THE BEGINNING OF SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL
Mother Teresa of Calcutta Parish breaks ground on church
By Marc and Julie Anderson mjanderson@theleaven.org
TOPEKA — Do something beautiful for God.
It’s more than part of a famous quote from St. Teresa of Kolkata; it’s why she continues to inspire.
During her lifetime, the woman known worldwide simply as Mother Teresa, encouraged people by saying, “What you are doing, I cannot do; what I’m doing, you cannot do; but together, we are doing something beautiful for God.”
That “something beautiful” for the
parishioners of Mother Teresa of Calcutta Parish in Topeka, that serves some 700 Catholic families living north of the Kansas River, is the building of a church.
On Aug. 2, a 4 p.m. Mass celebrated by Archbishop Shawn McKnight and concelebrated by pastor Father Tom Aduri marked the auspicious occasion. Then the archbishop and pastor joined a host of parishioners who made the project possible as they turned the first ceremonial shovels full of dirt on the construction project.
In his homily, the archbishop talked
See “CHURCH’S” on page 6
LEAVEN PHOTO BY KATHRYN WHITE
Archbishop Shawn McKnight and Father Tom Aduri, pastor of Mother Teresa of Calcutta Parish in Topeka, officially break ground on a new church on Aug. 2. When completed, the 14,000 squarefoot church will feature seating for 500, a eucharistic adoration chapel, choir loft, cry room, bride’s room, ushers’ room, sacristy and a narthex. LEAVEN PHOTO BY KATHRYN WHITE
Father Aduri displays a shovel signed by himself and Archbishop McKnight; it was used to turn over the first shovels of dirt on the construction site.
Stewardship to adopt a more personal touch
By Moira Cullings moira.cullings@theleaven.org
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Catholic donors in the archdiocese can expect a phone call and email from the archdiocesan office of stewardship and development regarding a change in database systems.
“We’re calling every donor who had generously set up a pledge or recurring gift because we will need to re-establish their gift in the new system,” said Lisa McKelvey, archdiocesan director of stewardship and development.
“And then, if we get a voicemail, we’re following up with an email either from myself or from Deacon Tom (Greer, annual giving manager),” she added.
Those who receive a call or email from the stewardship and development office regarding this matter can rest assured it’s not a scam.
In 2023, the stewardship and development team evaluated its database system to look for ways to make it more user-friendly for donors and office staff, as well as more cost effective, said McKelvey.
“They selected a system that they believed would take care of all that,” she continued, “and ultimately it was not able to provide both us here at the archdiocese and our donors with the experience that we needed.”
One of the biggest issues was that donors had to update their payment information online themselves without being able to receive help from the stewardship and development office.
By last year, the office realized the
Lisa McKelvey, archdiocesan director of stewardship and development, says a change to the office’s database systems will help better meet the needs of their donors.
system wasn’t able to meet its needs and the needs of its donors.
After another evaluation, it was clear they needed to go back to the system utilized previously.
“If someone has a pledge or recurring gift automatically being deducted from their bank account or charged to their credit card, those donors are who we need to reach so we can help them resetup their gift,” said McKelvey.
Those individuals are asked to call and update their payment information with the stewardship and development office.
Another difference with the original system, which is up and running again, is that it doesn’t offer a donor portal.
“That’s something we hope to be able to offer again,” said McKelvey, “but for the time being, if somebody needs to
edit something, then they can just call or email us.”
The silver lining of the change in systems has been that through this process, the stewardship and development office has been able to clean up and update donor information.
But McKelvey emphasized that the office recognizes the inconvenience, and she assures donors that they are the priority.
“We do apologize for delays and confusion as we make these calls to reinstate these generous gifts that are supporting the ministries throughout the archdiocese,” she said.
The stewardship and development office can be reached online at: stew dev@archkck.org, and Lisa McKelvey’s direct line is (913) 647-3071.
Pro-life doctor will keynote for pregnancy clinic fundraiser
By Marc and Julie Anderson mjanderson@theleaven.org
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA — “A patient is a person, no matter how small.”
Thus believes Dr. William Lile, the keynote speaker for the Life & Hope Banquet to be held Sept. 4 at the Overland Park Convention Center. The event is an annual fundraiser for the Wyandotte Pregnancy Clinic and the Olathe Pregnancy Clinic.
For decades, Lile has practiced obstetrics and gynecology in Alabama and Florida, delivering 4,000 babies. In 1999, he took over a practice that was the largest provider of abortion services in the Pensacola area.
“We stopped all of the abortions on day one,” he said. “We told all of the staff members they were welcome to stay, but if they referred anybody in-person or over the phone to another abortion clinic outside of our area, that would be grounds for termination, and every one of the staff members stayed.”
Board-certified, Lile is also a trained member and board member of the
Abortion Pill Reversal Network (APR), which has successfully helped 19 of 26 women bring their babies to term after taking the abortion pill and regretting it. The network itself recently celebrated its 7,000th documented case of an abortion pill reversal. The network has also trained more than 1,000 doctors, nurse practitioners and physician assistants. Annually, Lile said, there are approximately 40 million abortions worldwide through the abortion pill.
“Then, you do the math, and over 25 years, that’s over 1 billion babies,” he said. “There are only eight billion people on the planet.”
While he’s always been pro-life, Lile, who retired from his practice as of July 1, said he never imagined he’d be a speaker for the preborn.
One Sunday not long after taking over the practice, Lile went to his office to tour the part he’d not seen prior to taking over the practice: the second-floor surgical suites used for abortion.
“I’ll never forget for the first time walking up the stairs to the second floor,” he said, “and thinking about how many tens of thousands of moms in the
previous 30 years had walked up those same stairs with a baby on the inside, spent a half hour or so, and then have a surgery done, and then came down the other set of the stairs without that baby on the inside. It just broke my heart.”
Lile approached his pastor about doing a presentation. That led to another and another and then another. Over the past 25 years, he’s given hundreds, if not thousands of presentations, along with hundreds of media interviews.
Lile said at his upcoming presentation, attendees can expect to be “taken to medical school” and “go into the operating room with us” as they are shown “the amazing way we treat the preborn as patients in the womb with 3D animation,” among other topics.
“I want every single person who is there to leave with tools that they didn’t even know existed before because that’s how we multiply our messaging,” he continued.
For more information about the Life & Hope Banquet and to reserve a spot, register online at: lifeandhopeteam. org/events.
Aug. 8
Teacher commissioning Mass — Ascension, Overland Park
Teacher commissioning Mass — St. Patrick, Kansas City, Kansas
Pitching for Priests — Legends Field, Kansas City, Kansas
Aug. 10
Religious Sisters’ Appreciation Day — Sacred Heart School, Shawnee
Aug. 12
Lansing Correctional Facility Confirmation
Aug. 16
Kelly Youth Rally — St. Bede, Kelly
Aug. 17
Mass — Sts. Peter and Paul, Seneca
Installation of new pastors — Cathedral of St. Peter, Kansas City, Kansas
Aug. 19
Pregnancy Center grant recipient luncheon — chancery
Villa St. Francis Mass and tour
Aug. 22
Mass with the National Association of Diaconate Directors and chancery staff — chancery
Aug. 23
St. Theresa, Perry, 100th anniversary Mass and lunch
Aug. 8
Pitching for Priests — Legends Field, Kansas City, Kansas
Aug. 15
40th anniversary Mass of the first vows of Mother Adela Galindo, SCTJM
LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER
CELEBRATING 20
St. James experiences ‘remarkable’ growth since founding
By Moira Cullings moira.cullings@theleaven.org
LENEXA — Twenty years ago, St. James Academy here opened its doors to its first freshman class of 124.
This fall, the school will welcome more than 1,000 students.
“We are still and always will be committed to passing on the Catholic faith to the next generation,” said president Andy Tylicki.
St. James celebrated its 20th anniversary on July 25 — the feast of St. James the Greater.
The evening began with a Mass in the school chapel celebrated by Archbishop Shawn McKnight.
