01 20 23 Vol. 44 No. 22

St. Marys parish dedicates new adoration chapel, grotto

By Joe Bollig joe.bollig@theleaven.org

ST. MARYS — Call it a coincidence, call it an accident, call it what you will. There is an unplanned feature of the new eucharistic adoration chapel at Immaculate Conception Parish here that inspires Jenna Aubert.

The chapel has a monstrance with the Blessed Sacrament on the eucharistic adoration altar. If Aubert kneels at a certain place during her assigned 5 to 6 p.m. time on Tuesdays, she sees something special in the circular, glass window of the monstrance.

A circular window in the back wall projects its image — the Blessed Mother and the Infant Jesus holding a chalice with the consecrated host — onto the circular glass window of the monstrance, aligning perfectly.

“They’re both looking [toward me] as I adore Jesus,” said Aubert.

There was nothing coincidental about the wooden adoration altar that graces the new chapel, however.

When Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann blessed the chapel and Our Lady of Lourdes grotto outside Immaculate Conception Parish

>> See “GROTTO” on page 2

LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER

Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann blesses the Our Lady of Lourdes grotto outside Immaculate Conception Parish in St. Marys on Jan. 15. He is assisted by Deacon Jody Madden and Father Justin Hamilton, pastor of Immaculate Conception.

LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER

Immaculate Conception Parish in St. Marys boasts a new eucharistic adoration chapel, complete with a new altar that was built by high school junior Luke Trausch under the guidance of his shop teacher Keith Aubert. Both are members of the parish.

Grotto portrays apparition at Lourdes

>> Continued from page 1

on Jan. 15, he was joined at Mass by pastor Father Justin Hamilton, who concelebrated, and Deacon Jody Madden from Atchison, who assisted.

But he was also assisted by an altar server who had already made quite a contribution to the day.

That server was high school junior Luke Trausch, who, under the guidance of his shop teacher Keith Aubert, had built by hand the entire wooden adoration chapel altar as a shop class project last spring.

A place of pilgrimage

“It’s a joy to be with you and always a privilege and a pleasure to come to this parish dedicated to Mary under the title of the Immaculate Conception in this city named after the mother of Our Lord to celebrate Mass with you today,” said Archbishop Naumann.

“However, today is even more special, because I will have the joy of blessing the new Marian grotto with the image of Mary portrayed as she appeared at Lourdes,” he added. “It was at Lourdes that Mary revealed herself to the young girl Bernadette Soubirous, identifying herself under the title Immaculate Conception.”

He hoped that it would be a place of pilgrimage for people seeking the intercession of Our Lady of Lourdes for spiritual renewal and healing.

“Today is also special because . . . we’ll bless the newly erected adoration chapel,” he said. “There are no coincidences with God. So, it’s with special joy I dedicate and bless this newest adoration chapel in the archdiocese because we do so at the beginning of a three-year national pastoral initiative of Eucharistic Revival.”

Sacred space

The new eucharistic adoration chapel is on the south side of the church. With a native limestone exterior to match the church, it is partially new space and renovated existing space.

It was designed to be accessible by an outside door for those in wheelchairs or with physical impairments. It is accessible to the sanctuary upstairs by means of a curving staircase and through a storage room. Adoration is 24 hours a day, seven days a week, except during Mass.

It’s a jewel box of a chapel with a design that echoes the sanctuary with dark blue ceiling, Gothic-style lighting, stenciling and dark wood trim and wainscoting.

“Utilitarian designs are not fitting for a sacred space because we’re not there purely for utilitarian reasons,” said Father Hamilton. “We’re there [in adoration] to ‘waste’ time with the Lord and to be lavish with him. It’s kind of like the woman who poured ointment on the feet of the Lord.”

The chapel has a narthex (entryway) with a sliding door to close it off from the adoration space. The chapel has the adoration altar on a predella (raised platform) flanked by two paintings: the boy Jesus found in the Temple on the left, and the Samaritan woman at the well to the right. It has one pew and some chairs. Off to the right of the chapel is a library room with a desk and a bookshelf, and a bathroom.

The back wall of the 245-squarefoot chapel has three circular stained-glass windows: the Sacred Heart of Mary on the right, the Sacred Heart of Jesus on the left, and the Blessed Mother and the Infant Jesus in the center. There is

a circular stained-glass window of a pelican in the library, a bird with ancient associations with Christianity. The library desk and a statue of Jesus were donated in memory of Marikay Zemek Fox. A statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary was donated by Al and Lucile Fox. A reproduction of an 18th-century Sacred Heart of Jesus painting, in the narthex, was donated in memory of the late 7-year-old Makalyn Isabelle Aubert. Because of her heart ailment, she had a special devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Construction of the chapel began in October 2020 and was completed in September 2021. The cost was approximately $456,000. Sabatini Architects of Lawrence designed the structure. AHRS Construction, Inc., of Bern was the general contractor.

The grotto, on the east side of Centennial Hall (the parish hall), has a fan-shaped area with a brick walkway extending to the sidewalk. Some of the bricks feature sponsors’ names. It has five limestone benches in an arc facing the grotto, which is a simple limestone structure consisting of a barrel vault and closed back. Large, rough limestone blocks form a retaining wall behind the grotto.

The white-painted concrete statues of St. Bernadette and Our Lady of Lourdes were donated by the late Robert Meyer and his son Joe Meyer. Originally, the statues were from St. Francis Hospital in Topeka. Additional lighting and a Marian garden are planned for the future.

The grotto was built between September and November of 2021. The cost of construction was approximately $38,000. The grotto was built by Zach Gellegos of Flint Hills Masonry in St. Marys, and Josh DeVader of DeVader Concrete in Maple Hill.

Where’s the archbishop?

Look for Archbishop Naumann’s weekly column on page 7 of this issue as it accompanies the archdiocesan financial report.

ARCHBISHOP NAUMANN’S CALENDAR

Jan. 20

March for Life — Washington, D.C.

Jan. 21 — Catholic Charities Snow Ball — Overland Park

Jan. 23

Red Mass — Topeka

Jan. 24

IGNITE Mass and March — Topeka

Jan. 26 Communio quarterly priest lunch/ meeting — chancery

Jan. 27

Mass — St. Thomas Aquinas High School, Overland Park

Jan. 28

Dedication Mass —St. Isidore, Manhattan

Jan. 30

Clergy open house — residence

Jan. 31 Mass — Hayden High School, Topeka

Leavenworth regional priests meeting — Holy Angels, Basehor

Administrative team meeting — chancery

Correction

In the “Quo Vadis” retreat article, “If you hear his voice” in the Jan. 13 issue of The Leaven, Caleb Renyer’s last name was misspelled. The Leaven regrets the error.

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Hablamos Español

St. Joseph, Shawnee, parishioner State Farm, Bloomington, IL 2001738

Catholic agencies in California organize outreach, relief for storm victims amid historic rainfall

By Nicholas Wolfram Smith OSV News

OAKLAND, Calif. (OSV News)

— Catholic organizations in California, strengthened by years of responding to disasters in the Golden State, responded quickly to bring aid to those affected by the ongoing brutal winter storms.

Since late December, a series of atmospheric rivers have brought recordsetting rainfall to the state, leading to flooding, mudslides and evacuations. Nineteen people have died, while a 5-year-old boy remained missing after being swept away in a flash flood earlier in the week. One state official estimated the storms could cause more than $1 billion in damages, and more than two-thirds of California counties are eligible for federal emergency assistance.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom said Jan. 11 the state “is soaked and even an inch more of rain can bring catastrophic impacts like flooding and mudslides. These conditions are serious and they’re deadly, and we want all Californians to be mindful and follow all guidance from local emergency responders.”

In a statement, the California Catholic Conference offered prayers for “those who have lost their lives, those in flooded areas or who are at risk of flooding, for those who continue to be without power, and for emergency personnel who are working tirelessly to keep people safe.”

At Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Santa Rosa, in Northern California, the disaster response has been focused on safety check-ins, matching resources to those who need them, and bringing warm clothing, baby supplies and other items to local emergency shelters.

Years of disasters in the region, especially wildfires, have given Catholic Charities and other nonprofits critical experience in emergencies.

“During a disaster, the key is to have strong communication and collaboration with other nonprofits and state governments to get help quickly to those who need it,” John Pavik, communications director for Catholic Charities in Santa Rosa, told OSV News.

“We’ve learned lessons with each previous disaster and are really seeing it come to the front now.”

Pavik emphasized that once the immediate crisis passes, Catholic Charities has case workers available to help people recover from the damage. “Disasters happen in a short time frame, but the impact is long term,” he said.

For Judy Dietlein, a member of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP) and the western region chair of its Disaster Services Corporation, what changes in a disaster is the scale of the assistance that is offered.

“SVdP conferences will respond to their community on every level they can, as they do day to day,” Dietlein said, adding that the local knowledge the parish-based conferences have makes them “very savvy” in connecting people to the resources they need.

Dietlein said conference members, who are all volunteers, are the “boots on the ground, who are doing the work, meeting people every day, and certainly a disaster never stopped them from helping anyone.”

The national Society of St. Vincent de Paul organization has provided Walmart gift cards and hygiene kits for people staying in shelters and given money to conferences to address other needs, especially blankets, food and gas. Case managers employed by St. Vincent de Paul also are available if a major disaster is declared by the federal government.

California’s homeless population, estimated at more than 170,000, is particularly vulnerable to the effects of the weather, and at least three unhoused Californians have died due to stormrelated accidents.

San Francisco’s St. Anthony Foundation has seen a significant increase in people visiting for daytime shelter, showers, and laundry services since the dangerous weather arrived. CEO Nils Behnke said about 50 more guests arrived each day than they had capacity for during the first week of January.

“It is a horrible disaster. If you just think about what many of us experience in our own buildings, it’s a nuisance compared to if you sleep on the street, where it becomes dangerous and difficult. It makes living unhoused a lot harder,” Behnke said.

In response, the nonprofit has extended hours for programs, handed out ponchos and set up tents to keep belongings dry.

Two more storms are forecast to hit California before the weather possibly subsides next week.

OSV NEWS PHOTO/ERICA URECH, REUTERS

Abandoned cars are seen in a flooded street in east Santa Barbara, California, Jan. 9. California has gone from extreme drought to extreme flooding in a matter of days. As of Jan. 9, 90% of the state’s population was under a flood watch.

OSV NEWS PHOTO/FRED GREAVES, REUTERS

This is a view of flooding from the rainstorm-swollen Sacramento and American rivers near downtown Sacramento, California, Jan. 11. Catholic agencies were responding to the needs of those displaced by the flooding caused by relentless rain battering California up and down the coast.

Courts advance use of chemical abortions

By Joe Bollig joe.bollig@theleaven.org

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — As Kansans prepared to give thanks last November, the courts handed down a ruling that was anything but a blessing.

The day before Thanksgiving, a district court ruling made it possible for chemical abortions to be done throughout the state without a doctor visit via the practice of telemedicine. Kansas abortion rates are expected to soar because of this and other court rulings.

On Nov. 23, 2022, Shawnee County District Court Judge Teresa L. Watson granted a temporary injunction prohibiting the enforcement of parts of the Telemedicine Act of 2018 and K.S.A. 65-4a10, which prohibit chemical abortions done through the method of telemedicine.

Telemedicine, also known as telehealth, is a way of doing health care and related activities at a distance without an in-person office visit with a doctor. It is primarily done online with internet access — such as a video chat — or over a telephone.

The lawsuit that led to this ruling was filed by the Center for Reproductive Rights on behalf of Trust Women Wichita, an abortion clinic founded in 2013. The plaintiffs sought a temporary restraining order and temporary injunction preventing enforcement of the law, which was rejected. The plaintiffs appealed and the Kansas Court of Appeals reversed the district court’s ruling, which forced Judge Watson to grant the temporary injunction.

Ruling not unexpected

The ruling was not unexpected in the wake of the Kansas Supreme Court’s 2019 ruling that found a right to abortion in the 1859 Kansas Constitution, and the failure in August 2022 of the “Value Them Both” amendment vote, which would have overturned the high court’s ruling.

