On the cover: Elijah Parra with his parents, Annie and Mark (background). Annie is the incoming principal at St. Gregory School in Maryville. Photo by Michael Hogan.
Ashlie Hand leads the Office of Communications for the Diocese of Kansas City – St. Joseph.
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COVER STORY
Beyond the backpack: School choice fuels Catholic school growth in Missouri | Karen Ridder
As backpacks fill this fall, school choice continues to be a growing interest for parents. Local Catholic school leaders say they are meeting this need with new scholarship expansions, innovative programs and alternative options for education. The result is a positive trend for Catholic schools in our area and the reverse of what has been a decades-long move of families away from Catholic education. Missouri is a nationwide leader in reversing the downward trend in part because of the MOScholars school choice tax incentive program. MOScholars enters its fourth year this fall with major expansions.
Karen Ridder is a Catholic journalist, wife and mother of four in Liberty.
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On the Way: The best teachers are witnesses | Bishop James Johnston
During the years of childhood, the primary teachers are, first, parents, and, secondarily, teachers in school. Parents model the Christian life of discipleship within the family. Catholic school teachers, regardless of the subject they teach, share in the sacred mission of passing on the Catholic Faith to their students.
6 The heart of faith formation: Catechists as guides on the journey to God | Sara Kraft
As part of the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope, the Jubilee of Catechists will be held Sept. 26-28 in Rome. The event will bring together catechists from around the world and acknowledge the important role they play in nurturing the Faith and educating the faithful.
10 Companions in Chillicothe: Educating for humanity, not just degrees | Allison Vrooman
This education program for incarcerated women stems from the Jesuit belief that everyone is a pilgrim accompanying another in this life.
20 To Serve and Lift: When the bell rings, the struggle begins | Erin Lutrell
For many families in our community, back-to-school comes with a heavy weight: the stress of affording both school supplies and groceries.
Allison Vrooman is the communications specialist for the Diocese of Kansas City – St. Joseph.
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From tiny seeds to strong roots: St. Gabriel's new preschool nurtures faith and minds | Marty Denzer
Christy Binn, directoress and lead guide of Mustard Seed Manor is excited to be guiding children in the united Montessori/Catechesis of the Good Shepherd preschool at St. Gabriel the Archangel School this fall.
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Deacons of Hope: Providing dignified housing and support for moms in need | Marty Denzer
A conversation several years ago between Deacon Kevin Cummings and Deacon Doug Hemke centered on wanting to help the most ignored women — those who are homeless and pregnant.
En Español
25
Formados para Servir | Por Leyden Rovelo-Krull
26 En el Camino: Los mejores maestros son testigos | Por Obispo Johnston
Marty Denzer is a long-time writer in residence for the Catholic Key.
Sara Kraft is a freelance writer in St. Joseph.
witnesses
The best teachers are witnesses
“YOU WILL RECEIVE POWER WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT COMES DOWN ON YOU; THEN YOU ARE TO BE MY WITNESSES IN JERUSALEM, THROUGHOUT JUDEA AND SAMARIA, YES, EVEN TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH.” (ACTS 1:8)
Pope St. Paul VI notably stated, “Modern man listens more willingly to witnesses than to teachers, and if he does listen to teachers, it is because they are witnesses.” If we consider our own personal experience, this rings profoundly true. Teachers whose actions contradict their words, especially as it relates to matters of faith and morals, undermine and even damage the students they are charged with educating. Conversely, teachers whose actions mirror their words provide a powerful example that makes a life-long impact on their pupils.
During the years of childhood, the primary teachers are, first, parents, and, secondarily, teachers in school. Parents model the Christian life of discipleship within the family. Their actions convey to children what is truly important, including the primacy of living in a right relationship with God and others. This includes putting God first in worship and having a spiritual vision as a family, and extends to sharing, forgiving and placing others before oneself. In other words, willing the other’s good, a definition of love. And it ripples
beyond the immediate family to a concern and love for others, especially the poor.
The upcoming canonization of the Blessed Carlo Acutis and Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati on Sept. 7 demonstrates that the power of witness can also come from children and teenagers to their parents. These two saints-to-be witnessed to their own parents who, at the time, were at best lukewarm in their faith.
School teachers — and I speak here especially of our Catholic school teachers — also provide a powerful witness through their lives. All Catholic school teachers, regardless of the subject they teach, share in the sacred mission of passing on the Catholic Faith to their students. By modeling Christ-like behavior, integrating Gospel values into their teaching and fostering a classroom environment rooted in love and truth, they help students grow in faith and virtue. This responsibility goes beyond religion class; it permeates every interaction and lesson, regardless of subject. Together, Catholic educators serve as witnesses to the Faith, helping form disciples who know, love and serve God and others.
Likewise, one can begin to see why the martyrs have a special place in the Church. Martyr means witness. The martyrs witnessed to the Faith in the surrender of their lives for Christ and their faith in him. Their actions, mirroring that of Jesus’ own sacrifice on the cross, confirmed their words of belief. They literally had their own “skin in the game.”
All of us who follow Jesus as disciples have a vocation to be a witness. This is one of the primary purposes for the grace bestowed through the Sacrament of Confirmation. Jesus promised that when he sent the Holy Spirit, the apostles would be clothed in power and be his witnesses. (cf. Acts 1:8) We cannot underestimate the power that an authentic witness can have in this world. Let’s all put our skin in the game and teach by first being a witness.
ALL OF US WHO FOLLOW JESUS AS DISCIPLES HAVE A VOCATION TO BE A WITNESS. THIS IS ONE OF THE PRIMARY PURPOSES FOR THE GRACE BESTOWED THROUGH THE SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION.”
From the Bishop Bishop James V. Johnston, Jr. is the seventh bishop of the Diocese of Kansas City – St. Joseph
THE HEART OF FAITH FORMATION: Catechists as guides on the journey to God
By Sara Kraft
Photos by Michael Hogan
“I“I
became a catechist because of my desire to complete the circle: meaning that often we focus on teaching doctrine and providing the sacraments but neglect assisting in cultivating a personal relationship with a loving God,” explained Madgelyn Gordon, catechist at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Easton, Missouri. Madgelyn explains her goal is “to share the Good News that God created an amazing world and he sent his Son to redeem mankind. He continues to invite us to the wedding feast each day. And if we mess up, he is waiting to reconcile us back to him — and there will be great rejoicing!”
THE MORE WE MAKE OURSELVES AVAILABLE TO GOD, THE MORE NUGGETS YOU PICK UP.”
A catechist is someone who lives their Faith, instructs others in the Faith and guides their students to apply their Faith to their daily lives.
As part of the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope, the Jubilee of Catechists will be held Sept. 26-28 in Rome. The event will bring together catechists from around the world and acknowledge the important role they play in nurturing the Faith and educating the faithful.
In the Diocese of Kansas City – St. Joseph, religious education programs for youth and adults vary greatly depending on the parish. Religious education programs for kindergarteners through fifth grade occur in just about every parish. Many parishes have programming for middle school and high school youth, which can include youth groups, retreats or other faith formation opportunities. Adult faith formation opportunities vary from parish to parish, depending upon both staff resources and grassroots efforts from parishioners.
“If I had known this 40 years ago, it would have changed my life,” explained adult catechist Tony Dudik. Tony and wife Mary Ann have led Bible studies at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in St. Joseph for more than 10 years. “The more we make ourselves available to God, the more nuggets you pick up.” Dudik believes the goal of adult faith formation is “to continue to grow your Faith, and to grow in knowledge, understanding and wisdom. Then you can become a blessing to others.”
Catechists unable to make the Jubilee of Catechists in Rome can celebrate by receiving a special blessing from their priest or making a pilgrimage to one of three jubilee sites in our diocese (the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph and the Basilica of Conception Abbey) and praying the jubilee prayer found at usccb.org.
Marc Cardaronella is the director of the Office of Catechesis and Faith Formation.