“It’s great to be with you and to celebrate this feast day of the first apostle of Our Lord to give his life in service of the Gospel, the first to be martyred,” he said.
The celebration continued with dinner provided by Zarda B-B-Q, a brief program led by Tylicki and music by the Mikey Needleman Band.
Tylicki shared with The Leaven how St. James has flourished since it was first founded under the leadership of Archbishop James P. Keleher and its first president, Mike Alex.
“The growth of the school over the past 20 years has been remarkable,” he said. “The first freshman class started with 124 students. When they graduated in 2009, they were a 107-student class.
“We will bring 255 freshmen this year and will be a little above 1,000 students for the first time.”
In 2005, St. James had five crosscountry runners. This year, there will be more than 80. Its first football team had 24 players, and this fall will have around 160.
The school’s campus has also bloomed.
“We have a lot of great things happening on our campus with the Marian Stadium, the St. Joseph Fieldhouse tennis courts and a future Cultural Arts Center,” said Tylicki.
St. James will host its first Friday night football game in its own stadium on Sept. 5.
Tylicki believes the success is because
St. James has stayed true to its mission of passing on the faith.
But it hasn’t always been easy.
“The early years were up and down when it came to students attending St. James,” said Tylicki. “We were trying to sell a school with no history, and families [had] amazing options to choose from.
“Now, our families are our best marketing team, spreading the word about their experiences on our campus.”
One of the groups that has embraced St. James is the class of 2009 — its first graduating class — to which Tylicki presented the St. Peter of the Rock award during the 20th anniversary program.
He recalled how reluctant those students were to attend St. James when the school was first starting out, but how critical their presence was.
“This class was instrumental in
everything that we are today,” said Tylicki. “They created so many of the traditions of our school. If they would not have shown up, we wouldn’t have had a school.”
Now, they have “so much pride and joy in their school,” he added.
Tylicki shared that St. James had only a handful of employees in 2004 who were instrumental in getting it up and running under Alex’s leadership.
“Mike was a faithful leader,” said Tylicki. “He was a visionary. He was determined. He was committed to forming disciples of Jesus Christ.”
Deborah Nearmyer, the first director of faith formation and current vice president of faith and mission, was also a critical part of the development of St. James.
She and her husband Deacon Dana Nearmyer are cofounders of Camp Tekakwitha in Williamsburg.
“Mike wanted Camp Tekakwitha on our campus — daily Mass, weekly [eucharistic] adoration, regular confession, overnight retreats and an all-school serve day — things people thought were impossible,” said Tylicki.
“And yet, Debbie made it not only possible but essential to who we are today,” he added.
Tylicki also acknowledged the alumni, families and supporters of St. James for everything they’ve done to help the school flourish.
“Thank you for your support over these past two decades,” he told the gathering. “Thank you for believing in our mission.
“And thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for being here tonight and celebrating this amazing journey with us.
“Here’s to the next 20 years.”
LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER
Archbishop Shawn McKnight celebrates Mass with the St. James Academy community on July 25, the feast of St. James the Greater, marking the Lenexa high school’s 20th anniversary.
LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER
Lindsey Hernandez, director of events and alumni engagement for St. James Academy in Lenexa, greets Archbishop Shawn McKnight after the school’s 20th anniversary Mass.
LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER
Andy Tylicki, president of St. James Academy, shares his thoughts on the school’s 20 years at a reception following Mass.
LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER
St. James Academy junior Matt Wurtenberger (background) watches as 2015 graduate Deacon John Donart incenses the altar at St. James during the 20th anniversary Mass.
Archbishop McKnight gets first look at Prairie Star Ranch
By John Sorce john.sorce@theleaven.org
WILLIAMSBURG
— As Archbishop Shawn McKnight toured Prairie Star Ranch here on July 26, he could not have expected what was waiting for him at the top of a hill.
A bobwhite quail — a central feature in the archbishop’s coat of arms and his favorite type of bird to hunt — was perched on the grass in the open field past the line of trees.
Quail are considered a symbol of God’s providential blessing and an Old Testament symbol of the Eucharist, as the Lord provided for his people in the desert with manna in the morning and quail in the evening.
“That was awesome just to see it right out there in the open,” said the archbishop. “I always like providential signs, and that certainly was a good sign for me.”
It was Archbishop McKnight’s first visit to the ranch, and he was impressed with what he saw.
“Very impressive grounds and facilities,” he said. “I was very happy to see things in very good condition.
“We have a very nice facility not only for our youth, but for anybody who needs to come out and have a retreat or a place to get away — even our priests.”
Archbishop McKnight arrived at the ranch late in the afternoon and began his visit by walking around the facility’s main building with Deacon Dana Nearmyer, his wife Deborah and ranch director Gregory Wellnitz.
He was then treated to dinner alongside Father Luke Doyle, who was being honored with the Echo of Kateri Award that evening.
A golf cart ride gave him a final look around the rest of the facility grounds before the archbishop began preparations for Mass.
“Everything was planned out well,” Archbishop McKnight said. “There is obviously a good staff here, which gives me a lot of confidence that we’ve got a lot of good programming going on here for our youth.”
The occasion also marked the final day of the High School Extreme session of Camp Tekakwitha, with Archbishop McKnight celebrating the traditional closing Mass for the campers in the evening.
His message to the students in his homily was to return home with a new perspective, and to stay strong in following the Lord and in prayer.
“My prayer for you is that you will go back to your regular lives with a different perspective — perhaps a different motive and perhaps with better clarity — because God desires to be among us,” he said.
“There’s plenty of chances to be kind and charitable,” he added. “That’s what it means to be a follower of the Lord. That’s what it means to be a person of prayer.”
For Archbishop McKnight, the experience was a fresh one in the sense that many dioceses do not have this kind of space.
“This is not very common,” he said. “The fact that we’ve been able to find a way to meet the need to evangelize our youth and for them to come back year after year testifies to the importance of the church providing a way for them to connect to their faith, to
God and the rest of the church in a different way than they might experience in their own parish.”
“My hope would be that when they come here,” he continued, “they learn more about God and how to pray more deeply and are able to take that back with them to their school, their parish and their families.”
As he goes forward as the shepherd of Catholics here in the archdiocese, Archbishop McKnight expressed his gratitude for the people that laid
Echo of Kateri Award winners
Paul and Mary Thompson
Paul and Mary Thompson have been members of Church of the Nativity in Leawood for 32 years and have been volunteering in various capacities for their parish, archdiocese and other local Catholic organizations.
“We’re certainly humbled and very appreciative for this award,” said Paul. “But we feel somewhat undeserving because we’re just trying to do our best as being Catholic parents and being part of the Catholic community of Kansas City.”
The couple celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary in April and have five grown children and seven grandchildren, all who have attended and served on staff at Camp Tekakwitha.
“Prairie Star was very formative in their faith life, which effects our family life,” said Mary, who also serves on the Prairie Star Ranch advisory board. “We could see it when they returned in how joyful they were and wanting to participate more in church and youth group.”
The couple continues to support the camp as they view the campers each year as the future of the church.
“Father Mike (Hawken, pastor of Nativity) talks about how when you hear kids crying at Mass early in the morning, that’s the future of our church,” Paul said. “And I like to think about these kids that are going down there as the future of our church who will lead by example and help others along in their journey.”
Father Luke Doyle
Father Luke Doyle served as a counselor at Camp Tekakwitha and continues to be a strong advocate of the program. He has been generous in offering camp Masses and staff involvement and has encouraged youth participation in his parish assignments. He is a National Eucharistic Preacher and is the chaplain and director of St. Lawrence Catholic Campus Center at the University of Kansas.
the foundation to make Prairie Star Ranch what it is today.
“I am grateful for all of those who made [a] sacrifice for us to have this facility for our mission as a church in the archdiocese,” he said. “For the benefactors and those who did all the planning, I’m sure a lot of blood, sweat and tears have gone into this place.
