06-03-11 Vol. 32 No. 40 by The Leaven

www.theleaven.com | Newspaper of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas | Vol. 32, No. 40 june 3, 2011

Good things come in threes Archdiocese ordains trio to the priesthood

The priests of the archdiocese applaud the newly ordained Father Nick Blaha (left), Father Mike Peterson and Father Barry Clayton following their ordination to the priesthood on May 28 at Holy Trinity Church in Lenexa.

here could hardly have been son spent two summers at Holy Trinity for a better place for a trio of men his pastoral internships as a seminarian, to be ordained to the priest- said the archbishop. hood, on May 28, than Holy Archbishop Naumann noted that the Trinity Parish in Lenexa. selection and ordination of men to the Archbishop Jopriesthood was one of the most Story by seph F. Naumann ordained Deaimportant responsibilities of a oe ollig con John Nicholas Blaha, Deabishop. con Barry Robert Clayton, and “Priestly ordination is not Deacon Michael Joseph Petersomething that you just apply Photos by son priests through the ancient for or decide on your own that you are going to do,” said the and apostolic tradition of the usan archbishop. “You can eliminate laying on of hands. c padden yourself from qualifying as a Not only was this “trinity” of men ordained at a parish dedicandidate for priestly ordination cated to the Holy Trinity, each candidate by doing poorly academically, or failing had a personal connection to the parish, other aspects of seminary formation.” said Archbishop Naumann in his homily. “However, the converse is not true,” Father Blaha was baptized at the par- he continued. “No matter how high your ish, Father Clayton’s parents were married Turn to “TRINITY” on page 8 at the old stone church, and Father Peter-

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Deacons Barry Clayton (left), Mike Peterson and Nick Blaha stand before Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann as they prepare to be ordained to the priesthood for the archdiocese.

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2 Local news

THE LEAVEN • June 3, 2011

THE LEAVEN • june 3, 2011

A thousand prayers of love

Archbishop Naumann’s weekly calendar

June 3 Vespers, Mass and dinner with the Apostles of the Interior Life Sisters

By Byron Vogel

Special to The Leaven ROELAND PARK — The ancient Japanese tradition is called “senzaburu.” It is the act of folding 1,000 paper origami cranes in order that a wish may be granted, such as recovery from a long illness. But there is another interpretation of senzaburu — that of a family or group of people coming together to accomplish a labor of love. And in the case of some The thousand Bishop Miege cranes have High School stubecome a symbol dents, it is both. for cancer, among The idea of other causes, undertaking through the story a senzaburu of Sadako Sasaki, a came to Miege Japanese girl who student Brian died of leukemia in 1955. Her illness Owara, who was the result of was concerned radiation exposure about the mothshe received from er of a classthe Hiroshima mate. bombing in 1945. She was Terri Statues of Sadako Mika, mother of stand at various Miege students memorial sites Emily and Robaround the world. ert Mika. Terri Visitors often was facing the adorn the statues final days of a with 1,000 paper difficult battle cranes. with breast cancer. “Looking at it from a Catholic standpoint, instead of the thousand cranes of hope and granting wishes, I wanted it to represent 1,000 prayers,” said Owara. On May 4, he began to fold all 1,000 cranes on his own. By the end of the day, he had completed just 50. “I don’t know what came over me,” he admitted. By the end of the next day, Owara recruited 10 more classmates for the project, and they completed 200 folded paper cranes. Word of their effort quickly spread throughout the school, and on May 6 nearly half of Miege’s 750 students joined the cause, resulting in a collection of about 1,200 cranes. On a Saturday morning, the students gathered at Owara’s home in Kansas City, Mo., to string the cranes — many of them adorned with personal messages to the Mika family — into a sixfoot-tall mobile. The mobile was then taken to Terri Mika’s hospital room at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, Kan.

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June 4 Mass, pro-life boot camp — St. Thomas Aquinas High School, Overland Park June 5 2 p.m. Mass for 50th wedding anniversaries — Cathedral of St. Peter, Kansas City, Kan. June 6-9 Priests’ retreat — Benedictine College, Atchison June 8 Jubilee Mass at priests’ retreat June 11 Wedding — Church of the Nativity, Leawood June 12 Pentecost, confirmation for adults — Curé of Ars, Leawood June 14 U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Pro-Life Committee meeting — Seattle June 15-17 USCCB Spring Assembly — Seattle

Archbishop Keleher’s weekly calendar June 4 Wedding June 6 Mass and dinner at Jr. High Camp — Prairie Star Ranch, Williamsburg June 7-8 Ethical Review Board — New York

Brian Owara displays the more than 1,200 cranes that he and classmates from Bishop Miege High School in Roeland Park folded for Terri Mika, the mother of Miege students Emily and Robert Mika, who was fighting breast cancer. She died on May 9. Mika died on May 9 at the age of 45. Today, that mobile hangs just outside the door to Miege’s campus ministry office, well in view of anyone who enters through the front doors of the school. However, it will soon return to the KU Med, where it will be on display at the hospital’s cancer center. Miege director of campus minis-

try Mary Perrini praised what she described as a total grass-roots effort by the students. “Brian came up with this idea, and the kids asked what they could do. Then it spread around the school in a day or two,” she said. “That [support] is one of my favorite things about this school.”

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June 12 Pentecost, confirmation for adults — Curé of Ars, Leawood June 14 Vespers and dinner with the Apostles of the Interior Life to be ordained

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Priest appointments announced

ather John A. Riley, chancellor, announces the following appointments and assignments made by Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann, unless otherwise noted, effective July 15.

Most Pure Heart of Mary Parish, Topeka, and chaplain of Hayden High School, Topeka. Father Barry Clayton, newly ordained, to serve as parochial vicar of Holy Trinity Parish, Lenexa.

Father Blaha

Father Carasala

Father Clayton

Father Conroy

Pastors Father Arul Carasala, from pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Onaga, St. Patrick Parish in Corning, St. Bede Parish in Kelly and St. Columbkille Parish in Blaine to pastor of Sts. Peter and Paul Parish, Seneca.

Father Dolezal

Father Francis

Father Gomes

Father Gonzalez-Lopez

Father Robert Conroy, MC, from pastor, Holy Cross Parish in Overland Park, to return to his religious community, the Missionaries of Charity. Father Gregory Hammes, from parochial vicar (associate pastor) of Curé of Ars Parish in Leawood and chaplain of Bishop Miege High School in Roeland Park, to pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Sabetha, St. Augustine Parish in Fidelity, St. James Parish in Wetmore, and (effective immediately) to assume the duties of the associate director of the office of the permanent diaconate.

Father Hammes

Father Jaramillo

Father Koller

Father Mandagiri

Parochial administrators Father Mathew Francis, from parochial vicar of Curé of Ars Parish in Leawood, to parochial administrator of St. Joseph-St. Lawrence Parish, Easton.

Father Shawn Tunink, from parochial vicar of Most Pure Heart of Mary Parish in Topeka and chaplain of Hayden High School, to parochial vicar of Curé of Ars Parish, Leawood, and chaplain of Bishop Miege High School, Roeland Park.

Sabbaticals Father McDonald

Father Miriyala

Father Pennings

Father Petersen

Father Michael Stubbs, from senior parochial vicar of Holy Trinity Parish in Lenexa and returning from priestly sabbatical, to pastor of Holy Cross Parish, Overland Park. Father Patrick Sullivan, from parochial administrator of Annunciation Parish in Frankfort, St. Monica-St. Elizabeth Parish in Blue Rapids, and St. Joseph Parish in Lillis, to pastor of Annunciation Parish, Frankfort; St. Monica-St. Elizabeth Parish, Blue Rapids; and St. Columbkille Parish, Blaine.

Father Ciro Hernando GonzalezLopez, from parochial vicar of All Saints Parish in Kansas City, Kan., to parochial vicar of Our Lady of Unity Parish, Kansas City, Kan. Father Michael Peterson, newly ordained, to serve as parochial vicar of St. Michael the Archangel Parish, Leawood.

Father Michael Koller, from pastor of Sts. Peter and Paul Parish in Seneca, to pastor of Holy Trinity Parish, Lenexa. Father Richard McDonald, from pastor of St. Joseph-St. Lawrence Parish in Easton, to pastor of Holy Angels Parish, Basehor.

Father Benedict Gomes, from chaplain of sacramental ministry to Johnson County hospitals and assisted living residences, with residence at Church of the Nativity Parish in Leawood, to parochial vicar of Curé of Ars Parish in Leawood, and to continue temporarily to provide sacramental ministry to St. John the Baptist Parish, Kansas City, Kan.

Father John Reynolds, from pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Nortonville, Immaculate Conception Parish in Valley Falls, and Corpus Christi Parish in Mooney Creek, to a six-month priestly sabbatical. Upon returning from sabbatical, he is appointed pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Parish, Onaga; St. Patrick Parish, Corning; and St. Bede Parish, Kelly, effective Jan. 15, 2012.

Retirements Father Reynolds

Father Rockers

Father Stubbs

Father Sullivan

Father Tunink

Father Jojaiah Mandagiri, MSFS, from parochial vicar of St. Patrick Parish in Kansas City, Kan., to parochial administrator of St. Joseph Parish, Nortonville; Immaculate Conception Parish, Valley Falls; and Corpus Christi Parish, Mooney Creek.

Father Peter Jaramillo, to continue to serve as pastor of St. Mary-St. Anthony Parish and Holy Family Parish in Kansas City, Kan., and to serve as parochial administrator of St. John the Baptist Parish, Kansas City, Kan.

Father Balachandra Miriyala, from pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Sabetha, St. Augustine Parish in Fidelity, and St. James Parish in Wetmore, to parochial administrator of St. Vincent de Paul Parish, Onaga; St. Patrick Parish, Corning; and St. Bede Parish, Kelly.

Parochial vicars and chaplains

Publication No. (ISSN0194-9799)

Editor Reverend Mark Goldasich, stl frmark@theleaven.com

Senior Reporter Joe Bollig joe@theleaven.com

President Most Reverend Joseph F. Naumann

Managing Editor Anita McSorley anita@theleaven.com

Production Manager Todd Habiger todd@theleaven.com

Father Nicholas Blaha, newly ordained, to serve as parochial vicar of

Advertising Representative Jennifer Siebes jennifer@theleaven.com

Father Thomas Dolezal, retiring as pastor of Holy Trinity Parish, Lenexa, to temporary medical leave. Father Alfred Rockers, retiring as pastor of Holy Angels Parish, Basehor.

