FOLLOWING THE SHEPHERD
Introducing the Pontifical College Josephinum
Story and photos by Jay Soldner
COLUMBUS, Ohio — In the quiet setting of the Pontifical College Josephinum, priestly formation takes place within a mission that reaches far beyond its 75-acre campus — one grounded in service to the universal Catholic Church and in preparing priests to serve every kind of parish and every kind of Catholic.
For Archbishop Shawn McKnight, that mission is not an abstract ideal but a lived reality. The Josephinum is not simply another seminary option; it is a place he knows personally and trusts deeply.
“Having been a seminarian myself here in this institution and having taught here for several years, having served on the board now for three years, I’m very fa-
IN MY MIND AND IN MY VISION, HAVING SOME OF OUR SEMINARIANS HERE HELPS TO INSTILL THAT SENSE OF MISSION IN OUR PRIESTS TO SERVE EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY BACK HOME IN THE ARCHDIOCESE OF KANSAS CITY IN KANSAS.
ARCHBISHOP SHAWN MCKNIGHT
miliar with what happens here,” he said.
That familiarity, deepened over decades, now shapes a significant decision: The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas will be sending seminarians to study at the only pontifical seminary in the United States, located in Columbus, Ohio.
(The archdiocese will have seminarians at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary in
St. Louis, St. John Vianney Seminary in Denver, Pope Saint John XXIII Seminary in Boston and Conception Seminary College in Conception, Missouri, as well.)
“I’m also very familiar with the history of the Josephinum, its origins, its particular mission in the United States as a pontifical seminary and a national seminary,” Archbishop McKnight said. The
Josephinum’s direct connection to the Holy See has remained central to Archbishop McKnight’s understanding of its identity.
“We [seminarians] were aware of the special character of this seminary as pontifical,” he recalled. “Not in any triumphalist way at all, but that instilled in me a sense of linking up or syncing up with the Holy Father.”
That sense of communion with the successor of Peter has shaped his priesthood and episcopal ministry.
“Throughout my entire priesthood, I have always desired to be close to the Vicar of Christ and the successor of Saint Peter, and to try to match as much as possible his pastoral vision for the church,” he said.
The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas will be sending seminarians to study at the Pontifical College Josephinum, located in Columbus, Ohio. Msgr. Steve Beseau, a priest of the archdiocese, is the rector of the Josephinum.
One of the highlights of Archbishop Shawn McKnight’s visit to the Josephinum was Cardinal Christophe Pierre’s announcement that Father Steve Beseau, priest of the archdiocese and rector of the Josephinum, had been appointed a Chaplain to His Holiness, or a monsignor, by Pope Leo XIV. From left are: Cardinal Pierre, Msgr. Beseau and Archbishop McKnight.
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Thirty Ravens welcomed into full communion on Divine Mercy Sunday
By Jack Figge Special to The Leaven
ATCHISON — Benedictine College here welcomed 30 students into full communion with the Catholic Church on Divine Mercy Sunday, the college’s largest group to date.
At a special liturgy celebrated by Archbishop Shawn McKnight, eight students received all of the sacraments of initiation and another 22 received confirmation.
For the past eight months, the 30 students have been attending weekly OCIA meetings led by a dedicated group of students and assistant chaplain Father Christian Schwenka.
Father Schwenka said that he admires the group’s dedication and commitment to formation.
“The individuals themselves were very committed,” Father Schwenka said. “Our attendance in class was unbelievable. Many times, we were spending 30 or 40 minutes after class answering extra questions.”
For Father Schwenka, one of the highlights came during the Mass when he was able to be fresh-
man Rance Ridley’s godfather and sponsor.
“Being Rance’s sponsor was phenomenal; it was a huge honor,”
Father Schwenka said. “It was special and just a beautiful day.”
The Mass was filled with Benedictine students who had come to support their fellow Ravens entering the church. Seeing the other students was a powerful witness to Father Schwenka and to all those gathered.
“The student body showed up,” he said. “I had the privilege of celebrating the Masses the week before for daily Mass, and kept reminding them that the OCIA Mass was coming up and we had a packed house. It was great to see the support for their peers.”
Archbishop McKnight later congratulated the newest members of the church via an Instagram post after the liturgy.
“As St. John Paul II emphasized in his 1995 Divine Mercy Sunday Regina Caeli address,” the post read, “the Octave of Easter is experienced as ‘a single day,’ and the Octave Sunday is the pinnacle of ‘thanksgiving for the goodness God has shown to man in the whole Easter mystery.’ Sunday
was a beautiful culmination of that mystery!”
Prior to the liturgy, the candidates and catechumens expressed excitement at entering the Catholic Church.
“I’m so excited to go to Mass every week and receive the Eucharist,” Ridley said. “I’ve been going to Mass this whole year and I’ve been watching people receive the Eucharist and I’m so excited for my turn.”
Welcoming 30 students into the church is a moment of celebration for the entire college community, Father Schwenka said. He noted that it shows the great Catholic culture on campus, and the efforts to evangelize and invite friends into the church.
“Welcoming so many into the church shows that our college students are daring to ask questions that maybe others aren’t,” Father Schwenka said. “People are joining OCIA because they received an invitation from a friend or saw the witness of a friend. And so, I think our students are living the Catholic faith out joyfully, and it makes it attractive to those who don’t have it yet.”
ARCHBISHOP MCKNIGHT
May 1 Episcopal ordination and installation of Bishop-elect Godfrey Mullen, OSB — Cathedral of St. Peter, Belleville, Illinois
May 2
Retirement reception of president Tish Nielsen — Bishop Carroll High School, Wichita
May 3 Mass at Knights of Columbus state convention — Hyatt Regency, Wichita
Vespers and blessing of new organ — St. Michael the Archangel Church, Leawood
May 4
Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) board meeting — virtual
Zarda Golf Tournament for Catholic Charities — Canyon Farms Golf Club, Lenexa
May 5
Catholic Education Foundation donor Mass and reception — Church of the Nativity, Leawood
May 6
Celebration of outgoing Donnelly College board members — Donnelly College, Kansas City, Kansas
Confirmation Mass — St. Michael the Archangel Church, Leawood
May 9
Donnelly College commencement ceremonies — Donnelly College, Kansas City, Kansas
Confirmation Mass — Queen of the Holy Rosary Church, Overland Park
May 10
Teaching a class for deacon candidates and Mass — Savior Pastoral Center, Kansas City, Kansas
ARCHBISHOP EMERITUS NAUMANN
May 1
St. Joseph House open house
May 3 Mass — St. Francis Xavier Church, Mayetta Mass — St. Dominic Church, Holton
May 6
Confirmation Mass — St. Michael the Archangel Church, Leawood
May 7
RAAP leadership board meeting — virtual
May 12
Confirmation Mass — St. Patrick Church, Kansas City, Kansas
Archbishop Shawn McKnight poses with Benedictine College students that came into full communion with the Catholic Church on April 12.
St. Benedict’s Abbey hosts annual Abbot’s Table celebration
By Shelby Bland Special to The Leaven
OVERLAND
PARK
— Each year, the monks of St. Benedict’s Abbey in Atchison set aside an evening to gather with the friends, families, and supporters who make their ministry possible, while also recognizing ecclesial and civic leaders whose accomplishments have greatly served the Catholic faith.
Rooted in the Benedictine tradition of hospitality, Abbot’s Table is more than a dinner; it is an opportunity for the monastic community to express gratitude for and celebrate the people whose lives in the world advance the causes and values rooted in the monks’ calling within the cloister.
Abbot’s Table is also a way for the monastic community of St. Benedict’s Abbey to honor outstanding members of the community with the Lumen Vitae Medal.
The Lumen Vitae Medal is presented each year to two honorees — individuals, families or organizations — whose work and service reflect the values of the abbey and the church. These honorees are selected by the monastic community and recognized for their cherished contributions to the church and society, building up God’s kingdom on earth.
This year’s recipients of
the Lumen Vitae Medal were all councils of the Knights of Columbus in Kansas, as well as former Supreme Knight Carl Anderson and his wife Dorian Anderson. Both medalists are outstanding examples of faith-filled service to the church. Through charitable giving, community strengthening and outspoken evangelization, both honorees give inspiration to all who meet them.
The Knights of Columbus in Kansas were honored this year
especially for service in providing resources for local communities and hosting opportunities for church members to gather together in fellowship. Since the first state convention in 1902, the Kansas Knights’ service has included contributions to the war efforts during the First and Second World Wars, advancing the pro-life cause through fundraisers and public demonstrations, and much more.
Carl and Dorian Anderson have both distinguished them-
selves in their personal capacities by serving the Knights of Columbus at the national level, bringing the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family to Washington, D.C., and by uplifting the pro-life cause through the Knights of Columbus initiative to donate ultrasound technology to pregnancy resource centers.
Before being presented with the Lumen Vitae Medal by Abbot James Albers, OSB, the Kansas Knights of Colum-
bus and Carl and Dorian Anderson were each introduced with a tribute video highlighting their contributions to the greater church community.
This year’s 13th Abbot’s Table, held at the Overland Park Convention Center on April 18, began with Mass celebrated by Archbishop Shawn McKnight, joined by Archbishop Emeritus Joseph F. Naumann and Abbot James. The evening then continued into a social hour, dinner and videos featuring the monks of St. Benedict’s Abbey.
Over the years, these videos have become a sure highlight for the monks and guests alike. With videos ranging from humorous moments in monastic life to historical highlights in the order’s history, there is something new every year.
In a conversation with Garrick Lambert, event coordinator for St. Benedict’s Abbey, Lambert shared how important this banquet is to the monks.
“The Abbot’s Table is a unique event where the monks set aside a date once a year to step out of the daily structure of prayer and work, to spend quality time with their friends and supporters,” said Lambert.
To view any of the Abbot’s Table videos from the event, please go to: www.kansasmonks.org/lumen-vitae-xiii.
The monks look forward to gathering again next year on April 3, 2027.
PHOTO BY SHELBY BLAND, ST. BENEDICT’S ABBEY
Lumen Vitae recipient Carl Anderson, center, stands with members of the St. Benedict’s College Knights of Columbus Council as the Abbot’s Table event draws to a close.
PHOTO BY REECE NEWMAN, ST. BENEDICT’S ABBEY
Abbot James Albers, OSB, greets Gary Wondra as Wondra accepts the Lumen Vitae medal on behalf of all councils of the Knights of Columbus in Kansas.
