12 08 17 Vol. 39 No. 17

THELEAVEN.ORG | VOL. 39, NO. 17 | DECEMBER 8, 2017

A CENTURY OF SERVICE

Sisters, Servants of Mary honored for generations of hospice care to KCK STORY BY MOIRA CULLINGS \ PHOTOS BY MEGAN MARLEY

Sister Auxilio Corrales, from the Sisters, Servants of Mary convent in Newbury Park, California, joins representative Sisters from each of the Sisters, Servants of Mary convents in both the United States and Mexico at the celebration of the Sisters, Servants’ 100th anniversary Nov. 11 at the Cathedral of St. Peter in Kansas City, Kansas. It represented the largest gathering of members of the religious order to ever take place in North America.

K

ANSAS CITY, Kan. — Archbishop Emeritus James P. Keleher wears a tangible reminder of selfless love every

day.

Twenty years ago, one of the Sisters, Servants of Mary gave him a small golden ring with an inscription of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

“I’ve worn that ring every day for the last 20 years,” said the archbishop. “It has an awful lot of meaning to me, especially because it was a gift from those wonderful Sisters.”

The Sisters, Servants have gifted countless others in the Kansas City community with selfless service for 100 years.

Leaven 12-08-17.indd 1

To celebrate the order’s century of service, the Sisters and their supporters gathered at the Cathedral of St. Peter in Kansas City, Kansas, Nov. 11 for a Mass and reception.

“The church was absolutely packed,” said Archbishop Keleher.

“There wasn’t an empty seat in the whole cathedral.”

The Sisters’ ministry is to care for the sick and dying in their own homes throughout the night at no cost.

It wasn’t difficult to fill the cathedral with people who have been touched by their ministry.

Archbishop Keleher, whose ties with the Sisters date back to when he first became archbishop, celebrated the Mass.

He remains in awe of the work the Sisters have accomplished in

the community.

“These Sisters are particularly trained to come in for eight hours a night to relieve the family from taking care of the sick and, often cases, the dying person,” said Archbishop Keleher.

“The thing they have that’s difficult for other hospices to do is they bring Jesus to what they do,” he continued. “They’re there to console the person.”

The Sisters’ ministry has inspired priests of the archdiocese as well — priests like Msgr. Tom Tank, pastor of Church of the Ascension in Overland Park, who concelebrated the Mass.

Monsignor Tank has been acquainted with the Sisters for almost 50 years. During that time, he has periodically led conferences

for the order.

“The Sisters, Servants of Mary provide a beautiful witness both to the consecrated life and to Christ’s concern for the sick and the dying,” said Msgr. Tank.

“They have assisted so many,” he said, “including my own grandfather, during their last days on this earth with both nursing and spiritual care.

“They truly minister to both the body and the soul, helping them with comfort in this life and confident hope for eternal life.”

The anniversary celebration was unique for a couple of reasons.

First, a few representative Sisters from each of the order’s convents in both the United States and Mexico were present. >> See “SISTERS” on page 5

12/6/17 7:40 AM

2

DECEMBER 8, 2017 | THELEAVEN.ORG

LOCAL NEWS

Pray —then write — for protection of migrants, Dreamers

T

he patron saint for both the United States and the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas is Mary, under her title of the Immaculate Conception.

On this solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we gather under Mary’s mantle, asking her to draw our archdiocese and our beloved nation close to her son, Jesus.

Next Tuesday, we celebrate another special Marian feast, Our Lady of Guadalupe. In December of 1531, while Christian Europe was in the throes of the Protestant Reformation that tragically resulted in the fragmentation of Christianity, Mary appeared three times to St. Juan Diego on Tepeyac Hill in what is today Mexico City. She appeared as a beautiful, young, pregnant, indigenous woman and spoke to Juan Diego in his native Indian dialect.

Mary asked Juan Diego to deliver a message to Bishop Fray Juan de Zumarraga requesting that a church be built on the site where she had appeared.

Mary desired this to be a place of pilgrimage where people could come to encounter her son Jesus and experience her maternal love and compassion.

The bishop initially dismissed and doubted the claims of Juan Diego.

He challenged him to request a sign from this mysterious woman to prove her identity as Mary, the mother of Jesus. Juan Diego complied with the bishop’s request.

Mary instructed Juan Diego to gather roses from the hillside and fill his tilma with the flowers. When he was granted an audience with the bishop and opened his tilma, allowing the roses to fall to the ground, both Juan Diego and the bishop were amazed to find the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe imprinted on his cloak.

Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared to Juan Diego at a very significant moment, when there was great tension between the Spanish and the indigenous people. Up until this time, the efforts of the Christian missionaries to share the joy of the Gospel with Native Americans had been ineffective.

The image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, with its colors, patterns

Leaven 12-08-17.indd 2

Contact your senators and representatives MORAN, JERRY

23600 College Blvd., Suite 201 Olathe, KS 66061 Phone: (913) 393-0711

LIFE WILL BE VICTORIOUS ARCHBISHOP JOSEPH F. NAUMANN and symbols that hold special significance for the Native American community, opened the hearts of the indigenous people to the love of God revealed in Jesus Christ, the son of God and the son of Mary.

While millions were leaving the Catholic Church in Europe, millions of Native of Americans in Mexico became Christians.

Our Lady of Guadalupe was instrumental in bringing about a tremendous cultural change, one aspect of which was to bring an end to the child sacrifice that was practiced by the Aztecs.

This is why today Our Lady of Guadalupe is considered a special patron for pro-life efforts seeking to end the killing of innocent unborn children.

Today, 500 years after Mary’s apparitions, thousands of pilgrims come every day to the basilica in Mexico City to pray in the presence of Our Lady of Guadalupe’s image on the tilma of Juan Diego. They ask Mary to intercede for them with her son Jesus, seeking guidance and protection for themselves and those they love.

Saint John Paul II, in his first international trip after his election as pope, prayed in front of the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. It was during this time of prayer that Our Lord made clear to him that he was called to be a missionary pope — to travel the world to bring the truth and beauty of the Gospel of Jesus to every corner of the earth.

Pope John Paul II designated Our Lady of Guadalupe as the Star of the New Evangelization, seeking through her intercession a new outpouring of the Holy

Our Lady of Guadalupe was instrumental in bringing about a tremendous cultural change to Mexico, as well as converting millions to Catholicism. Archbishop Naumann has proclaimed Dec. 12 to be a special day of prayer in the archdiocese for God’s protection for all immigrants and refugees.

521 Dirksen Senate Office Bldg.

Washington, DC 20510 (202) 224-6521

ROBERTS, PAT

11900 College Blvd., Suite 203 Overland Park, KS 66210 Phone: (913) 451-9343 Frank Carlson Federal Bldg.

444 SE Quincy - Room 392 Topeka, KS 66683 Phone: (785) 295-2745 109 Hart Senate Office Bldg., Washington, DC 20510 (202) 224-4774

JENKINS, LYNN

ARCHBISHOP NAUMANN Dec. 8 Mass and lunch — St. James Academy, Lenexa Dec. 9 Parish Evangelization Workshop welcome — Savior Pastoral Center Apostles of the Interior Life first vows

Dec. 17 Pastoral visit — Holy Angels, Garnett

Dec. 10 Mass and lunch — Immaculate Conception, Valley Falls

Dec. 18 “Shepherd’s Voice” recording

Dec. 11 Hispanic priests meeting Our Lady of Guadalupe Mass (vigil) — St. Paul, Olathe Dec. 12 Priests Personnel meeting

1526 Longworth HOB Washington, DC 20515 (202) 225-6601

Catholic Foundation of Northeast Kansas board meeting

7325 W. 79th St. Overland Park, KS 66204 Phone: (913) 621-0832 2433 Rayburn Washington, DC 20515 (202) 225-2865

Spirit to enliven the church in her mission to proclaim the Gospel of God’s love to all peoples.

Our Lady of Guadalupe is also recognized as a special advocate for migrants and refugees.

I am, therefore, declaring Dec. 12 to be in our archdiocese a special day of prayer for God’s protection for all immigrants and refugees. In particular, I ask people to pray that Congress will act swiftly to provide legal status and protection to young people who were brought to United States as children.

In 2012, then-President Barack Obama by executive order instituted DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals), a policy granting temporary legal status to about 700,000 young adults. To qualify for DACA, you had to have arrived in the U.S. before you were 16, lived in the U.S. for at least five years and not be older than 30 on June 15, 2012.

Those who qualified for DACA were able to obtain temporary (twoyear renewable) visas that protected them from deportation and allowed them to acquire driver’s licenses, enroll in college and become

Dec. 16 Pastoral visit — Queen of the Holy Rosary, Wea

Pastoral visit — St. Mary, Hartford

3550 SW 5th St. Topeka, KS 66606 Phone: (785) 234-5966

YODER, KEVIN

Dec. 14 Catholic Foundation of Northeast Kansas annual meeting of the members

Catholic Education Foundation board meeting and social

Legatus Mass — St. Agnes, Roeland Park Dec. 13 Serra Club presidents’ meeting Donnelly College board meeting Mass and dinner with representatives of parents whose children are Catholic Education Foundation scholarship recipients

employed legally. Individuals with serious criminal records were not eligible for DACA. Several state attorneys general had challenged the legality of DACA because it was done by executive order.

If these legal challenges had been successful, DACA participants would have immediately lost all legal protection.

The Trump administration announced in September an end to DACA, but created a sixmonth window of opportunity for Congress to enact legislation to continue the program. The president has indicated he will sign legislation duly enacted by Congress, but will require the new law to include measures strengthening border security.

It is imperative that Congress take advantage of this opportunity to give legal standing to the young people currently protected

by DACA. For most of these young people, the United States is the only country they know.

They are enrolled in

Dec. 19 Southern Region priest meeting Administrative Team meeting

ARCHBISHOP KELEHER Dec. 9 Mass — Federal prison camp Dec. 10 Penance service — St. Agnes, Roeland Park Dec. 13-14 Labor Review Board — Chicago

Dec. 17 Mass — Federal prison camp Confessions Penance service — St. Agnes

college, serving in the military, employed and paying taxes, and, in some cases (5 percent), have started their own businesses.

I urge you to contact your representative in the U.S. Congress, as well as our two U.S. senators (Pat Roberts and Jerry Moran), asking them to act swiftly to pass legislation protecting these young adults from living under the constant fear of deportation and making it difficult for them to participate and contribute to our state and nation.

I ask every member of the archdiocese to pray on Dec. 12 that our nation will be able to take this first step in solving our immigration problems. Let us ask for Mary’s intercession to help our nation continue to be a society that offers protection to those fleeing persecution and is generous in welcoming legally new immigrants who desire to share in the American dream.

