Leaven 11-27-15 Vol. 37 No. 17

THELEAVEN.ORG | VOL. 37, NO. 17 | NOVEMBER 27, 2015

Advent

Mary Nearmyer, 5, lights the first candle on the traditional Advent wreath. Mary is the daughter of Deacon Dana and Debbie Nearmyer, members of Holy Trinity Parish, Lenexa.

Advent begins on Nov. 29.

— Photo by Lori Wood Habiger

OPEN WIDE THE DOORS

The Holy Doors of the archdiocese will be opened on Dec. 12 and 13 in six churches. The Leaven has all the details. Page 16

HOLIDAY SCHEDULE

There will be no Leaven on Dec. 4. The next issue of The Leaven will be on Dec. 11. The calendar of events will be updated on our website — www.theleaven.org — during the off week.

NOVEMBER 27, 2015 | THELEAVEN.ORG

ARCHBISHOP

2

Will you consider joining me on the adventure of a lifetime?

S

urveys of various professional groups reveal that priests are among the happiest. The following are my top 10 reasons I love being a priest. Actually, it was difficult limiting the list to 10.

10. On Easter Sunday, the opportunity to sprinkle holy water on people and they cannot throw anything back.

9. In the morning, never having to wonder what to wear or being concerned if your clothes match.

8. Working with remarkable, faith-filled, dedicated and virtuous people.

7. Forming incredible lifelong friendships with fellow priests, religious men and women, and becoming part of hundreds of families.

6. Accompanying individuals at important moments in their lives, e.g., young people discerning a vocation, engaged couples preparing for marriage, parents seeking the baptism of a child, persons encountering God in a powerful way during a retreat experience, times of serious illness, and the death of a loved one.

5. Being not only allowed, but expected, to make time each day for prayer — becoming aware of God’s presence, experiencing his love, praising and thanking

LIFE WILL BE VICTORIOUS ARCHBISHOP JOSEPH F. NAUMANN him for blessings, listening to his inspirations, entrusting challenges and burdens to him, and interceding for the needs of parishioners.

4. The frequent opportunity to break open for others the meaning, wisdom, comfort, hope and peace found in the Bible.

3. Freeing individuals from shame, guilt and discouragement by being God’s human instrument in communicating to them Our Lord’s mercy and unconditional love.

2. The opportunity to spend every moment of each day doing what I believe in by helping others experience God’s love, become friends with Jesus and discover the secret to abundant life in this world and the path to eternal life with God and his saints.

1. The privilege of being Our Lord’s instrument in making himself present to his people in the Eucharist.

If one is called, the priesthood is an amazingly blessed life.

Certainly, there are significant sacrifices that are required and difficult challenges. However, the same is true in every vocation or anything worth pursuing in life. As a priest, one has the privilege of witnessing God’s miracles — his grace working in the lives of parishioners.

If you are a young man, at least 18 years old, who thinks it is possible that God is calling you to the priesthood, I urge you to register for the Quo Vadis discernment retreat beginning on Saturday evening, Dec. 19, and concluding Monday morning, Dec. 21. “Quo vadis” is Latin for: “Where are you going?”

Give yourself a break from the materialistic madness that can

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overtake this season and allow yourself the opportunity to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas. These 40 hours could be life-changing.

If you have a son or grandson, or you know a young man that you think could be a great priest, please pass this article on to him and encourage him to make the Quo Vadis retreat. Young men interested in getting more information or registering for the Quo Vadis retreat can contact the archdiocesan vocation office at (913) 647-0303 or online at: vocation@ archkck.org.

Spend time with some exceptional priests and get a chance to know our Kansas City, Kansas, seminarians. Personally, I look forward to spending some one-on-one time with each retreat participant, attempting to help each man figure out what God’s plan is for him.

There is nothing more challenging, exciting and important that you can do with your life than serving the people of God as a priest. The priesthood is the adventure of a lifetime. Priests have the opportunity to influence positively thousands of lives.

The miracle of Christmas is that the God who created the entire universe became a human being so that we could share in his life.

I am confident that if you give Our Lord 40 hours of your life by making the Quo Vadis retreat, striving to figure

out what Our Lord desires you to do with your life, God will bless you in ways that you cannot imagine.

CALENDAR

ARCHBISHOP NAUMANN

Mass and vespers with Apostles of the Interior Life

Nov. 30 Confirmation — Immaculate Conception, St. Marys

Dec. 9 Johnson County Serra Club meeting

Dec. 1 Mass — Bishop Miege High School St. Lawrence Center advisory council meeting

Donnelly College board of trustees meeting

Dec. 10 Catholic Education Foundation board meeting

Dec. 2 U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops “Charter” audit interview

Dec. 11 Southern Region priests meeting — Prairie Star Ranch, Williamsburg

Chancery staff open house

Dec. 12 Profession at Apostles of the Interior Life

Dec. 3 Lawrence Region priests meeting — St. Lawrence Catholic Campus Center Administrative Team meeting Legatus Christmas meeting and social Dec. 4 USCCB “Charter” audit exit interview Dec. 5 Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher Mass and retreat Deacon candidate talk, prayer and social — Savior Pastoral Center

Dec. 6 Holy Family Mass and church dedication — Eudora

ARCHBISHOP KELEHER Nov. 28 90th anniversary Mass — Holy Trinity Nov. 29 Mass — Federal prison camp Dec. 6 Mass — Federal camp Dec. 7-9 Labor Review Board — Chicago Dec. 11 Episcopal ordination anniversary

Dec. 12 Mass — Federal camp

NOVEMBER 27, 2015 | THELEAVEN.ORG

LOCAL NEWS

3

CNS PHOTO/SEDAT/SUNA, EPA

Syrian refugees wait on the Syrian side of the border near Sanliurfa, Turkey, June 10. Bishop Eusebio Elizondo, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Migration, says the United States should welcome Syrian refugees and work for peace.

‘We should not stop helping some of the world’s most desperate people’ Statement by the Catholic bishops of Kansas on the resettlement of Syrian refugees in the United States

T

here is great controversy today over the policy of resettling Syrian refugees in the United States. The recent terrorist attacks in Paris have served as a reminder, if any was needed, that terrorism remains a grave threat and that all people of good will should stand in solidarity with one another against such deplorable acts of violence and murder.

While emotions are understandably running high, the plight of our brothers and sisters in Syria must not be ignored.

The Syrian people are, on a daily basis, bearing the brunt of the Syrian civil war, the Assad regime’s ruthless tactics and ISIS’ reign of terror. Christians are being persecuted and even martyred in brutal fashion. Members of other faiths are suffering enormous hardships as well, as ISIS terrorizes anyone who does not share its radical extremist ideology. It is

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

estimated that around 11 million people in Syria and surrounding countries have had to flee their homes, making this a humanitarian crisis of epic proportions.

The 10,000 refugees in question represent a tiny fraction of those who have been displaced.

Our great country has long been a beacon of hope for the oppressed peoples of the world. What a terrible tragedy it would be for humanity if America suddenly became a country that turns away even women and children fleeing the horrors of war and terrorism.

At the same time, it is entirely legitimate, and indeed obligatory, for public officials to make the security of our nation and the safety of Americans a paramount consideration. This is why all of the refugees must undergo a thorough, multi-agency vetting process that takes on average 18-24 months. Undoubtedly, this process will continue to be examined and improved upon. However, the mere possibility that someone admitted as a refugee could commit an act of

terror is not reason enough to cease resettlement of all Syrian refugees. There are other, and perhaps considerably easier, avenues for a determined enemy of the United States to enter the country than to submit to a two-year review by American intelligence, defense and law enforcement agencies. We should not stop helping some of the world’s most desperate people in a vain effort to make America perfectly safe.

We do not in any way wish to deny the seriousness of the threat of terrorism or ISIS’ determination to attack America. Nor do we consider it impossible that someone who wishes America harm could infiltrate the United States through the refugee program. But given the scale of human suffering in Syria and the security measures in place to scrutinize refugees, we believe that resettlement should continue. We cannot allow fear to harden our hearts.

Finally, it is already sadly evident that some are using this issue to attempt to gain political advantage. We, the Catho-

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

Production Manager Todd Habiger todd.habiger@theleaven.org

Reporter Moira Cullings moira.cullings@theleaven.org

Managing Editor Anita McSorley anita.mcsorley@theleaven.org

Senior Reporter Joe Bollig joe.bollig@theleaven.org

Advertising Coordinator Beth Blankenship beth.blankenship@theleaven.org

lic bishops of Kansas, hope and pray that all elected officials, on all sides of this issue, will respect each other’s sincere concerns and act with the common good, and not political opportunism, in mind.