Residences Father Gary Pennings, vicar general and moderator of the curia, from priestin-residence at St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Leawood, to priest-inresidence at St. Patrick Parish, Kansas City, Kan., and, effective immediately, to assume the duties of the director of the office of the permanent diaconate.

Published weekly September through May, excepting the Friday the week after Thanksgiving, and the Friday after Christmas; biweekly June through August. Address communications to: The Leaven, 12615 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City, KS 66109. Phone: (913) 721-1570; fax: (913) 721-5276; or e-mail at: sub@theleaven.com.Postmaster: Send address changes to The Leaven, 12615 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City, KS 66109. For change of address, provide old and new address and parish. Subscriptions $18/year. Periodicals postage paid at Kansas City, KS 66109.

4 LOCAL NEWS

THE LEAVEN • June 3, 2011

Journey to Serve

Kansas to Kenya: a different kind of ‘retirement’

Refugee of the Salvadoran civil war ordained a transitional deacon By Jill Ragar Esfeld Special to The Leaven

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — “Today is a day of great joy for the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas,” announced Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann on May 21 at the Cathedral of St. Peter here. The cause for that joy was the ordination to the transitional deaconate of Oswaldo Sandoval, a refugee of the Salvadoran civil war. Sandoval is the older of twin boys born to Mario and Dora Sandoval 33 years ago in El Salvador. “Dora and Mario, because of their faith, gave to their sons the gift of life in Jesus, abundant and eternal life,” said the archbishop. Indeed, that faith is what sustained Sandoval, his twin and three other brothers when they left their home as refugees of the civil war. Sandoval’s journey took him from El Salvador to Guatemala and then to Los Angeles and Arkansas. In 2001, he finally landed in St. Catherine Parish in Emporia, where he began thinking seriously about becoming a priest. “I met Father Brian Schieber, at the time the vocation director,” he recalled. “And he arranged a meeting with the archbishop at the time, Archbishop Keleher. “And so I began my application process.” Sandoval was sent first to Conception Seminary College in Conception, Mo. “I was there for a year learning the language, and I did my four years of philosophy in college there,” he said. Sandoval then went to KenrickGlennon Seminary in St. Louis, where he has just completed his third year in theology. He admitted it wasn’t easy to learn a new culture and language as he did his seminary studies. But there was much support and help along the way. “With the help of my spiritual directors, I became sure of what I wanted to do,” he said. “I’m really happy to be ordained as a transitional deacon.” In his homily, Archbishop Naumann gratefully acknowledged Father Samuel Russell, the rector of Conception College Seminary, and Msgr. Ed Griesedieck, a member of the formation staff of Kenrick. “The seminary faculties and staff of Kenrick and Conception have helped Oswaldo deepen his prayer and spiritual life,” said the archbishop. Sandoval said his twin brother got married at the same time he was entering the seminary. Though they chose different vocational paths, the brothers were happy for each other. And their parents were pleased, too. “My parents always have been supporting me,” said Sandoval. “They are

Leaven photo by Susan McSpadden

Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann performs the laying on of hands on Oswaldo Sandoval who was ordained to the transitional deaconate May 21 at the Cathedral of St. Peter in Kansas City, Kan.

Leaven photo by Susan McSpadden

Priests from the archdiocese applaud Deacon Sandoval outside the cathedral as he moves one step closer to ordination to the priesthood. very happy for me to become an ordained priest next year.” In his homily, the archbishop explained that it is no surprise children who witness a happy, holy marriage choose a religious vocation. “Seeing the example of Christian

parents — who place God first in their own lives, pray together as a couple and love the Eucharist — naturally inspires children to desire to be close to God and to seek the Lord’s will above everything else,” he said. Sandoval’s parents also instilled in

LOCAL NEWS 5

him a deep devotion to the Blessed Mother. “That’s something that was given to me by my family,” he said. “And I don’t see myself being where I am now without Mary.” Many members of Sandoval’s family were able to be at his ordination, including his parents, three brothers and their families, and many cousins, aunts and uncles. They listened attentively as the archbishop explained the diaconate as the foundation for the ordained ministry, saying, “to be a shepherd after the heart of Jesus is to be a servant to others.” “As the name ‘transitional’ implies,” he said, “Oswaldo is being ordained a deacon in preparation to serve the Church as a priest. “In another year, God willing, we will return to celebrate Oswaldo’s priestly ordination.” Sandoval takes very seriously his commitment to a life of prayer and service to the Catholic Church. He is ready and willing to spread the Gospel wherever there is a need. And he believes it is a true gift from God that he can do so in both English and Spanish. “I’m open to any ministry they want me to do,” he said. “In these years of formation in St. Louis, I have worked with the Hispanic community there and in the English-speaking community. And, to me, we are one body.” In his homily the archbishop said, “Perhaps, the most beautiful words in any of the ordination rites of the church are the ones that I will speak to Oswaldo when I present him with the Book of the Gospels: “Receive the Gospel of Christ, whose herald you have become. Believe what you read, teach what you believe, and practice what you teach.” During the promise of the elect, Sandoval stood and pledged to fulfill the duties of the diaconate. Then, he prostrated himself on the floor during the Litany of the Saints. After that, he approached the archbishop to receive the laying on of hands and to receive the Book of the Gospels. “My hope for the future is just to be a good priest and be obedient to what the church teaches,” he reflected. “I always pray that we do what Christ wants us to do.” “And that’s my hope,” he added. “That we keep bringing Christ to those who don’t know him, and serve the people and help those in need.” Archbishop Naumann thanked the new deacon’s parents for planting “the seeds of faith so firmly in their son’s heart.” And he thanked Deacon Sandoval for his willingness to answer the Lord’s call to serve his people. “We pray for you, Oswaldo,” he said. “That God, who has begun this good work in you, brings it to fulfillment.”

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can go shopping anytime you wanted to, you could go to a movie, you could go to Kansas City, you could go to concerts. Those things just aren’t available [in Kitale], so you spend more quiet time together as a couple,” said Cindy. The Korbs have two daughters: Andrea Korb, who lives in New York, and Katrina Korb, who lives in Nigeria. Although they sometimes feel bad for being so spread out, the Korbs try to speak with both daughters on a regular basis. “We’re farther away in distance, but thank heavens for the Internet, Skyping, and e-mail,” said Cindy. “Thanks to modern technology, we’re able to stay in really close contact still.” Andrea sees her parents as role models. “Just seeing the work that they’re doing really inspires me to live my life in a good way,” she said, “and to help the people in my community.”

By Caitlin Thornbrugh Special to The Leaven

TONGANOXIE — For most people, retirement is a time to kick back, relax, and putter their way into the “golden years.” Not John and Cindy Korb of Sacred Heart Parish in Tonganoxie. For them, “retirement” is an opportunity to take on a lifestyle change that would challenge anyone at any age. After 32 years of teaching in Tonganoxie, John and Cindy were looking forward to retirement in August 2009. But instead of a traditional retirement plan and “puttering,” they signed a three-and-a-half year contract, sold all their possessions, and travelled more than 8,000 miles to Kitale, Kenya, East Africa, to be Maryknoll Lay Missioners.

Getting Started The Korbs began searching for Catholic mission options online and, on a summer day in 2008, Cindy discovered the deadline for a Maryknoll Lay Ministers discernment weekend was that day. John was mowing the lawn, and Cindy went out to ask, “How serious are we about this?” They registered that day. After being accepted, they began getting rid of most of their possessions, selling their house, and preparing for an early retirement from teaching. “We sold the house that we’d raised our family in. It was difficult, but we knew this was something we wanted to pursue,” said Cindy. They originally thought they would be stationed in East Timor in Southeast Asia but, several weeks into orientation, found out this location was being closed due to economic reasons. From their remaining options, the Korbs chose Kenya. As John said, they are continually learning to be flexible and “go with the flow.”

Back to School At an all-boys school called St. Anthony’s, John teaches math and geography to classes of around 90 students. Cindy teaches English at an all-girls school, St. Monica’s, to classes of around 50 students. The Kenyan school year runs 11 months. However, beyond teaching, they also are involved in after-school activities. Cindy runs a literature club; John is teaching a catechumenate class. “I think we have been really careful not to be the ‘know-it-all Americans,’ who come in and tell people how to do things. We’re trying to show by example good teaching practices,” said Cindy. After over 30 years of teaching in the United States, one of the biggest differences they have noticed is the lack of interaction between teachers and students. “Here in the States, we are constantly

Cindy Korb joins the girls at St. Monica’s School in Kitale, Kenya — where she teaches English — for an outdoor activity.

John Korb teaches a math class at St. Anthony’s School in Kitale, Kenya. After 32 years of teaching, John and his wife Cindy “retired” to serve as missionaries in Kenya. checking for understanding. . . . There doesn’t seem to be a whole lot of that there. We call on students. You could tell at first they just weren’t used to that,” said Cindy. Along with different practices, John and Cindy are the only non-Kenyan, white teachers. The Korbs have found, however, that race is not a large issue. “You don’t think of skin color. Yeah, we’re a minority, but that doesn’t even enter in my mind. And I don’t think [it enters] the [minds of the] kids anymore,” said John. The Korbs have become a part of their school communities: They have been to a wake service, a baby shower, and have been invited to a wedding. With all the differences, they found similarities as well. “Kids are the same around the world,” said John.

When talking to his students about stressors, they had similar responses to American schoolchildren: getting up early, what they’re having for lunch, and homework.

Marriage and Family As they are adapting their teaching style, a change in location has also changed their marriage. The Korbs will celebrate their 35th wedding anniversary in June. “The culture is just so different, and there are some things we don’t understand yet, so we rely on each other more,” said John. This change has been a positive one. “Our marriage has changed, because our lifestyle has changed so drastically. [When] we lived in Tonganoxie, you

Growing in Faith In having more time to spend with each other, they also have more time to spend with God. “Because life is slower, we have more time for Scripture reading, for prayer, for meditation,” said Cindy. They have been learning about their own faith from the people around them. “Kenyans’ faith seems so much stronger than ours in a way. They see everything as a gift of God: waking up in the morning, the day, rain, a paycheck,” she said. Although they celebrated, in some ways, a nontraditional Christmas — using a cypress tree branch for a Christmas tree — they also found that it enriched their faith by being focused on the religious aspect of the holiday. “We in the American culture are so busy and so consumer-oriented. It was so nice to be there at Christmastime. There wasn’t the push to buy-buy-buy, want-want-want,” said Cindy.

