12 28 18 Vol. 40 No. 20

THELEAVEN.ORG | VOL. 40, NO. 20 | DECEMBER 28, 2018

2018 YEAR IN REVIEW

BY JOE BOLLIG | joe.bollig@theleaven.org

K

ANSAS CITY, Kan. — For the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, the year literally started off with a “bang.” Sometime early on New Year’s Day, the chapel ceiling at the Cathedral of St. Peter here collapsed.

To some, this would seem to be a fitting metaphor for the Catholic Church in 2018, the “ceiling coming down” on our collective heads as a crisis about clerical sexual abuse and misconduct flared anew.

On June 20, influential churchman Cardinal Theodore McCarrick was removed from public ministry when an Archdiocese of New York review board found credible accusations of abuse against him.

And on Aug. 18, a Pennsylvania grand jury released a report listing the names of 300 accused clerical abusers, as well as bishops it alleged either mishandled or covered up instances of abuse.

In an air of crisis, the U.S. bishops held their annual fall general assembly Nov. 12-14 in Baltimore to formulate a response . . . but Pope Francis intervened, telling them to wait for the outcome of a world meeting of episcopal conference leaders this coming February in Rome.

But it would be a mistake to view the life of the church exclusively through the lens of the current crisis.

Indeed, the life of Catholics in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas consisted of ordinations, dedications, parish life, ministry activities and building for the future. There were a number of significant personnel changes at the archdiocesan level.

And we said goodbye to those who entered eternity.

The pages of The Leaven show a diverse, vital and vigorous Catholic people engaged in the everyday living out of their faith in multiple ways.

Perhaps Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann said it best in the closing words of his Nov. 23 column: “Despite the present challenges, I remain grateful to God for his abundant blessings upon the Catholic Church in northeast Kansas. There are so many miracles of grace happening every day in our parishes, schools and ministries.”

So, before we close the book on this eventful — and stressful — year, let’s take one last look back at the events and people that affected our lives as the church of northeast Kansas in 2018. >> Continued on page 4

en e v a Le t issu o e n nex 11. b l il The Jan. w e r eek. on e h T t w ll be nex wi

DECEMBER 28, 2018 | THELEAVEN.ORG

ARCHBISHOP

I

Reclaim the family calendar this coming year

t is no mere coincidence that, in the church’s liturgical calendar, the Sunday following Christmas we celebrate the Holy Family.

The Son of God came into this world as a helpless infant born into a family. The first days, weeks, months and years of Jesus’ life were punctuated with dramatic events.

Angels announced his birth to shepherds in the field. The mysterious Magi made an arduous and lengthy journey to reverence and present gifts to the Infant King.

Joseph protected Jesus and Mary from the evil King Herod, who was obsessed with killing the child Jesus.

The Holy Family became political refugees fleeing to Egypt.

Until it was safe to return to Nazareth, Joseph had to find a way to provide for Mary and Jesus in a strange land.

However, after these adventurous early years, the Gospels become silent about Our Lord’s life as a child, adolescent and young adult in Nazareth.

Luke gives us the only window into the boyhood years of Nazareth when he recorded the scare Jesus gave to Mary and Joseph when he remained behind in the Temple as his parents were returning to Galilee with their fellow Passover pilgrims.

Mary and Joseph find Jesus in the Temple astounding the teachers

LIFE WILL BE VICTORIOUS ARCHBISHOP JOSEPH F. NAUMANN of the law by his perceptive questions and wise answers.

Luke concludes this narrative by writing that Jesus went with Mary and Joseph to Nazareth where he was obedient to them. Luke tells us that “Jesus advanced in wisdom and age and favor before God and man” (Lk 2:52).

We can conclude from the Gospels’ silence about Our Lord’s childhood and adolescent years that they were unremarkable.

We can justifiably assume that Jesus participated in the ordinary events of family life.

We can also presume that Jesus received his formation in the Jewish faith from his family.

While recalling this week the importance of the Holy Family in God’s plan for our redemption, we also ponder the importance of the Christian family during these past 2,000 years in transmitting the faith across generations.

The family remains the most important and powerful social unit for the formation of the next generation in the Christian faith and moral code.

The foundation of the family is the faithful and fruitful love of husband and wife. It is this committed love that creates the optimum environment for the formation of happy, healthy and well-adjusted children.

For many, the most important contribution that they can make to the church and world is to devote time and energy to strengthening their marriage and family. Our nation, society and church depend upon the health and vitality of family life.

To find resources to help your marriage and family, search on our archdiocesan website (archkck.org) for The Joyful Marriage Project.

This initiative of our marriage and family life office offers helpful information on how to strengthen both your marriage and family. The Joyful Marriage Project compares strengthening your family to building a “dream home.”

A well-constructed

house needs a firm foundation. The foundation of Christian marriage is anchored in a strong prayer life. It is important to be able to pray as individuals but also as a married couple.

For a healthy Christian marriage, God has to be the foundation.

We strengthen this foundation by regular and frequent prayer.

After a firm foundation, a dream home needs a well-designed structure. The Joyful Marriage Project helps connect you with resources to build a solid framework for your marriage and family to flourish. Workshops, date night opportunities and online resources are available to help make your familial relationships sturdy.

After a solid foundation and a strong structure, the next step in building your dream home is weatherproofing to protect it from the threats of life’s storms.

The Joyful Marriage Project offers retreat and support opportunities to prepare your marriage and family to be equipped to weather whatever adversities you may encounter.

Finally, once you built it, naturally you want to share the beauty and comfort of your dream home with others. The Joyful Marriage Project offers opportunities to help engaged couples prepare for marriage and/or to mentor young married couples.

Within the parish,

there are a multitude of ways in which you can share the goodness and beauty of your marriage and family.

In addition to The Joyful Marriage Project, you can also Google the School of Love and/ or the Messy Family Project to find more resources to renew and strengthen your marriage and family.

The most important gift parents can give their children is a mother who loves their father and a father who loves their mother and who together love their children.

Spending time on renewing your marriage will help you to be better parents and create in your home an atmosphere that will help your children thrive and develop fully their gifts and talents.

It is easy in our culture in an effort to provide your children with many wonderful opportunities and experiences to become overextended as a family.

Family time can become scarce as you are constantly running children to various activities.

Archbishop Charles Chaput has said that parents are the bishops of their families, their domestic churches.

Pray over the possibility that during 2019 Our Lord is calling you to reclaim the family calendar by making sure that you have time as a family to eat together, have fun together and pray together.

This is the year to build your dream home!

Archbishop Naumann Dec. 29 St. Paul, Olathe, procession to new location Jan. 2-8 Bishop’s spiritual retreat — Mundelein Jan. 10 Religious Alliance Against pornography conference call Jan. 12 Mass and blessing of Holy Trinity Mausoleum — Mount Calvary Cemetery, Topeka iCare healing Mass — Queen of the Holy Rosary, Overland Park Jan. 13 Spiritual Mentorship graduation Mass — Savior Pastoral Center Jan. 14-15 Visit —KenrickGlennon Seminary, St. Louis Jan. 16 March for Life Mass — Savior Pastoral Center Jan. 17-18 March for Life — Washington Jan. 19 Catholic Charities Snow Ball Jan. 20 Baptism of third or more children — Cathedral

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DECEMBER 28, 2018 | THELEAVEN.ORG

LOCAL NEWS

SCRANTON CATHOLICS CELEBRATE NEW CHURCH

3

Left, members of St. Patrick Church in Scranton process from the old church to the new on Dec. 15 before the dedication Mass.

Below, Deacon Kenn Clem (left), Father Konda Reddy Nusi, pastor of St. Patrick, and master of ceremonies Father Bruce Ansems assist Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann during the dedication of the new St. Patrick Church.

Archbishop Naumann dedicates the new St. Patrick Church on Dec. 15

LEAVEN PHOTOS BY MARC ANDERSON

By Marc and Julie Anderson mjanderson@theleaven.org

S

CRANTON — It was an afternoon of firsts.

St. Patrick Parish in Scranton celebrated several on Dec. 15, including the first Mass in the parish’s new 3,200 square-foot church.

Designed by Peterson Architectural Group and built by Shirley Construction, the church features many furnishings from the original church built in 1917, including the statuary, chandeliers, Stations of the Cross, altar and two of the original stained-glass windows. It’s been years in the making.

Lee Kraus, head of the building committee, said Father Richard Storey, one of the parish’s former pastors, appointed him to his position nearly 13 years ago.

After assessing various restoration options of the old church building, the parish quickly determined a price tag of at least $4 million to $5 million was not feasible for the parish of approximately 225 families.

Instead, the parish decided to build a new church. But it would have to wait a while.

“Father [Storey] told me we had to make the church last for at least 10 years,” Kraus said. He was surprised it lasted that long. Its mortar was literally turning to sand and crumbling brick by brick.

Having decided to build a new church with a seating capacity of 150, a capital campaign — along with numerous fundraisers — raised the necessary $522,000, and the building is now nearly paid in full.

For Kraus, who has been in the parish for 40 years, looking around the church during the dedication Mass made him grateful.

“It’s really nice to have it done. And it’s a nice church, just right for our size,” he said. “We were able to come together as a small community of Catholics and get it done. Even though we are a small community, we need something here.”

Kraus was not the only one pleased.

Stan Peterson, the project’s lead architect, said he was grateful to see the culmination of years of work by parishioners, especially the building committee. Praising committee members, Peterson said he has “an absolute love of the building committee” due to its

“

“IT’S REALLY NICE TO HAVE IT DONE. AND IT’S A NICE CHURCH, JUST RIGHT FOR OUR SIZE. WE WERE ABLE TO COME TOGETHER AS A SMALL COMMUNITY OF CATHOLICS AND GET IT DONE.” willingness to collaborate and focus on the good of the parish.

For Peterson, the day marked the first time in his career he handed keys and blueprints of a Catholic church to an archbishop. He presented them to Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann just prior to Mass.

Having received the keys, the archbishop then handed them to Father Konda Reddy Nusi, the parish’s pastor.

President

Most Rev. Joseph F. Naumann

Publication No. (ISSN0194-9799)

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

For Father Nusi, too, the afternoon marked a first in his life, the first time he has been involved in a building project here in the United States.

Having arrived in the United States late this past summer and at the parish on Oct. 1 for his first assignment, Father Nusi has been in the country for less than six months.