12/6/17 7:40 AM

3

DECEMBER 8, 2017 | THELEAVEN.ORG

LOCAL NEWS

LEAVEN PHOTO BY JOE MCSORLEY

Father Richard McDonald, pastor of Holy Angels in Basehor, chats with (from left) Lola Walker and her daughter Jeannette Rothes, Charlene Sargent and Kelly Jackson during the parish’s annual outreach Thanksgiving meal. The event is a chance for nursing home residents, the homebound and the lonely to share a home-cooked meal prepared by volunteers during the week of Thanksgiving.

A TOUCH OF HOME “

Holy Angels prepares Thanksgiving meal for nursing home residents and the homebound

By Moira Cullings moira.cullings@theleaven.org

B

ASEHOR — The tables were decorated in a colorful fall theme. And the familiar aroma of turkey and mashed potatoes permeated the

room.

Friends and strangers alike gathered to share a homemade Thanksgiving meal.

But it wasn’t a family function they were sitting down to share.

It was the annual outreach Thanksgiving meal of Holy Angels Parish in Basehor, where nursing home residents, the homebound and those without families gathered at the parish hall Nov. 21 to enjoy a home-cooked meal served by volunteers.

“The idea was to invite people who maybe had no family around . . . somebody that needed something for Thanksgiving,” said Holy Angels pastor Father Richard McDonald.

The outreach was created 11 years ago by then-pastor Father Al Rockers, who was inspired by the Gospel of Luke.

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

Leaven 12-08-17.indd 3

“THE IDEA WAS TO INVITE PEOPLE WHO MAYBE HAD NO FAMILY AROUND . . . SOMEBODY THAT NEEDED SOMETHING FOR THANKSGIVING.”

“Rather, when you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind,” wrote St. Luke, “blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous” (Lk 14: 13-14).

The parish lives the verse in more ways than one, but its outreach Thanksgiving meal is particularly meaningful to parishioners.

Margaret Baker, a frequent and longtime volunteer at the parish, always enjoys serving guests in this way.

“It’s fulfilling because you get to

know people,” she said.

Baker said that people of all faith backgrounds are invited, and many have never been to the church before.

“You really get to know people that are sitting at the tables that you haven’t seen before,” she said.

Parish secretary Joyce Bowlin has witnessed an eagerness in those who attend the meal each year.

“I’ve had times in years past that they’ll call if they haven’t gotten their invitation yet,” said Bowlin. “They’re waiting to come.”

Volunteers prepare the food, which is served buffet-style. At the end of the event, volunteers draw names of those in attendance and give out door prizes.

The event is never short of volunteers.

“Parishioners love to get involved,” said Father McDonald. “There’s never any trouble getting people from the parish to help.”

What draws most of the guests isn’t just the camaraderie, but the homecooked meal — for many it’s the only one they will enjoy around the holiday.

“The food is just like you’d get at a Thanksgiving meal,” said Father Mc-

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

Production Manager Todd Habiger todd.habiger@theleaven.org

Reporter, Social Media Editor 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

Donald. “It’s all homemade; it’s delicious.”

“A lot [of the guests] do not have anywhere to go on Thanksgiving,” said volunteer Pat Scheibe.

“It’s a beautiful ministry to see them come in and eat,” she said.

Anna Mary Landauer is just one local who has attended every outreach meal since it first began.

“It’s a day of thanksgiving and appreciation of what we have in this country,” said Landauer. “We don’t appreciate it enough.”

For Landauer, enjoying a meal with friends both old and new is a unique opportunity.

“It’s good for us to get together and have communication and learn how everyone is doing,” she said. “I appreciate every bit of it.”

Father McDonald is overwhelmed by the generosity of parish volunteers and the spirit of their gracious guests.

“It brings out the best community atmosphere,” said Father McDonald.

“It’s such a wonderful Christian outreach.

“It’s one of the best facets of our parish.”

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.

12/6/17 7:40 AM

DECEMBER 8, 2017 | THELEAVEN.ORG

LOCAL NEWS

4

CALLED TO BE KIND

St. Michael students celebrate Kindness Week

By Moira Cullings moira.cullings@theleaven.org

L

Leaven 12-08-17.indd 4

LEAVEN PHOTOS BY JOE MCSORLEY

s Shannon Kremer’s fifth-grade class at St. Michael the Archangel School in Leawood sings in front of the school during Kindness Week on Nov. 17. The all-school sing-along was part of a week filled with activities that taught students practical ways to be kind.

From left, Brady Mallot and Alana Gitobu, fourth-graders at St. Michael the Archangel, show off their artwork. Each student in the grade colored a piece of paper, which, when placed together, made an image based off the book “Wonder,” by Raquel J. Palacio.

s

EAWOOD — There is no such thing as a random act of kindness, said St. Michael the Archangel School principal Mike Cullinan.

“I think God sent his son to die for us for our salvation — and that was deliberate,” he said.

“What we’re trying to get the kids to understand is that it’s deliberate kindness [that Christ calls us to],” he said.

“It’s part of your life. It’s not random.”

The week of Nov. 9-17 marked the school’s second annual Kindness Week, organized by the school’s virtue committee and spearheaded by the sixth-grade class.

The virtue committee was started years ago as a way to address any issues with students at the school, said Cullinan.

“We did a survey of parents about bullying and unkind behaviors and what they thought was going on inside the school and community,” he said.

“What came out of it wasn’t so much [about] bullying, but a real hunger and thirst for Catholic virtues and kindness being a fruit of the Holy Spirit.”

Kindness Week is a way to satisfy that thirst.

The week includes a variety of activities and service projects that help students learn what it means to be kind.

A special part of this year’s event was its connection to the new movie “Wonder,” which tells the story of a boy with facial differences who enters school for the first time in fifth grade.

Each year, the third-grade class at St. Michael reads the book that inspired the movie. At the end of this year’s Kindness Week, students and their families were invited to see “Wonder” in theaters as a parish community.

One of the students’ favorite parts of the week, though, was working on a checklist that contained 50 acts of kindness they strove to complete by the week’s end.

Some items on the list included “smiling at people, saying thanks, pushing in someone’s chair,” said sixth-grader Frank Robinson.

“I think checking off the list was fun,” said Frank’s third-grade brother Sam. Sixth-grader Miranda Mayer enjoyed discovering that “simple things on the checklist — like saying ‘Good morning’ to people — can make someone’s day.”

Forming those small habits helps the students continue their positive actions beyond the classroom, Miranda said.

“It’s not just this week of [practicing]

“

“IT’S NOT JUST THIS WEEK OF [PRACTICING] KINDNESS. IT’S THROUGHOUT YOUR LIFE.” kindness,” she said. “It’s throughout your life.”

Fourth-grader Chase Oddo found that the project helped him and his

classmates grow closer.

“If you’re kind to others, they’ll be kind to you back,” said Chase.

Students carried kindness over into the parish community by decorating bookmarks, which they handed out to parishioners after weekend Masses.

And to put what they learned into action in an even deeper way, students and their families spent the Saturday of Kindness Week at a service project at the school cafeteria.

There, they organized and packaged materials benefiting Catholic Charities’ Refugee and Immigration Program,

ScrapsKC, the parish’s Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program, and 37 Days of Kindness.

“There’s another community out there that needs help — especially the refugees that are coming here, leaving their home thinking they’ll never get back,” said Cullinan.

Cullinan hopes his students learned to provide “a helping hand in a time where there seems like there’s a lack of kindness.”

His hopes aren’t lost on the youth at St. Michael.

“Simple kindness actions can continue through people,” said Frank.

Sam agreed.

“If you are kind to others, they can be kind, [too], and tell other people about it,” he said.

“Pretty soon, the whole city’s going to be kind,” he added.

12/6/17 7:40 AM

DECEMBER 8, 2017 | THELEAVEN.ORG

LOCAL NEWS Father Jerry Spencer 1939-2017

MINISTRY OF COMPASSION

Father Jerry Spencer spent a lifetime caring for the sick

By Joe Bollig joe.bollig@theleaven.org

Leaven 12-08-17.indd 5

Sisters thanked benefactors for ongoing support >> Continued from page 1

L

EAWOOD — Father Jerry Spencer spent almost his entire career as a priest in ministry to the sick and suffering. And then he joined their numbers.

Active even in retirement, Father Spencer battled multiple health issues in order to continue to be of service.

He died Nov. 30 of pneumonia.

“He suffered so much here on earth.

I just can’t believe that God in his compassionate love for Father Jerry wouldn’t take him straight to heaven,” said Father Storey, pastor of Curé of Ars Parish in Leawood, where Father Spencer was senior associate pastor in residence.

“He worked so hard to get people to heaven.”

Father Jeremiah Lee Spencer — known widely as simply Father Jerry — died at Shawnee Mission Medical Center in Merriam. He was 78.

Most long-serving pastors can point to a lengthy list of parochial assignments, but Father Spencer could only point to two: Holy Trinity Parish in Lenexa from 1965 to 1967, and Holy Name Parish in Kansas City, Kansas, from 1967 to 2012.

Although it is unusual for a priest to serve in one parish for so long, there was a good reason in this case,.

Father Spencer was a chaplain at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, Kansas, for 44 years — the first four as a volunteer, and later on staff.

Father Spencer sometimes referred to “KU Med” as his “fourth parish.”

“He had a compassion and a love for the sick and dying. Even being so sick himself — with one leg removed and having a kidney transplant — it was most important to him to make sure people were anointed,” said Father Storey. “It was his passion. He never gave it up. He might have retired from KU Med, but [that only meant he ministered] to other hospitals and nursing homes.”

Father Spencer was born on March 5, 1939, in Topeka, the third and oldest son of Lee and Helen Elizabeth (Neill) Spencer. His parents met while working at the famed Harvey House Restaurant — Lee was a cook and Helen, a server. Later, they worked at the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad cafeteria. Father Spencer and his two younger brothers — Gilbert and Fred — would work there, too. The Spencers went to Assumption Parish.

The future priest attended Sumner Grade School from 1944 to 1947, then Assumption Grade School from 1947 to 1953. He graduated from Hayden High School in 1957. He attended St. Thomas Seminary in Denver from 1957 to 1965, earning a bachelor’s degree in 1961 and a master’s degree in 1964.

Often, Father Spencer would ride the train between home and the seminary with two former Topeka neighbors — Msgr. Vince Krische and Father Al Rockers.

