WWW.THELEAVEN.COM | NEWSPAPER OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF KANSAS CITY IN KANSAS | VOL. 33, NO. 15 NOVEMBER 11, 2011
Photo courtesy of WordOnFire.org
Father Robert Barron of the Archdiocese of Chicago prepares to tape a scene in his “Catholicism” series. Religious education teachers at Sacred Heart Parish in Sabetha have incorporated the series into the classroom with positive results.
TAKE A JOURNEY WITH JESUS
‘Catholicism’ series takes teens, adults deeper into their faith
S
ABETHA — Father Greg Hammes, pastor of Sacred Heart Parish here, looked forward to the release of “Catholicism.” In fact, Father Robert Barron of the Archdiocese of Chicago, who created the international, multimedia “Catholicism” series, was one of his teachers in the seminary. Still, Father Hammes wasn’t the first to bring this new, visual exploration of the church to the parish. Dr. Kerry Glynn, who teaches 12th-grade religious education at Sacred Heart, came across the new DVD series and thought it
BY JESSICA LANGDON just might work for the high school seniors. The class has started delving into it — and teens and adults alike seem impressed. “I was excited to see it here,” said Father Hammes. He has also started incorporating the DVDs into his sessions for the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults group.
Around the world The high school students have already watched episodes on subjects ranging from the Incarnation to the role of Mary. “I have enjoyed the knowledge that I
have gained from the DVDs,” said Sacred Heart parishioner Justin Compo. Glynn and Dennis Funk teach the 12thgrade class together. The group includes teens from the Sabetha church and St. Augustine Parish in nearby Fidelity. Glynn discovered the works of Father Barron, who shares homilies and other articles via the “Word on Fire” website. That’s where the DVD series sparked her interest. The timing was perfect; she and Funk were in the process of building the curriculum for the senior religious education class and this had a lot to offer. “I have enjoyed learning that there are millions of Catholics all around the world,” See “DVD series” on page 6
2 LOCAL NEWS
THE LEAVEN • NOVEMBER 11, 2011
THE LEAVEN • NOVEMBER 11, 2011
A reflection on
LIFE WILL BE VICTORIOUS
Illegal Immigration
Even — or especially — sports parents are called to model virtue
C
ontinuing with last week’s focus on sports, I am delighted with the success of Sporting Kansas City — our professional soccer team that plays in the new arena located in Kansas City, Kan.
turned around and asked the man: “Where were you with all these good ideas at practice last week?” The man was dumbfounded and feebly asked: “What?” Mickey said: “You seem to When I was growing up in St. Louis, know everything there is to know unlike most areas of the country at the about soccer, so where were you with time, every parish had soccer teams. all these good ideas when the team This was largely due to the fact that was practicing this week?” The man soccer was a big sport at the semifell silent, as did the rest of our sidenary — in part, because it is relatively lines. No one was communicating inexpensive, requiring relatively little with the refs or the players, except the equipment. After seminary, young coach. Our fans were still cheering the priests started soccer clubs in parishes team, but no one was yelling at the that eventually developed into youth players! I asked Mickey if I could rent leagues. him for the season. The former baseball player and Hall Athletics are a wonderful opportuof Fame broadcaster, Joe Garagiola, nity for young people to grow and dehad a brother by the name of Mickey. velop in so many ways. I am delighted Mickey was a waiter at several popular that we have CYO leagues in the major restaurants in the population centers of Italian neighborhood ‘The Shepherd’s Voice’ theInArchdiocese. in St. Louis. People addition to would go to these programming notes developing muscular restaurants as much strength and athletic Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann’s for the entertainment agility, young people radio program on KEXS 1090 AM Mickey provided as through team sports airs at 10 a.m. on Sunday and is for the food. develop many life repeated at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday Through the pastor and 3:30 p.m. on Thursday. skills and virtues: at my first priestly e.g., 1) to be unselfish assignment, I was in their play by being introduced to Mickey. One Saturday more concerned about the success of afternoon, I was attending our eighththe team than individual achievement; grade boys soccer game. Mickey had 2) to practice and work hard; 3) to a grandson playing on the opposing play fair and to respect proper authorteam. ity — both coaches and referees; 4) to At halftime, Mickey came over and encourage and support teammates as asked if he could stand on our sideline. they work toward a common goal; 5) I told him he was most welcome, but to be gracious in victory or defeat; and asked him why he did not want to re6) to fulfill commitments by showing main on the sideline of his grandson’s up faithfully — not only for games, but team. also practices. Mickey asked: “You see that lady Our CYO leagues should be different in the red coat on the other side?” I than other community youth athletic replied: “Yes?” He continued: “She programs. Just as in every other area knows everything there is to know of our young people’s formation, faith about soccer. She is yelling at the refs, needs to be woven into their experithe players, and the coaches with all ence of sports. sorts of suggestions. And she’s not the Coaches leading their teams in only one.” Mickey observed: “If those prayer before games can help young kids listened to everything their parpeople to recognize that, as Catholics, ents are yelling, they would be running God is part of everything we do. To do in circles.” this, our coaches need to be men and I told Mickey he was most welcome women of prayer themselves. They to stand on our side, but I warned him: need to ask the Holy Spirit to guide “I am not sure you are going to find our their work with our young people. fans much of an improvement.” Mickey They need to pray for the wisdom to said: “Well, maybe not, but at least know how to motivate a gifted player I won’t embarrass my daughter and who is dogging it on the field as well grandson if I say anything over here.” as how to encourage the less-talented In a few minutes, play resumed. player. Almost immediately, one of our dads Coaches set the tone for the team. was yelling at our players. Mickey Kids pick up immediately if coaches
are just about winning. They notice if coaches give almost all their attention to the more gifted players. Great coaches realize that the less naturally talented players are the ones who most need their instruction. Good coaches also know that at some point in the season, the success of the team will depend on each player making a contribution, no matter the level of their raw talent. Unfortunately, sometimes, rather than team sports providing opportunities for children and youth to learn physical skills and develop virtues, an overemphasis by coaches and parents on winning can place excessive pressure on young athletes. Sometimes youth athletics become more entertainment for adults than recreation and learning opportunities for youth. On the other hand, team sports can help young people develop the virtues that will serve them well in other areas of life. A good Christian athletic program teaches our kids to compete well. It helps them realize that what they do on the athletic field must be consistent with what they profess in church. Striving to do their best on the field or court, as a means of glorifying God, is a much more powerful motivator than any trophy. Catholic youth athletic programs are not about producing future professional sports stars, but helping our young people become saints — stars for God. Will some of our CYO athletes go on to achieve success at the college and even professional level? Absolutely! However, they will not only have the athletic skills to compete well on the field but, more importantly, the strength of character to succeed off the field, in their personal and family life. I am so pleased that under the leadership of Peter Piscitello, the director of the Johnson and Wyandotte counties’ CYO athletics, our coaches and parents participated this past year in the program, Play Like a Champion. The segment for coaches was entitled: Coaching as Ministry. Coaches, next to parents, are some of the most powerful influences on youth. Play Like a Champion’s parent component is called: Parent Like a Champion. It helps parents realize how they can encourage and support their children without placing undue pressure on them. It teaches parents how they are called to model for our young people Christian virtue by the manner that they, as adults, conduct themselves on the sidelines. I promise this space is not going to turn into a weekly sports column. However, I hope these last two articles have served to illustrate that our Catholic faith has an important bearing on every aspect of our lives.
Archbishop Naumann’s
from Catholic and Protestant bishops in Kansas
weekly calendar
Nov. 11 Liturgy day for priests Mass for Catholic Charities on the feast of St. Martin of Tours — St. Joseph, Shawnee Nov. 12 Mass of thanksgiving for Venerable Sister Maria Catherine IrigoyenEchegaray — Sisters, Servants of Mary Nov. 13 U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Pro-Life Committee meeting — Baltimore Nov. 14-17 USCCB general meetings Nov. 15 Region IX bishops meeting Nov. 17 National Committee for the Human Life Amendment meeting Nov. 18 Task Force meeting “The Catholic Way” recording Nov. 19 Viviano benefit variety show — Rockhurst High School, Kansas City, Mo. Nov. 20 Archbishop’s Call to Share Crosier Mass Mass and presentation of St. Rose Philippine Duchesne Award — Sacred Heart, Mound City Nov. 21 Meeting with Fraternity of St. Peter newly assigned priests Taping of Archbishop’s Call to Share homily Nov. 22 Administrative Team meeting
Archbishop Keleher’s weekly calendar
Nov. 13-16 U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops meeting — Baltimore
SECOND FRONT PAGE 3
This is a reflection from Kansas church leaders on issues related to undocumented immigrants. Its purpose is to assist in the formation of consciences and to contribute to the public discussion on the topic.
O
ur country’s openness to immigrants is not in question. With the exception of native peoples, we are a nation of immigrants, many of whom came here to escape religious persecution, political oppression or poverty. We are in fact a country famous for welcoming immigrants. Consider the inscription on the Statue of Liberty: “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free” — this expresses what we want to say to others. Welcoming immigrants is likewise part of our Judeo-Christian tradition: “You must befriend the alien, for you were once aliens yourselves” (Dt 10:19); “I was a stranger and you welcomed me” (Mt 25:35). What we are presently faced with, however, is the need for a response to illegal immigration, issues related to people crossing our borders at will, living and working here without permission. This issue should be of concern for all peoples because of how it is related to the bigger issue of the rule of law. As Christians, we are not indifferent to laws, the question of legality, or our duty to observe laws. Consider the biblical exhortation: “Be subject to every human institution for the Lord’s sake. . . . Give honor to all, love the community, fear God, honor the king” (1 Pt 2: 13, 17; cf. Rom 13:1; Ti 3:1). The rule of law is important to who we are as citizens of the United States. It is a unifying force for a nation of people from diverse races, colors and creeds. This notion is even enshrined in a popular patriotic song: “America, America, God mend thine ev’ry flaw, confirm thy soul in self-control, thy liberty in law.” The basis of the rule of law is the sacredness of human life and the dignity of each human person. These values are enshrined in our country’s Constitution and are ideally expressed in the laws that govern us and are protected by our courts. No one is above the law. Likewise, no person is supposed to be without the law’s protection. It is intended that laws be applied fairly and equally to all people for their protection and to promote the common good. The common good can be understood as thinking not only of me, but of we as well; not only of mine, but ours too. We obey laws, which sometimes require us to deny an individual choice,
CNS photo/Gael Gonzalez, Reuters
People wave U.S. flags and hold signs calling for action on immigration reform as President Barack Obama visits El Paso, Texas, May 10. and sometimes even to forego a personal right, for the sake of the common good. Put another way, the rule of law is how love of neighbor is practiced in a social framework. Speed limits, paying taxes and immigration policy are examples of laws which promote the common good. People must of course agree to obey the law. Without obedience to laws, selfishness reigns and there follows as a result either tyranny or anarchy; there is no peace, no prosperity. In consideration of the above, thinking about the issue of illegal immigration, and hoping not to oversimplify the issue, there are several points for reflection. Given the tyranny or anarchy that would result if the rule of law were ignored, obeying laws should be of serious concern to citizens and to undocumented immigrants alike. Among the civil laws that govern the common good is a country’s right and duty to secure its borders and control in an orderly way the flow of immigrants. Speaking of immigrants, every person has a right to emigrate, especially when those things needed to live in human dignity — productive work and fair wages, food and shelter, education and health care, and protection from harm — are out of reach in one’s native land. Moreover, a prosperous country, like the United States, has a duty to receive the tired, the poor, the huddled masses
yearning to breathe free. But these rights and duties are not absolute. The right of people to immigrate and the duty of a country to admit immigrants are affected by whether or not there are adequate resources in the receiving country to be shared among all peoples. The United States is only being responsible when it asks if there are enough resources available to respond to the needs of both those already in the nation’s family, so to speak, and those immigrating with the prospect of being adopted. In this regard, exercising stewardship for the common good, deference should be given to those who are already citizens because, as they say, charity starts at home (cf. 1 Tm 5:4).
cate for a practical and humane response by the federal government to undocumented immigrants who are already living here. It is just too simplistic to say to them: “What part of illegal don’t you understand?” It also seems unworkable to deport all undocumented immigrants, telling them to go to the back of the line of applicants seeking legal entrance into our country. Perhaps, in keeping with the rule of law, a penalty commensurate with entering the country without permission could be imposed on undocumented immigrants. This could be part of a process to allow otherwise law-abiding undocumented immigrants to earn citizenship or gain legal status.
