The early years
Family, priests and parishioners share memories of Father McKnight
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Family ties
Parents set the tone for the faith in Shawn McKnight’s formative years
Shawn poses with extended family in 1986 on the occasion of his graduation from Bishop Carroll High School in Wichita.
By Jeanne Gorman Special to The Leaven
W
ICHITA — Theirs might not have been a conventional big, happy, Irish Catholic family. But it was big, happy and Irish, nevertheless. Shawn McKnight lost his father in an accident when he was only 18 months or so old, recalls his sister Cindy. But their mother Mary eventually remarried Gary Schaffer. (Both are now deceased.) And Schaffer became Shawn’s father in every way that mattered. In the ensuing 20 years, the Schaffers welcomed seven more children, giving Shawn one sister, Cindy Bergkamp (about four years his junior), and six brothers, including Jeremy Schaffer (about nine years younger). Growing up, they lived in the Wichita area and for a time in Seattle, while their father was employed by Boeing. Mary and Gary were devout Catholics and passed along the Catholic faith to their children — a true domestic church. Most significantly to Cindy and Jeremy, their parents not only believed in the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, but emphasized this core teaching of the faith to their children. Cindy believes that emphasis had an impact on Shawn, as well as the other children. They were always taught to “trust in God” as well. Cindy thanks the Lord now, for giving them all such faith-filled parents. In addition to his brothers and sister — Cindy said they never thought in terms of “half ” or “step” siblings; they were always just brothers and sister — Shawn was also surrounded by a loving extended family, including two uncles who were doctors that were especially influential in his life. The extended family also included Shawn’s paternal grandmother, who welcomed his siblings into her life. Not only did Shawn spend summers with her back in Wichita when the family was living in Seattle, but Cindy remembers them staying with her in Wichita as well, where Shawn’s grandmother treated his siblings like her own grandchildren. As the sibling closest to Shawn in age, Cindy had stronger memories and impressions of him as a youth than her younger brothers. In fact, she always felt that Shawn was looking out for her. They moved back to Wichita when Shawn was a junior in high school. And although she never told him this, he shaped her value system growing up. “My earliest memories of doing right or wrong always have gone back to him because he held me to a higher standard than I held myself,” she said. “Because of Shawn, I wanted to do better. . . . I don’t think he even realized he was doing that.
PHOTO COURTESY OF JEREMY SCHAFFER
The family of Shawn McKnight poses for a family photo in 1987. Pictured are: (back row, from left) Shawn holding his baby brother John Joseph, Mary Schaffer, Gary Schaffer and Cindy; (front row, from left) Jeremy, James, Andy and Aaron.
“[SHAWN] WAS A GOOD ROLE MODEL FOR US. WE JUST THOUGHT HE WAS BEING REALLY STUBBORN BUT I THINK HE JUST KNEW . . . THIS IS WHAT WE WERE SUPPOSED TO DO. CINDY BERGKAMP SISTER
“He was a good role model for us,” she added. “We just thought he was being really stubborn but I think he just knew . . . this is what we were supposed to do. And . . . he showed us that ‘you can achieve whatever you put your head into.’” Jeremy recalls that it was when they were living on a ranch near Lake Cheney outside of Wichita that his brother discovered his love of hunting. They would hunt for rabbits and any fowl in the area like quail, pheasant or ducks. But Cindy said it was the parishioners of St. Mark Church in Colwich, where he was pastor for a time, who took the young priest “under their wings” and taught him the ropes of hunting.
Shawn loved to go trout fishing with his uncles, one of whom lives in Montana. He also enjoys watching hockey, although he never played. Jeremy remembers him taking a group of parishioners to a local hockey game, cautioning them not to listen too closely to the banter of the other fans. According to Cindy, Shawn had a plan for his life. Perhaps influenced by his uncles, he always said he intended to be a surgeon. Toward that goal, he worked himself through college at the University of Dallas. He was so focused on medicine, she never expected him to be a priest. In fact, she laughed when she learned of it. Jeremy agreed. It was a shock to the family because they all assumed he would pursue a medical career. No one tried to talk him out of the priesthood, however. They understood that once Shawn made up his mind, that was it. One of his uncles had attended the seminary before he became a doctor so there was a bit of family history with the religious life. As a youth, Shawn exhibited an artistic side as well. Jeremy recalls going to Shawn’s piano recitals. In fact, their mother thought that he might be talented enough to attend The Julliard School in New York. Besides playing classical music on the piano, Shawn could play very well by ear, which Jeremy admired. Jeremy also recalls that Shawn played soccer and laughingly recounts
how all the kids had a bit of an Irish temper, although they all outgrew it. Jeremy looked up to Shawn, finding him very detail-oriented and capable of excelling at anything. There is a long history of military service in the family, which includes their dad Gary who was in the Army before joining Boeing. Their maternal grandfather was in the Navy. Several of the Schaffer siblings served in the Navy and Marines as well — some for a career — and spent time in some of the world’s hot spots. Jeremy believes the family had “really good” guardian angels protecting them. Even though the siblings have lived all over the world, those who can have made the effort to get together at least once a year with their families and extended family, even to this day. They enjoy being around each other. Jeremy is an unabashed admirer of his big brother, calling him “a fantastic, intelligent and talented person who has been on a mission since being called to the priesthood.” “He preaches the truth in a very upfront, direct way,” said his brother. “He is a great shepherd.” With endorsements like that, it’s not hard to see how this extremely closeknit Catholic family together nurtured, modeled and supported Shawn into becoming who he is today — the new shepherd of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas.