Father Spencer was ordained a priest by Archbishop Edward J. Hunkeler on May 29, 1965, at the Cathedral

5

Second, it represented the largest gathering of members of the religious order to ever take place in North America.

“The fact that all of us were together made the unity [within the order] more visible,” said Sister Lucero Garcia, mother superior of the local Sisters.

“Wherever we are, we are the same and we celebrate the same,” she continued. “We are all about our mission.”

Many in attendance were benefactors of the Sisters, as well as families of individuals they’ve served.

“We are really and truly grateful for all of our friends and benefactors,” said Sister Lucero. “They are God’s providence for us.”

Archbishop Keleher and Msgr. Tank pray that more women will be called to join the order so the Sisters’ ministry can continue for many years to come.

“They have continually inspired me with their joyful spirit and loving witness to Christ,” said Msgr. Tank.

Archbishop Keleher agreed.

“I think it’s one of the most beautiful ministries you could think of,” he said.

Shawnee parishioner earns Eagle Scout rank LEAVEN FILE PHOTO

Father Jerry Spencer spent most of his career as pastor of Holy Name Parish and as chaplain at the University of Kansas Medical Center, both in Kansas City, Kansas.

PASTORAL ASSIGNMENTS • 1965: Temporary associate pastor and later associate pastor at Holy Trinity Parish in Lenexa • 1967: Associate pastor at Holy Name Parish in Kansas City, Kansas and chaplain at the University of Kansas Medical Center • 1986: Pastor at Holy Name Parish and hospital chaplaincy • 2012: Retirement, senior associate pastor in residence at St. Agnes Parish in Roeland Park and then Curé of Ars Parish in Leawood

of St. Peter in Kansas City, Kansas.

His plans for the priesthood did not include hospital chaplaincy. As a deacon, he’d done clinical pastoral education at three Topeka institutions. In 1967, he was assigned to be an associate pastor at Holy Name Parish in Kansas City, Kansas, with chaplaincy duties at the University of Kansas Medical Center.

“This is definitely a specialized ministry, because it has required availability 24/7,” said Father Spencer in a Feb. 3, 2012, profile in The Leaven.

Sometimes, the pager went off hourly. He was called to the hospital at all hours of the night. The ministry required discernment, tenderness and toughness.

“I have seen true, heroic sanctity,” said Father Spencer, “but I have also seen people in the deepest moral distress and situations that one could hardly imagine.”

In his 44 years there, he became almost an institution at KU Med. “He was a true, faithful steward,” said Msgr. Krische. “He always did the best job he could at KU Med. His reputation among the staff was very genuine. People had a lot of respect for him.”

Father Rockers remembered him as a hard worker.

“He loved visiting the sick and [ministering at] weddings and funerals,” said Father Rockers. “He was always on the job, answering his phone or doorbell. He loved to work and looked for work.”

Father Peter Jaramillo, SSA, pastor of St. John the Baptist, St. Mary-St. Anthony and Holy Family parishes, all in Kansas City, Kansas, said that in Father Spencer, what you saw is what you got.

“He was straightforward,” said Father Peter. “There was no pretense about him . . . no-nonsense in his spirituality. He was a friend you could count on to deliver on what he said he would do.”

He also had a lively sense of humor, even when he himself was physically suffering.

Upon his retirement, Father Spencer was in residence as senior associate at St. Agnes Parish in Roeland Park and then Curé of Ars Parish in Leawood.

Father Spencer was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Gilbert. He is survived by his brother Fred of Fort Wayne, Indiana; nieces Tonya Tidwell of Lee’s Summit, Missouri, and Kelly Covalle of Jackson, Michigan; and sister-in-law Sharon Spencer-Will of Paola.

SHAWNEE — Justin Allen Deas, a member of the Boy Scout Troop 123 of Lenexa and of Sacred Heart Parish here, earned the rank of Eagle Scout. He was recognized in a court of honor on Nov. 12.

Deas’ Eagle project was to design and then lead a team in building and installing a handicap accessibility ramp for use at the Johnson County Park and Recreation District’s TimberRidge Adventure Center in Olathe. This facility offers teamwork and team building venues via certified challenge and ropes courses.

Leawood Scouts earn rank of Eagle LEAWOOD — Riley Metcalf and Nathan Campbell, members of Curé of Ars Parish here and Boy Scout Troop 395, recently earned the rank of Eagle Scout.

Metcalf planned, designed and led a team in installing secure fencing at Hope House, a shelter Nathan Campbell for domestic violence survivors. The fencing provides additional security at the facility.

Campbell planned, designed and led a team to build and install trellises and new gardens at Gillis Center in Kansas City, Missouri. The gardens help Gillis residents work on gardening as Riley Metcalf a life skill.

12/6/17 7:40 AM

DECEMBER 8, 2017 | THELEAVEN.ORG

LOCAL NEWS

6

TOOLS FOR FAMILIES Growing as Disciples of Jesus

Benefits of eating dinner at home with your family In addition to saving you money, youth who eat dinner with their family five nights a week or more are: • 30 percent less likely to feel a great deal of stress in their lives.

• One-and-a-half more times likely to say their parents are proud of them.

• 40 percent more likely to confide in their parents with a serious ARTWORK BY NEILSON CARLIN, 2015 problem.

• 70 percent less likely to use illegal drugs or misuse prescription drugs.

— Ray Martin, family life, Church of the Ascension, Overland Park

WEBSITE EXCLUSIVE

CHURCH OF THE WEEK

LEAVEN PHOTO BY JOE MCSORLEY

Neal Hanley honors the veterans of Mount Calvary Cemetery in Lansing by telling their stories. He is pictured here at the graveside of one of the three Medal of Honor recipients buried there, Patrick Thomas Leonard, who fought in the Indian Wars.

Researcher’s zeal uncovers fascinating history

By Therese Horvat Special to The Leaven

L

St. John the Baptist, Kansas City, Kansas Address: 708 N. 4th, 66101 Phone: (913) 371-0627 Pastor: Father Peter Jaramillo, SSA Mass times: Saturday, 5:15 p.m.; Sunday, 9 a.m.

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

Leaven 12-08-17.indd 6

ANSING — One man’s commitment to honoring the veterans buried at Mount Calvary Cemetery here has surfaced a wealth of military history.

And in the process, it has encouraged a spirit of collaboration between Catholic cemeteries of northeast Kansas in the way they honor those who have served.

The story begins on multiple fronts. As members of Lansing’s Knights of Columbus Council 10834 brainstormed about community projects, they considered ways to pay respect to deceased brother Knights. Because most of the members are active duty or retired military, they also discussed honoring veterans.

“The challenge was that we did not know who or how many veterans are buried at Mount Calvary,” said Neal Hanley, a retired Marine officer and member of St. Francis de Sales Parish in Lansing and the Knights of Columbus.

That task fell to Hanley, who accepted the challenge with a researcher’s zeal. He first explored the Find-A-Grave website and scanned all names (12,000) associated with Mount Calvary. He then created a spreadsheet of over 350 names of identified veterans.

Next, Hanley walked the grounds of the cemetery to find more names.

In the meantime, on Aug. 1, 2016, Catholic Cemeteries assumed responsibility for management and operations of Mount Calvary.

Hanley found willing and helpful partners in their staff, including

Charlie Owens, family service counselor; Sharon Vallejo, office manager; and Linda Lindsey, data entry specialist.

They helped Neal pinpoint specific grave locations, and the number of identified veterans grew to 400.

The collaboration culminated on Nov. 10 — the day before Veterans Day — when Hanley and brother Knight John Twohig led a group of more than 40, representing different organizations and the parish, to the cemetery.

The group met at the cemetery office for an invocation and blessing offered by retired Army Col. Sam Sanford, chaplain at the Dwight D. Eisenhower VA Medical Center in Leavenworth.

Hanley then provided instructions to the group and dispatched them with maps marked with sites of veterans’ graves. Catholic Cemeteries provided 500 flags, which the volunteers placed at the designated burial sites. (The flags were also available in the cemetery office for family members from the community who wished to recognize their loved ones.)

It took the group a little over two hours to identify the veterans’ graves and to place 400 flags.

“I’d like to think we honored our veterans by keeping alive the memories of their sacrifices and achievements,” said Hanley of the effort. Owens said he expects that there are additional graves still to be discovered and that the memorial observance will continue and expand.

But the story of Hanley’s research does not end there.

“The more I researched, the more

intrigued I became with the history behind our Leavenworth/Lansing veterans,” he said.

Researching both online and at the Leavenworth County Historical Society and the Leavenworth Public Library, Hanley learned that veterans buried at Mount Calvary span centuries of American history.

Among those buried there are veterans of both the Union and Confederate armies of the Civil War; a Little Big Horn survivor; and veterans of the Spanish-American War, the Indian Wars (including three Medal of Honor recipients), World War I and II, as well as the Korean and Vietnam wars.

There are veterans buried at Mount Calvary who served in the U.S. Army Tank Corps in World War I. Others fought at the Battle of the Bulge, landed at Normandy Beach and survived the Bataan Death March in World War II. Hanley said Mount Calvary is the final resting place for several veterans who served in three wars and numerous fathers and sons, each a veteran. All branches of the military are represented.

Seeking yet another way to recognize those who have served, Hanley submitted articles and photos based on his research to the Leavenworth Times. That led to an request by the newspaper editor for weekly submissions.

Sixty articles later, Hanley continues to receive positive feedback and encouragement to write more and remains enthusiastic about honoring veterans.

“This is only scratching the surface of those we have yet to rediscover and honor,” he said.

12/6/17 7:40 AM

Leaven 12-08-17.indd 7

12/6/17 7:40 AM

SHARE the JOURNEY

Pope calls for a worldwide campaign that promotes solidarity with migrants and refugees. Archdiocese designates Dec. 12 as a day of prayer.

By Jill Ragar Esfeld jill.esfeld@theleaven.org

I

n the beginning . . . we were called to welcome the stranger.

Yes, even from Old Testament times, our faith tradition has been rooted in hospitality, explained Bill Scholl, social justice consultant for the archdiocese.

“In the Book of Leviticus,” he said, God reminds the chosen people that “once you were aliens in a strange land.

“In the Gospel, Our Lord takes it to an even higher standard.”

In response to that biblical imperative and the desperate need of so many refugees at this time, therefore, Pope Francis has called for a worldwide campaign called “Share the Journey” that promotes solidarity with migrants and refugees.

Here in the archdiocese, Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann plans to mark “Share the Journey” by designating Dec. 12, the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, as a day of prayer.

On that day, he is asking Catholics of the archdiocese to attend Mass and pray that our government will find just and humane solutions to immigration reform.