By Olivia Martin-Davies olivia.martin@theleaven.org
KSHARING THE STORY
Social media across the archdiocese
ANSAS CITY, Kan. — Leftover-based casseroles. Playing outside despite the rain. Packing in as many activities as possible on vacation.
These scenarios have something in common: They’re the products of a “make the most of it” mentality.
That is exactly what schools and institutions across the archdiocese are doing with their social media accounts.
From working through personnel and resource constraints to navigating a difficult online landscape, the archdiocese is home to some exceptional people who work hard to share the good news happening in their communities.
Mission-forward
Melissa Schramp, a middle school teacher at St. Benedict School in Atchison, has seen firsthand how social media is uniquely positioned to inform and uplift.
Schramp manages the school’s Facebook and Instagram accounts, and she relies on the school’s mission to guide every post.
“The purpose of our social media is to educate the whole child in a Christ-centered environment, with the ultimate goal of creating Christian disciples,” said Schramp. “I really want people to see that we are living out that mission.”
And that’s one of social media’s biggest assets: showing how real people are living truth, goodness and beauty.
Marissa Easter, chief communications officer, manages the social media outreach of the archdiocese with input from Archbishop Shawn McKnight. The media channel strategy, she said, reflects the importance he places on both the archdiocese’s and his personal social media pages uplifting people. It is important, he believes, to help make social media a Christian space.
“Social media can be great, but it can also be pretty negative,” said Easter. “[Archbishop McKnight] wants to be a voice that uplifts people so when they’re scrolling, they’ll stop and feel encouraged when they see what he’s saying.”
Stephanie Nash, the interim director of communications for the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth, shared that when Catholic institutions have an active presence on social media, they have an opportunity to bring the Gospel to people wherever they are.
“Come along with us on this journey of loving all of God’s creation. The Gospel doesn’t die, and we want to take you with us,” said Nash.
Sarah McCambridge, director of marketing at Bishop Miege High School in Roeland Park, echoed Nash.
“We want to celebrate Miege, we want to celebrate its goodness. Our community is one of a kind,” said McCambridge. “We love showcasing our faith.”
Lindsay Franco, the physical education department chair at Bishop Miege, helps McCambridge manage the school’s various social media accounts.
They’ve found that different platforms reach different audiences: Instagram and TikTok for students and
How to leverage your social media
• Bounce ideas off someone else
• Look at other pages for inspiration
• Follow other like-minded pages. Tag them and share their posts
• Set aside dedicated planning time
• Review the analytics
• Know your target audience
• Post regularly
Where to reach audiences by age group
• Young people: Instagram and TikTok
• Parents and grandparents: Facebook and X
• Alumni and working professionals: LinkedIn and X
Content tools
• Scheduling: Hootsuite, Meta Business Suite
• Design: Canva
• Video: Reels template feature in Instagram
Posts that increase engagement
• Photos
• Trends
• Series (saint of the day, history posts, etc.)
• Competitions
young alumni, LinkedIn for professional-age alumni and Facebook for parents and grandparents.
“Our LinkedIn is really just growing with our alums,” said Franco. “They all kind of are serving their own unique purpose right now.”
Time and talent
On social media, photos are the surest path to engagement.
“I’m playing around with what number of photos is the most impactful,” said Schramp “We get a lot of engagement with them and it’s always so fun when grandparents or parents or even the kids can see the fun that happens at our school.”
McCambridge and Franco have found, especially with young audiences, that trendy posts perform well.
“The kids come up with a lot of the ideas,” said Franco. “I can say, ‘We need this video for open house.’ And they’re like, ‘Done. We can do this.’”
While not every organization has ready access to young people’s creativity and brainstorming, Franco stressed that collaboration is necessary, nonetheless, for a successful social media presence.
“I could not imagine not having someone else to just bounce ideas off of,” she said.
“There’s going to be someone in
FACEBOOK SCREENSHOT
The Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth have an active presence on social media. “Come along with us on this journey of loving all of God’s creation. The Gospel doesn’t die, and we want to take you with us,” said Stephanie Nash, the interim director of communications for the Sisters.
FACEBOOK SCREENSHOT
Carol Cowdrey, vice president of marketing and communications at Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas, said that though challenging, posting frequently should be a top priority, too. “It’s critical to keep content fresh so that your followers will remain engaged,” she said. >>
St. Ann outreach helps neighbors find a place to call home
By Marc and Julie Anderson mjanderson@theleaven.org
PRAIRIE VILLAGE — Sponges. Dish rags. Towels.
They’re items most households use without a second thought — scrub a pan, wipe a counter, dry a spill, then replace them when they wear out. But for families emerging from homelessness, those everyday essentials carry a different meaning. They represent stability, dignity and the first signs of a new beginning — small but powerful reminders that a place is truly home.
That understanding is motivating parishioners at St. Ann Parish in Prairie Village to act. Stephanie Kucera, the parish’s minister of mercy, is organizing a donation drive focused on these simple household goods as reStart Inc. prepares to open its new Family Lodge later this month.
For 45 years, reStart has worked to end homelessness in the Kansas City area by providing shelter, supportive services and housing solutions for individuals and families. Its goal, leaders say, is not only to offer a safe place to stay, but to equip families with the resources and guidance needed to achieve lasting stability.
Located in a former hotel at 3517 Main St. in Kansas City, Missouri, the Family Lodge will significantly expand those efforts. The facility will more than triple reStart’s capacity for family transitional housing — growing from 13 families to 45 — while also freeing up space at its downtown site to serve more single adults.
The expansion comes at a time when homelessness continues to rise across the metro. Federal housing data shows that nearly all people experiencing chronic homelessness in Kansas City are unsheltered, one of the highest rates in the nation.
“At St. Ann’s, living the works of mercy is one of our pastoral priorities,” Kucera said. “My role is to help create and grow opportunities so we can truly be the hands of Christ — not only within our parish, but out in the community.”
Kucera, who has been in her role only a few months, said she first learned about reStart through her pastor, Father Mitchel Zimmerman. As she explored ways the parish could help, she kept returning to a quote attributed to St. Teresa of Calcutta: “Wash the plate not because it’s dirty nor because you are told to wash it, but because you love the person who will use it next.”
“I think we all have tasks we sometimes see as burdens — dishes, laundry — but really they’re signs of our blessings,” Kucera said. “We have food. We have clothing. We have a
Stephanie Boyer, CEO of reStart, Inc., stands outside the soon-to-be opened Family Lodge. Housed in a former hotel at 3517 Main Street in Kansas City, Missouri, the property will serve as the metro area’s only transitional housing for families, allowing reStart to triple its capacity from 13 to 45 families. The current building at reStart’s headquarters, 918 E 9th Street, will be slightly renovated and reconfigured to shelter 45 adults, further increasing reStart’s capacity. The organization purchased the hotel in late 2025 and hopes to open as Family Lodge in late May or early June.
I THINK WE ALL HAVE TASKS WE SOMETIMES SEE AS BURDENS — DISHES, LAUNDRY — BUT REALLY THEY’RE SIGNS OF OUR BLESSINGS. WE HAVE FOOD. WE HAVE CLOTHING. WE HAVE A HOME.
STEPHANIE KUCERA
MINISTER OF MERCY AT ST. ANN PARISH IN PRAIRIE VILLAGE
home. Those small items are the building blocks of a full home.”
That perspective has shaped the parish’s response.
In addition to practical kitchen items, some parishioners
have asked about donating picture frames, candles and vases — touches that help transform an apartment into a welcoming space.
“We’re trying to go beyond the corporal work of mercy to
connections to education and community resources. Meeting rooms throughout the building will provide private spaces for those services, while an enclosed parking lot and secure playground address needs families have voiced in the past.
Even with these expanded resources, demand continues to grow.
In 2024, reStart received 414 calls from families it could not accommodate due to limited space. In 2025, that number jumped 73% to 718 calls. Boyer expects the need to keep rising — and possibly more than double in 2026.
Rising housing costs are a major factor. Rent in Kansas City has increased between 30% and 50% in recent years, pushing many families to the brink. Some are currently staying in hotels, barely managing to keep up with payments.
But that situation may soon worsen. Boyer said many hotels are expected to raise rates June 1 ahead of the FIFA World Cup, for which Kansas City is one of the hosts. At the same time, some landlords are choosing not to renew leases in order to capitalize on shortterm rental opportunities during the event.
“We’re already getting calls from families who weren’t expecting to move, but their leases aren’t being renewed,” Boyer said.
As new families arrive, reStart is also planning for those who move on. When residents transition into permanent housing, they will be able to take many essential items with them — from towels to cookware — helping them establish stability in their new homes.
But that creates an ongoing need.
“Most everybody comes in with one bag of stuff per person,” Boyer said. “They’ve had to leave so much behind. They’re truly starting over.”
As families move out, volunteers will be needed to prepare units for the next residents — making small repairs, patching walls and refreshing apartments so they’re ready to welcome another family.
creating that feeling of home and safety,” Kucera said.
At the Family Lodge, those efforts will meet a broad range of needs. The facility will include 45 suite-style apartments — from studios to three-bedroom units — each equipped with a kitchenette and bathroom. There will also be a dedicated study space for children, where volunteers can provide tutoring, as well as a food pantry where families can select groceries to prepare their own meals.
Families typically stay three to six months, receiving individualized case management, help with housing searches, employment support and
For both Boyer and Kucera, the work reflects a deeper call to compassion.
“The mission we have is really what Jesus calls us to do — to love our neighbor and walk with them without judgment,” Boyer said. “People end up here for many different reasons, and they’re reasons that could happen to any one of us. If we think it couldn’t, we’re kidding ourselves.
“Our mission is about showing up for people and offering a helping hand.”
For more information about reStart and how to support its mission, visit: www. restartinc.org.
LEAVEN PHOTO BY MARC ANDERSON
Seminary’s program both challenging and well-rounded
>> Continued from page 1
At the Josephinum, that universal dimension of the church is not theoretical — it is lived daily through prayer, study, hospitality and community life. Archbishop McKnight believes this environment is essential for forming priests who will serve parishes and schools across northeast Kansas.
Father Ken Brighenti, Ph.D., vice-rector of the configuration stage and assistant professor, is also the co-author of the “Catholicism for Dummies” series.
He describes formation as an integrated process.
“We try to integrate and I think everything comes together in their pastoral formation — their intellectual, their spiritual and their human formation, because human formation is very important,” he said. “Because it could be a bridge to people, or it could be a block. So, that’s what we work on a lot in formation itself. But it all converges in the pastoral.”
