11-08-13 Vol. 35 No. 14

theleaven.com | vol. 35, no. 14 | November 8, 2013

St. James Academy Thunder rolls into highest volleyball ranking

St. James Academy sophomore Jenna Gray (No. 6) sets up senior Audrey Wenski for a spike in substate action. St. James volleyball finished its season undefeated and ranked No. 1 in the country by prepvolleyball.com.

Senior Brianna Lewis, left, and junior Abigail Brown, make a diving save attempt. St. James won its sixth straight state championship Nov. 2.

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LENEXA — If anyone ever wanted to prove wrong the old saying that “It’s lonely at the top,” they need look no further than the varsity volleyball team of St. James Academy here.

Facing St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Overland Park, the 5A St. James team won its sixth straight state championship on Nov. 2 at the Kansas Expocentre in Topeka — and finished the season ranked No. 1 in the nation by prepvolleyball.com.

And the trip to the top was nothing short of a team effort — from start to finish.

“It’s honestly surreal” is how Arianna Person, a St. Story by James senior who has played on the team all four years, de- Jessica scribed the feeling of playing Langdon on the court while thundering crowds cheered on the team.

“We would not be anywhere as good as we are if it Photos by weren’t for our community,” Susan she said. “It’s just nice to know you have people behind your McSpadden back rooting for you — whether you win or lose.”

This year’s undefeated team carried on a tradition the team started in its earliest days — when St. James first opened in 2005 — explained coach Nancy Dorsey, who is in her ninth year of coaching the volleyball team.

“They were a hard-working bunch,” she said of the team that started with freshmen and grew as the school did. “They believed so strongly in the mission we set for them and the goals.”

And through the years, the expectations, practices and goals have so ingrained themselves in this team and its players that everyone buys into the idea that “this is the way it’s going to be at St. James,” said Dorsey. “We have high expectations for our girls.” >> See “Athletes” on page 5

Jenna Gray (No. 6) sets for fellow sophomore Audriana Fitzmorris.

St. James head coach Nancy Dorsey congratulates senior Arianna Person on another victory.

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2 local news

theleaven.com | november 8, 2013

Life will be victorious

Banging on the Lord’s door eventually gave archbishop his answer

L

ast week, I concluded my column by describing my confused state of mind at the beginning of the summer of 1969.

archbishop Joseph F. Naumann

In society at that time, there was a great deal of upheaval as a result of the protests to the Vietnam War, the race riots in many cities, the sexual revolution, the drug culture, and some of the unintended consequences of the reforms of Vatican II, e.g. a significant number of priest and religious abandoning their ministries.

In the United States, a youth culture had emerged that encouraged my generation to question all authority and not to trust anyone over the age of 30.

It was the summer between my sophomore and junior year of college. I had graduated from the seminary high school and completed the first two years of the seminary college program. I was not only confused about whether I was called to be a priest, but about much more fundamental questions: Did God exist? If there was a God, was Jesus his son? If there was a God, did he really take a personal interest in individual human beings?

Or was this just wishful thinking?

The seminary had just instituted a six-week program for the summer between the sophomore and junior year of college. The program was placed in the middle of the summer, making it very difficult to get any type of summer job. The seminary leadership wisely perceived this was an important summer for us, when we needed to reflect on vocational dis-

cernment without the usual summer distractions.

My classmates and I were not happy with this new requirement. Our seminary rector told us the program was voluntary, but not optional. In other words, if you were choosing to remain in the seminary, then you were choosing to participate in this program.

The six weeks began with an eight-day silent retreat.

This was a completely new experience for me. I had never been silent for more than a few hours. At the beginning of the retreat, I scheduled an appointment with the retreat master. I told him that I was very confused. Naturally, he assumed that it was about my vocation. I told him that it was much more fundamental than that. I was confused about the existence of God, about whether Jesus was who he claimed to be, and about whether — if there was a God — he had any personal interest in individual human beings.

The retreat master was very wise. He advised me to read the first half of the 11th chapter of St. Luke’s Gospel, which begins with the disciples asking Jesus to teach them how to pray. Jesus gave his disciples the instruction on prayer that we call the Lord’s Prayer, or the Our Father. He follows this instruction with the parable about a man who has unexpected guests arrive in the middle of the night. He goes

to his neighbor to ask for some bread for his guests, because he has none to offer them. Jesus says that if the man persists in knocking on the door, the neighbor will respond. If the neighbor does not respond for friendship’s sake, he will do so to prevent his entire household from being awakened by the man’s persistent banging.

Jesus urges his disciples to be persistent in their prayer. Our Lord tells them: “Ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” Jesus reminds the disciples how earthly fathers know how to give their children what is truly good for them. How much more, he says, does your heavenly Father know how to give you what is truly good.

The retreat master recommended that my prayer should consist in just banging on our Lord’s door, asking God to reveal himself to me and his will for my life. He encouraged me to muster enough faith to pray: “God, if you are there, make clear to me your presence and love.”

For the eight day retreat and for the entire six weeks, I spent a lot of time in the chapel in the presence of the Eucharist. My prayer was pretty much just a persistent asking God to reveal himself to me. I did not hear any voices like Paul did on the road to Damascus. I did not experience any blinding lights. However, gradually, my doubts dissipated. I experienced God’s presence and love for me in a way that I had not previously known. By the end of the six weeks, I was not only convinced there was a God, but that he was calling me to serve him and his church as a priest. I felt there was

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nothing more important that I could do with my life than help others discover God’s love for them revealed in his son, Jesus.

After this, I had six more years of study and seminary formation to see if the church agreed with my discernment. Fortunately for me, the church confirmed what I knew in my heart. In the 44 years since that pivotal summer for me of 1969, I have had a lot of challenges and some difficulties, but never again was I plagued with doubts about God’s existence or his love for me.

I have also received many confirmations in my priestly ministry of what first became so real and clear to me in the summer of 1969.

The fact that you are reading this article means you are a relatively committed Catholic. What was the event or events that have made you so strong in your faith? Who were the individuals who played a significant role in your discovery of Our Lord’s love for you?

These are important questions for each of us to answer, because they should be the basis for our constant prayer of thanksgiving to God. The answer to those questions will also make up the substance of your own “call story.” We all have a story, a beautiful story of how God has revealed his love to us.

An important part of the new evangelization is for each of us to ponder and give thanks for the ways in which God has manifested his love for us.

We should also be ready, when the opportunity presents itself, to share with others the reason for our faith and hope in Jesus Christ and our love for his church.

calendar archbishop

Naumann Nov. 8 Blessing of Advice and Aid Pregnancy Center — Shawnee Clergy Day on natural family planning, featuring Dr. Laurie Heap Catholic Charities St. Martin of Tours Mass and reception — St. Ann, Prairie Village Nov. 9 “Catholic Way” recording Bishop Miege High School Foundation Mass Nov. 10 U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Pro-Life Committee meeting — Baltimore USCCB Life and Dignity Task Force Nov. 11-14 USCCB general meeting Nov. 14 National Committee for Human Life Amendment board meeting

Nov. 16 Brunch for retired priests Installation of Father Dan Gardner — St. Ann, Hiawatha

archbishop

keleher Nov. 11-14 U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops meeting — Baltimore Nov. 15 Mass — St. James Academy, Lenexa

‘Proclaim It!’ turns Year of Faith growth outward

By Joe Bollig joe@theleaven.com

K

ANSAS CITY, Kan. — The Year of Faith may be ending, but the archdiocesan Faith Initiative continues as Catholics are called to live out their baptism through the new evangelization.

The call for all parishioners to take part in the new evangelization — sounded first by Blessed Pope John Paul II — was repeated at the third annual archdiocesan Convocation of Parish Ministries, held Oct. 30, at Savior Pastoral Center in Kansas City, Kan. About 450 people attended the convocation, which was sponsored by Savior Pastoral Center. The attendees of the daylong event included pastors and associate pastors, parish staff and administrators, committee heads and other key parish leadership.

The theme of the convocation was “Proclaim It!” “We took the theme [of the Year of Faith] and pushed it forward,” said Tim Chik, director of Savior Pastoral Center and member of the Faith Initiative coordinating committee.

“What we learned and gathered during the Year of Faith and the concurrent archdiocesan Faith Initiative — ‘Love It, Learn It, Live It,’ we want to now proclaim,” he continued. “So, our theme and focus of the day was ‘Faith: Proclaim it in word, spirit and deed.’”

While the Year of Faith had as its goal internal spiritual growth, the goal of the “Proclaim It!” year is external growth. It means calling out to other people, encouraging other people to join Catholics at church and encouraging people who have fallen away to come back.

“Proclaiming our faith means we will — in spirit, word and deed — do something out of ourselves and even out of our comfort zone to proclaim the Gospel,” said Chik. “That is really what this year is all about.”

As the archdiocese moves forward with the call for all Catholics to proclaim their faith, it has kept the Faith Initiative’s three-fold pattern, he said. Proclaiming “in spirit” correlates to love, “in word” harmonizes with learning, and “in deed” harmonizes with living.

The convocation featured video and audio presentations, prayer, a Mass celebrated by Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann, and addresses by a number of speakers.

One of the presenters, professor Mark Zia of Benedictine College in Atchison, talked about the new evangelization specifically.

“The work of evangelization is, perhaps, best summarized [as] living the person of Christ in spirit, in word, and deed,” he said.

What is the new evangelization? As distinct from the “first evangelization” of the early church, the new evangelization refers to bringing the Gospel to people of a new age and culture. Zia quoted Pope John Paul II, who suggested the “new” in the new evangelization requires new ardor, new methods and new expression.