Father Oswaldo Sandoval, pastor of All Saints Parish in Kansas City, Kansas, is passionate about this issue — and for good reason.

“I know being an immigrant family is not easy,” he said. “I thank God that he gave me the opportunity to experience what a lot of these families are facing.”

LEAVEN PHOTO BY JOE MCSORLEY

Father Oswaldo Sandoval, pictured above giving a blessing to a family at Good Shepherd Church in Shawnee, escaped war-torn El Salvador as a boy and sought political asylum in the United States. He is now pastor of All Saints Church in Kansas City, Kansas, and only recently secured his residency here.

A long and rocky road Father Sandoval understands the plight of the immigrant because it is part of his own story.

He was born in El Salvador just a few years before the country became engulfed in a brutal civil war.

“Growing up, it was difficult for me seeing all the things that were happening,” he said. “I knew it wasn’t right.”

El Salvador became a dangerous place for young men — many were being forcibly recruited into the army.

And so, Father Sandoval’s parents made the difficult decision to send their six sons

Father Oswaldo Sandoval’s four steps to sharing the journey

1

Educate yourself Education is a big part of all of this.

You hear the news and sometimes it confuses you. So find opportunities to know these families. They are great families with great values. They strive hard to be part of this country. Open yourself to the reality of these people — to hear their story of why they left the country where they were born.

2

Treat others with love and respect.

The reason we treat others as Christ is because we are Catholics and believe that we should treat others with love and respect — even if they don’t believe in anything. As Catholics, we have a lot to give to others, to our brothers and sisters. If you have immigrants in your parish or in your neighborhood, take

the opportunity to stop by and see what’s going on with this community.

3

Speak up.

We need to be the voice for those who have no voice. We defend the right to life because life is precious; it is a gift from God. In the same way, we should speak up for those who have no voice in our society. We need to challenge those who represent us in the political arena. We need to make phone calls and tell them they need to pass the right laws for everyone.

4

Pray We need to pray our [legislators] will make the right decisions. We pray, and we act also, and try to make a difference in someone’s life.

to the United States — one by one — for political asylum.

Father Sandoval was only 16 and alone on his voyage from El Salvador to Guatemala, and then on to California, where he joined his older brothers.

His parents eventually immigrated and the family settled in Emporia, where he was able to complete high school.

“Then I felt a call,” he said. “That’s when I began my journey to the seminary.

I was under [political asylum] at the time.”

While in the seminary, Father Sandoval qualified for TPS (Temporary Protected Status).

“That’s how I stayed in the country,” he

Pope Francis is greeted by young people during a 2014 visit t migrants and refugees. said. “And then, from that, I changed to F1 status, which allowed me to continue my studies at Conception [Seminary in Conception, Missouri]. I stayed [at that status] until I was ordained in 2012.

“But when I tried to become a resident?

At that point, it was difficult for me.”

Father Sandoval found that the only way he could transition to resident status was to travel to the U.S. embassy in El Salvador, sit for an in-person interview and then hopefully re-enter the United States legally.

“The chances were big that I was not going to be allowed to come back,” he said.

Last March, with trust in God and the

Catechism of the Catholic Church on immigration

T

he archdiocesan office of social justice encourages Catholics to read the Catholic position on immigration as summed up in the Catechism of the Catholic Church: The more prosperous nations are obliged, to the extent they are able, to welcome the foreigner in search of the security and the means of livelihood which he cannot find in his country of origin. Public authorities should see to it that the natural right is respected that places a guest under the protection of those who receive him.

Political authorities, for the sake of the common good for which they are responsible, may make the exercise of the right to immigrate subject to various juridical conditions, especially with regard to the immigrants’ duties toward their country of adoption. Immigrants are obliged to respect with gratitude the material and spiritual heritage of the country that receives them, to obey its laws and to assist in carrying civic burdens (2241).

T

prayers doval r “Bu future that I, to com what I “Aft life, I w will I d “Esp At t signed nee. H his safe “I th

The p

he U.S. Co (USCCB) immigratio comprehe “Strangers Journey of Hope,” t lined the elements o hensive immigration

Earned legaliza program would allo moral character w States to apply to a lawful permanent would create an e requiring applican background checks igibility for resident program. Such a p the workforce, prom large population “ou bers of their comm

For more information, visit the website

Leaven 12-08-17.indd 8

12/6/17 7:40 AM

SHARE THE JOURNEY

from the office of social justice Pope Francis recently launched a special initiative called “Share the Journey.” The aim of this two-year campaign is to promote a culture of encounter in communities where migrants and refugees leave and return, the areas they travel through and where they choose to make their homes.

In response, the U.S. bishops have asked that Catholics in the Americas make the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe a time to be in solidarity with migrants and refugees in our communities.

In our archdiocese, every Catholic is invited to mark Dec. 12, the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, as a day to reach out to migrants and refugees in prayer and, if possible, to attend Mass.

There are a number of parishes that have a tradition of special devotions on that day. Please make plans to bring your family to worship that day at one of these parishes. For a complete list and more details, go online to: archkck.org/social justice.

CNS PHOTO/MENAHEM KAHANA, POOL VIA EPA

during a 2014 visit to the Dehiyshe Refugee Camp’s Phoenix Cultural Center near Bethlehem, West Bank. The pope has called for a campaign to promote solidarity with

d to F1 nue my n Constatus]

sident? .” e only t status El Salew and States

was not he said. nd the

T

prayers of friends and family, Father Sandoval returned to the land of his birth.

“But I was afraid not knowing what my future was going to be,” he said. “I knew that I, perhaps, was not going to be able to come back and continue to be a part of what I know as my home.

“After being here for more than half my life, I was, like, ‘If I can’t come back, what will I do there?’

“Especially being a priest?”

At the time, Father Sandoval was assigned at Good Shepherd Parish in Shawnee. His parishioners united in prayer for his safe return.

“I think the prayers of those people had

such an impact on how things turned out,” he said. “God just put the right people in the interviews, and I didn’t have any problem.

“When I came back, I had letters from the schoolchildren, saying ‘Welcome home.’

“Having that was such a good moment to me.”

Father Sandoval’s own experience makes him particularly concerned about the plight of other immigrants, especially young people who would be impacted by termination of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) “I see these young people,” he said. “A

lot of them are parishioners here at All Saints. They’re so afraid.

“The only home they know is this country. English is their first language because that’s what they learned at school.

“They have been prepared to be successful in this country.”

Yet, Scholl said the issue of immigration is a polarizing one, even within the Catholic community.

Even as the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) lobbies Congress for comprehensive immigration reform, he said, some Catholics don’t understand why bishops are encouraging the government to have policies that are welcoming

The position of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops on immigration

he U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) opposes “enforcement only” immigration policies and supports comprehensive immigration reform. In “Strangers No Longer: Together on the ourney of Hope,” the U.S. Catholic bishops outined the elements of their proposal for comprehensive immigration reform. These include:

Earned legalization: An earned legalization program would allow foreign nationals of good moral character who are living in the United States to apply to adjust their status to obtain awful permanent residence. Such a program would create an eventual path to citizenship, equiring applicants to complete and pass background checks, pay a fine and establish elgibility for resident status to participate in the program. Such a program would help stabilize he workforce, promote family unity and bring a arge population “out of the shadows,” as members of their communities.

Future worker program: A worker program to permit foreign-born workers to enter the country safely and legally would help reduce illegal immigration and the loss of life in the American desert.

Any program should include workplace protections, living wage levels, safeguards against the displacement of U.S. workers and family unity.

Family-based immigration reform: It currently takes years for family members to be reunited through the family-based legal immigration system. This leads to family breakdown and, in some cases, illegal immigration. Changes in family-based immigration should be made to increase the number of family visas available and reduce family reunification waiting times.

Restoration of due process rights: Due process rights taken away by the 1996 Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRIRA) should be restored. For example, the threeand 10-year bars to reentry should be eliminated.

Addressing root causes: Congress should examine the root causes of migration, such as underdevelopment and poverty in sending countries, and seek long-term solutions. The antidote to the problem of illegal immigration is sustainable economic development in sending countries. In an ideal world, migration should be driven by choice, not necessity.

Enforcement: The U.S. Catholic bishops accept the legitimate role of the U.S. government in intercepting unauthorized migrants who attempt to travel to the United States.

The bishops also believe that by increasing lawful means for migrants to enter, live and work in the United States, law enforcement will be better able to focus upon those who truly threaten public safety: drug and human traffickers, smugglers and would-be terrorists. Any enforcement measures must be targeted, proportional and humane. For more information, visit the website at: www.usccb.org.

to immigrants and refugees.

“What the bishops are saying,” said Scholl, “is we should all be working very hard on both sides of the aisle to try to find humane solutions.

“And to realize that, at the end of the day, these are human beings made in the image and likeness of God.” “The sad reality is we can’t let everybody in that would like to come,” he continued. “But that doesn’t mean that we can’t find solutions, or that we can’t show any mercy.”

Because so many emigrate from Catholic countries, moreover, it becomes a personal issue.

“We don’t just have the mandate to help the stranger,” said Scholl. “This is family.

These are baptized Catholics.

“We should be welcoming them and seeking to take care of them.”

In an effort to do just that, Catholics of the archdiocese will unite on Dec. 12 in a powerful communion of prayer for a just and humane path to fixing the faults of the current immigration system, especially for the most vulnerable among us.

“That’s what we need to pray about,” said Father Sandoval. “Those who will make the decision, I hope they make the right decision for the young people.

“That’s my prayer.”

‘Share the Journey’ prayer Lord and Master, Many are the journeys your people have taken: Abraham’s journey led from fear to understanding; Moses’ journey led from bondage to liberty; the disciples’ journey led from death to new life.

Even today, your people journey — immigrants and refugees, pilgrims and nomads — searching for hope, searching for opportunity, searching for you.

Lord, I know that I, too, am called to journey.

Continue to call me beyond my comfort and into encounter. And when I meet a companion on the road, may we find you in each other’s embrace.

Let us share the journey. Amen.

t the website at: www.sharejourney.org.

Leaven 12-08-17.indd 9

12/6/17 7:40 AM

Leaven 12-08-17.indd 10

12/6/17 7:40 AM

DECEMBER 8, 2017 | THELEAVEN.ORG

LOCAL NEWS

11

Father Francis Lery Wendling, OFM

LEAVEN PHOTO BY MOIRA CULLINGS

Lesle Knop, executive director for the Catholic Foundation of Northeast Kansas, watches the returns come in live for the #iGiveCatholic fundraiser on Nov. 28. The archdiocese raised more than $300,000 for various projects.