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Responding to the call
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Would-be doctor follows a higher calling By Moira Cullings moira.cullings@theleaven.org
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EFFERSON CITY, MO. — If Archbishop W. Shawn McKnight’s childhood self knew he would someday become an archbishop, “he would not have believed it at all,” he said. As a self-proclaimed introvert with plans to become a doctor, a sudden inkling in college that he was called to the priesthood initially seemed out of the question. “If God is calling you, he does provide,” said Archbishop McKnight. On May 27, the Wichita native became the fifth archbishop and 12th bishop of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas. “I don’t see my appointment to Kansas City as something that’s being awarded to me,” said Archbishop McKnight, “but rather that the pope is asking me to be of service to the people and the clergy there. “I intend to try to live that out as much as possible.”
Shawn McKnight was ordained a priest on May 28, 1994, for the Diocese of Wichita.
Early life Archbishop McKnight was born on June 26, 1968, to Mary (O’Reilly) and William McKnight, their first and only child together. His biological father was killed in a boating accident, along with his grandfather and great uncle, when he was around 18 months old. “I have no real memory of him,” said Archbishop McKnight of his father. “But I have very good and happy memories of his mother. “My grandmother Pat lost her oldest son and her husband in the same accident, and then within a few weeks lost her father, too. She really was a very resilient woman.” Archbishop McKnight said his family didn’t dwell on the tragedy. “We were not raised to think poorly of ourselves or our situation,” he said. “My grandmother was a very strong woman. I hope that has rubbed off on me as well, to have that spirit that she has.” His mother married Gary Schaffer not long after William passed away. “I identified with him as he was my dad,” said Archbishop McKnight. “I thought of it as I was growing up [that] my father gave me life, but Dad is the one who raised me.” Archbishop McKnight’s parents went on to have seven children — one girl and six boys, including a set of fraternal twins. “I really fondly remember our summer vacations,” said Archbishop McKnight. “[My parents] always made the extra effort to make sure we could go travel somewhere. “And in those days in the 1970s, it was more of the station wagon-type [of ] family vacation, traveling several days to get to the Rockies or Jackson Hole. I think one year we went as far as Seattle. “My family loved to camp, to fish. We did all that outdoor stuff.” Being the oldest of eight children built
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Father Shawn McKnight is installed as pastor of Church of the Magdalen in Wichita by Bishop Carl A. Kemme in 2015. character in Archbishop McKnight, especially on those long road trips. “I guess I was being formed in how to become a bishop — [I was surrounded by] a ton of people with different needs, and everybody coming from a different perspective,” he said. Archbishop McKnight was also shaped by moving frequently because of his dad’s job as a manufacturing engineer for Boeing. “Once again, I think God was actually preparing me,” he said, “because that’s been my life as a priest.”
Leap of faith Archbishop McKnight grew up attending Catholic schools in Wichita, and his family was active at church, but as a child he never sincerely considered the idea of becoming a priest.
“When I was really young, I wanted to be a veterinarian,” he said, “because I really liked our family dog. We had an Irish Setter. I just liked animals in general.” By the time he got to high school, Archbishop McKnight wanted to be a doctor — possibly a surgeon — and was inspired by his multiple relatives who worked in the medical field. He decided to study biochemistry at the University of Dallas in Irving, Texas. He had just completed the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) there when the dean of students told the resident assistants, which included Archbishop McKnight, they could get out of their responsibilities the following weekend if they attended a university retreat. It would be sponsored by the university’s chaplain — now-Bishop Greg Kelly
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of the Diocese of Tyler, Texas. “I signed up — not because of any real spiritual motive,” said Archbishop McKnight. “I wanted to get caught up on my sleep and get caught up on my homework,” he said, “because I had been devoting so much of my time to prepare for the medical school admissions test.” But the retreat changed his life. “I still remember sitting in the chapel,” he said. “We had a Carmelite priest [as] our retreat master. And after one of his conferences, I just stayed there, and I was sort of stunned. “I remember being aware that nobody else was in the chapel, and I was the only one there. That sense of desire of looking into the priesthood was very strong.” As the retreat ended, Archbishop McKnight brushed the idea away. “I remember thinking to myself, get that out of your head,” he said. “You’ve got classes, you’ve got a girlfriend, you’ve got friends, you’ve got other things to do.” When he got back to campus and checked his mail, Archbishop McKnight discovered an unexpected letter from the assistant vocation director of the Diocese of Wichita. “I opened it up,” he said, “and I read it, and the first line was, ‘Have you ever thought of being a priest?’ “Then it went on to inform me that Bishop [Eugene J.] Gerber had invited all the laity one weekend to recommend candidates that they thought would make good priests. “And at least one person dropped my name in the collection basket. He was just following up to see if I was interested.” Archbishop McKnight made an appointment to meet with Bishop Gerber over Christmas break. “My intention was to explain to him and make the case that I do not have a call,” he said, “because I want to become a doctor. I’d like to be a family man. I’d like to get married.” >> See “YOU’RE” on page 4B
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‘You’re the kind of guy the church would want to ordain’ >> Continued from page 3B
Bishop Gerber listened patiently before responding. “He just simply told me at the end, ‘Well, Shawn, I can’t resolve this question for you, except that you’re the kind of guy the church would want to ordain as a priest,’” said Archbishop McKnight. “That forced me to continue the discernment,” he said. “Eventually, I entered [the] seminary, and here I am today.”
