12 15 23 Vol. 45 No. 18

THELEAVEN.ORG | VOL. 45, NO. 18 | DECEMBER 15, 2023

THERE’S A NEW SHRINE IN TOWN Cathedral named as a shrine to Mother Maria Soledad

By Therese Horvat Special to The Leaven

K

ANSAS CITY, Kan. — During her lifetime in the 1800s, Mother Maria Soledad, foundress of the Servants of Mary, Ministers to the Sick, modeled love and respect for persons who were poor, sick and dying.

Today, through the new archdiocesan shrine recently dedicated in her name, St. Maria Soledad can continue to intercede on behalf of the dignity of all human life, for the sick and for an increase of vocations to religious life.

On Dec. 2 — Mother Soledad’s 197th birthday — Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann celebrated a special Mass to inaugurate the status of the Cathedral of St. Peter in Kansas City, Kansas, as a shrine to the Spanish saint. He commended the ministry and zeal of St. Maria Soledad and the religious community she founded — in the archdiocese, commonly referred to as the Sisters, Servants of Mary — as pioneers in the care of the dying and forerunners of today’s hospice care.

While there are churches and chapels in Spain and Colombia dedicated to St. Maria Soledad, the Kansas City shrine is a first. Following the Dec. 2 Mass, members of the congregation processed to the adjacent Our Lady’s Chapel at the cathedral where the archbishop blessed the statue and the first-class relic of the saint

Interested persons can call the parish office, Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Friday, 9 a.m. to noon, at (913) 371-0840 to make an appointment to visit the shrine.

that are now prominently enshrined behind the altar.

In his decree designating the shrine, the archbishop identified it as an opportune place to promote the spiritual message and legacy of St. Maria Soledad, to bring the faithful to a deeper experience of Christian life, to offer a place of pilgrimage, to encourage devotion to the saint and to foster vocations to the Servants of Mary. The archbishop said that the designation of this shrine solidifies the special bond that exists between the Sisters and the priests, deacons and laity of the archdiocese.

The Servants of Mary, Ministers to the Sick, have served in the archdiocese and lived within the boundaries of the cathedral since 1917. They provide in-home nursing care for those who are seriously ill. The Sisters charge no fees for their services. Their convent in Kansas City, Kansas, is the provincial house for the United States and Mexico.

A sign of hope Sister Alicia Hermosillo, S. de M., provincial superior, said the designation of the shrine is a very exciting and >> See “SHRINE” on page 6

LEAVEN PHOTO BY KATHRYN WHITE

Sister Teresa Seaton (left) and Sister Brenda Lopez (right) carry in the statue of Mother Maria Soledad for the dedication at the Cathedral of St. Peter in Kansas City, Kansas, as a shrine to the saint. The Sisters are followed by Father Keith Chadwick.

2 ARCHBISHOP

DECEMBER 15, 2023 | THELEAVEN.ORG

Hospitals serve to remind us of the miracle of the human body

T

he beginning of Advent for me was a surprising wake-up call.

On the First Sunday of Advent, I made a pastoral visit to our oldest parish in the archdiocese, Immaculate Conception in St. Marys, and her sister parish, St. Stanislaus in Rossville. I enjoyed the pastoral visit. There are many beautiful things happening in both parishes. Father Justin Hamilton is a good shepherd for both parish families.

Late Sunday afternoon, I began losing blood through my intestines. Like many men, I chose to ignore this aggravating symptom, hoping it would resolve itself.

By Monday morning, I was lightheaded and feeling weak. Msgr.

Stuart Swetland, with whom I share a residence (in fact, if you Google the address, it is identified as the home of the president of Donnelly College), was kind enough to take me to KU Med’s emergency room. I must have looked awful, because they started me on IV fluids immediately.

The admitting doctor was very kind. He looked very young, but everyone looks young to me these days! He noticed my title, Archbishop. He said that he did not know much about Catholic hierarchy. He asked me what an archbishop was. I responded by asking him if he was Christian.

He responded: “No.” I asked him if he had any religious faith. He replied: “No.” He was from California. He and his wife had moved to

LIFE WILL BE VICTORIOUS

ARCHBISHOP JOSEPH F. NAUMANN Kansas City for medical school.

I tried to explain to him the Catholic understanding of bishops and archbishops. He was very polite and seemed genuinely interested.

It saddened me that he did not know Jesus and had no faith in God. He was intelligent, competent and compassionate. I thanked him for his vocation as a medical doctor and promised to pray for him. I have been keeping him in my prayers and asking the Lord to reveal himself to this young doctor.

I was admitted to KU and received excellent care from the doctors and nurses, several of whom are Catholic.

Interestingly, from the moment I got to KU, my bleeding stopped.

I called a gastrointestinal doctor, who was a former president of our Kansas City Guild of the Catholic Medical Association, and described my symptoms.

Not presuming to diagnose me over the phone, he said from my description that I probably had a lower intestinal bleed that 80% of the time resolves itself. He was correct.

With the help of intravenous nourishment and some antibiotics, I was on the mend.

As a precaution, they did a colonoscopy to determine if there was anything more serious going on. Fortunately, it confirmed the diagnosis, and I was back home by Wednesday, able to eat real food again.

Another amazing Catholic doctor on staff at KU Med visited me while I was there.

Among all of his other responsibilities, he gives his time to mentor the Catholic medical students, helping them to grow in their faith life as they as grow in the medical knowledge and skills they will need as physicians.

For me, the entire experience made me marvel at the miracle of the human anatomy.

The human body is amazing. Many years ago, I read a book entitled: “Fearfully, Wonderfully Made.”

It was authored by a physician whose parents were Protestant missionaries. The book describes the incredible complexity of the human body with its many different types of cells that must each perform its unique function for our bodies to work well.

The author

marveled at the amazing physical capacities of the human body, such as the body’s ability to heal itself in many cases, whether it is a broken bone or a bleed in the intestine.

Modern science and medicine grew out of a Christian culture. Science only makes sense if there is an order and a design within the physical world. This design in the physical universe that is also reflected in the human body reveals a designer, a creator — God. While I was in the hospital, I received word that my cousin Roger died. He was the second oldest of my aunt’s and uncle’s eight sons with whom I spent a lot of time growing up. Roger was a year younger than me. Unfortunately, he was suffering from his third bout with cancer.

Despite all of our modern medical knowledge, medicines and therapies, this virulent cancer took Roger’s life in this world.

In the book “Fearfully, Wonderfully Made,” the author describes cancer as rebellious cells. In the case of cancer, particular cells are no longer performing their special function for the good of the entire body, but rather, reproducing at alarming rates that threaten the body’s health.

Cancer cells no longer are fulfilling their purpose for the good of the whole body, but are “selfishly” reproducing in a manner that jeopardizes the health of the entire body and will lead eventually to their own demise.

The Bible tells us that disease and death were not part of God’s original plan for humanity. They are the fruits of the rebellion of our first parents, who wanted to push God out of their lives so that they could become their own gods and goddesses. When we separate from God, chaos reigns.

In this sin-fractured world, we are all subject to suffering and death.

Jesus enters fully into our human condition, even to the point of experiencing suffering and death. Jesus does not eliminate suffering and death, but gives meaning and power to our suffering united to his crucifixion. Jesus

ARCHBISHOP NAUMANN’S CALENDAR Dec. 15 “Quo Vadis” — Savior Pastoral Center Dec. 18 CEF scholarship parents Mass and dinner — residence Dec. 19 Priests Personnel meeting — chancery Administrative Team meeting — chancery Dec. 20 Jesus Covenant prayer partner call Deacon Christmas gathering — Savior Dec. 21 Communio update with Tory Baucum Dec. 22 Mass and staff lunch — Savior Dec. 24 Christmas Eve Mass, 4 p.m. — Curé of Ars, Leawood Christmas Eve Mass., 10 p.m. — Cathedral of St. Peter, Kansas City, Kansas Dec. 25 Christmas Day Mass — Holy Spirit, Overland Park Dec. 26 Vespers and dinner with seminarians — residence Jan. 2 SEEK Bishops Experience — St. Louis Jan. 4 Region IX bishops retreat — California

gives us the blessed assurance that death does not win in the end because through our baptism, we share in his eternal life.

What a gift is the Incarnation! What a grace to know this God who loves us so much that he pursues us to the point of immersing himself into our humanity. What a blessing to know this God, who so often heals us from our suffering and life’s adversities.

By sharing in his risen life, Jesus provides the ultimate healing: eternal life with Our Lord in his heavenly kingdom.

I continue to think of that young doctor who helped admit me at KU and to pray for him. I pray that God will open the door of his heart to encounter the loving God, whose amazing fingerprint is found in the beauty of the human body.

One of the tragedies of our time is a distorted scientism that fails to recognize God’s image in all of creation.

Instead of marveling at a God who created the

cosmos and made human beings his divine masterpiece, many get caught up with their own abilities to understand and manipulate the created world.

Our scientific knowledge can actually become an instrument to push God out of our world, rather than a source of awe and amazement at the Divine Designer. The world becomes very dark and bleak if it becomes limited to only what we can measure and understand.

My brief hospital experience made me more grateful for the gift of faith. It deepened my gratitude for those who taught me the true meaning of the Christmas miracle.

I am not just thankful for knowing about the One born in Bethlehem, but actually for the opportunity to develop a friendship with the Lord of lords and King of kings.

I will also be grateful if the rest of Advent is not quite so exciting!

DECEMBER 15, 2023 | THELEAVEN.ORG

LOCAL NEWS 3

SEEING RED

St. Ann collects Christmas gifts for Red Bags KC

By Moira Cullings moira.cullings@theleaven.org

P

RAIRIE VILLAGE — “It’s the best time of the year,” said Tammy Laudan.

Standing amid piles of red bags stuffed with Christmas gifts at St. Ann School in Prairie Village, Laudan and Linda Cosgrove couldn’t help but smile as they anticipated the children who would unwrap them on Christmas morning.

Collecting gifts for Red Bags KC has been a St. Ann tradition for the past four decades.

On Dec. 1, the school’s eighth graders carried the bags outside and loaded them onto a truck.

The next morning, they were dropped off at the Ball Conference Center in Olathe, where they were sorted and prepared for distribution.

The gifts will be given to foster children and families in need around the Kansas City metro area.

The Red Bag program, which multiple archdiocesan schools have participated in over the years, was created by the late Daniel Jacobs, a longtime parishioner at St. Ann. Each year, organizers contact St. Ann as soon as they have their list of children and families in need. They’re given ideas for each child’s Christmas “wishes” — like games and toys — and “needs” — like coats, socks and underwear.

“They say that St. Ann’s is the largest single contributor to the program as a group,” said Cosgrove. “We always have the highest percentage of bags. It’s almost 10 percent every year.”

This year, the program is making Christmas brighter for 62 families and 1,752 children. St. Ann contributed gifts for 153 children.

Cosgrove and Laudan have been involved with the program since their daughters were in kindergarten at the school.

Although the girls are now grown, their moms continue to lead St. Ann’s efforts each year.

“We just love it,” said Cosgrove.

“Because it’s the best thing about Christmas,” said Laudan. “You can just imagine how these kids feel Christmas morning.”

“And we all have so much,” added Cosgrove. “We’re so blessed. And it’s just so beautiful to see the St. Ann’s community continue to give.”

For the past nine years, eighth graders Louisa Ismert and Chip Renz have looked forward to their school’s beloved tradition.

“All the kids from all the grades, we all get gifts and wrap them,” said Renz.

It’s an act of kindness both students appreciate.

“We are given so much,” said Ismert.

“It feels good to be able to help others that are in need.”

Renz agreed.