So, what can be done in response to illegal immigration?
We might review our attitudes and actions toward immigrants. It is true that undocumented immigrants broke the law in coming or staying here without permission. But with the exception of criminal types, who should be arrested and deported, most undocumented immigrants are God-fearing, church-going, hard-working and family-oriented folk, who just want to have a chance for those things needed to live in human dignity. We should regard others without suspicion about their legal status, and
We encourage voters to insist that the federal government bring about comprehensive immigration reform. Such reform would likely include more effective efforts to secure our country’s borders. But a companion piece would be an improved admission process, one that does not involve inordinately lengthy waiting periods, which sometimes result in long separation of family members. We also encourage voters to advo-
Publication No. (ISSN0194-9799)
Editor Reverend Mark Goldasich, stl frmark@theleaven.com
Senior Reporter Joe Bollig joe@theleaven.com
Reporter Jessica Langdon jessica@theleaven.com
President Most Reverend Joseph F. Naumann
Managing Editor Anita McSorley anita@theleaven.com
Production Manager Todd Habiger todd@theleaven.com
Advertising Representative Jennifer Siebes jennifer@theleaven.com
What else can be done?
Turn to “TEACHINGS” on page 4
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4 LOCAL NEWS
THE LEAVEN • NOVEMBER 11, 2011
THE LEAVEN • NOVEMBER 11, 2011
Benedictine College breaks ground on new residence hall ATCHISON — Following an All Saints Day school Mass celebrated by Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann on Nov. 1, Benedictine College officials here held a groundbreaking ceremony for a new men’s residence hall that will occupy the site of the old Atchison Hospital on North Second St. in Atchison. The new hall will be three stories, approximately 40,000 square feet and will house 152 sophomore and junior men. It is scheduled for completion in time for use in the fall of 2012. “This residence hall will stand here on the ground of the former Atchison Hospital as a testament to the growth of the college and the foresight of the hospital board who donated this land and other buildings to us just two short years ago,” said Stephen D. Minnis, president of Benedictine. Along with the archbishop, other dignitaries taking part in the ceremony were: John Jacobson, the CEO of Atchison Hospital; Abbot Barnabas Senecal, OSB, of St. Benedict’s Abbey; Sis-
ter Anne Shepard, OSB, prioress of Mount St. Scholastica Monastery; Jim O’Brien, chairman of the Benedictine College board of directors; Ernie Straub, owner of Straub Construction, the general contractor; Micah Kimball, of Treanor Architects, the firm that designed the facility; Linda Henry, vice president of student life; and Ron Olinger, Benedictine’s chief financial officer. Freshman class president Alex Engelkamp also spoke at the ceremony and turned a shovel of dirt. He was representing the group of students who will be sophomores and will be some of the first residents when the facility is completed. The new facility will be the eighth new residence hall opened on the Atchison campus since the long-abandoned Freshman Hall was renovated into Ferrell Hall in 2000. The college is also nearing completion of the 58,000-squarefoot Academic Center on the top of the bluff. That facility will house the School of Business and the departments of theology, phi-
About Benedictine
Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann blesses the ground where the new Benedictine residence hall will be built. With the archbishop is Jim O’Brien (holding shovel), chairman of the board of directors at Benedictine College, and Stephen D. Minnis, president of the college. Photo by Megan Bickford
behave toward them in a neighborly and gracious manner. In this regard, it would be wrong to take advantage of the legal status of undocumented immigrants, subjecting them on that account to poor working conditions or wages. And why would we be anything but welcoming and helpful, remembering our personal and national stories? A yet stronger motive is given in the teachings of Jesus: “[I was] a stranger and you welcomed me . . . whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me” (Mt 25:35, 40); “Love one another as I have loved you,” Jesus says (see Jn 13:34). Undocumented immigrants who are already living here can also contribute to turning things around, for example, by accepting a penalty for entering the country illegally; obeying laws and paying taxes; and investing in life here by learning English and the ways things are done in the United States, like flying our country’s flag on a national holiday. Such actions would not only contribute
our nation (especially from the threat of terrorists); the vigor of our economy; the common good of our citizenry; and our country’s fame for being a place where people can find refuge and hope, just to name a few. The issue of immigration is a matter of prudential judgment. As such, it is possible for people of good will to disagree on how our country’s immigration policy should be reformed. Any difference of opinion notwithstanding, perhaps we can agree that something must be done. Furthermore, while we may propose different answers for immigration reform, there is no reason why we cannot engage in this dialogue with mutual respect and reasonableness. Whatever is decided, the way forward for our country’s immigration policy should uphold the rule of law, protect and promote the common good, and give as much attention to duties as to rights (for example, securing the country’s borders and ensuring an application process that is fair and speedy).
Father Thomas Dolezal, retired as pastor of Holy Trinity Church, Lenexa, is appointed senior parochial vicar, Prince of Peace Church, Olathe, effective Oct. 15.
By John Heuertz
losophy, and sociology and criminology. It is also scheduled for use next fall.
to their enjoying life and success here, but also show respect to others living here. In this regard, the message God gave the prophet Jeremiah for the Jews living in Babylon is relevant to all immigrants, legal or otherwise: Build houses, get married, have children, see their children married, and promote the welfare of the country, for upon its welfare depends your own (cf. Jer 29:4-7). In essence, settle down and take part in life here. This does not mean that immigrants forget their native language and customs. On the contrary, our country is blessed, thanks to the cultural exchange of immigrants living here. Cultural treasures, like language, customs, food, music, and festivals should be preserved in the home, churches and cultural associations. Once again, the purpose of this reflection is to assist in the formation of consciences and to contribute to the public discussion on issues related to undocumented immigrants. Much is at stake with the immigration issue, for example: the security of
‘Go set the world on fire’
Father John A. Riley, chancellor, reports the following assignment made by Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann:
Special to The Leaven
Teachings of Jesus tell us to welcome the stranger Continued from page 3
Appointments
FOCUS founder returns to the birthplace of his program
Founded in 1858, Benedictine College is a Catholic, Benedictine, residential, liberal arts college located on the bluffs above the Missouri River in Atchison. The school was named one of America’s Best Colleges by U.S. News & World Report magazine, as well as one of the top Catholic colleges in the nation by First Things magazine and the Newman Guide.
LOCAL NEWS 5
All this will hopefully enable us — citizens and immigrants — to live together as one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Rev. Barry Brinkman
Diocesan Administrator, Diocese of Salina
Most Rev. John B. Brungardt
Bishop of the Diocese of Dodge City
Most Rev. Michael O. Jackels
Bishop of the Diocese of Wichita
Bishop Scott J. Jones
Resident Bishop of the Kansas Area of the United Methodist Church
Bishop Gerald L. Mansholt
Bishop, Central States Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Most Rev. Joseph F. Naumann
Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas
ATCHISON — “As St. Benedict evangelized his culture in the world he lived in, as Pope Benedict XVI took his name to evangelize his culture, so you must do likewise. “Go set the world on fire!” urged Curtis Martin in his Nov. 1 address to a large audience of Benedictine College students at St. Benedict’s Abbey church in Atchison. In his speech, entitled “Go Set the World on Fire,” Martin explored the idea that God’s love is like a fire that can spread from God to those who love him, and then from those people to other people — an insight into God’s providence with very deep roots in Catholic tradition. He mentioned the Desert Fathers’ analogy of God’s love to a fire and the soul to a cold, hard iron beam that the fire can make so hot it can spread fire itself. In the 14th century, the great Dominican mystic and doctor of the church St. Catherine of Siena taught: “If you are as you are meant to be, you will set the world on fire,” Martin continued. And in the 16th century, St. Ignatius of Loyola talked to his followers about what it meant to be a soldier for Christ, and sent them forth to “go set the world on fire.” “The world is waiting for you to become what God has intended you to be from before the beginning of the world,” Martin concluded. “There is no backup plan for you.” The means he proposed is called FOCUS — the Fellowship of Catholic University Students. Martin is co-founder and the guiding spirit behind FOCUS, a Catholic college campus outreach program that first saw the light of day at Benedictine in 1998. After several years of prayer and study, Martin concluded by the late 1990s that Catholic outreach by and to American Catholic college students was a practical answer to Pope John
Viviano variety show celebrates 27th anniversary
Photo by Megan Bickford
During his visit to Benedictine College, Curtis Martin, the president and founder of FOCUS, said the school was the birthplace of FOCUS and called the college “one of the brightest spots in the church today.” He addressed a gathering of 650 students on Nov. 1 and met with campus groups throughout the next day.
“The world is waiting for you to become what God has intended you to be from before the beginning of the world. There is no backup plan for you.”
”
Curtis Martin, founder of FOCUS Paul II’s call to a new evangelization of the world. Dr. Edward Sri, a friend and likeminded Catholic intellectual teaching at Benedictine, invited Martin to present his ideas at Benedictine in 1997. Martin was enthusiastically received, and he and his wife Michaelann, along with Sri, established FOCUS’ pilot program at Benedictine the following January with two staff members and 24 students. The following April, Martin got to meet Pope John Paul II in person and describe his hope and vision for FOCUS. Perhaps befitting an army officer’s son, the Holy Father told Martin, “Be soldiers!” That autumn, FOCUS was established at the University of Northern
Colorado in Greeley at the invitation of then-Archbishop Charles J. Chaput of Denver. “No one does a more dynamic job of reaching college students for Christ than FOCUS,” the archbishop said. Using Campus Crusade for Christ as a model, FOCUS sends missionary teams to campuses around the country to lead Bible studies and help local student leaders develop discipleship relationships among students. A missionary team is usually comprised of at least two men and two women who volunteer to work full time for two years at a university. Teams operate at the invitation of the local bishop and with the support of the local pastor. FOCUS now serves over 2,000 students on 58 U.S. college and university campuses in 22 states, including Benedictine and the University of Kansas in Lawrence. Martin concluded his remarks by observing: “The Catholic Church has never shrunk in any century, although it has been pruned dramatically in your lifetime.” “But pruning always comes before an explosion of growth,” he said. “Let’s pray for one another that we will be zealous.”
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Viviano Variety Benefit Show will celebrate its 27th year on Nov. 19 at Rockhurst High School here. Benefiting Catholic Charities Foundation of Northeast Kansas, all proceeds from this fundraiser will help Catholic Charities support people of all faiths in need of emergency assistance and other services. The variety show will feature performances by Joseph Vincelli, flutist and saxophonist; 4’s Company, barbershop quartet; Savannah Miller, baton artist; the Viviano family; and many more. Tickets are $35 for reserved seats and $25 for open seating. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. and show begins at 7 p.m. To purchase tickets or learn more, visit the website at: www.catholiccharitiesks.org.
Lenexa Scouts earn Eagle award LENEXA — Daniel Camacho and Joseph Crane, members of Holy Trinity Parish here and Boy Scout Troop 181, have attained the rank of Eagle Scout in Boy Scouts. The two will be presented with their Eagle Scout Daniel Camacho Award at a Court of Honor on Nov. 26. Camacho’s Eagle project consisted of designing and building two large standalone shelving units in a storage room located to the left side of Holy Trinity Church’s altar. Joseph Crane Crane’s Eagle project involved designing and building an external storage shed for the Olathe Deaf Cultural Center, a school for deaf children.