The challenges of the new evangelization are many. One challenge is to bring the Gospel to people who have no religion or are hostile to religion. Another

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

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Leaven photo by Joe Bollig

The next step of the ongoing archdiocesan Faith Initiative is to proclaim the faith in the context of the new evangelization, said Father Gary Pennings, vicar general and moderator of the archdiocesan curia. Two important components will be collaborative partnerships and the Digital Media Center. is the mastery and understanding of new media and new technologies. Only love, coming from an authentic, well-grounded life of faith can transform those we minister to.

“Pope Paul VI said this wonderfully — that modern man listens more willingly to witnesses than to teachers, and if he does listen to teachers, it is because they are first witnesses,” said Zia. In her presentation, Olivia Stear, a Lawrence-based parish researcher for the Fellowship of Catholic University Students, explained a new paradigm of evangelization called “spiritual multiplication,” based on relationships, whereby people are empowered to be disciples and mentor their own disciples.

In his remarks, Father Gary Pennings, vicar general and moderator of the archdiocesan curia, said the next component of archdiocesan Faith Initiative, “Proclaim It!” would happen at the parish and individual level.

The archdiocese isn’t planning a new rollout of programs for the “Proclaim It!” phase, said the vicar general, “but we will try, as best we can, to help the parishes so they can help families become proclaimers of Gospel.”

One way it is trying to facilitate the Proclaim It phase is by making some changes at the archdiocesan level.

One change is that the archdiocesan office of evangelization, directed by Father Andrew Strobl, has replaced the office of evangelization and Catholic faith formation of adults.

“The archbishop wants that office to create a culture that’s welcoming to the unchurched and de-churched,” said Father Pennings.

Another change is the establishment of a new collaborative effort with entities outside of the archdiocesan offices — the School of Faith Institute and St. Paul Outreach, primarily.

The office of evangelization will support, guide and coordinate with these collaborative partners.

“In this new office model, we’ve really kind of outsourced some of the work the

archdiocese has traditionally done with archdiocesan employees,” said Father Pennings.

One very important effort by the archdiocese and these collaborative partners will be the establishment of small group communities for small group evangelization.

The office of evangelization and collaborative partners will work with Savior Pastoral Center to develop training programs and workshops for parish small group leaders.

“Part of [the office of evangelization’s] job is to help identify these programs, bring in the right speakers, and put these programs on to enable parish staff to help build up these ministries in their parishes,” said Father Pennings.

“We have many opportunities coming up for the new evangelization,” confirmed Father Strobl. “The creation of small group communities begins next month.”

Several workshops based on the new evangelization will be held in the coming months, the first of which will be a group called Evangelical Catholic, which will be presented Dec. 4 Another important part of the new evangelization in the archdiocese is a new tool for individuals and parishes: the Digital Media Center.

The Digital Media Center, which replaces the former archdiocesan resource center, is an online library of digital resources, said Father Pennings. It can be accessed by going to the archdiocesan website at www.archkck.org, and clicking on the “Digital Media Center” button.

Archbishop Naumann closed the convocation by asking archdiocesan Catholics to take on a new mindset as they go about the new evangelization.

“Sometimes, I think [we need to ask] what is obstructing people from getting in the front doors of our churches,” said the archbishop. “We have to figure out a way to get those [obstacles] out of the way for those who aren’t churched. . . . When we do have people there for

Editor Reverend Mark Goldasich, stl frmark@theleaven.com

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Advertising Coordinator Julie Holthaus julie@theleaven.com

The pioneer spirit lives The Catholic faith was brought to what is now Kansas by courageous explorers, missionaries and pioneers, said Lesle Knop. The challenge now is for archdiocesan Catholics to emulate their faith and courage in the new evangelization.

“The Year of Faith concludes on the feast of Chris the King (Nov. 24),” said Knop, chairperson for the archdiocesan Faith Initiative coordinating committee.

The stage is well set for the Proclaim It phase by the success of the initial phase of the Faith Initiative, which was meant to strengthen the “domestic church” of the family, according to Knop.

Knop shared some revealing statistics about the Faith Initiative.

• In a survey of 14,000 households, 70 percent of respondents said they prayed more often, 28 percent said they read the Bible more frequently, more than 40 percent attended something new at their parish, and 57 percent fulfilled their faith commitment completely, mostly or somewhat.

• More than 3,000 people attended School of Faith classes, more than 4,000 attended regional missions, 700 attended Impactos family retreats, and more than 770 attended Living In Love retreats.

• More than 1,200 catechisms were purchased and more than 2,000 attended the Vatican II lecture series.

Christmas and Easter, [we must ask ourselves] what can we do that’s different, that would make them feel that we are celebrating their presence.” “[We need] to get the whole mindset of not just you, the leadership, but the whole parish turned that way,” he continued. “That is the challenge, but I think we’re up to that challenge.

“The Lord is calling us to it and has given us this commission.”

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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theleaven.com | november 8, 2013 Jack and Grace (Gregoire) Folse, members of Holy Spirit Parish, Overland Park, celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on Oct. 19 at a party hosted by their children and grandchildren. The couple was married on Oct. 30, 1953, at St. Jules Church in Belle Rose, La. Nadine (Felke) and Vernon Penka, members of St. Patrick Parish in Kansas City, Kan., will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on Nov. 16 with Mass, followed by a dinner and reception hosted by their four children and their spouses. The couple was married on Nov. 16, 1963, at St. Francis Xavier Church, Seward, by Father Dermont Tighe.

Their children and their spouses are: Karla Wilson; Vickie and Stephen Davidson; Michael Penka; and Daniel and Christine Penka. They also have six grandchildren.

Leaven photos by Marc and Julie Anderson

Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann anoints the new altar at St. Dominic Parish in Holton with sacred chrism Nov. 3. The altar is made out of oak, designed to match the church’s pews.

St. Dominic dedicates new altar signed to the parish, bringing with him a background in drafting. One of his first thoughts was to replace the altar with a larger one. Yet, as is almost alOLTON — On Nov. 3, ways the case, money was an issue unArchbishop Joseph Nautil he started discussing the idea with mann traveled to St. Domothers who suggested that even though inic Parish here to mark “a the parish might not have a wealth of rare occasion in the life of the church” financial resources, it certainly did not — the blessing and dedication of a new lack for talent. altar.

“I started thinking, ‘Why couldn’t Some 250 attended the Mass celewe do that?’” said Father Rossman. brated by the archbishop and concelIn fact, he said, it’s ebrated by Father Chris easy to see a trend Rossman, pastor of both among rural parishes, or St. Dominic Parish and at least those in northSt. Francis Xavier Pareast Kansas. Parishioish in nearby Mayetta. ners not only make cash Msgr. Gary Applegate donations, but in many served as the master of cases, parishioners proceremonies. vide the labor, raw maThe rite of dedication terials and expertise for for a new altar consists church construction. of several parts: sprinArmed with that kling the altar with holy thought, about a year water, singing the Litago, Father Rossman any of Saints, a prayer started working with of dedication, anointing a parishioner who was the altar with sacred willing to take on the chrism, incensing the crafting of a new altar, altar, and finally, lighting Father Chris Rossman, pastor of St. Dominic Parish in Holton, prepares the new but only if he could do the altar candles.

In his homily, Arch- church altar as part of the rite of blessing and dedication. With the help of parish- so anonymously. Soon, other parishioners startbishop Naumann ex- ioners’ talents and generosity, the altar didn’t cost the parish one cent. ed offering financial replained the importance of the altar in Christian worship, as grape motif; the altar is topped with sources, again anonymously.

In fact, although the project did not well as the dedication rite itself. Call- cream-colored quartz.

“We wanted to keep it simple, some- cost the parish budget one cent, thanks ing it “the most important symbol,” the archbishop told parishioners that the thing that would draw you to it,” said to parishioners’ generosity with their altar should be the most visible sym- Father Rossman, adding the pelican time, talent and treasure, not one pabol in a Catholic church, as it is at the is carved in 3-D relief from woods of rishioner wants to claim any share of the credit. For that reason, only a few altar that Christ’s sacrifice on Calvary varying hues.

The idea for a new altar originated people know the donors’ names. is made present once again. The altar For Father Rossman, the fact that then becomes, the archbishop said, a during the tenure of Father Richard table not unlike the table of the Last Halvorson, when, around 2006 or 2007, the altar was made for and provided Supper or unlike a family table, which the 1920s church underwent a mas- through the generosity of anonymous sive restoration project. As part of the donors means something special. people can approach for nourishment.

“This was made by our people, our The altar design is one, according project, the intention was to craft or to Father Rossman, that draws your purchase a new altar at that time. For own parishioners,” he said, “and that gives it a different meaning.” attention. That’s because — although some reason, it did not happen. the altar is fashioned from oak wood In 2010, Father Rossman was asBy Marc and Julie Anderson Special to The Leaven

H

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and matched to the church’s pews — the design itself is simple and eye-catching. A pelican feeding three baby pelicans with her own blood (symbolizing Christ’s sacrifice on the cross) is featured in the center on the front. The Alpha and Omega, the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet (symbolizing Christ as “the Beginning and the End”), are featured prominently on either side.

Around the base is a simple

Anniversary policy

• The Leaven prints 50, 60, 65 and 70th notices.

• Announcements are due eight days before the desired publication date.

• Announcements must be typed.

• They are for parishioners of Catholic parishes in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, or for those who have resided in the archdiocese for a significant period of time.

