11 11 16 Vol 38 No 14 by The Leaven

THELEAVEN.ORG | VOL. 38, NO. 14 | NOVEMBER 11, 2016

THE GHOSTS OF

AUSCHWITZ Eva Mozes Kor recounts the horrifying tale of her survival at Germany’s most notorious concentration camp BY MOIRA CULLINGS

PHOTO COURTESY OF ROCKHURST UNIVERSITY

At Rockhurst University’s Visiting Lecture Series, Eva Mozes Kor recounts how her family was torn apart at Auschwitz and she and her twin sister were handed over to Doctor Josef Mengele for experimentation.

ANSAS CITY, Mo. — “Eva Mozes Kor has lived a life of testimony,” said Craig Prentiss, director of the Visiting Lecture Series at Rockhurst University here. “She testifies to hope in the face of horror,” he said. “She testifies to the need for remembrance in a culture that is increasingly inclined to forget. “She testifies to the need for justice and truth in the face of evasion and dishonesty.” “And she testifies to the power of compassion and forgiveness as a means for personal liberation,” he added. Kor, the university’s guest speaker on Oct. 27, entered an overflowing auditorium and prepared to tell the story of how she defied the odds by surviving the Holocaust — and, with her twin sister, the experiments of Doctor Josef Mengele.

A life interrupted “It was the dawn of an early spring day in 1944,” said Kor. “Our cattle car train came to a sudden stop.” The doors opened and thousands poured out onto a small strip of land known as the selection platform.

This was Auschwitz. “In my opinion, there is no other strip of land like that anywhere on the face of the earth that has witnessed so many millions of people being ripped apart from their families forever,” said Kor. The Mozes family — father Alexander, mother

Child survivors of Auschwitz, wearing adult-size prisoner jackets, stand behind a barbed wire fence. Jaffa, sisters Edit and Aliz, and Kor’s twin Miriam were thrown into the confusion. “As I looked around,” she said, “I realized that my father and two older sisters disappeared in the crowd. “Never did I see them again.” When one of the camp guards discovered Eva and

Miriam were twins, he promptly ripped them from their mother. “All I really remember is seeing her arms stretched out in despair as she was pulled away,” said Kor. “I never even got to say goodbye to her. “But I didn’t understand that this would be the last

time we would see her.” “All it took was 30 minutes from the time we stepped out of the cattle car,” she continued. “Miriam and I no longer had a family, we were all alone and we did not know what would become of us.” >> See “I THOUGHT” on page 5

NOVEMBER 11, 2016 | THELEAVEN.ORG

LOCAL NEWS

Dennis Hurla, Dayton Moore prove Leo Durocher wrong

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ince their dramatic seventh-game victory, I have been frequently asked my thoughts on the Cubs winning the World Series. My usual reply is: “I think every team deserves to win once a century.” All kidding aside, congratulations to both the Chicago Cubs and the Cleveland Indians! It was a great World Series. I am always a little sad for the baseball season to conclude. However, it is only 111 days until spring training. Despite the corrupting effect of the large amounts of money involved in professional sports today, and some of the unfortunate antics of some professional athletes, sports can be a vehicle for cultivating virtue within young people. Recently, Dennis Hurla, the longtime baseball coach for Bishop Ward High School retired. In his 20 years at Bishop Ward, Coach Hurla’s teams won 352 times, compared to 135 defeats. During his tenure, Ward made it to the state championship finals 14 times, winning 10 state championships. This is an incredible record of achievement. Teams do not win that consistently because they have the best talent. Great coaches have the ability to draw forth the best from their athletes and, even more importantly, to instill in them an unselfish attitude to play, not for individual achievement, but as a team. My impression of Coach Hurla is that his

LIFE WILL BE VICTORIOUS ARCHBISHOP JOSEPH F. NAUMANN primary goal was not about winning baseball games, but helping young men grow in virtue. A trademark of his teams was sportsmanship. Hurla’s players did not argue with umpires or display their frustration with mistakes on the field or engage in flashy celebrations when they made a good play or got a key hit. In his own unassuming way, Coach Hurla gave to his players a powerful witness of the importance of faith. Team prayer and participating in Mass together were an essential element of the Ward baseball season under Coach Hurla’s leadership. Several years ago, Coach Hurla invited me to sit in the dugout for a Bishop Ward game. I was impressed by the team spirit, the focus of players on the details of the game and their commitment to excellence. Coach Hurla was always teaching — not just about baseball — but life lessons. He did not demean or ridicule his players for mistakes. Both in victory and

defeat, Coach Hurla was teaching his players not just how to be better at baseball, but how to be better men. Despite his remarkable record of accomplishment, I never got the impression from Coach Hurla that winning championships was as important to him as helping young athletes become virtuous men. Dennis Hurla is emblematic of the outstanding teachers and coaches who staff our Catholic high schools. They are dedicated professionals who work hard to draw forth excellence from their students in the classroom, on stage and upon the athletic field. All of our teachers and coaches are asked to participate in a process to develop and deepen their own faith life. Our faculty and staff at our schools need to be committed to strengthening and deepening their own friendship with Jesus through a vibrant prayer life. They cannot help our students to come to know and love Jesus if their friendship with Our Lord is not the first priority of their lives. The goal of our teachers is not just to impart knowledge or develop

“DENNIS HURLA IS EMBLEMATIC OF THE OUTSTANDING TEACHERS AND COACHES WHO STAFF OUR CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOLS. THEY ARE DEDICATED PROFESSIONALS WHO WORK HARD TO DRAW FORTH EXCELLENCE FROM THEIR STUDENTS IN THE CLASSROOM, ON STAGE, AND UPON THE ATHLETIC FIELD.” the skills of students, but, more importantly, it is about forming young men and women who will be future leaders within the church and community. They are devoted to helping their students become young men and women of prayer, virtue and service. Just a week ago, I attended the Wyandotte County Mayors’ Prayer Breakfast at which Dayton Moore, the Royals general manager, was the featured speaker. He began by identifying himself as a devout Christian. Then, he shared the seven principles of his leadership philosophy. Dayton Moore acknowledged how each principle was drawn from the teaching and example of Jesus. One of his principles was to begin the day and everything else with prayer. He described how he began each day meditating on a portion of the Scriptures. He acknowledged that without spending this time in prayer with Our Lord, his day was much more likely to become unfocused and unsatisfying.

Part of Dayton Moore’s leadership style is to impress upon everyone in the Royals organization the importance of their job and how the overall success of the organization was dependent upon how each of them fulfilled their responsibilities. In other words, they all had a stake in one another’s success. It was refreshing to hear the significance faith plays in the personal and professional life of a successful executive for a major league franchise. I find the examples of Dennis Hurla and Dayton Moore gratifying. They both have been incredibly successful in the field of competitive athletics by being men of faith who developed a leadership philosophy based on the principles of the Gospel. Leo Durocher, a baseball legend, coined the cynical phrase: “Nice guys finish last.” Dennis Hurla and Dayton Moore proved Durocher wrong. By the way, Durocher spent part of his major league career managing the Chicago Cubs.

ARCHBISHOP NAUMANN Nov. 11 Mundelein Seminary board meeting — Chicago Nov. 12-17 U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops meeting — Baltimore Nov. 18 Visit — Juvenile center, Topeka Nov. 19 Mass — Rural Youth Conference, Topeka El Centro gala — Olathe Viviano Variety Show — Rockhurst High School, Kansas City, Missouri Nov. 20 Crosier Mass and brunch — Savior Pastoral Center Confirmation —St. Philip Neri, Osawatomie; Our Lady of Lourdes, La Cygne; and Sacred Heart, Mound City St. Rose Philippine Duchesne Award, Mass and reception

ARCHBISHOP KELEHER Nov. 12-16 U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops meeting — Baltimore Nov. 17 Mass — St. James Academy, Lenexa Nov. 19 Spanish pilgrimage for the Holy Year — Divine Mercy, Gardner Nov. 20 Mass — Federal prison camp

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NOVEMBER 11, 2016 | THELEAVEN.ORG

LOCAL NEWS

BLANKET EMBRACE

St. Mary Parish in Purcell presents veterans with quilts By Jill Ragar Esfeld jill.esfeld@theleaven.org

URCELL — Dane Normile loves “just seeing a plain piece of fabric turn into something interesting.” A member of St. Mary Parish in Purcell, Normile has been a seamstress and quilter for most of her life. She learned at her mother’s knee. “My mom always quilted,” she said. “And I always watched her, and that’s how I got started in it.” Normile recently outdid herself creating “something interesting” when she made Quilts of Valor for every veteran in her parish. She presented the 16 beautiful handmade quilts at a parish reception as a symbol of comfort and healing for the sacrifices the veterans had made and as a way of thanking them for their service. And it all started when Normile was trying to think of a way to celebrate her own 70th birthday. Having a servant’s heart, Normile knew she would only be happy if she could commemorate her birthday by doing something special for someone else. “I’ve gone to this Catholic church my whole life,” she said. “And I just always do for the community.” Indeed, Normile is one of the main cooks for parish dinners and she taught religious education for 16 years. “It used to be that church was your community,” she said. “It’s not that anymore with the way our world has changed. “But in a small community like this, we try to make it that way.” And so, Normile tried to think of something special she could do for her community. Then one day, she was watching television and heard about Quilts of Valor (QOV), a nationwide organization that honors service members and veterans by making and taking them handmade quilts. Normile saw in the program a perfect way to incorporate her talent for sewing and her desire to help others. “I thought that would be a good thing,” she said, “especially for the Vietnam veterans. They really got kind of shunned when they came back.” So Normile decided she would make one quilt for one special veteran. But she soon found that every veteran in her parish is pretty special. “So after I did one,” she said, “I thought I could do more. “And before I knew it, it grew and grew. “I picked out all the veterans in our parish and I [made quilts for] them, and then I did a few others that had been in the parish years ago. “That’s how I ended up with the 16.” Normile had some help quilting the

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

PHOTOS COURTESY OF JASON SMITH

Dane Normile, a member of St. Mary Parish in Purcell, talks to parishioners at the Quilt of Valor presentation at the church. Normile made quilts for 16 veterans in her parish. Veteran Ron Torkelson walks back to his pew after being presented with a quilt from Normile.

Quilts of Valor Foundation The mission of the Quilts of Valor Foundation is to cover service members and veterans touched by war with comforting and healing quilts. The QOV group welcomes sewers, longarm quilters, volunteers and donations. For more information, visit the website at: www.qovf.org.

blocks and, when they were complete, she contacted Raylene Mason, the QOV Kansas City area coordinator, to

come and speak at the presentation. “We had the presentation in the church on a Sunday afternoon,” said Normile. “I baked 100 dozen cookies for a reception afterwards. “It was a lot of baking.” St. Mary parishioner John Bowman was one of the recipients. “I went into the service when I was 18 years old,” he said. “And I spent four years in the Air Force — my last two years I was in the Philippines and Vietnam. “It was an honor to get a quilt from her.” Bowman echoes the sentiments of all the veterans present.

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

Production Manager Todd Habiger todd.habiger@theleaven.org

Reporter Moira Cullings moira.cullings@theleaven.org

Managing Editor Anita McSorley anita.mcsorley@theleaven.org

Senior Reporter Joe Bollig joe.bollig@theleaven.org

Advertising Coordinator Beth Blankenship beth.blankenship@theleaven.org

“They were all really pleased,” said Normile. “Some of them came to tears. “They were all very appreciative.” Bowman lives in a log cabin he built 35 years ago. His patriotic Quilt of Valor is a perfect addition to his home. And it’s a constant reminder that his service isn’t forgotten. “A lot of people don’t know what it was like [in Vietnam],” he said. “Just to be recognized for my service, that makes me feel good. “It makes me feel like they haven’t forgotten anything.” Normile said the whole time she was working on the quilts, she kept their purpose in mind, and it made the work gratifying. But after finishing 16 quilts, she said she wouldn’t do any more — a decision that didn’t last long. A servant’s heart is difficult to keep still. “Well, there were several people that mentioned how their husbands or fathers are veterans,” she said. “And I thought, ‘Well, maybe I can do a few more.’ “So now I’m working on three. I’ve got one top done and I’m going to the fabric store tomorrow to get material for the other two.”