“To all those people who have made a sacrifice, I am very grateful.”
To be honored with an award named after St. Kateri Tekakwitha hits home for him.
“I studied for the priesthood in St. Louis and Rome and was blessed to be present at the canonization Mass for St. Kateri Tekakwitha,” he said.
“It’s been a great privilege to have St. Kateri as a holy helper from heaven as I have tried to discern how Jesus is asking me to serve him with my life.
“Being able to receive an award that honors a saint that is part of my story is a tremendous privilege and gift.”
LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER
Gregory Wellnitz, director of Prairie Star Ranch, gives Archbishop Shawn McKnight a tour of Prairie Star Ranch on July 26. Joining them were Deacon Dana Nearmyer and his wife Deborah.
LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER
A lone bobwhite quail — a central feature of Archbishop McKnight’s coat of arms — made a surprise appearance. Deacon Nearmyer couldn’t recall having seen a quail on the property before.
LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER
Archbishop McKnight talks with Deacon Dana Nearmyer before celebrating Mass for the last group of campers at Camp Tekakwitha in Williamsburg for the summer season.
PITCH PERFECT
All Saints Parish choir harmonizes for summer concert
By Amy Reinhardt Special to The Leaven
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Beautiful harmonies rang out from the sanctuary of All Saints Parish here July 12.
The “Pilgrims of Hope: A New Life” concert, held at the church, featured a choir of 18 voices directed by Vincent Anthony Moran, parish choir director.
The repertoire ranged from traditional church hymns like “Be Not Afraid,” to beloved musical numbers like “Rent’s” “Seasons of Love,” with some songs in Spanish and Latin.
Moran also delighted with solo performances on piano and organ — and provided vocals as well.
The name of the concert — “Pilgrims of Hope: A New Life” — referred to the official hymn for the 2025 Jubilee Year, composed by Francesco Meneghello and released in December 2024.
The lyrics — translated from Italian to English — spread the hope-filled message initiated by the late Pope Francis.
Audience members chimed in for the song’s chorus: “Like a flame my hope is burning, may my song arise to you, source of life that has no ending, on life’s path I trust in you.”
Along with Meneghello, Moran highlighted well-known composers like Andrew Lloyd Webber, George Frideric Handel, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and others.
Before Moran took over as music director, the small parish choir had only been called upon to sing monophonic — or, in unison. Everything changed when Moran taught the group four-part harmony — and not always in English.
Transitioning from monophony to harmony is no easy task, but Moran was extremely understanding, encouraging, and even humorous, said members of the choir. He sent out recordings and scores to give his singers additional instruction outside rehearsals.
To bolster certain voices in the choir, Moran recruited singers from surrounding parishes. One of them was Tony Locatelli, the music director at St. John the Baptist Parish in Kansas City, Kansas.
As a fellow archdiocesan music director, Locatelli and Moran were already fast friends, which is why Moran recruited him as a tenor for the summer concert.
When asked about the diverse concert lineup, Moran explained.
“I’m mirroring my life,” he said. “I work at Lowe’s, I work at two different churches, I work as a Zumba instructor. I like a little taste of everything. That’s what I do with music.”
He went on to explain how every concertgoer is different. The All Saints director strives to communicate through music by incorporating various genres. He wants every person to find a connection during the performance.
And he isn’t the only one. Locatelli also believes it’s crucial for people to hear different styles of music — in concert and in liturgical settings — because it keeps them engaged.
The mission was certainly accomplished at the All Saints concert, where the audience heard selections ranging from a piano version of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” to Mozart’s powerful choral movement “Rex Tremendae.”
Having experienced singers helped those who struggled learning a new vocal practice, like Pamela Cornelison, a lifelong All Saints parishioner.
She shared how it was more difficult for her because on most songs she was
“Having a section leader that can anchor the sound helps with confidence,” Locatelli said. “It helps get a fuller sound and get others out of their shells.”
the only woman singing tenor. However, on the female-only number, she transitioned to second alto.
Cornelison praised her director for his patience. Even when he paused rehearsal to work with her separately, she recognized that he was building up her confidence.
Breathing new life into the music wasn’t Moran’s only goal. He now wants to grow this small parish choir and transform it into a community chorus, where he can unite all singers, regardless of experience level.
“I’m always happy to guide so that someone can learn and fall in love with music even more,” he said.
LEAVEN PHOTO BY AMY REINHARDT
Choir members demonstrated their new vocal harmonies at the parish’s annual summer concert.
LEAVEN PHOTO BY AMY REINHARDT
The All Saints music director Vincent Anthony Moran impressed concert attendees with his vocals, as well as his performances on the piano and organ.
about the importance of Catholic churches reflecting the heavenly mysteries of the faith.
“Whenever we enter the domain of the Eucharist, whenever we enter a Catholic Church,” he explained, “we leave the world behind and cross over into the new heavenly reality. This is why it is important that our church architecture, sacred art — all the bells and smells of our Catholic religion — speak to us of the heavenly reality that is behind it all.”
“Although the people are the true Church of God,” he added, “your new physical structure will be a necessary means of evangelization. In a very real sense, your new church building should speak loudly of our Catholic faith, especially its beauty and as a place of quiet prayer and devotion.
“May your parish become a true center of Christ’s charity and a sanctuary of his mercy for all who gather in this sacred place.”
The actual groundbreaking was a moment that parishioners had dreamed of for years.
In the cover letter for the campaign brochure, Father Aduri, pastor since 2012, wrote: “Today marks a pivotal moment in our parish’s history. We stand at the threshold of realizing our long-cherished dream: the construction of a permanent church. This endeavor is not merely about bricks and mortar; it is about manifesting our faith in a tangible form that will endure for generations, drawing countless souls closer to the love of Jesus Christ.”
When completed, the 14,000 squarefoot church will feature seating for 500, a eucharistic adoration chapel, choir loft, cry room, bride’s room, an ushers’ room, sacristy and a narthex. Future plans include stained-glass windows, an enclosed building connection and additional paved parking. Designed by the Schwerdt Design Group, the new church will be built by KBS Constructors. It’s expected to take around 18 months.
The church’s design recalls the life of the parish’s patroness.
“We basically wanted to appeal to the simplicity of Mother Teresa,” said Tom Konrade, building committee
chairman. He has been a member of the parish since its inception.
Konrade noted while the parishioners wanted to recall the saint’s simplicity, Father Aduri also wanted to “build something beautiful for God.”
“There’s certainly a balance there,” Konrade said. “But that’s what we’re trying to achieve.”
Konrade couldn’t be happier with the team he had to work with.
“We have such a great team, starting with Father Tom. His leadership has been awesome,” he said. The two permanent deacons, the church staff, the parish council and the finance council, he continued, have been amazing to work with as well.
“To me, the most rewarding thing is to see so many people work so hard and be so dedicated to building a church,” said Konrade. “It’s time, and a lot of people are behind it.”
Francine Martin, chair of the parish’s
finance council, agreed.
“When the parish was established, the goal was to build a church. To see that come to fruition and know that some of the founding members didn’t live to see that happen and for us to be able to see this happen, that is very rewarding,” she said.
“The building committee has done a tremendous job listening to the input of many different people with many different values of what is the most important and coming up with something that will reflect the mission of our parish which is Mother Teresa’s mission,” Martin added.
Konrade later added that every meeting about the project starts with prayer, specifically asking the Holy Spirit for wisdom.
“That’s so critical to what we’re trying to do,” he said. “Everybody is continuing to work so hard and to pray. We know we’ll get our church built. It’s
been challenging, but I keep telling everyone, ‘The Holy Spirit is undefeated. It’s just a matter of time.’”
The church is just the latest phase of development for the parish. Phase 1 was dedicated in December 2007 and included the temporary worship space, church offices and a multipurpose hall for religious education classes and meetings. The building was designed as a parish hall, one that could double as a gym and cafeteria. At the time, the facility was the only public one in Topeka developed with a geothermal system to heat and cool the building.
