11-02-12 Vol. 34 No. 13

theleaven.com | vol. 34, no. 13 | november 2, 2012

Leaven photo by John Shultz

Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann is assisted in the blessing of the Stefani DPT program at the University of Saint Mary in Leavenworth by master of ceremonies Msgr. Gary Applegate and USM student Michelle Chrisman of Linwood.

Doctoral debut University of Saint Mary dedicates first doctorate program to beloved Sister of Charity

By John Shultz Special to The Leaven

L

EAVENWORTH — Sister Mary Kathleen Stefani was one of the guiding lights of the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth — a talented teacher, a dedicated and focused leader, and a great friend.

On Oct. 26, friends and supporters of the University of Saint Mary and Sister

3 ‘Gaudium et spes’

The church moves from being one of exclusion to one of inclusion.

Mary Kathleen gathered in USM’s newly renovated Berchmans Hall to honor her as the university’s first doctorate program — the Stefani Doctor of Physical Therapy — was blessed and dedicated.

Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas blessed and welcomed the addition of USM’s new DPT program.

In years to come, Archbishop Naumann said, “you’ll look back on this moment as one of the great blessings

5 Women’s bible study

Bible study group in Lenexa gets rave reviews in its 10th year.

that this university has brought to our community.”

“The respect, the reverence, we show patients distinguishes Catholic health care,” he added. “Physical therapy is a very important part of the health sciences, and it is truly wonderful that young men and women can come here to not only learn the science of it, but also learn physical therapy with Catholic health care values.” >> See “doctoral” on page 6

8 New family

Teresa Seaton finds she fits right in with the Sisters, Servants of Mary.

16 Communion of saints

How exactly can the saints help us join them in heaven?

2 archbishop

theleaven.com | november 2, 2012

Joy and hope

Life will be victorious

Deepen your friendship with Our Lord during this Year of Faith

T

his Tuesday, Nov. 6, is Election Day. Many encourage everyone to vote.

It may shock you, but I do not encourage everyone to vote. I encourage you to vote only if you are knowledgeable about the critical issues facing our nation, as well as the positions of candidates.

Casting an uninformed vote is worse than not voting. As Catholics, we have a responsibility to be active and involved citizens. Voting is a moral act. The choices you make in the voting booth should be informed by the teachings and principles of our Catholic faith. Remember: No one will know how you vote, except you and God. While enjoying bacon and eggs for breakfast, you perhaps have heard the joke that the chicken was involved in providing your breakfast but the pig was fully committed. This weekend, you will be asked to make a personal commitment for the Year of Faith — to make a pledge between yourself and God of how you have decided prayerfully to observe this special year of grace.

Again, I exhort you to commit yourself to do something significant, something that will require a true sacrifice on your part, in deepening your prayer life, growing in your knowledge and understanding of our Catholic faith, and living your faith with greater passion and intensity! While I am asking you to make a sacrifice, I am confident that whatever you choose to give to God during this Year of Faith that Our Lord will bless you a hundredfold.

What could you do to deepen your friendship with the Lord? Consider participating in a retreat or

archbishop Joseph F. Naumann mission, providing yourself the opportunity to spend several days focused on your relationship with God. During such an experience, Our Lord has the opportunity to touch our hearts in beautiful and powerful ways, motivating us to pray more frequently. There are many opportunities in our parishes and in the archdiocese to have a beautiful encounter with God, e.g., Christ

than 2,000 members of the Archdiocese have registered and most are already participating in the School of Faith classes that are a walk through the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Another round of these classes is just beginning. It is not too late to take advantage of this extraordinary opportunity to understand more completely what we believe as Catholics and, more importantly, why we believe. You can receive more information and register online at: archkck.org by clicking on the Year of Faith logo.

Also at our archdiocesan website, you will find information about many other excellent opportunities for adult faith formation, e.g., the Catholicism Project, Great Adventure Bible Timeline, etc. Many of our parishes offer additional opportunities for Bible studies or other adult education programs.

In terms of living our Catholic faith, I encourage married couples to do something this year to strengthen your marriage.

Our archdiocesan family life office is offering Living in Love weekends that provide an extraordinary opportunity to renew and deepen your love for your spouse. If you have never made a Marriage Encounter weekend, this is the moment to do so. Some parishes offer special “date nights” that afford couples the opportunity to enjoy a dinner together as well as some suggestions on how to make their marriage even more vibrant. Another way for married couples to live their faith is to consider becoming a “lead couple,” assisting engaged couples to prepare for marriage.

For married couples who have not been living the church’s teaching regarding contraception, I urge you to participate in Prescription for a Long and

I exhort you to commit yourself to do something significant, something that will require a true sacrifice on your part, in deepening your prayer life, growing in your knowledge and understanding of our Catholic faith, and living your faith with greater passion and intensity!

Renews His Parish retreats, Light of the World retreats, Cursillo weekends, Apostles of the Interior Life missions, parish missions, etc.

This past weekend, I just blessed the renovated Christ Peace House of Prayer located near Easton. It is a beautiful place where individuals can come and spend a day or several days in prayer. Christ Peace House of Prayer offers a perfect environment to listen to God speak to our hearts.

The staff members at Christ Peace House of Prayer are available for spiritual direction and/or for instruction on how to deepen your life of prayer.

In terms of learning our Catholic faith better, I am delighted that more

calendars archbishop

Naumann Nov. 2 Mass and dinner — Franciscan Sisters of the Martyr St. George Nov. 3 Mass at Marriage Day of Enrichment “The Catholic Way” taping Nov. 4 Election Holy Hour and Divine Mercy — Most Pure Heart of Mary, Topeka Nov. 5 Lunch with students — Donnelly College Confirmation — St. Benedict, Bendena; St. Charles, Troy; and St. Joseph, Wathena Nov. 6 Administrative Team meeting Priests Personnel meeting Nov. 7 Hayden auction dinner

Nov. 8 Day of reflection for priests —St. Patrick, Kansas City, Kan.

St. Martin of Tours Mass and reception — Nativity, Leawood Nov. 10 Deacon ordination of Larry Bowers — St. Marys Miege Mass and foundation dinner St. Thomas Aquinas 25th anniversary Extravaganza Nov. 11 Pro-Life Committee meeting — Washington, D.C. Human Life and Dignity Committee meeting Nov. 12-15 U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Pro-Life — Baltimore

Nov. 14 National Committee for the Human Life Amendment board meeting November 16-17 Knights of Columbus Gaudium et Spes Award presented to past Supreme Knight, Virgil Dechant — Dallas

archbishop

keleher Nov. 8 Teach class at Mundelein Seminary

Vespers and dinner — Deo Gratias, Catholic Foundation of Northeast Kansas annual meeting

Nov. 10 Deacon ordination of Larry Bowers — St. Marys

Nov. 9 Mass and opening remarks for high school coaches and moderators follow-up

Nov. 11-15 U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops meeting — Baltimore

Happy Life conducted by Dr. Laurie Heap. The next one is scheduled for Nov. 30 at St. Patrick Parish in Kansas City, Kan. Enjoy a date night while exploring an intellectually honest, research-based method of family planning that benefits the health of women and relationships! The evening includes wine, appetizers, dessert and plenty of food for thought.

You can live your faith by becoming involved as a volunteer for Catholic Charities, your parish social concerns committee, pro-life committee and/

or stewardship committee.

There are hundreds of ways that each one of us can encourage and support others in living their Catholic faith and innumerable ways that we can share our faith in our families, in the workplace and in our neighborhoods.

I encourage you to be at least involved with your participation in the Year of Faith, or even better, be committed to taking advantage of some of the many opportunities offered by the archdiocesan initiative — “Faith: Love It, Learn It, Live It.”

second front page 3

november 2, 2012 | theleaven.com

The church speaks to all humanity

By Joe Bollig joe@theleaven.com

K

ANSAS CITY, Kan. — Catholics take it for granted that popes periodically leave the Vatican and visit other countries.

Yet it wasn’t always so.

After the Papal States were captured in 1870, the popes became “prisoners of the Vatican,” unwilling to recognize the authority of the new Kingdom of Italy.

The popes stayed close to home even after the Lateran Pact of 1929 resolved this situation.

You have to understand this “prisoner” mentality, and the defensive frame of mind the church held since the Council of Trent ended in 1563, to understand why it was such a big deal for Pope Paul VI to address the United Nations in New York City on Oct. 4, 1965.

Pope Paul VI took a break from the Second Vatican Council to stand before the representatives of all nations and speak about war, peace, poverty, freedom, and the hopes and dreams of humanity for a better world.

“This was the encounter of the modern church with the modern world, ‘Gaudium et Spes’ realized,” wrote Peter Hebblethwaite in his book, “Paul VI: The First Modern Pope.”

“That was the first time I’d ever seen a pope on American soil,” said Father Jerry Spencer, who was ordained on May 29, 1965. “And here he was leaving an international gathering of church leaders to address world leaders in another arena.”

“To me, it signified the universality of the church and its message for the entire world,” he continued. “I thought it was a unique moment in the history of the world and of the church.”

Pope Paul VI’s historic address was shaped by “Gaudium et Spes” (“Joy and Hope”), the Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, promulgated on Dec. 7, 1965.

Notably, this is a “pastoral” and not “doctrinal” constitution, wrote Father Donald R. Campion, SJ, in “The Documents of Vatican II.” “Gaudium et Spes . . . enjoys the interesting distinction of being the only major document to have originated directly from a suggestion made on the floor of the [council] itself,” wrote Father Donald.

“For this reason, but much more of course for the universal interest attaching to the most basic human problems dealt with in the text, this Constitution must rank as possibly the most characteristic achievement of an essentially ‘pastoral’ Council.”

In this document the church broke away from tradition-encrusted modes of thought, broke away from a tendency to look exclusively inward to the church, and spoke instead about its relationship to the world.

“The most distinctive note sounded

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

CNS photo/Catholic Press Photo

Pope Paul VI presides over a meeting of the Second Vatican Council in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican in 1963. The pope, dubbed by biographer Peter Hebblethwaite as the first modern pope, led the church from an isolationist mentality to one that’s more familiar today: full of papal visits and discussions on world events.

“

“I think [Gaudium et Spes] moved us from being a church of exclusion to being a church of inclusion. In other words, instead of looking at what keeps us separate or different from others, it stresses our common humanity.

It looked beyond itself.”

Father Robert Hasenkamp in the text . . . is that of the church putting itself consciously at the service of the family of man,” wrote Father Donald.

Father Robert Hasenkamp, now retired and living in Topeka, was a newly ordained associate pastor when “Gaudium et Spes” was promulgated.

Like many other young men in the seminary, he followed the council proceedings with enormous interest.

Since he was ordained only six months after the start of the council, he initially celebrated the Mass in Latin and exercised his ministry according to

preconciliar ways.

But not for long. The documents of the council offered new ways of understanding and living. “[The Council Fathers] came to a new understanding of the church as being ‘the people of God,’ of being ‘a pilgrim people,’” said Father Hasenkamp.

“Then they had to [ask] how we relate that new understanding of the church to the modern world. How do we present the church to the world in a language they could understand? How should the church interact with the rest of humanity?”

“I think this document moved us from being a church of exclusion to being a church of inclusion,” he continued. “In other words, instead of looking at what keeps us separate or different from others, it stresses our common humanity. It looked beyond itself.”

“Gaudium et Spes” is organized in two parts.

