. It is not enough to just ponder the mission of the church though. We must all live it.

As the catechism notes, the apostles were strengthened by the mission and not just for the mission. There will always be the temptation to wait for the perfect time to share the Gospel or to be better prepared. But if we have been called by name in the sacraments, we have what it takes to be strengthened by living the mission of the church. If we wait to live the mission, we risk spiritual paralysis.

The church does not look like the church without evangelization.

OCTOBER 9, 2015 | THELEAVEN.ORG

FEATURE

St. Teresa of Avila, mystic and multitasker

Often overshadowed by her ‘little’ namesake, the first woman doctor of the church was a force to be reckoned with.

T

he enterprising duo had almost made good on their escape. The young sister/ brother team were running away from home.

Inspired by the stories of Christian martyrs, they decided they’d join their ranks, but figured the only way to do so would be to get out of their hometown and to “the lands of the Moors.”

We don’t know how far the small adventurers got but, before long, a relative spotted them and promptly yanked them back home. Instead of getting beheaded as they’d hoped, 7-year-old Teresa and her closest brother, Rodrigo, most likely got a good scolding — if not more. Describing the escapade some 40 years later in her autobiographical “Life,” Teresa, the instigator, recalls wryly: “Having parents seemed to us the greatest obstacle.”

Earlier this year, almost 500 years after the two siblings of the Sánchez Cepeda y Ahumuda family attempted their escape out of Avila, Spain, thousands of pilgrims and visitors from around the world streamed through those same city gates to honor Spain’s most beloved “santa.”

March 28 of this year marked the 500th birthday of St. Teresa of Avila.

The spunky little girl who wanted to be a martyr grew up to become a reformer, writer, exalted mystic and foundress of the Discalced Carmelite order.

The entire Carmelite order and the church worldwide pulled out all the stops for this, the fifth centenary of Teresa’s birth, to introduce 21st-century people to her writings and spirituality — and to encourage those already familiar with her to deepen their understanding of the saint’s teachings on prayer and love for God. When many North Americans hear “St. Teresa,” they immediately think of Thérèse of Lisieux, the popular young 19th-century French nun depicted with a crucifix and an armful of roses. But without her 16th-century patron saint, the revered St. Teresa of Avila, Thérèse — the Little Flower — would not have been who she was.

It was the first Teresa’s singleminded quest for God that made possible the Discalced Carmelite convent Thérèse of Lisieux entered — and its way of life. Today it’s hard to imagine, but St. Teresa — the first woman to be declared a doctor of the church (for the perennial richness of her spiritual teachings) — had to dodge the Inquisition during her lifetime and was described by critics as “that restless, gadabout nun.”

Teresa of Avila was smart, popular, witty, stubborn, a bit of a flirt and too enmeshed at times with family

BY PATRICIA MORRISON

16

en duty, Teresa reminded them (from firsthand experience) that “God walks among the pots and pans.”

For this great contemplative, prayer was never navel-gazing self-focus. The immense needs of the whole world were always to be at its heart. In advice as relevant today as when she wrote it, Teresa exclaimed: “The world is in flames! Now is not the time to be bothering God with trifles!”

This was a woman who was warm, outgoing and unfailingly loyal. She deeply loved her nuns, family and friends, and longed for their news. Her down-to-earth letters are full of motherly concern about their health and even their financial problems.

She wanted her nuns to have fun; in fact, in her Rule, she called for two periods of recreation every day — a healthy balance to the intense hours of prayer and work. “La Madre” herself even brought out the castanets and tambourine, dancing and singing for convent recreations. Teresa had no patience with gloomy personalities. “From silly devotions and sour-faced saints, good Lord deliver us!” she wrote.

As happens with many saints, legends and sayings attributed to Teresa of Avila have multiplied. Many of them have no historical basis, but they do reflect accurately what we know of her.

In perhaps the most famous (based on a true event), Teresa’s wagon lost an axle while the driver was negotiating a steep river bank. The disabled wagon, its driver and the nuns inside all landed in the muddy water. The saint supposedly complained loudly to God about it, and God is said to have replied, “My daughter, this is how I treat my friends.” To which Teresa shot back, “Then no wonder you have so few!”

While the conversation is probably not factual, this story shows us the real St. Teresa at her best: fully human, often challenged by life and always in honest relationship with the God she loved so much.

Reluctant reformer

and friends. She could be a savvy politician, knowing how to wheel and deal within the restrictions placed on women in 16th-century Spain to get what she wanted (and what she was convinced God wanted) from bishops and kings, in order to advance her Carmelite reform and her new monasteries where it would be lived.

She was also a consummate expert in human psychology, knowing firsthand how we humans operate. “Today I don’t pray because I have a headache,” she wrote, tongue planted firmly in cheek. “Tomorrow I don’t pray because I might get a headache. And the day after, I can’t pray because I had a headache.” (Apart from shedding light on Teresa’s insight into the human condition, it explains why she is a patron of headache sufferers!)

A down-to-earth mystic One of the most well-known representations of St. Teresa of Avila is Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s magnificent marble sculpture of the saint in ecstasy. The life-

Even though she would wind up writing major works of deep spirituality and hundreds of letters, St. Teresa never set out to be a writer. Her feast day is celebrated on Oct. 15. size statue in Rome’s Church of Santa Maria della Vittoria depicts the piercing of her heart recorded in her life.

In the statue, Teresa is reclining (some would say swooning), her bare foot dangling sensuously off the cloud she lies on, while a small smiling angel is poised to shoot a flaming dart into her heart. The sculpture is based on an actual event in her life, in which Teresa describes being filled with God’s love.

But while ecstasies and other spiritual experiences were common in Teresa’s mystical life, they never prevented her from being grounded in reality or from being totally human.

When a prioress fretted about a nun whose fainting spells were supposedly due to ecstasy, the practical foundress told her to make sure the woman was eating enough and to keep her busy.

And, for those who would have preferred a stroll in the garden to kitch-

Before she died at age 67 in 1582, Teresa had covered thousands of miles, founding 17 monasteries of nuns and two of friars, crisscrossing Spain by covered wagon or mule cart. She had written major works of deep spirituality and hundreds of letters. But Teresa, the cloistered nun, never set out to be a traveler or a writer, much less a religious reformer.

Religious renewal, however, was in the air in 16th-century Spain, thanks to the Council of Trent and the CounterReformation. Several leading figures set out to rekindle Catholics’ fervor, among them the Jesuit Francis Borgia, Franciscans such as Peter of Alcantara, and, unwittingly, Teresa herself.

The Convent of the Incarnation, which Teresa entered at 20, was a large place — and financially strapped.

In Teresa’s day, up to 200 nuns lived there. The nuns often were home with family and friends, or spent time cultivating benefactors in the convent parlors due to the religious community’s difficulty in feeding that many people,.

Nuns who came from wealthy families had servants and comfortable quarters; Teresa herself had a large suite with its own kitchen, which can still be seen today. With this busy round of socializing and coming and going, the nuns’ personal prayers went on the back burner.

As Teresa realized that God was calling her into a deeper relationship with him, she felt that, in her current >> See “TERESA” on page 6