The second phase of development, known as the Mother Teresa Family Faith Formation Center, was dedicated in April 2015 and added classrooms, a hospitality room, storage space, relocation of the church offices and a full remodel of the kitchen. It was built to accommodate a third floor, if needed, for a future grade school.
LEAVEN PHOTO BY KATHRYN WHITE
Archbishop McKnight blesses the site of Mother Teresa of Calcutta’s new church at the parish’s groundbreaking ceremony. Assisting the archbishop are, from left, Deacon Brad Sloan, Father Tom Aduri, pastor, and Father Keith Chadwick, master of ceremonies. Servers in the background are: (from left) Preston Conley, Declan Conley, Jemah Cebulski and Bently Cebulski.
Cliff and Pat Easton, members of St. Michael the Archangel Parish, Leawood, will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary on Sept. 19 with a party at The Lodge at Ironwoods. The couple was married on Aug. 14, 1965, at Blessed Sacrament Church in Belleville, Illinois. Their children are: Cory Easton, CJ Easton and Carrie Poindexter. They also have seven grandchildren.
Mary Ann and Don Janesko, members of Holy Trinity Parish, Lenexa, celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on July 24 with family. The couple was married on July 24, 1965, at Blessed Sacrament Church in Kansas City, Kansas, by Father James Wright. Their children are: Doug Janesko, Amy Hunter and Keith Janesko. They also have five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Jeff and Jane (Olmsted) Sandstrom, members of St. Gregory Parish, Marysville, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on Aug. 16. The couple was married in St. Gregory Church, Marysville. Their children are: James, Barry, Martha, Jay, John Paul and Scott. They also have 14 grandchildren.
Bruce and Lenora (Prather) Kinzie, members of Most Pure Heart of Mary Parish, Topeka, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on Aug. 2. The couple was married on Aug. 2, 1975, at St. John the Evangelist Church, Hoisington. They celebrated with a trip to Ireland in May and were with family the weekend of Aug. 2. Their children are: Benjamin Kinzie, Topeka; and Rachel Brown, St. Louis. They also have three grandsons.
Gail and Debbie Kueser, members of St. Therese Parish, Richmond, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on Aug. 9. The couple was married at Holy Angels Parish, Garnett, on Aug. 9, 1975. They have two children — Eric and Shelby — and four granddaughters.
Kay and Simon Korte, members of the Church of the Ascension in Overland Park, celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on July 17. Their children are: Todd Korte (deceased); Matthew Korte, Castle, Colorado; and Brent Korte, Kenmore, Washington. They also have five grandchildren. The couple will celebrate with a trip to Hawaii this winter.
Mary Ellen (O’Brien) and Charlie Green , members of Holy Trinity Parish, Lenexa, will celebrate their 65th wedding anniversary with a party on Aug. 24. The couple was married on Aug. 27, 1960, at Holy Name Church in Kansas City, Kansas, by Father James Moriarty. Their children are: Chuck, Kim and Kevin. They also have six grandchildren.
Damian and Rae (Umscheid) Dekat, members of St. Stanislaus Parish in Rossville, will celebrate their 65th wedding anniversary on Aug. 17 with their family. The couple was married on Aug 17, 1960, by Father J.E. Biehler at St. Joseph Church, Flush. Their children are: Greg Dekat, Wanda Blasnitz, Tonya Wilkerson, Mary Ebert, Loren Dekat and Brad Dekat. They also have 12 grandchildren, four step-grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and seven step-great-grandchildren.
ANNIVERSARY SUBMISSIONS
POLICY: The Leaven prints 50, 60, 65 and 70th anniversary notices. They are for parishioners in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas DEADLINE: 10 days before the desired publication date. WHERE TO SUBMIT: Email: todd.habiger@theleaven.org.
Women’s prison retreat looking for volunteers
TOPEKA — The Topeka Correctional Facility, a women’s prison, will host its second Kolbe Prison Ministries retreat for those who are incarcerated there from Oct. 17-19.
Women are needed to volunteer as table leaders for discussions during the retreat, as well as to work in logistics by helping set up, prepare and serve meals, and load out afterward.
Volunteers will be finalized by Aug. 29. No experience with prison ministry is necessary, nor does the retreat commit volunteers to regular prison ministry.
A background check will be completed, along with in-person and Zoom calls with the retreat team prior to the retreat.
“As the Catholic liaison for ministry and faith formation at the Topeka Correctional Facility,” said Deacon Timothy Ruoff, “I have seen firsthand the tremendous impact our volunteers can make with those who are incarcerated when we allow ourselves to see others with the eyes of Christ.
“It is a privilege to serve these women who have experienced a difficult life but are hungry for Jesus.
“I invite you to serve and to share Christ with these women during this special Kolbe retreat named after St. Maximilian Kolbe, the patron of prisoners.”
Those interested in volunteering can send an email to: kolbekansas1@ gmail.com. For more information, go online to: kolberetreatsinkansas. org.
WORK CAMP GETS KIDS CONNECTED TO THEIR COMMUNITY
By John Sorce john.sorce@theleaven.org
ST. MARYS — In the coming months, students here will be gearing up to receive the sacrament of confirmation.
But before that, they filled a community service requirement through a wide range of efforts organized by the Immaculate Conception Work Camp (ICWC).
The program, launched in 2019, has been running biannually as an element of each confirmation class’s requirements. This year’s camp ran from July 21 to 26, with 23 students participating.
Each day began for this year’s group by meeting for either Mass inside the church or outdoor prayer at the on-site grotto. They then had breakfast and packed their lunches, which went with the kids to their job sites around the community.
After their work was done, the teens were able to go home for a two-hour break before meeting again for a guest speaker, dinner and an activity before concluding the day with a prayer.
“A lot of the people where we send the kids to work are elderly, and they’re not able to do yard work anymore,” said Betty Aubert, who is one of the program’s volunteers. “The kids learn so much and get to appreciate the older people, and they will appreciate seeing each other at Mass when they may not have known each other before.”
“It’s good for the kids to feel like a part of the community,” she added, “because it
can be hard for teenagers to be a part of something sometimes.”
One of the stops this year was the house of Gary Roth. When The Leaven arrived at the worksite, students were taking a break and engaging in a lighthearted game of shuffleboard.
Students initially spent time cleaning up sticks from Roth’s yard after the morning’s storm. They then tended to his garage.
“It hasn’t looked this good in years, so they did a great job there,” Roth said.
Students also spent time dusting and sweeping inside his man cave — which is located inside a barn on the far side of the property — mowed the yard and cleared off the driveway.
“The kids fulfill a need,” explained Roth. “Alice (Bordelon) asked us to make a list of some things that they could come and help us with. So, it’s nice to have
them help and get some stuff done.
“It’s great to see them out here working hard. They seem to be having a good
LEAVEN PHOTO BY KATHRYN WHITE
The Immaculate Conception Work Camp group prays the Litany of Our Lady of Lourdes after its day’s activities ended.
From left (gray shirt) then clockwise, Hayden Gideon, Carlson, Keira Aubert (standing), Morgan Downey way for students to encourage each other with a
LEAVEN PHOTO BY KATHRYN WHITE
Kaden SinghDhillon takes great care to dust off one of the Stations of the Cross in Immaculate Conception Church in St. Marys.
Tony Santacroce dumps a load of dirt that the Immaculate
sophomore at St. Marys High School.
Henderson spent his time there trying to get the power washer to start but ended up having to wash down tiles with a hose.
He also mowed the lawn and cleaned Roth’s driveway and garage.
“It’s been really cool,” he said. “I didn’t know a lot about Gary, but it’s been great to help him out and learn more about him. Then, working with all these other kids that I’ve known has been fun as well.”
Incoming freshman Keira Aubert spent her day entirely on church grounds. She started in the youth room where she helped lay out new ceiling tiles and then helped clean inside the church.
“I like helping and cleaning, and the church has done so much for our youth,” she said. “It’s been nice to help give back to the church and our community.”
life: faith and work.