ARCHBISHOP JOSEPH F. NAUMANN Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas

BISHOP JOHN B. BRUNGARDT Diocese of Dodge City

BISHOP CARL A. KEMME Diocese of Wichita

BISHOP EDWARD J. WEISENBURGER Diocese of Salina

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 27, 2015 | THELEAVEN.ORG

LOCAL NEWS

4

Basehor parish shares the love

AT HOME AND ABROAD

By Moira Cullings moira.cullings@theleaven.org

B

ASEHOR — The best characters are often the ones that surpass everyone’s expectations to accomplish something amazing.

At least that’s how it goes in the storybooks.

But the inspirational tale of an underdog isn’t just for fiction. Take Holy Angels Parish in Basehor, for example.

Some 850 households make up the parish, but that doesn’t stop this smaller community from making a lasting impact on those in need.

Holy Angels is home to nearly 40 ongoing charitable outreach programs.

The Legion of Mary, the Holy Angels Pro-life Committee, the Catholic Women’s Organization and the Knights of Columbus, along with several independent groups, are only a few of the organizations that fuel the parish’s engine of mercy.

“I think the parish has always been about that,” said Holy Angels pastor Father Richard McDonald, “about being compassionate toward those less fortunate and caring towards those in need.”

Above and beyond the standard holiday giving The lonely are often forgotten during the holidays, but not by Holy Angels.

In 2007, the parish, guided by Father Al Rockers, created a Thanksgiving Outreach Meal, a program that invites people without families to meet in the parish hall for a Thanksgiving dinner two days before the holiday.

Joyce Bowlin, the program’s organizer, has noticed the effect the meal has had on participants.

“I know last year before we had even gotten the invitations sent out, people were calling and saying, ‘I haven’t gotten my invitation yet,’” said Bowlin.

“They just really love to come.”

Volunteers sign up to bring food, which is served to the guests while the latter enjoy the company and conversation of the other guests around the table.

“I think a lot of them probably don’t have much contact with other people, and it’s really a chance for them to get around and visit with other people,” said Bowlin.

“If there are people that are homebound, we offer to bring them,” she added. “And if they can’t drive, maybe they have somebody that comes with them, and that person eats, too.”

But providing the lonely with a sense of community during the holidays is only one way Holy Angels takes personally its mission to spread the good news.

Reaching out across the world Another outreach program that characterizes the charitable ways of Holy Angels is Operation St. Nicholas.

The program was founded by Tom Johnson, who served in Iraq from

LEAVEN PHOTO BY JOE MCSORLEY

Dan Clegg, right, a parishioner at Holy Angels Parish in Basehor and a Knight of Columbus, collects donations for Operation St. Nicholas, which ships gifts to soldiers serving overseas.

2006-2007, near the end of his military career.

“While I was there, I had a team working up in northern Iraq. And one of my sergeants on my team, his sister worked in Texas at a steak place. At Christmastime, they sent us stockings and some other stuff. And so, I kept that idea,” said Johnson.

A member of the Knights of Columbus, Johnson presented the idea to his council, whose members were completely supportive.

The operation collects names of soldiers who are relatives of or known

by Holy Angels parishioners. It then collects a variety of gifts, which are shipped overseas the first week of December.

Items they send include trail mix, hard candy, lip balm, rosaries and prayer books.

With shipping costs ranging from $400-$500, the group uses every monetary donation it receives.

“A lot of times what [the soldiers] will do is take a box and share it with other soldiers around them,” said Johnson, who received a thank-you letter from a lieutenant who found a way to spread the cheer even further.

“It was really heartwarming,” said Johnson. “He said one of his soldiers comes from kind of a tough side of town, and he didn’t get anything sent to him. . . . His family was kind of nonexistent. So, they took some of our packages and sent it to him personally, and he said it made his Christmas.

“So, you hear stories like that, and that’s what it’s all about.”

Charity has no age requirement The adults at Holy Angels are not the only ones living out their faith through actions.

Holy Angels’ Thanksgiving Outreach Meal invites people without families to meet in the parish hall for a Thanksgiving dinner two days before the holiday.

The seventh- and eighth-grade religious education class hosts a warm clothing drive each November, reaching out to the homeless just as the temperature starts to drop.

Rich Dixon started the program for confirmation students around 2002, as “a way during the period leading up to the winter to try to get the kids and families thinking about helping others and contributing to the community,” he said.

“We’ve tied in the works of mercy — spiritual and corporal — for the kids, so that in December, that’ll be the focus,” Dixon continued.

This year the clothes will be given to Catholic Charities in Leavenworth, as well as Basehor-Linwood Assistance Services.

“I think Rich sees it as a way to get these kids to realize we need to reach out to those less fortunate,” said Cathy Kern, director of religious education.

“He’s really big on trying to get these kids to be compassionate,” she said.

Incorporating the Year of Mercy With the Year of Mercy quickly approaching, the parish already has a “jump-start,” said Father McDonald.

“We are intending to give as a gift to each of the parish families just before the year begins a prayer book for the entire year of mercy,” he said.

The parish will also incorporate three events into the upcoming year, each inspired by the three archangels.

The point is “recognizing not just the human element of mercy, but the divine element of mercy in the name itself — Holy Angels,” said Father McDonald.

When it comes right down to it, said Father McDonald, “I’ve never seen anything on the scope of what we do consistently throughout the year.

“I think it shows that the people are really grateful in the parish of Holy Angels in Basehor.”

NOVEMBER 27, 2015 | THELEAVEN.ORG

LOCAL NEWS

3

CNS PHOTO/SEDAT/SUNA, EPA

Syrian refugees wait on the Syrian side of the border near Sanliurfa, Turkey, June 10. Bishop Eusebio Elizondo, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Migration, says the United States should welcome Syrian refugees and work for peace.

‘We should not stop helping some of the world’s most desperate people’ Statement by the Catholic bishops of Kansas on the resettlement of Syrian refugees in the United States

T

here is great controversy today over the policy of resettling Syrian refugees in the United States. The recent terrorist attacks in Paris have served as a reminder, if any was needed, that terrorism remains a grave threat and that all people of good will should stand in solidarity with one another against such deplorable acts of violence and murder.

While emotions are understandably running high, the plight of our brothers and sisters in Syria must not be ignored.

The Syrian people are, on a daily basis, bearing the brunt of the Syrian civil war, the Assad regime’s ruthless tactics and ISIS’ reign of terror. Christians are being persecuted and even martyred in brutal fashion. Members of other faiths are suffering enormous hardships as well, as ISIS terrorizes anyone who does not share its radical extremist ideology. It is

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

estimated that around 11 million people in Syria and surrounding countries have had to flee their homes, making this a humanitarian crisis of epic proportions.

The 10,000 refugees in question represent a tiny fraction of those who have been displaced.

Our great country has long been a beacon of hope for the oppressed peoples of the world. What a terrible tragedy it would be for humanity if America suddenly became a country that turns away even women and children fleeing the horrors of war and terrorism.

At the same time, it is entirely legitimate, and indeed obligatory, for public officials to make the security of our nation and the safety of Americans a paramount consideration. This is why all of the refugees must undergo a thorough, multi-agency vetting process that takes on average 18-24 months. Undoubtedly, this process will continue to be examined and improved upon. However, the mere possibility that someone admitted as a refugee could commit an act of

terror is not reason enough to cease resettlement of all Syrian refugees. There are other, and perhaps considerably easier, avenues for a determined enemy of the United States to enter the country than to submit to a two-year review by American intelligence, defense and law enforcement agencies. We should not stop helping some of the world’s most desperate people in a vain effort to make America perfectly safe.

We do not in any way wish to deny the seriousness of the threat of terrorism or ISIS’ determination to attack America. Nor do we consider it impossible that someone who wishes America harm could infiltrate the United States through the refugee program. But given the scale of human suffering in Syria and the security measures in place to scrutinize refugees, we believe that resettlement should continue. We cannot allow fear to harden our hearts.

Finally, it is already sadly evident that some are using this issue to attempt to gain political advantage. We, the Catho-

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

Production Manager Todd Habiger todd.habiger@theleaven.org

Reporter Moira Cullings moira.cullings@theleaven.org

Managing Editor Anita McSorley anita.mcsorley@theleaven.org

Senior Reporter Joe Bollig joe.bollig@theleaven.org

Advertising Coordinator Beth Blankenship beth.blankenship@theleaven.org

lic bishops of Kansas, hope and pray that all elected officials, on all sides of this issue, will respect each other’s sincere concerns and act with the common good, and not political opportunism, in mind.

ARCHBISHOP JOSEPH F. NAUMANN Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas

BISHOP JOHN B. BRUNGARDT Diocese of Dodge City

BISHOP CARL A. KEMME Diocese of Wichita

BISHOP EDWARD J. WEISENBURGER Diocese of Salina

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 27, 2015 | THELEAVEN.ORG

LOCAL NEWS Correction

WEB EXCLUSIVE

The Nov. 20 issue’s Church of the Week had the wrong person listed as pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Emporia. Father Brandon Farrar is the pastor of Sacred Heart. The Leaven regrets the error.

