june 2021
Meet Parishioner Inside
2 Keeping Our
Stewardship Commitments in the Summertime
3 Redefining Love
Through the Sacred Heart of Jesus
4 Bereavement Ministry
Offers Essential Support for Those Who Are Grieving
6 The Church, a Universal Family The Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul
7 The Greeters Ministry: Embracing Stewardship With a Smile
7023 W. 71st Street Overland Park, KS 66204 www.queenoftheholyrosary.org
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Jessica Conner:
Taking the First Steps on the Journey of Catholic Faith
essica Conner was 9 years old when she was baptized in the creek at Jolly Mill in Pierce City, Mo. Raised Baptist, she never entertained the idea of a different religion until she married Bryson Conner. “I was nervous and felt like I was turning my back on my own faith and how my parents raised me,” Jessica says. “Little did I know, I was doing the complete opposite.” The path to RCIA for Jessica wasn’t initially an easy one. She had a strong foundation in the Baptist faith and had been very involved in church with her family growing up. Similarly, her husband had a strong upbringing in the Catholic faith, and it was Jessica’s mother-in-law who led her to Queen of the Holy Rosary. “When I first walked in, I saw that crucifix on Jessica Conner at the Easter Vigil Mass the wall, and the lights reflecting off it were miraculous,” Jessica says. “I had seen a crucifix several times, so it wasn’t a new image for me, but I felt something different this time.” Everyone in the parish welcomed Jessica, Bryson and their young family. “When the children were loud in Mass, I never felt like I was inconveniencing anyone,” Jessica says. “They smiled and waved at my children to distract them from screaming, and that is what made me come back!” As she began attending Mass regularly with her husband, Jessica began to ponder the homilies and was full of questions about the liturgy. “I had so many questions,” Jessica says. “Why do we stand when we stand and kneel when we kneel? How does everyone know what to say and how to respond to the priest?” continued on page 5
Queen of the Holy Rosary C at h o l i c C h u r c h
Keeping Our Stewardship Commitments in the Summertime
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he kids are out of school and our fast-paced lives centered on school and youth sports activities have slowed down. Our own internal clocks are now on summer time. We’re ready for a break from our hectic lives. And while we take vacations and enjoy the leisurely pace of the season, we need to remember that summer is not the time to take a vacation from God. In fact, summer can serve as the perfect opportunity to grow in our relationship with God, especially since most of us have considerably more free time. So, instead of neglecting our faith due to busy days and late nights, try these simple steps to embrace God during the quieter summer months and during your vacation. Get More Active in a Parish Ministry The summer is actually a perfect time to get more involved in a parish ministry. Because we no longer have to get the kids to and from school, or get them to sporting events or other activities that normally occur during the school year, our schedules are a bit less cluttered. Summer is indeed a perfect time to fill some downtime with service to God through ministry and giving of your talents. Take a look through the parish ministries to find something that suits your particular interest or talent.
Vacation Bible School, for Kids and Adults This summer, due to the current Covid climate, the church will offer its vacation bible school (“VBS”) through the new digital VBS for families. Information will come out detailing how to register and the process for this new and exciting format. VBS for families – Anytime – Anywhere!
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Give Thanks for the Sun Praise God for the sun, time off from school and easygoing days by visiting the adoration chapel to say a quick prayer. Bring a journal or rosary along to help stay focused. Little children can even bring a religious coloring book to give thanks to God on their terms. Or, before heading to the pool, why not attend daily Mass with the kids? It’s a perfect way to start the day and set the tone that — vacation or not — God is an important part of your family life. Don’t Take a Vacation from Mass Often while on a vacation away from our parish family, we are not familiar with where to attend Mass. Don’t let that be an obstacle for you. Check out masstimes. org in order to find out where and when to go to Mass. In addition, if you are lodging at a hotel, the concierge will assist you with directions to the nearest Catholic Church. Finally, you may always participate in Mass here at Queen through our Facebook page or website. Summertime Stewardship of Treasure The prime reason for keeping up our pledge all summer is that God doesn’t go on vacation. He continues to sustain us throughout the summer months. He persists in pouring out blessings on us, even during the hottest weather. He keeps on meeting us in His sacramental presence when we go to Mass wherever we travel. As God remains faithful to us during the summer, we are called to be faithful in our commitments to Him and our parish family, even during our vacation time. So, enjoy the warmer temperatures and the relaxed atmosphere. Just don’t forget Who provides the sun and the sand! And most importantly, remember to take God with you wherever you go on vacation!