The first (and more doctrinal) part addresses “the church and man’s vocation.” It has four chapters: the dignity of the human person, the community of man, the activity of man in the world, and the church’s function in the world.

The second (and more pastoral) part covers a wide range of topics — from the dignity of marriage and the family and cultural, social and economic life, to peace and the international community. “[The document] deals with issues I found to be very prophetic,” said Father

Editor Reverend Mark Goldasich, stl frmark@theleaven.com

Production Manager Todd Habiger todd@theleaven.com

Reporter Jessica Langdon jessica@theleaven.com

Managing Editor Anita McSorley anita@theleaven.com

Senior Reporter Joe Bollig joe@theleaven.com

Advertising Coordinator Julie Holthaus julie@theleaven.com

Spencer. “[The Council Fathers] talk about the dignity of the human person, the activity of man in the world and the church’s function in the world.”

In “Gaudium et Spes,” the church puts itself at the service of humanity, wrote Father Donald.

“The church realized it was called and commissioned to look beyond itself and realize its mission — the mandate Jesus gave us to go and teach all nations,” said Father Spencer. “We were not to isolate ourselves and continue to do a lot of introspection. We are called to take our message out to others.”

“Gaudium et Spes” has stood the test of time, and is a relevant document for Catholics today to help them find their grounding on moral issues, said Father Spencer. It sets a general tone and thrust for the church today.

“There is always a need to have people of vision who are willing to get out of their comfort zone and not be content with the status quo,” he said. “We recognize that our vocation as Christians is a lifelong process of growing into full maturity in Christ.”

“We can never be satisfied with our spiritual progress,” he concluded.

“There’s always room to improve and ways to grow.

The church . . . likewise — if it’s going to speak to the people of today — has to be open to that need as well. As it has been said, the church is always in need of reform.”

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.

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4 local news

theleaven.com | november 2, 2012

Panel treats options to HHS compliance

n businesspeople seek guidance on the mandate’s demands

By Sheila Myers Special to The Leaven

O

VERLAND PARK — Catholic businessmen and women have few morally acceptable options if they wish to comply with the HHS preventive care mandate taking effect in the coming months.

That was the message delivered at a presentation Oct. 24 sponsored by the archdiocese and the Heart of America Catholic Business Network (CBN) at the Overland Park Convention Center.

The presentation was a response to inquiries by area businesspeople seeking guidance on how to reconcile their religious convictions with the demands of the mandate.

“There’s never been a time when we’re facing such direct challenges in our own world and our own venues,” said Dan Spencer, co-founder and executive director of CBN. “It’s important we answer correctly and as Catholics, not in some generic measure.”

A moral dilemma Archbishop Joseph Naumann, Dr. John Haas, president of the National Catholic Bioethics Center, and Karen McCleese, a lawyer and vice president of regulatory affairs for CBIZ, a Kansas City employee benefits specialist, laid out the ethical and legal landscape and took questions from the audience of about 200.

The mandate, part of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) passed by Congress in March 2010, requires insurance policies to cover preventive health services.

HHS has defined preventive services for women to include contraceptives, abortion-inducing drugs and sterilization, all considered intrinsic evils by the Catholic Church.

While religious employers have a “safe harbor” year postponing compliance until Aug. 1, 2013, secular employers have no religious exemption, regardless of their conscientious ob-

Leaven photo by Sheila Myers

Following a presentation about the Health and Human Services preventive care mandate, there was a panel discussion with, from left, Karen McLeese, J.D.; John Haas, Ph.D., STL, president of the National Catholic Bioethics Center in Philadelphia; and Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann. jections.

“They now, by law, must provide this coverage or face crippling penalties,” Haas said.

Failure to include preventive care coverage can result in a fine of $100 per day per employee, amounting to $500,000 a year for a business with 15 full-time employees.

Options and opportunities Absent relief from the election or in the courts, non-grandfathered secular employers have the following options: 1. Willingly assent. Comply with the provision of the morally objectionable insurance coverage.

2. Provide morally nonobjectionable insurance. Provide an insurance plan that excludes preventive care. Such policies will be virtually impossible to find and self-insurers who do so will face huge penalties.

3. Drop coverage. Employers will incur significant penalties. It also forces employees into plans that provide preventive coverage.

4. Temporarily comply under protest. Pursue legal avenues to eliminate the burden on the free exercise of religion and/or tolerate a group health plan that covers preventive care until January 2014, when employees in every state can join affordable insurance exchanges. However, these exchanges will include preventive coverage.

“There are no black-and-white an-

swers, but there are opportunities,” McCleese said.

Hopeful signs Recent rulings in federal district courts indicate the issue will make its way to the Supreme Court. Once it reaches there, both Haas and McCleese believe it will move forward.

McCleese believes the Supreme Court will take the case based on a challenge to the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, a 1993 U.S. federal law aimed at preventing laws that substantially burden the free exercise of religion.

“For the federal government to impinge on the rights of individuals or employers, there must be a compelling reason to do it,” McCleese said. “The next question becomes: ‘Is the methodology the least restrictive way to do it?’

If the answer is no, then the law fails.”

Haas sees encouraging signs in majority opinions written by Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg in the court’s June ruling upholding the ACA’s individual mandate.

Both justices wrote that, while the individual mandate is constitutional under Congress’ taxing power, no tax can be allowed to abridge constitutional freedoms.

“I think there are indications that if this makes its way all the way to the Supreme Court, we have some hope that we would prevail,” Haas said.

Sister Brigid Kelliher, OSB ATCHISON — Sister Brigid Kelliher, 83, a Benedictine Sister of Mount St. Scholastica here, died Oct. 21 in Kansas City, Mo. Sister Brigid was born to John Daniel and Mary Ellen Kelleth Kelliher on Nov. 9, 1928, and baptized Mary Catherine at Assumption Church, Topeka.

The family moved to Red Cloud, Sister Brigid Kelliher Neb., where she lived until she entered the Mount community in 1947.

Sister Brigid made monastic profession in 1948. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Mount St. Scholastica College and taught until 1977 in many schools staffed by her Benedictine community, including schools in the Kansas City area and in St. Joseph, Mo. She studied at Creighton University in Omaha, Neb., and in 1980 received a master’s degree in pastoral ministry.

She was active in religious education and in parish and hospital ministry until she became secretary and hospitality minister in 1994 at Sophia Center, the Mount’s spirituality center.

Three St. Michael Scouts earn Eagles Leawood — David Arth, Randy Willnauer and Mark Ekis, members of Boy Scout Troop 333 and St. Michael the Archangel Parish here, have earned the rank of Eagle Scout and were honored on Aug. 11 at an Eagle Court of Honor.

David Arth, 15, a sophomore at St. James Academy in Lenexa, constructed a dressing room for the Catholic Charities TurnStyles Thrift Store in Olathe for his Eagle project.

Randy Willnauer, 15, a sophomore at Rockhurst High School in Kansas City, Mo., built a shelving system for the art room at the Gillis Center in Kansas City, Mo., for his Eagle project.

Mark Ekis, 15, a sophomore at Blue Valley High School in Stilwell, planted a prayer garden to create privacy for the Wyandotte Pregnancy Center in Kansas City, Kan., for his Eagle project.

Help feed those in need “Co-Occurring Distractions, Inc.” (COD), a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization, assists area food pantries by paying for the processing fee and delivery of donated deer meat by local hunters. COD needs your financial assistance to process meat for these charities.

Our goal this season is to secure enough donations to help process 150 deer.

Last year COD paid for the processing of 144 deer.

Donations should be made payable to: Co-Occurring Distractions, Inc. All donations are tax deductible and receipts will be mailed to the requested address.

Co-Occurring Discractions, Inc., Fr. Ernie Gauthie, Director 2920 SE Bingham Court, Lee’s Summit, Mo. 64063

o $100

o $75

o $50

o $25

o other ___________

Your name ______________________________________________________ Address ________________________________________________________ City, St., Zip _____________________________________________________ Hunters, please call Fr. Ernie for processing fee details

(816) 347-1991 • locopope@locopope.com or cod1@locopope.com

local news 5

november 2, 2012 | theleaven.com

Bible study group fosters faith, changes lives n Bible study at Holy Trinity lets women brush up on Scripture

By Sheila Myers Special to The Leaven

L

ENEXA — The second floor of the Father Quigley Faith Formation Center at Holy Trinity here was abuzz Sept. 13 as the Catholic Women’s Bible Study group kicked off its 10th year.

The 140 women are all ages and in all stages of life, but they have one thing in common: a desire to study Scripture in the Catholic tradition.

“I love it,” said Marilyn Mischlich, a retired nurse and grandmother. “I like the format, how they study the Bible — the in-depth approach.”

The parishioner of Holy Cross in Overland Park proceeded to pay the $70 registration fee and collected her Catholic Scripture Study guide from helper Diane Schwartz. It’s Marilyn’s third year in the group.

As 9:30 a.m. approached, the women disappeared into the various nooks and crannies of the center for an hour of small-group discussion. At 10:30 a.m., the small groups disbanded, and the women gathered to hear a speaker or watch a video about that week’s lesson.

The program is a blessing for home -schooling mom Melissa Hardesty, a parishioner of Our Lady of Good Counsel in Kansas City, Mo. Hardesty has five boys, ages 2 to 7. She leaves her three older boys in the atrium where they will participate in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, along with other children, ages 3 to 12.

Hardesty brings her two-year-old twins to class with her, joining other “stroller moms.” “[The program] helps so much with being a mother,” she said.

The program is the brainchild of sisters Laura Haeusser (Holy Cross) and Kathryn Burditt (Holy Trinity).

The St. Charles, Mo., natives launched the group in 2002 with the help of many friends.

“We said we need to have a place where women who don’t know their faith could reinforce it,” said Haeusser.

They use approved materials — mainly the Catholic Scripture Study and Great Adventure series — and offer the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd to the school-age children attending with

Leaven photo by Sheila Myers

Participants in Holy Trinity Parish’s women’s Bible study program convene in a large group for the last half hour to hear a presentation on the reading for the week. Above, Laura Haeusser discusses the prologue in the Gospel of John. their moms.

The women’s group covers only one or two books a session. This year, they’re studying the Gospel of John. It’s the second time visiting John, but it will be different this time around, Burditt said.

“We’re at a different point in our lives,” she said.

Though the “Weber girls” (their maiden name) grew up in a Catholic home, they came to their interest in Scripture later in life.

“Actually, we got involved in Bible study before our parents did,” said Burditt.

But it has been their faith that has sustained the sisters through many challenging times, and they want other women to know the kind of strength that comes with a deep faith.

“It teaches you how to look for grace in the midst of struggle,” said Haeusser.

“Everybody has a cross.”

Haeusser, the mother of seven, knows firsthand about crosses. In 1995, her husband was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. He passed away in late 2011.

Women learn about the Bible study group through parish bulletins or friends. After 10 years, the group’s tentacles reach throughout the metro area.

Women have come from Basehor, Law-

rence, South Kansas City. One woman drove from Leavenworth for three years to teach. This year, 20 parishes are represented.

The program functions like a welloiled machine thanks to the help of 40 women who volunteer as nursery leaders, discussion leaders and catechesis leaders. Some pitch in wherever they’re needed.

Ellen Balke Jones, a Holy Cross parishioner, is one of the floaters. Since joining the Bible study 10 years ago, she said her faith and her children’s faith have grown exponentially.

“It has fostered a lot in my kids, a lot of which I don’t think I could have done without this environment,” she said.

“They understand their faith better.”