He often explains the process with a visual analogy.
“When Michelangelo saw a block of marble and he said, ‘Oh, this is going to be the Pieta,’ but it had a flaw in it, he didn’t see the flaws,” he said. “So, when you first start, big chards come off, and then later on, you’re polishing it, you’re refining it . . . until we see the masterpiece that we see today.”
Father Brighenti applies that image directly to seminary formation.
“At first, big chards come off and then later on in formation, that’s where we refine it — and also in spiritual direction. That’s what spiritual direction is, formation.”
For Archbishop McKnight, this kind of formation must reflect the diversity of the church itself.
“In my mind and in my vision, having some of our seminarians here helps to instill that sense of mission in our priests to serve everyone in our community back home in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas,” he said.
He emphasized the realities of a multicultural church.
“Because of the multicultural character of our local church, I think once one has an understanding of the diversity of cultures within the Catholic Church and the fact when one is called to be a priest, he’s not called to be a priest for just one type, but for all, for everyone,” he said.
That vision extends to parish life itself. Archbishop McKnight explains.
“The real goal here is to eventually
have every parish in the archdiocese . . . welcoming and [prepared to] accept anybody who feels called to enter our doorways and to join our communities.
“And that we have priests who are equipped and are ready to help them.”
The Josephinum’s formation culture is also deeply shaped by relationships.
For Msgr. Steven Beseau, rector and president of the Josephinum, his connection with Archbishop McKnight spans more than 25 years. (During this visit, Cardinal Christophe Pierre announced that Father Beseau had been appointed a Chaplain to His Holiness, or a monsignor.)
“I met Archbishop McKnight back when he was Father McKnight,” Msgr. Beseau said. “Both of us were studying in Rome at the Casa Santa Maria (dell’Umiltà) in the late 1990s. I’ve known Archbishop McKnight since 2000, so over 25 years.”
That relationship evolved into collaboration.
“When I became the rector of the Josephinum, he was one of the first bishops I called and said, ‘Would you serve on the board?’ And he agreed,” he said. “So, I’ve had the privilege of working with him as a board member, and then as a bishop who has entrusted us with his seminarians.”
For Archbishop McKnight, those relationships are not secondary; they are central to priestly formation. And ultimately, his decision rested on a con-
viction formed long before he became a bishop.
“What makes a human institution memorable are the people we encounter there,” he said.
“My fellow students and seminarians, the faculty, the rector and those involved here at the Josephinum all made an impression upon me,” he said. “As well as those with whom I served in the outlying areas and in the various parishes and hospitals I was assigned to over the years.”
The archbishop suggests that it’s those encounters that really shape a priest for ministry. At the Josephinum, formation is intentionally challenging and well-rounded, shaping seminarians spiritually, intellectually, pastorally and in their human development.
“The future of the church passes by way of the seminary,” said Msgr. Beseau. “A good priest makes all the difference for a parish, a good priest makes all the difference for a high school,” he said.
“These are good men,” he continued. “They’re honestly seeking the Lord’s will in their lives.” He described seminarians who are not seeking recognition, but faithfulness.
“Christ is the solution. Jesus Christ is always the solution,” he said. “And I want to be a part of the response.”
That formation process is structured and deliberate.
“To say that a guy’s not ready to enter
doesn’t mean that he doesn’t have a vocation,” said Dr. Perry Cahall, academic dean of the School of Theology. “It just means at this moment in time, he’s not at the point where he could receive formation and benefit from it.”
Once admitted, seminarians enter a disciplined but communal way of life. “It’s a very solid day from sometimes 5:45 a.m. to 9 at night,” Msgr. Beseau said. “There’s not a lot of downtime built into the schedule.” Still, community life remains central.
Father Nicholas Monaghan, STL, vice-rector for discipleship formation, noted that theology is made concrete in daily life.
“We make theology come alive rather than remain abstract for the seminarians by drawing on the tradition that we have in the seminary; we teach what the tradition of the church is, but also we apply it to how we’re living today,” he said.
While the Josephinum is independent of any diocese, it maintains a close working relationship with the Diocese of Columbus led by Bishop Earl Fernandes. The surrounding local church has experienced significant growth.
“There’s a real significant growth here in Columbus,” Msgr. Beseau said. “They’ve doubled in five years — the numbers of Catholics, the numbers of religious orders, the numbers of seminarians.”
“That growth,” he added, “is part of the seminary’s daily life.
“We’re not isolated from the church — we’re very much in the life of the church here.”
And he sees many similarities between the two dioceses, making Josephinum a good fit for an archdiocese preparing seminarians to minister to a diverse population.
For Archbishop McKnight, that integration of formation, community, and church life is exactly why he is sending seminarians to the Josephinum. It is a place where future priests are shaped not only academically, but relationally and spiritually within the wider church.
Ultimately, his decision rests on a conviction formed long before he became a bishop.
“What makes a human institution memorable are the people we encounter there,” said Archbishop McKnight.
“In those encounters — between seminarians, formators and the broader church — the future of the priesthood continues to quietly take shape,” he said.
LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER
Diocese of Jefferson City, Missouri, Bishop Ralph O’Donnell welcomes the congregation at Mass in the St. Turibius Chapel at the Pontifical College Josephinum. Behind Bishop O’Donnell are Father Dylan James, Father Dan Morris, Father Timothy Skoch, Bishop Stephen Lopes, Archbishop McKnight and Bishop Steven Raica.
Shawnee garden renamed to honor Father Jim White
By Jill Ragar Esfeld jill.esfeld@theleaven.org
SHAWNEE — In celebration of Earth Day 2026, the Good Shepherd Parish community here rededicated its community garden.
Donna Cornett, caretaker of the garden, said, “The new name will be the Father Jim White Memorial Garden; Father played such an important part in our garden.”
Family members of Father Jim White, SJ, were in attendance, as pastor, Father Kent O’Connor, led the dedication and blessed the garden.
High school junior Anna Gast from American Heritage Girls Troop KS0138 earned her American Heritage Girls Stars and Stripes Award by creating a beautiful berm garden around the dedication plaque.
“[Father Jim] made a considerable impact on our community by always sharing the love of Jesus with everyone through the celebration of the Mass and his incredible homilies,” said Gast. “Something very special about Father Jim White is that he would always bring fresh eggs to sell from his chicken farm after the Masses.”
The garden dedication was followed by a celebration that included an opportunity to receive free seeds from the Kansas City Community Gardens and learn about gardening and composting from master gardener Jack Carson.
American Heritage Girls were on hand to help families decorate cookies, get temporary tattoos or a face painting.
The Good Shepherd community garden helps to support people who are food insecure by supplying local food pantries with fresh produce.
LEAVEN
PHOTO BY JILL RAGAR ESFELD
High school junior Anna Gast from American Heritage Girls Troop KS0138 earned her American Heritage Girls Stars and Stripes Award by creating a berm garden in Good Shepherd Parish’s community garden around a plaque dedicated to the late Father Jim White, SJ. The community garden was renamed the Father Jim White Memorial Garden on Earth Day 2026.
Horses help heroes recover from invisible wounds
By Therese Horvat
Special to The Leaven
BASEHOR — When horses interact with heroes who are hurting, healing happens through the equine-assisted psychotherapy (EAP) program based in Leavenworth County.
People come to Horses & Heroes, Inc. (H&H), with different wounds. Most have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and many have experienced childhood trauma.
The primary audiences served by H&H are the military, first responders and their families. They receive eight hours of private therapy at no cost.
Julie Baker, H&H founder and executive director and member of Holy Angels Parish, Basehor, with her husband Rob, explains it this way.
“Our clients struggle with invisible wounds that negatively impact every aspect of their lives,” she said. “They feel broken, unworthy and a burden to their loved ones. Our aim is to help them understand that PTSD, like any other wound, can be mended.”
At H&H, clients don’t ride horses. They relate to them in calm, open spaces with certified equine specialists and licensed mental health clinicians observing and interjecting prompts and questions. H&H horses are donated or rescued; some have experienced trauma, abuse or neglect, or been headed for slaughter.
Horses hard-wired
Baker explains that horses’ nervous systems are hard-wired to notice subtle
shifts in emotions, facial expressions, stress responses, and unspoken intentions and feelings. Without training, horses universally express behaviors and respond uniquely to each client.
During client sessions, horse behavior patterns emerge. Without providing an interpretation, the clinician asks the client about the observed behaviors.
“The opportunity for clients to interpret horse behaviors is fundamental to the root of their own struggles,” explained Baker. “Because questions are posed as horse-centered (and not about the person), clients unintentionally express insights into their own relationships, experiences or false narratives that may keep them locked in a cycle of
destructive behaviors, self-doubt, harmful addictions, or suicidal ideations.”
Toward improved mental health
In this emotionally safe environment, clients can examine relationships, reactions and patterns emerging. Equine specialists and clinicians present ideas clients may not have considered. This process leads toward the development of new connections to neural pathways in the brain and the beginnings of new thoughts, beliefs and healthier attitudes.
“The integrated therapies H&H offers,” said Baker, “touch the parts of cli-
H&H backstory
Three occurrences in Julie Baker’s life influenced the development of H&H. At age 12, she earned the trust of her first rescue horse. Later, she spent 14 years as a military spouse in a marriage that ended in divorce. In 2010, her stepmother took her own life. A convert to Catholicism and remarried, Baker directed her thoughts and prayers toward determining a way to link rescue horses, needs of military families and mental health services. Her “God moment” came in October 2013 when she discovered a website about equine-assisted therapy with a tie-in to the military. Horses & Heroes sprung from that moment. Incorporated as a non-profit in 2014, H&H saw its first clients in 2015. The organization operated on leased land until the 2023 purchase of acreage in Leavenworth County and the addition of a large barn and office space.
ents’ nervous systems that foster safety, trust and true healing.”
Therapeutic massage and other modalities for pain and stress relief are also available.
H&H also offers fee-based services for the public and skill-building topics for groups.
As a non-profit organization, H&H relies on fees, donations and grants for operations. During May’s Mental Health Awareness Month observance, H&H is a partner in and beneficiary of the national Horses for Mental Health fundraising campaign. Visit: https://horsesformentalhealth.org/campaigns/horses-heroes-inc/# to donate to H&H.
LEAVEN PHOTO BY KATHRYN WHITE
Julie Baker, Horses & Heroes founder and executive director, brushes down Ellie. Baker is a member of Holy Angels Parish in Basehor. At H&H, clients don’t ride horses. They relate to them in calm, open spaces with certified equine specialists and licensed mental health clinicians observing.