After Father Nusi unlocked the doors, he, along with more than 200 parishioners, the archbishop, master of ceremonies Father Bruce Ansems and Deacon Kenn Clem, a parishioner who will be ordained in 2019, processed into the church.

During his homily, the archbishop remarked that while the day of the church’s dedication had been delayed for various reasons, the third Sunday of Advent seemed fitting as it is called Gaudete Sunday. In Latin “gaudete” means “rejoice” and the completion of a church is, indeed, a reason to rejoice.

As Mass continued, one more first caught everyone by surprise. During the Liturgy of the Eucharist, the smoke alarms sounded as a result of the incense

Managing Editor Anita McSorley anita.mcsorley@theleaven.org

Senior Reporter Joe Bollig joe.bollig@theleaven.org

Reporter Olivia Martin olivia.martin@theleaven.org

Production Manager Todd Habiger todd.habiger@theleaven.org

Advertising Coordinator Beth Blankenship beth.blankenship@theleaven.org

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

used earlier. The incense had been transferred to the vesting sacristy to be extinguished.

Near the end of Mass, Father Nusi read prepared remarks of gratitude saying, “Gratitude is an attitude of heart. As the psalmist sings, ‘How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord.’

We all thank God for all his countless blessings toward the completion of this church.”

As he continued, the pastor thanked everyone involved in making the “dream of a new church a reality,” including those “who have been so generous with their time, talent, treasures and prayers.”

Following Father Nusi’s remarks, Archbishop Naumann thanked the pastor.

“I would like to just add to those thanks a thank you to Father Nusi for your leadership,” said Archbishop Naumann. “You’re in a new country, a new assignment, and you have to complete the building of a church.

“It was not an uncomplicated assignment,” he admitted, to much laughter.

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.

JANUARY

YEAR IN REVIEW

DECEMBER 28, 2018 | THELEAVEN.ORG

• The chapel ceiling at the Cathedral of St. Peter in Kansas City, Kansas, collapsed early on New Year’s Day.

• Chris Hubbard, director of music ministries at St. Matthew and Mother Teresa of Calcutta parishes in Topeka, led a choir of 33 parishioners at an Epiphany Festival concert on Jan. 3 at the Church of St. Ignatius in Rome.

MARCH

FEBRUARY

• The archdiocesan pro-life office sponsored four buses to the annual March for Life on Jan. 19 in Washington. In Topeka, pro-life activities on Jan. 22 included an “Ignite” youth event, a Mass and Kansans for Life rally on the Capitol steps.

• Ruby Rios, a senior at Bishop Miege High School in Roeland Park, was named one of Kansas City’s Ink magazine’s “30 under 30” for her accomplishments, including the founding of the Girls Who Code club.

• The Catholic bishops of Kansas urged the state’s Catholics to support HB 2687 and SB 401, to protect faithbased adoption and foster care agencies.

• Pat and Mel McAnany were cochairs of the 2018 Archbishop’s Call to Share appeal.

• The Interfaith Community of Hope Complex, a cooperative ministry of outreach to the Leavenworth area’s homeless and poor, was dedicated on Jan. 22.

• The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics named the University of Saint Mary Spires football team of Leavenworth the Buffalo Funds Five Star Champions of Character Team Award recipient for the 2017 season.

• Students at Xavier School in Leavenworth read more than seven million words in three months to win a national reading award in the small schools category in the Word Up Challenge contest, sponsored by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

• The annual Support Our Seminarians benefit dinner was held at Union Station in Kansas City, Missouri.

• Bishop Emeritus Herbert Hermes, 84, a monk of St. Benedict’s Abbey in Atchison, died from pneumonia on Jan. 3 in Palmas, Tocantins, Brazil.

• Approximately 300 people participated in three Rite of Election liturgies in February, stating their intention to enter the Catholic Church on Easter.

• Eight works of art by Catholic high school students were selected as examples exemplifying the theme “The Joy of the Gospel” during the 2018 Archbishop’s Invitational Art Exhibit, held at Savior Pastoral Center in Kansas City, Kansas.

• Father George Klasinski, 93, a retired priest of the archdiocese, died on April 14 at Homestead of Topeka assisted living facility.

APRIL

• Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann joined pastor Father Greg Hammes for the groundbreaking and blessing on Feb. 18 of the site for the new rectory for Most Pure Heart of Mary Parish in Topeka.

• The Living in Truth women’s conference was held on Feb. 24 at the Church of the Ascension in Overland Park.

• Archdiocesan Catholics donated $520,209 to Catholic Charities USA for hurricane relief. Additionally, Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas sent $18,142 for hurricane relief to dioceses in Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico.

• The first bilingual youth retreat at the Cathedral of St. Peter in Kansas City, Kansas, was held on March 24.

• Archbishop Naumann and his mother Louise Naumann received the Lumen Vitae medal given on April 7 at the annual Abbot’s Table event, held at the Overland Park Convention Center. The Dunn family of J.E. Dunn Construction also received the medal, which is given by the monks of St. Benedict’s Abbey in Atchison.

• The archdiocese sponsored a day of reflection called “Healing from the Scandal of Abuse by Clergy, Religious and Others in Authority within the Church” on April 21 at Savior Pastoral Center in Kansas City, Kansas.

• Olivia M a r t i n became a staff writer for The Leaven on Jan. 29.

• Archbishop Naumann was the main celebrant and homilist at a Mass on March 11 blessing and dedicating the renovated St. Joseph Church in Shawnee.

• Father Greg Hammes, pastor of Most Pure Heart of Mary Parish in Topeka, accepted the Volunteer Group of the Year Award on March 12 for iCare of Topeka. The award was given by TARC, Inc.

• Former administrator Blake Mulvany was inducted into the Bishop Ward High School Hall of Fame during the school’s annual Spirit Dinner, held on April 7 at the school.

• The grand reopening of Marian Hall was held on Jan. 25 at Donnelly College in Kansas City, Kansas.

• Mike and Maureen Bukaty, members of St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Leawood, were co-presidents of the annual Catholic Charities Foundation of Northeast Kansas Snowball, held on Jan. 20 at the Overland Park Convention Center.

• Hispanic and Latino leaders from a four-state area gathered April 27-29 at Savior Pastoral Center in Kansas City, Kansas, for the Region IX meeting in preparation for the Fifth National Encuentro.

• Shelly Buhler was appointed president of Hayden H i g h School, Topeka.

• More than 830 students from 22 Johnson and Wyandotte county Catholic schools attended the annual 5th Grade Vocations Day on April 10 at Prince of Peace Parish and school in Olathe.

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MAY

YEAR IN REVIEW

DECEMBER 28, 2018 | THELEAVEN.ORG

• In preparation for the solemnity of Pentecost on May 20, Archbishop Naumann asked individuals and parishes to pray a Holy Spirit novena, asking for a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Catholic community of northeast Kansas.

• The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas launched a $65 million capital campaign, “One Faith.

One Family. One Future . . . in Christ,” to benefit parishes, ministries and institutions.

• Archbishop Emeritus James P. Keleher was the first recipient of the Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann Sanctity of Life Award, given on May 9 at the Olathe Conference Center.

• Sacred Heart-St. Joseph Parish in Topeka received the Award of Excellence on May 18 from the Kansas Preservation Alliance for its restoration project of St. Joseph Church.

JUNE

• Archbishop Naumann ordained Nicholas Ashmore, Kenn Clem, Colin Haganey, Joel Haug and Dan Weger to the transitional diaconate on May 19 at Holy Trinity Parish in Lenexa.

• Archbishop Naumann was the main celebrant and homilist for the dedication Mass on May 26 of the new St. Gregory Church in Marysville.

• Michael Schuttloffel, executive director of the Kansas Catholic Conference for 10 years, handed over the reins to his successor, Gerald C. “Chuck” Weber Jr., former Kansas state representative from Wichita.

• The national Right to Life convention was held June 28-30 at the Sheraton Overland Park Hotel.

JULY

• Father Quoc-Viet Minh Nguyen and Father Carter Paul Zielinski were ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Naumann on June 30 at the Church of the Nativity in Leawood.

• Vince Anch was appointed the new executive director of the Catholic Education Foundation.

AUGUST

• The Leaven staff won a total of 12 Catholic Press Association awards at the annual convention, held June 12-15 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

• Father Dan Morris became the new archdiocesan vocations director, succeeding Father Scott Wallisch.

• The first-ever Spanish language evangelization conference was held Aug. 18-19 at Our Lady of Unity Parish in Kansas City, Kansas.

• The first archdiocesan special-needs family camp was held June 29-July 1 at Camp Tekakwitha, Williamsburg.

• The Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph defeated the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas 17-16 at the annual Pitching for Priests softball game, held on July 6.

• Kathleen Thomas, director of the archdiocesan human relations office for 10 years, was succeeded by Michele Kooiman.

• Tricia Hutchison became the new Wyandotte County youth outreach coordinator on July 9, succeeding Liz Miller.

• Hundreds of archdiocesan youths participated in Prayer and Action, a ministry of local mission work and spiritual activities that takes place in the summer.

• The Rural Youth Rally Summer Tour drew youths to the Brown County fairgrounds on Aug. 12. The rally would later travel to Scipio.

• Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann responded to the Pennsylvania grand jury report detailing clergy sexual misconduct and revelations about sexual misconduct by then-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick in a front-page story in the Aug. 31 issue of The Leaven. He also announced a review of archdiocesan clergy files by an independent law firm.

• Ann Marie Alvey, a member of Our Lady of Unity Parish in Kansas City, Kansas, was appointed archdiocesan coordinator of the Project Rachel Ministry on July 24.

• A fire in the basement of the convent of the Fraternity the Poor of Jesus Christ in Kansas City, Kansas, on Aug. 15 caused extensive damage and evacuation of the Sisters.

• Lauren Solidum was appointed president and CEO of Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas, succeeding Ken Williams.

• The first Village Fire prayer and praise event was held on July 10 at the Quigley Center at Holy Trinity Parish in Lenexa.

• John McGoldrick was appointed the new executive director of the Catholic Youth Organization of Johnson and Wyandotte Counties.

• Kelli Mather was named the new chief operating officer for El Centro, a social service outreach ministry.