Published weekly September through May, excepting the Friday the week after Thanksgiving, and the Friday after Christmas; biweekly June through August. Address communications to: The Leaven, 12615 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City, KS 66109. Phone: (913) 721-1570; fax: (913) 721-5276; or e-mail at: sub@theleaven.com. Postmaster: Send address changes to The Leaven, 12615 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City, KS 66109. For change of address, provide old and new address and parish. Subscriptions $21/year. Periodicals postage paid at Kansas City, KS 66109.

NOVEMBER 11, 2016 | THELEAVEN.ORG

LOCAL NEWS

‘JOYFULLY CATHOLIC’

Holy Family School, Topeka, named School of Excellence By Jill Ragar Esfeld jill.esfeld@theleaven.org

OPEKA — Inside this year’s CEF School of Excellence, cultures don’t clash. They harmonize. Holy Family School in Topeka, hosts an annual Cinco de Mayo celebration at which you’ll find students of German heritage salsa dancing and serving up tacos. And at its yearly Octoberfest, you’ll see plenty of Hispanic students doing the polka. “It’s really a great appreciation for one another’s cultures,” said principal Stacey McBride. “Students don’t recognize it as being opposite from one another; they’re blended into one.” Holy Family was formed as a result of a consolidation of Our Lady of Guadalupe and Sacred Heart parishes 10 years ago. McBride is a graduate of Our Lady of Guadalupe and taught at Holy Family for six years before becoming principal two years ago. She credits the success of the school to its faith formation. “We talk about being joyfully Catholic,” she said. “And we are very fortunate to have Augustinian religious that are on staff here. “We do weekly rosaries during October and May, we do Stations of the Cross as a school, and we do retreats for all the grades annually. “Faith is at the forefront of what we’re doing.” Second to faith, but intertwined with it, is academics. Holy Family staff and faculty took time last year to reflect on the school’s curriculum and how to best meet student needs.

LEAVEN PHOTO BY JOE MCSORLEY

Ginny Herrera, a first-grade teacher at Holy Family School in Topeka, hands a rosary to Elijah Torrez as the class prepares to pray the Divine Mercy chaplet. Holy Family was named the 2016 Catholic Education Foundation School of Excellence and is especially proud of its efforts to help its students become “joyfully Catholic.” “We revamped our curriculum maps,” said McBride. “We revamped how we’re meeting with kids, making sure all kids are progressing, no matter what level they’re on. We saw some great successes in our academic growth last year just from changing things up a little.” Through the dedication of teachers and the hard work of students, Holy Family continues to show improvement on standardized assessments.

Service to community is also an important part of the school’s mission. All classes participate in at least two service projects that impact the school, local community and beyond. Students sing at parish funerals, raise money for charities and serve at the local food bank and sandwich ministry. McBride said CEF scholarships are crucial to the success of Holy

Family School — over 60 percent of its families receive financial assistance. “Because of [CEF],” she said, “our kids are able to feel safe and learn to grow in their faith and their academics. “The future is to continue working hard.” “We always say,” she continued, “‘Work hard, pray hard . . . and let God do the rest.’”

‘You are changing our lives for the better’ By Jill Ragar Esfeld jill.esfeld@theleaven.org

VERLAND PARK — Once again, Catholic Education Foundation (CEF) “angels” raised well over $1 million to fund scholarships to Catholic schools for disadvantaged kids at the annual Gaudeamus celebration. CEF board vice chair Terry Sexton, who, with his wife Michelle, chaired the Gaudeamus committee, opened the evening by welcoming guests and introducing the board of directors. Board chair Joan Wells talked about the exciting year CEF has ahead as former executive director Michael Morrisey and di-

rector of development Patty Morrisey transition to a new role within the archdiocese, and Bill Kirk takes over as executive director of CEF. Wells introduced Kirk, who thanked patrons and Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann for the opportunity to serve in a position promoting Catholic education. “I’m grateful to follow in the footsteps of Michael Morrisey and Blake Mulvany, who founded CEF,” he said. Kirk asked for prayers as he transitions to his new role and said, “I couldn’t be more excited. God’s providence is at work here.” Praising the mission of CEF, Kirk said, “True education of body, mind and soul should never be limited to children whose parents can afford it.”

A highlight of the evening was Kansas City, Kansas, Bishop Ward High School student Ida Nkikabahizi, who took time out from studying for her ACT to tell the audience how important CEF is to her. Catholic Charities helped Ida’s family emigrate from Africa, and she was able to have a Catholic education here thanks to a CEF scholarship. “God has been my constant in so much change,” she said. “I’m so grateful to be at Bishop Ward. “I’m surrounded by people who want to see me achieve my goals.” Ida asked the audience to pray for her success on the ACT and added, “On behalf of all the students helped by CEF, you are changing our

lives for the better.” Sexton then took the stage to announce the “Sponsor a Child” event. “It’s a chance to be the wise steward Our Lord asks us to be,” he said. While audience members filled out pledge cards collected by CEF students, Overland Park’s Ascension School Eagle Wings choir performed under the direction of Karen Kellerman. Dr. Kathy O’Hara, superintendent of archdiocesan schools, then acknowledged all the teachers and principals in the audience. Afterwards, with Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann, she presented the School of Excellence Award to Holy Family School of Topeka. Principal Stacey McBride accepted the award, saying,

“We are honored, we are grateful and we are blessed.” Wells then introduced the CEF “Angels Among Us” honorees, Tom and Sandy Long, who have been involved in CEF since its inception. “It’s been an honor for us,” said Sandy Long. “We’ve been privileged to work with so many people who care about Catholic education. “What really grows our children is their faith.” The evening concluded with CEF students passing out commemorative gifts blessed by the archbishop, while vocalist Ron Guiterrez sang “Angels Among Us.” Sexton then announced the evening’s total pledged to CEF — $1,047,744. “This is a tremendous display of generosity,” he said. “Lives are changed.”

NOVEMBER 4, 2016 | THELEAVEN.ORG

LOCAL NEWS

Jews from Carpathian Ruthenia arrive at Auschwitz, offloaded onto the ramp at Birkenau in close proximity to the gas chambers.

>> Continued from page 1

An estimated 1.1 million prisoners died at Auschwitz, around 90 percent of them Jewish. Approximately one in six Jews killed in the Holocaust died at the camp.

‘I thought this must be a nightmare’

The fight for their lives At 10 years old, Kor’s life became a living nightmare. She and her sister became part of a group of 13 sets of twins, ages 2 to 16, and one mother. They were taken to a large building, where their clothes were taken and they sat naked for the rest of the day. “I thought this must be a nightmare,” she said. “It cannot be happening to me. “And a few times, I closed my eyes, hoping that, when I would open them, the nightmare would disappear. “But the nightmare did not disappear.” On their first night in the barracks during a trip to the latrine, the sisters suddenly realized how grim their situation was. “As we entered the place, there on the latrine floor were the scattered corpses of three children,” she said. “I had never seen anybody dead before, but it became clear to me that in this place, children were dying. “Right then and there, I made the silent pledge that I would do anything and everything within my power to make sure that Miriam and I would not end up on that filthy latrine floor.” Kor had no idea how to prevent that from happening. But, relying on her instincts, she learned. First and foremost, she formed an image in her mind of how she and her sister would look the day they walked out of camp alive. And she clung to it. That bit of hope was perhaps her saving grace. “We had no rights, and yet, in spite of all that, we had an unbelievable determination to live one more day — survive one more experiment,” said Kor. Two types of experiments were conducted on Kor and her sister. “We would be placed [in a building] naked for up to eight hours a day,” she said, regardless of the weather. “They would measure just about every part of my body, compare it to my twin sister, and compare it to charts.” The other experiment was conducted in the laboratory at Auschwitz, where doctors would draw blood from Kor’s arm, then give her a minimum of five injections. “The rumor was that [the injections] were germs, diseases and drugs, and that is probably correct,” she said.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ROCKHURST UNIVERSITY

It was standing room only at Rockhurst University’s Visiting Lecture Series where Eva Mozes Kor talked about her experiences at Auschwitz. After one of the injections, Kor was stricken with a deadly illness that she believes to this day probably should have killed her. But for two weeks, she fought through it. And both she and her sister made it to that day she had so long imagined — Jan. 27, 1945. Liberation day. Kor’s dream of walking out of Auschwitz alive finally came true.

The aftermath Life would never go back to normal for Kor and her sister, and they realized it the moment they returned home to Romania months after their liberation. “One of the saddest days [was] as we were running down the hill toward our house and we were approaching the house [and saw] the house was neglected,” said Kor. “We went inside, [and] no one [had] returned,” she added. “The house was ransacked and I found three crumbled pictures on the bedroom floor. “That was all that was left of my family.” But the twins found the strength yet again to carry on with their lives. Years

“

I CLOSED MY EYES, HOPING THAT WHEN I WOULD OPEN THEM THE NIGHTMARE WOULD DISAPPEAR. BUT THE NIGHTMARE DID NOT DISAPPEAR.” later, they both married and had families of their own. Their memories were so painful that they did not even speak of Auschwitz to each other until 1985. And in 1993, Miriam passed away from a rare form of cancer after struggling with kidney problems for several years. Her kidneys had never fully developed, likely because of the medical experiments she had been through all those years ago. After Miriam’s passing, Kor had several breakthroughs that helped her heal from the hurt she had experienced. In 1995, she honored her sister by opening CANDLES Holocaust Museum and Education Center in

Terra Haute, Indiana, where she and her husband had settled. Shortly after that, Kor had the opportunity to meet a Nazi doctor, and she did something she had never planned on doing. She forgave him. That extraordinary act then gave her the courage to forgive Mengele himself in her heart. At last, she was free of the chains of anger and resentment that had bound her since her days in Auschwitz. Since then, Kor has traveled around her adopted country — the United States — sharing her story and the lessons she learned from her experience. “I call forgiveness the best revenge because the moment you forgive, the perpetrator no longer has any power over you,” she said. Kor’s hope for those in attendance was that they put that power to use in their own lives and demonstrate kindness wherever they go. “I need every single one of you to help me sow the seed of peace throughout the world,” she concluded. For more information on Kor, visit the website at: www.candlesholocaust museum.org; follow her on Twitter @ EvaMozesKor; or check out her Facebook page at Eva Mozes Kor.

NOVEMBER 11, 2016 | THELEAVEN.ORG

LOCAL NEWS

WORKERS thein VINEYARD

TOOLS FOR FAMILIES Growing as Disciples of Jesus

The ultimate dream home

here’s a reason the hosts of HGTV shows make over $10,000 per episode. We love dreaming about homes. But what makes a “dream home”? A joyfully married couple! When we are in love, our homes are joyful. When we settle for mediocrity, our homes feel stale and businesslike. The ARTWORK BY NEILSON CARLIN, 2015 good news is a deeper, more intimate marriage is possible for everyone! And like any home project, it starts with a dream. For more information, go online to: www.joyful marriageproject.com. — By Libby DuPont

WEBSITE EXCLUSIVE

Julie Strathman does many of the little things that help Sts. Peter and Paul Parish in Seneca run smoothly.

CHURCH OF THE WEEK

Volunteer finds service has its own rewards

St. Patrick, Atchison

ENECA — Not all church ministries or volunteer work are highly visible or “prestigious” — if such a thing can even be said about a ministry. Rather, most of the tasks that parish ministers and volunteers do are mundane and attract little notice. Until they’re not done. One such task could be called “the ministry of keeping track of things.” That’s what Julie Strathman does (among other things) at Sts. Peter and Paul Parish in Seneca. One of Strathman’s tasks is keeping track of pledges and donations by entering information on a computer at the parish. “We’ve had a couple of fundraisers for our school and for our church renovation,” said Strathman, a lifelong parishioner. “I put the donation information into the computer and send out statements to the

Address: 19384 234th Rd., 66002 Phone: (913) 367-0671 Pastor: Father Jeremy Heppler, OSB Mass time: Sunday, 8:30 a.m.