Balke Jones works full time as a nurse, but arranges her schedule so she can attend the program. She credits Haeusser’s and Burditt’s vision and dedication for the success of the program.

Haeusser is the visionary and leads with her heart. She won’t let a member miss more than two weeks without calling to find out what’s going on in her life and offering to help.

Burditt, the mother of five, is the pragmatist and leads with her head. She admits she’s had to learn to trust in God instead of worrying about details.

How to join To join the Catholic Women’s Bible Study, call Laura Haeusser at (913) 341-9057, or Kathryn Burditt at (913) 451-3680, or email her at: tkburditt@hotmail.com.

Classes meet Thursdays from 9:30 – 11 a.m. at Holy Trinity Parish, 9150 Pflumm Rd., Lenexa.

Spaces are still available for women who don’t require child care.

This year’s session runs to mid May. The $70 registration includes the study guide.

“Laura is always like, ‘It’ll be fine,’” said Burditt. “And I ask where we’re going to get all these volunteers to help.

Who’s going to do all this?

“And people just show up.”

The sisters love hearing how the group has changed lives.

“People have been putting the word into action,” Burditt said. “We’re not just hearing it. We’re living it.”

For those interested in starting a Catholic Bible study group, “Just begin,” is the advice of the “Weber girls.”

The Holy Spirit will take it from there.

6 LOCAL NEWS

theleaven.com | november 2, 2012 Ben and Kay (Holland) Hulsing, members of Sts. Peter and Paul Parish, Seneca, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on Nov. 10. The couple was married on Nov. 10, 1962, at St. Mary Church in St. Benedict. Their children and their spouses are: Teresa and James Dodd, Barb and Jay Luckeroth and John Hulsing. They also have seven granddaughters and two great-grandchildren. On Nov. 4, their children will host a family dinner at the Windmill Inn in Seneca, followed by an open house for friends and family from 2-4 p.m.

Group offers respite, support for busy priests n Father Mark Mertes attends Jesus Caritas International Assembly

By Jessica Langdon Leaven staff

K

ANSAS CITY, Kan. — The monthly chance for prayer and fellowship with a handful of fellow archdiocesan priests has helped shape Father Mark Mertes’ 25 years in the priesthood.

“I draw my strength from my priest prayer group,” said Father Mertes simply.

Now the pastor of Blessed Sacrament Parish, Christ the King Parish and Our Lady & St. Rose Parish in Kansas City, Kan., will catch a rare glimpse of this type of gathering from Father Mark Mertes a far different vantage point — an international one.

He heads to Poissy, France — near Paris — this month for an international gathering of leaders of a worldwide brotherhood called the Jesus Caritas Fraternity of Priests.

Father Mertes’ small prayer group — one of seven such Jesus Caritas groups within the archdiocese — is part of that international fraternity.

Father Mertes joined his group shortly after he was ordained and is now serving his second term as the national responsible — or leader — of the U.S. region of Jesus Caritas.

That role takes him to France Nov. 6-21 for the Jesus Caritas International Assembly as one of only two American delegates, with 52 delegates in all representing 35 countries.

The assembly will be conducted in French, Spanish and English.

Although he has served as the national responsible within the United States since 2008, this will be his first international assembly because they take place only every six years.

Prayer, fellowship, food and fun This particular assembly is especially fitting for Father Mertes’ first international gathering, because Brother Charles de Foucauld, a man known for his faithful simplicity and the spiritual inspiration for Jesus

Caritas, was born in France in 1858.

Having attended several national assemblies within the United States, Father Mertes knows the inspiration — and affirmation — that comes from bringing diocesan priests together from many areas.

He especially enjoys a focus on eucharistic adoration and looks forward to sharing experiences and praying with priests from around the globe.

“I’ve been very blessed and edified by national gatherings where I hear about priests from different parts of the country,” said Father Mertes.

“You kind of take that experience and multiply it by 35 countries.”

Father Rich Warsnak, pastor of Sacred Heart in Emporia, joined Father Mertes’ Jesus Caritas group soon after he was ordained in 2007 and looks forward to not only hearing about the international assembly within his own small prayer group, but to seeing the information dispersed to Jesus Caritas groups across the nation.

“It’s an example of the grace of the universal church,” said Father Warsnak.

It’s easy for Catholics to view their faith on a level as local as their own parish.

“It’s times like this we’re reminded and inspired that we’re connected with the church throughout the world,” he said.

‘A fullness of priestly life’ Father Mertes plans to share with the international crowd a summary of a presentation Father Warsnak gave during the 2011 Jesus Caritas National Assembly held here in Kansas City, Kan. That presentation, Father Warsnak said, centered on the review of life, a component of each monthly Jesus Caritas meeting in which participants recount for the group the highlights of the prior month.

When priests come together and share with one another moments when they truly felt God’s hand in their lives, he said, they gain a deeper appreciation and understanding of those moments.

“How do you look over a month of your own life and choose maybe a single moment where you felt God’s influence most strongly?” he said.

“How do you explain it? How does the group help you come to a deeper appreciation of that moment?”

While this is something priests do routinely in their groups, Father Warsnak believes everyone should ask themselves the question: “How is God touching my heart?”

Both Father Mertes and Father Warsnak believe their years as priests would not be the same without the

Kernel of truth Do you know which of the three readings that we hear at Sunday Mass is most important?

If you said the Gospel, you are correct. There are so many clues indicating that this reading is special, in fact, that even an attentive non-Catholic might figure that out.

First, we all stand for the reading of the Gospel, but not for the other readings. Second, the celebrant or deacon — with some ceremony — processes up with the book out of which he will read the Gospels; it’s not just waiting for

About Jesus Caritas • Jesus Caritas Fraternity of Priests is a worldwide brotherhood consisting of small groups of mainly diocesan priests.

• Jesus Caritas has about 4,000 members worldwide.

• There are about 300 fraternities across the United States.

• Within the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, there are seven groups, with 35-40 priests actively participating.

• While structure varies from one group to another, monthly meetings include prayer, fellowship, food and a review of life.

• In addition to their monthly gathering, priests who participate in Jesus Caritas are asked to pray a Holy Hour and to “take a day in the desert — six hours one day a month to get away from it all,” said Father Mark Mertes, pastor of Blessed Sacrament Parish, Christ the King Parish and Our Lady & St. Rose Parish in Kansas City, Kan. He is the national responsible for the U.S. region of Jesus Caritas.

support and grace they find within these groups.

“For me personally, it’s been a good way to take stock of my life and look back at it and look ahead,” said Father Dan Gardner, pastor of All Saints Parish in Kansas City, Kan. He has been a member of a Jesus Caritas group for more than 30 years.

“They’ve been supportive and challenging at the same time, which is a good thing,” Father Gardner said.

Father Chris Rossman, pastor of St. Dominic Parish in Holton, agrees.

“It allows me to get together with priests that share in the same ministry I share in, and we can also share in spirituality with one another,” he said.

Jesus Caritas helps make priests more compassionate pastors and stronger leaders, Father Mertes believes.

“I would just encourage laypersons to support the efforts of their priests to have a ‘prayer day,’” he said.

That can be as simple as not asking a priest to attend a meeting or take on another task on a day he has a prayer day scheduled.

And while this can be quite a commitment for priests whose schedules are already packed, he believes it’s worth it.

“I encourage my brother priests to make a little bit more commitment — because you’ll get a lot more blessing,” he said. “Jesus Caritas helps us have the fullness of priestly life.”

him on the ambo. Third, the Gospel is never proclaimed by a lector, but only by a priest or deacon.

Fourth, there’s a special way we bless ourselves when the Gospel is announced. Fifth, there’s the alleluia exchange that precedes it. Finally, the priest or deacon proceeds to explain the Gospel in the homily that follows. Have I got them all?

Ha! Maybe I caught you here. Because the priest’s homily is not required to be about the Gospel — although it often is. In “Dei Verbum,” the document on Scripture that came out of the Second Vatican Council, the Council Fathers added a reading from the Old Testament to the Sun-

Sharon (Sumner) and Albert Legg, members of Holy Angels Parish, Basehor, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on Nov. 10 at the 4:30 p.m. Mass. The couple was married at Holy Cross Church, Emmett, by Father George Seuferling, who will officiate when they renew their vows at Mass. Their children and their spouses are: Michael and Leona Legg, Wichita; Michelle Legg, Euless, Texas; Melinda and Jerry Baker, Linwood; Melissa Legg, Kansas City, Mo.; and Matthew Legg, Kansas City, Mo. They also have a granddaughter. They will celebrate with a family dinner.

Joyce and Ray Reynolds, members of Sacred Heart Parish, Shawnee, will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary on Nov. 1.

The couple was married at Sacred Heart Church in Bonner Springs on Nov. 1, 1952.

Their children and their spouses are: Mark and Ann Reynolds, Overland Park; Marcia McCullough, Bonner Springs; Janis and Zane Schuberger, Kansas City, Kan.; and Eric and Robin Reynolds, Leawood.

They also have 13 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Johnnie and Carole (Bauer) Giffin, members of Prince of Peace Parish, Olathe, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on Oct. 6 with a marriage blessing by Father Richard Aduri, followed by an open house for family and friends. The couple was married on Oct. 6, 1962, at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Wichita. Their children and their spouses are: Julie Giffin, and Scott and Michelle Giffin. They also have two grandchildren.

day Mass. Why? Because our salvation history did not begin with Jesus Christ — it was only realized in him.

Listen closely to the first reading at this Sunday’s Mass — then to the Gospel. Notice the difference?

You’ll find this careful pairing of Old Testament with New every single Sunday. But seldom is it as easy to see why Jesus so often said that he had come not to destroy the old Law — but to fulfill it.

— A.M.

local news 7

november 2, 2012 | theleaven.com

Doctoral degree rounds off evolving program >> Continued from page 1 The Saint Mary DPT program has been years in the making, and has seen the university invest heavily in expert faculty and renovated, state-of-the-art facilities and cutting-edge equipment.

The university’s DPT program is currently in the process of seeking accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education of the American Physical Therapy Association.

The establishment of the DPT program is a key part of USM’s ongoing evolution into a premiere institution for health care education, an effort guided by the university’s board of trustees.

The DPT joins USM’s well-regarded nursing degree programs, its preprofessional health paths, and other new offerings like the Health Information Management track.

The first class of DPT students — 37 strong — arrived on campus in June. If the university is successful in its efforts, the DPT program will receive accreditation in 2015, just prior to the graduation of its first DPT class.

The university selected Sister Mary Kathleen as the namesake for the university’s first doctorate program due to her lifelong dedication to education, her love of science, and her years of leadership.

Born Betty Lou Stefani, Sister Mary Kathleen was a native of Butte, Mont.

She made her profession of vows with the Sisters of Charity in 1945 and graduated from Saint Mary (then Saint Mary College) in 1951 with a degree in chemistry. She went on to earn master’s degrees from both USM and the University of Notre Dame.

Leaven photo by John Shultz

USM DPT faculty led equipment and lab demonstrations for attendees prior to the dedication and blessing ceremony of the new doctorate of physical therapy program. Pictured are, from left: Sister Susan Rieke, English professor and USM’s McGilley Chair for liberal studies; Sister Mary Kathleen’s sister Doreen Strizic, of Butte, Mont. (left foreground); Sister Jean Anne Panisko, SCL; Sherry Wells, USM controller; Jamie Dehan, director of clinical education for the USM Stefani DPT program; and Ameer Ghaisarnia, of Olathe, one of the students in USM’s inaugural DPT class.