“I think so often we can be led to believe by the world and our fallen human nature that work is to be avoided,” Father Rhodes said. “But God teaches us that work is a very dignified thing. So, [faith and work] can be brought together, especially in a way where we can help young people learn that it unlocks a new potential and a new tool to strive for holiness.”
“It’s beautiful to see the initiative and the fruit that [this camp] bears,” he said. “There’s a sense of community and a great willingness to serve and love, and that’s where human fruitfulness and fulfillment are found.”
Students were also treated to a visit from one of their own later in the week.
But when she arrived in Hays for her freshman year, she said, she felt her faith getting pushed to the side with all the responsibilities that come with being a college student.
She learned that God is always ready to welcome you back.
“I’ve learned that faith is not just a one-time ‘yes,’” Stallbaumer said. “It’s a daily choice. Some days, I feel superconnected to God. Other days, I feel distracted, overwhelmed or even distant.
“But I’ve learned that even in those moments, God doesn’t walk away. He’s patient. He’s present. He just asks us to keep coming back.”
time together.”
One of the students working on Roth’s property was Jeffrey Henderson, a rising
After returning from their break, the kids got to listen to Father George Rhodes, associate pastor of Most Pure Heart of Mary in Topeka, who was the first of four speakers for the week.
He talked about how the camp integrates two important aspects of human
Riley Stallbaumer, a current graduate student at Fort Hays State University, also took part in the program in 2019 and is a 2022 St. Marys High School graduate.
Stallbaumer shared her experiences with the Northeast Kansas Rural Youth Council, the National Catholic Youth Conference in Indianapolis and the Rural Catholic Youth Conference at Prairie Star Ranch in Williamsburg.
While the focus is on the kids, the adults who help out can also learn something from the experience.
“This community does so much for our kids, and this is also a good way for them to get to know some of the elders in town,” said Jenna Aubert, who leads the local youth group.
“We [adults] can get caught up in ourselves a lot, and our kids see that,” she continued. “So, it’s important for them to take the time and give back to others.”
LEAVEN PHOTO BY KATHRYN WHITE Gideon, Kalynn Birch, Elly Bowes (standing), Lexie Downey and Tony Santacroce make happy sacks — a positive message or kudos for a job well done.
LEAVEN PHOTO BY KATHRYN WHITE
Elly Bowes, a sophomore at Lawrence Virtual School, gives the pews at Immaculate Conception Church in St. Marys a good cleaning.
LEAVEN PHOTO BY KATHRYN WHITE
Father George Rhodes, associate pastor of Most Pure Heart of Mary Parish in Topeka, addresses the interplay of faith and work in his remarks to the work camp crew.
LEAVEN PHOTO BY KATHRYN WHITE
Immaculate Conception workers cleared off around the edges of the Roth driveway.
God is waiting to transform your life, pope tells youth
By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service
ROME (CNS) — The fullness of life depends on how much one joyfully welcomes and shares in life while also living with a constant yearning for those things that only come from God, Pope Leo XIV told young people.
“Aspire to great things, to holiness, wherever you are. Do not settle for less. You will then see the light of the Gospel growing every day, in you and around you,” he said in his homily during Mass concluding the Jubilee of Youth Aug. 3.
The outdoor Mass, held in Rome’s Tor Vergata neighborhood on the outskirts of the city, marked the culmination of a weeklong series of events for the Jubilee of Youth.
More than one million people were estimated to be gathered across the 130 acres that had been prepared for the morning Mass, the prayer vigil the evening before and for the hundreds of thousands of people sleeping overnight.
After touching down by helicopter less than 12 hours after leaving the evening vigil, the pope rode in the popemobile throughout the open areas — dotted with tents and tarps, and filled with young people, cheering, waving their nation’s flag, and sometimes launching shirts and gifts at him.
“Good morning!” he said in six languages from the massive stage set up for the Mass.
“I hope you all rested a little bit,” he said in English. “We will shortly begin the greatest celebration that Christ left us: his very presence in the Eucharist.”
He said he hoped the concluding Mass would be “a truly memorable occasion for each and every one of us” because “when together, as Christ’s church, we follow, we walk together, we live with Jesus Christ.”
In his homily during the Mass, the pope again highlighted the importance of the Eucharist, as “the sacrament of the Lord’s total gift of himself to us.”
It is Christ, the risen one, he said, “who transforms our lives and enlightens our affections, desires and thoughts.”
“We are not made for a life where everything is taken for granted and static, but for an existence that is constantly renewed through the gift of self in love,” he added.
Much like a field of flowers, where each small, delicate stem may dry out, become bent and crushed, he continued, each flower is “immediately replaced by others that sprout up after them, generously nourished and fertilized by the first ones as they decay on the ground. This is how the field survives: through constant regeneration.
“This is why we continually aspire to something ‘more’ that no created reality can give us; we feel a deep and burning thirst that no drink in this world
IT IS TRULY BEAUTIFUL, ESPECIALLY AT A YOUNG AGE, TO OPEN WIDE YOUR HEARTS, TO ALLOW HIM TO ENTER, AND TO SET OUT ON THIS ADVENTURE WITH HIM TOWARDS ETERNITY.
POPE LEO XIV
set out on this adventure with him towards eternity,” he said.
Speaking briefly in English, the pope said, “There is a burning question in our hearts, a need for truth that we cannot ignore, which leads us to ask ourselves: What is true happiness? What is the true meaning of life? What can free us from being trapped in meaninglessness, boredom and mediocrity?”
“Buying, hoarding and consuming are not enough,” he added. The fullness of existence “has to do with what we joyfully welcome and share.”
“We need to lift our eyes, to look upwards, to the ‘things that are above,’ to realize that everything in the world has meaning only insofar as it serves to unite us to God and to our brothers and sisters in charity, helping us to grow in ‘compassion, kindness, humility, meekness and patience,’ forgiveness and peace, all in imitation of Christ,” he added.
Evoking St. John Paul II’s words during the XV World Youth Day prayer vigil held in the same spot 25 years ago, Pope Leo reminded the young people that “Jesus is our hope.”
can satisfy. Knowing this, let us not deceive our hearts by trying to satisfy them with cheap imitations!”
Pope Leo urged the young people to listen to that yearning and “turn this thirst into a step stool, like children who stand on tiptoe, in order to peer through the window of encounter with God,” who has been “waiting for us, knocking gently on the window of our soul.”
“It is truly beautiful, especially at a young age, to open wide your hearts, to allow him to enter, and to
“Let us remain united to him, let us remain in his friendship always, cultivating it through prayer, adoration, eucharistic Communion, frequent confession and generous charity, following the examples of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati and Blessed Carlo Acutis, who will soon be declared saints,” he said.
Wishing everyone “a good trip home,” he encouraged the young people to “continue to walk joyfully in the footsteps of the Savior, and spread your enthusiasm and the witness of your faith to everyone you meet!”
CNS PHOTO/LOLA GOMEZ
Pope Leo XIV waves to the crowd from the popemobile as he departs after celebrating Mass concluding the Jubilee of Youth in Rome’s Tor Vergata neighborhood Aug. 3.
CNS PHOTO/PABLO ESPARZA
Pilgrims from South Korea wave flags and cheer as they participate in a Mass closing the Jubilee of Youth in Rome’s Tor Vergata neighborhood Aug. 3.
Against the odds, CRS has delivered aid to 1.7 million in Gaza
By Gina Christian OSV News
BALTIMORE (OSV News) —
Despite daunting odds, Catholic Relief Services and its on-the-ground partners have managed to deliver aid to 1.7 million people in Gaza since 2023, according to new data.
On July 29, CRS — the official relief and development agency of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops — updated its diocesan coordinators regarding efforts to provide essential assistance to the population of Gaza, where CRS has maintained a continuous presence since 1984.
Amid “severe access limitations and aid blockades,” Baltimore-based CRS and its partners have still managed to supply basic needs as well as psychosocial support, wrote CRS diocesan engagement adviser Jesús J. Huerta in his email, with the agency “mobilizing supplies from Egypt and Jordan” following “the recent humanitarian pause.”