“This ruling and the new extreme legal landscape for abortion access in Kansas are a direct and devastating attack on women, authentic women’s health, and preborn babies,” said Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas.

“To women experiencing an unplanned pregnancy — no matter what the circumstances — there are a great many Kansans across this state standing by right now, ready to offer you life-giving options,” he added. “We will not abandon moms and babies to the abortion industry.”

In the months leading up to the “Value Them Both” vote, the state’s abortion industry argued that the proposed amendment was unnecessary because of Kansas’ strong prolife laws. At the same time, however, the abortion industry was working to eliminate those laws — including the Telemedicine Act.

“We contended during the ‘Value Them Both’ campaign that these and other reasonable, common-sense regulations on the abortion industry designed to protect women and preborn babies were in grave danger,”

said Lucrecia Nold, policy specialist for the Kansas Catholic Conference. “This ruling confirms the reality of that fear. There is no doubt that the path is clear to successfully block or challenge each abortion law or regulation in Kansas.”

The “Value Them Both” amendment vote was intended to protect existing pro-life laws, said Deb Niesen, archdiocesan lead consultant for pro-life ministries.

Since the proposed constitutional amendment’s defeat, the abortion industry has begun to systematically dismantle Kansas’ pro-life laws through the courts, Niesen said. So far, three have been eliminated: the ban on live dismemberment abortions; abortion facility licensing and inspection; and now the telemedicine abortion law.

Following last November’s ruling by the Shawnee County District Court, Comprehensive Health of Planned Parenthood Great Plains (CHPPGP) began telemedicine chemical abortions.

According to a CHPPGP press release, patients seeking telemedicine chemical abortions will be seen in-person at one of their three facilities in Kansas “to complete consent requirements and an evaluation, but the telehealth physician may be in any state where abortion is legal.”

CHPPGP relied on flying in doctors to meet women at its facilities, but “with the Shawnee District court ruling . . . this is no longer necessary.”

Risks of chemical abortions

Although CHPPGP has called chemical abortions “a safe and effective method of ending an early pregnancy,” Jeanne Gawdun of Kansans for Life pointed to significant risks to women through telemedicine chemical abortions. She called it “bad medicine all around.”

“There are a number of reasons why the [Kansas] legislators and the people of Kansas who supported this ban on telemedicine abortions felt it was protective of women,” said Gawdun.

The Food and Drug Administration recommended that these abortion pills not be taken past 10 weeks, but women don’t always know precisely how far along they are in their pregnancy, said Gawdun. A woman who takes the

abortion pills with an undiagnosed ectopic pregnancy (in the fallopian tube and not the womb) are at risk of a life-threatening fallopian tube rupture. And there are other complications that can arise with chemical abortions, including severe bleeding.

The Charlotte Lozier Institute published a fact sheet in July 2022 outlining several dangers of chemical abortions to women, said Gawdun.

Road ahead

The big question now is: “Where do we go from here?”

“From a pro-life perspective, we are limited in what we can do through public policy and laws [because of court rulings],” said Niesen, “but I know that the Kansas Catholic Conference and others are still working [through the legislative process] to increase protections for women.

“But as Archbishop Naumann said, what we can’t do through the law we will do through love. We’ll continue helping women facing difficult pregnancies through our Walking With Moms initiative, support for pregnancy resource centers and the Gabriel Project ministry.

“The fact is women choose abortion because they are without hope. We must feed them hope and provide support so these women can make life-affirming decisions for themselves and their children.”

A new website has been created to help women locate and use pregnancy resource centers across Kansas at: www.HelpingKansasWomen.org.

Ray and Mary Jo (Normile) Becker, members of St. Mary Parish, Purcell, will celebrate their 60th anniversary on Jan. 25. The couple was married at St. Mary Church. They have four sons and 11 grandchildren. They celebrated with their children and grandchildren during the holidays.

Jane (Wilson) and Jerry Reschke, members of St. Ann Parish, Hiawatha, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary with a trip to Mexico with family in March. The couple was married on Jan. 27, 1973, at St. Ann. Their children are: Matt Reschke and Brett Reschke, both of Olathe. They also have five grandchildren.

Larry and Joyce (Mills) Heinen, members of Immaculate Conception Parish, Valley Falls, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on Jan. 22 with a reception for family and friends. The couple was married on Jan. 20, 1973, at Valley Falls. Their children are: Brian Heinen, Valley Falls; and Jennifer White, Topeka. They also have four grandchildren.

Salvation Bible Study offered Jan. 23 - April 10

DENVER — Internationally known Scripture teachers Curtis Martin and Edward Sri will host a FOCUS “Lenten Bible Study on the Story of Salvation” live on Monday evenings from 7 to 7:55 p.m. (CST) Jan. 23 – April 10.

This free, 12-week Lenten Bible study is open to anyone and will dive deep into the story of God’s amazing love that has shaped the lives of countless saints throughout the centuries — along with the mission of FOCUS since Martin and Sri founded it 25 years ago. Sign-up can be found online at: focus equip.org/lentenstudy2023.

SOLUTION

OSV NEWS PHOTO/COURTESY DANCO LABORATORIES

A box of the RU-486 drug, known generically as mifepristone and by its brand name Mifeprex, is seen in an undated handout photo. A recent court ruling made it possible for chemical abortions to be done throughout the state without a doctor visit via the practice of telemedicine.

THIS RULING AND THE NEW EXTREME LEGAL LANDSCAPE FOR ABORTION ACCESS IN KANSAS IS A DIRECT AND DEVASTATING ATTACK ON WOMEN, AUTHENTIC WOMEN’S HEALTH, AND PREBORN BABIES.

ARCHBISHOP JOSEPH F. NAUMANN

Scholarship Ball offers chance to help worthy students

ATCHISON — The annual Benedictine College Scholarship Ball, now celebrating its 51st year, has again been named a Top 10 fundraising event in the Kansas City area by The Independent magazine. This year, co-chairs Kevin and Colleen “Cocoa” O’Malley and Lené Westerman have set the popular event for the evening of Feb. 25 at the Overland Park Convention Center, located at 6000 College Blvd. The Scholarship Ball includes dinner, awards, entertainment and dancing to live music by The Coda. More information and reservations are available online at: www.benedictine. edu/scholarship-ball.

The event brings in millions for scholarships that will enable students from all walks of life to attend Benedictine, a private, Catholic, residential school located in Atchison. Each year, the ball features the presentation of the Cross of the Order of St. Benedict, a prestigious award established in 1969 to recognize alumni and friends who have supported charitable institutions, provided civic or religious leadership and demonstrated professional excellence. This year, the award will go to Jack (’70) and Kathy Newman.

Jack graduated from Rockhurst High School in Kansas City, Missouri, and St. Benedict’s College, Atchison, and then earned both a master’s

degree in health care administration and certification as a CPA. He served in an administrative role at the University

of Kansas Hospital, and then continued his career in health care advisory services for 22 years at KPMG and for over 12

years at Cerner Corporation. Both during his career and in retirement, Jack has served or is serving on the following

boards of directors: Benedictine College, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City, Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas, Enterprise Bank & Trust, EPR Properties, Hallbrook Country Club, Heartland Health and The University of Kansas Health System.

Kathy graduated from St. Teresa’s Academy and Avila University, both in Kansas City, Missouri, and has a bachelor’s degree in special education. She initially taught special-needs children at the Marillac School in Kansas City, Missouri, and later served on the first formal board of directors of that school. She also has served on the board of directors of St. Teresa’s Academy. Kathy moved to the role of a stay-at-home mom raising, with Jack, the couple’s son Chris, and their three daughters — Amy, Molly and Kate. She now assists, whenever possible, with 11 grandchildren, ranging in age from 1 to 21.

Founded in 1858, Benedictine College is a Catholic, Benedictine, liberal arts college located on the bluffs above the Missouri River. The school is proud to have been named the best private college in Kansas by The Wall Street Journal, one of America’s Best Colleges by U.S. News & World Report and one of the top Catholic colleges in the nation by First Things magazine and the Newman Guide.

“The Nun Run last year was such a huge success that I had no reservations about opening the opportunity again in 2023 to other girls who want to experience the life of Sisters,” said Meghan Ascher, youth director at Church of the Nativity in Leawood.

Over spring break 2022, six high school girls embarked on a weeklong journey to visit three convents, opening their hearts to what vocation the Lord might be calling them to. The girls spent 48 hours at each convent, three days and two nights, where they entered the rhythm of the life of the convent, working and praying with the Sisters.

Avery, a 15-year-old participant in last year’s trip, loved everything about it.

“The Nun Run was an amazing experience that helped me grow in my faith and deepen my spiritual life. I enjoyed spending time with the Sisters and experiencing the different ways they pray and work. It was one of the highlights of my year,” she said.

This year, the “runners” will return to two archdiocesan communities: the Fraternity the Poor of Jesus Christ and the Sisters, Servants of Mary. In addition, they will journey to the Marian Sisters of the Diocese of Lincoln.

They will participate in each order’s respective missions, including homeless street ministry, visiting the sick

and dying, and spending time with the mentally and physically handicapped.

The Sisters, Servants of Mary, who welcomed the Nun Run last year, speak highly of the girls’ time at their convent.

“My favorite takeaway from their stay,” said Sister Teresa Seaton, SSM, “was seeing the girls feel comfortable to be themselves and enjoy their time with us.”

Ascher said that it is important the

girls feel free in their discernment. They will begin the experience with an orientation night at Nativity learning the basics of discernment before going out to meet the Sisters. Last year, she said, the travel time between convents proved to be an important time for them to process their experiences in an open dialogue.

“High school girls who would give up their spring break to entertain a potential call to religious life are truly

mature, adventuresome and dynamic people, and I genuinely enjoy my time spent with them,” Ascher said.

The Nun Run this year will once again be offered over spring break, from the evening of March 10-17.

Ascher said the trip is open to any high schooler 14-18 years old who would like to participate, whether they are seriously discerning a call to religious life or not.

“Sometimes, you just have to take a step before you know which path in life the Lord might be calling you,” she said.

The cost is $50 to attend, and Ascher can be reached at (913) 954-2261 to register. The Church of the Nativity website includes information about the upcoming event at: www.kcnativity.org/ NunRun.

COURTESY PHOTO

Jack and Kathy Newman are the honorees of this year’s Benedictine College Scholarship Ball, which will be held Feb. 25 at the Overland Park Convention Center.

‘Nun Run’ opens a window on religious life for high school girls

COURTESY PHOTO

The Franciscan Sisters introduce their high school visitors to a round of their classic Catholic board game from Brazil during last year’s Nun Run. The event gave girls the opportunity to visit three convents during spring break to explore a possible calling to religious life.

MY FAVORITE TAKEAWAY FROM THEIR STAY WAS SEEING THE GIRLS FEEL COMFORTABLE TO BE THEMSELVES AND ENJOY THEIR TIME WITH US. SISTER TERESA SEATON, SSM

O.P. school drills for cardiac event — ‘more likely’ than tornado

By Moira Cullings moira.cullings@theleaven.org

OVERLAND PARK — Schools in Kansas practice fire drills, tornado drills and even active shooter drills.

But John Paul II School in Overland Park recognized that there was one important drill missing.

“It’s something that’s probably just as likely, if not more likely, to happen than a tornado,” said Cindy Ascher, registered nurse at John Paul II.

The missing drill is one that practices a medical response to a cardiac emergency.

And running one at least annually is just one of the things John Paul II is doing to prevent cardiac death at its school.

John Paul II was recently selected as a Heart Safe School by the Project Adam initiative, which is operated locally by Children’s Mercy.

As part of that initiative, on Dec. 16, 2022, Ascher and fellow registered nurse Christine Kuhlmann were joined by nurses from Children’s Mercy and Project Adam, as well as an Emergency Medical Services (EMS) team, during a cardiac emergency drill at the school.

With help from fellow staff members, Ascher and Kuhlmann practiced cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on a dummy while working with an Automated External Defibrillator (AED).