A World Apart The Korbs have been inspired by their students and the Kenyan culture. Now, they hope to inspire other Americans to volunteer and reach out to their own communities. While visiting the United States, they gave nine presentations to schools and churches. “Even volunteering at a food kitchen or a thrift shop, getting out of your comfort zone and trying to experience the world through somebody else’s eyes is so enriching,” said Cindy. Right now, the Korbs plan to continue their work and then sign on for another three-year contract in 2013. “The more you can see of the world, the more you learn, the more it increases your faith,” said Cindy.

6 LOCAL NEWS

THE LEAVEN • june 3, 2011

Missouri priest pleads not guilty to felony charges By Joe Bollig Leaven staff

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — The Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph continues to deal with the fallout from the arrest of a priest charged with possession of child pornography. Father Shawn F. Ratigan, 45, a priest of the diocese, was arrested on May 18 at the Sisters of St. Francis of the Holy Eucharist in Independence, Mo. He lived at the adjoining Vincentian Mission House, under the restriction that he would have no contact with minors, since January. Father Ratigan moved there after recovering from a suicide attempt made on Dec. 17, 2010. The day after his arrest, Father Ratigan was charged in the Circuit Court of Clay County, Mo., with three counts of the Class C felony of possession of child pornography. On May 23, he pled not guilty in the circuit court. He remains on $200,000 bond and his next court appearance will be June 16. On May 19, the diocese issued a statement expressing sorrow at Father Ratigan’s charges and expressed concern for the safety and welfare of the unidentified children in Father Ratigan’s images, and for their families. On May 20, Bishop Robert W. Finn

The celebration begins with Mass at Holy Trinity Church. Exposition will begin at the conclusion of Mass.

The sacrament of reconciliation will be available during the hour of exposition.

The procession will travel from the church at Summit and 92nd streets, west to Park St., north to W. 90th Place, and south on Pflumm.

All first communicants of the archdiocese are invited to serve as escorts for the Blessed Sacrament. Parents should bring children, dressed in first Communion clothes, at 1:30 p.m. to the church.

“In times of difficulty we rely on prayer and God’s grace to fortify our human efforts. I pray that the strong anger, shame, disappointment and fear that so many are feeling will be helped by our trust in him.”

”

Bishop Robert Finn

outlined details of some facts of the case and expressed deep regret that the diocese didn’t contact police earlier for a full investigation. “As people of faith, in times of difficulty we rely on prayer and God’s grace to fortify our human efforts,” wrote Bishop Finn. “I pray that the strong anger, shame, disappointment and fear that so many are feeling will be helped by our trust in him.” Father Ratigan came under scrutiny by diocesan officials after several images of young girls were found on his laptop computer by technicians, after the device had been taken in for servicing in December 2010.

One day after they were made aware of the discovery, diocesan officials contacted a Kansas City, Mo., police officer and described one of the images. The officer told the officials that the image did not constitute child pornography. After diocesan officials learned that Father Ratigan was violating the restrictions placed upon him, they informed Kansas City, Mo., police on May 13 about the images discovered in December 2010. The police began an investigation and, after executing a search warrant, found images on a computer Father Ratigan used at a parish where he had been formerly assigned. The diocese had been unaware of these images until discovered by the police. Father Ratigan was associate pastor of St. Thomas More Parish in Kansas City, Mo., from 2004 to 2005; parochial administrator of St. Mary Parish and St. Joseph Parish in Easton, Mo., from 2005 to 2009; and pastor at St. Patrick Parish in Kansas City, Mo., from 2009 to 2010. On May 19, 2010, the principal of St. Patrick School in Kansas City, Mo., sent a letter to diocesan officials outlining her concerns about Father Ratigan’s inappropriate behavior with children. The letter became public on May 27.

LOCAL NEWS 7 Scouts earn Eagle rank OVERLAND PARK — Johnathon Bliss, Jackson Keller, Mac Dahl, Steven Spickler, and Nicholas Reiter, members of Troop 218 sponsored by Church of the Ascension here, have earned the rank of Eagle Scout. The boys were honored last fall at Mac Dahl an Eagle Court of Honor, held at the KU Edwards Campus auditorium. For their Eagle projects, Bliss managed a team of boys that created signage for the Catholic Charities TurnStyles store Jackson Keller in Overland Park; Keller developed the “Purple Kart” as a receptacle for toys donated to youth at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Mo.; Spickler managed a collection drive for the Nicholas Reiter City Union Mission in Kansas City, Mo.; Dahl developed and organized a butterfly garden for education at Cottonwood Point Elementary in Overland Park; and Reiter constructed benches for Sheffield Place homeless shelter in Kansas City, Mo.

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‘Trinity’ of men ordained to the archdiocesan priesthood Continued from page 1 grade point average or how well you do with the spiritual, human and even pastoral aspects of formation, no one has the right to priestly ordination.” Rather, he explained, it is the church and the local bishop who call men to be ordained to priestly ministry. “It is indeed one of the most important responsibilities of the bishop,” he said. “If the church chooses wisely her priests, then the church thrives. It is my opinion that amongst all my responsibilities as archbishop, the most important is in the selection, formation, and ordination of priests for the archdiocese.” The archbishop thanked all those who had fostered the vocations of the three men, especially their parents, some of whom are deceased. “We’re grateful to all our parents for planting the seed of faith in the hearts of their sons, helping to nurture their friendship with Jesus, as well as modeling for them a life of virtue,” said Archbishop Naumann. He recognized the representatives of the seminaries the three ordinandi attended, as well as president Michael McClean of St. Thomas Aquinas College in Santa Paula, Calif., where Father Blaha studied. Archbishop Naumann also expressed his appreciation and gratitude to Msgr. Michael Mullen, pastor of St. Patrick Parish in Kansas City, Kan., and Father Mitchel Zimmerman, archdiocesan vocations director, who serve as co-directors of seminarians for the archdiocese. The archbishop also thanked Holy Trinity pastor Father Tom Dolezal and parishioners for hosting the liturgy and the luncheon that followed.

Humility

The three deacons lay prostrate in front of the altar during the Litany of the Saints.

Presenting

Archbishop Naumann presents a chalice and paten to Father Michael Peterson with an admonition to be faithful in his priestly ministry.

Father Clayton, 29, attended Conception Seminary in Conception, Mo., and then KenrickGlennon Seminary in St. Louis. His parents are Mark Clayton and Christine Riscoe. Father Peterson, 58, attended Blessed John XXIII National Seminary near Boston. His parents are Clayton and the late Irene Peterson. Father Blaha, 31, attended St. Mary of the Lake Seminary at Mundelein College, near Chicago. His parents are John and Barbara Blaha. The three men were ordained to the transitional diaconate on May 22, 2010, at Holy Spirit Parish in Overland Park. Archbishop Naumann was the ordaining bishop and principal celebrant. Archbishop Emeritus James P. Keleher and approximately 56 priests concelebrated. Approximately 13 deacons and 26 seminarians were also present. Also in attendance were Father Emery de Gaal from Mundelein Seminary, Father William Parlardy from Blessed John XXIII Seminary, Father Paul Rothschild from KenrickGlennon Seminary, and Father Adam Ryan from Conception Seminary. Father Clayton was vested by Father Brian Schieber and Father William Bruning; Father Peterson was vested by Father Dolezal; Father Blaha was vested by Father Thomas Holloway. After they were vested the newly ordained priests joined Archbishop Naumann, Archbishop Keleher, and other members of the presbyterate at the altar as concelebrants. An honor guard was provided by Knights of Columbus fourth-degree assemblies No. 2260 St. Philippine Duchesne of Olathe and No. 0292 Bishop John Ward of Shawnee.

BLOOD OF CHRIST

Father Barry Clayton offers the blood of Christ to a communicant for the first time as a priest.

We three

Deacons Nick Blaha (left), Michael Peterson and Barry Clayton present themselves before Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann and profess their willingness to become priests.

Blessing

Archbishop Naumann confers the priesthood on Father Nick Blaha.

Vested

Father Thomas Dolezal vests Father Michael Peterson at his ordination on May 28 at Holy Trinity, Lenexa.

First blessing

Father Barry Clayton offers his first blessing to Archbishop Naumann.

Laying ON of hands

Fathers Dennis Wait (left), Thomas Kearns and Joseph Arsenault perform the ancient right of the laying on of hands on the three being ordained.

10 Local News

THE LEAVEN • June 3, 2011

New deacons’ office established By Joe Bollig Leaven staff

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Not quite two months after the ordination of 17 members of the first class of permanent deacons, the archdiocese has established an office of the permanent diaconate and appointed a new director. Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann has appointed Father Gary Pennings, vicar general and moderator of the curia, as director of the new office. It will open its doors in mid-June. “[I will assume] a series of tasks that had previously been done by Msgr. Gary Applegate as he oversaw our first class of deacons,” said Father Pennings. “Now that we have deacons and are proceeding with preparing for another class in the not-too-distant future,” he continued, “we need to have an office that manages [the deacon candidates] like we do for the vocations office that manages our seminarians, and a vicar of clergy who manages our priests, and a continuing education office.” Father Greg Hammes has been appointed associate director. He is the newly appointed pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Sabetha, St. Augustine Parish in Fidelity, and St. James Parish in Wetmore. Leon Supranant, a consultant for Web content and research in the archdiocesan communications office, will work part time in the deacon office as pastoral associate for administration. He will oversee the day-to-day operations of the office. “The office will primarily establish policy for the deacons, establish a deacon community council or board that represents the permanent deacons, and allow them to have some formal mechanism to provide input to the archbishop,” said Father Pennings. The office will oversee continuing education and ongoing formation of deacons, develop a new application process for men who are discerning the vocation of permanent deacon, and prepare for a new deacon class to begin sometime within six months to a year. One of Father Pennings’ goals is to involve other priests of the archdiocese in the formation of deacon candi-

Leaven photo by Susan McSpadden

Following the ordination of the first class of permanent deacons in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, a new office of the permanent diaconate will open in mid-June. Father Gary Pennings will be its director; Father Greg Hammes will be the associate director. dates and to produce a brochure and other information to help people understand the diaconate. “We’re hopeful that we’ll begin to accept new applications sometime in the fall,” said Father Pennings. In the meantime, the new deacons’ office personnel will meet with Msgr. Applegate and his staff to accomplish a smooth transition. “Permanent deacons are a great addition to the life of the church, one

our archdiocese has not had since the Second Vatican Council, when the permanent diaconate was reinstated,” said Father Pennings. “So, we’re hopeful the permanent diaconate will bear much fruit in years to come in our archdiocese,” he added. For information about the permanent diaconate go to the Web site at: www.archkck.org/deacons, or call Father Pennings at (913) 647-0340.

