01 31 20 Vol. 41 No. 24

THELEAVEN.ORG | VOL. 41, NO. 24 | JANUARY 31, 2020

LIFE WILL BE VICTORIOUS

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he annual March for Life rally in Washington drew tens of thousands to the nation’s capital in support of life. Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann delivered the homily at the National Prayer Vigil for Life in the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception on Jan. 23 (see page 8). On the local level, more than 1,000 made their way to Topeka for a pro-life youth rally and rally for life at the state Capitol (see page 3).

LEAVEN PHOTO BY MARC ANDERSON

Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann, chairman of the U.S. bishops Committee on Pro-Life Activities, chats with archdiocesan students during the annual March for Life rally in Washington on Jan. 24. The archbishop was sporting his Kansas City Chiefs scarf at the event, as the Chiefs punched their ticket to their first Super Bowl in 50 years the week before.

CNS PHOTO/GREGORY A. SHEMITZ, LONG ISLAND CATHOLIC

Tens of thousands of demonstrators make their way up Constitution Avenue headed to the U.S. Supreme Court as part of the 47th annual March for Life in Washington Jan. 24.

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JANUARY 31, 2020 | THELEAVEN.ORG

ARCHBISHOP

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Pope Francis delighted by ‘island of mercy’ pro-life initiative

have written the last three weeks about the lowlights and highlights of the written report submitted to the Holy Father in preparation for my visit with him earlier this month.

With the other bishops of Kansas, Missouri, Iowa and Nebraska, we met for an entire week with those who assist Pope Francis with the governance of the universal church.

In addition to our meetings, we celebrated Mass at the four major basilicas — St. Peter, St. John Lateran, St. Mary Major and St. Paul. It was an intense but very gratifying week.

Of course, the highlight of the visit was the meeting with the Successor of St. Peter.

In total, there were 15 bishops from our region. Each of us was allowed to bring priests or seminarians that are studying or working in Rome. I was able to present Father Anthony Saiki, who is completing his graduate studies in canon law.

Bishop James Johnston of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph was accompanied by seminarian Paul Sappington. Bishop Johnston presented an autographed Patrick Mahomes jersey to the pope. The Holy Father received the jersey with delight.

Later, in our meeting during a discussion about the formation of seminarians, the Holy Father commented about the importance for seminarians to be well-balanced. For instance, the pope thought it was healthy for seminarians to be involved with sports.

After all the bishops and their guests had been presented to the Holy Father, the pope spent a few moments encouraging the seminarians and priests to persevere in their discernment and vocation.

The Holy Father blessed them and bade farewell, saying he had to speak now with their “bosses.”

Pope Francis began the meeting by encouraging

LIFE WILL BE VICTORIOUS ARCHBISHOP JOSEPH F. NAUMANN us to ask any question, express any concern and even to criticize him. He asked us to be honest with him; otherwise, our meeting was a wasted opportunity.

The pope asked that the content of our conversation be confidential so that we could speak frankly.

I began my comments by recalling a talk he had given to a group of priests some years ago in which he shared he carried with him always a cross from the rosary of a deceased Argentinian priest. I asked him if he had the cross with him. The pope confirmed that indeed he did.

Pope Francis said this particular priest was a great confessor — in fact, many of the priests in Buenos Aires went to him for the sacrament of reconciliation.

When the priest died, Pope Francis, a bishop in Buenos Aires at the time, went to his wake. The future pope was surprised that there were no flowers adorning his coffin. The pope went outside the church and purchased some flowers to decorate the casket.

As he was positioning the flowers, he noticed the rosary entwined in the deceased priest’s hands. The future pope coveted the cross from the rosary. He wanted a memento of this priest who had been an instrument of God’s mercy for so many. With some difficulty, he detached the cross from the rosary.

The pope said he always carries the cross in a pouch that he wears under his cassock.

The Holy Father said if he was in a conversation with a difficult person, he would touch the cross asking for the gifts of patience and mercy. I was watching when I addressed the pope to see if he began grasping for the pouch containing this special cross.

I informed the Holy Father that I currently serve as the chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee for ProLife Activities. I shared with the pope that the bishops of the United States this past November gave enthusiastic support for an initiative, scheduled to begin this coming March, entitled “Walking with Moms in Need.”

As part of this initiative, every diocese and every parish is asked to assess what assistance is currently available to help mothers experiencing an untimely or difficult pregnancy.

Bishops and pastors are challenged to identify where there are gaps in the services and/or how we need to communicate more effectively the availability of assistance.

The goal of the initiative is to increase the practical help and support for pregnant moms as well as to improve our communication of the availability of this assistance.

I told the Holy Father that currently in the United States there are more than 2,700 pregnancy resource centers that serve more than 500,000 pregnant mothers annually.

We hope this initiative will help our 17,000 Catholic parishes in the United States to be better prepared to connect women with untimely pregnancies to

PHOTO COURTESY OF FATHER ANTHONY SAIKI

Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann and Father Anthony Saiki chat with Pope Francis during the archbishop’s “ad limina” visit on Jan. 16. the assistance they need.

Borrowing a phrase from the Holy Father, we want our parishes to be “islands of mercy.” Pope Francis was delighted to learn of this initiative.

I also shared with the Holy Father that the U.S. bishops have a long-standing tradition the year before a presidential election to issue a document providing guidance to Catholics about their responsibility to be engaged citizens and well-informed voters.

This past November, the U.S. bishops repromulgated a document entitled “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship.”

In reissuing this document, we wrote a concise new cover letter that quotes the pope and highlights the moral concerns that he has elevated in recent years, regarding issues such as immigration reform, care for refugees, assistance for the poor, availability of health care, care for creation, etc.

In the cover letter, we also stated our long-standing position that the protection of the lives of unborn children remains a pre-eminent priority, because: 1) abortion attacks life at its very beginning when it is most vulnerable; 2) abortion takes place within the context of the family, destroying the most important human bond — that of mother and child; and 3) because

of the sheer enormity of the lives impacted — more than 61 million abortions since its legalization in 1973.

Of course, each child aborted has a mother and father who are profoundly scarred by the death of their child.

I related to the Holy Father that we had been criticized by some who asserted that our statement was an insult to Pope Francis. He appeared startled and asked: “Why?” I told him because we speak of our opposition to abortion as a pre-eminent priority.

The Holy Father responded immediately: “It is a pre-eminent priority. If we do not defend the right to life, then no other rights matter.”

The Holy Father asked that we not keep this part of our conversation confidential. He asked me to tell the participants at the March for Life and all those in the pro-life movement that the pope prays for them, that he supports them and encourages them to persevere in their advocacy for life.

I was delighted to share this message from the Holy Father at the vigil Mass for the March for Life and now through this column with all of you.

By the way, as far as I could see, the pope never attempted to touch the pouch with the crucifix during our conversation.

ARCHBISHOP NAUMANN Jan. 31 Support Our Seminarians benefit dinner — Union Station Feb. 1 Consecrated Religious Life Day Mass and lunch — Savior Pastoral Center Pastoral visit — Church of the Ascension, Overland Park Feb. 3-5 National Catholic Bioethics Center bishops’ workshop Feb. 7 Mother’s birthday — St. Louis

Feb. 9 World Marriage Day Mass and reception — Church of the Ascension, Overland Park St. Isidore Mass and dinner — St. Isidore Catholic Student Center, Manhattan Feb. 10 Pastoral Council meeting

Erin Barrett, Agent www.insurewitherin.com

Call or Text: (913) 648-1100 | erin@insurekcmetro.com | St. Joseph Parishioner 13139 Shawnee Mission Parkway, Shawnee, KS 66216 | Bishop Ward Alum

JANUARY 31, 2020 | THELEAVEN.ORG

LOCAL NEWS

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LOCAL LIFE EVENTS PRECEDE NATIONAL

Students from across the state light up Topeka

By Marc and Julie Anderson mjanderson@theleaven.org

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“God needs you. He needs you in this world he wants to redeem. . . . He needs you more than ever.”

Moreover, he said, those advocating for life have a spiritual sword — that of the rosary.

“I keep a rosary in my pocket all the time,” he continued.

The bishop encouraged the students — when gathering with friends — to pray a rosary before their video games or movies. The prayer, he said, would bring them closer together.

The bishop also discussed the concept of heroes in today’s world,

OPEKA — A horrible feeling.

That’s how D.J. Hueneman described the moment he realized he could not defend someone else properly because he had “put off” training he needed for his former job as a firefighter and paramedic.

That moment came when he responded to what was called “a To view D.J. Hueneman’s full minor fender presentation or bender,” but was to share it with in actuality, a parish groups, multiple-car acgo online to: cident. www.archkck.

He could not org/prolife. perform the necessary procedure for one of the victims — a small child. In that moment, Hueneman said he needed to step up his game and become the man God was calling him to be.

Hueneman, an author and presenter who has spoken nationally and internationally about pornography, theology of the body, chastity and the Catholic faith, served as the keynote speaker for the third annual IGNITE rally.

Sponsored by the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas and held Jan. 22 at the Topeka Performing Arts Center, the event was just one of several activities held throughout the day in the capital city to commemorate the 47th anniversary of Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton, the landmark 1973 Supreme Court decisions that legalized abortion throughout the United States.

Approximately 1,000 students from the state’s four dioceses participated in this year’s rally.

Relying upon humor, popular movies and his own experiences as a firefighter, paramedic, pregnancy resource counselor, inner-city schoolteacher, husband and father, Hueneman shared how a proper understanding of what it means to be human will help up to build a culture of life.

However, he said, it’s also important to realize every single person standing up for life is engaged in a battle.

“Just by being here, you are in the battle,” he said.

One way to defeat the enemy, said Hueneman, is through prayer, which includes relying on the sacraments like the Eucharist and confession,

>> See “TOPEKA” on page 9

>> See “IGNITE” on page 9

LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER

Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann addresses the crowd inside the state Capitol for a pro-life rally following the annual Mass for Life.

Topeka life Mass and march draws a crowd

By Marc and Julie Anderson mjanderson@theleaven.org

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OPEKA — More than 1,000 people from across the state participated in the annual Mass for Life on Jan. 22 celebrated by Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann and Bishop Gerald Vincke, of the Diocese of Salina, as well as approximately two dozen priests.

At the start of the Mass, Archbishop Naumann thanked everyone for coming to witness for life despite the inclement weather.

“This is an anniversary which is important for us to remember and to move us to action,” he said.

The extra effort it took to attend the Mass “makes our witness more powerful and stronger. We witness to life under adverse conditions.”

Bishop Vincke opened his homily with a nod to the Kansas City Chiefs recent win, which led to the team’s first Super Bowl appearance in 50 years.

“The Super Bowl is going to be an incredible battle because we’ve got two really good teams,” he said, “and both teams want to win.”

But despite the importance of the upcoming event, said the bishop, “We’re in a much more important battle — for America, our soul.”

It’s a battle between the gospel of life and a culture of death, he said.

“It looks pretty tough for us in many ways,” he continued.

The culture of death is better funded, he said, and often has the media and celebrities on its side. He

LEAVEN PHOTO BY MARC ANDERSON

From left, Deacon Dana Nearmyer, Bishop Gerald Vincke, Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann and Deacon Ron Zishka are pictured at the annual Mass for Life in Topeka on Jan. 22. acknowledged that it can be somewhat discouraging at times.

But he compared the battle to the Scripture passage in which David, a shepherd boy, is chosen to fight Goliath.

“Saul’s first response is, ‘You’re too young, David.’ But David convinces him he can do it through the strength of God,” said Bishop Vincke.

David took five small stones and slew Goliath. Anything, added Bishop Vincke, is possible with God. “There’s many voices for us,” he continued, “saying, ‘You’re too young, right? What difference can you make?’

“You can make all the difference.

