THELEAVEN.ORG | VOL. 37, NO. 19 | DECEMBER 18, 2015
See how the Blessed Mother and St. Joseph guard the infant Jesus while he is adored by angels and shepherds. May you guard his presence in your hearts and share your love for Jesus with all this Christmastide. JOSEPH F. NAUMANN
Archbishop of Kansas City in Kansas
JAMES P. KELEHER
Archbishop Emeritus of Kansas City in Kansas WINDOW FROM HOLY NAME CHURCH, KANSAS CITY, KANSAS/PHOTO BY DOUG HESSE
DECEMBER 18, 2015 | THELEAVEN.ORG
ARCHBISHOP
W
e celebrate Christmas 2015 with our world in turmoil. After the terrorists’ attack in San Bernardino and the even more deadly terrorists’ attack a few weeks before in Paris, Americans are more fearful than we have been since Sept. 11, 2001. Actually, what is even more terrorizing to me is the chaos within our American culture. Our Supreme Court believes it can redefine something as fundamental as the nature of marriage. Recently, a mother, whose 20-something daughter is preparing for her approaching wedding, told me her daughter was being ridiculed by her friends for doing something as archaic as getting married. Behaviors that were clearly understood as immoral by the vast majority of society 50 years ago (e.g., abortion, sexual intimacy outside of marriage, homosexual activity and cross-dressing) now are celebrated and considered not only acceptable, but brave. Expressing traditional Christian moral teaching is considered by some a hate crime. You cannot watch televised sports without being prepared to explain to your children the possible dangerous side effects mentioned in the ubiquitous ads promoting Viagara and Cialis. Studies examining religious practices report that the fastest growing segment of American society is “Nones” — those who claim no religious affiliation. Many of the Nones profess to be
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Anchor your life in the Lord and ‘be not afraid’
LIFE WILL BE VICTORIOUS ARCHBISHOP JOSEPH F. NAUMANN spiritual, but they do not want to be identified with any church. Actually, this is not a new problem. Sadly, one of the attractions of being spiritual, but not religious, is that you can make God into your own image. When the spiritual person finds a particular orthodox Christian doctrine derived from the Bible and moral tradition of the church inconvenient or difficult, they just disregard it. Once we reject the church’s teaching authority, then our personal feelings and desires at a given moment become the infallible guide for our moral decision-making. If you eliminate the pope as the ultimate arbiter of church teaching, then everyone becomes their own pope. A major problem with this approach is that our god cannot become anything more than what we can conceive or desire. We fashion our god to tell us what we want to hear. Historically, this has been known as paganism. Paganism inevitably results in the moral chaos that is now so prevalent
in American culture. I invite you to do a quick study of the voluminous amount of Christmas entertainment available on the hundreds of television channels in most U.S. homes. The vast majority ignore Jesus, much less the mention of his birth, for fear this will offend non-Christians. Nothing like attending a birthday party and not acknowledging the guest of honor because you do not want to slight anyone else! Political correctness aside, Christmas is all about a God who reveals himself to us, not one that we make up. Orthodox Christianity is about a God who fashioned the universe, our world and all of creation out of love. The first chapter of the first book of the Bible declares the created world to be good. The masterpiece of God’s creation was man and woman, whom God made in his own divine image. What was present before God’s creation was nothingness or actually, as Genesis describes, a formless void — in other words, chaos. Yet, if the world is good and human beings are his masterpiece, why is there so much evil and suffering, chaos
in our lives? Revelation answers this question in the third chapter of Genesis with its description of the Fall — the original sin of the parents of all humanity. In making human beings in his divine image, God gave men and women free will. Unlike any other aspect of the created world, we were given the choice to love God or not, to follow his will or make the pursuit of our own desires supreme. When you examine the nature of the original sin, it was a decision by our first parents to distrust the God who had created them out of love. It was a choice to follow their desire to become their own gods rather than observe the small limitation God had set for their own protection. The result of sin was a return to chaos. Christmas is a celebration of God’s response to sin, namely mercy. God desired to rescue us from the chaos of our rebellion by taking on our flesh and immersing himself in our humanity, even to the point of developing in the womb of Mary and being born into this world like every other infant. God chose to become one with us so that we could become one with him. Jesus sought to do the will of his Father no matter how much this irked the human authorities of his time. Jesus modeled for us faithfulness to his Father’s will as the path to abundant life in this world and eternal life with him and his Father after our fleeting life on planet Earth. Jesus offers us not a
tenuous and uncertain peace that depends on military superiority over our enemies. It is a peace that is accessible to someone running a marathon or in a wheelchair, dwelling in a palace or born in a stable, receiving worldly acclaim or detained in a prison cell, enjoying the peak of health or dwindling physical capacity due to advanced age. The peace that Jesus offers comes from our ability to experience the love of the only one capable of satisfying our deepest desires, no matter the exterior circumstances of our lives. On Dec. 18, 1948, (67 years ago) my father was murdered. Pregnant with me and responsible for the upbringing of my less than 2-year-old brother, my 25-year-old mother’s life had changed forever. The chaos of sin was not theory but had reached into her world and shattered her natural dreams and expectations for our family. I am so grateful that she believed in the love of God revealed in the birth of his only begotten Son. It was only faith in a loving God, who was with her even in this darkest hour, that gave her both peace and hope. It is only our belief in the God who revealed himself to us on Christmas that is capable of giving us a peace neither a terror attack nor the chaos caused by the current cultural moral confusion can steal from us. I pray your Christmas peace and joy is derived from something more than wrapped gifts under a Christmas tree, sleigh bells ringing and
CALENDAR
ARCHBISHOP NAUMANN Dec. 20 Quo Vadis retreat Dec. 21 “Shepherd’s Voice” recording Dec. 23 Chancery staff Mass and lunch Dec. 24 Mass at 4 p.m. — Holy Spirit, Overland Park Mass at 10 p.m. — Cathedral of St. Peter Dec. 25 Mass at 9 a.m. — Prince of Peace, Olathe
ARCHBISHOP KELEHER Dec. 20 Mass — Federal camp Dec. 23 Chancery staff Mass and lunch Dec. 24 Mass — St. Agnes, Roeland Park Dec. 25 Christmas Mass at Sisters, Servants of Mary
chestnuts roasting on an open fire. I pray that you know the One whose birth we commemorate not as some historical figure but as both friend and Lord of your heart. If your life is anchored in a friendship with the One born in Bethlehem, nothing can terrorize you — at least not for very long. In the words of the Archangel Gabriel to Mary: Be not afraid!
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DECEMBER 18, 2015 | THELEAVEN.ORG
LOCAL NEWS
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OPENING the
YEAR OF MERCY
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he Year of Mercy began in the archdiocese with the opening of six Holy Doors at: the Cathedral of St. Peter, Kansas City, Kansas; Sacred Heart, Mound City; St. Benedict’s Abbey, Atchison; St. Mary, St. Benedict; Mater Dei-Assumption, Topeka; and Divine Mercy, Gardner. The archbishop has designated each of these churches as a pilgrimage site, which provides the opportunity to obtain a Holy Year of Mercy indulgence. For more information about the Year of Mercy, go to: www.archkck.org/mercy.
LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER
Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann passes through the Holy Door at Sacred Heart Church in Mound City on Dec. 12, opening the first of six Holy Doors in the archdiocese.
LEAVEN PHOTO BY JULIE HOLTHAUS
LEAVEN PHOTO BY LORI WOOD HABIGER
Archbishop Naumann incenses the Holy Door of the Cathedral of St. Peter in Kansas City, Kansas, on Dec. 13.
Father Ed Oen, CPPS, pastor of St. Mary Parish in St. Benedict, opens the St. Mary Holy Door on Dec. 13. St. Mary Church, one of the Eight Art Wonders of Kansas, is one of the six pilgrimage sites Archbishop Naumann has named for the Year of Mercy in the archdiocese. An indulgence can be obtained by passing through the Holy Door as long as certain criteria are met.
LEAVEN PHOTO BY DIANA LUPPENS
LEAVEN PHOTO BY JOE MCSORLEY
LEAVEN PHOTO BY LORI WOOD HABIGER
Abbot James Albers, OSB, reads the proclamation of the Year of Mercy at the ceremony to open the Holy Door at St. Benedict’s Abbey in Atchison.
Father John Pilcher, pastor of Mater Dei Parish in Topeka, prepares to open the Holy Door at Church of the Assumption, Topeka. Father Pilcher is assisted by Deacon Chris Seago, left.
Archbishop Naumann, assisted by Father Joseph Cramer (left), pastor of Divine Mercy Parish, Gardner, sprinkles holy water on the church’s Holy Door as he prepares to pass through.
Publication No. (ISSN0194-9799) President: Most Reverend Joseph F. Naumann
Editor Reverend Mark Goldasich, stl frmark.goldasich@theleaven.org
Production Manager Todd Habiger todd.habiger@theleaven.org
Reporter Moira Cullings moira.cullings@theleaven.org
Managing Editor Anita McSorley anita.mcsorley@theleaven.org
Senior Reporter Joe Bollig joe.bollig@theleaven.org
Advertising Coordinator Beth Blankenship beth.blankenship@theleaven.org
Published weekly September through May, excepting the Friday the week after Thanksgiving, and the Friday after Christmas; biweekly June through August. Address communications to: The Leaven, 12615 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City, KS 66109. Phone: (913) 721-1570; fax: (913) 721-5276; or e-mail at: sub@theleaven.com. Postmaster: Send address changes to The Leaven, 12615 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City, KS 66109. For change of address, provide old and new address and parish. Subscriptions $21/year. Periodicals postage paid at Kansas City, KS 66109.