“We already identified even today different things [to improve on],” said Kuhlmann. “Like when we get our new AED, it’ll be down by our office, so we’ll be able to respond to emergencies just by grabbing it and going.”

The two also worked on their teamwork, knowing that an improvement in response time to a cardiac event depended on quick, clear communications.

One focus, for example, was quickly identifying the room the emergency was occurring in; it doesn’t help to give a room number if it is commonly just referred to as “the kindergarten room.”

“You can’t prevent cardiac arrest,” said Kaitlyn Bennett, a registered nurse and Project Adam coordinator. “But we’re trying to prevent cardiac death by having Heart Safe Schools in the community.”

Children’s Mercy brought Project Adam to the Kansas City area in January 2020, and John Paul II was eager to get involved.

“We truly have superior staff here,” said Kuhlmann. “They really care about the kids.”

As a Heart Safe School, John Paul II will build an ongoing relationship with the Children’s Mercy and Project Adam reps to make sure they’re up-to-date on

best practices.

The groups have already created an emergency plan of action should someone experience sudden cardiac arrest.

Bennett stressed the importance of a program like Project Adam.

“Being prepared is the most important thing,” she said. “You don’t wake up every day [thinking], ‘I hope I get to do CPR today,’ but you’re prepared because you’ve gone through this process.

“The hope is that other schools in your community will see your hard work and say, ‘That’s what we want, too — we want our kids safe.”

Ascher and Kuhlmann were excited to get the word out to their school community about their efforts.

“Hopefully, parents will see that even though we’re a small school, it’s important to us to be heart healthy and medically ready to do whatever we need to do,” said Ascher.

Leann Miles, a nurse practitioner at

Children’s Mercy and volunteer for Project Adam, is grateful schools like John Paul II are taking the program seriously.

“This is all near and dear to our hearts,” she said, “because we see the kids on the other side and what the outcomes are. That’s why it’s so important in the community to give as much as we can back.”

Miles said school nurses who face cardiac emergencies are “the true heroes in those situations,” and they need support.

“School nurses are out on an island,” she said. “If you think about being a nurse in a hospital, I can say, ‘I need help, or I need so-and-so in here.’

“[Sharing with them] these tools will help them feel like they’re not as much on an island.”

To learn more about Project Adam, go online to: projectadam.com or visit the Children’s Mercy website at: childrens mercy.org and search “Project Adam.”

Solution on page 4

LEAVEN PHOTO BY MOIRA CULLINGS

Cindy Ascher, left, and Christine Kuhlmann, registered nurses at John Paul II School in Overland Park, perform a cardiac emergency drill on a dummy while nurses from Children’s Mercy and an Emergency Medical Services (EMS) team look on. The school was recently selected as a Heart Safe School by the Project Adam initiative.

YOU CAN’T PREVENT CARDIAC ARREST, BUT WE’RE TRYING TO PREVENT CARDIAC DEATH BY HAVING HEART-SAFE SCHOOLS IN THE COMMUNITY.

KAITLYN BENNETT REGISTERED NURSE AND PROJECT ADAM COORDINATOR

The people in darkness have seen a great light

Dear friends,

We are coming out of the Christmas season and entering our brief span of Ordinary Time before we dive into Lent. We are in the midst of winter with its shortened days, much darkness, cold temperatures and, if we are lucky, a blanket of pure snow to cover the frozen brown tundra.

Is it any wonder that I think of chocolate? A lot! To quote a famous fictional character: “Life is like a box of chocolates.”

Permit me to use the metaphor of chocolates in describing our major pastoral priorities whose funding and expenses are described in this financial report.

Conversion: Chocolate caramels

When I receive a box of chocolates, I immediately attempt to identify the caramels. For my taste, they are the most important: the highest priority.

The heart of the church’s ministry is to facilitate for its members an encounter with the person of Jesus Christ. Central to what it means to be Catholic is the development of a friendship with Jesus through prayer and the sacraments. The heart of the church’s ministry is not just to help parishioners know about Jesus but to know Jesus.

Every reception of a sacrament provides an opportunity to have a profound encounter with Jesus. We are currently participating in a three-year national pastoral initiative to revive and renew our appreciation for the great gift of the Eucharist. During Lent, the archdiocese promotes opportunities to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Pen ance), especially on Wednes day evenings. Jesus loves us, not because we are perfect and deserve it, but because of the wideness of His mercy.

Throughout the year, our pastoral center, retreat houses, camps and parishes offer opportunities where we can encounter Jesus in new and powerful ways. Many opportu nities are provided for us to pray over the Bible as well as to grow in our ability to meditate by pondering how God is revealing himself to us in the events of our everyday lives. Our Catholic campus centers at secular universities as well as our young adult ministries provide spiritual growth opportunities to encounter Jesus and develop early in life a strong, enduring relationship with Our Lord.

Our clergy are critical in the provision of the sacraments and opportunities to deepen our prayer life. The archdiocese invests significantly in the formation of future priests and deacons, as well as in the ongoing formation and education of the clergy. Thanks to the generous donors to the One Faith Campaign, the retirement residence for priests is scheduled to open this spring.

Evangelization:

Chocolate-covered cherries

Chocolate-covered cherries or strawberries are among my favorites, because it is chocolate with a surprise inside. The delicious taste of the chocolate is complemented and enhanced by fruit swimming in a sweet nectar.

The commission that Jesus gave to the church was to go and make disciples of all nations. The mission statement for the archdiocese is: “Growing as Disciples of Jesus; Making Disciples for Jesus.” The church can never be content with itself as it is currently constituted. To be the church Our Lord desires us to be, we must always have a missionary impulse, striving to share the pearl of great price (our Catholic faith) with others.

This past Advent, our priests and deacons preached the central truths of our faith, the kerygma – a Greek word meaning “what is proclaimed or heralded.” The archdiocese and our parishes offer programs that teach about the wisdom and beauty of our Catholic faith.

However, evangelization is not just a task for priests, deacons, religious Sisters, and lay ministers. The great commission does not apply exclusively to church leaders but rather to every Catholic. Through our confirmation, we have all been empowered by the Holy Spirit to be what Pope Francis terms “missionary disciples.” We all have family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, etc. who have not yet come to know Jesus and the joy of his Gospel. If our Catholic faith is our most priceless possession, how can we fail to share it with others?

We evangelize others, not by winning theological arguments, but by the way we live. Others should see in us a peace, a joy, a compassion and an ability to love that is attractive. We have a responsibility to share with them the “sweet surprise” inside our souls that animates everything we do — our relationship with Jesus and the gift of fellowship within his church. We open the hearts of others to the gift of our Catholic faith by showing them the difference our friendship with Jesus makes in our lives. When the Gospel is well-lived, it is contagious!

Catholic education: Hot chocolate

One of my favorite forms of chocolate in the winter is a mug of hot chocolate with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream. The ice cream kind of defeats the idea of the hot. For me, it is the best of both worlds, the comfort of warmth on a chilly winter night combined with the stimulus of the brisk cold cream. A hot fudge sundae is a similar experience of contrasting temperatures with sweet delights.

An essential component of the church’s mission is the education of the next generation of disciples, as well as ongoing formation for adults. Catholic education helps us understand not only what we believe but why we believe. Being well-educated and well-formed Catholics can protect us from having our faith stolen by a secularized culture that is good at offering quick pleasures that do not bring enduring joy and are incapable of satisfying the actual hungers of our hearts.

The church believes all fields of study that sincerely pursue truth are good, because they ultimately lead us to the source of all truth – God. The church gave birth to and developed the modern university system. Donnelly College, sponsored by the archdiocese, serves many who are the first in their family to receive a degree in higher education. Worldwide, the Catholic Church educates more students than any nation, institution or organization.

In our archdiocese, we are blessed to have 36 elementary schools, six high schools and three Catholic colleges. Our elementary schools have an enrollment of 10,565, and our high schools have an enrollment of 3,289 students. The dedication of Catholic school presidents, principals and teachers shone brightly throughout the pandemic as they quickly adapted to remote instruction online and then, as soon as possible, safely returned to in-person learning.

As a bishop, I have the responsibility to teach the truths of our Catholic faith. However, there is very little that I can do by myself. Our Catholic schools and parish schools of re ligion assist me in my responsibility as well as assisting parents in their vocation as the first teachers of their children in the faith.

We continue to invest a significant amount of resources in funding programs to educate adults on safe conduct when interacting with children or vulnerable adults. We require and provide back ground checks for every em

ployee and volunteer who interacts with children as part of their job or ministry. We continue to provide ongoing training in safe-environment best practices and monitor compliance.

The Leaven newspaper is available to every registered parishioner. It provides a wealth of information and insight into the church’s teaching, while also inspiring readers with human interest stories describing the faith being lived by individuals in our parishes and ministries.

Serving those in need: M&Ms

The M&M was a great invention: the encasing of chocolate in a hard, sugary shell. What a taste sensation!

An essential component of the church’s mission is to make the love of Jesus real and tangible in the world. In order to do this, our ministries often have to penetrate the hard shells of distress that are caused by poverty, illness, tragedy, racism, addictions, dysfunctional families and misfortune. In our efforts to bring the love of Jesus to those on the periph eries of society, Pope Francis reminds us that it is precisely there that we will encounter the sweet presence of Jesus.

Jesus chose to be born into this world in the harsh and impoverished circumstances of an animal shelter. Jesus, Mary and Joseph were refugees fleeing an evil tyrant that massacred innocent children in his obsession to kill a baby that he feared was a threat to his power.

Jesus spent most of his adult life as a laborer. In his ministry, Jesus healed many physical and spiritual infirmities. Our Lord entered into the grief of those who had suffered the death of a loved one. Jesus allowed himself to be accused falsely, to be subjected to cruel torture, to be unjustly condemned and to suffer the humiliating and tortuous fate of the most despicable criminal – death by crucifixion.

This past year, the archdiocese – thanks to the generosity of many donors to our special Respect Life fund – supported the Value Them Both Amendment, a valiant effort to protect innocent children and vulnerable women from the tragedy of abortion. We also increased our efforts to surround those experiencing a difficult pregnancy with a community of love and support. We launched the website helpingkansaswomen.org and continue to strive to rescue with love children and mothers that we are unable to protect by law.

Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas continues to serve hundreds of thousands of individuals and families that are in need. With inflation especially hurting the poor, Catholic Charities is poised in 2023 to serve even more individuals with emergency assistance through our family resource centers and resource bus. With great joy, Catholic Charities recently was able to reopen Shalom House, a shelter for homeless men, at the Sanctuary of Hope site where we are able to serve more men with better and expanded resources. Catholic Charities seeks to provide immediate practical assistance, while always striving to help those being served to break free from the cycle

Thanks to the One Faith Campaign, Villa St. Francis, Kansas’ largest Medicaid skilled nursing home, this year will begin significant renovations to the facility despite having to persevere through supply chain issues and multiple levels of government approvals.

Catholic Community Hospice provides high quality care for individuals approaching death in a manner consistent with Catholic moral principles.

Stewardship: The Kit Kat

I love the crunch sensation when you take a bite into Kit Kat’s chocolate-covered wafers. The foundation of Catholic spirituality is a profound gratitude that emanates from the realization that everything good, including life itself, is God’s gift. Thanksgiving is the natural state for the Christian. From this natural attitude of gratitude emerges the fundamental question for the Christian: What am I called to do with all that God has entrusted to me? How do I use my time, talent and treasure to glorify God by seeking to serve others?

The Greek word for bishop means “administrator.” Everything the church possesses materially is the result of the sacrificial gifts from our parishioners. It is my responsibility to maximize the impact of every donated dollar contributing to the accomplishment of the archdiocesan mission to make and form disciples for Jesus.

Fortunately, I am blessed to have excellent assistance in fulfilling my administrative responsibilities. I am very grateful to our archdiocesan finance council, composed of an exceptional group of talented laity, that helps to guide me in the best use of archdiocesan funds.

