ARCHBISHOP RECEIVES PALLIUM
By Moira Cullings moira.cullings@theleaven.org
VATICAN CITY — When Archbishop Shawn McKnight had the opportunity to speak with Pope Leo XIV during his time here, he decided to ask something near and dear to the hearts of his flock in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas.
The moment came unexpectedly after the June 29 Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica, where Archbishop McKnight and 53 other metropolitan archbishops had just received their palliums.
“At the end of the procession in front of the Pietà, we had a group photo with the Holy Father,” said Archbishop McKnight, “and then he greeted each one of us individually as we departed.
“It was at that moment that I asked him about whether or not he liked American barbecue, and he said, ‘I sure do!’
“I pledged to him that I would send him some good Kansas City barbecue sauce. So, I’ll have to follow up on that and keep my pledge.”
The Mass, celebrated on the solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul, was special for Archbishop McKnight, who was installed as archbishop on May 27.
He described it as “a very fraternal experience of the universality of the church.”
“We were placed in order of our installation dates,” he said. “The archbishop of Liverpool and I were installed on
the very same day, so we were right next to one another.”
It was also exciting to process into Mass and concelebrate it with the pope,
>> See “PALLIUM” on page 6
Archbishops must seek new ways to share Gospel, pope says
By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Archbishops around the world can provide by their example the fraternity and unity in diversity the entire Catholic Church needs today, Pope Leo XIV said.
“The whole church needs fraternity, which must be present in all of our relationships, whether between laypeople and priests, priests and bishops, bishops and the pope,” he said during his homily at Mass on the solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul June 29.
“Fraternity is also needed in pastoral care, ecumenical dialogue and the friendly relations that the church desires to maintain with the world,”
>> See “POPE” on page 6
CNS PHOTO/LOLA GOMEZ
Pope Leo XIV presents the pallium to Archbishop Shawn McKnight of Kansas City, Kansas, during Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican June 29, the solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul. The pallium symbolizes the archbishop’s authority and unity with the pope.
CNS PHOTO/LOLA GOMEZ
Archbishop McKnight poses for a photo at the Pontifical North American College in Rome June 29 after receiving the pallium from Pope Leo XIV. The pallium is a woolen band worn by metropolitan archbishops to symbolize their authority and unity with the pope.
USM AD named athletic director of the year
By John Sorce john.sorce@theleaven.org
LEAVENWORTH — The head of the University of Saint Mary athletic department here has been recognized by his peers for the second time.
Rob Miller, vice president of athletics, was honored with the 2024-25 Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) Athletic Director of the Year on June 13.
“I don’t get too fired up about stuff, but it’s always nice to hear about it,” said Miller, who also took home the award in 2017. “I appreciate it very much whenever you’re acknowledged by your peers, so that’s cool as well.”
Miller was at the helm for a year that saw a lot of success for Spire athletic programs. The University of Saint Mary claimed conference titles in men’s and women’s cross-country, men’s basketball, women’s indoor track and field, men’s wrestling, competitive dance and competitive cheer. The women’s wrestling team also won the regular season championship.
Saint Mary finished fourth in the 2024-25 KCAC Commissioner’s Cup standings and 19th in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Learfield Directors’ Cup standings, the best finish out of any conference school.
Miller deflected a lot of the credit
toward the department’s coaches, who help shape the vision for each athletic program.
“The current staff that we have is awesome,” Miller said. “They are the reason this kind of award is won. Our coaches understand the importance of finding the right fit for a place like Saint Mary and teaching our kids that winning is a side effect of doing things the right way. Our coaches have really embraced that concept and I couldn’t be prouder of them and how they conduct themselves.”
Miller became the school’s athletic director in 2006 and was the baseball coach until stepping down after the 2020 season. He coached baseball for 35 years and said there were things he learned as a coach that he uses in his current role.
“You get to see things from different perspectives as a coach,” Miller said. “Baseball teaches patience because the sport can be a grind to get through a season, and being an AD is a lot of the same thing. You need to be patient with people, and you need to grind through each season with all the different aspects of the job.”
A big part of how the athletic program goes about its daily tasks reflects the NAIA’s Champions of Character program, which highlights the five core values of integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship and servant leadership.
“Champions of Character is a huge component of what we do,” Miller
said. “We want to provide optimal transformational experiences for our student-athletes. Obviously, we want them to have academic success so they can graduate and find employment. But we ultimately want them to be good husbands and fathers, wives and mothers and reach their God-given potential.”
“As USM’s vice president of athletics, Rob personifies the five core values of the NAIA’s Champions of Character program,” said University president Sister Diane Steele. “Our teams routinely earn Five-Star Champions of Character honors, and Rob insists on and nurtures integrity and sportsmanship among studentathletes.”
The Spires had seven teams named Team of Character for their sport in the conference: women’s soccer, men’s and women’s swimming and diving, men’s and women’s bowling, women’s flag football and women’s outdoor track and field.
Looking ahead, Miller hopes to see the Spires build off their success, both on and off the field.
“We had a very successful ’24-’25 season and we just want to improve upon that,” Miller said. “We achieved some high marks academically, comparatively speaking to the past, and we want to continue to do that as well. We want to focus on improving our weaknesses and building on our strengths so we can produce the best that we can possibly produce.”
Archbishop McKnight’s Calendar
July 25
St. James Academy 20th anniversary Mass
July 26
Mass and Kateri Award — Prairie Star Ranch, Williamsburg
July 27
Regional Encuentro Mass — Savior
July 30
Rosary garden dedication — Resurrection Cemetery, Lenexa
Meeting with Father Suresh Babu, MSFS, provincial superior of Visakhapatnam, India
July 31
Serra Club dinner with priests, deacons and seminarians — St. Patrick, Kansas City, Kansas
Archbishop Emeritus Naumann’s Calendar
July 17
Kenyan Catholic Community in America Convention bishops’ dinner — Savior
July 19
25th anniversary Mass and lunch — Sister Claudia Zamora, Sisters, Servants Of Mary
July 21
Master’s Cup — Ironhorse Golf Club, Leawood
July 22
National Summit on Civics in Catholic Education — Benedictine College, Atchison
July 23
Pilgrimage to Wisconsin
July 31
Serra Club dinner with priests, deacons and seminarians — St. Patrick, Kansas City, Kansas
PHOTO COURTESY OF UNIVERSITY OF SAINT MARY
Rob Miller, vice president of athletics at the University of Saint Mary in Leavenworth, was honored with the 2024-25 Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) Athletic Director of the Year on June 13.
Catholic Media Association honors The Leaven with 13 awards
By Anita McSorley anita.mcsorley@theleaven.org
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — It might have hit 112 degrees in Phoenix the final day of the Catholic Media Conference, but it was The Leaven that brought the heat when the awards ceremony rolled around that evening.
The archdiocesan paper came away from the annual competition with 13 wins — three firsts, four seconds, one third and five honorable mentions — that represent the work of not only the staff but three freelancers.
But it was the range of work singled out for recognition that editor Father Mark Goldasich first noticed.
“In the haze of all these recent special issues, I forgot just how challenging last year was — beginning with the shooting at the Super Bowl parade,” he said.
“What started out as just a sudden and tragic development in KCMO, soon became a local Catholic story for us — and Moira [Cullings] spent days chasing down every aspect of it that she could. The fact that she won in both the local news writing and the in-depth news writing categories really makes that point. (See sidebar for details of this and other winners.)
“Moira might not have had the title yet,” he said, “but she certainly earned her ‘senior reporter’ stripes with that story.”
“This story was very challenging because of the tight deadline and how sensitive the situation was,” agreed Cullings. “I remember talking with sources who knew Lisa [Lopez-Galvan] personally or knew her family. Both principals at Miege and St. Agnes had beautiful thoughts to share. I always hoped her family and friends would read the story and know how devastated the community was by her loss and how much she meant to everyone.”
Although Cullings said she was happy for the recognition that “Parade Turns Tragic” received, the story meant a lot to her long before it became a double-award winner.
“I’m just grateful I was able to tell this story,” she said. “A lot of people were following the story, and for people who knew Lisa and her family to open up to me during an emotional time was an honor. I hope people were comforted at that time by how the community was responding in the face of such a devastating tragedy.”
While “Parade Turns Tragic” required aggressive coverage in the moment, other winners represented weeks — and sometimes months — of work.
Marc and Julie Anderson, longtime freelancers for the paper, won in two different categories for their two-part treatment of the “Plight of the Homeless.”
“It’s hard at a paper the size of ours to tackle these big topics,” said Father Mark, “but I think we have a unique obligation to do so. Sometimes we have to slow down and take a hard look at what our society is doing to real people right here in our midst.
“Marc and Julie did that for us on
Moira Cullings’ article about the shooting at the Super Bowl parade that killed Lisa LopezGalvan won first place for best news writing on a local event and third place for best indepth/special reporting.
Marc and Julie Anderson tackled the tough subject of homelessness in this two-part series. It won first place for best in-depth/ special reporting and second for best analysis/background/roundup news writing.
The annual Pitching for Priests game featuring priests from the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas against priests from the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, above, was a winner for Jay Soldner in the Multiple Picture Package - Sports category. Soldner also took second place in the same category for his “Holy Hoops,” below, which featured the annual Runnin’ with the Revs game.
the subject of homelessness — as they have on other weighty topics — and we couldn’t be more grateful.”
Neither of the Andersons was surprised
when they started their research to find so many Catholics involved in efforts to address the problem of homelessness.
“Throughout world history,” said
The winners
To access the award-winning stories and photos, go online to: www.the leaven.org or follow The Leaven on Facebook or Instagram.
Best News Writing on a Local or Regional Event — Weekly First Place
“Parade Turns Tragic” by Moira Cullings
Best Multiple Picture Package — Sports First Place
“Legends in the Making” by Jay Soldner
Second Place
“Holy Hoops” by Jay Soldner
Best In-Depth News/Special Reporting — Weekly
First Place
“Plight of the Homeless” by Marc and Julie Anderson
Third Place
“Parade Turns Tragic” by Moira Cullings
Best Newspaper — Weekly Second Place The Leaven
Best Analysis/Background/RoundUp News Writing — The Gerard E. Sherry Award — Weekly Second Place
“Plight of the Homeless” by Marc and Julie Anderson
Best Photograph — National/ International Event Second Place
“Walking With Jesus” Jay Soldner
Hot Topic - Eucharistic Revival Honorable Mention
“Walking With Jesus” by Todd Habiger, Jay Soldner and Kathryn White
Best Front Page — Diocesan Honorable Mention Todd Habiger
Best Reporting on a Special Age Group — Senior Citizens Honorable Mention
“Granny Ball” by John Sorce and Jay Soldner
Best Multiple Picture Package — Feature
Honorable Mention
“Retreat Invites Eighth Graders to Take the Next Step” by Kathryn White
Best Story and Photo Package — By an Individual Honorable Mention Prison Ministry by Jay Soldner
Julie, “it’s often been Catholic Christians leading the charge in charitable works. The Catholics and other Christians we met while researching the problem of homelessness truly see the face of Christ in those they serve. It was inspiring to listen to learn from them as well as to hear the reasons they became involved, why they stay involved and what they themselves have learned from the people they serve.”