Include the following Information: • The couple’s names; their parish; the date they were married; church and city where they were married; what they are doing to celebrate; date of the celebration; names of children (if desired); number of grandchildren and great-grandchildren; Send notices to: The Leaven, 12615 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City, KS 66109, attn: anniversaries; or send an email to: Todd@theleaven.com.

Veterans Day observance scheduled at Resurrection Cemetery, Lenexa LENEXA — Veterans, family members and friends are invited to attend a flag-raising ceremony and tribute at 2 p.m. on Nov. 11 at the veterans memorial at Resurrection Cemetery here, located at 83rd and Quivira.

The American Legion Band will provide a patriotic musical prelude at 1:30 p.m. The brief ceremony will include the flag-raising, music, a tribute to veterans, prayer, a 21-gun salute and the playing of taps. American Legion Post 370 will be the color guard. Small flags will be available for grave-site decorations.

Father Jeremiah Spencer, chairman of the Catholic Cemeteries board of trustees, will give the tribute to veterans. Father Spencer is a priest of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas. In addition to parish ministry, he was chaplain at the University of Kansas Hospital for many years.

The veterans memorial at Resurrection Cemetery features monuments and flags representing the five branches of the U.S. Armed Forces and the U.S. Merchant Marine. Family members and friends can remember and honor veterans by arranging to have their names engraved on the granite walls adjoining the monuments.

Adjacent to the memorial is a section dedicated for burial of veterans and their spouses.

For more information, call Catholic Cemeteries at (913) 371-4040; send an email to: information@cathcemks.org; or visit the website at: www.cathcemks.org.

LOCAL NEWS 5

november 8, 2013 | theleaven.com

Athletes are a team both on and off the court >> Continued from page 1 People have taken notice. This isn’t the team’s first No. 1 ranking, and St. James has ranked in the top 50 since 2007, said Dorsey.

And while the team has enjoyed considerable success, it comes with the knowledge that the team has a target on its back, acknowledged Arianna.

Plenty of competitors have set out hoping to quiet the St. James Academy Thunder.

“It helps us realize every day in practice and on the court that we’re going to get everybody’s best match,” said Dorsey. “It keeps us mentally tough, as well as physically tough.”

The girls aren’t easily rattled.

“We’re really disciplined. We have awesome team chemistry,” said Brianna Lewis, a senior at St. James. “We believe in each other and we have faith in each other and we all love each other like sisters.”

They play for one another, said Arianna.

Dorsey has been impressed watching all 12 girls — whether they’re on the court or off — pour everything they have into their roles and the team.

“No one person goes out and wins a volleyball match,” she said. “You need all six players and the people on the bench.”

She has seen them all help one another shine.

And they’d do anything to help each other, said Arianna.

She and Brianna explained that while some teams come together on the court but can take or leave one another when the game ends, the St. James players remain close both on and off the court.

They have bonded with their coaches and created lasting memories through team dinners and the trips to out-of-town games.

Some play other sports together as well.

The team has four Division I play-

St. James sophomore Audriana Fitzmorris goes high for a spike in a substate playoff game at Turner High School on Oct. 26. St. James completed an undefeated season with a sixth straight state championship and a No. 1 ranking in the country. ers, and two seniors — Arianna and Brianna, who both plan to attend Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn.

— will be playing Division I volleyball next year, said Dorsey.

One of her happiest moments in

coaching came when Brianna shared with her that she’d received a scholarship offer and would be living out her dream.

More members of the team plan to play in college, as well.

It’s always bittersweet — for the players, the team and the coaches — when the season ends and seniors head off to college.

Meanwhile, colleges are also keeping an eye on younger talent on the team.

Two of the sophomores, Audriana Fitzmorris and Jenna Gray, have been heavily recruited, said Dorsey.

Audriana played on the U.S. Junior National team.

“When you’re 6 [foot] 5 [inches tall] and you’re a sophomore and you can move, that’s pretty uncommon,” said Dorsey.

The team members point to their coaches and teammates as examples of how to play their best, and also how to become the best people they can be.

“I know that I’m so much better as a person just for being with these girls — learning the meaning of friendship and teamwork,” said Arianna. “Knowing how much they care for me has made me want to be a better person. They’ve been with me every step of the way.”

Brianna can easily pinpoint something that stands out to her about every single girl on the team.

For the girls who plan to play college volleyball, Dorsey — who played at the University of Kansas — hasn’t sugarcoated the sometimes pressure-cooker environment.

But the girls who go on to play collegiate volleyball know that high school graduation doesn’t mean they’re cutting ties with their extended St. James family.

For Arianna, it’s “kind of like taking a big weight off your shoulders” to know that Dorsey will not only be following the games when she and Brianna play volleyball at Belmont University next year, but she’ll actually make it to a game.

“My husband and I laugh that all our vacations are going to be volleyballoriented,” said Dorsey. “They’re part of our family.”

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theleaven.com | november 8, 2013

More than

X’s & O’s

By the numbers

Permanent Deacons There are more than

18,000

permanent deacons in the United States

17

Leaven photo by Joe Bollig

Bishop Robert W. Finn celebrates the annual Red Mass Oct. 23 at Visitation Church in Kansas City, Mo. Concelebrating with Bishop Finn are Bishop Thomas J. Paprocki of the Diocese of Springfield, Ill., left, and Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann.

Law guild members attend Red Mass

By Joe Bollig joe@theleaven.com

K

ANSAS CITY, Mo. — Members of the Catholic Lawyers Guild of Kansas City were urged to follow the example of St. Thomas More and be faithful as they engage the world at the annual Red Mass held Oct. 23 at Visitation Parish here.

It is called a Red Mass because of the color of the vestments worn by the celebrant. The color red symbolizes the Holy Spirit.

The Red Mass, organized by the guild, is a time for judges, attorneys and officeholders to ask for the intervention of the Holy Spirit as they fulfill their responsibilities.

The main celebrant at the Red Mass was Bishop Robert W. Finn of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph.

Concelebrants included Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas; Bishop Thomas J. Paprocki of the Diocese of Springfield, Ill.; and five priests.

Two deacons assisted.

Bishop Paprocki has been a member of the Illinois bar for 32 years and a canon lawyer for the past 22 years.

In his homily, Bishop Paprocki held up St. Thomas More, the patron saint of lawyers and politicians, as an example of integrity and holiness.

“Thomas More is remembered today as a saint,” said Bishop Paprocki, “a man who was devoted to Christ and his church, and who willingly sacrificed his power, his wealth and security — and, ultimately, his life — out of love for God.” More, who was lord chancellor of England under King Henry VIII, was beheaded at the order of the king because he would not assent to an act of Parliament that made King Henry VIII supreme head of the church in England, nor to an oath renouncing the authority of the Catholic Church in religious matters.

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Bishop Paprocki called on guild members to engage the world through faith, even as they keep their eyes fixed on heaven.

“Specifically, as Christians and citizens, we are obliged to work for justice and promote the common good — an obligation that is especially meaningful in a democratic society,” he said, “where a government . . . possesses limited constitutional authority to care for the common good, and where the balance is entrusted to the care of nongovernmental institutions . . . including churches.”

Since Catholics are a minority in this area of the country, Bishop Paprocki urged an ecumenical alliance to fight for common values.

“I believe it is important that we find common ground to work with our fellow brothers and sisters baptized in Christ,” said the bishop. “In this regard, I was pleased to see the recent interview in The Wall Street Journal with Russell Moore, the new president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission.”

“In that interview,” he continued, “Mr. Moore said that he wants to refocus the evangelical movement on serving as a religious example battling in the public square on ‘three core issues’ — life, marriage and religious liberty. I wholeheartedly agree with this agenda and pray that there will be fruitful cooperation between Catholics and other Christians on these core issues.”

The biggest obstacle to promoting and protecting the three core issues is apathy or, in more specific and theological terminology, acedia. This, one of the seven capital sins, is also known as sloth, said Bishop Paprocki.

“The capital sin of sloth refers to a spiritual sluggishness . . . which refuses the joy that comes from God and is repelled by divine goodness,” he said.

Another obstacle in the way of the promotion and protection of the

three core issues is an improper understanding of conscience, said the bishop.

“Too many Catholics,” he said, “have justified their rejection of Catholic teaching on human sexuality, marriage and family life as a matter of following their ‘conscience,’ but apparently without properly understanding what ‘conscience’ means.”

For Catholics, a properly formed conscience means to share God’s knowledge and the church’s teaching about right and wrong, he said. When St. Thomas More invoked conscience against King Henry VIII, he was declaring that he was not following a personal preference, but was thinking with the mind of the church.

Before the dismissal, the guild recognized Kansas City, Mo., attorney Martin M. Meyers with its St. Thomas More Award.

Meyers, a graduate of Rockhurst High School and the University of Missouri–Kansas City School of Law, has been an attorney for 30 years. He was recognized as a “super lawyer” in Missouri and Kansas for 2005 to 2011, and named one of the Best Lawyers of America for 2003 to 2011. He owns The Meyers Law Firm of Kansas City, Mo. Meyers is a religious emblems chairman of the Catholic Committee on Scouting for the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, a member of the board of regents of Conception Seminary College, and a member of Visitation Parish.

“His faith is what drives his practice,” said Chris Kopecky, guild president. “When he goes to trial, he truly tries to help someone who might be underrepresented or disadvantaged by someone. I think he considers himself a great equalizer. Working from his faith and spirituality, he really tries to make a difference and get justice for that person.”