“Because some of these kids may not

LEAVEN PHOTO BY MOIRA CULLINGS

From left, eighth graders Sam Bleything, Chip Renz, Sophie Peterson, Lucy Collins and Ainsley Hellen carry red bags full of Christmas gifts to a truck outside St. Ann School in Prairie Village. The gifts will be distributed to foster children and families in need across the Kansas City metro.

IT’S THE BEST THING ABOUT CHRISTMAS. YOU CAN JUST IMAGINE HOW THESE KIDS FEEL CHRISTMAS MORNING. TAMMY LAUDAN RED BAG COORDINATOR

get anything at all for the year,” he said, “this is big for them.

“I really hope they’re just ecstatic with everything they get.”

Kindergarten teacher Gwen Mugmon said St. Ann’s involvement in the Red Bag program is “a remarkable legacy.”

Even her young students benefit from participating in the program.

“All of the children every year are just so excited to get involved and actively participate,” she said.

This year, Mugmon’s class of 18 contributed three bags.

“I was so overjoyed with the outpouring of love from our families and communities,” she said. “Everybody wants to serve.”

Mugmon uses the experience to teach her students about the importance of helping those in need.

“Even at a young age, we’re planting the seeds of sharing God’s love, of helping others,” she said. “We’re living the commandments.”

To learn more about the Red Bag program, visit the website at: redbagskc. com.

LEAVEN PHOTO BY MOIRA CULLINGS

From left, Grant Gelhaus, Graham Delzer and Charlotte Bichelmeyer hand bags to Paul Madden, who donated a truck from Madden-McFarland furniture to transport the school’s contributions.

LEAVEN PHOTO BY MOIRA CULLINGS

From left, Knox Frizzell, Max Canale, TJ Schieffer, Rosie McLiney, Adam Hartman and Gunnar Zinn help load the truck full of Christmas donations for the Red Bag program.

President Most Rev. Joseph F. Naumann

Publication No. (ISSN0194-9799) 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; or email at: sub@ theleaven.org. 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 $25/year. Periodicals postage paid at Kansas City, KS 66109.

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4 LOCAL NEWS

DECEMBER 15, 2023 | THELEAVEN.ORG

New communications director hopes to be a bridge to parishes

By Moira Cullings moira.cullings@theleaven.org

K

ANSAS CITY, Kan. — Her extensive marketing experience and lifelong Catholic faith might be a match made in heaven for the new role Marissa Easter took on this fall.

Easter became the new director of communications for the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas on Oct. 30.

She succeeds Anita McSorley, who served as part-time communications director since 2014 while being managing editor of The Leaven.

The communications position has now been expanded to a full-time position and includes additional responsibilities.

Easter, her husband and their two daughters belong to St. John Paul II Parish in Olathe.

She grew up in New Mexico and spent most of her life dreaming of becoming a doctor.

While attending the University of New Mexico as a pre-med student, she realized a career in medicine wasn’t for her.

“I wanted more of a work-life balance,” said Easter. “So, my dad, who has been in sales and marketing his whole life, said, ‘I think you have a personality in marketing. You should look into that.’”

It turned out her dad was right.

Easter majored in business management and earned her MBA in organizational behavior and human resources.

For the past 13 years, she’s worked in marketing and communications in a variety of industries, including sports, information security, e-commerce and

LEAVEN PHOTO BY MOIRA CULLINGS

Marissa Easter is the new director of communications for the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas. Easter, her husband and their two daughters belong to St. John Paul II Parish in Olathe.

I HOPE THAT BEING HERE I’M A BRIDGE TO THE PARISHES, JUST TO GET OUT MORE OF THE GOOD NEWS OF WHAT’S GOING ON. MARISSA EASTER DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS FOR THE ARCHDIOCESE OF KANSAS CITY IN KANSAS

fashion, insurance, banking and real estate.

Her longest role was as director

of marketing for ReeceNichols Real Estate, which she held for four years.

Transitioning from the corporate world to the Catholic Church has been smooth.

“I’m a cradle Catholic,” she said, “so I grew up in a super devout family. It was a huge part of my life growing up.”

In her new role, Easter will work on three main forms of communications: internal (within the chancery), “midternal” (out to the parishes) and external (out to parishioners and the general public).

“I hope that being here I’m a bridge to the parishes, just to get out more of the good news of what’s going on,” she said, “and for those in the parishes and the clergy to feel comfortable reaching out to me and helping them deliver

their messages.”

She’ll also oversee the archdiocesan website and social media and will serve as the media liaison.

Carla Mills, chief financial officer for the archdiocese, said Easter’s previous experience is pertinent to the work she’ll be doing.

“She also showed initiative and enthusiasm for our mission and a sense of urgency in completing tasks and campaigns,” said Mills.

“Her references were outstanding,” she continued, “and showed she went above and beyond her job responsibilities by initiating and creating charitable endeavors at her former employers.”

And Easter’s love of God and his church was just the cherry on top.

Mills has high hopes that Easter will enhance communications in the archdiocese.

“Most importantly,” she said, “I want her to weave herself into the very fabric of the Catholic Church in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas to help us spread the good news of Jesus Christ.

“We see too much of the harsh realities of this world on a daily basis, and it is important to balance that with the reality that Jesus walks with us in every circumstance.

“We are never alone.”

Easter is eager to join the archdiocese in spreading that message, and she doesn’t take the chance to share her faith through work for granted.

“It’s amazing,” she said, “and it’s so rare that you get that opportunity. I’ve spent my whole career in the corporate world, so this has been really refreshing.”

Capital campaign launched for pregnancy clinic in Shawnee

By Joe Bollig joe.bollig@theleaven.org

Join the Valentine’s fundraiser

K

ANSAS CITY, Kan. — The Greater Kansas City area will get a much-needed pregnancy clinic if a recently launched capital campaign is successful.

This month, the Kansas City Pregnancy Clinic began a “soft launch” of a fundraising campaign to open a second pregnancy clinic somewhere in Shawnee, said Ron Kelsey, president of Kansas City Pregnancy Clinic.

“I’m convinced Shawnee is an excellent area,” said Kelsey. “We do not, as of now, have a specific location.”

The campaign goal is $500,000, and it began with a $50,000 leadership grant from Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann and the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas. So far, the clinic has raised $141,000 in gifts and pledges.

The funds raised will be used to lease and remodel the second clinic location.

To raise funds, the campaign will send solicitation letters to donors and host a Valentine’s Day Evening of Life and Love on Feb. 13, 2024, at St. Patrick Parish hall in Kansas City, Kansas.

There’s no cost to attend, but freewill offerings will be accepted to defray the cost of the event and to fund the new clinic.

Participants must preregister. (See sidebar.)

Currently, the Kansas City Pregnancy

For more information and to register for the dance, go online to: kcpregnancyclinic.org. At the top right of the homepage, you’ll see the “2024 St. Valentine’s Day Event” link through which to register.

COURTESY PHOTO

Cindy Smith performs an ultrasound at the Kansas City Pregnancy Clinic in Kansas City, Kansas. Plans are being made to open a second clinic in Shawnee.

Clinic has one location at 721 N. 31st St. in Kansas City, Kansas, said Kelsey. In 2022, the clinic provided about 250 ultrasounds for pregnant women. Now, however, the clinic is well on its way to reaching an estimated 800.

“Ultrasounds are a proven tool to help women choose life,” said Kelsey.

There is an urgent need for a pregnancy clinic, he said.

One indication of need for another pregnancy clinic in Johnson County is

a growing demand for services, especially for ultrasounds.

Another indication of need is that although Johnson County used to have three pregnancy clinics, it now has only two. This comes at a time when the number of such clinics is increasing across the country.

A third indication of need is the increasing number of abortions in Kansas, among both in-state and out-ofstate residents, according to Kelsey.

Kelsey attributed the abortion increase to three things.

The first is the April 26, 2019, Kansas Supreme Court ruling in Hodes & Nauser v. Schmidt. In this ruling, Kansas’ high court discovered a “right to abortion” in the state’s 1859 constitution. This ruling, in effect, nullified all laws regulating abortion in Kansas.

A second is the August 2, 2022, defeat of the “Value Them Both” proposed amendment to the Kansas Constitution, which would have restored the power to regulate abortion to the state Legislature.

The third is the establishment of a new abortion clinic in Kansas City, Kansas.

Kelsey is confident that archdiocesan Catholics and other people of good will shall give generously. He believes they will recognize the need for a third pregnancy clinic in Johnson County, and that such a clinic will save the lives of many unborn children and provide tremendous benefit to women.

LOCAL NEWS 5

DECEMBER 15, 2023 | THELEAVEN.ORG

Archbishop awards Deo Gratias honors at CFNEK banquet

By Joe Bollig joe.bollig@theleaven.org

K

ANSAS CITY, Kan. — The theme of the Catholic Foundation of Northeast Kansas’ Deo Gratias annual meeting and awards dinner on Nov. 30 was: “I will raise the cup of salvation” (Ps 116:13).

“I really like that verse, but I really like the verse before it, ‘How can I repay the Lord for all the great good done for me,” said Bill Maloney, the foundation’s executive director. “It’s a great way to start the day by reciting that prayer.”

Like Psalm 116, the spirit of the event, held in the Keleher Conference Center at Savior Pastoral Center in Kansas City, Kansas, was of thanks and gratitude.

The CFNEK, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, provides distributions and grants to parishes, schools and institutions through the formation of endowments, donor advised funds, charitable gift annuities and membership in the Catholic Legacy Society.

The event featured Maloney giving a review of the past year for the CFNEK, and Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann presenting the annual Deo Gratias awards.

The flame-shaped glass awards are given each year to an outstanding Catholic institution and a distinguished Catholic family active in planned giving and endowments.

This year the honorees were Most Pure Heart of Mary Parish and School in Topeka, and John and Claudia Caton, members of St. Ann Parish in Prairie Village.

Most Pure Heart pastor, Father Nathan Haverland, accompanied by some parish staff, accepted the award on behalf of the parish and school. Most Pure Heart of Mary established an endowment fund in 1990 with the CFNEK. Its school scholarship fund was established in 2019 by combining six smaller funds. Today, the parish and school hold eight endowment funds with CFNEK. Honorees John and Claudia Caton were praised by Archbishop Naumann for involvement in their parish and devotion to their marriage and family life.

“John assisted in the development of St. Ann Parish’s stewardship committee and planned giving committee and established the first parish endowment fund of the Catholic Foundation of Northeast Kansas, so St. Ann’s was our pioneer of parish endowments,” said Archbishop Naumann. “John was the

LEAVEN PHOTO BY KATHRYN WHITE

John and Claudia Caton, members of St. Ann Parish in Prairie Village, are this year’s Deo Gratias honorees. The flame-shaped glass awards are given each year to an outstanding Catholic institution and a distinguished Catholic family active in planned giving and endowments. driver on that.”

“John’s been instrumental,” he added, “in the establishment of several endowment funds for vocations, including two endowment funds for the Serra Club.”

In his remarks, Maloney said the CFNEK established an envisioning team to chart the foundation’s future course. It hired CCS Fundraising Consultants to make a gift-planning study and they were very encouraged by the discovery of “off-the-charts potential for legacy and non-cash gifts to the archdiocese.”

“Based on those results, CCS created a roadmap for the Catholic foundation to help us grow our gift-planning effort,” said Maloney. “Archbishop Naumann, along with the Catholic Foundation board, embraced these findings and approved a substantial investment in the future of the Catholic Foundation.”

In its annual report distributed at the event, Maloney reported: “Our assets now total over $130 million.

This is due to a bounce back in the investment market and to the addition of $18.4 million in new deposits. Most importantly, we distributed over $6.2 million to the parishes, schools and ministries of the archdiocese.”