Website: http://stbenedictatchison.org

MORE PHOTOS AND A VIDEO TOUR of this church can be seen online at: www.theleaven.org

WEBSITE EXCLUSIVE

TEAM OF THE WEEK

people who made pledges.” If you’re a Seneca parishioner and have received monthly, quarterly, semiannual and annual statements, you have Strathman to thank. “Most of our pledges have been met and we’re not sending [the statements] out any more,” said Strathman. Now, she just records the weekly Sunday collection and donations to the school. And she makes sure that it all adds up. Although she had no prior experience in this sort of thing, a previous pastor had asked her to help out recording the fundraising donations, and then the current pastor, Father Arul Carasala, asked her to help record the weekly plate offering. She enjoys helping out, and she knows it helps people. “People ask [for documentation] for their yearly contribution for taxes, so it has to be accurate,” she said.

Strathman puts a lot of her heart into those “among other things” mentioned earlier. She’s a member of the quilting committee, which meets three times a week. She’s a lector and eucharistic minister. She also sings in the choir. Why is it important to volunteer? To keep the parish going, obviously, she said. It also has its spiritual rewards. “There are aspects of every volunteer job that bring me closer to Christ, like sitting around with the quilting ladies and talking about issues in the church and in the world,” said Strathman. “And when I take holy Communion to the sick and homebound, they are just so appreciative,” she said. It’s very rewarding to do that service,” she added. Story and photo by Joe Bollig

St. Thomas Aquinas boys and girls cross country Head coach: Justin Wrigley Record: state champions

ONLINE

• VIDEO REPORT: To learn more about St. Thomas Aquinas’ championship run, see Todd Habiger’s Team of the Week report. • PHOTOS: Check out Jay Soldner’s photo gallery from the state championship meet. All this and more can be found online at: www.theleaven.org.

Sister Mary Cecilia Carig, SCL

EAVENWORTH — Sister Mary Cecilia Carig, 97, a Sister of Charity of Leavenworth, died on Nov. 1 at the motherhouse here. Geneva Carig was born on April 20, 1919, in Topeka, the fourth of eight children of Carl Joseph and Suzanne Catherine (Zwenger) Carig. She graduated from St. Leo Grade School, Horton, and St. Mary’s Academy, Leavenworth. She entered the religious community of the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth on Sept. 1, 1938, and, as Sister Mary Cecilia, made her profession of vows on March 2, 1940. She received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education from Saint Mary College, Leavenworth.

Sister Mary Cecilia was a very talented artist and taught at parochial schools in the Western and Midwestern states for more than 50 years. She was also principal of Girls Central High School in Butte, Montana. She received the MO-CAPE “Educator of Achievement” Award, and was honored by the National Affiliation for Literary Advancement. Sister Mary Cecilia also served at St. Joseph Hospital, Denver, where she helped coordinate volunteer activities and worked as a receptionist/secretary for different departments. In February 2006, Sister Mary Cecilia retired to the motherhouse.

Daniel and Loretta (Schuster) Rebeck, m e m bers of St. Joseph Parish, S h a w nee, will c e l e b ra t e their 50th wedding anniversary on Nov. 12 with a family dinner. The couple was married on Nov. 12, 1966, at Church of the Holy Cross, Hutchinson. Their children are: Daniel Jr., Deborah and Robert. They also have five grandchildren. They participated as well in the archdiocesan golden wedding anniversary celebration on June 5 at Church of the Nativity in Leawood.

A R C H D I O C E S A N

ANNUALREPORT2016

A JUBILEE YEAR OF MERCY

Dear friends in Christ,

reconciliation is a fountain of mercy readily available to all. If you have been avoiding this sacrament due to discomfort, lack of familiarity or a bad prior experience, make this the one thing you do to culminate the jubilee Year of Mercy. Receive the sacrament at your local parish, or if it makes you more comfortable, call a priest and schedule a private confession. To prepare, there are various examination of conscience guides available at parishes or online. There are six different options developed for children, young adults, singles and married persons, as

jubilee year is a time of joy or a time to rejoice. It is a special year called by the church to receive blessing and pardon from God and remission of sins. It is a holy year and a special solemnity that generally happens every 50 years. Except this is not a fiftieth year, so what was this new pope thinking? He was thinking this was a good time for an extraordinary jubilee year! I hope you have experienced the extraordinary g r a c e of God’s l o v e , m e rcy and forARCHBISHOP giveness JOSEPH F. during NAUMANN this year. I hope that you have taken advantage of the many opportunities that confront you each day to participate in God’s mission of mercy as well as the special opportunities your parish, Catholic Charities, Villa St. Francis or another Catholic organization have made available during this special year. One special opportunity the archdiocese has made available is the designated Holy Doors at the cathedral, Divine Mercy Parish, Assumption Church, the Shrine of St. Rose Philippine Duchesne, St. Benedict’s Abbey in Atchison and St. Mary Church in St. Benedict. Passing through these doors and meeting the few simple conditions of confession, reception of the Eucharist, sincere intention of conversion and prayer, and remembering the Holy Father’s intentions blesses you with the jubilee indulgence. Making a pilgrimage to each of these archdiocesan sites can be a powerful form of prayer for you, your family and/or a group of friends. In sacred Scripture, we are consistently called to be merciful and forgiving. Simply put, “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful” (Lk 6:36). It seems like a very lofty and hard-to-obtain goal, but there are so many everyday ways we can be merciful. Consider an elderly man I will call Ed. Ed is a devout Catholic who grew up farming in western Kansas and has been married to one woman for over 50 years. His career has taken him many places, but he ended up in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas. Ed comes from a large Catholic family and he and his wife, I will call Ann, have four children. However, as time has gone on, the family has scattered and gets together for the usual holidays and family re-

unions. Ed and Ann have done well and have really made a home in their parish, I will call St. Katherine. Ed is a Knight and he and Ann have participated in Christ Renews His Parish. They have many close friends at St. Katherine’s, so when Ed has struggled with health issues, the St. Katherine family is there to support both he and Ann by visiting Ed in the hospital and bringing him Our Lord and Savior through the Eucharist. Ed can no longer drive, so they help Ann out by driving Ed to his various commitments; he is still highly involved in parish and community activities. These small acts of mercy, done through friendship and love, have enabled Ed and Ann to continue living their lives with small adjustments as they age. The parish and community they serve benefit from their continued involvement and support.

Mercy and Justice — A Balancing Act In this Sunday’s reading you will hear in the second reading of 2 Thes 3:7-12: “We instructed you that if anyone was unwilling to work, neither should that one eat.” Sometimes we are concerned that too much mercy can spoil. If someone falls behind in their rent because of bad spending choices, they should not have the back rent forgiven. But if someone falls behind because they had a catastrophic health issue and their insurance did not cover it adequately, they should be shown some mercy in forgiveness of the debt. This highlights the issue of fairness, justice and accountability. The hard part is that we often do not know the circumstances people are in or what is in their hearts. In today’s world, we have a

strange dichotomy between those who think of God as vengeful and are afraid to seek forgiveness lest they incur God’s wrath, and others who believe that God is love and would never harm a hair on their head, no matter what they do. These two extremes probably go a long way in explaining the “no mercy” and “cheap grace” mentalities. Throughout time, God has provided us with instructions on how to live a life strengthened by a personal relationship with him, nourished through the Eucharist and other sacraments, guided by the Ten Commandments, the Eight Beatitudes, the spiritual and corporal works of mercy and many other aids and devotions. All of these blessings lead to a strong moral life for the individual and a blossoming and prosperous life for society. Following this Christian way also takes sacrifice and strength of will on the part of each of us. There is a balance inherent in saying yes to God and receiving his mercy. God’s mercy is endless and there is nothing you do that God will not forgive if you are truly repentant and ask for his forgiveness. The sacrament of

well as ones based on the Ten Commandments and Catholic social teaching, all at the website for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops at: www. usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/ sacraments-and-sac ramentals/ penance/examina tions-of-conscience.cfm). It is also important that you forgive others, just as God forgives you. Every time you pray the Lord’s Prayer, you say the words “and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” This is a balancing act of mercy and forgiveness.

Financial report highlights The annual audit report can be found at our website under The Archdiocese tab and on the Chief Financial Officer page. To make the financial information more meaningful to parishioners, we have expanded the detail of expenses and grouped them by my five pastoral priorities. We have provided this information for this past fiscal year and the prior fiscal year so that you may have a measure of comparison. Additionally, we have broken the expenses down by the source of funds used to pay the expenses. Some line items, like Savior Pastoral Center, are funded by multiple sources, so you see how much each source contributes to pay for the operations of that line item. Other line items may only have one funding source, like Seminarians, which is paid for through the Easter collection in parishes. Overall, the archdiocese experienced a net loss for fiscal year 2016 due to two factors. First, investment performance on endowment portfolios was negative for the year and, second, private appeal contributions are decreasing as would be expected toward the end of the three-to-five-year pledge period. The investment performance is dependent upon market cycles and investment management performance and is reviewed quarterly by the Archdiocesan Finance Council. Markets were negative during the last fiscal year but have, mercifully, begun the current fiscal year on

Continued on next page

Continued from previous page a more positive note. The administrative and ministerial functions of the chancery are operating as planned and cash flow for the fiscal year was positive. Our goal is to manage the spending conservatively in order to begin planning for future longterm needs. As I mentioned in my letter for the previous fiscal year, there are serious building repair needs at Savior Pastoral Center, as well as other archdiocesan-owned properties. At Savior Pastoral Center, there is a need to provide accessibility and technology, as well as renovation and other facility upgrades. Additionally, we will be studying the feasibility of an independent living residence for our retired priests who wish to live in community during their retirement years. We have a plan in place to address the funding needs of the pension plans, but these plans will require additional funding to reach the desired fully funded status. Villa St. Francis is nearing the end of the lease term on its facility and its strategic planning committee is evaluating options for the future. Providing for the long-term funding needs for the education of seminarians and priests could be supplemented through an endowment, which would decrease the burden to parishes. Our balancing act is to spend wisely the funds you so generously provide for the many ministries and needs of the people of the archdiocese and to plan for continued stability into the future.

ARCHDIOCESE OF KANSAS CITY IN KANSAS OPERATING EXPENSE Funded by: ------------------>

Fees/Other Income

CONVERSION

2015

At the heart of the church’s ministry is facilitating for its members an encounter with the person of Jesus Christ. Central to what it means to be Catholic is the development of a friendship with Jesus through prayer and reflection.

Vicar for Clergy and Clergy Support Programs Savior Pastoral Center 667,063 707,397 50,000 50,000 225,000 250,000 Christ Peace House of Prayer 40,000 50,000 Liturgy and Sacramental Life 5,421 (770) 125,033 159,070 Office of Hispanic Ministry 16,046 16,133 268,935 350,082 Emporia-Hispanic Ministry 18,000 20,000 Campus Ministry: Donnelly College KCK 40,000 45,000 St. Lawrence Center-KU Lawrence 130,000 130,000 Didde Center-Emporia 75,000 79,000 Catholic Center-Washburn Topeka 71,289 76,000 Catholic Center-Haskell Lawrence 70,700 56,000 Other 100,227 15,000 10,000 Total Conversion

EVANGELIZATION The commission that Jesus gave to the church was to go and make disciples of all nations. The church can never be content with itself as it is currently constituted. We must always be guided by a missionary impulse to share the gift of our faith with others.

EDUCATION An essential component of the church’s ministry is the education of the next generation of disciples, as well as the continuing formation of all its members.