Saint’s daughter and Cardinal Burke featured at end-of-life conference KANSAS CITY, Kan. — This is your chance to meet a cardinal and a saint’s daughter at a national conference here in July. Cardinal Raymond Burke and Gianna Emanuela Molla will be among the featured speakers at “Being Faithful Even Unto Death: Catholic Wisdom on the Treatment of the Disabled and Dying.” The conference, from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on July 23 at Savior Pastoral Center in Kansas City, Kan., is sponsored by the St. Gianna Physician’s Guild. The conference will provide an education on end-of-life issues from the medical, legal and Catholic doctrinal perspectives, said archdiocesan pro-life office consultant Ron Kelsey. This conference is especially relevant now with rapid changes in technology and health care policy. The speakers will include: • Cardinal Raymond Burke, cardinal prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura in Rome • Gianna Emanuela Molla, M.D., daughter of St. Gianna Molla, who died rather than abort her fourth child — Gianna • Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann, of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas • Bishop Robert Finn, of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph • Bobby Schindler (brother of Terri Schiavo) and Zuzanne Vitadamo, cofounders of Life and Hope Network • Austin Welsh, M.D., geriatric specialist • Peter Breen, executive director of the Thomas More Society • Thomas J. McKenna, founder and president of the St. Gianna Physician’s Guild Cardinal Burke will celebrate a Mass, hosted by the Diocese of Kansas CitySt. Joseph, at 9 a.m. on July 24 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Kansas City, Mo. Molla will give a presentation about her mother following the Mass, and relics of St. Gianna will be on display for public veneration. A special blessing will be given with a first-class relic of the saint. There will be a reception, following the Mass and presentation, at the Catholic Center. The center is located a few blocks from the cathedral, at 20 W. Ninth Street. The cost is $65 per person for the conference. To register, call 1 (888) 345-3343, or go to the Web site at: www.defending naturaldeath.org.

Around the archdiocese

local news 11

For the unborn

Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann leads a prayer service in front of a Planned Parenthood Clinic in Overland Park on May 7. The gathering was sponsored by LifeFront, a pro-life organization that offers prayers and sidewalk counseling at abortion clinics. Leaven photo by Susan McSpadden

On the run

The “kids run” at the annual “Running with the Cows” got underway with a bang on May 14 as the little ones burst off the starting line. The event — which also included a half marathon and 5K run — is a fundraiser for Queen of the Holy Rosary Parish in Wea. Leaven photo by Elaina Cochran

Power walkers Hall of Famer

Father Ron Cornish was inducted into the Bishop Ward High School Hall of Fame at a ceremony on April 10 in Kansas City, Kan. Others inducted include: Marty Brock; Edward J. Grosdidier; Don Denney; Lorraine (Sambol) Kolich, and James B. Pretz. Leaven photo by Elaina Cochran

Kelsie Marchio (left), Sierra Alley, Hannah Weber and Taylor Pagacz, students at St. Joseph School in Shawnee, participate in the school’s inaugural walkathon. The event raised money to fund special school projects and activities.

Villa St. Francis

16600 W. 126th Street • Olathe, Kansas 66062 Phone: (913) 829-5201 Fax: (913) 829-5399 Daily Mass in the Chapel at 10 a.m. • Medicare and Kansas Medicaid certified • 24 - hour nursing care • Dementia/Alzheimer’s unit • Physical, occupational and speech therapist on staff/ Rapid recovery • Nutritious Home cooked meals • Private and Semi Private rooms • Beauty and Barber Shop • 24 hour snacks

800 SW Sixth Avenue | 785.354.7706 | www.brennanmathenafh.com

Affiliated with the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas

12 CLASSIFIEDS Employment Special-needs resource coordinator - The Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph is seeking a specialneeds resource coordinator the 2011 - 12 year. The diocese currently has 9300 students in 38 schools. This is an excellent opportunity for a special-needs educator to experience strong support from the superintendent of schools, parents and staff members. An active, practicing Catholic with a graduate degree in special education or a related field is preferred. Qualified candidates will have effective experience as a special-needs teacher in an inclusive setting, and will be certified or eligible to be certified in special education. This position will serve as primary resource within the schools office regarding federal funding for diocesan schools. For a complete job description, contact the school office at (816) 756-1858, ext. 274. Applications are available at the Web site at: http://jobs.diocese-kcsj.org/jobs/?cid=4&jid=118. Deadline for submission is June 24. Child care coordinator - St. Ann Young Child Center, Prairie Village, is seeking to fill this position for its extended care program. Hours are 3 - 6 p.m., Mon. - Fri. Must be at least 21 years of age and have a minimum of 12 college credit hours in early childhood or elementary education. Starting pay is $12 per hour. If interested, call Tati at (913) 362-4660. Montessori teacher - St. Agnes School, Roeland Park, is seeking a full-time teacher for the 2011 12 school year for the multi-age level 3-year-olds, 4-year-olds, and kindergarten classroom. Must have both Montessori and state certifications. Interested applicants should send a cover letter and resume, via e-mail, to principal Kim Hammers at: hammerskim@ stagneskc.org or call the school office at (913) 2621686. Director of development - The St. Lawrence Catholic Campus Center, Lawrence, is looking for a person to develop and maintain relationships with major benefactors. Providing strong, creative and energetic leadership, the director of development will personally represent the St. Lawrence Center and take an active role in managing the development efforts. Must possess excellent communication skills, a professional demeanor and a passion for advancing the mission at St. Lawrence. For information, contact Grace DelNero at (785) 843-0357. Youth minister - Prince of Peace Church, Olathe, a vibrant parish of over 3400 families, is looking for an enthusiastic person to lead our senior high youth program. Responsibilities include: coordinating our weekly group gatherings; organizing mission and faith formation trips; arranging various fundraising activities; and developing and maintaining a budget. Applicants should be willing to effectively work with other parish ministries. A passion for Christ and his church is a must. Send cover letter, resume and references to: Father Frank Burger, 16000 W. 143rd St., Olathe, KS 66062 or send, via e-mail, to: frfrank@ princeofpeace.info. Part-time teacher - Prince of Peace Early Education Center, Olathe, is seeking a part-time teacher for the after-school care program from 2:30 - 6 p.m., Mon. - Fri., beginning in August. Must have at least one year child care experience. Competitive hourly wage. Call Amanda at (913) 829-2728. Trinity Junior High, Fort Smith, Ark. - A 7ththrough 9th-grade school with over 25 years of academic excellence in Catholic education is seeking a principal. Candidate must be a practicing Catholic with a master’s degree in school administration or the equivalent certification. The applicant should possess proven leadership and strong human relation skills and an energy and passion for education. Inquiries will be held confidential and should be sent by June 15, via e-mail, to the search committee at: TJHSearchCommittee@gmail.com. Financial representative - Due to the success and growth of the Knights of Columbus, we are adding financial representatives in the Kansas City area. This position is ideal for a determined, high-energy, high-expectation, professional, self-disciplined, independent individual desiring to serve others, yet earn a better-than-average income. We provide top-rated financial products to our members and their families and will provide excellent benefits and training. For information or an interview, contact John A. Mahon, 307 Dakota, Holton KS 66436; or call (785) 364-5450.

THE LEAVEN • JUNE 3, 2011 Providers needed - For children with autism in the Kansas City area, Leavenworth, Atchison, and Manhattan. Full and part time. Training required. $8 - 15 per hour. For information, call (913) 417-7061 or send an e-mail to: applications@ibt-inc.org.

Services Piano lessons - Private piano teacher is relocating from Nashville, Tenn. Bachelor’s in music with piano pedagogy emphasis. Gifted and talented teaching endorsement. Call Janet Jamison at (931) 2154293 (Tenn. area code) or send an e-mail to: jjpiano studio@hotmail.com. Computer repair and upgrades/virus, spyware & malware removal - Microsoft certified, 11+ yrs. experience. Member of Sacred Heart Parish. Call Matt at (816) 876-6619 or send an e-mail to him at: mattcomputerfix@gmail.com. Machine quilting - by Jenell Noeth, Basehor. Also, quilts made to order. Call (913) 724-1837.

THE LEAVEN • JUNE 3, 2011

Home Improvement Interiors By Karri Cody - Spruce up your house with custom window treatments, pillows, or blinds. Call Karri at (913) 488-7605 or send an e-mail to: interiorsby karricody.com. Join us on Facebook!

Wood treatment and refinishing - We strip, refinish and treat woodwork. Restoration of pews, altars, stairways, cabinets, desks, paneling and more. Work in churches, homes and businesses. Insured and guaranteed. Family owned. Call (816) 241-1900. Clutter problems? Embarrassing garage, basement, attic or any room? Let me help you get organized! Items sorted, grouped, boxed and labeled; areas clean when finished. Great references and insured. Twenty years experience! Handyman repairs also available. To view “before” and “after” pictures, visit my Web site at: www.swalms.com. Tillar Swalm (913) 375-9115.

Faith-based counseling to cope with life concerns - Kansas City area. Call Mary Vorsten, Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, at (913) 909-2002.

Clutter getting you down? Organize, fix, assemble, clean . . . we do it all! For a free consultation, call your professional organizing handyman, Kevin Hogan, M Ed, today at (913) 271-5055. Insured; references. Visit the Web site at: www.koatindustries.com.