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6 LOCAL NEWS
THE LEAVEN • NOVEMBER 11, 2011
THE LEAVEN • NOVEMBER 11, 2011
DVD series appeals to wide range of audiences Continued from page 1 said Garrett Renyer, a member of St. Augustine. The series takes viewers to more than 50 sites in 15 countries. From Mexico to New York City to Italy to Israel to Uganda, it demonstrates that all around the world, the faith is alive. Glynn enjoys showing the students that even out in rural Kansas, they are an essential part of the universal Catholic Church.
Sharing the faith
A journey with Jesus The DVDs have sparked discussions and some new ideas about the church for the teens. “They have strengthened my faith, increased my knowledge of Catholicism and brought me to a closer relationship with God,” said Emily Winkler, a member of St. Augustine. “They describe the stories of the Bible in more detail and from a new perspective than I have seen before.” The people behind the series say the DVDs reach out to high school and college students, RCIA classes, members of the diaconate, and really any adult who wants to learn more about the faith. “Not a video lecture, Church history or Scripture study, this engaging and interesting formational program uses art, architecture, literature, music and all the treasures of the Catholic tradition to illuminate the timeless teachings of the church,” explains www.catholicism series.com, the website where DVDs and other materials may be purchased. “I have enjoyed learning about Jesus in a historical view,” Sacred Heart parishioner Kyle Stallbaumer said. “I’m interested in the journey of Jesus and the reasoning behind it; these videos do a wonderful job of showing that.” “I have enjoyed learning more about our religion and more about what Christ did through his teachings,” said St. Augustine parishioner Kayla Renyer.
Impressive quality Funk didn’t know what to expect before they started watching it, and the series has impressed him. The quality comes through in everything from the sound to the visuals. Funk sees that Father Barron is passionate and knows the subject, but doesn’t come across as if he’s merely reading notes. “It’s very relaxed and natural,” Funk
Leaven photo by Fernando Ugarte
The high school religious education students at Sacred Heart Parish in Sabetha watch a segment from “Catholicism.”
“I have enjoyed learning about Jesus in a historical view. I’m interested in the journey of Jesus and the reasoning behind it; these videos do a wonderful job of showing that.”
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Kyle Stallbaumer Sacred Heart parishioner said. “It explains Catholicism in a way I can understand,” said St. Augustine parishioner Heather Jurgensmeier. “I have enjoyed learning more about Mary and look forward to viewing the rest of the ‘Catholicism’ DVD series,” said Sacred Heart parishioner Chelsea Wenger.
True to the faith Father Hammes likes Father Barron’s “Word on Fire” site and has been impressed with what he has seen of the series. It stays true to the faith. Many times, Father Hammes finds much of what he sees on television about Catholicism disappointing. “It’s very worldly,” he said, explaining that many programs combine per-
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spectives of faith with skeptical viewpoints. This project is different, though. “Like Father Barron says, it’s produced by Catholics for Catholics,” said Father Hammes. “It’s very straightforward and bold in its faith, and it doesn’t apologize.” Matt Karr, archdiocesan consultant for evangelization and Catholic formation of adults, has seen a lot of interest in the “Catholicism” DVDs. “The series is just super well done — high-definition quality, really good background into what it means to be Catholic,” said Karr. “It gives a really good view of how large the Catholic Church is and how historically important it’s been.” To him, it is a good introductory study, as well as a new look at Catholicism for people who have been Catholic for a long time. It shows them a lot about the church they are part of. “Growing up Catholic, I’ve always had questions about certain teachings of the church” said Sacred Heart parishioner Kayla Herl. “The ‘Catholicism’ DVD series has blessed me with a better understanding of my faith by answering some of my questions.” “Catholicism is a smart religion, and we consciously stress this aspect of the faith in the program,” the series’ website quotes Father Barron. Other parishes have also been using the “Catholicism” series. Church of the Ascension in Overland Park is offering
Some public television stations — including Topeka’s — have shown episodes from the “Catholicism” series. So far, KCPT, the public television station in Kansas City, Mo., has not, although archdiocesan leaders have lobbied for it. Rose Hammes, director of planning and communications for the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, encouraged parishioners interested in seeing the series on public TV here to contact the station and let their thoughts be known. Six of the episodes will air on cable on the Eternal Word Television Network beginning Nov. 16. For times, visit the website at: www. ewtn.com. The archdiocesan office of evangelization and Catholic formation of adults has a couple of copies of the series; they can be checked out by parishes or small groups. For more information, contact consultant Matt Karr, who can be reached at (913) 721-1570, ext. 433, or by email at: ecat@archkck.org. The DVDs, study program materials and other items can also be purchased online at: www.catholicism series.com. several sessions each week to give parishioners a chance to see each of the 10 episodes. At Sacred Heart in Sabetha, Glynn hopes it will have a strong impact and stay a part of the curriculum for years to come. “The series has not only opened a new spectrum in my Catholic faith, but has given me a better understanding of Jesus and what ‘following’ him really looks like,” said Sacred Heart parishioner Tate Steinlage.
Catholic entities benefit from gift annuities
Diana (Churchill) and John M. Hall, members of Prince of Peace Parish, Olathe, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on Nov. 4. The couple was married on Nov. 4, 1961, in Miami, Okla. Their children and their spouses are: John and Beth ANNIVERSARIES Hall; Suzanne and Cliff Coleman; Brian and Elizabeth Hall; and Christopher and Heather Hall. They also have five grandchildren. Patricia and Edward Talbott, members of Christ the King Parish in Topeka, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on Oct. 21 with a trip to the Holy Land. They renewed their vows at the Wedding Church in Cana. Their children and their spouses are: Kelly Gentry (deceased); Natalie and Tim Moranz, San Antonio; Amy and Andy Gutierrez, Salisbury, Md.; and Molly and Tom Dempsey, St. Charles, Mo. They also have 16 grandchildren. ANNIVERSARY POLICY: The Leaven only prints 50, 60, 65 and 70th anniversary notices.
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LOCAL NEWS 7
Continued from page 16
CELEBRITY
Leaven photo by Lori Wood Habiger
A student at Padre Pio Academy in Shawnee snaps a photo of Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann on Oct. 31. The archbishop celebrated Mass with the students and then took a tour of the school. The academy is an independent Catholic elementary school established in 1999.
ish, cemetery, foundation, or the archdiocese itself — to benefit from a financial gift. CFNEK may reinsure contracts with quality third-party reinsurance companies. This allows the donors’ gifts to go to the beneficiary during their lifetime so they can see their gifts at work. The beneficiary basically receives the present value of the projected future gift minus the donor’s income and 10 percent for administration. Each person’s situation is unique, so proposals and projections will vary based on age and whether it is an individual or joint annuity. Parishes can offer this option to members who are on fixed incomes, giving them a way to provide a gift to the church that wouldn’t put a burden on their need for income, said Pratt. “This presents a huge opportunity for people on fixed income to benefit parishes and schools across the archdiocese,” he said.
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Archdiocesan financial report
he accompanying condensed financial statements represent the activities of the chancery offices of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas for the fiscal year 2010-2011. These statements do not include the activities of our many parishes, schools and other ministries that are governed by their own boards and report their financial information separately. Financial statements of the chancery offices of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas are audited Financial by the independent CPA firm of McGladdery & review Pullen, LLP. This audit is conducted according to the generally accepted accounting principles in the United States. Their complete audit report of the financial statements for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2011 & 2010 is available on the archdiocesan website at: www.archkck.org. The condensed financial statements referenced above have not been audited by any independent public accountants. June 2011 & 2010 in this review relate to the archdiocesan fiscal year ending June 30, of both respective years.
CONDENSED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION Total assets of the chancery offices as of June 30, 2011, were approximately $117 million compared with $107 million in the previous year. Cash and investments increased approximately $13 million in the current year from the prior year. The majority of this is a reflection in the Deposit and Loan system operated by the archdiocese. Each year, the archdiocese takes in deposits from parishes that have excess funds and loans them back out to parishes that are constructing churches, schools and other facilities. During the latest fiscal year, our deposits increased from $55 to $60 million and, at the same time, loans were paid down from almost $62 million to $55 million. The combination of these two events generated an additional $12 million in liquid assets on the balance sheet of the chancery offices. Over the last several years, we have talked about the significant amount of new building that has been taking place throughout our many parishes. The economic realities of the difficult financial period that we are operating in is finally
We look to strengthen our financial foundation
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF
FINANCIAL POSITION June 30, 2011 and 2010 ASSETS Cash and Investments Pledge and Accounts Receivable Interest in Catholic Foundation of NE KS Loans Receivable Land, Buildings & Equipment Other Assets Total Assets
reflected in our financial statements, which have seen almost no new lending in the last two years. And our parishes, like many other enterprises, are being careful with their finances and are trying to add to their reserve balances which in turn increases the amount of deposits on our balance sheet. On the liability side of the ledger, total liability is increased from $59 million to just slightly over $64 million. As mentioned above, the significant increase in this area was the $5 million in additional deposits. All other liability accounts remained at about the same level as they were at the previous fiscal year-end. Unlike the year 2009 when the archdiocese was borrowing significantly from outside banks in order to fund our building activity, at year-end 2010 and 2011 the archdiocese had no funds borrowed from external sources. Total net assets, which includes restricted and unrestricted funds, increased from approximately $49 million in 2010 to $52.5 million in 2011. Most of this increase in net assets is a result of continuing to add to our health care and dental care plan reserves.
CONDENSED STATEMENT OF ACTIVITIES The condensed statement of activities shows the revenue and expenses related to all of the various ministries and programs that are carried out through the offices of the chancery. Total unrestricted revenue increased from $27.7 million in
2010 to $30.2 million in 2011. The single largest increase was in our investment income, which shows the strength of the financial markets for the last two years. During fiscal year 2011, investment income amounted to $5.7 million compared with $4.2 million in the year 2010. The other significant increase in the revenue side was in the area of health and dental care premiums. The archdiocese manages a self-insured fund to provide health and dental care to all of our religious and lay employees. For the second consecutive year, gross revenue has increased over a million dollars while expenses remain fairly constant at approximately $15 million each year. On the expense side of the equation, total cost increased approximately $1 million from 2010 to 2011. The most significant increase was approximately $600,000 in fundraising expenses which was primarily due to the introduction of the new Offertory Enhancement Program which was paid for by the archdiocese and offered free of charge to any parish in the archdiocese that wished to participate. The early results of this program are very encouraging and we think that the investment will pay significant dividends in the future. Net assets increased almost $4 million from 2010 to 2011, with the most significant activity being about a $2.4 million increase in health and dental care reserves due to our significant increase in revenues mentioned above and the fact that claims expense has been fairly flat the last two years despite trends nationally that indicate significant increases in health care cost.
CONCLUSION The staff at the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas is pleased to provide you with this brief summary of our financial picture and the results of operations for the last two years. For those who have a keen interest in financial affairs, we would encourage you to take the time to review our complete audit report which, as mentioned above, is included on our website. The entire staff of the chancery office, both religious and lay, continues to be committed to the principles of good stewardship in the use of the resources that you make available to us.
LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS Liabilities Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses Accrued Health and Dental Care Claims Deposits Payable Deferred Revenue Total Liabilities Net Assets Unrestricted Restricted Total Net Assets Total Liabilities and Net Assets
2011 $28,675,014 7,722,578 7,122,587 55,586,286 16,895,622 609,443 $116,611,530
2010 $15,022,098 7,130,899 5,867,496 61,999,982 16,644,213 741,123 $107,405,811
$1,258,750 1,500,000 60,571,717 710,480 64,040,947
$1,081,162 1,500,000 55,485,917 642,381 58,709,460
40,692,912 11,877,671 52,570,583
37,259,653 11,436,698 48,696,351
$116,611,530
$107,405,811
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF
ACTIVITIES YEARS ENDED JUNE 30, 2011, and 2010 REVENUES 2011 Contributions, bequests and pledges $827,986 Archdiocesan assessments 3,032,058 Fees and Services 3,598,516 Investment Income 5,719,917 Health and Dental Premiums 17,002,736 Gain on disposal of Land, building and equipment 64,454 Total Unrestricted Revenue 30,245,667 Net assets released from restriction 7,200,465 Total Unrestricted Revenue and Other Support 37,446,132
2010 $403,948 2,833,364 3,963,405 4,238,161 15,977,925 315,727 27,732,530 6,917,422 34,649,952
EXPENSES Ministry, program and auxiliary services expenses 1 1,068,590 Administrative 4,423,578 Fundraising 1,245,136 Interest Expense 1,792,848 Health and Dental Care Expenses 14,609,238 Cor Christi Fund Distributions 389,845 Future Full of Hope Distributions 31,645 Archbishop’s Call to Share Parish Rebates 451,993 Total Expenditures 34,012,873
10,257,128 4,384,150 624,161 1,897,150 14,768, 236 288,665 194,928 442,288 32,856,706
Change in Unrestricted Net Assets Change in Restricted Net Assets Total Change in Net Assets Net Assets, Beginning of the Year Net Assets, End of the Year
3,433,259
1,793,246
440,973 3,874,232 48,696,351 $52,570,583
455,432 2,248,678 46,447,673 $48,696,351
2011 FINANCE COUNCIL MEMBERS Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann Father Gary Pennings Vicar General Father John Riley Chancellor L. Joseph Bauman Corpus Chrisit, Lawrence Frank J. Becker Corpus Christi, Lawrence Gary D. Davis Church of the Ascension, Leawood Michael J. Easterday Corpus Christi, Lawrence Fred M. Fosnacht Prince of Peace, Olathe
John Gillcrist Holy Spirit, Overland Park
Mel Lavery Good Shepherd, Shawnee
Theresa Gordzica St. Lawrence Campus Center
Kathleen Lusk Church of the Nativity, Leawood
Father Richard Halvorson Pastor, St. Dominic, Holton James A. Heintz Corpus Christi, Lawrence L. Travis Hicks Corpus Christi, Lawrence Stacey Hoffman St. Michael the Archangel, Leawood Kevin T. Kelly Church of the Ascension, Overland Park
George Rebeck Christ the King, Kansas City, Kansas Michael Scheopner Most Pure Heart of Mary, Topeka Larry Strecker Christ the King, Topeka John D. Seitzer St. Michael the Archangel, Leawood
D
ear Friends in Christ, During the last year, the Lord has continued to bless abundantly our archdiocese in extraordinary ways. In the spring, the first 17 men were ordained to serve as permanent deacons in our local church. The number of our seminarians preparing for priestly ordination has steadily grown. The Apostles of the Interior Life began a program to form laywomen and men to serve as spiritual mentors — to assist othFrom the ers to grow in their life of prayer. The archbishop Holy Family School of Faith is providing faith and spiritual formation to all of our elementary and high school Catholic school teachers. This summer, our young people were able to participate in the Eucharist and pray in the newly erected permanent chapel dedicated to Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha at Prairie Star Ranch. These are just a few of the many ways in which the Lord has blessed the Catholic community of northeast Kansas. In last year’s archdiocesan annual financial report update, I shared with you the results of the feasibility study and its recommendation of a year of education and dialogue about our case elements with priests and lay leaders throughout the archdiocese. Much of the work of this process has been shouldered by our Case Review Task Force. The purpose of this blue-ribbon committee is to review the most pressing financial needs facing the archdiocese and provide me with recommendations on the best course of action to address those needs. Clergy members of the task force include Msgr. Thomas Tank, Father Frank Burger, Father Mark Mertes, Father Bill Bruning and Father Bill Porter. They are joined by Bill Dunn Jr., Lamar Hunt Jr., Brenda Zimmerman, John Menghini, Jack Newman and our task force chairman, Michael Morrissey. I am very grateful for the significant investment of time, effort and commitment already invested by each of these members. The task force has been meeting since March. They have spent a significant
amount of time educating themselves about the financial issues facing our archdiocese, its schools, parishes and ministries. The task force requested and received detailed presentations on the state of our Catholic high schools and the debt burdens facing St. James, Bishop Ward and Hayden high schools in particular. The task force has examined the significant need for increased youth ministry and youth outreach in rural parishes, the importance of archdiocesan support for Donnelly College as leverage for acquiring donations from the broader community for its unique mission, and the considerable facilities, maintenance and programmatic needs facing our inner-city parishes. In addition to the topics I mentioned above, task force members have requested and received briefings on the possibility of implementing the “Catholics Come Home” program, adding a Spanishlanguage radio station and/or increasing support for parishes in the training of catechists for the Schools of Religion programs, among others.
I
n late August, task force members reached a turning point. They have wrapped up the “learning” portion of their work and now have begun the considerably more difficult task of digesting what they have learned in order to formulate recommendations on how the archdiocese should move forward to meet these needs in a well-thought-out and purposeful way. To be sure, this process involves asking tough questions and taking a hard look at the issues the archdiocese is facing. Ultimately, the task force will be charged with recommending which needs can be addressed at this moment and how we might best go about funding them. It is possible that the task force will recommend that we make changes to how we calculate the annual parish support to the archdiocese, or that we change the method or programs funded by the annual Archbishop’s Call to Share appeal. It is also possible that the task force will recommend moving forward with some manner of capital campaign or adding a new revenue stream that has not yet been considered. Everything is on the table, and nothing has been decided. What is clear to me, in the months that I have spent working alongside the task force, is that we are an archdiocese blessed by strong parishes, faith-filled families and incredibly generous parishioners. It is also clear that the needs being studied are serious and require our attention. While we are not in an immediate financial emergency, I have always believed that the best time to plan for the future is not in the midst of a crisis, but rather at a moment when we have the freedom to chart a careful, thoughtful approach to the challenges we face. At the same time, to miss this opportunity to address some of our present challenges and to fail to take advantage of some of the current opportunities will place some of the schools, parishes and ministries of the archdiocese in financial jeopardy in the not too distant future. The proposed campaign case was not intended to initiate programs, but to strengthen and expand current ministries and to improve the financial foundation for our schools and parishes.
The input and participation of so many members of our archdiocese in the feasibility study, both lay and clergy alike, helped to prompt this rewarding year of reflection and dialogue. I share the task force’s desire to communicate the fruit of their labors and receive additional input from the priests and people of the archdiocese. As part of the yearlong process, the task force has provided regular update presentations to our priest leaders at their Presbyteral Council meetings and to a Case Review Advisory Council, a group of 25 laypeople recruited to ask the task force additional questions and to help share word of their progress. I am in the process of attending regional meetings of our priests to update them on the work of the task force, to answer their questions, and to receive helpful feedback. Finally, members of our team have also provided regular in-person reports to archdiocesan staff, to our pastoral council, and finance council.
B
ut it does not stop there. I encourage you to speak with any or all of the priests and laypeople who are serving on this task force to ask them questions about the process, what they are learning and what options are under consideration. You might also spend some time at the website — www.archkck.org/ toughquestions — to learn more about our process. This website also allows you the opportunity to ask questions. I ask for your continued prayers that the Holy Spirit guides our efforts and inspires us on how best to do the Lord’s work here in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas. We entrust this initiative to the prayers of Mary, the patroness of the archdiocese. I am confident that the Lord, who has blessed the Catholic community of northeast Kansas so abundantly these past 160 years, will make fruitful for the good of his church, the work and efforts of so many this past year. With gratitude for your love for Jesus and his church, I remain Sincerely yours in Jesus, the Lord of Life,
Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann
Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas
THE LEAVEN • NOVEMBER 11, 2011
Accountability critical for sex abuse prevention, says Vatican VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Child abuse prevention policies will never work without accountability and an unwavering commitment to children’s welfare, said the Vatican’s top investigator of clerical sex abuse. “No strategy for the prevention of child abuse will ever work without commitment and accountability,” especially from the world’s bishops, said Msgr. Charles Scicluna, promoter of justice for the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. He was one of three Vatican officials invited to speak about protection strategies at an international forum on preventing child abuse. Cardinal Renato Martino, retired president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, and Archbishop Zygmunt Zimowski, head of the Pontifical Council for Health Care Ministry, were also invited to speak at the forum, “The World’s Children and the Abuse of Their Rights,” at the Italian senate Nov. 3. The forum was sponsored by the U.S. National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in Alexandria, Va., the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., the Vatican-related Bambino Gesu Children’s Hospital in Rome and SOS Telefono Azzurro — an Italian hotline for reporting child abuse. The Vatican released a copy of Msgr. Scicluna’s speech in English Nov. 3. The five-page speech looked at the role of the Catholic Church in protecting children from abuse, using numerous citations from Pope Benedict XVI’s 2010 Letter to the Catholics of Ireland, a papal address to Irish bishops in 2006 and the doctrinal congregation’s 2011 circular letter to bishops’ conferences on the need to develop clear abuse guidelines. In his speech, Msgr. Scicluna said the protection and respect of children must be paramount, and seeing them as a gift of God “is the true basis of prevention of child abuse.”
Bishops urge Senate committee to uphold DOMA WASHINGTON (CNS) — The U.S. bishops have urged the Senate Judiciary Committee not to repeal the federal Defense of Marriage Act, known as DOMA, calling it important for human rights and the common good. “DOMA advances the common good in a manner consistent with the human dignity of all persons,” Bishop Salvatore J. Cordileone of Oakland, Calif., chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Subcommittee for the Promotion and Defense of Marriage, wrote in a Nov. 2 letter to committee members. DOMA defines marriage as a union between one man and one woman and gives states the authority to reject same-sex marriages that may have been legally recognized in other states. The Senate Judiciary Committee began debate Nov. 3 on legislation to repeal the law. Called the Respect for Marriage Act, the legislation would end what its supporters consider illegal discrimination against legally married same-sex couples. However, advocates for traditional marriage said the Senate bill, S. 598, and an identical House bill, H.R. 1116, would open the door to redefining marriage and would eventually force states where same-sex marriage is illegal to recognize such unions. “All persons have a rightful claim to our utmost respect,” wrote Bishop Cordileone. “There is no corresponding duty, however, for society to disregard the meaning of sexual difference and its practical consequences for the common good; to override fundamental rights, such as religious liberty; and to re-define our most basic social institution.” He said DOMA’s definition of marriage reflects a long-standing consensus based in reason that is “accessible to people of all faiths or none at all.”