#iGiveCatholic proves a resounding success

By Moira Cullings moira.cullings@theleaven.org

K

ANSAS CITY, Kan. — When the day was done and the leader boards totaled, Good Shepherd Parish in Shawnee celebrated raising over $45,000 — the highest amount of 46 archdiocesan organizations.

But the real winner was All Saints Parish in Kansas City, Kansas, for whom Good Shepherd fundraised every cent.

The 24-hour fundraiser was a campaign called #iGiveCatholic, which took place Nov. 28.

“We’re feeling really excited and overwhelmed by the community’s support,” said Kathryn Robards, communications and administrative assistant for the Catholic Foundation of Northeast Kansas (CFNEK).

“Leslie [Knop] and I had personally set a goal of $100,000, so we shredded that goal,” she said.

The total amount the archdiocese raised was around $322,000.

“I’m stunned,” said Knop, executive director of CFNEK. “I’m absolutely amazed and grateful for the

generosity of our people.”

“The support we received really moves my heart,” she added.

This was the first year the archdiocese participated in #iGiveCatholic, an online giving campaign held on “Giving Tuesday” — the day following “Cyber Monday” when people are encouraged to give to a charity of their choice.

Forty-six archdiocesan organizations participated in the #iGiveCatholic campaign, which was sponsored

by CFNEK. The archdiocese joined 16 others across the country in the effort.

“The first goal was to create a community of Catholic donors on Giving Tuesday,” said Knop. “I think we succeeded beyond all of our expectations.”

Donors were able to follow two leader boards: one that registered live progress of all diocesan organizations and one that displayed live progress of organizations within individual dioceses.

Not only did the campaign give parishioners of the archdiocese a look at many of the varied outreaches here in our community, but it opened the door to national attention as well, said Robards.

PANKEY FOUNDATION REPAIR

“There was more opportunity for the organizations here in Kansas City to be seen by people all over the nation,” she said.

Participating in a 24-hour fundraiser was much different than an annual appeal, said Knop, and so their target audience was different, too.

“My hope was that we would attract new donors who are not participating in the annual fund, who are not participating in offertory on a regular basis at a parish,” said Knop.

She was especially impressed by organizations like Good Shepherd, whose efforts of raising over $45,000 will help All Saints renovate its parish hall.

“That’s the whole point of Giving Tuesday,” said Knop.

Robards is already looking forward to next year’s campaign.

“I’m already thinking about next year and what we can change, what we can add, what we can do to make it even more successful than it was this year,” said Robards.

“I’m really excited about the success and excited to build on that for next year,” she added.

AVA, Mo. — Father Francis Lery Wendling, OFM, a native of Olpe, died Oct. 16 at Our Lady of the Angels Friary here. He was 83 years old and a Franciscan friar for 65 years.

Born in Olpe, Father Francis attended St. Joseph Elementary School and completed high school at St. Joseph High School before attending St. Francis Seminary in Cincinnati, one year before joining the order in 1952.

Ordained to the priesthood at St. Leonard College on June 14, 1962, Father Francis served the communities of St. Louis, Batesville, Indiana; Christ the King in Shiprock, New Mexico; St. Anthony in Zuni, New Mexico; Sacred Heart in Calumet, Michigan; Sacred Heart in Emporia; St. Joseph, Kansas City, Missouri; St. Mary, Bloomington, Illinois; St. Patrick, Galveston, Texas; Parroquia de San Francisco d’Assis, Juarez, Mexico; and Our Lady of the Angels Friary, Ava, Missouri.

He was devoted to ministry in the Cursillo movement and the charismatic renewal, and was specially touched by the plight of immigrants along the Texas border.

He is survived by seven siblings: Marie Russell, Emporia; Seraphin Wendling, Lucille Trear, Joseph J. Wendling and Dorothy Blaufuss, all of Olpe; John E. Wendling, Topeka; and Betty Lutz, Wylie, Texas.

USM Christmas vespers concert set for Dec. 10 LEAVENWORTH — The University of Saint Mary department of fine arts will present its annual Christmas vespers concert at 7 p.m. on Dec. 10 in Annunciation Chapel on the Saint Mary Leavenworth Campus, located at 4100 S. 4th St. The concert is free and open to the public. Seating is limited, so early arrival is suggested.

The Concert Chorale and Bells of Saint Mary Handbell Choir will offer a program of traditional and modern carols supported by the Vespers Chamber Orchestra.

Carols will include “The Little Drummer Boy,” “What Child Is This,” and “Infant Holy, Infant Lowly.”

The chorale will be joined in the finale by the 5th- and 6th-grade choir of Xavier Elementary School and baritone Dominic Johnson of Leavenworth in “Sing Noel!,” an arrangement of “The African Noel” and “Go Tell It on the Mountain.”

Contact William Krusemark, music director and chair of fine arts, by email at: krusemarkw@stmary.edu for more information.

Concrete Work

FR ESTI EE MAT ES

Any type of repair and new work Driveways, Walks, Patios Member of Queen of the Holy Rosary Parish

Harvey M. Kascht (913) 262-1555

Fully Insured • All Work Guaranteed • Wall Repair and Replacement • Sump Pumps • Epoxy Injection • Drain Tile • Retaining Walls • Steel Piers

Leaven 12-08-17.indd 11

TYLER PANKEY OWNER/OPERATOR

913.262.6222

12/6/17 7:40 AM

DECEMBER 8, 2017 | THELEAVEN.ORG

CLASSIFIEDS EMPLOYMENT Youth ministry coordinator - Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church is seeking a full-time youth ministry coordinator (YMC) to provide vision and coordination of the parish’s efforts to minister to young people grades 6 - 12. This includes inspiring and helping form young disciples through hospitality, prayer, formation and service. The YMC will provide vibrant spiritual and social support for the current YDisciple program with future plans to add consistent youth activities and administration of youth opportunities external to the parish. Utilizes and cooperates with a staff resource committee and a parent resource committee for support. This person must demonstrate a passion for youth ministry; basic knowledge of youth development; ability to communicate and work with people of all ages; ability to find effective individuals to volunteer to assist the program in various ways, as well as manage and supervise their work. Other skills needed include: marketing, organization, time management and a genuine interest in responding to the needs and concerns of youth. The ability to work well with the pastor and be flexible with the pastor’s vision and potential need to continually evaluate and make changes in the program if necessary. Requirements: be a practicing Catholic who is faithful to and accepting of the magisterium (teaching authority of the church); bachelor’s degree from a Catholic university/college in theology, youth ministry or similar degree required; a master’s degree in the same or similar is preferred but not required; past experience in youth ministry is also preferred but not required. Send cover letter and resume to: info@ shoj.org. For full job description, go to the website at: shoj. org/about-us/employment-opportunities.

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.

Vistar of Kansas City, a division of Performance Food Group “Wholesale Candy, Snack, and Beverage Specialist” VISTAR KANSAS CITY – NOW HIRING: Warehouse Order Selectors – ***Starting Pay $17.00/hr. + Incentives*** Day Shift Reach Forklift Operators ***Starting Pay $18.00/hr.*** Class A CDL Delivery Driver ***Starting Pay $23.00/hr.*** To apply: Online: http://bit.ly/2f8ySfa and search for jobs in: Riverside, MO For more information, contact HR via: Email: veronica.hernandez@pfgc.com Phone: (816) 746-4401, ext. 28313 Do you enjoy driving? - The Kansas City Transportation Group is looking for chauffeurs to drive our guests to events, airport, dinner, etc. Business is growing and we are in need of workers with flexible hours, those who are retired, etc. Great pay and benefits. Send resume to: jkalbert@kctg.com or in person at Carey, 1300 Lydia Ave., Kansas City, MO 64106.

Substitute teacher- Bishop Miege High School is seeking a long-term substitute teacher to teach three periods of math each day for second semester of the 2017-18 school year. Email letter of interest and resume to: mjaksa@bishop miege.com.

Health and wellness advocate for clergy – The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas is seeking an experienced nurse, case manager or social worker to fill the part-time (approximately 10-20 hours per week) position of health and wellness advocate for clergy. Duties include: visiting retired priests on a regular basis; managing priests’ conditions and care; serving as an advocate during appointments and hospitalizations; and assisting priests with health insurance and Medicare. The ideal candidate will be a practicing Catholic in good standing and have a minimum of five years’ experience in adult health care, case management or social work; one year of health care management preferred. College degree in related field required, registered nurse preferred. A complete job description, application and benefits information are available on the archdiocese’s website at: www.archkck.org/ jobs. Interested individuals should mail cover letter, resume, application and pastor’s letter of support to: Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, Office of Human Resources, Health and Wellness Advocate Search, 12615 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City, KS 66109, or send via email to: jobs@archkck.org.

Social media specialist - Catholic Cemeteries of Northeast Kansas is looking for a permanent part-time position to be filled for the social media management efforts of this important ministry. The right person for this position will work from home 10 - 15 hours per week, and be well versed in the implementation of most social media platforms currently available. Initial development and monitoring priorities will include Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram, etc. The ability to stay abreast of social media platforms as they emerge and solid communication skills with the ability to interface with all department heads within our organization (weekly if needed) when requested is a must. Biweekly meetings at our offices may be needed initially to jump-start our efforts and in the training of staff to utilize and perfect the use of these important communication tools. Email resume to: dvanthullenar@cathcemks.org.

Leaven 12-08-17.indd 12

Principal - St. Thomas More School is seeking a principal committed to Catholic education with strong leadership, communication and motivational skills. The position will begin on July 1. More information and applications can be found online at: careers.hireology.com/thecatholic dioceseofkansascitystjoseph/159107/description.

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, round- trip 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.

Teacher openings - Bishop Miege High School has teacher openings for math, AP biology and physics for the 2018-19 school year. Send letter of interest and resume to: Mariann Jaksa at mjaksa@bishopmiege.com.

Career opportunities - Catholic Charities of Kansas City-St. Joseph is offering rewarding career opportunities to individuals interested in full-time positions as an AmeriCorps Veteran Peer Navigator in our Kansas City office. In our St. Joseph office, we are offering a part-time family development specialist position. To learn more about these opportunities and to apply, visit the website at: www.catholiccharities-kcsj.org.

High school president – Bishop Miege High School in Johnson County is seeking a president for the 2018-19 school year. Applicants must be practicing Catholics and understand the mission of Catholic education. The president is the chief administrator of the school and is responsible for: school operations; faith formation; student recruitment; facilities maintenance; strategic planning; and school advancement. Additionally, the president works with the Bishop Miege High School Foundation board of trustees. Applicants should possess success in leadership and innovation, preferably in a Catholic high school or nonprofit setting. Go online to: www.archkckcs.org to complete an application. Also mail a resume and credentials to: Dr. Kathleen A O’Hara, Catholic School Office, 12615 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City, KS 66109. Application deadline is Jan. 5, with the expectation that interviews will begin shortly.