President Most Rev. Joseph F. Naumann

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JANUARY 31, 2020 | THELEAVEN.ORG

LOCAL NEWS

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Sister Emerentia Wiesner, OSU

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LEAVEN PHOTO BY MARC ANDERSON

From left, Father John Pilcher, pastor of Mater Dei Parish in Topeka, hosted the annual Red Mass for lawmakers, which was celebrated by Bishop Gerald Vincke of the Diocese of Salina, Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann and Bishop John Brungardt of the Diocese of Dodge City.

Kansas bishops celebrate Red Mass, honoring those who serve in public office

By Marc and Julie Anderson mjanderson@theleaven.org

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OPEKA — It might have been her first time reading the prayer of the faithful, but Kellie Warren, a parishioner of St. Michael the Archangel in Leawood and a member of the Kansas House of Representatives, touched those gathered as she tearfully read the intercessions.

She found particularly emotional those that elicited prayers for members of the Kansas Legislature and their families during the annual Red Mass celebrated Jan. 21 by Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann at Mater DeiAssumption Church in Topeka.

The Mass was concelebrated by Bishop Gerald Vincke of the Diocese of Salina, Bishop John Brungardt of the Diocese of Dodge City and Father John Pilcher, pastor of Mater Dei in Topeka. Father Bruce Ansems served as the master of ceremonies.

The Mass was sponsored by the Kansas Catholic Conference and was celebrated specifically for judges, attorneys and government officials a little more than a week after the official start of the legislative session, which began Jan. 13.

In his opening remarks, Archbishop Naumann said the Mass also offered those gathered for a special committee hearing on the proposed “Value Them Both” constitutional amendment an opportunity to unite in prayer for its successful passage.

Later, in his homily, the archbishop thanked those who serve as legislators and “all those in public office.”

“We are grateful to you for taking up this work,” he added. “We know it involves a lot of sacrifices for individuals and families to serve in public life, and so we thank you for that, and we pray for you not just

LEAVEN PHOTO BY MARC ANDERSON

Kellie Warren, a parishioner of St. Michael the Archangel in Leawood and a member of the Kansas House of Representatives, read the prayer of the faithful during the Red Mass on Jan. 21. today, but on a daily basis.”

Elsewhere, the archbishop discussed how St. Agnes, on whose feast day the Mass was celebrated, provided those gathered a role model for those who wish to promote the sanctity of human life.

“Today, we celebrate this feast of St. Agnes, a 12-year-old martyr, one of the earliest martyrs of the church.

St. Paul tells us in Corinthians that God uses the foolish to shame the wise and the weak to vanquish the strong, the lowly and despised to humble those who think they are really something.”

Paraphrasing the story of Gideon’s army as detailed in the Book of Judges, the archbishop said that Gideon’s army was trimmed from 22,000 down to 300 men, but still emerged victorious.

“If we, who advocate for the sanctity of human life, face this daunting task of amending the Kansas

constitution feel weak against the power of our opponents, if we feel not that well-connected with those in power or we feel despised or looked down upon, we should rejoice because we’re perfect for God’s army then,” the archbishop said.

“The Lord sees differently than the world sees,” Archbishop Naumann continued. “The more illequipped we seem in the world’s estimation, the better suited we are to make it clear that it’s really God working through us.

“And so, with that confidence, we can take on any challenge.”

The archbishop compared St. Agnes to today’s youth, who attend the annual gatherings that take place across the country every January to commemorate the Supreme Court’s 1973 legalization of abortion.

“She was too young to testify in court. Our young people may be too young to actually vote at this time, and yet, their witness can be strong,” said the archbishop. “Like St. Agnes, many of the young people manifest [more] wisdom than many of us who are much older as they stand for the sanctity of life, for those who are vulnerable.”

“On this feast of St. Agnes,” he concluded, “as we strive to amend the Kansas constitution so that Kansans, through their elected representatives, can determine public policy regarding abortion, rather than a court inventing a right to abortion and imposing it on the citizens of Kansas . . . let us ask St. Agnes to intercede for us to have the strength, the wisdom, and the courage for this battle — which is really a battle for the soul of our state and our country.”

After Mass, Warren said she is “always moved by being among people of faith,” and she appreciated the “public support for our faith.”

APLE MOUNT, Ky. — Sister Emerentia Wiesner, 96, an Ursuline Sister of Mount Saint Joseph here, died Jan. 17 in her 78th year of religious life. She was a native of Richmond.

Sister Emerentia was an Ursuline Sister of Paola prior to the merger with Mount Saint Joseph. She was a wonderful seamstress and craft maker, whose gentleness was displayed in all her creations.

She taught at Holy Name School, Kansas City, Kansas (1945-47, 1950-52), Holy Angels School, Garnett (194750, 1963-64, principal and teacher), Holy Rosary School, Wea, (principal and teacher, 1955-57), Queen of the Holy Rosary School, Overland Park (1957-60), St. John School, Greeley (principal and teacher, 1960-61; teacher 196673), Holy Trinity School, Paola (principal and teacher, 1961-62, 1964-66; tutor 1987-89) and St. Agnes School, Roeland Park (1962-63).

She was a nurse and director of Monica Hall in Paola from 1974-87, and served in community service at the motherhouse from 1989-2009.

Sister Laura Haug, OSB

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TCHISON — Sister Laura Haug, 93, a Benedictine Sister of Mount St. Scholastica here, died Jan. 22 at the monastery.

Sister Laura was one of 10 children born to Mary and Frank Haug of Baileyville, where she attended elementary and high school.

She entered the Mount community in 1943, and on Jan. 1 of this year marked her diamond jubilee of 75 years of monastic profession. She taught grade and high school for 20 years and also served as principal in Wamego and Lenexa.

Earning a master’s degree in school administration from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, and a Ph.D. in school curriculum and administration from the University of Kansas, she became a college professor. From 1971 to 1992, she served as chair of the education department at Benedictine College, Atchison, and was recognized in 1989 as Educator of the Year by the college.

During a sabbatical, she was a consultant and teacher at Bethlehem University in the West Bank. After her college career, she served as director of adult education at Donnelly College in Kansas City, Kansas, and director of the Mount Community Center and of Happy Hearts GED program in Atchison.

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JANUARY 31, 2020 | THELEAVEN.ORG

LOCAL NEWS

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NET missionaries offer students opportunity to grow in faith

By Moira Cullings moira.culling@theleaven.org

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OELAND PARK — The NET Ministries team that visited Bishop Miege High School here from Jan. 14-17 had much to offer.

But perhaps the most remarkable witness of faith was the team’s lifestyle.

The young men and women gave up their jobs and the comfort of home, began training in August and hit the road in September. Since then, they have traveled in a van across the United States, visiting schools and parishes to share the Gospel.

Some of the team members only recently graduated from high school.

“I don’t think I could ever do that,” said Miege sophomore Shea McGraw.

“But it’s a good thing to see and [have] people to look up to.”

NET, which stands for National Evangelization Teams, is made up of young Catholics who join a team and travel the country for nine months, leading retreats and spreading the faith at parishes and schools.

A typical retreat includes games, skits, talks, small groups and prayer.

The NET team visited other parishes during their time in the Kansas City area, but Miege has had an ongoing relationship with the organization.

Bill Creach, director of campus ministry at Miege, said it is a tremendous help to him that the retreat is something he can offer his freshmen and sophomores, but that is planned and directed by others.

“I think it’s good for our students to see non-Miege personnel talking about their faith and facilitating a retreat,” he said.

Creach’s hope in bringing NET to the school is that seeing young people radically live out their faith will inspire his students.

That hope isn’t lost on freshmen like Stella Cahalan, who said interacting with her peers outside the classroom, particularly in a small group setting, is a welcome opportunity.

“Not often do teenagers openly like to talk about their faith around each other,” she said.

“When I was in my small group,” she continued, “I found that I could be open with everybody, and it was a

Shawnee Scout earns Eagle Scout rank

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HAWNEE — Rodolfo Linares Jr., a member of Sacred Heart Parish, here and Boy Scout Troop 189, has earned the rank of Eagle Scout.

Linares was awarded his Eagle during a court of honor on Dec. 19, 2019.

For his Eagle project, Linares painted a house that Countryside Christian Church in Mission purchased to be used as a home for homeless teens.

His project was called “Home At Last.”

EAGLE SCOUTS

Send notices to: The Leaven, 12615 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City, KS 66109, attn: Scouts; or send an email to: todd. habiger@theleaven.org.

LEAVEN PHOTO BY MOIRA CULLINGS

NET missionary Alaine DeSantis prays over Bishop Miege freshman A’myrah Cheadle during a NET Ministries retreat at Miege Jan. 16.

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“WHEN I WAS IN MY SMALL GROUP, I FOUND THAT I COULD BE OPEN WITH EVERYBODY, AND IT WAS A TOTALLY DIFFERENT TYPE OF CONVERSATION THAN IN THE HALLWAY AND THE CLASSROOM.” totally different type of conversation than in the hallway and the classroom.”

“You get to learn a lot more about your peers than in a normal school day,” she added.

McGraw agreed, explaining the small group helped her meet new peers

and get to know them better than she could with hallway chatter.

“It gave me a chance to actually talk with them more and hear about their personal experiences with friends,” she said.

Sophomore Daniel Meara appreciated the humor the team brought to their skits, as well as the kindness they showed the Miege community.

“The retreat hosts are really nice and they interact with the kids a lot,” he said. “I think that’s really cool to see.”

Amanda Baker and Isaac McElroy, two of the team members who visited Miege, said their feedback forms offer insight as to how the youth they work with respond to the retreats.

“By far, the most common response that we get is that a lot of the youth feel closer to God by the end of the retreat,” said Baker. “That’s a very amazing thing to read.”

And although it’s reassuring, it’s

University of Saint Mary launches new doctor of occupational therapy program

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EAVENWORTH — The University of Saint Mary here is promoting healthier and more productive lives for all populations with the launch of its new Doctor of Occupational Therapy program.

The degree program, which the Higher Learning Commission approved last December, will develop professionals focused on helping patients perform daily activities and maintaining their independence.

“Occupational therapy is a growing and fulfilling career path that we are excited to bring to students at the University of Saint Mary,” said Andy Wu, program director and assistant professor of occupational therapy.

“The curriculum is thoughtfully designed and offers a focus on clinical field experiences. USM graduates will have the education and training

necessary to contribute to the wellbeing of our global society — which is at the heart of USM’s mission.”

The doctoral program has applied for accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education. Student applications are open through Oct. 15 for June 2021 enrollment.

USM occupational therapy is a three-year program comprised of 117 credit hours. The curriculum includes an unparalleled 28 weeks of clinical field experience.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates an 18% growth in the occupational therapy field through 2028, and the profession consistently receives high marks in the U.S. News & World Report annual “Best Jobs” list.

To apply or learn more about the program, visit the website at: stmary. edu/OT.

not surprising for Baker, who said the greatest help during her own conversion was having other young people to look up to.

“It was very beneficial to see young people in the faith,” she said, “and to be surrounded by those people really was encouraging.”

What keeps the NET team going during difficult times is the knowledge that their work is impacting the future of the church, said McElroy.

“It’s unfortunate that even before they get into high school, the statistics show [young people are] already choosing to leave,” he said.

McElroy wants to give youth the “joy, happiness and strength” that come from a strong faith life.

“I think it’s important for the youth to have that,” he said.

Especially in the trying times that we are living through, “they need to have that reassurance that they have the Lord,” he added.

Day of prayer combines clay and contemplation

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EAVENWORTH — Two Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth artists will facilitate a playful and contemplative approach to shaping earthenware clay while exploring transformation during a day of prayer titled “I am the potter” on Feb. 22 at the Marillac Center here.

Sisters Lynn Casey and Pam Hinkle will give the retreat day of prayer from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Sister Lynn, a watercolor artist, has served as the spiritual companion for the Helena, Montana, Women’s Journey leadership team. Sister Pam is an artist and potter who works in a variety of media. As a physician assistant, her role as a direct caregiver awakened her deep compassion and faith that find expression in her art.