What stuck with them both, however, was learning that there are solutions
>> See “NATIONAL” on page 10
Looking for a way to help? Join Catholic Charities for its next Hope Talk Aug. 22
By John Sorce john.sorce@theleaven.org
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — In April of this year, Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas opened the doors of its operations to members of the community who wanted to learn more about its programs. It was the first of two “Hope Talks” offered during the year to not only explain what hope Catholic Charities has to give to the disadvantaged in the community, but also what it is hoping for: volunteers.
“The purpose of the ‘Hope Talk’ is to inform the community about Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas, our mission, programs and ways that the community can get involved,” said community engagement specialist Kristen Pettibon. “Attendees get to experience our work and tour our Hope Distribution Center, as well as learn directly from our program staff.”
Attendees were initially split up into two groups to tour the building’s Hope Distribution Center.
Located on Steele Road, the center is an example of what most of Catholic Charities food pantries look like.
They serve 21 counties in northeast Kansas out of eight offices: two in Kansas City, and one each in Olathe, Overland Park, Atchison, Topeka, Leavenworth and Lawrence. All spaces have food pantries and family support centers.
The food pantry portion of the building is set up like a mini grocery store. People are allowed to come once every 30 days if they are a county resident. First-time visitors will fill out a basic intake form, which is updated once a year.
After check-in, they will receive a shopping card (in English and Spanish) based on the household size. Volunteers
ATTENDEES GET TO EXPERIENCE OUR WORK AND TOUR OUR HOPE DISTRIBUTION CENTER, AS WELL AS LEARN DIRECTLY FROM OUR PROGRAM STAFF.
KRISTEN PETTIBON
CATHOLIC CHARITIES COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SPECIALIST
are on hand to help with questions and loading groceries into vehicles.
Most shelf-stable food is donated by the community, while any financial assistance that comes in can go toward fresh produce, meat and dairy products.
The food pantry is open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. -4 p.m.
“Hope Talk” attendees were then able to listen to presentations from three ministries within Catholic Charities.
Shalom House in Kansas City, Kansas, is a transitional living program for men 21 and over who find themselves homeless. It is a 12-month, free program that provides men with wraparound services, including case management, financial literacy and employment support.
Shalom House also facilitates restore groups, which teach life skills during both the morning and evening hours.
Three meals a day and hygiene products are provided, and there is a fully functional kitchen on-site.
The men are provided with services ensuring their stability and are connected with a case manager,
Daryl and Vicki Currie, members of St. Joseph Parish, Shawnee, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on July 26. The couple was married at Guardian Angels Church in Kansas City, Missouri. Their children are: Glenn, Stephanie and Angela. They have eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Tom and Carol Grennan, members of Christ the King Parish, Topeka, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary with a family vacation in July. The couple was married on July 19, 1975, at Holy Cross Church, Overland Park. Their children are: Jennifer Albers, Erin Acierto and Christopher Grennan. They also have seven grandchildren.
financial literacy coach and employment sources once a week.
Family Financial Transformations is part of the Asset Development Program of Catholic Charities. It is a oneyear course to help people increase savings, decrease debt and receive more financial education.
Members initially meet twice a month before classes shift online, where there are three interactive classes.
When the class is complete, members receive a $200 stipend that they are encouraged to use on debt repayment or savings.
Kids are also encouraged to enroll and are divided into age groups: 8-to11-year-olds and 12-to-15-year-olds. Children 16 years or older can attend the online class with their parents.
Participants receive individual budget coaching, a financial education series for adults and children (ages 8 and over), personal and educational incentives, financial goals development and resources and referrals.
The St. Rita Program is one of the Workforce Development programs. It is designed to remove barriers for those who are unemployed or underemployed and is for individuals who are “motivated to break the cycle of poverty and change their lives through education and career advancement.”
The goal of the program is to help get adult students a certificate or degree in under 12 months and to help graduates “find success in a highdemand profession making a sustainable living wage.”
This was only the first of the “Hope Talks” scheduled this year. The second is planned for Aug. 22 at 11:30 a.m.
Anyone hoping to learn more about Catholic Charities and its programs can visit its website at: catholic charitiesks.org or call (913) 433-2100.
Roberta and Dennis Tinkham, members of St. Francis de Sales Parish, Lansing, will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary on July 19 with a family dinner. The couple was married on July 17, 1965, at St. Casimir Church, Leavenworth. Their children are: April Pendleton, Robert Tinkham, Lori Ernzen and Scott Tinkham. They also have eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
William “Bill” and Nancy (Westfall) Burns, members of the Cathedral of St. Peter in Kansas City, Kansas, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary with a trip to Cancun, Mexico, with their children and their spouses. The couple was married on July 19, 1975, at Christ the King Church in Kansas City, Kansas, by Msgr. Thomas Tank. Their children are: Billy, Emily and Shannon. They also have nine grandchildren.
Mark and Pam Booth, members of Curé of Ars Parish, Leawood, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on July 12. The couple was married on July 12, 1975, at St. Elizabeth Church in Kansas City, Missouri. They celebrated with a river cruise on the Duoro River in Portugal in June.
LEAVEN PHOTO BY JOHN SORCE
Tenesha Williams, program director of Shalom House in Kansas City, Kansas, talks to visitors at the April 4 Catholic Charities “Hope Talk.” Shalom House is a transitional living program for men 21 and over who find themselves homeless.
SISTERS IN STRIDE
Augustinian Sisters participate in 5K as part of Fiesta kickoff
By Marc and Julie Anderson mjanderson@theleaven.org
TOPEKA — They may not be the fastest runners on the route, but they might be the most popular.
On June 28, Sisters Rebecca Granado and Juanita Banuelos, both Augustinian Recollect Sisters of Our Lady of Consolation of Kansas, participated in the 48th annual Fiesta Topeka 5K Run/Walk.
The 5K was started by the late Paul Griego, a member of Our Lady Guadalupe Parish in Topeka. Griego had a heart condition and could not run himself; however, he saw a need for healthier living. Seeing an opportunity to encourage others, he started the 5K and organized it for years. For the past few years, his daughter Angel Griego has served as the race coordinator.
The event serves as one of the kickoff activities for the 92nd annual Fiesta Topeka, a weeklong celebration of Mexican culture to be held July 15-19 in Topeka’s Oakland neighborhood. The fiesta also serves as a fundraiser for the parish, as well as for Holy Family School, the school shared with Sacred Heart-St. Joseph Parish.
The Sisters started their participation in 2016 and have participated almost every year since.
“For me, I wanted to do it for our school — also just to have fun,” Sister Juanita said.
Likewise, Sister Rebecca said, “I thought it was exciting, just all of us together. We had participants from our school, teachers, parents. It was just fun to be together.”
Until that first 5K, neither Sister had ever participated in one.
“I never thought of doing something like that,” Sister Rebecca said.
Donning their skirts, their veils and the event T-shirts, along with walking shoes, the two set out on that first race not really knowing what to expect.
“I’d never done it,” Sister Juanita said. “I thought, ‘Am I going to survive? Am I going to finish it?’”
Preparing herself for that first race involved walking around the block several times each week, as well as walking in the park.
“We’d go to the park and just do as many laps around the park as we could,” said Sister Rebecca, adding that it “helped us to get a little bit in shape so that we could actually finish. That’s all we wanted, just to finish it.
“It’s really funny. One of our friends filmed it. She was waiting in her door, waiting for us to pass by. She watched
all of the runners go by and said, ‘Did you see the Sisters?’”
The runners would say that she and
Sister Juanita “were way back there.”
“We were the last ones,” Sister Rebecca continued. “So, that was all filmed, and her voice was in the film. It was funny.”
As the years go by, the Sisters said it’s definitely getting harder.
Just a few days prior to the race, Sister Juanita, who turns 70 in September, said, “I’m out of shape. I haven’t done any exercise or anything. So, it’s going to be hard.”
Sister Rebecca, who turns 75 in August, agreed, but laughed and added one detail.
“Even though it does get harder, it’s getting easier for us to win a prize,” she said. “I’ve been the only one in my category. I’ve gotten two or three medals.”
This year, however, due to the increased number of participants, 455 in total, she didn’t get one. Still, she finished the race.
As for why they continue their participation, Sister Juanita said, “As we go along, the people are cheering — especially for the Sisters. Sisters don’t do that. So, they get a kick of that.”
“It’s a novelty,” Sister Rebecca agreed.
LEAVEN PHOTO BY MARC ANDERSON
Sister Rebecca Granado, left, and Sister Juanita Banuelos of the Augustinian Recollect Sisters of Our Lady of Consolation of Kansas, take a breather after the two finish the walk. The two Sisters have participated in all but two of the run/walks since 2016.
LEAVEN PHOTO BY MARC ANDERSON
Father Daniel Coronado, pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Topeka, opts to travel the annual 5K Run/Walk by golf cart, driven by Joe Gutierrez. All along the route, Father Coronado cheered and encouraged the participants of the fundraiser.
Pallium represents an archbishop carrying sheep around his shoulders
>> Continued from page 1
he said, something he’d never done before.
As Archbishop McKnight ascended the stairs during the rite of imposition of the pallium, he was struck by the basilica’s image of Our Lady of Montserrat.
“I pray the rosary every day and have a Marian devotion,” he said, “so I was spontaneously moved to offer a prayer for me and for all of the people I’m responsible for here in the archdiocese, as well as throughout Kansas.”
And the moment Pope Leo XIV placed the pallium over his shoulders was particularly special.
“It was quite exceptional to, for the first time, get to meet the Holy Father, Pope Leo, when he greeted me formally after the imposition of the pallium,” he said, “where we exchanged the sign of peace.
“After the ritual of exchange of peace, he said to me, ‘Peace be with you’ in Latin, and I said to him in Latin, ‘And with your spirit.’
“And then I said, ‘Holy Father, the clergy and faithful of the Archdiocese of Kansas City love you.’”
What is a pallium?
The pallium is a woolen band worn over the shoulders of a metropolitan archbishop when he celebrates Mass within his province.
For Archbishop McKnight, that means anywhere in the state of Kansas.
“The pallium is the symbol of the bond between the pope and the local metropolitan archbishop,” explained Archbishop McKnight, “which also symbolizes the relationship between the local church and the church of Rome.”
It also represents an archbishop carrying sheep around his shoulders.
THERE’S A CONNECTION OF BEING SELFLESS AND SACRIFICIAL AS OUR LORD WAS, WHO LAID DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS SHEEP.
ARCHBISHOP MCKNIGHT
“There’s a connection of being selfless and sacrificial as Our Lord was, who laid down his life for his sheep,” said Archbishop McKnight.
“I only learned this in Rome,” he added, “that the black end of each one is supposed to resemble the hooves of a sheep.”
The pallium has six black crosses on it, three of which have a pin — called a spinula — to represent the
nails that were used to crucify Jesus. Archbishop McKnight’s pallium is particularly special because the wool from which the pallium was made was blessed by Pope Francis on the feast of St. Agnes, he added, and the completed pallium was blessed by Pope Leo XIV.
It will serve as a reminder of the great responsibility he now has as an archbishop.