There was a reception held in the social hall following the Mass.

permanent deacons in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas

68%

are at least in their 60s

25%

of all deacons are at least 70

1

out of the 195 U.S. dioceses has no permanent deacons

78% are white

15%

are Hispanic

3%

are African American or Asian

92%

of permanent deacons in active ministry are currently married

4%

are widowers

2%

have never been married

646

the number of deacons in Chicago — most in the United States Source: Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate

Story by Jessica Langdon | Photos by Susan McSpadden Tom Lally, the head football coach of the Resurrection CYO football team, makes an on-the-field adjustment during a recent game. He’s serious about forming strong young men on and off the field. But they also make time for fun. He loves to see the kids gather in the post-game huddle, all eager to talk, and they even take breaks from competitive drills for silly moments like touchdown dance drills.

Coach teaches kids to tackle life’s ups and downs

T

he players poured their hearts into the game, but the fledgling football team just couldn’t put up much of a defense its first year.

Nor could the offense move the ball many yards.

No, the team certainly didn’t rack up a lot of points on the scoreboard.

Yet every boy on this brand-new third-andfourth-grade Resurrection Catholic School at the Cathedral team was dying to do it all again when the second season started this summer.

“Even with the season they had [in 2012], my son could not wait for the season to start,” said Stacy Cowan, whose son Michael is a fourth-grader at Resurrection in Kansas City, Kan. Michael doesn’t even worry about whether his team wins or loses.

When asked if he won, he says, “I had a good time!”

Lally gives his son Tommy a kiss as he heads back onto the field. He says that, like many parent coaches, he’s tougher on his son. They talk after games. “I’ll praise him for all the great things he did, and we never dwell on a loss,” said Lally.

Coaching by the numbers 5,369

Number of children who participated in CYO sports in Johnson and Wyandotte counties during the 2012-2013 year (4,530 in grades three to eight; 839 high school basketball participants)

727

Number of head coaches All teams have one to three assistant coaches, with football teams having two to five. So the total number of coaches likely adds up to more than 1,500.

>> Continued on the next page

11/5/13 4:45 PM

>> Continued from previous page

New game plan Prayer has always kicked off the games of the Catholic Youth Organization of Johnson and Wyandotte Counties.

But Peter Piscitello, CYO executive director, is particularly proud of the addition of a new faith element this year, called the 5-Minute Game Plan.

CYO worked with archdiocesan schools and religious education programs to bring topics that kids are already discussing into their athletic activities, as well.

Lesson plans are divided by sports season (fall, winter, spring) and grade level (third to eighth).

The lessons include Scripture, a saint or other topic, and prayer. They are designed for discussions that last five to 10 minutes at practice.

It’s a practical way, said Piscitello, for coaches to relate the faith to sports.

For example, if fifth-graders are studying the beatitudes, the coach can ask: “How does this play into how we treat an opponent when they’re injured?” or “How do we treat other people whether we win or lose?”

They’re natural conversations based on a theology curriculum tailored to those grades.

“Kids love practice so much. They love this game,” said Piscitello. “They can connect this topic to something they talked about at school.”

Cowan, Resurrection’s athletic director, gives a lot of credit for Michael’s positive attitude and the boys’ unwavering enthusiasm to the team’s head coach, Tom Lally.

As athletic director — and a mom — Cowan appreciates the impact a good coach and just being part of a team can have on a child’s life.

“Without people like Tom Lally stepping up and giving his time of his own free will, these kids would not have that constant,” said Cowan.

Lally and more than 1,500 other adults coach youth teams within the Catholic Youth Organization of Johnson and Wyandotte Counties.

And they play an important role in the development not only of young athletes, but of young men and women.

A coach has credibility with kids, said Peter Piscitello, CYO executive director.

“You’re rolling out the ball and letting them play,” he said.

But that’s just the tip of the iceberg, and many coaches might never know their true impact.

Kids look up to their coaches, sometimes even as father or mother figures, Piscitello knows.

And in CYO, there’s even more.

“It may be a lot of work — and it may be thankless work a lot of times — but you have an opportunity to impact a child in one of the greatest ways on earth: You have an opportunity to lead them to Christ,” said Piscitello.

Lally tackled a big challenge launching a new team in 2012 and impressed Piscitello with his dedication to sharing the tradition of youth sports.

“They never quit, they always play hard, and the kids seem excited to be out there,” said Piscitello.

Veteran player, new coach Growing up in Kansas City, Kan., Lally savored his football and basketball seasons with the CYO while attending St. John the Baptist School.

His family never forced sports; they were just fun, good things to do.

He went on to play football at Bishop Ward High School.

Even with all those years on the field, Lally, a lifelong parishioner of St. John the Baptist, approached the start of Resurrection’s inaugural season just as new to coaching as a lot of the boys were to playing.

Which is saying something. This was the first time some of the kids had actually touched a football.

And it was the first time Resurrection Catholic School — which combined several parish schools when it opened as a consolidated school in 2007 — had its very own football team.

Like many other coaches in CYO sports, Lally — who is father to Madison, a freshman at St. Louis University in St. Louis; Lucy, a sixth-grader at Resurrection; and Tommy, a fourth-grader — has a kid on the team.

“I wanted to spend some time with my boy,” he said.

Lally’s wife Carrie, who was athletic director then, got on the phone and recruited help.

“All the parishes stepped up and said, ‘Yeah, we’ve got equipment we can lend you or that you guys can just have,’” said Lally. “So we spent $0 on football. And that’s the beauty of CYO — folks just coming together.”

Even though Resurrection’s school colors are red and white, the boys take the field in blue-and-white uniforms from one school — with helmets from another.

Leaven 11-08-13.indd 8-9

Lally sends in a substitution as his assistants Rob Podrebarac, center, and Damon Gardner look on. Lally started off as the team’s only coach, but was quickly joined by volunteers Lorenzo Hernandez, Podrebarac and Gardner.

Lally surveys his defense in a game against Prince of Peace’s CYO team. Despite some struggles during the team’s first two years, opponents have seen steady improvement from Resurrection.

Coach Hernandez and Coach Lally give instruction and make sure their players are hydrated during a break in the action. Water and equipment checks are key parts of keeping the team safe and healthy.

No. 22 Michael Cowan works hard to pick up yardage on the ground as blockers Emilio Dominguez (No. 77) and Julian Gallegos (No. 83) help pave the way.

Lally noticed the perfect lineup of the offensive line a few weeks ago — a small detail, but a success — and thought, “Wow, that’s cool. They get it.”

They compete against the very teams that uniformed them.

Although Lally walked into the team’s first practice as the lone coach, right away Lorenzo Hernandez, another player’s father, introduced himself.

“From that simple, “Hey, Coach, can I help you?’ we’ve built a great friendship and relationship,” said Lally. “He is the

mastermind behind the X’s and O’s.”

Together with assistants Rob Podrebarac, who grew up with Lally, and Lally’s neighbor Damon Gardner, who doesn’t have kids this age but wanted to help, the men are teaching kids the right way to play on the field and also, they hope, in life.

Shaping lives Lally coaches in a different era than he played in.

“We’d have three practices a day. Our coach wouldn’t give us water, and we would run and run and run,” he said.

“But that toughened us up. He was smart about it.”

Today, even coaches can be seen running to the field to squirt water into a player’s mouth or hefting a package of Gatorade onto the sidelines.

But Resurrection players aren’t being coddled.

“I want to be tough,” emphasized Lally.

“Part of any success I’ve had in my life, I attribute directly to football and our high school coaches.”

Running the field on sweltering days of three practices worked Lally’s high school team hard.

Coach Greg Beggs at Bishop Ward tried to drive home an important point to his sweaty, exhausted high school players — who weren’t necessarily ready to soak it up at the time.

“He would look us in the eye and say, ‘You know what? I’m not going to make

you do anything that I already haven’t done myself,’” recalled Lally, who today is executive director at Heartland Habitat for Humanity.

“To this day, that’s the philosophy that I use in management,” he said. “Why would my team at Heartland Habitat want to follow me if I haven’t done everything I’m asking them to do?

“So athletics are wonderful, but it’s a precursor. It’s a learning lab for life and for leadership and management.”

And he hopes that lesson is reaching even these young players.

Mauricio Castaneda proves that even the smallest details are sticking.

“Oh Mom, I’m going to sleep and I’m going to eat healthy because my coach said that,” the third-grader at Resurrection tells his mother, Rosa Guerra.

Guerra worried at first when Mauricio wanted to play a sport.

Football was brand new to him.

She watched the coaches spend extra time guiding him through the basics at the start and felt her fear quickly transform into soaring pride.

“Sometimes, I cry,” she said, her hand rising to her chest as she watched the last game of the season in late October.

She could tell Mauricio was running faster and he’d toned up.

What mattered even more were the friends he’d made and a new sense of independence.

“I will never forget in my life that Tom helped my son,” said Guerra.

Lally remembers how reserved Mauricio seemed at first.

“Now, he’s coming after me,” he said.

“It’s so fun to see.”

Those everyday victories matter to him more than the score, especially for kids this age when much of life revolves around school, friends, video games and even post-game pizza.

Ups and downs “I think winning’s overrated sometimes,” said Lally. “”I know you learn so much more through practice, through adversity, through loss sometimes — all the time, quite frankly.”

He got a taste of how true that was during his senior football season at Ward.

“We were pretty darn good,” he said.

With an 8-0 record, the team was ranked near the top in the metro area and the state.

But they had to win all three district games to advance to state, and a meeting with Bishop Miege High School in Roeland Park for the last game of the regular

season shattered the dream.

“Miege gets us, so our season’s done,” said Lally. “And I’ll never forget that feeling. You work so hard and you don’t achieve what is meant for you to achieve — and that’s just a great life lesson.”

No one goes through sports — or life — absolutely undefeated.