The cost of $35 includes lunch. A $15 deposit will hold a reservation. Overnight accommodations are available. Registration deadline is Feb. 15. Register online at: www. marillaccenter.org; by email at: retreats@ scls.org; or by phone at (913) 758-6552.

JANUARY 31, 2020 | THELEAVEN.ORG

FAMILY LIFE

Give your spouse the time together you deserve

By Deacon Tony Zimmerman Special to The Leaven

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ec. 25, 1971, was our first Christmas. We had been married just four months.

It was also the date of the longest game in NFL history.

The Kansas City Chiefs were playing a divisionTOOLS FOR al playFAMILIES off game Growing as against Disciples of t h e Jesus Miami Dolphins.

Can you believe it? CHRISTMAS DAY?!

My dad bought five tickets, and I asked my four brothers to go to the game, leaving Barbara to watch at home. The game, which started at 3 p.m., lasted 6 quarters (82 minutes and 40 seconds actual playing time).

When I finally got home, the Christmas dinner was as cold as the reception I received when I walked in the door. Forty-eight years later, this game and our first Christmas is a touchy subject.

Perhaps this was the event that cursed the Chiefs to wait 50 years for another spot in the Super Bowl.

You might look at this and say, “Wow, you’re still married! You must have a terrific wife!” You are right.

She has been God’s greatest gift to me. So, a question all spouses should regularly ask is: How am I treating the gift God has given me in my spouse?

One of the first things to check is the amount of time you give to your husband or wife. Remember your early dating days? You probably took every minute you had to be together. How would that measure up today?

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the average American spends nearly five hours a day on leisure and sports. Three of those hours are spent being absorbed in television.

In today’s media-driven

world we can become isolated from one another as we tune into cellphones, laptops and email. This leaves very little time for talking as a couple.

This also means that as parents, we have very little time to sit, listen and be present to our children.

Taking time just for them says that “you are important to me.”

Begin by taking simple steps to increase the time given to God and to your family: • Add family prayer to your daily routine with a family rosary each evening.

If you have little ones, this might mean praying one

decade each night.

• Strive to eat dinner as a family at least five nights a week. Turn off all social media and place all cellphones in a basket outside the dining area.

• Turn off the television.

If you really think about it, there is not much programming of redeeming family and social value. Sexual activity and violence are present in most programming.

This change in lifestyle I am suggesting is very challenging to all of us. Try one step at a time for a couple of weeks. Evaluate the effects on your life as a couple and parent. You should be pleasantly surprised.

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Pat and Bob Scheibel, members of the Church of the Nativity, Leawood, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on Feb. 1 with a Mass and blessing, followed by dinner with family and friends. The couple was married on Jan. 31, 1970, at St. Joseph Chapel, Atlanta. Their children are: Bob Scheibel, Jeff Scheibel and Kathy Wolff. They also have nine grandchildren.

Frederick Joseph “Joe” and Joyce (Davis) Pimple, members of Holy Family Parish, Alma, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary with a dinner with their children and grandchildren. The couple was married Feb. 7, 1970, at Sacred Heart Church in Emporia. Their children are: Justin Temple, Keith Pimple and Benjamin Pimpl. They also have eight grandchildren.

Janie (Talley) and John Kramer, members of St. Patrick Parish, Corning, will celebrate their 50th anniversary on Feb. 2 at the St. Patrick Gathering Center in Corning. The couple was married on Dec. 27, 1969, at St. Patrick Church, Corning. Their children are: Jeff Kramer, Joe Kramer, Jenny Gerety and Jim Kramer. They also have 20 grandchildren.

World Marriage Day Mass set for Feb. 9 at Church of the Ascension

By Joe Bollig joe.bollig@theleaven.org

World Marriage Day Mass

K

ANSAS CITY, Kan. — Even if you’re not a boomer, you may know the old Beatles song with the refrain, “All you need is love.”

Sorry, Liverpool lads, you’re wrong.

“It’s love that keeps your marriage alive, but it is grace through the sacrament of matrimony that keeps the love alive,” said Deacon Tony Zimmerman, lead consultant of the archdiocesan office of marriage and family life.

Next month, married couples will have an opportunity to strengthen their love in grace at the annual World Marriage Day Mass.

The event, jointly celebrated by the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas and the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, will be held at 11:45 a.m. on Feb. 9 at the Church of the Ascension, 9510 W. 127th St., Overland Park.

Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann will be the celebrant and Bishop James V. Johnston will be the homilist.

Registration is not required and there is no cost to attend. There will be a reception after the Mass. Families are welcome to attend.

The World Marriage Day Mass is part of a larger celebration of National Marriage Week, which runs from Feb. 7-14.

There’s no doubt about it, said Deacon Zimmerman. Marriage is taking a beating in our time. The culture weighs down on people like “a

The annual World Marriage Day Mass celebrated by the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas and the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, will be held at 11:45 a.m. on Feb. 9 at the Church of the Ascension, 9510 W. 127th St., Overland Park.

The World Marriage Day Mass is part of a larger celebration of National Marriage Week, which runs from Feb. 7-14. heavy, wet blanket,” smothering the desires of young people for marriage.

Young couples “have a fear that they will not be successful in marriage because they see in their families and community couples who struggle and fail” in marriage, he said.

What these young people need is a different narrative — stories of marriage success. Interestingly, the theme for World Marriage Day is: “Stories from the Domestic Church.”

Deacon Zimmerman offered two.

Once, he met a young couple that had been married for only five years.

The wife offered a profound observation.

“When you’re born into a family, they’ve got to love you,” she said. “But my husband didn’t have to love me. I’m not his son or daughter. He loves me for who I am.”

Also, Deacon Zimmerman became acquainted with another couple in which the husband was a firefighter, which required long shifts away from home.

“He was never there completely as a husband and a father,” he said. “He loved that job so much, but he gave it

up to be home for his wife and their kids. Later on, that great love they had for each other gave them the courage to adopt a severely handicapped child.”

This is what children need to see in their parents, said Deacon Zimmerman. “[Their children] will learn joy and the love of God by your love and joy in each other,” he said. “If they don’t see that [in you], where else are they going to find it?”

For information about marriage enrichment, go to the archdiocesan website at: archkck.org. Go to the top of the homepage and click on the button “Ministries.” On the pull-down menu under “Marriage and Family Life,” click on “Marriage Enrichment.”

For information on National Marriage Week, go online to: National MarriageWeekUSA.org.

JANUARY 31, 2020 | THELEAVEN.ORG

WORLD

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Priests swap clericals for camo to help fight Australian fires

By Marilyn Rodrigues Catholic News Service

S

YDNEY (CNS) — Three Sydney priests have swapped clericals for camouflage to join the 3,000 Australian Defence Force reservists providing support to firefighters and communities in the grip of the bushfire crisis.

Father Kene Onwukwe, assistant pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Mosman, and Father Andrew Feng, parish administrator of St. Christopher Parish, Holsworthy, are chaplains with the army reserve currently working full time alongside soldiers supporting exhausted firefighters in the bushfire relief efforts.

Both joined the reserves as part-time chaplains in February 2018 and, since Jan. 7, have formed part of the historic deployment. Along with Franciscan Father Francis Ghanem, parish priest of St. Joseph, Edgecliff, and St. Francis of Assisi, Paddington, they signed up for a full-time deployment to help firefighters and communities battling the fires and their immediate aftermath.

They’ve been pitching in to help mend fences, clear roads and set up campsites, but most of all their role is providing a “ministry of presence,” said Father Onwukwe.

“We lead a daily prayer service, talk to them, pray with them and for them and visit families who have been affected by these bushfires,” said Father Onwukwe, who has been providing pastoral support to the Rural Fire Service, soldiers and military officers and their families as well as the local communities in southeastern New South Wales state.

Father Onwukwe also shares in the daily routine of his unit, which currently includes sleeping in a public high school gym by night and pitching in to clear roads, mend fences or whatever else needs doing to help the communities gain access to the damaged areas and make the first steps to recovery.

“However, mine is primarily a ministry of presence, to provide encouragement and support,” Father Onwukwe said. “What has stood out for me is the amount of appreciation for us from the local community members, those who have been most affected.

“We are not out here to stop the fires, the RFS is doing a great job at that, but we support them in any way we can, often in little ways, and people are enormously appreciative of our support.”

A few encounters stand out, including with a man whose family home had been razed to the ground. After visiting and praying with family members, Father Onwukwe gave the father his Bible, and the man suddenly broke down.

“He was a man of faith, and he told me he that all of his many Bibles had been burned, and now the only Bible he had was the military one I gave him,” Father Onwukwe said. “That touched me.”

Father Feng is part of the 1st Close Health Battalion, a military medical

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CNS PHOTO/COURTESY FATHER ONWUKWE

Father Kene Onwukwe, assistant pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Mosman, Australia, poses as he and other men prepare to cut down a tree damaged by a bushfire in Wonboyn Jan. 13. Father Onwukwe is a chaplain with the army reserve currently working full time alongside soldiers supporting exhausted firefighters in the bushfire relief efforts.

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“WE ARE NOT OUT HERE TO STOP THE FIRES, THE RFS IS DOING A GREAT JOB AT THAT, BUT WE SUPPORT THEM IN ANY WAY WE CAN, OFTEN IN LITTLE WAYS, AND PEOPLE ARE ENORMOUSLY APPRECIATIVE OF OUR SUPPORT.” unit. Before this latest deployment, he also provided pastoral support for the army after Christmas.

He has been living full time in the field amid intense heat and smoke and at night sleeping in freezing cold tents.

It has its challenges, he said, but the most heart-warming aspect was the welcome the army receives wherever members go.

“Morale can become very low in these communities, and the firefighters need support as well,” Father Feng said.

He is also impressed by the “suffering and sacrifice” of the soldiers he is assisting. “I respect them now more

CNS PHOTO/COURTESY FATHER ANDREW FENG

Father Andrew Feng, right, parish administrator of St. Christopher Church in Holsworthy, Australia, stands with members of the medical military team. Father Feng is a chaplain with the army reserve currently working full time alongside soldiers supporting exhausted firefighters in the bushfire relief efforts. than ever and am honored to be able to serve the people who serve our nation,” he said.

Sister Benedetta Bennett, a member of the Religious of St. Joseph of Australia who welcomed Father Feng to Our Lady Star of the Sea Church in Eden,

said local residents are “very resilient and good at looking after each other.”

Sister Bennett, who was evacuated from the area, said she was impressed by how people made sure their neighbors and others were able to flee to safety.

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THE POPE ‘HAS OUR

Archbishop delivers homily to 10,000 in advance of the

By Marc and Julie Anderson mjanderson@theleaven.org

W

ASHINGTON — As chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee on Pro-Life Activities, Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann has a myriad of ways in which he is trying to help build a culture of life throughout the nation.

There is one, though, that perhaps he enjoys more than others — that of being among the hundreds of thousands of young people who gather annually in the nation’s capital to march for the sanctity of human life.

As part of events surrounding the March for Life, the archbishop served as the main celebrant and homilist of a Mass for approximately 10,000 pilgrims from across the nation. The Mass was celebrated in the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception on Jan. 23 as the opening of the National Prayer Vigil for Life.

In addition to the archbishop, three cardinals, 39 bishops and 303 priests concelebrated, including the apostolic nuncio to the United States, Archbishop Christoph Pierre.

In opening his homily, the archbishop discussed how the Supreme Court, with the twin decisions of Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton, “established a so-called right to an inherently evil action — the killing of innocent preborn children.”

“The high court’s 1973 decisions opened the door to a moral Twilight Zone where evil is revered as good,” he said.

“The killing of one’s child is exalted as heroic and brave,” he continued.

“Even the most modest regulation of abortion facilities for the protection of women’s health is vigorously opposed.

“Abortion is described by early feminists such as Susan B. Anthony and Alice Paul as ‘the ultimate exploitation of women.’ But in this ethically topsy-turvy Twilight Zone, it’s now hailed as the cornerstone of women’s rights.”