“It’s an incredible burden of responsibility — the salvation of souls,” said Archbishop McKnight.
And it’s an additional one to also be responsible for the priests and deacons who are ministering to people.
“It’s impossible,” he said, “except for the grace and the assurances Our Lord gave to us that he would always be with us.”
Additional reporting by John Sorce.
Pope Leo revives tradition of placing palliums
>> Continued from page 1
the pope said.
“Let us make an effort, then, to turn our differences into a workshop of unity and communion, of fraternity and reconciliation, so that everyone in the church, each with his or her personal history, may learn to walk side by side,” he added.
The solemnity celebration in St. Peter’s Basilica included the traditional blessing of the pallium, the woolen band that the heads of archdioceses wear around their shoulders over their Mass vestments, and symbolizes an archbishop’s unity with the pope and his authority and responsibility to care for the flock the pope entrusted to him.
Pope Leo revived a tradition begun by St. John Paul II in 1983 by personally placing the pallium around the shoulders of the recently named archbishops.
Pope Francis had changed the ceremony starting in 2015. The late pope had invited new archbishops to concelebrate Mass with him and be present for the blessing of the palliums as a way of underlining their bond of unity and communion with him, but the actual imposition of the pallium was done by the nuncio and took place in the archbishop’s archdiocese in the presence of his faithful and bishops from neighboring dioceses.
The Office for the Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff issued a formal notification June 11 that on June 29 Pope Leo would preside over the eucharistic celebration, bless the palliums and impose them on the new metropolitan archbishops.
According to the Vatican, 54 archbishops from more than two dozen countries who were named over the past 12 months received the palliums. Eight of them were from the United States: Cardinal Robert W. McElroy of Washington; Archbishop W. Shawn McKnight of Kansas City, Kansas; Archbishop Michael G. McGovern of Omaha, Nebraska; Archbishop Robert G. Casey of Cincinnati; Archbishop Joe S. Vásquez of Galveston-Houston; Archbishop Jeffrey S. Grob of Milwaukee; Archbishop Richard G. Henning of Boston; and Archbishop Edward J. Weisenburger of Detroit.
The pope blessed the palliums after they were brought up from the crypt above the tomb of St. Peter. Each archbishop then approached Pope Leo by the altar and either knelt or bowed their head as the pope placed the pallium over their shoulders. Each shared an embrace with the pope and a few words.
CNS PHOTO/LOLA GOMEZ
Archbishop McKnight displays his pallium at the Pontifical North American College in Rome after receiving it from Pope Leo XIV during a Mass for the solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul in St. Peter’s Basilica June 29.
By Therese Horvat Special to The Leaven
KExhibit pays tribute to master accordionist
ANSAS CITY, Kan. — Playing and teaching music and preserving related Slavic cultural traditions were the passion and the mission of Don Lipovac. Through Sept. 21, an exhibit at the Strawberry Hill Museum and Cultural Center here celebrates the legacy of this award-winning, master accordionist who lived from 1935 to 2014.
The exhibit highlights Lipovac’s love of his Slovenian heritage and the expansive range of his musical talents. Items displayed include a small button accordion he began playing at age 4. Other accordions and tamburitza string instruments are available for viewing along with music arrangements, awards and certificates, costumes and photographs. Vinyl records and CDs from across Lipovac’s career are featured, representing music performed by him, his orchestra and the St. John’s Catholic Club Tamburitzans that he directed from 1967 to 1996. Programs from tamburitzan concerts fill one wall of the display.
Mary Boggio-Smith, volunteer, was the mastermind behind creating the exhibit from materials donated by Lipovac’s niece and others to the museum. Boggio-Smith had never met the accordionist nor heard him play. She became well-acquainted with him by sorting through boxes and totes of memorabilia. She worked with a committee to develop the exhibit with the goal that visitors experience Lipovac
as a down-to-earth person with extraordinary musical talents.
“I want the exhibit to bring back visitors’ memories of Don and his music and pay tribute to him,” she said.
Joe Dragosh, Lipovac’s lifelong friend
and financial sponsor of the exhibit, is thrilled that Lipovac is receiving the attention he deserved but never craved.
“It couldn’t have happened for a better person,” Dragosh said. Dragosh and Lipovac were like
brothers growing up in the neighborhood near the Slovenian parish of Holy Family in Kansas City, Kansas. Dragosh recalls that the two boys used a wagon to transport Lipovac’s accordion that was too heavy to carry to his lesson several blocks away. By that time, 8-yearold Lipovac had transitioned to a piano accordion and was being trained to become a classical musician. He later earned two degrees from the Kansas City Conservatory of Music.
Dragosh said that Lipovac developed rapidly as a musician of note. In the 1950s, he won the Ted Mack Amateur Hour and took first place in the American Accordion Association Competition at Carnegie Hall, both in New York. Next, he placed fourth in the International Accordion Contest at the World’s Fair in Brussels. Lipovac went on to perform a variety of music at popular night spots and other venues in the Kansas City area. He and his orchestra traveled the country with a booster club of followers. In 1992, he was inducted into the Polka Hall of Fame in Euclid, Ohio, near Cleveland.
Dragosh believed that his longtime friend would consider his work with the tamburitzans his greatest achievement.
“Don taught these young performers well with the idea that the Slovenian and Croatian cultures would be carried on musically,” he explained. “He had a profound impact on music in the metropolitan area and a profound impact on many people.”
To reserve a visit to the Lipovac exhibit, go online to: strawberryhill museum.org/plan-a-visit or call (913) 371-3264.
COURTESY PHOTO
Award-winning, master accordionist Don Lipovac is the subject of an exhibit through Sept. 21 at the Strawberry Hill Museum and Cultural Center in Kansas City, Kansas. The exhibit highlights Lipovac’s love of his Slovenian heritage and the expansive range of his musical talents.
2025 JUBILEE PILGRIMS OF HOPE
About the 2025 Jubilee
We are excited to celebrate 2025 as a Jubilee Year in the Church with the theme “Pilgrims of Hope”! This Year of Jubilee offers many opportunities for spiritual growth and sharing of the good news of Jesus Christ. Take advantage of our local opportunities to grow as missionary disciples, strengthen marriages and families, and engage as Pilgrims of Hope in 2025!
Pilgrims of Hope
This Jubilee Holy Year 2025 marks the 2,025th anniversary of the incarnation of Our Lord, an “event of great spiritual, ecclesial and social significance in the life of the church.” The concept of “jubilee” has its origins in the Book of Leviticus (chapter 25) as a special year of reconciliation and reunion. Pope Francis designated this a “Holy Year marked by the hope that does not fade, our hope in God.” We are called to consider our journey of faith as pilgrims who live joyfully that “through our witness, may hope spread to all those who anxiously seek it.”
Jubilee sites
Participate in the 2025 Jubilee celebration by making a pilgrimage to the Cathedral of St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles, in Kansas City, Kansas. The schedules for Mass, confession, eucharistic adoration and tours — including information on plenary indulgence opportunities for cathedral visits — can be found on the Jubilee website at: archkck.org/jubilee. Parish (or church-affiliated groups) are welcome to schedule Mass, eucharistic adoration or praise and worship gatherings with their own ministers. Along with the cathedral, all churches in the archdiocese under the patronage of the Sacred Heart of Jesus have been designated as sacred jubilee sites. During the 2025 Jubilee Year, you are invited to make a pilgrimage (pious visit) to one or more of these sites. A full list of all Sacred Heart of Jesus churches can be found at right and at the website above.
What is a Jubilee Year?
A jubilee year is a year of forgiveness of sins and also the punishment due to sin; it is a year of reconciliation between adversaries; and one of conversion and receiving the sacrament of reconciliation. Consequently, it is also a year of solidarity, hope, justice and commitment to serve God with joy and in peace with our brothers and sisters. A jubilee year is above all the year of Christ, who brings life and grace to humanity.
What do I do on a pilgrimage?
A pilgrimage is a transformative journey to a sacred place reminding us that we are all pilgrims on a journey that begins and ends with God. Pilgrimages are an opportunity to encounter Christ in prayer, contemplation of one’s life and for personal transformation. The journey to and from a holy site is an opportunity for personal devotion, shared witness and prayer. In observance of this Holy Year, the church offers pilgrims the gift of indulgences as a chance to open themselves to increased purity of heart and penitential spirit.
Plenary indulgences
The Vatican has decreed an opportunity for Catholics to receive a plenary indulgence during the 2025 Jubilee Holy Year. A plenary indulgence is “a priceless gift of divine mercy” that “allows us to discover how limitless God’s mercy is.” For more information, refer to the Catechism of the Catholic Church (nos. 1471-1479) and the archdiocesan jubilee website at: archkck.org/jubilee.
This information was put together by the archdiocesan evangelization office, and Fathers Anthony Saiki and Mark Mertes.
Cathedral of St. Peter
416 N. 14th St., Kansas City, Kansas (913) 371-0840 cathedralkck.org
Mass schedule
Sunday: 8 a.m., 10 a.m., noon (Spanish); Saturday: 4 p.m.; Monday - Friday: 8 a.m.; Wednesday: 6 p.m. (Spanish); First Friday: 7 p.m. (Spanish); First Saturday: 8 a.m. (Spanish)
Sacred Heart
357 N. 3rd St., Baileyville (785) 336-6464
shbaileyville.com
Mass schedule Sunday: 8:30 a.m.; Saturday: 7 p.m.; Wednesday and Thursday: 8:30 a.m.
n The church is open during the day seven days a week. Visitors are welcome any day.
Sacred Heart (part of Our Lady of Unity)
2646 S. 34th St., Kansas City, Kansas (913) 677-4621 olukck.org
Mass schedule Sunday: 9:30 a.m.; Saturday: 4:30 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday: 8:05 a.m.
Sacred Heart-St. Joseph
312 N.E. Freeman Ave., Topeka (785) 234-3338 sacredheartstjosephcatholic.org
Mass schedule Sunday: 10 a.m.; Saturday: 4 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday: 8 a.m.
Divine Mercy
555 W. Main St., Gardner (913) 856-7781 divinemercyks.org
Mass schedule
Sunday: 8 and 10:30 a.m.; Saturday: 4:30 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday: 6 p.m.; Wednesday: noon; Friday: 8 a.m. n Pilgrims are welcome in the church anytime during office hours. Office hours are: Monday, Wednesday and Thursday: 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Tuesday: 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Friday: 8:30 a.m. to noon; and Sunday: 7:30 a.m. to noon.
Sacred Heart 1100 West St., Tonganoxie (913) 369-2851
shcct.com
Mass schedule
Sacred Heart of Jesus 5501 Monticello Rd., Shawnee (913) 422-5700
shoj.org
Mass schedule
Sunday: 8, 9:30 and 11 a.m.; Saturday: 4:30 p.m.; Monday - Friday: 6:30 and 8:15 a.m.
n For more information about Sacred Heart of Jesus’ jubilee offerings, go online to: shoj.org/uploads/docs/jubilee yearflyer2025v2.pdf. To listen to a message from pastor Father Jaime Zarse about the jubilee year, go to: www.you tube.com/watch?v=8qIKDHovUWo.
