Catholic Key Spring 2021

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M A G A Z I N E

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C A T H O L I C

D I O C E S E

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C I T Y - S T .

J O S E P H

kc s jcathol i c.org SPRIN G 2021

For 150 years, St. Joseph remains a beacon on a hill

F r om the B isho p

Life lessons from Saint Joseph pg. 4

R e novat io n

‘We are all under the cross’ pg. 12

You t h Minist ry

Growing God’s family — Lead them to Christ pg. 20

‘GO TO

i n si de th i s i ssue 4

On the Way Bishop Johnston

What the saints teach us, including Saint Joseph, is that when Christ is at the center, all work done in a spirit of faith and love,

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

no matter how mundane or seemingly routine, is sanctified.

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SPRING 2021 VOL. 1 | ISSUE 2

Spiritual Poverty and the Pandemic Parent Michael Sanem

In many ways for parents, this past year has been a difficult exercise in humility.

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Bishop James V. Johnston, Jr. Publisher

Using Our Resources Wisely: ‘We Are All Under the Cross’ Megan Marley

Ashlie Hand Editor

In Northeast Kansas City, the parishioners of St. Anthony’s Parish have given time, talent and treasure to ensure their

Megan Marley Assistant editor

church and buildings suit the current needs of a multicultural community, inspire the faith of its members and survive to

Jenny Pomicter Graphic designer

be handed on to the future.

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To submit story ideas and news, send emails to marley@diocesekcsj.org

Healing Our Family: Shape Up for Easter by Confessing in Lent Father Paul Turner

Some Catholics go to confession frequently — every week or every month. Others go once or twice a year in preparation for Christmas and Easter. Still others rarely go at all. Lent

www.FAITHcatholic.com

opens a door.

Catholic Key (USPS XXXXX) is a membership publication of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, published quarterly by the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, The Catholic Center, 20 W. Ninth St., Kansas City, MO 64105. Application to Mail at Periodicals Postage Pending in 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. ©2020 Catholic Key, Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph.

ON THE COVER: PHOTO BY MEGAN MARLEY

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Growing God’s Family: Lead them to Christ Robert Sandford

At 16, Dylan befriended Lauren, the first peer he had met

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who was openly Catholic. She invited him to St. Andrew the

Cover story: Go to Joseph Ashlie Hand

Apostle Parish youth ministry events. Repeatedly. Eventually he went — no small thing for a self-identified atheist. In October 2013, Dylan was baptized into the Catholic Church.

Father Steve Hansen finds himself in the unique position of pastor of the Cathedral of St. Joseph, in the city of St. Joseph, Missouri, preparing to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the first Mass at the Cathedral. At the

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Voice and Adventure: The Value of a Catholic Education Bridget Locke

same time, Pope Francis has designated Dec. 8, 2020-

Not so long ago, Yen Truong spoke to few people beyond

Dec. 8, 2021, as the Year of Saint Joseph to honor the

her immediate family. With scholarship funds provided by

150th anniversary of the declaration of Saint Joseph

the Endowment Trust for Catholic Education, she was able to

as patron of the Universal Church. No other place in

attend Catholic schools, which helped her to find her voice

the world can claim the same set of circumstances.

and her sense of adventure.

Fat her Pau l T ur ner

Bridget Locke

is pastor of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Kansas City, Missouri.

loves God and people. Learn more about her life and work at bnlcomms.com

Megan Marl e y is a writer, photographer, videographer and media geek for the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph.

Ro be rt S a n d f o rd works for St. Catherine of Siena Parish and St. Thomas More Parish. bobsandford.net

Ashlie Hand

Mi c h a e l S a n e m

leads the Office of Communications for the Diocese of Kansas CitySt. Joseph.

works as a pastoral associate at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and Morning Glory Ministries. incarnationiseverywhere.com

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LIFE LESSONS FROM SAINT JOSEPH 4

Catholic Key • Spring 2021 • catholickey.org

Guido Reni, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

ON T H E WAY

In this Holy Year of Saint Joseph, we are invited to reflect on the virtues evident in the various dimensions of this great saint’s life. While it might not be an official virtue, Saint Joseph’s life was marked by a remarkable unity — an integration of his everyday work of providing for his family and helping others as a carpenter, and the great responsibility of loving, adoring, and caring for the Son of God who had been entrusted to him and the Blessed Mother. Like Saint Joseph, we each have daily responsibilities and tasks in life, but also religious responsibilities that are central to our life and identity as Christians. Like Saint Joseph, our relationship with Jesus can transform and unify the various parts of our lives.

Fr o m t he B ishop Bishop James V. Johnston, Jr. is the seventh bishop of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph

“What the saints teach us, including Saint Joseph, is that when Christ is at the center, all work done in a spirit of faith and love, no matter how mundane or seemingly routine, is sanctified.”

A very good friend of mine who is a bishop once replied to my question of how he’d been doing with this quick summary: “Preaching the Gospel and paying the bills!” That sums up much of what most bishops and pastors in parishes are about. The challenge is to integrate these responsibilities and realize they are related. Material needs cannot be neglected; there are bills to pay, and other work that must be done, but it is ordered and given a deeper meaning because of Christ.

In many ways, the same can be said about lay people and the challenge to find meaning and unity in their lives. Lay people also must pay the bills and change diapers, make dinner, mow the grass, go to their jobs, etc. These find greater meaning when set in the context of their distinct mission from God in the world. As the Second Vatican Council clearly expressed in its Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity, lay people are in the world “penetrating and perfecting the temporal sphere of things through the spirit of the Gospel. ... Since it is proper to the layman’s state in life for him to spend his days in the midst of the world and of secular transactions, he is called by God to burn with the spirit of Christ and to exercise his apostolate in the world as a kind of leaven.” (2) This is done not only with the witness of a Christian life and good works but “a true apostle looks for opportunities to announce Christ by words addressed either to non-believers with a view to leading them to faith, or to believers with a view to instructing and strengthening them and motivating them to a more fervent life.” (6) Saint Joseph is a good model for the lay vocation described by the Council.

The lay mission begins within the family, the basic cell of the Church, and extends like a series of concentric circles outward to ever larger communities like groups of families and neighborhoods, to the parish, then beyond to the wider world. At the center of all those circles is Jesus Christ. Clergy have a responsibility to serve the lay vocation and mission by nourishing them with the proclamation of the word of God in preaching and teaching, and to strengthen lay people with the grace of the sacraments, i.e., to bring them Jesus Christ!

What the saints teach us, including Saint Joseph, is that when Christ is at the center, all work done in a spirit of faith and love, no matter how mundane or seemingly routine, is sanctified.

A major challenge for the Church today, for both clergy and laity alike, is to see that all our life’s activity is meant to be an offering to God. That is how our baptismal priesthood is given expression. Our presence at the altar at Mass is an offering of our life and work lived and exercised while away from Mass. All things, done with faith and love, give glory to God. Saint Joseph is a model and patron for every Christian on how to live with integrity, centered on Christ and Mary.

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‘A r i g h t e o u s m a n’ And the patron of so many things ...

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Catholic Key • Spring 2021 • catholickey.org

Photography by Shane Folkertsma

M

y dad has a passion for woodworking, and keeps a meticulously organized workshop full of tools like no other I’ve seen. On the wall, among the arranged chisels, router bits

and clamps, sits a shelf with a statue of Saint Joseph holding a carpenter’s square. As a man of faith, it is only fitting he would have this very statue on guard, since Saint Joseph is the patron saint of carpenters, craftspeople and workers.