And discipleship in the face of that, he told the gathered youth, is not always easy. “[Jesus] told his first disciples that in order to follow him, they must be willing to take up their cross,” said the archbishop. “We must be willing to follow Jesus all the way to Calvary. It takes heroism today to stand for the sanctity of human life.

“In this cultural, moral Twilight Zone, to stand for the sanctity of the lives of unborn children, you may face ridicule and social exclusion. You may be penalized in the academy and the workplace.

“If abortion extremists achieve their goals, you and I can face fines and even imprisonment to cooperate with the intrinsic evil that is abortion.”

There are signs of hope, however, that the pro-life ethic is gaining traction in America.

“Thankfully, not everything is doom and gloom. In these early days of 2020, there are signs of hope. Despite a biased, secular media, decades of persistent pro-life educational efforts have resulted in our nation’s youth being more prolife than their parents,” the archbishop said, to a round of applause.

In two months, on March 25, he said,

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“POPE FRANCIS SAID THAT IF WE DO NOT DEFEND LIFE, NO OTHER RIGHTS MATTER. THE HOLY FATHER SAID THAT ABORTION IS, FIRST, A HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUE.” we will celebrate the solemnity of the Annunciation.

“It also marks the 25th anniversary of St. John Paul’s landmark and prophetic encyclical, ‘The Gospel of Life.’ St. John Paul did not make reference to any Twilight Zone episodes, but he did caution us about what he termed ‘an extremely serious mortal danger: that of confusion between good and evil, precisely in relation to the fundamental right to life.’”

Pope John Paul challenged Catholics to protect human life and the dignity of the human person wherever and however it is attacked.

“Wherever life is threatened or the dignity of the human person is diminished, we must, as individuals, and as Catholics — as a church — rise to the defense of those who cannot defend themselves,” wrote the pope.

The archbishop also shared news from a meeting with a different pope — his recent “ad limina” visit with Pope Francis — a trip he made in the company

CNS PHOTO/TYLER ORSBURN

Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann is pictured above at the annual March for Life rally in Washington Jan. 24. The march began with a noontime rally on the National Mall, which featured an appearance by President Donald Trump, the first president to speak in person in the 47-year history of the March for Life. of 14 other bishops from Kansas, Iowa, Missouri and Nebraska. In their meeting, Archbishop Naumann told the pope that the United States bishops had reaffirmed protection of the unborn.

“I told him that we received some criticism, even being accused of insulting the pope. Pope Francis appeared stunned and asked, ‘Why?’ I said, ‘Because we called the protection of the unborn a preeminent priority,’ And his

immediate response was, ‘It is the preeminent priority.’

“Pope Francis said that if we do not defend life, no other rights matter. The Holy Father said that abortion is, first, a human rights issue. Of course, our faith enlightens and motivates our concern for the unborn, but protecting the lives of unborn children is not about our religious faith but upholding the most fundamental of all human rights.

R BACKS’

e national March for Life

Archdiocesan pilgrims react to archbishop’s homily

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undreds of high school and college students from around the archdiocese attended this year’s March for Life, and many attended the opening Mass celebrated by Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann. Here are a few of their thoughts.

“I thought the archbishop’s homily at the pro-life Mass in D.C. was one of the best homilies he has ever done.

It was moving, inspirational, hopeful and truthful. It was cool to be able to see him speak to thousands of people on something that we all care about, saving those who don’t have a voice.”

Allyson Meier Junior, Hayden High School Sacred Heart-St. Joseph Parish, Topeka

LEAVEN PHOTOS BY MARC ANDERSON

Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann served as the main celebrant and homilist of a Mass for approximately 10,000 pilgrims from across the nation.

The Mass was celebrated in the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception on Jan. 23 as the opening of the National Prayer Vigil for Life.

“Pope Francis was aware of this March for Life in the United States and was delighted to the know the anticipated large numbers of pilgrims, especially the participation of so many young people.”

At the beginning of the meeting, Archbishop Naumann said, the Holy Father asked the conversation be kept confidential so everyone could speak freely.

But then “the Holy Father urged me, and I daresay, ordered me, to please tell the pilgrims at the March for Life — and the entire pro-life community — that the pope is with you.

“He is praying for you,” said the archbishop. “He supports you. He encourages you to persevere. The Holy Father asked me to especially thank those who work in our pregnancy resource centers for helping women with difficult pregnancies for being part of these islands of mercy.

“God and 14 other bishops are my witnesses that Pope Francis was passionate in the support of the church’s pro-life efforts.”

“My friends,” the archbishop said to great applause, “the successor of Peter has our backs.”

“The Mass was so powerful! I was overwhelmed with the unity that was shared with all the people that were present in one place serving one common purpose. . . . Archbishop Naumann . . . spoke about how Jesus told his disciples that discipleship is not easy. That was my biggest takeaway. It helped me realize that if I truly want to be God’s messenger, it is not going to be easy. This was my first time attending the March for Life, and it has been spiritually and emotionally moving. I have never experienced anything like it!”

A’Zariah Burgin Senior, Bishop Miege High School, Roeland Park

“Archbishop Naumann’s homily was quite impactful. His homily was engaging and inspirational. It gave me hope for the voiceless. What stood out to me the most was when he said that 70 percent of America is pro-life. That is incredible!”

Grace Evans Junior, Hayden High School Christ the King Parish, Topeka

“There was one thing that [the] archbishop said that I truly want to bring home with me and it went along the lines of ‘our parishes need to be islands of mercy.’ I don’t think I have ever been so moved by a single line from a homily. This is something that is so true — that we need to be truly full of mercy — but it is sometimes not fully true. While the church community is a merciful one, there are times where we, as humans, make mistakes and don’t show the mercy we need to show to all people.”

Kyle Ivey Senior, Bishop Miege High School, Roeland Park St. Ann Parish, Prairie Village

LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER

D.J. Hueneman, an author and presenter who has spoken nationally and internationally about pornography, theology of the body, chastity and the Catholic faith, was the keynote speaker for the third annual IGNITE rally.

IGNITE rally fires local youth up to the pro-life cause

>> Continued from page 3

reading about the lives of the saints and praying the rosary.

“I always carry a rosary with me,” he said, adding that he prays it often.

Before he left his job as a firefighter, Hueneman was reluctant to leave his profession for full-time ministry. So, he prayed that God would send someone to his house as a clear sign.

He was stunned when a woman making a sales pitch to him about insurance asked him if he’d consider working in pro-life ministry.

After he became involved with a pregnancy resource center, Hueneman witnessed firsthand the power of prayer. Time and time again, he said, the exact resources necessary to assist mothers were provided as a result of prayers offered for mothers’ material needs.

“Don’t wait to do it. You are saving lives. I’ve seen lives saved firsthand,” he said as he shared stories and pictures of parents helped by the generosity of others.

Other topics Hueneman addressed included love, intimacy, chastity and what it means to be a real man in today’s society.

And at the end of his talk, Hueneman encouraged the students to do three practical things that day — including praying and expressing gratitude to someone in their own lives who helps them to become a better person.

“Search within yourself,” he said, “and ask what is God calling you to do to make a gift of yourself to the unborn.

“Answer that call. Make a gift of yourself.”

Mary Ingrid Schnake, a junior at St. James Academy in Lenexa, said she found Hueneman to be “amazing.”

“He was just really engaging. I think he was able to reach out to a lot of kids, and he also had a real fatherly persona about him,” she said.

The part that will stick with her for a while, though, is how he defined real manhood as “defending the dignity of women.”

James Finlen, a junior at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Overland Park and member of Divine Mercy Parish, agreed.

“I feel like I really know how to love someone that I love,” he said. “I feel like I can carry his words not just with a significant other, but also with family, friends — people I care about.”

Topeka pro-life Mass, rally culminate in march to Capitol >> Continued from page 3 noting there are sports heroes and movie stars, but he once heard a priest talk about a different hero — a woman who was pressured by many to have an abortion but refused.

That woman, the bishop said, was the priest’s mother.

“That’s what we’re called to be — heroes in our world,” said the bishop.

“Stick up for life from conception to natural death.”

Finally, Bishop Vincke said, he’s heard countless confessions in the course of his ministry. Sometimes, people have confessed to having abortions, pressuring their girlfriends or wives to have abortions and even participating in them as providers.

“Jesus wants to heal,” he said. But often the culture of death will tell people affected by abortion in some way that they don’t deserve healing.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

“[Healing is] what Jesus wants for our culture because there’s so much brokenness,” he said.

After Mass, those in attendance were joined by other groups as they marched to the state Capitol for a rally sponsored by Kansans for Life.

Just the day before, the Capitol had been the site of a joint committee on the “Value Them Both” constitutional amendment designed to reverse the April 2019 Kansas Supreme Court ruling which found a “fundamental right to abortion” in the state’s 1859 constitution.

The hearing was conducted by the House State and Federal Affairs Committee and the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing.

Later in the day, both committees voted to recommend the amendment for full debate in the respective chambers of the Kansas Legislature.

JANUARY 31, 2020 | THELEAVEN.ORG

NATION

10

KOBE THE CATHOLIC

Bryant relied on faith to see him through tough personal times

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ALABASAS, Calif. (CNS) — As the world mourned the loss of basketball great Kobe Bryant, his 13-yearold daughter Gianna and seven others killed in a tragic helicopter crash Jan. 26, many recalled how Bryant gave much credit to his Catholic faith for seeing him through the bad times and strengthening his marriage and family.

A shooting guard, Bryant was drafted into the NBA at age 17 and played his entire 20-season career with the Los Angeles Lakers. He entered the NBA directly from high school and won five NBA championships. He retired at the end of the 2015-2016 season.

News of Bryant’s death quickly prompted tributes on social media. On Twitter, Archbishop Jose H. Gomez of Los Angeles said “he was sad to hear the news” and offered prayers for him and his family.

In Rome for his region’s “ad limina” visit with Pope Francis, Archbishop Gomez told Catholic News Service Jan. 27 that Bryant “was a very good Catholic, a faithful Catholic” and recalled meeting the famed basketball player on several occasions.

“I remember one time going to the Lakers’ practice, and I had a good conversation with him,” Archbishop Gomez told CNS. “We are praying for the eternal repose of his soul, his daughter who also died and for the family. It must be a very challenging time for his family. So, let’s pray for him and pray for his family.”

Born in Philadelphia Aug. 23, 1978, Bryant was raised a Catholic and as a youth lived for a while in Italy. He and his wife, Vanessa, married at St. Edward Catholic Church in Dana Point, California, and raised their children Catholic. Bryant is survived by his wife and three other daughters.

Gianna, also known as “GiGi,” was the couple’s second oldest daughter.

One of the darkest periods in his personal life happened in 2003 — when he was accused of raping a young woman while he was staying at a mountain resort hotel in Colorado; he was in the state for knee surgery and was staying near Vail in Eagle, Colorado. He was arrested on a rape charge.

He denied he had raped her but admitted that the two had consensual sex.

The charges were eventually dropped.

In 2004, his accuser filed a civil suit against him and in 2005 Bryant settled with her out of court for an undisclosed sum.

His marriage almost ended over it.

In a GQ interview in 2015, he said he relied on his Catholic faith to get him through — and talking to a priest was “the turning point.”

“The one thing that really helped me during that process — I’m Catholic, I grew up Catholic, my kids are Catholic — was talking to a priest. It was actually kind of funny: He looks at me and says, ‘Did you do it?’ And I say, ‘Of course not.’ Then he asks, ‘Do you have a good lawyer?’ And I’m like, ‘Uh, yeah, he’s phenomenal.’ So then he just said, ‘Let it go. Move on. God’s not going to give you anything you can’t handle, and it’s in his hands now. This is something you can’t control. So let it go.’ And that was the turning point.”

Law enforcement officials identified

CNS PHOTO/ROBERT HANASHIRO-USA TODAY SPORTS VIA REUTERS

Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant grabs a rebound during a game against the Boston Celtics June 17. Bryant was killed Jan. 26 in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California.

