on youth, people of all ages participate. Following the rally, most participants joined a procession from the
IGNITE focuses on God’s plan for every life
By Marc and Julie Anderson mjanderson@theleaven.org
TOPEKA — “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, but plans to give you hope and a future” (Jer 29:11).
Those words from the prophet Jeremiah served as the theme of the IGNITE for Life rally and Mass for Life held Jan. 28 at the Topeka Performing Arts Center. More than 1,600 people attended the annual event.
Sponsored by the archdiocese’s pro-life office, the day included a fair featuring pro-life organizations and ministries, Mass celebrated by the Kansas bishops and several speakers. According to Debra Niesen, the archdiocese’s pro-life consultant, each reflected the message found in the Book of Jeremiah.
The first speaker, Father Luke Doyle, pastor of the St. Lawrence Campus Center at the University of Kansas, shared a story from early in his priesthood, when he was asked to minister to a woman who had just learned she was unexpectedly pregnant.
“A couple of months into her pregnancy she remarked to me, as she patted her womb, ‘You know, little baby Bosco certainly kicks a little bit,’” Father Doyle said.
Puzzled, Father Doyle asked for clarification, only to discover she had been craving Bosco Sticks, a mozzarella-filled breadstick. The comment gave him an opening to share
Kansas bishops issue statement on immigration enforcement in Minnesota
Together as Diocesan Bishops of the Roman Catholic Church in Kansas, we ask our clergy and faithful to join us in solidarity with Archbishop Bernard Hebda and the local church of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis as they bear witness to the peace of Christ and the dignity of every human life. We mourn with them over the turmoil, division, and violence that is inflaming their community. We encourage you to read the statement from Archbishop Hebda (https://www.archspm.org, and look for announcements). We are deeply sorrowful for the tragic loss of life and fervently pray for peace, unity, and mutual respect among our brothers and sisters, especially immigrants, law enforcement, and those burdened by fear, grief, or uncertainty throughout our country.
The American people entrust our elected leaders with the responsibility to enact policies and take actions to promote the safety and well-being of all. At the same time, immigrants who are in our country fleeing violence and hostility, or who are simply trying to forge a better life for their families, deserve a fair, transparent, and efficient process as they seek entry — a standard our current immigration system, overwhelmed and in dire need of reform, regrettably fails to meet. Treating immigrants and refugees with dignity and respect serves our common good and honors not only their human dignity and inalienable rights but our own human dignity and rights. We ask our political leaders and government officials to earnestly pursue comprehensive immigration reform with just prudence and compassionate respect for human dignity, so that justice and mercy may walk together for the good of all.
As Catholics, we must advocate for solutions rooted in charity and compassion rather than fear and anger. We see every person created in the image and likeness of God, whom Christ loves and for whom he sacrificed his own life on Calvary. We are called to be catalysts of reconciliation rather than instruments of division.
the story of St. John Bosco, the patron saint of fatherless boys.
“One of the reasons this woman was considering abortion was because she didn’t want to bring a child into the world without a father,” Father Doyle said. He encouraged her to pray and to get to know St. John Bosco.
Her son, Cooper Bosco, was born Jan. 31, 2024 — the feast day of St. John Bosco.
“It’s really beautiful to acknowledge that God knows us,” Father Doyle said, “and that even before our stories begin being written in this life, God loves us and fights for us.”
Like Father Doyle, Harper Schmelzle said he has come to understand that God has a plan for every person.
One of three children adopted by his parents, Schmelzle shared how grateful he is for the gift of life.
“The biggest blessing is that I am on this earth, able to love God who made me in his image and likeness,” he said. “I have the opportunity to fulfill God’s plan for my life.”
Dr. Angeligue Pritchett, a board-certified family medicine physician specializing in women’s health, obstetrics and prenatal care,
>> See “ARCHBISHOP” on page 4
May the wisdom of the Holy Spirit guide the hearts and actions of all who navigate these complex issues, so that in Christ, who makes all things new, justice and peace may reign in our great nation.
Archbishop Shawn McKnight Archbishop of Kansas City in Kansas
Bishop Carl Kemme Bishop of Wichita
Bishop Gerald Vincke Bishop of Salina
LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER
Archbishop Shawn McKnight celebrates Mass following the IGNITE for Life 2026 rally held Jan. 28 at the Topeka Performing Arts Center. Although the rally has an emphasis
performing arts center to the capitol.
LEAVEN PHOTO BY KATHRYN WHITE
The band The Herons entertains the crowd at the IGNITE rally. The rally also featured keynote speaker David Bereit, founder of 40 Days of Life, Father Luke Doyle, chaplain of the St. Lawrence Center at the University of Kansas, Angelique Pritchett, MD, a women’s health specialist, and Harper Schmelzle, a Benedictine College student.
A Renewal from the Heartland Sign up now!
EVERYONE IS INVITED!
Sign up now with either your parish or another, or form your own group, to participate in Beatitudes from the Heartland, the first phase of our archdiocesan pastoral planning process, Renewal from the Heartland. The small faith-sharing groups will meet four times during Lent to discuss how to use the Beatitudes to guide parishes toward becoming more intentional centers of charity and sanctuaries of mercy. Learn more at: http://archkck.org/renewal-heartland, including how you can form a group of friends or neighbors. But Ash Wednesday is Feb. 18 — just around the corner — and parishes need time to prepare. So call your parish now!
Benedictine Sisters end sponsorship of Benedictine College in Atchison
ATCHISON — The Benedictine Sisters of Mount St. Scholastica here, announced on Jan. 23 that they would no longer be a sponsor of Benedictine College.
“As our community and the world around us continue to evolve, we, the Sisters of Mount St. Scholastica, after much prayer and consideration, have discerned that it is time to discontinue active sponsorship of Benedictine College,” the Sisters said in a statement.
The present-day Benedictine College was formed in 1971 by a merger of St. Benedict’s College, a men’s college, and Mount St. Scholastica College, a women’s college. The monks of St. Benedict’s Abbey in Atchison opened St. Benedict’s College in 1858, while the Benedictine Sisters established Mount St. Scholastica College in 1924.
“We believe that God continues to call our community to educate; to provide spiritual enrichment; and to serve the poor and advocate for them, especially women. Today that call is being manifested through our growing ministries at Keeler Women’s Center and Sophia Spirituality Center. It is also lived out through our care for the sick and elderly in our community and our care for creation,” the statement said.
“We are proud to call ourselves
Dolores and Paul Miller, members of Immaculate Conception Parish, Valley Falls, celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary on Jan. 9. The couple was married on Jan. 9, 1956, at St. Columbkille Church, Blaine. Their children are: Mike (deceased), Tim, Mark, Ted, Laurie, Linda, and James. They also have 20 grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren.
Jerry and Marilyn Hund, members of Sacred Heart Church, Paxico, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on Feb. 14. The couple was married on Feb. 14, 1976, at Sacred Heart. Their children are: Angie Hickel and Nathaniel Hund, both of Manhattan. They have six grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
co-founders of Benedictine College, and we will continue to pray for its continued success. Although we are withdrawing from the governing responsibilities related to sponsorship, we will continue to support the college with hospitality at our monastery, collaboration in various college-related programs and activities, and in further developing relationships with students, faculty and staff. We continue to hold our alumni in our hearts and in our prayer as we listen to God’s call.”
Benedictine College and the monks of St. Benedict’s Abbey also released a statement on Jan. 23 thanking the Sisters for their years of sponsorship of the college and acknowledging their role in its success.
“It is with heavy hearts but with grateful understanding, that we accept the decision of the Sisters of Mount St. Scholastica Monastery to withdraw from the governing responsibilities related to sponsorship of Benedictine College,” the statement said.
“It is impossible to summarize a relationship that has been so rich and multi-dimensional, but the successes of Benedictine College would be unthinkable without the Mount. While the formal, juridical connection between us will end, our close relationship and our friendship in Christ will not.”
Irene (Olberding) and Melvin Heinen, members of St. Bede Parish, Kelly, will celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary with a Mass and family dinner at a later date. The couple was married on Feb. 8, 1956, at Sts. Peter and Paul Church, Seneca. Their children are: Kent, Craig, Wendi and Daron. They also have 12 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.
ANNIVERSARY SUBMISSIONS INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:
• The couple’s names
• their parish
• the date they were married
• church and city where they were married
• what they are doing to celebrate
• date of the celebration
• names of children (no spouses)
• number of grandchildren and great-grandchildren; WHERE TO SUBMIT:
Email: todd.habiger@theleaven.org.
ARCHBISHOP MCKNIGHT
Feb. 5 - 7
Installation Ceremonies of Most Reverend Ron Hicks as Archbishop of New York — New York City
Feb. 8
Installation Mass of Father John Riley — Curé of Ars Parish, Leawood
Recently ordained priests Super Bowl gathering — Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church, Shawnee
Feb. 10
Priest Personnel board meeting — chancery
Annual high school presidents and principals Mass and dinner — Savior Pastoral Center
Feb. 11
Mass — Hayden High School, Topeka
Feb. 12
Holy Trinity Women’s Bible Study — Father Quigley Faith Formation Center, Lenexa
Guadalupe Clinic fundraiser — Wichita Country Club
Feb. 14
Rethinking Justice Workshop — Savior Pastoral Center
Feb. 15
Confirmation — Holy Name of Jesus, Kansas City, Kansas
Feb. 17
Josephinum Board of Trustees Meeting — Pontifical College Josephinum, Columbus, Ohio
ARCHBISHOP EMERITUS NAUMANN
Feb. 7
Reflection — Two Lines Pregnancy Center, Overland Park
Feb. 10
Adoration — Bishop Miege High School, Roeland Park
Feb. 11
White Mass — Our Lady of Good Counsel, Kansas City, Missouri
LIFE IS ON THE MARCH
Youth brave cold in support of life
By Kathryn White Special to The Leaven
WASHINGTON, D.C.
— Despite the threat of plummeting temperatures across the United States,
230 men, women, priests and student groups from the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas joined the tens of thousands of pilgrims in the nation’s capital to peacefully stand for life at the 53rd annual national March for Life on Jan. 23.
Benedictine College in Atchison, Bishop Miege High School in Roeland Park, St. James Academy in Lenexa and St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Overland Park all sent student groups to the D.C. march. One group left after the opening rally but before the actual march, while the other groups departed immediately after the march or the following afternoon in order to beat the impending storm.
The theme for this year’s march invited participants to explore the goodness, beauty and joy of what life brings, through the theme, “Life is a Gift.”
Along with over 150 priests and bishops from across the United States, Archbishop Emeritus Joseph F. Naumann concelebrated the National Vigil Mass on Jan. 22 at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Archbishop Naumann also presided over the morning Mass for Kansans before the March for Life activities began. He believes this was approximately his 40th national March for Life and said this year’s mission was
simple: to change the culture.
“It’s beautiful seeing so many young people here [at the march],” he said. “They give me great confidence and hope for the future.”
Vice President JD Vance spoke during the opening rally, praising participants for being “joyful in your advocacy.” Both he and Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, and other leaders spoke about the inalienable rights of Americans.
“It helps us here in Kansas to know we are not alone in our fight to protect children and expectant women from the harms of abortion and to not get discouraged by what we’re seeing in our state,” said Debra Niesen, consultant for pro-life ministries.
Other presenters during the rally included a choir from Friends of Club 21, which was composed of individuals with Down syndrome who led the National Anthem, Sanctus Real, a Christian rock band, Elizabeth Pillsbury Oliver, president of Georgetown University’s Right to Life, among others.
Aquinas sophomore Lucy Chik, from Holy Spirit Parish in Overland Park, attended the national March for Life for the second time.
“It is not only important but necessary for high school and college students to go to the March for Life because we are the future of this nation and the choices we make now directly impact our lives in the future,” Chik said. “If young people share their witness and demonstrate their values and faith, many others will start to recognize the importance of this issue.”
group of marchers from Bishop Miege High School in Roeland Park stopped
of the Cannon House of Representatives building to meet with Archbishop
Bishop Miege has been taking students to the national March for Life for over 15 years. This year, they took 40 students and four adult chaperones on the trip. Henry Brown, a senior from St. Elizabeth Parish, Kansas City, Missouri, attended the march for the third time. “I attend the march because I think that every child has the right to live and to find success and love in this world,” said Brown. “Abortion takes away that little baby’s ability to love and to show love to others, and to live out God’s love.”