In addition, I am fortunate to have a talented and dedicated chief financial officer, Carla Mills, who has assembled a very capable accounting staff that helps crunch the numbers. Similarly, we have an excellent human resource staff that assists me with the care of our most valuable resource, the dedicated men and women who work in our parishes, schools and ministries.

The work of our accounting and human resource staff is behind the scenes, but their labors are critical in making possible all the beautiful miracles of grace that occur in our pastoral, educational and charitable ministries. Running our insurance programs, managing risks, taking good care of employees and volunteers, paying bills, and producing transparent and accurate financial reports are essential tasks for the church to fulfill her mission.

I also depend heavily on Bill Maloney, the executive director for stewardship and development, and his talented team of co-workers in helping to cultivate a spirituality of stewardship throughout the archdiocese and raising the necessary funds to support all of our apostolates and ministries. Assisted by the sage advice of the members of the Catholic Foundation of Northeast Kansas, Bill and his team help the foundation serve our parishes, schools and ministries by promoting and providing oversight for endowments and planned gifts.

I continue to be edified and inspired by the generosity of the parishioners of the archdiocese. Your support of our parishes, schools, Catholic Charities, the Catholic Education Foundation, Archbishop’s Call to Share and so many other ministries reflects the depth of your faith in Jesus Christ and His Bride, the church.

My commitment to you is to continue to strive to be a better shepherd and servant leader for the people of God. I also renew my pledge to be transparent in reporting to you how your sacrificial gifts are being used to build up God’s Kingdom in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas. Together, we can bring the sweetness of the Gospel of Jesus to northeast Kansas!

Gratefully yours in Jesus, the Lord of Life,

+ Joseph F. Naumann

P.S. It is not good to feed archbishops chocolate! Despite the theme of this letter, please do not send chocolate. With the New Year, I am striving to be more ascetical and free myself from my chocolate addiction. However, I do welcome the sweetness of your prayers for me.

FROM THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Transparency

The financial information you see on these pages shows you the sources (income) and uses (expense) of the funds at the archdiocese for the most recent fiscal year and the year prior. A comparison of the two years and explanations of differences over $100,000 and 10% are provided. This statement agrees in total to the audited annual financial report which is posted on the archdiocesan website under https://archkck.org/administration/ finance-office/. Some category amounts may differ due to updates in presentation.

There are essentially four classifications of sources of funds: Fees and Other Income, ACTS (Archbishop’s Call to Share Annual Appeal), Assessments and Collections and Cathedraticum. Following is a brief description of each.

Fees and Other Income: Some offices charge fees for services, such as school fees to cover administration, youth camp registration fees, rental fees at Savior Pastoral Center, The Leaven subscriptions and advertising. Additionally, investment earnings, contributions, and campaign donations are recorded here. By far the largest source is health and dental premiums for all covered employees of the archdiocese.

ACTS: This annual appeal is conducted each January-March to raise funds for the following fiscal year. Based on analysis and information produced by a committee of laity and priests, the Presbyteral Council makes a recommendation to the archbishop for the allocation of funds.

Assessments and Collections: Includes amounts assessed to parishes or regions for Savior Pastoral Center and Youth Formation, as well as the Catholic Charities Christmas Collection and Priesthood Present and Future Collection.

Cathedraticum: Annual tax as provided under Canon Law Section 1263 for the bishop to fund the administrative costs of the diocese. The amount and method varies by diocese.

The uses of the above funds are listed down the page and are divided by categories which correspond to the Five Pastoral Priorities of the archbishop. A short explanation of each priority is provided under each heading. Additionally, use of funds for each line item is broken down between columns based on the origin of the funds received to pay for the spending. For example: Under the Pastoral Priority of Education is Communications. Communications received funding from restricted funds (Fees/Other Income), ACTS and Cathedraticum. The total spending for the office of Communications is found in the Total Column.

The bottom line is the net of the income sources and uses. In cases where the net is negative, balances saved from previous years are used. It is also important to know that all funds received with donor restrictions are accounted for to ensure that those funds are used only for the purpose the donor intends.

The results

Overall, fiscal year 2022 yielded a positive bottom line while fiscal year 2021 shows a loss of over $5 million. Wide fluctuations in net income are not uncommon, especially in years involving capital campaigns or major appeals. Accounting rules require that we record the pledges when received. Therefore, we have a mis-match of results because in the years when the pledges are made, we record the revenue, but we have not spent the money (and may not have even received the money yet). Then, once all of the funds have been received, we start to spend the money. In those years, we have no capital campaign revenue, but we will be recording the capital campaign distributions as expenses, yielding bottom line losses. This can make the reading of the financial statements in the years of capital campaigns very confusing!

Additional information

In addition to the operating statement presented, there are funds, including National Collections and Special Emergency Collections, we call “pass-through funds” which are collected at each parish, sent to the archdiocese and then forwarded on to their final destination. This schedule shows the reach of our collective generosity beyond the boundaries of our parishes and our archdiocese.

The sidebar on Transparency is included to shed light on the funds used in our efforts to protect children and vulnerable adults through background checks and training all employees and volunteers in the archdiocese who have interactions with children in the scope of their duties. When an allegation of abuse is made, there are also costs associated with victim assistance and canonically-required assistance for the priest.

Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas OPERATING STATEMENT FOR

At the heart of the church’s ministry is facilitating for its members an encounter with the person of Jesus Christ. Central to what it means to be Catholic is the development of a friendship with Jesus through prayer and reflection.

The commission that Jesus gave to the church was to go and make disciples of all nations. The church can never be content with itself as it is currently constituted. We must always be guided by a missionary impulse to share the gift of our faith with others.

spirituality begins with profound gratitude resulting from the realization that everything, including life itself, is God’s gift. Thus, the question for every Christian is: What is God calling me to do with all that he has entrusted to me?

FOR 2021 AND 2022

Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas REVENUE ACTUAL 2021 vs 2022

Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas EXPENSES ACTUAL 2021 vs 2022

TRANSPARENCY

victims. A Healing Assistance Coordinator works with victims to receive assistance.

Victim Settlement $50,000 $70,000

Priests

Pay, benefits and retirement contribution $36,438 $100,156 Mental Health Counseling $3,700 $1,640

Canon 384 payments to credibly accused priests $40,138 $101,796 # of Priests 3 3

These priests have credible accusations but have not been tried and convicted in a court of law as the legal process is still pending. The Code of Canon Law section 384 requires the diocesan bishop to provide for the priest’s financial support and social assistance, including daily living expenses health insurance and retirement. Normally, that is facilitated through the parish via Canon 222.1 where the Christian faithful are obliged to provide for the decent support of its ministers, however, in the case where a diocesan priest is not assigned to a parish, the responsibility falls back to his bishop. In the cases of these priests, the amounts also include mental health counseling.

Child Protection efforts $331,369 $433,331

All archdiocesan employees and volunteers who have substantial contact with children and youth are required to complete on-going training for the protection of minors.

Additionally, the archdiocese conducts criminal background checks on each person undergoing this training.

Compliance with this program is checked by the archdiocesan internal auditor on a rotational basis as well as United States Conference of Catholic Bishops auditors on an annual basis.

This office also provides for an investigator.For additional information please go to: https://www.archkck.org/virtusinfo

Man arrested after altar destroyed at Subiaco Abbey in Arkansas

By Malea Hargett OSV News

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (OSV News)

— A man was arrested Jan. 5 after he destroyed the marble top of the altar at St. Benedict Church at Subiaco Abbey, stealing two small brass reliquaries embedded in the altar.

Abbot Elijah Owens, OSB, said a reliquary with relics of Sts. Boniface, Tiberius and Benedict was found in the suspect’s truck, along with a hammer and sledgehammer “with marble dust still on them.”

The other reliquary with relics of Sts. Tiberius, Marcellus and Justina was recovered by sheriffs Jan. 6.

Several witnesses said they saw a “strange man” on the campus between 3-4 p.m. The man was previously seen at Sunday Masses Jan. 1.

Abbot Owens wrote on the abbey’s website, countrymonks.org, “He had apparently then moved to the tabernacle, removed the cross on top, removed the tabernacle veil and then was interrupted. Thankfully, the Blessed Sacrament and the tabernacle were not damaged.”

The Logan County Sheriff’s Office was called and investigated, interviewing witnesses.

In a Jan. 6 press release, the sheriff said, “Each relic box contained three relics from saints from over 1,500 years ago. Both boxes were missing. The altar itself

had a very large hole in the middle of the slab that went all of the way through the altar, and the altar had large cracks and chips. This is an act of desecration to the altar.”

Abbot Owens said the two reliquaries were placed in the mensa stones in 1959 when Bishop Albert Fletcher consecrated the abbey church. The altar, designed by Daprato Studios of

Chicago and Pietrasanta, Italy, is constructed of Italian Botticino marble with a trim of red Alicante marble from Spain. The marble altar top, or mensa, is one piece of 5-by-10-foot marble, weighing two tons.

The abbey placed its boys’ boarding and day school for seventh to 12th grades in lockdown for the rest of the day Jan. 5 “out of an abundance of caution,” the abbot wrote.

The abbot said the man was arrested after deputies initially left and the man returned to the church.

“One of our monks spoke to the gentleman, and it became clear he was the one who had done the damage. He was arrested, his vehicle towed, and further investigations are ongoing,” the abbot wrote.

Logan County Sheriff’s Office said Jerrid Farnam, 31, from the Subiaco area, was expected to be charged with theft, first-degree criminal mischief, residential burglary, breaking or entering and public intoxication. He was being held at the county detention center.

The sheriff added, “Due to the nature of the destruction and the difficulty in estimating the cost of the items destroyed and stolen and that an altar was desecrated, the charges may change.”

The sheriff added, “The deputies also discovered that the suspect had entered a nearby vacant house, and an item was missing from that house. That item was found in the suspect’s truck.”

Because of the altar’s desecration,

Abbot Owens, monks and 20 guests prayed the Public Prayer after the Desecration of a Church Jan. 6, processing from the refectory to the church chanting Psalm 130. The abbot blessed and sprinkled holy water around the church and celebrated Mass for the community.

The abbot said, “In accordance with the prescriptions, the altar of the church was stripped bare, and all customary signs of joy and gladness have been put away. Due to the extensive damage to the main altar, the monks will use a portable altar until necessary provisions are made for the repairs.”

Abbot Owens told Arkansas Catholic, “This has certainly been a traumatic time for many of the monks who normally live lives of contemplation, prayer and peace. Still, as we have done since 1878 through two devastating fires, two world wars and pandemics, we monks continued our daily chanted prayers for our diocese, the church and the world. We also prayed for the local parish church of St. Benedict since they also use the Abbey Church for their own worship. Like the monks, they, too, were deeply affected because this was their home church as well. We most especially prayed for the young man who perpetrated this crime. Thankfully, there was no loss of life and no desecration of the tabernacle with the Blessed Sacrament. St. Benedict calls us monks in chapter 53 of his Rule to welcome all as Christ. In spite of acts like this, we monks will continue to do so.”

OSV NEWS PHOTO/ARKANSAS CATHOLIC

The damage to the altar at Subiaco Abbey Church in Subiaco, Arkansas, is pictured after the altar was destroyed and two reliquaries stolen at the abbey recently. A man was arrested Jan. 5.

Catholics look to night skies as comet reveals ‘the glory of God’

By Kimberley Heatherington OSV News

ATCHISON — (OSV News) -- Psalm 19 reveals that, day in and day out, “the heavens declare the glory of God.” But every now and then — or sometimes every 50,000 years to be more precise — they do it in a somewhat rare way.

Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) — more picturesquely referred to as a “green comet” because of its glowing green, icy nucleus — was only just discovered in March 2022. According to NASA, the comet makes “its closest approach to the Sun on January 12, and then passes its closest to Earth on February 2.” Last visiting the solar system during the time when humans dwelled in caves, the comet may never return to the solar system — but if it does, it will take another 500 centuries.

Jesuit Brother Guy J. Consolmagno, director of the Vatican Observatory, remarked that, “Comet C/2202 E3 will be a lovely sight, if you are an experienced amateur astronomer who knows your way around the sky, and you have a nice small telescope and dark skies.”

