Catholics on the Hill Fall 2023

FALL 2023

VOLUME 57

CATHOLICS On The Hill

WWW.KUCATHOLIC.ORG

Hey, Catholic Jayhawks!

There’s no place like home. There’s no place like Rome. There’s no place like Kansas.

We all know this in our bones. We are made for adventure and faith, to be Jayhawks who fly far above and dare to explore the fullness of freedom and life proposed by our Lord.

We do it on this hill where the KU experience meets our Catholic tradition, a proven combination for inviting some of the greatest stories of every generation.

Imagine your freshman year and what difference the Catholic faith has made in the life you are living.

Let’s support this generation of Jayhawks by teaching and inviting them to find their true home in their Catholic faith.

Enjoy this chapter of KU Catholic history, and look forward to a greater future. +mj

Director & Chaplain

Issue 27 | 234 Photo By: Mary Kate Krause

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Meet The Staff Aidan Setter, FOCUS Team Director Hello! My name is Aidan Setter. I grew up in Topeka and graduated from KU in December 2020. I am returning to St. Lawrence to serve as the FOCUS Team Director. I served the last two years at Virginia Tech with FOCUS. In college, I was in a fraternity and worked for KU Athletics. This sparked my passion of spreading the Gospel to Greek students and athletes. I am pumped to lead my team in reaching the students of KU. Rock Chalk Jayhawk!

Tom Skoch, Advancement Officer I am excited to be serving as the new Advancement Officer for St. Lawrence! I am a class of 2019 alum from KU, and the St. Lawrence Center was certainly my “Home on the Hill'' during my time as a student. Amidst the various worldly temptations and influences that I faced as a student during even just my first week on the Hill, St. Lawrence was the stronghold that afforded opportunities for Mass, deeper faith formation, a sense of belonging with small and large group activities, and disruptive experiences such as the March for Life, FOCUS’s SEEK conference, retreats, and more. I am forever indebted to the St. Lawrence Center for fostering me into my vocation as a husband to my beautiful wife, Nicole, and father to my beautiful children Gemma, Simon, and soon to be a 3rd in October. I live in West Olathe, and my family and I would love to have you over for dinner! Rock Chalk!

Melise Gossen, FOCUS Missionary Hi! My name is Melise Gossen, and I am from Rayne, Louisiana. I graduated from Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana, with a bachelor's degree in Allied Health and a bachelor's degree in general studies. I played softball at Nicholls for five years, and those were the most transformative years of my life. I’m super excited about coming to Kansas, where I hear we get all four seasons. In Louisiana, it's always just hot or cold, nothing in between. I’m so excited to meet everyone and to learn the Kansas ways. Although I know it’s different from Louisiana, I’m excited to get to share with you the Louisiana culture. I look forward to being on campus and sharing life with students, always striving to make Jesus the center of our lives.

Aidan Hill, Principal Organist Hello! My name is Aidan Hill, and I am thrilled to be stepping into a new role at St. Lawrence as the Principal Organist. I am passionate about the sacred music of the Church and am eager to engage this "ever ancient, ever new" tradition in order to help students have an intimate encounter with our Lord at Mass. I am married to my wife, Megan, and together we have one daughter, Emilia, who just turned one. I am nearing the end of my undergraduate degree in organ, which will be finished this fall.

I believe in leisure as much as I do learning, which includes time with my family and friends, model railroading, and building cathedrals in Minecraft.

Callahan Perry, FOCUS Missionary Hi! My name is Callahan Perry, and I graduated from Texas A&M in December of 2022. I am a new FOCUS missionary here at KU, and am here alongside my fiancé, Ethan! I am so excited to be at KU and learn what “Rock Chalk” means. I am one of seven kids, love the outdoors, and studied Economics.

Photos By: Mary Kate Krause

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God Sent me a Wakeup Call Reflection By Josh Omitt My journey began with anxiety.

Traveling internationally for the first time was unsettling, and my Uber driver must have noticed and charged me double the normal rate.

Nevertheless, I made it to our lodgings on time, but I realized I had a new problem. Why was I there? I had spent so much time packing and perfecting the details that I had forgotten I was a pilgrim. IN ROME. As we enjoyed a walking tour of the city on the first day, my mind was in a whirlwind. Sure, I was having fun with my friends, and all the churches we visited were beautiful, but what was God trying to tell me? My first answer arrived unexpectedly that evening at Mass.

The chapel was hot and stuffy, and I was a little sleepy. Suddenly, I heard the priest say “microbiology” and my mind turned on. While the homily was not actually about my major, it gave me insight into something far more important. God sent me a wake-up call to open my heart and feel deeply.

I was not in Rome to look at cool things; I was there to be set ablaze.

legendary patrons of my cherished medical field. I felt chills run down my spine, then discovered the entire room was covered in frescoes of Christian medical figures. I closed my eyes and felt in my bones that the Lord was calling me to be a physician.