DECEMBER 18, 2015 | THELEAVEN.ORG
LOCAL NEWS
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Topeka school uses students to create unique Christmas cards By Carolyn Kaberline Special to The Leaven
T
OPEKA — Although no one remembers how the idea originated, Mater Dei principal Andrea Hillebert does remember she “thought it would be a great outreach to our community.” When utilizing the entire student body for the school’s annual Christmas card “received such a great response . . . we knew it would be a tradition.” Each year now, the student body troops outside sometime in late fall for the annual photo shoot. But the work starts long before then. The ideas for the cards usually come “sometime in the middle of the summer,” said Hillebert. “We call it the work of the Holy Spirit when the ideas hit.” This year’s idea involved the use of a chalk drawing. “One of our parents told our firstgrade teacher Mary Louise Totten about the chalk artist, and she suggested we incorporate a chalk drawing in the picture,” explained Hillebert. Although she has used this medium for six or seven years, chalk artist Beth Hall of Topeka said this is the first time she’s created a drawing to be used for Mater Dei’s annual Christmas card. Hall said her use of chalk as an art medium began with a box of Crayola chalk six or seven years ago. “I’d go to the back porch and create a drawing,” she said. “I got really serious with this form of art when I heard of the Chalk and Walk Festival in Kansas City.” Hall said that people usually tell her what they would like for their drawing
Anniversary Margaret
(Martin) and Robert Hankins, members of St. Ann Parish, Hiawatha, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on Dec. 27. The couple was married at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Salina, and renewed their vows at the golden wedding anniversary Mass on June 15 at the Cathedral of St. Peter, Kansas City, Kansas. Their children are: Andrea Marxen, Mike Hankins, Max Hankins and Mark Hankins. They also have 10 grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. A family dinner is planned following Mass on Dec. 26.
For six years, Mater Dei School in Topeka has used its students to create images that would run on its annual Christmas card. This year’s card included a chalk drawing. Above are the previous years’ cards. “and then I take it into my hands and put my own twist on it.” On average, it takes Hall about three hours to finish a picture. Sometimes her husband Phillip, who she describes as very supportive, helps. “He’s an artist himself, but he usually works in oil,” she said. One thing that Hall likes about using chalk is that it is very forgiving. “If I want something different, I just pour some water on it or color over it,” she said. Once Hall’s drawing of Baby Jesus in a manger was complete, a chalk outline
was used to show students’ positions. “Then we start with the oldest students and work our way down to the youngest students, so [the latter] don’t stand outside waiting for so long,” said Hillebert. “The photographer climbs up to the bell tower of Mater Dei-Holy Name Church and takes pictures while we set up. “We added a time lapse [shot] to our mix in 2014 so that we can watch the picture come together really quickly in our annual Catholic Schools Week video,” she added. “We also have a lot of teachers taking candid pictures on the ground
during setup.” Hillebert noted that after receiving a selection of the best images from the photographer, one is chosen and designed into the card with the desired caption. This year, the greeting reads: “Let Earth Receive Her King. From the start of the photo’s setup — when the students first take their places — to the final picture takes about an hour. Approximately 350 cards are sent to parents, benefactors and other archdiocesan Catholic schools.
Topeka regional women’s retreat set for Jan. 23
T
OPEKA — The Topeka Regional Catholic Women’s retreat will be held on Jan. 23 at Christ the King Church here, located at 5973 S.W. 25th St. The keynote speaker will be Lisa Cotter. Cotter, a former FOCUS missionary, debunks the myths of modernday stereotypical womanhood. Using insights from St. John Paul II and the heroic example of other modern-day saints, Cotter gets to the truth about what it means to be an authentic woman. Balancing sound theology with humor and practical insights, Cotter inspires audiences of all ages. Her work has been featured by
EWTN, Lighthouse Catholic Media, YDisciple and the Chastity Project. She is a graduate of Benedictine College, Atchison, where she earned degrees in theology and youth ministry. Registration and a light breakfast begins at 6:30 a.m. Mass is at 8 a.m., followed by the retreat from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Cost is $20 per person. Register online at: ctktopeka.org. For more information, contact Tonya Campbell at (785) 221-8652 or by email at: tanncampbell@gmail.com. Lisa Cotter will be the keynote speaker at the Topeka Regional Catholic Women’s retreat Jan. 23 at Christ the King Church.
DECEMBER 18, 2015 | THELEAVEN.ORG
LOCAL NEWS
Small town grows big-city talent
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New Leaven feature Check out the new Leaven blog, “The Walking Deadline” only on our website: www.theleaven.org.
By Moira Cullings moira.cullings@theleaven.org
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XTELL — Russell Ronnebaum learned to play the piano here at the tender age of five, from a teacher who lived a mile up the road. Next spring, he will be playing Carnegie Hall in New York City. And though his musical talent has grown enormously in the intervening years, he hasn’t outgrown his Catholic roots. Now the director of music at St. Francis Cabrini Church in Tucson, Arizona, Ronnebaum will be coming home to share his talents with the Marysville community with a free concert at St. Gregory Church on Dec. 28 at 7 p.m. He will be performing pieces from his new album “Winter Scenes.” Ronnebaum grew up in Axtell, a town of some 400 people. “The first time I saw a piano was in my grandma’s basement at age three or four,” recalled Ronnebaum. “I always found it fascinating and wanted to figure out how it worked.” In fifth grade, Ronnebaum began to play for Masses at St. Michael Church in Axtell and, as a high schooler, he juggled piano with violin, viola, saxophone, tuba and trombone. Playing six other instruments didn’t hold him back from excelling at each piano competition he entered. Ronnebaum enjoyed growing up in a small town, but moved away to earn a bachelor of music in piano performance from the University of Kansas. He then went on to receive a master’s degree in collaborative piano at the University of Arizona in Tucson. The completion of his first album, he said, is an accomplishment that feels “monumental.”
Announcement
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rchbishop Joseph F. Naumann has granted a leave of absence to Father Reginald Saldanha, pastor of St. Philip Neri Parish, Osawatomie; Sacred Heart Parish, Mound City; and Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, LaCygne. Father Saldanha stated that he requested the leave for personal reasons and that he needed some time away from ministry in order to focus on his spiritual life and to renew his commitment to his vocation. The leave of absence was effective Dec. 14. Father Saldanha informed parishioners at parish Masses on the weekend of Dec. 12-13 and reiterated his love for the priesthood and his desire to continue to serve in the archdiocese in the future. The archbishop affirmed that Father Saldanha’s leave of absence is not related to any misconduct with a minor, any financial misconduct and has not been prompted by any of his parishioners. Archbishop Naumann has appointed Father Michael Kantanka, a priest in residence at St. Michael the Archangel Parish, Leawood, as parochial administrator of St. Philip Neri, Sacred Heart and Our Lady of Lourdes, effective Dec. 14. The archbishop asks the faithful of the archdiocese to remember Father Saldanha in their prayers during his time of leave.
Axtell native Russell Ronnebaum, who will be performing at Carnegie Hall in New York City during Easter, will bring his musical talents home with a free concert at 7 p.m. on Dec. 28 at St. Gregory Church in Marysville. He will be performing pieces from his new album “Winter Scenes.”
“I’ve been working on it for over five years,” he said, “and I’m so happy that it finally came together.” And he’s more than excited about performing at Carnegie Hall. “Carnegie Hall is one of the best world stages, and I’m absolutely ecstatic to not only be performing on that stage, but to be performing one of my original compositions,” he added. Although Ronnebaum has already achieved so much, he is “looking forward to writing much more music,” he said. “I’m currently arranging a piece from the ‘Winter Scenes’ album for string orchestra. I’m also thinking
about the next album, which will be concert pieces based on sacred music.” Ronnebaum said he is also partnering with a piano teacher in Ohio to write a series of piano duets for intermediate piano students. To listen to a cut from “Winter Scenes,” go online to: www.theleaven. org. Ronnebaum’s CD and sheet music can be purchased on his website at: www.RRonnebaum.com.
Bishop Ward High brings its students the world
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ANSAS CITY, Kan. — It is hard to travel the world in a day, so freshmen geography students at Bishop Ward High School here brought the world home as part of their World Cultures Fair on Dec. 9. Seventeen countries were represented, and the whole school was invited to the cafeteria to learn about cultures from all over the world. “This was such a fun project and I learned so much about these different countries, such as their population, their cities, types of transportation and what daily life is like,” said freshman Camryn Sanchez. This project is one of the many ways that Bishop Ward engages students beyond the classroom. Each group had a booth with pictures and information about its specific country. Presentations were made to students and faculty and, as an added treat, the presenters provided samples of food from the country they studied. “This was a really fun project,” said freshman Kacie Hernandez. “I learned a lot and I hope they do it again next year so that I can come back and try all the food.”
Sister Eunice Ballmann, OSB
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TCHSION — Sister Eunice (Marie Gerard) Ballmann, 88, a Benedictine Sister of Mount St. Scholastica here, died Dec. 12 at the monastery. Sister Eunice was born March 6, 1927, the first of six children of August and Agnes (Bange) Ballmann. She grew up in Elsberry, Missouri, attending high school in St. Louis while working in a Catholic hospital. She entered St. Joseph Monastery in 1947 in Guthrie, Oklahoma, and her sister, Sister Marie, would soon follow. Her college degree was in elementary education and she taught in the primary grades in Catholic schools for 41 years. In 1968, she became part of the newly founded Red Plains Monastery in Oklahoma City. With graduate work in education and religious studies, she continued teaching and directing religious education and became oblate director in 1991. She also served for a time as formation director and on the leadership team of the monastery. Sister Eunice came to Atchison in 2007 as her community joined the Mount St. Scholastica community. Archivist for Red Plains since 2000, she continued her service by assisting in the Mount’s archives.
