“Behold, Magi from the East arrived in Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.’”
— Mt 2: 1-2
If
we all choose to Walk With One what a difference it will make
Our celebration of Christmas, the miracle of the incarnation, cannot be compressed into a single day. Our liturgical and spiritual focus on the birth of the Redeemer continues through the solemnity of the Epiphany.
God’s plan for our redemption, to rescue sinful humanity, is so remarkable that it is beyond human imagination. God pursues us seeking to transform us by his merciful love by: 1) becoming an embryo in the womb of Mary; 2) being born in the humble circumstances of the Bethlehem cave; 3) growing up in a small village in an inconsequential area of the world; and 4) spending most of his adult life as a laborer, a carpenter. In the end, the Creator of the Cosmos allowed himself to be falsely accused and condemned to a humiliating and painful death on Calvary.
When the Creator God humbled himself to be born as any infant, there were no celebratory parades,
ARCHBISHOP
JOSEPH F. NAUMANN
fireworks or glitzy celebrations. The only human audience was the nearby shepherds, who — to use Pope Francis’ language — were part of the peripheries of society. They fit well St. Paul’s description in 1 Corinthians of the early church: not wise, not powerful, not of noble birth, but rather considered by the world foolish, weak, lowly and despised. This is the final Christmas during the three-year Eucharistic Revival in United States Catholic Church. Many secularists and even some of our fellow Christians find
LIFE WILL BE VICTORIOUS
God, born an infant in Bethlehem, the City of Bread, and laid in a manger, the food trough for animals, makes himself present to us at every Mass. The Creator of the Cosmos makes himself into the Bread of Life to unite himself with us and to nourish us on our journey through this world.
the Catholic belief in the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist to be too good to be true. How could God be in what appears as no more than a simple piece of unleavened bread?
Yet, when you consider that God chose to become a human embryo and to be born as helpless as any infant, there is a consistency in Jesus’ desiring to make himself present to future Christians in something as unassuming as a piece of unleavened bread. God appears to delight in surprising sin-fractured, prideful humanity by choosing to present himself humbly and always showing a preference for the poor and low-born.
The same all-powerful
Deacon Christopher Allen dies
LAWRENCE — Christopher
T. Allen, devoted husband, loving father, faithful deacon, distinguished engineer and beloved professor, passed away unexpectedly on Dec. 14, surrounded by his family.
Born in Independence, Missouri, on Oct. 7, 1958, to the late Raymond and Margaret Allen, Allen’s life was marked by love, faith and an unwavering pursuit of knowledge.
His lifelong love story with his wife Peggy (Gooding) began in first grade when he expressed his affection through a get-wellsoon card — a devotion he carried on throughout their lives together. The couple began their married life in Lawrence in 1980. Soon after completing his Ph.D. in 1984, Allen and his family moved to New Mexico for work in the defense industry. In 1992, the family returned to the Kansas City area, where Allen began his career as a professor in the department of electrical engineering and computer science at the University of Kansas. Over the years, he became a renowned researcher, holding numerous patents. His work was a reflection of his passion for innovation and his commitment to a safer world.
researcher but also an inspiring teacher and mentor. His excellence in education earned him many prestigious awards. Above all, he cherished the opportunity to guide and inspire his students, sharing with them the same love of discovery that defined his life.
Rooted deeply in the Catholic faith to which he converted in 2005, Allen was ordained in 2020 as part of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas’ third deacon cohort. He grew to be beloved by his deacon community, and he found immense joy in serving his parish and community. His kindness, humility and unwavering dedication to others were living testaments to his faith and love for God.
Deacon Allen will be remembered as a man of profound intellect, deep compassion, great humor and steadfast love for his family.
He is survived by his wife Peggy; his children — Katie, Chris, Emily and Anna; three siblings; and nine grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas or Corpus Christi School in Lawrence, honoring Deacon Allen’s lifelong devotion to faith, family and education.
Jan. 4
During the 12 Days of Christmas, may our awe and gratitude for the child born in Bethlehem, the Word-Made-Flesh who desires to become for us the Bread of Angels, deepen and grow. What could possibly be more important than adoring the God who loved us into existence and whose mercy for our sins knows no bounds? What could prevent us from receiving the Bread of Life come down from heaven? Why would we choose not to receive Jesus in the Eucharist, who comes to us in this Blessed Sacrament in order to deepen our communion and friendship with him?
On Christmas Day, we see in our crowded churches the potential Mass attendance for every Sunday. For many years, my maternal grandparents were Christmas and Easter Catholics. They brought my mother and aunt to Mass on only those two feast days.
I am very grateful for the dedication and zeal of the parish Legion of Mary members, who visited my grandparents several times during the year, encouraging them to place their daughters in the School of Religion and to come to Mass weekly. By the time I knew my grandparents, in addition to participating faithfully in Mass every Sunday, my grandmother was the parish secretary and my grandfather kept a eucharistic Holy Hour every Saturday morning from 2-3 a.m.
ARCHBISHOP NAUMANN’S CALENDAR
Region IX bishops’ retreat — Oceanside, California
Jan. 12
Baptism of third or more child — cathedral
Mass — Holy Angels, Basehor
Jan. 13
“Shepherd’s Voice” recording — chancery
Jan. 14
Priest Personnel board meeting — chancery
Administrative Team meeting — chancery
My mother became a lifelong member of the Legion of Mary and participated in daily Mass. Every night, our family, including my grandparents, prayed the family rosary.
I urge you during 2025 to accept the Eucharistic Revival’s invitation to Walk with One. After receiving the Eucharist, ask the Lord what one person, perhaps a family member, neighbor, friend or co-worker, is he asking you to accompany? Once the Holy Spirit has inspired you to pray for a particular person, then remember them daily in your prayer and make personal sacrifices as intercessory prayers for their spiritual welfare.
Before speaking about faith, make a commitment to spend more time with this person. Get to know them better. What inspires and motivates them? What are the challenges and adversities of their life?
Having deepened your relationship with this person, share in a very natural way the importance of your friendship with Jesus and the difference he makes in your own life. Ask them what intentions you can pray for them.
Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, invite them to pray
with you or to read a passage of the Gospel with you or to pray a rosary together or to join you in a time of silent prayer at your church or eucharistic adoration chapel. At some point, invite them to attend Mass with you. Respect their desires. If they decline your invitations, continue to spend time with them and deepen your friendship with them.
If every member of the archdiocese chose to Walk with One, think about the difference this would make in the lives of individuals and in the life of the church. If much has been given to us, much will be expected from us. There is no greater joy than being an instrument to lead someone to a deeper friendship with Jesus. For those of us who have experienced the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, how can we fail to share this priceless gift with others? What do we have to lose? For 2025, let us ask the Lord to give us the courage to Walk with One!
O Sacrament Most Holy! O Sacrament Divine! All praise and all thanksgiving be every moment thine! Come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord!
He was not only a dedicated
Deacon Christopher T. Allen
By Moira Cullings
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Throughout a year marked by historic milestones and difficult losses, Catholics in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas demonstrated a bold and unshakable faith.
On May 4, thousands of people from the archdiocese and the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph answered an invitation from Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann and Bishop James V. Johnston, of Kansas City-St. Joseph, to attend Behold KC.
The event was held on the north lawn of the National World War I Museum and Memorial in Kansas City, Missouri, and offered opportunities for the sacrament of reconciliation, Mass and eucharistic adoration.
The experience was particularly healing as it occurred just uphill from where local Catholic Lisa Lopez-Galvan was killed during a shooting at the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl parade and rally on Feb. 14.
The church across the United States continued to promote the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist throughout the year, as the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage traveled 6,500 miles from the four corners of the country, weaving its way through northeast Kansas from June 24-29.
The pilgrimage culminated in Indianapolis, where many archdiocesan Catholics flocked for the National Eucharistic Congress from July 17-21 at Lucas Oil Stadium.
It was the first eucharistic congress since 1941 and just one part of the Eucharistic Revival campaign undertaken by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in 2022 and continuing through Pentecost 2025.
The archdiocese gladly gained one new priest, three transitional deacons and 14 permanent deacons. It sadly grieved the loss of Father Travis Mecum and Father Ken Kelly.
The archdiocese and wider church mourned the loss of Archbishop Emeritus James P. Keleher, the tenth ordinary and third archbishop of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, who died on Nov. 9 at the age of 93. He served the archdiocese from Sept. 8, 1993, to Jan. 15, 2005, and remained active in various ministries as his health permitted.
Throughout the year, parishes, schools and other archdiocesan organizations were bustling with activities, and the flourishing life of the Catholic Church in northeast Kansas was evident in the stories told in the 16 pages of The Leaven. So, before we close the door on 2024, let’s look back at some of the most memorable moments of this past year.
January
• Archdiocesan Catholics kicked off the new year by attending the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS) SEEK conference from Jan. 1-5 in St. Louis.
• The archdiocese changed its pastoral regional model to a deanery model, effective Jan. 1. The deanery model is designed to foster a greater sense of community and support for pastors.
• Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann led the National Holy Hour of Life following the March for Life vigil Mass on Jan. 18 at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. The following day, more than 350 Kansas pilgrims participated in the annual March for Life.
• Nearly 1,500 people from across
Kansas turned out for the sixth annual Ignite Rally and Mass for Life at the Topeka Performing Arts Center on Jan. 24.
• The Catholic Education Foundation (CEF) held an inaugural Mass of thanksgiving for its supporters at Church of the Nativity in Leawood on Jan. 25. The Mass was celebrated by Archbishop Naumann.
• Archbishop Naumann was a keynote speaker on the Good News Cruise, a sixnight Caribbean experience for married couples, from Jan. 26 to Feb. 2.
• Archdiocesan schools celebrated Catholic Schools Week from Jan. 28-Feb. 3.
• Liz Gonzalez, kindergarten teacher at Resurrection School in Kansas City, Kansas, was named the Archdiocesan Elementary School Teacher of the Year on Jan. 29 during an all-school assembly.
February
• Kayla Moylan, math teacher at Bishop Miege High School in Roeland Park, was named Archdiocesan High School Teacher of the Year on Feb. 1 during an all-school assembly.
• Bishop Ward High School in Kansas City, Kansas, unveiled its Cyclone Center, a modern academic learning hub, on Feb. 8.
• Archbishop Naumann blessed and dedicated the new Stations of the Cross at St. Patrick Church in Kansas City, Kansas, on Feb. 9, which were installed in honor of the parish’s 150th anniversary. The Stations were painted by artist Jason Jenicke, who grew up in the parish.
• The inaugural Cathedral Gala to support the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle in Kansas City, Kansas, was held on Feb. 10 in its parish center.
• Lisa Lopez-Galvan, an alumna of Bishop Miege High School, whose children attended Bishop Miege and St. Agnes School in Roeland Park, was killed in a shooting during the Feb. 14 Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl parade and rally. Sisters Melia and Madison Reyes, students at St. Agnes, were shot and injured at the rally.
• Scott Hahn headlined the 27th annual Men Under Construction conference at Church of the Ascension in Overland Park on Feb. 17.
• The archdiocese hosted its annual junior high youth rally on Feb. 25 at Prairie Star Ranch in Williamsburg.
March
• The 10th Archbishop’s Invitational High School Art Exhibition awards ceremony and reception was held on March 1 at Savior Pastoral Center in Kansas City, Kansas.
• It was announced on March 6 that Christ the King School in Kansas City, Kansas, would close at the end of the academic year due to a lack of financial support needed to continue its operations.
• On March 7, Bishop Ward High School in Kansas City, Kansas, kicked off its St. Joseph Campaign: Build. Repair. Sustain. The campaign was created to raise funds for renovations, infrastructure repairs and the school’s endowment.
• To prepare for the National Eucharistic Revival Year of Mission, held from June 2024-June 2025, the archdiocesan office of evangelization conducted an ArchKCK Day of Equipping for Spanish-speakers on March 7 at St. Pius X Parish in Mission, and for English-speakers on March 19 at Holy Trinity Parish, Lenexa.
• The first-ever Consecration Mass for Businesses in the United States was celebrated March 16 at St. Benedict Church in Atchison.
• Father Travis Mecum passed away on March 27 at the age of 55 while in palliative care at Villa St. Francis in Olathe.