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“HIS MOST INSPIRING TRAIT WAS HIS DECISION TO TURN TO HIS FAITH IN GOD AND RECEIVE GOD’S MERCY AND TO BE A BETTER MAN AFTER A REGRETFUL DECISION. I AM HEARTBROKEN AT THE NEWS OF HIS DEATH ALONGSIDE HIS DAUGHTER GIANNA. the other passengers on the helicopter, who also perished: the pilot, Ara Zobayan: John Altobelli, head baseball coach at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, California, his wife, Keri, and their daughter Alyssa; Christina Mauser, a basketball coach at Harbor Day School in Newport Beach, California, where Gianna Kobe attended school; Sarah Chester and her daughter Payton, who was of middle school age.

USA Today reported the group was traveling in Bryant’s private helicopter to the Mamba Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks, California, for a girls basketball game. Bryant was expected to coach and Gianna was expected to play. The crash occurred around 10 a.m. local time; law enforcement officials said there were foggy conditions in the hills overlooking Calabasas, which is in Los Angeles County.

Among tributes to Bryant flooding the internet was a remembrance by In-

CNS PHOTO/STEPHEN R. SYLVANIE-USA TODAY SPORTS VIA REUTERS

Retired NBA legend Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna, 13, were among nine people killed Jan. 26, in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, Calif. The two Catholics are pictured during a game in Las Vegas July 27. stagram user Cristina Ballestero, who described seeing Bryant at a weekday Mass at Holy Family Cathedral in Orange, California.

She recalled looking up to see the basketball star sitting in her pew, but she managed to “stay focused on Jesus, not this insanely talented basketball player my whole family has looked up to and watched our whole lives.”

“As we went up to Communion, he waited for me to go,” she recalled, adding that he complimented her on having a “beautiful voice” in singing the Mass hymns.

“His most inspiring trait was his decision to turn to his faith in God and receive God’s mercy and to be a better man after a regretful decision,” Ballestero wrote, referring to the GQ article.

“I am heartbroken at the news of his death alongside his daughter Gianna.

My prayers go out to his family, friends and loved ones.”

She also noted all the good works Kobe and his wife have done through their foundation and several other charities they are involved in and donate money to.

A tweet from Tommy Tighe at @theghissilent remembered seeing Bryant and his family at Our Lady Queen of Angels Church during Mass “and it’s something I’ve never forgotten.”

“May the crucified Christ and His sorrowful mother be with Kobe’s wife, daughters, and family,” Tighe tweeted.

JANUARY 31, 2020 | THELEAVEN.ORG

VATICAN

Remembering Holocaust is ‘a duty,’ pope says

By Junno Arocho Esteves Catholic News Service

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ATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis said remembering the millions of men, women and children who perished in the Holocaust is a call for the world today to reflect and commit to not repeating the atrocities of the past.

Speaking to pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square Jan. 26, the pope said that “in the face of this immense tragedy, this atrocity, indifference is inadmissible, and remembering is a duty.”

“We are all called to have a moment of prayer and reflection, each one saying in his or her own heart, ‘Never again, never again!’” the pope said.

International Holocaust Remembrance Day is observed around the world Jan. 27, which marks the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp in Oswiecim, Poland.

Operated from 1940 to 1945, Auschwitz was the Nazi’s largest camp and consisted of three parts: Auschwitz I, where many were imprisoned and murdered; the Birkenau extermination camp — also known as Auschwitz II — and Auschwitz III (Auschwitz-Monowitz), an area of auxiliary camps that included several factories.

In 1942, Auschwitz became the site of the mass extermination of over 1 million Jews, 23,000 Roma, 15,000 Soviet prisoners of war and thousands of Polish citizens of different nationalities.

The Nazi’s systematic persecution and genocide led to the deaths of 6 million Jews in Europe.

During his visit to Poland in 2016, the pope visited the Auschwitz death camp, where he prayed in silence and met with survivors of the Holocaust.

The pope has also denounced anti-Semitism and violence against Jewish people, including in November when reports surfaced of an escalation in anti-Semitic violence and vandalism across Europe.

During his weekly general audience Nov. 13, the pope said that the world has “seen so many brutalities done against the Jewish people, and we were convinced that this was over.”

Church needs ‘evangelizing spouses’ to fulfill mission

By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service

V CNS PHOTO/YAD VASHEM ARCHIVES VIA REUTERS

Men, women and children are seen behind barbed wire after the liberation of the Nazi death camp Auschwitz-Birkenau in 1945 in Oswiecim, Poland. Historians estimate that the Nazis sent at least 1.3 million people to Auschwitz between 1940-45, and it is believed that some 1.1 million of those perished there. Auschwitz was liberated by the Russian Army Jan. 27, 1945.

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“TODAY THE HABIT OF PERSECUTING JEWS IS BEGINNING TO BE REBORN. BROTHERS AND SISTERS: THIS IS NEITHER HUMAN NOR CHRISTIAN; THE JEWS ARE OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS AND MUST NOT BE PERSECUTED! “But today the habit of persecuting Jews is beginning to be reborn,” he said. “Brothers and sisters: this is neither human nor Christian; the Jews are our brothers and sisters and must not be persecuted! Understood?”

Two organizations representing the bishops of Europe also issued a joint statement to mark the anniversary of the liberation of the death camp.

The Council of European Bishops’

Conferences and the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union said “Auschwitz has become a symbol of all German concentration camps, and even of all such extermination sites.”

“Here, the Nazis took the power to decide who is human and who is not.

Here, euthanasia met with eugenics,” they said. “Auschwitz-Birkenau is a result of the system based on the ideology of national socialism, which meant trampling the dignity of man who is made in the image of God. Another totalitarianism, namely communism, acted quite similarly, also reaching a death toll of millions.”

The bishops said they wished to “appeal to the modern world for reconciliation and peace, for respect for each nation’s right to exist and to freedom, to independence, to maintain its own culture.”

“We cannot allow the truth to be ignored or manipulated for immediate political needs,” said the Jan. 26 statement. “This appeal is extremely important now, for — despite the dramatic experience of the past — the world in which we live is still exposed to new threats and new manifestations of violence.”

Cardinals Re, Sandri elected to top posts in College of Cardinals

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ATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis has approved the election of Italian Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re as dean of the College of Cardinals and of Argentine Cardinal Leonardo Sandri as the subdean.

The Vatican announced the elections Jan. 25, about a month after Italian Cardinal Angelo Sodano, 92, stepped down as dean and Pope Francis announced he was changing church law to limit the dean’s service to a five-year term, which is renewable once.

Cardinal Re, who will celebrate his 86th birthday Jan. 30, had been subdean since June 2017. He was prefect of the Congregation for Bishops before his retirement in 2010.

Because he is over the age of 80, Cardinal Re is not eligible to enter a conclave to elect a new pope. If the pope dies, it is the dean’s task to inform

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CNS PHOTO/PAUL HARING

The Vatican announced Jan. 25 that Pope Francis has approved the election of Italian Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re (left) as dean of the College of Cardinals and of Argentine Cardinal Leonardo Sandri (right) as the subdean. heads of state and diplomats accredited to the Holy See, and he presides over the meetings of the entire College of Cardinals in the days preceding a conclave to elect a new pope.

As subdean, the 76-year-old Cardinal Sandri, prefect of the Congregation

for Eastern Churches, would preside over the actual election of a new pope in the Sistine Chapel.

The dean is elected from among the top-ranking cardinals, known as cardinal bishops. Currently they include: Cardinal Re; Cardinal Sandri; Cardinal Sodano; Nigerian Cardinal Francis Arinze, 87; Italian Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, 85; Portuguese Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins, 88; Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, 65; Canadian Cardinal Marc Ouellet, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, 75; Italian Cardinal Fernando Filoni, grand master of the Equestrian Order of Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, 73; Cardinal Antonios Naguib, retired patriarch of the Coptic Catholic Church, 84; Cardinal Bechara Rai, Maronite patriarch, 79; and Cardinal Louis Sako, the Chaldean Catholic patriarch, 71.

ATICAN CITY (CNS) — If many Catholics marry today without fully understanding the permanence of their bond and the grace of the sacrament, it partly is the fault of bishops and priests who did not give them the best teachers — committed married couples filled with the Holy Spirit, Pope Francis said.

In his annual meeting with judges and staff of the Roman Rota, a church marriage tribunal, Pope Francis Jan. 25 said he marveled at the fact that for centuries, the church ignored the example of Aquila and Priscilla, the married couple described in several parts of the New Testament as evangelizing with St. Paul.

“Evangelizing spouses,” the pope said, is “what our parishes need, especially in urban areas where the pastor and his priest collaborators will never have the time and energy to reach all the faithful who, while calling themselves Christian, do not frequent the sacraments and lack — or almost lack — knowledge of Christ.”

In reforming the process for judging the validity or the nullity of a marriage, the pope said, he insisted on the procedure being marked by pastoral “closeness and gratuity,” which are essential elements of evangelization that St. Paul found Aquila and Priscilla particularly capable of showing. They hosted the Christian communities in their own homes, reached out to draw others in and cared for those in need.

“Christian spouses,” Pope Francis said, “should learn from Aquila and Priscilla how to fall in love with Christ and become neighbors to families deprived of the light of faith, not through their own fault but because they were left at the margins of our pastoral work — a pastoral work for the elite that forgets people.”

“How I long for this message not to remain just a symphony of words, but to push priests, bishops and pastors to try, like the Apostle Paul did, to love married couples as humble missionaries ready to reach those squares and buildings of our cities where the light of the Gospel and the voice of Jesus don’t reach and don’t penetrate,” the pope said.

In addition, he said, they obviously are the best suited to lead marriage preparation courses.

Catholic married couples, he said, need to step up like Aquila and Priscilla and offer to work with their pastors, “not in an autonomous way, but certainly filled with the courage necessary to wake from lethargy and sleep their pastors who are perhaps too still or blocked by the philosophy of the little circle of the perfect. The Lord came to seek sinners, not the perfect.”

Choosing to live among and minister only to a small group and preferring to spend time only with committed parishioners is not the way of the Gospel, he said. And the only way to reach out to others is to listen to them and to try to understand the problems they face in their lives and their marriages.

JANUARY 31, 2020 | THELEAVEN.ORG

CLASSIFIEDS

EMPLOYMENT Director of human resources - The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas is seeking qualified candidates to fill the position of director of human resources. The archdiocese provides shared services for 120 associated organizations. Services include: benefits administration; Workers’ Compensation; retirement plans; and a standardized payroll process. Applicants must be a practicing Catholic in good standing and an active and faithful steward in their parish. Applicants must have expertise in creating and implementing HR policies and processes; client employee services and support; legal compliance; HRIS and data management; and employee benefit management and administration; Workers’ Compensation, leave management and related processes; employee relations and performance management; and employer/employee communications. This position manages a staff of three HR professionals; is the chief human resources consultant to parishes, schools and other archdiocesan organizations; and manages all human resource functions at the chancery. The successful candidate will have expertise in multiple HR disciplines, demonstrated skill with innovation and process improvement, and have excellent people skills. For a complete job description and to download the job application, go online to: archkck.org/jobs. Send cover letter of recommendation from your pastor and resume to: Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, attn.: Carla Mills, Chief Financial Officer, 12615 Parallel Parkway, Kansas City, KS 66109; or email to: cmills@archkck.org with subject line HR Director. Application deadline is Feb. 7.

Bus drivers - With multiple locations in Johnson County, Special Beginnings Early Learning Center provides high quality early childhood education in a safe, loving, Christian environment. With a balanced curriculum of preacademics and social-emotional development, children grow with us, build confidence, and a strong self-esteem.