Sister Mary Kathleen was a well-respected teacher, instructing and working as an administrator at schools in Billings and Butte, Mont., Denver, and Hayden High School in Topeka.

“Kathleen was probably one of our best educators in our community,” said Sister Maureen Hall, current community director of the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth. “She instilled in her students a real desire to learn.”

Following her time as a teacher, Sister Mary Kathleen was elected community director of the Sisters of Charity in

1986, a post she held through 1998. Sister Mary Kathleen’s colleagues praised her leadership style.

“She was very focused — that’s probably the best word for her,” said Sister Anita Sullivan, SCL, a close friend of Sister Mary Kathleen. “Whatever she did, she did perfectly.”

Sister Mary Kathleen died in 2010 at the age of 84.

As part of the Oct. 26 ceremony, a portrait of Sister Mary Kathleen was installed in USM’s Berchmans Hall by her sister, Doreen Strizic, of Butte, Mont.,

and a dear friend Sister Anita.

Sister Maureen said Sister Mary Kathleen would be honored by the university’s decision to name the DPT program for her.

“Science was beloved to her,” said Sister Maureen. “I can’t think of a better person that we could name our doctor of physical therapy for than our Sister Mary Kathleen.”

Learn more about the USM Stefani DPT program, visit the website at: www.stmary.edu/DPT.

Contemplatives in action

Teresa Seaton holds up a baby shoe as Mother Felisa Ripa, the mother mistress of the novitiate (left),and Sister Daisy Castruita, a junior Sister, look on. The shoe was a gag gift from the Sisters, Servants who tease Teresa because her feet are so small. Teresa opened the gift following a ceremony in which she received a crucifix from the community.

‘I knew I was called to them’ KCKCC nursing student finds open door with Sisters, Servants of Mary

By Jessica Langdon jessica@theleaven.com

B

ONNER SPRINGS — As one of 12 siblings ranging in age from 31 to 10, Teresa Seaton knows something about living in community.

“There’s a lot of excitement and noise, and there’s always somebody doing something,” said 21-year-old Teresa of her family’s home in Bonner Springs.

She knew the community life she was heading toward in Oxnard, Calif., this fall was bound to keep her just as busy — but in far different ways.

Teresa, a member of Holy Angels Parish in Basehor — but also a youngadult leader and daily communicant at St. Patrick Parish in Kansas City, Kan. — recently entered formation with the Sisters, Servants of Mary.

“I’m entering a bigger family,” Teresa said as she prepared to leave for California to begin nine months as a postulant.

“I’ll be with more sisters there than I have here, so there will be more people that I have to live with and get along with and learn to love.”

Although this new family is bigger — with roughly 1,200 Sisters worldwide — Teresa expected more moments of quiet, along with much joy.

Not long after she made her decision to enter formation, Teresa sold her laptop computer, abandoned her cellphone, and, on Oct. 17, made the trip out West to join two other postulants and two novices in formation.

She couldn’t wait to learn more about her new order, which has a motherhouse in Kansas City, Kan., and 30 Sisters here,

Leaven photo by Jessica Langdon

Teresa Seaton plays with Tillie, her family’s dog, outside their Bonner Springs home. Teresa left Oct. 17 for Oxnard, Calif., to begin nine months as a postulant. She brings a strong interest in nursing to the table, which fits with the order’s ministry of caring for the sick and dying in their own homes. She will spend the coming years learning about the Sisters, Servants of Mary and gradually being integrated into their life.

and is dedicated to the care of the sick and dying.

Teresa revisited the Sisters, Servants of Mary as well, arranging to spend several days with them.

During that time, Teresa accompanied the Sisters on day visits, which gave her a feel for how much the patients — as well as their families — benefit from the Sisters’ care.

But “the night visit was a whole different experience,” Teresa said.

“They said that sometimes they’re there the whole night and all they do is maybe just fix the pillow or give a glass of water,” she said. “But there also are some other nights when their patient needs them every 15 minutes.”

The Sisters tend to their patients’ physical needs — and their spiritual ones. They serve patients of any religion.

“We can find something in common with [any patient],” assured Sister Catherine. “We are there to remind them that God is with them.”

Caring for Christ “Our charism,” said Sister Catherine Bussen, vocation direction for the Midwest with the Sisters, Servants of Mary, “is the care of the sick in their own homes according to the Gospel passage where Christ says, ‘I was sick and you visited me.’”

Many Sisters heed the call to this order with no prior nursing experience.

So after entering the order, they study nursing along with theology, in order to become registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, or certified nursing assistants.

Teresa, however, brought an avid interest in nursing to the table when she began discerning her call to religious life.

The Bonner teen started college at Kansas State University in Manhattan, but decided early in 2011 that physical therapy — her intended major — didn’t suit her.

So she set her sights instead on nursing, which would enable her to care for a broader population and give her skills she might someday use as a missionary — or a mother.

About the same time, however, a persistent thought kept popping into her mind. She wasn’t seeking out the religious life, but the idea of becoming a Sister wouldn’t fade.

“There was nobody around me that was doing that with their life,” she said, “or nobody was telling me, ‘Oh, you should be a Sister.’

“It just kind of came to me.

“It wasn’t until later that I realized that the thought came from God, obviously.”

As she gradually weighed the pros and

Finding her path Leaven photo by Jessica Langdon

Teresa Seaton, left, pays her bill in a game of restaurant with brother Xavier, 11, and sister Hope, 12. Coming from a family of 12 siblings, Teresa is used to community life and looked forward to getting to know a bigger group of Sisters as she joins the Sisters, Servants of Mary as a postulant. cons of a possible vocation to religious life, the call only grew stronger. But she still wasn’t even sure how to broach the topic with an order.

She didn’t know any nuns, and the thought — “Do people even do that anymore?” — crossed her mind.

Sparking a conversation A big piece of the puzzle fell into place when she moved home and started nursing classes at Kansas City Kansas Com-

munity College the fall semester of 2011.

“The Sisters [Servants of Mary] actually go to school there,” Teresa said. “And all of a sudden I see these nuns walking around the school.”

Dressed in traditional habits and veils, the Sisters are easily recognizable.

“So one day, I finally did it and I just asked them a question to make conversation,” she said. “They were so sweet.”

Contact information was exchanged, and Teresa attended a discernment retreat with the Sisters that October.

Next, Teresa made contact with the

Apostles of the Interior Life, a group of religious women transplanted to the archdiocese from Milan, Italy, and whose primary ministry is spiritual direction.

She grew more familiar with their order by attending weekly discernment groups in Lawrence and participating in parish missions.

In fact, she even started going to one of the Apostles for spiritual direction and was encouraged by her to look at many religious communities and their ministries over the summer to find the right fit.

Teresa not only felt a strong connection to the nursing side of the order’s ministry, but she also discovered something else that attracted her to the Sisters, Servants of Mary during that lengthier visit: a sense of family.

“It fit so well,” she said. “’After spending that week with them, I pretty much knew that I was called to them.”

Teresa’s mother, Cheryle Seaton, has prayed for religious vocations among her children and was thrilled to hear that her daughter was called to this order.

A lot of noise fills today’s world, she said, and she hopes Teresa’s willingness to listen to God’s voice will shine as an example to her other children.

“I hope they’re inspired to listen to God also for whatever God leads them to,” she said.

Teresa will be allowed to take the habit in July — in a ceremony her mom and dad Jerry plan to fly to California to see.

She will then spend two years as a novice, after which she could take her temporary vows.

At that point, “I’ll become a junior, and they’ll send me back here to Kansas City,” said Teresa.

Formation takes a total of nine years.

At some point, Teresa will resume her nursing education.

‘A simple life’ But for now, Teresa will focus on formation. Her willingness to put her religious vocation ahead of her professional education stood out to Sister Catherine.

So did her willingness to leave her family to follow a call from God. Teresa was encouraged to call her family when she arrived in Oxnard, but after that, they’ll have the chance to talk on the phone just one Sunday each month.

Letters will be their primary means of communication.

“What caught my attention most was her spirit of simplicity. We live a very simple life,” said Sister Catherine. “She seemed to be a very simple person — in the good way.”

She noticed Teresa trying to find God in the small things in life. She also found her to be very prayerful.

“And she loves Our Lady very much,” said Sister Catherine. “We have a very strong Marian devotion.”

Teresa was thrilled that the day she had been praying about for so long had finally arrived.

“It’s really exciting that it’s happening, that the doors are opening,” she said.

The Sisters, Servants of Mary were established in Spain in 1851.

To be a Servant of Mary today means many things, according to the religious order’s website at: www.sisterservantsofmary. org.

“It means to be totally consecrated to God whom we have come to know as the absolute and one necessary good in our life. It is worth leaving everything to follow Christ because love is the reason for our existence,” the site explains.

“It means making our life an offering to Christ so that through us, he can continue going about doing good and curing every ill.”

In discussing vocations with young women, the Sisters, Servants of Mary seek for the order women who are not only compassionate, but who have big hearts for people who are sick, explained Sister Catherine Bussen, vocation director for the Midwest region.

It’s important to her that women discerning a call to this order spend time with the Sisters and experience the ministry of caring for the sick, generally in the patients’ own homes, through simple nursing tasks and humble service.

“It’s impressive to them,” said Sister Catherine. “A lot of people are in their homes alone, suffering, and they see what it means to those people to have somebody look in on them.”

Entering formation doesn’t end the discernment process; that’s ongoing, she said.

Because the convent is the Sisters’ home, certain parts of it are closed to the public.

However, their ministry is out in the world.

The Sisters, Servants of Mary describe themselves as “contemplatives in action.”

“Our source of action comes from our prayer life,” explained Sister Catherine.

She says she enjoys introducing the life of the order to young people and opening their eyes to all vocations.

It’s important in Catholic schools and religious education programs to teach every young person that he or she has a vocation, whether that is to the priesthood, religious life as a Brother or Sister, marriage, or single life, she said.

“It is very important for all of them to realize that they are called to something,” she said.

Sister Catherine’s own family prayed the rosary together regularly and always ended with a prayer for vocations. She encourages every family to keep vocations in their prayers.

She also encourages a sense of curiosity in young people.

“We like their questions,” she said.

Some questions are heavy, asking what it’s like to be there when a patient is dying.

A few kids have asked how many times a year Sisters go to confession.

Some are even curious about whether they eat pizza.

“We say yes,” said Sister Catherine. “They kind of realize we’re pretty normal people. We just live a different way.”

10 local news

theleaven.com | november 2, 2012

Archdiocese concludes investigation of allegation against Roeland Park priest

T

he Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas places the protection of children as its first priority. Furthermore, the archdiocese respects the sincere concerns of all individuals who bring forth allegations of misconduct, and is thus committed to conducting thorough investigations of all such allegations.

The archdiocese has concluded its investigation of allegations against Father John Wisner made by three men, now in their 40s, alleging sexual misconduct by Father Wisner approximately 30 years ago. Father Wisner denies that he engaged in any sexual misconduct. At the time of the initial allegation in May 2012, Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann temporarily relieved Father Wisner of his ministerial responsibilities and restricted him from exercising his priestly ministry pending the results of an investigation into this matter. The initial May 9, 2012, statement by the archdiocese stated only one man had made an allegation. However, since the initiation of the investigation and archdiocesan statements soliciting additional information from the public, two additional men also made allegations

against Father Wisner.

