Catholic Key | June-July 2025

T H E M A G A Z I N E O F T H E C AT H O L I C D I O C E S E O F K A N S A S C I T Y- S T. J O S E P H

J u n e/ J uly 2 0 2 5 kc s j c ath o li c.o r g

O N TH E WAY

Youth to young adult formation Page 4

O R D I NAT I O N

Deacon Dan Stump Page 11

J U B I L EE Y E AR

Jubilee of Sport June 14-15 Page 28

Heaven MATCH MADE IN

City on a Hill cultivates community and marriages

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w ww. alt a r an d h om e .o r g

90% OF CHILDREN AGES 8-16 HAVE VIEWED PORN. THE LARGEST CONSUMERS OF PORNOGRAPHY ARE 12 TO 17-YEAR-OLD BOYS.

READ MORE IN THE JUNE 2025 MESSENGER

June/July 2025 VOL. 5 | ISSUE 4

and Seminary in Conception, the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception is located 45 miles north of St. Joseph. The church was dedicated in 1891 and designated a basilica by Pope Pius XII in 1941.

Bishop James V. Johnston, Jr. PUBLISHER

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The magazine of the Catholic Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph

Ashlie Hand EDITOR Janna Stellwag GRAPHIC DESIGNER To submit story ideas and news, send emails to hand@diocesekcsj.org

Catholic Key (ISSN 2769-2353, USPS 024-190) is a membership publication of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, published bimonthly (Feb/ Mar, Apr/May, Jun/Jul, Aug/Sep, Oct/Nov, Dec/Jan) by the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, The Catholic Center, 20 W. Ninth St., Kansas City, MO 64105. Periodicals Postage Paid at Kansas City, MO and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Catholic Key, The Catholic Center, 20 W. Ninth St., Kansas City, MO 64105. ©2024 Catholic Key, Diocese of Kansas CitySt. Joseph.

ON THE COVER: Jackson and Abby McElroy on their wedding day in 2024. Photo submitted

by Abby McElroy. Clouds: Getty Images/Iryna Shancheva

12 C OVER STORY Match made in heaven | Allison Vrooman City on a Hill young adult apostolate cultivates a special Catholic community in the Kansas City metro area, and it is credited with inspiring more than 100 marriages in its nearly two decades of existence.

Meet three couples who say City on a Hill introduced them to each other, helping them to build a friendship and, ultimately, committing to each other in marriage.

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On the Way | What do you think about the changes? | Bishop James Johnston Youth are making definitive decisions about faith at an earlier age than previous generations. More needs to be done to form them and help them experience encounters with Jesus Christ.

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House of God | Basilica of the Immaculate Conception | Ashlie Hand and Michael Hogan The church of Conception Abbey

St. Peter Parish centennial celebrations | Sara Kraft St. Peter Parish in Kansas City is celebrating 100 years with a series of events, including a special wedding anniversary Mass for couples married at the parish church.

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‘On fire for the priesthood’: Meet Deacon Dan Stump | Marty Denzer Seminarian Dan Stump was ordained to the Transitional Diaconate on May 17 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Kansas City.

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Special Report | Pope Leo XIV: First American and Augustinian friar to become pope

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To Serve and Lift | Driving for Hope | Lindsay Jarquio More than just a fun round of golf, Catholic Charities’ Driving for Hope Golf Tournament brings people together for a common purpose — to fight poverty and restore hope to thousands in the region.

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The Knights of Columbus work for faith, family and fraternity | Marty Denzer According to Bishop James John-

ston, there are 12,000 Catholic men who are Knights of Columbus in the diocese, or roughly 10 percent of all Catholics in our area.

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Jubilee of Sport | Sara Kraft The Holy See has designated June 14-15 the Jubilee of Sport as part of the 2025 Jubilee Year celebrations highlighting people and evangelizing ministries within the Church.

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Canonization of Pier Giorgio Frassati: Courage to be great | Karen Ridder Pier Giorgio Frassati is scheduled for canonization in early August during the Jubilee of Youth in Rome. The young Italian died in 1925 after contracting polio as a young man.

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Volunteer spotlight | Mary Oshefski | Allison Vrooman

Catholicism in the digital age | Ashlie Hand Throughout its more than 2,000year history, the Church has had to adjust its methods of evangelization as society and technology evolved, and digital media is a necessary part of spreading the Gospel today.

E n E s pa ñ o l

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Fe Bajo el Sol | Por Leyden Rovelo-Krull En el Camino | Por Obispo Johnston

Ashlie Hand

Karen Ridder

A l l i s o n Vro o ma n

Ma rt y D e n z e r

Sara Kraft

leads the Office of Communications for the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph.

is a Catholic journalist, wife and mother of four in Liberty, Missouri.

is the communications specialist for the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph.

is a long-time writer in residence for the Catholic Key.

is a freelance writer in St. Joseph, Missouri.

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on th e way

W H AT D O YO U T H I N K A

By Bishop James Johnston

t a recent dinner I attended, the topic of lowering the age of Confirmation from ninth to sixth grade in our diocese came up. A woman asked me, “What do you think about that?” I smiled and said, “I like it, but I am also the one responsible for changing it!”

“Oh,” she said, smiling a bit sheepishly. After we all laughed, I had a chance to share a bit more on why lowering the age of Confirmation and other changes in youth ministry in our diocese were being introduced. Her question confirmed my sense that many in the diocese are not aware of what is being implemented throughout our diocese around youth formation.

Several years ago, I embarked on a visioning process that resulted in a pastoral plan of mission for our diocese, identifying top priorities and how we would address them. The process was an example of synodality, which Pope Francis strongly emphasized during his papacy, and Pope Leo XIV continues to encourage throughout the Catholic Church. I began by conducting listening sessions throughout the diocese, to which all were invited to prayerfully consider needs in our families, parishes and schools.

There were several subjects which emerged, but the one most people identified was an urgent desire for the diocese to develop a plan to address the spiritual needs of our youth along with a more deliberate, comprehensive program to form them to be disciples of Jesus, beginning at an earlier age. The comments of parents and grandparents echoed what is being expressed by social scientists, researchers and polls: youth are making definitive decisions about faith at an earlier age (typically by 13) than previous generations.

More needs to be done to form them and help them experience encounters with Jesus Christ, along with opportunities for real personal faith decisions to be his followers.

Solid research also shows how important and impactful the family is in the faith formation of children. The Church can assist, but it is the family that must take the lead role. So, one fruit of this synodal exercise was the development of a youth to young adult plan entitled, The Way [kcsjcatholic.org/theway]. It provides a year-by-year, family-oriented activity to assist the child in learning and living their faith as a disciple. Key to each year is not only knowledge, but decision and choice. Christianity is not simply knowing something (which is important) but a decision to

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Catholic Key • June/July 2025 • catholickey.org

believe and follow someone, Jesus Christ, and live in him and for him within the community of God’s family, the Church.

This is why, for example, the age for Confirmation is being moved to sixth grade, and why we have introduced a Ten Commandments program into the family during fourth grade. It has also led to plans to build a diocesan facility adjacent to Conception Abbey, which will allow our children to experience the mystery and beauty of God in retreats and camps.

ABOUT THE CHANGES? Christianity is not simply knowing something ... but a decision to believe and follow Jesus Christ.”

F ro m t h e Bi s h o p Bishop James V. Johnston, Jr. is the seventh bishop of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph

Virtually all of us who remain active as Catholics, including myself, can point to profound moments in our childhood in which we experienced the living God in a profound way, and that shaped the course of our lives. The memory of experiencing that God is real and personal is vitally important.

That said, I realize there are many who are not familiar with The Way and some of the initiatives being undertaken. I intend to engage in another synodal process at various locations around

the diocese later this summer and into the fall. I will join you in prayerfully discerning around our youth to young adult plan, including planning for our youth center for retreats and camps. The dates and locations for these sessions will be shared when they are finalized. All are invited to participate, especially parents of children in our parishes and schools. I look forward to dialoguing about these important changes and investments by the Church for our families, our children and our future.

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pa r e n ti n g

Yes, a lot of work HAS been done, but don’t be fooled into thinking you’re done when you aren’t.”

Sanding our

ROUG H E DG E S I T WAS A DRE ARY SU N DAY AF T E RN O O N .

I WANTED M Y 1 3 -YE AR- O LD TO D O S OMETH I N G T HAT D ID N ’ T IN VO LVE A S CREEN. HE SE E M E D WILLIN G AN D ENTH US I AST IC ABO U T SAN D IN G T HE TO P OF A S I DE TABLE IN O U R LIVIN G RO O M. S O, I SAI D HE C O U LD GIVE IT A GO.

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Catholic Key • June/July 2025 • catholickey.org

The tabletop showed a lot of wear. Life in our house had left it with scratches, water stains and a chipped finish. An otherwise beautiful piece of furniture was seriously marred. My son got some sandpaper, dragged it outside and started working on the top.

