may 2021
Our Parish App:
Technology Keeps Us Connected to Life at Queen of the Holy Rosary
Inside
2 This Month, We
Reflect on Mothers and Stewardship
3 Pentecost: The “Birth” of Stewardship
4 Men of Queen:
Sharing Stability, Faith and Fellowship in Uncertain Times
6 Drew and Joanne
Bodner Reflect on Stewardship Grateful for the Gift of a Personal Invitation
7023 W. 71st Street Overland Park, KS 66204 www.queenoftheholyrosary.org
T
hanks to smartphone technology, we have the ability to stay up to the minute with events and announcements from our parish. Is that ministry meeting still on? What time is that class today? How can I sign up to help with the potluck dinner? Why, it’s so easy — all of us can do it! Just download our parish app to your phone, be it an iPhone or Android device — the app is free! “We’ve had the app for years, and this is the handiest time to use it,” says Cathy Mahr, parish secretary. “I can update information on each thing that is going on. It’s been very useful with COVID notifications.” When the Call to Share went out, for example, COVID-19 restrictions prevented the normal opening held during Mass, with donation pledges made on forms distributed in the pews. “We sent it out on the app on Wednesday, and by Thursday we had 20 donations in one day,” Cathy says. The reluctance among some parishioners to using the app stems from two issues, Cathy believes. One is that some don’t understand what to do to get it — and second, some don’t know how to download it to the phone. One easy way to download the app is to open the parish website on a computer at www.queenoftheholyrosary.org and click on the “Parish App” listing. That will take you right to the location that will enable you to click on the image of your iPhone or Android device and download the app. Another easy way to download the app is by texting. iPhone users can text ParishApp1 to 555888. Android users can text ParishApp2 to 555888. The process is simple from there. continued on back cover
Queen of the Holy Rosary C at h o l i c C h u r c h
THIS MONTH,
We Reflect on Mothers
W
and
Stewardship
e celebrate the month of Mary during May, and during this month, we also celebrate Mother’s Day. It seems fitting that we honor our mothers during May, since Mary is given to us by God as the example of true Christian motherhood. Those who are called to be mothers have been blessed by God and called to fulfill a very important responsibility. Mothers are the vehicle through which God brings new life into this world. When we talk about Christian stewardship, we talk about sacrificially returning to God what we have been given. What can more clearly be a demonstration of complete sacrifice than the relationship between mother and child during the nine months of growth in the womb? During these nine months, the child’s life depends on the actions of the mother as her energy and nourishment goes directly to the growing baby. Although this relationship may change to some extent after the child is born, a mother’s sacrifice for her child is far from over after the birth. The role of the mother is critical in the child’s development — both
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spiritually and physically — throughout life. Mothers provide the comfort, nurture and support necessary for their children to become productive citizens and responsible Christians. The job of a mother is not an easy one. This is a fact that Mary, the mother of Jesus, knew very well. She worried when her young Son appeared to be lost, only to find Him later in His Father’s house. She was probably concerned as Jesus began His public ministry — not knowing what difficulties and rejections He would encounter along the way. And, Mary must have experienced great anguish as she watched her Son’s body being crucified on a cross. May all mothers look to Mary as their model for motherhood and ask her intercession as they strive to fulfill their God-given role in their children’s lives. During the month of May, let us all take some time to express our appreciation to our mothers for allowing us to come into this world, for loving us, and for serving as an example of what it means to be a steward for life.