5

OCTOBER

SEPTEMBER

YEAR IN REVIEW

DECEMBER 28, 2018 | THELEAVEN.ORG

• The Vitae Foundation announced that its first researchbased curriculum would be named the Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann Curriculum to Advance the Culture of Life during the foundation’s annual Kansas City event on Sept. 7 at the Overland Park Convention Center.

• Archbishop Naumann was the homilist and main celebrant at the 50th anniversary Mass and celebration on Sept. 8 at Holy Cross Parish in Overland Park.

• The final Mass was celebrated on Sept. 30 at Sacred Heart Church in Atchison, marking an end to the church’s 126 years of service there.

• On Oct. 16, Archbishop Naumann blessed the newly refurbished bells that were to be reinstalled on the bell tower of Savior Pastoral Center, where they ceased ringing for more than 30 years.

• Archbishop Naumann blessed the St. Oscar Romero Chapel on Oct. 14 at Good Shepherd Parish in Shawnee. In addition to the chapel blessing, Archbishop Naumann was the main celebrant at a Mass celebrating the canonization of St. Oscar Romero.

The parish held other activities to commemorate the canonization as well.

DECEMBER

NOVEMBER

• The opening reception and awards presentation of the Regional Juried Christian Arts Competition and Exhibition was held on Oct. 16 at Savior Pastoral Center in Kansas City, Kansas.

• On Nov. 4, the Little Brothers of the Lamb dedicated their new monastery, “Light of Mary, Mother of God,” in Kansas City, Kansas.

• Linda SlaterTrimble, a member of Holy Family Parish in Eudora, was appointed the new archdiocesan victim assistance coordinator on Nov. 12.

• Archbishop Emeritus James P. Keleher was the recipient of the 2018 St. Rose Philippine Duchesne Award on Nov. 18. Unable to be at Sacred Heart Church in Mound City because he was recovering from shoulder surgery, he received the award via speaker phone from Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann.

• Debra Niesen was appointed archdiocesan lead consultant for pro-life ministry on Dec. 3.

• The annual Gaudeamus celebration for the Catholic Education Foundation, held on Oct. 20 at the Overland Park Convention Center, had record attendance and raised more than $1.2 million.

• The second Rural Catholic Youth Conference was held Nov.17-18 at the Capitol Plaza Hotel & Convention Center in Topeka.

• Good Shepherd School in Shawnee received the 2018 Values Driven Award of Excellence at the Midwest Region fall conference of AdvancEd in Schaumburg, Illinois.

• The second annual nationwide #iGiveCatholic campaign on Nov. 27 elicited strong support among archdiocesan Catholics.

• Pastor Father Michael Hermes and parishioners of St. Paul Parish in Olathe were scheduled to process on Dec. 29 from the previous parish site at 900 S. Honeysuckle Drive to the new parish site at 115th and Lone Elm Road. There, Archbishop Naumann planned to bless the new building.

• Archbishop Naumann was the main celebrant and homilist at the dedication on Dec. 16 of the new St. Patrick Church in Scranton.

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DECEMBER 28, 2018 | THELEAVEN.ORG

FAMILY LIFE

T

7

Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference in marriage

he word “attitude” is not used often in our daily conversations, but our attitudes, according to social psychologists, are a determining factor leading to our successes or failures. Winston Churchill said: “Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.”

What is an attitude?

An attitude is a stance we take toward a person or a situation; it is a judgment in favor or against that guides our behaviors.

In marriage, our attitudes are recognized in our feelings and thoughts: how we feel toward our spouse, how we regard and pay attention to what our spouse says, and how we respond to what our spouse does.

One of my colleagues shared the following anecdote to illustrate how her attitude toward her husband was affecting a habit that was damaging their relationship.

“The other day, Jim, my husband, wanted to

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.

make sure I answered his call so he borrowed my son Ed’s cellphone to call me.

“As I answered, I was surprised to hear my husband’s voice, but I was most surprised by his explanation.

“He said: ‘I used Ed’s phone because I wanted to hear your ‘caring’ voice. I don’t get this ‘kind’ tone when you

know that I am calling.

“Then, he said: ‘This kind and caring voice is normally reserved only for Ed and for our dog.”

“This incident and his comments,” continued the young mother, “left me feeling disturbed. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that he had a point. My poor attitude toward Jim was leading me to express more care and affection toward the dog and our 14-year-old son than toward my husband.

“At dinner that evening, we discussed the incident and we admitted that we both could do better with our attitudes toward each other. We agreed to express our care and affection for each other more often.”

The young lady concluded: “I said to Jim, jokingly: ‘I promise that if you spend as much time with me as you spend with the dog, and if you pet me like you pet the dog, my voice will sound more caring and kind to you.’ We both laughed, under-

standing that in all of this there was a lesson to be learned.”

Our attitudes shape our behaviors, which, when repeated, become habits and affect the relationship. Researchers are finding that between 40 to 45 percent of our daily interactions are driven by our habits.

So, if you want to improve the quality of your marriage relationship, consider how your attitudes affect your behaviors toward your spouse.

Where do we start?

In writing to the people of Colossae, St. Paul recommended certain attitudes that foster the spirit of Christ in relationships: “Put on then . . . heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another. . . . As the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do.

And over all these put on love” (Col 3:12-14).

These attitudes apply to the marriage

relationship, which, as a sacrament, is an icon of Christ’s love. Paul writes that among all the positive attitudes, self-giving love is the most perfect expression of Christ’s love.

Researchers at the National Marriage Project agree.

A few years ago, they published their finding on the power of generosity in marriage. Their words echo the message of St. Paul: “The path of wedded bliss may be found by embracing an ethic of generosity that encompasses a spirit of service, frequent displays of affection and a willingness to forgive.”

As you begin a new year and consider resolutions to improve your life, review your attitudes toward your spouse. Seek to grow in generosity, a spirit of self-giving.

Can you be more understanding, tolerant, accommodating, helpful, forgiving and compassionate toward your spouse? Making progress, even small, in any

Question for reflection: Where can you start your efforts to make a small change in your attitudes toward your spouse?

of these behaviors can make your relationship more comfortable — a place where you can get emotionally recharged.

Changing our attitudes and being generous is not easy, yet it is possible with the help of God’s grace. The scientists at the National Marriage Project write that, when a couple places God at the center of their marriage and prays, their level of commitment increases and so does their generosity.

According to their findings, marital spirituality is linked to beliefs and behaviors that strengthen the marriage bond.

Be generous in 2019.

Happy New Year!

DECEMBER 28, 2018 | THELEAVEN.ORG

YEAR IN REVIEW

10

ABUSE CRISIS For pope, abuse talk dominates the year

By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service

V

ATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis marked the fifth anniversary of his election in March in the midst of a firestorm over his handling of clerical sexual abuse and bishops’ accountability in Chile.

He soon apologized for his slow response and invited Chilean abuse survivors to the Vatican and then all the country’s bishops to meet with him in May. By mid-October, the pope had dismissed two Chilean bishops from the priesthood and accepted the resignations of seven others.

The firestorm began when Pope Francis visited Chile and Peru in January, but the trip also included a meeting with the region’s indigenous peoples, marking an important stage in the preparation for the 2019 special Synod of Bishops on the Amazon, which will focus on safeguarding creation and on the pastoral care of the people who live in the region.

Also during 2018, Pope Francis traveled to the Geneva headquarters of the World Council of Churches to celebrate the ecumenical body’s 70th anniversary; he went to Ireland for the World Meeting of Families; and he visited the Baltic nations of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.

He spent most of October presiding over the Synod of Bishops on young people, and during the synod, he

CNS PHOTO/PAUL HARING

Pope Francis walks in front of a candle in memory of victims of sexual abuse as he visits St. Mary’s Pro-Cathedral in Dublin Aug. 25. Pope Francis apologized for clerical sexual abuse in Ireland but on the final day of the trip, he was accused of ignoring abuse by Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick. celebrated the canonizations of St. Paul VI, St. Oscar Romero and five others.

But the sex abuse crisis dominated news coverage of the pope’s year, particularly after accusations were deemed credible that former Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick, retired archbishop of Washington, had abused a minor and for years had sexually harassed seminarians.

The pope accepted his resignation from the College of Cardinals, forbid him from publicly exercising priestly ministry and ordered him to “a life of prayer and penance until the accusations made against him are examined” in a canonical process.

In mid-September, the Vatican announced that Pope Francis was calling the presidents of all the world’s bishops’ conference to a four-day meeting at the Vatican in February to address the abuse crisis and better ways to protect children.

At the synod on young people, faith and vocational discernment, some bishops — especially from Australia and the United States — insisted the abuse crisis be a topic of discussion.

Australian Archbishop Anthony Fisher of Sydney used his speech at the synod to formally apologize to young people for all the ways the Catholic Church and its

SUPREME COURT Big decisions, bench changes for this year

By Carol Zimmermann Catholic News Service

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ASHINGTON (CNS) — The Supreme Court’s past year will probably be remembered more for the shakeup at the bench than for specific rulings.

In early July when President Donald Trump announced that Judge Brett Kavanaugh was his nominee to replace retiring Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy, the divided nation responded accordingly.

Many praised the judge’s qualifications and were pleased that the president had fulfilled his campaign promise to nominate a pro-life judge to the Supreme Court, but the choice angered many Americans displeased that Kavanaugh’s vote as a justice could potentially reverse the court’s 1973 Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion.

Kavanaugh, who is Catholic, spoke about putting his faith in action during Senate confirmation hearings. He said he regularly served meals with Catholic Charities’ St. Maria’s Meals program in Washington and that talking to the people there helps him to understand the situation that they are in.

Protests about his nomination began the night he was announced as a potential replacement of Kennedy and continued until his swearing in, intensifying during Senate confirmation hearings, particularly

the Sept. 27 hearing concerning Christine Blasey Ford’s allegations of a sexual assualt by Kavanaugh when they were in high school, which he denied.

The Senate confirmed Kavanaugh as a Supreme Court justice in a 50-48 vote Oct. 6, days after the Supreme Court had resumed its new term.

The court’s new session did not have the drama of high-profile cases on hot-button issues.

Kavanaugh missed one of the court’s two death penalty cases for the current session argued Oct. 1. The second case, argued Nov. 6, was about using an alternative execution method on a death-row inmate with a rare medical condition.

