12 18 20 Vol. 42 No. 19

THELEAVEN.ORG | VOL. 42, NO. 19 | DECEMBER 18, 2020

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he serenity of that holy place in Bethlehem so many years ago remains with those who trust in the Lord, as did Mary and Joseph. May your Christmas, marked this year by unprecedented difficulty and suffering, provide nonetheless the peace, joy and love which Jesus came to bring to the world. + JOSEPH F. NAUMANN Archbishop of Kansas City in Kansas

+ JAMES P. KELEHER Archbishop Emeritus of Kansas City in Kansas

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hat makes Christianity unique amongst all world religions is our belief in the miracle of the Incarnation.

This is the central claim of Christian belief. God entered into our humanity so that we could share in his divinity. The good news of Christianity is that God, the Creator of the Cosmos and Lord of Lords, desires communion with us.

Amazingly with the birth of Jesus, God offers us in our poverty the opportunity for friendship with him.

Pope Francis, Pope Emeritus Benedict and Pope St. John Paul II have all taught that the essence of our Catholic faith is an encounter with the person of Jesus Christ. The foundation of our Catholic faith is not in ideas, concepts and theories, but in an authentic relationship with Jesus.

While everything about our Catholic faith points us to this opportunity to commune with the living God, to nurture a friendship with Jesus, sadly, there are many Catholics for a variety of reasons who have not experienced this encounter with the one born in Bethlehem.

All of the sacraments offer us opportunities to encounter Jesus. The sacrament of reconciliation, when received with awareness and devotion, is a moment to experience personally the merciful and unconditional love that Jesus desires to give us.

ARCHBISHOP

DECEMBER 18, 2O2O | THELEAVEN.ORG

Give the gift of Jesus this Christmas

LIFE WILL BE VICTORIOUS ARCHBISHOP JOSEPH F. NAUMANN Each reception of holy Communion is a new opportunity to encounter the love of Jesus, who desires to dwell with us despite our weakness and our frailty.

Personal prayer becomes something quite different for us when we understand it is not just a recitation of words but actually a conversation in which we not only talk to God but he also speaks to our hearts. Prayer makes us more aware of the presence of Jesus, who is constantly revealing himself to us through the events of our everyday lives.

Unfortunately, the Christmas holidays are actually for some an occasion of sadness and even despair. For those experiencing broken family relationships, fractured friendships or general loneliness, the memories of Christmas past can actually exacerbate and intensify the pain of the present.

This year, with the social distancing and isolation from

family and friends in our efforts to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus, many grieving the death of loved ones and the financial stress many are experiencing, Christians need to be more aware and sensitive to family, friends and neighbors who may be struggling. Seemingly small, thoughtful gestures of concern and love could make a huge difference in those who may not be feeling very merry this Christmas.

The greatest gift that we can bring to others is helping them to know the love for them of the One whose birth we celebrate on Christmas Day. Certainly, praying for others or — when possible — praying with others is important. However, in our prayer we should also ask the Lord: How do you want me to be your instrument in bringing comfort and joy to others?

I love the beautiful Christmas hymns that help us ponder the simplicity of the circumstances for the birth of Jesus and the implication of their meaning for the priorities we choose for

CNS/BRIDGEMAN IMAGES

The Holy Family at the Nativity is depicted in this painting by artist Laura James. our lives.

“What a Friend We Have in Jesus” is a hymn not normally associated with Christmas. However, I find its lyrics descriptive of the relationship with him that Jesus came into this world to make possible for us.

Joseph Scriven, a Protestant preacher, wrote a poem to his mother who was seriously ill. His poem eventually became the lyrics for this classic hymn. The words of the hymn remind us, if family and friends have failed us, Our Lord will not.

The following are the words to the hymn as found in “Lead Me, Guide Me — The African American Catholic Hymnal” published in 1987.

What a Friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry Everything to God in prayer!

Oh, what peace we often forfeit, Oh, what needless pain we bear, All because we do not carry Everything to God in prayer!

Have we trials and temptations?

Is there trouble anywhere?

We should never be discouraged, Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Can we find a friend so faithful Who will all our sorrows share?

Jesus knows our every weakness, Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy-laden, Cumbered with a load of care?

Precious Savior, still

our refuge — Take it to the Lord in prayer; Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?

Take it to the Lord in prayer; In His arms He’ll take and shield thee; Thou wilt find a solace there.

The great truth of Christmas is a God who loves us — not because we are perfect or good, but because he is perfect and good.

The Lord loves us — not in our perfection, but in our weakness.

Jesus came into this world to provide us the opportunity to accept God’s mercy, grace and his offer of friendship.

No matter the external circumstances of our lives, even if they are as stark and bleak as the Nativity scene, we always have reason to be merry, because God is with us.

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LOCAL NEWS

DECEMBER 18, 2020 | THELEAVEN.ORG

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God found his ‘cheerful giver’ in Lesle Knop

By Joe Bollig joe.bollig@theleaven.org

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PHOTO COURTESY OF LESLE KNOP

Lesle Knop, who served 14 years with the archdiocese as executive director of the office of stewardship and development and the Catholic Foundation of Northeast Kansas, will retire at the end of this year.

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ANSAS CITY, Kan. — It was never just about the money.

In her 14 years with the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, Lesle Knop raised a lot of money as executive director of the office of stewardship and development and the Catholic Foundation of Northeast Kansas.

But that wasn’t the point.

“It’s not the money; it’s what the money allows us to do as church,” said Knop. “Giving people an opportunity to give is a gift. I learned it from the Little Sisters of the Lamb. Asking for a gift gives dignity to the person who may not have thought about giving before.”

Each person has something to give because God has blessed them in many ways.

“Helping to support a parish, school or Catholic ministry is a joy,” she said.

“I know there are donors who experience that joy when they see the fruits of their gifts blossom.”

Knop has made a lot of joy possible.

“Under her leadership, the annual appeal of the Archbishop’s Call to Share has more than doubled — from less than $3 million to over $6 million currently,” said Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann.

“Lesle has been the leader of our current capital campaign ‘One Faith, One Family, One Future . . . in Christ,’” he added. “Under her leadership, the Catholic Foundation of Northeast Kansas has grown its assets to exceed $100 million.”

On Oct. 30, Lesle welcomed her successor Bill Maloney, and began a transition period that will end on Jan. 1.

“What a joyful experience that has been in my life,” said Knop. “I’m so grateful I was hired, that the Holy Spirit led me to this task. It has influenced my life and the lives of my children and my siblings. The impact of my time working for the Catholic Church has been like ripples in a pond; the circles keep expanding — the joy, the grace, all the things God has blessed me with.”

Knop is a fifth-generation Kansan and a lifelong Catholic. She and her husband Doug are members of Holy Trinity Parish in Paola. They have five adult children and 10 grandchildren.

During Knop’s steady rise, she has been a reporter, editor and columnist for the Olathe Daily News; vice president of the Olathe Medical Center Charitable Foundation; and Olathe Medical Center director of marketing and wellness.

She was an assistant professor for the William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communications at the University of Kansas and was a member of the graduate faculty. She was also the coordinator of the Arts Council of Johnson County at Johnson County Community College in Overland Park.

Knop holds a bachelor of fine arts degree from the Kansas City Art Institute and a master’s degree in journalism with a specialty in integrated marketing communication from the

THE IMPACT OF MY TIME WORKING FOR THE CATHOLIC CHURCH HAS BEEN LIKE RIPPLES IN A POND; THE CIRCLES KEEP EXPANDING — THE JOY, THE GRACE, ALL THE THINGS GOD HAS BLESSED ME WITH. LESLE KNOP EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF STEWARDSHIP AND DEVELOPMENT AND THE CATHOLIC FOUNDATION OF NORTHEAST KANSAS

University of Kansas. She’s a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) and earned the executive certificate in religious fundraising from the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University in Indianapolis.

Knop was recuperating at home from a motorcycle accident when she was inspired by a television biography of St. Teresa of Calcutta to serve the church. Not long afterward, she learned the archdiocese was looking for a new leader of the CFNEK and stewardship office. She was hired in 2006.

“I had an opportunity to apply for the position and it was like a dream come true,” said Knop.

The reasons for Knop’s success and enormous influence go beyond experience, credentials and degrees.

“Lesle is one of the most passionate, talented, joyful and enthusiastic people that I have ever met,” said Father John Riley, archdiocesan chancellor. “She loves her family and her faith deeply.

Her love for the church is what makes her such a joyful witness to the faith and to Christian stewardship.

“Professionally speaking, she is extremely skilled in promoting stewardship and development for the church and the church’s many important works of charity and evangelism.”