A Letter From Our Pastor
Pentecost: The “Birth” of Stewardship
Dear Parishioners,
A
s we celebrate the Feast of Pentecost on May 23, which is one of the most significant events in the life of the Church, I can’t help but relate the outpouring of the gift of the Holy Spirit upon the first disciples as “the birth of stewardship.” As a stewardship parish, we have come to understand it in our personal lives and our parish life as the work of the Holy Spirit, active and inspiring us to be the disciples Jesus called us to be, just as He did those very first disciples. It just makes sense to once again realize and acknowledge the work of the Holy Spirit in our decisions to be authentic disciples of Jesus Christ. As every parent knows, birth brings new life to every family, and the “birth of stewardship” here in our parish has brought new life to us, personally and communally, and continues to do so. We had a “Pentecost event” when the message of stewardship was first brought to our parish, and it hasn’t been the same since. Many curious people of our parish and from around the country ask the question, “How did all of this begin?” The only answer is, “moved by conversion, we knew stewardship was going to be the ‘plan’ for our future as disciples and as a parish.” It makes sense. For some, like me, it took a conversion of sorts to move us from unbelievers to believers, and from fear or suspicion to courage and confidence in the values and ideals of stewardship. Reading the accounts of the Acts of the Apostles, it wasn’t much different for them. Their experience is our experience and continues to encourage us to be open to the Holy Spirit at work in our lives. That “Spirit” renews the “Pentecost event” in each of us,
as we practice discipleship as we know it through the stewardship way of life. Also, as with each new birth, the life that begins needs to be nourished, nurtured and loved. Through our understanding of the four pillars of parish stewardship — hospitality, prayer, formation and service — we each are called to nourish, nurture and love our parish family with the gifts we bring to each other. And without ever really knowing how much of an impact we have on each other’s spiritual lives, we trust the Holy Spirit to continue the “good work of faithful stewardship” in each of us and in those around us. Isn’t that what the first Pentecost event started, and isn’t that what you see in our parish, especially since our own “birth of stewardship”? God has blessed our parish family and continues to do so, as the Holy Spirit continues to pour out gifts upon us and send us forth to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ. As we grow and mature in our stewardship efforts, how fortunate we are that the stewardship way of life has become our way of life. May we always give thanks to God for the Holy Spirit’s gift to each of us — for, when we do, it seems only natural to be inspired to live discipleship as it was intended to be lived in the first disciples and in each of us today. Sincerely yours in Christ,
Fr. William Bruning Pastor
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Queen of the Holy Rosary C at h o l i c C h u r c h
ME
Sharing Stability, Fai T
he COVID-19 pandemic has upended life in so many ways. For some of us, life is getting closer to normal, while for others the effects still linger. We all remember when, in mid-March of 2020, churches closed and we were all asked to stay home to stay safe and healthy. Events were canceled and parish ministries went on hiatus. A fellowship group for men at Queen of the Holy Rosary, called Men of Queen, also took a break from their Saturday morning meetings. For the core group of about 15 men that make up the ministry, it was like a rug had been pulled out from under their feet. The Men of Queen was formed in 2016 with a core group of 12 men who wanted a place for faith and fellowship with other Catholic men, following a Christ Renews His Parish retreat. For the past five years, this group of men has met every Saturday morning for prayer, fellowship, breakfast, and a faith topic. After a few months of being isolated, one member had the desire to plan a way for the group to continue
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meeting. Instead of gathering in the church basement, the Men of Queen took their meetings outside, to members’ backyards. The 12 to 15 member group met at 9 a.m., someone brought donuts, and they each brought their own drinks. The men started with an opening prayer, and whoever was hosting would present a topic for the group to discuss. They would close with a Rosary and closing prayer. Then, someone would volunteer to be the next host. “This turned out to be a really neat experience,” says Will Miller. Will enjoyed when they would have to wait out the rain in a garage or meet in someone’s driveway. “It made us visible — these men are coming together to pray,” he says. “People would walk by and think ‘What are these guys doing?’” As the fall season approached, the members asked Fr. Bill if they could meet in the church basement, as long as they followed the county’s COVID-19 procedures. He approved and the group is back to meeting at our parish continued on page 5
The men discuss anything from the Sunday readings or a saint, to a real-world topic. Anyone can join at any time, as there is no book or study to follow.
EN of QUEEN:
ith and Fellowship in Uncertain Times each Saturday. But, as Will points out, the men have discussed returning to their outdoor summer meetings in 2021, because they all enjoyed it so much. The Men of Queen members’ need for connection solidifies something that many of us have learned during the pandemic. Our faith is meant to be practiced in community. Conversely, social isolation can really take a toll on our spiritual and mental health. “Some men were really missing that fellowship,” Will says. “Coming together with men of common faith, they just missed that. We said, ‘COVID looks like it will be around a while, so let’s see how we can still get together.’” The men enjoy exploring a variety of topics together and just sharing their joys and sorrows. They discuss anything from the Sunday readings or a saint to a real-world topic. Anyone can join at any time, as there is no book or study to follow.
All men of our parish are invited to come experience Men of Queen.
The Men of Queen gather Saturday mornings for prayer, fellowship and faith discussions.
All men of our parish are invited to come experience Men of Queen. The group is following all COVID-19 safety precautions. The Men of Queen group meets in the church basement on Saturday mornings at 9 a.m. after the 8:15 a.m. Mass or Communion service. Please refer to the bulletin for more information.