After about 15 minutes, he came back in and said it was ready for finish. I knew that was very unlikely. He simply hadn’t spent enough time on the project. I checked the work before he moved forward.

At first glance, it looked ready. It certainly WAS much better than before. A lot of the grit and rough spots were smoothed out. Much of the old varnish was gone, but the job certainly wasn’t complete. The middle of the tabletop looked pretty good, but the edges were still rough. He HAD greatly smoothed them out, but there was still a big difference between where the wood was bare and where old varnish still clung.

He had more work to do.

I pointed it out. To his credit, he immediately started sanding again. But his hard frantic pace showed me he was tired of the process — ready to be done.

“Wait!” I said, “You will gouge the wood. Be gentle. Make longer strokes. Take your time.”

By K a re n Ri dde r

I started sanding next to him.

Slowly working with the grain, choosing finer grit sandpaper. As I sanded, I thought about giving him the “preparation is the most important part of a project like this” speech. I started to say, “Don’t be fooled into thinking something is ready until it really is …”

But first, I looked again at the table top and thought about how this project pointed to an important message for our spiritual walk.

Life makes all of us scratched, stained and chipped by sin. We start working on it, but as soon as we think we’re not nearly as marred and unpresentable as we once were, we feel ready to move on.

God comes alongside and says, “Yes, a lot of work HAS been done, but don’t be fooled into thinking you’re done when you aren’t.”

This can be frustrating. We don’t want to have to work back over some area of our life we thought we had already taken care to clear. We find ourselves tempted to settle for good enough or a quick shortcut that puts us in danger of getting gouged. We need to let God step in beside us and learn to embrace the slow gentle strokes of his guiding care to ensure the work is really done.

My son and I continued sanding until the sun came out.

He ran off with a friend, and I thanked God for the lesson given through a beautiful tabletop — ready for finish.

cat ec hi s m corner

The Sacred Heart of Jesus: Pre-eminent Catholic devotion?

By Mar c C ar dar o nella

Ma rc C a rda r o n e lla is the director of the Office of Catechesis and Faith Formation.

T Getty Images/jemastock

he Sacred Heart of Jesus devotion, as we know it today, is rooted in Jesus’ revelations to Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque in 1673. In those visions, Jesus showed her his burning human heart and asked her to spread devotion to it, not just as a symbol but as a reality: the beating heart of God made man, on fire with love for humanity.

Though this is a private revelation and not required for belief, the Sacred Heart is a devotion Catholics cannot afford to ignore. I would propose that it’s the pre-eminent Catholic devotion.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 478) teaches: “Jesus knew and loved us each and all during his life … with a human heart. For this reason, the Sacred Heart of Jesus … ‘is quite rightly considered the chief sign and symbol of that ... love with which the divine Redeemer continually loves the eternal Father and all human beings’ without exception.”

This devotion really begins in Scripture. At the Last Supper, Saint John rested on Jesus’ heart.

(Jn 13:23) That moment captures the essence of the devotion: to receive

and return Jesus' love. When we turn to his heart, we are filled with his love. That love moves us to share it with others, console him, and make reparation for those who reject him. The Lord, who came down from heaven, has a human heart and desires friendship with us.

This is what sets Christianity apart. The mystery of redemption is, at its core, a mystery of love.

Pagan gods were distant and indifferent. Humanity was ignored, tolerated or toyed with. In Greek philosophy, the idea of a loving god was absurd. Love was weakness. To love is to make oneself vulnerable. A god could be the object of love, but not the lover.

Aristotle’s “Prime Mover” god attracted everything in the universe to itself but cared for nothing.

But the Christian God loves as one of us, with a human heart. He becomes completely vulnerable.

He knows the joy and pain of love.

He feels rejection, betrayal and heartbreak. He also rejoices in our return, our healing, our hope. The Sacred Heart reveals this love in its most personal, human form.

A God who loves with both divine and human will seems impossible. Yet that’s what we find in the Sacred Heart. It’s the burning symbol of Jesus’ total love — a love that longs, suffers and pours itself out. His dreams, desires and tears, all revealed in that wounded human heart.

The Sacred Heart shows both Christ's humanity and divinity.

It is not merely a symbol but a summary of our redemption.

God loved us first. He came, he suffered, he rose and his love remains eternal and alive. The Sacred Heart of Jesus devotion is private revelation. However, it is also in the Church's public worship as the feast of the Sacred Heart and is rooted in Scripture. Is it the pre-eminent Catholic devotion? I’ll let you decide. It certainly addresses the essence of Catholicism and is worthy of every Catholic’s attention and prayer.

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p ho to e s s ay

Photo by T od d We d d le

House of God The Basilica of the Immaculate Conception Conception, Mo.

BY A shl ie Hand and Michael Hogan

T

he Basilica of the Immaculate Conception is the church of Conception Abbey and Seminary in Conception, located 45 miles north of St. Joseph. The church was dedicated in 1891 and designated a basilica by Pope Pius XII in 1941. Established by Father Frowin Conrad and seven novices from Engelberg, Switzerland, in 1873, the abbey celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2023, including the completion of a 20-year renewal project of the basilica church.

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Catholic Key • June/July 2025 • catholickey.org

The basilica is divided horizontally into three symbolic levels. The bottom includes the worshipers and altar, representing the earth. The middle features Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary and the saints, representing the perfection to which humans should strive.

The ceiling represents the heavenly realm. Thirty-two angels share the lofty heights with the Immaculate Conception mural.

When a tornado struck the church in 1893, just two years after its dedication, the monks turned disaster into opportunity. During reconstruction, they added 22 Beuronese murals of the lives of Mary and Saints Benedict and Scholastica, painted by the monks themselves. Purchase the coffee table book featuring photos and full descriptions of the murals, Harmony in Art, at altarandhome.org.

The church’s holy water font stands at the foot of the main aisle, but its original purpose was as the baptismal font in the basilica when it was a parish church.

The apse features an original painting of the Immaculate Conception, for whom the basilica is named. Conception Abbey’s depiction shows Mary’s triumph over Satan. Below are paintings of eight saints, all of whom had a special connection or devotion to Mary. Forming the border between the ceiling of the apse and the sanctuary of the church is the triumphal arch, which features symbols of the Holy Mother from the Litany of Loreto.

This marble altar, upon which the bread and wine are transubstantiated into the body, blood, soul and divinity of Jesus Christ, was first dedicated in 1891 and rededicated in March 1999. The top consists of marble cut from the original high altar of the abbey church.

VISIT THE BASILICA OF THE IMMACUL ATE C ONCEP TION 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. Find more images and details on catholickey.org.

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fe atu r e Photo submitted

by St. Peter Parish, Kansas City.

St. Peter Parish centennial celebrations include

wedding anniversary Mass

By S a ra K ra f t

I

n honor of St. Peter Parish’s centennial celebration, the parish is hosting several smaller events leading up to its anniversary in November. These celebrations include a wedding anniversary Mass on Saturday, June 7 at 5 p.m.

This event will honor the legacy of those married at St. Peter Parish over the last hundred years in recognition of the role these marriages have played in building the parish community.

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“Our focus has been, ‘How can we celebrate the building of a community, marriage by marriage, family by family, all through shared faith and guid-

Blvd., in Kansas City, was established Nov. 8, 1925. The first church building was nicknamed “the Tin Cathedral” because it was made of corrugated tin,

The first couple married at St. Peter’s was Mary Rogers and Eugene Rickey on June 29, 1927.

The wedding was performed by the young parish founder, Father James Neeley Vincent McKay. “We want to celebrate the marriages that have made our parish what it is,” explained Bridget FitzGerald, event chair of St. Peter Parish centennial wedding anniversary Mass.

FitzGerald and team have spent hours comparing marriage records to current or past directories and attempting to find contact information for the couples. “There’s 100 years of people,” stated Bridget. “I’ve

ed by the Holy Spirit?’ We really want to honor ordinary people who built something special and lasting,” stated Anne Pautler, St. Peter’s communications and marketing director.

St. Peter Parish, at 815 E Meyer

similar to a military barracks.

It was built by parishioners in a cornfield lot purchased for $9,000. At the time, there were no other buildings standing between Oak and Paseo along Meyer Boulevard.

been a part of it for half that time. It’s really special to see that growth.”

“Marriage is the bedrock of family life,” explained Co O’Sullivan Bauman. Mark and Co Bauman married at St. Peter’s

Catholic Key • June/July 2025 • catholickey.org

in 1993. They have had ancestors at St. Peter’s since the 1920s. Parents, some aunts and uncles and some siblings married at St. Peter’s. Their son will get married at St. Peter’s in December 2025 as part of the next generation.

The wedding anniversary celebration Mass will include a special blessing for couples married at St. Peter’s. A reception with a champagne toast and cake will follow.