It was a truly incredible experience, and it became even more beautiful when I shared it at dinner.

On day two, we started the day with Mass at the Basilica of Mary Major.

After attending Mass, we toured the Roman Forum. While on the tour, I took out my tour earpiece and stared at the wall of a 6th century church. It took me several seconds to realize I was a couple of feet from ancient paintings of Cosmas and Damien, two

There are few things more beautiful than being in a room full of people who truly love you and listen to every one of your words with deep interest.

I felt truly at home, albeit thousands of miles from Kansas. This feeling of family and belonging was the most consistent fruit of my journey.

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Every day, whether I was celebrating Mass, searching the streets for gluten free food, or trekking home from an Irish pub, I felt such a deep sense of communion with my fellow pilgrims.

I remember feeling such joy in St. Peter’s Basilica when we finished Mass and walked past groups of Indian, Polish, and South American pilgrims arriving to celebrate the Eucharist. I understood for the first time the true nature of our “little c” Catholicism. We are the universal Church, and being able to celebrate Mass in so many beautiful locations only strengthened this understanding.

On a personal level, I was looking forward to one day of the trip in particular: Assisi. St. Francis has been my patron saint for years, but before this trip, I really felt no connection to him. I had to find out why I chose Francis as an edgy 14-year-old, and I was determined to search the whole town if I had to. After a few hours of sweat-drenched hiking, I finally entered the Basilica of St. Francis.

Assisi bracelet in hand, I made a beeline for the crypt.

I knelt, placed my hand on Francis’s tomb, and asked God to tell me something.

I heard Francis calling me to be a warrior for the poor, the sick, and the oppressed.

I felt him setting my heart on fire to fight in the church militant. It was unsettling, yet incredibly powerful.

Later that night, we gathered to share graces, and I saw that army of love and justice. Once again, an individual grace became so much more through relationship with my brothers and sisters.

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The culmination of my week could not have been written any better: Mass with Pope Francis! Although our group was split in two, I found myself kneeling between two of the most beautiful souls I have ever met.

During the homily, the intense love I felt all week finally spilled out. I wept for my conversion. I wept for my family. I wept for the dozens of people who were at Mass seemingly only to post videos of the Holy Father.

I can truly say I have never been more convinced of the profound truth of the Resurrection, and I felt Jesus embracing my brokenness. It was messy, but the presence of Christ made it perfect. As I return to KU for my third year, I so desire to give this love to my peers. I firmly believe that one day I will say Rome 2023 was the beginning of a beautiful chapter of my life.

Want more information about the student or adult pilgrimages?

Reach out to Molly McKeithan at mmckeithan@kucatholic.org

See the impact of your support

2,100

750

STUDENT MEMBERS

STUDENTS AT MASS EACH WEEKEND

500

250

103,194

$80

STUDENTS AUTHENTICALLY CONNECTED TO THE FAITH

MISSIONARY DISCIPLES

HOURS SPENT WITH STUDENTS

SPENT PER KU STUDENT TO PRESENT THE FAITH

$400

$7.44

SPENT PER CATHOLIC STUDENT AT KU

SPENT PER HOUR WITH STUDENTS 6

Annual Report

FY23 BUDGET ANALYSIS

FY23 BUDGET INCOME

$1,770,000

Archdiocese Offertory Investments Ministry Advancement Plant Operations

$125,000 $156,000 $291,000 $30,000 $1,106,000 $62,000

EXPENSES

$1,746,000

Plant Operations Ministry Lay Salaries Priests FOCUS Good Company New Students Scholarships Faith Formation Liturgy & Music Events Alumni/Advancement Facility Improvements

$401,000 $956,000 $536,000 $46,000 $97,000 $30,000 $28,000 $57,000 $43,000 $80,000 $39,000 $348,000 $41,000

NET INCOME

$24,000

INCOME ($1,770,000)

Ministry, $30,000 1.7%

Plant Operations, $62,000 3.5%

Archdiocese, $125,000 7.1%

Offertory, $156,000 8.8%

Investments, $291,000 16.4%

Advancement, $1,106,000 62.5%

EXPENSES ($1,746,000) Advancement, $348,000 19.9%

Facility Improvements, $41,000 2.3%

Ministry, $956,000 54.8%

Plant Operations, $401,000 23%

FIVE-YEAR INCOME & EXPENSE COMPARISON 2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

Total Income

2,146,000

2,379,000

1,824,000

1,792,000

1,770,000

Total Expenses

1,636,000

2,300,000

1,593,000

1,527,000

1,746,000

Net

509,000

79,000

231,000

265,000

24,000

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He was calling me!