Retreat set for Jan. 8-10
A Bishop Ward freshmen Julia Calvert, left, and Joseline Ruiz, show off their World Cultures Fair project focusing on Chile. The two created a display and made food from Chile, which was shared with the rest of the school.
TCHISON — The Sophia Spirituality Center here will host a retreat, “Healing the Child Within,” from 7 p.m. on Jan. 8 to 1 p.m. on Jan. 10. If you are seeking to understand the impact of your past on your present experience, this retreat may lead you to some of the answers. For more information or to register, call (913) 360-6173 or visit the center’s website at: www.sophiaspiritualitycenter.
DECEMBER 18, 2015 | THELEAVEN.ORG
LOCAL NEWS
Bishops offer help for pornography crisis By Joe Bollig joe.bollig@theleaven.org
K
ANSAS CITY, Kan. — How bad is the corrosive effect of pornography? So bad that U.S. bishops have called it a “public health crisis” in a pastoral letter published on Nov. 17. The letter, called “Create in Me a Clean Heart: A Pastoral Response to Pornography,” was written by the USCCB Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth. Interested individPornograuals are encourphy has been aged to download a problem a copy of the pasfor a long toral letter from time, but has the USCCB website exploded in at: www.usccb.org/ recent years cleanheart. thanks to the Internet and mobile technology. Never has pornography been so ubiquitous. Nor have its effects — shame, addiction, spiritual desolation, despair, violence, exploitation, victimization and abuse — on both individuals and couples. There is even a pornography connection to human trafficking. “I was at a conference two months ago — the National Coalition on Sexual Exploitation,” said Sam Meier. Meier is director of My House, the archdiocesan anti-pornography and chastity program. “There were several presentations that compared pornography to tobacco,” he continued. “Really, until we start framing this as a public health issue as we did with tobacco, it will be hard to have change.” Research has now demonstrated a link between pornography and the sexual abuse of children — even by other children.
In their pastoral letter, the U.S. bishops write that “data indicates that children repeatedly exposed to pornography are more likely to sexually harass or molest other children, imitating the behavior they have seen.” “This is, in my opinion, the most important part of the bishops’ teaching,” said Meier. And it’s playing out on the local level. Over the past seven years, Meier would get about one crisis call a year from a family in which one child acted out on a sibling after viewing pornography. “In the last six months, I’ve had four of those calls, usually involving a 12- to 14-year-old child,” said Meier. These calls have come from families that generally do a good job creating a safe environment in their homes, said Meier, but have neglected the electronic entry means of pornography. The 28-page letter opens with the church’s teaching about the “beauty and vocation of the human person in Christ,” describes the scope and nature of the pornography crisis and offers help and hope for healing and restoration. “I’m glad the bishops spent a good portion of the document on the positive nature of the church’s teaching on sexuality, love and chastity,” said Meier. The letter also includes a great deal of information about what the latest research has discovered about pornography’s effect on the brain. And it’s something written for the average Catholic in the pew, said Meier. It’s short, practical and helpful. And it offers hope. “Many good people struggle with this sin,” wrote the bishops. “You are not alone . . . but God, the most loving of fathers, is waiting to meet with joy those who repent and to give them the
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WEB EXCLUSIVE
Tools for parents In support of the U.S. bishops’ pastoral letter “Create in Me a Clean Heart,” the Catholic Mutual Group has developed a resource to help parents. The “CMG Connect: Parents” offers a website with resources and a free video, “A Safe Haven Starts at Home.” The 18-minute video helps parents and other adults identify risk factors and behaviors leading to unhealthy Internet usage in children and teens. Some of the greatest threats to children’s safety can be found online, through devices ranging from computers and tablets to mobile phones. This is especially frightening since many children and teens spend hours interacting with electronic devices beyond the eyes of even watchful parents. People can sign up for a free account to participate in the program at: www.CMGparent.org.
grace they need to combat future temptation.” “There are a lot of practical applications to this document,” said Meier. “I want to send this to our pastors, directors of religious education and Catholic school principals.” Interested individuals are encouraged to download a copy of the pastoral letter from the USCCB website at: www.usccb.org/cleanheart. But first and foremost, said Meier, “Create in Me a Clean Heart” is a call to act. “It’s good that our bishops are taking a stand and calling our church to action to do something about this, and are providing the practical means to do so,” said Meier.
CHURCH OF THE WEEK St. Benedict, Bendena Address: 676 St. Benedict Rd., 66008 Phone: (785) 989-4818 Parochial Administrator: Father Francis Bakyor Mass Times: Sunday, 8 a.m.
Video
A video tour of this church is available online at: www.theleaven.org.
More photos of this church can be seen online at: www.theleaven.org.
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DECEMBER 18, 2015 | THELEAVEN.ORG
LOCAL NEWS
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‘Visiting Jesus’ at the root of new minister’s work By Moira Cullings moira.cullings@theleaven.org
K
ANSAS CITY, Kan. — When it comes to volunteering, it’s rare to find “visit the imprisoned” at the top of someone’s list. It takes a special person to venture into a place so solemn. Fortunately for inmates seeking compassion, Pope Francis isn’t the only one brave enough to provide it. This past July, with the Year of Mercy fast approaching and prison ministry in need of someone willing to both organize the archdiocese’s efforts and inspire more volunteers to participate, Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann created a position for an archdiocesan prison/ jail ministry coordinator. John Stanley of Church of the Ascension in Overland Park was eventually selected to fill the post — “the perfect fit,” according to friends and coworkers. A permanent deacon candidate with experience as a lawyer, Stanley has been described as someone with the wisdom and talents necessary to take on the challenge. “John is a man of integrity, heart and compassion,” said Marcy Konkader, who worked with Stanley through a program called Mentoring 4 Success (M4S). M4S is a statewide initiative designed to pair up volunteers, or mentors, with prisoners to help the latter make a safe and successful return to their communities. Konkader, the program’s assistant director, witnessed Stanley flourish in prison outreach. “John is a leader and a person who
LEAVEN PHOTO BY MOIRA CULLINGS
John Stanley, a member of Church of the Ascension in Overland Park, is the new archdiocesan prison/jail ministry coordinator. will serve with dignity. He is dedicated and will give his all,” she said. Konkader isn’t the only one who sees Stanley’s gift for this ministry. Steve White of Curé of Ars Parish in Leawood is a fellow deacon candidate, as well as a friend to Stanley. White, who served with Stanley at M4S, said, “John is absolutely the perfect man for the job. . . . I truly think God has called him specifically to this ministry.” “He had the most relaxed, natural rapport with these inmates,” added White. “It can be very intimidating to me, and most everybody, walking into a maximum security state prison. That door shuts behind you and you’re in
there, and you’re totally outnumbered. . . . John was just so relaxed.” Stanley’s interest in prison ministry was sparked by a conversation he had five years ago with his then-spiritual director Msgr. Tom Tank. Stanley was looking to grow in his faith, and the ministry was in great need. Stanley has come a long way since he first said “yes” to Msgr. Tank’s suggestion. Now, a sense of humor and a humble heart are two of the many qualities Stanley brings to the archdiocesan ministry. The ministry’s overall mission, Stanley said, is “to bring hope to prisoners through Jesus Christ being to the prisoners a brother in Christ and letting them know that we’re all in this together and that there’s a certain solidarity of humanity.” “I try to impart that,” said Stanley, “and that’s what I think Christ leads all volunteers to do, is to bring that hope that only Jesus can bring.” Stanley’s main responsibility is to determine where there are needs within the ministry and the facilities it serves. But his ambitions for the program don’t end there. “I would love to see the program involve not only visiting with prisoners, but also assisting and giving comfort, encouragement and hope to prisoners once they are released from prison,” said Stanley. His other goals for the program include recruiting more Catholic volunteers and expanding the ministry to reach out to victims and their families. The main challenge he’s found is opening facilities’ doors to priests who can celebrate Mass and offer confession for inmates who request it.
“We’re getting good responses from the priests to help out in those areas that haven’t been served with priests in the past, so I’m encouraged,” said Stanley. Stanley recognizes the immeasurable value lay volunteers bring to prison ministry. “Our laypeople are very instrumental,” he said. The services they provide include bringing the Eucharist to Catholic inmates, reading Scripture and praying with them, and offering fellowship to inmates who seek it. Groups like Bethany Prison Ministry, which has been around for over 20 years, are what make prison ministry successful, and Stanley is grateful for their services. He encourages readers who feel called to the ministry to reach out to him. “I want readers to have an awareness of the least of our brothers and to maybe take a look and reflect on Matthew 25, where Jesus calls each one of us to visit prisoners,” said Stanley. “And by doing that, we’re really visiting Jesus.” For those interested in volunteering for the prison ministry or donating to the program in any way, contact Stanley at (913) 488-8448 or send an email to: john@jstanleylaw.com.
Bishop Miege students Aidan Gray, left, and Michael Heinzman demonstrate the robot designed by students in the high school’s robotics program.
CLASSROOM CONTESTS BUILD REAL-WORLD SKILLS
Bishop Miege launches new engineering program Story and photos by
R
JILL RAGAR ESFELD
Project Lead the Way
OELAND PARK — Ten index cards and a pingpong ball — those are the materials given to area eighth-graders as they learn about Project Lead the Way, a four-year engineering program available next fall at Bishop Miege High School here. Seven minutes: That’s how long students have to build a tower strong and steady enough to support their pingpong ball. Students are divided into teams of three. The team with the tallest tower wins a box of gumdrops. With stakes that high, it’s a cutthroat competition.
Project Lead the Way is the nation’s leading provider of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programs. PLTW Engineering, being offered at Bishop Miege High School starting next fall, is about applying engineering, science, math and technology to solve complex, open-ended problems in a real-world context. Students learn how to apply STEM knowledge, skills and habits of mind to make the world a better place through innovation. Even for students who do not plan to pursue engineering after high school, the PLTW Engineering program provides opportunities to develop highly transferable skills in collaboration, communication and critical thinking, relevant for any coursework or career. For more information about PLTW or specific courses offered, go online to: www.pltw.org/pltw-engineering.