Ready to serve Archbishop McKnight attended the Pontifical College Josephinum Seminary in Columbus, Ohio. “And it was a place where my call was strengthened and formation — intellectually, spiritually, pastorally — took place and was very helpful to me,” he said. He was ordained a priest on May 28, 1994, for the Diocese of Wichita and installed as bishop of the Diocese of Jefferson City on Feb. 6, 2018. Whenever he had doubts about his vocation, he would remember how it all started. “It was sure helpful to go back to my original sense of a call,” he said, “knowing that at first I didn’t want it and tried to avoid it, and it came to me from the outside. “And once I got to a point where it was something I loved and grew in my appreciation for the priesthood, once I really learned about what it means to be a priest . . . it became something I wanted to do.” He’s overcome obstacles by focusing on small steps. “Let God take care of the grand scheme of things,” he said. Archbishop McKnight was saddened when Pope Francis passed away on April 21 — less than two weeks after his appointment as archbishop was announced. “I’m one of the last two bishops appointed by him in the United States and one of a few last metropolitan archbishops appointed by the Holy Father worldwide,” he said. The archbishop said it will also be difficult to leave Jefferson City, where he’s served for the past seven years — the longest term he’s had at an assignment. “It will always have a special place in my heart, because this was my first diocese as a bishop,” he said. “I learned how to be a bishop here.” But he’s excited to accept the greater responsibilities God is calling him to take on. “The joys are bigger,” he said. “The headaches are bigger, too. There’s more of an opportunity to exercise leadership, and that’s not always easy. “But there is something very satisfying about using every gift and charism that you have been given by God in a way that helps the mission of the church.” Having spent little time in northeast Kansas, he looks forward to his first days as its new archbishop. “I have a lot more to do and a lot more to see,” he said.
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Archbishop Shawn McKnight’s crest sits above the cathedra at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Jefferson City, Missouri. Archbishop McKnight helped renovate the cathedral during his time as bishop there.
Sacred art, saints and devotions guide the new archbishop’s spiritual life
By Moira Cullings moira.cullings@theleaven.org
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EFFERSON CITY — Walking through the Cathedral of St. Joseph here is a treat for sacred art enthusiasts. “We have classical elements, we have traditional medieval-type elements and we have contemporary elements,” said Archbishop Shawn McKnight. Archbishop McKnight played a key role in renovating the cathedral during his time as bishop of the Diocese of Jefferson City, and the art inside tells a story of the Gospel and the lives of various saints. “It speaks of our faith,” he said. “That’s one element that I wanted, is that it be catechetical. It actually teaches [people] coming in and viewing the various pieces of art.” Archbishop McKnight believes art can deepen the faith lives of all people, but especially youth. “The surveys are telling us that they’re not led by doctrine,” he said. “But what attracts them to the church and continuing participation in the church are service and beauty.” Because the United States is still a relatively young country, said Archbishop McKnight, Catholics are still making their mark on the Catholic Church here. “We are starting to etch into the very walls of our churches the devotion and the faith of the people today,” he said. Sacred art, saints and devotions have guided Archbishop McKnight’s own spiritual life. As the oldest of eight children, he feels particularly close to his patron, St. Peter. “I have a strong connection with him because, like the older brother in the family, he’s got responsibility
OSV NEWS PHOTO/JAY NIES, THE CATHOLIC MISSOURIAN
This stained-glass window in the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Jefferson City, Missouri, depicts Venerable Father Augustus Tolton carrying out his priestly ministry. Archbishop McKnight considers Father Tolton a saint close to his heart. for everybody, but he’s not perfect either,” he said. The archbishop looks up to St. Paul, who was “a persecutor of the church and ends up being one of the greatest preachers and leaders in the faith.” He’s also struck by the simple life of St. Thérèse of Lisieux. “She was so young,” he said, “and how much life she lived in that short span of years and cloistered in a monastery — it’s just incredible.” Two men on the road to sainthood are also close to his heart. Venerable Father Emil Kapaun, from his own hometown of Wichita, who died in a prisoner of war camp during the Korean War, is a model of resilience, he said. And Venerable Father Augustus Tolton, who was born into slavery in Tolton, Missouri, which is located in the Diocese of Jefferson City, was the first Black Catholic priest in the United States. The diocese is currently promoting his cause for sainthood.