But as Saint John Paul II said, Saint Joseph was more than “a just man and tireless worker.” He was the “upright guardian of those entrusted to his care.” His greatest strength was demonstrated when he was entrusted with the most incredible task of caring for and protecting Mary, after learning that the child she was carrying was not his. He was faithful even before an angel appeared to him in a dream revealing Cu lt ur e that “what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.” (Mt Michelle 1:20) And he continued to be trusting and obedient to God’s DiFranco commands in caring for Mary and Jesus. is a designer Of the little knowledge we have about the life of Joseph, and the busy Scripture has stated the aforementioned and importantly mom of three states that he was “a righteous man.” (Mt 1:19) He lived a life children. both ordinary and extraordinary, and is the patron saint of much in this world. As Saint Thomas Aquinas said, “Some saints are privileged to extend to us their patronage with particular efficacy in certain needs, but not in others; but our holy patron Saint Joseph has the power to assist us in all cases, in every necessity, in every undertaking.”

Indeed, this holy man has been nominated the patron saint of many, many things — of fathers, families, workers, the universal Church — and the patron of many cities, regions and countries.

March 19 is designated to Saint Joseph, the Husband of Mary, and May 1 to Saint Joseph the Worker. The former is most recognized, and, in Sicilian culture, celebrated as a major holiday. Many recipes from that area of Italy are specific to the feast day, and they often include bread crumbs, since they represent a carpenter’s sawdust. They also often include fish, since the day falls within the Lenten period. One such dish is Saint Joseph’s Day pasta, which is spaghetti with anchovies and breadcrumbs.

Personally, I’m not a fan of anchovies on a pizza, but I can assure you, when incorporated into a sauce, the results are delicious!

I will forever remember and cherish the statue of Saint Joseph in my dad’s woodshop. And like this recipe, which lends the symbol of “sawdust” to commemorate the work of a carpenter, I will always feel a sense of reverence for the woodworking my dad loves so much.

This March 19, I look forward to preparing my own version of this dish for my family. And, as my dad did in his craft, ask this patron saint of so many things to lend his presence to the work of my hands.

“ S aint Joseph was a just man, a tireless worker, the upright guardian of those entrusted to his care. May he always guard, protect and enlighten families.”

— SAINT JOHN PAUL II

SAINT JOSEPH’S DAY PASTA • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

1 pound spaghetti 2-3 tablespoons butter 1 cup panko breadcrumbs 4-5 tablespoons olive oil 4-5 anchovy filets 1 medium onion (chopped) 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (or less if preferred) 4 cloves garlic (minced) ¼ cup white wine 2 tablespoons tomato paste 2 14.5 oz. cans of diced tomatoes Salt and pepper to taste Grated parmesan cheese Chopped basil for garnish (optional)

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.

Add the pasta and stir to separate. Cook according to package directions or until al dente.

While pasta is cooking, heat butter in a large sauté pan on medium-high heat. Add the breadcrumbs. Using a spatula, constantly stir until they are completely coated and light golden brown. Transfer breadcrumbs to a bowl and set aside.

In the same pan over medium-high heat, add olive oil.

Throw in the anchovies and stir until dissolved. Add the onion and red pepper flakes and sauté for 2-3 minutes or until onions are mostly translucent. Add garlic and stir. Add white wine, tomato paste, diced tomatoes (and salt and pepper to taste) and cook until sauce slightly thickens (about 3-5 minutes).

Add the drained pasta to the sauté pan and toss to coat. Add the toasted breadcrumbs, grated parmesan and chopped basil on top of each serving.

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I S E V E RYO N E A RAC I ST ?

Q Things are so much better than they were; I don’t understand all the talk about racism. My priest said that everyone is racist, and I think that’s nuts. What am I supposed to do about it anyway?

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In t he k no w w it h Fat her Jo e Father Joe Krupp is a Catholic priest and former comedian.

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Wow — things are crazy, aren’t they?

The madness of our present age can be scary and worrisome, but I would love for us to think about it as an invitation for each and every person reading this to think about racism and Christianity.

One of the first things I think we need to do is to take a moment to divorce this issue from politics. As much as political parties would love to frame this in such a way as to continue to rip us apart, the actual discussion and necessary transformation should occur in each of us outside of what we want to be true, what we hope is true or what our political “leaders” tell us.

Introspection is key to this, I believe.

Our lives are filled with noise, and the noise only increases our sense of helplessness and indignation. It’s important that we take time to look deep in our hearts, not for the answers that keep us

Catholic Key • Spring 2021 • catholickey.org

comfortable or reaffirm our ideology, but for answers that will help us become more like Christ.

Here’s what I am learning in my reflections on racism, where I participate in racism and what I can do about it.

The first thing I recognized was that my standard was too low. I know for a fact I’m not in the KKK, I don’t use racist words and I try to serve everyone God gives me to serve. As I took time to contemplate, I realized that that’s a nice human standard, but not a good Christian one.

I need to be holy. I need to be like Christ. For that to happen, I can allow no room in my heart for anything but love, faith and hope. It’s not enough to not be bad, I must embrace and pursue goodness itself. Any darkness I allow in my heart will not simply stay in that one place, it will grow. Sin doesn’t

stop naturally; it stops because of divine grace and a commitment in our hearts.

So, I need to let Jesus walk me through my heart and see where I have allowed anything in my heart that judges a person based on their race:

• Do I make internal judgements

about someone because they look different than me?

• Do I sit by quietly when people

make racist comments or jokes?

• Do I believe that God created

the different races intentionally?

• Do I hold people who look like

me to a different standard than people who don’t look like me?

• Am I suspicious of people who

do not look like me?

Illustration modified from Getty Images/Dmitrii_Guzhanin

DEA R FATHER J O E:

This is obviously not an exhaustive list; I only intend to offer some guiding principles. In the end, God wants each of us to open our hearts to his light so that we allow no stain of sin in there.

Don’t be defensive, be open.

What if I find racism in my heart?

Well, it’s actually pretty easy: repent and accept God’s mercy! This is the heart of the Christian life — we let God guide us through the process of conversion so that we become more like him. We shouldn’t be surprised to find sin in our hearts; we should be surprised and overjoyed at how effectively God uses us right in the midst of our sinfulness.

I am growing in friendship with a wonderful Christian minister who is Black. He has, in his words, offered me a place of “grace and truth.” In that space, he helps me grow without being

angry that I need growth. He lets me ask questions and helps me hear his answers so that it is not I, a white person, judging whether racism exists or is “as bad as they say,” but a Christian brother, walking me through his experiences and helping me grow. Slowly, my eyes are opening and frankly, my heart is breaking sometimes. I am grateful to God for him.

Finally, let’s not let the extremists define us. Let’s not allow the agenda-oriented to define reality for us. I think most people are not at the extremes; they either think racism is not a big deal because they’ve never experienced it or believe it is omnipresent because they experience it too often.

To me, the key is this: Do my brothers and sisters who are different than me find, in me, a person who loves them as

God’s children? Do I offer them a place where their appearance and/or cultural traits are known as a gift?

In the end, I invite us to remember that, when Saint John the Apostle was given a vision of heaven, he saw people “of every “When Saint John race, tribe and tongue” the Apostle was there. This image is used given a vision of in Scriptures often; when God speaks of the joyous heaven, he saw future, it always involves people “of every many nations, races, tribes race, tribe and and tongues. tongue” there.”

As Christians, Jesus wants us to be his presence on earth. Let’s accept that challenge and pray the Holy Spirit guides us into being men and women who reject racism, fight racism and stand for the dignity of every human being.

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“L et a l l t hat yo u do b e d one i n lo ve . ”

— 1 Cor 16:14 fizkes/Getty Images

Can their love for each other help Dan and Meghan meet in the middle?