Israel enacted an 11-week blockade of aid starting in March, in an effort to pressure Hamas to release the remaining Israeli hostages taken in Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which sparked the current war. In late May, aid distribution was resumed under the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a joint initiative of the United States and Israel. GHF has drawn international criticism for security concerns surrounding its distribution points, which have been reported to result in numerous fatalities.
Israel has also initiated aid drops into Gaza, but humanitarian groups have described them as dangerous and inefficient.
Huerta said in his email that “decades of work with communities, the local Catholic Church and partners in Gaza and the region have enabled our (CRS’) rapid, flexible and impactful response.”
At the same, he noted that “our staff and partners continue to operate under grave risk.”
Since the start of the Israel-Hamas War, more than 60,000 Palestinians have died, according to the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry. Some 1,200 Israelis have been killed and more than 5,400 injured. Of the 251 Israeli hostages taken by Hamas that Oct. 7, 50 remain in captivity, with only 20 of them believed to still be alive, with 83 of the hostages confirmed killed to date. More than 100 were released later in 2023; eight were rescued by Israeli forces.
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, or IPC — a measurement initiative by a global consortium of food security organizations and agencies, including CRS — has warned that Gaza is at risk of famine, with both serious and critical levels of acute malnutrition throughout the densely populated region. “Increasingly stringent blockades” by Israel have “dramatically worsened” conditions, said the IPC.
In a fact sheet attached to Huerta’s email, CRS said that its current program priorities are safe, dignified shelter and housing; water, sanitation and hygiene; psychosocial support; and assisting church partners in Gaza, “who enjoy community trust and have strong grassroots connections.”
Noting that its Gaza church partners “serve as temporary shelters for approximately 400 people,” CRS said it has supplied “hygiene items, cash
CRS SAID THAT ITS CURRENT PROGRAM PRIORITIES ARE SAFE, DIGNIFIED SHELTER AND HOUSING; WATER, SANITATION AND HYGIENE; PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT; AND ASSISTING CHURCH PARTNERS IN GAZA, ‘WHO ENJOY COMMUNITY TRUST AND HAVE STRONG GRASSROOTS CONNECTIONS.’
assistance, clothing, tarps and other humanitarian goods as available.”
Among the aid CRS has thus far provided since 2023:
• Shelter assistance (including bedding, living supplies, tarps, tents and shelter repair kits) to 341,790 people
• Clean water, latrines, hygiene and sanitation kits and supplies to 500,268 people
• Psychosocial support to 10,399 children and teens, and to 1,333 caregivers
Linked to the fact sheet was a new report produced by CRS and two global humanitarian organizations, Save the Children and Mercy Corps, titled “Markets Under Fire,” which assessed market conditions in Gaza and their impact on food security and humanitarian aid.
Led by Save the Children, the July 2025 report marks the second phase in an analysis first undertaken by the three agencies — which are “three of the main cash actors in Gaza,” the report notes — in August and September of 2024.
The latest report found that “about 70% of structures” in Gaza are damaged, and “key urban areas are largely nonfunctional.”
More than 86% of Gaza is within the “Israeli-militarized zone,” which has made “key market hubs inaccessible,” the report said.
In addition, 83% of cropland and 95% of farmland — the latter of which encompasses broader uses, such as livestock grazing — have been rendered “damaged or inaccessible,” said the report. Agricultural production has plummeted by more than 80%.
Livestock numbers have declined, with owners forced to kill their flocks due to the cost of fodder, the report said.
Overall, “the food system has collapsed due to blockade, destruction of productive assets and looting,” said the report.
The data showed that as of June 2025, “food consumption, dietary diversity and [food] access have all sharply deteriorated,” with 79% of households having “poor food consumption scores,” and 98% resorting to “extreme coping strategies like meal skipping and portion reduction.”
At the same time, “some staples have risen over 3,000% in price,” said the report, adding that “households continue to depend on markets but face severe supply shortages and unaffordable prices.”
Exponential inflation in Gaza extends to durable goods as well, with a single vehicle tire costing “up to $17,000,” the report found.
Economically, Gaza continues to experience a “multifaceted liquidity crisis,” including “diminished purchasing power among consumers, a shortage of usable physical currency and severe capital constraints limiting suppliers’ ability to restock,” the report said.
As a result, humanitarian organizations “increasingly use e-wallets and mobile transfers for cash assistance,” but such strategies are “only partial solutions due to Gaza’s cashbased economy, recurrent power and network outages, and the enforced
How to help
• Donate online: support.crs.org/ donate/holy-land-conflict
• Donate by phone: 1 (877) HELP CRS
• Donate by check: Catholic Relief Services, Holy Land Response, P.O. Box 5278, Tipton, IA 52772-0517
isolation of its financial system,” said the report.
In response, “citizen-led price monitoring platforms and informal practices like bartering and peer-to-peer exchanges” have emerged, while formal market regulation “has collapsed under blockade and conflict,” leading to “severe inflation . . . price fluctuations and reduced competition,” the report found.
“This environment exacerbates inequality and undermines market integrity,” said the report. “The absence of security, law and order, and predictable access fragments the market, fuels speculation and leaves space for price manipulation.”
Energy access in Gaza “has collapsed,” with the grid down and insufficient fuel entry into the region between March and June, leaving residents to “rely on unreliable and hazardous alternatives” such as “car batteries, firewood, solar panel and burning plastic,” said the report. Most households have less than four hours of electricity per day.
Formal transport and communication systems have been undermined, with public transport now “nearly nonexistent” and relying on donkey carts.
Yet the scope of such challenges has not deterred CRS or its partners, the agency said in its fact sheet.
“In a time of fear and flight, CRS works with its partners to uphold human dignity, even amid bombardment and continuous displacement,” said the agency.
OSV NEWS PHOTO/HATEM KHALED, REUTERS
Palestinians gather to receive food from a charity kitchen amid a hunger crisis in the central Gaza Strip July 29. Despite daunting odds, Catholic Relief Services and its on-the-ground partners have managed to deliver aid to 1.7 million people in Gaza since 2023, according to new data.
EMPLOYMENT
Maintenance technician - St. Francis de Sales Church in Lansing has an opening for a part-time maintenance technician. This position will provide for the proper maintenance and repair of the church, parish hall, grounds, parking lots, equipment, building systems and general security. Equipment includes HVAC, plumbing, electrical and mechanical. The maintenance technician will work with outside contractors and inspectors as necessary. Previous similar experience required. Knowledge of email is helpful. Professional communication, organizational and multitasking skills are important. Monday through Friday daytime hours are normal and some evenings and weekends may be required. Contact Carolyn Klemp at: businessmanager@stfrancislansing.org or call (913) 727-3742 to request a job application.
Liturgy coordinator - St. Michael the Archangel Church in Leawood seeks a full-time liturgy coordinator to prepare liturgical ministers, spaces and artifacts for church activities and liturgies. The successful candidate will be a practicing Catholic in good standing and familiar with the Roman Catholic liturgical tradition. The position requires strong organizational, administrative, interpersonal and communications skills, and ability to work on Sundays. Send cover letter and resumé to: kevin.vogt@stmichaelcp. org.
Youth minister - St. Francis de Sales Church in Lansing has an opening for a part-time youth minister. This position will develop curriculum and plan onand off-site youth activities alongside the director of faith formation. They will also promote the spiritual, personal, and social development of youth, while maintaining frequent communication with parents and adult leaders. Ability to effectively communicate, provide guidance and support, and plan and organize events are essential. Experience working with youth in a church setting preferred. Attendance at Sunday evening sessions is expected. Some other work can be completed remotely. Job requires some overnight stays. Contact Carolyn Klemp at: business manager@stfrancislansing.org or (913) 727-3742 to request a job application.