Jan (Finnerty) and Larry Kramer, members of Church of the Nativity, Leawood, began the celebration of their 50th wedding anniversary by taking their family to the Outer Banks of North Carolina this past summer.

They will continue the celebration on Nov. 28 with a Mass at Nativity and reception for family and friends. The couple was married on Nov. 27, 1965, at St. Mary Church, Hartford. They have four children: Kevin Kramer, Kathy Chesner, Doug Kramer and David Kramer. They also have nine grandchildren.

ANNIVERSARY POLICY

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

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

Send notices to: The Leaven, 12615 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City, KS 66109, attn: anniversaries; or send an email to: todd.habiger@ theleaven.org.

CHURCH OF THE WEEK Christ the King, Kansas City, Kansas Address: 3024 N. 53rd St., 66104 Phone: (913) 287-8823 Pastor: Father Mark Mertes Mass times: Saturday, 5:30pm; Sunday, 9:30 a.m.

Website: http://www.ctkkcks.org

Video

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

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

LEAVEN PHOTO BY MOIRA CULLINGS

Collier Rule, a second-grader from St. Joseph School in Shawnee, put Catholic teaching into practice as he hosted a lemonade stand to raise money for his friend Tyler Regier, who is battling leukemia. The St. Joseph community demonstrated its support as family after family showed up to grab a glass of lemonade and donate to the cause. For more information on Tyler and his family, contact Jen Rule online at: jenlrule@yahoo.com. Donations to support the family can be sent to Tina or Andrew Regier at P.O. Box 4163, Overland Park, KS 66204.

This is love.

How is god calling you to love like this?

Quo Vadis Discernment Retreat For single men 18-35 Savior Pastoral Center Dec. 19, evening to Dec. 21, morning • “Jesus as Priest, Prophet and King,” led by Msgr. Stuart Swetland • Personal time with Archbishop Naumann • Q & A with priests, seminarains • Adoration & meditations • Time with seminarians • No charge

Register by Dec. 14 and attend to be eligible to win a gift card.

Register at Kckvocations.com today.

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NOVEMBER 27, 2015 | THELEAVEN.ORG

LOCAL NEWS

7

Young adults gather for adoration, Q&A with archbishop

By Moira Cullings moira.cullings@theleaven.org

K

ANSAS CITY, Kan. — Getting a first job, moving into a new apartment — starting a “grown-up” life is, indeed, exciting.

But it is also a time of great uncertainty.

Young adults often feel overwhelmed by the transition from college — when much was taken care of for them — to adulthood, when everything falls in their lap.

Making time during the day for prayer is something that often slips through the cracks.

Events like “Trust One Greater” give young people an outlet from the pressures of the day and a time to rest and rejuvenate from the stresses of their newly adult lives.

“It’s difficult as a new college graduate to balance work, faith and my social life.

So, this was a good way to spend some quality time with God amid my busy schedule,” said Kit White, a member of Curé of Ars Church in Leawood.

The event is held four times a year, each time at a different location, but with the same intention — to give young people a break from the chaos of their day and a chance to grow in faith.

The Little Sisters of the Lamb hosted the Nov. 9 event at their monastery in Kansas City, Kansas.

The Sisters were on hand to warmly welcome the participants, some of whom heard for the first time the Sisters’ ethereal harmonies.

“The Sisters’ convent is a beautiful place to pray, and I really enjoyed singing the prayers,” said Angelique Short, a member of St. Joseph Parish in Shawnee.

Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann spoke on topics relevant to the struggles young adults are facing today, tying them into the many ways to seek joy in life.

“Who doesn’t want joy?” asked Archbishop Naumann. “Who doesn’t want happiness? I think we all seek this in

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Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann leads young adult Catholics in eucharistic adoration Nov. 9 at the “Trust One Greater” event at the Little Monastery of the Little Sisters of the Lamb in Kansas City, Kansas. Afterward, the archbishop answered questions from participants. different ways.”

The archbishop explained how there are four levels of happiness: pleasure, ego gratification, contributive and transcendent.

“Each of these levels of happiness in some way is necessary and good at some level. And the levels of happiness that we value most will determine some of the choices that we make in life,” said the archbishop.

He went on to describe the balance necessary for true happiness within each level.

“If these levels of happiness dominate

our choices, the results can actually be destructive to our own well-being, as well as hurtful to others,” he said.

“Archbishop Naumann’s talk on the levels of happiness really resonated with me because it sets goals for my faith life that also carry over into my work life,” said Short.

The archbishop also gave advice on growing closer to God. “Jesus tells us in the Gospel tonight that he is inviting us to this highest level of happiness, that he desires a friendship with us, that he wants us to have this relationship with the only one who can

really satisfy our heart’s desire,” he said.

After the archbishop spoke, attendees spent time in eucharistic adoration and had an opportunity to ask the archbishop questions.

Short had attended “Trust One Greater” events in college at the St. Lawrence Catholic Campus Center, “but Tuesday felt like a new experience,” she said.

“I would definitely recommend ‘Trust One Greater’ to other young adults looking for a new or deeper experience with prayer and time with a strong Catholic community.”

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How do we move beyond our busyness and listen to God’s voice?

7 EASY TIPS FOR PERSONAL PRAYER

By Ronald Rolheiser, OMI

S

t. Augustine wisely said: “You have made us for yourself, Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.” But the deep meaning of our longing isn’t always so obvious.

Ultimately, our restless aching is a yearning for God. We need to connect with God. We need prayer.

We know this, both in our more reflective moments and in our more desperate moments. It’s then that we feel our need for prayer and try to go to that deep place. But given our lack of trust and our lack of practice, we struggle to get there. We don’t know how to pray or how to sustain ourselves in prayer.

Whether you’re a beginner or more advanced in prayer, these seven tips will encourage you in your practice of prayer:

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1. Show up There’s no bad way to pray and no single starting point for prayer. The spiritual masters offer one nonnegotiable rule: You have to show up for prayer and show up regularly. Everything else is negotiable and respects your unique circumstances.

Most days, we don’t pray simply because we don’t quite get around to it. Perhaps the best metaphor to describe our hurried and distracted lives is that of a car wash. For most of us, that’s just what our typical day does to us — it sucks us through. Prayer is truly a discipline. Show up!

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2. Quiet your heart Solitude is a form of awareness, a way of being present and perceptive within all of life. It’s having a dimension of reflectiveness in our daily lives that brings gratitude, appreciation, peacefulness, enjoyment and prayer. It’s the sense, within ordinary life, that life is precious, sacred and enough.

Solitude isn’t something we turn on like a water faucet. It needs a body and mind slowed enough to

be attentive to the present moment. The first step is to remain quietly in God’s presence in solitude, silence and prayer. If it is your first time doing this, set aside 15 minutes for prayer.

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3. Look inside Our culture can keep us so entertained, busy, preoccupied and distracted that we lose all focus on the deeper things. We can go along like this for years until a crisis suddenly renders empty all the stimulation and entertainment in the world. Then we’re forced to look into our own depth, and that can be a frightening abyss if we’ve spent years avoiding it.

We have to know when it’s time to unplug the television, turn off the phone, shut down the computer, silence the iPod, lay away the sports page and resist going out for coffee with a friend, so that, for one moment, we’re not avoiding making friends with the deepest part of us.

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4. Establish a routine and stick with It The solution isn’t so much new prayer forms and more variety, but rhythm, routine and established ritual. What’s needed is a prayer form that doesn’t demand an energy you cannot muster on a given day.

What clear rituals provide is prayer that depends on something beyond our own energy. The rituals carry us: our tiredness, our inattentiveness, our indifference and even our occasional distaste. They keep us praying even when we’re too tired to muster up our own energy.

Prayer has an ebb and flow. Sometimes we have a deep sense of God’s reality and sometimes we can’t even imagine that God exists. Sometimes we have deep feelings about God’s goodness and love, and sometimes we feel bored and distracted.

At a deep level of our human relationships, the real connection between people takes place below the surface of our conversations. We begin to know each other through simple presence. Prayer is the same. If we pray faithfully every day, year in and year out, we can expect little excitement, lots of boredom and regular temptations to look at the

Seeking God’s voice

A

mong all the voices that surround and beckon us, we need to discern the unique cadence of God’s voice. A number of principles come to us from Jesus, Scripture and the deep wells of our Christian tradition that can help us discern God’s voice among the multitude of voices that beckon us. The voice of God is • recognized in whispers, thunder and storm • recognized in the call to what’s higher and invites us to holiness, even as it is recognized in the call to humility • the one that most challenges and stretches us, even as it is the only voice that ultimately soothes and comforts us • always heard in a privileged way in the poor • always inviting us to live beyond all fear, even as it inspires holy fear • always heard wherever there is genuine enjoyment and gratitude, even as it asks us to deny ourselves and die to ourselves.

The voice of God, it would seem, is found in paradox, but it is the voice of someone who knows us intimately and calls each of us by name.