HE SAYS:

She thinks my habits are annoying Marriage doesn’t magically change people. Meghan is always complaining about things I do that annoy her — but those are things I’ve always done.

SHE SAYS:

Can’t he at least try to change?

Can’t Dan try to change? His habits are driving me crazy, why can’t he at least make an effort?

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I

t’s important to evaluate not only Dan’s behavior, and whether it can be changed, but also how it is perceived by Meghan and whether her perception can be changed.

For instance, it can happen in a relationship that the same behavior that was once considered endearing — “He’s so spontaneous!” — can eventually be considered annoying: “He never sticks with anything!” It’s fair to ask: Who changed?

Nevertheless, it’s also important to determine whether the behavior is inherently, objectively harmful or whether it is merely subjectively annoying. For instance, if Dan has a habit of shaming Meghan, then know that this is pure poison to any relationship. Even if there was a time when it didn’t bother her, he must change it. Professional therapy might be called for.

If it’s a lesser matter, say, of a habit such as messiness, then consider a negotiated agreement of behavior modification by Dan and expectation adjustment

by Meghan.

For Meghan, this could be a matter not so much of him not trying hard enough, as of him having different perceptions, skills and levels of tolerance surrounding the concept of “clean.”

Each spouse brings unique gifts to a marriage. Look more closely for his.

“Now the body is not a single part, but many. If a foot should say, “Because I am not a hand I do not belong to the body,” it does not for this reason belong any less to the body.” (1 Cor 12:14-15) But, Dan, “this is just the way I am” is not a free pass for a spouse to behave however he or she wants. Your life also belongs to her. Done incrementally and with patience all around, even deep-seated habits can be gradually changed.

View it as an act of love.

Catholic Key • Spring 2021 • catholickey.org

M a r r i ag e m atte r s Steve and Bridget Patton hold master’s degrees in theology and counseling and serve as family life ministers for the Diocese of Sacramento.

SPIRITUAL POVERTY and the pandemic parent I’m afraid to tell my boss I messed up I made a mistake at work that really caused a problem. My boss is a perfectionist and I’m afraid to tell him I screwed up.

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ould you rather he find out some other way?

Most bosses, even perfectionists,

admire employees who voluntarily admit their mistakes. And sheer self-interest argues for disclosure over concealment. One who fesses up shows humility, courage and accountability. Bosses like all three.

A friend of mine once confided that he was always quick to tell his boss of a mistake: “I’d rather she find out sooner than later, and straight from the horse’s mouth.” He was chomping at the bit to get off his high horse and humble himself. He not only stayed in the saddle, but his career went on to better pastures.

OK. You can stop reading this column right now.

Giddy up.

Make sure you do everything you can to minimize the problem you caused. Come to your boss with as many solutions as possible. Admit your failure and pledge to do everything you can to make amends.

At the same time, don’t fall on your sword. You’re a human being, and “we all make many mistakes.” (Jas 3:2) As for your boss, even perWork Lif e fectionists mess up. And if Jim Berlucchi is he’s extreme and unreasonco-founder of the able, you might be better off Spitzer Center in a different job anyway. The for Visionary heartburn isn’t worth it.

Leadership.

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hope the virus is over soon, so we can play with some of our friends,” my 5-year-old bemoaned. It has

become a familiar refrain.

In many ways, this past year has felt like one long Lent. One unbroken fast that has revealed the ways in which the things we often take for granted can disintegrate: ashes to ashes, dust to dust.

For parents, it has also been a difficult exercise in humility. We can’t make the first day of school less scary, and we can’t guarantee birthday or holiday parties will happen. We may have to explain that a family has been exposed and has to stay home for a while. For what might be the first time, we don’t have all the answers to our children’s questions, and we can’t change the challenging circumstances in which we find ourselves.

Luckily, our faith does not require us to have all the answers. Instead, it asks us to be aware of our human condition, humbly acknowledging our vulnerability, our fragility, and our dependence on God. This stance is called spiritual poverty, and it’s a good virtue to allow our children to see at work in us. God has blessed us with an incomparable responsibility in raising our children, but as parents, we also need to recognize that we ourselves are children of God. The beautiful alchemy of the Christian life is that it is within this very poverty that we are more easily able to discover the abundance of God. And from this abundance, we are able to love and care for one another, give and receive forgiveness, and navigate the stressful waters of pandemic parenting with understanding and compassion.

Every family is experiencing stress. Can we show our children that we can be stressed out and still show love? Can we show our children that although we don’t have all the answers, we can still hope and trust in God? Ultimately, I think this is the vocation of the pandemic parent: with humility and spiritual poverty, to embrace the unknown with a heart full of faith, hope and love. Through this, our children may also come to know more deeply the creative, sustaining love of God at work in their lives. And we may become witnesses for the whole human family of the Spirit that binds us together, sanctifies us and will restore us to life once again.

Pa re n t i n g

Michael J. Sanem has written for Give Us This Day, God In All Things, U.S. Catholic, Millennial Journal and The Leaven Catholic newspaper. He works as a pastoral associate at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and Morning Glory Ministries. He lives in Kansas City, Missouri, with his wife and three sons, and writes regularly at www.incarnationiseverywhere.com.

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r e novati o n

‘ W E A R E A L L U N D E R T H E Using our CROSS’ r esou rces wisely

By Megan Marley

I

n the life of a parish, each generation has its own gifts, perspectives and circumstances that are visibly reflected in the structures that serve the community.

In Northeast Kansas City, the parishioners of St. Anthony’s have given time,

talent and treasure to ensure the precious resource of their church and buildings

not only suit the current needs of a multicultural community, but also inspire the faith of members and survive to be handed on to the future. The centennial celebration of the church’s dedication occurs next year, which gives greater cause for these efforts lately.

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Catholic Key • Spring 2021 • catholickey.org

Parishioners have tackled several projects in recent years — re-plastering and painting classrooms and offices, removing outdated fixtures, cleaning up and maintaining the church they call home.

“People have an emotional connection to the parish,” said Jordan Schiele, project director at nearby Jerusalem Farm, a Catholic intentional community assisting with home repair for low-income people in Northeast Kansas City.

Community members at Jerusalem Farm sometimes help alongside parishioners with projects at the church.

Not long ago, the roof needed skilled professional repair.

“If you’d been in here before, you would have noticed that some of the church walls had deteriorated from water damage and needed to be fixed,” said Cathy Hernandez, director of religious education at the parish.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the parish made a great effort to collect donations through two big parish celebrations — the annual Saint Joseph table and parish festival — and a monthly Future Projects Fund collection. These funds helped repair the roof and copper domes of the church.

Once the structure was made sound, the interior needed some TLC. Greyblue paint applied in the 1960s bubbled and flaked off, and the stained plaster was weak in spots. This is where the pastor, Father Andres Moreno, saw an opportunity to revive hidden symbolism in the Lombard-Romanesque-style building.

“Visuals do have an effect on people, it creates a sense of something special,” said Paul Helmer, Guardian Angels parishioner and preservation architect at Touch of Distinction Color & Design.

Paul, Father Andres and parish councils worked to agree upon a design for parishioners that responsibly fit within the parish’s Future Projects Fund.

In August 2020, parishioners cleared the church basement to set up for Mass, and the plastering and painting began.

By December, the finished interior was revealed.

Following two fundraisers and nearly six months of painstaking work, St. Anthony Parish revealed its beautifully restored sanctuary in December 2020, bringing the parish community together to appreciate its spiritual symbolism.

“Sit and take it in — the building will speak to you,” Paul said.