• On March 27, Father Brian Schieber, pastor of St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Leawood, blessed the parish school’s
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LEAVEN PHOTO BY KATHRYN WHITE
Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann, former chair of the USCCB’s pro-life committee, celebrates Mass on Jan. 19 before the March for Life in Washington, D.C.
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April
• The first true gala of the Didde Catholic Campus Center at Emporia State University was held on April 6 at the Lyon County History Center and Museum in Emporia.
• Archbishop Naumann blessed and dedicated the new Parish Life Center at St. Joseph Parish in Olpe on April 7.
• A Runnin’ With the Revs game featuring eighth grade and high school students and priests and seminarians was held on April 8 at St. James Academy in Lenexa.
• Archbishop Naumann was awarded with the Heroic Defender of Life award by Kansans for Life on April 11 during its annual fundraising banquet at the Overland Park Convention Center.
• Villa St. Francis opened its newly renovated physical rehabilitation-to-home wing at its Olathe facility on April 18 with a ribbon cutting performed by Archbishop Naumann and Catholic Community Health CEO Brad Heidrick.
• The archdiocese marked the Day of Prayer in Atonement for Sexual Abuse in the Church during a Mass celebrated by Archbishop Naumann on April 26 at Savior Pastoral Center in Kansas City, Kansas.
May
• Four fifth grade students at Corpus Christi School in Lawrence earned a chance to present their scientific findings on how relative humidity affects cloud formation to a group of NASA and national STEM scientists at the Southwest Student Symposium from May 3-4 in Fort Worth, Texas.
• Thousands of Catholics attended Behold KC on the north lawn of the National World War I Museum and Memorial in
Kansas City, Missouri, on May 4.
• Bill Maloney relinquished his duties as director of the archdiocesan office of stewardship and development on May 6, the same month it was announced that the office would be divided into two separate ones. Maloney continues to serve as director of the Catholic Foundation of Northeast Kansas (CFNEK).
• Lisa McKelvey was named the new director of the archdiocesan office of stewardship and development on May 8.
• St. Paul Parish in Olathe broke ground on construction of the fourth church in its
164-year history following an outdoor Mass celebrated by Archbishop Naumann on May 11.
• The renovation of Corpus Christi Church in Mooney Creek was blessed by Archbishop Naumann during a Mass on May 12.
• Will Carey, Cesar Gomez and Dan Mauro were ordained to the transitional diaconate by Archbishop Naumann on May 18 at the Cathedral of St. Peter in Kansas City, Kansas.
• Father Aaron Waldeck was ordained
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new lifelike statue of Blessed Carlo Acutis.
LEAVEN PHOTO BY KATHRYN WHITE
Bishop James V. Johnston (closest to monstrance), Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann and priests of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas and the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph kneel in adoration before the Blessed Sacrament on an overlook at the National World War I Museum and Memorial in Kansas City, Missouri, on May 4 for Behold KC.
LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER
The National Eucharistic Pilgrimage makes its way through the streets of Topeka, from St. Joseph Church to Church of the Assumption, where a full house greeted the body of Christ.
a priest of the archdiocese by Archbishop Naumann on May 25 at the Cathedral of St. Peter in Kansas City, Kansas.
• After 35 years, the Duchesne Clinic in Kansas City, Kansas, closed its doors. A group of staff, volunteers and patients assembled on May 30 to celebrate the clinic, which provided free and low-cost health care to the community.
June
• Savior Pastoral Center in Kansas City, Kansas, held the inaugural “SPARC the Night Gala” on June 1 to help ensure the center continues to flourish for the more than 60,000 people it serves each year.
• Archbishop Naumann blessed the Fiat Center at Queen of the Holy Rosary Parish in Overland Park following a Mass on June 9.
• A Kolbe Prison Ministries retreat was offered for the first time in Kansas to men incarcerated at the Lansing Correctional Facility from June 14-16.
• Kurt Heinan became the new archdiocesan architect and real estate consultant on June 17.
• The Leaven earned 13 awards from the Catholic Media Association during the Catholic Media Conference held in Atlanta June 18-21.
• The priests of the archdiocese defeated the priests of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph during the annual Pitching for Priests softball game June 21 at Legends Field in Kansas City, Kansas.
• On June 22, Archbishop Naumann ordained 14 men to the permanent diaconate during a Mass at St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Leawood, bringing the total number of permanent deacons in the archdiocese to 80.
• The National Eucharistic Pilgrimage made its way through the archdiocese
from June 24-29, stopping at multiple parishes across northeast Kansas.
• For the first time, the archdiocesan office for protection and care (OPC) made public the names of the members of its independent review board (IRB) in the June 28 issue of The Leaven.
• The first-ever sensory-friendly eucharistic adoration and Benediction was held on June 29 at Queen of the Holy Rosary Church in Overland Park.
• Archbishop Naumann dedicated the new altar at St. Francis Xavier Church in Burlington during a Mass on June 30.
July
• Kirsten Wondra became the associate superintendent of schools for the archdiocese on July 1.
• Archdiocesan Catholics traveled to Indianapolis for the National Eucharistic
Congress held from July 17-21 at Lucas Oil Stadium.
• The Echo of Kateri award was presented to three couples and two priests — Elizabeth and Pablo Aguayo from Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Shawnee; Ray and Paula (posthumously) Fushimi from Church of the Nativity in Leawood; Tom and Becki Racunas from Nativity; Father Brian Schieber, pastor of St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Leawood; and archdiocesan vocation director Father Dan Morris — before the closing Mass of the final Camp Tekakwitha session in Williamsburg on July 28.
• Archbishop Naumann visited retired priests at Vianney House in Olathe for a luncheon on July 30.
August
• Archbishop Naumann celebrated a Mass of blessing and dedication of the
renovated and expanded parish hall at St. Benedict Church in Bendena on Aug. 11.
• In its 27th year, the Kelly Youth Rally drew nearly 500 youth from 16 different parishes from the Nemaha-Marshall county area on Aug. 17.
• Father Ken Kelly died on Aug. 21 at the Overland Park Regional Medical Center after 45 years of priesthood.
• On Aug. 25, Archbishop Naumann celebrated a Mass to mark the 150th anniversary of Holy Family Parish in Alma.
September
• Sister Mary Altar of Sacrifice, SSVM, a native of Church of the Nativity in Leawood and member of the Sister Servants of the Lord and Virgin of Matara, welcomed Pope Francis to the mission where she serves in Vanimo, Papua New Guinea, on Sept. 8.
• Immaculate Conception Parish in St. Marys celebrated its 175th anniversary with a Mass of thanksgiving celebrated by Archbishop Naumann on Sept. 8. It doubled as the installation Mass for Father Edward Ahn, who was appointed pastor of the parish, along with St. Stanislaus Parish in nearby Rossville in July.
• Donnelly College in Kansas City, Kansas, celebrated its 75th anniversary this year. Donnelly officially opened its doors on Sept. 12, 1949.
• On Sept. 13, after more than 30 years with The Leaven, senior reporter Joe Bollig retired.
• Bishop James V. Johnston and Archbishop Naumann joined together on Sept. 13 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Kansas City, Missouri, for a Mass of remembrance for those whose lives have been affected by suicide.
• Archbishop Naumann celebrated a Mass of thanksgiving at Sacred Heart Parish in Paxico on Sept. 15 for the parish’s 150th anniversary.
• The annual CORE (Celebrating Our Religious Enthusiastically) golf tournament was held on Sept. 16 at Nicklaus Golf Club at LionsGate in Overland Park.
• Police officers, firefighters and first responders were honored at a Blue Mass on Sept. 19 at Queen of the Holy Rosary Church in Overland Park.
• In his Sept. 25 column for The Leaven, Archbishop Naumann shared that when he turned 75 in early June, he submitted his letter of resignation to Pope Francis as is required by canon law. He was informed that his letter was received and that he will
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LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER
Father Scott Wallisch, pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Shawnee, puts the barrel to the ball and strokes a double to drive in two runs in the annual Pitching for Priests softball game at Legends Field in Kansas City, Kansas. The archdiocese beat their rivals from the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph at the June 21 game.
LEAVEN PHOTO BY JULIE ANDERSON
Caleb Renyer, a member of St. Augustine Parish in Fidelity, laughs during the comedy hour provided by Catholic Laughter at the 27th annual Kelly Youth Rally on Aug. 16. The rally drew nearly 500 kids from 16 different parishes from the Nemaha-Marshall county area.
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remain archbishop until his successor is named.
• Ascension School in Overland Park held its annual Serve Day on Sept. 25 to support the various ministries of Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas.
• The archdiocese hosted a daylong Mercy & Justice Summit at Savior Pastoral Center in Kansas City, Kansas, on Sept. 28.
• Catholic Community Health’s second annual Fall Ball was held Sept. 28 at Fiorella’s Event Space in Overland Park.
October
• Donnelly College in Kansas City, Kansas, held its annual SHINE gala fundraiser on Oct. 3 at The Abbott in Kansas City, Missouri.
• The archdiocese kicked off Respect Life Month with a Mass on Respect Life Sunday, Oct. 6, celebrated by Archbishop Naumann at Holy Trinity Church in Lenexa.
• Father Jerry Volz, pastor of Corpus Christi Parish in Lawrence, blessed the parish’s new memorial to the unborn outside the church on Oct. 6.
• St. Agnes School in Roeland Park prayed a living rosary on Oct. 7 in honor of Lisa Lopez-Galvan.
• Archbishop Naumann blessed and dedicated the new St. Joseph Fieldhouse at St. James Academy in Lenexa on Oct. 11.
• The annual Gaudeamus benefit gala, the signature fundraising event for the Catholic Education Foundation (CEF), was held on Oct. 12 at the Overland Park Convention Center. St. Benedict School in Atchison was recognized as the 2024 Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann CEF School of Excellence, and Archbishop Naumann was honored with the CEF Lifetime Achievement Award.
• On Oct. 13, Archbishop Naumann celebrated Mass and blessed the renovated interior of St. Mary Church in St. Benedict.
• The annual Mass of Innocents was celebrated by Archbishop Naumann on Oct. 20 at Holy Spirit Church in Overland Park.
• Archbishop Naumann was joined by members of the Community of the Lamb on his annual visit to the Kansas Juvenile Correctional Complex in Topeka on Oct. 21.
• Archbishop Naumann blessed the new rosary grotto at St. Mary Church in Hartford following a Mass on Oct. 26.
• The rural youth outreach office and the North East Kansas Rural Youth Council hosted the Atchison Regional Adoration and Shindig on Oct. 27 at St. Andre Orchard in Atchison.
November
• Archbishop Naumann blessed and dedicated the Our Lady of Grace Rosary Garden at St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Leawood on Nov. 1.
• Father Peter Jaramillo, SSA, celebrated a bilingual Mass on Nov. 2 in the mausoleum chapel at Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Kansas City, Kansas, to mark All Souls’ Day and “Día de los Muertos.”
• The African Catholic Community of Kansas (ACCK) celebrated its third anniversary with a Mass at Prince of Peace Church
in Olathe on Nov. 3.
The Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth competed in a Granny Basketball game on Nov. 3, with funds benefiting the University of Saint Mary’s Guardian Angel Fund.
• Archbishop Emeritus James P. Keleher, 93, the tenth ordinary and third archbishop of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, died Nov. 9 of natural causes at his residence at Santa Marta retirement community in Olathe. His funeral Mass was celebrated at Curé of Ars Church in Leawood on Nov. 18.
• Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Topeka kicked off a yearlong celebration of its 110th anniversary with a Mass celebrated by Archbishop Naumann on Nov. 16. At the end of the Mass, pastor Father Daniel Coronado announced that the parish’s loan to build its activity center was paid in full.
• The St. Rose Philippine Duchesne Award was presented this year to Concern, Inc., a not-for-profit organization formed to help county residents through financial, food and clothing assistance, by Archbishop Naumann at a Mass at Sacred Heart Church in Mound City on Nov. 17.
December
• Archbishop Naumann celebrated a Mass of thanksgiving with the Crosier Society at St. Joseph Church in Shawnee on Nov. 19 and Most Pure Heart of Mary Church in Topeka on Dec. 3. The Crosier Society represents those across the archdiocese who have donated either 1% of the family’s income or made a financial gift of at least $1,000 to the Archbishop’s Call to Share.
