THELEAVEN.ORG | VOL. 40, NO. 27 | FEBRUARY 22, 2019
Full STEAM ahead
LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER
From left, Bishop Ward students Jason Gunther, Julian Turner, Jorge Regalado and Agustina Rosales adapt their DNA model to reflect the genetic mutation they are studying.
Bishop Ward educates for tomorrow’s world
By Olivia Martin olivia.martin@theleaven.org
K
ANSAS CITY, Kan., — In the heart of the city on 18th Street here, there is a place where 3D printers, hydroponic towers, biomedical instruction and art meet. At Bishop Ward High School’s STEAM program — STEAM stands for science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics — the mission is simple.
FOR LIFE
“We believe science is an active verb,” explains Ignacio Alonso, the chairman of the science department at Ward. “Students have to be able to do science, not just learn it,” he added. And that’s where the STEAM program comes in.
A different way of teaching “I have a lot of students who come in from elementary school and say they
The annual Kansans for Life banquet celebrates the value of all life. Page 3
>> See “HANDS-ON” on page 7
LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER
From left, Bishop Ward students Giovanni Rocha, Diddier Calderon, Margaret Mahoney and Joseph Hernandez measure and chart the progress of their plants growing in a hydroponic tower in the science room at Ward.
COMBATING RACISM
The office of social justice hosts a racial healing event on Feb. 8. Pages 8-9
DEFROCKED
The mood is sober as news hits that a former cardinal has been removed from the priesthood. Page 10
FEBRUARY 22, 2019 | THELEAVEN.ORG
ARCHBISHOP
T
2
Equip your child/grandchild with authentic joy
he following are excerpts from a letter I received this past September from an eighth-grade boy who wrote to share his experience at Camp Tekakwitha, our summer camp at Prairie Star Ranch, Williamsburg. “I am writing to tell you my fantastic time down at Tekakwitha. . . . I am also writing to you in the hope that more people can be aware of this great experience. All the people in my cabin were awesome, my counselor was awesome and I will likely see some of these kids in CYO activities this year. “At Tekakwitha, we do a variety of activities, including horseback riding, high ropes, low ropes, climbing tower, swimming, archery, power pole and much more. But all of these activities somehow tied back into our faith, and I thought the staff did a great job of that. “My experience down there with my friends was awesome. We all had a blast doing all the activities, and we even had fun when someone flipped our canoe. It was awesome for 30 seconds, until we had to haul back to shore. “The staff and everyone there had so much joy. I say, not happiness, because joy is happiness regardless of circumstance. Everyone was always happy, no matter if we were cleaning the bathrooms, swimming in the lake or waiting for lunch. “Also, at Tekakwitha, we had spiritual activities like morning prayer, adoration, Bible studies, Mass and pretty much every physical activity. Everything started with a prayer and ended with a prayer. I think that Tekakwitha helped me grow spiritually in my faith and look at life in a different way. At camp, the theme was the transcendentals — truth,
LIFE WILL BE VICTORIOUS ARCHBISHOP JOSEPH F. NAUMANN beauty and goodness — three ways that God appears in our daily lives. “During camp, we notice beauty in all the wonderful sunsets, sunrises and the beautiful landscape around us. I guess before camp I didn’t really pay attention to how God was truly everywhere around me. “After camp, I still notice God in the transcendentals, and it fills me with great joy and confidence. “Camp Tekakwitha was a great experience that helped me go into this school year with a great mindset. With this mindset, I am inclined to believe that my last year [in elementary school] will be great. “But it wouldn’t be as great if not for the lessons taught to me at Tekakwitha. I feel that these lessons have impacted my life and faith life greatly. “In conclusion, Tekakwitha is a time to grow closer to friends, to meet new people and to grow closer to God. Tekakwitha is a great experience for everyone; I always come back filled with happiness. We learned [so] much and it has strengthened my friendships. “Now, during this school year, I try and take what I learned from Tekakwitha and apply it to my life, because I
know I’ll be happier if I do. Tekakwitha has provided me with the tools for a great 8th-grade year.” I receive many similar communications (usually verbal) each year from youth and parents about the impact camp has had upon their lives and their families. Prairie Star Ranch provides such a conducive environment that young people, while experiencing the beauty of the natural world, are moved to open their hearts to God. Many young people begin at camp to develop a much deeper prayer life. Many of our campers experience for the first time what it means to have friendship with Jesus and how the church’s sacramental life helps to facilitate deepening that friendship. Each year, Deacon Dana and Debbie Nearmyer ask me for input on the camp’s theme for the year. I must confess I could never have told you in eighth grade about the transcendentals, much less recognize how God was revealing himself to me through them in my everyday life. What an important distinction this eighth-grader makes between the difference of joy and happiness! I encourage parents and grandparents to give your children and grandchildren a great gift by providing them with the opportunity to participate in camp this summer. I do not want
LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER
In addition to fun and games, prayer, worship and connecting with God are a huge part of the camps held at Prairie Star Ranch in the summer. Above, campers take part in eucharistic adoration. money to be an obstacle for any family that wants their children to attend camp. Financial aid is available to make camp affordable for every child who wants to participate. Do not be surprised if your son or daughter returns from camp wanting to go to Mass, eucharistic adoration and confession. Do not be surprised if they encourage you as a family to read and pray over the Sunday readings and/ or to pray the rosary together. When I visit the camp each summer and ask the young people what they enjoyed most about the camp, many of them share eucharistic adoration, the celebration of the Eucharist or receiving the sacrament of reconciliation/penance as the highlights of their experience. Some families in the archdiocese send children to Protestant summer camps. While these camps may provide many of the same activities and help young people to love the Bible and develop their prayer life, they do not offer the sacraments, adoration, praying with the communion of saints and other aspects of our
Archbishop Naumann
Administrative Team meeting
Feb. 22-23 Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher winter meeting — Omaha Feb. 24 Junior high rally Mass — Prairie Star Ranch Feb. 25 Finance Council meeting Confirmation — John Paul II, Olathe Feb. 26 Quarterly retired priests meeting Benedictine College dinner and dialogue with philosophy and theology students — Benedictine College, Atchison
rich Catholic spiritual heritage. In a culture where there is so much to pull young people away from Jesus and his church, our summer camp programs provide parents with an extraordinary tool to assist them with the spiritual formation of their children.
Feb. 27 Confirmation — St. Ann, Prairie Village March 1 Catholic Foundation of Northeast Kansas high school art exhibit — Savior Pastoral Center March 2 Given KC Mass (young women’s conference) — Church of the Nativity, Leawood March 3 Father Marianand Mendem installation as pastor of Sacred Heart -St. Casimir Parish, Leavenworth — Sacred Heart in Leavenworth March 4 Confirmation — St. Francis de Sales, Lansing
Give your children the gift of participating in a summer camp at Prairie Star Ranch. It could help them know the difference between fleeting happiness and enduring joy. It will help give them the opportunity to begin to experience an authentic joy that can sustain them for a lifetime.
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FEBRUARY 22, 2019 | THELEAVEN.ORG
LOCAL NEWS
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‘OUR VOICES ARE STRONGER TOGETHER’ ‘We are exceeding expectations every single day’ By Marc and Julie Anderson mjanderson@theleaven.org
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VERLAND PARK — The lily in the swamp. That’s the name Steve Hartman of “CBS Evening News” gave to 31-year-old Kayla McKeon. And it just might be a fitting one. A Catholic from Syracuse, New York, McKeon is the first person with Down syndrome to serve as a congressional lobbyist. As grassroots advocacy manager for the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS), she regularly roams the halls of the U.S. Capitol, meeting with congressional representatives, as well as senators. McKeon was one of two keynote speakers at the annual Valentine’s Day banquet held by Kansans for Life on Feb. 12 at the DoubleTree in Overland Park. Joined by Sara Hart Weir, an Olathe native and the president and CEO of NDSS, McKeon educated and entertained an audience of more than 600. “Tonight,” said Weir, “we educate, advocate and celebrate that all life has value that all life has purpose and that all life has meaning.” “I stand with you tonight,” she said, “as a CEO, as an advocate and, most importantly, as someone who cares that a baby diagnosed with a disability should never be aborted. And I stand with you in the crusade of the sanctity of life and all human beings.” McKeon, introducing herself, was met with applause when she explained, “I am the first registered lobbyist with Down syndrome.” Weir described her advocacy position as her dream job, and credited McKeon and people like her for her enthusiasm. “Kayla is brave,” she said. “She’s daring. She’s courageous, and she works harder than every single one of us in this room.” Weir also said McKeon has earned her spot in the arena. “She’s in the arena fighting for her peers with Down syndrome and fighting for future generations of people with Down syndrome so that they have the same rights as every other American,” said Weir. “She’s fighting to ensure people with Down syndrome have a fair shot at the American dream. She’s making people with Down syndrome count.” Describing her educational experience, McKeon said the keys to her success were being in an inclusive academic setting and her parents pushing her to reach her full potential. “I’ve read since I was four years old,” McKeon said. She still averages a book a week. As McKeon grew, she excelled in reading, math and science. In fact, she earned a 93 percent on her math regents’ exam. She also became involved with Special Olympics as an athlete and ambassador.
LEAVEN PHOTO BY MARC ANDERSON
Olathe native Sara Hart Weir, left, president and CEO of the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS), and Kayla McKeon, a grassroots advocacy manager for NDSS, served as the keynote speakers for the Kansans for Life Valentine’s Day banquet held Feb. 12 at the DoubleTree Hotel in Overland Park. A Catholic from Syracuse, New York, McKeon became the first person with Down syndrome to serve as a registered congressional lobbyist.
LEAVEN PHOTO BY MARC ANDERSON
Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann reacts to Kayla McKeon’s keynote address at the Kansans for Life Valentine’s Day Banquet. “Most of my success was [due to] being included with my classmates,” she said. “I was not in a segregated setting or in a basement of the school. “I also attend Onondaga Community College. I started taking some noncredit courses. But I thought to myself, ‘It doesn’t make sense I’m doing all this work and taking noncredits.’” Currently, she is enrolled in an online course and has completed half of the work toward an associate’s degree. McKeon’s advocacy started with speeches she’d give at elementary schools.
President Most Rev. Joseph F. Naumann
Publication No. (ISSN0194-9799)
Editor Rev. Mark Goldasich, stl frmark.goldasich@theleaven.org
The rest is history. “My message to kids is to persevere,” McKeon said. “I tell them about my friends that are thriving and that own businesses today.” Her message regarding parents is even more poignant. “We are exceeding expectations every single day,” she said. “Please don’t let the parents limit their children.” McKeon also believes it’s important to be part of an organization when advocating for public policy changes. “All our voices are stronger together
Managing Editor Anita McSorley anita.mcsorley@theleaven.org
Senior Reporter Joe Bollig joe.bollig@theleaven.org
Reporter Olivia Martin olivia.martin@theleaven.org
Production Manager Todd Habiger todd.habiger@theleaven.org
Advertising Coordinator Beth Blankenship beth.blankenship@theleaven.org
Social Media Editor Moira Cullings moira.cullings@theleaven.org
than one voice alone,” she said. It’s important, too, said Weir, to understand the debate. In 2017, for example, when CBS News reported Iceland has “eradicated Down syndrome,” a debate ensued because the reality is countries are not actually eradicating it, said Weir. Instead, women who receive a positive prenatal screening test for Down syndrome terminate their pregnancies with rates as high as nearly 100 percent in Iceland, 98 percent in Denmark, 77 percent in France and 67 percent in the United States. Calling NDSS an organization that “knows that people with Down syndrome make this world a better place,” Weir promised she, McKeon and others “will continue to stand up and condemn the societal threat to Down syndrome, to our families, caregivers and, most importantly, people with Down syndrome, and we stand before you to thank you for being part of our army.” People with disabilities, concluded Weir, deserve the same opportunities as everyone else. “When I walk out of the doors at NDSS,” she said, “I know my proudest accomplishment will be ensuring individuals with Down syndrome were not only part of our incredible team, but they were at every table where key decisions about their future are made — Capitol Hill, the White House, the United Nations and in state Capitols across the country.” “They were listened to,” Weir added. “Kayla’s voice mattered.”
