03 01 24 Vol. 45 No. 28

MEN AT WORK

Men’s event draws over 1000 to learn about promoting faith

By Jack Figge Special to The Leaven

OVERLAND PARK — Carlos Torres invited his son Enrique to come along with him to Men Under Construction, but the St. Paul, Olathe, parishioner did not want to make it just a family affair. So he asked his daughter’s boyfriend Alex and Robert Polinelick, an OCIA candidate he is sponsoring, to join him at the annual men’s conference.

Though these men differ in age and background, each walked away from the daylong conference inspired to live out their masculinity through the faith.

“There is a variation of ages in the guys I brought from mid-30s to a teenager,” said Torres. “God talks to us in different ways and Men Under Construction is a great opportunity for these men to hear God’s voice and what he wants them to do through all of the talks and the opportunities for the sacraments.”

These four men joined other men at

the Church of the Ascension in Overland Park on Feb. 17 for the 27th annual Men Under Construction. Every year, the conference seeks to help men learn

to live out the faith in their daily lives by hosting renowned speakers, providing an opportunity to receive the sacraments and serving as a place attendees

can meet other men passionate about living the faith.

Russ Engel, the president of Men Under Construction, has been volunteering at the conference for the past 10 years, leading it for the past five. This year, he said, the organizers sought to center the day’s talks on how men can help promote the faith within their families and communities through prayer and the Eucharist.

“There are so many studies out there that show if a father is engaged in the family and in faith, that family stays together much more strongly and has a much more long-lasting faith life,” said Engel. “However, if the father is not engaged in his faith, that family tends to have a greater chance of moving away from the church.”

This year, the conference drew over 1100 attendees, the second largest conference ever. Engel said that so many men are drawn to the conference because they seek Christ.

“We all have a void in our hearts, a

LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER

Braden Johnson, a young Catholic presenter who travels the country speaking to youth groups and high schools, discusses why young Catholics struggle with the Catholic faith and how fathers can help support their children.

LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER

Men from all demographics attended the 27th annual Men Under Construction conference on Feb. 17 at the Church of the Ascension in Overland Park.

Mass enables us to unite everything in our lives to Christ’s sacrifice LIFE WILL BE VICTORIOUS

Lent is a time of preparation to celebrate during Holy Week the central historical events that revealed the depth of God’s love for us and liberated us from the bondage of sin and death. On Good Friday, we commemorate the death of Jesus on Calvary that atones for our sins.

On Calvary, Jesus entered into death in order to defeat its grip on humanity. Our Lord’s resurrection on Easter marks his clear victory of life over death. Through the waters of baptism, we have been given a share in the life of Jesus and therefore an eternal destiny to live with God, the angels and saints forever.

One of the dictionary definitions of atonement is: satisfaction given for wrongdoing, injury, etc.; amends, expiation. Some Christians have misunderstood Our Lord’s atonement for

ARCHBISHOP

JOSEPH F. NAUMANN

our sins to be a substitutional atonement. In this misunderstanding, God is perceived as a vengeful god, who demands that we suffer for the injustice of our sins. Jesus, therefore, sacrifices himself in our place to appease the anger of God.

Dr. Lawrence Feingold in his textbook on the Eucharist articulates the Catholic understanding of the atonement. Drawing upon the writings of St. Thomas Aquinas, Feingold states that

Jesus offers satisfaction for our sins “not by virtue of punishment, destruction or deprivation received in our place, but rather because of its supreme goodness in charity, by reason of which it serves to compensate for all sin’s violation thereof. The infinite value of the sacrifice of Calvary comes from the charity by which it is offered, from the divine dignity of the victim offered, from the totality of the holocaust of the victim, from the dignity of the priest offering it, from the unity of the priest and victim, and finally, from the unity of the

Saturday, March 23, 2024

Ars Church, 94th

Celebrant will be Archbishop Joseph Naumann Homilist will be Bishop James V. Johnston, Jr.

The anointing of the sick in both dioceses will be administered to Catholics whose health is seriously impaired by illness or old age. All are invited to participate. The ceremony will follow the Lourdes pilgrimage format.

Among those who may be anointed, the ritual mentions, in particular:

• Those undergoing a surgery whenever serious illness is the reason

• Elderly people when they have become noticeably weakened even if no serious illness is present

• Sick children if they have sufficient use of reason to be strengthened by the sacrament

We are asking those who wish to receive the sacrament at Mass, to by email: maltakc@ yahoo.com or call (913) 620-1759 and leave your name.

Name cards are made for those receiving the sacrament.

mediator with God, to whom it is offered, and with mankind, for whom it is offered. The sacrifice of Calvary is maximum or infinite in each of these respects.

“The Son of God has infinite dignity both as the victim being offered and as priest offering. He offers himself with unlimited charity, both for the glory of his Father and for the love of all men, for whom he offers himself. Every man can say with St. Paul that the Son of God loved me and gave himself for me.” (Excerpted from “The Eucharist: Mystery of Presence, Sacrifice and Communion”; Emmaus Academic; page 333.)

Feingold argues the totality of the holocaust because Jesus chooses to submit himself to the “worst and most humiliating kind of death, with total freedom.” Through Our Lord’s sacrifice on Calvary, Jesus “offered himself in union, with all human suffering, redeeming it and giving to it a redemptive sacrificial value when offered in communion with his.”

I encourage you to reread Feingold’s description of the sacrifice of Calvary that is made present to us in every Mass. God the Father is not appeased because of the level of Our Lord’s suffering but because of the total love with which his suffering is not only endured but offered freely.

Sadly, after Vatican II there was, by some, a mistaken de-emphasis of the sacrifice of the Mass in favor of the Eucharist as a meal. The Mass is both a meal and sacrifice. It is a sacrificial meal.

When we attend Mass, we should always be aware that we are touching Calvary. We should also bring whatever suffering is present in our lives and unite our suffering

March 1

ARCHBISHOP NAUMANN’S CALENDAR

Archbishop’s Invitational High School Art Award reception — Savior Pastoral Center

Avila Lenten Retreat Witness filming — residence

March 2

Magnify women’s retreat — Prairie Star Ranch, Williamsburg

March 3

Pastoral visit — St. Pius X, Mission

March 4

Eucharistic adoration and lunch — St. James Academy, Lenexa

Spiritual mentorship cohort Mass — Savior

Confirmation — Good Shepherd, Shawnee

March 5

Mass and lunch — St. Thomas Aquinas, Overland Park

USCCB pro-life committee meeting

Ethics council — chancery

March 6

Eucharistic adoration — Bishop Miege, Roeland Park

March 7

Mass and breakfast — Bishop Ward, Kansas City, Kansas

March 10

Mass — Holy Trinity, Paola

Baptism of third or more child — Cathedral of St. Peter, Kansas City, Kansas

March 12

Administrative Team meeting — chancery

March 13

Benedictine College fireside chat and dinner — Benedictine College, Atchison

with the perfect sacrifice of Calvary.

During the offertory at Mass, we should not just place our envelope in the collection basket. Though if our support of our parish is truly sacrificial, then it is part of what we bring to the altar. We should call to mind all of the difficulties, adversities and suffering in our lives so that we can unite it during the consecration to Jesus’ perfect gift of himself on Calvary.

Our participation in Mass is not just about being a eucharistic minister, lector,

greeter, choir member, sacristan, etc. It is more about uniting everything that is going on in our lives with the sacrificial love of Jesus. We should give thanks for all of God’s blessings, but also the opportunities that he provides to us to unite our small sacrifices with his perfect sacrifice.

When we participate in Mass in this way, the Eucharist can never be boring. In truth, Sunday Mass becomes the most exciting experience of our week.

The Sacrament of Reconciliation will also be available to participants from 9:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.

FIT FOR THE FUTURE

Ward’s Cyclone Center boasts state-of-the-art technology

By Moira Cullings moira.cullings@theleaven.org

ANSAS CITY, Kan. — When Geoffrey Kump arrived on the second floor of Bishop Ward High School here, his excitement was evident.

“There’s two big emotions that pop out,” said Kump, Bishop Ward class of 2011. “One: extreme jealousy. I would’ve loved to have had this.

“But the other piece that I see now is this is how Ward differentiates itself, looking toward a new group of students in the future.”

Kump, a board of trustees member for his alma mater, was taking in the school’s new Cyclone Center.

Formerly a library lined with bookshelves, the 2100-square-foot space is now a modern academic learning hub.

Its purpose is summed up in the writing on the walls: community, confidence and collaboration.

The space’s new active learning furniture and 15 high-tech computers will change the game — literally — for students for decades to come.

Bishop Ward welcomed donors to view the center on Feb. 8.

Jay Dunlap, president, greeted the guests while Emily Saatcioglu, academic dean, shared the Cyclone Center’s vision before Father Timothy Skoch, chaplain, blessed the space.

Saatcioglu said the message the space sends to students is clear.

“We always tell them: ‘This space is for you,’” she said. “This is where you are going to form yourselves as young individuals before you leave our building.

“I think they’re blown away.”

Dream big

Kathy Calcara, grant professional at Bishop Ward, said the library once served its purpose.

“Everything changed,” she said. “Kids now carry their library with them in a Chromebook or their computer.”

The school needed an update to suit today’s learners.

“Books weren’t getting checked out,” said Calcara. “It wasn’t robust.

“So, we did have this really ambitious vision and a dream for our library to become something more collegiate, something more aesthetically beautiful — a place that could be for a big group of 70 or a small group of two people working together being tutored.”

In the two months it’s been in use, the Cyclone Center has already become a popular hub for the school and its community partners.

The space has accommodated and will continue to welcome multiple groups, including FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), KC Scholars, REACH mentors and SHPE (Society

of Hispanic Professional Engineers).

Saatcioglu said it’s the perfect space for the school’s junior and senior seminar program, which helps students with postsecondary planning. The school hopes to round out the program by including freshmen and sophomores, too.

Now, students can use the hightech computers for things like graphic design, computer programming and yearbook, but especially for esports, which is an official team at Bishop Ward that students can pursue college scholarships in.

“Regardless of what opportunities you have outside of school,” said Kump, “you can now feel like you have the top-of-the-line equipment to compete against anyone in any program in the country.”

Community effort

The Cyclone Center was made possible thanks to a $125,000 grant by the Marion and Henry Bloch Family Foundation.

Eight foundations provided the basis of giving, said Calcara, “and then over 60 alumni and friends finished it off at our Fund-A-Need last October.”

One of the donors was Church of the Nativity in Leawood, which Bishop Ward has partnered with for around 15 years.

“We just love Church of the Nativity,” said Calcara, “because they’ve been with us every step of the way with this.

“Their parishioners are making a difference here in Kansas City, Kansas.”

The active learning furnishings were provided by Scott Rice Furnishings of Lenexa. The new carpet was put in by Campione Interior Solutions.

The father of one of Bishop Ward’s seniors who owns a painting company added fresh paint to the space.

Since the school was built in 1932, it doesn’t have HVAC but was able to install it in the Cyclone Center.

Bishop Ward also had help from Bishop Miege High School in Roeland Park, St. James Academy in Lenexa and Rockhurst High School and St. Teresa’s Academy, both in Kansas City, Missouri. Leaders from Bishop Ward visited each location for input on the process of creating a modern learning space.

They knew how important it was to get everything right.

“Because none of it works without a bold, strong academic vision,” said Calcara. “And we knew it had to be tailored for our urban core students, many of whom are first generation.”