The archbishop has multiple favorite devotions, key among them being eucharistic adoration. “There’s something quiet, affirming, comforting [about it],” he said. And he has a strong devotion to the rosary. “The older I’ve got — I’m in my 57th year of life — that rosary is something I do every day,” he said. “It’s a staple of my spirituality.” Archbishop McKnight was inspired when he heard one priest describe the rosary. “When we pray the rosary and meditate on the mysteries of the rosary,” he said, “we’re spiritually crawling into the lap of our Mother and letting her tell the story of her Son.” Archbishop McKnight is also drawn to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the Sacred Heart of Jesus. “I’ve always been influenced and fed by the devotion to the Sacred Heart,” he said, “the concept of God loving us with a human heart. “God is willing to suffer for us because he loves us.” Archbishop McKnight is also passionate about the church at the local parish level. His view of the parish as a “place of mercy” and “center for charity” comes from Pope Francis’ 2013 apostolic exhortation “Evangelii Gaudium” (“The Joy of the Gospel”). “How wonderful it would be if everybody in our community saw the local Catholic church as a place of refuge,” he said, “a place of oasis, a center for charity and a sanctuary of mercy. “That anybody that needs help, needs healing, that their instinct would be to come to us — wouldn’t that be a great way to be known as a church?”
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“HE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A VERY CAPABLE TYPE. HE WAS PRE-MED IN COLLEGE. . . . HE IS ONE OF THOSE DILIGENT, HARDWORKING TYPES WHO ARE SUCCESSFUL IN WHATEVER THEY DO.”
“WHAT STRUCK ME MOST ABOUT HIM WAS THAT HE WAS CONSTANTLY THINKING AND SHARPENING HIS MIND. HE’D ALWAYS BE ASKING WHAT WE COULD DO BETTER.
“HE HAS A CRITICAL MIND, IN THE POSITIVE SENSE THAT HE CAN ANALYZE A SITUATION AND UNDERSTAND WHAT THE ISSUES ARE AND HOW THEY NEED TO BE ADDRESSED.
FATHER DANIEL VACCA
FATHER SAMUEL BRAND
FATHER MATTHEW MCGUINNESS
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Former colleagues remember a thinker — and a doer Amy Reinhardt Special to The Leaven
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ANSAS CITY, Kan. — The path that led Archbishop Shawn McKnight to becoming the shepherd of the Kansas City archdiocesan flock has been a long one, filled with a variety of different posts and responsibilities. Since his ordination in 1994, Archbishop McKnight has served God as student, chaplain, professor, pastor, dean of students, USCCB director, bishop and more. Although he has impacted many, and many are fortunate to call him friend, there are a few who crossed paths with the new archbishop earlier than most. These include Father Daniel Vacca, Father Patrick York, Father Matthew McGuinness and Father Samuel Brand — all serving in the Diocese of Wichita. Father Vacca’s friendship with Archbishop McKnight stems back to their days in seminary formation — 35 years ago. Both young men had summer jobs in the chaplain department at St. Francis Hospital in Wichita. Living and working together marked the beginning of their friendship. “For most priests, our friendships are established in [the] seminary and become lifelong,” said Father Vacca. “It’s similar to going to college and living in a frat house.” The two later graduated one year apart from the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio. “He has always been a very capable type,” said Father Vacca of Archbishop McKnight. “He was pre-med in college before becoming a seminarian. He is one of those diligent, hardworking types who are successful in whatever they do.” During their first assignments, he and Father McKnight were at neighboring parishes, which meant they could spend their day off together. The two priests enjoyed hiking, bowling and going to the movies. Father Vacca said they’ve maintained this practice off and on over the years. While Father Matthew McGuinness and Father Patrick York were not seminarians with Archbishop McKnight, that is still where they first crossed paths with him. Father McGuinness was the vocation director who followed the seminarians through until their ordination. Father York was also on the vocation team at the time.