Published weekly September through May, excepting the Friday the week after Thanksgiving, and the Friday after Christmas; biweekly June through August. Address communications to: The Leaven, 12615 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City, KS 66109. Phone: (913) 721-1570; fax: (913) 721-5276; or e-mail at: sub@theleaven.com. Postmaster: Send address changes to The Leaven, 12615 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City, KS 66109. For change of address, provide old and new address and parish. Subscriptions $21/year. Periodicals postage paid at Kansas City, KS 66109.
FEBRUARY 22, 2019 | THELEAVEN.ORG
LOCAL NEWS
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New goals designed to encourage culture of evangelization By Joe Bollig joe.bollig@theleaven.org
K
ANSAS CITY, Kan. — The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas will advance to this October’s convocation with revised goals for the three key initiatives of the mutually shared vision. Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann informed archdiocesan priests and deacons about the new goals in a letter sent to them on Feb. 14. “Our various ministry offices and parishes have been hard at work accomplishing their assigned goals,” wrote the archbishop. “I, along with our 12member Envisioning Team — consisting of priests, religious and laity — have been monitoring their progress. “I am happy to share that we have successfully completed some of the time-bound goals, resulting in the need to update our key initiative goals for 2019 and 2020.” The archdiocesan pastoral plan, called the mutually shared vision, was formulated by Archbishop Naumann and his Envisioning Team and put into effect in August 2015. The goals under the three key initiatives were last revised in December 2017. Much of the mutually shared vision has not changed, including the statement of vision, the five overall pastoral priorities and the three key initiatives. Those initiatives are: to build a culture of evangelization across the archdiocese; to strengthen the vocation of marriage and family life; and to cultivate relationships by engaging in the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. The goals under the second and third key initiatives have been updated, but the goals under the first are new. The new goals of the evangelization initiatives are to: • equip the local church to evangelize by inviting individuals, groups and parishes in multiple pastoral regions to participate in the discipleship training experience “The Movement of the Holy Family” by Easter 2020 • accelerate our cultural shift to individual missionary discipleship by focusing on scriptural engagement, personal prayer and intentional accompaniment in our parishes at the 2019 archdiocesan convocation with delegations from every parish
Encouraging personal prayer and spiritual engagement is part of the new goals of the archdiocese’s mutually shared vision.
“
“WHAT THE THREE GOALS REFLECT IS THAT DESIRE TO ENCOUNTER JESUS CHRIST AND FOLLOW HIM, AND NO ONE IS LEFT OUT. THIS IS SOMETHING FOR ALL OF US.” • enliven our parishes to be centers of hope, harbors for the broken and wellsprings of grace by animating the parish evangelization benchmarks, supporting strong parish leadership teams and encouraging parishes in Gospel saturation through the 2020 Enflame Our Hearts, Homes and Communities initiative. “The goals that are most inspiring to me are the ones that will really impact
our folks in the pews,” said Deacon Dana Nearmyer, director of the archdiocesan office of evangelization. “In Lent 2020, we are launching an initiative called Enflame Our Hearts, Homes and Communities,” he continued, “and we’re doing vast preparatory work right now in training and equipping about 1,500 key leaders that will help bring this same equipping and inspiration into the parishes to pass on the Gospel message.” Those key leaders will attend the archdiocesan convocation Oct. 3-5, “Enflame Our Hearts: Be Disciples, Make Disciples.” This fall’s convocation is the catalyst that will send them back to their parishes to launch the Lent 2020 initiative. “They will be a part of our strategy to accelerate a cultural shift to where each Catholic has an identity as a missionary disciple,” said Deacon Nearmyer. Father Andrew Strobl, pastor of St. John Paul II Parish in Olathe and a member of the Envisioning Team,
helped formulate the new goals for the evangelization initiatives. “Building a culture of evangelization is not something that just happens with one part of the church or just from the top down,” said Father Strobl. “It’s something that happens in every heart that encounters Jesus Christ and wants to follow him. “What the three goals reflect is that desire to encounter Jesus Christ and follow him, and no one is left out. This is something for all of us.” Much of the groundwork for what parishes will be doing for 2020 and beyond is happening now, so this is a “big” year. Next year, however, will be even bigger. “Evangelization is not a passing fad,” said Father Strobl. “It’s the mission of the church. When it comes to better living that mission, it will take a combination of the parish leadership — but also everybody — recommitting to the Great Commission Jesus gives us to make disciples of all nations.”
Revival sessions announced for KCK youth, young adults By Joe Bollig joe.bollig@theleaven.org
K
ANSAS CITY, Kan. — Do you need a boost to start your Lent off right? Then mark your calendar this coming March for a five-day revival led by Father Chester Smith, SVD. Father Chester, who has led other revivals at Kansas City, Kansas, parishes, will return for one from March 2 to Ash Wednesday, March 6, at three parishes: Christ the King, Blessed Sacrament and Our Lady & St. Rose. (See full schedule below.) The theme for this year’s revival is: “Jesus is Our Inheritance.” Father Chester — and occasionally his twin brother Father Charles Smith, also a Divine Word Missionary priest — have led revivals at Kansas City, Kansas,
parishes for more than 20 years. Chicago-born and raised, Father Chester, now based in Indianapolis, is part of the Bowman Francis Ministry. As a missionary, he is commissioned to minister to and evangelize AfricanAmerican youth, young adults and others. The revival schedule is: • 4 p.m. Mass on March 2 at Christ the King Parish, 3024 N. 53rd St. • 8 a.m. Mass on March 3 at Blessed Sacrament Parish, 2203 Parallel Pkwy. • 9:30 a.m. Mass on March 3 at Christ the King Parish • 11 a.m. Mass on March 3 at Our Lady & St. Rose, 2300 N. 8th St. • 7 p.m. on March 4 at Our Lady & St. Rose • 7 p.m. March 5 at Our Lady & St. Rose • 7 p.m. on Ash Wednesday, March 6, at Our Lady & St. Rose
LEAVEN PHOTO BY DOUG HESSE
Father Chester Smith, SVD, will lead a revival from March 2-6 at three parishes: Christ the King, Blessed Sacrament and Our Lady & St. Rose, all in Kansas City, Kansas.
FEBRUARY 22, 2019 | THELEAVEN.ORG
VATICAN SUMMIT
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Silence, denial are unacceptable, Archbishop Scicluna says By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service
V
ATICAN CITY (CNS) — When presented with an accusation that a priest has sexually abused a child, “whether it’s criminal or malicious complicity and a code of silence or whether it is denial” on a very human level, such reactions are no longer tolerable, said the Vatican’s top investigator of abuse cases. Archbishop Charles Scicluna of Malta, who handles abuse cases as adjunct secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, was part of a panel of speakers at a news conference Feb. 18 to outline the Vatican’s plans and hopes for the summit meeting on the protection of minors in the church. The meeting Feb. 21-24 was to bring together almost 190 church leaders: the presidents of national bishops’ conferences, the heads of the Eastern Catholic churches, superiors of religious orders of men and women, Roman Curia officials and invited experts and guest speakers. After reciting the Angelus Feb. 17, Pope Francis publicly asked Catholics around the world to pray for the summit, and he repeated the request Feb. 18 in a tweet, saying he wanted the meeting to be “a powerful gesture of pastoral responsibility in the face of an urgent challenge.” At the news conference Cardinal Blase J. Cupich of Chicago told reporters, “The Holy Father wants to make very clear to the bishops around the world, not only those participating, that each one of them has to claim responsibility and ownership for this problem and that there is going to be every effort to close whatever loopholes there are.” Bishops “are going to be held accountable,” the cardinal said. Cardinal Cupich said he expected the meeting to be “a turning point” in the way the Catholic Church handles allegations across the globe and the way it strengthens child protection policies. However, like the other speakers, he said it would be unreasonable to expect the meeting to mark a sudden and complete end to the clerical sexual abuse of minors and vulnerable adults. “We are going to do everything
CNS PHOTO/PAUL HARING
Jesuit Father Hans Zollner, Archbishop Charles J. Scicluna of Malta and Cardinal Blase J. Cupich of Chicago, all members of the organizing committee for the Feb. 21-24 Vatican meeting on the protection of minors in the church, attend a press conference to preview the meeting at the Vatican Feb. 18. Also pictured is Alessandro Gisotti, interim Vatican spokesman. possible to make sure people are held responsible, accountable, and there’s going to be transparency, because those three elements will keep children safe,” the cardinal said. Both Archbishop Scicluna and Cardinal Cupich insisted that if all church leaders around the world had a full grasp of what is necessary to protect children from clerical sexual abuse, the church also would be in a better position to counter other situations of abuse, including the abuse of vulnerable adults, women religious and seminarians. While declining to describe if and how he has seen Pope Francis change in response to abuse accusations, Archbishop Scicluna said, “I think that if you are talking about the pope’s experience in Chile,” where he initially insisted allegations against a bishop were slanderous, “I have been impressed by the humility of the Holy Father, his readi-
ness to say, ‘I got that wrong.’” “That gives us great hope because we leaders need to confront ourselves with prudential judgments that could have been better,” but also need to “move forward,” the archbishop said. “If something has gone wrong, we need to make it right.” While the summit was not designed to produce a new document, Archbishop Scicluna said a greater awareness of the global reality of the problem and the serious responsibility of every bishop to address it should lead to action around the world. Participants will share what they learned in Rome with other bishops and religious superiors and begin to take action locally, the archbishop said. “That will need to be audited,” and Pope Francis has asked the meeting’s organizing committee to stay in Rome after the meeting to begin discussing follow-up.
The panel was asked by a correspondent for LifeSiteNews if the summit would address “homosexuality among the clergy” given that so many of the victims of clerical sexual abuse were boys. Cardinal Cupich said it is clear the majority of clerical abuse cases involve priests abusing boys, but high-level, independent studies, including the John Jay College of Criminal Justice report in the United States and the report of Australia’s Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, “indicated that homosexuality itself is not a cause.” Both studies found that priest abusers had more access to potential male victims and that poor screening of candidates for the priesthood was a greater risk factor for abuse than homosexuality was, he said.
Religious superiors admit denial, slowness to act against abuse By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service
V
ATICAN CITY (CNS) — Twisted ideas of power and authority in the Catholic Church have contributed to the clerical sexual abuse crisis, leaders of religious orders said, but sometimes the positive “sense of family” in their own communities also made them slow to act. “Pope Francis rightly attacks the culture of clericalism which has hindered our fight against abuse and indeed is one of the root causes,” said a statement Feb. 19 from the women’s International Union of Superiors General and the men’s Union of Superiors General. But, they said, “the strong sense of family in our orders and congregations — something usually so positive — can make it harder to condemn and expose
abuse. It resulted in a misplaced loyalty, errors in judgment, slowness to act, denial and at times, cover-up.” The superiors, who represent a combined total of almost 850,000 women and men religious, stated, “We still need conversion and we want to change.” “We want to act with humility. We want to see our blind spots. We want to name any abuse of power. We commit to engage in a journey with those we serve, moving forward with transparency and trust, honesty and sincere repentance,” said the statement from the two organizations of superiors general. The two groups were to send 22 superiors general to the Vatican’s summit Feb. 21-24 on child protection and the abuse crisis. “The sexual abuse of children and the abuse of power and conscience by those in authority in the church, especially bishops, priests and religious” is
“a story stretching back for decades,” the statement said. It is “a narrative of immense pain for those who have suffered this abuse.” The superiors general said, “We bow our heads in shame at the realization that such abuse has taken place in our congregations and orders and in our church” and that the response of congregational leaders “has not been what it should have been. They failed to see warning signs or failed to take them seriously.” The religious superiors said they hoped that with the Vatican meeting “important processes and structures of accountability can be started and the ones already in place can be supported.” Acknowledging an oft-repeated observation that different approaches may be necessary for uncovering and ending abuse in different cultures, the superiors said one thing must be clear:
“The abuse of children is wrong anywhere and anytime; this point is not negotiable.” In the statement, the leaders of Catholic religious orders vowed “to listen better to survivors” and to “implement what is decided at this meeting in terms of the accountability required of those in authority.” The superiors of men’s and women’s orders also asked Catholic parents, especially mothers, to assist them in responding to the abuse crisis. “It is fair to say that if women had been asked for their advice and assistance in the evaluation of cases, stronger, faster and more effective action would have been taken,” the statement said. “Our ways of handling allegations would have been different, and victims and their families would have been spared a great deal of suffering.”