LEAVEN PHOTO BY KATHRYN WHITE
The
on the steps
Emeritus Naumann.
LEAVEN PHOTO BY KATHRYN WHITE
Jamey Roth, Supreme Director for the Knights of Columbus Board of Directors, completed the March alongside Archbishop Emeritus Joseph F. Naumann. Roth has served as an officer as a Kansas Knight and worked closely with all the bishops in the state.
LEAVEN PHOTO BY KATHRYN WHITE
From left, Debra Niesen, pro-life consultant for the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, her administrative assistant Melissa Joerger, and Emily Lopez, director of City on a Hill, jumped ahead of the tens of thousands of marchers to grab a quick photo in front of the official March for Life banner. Standing up for life during our nation’s 250th birthday was especially important for Lopez. “Our family marches in thanksgiving for our lives and the lives of those that have boldly stood in faith before us,” she said. “We march in the hope that God’s grace wins and the knowledge that our steps will be counted in the pursuit of goodness in our world.”
Archbishop calls for transformation of leaders’ hearts, minds
>> Continued from page 1
gynecology and infertility, spoke about how she believes God’s plan for her life includes bringing hope and healing through the Abortion Pill Reversal Network.
She first encountered the organization while attending a medical conference in Boston.
“I had no idea it was going to lead me to the most meaningful healthcare I could provide for women in crisis,” Pritchett said.
When someone at the informational booth asked if she would be interested in serving as a network provider, she found herself writing down her contact information.
Although the work can be emotionally challenging, Pritchett said, she feels blessed to walk alongside women during moments of fear and uncertainty.
“It’s such a joy to share ultrasound images of a healthy baby growing inside the woman’s womb as she’s undergoing the reversal protocol,” she said. “It’s an even greater joy to receive birth announcements and newborn photos afterward.”
“The ultimate joy,” she added, “is knowing she doesn’t have to endure the shame of being partly responsible for her baby’s death.”
Serving as the keynote speaker via video due to winter weather, David Bereit, founder of 40 Days for Life, addressed the growing abortion numbers in Kansas.
Before the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in the Dobbs v. Jackson decision, Bereit said Kansas averaged about 7,000 abortions annually. That number has nearly tripled, with close to 20,000 abortions performed in Kansas in 2024, making the state a destination for abortion.
“This doesn’t just affect Kansas,” Bereit said. “Decisions made here affect lives all across the region.”
He noted that most Kansans oppose late-term abortion, support parental involvement and want women to be supported rather than pressured toward abortion. Bereit also shared the beginnings of 40 Days for Life, which grew from a single conversation with a friend who had been saved from abortion. Since its first campaign in Bryan, Texas, the movement has expanded to more than 1,000 cities in over 60 countries, saving more than 26,000 babies, helping close more than 180 abortion facilities and
leading nearly 300 abortion workers to leave the industry.
“It’s not an accident that you are here today at IGNITE for Life,” Bereit told attendees. “Each and every one of you has a role to play.”
Following Bereit’s remarks, Archbishop Shawn McKnight celebrated Mass, assisted by Archbishop Emeritus Joseph F. Naumann, Bishop Carl Kemme of Wichita, Bishop Gerald Vincke of Salina and Bishop John Brungardt of Dodge City. Bishop Vincke served as the homilist.
After Mass, participants marched to the Kansas State Capitol for a rally sponsored by Kansans for Life. Archbishop McKnight offered the closing prayer, asking God to “transform the hearts and minds of all elected leaders” and to strengthen those gathered.
“May we never tire of our mission to stand up for those who have no voice of their own,” he prayed, “and may we remain united in choosing life and rejecting death, so that we may enjoy the abundant blessing of life with you forever.”
Youth rallies planned for three locations in February
By John Sorce john.sorce@theleaven.org
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — The archdiocese has decided to take a different approach to what has long been known as the Junior High Youth Rally this year.
Instead of one event held at Prairie Star Ranch in Williamsburg, the Encounter Youth Rally, as it will be known this year, will take place at three separate archdiocesan locations over three days in February.
“We’re trying to do some new branding, and we chose ‘encounter’ because that’s what we’re trying to do,” said Kyle Kuckelman, youth ministry consultant for the archdiocese. “We want these kids to have an encounter with Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.
“Not everybody is able to get to [Camp Tekakwitha] easily, so we pivoted and our goal this year was to make the event accessible to more people.”
The rally will offer sessions this year in Emporia, Shawnee and Topeka.
“Our thought this year was maybe we don’t have as big of an event, but we have smaller events more often and that are across the region,” Kuckelman said.
“I’d rather do what we can really well. And that’s to be more regional, local,
COURTESY PHOTO
The Encounter Youth Rally, as it will be known this year, will take place at three separate archdiocesan locations over three days in February. All three sessions will feature Oscar Rivera, above, as the keynote speaker.
affordable and accessible,” he added.
The first session will be held at the Didde Center on Emporia State University’s campus on Feb. 20 from 6 – 8:30 p.m. The evening event will feature dinner, a talk and adoration/worship.
There is no cost for this session.
The next day’s event will be held at
Good Shepherd Church in Shawnee on Feb. 21. It will be held from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. and include talks, breakout sessions, lunch and adoration.
Cost for this session is $15 per person for members of the archdiocese and $25 for those outside the archdiocese.
The final event of the weekend will
be on Feb. 22 at Hayden High School in Topeka. This all-day session from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. will feature Mass with Archbishop Shawn McKnight, talks, breakout sessions, lunch and adoration.
Cost for this session is $30 per person for archdiocesan parishioners and $40 for those outside the archdiocese.
“The conferences are going to be about the Holy Spirit and how to move in the Spirit,” Kuckelman said.
All three sessions will feature Oscar Rivera as the keynote speaker. Rivera, who is also known as Two Ten, is internationally known and is also bilingual, which enables the rally to connect with the Spanish-speaking community.
People can learn more about Rivera by visiting his website: https://www.oscartwoten.com/index.html.
The event is open for sixth graders through high school aged kids and registration is encouraged as a group, either through a church or with a parent. Chaperones will not be provided.
“We’re really looking forward to it,” Kuckelman said. “We think it’s going to be a great event and are excited for these young people to experience the church in a new and profound way.”
Register through Feb. 15 at: archkck. org/encounter-youth-events-2026/.
LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER
Archbishop Shawn McKnight offers the closing prayer on the steps of the Kansas State Capitol in Topeka following the Kansas March for Life, asking God to “transform the hearts and minds of all elected leaders” and to strengthen those gathered.
Good Shepherd celebrates 50th blood drive
By Jill Ragar Esfeld jill.esfeld@theleaven.org
SHAWNEE – At the anniversary of their 50th blood drive on Jan. 19, Good Shepherd parishioners here set a goal of registering 50 new donors.
It was a lofty objective, but hardly one to outshine what they had already accomplished.
“The vast majority of our accounts are younger than 20 years,” said Patrick Wisely, Community Blood Center Account Manager for North Johnson County.
Save three lives
When you give a pint of blood, you’re actually giving three different people the chance to benefit from your donation. The whole blood is separated into three different components: red blood cells, platelets and plasma. All three offer different benefits and treat different conditions.
“Fifty years is quite a feat.
“And it’s 50 years without missing a single year. So even through the pandemic, Good Shepherd gave.
“That’s very impressive!”
Good Shepherd parishioner Irma Royal organized the first blood drive in November 1976.
“Irma was a nurse,” said Jack Carson, who coordinates the blood drives with fellow parishioner Susan Currie. “She was the quintessential leader of outreach in our new parish.”
Irma died in 2019 but her legacy continues.
“Ninety-five percent of blood donated through the Community Blood Center stays local,” said Wisely. “So, it’s likely the pint you give is quite literally going to a neighbor within the 70 or so hospitals in the KC metro.
Despite all the technology and medical advancements today, there is no alternative way to get hospitals supplied with blood except through generous individuals taking a few moments to donate.
“It is an answer to a need that only the community can give,” said Wisely. “In faith, you’re answering a call to help where our community doesn’t have other resources.
“Faith-based organizations are really top-notch at having the most generous and compassionate donors.”
But even faith-based communities are falling short in recruiting new, younger donors. And that’s becoming a concern for the future.
“We are seeing a slow, but very steady, decline in donors because of the age-out process,” said Wisely. “So, what we are seeing is a lack of youth donors replacing the older donors who can no longer give because of health reasons.
“Young people need to step up and continue the privilege of donating.”
In response to this concern, the parish reached out to Good Shepherd School parents to join the 50th anniversary celebration by becoming regular donors.
“Annie Lehwald, a PTO member who has three, soon to be four, children at the school, got busy posting on Facebook and sending text chains to encourage school families to participate.
“I tried to get folks who had done it in high school and maybe didn’t have a good experience to try again,” she said. “You’re probably heavier, your body is different.”
How-to have the best experience when you donate
• Drink plenty of fluids the day before and the day of donation.
• Eat a good hearty protein and iron-rich meal the day before and eat a good breakfast the morning of the donation.
• If you’re a little squeamish or worried about donating, know that’s very common. The Community Blood Center has great phlebotomists and donor care technicians that are fantastic at monitoring you and making you feel safe and secure.
Lehwald also set up tables with coloring books and markers because the drive took place on a school holiday and she wanted parents to feel comfortable bringing their children.
“I take my kids with me,” she said. “We talk about why we are doing this and why it’s so selfless.
“This is part of our Catholic faith. It’s a corporal work of mercy.”
Lehwald has a personal reason for supporting the drive.
“My nephew was born with multiple congenital heart defects and so he had two open heart surgeries by the time he
was three,” she said. “And he just needed so much blood.
“Once you know someone, then it’s like, that momentary discomfort of giving is worth it.”
Wisely finds that many of his most prominent drives are led by people who have been personally impacted by a blood donation.
“That tends to be a heavy motivator,” he said. “It’s that personal impact. When you see the need in real life, you understand.”
Good Shepherd parishioners understand they have been the hands and feet
Blood banks offer short-term savings
It’s called a blood bank, but there’s not much of a banking aspect to blood because it’s got a pretty short shelf life — less than 50 days. Even if there is a month with a lot of donations and adequate supply for hospitals, the very next month there is a need.
Benefits of donating
• Improved cardiovascular health: Regular donation supports your heart and vascular system, reducing blood viscosity and potentially lowering the risk of arterial blockages, heart attacks, and strokes.
• Lowered cancer risk: By reducing excess iron stores in the body, particularly in the liver, lungs, colon, and esophagus, regular donation may be associated with a lower risk of certain types of cancer.
• Burn calories: Your body burns approximately 650 calories as it works to replenish the pint of blood you donated, offering a minor metabolic boost.
• Decrease forever chemicals: PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are nicknamed “forever chemicals” for their ubiquity, persistence and toxicity. Now scientists have found a way to remove PFAS from the human body: by donating blood. Because PFAS bind to serum proteins in the blood, reducing the amount of that blood component can, over time, reduce the levels of PFAS.
of Christ working to save lives for 50 years.
“It takes time,” said Lehwald of the donating experience. “It’s a little uncomfortable, but if you can get through it, then it’s a huge benefit.
“You have to take what you’ve been given and give to other people.”
LEAVEN PHOTO BY JILL RAGAR ESFELD
Susan Currie (left) and Jack Carson (right), coordinators of the Good Shepherd Blood Drive, pose with Barb and Bob Smith who participated in the parish’s very first blood drive 50 years ago.
LEAVEN PHOTO BY JILL RAGAR ESFELD
Phlebotomists with the Community Blood Center of Kansas City prep Good Shepherd Deacon Marcos Navarro for his blood donation.
By Susan Hines-Brigger Special to The Leaven
Last month, before the wise men had even made their way to visit the baby Jesus, I walked into a store and was immediately greeted by a vast array of Valentine’s Day decorations and treats. There were cards, candy, and shirts with glittery hearts on them that you could give to anyone in your life. I looked around a bit but quickly moved on. That’s because none of the items seemed to get at the heart of what I felt this celebration should be about.