Teaching to hope for heaven
THE CONCEPT OF ETERNAL LIFE CAN OFTEN FEEL DISTANT, ABSTRACT AND EVEN IRRELEVANT. IT’S EASY TO UNDERSTAND WHY: HEAVEN SEEMS FAR AWAY, WHILE LIFE’S PROBLEMS ARE STARING US IN THE FACE. IMMEDIATE STRUGGLES, WORRIES, AND DEMANDS CONSUME OUR EVERYDAY LIVES.
Another obstacle is that heaven seems so inconceivable. Sometimes, people aren’t even sure why they would want to go. But practically, we know that the greatest tragedy in this life would be failing to reach heaven in the afterlife.
How can teachers and parents guide young people to keep this in mind when life’s challenges command so much of their attention? The reality is, it’s not enough to discuss heaven or teach doctrines; we must live in a way that makes heaven seem real, believable, and desirable. The Catechism gives some insight here, saying, “Faith makes us taste in advance the light of the beatific vision, the goal of our journey here below … faith is already the beginning of eternal life.” (CCC 163-4)
Let’s look at the example of Abraham. God asked him to trust in ways he could not possibly understand. Yet, Romans 4:18 tells us, “… in hope … [Abraham] believed against hope.” Abraham couldn’t see where
God was leading him, but he wasn’t blindly stepping into the unknown; instead, he trusted God’s guidance. He experienced God’s providence and faithfulness in many tangible ways over many years. These encounters gave him the courage to hope and trust even more.
Pope Benedict XVI points out in his encyclical Spe Salvi that genuine hope is always rooted in concrete experiences — small foretastes and glimpses of God’s goodness, truth and beauty that we’ve encountered in our lives. Heaven might seem distant, yet authentic love, acts of kindness and moments of prayer and peace give us a foretaste. These experiences make us long for more and genuinely hope in the promises of heaven.
As catechists and parents, we need to point that out. But it’s also about more than words. It’s about being authentic witnesses to our faith. People — especially young people — don’t hope for what they can’t imagine or haven’t seen. When
Our acts of kindness, our patience during trials, our joy even amid struggles — these tangible examples make heaven seem attainable, believable, and worth striving for.”
they see Faith genuinely lived out in our lives, they get a glimpse of heaven. Our acts of kindness, our patience during trials, our joy even amid struggles — these tangible examples make heaven seem attainable, believable and worth striving for.
Think of your witness as a rope connected to an anchor that is secure in heaven. Although you haven't reached heaven yet, you're linked to it. Your life becomes a visible line that guides others upward. Your witness provides them with something to hold onto, something that reassures them, “This is real. This is worth it.”
Ultimately, the best teaching occurs when parents and teachers are also authentic witnesses. By living out your Faith sincerely, you’re teaching young people with not only words but proof — proof that eternal life isn’t merely an abstract idea. It’s an honest and reachable destination worth hoping for right here, right now.
House of God
Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph, St. Joseph
By Ashlie Hand
by Michael Hogan
The cornerstone of the CoCathedral of St. Joseph in St. Joseph was laid in 1869, and the first Mass was celebrated on St. Patrick’s Day in 1871. The towers were erected in 1900 and rebuilt in 1959.
The St. Joseph Grotto includes a statue from the former St. Joseph’s Hospital.
In 1995, the interior was redecorated, adding marble in the center aisle, a low wall separating the sanctuary from the daily chapel and stainedglass windows in the upper vestibule. As one enters the nave, attention is immediately drawn to the beautiful Oberammergau crucifix, which hangs over the tabernacle.
Photos
The 12 columns representing the Twelve Apostles are crowned with red, a royal color and the liturgical color of Christ’s Passion, martyrs and Pentecost. The McKenny Memorial Organ was installed in 1929 by the Kilgen Organ Company of St. Louis and has been expanded several times since.
The cathedra (bishop’s chair) was installed in 2014. The coat of arms of the bishop of the Diocese of Kansas City — St. Joseph is displayed on the back.
A Marian shrine stands in the southeast corner of the sanctuary, framed by a mural depicting a bit of the western Missouri landscape. The sunflower is said to follow the sun as it moves across the sky, just as the faithful Christian follows Christ through life. At the top of the scene, a white dove hovers, depicting the presence of the Holy Spirit.
Visit the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph during the Jubilee Year 2025 as part of a pious pilgrimage and obtain the jubilee indulgence granted by the Holy Father under the usual conditions.
A bronze vigil lamp stands near the tabernacle, whose burning candle alerts us to the sacramental presence of Christ. It features two peacocks, an ancient Christian symbol of resurrection and immortality.
The church’s stained-glass windows were installed around 1912. This window in the south transept includes windows depicting: cross, anchor and heart (faith, hope and charity); dove (Holy Spirit); book with alpha and omega (Jesus, the beginning and the end); lamb, banner and seven seals (from Rv 5); and hammer, nails, spear and sponge (instruments of the Passion).
The tabernacle features the Greek letters for the alpha and the omega, frequently used as a symbol for the eternal God. The word PAX symbolizes Christ’s peace, and the term “Veni Jesu” means “Come Jesus.”
Companions in Chillicothe EDUCATING FOR HUMANITY, NOT JUST DEGREES
By Allison Vrooman
“Ireally hope that they know how much this means to us. That somebody has actually taken the time to come in and care,” said Lisa Suter, talking about Rockhurst University’s Companions in Chillicothe program. “They are doing something that is just amazing. I think it’s helping everybody that’s going to transition back into society to be a better human being. Not just educated, but a better person.”
Suter is currently at Chillicothe Correctional Center serving a sentence of life without parole. Over the past 32 years, she has taken every class and extra opportunity offered. When the application for a new educational program came out in 2018, Suter thought it was too good to be true. She was part of the first class offered and graduated with an associate degree in August 2024. She now serves as a tutor to those currently in the program.
“It’s been amazing. It’s really helped me in my time by expanding my mind and giving me something to think about besides prison. I am just so thankful,” Suter shared.
In 2016, Rockhurst University was contacted by a representative of the Department of Corrections in Jefferson City about forming a prison education program on the western side of the state. Craig Watz, a professor at the university and now director of the program, was asked to develop the program from the ground up.
“The mission of the Jesuits is to walk with those who are marginalized and to help those in need,” Watz shared. “I willingly accepted the challenge because I believe in this program tremendously.”
The concept of this program is threefold: to be modest, achievable and sustainable. Watz realized that many incarcerated individuals live their lives being promised things that are never fulfilled. Therefore, the program started slowly and built as it went. The university provides the professors, but the program is independently funded by donors who believe in the mission.
One three-credit course is offered each semester (spring, summer, fall) to a class of 20
THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO GENUINELY CARE ABOUT US AND DON’T TREAT US JUST LIKE INMATES. THEY FOUGHT HARD TO EVEN JUST CALL US COMPANIONS INSTEAD OF INMATES OR OFFENDERS.”
incarcerated students and a class of prison staff members. After obtaining a minimum of 60 credit hours, approximately six and a half years, students graduate with an associate degree in liberal studies.
Aspiring students must apply to the program. The application consists of demographic questions, two essay questions and an interview with Watz. It is required that the applicant have a high school diploma. The program has grown to receive a couple of hundred applications.
The name, Companions in Chillicothe, stems from the Jesuit belief that everyone is a pilgrim accompanying another in this life. Watz shared, “We are all companions along the journey. As we go through this — as professors, as staff members, as students — we join each other along this journey.”
When asked why they provide education to someone who is serving life without parole, Watz responded, “Education is not just about employment. It is not only about getting a job, but also about giving people a sense of humanity. It’s about giving people the opportunity to share in what is really important – learning about who we are as a person, developing a relationship with others, communicating, having a sense of peace and confidence in who we are.”