FEBRUARY 22, 2019 | THELEAVEN.ORG
FAMILY LIFE
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Are your eyes open to God at work in the world today?
“I
want some of that — what Jesus is doing.” My young son tugged at my elbow, pointing to our pastor who stood at the front of the church, praying with each person who came forward for the sacrament, anointing their heads and hands with the oil of the sick. “I want some of that,” he insisted. “What Jesus is doing!” I could have chuckled at his request, a classic “kids say the cutest things” comment during Mass. He was only 2 at the time, young enough to confuse the priest in flowing robes with pictures of Jesus in his children’s Bible. But his words kept me wondering, even after I explained what he was seeing. Could his eyes — the clearer, childlike eyes of faith — catch what mine couldn’t? A theology professor of mine used to teach this wise maxim to his Scripture classes: “If it happened back then, it’s happening now.” Meaning that we should keep our eyes open wide to see God at work in the world today. We need to remember that the Bible tells not ancient history but ever-present reality. What was Jesus doing in Scripture? Healing the sick. Forgiving sinners.
LAURA KELLY FANUCCI Fanucci is a mother, writer and director of a project on vocation at the Collegeville Institute in Collegeville, Minnesota. She is the author of several books, and blogs at: www.motheringspirit.com.
Teaching the crowds. Comforting the grieving. Preaching good news. Everything God continues to do in our world today. What if we approached each Mass, each Scripture story and each moment of prayer with this same longing and eagerness? “I want some of that — what Jesus is doing.” My son’s words have remained with me over the years, a refrain for seeing the world with eyes of faith. His recognition of the holy and his desire for Jesus remind me to look from his level. God works through our ordinary lives in moments so small we can miss them. Cooking breakfast for the ones
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we love. Baking bread. Washing feet. Sweeping the floor. Sitting with a sick child. Holding a baby. Jesus did (or taught about) these ordinary actions, weaving them into his parables and preaching. The same moments that fill my days as a parent. The same tasks I’ve watched my friends do over and over, in small or heroic ways in their own homes. Washing children’s feet at bath time after long days as a nurse and raising money to give
Jim Larkin
Sam Garcia
other children access to clean water. Cooking hot breakfasts for their family on a tight budget and baking a year’s worth of pastries as a gift for a parish fundraiser. Sweeping floors three times a day with toddlers underfoot and launching letter-writing campaigns to sweep the church clean from abuse scandals and cover-ups. Sitting up long nights with kids with special needs and sitting down to dinner with other mothers to help them know they aren’t alone.
Waiting to hold a baby after multiple miscarriages and welcoming foster children into an already full home. When I look at my friends’ lives, I want some of all of this — what Jesus is doing, in and through them. Picture the friends you know who nudge you closer to God. Friends whose ordinary love and service for neighbors and strangers has changed you. Friends whose faithful prayer or prophetic witness made you dig deeper into discipleship.
How do they spur you on toward a life that could make a toddler tug at a parent’s sleeve, point and say, “I want some of that — what Jesus is doing”? Over the years, I have come to marvel at the mysteries of God at work in the world, but only because others taught me to see. They believe in the abundant presence of God. They model the Christian life in quiet, common ways. But it took a child to lead me. To see God in the work of their hands.
FEBRUARY 22, 2019 | THELEAVEN.ORG
LOCAL NEWS
Hands-on approach wins science-haters over >> Continued from page 1 hate science,” said Alonso. But actually, Alonso has found, they hate the way science is taught. “When we change the way we teach science so the kids can actually explore and use their imagination and their hands,” he continued, “the difference in engagement we see is amazing.” Fortunately, Ward is making hating science a thing of the past. “I think Ward has helped me like science more,” said freshman Meg Mahoney. “At my old school, I didn’t enjoy having science. But having the right teacher and lessons have really helped me like [it] more.” Fellow Ward freshman Joe Hernandez said he feels more engaged in science class because of the STEAM program. “I feel like they are taking science as seriously as it should be taken,” he said. Bishop Ward has partnered with Project Lead The Way (PLTW), a national initiative that provides various STEM curriculum options, as well as summer training for educators. “The [teacher] training is very intensive,” said Alonso, “because, in two weeks, you have to do all of the work the students are going to do during the entire year.” Ward currently offers two of PLTW’s four options within its biomedical studies curriculum — principles of biomedicine and human body systems. It plans to add a third course on medical innovations soon. After students complete three of the biomedical courses, they will receive a certification of participation from PLTW, that they can add to their resume.
Cross-curriculum learning The apprentice-like approach to education does not stop at the threshold of Ward’s St. Francis of Assisi STEAM lab. “Now that we have seen how this method of teaching works with PLTW,” said Alonso, “we have started incorporating that with all the other classes.” From this desire to implement a new method of teaching has emerged a new move toward cross-curriculum instruction and learning at Ward. This is why, for example, Ward’s program is called STEAM instead of STEM, including art in the program design and acronym. “Art and science have been together forever,” said Alonso. The great Renaissance scientist and artist Leonardo da Vinci is a prime example. “That connection, for us, is important because we are trying to build whole students,” he said. “It’s all a part of life. We don’t want them to just compartmentalize.” Alonso said creativity is a crucial factor of Ward’s STEAM program. “Great inventions come from somebody thinking outside of the box,” he said. “Having that art emphasis helps that creativity and helps them expand their imagination.” In past years, students studied the viscosity and density of various
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Spirit of Bishop Ward scholarship dinner KANSAS CITY, Kan. — The Spirit of Bishop Ward scholarship dinner, benefiting the student scholarship fund, will be held March 2 from 6 to 9 p.m. at Bishop Ward High School here. Mass will begin at 5 p.m. in the Bishop Ward chapel. Honorary chairs are Helen Gray Skradski Sambol (class of ’63) and Richard Sambol (class of ’64). The evening includes a cocktail hour and dinner provided by Brancato’s Catering. Keynote speaker Jay Dunlap will reflect on his first year serving as the new president of Bishop Ward, and the Hall of Fame induction ceremony will honor coach Dennis Hurla, Michael Peterson (’59) and Larry Ward (’54). More information about the event, ticket purchase and sponsorship is available online at: wardhigh.org/spirit.
Lenten reflection focuses on the power of touch
LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER
Ward student Diddier Calderon examines bacteria colonies that were collected and incubated in four different media agar as classmates, counterclockwise from left, Giovanni Rocha, Ricardo Rios and instructor Ignacio Alonso look on. paints and later used that knowledge to create beautiful works of art. Students have also used design skills and the 3D printer to study chemical bonds and sickle-cell anemia.
Explaining the Creator’s works The STEAM program also has enabled teachers to better educate their students in their Catholic faith. “It’s very important for them to understand that religion and science are not at odds; they actually complement each other,” said Alonso. In many of Ward’s science courses, particularly biomedicine, there are ethical factors that arise for students to consider. “For example,” said Alonso, “in microbiology right now we are studying when a person can be considered dead. “They have to use their faith . . . and knowledge of science to come up with an answer.”
Preparing for the future Although only in its third year, Ward’s STEAM program is responding to the growing need for scientists and medical and technical professionals in the workforce; it is intentionally educating the next generation. And every one of the school’s 300 or so students is in some way involved with the STEAM program.
“For several students, [the STEAM program] has helped them to decide the area they want to go into [after graduation],” said Alonso. “They are seeing possibilities.” Ward students simultaneously learn course content and research the careers that directly connect to what they are learning. For example, in microbiology, students research the daily life, salary, etc., of microbiologists, pathologists and other scientists to see if any specific career in these fields piques their interest. “There’s something for everybody within the walls of our STEAM program, whether you’re tracking to the medical field or not,” said Kathy Calcara, grants and major gifts manager for Ward. “It’s for every kid.” In addition to its unique curriculum, Ward also boasts indoor hydroponic towers — a technology developed by NASA, used to grow edible plants — not to mention a robotics club and a drone racing team. “We are the only Catholic school [in the drone racing league] and the first team to have girls involved,” said Alonso. “That’s critical — half of our team is girls! Our girls really do science.” Calcara echoed his praises. “We are changing what a typical scientist looks like,” she said. “They’re Hispanic and they’re Burmese and are many different faces of what future scientists and problemsolvers are going to look like.” “Our kids don’t miss out on anything,” said Greg Duggins, Ward’s alumni manager. “We’re proud of it.”
LEAVENWORTH — Touching empathy has long been understood as an absolutely essential component of giving, being and sustaining life. Take the opportunity to reflect on “The Life-giving Power of Touch: Ours and God’s” during a Lenten day of prayer on March 9, offered by Marillac Center in Leavenworth, the retreat and spirituality center of the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth. Tom White will facilitate the program from 10:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. in Ross Chapel at the motherhouse. White is a lifelong Catholic and a parishioner of Holy Family Parish in Kansas City, Missouri, where he is a member of the choir, lector and eucharistic minister. He is also an advocate for the diocesan marriage tribunal and was parish facilitator for the Jubilee Year of Mercy. The $35 donation for this retreat includes lunch. Scholarships are available. Registration deadline is March 1. Register by email at: schase@scls.org; call (913) 680-2342; or go online to: www.marillac center.org. Overnight accommodations are available for an additional fee.
Former FBI agent to lead book review KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Friends of Rockhurst University Library will host a review of the book “The Killers of the Flower Moon” by David Grann on April 4 at the Kauffman Fo u n d a t i o n C o n fe re n c e Center here, located at 4801 Rockhill Rd. Time magazine listed this book as one of its top ten nonfiction books of 2017. Learn more about this shocking chapter of American history concerning the Osage Indians. Former FBI agent and 1964 graduate of Rockhurst University Frank Carey will offer candid and informative remarks about what happened and how it resulted in the birth of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The cost is $50. Register online at: www.rockhurst.edu, or call Bebe Harrington at (816) 501-4537.
Racial healing event opens eyes, invites conversion story, as children in period costumes illustrated the various moments in St. Josephine’s life, from the time she was born until ENEXA — “Racism she was canonized. is a moral problem The play, written and directthat requires a moral ed by director of religious eduremedy — a transcation Franchiel Nyakatura, told formation of the a story of suffering, injustice, human heart — that forgiveness and Christ’s power impels us to act.” to heal. With this statement, Catholic Scholl said the play was an bishops, in their pastoral letter against racism issued last No- analogy of what the evening was about. vember, invite the faithful to be “We’re here to celebrate conopen to the reality of racism in version,” he said. “We’re here our culture and to unite in an to celebrate forgiveness, listeneffort to become peacemakers. ing and Christ’s The Archdipower to heal. ocese of Kansas “Our country City in Kansas needs that right took a first step now, more than along that path Read the Catholic anything,” he on Feb. 8 when bishops’ pastoral letter continued, “esHoly Family against racism and pecially on this School of Faith, find resources to help issue, we need the office for you answer the call to eyes to see and black Catholics, action by visiting the website at: www.arch hearts to heal.” and the office kck.org/socialjustice. Scholl and for social justice Bea Swoopes presented “Open then introduced Our Hearts to Racial Healing,” an evening of a video illustrating the benefits of growing up with privilege — reflection held at Holy Trinity and how it creates an unlevel Church in Lenexa. playing field in life’s journey Presentations focused on improving race relations, healing toward prosperity. “White people might look at from injustice and reshaping our the success of the past and be understanding of equity. tempted to think that racism The event drew more than in our country is pretty much 100 people. As he welcomed the audi- over,” said Scholl. “However, an ence, Bill Scholl, consultant for intentional listening to people of color reveals that residue of the archdiocesan office of social justice, said, “This experience our racist past persists.” He asked the audience to be for me has been eye-opening aware of continued differencand a chance for conversion. es between blacks and whites “I hope this evening can be in pay, education, housing disthat for you.” crimination, mortgage lending Holy Trinity’s sister church, and even continuing school Our Lady & St. Rose, Kansas segregation. City, Kansas, provided the eve“It is simply naive to think ning’s entertainment, with performances by its gospel choir that hundreds of years of white supremacy in this country does directed by Lorraine Long. not leave a legacy,” he said. The Young Disciples in TrainSwoopes agreed, acknowling, members of a religious eduedging that great strides have cation program at Our Lady & St. Rose, delighted the audience been made in undoing the sin of racism, but there is still work with a play celebrating the life of ahead. St. Josephine Bakhita. “As Catholics,” she said, “We Narrators told the saint’s
By Jill Ragar Esfeld jill.esfeld@theleaven.org
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PHOTO BY JILL RAGAR ESFELD
Archdiocesan social justice consultant Bill Scholl and Our Lady & St. Rose parishioner Bea Swoopes introduce a video called “Leveling the Playing Field.”