A lot of learning in a little time When the activity was presented at Good Shepherd School in Shawnee recently, the room was filled with energy. Student attempts at making tall towers were punctuated with frenzied discussions, furtive folding and stacking, and bursts of loud laughter as cards and pingpong balls went flying. Some students remembered they’d been given an index card when they walked in the room — giving their team an additional three cards . . . and a clear advantage.
Scott Anderson, head of Bishop Miege’s engineering department, presented the program with support from three students of the school’s very successful robotics program. Anderson walked around the room with a tape measure, encouraging students to keep trying as he called out tower heights and the time left to beat them. This instructor was having as much fun as the students, partly because he knew
that in the midst of the fun, valuable lessons were being learned. “Here’s the important question,” said Anderson after the competition was completed. “What did you learn?” Students shouted out answers: “It was hard.” “It kept falling over.” “What did the winning team do to keep it from falling over?” asked Anderson. “They made the base wider,” several students responded. “Not the only way to do it,” said Anderson, “but it was smart.” That’s how Project Lead the Way works. Beyond the simple lessons in building a paper tower, students had seven minutes of intense practice in communication, problem solving and teamwork. They found out there was no single right answer, but many possible solutions.
Eighth-graders learning about Bishop Miege’s n Project Lead the Way program are treated to demonstration of the robot designed by stude in the robotics program. Scott Anderson, head the Bishop Miege engineering department, plained the mechanics of the robot.
Engineering for everyone Bishop Miege president Dr. Joe Passantino is excited to offer future Miege students four years of this kind of learning experience. “Even though it’s an engineering curriculum,” he said, “the skills are transferable to any field a student would go into. “Any profession is about problem solving and teamwork.” During the tower-building activity, many students complained that they didn’t have enough time or enough materials. Anderson’s response was the same to each: “You never have enough time or enough materials.” It doesn’t take an engineer to know
Good Shepherd eighth-graders Ryan Kelley and Gra build a tower out of index cards. that’s a real-life fact of the working world. And that’s the beauty of Project Lead the Way. Students learn to work together using critical-thinking skills to solve problems from a real-world perspective.
“It’s just something else that’s going to help them move forward.” Project Lead the Way is a national organization with programs available in all 50 states. (See sidebar on previous page.) “It’s just such a solid program,” said Passantino. “They train the teachers. They have the curriculum with the software that’s needed for it. They have mentors for the instructors. “It’s just a program that has proven to be very successful everywhere it’s been put in place.”
Only at Bishop Miege Though most of the bigger public school districts have some form of the program, Bishop Miege will be the first Catholic high school in the Kansas City area to offer it. Fortunately, they’re able to pattern their program after one successfully implemented in a similar school. Dowling Catholic High School in West Des Moines, Iowa, has had Project Lead the Way Engineering as part of its curriculum for five years. “I know the people at Dowling,” said Passantino. “The president is a good friend of mine, and I knew they had this program.” Passantino and Anderson, along with two other instructors interested in teaching the engineering curriculum, went to Des Moines to observe. “I know a lot of big districts have this program,” said Passantino. “But we’re just one single school, and that makes a difference. “So, going up to Dowling was an opportunity to see, in a similar setting, how it might be applied.” The trip motivated everyone involved to make Project Lead the Way part of Bishop Miege’s future. “It was just very impressive,” said Passantino. “The activities in the classroom were so well-structured. “Hearing their students describe how much they’re getting out of the class — our teachers were equally excited.” Dowling has expressed an interest in helping Bishop Miege implement the program with equal success. “That gave us a lot of confidence,” said Passantino. “It’s always better if you can find someone who has met the challenges, learned from them and can share that knowledge.”
new oa ents d of ex-
ace Green participate in an engineering activity to Passantino also noted that skills learned in the program will help students on any future test-taking endeavors — from the ACT and SAT to the GMAT or MCAT. “They all require critical thinking,”
Fall launch
Bishop Miege president Dr. Joe Passantino asks freshman Aidan Grey to help pass out information on the high school’s new engineering program. he said. “So, if they’ve developed those critical-thinking skills, it’s only going to help.” Students can also earn college credit through the program — beginning their
freshman year. “I think the college credit is another enhancement,” said Passantino. “No matter where students go or what they do, they’ll have that on their resume.
Anderson, along with two other instructors, will be trained in the curriculum next summer. Project Lead the Way will be available at Bishop Miege for the fall semester of 2016. “Most likely the first year we’ll only need one teacher,” said Passantino. “But we wanted some backups. “We’ll outfit one classroom; our goal is to accommodate anyone who wants to get in the program.” The only requirement for freshmen is enrollment in Algebra 1. “While it does serve the honors and AP track of students,” said Passantino, “it’s also for students who maybe don’t fall into that category but are interested in these kinds of activities. “It’s designed for pretty much the whole student body.” And the whole student body, whatever their hopes and plans for the future, can benefit from the skills learned through Project Lead the Way. The only challenge for students is going to be making the choice to fit this curriculum into their schedules. “It’s going to be one more good choice they have available,” said Passantino. “It will be interesting to see how many sign up. “Hopefully, this is the launch of something very special.”
WORLD
DECEMBER 18, 2015 | THELEAVEN.ORG
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Vatican document ref lects on relations between Catholics, Jews By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service
V
ATICAN CITY (CNS) — Catholics are called to witness to their faith in Jesus before all people, including Jews, but the Catholic Church “neither conducts nor supports” any institutional missionary initiative directed toward Jews, says a new document from a Vatican commission. How God will save the Jews if they do not explicitly believe in Christ is “an unfathomable divine mystery,” but one which must be affirmed since Catholics believe that God is faithful to his promises and therefore never revoked his covenant with the Jewish people, it says. In the statement, “The Gifts and the Calling of God Are Irrevocable,” the Pontifical Commission for Religious Relations With the Jews gives thanks for 50 years of Catholic-Jewish dialogue and looks at some of the theological questions that have arisen in the dialogue and in Catholic theology since the Second Vatican Council. The topics covered in the document, released Dec. 10, include: the meaning of “the Word of God” in Judaism and Christianity; the relationship between the Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament; the relationship between God’s covenant with Israel and the New Covenant; the meaning of the universality of salvation in Christ in view of “God’s unrevoked covenant” with the Jewish people; and what evangelization means in relation to the Jews. The document explicitly states that it is not a “doctrinal teaching of the Catholic Church,” but a reflection based on doctrine and flowing from Vatican II’s declaration “Nostra Aetate” on Catholic relations with other religions. Like “Nostra Aetate,” the new document condemns all forms of anti-Semitism and affirms that Christianity’s relationship with Judaism is unique in the field of interreligious dialogue because of the Jewish roots of the Christian faith. In addition to believing that the Jewish Scriptures are God’s revelation, Jesus and his disciples were practicing Jews, and many elements of Catholic liturgy developed out of formal Jewish prayer. “One cannot understand Jesus’
CNS PHOTO/FILIP SINGER, EPA
Czech Rabbi Karol Efraim Sidon lights the menorah of Hanukkah inside Europe’s oldest active synagogue, The Old New Synagogue, in Prague, Czech Republic, in this Dec. 2, 2010, file photo. Although Catholics are called to witness to their faith, the church “neither conducts nor supports” any institutional missionary initiative directed toward Jews, according to a new document from a Vatican commission. teaching or that of his disciples without situating it within the Jewish horizon in the context of the living tradition of Israel,” the document says. “One would understand his teachings even less so if they were seen in opposition to this tradition.” The Jewish roots of Christianity, it says, give the Christian faith its necessary “anchoring in salvation history,” showing how the life, death and resurrection of Jesus are part of the story of God’s saving work since the beginning of time, and that Christianity is not a system of religious belief that appeared out of the blue with the birth of Jesus. Because Catholics recognize their faith as having its roots in the faith of the Jews, the document says, dialogue and joint study bring obvious advantages to Catholic knowledge of the Bible and faith in the one God. The first Jewish Christians continued to go to the synagogue and, the document said, historical evidence indicates the break between Christianity and Judaism — between the church and synagogue — may not have been com-
plete until the 3rd century or even the 4th century. In addition, modern rabbinical Judaism developed after the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem in the year 70, the same time as Christianity was developing. For those reasons, the document says, Jews, too, can learn from Christian historical studies. Within Catholic theology over the past 50 years, some scholars have hypothesized the existence and validity of two “covenants,” one that God made with the Jews and one made through Jesus. The new document, however, insists “there can only be one single covenant history of God with humanity.” At the same time, however, the document says God’s covenant with humanity developed over time: it was first forged with Abraham, then the law was given to Moses, then new promises were given to Noah. “Each of these covenants incorporates the previous covenant and interprets it in a new way,” the document says. “That is also true for the New Covenant which for Christians is the final eternal covenant and, therefore, the
definitive interpretation of what was promised by the prophets.” The covenant sealed with the death and resurrection of Christ, it said, is “neither the annulment nor the replacement, but the fulfillment of the promises of the Old Covenant.” However, one expert in Jewish-Christian relations said a belief that Jews have been replaced by Christians in God’s favor still “is alive and well in the pews.” Speaking at a Vatican news conference Dec. 10, Edward Kessler gave “a warning” that the Christian sense of “fulfillment easily slides into replacement,” which sees Christians as “the successor covenant people, elected by God to replace Israel because of the latter’s unfaithfulness.” The expert in the study of JewishChristian relations and founder and director of the Woolf Institute in Cambridge, England, welcomed the new document and said he hoped the progress being made in Catholic-Jewish relations would not be “limited to the elite,” but trickles down to everyday Catholics and Jews. The Vatican document also rejects the notion that there are two paths to salvation, one for Christians and one for Jews. “Confessing the universal and therefore also exclusive mediation of salvation through Jesus Christ belongs to the core of Christian faith.” But that does not mean it is up to Christians to determine that God can save only those who explicitly acknowledge Christ as son of God and savior, it says. “Here we confront the mystery of God’s work, which is not a matter of missionary efforts to convert Jews, but rather the expectation that the Lord will bring about the hour when we will be united.” A week before the Vatican document was released, two dozen Orthodox rabbis signed a “statement on Christianity” circulated by the Israel-based Center for Jewish-Christian Understanding and Cooperation. “We acknowledge that Christianity is neither an accident nor an error, but the willed divine outcome and gift to the nations,” the statement said. In separating Judaism and Christianity, God “willed a separation between partners with significant theological differences, not a separation between enemies.”