Sacred Heart 408 S. Cedar St., Ottawa (913) 242-2174
sacredheartottawa.org
Mass schedule
Sunday: 9 and 11 a.m.; Saturday: 5:30 p.m.; Tuesday - Friday: 8:05 a.m.
n Sacred Heart, Ottawa, welcomes pilgrims during this special Jubilee year. Please sign in at the table in the vestibule and select a prayer card as a memento of your pilgrimage to the parish. To arrange a specific time to make a pilgrimage as a group, please call the parish office.
PRO TIP
For help in planning your trip, call or email the parish you plan to visit in advance. Ask for Mass, eucharistic adoration and confession times, or whether there are any special Jubilee Year displays or events.
Jubilee Prayer
Father in heaven, may the faith you have given us in your son, Jesus Christ, our brother, and the flame of charity enkindled in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, reawaken in us the blessed hope for the coming of your kingdom.
May your grace transform us into tireless cultivators of the seeds of the Gospel.
May those seeds transform from within both humanity and the whole cosmos in the sure expectation of a new heaven and a new earth, when, with the powers of Evil vanquished, your glory will shine eternally. May the grace of the Jubilee reawaken in us, Pilgrims of Hope, a yearning for the treasures of heaven.
May that same grace spread the joy and peace of our Redeemer throughout the earth.
To you our God, eternally blessed, be glory and praise for ever. Amen
Sacred Heart
1031 S. 12th St., Sabetha (785) 284-0888 nekansascatholics.org
Mass schedule Sunday: 10:30 a.m.; Saturday: 4 p.m.; Second Wednesday of the month: 7 p.m. n The church will be open to visitors Monday - Friday: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Saturday: 3 to 4 p.m.; and Sunday 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.
Sacred Heart
727 E. Main St., Mound City (913) 795-2724 miamilinncatholics.org
Mass schedule Saturday: 6:30 p.m.; Wednesday: 6 p.m. n Pilgrims are welcome at any time during the Jubilee Year to visit. To set up a tour of the church, send an email to: bclayton@archkck.org. A tour of the St. Philippine Memorial Park where the saint lived for about a year is available to schedule as well.
Sacred Heart 22298 Newbury Rd., Paxico (785) 636-5578 sacredheartpaxico.com
Mass schedule
Sunday: 10:30 a.m.; Saturday: 8 a.m.; Monday-Wednesday, Friday: 8 a.m.
Sacred Heart-St. Casimir 1405 2nd Ave., Leavenworth (913) 772-2424 shsc.org
Mass schedule Sunday: 11 a.m.; Saturday: 4:30 p.m.; Wednesday and Friday: 8:30 a.m.
National Revival, annual events yield prize-worthy efforts
>> Continued from page 3
out there.
“It was surprising to learn that we, as a nation, could solve the problem of homelessness rather than simply manage it,” said Marc.
Like, Cullings, the Andersons were quick to give credit to the people they reported on.
“Every day, hundreds of people across the archdiocese live out the corporal works of mercy in a myriad of ways,” said Julie. “They truly see the face of Christ in those they serve. That’s who the award really belongs to. We were just lucky enough to meet a few of these remarkable people and learn from them.”
Not all the wins were for such serious coverage, however, especially in photography. Perennial favorites like the annual priests’ softball game between the archdiocesan priests and those of the Diocese of Kansas City – St. Joseph, along with a Runnin’ with the Revs basketball game, won a first and second place, respectively, for Jay Soldner.
Both events, said Soldner, are a joy to photograph because of all the positive energy and feel-good images the games yield.
Soldner also picked up his first reporting award from a prison ministry visit that he also had to photograph.
“As I got to talking to the men graduating that day,” said Soldner, “I was moved by their determination to try [to] improve their own lives and not give in to the violence and despair that are pretty common in prison. The men spoke openly and honestly about their lives — their past, their current lives — and their hopes and goals for the future.
“In the story I wrote was hoping to give the readers the feeling that there is always a chance to improve in life, regardless of the situation. The story was mostly just quotes from the men that I thought the readers of The Leaven would be able to connect with — and maybe have some readers think a little differently about people who are locked up.”
Even the newest addition to The Leaven staff John Sorce, who had flexed
his former sports reporter skills in “Granny Ball,” a fundraiser at the University of Saint Mary, was recognized with an honorable mention. Freelance photographer Kathryn White also received an honorable mention for her photo essay of the ReachKCK community’s retreat in a piece called “Retreat invites eighth graders to take the next step.”
One aspect of the paper’s Eucharistic Revival coverage yielded two wins in the “Best Photo” categories.
A single photo of a eucharistic procession crossing the Missouri River on the Amelia Earhart Memorial Bridge into Atchison, again by Jay Soldner, seems to have captured the moment for two sets of judges.
The photo was titled, appropriately enough, “Walking with Jesus.”
But for production manager and designer Todd Habiger, who won an honorable mention for Best Front Page — Diocesan, the big win of the year was the second place for Best Newspaper.
“We’re a small paper with a small staff and an unforgiving deadline,” said Habiger. “So second place among
“Walking With Jesus” won an honorable mention for Hot Topic - Eucharistic Revival. Also, Soldner’s photo of the procession took second place for Best Photograph - National.
Kathryn White received an honorable mention with her photo essay of the ReachKCK community’s retreat in a piece called “Retreat invites eighth graders to take the next step.”
all the weeklies is a big deal for us. To hear our reporters and photographers reminisce, though, about the stories and photos that won, makes you realize how much of all of us goes into making this paper each week.”
“We’re very grateful to the Catholic Media Association for recognizing that work in this way,” he added. “But we’re also grateful to all the folks of the archdiocese, who give us so much good news to report on.”
Jay Soldner’s photos and story about Donnelly College’s prison ministry took an honorable mention for Best Story and Photo Package.
John Sorce picked up his first CMA win, teaming with Soldner for “Granny Ball,” a fundraiser at the University of Saint Mary featuring the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth.
Pope is welcomed back to summer home
By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service
CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy
(CNS) — After more than a decade without its most famous vacationer, the quiet town of Castel Gandolfo once again counts the pope among its summer residents.
Pope Leo XIV became the 16th pope to reside in the papal summer residence when he moved there July 6, following the recitation of the Angelus in St. Peter’s Square.
“This afternoon, I will travel to Castel Gandolfo, where I intend to have a short period of rest,” the pope told pilgrims gathered in the square. “I hope that everyone will be able to enjoy some vacation time in order to restore both body and spirit.”
The tradition of popes escaping the summer heat of Rome for the cooler Alban Hills began with Pope Urban VIII in 1626. While Pope Benedict XVI spent nearly three months in the papal villa during the summer of 2012, his successor Pope Francis chose not to stay there, opting instead for his Vatican residence at the Domus Sanctae Marthae.
In 2016, Pope Francis converted the papal property into a museum, opening the villa and gardens to the public.
That decision transformed the character of tourism in the town, said Marina Rossi, a local resident who has operated a mosaic workshop along the town’s main drag for more than 30 years.
“During the week, there wasn’t this flow of people,” she told Catholic News Service July 1, since the popes
only presented themselves publicly to pray the Angelus on Sundays. “Instead, by opening the palace and the pontifical villas, the type of tourism has changed,” shifting from frugal pilgrims to paying visitors. As a result, “the last 12 years were good for us.”
Still, she said, the return of a pope is “fantastic.”
“It’s an important showcase” for the town, Rossi said. “We’re happy, yes.”
Rossi, an artist, said she and others had considered creating a portrait of the pope, adding, “Yes, it’s an idea we’ve had; right now, we are doing stuff a bit different, more simple, because making a portrait is not the most ‘sell-able’ right away.”
Assunta Ferrini, who manages
Town officials vote to buy Pope Leo’s
By Gina Christian OSV News
DOLTON, Ill. (OSV News) — An Illinois town intends to purchase the childhood home of Pope Leo XIV, hoping to turn the property and its surroundings into a historical site.
The board of trustees of the Village of Dolton voted unanimously July 1 to buy the modest, one-story brick dwelling located at 212 E. 141st Place in Dolton.
Since the election of the first U.S.born pope, the 75-year-old home — in which the former Robert Prevost was raised — has become a tourist attraction and even a place of pilgrimage.
“So many people are coming to the block,” Nakita Cloud, spokesperson for the Village of Dolton, told OSV News. “You see tour buses [here].”
Next-door-neighbor Donna Sagna Davis previously told CBS News Chicago that visitors are “bringing rosaries, flowers.”
Davis also told the outlet, “I’ve seen a lot of people; people from Greece, people from Italy, Germany. One woman came and she prayed, touched the door of the pope’s house, and she said she wanted to be healed.”
Dolton mayor Jason House has highlighted the property’s potential to help revitalize the community.
Safeguarding remains a top priority with new appointment, U.S. cardinal says
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Leo XIV’s appointment of the new president of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors shows that safeguarding remains a top priority, its former president said.
“Our Holy Father Pope Leo XIV has affirmed the continued priority of the commission’s work for the universal church in his thoughtful appointment” of Archbishop Thibault Verny of Chambéry, France, as the new president of the commission, said Cardinal Seán P. O’Malley.
Sor Capanna, a restaurant right off the square at the foot of the papal palace, said the town has not lacked tourists in the pope’s absence.
“The tourists came, many of them,” she told CNS. “But to have a pope return is always an honor for the town, that he comes here to meet us.”
At a local coffee shop, barista Stefano Carosi echoed that sentiment. “To have the pope here among us after so long is a beautiful thing,” he said. “We’ve waited for it for so long.”
Without the steady presence of Pope Francis, he added, the town was “without that spark, that light, but now it seems like these 12 years have flown by and we hope that everything may return as before.”
childhood home
A sale price for the house, which had been up for auction, will not be publicly disclosed until the transaction has been completed, Cloud said.
She noted the town had “negotiated directly with the seller and his agent, and we came up with an amount that is satisfactory for everyone.”
The final price, while not “millions of dollars,” was “certainly more than the $199,000 original auction price,” she said.
CBS News reported that the decision to buy the home was largely supported by Dolton residents, although a few expressed concerns the money would be better spent on other infrastructure and economic development projects.
Cloud said the village is not working with the Archdiocese of Chicago “at this time” on the transformation of Pope Leo’s childhood home into an historical site, although she added, “We’re trying to work it all out.”
“The Holy Father’s words and deeds in these early months of his pontificate assure the world that the church will not grow complacent in her efforts to, as best possible, ensure the protection of children, vulnerable adults and all people in our communities,” he said in a written statement released July 5, the day the Vatican announced the new appointment.
Archbishop Verny, 58, has served as a member of the papal commission since 2022. “In addition to important contributions to the work of the commission, the archbishop has years of in-depth experience working with law enforcement, other civil authorities and church leadership to ensure accountability for the serious failures of the church in France,” where he served as auxiliary bishop of Paris before joining the commission, Cardinal O’Malley wrote.
“He has been at the forefront in seeking healing and reconciliation with survivors,” the cardinal said, and he “played an important role in the development and implementation of substantive policies and procedures, with cultural specificity, for the prevention of any recurrence of abuse.”