The CFNEK fund balance has 60

LEAVEN PHOTO BY KATHRYN WHITE

Father Nathan Haverland, pastor of Most Pure Heart of Mary Church in Topeka, accepted the Deo Gratias award on behalf of the parish and school, which were recognized as outstanding Catholic institutions active in planned giving and endowments. parish funds, 80 Catholic education funds, 22 cemetery funds, nine priests and religious vocations funds, 14 human services funds (including Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas) and

Volunteers from the University of Saint Mary, Leavenworth, packaged more than 20,000 meals on Dec. 2 during its annual Feed the Need event.

Packages of macaroni and cheese and oatmeal will be distributed to local families through Catholic Charities. USM students, faculty and staff packaged the meals in McGilley Field House on USM’s main campus, located at 4100 S. 4th St. Since 2014, Saint Mary has honored former USM board of trustees member John Baker, a man known for his spirit of community service, in naming the event, Feed the Need: The John Baker Global Service Project. Baker’s wife, Mary “Letty” Baker, a Saint Mary alumna, said, “John worked at a food pantry ever since he retired. This was something that was very close to him.” John Baker had a distinguished accounting career with Troupe Kehoe Whitaker and Kent. He served on the USM board of trustees before his death in 2014.

seven others. Additionally, there are 43 donor-advised funds and eight charitable gift annuities. During the last fiscal year, the foundation grew to 243 funds under management.

Linda (Rottinghaus) and Carol Haverkamp, members of St. Michael the Archa n g e l Parish, Leawood, are celebrating their 50th anniversary with a family trip to Cancun, Mexico. The couple was married on Dec. 29, 1973, at St. Mary Church, St. Benedict, by Father Jim Shaughnessy. Their children are: Jada Haverkamp, Olathe, and Derek Haverkamp, Overland Park. They also have two grandchildren.

6 LOCAL NEWS

DECEMBER 15, 2023 | THELEAVEN.ORG

Shrine is a way to show gratitude for the service of the Sisters >> Continued from page 1

meaningful development for the Sisters.

“In the midst of all the changes we are undergoing in our congregation, leading us to a revitalizing and restructuring of our provinces, the shrine serves as a sign of hope that Mother Soledad still walks with us in this time,” she said. “She keeps working hard for the dignity of the sick and the salvation of souls.”

Mother Alicia and the archbishop both acknowledge the efforts of Sister Ema Munoz, S. de M., local superior, and Father Anthony Saiki, rector of the cathedral, who collaborated on the development of the shrine. Father Saiki explained that through the years, there have been ongoing conversations of ways the religious community and the parish could collaborate more and support one another’s mission. The suggestion of an archdiocesan shrine to the foundress surfaced as a creative and viable opportunity.

Study and research, consultation and prayer led to the decision to seek designation as a shrine. The cathedral seemed like a natural location with its close proximity to the Servants of Mary convent. It is the mother church of the archdiocese and the archbishop’s church. The archbishop embraced the plan.

“We can’t discount Mother Soledad’s intercession in all of this,” added Father Saiki, “bringing together the archdiocese, the Servants of Mary and the cathedral in what is a win-win-win for all the entities involved and for the people of northeast Kansas and visitors who will come to the shrine.”

“The Servants of Mary have been such a blessing to the archdiocese,” said Father Saiki. “The shrine is a way to show gratitude to them for more than a century of caring for the sick and elderly.”

An approachable saint Mother Alicia agreed that everything has been connected and providential in the designation of the shrine.

She described Mother Maria Soledad as a humble person who is a very

LEAVEN PHOTO BY KATHRYN WHITE

The first-class relic of Mother Maria Soledad, as well as a statue of St. Maria Soledad, are displayed to the congregation of the Cathedral of St. Peter in Kansas City, Kansas, during a ceremony declaring the church as a shrine to the saint. At the ambo is Deacon Efra Pruneda of the parish. approachable saint.

“Mother Soledad always had an extraordinary preference for the poor and sick,” she said. “She fought for the dignity of every sick person, and she confronted many authorities in order to reach out to the most vulnerable — those sick and suffering who needed help. Her desire was to be with every sick person and to care for them with dignity and to help them value their suffering and offer it for the good of their souls and for the whole world.”

Father Saiki said that the plan is being developed to welcome pilgrims to the St. Maria Soledad Shrine. For now, interested persons can call the parish office, Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Friday, 9 a.m. to noon, at (913) 371-0840 to make an appointment to visit the shrine. The goal is to enhance ease of access and to

have holy cards and information about Mother Soledad and the Servants of Mary available, along with catechetical materials on end-of-life issues.

Other benefits to be publicized in the future include the granting of partial and plenary indulgences to those who visit the shrine and meet identified requirements. Additionally, while St. Maria Soledad’s feast day is not on the official U.S. liturgical calendar, the cathedral will observe her Oct. 11 memorial.

LEAVEN PHOTO BY KATHRYN WHITE

Father Anthony Saiki, rector of the cathedral, who collaborated on the development of the shrine, exhibits the first-class relic of Mother Maria Soledad that is now housed in Our Lady’s Chapel at the cathedral.

ACROSS 1 Organization concerned with civil liberties (abbr.)

5 Gives the impression of being 10 Omelette ingredient 14 Den 15 Use 16 Thunder __ 17 Brief 18 City of pilgrimages 19 Faith, __ and charity 20 Turkish capital 22 Reverenced as holy 24 David’s musical instrument 26 Garden tool 27 Computer part 30 Asian country 32 Honor your father and __ 37 Chicken 38 Fear 40 Ancient German character 41 Those who are opposed 43 Be incorrect 44 Religious songs 45 Foremost 46 Open grassy area 48 Position 49 Legislative assembly 52 Zeus’ wife COPYRIGHT © BY CLIFF LEITCH, THE CHRISTIAN BIBLE REFERENCE SITE, WWW.CHRISTIANBIBLEREFERENCE.ORG. USED BY PERMISSION

53 54 56 58 63 67 68 70 71 72 73 74 75 76

Bro.’s sibling Nada Loam Wife of Moses Cultural Smell Clothes pressers Rolled chocolate candy brand Fake butter Clerk Capital of Norway Baseball team Leader of Exodus Prime

DOWN 1 __ mater 2 Abel’s brother 3 Join together 4 First husband of Bathsheba 5 Region of Palestine 6 First woman 7 Every 8 OT book of prophecy 9 Race on skis 10 Resound 11 Beam 12 Yawn 13 Hurried

21 Files 23 MGM’s Lion 25 Sheets of glass 27 Winner 28 Punitive 29 Undo shoes 31 Joy (KJV) 33 Strive 34 A camel’s bumps 35 Boredom 36 Takes a break 39 Statement of beliefs 42 No room for them in the __ 44 Biblical seat of emotions 47 Religious men 50 Card game 51 Sister of Moses 55 One of the Florida Keys 57 Ache 58 Whizz 59 Doing nothing 60 Poem creator 61 Aces 62 Garden tools 64 Pry 65 Evils 66 Bird 69 Compass point Solution on page 10

COMBATING CLIMATE CHANGE

CNS PHOTO/VATICAN MEDIA

Pope Francis signs the Interfaith Statement on Climate Change in his Vatican residence on Dec. 3.

The pope had been scheduled to sign the document at the Faith Pavilion at COP28 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, but was forced to cancel the trip because of a bronchial infection.

CNS PHOTO/BAZ RATNER, REUTERS

A herdsman walks past the carcass of a cow in Kargi, Kenya. The climate conference, COP28, was held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from Nov. 30-Dec. 12, and addressed the rising number of droughts, floods and other natural disasters that are resulting from the changing climate.

Pope calls world leaders to end divisions to fight climate change

By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service

V

ATICAN CITY (CNS) — The future of humanity depends on what people choose now, Pope Francis said in his message to global leaders at the World Climate Action Summit of the U.N. Climate Change Conference.

“Are we working for a culture of life or a culture of death?” he asked in his message. “To all of you, I make this heartfelt appeal: Let us choose life! Let us choose the future!”

THE DRIVE TO PRODUCE AND POSSESS HAS BECOME AN OBSESSION, RESULTING IN AN INORDINATE GREED THAT HAS MADE THE ENVIRONMENT THE OBJECT OF UNBRIDLED EXPLOITATION. POPE FRANCIS “The purpose of power is to serve. It is useless to cling to an authority that will one day be remembered for its inability to take action when it was urgent and necessary to do so. History will be

grateful to you,” the pope wrote.

Excerpts from Pope Francis’ full written message were read by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, Dec. 2 during the high-level segment with heads

of state and government at the climate conference, COP28, being held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Nov. 30-Dec. 12.

Pope Francis was to have been the first pope to attend the U.N. climate conference Dec. 1-3, but canceled his trip Nov. 28 after coming down with a serious bronchial infection.

The Vatican published the pope’s full speech Dec. 2, although Cardinal Parolin read only excerpts at the summit to respect the three-minute limit on national statements. The text was submitted in full to the conference. >> See “Poor” on the next page

Pope calls Catholics to action on stewar

A

lthough health issues kept Pope Francis from traveling to Dubai to deliver his address in person, his historic speech reiterated the call to urgent action on climate change he made in his recent apostolic exhortation “Laudate Deum.”

For a layman’s perspective on “Laudate Bob Lambrechts Deum,” The Leaven talked with Bob Lambrechts, an environmental professor and lawyer.

Q. What is “Laudate Deum”?

A. “Laudate Deum” (Latin for “Praise

God” [for all his creatures]) is an apostolic exhortation by Pope Francis published Oct. 4. In it, the pope follows up his groundbreaking encyclical “Laudato Si’” by calling for resolute action against the climate crisis and condemning climate change denial.

Q.

Was Pope Francis’ encyclical letter on climate change?

A.

Yes, on May 24, 2015, Pope Francis issued “Laudato Si’” (Latin for “Praised Be”). Encyclicals are even higher in importance than exhortations and on matters of particular interest to the pope, meant to be read by all the faithful. “Laudato Si’” addresses the relationship between God, humans and the Earth and exhorts the faithful on the doctrinal issue of “Care for Our Common Home.”

Q.

In “Laudate Deum,” Pope Francis advances his case against climate change denial. What evidence has led to his conclusions?

A.

Some 34,000 studies have analyzed climate conditions ranging from hothouse to glacial conditions historically.

This comprehensive research has given mankind the tools to study the Earth’s climate sensitivity, argues the pope. The amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere during the last 800,000 years indicates that CO2 is the primary factor regulating world temperature. Present-day levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are higher than at any time in at least the past 800,000 years, with most of these emissions occurring since 1970.

Firefighters stand on a Kamloops Fire Rescue truck at a wildfire near Fort St. John, British Columbia, May 14. Wildfires have always occurred, but exp severity.

Q.

Do some criticize the pope’s advocacy on this, and if so, what evidence do they cite to support their position?

A.

Those opposed to the pope’s position assert that the climate computer models do not properly account for the fact that the oceans are the biggest carbon sinks on the planet and store many times more carbon than land plants and soil combined. They further assert that the computer models do not properly consider the cooling effect of clouds. Both the atmosphere and the oceans are very complex systems, they believe, and those opposed to the pope’s position assert that current climate computer models fail to capture these critical effects.

Q.

Do some critics suggest that global warming is not a matter for a pope to speak out on? That he should stay in his lane, so to speak?

A.

The pope’s environmental focus has drawn criticism from some quarters that claim it is pushing the faith beyond its limits.

CNS PHOTO/JORGE DAN LOPEZ, REUTERS

A man near a house in Santa Rosa, Guatemala, wades through flood water Oct. 13, 2011. Natural disasters have hit the Central American country especially hard the last 10 years. Extensive damage from back-to-back tropical storms in late 2020 in the middle of a pandemic has made a bad situation worse in Guatemala.

According to a survey conducted by the Pew Research Center in 2022, only 44% of Catholics believe that the Earth is

getting warmer mostly because of human activity. An additional 29% believe that the Earth is getting warmer, but not from

human activity.