“How you react to those downturns is really what defines you,” he said.

Mere months ago, the boys he coaches were just feeling out how to interact.

Now, they’re real players who help their teammates off the ground and mean it when they say, “Hey, good job,” to the other team.

That’s not to say Lally doesn’t cherish every success on the field.

During the dismal first season, he’d tell the opposing teams’ coaches that this team wouldn’t present much competition.

The other coaches laughed it off, but often agreed by the start of the second half, he said.

But then the Resurrection team got its first taste of magic on the field.

“This team was beating us pretty bad, just dominating us,” said Lally. “And because it’s the CYO, the coach of the other team told his players, ‘OK, let them have some fun.’”

He’ll always remember what happened.

“My boy had the ball and he’s running, and the other team is kind of not tackling on purpose,” he said. “And I’ll never forget the joy on my boy’s face — and the entire team — when we scored a touchdown.”

This year’s season didn’t start out much better than last, but toward the end, something started to really click, and kids took turns stepping up.

They even logged a few wins.

“The coolest thing in the world was at the end of Saturday’s game, those referees who’ve been refereeing us all year stopped the coaches and said, ‘You guys have improved so much from day one to now,’” said Lally.

Safety net When families sign their children up >> Continued on the next page

11/5/13 4:45 PM

>> Continued from previous page for any sports, they understand playing carries risks.

Football, especially, has received attention in the news recently regarding the potential long-term damage done by multiple concussions and repeated hits.

Brett Favre, a longtime quarterback in the National Football League, recently added his name to the long list of players with problems — in his case, memory loss.

And yet at any kids’ game, crowds of supportive parents cheer from the stands.

“They’re teaching them how to tackle with the head up and tackle with your shoulder,” said Luis Pineda, whose son Lorenzo, a third-grader, is one of several players on the Resurrection team from Christ the King School in Kansas City, Kan. “If someone does it wrong, they’re pulled to the side and given individual coaching, so that way no one’s lacking,” said Pineda.

They don’t want anyone — their own kids or kids on the other team — to get hurt.

Lorenzo was drawn to this team because it was tackle football; he wasn’t as interested in a flag team.

“It’s the way you play it,” said Pineda.

“They grow up learning it.”

Lally believes coaching good fundamentals now reduces the risk of all types of injuries.

“The loudest I will ever yell at a player is when they put their head in first,” he said. “We stress, we stress, we stress: fundamentals, heads-up football, proper tackling techniques.”

Many coaches were already limiting the amount of contact time in practice when the CYO made it official — no more than 50 percent.

Trainers at the games keep watch on injuries and are quick to pull kids off the field.

Maggie Thomas, whose son Trey is a fourth-grader at Resurrection, believes playing presents too many benefits to sideline kids over worries.

“Number one was just the teamwork, working on a team and being involved — and also for the exercise,” she said.

“It’s hard to get them even to just go outside and play, so at least I know he had to go to practice three times a week and a game every Saturday.”

Positive coaching plays a big role.

The coach tells the kids when they’ve done something wrong (as Lally puts it, they get “coached up”), but it’s always in a way that helps them improve.

Trey appreciates that.

“He’s always pumping them up, building their self-esteem,” said Thomas.

The boys come to football and know they’re going to be praised for the good work they do, too, said Lally.

At halftime, Lally gives instructions and makes adjustments. He has cherished watching these boys come together as a team over the season.

Grade school CYO participation for 2012-13 Basketball — 2,836 Football — 789 Track and field — 1,618 Volleyball — 1,617 CYO added cross-country for the first time this fall, and more than 450 kids participated in the first four meets.

“This amazing turnout has been a pleasant surprise,” said Peter Piscitello, CYO executive director.

and its ReStore and through the faith he lives.

“He is a person committed and dedicated to the community, to the church, to youth, and gives a great deal of his time and energy for the betterment of people in our whole community,” said Father Schneider.

Sports, academics and — most importantly — faith go hand-in-hand for Lally.

As they did for the coach who helped shape his approach to leadership — Greg Beggs, who died in 2008.

“At his funeral — it’s a testament to the coach — there are all these former players throughout the years who are returning to pay their respects, and everyone’s telling stories,” said Lally.

Passing it on

Extended family Lorenzo goes to a different school than many of his teammates, but that hasn’t prevented him from making some good friends.

In fact, said his dad, Lorenzo’s invited teammates to come over and play catch at their house, and he anticipates a happy reunion — and a good-natured rivalry — when Resurrection and Christ the King face each other on the basketball court soon. (Lally and Hernandez will both be coaching RCS’s basketball team as well.)

Friendships built up through CYO play extend to the parents as well.

The families of the kids he coaches, said Lally, are wonderful, supportive people, and he’s enjoyed watching them bond with each other in the stands.

Leaven 11-08-13.indd 10-11

Lally cheers on his team from the sidelines. Luis Pineda, whose son Lorenzo joined the team this year, likes the prayer, discipline and confidence this CYO team gives the boys.

The community is diverse, and many parents work long hours and make significant sacrifices to give a Catholic education to their children — as well as the opportunity to participate in CYO. That sometimes means making accommodations for players.

Lally understands if a family has only one car and the parents need it for work; a child is never penalized if he can’t get to practice.

Cowan agreed.

Coaches sometimes have to be Mom or Dad, she said, and they’re often the

person children seek out after school if they just want to tell someone they got an A on a spelling test or nailed a correct answer in class — or want to lead the prayer at practice.

“We fill all kinds of roles in that hour and a half,” said Cowan.

And she always instills in her teams that they need to leave every place they go better than the way they found it.

Father Harry Schneider, rector at the Cathedral of St. Peter, sees those same qualities in Lally, too — both through his work with Habitat for Humanity

The lessons Coach Beggs taught are now being passed on to a new generation of players through one of his former players.

And even though the coaches want the kids to have fun and learn the fundamentals today, they have their sights set on the future.

Lally asks Bishop Ward’s players and coaches to share advice with his team whenever they can, and hopes one day these younger boys will find themselves in the older players’ shoes.

“I see it — and Coach Lorenzo sees it — as our responsibility to really train the next generation of football players and athletes at Bishop Ward,” said Lally.

“I think we all know and believe what being involved in athletics at the high school level meant for us.

“We want that for our kids and for the school.”

11/5/13 4:46 PM

12 classifieds Employment Principal - St. James Parish School, St. Joseph, Mo., seeks a principal committed to Catholic education with strong leadership, communication and motivational skills. St. James School is a parish school serving approximately 200 pre-K to 8th-grade students with a staff of approximately 15. The qualified candidate must be an active practicing Catholic in good standing with the Catholic Church (magisterium), have a master’s degree in educational administration or evidence that one is working toward a degree, teaching experience and preferably three years administrative experience. Applications may be made to the Catholic schools office on the website at: http://jobs.diocese-kcsj.org/?cid=4&lid=118. All applications must be received by Dec. 1.

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Leaven 11-08-13.indd 12-13

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Swalms Organizing Service - Reducing Clutter - Enjoy an Organized Home! Basement, garage, attic, shop, storage rooms - any room organized! Belongings sorted, boxed and labeled, items hauled or taken for recycling, trash bagged. For before and after photos, visit: www. swalmsorganizing.com. Over 20 years of organizing experience; insured. Call Tillar at (913) 375-9115.

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 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.

Heating and cooling repair and replacement - Call Joe with JB Design and Service. Licensed and insured with 20 years experience. Member of Divine Mercy Parish. Call Joe at (913) 915-6887.

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.

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

Caregiving - Retiree looking for part time work. Household duties, errands, pets, doctor’s appointments, nursing care, light housekeeping, house sitting. Possibly available overnight. Johnson County area. Call (913) 322-4297.

Looking for high quality, compassionate care? Let’s talk. I am a multifaceted RN with 25 years experience.

I provide private duty, respite, and companion care. Liscensed; professional references. Reasonable rates. Johnson County area. Call (913) 710-5412.

NEED SOME HELP? - Maybe I can do it? I can get you to your doctor’s appointment, hairdresser or shopping.

Maybe you aren’t driving anymore or just prefer a chauffeur, I’ll get you there. I can also run errands for you or maybe pick up your prescriptions or groceries. Just give me a call to discuss your needs. Johnson County only.

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

Caregiving - 15 years experience providing quality care that includes assisting with bathing and dressing, personal hygiene, cooking, light housework, dispensing medications, keeping doctor appointments, running errands and basically doing everything to keep you happy, healthy and at home. Excellent references available. Call Mary at (913) 526-6235.

Have a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease? Inquire about our fresh, unique approach to care. At ComfortCare Homes of Kansas City, we provide a calm, stressfree and well-structured home environment for five to eight residents living with Alzheimer’s disease. A ComfortCare home is not “homelike” but rather it is a real home in a real neighborhood — there are no signs in the yard, no restaurant-style dining and no long, impersonal halls lined with patients. To tour and learn more, call Courtney Minter at (913) 609-1891 or visit the website at: www. ComfortCareKC.com.

Caregiving - CNA home health care specialist provides quality home comfort and care for the elderly. Available anytime. References. Affordable/seasoned/nonsmoker.

Call (816) 521-1336.

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

vacation Mountain 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. $95/ night. Call (913) 642-3027. For pictures, visit the website at: www.tillmancabin.com.

Pilgrimage to France with St. Thérèse - Lourdes, Paris, Lisieux, Normandy. Sept. 8 - Sept. 18, 2014. From Kansas City, $4,499. Call Father Ernie Davis at (816) 444-5406.