Around 86% of Bishop Ward’s students will be the first in their families to attend college.

Like the students before them, they will now be set up for success, thanks in no small part to the many opportunities they’ll have in the Cyclone Center.

“Bishop Ward High School is right here on 18th Street,” said Calcara, “and we’re staying here. We’re not going anywhere.”

LEAVEN PHOTO BY MOIRA CULLINGS

The new Cyclone Center at Bishop Ward High School in Kansas City, Kansas, is a space that was carefully designed to set students up for success through its active learning furniture and high-tech computers.

LEAVEN PHOTO BY MOIRA CULLINGS

Marsha Basey, Bishop Ward class of 1962, is impressed by the new high tech computers at her alma mater’s Cyclone Center. The modern learning space was previously an underutilized library.

Family members discover how the Lord is calling them

By Joe Bollig joe.bollig@theleaven.org

SHAWNEE — The biggest question a person can ask themselves is not “What am I going to do with my life?” said Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann, but “What does God want me to do with my life?”

Helping families discover their God-given vocations was the purpose of “If You Knew the Gift of God,” where Archbishop Naumann spoke, held on Feb. 17 at Good Shepherd Parish in Shawnee.

“It [was] a vocational event for the family, and [it was] to foster vocational awareness for each person to discover the gift and dignity of their calling from the Lord, and to help families find the true meaning of their call,” said Sister Monica Bernadette Arguello, SCTJM, chief organizer of the event.

Offered by the archdiocesan marriage and family life office, with cosponsors including the Serra Club, the archdiocesan youth office and the archdiocesan Hispanic ministry office, it was a bit of an unusual vocations event in that whole families were invited. Children as young as 2 years old participated.

The event was conducted almost entirely in Spanish. Pastors of 12 archdiocesan parishes with significant numbers of Hispanic members extended invitations to the families to attend.

Approximately 275 people were at the event.

“This day [was] a day to invite all families — the parents and children — to be open to asking the Lord what his will is for them in their life,” said Sister Monica,” his beautiful plan for them, to ask the fundamental questions, and to help the parents nurture the vocations within the family. The family is such a fertile ground where there is so much potential. Parents have such an imperative role in helping foster the seed the Lord has planted.”

The event began with introductions and instructions, and then a talk by Archbishop Naumann. He spoke of the primary vocation of the Christian to go to heaven, which is established by baptism and confirmation, and the “vocation within a vocation” or the particular ways people live their lives, as in marriage or religious life.

“The Lord has a special mission

for each of us that no one else can do,” said the archbishop. “I would urge you today to pray for yourselves [and your children that] the Lord will help you to know what it is he wants you to do with your life at this time.”

For the rest of the day, the parents listened to various talks while the children and youths, divided into six age categories, rotated to “stations” where they heard talks given by a priest, seminarian, religious Brother, religious Sister, married couple and a deacon candidate.

One of those at the event was 14-yearold Amirley Torrecilla, a member of Good Shepherd. Also attending was her sister, 17-year-old Sheyla Cruz, and their parents Elizeth Torrecilla and Guillermo Cruz.

Amirley attended because she was required to do so, but she did find something interesting in what the deacon candidate said.

“The [deacon candidate] said there is a place for everyone in the church,” said Amirley. “It’s been making me think I have a place here, because I really haven’t had the best experience in church. But I’m starting to open up more to it,

and [think] I might be someone who has a place here.”

Why did Elizeth and Guillermo bring their daughters to this event?

“Because the teenage years are those [during which] we want them to be close to God, and we want to find different ways to bring them back,” said Elizeth.

“We want them to be better human beings and to be close to God,” said Guillermo.

Another youth who attended was 17-year-old Fernanda Diaz from Holy Cross Parish in Overland Park. The presentation by one of the religious Sisters helped her understand how a vocation is considered.

“Those questions are usually learned through life experiences and throughout life,” she said. “I learned from the Sisters how they would see signs and knew about their vocation. It’s a decision that will not be decided in one or two thoughts, but over the course of years.

“It’s worthwhile for children and youths to have the question of a vocation in the back of their minds, because it takes time to fully process and develop

one’s thoughts, and to align one’s own desires with God’s desires.”

Overall, the day was a success, said Karla Melgar, consultant for the archdiocesan office of evangelization.

“This type of event really helps us to be united, to be together and to celebrate what God is calling us to do as a church,” she said. “We know we want to have a lot of vocations, but we have to support the families. I would like to see the support of pastors from different parishes.”

Melgar hopes that parents will continue discussing vocations in their families, and pastors will also lend their support. Follow-up is essential.

“I think it’s important to continue having these types of events and do follow-up,” she said. “Now, what is next? We created this event for the families — they attended, they enjoyed, but how are we going to do that follow-up? This is the first event that we hosted for family vocations.

“What the Lord is calling us to do — and that is not just for me, but everyone involved. What is the next step the Holy Spirit wants us to do?”

LEAVEN PHOTO BY KATHRYN WHITE

Sister Talyá of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, PJC, works with the children at the Hispanic vocations day event Feb. 17 at Good Shepherd Church in Shawnee. The event, which brought family members of all ages together, offered something for everyone.

RESPITE volunteers trained to provide caregiver relief

By Jeanne Gorman

Special to The Leaven

LEAWOOD — Opening with a song so apt that it could have been written with them in mind — “The Servant Song” — a group from the Church of Nativity here gathered Feb. 2 for a training session in the RESPITE ministry of the parish.

The participants included a recent college graduate who, after volunteering with Meals on Wheels during college, wanted to continue meaningful volunteerism and thought the RESPITE program would provide her with that opportunity.

Other participants included several retired women — some with medical backgrounds, but some without. All were simply hoping to learn how to provide assistance to those caregivers needing a break from their caregiving activities.

Pat Scheibel, a retired physical therapist, has been involved in RESPITE for 25 years. Scheibel provided a brief history of the program nationally and in the archdiocese. She explained that the program at Nativity and other archdiocesan parishes was an offshoot of one started in 1982 by the National Council of Catholic Women.

The word “respite,” of course, means “breather” or “break.” But the acronym RESPITE, said Scheibel, was chosen to incorporate the “Renewal: spiritual/ temporal” aspects provided by volunteers to receiving families — “the spiritual foundation of the program.” She went on to explain her role as coordinator of the Nativity ministry and emphasized that RESPITE was not to be confused with a hospice program. Rather, the goal was to provide relief for people who were caring for loved ones (mostly those with dementia) in their homes.

Some of these caregivers have little support from family or friends and appreciated time away from their care receivers to recharge their batteries.

Scheibel stressed how difficult it was for caregivers to ask for help, but in her experience, the caregivers appreciated the assistance, and many became friends over time. Nativity has worked with some families for more than four years.

Dr. Catherine Powers, who will assume the Nativity coordinator role from Scheibel, explained that statistics show that caregivers die sooner than they might because they often fail to take care of themselves and are worn down while caring for their loved ones.

Others shared they had been caregivers for their parents or other loved ones

Daily Rosary Meditations

and recognized caregiver burnout was very real. Even a short time away from caregiving duties — like a lunch with friends or a trip to the store — allows the caregivers to refresh and renew their spirits, which helps them continue to care for their loved ones. They believed

Catholic App Series

Holy Family School of Faith, based in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, created this interactive app that makes praying a daily rosary convenient.

Its most popular feature is Mike Scherschligt’s daily rosary meditations, which can be played directly from the app.

Users create an account with the option of receiving email updates on the daily rosary meditations. They have the ability to comment on the meditations and request prayers for their intentions.

“I really like the many different meditations that Mike offers in the rosary,” said Allison Carney, associate Catholic school superintendent for the archdiocese. “They always seem to be relevant to my daily life.”

Carney would recommend that everyone check out the Daily Rosary Meditations app.

“The biggest impact it has had on my life is that my husband and I listen to it every evening and have time to discuss it,” she said.

— By Moira Cullings

that providing this time away for caregivers was a need that the parish volunteers could fill — and that their companionship with the care receivers would be beneficial to them as well.

As the morning progressed, the volunteers, experienced and new, learned

“I REALLY LIKE THE MANY DIFFERENT MEDITATIONS THAT MIKE OFFERS IN THE ROSARY. THEY ALWAYS SEEM TO BE RELEVANT TO MY DAILY LIFE.”

archdiocese

what to expect in their interactions with care receivers and caregivers and how to navigate challenging relationships with care receivers.

They also learned how to respond in various situations, including medical emergencies, and how much both care receivers and caregivers appreciate the opportunity to talk with the volunteers.

The participants also received printed materials that included tips about performing RESPITE services. The leaders emphasized that volunteers would not be asked to provide care if they were not comfortable in a particular setting or didn’t believe they could perform certain tasks.

Both male and female volunteers are needed, participants were told, as both sexes have unique gifts to share. Virtus training and a background check are required for RESPITE volunteers, in addition to the parish training program.

But it all starts with the desire to serve those who spend their lives serving others.

It all starts with a servant heart.

To learn more about Nativity’s RESPITE program, contact Catherine Powers by email at: capowers@kc.rr.com.

Tom and Vickie (Mader) Guilfoyle, members of Sacred Heart Parish, Mound City, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on Feb. 23. The couple was married at Holy Angels Church, Garnett. Their four children

are: Shari, Jennifer, Shawn and Jeremy. They also have 10 grandchildren.

THE SHEPHERD’S VOICE

8:30 a.m. Sundays on 92.9 FM and KEXS AM 1090

Encore Monday at 11:30 a.m.

Allison Carney associate Catholic school superintendent for the

LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER

Pat Scheibel, a retired physical therapist who has been involved in RESPITE for 25 years, provides a brief history of the program nationally and in the archdiocese.

LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER

Dr. Catherine Powers, who will assume the Nativity RESPITE coordinator role from Scheibel, welcomes guests to the Feb. 2 RESPITE training session.

Governor proclaims Catholic Sisters Week

TOPEKA — On Feb. 20, 10

Sisters from five communities in the area traveled to Topeka for a special meeting. Governor Laura Kelly signed a proclamation that March 8-14 be declared Catholic Sisters Week in the state of Kansas. The communities represented were Adorers of the Blood of Christ (ASC) in Wichita, the Benedictine Sisters (OSB) in Atchison, the Sisters of Charity (SCL) of Leavenworth and the Sisters of St. Joseph (CSJ) of Concordia. The fifth community represented was the School Sisters of St. Francis (SSAF), three Sisters of which were visiting from Haiti.

For several years, the national

professional organization Communicators for Women Religious has promoted Catholic Sisters Week, a time set aside to spotlight the ministries, achievements and contributions of Catholic Sisters in the United States.

This year, the communication professionals from the four Kansas communities decided to collaborate in their Catholic Sisters Week promotions with the guidance of the Catholic Sisters of Kansas board.

In addition to highlighting Gov. Kelly’s proclamation, the four communities plan to cross-promote each other’s communities through social media posts and websites.

‘Cabrini’ tells the story of the saint in New York

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — When she arrived in New York City in 1889, Sister Frances Xavier Cabrini, MSC, was confronted by disease, crime and impoverished children.

Despite the challenges of ill health, a new language and a hostile mayor, she used her faith and entrepreneurial skill to establish 67 hospitals, orphanages and schools in 34 years.

Now, Angel Studios is telling St. Frances Cabrini’s story in the film “Cabrini,” showing in local theaters March 7 to 13. For show times and tickets at a theater near you, go online to: bit.ly/findcabrinitickets.