• The Sisters and friars of the Fraternity the Poor of Jesus Christ and a team of around 100 volunteers hosted the annual Christmas with the Poor party and meal at the former Blessed Sacrament School in Kansas City, Kansas, on Dec. 14.
• The Jubilee Year 2025, proclaimed by Pope Francis on May 9, opened Christmas Eve with the rite of the opening of the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican. Here in northeast Kansas, the Holy Door at the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle in Kansas City, Kansas, was opened by Archbishop Naumann on Dec. 29.
LEAVEN FILE PHOTO
Archbishop Emeritus James P. Keleher, 93, the tenth ordinary and third archbishop of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, died Nov. 9 of natural causes.
Pope Francis’ 2024
Turning 88, praying for peace, presiding over synod
By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service
VATICAN CITY
(CNS)
— In late November, during a brief audience with people involved in the sport of motorcycle racing, Pope Francis asked for prayers, joking that “my work is very accelerated, and my bike has aged and doesn’t work properly!”
Pope Francis celebrated his 88th birthday Dec. 17, mostly uses a wheelchair instead of walking now, and presides over — rather than concelebrates — most public liturgies. Still, he had a 2024 full of important engagements, the longest trip of his papacy and major preparations for the Holy Year 2025, which opened Dec. 24.
For 12 days in early September, Pope Francis visited Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste and Singapore — the longest trip of his papacy in terms of distance and time away from Rome. At his first general audience after his return, he publicly thanked God for allowing him “to do as an old pope what I would have liked to do as a young Jesuit,” which was to travel to Asia to preach the Gospel.
And two weeks later, he was boarding a plane again, flying to Luxembourg and then on to Belgium. He closed out his 2024 travels with a one-day visit to the French island of Corsica Dec. 15.
Excluding the opening of the Jubilee, his most anticipated event of 2024 was the final, four-weeklong assembly of the Synod of Bishops on synodality, the culmination of a process of listening and prayer that he launched in the fall of 2021.
In his homily at the synod’s opening Mass, Pope Francis said it was not a “parliamentary assembly,” but an effort to understand the history, dreams and hopes of “our brothers and sisters scattered around the world inspired by our same faith, moved by the same desire for holiness.”
He opened the assembly’s first working session responding to criticism that it was no longer a synod “of bishops,” since he had made dozens of laywomen and men, priests and women religious voting members of the body.
“It is certainly not a matter of replacing one with the other, rallying to the cry: ‘Now it is our turn!’” the pope said.
Instead, the composition of the assembly “expresses a way of exercising the episcopal ministry consistent with the living tradition of the church and with the teaching of the Second Vatican Council,” which emphasized the responsibility of all the baptized for the mission of the church.
The assembly ended with the members approving a final document, and the pope ordering its publication as his own.
A month later, Pope Francis published a note telling bishops the final document “participates in the ordinary magisterium of the successor of Peter, and as such, I ask that it be accepted” and implemented.
The final document outlined key priorities for the church, including increased participation of the laity through new ministries and adjusted governing structures like pastoral councils, greater transparency and accountability among church leadership, and creating space for previously marginalized groups.
The year also saw the publication of Pope Francis’ fourth encyclical, “Dilexit nos” (“He loved us”), subtitled, “On the Human and Divine Love of the Heart of Jesus Christ.”
Prompted in part by the 350th-anniversary celebrations of the apparitions of the Heart of Jesus to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque at Paray-le-Monial, France, Pope Francis looked at how the traditional devotion to the Sacred Heart should help people recognize they are loved by God and called to love others.
The horrors of the ongoing wars, particularly the fighting in Ukraine and the Middle East, were a daily concern of Pope Francis, but some of his comments led to controversy
during the year.
In a televised interview in March, Pope Francis called for Russia and Ukraine to have the “courage of the white flag,” a term usually associated with surrender, and which therefore caused consternation among people who believe Ukraine has a right and duty to defend itself from Russian aggression.
Matteo Bruni, director of the Vatican press office, told reporters that the image of the white flag — a term used by the interviewer in posing the question — was picked up by the pope “to indicate the cessation of hostilities, a truce reached with the courage of negotiation,” not a call to surrender.
In November, the pope joined many Western leaders in sadly marking the 1,000th day since Russia launched its large-scale attack on Ukraine.
“I know well that no human word can protect their lives from the daily shelling, nor console those who mourn the dead, nor heal the wounded, nor repatriate the children, nor free the prisoners, nor mitigate the harsh effects of winter, nor bring back justice and peace,” he wrote in a letter to his nuncio in Kyiv.
He promised Ukrainians that he would continue his prayers to
God, “the only source of life, hope and wisdom, that he would convert hearts and enable them to start paths of dialogue, reconciliation and concord.”
Pope Francis also called constantly for peace in the Middle East, the release of the hostages kidnapped by Hamas in October 2023 and for humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza.
But the pope drew criticism from Israeli officials in mid-November after Vatican News published an excerpt from a new book in which Pope Francis said, “According to some experts, what is happening in Gaza has the characteristics of genocide. It should be investigated carefully to determine whether it fits into the technical definition formulated by jurists and international bodies.”
Yaron Sideman, the Israeli ambassador to the Holy See, posted on X a few hours later: “There was a genocidal massacre on 7 October 2023 of Israeli citizens, and since then, Israel has exercised its right of self-defense against attempts from seven different fronts to kill its citizens.”
As the year drew to a close, Pope Francis called for “a ceasefire on all war fronts” in time for Christmas and the start of the Holy Year.
An aide hands Pope Francis his candle, lighted from the paschal candle, at the beginning of the Easter Vigil Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican March 30.
CNS PHOTO/LOLA GOMEZ
2024 proves to be year of suffering,
By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News
With a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon barely holding, as both sides accuse each other of violations, hopes for even a fragile peace seem impossible for those living and aiding people in Gaza.
According to a Dec. 3 report by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, an estimated 44,502 Palestinians have died since the start of the Israel-Hamas war, launched in the wake of Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel, when militants from the Gaza Strip gunned down more than 1,200 people, most of them civilians, and took over 240 civilians and soldiers hostage. In September, the conflict extended into Lebanon, where the Iran-backed Shia militia Hezbollah is based.
The report’s figures, which were provided by the Hamas-run Ministry of Health in Gaza, stated that of those casualties, 16,735 are men; 13,319 are children; 7,216 are women; and 3,447 are elderly.
Furthermore, the report showed that throughout the year, humanitarian organizations have been increasingly impeded or denied requests to provide aid, or have even withdrawn their requests due to logistical, operational or security reasons.
April proved to be among the deadliest for aid workers when an Israeli missile strike killed seven aid workers of World Central Kitchen, a humanitarian organization that delivers food in war-torn countries.
Founded by celebrity Catholic chef José Andrés, the World Central Kitchen, or WCK, said the workers were leaving the Deir al-Balah warehouse after delivering 100 tons of humanitarian food in “two armored cars branded with the WCK logo” when the attack happened.
The following month, a brigade of Israeli tanks seized control of Rafah, a southern Gaza Strip town bordering Egypt in what Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu framed as a strategic step in dismantling Hamas’ government and military capability.
However, humanitarian organizations in the region said the IDF blocked humanitarian convoys from entering,
despite food shortages for nearly two million people in what the United Nations World Food Program deemed a “full-blown famine.”
In June, Israelis rejoiced at the news that four hostages — kidnapped at the Nova music festival during the Oct. 7 Hamas attack — were rescued by IDF soldiers during an operation in Gaza.
However, jubilation turned to horror in the aftermath when Gaza’s Ministry of Health reported that an estimated 274 people, including 64 children and 57 women, were killed and an estimated 700 wounded.
Eyewitnesses told The Associated Press that during the June 8 raid, Israeli fighter jets bombed areas of the Nuseirat refugee camp. The IDF justified its use of force, saying its troops were under fire. The Israeli military also disputed the health ministry’s casualty numbers, claiming that “less than 100 people” were killed.
The escalating death toll of innocent civilians in the conflict prompted U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres
to declare that the current course of the war was “unsustainable” and that “nothing can justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people.”
Guterres’ Sept. 24 speech came four days after a video was made public of Israeli soldiers throwing the bodies of dead Palestinians off the roof of a building, an act that would constitute a violation of international law.
Denouncing alleged human rights violations committed by governments at war, Guterres said that “the level of impunity in the world is politically indefensible and morally intolerable.”
The continuous reports throughout the year regarding human rights violations against Palestinians by the Israeli government prompted the International Criminal Court to issue an arrest warrant Nov. 21 for Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
In a statement announcing the arrest warrants, the ICC said Netanyahu and Gallant “bear criminal responsibility” for several war crimes,
including “the use of starvation as a method of warfare,” and “the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution and other inhumane acts.”
For Anton Asfar, secretary general of Caritas Jerusalem, the past year has been one of hardship and traumatic loss, not only for the people in Gaza and the West Bank, but also for his colleagues.
During the war’s first month, on Oct. 19, 2023, an Israeli airstrike on the St. Porphyrios Greek Orthodox Church campus in Gaza killed 17 people, including 26-year-old Viola, a Caritas worker, who died alongside her husband and their infant daughter.
Speaking to OSV News via video call Dec. 6, Asfar remembers vividly when he and his colleagues found out Viola was killed.
“On Oct. 7 evening, I launched a ‘buddy-to-buddy system.’ So our colleagues in the West Bank and East Jerusalem would have continuous calls on a daily basis with their colleagues in Gaza to check on them. Imagine an HR
African bishops cry out for their people
By Fredrick Nzwili
OSV News
NAIROBI, Kenya (OSV News) — From Nigeria to Mozambique, Sudan and Congo to Burkina Faso, Christians across Africa were victims of horrific persecution in 2024, mainly because of their faith.
Armed gangs, militias and Islamist extremists killed, abducted and kidnapped Christians, violated women and girls, and burned down churches.
Catholic bishops, who spoke truth to power, pressing for religious freedom, democracy, human rights and a war on corruption, also became
targets of the governments and politicians.
“The more the churches took a prophetic stand, the more they faced persecution,” Father Innocent Halerimana Maganya, a Congolese priest and a lecturer at Tangaza University in Nairobi, told OSV News.
“The churches are the conscience of the nation, and when they play their role, there is likely going to be some kind of persecution,” he said.
Father Maganya, a Missionaries of Africa priest, pointed to the clash between Congolese Archbishop Fulgence Muteba Mugalu of Lubumbashi, president of Congo bishops’ conference, and Congolese military
Gen. Eddy Kapend Yrung, after the latter issued orders banning the prelate from celebrating Mass in St. Sebastian Parish in the military camp of Vangu.
Archbishop Mugalu defied the orders, celebrated the Mass Nov. 24 and dismissed the general’s orders as a violation of the freedom of religion guaranteed by the constitution.
The archbishop “was not intimidated by this illegal order, which is symptomatic of a blatant abuse of office, and went to St. Sebastian as planned for several days,” the archdiocese said in a statement.
The tensions had followed the kidnapping of a young seminarian by
soldiers on Nov. 18.
Earlier in April, Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, the archbishop of Kinshasa and a fierce critic of President Félix Tshisekedi’s government, faced the threat of prosecution over alleged “seditious” remarks criticizing the government’s offensive against the rebels.
“When there is no official opposition in a country, the churches become the opposition. They cannot remain silent, but have to speak for the people,” said Father Maganya. “That’s why we see them colliding with the governments.”
In Nigeria, armed gangs locally known as “bandits” — which target
OSV NEWS PHOTO/MAHMOUD ISSA, REUTERS
Young Palestinians gather to receive food cooked by a charity kitchen in the northern Gaza Strip Sept. 11, 2024, amid the Israel-Hamas conflict.
European Catholics take stock of year’s mixed progress on life issues suffering, loss
officer calling a colleague to see if he or she is alive or not!” he said.
“One of my colleagues, who is operating in Bethlehem, was in contact with Viola to check on her and everything was fine,” he added. “Then all of sudden, the next day, she found out that the bombardment happened and Viola was killed. So even in the West Bank, the staff was traumatized by the situation and the challenges our colleagues are having.”