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DECEMBER 11, 2015 | THELEAVEN.ORG
CLASSIFIEDS EMPLOYMENT Part-time nurse practitioner - Rehab physician at St. Joseph Medical Center rehab ward is seeking a part-time nurse practitioner to help care for rehab unit and acute hospital consult patients 4-5 hours/day, 4-5 days/week. Great for someone with children in school, family commitments, etc. Email resume and cover letter to: dsmith son@carondelet.com. Executive Director - The Catholic Education Foundation (CEF), an educational ministry of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, is seeking an executive director. CEF provides over $1.5 million annually to 20 schools in the archdiocese to be used for scholarships for children in need. This position is responsible for management of all facets of the organization to include: management of five salaried employees, oversight of board of directors and committees, facilitate appointing of new board and committee members, budget goal attainment, donor solicitation, stewardship of foundation resources and oversight of financial operations and reporting. Applicants must be practicing Catholics in good standing, be able to speak authentically about Catholic education, have a bachelor’s degree and a minimum of five successful years in the for-profit business arena and be able to facilitate public relations to increase awareness of the CEF. Nonprofit board experience is preferable. The successful candidate’s job skill-set includes: executive level leadership, polished marketing and presentation skills, highly organized, superior planning and forecasting skills, team player, good personnel management skills, proficiency in Microsoft Office, and ability to communicate effectively and compassionately with a variety of constituencies including business leaders and families seeking scholarship assistance. An entrepreneurial spirit along with the ability to think outside the box is imperative. Interested individuals should email cover letter and resume to: mmorrisey@archkck.org. Customer service specialist - Wellington is searching for a customer service specialist that interacts with clients and delivers best-practice customer service via the telephone and online. S/he must possess an energetic, customer-focused demeanor and be willing to go the extra mile in solving challenges and meeting client requests whenever possible. In addition, the customer service specialist will assist account management teams with a variety of tasks that require excellent organization and problem-solving skills. Hours are M - F from 4 - 8 p.m. Please apply online at: https://ciims.cicdexinc.com/ job/68ef81. $15 per hour. Marketing/sales representative - This marketing representative position requires a self-motivated, organized and personable individual to market the services that our company offers. This position will actively search for new accounts and manage existing accounts. We are an industry-leading cleaning and restoration company located in Lawrence. Marketing/sales experience is required. This position is part time, 20-25 hours per week, very flexible. Send resumes to Servpro9721@sunflower.com. Data entry - The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas has immediate openings for two temporary data entry positions. The individual will assist the office of stewardship and development during the busy Call to Share annual appeal. Required hours will be 30+ hours per week beginning in mid-January, with approximate end date in late March. Requires reliability, collaborative demeanor and demonstrated data entry skills. Full job description available at: www.archkck.org/jobs. Qualified individuals should email cover letter, resume and application (available on the archdiocesan website) to: jobs@archkck.org by Dec. 31. May also be mailed to: Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, Office of Human Resources, Stewardship - Data Entry Search, 12615 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City, KS 66109. Director of stewardship and development - The Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph is searching for a director of stewardship and development. This full-time position will direct and implement a comprehensive program, including stewardship education on time, talent, treasure; the annual bishop’s appeal; annual fundraising activities; the coordination of special events; and long-term development efforts such as support of the Catholic Community Foundation, estate planning and corporate donor programs. The position is eligible for benefits, paid time off and two retirement plans. Please visit job opportunities at: www.diocese-kcsj.org for a complete job description or to apply. Executive director - Wyandotte Pregnancy Clinic is an expanding, faith-based, nonprofit organization serving women and families facing unplanned pregnancies with Christ-like compassion. We are looking for an executive director. The candidate should have strong leadership and supervisory skills; be flexible and able to work in a constantly evolving work environment; be comfortable collaborating with a wide range of agencies, churches and organizations; have excellent writing and communication skills; and have familiarity with QuickBooks, databases and MS Office products. Will be responsible for growing donor base and event planning. Reports to governing board. Send resumes to Donna Kelsey at: dkelsey@wpcnetwork.org. Our client website: www. wyandottepregnancyclinic.org. Our donor website: www.BabiesAtRisk.org. Our mobile pregnancy clinic: www.mobilepregnancyclinic.org. Any questions, call Donna at (913) 904-4050. Drivers needed - Medi Coach Transportation is looking for caring and reliable drivers for nonemergency transportation. CDL is not required. Contact Jeff at (913) 825-1921.
Quality control specialist - Large automotive plant is currently seeking a quality control specialist to assist with the inspection of equipment and parts. Excellent growth potential and advancement. Individual must be dependable and have a great work ethic. Starting wage is $10. Call (816) 994-8200. Teaching positions - St. Ann Young Child Center in Prairie Village is seeking to fill a Kids’ Day Out aide position, Mon. - Thurs. from 9 a.m. - 2:45 p.m. We are also looking for subs for preschool classes. For more information, call Tati at (816) 716-4676. Drivers - Special Beginnings Early Learning Center is seeking part-time drivers for its school-age program located in Lenexa. Candidates must be able to drive a 13-passenger minibus, similar to a 15-passenger van. CDL not required, but must have an excellent driving record. Candidates would pick up children from area schools and then work directly with them when arriving back at the center. Experience preferred. Must have strong work ethic and the ability to work with children. Insurance provided. Background check will be conducted. Great opportunity for retired persons or those seeking a second job. Job responsibilities include: ensuring safety and well-being of children who are being transported at all times, including loading and unloading. Driving short, round-trip routes to elementary schools in Lenexa/Olathe area. Summer only: Driving short, roundtrip routes to two Lenexa city pools. Maintaining mileage log. Keeping interior of vehicle clean. Apply by sending an email to chris@specialbeginningsonline.com or in person at 10216 Pflumm Rd., Lenexa KS 66215. Drivers – Assisted Transportation is now hiring caring and reliable drivers to transport K-12 students to and from school and other activities in company minivans. Positions are now available in Olathe, Overland Park and Kansas City, Kansas. Competitive wages and flexible schedules. CDL not required. Retirees encouraged to apply. Call (913) 262-3100 or apply online at: AssistedTransportation.com. EEO. Teacher assistant - Special Beginnings, Lenexa, is seeking full- or part-time after school teacher assistants at all locations. We are looking for a teacher assistant candidate who has an excellent work ethic, heart for children, and a willingness to learn more about early childhood education. Experience and/or education is a plus but we will train the right candidate. Teacher assistants will work with the lead teacher to care for and educate the children. Primary responsibilities include assisting the lead teacher with: care and supervision of children, lesson plan implementation, parent communication, cleanliness and organization of classroom. Starting hourly pay ranges based on experience and education. Pay increases are based on job performance. Opportunities for advancement are available as the company prefers to promote from within. Apply by sending an email to chris@specialbeginningsonline.com or in person at 10216 Pflumm Rd., Lenexa, KS 66215.
SERVICES Mike Hammer local moving - A full-service mover. Packing, pianos, rental truck load/unload, storage container load/unload, and in-home moving. No job too small. Serving JoCo since 1987. St. Joseph, Shawnee, parishioner. Call Mike at (913) 927-4347 or send an email to: mike@mikehammermoving.com. Housecleaning - Reasonable, thorough and dependable. Many years of experience. References. Call (816) 257-5303. Tree service - Certified arborist Chris Johnson at Tufts Tree Service performs all tree services including restoration, pruning, training, removal and stump-grinding. Fully licensed and insured. Email Chris at: www.Tuftstree service@gmail.com or call (785) 218-1531. Marketing and advertising consultant - Strategic marketing and advertising consultant for your small business. Send an email to: loyedge@yahoo.com or call (877) LOY-EDGE. K-12 tutoring available - Tutor is degreed and has experience in the K-12 curriculum in various subjects and can help in test preps (ACT, SAT, GED, etc.) as well as French, Spanish, piano, guitar, voice and music theory. Sessions are fun and meaningful in context. Sessions are one-onone and a family discount is available. For more info, call/text Kathleen at (913) 206-2151 or send an email to: Klmamuric@yahoo.com. December special - 5 sessions of personal training for $200 at your home. A healthy body gets you going further with God. Call Angela Nosworthy, 15 years experience. (913) 558-7759 Tree service - Pruning trees for optimal growth and beauty and removal of hazardous limbs or problem trees. Free consultation and bid. Safe, insured, professional. Cristofer Estrada, Green Solutions of KC, (913) 378-5872. www.GreenSolutionsKC.com. Bankruptcy consultation - If debts are overwhelming you, seek hope and help from compassionate, experienced Catholic attorney, Teresa Kidd. For a free consultation, call (913) 422-0610; send an email to: tkidd@kc.rr. com; or visit the website at: www.teresakiddlawyer. com. Please do not wait until life seems hopeless before getting good quality legal advice that may solve your financial stress.