COURTESY PHOTO

Sisters from five communities were on hand at the Topeka Capitol on Feb. 20, where Gov. Laura Kelly signed a proclamation that March 8-14 be declared Catholic Sisters Week in Kansas. From left are: Sisters Claudette Prevot, SSAF; Marie Simone Achille, SSAF; Judith Stephens, CSJ; Josie Mendoza, ASC; Rejane Cytacki, SCL; Amy Willcott, SCL; Judith Sutera, OSB; Diana Rawlings, ASC; and Melicia Singlus, SSAF.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ANGEL STUDIOS Cristiana Dell’Anna stars as Sister Frances Xavier Cabrini, MSC, in the new movie “Cabrini,” showing in local theaters from March 7-13.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ANGEL STUDIOS

Veteran actor John Lithgow stars as Mayor Gould in Angel Studio’s “Cabrini.”

Cruise urges couples to aspire to ‘total’ marriages lived with joy

By Libby DuPont Special to The Leaven

“Jesus did good things on boats.”

This opening line of Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann’s homily on the first full day of the Good News Cruise was a sentiment the participating couples would come to echo. Organized by Corporate Travel Services and sponsored by Ave Maria Radio, this trip brought together 400 Catholic married couples from around the country to deepen their relationships within the context of a six-night Caribbean experience from Jan. 26 to Feb. 2.

In addition to the amenities, activities and excursions offered to the larger population of the ship, Good News Cruise participants were able to enjoy daily Mass and access to the sacrament of reconciliation, thanks to two bishops and 10 other priests who accompanied the group. There were also keynote talks given by Archbishop Naumann, Dr. Ray Guarendi, Teresa Tomeo, Father Mike Schmitz and several other Catholic speakers, as well as smaller breakout sessions, a concert with Sarah Kroger and a few other private social gatherings.

Having access to more events was not the only thing that set apart the group, which comprised about 20% of the onboard guests.

“We are not here to escape reality, but to pierce it,” said Rachel Bulman in a talk she gave with her husband, Deacon Jason Bulman. In their talk, Rachel shared how uncomfortable she was early in their marriage when Jason would gaze on her with love. As time went on, she learned that marriage is intended to be a mirror to God’s love, and through Jason’s gaze of love, she learned to allow God the Father to love her more deeply.

This thread of marriage as a mirror that helps us see reality more clearly was woven through many of the presentations throughout the week.

Al and Sally Kresta spoke about how marriage reflects back weaknesses, but it is intended to be a safe look, a look that loves despite faults.

Guarendi warned against what he called the “law of social entropy,” in which couples tend to slack in relationship as time goes on. Instead, he encouraged couples to apologize, to speak kindly to their spouses and to not take

things too seriously.

Father Schmitz invited couples to take a new look at the marital embrace as a source of growing in “grace and glory” (quoting St. Thomas Aquinas) and a means to living the whole of marriage with totality, freedom, faithfulness and fruitfulness.

The inspiring sessions came packaged with the rare opportunity for couples to spend uninterrupted time together processing what they had heard and catching up with each other.

When asked her favorite part of her day on the beach in Labadee, Haiti, Rosanna Bamsey of Woodbury, Minnesota, replied, “I feel like we were able to finish all the conversations we’ve tried to have over the last six months.”

She and her husband Bob were on the cruise celebrating their 20th wedding anniversary. As a couple in the

midst of raising eight children from preschool to college age, the cruise was an opportunity to step back from the chaos of family life and reconnect as a couple.

Since it was a Caribbean cruise, participants were treated to warm sunshine, sparkling blue water and the sunrise over tropical islands. After the freezing, dreary January experienced in Kansas, couples relished the beautiful nature that surrounded them. Even more awe-inspiring, however, was the opportunity to get to know so many other couples striving to live the church’s bold but joyful vision of marriage.

“It was awesome to be able to just start talking and feel at ease with everyone, knowing that we were all there for the same reason — to grow in the love of Christ through each other’s experiences

and lives,” said Annie Riley of Lenexa, who attended with her husband Shawn.

While a floating marriage retreat may not be for every Catholic married couple, we can all take some time this Lent to allow the beauty of matrimony to pierce the reality of our everyday lives, realizing its potential to bring us and those around us closer to Jesus.

As Archbishop Naumann said at the closing liturgy on the cruise: “Yours is an evangelizing sacrament, to hand the faith not across geography, but across generations. We have no guarantees, but a marriage lived with joy attracts others.”

For more information about next year’s Good News Cruise, go to the website at: goodnewscruise.com, or contact Brad DuPont in the archdiocesan marriage life office at: bdupont@archkck.org.

Young men are not alone in seeking Jesus to fill that void

place of heartbreak and woundedness. If we let Jesus fill that void and learn to follow his footsteps, then that heartbreak goes away,” said Engel. “These men see that, and they desire it. It’s not something that just young kids want, but it’s something even the 80-year-old man is looking for.”

The conference opened with Braden Johnson, a young Catholic presenter who travels the country speaking to youth groups and high schools. Johnson addressed why young Catholics struggle with the Catholic faith and how fathers can help support their children.

“At the core, these young people are looking to be loved, to feel cared [for], but often those longings will be directed into

not good romantic relationships and not good parties and, you know, these paths that lead to more pain and stuff,” said Johnson. “But when parents and grandparents understand the heart, they’re able to really reach their children at that place where God’s meeting them and ultimately offering them something so much more.”

Attendees also heard from Stephen Minnis, president of Benedictine College in Atchison, who advised if the men wanted to transform their family, their business or their personal lives, they should embrace the Blessed Mother through a Marian consecration, and embrace their mission by orienting their every action toward a common goal.

Other speakers included Dr. Ray Guarendi, a clinical psychologist and

host of EWTN’s “The Doctor is In” series, who shared practical ways for fathers to lead their families. To conclude, Scott Hahn, an international speaker and founder of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology, spoke to attendees about the transformative power the Eucharist can have in their personal and family life.

While the talks were impactful, a highlight for many attendees was the ability to gather and talk with other faithful, Catholic men from the local area.

“We were created for community and family. Men under Construction gives us a great opportunity to come together. And if we don’t come together, then we are isolated. And isolation often leads to sin,” said Jonathan Burnos, a parishioner at Prince of

Peace, Olathe. “Here, we are in brotherhood, we are together and we are stronger together.”

To conclude the day, Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann celebrated Mass for the men. In his homily, he said that right now, men and the family are under attack, and he called on those gathered to be the spiritual leaders that their families need.

“If we want to rebuild culture in our society, we must rebuild the family, which begins with supporting marriage — and that begins by focusing on your own marriage first,” said the archbishop.

“You are men under construction,” he added, “and with your help we can reconstruct culture and our church.”

COURTESY PHOTO

Dr. Ray Guarendi leads a breakout session aboard the Good News Cruise — a six-night Caribbean experience from Jan. 26 to Feb. 2 that brought together 400 Catholic married couples from around the country to deepen their relationships.

THE FUTURE OF JOURNALISM

Catholic Press

Month is usually celebrated each year in February. Unfortunately, the news overtook us. But better late than never, we always say!

Please join the staff of The Leaven in recognizing Benedictine College sophomores and Leaven contributors Jack Figge and Catherine Halbmaier, both working members of the Catholic press. And don’t forget to watch for their bylines in the future.

Intern has a passion for writing

By Moira Cullings moira.cullings@theleaven.org

ATCHISON — From a young age, stories inspired Catherine Halbmaier to dream big.

“For the longest time, I told myself I wanted to be a pilot,” she said. “I almost went to flight school.

“I loved the idea of being a pilot because I’ve always loved reading and writing. Some of my favorite stories featured pilots and flying.”

But ultimately, she realized it was the stories, not the flying, that captivated her interest.

Her passion for reading and writing led Halbmaier to pursue a journalism and mass communications degree at Benedictine College in Atchison, where she is now a sophomore.

It’s also given her the opportunity to intern with The Leaven for the past year.

Oh, the places she’ll go

Growing up in Dallas and attending a small Catholic high school, Halbmaier heard about Benedictine from siblings of friends who attended there. She decided to give it a chance.

“When I visited Benedictine, I really loved it — the campus and the people, the whole energy there,” she said.

The college’s journalism program intrigued her, but committing to a journalism major “was a little bit of a gamble.”

“I didn’t really know what I was getting myself into,” she said.

Yet by her second semester freshman year, she was writing articles for The Leaven and helping maintain its website and social media presence.

This semester, she’s studying abroad in Florence, Italy, and continuing her internship work.

Her favorite assignment was her first: an article published on Feb. 3, 2023, about a deacon and his wife who fled the war in Ukraine and ended up in Atchison.

“That was such a good story to have right off the bat,” said Halbmaier, “because it taught me immediately you will meet incredible people this way and also you will get to help them tell their stories to a wider audience.”

Halbmaier appreciates the opportunity to contribute to The Leaven’s physical newspaper and its online presence.

“It’s great that I got to start with this internship so early on, wearing multiple hats,” she said.

She hopes to pursue a career in Catholic media but believes the experience, especially the social media side, will be pertinent to any field.

“Social media is such a driving force for so many industries today,” said Halbmaier, “but especially journalism.

“It’s been really interesting and really important because I know it will always be there as long as I am in this industry.”

The internship has also pushed Halbmaier outside her comfort zone.

“I’m naturally a pretty reserved person,” she said.

The idea of contacting people and interviewing them was daunting at first.

“I think it’s helped a lot with people skills and the courage to go up and talk to someone,” she said, “even if they’re a stranger.

“And it’s also helped me to be more adaptable, which is always something I valued.”

She’s discovered she enjoys meeting Catholics from around the archdiocese.

“You get to talk to some really interesting people,” she said, “and you get to hear their story and tell it in this very matterof-fact way.”

Witnessing the inner workings of parishes has also been exciting.

“One of the most touching sides of the church is seeing these communities come together to create something amazing or to help someone who needs it,” she said.

“It’s been so amazing to see that side of church communities and what they’re capable of,” she continued. “It’s something that I hadn’t really personally seen before reporting on these types of things.”

Halbmaier hopes the articles she writes for The Leaven and those she shares online will give readers a glimpse into that side of the church.

“It’s such a positive thing to share with people,” she said. “And it’s such an oftenoverlooked part of what the church is and the church members are capable of.

“I just think it’s a really beautiful thing.”

COURTESY PHOTO

Leaven intern Catherine Halbmaier (pictured above in Rome) is pursuing a journalism and mass communications degree at Benedictine College in Atchison, where she is now a sophomore. This semester, she’s studying abroad in Florence, Italy, and continuing her internship work remotely.

LEAVEN PHOTO BY JD BENNING

Catherine Halbmaier interviews Deacon Philip Gilbert of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, who escaped war-torn Ukraine with his wife when war broke out.

JOURNALISM IS NOW

The ‘news guy’ relishes his role

By Moira Cullings moira.cullings@theleaven.org

ATCHISON — Inside Jack Figge’s dorm room at Benedictine College here, the Aug. 25, 2023, issue of The Leaven proudly hangs on the wall.

The special World Youth Day issue is the culmination of Figge’s reporting on the Lisbon, Portugal, event that brought together millions of young Catholics from around the world.

“I told my mom right before I left, ‘I think World Youth Day will be my favorite reporting experience,’” said Figge.

And he was right.

“Because I was able to be an embedded reporter,” he said, “I lived the experience of World Youth Day. I wasn’t just there as a journalist. I was also there as a pilgrim.”