High school president – Hayden Catholic High School in Topeka is seeking a president for the 2018-19 school year.

Applicants must be practicing Catholics and understand the mission of Catholic education. The president is the chief administrator of the school and is responsible for: school operations; student recruitment; donor engagement; facilities maintenance; strategic planning; and school advancement.

Applicants should possess success in leadership, preferably, but not required, in a Catholic high school. In addition, the applicant must demonstrate prudent financial management, as well as successful fundraising. Go online to: www.arch kckcs.org to complete an application. Also mail a resume and credentials to: Dr. Kathleen A O’Hara, Catholic School Office, 12615 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City, KS 66109. Application deadline is Jan. 5, with the expectation that interviews will begin shortly.

After-school driver - Seeking a driver to pick up two kids from Holy Spirit Catholic School in Overland Park, drive home and to activities. M - F, approximately 3 - 6 p.m. Some flexibility. Must have valid driver’s license and proof of insurance.

January start. Call Delana at (913) 859-0444 or send an email to: ddz333@hotmail.com.

Secretary and marketing/media rep. - St. Patrick Catholic School in Kansas City, Kan., has an immediate opening for a school office secretary and marketing/media representative. Hours are 7:15 a.m. - 4 p.m. during the school year and 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. when school is out (may vary). Position reports to the principal and provides confidential administrative support; coordinates media and marketing releases; supports school operations and functions; and coordinates projects and activities. Essential functions include, but are not limited to: answering phones; log attendance; greet and direct visitors; maintain and update electronic records; prepare reports; maintain Facebook and other media; and other duties as assigned by the principal. Interested applicants should email a cover letter and resume to: AKERNAN@arch kckcs.org or mail to St. Patrick Catholic Church, attn: Business Office, 1066 N. 94th St., Kansas City, KS 66112.

Elementary school principal - Nativity Parish School in Leawood is seeking an individual with skill in spiritual, academic and advancement, particularly in the area of enrollment management leadership for the 2018-19 school year. Applicants must be practicing Catholics, understand the mission of Catholic schools and have or be eligible for Kansas licensure in educational leadership. Apply online at: www.archkckcs.org and mail resume and credentials to: Dr. Kathleen A. O’Hara, Catholic Schools Office, Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, 12615 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City, KS 66109, or send an email to: kohara@arch kckcs.org. The deadline for application is Jan. 12.

SERVICES Custom countertops - Laminates installed within five days.

Cambria, granite and solid surface. Competitive prices, dependable work. Call the Top Shop, Inc., at (913) 962-5058.

Members of St. Joseph, Shawnee.

Tree Trimming Tree Trimming/Landscaping Insured/References Free Estimates/Local Parishioner Tony Collins (913) 620-6063 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.

Rodman Lawn Care Lawn mowing, aeration, verticutting, mulching, Hedge trimming, leaf removal, gutter cleaning Fully insured and free estimates John Rodman (913) 548-3002 Tutoring - Sessions are customized to fit student’s needs. Single sessions or packages available. Tutor has 15 years experience in K - 12 subjects, French Spanish, piano and voice. Call/text Kathleen at (913) 244-3655 or send an email to: Klmamuric@yahoo.com.

Speedy Guzman Moving and delivery Licensed and insured Anytime (816) 935-0176 Senior hairstyling - Haircuts, perms, roller sets.

Savvy Salon, 5910 W. 59th Terrace Mission, KS, one block south of Johnson Dr. $5 off any service on 1st visit. Bonnie (816) 769-8511 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@mikehammermoving.com.

HOME IMPROVEMENT 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.

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

12

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.

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 be glad you did.

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

FOR SALE Residential lifts - New and recycled. Stair lifts, porch lifts, ceiling lifts and elevators. St. Michael’s parishioners. KC Lift & Elevator at (913) 327-5557. (Formerly Silver Cross - KC) For sale - Enhance you decor with Dickens Village and other Department 56 lighted ceramic houses. Retired and limited editions. Call for availability. (816) 289-6180 For sale - Handsome curio displays collectibles on adjustable glass shelves; two wooden platforms with a mirrored back. Lighted upper uses one 25W bulb. Additionally, two Lladro figurines: Don Quixote and a beautiful landing seagull, both in excellent condition. Will take best offer. Call Virginia at (913) 438-0882.

For sale - One plot in Mount Calvary Cemetery in Topeka.

Located in Henry Garden, lot 824, space east. Current market value is $1500, selling price is $1300. Call (714) 308-2585.

For sale - Double lawn crypt at Resurrection Cemetery in Lenexa, Garden of Hope section, double lawn crypt, lot 78 C, space 4. Conveyance fee included. $8100. Call Lou at (512) 294-2869.

FOR RENT For rent - House recently remodeled. Entry level BR, large loft BR, kitchen with dishwasher, basement garage with opener. Large yard, quiet secure neighborhood.

No smoking, no pets. References required. Call (913) 238-2470. Serious interest only. Shawnee Sacred Heart member, owner.

WANTED TO BUY

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) 579-1835. Email: smokeycabin@hot mail.com. Member of Holy Trinity, Lenexa.

I NEED HOUSES! - We are members of Holy Trinity Parish and we pay cash for any real estate without any realtor commissions or fees. If you would like an easy, no-hassle sale at a fair price, please call me. We have 13 years of experience. Mark Edmondson (913) 980-4905.

Local handyman - Painting int. and ext., staining, wood rot, power wash, decks, doors and windows, masonry, hardwood floors, gutter cleaning, water heaters, toilets, faucets, garbage disposals, ceiling fans, mowing and more!! Member of Holy Angels Parish, Basehor. Call Billy at (913) 927-4118.

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.

NELSON CREATION’S L.L.C. Home makeovers, kitchen, bath. All interior and exterior remodeling and repairs.

Family owned, experienced, licensed and insured. Member St. Joseph, Shawnee. Kirk Nelson.

(913) 927-5240; nelsport@everestkc.net 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.

Helping Hand Handy Man - Semi-retired handyman can help with your ‘to do list,’ small and medium projects around your house. Also electrical; ceiling fans, light fixtures, outlet and switches. Most deck and shed repairs, power washing restaining and painting. No yard work.

Member of Prince of Peace, Olathe. Call Mark Coleman at (913) 526-4490.

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) 935-0176 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.

Swalms organizing - downsizing - cleanout service - Reduce clutter – Any space organized. Shelving built on-site. Items hauled for recycling and donations. 20 years exp.; insured. Call Tillar at (913) 375-9115. WWW. SWALMSORGANIZING.COM. Handyman/Remodeler - Quality service with references. Kitchens, baths, tile, painting, garage doors and openers, decks and wood rot repair. Call Jeff at (913) 915-4738.

Wanted to Buy Antique/vintage jewelry, paintings, pottery, prints, sterling, etc.

Renee Maderak (913) 475-7393 St. Joseph Parish, Shawnee

REAL ESTATE Whole Estates Need to sell a home and everything in it?

We buy it all at once in as-is condition.

Call (816) 444-1950 or send an email to: www.wholeestates.com.

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) 341-2500 and speak with Laurie, Pat or Gary.

Just like family - Two independent ladies willing to care for your loved ones in their home. Flexible nights, days, weekends. Payment depends on services rendered. Call Kara at (913) 909-6659.

Wanted - Part-time helper for 65-year-old female in Overland Park. Run errands, grocery shop, light household chores, miscellaneous. Pay in cash daily. Call Karen at (817) 317-6028.

Medication support - Need help filling weekly pill boxes? Need daily medication reminders? We can provide these services in your home with daily or weekly visits. Call to learn about our exciting new medication solutions that allow you to continue living safely at home. Call Home Connect Health at (913) 627- 9222.

Looking for assisted living at home? - Before you move, call us and explore our in-home care options. We specialize in helping families live safely at home while saving thousands of dollars per year. Call today for more information or to request a FREE home care planning guide. Benefits of Home - Senior Care, www.benefits ofhome.com or call (913) 422-1591.

12/6/17 7:40 AM

DECEMBER 8, 2017 | THELEAVEN.ORG

CALENDAR CELTIC CHRISTMAS St. Columbkille Parish (hall) 13311 Hwy 16, Blaine Dec. 9 from 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Holiday cookies and candies will be sold by the pound. There will also be homemade cinnamon rolls, kolaches, breakfast burritos, homemade soups and pies, and lots more to eat. Holiday vendors will be there. For more information, call (785) 927-0282.

DIDDE CATHOLIC CAMPUS CENTER ALUMNI RECEPTION Prince of Peace Parish 16000 W. 143rd St., Olathe Dec. 9 at 8:30 a.m.

The morning will begin with Mass. Following Mass, there will be breakfast and student testimony about how a vibrant campus ministry impacts the faith of Catholic college students.

RSVP to Shawn Gerleman with the names of those attending to (316) 295-0643 or by email to: shawngerleman@diddecenter.org.

THE HOLIDAY SHOPPE Queen of the Holy Rosary Church (basement) 7023 W. 71st St., Overland Park Dec. 9 from 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Dec. 10 from 7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.

There will be 50 vendors with a variety of Christmas gifts and more. Come shop, have lunch and take home a casserole for dinner.

Santa will visit from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. on Dec. 9. Profits will benefit John Paul II School.

LESSONS AND CAROLS Holy Angels Parish 15408 Leavenworth Rd., Basehor Dec. 10 at 6 p.m.

Lessons and Carols is a series of Scriptures, carols and hymns that reflects on the passages of the Advent and Christmas seasons.

The adult choir, children’s choir and Knights of Columbus men’s choir will present this concert.

ADVENT MUSIC RETREAT Sophia Spirituality Center 751 S. 8th St., Atchison Dec. 10 from 1 - 4 p.m.

Explore the spirituality of traditional and

Leaven 12-08-17.indd 13

contemporary Advent hymn texts and music. Lectio divina and audio divina will be part of the reflection. The cost to attend is a freewill offering. For more information or to register, call (913) 360-6174, or go to the website at: www.sophiaspiritualitycenter. org.

served in the church hall. Mariachi music will be provided by Beto Lopez.

DAUGHTERS OF ISABELLA, LITTLE FLOWER CIRCLE 503 Christ the King Parish (Yadrich Hall) 5973 S.W. 25th St., Topeka Dec. 10 at 12:30 p.m.