Reflection By: Sr. Sophia Grace Huschka 2003 Grad

What were you involved in at St. Lawrence?

My involvement at the St. Lawrence Center grew over the years. My freshman year I took part in the pilgrimage to Washington D.C. for the March for Life and started participating in some of the classes.

Classes became a consistent part of my time at St. Lawrence.

I took part in several mission trips; my first one was to New Mexico and then I went to Kentucky to help the Christian Appalachian Project. On both of these missions we helped to build or repair houses and were immersed into the culture of the area.

I like to say that by my senior year I was practically living at the St. Lawrence Center! I was actively serving as sacristan and extraordinary minister of Holy Communion, leading the March for Life pilgrimage, assisting with R.C.I.A. and involved in a variety of social activities as well.

How did the St. Lawrence Center impact your college life?

At the opening barbecue, I met some incredible people who quickly became my friends. On a large university campus like KU I could have easily felt like just a number but because I found a group of people who I connected with I felt at home more quickly. It was such an incredible blessing to be able to walk around our campus in between classes and be able to greet so many people who I knew through the Center. My friendships also helped me to grow in my faith and my relationship with the Lord.

How did St. Lawrence impact your vocation?

I mention the St. Lawrence Center almost every time I share my vocation story. I went to Catholic schools growing up but it was in college that I really took my Faith to be my own. I saw a joy and life in those that I encountered at the Center. I wanted and came to realize that I could live my faith and have fun at the same time, they weren’t mutually exclusive.

I discovered that authentic life comes through our

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Faith and growing in a relationship with the Lord.

What called you to your religious order?

I heard my initial call to religious life in 2005, on the Feast of St. Joseph. I was at Mass and during the homily the priest was preaching about the different qualities of St. Joseph: he’s quiet, he’s prayerful, he’s a good leader. All of these were on my checklist for my future husband. Then I heard the Lord speak gently in my heart saying, “Maybe you’re not called to marriage.” I thought to myself, “Wait a minute, we talked about this! I’m just waiting for that right guy to show up!” As Mass continued I questioned and prayed and at communion time we sang, “Take my heart and form it; take my mind, transform it; take my will, conform it, to yours, to yours, O, Lord.” And I prayed a very honest prayer, “OK, Lord, if you are calling me to religious life that is exactly what you are going to have to do. You are going to have to change my heart, my mind, and my will because my desire is to be married and I know you won’t make me do something I don’t want to do.

That’s not how you work.” Amazingly, within a few months I felt like my heart had done a 180 degree turn I had a desire and even excitement for religious life. The Lord was transforming my heart in my prayer but he was simultaneously showing me the beauty of being a spiritual mother through helping out with youth ministry. I couldn’t put words to it at the time but He was calling me to be His, to be His bride and a mother of a multitude of souls.

As I continued to discern I was overwhelmed by different spiritualties and number of religious communities and I again prayed a very honest prayer. “Lord, if you are calling me to religious life, you’re just going to have to show me the community because this is too overwhelming.” And again very quickly he answered my prayer when my friend reminded me that my prayer life really started to deepen when I was exposed to the Catholic Charismatic Renewal. When I clicked on the website for my community I felt a rush of peace from the top of my head to the tip of my toes. As I navigated through the site I was drawn to the joy of the sisters. As I learned more about the community through the website and visiting in

person, the peace I initially experienced deepened and my excitement grew with the possibility of entering. I was attracted to having two Eucharistic Holy Hours each day and being grounded in silence and prayer. I loved that the sisters were open to the Charismatic gifts. And I also discovered that my heart resonates with Franciscan spirituality and living a simple life. I felt at home with the sisters. Praise God they felt the same way and, in 2007, I was able to join my community, the Franciscan Sisters, Third Order Regular of Penance of the Sorrowful Mother.

What was it like taking your vows and giving your "yes"?

Professing the vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience was and is very humbling. Who am I that He has chosen me and called me to be his spouse and be united to Him in this way? And yet, he has called me to be His, His alone. Living the vows has allowed me to become more free to be who He created me to be and therefore to be able to give more of myself to Him. While on retreat as a novice the Lord showed me what it means to be a religious when he spoke to me saying, “The sparkle in your eyes shines through the barriers of time.”

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I understood then that I stand inside of time gazing upon my Beloved, who is outside of time, and, God willing, by the way that I am living my life, others will be able to see His reflection in my eyes. Years later, as I approached my perpetual profession of vows, the Lord once again invited me to step across the threshold of heaven by giving my eternal “yes”. And through His grace and with an indescribable peace and joy I took that step. As a consecrated religious, my life is a witness to what we will all be living in heaven – union with God through the vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience. I pray that through my vocation others will come to know how much they are loved by God. What would you say to someone in the discernment process?

Stay rooted and grounded in prayer.