The history of Valentine’s Day itself is rather murky. The date of Feb. 14 came from the Middle Ages when Europeans believed that birds chose their mates in the middle of February.
And the identity of St. Valentine himself is not clear. Different accounts say he could have been a priest in the Roman Empire who helped persecuted Christians during the reign of Claudius II, and was thrown in jail and later beheaded on Feb. 14.
Or he might have been a Catholic bishop of Terni who was also beheaded during the reign of Claudius II.
Or perhaps he was someone who secretly married couples when marriage was forbidden, or suffered in Africa, or wrote
Love beyond Valentine’s Day
letters to his jailer’s daughter, and was probably beheaded. No matter what the correct answer is, in 1969, the Catholic Church dropped St. Valentine’s Day from the Roman calendar of official, worldwide Catholic feasts.
But whatever the history — accurate or not — Valentine’s Day has continued to grow into a billion-dollar business. I’ve bought and made my fair share of snacks, decorations, clothes, and crafts. I know what my kids’ favorite candies are. I could easily pick them up and call it a successful Valentine’s Day. And when they were little I would always make them heartshaped pancakes or cookies.
But something always felt off about those things, though. Sure, they were nice gestures and I enjoyed doing them. So why did I feel like they had to happen on that particular day in the middle of February?
One particular Valentine’s Day not too long ago, I found myself thinking about when my daughter Riley was younger. One of her favorite books for us to read together was “Guess How Much I Love You” by Sam McBratney. In the story, the Little Nutbrown Hare and his dad, Big Nutbrown Hare, challenge each other to see how much more one loves the other.
After reading it, Riley and I would go back and forth about how much we loved each other. She would quote the book, saying she loved me “up to the moon and back.” And I would counter with any tall or far away places I could think of. Then one night she stumped me. “I love you up to God and back,” she said. Checkmate.
As she grew and became a teenager, such heartfelt interactions disappeared. Hugs were few and far between and words of affection fell silent. I missed our sparring over who loved who the most. So that year,
on Valentine’s Day, I left a small red construction paper heart on her pillow. On it was a note telling her something I loved about her and a small reminder of how far I loved her.
After that first note, I started just randomly leaving little heart shaped messages for her. Sometimes I would share a quote that seemed to capture what I wanted to say. Other times I even turned to Bible passages, such as “Be on your guard, stand firm in the faith, be courageous, be strong. Your every act should be done with love” (1
Cor 13-14). I have no idea what happened to those notes. Maybe she kept them or maybe she threw them away. But the simple act of giving them to her was filling my heart and soul.
The next Valentine’s Day, I decided that each of my kids — and my husband — needed the same attention I had been giving to Riley. And so, on a small red construction paper heart, I told each of them something I loved about him or her.
For one of my daughters, it was how I loved the way she always spoke up in defense of fellow classmates who
were being excluded. For my son, it was how he always made me laugh — even on rough days.
And it continued, well past Valentine’s Day. Because I want them to always know that “like the moon,“ my love “will stand eternal, forever firm like the sky” (Ps 89:38).
Susan Hines-Brigger is a freelance writer from Cincinnati, Ohio. She is a mother of four and grandmother of one. During her 32 years with St. Anthony Messenger magazine, she wrote hundreds of articles and columns about the Catholic faith.
Pope hopes Olympics can unite
By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News
MILAN (OSV News)
— In a message to the Archdiocese of Milan, Pope Leo XIV expressed his hope that the 2026 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games will be an occasion of solidarity and bridgebuilding between peoples and cultures.
The papal message was read during a Jan. 29 Mass marking the arrival of the “Cross of Athletes” and the official launch of the archdiocese’s Olympic pastoral initiative, “For Each Other.”
In his message, which was signed on his behalf by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, the pope said he hoped the Olympic Games would bring about “sentiments of friendship and fraternity, strengthening awareness of the value of sport at the service of the integral development of the human person.”
“The Holy Father assures his prayers so that these days of healthy competition may contribute to building bridges between cultures and peoples, promoting hospitality, solidarity, and peace,” the message stated.
The “For Each Other” initiative, which will coincide with the Feb. 6-22 Winter Olympics and the March 6-15 Paralympics, will feature activities, performances and events hosted in parishes across Milan.
At the heart of the activities will be the 11th-century Basilica di San Babila, dedicated to St. Babylas of Antioch, where the opening Mass was celebrated and which will be known as the “Church of Athletes” throughout the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
During the Mass, the “Cross of
Skiing came to Central Europe thanks to an adventurous priest
By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service
ROME (CNS) — Thanks to a 17th-century Italian priest, skis made their way from their origin in Scandinavia to Central Europe.
Father Francesco Negri, born in Ravenna, Italy, in 1623, was a natural history and geography buff and longed to discover the secrets of the North.
According to an article first published by the Italian Catholic newspaper Avvenire in 2006, Father Negri is thought to be the first tourist to travel to Norway’s North Cape and the first Central European to don a pair of skis and spread this sleek, winter transport technology to Italy, host country to the Olympic Winter Games in MilanoCortina Feb. 6-22.
Athletes” was entrusted to the archdiocese by Athletica Vaticana, the Holy See’s sports association. Blessed by Pope Francis at the 2013 World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro, the cross has been placed in chapels in the Olympic host cities of London in 2012 and Paris in 2024.
According to the Archdiocese of Milan, the cross, which will remain at the altar in the Basilica di San Babila until the end of the Paralympics, “symbolizes the close bond between sporting activities and the values of solidarity, inclusion, and personal growth.”
In his homily, Archbishop Mario Delpini of Milan said the Olympic and Paralympic Games could serve as a form of rigorous spiritual education, describing the athletic competitions as a “school of asceticism” and a “school of life” where one learns how to handle both victory and defeat.
For Olympians and Paralympians, the games will be a chance to learn “what strength is needed to accept defeat without becoming depressed, to live victory without becoming arrogant, to live through the disordered reactions of others, the unexpected anger, the irritating stubbornness, the paralyzing discouragement.”
Reflecting on the presence of the “Cross of Athletes,” which features a void silhouette of Christ’s crucified body, Archbishop Delpini said the cross offered “more of a glimpse than a figure” of the body of Christ that “encourages our questions, our gaze, and our attention.”
“If you want to know what love is, if you want to know if there is hope,” the archbishop said, “look to Jesus, adore the crucified and risen body, listen to his words and follow him, for he is the way, the truth, and the life.”
During the Italian priest’s 1663-66 voyage to the snow-covered lands of Sweden and Norway, he met with and wrote extensively about the Scandinavian peoples, according to the article.
In his book, “Viaggio Settentrionale,” he marveled at how the native hunters darted toward their reindeer prey using “two thin boards no wider than the foot, but 8 to 9 palms long, with the tip turned up a bit so as not to dig in the snow.”
He also made drawings and described how the skier used sticks that had a round piece of wood driven into one end, so the poles would not perforate the snow.
Not the passive observer, Father Negri also strapped the unfamiliar “skie” to his feet and experimented.
Over the years, the pastime grew in popularity, becoming a more common hobby in middle-class society. Among the many Central Europeans who became avid skiers was St. John Paul II. Born in Poland in 1920, he loved the outdoors and would still go swimming, skiing and mountain climbing while he was bishop and cardinal of Krakow, Poland.
OSV NEWS PHOTO/ARCHDIOCESE OF MILAN
Altar servers process into the Basilica of San Babila in Milan at a Mass marking the arrival of the “Cross of Athletes” Jan. 29. The cross was entrusted to the Archdiocese of Milan by Athletica Vaticana, the Holy See’s sports association, ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo.
Make a prayerful entry into Lent
By Effie Caldarola Catholic News Service
Among the many cards I received this past Christmas season, I opened one from a group of German Benedictines and it graced me with the following quote: “Prayer does not replace any deed. But it is a deed that cannot be replaced by anything.”
The author of that quote was Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German Lutheran pastor who was a leader within the segment of his church that opposed Adolf Hitler. Bonhoeffer also was a theologian, a scholar, a wonderful spiritual writer.
Even though he had an opportunity to leave Germany while it was under Hitler’s Nazi regime, Bonhoeffer remained in the country. And like so many great Jewish, Protestant and Catholic religious leaders who stood up to Hitler, he paid dearly for his courage.
Even as Allied bombs could be heard approaching the city of Berlin, Bonhoeffer stayed. He was executed by the Nazis, leaving behind a grieving family and his young fiancee.
About once a year, I try to write about prayer. It certainly isn’t because I am an expert in the field. It’s more because I need to remind myself of the central role that prayer should play in my life. As Bonhoeffer’s words remind me, it is a deed that cannot be replaced by anything else.
The Lenten season is a perfect time to return or to enter more deeply into this essential part of our spiritual
nourishment.
But prayer isn’t easy. It isn’t even easily defined. It is an opening to God, a “doorway into thanks,” as the poet Mary Oliver says, “a silence in which another voice may speak.”
Although prayer seems to bring us to another realm, it’s rooted in our practical lives. First, spiritual writers tell us that we must choose a specific time and
place for prayer and stick with it.
For many years, and even occasionally today, I postpone prayer with the vague promise to “do it later.” The day passes, and I find myself neglecting something that would have guided and enriched my day.
For me, first thing in the morning is a good time for prayer. I also need a special place. For over 30 years, and in
two different homes, for me it’s been the dining room table. I’ve tried other spots, places that seemed more intrinsically “mine,” my office or bedroom, but I’m always drawn back to the spot by the window, with my candle and journal. So the first thing to do is to choose your best time and space and make a commitment. Sometimes, prayer can seem dry and frustrating, almost fruitless. This is when I’m glad I’ve made the decision to stay in my chair. Eventually, I see the fruit of this commitment, and even on the days when I seem to fight a losing battle with my wandering thoughts, I at least know I’ve made the effort and God will do the rest.
A spiritual director once told me to pray with the day’s scriptural readings. They are read by the universal church, she said, and within them I would find the jewel that would inspire my prayer. Having a spiritual director to guide you in prayer can be very helpful.
There are many good publications that provide guidance and inspiration for prayer. Sometimes I read a short piece as I begin my prayer time. But I remember that this is meant to lead me into prayer. It doesn’t replace prayer.
When I see the world’s woes, I often think how better life would be if people really knew how to pray. When Bonhoeffer said prayer does not replace any deed, I think he was telling us that we still need to do good works, to fight for justice, to live our lives fully.
But how much better would our deeds and our lives be if we listened to the God who inspires our action?
LEAVEN PHOTO BY KATHRYN WHITE Catholics are called on to reinvigorate their lives of prayer during the season of Lent. This year, Lent starts early, with Ash Wednesday falling on Feb. 18.
LEAVEN PHOTO BY KATHRYN WHITE
Prayer isn’t easy. It isn’t even easily defined. It is an opening to God, a “doorway into thanks,” as the poet Mary Oliver says, “a silence in which another voice may speak.”
Prayer is what helps us refocus, recommit
By Marge Fenelon Catholic News Service
How can we make Lent a more spiritually fulfilling time instead of just a time for us to give things up or fast on Ash Wednesday and Fridays? We can begin by looking at Jesus’ example. While it is common to attempt to give up things like coffee or chocolate during Lent, letting go of those things won’t necessarily help us mentally or spiritually.
Food for thought
In November 2013, Pope Francis faced one of his usual large crowds gathered to listen to his Angelus message in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican. Volunteers handed out small boxes with what the pontiff called “medicine” for the heart. Inside, the boxes contained a rosary, and the “spiritual medicine” Pope Francis referred to was prayer.
Besides helping us in our personal struggles, prayer can also help our brothers and sisters who suffer, the pope said in his Lenten message for 2015.
“The prayers of the church on earth establish a communion of mutual service and goodness that reaches up into the sight of God,” the pope said.
Some Spanishlanguage media have highlighted the “five finger prayer” they said Pope Francis touted while archbishop of Buenos Aires:
The first finger (or thumb) should remind us to pray for those closest to us, the index finger should remind us to pray for those who teach us, while the third and tallest is to remind us to pray for our leaders. The fourth and weakest finger should remind us to pray for the weakest among us. The last finger, the smallest, is to remind us to pray for ourselves — after we’ve prayed for everyone else.