Suter agreed and shared one of the biggest things she has learned from being in the program. “There are people out there who genuinely care about us and don’t treat us just like inmates. They fought hard to even just call us companions instead of inmates or offenders. They never treated us any different than what I imagine a student actually attending at the university would feel. It’s been amazing. Every week when we are in class, I feel like a college student. The humanity that they have shown us has touched my heart.”
Beyond √ backpack
School choice fuels Catholic school growth in Missouri
By Karen Ridder
Photos by Michael Hogan
As backpacks fill this fall, school choice continues to be a growing interest for parents.
Local Catholic school leaders say they are meeting this need with new scholarship expansions, innovative programs and alternative options for education. The result is a positive trend for Catholic schools in our area and the reverse of what has been a decades-long move of families away from Catholic education.
A recent report from the National Catholic Educational Association reveals a nationwide Catholic school population decline of about 13 percent over the last 10 years. That statistic follows a 50-year reduction in Catholic school enrollment in this country. National Catholic school student numbers are about 30 percent of what they were in the mid-1960s.
However, the picture is not all bleak. Overall, graduation and college attendance rates of Catholic school students remain higher than any other type of school in the country including other types of religious schools, non-sectarian private schools, and public schools. In the Plains region, which includes Mis-
souri, attendance rates are actually on the rise, and many schools have waiting lists for placement. Missouri is a nationwide leader in reversing the downward trend in part because of the MOScholars school choice tax incentive program. MOScholars enters its fourth year this fall with major expansions. Thanks to legislative changes, scholarships can be offered for the first time to students in communities with populations under 30,000 and to the siblings of qualified students. In the Diocese of Kansas City – St. Joseph, those changes are now providing opportunities to students at four new schools: Bishop Hogan Memorial School in Chillicothe, Holy Rosary School in Clinton, St. Mary School in Montrose and St. Gregory Barbarigo School in Maryville. Between the four schools, nearly 70 students are now able to take advantage of the scholarship money. There are also more than 200 siblings throughout the diocese who were extended scholarship offers this year because of the expansion.
Lisa Kremer, who is program coordinator for the MOScholars program in the Diocese of Kansas City – St Joseph, says students with MOScholars scholarships now represent more than 15 percent of total student enrollment in the area. It’s a sign of how important choice is for parents.
Elijah and Reece Parra will start the new school year at St. Gregory Barbarigo School in Maryville with their mom, Annie, as principal.
“In today’s world, whether it be a Catholic school or not, families are looking for the best fit for their children,” Kremer said.
While the MOScholars program extends to children eligible for Individual Education
Plans (IEPs), Kremer says she often hears parents point to a variety of special needs met by switching to a Catholic school.
For instance, Catholic schools are usually smaller than public school options.
“Sometimes, the parents see their child feels more comfortable and confident in a smaller environment and more of a tight-knit community that can be more oneon-one with teachers and peers,” said Kremer.
Mary Kallman is principal at Our Lady of Hope school in Westport. The school is a good example of a small community that provides a unique space for students to thrive. There are currently about 120 students in the school. About 50 percent of the student population has Spanish as the first language spoken at home. This common cultural and family background influences choice for a large portion of her student body. There are even a significant number of her students who come from the Kansas side of the state line.
“We’re in a unique position here. Nearly our entire population is low income, but they want Catholic education for their children. A number of parents went
to school here when they grew up and want to come back for their children,” said Kallman.
Kallman has had many different Catholic school leadership positions in the diocese through her decades-long career. That has included recent leadership of Visitation School and several years at Cristo Rey High School. Each of these schools has vastly different student population needs but thrives because it provides a unique choice for parents. She has seen choice be very important in the success of a school and the education of a child.
“You are more invested when you get to make a choice. This variety honors what we believe about parents being the primary educators who know their kids
Mary Kallman, principal at Our Lady of Hope School in Kansas City.
Annie Parra, with her husband Mark and sons, Elijah and Reece. Annie is the incoming principal at St. Gregory Barbarigo School in Maryville, one of the newest diocesan elementary schools to become eligible for MOScholars scholarships.
Lisa Kremer, program coordinator for the MOScholars Program in the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph.
You are more invested when you get to make a choice. This variety honors what we believe about parents being the primary educators who know their kids and what they need.
and what they need. It helps people tweak and find the very best match for their children,” said Kallman.
Annie Parra is principal of St. Gregory Barbarigo School in Maryville — one of the four schools now eligible for the MOScholars program. Parra’s two sons also attend the school. As a parent and educator, she points to their innovative religious education program as one reason families have already found St. Gregory to be a good choice. The school draws from Maryville and a variety of surrounding communities.
“The majority of the parents I talk with are choosing our school because we incorporate our faith into everything we teach,” said Parra.
The school uses the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd method of religious education at the school. The program reflects more of a Montessori-type approach to religious education rather than prayer and fact memorization.
“Students get to be in a quiet prayer space building their relationship with Jesus,” said Parra.
Parra says while there are many reasons families might shy away from choosing a Catholic
education, finances is certainly at the top of the list. The expansion of the MOScholars program to smaller communities like Maryville will have a stabilizing growth effect. Parra plans to have as many interested families as possible apply for the scholarships next year just to see if they might be eligible.
“If there is money out there, I want to be able to get families to take advantage of it,” said Parra.
As a parent, she and her husband have seen their sons thrive in faith and academics at St. Gregory. It has also grown her own faith and directed her career.
“I owe everything to my two kids. They are the reason I am here as an educator. They are also the reason I am as deep into my faith as I am,” said Parra.
For Kallman, who has seen many iterations of school costs, funding and opportunities over 30 years of teaching at Catholic schools, school choice and innovative programs are central to the mission of being an educator and a Catholic.
“We don’t educate kids always because THEY are Catholic, but because WE are Catholic, and providing education is one of the gifts the Catholic Church offers,” said Kallman.
Dino Durando is director of the Office of the Domestic Church and Discipleship. He and his wife Cathy have been married for 27 years and have 10 children and one grandchild.
The Catholic family offers a stark contrast. Christ instituted the Sacrament of Matrimony to radically change the human condition for families. Christian married love calls spouses and children to respect, fidelity and service. Without grace, this is impossible to do perfectly every day. “This makes it all the more important to proclaim the Good News that God loves us with a definitive and irrevocable love, that married couples share in this love, that it supports and sustains them and that by their own faithfulness they can be witnesses to God’s faithful love.” (CCC 1648)
Once children come along, parenting in the difficult context of a world that no longer values the role of mothers and fathers can be overwhelming. The Church is
‘Married with Children’
The ’80s/’90s TV show “Married with Children” was a crass comedy about a modern, dysfunctional and amoral family. The opening theme song, performed by Frank Sinatra, was “Love and Marriage.”
The famous line from the song proclaimed an obvious truth: “love and marriage, they go together like a horse and carriage.” Then the show proceeded to break every norm of respect and decency in family relationships. If one is looking for an example of what NOT to do as a parent or spouse, this could be one of, if not, the best. Infidelity and innuendo abound. It perfectly proclaimed the anti-gospel, all for a cheap laugh.
under no illusion that this is easy. However, there is an answer in the grace and power of the sacraments of Baptism and Marriage in which the mother and father, “exercise the priesthood of the baptized in a privileged way ‘by the reception of the sacraments, prayer and thanksgiving, the witness of a holy life, and self-denial and active charity.’” (CCC 1657)
Our diocese has begun an initiative to help parents called The Way. It centers around a roadmap for navigating children’s formative years based on stages of human and spiritual development. Among the earliest formative years, the presence of mother and father are critical. These years from birth through about age 6 are the stage when children need concrete experiences (hence the name, the Concrete Stage, in The Way). Much like putting together a multitude of puzzles, boys and girls are learning about the outside world through exploration, trial, and error.