In just his sophomore year at Benedictine, Figge never expected to travel across the world as a Catholic journalist.

“So many incredible doors [have opened] that I’ll forever be grateful for,” he said.

Embracing opportunities

The St. Louis native started as a freelance writer for The Leaven during the second semester of his freshman year.

Since then, he’s covered several archdiocesan events and gained additional experience with other Catholic news outlets.

“Whatever doors open, it’s all because of God,” said Figge. “He’s trying to use my gifts to tell other people’s stories.

“I always try to keep that in mind.”

Originally interested in journalism, Figge switched his major to political science and theology to broaden his studies.

His first assignment for The Leaven was reporting on the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS) SEEK conference in January 2023.

“I got the paper in my hand,” he said, “and I was like, ‘Oh, my gosh. That’s my work printed in a major publication that goes to actual people and not just at my school.’

“I was so grateful to do that first SEEK article. And all the opportunities that The Leaven has given me since have been incredible.”

With an open mind, Figge makes a point to say “yes” to each assignment that comes his way.

“Because you never know where they’re going to take you,” he said, “and you never know who you’re going to meet through them.”

Situations like World Youth Day have helped him grow as a journalist.

“It’s pushed me to go beyond my comfort zone and learn how to go that extra mile for the story,” he said.

It’s also taught him “how to embrace uncomfortable situations.”

“You don’t know what’s going to happen,” said Figge, “so it forces you to trust that the interview will turn out well.

“It [might be] awkward, but that’s part of

the fun.”

Figge said he’s in a unique position to report on Catholic news from his perspective as a young adult.

It’s something his friends admire.

“I’ve become known as the ‘news guy,’” said Figge. “If they have questions about what’s going on with church politics or stuff, they’ll come ask me.

“For the most part, they just think it’s super cool.”

Figge has dreams of working for a national Catholic media outlet after college and eventually becoming an editor, but he’s open to wherever God leads him.

For now, he’s excited to continue capturing stories for The Leaven and take on any other opportunities that come knocking.

“It opens so many doors,” he said, “and you meet so many incredible people and have these deep conversations that you normally wouldn’t get to have as a college student.

“I think journalism has allowed me to have a [fuller] college experience because it has exposed me to so much more and opened so many doors for me.”

Young journalists impress

By Moira Cullings moira.cullings@theleaven.org

When Michael Throop, assistant professor of journalism and mass communications at Benedictine College in Atchison, reached out to The Leaven last year, I was intrigued.

Two of his students were interested in working in Catholic media, so he inquired about a possible internship with our publication.

Jack Figge and Catherine Halbmaier were only freshmen at the time.

When I was their age, I had no idea what I wanted to study, let alone the career I wanted to pursue after college.

But it was clear after our first conversation that both had much to offer.

Since they joined our team just over a year ago, the pair have exceeded my expectations time and time again.

Jack is a fearless reporter, whose self-assurance has allowed him to interview popular public figures like Father Mike Schmitz of Ascension Press with confidence.

His “yes” attitude has opened many doors for him, including a trip to World Youth Day in Lisbon, Portugal, last August, where he produced several articles and considerable content for The Leaven’s social media.

Meanwhile, Catherine’s interviewing skills and her ability to get to the heart of a story with her clear, engaging writing style is an editor’s dream.

She’s not only covered multiple stories for our print paper, but she also regularly posts national, Vatican and world articles to our website; posts Facebook and Instagram stories; and interacts with accounts we follow on our social media channels.

We’ve had many interns over the years who have helped carry The Leaven’s story load and transform its online presence.

I have a feeling Catherine and Jack will continue to impress us through their work with The Leaven and whatever other opportunities they pursue in the future.

This Catholic Press Month, I’m inspired by the heart these young journalists are bringing to the table.

LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER

Jack Figge takes photos at World Youth Day in Lisbon, Portugal, in August 2023. The St. Louis native started as a freelance writer for The Leaven during the second semester of his freshman year at Benedictine College in Atchison.

Jack Figge and Leaven photographer Jay Soldner work from the media center at World Youth Day in Lisbon, Portugal, to file stories from the event back to staff in Kansas City, Kansas.

Consecration Mass for businesses to be held in Atchison

ATCHISON — Join Benedictine College here, the Byron G. Thompson Center for Integrity in Finance and Economics (Thompson Center) and the Association of Consecrated Business Owners for the first-ever Consecration Mass for Businesses in the United States. The 8:15 a.m. Mass at St. Benedict Church, located at 1001 N. 2nd St. in Atchison, on March 16 will be a special Consecration Mass for business leaders who wish to position their companies as instruments of God’s service.

Learn more about consecrating a business and register for the program by visiting the website at: community. hwaw.com/events/76151.

“People might wonder what it means for a business to be consecrated,” said Dave Geenens, business owner, author, associate professor and director of Benedictine’s Thompson Center.

“Consecration is when something is set apart for God’s purpose, becoming an instrument of his grace in the world,” he said. “Therefore, when a business is consecrated, it becomes an extension of God’s love — an outpost of care and service to all the people it serves.”

Those who complete an eight-part preliminary sequence of short videos with prayer and reflection can participate in the Consecration Mass, after which they will be invited to join the

On March 16, there will be a special Consecration Mass

Association of Consecrated Business Owners. Membership opens benefits like community, accountability, business best practices, additional faith formation and fellowship for Catholic business owners.

The Consecration Mass is scheduled

to coincide with Benedictine College’s Symposium on Transforming Culture at the college. Symposium sessions occur throughout the day on March 16, with a special Symposium Business Track beginning at 9:45 a.m. that day, following the Consecration Mass.

To learn more and register, go online to: benedictine.edu/symposium.

For questions or other information, contact Dave Geenens by email at: dgeenens@benedictine.edu.

Cardinals pledge to help heal Ukraine’s wounds of war

By Gina Christian OSV News

PHILADELPHIA (OSV News)

— With Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine entering its third year, seven U.S. cardinals have become patrons of a new effort to heal the suffering of Ukraine’s people due to Russian aggression.

On Feb. 20, the Ukrainian Catholic bishops of the U.S. announced that their Metropolia Humanitarian Aid Fund has been restructured as the “Healing of Wounds of the War in Ukraine Fund.”

The fund is aimed at “healing physical, emotional, and spiritual wounds inflicted by the criminal Russian invasion,” said the four bishops, Metropolitan Archbishop Borys A. Gudziak of the Archeparchy of Philadelphia; Bishop Paul P. Chomnycky of the Eparchy of Stamford, Connecticut; Bishop Benedict Aleksiychuk of the Eparchy of St. Nicholas in Chicago; and Bishop Bohdan J. Danylo of the Eparchy of St. Josaphat in Parma, Ohio — in a report accompanying the announcement.

In the report, the U.S. Ukrainian bishops said they were “especially . . . grateful to the seven Cardinals of the Catholic Church in the U.S. — Cardinal Blase J. Cupich of Chicago, Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York, Cardinal Wilton D. Gregory of Washington, Cardinal Robert W. McElroy of San Diego, Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley of Boston, and Cardinal Joseph William Tobin of Newark — who have graciously agreed to serve as patrons” of the new fund.

The Metropolia fund, representing the four eparchies of the Ukrainian Catholic Church in the

U.S., was established in January 2022 as Russia’s troop buildup on Ukraine’s borders signaled an invasion.

All contributions to the fund — which totaled more than $7.5 million from some 6,400 donors, with $7.2 million so far distributed — were dedicated to humanitarian projects operated by the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church or by trusted nonprofits partnering with the UGCC.

Donations were applied to five focus areas of support: internally displaced persons and refugees (now totaling 3.7 million and 6.5 million, respectively, according to the United Nation’s Displacement Tracking Matrix and the U.N.’s High Commissioner for Refugees); medication and first aid; church ministry; emergency food assistance; and supply chain and logistics.

The aid provided by the fund

included over 13,000 hemostatic bandages and gauze, 11,000 tourniquets, 200 traumatic head injury kits, three anesthesia machines, and the creation of a fully stocked operating room, as well as more than 27,000 food kits and the feeding of more than 100,000 individuals.

The fund had no administrative costs, as Archeparchy of Philadelphia staff and volunteers donated their time to processing contributions.

“The donations, whether from individuals or families, students in Catholic and public schools, parishes or dioceses across the nation, fraternal organizations and companies, have been transformative,” the bishops wrote in their report. “Dear friends, you have walked alongside priests ministering near the frontlines and supported the network of parishes of the Ukrainian Greek

Catholic Church. . . . You brought comfort, compassion, and restored hope.”

The new fund has already been seeded by major contributions from the Archdiocese of Boston and the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, which had donated $500,000 and $529,056, respectively, to a Long Term Aid Fund that was subordinate to the Metropolia Fund.

That $1,029,056, to be redirected to the Healing the Wounds of the War in Ukraine Fund, will along with new contributions help provide urgently needed assistance in addressing the often unseen wounds of war.

The World Health Organization has estimated that as many as 9.6 million Ukrainians may experience mental health conditions as a result of Russia’s war.

The invasion, which continues attacks initiated in 2014 with the annexation of Crimea and the backing of military separatists in Ukraine’s Luhansk and Donetsk provinces, has been declared a genocide in two joint reports from the New Lines Institute and the Raoul Wallenberg Center for Human Rights.

SOLUTION

PHOTO COURTESY OF BENEDICTINE COLLEGE

for business leaders who wish to position their companies as instruments of God’s service at St. Benedict Church in Atchison.

OSV NEWS PHOTO/ALINA SMUTKO, REUTERS

Alona Onyshchuk, 39, visits her husband’s grave with her daughter, Anhelina, 5, at the Alley of Heroes at a local cemetery in the village of Lozuvatka, Dnipropetrovsk region, Ukraine, Jan. 22 amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine.

Bernini’s baldachin masterpiece disappears from public view

By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY (CNS) —

Like a giant Tinkertoy construction, a skeletal tower of scaffolding slowly inched its way up the twisting bronze columns of the baldachin over the main altar of St. Peter’s Basilica.

Workers on the ground picked through piles of shiny metal platforms, poles, clamps and couplers to then hoist them up high with pulleys to their workmates above. They had begun erecting the scaffolding after Mass on Ash Wednesday Feb. 14 and it reached almost halfway by Feb. 21.

The 100-foot-tall baldachin was set to be completely covered by metal scaffolding before Easter to allow a team of 10 to 12 restorers to start cleaning, repairing and revitalizing the masterpiece designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini in 1624 and completed around 1633.

The biggest problem facing the restorers “is getting there, that is, to be close enough” to the bronze and wood structures and many decorative details that need to be restored, Alberto Capitanucci told Catholic News Service.

Capitanucci, the head engineer of the Fabbrica di San Pietro — the office responsible for upkeep of the basilica — said the baldachin is a monumental architectural structure that is as high as a 10-story building.

But it is mostly empty space with its four fluted spiral bronze columns, each set upon a massive marble pedestal alongside the marble steps leading to the main altar over the tomb of St. Peter. The most delicate part of the structure is the canopy above, he said, which is made entirely of wood.

The wooden ceiling “is the size of a vessel, that is, it was designed to be the wooden planking of a boat,” Capitanucci said.

Despite its enormous size, Bernini wanted the baldachin to resemble the light, open and airy cloth-covered canopy used in processions of the Blessed Sacrament. The term

“baldachin” or “baudekin” comes from a special brocade fabric made in Baghdad and traditionally used for processional canopies.