Faith-based counseling to cope with life concerns - Kansas City area. Call Mary Vorsten, licensed clinical professional counselor, at (913) 909-2002. Agua Fina Irrigation and Landscape The one-stop location for your project! Landscape and irrigation design, installation and maintenance. Cleanup and grading services It’s time to repair your lawn. 20% discount on lawn renovations with mention of this ad. Visit the website at: www.goaguafina.com Call (913) 530-7260 or (913) 530-5661
HOME IMPROVEMENT Detail construction and remodeling - We offer a full line of home remodeling services. Don’t move — remodel! Johnson County area. Call for a free quote at (913) 709-8401. Helping Hand Handy Man - Home maintenance chores available by the hour. Special rate for senior and singleparent households. Electrical, painting, wood refinishing, deck repair, yard work, shelving and organizing. Most home problems and needs solved. Member of Prince of Peace, Olathe. Call Mark Coleman at (913) 526-4490. Brick mason - Brick, stone, tile and flat work. 22 years of residential/commercial experience. FREE QUOTES - KC metro area. Small and large jobs accepted. Call Jim at (913) 485-4307. www.facebook.com/faganmasonry. Larry Laney Construction Co. - Specializing in kitchen/ bathroom remodeling and home renovation. Finish carpentry, painting, drywall and tile. I’m an honest, hardworking, dependable and very skilled, licensed contractor. Insured, with references. Call Larry at (913) 963-3434. Concrete construction - Tear out and replace stamped, stained or colored patios and drives. Retaining walls, footings, poured-in-place safe rooms, excavation and hauling. Asphalt drives and lots. Fully insured; references. Call Dan at (913) 207-4371 or send an email to: dan deeconst@aol.com. Swalms Organizing - Downsizing - Clean Out Service – Reduce clutter – Any space organized. Shelving built on site. Items hauled for recycling and donations. 20 years exp; insured. Call Tillar at (913) 375-9115. WWW. SWALMSORGANIZING.COM.
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CAREGIVING Call the “GO-GO GIRLS” - Maybe you aren’t driving as much or at all, we can help. If you need to GO to the doctor, dentist, hairdresser, barbershop, grocery store, etc., let us know. If you don’t want to GO yourself, we can run your errands for you. We will GO to your home, if you need someone to sit with a loved one, while you get away. We can even be of assistance with kids. Give us a call if they are sick and can’t stay alone or need a ride home from school. Contact us at (913) 469-6211 or (816) 807-0564 to discuss your needs. Johnson County area only. CNA, Home Health Care Professional - Provides TLC in the comfort of the client’s residence. Budget Friendly. Available 24 hours, or part time. Excellent references. 25 years of Seasoned Experience. Nonsmoker. Call (816) 806-8104. Looking for high quality home care? - Whether you’re looking to introduce care for your family or simply looking to improve your current home care quality, we can help. Our unique approach to home care has earned us a 99% client satisfaction rating among the 1,000-plus families we have assisted. We are family-owned, with offices in Lenexa and Lawrence. Call Benefits of Home Senior Care, Lenexa: (913) 422-1591 or Lawrence: (785) 727-1816 or www.benefitsofhome.com. Need help? - Do you or your parents need help at home? Doctor appointments? Shopping? Light meals? Companionship? Years of experience. References. Call (913) 257-5303. Caregiving - We provide personal assistance, companionship, care management, and transportation to the elderly and disabled in home, assisted living and nursing facilities. We also provide respite care for main caregivers needing some personal time. Call Daughters & Company at (913) 341-2500 and speak with Laurie, Pat or Gary. Retired nurse - Looking for work in home care. Please call (913) 579-5276. Compassionate caregiver - 45-year-old Catholic woman with 13 years experience. Works nights or days. Flexible. Pay negotiable. Excellent references. Call Kara at (913) 909-6659.
FOR SALE
The Drywall Doctor, Inc. - A unique solution to your drywall problems! We fix all types of ceiling and wall damage — from water stains and stress cracks to texture repairs and skim coating. We provide professional, timely repairs and leave the job site clean! Lead-certified and insured! Serving the metro since 1997. Call (913) 768-6655.
Residential lifts - Buy/sell/trade. Stair lifts, porch lifts, ceiling lifts and elevators. Recycled and new equipment. Member of St. Michael the Archangel Parish, Leawood. Call Silver Cross KC at (913) 327-5557.
DRC Construction We’ll get the job done right the first time. Windows - Doors - Decks – Siding Repair or replace, we will work with you to solve your problems. Choose us for any window, door, siding or deck project and you’ll be glad you did. Everything is guaranteed 100% (913) 461-4052 www.windowservicesoverlandpark.com drcconswindows@gmail.com
For sale - At Resurrection Cemetery, two easements in mausoleum. Contact A. Kelly at (913) 649-9691.
Custom countertops - Laminates installed within 5 days. Cambria, granite, and solid surface. Competitive prices, dependable work. Call the Top Shop, Inc., (913) 962-5058. Members of St. Joseph, Shawnee. EL SOL Y LA TIERRA *Commercial & residential * Lawn renovation *Mowing * Clean-up and hauling * Dirt grading/installation * Landscape design * Free estimates Hablamos y escribimos Ingles!! www.elsolylatierra.com Call Lupe at (816) 252-1391 STA (Sure Thing Always) Home Repair - Basement finish, bathrooms and kitchens; interior & exterior repairs: painting, roofing, siding, wood replacement and window glazing. Free estimates. Call (913) 491-5837 or (913) 579-1835. Email: smokeycabin@hotmail.com. Member of Holy Trinity, Lenexa. Local handyman and lawn care – Water heaters, garbage disposals, toilets, faucets, painting, power washing, doors, storm doors, gutter cleaning, wood rot, mowing, carpet, roofing, etc. Member of Holy Angels Parish, Basehor. Call Billy at (913) 927-4118. NELSON CREATIONS L.L.C. Home remodeling, design/build, kitchens, baths, all interior and exterior work. Family owned and operated; over 25 years experience. Licensed and insured; commercial and residential. Kirk and Diane Nelson. (913) 927-5240; nelsport@everestkc.net HARCO Exteriors LLC Your Kansas City fencing specialists Family owned and operated (913) 815-4817 www.harcoexteriorsllc.com House painting Interior and exterior; wallpaper removal. Power washing, fences, decks. 30 years experience. References. Reasonable rates. Call Joe at (913) 620-5776.
For sale - Resurrection Cemetery lot in the Charity Garden. $4000 includes interment fees for two cremations, or one burial and one cremation. Call (913) 2680419.
For sale - Mt. Calvary Cemetery, KCK. 5 plots, old section
number 8. Two plots: side by side, lot 47, space 3A and 4A. Two plots: lot 47, 7A and 8A. One single: lot 52, space 2A. Contact Marty Clem at (316) 519-5382 or send an email to: martyc@airco-ict.com.
WANTED TO BUY Wanted to buy - Antique/vintage jewelry, lighters, fountain pens, post card collections, paintings/prints, pottery, sterling, china dinnerware. Renee Maderak, (913) 631-7179. St. Joseph Parish, Shawnee Will buy firearms and related accessories - One or a whole collection. Honest evaluation and top prices paid. Contact Tom at (913) 238-2473. Member of Sacred Heart Parish, Shawnee.
VACATION Ski week - Spring break 2/27 - 3/5/16. Winter Park, Colo. Inn at Silver Creek in Granby. Fully furnished condo with kitchen. Easily sleeps six. Five-hour drive. $700. Pet OK. Call (913) 649-7596.
ROOMMATE WANTED For rent - Room and private bath available near Johnson County Community College. $500 per month. Short term or long term. For more information, call (913) 579-5276. Roommate wanted - $400 per month plus one-third of the utilities. Short-term or long-term. Six minutes from Holy Spirit Church in Overland Park. Furnished. Females only. Call (913) 599-5574.
DECEMBER 18, 2015 | THELEAVEN.ORG
CALENDAR HALF-DAY OF CENTERING PRAYER Sanctuary of Hope 2601 Ridge Ave., Kansas City, Kansas Dec. 19 from 9 a.m. - noon
Come “rest awhile with the Lord” and enjoy five 20-minute periods of centering prayer with walking meditation breaks in between. Books are available for sale. The suggested donation is $10. Space is limited. Check-in is one half-hour before start time. To RSVP, send an email to: ContemplativeOutreachKC@ gmail.com.
CRAFT FAIR Christ the King Parish 3024 N. 53rd St., Kansas City, Kansas Dec. 19 from 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. Dec. 20 from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
There are booths still available. For more information, call Kim at (913) 514-0529.
‘TAKE A LOOK THURSDAY’ Holy Spirit School 11300 W. 103rd St., Overland Park Jan. 7 from 9 - 11 a.m.
Come join us for information, tours and refreshments! Contact Anita Pauls for this event at (913) 492-2582 or send an email to: apauls@hscatholic.org.
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org/fundraising. Tickets are $40 at the door. Drinks, appetizers and champagne at midnight are included. For more information, call Bruce at (816) 807-7891.
AN EVENING OF PIANO MUSIC St. Gregory Church 1310 Carolina, Marysville Dec. 28 at 7 p.m.
St. Gregory’s Altar Society will present a piano performance by Russell Ronnebaum. He will be playing at Carnegie Hall in New York City in the spring and has completed his first CD. A reception will follow the performance. CDs will be for sale.
NEW YEAR’S EVE DANCE - HOSTED BY BEGINNING EXPERIENCE OF KC Holy Trinity Church 92nd and Pflumm, Lenexa Dec. 31 from 9 p.m. - 12:30 a.m.