At this stage, children are like sponges soaking up experiences and information. Stories are powerful for them and reading to a child is one of the most valuable ways to bond and teach. Making Bible stories a large part of the regular rotation is irreplaceable. TV shows or movies about the Bible can also be good for them, but they are not as valuable as the time spent reading together. Parents might even say a short prayer in response to the story and invite their child to do the same, especially as he or she reaches the 4-6 year-old age range. Another thing that is important to provide in this stage is a foundational sense of love, care and protection. Parents can provide
this through their actions. For the tired parent of a toddler, the “witness of a holy life,” might just be this concrete expression of patience, gentleness and care for this uncivilized, developing human. As the child gets older, the story of the Good Shepherd proclaims the message of God’s love that is easy to understand and communicate. He seeks us out when we are lost and in need. He protects us from that which seeks to harm us. He knows each of his sheep by name and provides all we need. This is the message about the dignity of the person and family proclaimed by the Church. It is the exact opposite of the message in TV shows like “Married with Children.”
Further explanations, suggested Children’s Bibles, resources for telling the story of the Good Shepherd and many other ideas may be found in a free resource, The Way: Concrete Stage Parent Guide. www.discipleshipkc.org/theway-concrete-parent.
Other guides, resources and programs for other ages can be found at www.discipleshipkc.org/theway.
Encounter Christ
PLAN YOUR RETREAT FOR SPRING 2026
In Northwest Missouri, Conception Abbey’s Benedictine retreats draw from more than 1500 years of wisdom in the Benedictine tradition and are rooted in the principles outlined by St. Benedict in his Holy Rule
MEN’S RETREATS WOMEN’S RETREATS
Aug. 29–31, 2025
Oct.17–19, 2025
Nov. 21–23, 2025
Dec. 19–21, 2025
Jan. 23–25, 2026
Mar. 20–22, 2026
May 22–24, 2026
Aug. 22–24, 2025
Oct. 31–Nov. 2, 2025
Dec. 12–14, 2025
Jan. 16–18, 2026
Feb. 27–Mar. 1, 2026
May 8–10, 2026
May 29–31, 2026
Parish groups welcome! Visit conceptionabbey.org/guests or scan the QR code to view all of our retreat listings.
Four conferences given by a Benedictine monk, intended to lead the retreatant to encounter Christ
Participation in the Divine Office and Mass with the monastic community
Specific times for personal prayer and lectio divina
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and the Sacrament of Reconciliation
Silence and a technology “fast”
MISSOURI’S FIRST PRISON NURSERY
Read about this uplifting program in our September 2025 MCC Messenger.
H omebound Ministry brings Jesus to the people
FBy Karen Ridder
or Pam Boyer, a desire to bring Jesus directly to the homebound started during COVID shutdowns and restrictions.
“The isolation of COVID made me starkly aware of what it was like to not be able to receive Jesus. I don’t want anyone to have to experience that,” said Boyer. She now helps organize the Homebound Ministry at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Warrensburg. The ministry, started in the fall of 2023, replaced what had been an informal system of providing the Eucharist to homebound members of the parish.
“It had been a word-of-mouth kind of thing, but it sort of fell apart during COVID,” Boyer said.
The inconsistency of that time became a seed for the new ministry to start — with a purpose of making sure no one has to go without Jesus just because they can’t get out.
Father Andrew Kleine agreed to train extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, like Boyer, specifically to deliver weekly
Eucharist to homebound Catholics in the area. The church advertises the opportunity and invites people to call the office with their needs or the needs of a loved one. Volunteers have developed relationships with staff at local facilities and are often alerted when a Catholic resident moves in.
The ministry serves between 25 to 30 homebound and nursing home residents in the Warrensburg area every week. The work has also developed connections leading to the start of monthly Mass at two of the facilities. They are hoping to eventually get a monthly Mass at all of the care facilities in Warrensburg.
People want to see you. They want to see you come in with Jesus. It’s a wonderful thing to see people long for Jesus, and you get to be a part of that.”
Bringing Jesus to people is a door that Boyer says creates both immediate and long-term rewards for her as a volunteer.
“People want to see you. They want to see you come in with Jesus. It’s a wonderful thing to see people long for Jesus, and you get to be a part of that,” said Boyer.
All volunteers bring the weekly church bulletin to residents and usually spend some time visiting. Boyer says she benefits from the wisdom and life stories from the people she visits. It has grown her own Faith.
The Homebound Ministry is also creating an unexpected evangelization. Boyer takes the chance to explain to the non-Catholic residents and staff what the Eucharist is and why she is there. Others recognize the hope that the ministry is bringing. They ask her not to stop.
“I think they see this is something real,” said Boyer.
Pam Boyer (right), parishioner at Sacred Heart Parish in Warrensburg, finds great inspiration in bringing the Eucharist and her Catholic Faith to the homebound and nursing home residents in her community.
Photo by Michael Hogan.
By Leyden Rovelo-Krull, director, Office of Hispanic Ministry
other blind man — we must form ourselves first.”
FORMED TO SERVE
FORMED TO SERVE
How ‘Equipados’ is strengthening Hispanic catechists across the diocese
When Carmina Bernal first began serving in her parish 15 years ago, she noticed something troubling: the Hispanic community lacked access to catechetical formation that met their cultural and linguistic needs. “We didn’t have adequate catechesis for our people,” she recalls. “It saddened me — and awakened in me a desire to help.”
When I began my tenure as director of the Hispanic Ministry six years ago, I had the same observation. Eventually, our mutual desire to offer meaningful formation would find expression in Equipados, a two-year certification program for Spanish-speaking catechists and parish leaders in the diocese. More than just training, Equipados offers a space to grow in Faith, deepen one’s call to service and walk alongside others with a shared mission: to bring souls to Christ.
“We meet every Monday evening,” Carmina explains. “It’s
a time to form ourselves, share our faith and be enriched by each other’s experiences in ministry.”
What makes the program truly unique, she says, is that it not only provides pastoral and doctrinal knowledge but fosters spiritual maturity and community.
One of the first cohort’s most powerful moments came when Bishop James Johnston joined the class in person. “Some participants were amazed — and deeply grateful — that our bishop took time to be with them,” Carmina shared. Many had never encountered a bishop before and began to understand that their bishop is a shepherd who walks with them here and now.
The experience helped participants embrace a greater sense of unity with the local Church. “They learned that all of us, no matter where we come from, are called to receive and obey his pastoral direction. Even though the bishops from their places of
origin — even from other countries — have good programs, it is our duty to follow the local bishop as the pastor of our community.”
That transformation isn’t just theoretical, it’s deeply personal. “The class helped me understand my Faith better and motivated me to live it with more commitment,” shared Guillermo Escobedo, a participant in the first cohort. Another participant described how the program equipped her not only with clarity but with confidence. “In Equipados , I learned that I must be meek and humble, and that every question or doubt can be answered using the catechism — and that another tool I can use is the USCCB,” said Veronica Gonzalez.
To those considering whether to join the second cohort of Equipados, Carmina offers both encouragement and challenge. “We have a commitment to God. He called us to walk with his people. But a blind man cannot lead an-
Participants in the next cohort can expect robust instruction from the Franciscan University Catechetical Institute, spiritual and pastoral formation from diocesan leaders and guest experts and accompaniment that listens to their specific needs. Most importantly, participants will be reminded of their baptismal identity and mission: to adore, to serve and to bring the Good News wherever God sends them.
Carmina’s dream for Equipados is to reach even more ministers across the diocese — especially those working hard but lacking formation. “So much effort goes to waste,” she said, “when people don’t know how to walk with God’s people or work in unity.”
Ultimately, her vision is rooted in the words of Christ: “That they may all be one.” (Jn 17:21) For Carmina, Equipados is one way to live that unity in real time — learning, growing and serving together in the love of Christ.
Her final word to the hesitant?
“If your heart is willing — don’t resist the call of the Lord.”
FOR MORE INFORMATION or if you would like to know how to apply for the Equipados certification program, please call 816.714.2323.
Graduates of the 2025 Equipados certification program in the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph with Bishop James Johnston, Father Emmanuel López (left), Carmina Bernal and Leyden Rovelo-Krull (right). Photo submitted by Leyden Rovelo-Krull.