That nice small telescope, however, may not see much if scanning the sky in a typical city or suburban environment, where an abundance of artificial light steals the clarity of many celestial sights.

However, for those with the right equipment, including some Catholic colleges and universities, Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) should supply both an intriguing spectacle and a teachable theological moment.

Christopher Shingledecker, assistant professor of physics and astronomy at

Benedictine College in Atchison, plans to observe Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) with students enrolled in his two astronomy classes. Benedictine’s Daglen Observatory belongs to the Vatican Observatory Consortium.

“If you look at the history of human interactions with the heavens — with the night sky in particular — comets are always seen as being special events whenever they occur,” Shingledecker said, noting the appearance of a comet is commemorated in the Bayeux Tapestry.

While it might require a countryside trek to avoid light pollution, Shingledecker said the comet’s fly-by is still “a good occasion to get out there and take a look at the night sky.”

“We often get distracted with living in the electronic and digital world — so much so that we forget to experience nature directly,” he said. “An event like this is a good excuse to put down the phone, step away from the harsh glare of the screen, and enjoy the calm glow from the stars.”

And to think of God? Shingledecker said yes.

“There’s a tug that — even if one resists it — draws one to the edge of realization. This universe doesn’t explain itself: Why do we have this universe? Why do we have something rather than nothing?” he said.

Some seekers may halt their line of questioning at that juncture, Shingledecker said. Nonetheless, he added,

“God can draw people from that point to him. It’s a natural response. Beauty draws people to God. And I think the beauty of the universe definitely does that.”

Thomas More University in Crestview Hills, Kentucky, is also anticipating the comet’s arrival.

Wesley Ryle, a professor of Math and Physics, and the school’s observatory director, told OSV News an enthusiastic student first queried him about Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF), which presents an ideal subject for Ryle’s Observational Astronomy Lab class. Students have to both observe and photograph an extraterrestrial object as part of the course. “This is kind of the perfect opportunity — it just happened to work out that way,” Ryle said.

But there are other opportunities besides the comet for contemplating the glory of God in the night sky. Upcoming celestial events both Shingledecker and Ryle highlighted include the Lyrid meteor shower in late April; very bright appearances of Saturn and Jupiter in late August and early November; and an annular solar eclipse on Oct. 14.

Sky-gazing can, in Ryle’s view, assist his students — and others — as they wrestle with fundamental questions.

“Making these observations; realizing how big things are; how vast things are — some students take it as, ‘Well, that means that I’m really insignificant,’” Ryle said. “But I usually try to flip it, and say, ‘If this universe is as vast as we see — and there’s the chance that we’re the only intelligent creature out there — that makes our role in the universe that much more important, in terms of what we do with our time, and how we treat each other.”

Illinois bishops, clergy grateful for new assault weapon ban

By Gina Christian OSV News

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Catholic leaders in Illinois are hailing the state’s newly enacted ban on assault weapons, high-capacity magazines and switches.

“The Catholic Conference of Illinois would like to commend the Illinois General Assembly and Governor J.B. Pritzker on banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines with the passage of House Bill 5471,” the state’s Catholic bishops said in an undated message posted to the conference’s website.

The bishops said that the state had “too many times . . . witnessed the horror of mass shootings,” adding they hoped the legislation would “help to provide some peace in our communities going forward.”

On Jan. 10, Gov. Pritzker signed into law the Protect Illinois Communities Act (H.B. 5471), banning the sale and distribution of assault weapons, or semi-automatic rifles, shotguns and pistols designed for military use; high-capacity magazines, ammunition devices capable of feeding 10 or more rounds into a gun chamber; and switches (also known as auto sears), small attachments that enable semi-automatic weapons to function as fully automatic firearms.”

Under the new law, which went into immediate effect, existing owners of

semi-automatic rifles must register their ownership.

Illinois is now the ninth state to implement such a ban. California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York, along with the District of Columbia, have passed similar laws. Minnesota, Virginia and Washington state now require additional regulation for assault weapons.

During the signing ceremony, Pritzker recalled a July 4, 2022 mass shooting in Highland Park, Illinois, which left seven dead – including the parents of a 2-year-old boy – and 36 injured.

Accused shooter Robert Crimo III used an AR-15 style semi-automatic rifle in the attack, a weapon he had managed to purchase despite previous mental health issues. In December 2022, Crimo’s father was charged with felony reckless conduct for sponsoring the gun license for his then-underaged son in 2019.

Assault rifles and high-capacity magazines “are weapons of war and . . . should not be available to any civilian, anywhere,” Father Michael Pfleger, pastor of St. Sabina Parish in Chicago, told OSV News. “You can’t hunt with them; there’s nothing left to eat. These

are not for home protection. These are for war, not for individuals and communities.”

He noted the tragedy of the Highland Park mass shooting had “put new breath” into long-standing community efforts to reduce gun violence, which disproportionately impacts people of color.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, the overall rate of firearm-related homicides increased 34.6% from 2019-2020, with the highest spikes seen among non-Hispanic Black or African American males ages 10-44 and non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native males ages 25-44.

Assault weapon sales have surged in recent decades. The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), an industry trade organization, estimated some 2.8 million semi-automatic rifles were imported or manufactured by the U.S. in 2020. NSSF data also puts the number of semi-automatic rifles now in circulation in the U.S. at 24.4 million, a 4.5 million increase since its 2020 total.

The Geneva, Switzerland-based Small Arms Survey reported that as of 2017 there were more than 1 billion firearms in global circulation, some 85% of them in civilian hands. In the U.S., there were 393.3 million weapons, some 63.3 million more than the total population of about 330 million – a ratio of 120.5 guns per 100 residents, according to the group’s data.

CNS PHOTO/CHENEY ORR, REUTERS

Jazel Ramos, niece of victim Eduardo Uvalde, cries while visiting a memorial site July 6, 2022, in Highland Park, Illinois, after a mass shooting at a Fourth of July parade. Catholic leaders in Illinois hailed the state’s newly enacted ban on assault weapons, high-capacity magazines and switches. Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed the measure into law Jan. 10, and it took effect immediately.

OSV NEWS PHOTO/AMIR COHEN, REUTERS

A meteor streaks past stars in the night sky in the Negev Desert in southern Israel, Aug. 13, 2021. The appearance of the green comet that comes around once every 50,000 years is providing an opportunity for Catholics to evangelize and show how the “heavens declare the glory of God.”

EMPLOYMENT

Part-time program coordinator - St. Michael the Archangel preschool is seeking a part-time program coordinator. The position involves administrative responsibilities and assisting curriculum development. Specific duties include: processing payments using preschool data software; corresponding with families; assisting with classroom instruction; implementing preschool programs and policies; and abiding by principles of sound Catholic education. The program coordinator must meet state requirements for working as a lead teacher in a preschool classroom. Please submit resume and cover letter to Jennie Wente at: jennie.wente@stmichaelcp.org.

Catholic elementary school principal – Sacred Heart School in Emporia is seeking a highly motivated individual with demonstrated skill in spiritual and academic leadership of both students and staff. In addition, familiarity with enrollment management, technology and the tithing/stewardship model would be considered especially desirable. Sacred Heart has approximately 61 students in K - 5th grades taught by nine teachers. Applicants for principal must be practicing Catholics, understand the mission of Catholic schools, and have or be eligible for Kansas licensure in educational leadership. Please apply online at: www.archkckcs.org and send resume and credentials to: Superintendent Dr. Vince Cascone, Catholic schools office, via email to: vcascone@archkckcs.org. For specific questions regarding the school or parish, please contact Father Carter Zielinski at: czielinski@archkck.org.

Web and graphic designer - Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas is looking for a talented Web and graphic designer to join the marketing team! This position is responsible for enhancing and strengthening communication with those served, volunteers and donors through the design and functionality of the public website, as well as keeping employees up-to-date through the intranet. Ideal candidates must have 2-4+ years of experience designing, building, implementing and managing responsive web pages and be skilled in WordPress. Graphic design skills and knowledge of Adobe Creative Cloud are also required as this role will take the lead in designing agency marketing materials. For more information and to apply, visit: https://catholiccharitiesks. org/careers/.

Part-time sitter - Seeking an experienced part-time sitter for a special-needs boy with Down syndrome. He is 21 years old and highly functional and very active. Loves to read his Bibles, all sports and loves working on special projects. The position will be a couple days a week. Time will be from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. Times may vary. If it works out, I would like to have the sitter work on some evenings so I could attend church meetings. Position is in a smoke-free home with no pets. Occasionally, I may need weekend care. However, this is not a requirement. Pay is $15 per hour and gift cards on occasion. For more information or to apply, call (913) 897-2423.

Assistant principal – St. Joseph School in Shawnee is accepting applications for a new assistant principal for the 2023-24 school year. The preferred applicant is a practicing Catholic; has a strong desire to help others foster a relationship with Christ; has demonstrated experience in spiritual and instructional leadership within Catholic schools; and holds or is working toward Kansas licensure in educational leadership. The assistant principal works directly with the principal to uphold the mission of the school and to provide ongoing support in a variety of ways for teachers, students and parents. The assistant principal is responsible for specific tasks related to discipline; schoolwide assessments; scheduling; technology; classroom support for teachers; supervision; as well as other duties. Interested applicants should apply online at: www.archkckcs.org and select “Employment” to access the online application. Once the online application is submitted, email resume and cover letter to Jodie Maddox, principal, St. Joseph School, at: jmaddox@stjoeshawnee.org.

Board members – Santa Marta, Johnson County’s premier life care community, sponsored by the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, is actively seeking board members for the current term. Applicants selected will begin serving April 1. The board meets during the business day six times a year, and each board member also serves on a committee that meets six to 12 times a year. We are seeking applicants who have experience serving on a not-for-profit board and have a concern for our senior citizens. In particular, we are seeking individuals who have a background in law, board governance and finance to serve a three-year term with the option to extend for a second three-year term. Those who wish to be considered for appointment to the board are encouraged to submit a letter of interest, resume or details of relevant experience and home parish to Heidi Abeln at: habeln@ santamartaretirement.com by Jan. 31. Any questions regarding the application process can also be emailed to this address. Be sure to include your phone number and mailing address. Additional information about Santa Marta can be viewed at: www.santamartaretirement.com.

Administrative HR assistant - Electrical Associates is accepting applications for a full-time administrative/HR assistant for its office in Olathe. Requirements include: being proficient in computer skills; ability to deal with confidential matters with discretion; and having strong communication/relationship-building skills. Job duties include: employee on-boarding; managing benefits; processing payroll; entering AP invoices; safety training management; and managing company iPads, etc. Electrical Associates offers paid health insurance; 401(k) and HSA contributions. Send resume with work history and references to: dbrown@eamidwest.com.

Administrative assistant/office of stewardship and development - The office of stewardship and development is seeking a full-time administrative assistant for general assistance in many areas, such as answering calls, managing donor inquiries, maintaining the department email account and helping with special projects. For a complete list of office duties or to apply for this position, please visit: https://archkck.org/jobs.

After-school care provider - St. Michael the Archangel School is looking for a part-time after-school care provider. Monday through Friday, 3:30 - 6 p.m., on days school is in session. Duties include gathering students when school is out; planning activities for students in program; monitoring and assisting children while in program; releasing to parent or guardian at the end of the day; and picking up the space at the end of the day. Must work well with children and parents. Email your resume to the principal, Diana Tate, to apply: diana.tate@ stmichaelcp.org.

Bilingual counselor needed - The Keeler Women’s Center, located at 759 Vermont Ave., Suite 100-B, in Kansas City, Kansas, is seeking a Spanish-speaking counselor. Please contact Sister Bridget Dickason, OSB, at (913) 689-9375 or email: kwc@mountosb.org.