The Jubilee Year of Mercy becomes the Church of Mercy The emphasis during this year has been on a personal commitment to increase works of mercy, a parish commitment to outreach beyond its borders to partner with another group and an archdiocesan focus on celebrating this jubilee year through pilgrimages and retreats. It has been a wonderful year that has been personally enriching and we do not want it to end. To extend the reach of this jubilee year, we must become a church of mercy. This church of mercy is built on the strong foundation of faith formed during our Year of Faith (“Love it, Learn it, Live it”) and is an integral part of living out our Catholic faith each day. I challenge each parish to determine how becoming a church of mercy fits in its local personality so that it is apparent to all, friends and strangers, that this church is immersed in the love of God and reaches out a helping hand to all in need.

Conclusion Thank you for your generosity this past year. Each year, I am truly amazed at the debt of love for Christ which I witness as I travel throughout the archdiocese. In this new year, may we together “Grow as Disciples of Jesus and Make Disciples for Jesus.” Gratefully yours in Jesus, the Lord of Life,

Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann

788,756

2016

805,566

Archbishop’s Call to Share 2015

888,957

Assessments

2016

1,025,153

2015

225,000

Cathe 2016

250,000

Evang. & Catholic Formation-Youth, Ranch & Camps 1,096,007 1,410,287 458,408 405,584 Rural Youth Outreach Programs 1,314 7,950 117,858 117,810 Urban Youth Outreach Programs 6,185 10,668 97,745 103,702 Urban Youth Outreach Capital Needs 50,000 50,000 Evangelization 4,830 4,375 218,713 205,744 Digital Resource Center 30,733 10,132 145,278 66,929 Radio Evangelization 5,725 Propagation of the Faith 29,041 3,573 Native American Evangelization Fund 3,600 3,600 Other 1,055

Total Evangelization

1,168,111

1,448,040

831,725

681,857

265,603

271,512

Safe Environment 157 148 Leaven Newspaper 1,076,388 1,124,417 Archdiocesan Education Office 351,351 355,700 121,043 117,659 Perfect Wings Program 9,586 9,748 75,845 77,316 Vocations and Clergy 40,081 56,176 145,403 139,498 Seminarians 1,126,787 1,053,355 Permanent Diaconate Office and Program 3,674 9,954 156,521 271,284 Continuing Education for Priests 186,231 236,422 Marriage and Family Life 45,717 62,401 270,034 271,287 Communications 25,000 75,000 75,000 School of Faith - Grant 277,000 277,000 High School Tuition Assistance 225,000 225,000 Catholic Colleges Tuition Assistance 20,000 Catholic Education Foundation 252,980 270,000 Bishop Ward Operations Assistance 125,000 125,000 Ward H.S. Capital Improvements 100,000 100,000 Donnelly College Scholarships 200,000 200,000 Donnelly College Capital Needs 200,000 200,000 Elizabeth Ann Seton Tuition Assistance 100,000 100,000 352,106 351,001 Other 60,257 78,660 19,822 15,000 Total Education

1,687,211

1,822,203

1,763,648 1,864,043

2,165,124

2,140,778

OUTREACH: Serving Those in Need

The church is called to make the love of Jesus real and tangible in the world today, especially to the poor, the vulnerable and those on the peripheries.

Archdiocesan Tribunal 56,486 17,420 My House Initiative 40,683 12,249 98,647 91,926 Social Justice 84,926 87,100 Ministry To the Deaf 10,914 3,699 95,535 99,874 Pro Life 46,732 20,070 181,120 198,412 Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas 400,000 400,000 498,915 526,543 Villa St. Francis-Geriatric Assistance 100,000 200,000 125,000 190,000 El Centro - Kansas City 40,000 40,000 El Centro-Topeka 40,800 40,000 Other 171,282 98,841 25,040

Total Outreach

STEWARDSHIP Catholic spirituality begins with profound gratitude resulting from the realization that everything, including life itself, is God’s gift. Thus, the question for every Christian is: What is God calling me to do with all that he has entrusted to me?

429,097

352,279

1,066,028

1,172,351

498,915

526,543

Stewardship/Development & Other Appeals 110,217 125,255 247,018 265,000 Private Appeal Distributions 2,082,687 2,281,018 Cor Christi Grants and fees 590,398 502,941 School/Parish Emergency Fund 32,962 92,875 Urban Core Operations Support 275,000 335,198 Urban Core Capital Support 150,000 100,000 Priest Retirement Fund 150,000 150,000 200,000 480,000 Mission Strategy (50) Archives Finance 45 Human Resources 556,465 275,003 Accounting 113,000 148,558 Financial and Controls Auditor Real Estate/Construction 450 10 Other Property Expenses 58,638 55,801 Depreciation of physical assets Other 51,269 52,813 Total Stewardship

3,563,169

3,441,399

Total Pastoral Priorities

7,633,295

7,869,487

854,980

943,073

200,000

480,000

5,405,337 5,686,477

3,354,642

3,668,833

ARCHDIOCESAN ADMINISTRATION

Archbishop Office and Home 600 600 Archbishop Emeritus Office and Home Administrative Services (Chancellor/VG, IT, etc) 10 Chancery 295,872 310,129 General Expenses of the Archdiocese 7,560 11,078 USCCB, KS Catholic Conference, Legal & Insurance 556,890 428,851 Deposit and Loan 201,354 501,608 Other 70,467 79,255 Health and Dental Claims 17,241,071 20,722,188 Total Administration

$18,373,823

Total

$26,007,118

22,103,710 $29,973,197

$5,405,337 $5,686,477 $3,354,642 $3,668,833

ES FOR 2015 AND 2016

edraticum/Investment Income 2015

Total

2016

2015

ARCHDIOCESE OF KANSAS CITY IN KANSAS REVENUE ACTUAL 2015 VS 2016

Year over Year Change 2016

$ %

ACTUAL 2015 REVENUES REVENUES YEAR ENDED 6% JUNE 30, 2015 3%

487,041 660,601 $487,041 660,601 1 173,561 36% Archdiocesan Assessments and Collections $6,907,596 30.7% 8% 171,114 122,074 1,113,177 1,129,471 16,294 1% Archbishop’s Call To Share Annual Appeal 6,035,995 26.8% 40,000 50,000 10,000 25% Fees Generated by Offices and Other 5,740,981 25.5% 130,454 158,300 27,846 29% Net Investment Income 1,701,280 7.6% 284,980 366,216 81,235 29% Bequests and Contributions 667,156 3% 18,000 20,000 2,000 11% 1,451,204 6.4% Private Appeal 25% 40,000 45,000 5,000 13% 130,000 130,000 75,000 79,000 4,000 5% $22,504,213 100% 71,289 76,000 4,711 7% 70,700 71,000 300 0% 78,350 14,627 178,577 92,433 (86,144) -48% Not included in pie chart: Health and Dental Insurance Premiums 19,641,144 48% 797,302

$2,639,218

2,878,021

31,000

$1,554,416 1,815,871 2 119,172 125,760 103,930 114,370 50,000 50,000 223,543 210,119 176,011 77,061 5,725 29,041 3,573 3,600 3,600 32,055

$2,265,438

2,432,409

238,803

261,455 6,588 10,440

17% 6% 10%

(13,424) -6% (98,950) -56% (5,725) -100% (25,469) -88% 32,055 166,971

152,559 145,490 27,245

233,248 49,738 37,457

325,294

320,444

$152,716 233,396 1,076,388 1,,124,417 472,394 473,359 85,431 87,064 185,485 195,674 1,126,787 1,053,355 160,195 281,238 3 186,231 236,422 315,750 333,688 75,000 149,738 277,000 277,000 225,000 225,000 20,000 398,470 270,000 4 125,000 125,000 100,000 100,000 200,000 200,000 200,000 200,000 452,106 451,001 107,324 131,117

$5,941,277

6,147,468

80,680 53% 48,029 4% 965 0% 1,633 2% 10,189 5% (73,432) -7% 121,042 76% 50,191 27% 17,937 6% 74,738 100%

0% 22%

206,191

224,915 64,410

257,592 84,100

$281,401 139,330 84,926 106,449 227,852 898,915 225,000 40,000 40,800 235,692

275,012 104,176 87,100 103,573 218,481 926,543 390,000 5 40,000 40,000 207,980

224,915

341,692

$2,280,364

398,404 126,155 16,850 257,056 34,746 340,233 105,476 129,422 107,215 624,910

360,200 105,982 16,968 271,951 263,282 353,212 107,020 161,635 22,281 621,244

$755,639 2,082,687 590,398 32,962 275,000 150,000 350,000 126,105 16,850 257,101 591,212 453,233 105,476 129,872 165,853 624,910 51,269

2,014,469 2,283,775

$6,758,568

(6,389) -2% (35,154) -25% 2,174 3% (2,876) -3% (9,371) -4% 27,629 3% 165,000 73% (800) (27,712)

-2% -12%

2,392,865

112,500

750,455 2,281,018 6 502,941 92,875 335,198 100,000 630,000 7 105,982 16,968 271,951 538.285 501,770 107,020 161,645 78,082 621,244 52,813

(5,185) 198,332 (87,458) 59,913 60,198 (50,000) 280,000 (20,124) 118 14,849 (52,926) 48,536 1,544 31,773 (87,771) (3,666) 1,544

-1% 10% -15% 182% 22% -33% 80% -16% 1% 6% -9% 11% 1% 24% -53% -1% 3%

7,148,246

389,678

3,491,992 3,774,212 $19,884,866 20,999,009

1,114,143

299,160 302,189 86,296 91,482 292,596 280,004 277,877 203,071 436,059 420,515 4,366 4,464

$299,760 302,789 86,296 91,482 292,606 280,004 295,872 310,129 285,437 214,149 992,949 849,366 8 201,354 501,608 9 74,833 83,719 10 17,241,071 20,772,188

$1,396,354 1,301,724

$19,770,177 23,405,435

4,887,946 $5,075,936

$39,655,043 $44,404,444

3,029 1% 5,186 6% (12, 603) -4% 14,258 5% (71,288) -25% (143,583) -14% 300,255 149% 8,886 12% 3,531,177 20% 3,635,257 18% 4,749,401

12%

33.1% 27.4% 28% 5.5% 3.5% 2.6%

3% 3%

33% 28%

27%

27% $22,292,425 100% 20,781,556

50%

Net Investment income Bequest & contributions Private Appeal

2015 EXPENSES ACTUAL EXPENSES YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2015 11%

Stewardship Education Conversion Evangelization Outreach: Serving those in need Administrative

$6,758,568 30.2% 10% 5,941,277 26.5% $2,639,218 11.8% 2,265,438 10.1% 10% 2,280,364 10.2% 2,529,106 11.3%

12%

2016 EXPENSES

ACTUAL EXPENSES YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2016 %

30%

$7,148,246 30.2% 6,147,468 26% 2,878,021 12.2% 2,432,409 10.3% 2,392,865 10.1% 2,633,246 11.1%

27%

11%

10%

Not include in pie chart: Health and Dental Insurance Claims

17,241,071

44%

12% 20,772,188

Evangelization Outreach: Serving those in need Administrative

Stewardship Education Conversion

ARCHDIOCESE OF KANSAS CITY IN KANSAS

HELP FOR THE NEEDY & DISASTER RELIEF National Collections: Propagation of the Faith Black and Indian Missions Church in Latin America American Bishops’ Overseas Appeal Operation Rice Bowl Holy Land Peter’s Pence Catholic Campaign for Human Development Catholic Communication Campaign Aid to Church in Central and Eastern Europe Retirement Fund for Religious Catholic Home Mission Appeal Catholic University of America Archdiocesan Special Collections: Easter Collection- Priesthood Present and Future Christmas Collection - Catholic Charities Special Emergency Collections: Special Collection for the Middle East Disaster Relief - 2016 Ecuador Earthquake Disaster Relief - 2015 Nepal Earthquake Program Services Provided by Catholic Charities of NE Kansas Tuition Assistance Provided by Catholic Education Foundation Assistance Provided to Schools by Corpus Christi Fund

$449,607 $57,145 $54,018 $87,009 $65,217 - $66,330 $37,293 $21,205 $61,790 $100,138 $49,161 $41,185 1,795,000 520,641 7,657 15,518 110,083 $3,538,998 $21,415,231 $1,551,594 $427,500

1 Archdiocese remits 75% of American Bishops’ Overseas Appeal, 75% of Catholic Campaign for Human Development and 50% of Catholic Communication Campaign. The amounts retained in the archdiocese are used to fund archdiocesan programs. 2 The deadline for remitting funds for the Holy Land collection is August. 2015 collection was transferred early in June 2015. Transferred $105,929 for fiscal year in August 2016. NOTES 1. Increase in Leave of Absence for priests. 2. National Catholic Youth Conference expenses which occur every other year. 3. Another cohort was added and the number of diaconal candidates doubled.