NATION/WORLD 11
Maryknoll called U.S.’s gift of mission By Beth Griffin
Catholic News Service NEW YORK (CNS) — Maryknoll is the gift of mission that the church in America gave to the universal church, and will continue to give, Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick told more than 1,800 participants at a festive Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral Oct. 30. The Mass celebrated the centennial of the group formally known as the Catholic Foreign Mission Society of America. “The church in the United States is a generous one — not because we give generously of our funds, but because we give generously of our faith,” he said. Cardinal McCarrick said the men and women of Maryknoll recognize that when you have something as precious as the Gospel of Jesus Christ, you can’t keep it to yourself. The gift of mission is meant to be given to one another. Cardinal McCarrick, retired archbishop of Washington, was the main celebrant of the Mass that marked the official end of Maryknoll’s yearlong centennial commemoration. He was joined by 56 priests and eight bishops in a twohour service rich with symbolic reminders of the lands catechized by Maryknoll missioners since 1911. Maryknollers carried the flags of 47 mission sites in the processional. They represented countries in Asia, Africa, North, Central and South America. The processional cross held relics of Maryknoll founders and missioners. Prayers
CNS photo/courtesy of Maryknoll Mission Archives
CO-FOUNDER OF MARYKNOLL — Father James A. Walsh, a priest from the Archdiocese of Boston and co-founder of the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers, is pictured in an undated photo. of the faithful were offered in English, Spanish, Swahili, Quechua from Peru, and two languages used in Taiwan: Hakka and Taiwanese. At the offertory, the gifts included rice, corn and cassava. Family members of Maryknoll co-founders Bishop James Walsh and Father Thomas Price carried Bishop Walsh’s chalice and Father Price’s mission cross to the sanctuary. In his homily, Cardinal McCarrick traced his relationship with Maryknoll
to a missioner’s visit to his third-grade class at Incarnation Parish in Manhattan. He said he and his classmates did not yet understand the depth of their faith, but recognized the priest’s bravery and dedication and appeared willing to follow him immediately into mission in exotic places. More recently, on June 4, Cardinal McCarrick ordained Father Rodrigo Ulloa-Chavarry, whom he called “Maryknoll’s centennial priest.” “There is no turning back from proclaiming the Gospel,” Cardinal McCarrick said. “Every ear must hear.” Maryknoll Superior General Father Edward M. Dougherty said Maryknollers worked side-by-side with those in need to provide health care, advance peace and justice and share the good news of Jesus Christ. He said Maryknoll’s efforts are a “living mission outreach of the U.S. Catholic Church. In this mission, we have been blessed to see firsthand . . . those often overlooked, the marginalized, refugees, people suffering from HIV/AIDS, farmers, men, women and children.” “Maryknollers are touched by the triumph of the human spirit and enriched by encountering people’s faith experience. We witness together with peoples around the world . . . the healing, reconciling and liberating Jesus and we are connected by the call of compassion,” he said. Father Dougherty said Maryknoll missioners “have gone to places where they were needed and not wanted, and stayed until they were wanted and not needed.”
Assisi participants sense deeper crisis in world By John Thavis
Catholic News Service ASSISI, Italy (CNS) — A common thread ran through many of the speeches and invocations of this year’s “prayer for peace” encounter in Assisi: the uneasy sense that the world is facing not merely conflicts and wars, but a much broader crisis that affects social and cultural life in every country. Environmental damage, the richpoor divide, erosion of cultural traditions, terrorism and new threats to society’s weakest members were cited as increasingly worrisome developments by speakers at the interfaith gathering in the Italian pilgrimage town Oct. 27. Pope Benedict XVI, addressing the 300 participants, echoed those points in his own analysis of the state of global peace 25 years after Blessed John Paul II convened the first Assisi meeting. In 1986, he noted, the world was caught up not only in simmering armed conflicts but also in a cold war between two opposing blocs. Today, the Cold War is over and there is “no threat of a great war hanging over us,” but “nevertheless the world is, unfortunately, full of discord,” he said. The pope said this discord has taken on “new and frightening guises,” and he singled out two forms: terrorism, including acts of violence that are religiously motivated; and the spiritual erosion that has occurred in highly secularized societies. “The worship of Mammon, possessions and power is proving to be a counter-religion, in which it is no longer man who counts but only personal advantage,” he said. He cited
CNS photo/Paul Haring
LEADERS ATTEND INTERFAITH PEACE MEETING — Religious leaders hold oil lamps during the gathering for peace outside the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi Oct. 27. Pictured from left are: Anglican Archbishop Rowan Williams of Canterbury; Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople; Pope Benedict XVI; Rabbi David Rosen, representing the chief rabbinate of Israel; and Wande Abimbola, representative for the traditional religion of Nigeria’s Yoruba people. the illegal drug trade and drug dependency to show how desire for happiness today can degenerate into “an unbridled, inhuman craving.” Twenty-five years ago, the success of the Assisi prayer summit was measured in part by how many warring parties respected Pope John Paul’s call for a one-day truce. In the 2011 edition, there was no truce call and no mention of specific conflicts by participants, with the exception of a brief reference to Jerusalem as a contested city. That’s not because wars have disappeared from the horizon, but because world harmony is seen as threatened in alarming new ways: • The growing risk of cultural conflicts was highlighted by Ja-Seung,
a Korean Buddhist. Other speakers warned that globalization has sometimes prompted a backlash among those who fear the weakening of cultural identity. • The world is ignoring massive loss of life among the poorest, said Anglican Archbishop Rowan Williams of Canterbury, making a point echoed by several leaders. • Others said the economic crisis has placed everyone’s future under a cloud. The Rev. Olav Fykse Tveit, a Lutheran minister and secretary-general of the World Council of Churches, said that with the current high unemployment among young people, “it feels as though we are gambling with the welfare and happiness of a generation.”
12 CLASSIFIEDS Employment Preschool teachers - The Goddard School, 21820 W. 115th Terr., Olathe, is seeking qualified lead teachers and assistants. Full- and part-time positions available. In our warm, loving atmosphere, caring teachers support the healthy development of children from six weeks to six years of age. Candidates should be extremely organized, professional in attitude and appearance, prepared to plan and facilitate lesson plans according to Goddard requirements and able to communicate effectively with children, families, co-workers and administrators. Full-time benefits include competitive pay, benefits package, opportunities for professional development and career growth, and a great working environment. Qualified candidates must meet or exceed Kansas regulations and have a desire to learn and implement the Goddard School programs. Lead teachers should have an early childhood education degree, a CDA, or a degree in a related field with an emphasis in early childhood education. Owners are members of Church of the Ascension Parish. Director of youth ministry - Immaculate Conception Church, North Little Rock, Ark., is seeking a full-time youth director (grades 7 - 12) and young adult minister. Candidate must be a Catholic in good standing and preferably have a bachelor’s degree. Send resume before Dec. 1, via email, to Father Tom Elliott at: FatherT@FatherT.com. Financial representative - Due to the success and growth of the Knights of Columbus, we are adding financial representatives in the Kansas City, Topeka and Atchison areas. This position is ideal for a determined, high-energy, high-expectation, professional, self-disciplined, independent individual desiring to serve others, yet earn a better-than-average income. We provide top-rated financial products to our members and their families and will provide excellent benefits and training. For information or an interview, contact John A. Mahon, 307 Dakota, Holton KS 66436; or call (785) 364-5450.
Services Utility bills skyrocketing? - I can help you save 10 - 30% on your heating and cooling bills and reduce the allergens and dust in your home. The solution is Aeroseal. Call Bryan at U.S. Solar G at (913) 602-2264. Member of Good Shepherd Parish, Shawnee. Husband and wife cleaning team - Reasonable rates; references provided. Call (913) 940-2959.
Housecleaning - I have over 30 years of cleaning experience and I am looking for new clients. Call Sandy at (913) 788-7676 or (913) 956-1626 (mobile). Housecleaning - Old-fashioned cleaning, hand mopping, etc. A thorough and consistent job every time. References from customers I’ve served for over 17 years. Call Sharon at (816) 322-0006 (home) or (816) 214-0156 (mobile). Machine quilting by Lyn - I also do T-shirt, photo, and memorial quilts. Official Hobbs distributor. Located in Overland Park. Call Lyn at (913) 492-8877. Counseling - Topeka Marriage and family, child, teen, personal Shunga Creek Mental Health Call Ken Zweig, LSCSW at (785) 969-5308.
The Innovative Event - Wedding and special event centerpieces, event design and décor. Using original creations and artistic flair, The Innovative Event can turn your vision into a very special occasion. Over 10 years experience with parish community events and weddings. Call Marilyn at (913) 707-8009 or send an email to her at: Marilyn@The InnovativeEvent.com. Tree service - Pruning trees for optimal growth and beauty and removal of hazardous limbs or problem trees. Free consultation and bid. Safe, insured, professional. Cristofer Estrada, Green Solutions of KC, (913) 378-5872. www.GreenSolutionsKC.com.
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
THE LEAVEN • NOVEMBER 11, 2011 QuickBooks® for small business - Setup, customization and maintenance; quarterly and/or yearly accounting; support to your CPA, balance monthly statements, profit and expense tracking. Free consultations! Call Ann Evans Consulting LLC at (913) 4069778. Bankruptcy - When debt becomes overwhelming, seek professional help. Experienced, compassionate Catholic attorney Teresa Kidd. For a confidential, no obligation consultation, call (913) 422-0610; or send an email to: tkidd@kc.rr.com. Websites - A professional website for your business or organization, starting at $75 per month; lower after the first year. Examples of work are available. Call Pat at (913) 909-7917. Foley’s Lawn Care - fall is here! Aeration, verticutting & over-seeding Fall cleanup, mowing, mulch, landscaping & gutters. Free estimates; call (913) 825-4353 www.foleyslawncare.com Serving Johnson County for over 10 years. Member of St. Joseph Church, Shawnee Rodman Lawn Care - Lawn mowing, leaf removal, hedge trimming, power washing, snow removal. Call (913) 548-3002 for a free estimate. Member of Holy Cross Parish, Overland Park. Fall lawn cleanup Aeration, seeding, fertilizing & leaf removal Excellent references; licensed and insured Local parishioner; free estimates. Insured; excellent references. Call Tony at (913) 620-6063 Need some help? - Maybe I am the answer. I can get you to your doctor’s appointment, hairdresser or shopping. Perhaps you aren’t driving anymore or just prefer a chauffeur; I’ll get you there. I can also run errands for you, such as picking up your prescriptions or groceries. Just give me a call to discuss your needs. Johnson County only. (913) 469-6211 or (816) 806-0564.
Caregiving CNA home health care professional - Provides quality, attentive, personal assistance for seniors and the homebound. Over 20 years experience. Excellent references and reasonable rates. Let me reduce your stress by helping you keep your loved one at home. Call Rosalyn at (816) 830-7455. Looking for high quality home care? Whether you’re looking to introduce care for your family or simply looking to improve your current home care quality, we can help. Our unique approach to home care has earned us a 99% client satisfaction rating among the 1,000-plus families we have assisted. We are familyowned and based in Lenexa. Call Benefits of HomeSenior Care at (913) 422-1591 or visit our website at: www.benefitsofhome.com. Retired nurse - Available to care for your loved one. Days, nights, and weekends. Will consider livein; willing to relocate. References; salary negotiable. Call (913) 579-5276. 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.
Home Improvement STA (Sure Thing Always) Home Repair - Basement finish, bathrooms and kitchens; interior & exterior repairs: painting, roofing, siding, wood replacement and window glazing. Free estimates. Call (913) 491-5837 or (913) 579-1835. Email: smokeycabin@ hotmail.com. Member of Holy Trinity, Lenexa.