Bankruptcy - When debt becomes overwhelming, seek professional help. Experienced, compassionate Catholic attorney Teresa Kidd. For a confidential, no obligation consultation, call (913) 422-0610; or send an e-mail to: tkidd@kc.rr.com.

Carpet, vinyl, wood, ceramic, marble, area rugs, vanity tops, window treatments - 50+ yrs. experience. A+ Better Business Bureau rating. Financing available. For an appointment, call Matt at (816) 876-6619. Member of Sacred Heart Parish, Gardner.

Housecleaning - Old-fashioned hand mopping and more. A thorough and consistent job every time. References from customers I’ve served for over 17 years. I have a few openings. Call Sharon at (816) 3220006 (home) or (816) 214-0156 (mobile).

Tile and painting - Complete tile and paint repairs

Tree service - Pruning trees for optimal growth and beauty and removal of hazardous limbs or problem trees. Free consultation and bid. Safe, insured, professional. Cristofer Estrada, Green Solutions of KC, (913) 378-5872. www.GreenSolutionsKC.com. Lawn mowing and landscaping - Mowing starting at $25. Also offering power washing, dirt work, drainage solutions, tree trimming, mulching and all other landscape work. Call (816) 509-0224. Need a ride? Where to? I am available to take you to your doctor’s appointment, hairdresser or shopping. Maybe you aren’t driving anymore or just prefer a chauffeur; I’ll get you there. I can also run errands for you or do the grocery shopping. Just give me a call to discuss your needs. Johnson County only. Call (913) 469-6211 or (816) 806-0564.

Caregiving Experienced CNA - Available to care for your loved one. Experience with dementia and Alzheimer’s patients. Excellent references; background check welcome. Full time, during the day preferred. Johnson and Wyandotte County areas. (913) 999-4340. Caregiving - We provide personal assistance, companionship, care management, and transportation to the elderly and disabled in home, assisted living and 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, Sara or Gary. Looking for high quality home care? Whether you’re looking to introduce care for your family or simply looking to improve your current home care quality, we can help. Our unique approach to home care has earned us a 99% client satisfaction rating among the 1,000-plus families we have assisted. We are family-owned and based in Lenexa. Call Benefits of Home-Senior Care at (913) 422-1591 or visit our Web site at: www.benefitsofhome.com. Retired nurse - Available to care for your loved one. Prefer nights; will work days and weekends, too. Will consider live-in. References; salary negotiable. Call (913) 579-5276. Caregiver- Home health aide with over 30 years experience has days/nights/weekends available, any hours, for elderly care. Excellent references; call Dorles at (913) 371-2970 or (816) 786-3227.

and renovation. Ceramic, porcelain, certified limestone tile master. Complete interior paint services and drywall texture finishes. Over 20 years experience. Fully licensed. Service 7 days a week. Contact Mike at (913) 488-4930. Member of Church of the Ascension Parish, Overland Park.

Brick masons - Installation and repair of all types of masonry work — brick, stone, and concrete. 17 years of residential and commercial experience. Small and large jobs accepted. KC Metro area. For a free quote, call Jim or John at (913) 485-4307. Tim the handyman - Small jobs are my specialty! Faucets, garbage disposals, toilets, light fixtures, ceiling fans, handrails, window screen repair, bush trimming and garden tilling. Free estimates. JoCo only. Call (913) 859-0471. Interior and exterior painting and wallpaper removal - 30-plus years experience. Quality work; excellent references; reasonable rates. Senior discount. Member of St. Ann Parish, Prairie Village. Call Joe at (913) 620-5776. Masonry work - Quality, new or repair work. Brick, block and chimney/fireplace repair. Insured; second-generation bricklayer. Member of St. Paul Parish, Olathe. Call (913) 829-4336. Father and son team looking for outside work - Painting, wood rot repair, decks, fences, retaining walls, concrete — you name it, we can do it all for a fair price! We do inside work as well. Call Josh at (913) 709-7230. Adept Home Improvements Where quality still counts! Basement finishing, Kitchens and baths, Electrical and plumbing, Licensed and insured. (913) 599-7998 Garage door and opener sales and service 24-hour, 7 day-a-week service on all types of doors. Replace broken springs, cables, hinges, rollers, gate openers, entry and patio doors, and more. Over 32 years of experience. Call (913) 227-4902. The Drywall Doctor, Inc. - A unique solution to your drywall problems! We fix all types of ceiling and wall damage — from water stains and stress cracks to texture repairs and skim coating. We provide professional, timely repairs and leave the job site clean! Lead-certified and insured! Serving the metro since 1997. Call (913) 768-6655. Detail construction and remodeling - We offer a full line of home remodeling services. Don’t move — remodel! Johnson county area. Call for a free quote. (913) 709-8401.

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. EL SOL Y LA TIERRA *Commercial & residential * Lawn renovation* Mowing * Clean-up and hauling * Dirt grading/installation * Landscape design * Free estimates Hablamos y escribimos Ingles!! Call Lupe at (816) 252-3376 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) 491-5837 or (913) 579-1835. E-mail: smokeycabin@ hotmail.com. Member of Holy Trinity, Lenexa. Master electrician - Licensed in Missouri and Kansas. 35 years experience in residential and commercial electrical needs. Call Rick, L & M Electric, at (913) 362-1501 or (816) 781-1501. Electrician - Free estimates; reasonable rates. JoCo and south KC metro. Call Pat at (913) 963-9896.

Vacation Travel to Tuscany, Italy - With the Ottawa Area Chamber of Commerce from Nov. 2 - 10. The cost of only $2,149 per person includes RT airfare from KCI, meals, lodging, tours and much more. For information, call Sherri Lund at (785) 242-1000; send an e-mail to her at: chambersl@ ottawakansas.org; or visit the Web site at: www.ottawakansas.org. Branson condo nightly rental - 2 king BRs, 2 BA; sleeps 6. Sun porch overlooks public golf course. Walk-in level (no steps), flat screen TVs, DVD player, filtered water and fully equipped kitchen. Two blks. from the Hwy. 76 strip. Easy to get to shows, Wal-Mart, groceries, dining. No smoking; no pets. Parishioners of Holy Cross, Overland Park. Call (913) 851-8886.

Lenexa duplex - 3 BR, 1-1/2 BA, fireplace, hardwood floors, dine-in kitchen and deck. One-year lease. $825 per month. For an appointment, call (913) 768-6447.

Donate a vehicle. Make a difference. Donate your vehicle to Catholic Charities to support those in need. Your tax-deductible donation helps children and families served by Catholic Charities and is an environmentally wise way to recycle your vehicle. Cars for KC Kids is a partnership between Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas and Catholic Charities of Kansas City - St. Joseph. Call 1 (866) 430-9499 or visit the Web site at: www.cars4kckids.com.

For Sale Max’s rosaries - Custom-made locally for all occasions — first Communion, confirmation, baptism, graduation. Rosary bracelets and beaded earrings, too! I also do repairs. Member of the Church of the Ascension, Overland Park. Call (913) 839-3106. American Girl-type solid wood doll furniture - Heirloom quality, handmade, built to last a lifetime. In-home showroom. Custom orders welcome. Call John Hember at (913) 631-4060. Member of St. Joseph Parish, Shawnee. www.etsy.com/shop/ bedsandthreads. Rascal Scooter - Candy-red four-wheel handicapped accessibility scooter for sale. Only used twice! Call Joe at (913) 299-6873 or send an e-mail to him at: joetnovak@yahoo.com. For sale – One burial lot at Resurrection Cemetery, Lenexa. Current retail value is $1750; will sell for $1250 or best offer. The cemetery has one additional lot available, if two lots together are preferred. Owner moved to Florida. Call Pat at (239) 896-7113. For sale - Two cemetery plots in the old section of St. Joseph Cemetery, Shawnee. Will sell separately for $1000 each. Call (816) 804-9383 after 4 p.m. weekdays. For sale - Seven plots at Mount Calvary Cemetery,

Lake of the Ozarks rental - Osage Beach; million-dollar view; fully furnished; 2 BR, 2 BA; sleeps six. No smoking, no pets. For special rates or pictures, call Steve or Sheryl Roederer at (913) 244-2022.

Kansas City, Kan. Four together in section 3; three together in section 1B. Price is nearly half off to sell quickly. Call (816) 200-9826.

Mountain cabin in Winter Park, Colo. - 2 BR, 1 BA. View of Continental Divide from deck. Close to points of interest and activities. $95/night. Call (913) 642-3027. For pictures, visit the Web site at: www.till mancabin.com.

Kansas City, Kan. Lot 150; section 1; spaces 7 & 8. $3220. Call (913) 334-3298.

Real Estate Many manifestations of the divine are visible from unique home on west edge of metro area - The 4-1/2-acre lot is part of 320-acre Bear Lake, a 60-acre lake fringed by an 80-acre, forested wildlife preserve. Convenient to Holy Angels in Basehor and Sacred Heart in Shawnee. For details, visit the Web site at: wwwbearlakebeauty.com.

Kansas City, Kan. home - 315 N. 17 St. Large three-story brick home. 4+ BRs, 2 BA, two-car garage. Newer HVAC and roof. $155,000. Cathedral of St. Peter Parish. Call John at (913) 302-1621. Shawnee home - 14010 W. 74th St., in the Wedgewood subdivision. 4 BR, 3-1/2 BA, large kitchen and hearth room, formal living and dining rooms, large master suite with double closets, three-car garage. Located on a cul-de-sac in Good Shepherd Parish. Neighborhood pool. $364,000. Call John at (913) 302-1621.

For Rent Mission - 2 BR, 1 BA, one-car-garage plus basement. Appliances, hardwood floors and cozy interior. Great location – popular with KU Med students. Available July 1. Call Ron at (913) 599-3984. Turner duplex - Kansas City, Kan. 2 BR, 1 BA with wood/tile floors and garage. Easy access to I-635. For lease: $625/month. For appointment, call (913) 5301133.

June

Misc.

For sale - Two spaces at Mount Calvary Cemetery,

Mausoleum crypt - Mount Calvary Cemetery, Kansas City, Kan. Patio 1; tier F; crypt 6. $2800. Seller will pay transfer fee. Call Ann at (913) 302-8413. Stair lift - Summit SL350. Only used four days. AC operated, 5-year motor warranty, folding 21” chair, additional track/chain available. Easy installation. To make an offer, call (620) 475-3284. Residential lifts - Buy/sell/trade. Stair lifts, porch lifts, ceiling lifts and elevators. Recycled and new equipment. Member of St. Michael the Archangel Parish, Leawood. Call Silver Cross KC at (913) 327-5557.