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Father Patrick York, a priest from the Diocese of Wichita, was the diocesan vocation director as Father McKnight made his way through the seminary. “Administratively, the man is a machine,” he said. “He works hard and expects others to work hard. He’s very organized, detailed, savvy, and has a lot of common sense.” “He was a solid priest,” said Father McGuinness. “He has a critical mind, in the positive sense that he can analyze a situation and understand what the issues are and how they need to be addressed.” “Shawn McKnight always had a very confident air about him,” recalled Father York. “I would not call it arrogant by any stretch of the imagination. But he is definitely very aware of his gifts and potential.” And, as in the parable of the talents in Matthew’s Gospel, there was a recognition in his friend of the importance of using God’s gifts, said Father York. To whom more is given, more is expected, he explained. Throughout his career, Archbishop McKnight has placed special importance on stewardship and the role of the laity — their coresponsibility in leadership. “We have to listen to our people,” Father Vacca elaborated. “We need to respect and honor the experiences of all members of the church.” The stewardship way of life is all he and Archbishop McKnight have known since becoming priests for the Diocese of Wichita. Everything one has is a gift
from God, which is meant to be shared responsibly and generously, he said. Of these four priests, only Father Samuel Brand served under Archbishop McKnight during his first year as pastor at Church of the Magdalen in Wichita. “What struck me most about him was that he was constantly thinking and sharpening his mind. He’d always be asking what we could do better,” he said. When it came to making decisions, all four priests agreed. “Administratively, the man is a machine,” Father York declared. “He works hard and expects others to work hard. He’s very organized, detailed, savvy, and has a lot of common sense.” “He is very direct,” Father McGuinness added. “He will take the heat in making a decision, especially if it’s unpopular.” For example, Father Vacca recalled, after issuing a decree on church music that caused a firestorm of criticism, Archbishop McKnight rescinded the decree to take it back to the drawing board for revision. “Having to withdraw a decree after only a few weeks could be hugely embarrassing,” Father Vacca said. “But he
was not afraid to admit that he’d missed the mark. It showed great humility.” No one was shocked by the news of then-Bishop McKnight’s promotion to the archbishop of Kansas City in Kansas. They all anticipated he would move on to a position with more responsibility. “He has had so many different experiences that set him up for this new role,” said Father McGuinness. “This was a natural step for him.” “It’s going to be a very productive period for the archdiocese,” added Father York. “He will continue the good work of his predecessor.” Father Brand admits that Archbishop McKnight has big shoes to fill when it comes to his esteemed predecessor in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, who has served loyally, successfully, and generously for the past 20-plus years. “I expect him to be an archbishop who fully supports his priests. Giving them the help they need and calling them to greatness,” Father Brand concluded. “I hope and pray the people will see in him someone who will unify the whole archdiocese around the mission of the church, serving God and neighbor.”
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A McKnight in shining armor
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Colleagues describe a leader with a brilliant mind but a shepherd’s heart By Jill Ragar Esfeld jill.esfeld@theleaven.org
“Y
ou have a good man coming to your diocese,” said Deacon Bernard Nojadera of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). “Please take care of him, and he will go to bat for you.” As executive director of the USCCB’s Secretariat of Child and Youth Protection, Deacon Nojadera is one of many people Archbishop Shawn McKnight has met along the road to creating a remarkable resume. After receiving a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry with his eye on medical school, the archbishop went on to earn a doctorate in theology with his heart drawn to the priesthood. The archbishop has made friends that lasted a lifetime and left behind colleagues grateful for his mentorship from his native diocese of Wichita to Columbus, Ohio, to Rome to Washington to Jefferson City, Missouri, and back home again. The consensus among them all is easily summed up by Deacon Nojadera: “He is extremely competent, courageous, consistent, compassionate and a wonderful communicator.”
A gift of intellect Father David Lies, vicar general of the Diocese of Wichita, studied at the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio, at the same time as Archbishop McKnight. “It was clear that he was very intellectually gifted and did well in his
coursework,” he recalled. “He was always very well-spoken and you could just tell that he definitely had an intellectual gift.” Recently, when Archbishop McKnight received the Good Shepherd Award, a prestigious honor presented by the Josephinum, Father Lies was invited to attend. “I just noted that he speaks very well, very cogently,” he said. “And he does so without notes. “So, he has a real gift for expressing his thoughts.” Father John Hotze, judicial vicar of the Wichita Diocese, also remembers Archbishop McKnight from his days studying for the priesthood. Though they went to different seminaries, they met when they attended various diocesan events and later served as associate pastors in neighboring parishes. “Most that know Bishop McKnight probably knew that he was called to be more than a parish priest,” he said. “He was sent to Rome for further studies in theology. “As with other areas of his life, he jumped in 100 percent.” While earning a doctorate in sacred theology from the Pontifical Athenaeum of Saint Anselm in Rome, Archbishop McKnight wrote his doctoral thesis under the guidance of Father James Puglisi, a Franciscan Friar of the Atonement and professor emeritus of ecumenism, sacraments and ecclesiology. Father Puglisi remembers enjoying discussions with the archbishop around his dissertation topic, “Understanding the Diaconate,” and found his student to be “very meticulous, very punctual.” “I never had to call him to attention that we’ve got to keep this thing going,”
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE PONTIFICAL COLLEGE JOSEPHINUM
Right, Father Steven Beseau, rector and president of the Pontifical College Josephinum and a priest of the archdiocese, presents Bishop Shawn McKnight with the 2024 Good Shepherd Award for exhibiting in his ministry and his life the qualities of a good shepherd.