Archbishop Naumann, too, has appreciated all that she brought to her role.

“Lesle’s greatest talents and skills are her intelligence, her enthusiasm, her hard work and dedication, and her joy,” he said. “She brings a sense of joy and enthusiasm to everything in which she is involved.

“She has the ability to attract other talented leaders to serve on the [CFNEK] board and she helps to empower her staff, as well as the boards on which she serves, to be able to use their gifts and talents for the good of the church.”

Chris Arth, general counsel for the archdiocese, got to know Knop when

President Most Rev. Joseph F. Naumann

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he was the parish administrator at St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Leawood. She frequently advised the parish about fundraising and stewardship.

“She was always confident, always smiling,” said Arth. “She was a pleasure to work with. It’s what made her successful. She always wanted to help.

It’s clear she was a resource for the parishes, trying to make them successful.”

Knop’s ability to identify talent and to work with people were important skills.

“She really taught me about the importance of building relationships with people and getting to know the people you work with, interact [with] and serve, getting to know them and who they are,” said Michaela Comstock, development and communications coordinator for St. Ann Parish and School in Prairie Village. She used to work for Knop at the archdiocese.

“She’s authentic,” said Comstock.

“She lives and breathes her ministry.

She gives a beautiful example of living her faith.”

In her retirement, Knop hopes to paint, play piano, garden, sew, volunteer for the church and spend more time with her husband and their grandchildren.

Anything else?

“I don’t know,” she said. “The Holy Spirit will guide me.”

Managing Editor Anita McSorley anita.mcsorley@theleaven.org

Advertising Coordinator Beth Blankenship beth.blankenship@theleaven.org

Social Media Editor/Reporter Moira Cullings moira.cullings@theleaven.org

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LOCAL NEWS

DECEMBER 18, 2O2O | THELEAVEN.ORG Chuck and Sara Pugh, members of St. Paul Parish, Olathe, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on Dec. 26. The couple was married on Dec. 26, 1970, at St. Andrew Church, Independence.

Their children are: Alice Snider and Daniel Pugh.

They also have three granddaughters.

Frank and Mary Weiman, members of St. Paul Parish, Olathe, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on Dec. 26.

The couple was married on Dec. 26, 1970, at St. John the Evangelist Church, Hopkins, Minnesota. They have two daughters: Lynne Weiman and Lisa Rutledge.

They also have four grandchildren.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CATHOLIC CHARITIES

Craig and Karen Gaffney, parishioners of Holy Angels Church in Basehor, are the presidents of the 47th annual Snow Ball benefiting the Catholic Charities Foundation of Northeast Kansas.

COVID makes Snow Ball more vital than ever

By Carol Cowdrey Special to The Leaven

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n the summer of 2019, Craig and Karen Gaffney, parishioners of Holy Angels Church in Basehor, were invited to serve as presidents of the 47th annual Snow Ball benefiting the Catholic Charities Foundation of Northeast Kansas. When they accepted, they had no idea that they would become the first couple to lead an entirely virtual Snow Ball gala on Jan. 16, 2021.

“Initially, Craig and Karen were poised to take the helm as Snow Ball presidents because of their deep love for the mission of Catholic Charities and their incredible years of service the two combined have given to the organization,” said Lauren Solidum, president and CEO of Catholic Charities. “No one could have expected the pivot(s) Catholic Charities would have to make to ensure the agency’s doors stayed open during a worldwide pandemic.

“Craig and Karen have risen to every challenge,” Solidum said, “accepting the situation and meeting it with creativity, humility and grace.”

Although the Gaffneys wish they could celebrate Snow Ball in the traditional way, they have embraced the new platform, viewing it as an opportunity to expand the event’s reach and audience.

Nearly 2,000 people who primarily live in the Kansas City area attend Snow Ball each year. The event goal for 2021 is to have participation throughout all 21 counties of the archdiocese and beyond.

“For the first time, anyone can participate in Snow Ball from anywhere,” said Craig. “We realize that many may have shied away from it over the years due to expense or travel. Now, you can be a part of Snow Ball in a more economical

way from the comfort of your own home.”

Guests have multiple package options to choose from, including “The Potluck,” which pays tribute to the event’s roots. (The original Snow Ball was a potluck dinner with a small gathering of friends that grew into the premiere gala.)

All packages include an invitation to the virtual Snow Ball Mass celebrated by Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann; a heartfelt virtual reception and livestreamed program; several menu options and Snow Ball favors; and the opportunity to join a Party Host session.

“There’s a new energy,” said Craig. “We’ve been challenged to think differently about the event and ways to better communicate about all the great programs Catholic Charities offers, especially during a critical time when the need for services is greater than ever.”

The Gaffneys dedicated the 2021 Snow Ball to their longtime friends, Ben and Betty Zarda. The couple, who have since died, introduced Craig and Karen to Catholic Charities 25 years ago through their annual Golf Classic, which will celebrate its 40th anniversary next May. While they remain active supporters of that event, the Gaffneys each strengthened their involvement with the agency by volunteering for additional event committees and programs.

For two years, Craig served as the Catholic Charities Foundation board chair, where he gained valuable insight into the agency’s mission to move people into a more hopeful situation. As regional president at Country Club Bank, it has been personally rewarding to be part of the first bank to team up with Catholic Charities’ Kansas Loan Pool Project (KLPP), designed to fight predatory title and payday loans.

Karen has shared her interior design talents with agency events including “The Gathering,” which raises funds for the New Roots for Refugees program. She pulled back on her community volunteer efforts when her father became ill, and she and Craig found themselves on the receiving end of one of Catholic Charities’ ministries: Catholic Community Hospice.

“Craig and I were taking care of Dad,” she said. “We couldn’t have done it without their help. They are incredible caregivers, and we’ll be grateful for them for the rest of our lives.”

It’s the critical work that Catholic Charities does for all those in need that motivates the Gaffneys to make Snow Ball unforgettable, even if that means it will look a little different.

“While no one before us has been in this position, it’s what God planned,” said Karen. “He chose us, and we must do what he has asked of us.”

Their pastor sees little reason to doubt God’s choice.

“There could not be a more perfect fit for Snow Ball presidents in this most challenging of years,” said Father Richard McDonald, pastor of Holy Angels. “[The Gaffneys] are so adaptable, flexible and always ready to consider new ways of doing things. They are two of the most charitable and sociable persons I know.

“As a couple and individually,” he continued, “they have been for many years incredibly dedicated to the mission of Catholic Charities.

That is why it is most appropriate that they are set to herald and reign over a new kind of Snow Ball. We’re all so excited to see the possibilities that arise from it.”

To register for Snow Ball or make a patron gift, visit the website at: snowballgala.org.

Judy (Trum) and Joseph Arnold, m e m bers of St. Joseph Parish, Leavenworth, will celebrate their 60th we d d i n g anniversary on Dec. 27. The couple was married by Msgr. Joseph Selting at Sacred Heart Church, Leavenworth, on Dec. 27, 1960. Their children are: Joe Arnold, Patty Timinsky, Deacon Steve Arnold and Dave Arnold. They also have 14 grandchildren. A post-COVID family celebration is planned.

Norma and Paul Lueske, members of St. Leo Parish, Horton, will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary on Dec. 26. The couple was married on Dec. 26, 1960. Their children are: Joan Covault, Paula Lueske, Andrea Adams and Caroline Chadwell. They also have six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. They will celebrate with a card shower now and a family celebration at a later date.

Richard and Glenda (Terrill) Peters, members of Immaculate Conception Parrish, St. Marys, will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary on Dec. 31. The couple was married at Assumption Church, Topeka, by Msgr.

Eugene Vallely. Their children are: Stephen Peters, Marc Peters and Karen Solcher. They have four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. They will celebrate with family after the pandemic at a later date.

LOCAL NEWS

DECEMBER 18, 2020 | THELEAVEN.ORG

5 Jim and Doris Wilson, members of Holy C r o s s Parish, Overland Park, will celebrate their 70th we d d i n g a n n ive r sary on Dec. 23. The couple was married at Fort Riley, where Jim was stationed.

Their children are: Greg Wilson, Jane Booker and Mary Goodwin. They also have two grandchildren and one greatgrandson.

Jose Moreno places flowers at the base of the Our Lady of Guadalupe shrine set up at Our Lady of Unity Church in Kansas City, Kansas, on Dec. 12, the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

CELEBRATING OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE

Nora and Larry Volz, members of Holy Cross Parish, Overland Park, will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary on Dec. 26. Their children are: Mark, David, Patrick, Suzanne and Laura. They also have 11 grandchildren and two great-grandsons.