Coming in from the vestibule, one passes under the word Pax (Latin for “peace”) painted above the main entryway — Christ’s hands extended in blessing with the words “I will be with you,” are to be added later. Upon entering the church, you immediately notice the ceiling. In the design phase, Paul noticed a pattern in the air-vent medallions above: a hidden symbol built into the church.

“One of the things Father Andres has said is that ‘we’re all under the Cross,’ and it’s present here for all of us,” Cathy explained.

A cross in red, symbolizing the blood of Jesus, hovers over the people gathered for worship and draws the eye to the main altar. The gold-trimmed cross is surrounded by a sea of royal blue with three-dimensional gold stars of various sizes — large, seven-pointed stars symbolizing the seven days of creation; medium, six-pointed ‘Stars of David’; small four-pointed stars symbolizing the cross of Christ; and large eight-pointed stars above the side aisles, symbolizing the eight Beatitudes. The stars continue onto the dome ceiling above the high altar: three at the top, representing the Trinity, with 12 below representing the Twelve Apostles and additional stars representing the people of God. The ceiling is trimmed by a cornice board in red and purple (the color of royalty) punctuated by a repeating, undulating pattern in gold relief of a cross, chalice, rooster (from Saint Peter’s denial

of Christ), a heart pierced by a lance and the crown of thorns with two nails.

The plaster wainscoting, window framing and rose window tracery have been repaired and repainted to look like stone. The choir loft, confessionals and entryway are also tied in with the overall color/liturgical theme. Future restoration plans include a new floor and refinishing of all the pews.

The revitalized interior is striking.

“I cried, it was so beautiful. I just cried because I had never envisioned the cross,” exclaimed parishioner Sylvia Raya. “I’ve been here almost 35 years — I never even noticed the detail!”

“I was so amazed — it’s so vibrant, and I love color. I just can’t help but look up!” said Julia Rodriguez, the parish secretary.

“My kids, they love it, they have been pointing at all the details,” Jordan remarked.

“I can speak for some of my friends, early parishioners, who have since

moved to north of the river or south, and have seen it — they are so moved.

It’s hard to believe this was all covered by paint,” said Anita Gulotta, a longtime parishioner.

Paul has promised to give a tour of the church to parishioners and is excited to point out the detailed symbolism his handiwork reveals.

“I can’t wait until we can give people a proper tour of the church after COVID, so all the detail can be explained. I already explain the parts of the church to the children, but now there’s even more,” Cathy said. She mentioned possibly having a booklet explaining the detail ready for the parish’s 100-year dedication anniversary in 2022.

The church building’s original name was Assumption Parish before its consolidation with St. Francis Seraph and St. John the Baptist Parishes and renamed St. Anthony Parish in 1991. In 2008, St. Aloysius Parish closed, and its community also joined St. Anthony. A team is planning the anniversary Mass and festivities and hopes to collect and display old photographs from past and present parishioners.

When that anniversary happens, the community will gather under the newly painted cross and celebrate more than a 100-year old building.

“We can talk all day about the beauty of the church, but the essence of this is the Mass,” Anita concluded. “This is a coming together, the Mass and the church pointing to it. We can’t help but come closer to Jesus.”

“We can talk all day about the beauty of the church, but the essence of this is the Mass. This is a coming together, the Mass and the church pointing to it. We can’t help but come closer to Jesus.”

— A n i ta G ul o t ta

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c ov e r s to ry

‘GO TO 14

Catholic Key • Spring 2021 • catholickey.org

150 years after its founding, the city and Cathedral of St. Joseph remain a beacon on a hill for those seeking to reclaim the dignity of work and family

By Ashlie Hand | Photos by Megan Marley

Photo courtesy of the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce.

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Father Steve Hansen, pastor of the Cathedral of St. Joseph, is proud of the central role the Cathedral is playing in the revitalization of the City of St. Joseph, Missouri — and in the Year of Saint Joseph celebrations across the diocese.

ather Steve Hansen is seated, dressed in basic black clerics.

He is surrounded by rich, dark paneling, with raised panel wainscoting and crown molding that form a crisp line along the clean, white ceiling. Muted winter daylight fills the room from two sets of tall, framed windows and a small bay window. A built-in bookcase is just barely visible at the edge of the video screen. Father Hansen’s round face is friendly and warm, framed with short, thinning blonde hair and fashionable, contemporary eyeglasses.

Jovial and humble, he jokes about his Wisconsin accent, and his lack of experience being interviewed for a magazine.

Though Father Hansen has been a priest for less than 15 years, he exudes a fatherly wisdom and confidence one would expect from a man like him in his late 50s. He has a gift for providing guidance and advice to those discerning

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a vocation to the religious life, drawing from his experience of discernment and ultimate yes to the priesthood. He says he first realized he was being called to the vocation of the priesthood simply, “When I was asked.”

Catholic Key • Spring 2021 • catholickey.org

It was 1997, and Father Hansen was at a crossroads. He was in his 30s, with a degree in accounting and finance under his belt, on a one-year leave of absence from medical school in Des Moines, Iowa. Raised Catholic, he left the faith on the advice of someone he believed was a mentor to pursue the self-help movement led by Rev. Robert Schuler and his weekly televised “Hour of Power” (interestingly, the Crystal Cathedral Rev. Schuler built and broadcast from is now a Catholic church — the Christ Cathedral of the Diocese of Orange, Calif.).

Over time, Father Hansen began to feel like something was still missing.

A family friend invited him back to the Catholic faith, later asking if he would ever consider becoming a priest. At first, he declined, and returned to medical school. His apartment happened to be right across the street from a Catholic church, so still interested in returning to his Catholic faith, Father Hansen began attending adoration, Mass and confession. On his visits, he was regularly asked, “Young man, what is your vocation? Have you considered the priesthood?” Eventually, Father Hansen understood.

Following a men’s retreat at Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio, and a pilgrimage to Medjugorje, Bosnia-Herzegovina, the time came for Father Hansen to make his decision. In the confessional in Medjugorje, he shared with the priest that he had come there expecting his decision to be clear but didn’t feel that God had really spoken to him. In fact, he believed he was too gullible and naïve for the priesthood. His confessor reminded Father Hansen that a man named Simon, meaning “blown by the wind; gullible,” became Peter, the rock upon which Jesus built his Church.

“You come here to get strength,” this wise priest told him.

Father Hansen returned to the U.S., withdrew from medical school and enrolled at Franciscan University in January 1999. In a somewhat prophetic turn of events, Father Hansen received his letter calling him to Presbyteral Holy Orders on the feast day of Saint Joseph, and he was ordained on June 3, 2006, at age 43.

I n c re a s e yo u r d e vo t i o n t o S t. J o s e p h o n p g. 2 6 a n d at w w w. kc s j c at h o l i c.o r g / y e a r-o f -s t-j o s e p h Father Hansen says visiting Cathedral School is “the best part of my day,” where he is discovering the beauty of a Catholic education, because he says, “we learn from their ability and desire to ask questions.”

Why do we call Saint Joseph the master of the interior life? He was quiet; there’s not a single word spoken by him in Scripture. He listened to God, and trusted that God was going to guide him and help him protect the family. We should all listen more and speak less: Joseph modeled that.”

Fast forward 14 and a half years, and Father Hansen finds himself in the unique position of pastor of the Cathedral of St. Joseph, in the city of St. Joseph, Missouri, preparing to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the first Mass at the Cathedral. That would be special enough on its own, but at the same time, Pope Francis has designated Dec. 8, 2020-Dec. 8, 2021, as the Year of Saint Joseph to honor the 150th anniversary of Blessed Pope Pius IX’s declaration of Saint Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church. Only the second diocese named St. Joseph, no other place in the world can claim the same set of circumstances.