At the outset of its investigation, pursuant to the Child Protection Policy of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, the archdiocese notified local law enforcement authorities, and Archbishop Naumann appointed a special auditor with law enforcement and investigative experience to investigate the allegation.

The results of the investigation were given to the Independent Review Board of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas which has completed its review and delivered its recommendation to Archbishop Naumann.

As prescribed by the “Essential Norms for Diocesan/Eparchial Policies Dealing with Allegations of Sexual Abuse of Minors by Priests or Deacons” (U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops), Archbishop Naumann, after having found the allegations to bear “a semblance of truth,” is in the process of transmitting the matter to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in Rome. The congregation, after considering the matter, will notify Archbishop Naumann whether it will call the case to itself or will direct him in how to proceed with the case. During the pendency of the congregation’s con-

sideration, Father Wisner will continue to be relieved of ministerial responsibilities and restricted from exercising his priestly ministry.

Father Wisner has served as a parochial vicar (associate pastor) at St. Agnes Parish in Roeland Park since 1985. He was ordained in 1972 and has served at Sacred Heart and Christ the King parishes in Kansas City, Kan., and at St. Joseph Parish in Shawnee. The archdiocese has no record of any other allegations of sexual misconduct raised against Father Wisner in his 40 years of ministry.

The archdiocese encourages any persons who believe they have been sexually abused by any cleric, employee or volunteer of any archdiocesan parish, school or agency, regardless of when such abuse may have occurred, to contact the archdiocesan Safe Environment Coordinator at (913) 647-0324, the Confidential Report Line at (913) 647-3051, or to contact local law enforcement.

Specifically, if anyone has information pertinent to this investigation, they are encouraged to contact the archdiocesan Safe Environment Coordinator at the above number.

Conference to focus on the death penalty OLATHE — The Kansas Coalition Against the Death Penalty is hosting the 2012 Abolition Conference from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 10 at the Center of Grace here, located at 520 S. Harrison Rd. Former death row warden Allen Ault, dean of the College of Justice and Safety at Eastern Kentucky University, will be the keynote speaker.

To register or for more information, call Kristin Bollig at (913) 235-0214, or email her at: kristin@ksabolition.org.

Retreats to be held for the unemployed KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Sanctuary of Hope Prayer and Retreat Center here, 2601 Ridge Ave., will present retreats for the unemployed on Nov. 15, Dec. 13, and Jan. 10, 2013, from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

They will be led by Anita Martinez. To RSVP, call (913) 321-4673 or email Julie at: julie@sanctuaryofhope.org.

Christ Peace House to host retreat Nov. 17 EASTON — A Contemplative Retreat Day will be held at Christ Peace House of Prayer here on Nov. 17 from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. For more information, visit the website at: www.ChristsPeace. com; send an email to: info@Christs Peace.com; or call (913) 773-8355.

news briefs 11

november 2, 2012 | theleaven.com

Nation

merely ‘the SSPX demands freedom for itself to tell the truth.’ Instead of attacking the (Vatican II) conciliar treachery, the SSPX now wants the traitors to give it permission to tell the truth?” The bishop concluded, “Unless the society’s leadership is shaken out of its dream of peace with conciliar Rome . . . then the last worldwide bastion of Catholic tradition risks being on its way to surrendering to the enemies of the faith.”

Ruling a victory for monks, brings end to ‘casket cartel’ NEW ORLEANS (CNS) — A federal appeals court ruling in favor of Benedictine monks who had been blocked from selling their handmade caskets by Louisiana’s state funeral board “is a victory for the monks as well as for free enterprise and entrepreneurs” in the state, their lawyer said.

“And it puts a nail in the coffin of the casket cartel,” said Darpana Sheth, an attorney with the Arlington, Va.-based Institute for Justice, which represented the monks pro bono in the case. In a unanimous opinion, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Oct. 24 that a five-year battle by the Louisiana State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors to stop the Benedictine monks of St. Joseph Abbey in St. Benedict, La., from selling handmade, cypress caskets was either unconstitutional or unauthorized by Louisiana law. The court rejected all the arguments put forward by the state board in support of constitutionality. Said Benedictine Abbot Justin Brown: “It’s a win-win for us, as well as an answer to our prayers.

It also confirms the feelings we’ve had all along that this was the right thing to do.

We had a right to sell our caskets, and the courts are upholding that right.”

world

SSPX expels bishop who opposed talks with Vatican VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The leadership of the traditionalist Society of St. Pius X has expelled British Bishop Richard Williamson

Workers in Haiti, Cuba begin cleanup after Sandy

CNS photo/Shannon Stapleton, Reuters

People stand among homes destroyed by fire and the effects of Hurricane Sandy at the Breezy Point section of Queens borough in New York Oct. 30. The storm knocked out power to huge swathes of the nation’s most densely populated region, swamped New York’s subway system and submerged streets in Manhattan’s financial district. from the society, saying he distanced himself from them and refused “to show due respect and obedience to his lawful superiors. This painful decision has become necessary by concern for the common good of the Society of St. Pius X and its good government,” said a brief note posted on the group’s website Oct. 24. Bishop Williamson had been a harsh critic of the group’s engagement in doctrinal discussions with the Vatican, which were aimed at bringing the society back into full communion with the Catholic Church. In comments published Sept. 1 in a newsletter that Bishop

Williamson emails to subscribers, he wrote that the SSPX had set out six conditions for reconciliation with Rome, which included: freedom “to teach the unchanging truth of Catholic tradition”; freedom to criticize “the errors” of the Second Vatican Council; freedom to celebrate only the extraordinary form of the Mass; the promise of at least one new bishop; and the independence of SSPX houses from the oversight of the local diocesan bishop. In the September letter, Bishop Williamson said, the SSPX position was “no longer ‘Rome must convert because truth is absolute,’ but now

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (CNS) — As Hurricane Sandy bore down on the U.S. Oct. 29, church workers in Haiti and Cuba began cleaning up after one of the worst storms to hit the Caribbean in years.

Government officials raised the death toll across the islands to 65, the vast majority in Haiti, where widespread flooding devastated parts of the already impoverished country. “The whole south is under water,” Haiti Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe told the Associated Press. In addition to 51 dead, 12 people were still reported missing in the country. Crews from church agencies were working to assist some of the 17,800 people who were forced to flee to temporary shelters due to the storm. In Cuba, Caritas officials estimated some 100,000 homes were affected, including roughly 20,000 that were destroyed. Eastern Cuba was hit hardest, officials said. In Santiago de Cuba, the country’s second-largest city, “there was not a block that did not suffer significant damage,” Maritza Sanchez Abillud, director of Caritas Cuba, said in a written report. Cuban government officials said it was the worst storm to hit the island since 2005 when Hurricane Dennis caused more than $2 billion in damage.

12 classifieds Employment Administrative assistant - St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Parish in Leawood is seeking an administrative assistant for the religious education office.

This position is a 25-30 hour per week position and requires a flexible work schedule (some evening and weekend). The ideal candidate will be proficient with Microsoft Word, Excel and Publisher; have the ability to multitask; have good communication and organizational skills; and work well with volunteers. Send letter of interest and resume to Denise Ogilvie at: denise.ogilvie@stmichaelcp.org.

IT administrator - St. Ann Catholic Parish is seeking a self-motivated individual to handle all of its information technology needs. The position will have sole responsibility for management of the computer network and for providing IT support to both the school and parish staffs. Applicants should have an extensive working knowledge of Microsoft Server2008 operating systems and experience with virtualized environments utilizing VMware. Applicants must also be familiar with firewalls, routers, data back-up devices, VoIP phone systems, wireless networks and network security. Qualified applicants must have strong analytical and interpersonal skills. Individuals interested in the position should email their resume with cover letter to: bschafer@stannpv.org.

Substitute teacher - Holy Trinity Catholic School in Paola is seeking a long-term fourth grade substitute teacher beginning in February. Interested applicants should complete the teacher application available online at: www.archkckcs.org and email/mail a letter of interest and resume to the principal, Josh Cavender, at: mrcavenderhts@gmail.com or call (913) 294-3286 for more information.

Pre-kindergarten teacher - The Goddard School, located at 21820 W. 115th Terr., Olathe, is looking to add a qualified lead pre-K teacher to our wonderful staff. In our warm, loving atmosphere, caring teachers support the healthy development of children from six weeks to six years. Candidates should be prepared to plan and facilitate lessons and communicate effectively with children, families, co-workers and administrators. This is a full time position. Candidate should have a degree in Early Childhood Education or a related field, or a CDA. Prior experience in a preschool setting is preferred. Please forward your resume via email to: olathe2ks@goddardschools.com. Owners are parishioners of Ascension Catholic Church.

Youth minister – Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Lenexa, a vibrant parish of 2500+ families, is seeking a proactive and enthusiastic youth minister to lead our senior OR junior high youth ministry. You will be joining a committed team of two youth ministers and over 30 core volunteers. Given the type of work we do, you will design and lead small/large weekly gatherings; train and motivate diverse volunteer teams; coordinate retreats, events and trips; develop relationships with students and work somewhat eclectic hours. We pay competitively, we’re good to work with, and we have a bunch of fun with all we do. If creative ideas are common, you have a passion for Christ and his church, you’re willing to be a part of a parish ministry team, and have a love for the hearts of teenagers, this might be the right fit. The college degree and theological credentials are a BIG bonus. Email letter/resume/references to: kwalters@ htslenexa.org or mail to: Kris Walters, 9150 Pflumm Rd., Lenexa, KS 66215.

Financial representative - Due to the success and growth of the Knights of Columbus, we are adding financial representatives in the Kansas City area.

This position is ideal for a determined, high-energy, high-expectation, professional, self-disciplined, independent individual desiring to serve others, yet earn a better-than-average income. We provide top-rated financial products to our members and their families and will provide excellent benefits and training. For information or an interview, contact John A. Mahon, 307 Dakota, Holton KS 66436; call (785) 364-5450; or send an email to him at: john.mahon@kofc.org.

School minivan drivers - Assisted Transportation seeks caring, compassionate and safe drivers to transport children to and from school in Johnson and Wyandotte counties. Part-time morning and afternoon hours, competitive wages, CDL not required, retirees encouraged to apply. Learn more and apply online at: www.assistedcompanies.com.

Services Housecleaning - I love what I do and you can love it, too! 20-plus years experience. Excellent references.

Southern JoCo area. Call (913) 548-8702.

Rodman Lawn Care - Mowing, leaf removal, mulch and more. Call John Rodman, member of Holy Cross Parish, Overland Park, at (913) 548-3002 or send an email to him at: Rodman.Lawn@yahoo.com.

theleaven.com | november 2, 2012 Faith-based counseling to cope with life concerns Kansas City area. Call Mary Vorsten, Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, at (913) 909-2002.

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. bankruptcylawinkansascity.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.

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 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: mikehammermoving@aol.com.

Get your yard ready for winter with a FALL CLEANUP. Full Service Lawn Care - gutters, mulching and more.

Call John @ 913-825-4353 or visit www.foleyslawncare.com St. Joseph Parishioner, Shawnee Housecleaning - Old-fashioned cleaning, hand mopping, etc. A thorough and consistent job every time.

References from customers I’ve served for over 17 years. Call Sharon at (816) 322-0006 (home) or (816) 214-0156 (mobile).

MEDICATION SETUP & MANAGEMENT RN support visits for filling weekly pill boxes & managing medication. Affordable and convenient.

To learn more, call Home Connect Health Services (913) 627-9222 Machine quilting - by Jenell Noeth, Basehor. Also, quilts made to order. Call (913) 724-1837.