Pastoral and administrative assistant - St. John Paul II Parish in Olathe is seeking a pastoral and administrative assistant to provide comprehensive parish administrative support with particular attention to the ministerial and liturgical aspects of parish life. This is a part-time position with a typical work schedule of Monday - Thursday, 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. For full job description and qualifications, contact Meredith Patterson at: MeredithPatterson@stjpii.org or visit our website at: jp2kc.org/employment-opportunities.
Custodian - St. John Paul II Parish in Olathe is seeking a part-time custodian for our new academy. This position will be responsible for cleaning and routine maintenance at the academy and occasional work done at the church office. Approximately 15 hours per week. Typical schedule will be late afternoons/ evenings and occasional work on weekends. For full job description and qualifications, contact Meredith Patterson at: MeredithPatterson@stjpii.org or visit our website at: jp2kc.org/employment-opportunities.
Development director - The Benedictine Sisters of Mount St. Scholastica are seeking to hire a full-time development director. All details about the position and how to apply are available on the community’s webpage at: www.mountosb.org/category/updates.
Director of operations - St. Agnes Church is seeking to hire a director of operations. This position is full time and benefits-eligible. For more details or to apply, please visit “Employment Opportunities” at: www.archkck.org.
School principal position - Our Lady’s Montessori School (OLMS) is a Catholic Montessori school in Kansas City, Missouri, serving children from preschool –eighth grade. OLMS is a work of the vibrant missionary community, the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity (SOLT), and is searching for a dynamic, faith-filled principal to lead our educational program. We are looking for a principal with a basic knowledge of Catholic Montessori education and Catechesis of the Good Shepherd and a passion to learn more. If interested, please send resume to Jenny Wallace at: jwallace@olmskc.org.
Part-time chiropractic assistant needed - Are you a stay-at-home mom looking to get back into the work force? Semiretired looking for a part-time gig? We have the perfect job for you! We are a busy chiropractic office in N.W. Olathe (K-10 and Ridgeview Rd.) looking for a part-time assistant. Mondays noon - 6 p.m. and two Saturdays a month (8 a.m. - 1 p.m.), with the possibility of covering additional hours as needed. $15/hour plus bonuses. Job duties include answering phones, scheduling and checking in patients, insurance, assisting with patient therapies, etc. If you are professional, friendly, hardworking, and would like to help others, our office may be the place for you! Must have great phone and computer skills. Ridgeview Chiropractic, 17775 W. 106th St., Suite 105, Olathe, KS 66061. Please email resume to Dr. Craig Koshlap at: drk@ridgeviewchiropractic.com or fax to (913) 890-7372.
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.
Nurse manager - Under the general supervision of the clinic director, the nurse manager (32 hours per week) oversees the provision of medical services, the dayto-day operations of the medical aspects of the clinic and medical education programs offered by Two Lines Pregnancy Clinic. The nurse manager also oversees regulatory compliance and professional standards of care. The nurse manager provides direct client care as needed. The successful candidate must have a BSN degree, be licensed in Kansas as a registered nurse and have 3-5 years’ experience as a nurse manager (OB-GYN experience preferred). Certification in limited ultrasound a plus (training will be provided if needed). Needs to possess organizational, reasoning and problem-solving skills; ability to work independently and as a team member; and excellent communication skills. Must be willing to work some evenings and weekends. Experience working in a Christian/nonprofit ministry a plus. Bilingual also a plus. Must be a committed Christian with a personal relationship with Jesus who actively participates in a local, Bible-believing church; demonstrates a consistently life-affirming philosophy; and subscribes to and supports the vision, mission, statement of faith, and policies and procedures of Two Lines Pregnancy Clinic. To apply, send your cover letter and resume to Andrea at: andreac@twolineskc.com by Aug 15. No phone calls, please.
Part-time director of religious education - St. Lawrence Church in Monett, Missouri, is seeking a faithfilled, organized director of religious education (DRE) to coordinate and lead religious education programs for children, youth and families within our vibrant Catholic community. The DRE will oversee all parish religious education efforts, including sacramental preparation, faith formation for children not attending Catholic school and collaboration with our parish school (pre-K through 6th grade). This role requires a strong commitment to multicultural ministry, serving both our Anglo and Hispanic populations. Applicants should be a practicing Catholic, have experience in catechesis, ministry, leadership or educational programing, and hold a bachelor’s degree (or working toward one) in theology, religious education or a related field (or equivalent work experience). Bilingual (English/Spanish) is a benefit but not required. Interested applicants can submit inquiries and/or a cover letter and resume to the parish office at: 0stlawrence1892@gmail.com.
Director of faith formation and youth ministryQueen of the Holy Rosary, Overland Park, is seeking a dynamic, faith-filled director of faith formation and youth ministry. This full-time position oversees K–8 religious education, sacramental prep (first reconciliation, first Eucharist, confirmation), vacation Bible school and youth ministry programs. The ideal candidate will be a practicing Catholic in good standing with 3+ years’ experience in catechesis, youth ministry or parish formation. Some evening and weekend hours required. Come join a vibrant parish committed to forming young disciples! To apply or learn more, visit: https://www.queenoftheholyrosary.org/employment.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Client services manager - Under the general supervision of the clinic director, the client services manager (32 hours per week) oversees the coordination of services available to clients as well as the smooth operations of Two Lines Pregnancy Clinic. Works in cooperation with the entire client services team to assure that every client receives all appropriate services. Manages all clinic staff who are not medical professionals, including case management team. The successful candidate must have a bachelor’s degree in nursing, counseling, social work or other related field; three years’ experience providing health and/or social services to the community; and 2 years’ supervisory experience. Needs to be highly analytical; have problem-solving skills; the ability to organize, manage and prioritize; and possess excellent communication skills. Must be willing to work some evenings and weekends. Experience working in a Christian/nonprofit ministry, previous oversight of volunteers and Spanish language skills all pluses. Must be a committed Christian with a personal relationship with Jesus who actively participates in a local, Bible-believing church; demonstrates a consistently life-affirming philosophy; and subscribes to and supports the vision, mission, statement of faith, and policies and procedures of Two Lines Pregnancy Clinic. To apply, send your cover letter and resume to Andrea at: andreac@twolineskc.com by Aug. 15. No phone calls, please.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Human Resources manager - The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas has an immediate opening for a Human Resources manager, which will serve as subject matter expert, project lead and coach in multiple key functions within HR. The position is full time based on 40 hours per week and benefits-eligible, with a flexible schedule. This position is on-site in the chancery office. Please visit “Employment Opportunities” on the archdiocesan website at: www.arch kck.org for more information or to apply.
SERVICES
Garage door sales, service and installation - Repair broken springs and cables. 40 years of experience. 24-hour service. Call Tim at (816) 946-9990.
Joe’s Decks & More Deck and fence repair, mowing and handyman services Member of St. Joseph in Shawnee (913) 449-9848
Custom countertops - Laminates installed within 5 days. Cambria, granite and solid surface. Competitive prices, dependable work. Call the Top Shop, Inc., at (913) 962-5058. Members of St. Joseph, Shawnee.
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.
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
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.
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.
Popcorn ceiling texture removal Call Jerry at (913) 206-1144. 30 years’ experience. Interior painting specialist. Member St. Joseph Parish, Shawnee. Faith-based counseling to cope with life concerns - Kansas City area. Call Mary Vorsten, licensed clinical professional counselor, at (913) 909-2002.
Double A’s Lawn Service
Lawn mowing, Mulching, Gutters, Leaf Removal Brush Removal & Hedge Trimming Free Estimates & Insured Alex Spoerre (913) 488-5195
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.
Jack Harrison Heating & Air Conditioning - Proudly serving Johnson County, Kansas, parts of KCK and KCMO, we’re your trusted local experts in residential and light commercial HVAC. Whether you need a repair, seasonal tuneup or full system replacement, we’ve got you covered — with honest advice, quality work and friendly service. We’re a family-owned and operated company, rooted in the community as members of St. Paul Parish in Olathe. Call Jack Harrison Heating & Air today at (913) 308-3131 or visit: www. JackHarrisonAir.com to schedule online. Let our family take care of yours!