Parish business manager - St. Ann Parish in Prairie Village, is seeking a full-time business manager to oversee all financial, human resource and other administrative aspects of the parish. The position will have responsibilities for budgeting, financial reporting, and cash flow management, as well as managing the human resource and IT functions. The individual will work closely with the pastor, school principal and young child-care director regarding financial, human resource and other administrative matters, and positively interact with volunteers and parishioners to support the parish mission. The successful candidate will have a business-related or human resource degree with a working knowledge of accounting principles and practices. The ideal candidate will also be a proactive, team-oriented leader and possess strong communication and interpersonal skills. The position should have at least five years of demonstrated supervisory experience. A complete job description can be found at: www.stannpv.org. Interested candidates should email a cover letter and resume to Father Craig Maxim at: frcraig@stannpv.org.

Director of music ministry - St. St. Pius X parish in Mission, Kansas, is seeking a director of music ministry. The music director is responsible for facilitating the worship life of the parish by coordinating and providing quality liturgical experiences that celebrate and strengthen the parish journey of faith with special emphasis on the musical leadership, coordination and formation of parish cantors, choirs and accompanists. The director should have a deep knowledge of Catholic liturgy and traditions and be able to integrate him/herself into the current music culture of the parish and build on the program. The position includes planning and developing the full liturgical cycle, including Sunday and holy day liturgies and other major parish celebrations. The director is expected to assist liturgical teams and committees. Other responsibilities include: maintains the parish liturgical music collection; orders music as needed; manages the parish copyright and licensing programs; directs, coordinates and/or performs music that is liturgically appropriate for parish liturgies and other celebrations. Serves as a resource to clergy, religious education/formation staff and catechists in selecting music and planning liturgies and prayer services; invites, encourages and enhances assembly participation in the sung liturgy; assures ongoing expansion of the parish music repertoire. Schedule requires weekend hours, evening hours and holiday hours as needed. Contact Search Committee c/o: la wagner@archkckcs.org.

Manager assistant - St. Mary’s Food Kitchen has an immediate opening for a Manager Assist. Duties include: work closely with the manager, provide support to the day’s coordinator, ensure policies and procedures are followed and operational standard are achieved, participate in the frequency and scope of required daily cleaning tasks, availability to fill in for manager when absent, perform other work-related duties as assigned, interact with guests for improved service. This position is part-time. Weekends and holidays (time and a half). 9am-2pm with the occasional start time of 8:30am. $20/hour. To apply, please send a resume along with two references to Amelia Cortes, kitchen manager, at: stmfoodkitchen@gmail.com.

Early childhood educators – With multiple locations in Johnson County, Special Beginnings Early Learning Center provides high quality child care in a safe, loving Christian environment. Our classrooms are full, and we are looking to add to our amazing team. We are looking for both full-time and part-time teachers for all ages of children. If you have an excellent work ethic, a heart for children and a willingness to learn more about early childhood education, we would love to meet you. For more information or to apply, call Carolyn Andruss at (913) 894-0131, ext. 102.

Director of music and liturgy - Prince of Peace in Olathe is seeking candidates to work with the pastor in the planning and implementation of all parish liturgies. This position is responsible for overseeing all music and music groups, as well as coordinating liturgical ministries in the parish. Must be a practicing Catholic in full communion with the church, and, ideally, able to play the organ and piano. To apply, please send a resume to John Meyers, business manager, at: jmeyers@popolathe.org.

Staff job openings - Donnelly College in Kansas City, Kansas, has the following staff job openings available: Academic librarian; vice-president of business affairs/ chief financial officer. Find job descriptions and details at: www.donnelly.edu/careers.

Janitorial assistant - Queen of the Holy Rosary, Wea, is seeking a janitorial assistant. This is a part-time position requiring 15 - 20 hours per week. Work hours are flexible and can be negotiated with the employee’s supervisor. Basic duties include general cleaning of the church, school and adoration chapel. For a full job description or to apply for the position, visit: archkck. org/jobs.

Extended day care position - Holy Spirit Catholic School in Overland Park is seeking an enthusiastic person to be the group leader in our after-school care program. This well-established program runs from 3 - 5:45 p.m. each school day. We are looking for a faith-filled, responsible, organized and creative person. Applicants should have knowledge of child development and be able to implement age-appropriate activities. The ability to communicate clearly with children, colleagues and parents is most important in order to foster positive relationships. Applicants must attend Virtus training, ongoing childcare training and be at least 18 years old. Contact Tessa Piscitello at (913) 492-2582 or email: tpiscitello@hscatholic. org for more information.

Faculty and adjunct faculty job openings - Donnelly College, Kansas City, Kansas, a Catholic college offering higher education for those who may not otherwise be served. Adjunct faculty job openings include: biology; clinical nursing and math coordinator. Faculty job opening available for the nursing school and for professor of philosophy. Find job descriptions and details at: www. donnelly.edu/careers.

Stylists needed - Are you addicted to the TV show “Say Yes to the Dress”? Are you self-motivated, love fashion and enjoy helping people look their best? If so, we want to talk to you! Sincerely Susan, a unique destination shop boutique is a warehouse environment where clients come in by appointment only. You must have a sense of style and a great personality to be able to interact with our “moms.” Hours are flexible. Must be willing to work a minimum of one evening per week and weekends. Must be able to stand and walk on concrete for long periods of time and reach overhead to pull gowns. Previous retail experience preferred, but not necessary. Hourly rate is based on experience. If interested, call (913) 730-8840.

Caregivers - Daughters & Company is looking for several compassionate caregivers to provide assistance to seniors in their home, assisted living or in a skilled nursing facility. We provide light housekeeping/light meal preparation, organizational assistance, care management and occasional transportation services for our clients. We need caregivers with reliable transportation and a cellphone for communication. A CNA background is helpful, though not mandatory. We typically employ on a part-time basis, but will strive to match up hours desired. Contact Gary or Laurie at (913) 341-2500 if you want to become part of an excellent caregiving team.

Drivers and aides - Assisted Transportation is now hiring safe drivers and aides to transport students with special needs in Johnson, Wyandotte and Clay County, Missouri, in company vans. Drivers earn $14 - $16 per hour. Aides earn $12 per hour. Part-time and full-time schedules available. CDL not required. Retirees encouraged to apply. Make a difference in your community by helping those in need. Call (913) 521-4955 for more information. EEO

SERVICES

Mike Hammer local moving - A full-service mover. Packing, pianos, rental truck load/unload, storage container load/unload, and in-home moving. No job too small. Serving JoCo since 1987. St. Joseph, Shawnee, parishioner. Call Mike at (913) 927-4347 or send an email to: mike@mikehammermoving.com.

Need junk hauled or a cleanup? Will do rental homes/ houses for sale, etc. Lawn care and trash cleanup as well. Will travel between Topeka and Kansas City and surrounding areas. Contact Alice at (785) 447-3062. Member of St. Matthew Parish in Topeka.

Faith-based counseling to cope with life concerns

- Kansas City area. Call Mary Vorsten, licensed clinical professional counselor, at (913) 909-2002.

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

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.

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

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.

HOME IMPROVEMENT

Popcorn ceiling texture removal

Interior painting

Call Jerry at (913) 206-1144. 30 years’ experience. Member St. Joseph Parish, Shawnee.

Local handyman - Painting int. and ext., wood rot, masonry (chimney 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) 9274118.

EL SOL Y LA TIERRA

*COMMERCIAL & RESIDENTIAL *LAWN RENOVATION *MOWING *CLEANUP AND HAULING *DIRT GRADING/INSTALLATION

*LANDSCAPE DESIGN* FREE ESTIMATES

HABLAMOS Y ESCRIBIMOS INGLES!! CALL LUPE AT (816) 252-1391

Gearing up for spring! We now offer financing on all your home improvement projects with approved credit. Here is a list of the construction services I offer: flooring; tile; interior/exterior painting, as well as deck and fence staining; ceiling scraping/re-texturing; bathroom, kitchen and basement remodeling; siding; decks and covered porches. We also do cabinet refinishing! Look me up on Facebook at “Father & Son Home Exteriors & Remodeling.” I work on all jobs, no subcontractors. Thank you to all my clients! (913) 709-7230.

STA (Sure Thing Always) Home Repair - Basement finish, bathrooms and kitchens; interior & exterior repairs: painting, roofing, siding, wood replacement and window glazing. Free estimates. Call (913) 5791835. Email: smokeycabin@hotmail.com. Member of Holy Trinity, Lenexa.

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

FOR SALE

Residential lifts - New and recycled. Stair lifts, porch lifts, ceiling lifts and elevators. St. Michael’s parishioners. KC Lift & Elevator at (913) 327-5557. (Formerly Silver Cross - KC).

For sale – Two plots at Resurrection Cemetery, Faith Garden, section C; lot 51; spaces 1, 2; flat marker only. Price $4400; seller pays $200 conveyances fee. Retail price $5190. Call Pat at (816) 582-4394.

For sale - Double crypt at Holy Trinity Mausoleum in Topeka. Located in the middle corridor. Family owned, must sell. Call (785) 580-3928.

For sale - One plot at Resurrection Cemetery in Lenexa. Located in Queen of Heaven Garden, lot 143, space 3. Asking $2000. Contact Paul at (913) 5229818.

CAREGIVING

Caregiving - We provide personal assistance, companionship, care management, and transportation for seniors in their home, assisted living or nursing facilities. We also provide respite care for main caregivers needing some personal time. Call Daughters & Company at (913) 341-2500 and speak with Laurie, Pat or Gary.

Family member with dementia or need help at home? - We specialize in helping seniors live SAFELY at home, where they want to live! We also offer free dementia training and resources for families and caregivers. Benefits of Home - Senior Care, www. Benefitsofhome.com or call (913) 422-1591.

WANTED TO BUY

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

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

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.

REAL ESTATE

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.

WE WANT TO BUY YOUR HOUSE - There are so many new companies in town advertising to buy houses. But we’re the only ones that have been here and we’re local Holy Trinity parishioners. I will give you a fair price on any conditions you are up against. Call Mark Edmondson. (913) 980-4905.

BEREAVEMENT MEETING

Curé of Ars Parish

9405 Mission Rd., Leawood

Jan. 21 at 8 a.m.

The bereavement ministry will have a grief support meeting in the Father Burak Room after the 8 a.m. Mass. The topic will be: “Looking Ahead to the New Year with Hope and Peace.” For more information, call (913) 649-2026.

POTLUCK DINNER

Most Pure Heart of Mary Parish

(Culhane Room)

3601 S.W. 17th St., Topeka

Jan. 22 from 3:30 - 5:30 p.m.

The Christian Widow and Widowers Organization will host the potluck dinner. There is no cost to attend. For more information, call Jen at (785) 213-0374.

DAUGHTERS OF ISABELLA

LITTLE FLOWER CIRCLE

Christ the King Parish (Yadrich Hall)

5972 S.W. 25th St., Topeka

Jan. 22 at 12:40 p.m.

A rosary will be followed by the business meeting and social time. If anyone knows of a member or family member of the Daughters of Isabella in need of the circle’s prayers, call Diana Ortiz at (785) 554-4256 or chancellor Gen Orozco at (785) 213-0374.

KANSAS MASS AND MARCH FOR LIFE

Topeka Performing Arts Center

214 S.E. 8th Ave., Topeka

Jan. 24 at 9 a.m.

This event will begin with keynote speaker Lila Rose, president of Live Action, a human rights nonprofit. At 10:30 a.m., there will be a Mass for Life. Following Mass, there will be a March for Life from the performing arts center to the Capitol building for a rally. To register, go online to: archkck.org/ignite.

WILL AND TRUST WORKSHOPS

St. Pius X Parish

(Father Glowacki Room)

5500 Woodson, Mission

Jan. 24 from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Jon Stanfield, estate planning attorney, will present information on the differences between wills, trusts, probate, charitable gift planning and more. Refreshments will be available and there will be take-home resources. Send an RSVP by email to: tlynn@archkck.org or call (913) 647-0365

OPEN HOUSE AND SHADOW DAYS

St. Athanasius and St. Catherine Academy School

8510 Wornall Rd., Kansas City, Missouri

Jan. 25 from 6:30 - 8 p.m. open house

Jan 26 from 1 - 3 p.m. open house

Jan. 17 from 7:45 a.m. - 4 p.m. shadow day

Feb. 21 from 7:45 a.m. - 4 p.m. shadow day

Come join us to see how this great blend of in-school education and homeschooling can benefit your high schooler and family. For more information, contact our headmaster Dr. Brian Nelson at: headmaster. sasc@gmail.com or call (785) 218-9075.