At Special Beginnings, we believe providing the right environment will give children the foundation to be successful in life. Special Beginnings Early Learning Center is seeking a part-time bus driver (15-20 hrs/week; no weekend hours) of a 15-passenger bus to drive children to school and/or pick them up after school. Duties include: safely transport children to and/or from school following ALL safety & security procedures; safely transport children to and from field trips and other off-site activities; follow a planned route on a time schedule; help children get on and off the bus; ensure children stay in their seat at all times; follow traffic laws and state and federal transit regulations; carefully navigate roads and watch for ice, debris or slippery spots; report accidents immediately; maintain “clean” driving record during off hours. We require the following: driver must be at least 25 years old (due to insurance requirements) with a “clean” driving record for at least 2 years; pass a background check; must maintain and practice safe driving and have a “clean” driving record; have patience and understanding when working with children ages 5-12 years old; enjoy working in a child friendly environment. Benefits: competitive benefit package; excellent support and training from an experienced leadership/management team; pay: $11-15/hour depending on experience.

Community assistants - L’Arche Heartland of Overland Park serves adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities in day program support services and in residential services. We are seeking assistants who are looking for a unique opportunity in a faith-based organization. We are in immediate need of day service assistants to work in our day program serving 30 adults. We have a recycling program and community activities. Our core members participate in distributing for Meals on Wheels and Rise Against Hunger. They also attend community events such as the library, movies, bowling and going to parks. We also have a need for live-in and live-out assistants in our five residential homes. If interested, contact Jamie Henderson, community leader, by email at: jamie@ larcheks.org.

Career opportunity – Due to the success and growth of the Knights of Columbus, we are adding a financial representative in the Kansas City, Kansas, and Missouri metro areas, St. Joseph, Mo., and Maryville, Mo. This is ideal for a determined, high energy, high expectation, professional, self-disciplined, independent individual, who desires to serve others yet earn a better than average income. We provide top-rated financial products to our members and their families, and will provide excellent benefits and training. This is a full-time position. For more information or an interview, please contact John A. Mahon, General Agent, 1275 S.W. Topeka Blvd., Topeka, KS 66612; call (855) 356-4849; or email: mahonagencymail2@kofc.org.

Administrative assistant - Looking for something new?

Use your administrative skills to help a developmental optometrist change people’s lives. The hours are: T/W/TH from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.; summer hours vary. No health benefits. Need to know basic bookkeeping skills. Background needed in Work, Excel and QuickBooks. Customer service and medical office experience helpful. Send resume to: Dr. Beth Bazin, 13600 Washington, Kansas City, MO 64145 or send via email to: bbazin@visiondevelop.com.

Drivers - Assisted Transportation is now hiring caring and reliable drivers to transport K-12 students to and from school and other activities in company minivans. Positions are now available in Olathe, Overland Park and Kansas City, Kansas. Competitive wages and flexible schedules. CDL not required. Retirees encouraged to apply. Call (913) 2623100 or apply online at: AssistedTransportation.com. EEO.

Full- and part-time teaching positions - St. Joseph Early Education Center is currently looking for candidates for openings for a full-time teacher and a part-time teacher who can support at multiple levels at our center. These candidates are for our infant and toddler rooms in hopes of expanding our ability to care for the children on our waiting lists. The salary is at or above the norm and benefits are excellent. Please contact us if you are interested by calling the school secretary, Ms. Patricia, at (913) 248-4588; the general number at (913) 631-0004; or by sending an email to: pfraley@stjoeshawnee.org.

Summer camp coordinator - Coordinator needed to begin in May. Summer camp begins with the children the Tuesday after Memorial Day, May 26. If interested, call Ms. Theresa at (913) 248-4589.

Equestrian manager and laborer - Prairie Star Ranch, the archdiocesan retreat center, has an immediate opening for the position of equestrian manager and laborer. This permanent, full-time position oversees all areas of our equestrian program, herd management and serves as a part of our facilities improvement team. The ideal candidate will be a practicing Christian; have a strong foundation in horse care and management; demonstrated skills in instructing youth and adults; a practitioner of safety awareness; and a commitment to detail and professionalism. Interested individuals should submit a resume and application, which can be found at: www.archkck.org/ranch/jobs, as soon as possible, to: Prairie Star Ranch, 1124 California Road, Williamsburg, KS 66095, or via email to: psr@archkck.org.

School secretary - Full-time secretarial position in the early childhood center. The candidate should have good interpersonal skills, computer skills necessary for office work and a record of reliability. A background check and CPR/ first-aid training required by state; child care workshop required by the school. If interested, please contact Ms. Theresa at (913) 248-4589.

Assistant principal - St. Joseph School in Shawnee is accepting applications for a new assistant principal for the 2020-21 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; school-wide assessments; scheduling; technology; classroom support for teachers; supervision; as well as other duties. Interested applicants should apply online at: www.archkckcs.org., 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.

Communications coordinator - Holy Cross in Overland Park is looking for a faith-filled person with a heart for serving others to join our team! Our communications coordinator’s main focus is to consistently highlight and promote the mission of the parish through the various communication channels available today. The position also works with staff, ministry leaders and parishioners to communicate our vision and encourage engagement. Demonstrated proficiency in creating online and printed media a plus. The position is part time and hours are flexible. Please check out our website at: www.holycrossopks.org for a complete position description and an application form. Please submit application and resume to Phil Thacker at: pthacker@ holycrossopks.org.

Business manager - St. Francis de Sales Church in Lansing is seeking a business manager. The ideal candidate should have a college degree and/or significant business experience. He/she must have a working knowledge of QuickBooks and Microsoft Office applications. He/she must be able to work independently and with other staff and volunteers. This is primarily a bookkeeping job, with a heavy emphasis in human resources and contracting. The applicant must be a practicing Catholic. This is a full-time position (32-40 hours per week), 401(k) included, health care benefits available. For more information, contact Father Bill McEvoy or Jeanne Im at: Fr.Wm.McEvoy@gmail. com or RM@stfrancislansing.org respectively.

Chief executive officer - Catholic Charities of Kansas City-St. Joseph is recruiting a new chief executive officer.

The 140-year-old nonprofit is a multiservice organization dedicated to serving and lifting the poor and vulnerable in the 27 counties within the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph. Together with the board, the chief executive officer is responsible for the organization’s overall success and will lead the staff, engage the board of directors and expand the financial resources to help the organization lift people out of poverty. We seek a dedicated and practicing Catholic, master’s, prepared with 10+ years’ successful high-level leadership experience in a senior management position.

Qualified candidates should send a resume to Dan Heiman, Cornerstone Executive Search, at: danh@cornerstone-kc. com or call (913) 341-7655 for more information.

Staff accountant – St. Joseph Church in Shawnee is looking for a full-time staff accountant. This position is responsible for accounts payable; payroll; cash receipts; and various other accounting duties. The candidate must have accounting experience and be proficient with a variety of software products. Salary commensurate with experience. If interested, email cover letter and resume to: vcole@stjoeshawnee.org.

Give the gift of yourself in 2020! - BREATHE is a respite care service for parents/guardians of a child with a special need to give them a break from caregiving. Adult, college and high school volunteers are needed to be a “buddy” to a person with a disability one Saturday each month for four hours at Bishop Miege High School in Roeland Park.

For more information and to register as a volunteer, go to: www.archkck.org/special-needs or contact Tom Racunas, lead consultant for the special-needs ministry for the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas at (913) 647-3054 or at: tracunas@archkck.org.

HOME IMPROVEMENT NELSON CREATION’S L.L.C. Affordable home remodeling: Kitchens, baths, basements and room additions.

All interior and exterior work.

Honest, dependable, experienced and family owned.

Licensed and insured. Member St. Joseph Parish, Shawnee.

(913) 927-5240 or nelsport@everestkc.net STA (Sure Thing Always) Home Repair - Basement finish, bathrooms and kitchens; interior & exterior repairs: painting, roofing, siding, wood replacement and window glazing. Free estimates. Call (913) 579-1835. Email: smokeycabin@hot mail.com. Member of Holy Trinity, Lenexa.

Popcorn texture removed and apply knockdown texture.

Renew your walls with a fresh coat of quality paint!

Sheetrock and plaster repair Fully insured, serving Kansas for 27 years Call or text Jerry at (913) 206-1144.

The Drywall Doctor, Inc. – A unique solution to your drywall problems! We fix all types of ceiling and wall damage — from water stains and stress cracks to texture repairs and skim coating. We provide professional, timely repairs and leave the job site clean! Lead-certified and insured!

Serving the metro since 1997. Call (913) 768-6655.

Rusty Dandy Painting, Inc. – We have been coloring your world for 40 years. Your home will be treated as if it were our own. Old cabinets will be made to look like new. Dingy walls and ceilings will be made beautiful. Woodwork will glow. Lead-certified and insured. Call (913) 341-9125.

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

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

Everything is guaranteed 100% (913) 461-4052 www.windowservicesoverlandpark.com drcconswindows@gmail.com Concrete construction - Tear out and replace amped, stained or colored patios and drives. Retaining walls, footings, poured-in-place safe rooms, excavation and hauling.

Asphalt drives and lots. Fully insured; references. Call Dan at (913) 207-4371 or send an email to: dandeeconst@aol. com.

Local handyman - Painting int. and ext., wood rot, power washing, staining, masonry (chimney repair, patio’s) gutter cleaning, water heaters, junk removal, lawn mowing, window cleaning, honey - do list and more!! Member of Holy Angels Parish, Basehor. Call Billy at (913)927-4118.

EL SOL Y LA TIERRA *Commercial & residential * Lawn renovation *Mowing * Clean-up and hauling * Dirt grading/installation * Landscape design * Free estimates Hablamos y escribimos Ingles!! www.elsolylatierra.com Call Lupe at (816) 935-0176

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

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

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Tree trimming/landscaping Free estimates licensed/insured/references (913) 620-6063 Housecleaning - A range of services provided — from housecleaning to organizing closets, rooms and garages, as well as hoarder projects. 15 years’ experience. Professional, energetic and dependable. Call Joni at (913) 2064403.

Tutor - Available for K - 12 in various subjects and test preps. Tutor has 17 years of experience teaching and tutoring. Call Kathleen at (913) 206-2151 or email: Klmamuric@ yahoo.com.

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.

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@mike hammermoving.com.

8 to Your IdealWeight Get Real, Get Healthy, Get Empowered.

Release your weight and restore your power in 8 weeks! http://8toyouridealweight.com/coach/kathi/ Handyman - Furloughed railroader trying to keep the bills paid for my family. I advertised here as Father and Son Home Exteriors and Remodeling for 13 years previously. I can do carpentry, windows, doors, trim, siding and decks.

Also paint, sheetrock and tiling. No project too big or too small. Give me a call and ask for Josh at (913) 709-7230.

Rodman Lawn Care Lawn mowing, aeration, verticutting, mulching, Hedge trimming, leaf removal, gutter cleaning Fully insured and free estimates John Rodman (913) 548-3002 Bankruptcy consultation - If debts are overwhelming you, seek hope and help from compassionate, experienced Catholic attorney, Teresa Kidd. For a free consultation, call (913) 422-0610; send an email to: tkidd@kc.rr.com; or visit the website at: www.teresakiddlawyer.com. Please do not wait until life seems hopeless before getting good quality legal advice that may solve your financial stress.

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 as is never felt so good. Jon & Stacy Bichelmeyer (913) 599-5000.

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

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

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

WE SELL HOMES - Looking to sell? This is a seller’s market.

Call for a free consultation detailing the steps to selling your home. Ask about our 39-day sales guarantee. Mention this ad for a special offer. Call Jim Blaufuss, Re/Max Realty Suburban, at (913) 226-7442. Jimblaufuss@remax.net.

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)

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 - Old cars or hot rods. Uncompleted project cars in any condition, with or without titles. Cash buyer.

Call (913) 980-3559.

SERVICES Custom countertops - Laminates installed within five days. Cambria, granite and solid surface. Competitive prices, dependable work. Call the Top Shop, Inc., at (913) 962-5058. Members of St. Joseph, Shawnee.

Quality work - Kitchens, bathrooms, painting and home repairs. Nothing too big or too small. Insured. Call Jimmy at (913) 206-4524.

SALES Advertising Account Manager Sell ad space for Church bulletins.

Salary, expenses, commission PLUS benefits.