A Letter From Our Pastor
Redefining Love
THROUGH THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS
Dear Parishioners,
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ne of the great feasts of the Christian year will occur in June, but it is often overlooked. It doesn’t fall on a Sunday, and it isn’t a Holy Day of Obligation. I am referring to the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, which will be on June 11 this year. This wonderful feast provides a great way to begin the summer. However, despite widespread devotion and many parish dedications to the Sacred Heart, many Catholics have only a vague idea of what it’s all about. So, let me try to briefly fill in the picture. Often, when we think of the heart, we think of it as the seat of our emotions and feelings. But feelings come and go — we can’t really depend on our emotions to be reliable, steady guides. However, when classical theology refers to the heart, it is considering an aspect of human life that goes beyond our feelings. It includes our will, where we make decisions. The heart can be considered the center of our personhood. In explaining Christian teaching about human nature, the Catechism of the Catholic Church says, “The spiritual tradition of the Church also emphasizes the heart, in the biblical sense of the depths of one’s being, where the person decides for or against God” (368). It is common to mistakenly label love as an emotion. Love often includes feelings, but true love is more than that. Real love is a settled attitude that wants the best for the person being loved. That’s why the Church’s teaching usually uses the term “charity” — to distinguish the Christian virtue from the more superficial popular concept of love.
The Catechism tells us, “Charity is the theological virtue by which we love God above all things for his own sake, and our neighbor as ourselves for the love of God. Jesus makes charity the new commandment. By loving his own ‘to the end,’ he makes manifest the Father’s love which he receives. By loving one another, the disciples imitate the love of Jesus which they themselves receive” (CCC, 1822-1823). This sort of love, this charity — demonstrated by Jesus Christ and commanded to His followers — is no lightweight passing emotion. Feelings alone do not bring one to offer oneself to an agonizing death for the sake of someone else. No, that sort of sacrifice can only come from a considered and deliberate decision. Although we sometimes forget that fact, Jesus is fully human as well as fully divine. So, His human heart was involved in His sacrifice on the Cross. Thus, simply put, devotion to the Sacred Heart reminds us of the basic fact that God loves us. It was a costly love, the ultimate act of charity, to give His life on our behalf. We know the kind of love Jesus has for us. What kind of loving response are you going to make? How will that affect your use of your time, talent and treasure? Sincerely yours in Christ,
Fr. William Bruning Pastor
***You may have heard that Archbishop Naumann has chosen the Solemnity of The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, the weekend of June 5-6, 2021, as the occasion on which the dispensation from the obligation by the faithful to attend Mass shall be lifted. Beginning with Masses for that weekend, all Catholic faithful of the Archdiocese are to return to the precept of the Church to attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation. Those suffering from underlying health concerns or compromised immunity, or who have genuinely serious concerns about the risk of contracting Covid-19 at Mass are not bound by the obligation to attend Mass.
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Queen of the Holy Rosary C at h o l i c C h u r c h
Bereavement Ministry W
OFFERS ESSENTIAL
hen a loved one passes away, we are to her as one that is very important, even often blessed with immediate supthough it is quite simple. port. People attend the wake and funer“This ministry is one we could conal, and are usually there for us with meals, tinue during the COVID-19 pandemic,” flowers and words of support. But it’s the Patty says. “There was so little we could weeks and months after losing a loved do, because we couldn’t gather, but this is one that can be the most difficult. People one we could continue.” move on with their lives, and the sadness When Patty is alerted that a parishand isolation can become overwhelming ioner has passed away, she chooses a for the bereaved. In particular, the holidays, ministry member and provides all the birthdays and anniversaries can really be information to the person so they can difficult. Our Queen of the Holy Rosary mail personalized cards and letters to the Patty Miller leads the Bereavement Ministry is there to support family for 10 to 12 months. Most minisBereavement Ministry. the bereaved for “the long haul.” try members have one to three families to For about a year after a death, the ministry members con- whom they are sending cards. All the necessary supplies tinue offering support in the form of prayer cards and en- are provided to the ministry members. couraging words, all of which are mailed. An interpretation Sometimes, the writers don’t know the family at all. Howfrom Psalm 91:11 is an example of one such card, “For he ever, Patty remembers a time she was writing to a mother shall give his angels charge over you, to keep you in all your who had lost her daughter. Patty knew the daughter, so this ways.” made it all the more special and meaningful. It was a beautiPatty Miller has led this ministry for about four years. ful way to support the mother in her time of great loss. She is thankful for the 25 or so members who assist by Sheila Bielak, who serves as a writer for the Bereavement acting as “writers,” sending cards and words of encour- Ministry, feels blessed to be a part of this ministry. agement to bereaved families. Parish involvement is very “I love that we are able to share with the bereaved that they important to Patty, and she lends her time and talents and their loved one are not forgotten, and that our parish to several ministries. But this ministry really stands out community remembers them and prays for them,” Sheila says.