HEARTACHE TO HEALING - A SUPPORT/SOCIAL GROUP FOR THOSE WIDOWED EARLY IN LIFE

Pinstripes

13500 Nall Ave., Overland Park

Jan. 26 at 6:15 p.m.

Men and women around 35 - 65, come join us for some bowling and beverages. Meet new people who have walked in your shoes. Bowling is optional and is $15 per person starting at 6:30 p.m. (6:15 to get shoes, name tags, snacks and beverages before we begin.) For more information and to RSVP (appreciated, but not required), send an email to Laura at: khaeus1@hotmail. com; Heather at: hmbimpens@gmail.com; or Damon at: damon452@yahoo.com.

RETROUVAILLE

Jan. 27 - 29

Kansas City

Retrouvaille offers a welcoming and loving space to couples who have been living with the misery of a failing marriage. Retrouvaille offers hope — hope that it is not too late, hope of a different and better marriage. Retrouvaille helps couples to show each other mercy through the opportunities it provides to listen, to forgive, to be reconciled and to move into their futures believing

that God loves them and, with his help and their efforts, their marriages can be healed and restored. Retrouvaille provides help for marriage problems/difficulties/crises. For more information, call (800) 470-2230 or visit the website at: helpourmarriage.com.

‘JOURNEY TO JOY: BROKEN MOMENTS, HEALING MOMENTS, HOLY MOMENTS’ Church

of the Nativity

3800 W. 119th St., Leawood

Jan. 28 from 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Mass will be at 8:15 a.m. followed by a light breakfast. Kelsey Skoch will be the speaker, focusing on topics of evangelization and missionary discipleship. Skoch is best known for her ministry and talks helping women in their personal purity. Space is limited. The cost is $20. Register at: kcnativity/org/journey.

TASTE OF KCK AT RESURRECTION SCHOOL

Resurrection School

425 N. 15th St., Kansas City, Kansas

Jan. 28 from 6 - 9 p.m.

The event will begin with a social followed by an ethnic buffet and then a program. Proceeds benefit students through academic programming, classroom supports, need-based scholarships and operations. Ticket are $100. For more information, go online to: rcskck.org/taste-of-kck or call (913) 371-8101.

NATIONAL CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK

Schools across the archdiocese

Jan. 29 - Feb. 4

During National Catholic Schools Week, schools and parishes take time to recognize and celebrate those in the community who make Catholic education possible. For many schools, this week is the kickoff to enrollment for the next school year, and special activities take place. Contact a school directly for more information.

SEASONS OF HOPE GRIEF GROUP

Sts. Peter and Paul Parish

411 Pioneer St., Seneca

Sundays at 5 p.m.

Anyone dealing with the loss of a loved one is welcome to join the Seasons of Hope Grief Group. For further information, contact Roger Becker at (785) 364-6393.

SIXTH ANNUAL KATIE SCOTTINSPIRED BLOOD DRIVE

Sheraton Overland Park Hotel

6100 College Blvd.

Feb. 3 from 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.

In February of 2018, Katie Scott, a graduate of Bishop Miege High School in Roeland Park and Benedictine College in Atchison,

lost her fight to Ewing sarcoma, a rare bone cancer. During her battle, she received multiple blood transfusions, which helped her recover from chemotherapy and radiation treatments and keep fighting. Donate blood in her honor with the American Red Cross at the sixth annual drive she inspired before she passed away. Call 1 (800) 7332767 or visit the website at: redcrossblood. org and enter the sponsor code: KatieScott to schedule an appointment.

CATHOLIC ESTATE PLANNING WITH WILLS AND TRUSTS WORKSHOP

St. Michael the Archangel Parish

14251 Nall Ave., Leawood

Feb. 1 from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Casey Connealy, estate planning attorney, will share ways to help families reduce estate taxes, minimize probate and finetune an estate plan that will benefit each family’s lifestyle, profession and specific circumstances. RSVP to: plannedgiving@ archkck.org or call (913) 647-0365.

ST. JOE’S FOSTERING HEARTS VALENTINE BASH

St. Joseph Parish

(Knights of Columbus Hall)

11221 Johnson Dr., Shawnee

Feb. 5 from 1:30 - 3:30 p.m.

St. Joe’s Fostering Hearts group will be hosting this event. Please join us for cookieand Valentine-decorating for all ages. There will also be prizes and games for all ages.

IGNITE THE GREEN AND WHITE 2023 FOR XAVIER SCHOOL

Riverfront Community Center

123 S. Esplanade St., Leavenworth

Feb. 11 at 6 p.m.

Prepare to be ignited as we celebrate Catholic education! Xavier school’s Ignite the Green and White event features a cocktail reception with heavy appetizers, a student showcase and a silent auction. Visit the website at: leavenworthcatholicschools.org/give/ ignite-the-green-white and scroll down to sponsor a child, purchase event tickets and register for the silent auction.

HOLY ROSARY RALLY IN HONOR OF OUR LADY OF FATIMA

St. Mary/St. Anthony Parish

615 N. 7th St., Kansas City, Kansas

Feb. 22 from 3 - 4:15 p.m.

We will pray the joyful, sorrowful and glorious mysteries of the rosary. Benediction will follow, as well as an opportunity for attendees to enroll in the brown scapular. For more information, visit the website at: www.rosaryrallieskc.org.

DAILY READINGS

THIRD WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME

Jan. 22

THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Is 8:23 – 9:3

Ps 27: 1, 4, 13-14

1 Cor 1: 10-13, 17

Mt 4: 12-23

Jan. 23

Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children

Heb 9: 15, 24-28

Ps 98: 1-6

Mk 3: 22-30

Jan. 24

Francis de Sales, bishop, doctor of the church

Heb 10: 1-10

Ps 40: 2, 4ab, 7-8a, 10-11

Mk 3: 31-35

Jan. 25

THE CONVERSION OF PAUL THE APOSTLE

Acts 23: 3-16

Ps 117: 1-2

Mk 16: 15-18

Jan. 26

Timothy and Titus, bishops

2 Tm 1: 1-8

Ps 96: 1-3, 7-8, 10

Mk 4: 21-25

Jan. 27

Angela Merici, virgin

Heb 10: 32-39

Ps 37: 3-6, 23-24, 39-40

Mk 4: 26-34

Jan. 28

Thomas Aquinas, priest, doctor of the church

Heb 11: 1-2, 8-19

(Ps) Lk 1: 69-75

Mk 4: 35-41

Saints alive! It’s what we’re called to be

Growing up, I was surrounded by reminders of my Catholic faith. For example, in my maternal grandparents’ home, where I spent lots of time, there was a large painting in the dining room of Jesus praying over Jerusalem, as well as crucifixes on various walls, all with a blessed palm nestled behind them.

Most memorable, though, was a tile mosaic of St. Thérèse, the Little Flower, made by my Uncle Nick, to honor the patron saint of my grandma, Theresa “Reza” Modrcin. Saints were always a big deal in my family. We celebrated the feast days of our patrons with as much gusto as birthdays and other holidays.

This family tradition explains why I have religious objects on my walls, all with a blessed palm behind them, of

MARK MY WORDS

cup of a man selling flowers and sped on his way. Half a block down the street, however, he turned around and made his way back to the poor flower seller.

FATHER MARK GOLDASICH

He has been editor of The Leaven since 1989.

course. I even have three icons of St. Mark watching over me. Near my computer is an icon of another saint whose feast day is Jan. 24 and whose intercession I invoke often (particularly on deadline day). It’s Francis de Sales, the patron of writers, journalists

and the deaf. By the way, he’s the patron of the deaf because he developed a method to teach the catechism to a young deaf person (and not because the work of writers and journalists tends to fall on deaf ears!).

Even though I’ll never be a doctor of the church like St. Francis, his icon gives me encouragement to write and be an editor.

This little story explains things more colorfully:

A businessman tossed a dollar into the

“I’m sorry,” the man said, picking out a flower. “In my haste, I failed to make my purchase. After all, you’re a businessman just like me. Your flowers are priced fairly and of good quality. I hope you won’t be upset with my forgetting my purchase.” With that, he went on his way.

Several months later while at lunch, the businessman was approached by a neatly dressed, handsome man. “I’m sure you don’t remember me,” said the man, “and I don’t even know your name, but I’ll never forget your face. You’re the man who inspired me to make something of myself. I was that vagrant selling flowers

on the street corner until you gave me back my self-respect and a sense of dignity. Now, I believe I’m a businessman, too.” (Story found in “Sower’s Seeds Aplenty,” by Brian Cavanaugh, TOR.)

It sounds weird, but I have a paper plate in my bathroom. Every day, I hold it behind my head like a halo, to remind myself that I’m called to become a saint. It makes me laugh, injecting a spirit of joy in my day — a joy I’m supposed to share.

This past Christmas, my parish handed out the book “Wisdom of the Saints,” words of inspiration for each day of the year. I’ll close with the book’s opening words from St. Catherine of Siena: “Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire.”

C’mon, saints in training, we’ve work to do!

Miracles await! But we need to be open to them

In 1957, Reader’s Digest published a short item by an obscure writer named Allen Saunders. It ended up becoming a piece of popular wisdom that has been re-quoted, reused and repurposed countless times. “Life,” Saunders wrote, “is what happens while you’re busy making other plans.”

also about letting go of one thing to seize another; it challenges us to think more deeply about what we do with the time we’re given.

It happened then. It is happening now.

KEVIN

died 618

Oral tradition preserved and embellished the story of this founder of one of Ireland’s main pilgrimage sites. Born in Leinster and baptized by St. Cronan, Kevin was educated in a monastery near Dublin. After ordination, he lived alone in a cave for seven years, compromising his health and using a BronzeAge stone tomb as his church. After recovering, he gathered some disciples and founded the abbey of Glendalough in Wicklow. According to legend, he made a pilgrimage to Rome, visited St. Kieran at Clonmacnoise and lived to the age of 120.

Well. Who could disagree? How many of us spend our time scribbling bucket lists, saving for a rainy day, plotting for a future that seems like it will never arrive? We spend our time dreaming instead of doing. Too often — like the men by the seashore in Sunday’s Gospel — we are busy mending our nets.

And then, everything changes.

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.

This Gospel is fundamentally about answering the call of Christ, whenever and however it comes. But look closely. There’s more going on. It is

It’s significant, I think, that the author of the Gospel described what those fishermen were doing when Jesus walked by. They had jobs, obligations, distractions, responsibilities. Like all of us, they had things to get done.

Then, at an unexpected moment, something — someone — entered their lives. On an otherwise unremarkable day, in the middle of the tedious chores of life, in a place where days were measured by tides and currents and how many fish you catch, God walked by.

Suddenly, nothing was the same.

Maybe we’re preoccupied with our jobs, our hobbies, getting bills paid and meals cooked and tearing another page off the calendar so we can do it all over again. But wait: Is there something else we’re supposed to be doing? Is someone calling us to something else?

Are we so concerned about the ordinary that we miss the extraordinary? Looked at another way: What are our nets?

This Gospel serves as a bracing reminder that God can enter our lives when we least expect it, and what happens next may lead us where we never imagined. Did any of those fishermen foresee this?

“He went around all

of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and curing every disease and illness among the people.”

Miracles await! But we need to be attentive, open, ready for God to interrupt our lives and alter their direction.

This Gospel declares: Be prepared to put aside our nets and follow where the Lord leads.

It isn’t easy. It can be terrifying. Discipleship comes at a cost, as every apostle discovered. But we cannot forget that the Christmas season persists. Even all these weeks later, Emmanuel remains! God is with us. We do not walk alone. The Father is looking after his children.