PHOTOS BY KATHRYN WHITE

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ur Lady of Unity Parish in Kansas City, Kansas, celebrated the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe on Dec. 12. Because of COVID restrictions, this year’s celebration was more subdued than previous years with social distancing and masks strictly enforced.

Jessica (Shellman) and Paul Kirk, m e m bers of St. Agnes Parish, Ro e l a n d Park, will celebrate their 50th we d d i n g a n n i versary on Dec. 28. The couple was married on Dec. 28, 1970, at St. Joseph Church, Shawnee. Their children are: Todd Kirk (deceased), Chris Angell and Erin Kirk. They will celebrate with family and friends at a later date.

Conception Abbey to livestream Midnight Mass

Virginia Oropeza explains the 46-rosary devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe, which involves praying a rosary for Our Lady’s intercession every night from Oct. 28 to the feast day. The devotion started 100 years ago; a rosary is said for each of the 46 stars on Our Lady’s mantle.

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ONCEPTION, Mo. — Although the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception at Conception Abbey here is closed to the public this year, the monks invite everyone to join them from home for the tradition of Midnight Mass and 11 a.m. Mass on Christmas Day. These two liturgies will be livestreamed at: www.conception abbey.org/live.

Though the monks of Conception Abbey have been livestreaming special occasions for a few years now, the need to livestream daily Mass grew overnight in March. In a response to Catholic churches closing around the country, the monks chose to expand their daily ministry to those at home in isolation. While many have gone back to Mass, some viewers have chosen to continue watching daily livestreams with the monks. A full schedule of livestreamed liturgies can be found at: www.conceptionabbey.org/live.

Wagner’s Mud-Jacking Co. Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann offers Communion to Our Lady of Unity parishioner Elvia Fernández. Father John Cordes, pastor, distributes Communion in the line next to him.

Amelia Nava found the perfect mask for the occasion — one featuring Our Lady of Guadalupe. Masks and assigned seating were part of the strict COVID regulations enforced at the Mass this year.

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FAMILY LIFE

DECEMBER 18, 2O2O | THELEAVEN.ORG

It is through the Eucharist that we express gratitude to God “

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s we come close to the end of 2020, we may look back in horror at the year that was: a pandemic that has no end, devastating floods and fires, tornadoes, hurricanes, a painful political campaign and racial unrest, just to mention a few of the disasters.

During the past 12 months, most of us have experienced discomfort and inconveniences while others have suffered great pains and losses.

Life as we knew it has changed for all of us.

In a sense, we are all grieving a little, perhaps in different degrees. This has been a year with many challenges and many of us look forward to turning the 2020 page on the calendar of time.

During times of pain and loss, it is always wise to look at life with a sense of perspective and remember not only the pains but also the blessings and be grateful for them.

But how can anyone

“ A SAYING ATTRIBUTED TO AN UNKNOWN AUTHOR STATES: “WHEN ASKED IF MY CUP IS HALF-FULL OR HALF-EMPTY, MY ONLY RESPONSE IS THAT I AM THANKFUL I HAVE A CUP.”

JOHN BOSIO John Bosio is a former marriage and family therapist, director of religious education and diocesan family life coordinator. He is a member of the National Association of Catholic Family Life Ministers.

be grateful in the face of the adversities we are encountering this year?

I find the answer in a Yiddish proverb: “If you cannot be grateful for what you have received, then be thankful for what you have been spared.”

Another insight comes from the painter Henry Matisse, who wrote: “I didn’t expect to recover from my second operation, but since I did, I consider

that I’m living on borrowed time. Every day that dawns is a gift to me and I take it in that way. I accept it gratefully without looking beyond it.”

Gratitude seems to be the attitude of many survivors. Being the victim of a flood, a hurricane, a fire that destroys our property or of COVID-19 is a crushing experience, but the human spirit is resilient and has the ability to look for what we have left and be grateful. A saying attributed to an unknown author states: “When asked if my cup is half-full or half-empty, my only response is that I am thankful I have a cup.”

We can be thankful for what we have,

regardless of our circumstances. I asked my friends on Facebook: “What are you grateful for in 2020?”

I have to admit that I did not receive as many answers as I was hoping, but the comments of those who responded led me to realize that people value the most what is dearest to them.

A friend’s words summarized what most people responded: “I am grateful for our loving God, my husband, my children, my grandchildren, my great-grandchildren, my friends and my health!”

In this year of pandemic, health was a common theme, but faith and God’s goodness came first.

For some survivors of COVID-19, just having survived is something to be thankful for. I heard someone say: “I am glad that I recovered. It could have been much worse!”

Speaking for myself, I am grateful that I am retired and can stay home, sheltered as much as possible from exposure to the virus.

I pray for all the essential workers, first responders, medical professionals and public servants who have to be out among people every day to keep our society moving forward and the rest of us fed, safe and healthy. I am grateful for the sacrifices they make for our common good.

Gratefulness is a feeling that leads to happiness. Brother David Steindl-Rast, a Benedictine monk, wrote: “If we are not grateful, no matter how much we have, we will not be happy.”

So, let’s count our blessings.

St. Paul, encourages us: “In all circumstances, give thanks” (1 Thes 5:18). One way

Question for reflection: What are you most grateful for as we approach the end of 2020?

we express our gratitude is through prayer.

God is the source of all our gifts and blessings.

The supreme act of gratitude for us Catholics is our participation in the Eucharist, the Mass. The word “Eucharist” is of Greek origin and means “thanksgiving.” At Mass, we give thanks to the Father for all the graces he has bestowed on us through his son Jesus.

This year, during Advent and Christmas, let’s attend Mass in a spirit of thanksgiving, whether we attend it in our living rooms or in person.

In union with Christ, let us bring our lives to the Father and give thanks to him for our redemption and all his blessings!

Since we survived 2020, we definitely have something for which to be thankful.

After initial adjustment, pandemic spurs flexibility, innovation at the chancery

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BY MOIRA CULLINGS

ANSAS CITY, Kan. — When the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas’ chancery offices closed on March 13, many staff members assumed they would be back within two weeks.

Now, more than nine months later, some are still working from home. Others are

back in the office with restrictions, including temperature checks, masks and socially distanced workspaces.

But throughout this year of COVID-19, chancery staff have channeled their inner Patrick Mahomes, quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs.

They’ve kept the archdiocese rolling through the good times — and bad.

LEAVEN PHOTO BY TODD HABIGER

Stacy Hettinger, left, executive assistant to Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann, and Amy Huerter, the archbishop’s administrative assistant, review the archbishop’s calendar, which they admit has been extremely fluid during this year of COVID-19.

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Archbishop’s assistants found ‘a lot more grace’ in 2020

hen the chancery closed in March, work for Stacy Hettinger, executive assistant to Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann, and Amy Huerter, the archbishop’s administrative assistant, suddenly became significantly more complicated.

“In the early days of COVID, we spent most of our time trying to field emails and calls with questions and concerns about COVID and what [the archdiocese] was going to do about Mass,” said Hettinger.

Meanwhile, they were also coming up with new ways for their office to communicate.

“Stacy’s a genius with the Google tools,” said Huerter. “She was really good about coming out with an alternate [communication] plan, and Archbishop was able to adapt to it, too.

“In the long run, he’s a lot more comfortable with these things now, so we can go back and forth [between in-person and

virtual communication] when we need to.”

One of the greatest challenges Hettinger and Huerter have faced is keeping up with the archbishop’s calendar, which has changed considerably.

In a normal year, Hettinger and Huerter might be looking two years into the future when creating his schedule. Now, it’s more like two weeks.

“We’re putting our trust in the fact that things are going to work out,” said Hettinger, “and not worrying so much about the details, realizing that sometimes it might not be perfect.

“But everybody has a lot more grace and a lot more patience for things changing and situations not being perfect in this environment.”

Huerter agreed.

“When you’re faced with this cataclysmic event that we’ve been faced with, and there’s only so much you can do,” she said, “you realize what the really important things are.”

Some archdiocesan employees resumed work in the office in May, and by July, any employee who wanted to return and had enough space to do so safely was able to.

Hettinger and Huerter work in-office most of each week, and they’re grateful for each other’s company.

“That’s one of the big blessings for me — to have Amy — because a lot of people who are in the office right now, they don’t have anybody else in their office,” said Hettinger.

“We sit in different offices but next to each other,” she said. “Without being too close, we can sit and talk and work through the things that are happening.”

Together, they’ve taken on the responsibility of helping Archbishop Naumann get through the difficulties of this year — including losing his mother and overcoming COVID-19 himself.