Reply: Recruiting@jspaluch.com www.jspaluch.com

JANUARY 31, 2020 | THELEAVEN.ORG

CALENDAR SOUP DAY St. Mary Parish 9208 Main St., St. Benedict Feb. 2 from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.

There will homemade chili, vegetable beef and chicken noodle soups with relishes and pie. The cost is a freewill offering.

ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT BREAKFAST Curé of Ars School (cafeteria) 9403 Mission Rd., Leawood Feb. 2 from 8 a.m. - noon

The Knights of Columbus will host this allyou-can-eat buffet breakfast of pancakes, sausage, eggs, bacon, biscuits and gravy, and other breakfast items, as well as coffee, juice and milk. The suggested donation is a freewill offering. Proceeds benefit seminarians as well as the Knights of Columbus’ other local charitable activities such as St. Mary’s Kitchen.

BREAKFAST WITH THE KNIGHTS Divine Mercy Parish Christian Formation Center 555 W. Main Street, Gardner Feb. 9 from 7:30 - 10 a.m.

‘UNIVERSALITY’ Church of the Nativity 3800 W. 119th St., Leawood Feb. 15 at 8:15 a.m.

The Christian widow and widowers organization will host the soup luncheon. There is no cost to attend. For more information, call (785) 233-7350.

SISTERS SUPER BOWL SUNDAY MEAL St. Patrick Parish (center) 9400 State Ave., Kansas City, Kansas Feb. 2 from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Join the Sisters, Servants of Mary for their annual homemade pasta dinner and fundraiser to benefit their ministry. The cost for a dinner of pasta, Italian sausage, meatballs and sides is $10 for adults and $5 for kids 10 and under. Tickets may be purchased in advance or at the door. For more information, call (913) 371-3423. For large carryout orders, call (913) 334-2330 by Jan. 30. No order is too large, and all orders are warm and ready to serve.

BLOOD DRIVE Queen of the Holy Rosary (lower level) 7023 W. 71st St., Overland Park Feb. 3 from 2 - 6:30 p.m.

This blood drive is sponsored by Queen of the Holy Rosary Parish and St. Pius X Parish in Mission. Schedule appointments online at: savealifenow.org/group. Use sponsor code HY; or call Joyce Dorssom at (816) 8774609 or send her an email at: sdorssom@ kc.rr.com. Walk-ins are welcome. Preregistration helps with staffing.

TAIZE PRAYER Annunciation Chapel 4200 S. 4th St., Leavenworth Feb. 6 at 7 p.m.

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

F.I.R.E. RETREAT 2020 Prairie Star Ranch 1124 California Rd., Williamsburg Feb. 8 - 9

The men of the archdiocese are hosting the annual Men’s Catholic F.I.R.E. Retreat. Where are you? Where is your brother? For more information and to register, visit the website at: fire-ministries.org.

BREAKFAST Sacred Heart Parish (hall) 106 Exchange St., Emporia Feb. 9 from 8 - 11 a.m.

Join friends and family for breakfast. The suggested donation is a freewill offering.

SISTERS OF SELMA St. Teresa’s Academy 5600 Main St., Kansas City, Missouri Feb. 29 from 9 - 11 a.m.

Enjoy a hot and hearty breakfast of pancakes, sausage, eggs, biscuits and gravy, and all the sides. The cost is: $6 for adults; $3 for kids 6 - 12; and free for kids 5 and under.

SOUP LUNCHEON Most Pure Heart of Mary (Formation Room) 3601 S.W. 17th St., Topeka Feb. 9 from 1 - 3 p.m.

BREAKFAST SUNDAY St. Bede Parish 7344 Drought St., Kelly Feb. 9 from 7:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.

The parish will be hosting a breakfast of pancakes, sausage and eggs. The suggested donation is a freewill offering.

KANSANS FOR LIFE ANNUAL VALENTINE BANQUET Overland Park Convention Center 6000 College Blvd., Overland Park Feb. 11 at 5 p.m.

Tim Tebow will be a guest speaker at the event. Also speaking will be Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann, former Gov. Dr. Jeff Colyer and Lamar Hunt Jr. as master of ceremonies. For more information, call (913) 642-5433. Make reservations online at: kfl banquet.com.

EXPLORING OUR INTERIOR CASTLE Sophia Spirituality Center 751 S. 8th St., Atchison Feb. 13 from 10 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

St. Teresa of Avila compares the contemplative life to a castle and describes the soul’s journey to the innermost chamber where there is union with the Divine. We will explore our own inner landscapes using the expressive arts. Wear comfortable clothes; no experience in the arts is necessary. Just bring a playful and curious spirit. The fee is $70 ($20 deposit). Register online at: sophia spiritualitycenter.org. For more information, call (913) 360-6173.

THE SPIRITUALITY OF IMPERFECTION Conception Abbey 37174 State Hwy. VV, Conception, Missouri Feb. 14 - 16

We are born into this world completely innocent, but then find out we are imperfect. If we can claim our imperfections, they can lead us into a deeper relationship with God, the source of all healing and hope. For more information and to register, call (660) 944-2809 or visit the website at: www.conceptionabbey.org/ guests/upcoming-retreats/.

VALENTINE DANCE Divine Mercy Parish Christian Formation Center Feb. 15 at 6:30 p.m.

Everyone is invited to the Divine Mercy Valentine dinner and dance, for which there will be a DJ. The event is sponsored by the Daughters of Isabella and the Knights of Columbus. Tickets are $25 per person. For reservations, send an email to: bjnewit8@yahoo.com.

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Mass will begin at 8:15 a.m., followed by a meeting at 9:15 a.m. Come reflect and share the topic of “Universality” in the tradition of Salesian spirituality with the Daughters of St. Francis de Sales after Mass in the Magi Room.

All materials are provided, and coffee and light refreshments well be served. To attend, contact Ruth Owens at: rowens4853@gmail. com. For more information, visit the website at: www.sfdsassociation.org.

HEART OF MARY Divine Mercy Parish Feb. 18 at 5:30 p.m.

Auxiliary and active members or anyone interested in learning about the Legion of Mary are invited to join us for a novena and Mass. This will be followed by food and fellowship in the Christian Formation Center at 6:30 p.m. Please RSVP by email to: Legion OfMary.DM@gmail.com. Include your full name and number attending.

Join us as we mark the 55th anniversary of the marches — from Selma, Alabama, to the state capital of Montgomery — that were part of the civil rights movement in 1965.

Sisters Rosemary Flanigan, CSJ, and Barbara Moore, CSJ, will share how their experiences in Selma shaped their futures as well as their fellow Sisters’ to be leaders on social justice issues. How far has our society come in addressing racism, and where do we still need to go? Doors open at 8:30 a.m. The cost of $15 per person includes breakfast. Register online at: Linger Over Breakfast.

WOMEN’S LENTEN DAY OF PRAYER The Cathedral of St. Peter 409 N. 15th St., Kansas City, Kansas Feb. 29 from 8:15 a.m. - noon

Sister Charlotte White, SCL, and Susan Carroll will lead this uniquely titled retreat: “Pig Wallows and Stardust.” The day will begin with Mass, followed by registration and a continental breakfast. The cost is $15. (Checks payable to “Cathedral Altar Society” can be mailed to the cathedral at the above address.) For more information or registration, call Susan Carroll at (913) 634-9840 or send an email to: suscar1960@gmail.com.

WIDOWED WOMEN OF FAITH Perkins Restaurant and Bakery (back room) 1720 S.W. Wanamaker Rd., Topeka Feb. 18 from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Join other women of faith for lunch and companionship. No RSVP is needed. We can help each other ease the pain and get through this time in life. For more information, send an email to: WidowedWomenofFaith@gmail. com.

‘ST. IGNATIUS - DISCERNMENT OF SPIRITS’ RETREAT Christ’s Peace House of Prayer 22131 Meagher Rd., Easton Feb. 21 - 23

The retreat will begin on Friday at 5:30 p.m. and end on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. Come learn the practice of the discernment of spirits, and how God communicates directly with each of us. There will be conferences, eucharistic adoration, Mass, confession, and time for private prayer, reflection and walking.

Cabins/courtyard rooms cost $170/single or $250/couple, or single guest rooms cost $100. To attend, send an email to: info@ christspeace.com or call (913) 773-8255.

‘COPING WITH LIFE ALONE’ A PEER-TO-PEER SUPPORT GROUP St. Bernadette Church (hall) 9029 E. 51st, Terr., Kansas City, Missouri Feb. 22 - April 4 from 1:30 - 3:30 p.m.

“Coping with Life Alone” is a Beginning Experience grief support program that meets each week for seven weeks. The program helps those who have lost a love relationship — due to death, divorce or separation — move through the experience of grief and loss into a future with renewed hope. For more information and to register, call Donna at (816) 305-3760.

WORLDWIDE MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER WEEKEND Kansas City area Feb. 28 - March 1

The start of a new year brings with it the opportunity to begin anew in all relationships.

A Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekend is the perfect way to renew your love and commitment to each other. For more information or to apply for a weekend, visit the website at: www.wwme4youandme.org or call/text Tony and Barb Zimmerman at (816) 741-4066.

DAY OF REFLECTION St. Mary-St. Anthony Parish 615 N. 7th St., Kansas City, Kansas March 6 at 8 a.m.

This Lenten reflection, sponsored by the Strawberry Hill Altar Societies, is open to all men and women. The day will begin with Mass, followed by a continental breakfast.

The session begins at 9 a.m. Reservations are desired, but not required. The suggested donation is a freewill offering. For reservations, call Carol Shomin at (913) 897-4833 or send an email to: cshomin@everestkc.net.

SUPPORT GROUP FOR VICTIMS/ SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ABUSE Johnson County area Twice monthly

This will be a safe, supportive environment to talk about the impact to your lives, to know you are not alone, and to promote healing. To protect the privacy of potential participants, contact Linda Slater-Trimble for information on days, times and location of meetings by email at: lslater-trimble@archkck.org; or by phone at (913) 298-9244. Must be at least 18 years of age to participate.

MOTHER OF PERPETUAL HELP DEVOTIONS Queen of the Holy Rosary Parish 7023 W. 71st. St., Overland Park Tuesday evenings at 6:30 p.m.

Come join this group who prays this devotion weekly. Prayer includes the Mother of Perpetual Help novena and Benediction. For more information, call Martin at (913) 213-8810.

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

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

SEND SUBMISSIONS TO: blankenship@theleaven.org.

beth.

JANUARY 31, 2020 | THELEAVEN.ORG

COMMENTARY FOURTH WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME Feb. 2 THE PRESENTATION OF THE LORD Mal 3: 1-4 Ps 24: 7-10 Heb 2: 14-18 Lk 2: 22-40 Feb. 3 Blaise, bishop, martyr; Ansgar, bishop 2 Sm 15: 13-14, 30; 16: 5-13 Ps 3: 2-7 Mk 5: 1-20 Feb. 4 Tuesday 2 Sm 18: 9-10, 14b, 24-25a, 30 – 19:3 Ps 86: 1-6 Mk 5: 21-43 Feb. 5 Agatha, virgin, martyr 2 Sm 24: 2, 9-17 Ps 32: 1-2, 5-7 Mk 6: 1-6 Feb. 6 Paul Miki and companions, martyrs 1 Kgs 2: 1-4, 10-12 (Ps) 1 Chr 29: 10-12 Mk 6: 7-13 Feb. 7 Friday Sir 47: 2-11 Ps 18: 31, 47, 50-51 Mk 6: 14-29 Feb. 8 Jerome Emiliani; Josephine Bakhita, virgin 1 Kgs 3: 4-13 Ps 119: 9-14 Mk 6: 30-34

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W

14

I couldn’t live in a paperless society

ithout a doubt, this is one of my favorite commercials.

It comes from France, with only one word spoken: Emma. It takes place in a typical modern home. The opening scene shows a mom (Emma), sitting at the kitchen table with her daughter, where they’re drawing on paper with markers.