To begin, we may want to step back from the business of our lives, escape the crowds, so to speak, and spend time alone with the heavenly Father. That’s what Jesus did during the most important (and actionpacked) moments of his life.
After miraculously feeding 5,000 people with the five loaves and two fish, he went to pray: “Then he made the disciples get into the boat and precede him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. After doing so, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When it was evening he was there alone” (Mt 14:22-23).
Before he chose his first apostles, “he departed to the mountain to pray, and he spent the night in prayer to God” (Lk 6:12). At the conclusion of an exceptionally active period of ministry, Jesus took his apostles with him to a solitary place to regroup and rejuvenate (Mk 6:3032). Jesus also sought respite when he felt himself wearing thin from the demands placed upon him. In one instance he sought refuge in a house where he’d hoped to remain undiscovered, at least for a while (Mk 7:24).
In all of these situations, Jesus exemplifies the need to recess, reassess, replenish and refocus.
We each have a God-willed mission, and Jesus has shown us how to prepare and strengthen ourselves to fulfill it. Perhaps you remember that the 40 days of Lent are an imitation of the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert before beginning his public ministry.
In the same way our Lord preceded an important milestone by spending 40 days in the desert, praying and preparing, we can find ways to do something
similar, even in a world that’s constantly seeking every second of our attention. Stop to consider: What could you be missing if you’re constantly giving in to all the things that demand your attention? How can prayer help you meet the most pressing of demands?
You may feel overwhelmed with the demands of daily life, but consider that Christ found strength in prayer. From
the time he left the desert until his death, he devoted every bit of strength to ministering to others. He would preach, heal and guide the people. Crowds would close in on him, demons would confront him and Pharisees would accuse him. His life was no longer his own but rather the life that the heavenly father required of him. He would have to be ready for the mission he’d been given.
LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER
Catholics are urged during the season of Lent to make prayer an essential part of their spiritual nourishment. Lent starts on Feb. 18 this year.
Pope praises religious for courageous witness serving the marginalized
By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Leo XIV praised consecrated men and women for going to the world’s peripheries and refusing to abandon their people, even amid conflict.
“They remain, often stripped of all security, as a living reminder — more eloquent than words — of the inviolable sacredness of life in its most vulnerable conditions,” he said Feb. 2 in his homily for Candlemas — the feast of the Presentation of the Lord — which also marks the Catholic Church’s celebration of World Day for Consecrated Life.
“Even where weapons roar and arrogance, self-interest and violence seem to prevail,” he said, the presence of these consecrated men and women “proclaims the words of Jesus” in his parable of the lost sheep: “See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for . . . their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father.”
The pope’s Mass began with the pope blessing with holy water the candles used for the entrance procession. Dozens of consecrated men and women led the candlelit procession while the lights in St. Peter’s Basilica remained dimmed, and thousands of people who filled the basilica held lit candles as well.
After the darkened basilica was filled with light, Pope Leo, who joined the Order of St. Augustine as a young man and served as a missionary in Peru for decades, reflected on the mission of religious men and women in the church and in the world.
“Dear brothers and sisters, the church asks you to be prophets — messengers who announce the presence of the Lord and prepare the way for him,” he said in his homily. “You are called to this mission above all through the sacrificial offering of your lives, rooted in prayer and in a readiness to be consumed by charity,” he said.
Docile to the action of the Holy Spirit, the founders and foundresses of their religious orders and communities offer “wonderful models of how to fulfil this mandate faithfully
and effectively,” he said.
“Living in constant tension between earth and heaven, they allowed themselves to be guided with faith and courage,” he said. Some founders “were led to the silence of the cloister, others to the demands of the apostolate,” but all of them returned “humbly and wisely, to the foot of the cross and to the tabernacle, where they offered everything and discovered in God both the source and the goal of all their actions.”
Pope Leo highlighted those founders who “embarked on perilous undertakings.”
“They became a prayerful presence in hostile or indifferent environments; a generous hand and a friendly shoulder amid degradation and abandonment; and witnesses of peace and reconciliation in situations marked by violence and hatred,” he said. “They were ready to bear the consequences of
going against the current, becoming, in Christ, a ‘sign of contradiction,’ sometimes even to the point of martyrdom.”
One way to honor these brothers and sisters, he said, is “by carrying forward their legacy.”
“You are called to bear witness to God’s saving presence in history for all peoples, even within a society in which false and reductive understandings of the human person increasingly widen the gap between faith and life,” he said.
“You are called to testify that the young, the elderly, the poor, the sick and the imprisoned hold a sacred place above all else on God’s altar and in his heart,” he said, and to show how each of the least is “an inviolable sanctuary of God’s presence, before whom we must bend our knee, in order to encounter him, adore him and give him glory.”
Many religious communities have established “outposts of the Gospel. . . in
a wide variety of challenging contexts, even in the midst of conflict,” he said. “These communities do not abandon their people, nor do they flee” as they seek to uphold the sacredness of human life in its most vulnerable conditions.
“Consecrated life, in its serene detachment from all that is passing, reveals the inseparable bond between authentic care for earthly realities and a hope filled with love for what is eternal” and gives meaning to everything else, he said.
Through their promise to follow Christ more closely by professing the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity and obedience, consecrated men and women “empty” themselves so that Christ, “the one eternal messenger of the covenant who remains present among humanity today, can melt and purify hearts with his love, grace and mercy,” Pope Leo said.
OSV NEWS PHOTO/SIMONE RISOLUTI, VATICAN MEDIA
Pope Leo XIV receives the gifts from women religious as he celebrates Mass marking the feast of the Presentation of the Lord in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican Feb. 2. The Mass also marked the Vatican celebration of the World Day for Consecrated Life.
Olympic-bound hockey player draws strength from her faith
By Lauretta Brown OSV News
ST. PAUL, Minn. (OSV News) — Britta Curl-Salemme’s love for skating and ice hockey began very early in her life. She remembers skating with her three siblings since “basically the time we could walk” after her dad built an ice rink in their backyard in Bismarck, North Dakota.
She told OSV News that she started dreaming of going to the Olympics when she was about 10 years old.
“As a girl, you had the NHL, which was all guys, but the thing you could see women doing was the Olympics,” she recalled. “I really looked up to the women’s Olympic players.” She would draw Olympic rings in her notebooks in grade school hoping to go one day.
Along with her passion for hockey and Olympic dreams, she was also learning about her Catholic faith, which she credits her mom for making “a huge part of our family’s life.”
“My parents always made sure that we went to Mass every Sunday,” she said, “even when the four of us kids had travel for tournaments or were playing different sports, we didn’t miss a Sunday Mass.”
She said that consistency from her parents helped keep her faith strong along with their choice to put her and her siblings in the Catholic school system in the area. She is a graduate of St. Mary’s Central High School in Bismarck.
During her college years at the University of Wisconsin, she also benefited from a supportive community at the St. Paul’s Catholic Student Center and feels “very lucky” to have had the support of these strong faith communities over the years.
Now she is realizing her Olympic dream and will be heading to Milan, Italy, to compete on the U.S. women’s ice hockey team in her first Olympic games.
She said her faith has given her strength in her journey to the Olympics. “I think my life would be pretty chaotic and stressful if I didn’t have something steady and consistent that I can go back to that I drew strength from, and that’s my Catholic faith,” she emphasized, “just the routine of in the morning I get up and the first thing that I’m doing is going to my Bible.”
Looking to role models in her faith, she was inspired by the example of her mom’s “quiet faith” that’s evident in “the way that she lives,” and the example of the saints, especially St. Thérèse of Lisieux who “reignited” her faith in college and “was the first saint that I really attached myself to.”
She read “I Believe in Love,” a personal retreat book based on the teachings of St. Thérèse the summer after she graduated from high school. She said the book, which was given to her by one of her high school teachers, “just blew my mind” and St. Thérèse’s “spirituality and the way that she thought about humility just totally opened my eyes to a new way of thinking and of praying.”
She hadn’t heard of the Little Flower’s other Olympic connection, but St. Thérèse may have a special affinity for Olympic skaters as Tara Lipinski, who won the 1998 Olympic gold medal in figure skating, also had a special devotion to St. Thérèse and credits the intercession of the saint in her victory.
In her travels as a player with the
Professional Women’s Hockey League, or PWHL, for the Minnesota Frost, Curl-Salemme features masstimes.org on her Instagram page and said going to Mass every Sunday has helped her keep a good perspective on things and see some “beautiful churches” on the road.
“Being able to relate the things that I’m learning and the things I’m going through with my faith,” she said, “that’s just been super important for me just to keep perspective and it’s a certain detachment from my sport. It’s been everything for me.”
That detachment came in handy when she faced a setback after initially being selected to play hockey in the 2022 Beijing Olympics.
She had taken the year off of college and moved to Minnesota to train and try out for the Olympics but was cut from the team toward the end of the selection process. She got a second chance as she was chosen for the team when another player was injured but was unable to go at the last minute after testing positive for COVID.
She said that time was a “roller coaster of emotions and adversity,” but she ultimately was “peaceful and grateful for the whole experience.”
“I look back and I think God was really trying to teach me detachment and just to trust him and realize that my happiness and my purpose and my worth comes from more than just hockey,” she reflected.
For her upcoming trip to the Olympics, Curl-Salemme is excited about the experience and is also looking forward to seeing the Catholic culture and history in Italy. Her family has planned a trip to Rome and are hoping to see Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope.
Among her teammates over the years, Curl-Salemme said she’s had fun interactions over the topic of faith and “people just enjoy asking me questions and talking about the faith.” She even has a couple of teammates who are Catholic and join her for Mass.
“That’s been really cool, just the way that God has given me this avenue to kind of go out and talk about my faith
or just even be an example,” she said. “I’m not one that really super outwardly needs to bring it up all the time or talk about it, but I think my teammates
see me going to Mass consistently and hopefully showing virtue and being a good teammate and I think that opens the door for a lot of conversations.”
OSV NEWS PHOTO/JAKUB KNAP, USA HOCKEY
U.S. Hockey player Britta Curl-Salemme is pictured in an April 25, 2025, photo. Curl-Salemme, a Catholic, will be part of the U.S. Women’s Hockey Team competing in the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy, which will take place Feb. 6-22.
EMPLOYMENT
Please note: The Leaven is no longer able to accept ad submissions over the phone. Please submit ads by email to: olivia.martin@theleaven.org.
Director of development - The Catholic Foundation of Northeast Kansas (CFNEK) is a 501(c)3 organization serving as the planned giving partner of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas. The foundation works with parishes, schools and ministries of the archdiocese to build long-term financial resources. CFNEK is seeking a mission-driven director of development who will guide a highperforming development team and walk alongside Catholic donors as they discern how their wealth can advance the church for generations. To apply, visit: archkck.org, scroll to the bottom, and click “Employment Opportunities.”
Math teacher - Bishop Miege High School is seeking a full-time math teacher for the 2026–2027 school year. The ideal candidate is a practicing Catholic with secondary teaching experience who is eager to join a collaborative department. Apply at: https://archkckcs.org/apply and email a resume and cover letter to Maureen Engen, principal, at: mengen@bishopmiege.com.
Part-time commercial cleaner - Now hiring! You will clean commercial offices. Evening work. Legends and Edwardsville area. (913) 414-7136 for info.
Catholic elementary school principal - Sacred Heart School in Emporia is seeking a dynamic and visionary leader with a passion for Catholic education. The principal will continue the school’s tradition of forming disciples, pursuing academic excellence and spiritual growth. The principal will lead by example and inspire a team of dedicated faculty and staff. Applicants must have or be eligible for Kansas licensure in educational leadership. Apply online at: archkckcs. org/apply. For more information, contact Vince Cascone at: vcascone@archkckcs.org.