The twisting pattern on the gilded columns makes them look lighter and draws the eye upward along decorations of snaking branches of olive and laurel, bees and lizards, until it reaches the top which resembles canopy brocade and tassels blowing in the wind, he said. The top of the baldachin is meant to look like “a billowing sail” of a boat.

The angels holding floral garlands and standing at the four corners are 13 feet high, he said, and four scroll-like ornaments, shaped like dolphin backs, go from the corners up to a globe that supports a cross, which is 40 feet tall.

There are four pairs of cherubs holding up the keys of St. Peter, a papal tiara and the sword and book of St. Paul.

What looks small from below is, in reality, enormous in size, Capitanucci said, indicating that the bees on top are as long as a briefcase. Pope Urban VIII, who hired Bernini to design the baldachin, belonged to the Barberini family, whose coat of arms consists of three bees.

Capitanucci said they used drones to take over 6,000 photographs of the hard-to-reach canopy and its inner ceiling featuring the dove of the Holy Spirit surrounded by golden fire. The up-close images will help them plan how to proceed with the restoration, he said.

The entire structure will be covered in sheer cloth to shield workers from the public, he said, and still let in lots of natural light.

And, once the scaffolding is completely up, the wooden box now protecting the main altar will be removed so the altar can still be used for papal ceremonies for the rest of the year. The entire restoration should be completed by the end of December for the start of the Holy Year.

The current restoration project, funded by the Knights of Columbus, marks only the second restoration since the baldachin was built, he said, the last restoration being in the late 1700s.

Vatican aims to draw young ‘digital pilgrims’ to Rome’s papal basilicas

By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The Vatican is seeking to draw pilgrims to the four historic papal basilicas scattered around Rome — not physically, but virtually, through a website and podcast aimed at drawing young people into the spiritual depth of Rome’s sacred spaces.

The website — basilicas.vatican. va — was launched by the Vatican Feb. 22. It features a virtual “table” at which animated saints and artists are seated with descriptions of who they are and their significance for the holy spaces highlighted on the site. An empty chair is also present to invite each “digital pilgrim” to sit at the table with them and visit the four papal basilicas.

Rome’s four papal basilicas are St. Peter’s Basilica, the Basilica of St. Mary Major, the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls and the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran; they are the most highly ranked churches in the Catholic Church and each possess a holy door that is

opened during Holy Years, typically every 25 years.

The new Vatican website showcases a podcast produced in partnership with Vatican News, “From Tourists to Pilgrims,” in which art historians, restoration experts, professors and religious

men and women discuss the spiritual significance of the history and art of each basilica.

The first episode of the podcast, less than three minutes long, explains the history behind the tomb of St. Peter upon which the basilica was built: a

poor man’s grave of bricks and stone assembled next to where he was martyred. Prayers centered on each of the saints for whom each basilica is named are also published on the site.

A Vatican press release accompanying the website’s launch said the project was born out of a pilgrimage undertaken by 16 young communications professionals from 10 different countries who explored the four basilicas “not just as architectural monuments but as living witnesses of our faith.”

“The multilingual minisite is the answer to the challenge of how to convert this experience into a digital project to introduce the Basilicas to a younger audience,” it said.

Five of the pilgrims behind the project were from the United States: Alexandra Carroll, Alexandria Rich, John Grosso, John Lilly and Vanesa Zuleta Goldberg.

Ahead of the Holy Year 2025, “the hope is that this experience will encourage a revival of the storytelling surrounding the millennia-old” tradition of going on pilgrimage to the threshold of the apostles, the Vatican said.

CNS PHOTO/ROBERT DUNCAN

A worker adjusts a pulley attached to metal scaffolding going up around the 100-foot-tall baldachin over the main altar in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican Feb. 21. The scaffolding will allow restorers to start cleaning, repairing and revitalizing this masterpiece designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini in the 17th century.

CNS PHOTO/COURTESY HOLY SEE PRESS OFFICE

A screengrab of a new Vatican website dedicated to connecting young people to Rome’s papal basilicas, depicting an empty chair alongside animated artists and saints, is seen on the day of its launch Feb. 22.

EMPLOYMENT

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Catholic elementary school principal - Corpus Christi School in Lawrence is seeking a Catholic school leader to join its thriving Lawrence community. The principal will lead a team of faculty and staff in the mission of forming scholarly disciples. Applicants must have or be eligible for Kansas licensure in educational leadership. Apply online at: archkckcs. org/apply. For more information, contact Father Jerry Volz at: frjerry@cccparish.org.

School information system manager - St. James Academy is seeking a full-time school information system manager for the 2024-25 school year. The ideal candidate will be a practicing Catholic with significant experience and expertise in PowerSchool and its related systems. This position will report to and partner with the director of technology and director of student services to ensure maximum efficiency and effectiveness in utilizing St. James’ SIS and other technologies to support teaching and learning. The SIS manager will need the interpersonal skills to partner with and help lead other school employees in their utilization and maximizing of the SIS. Applicants should send a resume and cover letter to Susie Ludwikoski at: sludwikoski@sjakeepingfaith.org by March 10.

Catholic school elementary principal - Prince of Peace School in Olathe is seeking a dynamic and visionary leader with a passion for Catholic education. The principal will continue the school’s tradition of forming disciples, pursing academic excellence and spiritual growth. The principal will lead by example and inspire a team of dedicated faculty and staff. Applicants must have or be eligible for Kansas licensure in educational leadership. Apply online at: archkckcs. org/apply. For more information, contact John Meyers at: jmeyers@popolathe.org.

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Youth minister - St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Leawood is seeking a youth minister who will lead teens closer to Christ in partnership with another youth minister. He or she must be dedicated to forming missionary disciples and creating, fostering and guiding a community to reach teens from seventh grade through high school. The successful candidate will have excellent organizational and communication skills and a desire to facilitate an encounter with Jesus Christ. This is a year-round, full-time position eligible for full benefits. Further details available at: stmichaelcp.org/employment. Send cover letter and resume to: denise.green@stmichaelcp.org.

Housekeeper - Savior Pastoral Center is currently seeking to hire a housekeeper. This position performs a variety of cleaning tasks in order to ensure a clean and hospitable retreat environment. Please visit Employment Opportunities at: archkck.org, scroll down to “People,” click on “Employment Opportunities,” then scroll down to “Current job openings and click on”Openings in our Archdiocese” for more information or to apply.

Math teacher - Nativity Parish School in Leawood is seeking a middle school math teacher for the 202425 school year. Applicants should apply online through the archdiocesan website at: archkckcs.org and click on “Apply” then click on “Teachers.” Also, email principal Luke Jennison at: luke.jennison@kcnativity.org.

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

Nonmedical caregivers - Saint Rita Home Care is hiring nonmedical caregivers for seniors. Seeking compassionate individuals to fill all shifts. We serve people in Johnson, Douglas, Miami, Franklin and Leavenworth counties. Kansas state licensed, nonmedical home care agency. Call or text Renee Margush at (913) 229-4267, or rmargush@saintritahc. com. Member of Prince of Peace Parish, Olathe.

Help needed - Parishioner of St. Michael Parish is in need of support in her home. 95-year-old female, Lives very close to St. Michael Church. Part-time weekend help. $15 hr. Mostly visiting and assisting if needing help with walker, Please call Jenny at (816) 616-7398.

Catholic school elementary principal for Resurrection School - Are you a passionate and visionary leader looking to make a difference in the lives of young learners? Do you thrive in diverse, culturally rich environments? Resurrection Catholic School in Kansas City, Kansas, is seeking a joyfully Catholic school leader with demonstrated skill in the academic and spiritual formation of students. With a board of trustees, the principal will lead a team to advance the school’s academic licensure in educational leadership. Ideal candidates will be fluent in English and Spanish, but Spanish-speaking not required. Apply online at: archkckcs.org/apply and scroll down and click on “Principals.” For more information, contact Dr. Vince Cascone, superintendent, at: vcascone@ archkckcs.org.

Maintenance technician - Curé of Ars Parish in Leawood is looking for a full-time, 40 hours per week, maintenance technician with a strong work ethic. We prefer a candidate with knowledge in landscape maintenance. This individual will also have general maintenance skills, including basic electrical and plumbing. This position also includes setting up for events. A maintenance technician is a thorough professional with attention to detail. The ideal candidate will be able to work autonomously and responsibly. The candidate needs to be able to lift 50 pounds and work off a ladder or lift. All employees are required to be Virtus-trained and background-checked. This position may include some weekend and evenings as needed. Competitive pay, including benefits, vacation/sick time and 401(k) with match. Interested candidates should send a resume to the facilities director at: matt.rocca@cureofars.com.

Liturgy coordinator - Prince of Peace Parish in Olathe is seeking to fill a part-time position of liturgy coordinator. This person will work with the pastor in the planning and implementation of all parish liturgies. Primary activities include coordinating ministry volunteers, decorating the church for Masses and administering liturgy events. Please see the website for a full job description at: www.popolathe.org/ employment-opportunities. To apply, send a resume and cover letter to John Meyers, parish manager, at: jmeyers@popolathe.org.

Catholic high school principal - Bishop Ward High School is seeking a school leader with a passion for Catholic education and serving students in the urban core of Kansas City, Kansas. The school serves a diverse student population. Proficiency in Spanish is preferred. Ideal candidates will have demonstrated skill in the following: academic and spiritual formation of students; recruitment and development of joyfully Catholic teachers and staff; and cultivation of relationships with current and prospective families. Applicants must have or be eligible for Kansas licensure in educational leadership. Apply online at: archkckcs.org/apply. For more information, please contact Jay Dunlap, president, at: jdunlap@wardhigh. org. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

Community and family ministry leader - St. Joseph Parish in Shawnee is seeking a part-time community and family ministry (CFM) leader. This leader would be responsible for nurturing and guiding a ministry and evangelism strategy that provides vision, skills and community for single, engaged and married people. The leader will lead a ministry task force responsible for executing this initiative to invite and move church and community through outreach and ongoing engagements into Growth Journeys where relationship skills content is delivered/transformed. The leader will also serve as St. Joseph’s chief liaison with our Communio church strategist. Interested applicants should email resumes to Veronica Quinn at: vquinn@stjoeshawnee.org or call (913) 244-3909.

Director of development and stewardship - The director of development and stewardship of St. John the Evangelist in Lawrence works closely with the pastor and school principal to ensure the long-term stability of the parish — which includes the church and school — by building relationships with a variety of stakeholders, including parishioners, parents alumni, volunteers and community members. The director of development and stewardship will implement and oversee all development and stewardship activities necessary to grow and expand the base of financial support for the parish from a broad range of sources. To apply, send cover letter and resume to Father John Cousins at: frjohn@sjevangelist.com; or mail to Father John Cousins, 1229 Vermont St., Lawrence, KS 66044. To view the complete job description, visit our website at: sjevangelist.com/jobs.

Teacher - St. Joseph Early Education Center in Shawnee is seeking a full-time teacher. Interested individuals should email cover letter and resume to Kristan Mora at: KMora@stjoeshawnee.org. For more information, call (913) 631-0004.