“I think Archbishop really appreciates how we work as a team,” said Hettinger. “He knows he can count on either one of us.”

Leaven staffers in four counties now produce paper from cloud

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hen staff of The Leaven left the office on March 13, they were in the middle of a production week.

Suddenly, “we were going to have to put together a paper remotely,” said production manager Todd Habiger.

“We had all the tools available and all the know-how to do it,” he said. “But one thing we realized very quickly is that in-office communication was very valuable, and we had to change on the fly.

“That first issue we put out was very difficult because we had to work through those communication problems.”

The Leaven adjusted to publishing its paper with its five full-time staff members — and part-time editor Father Mark Goldasich — working from home. Now, all but one — advertising coordinator Beth Blankenship — are still working remotely.

“Right now, we’re a pretty well-oiled machine,” said Habiger. “I think we had that while we were in the office, and we just had to reinvent ourselves.”

Working from home has its perks, said Habiger, especially the additional time he’s been able to spend with his family.

But it hasn’t always been easy for The Leaven staff.

Reporters and photographers have had to adjust to restrictions, and Blankenship has worked to keep ad sales up, said Habiger.

“A lot of times we advertise events, and those events aren’t happening,” he said. “But we’ve come up with a plan and we’ve worked on that to try to keep ad sales steady.”

One of the best parts of this year for Habiger is the gratification of keeping the archdiocese connected during an uncertain time, especially through Archbishop Naumann’s columns, which allow him to reach his flock directly.

And thanks to managing editor Anita McSorley, said Habiger, the publication has covered everything from canceled Masses to personal survival stories of COVID-19.

“Finding quality stories when there are less events happening has to be a chore,” he said. “Anita’s done an amazing job with that.”

Throughout 2020, Habiger said Father Goldasich has been the perfect guide.

“Father Mark is our compass on everything,” he said. “He is invaluable for the paper to get done.”

Habiger believes Leaven staffers’ work is now more important than ever.

“What we want to do is we want to tell people’s stories and tell them well,” he said. “Even in a pandemic, there’s stories to tell.

“And I think we’ve done that.”

I

CFNEK co onboards am

n the midst of the first onslaught of COVID19 shutdowns, Robert Venable’s six-month work contract was about to expire, and his role was being terminated.

He needed to find another job, but quickly realized he wasn’t alone.

“I saw the news where 24 million people were looking for a job,” he said. “It was a little scary.

“Fortunately, through networking and keeping my name out there, I had some responses more quickly than I thought.”

Venable reached out to CFO Carla Mills, who he had worked with previously. She told him the Catholic Foundation of Northeast Kansas (CFNEK) was looking for a new controller. After the application and interview process, Venable accepted the job.

His first day was roughly six weeks after the chancery offices closed, and since then, he’s worked back and forth between home and the office.

“It’s been very challenging to onboard during a pandemic,” he said. “But we’ve been trying to make the best of it.”

Venable’s responsibilities include managing

LEAVEN PHOTO BY TODD HABIGER

Carla Mills, chief financial officer for the archdiocese, takes part in a Zoom meeting in her office at the chancery. Mills said the pandemic has helped her office figure out more effective ways of budgeting.

C

CFO’s responsibilities soar

arla Mills, chief financial officer for the archdiocese, was part of the team that decided to close the chancery offices in March.

“We reviewed what was going on with the pandemic and the need for having fewer people in contact with each other,” she said. “We decided to go to reduced staff in the office and have as many people we could work from home.”

The decision to ultimately send everyone home was due to restrictions put in place in Wyandotte County, said Mills.

At the time, she was in the middle of budgeting and working on the Archbishop’s Call to Share. But she was forced to switch gears and spend much of her time in webinars on the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. And then came the Coronavirus Aid,

Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which was introduced to offer economic assistance for workers, families and small businesses.

“I was researching all of the different things in the CARES Act and doing all of my own webinars and learning everything I could to try and communicate it out to all of our entities,” said Mills.

“Then [we were] also applying for [the archdiocese] because we are not covered by unemployment insurance,” she added.

The extra work was particularly arduous, considering Mills was using a home printer, which required her to scan documents one page at a time.

“There were a lot of frustrations,” she said.

When times got tough, Mills found a

productive way to reduce her stress.

“Every time I got a phone call, I went outside and pulled weeds,” she said. “My yard has never looked so good!”

But the situation wasn’t all bad.

This year, Mills and her team recognized they needed to do more work monitoring cash within the archdiocese.

“We just launched . . . the ‘cash project’ that will enable us to not only track our cash at a finer level, but also forecast it better,” she said. “We are investing a lot of time and effort into that process.”

The new way of operating will make the budgeting process more effective and will impact analysis across school and parish annual reports in a positive way, said Mills.

“I’m very excited about those possibilities,” she said.

Accounting specialist sees ‘change for the better’

K

eeping track of the cash that comes into the archdiocese is no easy task — and doing it during the pandemic is even more complex.

But accounts receivable specialist Tom Winkelbauer has adjusted to the obstacles this year has thrown at him.

When the chancery first closed, Winkelbauer set his work equipment up at home.

“And then, there were several days where the power at my house just died,” he said.

“We had power failure.”

But his biggest challenge was communication.

“There’s a big change in how communication happens,” he said. “I like to talk to people versus writing an email, so that was my biggest challenge. My mode of communication had to be adjusted quite a bit.”

Now back in the office, Winkelbauer has found some sense of normalcy, and the accounting department has discovered a few positives in the changes they’ve had to make.

“It’s forced us to change for the better,” said Winkelbauer. “It [also] forced a lot of us to communicate more with all the departments so everybody’s on the same page.”

It’s been a year full of learning for Winkelbauer, who will retire at the end of the year after roughly 24 years working for the archdiocese.

“I was hoping that this pandemic would

Vocation office administrative assistant Melanie Sa than two months of working at home during the cha found a very different workplace than the one she le

Administrative as new tech befo

T LEAVEN PHOTO BY TODD HABIGER

Accounts receivable specialist Tom Winkelbauer has had to adjust on the fly during the pandemic — from the challenges of working from home to then transitioning back into the office. slow down and we’d get back to our normal situation,” he said. “It’s frustrating, but at the same time, you have to adapt to it.”

Winkelbauer will look back on the past two and a half decades with special memories.

“I’m going to miss a lot of the friendships I made over the years,” he said.

“When I came here, I didn’t know what to expect,” he added. “But I felt like it became a family.

“I think that’s what I’m going to miss.”

he archdiocesan vocation office and the Serra Club teamed up to host a “Runnin’ with the Revs” basketball game on March 9.

“Little did we know that days later we would be shutting down,” said Melanie Savner, vocation office administrative assistant.

Savner ended up working from home — first from her kitchen table, and then in a makeshift office — for two and a half months.

“I learned how to participate in Zoom meetings and often felt like a millennial with my home office and technology connections,” said Savner.

“But I also felt very disconnected from the people I worked with,” she added.

Upon her return to the office, Savner realized it wasn’t the same.

“The back half of our hallway is often dark because no one is there,” she said. “Rather than hearing voices or occasional laughter in the hall, I really noticed the silence, which filled the space.

“I felt like our chancery soul was missing.”

Savner and vocation director Father Dan Morris talk frequently over the phone. They’ve

ontroller mid shutdown budget expenses, calculating semiannual distributions of funds and presenting quarterly financial statements to the CFNEK board.

They’re not operating quite the same way as they would during a normal year, he said.

“There’s a lot of annual events that we typically do,” he explained, “and we just aren’t doing them.

“Our board meetings are all remote. I know some of the board members from being a Kansas City guy and a Catholic. But some of them I have not met yet, so that’s been a challenge.”

It’s also been strange to meet people around the office while everyone sports a mask, said Venable.

“You don’t really know what they look like,” he said with a laugh.

But he still feels at home in the archdiocese’s environment.

“It’s a small finance community in Kansas City,” he said, “and then an even smaller Catholic community.

“It’s been unique to say the least. But people have been very generous with their time and understanding, and gracious with dealing with some of the issues we’ve dealt with.”

LEAVEN PHOTO BY TODD HABIGER

avner will retire at the end of December. After more ancery shutdown, Savner returned to the office but eft.

ssistant navigates ore retirement experienced many blessings this year.

“The biggest is because some things have been simplified or canceled due to COVID, we have had time to really evaluate what programs or activities bear the most fruit,” said Savner.

“Father Dan has been able to cultivate more relationships with the vocation office by working more directly with young men in high school and college,” she added.

But despite the hopeful future for the vocation office, Savner’s work is winding down.