PHOTO COURTESY OF FATHER DAVID LIES
Father David Lies, vicar general of the Diocese of Wichita, points out Father McKnight on the parish vocations picture board at his home parish of St. Francis of Assisi, Wichita. Father Lies studied at the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio, at the same time as Archbishop McKnight. “It was clear that he was very intellectually gifted,” he said. he said. “He worked assiduously, and I think he was an ideal student.”
Born to lead In his dissertation, Archbishop McKnight shared his vision for pastoral leadership as being open and sensitive to the needs of people and addressing them with wisdom faithful to the teachings of Christ. He has lived out that vision in his own ministry. Father Lies succeeded the archbishop as pastor of St. Mark the Evangelist Church in Colwich. “The people spoke very fondly of his leadership there and he cultivated some good friendships,” he said. “It was my first time as a pastor and he was very helpful orienting me to the parish community. “And so, it was a good transition.” Father Lies described Archbishop McKnight as always looking to the wider church and bigger picture of life in the faith. “I don’t think it was a surprise to any of the priests that studied with him or worked with him that he has achieved what he has now as an archbishop,” said Father Lies. From 2010-16 Archbishop McKnight served as director of the USCCB Secretariat for Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations. Father Ralph O’Donnell served as the associate director and eventually succeeded him. “I always felt supported and encouraged,” said Father O’Donnell. “He is one of the most organized people I have ever worked with; he just has an impeccable sense of timing.
“I felt very blessed to learn from him. I felt very well-prepared because of his example.” Deacon Nojadera got to know Archbishop McKnight well as they collaborated while at the USCCB, particularly on the release of the Guidelines for Receiving International Pastoral Ministers in the United States. Along with their colleagues, they did regional training sessions around the country. “We were looking at this transformation of a culture, a culture of safety and vigilance,” he said. “And the [archbishop] had a clear mission in mind and displayed qualities of excellent leadership with helping me. “He was very approachable. The door was always open. He was easy to work with, but he was also not shy with communicating particular corrective criticisms or oppositions. “So I have very fond memories of Archbishop McKnight.”
A collaborative spirit The archbishop is the current episcopal moderator for the National Catholic Restorative Justice Initiative, and so Deacon Nojadera continues to work with him in efforts to help victim survivors of clergy sex abuse. “He is very much in tune with the realities of survivor victims and what it means to be the presence of Christ for those who are suffering and healing,” he said. “He understands the reality that those are our sisters and brothers. “And if they hurt, we hurt.” >> See “LIKE” on page 7B
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Bishop Shawn McKnight, chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Subcommittee on Catholic Home Missions in 2019, listens to a presentation about marriage and family life at St. Mark Church in El Paso, Texas, Sept. 25.
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Pope Francis greets Bishop Shawn McKnight on Jan. 16, 2020, as part of a meeting with U.S. bishops from Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska during their “ad limina” visits to the Vatican.
‘Like Pope Francis, he wants to create a synodal culture’
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The deacon has found Archbishop McKnight particularly helpful in the organization’s efforts to establish a National Healing Garden. “The bishop is very good at being able to walk beside, walk along, sit and listen,” he said. “And then, if needed, contribute. “There’s no ego involved.” Throughout the archbishop’s extensive career, he’s been known to value collaboration and deeply respect the opinions of others. Like Pope Francis, he wants to create a synodal culture at every level of the church. “He’s really focusing on a greater communal responsibility within the church,” said Father Lies, “that pastors draw on the gifts of the people of the parish to share in the work of the evangelization mission. “And I think he’ll be using that perspective to shepherd the people of the Archdiocese of Kansas City.” Father O’Donnell agreed. “He was always very interested in the perspective of others,” he said. “He always had a sense of overall goals and objectives and was very open to working with and collaborating with others to achieve their purpose.”
Holiness in Levis and a flannel shirt Archbishop McKnight’s reputation for organization and hard work may lead some to perceive him as solemn and serious. Past acquaintances claim that is far from the truth. “While, yes, there is a rather serious side to [Archbishop] McKnight,” said Father Hotze, “he is never one to turn down a night out with family or friends. He would never turn down catching a hockey or baseball game, never one to turn down a trip to the lake or maybe an opportunity to go hunting. “While his role as priest and bishop certainly limits his time, you often grasp what you can here and there.” Father Lies agreed that the archbishop can seem reserved when you first meet him but “as you would get to know him, you would pick up on his sense of humor.” Deacon Nojadera spent a great deal of time with the archbishop during his
CNS PHOTO/CAROL GLATZ
Deacon Bernard Nojadera, executive director of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Secretariat of Child and Youth Protection, worked with Archbishop McKnight at the USCCB.