Chief financial officer – Catholic Care Campus

Inc. dba Santa Marta is seeking a CFO. The CFO is responsible for the overall financial operations of Santa Marta in conjunction with the CEO and finance committee. Responsibilities for this position include, but are not limited, to: budget preparations; forecasting; audit functions; monitor financial performance; directs the preparation of all financial statements; and prepares financial analysis package to the finance committee and board of directors. Oversees relationship with bankers, calculates bond covenants and provides reporting to bond trustees. Ensures that effective internal controls are in place and ensures compliance with GAAP and applicable federal, state and local regulatory laws and rules for financial and tax reporting. Qualifications include 10 years of health care leadership experience, strategic planning and budgeting. Experience in RFPs and contract negotiations. Investment and bond experience. Efficient and effective organizational skills. Excellent oral and written communication skills. Interpersonal professional relationships, both internally and externally. Overall soundness of decisions, effective delegation and maintenance of confidentiality for all sensitive information. CPA or MBA preferred. Interested applicants may apply at Santa Marta Retirement Jobs in Overland Park, KS | Indeed.com.

Gift planning consultant - The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas is seeking to hire a gift planning consultant. This position will build and maintain relationships with pastors, individual donors and professional advisers. Go online to: archkck.org, scroll down to the bottom under “More News,” go to “People,” then click on “Employment Opportunities” and scroll down to “Current job openings” and click on “Openings in Our Archdiocese” and then “Gift planning consultant.”

Skilled maintenance worker - St. Pius X Parish, Mission, is seeking a skilled maintenance worker to perform general upkeep and repairs, apply basic fixes to equipment and building systems, and ensure facilities are tidy and functional. Will include some spot cleaning of church, parish and rectory. We are looking for candidates with experience and solid technical knowledge, who are reliable with a keen eye for detail; a self-starter with motivation to work independently or with others to provide thorough and efficient work. Work hours can be flexible. Full time or part-time. Interested applicants may email resumes and work history to: galba@ spxmission.org.

Full-time maintenance/custodian - St. Joseph Parish in Shawnee is looking for full-time maintenance/ custodial staff. Qualified applicants will primarily work in a school and early education environment. Applicants must have similar work history, references and dependable transportation. Must be Virtustrained or attend Virtus training and participate in a background check. Interested applicants should email resumes to: mthomas@stjoeshawnee.org or call (913) 631-0004.

Caregivers needed - Daughter & Company is looking for compassionate caregivers to provide assistance to seniors in their home, assisted living or in a skilled nursing facility. We provide sitter services, light housekeeping and light meal preparation, organizational assistance, care management and occasional transportation for our clients. We need caregivers with reliable transportation and a cellphone for communication. We typically employ on a part-time basis, but will strive to match up hours desired. Contact Gary or Laurie at (913) 341-2500 if you want to become part of an excellent caregiving team.

Faculty and adjunct faculty job openings - Donnelly College, Kansas City, Kansas, is a Catholic college offering higher education for those who may not otherwise be served. Faculty job openings - no current openings. Adjunct faculty job openingsadjunct instructor for Nursing. Find job descriptions and details at: www.donnelly.edu/careers.

Now hiring - drivers and aides - Assisted Transportation is hiring safe drivers and aides to transport students in Johnson and Wyandotte counties, in company vans. Drivers earn $14 - $16 per hour. Part-time and full-time schedules available. CDL not required. Retirees are encouraged to apply. Make a difference in your community by helping those in need! Call (913) 262-5190 or visit www.assistedtransportation. com for more information. EEO.

Scientific equipment technician - Would you like to make a difference in a small growing company? Seeking individuals looking for flexible part-time work maintaining and repairing small equipment for our family company which has been in the local area for over 40 years. Service is completed at customer’s locations locally and within a four-state area. Dependable transportation is a must. Positive attitude, dependability, time management and self-motivation skills, as well as being quality- and customer-oriented are required. Mostly on-the-job training. Electrical knowledge a plus. Please send resume to: Yourcareer101@gmail.com.

Staff job openings - Donnelly College in Kansas City, Kansas, has the following staff job openings available: administrative coordinator for the nursing department, academic adviser, director of development, annual fund coordinator and admissions counselor. Find job descriptions and details at: www.donnelly.edu/careers.

SERVICES

Memory quilts - Preserve your memories in a keepsake quality quilt, pillows, etc. Custom designed from your T-shirt collection, baby clothes, sports memorabilia, neckties . . . Quilted Memories. (913) 649-2704.

Catholic counseling - Sam Meier, MA, LCPC - (913) 952-267 and David Walter, MA, LCPC - (402) 9130463 - book an appointment online at: StillWatersKC. com. In-person or telehealth.

Garage door repair expert

New Garage Doors

Garage Floor Coatings

A Total Door Inc., Since ’83. Leaven discount joe@atotaldoor.com; (913) 236-6440

Custom countertops - Laminates installed within 5 days. Cambria, granite and solid surface. Competitive prices, dependable work. Call the Top Shop, Inc., at (913) 962-5058. Members of St. Joseph, Shawnee.

MIKE HAMMER MOVING - A full-service mover. Local and long-distance moving. Packing, pianos, rental truck load/unload, storage container load/unload. In-home moving and office moves. No job too small. Serving the KC metro since 1987. St. Joseph Parish, Shawnee, parishioner. Call the office at (913) 9274347 or email: mike@mikehammermoving.com.

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

HOME IMPROVEMENT

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% www.windowservicesoverlandpark.com drcconswindows@gmail.com (913) 461-4052

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

EL SOL Y LA TIERRA

*COMMERCIAL & RESIDENTIAL

*LAWN RENOVATION *MOWING

*CLEANUP AND HAULING

*DIRT GRADING/INSTALLATION

*LANDSCAPE DESIGN *FREE ESTIMATES

HABLAMOS Y ESCRIBIMOS INGLES!!

CALL LUPE AT (816) 252-1391

Haus to home remodeling - Let’s give that room a nice face-lift! Specializing in affordable room remodeling. From small projects to bathrooms and basements. We have lots of other services, too: tile, paint, carpentry, wood rot, decks, drywall, etc. Free estimates. For photos of our projects and to find out more about our company, visit us at: Haustohomekc. com or call Cole at (913) 544-7352.

Tradesman - I do bathrooms, kitchens, basements, tile and all kinds of flooring, as well as painting, staining, sheetrock, knockdown ceilings, decks, fences and wood rot. We now offer financing! My family and I always appreciate the support. Please call or email Joshua to set up a free estimate at (913) 709-7230 or josh.fser@gmail.com.

Popcorn ceiling texture removal Call Jerry at (913) 206-1144. 30 years’ experience. Interior painting specialist. Member St. Joseph Parish, Shawnee.

Local handyman - Painting, int. and ext., wood rot, mason repair, gutter cleaning (gutter covers), dryer vent cleaning, sump pump (replace, add new), windows, doors (interior and exterior), honey-do list, window cleaning and more! Member of Holy Angels Parish, Basehor. Call Billy at (913) 927-4118.

WANTED TO BUY

Cash paid - for old tools, old jewelry, old furniture, military items, fishing lures, hunting items, old crocks, arrowheads and old signs. I buy all kinds of older things — house or barn contents, an estate or just one item. Call Patricia any time at (913) 515-2950. Parishioner at Holy Trinity Parish in Lenexa.

Wanted to buy

Do you have a car or truck that you need to get rid of? If you do, CALL ME!

I’m a cash buyer. We’re Holy Trinity parishioners. My name is Mark. (913) 980-4905.

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

MARCH 1, 2024 | THELEAVEN.ORG

LENTEN MORNING RETREAT

St. John the Baptist Parish

708 N. 4th St., Kansas City, Kansas March 7 from 8 a.m. - noon

The retreat will be given by Father Richard Gielow, CM. The event will begin with Mass. There will be light refreshments. The cost is a freewill donation. All are welcome. RSVP to St. John the Baptist Parish at (913) 371-0627.

LENTEN DEVOTIONS

Resurrection Cemetery

8300 Quivira Rd., Lenexa

Mt. Calvary Cemetery

801 S.W. Westchester Rd., Topeka

March 7, 14 and 21 at 5 p.m.

Catholic Cemeteries of Northeast Kansas invites everyone to join us in Lenten processions, Stations of the Cross, a rosary and prayers for the souls in purgatory, for an end to abortion and for the families of those who have experienced miscarriages. For more information, visit the website at: www.cathcemks.org or send an email to: information@cathcemks.org.

CITY ON A HILL: UNDIVIDED RETREAT

Prairie Star Ranch

1124 California Rd., Williamsburg

March 8 - 10

This weekend retreat is focused on a more integrated life in Christ. Whether you are looking for first steps or to go deeper, God wants to speak to you through this weekend out of the city, in the quiet. There will be speakers, small group discussions and time for prayer, confession and eucharistic adoration. This event is for young adults in their 20s and 30s. For more information, visit the website at: www. kansascityonahill.org/undivided-retreat and scroll down to register.

PROJECT RACHEL RETREAT

Lenexa (address given after registration.)

March 9 from 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Lent is a perfect time to make positive changes in your life to grow closer to God. Has a past abortion made you feel alienated from God? Are you having a hard time seeking forgiveness or forgiving yourself? Project Rachel is offering a Saturday retreat

>> Continued from page 12

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 - I buy coin collections, military items, pocket watches, jewelry, class rings, old toys, holiday items and more. Cash in hand. Call Kirk at (913) 2139843.

REAL ESTATE

We are local people who can buy your house - Big companies from all over the nation come here buying houses, but that’s not us. We are parishioners of Holy Trinity Parish and we enjoy giving you personalized service. We can offer you a fair price and are flexible to your needs. If I can help, call me, Mark Edmondson, at (913) 980-4905.

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

PILGRIMAGE

Pilgrimage - Join us for a pilgrimage to Medjugorje March 12 - 20, 2024; May 14 - 22, 2024; and June 16 - 28, 2024 (Poland and Medjugorje). Are you being called to go? Hosted by visionary Mirjana Soldo. Call Grace Legaspi for details at (913) 449-1806.

CAREGIVING

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

to address these issues and much more. Please join our “Unfailing Mercy” retreat in a judgment-free environment. Continental breakfast, lunch and materials will be provided. To register, email: projectrachelkc@ archkck.org or call/text (913) 621-2199. Deadline to register is March 4.

WOMEN’S LENTEN RETREAT

Cathedral of St. Peter

416 N. 14th St., Kansas City, Kansas

March 9 from 8 a.m. - noon

Join other women of faith as we journey together along the path of these 40 days of Lent. The retreat is open to all women of the archdiocese. Register online at: cathedral kck.org/2024-womens-lenten-retreat, or call (913) 371-0840. Questions? Send an email to: dfierro@cathedralkck.org. A $20 registration fee can be paid online. If registered, you may pay at the door.

BREAKFAST WITH THE KNIGHTS

Divine Mercy Parish

555 W. Main St., Gardner March 10 from 8:30 - 10 a.m.

Breakfast will include eggs, sausage and gravy, pancakes and drinks. Join us for great fellowship. The cost is: $6 for those over the age of 11; $3 for kids ages 3 - 11; and kids under the age of 3 eat for free. Proceeds are used for charitable works, such as scholarships and other giving throughout the year.

WINE & WISDOM: TAX REDUCING STRATEGIES FOR PRE- AND POSTRETIREES

St. Joseph Parish

11311 Johnson Dr., Shawnee

March 14 at 5:30 p.m.

This event will begin with a social and wine tasting, followed by a presentation by Bill Eckert who will speak on tax-reducing strategies. Register online at: www.cfnek. org/events/wine-and-wisdom-1.