Church adds Mass ‘for care of creation’ to Roman Missal
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Catholic priests will now be able to celebrate Mass “for the care of creation” after the Vatican announced that a new formulary of prayers and biblical readings for the Mass will be added to the Roman Missal — the liturgical book that contains the texts for celebrating Mass in the Roman rite of the Catholic Church.
The new formulary, or specific set of texts and prayers for Mass, will be added among the “civil needs” section of the “Masses and Prayers for Various Needs and Occasions” listed in the Roman Missal.
The current missal, approved by St. John Paul II in 2000, lists 17 “civil needs” to offer Masses and prayers for, including “for the nation or state,” “after the harvest,” “for refugees and exiles” and “in time of earthquake.”
Pope Leo XIV was to use the new formulary for a private Mass July 9 with the staff of Borgo Laudato Si’ ecology project — a space for education and training in integral ecology hosted in the gardens of the papal villa at Castel Gandolfo, the traditional summer residence for the popes.
CNS PHOTO/VATICAN MEDIA
Pope Leo XIV greets people as he arrives in Castel Gandolfo, Italy, July 6 after reciting the Angelus at the Vatican. The pope will stay in Castel Gandolfo for his customary retreat through July 20.
OSV NEWS PHOTO/CARLOS OSORIO, REUTERS
The childhood home of Pope Leo XIV is pictured in the Dolton suburb of Chicago May 9. The Village of Dolton intends to purchase the childhood home of Pope Leo, hoping to turn the property and its surroundings into a historical site.
EMPLOYMENT
Administrative assistant - The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas is seeking to hire an administrative assistant who is responsible for supporting the work and ministry of the offices of marriage and family life and children’s catechesis. This position is full time and benefits-eligible. For more details or to apply, please visit “Employment Opportunities” at: www. archkck.org.
Director of youth formation - Are you passionate about forming young disciples? St. Ann Parish in Prairie Village is seeking a director of youth formation to lead teens (7th–12th grade) closer to Christ. If you’re a dynamic, faithful Catholic who connects well with youth, we want to meet you! Apply now by sending your cover letter and resume to: cquirk@stannpv.org. For more info, visit: www.stannpv.org/jobs.
Minister of mercy - St. Ann Parish in Prairie Village is hiring a full-time minister of mercy to bring Christ’s love to those in need. Walk with parishioners through illness, grief and hardship, and lead outreach rooted in the works of mercy. If you’re a compassionate, faith-filled Catholic with a heart for service, we want to hear from you! Apply today by emailing your cover letter and resume to: cquirk@stannpv.org. For more info, visit: www.stannpv.org/jobs.
Workforce development specialist - Are you seeking an opportunity to advance your career while assisting others to advance theirs? Want to surround yourself with others with a high level of conviction and passion of serving others? Then consider your next career move with our great team as a workforce development specialist in Topeka. For more information, please go to: https://catholiccharitiesks.org/careers.
I need a caregiver beginning July 31! - In-home assistance for 2-4 months, in Leawood, while recovering from major surgery. Experience providing support for an individual with physical limitations is needed, and assistance with patient transfer, and the ability to legally and safely operate a motor vehicle are required. The person we seek is dog-friendly as our Labrador Retriever is an important member of the family. Other responsibilities include help with walking, showering, dressing and other light household tasks. The hourly salary is $35 for up to 24 hours / three days each week. Please email us at: temkansas@hotmail.com for additional information.
Director of faith formation - St. Ann Parish in Prairie Village is seeking a passionate director of faith formation to envision, plan and lead a program that forms missionary disciples. We’re looking for a practicing Catholic who lives the faith with integrity and inspires others to do the same. If you’re ready to make a meaningful impact, we invite you to learn more and apply. Apply by sending cover letter and resume to Cindy Quirk, director of operations, at: cquirk@stannpv.org. For more information, visit: www.stannpv.org/jobs.
Advancement director - St. Ann Parish in Prairie Village is seeking a director of advancement to share our story and inspire support for our mission and future. We’re looking for a practicing Catholic who loves the church, communicates with impact and motivates generosity. If you’re ready to help shape a 1,200-household parish community, we invite you to apply. Full job description online at: www.stannpv.org/jobs. Interested candidates should submit cover letter and resume to Cindy Quirk, director of operations, at: cquirk@stann pv.org.
Catholic parish communications position - Church of the Ascension in Overland Park, a large suburban Catholic parish, is seeking a person to serve as the pastoral associate for communications and parish life. The person to fill this position will be a key leader in the parish, serving on the parish leadership team and working closely with the pastor. Additionally, this position supervises 2-3 other paid staff members and other volunteers. The skills needed for this role include a zeal for and knowledge of the Gospel of Jesus Christ; an ability to creatively craft engaging communications; manage websites and social media platforms; and oversee in-house communications systems, Customer Relations Management (CRM) software and in-house video production. Salary is commensurate with similar positions in surrounding parishes. Interested individuals should send a resume to: ldonart@kcascension. org. Position description is available at: kcascension. org/employment-opportunities.
School nurse - Sacred Heart School in Shawnee is hiring a school nurse. Nursing experience is preferred along with experience working with children pre-K through 8th grade. Resumes may be submitted to the school principal at: kathy.rhodes@shoj.org.
Music director - St. Joseph Church in Shawnee invites applications for the position of full-time director of music. St. Joseph is a large suburban parish that boasts a renovated church featuring an Allen 3-manual organ and Steinway piano. The director of music will oversee all musical aspects of parish liturgical events, including five weekend Masses, solemnities, feasts and special occasions. Responsibilities encompass directing four choirs, supervising four paid organists and scheduling all music ministers. Candidates should demonstrate a strong Roman Catholic faith, deep knowledge of liturgy, and exceptional proficiency in keyboard playing, conducting and voice development. This role requires proactive leadership, effective communication and a passion for nurturing spiritual growth through music. Interested applicants are encouraged to send their resume to: mthomas@stjoeshawnee.org or call (913) 248-4562.
Third grade teacher - St. Joseph School in Shawnee is seeking a third-grade teacher for the 2025-26 school year. Applicants should email principal Kelcey McCauley at: kmccauley@stjoeshawnee.org.
Facilities manager - St. Patrick Church in Kansas City, Kansas, has an opening for a full-time, benefit- eligible, facilities manager for our parish campus located at 1086 N. 94th St. in Kansas City, Kansas. This position will oversee the management and operations of the church and school facilities, providing oversight for the buildings, grounds, parking lots, equipment, building systems, general security and ensuring the facilities are fully operational, clean and safe. Equipment includes HVAC, plumbing, electrical and mechanical. The manager will act as the facility representative with outside contractors and inspectors. Previous experience maintaining equipment required. Knowledge of email and Microsoft Excel and Word is helpful. Professional communication and organizational skills and the ability to multitask are important. Monday through Friday daytime hours are normal and some evening and weekend days may be required. Contact Abby Drath at (913) 299-3370 or email: office@stpatrickkck.org and request a job application. The deadline for applying for this job is July 18.
Associate director of music - The Church of the Nativity Parish and School in Leawood seek a full-time associate director of music to join our team. The associate director of music collaborates with the director of music and our pastor to oversee the liturgical life of the parish and lead our community in song at Masses, sacramental celebrations, and other liturgies and parish events. A deep love of Jesus Christ and an authentic desire to support our community’s full, conscious and active participation in the liturgy animate the ministry carried out by the associate director of music. Qualified candidates will possess strong organ and piano accompaniment ability, experience working with cantors and choirs, outstanding communication skills, a passion for excellence and a desire to collaborate with the director of music in all areas of the music ministry program. Competitive salary and benefits are offered commensurate with experience. For a full job description and application instructions, please visit: https://kcnativity.org/ employment-music-ministry.
Development director - Cor Christi Catholic Center in Topeka is seeking to hire a part-time development director under the supervision of the center director. Responsibilities include developing, coordinating and executing fundraising plans, activities and communication to support the campus center. Qualifications include bachelor’s degree in fundraising, communication and marketing, event planning or equivalent experience. For more information, go online to: https:// www.wucatholic.com/employment-opportunities. To apply, send cover letter, your resume and three references to Jessica Hammer at: wucatholic@hotmail. com. Subject line: Development Director.
Catholic elementary school principal - St. Matthew School in Topeka is seeking a dynamic and visionary leader with a passion for Catholic education. The principal will continue the school’s tradition of forming disciples, pursuing academic excellence and spiritual growth. The principal will lead by example and inspire a team of dedicated faculty and staff. Applicants must have or be eligible for Kansas licensure in educational leadership. Apply online at: archkckcs. org/apply. For more information, contact Vince Cascone at: vcascone@archkckcs.org.
Faculty and adjunct faculty job openings - Donnelly College in Kansas City, Kansas, is a Catholic college offering higher education for those who may not otherwise be served Faculty job openings - Nursing faculty, full-time evenings; nursing faculty, full-time M - F. Adjunct faculty job openings - Adjunct instructor nursing; Adjunct instructor Accounting; clinical adjunct instructor - nursing; - P.A.S.S. (Preparing Academically Successful Students) - part time. Adjunct faculty Lansing Correctional Campus - Adjunct instructor - math; adjunct instructor - accounting; clinical adjunct instructor - Find job descriptions and details at: www.donnelly. edu/careers.
Christian formation administrative assistant - The Christian formation team at Church of the Nativity seeks applicants for the role of administrative assistant. This position is part time, August-June, 15-20 hours per week, and supports the work of the director of religious education and the Christian formation office. The ideal candidate for this position is passionate about using their organizational gifts to help form Christian disciples. The Christian formation administrative assistant works in a collaborative team to enact the parish’s vision for faith formation and evangelization with a keen attention to detail, strong interpersonal skills and a readiness to support team members. For a full job description, go to: https:// www.kcnativity.org/employment-opportunities. To apply, please send your resume and cover letter to: jobapplication@kcnativity.org.
Guest services coordinator - The Savior Pastoral and Retreat Center is seeking to hire a guest services coordinator. This position is the first point of contact for all guests/visitors and helps with group reservations. This position is full time and benefits-eligible. For more details or to apply, please visit “Employment Opportunities” at: www.archkck.org.
Preschool paraprofessional - Holy Rosary-Wea School in Bucyrus is seeking a full-time and a parttime paraprofessional for the 2025-26 school year. Applicants should email Nick Antista, principal, at: nick@qhrwea.org.
Donor engagement coordinator - The donor engagement coordinator advances the mission of Catholic Charities by leading donor stewardship efforts, managing recognition societies, and supporting the cultivation of current and prospective donors. This role strengthens relationships through thoughtful outreach, personalized communication and event support. The ideal candidate is a self-starter and creative relationship-builder who brings initiative, attention to detail and a passion for serving those most in need across northeast Kansas — while seeking meaningful opportunities for professional growth. For more information, please go to: https://catholic charitiesks.org/careers.
Executive assistant to the archbishop - The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas is seeking to hire an executive assistant to the archbishop, which is responsible for supporting the mission of the office of the archbishop by providing administrative support by managing daily operations of the archbishop’s office. For more details or to apply, please visit “Employment Opportunities” at: www.archkck.org.