Troy Hinkel, co-founder and vice presiden the USCCB pastoral letter “Open Wide Ou
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The Young Disciples in Training performed a play, “Born in Africa,” about the life of St. Josephine Bakhita, written and directed left are: “Born in Africa” sign holder Andrew Randle with Claire Carruthers (front) playing Josephine Bakhita as a child; “Kid young Josephine; “Nanny in Italy” sign holder Davon Smith with Aubrei Harris (back left) playing Josephine and Ginamay Nuok Fiona Scholl with Alissa Harris (back left) playing Sister Josephine; and Princess Nuokus (back right), Angel Nuokus (front lef Scholl; and “Saint Bakhita” sign holder Jayda Johnson-Boyd. believe in integral human development, which means we don’t realize our full dignity in society until everyone has full dignity in that society. “This reckoning starts with realizing the playing field is not quite so level as it looks.” The evening featured a catechetical reflection by Dr. Troy Hinkel on the Catholic bishops’ pastoral letter against racism, “Open Wide Our Hearts: The Enduring Call to Love.” Hinkel, the co-founder and vice president of Holy Family
School of Faith, encouraged everyone to get a copy of the letter and read it — and then take small steps to answer the bishops’ call for action. “I can’t change the world,” he said. “But I can change me. This is a step in the right direction.” He talked about the Catholic family and how God calls us to himself — drawing us closer to each other as we are drawn to him. “That is a reality that must be lived,” he said. “How is it
lived? Through the process of conversion of the heart where we realize I need my neighbor who is my family.” The evening ended with a reception that gave participants an opportunity to meet and discuss what they learned. “I hope for a movement that will go beyond this evening and this church,” said Scholl. “I hope it will equip you to start a conversation about racism with your family and your friends.”
PHOTO BY JILL RAGAR ESFELD
nt of Holy Family School of Faith, ended the evening with a catechetical reflection on ur Hearts.”
Leaven freelancer Jill Ragar Esfeld’s mentorship of a young black artist named Austin has given her an occasional window into his world. Austin earned a bachelor’s degree in illustration recently, and Jill was proud to visit his university when he was featured in a juried art exhibition there.
In the shadow of a white world By Jill Ragar Esfeld jill.esfeld@theleaven.org
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PHOTO BY JILL RAGAR ESFELD
d by Our Lady & Saint Rose director of religious education Franchiel Nyakatura. From dnapped” sign holder Patricia Nuokus with Diomi Johnson-Hamilton (front) playing kus (left front) and Rae’ana Davis playing her charges; “Bakhita is Free” sign holder ft) and Neveah Smith playing her fellow Sisters; “Josephine Dies” sign holder Nelly
What is racism? The USCCB pastoral letter states: “Racism arises when — either consciously or unconsciously — a person holds that his or her own race or ethnicity is superior, and therefore judges persons of other races or ethnicities as inferior and unworthy of equal regard. When this conviction or attitude leads individuals or groups to exclude, ridicule, mistreat or unjustly discriminate against persons on the basis of their race or ethnicity, it is sinful. Racist acts are sinful because they violate justice. They reveal a failure to acknowledge the human dignity of the persons offended, to recognize them as the neighbors Christ calls us to love (Mt 22:39).”
ecently, I went out to dinner with two of my close friends. We chatted as we waited just inside the restaurant for a table. When the hostess came to seat us, even though we were clearly together, she looked at me and asked, “Table for one?” I was completely confused; I couldn’t imagine what she was thinking. I indicated the friends standing next to me and said, “There are three of us.” As we walked to our table something dawned on me. And when we sat down, I blurted out to my friends, “It’s because you’re black!” They laughed. “It happens all the time,” one said. “If we’re waiting for a table with other black people we don’t know, they’ll try to seat us together.” This was a small glimpse into the life of a black person in the shadow of a white world. It’s a glimpse I’ve had often enough to know that world exists, and black people struggle through it every day. For 15 years, I ran a children’s program in the inner city, and I had a book group comprised of mostly black teen girls. They liked young-adult novels that were fun and romantic — but I couldn’t find those kinds of stories with black protagonists. So, we would get books about white people, cut pictures of black couples from Ebony magazine and paste them over the book covers. The experience made me
conscious of every book I read, television show I watched or movie I saw. So much pleasure is derived from relating to fictional characters; imagine how that would change if the characters never looked like you. While directing the program, I met Austin — a young black boy who was a gifted artist — and I became his mentor. One day, I discovered Austin had never visited the Nelson-Atkins Museum in Kansas City, Missouri, a place where I practically grew up. I was very excited to take him for the first time. But the day we went, my paradigm of the museum experience shifted so dramatically, I felt as if I was visiting for the first time, too. I became painfully aware of the fact that there was little that a black person could relate to in the museum. Almost every work we viewed was of white people done by white artists. But Austin didn’t mind. He was used to this kind of experience. It was his normal — living in the shadow of a white world. My life with Austin has often allowed me a glimpse through that window. I could give you a hundred examples. I could tell you about shopping with Austin and how he is followed and watched everywhere we go. I could break your heart with stories about Austin’s struggle to adjust in a mostly white college, and the roommate who never even spoke to him for an entire semester. I could tell you about teaching Austin to drive and offering to give him a car if he would just get his license.
He wouldn’t. Can you imagine a teenage boy refusing a car? If you don’t understand why, you haven’t watched the news. I could tell you a hundred stories, but the point of every one of them would be the same. No matter how kind, good or deeply Christian you are, you can’t understand the black experience unless you live it. But you can acknowledge it with compassion and work for change. That’s what the bishops are asking of us in their pastoral letter on racism. You may not be fortunate enough to have an Austin in your life, but I have a suggestion that may help open your heart. Simply walk through your day, every moment, observing and reacting as if you have a black child walking beside you. Think about what you experience. How would the child relate to it? What can you do to make the world better for him? Be conscious of that child in everything you do and see, in every discussion you have, and every story or joke you tell. “The command of love requires us to make room for others in our hearts,” the pastoral letter states. You can answer that command by realizing that, in fact, that black child beside you is real. He is Jesus in the Gospel saying, “I was a stranger and you took me in.” Jesus is every race and color, and he is always beside you — listening, watching and longing for you to love your neighbor.
FEBRUARY 22, 2019 | THELEAVEN.ORG
NATION
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DEFROCKED
In the U.S., a sobering mood after news of McCarrick’s laicization By Rhina Guidos Catholic News Service
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ASHINGTON (CNS) — The accusations surrounding former U.S. Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick have been hanging over U.S. bishops and faith communities in the dioceses and archdioceses where he served — New York, Metuchen and Newark in New Jersey, and Washington — since last year. Even though the Vatican stripping McCarrick of his clerical status Feb. 16 was expected, the news cast a somber mood over those faith communities already grappling with what had happened while he was among them in the past and whether the Vatican’s decision can help the church in the U.S. move forward. In announcing its decision, the Vatican said McCarrick was found guilty of “solicitation in the sacrament of confession and sins against the Sixth Commandment with minors and with adults, with the aggravating factor of the abuse of power.” “It is profoundly disheartening and disturbing to know that a church leader, who served and led our Archdiocese of Newark for 14 years, acted in a way that is contrary to the Christian way of life as well as his vocation as a priest of Jesus Christ,” said Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin of Newark in a statement following the announcement. “To all those abused by clergy, especially the victims of Theodore McCarrick, I continue to express my profound sadness and renew heartfelt apologies for the lifelong suffering you have endured,” he said. “I support your continued healing and uphold my commitment of prayer for you. I also ask my brothers and sisters in Christ to pray for those victimized by clergy and for the transgressors as well.” James Grein, one of those who have publicly said he was abused by the former cardinal, said in a statement released by his attorney that “today I am happy that the pope believed me.” “For years I have suffered, as many others have, at the hands of Theodore McCarrick,” he said in the statement. “It is with profound sadness that I have had to participate in the canonical trial of my abuser. Nothing can give me back my childhood and I have not taken any pleasure in testifying or discussing what happened to me. There are no winners here.” However, Grein, who provided Vatican officials with accounts that McCarrick sexually abused him as an 11-yearold child, including during confession, said he was “hopeful now I can pass through my anger for the last time. I hope that Cardinal McCarrick will no longer be able to use the power of Jesus’ church to manipulate families and sexually abuse children.” “This great historical and holy situation is giving rise to all Catholics and victims of abuse across the world,” he said. “It is time for us to cleanse the church.” As of the day of the announcement, McCarrick was believed to be living in a small religious community of Capuchin Franciscans, St. Fidelis Friary, in rural Victoria, Kansas, where he had been ordered to go by the Vatican to live since
CNS PHOTO/PAUL HARING
Then-Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick arrives in procession for a Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican Nov. 22, 2010. late September “a life of prayer and penance” until the accusations against him could be examined. “Mr. McCarrick will continue to reside at the St. Fidelis Friary in Victoria until a decision of permanent residence is finalized,” said Bishop Gerald L. Vincke, who heads the Diocese of Salina, which is where the friary is located. The decision whether to remain there after the Vatican’s action seems to rest with McCarrick and the religious community of Capuchins, which according to its website is made up of five priests and one religious brother. When the decision to find a place where then-Archbishop McCarrick could reside while a decision on his status was being weighed, Bishop Vincke had said that in allowing McCarrick to live in the diocese, he had to reconcile his feelings of “disappointment, anger and even resentment” toward him. On Feb. 16, the bishop thanked the religious community of Capuchins “for their charity and compassion shown to all who seek refuge in the church, as well as the remarkable people of Victoria for their mercy in this difficult situation.” He added that he hoped the Vatican decision “may help bring healing to all affected by sexual abuse and those hurt by this scandal.” The day seemed to be one of reckoning as brother bishops and organizations that once had worked, and sometimes praised, the former prelate for his work grappled with the Vatican’s pronouncement. The University of Notre Dame almost immediately announced it was rescinding the honorary degree it conferred on him in 2008, a decision the school had said it would take action upon once the Vatican reached a final conclusion on the accusations given that McCarrick had maintained his innocence.
McCarrick said in a June 20 statement, following his announcement that he was stepping down from the College of Cardinals, that he had “absolutely no recollection” of abuse accusations that surfaced after U.S. newspapers reported detailed accounts that he exposed himself and sexually molested at least two boys in his early years as a priest — accusations that spanned almost five decades and were too old to legally prosecute. Boston Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley called the pope’s action “important in administering justice” for McCarrick’s “crimes and sins” but “it cannot in and of itself provide healing for those so terribly harmed by the former archbishop’s scandalous violations of his ministry or for their families.” This action “by itself will not bring about the healing needed in the Catholic community and our wider society; both are justifiably appalled and outraged that the former archbishop could have for so long inflicted harm on minors and young adults vulnerable in the life of the church,” said Cardinal O’Malley, who heads the Vatican’s sex abuse advisory commission. Church leaders “are rightfully judged by our actions and not our words,” he continued. Apologies are part of the healing process but without action “they ring hollow in light of the revelations of sexual abuse by clergy that have come forth during the past year and almost 20 years prior.” The church’s leadership “must enforce accountability for cardinals and bishops if we hope to have the opportunity to engage the laity in the work of tangible change in the church.” The Archdiocese of Washington, where McCarrick last served in his 60 years of priesthood and where he was a well-known and ubiquitous figure, said in a brief statement that the imposition of the penalty “underscores the gravity
of his actions.” “Our hope and prayer is that this decision serves to help the healing process for survivors of abuse, as well as those who have experienced disappointment or disillusionment because of what former Archbishop McCarrick has done,” the statement said. Baltimore Archbishop William E. Lori in a statement said that the day was “unprecedented” but showed Pope Francis’ “willingness to hold accountable one who would harm a child, regardless of rank.” “I pray this decisive step will advance the church’s efforts to increase accountability for bishops and in so doing, inspire greater confidence in those who rightly expect so much from those who minister on behalf of the church,” he said. Groups such as The Catholic Association said in a statement that even though the decision “comes none too soon . . . it’s only a first step in addressing the McCarrick scandal and eliminating the larger scourge of sexual abuse at every level in the church.” “Much work remains — holding accountable those in the church hierarchy who looked the other way as McCarrick rose through their ranks and ensuring that the Catholic Church worldwide is united in safeguarding children and young adults from sexual abuse and restoring priestly celibacy among its shepherds,” said Andrea Picciotti-Bayer, legal adviser for the organization. “McCarrick’s defrocking is a start, but only a start as the Vatican’s abuse summit begins next week in Rome.” Pope Francis has convened the heads of bishops’ conferences from around the world for a summit on sex abuse set for Feb. 21-24 at the Vatican. The coming days no doubt will bring more questions about what the decision means in the historical spectrum of the Catholic Church at all levels.