When the bell rings, the struggle begins CENTER SUPPORTS FAMILIES FACING
FOOD INSECURITY
AS BACK-TO-SCHOOL SEASON ARRIVES, CHILDREN ACROSS THE REGION ARE STEPPING INTO CLASSROOMS FULL OF PROMISE. BUT FOR MANY FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY, THIS HOPEFUL TIME COMES WITH A HEAVY WEIGHT: THE STRESS OF AFFORDING BOTH SCHOOL SUPPLIES AND GROCERIES.
Each year, the start of school marks a spike in financial strain for low-income households. The added costs of clothing, shoes, backpacks and classroom materials pile up quickly — forcing parents to stretch already-tight budgets. Simultaneously, gaps in food access emerge, especially for families who relied on free summer meals, local programs or extended care-giver support that becomes less available during the school year.
That’s why Catholic Charities is committed to lifting families up through the Serve & Lift Center, home to a self-choice food pantry we call The Market. The Market provides more than just meals — it offers dignity, compassion and stability when it’s needed most.
A MARKET WITH MEANING
Unlike traditional food pantries, The Market at Catholic Charities allows families to select the food they need, in a grocery
store setting. This approach empowers families to choose items based on dietary restrictions, cultural preferences, personal tastes and what may be packed in a lunchbox each day — ensuring nothing goes to waste and no one goes hungry.
The Market also offers essentials like soap, shampoo, socks, toothbrushes and household supplies critical during times of transition like the start of a new school year. But the experience goes far beyond groceries. Staff and volunteers greet each guest with understanding, listening to stories, offering encouragement and even swap recipes while connecting those in need with other supports. For parents carrying the burden of doing more with
less, the kindness of our team at Charities is as nourishing as the food they bring home.
THE INVISIBLE CHALLENGE OF HUNGER
Food insecurity doesn’t always look like what we imagine. It can be a mom or dad working fulltime but unable to keep up with inflation. It can be a grandparent raising grandkids on a fixed income. It’s your neighbor, your child’s classmate or a fellow parishioner silently struggling to make ends meet. And it’s more common than you think.
That’s why Catholic Charities stands in the gap — meeting people where they are and offering hope in the form of full carts and full hearts.
YOU CAN HELP
As families across our region prepare for a new school year, now is the time to act. You can:
• Donate food, hygiene or cleaning products; or host a food or hygiene drive in your parish, school, company or organization. rhansen@ccharities.com
• Volunteer your time at the Serve & Lift Center Monday through Thursday in shifts convenient to your schedule. volunteers@ccharities.com
• Make a financial gift to support year-round food security. Scan the QR Code
• Order food and supplies for delivery through Amazon Wishlist. Scan the QR Code
BE THE GOOD: WHAT’S NEXT AT CATHOLIC CHARITIES
• Aug. 1–Sept. 30 Nominations open for Hope Ball, Our Lady of Hope Society. Open to high school juniors and seniors. www.catholiccharitiesball.org/nominate
• Aug. 16 Eye clinic with the Lions Club at our KC location.
• Volunteers needed in The Market Mon-Thurs 1 p.m.–4 p.m. catholiccharities-kcsj.org/volunteer/
JOIN US IN PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, You are the giver of every good gift. We thank you for the blessings of food, nourishment and the hands that prepare it. Lord, in your mercy, provide abundantly for all in need — for the hungry, the poor and the struggling. Let no child go without a meal, and no family suffer from want.
Bless our homes with enough to share. May we always trust in your providence, and remember that in giving, we also receive. Through Christ our Lord, Amen.
Every meal matters. Every child deserves to start the school year focused on learning — not hunger. And every act of generosity brings us closer to a community where no family is left behind. Because when the school bell rings, Catholic Charities is here — ready to serve, ready to lift.
By Erin Luttrell, market program manager at Catholic Charities of Kansas City-St. Joseph
FROM TINY SEEDS TO STRONG St. Gabriel's new preschool nurtures Faith and minds
By Marty Denzer | Photos provided by Mustard Seed Manor Montessori School
The familiar parable of the mustard seed is included in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke. In it, Jesus compared the kingdom of Heaven to “a mustard seed ... sowed in a field … the smallest of all the seeds, yet when full-grown, it is the largest of plants. It becomes a large bush and ‘the birds of the sky come and dwell in its branches.’” (Mt 13:31-32)
A mustard seed can also describe children: tiny at first, but as they grow, they learn, acquire knowledge, expand their imagination and perceptions and develop their potential through education.
Opened in 1956 in Kansas City (Clay County), St. Gabriel the Archangel School offers a Catholic liberal arts education to its students, as well as Catechesis of the Good Shepherd and preschool to younger students. Shanna Alexander, communications director, said that the parish and school staff had been praying about the preschool with their former pastor, Father Alex Kreidler.
In October 2024, Alexander and several school leaders met with Christy Binn, directoress and lead guide of Mustard Seed Manor, her Montessori home school in Kansas City. Binn, who received Montessori training in St. Louis and also serves as primary trainer for Mary’s Catholic Montessori Training Center in Eudora, Kansas, is passionate about uniting Montessori methodology with the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.
Binn’s daughter is starting first grade at St. Gabriel and Binn is excited to be guiding children in the united Montessori/Catechesis of the Good Shepherd preschool.
Maria Montessori, founder of the Montessori educational method,
Jennifer Grey, incoming principal of St. Gabriel the Archangel School, said, "Both fit right in" with the preschool vision at St. Gabriel. St. Gabriel staff are actively working on plantings, combining and equipping two classrooms and updating the playground. All is expected to be ready by mid-August, Alexander said, adding, “We’re so excited!”
STRONG ROOT S:
observed children in different environments over several years and came to believe that children are essentially methodical, self-directed and possess a strong work ethic. Basically, children ages 3-6 are not empty vessels; they possess the innate skills to learn and grow, encouraged by their first teachers, their parents.
Montessori opened her first classroom in 1907 in a Roman slum. Working with children, she discovered that they learned manipulatively, not by rote, absorbing different sounds, sights and touch to learn.
Montessori classrooms encompass different ages, attributes and interests — child-led, not teacher-led, each child learning at their own pace.
Couple this approach with the wonder of a young child discovering God’s love through his Son, Jesus the Good Shepherd. And, as Montessori herself said, “To discover the laws of the child’s development would be the same … as to discover the spirit and wisdom of God operating in the child.”
Learning in a special setting, called an atrium, children handle different altar vessels, learning their names and uses during Mass, especially during the Eucharist. Through arts, crafts and interactive activities, children build a relationship with God, his Son and the Holy Spirit, and they begin understanding the beauty and symbolism expressed in the Mass.
Saint Monica
A SAINT FOR THE STRUGGLE, A MOTHER FOR US ALL
SFeast Day: August 27
he wasn’t a preacher. She didn’t write any books. She didn’t lead a movement. But Saint Monica changed the Church forever — through her tears, her Faith and her fierce love.
Born in North Africa in the fourth century, Monica lived in a world that didn’t make life easy for Christian women. She was married off to a difficult, pagan man with a fiery temper, and her heart broke as her son, Augustine, rejected the Faith and chased after fame, pleasure and false beliefs. What could she do? She prayed. She cried. She never gave up.
For 17 long years, Monica prayed for her son’s conversion. She followed him to different cities, pleaded with priests and bishops to speak with him and kept begging God — through sleepless nights and weary days — to bring Augustine home to the Faith. And guess what? Her prayers were answered. Augustine not only converted, but he went on to become a bishop, a saint and one of the greatest minds in Church history. That’s the power of a praying mother!