Without Kennedy, often the swing vote on the court, all eyes were on Kavanaugh in the oral arguments in this case. His death penalty views were unknown since as a federal appeals court judge he rarely heard capital punishment cases. But in oral arguments before the Supreme Court, his pointed questions to the state’s attorney indicated he might favor the inmate’s request for an alternate form of execution.

In an abortion-related case that could have come before the Supreme Court this term, Kavanaugh was among the majority of justices who agreed not to take it.

The case was an appeal from Kansas and Louisiana on lower court rulings that have stopped those states from blocking Medicaid funds from going to Planned Parent-

CNS PHOTO/JIM BOURG, REUTERS

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh takes his ceremonial oath during his Oct. 8 public swearing-in with retired Justice Anthony Kennedy in the East Room of the White House. hood. The case needed four justices to approve hearing arguments in order for it to move forward.

Pro-life leaders said they were disappointed with the court’s decision, saying that while federal funds cannot be used for abortions, Planned Parenthood should not get Medicaid funding because its facilities primarily perform abortions.

Big cases the court ruled on in its previous term earlier this year that had a specific Catholic Church interest included: the president’s travel ban, immigration, a same-sex wedding cake, sports betting, union dues, the death penalty and pro-life pregnancy centers.

Catholic Church leaders weighed in on many of these cases, submitting friend-ofthe-court briefs and issuing statements after the decisions were announced.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Catholic Charities USA and the Catholic Legal Immigration Network expressed disappointment with the court’s 5-4 decision upholding Trump’s travel ban preventing people entering the U.S. from

members have harmed them or let them down.

In the presence of Pope Francis, he apologized Oct. 4 “for the shameful deeds of some priests, religious and laypeople, perpetrated upon you or other young people just like you, and the terrible damage that has done.”

He apologized “for the failure of too many bishops and others to respond appropriately when abuse was identified, and to do all in their power to keep you safe; and for the damage thus done to the church’s credibility and to your trust.”

some Muslim-majority countries.

In the case of the same-sex wedding cake, the U.S. bishops sided with the court’s 7-2 decision in favor of the Colorado baker who cited religious beliefs in declining to make the wedding cake for a same-sex couple. The narrow ruling said the baker’s religious freedom had been violated by the state’s Civil Rights Commission, but it did not determine if a small business can invoke federal free-speech and religious-exercise rights to deny services to same-sex couples.

The Catholic bishops also sided with the court’s 5-4 ruling that a California law requiring pregnancy centers to tell patients about the availability of statefunded abortion services violated the First Amendment. They disagreed with the court’s 5-4 decision in the case about union dues where the court overruled its previous decision allowing state agencies to require their union-represented employees to pay fees to the union for collective bargaining costs even if they are not union members.

In a death penalty case, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled in favor of a Texas death-row inmate, ordering a federal appellate court to reconsider his requests for funding to investigate his claims of mental illness and substance abuse.

In immigration cases, the court early in the year ruled that some immigrants detained by the government can be held indefinitely and it also declined to hear and rule on whether the administration has the right to shut down the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA program, which the U.S. bishops have supported.

DECEMBER 28, 2018 | THELEAVEN.ORG

YEAR IN REVIEW

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CLIMATE CHANGE Catholics spearheaded efforts in response to climate change

By Dennis Sadowski Catholic News Service

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ASHINGTON (CNS) — Catholic organizations called for greater personal responsibility in tackling climate change and stepped up their advocacy in opposing the rollback of U.S. environmental regulations during the last year.

Their efforts held up Pope Francis’ 2015 encyclical, “Laudato Si’, on Care for Our Common Home,” which focuses on understanding how integrated human life is with all life on earth and the need to be responsible stewards of the planet’s resources.

A key effort came from the Catholic Climate Covenant, which introduced the Catholic Climate Declaration in April. Nearly 800 declaration signers said they remain committed to the Paris climate accord despite President Donald Trump’s plan to withdraw the U.S. from the agreement.

In inviting Catholic entities to sign the declaration, Bishop Richard M. Pates, who heads the Diocese of Des Moines, Iowa, and is episcopal liaison for the effort, said the document serves as a “distinct Catholic expression” of the broader We Are Still In effort.

We Are Still In finds tribal leaders, government officials and organizations committing to address climate issues and following the Paris agreement despite the planned U.S. withdrawal.

The Trump administration has further vexed Catholic organizations through its

CNS PHOTO/NIC BOTHMA, EPA

Barren trees stand in the critically low Theewaterskloof Dam in late January in Villiersdorp, South Africa. Catholic organizations in 2018 called for greater personal responsibility in tackling climate change. two-year campaign to roll back environmental regulations. Their concern: The rollbacks are focused on helping industry boost profits at the expense of human health and safety and the environment.

Trump has said that his push to overturn some environmental and other regulations is motivated by concern the regulations have gone “overboard,” costing coal workers their jobs and hindering use of the country’s national resources. Some GOP congressional leaders as well as business leaders support the move.

Organizations such as the Washingtonbased Columban Center for Advocacy and Outreach have conducted webinars and developed educational materials about the consequences that experts project will

stem from the rollbacks.

Through mid-November, at least 49 policies related to the environment have been enacted or proposed since Trump took office, according to Harvard Law School’s Environmental Regulation Rollback Tracker.

Such efforts on behalf of the environment illustrate the widespread support in the faith community for action to protect natural resources and to address climate change that emerged with new energy in 2018.

The prayerful determination of a Pennsylvania religious order to block the use of a natural gas pipeline that was built through its land was part of the groundswell for environmental action.

After months of legal challenges, the

Adorers of the Blood of Christ asked the U.S. Supreme Court in October to decide whether their religious freedom rights were violated by the construction and pending use of the Atlantic Sunrise pipeline. In a court filing, attorney Dwight Yoder, representing the congregation, argued that the Sisters’ rights under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act were disregarded by a federal appeals court.

The Adorers’ legal appeal came a month before a major scientific report compiled by 13 federal agencies warned that dire health and economic consequences are ahead if carbon emissions from the burning of fossil fuels are not reduced. Scientific research has pointed to the emissions as a primary cause of climate change.

IMMIGRATION Battles continue as 2018 comes to an end

By Rhina Guidos Catholic News Service

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ASHINGTON (CNS) — The year may be coming to an end but the battles on the immigration front promise to continue well into 2019

and beyond.

“On immigration, there is no rest for the weary with this administration,” said Kevin Appleby, senior director of international migration policy at the Center for Migration Studies in New York.

By far, the most dramatic immigration development of 2018 took place around summer when then-U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced a new policy that resulted in separating children from parents or other family members traveling with them and then placing the minors in detention centers.

But that policy was just one in a long list of what some see as attacks against refugees, asylum seekers, and other immigrants looking to make the U.S. their home.

In 2018, the Trump administration announced that the country plans to allow no more than 30,000 refugees into the U.S. during fiscal year 2019 — a record low. It also announced a new policy requiring people entering the country with-

out documents to present themselves formally at official ports of entry as a condition to qualify for asylum — a move that has triggered long waits, deterring most migrants from touching U.S. soil where they can file an asylum claim.

Most recently, the administration spoke of a proposal to deny permanent residency to legal immigrants who have used public assistance, often referred to as the “public charge” rule. And around Thanksgiving, it authorized the use of tear gas into a crowd that included children at the border near the U.S. and Mexico, near Tijuana.

“No doubt the president will send a tweet about [immigration] on Christmas, sort of like Scrooge before the ghosts appear,” said Appleby. “There are a wide range of immigration battles raging, such as asylum-seekers at our border, funding for a border wall, and the issue of public charge, to name a few. Immigrant-rights advocates will have to remain alert through the holidays when the administration may announce more punitive policies when no one is paying attention.”

Throughout the changes and announcements, the Catholic Church, its organizations and members have remained vigilant and active in denouncing some of the policies while also tending to those they have affected.

When the Trump administration

CNS PHOTO/CARLOS GARCIA RAWLINS, REUTERS

Migrants, part of a caravan of thousands from Central America trying to reach the United States, walk next to the border wall as they try to cross into the U.S from Tijuana, Mexico. separated approximately 2,300 children from their parents at the U.S.-Mexico border between May and June of 2018 as part of a new policy to deter border crossings and then later rescinded the policy, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Migration and Refugee Services, Catholic Charities USA and a network of other Catholic agencies from around the country quickly mobilized to help reunite those who were separated.

They provided short-term care, such as food and shelter, transportation for some, and served as locales to bring the families

together again.

With the influx of Central American migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border seeking to flee violence in countries such as Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador, places such as the Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley’s Humanitarian Respite Center in McAllen, Texas, Annunciation House in the El Paso/Juarez and border region, and other temporary shelters run by the Diocese of El Paso, have been on the front lines of providing the basics, from food to clothes and temporary shelter, to the incoming crowds of migrants.

DECEMBER 28, 2018 | THELEAVEN.ORG

CLASSIFIEDS

EMPLOYMENT Drivers - Ready for the summers off? Join our school transportation division and live like a kid again! Our drivers have the opportunity to serve our community and still get those precious summer breaks. Assisted Transportation seeks caring and reliable drivers to transport K - 12 students in Johnson and Wyandotte counties in our minivans. CDL not required. $12 per hour. Retirees encouraged to apply. Learn more or apply online at: assistedtransportation.com or call (913) 262-5190 for more information. EOE. Director of the Cathedral Early Learning Center - Are you looking for the next step in professional growth as an administrator? The Cathedral Early Learning Center may be the right opportunity for you! We are searching for the next director for our center, which is familycentered within a vibrant Catholic faith community. The candidate should hold a BA in early childhood education (MA preferred) and have at least three years’ experience in the early education setting. The candidate must be a practicing Catholic in good standing. A pastor’s letter of reference as an active member of your current parish is required. The candidate must be organized, proactive and supportive with both staff and parents. We are looking for a visible leader in our community who enjoys the challenges of working with a professional staff. The director will supervise our 6-weeks to 5-year-olds classrooms, as well as the school-age after-school program.

For more information and to apply, go online to: careers. hireology.com/thecatholicdioceseofkansascitystjoseph and scroll down and click on “Director Cathedral of St. Joseph Early Education Center.”

DRIVERS NEEDED Seeking caring and reliable drivers. Work up to 40 hours per week. Transport elderly and disabled individuals to and from medical appointments.

CDL not required. Retirees encouraged to apply.