Material for this article is adapted from “Prayer: Our Deepest Longing” by Ronald Rolheiser, OMI (Franciscan Media).

clock. But a bond and an intimacy will be growing under the surface: a deep, growing bond with our God.

5

5. Be honest, vulnerable, bold What does it mean to be holy or perfect? To be perfect in the Hebrew mindset simply means to walk with God, despite our flaws. It means being in the divine presence despite the fact that we’re not perfectly whole, good, true and beautiful.

God asks us to bring our helplessness, weaknesses, imperfections and sin to him, to walk with

him and to never hide from him.

God understands that we’ll make mistakes and disappoint him and ourselves. What God asks is simply that we come home, share our lives with him and let him help us in those ways we’re powerless to help ourselves.

Every feeling and thought we have is a valid entry into prayer, no matter how irreverent, unholy, selfish, sexual or angry that thought or feeling might seem. Simply put, if you go to pray and you’re feeling angry, pray anger; if you’re sexually preoccupied, pray that preoccupation; if you’re feeling murderous, pray murder; and if you’re feeling full of fervor and want to praise and thank God, pray fervor. What’s important is that we pray what’s inside of us and not what we think God would like to see inside of us. No matter the headache or the heartache, we need only to lift it up to God.

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6. Let go of anxiety and shame The opposite of faith isn’t doubt but anxiety. It isn’t so much the fear that God doesn’t exist as the fear that God doesn’t notice our existence.

Faith doesn’t have you believe that you’ll have no worries, or that you won’t make mistakes, or that you and your loved ones won’t sometimes fall victim to accident or sickness. What faith gives you is the assurance that God is good, can be trusted, won’t forget you and is solidly in charge. Faith says that God is real, God is Lord, and there’s ultimately nothing to fear. We’re in safe hands. Reality is gracious, forgiving, loving, redeeming and absolutely trustworthy. Our task is to surrender to that.

If we’re to take seriously the words of Jesus — “Change your life and believe in the good news” — then the coldness and distrust brought upon us by shame must be overcome. Shame is powerful. Its bite is deep, the scars permanent.

Try to bring the warmth, trust and spontaneity of childhood into your prayers with God, a God who delights in you and has no use for crippling shame.

Jesus said: “Love each other as I have loved you” (Jn 15:12). The tail end of that sentence contains the chal-

lenge.

Jesus loved us by becoming vulnerable to the point of risking humiliation and rejection. We must recover our childlike trust and try to do the same.

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7. Listen for God’s voice and accept God’s love We’re surrounded by many voices. How do we recognize God’s voice among and within all of these others? God is the author of everything that’s good, whether it bears a religious label or not. Hence, God’s voice is inside many things that aren’t explicitly connected to faith and religion.

Jesus tells us he’s the good shepherd and his sheep will recognize his voice among all other voices. A sheep recognizes the voice of the one safeguarding it and won’t follow another voice. The voice of God is the voice of someone who knows us intimately and calls each of us by name.

We take for granted that anyone who sees us as we really are (unlovely, weak, pathological, sinful, insubstantial) will, in the end, be as disappointed with us as we are with ourselves. We fear God because we’ve never experienced the kind of love that is manifest in God. We avoid God when we’re most in need of love and acceptance.

God is love, and only by letting that love into our lives can we save ourselves from disappointment, shame and sadness. God understands us, accepts us, delights in us and is eager to smile at us. Experiencing the unconditional love of God is what prayer, in the end, is all about.

Remember: Your heart is made to rest in God. If St. Augustine is right — and he is — then you can count on your restlessness to lead you into deeper prayer: the kind of prayer that leads to transformation and will not leave you empty-handed.

Ronald Rolheiser, a Roman Catholic priest with the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, is an internationally renowned speaker and spiritual writer. He is the author of seven books, including the bestselling “The Holy Longing: The Search for a Christian Spirituality.”

WORLD

NOVEMBER 27, 2015 | THELEAVEN.ORG

Our Lady of Guadalupe shouldn’t be viewed as just a Mexican tradition

By Chaz Muth Catholic News Service

W

ASHINGTON (CNS) — The feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe has been a religious and cultural hallmark for Mexican Catholics for centuries, but the custom received little attention from Anglo Catholics in the U.S. before the last few decades.

With the growing Latino population in the United States, the presence of Hispanics has steadily increased in Catholic churches throughout the country, creating a greater awareness of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the patroness of the Americas.

Catholic scholars say the significance of her feast day, Dec. 12, has risen beyond the Americas with the emergence of the Latin American church on the world stage.

The dark-skinned image of Mary, known as Our Lady of Guadalupe, also has been identified by leaders of the universal Catholic Church as the face of the new evangelization.

The story of how Mary appeared to a poor Aztec Indian in 1531 near present-day Mexico City brought more than 6 million indigenous people into the Catholic faith within a decade.

The image of Mary dressed in a way Aztecs could relate to her is credited with more than evangelization. It’s also an acknowledged factor in the easing of tensions between the native people of that region in the Americas and the European settlers.

Latinos living in the U.S. celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe with zeal.

Their fervor for the feast day is a great example for Anglo Catholics, attracting more of them to the celebrations, said Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, Kentucky, who is president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

The Latino presence in the U.S. has helped educate more Anglo Catholics about Our Lady of Guadalupe, Archbishop Kurtz told Catholic News Service, and he said he hopes more will embrace this part of the Catholic tradition.

“Our Lady of Guadalupe is really for everybody, certainly the people of the Americas,” and not just Hispanic Catholics, said Bishop Peter F. Christensen of Boise, Idaho, a statewide diocese where Latinos now make up the majority of Catholics.

When Mary appeared to St. Juan Diego, the Spaniards and Aztecs were on the brink of war, and scholars believe it would have been brutal. Many have suggested the result of such a war could have diminished Christianity in the region.

Instead, the apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe brought an end to the Aztec’s worship of stone gods and the practice of human sacrifice, said Father Michael Witczak, an associate professor of liturgical studies at The Catholic University of America in Washington.

When the indigenous people embraced Catholicism, the religion of the Spaniards, the two groups discovered a way of living together in relative harmony, Father Witczak said.

“The story is captivating,” he told CNS. “That whole image of this

CNS PHOTO/CHAZ MUTH

The image of Our Lady of Guadalupe is featured on the clothing of many of the dancers participating in an Oct. 30 event at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church in Caldwell, Idaho.

57-year-old Aztec Christian encountering this woman and not wanting to get involved with something he knew would be viewed with great skepticism. Yet, [the news] was eventually seen as a miracle that helped spread Christianity throughout the Americas.”

It’s a story that should enrich the faith of all American Catholics, Archbishop Kurtz said.

Nevertheless, many Anglo Catholics either don’t know the story or understand the significance Our Lady of Guadalupe has in American Catholicism.

Father Adrian Vazquez, the administrator of four Idaho parishes in St. Anthony, Driggs, Island Park and Rexburg, said that every year as Latino parishioners prepare for the Dec. 12 feast day, many Anglo Catholics approach him to learn more about Our Lady of Guadalupe.

“Yes, some [Anglo Catholics] are already participating, but many of them just don’t know the story,” he said. “But, they do see the excitement among the Latinos and it makes them curious. Once they learn about the story, they are much more open to bringing it into their own faith tradition.”

Father Robert C. Irwin, pastor of St. Jerome Church in Jerome, Idaho, said he was unaware of the story of Our Lady of Guadalupe as a boy growing up in the U.S. What he did know was that his friends with Mexican ancestry often paid homage to an image of Mary that didn’t look very much like the paintings of the Mother of God he had been accustomed to viewing during his religious education.

Pope Francis celebrated the feast

day at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City in 2014.

During his homily, the pope said the dark-skinned image of Our Lady of Guadalupe — traditionally believed to have been miraculously impressed on Juan Diego’s cloak — proclaimed to the indigenous peoples of the Americas “the good news that all its inhabitants shared the dignity of children of God. No more would anyone be a servant, but we are all children of the same Father and brothers and sisters to each other.”

Both Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis have celebrated the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe at St. Peter’s, signaling to Catholics worldwide its importance in the universal church, Father Witczak said.

“She’s not just the patroness of Mexico, but the patroness of the Americas,” he said.

The message from the last two popes is also that Catholics throughout the Americas should draw inspiration from the apparition of 1531, that the Mother of God’s appearance in their land was a sign of its significance to God, Father Witczak said.

In his homily on the 2014 feast day, Pope Francis said Mary did not just want to visit the Americas, but that the image on the cloak, or “tilma,” was a sign that “she wanted to remain with them.”

Archbishop Kurtz pointed out that the current nations in the Americas didn’t exist when Mary appeared before St. Juan Diego, so when he shared her image on his “tilma,” he wasn’t just sharing it with the indigenous people in his region. He was sharing it with inhabitants throughout North America and South America.