FEBRUARY 22, 2019 | THELEAVEN.ORG
NATION
FIGHTING POVERTY
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A woman holds an illuminated “End Poverty” sign inside Grand Central Station in the Manhattan borough of New York City. The latest federal estimate of the number of Americans in poverty is now below 40 million for the first time in a long time.
Catholic organizations scrutinize what works best
CNS PHOTO/JOSE ALVARADO JR., REUTERS
By Mark Pattison Catholic News Service
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ASHINGTON (CNS) — Despite the latest federal estimate that the number of Americans in poverty is now below 40 million for the first time in a long time — the actual figure is 39.7 million — that still means one of every eight Americans is poor. Only a small number of them are on street corners or intersections begging for handouts. “There are folks living at shelters who, because of safety, because of fears, they won’t be on those corners,” said Ralph McCloud, executive director of the Catholic Campaign for Human Development. “We don’t see people [who are] doubling or tripling with neighbors and friends because they’ve been evicted,” McCloud said, adding that recovery from the “Great Recession” of 200709, while the most sustained recovery from an economic slump in U.S. history, was not spread evenly and that some are still digging out from under it. McCloud said the recent federal government shutdown highlighted how even people in middle-class jobs live paycheck to paycheck. He told of the manager of an apartment complex in the Washington area who was besieged by his tenants, many of whom were furloughed federal employees, asking him to give them some slack on their monthly rent payments. He did, but found he had so little money coming in that he had to lay off the complex’s janitor. There’s also an interconnectedness between poverty and other issues. “They might be problems with education, with health care, with mental health, a host of other issues,” McCloud told Catholic News Service. In some places, according to McCloud, people may be literally unable to flee from poverty, which can affect a family for generations — and often enough from just one bad circumstance. That’s what has been seen by the Society of St. Vincent DePaul, as it started undertaking an effort 15 years ago to begin addressing the causes of poverty and not just offer a safety net. Many Vincentians would “see the same people come back again and again,” said Ralph Middlecamp, the society’s national president. It marked, for some, a drastic change in direction. Middlecamp put it this way: “We’ve recruited a basketball team. And we’ve started to ask them to play hockey.” “We continue to provide all the safety-net things,” he added. But more and more, the society is looking at what causes the poverty they’ve been treating for 153 years. “It takes a whole
CNS PHOTO/GREGORY A. SHEMITZ
A homeless man is seen sitting on a sidewalk outside the Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral in New York City Dec. 9, 2015.
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“YOU HAVE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF FOLK WHO ARE WORKING FULL TIME AND JUST NOT MAKING IT. THE REALITY IS THE TYPICAL BENEFICIARY IS A 36-YEAR-OLD WOMAN WITH KIDS. variety of programs that meet local needs. One thing about the St. Vincent de Paul Society is that we’re very grassroots,” Middlecamp said. “Every community has different needs, but there are different organizations that we can collaborate with.” Some initiatives go back 50 years, he added. The year 1969 also marks the start of CCHD, the U.S. bishops’ domestic anti-poverty program. Two initiatives that can serve as templates for St. Vincent de Paul conferences and councils nationwide — conferences are often parish-based, while councils are a collection of conferences — are “Getting Ahead” and the new “Immersion” program. Getting Ahead is a mentoring
program, with a series of group activities for people in poverty “to discover their assets, to discover their resources, to build a support team to figure out that path they need to go forward,” Middlecamp said. Immersion takes best practices from a series of separate St. Vincent de Paul programs to help recently released prison inmates — often called “returning citizens” — to keep them from sliding into poverty and returning to crime. These programs all had recidivism rates lower than the national average; one had a rate of just 12 percent. What Middlecamp said he wants to see in an expanded Immersion program is something “reproducible” by conferences and councils. Network, a Catholic social justice lobby started by women religious, started working on its “21st Century Poverty” campaign in 2015, and although it’s issued a study guide highlighting some of the issues surrounding poverty in today’s society, there’s still more work to do, according to Laura PeraltaSchulte, Network’s senior government relations advocate. Already Network has its “2020 agenda” unfurled, which Peralta-Schulte said includes many areas where the organization has demonstrated expertise in the past, such as family-friendly workplace policies, living wage policy, access to health care and access to citizenship. Given the tenor on Capitol Hill for
much of the decade, it looked at first as if it was going to be a hard slog, she said. “We are frankly pretty heartened to see that a number of the issues we identified are being talked about in Congress,” Peralta-Schulte added. “You have a tremendous amount of folk who are working full time and just not making it,” she said. “The reality is the typical beneficiary is a 36-yearold woman with kids. It is key for us to try to build a consensus to lift wages,” noting there has been a minimum-wage bill already introduced in the House, “and we’ll see if we can’t shake something free in the Senate.” “It’s worth celebrating” that people are returning to work, Peralta-Schulte told CNS. “The numbers are positive. We think there is still a lot of work to do. We have two lenses that we use, and that is part of the process. We were founded by women religious. So we’re making sure that women are lifted out of poverty. When you look at poverty data, you see women, and women with children, trapped in many ways. Things like paid leave and flexible schedules, and higher wages and lessening the gender pay gap will benefit. “We also affirm that our country’s race-based policies have worked to the disadvantages of communities of color in housing and in wages,” she continued. “Part of our analysis was what are the policies that are going to try to make whole communities of color so that many folks are lifted up.”
FEBRUARY 22, 2019 | THELEAVEN.ORG
CLASSIFIEDS
EMPLOYMENT Drivers - Ready for the summers off? Join our school transportation division and live like a kid again! Our drivers have the opportunity to serve our community and still get those precious summer breaks. Assisted Transportation seeks caring and reliable drivers to transport K - 12 students in Johnson and Wyandotte counties in our minivans. CDL not required. $12 per hour. Retirees encouraged to apply. Learn more or apply online at: assistedtransportation.com or call (913) 262-5190 for more information. EOE. Catholic elementary school principal - St. Patrick School in Kansas City, Kansas, is seeking an individual with demonstrated skill in spiritual and instructional leadership, as well as advancement in Catholic schools, for the 2019-20 school year. Applicants for principal must be practicing Catholics; understand the mission of Catholic schools; and have or be eligible for Kansas licensure in educational leadership. Apply online at: www.archkckcs.org and mail resume and credentials to: Superintendent Dr. Kathleen A. O’Hara, Catholic Schools Office, Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, 12615 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City, KS 66109, or email to: kohara@ archkckcs.org. Deadline for applications is Feb. 22. Director of special events - The Catholic Education Foundation (CEF) is seeking a dynamic director of special events. The director will oversee the smooth operation of fundraising events, including the prestigious annual dinner Gaudeamus, which raises over $1 million annually. The director will be responsible for securing sponsorships from businesses and individuals, recruiting and managing volunteer committees, and promoting events in the community. Candidates must have a minimum of five years of direct fundraising or sales experience; proven ability to recruit and lead volunteers; be highly organized; and have exceptional communication skills. CEF raises funds to provide scholarships for children in need to attend high-quality Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas. Individuals interested in this full-time position should send a cover letter and resume to: CEFAdmin@archkck.org. Do you enjoy driving? - The Kansas City Transportation Group is looking for chauffeurs to drive our guests to events, the airport, dinner, etc. Business is growing and we are in need of workers with flexible hours, those who are retired, etc. Great pay and benefits. Send resume to: jkalbert@kctg. com or in person at Kansas City Transportation Group, Kansas City, MO 64106. Catholic elementary school vice principal - Holy Trinity School in Lenexa is seeking an individual with demonstrated skill in spiritual and instructional leadership, as well as advancement in Catholic schools for the 2019-20 school year. Applicants for vice principal must be practicing Catholics, understand the mission of Catholic schools and have or be eligible for Kansas licensure in educational leadership. Complete the vice principal application process online at: www.archkckcs.org. Questions should be directed to principal Scott Merfen at: smerfen@htslenexa.org. Executive director - Wyandotte Pregnancy Clinic is currently seeking a full-time executive director to provide Christ-centered leadership for our clinic that has been open 12-plus years. The director will be under the supervision of the governing board and responsible for the day-to-day operations of the clinic, including: community networking; marketing; employee leadership and fiscal oversight. If you feel called to lead this ministry that is changing lives and saving lives, email your resume to: Dkelsey@wpcnetwork.org. Director of major gifts and fundraising - St. James Academy’s director of major gifts and fundraising fosters relationships with constituents, manages fundraising, and conveys the philosophy and mission of St. James Academy in their professionalism. This position reports to the vice president of admissions and advancement as well as the president, coordinating and integrating activities throughout the school community and infusing Catholic faith and culture into all programs. General responsibilities include designing, developing and implementing all fundraising activities. Qualifications include: a bachelor’s degree and (preferred) three - five years of professional experience in major gifts, campaigns, planned/annual giving, special events or philanthropy; proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel and Mac platform. For a complete position description and to apply, go to: sjakeepingfaith.org/about/careers. Cafeteria director - Nativity Parish School is seeking a director of food service for the 2019-20 school year. The director must be knowledgeable in all aspects of running a school lunch program: planning menus within the guidelines of KSDE; ordering food and other supplies; processing accounts payable; filing reports with KSDE/Wellness programs; and supervising employees and volunteers. Competitive salary and benefits. Interested applicants should send a letter of application and a resume to the attention of David Kearney at: david.kearney@kcnativity.org or mail to: Nativity Parish School, 3700 W. 119th St., Leawood, KS 66209. Executive assistant to the archbishop – The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas is seeking an experienced administrative professional to fill the position of executive assistant to Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann. Duties include: assisting callers to the archbishop’s office; maintaining the archbishop’s calendar and scheduling appointments; developing written communications; and coordinating travel arrangements. The ideal candidate will be a practicing Catholic in good standing and have a minimum of five years’ professional office experience. Support of senior management preferred. College degree or equivalent relevant experience to the position required. Catholic education and strong technology skills preferred. A complete job description, application and benefits information are available on the archdiocese’s website at: www.archkck.org/jobs. Qualified individuals should submit cover letter, resume and application to: www.jobs@archkck.org. Open until March 1.