Home Improvement Affordable cabinetry - 20 years experience creating quality woodworking, design, and detail for all your custom cabinetry and furniture needs. Competitive rates; references available. Serving the KC Metro area. Call Dennis at (913) 850-3956. Visit the website at: www.dennisbilt.com.

Get a jump on your home repairs! - I specialize in painting, wood rot, decks, fences, windows, doors, siding, stucco, landscaping, drainage issues, and concrete. Fully insured. Now accepting all major credit cards. Call Josh Doherty (913) 709-7230.

Fall Cleanup Leaf Removal. Tree/Shrub Trimming Aftin Lawn And Landscape Free Estimates/ Insured/ Refs Local Parishioner (913) 620-6063 Brick mason - Installation and repair of all types of masonry work — brick, stone, and concrete. 17 years of residential and commercial experience. Small and large jobs accepted. Free quotes in the KC metro area.

Call Jim or John at (913) 485-4307.

Masonry work - Quality new or repair work. Brick, block and chimney/fireplace repair. Insured; second-generation bricklayer. Member of St. Paul Parish, Olathe. Call (913) 829-4336.

Brack Home Repair - Call Dan when you need it done! Carpentry, drywall, plumbing, electrical, painting, tile, wood-rot and much more. No project too big or small. For free estimate, call (913) 219-5388 or visit the Website at: brackhomerepairkc.com. Insured; senior discount available. Philippians 4:13.

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.

Garage door and opener sales and service - 24hour, 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.

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.

Perfect Roof - Free estimates; roofing repairs if needed. Hail and wind damage inspections. Insured and reasonable. Call (816) 288-1693.

Swalms Organizing Service - Basement, garage, attic, shop — any room organized! Items taken to donation sites, trash is bagged, and areas are clean and neat when job is complete. To view before-and-after pictures, visit the website at: www.swalms.com.

Over 20 years of organizing experience; insured. Call Tillar at (913) 375-9115.

Exterior painting, drywall projects, wood rot repair, bathroom and kitchen remodels, and tile work - Quality products. 20 years experience. References. Call (913) 206-4524.

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

Call Lupe at (816) 252-3376 Electrician - Free estimates; reasonable rates. JoCo and south KC metro. Call Pat at (913) 963-9896.

Adept Home Improvements Where quality still counts!

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

(913) 599-7998 Custom countertops - Laminates installed within 5 days. Cambria, granite, and solid surface. Competitive prices, dependable work. Call the Top Shop, Inc., at (913) 962-5058. Members of St. Joseph, Shawnee.

Caregiving Experienced, compassionate caregiver — Available to work throughout the Kansas City metro area.

Available all shifts and weekends. With over 10 years of service, I provide compassionate personal caregiver services to you or your family member. Please call me to discuss your individual needs and how I can assist you. Trinity Caregiving (816) 337-7493; info@ trinitycaregiving.com Compassion - Trust - Quality Care 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 and based in Lenexa. Call Benefits of Home - Senior Care at (913) 422-1591 or visit our website at: www.benefitsofhome.com.

CNA – Would you like to keep your senior loved one in the comfort of their own home? Those who bring sunshine into the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves. Compassionate, nurturing, attentive home health care professional provides quality service and personal assistance for over 20 years. Available anytime. Live-in optional. Non-smoker. Excellent references and reasonable rates. Call Rosalyn at (816) 830-7455.

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.

For sale - Two-story home seeks loving family to continue four-decade tradition; 5 BR w/1st-floor office, hardwood, finished basement, large lot. Round Hill area, w/ local pool, tennis, clubhouse. Near Curé, Queen, St. Ann, and Holy Cross parishes/schools (SM East HS). $255K. 6007 W. 90th Terr, OP. Call (913) 341-7012 for showing/info.

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.

For Sale…Jazzy Elite power chair. Excellent condition! $1200. for a $2500+ chair! Oxygen Concentrator 10 LPM excellent condition. $400 913-233-6827

vacation Ski cabin in Winter Park, Colo. - 2 BR, 1 BA, fully furnished; sleeps four. View of Continental Divide from deck. Close to points of interest and activities. $115/ night. Call (913) 642-3027. For pictures, visit the website at: www.tillmancabin.com.

Branson condo nightly rental - 2 king BRs, 2 BA; sleeps 6. Sunporch overlooks public golf course.

Walk-in level (no steps), flat screen TVs, and fully equipped kitchen. Near the Hwy. 76 strip. No smoking; no pets. Members of Holy Cross Parish, Overland Park. Call (913) 851-8886.

Want to go to Ireland? - Here’s a great opportunity.

Join our small group of singles and couples going for 12 days in April 2013. Act quickly; we have just a few spots left in our group of 30 for a few more “fun” people. Our local guide was born and raised in Dublin, so knows the country well. For more information, call (913) 599-2940 or (913) 469-6211.

for rent For rent - 1 BR, 1 BA apartment in St. Joseph Parish, Shawnee. Near Nieman and Johnson Dr. $520/month; utilities included. 10911 W. 59th Terr. Nonsmokers only. For a virtual tour, visit the website at: www. shawnee-rentals.com. Call (913) 649-7596.

RoomMate Financially responsible female roommate - Wanted to share two-bedroom apartment in Shawnee near Nieman and Johnson (St. Joseph Parish). $300 rent includes most utilities except (split) electricity. W/D in unit. Nov. rent free. Call or text Brenda at (785) 6081877 if interested.

wanted to buy Antiques wanted I buy old pocket & wrist watches; sets of silverware; souvenir spoons; advertising signs; coins; and Native American turquoise jewelry, arrowheads & rugs. Call Chris at (913) 593-7507 or (913) 642-8269.

Will buy firearms and related accessories - One or a whole collection. Honest evaluation and top prices paid. Contact Tom at (913) 238-2473. Member of Sacred Heart Parish, Shawnee. *** Wanted to buy *** Antique/vintage jewelry, paintings, pottery, prints, sterling, etc.

Renee Maderak (913) 631-7179 St. Joseph Parish, Shawnee

ENTERTAINMENT DJ Irishman - Colm Delahunt is available for parties, weddings, graduations, and any other function. Playing all your favorite hits from the Village People to U2.

Call (913) 548-6765, or visit the website at: www. djirishman.com.

Real estate For sale - 160 acres m/l; 2+ bedroom home, new roof & windows, new bathroom, new hardwood floors, tankless hot water heater, rural water; 3 ponds plus creek, good pasture, good hunting, lots of timber; good school district. Mineral rights. Call Tom at (913) 683-4488 or Theresa at (913) 362-3024 Investors - Why play the stock market? Become a passive real estate investor. If you want to discuss the possibility of investing in real estate that produces positive income with a seasoned investor, call (913) 980-3559.

unplanned pregnancy? decisions to make?

Replace pressure and panic with thoughtful, and rational reflection. A confidential, caring friend is waiting for your call.

Topeka- (785) 234-0701 Lawrence- (785) 843-4821 Leavenworth- (913) 682-2700 Kansas City-(816)444-7090 Emporia- (620) 342-8600

irthright

or call 24 hrs. toll free 1-800-550-4900

calendar 13

november 2, 2012 | theleaven.com

November Holy Cross in Overland Park is hosting its annual Friendship Tea at Holy Cross Church in Father Lickteig Hall at 10:30 a.m. on Nov. 3. Sister Anna will be the guest speaker.

Tickets are $10. For reservations, call or email Maxine Rodriguez at (913) 383-2012 or Maxine@rmckc.com, or Donna Heit at (913) 383-2014 or Dheit@kc.rr.com.

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The Curé of Ars Parish 5K and One-mile Fun Run will be on Nov. 3. The race will be followed by a free breakfast. All proceeds benefit the parish. Participating team members must register. To register, go to the website at: www.cureofars5k.com.

Donnelly College is hosting the Donnelly Dash 5K run/walk and one-mile family run on Nov. 3 at 9 a.m. The dash starts and ends on Donnelly’s campus, winding through the heart of Kansas City, Kan. For more information, go to the website at: donnelly.edu/dash or call (913) 621-8731.

There will be a craft fair from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. on Nov. 3 in Father Quinlan Hall at Holy Angels Parish, 154th and Leavenworth Rd., Basehor. For information, call Annie Clark at (913) 724-2212.

There will be an hour of prayer for the election with Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann from 3 - 4 p.m. on Nov. 4 at Most Pure Heart of Mary Parish, 17th and Stone, Topeka. For information, call (785) 2461334.

4

St. Patrick Parish in Corning will host its soup lunch and auction on Nov. 4 starting at 11 a.m. Auction will start at 2 p.m.

Cost of the lunch is a freewill donation.

A pancake breakfast will be held from 7:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. on Nov. 4 at St. Mary Parish in St. Benedict. The cost to attend is a freewill offering.

There will be a turkey dinner from 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. on Nov. 4 at Holy Trinity Parish, 601 E. Chippewa, Paola. The cost is $8 for adults; $4 for children ages 10 and younger. The cost of carryouts, served from noon to 2:30 p.m., is $9 for adults; $5 for children. Activities include bingo and a raffle.

St. Benedict Parish, west of Bendena, is hosting its annual turkey and dressing dinner, raffle and country store on Nov. 4 from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The meal includes turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, rolls and a great variety of salads and desserts. Cost is a freewill offering. Look for the giant turkeys on Highway 120, west of Bendena.

Annunciation Parish in Frankfort will host a turkey dinner with all the trimmings and a silent auction on Nov. 4 from 11 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. at the Cigna Center.

Tickets are $9 for adults; $4 for children age 10 and younger.

The Knights of Columbus are hosting a “Pancakes and More” breakfast on Nov. 4 from 8 a.m. to noon at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 11221 Johnson Drive, Shawnee. Cost is a freewill donation. For additional information, contact Mike Reichmeier at (913) 492-3356.

Boy Scout Troop 295 is hosting a pancake breakfast and bake sale on Nov. 4 at Queen of the Holy Rosary Parish hall after all the morning Masses. Tickets are $6 per plate; $20 for a family of four or more.

The Advice and Aid Pregnancy Centers, Inc., will offer a volunteer informational meeting from 7 - 9 p.m. on Nov. 5 at 11644 W. 75th St., Shawnee. For information or to RSVP, call Mary Newcomer at (913) 962-0200 or send an email to: volunteer@adviceandaid.com.

5

The Sophia Center in Atchison will offer a presentation on the illuminated St. John’s Bible: Letters and Revelation from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Nov. 8. The cost to attend is $60. For information or to register, call (913) 360-6151, or visit the Sophia Center’s website at: www.mountosb.org/ sophia.html.

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The Women’s Club of St. Ann Parish will host its annual luncheon and card party from 10:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. on Nov. 8 at the parish hall, 7231 Mission Rd., Prairie Village. Men are welcome. The cost is $10 a person. For reservations, call Mary Cheney at (913) 648-1026 or Bev Vyhanek at (913) 362-7397.

A Marked Men for Christ retreat will be held at the Tall Oaks Conference Center near Linwood from 5 p.m. on Nov. 9 to 3 p.m. on Nov. 11. For information or to register, go to the website at www.markedmenforchrist. org, or call Marc at (913) 306-2803.

9

The Sanctuary of Hope will hold its Hope Benefit dinner, dance and auction on Nov. 10 at the Reardon Civic Center in Kansas City, Kan. The tickets are $65. For information or reservations, call Julie at (913) 321-4673 or email her at: julie@sanctuary ofhope.