Competitive wages and benefits. EOE. Learn more or apply online at: www.assistedtransportation.com (913) 262-5190 School office manager - Holy Spirit School is currently seeking a full-time temporary school office manager due to an upcoming maternity leave. This position would begin in January 2019. Hours are 7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday – Friday. This position requires an extremely organized, friendly, flexible face/voice for our school office.

The office manager provides complex and confidential administrative and clerical support for the principal and the school office; conveys information regarding school functions and procedures; ensures efficient operation of support functions; coordinates projects and site activities; and handles any and all other duties as assigned. A college degree is preferred, along with a good working knowledge of Excel, Word and strong keyboarding skills.

Virtus training is required. If interested, submit your resume and cover letter to: mwatson@hscatholic.org.

Director of music - Good Shepherd Parish in Shawnee seeks a full-time director of music. The candidate should be an accomplished musician with an appreciation of and experience in a wide variety of liturgical music; have a deep knowledge of liturgy and the liturgical year; have a strong sense of appropriate music selections for various liturgies, including funerals and weddings. The position requires expertise in vocal technique and choral conducting experience. Proficiency with keyboard accompaniment is required as is the ability to work with and coordinate volunteer instrumentalists. A desire to work with the Hispanic community is essential; familiarity with Spanish is beneficial. The position is available beginning in January, but alternative start dates will be considered. For further consideration, email a cover letter and resume to Father Kent O’Connor at: frkent@gsshawnee.org. Video links to performances/celebrations where you are demonstrating your skills are appreciated.

Assistant baseball coach - Bishop Miege High School is seeking an assistant coach for baseball. Contact Andrew Groene, athletic director, at (913) 222-5802 or send an email to: agroene@bishopmiege.com.

Caregiver needed - In-home personal caregiver needed for elderly woman. Day and night shifts available. Text or call Marie at (913) 620-1421.

Assistant to ReachKCK coordinator – The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas is accepting applications for a parttime position in the ReachKCK youth ministry outreach in Wyandotte County. Duties include: supporting youth programs and events through handling of logistical details; data entry; creating publicity materials; managing social media; and facilities oversight. The ideal candidate will be a practicing Catholic in good standing and have at least office work experience. Knowledge of youth ministry and Spanishspeaking strongly preferred. A complete job description and required application are available on the archdiocese’s website at: www.archkck.org/jobs. Interested individuals should email cover letter, resume and application to: jobs@archkck. org. Position open until filled.

Resource center teacher - Holy Spirit School is seeking a part-time teacher in our resource center, Monday – Friday, 11:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. This candidate’s primary function is teaching K – 6th-grade small groups reading and math instruction and will also take on other duties as assigned. A college degree is required and a Kansas teaching certification is preferred. Virtus training is required. If interested, submit resume and cover letter to: mwatson@hscatholic.org.

Career opportunity – Due to the success and growth of the Knights of Columbus, we are adding a financial representative in the Topeka and Kansas City, Kansas, and Missouri metro areas. This is ideal for a determined, high-energy, high-expectation, professional, self-disciplined, independent individual, who desires to serve others yet earn a better-than-average income. We provide top-rated financial products to our members and their families, and will provide excellent benefits and training. This is a fulltime position. For more information or an interview, contact John A. Mahon, General Agent, 1275 S.W. Topeka Blvd.; Topeka KS 66612; call (785) 408-8806; or send an email to: john.mahon@kofc.org.

Facility maintenance technician - Bishop Miege High School has an immediate opening for a facility maintenance technician to perform general building maintenance and repairs. HVAC; plumbing and electrical knowledge; ability to lift 60 pounds; vehicle and valid driver’s license required. HS diploma or GED and two years’ experience preferred. Full benefits. Email resume to Ryan Wrigley: rwrigley@bishop miege.com or call (913) 222-5818.

Holy Spirit extended day care assistant - Do you enjoy spending time with children? Holy Spirit School is seeking an enthusiastic person to be an assistant in our after-school care program. This well-established program runs from 3 - 5:45 p.m. each school day for our K - 8th grade students. We are looking for a responsible and creative person who enjoys working with children. The ability to communicate clearly with children, colleagues, and parents is most important in order to foster positive relationships. Applicant must attend a Virtus training and be at least 16 years old. If you are interested, contact Eileen Colling at (913) 492-2582 or send an email to: ecolling@hscatholic.org for more information.

Business manager/accountant – St. Patrick Parish in Kansas City, Kan., is seeking a business manager/accountant.

This position manages all financial aspects of the parish and school. Duties include: payroll; deposits; accounts payable; reconciling bank accounts; monthly and annual reporting; budgeting; oversight of HR issues; and other financial duties. The ideal candidate is a Catholic in good standing, minimum five years’ accounting experience, effective communication skills, experience with Quickbooks Pro and a bachelor’s degree; CPA preferred. See the archdiocesan website at: jobs@archkck.org for a complete job description, application and benefits information. Submit a cover letter, resume and application by Dec. 31 via email to: jobs@ archkck.org.

Sales position – Do you have sales experience? Are you well networked in the local community? J.S. Paluch Company, national publisher of church bulletins, has full- and part-time positions available. Excellent earning potential; medical benefits; 401(k); life and AD&D insurance available; excellent commission; compensation program. Interested? Call Kay Leane at (800) 621-5197, ext. 2823, or email resume to: Recruiting@jspaluch.com.

WE LOVE OUR TEACHERS - COME SEE WHY YOU WANT TO WORK HERE! - The Goddard School Olathe Northwest is looking for dynamic, energetic, professional teachers to add to our faculty. The Goddard School is a premiere preschool where children from 6 weeks to 6 years are encouraged to develop at their own pace in a nurturing environment, lovingly guided by our highly skilled, professional teachers. Our staff is comprised of loving and dedicated teachers who understand each child’s needs. They are highly qualified childhood educators who use their creativity and the Goddard developmental guidelines as the basis for unique lesson plans that are brought to life in a fun and imaginative way. Education and experience are required for lead teachers. We offer training and mentoring for assistant teachers with little or no experience. We are hiring for the following positions: full-time preschool teacher; full-time toddler teacher; school-age teacher from 3 - 6 p.m.; and an assistant teacher for multiple classrooms.

Data manager - The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas is accepting applications for a data manager within the stewardship and development department. The role works collaboratively in processing records for the various campaigns, funds and appeals; Leaven records and subscription invoices; and ensures that the records for constituents are kept current, accurate and organized.

The position manages and maintains the Raiser’s Edge database for stewardship and development and assists in producing and maintaining accurate reporting and accounting records. The ideal candidate will be a practicing Catholic in good standing; proficient in database management; and highly detailed with excellent communication and organizational skills. Knowledge of Raiser’s Edge is a plus. Application and benefits information are available on the archdiocese’s website at: www.archkck.org/jobs. Interested individuals should send cover letter, resume and application via email to: jobs@archkck.org with subject: Data Manager Search. Position open until filled.

HOME IMPROVEMENT

Ceilings only - Renew your old, yellowed ceilings with a fresh coat of white ceiling paint! No mess! Dependable, has 25 years of experience. 10% discount for seniors.

Call Jerry at (913) 206-1144.

STA (Sure Thing Always) Home Repair - Basement finish, bathrooms and kitchens; interior & exterior repairs: painting, roofing, siding, wood replacement and window glazing. Free estimates. Call (913) 579-1835.

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

EL SOL Y LA TIERRA *Commercial & residential * Lawn renovation *Mowing * Clean-up and hauling * Dirt grading/installation * Landscape design * Free estimates Hablamos y escribimos Ingles!! www.elsolylatierra.com Call Lupe at (816) 935-0176 Rusty Dandy Painting, Inc. – We have been coloring your world for 40 years. Your home will be treated as if it were our own. Old cabinets will be made to look like new. Dingy walls and ceilings will be made beautiful.

Woodwork will glow. Lead-certified and insured. Call (913) 341-9125.

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

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

Everything is guaranteed 100% (913) 461-4052 www.windowservicesoverlandpark.com drcconswindows@gmail.com Concrete construction - Tear out and replace stamped, stained or colored patios and drives. Retaining walls, footings, poured-in-place safe rooms, excavation and hauling. Asphalt drives and lots. Fully insured; references. Call Dan at (913) 207-4371 or send an email to: dandeeconst@aol.com.

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.

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

Family owned, experienced, licensed and insured.

Member St. Joseph, Shawnee. Kirk Nelson.

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

SERVICES Water damage: ceiling and walls - Drywall repair, retexturing. Dependable. Has 25 years of experience. 10% discount for seniors. Call Jerry at (913) 206-1144.

HARCO Exteriors LLC Your Kansas City fencing specialists Family owned and operated (913) 815-4817 www.harcoexteriorsllc.com 8 to Your IdealWeight Get Real, Get Healthy, Get Empowered.

Release your weight and restore your power in 8 weeks!

Certified coach: kathioppold.8toyouridealweight.com.

Piano Lessons Motivating and caring teacher 15 years’ experience, excellent references (913) 680-7018 musicmom57@hotmail.com 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.

Tree Trimming Tree Trimming/Landscaping Insured/References Free Estimates/Local Parishioner Tony (913) 620-6063 Custom countertops - Laminates installed within five days. Cambria, granite and solid surface. Competitive prices, dependable work. Call the Top Shop, Inc., at (913) 962-5058. Members of St. Joseph, Shawnee.

Swalms organizing - downsizing - cleanout service - Reduce clutter – Any space organized. Shelving built on-site. Items hauled for recycling and donations. 20 years exp.; insured. Call Tillar at (913) 375-9115. WWW. SWALMSORGANIZING.COM.

Win disability benefits - Disabled and no longer able to work? Get help winning Social Security disability benefits.

Free consultation. Eight years’ experience. No fee unless you win. Call (785) 331-6452 or send an email to: montemace2000@yahoo.com or visit montemacedisability.com.

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

Rodman Lawn Care Lawn mowing, aeration, verticutting, mulching, Hedge trimming, leaf removal, gutter cleaning Fully insured and free estimates John Rodman (913) 548-3002

12

Cleaning lady - Reasonable rates; references provided.

Call (913) 940-2959.

Quilted memories - Your Kansas City Longarm shop Nolting Longarm machines, quilting supplies and machine quilting services. We specialize in memorial quilts - custom designed memory quilts from your T-shirt collections, photos, baby clothes, college memorabilia, neckties, etc. For information or to schedule a free consultation, call (913) 649-2704. Visit the website at: www.quiltedmemoriesllc.com.