LEAVEN PHOTO BY KATHRYN WHITE
Shannon Danley, Horses & Heroes operations director, pets Sundance, one of the many horses used for therapy.
& HEROES
Clients attest to benefits of equine-assisted therapy
By Therese Horvat Special to The Leaven
Julie Baker, H&H founder and executive director, believes clients have their own answers to issues they are facing. The horse/client interaction draws out both issues and answers as borne out by the law enforcement officer and three veterans whose stories follow.
Billy D.
When Billy D., a law enforcement officer, first visited H&H with his agency’s peer support team, he had few expectations. He subsequently became a proponent of equine-assisted therapy.
During his initial visit, a small, ornery horse gravitated toward him. Billy didn’t know the horse’s story but when asked to name her, he called the mare “Survivor.” He sensed that she’d been through a lot — just as he had been. Upon learning the horse had been spared from slaughter, Billy welled up with emotion.
During an obstacle course exercise, the horse resisted participation, and a tug-of-war ensued. At the equine specialist’s suggestion, instead of pulling the lead rope, Billy talked to the horse. “Survivor” proceeded to walk with him, and they completed the course together.
“In the tug-of-wars of life,” said Billy, “I would plow my way through and meet resistance with force. My experience with this horse helped change me.”
As an H&H client, Billy came to realize that the horrific incidents he’s encountered in law enforcement compounded the childhood trauma he experienced and suppressed. As a kid, Billy felt that he didn’t fit in; he faced negativity and abuse. In law enforcement, he thought he was going to stop all bad things from happening.
At H&H, Billy identified as part of the herd. He learned to accept that not everything’s going to be great and that he can help people to the extent he is able.
After a homicide or a shooting, or a conflict with an officer, Billy now steps back to assess and discuss the situation. He’s become more of an open book and grown comfortable explaining his feelings rather than suppressing them or lashing out. He believes that equine-assisted therapy changed him for the better.
Ted J.
The recent war with Iran brings back painful memories for Ted J., Marine Corps veteran who served in the first Gulf War as an avionics technician.
Ted had the added assignment of morgue detail — retrieval of bodies of fellow troops killed in battle. Thankfully, duty didn’t call. However, during training, Ted saw bodies of dead Iraqis.
“This horrified me,” he recalled. “I thought, ‘This is real.’ Before, it was like playing a game at being a Marine.”
Ted left the military with PTSD. From 1992 to 2011, he had difficulties holding down a regular job. He was wrecked emotionally and became homeless. He participated in a Veterans Administration (VA) rehab program and eventually received a 100% disability rating.
Through H&H’s equine-assisted therapy, Ted came to realize that he needed community — including the herd of horses — to help him understand himself.
Ted learned to allow himself to be vulnerable, to be present and to not try to control everything. He’s more resilient. While he finds the horrors of today’s war with Iran distressing, they are not debilitating for him.
“I’m able to handle stresses better,” he said.
Ted’s also learned from H&H horses that trauma is not the end of the story. There’s still a good life to be lived.
Jason J.
Jason J. lived in denial of PTSD for 15 years. He was deployed by the Army to Iraq in 2003. Detonation of an improvised explosive device resulted in the death of his best friend and two other troops. Jason sustained shrapnel injuries.
In civilian life, his wife and kids tried to convince him that he was experiencing PTSD, but Jason had built a wall around himself. He thought PTSD would cause people to look at him differently. He refrained from showing his emotions.
Jason entered talk therapy through the VA system, but that didn’t work for him. After hearing about H&H from friends, his wife told him about the program.
Unfamiliar with horses, Jason’s first visit to H&H was intimidating. The largest horse in the herd approached him. That same horse struck the unusual pose of standing on three legs. Jason associated this with the fact that his war wounds included shrapnel in his left leg.
“Horses can’t talk,” he observed, “but they can communicate, reading what’s going on with a person.”
In another session, Jason assigned significance to a backpack as representative of his past. He placed it on the barn floor with no horses in sight.
When the horses entered the barn, they began stomping on the backpack. Jason interpreted this as encouragement for him to let go of his past. When one horse approached and nuzzled him, Jason petted the animal, and his tears fell freely. Mission accomplished, the horse fell asleep.
“I felt like a different person when I completed the program at H&H,” Jason said. His family relationships and communication skills have improved.
“I would recommend H&H to anyone,” he said.
KC
KC describes his entire life as one trauma after another. He spent 11 years in foster care. Aging out of that system, he was temporarily homeless. He was in two marriages that didn’t work but that gave him two sons.
In the Navy for 20 years, his job was to keep weapon systems in top-notch condition. He also participated in operations that confiscated illegal drugs. During his Navy career, KC was in over 50 countries across five continents.
Yet, he remained haunted by the foster kid who never had a real home or a network of people to support him.
Attempting to save his second marriage, KC and his wife enrolled in a couples’ program hosted by H&H. The marriage failed, but KC gained a valuable mental health resource.
Through H&H, he learned to give himself permission to be what he calls “the horse in my life.” He explains that as herd animals, horses walk toward things that feel good and away from the bad. They’ve taught KC to walk toward the good in life.
“I’ll always be that foster kid, but I’m no longer embarrassed or ashamed,” he said.
One of the things hurting KC was his silence. The horses provided him with a buffer to express himself more openly and helped KC save himself.
For more information or to make a donation, go to: www.horsesandheroes.org or call (913) 210-5678.
COURTESY PHOTO
Billy D. has a bonding moment while Zita takes a rest. Billy is a law enforcement officer who has seen some horrific incidents in his time. He’s become a strong proponent of equine-assisted therapy.
LEAVEN PHOTO BY KATHRYN WHITE
Ted J. was a Marine Corps veteran who saw bodies of dead Iraqis that “horrified” him. Ted left the military with PTSD. He came to realize that he needed community — including the herd of horses — to help him understand himself.
LEAVEN PHOTO BY THERESE HORVAT
Jason J. lived in denial of PTSD for 15 years. After hearing about H&H, he decided to give it a try. “I felt like a different person when I completed the program at H&H,” Jason said. Above, he spends some time with Pusher.
Thousands trapped in Hormuz blockade
By Gina Christian OSV News
WASHINGTON (OSV News) — As the U.S. and Iran face off over the Strait of Hormuz, Catholic maritime ministry leaders are calling for prayer and support for the thousands of souls trapped at sea amid the war.
“We have organized prayers of intercession, and many of our chaplains are trying to reach out to see how we can advocate,” said Sister Joanna Okerke, the U.S. national director of Stella Maris, the Catholic Church’s maritime apostolate, the name of which invokes the Marian title of “Our Lady, Star of the Sea.”
At times referenced as the Apostleship of the Sea, the initiative traces its origins to 1920s Scotland and has enjoyed the support of numerous popes, including St. John Paul II — who provided updated norms for the work in 1997 — and, most recently, Pope Leo XIV. The apostolate is overseen by the Vatican’s Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development.
In the U.S., Auxiliary Bishop Frank Schuster of Seattle is the bishop promoter for Stella Maris.
An estimated 20,000 seafarers are currently stranded in the Persian Gulf, according to the International Maritime Organization, the United Nations agency tasked with ensuring maritime safety, security and environmental compliance.
IMO secretary-general Arsenio Dominguez shared that figure in an April 16 interview with CNN, describing the seafarers’ situation as “terrible.”
“It is the mental health, it’s the fatigue that these innocent seafarers are actually going through,” he told CNN host Richard Quest.
Dominguez said he was “very grateful to the countries in the region, because they continue to provide the essential supplies, even with the challenges that exist.”
But, he warned, “the longer that this conflict goes on,” the more the situation at sea “becomes a crisis.”
Iran officially closed the Strait of
The Epaminondas cargo ship is seized by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in the Strait of Hormuz in this image obtained by Reuters April 24. As the U.S. and Iran face off over the Strait of Hormuz, Catholic maritime ministry leaders are calling for prayer and support for the thousands of souls trapped at sea amid the war.
Hormuz — a key maritime chokepoint connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman — on March 4, days after the U.S. and Israel launched joint Feb. 28 attacks that killed several of Iran’s top officials, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Throughout the war, both Iran and the U.S. have blockaded the strait, continuing to do so despite a ceasefire and a brief respite in the stranglehold on marine traffic. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said at an April 24 press briefing that the stoppage would remain in place “for as long as it takes.”
At least seven seafarers were killed in March as ships came under attack, with Dominguez issuing a March 6 statement calling the blockade “unacceptable and unsustainable.”
At the outset of the war, Bishop Luis Quinteiro Fiuza, interim president of the Apostleship of the Sea, wrote to the Stella Maris bishop promoters worldwide, with the text summarized in an April 17 Facebook post by Stella Maris in the United Kingdom.
“Bishop Luis expressed deep concern about the current military operations and heightened tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and their direct impact on seafarers,” said Stella Maris U.K. in its post. “These are civilian men and women who are not part of the conflict, yet through their daily work they
sustain families, support global trade, and serve the common good. Despite this, many now find themselves operating in conditions of heightened tension, facing fear, uncertainty, and real danger.”
The post quoted from the bishop’s letter, saying, “We invite the entire Apostleship of the Sea family to pray, for those in high-risk areas, for their safety and protection from harm, and for the families who wait at home with concern.”
The blockade has made an already difficult and dangerous profession more deadly, said Sister Joanna, a member of the Handmaids of the Holy Child Jesus order.
“This issue is affecting many people,” she said. “Many are still at sea, and their families are worried. This is disintegrating families.”
Doreen Badeaux, secretary general of the nonprofit Apostleship of the Sea of the United States of America, told OSV News that concerns about the stranded seafarers were discussed at the group’s conference earlier in April.
“It’s the tremendous stress that they’re under,” recounted Badeaux, whose organization serves as the professional and educational association for Catholic maritime ministers, cruise ship priests, mariners and others who support maritime ministry.
Patron saints named for World Youth Day 2027
By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News
SEOUL, South Korea (OSV News) — Organizers in Seoul, South Korea, announced five patron saints for World Youth Day 2027 that reflect the themes of truth, peace and love that are at the heart of the youth gathering.
The five saints selected by the WYD Organizing Committee include: St. John Paul II, who founded the World Youth Day celebration; St. Andrew Kim Taegon, the first Korean Catholic priest, and companions who were martyred; St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, patron saint of immigrants; St. Josephine Bakhita, patron saint of victims of human trafficking and modern slavery; and St. Carlo Acutis, the millennial saint known for his use of technology to evangelize.