It is reasonable to conclude, therefore, that many Catholics still do not consider

rdship of the planet Aug. 30.

“Climate change is a national security issue,” she said, “and for the national security community, that declaration is not controversial — it’s fact.” The Department of Defense budget for fiscal year 2024 includes more than $5 billion to mitigate climate risk.

“Globally occurring severe weather events are becoming more often and intense, which is one of the most obvious effects of climate change,” she said. “The atmospheric conditions brought on by rising temperatures make natural disasters like heat waves, droughts, flooding, wildfires and storms more frequent.

These events have the power to end lives and livelihoods in local communities and could unseat whole societies.”

Meanwhile, on the homefront, many believe it is affecting things as mundane as planting seasons. The 2023 U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Plant Hardiness Zone Map, for example, the standard for gardeners and growers to figure out which plants will thrive in their locale, is about 2.5 degrees Fahrenheit “warmer” than the 2012 map.

In other words, what you used to only be able to grow in the South, you can now grow farther up north — because the climate is warming.

Q.

Is there a paragraph in “Laudate Deum” that has really stuck with you?

A.

OSV NEWS PHOTO/KAMLOOPS FIRE RESCUE HANDOUT VIA REUTERS

perts say the warming climate is increasing their environmental protection to be a fundamental component of their faith. Instead of seeing it as a primary commitment, they see it as an optional activity.

Q.

Have other popes expressed a connection between the faith and man’s relationship to the planet?

A.

Pope Francis is not the first pontiff to reach the conclusion that stewardship of the environment is an important tenet of Catholic teaching. In its April 17, 2008, issue, Newsweek magazine featured a front-page story called “The Green Pope” — Pope Benedict XVI. The article highlights Benedict’s “environmental leadership” and goes on to detail the green initiatives undertaken by him.

Pope John Paul II, the predecessor of Benedict XVI, likewise recognized the moral issues at the core of environmental issues, particularly the issue of consumerism. The late pope has the rare distinction of devoting whole papal writings to ecological issues relating to the environment.

When Pope John Paul II was scheduled to speak at the World Day of Peace on Jan. 1, 1990, in fact, he rather surprisingly chose to speak about the environment instead.

His address was called “Peace with God the creator, peace with all of creation.”

Q.

While politicians still debate the impact of climate change, aren’t institutions having to plan for the warming that has already taken place?

A.

Yes. U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks recently spoke about climate change to West Point cadets on

Yes, there is one section that really highlights the ways climate change will impact the poor the most. At the end of paragraph 2, Pope Francis writes: “[T]he impact of climate change will increasingly prejudice the lives and families of many persons. We will feel its effects in the areas of health care, sources of employment, access to resources, housing, forced migrations, etc.”

Q.

With this exhortation what does the pope seek from the lay faithful?

Pope Francis lauds the personal responsibility that individuals take on to protect their world, even if they are small fixes in the face of society-wide problems.

In paragraph 69, he writes: “I ask everyone to accompany this pilgrimage of reconciliation with the world that is our home and to help make it more beautiful, because that commitment has to do with our personal dignity and highest values.”

Q.

As a layperson yourself, how would you recommend Catholics approach Pope Francis’ teaching in “Laudate Deum”?

A.

Even though some of us have had the opportunity to study this issue in depth, most people who are inclined to disregard Francis’ message are not experts in this field. This is not to suggest that readers need to accept without question every claim made in the document.

But before passing judgment on the veracity of the Holy Father’s teachings, a thoughtful Catholic would do well to start a careful reading of “Laudate Deum” by giving Pope Francis the benefit of the doubt.

Bob Lambrechts holds an interdisciplinary Ph.D. in engineering and geosciences and for many years has taught environmental law to graduate students at UMKC. He currently serves as senior counsel at the law firm of Lathrop GPM, where he practices environmental and patent law. He and his wife are parishioners of Church of the Nativity in Leawood.

CNS PHOTO/MONICAH MWANGI, REUTERS

Waki Munyalo works on her farm in Kitui, Kenya, March 17, 2021, after harvesting corn as she manages extreme climate conditions.

‘Poor are the real victims’ of the devastation of climate change, says pope >> Continued from page 7

“Sadly, I am unable to be present with you, as I had greatly desired,” the pope’s text said.

The destruction of the environment is “a sin” that not only “greatly endangers all human beings, especially the most vulnerable,” he wrote, but it also “threatens to unleash a conflict between generations.”

“The drive to produce and possess has become an obsession, resulting in an inordinate greed that has made the environment the object of unbridled exploitation,” the pope wrote. People must recognize their limits, with humility and courage, and seek authentic fulfillment.

“What stands in the way of this?

The divisions that presently exist among us,” he wrote.

The world “should not be unconnected by those who govern it, with international negotiations that ‘cannot make significant progress due to positions taken by countries which place their national interests above the global common good,’” he wrote, quoting from his 2015 encyclical “Laudato Si’, On Care for Our Common Home.”

The poor and high birth rates are not to blame for today’s climate crisis, he wrote. “Almost half of our world that is more needy is responsible for scarcely 10% of toxic emissions, while the gap between the opulent few and the masses of the poor has never been so abysmal. The poor are the real victims of what is happening.”

As for population growth, births are a resource, he wrote, “whereas certain ideological and utilitarian models now being imposed with a velvet glove on families and peoples constitute real forms of colonization.”

“The development of many countries, already burdened by grave economic debt, should not be penalized,” it said. “It would only be fair to find suitable means of remitting the financial debts that burden different peoples, not least in light of the ecological debt

that they are owed” by the few nations responsible for the bulk of emissions.

“We have a grave responsibility,” he wrote, which is to ensure the earth, the poor and the young not be denied a future.

The solution requires coming together as brothers and sisters living in a common home, rebuilding trust and pursuing multilateralism, he added.

The care for creation and world peace are closely linked, the pope wrote.

“How much energy is humanity wasting on the numerous wars” being waged, he wrote, and “how many resources are being squandered on weaponry that destroys lives and devastates our common home!”

The pope again urged governments to divert money away from arms and other military expenditures toward a global fund to end hunger, to promote sustainable development of poorer countries and to combat climate change.

“Climate change signals the need for political change” away from narrow self-interest and nationalism, he wrote.

There must be “a breakthrough that is not a partial change of course, but rather a new way of making progress together,” he wrote. There must be “a decisive acceleration of ecological transition” regarding energy efficiency, renewable sources, the elimination of fossil fuels and “education in lifestyles that are less dependent on the latter.”

He promised the “commitment and support of the Catholic Church, which is deeply engaged in the work of education and of encouraging participation by all, as well as in promoting sound lifestyles.”

“Let us leave behind our divisions and unite our forces,” Pope Francis wrote. “And with God’s help, let us emerge from the dark night of wars and environmental devastation in order to turn our common future into the dawn of a new and radiant day.”

10 WORLD

DECEMBER 15, 2023 | THELEAVEN.ORG

Special guests at dinner under Bernini’s colonnade — the homeless

By Paulina Guzik OSV News

R

OME (OSV News) — The lighting of a Christmas tree and unveiling of a Nativity scene at the Vatican on Dec. 9 included a group of special guests. For the first time in history, 150 homeless people had a festive meal, served by Italian journalists and their families, under the famous baroque Bernini’s colonnade in St. Peter’s Square.

The meal was organized by the Dicastery for the Service of Charity and St. Peter’s Parish with the support of the Governorate of Vatican City State as part of the “actions of a social nature of the Papal Basilica of St. Peter’s in preparation for the Jubilee” of 2025.

“When the pastor of St. Peter’s Basilica approached me to organize it here, under the colonnade, I said — maybe not, maybe in the warmth, somewhere in the restaurant,” Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, prefect of the Dicastery for the Service of Charity told OSV News.

But then, Franciscan Father Agnello Stoia convinced the cardinal that Bernini’s colonnade was the right place.

“You know why? Because it’s their place! They built it!” said Cardinal Krajewski.

In 1656, when sculptor and architect Gian Lorenzo Bernini was entrusted with the construction of the now-famous colonnade, Rome was dramatically affected by the epidemic of plague, and it was difficult to find construction workers. Pope Alexander VII decided to gather homeless people living around the Vatican to help build what is today considered a baroque

masterpiece.

“The pope gave them the job, he gave them the salary and brought back dignity,” the cardinal said of Pope Alexander VII. “Now I thank God the homeless people of today could dine here because this is where they live; under the colonnade, it’s their place.”

The cooks were also special — staff of the biggest television channel in Italy — RAI. They served the homeless with their children.

“The children were beautifully dressed; they walked every homeless person to a white table where the meal was served to them like in an exclusive restaurant,” Cardinal Krajewski said.

The poor were invited with printed invitations on dark red paper, with Christmas decorative drawings, saying: “With the blessing of Pope Francis, the Apostolic Almonery and St. Peter’s Parish, on the occasion of the inauguration of the Nativity scene and the lighting of the Christmas tree, which are the signs of the feast for the birth of Jesus, are pleased to invite you to dinner on Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023.”

“May we all welcome Jesus with a heart full of joy and humanity!” the invitation said.

Answering criticism that the architectural masterpiece is “damaged” by homeless people sleeping under the colonnade on a daily basis, and now dining there as well, Cardinal Krajewski said that they are the “ornament” of the colonnade and the heart of it.

“At the end of the dinner, in which chicken was served, topped with an ice cream dessert, everyone left with a gift — a thermos, elegant scarf and a bar of chocolate,” the cardinal said, emphasizing that Christmas is the time of giving.

OSV NEWS PHOTO/COURTESY DICASTERY FOR THE SERVICE OF CHARITY

Dinner for 150 homeless people accompanied the lighting of a Christmas tree in the Vatican Dec. 9, in an unusual space — under Bernini’s colonnade.

Kyiv parish enshrines St. John Paul II relics

By Gina Christian OSV News

K

YIV, Ukraine (OSV News) — A Catholic church in Ukraine named for St. Nicholas marked its patron’s feast day by enshrining relics from St. John Paul II, who witnessed the power of faith over authoritarianism.

The Roman Catholic Church of St. Nicholas in Kyiv, part of the Diocese of Kyiv-Zhytomyr, celebrated a patronal Mass Dec. 6, after which the faithful had an opportunity to venerate the relics of the late pope.

For the occasion, an exhibition of works entitled “Strength to Endure”

by Kyiv artist Svitlana Sevostyanchyk was displayed, with Sevostyanchyk

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donating one of them to the church.

“The painting depicts St. Nicholas and everything related to our soldiers, our defenders, and our will. These are different warriors. St. Nicholas is also in military uniform, because he is also a protector,” the artist told Ukrinform, the Ukrainian national news agency, which reported the relic enshrinement and liturgy Dec. 7.

The agency quoted St. Nicholas’ pastor, Oblate of Mary Immaculate Father Pavlo Vyshkovskyi, as saying the event was “a very important one for us.”

St. John Paul’s relics will be in St. Nicholas’ church on a permanent basis “accessible to everyone,” said Father Vyshkovskyi.

The priest recalled that St. John Paul was at St. Nicholas in June 2001

during his apostolic visit to Ukraine.

The country’s president at the time, Leonid Kuchma, promised the pope that the church building, owned by the government, would be handed over to the parish for permanent use — a transfer that is still in process more than two decades later, and that speaks to the long struggle of the Catholic Church in Ukraine to emerge from decades of persecution under Soviet rule.

Modeled after Vienna’s Votivkirche, the neo-Gothic church — which was constructed over a 10-year span from 1899-1909 — is the second Catholic cathedral built in Kyiv. When St. Alexander Church could no longer accommodate a growing Catholic community, local Catholic leaders approached civil authorities in 1898 for the land to build a new church.