Catholic elementary school principal - St. John School in Lawrence is seeking a principal for the 2019-20 academic year to continue the tradition of excellence and lead St. John School to fulfill its mission of educating students to bring Christ’s message of faith, hope and love into the world. In recent years, the school has added middle school grades, new classrooms, a new gym and a performing arts center. Applicants should be a practicing Catholic and have a master’s degree in school administration. Interested applicants should complete the principal application process at: www. archkckcs.org and send a resume to: Dr. Kathleen A. O’Hara, Superintendent, Catholic Schools Office, Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, 12615 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City, KS 66109, or email to: kohara@archkckcs.org. Application review will begin March 1. Client relations coordinator - Advice & Aid Pregnancy Centers is hiring for the position of Bridges client relations coordinator. The Bridges program is Advice & Aid’s parenting support group. Under the general direction of the Bridges program manager (BPM), the Bridges client relations coordinator (CRC) will work to ensure the program is successful and that clients enrolled in the program are given opportunities to improve parenting and other life skills. This person is responsible for the overall client experience within the Bridges program. This position is part time (15 hours per week) and includes Thursday evenings. The candidate must agree with Advice & Aid’s statement of faith and be at least 21 years old. If interested, send a resume and cover letter to: deniser@adviceandaid.com by Feb. 27. Mathematics teacher - Bishop Miege High School has a teacher opening for mathematics for the 2019-20 school year. Send a letter of interest and resume to: mjaksa@ bishopmiege.com. Director of development for tax credit scholarship program - The Catholic Education Foundation (CEF) is seeking a director of development for its tax credit scholarship program. The director will be responsible for promoting the program in the community, cultivating donors and securing donations from businesses and individuals using tax credits from the state of Kansas. CEF provides scholarships to children from low-income families to attend high-quality Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas. Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree and a minimum of five successful years in fundraising or corporate sales. The ideal candidate should be able to communicate at the executive level; have polished marketing and presentation skills; and communicate compassionately with a variety of constituencies, including business leaders, legislators and families seeking scholarship assistance. The director will supervise a tax credit process manager. This position offers opportunity for career growth. Interested individuals should send an email with cover letter and resume to: tcl@archkck.org. Catholic elementary school principal - St. Benedict School in Atchison is seeking an individual with demonstrated skill in spiritual and instructional leadership, as well as advancement in Catholic schools, for the 2019-20 school year. Applicants for principal must be practicing Catholics; understand the mission of Catholic schools; and have or be eligible for Kansas licensure in educational leadership. Apply online at: www.archkckcs.org and mail resume and credentials to: Superintendent Dr. Kathleen A. O’Hara, Catholic Schools Office, Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, 12615 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City, KS 66109, or email to: kohara@ archkckcs.org. Application review will begin March 1. Registrar - St. Teresa’s Academy is seeking a registrar to begin work in the summer of 2019. This is a full-time position whose primary responsibility is maintenance of all student records, and building and managing the school’s master schedule. The full job description and link to apply may be found at: jobs@stteresasacademy.org. Director of preschool - Sacred Heart Parish in Warrensburg, Missouri, is seeking a director of the preschool. The director should be committed to Catholic education with strong leadership, communication and motivational skills. The position will begin on July 1. For more information and to apply, go online to: careers.hireology. com/thecatholicdioceseofkansascitystjoseph and scroll down to the tab that says: “Director for Sacred Heart Preschool.” Principal - St. Elizabeth Parish seeks a principal committed to Catholic education, with strong leadership, communication and motivational skills. The position will begin on July 1. For more information and an application, go online to: careers.hireology.com/thecatholicdioceseofkansascityst joseph, scroll down and click on the tab that says: “Principal - St. Elizabeth School.”
HOME IMPROVEMENT Sheetrock repaired - We can repair your ceilings and walls and can retexture with popcorn or knockdown ceilings. We can repaint old yellowed ceilings. Interior painting for 25 years with no mess!! Call Jerry at (913) 206-1144. 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. Swalms organizing - downsizing - cleanout service - Reduce clutter – Any space organized. Shelving built on-site. Items hauled for recycling and donations. 20 years exp.; insured. Call Tillar at (913) 375-9115. WWW. SWALMSORGANIZING.COM. 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.
Concrete construction - Tear out and replace stamped, stained or colored patios and drives. Retaining walls, footings, poured-in-place safe rooms, excavation and hauling. Asphalt drives and lots. Fully insured; references. Call Dan at (913) 207-4371 or send an email to: dandeeconst@aol.com. 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 STA (Sure Thing Always) Home Repair - Basement finish, bathrooms and kitchens; interior & exterior repairs: painting, roofing, siding, wood replacement and window glazing. Free estimates. Call (913) 579-1835. Email: smokeycabin@hotmail.com. Member of Holy Trinity, Lenexa. EL SOL Y LA TIERRA *Commercial & residential * Lawn renovation *Mowing * Clean-up and hauling * Dirt grading/installation * Landscape design * Free estimates Hablamos y escribimos Ingles!! www.elsolylatierra.com Call Lupe at (816) 935-0176 MEDICARE - Just starting the process? Or would you like to review your current coverage? Local, licensed, independent and experienced Medicare adviser. Holy Cross parishioner. Will shop your current rate or answer your Medicare questions. Contact Rhonda at (913) 579-3349. The Drywall Doctor, Inc. – A unique solution to your drywall problems! We fix all types of ceiling and wall damage — from water stains and stress cracks to texture repairs and skim coating. We provide professional, timely repairs and leave the job site clean! Lead-certified and insured! Serving the metro since 1997. Call (913) 768-6655. NELSON CREATION’S L.L.C. Home makeovers, kitchen, bath. All interior and exterior remodeling and repairs. Family owned, experienced, licensed and insured. Member St. Joseph, Shawnee. Kirk Nelson. (913) 927-5240; nelsport@everestkc.net
SERVICES 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. Tutoring - K - 12 tutor has 10-plus years of experience. Tutors in various subjects. For more information, email Kathleen at: klmamuric@yahoo.com or call/text (913) 206-2151. Rodman Lawn Care Lawn mowing, aeration, verticutting, mulching, Hedge trimming, leaf removal, gutter cleaning Fully insured and free estimates John Rodman (913) 548-3002 Cleaning lady - Reasonable rates; references provided. Call (913) 940-2959. The litter guy - Litter is unsightly and can decrease property value, degrade water quality and impact wildlife and the environment. Let The Litter Guy clean up litter in your community, roadways, commercial and residential areas. For a free quote, call (913) 220-0445 or email: thelitterguy@ gmail.com. HARCO Exteriors LLC Your Kansas City fencing specialists Family owned and operated (913) 815-4817 www.harcoexteriorsllc.com 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. 8 to Your IdealWeight Get Real, Get Healthy, Get Empowered. Release your weight and restore your power in 8 weeks! Certified coach: kathioppold.8toyouridealweight.com. Clutter getting you down? - Organize, fix, assemble, install! “Kevin of all trades” your professional organizer and “Honey-do” specialist. Call or email me today for a free consultation at (913) 271-5055 or KOATorganizing@ gmail.com. Insured. References. Tree Trimming Tree Trimming/Landscaping Insured/References Free Estimates/Local Parishioner Tony (913) 620-6063 Mike Hammer local moving - A full-service mover. Packing, pianos, rental truck load/unload, storage container load/unload and in-home moving. No job too small. Serving JoCo since 1987. St. Joseph, Shawnee, parishioner. Call Mike at (913) 927-4347 or send an email to: mike@mikehammermoving.com.
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Quilted memories - Your Kansas City Longarm shop Nolting Longarm machines, quilting supplies and machine quilting services. We specialize in memorial quilts - custom designed memory quilts from your T-shirt collections, photos, baby clothes, college memorabilia, neckties, etc. For information or to schedule a free consultation, call (913) 6492704. Visit the website at: www.quiltedmemoriesllc.com.
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. Caregiver - CNA has many years of experience with elderly and dementia patients. Will do meal prep, doctor appointments, errands, medication setup and companionship. Call Johnna at (816) 786-1093. Caregiving - We provide personal assistance, companionship, care management, and transportation for seniors in their home, assisted living or nursing facilities. We also provide respite care for main caregivers needing some personal time. Call Daughters & Company at (913) 341-2500 and speak with Laurie, Pat or Gary. Senior CNA - Has extensive nursing training. Will do private care, Johnson County area. Available Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Call (913) 701-6381. Fee negotiable.
FOR SALE Residential lifts - New and recycled. Stair lifts, porch lifts, ceiling lifts and elevators. St. Michael’s parishioners. KC Lift & Elevator at (913) 327-5557. (Formerly Silver Cross - KC) For sale - Two side-by-side crypts; tier B, 13 and 15, located in the St. Joseph Chapel at Mount Calvary Cemetery, the only two left in the chapel. Call (913) 269-6176 for pricing. For sale - One plot at Resurrection Cemetery in Lenexa. Best offer. Call Lori at (913) 515-0919. For sale - Two internal crypts at Prince of Peace Mausoleum, Nativity Cove, Resurrection Cemetery. For more information, call (913) 631-4348. For sale - Two adjoining plots at Mount Olivet Cemetery in the Crucifixion area, close to the road. Original cost $1825 per lot. Will sell both lots for $2500 or separately for $1250 each. Call Lesley at (913) 908-2162. For sale - One plot at Mt. Calvary Cemetery, located in the middle of the cemetery underneath a tree. If interested, call Levita at (913) 730-8435.
REAL ESTATE CASH FOR YOUR HOME (913) 980-4905 Any condition in the metro area Mark Edmondson - local parishioner http://www.buykcproperty.com We buy houses and whole estates - We are local and family-owned, and will make you a fair cash offer. We buy houses in any condition. No fees or commissions and can close on the date of your choice. Selling your house as is never felt so good. Jon & Stacy Bichelmeyer (913) 599-5000. 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
WANTED TO BUY Will buy firearms and related accessories - One or a whole collection. Honest evaluation and top prices paid. Contact Tom at (913) 238-2473. Member of Sacred Heart Parish, Shawnee. Wanted to buy - Antique/vintage jewelry, paintings, pottery, sterling, etc. Single pieces or estate. Renee Maderak, (913) 475-7393. St. Joseph Parish, Shawnee.
PILGRIMAGE Retreat and pilgrimage - There will be a retreat given by Father Sudac and a pilgrimage to Medjugorje from March 20 - April 3, 2019. The cost is $3100 per person. For more information, call Grace at (913) 449-1806 or send an email to: mgracelegaspi@gmail.com.
BUYING AN AD To purchase a Leaven classified ad, email The Leaven at: beth.blankenship@theleaven.org. Cost is $20 for the first five lines, $1.50 per line thereafter. Ad deadline is 10 days before the desired publication date.
FEBRUARY 22, 2019 | THELEAVEN.ORG
CALENDAR GARDNER COMMUNITY GARDEN Divine Mercy Parish (Formation Center) 555 W. Main St., Gardner Feb. 26 from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
The Gardner community garden, sponsored by the Knights of Columbus, invites you to attend our registration for the 2019 growing season. The meeting is open to all community residents. Volunteers to help maintain the garden are also encouraged to attend. Individual plots are 15 feet by 23 feet and rent for $40. Multiple plots can be rented for a discounted rate. Hand tools and tillers are available to garden holders. For more information, send an email to: GardnerCommunity Garden@gmail.com.
DAUGHTERS OF ISABELLA LITTLE FLOWER CIRCLE Christ the King Parish 5972 S.W. 25th St., Topeka Feb. 24 at 12:30 p.m.
There will be a covered dish luncheon in honor of the Daughters of Isabella 89th anniversary. A business meeting will follow. If anyone knows of a member or family in need of the circle’s prayers, call Theresa Smith-Lawton at (785) 640-1403. If you are interested in or would like more information about the Daughters of Isabella, call Cindy Keen at (785) 228-9863.
SYMPTO-THERMAL METHOD OF NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING Class begins Feb. 25 at 6:30 p.m. 4700 Town Center Dr, Leawood (Pioneer Library conference room)
The $35 fee may be applied toward the cost of a complete natural family planning class series offered by the Couple to Couple League. To preregister, as required, send an email to Alison and Allen Greenlief at: aagreenlief@gmail.com.
SPECIAL-NEEDS RESOURCE FAIR Hilltop Conference Center 7700 W. 143rd St., Overland Park Feb. 26 from 5 - 8 p.m.
Information on camps and other recreational opportunities, therapies and equipment will be on hand, with opportunities to learn about and/or purchase equipment from over 100 vendors representing various disabilities. There will also be vendors from adult/ transition services, financial, legal, health and wellness institutions and much more. Free child care will be provided by SOAR (Special-needs ministry of Grace Church). The fair is sponsored by the Blue Valley School District and the Blue Valley Special Education Advisory Council.
‘INCLUDE MORE VEGETABLES IN YOUR DIET’ Keeler Women’s Center 2220 Central Ave., Kansas City, Kansas Feb. 26 from 1 - 2:30 p.m.
Vegetables and fruits are necessary for optimal health. This program will be presented by dietitian Pat Callaghan. There is no charge to attend. Donations are welcome. For more information, go online to: www. keelerwomenscenter.org.
THE MEANING OF MASS St. Ann Parish (main church) 7231 Mission Rd., Prairie Village Feb. 26 at 7 p.m.
Do you question why you come to church, what it means? Come listen to Sebastian D’Amico with Holy Family School of Faith walk through the Mass and explain each part. Be immersed in the beauty of why we do what we do and you will never see Mass the same way again. All are welcome.
WOMEN’S RETREAT Camp Tekakwitha 1124 California Rd., Williamsburg April 26 - 28
This retreat is offered for women ages 21 and older. There will be group and break-
out sessions, inspirational speakers, fellowship with other women and celebration of the sacraments. For more information and to register, go online to: camptekakwithawomensretreat.com. Registration opens Feb. 1.