We really want to honor ordinary people who built something special and lasting,”

fe atu r e

Deacon Dan Stump

‘ON FIRE FOR THE PRIESTHOOD’

By Marty Denzer

S

eminarian Dan Stump was ordained to the transitional diaconate on May 17 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Kansas City.

Homeschooled through his elementary school years, Dan Stump attended St. Pius X High School, graduating in 2007. He attended Mass with his parents and older sister at St. Therese Church in Parkville.

Dan recalled feeling a call to the priesthood while still in grade school. “I was on fire for the priesthood,” he said.

After graduating from St. Pius X, he enrolled at Briar Cliff University in Sioux City, Iowa, majoring in English and Theater. Dan graduated in 2011, still thinking of the priesthood.

He then went to work for Caribou Coffee in Kansas City. He was

Des Moines, Iowa, in 2015; a year later, he was transferred to the Parkville location.

Having never relinquished his dream of the priesthood, Dan attended a Christ Renews His Parish retreat at St. Therese Church that year. Watching the priests during the retreat, he saw what was missing in his life. After the retreat, he contacted Father Adam Johnson, then the vocations director for the Kansas CitySt. Joseph Diocese, for a seminary application.

Dan entered Conception Seminary for pre-theology in the fall of 2017, graduating in 2019. He then started at Mount St. Mary’s

promoted to general manager in

Seminary and School of Theology

in Cincinnati, Ohio, in the fall of 2019. During his second year, he struggled with doubt, questioning if he was a good fit for the priesthood.

“I felt like God was pulling me out of the seminary, so on Labor Day 2021, I left.” He went to work at Dunkin’ Donuts. A year later, he was promoted to general manager of the North Oak location.

During that period, Dan sought out a spiritual director to “work through the noise.” He reentered Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in the fall of 2023. “I continued my discernment, questioning myself and asking God, ‘Are you sure you want me to be your priest?’

He answered, ‘Yes.’ So, I returned, and here I am.”

He frequently ponders two Scripture verses: John 1:39, “Come and see”; and Psalm 46:10, “Be still and know that I am God.” The first verse can be seen as an

invitation to learn more about Jesus Christ. Dan relates the Psalm verse to his inner prayer life. “Keep God central,” he said.

“The closer I get to the ordination, I’m more excited and more at peace. I look forward to living life as a priest. My parents are also excited and very supportive. My older sister is a Dominican Sister, so my parents are very comfortable with my vocation.”

“What kind of priest do I hope to be? A faithful priest, simply helping people develop their relationship with God. And I want to take problems off the plates of others.”

When he imagines priesthood, Dan sees an image of Simon of Cyrene, the man compelled by the Roman soldiers to carry Jesus’ cross. “To me, that is an image of priesthood, helping others carry their crosses.”

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MATCH MADE IN

Heaven

Clouds: Getty Images/ Iryna Shancheva

Catholic Key • June/July 2025 • catholickey.org

cover story

C

By A l l i s o n Vro o ma n

City on a Hill is a young adult apostolate that cultivates Catholic community in the Kansas City metro area. Through signature events, recreational sports leagues and men’s and women’s small groups, members can form friendships, grow in faith and find accountability and support.

Beyond this, City on a Hill has inspired more than 100 marriages in its nearly two decades of existence. This success brings hope to young Catholics looking for love.

Jackson and Abby McElroy on their wedding day in 2024. Photos submitted by Abby McElroy.

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children and are parishioners at St. Andrew the Apostle Catholic Church in Gladstone.

They encourage other young couples to be bold, be intentional and trust that the Lord has a plan.

Further, in marriage and family life, “don’t lose sight of your spouse,” Genevra emphasized.

Although it has been difficult to stay involved with City on a Hill’s organized events while

growing their family, Andy and Genevra still feel connected because of the community they have built from it.

As he is phasing out of the young adult category, Andy is an active member of City on a Hill’s Board of Directors. “I have been blessed to serve on the board, which now gives me the chance to still be involved in leadership and mentorship.”

Andy and Genevra Flattery, now a family of six, met through City on a Hill and were married in 2018. Photo by Michael Hogan.

Love in the first pew Andy Flattery met his wife, Genevra, in 2015, after sitting behind her in the front rows of Redemptorist Catholic Church.

They were attending a Mass Mob — Mass followed by a social. This was Genevra’s first City on a Hill event.

A few months after moving to Kansas City, someone at the parish Genevra attended introduced her to City on a Hill. “I was really excited to hear about it, because I grew up in a small town and we didn’t have a lot of offerings and community, so I just dove into everything,” she shared.

Andy became involved with City on a Hill immediately after moving to the area in 2014. While he was not explicitly looking for love, he explained that it was important for him to “find a woman who shares the same Faith,” adding that City on a Hill is the best place to go. Genevra agreed, “Through City on a Hill, meeting people with the same foundation sets you up for success.”

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Connor and Elizabeth Bowen on their wedding day in 2023.

Photos submitted by Elizabeth Bowen.

Andy and Genevra Flattery on their wedding day in 2018. Photos submitted by Genevra Flattery.

After meeting, the two continued to see each other at City on a Hill events. In 2016, their relationship sparked when Andy invited Genevra to be on his Catholic Challenge Sports sand volleyball team. They started dating, were engaged nine months later and married nine months after that.

The couple now have four young

Catholic Key • June/July 2025 • catholickey.org

Love on the radar Looking for a Catholic spouse was on Connor Bowen’s mind when he started attending City on a Hill events after moving to Kansas City in 2014. For his wife, Elizabeth, the idea of finding a husband when getting involved in 2018 was on her radar but not a top priority.

Connor and Elizabeth met

each other in February of 2021 through a mutual friend. Their relationship progressed quickly, as they became engaged in September of 2022 and got married in July of the following year. They became parents to their first child in June of 2024.

Since getting married and starting a family, their involve-

“Give thanks to God when things are going well and ask for strength through prayer to endure the hardships.”

- Connor Bowen

ment with City on a Hill has changed. “The demands of day to day life with a spouse and child reduce our availability to be as present,” they shared, adding that they still attend events periodically and participate in Catholic Challenge Sports.

City on a Hill has provided a good community for them, and while they are less involved in the activities that are offered, they “prioritize maintaining a lot of the friendships made through our involvement in City on a Hill over the years.”

Fostering their faith within their marriage, Connor and Elizabeth pray nightly, pray before meals and pray with their son before they put him to bed.

They also regularly encourage each other to go to confession, as well as focus on staying active in their parish, Christ the King Catholic Church in Kansas City.

Connor’s advice, “Give thanks to God when things are going well, and ask for strength through prayer to endure the hardships.”

Elizabeth added, “Practice generous assumptions with your spouse, don't count the costs and give up control when possible.”

Conner and Elizabeth Bowen at City on a Hill’s annual City Lights Gala in 2022.

Love rooted in friendship Jackson and Abby McElroy’s love story started out as a friend story. After missing the opportunity to introduce himself to the “really cute girl alone in the pew” at daily Mass multiple times, Jackson made a point to meet Abby when he spotted her

across the room at a Young Catholic Professionals event.

A few weeks later, they connected again at a Catholic Challenge Sports sand volleyball league. From there, the pair formed a friendship as their individual groups of friends merged

Jackson and Abby McElroy married in November 2024 after meeting through City on a Hill. Photo by Michael Hogan.

into one, through consistent attendance of City on a Hill events.

Everyone in the group knew there was interest between Jackson and Abby, however, “Abby proceeded to friendzone me three or four different times over the next several months,” Jackson shared. He stayed persistent in growing their friendship.

Abby, adamant that they were just friends, gradually warmed up to the idea of dating Jackson.

“Whether I like it or not,” she told a friend before a date was even scheduled, “I think I’m going to marry Jackson.” The two started dating in June of 2023, got engaged in May of 2024 and were married Nov. 30, 2024.

“Something that we found is that we are very, very grateful that we started as friends. We got to know each other really well in friendship which made it easier to enter into dating,” Abby shared.

Praying out loud together is a

Jackson and Abby McElroy at City on a Hill’s annual City Lights Gala in 2024.

practice that Jackson and Abby have done since dating, and they say it is one of the most fruitful parts of their relationship. They believe in the importance of developing a prayer routine with your significant other.

The couple encourages people to attend different City on a Hill events and to be consistent and patient when looking to build community, saying, “You will get out what you put in.”

Learn more about City on a Hill at kansascityonahill.org.

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FIR ST A M E RI C A N A N D AUGUST I N I A N FRI A R TO BE C OM E P OP E

Catholic Key • June/July 2025 • catholickey.org

CNS photo/Vatican Media

P O P E LEO X IV 16

specia l report

C

ardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected as the 267th head of the Catholic Church on May 8, 2025. He took the name Leo XIV, which is a reference to Leo XIII

and the social doctrine of the Church. Pope Leo XIII issued his Rerum Novarum encyclical in 1891; focused on the dignity of work and dignity of the worker, it is considered the first social encyclical of the Church.