To ensure their request would be approved, they promised to name it in honor of a visit to Kyiv by Russian tsar Nicholas II (who was ultimately assassinated along with his family in 1918 by the Bolsheviks).

Catholics worshiped at the church until 1936, with Soviet authorities enacting increasingly harsh repressive measures and finally closing the church in 1938.

Only in January 1992 were Masses resumed at St. Nicholas; today, liturgies are celebrated at the church daily in Ukrainian, Polish, Spanish and Latin.

Since the full-scale war broke out in Ukraine with Russia’s invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, the Catholic Church is seen as a prominent supporter of Ukrainian freedom.

SOLUTION

NATION 11

DECEMBER 15, 2023 | THELEAVEN.ORG

Diorama places Nativity amid a busy, bustling Bethlehem

By Dave Hrbacek OSV News

E

DINA, Minn. (OSV News) — Father Allen Kuss has been collecting Italian-made Fontanini Nativity scene figurines for the last 44 years.

After amassing more than 650 of them, he decided in 2022 that it was time to put them on display.

Father Kuss, 66, pastor of St. Patrick in Edina, wanted to arrange all of them in a depiction of the Holy Land region, complete with landscape and buildings, including the temple in Jerusalem. He knew it would be a huge task, one he did not want to do by himself.

In 2022, he happened to meet a retired medical illustrator, Don Keller, whose accomplishments over the last 40 years include creating a walk-through replica of the human eyeball with a diameter of 10 feet.

Father Kuss decided to ask Keller, 75 — who belongs to Our Lady of Grace in Edina but also comes to St. Patrick for various functions, including Mass — if he would be interested in helping design and build what Father Kuss calls a diorama. Keller said yes, and the two began work last year on a scene depicting Bethlehem and the surrounding region. The scene is laid out on a disk that is 20 feet in diameter. Moved up from their workroom in the church basement to the main church, it opened for public viewing Dec. 8, the feast of the Immaculate Conception, and will

OSV NEWS PHOTO/DAVE HRBACEK, THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

An Oct. 19, 2023, photo shows Father Allen Kuss, pastor of St. Patrick Parish in Edina, Minnesota, and Don Keller, a retired medical illustrator, standing in front of the diorama they created of Bethlehem that includes a Nativity scene. Their approach was to show a busy and bustling city of Bethlehem that would have been filled with many people at the time of Christ’s birth.

The diorama opened for public display in St. Patrick Church Dec. 8, the feast of the Immaculate Conception, and will be on view through Feb. 28. be on display until Feb. 28.

The two worked steadily for about 14 months, spending more than 1,000 hours on the project with the help of about 12 volunteers. They used simple materials to create the landscape — polyurethane foam, Styrofoam and burlap — and more than 700 feet of wire for 1,250 LED lights to illuminate the scene. The final touch was hand painting the landscape, buildings and other features of the 310-square-foot diorama.

Contained within this landscape, but

not prominently positioned, is the Nativity scene. This approach is designed to help viewers see Jesus, Mary and Joseph as part of a busy and bustling city of Bethlehem that would have been filled with many people at the time Jesus was born due to the census taking place by order of the Roman emperor.

“My intention here is to get people to think not just of the baby Jesus, but what impact does that event have in the lives of these people, these characters — and in your life?” said Father Kuss,

who has been to the Holy Land twice, including a monthlong trip while he was on the faculty of St. Paul Seminary in St. Paul.

More than a year of building the diorama has the two principal architects themselves reflecting on the Nativity and its impact on their lives.

“I’m feeling it every day,” Keller told The Catholic Spirit, newspaper of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. “I sit back and look at this [diorama] and I think, ‘These people were at the well, they were doing things, and 500 yards away, Christ was being born. They didn’t even know it.’ And, hopefully, that’s what people are going to think about when they look at this.

And, to be a part of that, as an artist, is a privilege.”

Father Kuss and Keller placed three iPads around the diorama containing photos of various portions and two or three sentences of explanation with each photo so that viewers can learn more about what they’re seeing.

Father Kuss hopes to store the diorama and put it up for display again next year. He plans to invite clergy of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, all the way up to Archbishop Bernard A. Hebda, to come and see it.

“When I see this, I’m overwhelmed,” Father Kuss said. “I’m overwhelmed at the beauty of it. It’s gorgeous — the creativity, the painting that Don has done. . . . I’m amazed at all of the detail and how well it is able to convey the story.”

New Mexico sues Meta for young users’ exposure to dangerous content

S

ANTA FE, N.M. (OSV News) — The New Mexico Attorney General’s office filed a civil lawsuit against Meta Dec. 5, alleging the social media giant has become a “marketplace for predators” on its Instagram and Facebook platforms, the latest in a series of allegations against Meta concerning how young users are impacted by those sites.

New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez said in a statement, “Our investigation into Meta’s social media platforms demonstrates that they are not safe spaces for children but rather prime locations for predators to trade child pornography and solicit minors for sex.”

“As a career prosecutor who specialized in internet crimes against children, I am committed to using every available tool to put an end to these horrific practices and I will hold companies — and their executives — accountable whenever they put profits ahead of children’s safety,” Torrez said.

Torrez’s office said that it conducted an undercover investigation of those platforms in which it set up decoy accounts posing as children 14 and younger. Through those accounts, they saw “egregious, sexually explicit images” despite showing no interest in such content, encountered adults seeking explicit images from those accounts or recommendations pushing them into unmoderated groups “devoted to facilitating commercial sex.”

His office also said the platforms allowed “a fictitious mother to offer her 13-year-old daughter for sale to sex traffickers and to create a professional page to allow her daughter to share revenue from advertising.”

“Mr. Zuckerberg and other Meta executives are aware of the serious harm their products can pose to young users, and yet they have failed to make sufficient changes to their platforms that would prevent the sexual exploitation of children,” Torrez said. “Despite repeated assurances to Congress and the public that they can be trusted to police themselves, it is clear that Meta’s executives continue to prioritize engagement and ad revenue over the safety of the most vulnerable members of our society.”

Meta has previously faced congressional scrutiny after reporting by The Wall Street Journal detailed how underage-sex content was enabled by Instagram’s algorithms.

Earlier in June, four bishops serving as chairs of their respective committees within the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops released a letter calling on lawmakers in Congress to address the exploitation of children through the internet and mobile technology with legislation that would reflect respect for life and dignity, the call to family and the call to community and participation.

“Online child exploitation threatens the safety and well-being of our young people and destroys families and communities,” stated the letter signed by Bishop James V. Johnston, Jr. of Kansas City-St. Joseph, Missouri (Committee on the Protection of Children and Young People); Archbishop Borys Gudziak of the Ukrainian Archeparchy of Philadelphia (Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development); Bishop Robert P. Reed, auxiliary bishop of Boston (Communications); and Bishop Robert E. Barron of Winona-Rochester, Minnesota (Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life, and Youth).

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12 CLASSIFIEDS EMPLOYMENT Catholic elementary school principal - Holy Family School in Topeka is seeking an individual with demonstrated skill in spirituality, academics and advancement, particularly in the area of enrollment management leadership for the 2023-24 school year. The ability to understand and speak Spanish is a plus. Holy Family has approximately 164 students in K - 8th grades and 14 preschoolers taught by 14 teachers. Applicants for principal must be practicing Catholics, understand the mission of Catholic schools and have or be eligible for Kansas licensure in educational leadership. Visit the website at: holyfamilytopeka.net to learn more about the school.

Apply online at: archkckcs.org/apply.

Volunteer engagement coordinator - Are you compassionate, motivated, mission-driven and desire to empower others? Do you have experience with volunteer coordination? Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas is seeking a volunteer engagement coordinator to serve on our volunteer engagement team and assist with our recruiting and onboarding initiatives for the 30-plus programs at Catholic Charities. To learn more or apply, visit: catholiccharitiesks.org/careers, scroll down and click on “View all opportunities,” then click on “View all,” then scroll down to “Coordinator, Volunteer Engagement.”

Assistant baseball coach - Bishop Miege High School is seeking an assistant baseball coach for the spring season. Contact Joe Schramp, athletic director, at: jschramp@bishopmiege.com or call (913) 222-5802.

Part-time custodian - St. Patrick School, Kansas City, Kansas, has an immediate opening for a part-time custodian. All candidates should be able to perform the duties of a school custodian, including, but not limited to: heavy lifting, cleaning and general maintenance and upkeep of the school building. He/she will have the advantage of working in a Christ-centered environment. Experience is preferred. Please send all inquiries to: cfithian@stpatrickkck.org.

Nonmedical caregivers - Saint Rita Home Care is hiring non-medical caregivers for seniors. Seeking compassionate individuals to fill all shifts. We serve people in Johnson, Douglas, Miami, Franklin and Leavenworth counties. Kansas state licensed, nonmedical home care agency. Call or text Renee Margush at (913) 229-4267, or rmargush@saintritahc. com. Member of Prince of Peace Parish, Olathe.

Staff job openings - Donnelly College in Kansas City, Kansas, has the following staff job openings available: Chief financial officer, director of development, admissions counselor, mission support specialist.. Find job descriptions and details at: www.donnelly.edu/ careers.

Full-time custodian - The Church of the Nativity Parish School has immediate openings for a full-time custodian. Qualified applicants should have prior custodial experience, specifically in a school environment. Maintenance experience would be a plus.

The full-time position is scheduled to work M-F from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and the part-time from 4 to 8 p.m.

M-F. Some holiday work is expected. Applicants must have a compatible work history, references, dependable transportation and be willing to participate in a background check. The Church of the Nativity expects to pay market compensation commensurate with experience and qualifications. Nativity has a history of retaining its employees, who enjoy the advantages of working at a vibrant, collaborative, faithbased place of worship and education. Nativity Parish School is located at 3700 W. 119th, Leawood. Nativity offers a comprehensive benefit program including medical, dental, vision, vacation and 401(k). Interested applicants should send resumes and work history to: mhyde@kcnativity.org. No phone calls please.

Caregiver needed - Are you looking for an in-home caregiving opportunity? The Shikles family is urgently hiring a dedicated and compassionate direct support worker for the care of Stephen Shikles. Pay is $19.62 per hour; flexible hours up to 40 hours per week. For more information, please contact Lisa Shikles at (913) 333-0887 or lisa.shikles@gmail. com.

Associate superintendent of schools - The archdiocesan Catholic Schools Office is seeking to hire a full-time associate superintendent of schools. He/she would be responsible for collaborating with the superintendent and other office staff to support school leaders in ways that will enable them to be spiritual and effective leaders for teachers. A minimum of seven years’ experience in educational leadership, some of which must be in Catholic schools leadership, is required. Please visit Employment Opportunities on the archdiocesan website for more information or to apply. Go online to: “archkck.org,” scroll to the bottom and click on “Employment Opportunities,” then scroll down and click on “Openings in our Archdiocese” then on “Associate Superintendent of Schools.”

Nanny - In search of a weekend and evening nanny. Hours will vary between 10 - 20 hours per week.

Family of three kids, but most of the need will be for a newborn. Located in the Roeland Park area. Must have a clear background and reliable transportation.

Contact: cook.kat.m@gmail.com with questions and to apply.

DECEMBER 15, 2023 | THELEAVEN.ORG High school president - St. Michael the Archangel High School in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, is seeking a person of deep faith and strong Catholic values to serve as president. The primary responsibility is to be the spiritual leader of St. Michael the Archangel High School and to communicate and promote Catholic values throughout the school community. The president is responsible for the sound fiscal management and financial stability of the school, community relations and enrollment management activities. For more information and to apply, go online to: kcsjcatholic.org/ start/job-openings.

Client care providers - Wyandotte and Olathe Pregnancy Clinics are in need of compassionate and reliable client care providers. Both volunteers and paid positions are available. Please call Leah at (913) 2070186 for more information.