Catholic financial planners - The Knights of Columbus Mahon Agency has openings throughout all of NE Kansas and western Missouri, including Kansas City, Topeka, Holton, Wamego, Lawrence, Gardner, Liberty and Chillicothe. We have much to offer professional, disciplined and determined men who would like to share needed life insurance, disability income, longterm care and annuity products with other Catholics. This is a full-time position with excellent, multi-tiered training and benefits, allowing the successful field agent to earn a professional level income. It’s an exciting career opportunity that may be the right fit at the right time for you, or someone you know. For more information, contact John Mahon at (785) 4088800, or john.mahon@kofc.org.
Staff job openings - Donnelly College in Kansas City, Kansas, a Catholic college offering higher education for those who may not otherwise be served. Job openings: English literacy instructor - P.A.S.S. (Preparing Academically Successful Students) - part time. Find job descriptions and details at: www.donnelly.edu/careers.
Director of youth ministry - Curé of Ars in Leawood is seeking a full-time director of youth ministry who will lead the youth closer to Christ. This position will be dedicated to forming 5th-8th grade and high school students with the good news of Jesus Christ. For more information about this position, please see the job posting on the church website: www. cureofars.com/careers. Resumes can be sent to Bernadette Myers, director of parish faith formation, at: bernadettemyers@cureofars.com.
Caregivers needed - Daughter & 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.
Dining room server - Do you have a passion for providing top-notch hospitality and creating a warm, welcoming atmosphere? We’re looking for a dining room server who brings professionalism and heart to every meal. At our vibrant community, you’ll serve residents and guests with care, carrying out our signature “Living in Style” program. This role isn’t just about taking orders – it’s about making connections and creating memorable dining experiences. From greeting and seating residents and guests to ensuring food safety and cleanliness, you’ll be a key player in delivering service that exceeds expectations. You’ll also help keep the dining room sparkling and assist in training new team members. If you’re ready to combine hospitality, quality service, and a touch of elegance – all while supporting our mission and values – we’d love to have you on our team!” Go to: https://recruiting. paylocity.com/recruiting/jobs/Details/2403135/Santa-Marta-Retirement/Healthcare-Server.
SERVICES
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!
Faith-based counseling to cope with life concerns - Kansas City area. Call Mary Vorsten, licensed clinical professional counselor, at (913) 909-2002.
Aluminum wheelchair ramp - Sales and installation customized to your needs. Serving all of northeast Kansas. Call McCourt Construction at (785) 224-4961.
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
Direct Catholic Healthcare LLC
Randal Brown, MD Internal Medicine/ Gastroenterology
Announcing a new Catholic-based medical practice now open in Prairie Village at Corinth Square (83rd and Mission Rd). I offer 25 years of private practice experience in general and subspecialty care. We promise to utilize the U.S. bishops’ directives for authentic Catholic health care. Book your appointment directly through my website at: direct-catholic-healthcare. com or email me with any questions at: brownrandal@ icloud.com.
Catholic end-of-life doula, grief coach and spiritual director - Feeling overwhelmed by grief, caring for aging parents, supporting a loved one at life’s end or just need a quiet space to notice where God is active in you life? I am Rhonda, a Catholic end-of-life doula, grief coach and spiritual director. I offer heartfelt guidance and prayerful companionship during difficult times. You don’t have to do this alone. Call me at (913) 954-8574, or visit: www.this-one-life.com.
Pre-owned car sales - If you or someone you know is in need of a quality pre-owned car or needs an appraisal on one, I can help. Please reach out to Bill@ CarMax at (913) 437-6667 and I’ll guide you through the process. We are happy to support Call to Share; thank you for supporting us.
Joe’s Decks & More Deck and fence repair, mowing and handyman services Member of St. Joseph in Shawnee (913) 449-9848
Masonry work - Quality new or repair work. Brick, block and chimney/fireplace repair. Insured, second-generation bricklayer. Member of St. Paul Parish, Olathe. Call (913) 271-0362.
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. 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.
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.
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.
Junk Hunters, LLC - “You Call It, We Haul It!” Looking to get rid of unwanted junk? Let Junk Hunters, LLC, handle the heavy lifting! We’re a local, reliable junk removal service proudly serving Johnson County and surrounding areas.
• Fast, friendly service
• Free estimates
• Competitive pricing
• Residential & commercial jobs
• Call or text: (913) 594-2600
• Email: junkhuntershsq@gmail.com Let us clear the clutter — you call it, we haul it! www.junkhuntersllc.com
HOME IMPROVEMENT
Shepaint Cabinets - Looking for a stunning, high-quality cabinet transformation? Shepaint Cabinets is a women-owned and operated business. I bring precision, passion and a personal touch to every project. Detail-driven service with a personal touch, reliable, efficient and customer-focused. Your dream kitchen is just a coat of paint away! Call/text (816) 806-4375 for a free quote. Let’s create something beautiful together!
Father and Son Home Remodeling - We specialize in kitchen/bathroom and basement remodeling, from start to finish. We also do decks, covered decks, porches, sun-rooms and room additions! If you’re not sure we do it, just call. From my family to yours, thank you for supporting my small business. To contact me, call (913) 709-7230 and ask for Josh.
FOR SALE
For sale - Two plots at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Lansing. Located in section 15, row 5, lot 14x, spaces 3 and 4. Traditional ground space. The original price is $2595 for each plot ($2257 plus $338 for perpetual care), asking $2200 each. Contact Ralph at (913)3064024 or email: grassman177@gmail.com or call (913) 306-6619.
For sale - Trappist Monk will make your casket: rectangular, premium-shaped walnut with brass cross and hardware. Others are selling for over $4000. Asking $3000. For more information, call Mary Jo at (913) 952-2720.
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
ST. AUGUSTINE CHURCH PICNIC
St. Augustine Church
1948 Acorn Rd., Sabetha
July 13 from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Join St. Augustine Parish in celebrating 165 years. The picnic will include buffet-style smoked chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, coleslaw, rolls and homemade dessert. The cost is: $12 for adults; $6 for kids 4-10; and free for ages 3 and under. There will be card games, bingo, a dish throw, kids games, a bounce house, football throw, chance stand, quilt raffle and a cakewalk. Entertainment will be provided by the Hutfles Family Band from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.
ROSARY RALLY
July 13 from 3 to 4:15 p.m.
Oratory of Old St. Patrick
806 Cherry St., Kansas City, Missouri
Join us to honor Our Blessed Mother and Our Lady of Fatima. We will pray the joyful, sorrowful and glorious mysteries of the rosary followed by Benediction and the opportunity for attendees to enroll in the brown scapular. For driving instructions or future dates for the Kansas City monthly rosary rallies, visit the website at: www.rosaryrallieskc.org.
BREAKFAST WITH THE KNIGHTS
Divine Mercy Parish
555 W. Main St., Gardner
July 13 from 8:30 - 10 a.m.
Breakfast will include eggs, sausage, biscuits and gravy, pancakes, waffles and drinks. Join us for great fellowship. The cost is $6 for those over the age of 13; free for ages 12 and under. Proceeds are used for charitable works.
WIDOWED WOMEN OF FAITH
Perkins Restaurant
1720 S.W. Wanamaker Road, Topeka
July 15 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Join other “Widowed Women of Faith” for lunch and companionship in the back room at Perkins Restaurant. We meet every month on the third Tuesday. Come join us! For questions, visit: Widowed WomenofFaith@gmail.com or call Julie at (913) 558-0191.
TACO FRIDAY
Sacred Heart Parish
1100 West St., Tonganoxie
July 18 from 4 to 6:30 p.m.
Cost for two beef tacos, beans/rice, chips/salsa is $10. Children 5 and under eat free.
>> Continued from page 12
For sale - Elite power wheelchair, purchased 2021, barely used. Brand-new battery. Folds down for easy transport. Original purchase price: $2795; asking $1200. Contact Judy Weeks at: bible.study.holy.spirit@ gmail.com.
Small farm/business operation opportunity - STA Home Repair is moving to another state. Looking to sell property and business assets: 1955 Oregon Road, Princeton, Kansas. 3 buildings, 1 Barndo/Shop, RV hookups – 200 Amp service with portable heat and AC – office, kitchen area – 10-foot garage door and entry door, 1 cabin with wood stove and AC/shop, 1 pole barn, 2 sinks, 1 shower, 1 toilet, stocked pond, boat and equipment storage over half fenced, multiple gardens, minifarm, bring the horses. Great for contractor with trailers, 25-30 minutes to Gardner or intermodal facility; 35-40 minutes to Olathe and Overland Park; and less than 10 minutes to Ottawa. Close to the Hillsdale and Pamona lakes. Asking $290,000. Cash and/or pre-approved financing. Showing by appointment only. Text name and number to (913) 579-1835.
For sale - One cemetery plot in Resurrection Catholic Cemetery at 8300 Quivira Rd. Located in lot 129, section A, space 2 in Garden Queen of Heaven. $2380. If interested, email:jagstanton@gmail.com.
CAREGIVING
Home care - CMA, 15 years’ experience; background check available from past employers. Call (913) 9994340.
‘KINDNESS & COMPASSION’
Church of the Nativity (Magi Room)
3800 W. 119th St., Leawood
July 19: Mass at 8:15 a.m.; meeting from 9 to 11 a.m.
The Society of the Daughters of St. Francis de Sales have been inviting women to practice virtues and holiness in everyday life for over 150 years. Come reflect with us as we share meditations on “Kindness and Compassion” in the tradition of Salesian Spirituality after Mass. All materials are provided, and coffee and light refreshments will be served. To attend, contact Ruth Owens by email at: rowens4853@ gmail.com or Barbara McClung at (816) 535-4531 or by email at: willabird1960@ gmail.com. For additional information, visit: https://www.sfdsassociation.org.
ICARE MINISTRIES MASS
Queen of the Holy Rosary Church 7023 W. 71st St., Overland Park
July 26 at 6 p.m.
iCare ministries provides two adapted Mass opportunities per month for children and adults with developmental disabilities and their families. Go online to: icarenek@ gmail.com with questions. Visit the website at: icare-ministries.org for more information about this and other activities.
HOLY TRINITY RUMMAGE SALE
Holy Trinity School (gym) 13615 W. 92nd St., Lenexa
July 24 from 5-9 p.m.
July 25 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
July 26 from 8 a.m. to noon
This sale will benefit Holy Trinity Parish’s youth ministry program. The July 24 presale has a $20 per person entrance fee from 5 - 7p.m.; $10 per person entrance fee from 7 - 9 p.m. There is no entrance fee on July 25. July 26 features no entrance fee and all items will be half price. Questions can be sent by email to: rummage@ htslenexa.org.
SIPS FOR SCHOLARSHIPS
Boulevard Brewing Co.
2501 Southwest Blvd., Kansas City, Missouri
Aug. 2 from 5 to 8 p.m.
Come out and enjoy delicious food and unlimited wine and beer with friends. The best part? You’ll be helping Resurrection School in Kansas City, Kansas, raise needbased scholarship funds. 100% of the proceeds are used for these scholarships. For more information, go online to: https:// www.rcskck.org/sips-for-scholarships.
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.
Caregiver - 40 years of experience — a.m., p.m. and evening sessions available. Call Ophelia at (913) 5797276 or Rhonda at (913) 279-1281.