Receptionist - Corpus Christi Church in Lawrence is seeking a full-time parish receptionist to serve as a welcoming presence for parishioners and visitors while providing administrative and clerical support to the pastor and parish staff. Responsibilities include front-office reception, scheduling, sacramental recordkeeping, financial processing and general office support. Applicants should have strong communication and organizational skills, basic computer proficiency and be a practicing Catholic in good standing with the church. For more information, please contact John Dahlstrand at: jdahlstrand@cccparish.org.
Executive director of communal life - The Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth seek an executive director of communal life to lead community life and support the well-being of Sisters across multiple residential settings. This role directs and oversees all functions, activities and staff involved in ongoing formation, communal well-being and individual health for Sisters living in neighborhood residences and on the main campus, including independent, assisted and skilled nursing care. Resume and cover letter required. Qualifications: Must be a member of the Roman Catholic Church in good standing. Bachelor’s degree or higher in social work, spirituality, theology or related field. Minimum five (5) years of experience in a faith-based setting. 1-3 years supervisory experience. Salary: $112,320 annually. Apply and view the full job ad at: https://www.scls.org/employees/.
Gift planning consultant - The Catholic Foundation of Northeast Kansas (CFNEK) is seeking to hire a gift planning consultant. This position will build and maintain relationships with pastors, individual donors and professional advisors, and encourage personal stewardship and general endowment funding through work with archdiocesan entities and leadership. The position is on-site, full-time, 40-hours per week and requires some evening and weekend hours. For more info or to apply, please visit: cfnek.org.
Director of operations - Sacred Heart Church and School in Shawnee are hiring a director of operations! Are you wired with strategic and systems-level thinking? Are you a mission-driven leader with strong communication and relationship-building skills? Do you enjoy financial management, risk management and managing operational health? If so, please apply at: www.shoj.org or contact Jennifer Peavler at: jennifer.peavler@shoj.org. Applications accepted until Feb. 28.
Administrative assistant - St. Agnes Church in Roeland Park seeks a Catholic in good standing with strong tech/communication skills and a welcoming heart. This year-round position offers full benefits and flexible scheduling to support a great work/ life balance around family and school schedules. To apply, visit: www.stagneskc.org or email: church@ stagneskc.org. Questions? Call (913) 262-2400.
Building attendant - The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas is the Catholic Church in northeast Kansas: growing as disciples of Jesus; making disciples for Jesus. The Savior Pastoral Center is seeking to hire a part-time, live-in building attendant. This position provides hospitality, security, maintenance and custodial services at the Savior Pastoral Center. This position will average 18-20 hours per week; includes a fully paid, spacious one-bedroom apartment; and requires the ability to work evenings, weekends as needed and every other Saturday at the front desk. For more details or to apply, please visit “Employment Opportunities” at: www.archkck.org.
School health room specialist - Sacred Heart School in Shawnee is hiring a school health room specialist! If you are a compassionate person who enjoys working with elementary students, with great organization and communication skills, please apply at: www.shoj. org or contact Jennifer Peavler at: jennifer.peavler@ shoj.org.
Director of faith formation and youth ministry - St. Francis de Sales Church in Lansing is looking for a director of faith formation and youth ministry. This is a full-time position (some evening and weekend work required). This position reports directly to the pastor. Must be a practicing Catholic in good standing with strong knowledge of Catholic doctrine. Must have excellent communication, organizational, leadership and record-keeping skills. The candidate will invite students and families into a personal encounter with Jesus Christ, a deeper understanding of the Catholic Church and her teachings and participation in the mystical body of Christ. Provide leadership, training and supervision of all aspects of catechesis for youth in grades kindergarten through 12. Develop and conduct the ministry of catechesis, which fosters and enhances spiritual growth and formation for parish youth and families. Attend archdiocesan meetings and formation opportunities. Support broader parish efforts through participation in the pastoral council and regular staff meetings. Job description provided to candidates. If interested, call the parish office at (913) 727-3742 or email resume to: faithformation@stfrancislansing.org.
Education manager - Full-time (32 hr/wk) Two Lines Pregnancy Clinic in Overland Park. At Two Lines Pregnancy Clinic, we believe in unexpected care — the kind that shows up with compassion, insight and love when someone needs it most. If you’re someone who thrives in a busy, meaningful environment — the kind of work that makes a tangible difference — this may be the opportunity you’ve been praying for. We’re looking for an education manager who brings structure to chaos, loves people and can lead a team with grace and confidence. In this role, you’ll be at the heart of our client’s education experience — supporting every woman and family in an environment rooted in excellence, dignity and care. You’ll work alongside our incredible education team to keep things running smoothly and compassionately. This is a boots-on-the-ground role: detailed, organized, relational and deeply connected to our mission. Your impact matters. Whether you’re guiding women and families through educational moments that bring clarity and reassurance or preparing volunteers and staff to support them with skill and compassion, you’ll be creating a holistic learning experience — one small moment at a time. Key responsibilities: Lead all our education staff and volunteers. Organize and cast vision for our education programs. Maintain a peaceful, professional and welcoming environment. Collaborate with team members to ensure seamless education services. Uphold the values and mission of Two Lines Pregnancy Clinic in every interaction. A bit about you: You’re a natural leader — organized, thoughtful, and steady under pressure. You love encouraging others and helping people grow into their strengths. You’re comfortable navigating both structure and flexibility, and you’re not afraid to make decisions when it counts. You’re a person of faith with a heart for ministry — someone who lives out their beliefs with humility, consistency, and compassion. You have 2+ years of management experience. To apply for this position, send resume and cover letter to: AndreaC@twolineskc.com.
Director of religious education/safe environment coordinator - Immaculate Conception Church, St. Marys, is seeking a DRE/SEC for our parish. This is a full-time position with salary and benefits (some evening and weekend work required). This position reports directly to the pastor. Must be a practicing Catholic in good standing with strong knowledge of Catholic doctrine, the sacraments and church teaching. Must have excellent communication, computer, organizational, recordkeeping and leadership skills. As the DRE, will develop and oversee curriculum for K-confirmation (JH/HS); develop a schedule for the school year; coordinate sacramental prep programs (first reconciliation, first holy Communion, and confirmation); biannual IC Work Camp for confirmation students (ICWC); coordinate and chaperone students (when possible) to junior high youth rallies and National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC — during odd years); and all other duties required of the IC DRE position. As the SEC, must collaborate with the diocesan office of protection and care; maintain all applicable records required by the Archdiocese of KCK; lead Safe Environment/Virtus training sessions; be able to handle sensitive issues with discretion and compassion; report suspected abuse or policy violations; and all other duties required of the IC SEC position. This is a very general description of the position. A more complete description will be given to prospective candidates for this position. Please send resumes to: eahn@archkck.org.
Catholic financial planners - The Knights of Columbus Mahon Agency has openings throughout all of NE Kansas and western Missouri, including Kansas City, Topeka, Holton, Wamego, Lawrence, Gardner, Liberty and Chillicothe. We have much to offer professional, disciplined and determined men who would like to share needed life insurance, disability income, longterm care and annuity products with other Catholics. This is a full-time position with excellent, multi-tiered training and benefits, allowing the successful field agent to earn a professional level income. It’s an exciting career opportunity that may be the right fit at the right time for you, or someone you know. For more information, contact John Mahon at (785) 4088800, or john.mahon@kofc.org.
Manager assistant - Help St. Mary’s Food Kitchen serve the hungry in Kansas City, Kansas, as a manager assistant. St. Mary’s provides a lunch to the needy each day of the year. The manager assistant will support the volunteer crews, ensure policies and procedures are followed, supervise the cleaning of the kitchen and dining room, fill in for the manager when absent, fulfill other duties as assigned and treat each guest and volunteer with respect and compassion. This position is part-time, generally two days per week, but other days as needed but assigned through conversation and agreement with the manager. Hours are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., but occasionally 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Please contact David Alvey at: stmfoodkitchen@gmail.com. $20 per hour. Holidays time and a half.
Benet House Retreat Center director - Benet House is seeking a full-time Director who is responsible for all operations, including programming retreats throughout the year. Benet House Retreat Center is owned and operated by the Sisters of St. Benedict at St. Mary Monastery, Rock Island, Illinois. It is located on 90 acres with walking paths, a wooded area, a lake and an abundance of wildlife. Benet House ‘welcomes each person as Christ’ (RB) and is open to all faiths. The applicant must have at least 3 years’ experience in retreat ministry. For more information, go to www.smmsisters.org/retreats or take a tour at https://smmsisters.org/virtual-monastery. Applicants must submit a cover letter and resume. The cover letter should speak to your qualifications and leadership experience. Please email to: rbussan@smmsisters.org.
Safe drivers needed - Drivers needed to transport young adults with special needs to and from their job locations. Company-owned vehicles. The Mission Project, a not-for-profit organization, is based in Mission. See our website at: www.themissionproject. org. Approximately 20 hrs/week to start, $16 per hour. Retirees encouraged to apply. All clients are able to enter and leave the vehicle without assistance. Excellent driving record, background checks and references are required. Call Alvan at (913) 269-2642.
Administrative assistant - St. Joseph Church in Shawnee is looking for a friendly and organized administrative assistant to join our team. The ideal candidate will provide support to clergy, parish staff, parishioners and visitors. Interested candidates are invited to apply at: https://church.stjoeshawnee.org/ news/697-now-hiring. For more information, contact Melissa Thomas at: mthomas@stjoeshawnee.org or call (913) 631-5983.
Teachers - Nativity Parish School (Leawood) is seeking full-time teachers for the 2026-27 school year: Kindergarten-5th grade, Spanish, P.E., middle school math, middle school science and STREAM Interested applicants should email principal Luke Jennison at: luke.jennison@kcnativity.org.
Client relations coordinator - Part-time (16 hr/wk). Two Lines Pregnancy Clinic in Overland Park. At Two Lines Pregnancy Clinic, we believe in unexpected care — the kind that shows up with compassion, insight and love when someone needs it most. We’re a faith-driven organization committed to serving women and families with dignity, excellence and hope. We’re currently seeking a client relations coordinator to join our team. If you thrive in a fast-paced, meaningful environment where your work makes a tangible difference, this may be the opportunity you’ve been praying for. In this role, you’ll be at the heart of our client’s education experience, supporting every woman and family in an environment rooted in excellence, dignity and care. Your impact matters. Whether you’re meeting with moms one-on-one or in a group setting, you’ll be creating a holistic learning experience—one small moment at a time. Key responsibilities: Create and maintain relationships with moms in Connections, our parenting education program. Maintain a peaceful, professional and welcoming environment. Collaborate with team members to ensure seamless education services. Uphold the values and mission of Two Lines Pregnancy Clinic in every interaction. A bit about you: Strong interpersonal and communication skills. Compassionate, calm, and confident under pressure. Experience in client services, ministry, or administrative roles is a plus. Bilingual a plus. A heart for serving others and a commitment to our faith-based mission. If you’re passionate about making a difference and want to be part of a team that shows up with love every day, we’d love to hear from you. To apply for this position, send resume and cover letter to: AndreaC@twolineskc.com.
Caregivers needed - Daughters & Company is looking for compassionate caregivers to provide assistance to seniors in their home, assisted living or in a skilled nursing facility. We provide sitter services, light housekeeping and light meal preparation, organizational assistance, care management and occasional transportation for our clients. We need caregivers with reliable transportation and a cellphone for communication. We typically employ on a part-time basis, but will strive to match hours desired. Contact Gary or Laurie at (913) 341-2500 if you want to become part of an excellent caregiving team.
Part-time kitchen assistant - Nativity School in Leawood is seeking a part-time kitchen assistant, 8 to 15 hours a week. Duties will include prepping food, serving food, setting up/breaking down food service line and garden bar, cleaning and washing dishes. Any candidate hired will need to pass a criminal background check and attend Virtus training as conditions of employment. Applicants should email principal Luke Jennison at: luke.jennison@kcnativity.org.
Catholic elementary school principal - St. Matthew School in Topeka is seeking a dynamic and visionary leader with a passion for Catholic education. The principal will continue the school’s tradition of forming disciples, pursuing academic excellence and spiritual growth. The principal will lead by example and inspire a team of dedicated faculty and staff. Applicants must have or be eligible for Kansas licensure in educational leadership. Apply online at: archkckcs. org/apply. For more information, contact Vince Cascone at: vcascone@archkckcs.org.