Like other humanitarian organizations in the region, Caritas Jerusalem continues to face not only the insurmountable task of trying to help in Gaza, but to also protect its own staff.
In the moments leading up to the Israeli military’s takeover of the Rafah crossing in May, Asfar said his staff, many of whom were displaced in the camp there, were mobilizing to evacuate medical personnel and flee further north before the invasion.
Asfar noted that Caritas Jerusalem, as well as other nongovernmental organizations, face increasing difficulties in providing aid and have been impeded by Israeli authorities at times. For example, he said, before the war, “our supply trucks entering Gaza, almost on average, were about 500 trucks daily.”
“After Oct. 7, it diminished to 35-37 trucks a day, which is nothing. It’s a drop in the ocean. There was pressure by the Americans and it increased — and I say ironically — ‘significantly’ to 65 trucks. So, it’s nothing,” he said.
Palestinians in the West Bank, whose livelihood depends on tourism, especially in Bethlehem, are also suffering due to the war. With hardly any visitors, many have lost their sole source of income and rely on Caritas for aid.
While prayers, expressions of solidarity and even financial help is appreciated, Asfar told OSV News that Catholics have a responsibility to pressure their own governments make an “ethical commitment to stop” the war and to put pressure “on the Palestinians and Israelis, but especially the Israelis, to have a just and equitable resolution for these long years of conflict.”
“Our mission is to promote justice [as a means] for peace so that peace can be brought to this land. And we believe that the King of Peace, one day, will come and bring this peace. So, it’s their call, it’s their responsibility,” he said.
By Jonathan Luxmoore OSV News
When British parliamentarians approved a law to allow physicianassisted suicide on Nov. 29, it followed a year of legislative inroads against Catholic social teaching across Europe.
Yet prominent Catholics insist that anti-life trends can still be countered and have urged greater cooperation among church groups internationally.
“The U.K. is an important country, looked to as an example by others, so what happens there has wider implications,” explained Vincenzo Bassi, president of the Federation of Catholic Family Associations in Europe, or FAFCE.
“While our own church leaders are understandably preoccupied with what’s occurring in their own communities, we should also be increasing our joint engagement on life issues across the continent,” he said.
The Italian jurist spoke as British legislators met to scrutinize the “Terminally Ill (End of Life) Bill,” which will make the U.K. Europe’s eighth country to allow “assisted dying.”
Meanwhile, a British church adviser said Catholic leaders had been “deeply disappointed” by the recent parliamentary vote, but were also heartened by the “significant concerns” voiced about the suicide bill.
“Evidence suggests the more you discuss this, the likelier people are to oppose it, so perhaps our lengthy campaigning helped embed these concerns,” Anthony Horan, director of Scotland’s Catholic Parliamentary Office, told OSV News.
“There’s certainly a cultural movement underway against Catholic teaching, which we should try to change by mobilizing people together on a Europe-wide scale,” he said.
Laws on assisted suicide have been actively opposed by the church in Europe — unsuccessfully in the case of traditionally Catholic Spain and Portugal, which legalized the practice in 2021 and 2023 respectively.
On March 4, France’s National Assembly delivered another blow to Catholic values by voting to make the country the world’s first to guarantee
a right to abortion in its constitution. Surveys in England and elsewhere have shown public support for policies that support keeping abortion legal, prompting steps to liberalize abortion by other European Union member-states, although at least a dozen still require mandatory counseling, with Belgium, however, expected to follow the French constitutional move.
In an April resolution, the European Parliament praised France’s “landmark vote” and demanded that “access to safe and legal abortion” be recognized as a fundamental right in all 27 EU countries.
It also condemned the right of doctors and health care facilities to opt out of abortions, and accused countries “backsliding on abortion rights” of undermining “democracy, European values and fundamental rights.”
Although the British amendments lapsed ahead of last July’s parliamentary elections, they’re set to be retabled in 2025 with strong backing from the governing Labour Party.
In October, “safe access zones” of 492 feet (150 meters) were imposed around abortion clinics in Britain, making “obstruction” a criminal offense.
In Germany, where abortions are still formally banned, a governmentbacked bill to decriminalize termination of pregnancy was debated in the
people amid horrific persecution in 2024
Christians — were making 2024 the worst year for security in the region’s recent history. In November, the “bandits” had kidnapped — and released — three Catholic priests.
While comprehensive data has not been given for 2024 yet, between September 2022 and August 2023 alone, 21 Catholic priests were kidnapped in Nigeria, the bishops’ conference said.
The Fulani herders — militia dubbed the fourth deadliest terror group in the world — also kidnapped civilians, abducted schoolchildren for ransom, while seizing farms and displacing thousands of Christian farmers.
Bishop Oliver Dashe Doeme of
Maiduguri, Nigeria, said the church and Christian faithful in northeast Nigeria were suffering heavily from terrorist activities.
“Over the years, Christians have experienced rejection and persecution from both extremists and the state,” the bishop told OSV News.
According to the bishop, the authorities often deny Christians land for construction of churches and houses, among other forms of discrimination. In 2023, Bishop Doeme said, “there was a fire incident that engulfed the main Monday market inside Maiduguri City. The government only compensated the Muslim faithful whose
shops and goods were affected but failed to reciprocate the same gesture towards Christians.”
In September, floods submerged Maiduguri city and Borno state, displacing 70% of residents, but as the government offered compensation, the authorities left out many Christians, according to the bishop.
“In situations like this, Christian faithful have no place to run to except the church and their leaders. This sometimes mounts pressure on the church and her leaders as the resources at her disposal will not be enough to go round,” he said.
In Burkina Faso, churches and Christians are enduring extremist
Bundestag on Dec. 5, with Social Democratic and Green backing, despite warnings by Bishop Georg Bätzing of Limburg, chairman of the German bishops’ conference, of a “highly problematic constitutional and ethical paradigm shift.”
There are signs of hope, however.
In Poland, a cluster of bills from Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s ruling coalition, overturning October 2020 Constitutional Court restrictions, was voted down by conservative government supporters in July.
In Scotland, however, a new Hate Crime and Public Order Act in April, condemned by the bishops’ conference, made it an imprisonable offense to question a person’s transgender identity or “varied sex characteristics.”
Government-backed legislation to allow “aid in dying” lapsed in France when a snap election was called in July by President Emmanuel Macron, but is to be re-tabled in 2025, while parallel laws are under consideration in Finland, Ireland, Norway and Sweden.
In Britain, where Catholic bishops have launched a big-scale campaign to reject the current “assisted dying” bill, Horan, the Parliamentary Office director, admits anti-life developments have left many Catholics “feeling it’s an uphill battle.”
violence linked to either the Islamic State group in the Greater Sahara or al-Qaida in Islamic Mali.
According to Father Constantin Sere, the secretary general of OCADES, the Caritas’ branch in Burkina Faso, both terror groups have remained mobile across the regions and have seized half of the country.
Over the past decade, Burkina Faso has gone from one crisis to another. Since 2021, churches have been targeted and scores of worshipers killed. Over 300 civilians have been killed since May of this year including at least 26 Catholics. At present, six of the 15 Catholic dioceses in the country are heavily affected by violence.
OSV NEWS PHOTO/MINA KIM, REUTERS
Protesters hold placards outside Parliament as British lawmakers debate the assisted suicide law in London Nov. 29.
Epiphany of the Lord: Traditions that focus on the ‘rey de reyes’
By Maria-Pia Negro Chin OSV News
After preparing for the birth of Jesus with posadas, live Nativity scenes, midnight Masses and Nochebuena (Christmas Eve) traditions, thousands of Latinos in the United States will continue the Christmas season by celebrating Epifanía, or Epiphany.
Epifanía, or “the manifestation of the Lord,” celebrates Jesus making himself known to the whole world, said Alejandro Aguilera-Titus, assistant director of Hispanic affairs for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Secretariat for Cultural Diversity in the Church.
In many parishes, there are reenactments of the “Wise Men from the East” prostrating themselves before the Child in Bethlehem, as the Gospel according to St. Matthew describes. These “Three Kings” or Magi — traditionally known as Melchior, Gaspar (or Caspar) and Balthasar — remind everyone of the importance of pausing to contemplate the love and mercy of God made flesh in the Christ Child.
When the figures of the Magi approach the manger, it becomes clear — especially to the little ones in the house — that Jesus is “the king of kings,” Aguilera-Titus said.
“We come together as a community,” said Wanda Vásquez, director of the office of Hispanic ministry at the Archdiocese of New York. “We celebrate in prayer, reflecting on the birth of our Jesus — anticipating the Magi’s coming.”
Vásquez said that in Puerto Rico and many parts of the Caribbean, all traditions focus on Jesus’ birth, rather than on characters like Santa Claus or elves.
While Christmas Eve and Christmas center on Christ’s birth, gifts are traditionally reserved for Epiphany. This tradition was inherited from Spain, and thousands of Catholics from Latin America celebrate it differently. Some children put shoes under the tree, others under beds, and even food and water are left for the Magi’s camels. What these traditions have in common is the centrality of the Christ Child in the manger, prompting contemplation of how God’s promise is fulfilled.
As part of the Epiphany tradition, the Rosca de Reyes, an ornate circular loaf with candied fruit and a plastic
figure of a child representing the newborn Jesus, is shared.
“Whoever gets the little doll has to make the tamales on Candlemas Day,” explained Aguilera-Titus.
“For many,” Vásquez said, “Christmas doesn’t end until Feb. 2, with the presentation of the Lord at the temple,” also known as Candlemas.
In addition to the opportunity to delve into the words of the Bible, Aguilera-Titus said, Epiphany celebrations are ways to make “Christian living more present in the home and within the community of faith, in the temple.”
“Everyone is looking for God from their culture, from their tradition,” said Humberto Ramos, parish life director at Epiphany Church in South El Monte, California.
He estimates that about 2,000 people — not including children — will come to celebrate Epiphany, the parish’s patronal feast, with a big festival where people dressed as kings bring candy to
the children.
He reflected on the gifts brought to the baby Jesus, “incense for God, gold for the king and myrrh for the one who will die,” as said the fifth-century doctor of the church St. Peter Chrysologus.
In addition to the traditional rosca, Ramos said, his parishioners observe another Mexican tradition, the “levantada,” or lifting, of the Christ Child from the crèche. A godfather or godmother — typically those who found the baby in the rosca — would dress the image of baby Jesus in ornate clothes so that it will be ready on Candlemas Day, where it will be blessed and “lifted” from the crib amid prayers.
“It’s what we learned from our parents, in our homes, and it’s something that leads to having an experience and an expression of God, of Christ in your home,” Aguilera-Titus said.
The date of Epiphany is Jan. 6 — 12 days after the Nativity — but, in the
United States, the celebration of Epiphany will be observed in 2025 on Sunday, Jan. 5.
Father Jose Cruz Alvarez, pastor of Sacred Heart in the South Bronx, New York, told OSV News that although in the past the pandemic had curtailed many of the typical celebrations, his parishioners looked forward to reviving their Epiphany traditions in 2023. With the support of a sponsoring parish, the “kings” were able to hand out gifts at the Mass for the children in the neighborhood. During the Christmas season, the sponsoring parish will provide a smaller token — possibly gloves, scarfs or hats — to the children, which will include 300 children from the parish’s religious education program.
The physical gifts during the Christmas season — Epiphany included — are a reminder that “in receiving, I am called to give a little bit of what God himself has given me,” said Father Cruz.
OSV
Young people dressed as the Three Wise Men are seen in this file photo presenting gifts during a Spanish Mass on the solemnity of the Epiphany at St. John of God Church in Central Islip, New York. Every Epiphany, we hear about the visit of the Magi from afar, bringing gifts fit for royalty to the baby Jesus.
Revising requirements for ‘brain death’ a slippery slope
How do we determine that someone has died?
The Uniform Determination of Death Act (UDDA), which has been an important part of the medical and legal landscape in the United States for more than 40 years, states:
“An individual who has sustained either irreversible cessation of circulatory and respiratory functions or irreversible cessation of all functions of the entire brain, including the brainstem, is dead. A determination of death must be made in accordance with accepted medical standards.”