4. A transitional funding adjustment is underway to move funding for CEF administration solely to ACTS. 5. Donations were received to fund health care for the elderly poor and these donations were passed through to Villa St. Francis. 6. Private Appeal distri-

butions are dependent upon cash receipts. 7. There is a planned effort to increase funding of the priest pension plan to the level calculated by the actuary as required to attain a fully funded status. 8. Decrease is due to lower property and liability claims.

9. 2015 expenses were low due to a reversal of bad debt expense which arose from a concerted effort to help parishes gain a more stable financial footing. 10. Increase in claims due to higher than normal large claim cases.

1 2

1 1

47%

30%

11%

$22,413,972 100% $23,632,255 100%

FOR THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2016

$7,379,822 6,115,286 6,236,062 1,220,716 772,016 568,523

2016 REVENUES

ARCHDIOCESE OF KANSAS CITY IN KANSAS EXPENSES ACTUAL 2015 VS 2016

(20,000) -100% (128,470) -32%

(1,105) 23,793

31%

Archdiocesan Assessments and Collections Archbishop’s Call to Share Annual Appeal Fees generated by offices and other

736,505

ACTUAL REVENUES YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2016 %

26%

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NOVEMBER 11, 2016 | THELEAVEN.ORG

NATION

Kansas clergy served in armed forces before serving the church By Karen Bonar Catholic News Service

ALINA, Kan. (CNS) — Service is important to those in the U.S. military. As Veterans Day Nov. 11 neared, The Register, newspaper of the Diocese of Salina, talked with some clergy members who were in the armed forces before turning to serve the church. Here are their stories:

Father Richard Daise Father Richard Daise, who is pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Colby, said the U.S. Army might sound like an odd career choice for a veterinarian, but he spent nearly 28 years serving the country as a veterinarian. “Essentially I was drafted and forgot to get out,” he quipped. When his number was selected during his second year of college, Father Daise signed up with the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps at Kansas State University in Manhattan. Joining the ROTC allowed him to complete his degree in veterinary science. “By that time, the U.S. involvement in the Vietnam conflict was over, I still had a two-year obligation to serve,” he said. “The game plan was to serve my two years as an Army veterinarian and then get out and open a rural veterinary practice in western Kansas or eastern Colorado.” But his two years were spent in Korea, which was such a positive experience that he extended his commitment. “Each time I thought about getting out of the service, they offered me either a great assignment or more education,” Father Daise said. “I jumped at the chance every time.” His military career took him to Texas, Minnesota, Hawaii and Alaska in the United States, as well as other international locations that included Korea, the Netherlands, Israel, Egypt, Germany and Panama. “I have received advance degrees and traveled to much of the world while experiencing almost all aspects of the veterinary profession while serving our country in the U.S. Army. I have been truly blessed,” Father Daise said. A frequent question he receives relates to his job as a veterinarian in the Army. “There are no longer horses in the cavalry,” he explained, but it does have working dogs, as well as 2,000 horses and mules, and lab animals in research and development facilities. Father Daise also pointed out the Navy has marine mammals — for example, dolphins who retrieve test missiles fired over the open ocean. In addition to caring for the animals, Father Daise said he worked on food safety. “There wasn’t a FDA or USDA guaranteeing food for the entire military,” he said. “Our food inspectors and animal techs were responsible for a safe food supply for the troops.” He also worked in preventative medicine. “We would go into a region and see what diseases were there,” Father Daise said. “If we had to send the Marines in, we would give them the appropriate vaccinations before they went in.” He entered the seminary after retiring from the military at age 55. “I believe I was called to be a veterinarian, and that slowly evolved into

Father Richard Daise, right, works with one of the horses at Ft. Riley, Kan. The horse was one of the mounts of the “Commanding General’s Own Mounted Color Guard.” Horses periodically need to have their teeth filed to prevent sharp points which can irritate the cheeks or the tongue and cause the horse to have difficulty eating. Prior to entering the seminary for the Diocese of Salina, Father Daise served nearly three decades as a veterinarian in the U.S. Army.

Deacon Leo Blasi

Deacon Leo Blasi is pictured here at a forward operating base at Garry Owen, in Iraq, in 2010. Deacon Blasi served in Bosnia from 2002 to 2003 and Iraq from 2009 to 2010, as well as assisted via the National Guard in fighting fires in California in 2005, with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana in 2005 and by carrying hay bales to stranded cattle in western Kansas in 2007. the call to the priesthood,” Father Daise said. “I would have been a lousy priest when I graduated from school at 24 years old. I needed that time to discern.” Educating the youth about military service is something that is important to the priest. “Many of our young people growing up in our diocese have had no experience of having a veteran in their family or even knowing a veteran,” Father Daise said. “They know you’re supposed to be grateful for their service and protecting us, but it’s not like having someone in their family who is a veteran.” He planned to take a group of fifthand sixth-grade students from Sacred Heart Grade School in Colby and St. Mary Grade School in Ellis on a field trip to visit the home of Father Emil Kapaun in Pilsen Nov. 9. The Kansas-born priest was an Army chaplain who died serving prisoners of war during the Korean War and is a candidate for sainthood. In April 2013, he was honored posthumously with the Medal of Honor — the highest military honor — in a White House ceremony. “He is a veteran and a hero that all Kansas Catholics should know,” Father Daise said. “I believe Father Kapaun is the reason I am a parish priest today.”

Military service was always a way of life for Deacon Leo Blasi. His father, Frank, served in the Army during Korea. Deacon Blasi had seven uncles and one aunt who served in both the Army and the Navy. “I wanted to be a pilot,” Deacon Blasi said. “I knew [joining the Army] was the only way I could afford it. There was patriotism before there was interest in aircraft, but flying was the final thing that pulled me in.” A retired Army veteran, he served in the U.S. Army from 1985 to 2014 — 11 years active duty and the remaining 18 in the Army National Guard. His active duty assignment was first as a Black Hawk helicopter pilot and later as a maintenance test pilot. Deacon Blasi served in Bosnia from 2002 to 2003 and Iraq from 2009 to 2010. The rest of his military career included living in Panama and all over Europe. The assistance wasn’t all international, though. Deacon Blasi said his service in the National Guard took him to fight fires in California in 2005, assist in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana in 2005 and carry hay bales to stranded cattle in western Kansas in 2007. “It always feels good to help others,” Deacon Blasi said. “To do it when they are in desperate need, when there is nowhere else to turn, when nobody else can do it, that makes it more special.” Through nearly three decades in service, Deacon Blasi said he’s witnessed changes in attitude toward the armed forces. “People in their 20s and 30s are more appreciative of the military now than they were in the ‘60s and ‘70s,” he said. Deacon Blasi said taking a day to remember and honor veterans is important. “When a person signs the dotted line to join a service, it is a blank check to the public for the value up to and often

including their own life,” he said. “That is an important thing to remember. That is what Veterans Day is about.” Deacon Blasi is a transitional deacon for the Diocese of Salina. He anticipates being ordained a priest in 2017.

Father Norbert Dlabal Among some of the last drafted to serve in Korea, Father Norbert Dlabal served two years for the U.S. Army infantry while he was taking a break from his seminary studies. “I knew getting drafted was inevitable because I was at the upper edge of the age bracket,” said the priest, who is pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Goodland. “It didn’t bother me; I accepted it.” The draft led to his basic training at Fort Riley, followed by a stretch in South Korea in the early ‘60s. Although he was taking a break from formal seminary studies, his unit was in need of someone to help minister to the troops, so he offered. “I assisted the chaplain in providing religious services and other needs to the personnel,” he said. His assignment was with occupation forces south of the Demilitarized Zone. “I was still pretty young and needed to grow,” Father Dlabal said. “It certainly introduced me to another part of the world. “It was a good growing and learning experience. You learn discipline and to sacrifice your own desires, preference and plans for those around you.” Once his service was complete in 1962, Father Dlabal said he took a little more time before returning to the seminary and completing his theological degree. He was ordained a priest in 1972. Celebrating and honoring Veterans Day is essential, he said. “It gives people the chance to reflect on important matters — matters of justice and peace and the horrible reality of war,” Father Dlabal said.

NOVEMBER 11, 2016 | THELEAVEN.ORG

CLASSIFIEDS EMPLOYMENT Drivers - Special Beginnings Early Learning Center is seeking part-time drivers for its school-age program located in Lenexa. Candidates must be able to drive a 13-passenger minibus, similar to a 15-passenger van. CDL not required, but must have an excellent driving record. Candidates would pick up children from area schools and then work directly with them when arriving back at the center. Experience preferred. Must have strong work ethic and the ability to work with children. Insurance provided. Background check will be conducted. Great opportunity for retired persons or those seeking a second job. Job responsibilities include: ensuring safety and well-being of children who are being transported at all times, including loading and unloading. Driving short, round-trip routes to elementary schools in Lenexa/Olathe area. Summer only: Driving short, roundtrip routes to two Lenexa city pools. Maintaining mileage log. Keeping interior of vehicle clean. Apply by sending an email to: chris@ specialbeginningsonline.com or in person at 10216 Pflumm Rd., Lenexa, KS 66215. Enrollment management consultant – The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas is accepting applications for a full-time consultant for enrollment management for the Catholic schools office. Duties include assisting local Catholic schools with branding, core value development and marketing, recruitment and retention strategies. The ideal candidate will be a practicing Catholic in good standing, possess a bachelor’s degree in marketing, sales, communication or related field, and have a minimum of three years of experience in marketing (particularly in using social media) and sales. A complete job description is available on the archdiocese’s website at: www.archkck.org/jobs. Interested individuals should mail cover letter, resume and application by Nov. 27 to: Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, Office of Human Resources, Enrollment Management Search, 12615 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City, KS 66109, or send via email to: jobs@archkck.org. Career opportunity - Due to the success and growth of the Knights of Columbus, we are adding a financial representative in the Kansas City metro, Emporia and Topeka area. 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. This is a full-time position. Please contact John A. Mahon, general agent, for more information or an interview at 1275 Topeka Blvd., Topeka, KS 66612 or call (785) 408-8806. You can also send an email to: john.mahon@kofc.org. Teachers and assistant teacher - The Goddard School in Olathe is seeking a preschool teacher, a pre-kindergarten teacher and a toddler teacher — all full-time positions — as well as an assistant teacher for multiple classrooms. Lead and assistant teachers work together. Daily responsibilities are: developing lesson plans; meeting the individual needs of the children; communicating with parents; participation in staff and training meetings; designing appropriate room arrangement to support the goals and development level of the children in the classroom; interacting with the children to support play, exploration and learning; presenting expectations that are appropriate to the child’s age and developmental level; plan and implement activities that develop self-esteem and social skills; communicate appropriately and professionally with parents and fellow staff; building teamwork; use assessment tools; and commit to continuing education. To apply, email a resume and cover letter to: olathe2ks@goddardschools.com. Drivers - Assisted Transportation is now hiring caring and reliable drivers to transport K-12 students to and from school and other activities in company minivans. Positions are now available in Olathe, Overland Park and Kansas City, Kansas. Competitive wages and flexible schedules. CDL not required. Retirees encouraged to apply. Call (913) 262-3100 or apply online at: Assisted Transportation.com. EEO. Administrative assistant - Industrial sales company in Overland Park is looking for an experienced administrative assistant tot fill a full-time position, Monday - Friday, 8:30a.m. - 5 p.m. or part time, Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Duties include: invoicing, filing, data entry, and reception. Computer experience required: Microsoft Windows, QuickBooks, Excel, Word and Outlook. Third generation family business in small office setting. Longterm employee desired. To apply, email your resume to Matt Foster at: sales@de-mar.com.