Wanted to buy Catholic Estate items wanted - Serious collector. Pictures, historic/rare pieces, paintings and statues. Call (913) 871-6444. Wanted - Reliable, inexpensive car. Call (913) 579-5276. 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*** I buy coins, older watches, silverware, slot machines, old rifles and shotguns, stoneware crocks and jugs, old furniture from basement or attic. Call Chris at (913) 593-7507 or (913) 642-8269

3&4

The Social Club of St. Cyril Church, 44 N. Mill St., Kansas City, Kan., will host a rummage sale from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. on June 3 and 4 in the parish hall.

The Knights of Columbus of Queen of the Holy Rosary Parish - Wea, 22779 Metcalf, Bucyrus, will host their annual garage sale from 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. on June 4 and from 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. on June 5. On June 5, stuff a trash bag for just $2. For information, call (770) 335- 8244.

5 A summer festival benefiting the Sisters, Servants of Mary will be

held from noon to 5 p.m. on June 5 on the grounds of their convent, located at 800 N. 18th St., Kansas City, Kan. Homemade tacos and tamales, Italian sausage and barbecue beef sandwiches, hot dogs, ice cream, and Spanish desserts will be served. There will be games for children, crafts, raffles and more. For information, call (913) 371-3423. All former students of St. Mary School in Wien, Mo., are invited to a reunion on June 5, beginning at 10:30 a.m. Meat, drinks and table service will be provided for a carry-in dinner at noon. Spouses are welcome! For information, contact Genny (Bocke) Wright at (660) 226-5698 or send an e-mail to her at: grwright@cvalley.net. St. Vincent de Paul Church, Onaga, will host a parish picnic on June 5 at the Onaga Community Center. A fried chicken and ham dinner will be served from 4 - 7 p.m. The cost is: $8 for adults; $5 for children ages 5 - 12; children 4 and under eat for free. There will also be bingo, raffles, homemade ice cream, children’s games and prizes. The Good Shepherd Parish choir, Shawnee, will present “Songs of the Church Year,” a concert featuring a musical journey through the liturgical calendar, at 3:30 p.m. on June 5 in the Annunciation Chapel on the University of Saint Mary campus, 4100 S. 4th St., Leavenworth. This event is free, and all are invited. For information, contact John Rudzinski at (913) 563-5305.

Would you like to reach out and make a difference in someone’s life? Wyandotte Pregnancy Clinic will host a volunteer information night from 7 - 8 p.m. on June 6. We have several open positions for volunteers. For information or to RSVP, call Nora or Tammy at (913) 287-8287 or send an e-mail to: volunteer@wpcnetwork.org. Advice and Aid Pregnancy Centers, Inc., will offer an informational volunteer meeting from 7 - 9 p.m. on June 6 at 11031 W. 75th Terr., Shawnee. For information, contact Mary Newcomer at (913) 962-0200 or send an e-mail to her at: volunteer@adviceandaid.com.

The Atchison Region Serra Club will meet from 7 - 8:30 p.m. on June 7 in the ACES chapel. The evening will begin with Mass and special prayers for vocations. Sister Noreen Hurter, OSB, will be the speaker. All are invited and encouraged to attend. For information, call Tim or Susan at (913) 367-2227.

Donnelly College, 608 N. 18th St., Kansas City, Kan., will host “Coffee on Campus,” a casual opportunity to learn about all the exciting advancements at Donnelly, while enjoying a free cup of coffee on June 9. Attendees can also request a tour of Donnelly’s growing campus. For information or to RSVP, send an e-mail to: advance ment@donnelly.edu.

Sacred Heart Parish, Gardner, will host its annual golf tournament on June 24 at Prairie Highlands Golf Course, Olathe. Registration begins at 11:30 a.m. The cost of $125 per player or $500 per foursome includes a boxed lunch. For information, send an e-mail to: Leland_Hicks@yahoo.com.

Holy Name Church, 1001 Southwest Blvd., Kansas City, Kan., will host its annual social — “Jivin’ at 135!” — from 3 - 11 p.m. on June 11. The parish is celebrating its 135th anniversary. There will be live music, authentic Mexican food, bingo, children’s games, raffles and a silent auction. For information, call (913) 236-9219. Sacred Heart Parish, Hwy. 24/40 and W. Washington St., Tonganoxie, will host bingo in the parish center on June 11. Food service will begin at 5:45 p.m.; bingo will follow at 6:30 p.m.

Father Anthony Ouellette will celebrate the annual charismatic Pentecost Mass at 2 p.m. on June 12 at St. Pius X Church, 5500 Woodson, Mission. Fellowship follows. For information, call (913) 649-2026. St. Malachy Church, Beattie, will host a parish picnic on June 12. A beef brisket and pork dinner will be served from 5 - 7:30 p.m. The cost is $8 for adults; $4 for children ages 12 and under. There will be bingo, games, a country store, raffles and a live auction at 8 p.m. Sacred Heart Church, Paxico, will host a chicken dinner from noon - 5 p.m. on June 12 in the Knights of Columbus Hall in Newbury, located 1-1/2 miles north of Paxico. There will be bingo, games, a silent auction and a beer garden. The Little Sisters of the Poor will host a summer festival from noon - 5 p.m. on June 12 at 8745 James A. Reed Road, Kansas City, Mo. There will be games, food, entertainment, an auction, a bake/craft sale, and a cash raffle. All proceeds will benefit their home for the elderly poor. For information, call (816) 761-4744. St. James Church, Wetmore, will host its annual parish picnic on June 12 in the parish hall. A roast beef and ham dinner will be served family-style from 4:30 - 7 p.m. There will be games for all ages and a live auction at 8 p.m. The Fatima rosary rally will be hosted this month by the Oratory of Old St. Patrick, 806 Cherry, Kansas City, Mo., on June 12 at 3 p.m. Fifteen decades of the rosary will be prayed, followed by Benediction and enrollment in the brown scapular.

15 The Johnson County Unos will host a noon lunch and program on

June 15 at Atonement Lutheran Church, 9948 Metcalf, Overland Park. The cost is $10. For information or to purchase tickets, call Frank at (913) 248-6600.

CALENDAR 13

15-18

Church of the Ascension, 9510 W. 127th St., Overland Park, will host a garage sale from June 15 18. For specific times, visit the Web site at: www.kcascension.org, or call the parish office at (913) 681-3348.

A healing Mass, sponsored by archdiocesan charismatic prayer groups, will be held at 7:30 p.m. on June 16 at Curé of Ars Church, 9401 Mission Rd., Leawood. Father Mark Mertes will preside; fellowship follows. For information, call (913) 639-2026. Prince of Peace Parish, 16000 W. 143rd St., Olathe, will host “God’s Passionate Call to Love, Marriage, and Family,” a three-part presentation by Father Andrew Strobl, from 7 - 9 p.m. on June 16, 30 and July 7. There is no cost to attend; free child care will be provided. For information or to RSVP for child care, contact Suzanne Goff at (913) 839-2135, or send an e-mail to her at: suzanne goff@hotmail.com.

All Saints Parish, 229 S. 8th St., Kansas City, Kan., will host its annual Josefesta social from noon - 10 p.m. on June 18. This wonderful family event is free and open to all! There will be a variety of Latin food, inflatables and mechanical rides for children, live music, entertainers, and more. For information, call the parish office at (913) 371-1837. A memorial liturgy for deceased loved ones will be held at 8 a.m. on June 18 at Curé of Ars Church, 9401 Mission Rd., Leawood. The bereavement ministry will have its monthly meeting following Mass in the Father Burak Room. The topic will be: “Identity Adjustments After A Loss.” For information, call (913) 649-2026.

The Bishop Miege High School class of 1971 will host a 40year reunion at 7:30 p.m. on June 25 at Sutera’s Pizza, 22716 Midland Dr., Shawnee. For information, call Peggy (Baker) Galvin at (816) 579-8066.

Misc.

The 32nd annual Miege Open will be held on June 27 at Leawood South Country Club. Registration begins at 10 a.m., followed by lunch and a shotgun start at noon. Gather friends and form a team. All proceeds directly support the Bob Frazier Scholarship Fund. For information or to register, visit the Web site at: www.bishopmiege.com or call Susan Tremonti at (913) 262-2701, ext. 238. The Altar Society of Holy Family Church, 274 Orchard St., Kansas City, Kan., will host a golf tournament on June 27 at Sunflower Hills Golf Course, 141 N. 122nd St., Bonner Springs. It will be a four-person scramble with a shotgun start at 1 p.m. The cost of $60 per person includes greens fee, cart and lunch. For information, contact the church office at (913) 371-1561.

Calendar items must be received nine days prior to the publication date. E-mail submissions to: jennifer@theleaven.com or mail to: 12615 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City, KS 66109.