“The diocese is our history,” says Father Hansen. Joseph Robidoux, the founder of the city of St. Joseph, had a very strong devotion to Saint Joseph and established a strong Catholic tradition in the town from its very beginning.

“The greatest legacy that he did was naming it after Saint Joseph because he could have called it Robidouxville,” Father Hansen says with a wag of his finger and a broad smile. Growing more serious, he adds, “He was a humble man who named it after another humble man who was the father of Jesus Christ.”

The Cathedral of St. Joseph is integral

to the city’s identity. According to Father Hansen, it serves as “a beacon on a hill ... a place of institutional learning, spiritual renewal, and culture. It’s called the Cathedral Hill District for that very reason.” Both the Cathedral and the city of St. Joseph are undergoing revitalization efforts, relying in part, on their connection to the qualities that make Jesus’ adoptive father such an important model for Catholics and non-Catholics alike.

Father Hansen leans forward in his chair, raising his hands for emphasis, “Why do we call Saint Joseph the master of the interior life? He was quiet; there’s not a single word spoken by him in Scripture. He listened to God, and trusted that God was going to guide him and help him protect the family. We should all listen more and speak less: Joseph modeled that.”

Father Hansen’s enthusiasm for the revitalization efforts is powerful testimony to the benefits of living and practicing the faith in St. Joseph. According to him,

the city of St. Joseph has preserved a way of life that continues to honor its founding father and his humble devotion to his patron saint. “We’ve lost touch with ordinary life. New residents are coming to St. Joseph for a better quality of life; to reclaim the dignity of work and family,” he says.

The devotion to Saint Joseph runs deep at the Cathedral School, too, where students pray to Saint Joseph multiple times each day. The example of Saint Joseph as the first teacher of Jesus in the ways of the world informs the school’s approach to educating its students in learning how to defend the existence of God and the dignity of ordinary work life.

“For people open to it, Saint Joseph can be a great source of consolation and help because of the challenges he faced with the Holy Family. He had the flight to Egypt, they had an unexpected pregnancy, they lived in poverty, they delivered a baby in a manger,” says Father Hansen. “It’s my job as a pastor to reawaken that devotion that Joseph Robidoux had, and not just take it for granted.”

The doors of the Cathedral of St. Joseph remain open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. for worship and haven’t closed once during the pandemic. With his signature enthusiasm, Father Hansen holds both hands in the air and gestures his audience forward, as he recalls Genesis 41:55, when Pharaoh tells the starving people of Egypt, “Go to Joseph; what he says to you, do.”

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l e n te n healing

OUR

F a m i ly

SHAPE UP FOR EASTER

BY CONFESSING IN LENT

Through the sacrament of Reconciliation, we become Christians newly equipped to heal a hurting world

By Father Paul Turner

L

ent makes a perfect time for you to go to confession. The season is built for it. On Ash Wednesday, you confront both your sin and

your mortality. Your ashes assign you six weeks to shape up for Easter.

People ask how often they should go to confession. In practice, some Catholics go frequently — nearly every week or every month. Others go once or twice a year in preparation for Christmas and Easter. Still others rarely go at all.

Frequency depends on factors both inside you and outside your control. Inside you, it depends on the gravity and recurrence of your sin. Outside your control, it relates to times of the year — like the arrival of Lent and Easter.

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Catholic Key • Spring 2021 • catholickey.org

Most Catholics would probably benefit from going to confession more frequently than they do. Lent opens a door.

Lent was designed for conversion of heart. It grew from the rich soil of the catechumenate, those receiving instruction in the Christian faith to be baptized. From the early Christian centuries, adults who sought baptism entered a period of formation. Catechumens had previously centered their lives on false values, but through formation they turned away from the past and toward a future in Christ. The word “conversion” captures the nature of this turning. As Christ conquered death, so he overcame sin, and gradually, Easter became the ideal occasion for baptism.

After baptism, however, everybody sins again. Experienced Christians look toward new catechumens for inspiration. As catechumens convert, so do we. We turn from our sinful ways and recommit ourselves to Christ.

Photography from Catholicstock.com

Healing

Lent is not just a time for repentance, but for the healing that it brings.

When we confront our own sin, when we tell God we’re sorry, when we receive absolution, we have healed our own hearts.

Inset photo by Jaclyn Lippelmann Photography/Catholicstock.com

“Our spiritual growth in Lent climaxes when we renew our baptismal promises at the Easter Vigil.”

The spiritual disciplines of Lent have this goal: recommitment to Christ, conversion from sin. Prayer, fasting and almsgiving give us the practical means to confront our moral failures. Confession naturally follows. We have examined our conscience. We want to improve. We accept disciplines.

We seek forgiveness.

Our spiritual growth in Lent climaxes when we renew our baptismal promises at the Easter Vigil. We spent six weeks disciplining ourselves to make better moral choices. If we have also gone to confession, those promises will sound more convincing: we renounce sin and profess our faith in Christ.

The Church offers us many helps toward making a good confession. The Gospels assigned to the middle Sundays of Lent deserve consideration.

In Year B, this year, the Gospels relate events that led to the crucifixion. Jesus cleanses the Temple of buyers and sellers, he conversed with Nicodemus about being lifted up like the serpent in the desert and he prophesies how the grain of wheat must fall to the earth and die before it bears fruit.

All these passages prepare us for hearing the Passion of Jesus on Palm Sunday.

In Year A, the accounts of the woman at the well, the man born blind, and the raising of Lazarus illustrate the gradual coming to faith that the catechumens experience. Because the elect celebrate the scrutinies on those Sundays, you may hear those Gospels on any year of the cycle.

In Year C, the Gospels on the same three Sundays pertain more

to the faithful Christians who have accepted the discipline of Lent to atone for their sins. That year, we hear the accounts of Jesus cursing of the unproductive fig tree, the mercy shown the prodigal son, and the conversion of the woman caught in adultery. All these illustrate the mystery of sin and forgiveness.

They help us make a good confession.

The Church offers other initiatives to help Catholics celebrate the sacrament of reconciliation. Many parishes offer penance services or at least increase the hours of individual confession during Lent. We join other dioceses who “keep the light on” for penitents by publishing confession times in our parishes all in one place on the website of the Office of Divine Worship. Furthermore, in response to an appeal from Pope Francis, our diocese honors “24 Hours for the Lord” through adoration and confession at designated locations each year from Friday to Saturday of the Third Week of Lent.

You can make a good Lent by following these traditional disciplines. On Ash Wednesday, reflect on your sin and mortality.

Adopt a plan of prayer, fasting and almsgiving for the entire six weeks of Lent. Go to confession.

At the Easter Vigil, show your rebirth by renewing your baptismal promises.

Lent is not just a time for repentance, but for the healing that it brings. When we confront our own sin, when we tell God we’re sorry, when we receive absolution, we have healed our own hearts. We become Christians newly equipped to heal a hurting world.

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yo u th m i n i s try

Growing God’s Family — LEAD THEM TO CHRIST

Photo courtesy of St. Andrew the Apostle Parish

The 2021 St. Andrew the Apostle Parish Youth Ministry leaders include many who are alumni of the middle school and high school programs from over the years.

St. Andrew the Apostle Parish Youth Ministry is committed to building relationships and community to lead others to Christ and form lifelong disciples.

By Robert Sandford

F

ourteen years ago, Youth Director Carolyn Anch found herself volunteering to start youth ministry at St. Andrew the Apostle Parish.

The program has since grown to 70-80 high school students from 13

schools attending each week. The group is led by a team of a few adults and 15-20 returning young adults, including Dylan McNair. Dylan readily tells his story to share the gift of faith he has been given and as an open door to his faith family.

