september 2021
Inside
2 Stewardship and
Evangelization: Using Our Time and Talents to Spread the Good News
3 September: An
Ongoing Opportunity to Change the World
4 Our Parish Catechists: Building a Foundation of Faith for Young Parishioners and their Families
6 Celebrating the Feast of the Archangels
7 Saints Alive! Sharing
Musical Gifts and Bringing Us Closer to the Liturgy
7023 W. 71st Street Overland Park, KS 66204 www.queenoftheholyrosary.org
Our Annual Parish Picnic:
A “Welcome
Back” to Life and Worship as a Faith Community
M
ark your calendars! On Sept. 12, at 10 a.m., the annual Queen of the Holy Rosary Parish Picnic returns. Canceled last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this parish-wide event is intended to welcome everyone back to Mass, the sacraments, and to life as a community. “I want to express my gratitude for the example of faith everyone has shown in these challenging times,” says Fr. Bill Bruning. “I just want people to come together, enjoy one another, have fun, pray together, and experience hope. Our focus is to gather together as family again.” Held at the upper parking lot between the church and the school, the morning events will commence with an outdoor Mass. “The Eucharist is the lifeblood of our faith,” Fr. Bill says. “It is the ultimate antidote against death. Also, when we gather together, we celebrate the Body of Christ. We are the Body of Christ.” It is at this time that two important gestures — removed from the Mass during the pandemic — will be reinstated: the greeting of our neighbors and the sign of peace. Both are expressions of the deeper reality that, as Christians, we do not stand alone. We are dependent on one another to live the full life that Christ intends for us. This special Sunday liturgy is intentionally aimed at unification. It will be the only Mass offered that day. Due to the convenience of routine, we often attend the same Mass every week and miss the opportunity to meet parishioners at other Mass times. “We are one family, not four individual families at each Mass,” Fr. Bill says. “We want to mingle outside those groups, get to know one another, and celebrate our faith.” Following Mass, there will be plenty of time for fellowship. The Knights of Columbus and other volunteers will be grilling burgers, serving picnic foods, continued on back cover
Queen of the Holy Rosary C at h o l i c C h u r c h
& E VA N G E L I Z AT I O N : S T E WA R D S H I P
Us i n g O u r T i m e a nd Ta l e n t s to S p r e a d t h e G ood Ne w s
J
esus came to save the world and to draw all men to Him. When we think of the salvific work of Christ, many of us think of His life, death, resurrection, and His ascension into glory. And while those salvific events are of primary importance in salvation history, it doesn’t end there. Christ wants everyone to know the salvation He has won for them. He wants every soul to experience heavenly glory. Therefore, after having conquered death through His cross and resurrection, Christ commissioned His disciples to carry the Gospel to the world. They were charged to “preach the Gospel to all nations,” winning, through their words and examples, souls for the kingdom! What a task! The disciples were overwhelmed at the thought of carrying the Gospel to all nations after Christ had returned to heaven. But the Lord assured them, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). When the Holy Spirit descended upon them on the feast of Pentecost, all those in the crowd were amazed. They all spoke in different tongues, preaching the same message, and everyone there could understand!
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And so it was that the Church was established through the power of the Spirit and for the purpose of evangelization. Each of us has been baptized in that Spirit, and through that, made a member of the Church. It is, thus, up to each and every one of us to actively participate in the Church’s mission — proclaiming the Good News to all the world and building up the Kingdom of God! Each of us must re-evaluate how we are using the gifts God has given us to build up His Kingdom. Do we preach the Good News in all that we do and say? The same Spirit that descended upon the apostles that first Pentecost remains with us now, giving us the strength and courage to labor in the vineyard of the world. Christ came to save the world, and He established the Church as the “universal sacrament of salvation” (Christifideles Laici, 2), by which many people throughout the world would know the glory of His truth. St. Paul describes the Church as one body with many parts. And just as each part of the body has a particular function, so each member of the Church has a particular calling, but united as one body in the Spirit, all of the members are to carry out the Church’s one mission. How is God calling you to carry out this mission? What particular gifts has He given you with which you ought to build the Kingdom?
Each of us must re-evaluate how we are using the gifts God has given us to build up His Kingdom. Do we preach the Good News in all that we do and say? The same Spirit that descended upon the apostles that first Pentecost remains with us now, giving us the strength and courage to labor in the vineyard of the world.