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

Clutter getting you down? - Organize, fix, assemble, install! “Kevin of all trades” your professional organizer and “Honey-do” specialist. Call or email me today for a free consultation at (913) 271-5055 or KOATorganizing@ gmail.com. Insured. References.

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

Caregiver - CNA has many years of experience with elderly and dementia patients. Will do meal prep, doctor appointments, errands, medication setup and companionship. Call Johnna at (816) 786-1093.

Caregiving - We provide personal assistance, companionship, care management, and transportation for seniors in their home, assisted living or nursing facilities.

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

Senior CNA - Has extensive nursing training. Will do private care, Johnson County area. Available Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Call (913) 701-6381. Fee negotiable.

FOR SALE Residential lifts - New and recycled. Stair lifts, porch lifts, ceiling lifts and elevators. St. Michael’s parishioners. KC Lift & Elevator at (913) 327-5557. (Formerly Silver Cross - KC) New Christmas carol - Written by Mark Downey, sung

by Theresa Bertels from Immaculate Conception, St. Marys, Kansas. Listen online at: Soundcloud.com or purchase download at: beatstars.com; type: In a Manger Bare. Email: soundtech50@yahoo.com for CD purchase.

For sale - Double lawn crypt at Resurrection Cemetery in Lenexa, Garden of Hope section, double lawn crypt, lot 78 C, space 4. Conveyance fee included. $7500. Call Lou at (512) 294-2869.

For sale - Two side-by-side crypts; tier B, 13 and 15, located in the St. Joseph Chapel at Mount Calvary Cemetery, the only two left in the chapel. Call (913) 269-6176 for pricing.

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

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

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

We buy houses and whole estates - We are local and family-owned, and will make you a fair cash offer. We buy houses in any condition. No fees or commissions and can close on the date of your choice. Selling your house as is never felt so good. Jon & Stacy Bichelmeyer (913) 599-5000.

I NEED HOUSES! - We are members of Holy Trinity Parish and we pay cash for any real estate without any realtor commissions or fees. We buy houses in any condition, including bad foundations. If you would like an easy, no-hassle sale at a fair price, please call me. We have 15 years of experience. Mark Edmondson, (913) 980-4905.

WANTED TO BUY 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.

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

BUYING AN AD To purchase a Leaven classified ad, email The Leaven at: beth.blankenship@theleaven.org. Cost is $20 for the first five lines, $1.50 per line thereafter. Ad deadline is 10 days before the desired publication date.

DECEMBER 28, 2018 | THELEAVEN.ORG

CALENDAR NEW YEAR’S EVE DANCE Holy Trinity Parish (Quigley Center) 9201 Summit St., Lenexa Dec. 31 at 9 p.m.

The cost to attend is $40 per person. The doors open at 8:30 p.m. There will be great music, delicious snacks, soft drinks, wine and beer. Proceeds from the event help people who are unable to afford to attend the Beginning Experience weekends and the “Coping with Life Alone” sessions.

TAIZE PRAYER Annunciation Chapel 4200 S. 4th St., Leavenworth Jan. 3 at 7 p.m.

Taize prayer is a meditative, candlelit service that includes chants sung repeatedly, silence, and prayers of praise and intercession. These prayer services emerged from an ecumenical community of monks in Taize, France. For more information, visit the website at: www.marillaccenter.org or call (913) 680-2342.

‘TAKE-A-LOOK-THURSDAY’ Holy Spirit School 11300 W. 103rd St., Overland Park Jan. 10 from 9 - 11 a.m.

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

BREATHE RESPITE CARE PROGRAM Holy Cross School 8101 W. 95th St., Overland Park Jan. 12 from 4 - 8 p.m.

BREATHE respite care provides the gift of time away from caregiving for families who have a loved one with a disability age 5 years or older. If you have any questions, contact Tom Racunas, lead consultant of the special-needs ministry, at (913) 647-3054 or by email at: tracunas@archkck.org. To register a loved one for the program or to volunteer, go to the website at: www.archkck.org/special needs and complete the online form.

Ken or Patty Billinger at (913) 634-4210; send an email to: kbillinger@archkck.org; go online to: www.hopeinscripture.com; or see the Facebook page: @projectchrysaliskc.

INQUIRY SESSION FOR SOULJOURNERS SPIRITUAL DIRECTION PROGRAM Sophia Spirituality Center 751 S. 8th St., Atchison Jan. 17 from 1:30 - 3:30 p.m.

Souljourners is a three-year spiritual formation program for the training of spiritual directors. If you are experiencing a call to spiritual renewal and, at the same time, wanting to learn the skills of discernment and deep listening to God, yourself and others, we invite you to attend an inquiry session. There will be time for prayer and reflection on your call, an introduction to the Souljourners program, an explanation of a spiritual direction session, and time for questions and answers.

Call (913) 360-6173 or visit the website at: www.sophiaspiritualitycenter.org.

‘SILENT DAYS FOR RETREAT’ Marillac Center 4200 S. 4th St., Leavenworth Jan. 11 - 13

‘CHURCH HISTORY IN THE HIGH MIDDLE AGES’ Curé of Ars Parish 9401 Mission Rd., Leawood Jan. 3 at 7 p.m.

The cost for this six-week series is $10 and those interested can register when they arrive. Topics to be studied will include: the Crusades; the origins of the Inquisition; the rise of the Dominican and Franciscan religious orders; and great thinkers like St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Albert the Great.

For more information, contact Andrew Lynch by email at: andrewlynch@cureofars.com.

‘COPING WITH LIFE ALONE’ Church of the Ascension (St. Mark’s Room) 9510 W. 127th St., Overland Park Jan. 5 - 16 on Saturdays from 2 - 4 p.m.

“Coping with Life Alone” is a Beginning Experience peer-to-peer grief support program that helps those who have lost a love relationship due to death, divorce or separation move through the experience of grief and loss into a future with renewed hope. For more information and alternate dates, go online to: www.beginningexperiencekc.org.

‘BRIDGES TO CONTEMPLATIVE LIVING WITH THOMAS MERTON: DISCOVERING THE HIDDEN GROUND OF LOVE’ Precious Blood Renewal Center 2120 St. Gaspar Way, Liberty, Missouri Jan. 10 - May 9 on Thurs. at 6:45 p.m.

Experience and savor the Divine that lives within through prayer, short readings from Merton and other spiritual masters. Suggested donation is $25 for eight sessions and the book. Scholarship funds are available. Register by Jan. 8 by calling (816) 4155-3745 or by sending an email to: info@ pbrenewalcenter.org.

Retreatants arrive at 6 p.m. on Jan. 11 and conclude the retreat time at 11:30 a.m. on Jan. 13. Enter into silence and stillness in the peaceful, restful atmosphere of the Marillac Center, the retreat and spirituality center of the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth. The registration fee of $150 includes overnight accommodations and meals. A $15 deposit is requested at the time of registration. Spiritual direction is available for an additional $40. Scholarships are available. To register, go online to: www.marillaccenter.org; send an email to: retreats@scls.org; or call (913) 680-2342.

‘A TREASURE CHEST OF SPIRITUAL PRACTICES (SACRED BEADS)’ Sophia Spirituality Center 751 S. 8th St., Atchison Jan. 13 from 1:30 - 3:30 p.m.

Come learn creative ways to re-energize your spiritual practices. See how various faith traditions use sacred beads for prayer and meditation. New possibilities for prayer will open up as you experience these different practices. Call (913) 360-6173 or visit the website at: www.sophiaspiritualitycenter.org. Donations will be accepted.

BINGO NIGHT Sacred Heart Parish 2646 S. 34th St., Kansas City, Kansas Jan. 12 at 7 p.m.

Sacred Heart Knights of Columbus will be hosting bingo. There will be cash prizes, and concessions will be sold. For more information, call (913) 850-3348.

PROJECT CHRYSALIS Church of the Ascension (St. Luke’s Room) 9500 W. 127th St., Overland Park Jan. 14 from 7 - 8:15 p.m.

Project Chrysalis is a Catholic ministry designed to help parents who have lost a child to find hope through sacred Scripture and community in a time of transformation. The group is open to parents who have lost a child or grandparents who have lost a grandchild. Immediate family members are also invited to attend. For more information, call

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Events begin at 9 a.m. and Mass will be held at 11:15 a.m., celebrated by Archbishop Naumann and Bishop Brungardt. There will be a march to the Kansas Capitol steps and a Kansans for Life rally following Mass. Wichita Adore Ministries will provide music and entertainment. The keynote address will be given by David Scotten from “I Lived on Parker Avenue.” Go online to: www.archkck. org/ignite to register; contact the pro-life office at (913) 647-3059; send an email to: prolife@archkck.org for more information.

‘SUPPORT OUR SEMINARIANS’ Union Station 30 W. Pershing Rd., Kansas City, Missouri Jan. 25 from 5:30 - 10 p.m.

The 26th annual “Support our Seminarians” dinner is dedicated to Our Lady of Ephesus. This event benefits seminarians from the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, Kansas City-St. Joseph Diocese and Conception Seminary College. There will be great food, socializing and speakers. The reservation price is $175 per person. To make reservations, go online to: mmmhsos512@gmail. com. To donate to the marketplace or silent auction, contact Mary Quinn at (816) 6650380 or by email at: marydeeq@aol.com.

Check out the new website at: www.support ourseminarians.com.

RETROUVAILLE Kansas City Jan. 25 - 27 DIVORCED: CALLED TO LOVE AGAIN Church of the Ascension (St. Luke Room) 9510 W. 127th St., Overland Park 2nd and 4th Sundays from 7 - 8:30 p.m.

What’s next after divorce/annulment? Join us for a formation series on the gift of self, which helps us fulfill the call to love again.

Various topics will be discussed. Visit our Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/ giftofself143 or send an email to: calledto love143@gmail.com.

NATIONAL MARCH FOR LIFE Washington, D.C. Jan. 17 - 20

Young adults and adults (ages 21 and older) are invited to attend the national March for Life. There is an archdiocesan group attending Jan. 17 - 20. Visit the archdiocesan website for details at: www.archkck.org/march4 lifeadult. For more information, contact Emily Lopez at (913) 647-0323, or by email at: elopez@archkck.org.