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Hondurans seek help to fight changes to land CHOLUTECA, Honduras (CNS) — The southern Honduran departments of Choluteca and Valle are lined with dark sand volcanic beaches and mangroves that teem with giant prawns and clams. In the midst of this delicate ecosystem in the Gulf of Fonseca, Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua have fought for centuries over pockets of land and tiny, barely inhabited islands set in a glittering deep blue sea, home to considerable biodiversity. Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez has launched a new program, “The Time of the South Has Come,” and declared the region — once considered little more than a rocky, drought-prone outpost — a new “development pole for Central America.” But local communities are clamoring for the church’s help as they confront plans for a “charter city” free-trade zone and a gold rush they believe sounds a death knell for the region.

In July 2014, a shaft in a warren of underground tunnels of an artisanal goldmine in San Juan Arriba, in Choluteca, collapsed and buried 11 miners, killing eight.

Four years earlier, a now-disbanded government mining authority had warned the mine was dangerous and should close, but nothing was done. “There is an overwhelming demand from communities affected by new mining concessions that are polluting the environment and trampling on their rights,” said Juan Gabriel Mendoza, coordinator of a Caritas Choluteca project providing training and support to communities in nine municipalities. He added that “98 percent of the population are unaware of their rights to consultation and informed consent, prior to mining operations.” So far, 153 leaders have received training in human rights and environmental law. The papal encyclical “Laudato Si’, on Care for Our Common Home,” is next on the curriculum.

Five to stand trial in ‘VatiLeaks’ case VATICAN CITY (CNS) — A Vatican judge has ordered five people, including a Spanish monsignor and two journalists, to stand trial in connection with the leaking and publication of documents about Vatican finances. The criminal trial was scheduled to begin Nov. 24 in the small Vatican courtroom behind St. Peter’s Basilica. Those called to trial are: Spanish Msgr. Lucio Angel Vallejo Balda, secretary of the Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See; Francesca Chaouqui, a member of the former Pontifical Commission for Reference on the Organization of the Economic-Administrative Structure of the Holy See; Nicola Maio, who served as personal assistant to Msgr. Vallejo Balda when he worked on the commission; Gianluigi Nuzzi, a journalist and author of “Merchants in the Temple”; and Emiliano Fittipaldi, journalist and author of “Avarice.” Announcing the court date Nov. 21, the Vatican said Msgr. Vallejo Balda, Chaouqui and Maio are accused of forming an “organized criminal association” with the aim of “committing several illegal acts of divulging news and documents concerning fundamental interests of the Holy See and [Vatican City] State.”

Fittipaldi and Nuzzi, the Vatican said, are accused of “soliciting and exercising pressure, especially on (Msgr.) Vallejo Balda, in order to obtain confidential documents and news,” which they then used for their books. The books went on sale in early November. The Vatican said that if any of the five are not present Nov. 24, they would be tried in absentia. Fittipaldi and Nuzzi both reacted on their Twitter accounts and in interviews by insisting the Vatican law being used in the case and the decision to bring them to trial is a violation of freedom of the press.

NOVEMBER 27, 2015 | THELEAVEN.ORG

CLASSIFIEDS EMPLOYMENT Administrative assistant/office manager/PT - Looking for something new? Use your experience to help us improve people’s lives. Developmental optometrist needs help with her small practice. M-Th, noon-6 p.m.

No benefits. Background in word processing, Excel, QuickBooks, customer service and medical office experience are helpful. Send resume to: Dr. Bazin, 13600 Washington, Kansas City, MO 64145, or send an email to: bbazin@visiondevelop.com.

Marketing/sales representative - This marketing representative position requires a self-motivated, organized and personable individual to market the services that our company offers. This position will actively search for new accounts and manage existing accounts. We are an industry-leading cleaning and restoration company located in Lawrence. Marketing/sales experience is required. This position is part time, 20-25 hours per week, very flexible.

Send resumes to Servpro9721@sunflower.com.

Data entry - The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas has immediate openings for two temporary data entry positions. The individual will assist the office of stewardship and development during the busy Call to Share annual appeal. Required hours will be 30+ hours per week beginning in mid-January, with approximate end date in late March. Requires reliability, collaborative demeanor and demonstrated data entry skills. Full job description available at: www.archkck.org/jobs. Qualified individuals should email cover letter, resume and application (available on the archdiocesan website) to: jobs@archkck.org by Dec. 31. May also be mailed to: Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, Office of Human Resources, Stewardship - Data Entry Search, 12615 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City, KS 66109.

Director of stewardship and development - The Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph is searching for a director of stewardship and development. This full-time position will direct and implement a comprehensive program, including stewardship education on time, talent, treasure; the annual bishop’s appeal; annual fundraising activities; the coordination of special events; and long-term development efforts such as support of the Catholic Community Foundation, estate planning and corporate donor programs. The position is eligible for benefits, paid time off and two retirement plans. Please visit job opportunities at: www.diocese-kcsj.org for a complete job description or to apply.

School custodian - Full-time school custodian needed immediately at Sacred Heart Catholic School in Shawnee. The school custodian will be responsible for the day-to-day cleaning activities, event setup and tear down, snow removal, and other outdoor work during the summer. If interested, please send an email to Julie Krause at: julie.krause@shoj.org to obtain a complete job description and application.

Executive director - Wyandotte Pregnancy Clinic is an expanding, faith-based, nonprofit organization serving women and families facing unplanned pregnancies with Christ-like compassion. We are looking for an executive director. The candidate should have strong leadership and supervisory skills; be flexible and able to work in a constantly evolving work environment; be comfortable collaborating with a wide range of agencies, churches and organizations; have excellent writing and communication skills; and have familiarity with QuickBooks, databases and MS Office products. Will be responsible for growing donor base and event planning. Reports to governing board. Send resumes to Donna Kelsey at: dkelsey@wpc network.org. Our client website: www.wyandottepreg nancyclinic.org. Our donor website: www.BabiesAtRisk. org. Our mobile pregnancy clinic: www.mobilepregnancy clinic.org. Any questions, call Donna at (913) 904-4050.

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.

Drivers needed - Medi Coach Transportation is looking for caring and reliable drivers for nonemergency transportation.

CDL is not required. Contact Jeff at (913) 825-1921.

Quality control specialist - Large automotive plant is currently seeking a quality control specialist to assist with the inspection of equipment and parts. Excellent growth potential and advancement. Individual must be dependable and have a great work ethic. Starting wage is $10. Call (816) 994-8200.

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: AssistedTransportation.com. EEO.

Receptionist/administrative assistant - The St. Lawrence Catholic Campus Center in Lawrence, is seeking a full-time receptionist/administrative assistant. The person who takes this role will be a friendly and welcoming person who will also handle a wide range of administrative and support tasks. Duties include communicating with members of the community, working as an administrative assistant to the director of the center and data entry. Applicants must have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, be very well organized and be able to multitask and work independently. Applicants should have demonstrated computer proficiency, especially in Microsoft Office applications, and be willing to learn to work with other data entry programs. Send letters of interest and resumes to: rdb@kucatholic.org.

Teaching Positions - St. Ann Young Child Center in Prairie Village is seeking to fill a Kids’ Day Out aide position, Mon. - Thurs. from 9 a.m. - 2:45 p.m. We are also looking for subs for preschool classes. For more information, call Tati at (816) 716-4676.

Teacher assistant - Special Beginnings, Lenexa, is seeking full- or part-time after school teacher assistants at all locations. We are looking for a teacher assistant candidate who has an excellent work ethic, heart for children, and a willingness to learn more about early childhood education.

Experience and/or education is a plus but we will train the right candidate. Teacher assistants will work with the lead teacher to care for and educate the children. Primary responsibilities include assisting the lead teacher with: care and supervision of children, lesson plan implementation, parent communication, cleanliness and organization of classroom.

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

SERVICES 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.

Garage door and opener sales and service - 24-hour, 7-day-a-week service on all types of doors. Replace broken spring rollers, gate openers, entry and patio doors, and more.

Over 32 years of experience. Call (913) 227-4902.

Marketing and advertising consultant - Strategic marketing and advertising consultant for your small business. Send an email to: loyedge@yahoo.com or call (877) LOY-EDGE. Cleaning lady - Reasonable rates; references provided. Call (913) 940-2959.

Great Catholic DJ and emcee Affordable, Classy and Entertaining Weddings, parties, fundraisers and church events Good Shepherd parishioner Contact Michael for rates and available dates.

(913) 568-1441 or mikewithamicDJ@gmail.com 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.

Need to lose weight, get in shape? Improve balance, coordination and flexibility. Nutrition packages available. Call Angela, personal trainer, at (913) 558-7759. www.angela nosworthy.jeunesseglobal.com.

Tree service - Pruning trees for optimal growth and beauty and removal of hazardous limbs or problem trees. Free consultation and bid. Safe, insured, professional. Cristofer Estrada, Green Solutions of KC, (913) 378-5872. www.Green SolutionsKC.com.