Three teaching positions - Prince of Peace Early Education Center in Olathe is looking for three afternoon teachers. One position is from 3:30 - 6 p.m. M - F in a two-year-olds room and is perfect for high school students who are 16 years or older. The other positions are from 2 – 6 p.m. with 3-yearolds and school age. You must love children to apply. We have a friendly work environment. Previous child care experience preferred, but not necessary. This is a perfect opportunity for early childhood/elementary education majors. Contact Amanda at (913) 829-2728.

Cleaning lady - Reasonable rates; references provided. Call (913) 940-2959.

Clinical psychologist - A multispecialty, faith-based mental health practice is seeking a licensed psychologist who follows the teachings and authority of the magisterium of the Catholic Church. Flexible hours with offices located in both Leavenworth and Olathe. Populations served include: children, adolescents, adults and senior adults. Please visit the website at: www.professionalassociationphd.com for additional information regarding the practice. If interested, email cover letter and professional vita to: proassociates_o@ sbcglobal.net.

EVERFIT fitness community - We provide a variety of classes designed to make fitness fun while challenging you to a higher level of performance. Classes include boxing, cycling, HIIT, weights, PiYo, TRX, our signature EverFit Tri, and more. EverFitKC.com. Save 10% with this ad or Promo Code LEAVEN.

Accounts payable/payroll accountant - The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas has an immediate opening in the chancery accounting office for a full-time accounts payable/ payroll accountant. The position is responsible for processing approved invoices utilizing the DocuWare software and accounting system. This position is also responsible for payroll for the chancery staff. One to three years of accounts payable and payroll experience required, accounting degree preferred. Candidate must have strong computing skills with proficiency in MS Office Suite; must demonstrate strong organizational skills, including attention to detail and accuracy. A complete job description and application are available on the archdiocese’s website at: www.archkck.org/jobs. Interested individuals should mail cover letter, resume and application by Dec. 2, 2016, to: Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, Office of Human Resources, Accounts Payable/ Payroll, 12615 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City, KS 66109, or send via email to: jobs@archkck.org.

EL SOL Y LA TIERRA *Commercial & residential * Lawn renovation *Mowing * Clean-up and hauling * Dirt grading/installation * Landscape design * Free estimates Hablamos y escribimos Ingles!! www.elsolylatierra.com Call Lupe at (816) 252-1391

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) 5791835. Email: smokeycabin@hotmail.com. Member of Holy Trinity, Lenexa.

NELSON CREATIONS L.L.C. Home remodeling, design/build, kitchens, baths, all interior and exterior work. Family owned and operated; over 25 years experience. Licensed and insured; commercial and residential. Kirk and Diane Nelson. (913) 927-5240; nelsport@everestkc.net

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

Teacher assistant - Special Beginnings, Lenexa, is seeking full- or part-time after school teacher assistants at all locations. We are looking for a teacher assistant candidate who has an excellent work ethic, heart for children and a willingness to learn more about early childhood education. Experience and/or education is a plus, but we will train the right candidate. Teacher assistants will work with the lead teacher to care for and educate the children. Primary responsibilities include assisting the lead teacher with: care and supervision of children, lesson plan implementation, parent communication, and cleanliness and organization of classroom. Starting hourly pay ranges based on experience and education. Pay increases are based on job performance. Opportunities for advancement are available, as the company prefers to promote from within. Apply by sending an email to: chris@ specialbeginningsonline.com or in person at 10216 Pflumm Rd., Lenexa, KS 66215.

SERVICES Bankruptcy consultation - If debts are overwhelming you, seek hope and help from compassionate, experienced Catholic attorney, Teresa Kidd. For a free consultation, call (913) 422-0610; send an email to: tkidd@kc.rr.com; or visit the website at: www.teresakiddlawyer.com. Please do not wait until life seems hopeless before getting good quality legal advice that may solve your financial stress. Mike Hammer local moving - A full-service mover. Packing, pianos, rental truck load/unload, storage container load/ unload, and in-home moving. No job too small. Serving JoCo since 1987. St. Joseph, Shawnee, parishioner. Call Mike at (913) 927-4347 or send an email to: mike@mikehammer moving.com. Winter tutoring - Available for K-12 and home-schoolers in music and academics. For more information, call/text Kathleen at (913) 206-1837 or email: klmamuric@yahoo.com. Agua Fina Irrigation and Landscape The one-stop location for your project! Landscape and irrigation design, Installation and maintenance. Cleanup and grading services It’s time to repair your lawn. 20% discount on lawn renovations with mention of this ad. Visit the website at: www.goaguafina.com Call (913) 530-7260 or (913) 530-5661 Clutter getting you down? - Organize, fix, assemble, install! “Kevin of all trades” your professional organizer and “Honey-do” specialist. Call today for a free consultation at (913) 271-5055. Insured. References. Visit our website at: www. KOATINDUSTRIES.com.

Drivers needed - Medi Coach Transportation is looking for caring and reliable drivers for nonemergency transportation. CDL is not required. Contact Jeff at (913) 8251921.

Rodman Lawn Care Lawn mowing, aeration, verticutting. Hedge trimming, mulch, leaf removal. Fully insured and free estimates. John Rodman (913) 548-3002

Catholic Foundation of Northeast Kansas • Catholic Bequests

• Donor Advised Funds

• Gift Annuities

• Named Scholarship Funds

• Endowments

• Memorial Funds

Remember a gift to the church in your will

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

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

HOME IMPROVEMENT

Local handyman and lawn care – Water heaters, garbage disposals, toilets, faucets, painting, power washing, doors, storm doors, gutter cleaning, wood rot, mowing, carpet, roofing, etc. Member of Holy Angels Parish, Basehor. Call Billy at (913) 927-4118. Rusty Dandy Painting, Inc. - We have been coloring your world for 40 years. Your home will be treated as if it were our own. Old cabinets will be made to look like new. Dingy walls and ceilings will be made beautiful. Woodwork will glow. Lead-certified and insured. Call (913) 341-9125. Repairs Minor repairs: electric, plumbing and roofs. Call (816) 877-5328. Masonry work - Quality new or repair work. Brick, block and chimney/fireplace repair. Insured; second-generation bricklayer. St. Paul Parish, Olathe. Call (913) 829-4336. 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 Swalms organizing - downsizing - cleanout service – Reduce clutter – Any space organized. Shelving built onsite. Items hauled for recycling and donations. 20 years exp.; insured. Call Tillar at (913) 375-9115. WWW.SWALMS ORGANIZING.COM. KIRK AND YEYO PAINTING Whole house painting Wood rot repair, affordable Only premium paint used Licensed and insured (913) 927-5240, nelsport@everestkc.net Kansas City’s Premier Deck, Fence & Concrete - We repair, power wash and stain wood decks and fences. We power wash and seal concrete drives, walkways, pool decks and more. Call Brian at (913) 952-5965. Member of Holy Trinity Parish. House Painting Interior and exterior; wallpaper removal. Power washing, fences, decks. 30 years’ experience. References. Reasonable rates. Call Joe at (913) 620-5776. Concrete construction - Tear out and replace stamped, stained or colored patios and drives. Retaining walls, footings, poured-in-place safe rooms, excavation and hauling. Asphalt drives and lots. Fully insured; references. Call Dan at (913) 207-4371 or send an email to: dan deeconst@aol.com. Custom countertops - Laminates installed within 5 days. Cambria, granite, and solid surface. Competitive prices, dependable work. Call the Top Shop, Inc., (913) 962-5058. Members of St. Joseph, Shawnee.

HARCO Exteriors LLC Your Kansas City fencing specialists Family owned and operated (913) 815-4817 www.harcoexteriorsllc.com Detail construction and remodeling - We offer a full line of home remodeling services. Don’t move — remodel! Johnson County area. Call for a free quote at (913) 7098401. We do it all - Home repairs: quality work, reasonable work. Painting, carpentry, wood rot, kitchens and bathrooms. Call (913) 283-9330. Thank you for another great year - Through your support, my family has been blessed and my business has grown. We do windows, trim, siding, doors, decks, interior and exterior painting, wood rot, bathroom renovations, tile and sheetrock. If you need work done around your home, we can do it. Josh (913) 709-7230.

CAREGIVING

Caregiving - We provide personal assistance, companionship, care management, and transportation for seniors in their home, assisted living or nursing facilities. We also provide respite care for main caregivers needing some personal time. Call Daughters & Company at (913) 3412500 and speak with Laurie, Pat or Gary. Experienced CNA - Excellent references, flexible schedule, light housekeeping, cooking, errands, cuts, colors and styles hair. Manicures and pedicures as well as massage and physical therapy and counseling. Call Chris at (913) 548-7656. Caregiving - For your loved one. Cheerful, experienced, empathetic. Excellent local references. Call Vivian at (913) 292-4829. Caregiving - Retired nurse, 30 years experience. Will do what needs to be done. $15 per hour, days/nights. References available. Call (913) 579-5276.

FOR SALE Residential lifts - Buy/sell/trade. Stair lifts, porch lifts, ceiling lifts and elevators. Recycled and new equipment. Member of St. Michael the Archangel Parish, Leawood. Call Silver Cross KC at (913) 327-5557. For sale - Two lots, two vaults and two opening and closing costs at Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Olathe. Call (913) 7646874.

WANTED TO BUY Will buy firearms and related accessories - One or a whole collection. Honest evaluation and top prices paid. Contact Tom at (913) 238-2473. Member of Sacred Heart Parish, Shawnee. Wanted to buy - I’m Mark Edmondson, a local parishioner at Holy Trinity, and I buy and sell houses in any condition. If you have a house “situation,” call me. I might have a solution for you. (913) 980-4905. Wanted to buy - Antique/vintage jewelry, lighters, fountain pens, post card collections, paintings/prints, pottery, sterling, china dinnerware. Renee Maderak, (913) 631-7179. St. Joseph Parish, Shawnee

VACATION Branson Condo - Enjoy fall colors and Christmas programs. Condo sleeps 6. Fully furnished and close to entertainment. On golf course, has indoor pool, Wi-Fi and exercise room are available. Please call (913) 515-3044.

NOVEMBER 11, 2016 | THELEAVEN.ORG

CALENDAR MEN’S RETREAT Sacred Heart Parish 426 S. Cedar, Ottawa Nov. 12 from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

The theme of this retreat is: “Lord, Have Mercy” with an emphasis on the works of mercy. Presenters will include a priest, a diaconate candidate, the director of Prairie Star Ranch and a Catholic school teacher. Reconciliation will also be available. The cost is $25 and includes lunch. For more information, call Lester Wuertz at (785) 835-6298 or email him at: leswuertz@live.com. Junior high and high school kids are also welcome.

to attend is $30 per person. Register and pay online at: stmary.edu/KCcouncil or RSVP to Maxine Mitchell Staggs at (816) 444-8364 or send an email to her at: maxinestaggs@gmail.com. Mail checks by Nov. 7, payable to Kansas City Alumni Council, to Penny Lonergan, C’70, 736 Seneca St., Leavenworth, KS 66048.

FALL MEAL St. Ann Parish (center) 301 William St., Effingham Nov. 13 from 11 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

There will be a choice of a ham and beans or a chicken and noodles meal. A freewill offering is suggested. Carryouts are available by calling (913) 833-2268.

HOLIDAY SHOPPING EVENT St. Ann Parish 7231 Mission Rd., Prairie Village Nov. 13 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

MOSAYC Mart (Mothers of St. Ann Young Children) and friends are sponsoring this holiday shopping event that is open to the public. Admission is free. This event has many unique and handmade goods.