RN or RDMS - Part-time (10-15 hr/wk) Two Lines Pregnancy Clinic in Overland Park. At Two Lines Pregnancy Clinic, we believe in unexpected care — the kind that shows up with compassion, insight, and love when someone needs it most. If you’re someone who thrives in a busy, meaningful environment — the kind of work that makes a tangible difference — this may be the opportunity you’ve been praying for. We’re currently seeking a RN or RDMS to join our team. If you thrive in a fast-paced, purpose-driven clinical environment where your nursing care makes a tangible difference, this may be the opportunity you’ve been praying for. In this role, you’ll provide direct patient care and clinical support, including pregnancy tests, sonograms, patient education and coordination of services, all within an environment rooted in excellence, dignity, and care. You’ll play a key role in ensuring each woman and family receives accurate information, compassionate care and appropriate clinical guidance. Your impact matters. Whether you’re meeting with a patient in the clinic or collaborating with the care team, you’ll be delivering high-quality clinical care — one meaningful moment at a time. Key responsibilities: Perform all medical services as allowed by your license. Maintain a peaceful, professional, and welcoming environment. Collaborate with team members to ensure seamless medical services. Uphold the values and mission of Two Lines Pregnancy Clinic in every interaction. A bit about you: You’re a licensed RN or RDMS with 2+ years of experience. You’re organized, clear-headed, and calm in busy or sensitive situations. You’re passionate about walking with women in tender, life-changing moments. You’re a person of faith who leads from a place of humility and integrity. To apply for this position, send resume and cover letter to: AndreaC@twolineskc.com.
Catholic elementary school principal - Holy Spirit School in Overland Park is seeking a dynamic and visionary leader with a passion for Catholic education. The principal will continue the school’s tradition of forming disciples, pursuing academic excellence and spiritual growth. The principal will lead by example and inspire a team of dedicated faculty and staff. Applicants must have or be eligible for Kansas licensure in educational leadership. Apply online at: archkckcs. org/apply. For more information, contact Vince Cascone at: vcascone@archkckcs.org.
Small equipment cleaning/repair - A locally owned family business is currently seeking part-time candidates to provide cleaning and repair services on microscopes. Expenses paid, work done in the field and each day is different! No previous experience necessary, on-the-job training provided. Needs to be detail-oriented team player, with good time management and customer service skills. Some travel with the team is required. Please contact us at: techneeded23@ gmail.com or call (913) 631-3000.
SERVICES
A and X Cleaning Service - Keeping local businesses clean and healthy. Eco-friendly green cleaning products are used. Our hands-on approach ensures reliable service, consistent quality and attention to detail in every space we clean. Contact us for a free consultation at: anxcleaningllc@gmail.com.
Rios Painting - Transforming your home one paint coat at a time. Over 20 years of residential and commercial interior and exterior painting. Reliable, professional, and affordable. Insured. Call or text Ramiro today for a free estimate! (913) 579-5016.
Joe’s Decks & More Deck and fence repair, mowing and handyman services Member of St. Joseph in Shawnee (913) 449-9848
Dewfall Media professional video services - We partner with you to tell meaningful and engaging stories through visual media. www.dewfallmedia.com. Contact Andrew (717) 818 5168.
Double A’s Lawn Service Lawn mowing, Mulching, Gutters, Leaf Removal Brush Removal & Hedge Trimming Free Estimates & Insured Alex Spoerre (913) 488-5195
Jack Harrison Heating & Air Conditioning - Proudly serving Johnson County, Kansas, parts of KCK and KCMO, we’re your trusted local experts in residential and light commercial HVAC. Whether you need a repair, seasonal tuneup or full system replacement, we’ve got you covered — with honest advice, quality work and friendly service. We’re a family-owned and operated company, rooted in the community as members of St. Paul Parish in Olathe. Call Jack Harrison Heating & Air today at (913) 308-3131 or visit: www. JackHarrisonAir.com to schedule online. Let our family take care of yours!
>> Continued
HOLY FAMILY SCHOOL
EXTRAVAGANZA
Topeka Social
518 S.E. Adams St., Topeka
Feb. 7 from 5 to 10 p.m.
Cocktail hour starts at 5 p.m., followed by dinner and a program. Funds raised during the event will support curriculum, electronic needs and other school needs. If interested in becoming a sponsor or purchasing event tickets or raffle tickets, visit the website at: holyfamilytopeka.net or call (785) 234-8980.
MARRIAGE RETREAT
Divine Mercy Church
555 W. Main St., Gardner Feb. 7 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Spend the day with your spouse, including free child care and a meal, and walk away with tools to help strengthen your marriage throughout the year. For planning purposes, an RSVP is requested for the retreat and child care. Go online to: divinemercyks.org/adult-formation or call (913) 856-7781, ext. 0105.
SOUP-ER BOWL LUNCH
St. Mary Church (hall)
9208 Main St., St. Benedict
Feb. 8 from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
St. Mary’s Altar Society will host its annual soup luncheon, serving chili, chicken noodle and vegetable beef soup, along
>> Continued from page 12
TOTAL HOME REPAIR
All aspects of interior home repairs. Retired master plumber. Professional interior painting, general repairs, tile work. Handyman services. Lifetime of experience. Army veteran. Ascension parishioner. (913) 488-4930
Pro Force Property Cleanout Services - Full home and property cleanouts: furniture, appliances, trash. Yard cleanup including trees or any debris. We do eviction or foreclosure cleanouts, move in, move out. Cleanouts throughout the Greater Kansas City area. Call Michael at (913) 565-5206 or email: MichaelMcMahan012@gmail.com.
GARAGE DOOR REPAIR EXPERTS
New Garage Doors & Openers
A Total Door, Inc. Since ’83. Leaven Discount buffy@atotaldoor.com or (913) 236-6440 www.atotaldoor.com
MIKE HAMMER MOVING - A full-service mover. Local and long-distance moving. Packing, pianos, rental truck load/unload, storage container load/unload. In-home moving and office moves. No job too small. Serving the KC metro since 1987. St. Joseph Parish, Shawnee, parishioner. Call the office at (913) 927-4347 or email: mike@mikehammermoving.com.
Landscaping
Design or Renovate! Light tree trimming/gutters Fall cleanup/leaf removal Free estimates; local parishioners. Call Charles or Emily (913) 605-8145.
Two men and a brush - Refresh, repaint, renew your home with painting you can trust! Call for a free estimate on your house, deck or fence! Call John at (402) 763-7244
Custom countertops - Laminates installed within 5 days. Cambria, granite and solid surface. Competitive prices, dependable work. Call the Top Shop, Inc., at (913) 962-5058. Members of St. Joseph, Shawnee.
Pure Touch Cleaning KC - Bringing warmth and comfort back into your home this winter! Locally owned • Women-led • Family-based care you can trust. Deep cleans • Regular maintenance • Move-in/out • Holiday prep. Call/text: Owner Nicole (913) 999-6267. Let us make your home feel fresh, cozy and ready for the season.
Bill Dean Mechanical LLC
Heating, Cooling, Electrical, and Plumbing Furnace, AC and Water Heater Install and Service wmdean14@hotmail.com, billdeanmechanical.com Joco lic. # 2026-0008446, text or call (913) 724-3294
with dessert and relishes for dine-in or carryout. All for a freewill offering. Everyone is welcome!
KCYCP EXECUTIVE SPEAKER SERIES
Meadowbrook Park Clubhouse
9101 Nall Ave., Prairie Village
Feb. 10 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Young Catholic Professionals is a nonprofit organization designed to help Catholic professionals in their 20s and 30s grow in their professional field and use their work as means to serve God. Join fellow YCP members for our upcoming speaker series with Nathan Crankfield. Complimentary food and drink provided, along with networking opportunities. Register online at: youngcatholicprofessionals.org/ chapter/kansas-city.
CMA WHITE MASS
Our Lady of Good Counsel Church 3934 Washington St., Kansas City, Missouri
Feb. 11 at 6 p.m.
The CMA KC guild extends a cordial invitation to all healthcare personnel in the area. Mass will be celebrated by Bishop James Johnston of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph. A catered dinner and program will follow the Mass and will be held in the adjacent Chesterton Academy of St. Philip Neri. Requested $35 donation per dinner ticket (ages 14+). To RSVP, email: secretary@catholicmedkc.org by Feb. 9.
Popcorn ceiling texture removal Call Jerry at (913) 206-1144. 30 years’ experience. Interior painting specialist. Member St. Joseph Parish, Shawnee. Faith-based counseling to cope with life concerns - Kansas City area. Call Mary Vorsten, licensed clinical professional counselor, at (913) 909-2002.
Memory quilts - Preserve your memories in a keepsake quality quilt, pillows, etc. Custom designed from your T-shirt collection, baby clothes, sports memorabilia, neckties . . . Quilted Memories. (913) 649-2704.
FOR SALE
For sale - Treasure Lake Luxury Resort & Campground Membership — Branson, MO. $1000 (dues paid for 2025). This private, gated RV resort has over 340 acres with 588 RV sites, mini golf with indoor/ outdoor pools, pickleball/tennis/basketball courts, community room, restaurant, playgrounds and a community clubhouse with activities. This worldclass RV resort is right in the heart of one of the USA’s premier vacation areas Branson, Missouri, close to the cleanest water recreation, professional entertainment venues, shopping, dining experiences and family fun. Treasure Lake requires a transfer fee of $331 (deed recorded at county courthouse/admin fees) paid by buyer and annual renewal of membership of $180 starting in 2026. You pay all fees for transfers. Sold our camper as husband is in nursing home. Phone (785) 221-2738 for info.
Small farm/business operation opportunity - STA Home Repair is moving to another state. Looking to sell property and business assets: 1955 Oregon Road, Princeton, Kansas. 3 buildings, 1 Barndo/Shop, RV hookups – 200 Amp service with portable heat and AC – office, kitchen area – 10-foot garage door and entry door, 1 cabin with wood stove and AC/shop, 1 pole barn, 2 sinks, 1 shower, 1 toilet, stocked pond, boat and equipment storage over half fenced, multiple gardens, minifarm, bring the horses. Great for contractor with trailers, 25-30 minutes to Gardner or intermodal facility; 35-40 minutes to Olathe and Overland Park; and less than 10 minutes to Ottawa. Close to the Hillsdale and Pomona lakes. Asking $290,000. Cash and/ or pre-approved financing. Showing by appointment only. Text name and number to (913) 579-1835.
For sale - Two plots at Mt. Calvary cemetery in KCK, including opening and closing, section 11, lot 119, space 1A-2A. $4500 includes transfer fee. Contact Dave at (913) 302-3924.
Residential lifts - New and recycled. Stair lifts, porch lifts, ceiling lifts and elevators. St. Michael’s parishioners. KC Lift & Elevator at (913) 327-5557. (Formerly Silver Cross - KC.)
KC PREGNANCY CLINIC FUNDRAISER
St. Patrick Church (parish center)
1086 North 94th St., Kansas City, Kansas
Feb. 12 at 5 p.m.
Kansas City Pregnancy Clinic invites you to an Evening for Life and Love. Doors open at 5 p.m. Dinner from Garozzo’s served at 6 p.m. Enjoy silent auction, music and dancing. Visit: www.kcpregnancyclinic.org to register or call Donna (913) 340-7788. Event will help serve families in need, plus fight the growing abortion trend in our area.
SCOTT & KIMBERLY HAHN EVENT
Curé of Ars Church (activity center) 9401 Mission Rd., Leawood Feb. 14 at 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Curé of Ars will be hosting Catholic speakers Scott and Kimberly Hahn beginning with Mass at 8 a.m. (parish activity center), followed by their presentation, “Living in the Love of God: Preparing for Lent.” There is limited seating at $25/ticket. Visit the parish website at: cure ofars.com for more details and to register.
ROSARY RALLY
St. Joseph Church 11311 Johnson Dr., Shawnee Feb. 15 from 3 to 4:15 p.m.
Please join us to honor our Blessed
For sale - 2 casket crypt for sale: St. John’s Corridor mausoleum at Gate of Heaven. Tier A, crypt 6, valued $15,885. Asking $11,000 (includes transfer fee). Contact Kristen (913) 645-3428.