The UDDA, originally drafted in 1981 by a special presidential commission, was designed to serve as a legal standard and a uniform framework for determining that someone has died, as well as to provide a clear legal foundation for declaring someone dead by means of “neurological criteria,” also known as “brain death.”
Since that time, the UDDA has served as an important benchmark for the medical
FATHER TADEUSZ PACHOLCZYK
Father Tadeusz Pacholczyk earned his doctorate in neuroscience from Yale and did postdoctoral work at Harvard. He is a priest of the diocese of Fall River, Massachusetts, and serves as senior ethicist at The National Catholic Bioethics Center in Philadelphia.
profession, and a point of reference for legislative standards adopted throughout the United States, with all 50 states relying on language borrowed from the UDDA in their legal definitions of death. Clearly defining and ascertaining when someone has died is important for a number of reasons: grieving can begin; burial arrangements can be made; and organ
procurement can take place if the person had indicated a desire to become a donor. Most importantly, establishing that someone has not yet passed on helps us provide appropriate care and medical treatments until the time of death.
Recently, a group of physicians, ethicists and lawyers recommended revising the wording of the UDDA. Their proposal adjusts the definition of brain death from whole-brain death to less-thanwhole-brain death. Whenever brain death assessments are done today, physicians carry out a series of bedside clinical tests. They check whether the patient can gasp or initiate a breath when taken off the ventilator (known as an “apnea test”). Any attempt at taking a breath would indicate that the person’s brainstem is still functioning, and that he or she is still alive. Physicians also check for other reflexes and responses mediated by the brain: Do pupils of the eye respond to light? Is there any reaction to, or withdrawal from, painful
stimuli? Is there any gag reflex when an object is placed in the back of the throat? If such reflexes are present, the individual is still alive.
For somebody to be deceased, then, there needs to be evidence of a catastrophic neurological event that has caused their brain to become irreversibly nonfunctional. One type of brain function that is not routinely assessed by doctors when carrying out brain death testing involves the hypothalamus. This important region of the brain coordinates with the pituitary gland to enable the secretion of hormones and small molecules that regulate the function of the kidneys and other organs, and helps control salt and water balance in the body. Sometimes a person can pass all the tests for being brain dead, but still have hypothalamic function.
If a patient has continuing hypothalamic function in this way, it seems clear that he or she does not manifest “irreversible cessation of all functions of the
entire brain” as delineated in the UDDA.
Regrettably, some are now proposing that a person in this situation should still be considered brain dead, and they are seeking to revise the wording of the UDDA to reflect this, substantially lowering the standard for a declaration of brain death.
They declare, without compelling support, that the persistence of neurosecretory function by the hypothalamus is consistent with brain death.
In cases of genuine brain death, when all functions of the entire brain have ceased, the bodies of these individuals can typically continue to function on a ventilator only for a matter of hours or perhaps a few days before their various subsystems, like blood pressure, electrolytes and fluid balance become erratic and dysregulated, leading to cardiac arrest.
Meanwhile, some brain-injured individuals who have retained hypothalamic functioning have survived for months or years on a ventilator
after losing both their brain-mediated reflexes and their ability to breathe. Even though these patients suffer an extremely severe central nervous system injury, they are clearly still alive. Even to be “slightly alive” is still to be alive. If the language of the UDDA ends up being changed to allow for a declaration of brain death even with continued hypothalamic functioning, individuals who are not-quite-dead will be treated as if they were already dead.
Rather than revising the language of the UDDA and seeking to lower the standards for declaring brain death, the battery of routine reflex and apnea tests used for ascertaining brain death needs be expanded to include tests that can verify the loss of hypothalamic function. Such improvements in testing will help ensure that people are not declared deceased prematurely. It will also help strengthen public confidence in the life-saving work of organ transplantation.
EMPLOYMENT
Administrator - Santa Marta Retirement center is seeking an experienced administrator to oversee health care operations, including skilled nursing, assisted living and memory care. This role involves managing finances, ensuring regulatory compliance and fostering a compassionate care environment. To learn more and apply, visit: recruiting.paylocity.com/recruiting/jobs/ Details/2921220/Santa-Marta-Retirement/Administrator.
Children’s ministry coordinator - Prince of Peace, a parish in Olathe, is seeking an exceptional leader who desires to help families form their children in the faith. The children’s ministry coordinator is responsible for the organization and implementation of the pre-K through sixth grade programs offered throughout the year for parishioners, including the parish school of religion, summer programming and assisting in sacramental preparation. This is a part-time position, working closely with the director of faith formation, as well as other parish ministers. For the complete job description go to: www.popolathe.org/employment-opportunities.
Please send resume and cover letter to April Bailey, director of faith formation, at: abailey@popolathe.org.
Digital content designer - The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas has an immediate opening for a digital content designer, who creates and manages compelling digital content that bridges communication between the archdiocese and its clergy, parishes, schools and parishioners. The position is full time, benefits-eligible with a hybrid schedule available. For more details or to apply, please visit “Employment Opportunities” at: www.archkck.org.
Administrative assistant - Holy Trinity Parish, Lenexa. The administrative assistant serves as the face of Holy Trinity Parish for those contacting the parish office. Key responsibilities include managing the front desk of the office, maintaining the parishioner database, scheduling facility usage and recording parish sacraments. The administrative assistant provides primary administrative support for the pastor and director of administrative services and supports other parish staff for the success of the parish. Must be a team player with strong organizational, administrative and communications skills. Applicant must have a working knowledge of the Catholic Church’s teachings and practices and understand the importance of being a welcoming face for the Catholic Church. Experience required with Microsoft Office Suite, Google Mail, Google Calendar, database systems, general office equipment and managing multiple tasks. Position is full time and qualifies for archdiocesan benefits, including health, dental, vision, life insurance and 401(k) match. A full position description can be found at: htlenexa.org/job-openings. Interested applicants should submit cover letter and resume to: lweber@htlenexa.org.
Catholic elementary school principal - Holy Cross School in Overland Park is seeking a dynamic and visionary leader with a passion for Catholic education. The principal will continue the school’s tradition of forming disciples, pursuing academic excellence and spiritual growth. The principal will lead by example and inspire a team of dedicated faculty and staff. Applicants must have or be eligible for Kansas licensure in educational leadership. Apply online at: archkckcs.org/apply. For more information, contact Father Abner at: aables@ holycrossopks.org.
Annual giving manager –The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas is seeking to hire an Annual Giving Manager, which would be responsible for the management and continued growth of a dynamic Annual Appeal, and the cultivation of long lasting relationships with major donors; supporters; lay leaders; priests and prospects to ensure the financial stability of the local church. Please visit Employment Opportunities on the Archdiocesan website for more information or to apply. To Apply: https://recruiting.paylocity.com/Recruiting/Jobs/ Details/2755248.
Parish receptionist - St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Leawood is seeking a part-time receptionist to work two - three days per week from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. This is a job-share position. Duties include routing incoming calls, welcoming guests, scheduling Mass intentions and other office duties. Must be a practicing Catholic, compassionate, possess excellent communication skills and be comfortable with computer technology. Find additional details at: stmichaelcp.org/employment. Email resume and cover letter to Denise Greene at: denise. greene@stmichaelcp.org.
Catholic elementary school principal - Holy Name School in Kansas City, Kansas, is seeking a dynamic and visionary leader with a passion for Catholic education. The principal will continue the school’s tradition of forming disciples, pursuing academic excellence and spiritual growth. The principal will lead by example and inspire a team of dedicated faculty and staff. Applicants must have or be eligible for Kansas licensure in educational leadership. Apply online at: archkckcs.org/apply. For more information, contact Father Anthony at: aouellette@archkck.org.
Elementary school principal - St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School in Seward, Nebraska, has an opening for an energetic Catholic leader as elementary school principal for the 2025-26 school year. Principal must be certified by the Nebraska Department of Education or be able to be certified with minimal effort. Preference will be given to applicants with successful administrative experience. St. Vincent de Paul is a pre-K-4 elementary school located 25 miles west of Lincoln. Interested, qualified candidates can ask for application information by contacting Msgr. Robert Tucker: msgr. robert-tucker@cdolinc.net or call (402) 643-3421.
Van drivers and aides needed - Assisted Transportation is hiring safe drivers and aides to transport general education and students with special needs to and from school and other activities in Johnson County in passenger vans. Drivers earn $16 - $20 per hour. Aides earn $15.50 per hour. Part-time and full-time schedules are available. Make a difference in your community by helping those in need! Call (913) 521-4955 or visit: assistedtransportation.com for more information. EEO. Financial empowerment specialist - This position will provide financial education and empowerment to individuals and families in the Johnson County area. The caseworker will provide wraparound strengthbased case management, which includes completing assessments, developing spending plans with families, and assisting clients in identifying and monitoring measurable and achievable goals with appropriate action steps. For more information about this position, please visit: catholiccharitiesks.org.
Liturgical musicians - Christ the King Parish and Blessed Sacrament Parish in Kansas City, Kansas, are searching for liturgical musicians that can play at English and Spanish Masses on the weekends and holy days, as well as being available for funerals and other special occasions. Organists will enjoy the chance to play our beautiful, recently installed Tracher organ. All musicians are welcome to inquire. Cantors with the ability to sing in English, Spanish or both are also needed. Part-time employment is also available. Visit: ctkkcks.org for more information, or contact Father Nick Blaha to apply at (913) 287-8823 or email: pastor@ ctkkck.org.
Make a meaningful impact today -Join L’Arche Heartland as a Direct Support Professional in our day service and/or residential homes. Contribute to the empowerment and enrichment of adults with developmental disabilities as they engage in meaningful lifestyles. There are immediate full-time positions available. We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes 100% coverage for medical, dental and vision expenses. Conveniently situated in downtown Overland Park. Training provided. Apply now by emailing: james@larcheks.org.
Now hiring - Love the smell of fresh country air? Now hiring at $20 per hour. Looking for a part-time groundskeeper and horse groom on a small family farm. Located in Paola just minutes from Olathe and Overland Park. Responsibilities include all areas of the farm, including cleaning, mowing, weed trimming, gardening, horse care, moving hay, painting, digging, fencing, etc. It is hot and dirty in the summer; cold in the winter. Any experience is appreciated but preferred qualifications are willingness to work hard, honesty, reliability and carefulness. Must be able to lift heavy loads repeatedly, including but not limited to 80-pound bales of hay, 50-pound bags of grain, etc. No smoking, tobacco of any kind, electronic smoking devices or alcohol products allowed on the property. No exceptions. We do background checks and you must have your own transportation to and from work. Call or text Brian at (913) 710-4428.
Executive director - Villa St. Francis Catholic Care Center is seeking an executive director to serve the care center. Villa St. Francis is a 170-bed skilled nursing facility that is under the umbrella of Catholic Community Health (Home-care-Villa St. Francis-Hospice), which is under the direction of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas. The role requires an active nursing home administrator license in Kansas with 3-5 years of experience with proven leadership and communication skills. Current CMS 5 Star & PEAK Mentor Facility with 2025 annual budget of $20M and 250 staff members. Not required, but preferred, practicing Catholic in good standing to lead operations of quality facility and bring value to the executive team. Please reach out with questions to HR director Kendra Unruh at: kunruh@catholiccommunityhealth.org or apply online at: catholiccommunityhealth.org.
Catholic financial planners - The Knights of Columbus Mahon Agency has openings in NE Kansas and western Missouri, covering areas in and around KCK, KCMO, Topeka and Atchison. We have much to offer determined, disciplined and high-expectation professionals who would like to share needed life insurance, disability income, long-term care and annuity products with other Catholic individuals and families. This is a full-time position with excellent, multi-tiered training and benefits, allowing the successful field agent to earn a professional-level income. This is an exciting career opportunity that may be the right fit at the right time for you, or someone you know. For further information, contact John Mahon at (785) 408-8800.
Front office secretary - St. Ann School in Prairie Village is seeking a full-time front office secretary. This position provides daily support to school families, students and teachers, and includes performing a variety of tasks for both the school and parish offices. Applicants must have strong written and verbal communication skills, be detail-oriented and possess the ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously. Experience with Microsoft and Google is required. Benefits are included. Position starts Jan. 6, 2025. To apply or for more information, please mail a cover letter and resume to: susielutz@stannpv.org.