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At 16, Dylan befriended Lauren, the first peer he had met who was openly Catholic. She invited him to St. Andrew the Apostle Parish youth ministry events. Repeatedly.

“She must have asked 20 times, not in a nagging way but to let me know I was welcome,” Dylan said. Eventually he went — no small thing for a self-identified atheist.

He felt completely out of place. The small group leader welcomed him with heartfelt joy. People spoke without pretense. They talked about the gifts of the Holy Spirit and he hardly heard a word.

Whatever it was that they had, he did not, and this went straight to his heart.

On the drive home, he had to pull over as emotions washed over him.

About a week later, as he considered whether God might actually exist, “it was like a switch flipped.” In that moment, he was so convinced God existed it was as if he had known it all his life.

With open heart and mind, he went back with questions. Carolyn introduced him to Frank Rodriguez, a convert with an inquiring mind. Dylan recalls: “He had a family and a job but he made himself available. We would talk sometimes for hours after youth group.”

At a 2015 Steubenville youth conference, Frank gathered young men he was mentoring to challenge them to deepen their faith. They connected and began calling themselves the “Benedictine Brothers.” They had to share what they had been given: a community committed to growing in faith.

“To this day, [that core group] are my closest friends,” says Dylan, now 24, who was baptized into the Catholic Church in October 2013 and remains active as a young adult helper and group leader.

Carolyn says St. Andrew the Apostle Parish’s youth ministry program, “Saltire,” is named for the cross of Saint Andrew, “a symbol of humility,” and its

Photo courtesy of St. Andrew the Apostle Parish.

St. Andrew the Apostle Parish Saltire youth and ministry team at the 2019 Steubenville Conference, an annual event central to the ministry's success and where the Benedictine Brothers first formed in 2015.

culture is modeled on their patron, who led Peter to Christ. They are committed to building relationships and community to lead others to Christ and form lifelong disciples. Woven into youth ministry, confirmation requires attending a Steubenville youth conference because it connects youth to a larger community and opens them to that encounter. They come back energized and the team increases programming to meet them in their need. Three quarters of their attendees go again next year.

Photo courtesy of Carolyn Anch.

Carolyn Anch (L) and Frank Rodriguez (R) became Dylan’s (center) godparents as he was baptized and entered into full communion with the Catholic Church in October 2013.

Le a r n m o r e about youth ministry opportunities at St. Andrew the Apostle Parish in Kansas City by visiting

w w w.s ata p s.c o m/ yo u th - m i n i s try- 1

Many youth remain involved beyond confirmation. Middle school programming is primarily led by high school students and the high school youth group is led by young adults. “The kids don’t care what we know until they know that we care ... and our young adult leaders are a big part of that,” Carolyn explains.

Another part is the support of parents, volunteers, the parish and priests.

“Early on, Father [Vince] Rogers asked, ‘What do you need from me?’

He has been such a support spiritually and materially,” says Carolyn. Associate Pastor Father Nathan Rueb attends every session. “We’ve always had a priest present at youth group. That’s huge. It shows the kids that they are important to the community.”

Carolyn will tell you it has taken many years and many committed people to grow their “Saltire family.” She is most grateful to witness so many living their faith into adulthood. Currently among those are five seminarians and two young women discerning a call to religious life.

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r e novaci ó n

‘ T O D O S E S TA M O S B AJ O L A C R U Z ’

Por Megan Marley

U s ar n u e s t r o s r ec ur so s sabiamente

E

n la vida de la parroquia, cada generación tiene sus propios dones, perspectivas y circunstancias que se reflejan visiblemente en las estructuras que sirven a nuestra comunidad.

En el Noreste de Kansas City, los parroquianos de San Antonio han dado

tiempo, talento y valores para asegurar que los preciados recursos de su iglesia y sus edificaciones no solo sean adecuados para las necesidades actuales de una comunidad multicultural, sino también para inspirar la fe de sus miembros, y para que sobrevivan para ser un legado en el futuro. La celebración del centenario de la dedicación de la iglesia será el próximo año, lo que últimamente ha motivado aún más estos esfuerzos.

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Catholic Key • Spring 2021 • catholickey.org

Los feligreses han emprendido varios proyectos en años recientesrevestimiento con yeso y pintura de salones de clase y oficinas, remoción de instalaciones obsoletas, limpieza y mantenimiento de la Iglesia que llaman su hogar.

“Las personas tienen una conexión emocional con la parroquia”, dijo Jordan Schiele, director de proyecto en la cercana Jerusalem Farm, una comunidad vocacional Católica que asiste con la reparación de los hogares de personas de bajos ingresos en el Noreste de Kansas City. Muchas veces los miembros de Jerusalem Farm se unen a los feligreses para ayudar con los proyectos de la iglesia.

No hace mucho tiempo, el techo necesitaba una reparación profesional.

“Si usted ha estado aquí antes, probablemente notó que algunas de las paredes de la iglesia estaban deterioradas por el agua y se necesitaba repararlas”, dijo Cathy Hernández, Directora de Educación Religiosa de la Parroquia.

Antes de la pandemia del COVID-19, la parroquia hizo grandes esfuerzos para recolectar donativos a través de dos grandes celebraciones parroquiales — la mesa anual de San José y el festival parroquial — y una colecta mensual para el Fondo de Proyectos Futuros. Estos fondos ayudaron en la reparación del techo y las cúpulas de cobre de la iglesia.

Una vez que la estructura estuvo lista, el interior necesitaba algunas reparaciones. La pintura gris-azulada aplicada en los 60 tenía burbujas y se estaba despegando, y el revestimiento manchado de yeso estaba débil en algunos puntos. En ese momento el párroco, el Padre Andrés Moreno, vio una oportunidad para revivir el simbolismo escondido en el estilo Románico-Lombardo del edificio.

“Los elementos visuales tienen un gran efecto sobre la gente, crean un sentido de algo especial”, dijo Paul Helmer, feligrés de Guardian Angels y arquitecto de preservación en Touch of Distinction Color & Design. Paul, el Padre Andrés y el consejo parroquial trabajaron para acordar un diseño para los feligreses que encajara responsablemente en el Fondo Parroquial para Futuros Proyectos.

Después dos eventos para recaudar fondos y seis meses de reparación, la parroquia de San Antonio reveló su santuario bellamente en diciembre de 2020. La comunidad parroquial aprecia el simbolismo espiritual de la Iglesia.

En Agosto de 2020, los feligreses desocuparon el sótano de la iglesia para adaptarlo para la Misa, y comenzaron los trabajos de revestimiento y pintura.

En Diciembre, se reveló el interior ya terminado.

“Siéntese y asimílelo — el edificio le hablará”, dijo Paul.

Al entrar por el vestíbulo, uno pasa debajo de la palabra ‘PAX’ (palabra latina para Paz) pintada encima de la entrada principal-más tarde se añadirán las manos de Cristo extendidas para bendecir con las palabras “Estaré contigo”. Al entrar a la iglesia notará inmediatamente el techo. En la fase de diseño, Paul notó un patrón arriba en los medallones de ventilación: un símbolo oculto construido dentro de la iglesia.

“Una de las cosas que ha dicho el Padre Andrés es que ‘todos estamos bajo la Cruz’, y ella está presente aquí para todos nosotros”, explicó Cathy.

Una cruz en rojo, que simboliza la sangre de Jesús, se cierne sobre la gente reunida para la adoración y atrae la atención al altar principal. La cruz con bordes dorados está rodeada por un mar azul rey con estrellas tridimensionales doradas de varios tamaños — estrellas grandes de siete puntas que simbolizan los siete días de la creación; “Estrellas de David” medianas de seis puntas; estrellas pequeñas de cuatro puntas que simbolizan la cruz de Cristo; y encima de los pasillos estrellas grandes de ocho puntas que simbolizan las ocho bienaventuranzas. Las estrellas continúan en la cúpula del techo encima del altar mayor- las tres en la parte superior

representan la Santísima Trinidad, las doce debajo representan a los doce Apóstoles, y las estrellas adicionales representan al pueblo de Dios.