New to Medicare? Need help understanding your current benefits? This class is for you! For more information or to register, call (913) 906-8990 or go online to: www.keeler womenscenter.org.

There will be a social hour followed by a covered dish luncheon, gift exchange and Christmas raffle. If you know of a member or their family member in distress, sick or in need of the circle’s prayers, contact Theresa Smith-Lawton at (785) 640-1403. If you are interested in or would like more information about the Daughters of Isabella, contact Marilyn Unrein at (785) 230-8448 or Cindy Keen at (785) 228-9863.

UNDERSTANDING MEDICARE Keeler Women’s Center 2220 Central Ave., Kansas City, Kansas Dec. 13 from 10 - 11:30 a.m.

RECYCLING ART: MOD PODGE Keeler Women’s Center 2220 Central Ave., Kansas City, Kansas Dec. 14 from 1 - 2:30 p.m.

Be creative decorating a canvas with recycled and new materials. A large supply of materials will be provided. You can bring photos or mementos if desired. Jill Ellene Winters will be the presenter.

13

movie “Thérèse: A Biography of the Little Flower.” Mass will be at the local parish on Dec. 16 at 5 p.m. To register, call (913) 773-8255 or send an email to: info@christs peace.com.

‘IN A DARK TIME . . . EYES BEGIN TO SEE: A CELEBRATION OF THE WINTER SOLSTICE’ Precious Blood Renewal Center 2130 Saint Gaspar Way, Liberty, Missouri Dec. 21 at 5:30 p.m.

Take time in this busy season to reflect on the darkness of our times captured in the longest of nights. Begin to see how deeply connected human spirits are to one another and to the earth. The suggested donation is $20 and includes a soup supper. Scholarship funds are available. Register by Dec. 19 by going online to: info@pbrenewalcenter.org.

‘WHY HISTORY MATTERS FOR CATHOLICS’ St. James Academy 24505 Prairie Star Pkwy., Lenexa Dec. 15 at 6:30 p.m.

ROSARY RALLY IN HONOR OF OUR LADY OF FATIMA St. Philippine Duchesne Parish 5035 Rainbow Blvd., Westwood Dec. 10 from 3 - 4:15 p.m.

Brad Gregory, professor of history at Notre Dame, will present a lecture, “Why History Matters for Catholics,” that explores why an awareness of history is important for an informed Catholic faith. The lecture is free and open to the public.

Single men ages 18 - 35 are invited to the Archbishop’s Quo Vadis retreat. Father Scott Wallisch, vocation director, will give the retreat: “St. Peter — Called, Formed, Sent.” Come meet inspiring priests and seminarians, pray together and discover what God is calling you to do with your life. To register, go online to: www.kck vocations.com by Dec. 18.

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.

ADVENT PARISH MISSION Holy Angels Parish 15440 Leavenworth Rd., Basehor December 11-14 from 7 - 8 p.m.

Come to the Holy Angels Advent parish mission as it prepares for the greatest gift ever given: Jesus himself. The mission will be given by School of Faith theologians. Mass will be offered at 6:30 each evening.

OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE CELEBRATION Queen of the Holy Rosary Parish 7023 W. 71st St., Overland Park Dec. 12 at 6 p.m.

Mass will be followed by a reception. Pastries, hot chocolate and coffee will be

VOCATION RETREAT FOR YOUNG MEN Savior Pastoral Center 12601 Parallel Pkwy, Kansas City, Kansas Dec. 21 - 23

MEMORIAL LITURGY Curé of Ars 9405 Mission Rd., Leawood Dec. 16 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: “Spirituality and Grief.” For more information, call (913) 649-2026.

‘ST. THÉRÈSE’S LITTLE WAY’ Christ’s Peace House of Prayer 22131 Meagher Rd., Easton Dec. 16 - 17

The retreat begins with check-in at 8:30 a.m. on Dec. 16 and concludes at 3 p.m. on Dec. 17. There will be time for reflection, private prayer, walking and watching the

BLESSING OF ADORATION CHAPEL Holy Angels Parish 15440 Leavenworth Rd., Basehor Dec. 31 at 10:30 a.m.

There will be a general blessing to open Our Lady Queen of the Holy Angels Adoration Chapel and an inaugural Mass by Kansas City native Bishop James D. Conley in the main church.

CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS

DEADLINE: Noon, Thursday, 10 days before the desired publication date.

INCLUDE: time and date of event; street address; description of event.

SEND TO: beth.blankenship@theleaven.org.

12/6/17 7:40 AM

DECEMBER 8, 2017 | THELEAVEN.ORG

COMMENTARY

For a deeper faith, open book

SECOND WEEK OF ADVENT Dec. 10 SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT Is 40: 1-5, 9-11 Ps 85: 9-14 2 Pt 3: 8-14 Mk 1: 1-8 Dec. 11 Damasus I, pope Is 35: 1-10 Ps 85: 9ab, 10-14 Lk 5: 17-26 Dec. 12 OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE Zec 2: 14-17 (Ps) Jdt 13: 18bc, 19 Lk 1: 26-38 Dec. 13 Lucy, virgin, martyr Is 40: 25-31 Ps 103: 1-4, 8, 10 Mt 11: 28-30 Dec. 14 John of the Cross, priest, doctor of the church Is 41: 13-20 Ps 145: 1, 9-13b Mt 11: 11-15 Dec. 15 Friday Is 48: 17-19 Ps 1: 1-4, 6 Mt 11: 16-19 Dec. 16 Saturday Sir 48: 1-4, 9-11 Ps 80: 2-3, 15-16, 18-19 Mt 17: 9a, 10-13

ONLINE

www.theleaven.org

FACEBOOK

www.facebook.com/ theleavenkc

TWITTER

@theleavenkc

INSTAGRAM theleavenkc

I

’ve tried it again and again, but just don’t like solving crossword puzzles online.

For me, it’s more trouble than it’s worth.

It’s easier and more satisfying to just grab a pencil and work them the old-fashioned way: on paper.

It’s the same for spiritual books. Give me a physical book where I can highlight passages, scribble notes in the margin by hand and pop Post-It flags on memorable pages. I can’t help it: I’m biased.

With that in mind, here are my Christmas gift book suggestions.

Even though you can get electronic copies of many of them, stick to the hard copies. After all, they’re more fun to unwrap at Christmas.

Because of the general feeling of unease in the world today, a sure antidote is to change perspective and develop an attitude of awareness and gratefulness for all that’s right. Transform your new year with “The Way of Gratitude: Readings for a Joyful Life,” edited by Michael Leach, James T. Keane and Doris Goodnough (New York: Orbis Books, 224 pgs.;

P

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.

2017; $18). There are some 46 reflections here from a variety of authors, both Catholic and not, in a variety of styles — all just a page or two long.

Entries include: “Rejoice Always,” “What Does a Grateful Brain Look Like?” “Dishwashing With Reverence,” and “Shine On, Farmer Boy.” It seems that people constantly want to know how to pray or pray better. Two books can satisfy that desire: “Busy Lives & Restless Souls,”

by Becky Eldredge (Chicago: Loyola Press, 131 pgs.; 2017; $13.95)

and “Prayer Seeds,” by Sister Joyce Rupp (Notre Dame, Ind.: Sorin Books, 205 pgs; 2017; $15.95).

Sister Joyce’s book contains “a gathering of blessings, reflections, and poems for spiritual growth.” It’s chock-full of ready-made prayers for all of the seasons of the church, as well as those of our lives: times of celebration, times of grief and difficulties, and periods of transitions.

Eldredge’s book confronts life as it is lived in the 21st century and shows “how prayer can help you find the missing peace in your life.” She introduces readers to St. Ignatius of Loyola and Ignatian spirituality that says: God is in all things, and everything in life is holy. This very readable, practical book includes

discussion questions to ponder after each chapter, as well as a new prayer style — lectio divina, examen, consideration and contemplation — to explore.

If you’d like to learn more about your Catholic faith or help someone to examine what Catholics believe, there are two inviting books that do that: “The Heart of Catholicism,” by Bert Ghezzi (Notre Dame: Ave Maria Press, 174 pgs.; 2014; $14.95) and “Why I Am Catholic (And You Should Be Too),” by Brandon Vogt (Ave Maria, 178 pgs.; 2017; $20). Both are easy reads and enlightening.

Ghezzi’s book tackles what it means to be a practicing Catholic today.

Each chapter includes discussion questions, practical actions and references for further study, like specific entries in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

There’s a nice glossary in the back, as well, to help in your understanding of Catholic terms.

Vogt’s book captures his journey to joining the Catholic Church and examines why he sees Catholicism as true, good and beautiful. This book

will definitely make you think — whether you’re a cradle Catholic, a catechumen or a “none” (someone who sees little reason to join a church).

Finally, for a little fun, pick up this adult coloring book called “The Saints,” by Daniel Mitsui (Ave Maria, 2016; $9.95).

It contains 30 full-page pictures in a variety of styles to color with a short bio on each saint, from the familiar to the obscure (St. Drogo of Sebourg, St. Gobnait and St. Margaret of Antioch).

I started this column with puzzles, so it’s fitting to end the same way: Check out Matt Swaim’s “Catholic Puzzles, Word Games and Brain Teasers” (Ave Maria, 2017; $9.95).

Be warned: While these puzzles are fun to solve, they can make your brain hurt. You’ll definitely learn about Catholic teaching and history. And you’ll thank God for that answer key in the back!

Make 2018 a year for growing in your faith by spiritual reading. May these words of author Annie Dillard ring true for us all: “She read books as one would breathe air, to fill up and live.”

Written Gospel introduces us to the living one

reviews for movies will sometimes cherry-pick the best bits of the film in order to entice potential customers to see it. In that case, why bother?

On the other hand, a good preview can show a glimpse of the film, without giving it away.

There is still something worthwhile to see.

Sunday’s Gospel reading, Mk 1:1-8, gives us a preview of the entire Gospel of St. Mark. It starts out: “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God.” We might look upon these words as a sort of title, a label for the written document that follows. After all, when we hear the word “Gospel,” it usually signals for us

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.

a written document that includes some of the events of Jesus’ life and his teachings.

Specifically, we have

POPE FRANCIS

the four Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. But here, as elsewhere in the New Testament, the word “Gospel” means a message which originally was transmitted through the oral tradition and only later written down.

Most likely, St. Paul the Apostle did not have access to any of the four written Gospels.

Biblical scholars

If people really understood that participating at Mass is witnessing Christ’s suffering, death and resurrection, then maybe they would stop taking pictures, talking and acting as if it were some kind of show, Pope Francis said.