Administrative assistant - Come join our team! A small family-owned company located in Lenexa is looking for an assistant to answer phones; invoicing; product ordering; some shipping/receiving and to assist the owner. We need a team member who is organized; detail oriented; self-motivated; trustworthy; has a positive attitude and above all else, gives excellent customer service. Schedule flexibility. Send your resume to: YourCareer101@gmail.com
Caregivers needed - Daughter & Company is looking for compassionate caregivers to provide assistance to seniors in their home, assisted living or in a skilled nursing facility. We provide sitter services, light housekeeping and light meal preparation, organizational assistance, care management and occasional transportation for our clients. We need caregivers with reliable transportation and a cellphone for communication. We typically employ on a part-time basis, but will strive to match hours desired. Contact Gary or Laurie at (913) 341-2500 if you want to become part of an excellent caregiving team.
Liturgy coordinator – St. Michael the Archangel in Leawood is seeking a full-time liturgy coordinator to prepare for the celebration of the Mass and other sacred mysteries. Applicants must be practicing Catholics familiar with the Roman Catholic liturgical tradition. The position requires strong organizational, administrative and communication skills as well as initiative and responsibility. Hours include weekend and some evening hours. Includes full benefits options. Go to: stmichaelcp. org/employment for a full job description. Send cover letter and resume to: kevin.vogt@stmichaelcp.org.
Faculty and adjunct faculty job openings - Donnelly College, Kansas City, Kansas, is a Catholic college offering higher education for those who may not other wise be served Faculty job openings - Nursing faculty. Adjunct faculty job openings - psychology adjunct, adjunct instructor for nursing and clinical nursing adjunct. Adjunct faculty Lansing Correctional Campus - English adjunct and math adjunct and psychology adjunct. Find job descriptions and details at: www.donnelly.edu/ careers.
Technician Needed ASAP - Do you like to tinker?
Are you detail-oriented? Then this is the job for you!
A locally owned family business is currently seeking candidates to provide preventive maintenance (cleaning) and repair service on microscopes. No previous experience necessary, on-the-job training provided. Good communication, time management and customer service skills necessary. Expenses paid, out in the field majority of time and each day is different! Some travel is required. Please contact us at: techneeded23@ gmail.com.
Bilingual financial empowerment specialist - Catholic Charities of N.E. Kansas is seeking a bilingual financial empowerment specialist. This position will pilot a financial program for bilingual individuals and families. This position is based in Wyandotte County and will provide culturally relevant financial education and empowerment to Latino communities within Wyandotte and Johnson counties, as well as serving the general population in Wyandotte County. The caseworker will provide wraparound strength-based case management, which includes completing assessments, developing a spending plan with families, and assisting clients in identifying and monitoring measurable and achievable goals with appropriate action steps. For more information about this position, please visit: catholiccharitiesks.org.
Staff job openings - Donnelly College in Kansas City, Kansas, a Catholic college offering higher education for those who may not otherwise be served, has the following staff job openings available — Financial aid director, director of nursing, human resources generalist, and director of development. Find job descriptions and details at: www.donnelly.edu/careers.
Workforce coordinator - Are you seeking an opportunity to advance your career while assisting others to advance theirs? Want to lead a team with the same high level of conviction and passion of serving others as you do? Then consider your next career move with our great team as a workforce coordinator at Catholic Charities of NE Kansas. For more information, go to: catholiccharitiesks.org.
SERVICES
Garage door repair expert
New Garage Doors
Garage Floor Coatings
A Total Door Inc., Since ‘83. Leaven discount joe@atotaldoor.com or (913) 236-644
Custom countertops - Laminates installed within 5 days. Cambria, granite and solid surface. Competitive prices, dependable work. Call the Top Shop, Inc., at (913) 962-5058. Members of St. Joseph, Shawnee.
Alvarez Painting and Remodeling Kitchen and bath remodeling. Quality work at a fair price. Insured. Call (913) 206-4524.
Memory quilts - Preserve your memories in a keepsake quality quilt, pillows, etc. Custom designed from your T-shirt collection, baby clothes, sports memorabilia, neckties . . . Quilted Memories. (913) 649-2704.
SOL Y LA TIERRA
*COMMERCIAL & RESIDENTIAL
*LAWN RENOVATION *MOWING *CLEANUP AND HAULING
*DIRT GRADING/INSTALLATION
*LANDSCAPE DESIGN* FREE ESTIMATES HABLAMOS Y ESCRIBIMOS INGLES!! CALL LUPE AT (816) 252-1391
Rios Painting- Transforming your home one paint coat at a time. Over 20 years of residential and commercial interior and exterior painting. Reliable, professional, and affordable. Insured. Call or Text Ramiro today for a free estimate! (913) 579-5016.
Catholic CounselingSam Meier, MA, LCPC - (913) 952-2267 & David Walter, MA, LCPC - (402) 913-0463
Book an appointment online at: StillWatersKC.com, In Person or Telehealth
Masonry work - Quality new or repair work. Brick, block and chimney/fireplace repair. Insured; secondgeneration bricklayer. Member of St. Paul Parish, Olathe. Call (913) 271-0362.
MIKE HAMMER MOVING - A full-service mover. Local and long-distance moving. Packing, pianos, rental truck load/unload, storage container load/unload. In-home moving and office moves. No job too small. Serving the KC metro since 1987. St. Joseph Parish, Shawnee, parishioner. Call the office at (913) 927-4347 or email: mike@mikehammermoving.com.
Tree trimming and landscaping - We provide free estimates and recent references. Five years of experience and fully insured. Call Charly at (913) 405-8123.
Double A’s Lawn Service Lawn mowing, mulching, gutters, leaf removal Brush removal & hedge trimming Free estimates & insured Alex Spoerre (913) 488-5195
Concrete construction - Tear out and replace stamped, stained or colored patios and drives. Retaining walls, footing, poured-in-place safe rooms, excavation and hauling. Asphalt drives and lots. Fully insured, references. Call Dan at (913) 207-4371 or send an email to: dandeeconst@aol.com.
Free estimates - We do all things home improvement! Services include: interior/exterior painting, flooring, drywall, windows, kitchen/bathroom remodel, decks, etc. You name it, we can help. At Stone Painting, we put the customer first. We ensure a professional quality job at a competitive price. Call today for a free estimate. (913) 963-6465.
AKC Pros roofing, siding, gutters, insulation - Did you get tired of the door-knocking and constant calls from different roofing companies after the storms this year? Now that the dust has settled, let’s talk. If it’s new damage or old damage, just give me a call. I’ll walk your roof and we will decide together whether to file a claim. Locally owned and operated, licensed and insured. Call Josh at (913) 709-7230.
Faith-based counseling to cope with life concerns - Kansas City area. Call Mary Vorsten, licensed clinical professional counselor, at (913) 909-2002.
HOME IMPROVEMENT
Local handyman - Painting, int. and ext., wood rot, mason repair, gutter cleaning (gutter covers), dryer vent cleaning, sump pump (replace, add new), windows, doors (interior and exterior), honey-do list, window cleaning and more! Member of Holy Angels Parish, Basehor. Call Billy at (913) 927-4118.
Garage renovations - Married couple from St. Paul Parish in Olathe. Haul off, clean-out, floor coatings, shelving/painting. Experienced, references available, insured. Call (913) 405-8123.
Popcorn ceiling texture removal Call Jerry at (913) 206-1144. 30 years’ experience. Interior painting specialist. Member St. Joseph Parish, Shawnee.
Haus To Home Remodeling - Let’s give that room a nice face-lift! Specializing in affordable room remodeling. From small projects to bathrooms and basements. Tile, paint, carpentry, wood rot, decks, drywall, etc. Free estimates. Call Cole at (913) 544-7352.
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.
Father and Son Home Remodeling - We specialize in kitchen/bathroom and basement remodeling, from start to finish. We also do decks, covered decks, porches, sun-rooms and room additions! If you’re not sure we do it, just call. From my family to yours, thank you for supporting my small business. To contact me, call (913) 709-7230 and ask for Josh.
CAREGIVING
Family member with dementia or need help at home? - We specialize in helping seniors live SAFELY at home, where they want to live! We also offer free dementia training and resources for families and caregivers. Benefits of Home - Senior Care, www. Benefitsofhome.com or call (913) 422-1591.
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.
Home care - CMA, 15 years’ experience, background check available from past employers. Call (913) 9994340.
>> Classifieds continue on page 13
WOMEN’S RETREAT:
‘ALL THE JOY YOU BRING’
751 S. 8th St., Atchison
Jan. 3 at 6 p.m. - Jan.4 at 3 p.m.
Through faith sharing and creativity, we will uplift our gifts of resilience, ingenuity and faith, leaving us ready to be God’s joyful presence wherever life leads. For more information, call the Sophia Center at (913) 360-6173.
FORGIVENESS 101
Church of the Ascension (St Mark’s Room)
9510 W. 127th St., Overland Park
Jan. 11 and 18 from 9 - 11:30 a.m.
Are you struggling with forgiving someone who has hurt you? You are not alone! “Forgiveness 101” offers a safe and supportive experience of healing for anyone suffering from unresolved conflict and past trauma. In this workshop, you will review the important difference between forgiveness and justice. People who learn to forgive are happier, healthier, more at peace and more purposeful. For more information, go online to: www.yeabut.org. Send an email to: yeabut40@gmail.com to register.
GOOD GRIEF
Marillac Retreat & Spirituality Center
4200 S. 4th St., Leavenworth
Jan. 11 from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Join us for a day of exploration, reflection and healing as we come together to navigate the complexities of grief in a supportive, spiritual environment. Topics include: the power of the story, journeying through grief, understanding suffering and its meaning, spiritual comfort and conflict, the task of mourning, and finding support and peace. This retreat is an opportunity to share, listen, and grow with others who are walking the path of grief. Donations are accepted. Register online at: retreats@scls.org.
BREAKFAST WITH THE KNIGHTS
Divine Mercy Parish
555 W. Main St., Gardner
Jan 12 from 8:30 - 10 a.m.
Breakfast will include eggs, sausage and gravy, pancakes and drinks. Join us for great fellowship. The cost is $6 for those over the age of 13 and free for ages 12 and under. Proceeds are used for charitable works, such as scholarships and other giving through the year.
NEW YEAR SPIRITUAL REFLECTION AND PLANNING RETREAT
Christ’s Peace House of Prayer 22131 Meagher Rd., Easton
Jan. 10 - 12
The retreat will begin at 5:30 p.m. on Jan. 10 and end on Jan. 12 at 4:30 p.m. Set aside time to reflect on what matters most in life, prioritize the most important things first and map out pathways for the new year. There will be conferences, spiritual direction, eucharistic adoration, Mass, confession, and time for private prayer, reflection and walking. Bring your own personal items that will aid in the process such as: Bible, notebook, agenda, journal, catechism, laptop (if this helps you plan better), etc. Cabins/courtyard rooms are: $180 single/$270 couple, or single guest rooms are: $110 (meals included). To attend, fill out the individual retreat form at: ChristsPeace.com or call (913) 773-8255.
SPAGHETTI DINNER
St. Patrick Parish (center)
1066 N. 94th St., Kansas City, Kansas Jan. 18 at 6 p.m.
Dinner will include spaghetti with sauce, meatball, Italian sausage, salad, breadstick and ice cream sandwich. The cost is: $12 for adults; $7 for children under 12; and a family meal is $35. Ten games of bingo are $12. The average prize is $75 per game with blackout around $250. For questions, call Fritz at (913) 515-0621.
SNOW BALL
Overland Park Convention Center
6000 College Blvd., Leawood
Jan. 18 at 6 p.m.
Support Catholic Charities’ mission of providing help, hope and hospitality to the most vulnerable. Ninety-one cents of every dollar raised through Snow Ball supports Catholic Charities’ 30-plus life-changing programs. This black-tie event includes a cocktail reception, sit-down dinner and dancing to music by The Crossroad Sound. There is no fundraising — just celebrating — the night of the event. To purchase a ticket, table or make a gift, visit the website at: snowballgala.org. For more information, call (913) 433-2068.