14 COMMENTARY

THE LEAVEN • June 3, 2011

Mark my words

Catholic Press Association Award Winner 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010

seventh WEEK of easter June 5 THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD Acts 1: 1-11; Ps 47: 2-3, 6-9; Eph 1: 17-23; Mt 28: 16-20 June 6 Norbert, bishop Acts 19: 1-8; Ps 68: 2-7; Jn 16: 29-33 June 7 Tuesday Acts 20: 17-27; Ps 68: 10-11, 20-21; Jn 17: 1-11a June 8 Wednesday Acts 20: 28-38; Ps 68: 29-30, 33-36b; Jn 17: 11b-19 June 9 Ephrem, deacon, doctor Acts 22: 30; 23: 6-11; Ps 16: 1-2a, 5, 7-11; Jn 17: 20-26 June 10 Friday Acts 25: 13b-21; Ps 103: 1-2, 11-12, 19-20b; Jn 21: 15-19 June 11 Barnabas, apostle Acts 11: 21b-26; 13: 1-3; Ps 98: 1-6; Jn 21: 20-25

Does your ‘Beatitude’ need adjusting?

hen hearing the words, “Blessed are the poor in spirit,” most Catholics would immediately recognize them as the opening to the Beatitudes. They might not be able to tell you exactly where to find them in the Bible — they’re from the Gospel of Matthew (5: 3-12) — but they’d know them as part of the Sermon on the Mount. Some sharp folks might even know that there’s a second set of similar Beatitudes found in the Gospel of Luke (6: 20-26), known as the Sermon on the Plain: “Blest are you poor; the reign of God is yours.” What is probably not well-known is that there’s a third set of Beatitudes recently “discovered” and shared with the world by a man named John Stowell. Incidentally, you won’t find this last set in the Scriptures, because these are known as “The Devil’s Beatitudes.” Here’s what they sound like: “Blessed are those who are too tired, busy or disorganized to meet with fellow Christians on Sundays each week. They are my best workers. Blessed are those who enjoy noticing the mannerisms of clergy and choir. Their hearts are not in it. Blessed are those Christians who wait to be asked and expect to be thanked. I can use them. Blessed are the touchy. With a bit of luck they may even stop going to church. They are my missionaries. Blessed are those who claim to love God at the same time as hating other people. They are mine forever. Blessed are the troublemakers. They shall be called my children. Blessed are those who have no time to pray. They are easy prey for me. Blessed are you when you read this and think it is about other people and not about yourself. . . . I’ve got you!” (Found in Anthony Castle’s “More Quips, Quotes & Anecdotes for Preach-

ers and Teachers.”) Whoa! I don’t know about you, but I was sailing along with the first seven “Beatitudes” above. In fact, I could even attach names and faces to each one. Then I hit that last “Beatitude,” and it stopped me in my tracks. And that’s good, because it’s what the end of the Easter season is all about. The days between the ascension of the Lord and the celebration of Pentecost (on June 12 this year) are meant to be a special time of prayer and reflection, a time to open our hearts to a deeper outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and a time to look at possibilities: ways that we can grow in our faith, hope and love. Often, though, we forget that our faith is something living, something dynamic. Instead, it can become stagnant, routine, and boring. Pentecost offers us renewed energy for our faith; it wakes us up to God’s power at work in our hearts and in our world. Regular readers of this column know that I wage a constant battle with procrastination. Recently, I came across a tip in Real Simple magazine that has already paid big dividends: Restart your day at 2 p.m. Although I’m good at formulating a to-do list every morning, many times the day gets away from me with various “distractions.” The temptation is to get to the afternoon, see all the untouched items on my to-do list, sigh, throw up my hands in defeat . . . and put off everything until “tomorrow.”

Restarting my day at 2 p.m. prevents this procrastinating tendency. I review my to-do list in the afternoon, reevaluate the important things that need to be done and get to work on them. In some sense, I “reboot” my day. Just as rebooting your computer resets it to its default settings, so rebooting your day can reset you into a productive frame of mind. Perhaps we can view Pentecost as a yearly rebooting of our faith. It’s so easy to wander far from loving God, neighbor and self, even after all the spiritual progress that we made during Lent. The joy and promise that we felt on Easter may have faded over the seven weeks of this season. The relaxation of summer may tempt us to take a vacation from our faith. Pentecost can help us get back to our default setting: to see our faith as something vibrant that brings fulfillment, peace and perspective to our lives. A great way to reboot our faith is by reading. Summer is a time when many people pack up a novel for beach reading. Why not also include some heavenly reading, something of substance, on your list? In my stack of summer books to read are these three (one per month) that promise gifts of knowledge and practicality: • “28 Different Ways to Pray” (Paulist Press, 2011; 142 pgs.; $12.95) • Mary DeTurris Poust’s “The Essential Guide to Catholic Prayer and the Mass” (Alpha Books, 2011; 314 pgs.; $16.95) • “22 Steps to a Great Catholic Parish,” by Jim Reinhardt (Twenty-Third Publications, 2010; 272 pgs.; $19.95) Remember: If your “Beatitude” needs adjusting — and whose doesn’t — a Pentecost reboot should do the trick.

ELEVENTH WEEK of ordinary time

second thoughts on the second reading

June 12 PENTECOST SUNDAY Acts 2: 1-11; Ps 104: 1, 24, 29-31, 34; 1 Cor 12: 3b-7, 12-13; Jn 20: 19-23 June 13 Anthony of Padua, priest, doctor of the church 2 Cor 6: 1-10; Ps 98: 1-4; Mt 5: 38-42 June 14 Tuesday 2 Cor 8: 1-9; Ps 146: 2, 5-9a; Mt 5: 43-48 June 15 Wednesday 2 Cor 9: 6-11; Ps 112: 1-4, 9; Mt 6: 1-6, 16-18 June 16 Thursday 2 Cor 11: 1-11; Ps 111: 1-4, 7-8; Mt 6: 7-15 June 17 Friday 2 Cor 11: 18, 21-30; Ps 34: 2-7; Mt 6: 19-23 June 18 Saturday 2 Cor 12: 1-10; Ps 34: 8-13; Mt 6: 24-34

Church is called to fill universe with Christ

he Hubble telescope has greatly expanded our view of the universe. It has enabled astronomers to peer into the distant reaches of outer space, to observe galaxies billions of light years away from earth. And yet, Sunday’s second reading wishes to enable us to see even further, to show us the universe in an entirely new way, to probe its mysteries even deeper. The ascension The reading from of the lord Ephesians offers Eph 1: 17-23 us a vision of the glorified Christ on a global scale, a vision that ranges from the heights of the heavens to the depths of the earth. It shows Christ as risen from the dead in an upward trajectory that continues with his ascension into heaven where he sits at God’s right hand: “raising him from the dead and seating him at his right hand in the heavens.” At the same time, his feet remain firmly planted on earth: “And he puts all things beneath his feet.” The earth, in a sense, serves as his footstool. If Christ, in his glorified body,

stretches all the way from heaven to earth, then he encompasses the entire universe, filling this vast space with his presence. His glorified body accomplishes what his earthly body could not. His glorified body brings “the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.” We might be tempted to interpret this all-encompassing presence of Christ in the universe in a mystical way only. In other words, he would be present in a spiritual sense that cannot be seen or heard. However, the Letter to the Ephesians does not let us off so easily. In the midst of this majestic paean to Christ, our complacency is jarred by an unsettling reminder. It affirms the church as the body of Christ: “And he (God) put all things beneath his feet and

gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body.” A misguided interpretation might derive a sense of triumphalism from this passage and lead to unwarranted pride. Rather, these words should inspire humility in the church as it realizes the vast responsibility entrusted to it. As a church, we are called to fill the universe with the presence of Christ. We are called to bring the mercy and compassion of Christ everywhere. That is the call mentioned earlier in the reading, which prays “that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call.” This global responsibility matches the global vision which the Letter to the Ephesians wishes us to see: “May the eyes of your heart be enlightened.” Only eyes enlightened by faith will be able to behold the vision revealed by the Letter to the Ephesians. Like the Hubble telescope, the letter enables us to see further, if only we will look. Father Mike Stubbs is the senior parochial vicar of Holy Trinity Parish in Lenexa and has a degree in Scripture from Harvard University.

Margaret and Norman Renyer, members of Mater Dei Parish in Topeka, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on June 17 with a small recepanniversaries tion for family and friends. The couple was married at Mater Dei-Holy Name Church on June 17, 1961. Their children and their spouses are: Rod and Kim Renyer, Quinter; and Todd and Erinn Renyer, Topeka. They also have five grandchildren. Cards may be sent to the honorees at: 5720 S.W. Wanamaker Rd., Topeka KS 66610. Bob and Jeanie Lawrence, members of St. Joseph Parish, Leavenworth, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on May 13. The couple was married at St. Lawrence Church in Easton on May 13, 1961, by Father Thomas Culhane. Their children and their spouses are: Michele and Kerry Brungardt; Mike and Tara Lawrence; and Patty and David Scharinger. They also have nine grandchildren. The couple celebrated their special day with a family dinner. Doreen and Mike Haughton, members of St. Michael the Archangel Parish, Leawood, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on June 17. The couple was married June 17, 1961, at St. John Church in San Francisco. A precelebration was held in Maui, Hawaii, last December with their five children and their spouses and their 10 grandchildren. Their children and their spouses are: Michelle and Kevin Woods; April and Brian McCrary; Stephanie and Mark Heinze; Joe and Sheri Haughton; and Marianne and Josh Daughdrill. Henry and Norma Gagnon, members of Corpus Christi Parish, Lawrence, celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on May 21. The couple was married on May 21, 1951, at St. Ann Church, Zurich. Their children are: Jill Pruitt, Houston; Heidi Gowen, Lawrence; Stephen Gagnon (deceased); and Michael Gagnon (deceased). They also have nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. The couple celebrated with a family dinner.

Robert and Marilyn Dobratz, members of Christ the King Parish in Topeka, will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary with a Mass at Christ the King, followed by a family dinner. The couple was married on May 29, 1951, at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Salina. Their children and their spouses are: Steve and Kim Dobratz, Great Bend; Mickey and Susan Dobratz, Leawood; Larry Dobratz, Neosho Rapids; Rose and Mike Lott, Topeka; Carolyn and Jay Ditsworth, Flower Mound, Texas; Linda and Phil Wedge, Lawrence; and David and Wendy Dobratz, Olathe. They also have 13 grandchildren.

Don and Mary Dale (Hawkins) Setter, members of Prince of Peace Parish in Olathe, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on June 3 at a party with family and friends, hosted by their children. The couple was married on May 27, 1961, at Holy Angels Church in Garnett. Their children and their spouses are: Sheryl and F.J. Cronenwett, Overland Park; Connie and Kirk Foutts, Lee’s Summit, Mo.; and Rick and Rebecca Setter, Olathe. They also have five grandchildren.

Margaret and Gerald Denk, members of Sacred Heart Parish in Tonganoxie, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on May 30. The couple was married on May 30, 1961, at St. Joseph Church in Shawnee. Their children and their spouses are: Angela and Scott Dieker, Lawrence; Brian and Ann Denk, Gardner; Camille and John Idoux, Lee’s Summit, Mo.; and Diana and Chris Paine, Olathe. They also have 10 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

James and Daria Taylor, members of Holy Family Church in Kansas City, Kan., will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on June 10. The couple was married on June 10, 1961, at St. John the Divine Church, Kansas City, Kan. Their children and their spouses are: Teresa and Dave Kuehn, Lenexa; James Jr. and Roccio Taylor, Apache Junction, Ariz.; Jon and Lauren Taylor, Annapolis, Md.; Brian and Suzanne Taylor, Edwardsville, Ill.; Veronica and Jonathan Madsen, Wichita; and Densil and Helina Johnson, Oklahoma City. They also have 26 grandchildren. A celebration is planned for the summer.