CHILI SUPPER/TURKEY BINGO Holy Family Church (Msgr. Mejak Hall) 513 Ohio, Kansas City, Kansas Nov. 12 at 5:30 p.m.

Dinner will be served from 6:15 - 7:15 p.m. Bingo begins at 7:30 p.m. The cost is a $15 donation which includes one bingo card, one chili supper, dessert and cold beverages. No one under the age of 21 admitted. For tickets, call Sandy Cannon at (913) 369-1564 or Cathy Schneider at (913) 371-1561.

OPEN HOUSE St. James Academy 24505 Prairie Star Pkwy., Lenexa Nov. 12 from 9 - 11:30 a.m.

This annual fundraiser is hosted by Curé of Ars Mothers of Young Children in partnership with Country Club Bank. All proceeds are donated to local children’s charities and scholarship funds. The event offers thousands of items representing the area’s latest trends in fashion, home decor and gifts at a wide range of prices.

POTLUCK HOLIDAY LUNCHEON Most Pure Heart of Mary 3601 S.W. 17th St., Topeka Nov. 13 from 1 - 3 p.m.

The Christian Widow and Widowers Organization will host the potluck dinner. There is no cost to attend. For more information, call (785) 233-7350.

ALUMNI FALL LUNCHEON Grand Street Cafe 4740 Grand Ave., Kansas City, Missouri Nov. 13 from noon - 2 p.m.

The Greater Kansas City Alumni Council of the University of St. Mary invites you to attend its fall luncheon honoring Dr. William Krusemark for his years of service and dedication to St. Mary. The cost

We will pray the joyful, sorrowful and glorious mysteries of the rosary. Benediction will follow, as well as an opportunity for attendees to enroll in the brown scapular. For more information, visit the website at: www.rosaryrallieskc.org.

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS CHILI AND SOUP LUNCHEON St. Charles Parish 520 W. Chestnut, Troy Nov. 13 from 11 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Knights of Columbus Council 675 will be serving chili, vegetable soup and a wide assortment of pies and desserts. A freewill offering is suggested.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Advice & Aid Pregnancy Centers, Inc. 11644 W. 75th St., Shawnee Nov. 14 from 7 - 9 p.m.

Advice & Aid Pregnancy Centers, Inc., is in need of volunteers and will be offering a volunteer informational meeting about this ministry. For more information or to RSVP, call Mary at (913) 962-0200, ext. 1920, or send an email to: volunteer@adviceandaid.com.

‘WORKS OF MERCY: LESSONS FROM DOROTHY DAY’ Sophia Spirituality Center 751 S. 8th St., Atchison Nov. 16 from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

This U.S. Catholic convert lived the works of

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

MUD JACKING Raise & Level

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

Topeka (785) 246-0128

FALL CRAFT AND BAKE SALE Mother Teresa of Calcutta Parish 2014 N.W. 46th St., Topeka Nov. 18 from 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Nov. 19 from 9 .a.m. - 3 p.m.

There will be crafts as well as homemade cinnamon rolls and soup available for purchase.

This workshop is presented by Habitat for Humanity of KC. A light supper will be served at 5:30 p.m. and the workshop will begin at 6 p.m. Come and get ideas for stretching dollars and share fellowship.

‘TAKE-A-LOOK-THURSDAY’ Holy Spirit School 11300 W. 103rd St., Overland Park Nov. 17 from 9 - 11 a.m.

Come for information, tours of the school and refreshments. For more information, call Anita Pauls at (913) 492-2582 or send an email to: apauls@hscatholic.org.

SILVER SAINTS CRAFT FESTIVAL St. Stanislaus Parish (Dekat Hall) 701 S. Main St., Rossville Nov. 19 from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

All are welcome. Bring a friend to shop for holiday gifts. A soup luncheon will be available.

FALL FEST 2016 St. Joseph-St. Lawrence Parish 211 W. Riley, Easton Nov. 19 at 4 p.m.

‘GRIEVING DURING THE HOLIDAYS: A GRIEF SUPPORT WORKSHOP’ Prince of Peace Parish (faculty lounge) 16000 W. 143rd St., Olathe Nov. 17 at 7 p.m.

If you have experienced the loss of a loved one and find yourself facing the holidays in the midst of grief, join us for this presentation on dealing with grief amid all of the holiday cheer. Light refreshments will follow. For more information, call Donna at (913) 839-9991.

K E A T I N G Mud Jacking FOUNDATION REPAIR

CHRISTMAS ON A BUDGET Keeler Women’s Center 2220 Central Ave., Kansas City, Kansas Nov. 16 from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

ROSARY RALLY IN HONOR OF OUR LADY OF FATIMA Our Lady of Sorrows Parish 2552 Gillham Rd., Kansas City, Missouri Nov. 13 from 3 - 4:15 p.m.

See the campus, meet the students, experience the community and learn about the many academic achievements St. James is celebrating.

14TH ANNUAL GIFT GALLERY Curé of Ars School 9401 Mission Rd., Lenexa Nov. 12 from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. VIP access: 7:30 - 9 a.m.

mercy in a radical way. Come and discover ways to live the works of mercy today. This retreat is led by Sister Barbara McCracken. For more information or to register, call (913) 360-6151 or visit the website at: www. sophiaspiritualitycenter.org.

CELEBRATE RECOVERY St. Pius X Parish (youth room) 5500 Woodson, Mission Thursdays at 7 p.m.

This is a new recovery group for people in recovery from anything they have been dealing with. Contact Joe Quinn for more information at: joequinn@sbcglobal.net or call (913) 228-8279.

OPEN HOUSE Nativity Parish School 3700 W. 119th St., Leawood Nov. 17 from 6 - 7 p.m.

Join us for a home-cooked chili and soup dinner and bingo. Dinner will be served beginning at 4 p.m. and bingo will start around 6 p.m. A freewill donation is suggested.

CHRISTMAS HOME TOURS Atchison Nov. 19th from 10:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.

The cost for tickets is $30 each and includes lunch and tours of six homes. All proceeds benefit the St. Benedict School. Tickets are available in the school office or by calling (913) 367-3503. Location information comes with the tickets. Crafts and raffles are also available.

MEMORIAL LITURGY Curé of Ars 9405 Mission Rd., Leawood Nov. 19 at 8 a.m.

There will be a memorial liturgy for deceased loved ones followed by a grief support meeting in the Father Burak Room. The topic will be: “Count Your Blessings.” For more information, call (913) 649-2026.

TURKEY BINGO All Saints Parish 915 Vermont Ave., Kansas City, Kansas Nov. 19 at 5 p.m.

Come find out why Nativity Parish School is the best choice for your child. For more information, call (913) 338-4330 or visit the website at: www.nativityparishschool.com.

The cost to attend is $10, which includes one bingo card, a Polish sausage sandwich, kraut and a drink. Extra cards are available. For more information, call Tom Waliczek at (816) 806-9816.

HEALING MASS Curé of Ars Parish 9405 Mission Rd., Leawood Nov. 17 at 7:30 p.m.

ANNUAL GOLUMBKI DINNER St. Casimir Parish (hall) 719 Pennsylvania Ave., Leavenworth Nov. 20 at 11 a.m.

A Mass with prayers for healing, sponsored by the archdiocesan Charismatic prayer groups, will be held in the Father Burak room. For more information, call (913) 649-2026.

Dinner will be served from noon - 3 p.m. Takeout will be available beginning at 11 a.m. Tickets cost $10 for adults and $5 for kids ages 12 and under. A Polish feast will be served. Meatloaf will also be served.

NOVEMBER 11, 2016 | THELEAVEN.ORG

COMMENTARY

Make your thanks both seen and (heart)felt

THIRTY-THIRD WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME Nov. 13 THIRTY-THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Mal 3: 19-20a Ps 98: 5-9 2 Thes 3: 7-12 Lk 21: 5-19 Nov. 14 Monday Rv 1: 1-4; 2: 1-5 Ps 1: 1-4, 6 Lk 18: 35-43 Nov. 15 Albert the Great, bishop, doctor of the church Rv 3: 1-6, 14-22 Ps 15: 2-4b, 5 Lk 19: 1-10 Nov. 16 Margaret of Scotland Rv 4: 1-11 Ps 150: 1b-6 Lk 19: 11-28 Nov. 17 Elizabeth of Hungary, religious Rv 5: 1-10 Ps 149: 1b-6a, 9b Lk 19: 41-44 Nov. 18 The Dedication of the Basilicas of Sts. Peter and Paul, apostles; Rose Philippine Duchesne, virgin Rv 10: 8-11 Ps 119: 14, 24, 72, 103, 111, 131 Lk 19: 45-48 Nov. 19 Saturday Rv 11: 4-12 Ps 144: 1-2, 9-10 Lk 20: 27-40

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heck Thanksgiving card stock. This item has haunted my to-do list for the past several days. Call me old-fashioned, but even with the convenience of email, I still enjoy sending greeting cards with a handwritten note inside. In fact, I have a desktop file box stuffed with cards for various occasions. With Thanksgiving looming, that to-do item above was to ensure I had appropriate cards on hand to mail out in time for the holiday. Why do I still love sending cards via snail mail? Well, the Benedictine monks at The Printery House in Conception, Missouri, highlighted three great reasons in their Christmas catalog: 1. There is a real thrill when we receive a hand-addressed and signed card in the mailbox. Every time you mail a card, you can guarantee a smile on the recipient’s face. 2. Writing a hand written message is like pouring a little love into each note that is felt the moment it is received. 3. Physical cards are usually kept much longer

MARK MY WORDS

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

and displayed in various locations in our homes, bringing forth happiness and smiles when we see them. I couldn’t agree more. There is, however, another reason that’s illustrated in this little story: A pastor in a country parish heard that one of his parishioners was going around town announcing that he would no longer attend church. Not only did the parishioner insist that he could communicate just as well with God while at home, he also felt

that praying out in the fields was better since he didn’t have to listen to babies crying, music he didn’t know or the pastor’s long sermons. One winter evening, the pastor dropped in on his former parishioner for a friendly little visit. The two men sat before a roaring fireplace making small talk, taking great pains to avoid the issue of church attendance. After some time, the pastor got up, took the tongs from the rack next to the fireplace and pulled a single coal from the fire. He placed that glowing ember on the hearth and returned to his seat. The two men watched as the coal quickly ceased burning and turned an ashen gray, while the other coals

in the fire continued to burn brightly. The pastor remained silent. With a rueful smile, the parishioner quietly said, “I’ll be back in church next Sunday.” (Adapted from a story found in Brian Cavanaugh’s “The Sower’s Seeds.”) In a nutshell, this story reminds me how much I need and rely on other people in every aspect of my life to keep burning brightly. Thanksgiving is a perfect time for me to acknowledge some of those folks with a card and note. In a typical day, we’re the recipients of the services of so many. For example, think about the people who constructed your home. Remember those unseen persons who make sure you have heat, clean water and electricity. Praise God for the inventor of your coffee maker and those who grew and picked the beans. Call to mind everyone who provides the food and drink you consume. And don’t forget to be grateful for the person who assembled your car, the people who produce the fuel for your gas tank, and the workers

who maintain the roads. And then there’s the other service providers: the police, firemen, clerks in stores, dentists, doctors, mail carriers, trash collectors, IT experts, military personnel, and the Treasury people who print the money we use. Oh, and don’t forget those who taught you how to read, and the optometrists who maintain your vision as you age and . . . Honestly, I could probably fill this whole issue of The Leaven with all the people that we depend on in life. And there would still not be room to include everyone. To prepare for Thanksgiving this year, how about selecting a dozen people you’re grateful to and surprise them with a note of thanks. I wish that I could send all of our 52,139 Leaven households an individual handwritten note of thanks for letting us into your homes each week, but I’m kind of pressed for time, not to mention the cost of stamps! So, this “thanks” here will have to do — unless, of course, you’re one of the 12 on my list. Check that mailbox.