“WHILE, YES, THERE IS A RATHER SERIOUS SIDE TO [ARCHBISHOP] MCKNIGHT, HE IS NEVER ONE TO TURN DOWN A NIGHT OUT WITH FAMILY OR FRIENDS.” FATHER JOHN HOTZE JUDICIAL VICAR OF THE WICHITA DIOCESE
stint with the USCCB — working, traveling and going to the gym together. “I know he’s a bishop,” he said. “And that permeated even though he was wearing a pair of Levis and a flannel shirt. “But he was a regular guy, you could have a beer with him, shoot the breeze, tell jokes. But always there was this holiness about him, this sense of justice. “‘Vultus Christi’ — ‘in persona of Christ’ — that was him.”
Father Stuart Smeltzer, pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Colwich, has known Archbishop McKnight since their days in the seminary. “After ordination to the priesthood,” he said, “a few of us hung out together on our days off on occasion and it was always an enjoyable time. “But what made it all special was discussing issues concerning the church and the world. “I have found Archbishop McKnight to be especially blessed by the Lord God to have a brilliant mind along with a shepherd’s heart.”
Hello to Kansas Blessed and grateful for the time he spent as a bishop in Missouri, Archbishop McKnight is equally happy to be returning to his roots. “I hate to say goodbye, but I love to say hello,” he stated. “I’m sure he’s happy to come home,” said Father Puglisi. “It’s good to see that he now has the pastoral care of the church that gave him his vocation.” Father Holze expressed gratitude that the priests of the archdiocese will have the opportunity to work with Archbishop McKnight.
“It will be nice to have one of our own as the archbishop in our home state,” he said. “Native Kansans know there is no other place on earth like Kansas.” And it’s no secret that the archbishop enjoys Kansas sports. Father Lies fondly remembers time spent skeet shooting with the archbishop and noted that his coat of arms includes a quail — a symbol of God’s providential blessing. “So, it coincides with his interest in hunting and, of course, his knowledge of Scripture,” he said. Priests from his native diocese won’t be the only Kansans happy to welcome the archbishop back to where his priesthood began. Father Hotze recalled how well Archbishop McKnight fit in with his first parish, remarking that priests learn more about being a priest from their parishioners than they learned in the years spent in the seminary. “You quickly learn that it is not your priesthood but that of Jesus Christ,” he said. “The good priest learns to trust in him and be an avenue for God’s love and mercy. “I think Father McKnight not only learned it, but continues to live it as bishop.”
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ARCHBISHOP MCKNIGHT
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Tom and Toni Simon pose at the installation of Bishop McKnight in Jefferson City, Missouri. The couple worked with Father McKnight in Wichita but said they “just didn’t get him long enough.”
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Renee and Pat Hanrahan pose with Bishop McKnight. Renee, a career sociologist, assisted Father McKnight in conducting an in-depth assessment of parish needs at Church of the Magdalen in Wichita.
A pastor at heart
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MAY 30, 2025
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Father McKnight, left, and Larry Kincheloe worked together at St. Mark Parish in Colwich in a ministry to engaged couples and with facility maintenance. Over time, they became fishing and hunting buddies.
Former parishioners of ‘Father Shawn’ say he knew how to get people on board By Jan Dixon Special to The Leaven
K
ANSAS CITY, Kan. — “Anything is possible.” It was a phrase that became the hallmark of Archbishop Shawn McKnight in his early days as a parish priest in the Wichita Diocese. Affectionately known at that time as Father Shawn or Father McKnight, his friends and former parishioners agreed that with him leading the way, they had to agree with him: Anything was possible. Wichita’s Blessed Sacrament parishioner Kaye Brown remembers him as a humble, approachable and caring priest. She loved listening to his inspiring homilies that touched her heart. As chair of the finance council and pledge committee with Father McKnight, she respected his ability to balance the budget with the needs of the parish. “He was financially responsible right out of the seminary,” Brown said. “He knew how to have the hard conversations needed to get everyone on board. Teaching parishioners about the joys of stewardship is always a rewarding and sometimes a challenging task. But Father McKnight was able to do so in an enthusiastic and consistent manner.” Patrick Gallagher has known Archbishop McKnight for most of his life. Their families were friends and spent lots of time together. He knew Archbishop McKnight as “Shawn” long before he knew him as “Father.” The two started playing together as toddlers and then young boys, running around Wichita. Both families landed in the Pacific Northwest at the same time, thanks to their fathers’ jobs. On one memorable occasion, the two boys and their dads took their gear and hiked for 90 minutes into a remote lake area of Seattle. While fishing, they heard what they thought was a sonic boom. After a second boom, they hiked back out to the safety of their car. The actual event was the eruption of Mount St. Helens.