Donald and Mary Alice (Haverkamp) Uphaus, members of Sts. Peter and Paul Parish, Seneca, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary with a Mass of thanksgiving on June 5 with family and friends. The couple was married June 3, 1961, at St. Bede Church, Kelly, by Father Vincent Wavada. Their children and their spouses are: Daniel and Robin Uphaus; Linda and John Haug; Thomas and Tracy Uphaus; Donna and Rick Meader; James and Kelli Uphaus; and Gerald and Briana Uphaus. They also have 14 grandchildren.

Hildred and Henry Wittman, members of Holy Angels Parish, Garnett, will celebrate their 65th wedding anniversary on June 4. The couple was married on June 4, 1946, at St. John Church in Greeley. Their children and their spouses are: Merle and Kay Wittman and Ed and Kim Wittman, all of Lawrence; Anita Peine, Chuck and Kathy Wittman, and Bob and Connie Wittman, all of Garnett. They also have 14 grandchildren and 13 greatgrandchildren. Cards may be sent to: 27073 N.E. 1900 Rd., Garnett KS 66032.

Philip and Vesta Holtgraves, members of Church of the Nativity, Leawood, will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary on June 18 with a Mass and family luncheon. The couple was married on June 2, 1951, at Sacred Heart Church in Tripp, S.D. Their children and their spouses are: Tom and Marnell Holtgraves; Teresa Holtgraves and Ric Prindle; Jim and Carol Holtgraves; Jane and Dennis Clark; John and Katherine Holtgraves; Nancy Holtgraves; Chuck and Lisa Holtgraves; and Jo Ellen and Kent Fritz. They also have 14 grandchildren and two greatgrandchildren.

Russell Edward Jr. and Mary Ann Campbell, members of Sacred Heart Parish, Shawnee, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on June 10. The couple was married at Holy Trinity Church, Lenexa. Their children and their spouses are: Jenny and Scott Wyman, Ann and Russell Edward Campbell III, and Stacy and Steve Campbell, all of Shawnee. They also have seven grandchildren.

Local news 15 Dick and Kay (Grennan) Byard, members of St. Mary-St. Anthony Parish, Kansas City, Kan., will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on June 3 with a renewal of vows with Father Tim Haberkorn officiating, followed by a family dinner. The couple was married on June 3, 1961, at Holy Name Parish, Topeka. Their children and their spouses are: Terri and Micky Davis, Kansas City, Kan.; Kathy Byard and Jim Lemos, Roeland Park; Jean and Steve Busey, Prairie Village; and Bart and Stephanie Byard, Overland Park. They also have five grandchildren. Margie (Pauly) and Clem Becker, members of St. Patrick Parish, Corning, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on June 11. The couple was married on June 3, 1961, at St. Mary Church in Purcell. A dinner for family and invited guests will be held at the Corning Community Building, followed by a reception from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. and a dance from 7 to 11 p.m. Hosting the event are their children and their spouses: Jane and Larry Burdiek, Don and Tammy Becker, Mike Becker and Jami Becker, all of Centralia; Julie Steadman, Bellevue, Neb.; Mark and Marsha Becker, St. Marys; Karen Weathers and Steven Becker, both of Manhattan; Angie and Joe Hardy, Andover; Susie and Brad Lueger, Seneca; and Cindy and Nathan Staab, Hays. They also have 28 grandchildren and two greatgrandchildren. Marilyn and Ronald Gast, members of St. Patrick Church in Scranton, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on June 12. The couple was married on June 10, 1961, at St. Joseph Church in Waverly. Their children and their spouses are: Penny Ard, Topeka; Marsha and Tadd Goodyear, Overbrook; Joseph and Penny Gast, Scranton; and Elizabeth Hutchins, Overbrook. They also have six grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. They will celebrate with a reception from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Scranton Community Building at 300 E. Boone St. Anniversary policy: The Leaven only prints 50, 60, 65 and 70th anniversary notices. Announcements are due by 5 p.m. eight days (Thursday) before the desired publication date.

16 local news

THE LEAVEN • June 3, 2011

Judy Clarkson, a teacher at St. Mary’s Elementary School in Joplin, Mo., searches an area May 25 that was once her classroom. St. Mary’s school, church, rectory and parish hall were destroyed by an EF5 tornado May 22. Clarkson had found only a small portion of her collection of more than 50 nun-figurines.

Bishop James V. Johnston Jr., of Springfield-Cape Girardeau, Mo., walks outside the destroyed St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Joplin May 24 after it and the school were destroyed by a monster tornado that struck the city May 22. More than 100 people died when the tornado ripped through the city.

CNS photo/Dave Crenshaw, Eastern Oklahoma Catholic

CNS photo/The Mirror

The Bull’s-eye of the storm

Catholic hospital, after tornado’s direct hit, makes plans to recover

OPLIN, Mo. (CNS) — A Catholic hospital in Joplin that took a direct hit from an EF5 tornado that struck the city May 22 has made plans to get back to normal as soon as pos-

sible. Five patients and one visitor at St. John’s Regional Medical Center lost their lives in the twister, but 183 other patients were evacuated to other facilities in Missouri and Arkansas. “A number of Mercy caregivers themselves were injured,” said a May 23 statement issued by the hospital. “Their selfless efforts put their patients first and resulted in a timely and orderly evacuation.” The six fatalities recorded at St. John’s, a health care ministry of the Sisters of Mercy, were included in the total of 117 confirmed dead by midday May 24. The number injured in the storm was 1,150. “Our first priority is to the community of Joplin and to ensure that our patients, families and co-workers are safe and receiving the best care possible. We are grateful for your support as we work together to assist the Joplin community,” the hospital said. “Please know that Mercy remains committed to the Joplin community, both in the short-term and long-term,” the statement said. “We are evaluating interim approaches to providing health care services, and we will be planning for the future as soon as we address more immediate needs.” The hospital asked that residents who have retrieved what appear to be patient files strewn about by the tornado to hold onto them and respect the privacy of those named in the files until St. John’s has a system in place to collect them. “Also critically important is the work underway to touch base with all 1,700 Mercy co-workers in Joplin. We first want to make sure they are safe, and then will be attempting to understand their losses and their needs,” said Mercy president and CEO Lynn Britton in a May 23 statement. “We are also discussing the long-term implications for our Joplin co-workers and will be providing answers to the many questions they have as soon as we can.” Structural engineers were set to arrive in Joplin to evaluate the hospital building, Britton said. “Please keep the people of Joplin in your prayers, especially those whose lives were taken as well as those who lost loved ones,” said a May 23 statement from Bishop James V. Johnston Jr., of Springfield-Cape Girardeau. “We pray especially for the people of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and School who suffered a total loss as well as St. John’s Mercy Hospital which sustained major

Special collection for tornado relief KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann has asked pastors and parishioners of the archdiocese to conduct special collections to aid tornado disaster victims in Reading and Joplin, Mo. Each parish will determine a collection date. Funds will be divided among the affected regions and distributed through Catholic Charities. If a person wishes to donate to a specific affected region, they may do so by going to the archdiocesan Web site and click on the “Tornado Relief” link or go directly to the Web site at: www.archkck.org/ tornado. Catholic Charities is accepting monetary donations and donations of emergency items, which will go to Reading and Joplin. To learn more, go to he Web site at: www. catholiccharitiesks.org.

CNS photo/Ed Zurga, Reuters

A bare tree stripped of its branches and leaves is seen near St. John’s Regional Medical Center May 23 after a devastating tornado hit Joplin, Mo. Thousands of structures were wiped out in a path of destruction nearly a mile wide through the heart of the city in southwestern Missouri. damage.” “Diocesan staff have been in contact with the other Missouri Catholic Charities organizations based in the Springfield-Cape Girardeau and Kansas City dioceses and the Archdiocese of St. Louis,” said a May 23 statement from the neighboring Diocese of Jefferson City. Jefferson City diocesan staff are working on an appropriate response in consultation with diocesan Bishop John R. Gaydos. “The diocese hopes to be more specific about its response very soon as new information becomes available and additional consultation occurs with other charitable entities and organizations,” the statement added. The church, school and rectory buildings of St. Mary’s Parish were all de-

stroyed by the tornado, but the parish pastor, Father Justin Monaghan, was reported unhurt. “The pastor rode it out in the bathtub. He’s fine,” said Leslie Anne Eidson, editor of The Mirror, newspaper of the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau. “He’s staying with a local parishioner right now.” At Joplin’s other Catholic church, St. Peter the Apostle, parish administrator Elizabeth Runkle, told Catholic News Service May 23, “St. Peter’s is fine. We’re OK. We didn’t have any damage. Everybody’s fine.” St. Peter has an outreach center that it’s trying to use to speed aid to victims, according to Eidson. McAuley Catholic High School, which serves the city’s two parishes, es-

caped damage, Eidson said. It was being used as an overflow triage center. In a message posted on his Facebook page the evening of the storm, Father John Friedel, St. Peter’s pastor, said: “Just got back from closing down the Catholic high school, which was opened as an overflow triage center. Our area of town was untouched, though the neighboring parish (20 blocks away) has probably lost their entire physical plant. . . . I know you’ve all seen the footage of St. John’s, our Catholic hospital, which is probably also a total loss! “Please keep our community in your prayers. . . . There has been and will be much suffering. Such destruction and violence. . . . Thanks, everyone, for your calls, texts and messages of support. Going to sleep now, so we can be at it again in the morning.” Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri was in Joplin and seeking donations to aid tornado victims, Eidson added. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul also was coordinating its own relief efforts in the Joplin area. The Convoy of Hope, which has a large operation in southwestern Missouri, had already established a base in Joplin. Joplin, in southwest Missouri near the borders of Kansas and Oklahoma, sits in “Tornado Alley,” so called for the frequency and ferocity of the region’s twisters. “The tornado has split Joplin in two,” reported Eidson. Travel in and out of the city was difficult in the wake of the tornado, she added.