According to the Asian Catholic news site Licas News, organizers said the lives of the patron saints reflected on issues relevant today, includ-
ing persecution, migration and social struggle, making them appropriate guides for the global event.
The process of choosing the event’s patron saints began in late 2024, including a survey of young people, youth ministers and pastoral workers, followed by deliberations by the organizing committee, Licas News reported.
Volunteers also studied the lives and spirituality of the saints chosen to prepare prayers and their respective symbolic representations. Among the symbols chosen were a crozier for St. John Paul II and a computer for St. Carlo Acutis.
Commenting on the announcement, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, prefect of the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life, said the patron saints “play a fundamental role in the preparation” of every WYD.
“They invite young people, formators, and pastors to reflect on the gift of God’s call, on our baptismal, priestly, religious, and marital vocations,
Cardinal urges vote to stop expansion of assisted suicide
TORONTO (OSV News) — A vote for the Right to Recover Act would be a vote to “choose life and not death” and build a civilization that cares, Cardinal Frank Leo said in April 20 letters to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and all members of Parliament from the Toronto area.
The measure, Bill C-218, proposes to amend Canada’s criminal code to permanently prohibit medical assistance in dying, or MAiD, for individuals solely living with a mental illness. The bill aims to reverse the scheduled March 17, 2027, expansion of MAiD eligibility.
Parliament was supposed to debate the legislation in April, but its order of precedence in the House has been pushed back. No date for debate has been set.
In his April 20 letters, Cardinal Leo, Toronto’s archbishop, reminded the prime minister and MPs that a society “is rightly judged” by its care for its most vulnerable members.
He said many Canadians are “increasingly troubled” by the expansion of MAiD since legislation was passed legalizing the practice in 2016. According to Canada’s sixth annual report on MAiD, issued in November 2025, there have been 76,475 MAiD provisions in the nation since the program’s 2016 legalization.
Diocese of Peoria releases schedule for Sheen beatification
PEORIA, Illinois (OSV News) — The Diocese of Peoria, Illinois, has released a full schedule of events ahead of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen’s Sept. 24 beatification, inviting pilgrims to “go deeper” and “transform your trip into a sacred journey.”
encouraging us to respond to it with generosity and courage in following Christ, who has conquered the world, as the theme of the upcoming WYD reminds us,” he said, according to Licas News.
Cardinal Farrell expressed his hope that the lives and witness of the five patron saints “inspire young people around the world, especially in contexts marked by difficulties and persecution, to see that holiness is not a distant ideal, to fix their gaze on Christ and to respond generously to his call.”
Korean Archbishop Peter SoonTaick Chung of Seoul, president of the WYD organizing committee, noted that each saint “offers a concrete path for living out the faith amidst the realities that young people face today.”
“I hope that young people will discover in these saints examples for their own lives and, through the journey of preparation for World Youth Day, forge a deep spiritual bond with them,” he said.
“The Sheen Pilgrimage is a spiritual experience centered around prayer, reflection, and celebration,” the diocese said. “Beginning in Peoria, Illinois, on September 15, this pilgrimage includes the anniversary of Sheen’s ordination, the historic Beatification Mass, and culminates in celebratory Masses and the Sheen Award Gala.”
Events begin with a Sept. 15-23 novena at Peoria’s cathedral and include a Sept. 20 anniversary Mass. Celebrations then move to St. Louis for Sept. 23 vespers and the beatification at The Dome at America’s Center.
“With anticipation of a great number of people wanting to participate, we chose [The Dome] because of availability, being indoors, and the close proximity to the Diocese of Peoria,” Bishop Tylka said.
“Whether you come for a day or the entire week,” the diocese said, “this is an opportunity to walk in the footsteps of a remarkable spiritual leader and grow in faith alongside pilgrims from around the world.”
OSV NEWS PHOTO/MEYSAM MIRZADEH/TASNIM/WEST ASIA NEWS AGENCY VIA REUTERS
EMPLOYMENT
Business manager - St. Francis de Sales Church in Lansing is looking for a part-time business manager. The business manager is a steward of the physical, financial and personnel resources. The ideal candidate should have a college degree and/or equivalent business experience. Must have a working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications and be able to work independently with minimal supervision. Applicant must be a practicing Catholic. Full job description provided to candidates. Some evening and weekend work required. For more information, email: businessmanager@stfrancislansing. org or call the office at (913) 727-3742.
Bookkeeper - St. Francis de Sales Church in Lansing is looking for a part-time bookkeeper. The ideal candidate should have an associate’s degree, or equivalent business experience. Must have a working knowledge of QuickBooks and Microsoft Office applications. Applicant must be a practicing Catholic. Full job description provided to candidates. For more information, email: businessmanager@stfrancislansing.org or call the office at (913) 727-3742.
Facility manager - St. Paul Parish and School in Olathe are seeking a dedicated full-time facility manager to oversee the care and operation of its campus, including the church, school, rectory and outdoor spaces. This hands-on leadership role is responsible for maintaining a safe, welcoming, clean and well-functioning environment for parishioners, students, staff and visitors. The ideal candidate will manage daily maintenance operations, coordinate vendors, supervise custodial staff and plan both short- and long-term facility improvements — all while working collaboratively with parish and school leadership. If you are organized, proactive and take pride in maintaining high-quality spaces, this is a rewarding opportunity to make a lasting impact in a vibrant community. Interested candidates should email resumes to Amy Moritz, director of parish operations, at: amoritz@spcatholic.org.
Director of liturgy and sacred music - The St. Lawrence Center seeks a full-time director to lead an authentically Catholic, vibrant and reverent liturgical life at the University of Kansas. This role oversees the planning and execution of all liturgies in fidelity to the Roman Rite and GIRM, establishes a cohesive liturgical vision and teaches Catholic liturgy through ongoing student formation. Responsibilities include forming and mentoring student liturgical ministers; recruiting, training and directing student singers, musicians and choirs; preparing worship aids; and collaborating with clergy and staff to integrate liturgy into the center’s evangelizing mission. Qualifications: practicing Catholic, degree in liturgy, theology or organ, experience in liturgical ministry, organ and conducting skills required. Evenings, weekends and major liturgical seasons required. Apply to Matt Kemnitz, chief operating officer, at: mkemnitz@kucatholic.org.
Facilities manager - Queen of the Holy Rosary Parish in Overland Park is seeking a dependable and skilled facilities manager to oversee the care, maintenance and stewardship of parish buildings and grounds. This role is essential in ensuring that all facilities remain safe, clean and welcoming, supporting the sacred liturgical life of the church and the many ministries of the parish community. Responsibilities include general maintenance and preventative care of buildings and property, monitoring key systems such as HVAC, plumbing and electrical, and ensuring all spaces are prepared for Masses, sacraments and parish events. The facilities manager will also assist with coordinating vendors, contractors and volunteers. Qualified candidates will have 2-5 years of experience in facilities management or a related field, along with a working knowledge of building systems and general repair practices. This position requires the ability to lift up to 50 pounds and perform physical tasks such as standing, walking, bending and climbing. Strong organizational, communication and problem-solving skills are essential, as is the ability to work both independently and collaboratively with parish staff and clergy. A respect for the mission and teachings of the Catholic Church is required. Apply at: www.queenoftheholyrosary.org.
Stewardship and development coordinator - St. Joseph Church in Shawnee is seeking a full-time stewardship and development coordinator to promote a culture of generosity and support the parish mission. Responsibilities include donor relations, fundraising campaigns, volunteer coordination and major campus events. Candidates should have experience in development, fundraising or ministry, along with strong organizational and communication skills. To learn more or apply, visit: https://church.stjoeshawnee.org/ news/714-now-hiring-2.
CGS catechists - Church of the Nativity and Nativity School in Leawood are seeking trained Catechesis of the Good Shepherd catechists to lead levels 1, 2 and 3 in our parish/school atrium. Candidates interested in fullor part-time employment are encouraged to email Catie Klocke, director of religious education, at: cklocke@kcnativity.org for more information.
Investigator - The archdiocesan office of ministerial standards is seeking to hire an investigator. This position will utilize pertinent interviewing, surveillance and desktop research abilities to fully investigate reported events in areas such as sexual abuse, financial impropriety, serious workplace misconduct and canonical concerns. An associate’s degree or higher is required as well as extensive experience with conducting complex investigations, ideally related to abuse/neglect, human services, law enforcement or compliance. For more information or to apply, please visit “Employment Opportunities” on the archdiocesan website: archkck.org.
Social worker/care manager - Part time (24 hrs/wk). At Two Lines Pregnancy Clinic in Overland Park, 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 LBSW or LMSW to join our team. In this role, you’ll provide direct psychosocial support, education and care coordination for patients navigating pregnancy- related decisions and life circumstances. Working within an environment rooted in excellence, dignity and compassion, you’ll walk alongside women and families with empathy, clarity and professionalism. You’ll play a vital role in ensuring each client receives accurate information, emotional support, appropriate referrals and individualized care planning, while collaborating closely with the clinical team to support holistic patient care. Your impact matters. Whether you’re meeting one-on-one with a client, facilitating education or coordinating resources, your presence will help create moments of hope, stability and empowerment — one meaningful interaction at a time. Key responsibilities: Determine the nature of client’s situation through interviews, observations, questionnaires and on-site visits assessing medical, psychological, emotional, familial and social needs. Educate clients on available resources, options and next steps. Coordinate referrals and community services to support client needs. Collaborate with medical and support staff to ensure integrated, compassionate care. Maintain a peaceful, professional and welcoming environment. Uphold the values and mission of Two Lines Pregnancy Clinic in every interaction. A bit about you: You’re an LBSW or LMSW in good standing. You’re organized, empathetic and steady in emotionally sensitive situations. You’re passionate about walking with women and families through tender, life-changing moments. You’re a person of faith who leads with humility, integrity and compassion. If you are interested in this position, please send resume and cover letter to: AndreaC@twolineskc.com.
Administrative assistant - St. Therese Church in North Kansas City, Missouri, is seeking a full-time administrative assistant to provide comprehensive secretarial and office support to the parish staff. This role requires strong organizational skills, attention to detail and a welcoming, service-oriented approach reflecting a spirit of hospitality and Christian charity. This position is full-time with benefits and averages 35 hours a week. For more information and to apply, visit: https://kcsjcatholic.org/ start/job-openings.