Now hiring - drivers and aides - Assisted Transportation is hiring safe drivers and aides to transport students in Johnson and Wyandotte Counties, in company vans. Drivers earn $14 - $16 per hour. Part-time and full-time schedules available. CDL not required.

Retirees are encouraged to apply. Make a difference in your community by helping those in need! Call (913) 262-5190 or visit www.assistedtransportation.com for more information. EEO. Make a meaningful impact today - Join L’Arche Heartland as a direct support professional in our residential homes. Contribute to the empowerment and enrichment of adults with developmental disabilities as they engage in meaningful lifestyles. We have immediate full-time positions available. We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes 100% coverage for medical, dental and vision expenses. Conveniently situated in downtown Overland Park. Training provided.

Apply now by visiting our website at: www.larcheks. org/join-our-team or by emailing: james@larcheks.org.

Catholic elementary school principal – St. Matthew, Topeka, is seeking an individual with demonstrated skill in the academic and spiritual formation of students, as well as in the recruitment, development and retention of high caliber, joyfully Catholic faculty and staff. The principal must be current regarding best practices in Catholic education and be able to lead a diverse community in continually striving for greatness. St. Matthew has approximately 140 students in grades K-8 and employs 15 teachers. Applicants for principal must be practicing Catholics, understand the mission of Catholic schools and have or be eligible for Kansas licensure in educational leadership. Proficiency in Spanish is preferred. Please apply on line at: www.archkckcs.org/apply. For more information, please contact Rev. John M. Torrez at: jtorrez@arch kck.org. Deadline for applications is Nov. Early childhood educators - With multiple locations in Johnson County, Special Beginnings Early Learning Center provides high quality child-care in a safe, loving Christian environment. Our classrooms are full and we are looking to add to our amazing team. We are looking for both full-time and part-time teachers for all ages of children. If you have an excellent work ethic, a heart for children and a willingness to learn more about early childhood education, we would love to meet you. For more information or to apply, call Anne at (913) 894-0131, ext. 102.

Faculty and adjunct faculty job openings - Donnelly College, Kansas City, Kansas, is a Catholic college offering higher education for those who may not otherwise be served. Faculty job openings include academic advisor learning and nursing school faculty.

Adjunct faculty job openings: clinical nursing adjunct, and psychology pool, English adjunct and math at Lansing Correctional Campus. Find job descriptions and details at: www.donnelly.edu/careers.

Caregivers needed - Daughter & Company is looking for compassionate caregivers to provide assistance to seniors in their home, assisted living or in a skilled nursing facility. We provide sitter services, light housekeeping and light meal preparation, organizational assistance, care management and occasional transportation for our clients. We need caregivers with reliable transportation and a cellphone for communication. We typically employ on a part-time basis, but will strive to match up hours desired. Contact Gary or Laurie at (913) 341-2500 if you want to become part of an excellent caregiving team.

Scientific equipment technician - Would you like to make a difference in a small growing company?

Seeking individuals looking for flexible part-time work maintaining and repairing small equipment for our family company which has been in the local area for over 40 years. Service is completed at customer’s locations locally and within a four-state area. Dependable transportation is a must. Positive attitude, dependability, time management and self-motivation skills, as well as being quality- and customer-oriented are required.

Mostly on-the-job training. Electrical knowledge a plus.

Please send resume to: Yourcareer101@gmail.com.

SERVICES Memory quilts - Preserve your memories in a keepsake quality quilt, pillows, etc. Custom designed from your T-shirt collection, baby clothes, sports memorabilia, neckties . . . Quilted Memories. (913) 649-2704.

ACT Prep - Founded by a Bishop Miege graduate, pathway Prep has helped over 250 students during the last four years improve their scores. In-person or virtual sessions available. For more information, visit: pathwayprepkc.com and contact Alex Pint at (913) 991-8217 or: alex@pathwayprepkc.com.

Tutor - Piano, guitar, voice and music theory lessons available. Instructor has 18 years’ experience. For more information, call or text Kathleen at (913) 2062151 or email: Klmamuric@yahoo.com.

Divine Cleaning KC - Divine Cleaning KC is a Catholic, veteran, family-owned cleaning business offering residential and commercial recurring cleans. The typical clean is priced 13.5-14 cents per square foot. For an estimate or to schedule your first clean, send us a text at (913) 374-6332.

Catholic counseling - For individuals, couples, families, adolescents and young adults. Sam Meier, MA, LPC. Call (913) 952-2267 or book an appointment at: Stillwater.com, in-person or Telehealth.

WELLERBEEF.COM - Let us be your local farm source for beef for your dinner table. Local, Catholic, family farm. Humanely raised. No antibiotics/hormones. Grass fed and traditional. Starter pack to a whole cow. Free delivery in Kansas City area. We pay the butcher’s processing fees.

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.

Concrete construction - Tear out and replace stamped, stained or colored patios and drives. Retaining walls, footing, poured-in-place safe rooms, excavation and hauling. Asphalt drives and lots. Fully insured; references. Call Dan at (913) 207-4371, or email: dandeeconst@aol.com.

Masonry work - Quality new or repair work. Brick, block and chimney/fireplace repair. Insured; secondgeneration bricklayer. Member of St. Paul Parish, Olathe. Call (913) 271-0362.

Custom countertops - Laminates installed within 5 days. Cambria, granite and solid surface. Competitive prices, dependable work. Call the Top Shop, Inc., at (913) 962-5058. Members of St. Joseph, Shawnee.

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 - Two plots at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Kansas City, Kansas. Section 3 Old, lot 136, plots 5 and 10.

Flat markers only. Contact Ann at (913) 620-5687.

For sale - Single plot suitable for regular burial or cremation. Mt. Calvary Cemetery, KCK. Section 11, lot 80, space 3-A. Valued at $2200. Sell for $2100 and I pay conveyance fee. Contact David at (913) 980-0042.

PILGRIMAGE Pilgrimage - Join us for a pilgrimage to Medjugorje March 12 - 20, 2024; May 14 - 22, 2024; and June 16 - 28, 2024 (Poland and Medjugorje). Are you being called to go? Hosted by visionary Mirjana Soldo. Call Grace Legaspi for details at (913) 449-1806.

HOME IMPROVEMENT Free estimates - We are offering free estimates to all those thinking about painting this year. At Stone Painting, we put the customer first. We provide interior, exterior house painting along with deck staining, fence painting, etc. Stone Painting ensures a professional, clean and fair-priced job. Call today for your free estimate. (913) 963-6465.

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

EL SOL Y LA TIERRA *COMMERCIAL & RESIDENTIAL *LAWN RENOVATION *MOWING *CLEANUP AND HAULING *DIRT GRADING/INSTALLATION *LANDSCAPE DESIGN* FREE ESTIMATES HABLAMOS Y ESCRIBIMOS INGLES!!

CALL LUPE AT (816) 252-1391 Local Handyman - Painting int. and ext., wood rot, mason repair), gutter cleaning (gutter covers), dryer vent cleaning, sump pump (replace, add new), windows, doors (interior and exterior) honey-do list, window cleaning and more! Member of Holy Angels Parish, Basehor. Call Billy at (913) 927-4118.

Tradesman - I do bathrooms, kitchens, basements, tile and all kinds of flooring, as well as painting, staining, sheetrock, knockdown ceilings, decks and fences.

My family and I always appreciate the support. Please call Joshua at (913) 709-7230. Check out my Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/FSHomeExteriorsand Remodeling. Call or email Joshua to set up a free estimate at (913) 709-7230 or at: josh.fser@gmail.com.

Haus to home remodeling - Let’s give that room a nice face-lift! Specializing in affordable room remodeling. From small projects to bathrooms and basements. We have lots of other services, too: tile, paint, carpentry, wood rot, decks, drywall, etc. Free estimates. For photos of our projects and to find out more about our company, visit us at: Haustohomekc. com or call Cole at (913) 544-7352.

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% www.windowservicesoverlandpark.com drcconswindows@gmail.com (913) 461-4052

REAL ESTATE We are local people who can buy your house - Big companies from all over the nation come here buying houses, but that’s not us. We are parishioners of Holy Trinity Parish and we enjoy giving you personalized service. We can offer you a fair price and are flexible to your needs. If I can help, call me, Mark Edmondson, at (913) 980-4905.

We’re the Stone Brothers - Identical twin realtors, dedicated to helping you with all things real estate.

We offer complimentary items of value, including FREE home appraisals, up-to-date info on interest rates, etc. We are here to help — the cornerstone for all of your real estate needs! Contact Stone Brothers Realty at: moffittrealty.com or (913) 963-6465.

We buy houses and whole estates - We are local and family-owned, and will make you a fair cash offer.

We buy houses in any condition. No fees or commissions and can close on the date of your choice. Selling your house has never felt so good. Jon & Stacy Bichelmeyer (913) 599-5000.

CAREGIVING Companion/sitter - Older woman can be a companion/ sitter. Flexible hours OK, short-term OK. No heavy lifting. Experienced in child care. Call (913) 602-1289.

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.

Family member with dementia or need help at home? - We specialize in helping seniors live SAFELY at home, where they want to live! We also offer free dementia training and resources for families and caregivers. Benefits of Home - Senior Care, www.

Benefitsofhome.com or call (913) 422-1591.

WANTED TO BUY Wanted to buy - Do you have a car or truck that you need to get rid of? If you do, CALL ME! I’m a cash buyer. We’re Holy Trinity parishioners.

My name is Mark. (913) 980-4905.

Wanted to buy - Antique/vintage jewelry, paintings, pottery, sterling, etc. Single pieces or estate. Renee, (913) 475-7393. St. Joseph Parish, Shawnee.

Will buy firearms and related accessories - One or a whole collection. Honest evaluation and top prices paid. Contact Tom at (913) 238-2473. Member of Sacred Heart Parish, Shawnee.

Cash paid - for old tools, old jewelry, old furniture, military items, fishing lures, hunting items, old crocks, arrowheads and old signs. I buy all kinds of older things — house or barn contents, an estate or just one item. Call Patricia any time at (913) 515-2950. Parishioner at Holy Trinity Parish in Lenexa.

Wanted to buy - I buy coin collections, military items, pocket watches, jewelry, class rings, old toys, holiday items and more. Cash in hand. Call Kirk at (913) 2139843.

Classified Advertising Cost is $20 for the first five lines, $1.50 per line thereafter.

To purchase a Leaven classified ad, email: beth. blankenship@theleaven.org

CALENDAR 13

DECEMBER 15, 2023 | THELEAVEN.ORG

ADVENT WOMEN’S RETREAT Holy Angels Parish (Father Quinlan Hall) 15438 Leavenworth Rd., Basehor Dec. 16 from 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

The cost for the retreat is $20 per person. Continental breakfast is provided.

Register with the parish office at (913) 7241665 or by email at: czochholyangels@ gmail.com. The theme is: “Joyfully Seeking the Gifts of Faith, Hope and Love.”

TIME CAPSULE OPENING Scranton Attendance Center 104 S. Burlingame Ave., Scranton Dec. 16 from 1:30 - 3 p.m.

The 106-year-old time capsule taken from the old St. Patrick Church at the time it was demolished will be opened in celebration of the fifth anniversary of the dedication of our new church. Get a ticket for a chance to be the one to open the time capsule at 2 p.m. Freewill donations toward the new parish hall building fund are appreciated.

BREAKFAST WITH SANTA St. Patrick Parish (center) 1086 N. 94th St., Kansas City, Kansas Dec. 17 from 8 - 11 a.m.

The Knights of Columbus Bicentennial Council of St. Patrick Parish is hosting a breakfast. The cost is a freewill offering.

There will be scrambled eggs, sausage, pancakes, and biscuits and gravy. Santa Claus will be stopping by for breakfast from 8 - 11 a.m.