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The Knights of Columbus will host a “Classic Rock Dance Party” on Nov. 10 from 7 to 11 p.m. at their hall, located at 11221 Johnson Drive, Shawnee. Riptide will be performing classic rock, soul and blues from the ’60s and ’70s. The cost is a $5 donation per person. Adults only, 21 and over. Contact Keith Winterhalter at (913) 631-2173, or Gary Van DeBerghe at (913) 226-4407 for more details or to make group reservations.

There will be a National Marriage Encounter weekend from Nov. 10 - 11 at St. James Parish in Liberty, Mo. No overnight stay is required. For information, call Jim and Bar Goering at (913) 888-3906, or reg-

ister on the website at: www.nmekc.org.

Holy Family School will host “Flashback to the ’50s, ’60s, ’70s and ’80s” dinner, dance, raffle and auction on Nov. 10 at the Our Lady of Guadalupe Activity Center, 216 N.E. Branner, Topeka. Social hour begins at 5 p.m., followed by dinner at 6 p.m. and a dance from 7 - 11 p.m. Tickets are $25 for individuals, $110 reserved onehalf table for eight, or $15 dance-only ticket from 7:30 -11 p.m. Child care is available for $5 a child. Please RSVP for this service by calling (913) 234-8980 by Nov. 7. To purchase tickets for the dance, call Debi Meier at (785) 640-4662.

Holy Family Church is hosting its annual chili supper/turkey bingo on Nov. 10 at Msgr. Mejak Hall, 513 Ohio, Kansas City, Kan. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Supper is from 6:15 - 7:15 p.m. Bingo begins at 7:30 p.m. A $15 donation includes chili dinner, dessert, beer, pop, and a bingo card until the games end. No one under 21 admitted. For tickets, call Marcia Wolf at (816) 454-1378.

High school men grades 10 –12 are invited to visit a college seminary while classes are in session Nov. 10-11 at Conception Seminary in Missouri. There is no cost.

Vocation director Father Mitchel Zimmerman will provide transportation and accompany visitors, leaving at 3:30 p.m. on Nov. 10 and returning at 8:30 p.m. on Nov. 11. Registration is required by Nov. 5 at: Kckvocations.com or by email to: vocation@archkck.org.

St. Joseph-St. Lawrence Parish will host a Fall Fest at the St. Lawrence Parish hall in Easton on Nov. 10. A soup and chili dinner will be served from 4 - 7 p.m. Turkey and ham bingo will follow the raffle for cash prizes and a queen-size quilt.

The Sanctuary of Hope will hold their Hope Benefit dinner, dance and auction on Nov. 10 at the Reardon Civic Center in Kansas City, Kan. Music will be by the Saucy Jack Band. The ticket price is $65.

For information or reservations, call Julie at (913) 321-4673 or at: julie@sanctuary ofhope.

The Knights of Columbus, Council No. 675, will host a chili and soup supper on Nov. 11 at St. Charles Church basement, Last Chance Road and Chestnut St., Troy, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Cost is a freewill donation.

Chances on a $100 bill will be $1 each.

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The Christian Widow and Widowers Organization will host a Christmas in November luncheon at 1 p.m. on Nov. 11 in the Formation Room at Most Pure Heart of Mary Church, 17th & Stone, Topeka.

There is no cost to attend. For more information, call (785) 272-0055.

The Knights of Columbus, Shawnee Council No. 2332, will exemplify men into the first degree on Nov. 11. Registration is at 1 p.m. at the Knights Hall, 11221 Johnson Drive. If you are interested in joining,

enter from the north on Johnson Drive. For more information, contact Dave Carl (913) 248-0555 or by email at: d_carl@att.net.

Let your heart be shaped by grace. In the spirit of this Year of Faith, all are invited to All Saints Parish to initiate, deepen or replenish your faith. Redemptorist Missionary Father Tony Judge will present four evenings of spiritual renewal focusing on the sacraments through the theme of “With Him is Plentiful Redemption.”

The presentations begin Nov. 11 and continue through Nov. 14, starting at 6:30 p.m. at Sts. Cyril and Methodius Church, 44 N. Mill St., Kansas City, Kan. For more information, call (913) 371-1837.

St. Ann Parish in Effingham will hold its ham and beans and chicken and noodles fall meal on Nov. 11 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The St. Anthony Guild of Sacred Heart-St. Joseph Parish will host a bake and craft sale from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. on Nov. 11 at St. Joseph Church basement hall, 227 Van Buren St., Topeka.

The Knights of Columbus, Council No. 10932, will host an all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet on Nov. 11 from 8 a.m. to noon in the lower level of the Church of the Ascension, 9510 W. 127th Street, Overland Park. Cost is: $6 for adults, $4 for children ages 5-11; and free for children ages 4 and under. Proceeds support the seminarian fund.

The Knights of Columbus, Council No. 10932, will host an all-you-can-eat spaghetti dinner on Nov. 11 from 6 - 7:30 p.m. in the lower level of the Church of the Ascension, 9510 W. 127th St., Overland Park. Cost is: $7 for adults; $4 for children ages 5-11; and free for children ages 4 and younger. Proceeds support the Villa St. Francis nursing home, Olathe.

The St. Bernard’s Ladies’ Guild in Wamego is hosting its annual Stitch ’N’ Stuff bazaar on Nov. 11. The event will be held at the St. Bernard Parish hall, located at 1102 8th St., Wamego. Lunch is served from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. with homemade soups and desserts as well as hot dogs.

There will be a country store with handcrafted items and baked goods, a cakewalk, bingo, kids’ games, a raffle for a homemade quilt, Columbian Theatre tickets and gift certificates to local businesses. Everyone is welcome. For questions, call Lyla Bowser at (785) 456-9768.

Jack Cashill, a Catholic writer and producer and editor of Ingram’s magazine, will speak on what the election results may mean to our faith and culture on Nov. 14 from 6 - 8 p.m. at Carmen’s Italian Bistro in Brookside, 6307 Brookside Plaza, Kansas City, Mo. Your food or drink order is the only charge. Attendance is limited to 100. For more details or to register, visit the website at: http://soe-yof-jackcashill. eventbrite.com. All are invited.

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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

K E A T I N G Mud Jacking FOUNDATION REPAIR Cracked • Bowed • Settled Wall Repair v Wall Bracing v Waterproofing v Steel Underpinning Kansas City (913) 262-9352

MUD JACKING Raise & Level

v Patios v Drives v Garage Floors v Slab Houses Lawrence (785) 865-0006

Topeka (785) 246-0128

14 commentary

theleaven.com | november 2, 2012

as the church prays

mark my words Scripture Readings Thirty-first week of ordinary time Nov. 4 Thirty-first SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Dt 6: 2-6 Ps 18: 2-4, 47, 51 Heb 7: 23-28 Mk 12: 28b-34 Nov. 5 Monday Phil 2: 1-4 Ps 131: 1-3 Lk 14: 12-14 Nov. 6 Tuesday Phil 2: 5-11 Ps 22: 26-32 Lk 14: 15-24 Nov. 7 Wednesday Phil 2: 12-18 Ps 27: 1, 4, 13-14 Lk 14: 25-33 Nov. 8 Thursday Phil 3: 3-8a Ps 105: 2-7 Lk 15: 1-10 Nov. 9 THE DEDICATION OF THE LATERAN BASILICA Ez 47: 1-2, 8-9, 12 Ps 46: 2-3, 5-6, 8-9 1 Cor 3: 9c-11, 16-17 Jn 2: 13-22 Nov. 10 Leo the Great, pope, doctor of the church Phil 4, 10-19 Ps 112: 1-2, 5-6, 8-9 Lk 16: 9-15

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“M

commentary 15

november 2, 2012 | theleaven.com

Let’s celebrate them home

ark, one for your prayer list — Paul Schons is sick with some kind of cancer.”

Back on Aug. 12, this message arrived on Facebook from a college friend and classmate. Paul Schons was Dr. Schons, one of our German professors at the College of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minn. He was a favorite teacher for many of us.

By my calculation, he was only about 33 years old back in the day, passionate about all things German, and he treated us with respect and concern.

I sent him an email on a whim back in October 2008, thanking him for his “example, dedication and enthusiasm.” Much to my surprise, I received a warm response from him, not 10 minutes later, where he encouraged me to “stay more in contact (more than every 20 years or so!)” and mentioned that he was a great fan of the “German pope.”

Well, I didn’t write back until February 2010 when, like most students, I needed a favor from him: an Act of Contrition in German for

Father Mark Goldasich Father Mark Goldasich is the pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Tonganoxie. He has been editor of The Leaven since 1989. one of my parishioners. Sure enough, less than an hour later, he sent both a long and a short version.

Again, life intervened, until that email from my former classmate shook me up enough to email my former professor again. On Aug. 13, I told him I’d put him on my personal prayer list and on the parish prayer list for the sick. Back came a reply, just a few hours later: “A thousand thanks! Your prayers are MUCH appreciated! They tell me I have 2-3 months yet. I feel confident and look forward to meeting God.” I was stunned — not at the fact that he had only a few months to live, but at

his attitude. I wrote the next day and said that “seeing your courage in facing this illness only increases my respect for you.” I promised to regularly say a prayer from the sacrament of the anointing of the sick for him.

I kept up with his treatments and condition via a Caring Bridge website. He was being well cared for by his wife, children and grandchildren. I didn’t bother him with more emails until Oct. 8, when I told him that he was still very close in prayer.

True to form, he responded a few hours later: “The prayers continue to be greatly appreciated! I have now declined additional treatment as the doctor informs me that additional treatment would only be short term with no hope for a cure. I’m approaching the end with John Paul II’s noted admonition, ‘Be not afraid.’ And Benedict’s teachings on hope and friendship with Jesus.”

I wrote him another email on Oct. 18. Receiving no response, I suspected that his death was imminent. It was. He died on Oct. 21, at the age of 72. Yes, I did

shed tears for this wonderful teacher and friend. But my mind and heart kept returning to his deep faith: “I feel confident and look forward to meeting God.” That, for sure, is the attitude of a close friend of Jesus.

The past few days, in Paul’s memory, I’ve been playing a song by Kenny Loggins, “Celebrate Me Home.” In part, it says: “Home for the holidays/ I believe I’ve missed each and every face/ Come on and play my music/ Let’s turn on the love light in this place./ It’s time I found myself/ Totally surrounded in your circles, my friends./ Please celebrate me home.”

I believe that Paul is truly home with God for the holidays, bathed in the light of Love in heaven, totally surrounded by his friends, the saints. I’ll remember Paul’s life and words, his song of faith, especially in this month of November when we hold all our beloved dead so close to us.

And, along with our tears, may God give us all the grace to joyfully “celebrate them home.”

In the beginning

Baptism has delivered to us the promised land

M

ilk sweetened with a bit of sugar sounds like a tasty drink.

In the early church, this was offered to the newly baptized as part of the ceremony.

The purpose in doing so was not merely to give refreshment to the newly baptized, but to symbolize that they had spiritually arrived in the promised land flowing with milk and honey.

That is the proverbial way of describing Canaan, the new home of the Israelites.

And that is how Sunday’s first reading, Dt 6: 2-6, describes it. Moses is reminding the people of Israel of God’s promise to them: “in keeping with the promise of the Lord, the God of your fathers, to give you a land flowing with milk and honey.”