Development director - Cor Christi Catholic Center in Topeka is seeking to hire a full-time development director under the supervision of the center director. Responsibilities include: developing, coordinating and executing fundraising events, engaging and cultivating relations with current and prospective donors and maintaining donor records. Bachelor’s degree in fundraising, communication or marketing with event planning or equivalent experience. Three years experience preferred. Full job description is online at: www.wucatholic.org/employment-opportunities. To apply, send cover letter, your resume and three references to Jessica Hammer at: director@wucatholic.org. Subject line: Development Director.
Youth minister - Prince of Peace Church in Olathe is looking for a part-time, dynamic, faith-filled leader passionate about inspiring teens and helping them grow in their relationship with Christ. Work with a volunteer team to lead weekly youth nights and walk alongside students as they prepare for confirmation. If you or someone you know feels called to make a lasting impact in the lives of young people, we’d love to hear from you! Send a resume to April Bailey, director of faith formation, at: abailey@popolathe.org.
Director of ministerial standards - The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas has an immediate opening for a director of ministerial standards. This position safeguards the integrity of the church’s ministry by ensuring that all allegations of misconduct are received, assessed and investigated with professionalism, objectivity and in compliance with civil and ecclesiastical law. The director provides strategic and operational leadership for the office of ministerial standards, including hiring, training and supervising staff; establishing investigative protocols and workflows; and developing standardized forms, templates, policies and procedures. Please visit “Employment Opportunities” on the archdiocesan website for more information or to apply: archkck.org.
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.
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, long-term care and annuity products with other Catholics. This is a fulltime 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) 408-8800, or john.mahon@kofc.org.
Mission and development coordinator - Santa Marta, a premier Catholic life plan community in Olathe, is seeking a mission and development coordinator to advance our mission of service, compassion, and stewardship. This role leads meaningful service initiatives, volunteer engagement and fundraising efforts that strengthen connections among residents, families, associates and the wider community. Ideal candidates bring strong relationship-building skills, fundraising experience and a passion for serving older adults. Bachelor’s degree required; Catholic preferred. Visit: santamartaretirement. com, click “Careers,” then “View job postings” for more information or to apply.
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.
Director of facilities - St. Joseph Parish, Shawnee, is seeking a full-time director of facilities to oversee and manage our parish campus. This leadership role is responsible for ensuring the effective operation, maintenance, and safety of our 20-acre campus, which includes seven buildings, a football field, a track, and related facilities. A successful candidate should be Catholic, with strong relationship skills and the ability to work in a collaborative setting. Interested applicants should submit a resume to: mthomas@stjoeshawnee.org or call (913) 248-4562 for more information.
Sales reps - Invictus Roofing and Solar Company serving the Kansas City Metro is seeking to hire 3-4 sales reps this spring. Looking for motivated people who want to grow and excel in project management: with a strong element of sales and competitive commission-based pay. Little to no experience required - job training and field training handled in-house. Please call Brian at (913) 302-8361 or Nick at (913) 680-7862. St. Rose Philippine Duchesne parishioner.
Middle school math teacher - Holy Spirit School in Overland Park is seeking a certified middle school math teacher for the 2026-27 school year. The ideal candidate will support our mission of academic excellence and Catholic formation while engaging students in a rigorous and supportive math program. Interested candidates should submit a resume to Dr. Maureen Huppe: mhuppe@hscatholic.org.
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.
Teachers - Nativity Parish School (Leawood) is seeking full-time teachers for the 2026-27 school year: full/parttime paraprofessionals, full-time middle school paraprofessional, Spanish teacher, and full-time school counselor. Interested applicants should email principal Luke Jennison at: luke.jennison@kc nativity.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, onthe-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.
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, sunrooms 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.
SERVICES
Joe’s Decks & More Deck and fence repair, mowing and handyman services Member of St. Joseph in Shawnee (913) 449-9848
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.
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
Popcorn ceiling texture removal Call Jerry at (913) 206-1144. 30 years’ experience. Interior painting specialist. Member St. Joseph Parish, Shawnee.
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.
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!
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
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. 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.
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.
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.
Double A’s Lawn Service Mowing, Mulch, Gutters, Leaf Cleanup, Debris Removal & Brush Trimming Free Estimates & Insured Alex Spoerre (913) 488-5195
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.
CAREGIVING
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.
FOR SALE
For sale - Resurrection Cemetery double lawn crypt. Faith lawn, section B, lot 12, plots 2A and 2B. Includes lots, vaults and markers. Original selling price is $12,752. Asking $7,500. Call (913) 649-6571.
For sale - Two plots in Mt. Calvary Cemetery, KCK. Located in S.W. area, sec 11, lot 12, spaces 7 & 8. Price is $2,000 each. Contact Charles at (913) 669-1809. For sale - Plot for sale at the Mount Calvary Cemetery lot, west in the Rossiter addition. Located in Topeka. $2000. Contact Vickie Cartwright at (785) 383-9453.
For sale - Two cemetery plots. Shawnee Mission Memory Gardens. Garden of Valor. Lot #37. Section D. Spaces 4A and 4B. Containing two interment spaces. Asking price is $4,500. Email: klhall_1964@yahoo.com or call (913) 370-1776.
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.)
>> Continued on page 13
MARIAN DISPLAY
Cathedral of St. Peter (parish center)
416 N. 14th St., Kansas City, Kansas
May 2 at 5 p.m.
May 3 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Take a break from the outside world and step into a display like no other. We will have a unique collection of Marian devotional items to enjoy, raffle prizes and light refreshments. All are welcome.
LOURDES BOOK TALK AND VIRTUAL PILGRIMAGE
Curé of Ars Church
9401 Mission Rd., Leawood
May 2 after 4 p.m. Mass (book talk) May 3 from 4 to 6 p.m. (pilgrimage)
Come and experience the peace and healing of Lourdes without the international travel. Marlene Watkins, founder of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospitality, North American Volunteers, and author will be giving a book talk and signing with a light reception on May 2 in the Father Burak room. Lourdes comes to Curé of Ars on May 3 in the church. With the grace of a plenary indulgence, this interactive, prayerful experience “transports” us to the grotto in Lourdes through projected imagery, an in-person guide and pieces of the grotto rock and Lourdes water. Our Lady extends her invitation to all.
LITTLE FLOWER CIRCLE #503
Assumption Church
204 S.W. 8th St., Topeka
May 9 at 10 a.m.
Join for the May Crowning, followed by a short meeting. If anyone knows of a member or family member of Daughters of Isabella in need of prayers, call Shirley: (785) 554-3028.
RUNNING WITH THE COWS RACE
Holy Rosary Wea School
22705 Metcalf Ave., Bucyrus
May 9 at 7:45 a.m.
Running with the Cows is a half marathon and 5K school fundraiser in rural Bucyrus, just 30 minutes south of Kansas City. Fully supported course, fantastic volunteers and post-race festivities distinguish this event from all others! Proceeds from the race directly benefit students, classrooms and programs that help form the next generation in faith and learning. Learn more and register at: www.cow.run.
BREAKFAST WITH THE KNIGHTS
Divine Mercy Parish
555 W. Main St., Gardner
May 10 from 8:30 to 10 a.m.
The breakfast will include eggs, sausage, biscuits and gravy, pancakes, waffles and drinks. Join us for great fellowship. $6 for those over the age of 13; free for ages 12 and under. Proceeds are used for charitable works, such as scholarships and other giving throughout the year.
ROSARY RALLY
Holy Spirit Church
1300 W 103rd St., Overland Park
May 10 from 3 to 4:15 p.m.
Please join us to honor our Blessed 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. Learn more at: rosaryrallieskc.org.
ST. ISIDORE MASS AND BLESSING
Christ’s Peace House of Prayer 22131 Meagher Rd., Easton
May 15 at 10 a.m.
Join us as we honor St. Isidore the Farmer on his feast day. Participants are invited to bring seeds and soil in a small, decorated basket to place at the altar for a special blessing. The celebration will conclude with lunch. A freewill offering will be accepted to support the mission of the center. To RSVP, email: info@christs peace.com or call (913) 773-8255.
CATHOLIC CHALLENGE
SOCCER SIGN UP
St. Thomas Aquinas 11411 Pflumm Rd., Overland Park
May 16
All young adults are welcome to join us for faith, community and sports. Soccer will be an eight-week season — May 30 to July 25 with one rainout week. Cost is $45/person. Sign ups close May 16. Sign ups and other information can be found at: www.kansascityonahill.org/CCS.
THEOLOGY OF DATING EVENT
St. Pius X Church
5500 Woodson Rd., Mission 1st Wednesday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Join for a potluck meal followed by a presentation on how to navigate dating
struggles. Come meet new people, socialize and get practical dating tips from a Catholic perspective. Questions: katie@findingadamfindingeve.com. More info: findingadamfindingeve.com.
DIVORCE SUPPORT GROUP
St. Michael the Archangel Church (Gabriel room)
14251 Nall Ave., Leawood 1st Wednesdays at 7 p.m.
Those who have experienced a divorce understand as perhaps few others can. We were sad, lonely, scared and angry, but we have found that with God, time and the support of others, healing is possible. For more information, visit www. stmichaelcp.org/divorce-support.
TAXES TO GENEROSITY
Indian Hills Country Club
6847 Tomahawk Rd., Mission Hills May 28 from 12 to 1:30 p.m.
Make the most of your charitable giving while making a lasting difference. Join the Catholic Education Foundation (CEF) and the Catholic Foundation of Northeast Kansas (CFNEK) for a luncheon and seminar on tax-advantaged charitable giving strategies. Register at: www.cfnek.org/ events or by contacting Michela Marquez at: mmarquez@archkck.org.
SILENT RETREAT
Christ’s Peace House of Prayer 22131 Meagher Rd., Easton May 29 to May 31
Rest in the church’s central mystery: one God in three divine persons. Guided by the theology of the Trinity and the spirituality of St. Elizabeth of the Trinity, this silent retreat invites you to dwell interiorly with the God who makes his home within you. Cabins/ courtyard rooms are: $180 single/$270 couple or single guest rooms: $110 (meals included). To attend, fill out the individual retreat form at: ChristsPeace.com or call: (913) 773-8255.
WIDOWED WOMEN OF FAITH LUNCH
Perkins Restaurant (back room) 1720 S.W. Wanamaker Rd., Topeka 3rd Tuesdays, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Join us for lunch and companionship. No RSVP needed. Invite others. Questions? Email: Widowed WomenofFaith@ gmail.com or call Julie at (913) 558-0191.