ALL YOU CAN EAT PANCAKE

BREAKFAST

St. Patrick Parish

1086 N. 94th St., Kansas City, Kansas March 17 from 8 - 11 a.m.

There will be pancakes, sausage patty, scrambled eggs, and biscuits and gravy

CNA - Can provide home care for those needing assistance. Available Monday - Friday, days or nights. Serving Shawnee, Lenexa and Overland Park. Call Serena at (913) 526-0797.

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

Senior Care Authority - Navigating senior care options can be overwhelming. We will help you sort through and understand all your care and living options and point you to vetted resources. Placement assistance is FREE. We do a thorough assessment, do all the research and walk with you as you make these big decisions for you or your loved one. Call (913) 359-8580.

FOR SALE

First Communion dresses - For American Girl dolls or any 18” dolls. To include dress, veil, shoes, tights and cross necklace for $35. Please call (913) 3459488 or email: wwelch4@kc.rr.com. To see the dress, it is on display at Trinity House, 6731 W. 119th St., Overland Park, in their first Communion area.

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).

Classified Advertising

The Leaven reaches approximately 50,000 subscribers. Cost is $20 for the first five lines, $1.50 per line thereafter. To purchase a Leaven classified ad, email: beth. blankenship@theleaven.org

along with juice and coffee. The cost is a freewill offering. Breakfast is sponsored by the Knights of Columbus Bicentennial Council.

ROSARY RALLY

Church of the Holy Cross

8311 W. 93rd St., Overland Park March 17 from 3 - 4:15 p.m.

Please join us to honor Our Blessed Mother and Our Lady of Fatima. We will pray the joyful, sorrowful and glorious mysteries of the rosary followed by Benediction and the opportunity for attendees to enroll in the brown scapular. For driving instructions or future dates for the Kansas City monthly rosary rallies, visit the website at: www.rosaryrallieskc.org.

DINING TO DONATE CARONDELET

Jasper’s Restaurant

1201 W. 103rd St., Kansas City, Missouri March 20 from 11:30 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Jasper’s Restaurant will once again donate 20% of all lunch and dinner sales to benefit the good works of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. Enjoy a delicious meal at Jasper’s with your friends and family, and help the Sisters at the same time. Reservations are encouraged. Contact Jasper’s at (816) 941-6600 or online at: jasperskc.com. For more details, visit the website at: www.csjsl.org.

‘REFLECTIONS ON THE SEVEN LAST WORDS FROM THE CROSS’

St. Mary Parish

9208 Main St., St. Benedict March 24 at 7 p.m.

Join us for an evening of reflection in word and song. No greater homily has ever been given than the one Jesus delivered when he mounted the pulpit of the cross. He considered each of his seven last words to be worth what he suffered to give them to us. Join us to accompany the Lord in his final hours. What was Jesus saying to you?

HOLY WEEK SILENT RETREAT: ‘HAVE YOU NOT HEARD?’

Christ’s Peace House of Prayer 22131 Meagher Rd., Easton March 22 - 24

Have we actually deeply heard the good news of Jesus’ passion, death and

resurrection? Have you been transformed by God’s holy fire of selfless love? On this silent retreat over Palm Sunday weekend, we hope to enkindle within you the desire to accept this tremendous gift accessible to those with ears to hear. The readings from the Triduum liturgies will be the match to set us ablaze. There are conferences, spiritual direction, eucharistic adoration, Mass, confession, and time for private prayer, reflection and walking. Cabin/courtyard rooms: $170 singles/$250 couple, or single guest rooms: $100 (meals included). To attend, fill out the Individual Retreat Form online at: ChristsPeace.com or call (913) 773-8255.

ENCOUNTER SCHOOL OF HEALING

St. James Academy

24505 Prairie Star Pkwy., Lenexa

April 12 from 6:30 - 9:30 p.m.

April 13 from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Jesus never proclaimed the Gospel without demonstrating it in power and love. Jesus’ healing ministry is at the heart of his Gospel of power and he expects his disciples to minister his healing on the earth. The Encounter School of Healing will teach and equip you to partner with the power of the Holy Spirit to experience healing miracles in the world around you. Healing is Jesus’ idea and it is essential to the effective evangelization of our city and nation. Come experience the greater works Jesus has in store for you. Information and registration can be found online at: encounterschool.org/kansas-city.

CAMP TEKAKWITHA WOMEN’S RETREAT

Prairie Star Ranch

1124 California Rd., Williamsburg

April 26 - 28

This is a weekend for you! You will find speakers that inspire you, sacraments that draw you to the heart of Christ and fellowship with other women. This retreat offers large group and breakout sessions, individual reflection, Mass, eucharistic adoration, reconciliation, free time, friendship, laughter and joy. Here you will find the space to relax, rejuvenate and reconnect. Come enjoy the beauty of God’s creation and the gift of sharing life with other women seeking the heart of Jesus. Information and registration can be found online at: archkck. org/camp-tekakwitha.

DAILY READINGS

THIRD WEEK OF LENT

March 3

THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT

Ex 20: 1-17

Ps 19: 8-11

1 Cor 1: 22-25

Jn 2: 13-25

March 4

Casimir

2 Kgs 5: 1-15b

Pss 42: 2-3; 43: 3-4

Lk 4: 24-30

March 5

Tuesday Dn 3: 25, 34-43

Ps 25: 4bc-5ab, 6-7bc, 8-9

Mt 18: 21-35

March 6

Wednesday Dt 4: 1, 5-9

Ps 147: 12-13, 15-16, 19-20

Mt 5: 17-19

March 7

Perpetua and Felicity Jer 7: 23-28

Ps 95: 1-2, 6-9

Lk 11: 14-23

March 8

John of God, religious Hos 14: 2-10

Ps 81: 6c-11b, 14, 17

Mk 12: 28-34

March 9

Frances of Rome, religious Hos 6: 1-6

Ps 51: 3-4, 18-21b

Lk 18: 9-14

1701-1771

Marie Marguerite

Dufrost de Lajemmerais was born in Quebec province and married a scoundrel who illegally traded liquor for furs with the Indians. He died in 1730, leaving her in debt with two young sons (four other children had died). After securing their future by running a general store, she began to nurse poor women in her home. This led to her administering Montreal’s only hospital and founding the Sisters of Charity of Montreal. During the French and Indian Wars, her Grey Nuns nursed everyone, earning much respect. Canada’s first native saint, Marguerite was canonized in 1990; both her sons became priests. And, at her 1959 beatification, Pope John XXIII called her “the mother of universal charity.”

I hope this column will see you through Lent

The older I get, the more I realize how much I don’t know. For example, I had no idea that March was National Save Your Vision Month.

According to the website awarenessdays.com, March is “dedicated to promoting the significance of regular eye checkups, understanding the risks of digital eye strain and adopting habits that ensure optimal eye health.”

Among its practical suggestions are to limit screen time using the 20-20-20 rule (every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break and focus on something 20 feet away) and to use protective eyewear to mitigate potential hazards while playing sports, at work or doing chores at home.

In a sense, Lent acts as our Worldwide Save Your Spiritual Vision season. It’s our annual checkup to evaluate the state of our mind, soul and heart and to adopt again the habits of prayer, fasting and

Incredibly, we’re already entering the Third Week of Lent.

The ashes are a distant memory. We’ve gotten used to grilled cheese and Filet-o-Fish® sandwiches on Fridays and we’ve mustered the self-control to resist having that candy bar at 3 p.m.

Maybe we’ve settled into the rhythm of Lent and become used to it. But have we yet embraced what it’s really about?

FATHER MARK GOLDASICH

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

almsgiving that ensure spiritual growth and health.

We would do well to ponder this ritual of the Babemba tribe of South Africa:

Although antisocial or criminal behavior is infrequent within this tribe, it does occur.

When a member acts irresponsibly, he’s placed in the center of the village. Work stops and every man, woman and child gather around the accused,

MARK MY WORDS

forming a large circle. Then, one at a time, each individual — including the children — call out all the good things the person in the center has done in his lifetime.

All his positive attributes, good deeds, strengths and kind acts are recited carefully and at length. No one is permitted to lie, exaggerate or be facetious. This ceremony often lasts for several days and doesn’t stop until everyone is drained of every positive comment he or she can muster about the person in the circle’s center. Not a word of criticism of his behavior is permitted. At the end, the circle breaks

up, a festive celebration begins, and the person is welcomed back into the tribe.

Apparently, this overwhelming, positive influence strengthens the self-esteem of the accused and makes him resolve to live up to the expectations of the tribe. For that reason, this ritual is quite rare. (Adapted from Father Brian Cavanaugh’s “Sower’s Seeds of Encouragement: Fifth Planting.”)

Can you envision this happening in the world outside the Babemba tribe? Suppose a family decided to do this when one of the children misbehaved? What would happen in parishes if conflicting groups tried this? Or imagine members of Congress engaging in this ritual!

A great Lenten exercise might be to try this ritual first on ourselves. Obviously in this season, we look to our sinfulness and seek God’s forgiveness and grace through the sacrament of reconciliation to transform our lives.

Lent is about remembering our priorities

DEACON GREG KANDRA

of Egypt, that place of slavery. You shall not have other gods besides me.”

With that, suddenly, we are shocked back to reality. You want a summary of what Lent is all about? This is it.

It’s about remembering our priorities.

But do we ever consider the fact that God “delivered me, because he delighted in me” (Ps 18:19)? What would happen if we took time to sit down and write out our “positive attributes, good deeds, strengths and kind acts.” We could add an item or two to the list during these remaining days of Lent.

When we run out of ideas on our own, we might sit down with a close friend and ask him or her to do the Babemba ritual on us. I suspect that reflecting on these positive comments will inspire us to better live up to God’s expectations — namely, to be ever more like Jesus in our daily life. When Easter rolls around at the end of this month, may our spiritual vision be sharpened to see all that’s right and good with the people around us and in the world.

But first, I’d better start with something practical: scheduling an overdue appointment with my eye doctor, a parishioner that I “see” all the time in church!

Deacon Greg Kandra is an award-winning author and journalist, and creator of the blog “The Deacon’s Bench.” He serves in the Diocese of Brooklyn, New York.

If we needed a reminder, the reading from Exodus lands like an elbow to the ribs. The first command from God should make all of us sit up and take notice: “I, the Lord am your God, who brought you out of the land

This is a time of purification and penance, of prayer and fasting, of giving alms and giving of ourselves, of doing without and turning away from the distractions of life to rediscover what it means to love God and love our neighbor — all in anticipation of the greatest feast on our calendar, Easter.

And so this week,

just when a lot of us might need it, we hear once again God’s commandments — challenging us, humbling us, maybe even convicting us. The first commandment we hear should have all of us wondering: “Wait. ‘Other gods?’ I don’t have other gods in my life. Do I?”

Well, maybe. Think about it.

Maybe those other gods don’t speak from mountaintops. Maybe they’re closer than that. Maybe we’re hearing them in the next cubicle, in the elevator or in emails and texts that arrive after hours. Maybe we’re worshiping our careers, or

we’re enamored with status and influence. Maybe we’ve carved mythical statues in tribute to our own success, or we worry too much about the opinions of others.

The other gods that clutter our lives can even be closer than that — in the kitchen, in the bar, in the garage. What takes up our time and attention, and pulls us away from our walk toward holiness?

Lent is a good time to ask whether we need to turn away from those empty gods and turn toward the God who loves us, comforts us, uplifts us, redeems us.