For sale - Two plots in Resurrection North Cemetery, off of Cookingham Rd., in Kansas City, Missouri. Both plots are located in the Annunciation Garden, lot 185, section D, spaces 3 and 4. Beautiful location, shaded area with benches close by and easy access from the cemetery road. Value is $2095 each, selling both for $3000, which includes perpetual care. Please contact Chuck at (816) 519-9288 and leave a voicemail; I will return your call within the same day.
HOME IMPROVEMENT
Haus to Home Remodeling - Transform your space with affordable remodeling done right. Bathrooms, basements and everything in between — crafted with honesty and quality. Family-owned with free estimates. Haustohomekc.com | Cole (913) 544-7352.
Father and Son Home Remodeling - We specialize in kitchen/bathroom and basement remodeling, from start to finish. We also do decks, covered decks, porches, sun-rooms and room additions! If you’re not sure we do it, just call. From my family to yours, thank you for supporting my small business. To contact me, call (913) 709-7230 and ask for Josh.
CAREGIVING
Caregiving - Homecare CNA with 15 years’ experience. Monday-Friday. Call (913) 526-0797.
Caregiving - We provide personal assistance, companionship, care management and transportation for seniors in their home, assisted living or nursing facilities. We also provide respite care for main caregivers needing some personal time. Call Daughters & Company at (913) 341-2500 and speak with Laurie, Pat or Gary.
WANTED TO BUY
CASH PAID FOR COIN COLLECTIONS!
Silver dollar coins, half-dollars, quarters, dimes, old pennies. Cash in hand. Also paying cash for old paper currency. Cash in that old dusty box of coins! Call Kirk (913) 213-9843. Member of Holy Trinity Parish. Please sell to local people.
$$Paying Cash$$ - Antique Furniture, crocks, tin and cast iron toys, old tools, glassware, American coins, jewelry. Most anything old. Please call Patricia at (913) 515-2950. A member of Holy Trinity Parish, Lenexa.
Mother and our Lady of Fatima. We will pray the joyful, sorrowful and glorious mysteries followed by Benediction and the opportunity to enroll in the brown scapular. More information: www.rosaryrallieskc.org.
LENTEN SILENT RETREAT
Christ’s Peace House of Prayer
22131 Meagher Rd., Easton Feb. 20 to Feb. 22
Step into the sacred silence of Lent and journey with Christ into the desert. Guided by the wisdom of Pope Benedict XVI, this silent retreat invites you into repentance, interior renewal and a deeper listening to the Lord’s voice as he prepares your heart for the graces of the season. Cabins/courtyard rooms: $180; single/$270; couple or single guest rooms: $110 (meals Included). Fill out the individual retreat form at: ChristsPeace.com or call (913) 773-8255.
THEOLOGY OF DATING EVENT
St. Pius X Church
5500 Woodson Rd., Mission
First Wednesday of the month
From 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Join us for a potluck meal followed by a presentation on how to navigate dating struggles from a Catholic perspective. Questions: katie@findingadamfindingeve. com. More info: findingadamfindingeve. com.
BUYING OIL & GAS ROYALTIES
Simplify your life. Paying 48 times average last 6 months income. Call Dan (913) 980-0946.
Will buy firearms and related accessories - One or a whole collection. Honest evaluation and top prices paid. Contact Tom at (913) 238-2473. Member of Sacred Heart Parish, Shawnee.
Wanted to buy
Do you have a spare car or truck that you need to get rid of? If you do, CALL ME! I’m a cash buyer. We’re Holy Trinity parishioners. My name is Mark. (913) 980-4905.
WANTED TO BUY - PAYING CASH Antiques & Collectibles: jewelry, military items, railroad items, sterling, OLD holiday/toys & more. Renee Maderak (913) 475-7393 St. Joseph, Shawnee.
REAL ESTATE
Paul O’Toole – Real Estate Agent (KS & MO) Weichert Realtors – Welch & Company (913) 489-1229 (mobile) | (913) 647-5700 (office)
We buy houses and whole estates - We are local and family-owned and will make you a fair cash offer. We buy houses in any condition. No fees or commissions and can close on the date of your choice. Selling your house has never felt so good. Jon & Stacy Bichelmeyer, (913) 599-5000.
We are local people who can buy your house - Big companies from all over the nation come here buying houses, but that’s not us. We are parishioners of Holy Trinity Parish and we enjoy giving you personalized service. We can offer you a fair price and are flexible to your needs. If I can help, call me, Mark Edmondson, at (913) 980-4905.
PILGRIMAGE
European pilgrimage - June 22-30. Join Father Willliam Carey, Deacon Tom Doyle and Grace Legaspi on a pilgrimage to Medjugorje and Zadar. Traverse the steps of millions who’ve climbed Apparition Hill. Meet one of the visionaries who continues to allegedly see Our Lady yearly. Celebrate Mass at the tomb of St. Simeon of the Presentation of Our Lord in Zadar. Email Grace at: mgracelegaspi@gmail.com for details.
Peru Pilgrimage: Evangelization of the Ancient Incas – July 19-30, 2026. Join us for an unforgettable 11-day journey from Lima to the Sacred Valley, exploring Machu Picchu, Cusco and the lives of saints like St. Rose of Lima. Experience the dramatic encounter between the ancient Incas and the flourishing Catholic baroque of Peru. Space is limited! Early bird pricing until Feb. 19. For details, email: olivia.stear@viaheritagetravel.com.
DAILY READINGS
FIFTH WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME
Feb. 8
FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Is 58: 7-10
Ps 112: 4-9
1 Cor 2: 1-5
Mt 5: 13-16
Feb. 9
Monday
1 Kgs 8: 1-7, 9-13
Ps 132: 6-10
Mk 6: 53-56
Feb. 10
Scholastica, virgin
1 Kgs 8: 22-23, 27-30
Ps 84: 3-5, 10-11
Mk 7: 1-13
Feb. 11
Our Lady of Lourdes
1 Kgs 10: 1-10
Ps 37: 5-6, 30-31, 39-40
Mk 7: 14-23
Feb. 12
Thursday
1 Kgs 11: 4-13
Ps 106: 3-4, 35-37, 40
Mk 7: 24-30
Feb. 13
Friday
1 Kgs 11: 29-32; 12: 19
Ps 81: 10-11b, 12-15
Mk 7: 31-37
Feb. 14
Cyril, monk, and Methodius, bishop
1 Kgs 12: 26-32; 13: 33-34
Ps 106: 6-7, 19-22
Mk 8: 1-10
RADEGUND 515 - 587
A Thuringian princess, Radegund was captured by invading Franks about 531 and taken to France, where she was groomed to become one of the wives of Clotaire, who became king of the Franks. Clothaire was a brutal womanizer, and Radegund retreated into pious devotions and care of the sick, which included founding a hospital for those with leprosy, now called Hansen’s disease. In 550 she fled the court, and with help from St. Germanus of Paris, persuaded Clotaire to leave her in peace. She founded a monastery near Poitiers, and spent 30 years there in prayer, scholarship and good works. She became a patron for prisoners like herself, and also for shoemakers and potters because of her monastery chores.
Is
it time to change your mind about Lent?
Well, here we go again. Ready or not! I’m talking, of course, about the annual 40-day retreat called Lent.
It’s said that most people making resolutions for the new year abandon them by the middle of January and drift back into their old ways. I suspect the same is true with many Lenten resolutions. When we find ourselves unable (or unwilling) to keep them perfectly, we give them up altogether, thinking, “Just wait till next Lent! I’ll do much better then.”
If that attitude describes you, then ponder the following reflection on the Titanic for some cautionary advice:
In its day, the Titanic was the world’s largest ship, weighing 456,328 tons. It was 882½-feet long and had three anchors weighing more than 10 tons each. It employed a crew of 400 and a hotel staff of 518 and could carry 2,433 passengers. The ship
TFATHER MARK GOLDASICH
Father Mark is the pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Tonganoxie. He has been editor of The Leaven since 1989.
had a complete gymnasium, heated pool and squash court — all below deck. It boasted opulent dining rooms with 24-hour service, palm courts and Turkish baths. Several men and women from the society pages were on its passenger list.
Late during the night of April 14-15, 1912, the “unthinkable” happened to the “unsinkable.” Near midnight, the great Titanic struck an iceberg, ripping a 300-foot hole
MARK MY WORDS
through five of its 16 watertight compartments. It sank in 2½ hours, killing over 1,500 people.
Before the Titanic sank, warning after warning had been sent to tell the crew that they were speeding into an ice field, but the messages were ignored. In fact, it’s said that when a nearby ship sent an urgent warning, the Titanic was talking to Cape Race about the time chauffeurs were to meet arriving passengers at the dock in New York, and what dinner menus were to be ready.
Preoccupied with trivia, the Titanic responded to the warning, “Shut up. I am
talking to Cape Race. You are jamming my signals.”
Why did so many die? The crew disregarded the possible danger of the weather; there were not enough lifeboats on board; and the radio operator of the nearby ship California was off duty. (Story found in Father Brian Cavanaugh’s “Sower’s Seeds of Encouragement: Fifth Planting.”)
Not to be overly dramatic, but how many more Lents will we have? How many more times will we ignore the “warnings” of Scripture to repent? The call of Lent to change our lives is not meant to make us miserable, but to reveal to us how much better — holier — we can be when we focus on letting God’s grace transform our day-to-day lives.
A wonderful Lenten discipline is to give up something for Lent. (I’m going to refrain from buying anything new, especially from Amazon. This is surprisingly hard for me!)
But it’s also valuable to do some positive
actions. Here are a few that you might like to try, either just one time, once a week during Lent or more often if you’re moved to:
• Unplug from your screens for a couple of hours.
• Bring some canned goods or nonperishable items to a favorite charity.
• Attend a daily Mass or one Stations of the Cross devotion.
• Sit with someone you don’t know at a parish fish fry.
• Let someone ahead of you in traffic or in the line at the store.
• Get to Mass 15 minutes early and use the time to reflect on the readings.
• Surprise a lonely person with an email, card, phone call or visit.
• Don’t hit the snooze button but get up and pray instead.
“Nothing great is ever achieved without much enduring,” said St. Catherine of Siena. This Lent, let’s heed the “warnings” and endure to the end . . . and arrive whole and holier at Easter.
It’s every Christian’s calling to live by the light of Christ
o understand what Jesus means by calling his disciples “the salt of the earth,” St. Augustine said that we should keep in mind the two immediately preceding verses, the ones about being reviled and persecuted and about being slandered for the sake of Jesus.
“Rejoice and be glad,” Jesus said, “for so men persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Mt 5:11-12). That’s what we should recall while reading these words about salt and light, St. Augustine wrote. We should remember Jesus’ strange words about joy and persecution.
That is, if through fear of persecution, you
Father Joshua J. Whitfield is pastor of St. Rita Catholic Community in Dallas and author of “The Crisis of Bad Preaching” and other books.
shrink from bearing witness — shortsightedly forsaking eternal goods for temporal
goods — how afterwards can you be of any use to God or to his kingdom? Why, that is, if you lack the courage of your convictions, would anyone believe anything you say? “But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned?” Jesus asks (Mt 5:13).
He is talking about the strength of a disciple’s faith, his or her courage in face of the world’s persecuting hatred and violence.
“Everyone who acknowledges me before others I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father. But whoever denies me before others, I will deny before my heavenly Father,” Jesus will later say (Mt 10:33).
That’s what he’s talking about when he talks about the “salt of the earth.”
St. Augustine similarly interprets Jesus’ talk of light and the bushel basket. When a preacher, for instance, cares more about bodily comforts than “preaching the truth,” that is, when he worries too much about suffering “annoyances in things physical and temporal,” then that’s exactly what he’s doing, he’s choosing to be cowardly and unenlightening; he’s hiding the light of truth. He’s doing exactly the opposite of what he was called to do by the light of the world himself (Jn 8:12).