WILLS AND TRUSTS WORKSHOP
Holy Spirit Parish (Martha and Mary Room)
11300 W. 103rd St., Overland Park
Jan. 21 from 6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
The workshop will run from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. and will begin with light snacks and a social gathering. The presentation will include: What is the difference between a will and a trust? How do you avoid probate (and what exactly is probate)? How can I leave money or assets to my church, school, archdiocese or favorite charitable organization? Register online at: cfnek.org/ events or contact Greg Alejos at (913) 6470365 or by email at: galejos@archkck.org.
‘DIVINE
HARMONIES’
Sophia Spirituality Center
751 S. 8th St., Atchison
Jan. 22 - 23
This event will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 22 and end at 4:30 p.m. on Jan. 23. Each year, thousands enjoy the magic of musicals — stories that linger through song and dance. Join us for a few days exploring classic musicals and discover their lessons on faith, morals and our connection to God. For more information, Google: Sophia Spirituality Center.
EXTRAVAGANZA EVENT
The Foundry Event Center
400 S.W. 33rd St., Topeka
Jan. 25 at 5 p.m.
The Holy Family School Extravaganza is the major fundraiser for the school. The funds raised support programs for our students, teachers and school beyond parish subsidies. If interested in becoming a sponsor, purchasing event or raffle tickets, contact Courtney Engel by email at: engelc@ holyfamilytopeka.net or go online to: holy familytopeka.net/extravaganza. Donations can also be mailed to: Holy Family School, 1725 N.E. Seward Ave., Topeka, KS 66616.
NEW YEAR SPIRIT
TASTE OF KCK 2025
Resurrection School
425 N. 15th St., Kansas City, Kansas
Jan. 25 at 6 p.m.
The evening begins with drinks and appetizers as well as school tours and student projects. An ethnic dinner follows with “diversity on a plate,” ranging from enchiladas to povitica. The program includes “meet the principal.” There will also be an honoree, a student speaker and performances.
PROJECT CHRYSALIS
Church of the Ascension
(St. Luke’s Room, lower level)
9510 W. 127th St., Overland Park
Jan. 28 at 6 p.m.
Are you a member of this club that nobody wants to be in? Project Chrysalis is a ministry for parents or grandparents who have suffered the loss of a child. Questions? Contact Patty in the parish office at: pbillinger@kcascension.org.
BEYOND ACADEMICS: THE CATHOLIC DIFFERENCE IN EDUCATION
Holy Spirit Parish
11300 W. 103rd St.
Jan. 29 from 7 - 8:30 p.m.
The Blessed Seelos Institute and archdiocesan office of Catholic schools is hosting this information event for parents with or without children currently enrolled in Catholic school. The evening will begin with prayer, followed by a presentation on “What is Catholic Education?” and a panel discussion with Catholic school leaders and parents. Register online at: archkckcs.org.
RETROUVAILLE
Jan. 31 - Feb. 2
Rediscover the love that brought you together. Every marriage faces challenges, but it is through these moments that deeper connections are formed. Join us to learn new ways to communicate and strengthen your bond. As one couple shared, “We learned so much about each other that we never knew.” Let this be the beginning of a beautiful new chapter in your relationship. For more details and to register, call (800) 470-2230 or go online to: HelpOurMarriage.org.
FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS
The National Shrine of Mary 176 Marian Dr., Laurie, Missouri Ongoing until Jan. 5
From 5 - 10 p.m.
Join us for our Christmas light displays, featuring a live Nativity, children’s crafts, refreshments, carolers, St. Nicholas and a bonfire. Hot cocoa and candy canes are offered each Friday. For more information, go online to: mothersshrine.com.
OLDE WORLD CHRISTMAS
Strawberry Hill Museum
720 N. 4th St., Kansas City, Kansas Saturdays and Sundays through Jan. 12 From noon - 3 p.m.
Come experience an Olde World Christmas at the museum. Go online to: Strawberryhillmuseum.org for tickets and a list of other holiday events.
SANCTA MARIA SCHOOL’S EVENING UNDER THE STARS
Abe and Jake’s Landing
8 E. 6th St., Lawrence
Feb. 1 at 6 p.m.
Join us for a dinner and dance fundraiser for Sancta Maria School, a small Catholic Montessori school in Eudora and a nonprofit 501(3)(c). The evening begins with cocktails at 6 p.m. and ends at 11 p.m. Semiformal attire is requested. For more information or to make reservations, send an email to: raventmf@yahoo.com or call (785) 727-0942. If you are unable to attend but would still like to financially support the school, you can write a check to: Sancta Maria School, 1623 Elm St., Eudora, KS 66025.
WILLS AND TRUSTS WORKSHOP
St. Patrick Parish (hall)
1086 N. 94th St., Kansas City, Kansas Feb. 5 at 12:15 p.m. (Mass - optional) 1:15 - 2:15 p.m. (workshop)
The event begins after Mass and will be followed by a light lunch, snacks and fellowship, as well as a welcome message from the parish. Register online at: cfnek. org or contact Jane Schmitt at (913) 6473060 or by email at: jschmitt@archkck.org.
DIVORCE SUPPORT GROUP ‘HEALING THE DIVORCED HEART’
St. Michael the Archangel (Gabriel Room)
14251 Nall Ave., Leawood 1st & 3rd Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m.
Those who have experienced a divorce understand, as perhaps few others can. We were sad, lonely, scared and angry, but we have found that with God, time and the support of others, healing is possible. For more information, visit the website at: www.stmichaelcp.org/divorce-support, or send an email to: calledtolove143@gmail. com
>> Continued from page 12
REAL ESTATE
We are local people who can buy your house - Big companies from all over the nation come here buying houses, but that’s not us. We are parishioners of Holy Trinity Parish and we enjoy giving you personalized service. We can offer you a fair price and are flexible to your needs. If I can help, call me, Mark Edmondson, at (913) 980-4905.
Looking to buy or sell a home? - Buy or sell a home with someone who understands your values. We are a Catholic-owned, faith-driven team of realtors, dedicated to helping fellow Catholics buy or sell homes in our community. We bring integrity, compassion and a commitment to your needs. Let us be part of your journey. Call Kevin Holmes (owner) at (913) 553-0539.
We buy houses and whole estates - We are local and family-owned, and will make you a fair cash offer. We buy houses in any condition. No fees or commissions and can close on the date of your choice. Selling your house has never felt so good. Jon & Stacy Bichelmeyer, (913) 599-5000.
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
Do you have a car or truck that you need to get rid of? If you do, CALL ME! I’m a cash buyer. We’re Holy Trinity parishioners. My name is Mark. (913) 980-4905.
Wanted to buy - Antiques & Collectibles: jewelry, military items, railroad, sterling, OLD holiday/toys and more. Renee Maderak (913) 475-7393. St. Joseph Parish, Shawnee.
Wanted to buy Vintage baseball & sport cards Cash for cards Holy Trinity parishioner Call Matt at (913) 522-4938
$$PAYING CASH$$ Antique furniture, crocks, tin and cast iron toys, old tools, glassware, American coins, jewelry. Most anything old. Please call Patricia at (913) 515-2950.
PILGRIMAGES
Pilgrimages - Medjugorje is approved by the Vatican, receiving “nihil obstat” and encouraging people to go. The next pilgrimage date with visionary Mirjana Soldo as our hostess is March 12-20 and April 16-23, 2025. I am also available to speak to groups about Medjugorje. Call Grace at (913) 449-1806.
FOR SALE
For sale - Four side-by-side plots beautifully located in Resurrection Cemetery’s Ascension Gardens in the first area behind the wonderful Christ statue at the main entrance. Asking $12,000 for all four plots which is less than if you purchased from Catholic Cemeteries. Foundation fee and maintenance paid. Call Steve at (913) 486-3532.
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).
SOLUTION
DAILY READINGS
CHRISTMAS SEASON
Jan. 5
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. 6
André Bessette, religious
1 Jn 3:22 – 4:6
Ps 2: 7b-8, 10-12a
Mt 4: 12-17, 23-25
Jan. 7
Raymond of Penyafort, priest
1 Jn 4: 7-10
Ps 72: 1-4, 7-8
Mk 6: 34-44
Jan. 8
Wednesday
1 Jn 4: 11-18
Ps 72: 1-2, 10, 12-13
Mk 6: 45-52
Jan. 9
Thursday
1 Jn 4:19 – 5:4
Ps 72: 1-2, 14, 15bc, 17
Lk 4: 14-22a
Jan. 10
Friday
1 Jn 5: 5-13
Ps 147: 12-15, 19-20
Lk 5: 12-16
Jan. 11
Saturday
1 Jn 5: 14-21
Ps 149: 1-6a, 9b
Jn 3: 22-30
ANDRÉ BESSETTE
1845-1937
Born in Canada, André worked for three years in the United States as a weaver and manual laborer. After returning to Canada in 1870, he joined the Congregation of Holy Cross and took final vows in 1874. For decades, Brother André humbly served his community near Montreal as doorman, janitor, barber, gardener and infirmarian. With St. Joseph as his model and intercessor, he developed a healing ministry and huge following. In 1904, he moved into Montreal to help build the Oratory of the Holy Cross, and remained there for the rest of his life. When this “Miracle Man of Montreal” was canonized in 2010, Pope Benedict XVI said he “lived the beatitude of the pure of heart.”
Hope springs eternal in Jubilee 2025
Did you hear the blaring of the ram’s horn? Yeah, me neither. But hopefully you heard the turning of the key opening the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican on Christmas Eve ushering in Jubilee 2025. So, what’s the deal with the ram’s horn? Well, the word “jubilee” comes from the Hebrew word “yobel” which refers to a ram’s horn being sounded to inaugurate a jubilee year in the Old Testament.
Pope Francis has declared 2025 a jubilee year that will last until Jan. 6, 2026. Its theme is Pilgrims of Hope. The pope wrote of his desire for this year: “We must fan the flame of hope that has been given us and help everyone to gain new strength and certainty by looking to the future with an open spirit, a trusting heart and far-sighted vision. The forthcoming Jubilee can contribute greatly to restoring a climate
FATHER MARK GOLDASICH
MARK MY WORDS
any others.
So, the rich man assembled a group of painters, purchased barrels of green color and directed that every object his eye was likely to fall upon be painted green just as the monk had directed.
where to start, spend a few minutes with this story:
of hope and trust as a prelude to the renewal and rebirth that we so urgently desire.”
This is a big deal for us as Catholics. In fact, the Vatican is expecting some 35 million people there during Jubilee 2025. (With my aversion to things too “peopley,” I’ll not be among them!)
A jubilee year is a time for conversion as well as joyful celebration. If you’re looking
Many years ago in India, a rich man suffered from severe eye pain. He consulted numerous physicians and was getting multiple treatments. He consumed heavy loads of drugs and got hundreds of injections. But the pain only got worse.
At last, a monk who was supposed to be an expert in treating such patients was called for by the rich man. The monk understood the problem and told the man that for a certain period, he should concentrate only on green colors and not look at
When the monk came back to visit after a few days, the rich man’s servants ran with buckets of green paint and poured them on him since he was wearing a red gown, and they didn’t want their master to see another color and have his eye pain return.
Hearing this, the monk laughed and said to the rich man, “If only you’d bought a pair of green glasses, worth just a few rupees, you could have saved these walls, trees, pots and all other articles and saved a large share of your fortune. You cannot paint the whole world green!”
The moral of the story is: Once we change our vision, the world will appear according-
ly. It is foolish to try to shape the world, let us shape ourselves first. (Story found in Meir Liraz’s “Top 100 Motivational Stories.) Can we begin to view our world with hope, rather than despair? A simple place to start is by making a daily “hope journal.” The inspiration for this comes from Todd Doughty’s book “Little Pieces of Hope.” Its subtitle summarizes it well: “Happy-Making Things in a Difficult World.” The 244 pages of this book are filled with thousands of small things that brought a smile to the author’s face and made his world a better place. May our Jubilee celebration focus our eyes on the countless blessings that the Lord showers us with daily and help us be active and joyous pilgrims of hope for our families, churches, communities, country and our world.
At least, that’s what I’m hoping for!
We’re frail and imperfect but full of possibility in the new year
If we haven’t gotten enough of Christmas lights already this season — on houses, trees, bushes, department stores — this Sunday we are absolutely festooned with them. The reading, from Isaiah announces in the very first line: “Your light has come!” And it keeps on coming.