Pope Leo XIV’s first words to the world were: “Peace be with all of you!”

He went on to say: “Peace be with you! Dearest brothers and sisters, this was the first greeting of the risen Christ, the Good Shepherd who gave his life for the flock of God. I, too, would like this greeting of peace to enter your hearts, to reach your families and all people, wherever they are; and all the peoples, and all the earth: Peace be with you.”

His blessing to those watching from St. Peter’s Square and around the world ended with the recitation of the Hail Mary.

The largest-ever conclave which elected Pope Leo lasted just over 24 hours and consisted of 133 cardinals. Only members of the College of Cardinals under the age of 80 are allowed to vote.

The College of Cardinals now includes men from countries who never before had a voice in a papal election. Diversity in the Church was important to Pope Francis, and he ensured this was reflected in the men he appointed as cardinals during the 12 years of his pontificate.

D ID YO U K N O W ?

• For most of the first century, popes used their given names.

• In the 6th century Roman Mercurius chose the name John II because he had been named for a pagan god.

• In the 11th century, the practice of adopting a new name became standard after a series of German popes chose the names of early Church bishops in an expression of unity with the Universal Church.

• For many centuries popes chose the name of the pope who had elevated them to cardinal, with John being the most popular (23 popes) followed by Benedict and Gregory (16 each).

• Beginning in the mid-20th century, new popes began to choose names indicating the focus of their papacy.

Source: France 24 with AP

Pope Leo XIV, the former Cardinal Robert F. Prevost, waves to the crowds in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican after his election as pope May 8, 2025. The new pope was born in Chicago. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)

THI NGS TO K NOW ABOU T P OP E L EO X IV Robert Francis Prevost was born in 1955 in Chicago. He has two brothers. His father was a World War II Navy veteran and school superintendent and his mother was a librarian.

He earned a BS degree in mathematics from Villanova University in 1977 before pursuing his religious vocation.

He finished secondary studies at the minor seminary of the Augustinians in Michigan in 1973. In 1977 he became a member of the Order of St. Augustine and took his solemn vows in 1981.

Pope Leo He completed a master of divinity at Catholic XIV was Theological Union in Chicago and earned a ordained licentiate and doctorate in canon law from a priest the Pontifical College of St. Thomas Aquinas in 1982. in Rome.

He served in Peru from 1985 to 1998, working as a parish pastor, seminary teacher and diocesan official. He was also part of the leadership of Caritas Peru, the Church’s charitable organization.

After being elected the head of the Augustinian Province of Chicago, he returned to the U.S. in 1999. He was elected prior general of the Augustinians in 2001 and then reelected in 2007, serving as head of the order until 2013.

Pope Francis appointed him apostolic administrator and then bishop of the Diocese of Chiclayo, Peru, in 2014 and 2015.

He was made a cardinal by Pope Francis on Sept. 30, 2023.

While serving the Church in Peru, Francis made him a member of the Dicastery for the Clergy in 2019 and then a member of the Dicastery for Bishops in 2020. In 2023, Francis made him prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops.

He speaks multiple languages, including English, Spanish, Italian, French, and Portuguese.

His episcopal motto is In illo uno unum, which means “In the one Christ we are one.”

Source: CNA/Francesca Pollio Fenton, May 9, 2025

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m a r r i ag e

Vatican II’s Vision for the Family

By D ino Dur ando The institution of the family has been the foundation of society throughout human history. The family passes on culture, customs and faith to each generation. Put simply, where the family goes, there goes society. For this reason, Vatican II, focused on the mission and challenges of the family by including an entire chapter in the council document, Gaudium et spes (GS). As this document emphatically stated: “The well-being of the individual person and of human and Christian society is intimately linked with the healthy condition of… marriage and family.” (GS, 47)

THE CHURCH IS D E D I C AT E D T O T H E FA M I LY

THE WAY : YOU T H T O YOU N G A D U LT IN IT IAT IVE

Support for family life is of highest importance for Catholics.

“Christians and all men who hold [the family] in high esteem sincerely rejoice in the various ways by which men today find help in fostering this community of love and perfecting its life, and by which parents are assisted in their lofty calling.” (GS, 47) Marriage provides stability for the family. The permanence of the marital bond gives spouses the freedom of marital life lived without fear of abandonment and helps them to persevere in fidelity to one another and to God.

Released in November 2023, The Way, is part of our diocesan vision, One Family: Restored in Christ, Equipped for Mission. The early Christians were known as people of The Way. (cf. Acts 9:2; 19:9; 22:4; 24:14) There are 3 primary convictions that drive this initiative.

Vatican II expresses the beauty of marital love and family life which “is ordered to the procreation and education of children, and find in them their ultimate crown.” (GS, 48) We discover the meaning of life through contact with God’s revelation and we learn what it means to be human in the family because “the family is a kind of school of deeper humanity.” (GS, 51) Seen in this light, the family is the school and love is the lesson. We first learn to love God and one another as we grow up in our family. And even though our families are not perfect, they nevertheless are true schools of love.

THE FAMILY: CEN T E R O F H UM A N FO R M AT I O N The family is the fundamental “place” where children are trained how to live well and what it means to be human. As a school of love, the family is also a school of prayer where, “inspired by the example and family prayer of their parents, children … will more easily set out upon the path of a truly human training, of salvation, and of holiness.” (GS, 48) For families beset by difficulties, prayer has the power to change things for the better. As the now famous saying goes: “The family that prays together, stays together.” Parents have the responsibility for this introduction to the life of prayer because “parents have the specific responsibility of educating their children in prayer, introducing them to gradual discovery of the mystery of God and to personal dialogue with Him.” (Familiaris Consortio, 60) Parents should also “eagerly carry out their duties of education, especially religious education, which is primarily entrusted to them.” (GS, 48)

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This initiative provides resources to help parents guide their children along The Way. Like a pilgrimage to a holy site, the family journeys through the joys and sorrows of life, following Jesus, together. The end goal of the journey is for children to become mature disciples of Jesus Christ, to find their vocation, and commit to it wholeheartedly.

This is why many of the elements of The Way (discussion guides, retreats, at home activities, etc.) focus on equipping parents to “carry out their duties” of forming their children through witness of life, prayer, and family discussions. The Way seeks to help families in our diocese live out this vision cast by Vatican II and our own diocesan vision.

D i n o D u ra n d o 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.

Getty Images/Moment Makers Group

THE FAMILY IS A D E E PE R S C H O O L O F H UM A N IT Y

1. Our bishop and diocese are dedicated to families.

2. We believe strengthening the family is the key to changing culture and society for the better.

3. Parents need support in fulfilling this role of making their home an agent of authentic human formation.

hispanic ministry

FAITH under the sun

By L e y d e n Rove l o -K r ull, director, Office of Hispanic Ministry

R EFLECTI ONS ON AN A NCIE N T ( A ND C ONTINUA L ) C ONV E RS I O N

S

Getty Images/SCM Jeans

ummers in the Midwest are sticky, humid and hot. When I moved here from New York, I would often joke with my new neighbors: What did you all do to make God so mad? As if summer in the Midwest was a punishment for some irredeemable sin. But the truth is there is something about the summer sun that reminds me of faith. Maybe it’s the way the light feels more alive, más vibrante, or how the warmth soaks deep into my skin, changing its color like faith changes the soul. Summer, for me, has always been a season of remembering — a time when faith and history converge under the same bright sky.

You can’t stare into the Midwest sun, you can only squint at it until it becomes diffused rays shining over everything.

The same brilliant rays surround Our Lady of Guadalupe in her tilma. Those golden beams — so deliberate, so radiant — weren't just artistic flair. They spoke a language the indigenous peoples understood immediately: Dios más grande que el sol — a God greater than the sun.

Before the first missionaries ever set foot in the Americas, the Aztecs worshipped gods tied to the natural world. Chief among them was Huitzilopochtli, the sun god, believed to require human sacrifice to nourish him.

Their rituals reflected a constant cycle of awe and fear.

When Our Lady appeared to San Juan Diego in 1531 and imprinted her message in his tilma, she was speaking the language of the Aztec. They were conversant in both the poetry and the power of pictographs to communicate. Standing before the sun, this woman, del Cielo y la tierra, told the Aztecs of a God greater than even the mightiest force they could know. The Santa Madre’s message wasn’t one of domination, but of invitation — a mother’s invitation to love.

And under the Mexican sun, millions of indígena became Catholic. The sun didn't disappear from their lives. It was transformed. Its meaning deepened. It became a sign not of fear, but of the Light of the World.

Our Lady of Guadalupe Mass at St. James Parish in Liberty.

Photo by Leyden Rovelo-Krull.

So, every year, when the summer sun beats down and the days stretch long and slow, I find myself thinking of those first believers — and of my own story.