REAL ESTATE For sale - Fairway Manor, $224,000. 3706 W. 49th St., Roeland Park. 3 BR, 2.5 updated BA. Main level family room. Large open kitchen. For information, call Jim Kraus Jr. at (816) 806-7653. Offered by Brookside Real Estate Co., (816) 333-3330.

For rent For rent - 4934 Leavenworth Rd., Kansas City, Kan. 2 BR, full walkout basement, laundy hookups, deck. No smokers, no pets. $525 per month. Call (913) 334-0124.

for sale For sale - Two single, eye level, side-by-side mausoleum crypts at Mount Calvary Cemetery, Kansas City, Kan. Valued at $11,400. Asking $7,900 or best offer. Contact Pam at (913) 634-8592.

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.

MISCELLANEOUS Donate a vehicle. Make a difference. Donate your vehicle to Catholic Charities to support those in need.

Your tax-deductible donation of a vehicle helps children and families served by Catholic Charities and is an environmentally wise way to recycle your vehicle. Cars for KC Kids is a partnership between Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas and Catholic Charities of Kansas City - St. Joseph. Call (866) 430-9499 or visit our website at: www.cars4 kckids.com.

wanted to buy Wanted - Old drugstore soda fountain. Apothecary and candy jars, signs, slot machines, Coca-Cola. Spool, thread, dye. Nut and bolt cabinets. Advertising clocks, small antique display case and store displays. Hunting and fishing old duck decoys and fishing lures. Autographed baseballs.

Call (913) 593-7507 or (913) 642-8269.

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

Renee Maderak, (913) 631-7179.

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

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

Shoppers wanted SHOPPERS WANTED - Church of the Ascension (9510 W. 127th St., Overland Park, KS. 66213), is looking for shoppers for the 10th Annual Ascension Marketplace!

This year’s event will be Nov. 22 and 23. Community vendors will present their products: Jewelry, handbags, accessories, scrapbooking supplies, home décor, glass, children’s books, toys, gift items and much, much more.

Contact Francie Kwapiszeski (913) 681-3348 or francie@ kcascension.org

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NOVEMBER 8, 2013 | theleaven.com

November Sanctuary of Hope’s 8th annual Hope Benefit dinner, dance and auction will be held on Nov. 9 at the Reardon Center, 520 Minnesota Ave., Kansas City, Kan. The evening begins at 5:30 p.m. and includes dinner, music, dancing, and live and silent auctions. The cost to attend is $65 per person.

Call (913) 321-4673 for tickets or for more information.

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St. Benedict Parish, just west of Bendena, will host its annual turkey and dressing dinner and raffle on Nov. 10 from 11 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. The cost to attend is a freewill donation. Enjoy the beautiful scenery of Doniphan County and come for a delicious meal.

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Annunciation Parish, Frankfort, will host a turkey dinner with all the trimmings on Nov. 10 from 11 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. The cost to attend is $9 for adults; $4 for children ages 10 and under. Meals will also be delivered in Frankfort. Call (913) 292-4462 or call (913) 292-4351 the day of the dinner.

There will also be a country store and pot of gold drawing.

St. Ann Church, Effingham, will host a fall meal on Nov. 10 from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Carryouts are available by calling (913) 833-2268. The cost to attend is a freewill donation.

St. Patrick Church, Corning, will host a soup luncheon and auction on Nov. 10 from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. at the Corning Community Center.

Knight, author of “His Way.” He will draw his talks from his latest book, “Nuts & Bolts of Daily Spirituality.” Father Knight will speak at 7 p.m. on Nov. 10-12. All are welcome to attend.

Advice and Aid Pregnancy Centers is in need of volunteers and will be offering a volunteer informational meeting on Nov. 11 from 7 - 9 p.m. at 11644 W. 75th St., Shawnee. For more information or to RSVP, contact Mary Newcomer at (913) 9620200 or send an email to: volunteer@ adviceandaid.com.

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Veterans, family members and friends are invited to attend a flag-raising ceremony and tribute on Nov. 11 at 2 p.m. at the veterans memorial at Resurrection Cemetery, 83rd and Quivira Rd., Lenexa.

For more information, call Catholic Cemeteries at (913) 371-4040 or send an email to: information@cathcemks.org.

All Addictions Group, a support group for women dealing with any kind of addiction, at any stage of recovery, meets on Tuesday evenings from 6 - 7 p.m. at Keeler Women’s Center, 2220 Central Ave., Kansas City, Kan. Call (913) 906-8990 or register on the website at: www.keeler womenscenter.org.

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Keeler Women’s Center, 2220 Central Ave., Kansas City, Kan., will offer a talk on St. Elizabeth Ann Seton as part of the Holy Women series on Nov. 14 from 1 - 2:30 p.m. Call (913) 906-8990 to register.

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The November rosary rally in honor of our Lady of Fatima will be held Nov. 10 from 3 - 4 p.m. at Our Lady of Sorrows Parish, 2552 Gillham Rd., Kansas City, Mo. All are welcome to attend. For more information, visit the website at: www.rosaryrallieskc.org.

Join us in helping our neighbors in need on Nov. 15 with a Scooter’s Catholic Charities event, where 25% of all purchases will go to Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas at the following locations: 9455 W. 87th St., Overland Park, from 6 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.; 10610 Shawnee Mission Pkwy., Shawnee, from 6 a.m. - 9 p.m.; and 2027 E. Santa Fe St., Olathe, from 6 a.m. - 7 p.m. The Shawnee store will also be collecting nonperishable food items to stock the Catholic Charities food pantry and new toys for the annual Christmas store.

The St. Bernard Women’s Guild will present the 2013 Stitch ’n’ Stuff on Nov. 10 at St. Bernard Parish hall, 1102 8th St., Wamego. Lunch will be served from 11 a.m.

- 2 p.m. There will also be a country store, raffle, silent auction, children’s games and bingo. For more information, call Lyla Bowser at (785) 456-9768.

St. Pius X Parish, 5500 Woodson, Mission, will host a turkey bingo night on Nov. 15. The doors will open at 6 p.m. with a social hour. Bingo games begin at 7 p.m.

The cost is $5 per card. For more information, contact Marisa Bade at (913) 2445732 or send an email to: marisabade@ yahoo.com.

Sacred Heart Parish, 1100 West St., Tonganoxie, will host a parish mission, featuring nationally acclaimed writer Father David

Christ’s Peace House of Prayer, Easton, will host a contemplative prayer day on Nov. 16 from 9 a.m.

- 4 p.m. Lunch will be provided.

The Christian Widow and Widowers Organization will host a holiday luncheon at 1 p.m. on Nov. 10 in the Formation Room at Most Pure Heart of Mary Church, Topeka.

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

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Check out our Recent Articles at:

archkck.org/SacredSexuality 10/16/13 - Philip Rivers & Mike Sweeney Short Video on Marriage, Intimacy & NFP

10/17/13 - CovenantEyes.com Reaches out to Catholic Families with UNFILTERED Kit

10/18/13 - IntegrityRestored.com,

MoralityInMedia.org & ReclaimSexualHealth.com

The cost to attend is $25 per person. For more information, call (913) 773-8255 or send an email to: directorcp@hotmail. com.

A Mass of healing and hope in honor of St. Peregrine, patron of those suffering from cancer or other serious illnesses, will be celebrated on Nov. 16 at 9 a.m. at Holy Spirit Church, 11300 W. 103rd St., Overland Park. The sacrament of the anointing of the sick will be offered, as well as special devotions and blessings with a firstclass relic of St. Peregrine. For more information, contact the parish office at (913) 492-7318, or Marge Hattrup, St. Peregrine outreach coordinator, at (913) 492-7682.

The monthly archdiocesan pro-life Mass will be celebrated on Nov. 16 at 8 a.m. at Sts. Cyril and Methodius Church, 44 N. Mill, Kansas City, Kan. Immediately following Mass is a rosary procession to an abortion clinic approximately four blocks away. Eucharistic adoration is available for those not processing. Benediction concludes services by 9:45 a.m. All are welcome to join in this prayerful, peaceful witness to life.

Become part of an exciting, successful and life-changing program, “Mentoring 4 Success.” You can share the gospel of hope through correspondence with an inmate and/or you can become a mentor upon release. The training is Nov. 16 from 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. in the St. Matthew and St. Mark rooms at Ascension Church, 9510 W. 127th St., Overland Park. Lunch will be provided. Call John Stanley at (913) 685-0351 or Jean Hinman at (913) 6813348 for more information.

The Knights of Columbus, Council 2332, will host a classic rock dance party on Nov. 16 from 7 - 11 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 5900 King St., Shawnee.

The cost to attend is $5. For more information or reservations, contact Keith Winterhalter at (913) 631-2173. Proceeds benefit our support of seminarians and priests.

The Knights of Columbus, Council 2332, will host a legacy day on Nov. 17 at noon with a memorial Mass at St. Joseph Parish, Shawnee, followed by a lunch and an introduction to the faith, fraternity and activities of the Knights. For more information, contact Shawn Sourk at (913) 962-3356.

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A class in using the sympto-thermal method of natural family planning during the postpartum period will take place Nov. 17 at 3 p.m. at the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library, 1515 S.W. 10th Ave., Topeka. Call Dana or Eric Runnebaum at (785) 380-0062 or the Couple to Couple League of Kansas City at (913) 894-3558 for more information.

Wagner’s Mud-Jacking Co. Specializing in Foundation Repairs Mud-jacking and Waterproofing.

Serving Lawrence, Topeka and surrounding areas.

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

Registration is required on the website at: www.ccli.org.

The Knights of Columbus, Council 10932, will host a spaghetti dinner on Nov. 17 from 6 - 7:30 p.m. in the lower level of the Church of the Ascension, Overland Park.