“This is Mass: to enter into Jesus’ passion, death, resurrection and ascension. When we go to Mass, it is as if we were going to Calvary, it’s the same,” the pope said Nov. 22 during his weekly general audience, continuing his series of talks on the liturgy.

If people realize that Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist and is letting himself be broken and pouring out his love and mercy for ev-

Leaven 12-08-17.indd 14

14

believe that they were written after his death.

Nonetheless, he constantly referred to the gospel in his own writings, many of which were eventually included in the New Testament, much to the chagrin of our lectors.

It was that same message that lay at the heart of Jesus’ ministry, at the core of his teaching. That is why we later hear: “Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God: ‘This is the time of fulfillment.

The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.’”

(Mk 1:14b-15).

So, is the gospel of Jesus Christ one which originates from Jesus Christ, as the verse just quoted might suggest?

Or is it a Gospel that tells us about Jesus

Christ, as the rest of the written document might lead us to believe? Or, is it both at the same time?

In proclaiming the gospel, Jesus announced the time of fulfillment.

We recognize God’s promises as fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

He also announced the coming of God’s kingdom. We hail Jesus Christ as king. So, the gospel that Jesus proclaimed is both from him and also about him.

Jesus is the embodiment of the gospel.

The written document which is the Gospel according to Mark wishes to introduce us to the living gospel, to the person of Jesus Christ.

Only then, will we hear what it has to say.

eryone, “would we allow ourselves to chitchat, take pictures, to be on show? No,” the pope said. “For sure, we would be silent, in mourning and also in joy for being saved.”

The Mass, as a “memorial,” is more than just remembering an event from the past, the pope said. It is making that event present and alive in a way that transforms those who participate.

“Every celebration of the Eucharist is a beam of that sun that never sets, which is the risen Jesus Christ. To take part in Mass, especially on Sundays, means entering into the victory of the resurrection, being illuminated by his light, warmed by his heat,” he said.

— CNS

12/6/17 7:40 AM

DECEMBER 8, 2017 | THELEAVEN.ORG

COMMENTARY

O

Unique vantage point helps deacon identify needs

ne aspect of preparing men to become permanent deacons is introducing them to the concept of diaconal spirituality.

I’ve found that before I can explain diaconal spirituality, I first have to define “spirituality.”

At its core, spirituality is our road map for growing in friendship with Christ. The goal is holiness, or union with God. It’s called spirituality, because it involves aligning our spiritual faculties (mind and will) with what God desires for our ultimate happiness.

The question about spirituality is particularly compelling today, as we often encounter those

A

15

ORDAINED TO SERVE

LEON SUPRENANT Leon Suprenant is the co-director of the office of the permanent diaconate. He may be reached online at: leons@archkck.org.

who say, “I’m spiritual, but not religious.”

What they’re saying is that they want a

relationship with God, but consider religious institutions outdated and unnecessary.

However, Christ did establish a church on the foundation of the apostles. He is the bridegroom and the church is his bride. It is futile to seek union with Christ while at the same time rejecting the church that connects

us to his mystical body.

In some sense, all baptized Catholics share the same spirituality, or road map to God. It’s called the “universal call to holiness.” All of us follow this path when, for example, we pray, receive the sacraments and support the church’s work of evangelization.

However, deacons, through the sacrament of holy orders have taken on a more refined path: a path of service. Of course, the spirituality of service is the spirituality of the whole church and not just deacons. Yet, the deacon receives the special grace to bring to life the service dimension of Christ’s ministry.

The deacon lives as one with a foot in two worlds. He has one foot

in the secular world. So, in that respect, his spirituality resembles that of the laity. He also has one foot in the world of the institutional church. So, in that respect, his spirituality resembles that of the clergy, especially as he prays the Liturgy of the Hours with and for the entire church.

From his vantage point in the midst of the world, the deacon is uniquely poised to identify the needs of the community.

As an ordained minister and the living image of Christ the servant, he is then able to marshal the church’s spiritual and material resources to bring the healing balm of Christ’s love to those who are hurting.

The deacon’s ministry of service stands in stark

contrast to those who would go it alone, who seek spirituality without connection to the church.

The deacon finds his way to union with God by making himself the servant of all, especially the poor. His spiritual practices will always be geared toward acquiring those virtues and attitudes that enable him to most resemble Christ, “who came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mk 10:45).

Those interested in discerning a possible vocation to the permanent diaconate should complete the “Interested in the Diaconate?” form found online at: www. archkck.org/deacons.

Kansas loses great pro-life advocate to retirement

merica remains a place where seemingly ordinary people can do extraordinary things — often in our very midst — without our recognizing it.

Presidents may pine for a place on Rushmore, and senators dream of highways named after them (or everything in the state, if they’re Robert Byrd), but the most admirable Americans are those who toil in obscurity on behalf of a cause greater than themselves — and do so without hope of fame or fortune.

One such person is Kathy Ostrowski, recently retired as legislative director of Kansans for Life.

CHURCH AND STATE

MICHAEL SCHUTTLOFFEL Michael Schuttloffel is the executive director of the Kansas Catholic Conference.

Contrary to the caricatures found in the mainstream media and the entertainment

industry, the pro-life movement is largely led by women, and a deep concern for the well-being of women is a central part of what it means to be authentically pro-life.

Asked to put a picture of the quintessential pro-life American on its cover, the New York Times would probably

pick Roy Moore.

Such nonsense would certainly come as news to anyone who has ever been to the March for Life in Washington, D.C., where young women in their teens and early 20s might well be the dominant demographic.

But for a picture of the indispensable prolife Kansan, a strong case can be made for Ostrowski.

During her tenure at KFL, Kansas went from being the lateterm abortion capital of the Midwest, if not the entire country, to being a model state for strong pro-life laws.

Kansas’ 2015 ban on dismemberment abortions (this barbarity is what Planned Parenthood means by

“choice”) was the first of its kind in the nation.

While many people have played crucial roles, there are two essential reasons Kansas has been transformed from an abortion mecca into a testbed for the most cutting-edge pro-life legislation in the country: Kansas has the most pro-life governor in America, and Kansas has Ostrowski’s brain.

She has endured the slings and arrows of hostile legislators, faced down the unremitting lies of the abortion industry and worked countless hours on little or no sleep — all the while making next to no money for her efforts.

She did not do this work to get paid or to

gain plaudits. She did it for the babies.

And babies there are, and children, and young adults — only God knows how many — alive today because of her. This, not the grasping at celebrity that increasingly marks our politics, is the stuff of true greatness.

Shortly after her retirement, Wichita’s longtime pro-life champion David Gittrich died. So it now falls to a new generation to take up the burden of fighting the preeminent human rights issue of our time.

Where do we find such men and women?

In Kansas, where they have always come forth in the hour of need.

Wagner’s Mud-Jacking Co.

Specializing in Foundation Repairs Mud-jacking and Waterproofing.

Serving Lawrence, Topeka and surrounding areas.

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

Call or text 913-621-2199

Leaven 12-08-17.indd 15

12/6/17 7:40 AM

DECEMBER 8, 2017 | THELEAVEN.ORG

LOCAL NEWS

16

PHOTO BY L’OSSERVATORO ROMANO

Tom Racunas, lead consultant for the archdiocesan special-needs ministry, met Pope Francis while he was in Rome Oct. 20-22 to attend a world conference about catechesis and persons with disabilities.

Pope Francis met with all the delegates from the conference.

Disability conference takes papal turn

By Joe Bollig joe.bollig@theleaven.org

K

ANSAS CITY, Kan. — Third time’s a charm for Tom Racunas — at least when it comes to meeting the pope.

Racunas, lead consultant for the archdiocesan special-needs ministry, was in Rome Oct. 20-22 to attend a world conference about catechesis and persons with disabilities.

This was his third journey to Rome — the first being in 1970, when he saw Pope Paul VI during a general audience in St. Peter’s Square.

This third trip included a more intimate papal encounter.

Racunas was one of approximately 450 delegates from five continents who traveled to Rome for the event, “Catechesis and Persons with Disabilities: A Necessary Engagement for the Promotion of the New Evangelization.”

The event was sponsored by the Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization and The Kairos Forum, which is based in the United Kingdom. The conference was held at

Leaven 12-08-17.indd 16

the Pontifical Urbaniana University in Rome.

“The conference was really about the theology and philosophy of disability,” said Racunas. “[The conference] covered topics like what we believe, the protection of persons with disabilities, prayer, the celebration of the Christian mystery and the celebration of the sacraments as occasions of catechesis,” he continued. “Saturday afternoon was focused on the more practical applications of the theology and philosophy in everyday practice. We listened to a number of practitioners.”

Those who attended the conference included people with disabilities, directors of diocesan ministries, theologians, philosophers, family members of people with disabilities, catechists, directors of religious education, parish priests, several bishops and a goodsize contingent of deaf Catholics from the five continents.

Three weeks before the conference, the attendees received a revised agenda with a surprise: It included a private audience with Pope Francis.

At about noon, members of the group were directed to a Baroque marbled and frescoed room — the Clementine Hall. After they were seated, the doors swung open and Pope Francis entered the room. They all stood and cheered.

Archbishop Rino Fisichella, the president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization, spoke to Pope Francis on behalf of the group.

“And then His Holiness spoke to us, in Italian,” said Racunas.

But instead of leaving after he spoke, the pontiff stayed an hour longer in order to meet each of the 450 attendees.

“Walking up to greet him, I kept thinking, ‘Don’t mess this up,’” said Racunas. “Be articulate. Look him in the eye.”

“The minute you approach him, he makes eye contact immediately,” recalled Racunas. “He has this joyful presence about him, this gentleness about him. . . . He just has this beautiful presence. He seems so peaceful — which I’m sure he is.

“It was just remarkable.”

Racunas said, “Thank you, Holy Father. I’m from Kansas City. Thank you, and God bless you.”

The handlers gave the attendees only three no-noes: Don’t engage the pope in conversation, no selfies and no hugs.

Racunas had some rosaries in his hands for his grandsons, who will make their first Communion this year.

“He looked down, saw them, put his hands on my hands, and just looked at me and smiled. He didn’t have to say anything,” said Racunas.

The conference was a great success, said Racunas. He got a sense of what was happening not only in the United States, but around the world.

“I hoped to learn some new things and bring some fresh ideas back to the archdiocese,” he said. “It validated what I’ve been trying to say and do in building this ministry in the archdiocese. There were several practical suggestions that I will be able to share with parishes, particularly models of catechesis for children with disabilities.”

12/6/17 7:40 AM