TOUCH OF HEAVEN Catholic Store 119 SE 18th Topeka, KS (785) 232-2543
Hrs. T-F - 10 a.m. 5:30; Sat. 9 a.m. to noon
THE LEAVEN • NOVEMBER 11, 2011 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. Detail construction and remodeling - We offer a full line of home remodeling services. Don’t move — remodel! Johnson county area. Call for a free quote. (913) 709-8401. Adept Home Improvements Where quality still counts! Basement finishing, Kitchens and baths, Electrical and plumbing, Licensed and insured. (913) 599-7998 Father and son team - We do roofing, windows, doors, siding, brick masonry, all types of wood rot, fences and decks, retaining walls, landscaping and concrete. You name it, we can do it — no job to big or small. Reasonable prices; fully insured. Call Josh at (913) 709-7230. Tile work - Ceramic tile installation/repairs; kitchen or bathrooms; custom showers and flooring projects. 20 years exp.; insured. Free estimates. Call Frank Womack, In Line Flooring, at (913) 485-0745, or send an email to: inlineflooringkc@gmail.com. Garage door and opener sales and service 24-hour, 7 day-a-week service on all types of doors. Replace broken springs, cables, hinges, rollers, gate openers, entry and patio doors, and more. Over 32 years of experience. Call (913) 227-4902. Interior and exterior painting and wallpaper removal - 30-plus years experience. Quality work; excellent references; reasonable rates. Senior discount. Member of St. Ann Parish, Prairie Village. Call Joe at (913) 620-5776. Exterior painting, drywall projects, wood rot repair, bathroom and kitchen remodels, - Qual ity products. 20 years experience. References. Call (913) 206-4524. Clutter getting you down? Organize, fix, assemble, clean . . . we do it all! For a free consultation, call your professional organizing handyman, Kevin Hogan, M.Ed., today at (913) 271-5055. Insured; references. Visit the website at: www.koatindustries.com. Swalms Organizing Service - Basement, garage, attic, shop — any room organized! Items taken to donation sites, trash is bagged, and areas are clean and neat when job is complete. To view before-andafter pictures, visit the website at: www.swalms.com. Over 20 years of organizing experience; insured. Call Tillar at (913) 375-9115. 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 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. Masonry work - Quality, new or repair work. Brick, block and chimney/fireplace repair. Insured; second-generation bricklayer. Member of St. Paul Parish, Olathe. Call (913) 829-4336. Electrician - Free estimates; reasonable rates. JoCo and south KC metro. Call Pat at (913) 963-9896. Master electrician - Licensed in Missouri and Kansas. 35 years experience in residential and commercial electrical needs. Call Rick, L & M Electric, at (913) 362-1501 or (816) 781-1501.
Roofing insurance specialist - Free estimates; repairs if needed. Hail/wind damage inspections. Insured and reasonable. Call Rob (913) 206-4524.
For Rent For rent - 1 BR, 1 BA apartment in Shawnee near Nieman and Johnson Dr. $500/mo; utilities included. 10911 W. 59th Terr. For a virtual tour, visit the website at: www.shawnee-rentals.com. (913) 649-7596.
Real Estate Five bedrooms in vibrant Kenilworth! - Short hop, skip, and a jump to Trailwood Elementary and Curé of Ars Parish and School. Over 3,200 sq. ft.; 4 full bathrooms; new composition roof; newer furnace. Quiet neighborhood with towering oak trees. For a picture tour, visit the website at: http://www.4800W96.com. Call Scott Strevell, ERA Manning, at (913) 269-4269. Sparkling two-story - Enjoy this beautiful, 4 BR, 4-1/2 BA home with over 3,500 sq. ft.; a side-entry, four-car garage; unfinished walkout basement; master BR suite with sitting room and huge walk-in closet. $320,000. Located in Good Shepherd Parish, Shawnee. For a picture tour, visit the website at: http://www. 14600w78.com. Call Scott Strevell, ERA Manning, at (913) 269-4269.
Vacation Ski cabin in Winter Park, Colo. – 2 BR, 1 BA, on free ski shuttle route. $110/night. Call (913) 642-3027. To view, visit the website at: www.tillmancabin.com.
12
Nov.
The Knights of Columbus of St. Patrick Church, 1086 N. 94th St., Kansas City, Kan., will host a Chicken Parmesan dinner from 5 - 7 p.m. on Nov. 12 in the parish hall. The cost is: $8 for adults; $5 for children; $30 per family maximum. For information, contact Manuel Ortiz at (913) 287-0239. The Shawnee Knights of Columbus will host a dance from 7 - 11 p.m. on Nov. 12 in their hall, located at 11221 Johnson Drive. The band Coldwater will perform classic rock, soul and blues from the ’60s and ’70s. A suggested donation of $5 includes bratwurst, chips and snacks. Drinks will be available for purchase; must be 21 years or older to attend. For information or to RSVP, call Keith Winterhalter at (913) 631-2173 or Gary Van DeBerghe at (913) 226-4407.
13 St. Ann Church, Effingham, will host a ham & bean and chicken &
noodle dinner from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. on Nov. 13 in the parish center. A freewill offering will be collected. Carryouts will be available. For information or carryouts, call (913) 833-2268.
Wanted to Buy Cash for your antiques - Coins, watches, silverware, old rifles and shotguns, pocket knives, old military items, Zippo lighters, duck decoys, antique toys, old signs, old pine or primitive furniture. Call Chris at (913) 593-7507 or (913) 642-8269. *** Want to buy *** Antique or vintage jewelry Single pieces or entire estate Renee Maderak (913) 631-7179 St. Joseph Parish, Shawnee Will buy firearms and related accessories One or a whole collection. Honest evaluation and top prices paid. Contact Tom at (913) 238-2473. Member of Sacred Heart Parish, Shawnee.
Miscellaneous Donate a vehicle. Make a difference. Donate your vehicle to Catholic Charities to support those in need. Your tax-deductible donation helps children and families served by Catholic Charities and is an environmentally wise way to recycle your vehicle. Cars for KC Kids is a partnership between Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas and Catholic Charities of Kansas City St. Joseph. Call 1 (866) 430-9499 or visit the website at: www.cars4kckids.com.
A healing Mass, sponsored by archdiocesan charismatic prayer groups, will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 17 at Curé of Ars Church, 9401 Mission Rd., Leawood. Father Tom Kearns will preside. Fellowship will follow in the Father Burak Room. For information, call (913) 649-2026.
18 & 19
The Church of the Ascension, 9510 W. 127th St., Overland Park, will host its annual marketplace from 7 - 10 p.m. on Nov. 18 and from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. on Nov. 19 in the parish hall. A number of community vendors will offer a wide variety of products for purchase. Is the Lord calling you to be a Capuchin Franciscan friar as a priest or a brother? Consider attending a vocation discernment retreat for men ages 18 - 40 at St. Fidelis Friary in Victoria on Nov. 18 - 20. For information or to register, visit the website at: www. capuchins.org/vocations.
For sale - Two burial plots at Mount Calvary Cemetery, Kansas City, Kan. Price includes opening and closing of the grave. Call Kathy at (816) 786-4575.
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.
17
The Keeler Women’s Center, 2220 Central Ave., Kansas City, Kan., offers a monthly Scripture series, based on the illuminations of the Saint John’s Bible, from 1:30 - 2:30 p.m. on Nov. 17 and every third Thursday of the month. For information or to register, call (913) 906-8990 or visit the website at: www. mountosb.org/kwc.
18-20
For Sale
American Girl-type solid wood doll furniture - Heirloom quality furniture, complete with bedding. In-home showroom. Open house 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. on Nov. 19 at 5619 Widmer Rd., Shawnee. Call John Hember at (913) 631-4060. Member of St. Joseph Parish, Shawnee. Visit the website at: www.bedsandthreads. com.
- 4:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, beginning Nov. 15. The class is open to all, but is ideal for young women ages 16 – 25. For information or to register, call (913) 906-8990 or visit the website at: www.mountosb. org/kwc.
St. Patrick Church, Corning, will host a soup luncheon from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. on Nov. 13 at the Corning Community Center. There will be bingo, cards, children’s games and an auction following the luncheon. St. Louis-Good Intent Church, 11321 Morton Rd., Atchison, will host its annual religious education pancake lunch from 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. on Nov. 13. A freewill donation will be collected. The Christian Widow and Widowers Organization will host a holiday luncheon at 1 p.m. on Nov. 13 in the Formation Room at Most Pure Heart of Mary Church, 3601 S.W. Stone, Topeka. There is no cost to attend. For information, call (785) 272-0055. A Fatima rosary rally will be held at 3 p.m. on Nov. 13 at Our Lady of Sorrows Church, 2552 Gillham Rd., Kansas city, Mo. Join in praying 15 decades of the rosary, followed by Benediction and enrollment in the brown scapular.
15 The Keeler Women’s Center, 2220 Central Ave., Kansas City, Kan., will
offer S.T.A.N.D. (Self-esteem Taking a New Direction), a five-week course, from 3
19
A memorial liturgy for deceased loved ones will be held at 8 a.m. on Nov. 19 at Curé of Ars Church, 9401 Mission Rd., Leawood. The bereavement ministry will have its monthly meeting following Mass in the Father Burak Room. The topic will be: “Looking at Grief with Verse.” For information, call (913) 649-2026. The Mothers of Young Children of Curé of Ars Parish, 9401 Mission Rd., Leawood, will host its annual gift gallery on Nov. 19 from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. in the school. Over 45 artisans and vendors will offer items for purchase. The admission cost is $3, payable at the door. A portion of every purchase is donated to local children’s charities. For information, visit the website at: www.gift gallerykc.com. The Mother Teresa Circle of Holy Cross Church, 8311 W. 93rd St., Overland Park, will host a friendship tea at 10:30 a.m. on Nov. 19 in Lickteig Hall. The cost is $10 per person. To purchase tickets, call Maxine Rodriguez at (913) 383-2014 or Donna Heit at (913) 402-6843. St. Joseph-St. Lawrence Church will host its annual fall fest at St. Lawrence Church hall, 211 W. Riley, Easton, on Nov.
CALENDAR 13
19. A soup and chili supper will be served from 4 - 7 p.m. Bingo and raffles will follow dinner.
zen bierocks and cinnamon rolls will be available for carryout.
The 27th annual Viviano Variety Benefit Show will be held on Nov. 19 at Rockhurst High School, 9301 State Line Rd., Kansas City, Mo. The show will feature performances by Joseph Vincelli, flutist and saxophonist; 4’s Company, barbershop quartet; Savannah Miller, baton artist; the Viviano family; and more. Proceeds will benefit the Catholic Charities Foundation of Northeast Kansas. Tickets cost $35 for reserved seating, or $25 for open seating. The doors open at 4:30 p.m., and the show will begin at 7 p.m. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit the website at: www.catholic charitiesks.org.
Ten Thousand Villages, 7947 Santa Fe, Overland Park, will donate 15 percent of all sales from 1 - 5 p.m. on Nov. 27 to the Keeler Women’s Center. Shop for the holidays and help the Benedictine Sisters of Mount St. Scholastica fulfill their mission of empowering women in the urban core of Kansas City, Kan., through education, advocacy, and personal and spiritual development.
The Knights of Columbus of Sacred Heart Church, 2646 S. 34th St., Kansas City, Kan., will host a Texas hold’em tournament and spaghetti dinner on Nov. 19 in the parish hall. Dinner will be served from 5 - 7 p.m. The cost is: $7 for adults; $4 for children ages 6 -12; children under age 6 eat free. The poker tournament (for adults only) will begin at 7 p.m. A suggested donation of $30 per player is appreciated. For information, call (913) 631-0735.
27
2
Dec.
The Tom Jacobs Ensemble will perform its annual concert at 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 2 at Unity Temple on the Plaza, 707 W. 47th St., Kansas City, Mo. Tickets cost $15 if purchased in November; $25 in December. To purchase tickets, call Jacobs at (816) 619-3499; send an email to him at: tbjacobs@earthlink.net; or visit the website at: www.tomjacobs.com.
3
The Knights of Columbus of St. Thomas More Parish, 11822 Holmes, Kansas City, Mo., will host a Texas hold ‘em tournament on Nov. 19 in the parish hall. Registration is at 7 p.m.; tournament play begins at 7:30 p.m. The suggested donation per player is $30 in advance; $35 at the door. To register in advance, call Dave Markus at (816) 9419368.
Sacred Heart Parish, 408 S. Cedar, Ottawa, will host the Southern Region men’s retreat, entitled “Let Go, Let God,” from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. on Dec. 3. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. The cost of $15 includes a barbecue lunch. To RSVP, send an email to Mike Wheeler at: mikeinkansas@yahoo.com, or call George Steinberger at (785) 835-6654.