The cost to attend is: $7 for adults; $4 for children ages 5 - 11; and free for children under the age of 4. Proceeds support the seminarian fund.

The Daughters of Isabella, St. Faustina Circle, meets at 6:45 p.m. for prayer and a rosary, followed by a meeting at 7 p.m. on the third Monday of each month at the Divine Mercy Parish center, 120 E. Warren, Gardner. Women over the age of 16 are invited to join.

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Keeler Women’s Center, 2220 Central Ave., Kansas City, Kan., will offer a holiday grief group for men and women on Nov. 20, Dec. 4, and Dec. 11 from 1:30 - 2:45 p.m.

The group will help men and women address recent losses or those in the past.

Call (913) 906-8990 to register.

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Notre Dame associate professor of history Brad Gregory will speak on the relationship between church and science on Nov. 21 at 7 p.m. in the Kansas Union ballroom at the University of Kansas, Lawrence.

This event is cosponsored by the St. Lawrence Institute for Faith and Culture and the Notre Dame Club of Eastern Kansas.

There is no cost to attend.

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“Money Management for Seniors” will be held on Nov. 21 from 10 - 11:30 a.m. at Keeler Women’s Center, 2220 Central Ave., Kansas City, Kan. Call (913) 9068990 to register.

If you find yourself facing the holidays in the midst of grief, join us on Nov. 21 at 7 p.m. at Prince of Peace Church, 16000 W. 143rd St., Olathe, as we seek to offer an avenue of support and encouragement.

Guest presenter Brent Doster, LMSW, of Catholic Community Hospice, will discuss the challenges of living with loss in the midst of holiday cheer and how to work together to find a way through the holidays while grieving.

Join the Church of the Ascension, 9510 W. 127th St., Overland Park, for its 10th annual marketplace on Nov. 22 from 7 - 10 p.m. and Nov. 23 from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. in the parish hall. Community vendors will present jewelry, handbags, scrapbooking supplies, health and beauty products, home decor, glass, gourmet food items, children’s books and toys, and much more.

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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 Want to help someone heal from an abortion?

Call Toll Free 888-246-1504

Buying a classified ad

Cost to advertise is: $17.50 for five lines or less; $1.50 each additional line; Email: julie@ theleaven.com; Phone: (913) 647-0327

11/5/13 4:46 PM

14 commentary Scripture Readings

theleaven.com | november 8, 2013

Nov. 10 Thirty-second SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME 2 Mc 7: 1-2, 9-14 Ps 17: 1, 5-6, 8, 15 2 Thes 2:16 – 3:5 Lk 20: 27-38 Nov. 11 Martin of Tours, bishop Wis 1: 1-7 Ps 139: 1-10 Lk 17: 1-6 Nov. 12 Josaphat, bishop, martyr Wis 2:23 – 3:9 Ps 34: 2-3, 16-19 Lk 17: 7-10 Nov. 13 Frances Xavier Cabrini, virgin Wis 6: 1-11 Ps 82: 3-4, 6-7 Lk 17: 11-19 Nov. 14 Thursday Wis 7:22b – 8:1 Ps 119: 89-91, 130, 135, 175 Lk 17: 20-25 Nov. 15 Albert the Great, bishop, doctor Wis 13: 1-9 Ps 19: 2-5 Lk 17: 26-37 Nov. 16 Margaret of Scotland; Gertrude, virgin Wis 18: 14-16; 19: 6-9 Ps 105: 2-3, 36-37, 42-43 Lk 18: 1-8

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do whatever he tells you

mark my words

thirty-second week of ordinary time

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Stop being blinded by the light

emember the song, “Blinded by the Light”?

Well, I’ve been afflicted . . . and I bet you have, too, if you’ve been to a stage play, movie or concert recently.

My worst case of light blindness occurred a couple of months ago at the Kansas City Repertory Theatre. A couple of college students were seated in front of me. When the house lights dimmed, all attention turned to the stage — at least for 10 minutes or so. About that time, one of the students in front of me turned on her phone to check her email.

The bright light was disconcerting and distracting.

She put the phone away for another 10 minutes, and then hauled it out again to check what was happening on Facebook. Like a moth, my eyes were immediately drawn away from the action on stage to that light in front of me. Another 10 minutes or so passed, and again the phone lit up.

At that point, a usher materialized and did something that I’ve never seen in all the years I’ve had season tickets at the Rep. In no uncertain terms, she told the young woman to shut the

Father Mark Goldasich Father Mark Goldasich is the pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Tonganoxie. He has been editor of The Leaven since 1989. phone off and leave it that way. That did the trick. Sadly, the student did not come back after the intermission.

OK, I’m going to put on my “old geezer” hat and complain a little bit. Now, I enjoy my iPhone, but I truly believe that it’s become an addiction for many people.

It’s like a drug that they can’t do without, even for the two hours or so of a live (and high quality) theater performance.

It’s as if people today are never content to be where they actually are. The siren song of the virtual world seems so much more attractive. And that song lures in not only the “addicted” person but also everyone in the immediate vicinity. My young friend at the theater, in checking her phone every

beautiful sights: majestic mountains, lovely flowers, gorgeous sunsets, little children happily playing in the streets. The man exclaimed, “Isn’t heaven wonderful?” But the angel said, “This isn’t heaven; this is the world in which you lived, but never actually saw.” (Adapted from Paul J. Wharton’s “Stories and Parables for Preachers and Teachers.”)

I’d like to propose something for the upcoming holiday season. Commit to experience it — actually, not virtually. For example, rather than capturing yet another slew of family photos, spend time instead attentively chatting face to face with each member of the clan. In fact, if you’re really serious (and bold), set up a decorative basket by the front door, where guests can deposit their cellphones, to be picked up — along with their coats — as they leave at the end of the gathering.

Let’s decide, here and now, never to be so blinded by the light of our phones that we fail to truly see the blessings, especially of family and friends, literally right before our eyes.

Maccabees proclaims resurrection even in Old Testament times

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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. resurrection from the dead: “You accursed fiend, you are depriving us of this present life, but the King of the world will raise us up to live again forever. It is for his laws that we are dying.”

They reason that God’s justice demands that we receive reward and punishment in the next life, if we do not receive it in this one. Since we too often see injustice

Pope francis Christians and Jews must work together to fight all forms of discrimination and persecution, Pope Francis told a delegation from the Simon Wiesenthal Center.

“Where any minority is persecuted and marginalized because of its religious con-

Leaven 11-08-13.indd 14-15

10 minutes, disrupted the flow of the play and its enjoyment for rows of people around her.

This disturbing modern-day addiction is powerfully captured in a short two-minute video on YouTube, entitled “I Forgot My Phone.” It captures some everyday scenes — from waking up in the morning to exercising to spending time with friends to attending a concert — but sadly, no one is really ever “there.” Attention is turned to capturing the moment, rather than being present to it.

A couple of startling images stand out. Two girls are on swings at a playground: one is happily swinging away, while the other sits still on her swing, attention glued to the screen of her phone. A second scene features a guy proposing to his fiancée, but he’s more concerned about getting a picture of the event than savoring the specialness of the moment.

That brings to mind this cautionary tale: There was a man whose consuming passion was to go to heaven. Finally, he died and did go there.

An angel took him by the hand and showed him some

In the beginning

ometimes, Catholics are concerned when they see that the Protestant Bible does not contain seven books that are found in the Catholic Old Testament.

Those books are called the deuterocanonical books.

The reason for their omission from the Protestant Bible goes back to a fairly complicated history which we will not delve into.

Sunday’s first reading — 2 Mc 7:1-2, 9-14 — comes from one of those books: the Book of Maccabees. It tells the story of seven brothers who were martyred under pagan rule because of their faithfulness to God and to the Torah.

Specifically, they refused to eat pork, a forbidden food. In the midst of their sufferings, they affirm their belief that God will reward them in the

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November 8, 2013 | theleaven.com

triumph in this world, we can look forward to justice prevailing in the next.

This teaching on the resurrection receives particular emphasis in 2 Maccabees. In most earlier writings of the Old Testament, it was either not mentioned at all or only hinted at. But 2 Maccabees clearly states it and boldly proclaims it.

That is why the Sadducees, who engage Jesus in a debate in the Gospel reading, Lk 20:27-38, do not accept 2 Maccabees as part of the Bible.

In fact, they do not include any of the deuterocanonical books. They reject 2 Maccabees, because they reject its chief doctrine — that of the resurrection — as the Gospel reading points out: “Some Sadducees, those who deny that there is a resurrection, came forward.”

victions or ethnicity, the good of the entire society is in danger,” the pope said Oct. 24. “Sadly, I am thinking of the suffering, marginalization and real persecution that some Christians are experiencing in different parts of the world. Let us join forces to promote a culture of encounter, respect, understanding and mutual forgiveness,” Pope

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All the baptized are called to share the good news

eceive the Gospel of Christ whose herald you now are.

Believe what you read, teach what you believe, and practice what you teach.

I always look forward to hearing those words at the ordination of transitional deacons every May. It’s one of my favorite parts of that

Rick Cheek Rick Cheek is the associate consultant for the office of evangelization and Catholic formation of youth. special Mass when the archbishop says those words and hands them the Book of the Gospels.

As I was reflecting on the

eighth anniversary of my oldest son Jared’s death this past Sept. 16, I continually pray for those who are in formation discerning and studying to become future priests of this great church we have. I still find myself picturing Jared as well as his fellow seminarian Matty Molnar who was also killed that September, reading and teaching the Gospel message handed on to them.