Need caregiving at home? Don’t want to move?
- For nearly 20 years, we have helped seniors stay in their home with personal care, med management and household assistance. We also specialize in dementia care with free dementia training for families, all at reasonable rates and terms. Call Benefits of Home Senior Care at (913) 422-1591.
Are you looking for in-home care for your loved one? - Experienced nurse with 30+ years’ experience. References available. Call (913) 645-3779/leave message.
DONATION NEEDED
Pickup truck - As they are building a home for Archbishop Emeritus Naumann, the Little Brothers of the Lamb in Kansas City, Kansas, are looking for a small and compact pickup truck (single cab, bed length: 5 to 6 feet; payload capacity: Up to 1,500 pounds) that could be lent to them for 10 months or donated. Please contact Little Brother Francis at (913) 9986644 or lightofmary@communityofthelamb.org.
ANNUAL ROAST BEEF DINNER
Sacred Heart - St. Casimir Parish
Sacred Heart Church (hall) 1405 2nd Ave., Leavenworth
Aug. 3 from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Join us for a roast beef dinner. The cost is $14 for adults and $6 for kids. Carryouts are available.
SUMMER FEST 2025
St. Lawrence Church, Easton 21 W. Riley, Easton
Aug. 9 from 4 to 7 p.m.
Festivities will start with Mass at 5 p.m. at St. Lawrence Church. A home-cooked chicken dinner will be served from 4 to 7 p.m. There will be a raffle, silent auction, children’s activities, bingo, music, beverages, and some great socializing. Adult meals are $15; children’s meals are $6.
‘THE SPIRITUAL EXERCISES OF IGNATIUS OF LOYOLA’
Ignatian Spirituality Center
Mid-September to mid-May Applications due by July 31 “The Spiritual Exercises in Everyday Life” is a retreat that takes place over an eightto nine-month period. Since it is a retreat in daily life, participants will commit to daily prayer of approximately one hour, keeping a journal and a weekly meeting with an Ignatian prayer guide to review your prayer experiences, learn about different prayer methods and exercises, and receive direction for the following week. For more information, go online to: www.ignatiancenterkc. org/the-spiritual-exercises.
SACRED HEART RUMMAGE SALE
Sacred Heart Parish (center)
408 S. Cedar St., Ottawa Aug. 7 and 8 from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Aug. 9 from 7:30 to noon
On Aug. 8, all items will be half price. Aug. 9 will be $2, $4 and $10 bag day.
ST. JOSEPH CIRCLE CARD/GAME PARTY
St. Joseph Church
11311 Johnson Dr., Shawnee
Aug. 21 at 11:30 a.m. (church basement)
Bring your own group and your own game, or come by yourself. We’ll have tables and games you may join and meet new friends. $20 per person includes lunch, door prizes and an afternoon of fellowship, friendship and fun. Space is limited. Reservations are required; prepayment is preferred by Aug. 15. Register online with names, phone numbers and email address
PILGRIMAGE
MEXICO PILGRIMAGE - Feb. 9-14, 2026. A spiritual journey to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe and other sacred sites rich in Catholic faith and history. Experience daily Mass, prayer and inspiring visits to beautiful churches and holy places. Strengthen your faith and be renewed in a land alive with devotion. Contact Father Bill McEvoy at: Fr.Wm.McEvoy@gmail. com for details.
WANTED TO BUY
Will buy firearms and related accessories - One or a whole collection. Honest evaluation and top prices paid. Contact Tom at (913) 238-2473. Member of Sacred Heart Parish, Shawnee.
Wanted to buy
Do you have a spare car or truck that you need to get rid of? If you do, CALL ME!
I’m a cash buyer. We’re Holy Trinity parishioners. My name is Mark. (913) 980-4905.
$$Paying Cash$$ - 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 - Antiques & Collectibles: jewelry, military items, railroad, sterling, OLD holiday/toys and more. Renee Maderak (913) 475-7393. St. Joseph Parish, Shawnee.
at: sjcirclegames@gmail.com
Payable by: Venmo (Hettie Ann Leary); check (payable to St. Joseph CIRCLE) mail to 5901 Flint, Shawnee, KS 66203; cash or check (at the door or to a circle member). For more details or questions, call or text: Hettie Ann at (913) 972-1786.
ST. PATRICK’S GREEN CLUB
SNACKS AND BINGO NIGHT
Aug. 23 at 6 p.m.
St. Patrick Parish (center) 94th and State Ave.
Kansas City, Kansas 15 games of Bingo for $18. Average prize per game ranges between $75 and $250. For more information, call Fritz at (913) 515-0621.
SEASONS OF HOPE
Sts. Peter and Paul Parish 411 Pioneer, Seneca Sundays at 5 p.m.
Seasons of Hope is a Christ-centered support group that is a nurturing link to the church, the Almighty and anyone of faith who is mourning. Those mourning a loss are invited to come and bring a guest. For more information, call or text: Julie Strathman at (785) 294-8360; Roger Becker at (785) 364-6393; or Janet Hermesch at (785) 294-0779.
EXPERIENCE A COMMUNITY WITH HEART
Santa Marta Retirement Community 13800 W. 116th St., Olathe
Wednesdays from 1 - 2:30 p.m.
Join us and enjoy a small sample of what life is like at our community. On Walkin Wednesdays, learn about the Santa Marta community. To RSVP or find a complete list of our upcoming events, call (913) 489-2683 or visit the website at: Santa MartaRetirement.com/Events.
DIVORCE SUPPORT GROUP
‘HEALING THE DIVORCED HEART’ St. Michael the Archangel (Gabriel Room) 14251 Nall Ave., Leawood 1st & 3rd Wednesday of each month 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 the website at: www.stmichaelcp.org/divorce-support.
REAL ESTATE
We are local people who can buy your house - Big companies from all over the nation come here buying houses, but that’s not us. We are parishioners of Holy Trinity Parish and we enjoy giving you personalized service. We can offer you a fair price and are flexible to your needs. If I can help, call me, Mark Edmondson, at (913) 980-4905.
Looking to buy or sell a home? - Buy or sell a home with someone who understands your values. We are a Catholic-owned, faith-driven team of Realtors, dedicated to helping fellow Catholics buy or sell homes in our community. We bring integrity, compassion and a commitment to your needs. Let us be part of your journey. Call Kevin Holmes (owner) at (913) 553-0539.
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.
Classified Advertising
The Leaven reaches approximately 50,000 subscribers.
Cost is $20 for the first five lines, $1.50 per line thereafter. To purchase a Leaven classified ad, email: todd.habiger@theleaven.org
DAILY READINGS
FIFTEENTH WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME
July 13
FIFTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Dt 30: 10-14
Ps 69: 14, 17, 30-31, 33-34, 36-37
Col 1: 15-20
Lk 10: 25-37
July 14
Kateri Tekakwitha, virgin
Ex 1: 8-14, 22
Ps 124: 1b-8
Mt 10:34 – 11:1
July 15
Bonaventure, bishop, doctor of the church
Ex 2: 1-15a
Ps 69: 3, 14, 30-31, 33-34
Mt 11: 20-24
July 16
Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Ex 3: 1-6, 9-12
Ps 103: 1b-4, 6-7
Mt 11: 25-27
July 17
Thursday
Ex 3: 13-20
Ps 105: 1, 5, 8-9, 24-27
Mt 11: 28-30
July 18
Camillus de Lellis, priest
Ex 11:10 – 12:14
Ps 116: 12-13, 15-18
Mt 12: 1-8
July 19
Saturday
Ex 12: 37-42
Ps 136: 1, 23-24, 10-15
Mt 12: 14-21
SIXTEENTH WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME
July 20
SIXTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Gn 18: 1-10a
Ps 15: 2-5
Col 1: 24-28
Lk 10: 38-42
July 21
Lawrence of Brindisi, priest, doctor of the church
Ex 14: 5-18 (Ps) Ex 15: 1b-6
Mt 12: 38-42
July 22
MARY MAGDALENE
Sg 3: 1-4a
Ps 63: 2-6, 8-9
Jn 20: 1-2, 11-18
July 23
Bridget, religious
Ex 16: 1-5, 9-15
Ps 78: 18-19, 23-28
Mt 13: 1-9
July 24
Sharbel Makhlūf, priest
Ex 19: 1-2, 9-11, 16-20b (Ps) Dn 3: 52-56
Mt 13: 10-17
July 25
JAMES, APOSTLE
2 Cor 4: 7-15
Ps 126: 1b-6
Mt 20: 20-28
July 26
Joachim and Anne, parents of the Blessed
Virgin Mary
Ex 24: 3-8
Ps 50: 1b-2, 5-6, 14-15
Mt 13: 24-30
Music teacher was instrumental in my growth
It’s one of my nagging regrets: Did I tell the influential people in my life how important they were? The short answer is: Probably not . . . or at least not to the degree they deserved. The following story illustrates what I mean: One Thanksgiving, a successful businessman reflected on his life and thought of all the people who’d been influential in helping him become who he was. He decided to write each person a card, telling him or her of his gratitude. His fourth grade teacher quickly came to mind for insisting that he strive for excellence in everything, whether homework, tests or class projects. So, he sent her his first thank-you note. One day just after the new year, he received a letter from his former teacher. She apologized for not replying sooner, but stated that his letter took some time getting to her, since she had
FATHER MARK GOLDASICH
Father Mark is the pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Tonganoxie. He has been editor of The Leaven since 1989.
moved in with her daughter after retiring from teaching grade school for 66 years. She told him how thankful she was to have received his card and how it cheered her to find out he had learned so well the lessons in excellence. She went on to say that in her entire teaching career, this was the first thank-you card she’d ever received, and how grateful she
MARK MY WORDS
was that he had taken the time to remember her. (Story found in Brian T. Cavanaugh’s “Sower’s Seeds of Encouragement: Fifth Planting.”)
Seeing the smiling face of Don Lipovac on page 7 of this issue started me thinking along these lines. Don was my teacher for eight years while I was a member of the St. John’s Catholic Club Tamburitzans. He taught me not only to appreciate listening to music but the incredible joy of making music. More than that, he instilled in his students a deep appreciation of our “roots,” especially the
language, dances and culture of our Croatian or Slovenian ancestors.
Only years later did I come to appreciate what an incredible blessing it was to study under him. The guy was a genius. He could listen to a recording of a song and then score the notes, by hand, for each of the various instruments of our orchestra. He was a world-class accordionist, to be sure, but also had a gift for patiently (at least most of the time) teaching us immature, reluctant and sometimes unruly students. (I’m sure that I complained many times about having to give up precious time on Saturdays for practice in the church basement.)
I can’t count the number of concerts and programs we gave over the years — locally, nationally and even in Croatia. And most remarkable of all, we memorized all the music and lyrics. We even cut six LPs; listening to them still gives me chills at the
professionalism of us young musicians. I can’t imagine the hours that Don and his wife JoAnn spent with us kids. I’m sure that along the way I thanked them but nowhere near to the depth of gratitude they were due. Are there “teachers” in your life who molded you into the person you are today? If so, don’t wait until they’re gone to pay them tribute. You may be the only person in their whole career to do so.