BREAKFAST WITH SANTA Sacred Heart Parish 2646 S. 34th St., Kansas City, Kansas Dec. 17 from 8 - 11 a.m.

The Sacred Heart Knights of Columbus will be hosting an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast with Santa. The cost is: $7 for adults; $5 for children under the age of 12; and free for children 3 and under.

‘ADVENT LESSONS AND CAROLS’ Holy Angels Parish 15438 Leavenworth Rd., Basehor Dec. 17 at 3 p.m.

Holy Angels Church choir — directed by Hayley Pedroza and Laura Beeves — and the Schola Cantorum from Christ the King Parish in Kansas City, Kansas — directed by Douglas O’Neill — will team up to perform a service of readings, song and prayer that pertain to the Advent season. Come to hear the beautiful music of the season. A reception will follow in the narthex.

CAROLERS OF NOTE Divine Mercy Parish 555 W. Main St., Gardner Dec. 21 at 6:30 p.m.

Carolers of Note is a professional partnership of musicians from across the metropolitan area. Come hear them perform classic Christmas carols (in period dress).

‘HOPE BEYOND HOPE: A WINTER CELEBRATION’ Precious Blood Renewal Center 2120 St. Gaspar Way, Liberty, Missouri In-person or by Zoom Dec. 21 from 6:30 - 8 p.m.

We gather on the winter solstice to remember how God transcends the bitter divisions that cause us to despair and offers us the opportunity to “hope beyond hope.”

OUR LADY OF UNITY PARISH TAMALE SALE St. John the Evangelist 2910 Strong Ave., Kansas City, Kansas Dec. 23 from 3 - 7:30 (pickup)

Order your tamales from Dec. 15-17.

The cost is $20 for one dozen. There will be chicken in green sauce and pork in red sauce. You can place your orders by text or phone to Sherry Johnson at (913) 207-0900 or by email at: johnson7980@ sbcglobal.net.

GUIDED MEDITATION FOR THE NEW YEAR Via Zoom Jan. 3 from 10:30 - 11:30 a.m.

Join us for a guided meditation and reflection focusing on Jesus’ presentation in the Temple. In this story, we hear about how Mary and Joseph brought their infant son to be presented to the Most High. Part of this

Jewish custom included making an offering and sacrifice to God. We are reminded of our own need to make offerings and sacrifices pleasing to the Lord. There will be a Scripture reading, guided meditation, quiet reflection time and sharing. To register, go online to: www.mountosb.org/programofferings and click on the guided meditation link. Register by Dec. 31. Once we have received you registration, we will send you an invoice for the retreat. There are scholarships available. If you would like to make a request, send an email to Sister Carol Ann at: sophia@mountosb.org.

NEW YEAR SPIRITUAL REFLECTION AND PLANNING RETREAT Christ’s Peace House of Prayer 22131 Meagher Rd., Easton Jan. 5 - 7

Set aside time at the beginning of the new year to create growth goals and devise steps to reach your goals. The structure of the retreat will allow ample time for you to do work on your plan. We will provide resources and ideas to incorporate in your plan. Bring your own personal items that will aid in the process such as: a Bible, notebook, agenda/journal, catechism, laptop (if this helps you plan better), etc.

Cabins/courtyard rooms are $170/single, $250/couple. Single guest rooms are $100 (meals included). To attend, fill out the retreat reservation form online at: Christs Peace.com.

SHARING YOUR LEGACY WORKSHOP ON WILLS & TRUSTS St. Lawrence Catholic Campus Center 1631 Crescent Rd., Lawrence Jan. 9 from 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.

An estate planning attorney will present this workshop. Visit the website at: cfnek. org/events, click on “Event listings,” scroll down and click on “Sharing Your Legacy Workshop,” then click on “View Event” for more information and to register.

WILLS AND TRUSTS WORKSHOP CREATING YOUR LEGACY St. Ann Parish (hall) 301 William St., Effingham Jan. 17 from 6 - 7:30 p.m.

Father Hughes Sundeme welcomes

all to attend Casey Connealy’s wills and trusts workshop. Learn ways to protect your family and protect your assets from taxes with the right estate plan. The presentation will cover: the difference between a will and a trust; how to avoid probate (and what exactly is probate?); if I die first and my spouse remarries, will my kids still get their money; and how to leave money or other assets to my church. Register online at: www.cfnek. org/events/wills-trusts-workshop or send an email to Jane Schmitt at: jschmitt@arch kck.org or call (913) 647-3060.

TAKE-A-LOOK THURSDAY Holy Spirit School 11300 W. 103rd St., Overland Park Jan. 18 from 9 - 11 a.m.

Come join us for information, tours of the school and refreshments. Choose a learning environment that is welcoming and Christ-centered. For more information, call Anita Pauls at (913) 492-2582 or send an email to: apauls@hscatholic.org.

RETROUVAILLE Jan. 26 - 28 Registration closes Jan. 25

Retrouvaille is a lifeline for marriages, a program to help couples heal and renew their hurting marriages. The Retrouvaille program is for married couples facing difficult challenges in their relationship. This program helps couples restore their marriage and rebuild a loving relationship. The program is primarily a practical program to improve communication, build stronger marriages and help couples reconnect.

Presenters are not trained marriage counselors, but are couples sharing their personal stories of marital struggles and the tools they used to rediscover their love.

Go online to: www.helpourmarriage.org for more information and to register, or call 1 (800) 470-2230. Space is limited. Early registration is suggested.

CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS

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

SEND SUBMISSIONS TO: blankenship@theleaven.org.

beth.

14 COLUMNISTS

DECEMBER 15, 2023 | THELEAVEN.ORG

Get the last laugh this Advent

DAILY READINGS THIRD WEEK OF ADVENT Dec. 17 THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT Is 61: 1-2a, 10-11 (Ps) Lk 1: 47-50, 53-54 1 Thes 5: 16-24 Jn 1: 6-8, 19-28 Dec. 18 Monday Jer 23: 5-8 Ps 72: 1-2, 12-13, 18-19 Mt 1: 18-25 Dec. 19 Tuesday Jgs 13: 2-7, 24-25a Ps 71: 3-6, 16-17 Lk 1: 5-25 Dec. 20 Wednesday Is 7: 10-14 Ps 24: 1-6 Lk 1: 26-38 Dec. 21 Peter Canisius, priest, doctor of the church Sg 2: 8-14 Ps 33: 2-3, 11-12, 20-21 Lk 1: 39-45 Dec. 22 Friday 1 Sm 1: 24-28 (Ps) 1 Sm 2: 1, 4-7, 8abcd Lk 1: 46-56 Dec. 23 John of Kanty, priest Mal 3: 1-4, 23-24 Ps 25: 4bc-5ab, 8-10, 14 Lk 1: 57-66

MARY MAZZARELLO 1837-1881

An Italian peasant, Mary worked long hours in the fields and vineyards. She attended Mass frequently and joined a sodality whose members in 1860 were asked to nurse typhoid victims. Mary caught the fever and nearly died.

Because of weakened health, she started a dressmaking business to employ local girls.

This was the beginning of the Salesian Sisters of St. John Bosco, which now has 1,400 houses in 54 countries. Mary is enshrined in Turin next to St. John Bosco, founder of the Salesians men’s order.

T

he church shows great wisdom in designating the Third Sunday of Advent as “pink candle” or “Gaudete Sunday.” The Latin word “gaudete” means “rejoice.”

Spiritually, we exhibit joyful anticipation because Christmas is so near. But it’s also a reminder to not let the stresses of this season overwhelm that joyfulness. Particularly this year, when we’re robbed of an entire Fourth Week of Advent — we get just a few hours on the Fourth Sunday of Advent, Christmas Eve — it’s even more important to retain that joy amid the last-minute shopping, baking, card writing, gift wrapping, visiting and decorating.

I want to do my part to help. So, grab a cup of hot chocolate right now, find a comfortable chair and let these stories inject some smiles into your day.

• Five-year-old Becky answered the

“R

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.

door one day when a census taker came to her house.

She told the woman that her daddy was a doctor, and he wasn’t home because he was performing an emergency appendectomy at the hospital.

“My,” said the census taker. “Appendectomy!

That sure is a big word for such a little girl.

Do you know what it means?”

“Sure!” chirped the girl. “It’s fifteen thou-

sand bucks, and that doesn’t even include the anesthesiologist!”

• A famous Yiddish folk tale concerns an elderly Orthodox Jew who was close to death. His wife is at his bedside and says, “Moishe, you’ve been such a good and pious provider to us all your life. Is there anything we can get you?”

Moishe says, “Yes, I’d like a ham sandwich.”

His wife, shocked at the request, gets him a ham sandwich which he gobbles down.

Tearfully, she asks, “Moishe, you’ve always been so devout and strict on yourself.

How could you now, at death’s door, eat a ham sandwich?”

“Well,” Moishe replies, “I’ll tell you. I know I’m going to die, and I know that when I get to heaven, the Lord will judge me. He’ll say, ‘Moishe, all in all you lived a very good life.

But remember the time you stole those apples as a boy; remember the time you were mean to your wife and family; remember the time you were so nasty to your brother-in-law Sol; remember the time . . .

Well, as soon as he gets to the ham sandwich, I’ll know it’s over!”

I’ve always loved the humor of Pope St. John XXIII. Here are a few of his gems: • Someone asked Pope John about the Italian custom of closing offices in the afternoon: “Your Holiness, we understand that the Vatican is closed in the afternoon, and people don’t work then.”

“Ah, no!” said the pope. “The offices are closed in the afternoon, but people don’t work in the morning!”

• Once Pope John visited the Hospital of the Holy Spirit in

Rome. Shortly after entering, he was introduced to the nun who ran the hospital.

“Holy Father,” said the nun, flustered by the surprise visit, “I am the superior of the Holy Spirit.”

“Well, I must say,” replied the pope, “I’m only the Vicar of Christ!” (These stories are found in James Martin’s “Between Heaven and Mirth.”)

There’s no shortage of humor at Mass either. I was reminded of it the other week as we sang the responsorial psalm. A rather pompous cantor when I was in the seminary sang it thus: “Lord, make us turn to you. Let us see your face, and we shall be shaved!” (Uh, “saved” was the correct word!)

In these short days before Christmas, let’s find something to make us laugh several times each day. It’s not only essential for the soul, but will prevent us from becoming, as Pope Francis so memorably said, “sourpusses.”

Let St. John the Baptist lead you through Advent

ejoice in the Lord!” is the invitation we hear this Third Sunday of Advent, when God’s word calls us, once again, to enter into the mystery of the Incarnation, soon to be celebrated in the great feast of Christmas.

Traditionally called Gaudete Sunday, the theme of rejoicing in the Lord echoes through the readings and into our hearts and lives. We may ask: In the midst of this season’s rejoicing, do we pause in prayerful reflection to give thanks to God for the immeasurable gift of his son Jesus? Will I make the

JEM SULLIVAN Sullivan is a professor at The Catholic University of America.

words of the psalmist — “My soul rejoices in my God” — my daily Advent prayer?

Isaiah tells us that God anointed him to

proclaim a message of liberation and joy.

Once he receives the spirit of the lord, his mission reaches out to the needy and oppressed. For the lowly and the brokenhearted, his words must have been a source of comfort and great hope.

Isaiah also announces a year of favor from the Lord, a jubilee year that occurred once every 50 years in Israel’s history. This was a special time of restored equality and justice, when the land was left fallow, debts were forgiven and prisoners set free. Jesus’ coming into the world inaugurates God’s kingdom, now come to earth in

a definitive time of redeeming grace that the world longs for.

Saint Paul continues the theme of rejoicing as he describes the kind of people we become as we await the coming of Christ. He encourages the early Christians to rejoice always, to pray constantly and to discern the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Wise words of spiritual advice and a good roadmap for the Advent season.