A Letter From Our Pastor
September: An Ongoing Opportunity to Change the World
Dear Parishioners,
I
n his letters, St. Paul often began by greeting his “brothers and sisters.” Every time I read one of these letters, it reminds me that you and I truly are sisters and brothers in the Body of Christ, the Church, but especially here in our parish. We need to understand that we are indeed a family, and the way we see and treat one another is fundamental to the health and happiness of this family. Our spiritual family doesn’t stop at the walls of our church, but rather, extends to include every man and woman created in God’s image and likeness. You may be familiar with the term “Catholic Social Teaching,” part of which is built on a commitment to the poor. These are the beliefs that guide Catholics on how to apply the faith to all aspects of life, and they lay the framework for the Church’s teachings on the dignity and sacredness of human life. Once we make a commitment to be disciples of Jesus and pursue stewardship as a way of life, the principles of Catholic Social Teaching become very easy to incorporate into our lives. Catholic Social Teaching has been around since those first followers of Jesus tried to balance their new faith with the realities of living in a world of Roman oppression. Jesus reminded His disciples then, just as He reminds us now, that caring for and administering to the poor should be at the core of all we do. Recall when the Lord said in Matthew, “For I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave me drink; I was a stranger and you welcomed me; I was naked and you gave
me clothing; I was ill and you cared for me; I was in prison and you visited me.” This is our foundation as we seek to embody mercy and justice to our fellow man and should be one of our major goals as a faith community. Many of our parish ministries provide for us an opportunity to do just as Jesus asked — to serve those most in need. As we move into the fall season, with Thanksgiving, Advent, and Christmas soon to follow, now is a good time for us to recommit ourselves to addressing the needs we see around us — both as a parish society and as individuals. I am proud of our collective efforts in assisting and serving the poor, but I also know that we can do more. Many of us personally need to get involved in these efforts. Our Holy Father, Pope Francis, has a great love and regard for the poor and, like Jesus, he reminds us often of what we need to do. Pope Francis once said in a homily, “The measure of the greatness of a society is found in the way it treats those most in need, those who have nothing apart from their poverty.” Together, we can make a difference. 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
O U R PA R I S H
Building a F o u n dat i o n
T
Dolores is a current catechist, and she went through the program as a student.
The Parish School of Religion bulletin board offers a welcoming message to all.
Eighth-grade students write summer prayer intentions on a tablecloth.
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of
F a i t h for
he family is the first place children learn the faith. This is why the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops lays out a number of ways to build the “domestic church” within our own families — like always attending Sunday Mass, praying a Rosary as a family, and inviting priests, deacons and sisters into your home, to name a few. Here at Queen of the Holy Rosary, we are blessed with catechists who all volunteer to share the faith and help our families build up the domestic church. For Denise Godinez, who has served as Director of Religious Education for 26 years, this work is important to her and the volunteer catechists. She is thankful for the catechists who share their time and talents with our parish. “Within a parish, there are many who help others understand God’s teachings, but catechists are God’s essential workers for religious education for young people,” Denise says. “These individuals have openly accepted God’s request to teach His word to a new generation.” Our School of Religion Program, for kindergarten to eighth-grade students, is held on Sunday mornings, following 9 a.m. Mass. Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is held on Wednesdays at 4:45 p.m. for 3 to 6-year-olds. Sacrament Preparation is for students in second, seventh, and eighth grades Our catechists come from a wide range of professions, but they are united in their desire to serve our Lord through teaching the youth. Josie Werkowitch has taught Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) for the past nine years. She loves how this program gives the children time and space to listen to the Holy Spirit. “It helps them begin to understand the riches of the Catholic Church and the love of Jesus for us all,” she says. “Parents sending their child to CGS are helping their child to contemplate the significance of the words we hear every time we go to Mass, ‘This is my Body.’” continued on page 5
C AT E C H I S T S :
r Young Parishioners and their Families Megan Fuller teaches third grade at the School of Religion and has taught children of many ages throughout the years. As a school psychologist, she has a passion for working with students. “Religious education classes give me the opportunity to share our faith with students and help them grow in their own faith,” she says. “By listening to the children and understanding their perspectives, my faith deepens.” Jodi Reno’s own children have gone through various religious education programs at our parish. She also taught in the program for older students for about 10 years. She loves that religious education not only helps children learn the faith, but it’s also a valuable opportunity to make friends in the faith. “I loved being a catechist because it brought joy to my face seeing children come to me for the next activity,” she says. “It also brought my heart great love to see the energy of children wanting to learn more about their faith.” Denise knows that raising youth in the Catholic faith — whether at home or in a religious education program — is essential work. “Catechists have accepted the job to plant and cultivate the tiny seed of faith in young people, selflessly presenting the best of themselves to show the growth of God in each young person they teach and encounter,” she says. As time goes on, the importance of this work continues to grow. Our world needs people of faith, and these religious education students are being equipped to go out as disciples. “Religious education not only focuses on doctrine, but it also focuses on the center of human life, contributing to the quality of the world by how we think, act and speak toward one another,” Denise says. “Catechists contribute positively to the beauty of the human person.”
Here at Queen of the Holy Rosary, we are blessed with catechists who all volunteer to share the faith and help our families build up the domestic church.
Our catechists are united in their desire to serve our Lord through teaching the youth.
If you would like to get involved as a catechist, please contact Denise Godinez at denisegodinez@qhr-opks.org or 913-722-2206.