On this solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord, the most prominent epiphany (or “revelation”) may well be that light has at last come to the world. We might consider it the very fulfillment of God’s first words in all of Scripture: “Let there be light.”
This glorious solemnity is the perfect moment to remember
DEACON GREG KANDRA
Deacon Greg Kandra is an award-winning author and journalist, and creator of the blog “The Deacon’s Bench.” He serves in the Diocese of Brooklyn, New York.
that command — and to cherish what those words really mean. With the birth of Christ, God taking on
flesh and entering human history as a baby in a humble stable, the world is made whole. Something new is beginning, another Genesis starts to unfold.
A lot of us have made resolutions for the new year — and a few of us, I suspect, have already broken them. But all is not lost. When you think about it, today is really the best time to resolve to start anew.
The light of this day points the Magi to Jesus, but they aren’t the only ones. It leads us to that encounter in Bethlehem, too. It calls us to the manger, to the unlikely throne of a newborn king, where we kneel and reflect and pray, and then open our own gifts, our
own “treasures,” before the Lord. It invites us to see Christ in his astonishing humility — even, incredibly, his helplessness — and coaxes us to say, with a sense of wonder and hope, “Here I am. This is what I have to offer you. Help me to be of use.”
That may be one of the best gifts we can give the Lord right now — ourselves, in all our frailty and imperfection, but filled with possibility. At the dawn of a new year, on a day dazzling with light, we come before God with a sense of surrender and new purpose.
With the light of Christ in our hearts, how can we make the days ahead brighter in places so often
overcome by shadows? How can we be light in the world? This Gospel passage offers one compelling answer — and a sense of direction — in what may be one of my favorite lines in all of Scripture: “They departed for their country by another way.”
After the Magi had greeted the newborn king and encountered the savior of the world, things had to change. They couldn’t follow a familiar route. They couldn’t go back by the old way they had traveled before. There had to be another way.
If you’re looking for a good resolution to keep in this new year, there it is: Resolve to go “by another way.”
Pope: Skill, performance are not enough; empathy, heart needed at work
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis told young people preparing to seek employment not to accept just any kind of work, especially if it is “evil,” and not to compromise their beliefs for any reason, even for money or social status.
“Evil alienates us, extinguishes our dreams, makes us lonely and resigned,” he said in a written message to young people
attending a workshop organized by the Rome-based Christian Associations of Italian Workers (ACLI). The heart knows how to notice what is evil or good and authentic, he wrote, and “we must choose,” asking for help and accompaniment from those “who know and care about us.”
People must enter into the world of work together, not each person for him- or herself, or else “we would
rapidly become cogs in a machine, and those with power would be able to make anything of us,” he wrote.
“Know-how is not enough,” he wrote, and “performance is not everything. Machines will increasingly suffice for this.” What matters is the intelligence, imagination, empathy and creativity of the human heart, he wrote. “We are ‘one of a kind,’ let us help each other remember that.”
Father Mark is the pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Tonganoxie. He has been editor of The Leaven since 1989.
Archdiocesan efforts to walk with moms echo Nativity story
Merry Christmas! I hope you are resting in the true peace and joy that the birth of Our Savior brings.
One of my favorite Christmas Day traditions is watching “The Nativity Story” movie. After listening to the Gospel readings through Advent, visualizing the story only increases my awe and wonder. The more I reflect, the more I am struck by how the work of the pro-life community in the archdiocese is inspired by each event of the Nativity story.
The story begins when an angel visits Mary, a young virgin, and with her “yes” to
TLIFE MATTERS
of conception.
God’s invitation, the Holy Spirit comes upon her and the Son of God is conceived. We believe that life begins at the moment
Mary faces many challenges with her unexpected pregnancy — the hardship of being poor, judgment from her community and uncertainty whether Joseph, her betrothed, would support her or leave her. Many in our community have experienced or known
a loved one or someone who is facing this challenging situation in fear or anxiety.
Joseph also agrees to follow God’s call and supports Mary and protects the child in her womb through her pregnancy. The Knights of Columbus and other men’s groups do heroic work to defend preborn children and help protect pregnant women. Specifically, the Knights donate life-saving ultrasound machines to pregnancy resource centers around the state.
Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth for support and comfort. Our Gabriel Project ministry trains “angel” volunteers to walk
alongside pregnant women, offering friendship and guidance. Our Walking With Moms in Need initiative prepares parishes to be places of love and support. Some parishes offer the new Embrace Grace support group for single, pregnant women so that they can be in a community that knows God’s love for them and their babies.
Mary and Joseph travel to Bethlehem but find no room at the inn when it is time for Mary to give birth. Local pregnancy resource centers and maternity homes provide hope and care for women and families who have no support or anywhere else to turn.
Mary gives birth to an infant who was born to redeem the world. Every child is a gift, created in the image and likeness of God. Angels announce the birth of Jesus to the shepherds, who go in haste to see Jesus. The shepherds praise God for all they have seen and all are amazed by what the shepherds tell them. Join us at IGNITE for Life and the Kansas Mass & March for Life, Jan. 29 in Topeka (go online to: archkck.org/ ignite), to pray and boldly proclaim the “Gospel of Life”! This new year, may we all be deeply inspired by the Nativity story and all we “have seen and heard.”
New CEF scholarship will target funds to ‘working poor’
his is a very special time for all to reflect on the meaning of the Advent season and rejoice in the birth of Our Lord.
Many gifts will be exchanged over the next few weeks as families gather for the holiday season. For the Catholic Education Foundation, it is also a special time as it is announcing a new scholarship to help families afford Catholic education.
CEF is establishing a new scholarship fund to honor Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann that will support “working poor” families. This will be a great gift for some families in the very near future. CEF’s scholarships
Ttypically support families who qualify for the federal free and reduced lunch program. To qualify for free lunch, family household income must be 130% of the federal poverty rate or lower. Families that total 185% of poverty qualify for
reduced lunches. The new Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann Legacy Scholarship will enable CEF to expand scholarships to families who don’t qualify for federal assistance but cannot afford tuition. This will allow CEF to expand its scholarships to families who have household incomes reaching up to 300% of the federal poverty rate, also known as “working poor.”
CEF is collecting donations now for the new scholarship and plans to start awarding scholarships next school year. Revenues generated from this fund will be used to award the scholarships.
To date, over $500,000 has been raised for this special fund. The goal for the fund is to reach over $1 million in the near future with hopes of growing the fund with annual donations.
Archbishop Naumann has been a true champion of Catholic education. His mother was a Catholic school teacher and actually served as his kindergarten teacher. He has served on numerous Catholic school boards and has been an active board member for the Catholic Education Foundation for over two decades. CEF board chair RJ Gildea remarked at CEF’s recent
annual dinner that “we couldn’t think of a better way to honor the archbishop for all that he has done to support and strengthen our schools than to name a new scholarship after him.”
This fund will help those families who don’t qualify for federal assistance but simply can’t afford tuition. Those interested in making a gift in honor of Archbishop Naumann and supporting the scholarship can contact CEF at (913) 647-0344 or visit the website at: https:// www.cefgala.org/givenow.
Live with a Catholic mission mindset in this new year
he beginning of a new year is both a time for perspective and planning; we reflect on the year behind us and consider the opportunities ahead of us. It’s a time for making resolutions as we review our physical, mental and spiritual health, as well as the current states of our vocation and career.
Each of us has an inner drive to become the best version of ourselves and recognize the value in assessing our present reality. But what is the measure of the best version of ourselves? What do we hold as the goal?
We likely have numerous goals in our
your call to share Christ’s love and truth in everything you do. Begin by grounding yourself in prayer and the sacraments, particularly the Eucharist and reconciliation, to receive strength and grace. Let your daily actions reflect Christ’s love — treat others with kindness, compassion and integrity.
lives; however, as Catholics, we believe that we were ultimately created to fulfill the will of God. In doing this, we strive to know, love and serve God on earth so as to
be with him in heaven. The best version of yourself is sainthood and your goal is union with God in heaven; anything less is temporary and fleeting. We achieve both of these by having a Catholic mission mindset.
Living with a Catholic mission mindset means embracing
Share your faith by living it authentically, through both words and actions. Build strong friendships, listen well and look for opportunities to speak about your faith in everyday conversations. Use the tools of today’s world, like text messaging and social media, to strengthen
your relationships and spread the Gospel message. Prayerfully consider how the Holy Spirit is prompting you toward accompaniment — who might you be called to grow in spiritual friendship with throughout the upcoming year?
Strengthen connections with your Catholic community for support and growth, drawing inspiration from the lives of saints who lived out their missions with zeal. Consider reaching out to a person that reflects docility and joy; ask them about their
relationship with God. Trust that God will guide and provide for you as you live intentionally, discerning his will and responding with faith and action. Ultimately, live to love and serve others.
Beginning a new year is a great opportunity to review the priorities in our lives — not for what we will individually gain but for the goal of achieving union with God. In living with a clear Catholic mindset, we achieve the best version of ourselves on an eternal mission.
DEBRA NIESEN
Debra Niesen is the archdiocesan consultant for the pro-life office.
VINCENT ANCH
Vince Anch is the executive director of the Catholic Education Foundation.
EMILY LOPEZ
Emily Lopez is the lead consultant for adult evangelization.
ALONG THE WAY
Kids’ Kids’ CHRONICLE
CHRONICLE
Jesus comes to John to be baptized in the Jordan River
By Jennifer Ficcaglia Catholic Courier
ohn the Baptist had been preaching in the desert.
He warned everyone he encountered that they needed to repent of their sins and be baptized so their sins would be forgiven.
This fulfilled a prophecy in the Book of Isaiah: “A voice of one crying out in the desert: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill shall be made low. The winding roads shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’”
Many people came to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. Some even wondered if John was the Messiah who had been promised to them by God.
John quickly corrected those who thought he was the Messiah.
“I am baptizing you with water,” he explained, “but one mightier than I is coming. I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
After all the people had been baptized, Jesus came to John to be baptized as well.
Once John had baptized Jesus, and as Jesus was praying, heaven opened. The Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus in the form of a dove.
Just then, a voice from heaven spoke.
“You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased,” the voice said.
Jesus left the Jordan River filled with the Holy Spirit, and the Spirit led him into the desert for 40 days. Jesus didn’t eat anything during this time, so when the 40 days ended, he was very hungry.
That’s when the devil came to tempt Jesus.
Knowing Jesus was hungry, the devil tempted Jesus to turn stones into bread, but Jesus refused. The devil tried two more times to tempt Jesus, but when it didn’t work, the devil went away.
After this time in the desert, Jesus returned to Galilee to begin his public ministry.
Bible accent
While many people liked the preaching of John the Baptist, there were some who didn’t appreciate what he had to say.
In Mark 6:17, we read that John told King Herod that he had sinned by marrying Herodias, who had been the wife of Herod’s brother.
Herodias hated John for pointing this out, and she wanted to kill him.
One day, Herodias gave a banquet for Herod’s birthday. The leading men of Galilee, military officers and courtiers were there for the celebration.
Herodias’ daughter performed a dance that delighted Herod and his guests.
Herod told the girl that he would grant her anything for which she asked.
The girl went to her mother.
“What shall I ask for?” she wanted to know.
Herodias saw her chance.
“The head of John the Baptist,” she replied.
The girl hurried back to the king.
“I want you to give me at once on a platter the head of John the Baptist,” she told Herod.
Herod was deeply distressed, but because he had made his promise to her in front of so many important people, he did not want to go back on his word.
Herod summoned his executioner and had John beheaded.
St. Francis de Sales was born in 1567 in what is now present-day France. He was ordained a priest in 1593 and spent four years reconverting Catholics who had become Calvinists. To do so, he wrote many tracts that explained the tenets of the faith. Francis became bishop of Geneva, Switzerland, in 1602. He reorganized and reformed his see, and he also preached in Paris and wrote two devotional books. He and his longtime friend, St. Jane Frances de Chantal, together founded the Order of the Visitation. Francis died in 1622. He was canonized in 1665 and declared a doctor of the church in 1877. We remember him on Jan. 24.
1. Who baptized Jesus?
2. What did Jesus do after he was baptized?
ILLUSTRATION BY LINDA JEANNE RIVERS