It was a summer not too long ago when my own heart, tired and restless, finally stopped running.

Maybe it was the heat that stripped away the noise, maybe it was grace finally catching up to me. All I know is that one summer day, under the same burning sun, I realized I couldn’t live divided anymore. There were no tilma or roses for me, but there were signs — small ones — that pointed me back to the Church, to prayer, to confession, to the arms of a Savior I had almost forgotten.

The early Aztec converts must have felt the heat of the

sun on their faces the same way we do. But with new hearts, the world itself must have seemed remade. The stars, the flowers, the mountains, the sun — all of it now proclaimed a Creator who loved them personally, who entered their story and spoke their language.

Our Lady of Guadalupe once wrapped a broken world in light and tenderness. That world is still broken — fractured by fear, injustice, and sin — but nos toca a nosotros now. It’s our turn. As we have been found, so we lead.

As we have been loved, so we love.

Hearts are still aching for the love only Christ can bring — through us. So let’s go. Each one, teach one. Each one, reach one.

Each one, bring one to the Son.

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to s e rv e and lift

July 21, 2025 Lakewood Oaks Country Club

A swing toward lasting change

By L indsay Jar q uio, board member, C at ho l ic C har it ies of Kansas City-St. Joseph

E

ach spring, as Kansas City blooms, an impactful opportunity also comes to life: the Driving for Hope Golf Tournament, hosted by Catholic Charities and the Knights of Columbus in our diocese. More than just a fun round of golf, this event brings people together for a common purpose — to fight poverty and restore hope to thousands in the region.

A day on the green and making a difference in our community!

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With over 140 years of service, Catholic Charities has long been a lifeline for families struggling to make ends meet. Whether it’s a family facing eviction, a veteran looking for safe housing or a job seeker in need of employment, Catholic Charities steps in to provide practical support. Last year alone, our local Catholic Charities distributed more than 99,000 pounds of food, provided $1.4 million in rent and utility assistance and walked alongside countless people on their journey toward stability.

Behind every one of those numbers is a story. Many who come to the Serve & Lift Center are working full-time but still can’t afford the necessities. They’re parents juggling multiple jobs, seniors living on fixed incomes, neighbors doing everything they can, yet still falling short.

The Driving for Hope tournament is a vital part of providing strategic operations at Catholic Charities to support those in our community.

Now in its second year, the tournament raises essential funds to support Catholic Charities — from emergency food distribution and housing assistance to job coaching and adoption services. The sponsorship funds from Driving for Hope are used

CHECK OUT OUR VIDEOS TO SEE THE FUN AND LE ARN MORE .

To learn more or get involved, visit catholiccharities-kcsj.org/drivingforhope/ Together, we drive hope — one swing at a time.

These KC Chiefs Ambassadors were one of 30 teams that participated in our first Driving for Hope Golf Tournament benefitting Catholic Charities of Kansas City- St. Joseph at Lakewood Oaks.

L to R : Shawn Barber, Dezman Moses, Keith Cash, Danan Hughes

SIGN UP NOW: catholiccharities-kcsj.org/drivingforhope

wherever the need is greatest. Every swing, every sponsorship, every volunteer hour fuels programs that impact real lives across 27 counties in western Missouri.

But the tournament isn’t just about raising funds — it’s about building community. Local businesses, faith groups, golf lovers and longtime supporters come together for a day of camaraderie and purpose. It’s a reminder that when we unite around a mission of mercy, we can drive real change. Last year, we had a diverse range of teams from Kansas City Chiefs Ambassadors to Country Club Bank to Knights of Columbus and even a team anchored by a person adopted through our Catholic Charities 70 years ago. Check out the QR code in the photo above to see her story.

How you can join the mission There are many ways to be part of Driving for Hope, each one helping extend the reach of Catholic Charities’ life-changing work.

• Sponsor: Align your business, council or club with a mission that matters. Hole Sponsors are only $1,500 and include a foursome. If you’d like a bigger impact in the community, sponsorships are available up to $20,000 and will be seen by 23,000+ people.

A great start to the Driving for Hope Golf Tournament with these two full carts of cheerful competitors!

• Play Golf: Whether you’re a seasoned golfer or just enjoy a day on the green, this is a fun way to give back. Put together a team representing your parish, neighborhood, Ladies Auxiliary, Knights Council, friends or family.

•D onate: If you can’t make it to the tournament, a financial gift of any size makes a direct impact. Donor appointments are also available to set up monthly donations, stock donations, or estate planning.

• Volunteer: From greeting guests to cleaning up after the 18th hole, volunteers bring this tournament to life. It’s a great way to support the cause behind the scenes while experiencing the spirit of hope in action.

•K nights of Columbus: We’d love to have every Knights of Columbus council in our

diocese participate in some way. Reach out to Jody Breuer at jbreuer@ccharities. com to mobilize your Knights as a foursome, sponsors, volunteers, or provider of auction items.

More than a tournament Driving for Hope is not just a day on the course. It’s a purposeful movement — a joyful celebration of generosity and service. It brings together people of all backgrounds to support those who need it most, helping them not only survive, but thrive.

When you support this event, you’re not just playing golf. You’re feeding the hungry, housing the homeless, guiding young mothers and helping veterans find stability. You’re becoming part of a mission that goes far beyond the fairway.

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Knights of Columbus

Knights of Columbus from Kansas City-St. Joseph and the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas served as Honor Guard during the May 4, 2024 BEHOLD Eucharistic Celebration in Kansas City. Photo by Kathryn White.

work for Faith, family and fraternity

By M ar t y Denzer

S

ince the Knights of Columbus’ 1882 founding by Blessed Father Michael McGivney and a small group of parishioners at St. Mary’s Church in New Haven, Connecticut, as a “purely original organization,” the fraternal, mutual aid society has grown into a global Catholic institution with two million members.

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The first members chose Christopher Columbus as their patron, signaling fealty to both their country and their Faith. The aid society was founded to provide support for widows and orphans left destitute following the death of husbands and fathers — think Catholic life insurance. For 143 years, the Knights have embraced the founding principles of unity and charity, with fraternity and patriotism added in 1885 and 1900 respectively.

Today, under the leadership of the Supreme Knight, the U.S. Knights’ chief executive officer, the organization is composed of jurisdictions, made up of state councils, district councils and local councils. Between the district councils and the state councils are diocesan chapters.

In the Diocese of Kansas CitySt. Joseph, there are 66 councils, each with its own identity. Since 2018, the 66-council body is known as the “Diocese of Kansas

f eatu r e The Knights of Columbus diocesan chapter of Kansas City-St. Joseph provided a transformational donation which funded sonogram technology at the new Parkville Women’s Clinic, a crucial tool in supporting expectant mothers and fathers. Photos by Ashlie Hand.

City-St. Joseph Chapter of the Knights of Columbus.” While still in its infancy, the chapter embraces all councils in the diocese, with a related increase in manpower, said Chris Bradfield, Kansas City-St. Joseph diocesan chairman.The by-laws specify that the chapter’s purpose is to promote the order’s well-being and assist in coordinating council activities to further diocesan charitable endeavors and support Faith, community, life and family ventures. It’s not just charity; it’s insurance enabling future programs and initiatives.

A lot of folks may not realize that the Knights of Columbus work behind the scenes at convents, churches and for Catholic Charities. Many, if not most, of the Knights’ charitable activities are done quietly, without fanfare.

According to Bradfield, “We do the work and disappear.”

Perhaps it’s time to shine light on their work.

First of all, in this diocese alone, according to Bishop James Johnston, there are 12,000 Catholic men who are Knights of Columbus; roughly 10 percent of all Catholics in the area. Most are married, and their wives partic-

ipate in the Ladies Auxiliaries.

Thus, an incredible amount of work — physical labor, fundraising, directing and promoting various projects and programs honoring their Catholic Faith and serving their communities — gets done.

Bradfield gave some examples: mowing grass and shoveling snow, painting and repairs to homes and school buildings, soliciting and collecting food donations via bicycles during St. Peter’s “Cranksgiving.” The Knights also parked cars and served as an Honor Guard during the 2023 viewing of the “almost perfectly intact” body of Sister Mary Wilhelmina Lancaster, OSB, foundress of the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles, who died at age 95 in 2019, in Gower. Pilgrims came from all over the region to view and pray by her body.

Other programs include funding educational grants for Catholic schools (preschool through high school); the Religious Vocation Fund; Special Olympics; and Meet Life programs, especially providing ultrasound machines to Pregnancy Resource Centers and providing mothers who choose life with Aid and

INTERE STED IN LE ARNING MORE or joining the Knights of Columbus? Visit kofc.org/joinus.

Support after Pregnancy (ASAP) — monetary, emotional and educational support following their baby’s birth.

The Knights of Columbus is an insurance company, helping fund programs for people in need, supplying 25,000-30,000

man hours of labor annually.