EXTRAVAGANZA EVENT The Foundry Event Center 400 S.W. 33rd St., Topeka Jan. 19 from 6 - 11 p.m.

Holy Family School is hosting its annual Extravaganza to celebrate and support the school. The event includes a cocktail hour, dinner and dancing. Holy Family students will be highlighted throughout the evening. Go online to the website at: holyfamilytopeka. net and scroll down to the Extravaganza icon to purchase sponsorships and tickets to the benefit event.

IGNITE YOUTH RALLY AND LOCAL MARCH FOR LIFE Topeka Performing Arts Center 214 S.E. 8th St., Topeka Jan. 22 at 9 a.m.

Sometimes the distance between a husband and wife can seem so wide that it cannot be repaired. Retrouvaille is a marriage program designed to bring couples closer together.

Take the time and conscious effort to learn about your spouse. For more information and to register, call (800) 470-2230 or visit the website at: helpourmarriage.org.

THE JOY OF MUSIC Visitation Parish 5141 Main St., Kansas City, Missouri Jan. 27 at 3 p.m.

The concert, hosted by Visitation Parish, is a sacred and classical chamber music concert benefiting Our Lady’s Montessori School, located in Kansas City, Kansas (www.olmskc. org). Admission is free; donations are gratefully accepted. For more information, call Laurel Sharpe at (816) 289-7344.

SETON CENTER 50TH ANNIVERSARY DINNER CELEBRATION Longview Mansion 1200 S.W. Longview Park Dr., Lee’s Summit, Missouri Jan. 30 from 6 - 9 p.m.

Come join in this joyful celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Seton Center. The cost for a ticket is $150. For more information, call Michelle Biondo at (816) 581-4722 or send an email to: mbiondo@setonkc.org.

To register, go online to: www.setonkc.org, click on “Events,” then “Click here for more information and to register.”

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

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

SEND SUBMISSIONS TO: beth. blankenship@theleaven.org.

DECEMBER 28, 2018 | THELEAVEN.ORG

COMMENTARY

This kind of makes a lot of sense

THE SEASON OF CHRISTMAS Dec. 30 THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH 1 Sm 1: 20-22, 24-28 Ps 84: 2-3, 5-6, 9-10 1 Jn 3: 1-2, 21-24 Lk 2: 41-52 Dec. 31 Sylvester I, pope 1 Jn 2: 18-21 Ps 96: 1-2, 11-13 Jn 1: 1-18 Jan. 1 SOLEMNITY OF MARY, THE HOLY MOTHER OF GOD Nm 6: 22-27 Ps 67: 2-3, 5-6, 8 Gal 4: 4-7 Lk 2: 16-21 Jan. 2 Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, bishops, doctors of the church 1 Jn 2: 22-28 Ps 98: 1-4 Jn 1: 19-28 Jan. 3 The Most Holy Name of Jesus 1 Jn 2:29 – 3:6 Ps 98: 1, 3cd-6 Jn 1: 29-34 Jan. 4 Elizabeth Ann Seton, religious 1 Jn 3: 7-10 Ps 98: 1, 7-9 Jn 1: 35-42 Jan. 5 John Neumann, bishop 1 Jn 3: 11-21 Ps 100: 1b-5 Jn 1: 43-51 THE SEASON OF CHRISTMAS Jan. 6

THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD Is 60: 1-6 Ps 72: 1-2, 7-8, 10-13 Eph 3: 2-3a, 5-6 Mt 2: 1-12 Jan. 7 Raymond of Penyafort, priest 1 Jn 3:22 – 4:6 Ps 2: 7b-8, 10-12a Mt 4: 12-17, 23-25 Jan. 8 Christmas Weekday 1 Jn 4: 7-10 Ps 72: 1-4, 7-8 Mk 6: 34-44 Jan. 9 Christmas Weekday 1 Jn 4: 11-18 Ps 72: 1-2, 10, 12-13 Mk 6: 45-52 Jan. 10 Christmas Weekday 1 Jn 4:19 – 5:4 Ps 72: 1-2, 14, 15bc, 17 Lk 4: 14-22a Jan. 11 Christmas Weekday 1 Jn 5: 5-13 Ps 147: 12-15, 19-20 Lk 5: 12-16 Jan. 12 Christmas Weekday 1 Jn 5: 14-21 Ps 149: 1-6a, 9b Jn 3: 22-30

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ver since it happened, I’ve been spooked about retrieving the morning paper from my driveway.

Although I believe that the Lord speaks to us, this was a bit too much to handle. As I bent over to grab the paper on that summer morning, it looked like there was some dirt on its plastic wrapper.

When I went to wipe it off, however, it wasn’t dirt at all. It was actually a hand-drawn smiley face with the words, “Be Kind,” written underneath.

Now, I don’t know if everyone’s paper that day had this message or if it was just me. But the reason it so creeped me out was I intended to make this my mantra for the new year . . . but the only one I’d told about it was God! I’d been pondering this quote: “Be kind; everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.”

The truth of those words struck a deep chord in me. Although sometimes attributed to Plato or Philo, the quote’s probable origin is from

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.

the Rev. John Watson, a Scottish author and theologian, who wrote under the pen name of Ian Maclaren.

In a Christmas message for The British Weekly back in 1897, he wrote: “Be pitiful, for every man is fighting a hard battle.” The word “pitiful” here actually means “being filled with pity”; in other words, be compassionate, gentle or kind.

Talk of “the hard battle that everyone is fighting” brought to

mind this folk story: When the Hasidic pilgrims vied for those among them who had endured the most suffering, who was more entitled to complain, the Zaddick told them the story of the Sorrow Tree.

On the Day of Judgment, each person will be allowed to hang his or her unhappiness and sufferings on a branch of the great Tree of Sorrows. After all have found a limb from which their miseries may dangle, they may walk slowly around the tree.

Each person is to search for a set of sufferings that he or she would prefer to those he or she has hung on the tree.

In the end, each one freely chooses to

reclaim his or her own assortment of sorrows rather than those of another. Each person leaves the Tree of Sorrows wiser than when he or she arrived. (Found in “The Sower’s Seeds,”

by Brian Cavanaugh, TOR.) Can you imagine what 2019 would be like if we all recognized the “hard battle” — the sorrows — that each person is silently carrying?

Would we be as quick to judge or condemn others? And if we could somehow see those sufferings, would we want to trade places with them?

Pope Francis has spoken often of an illness rampant in the world today. He calls it the “globalization of indifference.”

As Christians, we can’t let the world desensitize us. Kindness, it seems to me, is the “antibiotic” that we all need. And no special course or program is required to spread kindness. All it takes is a caring heart.

Honestly, is it really that hard to do some-

thing kind every day for another? Just for the month of January, come up with 31 good deeds to do.

It can be as simple as putting a quarter in someone’s parking meter that’s going to expire; clearing your table at a fast-food restaurant and not leaving your mess behind; forwarding a compliment someone shared with you about another person; or simply smiling when you answer the phone — your voice will reflect it.

See how easy it is?

My goal each day of 2019 is to say this prayer found on the belief.net website. Will you join me?

“Dear God, if I cannot be brilliant, let me be kind. If I cannot change the world, let me inspire just one other to do so.

If I cannot give away riches, let me be loving.

Let me be known for kindness, for it is the greatest glory. Amen.”

Living this way each day will truly make you one of a kind.

We belong not only to ‘our’ family, but to God’s

W

e can choose our friends, but we get the family we are born into.

That means that our parents make major decisions for us, such as where we live as we are growing up, and which school we will attend.

Those decisions are out of our control.

In Sunday’s first reading — 1 Sm 1:20-22, 24-28 — Hannah makes a decision for her infant son Samuel that will determine the course of his life. She dedicates him to God as a nazarite.

Among the ancient Hebrews, a man or woman would sometimes make a vow to God to abstain from alcohol, to avoid contact

IN THE BEGINNING

FATHER MIKE STUBBS Father Stubbs is the pastor of Holy Cross Parish in Overland Park and has a degree in Scripture from Harvard University.

with the dead and to refrain from cutting their hair. The person who made such a vow was

called a nazarite (Nm 6).

The vow could be either temporary or lifelong, as in the case of Samuel. Another notable biblical figure who made such a vow is Samson.

Samson’s origins resemble that of Samuel.

As the angel informs Samson’s mother: “Though you are barren and have had no children, yet you will

POPE FRANCIS Protecting human dignity and human rights must always be at the heart of any action by world leaders to confront the many humanitarian crises afflicting today’s world, Pope Francis said.

Meeting with new, nonresident ambassadors to the Vatican Dec. 13, the pope noted the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and said governments must ensure the document continue to “guide the efforts of global diplomacy to secure peace

conceive and bear a son.

Now, then, be careful to take no wine or strong drink and to eat nothing unclean. As for the son you will conceive and bear, no razor shall touch his head, for this boy is to be consecrated to God from the womb” (Jgs 13: 3-5).

Hannah had been praying for a child frequently in the temple.

She had not been able to conceive. This was a major disappointment of her life.

Consequently, she promises that, if God gives her a son, she will dedicate him to God: “I will give him to the Lord for as long as he lives; neither wine nor liquor shall he drink, and no razor shall ever touch his head” (1 Sm 2:11b).

In keeping with her

vow, Hannah brings Samuel to the same temple where she had prayed for his conception, to remain there in God’s service.

On one hand, Hannah’s pledge to God reflects her gratitude to God for the gift of her son. She recognizes that, without God, it would not have happened.

But it is more than that. Samuel belongs, not only to Hannah’s family, but also to God’s family.

That is true for all of us. We belong not only to our nuclear family, but also to the broader human family, God’s family.

That is not a matter of our choosing, but of God’s gift.

in our world and to promote the integral development of each individual and all peoples.”

“It is essential that respect for human dignity and human rights inspire and direct every effort to address the grave situations of war and armed conflict, crushing poverty, discrimination and inequality that afflict our world and, in recent years, have contributed to the present crisis of mass migration,” he said.

After receiving their letters of accreditation, the pope welcomed the 10 new ambassadors who hailed from Switzerland, Malta, the Bahamas, Cape Verde, Estonia, Iceland, Turkmenistan, Grenada, Qatar and Gambia.