Planning, strategy at heart of social media success
>> Continued from page 4
your building,” McCambridge added, “that probably likes to post or likes to watch things, so just pick their brain. Chat about it over lunch.
“Then you feel more confident posting, too, because at least two people like [the idea].”
Nash adds that preparation is also key to success.
“Plan. Plan. Plan,” she said. “Take a day of the month and dedicate it to planning that month’s posts.”
For example, Nash looks ahead for feasts days, anniversaries and other celebrations at the start of the month. She finds photos and writes captions in advance and schedules them to post on the appropriate day.
“Also look at analytics to find out what days and times are best to post,” said Nash. “Know your target audience and take some time to get to know them and what they’re looking for. They want to know your story!”
Facing challenges
It can feel overwhelming to know
what to post, when, for what audience — and make sure it’s high-quality content.
But McCambridge believes that polished isn’t always preferred.
“A lot of times, we see so many good things out there and so it feels like I’m never gonna live up to that,” she said. “But I actually have heard, like with the rise of AI, people are craving genuine content versus super-polished content.
“It doesn’t necessarily have to be this really produced thing. People are craving authenticity more than they’re craving ‘It has to look perfect.’”
The appetite for authenticity gives creators freedom. Something as small as sharing what students made in their food class or the blossoms on the convent’s grounds can be prime material to share with audiences.
“The biggest challenge is just time,” said Schramp. “It just takes a lot of time to edit and curate because I take and edit most of the photos, and then I create a cohesive story through my photographs and the text.”
Carol Cowdrey, vice president of marketing and communications
For sale - 2 casket crypt for sale: St. John’s Corridor mausoleum at Gate of Heaven. Tier A, crypt 6, valued $15,885. Asking $10,250 (includes transfer fee). Contact Kristen (913) 645-3428.
WANTED TO BUY
$$Paying Cash$$ - 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.
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. 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.
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.
Will buy firearms and related accessories - One or a whole collection. Honest
Gerry and Connie (Blando) Euston, members of St. Michael the Archangel Parish, Leawood, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on May 14. The couple was married at St. Thomas More Church, Kansas City, Missouri. They will celebrate with an open house for family and friends following Mass and a blessing at St. Michael on their anniversary date. They will complete the celebration in September with a trip to Tuscany with their children, John, Patrick, Michael, Stephen, Kathleen, Andrew and their spouses. They also have 12 grandchildren.
at Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas, said that though challenging, posting frequently should be a top priority, too.
“It’s critical to keep content fresh so that your followers will remain engaged,” she said.
Nash agreed.
“You have to be really strategic about it if you want to keep your presence valid and up to date,” said Nash. “Review the quarterly reports so you know what’s winning and not.”
Cowdrey acknowledged that many organizations don’t have a dedicated social media manager, making posting frequency even more difficult to execute. Still, she encourages organizations to stay the course.
“Although it requires a time commitment, it is well worth it. Allocate the time. Social media is a cost-effective way to communicate information about your organization frequently,” said Cowdrey.
“More importantly, it’s an opportunity to tell your story and engage others — including donors and volunteers — in your mission.”
George and Elizabeth (Subelka) Rebeck, members of Christ the King Parish, Kansas City, Kansas, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary dinner with family and friends on May 16 and a Mass on May 22. The couple was married on May 22, 1976, at Christ the King by Msgr. Stanley Loncaric, the groom’s uncle. They have four children: Nicholas Rebeck, Nathaniel Rebeck, Cecilia Gonzales-Rebeck, and Louis Rebeck (deceased). They also have four grandchildren.
DAILY READINGS
FIFTH WEEK OF EASTER
May 3
FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
Acts 6: 1-7
Ps 33: 1-2, 4-5, 18-19 1 Pt 2: 4-9 Jn 14: 1-12
May 4
Monday
Acts 14: 5-18
Ps 115: 1-4, 15-16 Jn 14: 21-26
May 5
Tuesday
Acts 14: 19-28
Ps 145: 10-13b, 21 Jn 14: 27-31a
May 6 Wednesday
Acts 15: 1-6
Ps 122: 1-5
Jn 15: 1-8
May 7
Thursday
Acts 15: 7-21
Ps 96: 1-3, 10
Jn 15: 9-11
May 8
Acts 15: 22-31
Ps 57: 8-12 Jn 15: 12-17
May 9 Saturday
Acts 16: 1-10
Ps 100: 1b-2, 3, 5
Jn 15: 18-21
FRANCIS ANTHONY OF LUCERA 1681-1742
Giovaniello Fasani’s foster father sent him for his education to the Franciscans in Lucera. At fifteen he joined the order and took the name Francis Anthony after the great sainted friars. In 1705, he earned a doctorate in theology. Then he began to teach at the Franciscan college in Lucera, where he spent the rest of his life. Renowned for his preaching and teaching, the townspeople called Francis Anthony “Padre Maestro.” And his reputation for mercy drew many to his confessional.
“I was indulgent, I don’t deny it,” he said, “but it was You who taught me to be so.” Francis Anthony showed particular concern for the well-being of prisoners. And he initiated an annual Christmas collection of goods for the poor.
PPope Leo XIV advances sainthood causes, including Dutch nun who served in Missouri
ope Leo XIV issued decrees advancing the sainthood causes of five candidates, including a Dutch nun who served in St. Louis in the early 20th century.
During a meeting April 27, with Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, the pope signed a decree recognizing the heroic virtues of Carmelite Sister Teresia of the Most Holy Trinity, born Teresa Ysseldijk, who died from an illness just a little over six years after arriving in the United States.
Born in the Netherlands in 1897, she entered the Carmelite Sisters of the Divine Heart of Jesus at age 19 and professed her vows in 1919. Eager to join her missionary sisters, the young nun traveled that same year to the United States. However, she fell ill and was diagnosed with severe kidney
Carmelite Sister Teresia of the Most Holy Trinity, born Teresa Ysseldijk, is seen in an undated portrait. A candidate for sainthood, she died from an illness just a little over six years after arriving in the United States in 1919. Pope Leo XIV signed a decree recognizing Sister Teresia’s heroic virtues during a meeting April 27, 2026, with Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints.
disease. Despite her illness, she continued to serve at her convent in St. Charles, Missouri. According to her congregation’s website, Sister Teresia “wanted
to serve God in the order, working in silent union with him.”
“When work was no longer possible, she bore her pain silently, hidden from the world,”
the congregation said. She died March 10, 1926, at age 28. The other decrees approved by Pope Leo recognized:
• The martyrdom of
Spanish Father Emanuele Berenguer Clusella, Montfort Brother of St. Gabriel Estanislao Ortega García and 48 companions, killed “in hatred of the faith” in 1936 during the Spanish Civil War.
• The offering of life of Spanish missionary Pedro Manual Salado, a lay member of the “Hogar de Nazaret” association, who died in 2012 in Esmeraldas, Ecuador, when he collapsed after rescuing seven children drowning at sea.
• The heroic virtues of Mother Maria Eletta di Gesù, an Italian Discalced Carmelite, who was born in Terni, Italy, in 1605 and died in Prague in what is now known as the Czech Republic in 1663.
• The heroic virtues of Italian Sister Maria Raffaela De Giovanna, founder of the Congregation of the Tertiary Minim Sisters of Saint Francis of Paola. She was born in Genova in 1870 and died there in 1933.
The risen Lord is to be found as close as the nearest parish
What is that place? Where is it? “I am going to prepare a place for you,” Jesus said to his disciples (Jn 14:2). What did he mean?
It’s Holy Thursday, the night before his crucifixion and death. The church in this Sunday’s Gospel reading takes us back to that time. It’s a time when maybe the disciples were beginning to worry what they would do in Jesus’ absence. Sometimes today even we worry like that. What will we do when Jesus is gone?
The anxiety of absence, the absence of God and of Christ: What do we do with that anxiety? Jesus’ answer to this question is firm, to the point, commanding. “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me,” he tells the disciples (Jn 14:1). It’s possible to translate this as an imperative. Have faith in God, have faith in me; that is, it’s possible to hear these words as a command. The disciples are worried that they’re
FATHER JOSHUA J. WHITFIELD
about to lose Jesus, about to lose it all. Yet the Lord doesn’t wallow in their anxiety; he doesn’t share it. Rather, he exhorts them to keep the faith. Jesus is our Lord and Master even in the darkest pits of our anxiety.
But then Jesus talks about “a place.” Again, what does he mean? Does he mean heaven, the heavenly Jerusalem? Yes, quite possibly, quite probably. But it could mean more than that; it likely does. We
know that in John’s Gospel the words of Jesus often bear multiple meanings at once. That is, Jesus is speaking in spatial and temporal terms here, but he certainly is not speaking literally. Rather, he speaks mystically, sacramentally. That is, he is talking about a place not limited by the normal measure of space and time. Hence the Lord’s exchange with Thomas. “Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?” he asks Jesus. “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me,” the Lord answers (Jn 14:56). Ah, now we see that Jesus is not speaking in merely spatial and temporal terms. He is speaking spiritually, mystically, personally, Christologically. Jesus is the “place.” The Lord is telling his disciples that they will be with him even after the Passion. What Jesus is trying to do is to tell them that what they’re about to experience, the arrest and death of their Mas-
ter, will not be the end. He’s trying to tell them that what they currently perceive as defeat is in fact glory. He’s inviting them to lean into their faith to see the darkness differently. Or as he will say to them in a moment, astoundingly, “be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (Jn 16:33). But think again of Jesus as “place.” That’s just another way to talk about our union in Christ. That’s the way St. Paul so often described our relationship with the risen Lord, that now we are in Christ. It’s the same theological reality Jesus was talking about when he called himself the vine and his disciples the branches, saying that his disciples should “abide” in him (Jn 15:1-5). It’s what he was talking about at the end of Matthew’s Gospel, fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy of Emmanuel, when he said, “Behold, I am with you always, to the close of the age” (Mt 28:20).
But what does that mean for us? Well, remember the story
from Luke’s Gospel which we heard a few Sundays back, the story of the two disciples on their way to Emmaus? Remember how they recognized him in the breaking of the bread (Lk 24:30-31)? Remember also Jesus’ nighttime conversation with Nicodemus, how the Lord told him that no one can enter or even see the kingdom of God “unless one is born of water and the Spirit” (Jn 3:5)?