After more than 15 years at the archdiocese, she will retire at the end of the year.

“Originally, I planned on retiring in a year or two, but the pandemic got me to rethink that,” she said. “I trusted that God would help me figure it out. And one day this summer, it just became clear it was time.”

It will be bittersweet when Savner wraps up her work in December.

“I will finish out seeing our seminarians and a great group of discerners at our Quo Vadis retreat, and will leave wondering which ones will someday become a seminarian,” she said.

“I will miss their journey,” she added, “but will begin mine.”

Stalled projects, virus procedures slowed but did not stop construction in the archdiocese

W

ork became quiet for Dan Himmelberg when restrictions were put in place in Kansas this past March.

The director of real estate and construction for the archdiocese worked from home until August but was able to slowly start meeting with people outside of various sites.

“I try to always meet them outdoors, wearing a mask,” he said. “Not shaking hands in the beginning was a little awkward, but we got used to it.

“Even if I had to go in and look at a building problem, we’d go in and then go back outside and finish the meeting around my car.”

Fortunately for Himmelberg, architecture drawings are created and stored electronically, and meetings with several people could be moved to Zoom.

The biggest difficulty he’s experienced has been at sites where active construction is taking place, like Donnelly College in Kansas City, Kansas, which is working on a brand-new building.

“At Donnelly, we had a pretty bad outbreak in the beginning,” said Himmelberg.

“They were a very busy site, and they got shut down.”

The contractors created a way to continue their work, with people taking shifts to work at the site over the span of 12-hour shifts, six days a week.

“They wouldn’t work more than eight hours, five days a week,” said Himmelberg, “but it gave them more opportunities to spread out.”

Another project impacted by the pandemic was Villa St. Francis in Olathe, which is undergoing multiple additions and renovations.

“We shut that down tight quick,” said Himmelberg. “We have to finish the hospice area, but we still have three areas that started construction that we can’t get into.”

His work life at the office has also been subject to changes.

“Everybody that is here is being really good about being careful,” said Himmelberg.

“We’re getting the temperature check and questions asked as we come in.

“I think everybody’s really respecting each other’s space.”

T

LEAVEN PHOTO BY KATHRYN WHITE

Dan Himmelberg, director of real estate and construction for the archdiocese, looks over the plans at a construction site. After working from home until August, Himmelberg started meeting people outdoors at various sites in the months following.

School office ‘runs smoothly’ from home

he transition from working in the office to working from home was smooth for the archdiocesan office of Catholic schools, said Amy Lanham, office and research/ data manager.

“Our school office is a little unique in the sense that we worked pretty independently already,” she said.

Lanham’s co-workers, including superintendent Vince Cascone, are often out of the office visiting schools in the archdiocese, so adjusting to working remotely wasn’t difficult.

“If anything, our communication is even stronger than before the pandemic as we now use Zoom to meet weekly,” said Lanham.

Working from home has given Lanham more time to spend with her husband Kyle and dog Emma.

It’s also helped her feel more productive in her work and personal life.

“I am strangely more efficient working from home than in the office because I have less interruptions,” said Lanham.

“I eat healthier and love being able to dress casually and work outside on my deck during the nice weather days,” she added.

She’s also inspired when she thinks about what school staff members have accomplished this year.

“I have always said that the work that I do in our office is nothing compared to what our school leaders, teachers and staff do at our schools in a normal year, let alone a pandemic!” she said.

Lanham is grateful the archdiocese

LEAVEN COURTESY OF AMY LANHAM

Amy Lanham, office and research/data manager for the archdiocesan school office, found the move to her home office an easy and efficient one. “cares about the safety and well-being of their employees,” and that she is part of a team of hardworking individuals who have thrived in the work-from-home life.

“Our office runs smoothly because I work with four other dedicated individuals that are just as committed as me to making this

school year run as smoothly as possible for our schools,” she said.

“There is no script on how this school year will play out,” she added. “But one thing that I do know is that our school office team and our school staff will get through this uncertain time together.”

10

LOCAL NEWS

DECEMBER 18, 2O2O | THELEAVEN.ORG

Pandemic forces discipleship program to think outside the box

By Joe Bollig joe.bollig@theleaven.org

K

LEAVEN FILE PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER

Emily Lopez, lead consultant for the archdiocesan office of adult evangelization, takes the stage at the Enflame convocation in October 2019, along with Deacon Dana Nearmyer, archdiocesan director of evangelization. While COVID has slowed parish life, the Enflame goal to train missionary disciples and create a culture of evangelization remains the same.

“

“

ANSAS CITY, Kan. — When the archdiocesan Enflame convocation in October 2019 concluded, the 1,500 delegates returned home with plans to light a fire of evangelization in their homes, parishes and communities.

And then came COVID. Parish life slowed to a crawl. Out of necessity, pastors innovated ways to provide the sacraments, and parish ministers adapted programs and ministries in a world of social disruption.

As with all other things, the “Enflame Our Hearts, Homes and Communities” initiative was also affected — but it did not stop.

The goal of Enflame is to train missionary disciples and create a culture of evangelization, so all archdiocesan Catholics will spread the Gospel.

“The plan hasn’t changed,” said Emily Lopez, lead consultant for the archdiocesan office of adult evangelization. “The plan has always been to encourage and equip individuals to take on the work of evangelization, and for our parish leadership groups to form evangelization plans for their parish communities.”

What has changed is the need to be more creative, to “think outside the box” at a time when we have been denied the regular means of gathering and holding events, said Lopez. “[The delegates] were to go back to their parishes and identified organizations and teach their people how to pray, care and share with their three, 12, 72 and crowds like Jesus did,” said Deacon Dana Nearmyer, archdiocesan director of evangelization.

The three were Jesus’ apostolic “core” of Peter, James and John; the 12 were the apostles; the 72 were the disciples sent out; and the crowds were the multitudes of people who Jesus taught. The idea is often referred to as “crowds to three.”

During the pandemic, “the church kind of went underground,” said Deacon Nearmyer, but delegates and pastors, along with the archdiocesan Enflame Task Force and archdiocesan evangelization office, found different ways of getting things done.

“In one way, we feel like COVID hijacked a lot of our large-scale plans, but the fact that we have this deep spinal

THE PLAN HASN’T CHANGED. THE PLAN HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO ENCOURAGE AND EQUIP INDIVIDUALS TO TAKE ON THE WORK OF EVANGELIZATION, AND FOR OUR PARISH LEADERSHIP GROUPS TO FORM EVANGELIZATION PLANS FOR THEIR PARISH COMMUNITIES. EMILY LOPEZ LEAD CONSULTANT FOR THE ARCHDIOCESAN OFFICE OF ADULT EVANGELIZATION cord through the body of Christ [enabled us to] communicate and help each other do some of the best things we’ve ever done — some of the most innovative, interesting and adaptive processes that the Catholic Church in northeast Kansas has ever done,” said Deacon Nearmyer.

Those innovative efforts included: • Archdiocesan-wide virtual “campfire” meetings over the internet were held in

April, May and June with Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann, drawing 394 participants.

• An Enflame Facebook group was established in April, growing to more than 1,585 members.

• Monthly email newsletters are being sent to more than 2,162 subscribers, with a 58% open rate.

• Since the end of the 2019 Enflame convocation, six parishes have held their own “mini-convocations,” using the downloadable tool “Convocation in a Box.” • An Enflame website was established, offering resources and tools.

• Archdiocesan elementary school teachers and administrators met over the internet for a daylong “Enflame Our Schools” event on Aug. 12, learning about the Enflame process. A similar event will be held in January for high school teachers and administrators.

• Some parishes are using existing programs like “Called and Gifted” from the Catherine of Siena Institute and the “Movement of the Holy Family” sponsored by the Holy Family School of Faith.

• Several parishes are creating small groups for prayer, Bible study and fellowship.

Many of the Enflame activities were mentioned in an “Enflame Year End

Review” published in late October.

Delegates from his three parishes “hit the ground running,” but “hit a brick wall” when the COVID-19 virus struck, said Father Jaime Zarse, pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Sabetha, St. Augustine in Fidelity and St. James in Wetmore.

Nevertheless, 47 parishioners are participating in the “Called and Gifted” program. Additionally, between eight and 12 small groups have been formed for men, women and families. Some are Bible study groups, while others focus on the Sunday Scripture readings, video studies or the rosary.

“Our goal is to bring people together in ongoing, faith-filled relationships,” said Father Zarse.

Christ the King Parish in Topeka did three things for Enflame, said pastor Father Matthew Schiffelbein.