The father comes in and says, “Emma!” He snatches the paper from his daughter’s hand, sighs at his old-fashioned wife and proudly shows his daughter how she can now draw on an iPad. The dad’s next stop is at the refrigerator, whose surface is crammed with Post-it notes. Again, he calls out, “Emma!”

With an exasperated look, he holds up his tablet, which has virtual Post-its displayed on its screen. His wife, who is standing in the doorway, gives him an annoyed look.

Wanting a little relaxation, the wife sits on the sofa working a Sudoku puzzle with a pen. Sure enough, her husband

MARK MY WORDS

FATHER MARK GOLDASICH Father Mark is the pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Tonganoxie. He has been editor of The Leaven since 1989.

appears at her left elbow, says, “Emma,” and displays a Sudoku puzzle on the tablet screen.

Next, the wife is working at her computer and, just as she prints off a hard copy of the page, her husband appears at the door, clutching his tablet. With a disapproving voice, he says, “Emma.” She turns and, with a warning glare at her husband, whips the paper out of the printer.

Later, the couple is reading in bed. Emma, of course, is reading a printed book while her

husband uses his tablet.

With a bemused shake of his head, he again says with pity, “Emma.”

This time, it looks like Emma has reached the end of her rope and might be contemplating murder.

The final scene shows the husband in the bathroom, seated. When he notices there’s no toilet paper, he calls his wife’s name.

Under the door slides his tablet with a picture of a roll of toilet paper on the screen!

Then the words “Paper has a great future” appear.

The hilarious point of the commercial is that here is one paper thing that the tablet can’t replace. You can find the ad online by Googling “French toilet paper

commercial.”

Well, February is just about here and that means it’s Catholic Press Month. PRESS. As old-fashioned as it may sound, I still love paper.

I get a hard copy of the Kansas City Star daily and start most days with a cup of coffee and a pen — ready to tackle the day’s crossword, Jumble, Kenken and 7 Little Words puzzles.

My bookcases at home are filled with . . . actual books.

Spiritually, I use the bound volumes of the Liturgy of the Hours for prayer. I consult “Living Liturgy,” the “Sourcebook for Sundays, Seasons and Weekdays: The Almanac for Pastoral Liturgy” and many storybooks for homily preparation. I find it so much easier to read with pen and highlighter to mark up these physical resources with notes and ideas.

And when producing The Leaven each week, I still proofread pages from a hard copy before making my corrections on the computer.

Now, don’t get me wrong. Just because I prefer paper doesn’t mean that I despise the

newer technologies. I would not for a minute go back to producing The Leaven like we did 30 years ago. And it’s so much easier when researching something from past issues to go to our online archive.

I also enjoy the ease of writing on a computer, even though I print out a hard copy of my article to edit and polish up.

I don’t view Catholic Press Month as a repudiation of the newer technologies; both can exist well side-by-side, much like television did not totally replace the radio.

My encouragement this month is for readers to not only enjoy The Leaven, but also to treat themselves to other Catholic press materials. Many parishes have wonderful libraries or book carts filled with treasures to be discovered. Dive into them.

They’re free!

Someone once asked if I’d ever give up the print edition of The Leaven. I said that I would — just as soon as the Vatican permits processing in with the “iPad of the Gospels” at Mass!

Elijah prepared the way even before John the Baptist

T

here are several different messengers who make deliveries to us: the U.S. Postal Service, FedEx, UPS. We also receive messages by means of email, voicemail and snail mail. There are many ways in which someone can get the word to us. Similarly, God sends out many messengers.

In Sunday’s first reading, Mal 3:1-4, God promises: “Lo, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me.” Later on in the book of the prophet Malachi, that messenger is identified as the prophet Elijah: “Lo, I will send you Elijah, the prophet” (Mal 3:23).

We should remember that according to the

IN THE BEGINNING

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

Bible, the prophet Elijah did not die, but rather was assumed up into heaven: “As they walked on conversing, a flaming

POPE FRANCIS

chariot and flaming horses came between them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind” (2 Kgs 2:11).

The strange manner of his departure meant that Elijah was available later on to return to the earth. That explains the promise made in the Book of Malachi — that God would send Elijah, the prophet.

Incidentally, the

Sometimes, the political choices people face can seem like a choice between supporting a “snake” or supporting a “dragon,” but Pope Francis told a group of U.S. bishops their job is to step back from partisan politics and help their faithful discern based on values, said Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston.

Meeting the bishops of Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas Jan. 20, Pope Francis mentioned how, in an election, “you sometimes seem to be caught, you know, are you going to vote in one sense for a snake or you going to vote for a dragon?” Cardinal DiNardo said.

The pope’s advice to the bishops was “teach your

name “Malachi” means “my messenger” in Hebrew. It is not clear if the name for the book refers to the personal name of the prophet or to his role.

The early Christians identified John the Baptist as the messenger who prepared the way for the Messiah.

That is why we hear in the Gospel of Matthew: “It was of him that the prophet Isaiah had spoken when he said, ‘A voice of one crying out in the desert, prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths’” (Mt 3:3).

They understood that the same spirit that had filled Elijah also filled John the Baptist.

They understood that this promise in the Book of Malachi was fulfilled in a spiritual sense

in John the Baptist.

This Sunday, we celebrate the feast of the Presentation, when the newborn Messiah was taken to the Temple in Jerusalem.

After promising to send God’s messenger, the Book of Malachi adds the words: “And suddenly there will come to the temple the Lord whom you seek.”

With the presentation of the infant Jesus in the Temple, we see fulfilled this promise that God would enter the temple. Once he was grown up, Jesus’ arrival as the Messiah would be announced by John the Baptist.

Acting as God’s messenger, John the Baptist, filled with the spirit of Elijah, would prepare the way for Jesus’ ministry.

people discernment by you stepping back from the sheer politics of it” and focus on the values at stake, Cardinal DiNardo told Catholic News Service. “If you try to step back and say, ‘but here are the major moral issues that we face,’ that’s what is most important.”

The region’s 26 bishops, including auxiliaries and retired bishops, spent about two-and-a-half hours talking with Pope Francis.

The topics were wide-ranging and included the clerical sexual abuse crisis, migration, the challenges of a media-permeated culture and forming Christian consciences, especially in a time of deep political divisions.

— CNS

JANUARY 31, 2020 | THELEAVEN.ORG

COMMENTARY

15

Appreciation, not obligation, should be the basis of our inclusion

D

o you ever have those moments when you feel like you are taking steps forward toward a goal, all is going well, and then, all of a sudden, something happens that forces you to take at least one step back?

I had one of those moments recently when I read the message of our Holy Father for the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

In this beautiful but challenging letter, Pope Francis says: “Great progress has been made toward people with disabilities in the medical and welfare fields, but still today we

N

REACHING OUT

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

can see the presence of the culture of waste and many of them feel

that they exist without belonging and without participating.

“We need to care for and accompany people with disabilities in every condition of life . . . taking on situations of marginalization with strength and tenderness; making way with them and ‘anointing

them’ with dignity for an active participation in the civil and ecclesial community. . . .

“We are called to recognize in every person with disabilities, even complex and serious disabilities, a unique contribution to the common good through their original life stories.”

He goes on to say that “making good laws and breaking down barriers is important, but it is not enough if the mentality does not change as well, if we do not overcome a widespread culture that continues to produce inequalities, preventing people with disabilities from actively participating in ordinary life. . . . In order to build

themselves, people with disabilities not only need to exist but they also need to belong to a community.”

Many good works are happening in our archdiocese. Most parish facilities are accessible.

More and more children with disabilities are being prepared to receive the sacraments. (A special thanks to iCare ministries which greatly helps in this effort.)

There are parish advocates in 23 of our largest parishes so that a person with a disability or their family has a contact to help them access parish life.

Parishes are recognizing that people with mental illness and their families need their

support. Fully Alive, which recently launched with the series, “There is hope for you and your loved ones after death by suicide,” is an initiative to help all of us grow stronger in mind, body and spirit. This is progress!

Here is my one step back: There is no progress if our mentality is formed by pity or obligation. Our hearts must be enflamed!

Our actions must proclaim that we are all created in the image and likeness of God. Everyone must be secure in their sense of belonging. We are not there yet.

May God give us the grace to make it so!

Enliven your marriage this coming month

ot so long ago, I was privileged to meet a couple who had just celebrated 81 years of marriage.

I asked about their secret to 81 years of marriage. With a twinkle in her eye she replied, “It’s simple. I let him have my way!”

Sitting in the joy of their presence was like being in a room full of morning sunshine.

Shortly thereafter, her health began to decline. She was moved from their apartment in the retirement center to a room in the nursing unit area. She was not improving and continued to struggle.

Her husband told

FAMILY MATTERS

DEACON TONY ZIMMERMAN Deacon Tony Zimmerman is the lead archdiocesan consultant for the office of marriage and family life.

those involved in her care that she would not thrive as long as they

were separated. He insisted on giving up the comforts and homelike feeling of their apartment to move to her much smaller room designed mainly for her nursing needs.

He knew that they needed each other. He gave “flesh and blood” meaning to their promise

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brings flavor and life to those around.

I urge you to enter into this time of “enlivening your marriage” by taking advantage of the following opportunities: • Attend the World Marriage Day Mass to be celebrated by Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann and Bishop James V. Johnston at the Church of the Ascension in Overland Park at 11:45 a.m. on Feb. 9.

There will be a blessing for married couples. A reception will follow Mass.

Families are welcome!

• Experience “Stories from the Domestic Church Virtual Marriage Retreat” at: www. archkck.org/nmw2020.

You’ll find seven inspirational stories

from different married couples with reflection questions for you as a couple.

You’ll have seven date nights and a retreat to share all in the comfort of your home.

• Experience the “Living in Love” retreat on Feb. 15-16 at the St. Lawrence Center at the University of Kansas, complete with a romantic dinner on Saturday night. Go online to: www. archkck.org/livinginlove.

• Experience the Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekend from Feb. 28-March 1. Go online to: www.wwme4 youandme.org.

Enter into the celebration. Let your light grow brighter as a guide for all to see.

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to be faithful, to be there for each other no matter what — in good times and bad, in sickness and in health.

Once again, it is time to celebrate National Marriage Week (Feb. 7-14) and World Marriage Day (Feb. 9).

The theme chosen for this year’s celebration is: “Stories from the Domestic Church.” We call the family “the little, or domestic, church.”

How we as married couples answer our call to love within our families and community is vital to the life of the church and the world.

We can choose to be a source of light and hope or unattractive and ordinary. Our love can be “salt for the world” that

Sam Garcia

JANUARY 31, 2020 | THELEAVEN.ORG

LOCAL NEWS

16

ROAD WARRIOR

J

ay Soldner, a freelance photographer for The Leaven, spent a day in the life of Vince Cascone, the new superintendent of schools for the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, on Nov. 15, 2019.

Soldner’s task was to photograph a typical day with Cascone as he traveled to Sts. Peter and Paul School in Seneca and St. Gregory School in Marysville — some of his last inaugural school visits in the archdiocese since he started his work last July 1.

Soldner, who has two children in Catholic schools himself, observed Cascone not only through his camera lens, but also through the eyes of a parent.

Since he became superintendent for archdiocesan schools, Vince Cascone has made it a point to visit each school in the archdiocese, meaning a lot of time on the road and his phone.

Cascone gives a Sts. Peter and Paul student a high five. Cascone, said Soldner, “is totally in it for the best interest of the kids. He’s looking for good teachers who want to build these kids up to become great, Catholic, contributing, positive members of society.”

Cascone chats with St. Gregory School principal Karen Farrell during his visit to Marysville. “He’s out there making relationships with everybody,” said Soldner.

“He seemed genuinely interested in having the right people in the right job — good people who care about the kids.”

Students at St. Gregory listen as Cascone talks with them during his visit. Although he enjoys making the kids laugh, Cascone’s priority is ensuring students in the archdiocese receive a strong education and are formed in their Catholic faith.