Quilted Memories - Your Kansas City Longarm Shop Nolting Longarm Machines, quilting supplies and machine quilting services. We specialize in memorial quilts - custom designed memory quilts from your T-shirt collections, photos, baby clothes, college memorabilia, neckties, etc. For information or to schedule a free consultation, call (913) 6492704. Visit the website at: www.quiltedmemoriesllc.com.

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

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

HOME IMPROVEMENT Brick mason - Brick, stone, tile and flat work. 22 years of residential/commercial experience. FREE QUOTES - KC metro area. Small and large jobs accepted. Call Jim at (913) 4854307. www.facebook.com/faganmasonry.

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: dandeeconst@aol.com.

Tree Service - Certified arborist Chris Johnson at Tufts Tree Service performs all tree services, including restoration, pruning, training, removal and stump grinding. Fully licensed and insured. Email Chris at: tuftstreeservice@gmail.com, or call (785) 218-1531.

Helping Hand Handy Man - Home maintenance chores available by the hour. Special rate for senior and singleparent households. Electrical, painting, wood refinishing, deck repair, yard work, shelving and organizing. Most home problems and needs solved. Member of Prince of Peace, Olathe. Call Mark Coleman at (913) 526-4490.

Swalms Organizing - Downsizing - Clean Out Service.

Reduce clutter - Any space organized. Shelving built on site.

Items hauled for recycling and donations. 20 years exp, insured. Call Tillar: (913) 375-9115. WWW.SWALMSORGANIZ ING.COM. 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.

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

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

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

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

STA (Sure Thing Always) Home Repair - Basement finish, bathrooms and kitchens; interior & exterior repairs: painting, roofing, siding, wood replacement and window glazing. Free estimates. Call (913) 491-5837 or (913) 579-1835. Email: smokeycabin@hotmail.com. Member of Holy Trinity, Lenexa.

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Compassionate caregiver - 45 year-old Catholic woman with 13 years experience. Works days or nights. Flexible. Pay negotiable. Excellent references. Call Kara at (913) 909-6659.

Caregiving - We provide personal assistance, companionship, care management, and transportation to the elderly and disabled in home, assisted living and nursing facilities.

We also provide respite care for main caregivers needing some personal time. Call Daughters & Company at (913) 341-2500 and speak with Laurie, Pat or Gary.

Excellence in care - RNs want to assist you in care of your loved ones. Our services include private duty nursing, companion and respite care. JoCo only, no nights or live-in care.

Licensed, insured and background check done. Call Mary at (913) 710-5412.

FOR SALE For sale - Walk to Aquinas High School. Remodeled 4 BR bedroom home. Spacious yard, great neighborhood.

Offered by Welcome Home Real Estate for $269,000. For more information, please call (913) 314-4243.

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 - At Resurrection Cemetery, two easements in mausoleum. Contact A. Kelly at (913) 649-9691.

For sale - Burial plot at Resurrection Cemetery, Lenexa; Ascension, section A, lot 171, space 2. Lawn level marker rights. Opening and closing fees: $1100, liners: $640.

Prices above are retail; make an offer. Call Lucian at (913) 248-5290.

For sale - Resurrection Cemetery lot in the “Charity Garden.” $4000 includes interment fees for two cremations, or one burial and one cremation. Call (913) 2680419.

For Sale - Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens, KCK. Two cemetery lots, side by side. Meditation section. $3000, or best offer for both. Send an email to: jnschroeder@cox. net or call (785) 273-3985.

For sale - At Resurrection Cemetery, two easements in mausoleum. Contact A. Kelly at (913) 649-9691.

For sale - Burial plot at Mount Calvary Cemetery, Topeka, in prime burial area: Henry addition. Space for one casket or up to three cremations. Valued at $1,150.

Asking $900. Call Rebecca at (785) 249-5482.

For sale - At Gate of Heaven Cemetery, a double cremation niche with companion urn in the mausoleum. It is located in the St. John Corridor, #8 H. Today’s selling price for the double niche and urn is approximately $6,522; offering for $4,500. Call Colleen at (913) 269-6944.

WANTED TO BUY

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.

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

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

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.

VACATION

HARCO Exteriors LLC Your Kansas City fencing specialists Family owned and operated (913) 815-4817 www.harcoexteriorsllc.com

Ski week - Spring break 2/27 - 3/5/16. Winter Park, Colo.

Inn at Silver Creek in Granby. Fully furnished condo with kitchen. Easily sleeps six. Five-hour drive. $700. Pet OK. Call (913) 649-7596.

Detail construction and remodeling - We offer a full line of home remodeling services. Don’t move — remodel! Johnson County area. Call for a free quote. (913) 709-8401.

Bronson condo - Enjoy fall colors and Christmas programs. Condo sleeps 6. Fully furnished and close to entertainment. On golf course, as indoor pool, Wi-Fi and exercise room is available. Call (913) 515-3044.

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

House painting Interior and exterior; wall paper removal.

Power washing, fences, decks.

30 years experience. References. Reasonable rates.

Call Joe at (913) 620-5776.

CAREGIVING CNA, Home Health Care Professional - Provides TLC in the comfort of the client’s residence. Budget Friendly. Available 24 hours, or part time. Excellent references. 25 years of Seasoned Experience. Nonsmoker. Call (816) 806-8104.

Retired nurse - Looking for work in home care. Please call (913) 579-5276.

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.benefits ofhome.com.

ROOMMATE WANTED For rent - Room and private bath available near Johnson County Community College. $500 per month. Short term or long term. For more information, call (913) 579-5276.

Call Toll Free 888-246-1504

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www.centerstagephotos.net 913.271.0703

NOVEMBER 27, 2015 | THELEAVEN.ORG

CALENDAR ADVENT RETREAT Fort Leavenworth Frontier Chapel 625 Thomas Ave., Fort Leavenworth Dec. 3 from 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Vince Eimer, director of Christ’s Peace House of Prayer, will present an Advent retreat “Let it be done unto me.” There will be two presentations, breakfast, lunch, Mass and Eucharistic adoration. Child care is included. To register, call (910) 922-1880, or send an email to: wosipresident@gmail.com.

THUNDER CHRISTMAS BOUTIQUE St. James Academy 24505 Prairie Star Pkwy., Lenexa Dec. 3 from 6 - 9:30 p.m.

Experience one-stop Christmas shopping.

MUSICA SACRA CHRISTMAS CONCERT Rockhurst University, Pedro Arrupe Hall 1100 Rockhurst Rd., Kansas City, Missouri Dec. 4 at 7 p.m.

Musica Sacra Chorus and Orchestra begins the Christmas season with works by Haydn and Buxtehude. Tickets are $22 for adults; $12 for students and senior citizens. They will be available at the door or by contacting the ticket office at (816) 235-6222.

LESSONS AND CAROLS Rockhurst University, Pedro Arrupe Hall 1100 Rockhurst Rd., Kansas City, Missouri Dec. 5 at 7 p.m.

The concert will feature Advent and Christmas hymns. Admission is free, but consider bringing a nonperishable food item, a child’s toy or a grooming product for neighborhood families in need. Register your attendance by calling (816) 501-4828.

NATIVITY DISPLAY AND CHRISTMAS HOME TOUR Cathedral of St. Peter 409 N. 15th St., Kansas City, Kansas Dec. 6 from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

send an email to: r_borgmeyer@yahoo.com, or call (913) 314-6027.

Santa will arrive at 10:30 a.m. Breakfast is $5 for adults and $2 for kids under 12. Bring a camera and take a picture with Santa!

U.S. CHURCHWOMEN PRAYER SERVICE St. Teresa’s Academy (Windmoor Center) 5600 Main St., Kansas City, Missouri Dec. 6 at 2 p.m.

Come join a prayer gathering to remember and renew the Catholic community’s commitment to the witness of the four church women who gave their lives in service to God’s people in El Salvador 35 years ago.

CHRISTMAS COOKIE CAROUSEL St. Paul Parish 900 S. Honeysuckle Dr., Olathe Dec. 12 from 9 - 11 a.m.

A wide variety of homemade Christmas cookies, candies and more will be featured.

Handmade craft items, raffles and door prizes add to the fun and excitement.

LESSONS AND CAROLS St. Lawrence Catholic Campus Center 1631 Crescent Rd., Lawrence Dec. 5 at 6:30 p.m.

Lessons and Carols is an evening of Scripture readings from both the Old and New Testament followed by choral musical responses and Christmas carols. Admission is free; donations are welcome. There will be a reception following the concert.

PRO-LIFE MASS AND ROSARY AT PLANNED PARENTHOOD Church of the Nativity 3800 W. 119th St., Leawood Dec. 5 at 8:15 a.m.