19 & 20 The annual John Paul II Holiday Shoppe, featuring over
St. Mary, Purcell, and St. Leo Church, Horton, will host their annual festival of lights Christmas luminaries from 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. on Dec. 4. The route begins at 15th and Central. There will be 20 living scenes of the life of Christ.
40 tables of crafts, jewelry and baked goods, will be held from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. on Nov. 19 and from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. on Nov. 20 at St. Pius X Church, 5500 Woodson, Mission.
20
The Men’s Society of St. Casimir Church, 719 Pennsylvania, Leavenworth, will host its annual golumbki dinner from noon - 3 p.m. on Nov. 20 in the parish hall. Carryouts will be available beginning at 10 a.m. The cost is $8 for adults. $4 for children. Meatloaf will also be served.
21
The Keeler Women’s Center, 2220 Central Ave., Kansas City, Kan., will offer “Career Exploration: What Should I Be?” from 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. on Nov. 21. This program is designed as a first step in looking at personal strengths and preferences to make satisfying career decisions. For information or to register, call (913) 906-8990 or visit the website at: www.mountosb.org/kwc.
26 St. Rose School, Garnett, will host its annual bierock sale and craft
show from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. on Nov. 26 at the school, located on E. 4th Ave. Fro-
4
The Mothers of Young Children of Curé of Ars Church, 9401 Mission Rd., Leawood, will host their annual breakfast with St. Nick from 8 a.m. - noon on Dec. 4 in the school cafeteria. The cost is: $6 for adults; $5 for children; or $20 per family.
2-4
The next Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekend will be held from Dec. 2- 4 at Savior Pastoral Center, 12601 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City, Kan. Don’t miss this opportunity to rekindle the love you have for each other, renew your vows, and recommit to living out your vocation of marriage. For information or to register, call Ralph and Jan Lewis at (913) 400-7173 or visit the website at: www.neksme.org.
Calendar submissions: Are due at noon on Wednesday, nine days prior to the requested publication date. Email submissions to: jennifer@theleaven. com
14 COMMENTARY
THE LEAVEN • NOVEMBER 11, 2011
THE LEAVEN • NOVEMBER 11, 2011
MARK MY WORDS
Catholic Press Association Award Winner
1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
QUOTE WEEK
OF THE
“The series is just super well done — highdefinition quality, really good background into what it means to be Catholic. It gives a really good view of how large the Catholic Church is and how historically important it’s been.” Matt Karr, archdiocesan consultant for evangelization and Catholic formation of adults See story on page 1
THIRTY-THIRD WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME Nov. 13 THIRTY-THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Prv 31: 10-13, 19-20, 30-31; Ps 128: 1-5; 1 Thes 5: 1-6; Mt 25: 14-30 Nov. 14 Monday 1 Mc 1: 10-15, 41-43, 54-57, 62-63; Ps 119: 53, 61, 134, 150, 155, 158; Lk 18:35-43 Nov. 15 Albert the Great, bishop, doctor 2 Mc 6: 18-31; Ps 3: 2-8; Lk 19: 1-10 Nov. 16 Margaret of Scotland; Gertrude, virgin 2 Mc 7: 1, 20-31; Ps 17: 1, 5-6, 8, 15; Lk 19: 11-28 Nov. 17 Elizabeth of Hungary, religious 1 Mc 2: 15-29; Ps 50: 1-2, 5-6, 14-15; Lk 19: 41-44 Nov. 18 The Dedication of the Basilicas of Peter and Paul, apostles; Rose Philippine Duchesne, virgin 1 Mc 4: 36-37, 52-59; (Ps) 1 Chr 29: 10-12; Lk 19: 45-48 Nov. 19 Saturday 1 Mc 6: 1-13; Ps 9: 2-4, 6, 16, 19; Lk 20: 27-40
C
BUILDING THE CULTURE OF LIFE
Are you ‘No. 1’ or ‘no one’?
ue the eerie music. This issue of The Leaven comes out on 11-1111. Be afraid; be very afraid. At least that’s what a new movie, appropriately entitled “11-11-11,” would have you believe. According to the film, at 11:11 on 11-11-11, the 11th gate of heaven (whatever that is) will open and something sinister from another realm will enter the Earth for 49 minutes. My first question is: In exactly which time zone will this happen and why there? It honestly doesn’t matter, though, because if you’re calmly reading this article, it’s probably later than 11:11 anyway and you should be safe! What is it about humans and numbers? An article by Natalie Wolchover on msnbc.com mentions the “11:11 phenomenon,” which apparently figures into that horror flick above. Supposedly, people have a tendency to look at the clock more often at this particular time than at any other time of day. The writer reports that some people even feel “haunted” by 11s. (I’d venture to guess that none of them are blackjack players, who would be thrilled with an 11.) I’ve got to admit that 11-11 does mean something to me: It’s Veterans Day; the birthday of George S. Patton Jr., the colorful general of World War II fame; nine days before my birthday; and the day in 1939 when the singer Kate Smith first sang her famous rendition of “God Bless America.” This date also honors Sylan N. Goldman, who, according to archdiocesan priest and author Father Ed Hays, created the grocery store shopping cart in the 1930s. But for Catholics, it’s also the day that we celebrate the feast of St. Martin of Tours (316?-397). And it’s here that the best meaning of 11-11 can be found. You might remember the story of St. Martin. He was born to pagan parents in what is today Hungary. Because his father was a soldier, he was required by Roman law to follow in his father’s footsteps. According to a legend, as a young army officer, he once met a shivering
beggar on the side of the road during the winter. Martin cut his own cloak in two and gave half to the beggar. Martin later saw a vision of Christ, who was wearing that cloak. That inspired Martin to be baptized. He laid down his weapons and spent the rest of his life as a “soldier for Christ,” living a life of generosity and compassion. He was the first non-martyr to be made a saint. When I see 11-11-11, all I notice are the slew of 1s. We live in a world where the only folks who seem to count are those who are “No. 1.” From sports teams to world powers, being the best is, well, the best. St. Martin, though, can remind us of another way to go through life. We are called not so much to be “No. 1, but to be “no one,” at least in the eyes of the world. In other words, we’re called to pursue humility, to put others first in our life. St. Martin didn’t need to care about that beggar in the cold; he could have chosen to ignore him. But he didn’t. He did what he could for the man. And that’s what all Christians are called to do as well. (It’s no surprise that St. Martin is the patron saint of Catholic Charities.) The first place to acquire humility is by poking a bit of fun at ourselves, to deflate our No. 1 balloon. If I get to heaven, one of the people I will definitely seek out is Pope John XXIII. In his book, “Between Heaven and Mirth,” Jesuit Father James Martin tells the story of Pope John going to visit a hospital just down the street from the Vatican. It’s called Ospidale di Santo Spirito, or
“the Hospital of the Holy Spirit,” and it’s the oldest in the city. Shortly after entering, the pope was introduced to the Sister who ran the hospital. She was totally flustered by this surprise visit and blurted out, “Holy Father, I am the superior of the Holy Spirit.” To this, the pope smilingly responded, “Well, Sister, I must say, you’re lucky. I’m only the Vicar of Christ!” Such humility and humor from the pope must have put that nervous nun at ease. And humility on our part can make others feel not only at ease, but important and worthy of our time and attention. I’d like to propose a new holiday season, beginning on 11-11 and running until Thanksgiving. Because St. Martin’s feast is traditionally a harvest festival, ponder all of the blessings that you’ve been given. Try not to leave anything out: from your family and friends to your faith to your finances. Thank God for these many gifts. Secondly, celebrate 11-11 and its aftermath by making someone feel special, like they are No. 1. Be generous in giving out compliments, don’t rush when visiting others, connect with far-flung friends online or by snail mail, leave someone else the closer parking spot, put away someone’s shopping cart for them, and maybe even drop a coin or two on the ground for some child to find. Finally, honor St. Martin by “slicing your cloak.” Seek to do something practical every day to alleviate the suffering of the poor — in body, mind or spirit. You know, now that I think about it, there is a time when the gates of heaven swing wide open: It’s whenever someone arrives there who has understood that anyone who wishes to be first — No. 1 — “shall be the last of all and the servant of all.” And that kind of life is nothing to be afraid of.
SECOND THOUGHTS ON THE SECOND READING
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How do we break the grip of moral relativism?
ave you noticed that many times we make poor decisions when we do not think them through thoroughly? We are even more at risk of a poor decision if we make it when being unduly influenced by our emotions. And yet making a poor decision is a very predictable common outcome given our society’s acceptance of moral relativism, whereby everyone’s decisions tend to be based upon a set of values that depends only upon one’s individual opinions and feelings. There are no absolute rights and wrongs and therefore little need for objective thinking . . . or even God. One is tempted to think that one cannot make a mistake, since all values are personal
He writes well in advance of the composition of Mark’s Gospel, but perhaps has Jesus’ words, which were later recorded in that Gospel, in mind: “Concerning times and seasons, brothers and sisters, you have no need for anything to be written to you.” It wouldn’t do any good anyway. St. Paul recognizes the uselessness of speculation. To emphasize the element of unexpectedness, St. Paul draws upon the image of a thief breaking into a house at night. “For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.” Later on, St. Matthew’s Gospel will use the same image to make the same point: “Be sure of this, if the master of the house had known the hour of night when the
thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and not let his house be broken into” (Mt 24: 43). St. Paul did not have access to St. Matthew’s Gospel, since it most likely had not yet been written. Instead, St. Paul appears to be referring to the oral tradition, the sayings of Jesus, which had been memorized and passed down by word of mouth — the oral tradition that St. Matthew would eventually also draw upon in writing his Gospel. In any case, the uncertainty concerning the schedule for Christ’s second coming calls for alertness and constant preparation on our part. That does not mean undue anxiety or fear. Rather, it means faithfully following Jesus Christ and living according to his teachings. If we do that, then, in the words of our reading, we will truly be “children of the day and children of the light.” Father Mike Stubbs is the pastor of Holy Cross Parish in Overland Park and has a degree in Scripture from Harvard University.
and relative. Such thinking leads to disastrous decisions. Perhaps the evil of moral relativism could be simply summed up as: my will, not God’s will. Moral relativism has certainly been a significant contributor to our current culture of death and darkness, leading to such evils as pervasive legalized killing of innocent unborn babies. Thus our embrace of this flawed value system is truly a fatal embrace that leads to death and which continues to expand into other areas of our lives,
such as embryonic stem-cell research, in-vitro fertilization, assisted suicide and euthanasia, etc. So how do we break the grip of this fatal embrace? One of our first steps should be to embrace humility, whereby we acknowledge our dependence upon God. Unfortunately, we are not a humble people and we often foolishly rely exclusively on our own abilities. I am reminded about God telling Moses that the Jews were a “stiff-necked” people (donkeys are also stiff-necked and stubborn) and stiff-necked surely applies to us today as it did to our forefathers. We must embrace humility in order to loosen our stiff necks, reduce our stubbornness and become more disposed to follow Jesus and align our will with God’s will. So how do we embrace humility? The first stirrings of our heart, our
inmost being, must be toward God. And God has placed a hunger for him in our hearts so that we need only to earnestly seek him and he will give us the graces, including humility, that we need to find him and follow him. With humility as a foundational virtue, we will be able to exercise the gifts of reason and faith. Reason and faith, exercised with a properly formed conscience, will never arrive at decisions leading to death but, rather, will lead us to choose to life and love. So let us ask our Blessed Mother to intercede for us and follow her perfect example of humility and then heed her words: “Do whatever he tells you” (Jn 2:5). Ron Kelsey is the archdiocesan consultant for the pro-life office. You can email him at: prolife@archkck.org, or call (913) 647-0350.