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Queen of the Holy Rosary C at h o l i c C h u r c h
Celebrating the
F E A S T of the
ARCHANGELS E
very Sept. 29, the Church celebrates the feast day of the Archangels — St. Michael, St. Gabriel, and St. Raphael. We are blessed to be inspired by these “servants and messengers of God” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 329). The term “archangels” has its Scriptural basis in the New Testament (1 Thes 4:16, Jude 1:9), indicating a chief or leading angel. “Archangel” generally refers to St. Michael, St. Gabriel, and St. Raphael, as they are the three angels most frequently mentioned throughout Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition. The fact that these three angels are mentioned by name on multiple occasions indicates the significance of their
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roles in the history of salvation. It is because of these important roles that we take pause to celebrate on Sept. 29. St. Michael is mentioned by name on several occasions in Sacred Scripture (Dn 10:13, Rev 12:7), and his role in the Tradition of the Church has been extensively documented. He has been widely referred to as the “great prince,” and is most often associated with the apocalypse — the final battle against Satan. Christian Tradition gives St. Michael four different roles, but he has primarily been regarded as the patron and protector of the Church. St. Gabriel is mentioned by name in Scripture (Lk 1:19), and Tradition has also assigned him implicit roles
within Scripture where he is not specifically mentioned. Most important, however, is St. Gabriel’s role as the messenger of God, delivering to Mary the announcement of the birth of Our Savior (Lk 1:26). St. Raphael is mentioned by name only in the Book of Tobit, where he is responsible for healing Tobias. Raphael means “God has healed” and thus, he has also often been associated with the “angel of the Lord” ( Jn 5:4). The feast day on Sept. 29 gives each of us the opportunity to consider our own role in the Church, as we gratefully commemorate the Archangels responsible for carrying out their roles of defender, messenger, and healer.
Saints Alive!
Sharing Musical Gifts and Bringing Us
T
Closer to the Liturgy
heir numbers may have been temporarily reduced during the COVID-19 restrictions, but the members of our music ensemble, Saints Alive!, are ready to return to their normal grouping to offer music and song that brings us closer together as we worship at Mass. Don Cook coordinates the ensemble that includes guitars, bass, flutes, and several singers. Don plays 12string acoustic guitar, and occasionally six-string guitar. There currently are seven members, although it has been as large as 14 and as small as four. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, there have been only two active musicians, but conditions should return the number to seven. The group started in 1989 and found its name under the leadership of Wally Drone, along with his late wife, Luanne Drone. “He brought us all along,” Don says of Wally, who is in assisted living. “He was good at encouraging us with instruments.” Saints Alive! plays traditional Catholic hymns and songs, as well as other appropriate Christian music. “We play whatever the setting calls for,” Don says. “We don’t do three-chord praise music. We do regular Catholic music, and we make our own arrangements.” Before the COVID-19 restrictions went into place, the group practiced each week but hasn’t been able to do so lately. However, the members’ skills are such that rehearsal isn’t always needed. “We don’t necessarily have to practice like we used to — ‘religiously,’” Don says. “Even new musicians can pick up the pieces quickly. It may take only 20 minutes. They pick it up quickly — they are great sight readers.” Whether the group is playing during Mass, for meditation, prelude or postlude, their work always serves to bring them closer to Christ.
“I always take the approach that we get more out of what we do than what we put in,” Don says. “There is joy and fulfillment, following the saying that ‘when you sing, you are praying twice.’ I understand that sentiment.” Playing in the ensemble also is the best practice of stewardship for Don. “I truly love it,” he says. “It is a lot of work, but it is a labor of love. It certainly brings you closer to the Liturgy. You pay more attention, and you have music that fits the readings. You pay attention to the readings more deeply. It’s very good that way.” Saints Alive! enjoys a close working relationship with Music Director Michael Kim. “We are very fortunate to have Michael at Queen,” Don says. “He allows us leeway for selections of music. I have a real good feel for the music that the congregation will participate in. Michael makes suggestions. And I suggest something for the readings. We know what the people will do, and we can hear them sing back, which is really fulfilling for us when it happens. We don’t want to perform — we want to lead, and that’s the key to it.” Saints Alive! is always open to new members. “We like people who are willing to become part of it,” Don says. “We want people who want to take it seriously and learn how to do it better, learn how to blend better. Sometimes people are intimidated, but all are welcome.”
Those interested in joining the Saints Alive! ensemble may call Don Cook at 913-634-8140 or Kay Schweiger at 913-708-3695. 7
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 Annual Parish Picnic and offering prepackaged, pandemic-friendly fare. There will be inflatables for the kids, games, volleyball, and a dunk tank. Overflow parking for the picnic will be available at the Shawnee Mission School District Center for Academic Achievement. A shuttle bus will transport attendees to and from the picnic. Those with physical limitations are encouraged to attend, as well. A four-wheel gator will provide passage right up to the seating area. Once there, the parish youth group will be serving those who require special care. For those still feeling vulnerable, the 4 p.m. Saturday Mass will remain on the schedule for that weekend. Also, all Sunday liturgies will continue to be livestreamed — this service will not be dropped. Queen of the Holy Rosary intends to remain a pandemic-safe space.
continued from front cover
We are looking forward to this special time of faith, fun, and fellowship. Parishioners of all ages are encouraged to attend. See you there!
If you have any questions, or if you would like more information about the upcoming Parish Picnic celebration, please contact the parish office 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
Monday - Friday: 8:15 a.m.| First Saturday: 8:15 a.m.