ADVENT DAY OF REFLECTION Sanctuary of Hope 2601 Ridge Ave., Kansas City, Kansas Dec. 5 at 7:45 a.m.

The day begins with a continental breakfast.

There will be two presentations, personal prayer time and reconciliation. Spiritual guidance will be available. The day ends with Mass and lunch. The suggested donation is $30. For reservations, email: julie@ sanctuaryofhope.org or call (913) 321-4673.

SINGLES CHRISTMAS DANCE Nativity Parish 3800 W. 119th St., Leawood Dec. 5 from 7 - 11 p.m.

Singles of Nativity is hosting a Christmas dance. Refreshments include appetizers, beer, wine, water and soda. The cost is $20 for guests and $15 for members. Attire is semi formal. For more information, contact Maria Meli at (913) 314-9844 or send an email to: mmelia62@gmail.com. Or visit the group’s website at: son-ministry.org.

No experience is necessary, but players must be 21 years of age to play. Seating is limited to 104 players. You must reserve your seats in advance. A barbecue dinner, beer, soda and water will be provided. For additional information on how to register or how to make a nonrefundable donation,

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

If you have experienced the loss of a loved one and find yourself facing the holidays in the midst of grief, please join us. We will discuss the challenges of living with the loss of loved ones in the midst of holiday cheer and share with one another as we find our way through the holidays. To reserve your seat, RSVP to Brent Doster at (913) 433-2058.

OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE CELEBRATION Queen of the Holy Rosary Church 7023 W. 71st, Overland Park Dec. 12 at 4 p.m.

Mass will be held at 4 p.m. with mariachi music provided by Beto Lopez. A reception will follow after Mass with Mexican pastries, hot chocolate and coffee in the church hall.

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS CHRISTMAS FAIR Immaculate Conception Church At American Legion Post 250 403 E. 9th St., Louisburg Dec. 5 from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Dec. 6 from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.

There will be antiques, collectibles, crafts, lots of food and a raffle. All proceeds benefit children to be adopted for Christmas by the Knights of Columbus in Louisburg.

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS TEXAS HOLD ’EM POKER TOURNAMENT Sacred Heart Parish multipurpose center 21801 Johnson Dr., Shawnee Dec. 4 at 6:30 p.m. (check-in) Starts at 7 p.m.

GRIEVING DURING THE HOLIDAYS: A GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP Church of the Nativity (St. Joseph Room) 3800 W. 119th St., Leawood Dec. 9 from 6:30 - 8 p.m.

Mass will be at held at 8:15 a.m. After Mass, participants will drive to Planned Parenthood at 4401 W. 109th St., Overland Park, to pray the rosary. Pro-life signs and banners will also be provided to anyone wishing to participate in that portion of the sidewalk witness.

KEELER WOMEN’S CENTER VOLUNTEERS TO TEACH ENGLISH 2220 Central Ave., Kansas City, Kansas Dec. 1 from 5:30 - 8 p.m. or Jan. 8 from 9 a.m. - noon

Volunteers attend one of the training sessions listed above. After training, the volunteers spend 90 minutes per week with materials provided. Classes are held at library locations convenient for the teacher and student. Call Keeler Women’s Center at (913) 906-8990 to register and for further information.

SUBMITTING CALENDAR ITEMS Please follow this format: • Name of even • Where the event will take place (name and address).

• List the date and time of the event.

Then add some the details about the event as well as contact information if relevant. Please keep this short.

Send calendar items to: beth.blankenship@ theleaven.org.

A Nativity display will be in the parish center from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The homes tour is from noon to 3 p.m. Maps and tickets for the homes tour will be available at the parish center or can be purchased in advance by contacting Susie George at (913) 371-5819.

PANCAKE BREAKFAST WITH SANTA Christ the King Parish 3204 N. 53rd St., Kansas City, Kansas Dec. 6 from 8 - 11 a.m.

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‘FULL OF GRACE’ MOVIE PREMIERE Church of the Nativity 3800 W. 119th St., Leawood Dec. 6 from 7 - 9 p.m.

“Full of Grace” is a movie about the Blessed Mother’s last 43 days on earth. Celebrate the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, observe the Advent season and get your heart prepared for Christmas. The cost for a ticket is $10 and must be purchased ahead of time online at: www.odbscreenings.com/leawood.

For more information, call Michael Shirley at (913) 558-1678.

CELEBRATION OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE AND CRAFT FAIR Guardian Angels Church 1410 Westport Rd., Kansas City, Missouri Dec. 12 from 2 - 6 p.m.

Dec. 13 from 9:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.

There will be many vendors with homemade gifts for Christmas and crafts. There will also be tamales and burritos for sale. On Sunday, there will be Mexican bread, hot Mexican cocoa, coffee or punch.

CRAFT FAIR Christ the King Parish 3024 N. 53rd St., Kansas City, Kansas Dec. 19 from 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Dec. 20 from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.

There are booths still available. For more information, call Kim at (913) 514-0529.

‘LATE NITE CATECHISM’ Starlight Theatre 4600 Starlight Theatre Kansas City, Missouri

For dates and times of performances, go online to: www.kcstarlight.com, click on events, then on “Late Nite Catechism.”

NOVEMBER 27, 2015 | THELEAVEN.ORG

LOCAL NEWS

5

Holy Land Christians offer art to local Catholics

By Joe Bollig joe.bollig@theleaven.org

K

ANSAS CITY, Kan. — There isn’t much good news coming out of the Middle East at this time, especially if you are a Christian.

Wars and the rise of violent Islamic movements have caused widespread death and destruction among the ancient Christian communities in Iraq and Syria.

Other Christian communities in Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Israel, North Africa and South Asia also face unrelenting economic and social pressure and occasionally violence.

Awad Qumseya knows this well. He was born near the same city where Jesus was born: Bethlehem.

In 1947, the Christian population of Bethlehem was about 85 percent. Now, it’s about 15 percent — and dropping.

All the lands where Jesus walked have experienced a similar or worse decline. In some places, only the ruins of Christian churches survive. Christianity in those places is extinct.

“For a very long time, Christians in the Holy Land depended on tourism, by making olive wood carvings and selling them to the pilgrims who visited the sites,” said Qumseya, a Christian.

“Unfortunately, in the past few hundred years and for many reasons — mainly war, violence and persecution — many of our families were forced to flee the Holy Land,” he continued, “and go to parts of the world where they could feed their children and have a more secure life.”

Qumseya’s father, Jeryes Qumseya, was a master carver and artisan from Bethlehem. He came to the United States in 2000 to establish a company that would help Christian artisans sell their religious goods to American Christians.

For Holy Land Christians, the art they sell gives them the dignity of supporting themselves through work and the ability to remain in the Holy Land — not only to live, but to safeguard the Christian heritage in the land of Jesus as “living stones” of the church.

Americans, on the other hand, have an opportunity to do something practical for their Christian brothers and sisters — and to hold in their hands a tangible connection to the land of Jesus.

The company’s name is Blest Art, a subsidiary of Blest Art Ltd. in Bethle-

LEAVEN PHOTO BY JOE BOLLIG

Elias Jabbour (left) and Awad Qumseya, Omaha-based sales representatives of Blest Art, meet with archdiocesan vicar general Father Gary Pennings at Savior Pastoral Center in Kansas City, Kansas. Blest Art has been authorized by the archdiocese to visit parishes and offer heirloom-quality, olive wood carvings made by Christians in the Holy Land. Sales of this art is one of the few sources of income for the shrinking Christian population. hem, Palestine, the West Bank. In the United States, the company has eight full-time employees in its Omaha office and about 25 representatives who visit Catholic parishes in a 16-state sales region.

Most of the items they bring are carved out of olive wood, but Blest Art also has icons and jewelry. They have been bought for a fair price by Blest Art from Christian Holy Land artisans.

“Most of the olive wood comes from olive trees in the Holy Land — some very old, hundreds and thousands of years old,” said Qumseya. “Of course, we do not cut down the trees, we just trim them and use the branches.”

Recently, Blest Art representatives have been visiting parishes in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas. Their heirloom quality items for sale after Masses include many depictions of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Holy Family, crucifixes in many styles, Nativity sets, rosaries and other items.

“So why are we here? To promote these articles, to create a new source of income for our families so they can continue to work and live with dignity in the middle of the ongoing conflict in the Holy Land and not leave home,” said Qumseya.

“And we do so by vising parishes every single weekend and talk to the people and try to sell these items,” he continued. “Only sell them. We never take any kind of donations. We do not accept them. People ask us why, and we explain to them. It’s very simple.

It’s not a dignified source of income.

We want our people to be able to work. . . . We are not trying to create a welfare community.”

Blest Art carvings are made by people of faith for people of faith. The money produced by these sales uplifts the entire Holy Land Christian community.

“We are not complaining,” said Qumseya. “This is our destiny. We

are so proud that the Lord Jesus and God the Father have chosen this land to reveal his Gospel and build his church.”