“I take my hat off to our delegation, which has taken charge in implementing and keeping this going,” said Father Schiffelbein. “It has made my life easier as a pastor, so I don’t have to be the driving force.”

The first thing was to have a pre-Lent parish mission led by Emily Lopez from the archdiocesan evangelization office.

She taught parishioners the basic components of Enflame. Parishioners were also invited to prayer, personal relationships, acts of hospitality and works of mercy.

The second thing accomplished was to begin small group discipleship.

From April to June, the delegation met

by Zoom to work out a plan for small groups. Two pilot groups were formed in July, focusing on fellowship, discussion of upcoming Sunday Scripture readings and prayer. Next year, the parish will add two to four groups, adding more groups annually.

Christ the King’s final achievement was to establish weekly “Rosary Prayer Partner” groups this Advent, which pairs families.

“To my mind, the pandemic has changed the direction and emphasis some,” said Father Schiffelbein. “We’ve slowed down our process of implementing small groups just because some people are ready and [some aren’t].

“In my mind it’s going to stretch [Enflame’s three-year] timeline to four years.

I think there’s going to be a time I call ‘recovering from COVID.’”

Solution on page 12

DECEMBER 18, 2020 | THELEAVEN.ORG

NATION

11

Oregonian spends joyful hours making toy trucks for children

By Ed Langlois Catholic News Service

P

ORTLAND, Ore. (CNS) — Phil Westover is a man of standard size, rounded ears and deep voice. But he’s a good part Christmas elf.

Westover, a 70-year-old member of St. Peter Parish in Newberg, Oregon, spends joyful hours in his wood shop, building toy trucks. With features like tilting beds and payload straps, the breadbox-size vehicles go to disadvantaged children free of charge.

This pandemic-tinged year seemed to fuel Westover’s elfin energy. He made 23 rigs. A typical year sees just a half-dozen come down the tiny production line.

Catholic Community Services of the Mid-Willamette Valley, Oregon, distributes most of the play trucks to children in need.

A carefully handcrafted toy that will last for a long time in the life of a youngster, even being passed to later generations, can enhance the wellness of a family, said Josh Graves, executive director of the agency, based in Salem, Oregon.

Graves observed that children in low-income homes tend to receive cheap plastic toys with little lasting appeal. By contrast, he can imagine Westover’s trucks being played with for years and proudly placed on the shelf of a teen’s room.

That sign of enduring love and joy, Graves said, could even make a difference as Catholic Community Services works with youths to prevent the cycle of poverty.

“I wish I could see the joy that I think my trucks give,” Westover told the Catholic Sentinel, newspaper of the Portland Archdiocese. “You never know; maybe someday one of those kids will be a professional truck driver.”

The sturdy lorries are almost all wood, a plus for parents who want to avoid potentially toxic plastics.

Friends often ask why he doesn’t sell his work. “I always answer, ‘If I sell them, it’s no longer a hobby,’” he said.

“I love making them for my grandkids and mostly donating them.”

Westover gave a moniker to his retirement hobby: “Canter Lane Woodworking,” after the street on which he

CNS PHOTO/COURTESY JAN ROUTT

Phil Westover sits with a fleet of toy trucks he built in his shop near Sherwood, Oregon, this fall. Catholic Community Services in Salem will distribute the sturdy vehicles to needy children at Christmas. and wife Jan live between Sherwood and Newberg, an hour southwest of Portland. Here’s his business plan: Lose money by giving away everything he makes. Given that, Westover has been extraordinarily successful.

“At least it keeps my 70-year-old brain engaged,” he said, adding the hobby kept his mind off pandemic anxiety, election nastiness and other woes.

Born in Portland, he is the son of a man who worked in the timber business. Away from Catholic practice for many years, he visited St. Peter Parish in Newberg on a whim and met Father Don Gutmann, the pastor then. Westover began going to Mass again and Jan became Catholic.

“Neat people,” said Father Gutmann of the couple. “Phil is a top-notch guy and a good part of the church there. He and Jan are good at living their faith on a daily basis. It’s always enjoyable to be around them.”

It’s not lost on Westover that, as a carpenter, he labors in the tradition of the Savior. He calls Jesus his role model and mentor, in the wood shop and the rest of life. Years ago, a priest gave him a short script for a play in which Jesus

fashions a cross from wood — symbolizing the Lord’s real work of sacrifice for humans. Westover hung the page with that scene in his shop.

He started building trucks in the early 1980s. “I’ve always been fascinated by trucks of all types,” he said.

He worked for 50 years in manufacturing dental equipment and spent many hours with engineers. He not only feels satisfaction with the end product but gets a thrill from creating tools to make the work go more smoothly.

His latest gadget is a computerized laser that will burn designs into wood.

He is planning a box truck with a Catholic Community Services logo on the side.

Lori Simpson, program director at Catholic Community Services, oversees distribution of Westover’s trucks, including to children at St. Joseph Shelter in the small town of Mount Angel, Oregon. “I know some little 2-year-old guys who are going to flip their 2-yearold lids,” Simpson said.

She was overwhelmed when she saw Westover drive up with almost 20 trucks packed in boxes and labeled.

“With handmade toys, you don’t

always know what to expect,” Simpson said. “It was so incredible to see the care and the love that went into these trucks. This was a professional deal.”

Westover has 10 truck designs — including a dump truck and a log truck — with another 10 or so designs in the works. His latest idea: a police tactical vehicle. “I see a truck going down a highway and say, ‘Oh, there’s an idea,’” he said.

Westover retired in 2017 and created a woodshop for himself as a retirement gift. He had tried other hobbies, including motorcycle riding and reviving an old British sports car. To Jan’s delight, he settled on woodworking.

Westover does not track manufacturing time since he crafts out of wholesome happiness. But he guesses that each truck takes about two hours of labor. He listens to music as he saws, drills, routs and sands. He rarely spends more than five or six hours a day in the shop.

In the end, his faith and his woody hobby are linked in a lot of ways. For children’s catechesis at his parish, he built a kid-sized kneeler and a small version of the church’s altar.

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DECEMBER 18, 2O2O | THELEAVEN.ORG

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Crossword solution

DECEMBER 18, 2020 | THELEAVEN.ORG

LOCAL NEWS

13

Female Catholic medical support group strives for balance

By Susan Fotovich McCabe Special to The Leaven

S

HAWNEE — Inspired Catholics had high hopes and stood ready to serve at the conclusion of the archdiocesan-sponsored “Enflame Our Hearts, Homes and Communities” convocation one year ago. Then, a pandemic swept the globe.

Thankfully, faith and flexibility go hand in hand, and one such group just continued the work of the convocation by switching their in-person get-togethers to meeting via Zoom.

Dr. Katie McAnany is among the Enflame participants who continue to carry on the convocation’s mission with a group she founded two years earlier. McAnany, a pediatrician with Children’s Mercy in Kansas City, Missouri, started a support group for Catholic, female medical professionals — physicians, nurses, therapists, etc. It is designed to navigate living Catholic in the secular, medical workplace.

“Two years ago, I went on a women’s retreat at the archdiocese’s Prairie Star Ranch. At the time, I was feeling conflicted — feeling like I had to hide my Catholic faith at work,” McAnany said. “It was my own feeling of how I would be perceived. I felt like I was living in two worlds.”

As a Catholic physician, McAnany does not prescribe birth control to her patients. And while her colleagues have never directly criticized her position, she believed she could never merge her personal and professional life.

McAnany felt empowered by the retreat and knew there had to be others who shared her concern. She began spreading the word at her parish, St. Joseph in Shawnee, and among Catholic medical professionals at Children’s Mercy.

The Catholic Medical Women’s Group, McAnany said, is for anyone “who lives in both worlds.”

The group is not limited to St. Joseph parishioners, but that’s where they met long before COVID-19. Their monthly agenda tackles everything from birth control and abortion to natural family planning and praying with patients. Essentially, she said, the group discusses anything related to being Catholic in a world dominated by secularism.

“I have had patients come to me seeking birth control and I have told them that I don’t prescribe it. I encourage and counsel my patients to observe abstinence,” McAnany said.

“The group has helped me grow in my confidence to not be ashamed to be a Catholic in the workplace.”

McAnany and several of the group’s participants vowed to make this one

LEAVEN PHOTO BY KATHRYN WHITE

A support group for Catholic female medical professionals meets at St. Joseph Church in Shawnee. From left are pictured: Holly Bracken, CNA; Rebecca Doherty, sonographer; Katie McAnany, pediatrician; and Allegra Grannell, Cardio NP. of St. Joseph’s post-Enflame evangelization initiatives. Fellow parishioner Allegra Grannell is a pediatric nurse practitioner at Children’s Mercy. Grannell said McAnany told her about the group and she was intrigued by the focus on Catholic women in the medical profession.