Evangelization is the ‘oxygen’ of Christian life, pope says

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Sharing the faith is the “oxygen” that “invigorates and purifies” Christian life, Pope Francis said.

Beginning a new series of catechesis focused on evangelization and apostolic zeal, the pope said that when Christian life loses its aim of proclaiming the Gospel, it becomes “atrophied” and “self-referential.”

“Without apostolic zeal, faith withers,” he

told people gathered Jan. 11 in the Vatican audience hall.

The pope specified, however, that “to be a missionary, to be apostolic, to evangelize, is not the same thing as proselytizing,” or actively seeking to convert someone.

Quoting the late Pope Benedict XVI, who died Dec. 31, 2022, Pope Francis said that “the church does not proselytize, but rather she grows by ‘attraction’” to the beauty of God’s love. Evangelization “does not begin

by seeking to convince others, but by bearing witness each day to the love that has watched over us and lifted us back up,” he said.

“Communicate this beauty to convince people,” Pope Francis said.

“We are the ones who announce the Lord, we do not announce ourselves, nor a political party or an ideology. Put people in contact with Jesus without convincing them.

“Let the Lord convince them.”

Father Mark is the pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Tonganoxie.

Make your own memories at Camp Tekakwitha this year

Camp Tekakwitha has strived to give youth and families the best experiences that our faith has to offer for the last 25 years, but it can be hard to know if those wonderful experiences have lasting impact.

As part of our 25th anniversary celebration, we asked former campers and staff to share about the lasting impact of those experiences. Here are a few of their responses.

“Camp really taught me how to have a relationship with God through entering into silent prayer every day. Learning how to live out this relationship with God at camp

SEEKING CHRIST’S HEART

many different places that I had never even looked. I can’t begin to describe the love that I felt every single session. He showed me how close he wanted to be with me every day, every meal, every second.” — Jonathan

DEACON

has also helped me to deepen my friendships with those around me, and many of my closest lifelong friends are

a result of living in relationship with God at Camp Tekakwitha.”

— Jacob

“I have made the absolute best friends because of Camp Tekakwitha.” — Sarah

“Meeting Jesus. I thought I knew who he was, and then I started working here. He showed his face in so

“Learning the joy of self-giving, establishing a habit of daily prayer and making lifelong friends in Christ.” — Meagan

“Camp has given me lifelong, virtuous friendships. In that way, it’s still inspiring and growing my faith, even though I’m not actively involved at camp anymore.” — Haley

“Camp gave me great faith formation, compassionate friends

and an ever-deepening faith life that I take with me everywhere.”

— Abigail

“One of the things that makes camp so special is that it is just one big God moment, whether you’re there for a meal, 3 days of Kateri, 9 days of Extreme or on staff for an entire summer. An attitude of gratitude permeates the campus. Nothing is taken for granted. Everything is recognized as a miracle. Each day is better than the day before, so each day, that’s the best day.” — Tighe

“Over and over again, I encounter God in the chapel — surrounded by God, saints and friends. God

has given me so many examples and inspirations and lifelines as I try to walk closer and closer with him and to him each day!” — Magdalen Camp Tekakwitha invites you to make your own memories as a camper or by applying for a position on staff. Online registration for high school and family camps opens Feb. 7 at 9 a.m.; junior high registration opens Feb. 14 at 9 a.m.; 5th and 6th grade registration opens Feb. 21 at 9 a.m. Online, Tekakwitha Women’s Retreat 2023 registration opened on Jan. 17. For more information, go online to: archkck. org/camp.

Grandparents’ example, interest enrich the lives of us all

My paternal grandmother

Mitzi Ackerman never knew how to throw a pity party.

Instead, with her at the head of the table, our family gatherings in her dining room were marked by laughter and song, yodeling and storytelling, home-cooked food and ice-cold German beer. There was never any want of fun!

Born in 1896 in Vienna, my grandmother emigrated to the United States in her early 20s at the end of World War I, shortly after the death of her parents. Her father died of pneumonia and her mother, as Grandma described it, succumbed

SET APART

of whom was my father. With my grandfather’s sudden death, Grandma became a widow and sole breadwinner of the family.

part time in the advancement office.

their loved ones in a “sea of gray.”

SISTER

and confident one, not allowing herself to be so overwhelmed by life’s challenges as to surrender her trust and joy.

a year later to a broken heart. From that point on, she was determined to have a new outlook on life, an optimistic

Arriving in the United States, she settled in Galveston, Texas, where she met and married my Swiss chef grandfather, Louis. Together, they had five children, the youngest

Working in the homes of wealthy families and planting a garden at home, she provided for the many needs of her family, including sending my dad to a Catholic high school. It was her courage, determination, faith-filled perseverance — and sense of humor — that she passed on to the generations of Ackermans to come.

Recently, I was reminded of my remarkable grandmother during the Dec. 8 Grandparents Day at St. James Academy in Lenexa where I work

My task that day was to welcome those grandmas and grandpas at the door of the gym where their grandchildren would come and escort them to the Immaculate Conception holy day Mass celebrated by Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann.

As I greeted them, I thought about the great influence those men and women must have in the formation of their children’s children. Surely joy pervaded their family gatherings and oneon-one encounters between the generations.

I witnessed the excitement of the grandchildren who went into the gym and searched for

Most beautiful of all was their participation in the holy sacrifice of the Mass on the beautiful Marian solemnity.

As Pope Benedict once wrote, “Look with love on grandparents the world over. . . .

May they continue to be for their families strong pillars of Gospel faith, guardians of noble domestic ideals, living treasuries of sound religious traditions. Make them teachers of wisdom and courage, so that they may pass on to future generations the fruits of their mature human and spiritual experience.”

Athlete’s injury provoked an outpouring of public prayer

My pastor shared his thoughts during a homily about a recent professional football game that was marked by a serious injury of a player, Damar Hamlin.

Hamlin’s heart stopped beating after a tackle he made. CPR had to be administered to him on the field for his heart to start beating again. Players from both teams knelt and prayed together for this young athlete.

Television viewers around the country began to pray for Hamlin as he laid lifeless on the field. He was rushed by ambulance

CEF CENTERED

alive and is gratefully thanking everyone for their prayers.

The NFL’s initial message stated “our thoughts are with Damar and the Buffalo Bills.” They left out “prayer” in their message, much like many secular organizations do in crisis situations.

VINCENT ANCH

to a nearby hospital for life-saving treatment.

I watched this

game and, like others, prayed for Hamlin. I stayed up late that night hoping to hear good news but nothing was reported for a few days.

Our almighty Father heard all these prayers. Hamlin is

However, after 32 NFL teams, including hundreds of players, held prayer sessions and asked others to pray, the NFL changed their statement to “our thoughts and prayers are with Damar.”

It was inspiring for me to see so many NFL players and coaches

pray and send messages about God’s love and healing power.

These acts of faith, along with the prayers of millions of people, changed the mindset of a multibillion dollar organization. Prayer also brought millions of people together in a spiritual bond that might have lifelong benefits for many souls. The Lord used this crisis to bring us together and closer to him.

Although many people have become reluctant about expressing their faith, students at our Catholic schools pray every day and do so confidently and

enthusiastically. We are teaching our youth about the power of prayer and to shine their light on top of a hill for all to see.

Perhaps a crisis from a football game will be an inspiration for Catholics to be more confident in sharing their faith like our children do. A simple gesture like making the sign of the cross while at a restaurant is a great way to express one’s faith.

The power of prayer has no limits. God is ready and willing to answer our prayers. All we have to do is ask.

DANA NEARMYER

Deacon Dana Nearmyer is the director of evangelization for the archdiocese.

EVA-MARIA ACKERMAN, FSGM

Sister Eva-Maria Ackerman, FSGM, is the Delegate for Religious and Consecrated Life for the archdiocese.

Vince Anch is the executive director of the Catholic Education Foundation.

Area Catholics help Sisters build motherhouse in Texas

By Dean Backes Special to The Leaven

KANSAS CITY, Kan. —

Throughout their working lives, the Sisters of the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity (SOLT) deal with many of the same hardships as the people they serve.

While they are out in the world making disciples and serving in areas of deep apostolic need, their ministry often takes them to places where running water, much less air conditioning, is a luxury. The order currently ministers in nine locations throughout the United States, and in Belize, Guatemala, Mexico, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Thailand and Australia.

Through the hard work of Terry and Peggy Dunn and Jay and Lynn Reardon of Church of the Nativity in Leawood and Mark and Abby Henke of St. Ann Parish in Prairie Village, however, these Sisters will be provided for in their retirement.

All three couples have been called on to help raise money for the building of a new SOLT motherhouse in Violet, Texas, that will allow the order’s Sisters to remain living in community following retirement and have their daily needs taken care of.

“They had a need and they called on me to assist,” said SOLT chair of the advisory board Terry Dunn. “That need was to build a motherhouse.

“I’ve had a very nice relationship with the society, and I believe they are

totally committed to evangelization and discipleship, especially when it comes to people that are at great risk.”

The current convent in Corpus Christi, Texas, is not accommodating to the Sisters as they age and there have been concerns that it gives rise to health and mobility risks. Therefore, discussions to build a new facility began in late 2015. The motherhouse strategic plan was formalized in 2019 and put into action in 2020. Groundbreaking was undertaken Dec. 2. 2022.

Plans call for the building of a 21,000-square-foot structure that will house a single level residence that is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, 10 assisted-living rooms, 10 independent

rooms, a chapel and a sacristy, kitchen and dining areas, a community center, a visiting nurse station, staff offices and a library.

The projected cost of the project is $6.5 million and will take about two years to build. At this point in time, the average age of the SOLT Sisters is 51 and there are 16 sisters in the United States that are 65 years old or older.

Not only are the Sisters young in age, but so is the order. Father James Flanagan founded SOLT in 1958 within the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, New Mexico.

According to the order’s website, the Sisters’ ministries range from rural catechesis and evangelization to work with immigrants, teaching in Catholic schools and serving in remote island parishes. They have also served in inner-city parishes, running drug rehabilitation centers.

“I’m drawn to them because of their enthusiasm and for what they do in the community, what they do for others in their missions,” SOLT board member Lynn Reardon said. “They are nuns, and they are servants of the Lord. They are very devoted to the Blessed Mother. I think they do a lot of good work.”

SOLT finance council volunteer Mark Henke said you can’t help but realize how amazing the Sisters of SOLT are when you first meet them.

“I like the work they do at Our

Lady’s Montessori School in Wyandotte County,” Henke said. “I’ve known about that school, and I’m just really impressed with the work they are doing there. The Sisters work all over the world. They move around. They’re just a really interesting group of people.”

Lynn Reardon said taking care of SOLT’s women religious is a wonderful way to pay them back for all of their sacrifice.

“They are just a wonderful group of women who devoted their lives to Christ and they work hard in our communities throughout the world,” she said. “To have them taken care of when their bodies start falling apart is a lovely thing.

“They’re trying to make the world a better place. And it certainly would be nice for all of us to make their world a nicer place as they grow older and their bodies can’t do the things they were able to do in the past. When you make sure they’re comfortable, you’re kind of giving back for everything they’ve given so selflessly.”

Contributions to the project can be made securely online at: solt.net/ motherhouse or by mailing a check to: SOLT Sisters, Attn: Sr. Mary Mediatrix, P.O. Box 4116, Corpus Christi, TX 78469. Donors can also make a pledge by downloading a gift agreement at the web address above or contact Laurel Sharpe, the motherhouse campaign director, by email at: laurel sharpe@solt.net.

I’M DRAWN TO THEM BECAUSE OF THEIR ENTHUSIASM AND FOR WHAT THEY DO IN THE COMMUNITY, WHAT THEY DO FOR OTHERS IN THEIR MISSIONS.

LYNN REARDON SOLT BOARD MEMBER AND MEMBER OF CHURCH OF THE NATIVITY, LEAWOOD

The Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Sisters break ground on Dec. 2, 2022, for their new motherhouse in Violet, Texas. The SOLT Sisters serve in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas at Our Lady’s Montessori School in Kansas City, Kansas.