‘PARENTING IN THE DIGITAL AGE: RAISING RESILIENCY’ St. Ann Parish (hall) 7231 Mission Rd., Prairie Village Feb. 28 at 7 p.m.
Natasha Burgert, MD, FAAP, will give a program on “Parenting in the Digital Age: Raising Resiliency.” Refreshments will be provided. There is no fee to attend and no registration required. All are welcome.
MASS AND CONCERT DEDICATED TO MARY, HELP OF CHRISTIANS Holy Family Parish 274 Orchard St., Kansas City, Kansas March 1 at 6 p.m.
The St. Stanislav Girls Choir of Slovenia will be singing at Mass as well as at a special concert following Mass. The choir consists of 45 students between the ages of 15 and 19 who attend the Diocesan Classical Gymnasium in St. Stanislav’s Institution, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
‘UNFAILING MERCY’ RETREAT: HEALING AFTER ABORTION March 2
If you or a loved one is hurting from an abortion, join our Project Rachel ministry for a one-day “Unfailing Mercy” retreat to share God’s mercy and healing after abortion. All communication, services and logistics are confidential. Call or text Ann Marie Alvey at (913) 621-2199 or send an email to: pro jectrachelkc@archkck.org for retreat time and location. For more information about this ministry, visit the website at: project rachelkc.com.
SPIRIT OF BISHOP WARD SCHOLARSHIP DINNER Bishop Ward High School 708 N. 18th St., Kansas City, Kansas March 2 at 6 p.m.
The scholarship dinner benefits the student scholarship program at Bishop Ward and serves as the Hall of Fame induction. This year’s Hall of Fame inductees are: Coach Dennis Hurla, Mike Peterson (’59) and Larry Ward (’54). For more information and to purchase a ticket, visit the website at: ward high.org/spirit.
MARDI GRAS DINNER Blessed Sacrament Family Center 2215 Parallel Ave., Kansas City, Kansas March 2 from 4:30 - 7:30 p.m.
The cost for a dinner of seafood gumbo or seafood jambalaya, red beans and rice, and side is $12 in advance and $15 at the door. Call (913) 321-1958 to purchase tickets. There will also be quarter bingo. This event is to support Our Lady & St. Rose Parish.
ST. JOSEPH TABLE AND PASTA DINNER St. Joseph Parish (McDevitt Hall) 11311 Johnson Dr., Shawnee March 3 at 8:30 a.m.
The table will be blessed at 8:30 a.m. and viewing will continue until 2 p.m. A variety of items will be featured for sale. A pasta dinner will be served from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. The cost is a freewill donation. Proceeds benefit those in need in the parish and the Shawnee community. For more information, call Christine Marion at (913) 268-6677.
MARDI GRAS St. Benedict School Commons 201 Division St., Atchison March 3 from 11 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
The cost for a meal of jambalaya, maque choux and more is: $8 for adults; $4 for kids 4 - 10; and kids 3 and under eat for free. There will also be raffle prizes, a silent auction and
25-cent children’s games. For more information or to volunteer, call Chanda Koechner at (913) 367-3503 or send an email to: chand abing@gmail.com.
DAUGHTERS OF ISABELLA LITTLE FLOWER CIRCLE St. Matthew Parish 2700 Virginia, Topeka March 3 at 8 a.m.
There will be a corporate Communion Mass. Arrive by 7:15 a.m.
SPAGHETTI LUNCHEON St. Mary Church, Purcell 446 Hwy. 137, Lancaster March 3 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Serving spaghetti, salad, garlic bread, dessert, tea and coffee. A freewill offering will be accepted.
RUNNIN’ REVS BASKETBALL GAME Bishop Miege High School (gym) 5041 Reinhardt Dr., Roeland Park March 4 at 7 p.m.
Priests and seminarians (the Revs) will challenge eighth-grade and high school youth from Catholic schools in a fun and competitive game. Donations and a silent auction will benefit seminarians. For more information, visit the website at: kckvocation.com.
‘WOMEN IN SCRIPTURE: MODELS OF SUFFERING’ Sophia Spirituality Center 751 S. 8th, Atchison March 7 from 10 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Begin Lent by looking at women in Scripture who experienced suffering and responded in ways that are surprising and powerful. The fee for the program is $60 and includes lunch ($20 nonrefundable deposit). To register, call (913) 360-6173 or visit the website at: www. sophiaspiritualitycenter.org.
JESUIT FRIENDS AND ALUMNI NETWORK SPRING BREAKFAST March 7
Are you Jesuit-educated or Ignatian-formed? Want to reconnect with like-minded alumni and friends of Ignatian/Jesuit spirituality? Join us for a breakfast conversation featuring the newly installed president of Rockhurst High School, David Laughlin. For more information, go online to: jfan-kc.eventbrite.com or send an email to Susan Friedrichsen at: jesuitfankc@ gmail.com.
BEGINNING EXPERIENCE GRIEF SUPPORT WEEKEND Precious Blood Renewal Center 2120 St. Gaspar Way, Liberty, Missouri March 8 - 10
Beginning Experience is a weekend of healing open to men and women of all ages who have suffered the loss of a spouse through death, divorce or separation. It is a time to heal and a time to begin anew. Reservations are required. For more information and to register, visit the website at: www.beginningexperiencekc.org; send an email to: register.bekc@gmail.com; or call Michelle at (913) 709-3779.
TACO DINNER AND SALAMI BINGO Mejak Hall 513 Ohio, Kansas City, Kansas March 9 at 5:30 p.m.
The Altar Society of Holy Family Parish is hosting an annual taco dinner and salami bingo. A $15 donation includes one bingo card, one taco dinner and all the cold beverages you can drink until the games end. There will be three blackout games. For tickets, call Sandy Cannon at (913) 396-1564 or Cathy Schneider at (913) 371-1561. No one under the age of 21 admitted.
AN AFTERNOON OF PRAYERFUL REMEMBRANCE AND INTERCESSION St. Thomas More Parish 11822 Holmes Rd., Kansas City, Missouri March 9 from 1:30 - 3 p.m.
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The hidden wounds of abortion affect each of us, whether it is our neighbor, co-worker, friend, relative or ourself. Gather to pray and intercede on behalf of our nation, seeking forgiveness and healing in God’s merciful love. Confession will be offered after the prayer service. Mass begins at 4 p.m. All are welcome. This event is sponsored by the respect life office of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph.
WOMEN’S DAY OF LENTEN PRAYER The Cathedral of St. Peter 409 N. 15th St., Kansas City, Kansas March 9 from 8:15 a.m. - noon
Sister Mary Pat Johnson, SCL, will present a reflection, “Entering Prayerfully into the Season of Lent.” The day will begin with Mass in the church. Registration and a continental breakfast will follow in the parish hall. The cost is $15. For more information on registration, call Susan Carroll at (913) 6349840 or send an email to: suscar1960@ gmail.com.
PANCAKE BREAKFAST Divine Mercy Parish (Christian Formation Center) 555 W. Main St., Gardner March 10 from 8 - 10 a.m.
The cost for a breakfast of pancakes, sausage, eggs and all the fixings is: $6 for adults; $3 for kids 6 - 12; and kids 6 and under eat for free. Come join the fun and enjoy a hot and hardy breakfast.
BINGO St. Mary-St. Anthony Parish (Bishop Forst Hall) 615 N. 7th St., Kansas City, Kansas March 10 at 2 p.m.
This will be an afternoon of fun, food and bingo. Win salami, apple strudels and poviticas. The cost is $5 for a card, desserts, popcorn and coffee. Additional cards and drinks may be purchased. For more information, call Carol Shomin at (913) 897-4833.
LENTEN SOUP SUPPER Sacred Heart Parish (hall) 106 Exchange St., Emporia March 13 from 6 - 7 p.m.
The Rosary Altar Society is sponsoring this Lenten soup supper. A variety of homemade soups, relishes and desserts will be served. The suggested donation is a freewill offering.
ST. PATRICK’S DAY DANCE Nativity Parish (hall) 3800 W. 119th St., Leawood March 16 from 7 - 11 p.m.
The dance is sponsored by the Singles of Nativity. The cost of admission is $20 per person and includes food and drinks.
IRISH FEST AND FUN RUN Hosted by Mater Dei Parish 8th and Jackson in downtown Topeka March 16 at 8 a.m.
Events begin with Mass at 8 a.m. followed immediately by the 5K Fun Run, Walk and Leprechaun Leap (children aged 10 and under). Festivities before, during and after the St. Patrick’s Parade include breakfast, Irish sing-along, a beer garden, whiskey tasting, homemade Irish and American food, an expanded carnival on 8th St., adult games, live Irish music and much more. Admission to the Irish Fest is free. For more information and updates, visit the website at: www.TopekaIrishFest.com.
CATHOLIC HEART WORKCAMP Kansas City area July 8 - 11
Do you need your house painted, inside or out? Or need your yard cleaned up? Do you need any minor home repairs? Contact the Kansas City managers online at: chwc.kc@ gmail.com or call (402) 306-9043. Leave a message and someone will return your call.
FEBRUARY 22, 2019 | THELEAVEN.ORG
COMMENTARY
Look for the ‘man in the hat’
SEVENTH WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME Feb. 24 SEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME 1 Sm 26: 2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23 Ps 103: 1-4, 8, 10, 12-13 1 Cor 15: 45-49 Lk 6: 27-38 Feb. 25 Monday Sir 1: 1-10 Ps 93: 1-2, 5 Mk 9: 14-29 Feb. 26 Tuesday Sir 2: 1-11 Ps 37: 3-4, 18-19, 27-28, 39-40 Mk 9: 30-37 Feb. 27 Wednesday Sir 4: 11-19 Ps 119: 165, 168, 171172, 174-175 Mk 9: 38-40 Feb. 28 Thursday Sir 5: 1-8 Ps 1: 1-4, 6 Mk 9: 41-50 March 1 Friday Sir 6: 5-17 Ps 119: 12, 16, 18, 27, 34-35 Mk 10: 1-12 March 2 Saturday Sir 17: 1-15 Ps 103: 13-18 Mk 10: 13-16
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uite a few years ago, my mom and her only sister Louise were taking a train to St. Louis for a weekend visit. For some reason, both seemed incredibly nervous. When we got to Union Station, I asked what they were worried about. “Well,” said my mom, “we’ve never gone by ourselves to St. Louis. How will we know when to get off the train?” “What language do you speak?” I asked. “English,” said Mom, with a confused look. “OK,” I said. “Odds are that almost everybody on the train will speak English, too. So, what you want to do is say to someone — and I enunciated this very slowly — ‘Excuse me, could you let us know when we get to St. Louis?’ “I’m sure you’ll be fine!” I concluded. “Well,” said my mom a bit snippily, “I guess that will work!” In case you’re wondering, the intrepid travelers made it to St.
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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.
Louis — and back to KC — without incident. Sometimes, we make something much more difficult than it needs to be. That’s true even with regard to our faith. Here’s one of my alltime favorite stories to illustrate this point: A man attending a crowded Mass refused to take off his hat when asked to do so by the ushers. Other parishioners also asked him to remove his hat, but he remained obstinate.
The priest was perturbed, too, and waited for the man after Mass. He told the man that the church was happy to have him as a guest and invited him to join the parish. Then, he explained the traditional practice regarding men’s hats and said, “I hope you will conform to that custom in the future.” “Thank you, Father,” said the man. “It’s nice of you to invite me to join the parish. In fact, I joined three years ago and have been coming regularly ever since. But today is the first time that anyone paid attention to me. “After being an unknown for three years, today, by simply keeping on my hat, I have had
the pleasure of talking with the ushers and some parishioners. And now, I’ve had a conversation with you, who have always appeared too busy to talk to me before.” (Found in Father Brian Cavanaugh’s “The Sower’s Seeds.”) If you’d like your parish to grow and the faith to spread, don’t make things more complicated than they need to be. Be hospitable, first and foremost, and the rest will take care of itself. Never underestimate the power of a welcoming smile that warms the heart — not only of visitors, but of the “regulars” as well. Secondly, get to know others by name. Many people are creatures of habit when it comes to church. They’ll attend the same Mass each weekend and sit in the same spot. Do you know the names of the people who share your pew, as well as those in front and behind you? Can you name the musicians and cantors at your Mass? Do you ever head up afterwards to thank or compliment them?