El techo esta adornado por una cornisa roja y púrpura (el color de la realeza) con puntos de un patrón ondulado repetido, al relieve, en dorado, de una cruz, un cáliz, un gallo (por la negación de Cristo de San Pedro), un corazón traspasado por una lanza y la corona de espinas con dos clavos.

El revestimiento de yeso, el marco de las ventanas y la tracería del rosetón se repararon y se volvieron a pintar para que parezcan de piedra. El salón del coro, los confesionarios y la entrada también se relacionaron con los colores generales/tema litúrgico. Los planes para futuras restauraciones incluyen un nuevo piso y el acabado de todos los bancos.

El interior revitalizado es impactante.

“Lloré al verlo, era tan hermoso.

Simplemente lloré porque nunca había

imaginado la cruz”, exclamo la feligresa Sylvia Raya. ¡“He estado aquí casi 35 años y nunca note el detalle”!

“Estoy maravillada, es tan vibrante, me encanta el color. No podía hacer otra cosa que mirar hacia arriba” dijo Julia Rodríguez, la secretaria de la parroquia.

“A mis niños les encanta, han estado señalando todos los detalles”, comentó Jordan.

“Puedo hablar por algunos de mis amigos, feligreses de hace mucho tiempo, que se mudaron al norte o al sur del río, y al verla se han conmovido. Es difícil de creer que todo estaba cubierto de pintura”, dijo Anita Gulotta, feligresa de hace mucho tiempo.

Paul prometió a los feligreses una visita guiada por la iglesia y está emocionado de señalarnos los detalles del simbolismo revelados por su trabajo.

‘No puedo esperar hasta que le dé a la gente un recorrido apropiado de la iglesia después del COVID, para poder explicar todos los detalles.

Ya expliqué las partes de la iglesia a los niños, pero ahora hay aún más cosas que explicar”, dijo Cathy. Ella mencionó que posiblemente se tendrá un folleto explicativo de los detalles para el aniversario de los 100 años de dedicación de la iglesia en el 2022.

El nombre original de la iglesia fue Parroquia de la Asunción antes de su consolidación con las parroquias San Francisco Serafín y San Juan Bautista, y pasó a llamarse Parroquia de San Antonio en 1991. En el 2008, se cerró la parroquia de San Luis Gonzaga y su comunidad también se unió a San Antonio. Un equipo está planificando la Misa de aniversario y las festividades, y espera recolectar y exhibir fotografías de feligreses del pasado y del presente.

Cuando llegue el aniversario, la comunidad se reunirá bajo la cruz recién pintada y celebraran algo más que un edificio de 100 años.

“Podríamos hablar todo el día acerca de la belleza de la iglesia, pero la esencia de eso es la Misa”, concluyó Anita.

“Esta es una reunión de todos, La Misa y la iglesia están indicando hacia ella.

No podemos evitar acercarnos más a Jesús”.

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LECCIONES DE VIDA DE SAN JOSÉ 24

Catholic Key • Spring 2021 • catholickey.org

Guido Reni, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

EN EL CAMINO

En este Año Santo de San José, estamos invitados a reflexionar sobre las virtudes evidentes en varias dimensiones de la vida de este gran santo. Si bien puede que no sea una virtud oficial, la vida de San José estuvo marcada por una notable unidad, una integración de su trabajo diario para mantener a su familia y para ayudar a otros como carpintero, y la gran responsabilidad de amar, adorar y cuidar al Hijo de Dios que le había sido confiado y a la Santísima Madre. Como San José, cada uno de nosotros tiene diariamente responsabilidades y tareas en la vida, pero también tiene responsabilidades religiosas que son centrales en nuestra vida y en nuestra identidad como Cristianos. Como San José, nuestra relación con Jesús puede transformar y unificar las diferentes partes de nuestras vidas.

Del O b ispo El obispo James V. Johnston, Jr. es el séptimo obispo de la Diócesis de Kansas City-St. Joseph

“Lo que los santos nos enseñan, incluyendo a San José, es que cuando Cristo está en el centro, cuando todos los trabajos se hacen en un espíritu de fe y amor, son santificados no importa que tan mundanos o rutinarios parezcan.”

Un muy buen amigo mío, que es obispo, respondió una vez a mi pregunta sobre cómo le había ido con este breve resumen: ¡“Predicando el Evangelio y pagando las cuentas!” Esto resume mucho de lo que la mayoría de los obispos y pastores están haciendo en las parroquias. El reto es integrar esas responsabilidades y darse cuenta de que están relacionadas. Las necesidades materiales no pueden ser descuidadas; hay cuentas que pagar y otros trabajos que deben hacerse, pero se ordenan y se les da un mayor significado por causa de Cristo.

De muchas maneras, lo mismo puede decirse acerca de los laicos, y del reto de encontrar significado y unidad en sus vidas. Los laicos también deben pagar cuentas y cambiar pañales, hacer la cena, cortar el césped, ir a sus trabajos, etc. Esto tiene un mayor significado cuando se coloca en el contexto de sus distintas misiones en el mundo que provienen de Dios. Tal como lo expresó claramente el Concilio Vaticano II en su Decreto sobre el Apostolado de los Laicos, los laicos están en el mundo para “penetrar y perfeccionar la esfera temporal de las cosas a través del espíritu del Evangelio. …Ya que es propio del estado de los laicos pasar sus días en el medio del mundo y de las transacciones seculares, son llamados por Dios a arder con el espíritu de Cristo y ejercer su apostolado en el mundo como una especie de levadura” (No. 2) Esto se hace no solo con el testimonio de una vida Cristiana y buenas obras sino “un verdadero apóstol busca oportunidades para anunciar a Cristo con palabras dirigidas bien a los no creyentes para conducirlos a la fe, o a los creyentes con miras a instruirlos y fortalecerlos, motivándolos para una vida más ferviente” (No. 6) San José es un buen ejemplo para la vocación laica descrita por el Concilio.

La misión laica comienza con la familia, la célula básica de la Iglesia, y se extiende en una serie de círculos concéntricos hacia comunidades aún más grandes como grupos de familias y vecinos, a la parroquia, y más allá al resto del mundo. En el centro de estos círculos está Jesucristo. El Clero tiene la responsabilidad de servir a la vocación de los laicos y su misión nutriéndolos con la proclamación de la palabra de Dios en predicas y enseñanzas, y fortaleciéndolos con la gracia de los sacramentos, es decir, ¡atraerlos a Jesucristo!

Lo que los santos nos enseñan, incluyendo a San José, es que cuando Cristo está en el centro, cuando todos los trabajos se hacen en un espíritu de fe y amor, son santificados no importa que tan mundanos o rutinarios parezcan.

Un desafío mayor para la Iglesia en nuestros días, tanto para el clero como para los laicos, es ver que todas nuestras actividades de vida son una ofrenda a Dios. Así es como se expresa nuestro sacerdocio bautismal. Nuestra presencia en el Altar en la Misa es una ofrenda de nuestra vida y obras, vividas y ejercidas fuera de la Misa. Todas las cosas, hechas con fe y amor, dan gloria a Dios. San José es un ejemplo y un modelo para cada Cristiano sobre cómo vivir una vida con integridad, centrados en Cristo y en María.