Saint Monica’s story is one that speaks loudly, especially to the African-American Catholic communities, where mothers, grandmothers and spiritual mothers have long been the backbone of the Faith. From slavery through segregation to today, Black Catholic women have carried generations through struggle — not with wealth or privilege, but with prayer, patience and persistence. Like Monica, they have knelt in quiet rooms, cried in church pews and prayed for loved ones through pain, poverty, addiction and injustice. Their faith has sustained generations. Their prayers have built the Church. That’s why so many churches in our communities proudly bear her name. Saint Monica is a witness that holiness can come from perseverance, not perfection. She reminds us that God is always listening, even when the answer seems slow in coming.
So as we celebrate her feast on Aug. 27, let’s remember all the Monicas among us — those who pray in the quiet, who cry in secret, who lift up their children and their communities with unwavering faith. And let’s take heart from her legacy: never stop praying; never stop hoping; and never stop believing that God can work miracles through you.
Saint Monica, mother of the restless, pillar of hope, pray for us.
By Father Leonard Gicheru, pastor, St. Monica Parish and Our Lady of Sorrows Parish
Graduados del programa de certificación Equipados 2025 en la Diócesis de Kansas City-St. Joseph con el obispo James Johnston, el padre Emmanuel López (izquierda), Carmina Bernal y Leyden Rovelo-Krull (derecha). Foto cortesía de Leyden Rovelo-Krull.
Ministerio
Por Leyden Rovelo-Krull, Directora, Oficina del Ministerio Hispano
FORMADOS PARA SERVIR
FORMADOS PARA SERVIR
Cómo “Equipados” está fortaleciendo a los catequistas hispanos en la diócesis
Hace quince años, cuando Carmina Bernal comenzó a servir en su parroquia, notó algo preocupante: la comunidad hispana no tenía acceso a una formación catequética que respondiera a sus necesidades culturales y lingüísticas. “No teníamos una catequesis adecuada para nuestra gente,” recuerda. “Eso me entristecía, y despertó en mí el deseo de ayudar.”
Cuando comencé mi servicio como directora del Ministerio Hispano hace seis años, observé lo mismo. Con el tiempo, ese deseo compartido de ofrecer una formación significativa se concretó en Equipados, un programa de certificación de dos años para catequistas y líderes parroquiales de habla hispana en la diócesis. Más que una simple capacitación, Equipados ofrece un espacio para crecer en la fe, profundizar el llamado al servicio y caminar junto a otros con una misión común: llevar almas a Cristo.
“Nos reunimos todos los lunes por la tarde,” explica Carmina. “Es un tiempo para formarnos, compartir la fe y enriquecernos con la experiencia del ministerio de los demás.” Lo que hace único a este programa, dice ella, es que no solo ofrece conocimiento pastoral y doctrinal, sino que también fomenta la madurez espiritual y la comunidad.
Uno de los momentos más significativos del primer grupo fue cuando el obispo James Johnston asistió personalmente a una de las clases. “Algunos participantes estaban sorprendidos — y profundamente agradecidos — de que nuestro obispo se tomara el tiempo para estar con ellos,” comparte Carmina. Muchos nunca habían tenido contacto con la Conferencia de Obispos Católicos de los Estados Unidos (USCCB), y comenzaron a comprender que su obispo es un pastor que camina con ellos aquí y ahora.
Esa experiencia ayudó a los participantes a abrazar un sentido más profundo de unidad con la Iglesia local. “Aprendieron que todos, sin importar de dónde venimos, estamos llamados a acoger y obedecer sus propuestas y disposiciones pastorales. Aunque los obispos de sus lugares de origen — incluso de otros países — tengan buenos programas, es
nuestro deber seguir al obispo local como pastor de nuestra comunidad.”
Esa transformación no es solo teórica; es profundamente personal. “La clase me ayudó a entender mejor mi fe y me motivó a vivirla con más compromiso,” compartió Guillermo Escobedo, participante de la primera generación. Otros describieron cómo el programa no solo les dio claridad, sino también confianza. “En Equipados aprendí que debo de ser manso y humilde, que toda duda o pregunta se puede buscar en el Catecismo, y otra herramienta que puedo usar es el USCCB,” dijo Verónica González.
A quienes estén considerando inscribirse en la segunda generación de Equipados, Carmina les ofrece tanto ánimo como desafío. “Tenemos un compromiso con Dios. Él nos ha llamado a caminar con su pueblo. Pero un ciego no puede guiar a otro ciego — debemos formarnos primero.”
Los participantes de la próxima generación pueden esperar una formación sólida del Instituto Catequético de la Universidad Franciscana, formación espiritual y pastoral impartida por líderes diocesanos y expertos invitados, y un acompañamiento que toma en cuenta sus necesidades específicas. Más importante aún, se les recordará su identidad bautismal y misión: adorar, servir y llevar la Buena Nueva adonde Dios los llame.
El sueño de Carmina para Equipados es llegar a más ministros en toda la diócesis — especialmente a aquellos que trabajan con empeño pero carecen de formación. “Tanto esfuerzo se desperdicia,” dice, “cuando la gente no sabe cómo caminar con el pueblo de Dios o cómo trabajar en unidad.”
En última instancia, su visión está enraizada en las palabras de Cristo: “Que todos sean uno” (Jn 17, 21). Para Carmina, Equipados es una forma concreta de vivir esa unidad: aprendiendo, creciendo y sirviendo juntos en el amor de Cristo.
¿Su último mensaje para los que aún dudan? “Que si tienen un corazón dispuesto, no se resistan a la llamada del Señor.”
PARA MÁS INFORMACIÓN
o si desea saber cómo inscribirse en el programa de certificación Equipados, por favor llame al 816.714.2323.
El
es el
Del Obispo
obispo
James V. Johnston, Jr.
séptimo obispo de la Diócesis de Kansas CitySt. Joseph
testigos Los mejores maestros son testigos
“RECIBIRÁN
LA FUERZA DEL ESPÍRITU SANTO, QUE DESCENDERÁ
SOBRE USTEDES, Y SERÁN MIS TESTIGOS EN JERUSALÉN, EN TODA JUDEA Y SAMARÍA, Y HASTA LOS CONFINES DE LA TIERRA.” (HECHOS 1:8)
TODOS LOS QUE SEGUIMOS A JESÚS COMO DISCÍPULOS TENEMOS LA VOCACIÓN DE SER TESTIGOS.
ESTE ES UNO DE LOS PROPÓSITOS PRINCIPALES DE LA GRACIA QUE SE OTORGA MEDIANTE EL SACRAMENTO DE LA CONFIRMACIÓN.”
El Papa San Pablo VI afirmó: “El hombre contemporáneo escucha más a gusto a los que dan testimonio que a los que enseñan, o si escucha a los que enseñan, es porque dan testimonio.” Si consideramos nuestra propia experiencia personal, esto resulta profundamente cierto. Los maestros cuyas acciones contradicen sus palabras, especialmente en lo que respecta a la fe y la moral, socavan e incluso dañan a los estudiantes que debiesen educar. Por el contrario, los maestros cuyas acciones reflejan sus palabras brindan un ejemplo poderoso que deja una huella duradera en sus alumnos.
Durante la infancia, los principales maestros son, en primer lugar, los padres y, en segundo lugar, los maestros en la escuela. Los padres modelan la vida cristiana de discipulado dentro de la familia. Sus acciones muestran a los niños lo que es verdaderamente importante, como la primacía de vivir en una relación correcta con Dios y con los demás. Esta incluye darle el primer lugar a Dios rindiéndole adoración y tener una visión espiritual como familia, y se extiende a compartir, perdonar y dar preferencia a los demás antes que a uno mismo. En otras palabras, desear el bien del otro, lo cual es una definición del amor. Y va más allá de la familia inmediata al incluir la preocupación y el amor por los demás, especialmente por los pobres.
La próxima canonización de los Beatos Carlo Acutis y Pier Giorgio Frassati, el 7 de septiembre, demuestra que el poder del testimonio también puede provenir de niños y adolescentes hacia sus padres. Estos dos futuros santos dieron testimonio a sus propios padres, quienes en aquel entonces eran, en el mejor de los casos, tibios en su fe.