Seeing the Lipovac exhibit at the Strawberry Hill Museum will help me reminisce about the impact he had on me. The best tribute paid to Don (at his death in 2014) came from my longtime friends Dan and Wendy Vrabac: “He was a teacher who always knew his students were capable of far more than they could imagine. He made us believe and gave us the gift that lasts a lifetime.”
That’s a legacy to be proud of.
Our theology is nothing if it doesn’t move us to care for others
“In the face of so much pain and suffering, our only course is to imitate the good Samaritan,” Pope Francis wrote just a few years back. These words, found in “Fratelli Tutti,” remain as true and urgent as ever. They are moral words I’ll never forget. He was talking about how in our connected world, a world of global communication and commerce — our world of purchasable splendor and the supply chains that support them, often labor exploitation, too; also our online world of information and misinformation, love and hate — we mustn’t lose sight of the humanity comprising our connectedness nor the moral responsibility we must own
crushed underneath either inhuman economic systems or nature-denying ideologies, simply because if we honestly accounted for the marginalized or, for example, the unborn, it would disturb us, disturb our pretty world, showing us that we are not as moral as we like to think we are.
correct theology did not by itself matter. The challenge was whether he wanted to live out the orthodox theology he proudly professed.
for one another — both locally and globally, in person and even on social media.
We must not, Pope Francis said, elegantly shift our gaze from the poor and the exploited,
The point is we can boast all we want about our achievements and our knowledge, our success or our theology, but if none of it compels us to care for others, it’s basically a lie, rubbish, no good at all. We must see others, even those we may not want to see, if we are to see God; that’s the point.
Which is the first lesson of the parable of the good Samaritan found in Luke’s Gospel. The lawyer’s
“You have answered right; do this, and you will live,” Jesus said to him (Lk 10:28). These are some of the most challenging words Jesus ever said to anyone — words not simply of truth but words also of action.
But again, the demand is that we followers of Jesus are the kind of people who can see. We must be able to see the suffering, the poor, the vulnerable, our fellow human beings. But not just see, we must also see with compassion.
For the story is clear:
The priest and the Levite did in fact see the man on the side of road, beaten and half
dead, it’s just they saw him without compassion. They saw him and “passed by on the other side.” The Samaritan, on the other hand, “came to where he was; and when he saw him, he had compassion” (Lk 10:32-33). Then, the good Samaritan served him, caring for him at his own expense; his seeing, his compassion and his charity materially benefited a man who was to him a stranger, whom he made his neighbor by the practice of tangible charity.
Which I guess is the point, that this sort of real love and real mercy should shine like the sun on everyone, like God’s love and mercy does — shining through believers who dare to love beyond boundaries and beyond fear.
Catholics must respond to environmental injustice with prayer, action
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Ravaging the earth and creating environmental injustices are not what God had in mind when he entrusted creation to humanity, Pope Leo XIV said. In fact, following Pope Francis’ teachings on integral ecology must be accepted as “the right path to follow,” the pope said in his message for the 2025 World Day of Prayer for Creation. “Nature itself is reduced at times to a bargaining chip, a commodity to be bartered for economic or political gain. As a result, God’s creation turns into a battleground for the control of vital resources.”
“In a world where the most vulnerable of our brothers and sisters are the first to suffer the devastating effects of climate change, deforestation and pollution, care for creation becomes an expression of our faith and humanity,” Pope Leo wrote. “Now is the time to follow words with deeds.”
FATHER JOSHUA J. WHITFIELD
Father Joshua J. Whitfield is pastor of St. Rita Catholic Community in Dallas and author of “The Crisis of Bad Preaching” and other books.
Online scammers impersonate pope’s brothers
By Jaymie Stuart Wolfe OSV News
There have always been charlatans and pirates, but today’s swindlers are breathtakingly bold. Their “tech-spertise” has reached a level of sophistication that is matched only by their audacity.
Just a few years ago, no one would have guessed that fraudsters would be impersonating the pope’s family members. Yet, that is precisely what has occurred.
Using several fake social media accounts, con artists claiming to be Louis or John Prevost — the pope’s brothers — have been contacting people with requests for donations to a PayPal account. Other people were approached with offers to arrange private papal audiences.
Most of us know and live by the ancient proverb “caveat emptor” (“let the buyer beware”). But the AI revolution currently underway means that the internet isn’t just a figurative “Wild West” anymore; it’s downright dangerous.
The digital landscape is always evolving. But those who innovate aren’t always pursuing legitimate activities or virtuous purposes. And when things like credit card skimming and identity theft become easy, new and more complex scams have also become possible. The founder of one targeted nonprofit
even received a fraudulent phone call featuring a deepfake, AI-generated voice that sounded genuine.
The election of an American-born pontiff has engendered a great deal of excitement in the United States. People love Pope Leo XIV and millions of people — even those who aren’t particularly close to the church — want to be close to him. That desire has made good and otherwise cautious people vulnerable to scammers looking for an in. Clearly, the development of technology has once again outpaced the development of
the security we need to protect us from those who would abuse it.
Reporting scammers can help, but the process of shutting them down is slow. It took a number of days for Facebook to eliminate the fake accounts, and not all of them have been.
In the meantime, Vatican News has issued an alert about spurious Facebook profiles claiming to belong to the Holy Father, noting that Pope Leo has no official page on Facebook and that the only way to donate to Peter’s Pence online is through the charity’s official
website at: www.obolodisanpietro.va/ en/dona.html.
But warnings like these are often a two-edged sword. Swindlers who are impersonating the pope’s brothers have actually shared the Vatican News post to gain the credibility they need to continue exploiting people.
What you should know:
• Online scammers often try to create a sense of urgency, a dire situation or limited opportunity to motivate you to act quickly.
• Advancements in technology make it more difficult to spot fakes with every passing year.
• In 2024, Americans lost $3 billion to online scammers.
• Impersonation scams are the most common reported fraud.
• Official Vatican websites end in .va What can you do?
• Refuse to engage with unsolicited messages from people you don’t know personally.
• Review and verify every sender’s identity.
• Reject any links sent to you in messages from unverified senders.
• Resist the temptation to share information you have not verified.
• Report online fraud whenever you see it.
• Remain vigilant, even when it seems that a problem has been addressed.
CNS PHOTO/LOLA GOMEZ
Pope Leo XIV greets his older brother Louis Prevost in St. Peter’s Basilica following the pope’s inaugural Mass at the Vatican May 18.
Father Aduri honored with Blessed Michael McGivney Award
By John Sorce john.sorce@theleaven.org
TOPEKA — Father Tom Aduri has seen poverty.
Although ordained for the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, Father Aduri is a native of India where he witnessed deprivation that is seldom seen in this country.
This past May, the pastor of Mother Teresa of Calcutta Parish in Topeka was recognized for his generosity, both locally and globally, with the Blessed Michael McGivney Award.
The award recognizes a Knights of Columbus chaplain in the state who is a teacher of the faith, an exemplar of charity, an apostle of Christian family life, a dedicated parish priest, a builder of Catholic fraternity and a role model to his parish.
Generally one to eschew attention, Father Aduri said he was surprised to hear he had won the award.
“There are a lot of great priests who do a lot of great work,” he said. “But I was happy to hear I won [the award].”
As a seminarian in India in the early 2000s, the young Aduri was invited by Archbishop James P. Keleher who was there on a visit to consider being ordained for the archdiocese. In 2003, Father Aduri took the archbishop up on his invitation. He served first as associate pastor at Holy Spirit Parish in Overland Park from 2003-05 and then Most Pure Heart of Mary Parish in Topeka from 2005-08. He then served as pastor of St. Teresa in Perry and St. Aloysius in Meriden from 2008-12 before arriving at Mother Teresa later that year.
He is currently overseeing the construction of a new sanctuary in Topeka, which is set to break ground in August. Mother Teresa was established in 2004 and has been holding Mass out of a temporary sanctuary since 2007.
“The people always had a vision to build a permanent church,” Father Aduri said. “About three years ago, I started reaching out to people to see what they would want, and we’ve just went from there. I feel it is very important to build a nice house for God as David always wanted to do.”
But Father Aduri has stayed very involved in his home country as well. Along with John Gilchrist, a parishioner from his first assignment at Holy Spirit, he started the Blessed Brian Foundation, which serves an orphanage as well as a hospital in Porumamilla, India.
The orphanage was built in 2012 and has been home to at least 70 children every year since its opening. It also provides an education to residents ages 4 through 18, with some going on to get college degrees.
The hospital was established in 2021 and consists of 13 beds, a blood chemistry lab, X-ray services, a pharmacy and patient transportation.
“There are a lot of people that are suffering in India and God is giving me an opportunity to be in the United States and help in whatever way I can personally,” Father Aduri said. “When I saw the suffering, I just felt the need to do something for the people where I grew up.”
There is also a well where locals can have easy access to clean water, which would otherwise be very costly in the area.
Gilchrist had high praise for his friend and Father Aduri’s sister Rani
THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE SUFFERING IN INDIA AND GOD IS GIVING ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE IN THE UNITED STATES AND HELP IN WHATEVER WAY I CAN PERSONALLY. WHEN I SAW THE SUFFERING, I JUST FELT THE NEED TO DO SOMETHING FOR THE PEOPLE WHERE I GREW UP.
FATHER TOM ADURI
PASTOR OF MOTHER TERESA OF CALCUTTA PARISH, TOPEKA
Chitta and his brother-in-law Ravi Chitta, who are also very involved with the foundation.
“Father Aduri, his sister and his brother-in-law are walking, living saints on earth,” Gilchrist said. “There are a few people that you meet in life that are incredible people, and that is the case with them. The number of people’s lives they’ve affected is in the thousands.”
Being a native of a country that has seen poverty and knowing the standard of living in America helps Father Aduri show others a different perspective that many in the States are not accustomed to.
“He has seen poverty in other areas of the world, and the standard of living here in America,” said Mike McLaughlin, Knights of Columbus immediate past Grand Knight and Mother Teresa parishioner. “He guides us to use our gifts responsibly to live out our Catholic faith and social teaching. So, he has a greater perspective than someone who grew up in America would have.”
One thing that people say about
Father Aduri is he is very approachable.
“Father Aduri is everything a pastor is supposed to be,” said Deacon Tim Ruoff, who works with him at Mother Teresa. “He knows everybody in that parish by name and knows their story very well. He personifies the spirit of Mother Teresa and our mission statement, which includes our commitment
to Christian formation, prayer, hospitality and service to the most vulnerable.”
For Father Aduri, that simply comes down to how he is.
“That’s always been in my nature, and like Pope Francis always said, ‘It’s important to meet the people where they are,’” he said.
LEAVEN FILE PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER
Father Tom Aduri, pastor of Mother Teresa of Calcutta Church in Topeka, was recognized for his generosity, both locally and globally, with the Blessed Michael McGivney Award.
PHOTO COURTESY OF JOHN GILCHRIST
Father Aduri plays with one of the boys from the Blessed Brian Home. Father Aduri, along with John Gilchrist, a parishioner from his first assignment at Holy Spirit Parish, started the Blessed Brian Foundation, which serves as an orphanage as well as a hospital in Porumamilla, India.