Bradfield and KCSJ Diocesan Director Mike Temsler agreed that, “We help the diocese, and the diocese helps us. We try to fit into every phase of the diocesan work.” Two programs they highlighted were “Coats for Kids” and the work of the Sisters of St. Francis of the Holy Eucharist of Independence.

As Mike Temsler said, “We’re Catholics, and we’re all in this together!”

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b l ack cath olic s p i r i tu a l i ty

A voice crying out in Gospel joy Sister Thea Bowman and the soul of Black Catholic spirituality

By Fat h e r L e o n a rd Gi c h e ru,

What does it mean to be Black and Catholic?

It means that I come to my Church fully functioning. … I bring myself; my Black self, all that I am, all that I hope to become. I bring my whole history, my traditions, my experience, my culture, my African American song and dance and gesture and movement and teaching and preaching and healing and responsibility as a gift to the Church.”

– Sister Thea Bowman

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In the tapestry of American Catholicism, few threads shine as vibrantly as the life and witness of Servant of God Sister Thea Bowman. Born in Mississippi in 1937 to a Methodist family and a convert to Catholicism as a child, Thea’s journey to religious life and national prominence was rooted in a deep love for Jesus Christ and a deep pride in her Black heritage.

As a Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration and a scholar with a Ph.D. in English, Sister Thea’s intellect matched her fire.

But it wasn’t her credentials that stirred hearts; it was her bold, joyful, prophetic spirit. Wherever she went —whether a classroom, a church or the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops — Sister Thea sang the spirituals of her ancestors, preached the Gospel in full voice and invited the Church to see Black Catholic spirituality not as a “flavor” of faith but as an authentic, indispensable expression of the Church’s universality.

Sister Thea saw no contradiction between deep faith and cultural

pride. In fact, she insisted that the Catholic Church becomes more fully itself when each culture brings its gifts to the table. Her spirituality was one of joy rooted in suffering, community born of struggle and resilience that dances even through pain.

She famously told the bishops in 1989, while undergoing cancer treatments and confined to a wheelchair, that the Church must learn to “walk together, talk together, work together, sing together and stand together in Jesus’ name.” In that moment, her body was frail, but her voice rang out like a prophet of old, commanding a room full of clerics to sing “We Shall Overcome.”

Her cause for canonization is now moving forward, and, by the grace of God, one day she will be the first African American woman to become a saint. But her sanctity already lives on in the choirs she inspired, the children she educated, the bishops she challenged and the faithful she called to be fully alive.

KatieHutchison, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

pastor, St. Monica Parish and Our Lady of Sorrows Parish

Mi ni ster i o Hi spano

FE Bajo el Sol

P o r L e y de n Rove l o -K r ull, Directora, Oficina del Ministerio Hispano

R EFLE X I ONE S SOBRE UNA C O N V E RS I Ó N AN T I GUA ( Y C O N T I NUA )

L

os veranos en el Medio Oeste son pegajosos, húmedos y muy calurosos. Cuando me mudé aquí desde Nueva York, solía bromear con mis nuevos vecinos: ¿qué hicieron todos ustedes para enojar tanto a Dios? Como si el verano en el Medio Oeste fuera un castigo por algún pecado irredimible. Pero la verdad es que hay algo en el sol de verano que me recuerda a la fe. Quizás sea la forma en que la luz se siente más viva, más vibrante, o cómo el calor penetra profundamente en mi piel, cambiando mi color como la fe cambia el alma. Para mí, el verano siempre ha sido una época de recuerdos, un momento en el que la fe y la historia convergen bajo el mismo cielo brillante.

Getty Images/ulimi

No se puede mirar fijamente el sol del Medio Oeste, solo se puede entrecerrar los ojos hasta que se convierte en rayos difusos que brillan, sobre todo. Los mismos rayos brillantes rodean a Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe en su tilma. Esos rayos dorados, tan deliberados, tan radiantes no eran solo arte. Hablaban un lenguaje que los pueblos indígenas entendieron de inmediato: Dios más grande que el sol.

Antes de que los primeros misioneros pisaran América, los aztecas adoraban a dioses vinculados con el mundo natural. El principal de ellos era Huitzilopochtli, el dios del sol, quien, según se creía, requería sacrificios humanos para nutrirse. Sus rituales reflejaban un ciclo constante de asombro y terror.

Cuando Nuestra Señora se apareció a San Juan Diego en 1531 y grabó su mensaje en su tilma, hablaba la Misa de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe en la Parroquia de San James en Liberty.

Foto de Leyden Rovelo-Krull.

lengua de los aztecas. Conocían tanto la poesía como el poder de las pictografías para comunicarse. De pie ante el sol, esta mujer del Cielo y la tierra les habló a los aztecas de un Dios superior a la fuerza más poderosa que pudieran conocer. El mensaje de la Santa Madre no era de dominación, sino de invitación: la invitación de una madre al amor.

Y bajo el sol mexicano, millones de indígenas se convirtieron al catolicismo. El sol no desapareció de sus vidas. Se transformó. Su significado se profundizó. Se convirtió en un símbolo no de miedo, sino de la Luz del Mundo.

Así, cada año, cuando el sol del verano pega fuerte y los días se alargan y se hacen lentos, me encuentro pensando en aquellos primeros creyentes… y en mi propia historia.

Fue un verano no muy lejano cuando mi corazón, cansado e inquieto, por fin dejó de huir. Quizás fue el calor que acalló el ruido, quizás fue la gracia que finalmente me alcanzó. Lo único que sé es que un día de verano, bajo el mismo sol abrasador, me di cuenta de que ya no podía vivir dividida. No había tilma ni rosas para mí, pero sí señales —pequeñas — que me guiaron de vuelta a la Iglesia, a la oración, a la confesión, a los brazos de un Salvador que casi había olvidado.

Los primeros aztecas conversos debieron sentir el calor del sol en sus rostros igual que nosotros. Pero con corazones nuevos, el mundo mismo debió parecer renovado. Las estrellas, las flores, las montañas, el sol, todo ello proclamaba ahora a un Creador que los amaba personalmente, que entraba en su historia y hablaba su idioma.

Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe una vez envolvió un mundo roto en luz y ternura. Ese mundo sigue roto, fracturado por el miedo, la injusticia y el pecado, pero ahora nos toca a nosotros. Es nuestro turno. Así como fuimos hallados, ahora mostramos el camino. Así como nos amaron, así amamos.

Los corazones aún anhelan el amor que solo Cristo puede traer, a través de nosotros. Así que, vamos: Cada uno, enseñe a uno. Cada uno, alcance a uno. Cada uno, lleve a uno al Sol.

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¿Q U E P I EN SA ACERCA Po r el Obisp o James Johnston

E

n una cena reciente a la que asistí, surgió el tópico de disminuir la edad para la Confirmación de noveno a sexto grado en nuestra diócesis, y una mujer me preguntó, “¿Qué piensa acerca de eso?” Sonreí y dije, “Me gusta, pero también soy el único responsable del cambio”. “Oh” dijo ella, sonriendo un poco tímidamente. Después de que todos nos reímos, tuve la oportunidad de compartir un poco más el por qué fueron introducidos la disminución de la edad para la Confirmación y otros cambios en el ministerio juvenil en nuestra diócesis. Su pregunta confirmó mi impresión de que muchas personas en la diócesis no están al tanto de los cambios que se implementan para la formación de los jóvenes a través de nuestra diócesis.

Hace varios años, emprendí un Proceso de Visión Diocesana que dio como resultado el plan de la misión pastoral de nuestra diócesis, en el que identificamos nuestras principales prioridades y cómo podríamos abordarlas. El proceso fue un ejemplo de sinodalidad, que fue promovido por el papa Francisco en toda la Iglesia Católica.

Empecé realizando sesiones de escucha a través de la diócesis, en las cuales todos fueron invitados a reflexionar en oración sobre las necesidades de nuestras familias, parroquias, y escuelas, y a compartir sus reflexiones conmigo y con el equipo que me acompañaba.

Surgieron diversos temas, pero el que destacó de manera especial fue el deseo urgente, expresado por la mayoría, de que la diócesis desarrolle un plan para atender las necesidades espirituales de nuestros jóvenes.

Se subrayó también la importancia de implementar un programa más intencional y completo para formarlos como discípulos de Jesús, comenzando desde edades más tempranas. Los comentarios de padres y abuelos fueron eco de lo que han expresado científicos sociales, investigadores y encuestas recientes: los jóvenes toman decisiones definitivas acerca de la fe a edades más tempranas (típicamente alrededor de los 13 años), una tendencia más temprana que en generaciones pasadas. Ante esta realidad, es imperativo hacer más para acompañarlos en su formación, propiciar encuentros personales con Jesucristo y brindarles verdaderas oportunidades para tomar decisiones de fe auténticas y comprometerse a seguirlo.