But, of course, this
isn’t merely a temptation for preachers, is it? Among friends, in the family, or at work, each of us often hides the light of Christ, don’t we? Again, remember he’s talking about courage under persecution. Most of us buckle in silence under far less stress than that. We too are often, as Jesus said to Nicodemus, like those who prefer darkness to light (Jn 3:19). Are we light? That is, are we willing to preach the fulness of truth? And are we salt? That is, are we willing to suffer it? These, of course, are not simply questions about whether we’re courageous Christians but whether we’re Christians at all.
Scripture is a living reality that develops, grows in tradition, pope says
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The Word of God is not “fossilized,” but rather develops and grows in tradition, Pope Leo XIV said.
The church’s “deposit of faith,” which contains “the entirety of our faith — doctrine, worship, morality, etc. — is not static but dynamic for it develops and is more profoundly understood by the church over the centuries under the guidance of the Holy Spirit,” he said Jan. 28 during
his weekly general audience.
“Entrusted to the church, who preserves and interprets it in Jesus’ name, this deposit helps us to navigate the complexities of life to reach our eternal home in heaven,” he said.
Jesus sent “the Holy Spirit to guide the apostles to remember, apply and proclaim everything he taught,” he said. That means, “sacred Scripture, the inspired word of
God, and sacred tradition, the living memory of the church, are intimately bound together and form the one deposit of faith.” “The Word of God, then, is not fossilized, but rather it is a living and organic reality that develops and grows in tradition.”
“Thanks to the Holy Spirit, tradition understands it in the richness of its truth and embodies it in the shifting coordinates of history,” he said.
FATHER JOSHUA J. WHITFIELD
Two new projects illustrate where Catholic Charities is heading
On Jan. 17, we gathered as supporters of Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas, deeply united in our love of neighbor.
We recognize that the Gospel of Matthew is not verses we quote — it is a mission we are called to live. And together, we form an extraordinary community of love in action!
INSIDE CATHOLIC CHARITIES
Catholic Charities serves people at the most vulnerable moments of their lives. Parents choosing between rent and food. Seniors facing extreme loneliness and newcomers searching for safety and belonging. What makes the difference in these precious moments is you. Because of you, a frightened family encounters not bureaucracy, but mercy. Because of you,
a closed door becomes an open invitation of hospitality and hope. You give of your time and talents — welcoming families, sorting donations, collecting food and even proudly driving the Resource Bus. You give of your financial support — faithfully, generously, often quietly and
sacrificially to those who you have never even met — ensuring that help is available — always! I, and the over 74,000 individuals we served this past year, thank you sincerely for prioritizing volunteerism and extreme generosity!
This year we launched a new strategic plan. We are looking honestly at where Catholic Charities excels and where we still have work to do to serve all 21 counties. We recognize the need to increase services outside of the immediate metro and the importance of maintaining our “91 cents of every dollar” stewardship model.
Our initial projects, as a result of our plan, are the new home for expectant mothers — Our Lady’s Sanctuary of Grace (OLSG) — and the opening of our fourth TurnStyles Thrift Store. Both stand as a clear witness to our belief that every person is made in the image and likeness of God and should have access to love, help, shelter, food and clothing.
OLSG is a place where fear is met with compassion, where dignity is restored, and where both mother and child are surrounded by care. TurnStyles is more than a retail space! Every donated item
and purchase help fund critical programs across northeast Kansas, ensuring our mission can continue long into the future. Thank you for celebrating with us at Snow Ball! Thank you for acknowledging the profound impact made by Catholic Charities and for getting excited for what is to come — only made possible through YOUR generosity and your continued invitation to call others to step into this story with us — sharing their time, talent and treasure.
May God bless you, and may the work that we do together continue to transform lives — starting with our own.
Quality healthcare is not accidental, but is sustained by Call to Share
It seems like every year at this time, at least one person asks, “So, what are you going to give up for Lent?” While sacrifices are certainly an important part of this time of year, at Catholic Community Health, we’re usually asking instead, “How can we do more?”
It’s easy to think of things in our ministry in terms of routine — keeping a vigilant and consistent schedule of care. But residents and patients are not all cut from the same cloth. Our responsibility is to care for each person as an individual, to serve each soul entrusted to us with
HEALTHCARE, THE CATHOLIC WAY!
and the dying are not medical at all. In many ways, providing the care itself is a blessing. The ongoing challenge is sustaining that care — particularly when Home Care services and Villa St. Francis are underfunded by Medicaid.
attention and dignity. Much of the work of Catholic Community Health is quiet. But the needs it addresses are persistent, practical,
and deeply human. We believe Catholic care is synonymous with quality care, and honoring the dignity of the person is how we seek to do more.
People are sometimes surprised to learn that some of the greatest challenges in caring for the elderly
Bridging that gap is essential to fulfilling our mission to care for the poor and marginalized.
This work is made possible through the shared time, talent, and treasure of staff, volunteers, and supporters who understand what this ministry requires. Quality healthcare is not accidental. It is
built, protected, and sustained — often by people who never meet the patients whose lives they quietly improve. We’re blessed to receive support each year through the Archdiocesan Call to Share. When you respond to this call, you are at the bedside, caring for the elderly, infirm, sick, and dying. You are helping sustain our strong nursing staff and providing access to quality care and compassionate service, regardless of an individual’s ability to pay.
The needs we encounter aren’t always monetary. Hospice patients may need
clothing in a different size, or simple hygiene and toiletry items that preserve comfort and dignity at the end of life. Meeting those needs is part of what it means to care for the whole person. Each day residents at Villa St. Francis gather to pray the rosary. Their prayer is a source of inspiration and a reminder to never grow weary in supporting them, and all those served by Catholic Community Health.
As Lent begins, perhaps the better question is not only what we might give up, but how we might do more.
Anger is distorting our ability to come together and fix what’s broken
As federal U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents aggressively enforce federal immigration regulations, we Catholics are angry. Some of us are angry because many of the people being rounded up are neighbors, co-workers, parishioners, friends and family to us. Other than being in violation of immigration statutes, these are good people.
Others are angry because laws must have consequences when they are violated. While it is sad for the family and friends of those convicted of
DEACON BILL SCHOLL
Deacon Scholl is the archdiocesan consultant for social justice. You can email him at: socialjustice@archkck.org.
other crimes, to not enforce the law is unfair to those who follow the law.
DO UNTO OTHERS
So, when the U.S. bishops call for mercy to be applied to the immigration issue, Catholics get angry or indifferent. Catholics are either angry at the bishops for not making stronger condemnations of deportations, or they are angry at the bishops for somehow supporting
criminality.
The rest of us respond with indifference because we don’t want anyone to get angry at us. Let’s look at anger and ask why are you so angry, and if you are not angry, why not?
Scripture cautions us about anger, “Refrain from anger and forsake wrath. Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil” (Ps 37:8). However, anger itself is not a sin. Our prophetic call compels us to be angry in the face of injustice.
Our Lord models this righteous anger when he drives the money changers from the temple. For the Christian, anger is the
sword of love. It is not to be wielded wildly.
No. Righteous anger is a purposeful passion used to fight injustice, protect the innocent, and uphold the truth. However even for the even-tempered, anger can be misused when it rises up from misunderstandings or low-resolution understanding of the other. What is tragic for our current immigration conversation, within and without the American church, is how much anger is distorting and damaging our ability as Americans to come together and fix this broken system. Like many in the church today, I am trying to be more synodal.
We as Catholics need to be slower to anger and quicker with the kind word that turns away wrath (Pv 15:1). This starts with listening and so I want to hear from you. If you are angry about the immigration issue, for what purpose have you drawn this sword? Is this purpose true? Are you able to articulate the other side’s position? Do you have an accurate comprehensive picture of the situation? How are you loving your enemy with this anger? Anyway, you can let me know your thoughts by emailing me at: socialjustice@ archkck.org.
BRAD HEIDRICK
Brad Heidrick is the CEO of Catholic Community Health.
LAUREN SOLIDUM
Lauren Solidum is the executive director of Catholic Charities.
Archbishop McKnight celebrates annual Red Mass
By Marc and Julie Anderson mjanderson@theleaven.org
TOPEKA — Archbishop Shawn McKnight celebrated his first Red Mass as the metropolitan archbishop of the state of Kansas on Jan. 27 at Assumption Church - Mater Dei Parish here. Located directly across the street from the Capitol, Assumption is also the mother church of the city of Topeka.
Archbishop McKnight was both the main celebrant and the homilist at the liturgy.
Sponsored by the Kansas Catholic Conference, which serves as the voice of the Catholic bishops in Kansas and provides Catholic perspective to Kansas lawmakers on a range of issues, the annual Mass is celebrated within the first few weeks of each legislative session. This year’s session began Jan. 12.
The Mass gets its name from the red liturgical vestments worn by the celebrant. In church tradition, red symbolizes the Holy Spirit. During the Mass, Catholics pray for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon those involved in public life, especially elected government officials, civil servants, attorneys and judges.
Joining Archbishop McKnight were the other three bishops of Kansas: Bishop John Brungardt of the Diocese of Dodge City, Bishop Carl Kemme of the Diocese of Wichita and Bishop Gerald Vincke of the Diocese of Salina, along with Father Matt Nagle, pastor of Mater Dei; Father Brian Lager, state chaplain of the Knights of Columbus; and Father Joe Chontos, chaplain at the Kansas Juvenile Correctional Complex in Topeka. Father Keith Chadwick served as master of ceremonies while Deacon Bob Ortiz of Mater Dei Parish served as the deacon.
Archbishop McKnight opened his homily by asking for an outpouring of the gifts of the Holy Spirit on those involved in the legal profession — the judiciary as well as the legal and executive branches of state government. He also expressed his gratitude to be with the gathered.
“As the new archbishop of Kansas City, I am honored to be with you for the first time in our state capital to pray for another outpouring of the Holy Spirit in a church, state and world so desperately in need of it.”
How, he went on to ask, can Catholics in the legal profession “save their soul, let alone witness your faith, while prac-
I AM HONORED TO BE WITH YOU FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OUR STATE CAPITAL TO PRAY FOR ANOTHER OUTPOURING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN A CHURCH, STATE AND WORLD SO DESPERATELY IN NEED OF IT.
ARCHBISHOP SHAWN MCKNIGHT
ticing law? By using the gifts of the Holy Spirit given to you.”
He went on to briefly explain each of the gifts of the Spirit — wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and fear of the Lord — and discussed how they should be used to bring about a more just society.
He then told of an experience he treasured from his years in Washington at
the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). There he came to know Father Paul Scalia, the vicar for clergy in the Diocese of Arlington.
When a colleague of the archbishop’s expressed regret at not having toured the Supreme Court of the United States, Father Scalia and Archbishop McKnight arranged a tour.
“Our personalized tour concluded with a visit to the chambers of Father Paul Scalia’s father, Justice Antonin Scalia, who was quietly working in his office. It was a deeply human moment to witness such a powerful public figure delighting in his son’s presence,” the archbishop said.
The only picture of another sitting justice, Archbishop McKnight remarked, that was on the walls of Justice Scalia’s chambers, was of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
“As I later learned, Justice Scalia and Justice Ginsburg were good friends,” the archbishop said, despite being of different religions, backgrounds and judicial philosophies.
“They made room in their hearts for a friendship rooted in mutual respect for each other’s human dignity,” he said.
“Having friends who are different from us allows for Pentecost to happen all over again,” he added. “Our faith and the gifts of the Spirit make it possible to overcome race, religion, politics, even judicial philosophy.”
In conclusion, Archbishop McKnight said, “You, my dear brothers and sisters, have been called to evangelize . . . Our community needs good Christians in the legal profession who are bold women and men of faith, not in any triumphalist sense, but in humility, boasting only of the merciful works of God, as the apostles did at the time of Pentecost.
“May the Holy Spirit grant you not only wisdom and judgment but courage in action, so that through your integrity, civility and faithfulness to the truth, the law may serve its highest purpose — the protection of human dignity and the pursuit of justice worthy of the human person.”
LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER
Archbishop Shawn McKnight celebrated his first Red Mass as the metropolitan archbishop of the state of Kansas on Jan. 27 at Assumption Church in Topeka. During the Red Mass, Catholics pray for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon those involved in public life, especially elected government officials, civil servants, attorneys and judges.