Your vocation isn’t something to figure out, check off of the list, or be afraid that we are going to miss out on. Your vocation is a calling to a relationship, it is a gift and response to the one who loved us first. You will find yourself naturally walking into your vocation.

We Are Called to be Saints Reflection By: Kellie Fleming, FOCUS Missionary

This past July, I was able to go on a twoweek pilgrimage with FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students) and the Sisters of Life to Poland to journey along the footsteps of St. John Paul II and other holy saints of Poland. It was such a gift to be able to have this experience with 35 other young women, including Grace Lauer, a student here at KU involved at the Saint Lawrence Center.

This was a reality that struck me in a new way while on this pilgrimage. I have been inspired to continue to strive for radical holiness, even through persecution and trial. I am so excited to carry these graces with me into my third year as a FOCUS missionary here at KU with the Saint Lawrence Center. It is such an inspiration to help students realize,

We are all created for a personal relationship and adventure with God, our Father! with God, our Father!

The pilgrimage was filled with incredible joys and gifts, including experiences at St. Maximilian Kolbe’s monastery, St. Faustina's convent, Auschwitz Concentration Camp, Our Lady of Czestochowa, and many of the places where St. John Paul II grew up and encountered God. Many of the other students and I could not help but be inspired by all these young, influential saints giving their lives for the truth of the church. St. John Paul II speaks about the “universal call to holiness” and how we are all called to be saints, both religious and lay people.

Please continue to pray for our Saint Lawrence staff here at KU and all the students we are blessed to encounter!

During his first audience as Pope, St. John Paul II exclaimed, “Do not be afraid, open wide the doors for Christ.” This is my prayer for all of us this upcoming year, that we can open wide the doors of our hearts to the love and relationship that is waiting for us in Jesus Christ.

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Sacrament Celebrations FALL 2023 COTH WEDDINGS

Franklin Wedding

Schroeder Baptism

Meg (Thompson) and Joe Mulligan April 22, 2023 Savannah (Cox) and Bowe Behymer June 3, 2023 Kathryn Renee Butcher and Randy Butcher married June 3, 2023 Grace (Temaat) and Cale Franklin married June 9, 2023 Grant Herrenbruck and Kate (Steward) married June 17, 2023 Christopher Hilger and Rachel (Schlittler) married June 17, 2023

Fr. Tim Skoch

FALL 2023 ORDINATIONS Deacon Aaron Waldeck (Transitional Diaconate) May 20, 2023 Fr. Timothy Skoch (Holy Priesthood) May 27, 2023

Deacon Aaron Waldeck Cacka Family

SPRING 2023 COTH BIRTHS/BAPTISMS Evangeline Margaret Cacka of Isaiah and Carla (Bordier) Cacka Born May 1, 2023 Baby Levi James Zimmerman of Cole Zimmerman and Michelle Zimmerman Born June 14, 2023 Simon Christopher Englander of William and Aly (Lange) Englander Born July 2, 2023 Juliana Elizabeth Falbo of Erin (Scanlan) and Jacob Falbo Born July 5, 2023 Josephine Elodie Argubright of Marisa and Matthew Argubright Born May 13, 2023 Gemma Lucia Dellasega of Lainey and Caleb Dellasega Born April 29, 2023 Luke Thomas Schroeder of Ali (Genilo) and Austin Schroeder Baptized June 25, 2023 Oscar John Patrick Chambers of Connor and Kate (Drozda) Chambers Baptized July 16, 2023 Remy Mateo Zarse of Jordan and Marie (Humphrey) Zarse Born July 14, 2023 Bridget Anne Wertin of Mark and Annemarie (Martin) Born September 14, 2023

JOIN US FOR DIVINE WINEFEST DECEMBER 8, 2023

Hilger Wedding

Join Scott and Lisa Hallier for The Divine Winefest at The Cascade Hotel in Kansas City!

DivineWinefest.com

Address Change? Receiving multiple Copies?

Want to subscribe? If so, contact us: 1631 Crescent Road Lawrence, KS 66044 (785) 843-0357 kucatholic.org mmckeithan@kucatholic.org

STAFF Fr. Mitchel Zimmerman Stacy Cretors Molly McKeithan Nick Labrie Ellen Flood Misty Stephenson Mark Wertin Madison Abbott Jesse Henkensiefken Tom Skoch

Brenna Dillon Alli Petty Aidan Hill Tatiana Tessman Aidan Setter, FOCUS Kellie Flemming, FOCUS Ethan Caligur, FOCUS Melise Gossen, FOCUS Callahan Perry, FOCUS

Upcoming Events For more information, check out kucatholic.org October 29, 2023 Alumni Choir Concert

December 8, 2023, 5:30pm Divine Winefest

St. Lawrence Center

Cascade Hotel- Kansas City

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