Investigaciones solidas también muestran la importancia y el gran impacto de la familia en la formación de la fe de los niños. Si bien la

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Iglesia puede ofrecer apoyo y acompañamiento, es en el seno familiar donde debe asumirse el papel principal en este proceso. De tal manera, uno de los frutos de este ejercicio sinodal fue el desarrollo de un plan Jóvenes a Adultos Jóvenes llamado El Camino [kcsjcatholic.org/ theway]. Este plan propone una serie de actividades anuales orientadas a la familia, diseñadas para ayudar a los niños en su aprendizaje y en la vivencia de su fe como discípulos de Jesús. Cada etapa del programa pone el énfasis no solo en la adquisición de conocimientos, sino, sobre todo, en la decisión y la escogencia. El cristianismo no consiste únicamente en saber acerca de Dios, aunque el conocimiento es importante, sino en decidir creer en Jesucristo, seguirlo, y vivir en Él y por Él, dentro de la comunidad de la Familia de Dios, la Iglesia.

Por esta razón, la edad para recibir el sacramento de la Confirmación

DE LO S C AM B IOS?

en el c am i no

“El cristianismo no consiste unicamente en saber acerca de Dios ... seno en decidir creer en Jesucristo.”

D e l O bi s p o El obispo James V. Johnston, Jr. es el séptimo obispode la Diócesis de Kansas City-St. Joseph

se ha adelantado tres años. Asimismo, hemos implementado un programa para que las familias trabajen juntas en el aprendizaje de los Diez Mandamientos durante el cuarto grado. Esta misma visión ha impulsado los planes para construir una instalación diocesana adyacente a la Abadía de la Concepción que permitirá a nuestros niños experimentar el misterio y la belleza de Dios en retiros y campamentos.

Prácticamente todos los que permanecemos activos en la fe católica, incluyéndome a mí, podemos señalar momentos profundos de nuestra infancia en los que experimentamos de manera viva y real la presencia de Dios, experiencias que marcaron el rumbo de nuestras vidas.

La memoria de experimentar que Dios es real y personal es de una importancia vital para el camino de la fe.

Dicho esto, me di cuenta de que muchas personas no están

familiarizadas con El Camino y con algunas de las iniciativas que ya se han puesto en marcha. Tengo la intención de iniciar otro proceso sinodal en varias localidades de nuestra diócesis más adelante este verano. Me uniré piadosamente en oración para discernir, junto a ustedes, el camino a seguir en nuestro plan Jóvenes a Adultos Jóvenes, incluyendo la planificación de nuestro centro juvenil para retiros y campamentos. Las fechas y ubicación de estas sesiones se anunciarán una vez finalizada su programación. Todos están cordialmente invitados a participar, especialmente los padres de niños en nuestras parroquias y escuelas. Espero con mucho entusiasmo la oportunidad de dialogar acerca de estos importantes cambios e inversiones que estamos realizando en favor de nuestras familias, nuestros niños y nuestro futuro.

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f efeatu atur er e

By S a ra K ra f t

S Katie Sego, junior at Bishop LeBlond High School in St. Joseph, and captain of the girls soccer team. Photo

by Michael Hogan.

ports have inspired my faith life by teaching me to do everything for the glory of God,” stated Katie Sego, a junior at Bishop LeBlond High School in St. Joseph. “Trusting in God to help me and my teammates play to our full potential each game has inspired us to not only play for each other but also for God.”

JUBILEE OF SPORTJUNE 14-15

IT ’S IMPORTANT TO HAVE AN AWARENE SS THAT THE GIF TS AND TALENTS WE HAVE ARE GIF TS AND TALENTS FROM GOD.” — JO E M O N AC HI N O JR , D I R EC TO R O F ATHLETI C PR O G R AM S Photo by Christy Gruenbaum.

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Pope Francis declared 2025 a Jubilee Year as Pilgrims of Hope. The Holy See has designated jubilee days to celebrate groups of people and evangelizing ministries within the Church. One of these celebrations is the Jubilee of Sport, which will be held in Rome June 14-15. All involved in sport are invited.

There is no doubt that sports play a critical role in shaping culture. They can develop virtue, but also must be kept in balance.

“With having such a busy schedule with school, work, and golf it is a little hard to prioritize my faith to be honest,” explains Jeffrey Johnston,

Missouri Western State University (MWSU) golf team senior and a Bishop LeBlond High School graduate. At MWSU, he has won four tournament titles and one team title. “I have learned that if I want to do these things at a high level, I have to prioritize my faith. Faith in God is the foundation of our lives and without it we would be empty. … You have to make time for God so I put that first before anything.

Making those adjustments is so crucial in keeping a strong faith.”

Within our Catholic schools, sports are more than just recreation. Sports are also a way to impart our Catholic Faith and develop virtue. Sports provide an opportunity to present the Faith to athletes, opponents and visitors. “It’s important to have an awareness that the gifts and talents we have are gifts and talents from God,” explained Joe Monachino, Jr., director of athletic programs for the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph. “We have to develop these gifts and talents and work hard. The way

our kids carry themselves can show what we believe.”

“Playing sports, especially golf, tests your patience and resilience every day,” explains Johnston.

“Competing at a high level, I have learned to rely on my faith to guide me through the good and bad times of college golf. Trusting that God will be there every step of the way has helped me believe in my ability to compete and win, so without that faith, I wouldn’t be near the player I am today.”

Likewise, sports can provide a community with deep relationships in which our Catholic Faith can be fostered. “Through sport, coaches and athletes often spend a tremendous amount of time together,” states Kimberly Huss, Bishop LeBlond High School principal and varsity volleyball coach. “Adults have the opportunity to mentor students and for me, this has always included faith. We talk to our student-athletes about making time for faithfilled practices, attending Mass, participating in their parish com-

Jeffrey Johnston, Missouri Western State University golf team senior and Bishop LeBlond High School alum. Photo by Cole Weiberg/MWSU Athletics.

munity and praying for those in need of prayer.”

“It is also important to remember that winning and losing in sport does not change how we should care for our soul and the goal of reaching heaven,” stated Huss. “When I am attending Mass and see a family of teenagers wearing sports uniforms, I offer a quiet prayer of thanksgiving that they've made Mass attendance important on that day.”

Professional athletes also inspire our Catholic school students.

“I have seen professional athletes incorporate their faith before games,” explains Jake Winkelbauer, a Bishop LeBlond High School senior who will play football at Benedictine College next year. Winkelbauer chooses to pray a rosary before each football game and home basketball game. “It grounds me before games and boosts my energy. It’s a good transition from school to get ready for games.”

“At a young age, I've watched athletes at various levels discuss their journey in faith, while playing sports, which has inspired me to be patient with God even when I have a bad game,” adds Sego.

“Praying before games helps our team alleviate any stresses we may have and puts our trust in God.”

LE ARN M ORE

Jake Winkelbauer (at bat), 2025 graduate of Bishop LeBlond High School, is finishing up his senior baseball season and will play football for Benedictine College in the fall. Photo by Michael Hogan.

For more information on the Jubilee of Sport, visit usccb.org/ resources/ jubilee-sports-usccbresource-packet-english.

The event will be livestreamed at youtube.com/vatican.

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Canonization of Pier Georgio Frassati

COURAGE T H E W ORDS T R ANS L AT E TO “TOWARD T H E TOP,” ENCAP S UL AT ING T H E S PIRIT OF T H E F UT URE SAI NT F OR T H OS E W H O H OPE TO F OL LOW H IS PATH.

Luciana Frassati, Public domain

P

“ Verso l’alto ” is the phrase Pier Giorgio Frassati

wrote on a photo taken of him mountain climbing one month before his death.

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ier Giorgio Frassati is scheduled for canonization in early August during the Jubilee of Youth in Rome. The young Italian died in 1925 after contracting polio as a young man. He is assumed to have contracted the disease during his works of charity to the poor.

Pier Giorgio may not, on the surface, seem like a typical saint.

He wasn’t a priest or religious brother. His 24 years of life were full of friendship, fun and outdoor adventures. He liked to joke around, snow ski and look for new ways to make the most out of life.

He also encouraged friends to pray and practiced daily works of charity.

Those attributes are what inspired Janet Scheuler Kim, a St. Gabriel Archangel parishioner, to develop a devotion to the future saint. She has adopted the Pier Giorgio Frassati PACT — a promise to make a daily act of charity and pray the Prayer for the Courage to be Great, inspired

by Pier Giorgio’s perspective on life. Her family has also adopted “Verso l’alto” as a family motto.

“We should always be striving to be the best version of ourselves.

There’s nothing more important than striving to please God and be the best we can be,” said Kim. Kim first saw a poster of Pier Giorgio after a prayer group about five years ago. She was impressed by his joy, athleticism, connection to people and dedication to small acts of charity.