“The loss of a loved one is overwhelming. You see the lives of those around you continuing as if nothing has changed, but yours has undeniably changed. This is why I’m so grateful for the notes of encouragement and the reminder of God’s love that I received from the Bereavement Ministry. For me, it was a gentle acknowledgment that my loss mattered.” — PAM CARTER 4
SUPPORT FOR THOSE WHO ARE GRIEVING Pam Carter and Stacy Krieg both received cards from the Bereavement Ministry. They add how important this ministry was for them in their loss and time of grief. “The loss of a loved one is overwhelming,” Pam says. “You see the lives of those around you continuing as if nothing has changed, but yours has undeniably changed. This is why I’m so grateful for the notes of encouragement and the reminder of God’s love that I received from the Bereavement Ministry. For me, it was a gentle acknowledgment that my loss mattered.”
“The bereavement cards that I received from Queen were extremely important to me,” Stacy says. “First, it told me that people cared about what I was going through. Additionally, I have them all over my home now. I love seeing the prayer on the card.” When All Souls’ Day arrives in November, Patty hopes to be able to use the reception after Mass to have the Bereavement Ministry writers meet those to whom they have been writing. This ministry can provide comfort when it’s needed most, and Patty encourages anyone to get involved. There are no meetings and the ministry work can be done from home, with a limited investment of time.
If you would like to get involved in the Bereavement Ministry, please contact Patty Miller at themillers711@att.net or 913-384-4644.
Meet Parishioner Jessica Conner She describes the experience as an ongoing culture shock until she began RCIA classes with Fr. Bill Bruning. “Fr. Bill explained the significant symbolism behind every single movement in Mass,” Jessica says. “My greatest takeaway from RCIA has to be the knowledge I now have of the faith. I understand the symbolism now. I see pictures in the church differently. I can understand the bells during the Consecration of the Eucharist!” During RCIA, Jessica was blessed to meet new friends, people going through the same journey she was. Together, they participated in the Easter Vigil — beginning with the fire outside the church. “As we walked in from the fire, we began to light the candles, and then suddenly the whole church was glowing,” Jessica says. “The entire focus was shifted to the powerful words being spoken and the crucifix.”
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When she went forward to be confirmed, Jessica felt a sense of nervousness that swiftly dissipated. “When Fr. Bill anointed me, I felt this calming breeze come over me,” Jessica says. “The moment I had been waiting for had finally happened. I was so excited! Looking out into the crowd and seeing my entire support system there for me was such an amazing feeling.” Going forward, Jessica knows that she has a community that she can turn to with any questions about the faith. She encourages anyone with curiosity about the Church to have faith and “take the first step.” “Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase,” Jessica says. “Trust that God has you and will put people in your life to support you through this journey. You will learn so much, not just about Catholicism, but about yourself.”
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Queen of the Holy Rosary C at h o l i c C h u r c h
The Church, a Universal Family
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The Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul
n June 29, Catholics celebrate the feast of two of our Lord’s principal Apostles, foundational human cornerstones of the Church of Rome. The first missal reading of this feast day tells us of the miraculous deliverance of Peter from prison. This illustrates the concrete fact that despite persecutions, Christ and His chosen followers will be triumphant in this world, and in the world to come. The second is of Paul summarizing his own “pouring out” of his life as a libation. The way in which he poured it out is overwhelmingly significant — he gave his life as a missionary to gather all nations into God’s unified Kingdom. The Holy Gospel recounts Peter’s confession that Jesus is the Messiah. After this confession, the “keys to the Kingdom” were conferred onto him. These “keys” became the fundamental building block supporting the ordained priesthood and episcopal government of the Church. In his homily on June 29, 2005, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI shared: “The Feast of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul is at the same time a grateful memorial of the great witnesses of Jesus Christ and a solemn confession for the Church — one, holy, catholic and apostolic. It is first and foremost a feast of catholicity.” The celebration of our catholicity is a celebration of our unity in Christ. This unity endures unto the end, as our strength and fortress in the face of evil and the trials of earthly life.