FAMILY MATTERS
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Good intentions are no substitute for acts of genuine love
s we close out the liturgical year, the Sunday Gospels speak of rendering an account of our lives to God. What have we done with the treasures he entrusted to us? I am referring to the treasures God has given us in our husband or wife, our children, or our parents, sisters or brothers. One of the greatest struggles for many of us is to avoid growing complacent in our relationships. We get so mired in our daily routines and busy schedules that we leave our spouses in the morning with a quick peck on the cheek or forget to tell our children we love them at each opportunity (even
Paul calls us to constant readiness
rdinarily, whenever I set up a meeting or an event, I write it down in my appointment book. Then I do not have to keep constantly thinking about it. I can free up my mind for other things. In a sense, our faith puts us in the exact opposite position concerning the second coming of Christ. Although the date has been set, we have no THIRTY-THIRD idea when that SUNDAY IN might be: “But of ORDINARY TIME that day or hour, 1 Thes 5: 1-6 no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, not the Son, but only the Father” (Mk 13:32). Ordinarily, when I prepare for an event, I count backwards from the set date with the amount of time needed for preparation. Since we do not know the schedule for the second coming of Christ, we cannot delay our preparation for it, but must remain in a constant state of readiness. That is the point that St. Paul makes in Sunday’s second reading, 1 Thes 5: 1-6.
COMMENTARY 15
and especially when they are grown). We forget a sibling’s birthday; we let too long a time elapse between calls to Mom or Dad. Our intentions are good, but so often the time gets away from us. We crawl into bed resolving to do better tomorrow. I had two experiences this past week that really drove this home to me. The first was a conversation after Mass with a woman whose husband of 58 years had passed away two years ago. She
told me how you never quite get over the other person’s absence in your life. She shared how often she found herself saying “Michael, did you . . .” Then she stops, recalling Michael is no longer by her side. The other experience was standing next to a priest as he prepared to celebrate his last Sunday Mass at a parish where he had been assigned for many years. Perhaps it was my imagination, but it seemed to me he studied each face, lingered a little longer looking at each family, as he prepared to leave for his new parish. These people are his spouse, his beloved. It caused me to pause and wonder how often I really gaze on the beautiful face of my wife of 40 years as we rush through the chores of the day. How well did I look into the eyes of my son,
daughter or grandchild when I was last with them, so that they would know of my love for them? Did I tell them: “I love you!”? Someday, when we stand before our Lord, he is not going to ask: “How big of a house did you have? What kind of car did you drive? Where did you go for vacation?” He will ask: “Did you love them? Did you love my presence in them? Did you increase this treasure I entrusted to you with your love, affirmation and forgiveness?” Don’t get hung up on the past. Begin now. Our striving to love as God loves us is our holiness. Deacon Tony Zimmerman is the lead archdiocesan consultant for the office of marriage and family life.
WORD OF LIFE
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Our faith must be tended if it is to grow
take great pride in my lawn. I mow my yard regularly. Pick up leaves. I power rake it a couple of times a year. I put down fertilizer, insect and weed control, and try to keep it looking good. Usually this time of year, the grass is looking great. However, this year it is brown. It is brown because of the lack of rain. So despite my efforts, my lawn is in need of some help. Our spiritual lives need to be tended to in the same way our yards need care. We need to make efforts to pray, read Scripture, participate in the
sacraments, and take time to study the Catholic faith if we want to continue to grow in our love of God and of others. However, we are dependent on the “rain” of the Holy Spirit in our lives if we are going to bear fruit. Thanks be to God that the Father is not like Mother Nature. He is liberal in pouring out the grace of the Holy Spirit upon us in all seasons! If we are going through a spiritual drought, it is not generally because of a failure on God’s part. If our spiritual lives are strug-
gling, we need to take a look at the time we are putting into prayer, study, and participating in the life of the church. Lucky enough for us, our God is rich in mercy and compassion and, if we return to him, he can be counted on to do his part! One way that we can grow in our faith is by learning more about the God in whom we believe. The archdiocese has partnered with a great institution, the Maryvale Institute, to offer courses of study in our Catholic faith. One of the great benefits of the Maryvale courses is that much of the study can be done at home! This January we will begin three courses of study: a one-year course on RCIA catechesis for those teaching or wanting to teach in the RCIA process; a one-year study course on evangelization and ministry in the family,
specifically designed for parents and grandparents who want to grow in their ability to hand on the faith in the family; and a three-year master’s degree in catechesis and religious education. No matter who you are or where you are in your knowledge of the faith, I am sure that one of these courses would be beneficial in helping you keep your spiritual life healthy and growing. If you are interested in learning more about the Maryvale courses and other offerings, please visit our website at: www.archkckecat.org, or call me directly at (913) 721-1570, ext. 433. Matt Karr is the lead consultant for the office of evangelization and Catholic formation of adults.
16 LOCAL NEWS
THE LEAVEN • NOVEMBER 11, 2011
GIVE THE GIFT OF A LIFETIME
By Jessica Langdon
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Leaven staff
orris Taylor wrote a letter about his son, lovingly titling it “Gregory Taylor, Our Gift from God.” After his son died five years ago at age 52, Morris decided to honor the gift God gave his family for so many years with a gift to the church that had been a central part of Greg’s life (see sidebar). He chose to do so in Interested in the form of a gift annulearning more? ity through Contact Gary the Catholic Pratt, planned Foundation of giving officer for Northeast Kanthe Archdiocese sas. of Kansas City in Like others Kansas, at (913) who give in 647-0365. this way, Morris receives from his gift an income for the rest of his life. And he knows his son’s parish — St. Mary in Hartford — is able to use the funds it receives now. The archdiocese currently has close to three dozen contracts for this type of planned gift. “I think more people would want to do this if they understood it,” said Gary Pratt, planned giving officer for the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas. “Thousands of people across the country are using gift annuities as a means of increasing their guaranteed lifetime income while leaving a charitable gift.” These are especially becoming more popular because of the difficult economic times. The Federal Reserve has noted, for example, that the current low-interest-rate environment could extend for years, basically meaning that people can’t expect their CDs to pay more next year. “That’s a big deal for people on a fixed income,” said Pratt. And many people need to make sure they will have money coming in for the rest of their lives, however long that might be. So gift annuities offer a way to help maximize earnings while helping a parish or other Catholic entity at the same time. There can also be some tax advantages. If arrangements are made by Dec. 31, they can even apply to this tax year. Here’s how it works: An individual or a couple makes a gift to the Catholic Foundation of Northeast Kansas, which in turn agrees
A personal gift By Morris Taylor
Donor
Charitable Gift Annuity
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How it works
1 You transfer cash, securities, or other property to CFNEK 2 You receive an income tax deduction and may save capital gains tax. CFNEK pays a fixed amount each year to you or to anyone you name for life. Typically, a portion of these payments is tax free.
3 Gift amount, minus reinsurance cost and 10% fee, is paid to donor’s chosen beneficiary. Is a gift annuity right for you? It might be if: • You are 65 or older (it is especially attractive to those 70 and older). • You are looking for guaranteed income for life. • The interest rates on your CDs or other fixed-income investments have declined and you are looking to increase cash flow. • You own appreciated stock or mutual fund shares and have hesitated to sell some and reinvest the proceeds because you don’t want to pay tax on the capital gain. • You want to ensure continued payments to a surviving spouse without delay from probate proceedings, or you would like to provide assistance to an elderly parent, sibling, or someone else in a manner that offers some tax advantages.
to make fixed lifetime payments to the individual, based on the donor’s age and the amount of the gift. This gift could involve a transfer of cash, securities, or other property. Take, for example, a principal donation of $25,000 from an individual donor who is 75. Based on life expectancy and with a 6.5 percent annuity rate, the donor would receive $1,625 each year. The American Council on Gift Annuities sets the rates for all charities. Donors
A full life’s reward Paul Shepherd, 98, and Edna Glaser, 88, have forged a strong friendship since meeting at a senior living facility in Emporia and are quick to share with each other whatever good advice comes their way. Today, both live at Presbyterian Manor in that town, and both have gift annuities that keep a stream of income coming in. Through the gift annuities, they have left gifts for two parishes in the archdiocese. Paul grew up on a farm in Hartford. Reaching adulthood, he went into the produce business. He was drafted and spent three years in the U.S. Army. He returned to Hartford and spent several more years there working in the produce business before he began a 23-year ca-
Beneficiary
Paul Shepherd and Edna Glaser reer as the town’s postmaster. He retired and took care of his wife when her health began failing. He began saving for retirement and buying CDs to ensure a solid financial future. Edna, a lifelong resident of Emporia, worked in banking for 10 years and enjoyed it. When she had children, she
Taking care of a cherished church Rose Katzer, 89, spent many years raising her family in Greeley. Her faith is a central part of her life. When she decided to enter into a contract with the Catholic Foundation of Northeast Kansas for a gift annuity, Rose Katzer she knew she didn’t need the income that would come to her at this point, so she deferred it. The money instead will go to St. Rose Philippine Duchesne School in Garnett. Her gift honors her late husband Alfred. The money will go into an endowment to make a Catholic education possible for children for years to come. receive their payments quarterly. The donor then chooses a Catholic entity — which could be a school, parTurn to “CATHOLIC” on page 7
stayed home to raise her family. As the years passed, Paul decided to use money he held in CDs to fund a gift annuity with the Catholic Foundation of Northeast Kansas and receive guaranteed income, with St. Mary Parish in Hartford benefiting. That inspired Edna to do the same, with hers providing a gift for Sacred Heart Parish in Emporia — even though she isn’t Catholic. Raised Methodist, she still attended Mass sometimes at the Catholic church. Her dad would take her when she and friends wanted to go, and she often went to Mass on Christmas Eve. “It used to be a big deal,” she remembered. Now she receives some income on a regular basis while her gift goes to Sacred Heart Parish in Emporia, which is a big part of her childhood memories.
I buried my only son five years ago. There was some sadness of course, but mostly what I felt was relief that at last the struggle had ended for him. You see, he was born mentally challenged, with the mind of a preschooler. The doctors had cautioned us that he probably wouldn’t live beyond 30, yet this courageous and determined manchild made it to the ripe old age of 52. Back in the 1950s when Greg was born, there were no public schools offering special education Greg Taylor classes, so we found a wonderful tutor who managed to maximize his potential of being all that he could be. He learned so many things beyond the basics and, with every little achievement, our pride in him grew. He always tried hard to please and to do his best. Greg had a mind of his own, of course, but overall he was kind, considerate, ever gentle, and very loving. He seemed always ready to trust everyone, which ultimately brought out the best in those of us privileged to know him, as we tried to live up to his expectations. It truly was a blessing to have had him in our lives. He taught us tolerance, patience, and how to really love and respect others. Greg spent the majority of his adult life in a group home in Hartford. These young men were bused to a sheltered workshop most weekdays and were proud of having meaningful work to do. Evenings were important, as each of them packed their own lunches and prepared for the workday ahead, with the help of the caretakers, of course. I visited him often, bringing him home with me for holidays until I could no longer drive. Sometimes he would get lonely, and the caretakers were good about helping him call home so he could hear my voice. But mostly he was happy there, even though life itself was a struggle for him. It was touching to see how many of Greg’s friends and caretakers from over the years came to his funeral at St. Mary in Hartford where he had faithfully attended Mass, testifying to the absolutely charming person he was. Two of his off-duty caretakers even made the trip to Topeka to be with us when it was time for Greg to leave this earth to return to his heavenly Father. After Greg died, I wanted to do something special in his honor and chose the Catholic Foundation of Northeast Kansas to achieve this purpose. The charitable gift annuities I purchased through CFNEK guarantee me income for my lifetime, while also providing a gift to St. Mary Church. I think Greg would have been pleased.