“We think the day will come when [God] will come on the final day and ask us, ‘What did you do with my heritage, what did you do with my church?

Did you do due diligence to protect it or not?’” he added.

“We will stand and say, ‘We tried our best.’ We have great faith [God] will not let us down, we have great faith that we will succeed,” he said.

“And we have great faith that the Middle East that was once flourishing with Christianity will be again.

“It seems hard, but what is hard for humans is not hard for God. Our crucifix is big, but Jesus has set us an example. He carried it all the way along and died for us. If it comes that we have to die for him, we will do it — bottom line.”

Aquinas breaks national record for food drive — again

O

VERLAND PARK — It began as a small food drive with cans filling the back of a single pickup truck. This year, the St. Thomas Aquinas High School food drive here filled four semitrailers, transporting 177,801 cans to Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas’ Hope Distribution Center in Kansas City, Kansas. That’s right, 177,801 cans — breaking the national record for the second time in a row!

The can food drive has rightfully become a source of pride for the students who have donated more than

half a million cans of food to Catholic Charities since 2010. Their contribution makes a sizeable impact on the organization’s entire 21-county service area.

“Their efforts remind me of the parable of Jesus feeding the masses with five loaves of bread and two fish,” says Dustin Hardison, director of stabilization and housing at Catholic Charities. “The food drive numbers just keep multiplying year after year, helping us meet the growing number of hungry families. It’s inspiring to see that kind of service and commitment.”

It took a flatbed dolly and some teamwork for St. Thomas Aquinas juniors Oscar Garcia, Elizabeth McCormick, Claire Burns and Kayla Gunderman to haul the cases of canned food items the students were donating as part of the school’s annual canned food drive to benefit Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas. A record-breaking 177,801 cans were collected.

NOVEMBER 27, 2015 | THELEAVEN.ORG

COMMENTARY

15

Looking for some spiritual direction? Look no further than the saints

I

hesitate when it comes to soaking up the wisdom of the saints. I love to ask for prayers from the saints, but I am intimidated by their example.

When I look at the lives of the saints in comparison to my own life, I so easily give in to discouragement because the distance I perceive from where they are and from where I am seems too great.

Thankfully, the saints have not given up on me. It seems like the saints are constantly reaching out and trying to coach me to forget myself and live for Christ through one act

W

of the will at a time.

I am amazed by the little encouragements the saints seem to ambush me with daily through posts on social media, quotes from friends and gems found in spiritual reading.

Most recently, St. Rose Philippine Duchesne took me on as her pupil. I had attended the “Trust One Greater” event at the Little Monastery of the Community of the Lamb in Kansas City, Kansas.

It was a terrific evening of prayer and eucharistic adoration with Archbishop Naumann.

Toward the end of the evening, the Little Sisters mentioned that we could all choose a

CALLED TO DISCIPLESHIP

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

name of a saint from a basket that would walk

with us in a special way over the next year.

I pulled out the name of St. Rose Philippine Duchesne who had lived in Kansas.

At first, I thought it was a joke since I had dodged an invitation earlier this year to join

the Community of the Lamb on a walking pilgrimage to her shrine.

I was assured it was no joke.

If the saints can coach us when we are not looking for their aid, how much more fruitful would a relationship be that actually seeks out their assistance.

St. Philip Neri encouraged: “Imagine yourselves to be spiritual beggars in the presence of God and his saints.

You should go round from saint to saint, imploring an alms with the same real earnestness with which the poor beg.”

As we begin a new liturgical year this

Advent, ask God to give you a saint to coach you in following Jesus Christ and sharing the Gospel.

Their love of Jesus can seem out of reach.

For instance, St. Frances Xavier Cabrini invaded my Facebook feed recently, claiming, “I will go anywhere and do anything in order to communicate the love of Jesus to those who do not know him or have forgotten him.”

Do not be discouraged. They want to coach us. As St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross expressed, “If anyone comes to me, I want to lead them to him (Christ).”

Parents’ influence reaches further than they think

hile some parents might be happy to avoid the awkward conversations that arise around human sexuality by allowing the school system to provide their children’s sex education, it is nonetheless important for parents to recognize that they are the most significant teachers and models for their own children as they mature sexually.

Instilling a healthy attitude about sexuality in young people involves a variety of considerations, including conveying a proper sense of constraints and boundaries. These boundaries arise organically through the virtue of chastity, by which a person acquires the ability to renounce self, to make sacrifices and to wait generously in consideration of loving fidelity toward a future spouse, out of self-respect and fidelity to God. This critical process of developing sexual self-mastery is an area where parents are partic-

ularly well-suited to help their children.

At the end of the day, the parental duty to influence in a positive way a child’s upbringing around sexuality cannot be abdicated or delegated. Parents know their children in a personal and individual way and are able to determine their readiness for, and receptivity to, sexual information. Moreover, the reality of parental love toward their children enables a parent to say certain “hard things” in love that may need to be said, in a manner that only a parent may effectively be able to say it.

I recall the story that a middle-aged woman once shared with me about something that happened when she was 12. She was at home watching TV with her mother, who was the strong authority figure in the family. At a certain moment, a scene came across the screen where a woman was removing her clothing and dancing in front of a group of men. Her mother glanced over at her and without skipping a beat said: “I’ll kill you

MAKING SENSE OF BIOETHICS

FATHER TAD PACHOLCZYK Father Tadeusz Pacholczyk is a priest of the Diocese of Fall River, Massachusetts, and serves as the director of education at the National Catholic Bioethics Center in Philadelphia.

if you ever do that.” Her daughter understood, of course, that she didn’t mean it literally, but appreciated that her mother cared enough about her to be very direct: “What my mom said on that and many other occasions stayed with me for years afterwards and helped me to reflect carefully on the right use of my sexuality.”

Parents influence their children in thousands of different ways, sometimes not even realizing how particular comments or observations they make can become highly significant to their child’s thinking.

Helping children to think correctly about human sexuality remains a delicate and challenging task in the midst of a sex-saturated society like our own. Indeed, our thinking about human sexuality can easily go off the rails, and sexual activity itself can quickly degrade into a selfish and self-referential kind of activity, even within marriage, if we aren’t careful to attend to deeper realities.

Spouses who have made a lifelong marital commitment to each other in the presence of God are uniquely empowered to live in a way that exceeds merely viewing each other as objects or as a means to satisfying their appetites.

They become called to, and capable of, a higher kind of love that involves friendship, sacrifice and self-giving.

Otherwise, a dominance of things over persons can take over, leading to forms of selfishness in which persons are used in the same way as objects are used. In the context of this kind of selfishness, a woman, for example, can become a mere “object” for a man, and children can be reduced to mere “hindrances” on the part of their parents.

The human sexual love that is nurtured within a healthy marriage, meanwhile, generates communion between persons, as each comes to consider the good of the other as his or her own good. Marital sexuality is thus meant to go beyond merely existing with

someone else and using them for selfish gain, and instead calls a person to existing for someone else through total self-gift.

As husband and wife seek to live out these truths of their human sexuality, they impart valuable and important lessons to their children about generosity, unselfish living and chastity, where that chastity is seen as the spiritual energy capable of defending love from the perils of selfishness and aggressiveness.

Parents are in the unique position of being able to model for their children a healthy example of sexual integration, generosity and self-mastery within marriage.

Under these circumstances, parents also convey to their children the beautiful message that human sexuality reaches far beyond the biological and touches on the most intimate core of the human person, particularly as experienced in his or her capacity for personal and radical self-gift to another in marriage, faithful even unto death.

NOVEMBER 27, 2015 | THELEAVEN.ORG

LOCAL NEWS

OPEN WIDE THE DOORS

Are you ready for the Year of Mercy?

SACRED HEART

729 W. Main, Mound City

Dec. 12 at 6:30 p.m.

by Father Reginald Saldanha

ST. BENEDICT’S ABBEY

1020 N. 2nd, Atchison

Dec. 13 at 10 a.m.

by Abbot James Albers, OSB

ST. MARY

9208 Main St., St. Benedict

Dec. 13 at 10 a.m.

by Father Ed Oen, CPPS

Each of the six churches listed at right has been designated a pilgrimage site for the jubilee Year of Mercy and will be opening its Holy Door on Dec. 12 or 13.

Passing through the door and praying for the Holy Father’s intentions at the Mass that follows fulfills three of the four conditions for an indulgence for the jubilee year. For more information about additional visiting hours for the sites and other information, go online to: archkck.org/mercy.

CATHEDRAL OF ST. PETER 409 N. 15th, Kansas City, Kansas

Dec. 13 at 11 a.m.

by Archbishop Naumann

CHURCH OF THE ASSUMPTION

8th and Jackson,Topeka

Dec. 13 at 5 p.m.

by Father John Pilcher

DIVINE MERCY 555 W. Main, Gardner

Dec. 13 at 7 p.m.

by Archbishop Naumann

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