Another guide we are given for our spiritual journey is the figure of John the Baptist, the Advent saint par excellence. In the Gospel, he tells us that he is the one sent by

God to witness to Jesus, the light of the world.

His witness began in the womb, as he leaped for joy at the visitation of Mary and Elizabeth, his mother, and culminated in his ultimate witness of martyrdom.

His entire life pointed to Jesus’ coming, as he made “straight the way of the Lord.”

From John the Baptist we learn that our Christian witness is rooted in humility and boldness. We learn from this saint of Advent to fix our gaze on the Lord Jesus, so that our hearts will overflow with Advent joy as we welcome Jesus in faith praying, “Speak to me, Lord.”

Pope, Council of Cardinals discussed the role of women in the church VATICAN CITY (CNS) — With the input of two women and a priest, Pope Francis and members of his international Council of Cardinals discussed the role of women in the Catholic Church.

“The council agreed on the need to listen, also and above all in individual Christian communities, to the feminine

aspect of the church, so that the processes of reflection and decisionmaking can benefit from the irreplaceable contribution of women,” the Vatican press office said at the end of the council’s meeting Dec. 4-5.

The conversation about the role of women in the church included input from: Salesian Sister Linda Pocher, a professor of Christology

and Mariology at Rome’s Pontifical Faculty of Educational Sciences “Auxilium”; Lucia Vantini, a professor of theology and philosophy at the Institute of Religious Sciences in Verona, Italy; and Father Luca Castiglioni, a professor of fundamental theology at the seminary of the Archdiocese of Milan, the press office said in a written communique Dec. 6.

COLUMNISTS 15

DECEMBER 15, 2023 | THELEAVEN.ORG

W

The ‘more’ that we seek is the heart of our faith

e are in the thick of the busiest days of the holiday season — one week to Christmas Day. We are also in the midst of the shortest possible Advent season, as the calendar is playing its own interesting role this year. Week 4 of Advent is seemingly lost, or rather we get to fit our Week 4 experience into a handful of hours before Christmas.

We will have a liturgical celebration for the Fourth Week of Advent on the Sunday that is also Christmas Eve. No, that does not mean that Sunday Mass counts

A

EMILY LOPEZ Emily Lopez is the lead consultant for adult evangelization.

for double. It does mean that we are invited to celebrate Mass for two different feasts on back-to-back days.

I understand the

liturgical logistics and trust many people recognize the beauty in this situation.

However, this news was not immediately received with joy in my home.

Fortunately, the upside of parenting teenagers is knowing the remedies to teen

tomorrow’s list in our heads. Left unchecked, this season of joy can quickly burn us out — not quite offering the Advent preparation our souls desire.

The true longing of our heart through this season is not difficult to know, but challenging to prioritize. We were not made for the consumer-driven, fast-paced, unattainable expectations of the world’s approach to Christmas; we can feel it in our bones.

The “more” that we seek is the heart of our faith, especially in the seasons of Advent and Christmas.

We know that gifts are fleeting, just like our

time on earth to share celebrations with family and friends. But knowing this is not a sadness; it’s an invitation to focus on the greatest gift of Christ. When we step back from the ledge of chaos and give ourselves pause, we can reflect on the incredible simplicity of celebrating Christmas well.

It’s about the gift of a Savior when we had no hope, to live among us and take our sins upon his cross. This is the gift of peace and eternal joy available to every person — a gift worth everything. A gift that we are blessed to celebrate in one week with back-toback Masses.

We encounter Christ by serving our patients in need

way in a manger.

During the Christmas season, it’s impossible not to hear those words over and over as we’re surrounded by holiday music; the song makes the scene sound peaceful, almost ideal.

But as I thought about it a little more, I realized: God was born in a barn. Now, I’ve been in plenty of barns, and it’s not a great place for a newborn baby (particularly the hay trough). But it is this reality that the heart of Christ is first revealed to us in the Gospel — he chose to

T

ALONG THE WAY

moodiness are good food and long naps — both of which will definitely fill the rest of our Christmas week.

It does make me wonder about my expectations for the season — how I spend my time and what I accomplish. Recognizing Advent as a season of preparation is not a difficult task.

There are a number of things to be done, gifts to purchase, parties to attend, visits to be coordinated . . . and more. We do our best to jam extra activities into an already overcrowded schedule, chasing the end of the to-do list each day before falling asleep as we make

HEALTHCARE, THE CATHOLIC WAY!

BRAD HEIDRICK Brad Heidrick is the CEO of Catholic Community Health.

enter this world not in opulence and majesty, but in poverty and humility.

As we care for

seniors who do have the financial means to receive our health care offerings, they help us care for those who don’t. This guides, inspires and motivates our mission.

Imagine receiving a phone call that a loved one is being

discharged from a rehab hospital by taxi back to her apartment.

Having been gone for 60 days, she would arrive to a home with no food; and with no means to pay her hospital or utility bills, no electricity. With no power, there would be no way to run her oxygen concentrator or to charge a cellphone for emergencies.

The person had no family. Our Catholic Homecare staff was her family prior to hospitalization and acted as a team to make sure everything was in place to return to a safe environment.

This is what our

CCH staff proudly refers to as “Mission Moments” as the only Catholic home care and hospice provider in the Kansas City area.

As Catholics, we value taking care of each other as one family, and the needs and rights of the poor and vulnerable are given special attention in God’s eyes. This is one of our core Catholic social teachings.

Villa St. Francis in Olathe is one of the only facilities in our area to accept Medicaid-pending referrals and is the largest nursing facility provider for Medicaid residents in

Kansas — and this is just one way that we’re carrying out Christ’s mission to serve the sick and poor.

I get to witness this love every day as our caregivers, volunteers, Sisters and chaplains serve our residents: mind, body and soul. In the elderly, infirm, sick and dying we are able to encounter Christ in a real way and receive a gift greater than any we will receive this holiday season. “For I was sick, and you cared for me” (Mt 25:13).

If you’re interested in joining us on this healing mission, we’re always in need of volunteers.

Handicapping the 2024 Kansas legislative session

he 2024 Kansas legislative session opens soon with elected officials facing significant decisions. The Catholic bishops of Kansas, through their office of the Kansas Catholic Conference (KCC), seek to inject the voice of Christ into public policies.

Here is a brief look at the Kansas political landscape.

Every seat for state senator and state representative is up for election in 2024. Legislators will be listening to you.

Kansas government is awash in cash.

Income tax increases, COVID-era dollars and other factors helped create a surplus in the “bank of Kansas” exceeding $3 billion dollars. Should taxpayers get this money back?

CHURCH AND STATE

CHUCK WEBER Chuck Weber is the executive director of the Kansas Catholic Conference.

If so, which taxpayers?

And how much?

The Kansas Catholic Conference supports further reductions in the sales tax on groceries, as it positively impacts the households of working families,

particularly low-income Kansans.

Access to health care is key to human flourishing. The KCC supports Medicaid expansion while also acknowledging that government-sponsored insurance is a flawed solution. Many people earn too much money to qualify for the current Kansas Medicaid plan, but not enough to afford health insurance

through the Affordable Care Act’s subsidized insurance marketplace.

State legislators have failed to produce viable alternatives to Medicaid expansion. People who need help are falling between the cracks as they seek comprehensive health care access.

There are other consequences to Medicaid expansion.

Largely ignored is the link between Medicaid expansion and projections of increased abortions likely to result if passed. The infamous 2019 Hodes Kansas Supreme Court ruling created a constitutionally protected right to abortion. In the words of the high court, abortion restrictions are now “presumed unconstitutional.”

This includes current,

but legally unstable, prohibitions in Kansas for taxpayer-funded (Medicaid) abortion.

No matter what happens with Medicaid expansion, Kansas taxpayers may soon be forced to pay for abortions. If Medicaid expansion passes, it’s projected that 40,000plus reproductive-age women will enroll in Medicaid. The number of abortions will likely increase even more than they have already — a three-fold increase since the Hodes ruling.

The KCC supports legislation supporting women in unplanned pregnancies. This includes, but is not limited to, tax-credit incentives for donations to pregnancy resource centers and maternity homes, and help with the cost

of adoption. Despite the lies of the abortion industry and complicit secular news media, Kansas lawmakers cannot pass significant abortion restrictions.

But they can help those in need.

The scourge of human trafficking must be addressed while also protecting the rights of immigrants. Payday loan reform, enhanced mental health coverage, expanded educational opportunities and defending the family from radical gender ideology measures are among our many other legislative priorities.

To stay informed and view a comprehensive list, go online to: www.

KansasCatholic.org.

Finally, and most importantly, pray for our elected officials.

LOCAL NEWS 16

DECEMBER 15, 2023 | THELEAVEN.ORG

Kids’ CHRONICLE

In a dream, an angel speaks to Joseph about Mary and Jesus

By Jennifer Ficcaglia Catholic Courier

J

oseph was a carpenter who lived in Nazareth. He was a devout and righteous man who always obeyed God’s laws.

Although Joseph was not wealthy, he did come from a very important family.

One of his ancestors was King David, the shepherd boy whom God chose to become ruler of the Israelites during Old Testament times.

Joseph was betrothed to a virgin named Mary. “Betrothed” means that Joseph and READ MORE Mary were married but were not yet ABOUT IT: living together as husband and wife Matthew 1 in the same house.

One day, Joseph learned that Mary was going to have a baby. Joseph decided that according to the law, he should not remain married to her.

Joseph did not want to bring shame or harm to Mary, so he decided to divorce her quietly.

What Joseph did not know was that God’s angel Gabriel had visited Mary and told her the Holy Spirit would come upon her.

“You will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus,” Gabriel told Mary. “He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

But after deciding that he should divorce Mary, Joseph had a dream in which one of God’s angels spoke to him.

“Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home,” the angel said. “For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

The angel’s words to Joseph fulfilled an Old Testament prophesy God had revealed to his people through one of his prophets: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel.” Emmanuel means “God is with us.”

When Joseph awoke, he did just as the angel had told him. Instead of divorcing Mary, he took her into his home and waited for Jesus to be born.

Bible accent

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A

Q&A

After Gabriel appeared to Mary, whom did she visit?

(Hint: Luke 1:39-40)

WORD SEARCH

od used dreams to speak to Joseph several more times. Three of those dreams were meant to help protect the newborn Messiah from harm.

Just before Jesus was born, Joseph took Mary to his family’s home city, Bethlehem, the city of David, to be counted in a census. Mary gave birth to Jesus there, and the new parents were visited by Magi who had followed a star to the place Jesus was born. Not long after the Magi left them, Joseph had a dream in which an angel warned him that King Herod wanted to kill Jesus. The angel told Joseph to flee to Egypt with Mary and the baby. After the Holy Family left for Egypt in the night, Herod ordered the killing of all male children up to 2 years of age who lived in or around Bethlehem.

After Herod himself died, Joseph had another dream in which an angel said, “Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child’s life are dead.”

Joseph did so. But in another dream, he was warned not to return to Judea, because it might not be safe. Instead, Joseph took his family to Galilee to live in Nazareth.

1. What king was a relative of Joseph’s?

2. Who spoke to Joseph in a dream?

TRIVIA:

ILLUSTRATION BY LINDA RIVERS

St. Sebastian

ccording to legend, St. Sebastian was born in Gaul (modern-day France) in the third century and was raised in Milan, Italy.

He entered the imperial army of Rome around 283. He was a Christian who converted many officials and jailers and also urged Christian prisoners to stay strong in their faith.

The Roman emperor found out that Sebastian was Christian and ordered his execution.

Sebastian was shot with arrows and left for dead, but he survived and was nursed back to health.

He later denounced the emperor for his cruelty to Christians, and the emperor had him beaten to death in 288.

We remember Sebastian on Jan. 20.

Answer: Elizabeth, who was pregnant with John the Baptist.