“Shawn was always adventurous,” said Gallagher. “He always had needed information at his fingertips and you knew he was the smartest guy in the room.” Ann Marie Gallagher knew Archbishop McKnight first when he was a young associate priest at Blessed Sacrament during her first year of teaching Spanish in the school. She remembers Father Shawn coming to her with the idea of doing the Guadalupe Mass all in Spanish. They did it and that tradition continues today in the parish. “He knew what needed to be done and how to get it done,” she said. Through their wedding Mass, the baptisms of their children, family funerals and family gatherings, their connection with Archbishop McKnight has stayed strong. Chris Eck, Larry Kincheloe and Jane Neville have been longtime members of St. Mark Parish in Colwich, and described Father McKnight as humble, loyal and a true leader. One of the greatest needs at that parish during Father McKnight’s assignment there was to tear down a crumbling building and to build a new one. Getting everyone on board with the project required the skills to lead various discussions that would eventually bring about consensus. He was successful — and a New Life Center with classrooms was built and is still used today. Transitioning from stay-at-home mom to parish secretary when she first met him, Eck found Father McKnight to be a patient, wise teacher and mentor. “His daily life was an example of God’s love,” she said. “And you couldn’t say no to him.” Kincheloe worked with the archbishop in a ministry to engaged couples and with facility maintenance. He said that as a pastor, Father McKnight could see what qualities each person had and would involve them in parish activities in which they could excel. Over their years as hunting and fishing buddies, they developed a lasting friendship. “Out in nature together, we would
COURTESY PHOTO
From left, Amy Baxt, Father Shawn McKnight, Missy Cohlmia and Kaye Brown take part in a hunting expedition in 2009. This hunting trip was one of Brown’s favorite memories of Father McKnight. talk about faith and you could be a regular guy with him. How he lived his life inspired me,” Kincheloe said. Jane Neville was an Altar Society member during Archbishop McKnight’s time at St. Mark’s. She found him to be a great leader because he knew how to really listen and always sought input from parishioners. “Father McKnight understood the needs of young families,” she said, “as well as the needs of longtime members. His homilies were informative but understandable, and I always felt like he was talking directly to me.” When Archbishop McKnight became pastor of Church of the Magdalen in Wichita, he and Tom Simon worked together on the finance council and also took fly-fishing lessons together. Toni Simon worked with him on revising the bylaws for the Altar Society. Both expressed an appreciation for the way Father McKnight was instrumental in the parish getting a new altar, how he organized groups for collaboration and delivered homilies that left you saying, “Wow!” “He helped Church of the Magdalen to be what it is today,” agreed the Simons. “We just didn’t get him long enough.” Danielle Seiler felt the same way. Archbishop McKnight led her and husband Steve through their marriage prep and performed their wedding ceremony. Serving on the pastoral council, she found Father McKnight to be professional, understanding and inclusive. “He was a good manager,” said Pat Hanrahan, finance council chair at the time. “Father [McKnight] was both CEO
and pastor. His spirituality made you want to be better yourself.” Renee Hanrahan, a career sociologist, assisted Father McKnight in conducting an in-depth assessment of parish needs. “Being a problem-solver and a good listener enabled him to interact with all of the different age groups at Magdalen,” she said. Patty Hayes, Church of the Magdalen parishioner for 20 years, told how Father McKnight always took time to visit with her grandson Josh after Masses, and how that required both time and patience. Josh is 33 years old and has cerebral palsy. To communicate, he uses special technology connected to his wheelchair. Using knee pressure, Josh types what he wants to say by choosing letters from different quadrants on his device that is then put into voice. “I admired his intelligence and brains,” he said in an interview. The day that Father McKnight announced his appointment to be bishop in Jefferson City, Missouri, Josh typed out the following message: “Our Bishop McKnight could be the first American pope.” Now tending to a much larger flock, Archbishop McKnight’s friends and former parishioners are grateful for knowing him and proud of who he has become. Gallagher always thought his childhood friend Shawn would become a priest. And Kincheloe always thought his hunting buddy would go far. After all, anything’s possible.
The Servants of Mary, Ministers to the Sick joyfully welcome
His Grace, The Most Reverend Shawn McKnight, as the new Archbishop of Kansas City in Kansas
W
ith prayerful hearts, we celebrate this moment of grace and leadership for the archdiocese. Following in the footsteps of the dedicated shepherds who have guided us, we offer our prayers for you as you embrace this sacred mission. May the Holy Spirit continue to bless the archdiocese under your pastoral care. Inspired by the words of Saint Maria Soledad, “Charity and humility are the foundation of our mission,” we remain committed to serving the sick and suffering with compassion and dedication, in harmony with your pastoral vision. We are honored to have the shrine of our beloved foundress at the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle, a sacred space that reflects the spirit of service and love she so faithfully lived. As you begin your new assignment, may Saint Maria Soledad intercede for you, strengthening you in your ministry and filling your heart with the grace to lead with wisdom and compassion. With fraternal esteem and prayers, The Servants of Mary, Ministers to the Sick Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas
Congratulations and prayerful best wishes
Archbishop McKnight From Sacred Heart-St. Joseph Parish, Topeka
THE RETIRED PRIESTS AT VIANNEY HOUSE WELCOME ARCHBISHOP MCKNIGHT
The parishes of
St Ann, Effingham, St. Louis, Good Intent, & St. Mary, Purcell, welcome
Archbishop McKnight
Welcome, Archbishop McKnight! Blessings on your ministry among us.