This phrase, “a land flowing with milk and honey,” appears several times in the

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

Bible. It clearly suggests material prosperity and abundance. But what specifically does it mean?

The phrase is a figure of speech called synecdoche.

In synecdoche, a part is used to represent the whole. For example, if the captain of a ship calls for “all hands” to assemble on deck, he means that all the sailors aboard should assemble on deck, and not just their hands. He wants the whole person.

Similarly, when an army commander talks about boots on the ground, he means the whole soldier, not just their boots. The part represents the whole in synecdoche.

Milk is an important product of raising livestock.

In the phrase “milk and honey,” the word “milk” represents the entire livestock industry. There are other products besides milk, such as meat, leather, wool in the case of sheep and goats.

But the part represents the whole.

Similarly, the word “honey” represents crop production. The honey in question does not come from bees, but rather from the date palm. It is a syrup made from dates.

The land of Canaan produced many other crops as well — wheat, barley, grapes. But the naming of honey represents them all. The part stands for the whole.

THE PRACTICAL CATHOLIC “Look at the birds in the sky. They do not sow or reap . . . yet your heavenly Father feeds them.”

Hearing this passage from Matthew’s Gospel (6:26) reminds me of another Matthew, my mom’s dad. As a kid, I used to think that the heavenly Father had delegated Grandpa this task of feeding the birds — not those in cages, but those that fly free in the sky.

My grandparents’ backyard had a stone birdbath and, after most meals, leftover bread was tossed outside for the birds (ex-

In other words, “a land flowing with milk and honey” means a land rich with livestock and crops. It means agricultural prosperity. That is what God was promising to the Israelite people.

God makes this promise as part of a covenant with Israel.

They are to keep the statutes and commandments that God has enjoined on them. If they do that, they will enjoy long life, grow and prosper.

Through our baptism, we have spiritually arrived in the promised land. It is not the land of Canaan, but the church, the community of faith. And once again, God assures us of long life — not in this world, but eternally in heaven.

There, we will enjoy, not material prosperity, but spiritual riches. That is the “milk and honey” that will flow for us in abundance.

cept when Grandma had wash on the line). Now, my mom (and many of her neighbors) provides a veritable buffet for our feathered friends to dine on each day.

With colder weather coming on, don’t forget these members of God’s creation. After all, not all birds head south for the winter.

Put up birdhouses or feeders . . . or at least occasionally toss some scraps of bread outside.

You’ll not only be amazed at the number and variety of “guests” that will come, but you’ll free up the Father for more pressing needs in the world.

— M.G.

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Mass hymns are way to give glory, build community

s we conclude our look at music and the Mass, many may be surprised that the church considers

the music used during the entrance procession, the procession of gifts, and the Communion procession to be of the last “degree” of importance.

But this does not mean that this music is not important.

It does, however, challenge liturgical musicians to carefully consider the other important opportunities for music within the liturgy beyond that of the hymns

Michael Podrebarac Michael Podrebarac is the archdiocesan consultant for the liturgy office and songs.

What sorts of music should we sing during these processions, when movement, text and melody combine to form sacred worship?

Essentially, the church gives us two options: an antiphon (short refrain) sung with verses from the psalms, or “another liturgical chant

that is suited to the sacred action, the day, or the time of year” (General Instruction of the Roman Missal, No. 48).

The church actually has antiphons and psalm verses prescribed for every liturgy throughout the year. We sometimes call these the “propers” of the Mass, for they are the appointed texts which accompany the entrance of the ministers, the presentation of the gifts, and the communion procession.

Many of these prescribed selections date back centuries and may be sung in Latin according to the chant books, or even in English, set to chant melodies or other musical forms.

But we are permitted to incorporate into the text of the Mass any liturgical

chant, hymn or song which reinforces the meaning and purpose of the liturgical action, or the feast being celebrated, or the liturgical season.

Liturgical musicians thus have the serious responsibility of bringing into our worship experience only that which gives glory to God and brings the people of God to encounter the mysteries of salvation with reverence and dignity.

There’s always an opportunity for parish musicians to examine their consciences in this regard!

Liturgical chant, hymnody, contemporary songs and canticles, choral works both ancient and new, texts which point us toward God and build up the community of faith, sung in Latin or the

various vernacular languages of those who worship together, accompanied by instruments which bow their nature to the sacred rites and actions: This is a well-balanced diet of liturgical music!

After all, what would our liturgical experience of Christmas be without the carol “O Come, All Ye Faithful”? Would it not be even richer if we included the Latin chant “Hodie Christus natus est,” or the modern hymn “Song of the Stable,” or the verses of “Silent Night” in our native languages, even accompanied on guitar as it was first written for, or the beloved spiritual “Go Tell it on the Mountain,” or the . . .

How even richer still, if we sung them all!

vocations corner

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Seminarians, technology and the new evangelization

ome of you know Father Robert Barron as the host of the Catholicism Project, the beautiful videos catechizing the Catholic faith.

Others know him from his Word on Fire website, which includes his weekly audio homilies. Millions have watched his YouTube videos explaining the Catholic faith or commenting on popular culture from a Catholic perspective.

Father Barron has been intensely interested in the new evangelization spoken

father Mitchel zimmerman Father Mitchel Zimmerman is the archdiocesan vocations director. of by the last two popes, the re-presentation of the faith to those who once had it, but have lost it.

Father Barron is now the rector at one of the seminaries we use, Mundelein Seminary near Chicago, and wants to make the seminary a hub of the new evangelization. Specifically, he wants

to awaken in new priests a competency in reaching people with new ardor and new methods. In a recent rector’s conference, he laid out for the seminarians seven qualities that will make a priest of the new evangelization.

I myself like to spend a few minutes each day kicking around Facebook or tweeting a bit. I will occasionally share a homily on my blog.

During our recent pilgrimage with the archbishop, I challenged the seminarians to use their social networks to get people interested in our pilgrimage and in vocations. Almost half of young people check Facebook as the first thing they do in the morning. This

is lamentable in one respect, but an opportunity as well, and I do believe that we must at least try to preach the Gospel in the language of the culture. To evangelize the culture, we must know it and be competent in its methods.

Not all of our new priests will be the next Father Robert Barron or Archbishop Fulton Sheen. More important than their competency on the Web is, of course, their personal relationship with Christ. Tweeting can never replace prayer.

Intimacy with Christ is the real sine qua non of the new evangelization.

Amid all the technology present, there is, as we all know, the danger of failing to be present to each other

and a real inability to fall in love with another person with the vulnerability that makes us human. Our seminarians should spend much more time on fostering their relationship with Christ in prayer than on their Facebook pages.

Still, the new ardor that is the base of the new evangelization must be expressed through real means, and the methods of the new evangelization will change faster than any of us can predict or control. Please pray that our seminarians become docile to the Spirit, which will move us along this important path of how to speak about the truth and love of Jesus Christ to a culture which needs to meet him.

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16 local news

theleaven.com | november 2, 2012

‘Marked with the sign of faith’ n the communion of saints includes both living and dead

The first state

The Church Militant is comprised of the living who are engaged in the daily battle against sin and evil.

The second state

By Woodeene Koenig-Bricker Special to The Leaven

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s the church year begins to wind down, the focus of the readings and holy days turns toward endings: death, the Last Judgment, the return of Jesus at the end of time. Inherent in all of this is a central reality of our Catholic faith: There is life after death.

It is precisely because we believe that life continues after our mortal demise that we also believe in the communion of saints. In fact, each time we say the Apostles’ Creed we profess: “I believe in . . . the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints.”

What do we mean when we say these words? In one sense, we are expressing our belief in those men and women who have been named saints with a capital “S” — like St. Kateri Tekakwitha, who was canonized in October. But the communion of saints is more than those select whose lives are so remarkable that the world acknowledges their holiness.

It also encompasses what the Catechism of the Catholic Church calls “the three states of the church.”

Based on 1 Cor 12:12, where St. Paul writes that “all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body,” the teaching says that those of us on earth, those in purgatory and those in heaven are all united under Christ.

As the catechism puts it: “When the Lord comes in glory, and all his angels with him, death will be no more and all things will be subject to him. But at the present time some of his disciples are pilgrims on earth. Others have died and are being purified, while still others are in glory, contemplating ‘in full light, God himself triune and one, exactly as he is’” (CCC, No. 954).

The first state — “pilgrims on earth” — is sometimes called the Church Militant because the living are engaged in the daily battle against sin and evil. The second state, those who are “being purified,” is called the Church Suffering, because those souls, while assured of final salvation, are undergoing a period of suffering and cleansing in purgatory.

The Church Suffering are the souls which, while assured of final salvation, are undergoing a period of suffering and cleansing in purgatory.

The last state

The Church Triumphant refers to those men and women who are already in heaven.

“The Ascension,” by 16th century artist Dosso Dossi, depicts a heavenly and earthly plain. Earth is considered the Church Militant because the living are still engaged in a daily battle against evil.

Heaven is the Church Triumphant, referring to those who are in heaven and see the full light of God. Finally, the last state, the Church Triumphant, refers to those men and women who are in heaven, including not just the saints with a capital “S” but all who now see the “full light” of God, the proverbial saints who come marching in.

The way these three states of the church are united in Christ is through what is called the “communion of spiritual goods,” a theological way of saying that we can, and should, pray for each other.

It’s easy to see how those on earth can pray for one another — the prayers of the faithful at Mass are a prime ex-

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ample of the way we can pray for one another here on earth.

Asking for the prayers of those in heaven — especially the saints — is also easy to understand. In fact, a miracle in answer to intercessory prayer is a prerequisite for canonization. We believe that the prayers of those in heaven are particularly effective: “They do not cease to intercede with the Father for us, as they proffer the merits which they acquired on earth through the one mediator between God and men, Christ Jesus. . . . So by their fraternal concern is our weakness greatly helped” (CCC, No. 956).

meal. There are lots of healthy and delicious desserts.

Fresh fruits, yogurts, smoothies and fruit sorbets can satisfy a sweet tooth in a positive way.

But everyone likes a little sugar and fat sometimes — and, in moderation, they can be part of a healthy diet. So why not establish a “decadent dessert night”?

Once each week, let a family member come up with a

The relationship with the Church Suffering, however, is a bit different.

From the earliest days of the church, prayers have been offered for the dead so that they might be loosed from their sins and have their time in purgatory shortened.

Since those in this state are not yet fully in the presence of God, they cannot pray for us in the same way that those in heaven can, but, as the catechism explains: “Our prayer for them is capable not only of helping them, but also of making their intercession for us effective” (CCC, No. 958).

We believe that as we can help them with our prayers, so, too, they can help us in some way. This time of year, particularly on All Souls Day, we are asked to remember the souls in purgatory in a special way.

One thing to remember about the communion of saints: Even though we commonly say that we are praying “to” a person, particularly a canonized saint, we can’t pray to a person. We can only pray to God. What we do when we pray “to” a saint, is to ask his or her aid and intercession in praying with us to God. In doing so, however, we affirm two fundamental truths of our faith — that there is life after death and that all believers are somehow mysteriously united in the communion of saints through Christ.

As Pope Paul VI said, “[We] all together [form] one Church; and we believe that in this communion, the merciful love of God and his saints is always [attentive] to our prayers” (Paul VI, “Credo of the People of God,” No. 30).

decadent dessert. Your whole family can look forward to Chocolate Chip Cookie night, Upside-Down Cake night or S’more night.

The most important decadent-dessert-night rule is to make just enough for that evening — and then it’s gone.

—J.R.E.