Temple’s destruction fulfilled Christ’s first prediction

n Rome, there is a major basilica, St. Paul Outside the Walls, which boasts something very unusual. All along one of the walls, there are displayed portraits of each pope, from St. Peter on. Every time a new pope is elected, his picture goes up on the wall. There is a superstition that once the wall is filled up and there is no more room for another picture, the world will come to an end. In 1823, a fire broke out that almost completely destroyed the church. Were people worried that that would mean the end of the world? After all, the portraits of the popes were gone. A similar concern might lie behind Sunday’s Gospel reading, Lk 21:5-19. Jesus’ prediction of the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem

POPE FRANCIS

THE GOSPEL TRUTH

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

is linked with predictions of a much greater cataclysm: the end of the world. After all, the temple was built to last forever. If it were destroyed, would that point

The saints are blessed because they were faithful and meek and cared for others, Pope Francis said. At the end of an ecumenical trip to Sweden, Pope Francis celebrated the feast of All Saints Nov. 1 with a Mass in a Malmo stadium. He high-

to the end of the world? On the other hand, the temple had already been destroyed once before, by the Babylonians in 587 B.C. The temple that existed at the time of Jesus had been built by Herod. However, by the time that the Gospel of St. Luke was most probably written, this temple, too, had been destroyed by the Roman army in A.D. 70, along with the entire city of Jerusalem. Would

this mean that the world was coming to an end? The early Christians who heard this Gospel of St. Luke were reminded of Jesus’ prediction about the destruction of the temple. Since that prediction had already been fulfilled, this gave credence to his other prediction about the end of the world. He was right about that one, so he would most probably be right about the other. In the midst of the predictions about the temple’s destruction and the end of the world, Jesus makes still another prediction. This prediction involves the fate of his disciples. They will undergo persecution: “Before all this happens (the end of the world), however, they will seize and persecute you.” Despite the sufferings that the disciples will endure, even to the

lighted the lives of the Swedish saints, Elizabeth Hesselblad and Bridget of Vadstena, who “prayed and worked to create bonds of unity and fellowship between Christians.” The best description of the saints — in fact, their “identity card” — the pope said, is found in the beatitudes from

point of death, Jesus guarantees their safety: “Not a hair on your head will be destroyed.” These words may be referring to an earlier saying of Jesus: “Even the hairs of your head have all been counted” (Lk 12:7). In both cases, Jesus is emphasizing God’s concern for the disciples, which will continue, even in the face of death. To sum up, Jesus makes three predictions: one about the temple’s destruction, one about the disciples’ persecution and one about the end of the world. The first has been fulfilled, the second is in the process of being fulfilled (Christians are currently undergoing persecution, especially in the Middle East) and the third has yet to be fulfilled. Three predictions, all reliable.

Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, which begins: “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” And, he said, as Christian saints have done throughout the ages, Christ’s followers today are called “to confront the troubles and anxieties of our age with the spirit and love of Jesus.” — CNS

NOVEMBER 11, 2016 | THELEAVEN.ORG

COMMENTARY

New best-selling book protects young children from pornography

here is a great new resource for protecting young children from pornography called “Good Pictures Bad Pictures: Porn Proofing Today’s Young Kids” by Kristen A. Jenson and Gail Poyner. This short book has become so popular that it is a best-seller on Amazon.com with over 300 five-star reviews! “Good Pictures Bad Pictures” is a comfortable, read-aloud story about a mom and dad who teach their child what pornography is, why it’s dangerous and how to reject it. The book is targeted to the parents of 7-year-olds and older. My wife and I have used concepts from this book

PROTECTING FAMILIES FROM PORNOGRAPHY

SAM MEIER Sam Meier is the consultant for the My House Initiative. For more information about protecting families from pornography visit www. archkck.org/myhouse

to discuss the harms of pornography with our children. Here’s one of our favorite quotes from

the book: “I’ve taught you to wear a helmet when you ride your bike to protect your brain on the outside. But pornography gets inside your brain and hurts it. Do you want to protect your brain on the inside, too?” The book includes the five-point CAN DO Plan™, which teaches

kids how to avoid the brain-warping images of pornography and minimize the troubling memories of accidental exposure. Catholic children in northeast Kansas urgently need to be protected. During a recent presentation at a large suburban parish to roughly 30 teenage boys, the parish youth minister and I asked the boys when they were first exposed to pornography. Here are the results from the informal survey: third grade - 21 percent, fourth grade - 4 percent, fifth grade - 21 percent, sixth grade - 14 percent, seventh grade - 25 percent, and eighth grade - 14 percent. We also asked the boys how

they were first exposed to pornography: 43 percent said it was curiosity, 39 percent said a friend introduced them and 19 percent said it was accidental. We recently printed 5,000 postcards to help promote “Good Pictures Bad Pictures” at parishes across northeast Kansas. We are also promoting the book through Facebook, newsletters, parish bulletins and parishes. Contact me if you would like postcards for your friends, parish, school, etc. I personally encourage you to read this book, post about it on Facebook and spread the word to five of your friends. The book can be ordered in bulk for substantial discounts,

and contact me if you are interested in ordering multiple copies for your parish or group. The book was recently translated into Spanish, and our talented archdiocesan translator Judith Breton helped to review the translation. If your family needs counseling for these topics, I am one of the 22 local Catholic counselors listed online at: www.archkck.org/ Catholic-Counselors. I also provide local and national presentations about internet safety and sexual integrity. Visit the website at: www.archkck.org/My House to book a presentation for your parish, parent meeting, college group, youth group, etc.

Prepare the way of the Lord the old-fashioned way — with prayer

journey of 10,000 steps begins with the Apostles’ Creed. That was my motto last January as I was preparing for World Youth Day in Poland July 23 through Aug. 2. With a little encouragement from some friends and my wife Rebecca, I started a program that would help me get into shape and lose some weight. That included grabbing my rosary and walking a couple miles a day that would eventually lead up to 18 to 25 miles a week. Attending a World Youth Day requires a lot of walking and I was bound and de-

DO WHATEVER HE TELLS YOU

RICK CHEEK Rick Cheek is the associate consultant for the office of evangelization and Catholic formation of youth.

termined to be prepared. No matter what

you’re preparing for, it’s always good to take a three-pronged approach: baby steps, prayer and the saints. I often turned to the Blessed Mother and St. John Paul II before and during our World Youth Day trip.

After our last Mass and meeting in preparation for WYD, one of our pilgrims, Daniel Warner, was killed in a tragic car accident. Turning to St. John Paul II and our Blessed Mother to comfort his parents Mike and Mary, as well as family and friends, was important to me, having gone through losing my oldest son Jared after World Youth Day in 2005 from a car accident. The rosary was my go-to prayer then and has been many times since. St. John Paul II’s favorite prayer was the rosary. He said: “The rosary is a marvelous prayer! Marvelous in

its simplicity and its depth. In the prayer we repeat many times the words that the Virgin Mary heard from the archangel and from her kinswoman Elizabeth.” If you’re like me, you’re always looking to find time to pray. I heard in a homily from my pastor Father Andrew Strobl about a time he was struggling to find time to spend in prayer. His spiritual director told him to write down everything he did in a typical day for a week to see where he was spending his time. As hard as it was to do, he realized it was a little embarrassing and

there was no reason he shouldn’t be able to find time to pray. Like Father Andrew, making changes in our daily routine to include prayer is hard. With Advent just around the corner, what are you doing to prepare for the coming of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ? Before Advent gets here, grab a journal and write down what your typical day looks like for a week. See where you can make changes and adjustments to improve your prayer life. Turn to the saints and ask them to help you. But more importantly, let us pray for each other.

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NOVEMBER 11, 2016 | THELEAVEN.ORG

LOCAL NEWS

PRIESTS ON THE RUN

Three priests find Christ among the kilometers By Marc and Julie Anderson mjanderson@theleaven.org

ANSAS CITY, Kan. — It started as a simple challenge among friends back in the summer of 2008: Run a 5K race together. That’s “K” as in kilometer, five in a row being a little more than three miles. The challenger was Father Scott Wallisch, who was a seminarian at the time. The challengees were newly ordained Father Greg Hammes and then-seminarian Father Nathan Haverland. “We were all living at Curé of Ars Parish in Leawood at the time,” said Father Wallisch. “It was kind of fun for the three of us to be there.” Father Hammes was a new associate pastor, and the two seminarians were doing summer pastoral work. Father Wallisch was the runner, and he wanted to introduce the fun of running to the other two. “I used to putter around a bit even before Father Scott challenged me,” said Father Hammes. “I was speedy at the time, but I didn’t have much endurance.” Father Haverland had less experience than Father Hammes, but gamely joined in the training. Their first race was the Sanctuary of Hope 5K run in Kansas City, Kansas. Father Wallisch finished first. Father Hammes did OK, but Father Haverland struggled. The end of the race was up a big, big hill. That’s when brotherly love kicked in. Father Wallisch — who that day completed two 5Ks — ran back and finished the last leg with Father Haverland. After that summer, each man went his separate way. Father Wallisch is now archdiocesan vocations director and resident at the St. Lawrence Catholic Campus Center at the University of Kansas in Lawrence. Father Hammes is pastor of Most Pure Heart of Mary Parish in Topeka, and Father Haverland is pastor of St. Gregory Parish in Marysville. Running remains a part of their lives — less so for Father Haverland, who had a seven-year gap before picking it up again in 2015. Although their day jobs make it difficult for them to coordinate, the priests have managed to run in a few of the same races. Father Hammes said he couldn’t count the number of races he’s run since 2008. These include the 5K, the half marathon of 13.1 miles, and the full

Above, Father Greg Hammes, pastor of Most Pure Heart of Mary Parish in Topeka, participates in the 2014 Kansas City Marathon. He’s run in at least one marathon a year since 2011. Right, Father Nathan Haverland, pastor of St. Gregory Parish in Marysville, shows off his medal for participating in the 2015 Chicago Marathon. marathon at 26.1 miles. “I ran my first [marathon] in 2011,” said Father Hammes. “I run one every year.” The races he’s run include the “Running with the Cows,” sponsored by Queen of the Holy Rosary in BucyrusWea; his own parish’s Summerfest 5K Fun Run/Walk; and his sixth Kansas City Marathon on Oct. 15. Father Hammes takes pride in being able to challenge himself and to train. Training gives him quiet time to listen to a meditation on his phone, pray

the Divine Mercy chaplet or just contemplate the Sunday Mass readings. He’s even had time to mull over homilies while running. Father Haverland said running is his “prayerful time alone.” “It’s just a beautiful time to be with God by myself,” he said. The River Rail Trail near Marysville, with its rural set-

ting, allows for contemplation of God’s creation. He’d completed three half marathons in the past year and thought he was ready for the next challenge: the Chicago Marathon on Oct. 9. For this one, he wanted the Holy Spirit to guide him. One way of entering the Chicago Marathon is through a lottery. Father Haverland was surprised when his name was selected, but “Deus vult” — “God wills it”! The night before the race, he concelebrated — in his running shoes — the annual Runners’ Mass at Chicago’s Holy Name Cathedral. Although he was the only concelebrant/runner at the Mass, he assumed there might have been other running priests. “I’m guessing out of 40,000 runners there was another priest, but I’m not aware of one,” he said. “I was the only one at the Mass.” He wanted to finish in five hours. He realized during the second half that that wouldn’t happen. He crossed the finish line at five hours and 30 minutes. “At that point, I didn’t care,” he said. “I was just trying to finish.” Running is a lot like the spiritual life of a Christian, said Father Wallisch, who has contemplated writing a book on the subject. The saints are like runners who’ve finished the race and won their crowns, but they help us through their prayers and show us we can overcome the challenges as they did, he said. “[Running] is also like prayer,” said Father Wallisch. “If you show up every day and put in time training and are faithful, your spiritual muscles will get stronger and you can pray more and pray deeper, and find more spiritual fruit in your prayer,” he added. The three may yet run together again. Father Hammes and Father Haverland have signed up for the Berlin Marathon in 2017. Father Wallisch is still — prayerfully — considering it. Additional reporting by Joe Bollig.

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