These passages, and others like them, clearly point to the sacraments of baptism and the Eucharist. And here, to put it simply, is where we find the place that is Jesus, our union in him. And here further we discover the church’s enduring Easter lesson about where our risen Lord is to be found. He’s to be found in your nearest Catholic parish, upon the nearest Catholic altar and in the nearest Catholic font. That is, he’s to be found in those innumerable humble and holy places mystically rooted in the place of Christ. I’m sure very close to 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.
OSV NEWS PHOTO/COURTESY STAGNESHOME.COM
At Savior, gently used becomes grace renewed
Although I work in a place where people often come seeking peace, clarity and a renewed sense of God’s presence, I am often reminded that the Gospel is not encountered only in stillness. Often, it is found in everyday, humble places where love is quietly lived out.
Recently, I have been reflecting on two local consignment organizations in our community, both of which held their sales here at Savior in the past month.
For a time, our familiar spaces were transformed — our
AT THE HEART OF HOSPITALITY
GREG MIES
Greg Mies is the director of Savior Pastoral and Retreat Center. He can be reached by email at: gmies@archkck.org.
gymnasium filled with racks of gently used children’s and maternity clothing, tables of children’s goods and
the steady rhythm of items being sorted and shared. At first glance, these events seem like simple consignment sales. But look a little closer, and you begin to see something much deeper: places of dignity, generosity and hope unfolding within our walls.
Both organizations serve families who may be navigating difficult circumstances, especially foster families and others who step forward to care for the most vulnerable. By offering affordable clothing and essentials, they ease financial burdens and provide a sense of normalcy during times that are often anything but. In doing so, these sales became quiet but powerful instruments of mercy, right here at Savior.
This work reflects the heart of Catholic social teaching, particularly our call to uphold the dignity of every human person and
to show compassion for the poor and vulnerable. It also brings to mind the words of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew: “Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me” (Mt 25:40). During these sales at Savior, that Scripture was not just proclaimed, it was lived in a very real and tangible way.
What strikes me most is how these ministries invite all of us into participation. Some consigned items they no longer needed. Others organized and served. Still others came simply to shop, making a practical choice that also sup-
ported a greater good.
Each small act became part of something larger. It was a community woven together by caring for one another, all within the life of our diocese.
In a world that can sometimes feel divided or overwhelmed, these moments remind us that love is still very much at work, often in the most unassuming ways.
And perhaps that is the invitation for all of us: To recognize, support and participate in these everyday expressions of God’s grace, where what is gently used becomes a means of renewing hope.
Catholic health ministry is part of a broader outreach of mercy
It has been said that a rising tide raises all ships, but in the non-profit world, this can feel like a contradiction.
In a world where so many Catholic ministries are seeking attention, fundraising support and opportunities to share their work, how do we ensure that we are truly working together for the best possible outcome?
Recently, the Catholic Community Health team had the opportunity to take a Catholic Charities bus tour (anyone can take part in a tour, and I recommend that you do: catholiccharitiesks. org/bus-tours). What
HEALTHCARE, THE CATHOLIC WAY!
being carried out across the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, work that is often unseen but deeply impactful.
might have seemed like a simple ride across the metro quickly became something more. It offered a clearer view of the breadth of work
For many of our team, the experience was eye-opening. Visiting places like Shalom House and the Family Support
Centers prompted a simple but important question: How can we help? Seeing the work of TurnStyles Thrift Store led to conversations about how we might better support their efforts. What began as a tour quickly became an invitation to think differently about our role within a larger mission.
At Catholic Community Health, we spend a great deal of time focused on the care we provide, and rightly so. But this experience served as a reminder that our responsibility extends beyond our own ministry. CCH is part of something broader, rooted in
Christ’s teaching and expressed through the corporal works of mercy. One of our challenges is creating awareness that Catholic healthcare exists in our community, including Catholic hospice, which remains the only Catholic hospice in the Kansas City metro.
Team members are finding new ways to engage, from supporting local food pantries to identifying opportunities to serve alongside other ministries. These are not large shifts; they are small, practical steps, the kind that build relationships and strengthen the foundation of our work.
Our strong CCH
culture is not built through words alone. It is formed through shared experiences, a commitment to one another and a willingness to serve wherever the need exists. When we value our team members and give them opportunities to live out the mission, that culture begins to take root and grow.
In the end, a rising tide does raise all ships, but only when we are willing to move together. As Catholic ministries, we are not competitors. We are collaborators in a shared mission, called to support one another as we serve those most in need.
BRAD HEIDRICK
Brad Heidrick is the CEO of Catholic Community Health.
A JOURNEY OF FAITH
The vocation he initially hid from he has now embraced
By Moira Cullings moira.cullings@theleaven.org
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Deacon John Wesley Donart was in middle school the first time he felt called to the priesthood.
His first thought was, “If I ignore it, it’ll go away.”
“I ran away from it for a long time,” said Deacon Donart.
By the time he got to high school, he hadn’t warmed up to the idea of becoming a priest, and various presentations to students about religious vocations didn’t land well.
“I’d always experience it negatively,” said Deacon Donart. “This can’t be for me. I don’t want that to be for me.”
Beneath those feelings was the realization that it was actually for him — and that eventually won out.
Deacon Donart, who will turn 29 on May 2, was ordained a transitional deacon by Archbishop Emeritus Joseph F. Naumann on May 17, 2025, at the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle in Kansas City, Kansas.
He and two other men will be ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Shawn McKnight on May 23 at Most Pure Heart of Mary Church in Topeka.
Early life
Donart was born to John and Lisa Donart and grew up with his older sister Abby in Kansas City, Missouri, where his family attended St. Bernadette Parish, until he was six.
They moved in 2003, and he spent the remainder of his childhood at Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Shawnee, where he attended the parish school.
Lisa was a paralegal, then worked in pharmaceutical research, and is now a pastoral associate at Church of the Ascension in Overland Park. John works for Garmin in the IT department.
Abby is now a Catholic grade schoolteacher in Wichita.
A significant moment in the Donart family story was John’s conversion to Catholicism before he married Lisa.
“That’s something that’s really marked our family,” said Deacon Donart.
When he was growing up, Donart’s family attended Mass each Sunday, but the faith wasn’t ingrained into their lives beyond that.
“In some ways, I see that my grandparents — my mom’s parents — were very strong models of faith,” said Deacon Donart. “They were the ones who were going to Mass daily and praying the rosary and the Divine Mercy Chaplet daily.
“They very faithfully lived out daily prayer life.”
By the time he entered seminary, his parents’ faith had begun to blossom alongside his own, and he’s enjoyed growing spiritually together.
“The journey of faith is ongoing,” said Deacon Donart. “We’re always going deeper.”
Change of heart
Deacon Donart’s time at St. James Academy in Lenexa laid the foundation
THE JOURNEY OF FAITH IS ONGOING. WE’RE ALWAYS GOING DEEPER.
DEACON JOHN DONART
for his eventual journey toward the priesthood.
Looking back, he’s impressed by the school’s intellectual faith formation.
“That really laid principles for not just understanding the faith but understanding who Jesus is and that he died for me,” said Deacon Donart.
“That was written on my heart throughout high school — that we are broken people,” he continued, “but Jesus came and died for us and offered us salvation.
“And that requires a response from us.”
Donart graduated from St. James in 2015 and attended Kansas State University in Manhattan for one year before transferring to the University of Kansas in Lawrence, where he majored in geography.
Getting to know Deacon John Wesley Donart, Jr.
Age: 28
Birthday: May 2, 1997
Born/raised: Shawnee
Parish I grew up in: Sacred Heart, Shawnee
Parents: John and Lisa
Sibling(s): Abby
Education: B.S. Geography (University of Kansas)
Favorite food: Pepperoni pizza
If I could live in any time period in history, it would be pioneer times in the Great Plains because of the characters I’d meet.
The quality I admire most in people is a good sense of humor — i.e., they laugh at my jokes. Aside from Christ and his mother, the biblical character I most want to know more about is Elisha because of all the miracles and raw power in prophecy.
My favorite Scripture passage: Luke 22:60-62
My favorite place I’ve traveled to is Cologne, Germany. If you were making a movie of your life, who would play you and why? Dolph Lundgren (Rock IV). It’s a natural comparison.
I deal with failure by: survive and advance
When I wind up with free time and have no plans, I usually watch movies on my long-running movie watchlist.
My all-time favorite movie: “A Few Good Men”
If I have an important decision to make, I start by evaluating possible economic outcomes.
Hidden talent(s): I can fill out a scorecard for a baseball game.
The one thing I’ve always wanted to do but never tried: fly a plane If I hadn’t felt called to become a priest, my dream job would have been: donut shop proprietor. Or an urban planner.
“At a public university, [you’re] constantly being confronted with the counter narrative to the Gospel narrative — that we’re only material, that everybody should be able to do what they want,” said Deacon Donart.
“I was always appreciative that even though I was still struggling through those things and wrestling with the questions presented to me, I always fell back on the foundation they made for me in high school,” he said.
The urge to run from the priesthood was replaced by a different impulse while Donart was working at Camp Tekakwitha at Prairie Star Ranch in Williamsburg for the second summer between his sophomore and junior year of college.
“Through reading the Gospel, I really had something of a conversion and a call to return to the sacrament of reconciliation,” he said. “I felt like I had a very honest and open and intense moment in the sacrament.
“After that, it was super clear — I’m supposed to go to the seminary.”
Taking up the call
Deacon Donart arrived at St. John Vianney Theological Seminary in Denver in 2019.
Since then, he’s encountered fellow seminarians, professors and spiritual directors who have shaped his vocation.
Learning from one professor, in particular, about how Christ constitutes his church through the priest has been impactful.
“That is what the Lord is doing through me and why he’s called me,” said Deacon Donart. “I’m a very particular, specific person that he has given this grace to act with him in this ministry.”
Deacon Donart looks forward to coming home to the archdiocese and bringing people together through the church.
“I’ve always been excited to celebrate Mass and to hear confessions,” he said. “Now, after learning more about the anointing of the sick and seeing it work in people’s lives and Christ being present, I’m excited to do that.
“But, also, [I look forward to] the little ways of being a good priest and being good to the people entrusted to me.”
LEAVEN FILE PHOTO BY MARY KATE KRAUSE
Deacon John Wesley Donart, a 2015 graduate of St. James Academy in Lenexa, will be ordained to the priesthood on May 23 at Most Pure Heart of Mary Church in Topeka.