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Queen of the Holy Rosary C at h o l i c C h u r c h
Drew and Joanne Bodner Reflect on Stewardship G R AT E F U L F O R T H E G I F T O F A P E R S O N A L I N V I TAT I O N
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t all started with a personal invitation. Both Drew and Joanne Bodner have been active parishioners at Queen of the Holy Rosary for decades, but they can both still recall their first steps into parish life here. Drew was only 19 when he was first asked to become an usher in 1957. Just over 20 years later, Joanne was introduced to our parish when she began dating Drew. Her acceptance of the Lord’s invitation to come into the Catholic Church in 1983 began a new chapter in discipleship for her. Together, the Bodners have served God and His people in countless ways, receiving abundant blessings in return. Drew still remembers the day he was asked to participate in the liturgy at Queen for the first time. “I was home from college and went to Mass, and an usher came up and asked me to take up the collection,” he says. “This usher didn’t realize that he gave me a liturgical gift I cherish — the gift of ushering. Ushering offers unlimited joys and opportunities for evangelizing. It’s a matter of inviting people to serve — some are just waiting for an invitation.” In Drew’s case, that moment 64 years ago led to a lifelong ministry. By the late 1970s, he had become the usher coordinator, a role that he filled until 2007. Drew continued to serve as the head usher for the 9 o’clock Mass until the pandemic hit last March. Ultimately, the invitation he received as a young man shaped his entire adulthood in the Church. Similarly, Joanne discovered that being invited to participate in parish life had a great impact on the direction that her faith took following her conversion to Catholicism. “Through the years and most especially under Fr. Bill, the people coming into the Church through RCIA are really invited to participate in the liturgy and in the parish,” she says. “When you convert, it’s such a big deal. I liken it to moving to another country where they speak
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Joanne and Drew Bodner
the same language, but you still have to learn to follow all their customs. You’re reluctant to just jump into new things, and I think there is an emphasis at Queen on inviting new parishioners and RCIA people to participate.” Over the years, the Bodners have been involved in various parish ministries and activities. They served on the Call to Charity Action committee (which is no longer extant) and helped with the food pantry. Drew and Joanne are also charter members of the Queen’s Saints senior group. In recent years, they have enjoyed participating in the Centering Prayer Group and the Discovering Christ and Following Christ programs led by Fr. Bill. The Bodners’ life has also been greatly influenced by their connection with the Sisters of Charity of continued on page 7
Drew and Joanne Bodner Leavenworth. Through the spiritual mentorship of Sr. Madonna, the two became associates of the Sisters of Charity in 2006. Continuing to grow in their love of Christ and His teachings on social justice have led to Drew’s volunteer work with a local tutoring program for disadvantaged kids, as well as the couple’s support of the Vitae Foundation and the Johnson County pregnancy clinic. For many years, Joanne traveled to the University of St. Mary several times a week to volunteer in their music department and spend time with the sisters. Reflecting on the role of stewardship and our faith community in her life, Joanne is grateful for the journey. “For me, it’s been a matter of personal growth,” she says. “I’ve learned a lot. All of the priests at Queen have been wonderful, and Fr. Bill has brought a grace to all of us. Stewardship has become central to our lives over
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the years. Everything is organized around the parish and around the faith that comes from that.” Like Joanne, Drew is amazed by the abundant blessings that have come from a life of discipleship, and he hopes that all parishioners will experience the wonder of a faith lived fully, in community with our parish family. “God is with us every second,” Drew says. “Some blessings we don’t even know we have, but we have them. We all carry these treasures with us in our back pockets. “That’s the inspirational part of all this,” he adds. “There are more people involved now than ever, and that’s how the church grows. There I was — not volunteering for anything — and I was invited to do it. Then I saw what a difference it makes. There is such potential out there for people to do something that will be a gift to them, and it is that personal invitation that gives them the opportunity.”
“There are more people involved now than ever, and that’s how the church grows. There I was — not volunteering for anything — and I was invited to do it. Then I saw what a difference it makes. There is such potential out there for people to do something that will be a gift to them, and it is that personal invitation that gives them the opportunity.” — Drew Bodner
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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
Our Parish App
continued from front cover
“I can send messages to others, say if the office has something coming up, perhaps an important announcement,” Cathy says. “If there is some kind of emergency or some event, I can tell people immediately. All they have to do is touch the ‘message’ icon.” Individual ministries can also post specific messages to their members through the app. Parishioners also can stay connected by following Queen of the Holy Rosary Parish on Facebook, where weekend and daily Masses are livestreamed. Masses are also livestreamed on the website, where an archive is maintained, as well. A Mass Guide is available on the website with readings and lyrics posted.
Cathy posts the bulletins and newsletters to the website. “I try to keep it updated with as much information as I can,” she says. “Each time there is an event coming up, I make sure it’s there. People need to remember to tap “More” in the lower right-hand corner. There, they will find all the staff contact information, the bulletins, daily readings, notification settings, and everything our parishioners need to know.”
If anyone needs help downloading the app or needs help using it, please contact Cathy Mahr at 913-432-4616.
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.