“I really love having young saints that we can ask for intercession in heaven. I have a young adult son, and I want him to do well in life and I want him to be a good man,” said Kim. Pier Giorgio Frassati was from an influential family in Turin, Italy, but he chose to use that privilege to serve the poor. While his parents were not very religious, they were anti-fascist and po-

Soon to be Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati has inspired the Kim family at St. Gabriel Archangel Parish in Gladstone to adopt "Verso l'alto" as their family motto, to strive to do their best for God and to do more acts of charity.

Like Pier Giorgio, the Kim family loves the mountains. This photo was taken last summer at the Young Living Mt. Nebo Lavender farm in Utah with the Wasatch mountains in the background.

Pictured (l to r) are: Paul Kim, Janet Scheuler Kim and their son, Ronin Kim. Photo provided by Janet Scheuler Kim.

TO BE

GREAT

By K a r e n R i dde r

litically well-known. They were surprised when thousands of

For Kim, remembering the life of Pier Giorgio and saying

the poor who Pier Giorgio served came out to his funeral to pay respects. The same people pleaded for the cause for canonization, which opened in 1932, just seven years after his death. Many people began to take encouragement from his writings and stories of his life.

When the body of Pier Giorgio was moved in 1981 from the family tomb to the Cathedral in Turin, it was found to be incorrupt. Since then, his tomb has become a place of pilgrimage. Pope Saint John Paul II beatified Pier Giorgio on May 20, 1990, calling him a “Man of the Eight Beatitudes.”

the Prayer for the Courage to be Great daily gives her family the courage to strive for the highest goals, to flee the temptation to be mediocre.

“There are a lot of things that can tempt people to be mediocre.

I think we really have to be intentional with our family because otherwise I think it’s easy to drift into brain numbing and not strive to the heights,” said Kim. Pope Francis recognized a second miracle attributed to the intercession of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati in November of 2024. His canonization is set for Aug. 3.

TH E PAC T: The Pier Giorgio Frassati PACT is a pledge to do one act of charity daily and say the Prayer for the Courage to be Great — which was adapted from a letter Frassati wrote to a friend in 1925: “Heavenly Father, Give me the courage to strive for the highest goals, to flee every temptation to be mediocre. Enable me to aspire to greatness, as Pier Giorgio did, and to open my heart with joy to Your call to holiness. Free me from the fear of failure. I want to be, Lord, firmly and forever united to You. Grant me the graces I ask You through Pier Giorgio’s intercession, by the merits of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.”

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THE ICONIC PARISH PICNIC

food, fun, friends, family and fundraising

By Ma rt y D e n z e r The annual parish picnic, held every summer for many years, was an occasion for pot-luck feasting, baked goods, camaraderie, familystyle games and raising money for church or school repairs, projects and parish needs.

Parish histories often mention the picnics.

Getty Images/nitrub

Over the years, however, parish picnics happened less and less, especially in more populated urban areas. Even one rural parish pastor said there hadn’t been a picnic at his parish in years. But, here and there, the iconic event reoccurs.

On the third Saturday in March, St. Patrick Parish in Holden celebrates their patron saint with what their pastor, Father Curt Vogel, claims is the “best corned beef around I’ve ever tasted!”

A silent auction is held. Sponsored by the parish Altar and Rosary Society, the event raises funds that are used for whatever is needed — the church air-conditioning system, for example.

Father Vogel, also pastor of St. Bridget’s Parish in Pleasant Hill, said the parish also holds an annual Autumn Fest, which he described as “a movable feast and a geared fundraiser.”

In recent years, the funds raised were geared to assist the poor and needy and to construct “Mary’s Grotto” on church land. Father Vogel said that although the majority of the grotto is complete, he and the parishioners are eagerly waiting for the Marian statue to be completed and delivered.

We remember with fondness the summertime parish picnics of yesteryear: the food, the games, new friends to be made and money raised for the parish. This time of fellowship and community may just be worth considering again.

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volunteer spo tl i g ht

Born with a

servant’s heart

By A l l iso n V r o o man | P hotos by Michael Hoga n

“I

strive to see the face of Jesus in everyone I meet. I would also like to think that I serve as the face of Jesus for people who need me,” shared Mary Olshefski, parishioner at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in downtown Kansas City.

Heart: Getty Images/Dimitris66

Mary considers herself to have been born with a servant’s heart. As the fifth of seven children, she has always been a peacemaker, supportive and

compassionate. She shared, “Because I was number five, I never thought it was all about me. And I’ve always sided with the underdog.”

TH E B E ST WAY T HAT YOU CAN S H O W T HE ST R E N GT H OF YOUR FA IT H O R T HE ST RE N GT H OF YO UR A PPR E C I AT ION FOR W H AT YO U ’ V E B E E N GIVE N IS TO PAY I T F O RWA RD,”

Mary and her husband, Jim, became parishioners at the Cathedral when Jim was assigned to be a deacon there in 2019. She reflected on the warm welcome she felt, saying, “One of the first times I was in the Cathedral, I could feel that the Holy Spirit was all over the space. I knew we were home once I felt that.”

She added that the people at the parish made the transition easy and the volunteering enjoyable.

Quickly, Mary became involved in many parish ministries.

During Masses, she serves as an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion, a reader and a response leader. She also helps to serve monthly community meals to those in need through a parish initiative. Additionally, Mary established and leads a women’s spirituality group. The monthly group consists of a bible study and social time and has doubled its at-

tendance over the past few years.

Mary and Jim are marriage prep facilitators for couples at the Cathedral. They also serve as day chairs for Northland Meals on Wheels and co coordinators for the Kansas City Chapter of the American Pilgrims on the Camino.

Outside of the parish, Mary is an active member on three boards of directors and volunteers at a thrift store.

“The best way that you can show the strength of your faith or the strength of your appreciation for what you’ve been given is to pay it forward,” Mary shared.

“You may not have any money to give, but everybody has time.

We all have the same amount of time; it just depends on how we choose to spend that time. Even if you can’t give much time, if you can give some time, that is going to help somebody.”

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Catholicism in the

digital age

By A shl ie Hand

I

t may seem odd to include an article about digital media in a print publication, but maybe not when you consider how email, websites, social media and electronic publications are deeply rooted in the way we consume information.

Catholic usage of websites and social media has reportedly risen steeply since 2005, with a further increase noted during the COVID-19 pandemic as people sought online ways to practice their faith.

A majority of Catholics who engaged with online faith resources during the pandemic reported continuing to use those resources afterward.

for Applied Research in the Apostolate; Catholic Media Use, 2023)

Throughout its more than 2,000-year history, the Church has had to adjust its methods of evangelization as society and technology evolved, and digital media is a necessary part of spreading the Gospel today.

This shift led the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph to restructure its Office of Communications in 2020, following input and advice received during the diocesan visioning process. A modernized, more efficient office was desired, including a stronger digital media presence. Since that time, Catholic Key magazine was launched in print and online, diocesan social media channels have been streamlined and new email tools have been launched. The Office of Communications includes a director, a communications specialist handling social media and a

graphic design specialist. These key positions have put us in a great place to further expand our reach.

This summer, our diocese will roll out a new tool to assist our parishes and schools in using digital media more efficiently and strategically, while rooting our efforts in our shared Catholic Faith.

Looking ahead, one of the most common improvements we get asked about is a new diocesan website. We hope to tackle this project in late 2025. This is a significant undertaking and will require additional resources, but we need to further improve kcsjcatholic.org as the digital front door for our diocese. Other future plans include launching a diocesan podcast featuring everyday Catholics living out their faith.

In his first audience with the media covering Rome on May 12, Pope Leo XIV said, “Communication is not only the transmission of information, but it is also the creation of a culture of human and digital environments that become spaces for dialog and discussion.”

The Office of Communications is grateful for the prayers and support provided by many in our diocese.

PLE AS E C O NS I D E R C O N TRIB U TI N G TO TH E U P C O MI N G C ATH OLIC C OM M UNIC ATIONS C AM PAIGN JUNE 15-16 DURING TH E SEC OND C OLLECT I ON .

Half of the collected funds stay right here in the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, and the other half supports the communication activities of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and select projects across the United States and abroad. Learn more at usccb.org/ccc.

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Catholic Key • June/July 2025 • catholickey.org

Getty Images/Delmaine Donson

Digital natives — those who have never known a world without digital media — are now entering the workforce and taking on leadership roles in the life of the Church. More Catholics are using their parish websites and watching religious content on YouTube and using Catholicrelated apps on their devices. About 11 percent of U.S. adults follow or keep track of their religious leaders online or on social media. (Center

Connect with Christ

SUPPORT the Catholic Communication Campaign WWW.USCCB.ORG/CCC Copyright © 2024, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, DC. All rights reserved. Photo: USCCB Staff.

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We will begin offering space in our new mausoleums at Mt. Olivet and Resurrection Cemeteries in Kansas City soon. Special offers will be published in The Catholic Key and parish bulletins.

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