But when you really stop to think about it, those are words we ourselves should practice in everyday life. In our world today, there seems to be no clear definition of

what’s right or wrong, and what was once a crime is now defended by law. We need to be at the front line every January, fighting for the right and dignity of all human life. We need to be on retreats that will refresh and revitalize our faith when the world tries to knock us down. We need to gather as one big church and let people know that there is a God who loves them unconditionally and that reconciliation is there waiting for them.

If we don’t hand on the good news to those we work

with and minister to, how else will they receive it?

Young people are looking for clear direction; they are looking for truth, because they are not getting it anywhere else.

As we prepare to wrap up the Year of Faith, how are we living out the faith that has been handed on to us through the Gospels? Are you loving what you have been given?

Are you giving back what has been handed on to you?

As we head into Advent, let us make some clear and attainable goals to continue to “love, learn and live our faith.”

do unto others

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Martin de Porres’ example of love astounds us still

t. Martin de Porres, the patron saint of social justice, should befuddle most “social justice” activists.

How could it be that a black man so meek and humble should be the patron of a movement that most of us associate with the oppressed rising up, chanting, “Fight the power!”?

When he discerned a call to religious life, the Dominicans would not allow him to become a full monk until many years later because of the dark color of his skin.

bill scholl Bill Scholl is the archdiocesan consultant for social justice. You can email him at: socialjustice@archkck.org.

Rather than resentment, his response was complete selfabandonment. He even once begged his superior to sell him as a slave, rather than valuable objects from the monastery.

Fortunately, his prior told him, “Go back to the monas-

tery, brother. You are not for sale.”

Were these scenes to be shown in a movie, how many activists would cringe?

Though canonized in modern times, we moderns do not understand St. Martin’s humble love of others, a love so deep-seated that he abandons himself completely.

Social justice is the Gospel’s guide to restoring right relationship in society. St. Martin is its patron because complete self-abandonment is the antidote to the selfishness of today.

In our fallen world, post“Me generation,” the universal human calling to “do unto others as you would have them do unto you” gets lost

because we lose track of the score in our favor. We justify ourselves in all situations.

St. Martin mirrors Christ crucified so completely he both attracts and repels. We admire his love for the lowly, but recoil in horror because he shows us our own selfishness.

Soon-to-be saint Pope John XXIII said at Martin’s canonization: “Saint Martin, always obedient and inspired by his divine teacher, dealt with that profound love which comes from pure faith and humility of spirit. He loved men because he honestly looked on them as God’s children and as his own brothers and sisters. Such was his humility

that he loved them even more than himself and considered them to be better and more righteous than he was.

“Sad to say, not all of us understand these spiritual values as well as we should, nor do we give them a proper place in our lives. Many of us, in fact, strongly attracted to sin, may look upon these values as of little moment, even something of a nuisance, or we ignore them altogether.”

Jesus Christ came to restore all of creation to its original purity by his total gift of self on the cross. St. Martin shows us how to reply to God’s gift of his son by giving ourselves completely to those in need, for that indeed is the best way to fight the power.

The hypothetical question that they pose to Jesus concerning the seven brothers who marry the same woman comes across as a satirical play on the story of the seven brothers who are martyred in 2 Maccabees. They seek to twist that story into an impossible situation. If all seven brothers had married, one by one, the same woman, then which brother would be her husband in the resurrection? But Jesus rises to the challenge.

Jesus affirms his belief in God as the God of the living and, consequently, of the resurrection. That teaching builds upon and confirms the teaching of 2 Maccabees, that God is a God of justice, who will bring about justice through the resurrection of the dead, the justice that we often do not see happening in this life.

Francis said.

Reaffirming the church’s “condemnation of every form of anti-Semitism,” the pope recognized the center’s work to fight racism and intolerance, to keep the memory of the Holocaust alive and to promote mutual understanding.

— CNS

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16 media/Local news

theleaven.com | november 8, 2013

Kids and modern media

Too much of anything can be bad, including screen time

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“A healthy approach to children’s media use should both minimize potential health risks and foster appropriate and positive media use.”

By Mark Pattison Catholic News Service

W

ASHINGTON (CNS) — Parents, you wouldn’t let your kids gorge every meal at an all-youcan buffet, would you? Grandparents have the reputation of spoiling their grandchildren, but they wouldn’t let the grandkids spend all day, every day, at the beach while letting their skin burn to a crisp, would they?

Just like overexposure to food and to the sun — and U.S. society is already grappling with the ramifications of those two phenomena — the same is true with screen time, no matter where it’s found: TV, computers, video games, and even tablets and smartphones.

The American Academy of Pediatrics issued a new policy statement Oct. 28 on the dangers of too much screen time for children. It replaces its prior statement, formulated in 2001, when tablets didn’t even exist, and smartphones weren’t nearly as smart as they are now.

Media by itself is not the leading cause of any health problem in the United States, according to the pediatricians’ group, but it can contribute to numerous health risks. Those include obesity, lack of sleep, school problems, aggression and other behavior issues.

“A healthy approach to children’s media use should both minimize potential health risks and foster appropriate and positive media use — in other words, it should promote a healthy ‘media diet,’” said a statement by Dr. Marjorie Hogan, coauthor of the new policy.

“For nearly three decades, the AAP has expressed concerns about the amount of time that children and teenagers spend with media, and about some of the content they are viewing,” said the other coauthor, Dr. Victor Strasburger. “The digital age has only made these issues more pressing.”

The pediatricians’ organization has three tasks for parents.

First, they can model effective “media diets” to help their children learn to be selective and healthy in what they consume. Parents can take an active role in children’s media education by viewing programs with them and discussing values.

Second, parents can make a mediause plan, including mealtime and bed-

time curfews for media devices. Screens should be kept out of kids’ bedrooms.

Parents also can limit entertainment screen time to less than one or two hours per day; for children under age 2, they should discourage exposure to screen media.

There’s plenty of independent justification for the new policy. Common Sense Media, in a report issued this fall,

“Zero to Eight: Children’s Media Use in America 2013,” did its best to remain neutral on its findings, but the numbers will raise eyebrows, and maybe some hackles.

Common Sense Media did a similar report two years ago, and plans to issue updates every other year. Based in San Francisco, the nonprofit organization advocates on child and family issues,

Sister Mary Hilaria Phipps, SCL LEAVENWORTH — Sister Mary Hilaria Phipps, 87, a Sister of Charity of Leavenworth for 69 years, died Nov. 2 at the motherhouse here.

Sister Mary Hilaria began her life as Roberta Ann Phipps.

She was born to Raymond Brian and Mary Frechin Phipps in St. Louis, where the Sister Mary family lived for a Hilaria Phipps short time before moving to the Kansas City area.

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Ann, as she was known, was educated at Redemptorist Grade School and Loretto Academy, both in Kansas City, Mo. She attended Saint Mary College in Leavenworth for one year before entering the religious community of the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth on Sept. 1, 1944. As Sister Mary Hilaria, she made her first profession of vows on March 10, 1946.

Education, both as a teacher and as a student, was a lifelong pursuit of Sister Mary Hilaria. Summers would most often be spent taking classes and participating in learning events across the country. She earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Saint Mary and a master’s in science education and math

from Creighton University in Omaha, Neb. Sister Hilaria taught in grade and high schools across the West and Midwest in a career that included 14 years at Red Cloud Indian School in Pine Ridge, S.D., and ended with 12 years at Donnelly College in Kansas City, Kan. When she returned home to the motherhouse in 2007, Sister Mary Hilaria indulged her passion for learning by auditing 13 courses for a total of 39 semester hours at the University of Saint Mary, catching up on the history courses she didn’t get to take during her years as an educator.

and regularly studies media and technology’s effects on young users.

The one major bit of good news in the latest study was that total screen time actually decreased, from 2:16 a day to 1:55 a day, a shrinkage of 21 minutes.

And more children are using mobile devices to read, although reading still finishes last among the uses cited in a survey of families by Common Sense.

Even so, the upswing in use of mobile media devices by kids no older than 8 is nothing short of astonishing.

The use of tablets by children has increased to five times what it had been in 2011, from 8 percent to 40 percent. The use of smartphones also has soared. Two years ago, the figure was 52 percent of young children; now, it’s 75 percent. The amount of time spent on these kinds of devices has tripled over 2011 figures.

TV still dominates children’s screentime usage, but now kids are savvy in time-shifting, such as using digital video recording devices, streaming and video-on-demand to watch shows at various times.

The Common Sense study also showed gaps between rich and poor.

The richer you are, the more likely you are to have cable or satellite TV, a DVR, or Internet-connected TV. The poorer you are, the more likely you are to have the TV on all the time, and for children to have a TV in their bedroom.

So why do kids have TVs in their bedrooms? The top two reasons, according to Common Sense: It frees up other TVs so family members can watch what they want, and it “occupies the child so [the] parent can do other things.”

Surely, we can do better than this.

Pilgrimage set for canonizations of Pope John XXIII and Pope John Paul II KANSAS CITY, Kan. — The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas will sponsor a pilgrimage to Rome for the canonizations of Pope John XXIII and Pope John Paul II from April 25 - May 1, 2014.

The pilgrimage will include the canonization Mass and all the events in Rome surrounding the canonizations, including a private Mass in one of the chapels of St. Peter’s Basilica.

Deposits of $500 per person must be made by Nov. 27. Total cost of trip is $3,349 from Kansas City — includes hotel (double occupancy), airfare, tours, transfers, breakfast, some dinners and Masses at the major basilicas of Rome. A full brochure is available online at: www.archkck.org/canonization.

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