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Sts. Peter and Paul remind us that our faith is founded on something much higher than ourselves, on an entity which raises horizons beyond our human frailties and imaginings. Our holy faith is founded upon the rock, Jesus Christ. Pope Emeritus Benedict described further: “When Peter and Paul came to Rome, the Lord on the Cross who had uttered the first line
of that Psalm was risen; God’s victory now had to be proclaimed to all the nations...” Let us embrace all of the graces which these beloved saints have won for us. Let us imitate their example, and so follow Christ with unwavering resolution. As did the Blessed Virgin, let us persevere in serving the one holy, catholic, and apostolic church in all that we say and do.
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The Greeters Ministry: Embracing Stewardship With a Smile
hen Renee Boling’s oldest daughter, Olivia, was in the fifth grade, their family began a simple but very meaningful tradition, one that has deepened their love for one another and for Christ in a beautiful way over the years. “She and I were looking for a way to volunteer together at church, and at that time, greeting was the easiest way we could think to get involved, so we signed up,” says Renee, who currently coordinates the Greeters Ministry. “It was wonderful to serve alongside my daughter in this way over the years. One of my younger daughters, Cate, would help from time to time, as well. I believe it made an impact on them and taught them the value of stewardship. It gave them a good foundation and helped them to develop a great life skill — that of greeting others and showing them a warm, friendly face.” In fact, living out the call to stewardship is something that has been meaningful to the Boling family for a long time. In
addition to being greeters, the Bolings enjoy helping with the Coffee and Donuts Ministry as well. “My husband, Ken, and I made an intentional decision to send our daughters to John Paul II Catholic Elementary School, which is the school I went to as well,” Renee says. “One of the reasons we did this was because we wanted them to be very involved in the parish community. Ken and I were both raised to understand the importance of hospitality and service, and we wanted to instill this understanding in our daughters, as well. Thankfully, they did end up being very active in our parish, as well as in other service opportunities.” Our parish greeters welcome all who enter the doors of Queen of the Holy Rosary Church for Mass and other special occasions. The greeters are allowed to choose the Masses at which they prefer to greet, as well as how often. “Greeting is an easy way to help out at our parish,” Renee says. “It only requires about 30 minutes of your time. It is a continued on back cover
Our parish greeters welcome all who enter the doors of Queen of the Holy Rosary Church for Mass and other special occasions.
Greeters are allowed to choose the Masses at which they prefer to greet, as well as how often.
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Queen of the Holy Rosary C at h o l i c C h u r c h
7023 W. 71st Street Overland Park, Kansas 66204 (913) 432-4616 | www.queenoftheholyrosary.org
The Greeters Ministry great way to get to know others, make friends, and get connected to other ministries. It is a wonderful family stewardship opportunity!” Regardless of the challenges that the greeters have faced recently due to COVID-19, they have continued to make our parish a friendly and loving place to be. “It is definitely important to make everyone feel comfortable and welcome,” Renee says. “I make sure to greet everyone with a smile! I have a real heart for hospitality. Fr. Bill does as well, and he is a good example to us of what it means to be hospitable.”
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“Greeting is an easy way to help out at our parish. It only requires about 30 minutes of your time. It is a great way to get to know others, make friends, and get connected to other ministries. It is a wonderful family stewardship opportunity!” — RENEE BOLING
More greeters are needed to serve in this ministry. For more information, please contact Renee Boling at 913-649-6515 or at rboling0403@hotmail.com.
WEEKEND MASS
Saturday: 4:00 p.m. | Sunday: 7:00 a.m., 9:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m.
DAILY MASS
Tuesday - Friday: 8:15 a.m.| First Saturday: 8:15 a.m.