Vices are ‘beasts’ of the soul that need taming, pope says at Angelus

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Vices, such as vanity and greed, are like “wild beasts” of the soul that risk tearing people apart, Pope Francis said.

Vices “must be tamed and fought, otherwise they will devour our freedom,” he said Feb. 18 before reciting the Angelus prayer with about 15,000 visitors in St. Peter’s Square. The period of Lent, he added, helps Christians create

moments of silence, prayer and reflection in order to correct those vices and perceive the promptings of the Holy Spirit. By entering into one’s inner world, he said, “we can encounter wild beasts and angels there.”

The “beasts” of the soul, he said, are “the disordered passions that divide the heart, trying to take possession of it. They entice us, they seem seductive, but if we are not careful, we risk being torn apart by them.”

However, the pope said, angels were also in the desert with Jesus.

“These are God’s messengers, who help us, who do us good: indeed, their characteristic, according to the Gospel, is service,” he said.

“While temptations tear us apart,” he added, “the good divine inspirations unify us and let us enter into harmony: They quench the heart, infuse the taste of Christ, ‘the flavor of heaven.’”

Equipping Catholics with practical ways to share the Gospel

Iam so inspired by the people of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas.

Mahomes, Kelce and Butker shattered records this year; the 2024 evangelization stats for the people of the archdiocese are equally impressive.

At a glance, 100 men hiked and prayed at the F.I.R.E. overnight retreat and the very next Saturday, 1,150 men turned a Lenten mirror on themselves at Men Under Construction.

Over 2,000 generous souls stood up against poverty and injustice at the Catholic Charities Snow Ball, and there was a full house at the inaugural

SEEKING CHRIST’S HEART

DEACON DANA NEARMYER

Cathedral Ball.

Kids from all over the archdiocese flooded into the Junior High Youth Rally at Prairie Star Ranch.

More than 1,300 campers are signed up to engage with Jesus in prayer and study in between riding horses, blasting down water slides and ziplining at Camp Tekakwitha this summer.

And the April Tekakwitha Women’s Retreat is loading up with registrations.

Catholics have obviously been sharing

the amazing fruits and abundant life that being Catholic provides, as evidenced by the 300 participants of our recent OCIA (formerly RCIA) retreats offered for those joining the church.

Our Spanish Advent retreat had 70 leaders attend and the Spanish Lenten retreat had over 125 disciples reflecting on the mission that Jesus Christ has for them. The recent Spanish vocations retreat for families had 175 souls considering the will of the Father.

These are only a few of the areas where God is stirring the hearts of his people in northeast Kansas. Our parish leaders are working tirelessly to provide

opportunities for each of us to more deeply experience the infinite love of Christ.

Archbishop Naumann has asked the office of evangelization to equip parishes to teach their members how to pass on the faith in beautiful, organic ways that aren’t intimidating.

The early years are especially important in shaping a worldview that recognizes God as active, caring and central. Evangelization is first and best done by parents.

Days of Equipping are being offered where attendees will learn practical approaches for sharing the Gospel. An English and a Spanish day are

being offered. Registration and info on evangelization can be found online at: www. archkck.org/revival.

The Spanishspeaking “ArchKCK Dia de Equipamiento” session will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. on March 7 at St. Pius X Parish in Mission.

The English-speaking “Day of Equipping” session will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on March 19 at the Father Quigley Center at Holy Trinity Parish in Lenexa.

The National Eucharistic Revival challenges us all to wrestle with the actual nearness of God. He tells us that he will not abandon us, and that he will be with us until the end of the age.

Villa volunteers invite others to this ‘beautiful ministry’

“The sick are the image of the suffering Christ and it is him that we serve.”

Visiting the archdiocesan shrine of St. Maria Soledad at the cathedral and reading this phrase, I was struck by how this quote perfectly encapsulates the mission of Catholic Community Health.

All those who come to us for home care at Villa St. Francis or for hospice are suffering in some way — big or small — and it is a blessing to serve them. I witness firsthand the heroic actions of our staff, Sisters, priest chaplain and deacons

HEALTHCARE, THE CATHOLIC WAY!

where our volunteers are instrumental.

Chatting with Larry Collett, a long-time Villa volunteer, I wanted to know what inspires him.

“I attended Mass with my aunt for four years at Villa St. Francis and formed a connection with the residents that inspired me to volunteer,” he said.

in helping us carry out Jesus’ healing mission to those in need, offering companionship, prayers and much more.

Barb Trum has been praying with those in their last days for years.

every day; but there are unsung heroes who we depend on to provide our care: our volunteers.

Joining Catholic Community Health, I

knew there were many volunteers, but witnessing their selfless care firsthand, my respect and admiration for them has grown exponentially each day. Our residents are assisted by volunteers in a variety of ways, and our daily Mass at Villa is among the facets of our ministry

“I really enjoy giving to the residents, but I found out that I received a lot!” he added. “I love seeing them smile and laugh, temporarily releasing them from the seriousness of their infirmity. I can’t wait to go back every day!”

Our home care and hospice volunteers are equally instrumental

“It’s a beautiful ministry,” she said. “I love being able to hold someone’s hand, speaking with them, but really just getting them home to heaven. Seeing the calm that comes over someone as we pray the Divine Mercy chaplet is beautiful and you can feel Jesus’ presence with them as they’re passing away.”

In the past year, hundreds of men and women have offered thousands of hours of

time to help us care for those in need. This great gift provides both a tremendous service to those in our care and a tremendous savings as we seek to care for all those in need regardless of their ability to pay.

If you’re looking for a way to give back this Lent, I invite you to join us as a volunteer at Catholic Community Health. We are proudly Kansas City’s only Catholic home care and hospice, and you can help us carry out Christ’s healing mission. We have many volunteer opportunities. Learn more and apply online at: Catholiccommunity health.org/volunteer.

Christ’s grace gives us courage to step into the wounded places

Tragedy has a way of revealing our true character. Whatever we want to tell ourselves — or others — that we believe becomes immediately relevant in moments of crisis.

On Ash Wednesday, each of us were called to a personal evaluation of our faith. We likely woke up that morning, with a plan for attending Mass to receive ashes and moving on about our day. Maybe we went so far as to consider where we would find ourselves and how our display of ashes might be received as a witness of our Catholic faith in

ALONG THE WAY

Harrison Butker’s prominent dark ash cross on his forehead during his interview.

those places.

If you were monitoring news coverage of the Chiefs parade, you likely felt a sense of pride in seeing

We could not have known what was to come — a day of jubilee ending in a tragic loss of life. We would never have imagined that a celebration of our Chiefs, in our city,

would become a day of mourning.

In the immediate moments of the shooting, we searched for information. We may have hoped that answers would provide some understanding. Eventually, we’ve come to realize that no amount of information can make sense of the events of Feb. 14, 2024. Regardless of what we now know — or will know in the future — we can never fully understand the loss of innocent human life.

In seeking answers that cannot be found, we are called to lean into our faith. Living through the tragedies of life, we cannot know

God’s timing or intention. To be Christian is to live in the tension of belief in a God of the universe while existing in a sinful world.

Our response to this dichotomy is the truest test of our faith. As those around us ask questions, we also wonder — do I really trust in God’s love?

Do we witness the power of God’s goodness in the midst of tragedy? Do we actually live the confident belief that we profess in the almighty Maker of all that is seen and unseen?

This senseless act of violence has wounded each one of us, bringing all of Kansas City to a more profound realization of our vulnerability. In this

vulnerability, there is also openness — an opportunity to listen and share with others the real fear that rises in our hearts.

In this uncertainty, as questions may surface about God’s power or presence, we are called to be God’s presence to others.

We are invited to bring Christ through our kindness, care, service and prayers. His grace gives us the courage to step into these wounded places with compassion, sharing the tremendous power of his mercy and love.

Mother Mary, our Lady of Sorrows, pray for us.

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

BRAD HEIDRICK

Brad Heidrick is the CEO of Catholic Community Health.

EMILY LOPEZ

Emily Lopez is the lead consultant for adult evangelization.

Kids’ Kids’

CHRONICLE CHRONICLE

The people of Judah turn away from God

By Jennifer Ficcaglia Catholic Courier

After the death of King Solomon of Israel, the kingdom was divided in two. The southern kingdom of Israel, which included the city of Jerusalem, became known as Judah.

Over the many years that followed, there were some good kings of Judah who kept God’s covenant and statutes, but there were even more kings who were evil and rejected God. If the king of Judah followed God, so did the people. And if the king of Judah rejected God, the people did as well.

READ MORE ABOUT IT: 2 Chr 36

One of the kings of Judah was a young man named Zedekiah, who reigned for 11 years. He did what was evil in the sight of God, and he did not humble himself before God’s prophet Jeremiah.

The king became very stubborn and hardened his heart against God rather than return to him.

All the princes of Judah, the priests and the people turned away from God as well. They began to practice all the abominations of the neighboring pagan nations, and they defiled the Temple that had been consecrated in Jerusalem.

God was compassionate toward his people and wanted them to return to him. God would send his messengers to talk to the people and urge them to turn from their evil ways.

But the people of Judah mocked God’s messengers, scoffed at his prophets and despised his words.

Finally, God had enough and became angry.

He allowed the pagan Chaldeans to attack Judah. The king of the Chaldeans led his army into Jerusalem, where young men were killed. The Chaldeans did not have compassion for anyone, not even women, the elderly or the infirm.

The invaders looted all of the treasures in the Temple. They tore down the walls of Jerusalem, burned down the Temple and the palaces, and destroyed precious objects.

The people who survived the attack were brought as captives to Babylon, where they became servants to the king and his sons until the Persian kingdom came to power.

All this was to fulfill the word of God spoken by Jeremiah: “Until the land has retrieved its lost Sabbaths, during all the time it lies waste it shall have rest while 70 years are fulfilled.”

Q&A

1. What was the name of Israel’s southern kingdom?

2. Who attacked the southern kingdom?

Bible accent

Why was Israel divided into two kingdoms?

In 1 Kgs 11, we read that King Solomon, David’s son, had many pagan wives who turned his heart away from God.

This made God angry. Since Solomon did not keep God’s covenant and statutes, God told him that the kingdom of Israel would be torn away from him and given to his servant.

But, God said, for the sake of David, who followed God with his whole heart, this would not happen to Solomon but rather to his successor.

And, for David’s sake and that of Jerusalem, God said he would not tear away the entire kingdom from Solomon’s heir. The kings of David’s line would keep one tribe of Israel, while the other 10 would be given to Solomon’s servant.

Also in 1 Kgs 11, we read that the prophet Ahijah told a man named Jeroboam — a servant of Solomon’s — that he would be given 10 of the 12 tribes of Israel and become their king.

When Solomon died, his son Rehoboam became king. Rehoboam was harsh and didn’t listen to the people, so they rebelled against him.

Then God’s words through Ahijah came true. Ten of the tribes of Israel rejected Rehoboam and made Jeroboam their king. Rehoboam continued to rule his own tribe, Judah, plus the tribe of Benjamin.

WORD SEARCH

St. Margaret Clitherow

St. Margaret Clitherow was born in England in 1556. She married a Protestant man whose brother became a Catholic priest. At the time, the Protestant faith was England’s official religion, and it was illegal to practice Catholicism. Even so, Margaret also became a Catholic. She set up Mass centers in her home and at a local inn.

She was arrested several times for not attending Protestant services. When it was learned that she was secretly practicing Catholicism, she was sentenced to death for treason. She was martyred for her faith in 1586, and we remember her on March 25.