Some other ways to be more hospitable include: • When you pick out a pew, scoot over a few spots from the end as an invitation for others to join you. Don’t plop yourself right at the end as a blockade, sending a message that this is my turf and you’d better not cross it. • Join a parish group, like the Knights or Altar Society, to expand your circle of acquaintances and offer some valuable volunteer time to a good cause. • Stay for coffee and donuts after Mass or attend an upcoming parish fish fry and sit with folks you don’t know. • If you’re new to a parish, don’t be shy about introducing yourself to the pastor and to other parishioners. This coming weekend, look around for one “man wearing a hat” in your parish. And then, if you gather up your courage and actually chat with that person, hats off to you!
David’s mercy foreshadows his qualities as king
rue democracies pride themselves on peaceful transitions of power. When the president is voted out of office, he or she does not stage a coup d’état to oust the new president. Similarly, a monarchy can provide a peaceful transition. When the king or queen dies, the rightful successor ascends to the throne. But it doesn’t always work that way. When Saul, the first king of Israel, was losing political power, he became embroiled in a tug of war with David, the rising star of the land. David had shown himself to be a charismatic leader and a skillful military strategist. Saul spent much time in pursuing David,
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.
to no avail. We glimpse a picture of that in Sunday’s first reading, 1 Sm 26:2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23. It tells us: “Saul went down to the
desert of Ziph with three thousand picked men of Israel, to search for David in the desert of Ziph.” During the night, David and his companion Abishai sneak into Saul’s camp, while Saul and his soldiers are fast asleep. David has the opportunity to eliminate his enemy Saul by having him killed. In fact, this is what Abishai suggests.
But David forebears. Instead, David takes Saul’s spear, as a sign that Saul had been in his power and as a sign of his respect for Saul as king and of his mercy toward Saul in sparing his life. Interestingly enough, this pattern repeats what had already happened on another occasion. Saul had taken three thousand men on a hunt for David. Along the way, Saul enters a cave to relieve himself, not knowing that David and his men were hiding in the cave. David sneaks up to Saul and snips off a bit of Saul’s mantle. When Saul steps out of the cave, David calls out to him and shows him the piece of the mantle, as proof that David had Saul within
his power, but showed him mercy and respect by not taking his life (1 Sm 24: 1-16). This repeated pattern — searching for David, David’s ability to rid himself of his rival Saul by killing him, David’s mercy and respect for Saul by sparing his life — teaches us several things about David. Even though he is being pursued by three thousand men, David eludes capture. As a skillful guerrilla warrior, he could easily eliminate his rival Saul by killing him. But he does not, thus taking the higher moral ground and showing his superiority. All these qualities testify that he will make the excellent king that he will become in replacing Saul.
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Sustainable development in rural areas is key to making poverty and hunger a thing of the past, Pope Francis said. In an address to members of the International Fund for Agricultural Development’s governing council Feb. 14, the pope said that while achieving such a goal “has been talked about for a long time,” there has not been enough concrete action. “It is paradoxical that a good portion of the more than 820 million people who suffer hunger and malnutrition
in the world live in rural areas, are dedicated to food production and are farmers,” he said at the council’s opening session at the Rome headquarters of the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization. The two-day meeting of the organization, commonly known as IFAD, was devoted to the theme: “Rural innovation and entrepreneurship.” Before addressing the gathering, the pope presented a gift to the organization: a sculpture by Argentine artist Norma D’Ippolito, titled “Ecce Homo” (“Behold the Man”) depicting the hands of Christ bound with ropes. In his speech, the pope said he came to bring the “longings and needs of many of our brothers and sisters who suffer in the world.”
— CNS
FEBRUARY 22, 2019 | THELEAVEN.ORG
COMMENTARY
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Can you help us advocate for all in our parishes?
n my eight years of working in specialneeds ministry, many parents and grandparents who have a child (including an adult child) with a disability have shared with me their heartache that they and their child do not feel welcomed or valued at church — that they don’t really belong to their parish. Taking their child, especially one with a more significant disability, to Mass or a parish activity causes great stress and anxiety because their past experience is that people judge them for not being good parents or that their child’s behavior becomes an annoyance to those around them.
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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.
They have noticed the stares and the unkind facial expressions.
Sometimes, they have experienced direct confrontation questioning the person’s “suitability.” Some parents have been told, incorrectly, that it is not possible for their child to receive ongoing faith formation or to receive the sacraments. So what do these
parents do? They quit taking their child to Mass or activities. They no longer attend as a family. Families begin to feel fragmented and isolated. Not feeling welcomed or valued as a family, they stop going to church or they find a different church (usually Protestant) that is hospitable. One mom told me, “They don’t know that we exist.” I don’t think this is the church that Jesus intended. By virtue of our baptism, we are ALL members of the mystical body of Christ. So shouldn’t we ALL know that we are? Shouldn’t we ALL feel that we belong? Shouldn’t we ALL enjoy the grace that flows
forth from this participation? The office of specialneeds ministry wants to ensure that families who have a loved one with a disability never experience a feeling of loneliness and loss. (Our Good Shepherd leaves the ninety-nine!) We want to ensure that parishioners have someone in their parish to talk to about their needs. We want to provide someone who cares. We want to provide families with accurate information. Pope Francis challenges us to “reach out into the peripheries.” To do this, individuals are being asked to volunteer to be a parish advocate. The parish advocate acts on behalf
of the parishioners to ensure that all are invited to share in the life of the parish, serving as the channel through which parishioners with disabilities and other members of the parish discover each other. So far, 17 parishes have an advocate. They are doing some good work in helping families connect with resources to ensure faith formation, sacramental preparation and participation in the liturgy. Three parishes have started a special-needs committee! If you would like to know more about the role of a parish advocate, I’d be happy to visit with you!
Predatory lending propels vulnerable into cycle of debt
eil and Rose struggled with finances due to the unpredictable hours at Neil’s seasonal job. When their daughter fell ill, Neil’s need to be at her side resulted in an even bigger loss of income. With the bills piling up, their situation seemed hopeless. Whether it’s a car repair expense, health issue or job loss, life’s unexpected emergencies happen to us all. Unfortunately, over 60 percent of our country’s population is unprepared to handle them financially, leaving families in a crippling economic position. Desperate situations lead people to make
INSIDE CATHOLIC CHARITIES
LAUREN SOLIDUM Lauren Solidum is the executive director of Catholic Charities.
desperate decisions. Without the safety net of adequate savings, families like Neil and Rose turn to credit cards or predatory lenders
just to fund basic needs such as food, rent or utilities. Predatory lenders, with storefronts in more places than McDonald’s restaurants, position themselves to be the “go-to” provider when a financial need arises. They loan money to cash-strapped customers with repayment
— plus hefty fees — required in two weeks. When the customer can’t repay the original loan amount, the lender readily rolls them into a new loan with additional fees and interest rates that can reach a mind-blowing 400 percent. It’s no wonder that one in five payday loans result in default. This short-term solution can have a domino effect that keeps people in the cycle of debt. Without an end in sight, families are struggling more than just financially — they suffer emotionally from discouragement and despair. That’s where Catholic Charities steps in with our Kansas Loan Pool Project (KLPP). This program helps
participants eliminate their high-interest title or payday loan by turning them into a new, low-interest, installment loan. Since inception, there has been a large demand for this service within our community. The program has continued to grow over the past three years. What began with one banking partner has expanded to onboarding a fourth, helping us serve a greater population. While eliminating high-interest predatory loans is critical to the immediate financial health of the people we serve, that is only one component to the problem. We need to address what led these families to predatory lenders in the first place.
PANKEY FOUNDATION REPAIR
Each KLPP participant is enrolled in an intensive financial education series to guide them in developing a long-term financial plan. We help them create a budget and identify spending leaks, as well as teach how to build emergency savings while paying off existing debt. They are also assigned a Catholic Charities case manager to provide ongoing monthly support. Over 100 households, including Neil’s and Rose’s, successfully completed the KLPP program. That’s 100 families who replaced the overwhelming stress of owing money to a predatory lender with new skills and hope for their future.
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FEBRUARY 15, 2019 | THELEAVEN.ORG
LOCAL NEWS
Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life
CNS PHOTO/MIKE STECHSCHULTE, THE MICHIGAN CATHOLIC
Clergy process out at the conclusion of Mass. Our discernment of God’s will begins at the Eucharist.
By Father John W. Crossin, OSFS Catholic News Service
out. We Americans tend to be in a hurry. My contention for years, on the contrary, has been that “God is slow.” It might be more accurate to say that “God’s time is the right time.” Service often calls for patience with others and, most of all, with ourselves. Another important daily virtue is humility. Service is a two-way process. We need to spend more of our time listening to others than speaking. Usually those we think we are serving are also serving us. There is wisdom in paying attention and learning. Service to others can be personally enriching. A man I knew felt called to serve the dying. He spent many of his Saturday mornings helping at a hospice run by an order of Sisters. He told me that he did whatever the Sisters told him to do — which included cleaning the floor. He said he learned a great deal from speaking with the poor people who were dying. I was amazed at the humility of this prominent, successful attorney who for many years quietly served the poor. Service need not be complicated. Following the guidance of those who are more expert is not difficult, nor is it always hard to listen to others. Service to others can put us in touch with the simple living and detachment from material goods that Jesus teaches. Gentleness with others shows our respect for their human dignity. This virtue can gradually become evident in all or most of our daily interactions. Gentleness with others often reflects our gentleness with ourselves. Sometimes, we need to silence our “inner critic,” rely on God’s mercy and share that mercy with the members of our community.
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t the end of Mass, we are blessed and sent “in peace to love and serve the Lord.” But how are we to be disciples of Christ in everyday life, outside of Mass? We realize that our Christianity is to be lived, but how do we do so in our ordinary life situations that can be so complicated and somewhat secular? The Gospel imperative is clear: We are to love God and love each other. More particularly we know that when we serve “the least of these” we are serving Christ (Mt 25: 31-46).
Gifts for service Our discernment of God’s will begins at the Eucharist. It continues in our personal prayer. We should consider and “pray about” what gifts we have been given by God that can be of service to others. A spiritual director and/or spiritual friends can be helpful in this process of discernment. My pastoral experience has been that Catholics tend to miss or understate the gifts that they have been given by the Holy Spirit. What is obvious to others may not be obvious to us. A pastor I knew had the ability to see others’ gifts. His parishioners kidded him at his 50th jubilee. They said: “When you see Monsignor coming, flee.” In fact, they almost always said “yes” to his invitations to serve. If we come to know our gifts, we can still wonder what we can do specifically. Certainly, we should ask the Holy Spirit to guide us. Often, the Spirit can speak to us through circumstances we encounter or, as with the parishioners, the invitation of another. Saint Francis de Sales is insightful here. He observes that daily life provides many small opportunities to serve others. If God is calling us to assume a more extended service, this will become clear to us over time. “Start small” is good advice. We should consider that God can surprise us by his call. The call can be to do something modest but necessary for the welfare of others. At times, we will plant seeds of goodness and others will reap the results in the future. My friend who volunteers with Habitat for Humanity contributes his time and talent but rarely meets the eventual owners of the house.
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Building the community CNS PHOTO/BOB ROLLER
Altar server Grace McGill carries the Roman Missal as a priest gives the final blessing at the conclusion of Mass. At the end of Mass, we are blessed and sent “in peace to love and serve the Lord.”
Practicing the virtues Our service will call of us to practice everyday virtues such as patience, humility, gentleness and simplicity. If we look at social media or other means of communication, it often appears that Catholic teaching focuses on “what not to do.” We realize that such an emphasis can spark conflict, attract attention and “sell.” We know from the “inside” that Catholic moral teaching is more positive. Morality is about becoming a certain
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kind of person. Our service is about practicing the virtues and becoming more like Christ. Patience is one virtue that stands
The monsignor and the lawyer were both using their gifts to build a community of service. As Pope Francis continually reminds us, we are called to walk with others and to encounter others on the pilgrimage of life. Such friendships are one of the keys to our spiritual growth and to a joyful life. We pray for others and ask them to pray for us. We “go in peace” seeking the guidance of the Spirit in serving others and letting others serve us. Father John W. Crossin is an Oblate of St. Francis de Sales. He serves in the Washington metropolitan area.