“The Zepster” will be the DJ at the dance. The cost of advance tickets is $35. They are available online at: BeginningExperienceKC.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO TEACH ENGLISH Keeler Women’s Center 2220 Central Ave., Kansas City, Kansas Jan. 8 from 9 a.m. - noon
Volunteers will attend training sessions scheduled at the center. Materials and training are provided. One and one-half hour sessions are scheduled, depending on the volunteer’s schedule. For more information, call Keeler Women’s Center at (913) 906-8990.
WINTER FORMAL Prince of Peace Parish hall 16000 W. 143rd St., Olathe Jan. 16 from 7 - 11 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
DIVINE MERCY HOLY HOUR Villa St. Francis 16600 W. 126th St., Olathe Every second Friday at 4 p.m. from Dec. 8 to Nov. 20, 2016
A Divine Mercy Holy Hour will be offered every second Friday at 4 p.m. during the Year of Mercy.
St. Philippine Duchesne Knights of Columbus Assembly 2260 invites all Knights and non-Knights and their ladies to their formal prime rib dinner and dance. Advance ticket purchase is necessary for the caterer. For more details and to purchase tickets, go to the website at: www.kofc2260.org, or contact Richard Witthar at (913) 897-7227.
‘LATE NITE CATECHISM’ Starlight Theatre 4600 Starlight Theatre Kansas City, Missouri
For dates and times of performances, go online to: www.kcstarlight.com, click on events, then on “Late Nite Catechism.”
Catholic Foundation of Northeast Kansas • Catholic Bequests
• Donor Advised Funds
• Gift Annuities
• Named Scholarship Funds
• Endowments
• Memorial Funds
Remember a gift to the church in your will
(913) 647-0325 CFNEK@archkck.org www.cfnek.org
DECEMBER 18, 2015 | THELEAVEN.ORG
COMMENTARY FOURTH WEEK OF ADVENT Dec. 20 FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT Mi 5: 1-4a Ps 80: 2-3, 15-16, 18-19 Heb 10: 5-10 Lk 1: 39-45 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 Tuesday 1 Sm 1: 24-28 (Ps) 1 Sm 2: 1, 4-8d Lk 1: 46-56 Dec. 23 John of Kanty, priest Mal 3: 1-4, 23-24 Ps 25: 4-5b, 8-10, 14 Lk 1: 57-66 Dec. 24 Thursday 2 Sm 7: 1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16 Ps 89: 2-5, 27, 29 Lk 1: 67-79 Dec. 25 THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD (CHRISTMAS) Is 9: 1-6 Ps 96: 1-3, 11-13 Ti 2: 11-14 Lk 2: 1-14 Dec. 26 STEPHEN, THE FIRST MARTYR Acts 6: 8-10; 7: 54-59 Ps 31: 3cd-4, 6, 8ab, 16bc, 17 Mt 10: 17-22
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What are you looking forward to?
HIS. does. not. get. old. EVER. So reads a post and video on Facebook put up by a former Hayden High School student that I know. She goes on to say, “Reliving the glory again.” In case you can’t guess what she’s talking about, perhaps this will help clarify things: #ForeverRoyal. I couldn’t agree with her more! I’ve watched this particular video, entitled “No Fluke” on YouTube, many times (as well as plenty of other Royals highlights) and THIS. does. not. get. old. EVER. It’s such a fantastic experience to relive the glory that was the Royals’ 2015 season. The best part in watching the videos is that we already know the outcome. So, no matter how dicey things look at any point in the game, the good guys will win in the end. That fact eliminates all stress. The Royals’ world championship came to mind as I read the following little story: A pastor by the name of David Peterson was preparing a sermon when his little daughter
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.
LISTEN to this article online at: www.theleaven.org. bounced into the room and asked, “Daddy, can we play?” “I’m awfully sorry, sweetheart,” said her dad, “but I’m right in the middle of preparing this sermon. In about an hour, I can play.” “OK,” said the little girl. “When you’re finished, I’ll give you a great big hug.” She skipped off to the door, but then did a sudden U-turn and came
back to give her dad a bone-crushing hug. “Hey,” said the grinning dad,” I thought you said you were going to give me a hug after I finished.” “Well, I just wanted you to know what you have to look forward to,” said the sweet girl as she scampered off. (Adapted from “Good Things Ahead,” found in “1001 Illustrations That Connect,” edited by Craig Brian Larson and Phyllis Ten Elshof.) Isn’t that a great image for Christmas? Jesus was born into our world — became one like us — not only to free us from sin, but to show us “what we have to look forward to.” His teachings and his miracles brought a glimpse of heaven right here on
earth. His resurrection from the dead showed us what we, his followers, ultimately have to look forward to. We don’t have to wait until our death to experience heavenly glory, however. We get a taste of it here on earth, even though the full banquet awaits us in heaven. In the gathering of friends and family in these days, God’s love breaks through. In the Christmas carols that we hear, angelic voices are heard. In the Christmas cards we receive, the message of God’s care is reflected. In the gifts that are exchanged, God’s generosity is mirrored. In all of the lights and decorations, we glimpse the Light who is to come. In the relaxation we enjoy, the peace of God is once more made manifest. Although its meaning will change over the years, this feast day should always be a time of hope, joy, promise and contentment. Last year, I received a Christmas card produced by Abbey Press, which is owned by the Benedictine monks of St. Meinrad Archabbey in southern Indiana. I kept it because its words seemed to capture so well
the evolving spirit of this special time of the year. Here’s what was on the card: “The older I get the simpler my holiday preparations become, the closer I feel to old friends as I write my Christmas cards, the more I cherish the oldest ornaments, the more fondly I remember Christmases past, the longer I hold onto a holiday hug, the more I realize Christmas is a matter of the heart, the tighter my throat gets when I sing ‘Silent Night,’ the more I enjoy giving than receiving, the more I try to see Christmas through the eyes of a child, the longer I sit at night in the glow of the Christmas tree, the more wondrously beautiful the Christmas story is, the deeper my awe of God’s infinite love, the More I Love Christmas!” I hope that this final week of Advent reminds you of what you have to look forward to at Christmastime. May your days be filled to the brim with family and friends, music, laughter and contentment. Christmas: THIS. does. not. get. old. EVER. #ForeverJesus
Like the Baptist, we should rejoice in the coming of Christ
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omen who are pregnant sometimes mention that the child is kicking in the womb. I suppose that means that the baby is lively and energetic, that it is healthy. But in ancient times, people sometimes saw a deeper meaning in these movements. For example, when Rebekah is pregnant with the twins Jacob and Esau, their kicking in the womb is interpreted as an omen of their future rivalry. “The children in her womb jostled each other so much that she exclaimed, ‘If this is to be so, what good will it do me!’ She went to consult the Lord and he answered her: ‘Two na-
THE GOSPEL TRUTH
FATHER MIKE STUBBS Father Stubbs is the pastor of Holy Cross Parish in Overland Park and has a degree in Scripture from Harvard University.
tions are in your womb, two peoples are quarreling while still within you’” (Gn 25:22-23a). From the two babies
POPE FRANCIS On a cloudy, damp morning, Pope Francis’ voice echoed in the atrium of St. Peter’s Basilica: “Open the gates of justice.” With five strong thrusts, the pope pushed open the Holy Door, a symbol of God’s justice, which he said will always be exercised “in the light of his mercy.” The rite of the opening
will originate two nations, Israel and Edom, which will view each other as rivals. Similarly, in Sunday’s Gospel reading, Lk 1:39-45, Elizabeth understands the kicking in her womb as more than just the sign of a healthy baby. She describes her unborn child as leaping for joy. That is appropriate, since her child will be John the Baptist, who
will announce the arrival of the Messiah. The unborn John recognizes the presence of the unborn Jesus. It is the sound of Mary’s voice that triggers John’s leaping: “When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb.” Naturally, there is a close connection between the mother and the unborn child. John, although unborn, recognizes the voice of Jesus’ mother. Similarly, through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, Elizabeth is able to recognize that Mary’s unborn child is the Messiah: “Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how
of the Holy Door was preceded by a Mass with 70,000 pilgrims packed in St. Peter’s Square Dec. 8, the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception and the beginning of the extraordinary Holy Year of Mercy. As the sun broke through the clouds, heralding the start of the jubilee year, the pope bowed his head and remained still for several minutes in silent prayer. Amid a crowd of dignitaries and pilgrims, a familiar face was also pres-
does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy.’” When John the Baptist recognizes the presence of Jesus, he jumps for joy, even while he is still in the womb of his mother. That suggests to us that the proper response to Jesus’ presence is joy. Last week, the readings for Mass on the Third Sunday of Advent, called Gaudete Sunday from the Latin word for “rejoice,” emphasized joy. They encouraged us to rejoice at the presence of Christ who comes among us. This final Sunday of the Advent season keeps us in that frame of mind.
ent at the historic event: retired Pope Benedict XVI, who followed Pope Francis through the Holy Door into St. Peter’s Basilica. During his homily, Pope Francis emphasized the “simple, yet highly symbolic” act of opening the Holy Door, which “highlights the primacy of grace,” the same grace that made Mary “worthy of becoming the mother of Christ.” — CNS
DECEMBER 18, 2015 | THELEAVEN.ORG
COMMENTARY
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Education’s focus should be on creating good citizens first
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ear friends of Catholic schools, Just before Thanksgiving, I was blessed to participate in the World Congress on Catholic Education in Rome. This congress was called by the Vatican Congregation for Catholic Education. Presenters and speakers, approximately 43 different ones from approximately 17 different countries, spoke about the theme of the congress: “Educating Today and Tomorrow: A Renewing Passion.” The event began with remarks from the prefect of the Congregation for Catholic Education. We were treated to an audience
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with Pope Francis at the close of the congress. There were one or two presentations in English, and only one or two presenters from the United States in the sessions for K-12 Catholic schools. (There were some separate sessions for Catholic colleges and universities.) Thank heavens for headsets with translations (!), although I must say that I was embarrassed that I only spoke one language. Most attendees were fluent in multiple languages. What occurs to me as I reflect on all of the information I heard in Rome is how the current trends in public education seem to be missing the mark. On the sur-
FROM THE SUPER
KATHY O’HARA Kathy O’Hara is the superintendent of archdiocesan schools.
face, it seems difficult to argue with the importance of “college and career readiness.” Who does not want this generation of students to be
prepared for the world of college and work? This end, though, is woefully lacking, and may, in fact, produce the exact opposite of the intended outcomes because this narrow focus ignores the primary purpose education serves in society. Speaker after
speaker affirmed that the greater purpose of education in society is “to understand culture, life and the interrelationship of peoples.” Education should be about producing good citizens who have the vision to identify problems and the skills to work toward ethical solutions for the good of the community. This can only be accomplished if students are properly formed as human persons who truly understand the dignity of life and the values integral for humanity. Thus, education cannot be separated from these values. One speaker commented that if secular education across the
globe today were effective in accomplishing this greater purpose, we would not be seeing the types of senseless violent acts we are experiencing in our world. I came away from the congress truly with a “renewed passion” and also a renewed sense of purpose for our efforts with Catholic schools in our archdiocese. I am thankful that we appear to be on the right track as we remain steadfast in “forming young people as free and responsible human beings” (Pope Francis) who can bring God’s love to our world that so needs to experience it. ¡Vaya con Dios!