Los maestros de escuela — y me refiero especialmente a nuestros maestros de escuelas católicas — también brindan un poderoso testimonio con sus vidas. Todos los maestros de escuelas católicas, independientemente de la materia que impartan, comparten la sagrada misión de transmitir la fe católica a sus alumnos. Ellos ayudan a los alumnos a crecer en la fe y la virtud al modelar un comportamiento cristiano, integrar los valores del Evangelio en su enseñanza y fomentar un ambiente de clase arraigado en el amor y la verdad. Esta responsabilidad va más allá de la clase de religión; impregna cada interacción y lección independientemente de la materia que imparten. Juntos, los educadores católicos sirven como testigos de la fe, ayudando a formar discípulos que conocen, aman y sirven a Dios y al prójimo.
Asimismo, se puede empezar a comprender por qué los mártires ocupan un lugar especial en la Iglesia. Mártir significa testigo. Los mártires dieron testimonio de la Fe al entregar sus vidas por Cristo. Sus acciones, que reflejaban el sacrificio de Jesús en la cruz, confirmaban sus palabras de fe en Él. Literalmente, enseñaron con sus vidas.
Todos los que seguimos a Jesús como discípulos tenemos la vocación de ser testigos. Este es uno de los propósitos principales de la gracia que se otorga mediante el sacramento de la Confirmación. Jesús prometió que, al enviar el Espíritu Santo, los apóstoles serían revestidos de poder y serían sus testigos (cf. Hch 1,8). No debemos subestimar el poder que un testigo auténtico puede tener en este mundo. Apostemos todos por la fe y enseñemos siendo primero testigos.
THE WAY: YOUTH TO
The Good Shepherd Year: First Grade
“I am the Good Shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I will lay down my life for the sheep.”
(Jn 10:14-15)
Jesus is the Good Shepherd. He seeks, cares for and calls all into a relationship with him. The Good Shepherd Year centers upon a parent resource that equips parents to engage their first-grade child in discussions and prayer experiences with scripture to help him/her to begin preparation for First Reconciliation. The goal is to give parents the tools to discuss themes like God’s mercy and the forgiveness and salvation Jesus offers through the power of his death and resurrection.
The Way fulfills a goal of the diocesan Mutually Shared Vision One Family: Restored in Christ, Equipped for Mission. This initiative provides resources for parents to guide their children to become disciples of Jesus Christ, to find their vocation and to commit to it wholeheartedly. Beginning in first grade and continuing through 12th grade, The Way supplements school and parish curricula, adding yearly themes and diocesan programs and retreats.
In his pastoral letter promulgating The Way, Bishop James Johnston emphasized the importance of teaching children the Faith. “The years of youth are a precious time to introduce our children to the God who loves them and help them respond in freedom and faith. By proposing the Catholic Faith in a compelling way, as a choice that will enrich and deepen their lives, we nurture a deep and abiding relationship of faith, hope and love that will carry them through life with all its storms and winding paths.”
Angela Ruiz, mother of elementary-age children and first grade teacher at St. Gabriel the Archangel Catholic School, is grateful for the opportunity to merge the family, school and Church.
“The parents are the first teachers,” she said. “It’s so important that the family and the Church and the school all build that community together to really grow our children’s Faith and work together to raise great human beings.”
Ruiz went on to say, “First grade is such an amazing age for learning. They are sponges, and they are so excited. They love God, and they are so open and just want to learn it all.”
In her own family, she said that her excitement for the Faith has grown as she has seen her children excited to learn. “Seeing them so excited to go to church and excited to pray helps me grow in my Faith, too. When we sit down to eat dinner, they make sure that we pray. They are so ready to talk about what they’ve learned that day.”
Photo credit: Michael Hogan
YOUNG ADULT INITIATIVE
Holy Eucharist Year: Second Grade
By Sara Kraft
The Way empowers parents to be the no. one influencer of their children. During second grade, students traditionally receive First Reconciliation and First Communion. These sacraments of initiation become landmark events in the child’s development.
In addition to traditional preparation for the sacraments for the students, parents and guardians are invited to attend an “Invitation” retreat, hosted by their parish. In this manner, The Way calls both parents and children to spiritual growth.
The term, Invitation Retreat, describes a category of retreats for adults that present the saving message of the Gospel and invite participants to respond with a deeper (or first) commitment to follow Jesus as His disciple.
“It illuminated something we didn’t even know we needed,” explained Julia Unger of the Domestic Church Retreat she and husband Matt attended while expecting their third child. In 2025, their eldest child received First Reconciliation and First Communion at St. Andrew the Apostle Parish, and their second child will receive those sacraments this year.
LEARN MORE about The Way at discipleshipkc.org/theway.
Julia’s experience on an “Invitation” retreat inspired her to engage wholeheartedly in discussion with her son as part of his preparation for sacraments in the parish and was amazed by his enthusiasm. “He was so invested in knowing all the answers.”
These discussions also provided a starting point to explore other topics on why Catholics do certain things and the importance of a living relationship with God through prayer and the sacramental life.
“If parents have a relationship with Jesus, they can pass on that relationship (to their children),” explained Marc Cardaronella, diocesan director of catechesis and faith formation. Invitation Retreats offer an opportunity to experience a life-changing encounter with Jesus and accept an invitation to follow Jesus as an intentional disciple.
An Invitation Retreat presents a proclamation of the core message of the Gospel, is conversion-orientated, rooted in Scripture and has a small group context.
“When it comes to marriage and family, investing in things that allow spiritual growth are so important,” explained Unger. “As a person who saw a divorce firsthand as a teenager, it is so important to protect marriage and the family. Going on a retreat to invest in the spirituality of your marriage and family is one of the greatest things you can do, and is worth any sacrifice needed to get there.”
Julia and Matt Unger with their children. Photo provided by Julia Unger.
Deacons of Hope:
PROVIDING DIGNIFIED HOUSING AND SUPPORT FOR MOMS IN NEED
By Marty Denzer
Several years ago, a conversation between Deacon Kevin Cummings and Deacon Doug Hemke centered on wanting to help women, especially those who are often ignored — homeless women who are pregnant. Several ministries and organizations in the Kansas City metro area served pregnant women in need, including the Gabriel Project in Kansas City, Kansas, and pregnancy resource centers on both sides of the state line, but the deacons wanted to do more. Deacon Cummings recalled, “After finding out that no housing existed for homeless pregnant moms, we wanted to provide housing like our own daughters would be happy to live in.”
Deacon Cummings, a Rockhurst High School alumnus and a retired dentist, began writing letters to fellow alumni of the class of 1973, asking for donations. His letters were successful; through donations, he was able to provide initial funding toward housing and “make inroads on the culture of death — abortion — through pro-life.” Local filmmaker, recording artist and instrumentalist
Deacon Kevin Cummings, co-founder of the Deacons of Hope.
St. Mary’s Home for Mothers accepts donations of items like diapers and wipes for its residents and other families in need.
Photos by Michael Hogan
Michael McGlinn, a fellow Rockhurst High School alumnus, supported the effort, making several films promoting pro-life works. Thus was born Deacons of Hope.
Other local groups contributed to helping fund construction, furnishings and staffing for St. Mary’s Home for Mothers, in Liberty, Missouri, the largest bed facility in Missouri and Kansas for pregnant, homeless mothers, who, as Deacon Cummings wrote “feel like they have backs turned on them, and we’re treating them with dignity and respect. We are the infrastructure, willing to carry them.”
In September 2022, Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas canonically erected Deacons of Hope as a clerical association of Christ’s faithful — a parish-based, nonprofit, pro-life ministry for permanent deacons, based at Cure’ of Ars Parish in Leawood, Kansas, where Deacon Cummings is now assigned.
St. Mary’s Home has its own specialist, social services and case managers, as well as dea-
Deacon Cummings wrote that the deacons ‘have taken it upon themselves to help these women experience what it’s really like to be the mother of a child, just like Mary with Jesus.’
cons who are passionate about mothers and their infants. They work together to help mothers “regain and retain their confidence,” Deacon Cummings wrote.