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Year of Saint Joseph C a l e n da r of E v e n t s

Ye ar o f S t. Jo s e p h December 8 , 2 0 2 0 – D e c e m b e r 8 , 2021

I

n December 2020, Pope Francis announced a Year of Saint Joseph, in honor of the 150th anniversary of the saint’s proclamation as Patron of the Universal Church. Find more

details — including special indulgences, traditions and devotions, prayers, titles and patronages, coloring pages, shareable graphics, saint quotes, monthly themes, news and videos — at www.kcsjcatholic.org/year-of-st-joseph.

Litany of Saint Joseph Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us. God the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us. God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us. God the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us. Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us. Holy Mary, pray for us. St. Joseph, pray for us. Illustrious son of David, pray for us. Light of patriarchs, pray for us. Spouse of the Mother of God, pray for us. Chaste guardian of the Virgin, pray for us.

Foster father of the Son of God, pray for us. Watchful defender of Christ, pray for us. Head of the Holy Family, pray for us. Joseph most just, pray for us. Joseph most chaste, pray for us. Joseph most prudent, pray for us. Joseph most valiant, pray for us. Joseph most obedient, pray for us.

Joseph most faithful, pray for us. Mirror of patience, pray for us. Lover of poverty, pray for us. Model of workmen, pray for us. Glory of home life, pray for us. Guardian of virgins, pray for us. Pillar of families, pray for us. Solace of the afflicted, pray for us. Hope of the sick, pray for us.

Patron of the dying, pray for us. Terror of demons, pray for us. Protector of Holy Church, pray for us. Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, Spare us, O Lord! Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, Graciously hear us, O Lord! Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us! V. He made him the lord of His household, R. And prince over all His possessions. Let Us Pray O God, Who in Thine ineffable Providence didst vouchsafe to choose Blessed Joseph to be the spouse of Thy most holy Mother, grant, we beseech Thee, that he whom we venerate as our protector on earth may be our intercessor in heaven. Who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.

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• March 19, 6 p.m.: Solemnity of Saint Joseph Mass with Bishop Johnston, Cathedral of St. Joseph.

• March 21, 8:30 a.m.: Dedication Anniversary Mass with Bishop Johnston, St. Joseph Parish, Trenton.

• April 26, 11 a.m.: Day of Prayer in Atonement, Cathedral of St. Joseph.

• May 1, 10 a.m.: Feast of Saint Joseph the Worker Mass with Bishop Johnston at St. Joseph the Worker Parish, Independence.

• June 20: Fathers’ Day. Pray to Saint Joseph for fathers and father figures.

• October 31, 8 a.m.: Dedication Anniversary Mass with Bishop Johnston, St. Joseph Parish, Easton.

• October 31, 11:30 a.m.: Dedication Anniversary Mass with Bishop Johnston, Cathedral of St. Joseph.

• November 2: All Souls’ Day. Pray to Saint Joseph, patron of a happy death, for all the departed on this day and throughout the month of November.

• November 7, 10 a.m.: Dedication Anniversary Mass with Bishop Johnston, St. Joseph Parish, Parnell.

• Wednesday, December 8, 6 p.m.: Closing Mass for Year of Saint Joseph, Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Kansas City, with special apostolic blessing from Bishop Johnston.

Consecration to Saint Joseph Suggested start dates below, using Father Calloway’s “Consecration to St. Joseph” or “Consecration to Jesus through Saint Joseph”

by Dr. Gregory Bottaro and Jennifer Settle.

• March 30: ending on feast of St. Joseph the Worker.

• April 11: ending on the feast of Our Lady of Fatima.

• July 20: ending on the feast of Our Lady of Knock.

• September 30: ending on All Saints’ Day • November 8: ending on feast of Our Lady of Loreto.

• November 24: ending on the feast of the Holy Family.

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Voice and T H E VALU E OF A CAT H O LIC E DU CAT ION

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If Yen Truong found her voice at Holy Cross Elementary School, she discovered her sense of adventure at St. Pius X High School

By Bridget Locke | Photos by Megan Marley

I

f Yen Truong’s friends were allowed a single word to describe her, many would opt for the same one: “Talkative.”

That’s OK with her. She embraces the label because it demon-

strates just how far she has come. Today, Truong has lots to say — but not so long ago, she spoke to few people beyond her immediate family.

“My mom, dad and I emigrated from Vietnam to the United States when I was three,” said Truong, who is now 19. “We didn’t speak English. My parents left behind everything they knew to give me a better life in America.”

Though Truong worked hard to adapt to her new surroundings, her parents recognized soon after enrolling her in public school that she needed more focused attention from her teachers to be successful.

“I struggled to communicate with my teachers,” Truong said of her early classroom experiences. “I attended two different schools in Kansas City before my parents decided that placing me in Catholic school would put me in a better position to thrive.”

Truong began attending Holy Cross as a kindergartner, and as she progressed to eighth grade, she earned the SPX Mock Scholarship, which enabled her to attend St. Pius X Catholic High School. If Truong found her voice at Holy Cross, she found her sense of adventure at St. Pius X. Already a stellar scholar, Truong was constantly encouraged by teachers and classmates at St. Pius X to grow socially, by meeting new people and trying new things.

So, she jumped in with both feet.

She tried soccer. Tennis. Basketball.

“I had never played a sport until I attended high school, and my friends convinced me to try out for basketball.

Because our school was small, I made the team — but I wasn’t very good,” Truong laughed. “I think I made one layup the entire season. Still, being in an environment where everyone encouraged me to try added to my confidence. It helped me to grow.”

Much of the cost of Truong’s Catholic education was covered by the Endowment Trust for Catholic Education, a fund which distributes millions of dollars in donations to participating Catholic schools every year. For students who have financial need, the monetary assistance offered from the Trust provides access to a Catholic education that equips them for a life of faith and service, while preparing them for the academic rigor of college.

Truong also credits the Catholic school environment for strengthening her faith, and giving her a solid foundation that will be with her for life.

“Being in a Catholic school, it was easy to ask questions regarding the faith and receive answers that will help me further understand my faith,” she

said. “I believe that simply being in a Catholic environment greatly aided me in growing stronger in my faith!”

Her Catholic school upbringing certainly prepared Truong for higher education. After finishing high school in 2020 with multiple college credits, Truong currently studies biology at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and plans to become a physician assistant after graduation. Before completing her bachelor’s and master’s degree programs, she plans to earn a Certified Nursing Assistant license to test the waters of the medical field.

“The physician assistant program is competitive. I just want to be sure I have a backup plan,” she said.

At the heart of it all, Truong, who was once intensely shy and reluctant to speak, is drawn to connecting with others and feels a career in medicine and a life of service is the appropriate way to meet and help people. It’s the ideal way to honor her family.

“I just want to create a fulfilling life for myself. If I am fulfilled, then I will consider myself successful. Becoming successful is the best way for me to honor my parents and supporters for their sacrifice and investment in my future.”

A re yo u i n t e r e s te d in making Catholic education accessible to more deserving students in the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph? Please consider a donation to the Endowment Trust Fund for Catholic Education.

t o le a r n mo r e , V i s i t w w w.e tf c e .o r g

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YEAR OF SAINT JOSEPH COLORING PAGE This stained glass window depicting Jesus, Mary and Joseph gathered as the Holy Family can be found at Church of the Holy Martyrs in Kansas City, Missouri. Gather your favorite markers or colored pencils and spend some time in prayer with St. Joseph as you color.

Refer to pg. 26 for prayers or visit www.kcsjcatholic.org/ year-of-st-joseph

Church of the Holy Martyrs (Giáo Xứ Các Thánh Tử đạo Việt Nam) Kansas City, Missouri.

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Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph The Catholic Center 20 W. Ninth St. Kansas City, MO 64105.