Kansas: a bright spot in a gloomy education landscape
t is an enduring mystery how a society that has charted new heights in consumerism is nonetheless willing to tolerate an utter lack of choices when it comes to the education of their children. Americans are ceaselessly plugged into an unprecedented panoply of consumer-choice — facilitating technologies, from iPhones to Amazon Prime. They have organic sections at the grocery store, Travelocity for booking vacations, eHarmony for finding love and hundreds of channels of satellite TV for their on-demand viewing pleasure. Yet, when it comes to education — the very issue for which every candidate for every
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office, from city council to president of the United States promises “innovation and reform” — the old guard insists that the future lies with children dutifully going to the government-run school dictated by their zip code, just as it’s always been. Nonetheless, some states have begun to experiment with educational choice, under the madcap theory that parents who pay taxes earmarked for education might want some say in where their children are educated. What a concept. The state of Kansas has now dipped its toe in the water, approving a small-school choice program that is helping students from disadvantaged families attend
CHURCH AND STATE
MICHAEL SCHUTTLOFFEL Michael Schuttloffel is the executive director of the Kansas Catholic Conference.
private schools, including Catholic schools in the archdiocese. Under the program, corporations can donate
scholarships for lowincome kids attending underperforming public schools. The corporation receives a tax credit for its donation. No taxpayer dollars flow to the scholarship recipients or the private schools; the scholarships are entirely private funds. What if every minority kid in a failing innercity school could take
the money earmarked for his education and use those funds for tuition at a private school of his parents’ choice? Does any sentient being doubt that this opportunity could radically change young lives for the better? Instead, the forces of the status quo spend millions each election cycle to ensure that public education is the only sector in American life free of the forces of competition, and that private education is only attainable for those with the means to afford it. The people opposing school choice for mostly minority children trapped in sometimes disastrous schools often send their own kids to private school and are
very often the same people who claim to be tribunes of low-income and minority populations. In a political culture currently obsessed with race, privilege and inequality of opportunity, it is shocking that this incredible hypocrisy does not receive more attention. Undoubtedly, some busy beavers are already at work with plans to roll back Kansas’ nascent school-choice program. It would be nice if some intrepid reporter broke ranks with the mainstream media establishment and asked, “Why do you oppose a woman’s right to choose the best education for her child?” Don’t hold your breath.
Liturgist offers perfect hymn for jubilee song
ecause the nature of the office of liturgy and sacramental life is to consult rather than direct, it is not my place, for instance, to tell a parish music director what music should be sung for a particular occasion. The closest I ever came to doing so was when, at Archbishop Naumann’s request, I forwarded a “common” musical setting of revised Missal texts for parishes to learn as a way to foster some cohesion throughout the archdiocese during that time of change. And what a wrathful response I received from
a few musicians (and a couple of pastors) from such a suggestion! I vowed at the time, “Never again!” Well, I’m going to force myself to violate that vow and once again dare to make a musical suggestion for the jubilee Year of Mercy. I am already flinching. “There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy” was penned by Father Frederick Faber (1814-1863), a friend of Blessed John Henry Newman, both who entered into full communion with the Catholic Church during the same time period. He wrote what many consider to be the finest hymn text on the subject of God’s mercy: “There’s
AS THE CHURCH PRAYS
MICHAEL PODREBARAC Michael Podrebarac is the archdiocesan consultant for the office of liturgy and sacramental life.
a wideness in God’s mercy / Like the wide-
ness of the sea / There’s a kindness in God’s justice / Which is more than liberty / There is plentiful redemption / In the blood that has been shed / There is joy for all the members / In the sorrows of the Head. “For the love of God is broader / Than the
measures of our mind / And the heart of the Eternal / Is most wonderfully kind / If our love were but more simple / We should take him at his word, / And our lives would be thanksgiving / For the goodness of our Lord. “Troubled souls, why will you scatter / Like a crowd of frightened sheep? / Foolish hearts, why will you wander / From a love so true and deep? / There is welcome for the sinner / And more graces for the good / There is mercy with the Savior / There is healing in his blood.” These are good words, written from a long-ago era, which seem to perfectly cap-
ture the sentiments of Pope Francis in declaring the present jubilee Year of Mercy: “There’s a kindness in God’s justice . . . joy for all the members . . . For the love of God is broader than the measures of our mind . . . most wonderfully kind . . . If our love were but more simple . . . There is welcome for the sinner . . . more graces for the good . . . There is mercy with the Savior . . .” So, at the risk of once again facing folks’ wrath, I do implore (and strongly suggest): Know this hymn, sing this hymn, share this hymn, and, most importantly, believe this hymn!
DECEMBER 18, 2015 | THELEAVEN.ORG
SENIOR LIVING
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TODAY’S SENIORS enjoy unprecedented opportunities to grow, contribute
By Thandiwe Konguavi Catholic News Service
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DMONTON, Alberta (CNS) — Paulist Father Thomas Ryan was turning 50 when he decided he didn’t want just another birthday cake, scoop of ice cream and “Happy Birth-
day” song. The U.S. priest wanted to look seriously at the second half of his life and its potential. Instead of a birthday party, Father Ryan — who was directing an ecumenical center for spirituality in Montreal at the time — called for a 50th birthday weekend retreat, inviting family and friends. It was refreshingly countercultural, engaging in topics such as retirement, health limitations and even some “wonderful sharings” about the kind of funeral people would like, he said. His birthday retreat program, he added, was a hit. Nearly 20 years later, Father Ryan, now 69, continues to lead the retreats all over North America. The Washingtonbased author and director of the Paulist Fathers’ Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations led the weeklong Remember to Live retreat at Providence Renewal Centre in Edmonton July 31-Aug. 7. In this age of obsession with youth, advertisements and nightly news programs often convey a sense that if you eat right, exercise regularly and take the right vitamins and medicines, people will live indefinitely, said Father Ryan. He said never before have so many North Americans reached retirement age with such advanced education, social consciousness and good health. “So, what will we do with it?” he
CNS PHOTO/THANDIWE KONGUAVI, WESTERN CATHOLIC REPORTER
American Paulist Father Thomas Ryan, pictured in Edmonton, Alberta, in early August, says the elderly can learn to age with gentleness and creativity. asked. “We have an unprecedented opportunity to keep growing, to learn and to offer our many gifts to our neighborhood, our city or school.” Passive aging sees the last season of life as “a slow slide toward death and the natural changes of the body are accompanied by a creeping paralysis of the soul,” Father Ryan said. “But I’m talking about active aging, and active aging works with the effects of aging by adjusting the rhythm and the pace,” he told retreat participants. For Father Ryan, healthy aging means living life as a celebration. The person who ages actively “moves to simply a gentler form of exercise but stays active.” Or, perhaps they compen-
sate for their hearing loss by getting a good pair of headphones to listen to programs or CDs. Aging is not a burden or problem to be solved, he said. Today, the aging process can extend for 30 or more years, and several delicate passages need to be negotiated, he said. For example, it can mean the loss of one’s professional identity. When you are no longer head of your corporation or your office, or principal of the school, who are you? Other delicate passages might include the departure of your children; the new rhythm of life when all of a sudden your spouse is with you at home or the confrontation of soli-
tude for those who have already lost a spouse; the arrival of grandchildren; or the decline of strength and energy. “Those are difficult issues for us to face squarely,” said Father Ryan. He pointed to a study that found nearly 70 percent of adult children have not even talked to their parents about issues related to aging. Facing these realities squarely and accepting their inevitability has a big reward, he said. “When we truly accept that life as we know it on this lovely blue and green planet is not given in limitless supply, we begin to think more clearly about what is important to us,” he said. “What do I want to do with the time I have, how do I want to use my available resources? We employ the talents which God has gifted us to leave our world better than we found it.” In 2012, Father Ryan published his book “Remember to Live! Embracing the Second Half of Life.” The book is a compilation of 15 years of collecting people’s experiences, listening to reflections and his own experience with aging. The book includes exercises that can transform the way people see the potential of the later years of life, he said. Participating in a retreat on aging can have the same effect. When people open their eyes to life and to its richness in each day’s living, they realize that every day, every minute, every breath, truly is a gift from God, Father Ryan said. “In short, you remember to live,” he said. “Each day’s living just becomes so much richer — cultivating gratitude in your heart for the sweetness of life, for the glories of creation, for the gift of the love received from family and friends. “And when we live out of that gratitude, life becomes very sweet.”