“St. Mary’s had 35 infants born last year,” he said proudly. Deacons of Hope collaborate with area pregnancy resource centers and thrift stores, as part of their effort to support homeless, pregnant moms. Deacon Cummings wrote that the deacons “have taken it upon themselves to help these women experience what it’s really like to be the mother of a child, just like Mary with Jesus.”
No woman in the United States should ever have to choose an abortion because she’s homeless, Deacon Cummings said. He also wrote, “We are hard-wired for this. We were fathers first, and husbands, and we can do it as deacons — just like St. Joseph. If we bring that same passion to pro-life issues and the Church … We can do it.”
According to their website, the Deacons of Hope is a pro-life ministry and, as such, serves not only the unborn but also the poor,
the marginalized, the oppressed, the sick and the aged, regardless of sex, nationality or creed. If a person is “drawing a troubled breath,” they are “a point of light for the Deacons of Hope.”
Also from their website, “There are many charisms and teachings that bind the Deacons of Hope together, but first and foremost is this: To preserve and defend the image and likeness of God in humanity in every stage of life.”
Father Michael Volkmer, CPPS, and a volunteer prepare cinnamon rolls for volunteers serving at St. Mary’s Home for Mothers.
Symbols of faith can be found along the walking trails and grounds surrounding St. Mary’s Home for Mothers.
Painting of St. Mary’s Home for Mothers which hangs proudly inside the home in rural Liberty, Mo.
By Karen Ridder
THE UNEXPECTED GIFT of an impossible project
THE UNEXPECTED GIFT of an impossible project
As a mom, I knew only one thing for certain. My child needed help, and he only has one me. I have to be enough.
Parenting inevitably pushes us to places in which our kids are stuck, and we feel we don’t have the skill, knowledge or even authority to help them. It is hard. Yet, these are the moments in which our calling as a parent becomes most clear.
Consider Mary. She had an overwhelming task. Raise the son of God — the salvation of the world. That’s some hard stuff.
We don’t know much about specific challenges in the childhood of Jesus. I can imagine, though, as her son grew into a man, Mary faced an increasing number of experiences like the one I describe above. Jesus was smart, talented, creative and able. He didn’t seem to need her, but he still did. As much as there were days in which Mary was in awe of her son’s abilities, there were likely other days in which she just shook her head and prayerfully tried to figure out how to step in and help him out.
We are not told Mary knew everything, but she did give everything. She offered who she was at every moment, and that was enough.”
MY SON’S SCHOOL PROJECT WAS WAY BEYOND MY PAY GRADE, BUT HE NEEDED MY HELP. I HAD NO IDEA WHAT TO DO.
He had been working on a complicated astronomy project for an Advanced Placement class at school. I had listened to him talk about it and thought he had a handle on it. I agreed to pay for parts he pointed to on Ebay. I took him to Home Depot for some hardware, 2x4s and chicken wire. I watched him build what was supposed to be a radio telescope in our back yard. I didn’t really understand what he was doing, but it seemed all fine, until a key part didn't come. We tried to re-order. It still didn’t come. He was going to fail, unless he took months of work and re-did it in a couple of weeks.
I’m not sure he even knew where to start. I know I didn’t. I’m not a teacher, computer programmer or astronomer, but I am his mom.
Mary’s job was to not step away. She stood by her child’s side, believed in him, gave him stability and direction. She encouraged Jesus to start his public ministry at the wedding in Cana and was there the moment he died on the cross. We are not told Mary knew everything, but she did give everything. She offered who she was at every moment, and that was enough.
For my son, I did what I could. I offered my skills with problem-solving. I gave him good questions and helped him prioritize. I encouraged him to keep moving forward. I sat by him. I refused to let him struggle alone. He made it.
Whatever challenge your child faces right now, remember they still need what only you can offer. Even when it is hard, there is only one you. God made you a parent. Don’t step away. You are enough.
An instrument of God
By Allison Vrooman
Photo by Michael Hogan
Iam doing what I would’ve loved to have as a kid. Being able to be that person is what motivates me each day. Every day is my favorite day,” shared Anayansi Lopez, volunteer at St. Regis Academy in Kansas City.
Anayansi has served the academy for the past three years. During the first two years, she volunteered as a paraprofessional, assisting in pre-K, kindergarten and first grade classrooms. This past school year, she supported the English Language Learner (ELL) students.
Being bilingual herself, Anayansi has enjoyed using her skills to help others. She shared, “We have a lot of students that are ELL. Being able to volunteer and help with that was something
really rewarding. I loved seeing their growth.”
Along with classroom support, Anayansi gives online reports on events happening at the academy, such as retreats, bible classes and the Bible Museum. She also has volunteered to lead tours through their Bible Museum. “It was a cool experience to bring to life,” she said, adding that the museum attracted many from around the diocese and some from out of state.
“I’ve always had a yearning for education. Being bilingual, there are all sorts of gifts that I feel I have that kind of pushed me towards it. I never saw myself doing any of this, but it’s just God’s work going through each thing.”
Anayansi shared the best part of her role at the academy. “I’m getting to be the person I wish I would’ve had as a kid. Giving that support to our Spanish-speaking families is something that really hits home.”
She recalled a time when she heard two students speaking Spanish in the hallway. She joined in and they were amazed that she could speak the language. “Just seeing their response, their face of relief that someone connects with
them and sees them that is the biggest reward that you can get through volunteering.”
Anayansi believes that, although she is the teacher, the students and families she serves have been the ones to teach her. She has leaned into her charitable works with the mentality that “it’s not me, it’s God working through me,” allowing her to be an instrument of God.
“There is a lot of sacrifice because you are not putting yourself first anymore, you are putting first the people you are serving.” However, she added, “It is so much more rewarding than you think. All the blessings that God can give you, He gives them to you through other people.”
VIBRANT FAITH:
How one man’s spiritual journey led to uplifting art
By Sara Kraft
“My mom was very devout, and we went to Mass every Sunday,” explained Sergio Mandujano, owner and artist behind Uplifting Colors. “However, I didn’t make my Faith my own until I was 36.” Sergio grew up in Mexico and rediscovered his Faith after attending a Cursillo retreat in 2012. “I found the love and forgiveness I was so needing. It changed my life.”
Since then, Sergio has made it a priority to help others, spread the Gospel and to live out his Catholic Faith because he is so full of joy. His conversion was so radical that, for a time, his wife Baola thought he was completely out of his mind and even had him visit a psychologist. “I spent hours on my knees, praying for her, and for me,” he recalled. Now Sergio is on a mission to enrich the Faith of children through art.
As a young boy, Sergio could always be found with a sketchbook. When his oldest daughter was young, Sergio painted a mural — his first work in color — in her room. After that, he began to paint and do chalk art. Later, he began having chalk art depicting the faith in the entry of his home.
In 2016, Sergio was transferred by his company to Kansas City. His family joined St. Therese Parish in Parkville. He and his wife attended Christ Renews His Parish retreats, and Baola began helping at church as well. One of their first family missions was to help with Vacation Bible School (VBS). Baola did the decorating,
and Sergio began to paint. He started to paint 5-foot-tall saints for the children to learn about. The saints would appear all over the parish, including the adoration chapel.
“Instead of creating something just for our parish, we wanted to share the love with everyone,” Sergio explained. During COVID, he switched his artwork to an electronic form so it could be shared with everyone. Because many people had called his work uplifting over the years, his company was named Uplifting Colors. Sergio continues to work full-time as an engineer and runs his business part-time. Uplifting Colors produces downloadable saints and has recently begun offering keychains, charms, stickers, pencil bags and more with his designs. A true family business, his wife runs the small warehouse and helps fulfill orders, while his two high school daughters manage his social media pages.
Sergio Mandujano created Uplifting Colors with his wife, Baola and his two daughters.
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