“I think there are a lot of teachings within the Catholic Church that don’t align with the secular world,” Grannell said. “I work with young children who have congenital heart defects and I’ve been witness to conversations among my colleagues about how it might have been better if the baby had never been born. As a Catholic, that’s hard to hear.”

Grannell said she says “a lot of Hail Marys” when she hears conversations like that. Like McAnany, she believes the group has given her the strength to evangelize God’s word. She, too, told her Catholic co-workers about the group.

“God has called medical providers to help people and to bring Christ’s light to everyone,” Grannell said. “When I’m at work, if I’m having a meaningful conversation with a co-worker and it turns to God, I invite them to join the group.”

Samantha Budden, a registered nurse in the emergency department at

Saint Luke’s Hospital on the Country Club Plaza joined the Catholic Women’s Medical Group when it began. She, too, is a St. Joseph parishioner and was interested in discussions about faith in the workplace.

“As a health care provider, I work with and take care of people from all different faiths and backgrounds,” Budden said. “I know that not everyone believes the same things that I do, but the root of the word ‘catholic’ is ‘universal,’ and I believe that everyone I encounter deserves God’s grace.”

“As an emergency nurse in the metro area, I often take care of people in their greatest time of need. The pandemic has been especially challenging because of the restrictions on visitors,” she added. “I deeply empathize with my patients and advocate on their behalf. Prayer helps me cope with the burden of my encounters and [the] suffering that I witness.”

What McAnany and the others described from being a part of the Catholic Women’s Medical Group is exactly what Enflame’s organizers had hoped to accomplish. According to Emily Lopez, a consultant for archdiocesan office of adult evangelization, the convocation has helped to encourage the launch of a number of parish initiatives and to offer foundational support for

How to join If you are a female, Catholic medical professional and are interested in joining the group, send an email to Katie McAnany at: kmcanany@gmail.com or search for “Catholic Medical Women’s Group” on Facebook.

individual work, including McAnany’s group.

“It is beautiful to see the diversity of efforts, as each of our parish communities has been gifted with unique charisms that are reflected in their particular work,” Lopez said. “These stories serve to encourage, equip and fuel the continued desire for discipleship in sharing the joy of the Gospel in unique and creative ways between individuals, families and communities.”

A one-year report summarizing the convocation’s successes to date is expected to grow discipleship and add to the efforts, even in the face of the pandemic, Lopez said. Small groups play a particular role in evangelization, she said, as they shrink larger parish communities into more intimate environments for growing personal relationships.

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14

COLUMNISTS

How can we keep from singing?

DAILY READINGS FOURTH WEEK OF ADVENT Dec. 20 FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT 2 Sm 7: 1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16 Ps 89: 2-5, 27, 29 Rom 16: 25-27 Lk 1: 26-38 Dec. 21 Peter Canisius, priest, doctor of the church Sg 2: 8-14 Ps 33: 2-3, 11-12, 20-21 Lk 1: 39-45 Dec. 22 Tuesday 1 Sm 1: 24-28 (Ps) 1 Sm 2: 1, 4-7, 8abcd Lk 1: 46-56 Dec. 23 John of Kanty, priest Mal 3: 1-4, 23-24 Ps 25: 4bc-5ab, 8-10, 14 Lk 1: 57-66 Dec. 24 THE VIGIL OF THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD Is 62: 1-5 Ps 89: 4-5, 16-17, 27, 29 Acts 13: 16-17, 22-25 Mt 1: 1-25 Dec. 25 THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD (CHRISTMAS) Is 9: 1-6 Ps 9: 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, 6-8b, 16bc, 17 Mt 10: 17-22

John of Kanty c. 1390-1473 Greatly revered in his native Poland, this saint, also known as John Cantius, spent most of his life teaching at the University of Krakow, where he was a noted professor of sacred Scripture. He also spent an interval as a parish priest, reputedly forced on him because of academic jealousy.

At the university, he impressed on students the need for moderation and good manners in controversy, and was famous for his boundless generosity to Krakow’s poor. A personal austerity contributed to his reputation for holiness: He ate no meat and slept on the floor.

C

hristmas is a time for stories. So, take a few moments for yourself, grab a cup of hot chocolate, get comfortable in your favorite chair and enjoy this tale called “Silent Christmas”: The wife of a poor merchant died, leaving him with five children.

When the merchant came home at night, he’d bring a bag of groceries, food for the next day. After setting the bag down, he hugged each child.

Before they ate, he read from the Scriptures and prayed.

Many nights, the children begged their father to sing with them. He frequently played his guitar and sang quiet folk tunes.

The first Christmas after his wife died, the merchant said to his children, “This year, there’s not enough money to buy presents.

Instead, we’ll draw names, and you’ll make a present for one of

T

DECEMBER 18, 2O2O | THELEAVEN.ORG

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.

your sisters or brothers. My gift to you will be a fine Christmas meal and a special song that I’m writing.

We’ll learn it and then sing it in church on Christmas Eve.” True to his word, the father wrote a wonderful song of joy for the children and began to teach it to them three weeks before the night of the Nativity. The children

loved the song so much that they sang it with great gusto and volume.

A rich man, who lived upstairs, hated Christmas and hated music even more.

Night after night, he listened to the children sing the new Christmas song. It irritated him so much that he developed a plan to silence the singing.

Several days before Christmas, he knocked on the merchant’s door. “I’ve come to make you an offer,” he said to the father. “I’ll give you 100 gold coins if you promise not to sing for three months.”

The father looked at the children. “That’s more money than I can make in two years,” he cried. “We’ll be able to buy presents for everyone in the entire family!” The children cheered as the father accepted the bag of money and the rich man’s terms.

That night, they began to plan silently how they would spend the money. The next few evenings, after they ate, they sat quietly reading and thinking. On the fourth night, one of the younger children said, “I’d rather have music than any stupid present. This isn’t worth it.”

One by one, the other children agreed.

So, the father retrieved the sack of money and walked up the flight of stairs to return the bag to its owner.

“We’ve discovered something more important than money,” he said. “I’m sorry that our singing irritates

you, but it fills us with joy. Our family can’t imagine Christmas — or life itself — without music. When we sing, we celebrate the best news that has ever been given to poor people: That God so loved the world that he became one of us, living as a human being.”

When the merchant rejoined his children, he said, “We’ll learn to sing with greater feeling and less volume. In our joy, we don’t want to irritate our neighbor. What do you say to that?”

The oldest child spoke for them all, “We say: Let the music begin!” (Adapted from “Stories for the Gathering,” by William R. White.)

As we celebrate Christmas in this time of COVID, may God remind us of what’s most important in life . . . and help us sing his good news to the world!

God’s plans for us surpass even our own

he characters in our first reading this Sunday (2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16) have a surprise encounter — you could almost say collision — with God. David, at the peak of his powers as king in Jerusalem, tells his prophet-counselor Nathan that he has decided to build a temple for God. To the Very Rev. Prophet Nathan, that sounds like a no-brainer: “Great idea, David! Go for it!”

That night, however, God wakes Nathan up: “Hey, prophet, aren’t you supposed to be my spokesman?”

“Yeah?” Nathan answers cautiously.

“So how come you didn’t ask me what I thought about David’s plan?”

,

KEVIN PERROTTA Perrotta is the editor and an author of the “Six Weeks with the Bible” series, teaches part time at Siena Heights University and leads Holy Land pilgrimages. He lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

“Because I assumed I knew what you’d say?”

“Well, if people could just assume they know my wishes, there

wouldn’t be any need for prophets, would there?”

I’m making some of this up, but it must have been a tense moment for Nathan.

Anyway, next morning, Nathan, with egg on his face, goes back to David. This time he has a message from God: “Don’t you build me a ‘house’ (a temple),” God says to David. “Instead, I’m going to build you a ‘house’ (a lineage, descendants on the throne).”

Nathan spells out what God is planning for David’s descendants.

The king is floored.

The next scene finds him taking a private prayer time: “Who am I, Lord God, and what is my house, that you should have brought me so far? And yet even this is too little in your sight, Lord God! For you have made a promise regarding your servant’s house reaching into the future, and giving guidance to the people, Lord God! What more can David say to you?” (see 2 Sm 7:18-20).

David is so overwhelmed at what God has done and is going to do for him that he shelves his templebuilding plans without further discussion.

We all have moments when what seemed like the most reasonable, good, even obvious course of action turns out not to be what God has in mind for us.