— CNS

DECEMBER 28, 2018 | THELEAVEN.ORG

COMMENTARY

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Gene-edited babies and the runaway train of IVF

n November 2018, a Chinese scientist named He Jankui (known to his associates as “JK”) claimed that he had successfully produced the world’s first gene-edited human babies using “gene surgery.”

The twin girls, he said, were born somewhere in China with a modified gene that makes them immune to infection from HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. A special DNA splicing technique called CRISPR/Cas 9 was used when they were embryos to make the edits. In a series of short videos posted on YouTube, JK offers an explanation of, and justification for, what he did.

He reminds his viewers that when scientists first began doing in vitro fertilization (IVF) in 1978, a number of ethical concerns were raised, but those mostly subsided over time: “The media hyped panic about Louise Brown’s birth as the first IVF baby. But for 40 years, regulations and morals have developed together with IVF, ensuring only therapeutic applications to help more than 8 million children come into

MAKING SENSE OF BIOETHICS

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

this world. Gene surgery is another IVF advancement.”

In another video, he puts it this way: “Look back to the 1970s with Louise Brown. The same fears and criticisms then are repeated now.

Yet, IVF unquestionably has benefited families.

There will be no question about the morality of gene surgery in 20 to 30 years.”

JK’s strong conclusion leads us to ask whether the general sense of

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revulsion that has arisen toward his gene-editing work is merely alarmist and shortsighted. Are people failing to grasp the importance and propriety of what he is doing?

Is he a pioneer ushering in a new age of enlightenment where mankind will be able to make use of the powers of science to achieve good ends? Or should his gene-editing work be condemned and JK branded as a rogue scientist violating significant moral boundaries?

The answer to these questions will, in fact, be linked to whether we understand IVF to be ethical or not — JK is right to draw the parallel. If we conclude that IVF is something good and ethically acceptable, we end up granting the

principle that it is OK to engage in very harmful and damaging actions as long as we have a good end or purpose in mind.

Although IVF involves a litany of grave harms, like the engendering of human beings in laboratories and the freezing or destruction of embryos, if our intention is to help others fulfill their desire to have a baby, it must be OK. By this same logic, gene editing of our children will also be considered acceptable as long as our intentions are good and we’re trying to help others, even if we’re actually causing serious harms along the way.

Adding up the grave harms from IVF gives us a long list: IVF turns procreation into “production.” It dehumanizes embryonic children, treating them as objects to be frozen, manipulated, abandoned or destroyed.

Since the practice began in 1978, millions of embryos have become warehoused in liquid nitrogen, abandoned in frozen “orphanages.” Millions more have been outright discarded as biomedical waste.

Instead of “loving our children into being” through the one-flesh union of husband and wife, IVF mass produces children in clinics, assembly-line style, under the impetus of market capitalism.

Children born by IVF, moreover, experience roughly double the rate of birth defects of regularly conceived children.

Over the years, these kinds of concerns have been mostly glossed over or ignored — we’ve grown accustomed to frozen orphanages, and to the high toll involved in the process of assuring that a few of our embryonic children survive and successfully implant. We downplay the risk of birth defects.

Our insensitivity and desires have trumped a clear sense of ethics.

As we face the daunting question of editing human embryos, we run up against the same temptation. Editing our embryonic children to be free of a particular disease requires numerous embryos to be simultaneously created (or thawed out), treated as “products” and subjected to genetic “treatments,” with many of them perishing during

the experiment, in order that a few of them might survive and develop without the disease.

Editing our embryonic children may also involve risks to them that we will only understand later when they grow up. Is it ever proper to experiment on our own offspring?

Moreover, gene editing in embryos introduces changes that will be passed into the human gene pool, establishing permanent and irrevocable changes to our own humanity.

How does one adequately evaluate the risks of such changes?

The fact remains that we’ve been willing to tolerate an abundance of human carnage up to this point with IVF, and one of the great tragedies of our age has been our tone deafness to the evils of IVF. JK argues that we are similarly poised to accept the production of gene-edited babies as yet another variation on the theme.

Will his brazen instrumentalization of human beings call forth gasps of disbelief, serious reflection and action . . . or only a few more passing yawns?

DECEMBER 28, 2018 | THELEAVEN.ORG

LOCAL NEWS

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Sister Mary Patricia Kielty, SCL

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Neil and Fran Douthat will serve as presidents of the 45th annual Snow Ball benefiting Catholic Charities Foundation of Northeast Kansas. The event is set for Jan. 19 at the Overland Park Convention Center.

Snow Ball presidents raise funds and awareness for Catholic Charities

By Carol Cowdrey Special to The Leaven

O

VERLAND PARK — When Neil and Fran Douthat were asked to serve as presidents of the 45th annual Snow Ball benefiting Catholic Charities Foundation of Northeast Kansas, they hesitated.

The Snow Ball, set for Jan. 19 at the Overland Park Convention Center, is among the largest charitable galas around, attracting over 2,000 attendees. More importantly, it is an event that greatly impacts the lives of families in need — giving not only help and opportunity, but hope.

“We were humbled at the prospect of leading [the] Snow Ball and representing such an awesome and vast organization as Catholic Charities,” said Fran, a parishioner at St. Ann Church, Prairie Village.

Although they believed strongly in the mission of Catholic Charities, and knew they could serve with conviction, there was still something to consider. While Catholic Charities provides services to people of all faiths, Neil would be the first non-Catholic to serve as Snow Ball co-president.

“After much reflection and prayer, we concluded that this role afforded us the privilege of spreading the good news of all that Catholic Charities does, both within the Catholic community and in the community at large,” explained Neil.

This role was especially meaningful for Fran. Her parents, Daniel and Barbara Watkins, were Snow Ball presidents in 1986 and 1987. They raised 14 children — something not done casually or without discipline.

There were tight budgets, full schedules, endless chores and a scarcity of “free time.”

“

“FOR US, RAISING AWARENESS THAT CATHOLIC CHARITIES SERVES ANYONE IN NEED, CATHOLIC OR NOT, IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS THE FUNDRAISING.” No matter what, her parents lived their lives full of purpose and productivity — and expected the same of their children.

She remembers their excitement to be part of a greater purpose, and a drive to make the Snow Ball a success.

“An event, such as [the] Snow Ball, that married celebration with purpose, was really tailor-made for them,” said Fran.

As it is proving to be for the Douthats, who have attended the Snow Ball together for the last 15 years.

Unlike most galas, Snow Ball funds are raised prior to the event. There is no formal ask that evening.

“The event is what we feel all galas should be — a celebration of all of the good will, generosity and dedication of the many thousands of people who make it possible for Catholic Charities to continue to serve our brothers and sisters in need,” said Fran.

A vast network of dedicated individuals make up the Snow Ball patron and table committees. With the support of Catholic Charities staff, they work hard year-round to make the event a success.

“They demonstrate a true and apparent passion for serving their fellow man,” said Neil. “For anyone

To support the Snow Ball through a patron gift or to purchase an individual ticket or table, go online to: catholiccharitiessnowball.org.

who has had the opportunity to see any of them in action, or even just see their dedication, it is hard not to support them.”

For the Douthats, serving as Snow Ball presidents has been rewarding.

There have been a record number of pre-event parties hosted and attended by supporters, including one for the first time in Atchison.

Also, more than 150 attended the Snow Flake happy hour aimed at younger supporters.

“For us, raising awareness that Catholic Charities serves anyone in need, Catholic or not, is just as important as the fundraising,” said Fran. “Also, we hope for a greater understanding of the breadth and depth of services that the organization offers — from birth (adoption) to death (hospice), and everything in between.”

For Neil, the experience has impacted him in an unexpected way.

“It was so impressive to me to learn that our own Catholic Charities resettles hundreds of refugees each year — most all from far away countries, and almost being non-Catholic,” he said. “It made me want to help by serving as a refugee program volunteer, which has been more rewarding than words can express.”

As it grows near, the Douthats are thankful they accepted their role as Snow Ball presidents.

“Many people think our level of involvement must be burdensome, but it most certainly is not,” said Fran. “It is a labor of love for the least among us.”

EAVENWORTH — Sister Mary Patricia Kielty, 92, a Sister of Charity of Leavenworth for almost 64 years, died on Dec. 14 at the motherhouse here.

Sister Pat was a registered nurse and nurse clinician. In addition to hospital nursing in the U.S., she served 35 years in the missions in Peru and Bolivia.

Mary Patricia was born Oct. 27, 1926, in Tilden, Nebraska, the oldest of three children of Bernard and Kathryn (Stanton) Kielty.

Following high school graduation, Mary Patricia studied nursing at Saint Joseph Hospital, Creighton University, in Omaha, Nebraska.

She worked in various hospitals, including Saint Joseph in Denver, operated by the Sisters of Charity.

In February 1955, Mary Patricia entered the Sisters of Charity community. She professed vows as Sister Bernard Mary on Feb. 21, 1957, and later resumed her baptismal name.

She returned to Saint Joseph Hospital, Denver, for her first assignment as a Sister. She also served at Sisters of Charity hospitals in Butte, Montana; Santa Monica, California; Grand Junction, Colorado; and Leavenworth. Sister Pat earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing through Saint Mary College, Leavenworth, and a nurse clinician certificate from Wichita State University.

In late 1969, Sister Pat traveled to South America to attend language school and to begin her lengthy ministry in the Sisters of Charity South American missions. For 20 years, she worked with farm families in the mountains of Peru in areas where there were no physicians. She considered providing health care services and health education for the poor as the most challenging, satisfying and wonderful experience, and one that deepened her faith in God. In 1995, Sister Pat received the Dorothy Vossen Excellence in Nursing Practice Award from Creighton University. In 2005, Sister Pat returned to the U.S. From 2006 to 2011, she volunteered at St. John’s Health Center, Santa Monica. Sister Pat retired to the motherhouse in 2011.

Sister Pat was a multifaceted person who was curious about everything — how things worked, outer space and technology. She loved creation, animals, photography and card games with friends. Her life was a journey in search of wholeness and perfection.

Catholics invited to join pro-life novena Join thousands of Catholics nationwide in the annual pro-life novena, 9 Days for Life, Jan. 14–22.

Pray for the respect of all human life with daily intentions, brief reflections and more. Download the free mobile app, or sign up to receive the novena through daily emails or text message. (A printable version is also available online.)

Sign up online at: www.9daysforlife.com.