Often, the way this becomes apparent is that our efforts fail.

(Wouldn’t it be easier, we might wonder, if we had a prophetcounselor to let us know ahead of time?)

In our disappointment, we might think of David. God had intentions for David that surpassed David’s own.

However God is working in our lives, he is aiming at things that are much better than anything we could come up with on our own. So we can seek his will, trusting in his wisdom.

Pope to celebrate early Mass Dec. 24 because of COVID-19 curfew VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis will celebrate the Vatican’s traditional Christmas “Mass during the Night” Dec. 24, but will begin the liturgy at 7:30 p.m. local time so that the few people invited to attend can get home in time to observe Italy’s 10 p.m. curfew.

The curfew is one of many measures the Italian government has employed in an effort to slow

the spread of the coronavirus.

In addition to the early start time, the Vatican’s COVID-19 measures are still in force: Only a small congregation will be allowed inside the basilica; people’s temperatures are checked as they arrive; masks are required for the congregation and servers; and the seating is socially distanced.

While the nighttime Mass often is referred to as “Midnight

Mass,” it has not been celebrated at midnight at the Vatican since 2009 when Pope Benedict XVI moved it to 10 p.m. Pope Francis moved it to 9:30 p.m. in 2013, his first Christmas as pope.

The pope’s Christmas blessing “urbi et orbi” (“to the city and the world”) will be given, as usual, at noon Christmas Day from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica.

COLUMNISTS

DECEMBER 18, 2020 | THELEAVEN.ORG

I

15

Special needs deserve special attention, urges pope

t was 4 p.m. on Dec. 3. I had just finished writing my article (not this article) for The Leaven.

I wanted to get it done before the weekend. I had prayed to the Holy Spirit, our source for inspiration, before I started writing.

I didn’t listen quietly enough, deeply enough or wait patiently enough for that inspiration. I got it written. It took me about two hours.

It was an OK article.

Not my best writing, but acceptable and I reasoned that it had a good Advent message that some people would enjoy.

I saved it and went up to help my wife with dinner. I thought, I’ll ask Becki

Popcorn ceiling removed, or repaired Ceiling and walls painted 30 years experience

REACHING OUT

TOM RACUNAS Tom Racunas is the lead consultant for the archdiocesan special-needs ministry. He can be reached by email at: tracunas@archkck.org.

to read it later to see if she thinks it’s good enough. (She tells it to me straight.)

After dinner, I was checking Facebook posts. There was a post from the National Catholic Partnership

on Disability indicating that Dec. 3, 2020, was the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. It contained a link to Pope Francis’ message to mark this occasion.

I read it and reread it. Such beautiful words. Such meaningful words. Such powerful words.

The Holy Spirit intervened. I didn’t need to ask Becki to read my just OK article. I

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knew you needed to read the Holy Father’s words. So at 7:20 p.m., I started over.

In his message, Pope Francis said that special attention should be given to persons with disabilities who have not yet received the sacraments of initiation.

He noted that “no one should be excluded from the grace of these sacraments.”

(In October, I wrote about a similar statement that appears in the new edition of the National Directory of Catechesis.)

He also quoted his latest encyclical, “Fratelli Tutti,” which points out that “many persons with disabilities feel that they exist without belonging and without participating.

“Much still prevents them from being fully enfranchised. Our concern should be not only to care for them, but also to ensure their ‘active participation’ in the civil and ecclesial community.

“That is a demanding and even tiring process, yet one that will gradually contribute to the formation of consciences capable of acknowledging each individual as a unique and unrepeatable person” (FT, 98).

The Holy Father went on to say: “I also encourage efforts to provide all priests, seminarians, religious, catechists and pastoral works with regular training concerning disabilities and the use of inclusive pastoral tools.

“Parish communities

should be concerned to encourage among the faithful a welcoming attitude toward people with disabilities.”

Certainly, the archdiocesan specialneeds ministry alone, or in collaboration with other offices of the curia, is ready and willing to do just that.

Pope Francis continues to challenge us to reach out, seek and receive the gifts of the most vulnerable, the marginalized, those on the periphery. He continues to emphasize that every one of us is perfect in the eyes of God. All are welcome.

All belong.

Thank you, Holy Spirit! For Pope Francis’s full statement, go online to: https://bit. ly/3mByzM7.

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16

SCRIPTURE

DECEMBER 18, 2O2O | THELEAVEN.ORG

To forgive as we are forgiven is Christ’s call

By Catherine Upchurch Special to The Leaven

O

ne of my grade school teachers, who happened also to be my mom, taught me and my classmates an important lesson about forgiveness. She helped us see that forgiveness is more than a feeling. If we wait for the feeling of forgiveness to come after having been hurt, we may wait too long.

The hurt becomes a wound that leaves a scar.

On the other hand, she taught EMBRACING THE us that we should say the words, “I forgive you,” OF then do the work of being forgiving, and the feeling would follow. In my life, when I’ve been wise enough to follow her example, she’s proven to be right.

If we scour the Gospels, we will find numerous occasions when Jesus offers or teaches about forgiveness.

Sometimes, it accompanies a physical healing, as is the case when Jesus heals the paralytic whose friends lower him through the roof to receive healing (Mk 2:1-12; Lk 5:18-26). Other times, forgiveness is given when requested, as in the story of the prodigal who returns home and asks his father’s forgiveness (Lk 15:11-32). Often, forgiveness is given freely without ever being asked, with the prime example being the words of Jesus from the cross: “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do” (Lk 23:34).

Perhaps forgiveness plays such a prime role in Scripture because, as hard as it is to give and to receive, it is what elevates our humanity. It is what demonstrates that we are made in God’s image and likeness. The whole of Scripture is a testament to God’s completely generous gift of mercy, and the shaping of a people who know they are forgiven over and over again.

The disciples of Jesus ask him to teach them to pray (Mt 6:9-15 and Lk 11:2-4). Of course, they knew how to pray the psalms because it was their prayer book, and they knew how to worship at the temple as was their tradition. But they are asking him to cut to the heart of what it means to pray, perhaps even to give them an example from his own very evident life of prayer. What Jesus teaches them is what we call the Our Father or the Lord’s Prayer. The words of this prayer reach a crescendo in praying

KINGDOM GOD

The biblical story in which Jesus heals the paralytic whose friends lower him through the roof to receive healing is one of the many examples of forgiveness found in Scripture. for forgiveness.

We pray first of all to the God who is our Father, who parents us and teaches us what it means to be his children. We acclaim that God’s name is holy, sacred and incomparable to any other name on earth. We pray that the kingdom come into our world — not that we go to the kingdom in another world, but that we recognize it in our midst.

One of the ways we will recognize God’s kingdom is by doing God’s will and recognizing God’s will is needed in our world. We ask for daily bread, a

deepening awareness that what nourishes us best comes from God. We pray that we be forgiven as we forgive others, which is basically a prayer that we learn to be as generous to others as we know God is to us.

Years ago, I participated in a retreat directed by Father Nicholas Ayo, CSC, author of a small book, “The Lord’s Prayer.” He was talking with us about the final petition: “Do not subject us to the final test.” One of the retreatants asked what kind of God would put us to the test.

Father Ayo answered as the professor he was, reminding us that the best teachers want their students to succeed, and testing is one way of determining if the teacher has done enough to ready them for the final exam.

God is that teacher who wants us to embody the kingdom as did his own son Jesus. He offers forgiveness and asks us to do the same.

Catherine Upchurch, the general editor of the Little Rock Catholic Study Bible, writes from Fort Smith, Arkansas.

Unto others Our capacity to be forgiving is directly related to realizing that God forgives us, even when we lack the courage or humility to ask for it. Learning to accept and offer forgiveness is part of what shapes us in the image of God that is at the core of who we are.

Questions for reflection or discussion: 1. Do you agree that the capacity for forgiveness is something that elevates our humanity? One of the signs that we are made in God’s image? Why or why not?

2. The act of forgiving someone who has not asked for it, or may not even be aware of the hurt they have caused, is a way of imitating Christ. It also has positive emotional and psychological benefits. Does such a situation in your life come to mind to illustrate this?

3. Allow some time to slowly and deliberately pray the Lord’s Prayer (using the version we use in Mass, or the version from Lk 11 or Mt 6). Which of the petitions in that prayer seems most critical in our world today?

4. “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us” may also be translated “forgive us our debts as we forgive those indebted to us” or “forgive us our sins as we forgive those who do evil to us” or even “forgive us what we owe to you as we forgive those who owe anything to us.” What do these various translations tell you about the importance of forgiveness in the life of those building the kingdom of God?