TOTAL HOME REPAIR
All aspects of interior home repairs. Retired master plumber. Professional interior painting, general repairs, tile work. Handyman services. Lifetime of experience. Army veteran. Ascension parishioner. (913) 488-4930
Aluminum wheelchair ramp - Sales and installation customized to your needs. Serving all of northeast Kansas. Call McCourt Construction at (785) 224-4961.
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.
>> Continued on page 15
SACRED HEART RUMMAGE SALE
Sacred Heart Parish (center)
408 S. Cedar St., Ottawa
Aug. 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.
SUMMER FEST 2025
St. Lawrence Church
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.
ST. STANISLAUS PARISH PICNIC
St. Stanislaus Church
701 S Main St., Rossville
Aug. 9 beginning at 3 p.m.
The parish picnic will run in conjunction with Rossville’s Tall Corn Festival. Bingo will be from 3 to 6:30 p.m. A fried chicken dinner will be served from 4 to 6:30 p.m. for $12 per plate. Mass will be celebrated at 7 p.m.
ROSARY RALLY
St. Gabriel the Archangel Parish 4737 N. Cleveland Ave., Kansas City, Missouri
Aug. 10 from 3 to 4:15 p.m.
Join us to honor the 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
Aug. 10 from 8:30 to 10 a.m.
Breakfast will include eggs, sausage, biscuits and gravy, pancakes, waffles and drinks. The cost is $6 for those over the age of 13; free for ages 12 and under.
Coffee and Silence
Sophia Spirituality Center
751 S. 8th St., Atchison
Aug. 14 from 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Experience the rejuvenation that a
quiet, peaceful day away can bring when you join us for this mini-retreat intended for you to spend time as you wish: in silent prayer, reading, contemplative walks or restful reflection. Bring your lunch, and enjoy coffee (or tea!) and perhaps a delicious treat as you savor this prayerful escape. There is no cost for this event.
Wills and Estates – Smart Steps for Your Family’s Future Sacred Heart Church (parish hall) 102 Exchange St., Emporia
Aug. 14, beginning at 11:30 a.m.
Stuart Symmonds, attorney at law at Symmonds & Symmonds, LLC, will be the speaker. Lunch will be from 11:30 a.m. to noon. The presentation begins at noon. Register online at: cfnek.org/events or contact Mitch Nolan at (913) 647-3070 or by email at: mnolan@archkck.org.
FROM HURT TO HEALING RETREAT: ‘ENCOUNTERING GOD’S MERCY THROUGH FORGIVENESS’
Christ’s Peace House of Prayer
22131 Meagher Road, Easton
Aug. 15 at 5:30 p.m. to Aug. 17 at 4:30 p.m.
Join us for a transformative forgiveness retreat led by Chuck Jansen, founder of the Forgiveness Institute KC, Inc. This retreat offers a sacred space to explore the healing power of forgiveness through guided reflections, prayer and communal support. There is an additional $25 materials fee for this retreat. Cabins/courtyard rooms: $180 single/$270 couple; or single guest rooms: $110 (meals Included). To attend, fill out the individual retreat form online at: Christs Peace.com or call (913) 773-8255.
134TH ICC PARISH PICNIC
Immaculate Conception Church
208 W. Bertrand Ave., St. Marys Aug. 16 from 4 to 7 p.m.
The picnic and reunion begins with Mass at 4 p.m. A chicken dinner (dark meat only) will be served with sides and desserts from 4 to 7 p.m. in Holy Family Hall. Cost is $10 for adults (11 and older); $5 for children (10 and under). There will be games, a garage sale and bingo.
ANNUAL CROATIAN FESTIVAL
St. John the Baptist Church
708 N. 4th St., Kansas City, Kansas Aug. 16, after 4 p.m. Mass
Join us for food, games, music and dance. Admission is free. Food will include sarma, sausage sandwiches, hamburgers, hot dogs, and Croatian stew. There will be
raffles for apple strudels, poviticas and salamis. There will be a soda ring toss, a treat booth for toys and snacks, and a fishing pond. The cost for kids’ games is 50 cents. For more information, go online to: stjohn thebaptistcatholicchurch.com or send an email to: kckcroatianfestival@gmail.com.
WIDOWED WOMEN of FAITH
Perkins Restaurant (back room) 1720 S.W. Wanamaker Rd., Topeka Aug. 19 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Join other “Widowed Women of Faith” for lunch and companionship. No RSVP is needed, just come. Feel free to invite other widowed women of faith. Send questions by email to: WidowedWomenofFaith@ gmail.com or call Julie at (913) 558-0191.
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 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. Augustine: Confessions – I Burned for Your Peace’ Retreat Christ’s Peace House of Prayer 22131 Meagher Rd., Easton Aug. 22 at 5:30 p.m. to Aug. 24 at 4:30 p.m.
Join us for an insightful retreat based on Peter Kreeft’s book “I Burned for Your Peace,” which reflects on the profound spiritual journey of St. Augustine as recounted in his “Confessions.” This retreat will guide you through Augustine’s reflections on sin, grace and conversion, helping you connect with his timeless struggle for peace with God. Cabins/courtyard rooms: $180 single/$270 couple; or single guest rooms: $110 (meals Included). To attend, fill out the individual retreat form online at: ChristsPeace.com or call (913) 773-8255.
Back to school Bingo night
St. Pius X Church (Kelly Hall) 5500 Woodson, Mission Aug. 23 - Doors open at 5:30 p.m.
This is a Knights of Columbus fundraiser for eighth grade high school scholarships. The cost is $10 for two bingo cards. Each game winner receives $15. Raffle tickets are available for gift bags. Concessions are available as well.
iCare Ministries Mass
Queen of the Holy Rosary 7023 W. 71st St., Overland Park
Aug. 23 at 6 p.m.
iCare ministries provides two adapted Mass opportunities per month for children and adults with developmental disabilities and their families. Send an email to: icarenek@gmail.com with questions. Visit the website at: icareministries.org for more information about this and other activities.
UNITY FEST
Our Lady of Unity Parish 2646 S. 34th St., Kansas City, Kansas Aug. 23 from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
This annual gathering is a joyful celebration of faith, culture and friendship, bringing parishioners and neighbors together for a weekend filled with laughter, music and purpose. There will be live music and dance groups as well as carnival games and a soccer tournament (9 a.m. to noon) for all ages. Delicious Hispanic and American food! For more information, contact Lupita Villalobos at (913) 963-0434.
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 cost $18. The average prize per game ranges between $75 and $250. For more information, call Fritz at (913) 515-0621.
Daughters of Isabella Little Flower Circle meeting
Christ the King Parish (Yadrich Hall) 5973 S.W. 25th St., Topeka Aug. 24 at 12:40 p.m.
A rosary will be followed by a business meeting, including election of officers. If anyone knows of a member or family member of the Daughters of Isabella in need of the circle’s prayers, call Shirley Gustafson at (785) 554-3028 or chancellor Gen Orozco at (785) 230-2473.
TACO FEST
Divine Mercy Parish
555 W. Main St.
Aug. 31 at 11:30 a.m.
Join us for Taco Fest. There will be a variety of tacos (fajitas, chicken, seasoned pork, asada (beef) street tacos). Cost is $10 a plate, which includes three tacos, rice, cookie and a drink.
GRIEFSHARE
Divine Mercy Parish
555 W. Main St., Gardner
Thursdays 6:30 - 8 p.m.
Ongoing through Oct. 23
Divine Mercy Parish is partnering with GriefShare to host a bereavement support group which will run for 13 weeks. There is a recommended participant guide that is available for $15 (to be paid at the first meeting) but it is not required. Hear insights from experts and meet others who understand what you are going through. Register online at: griefshare.org/findagroup.
DON LIPOVAC ‘ONE OF A KIND’ EXHIBIT
Strawberry Hill Museum
720 N. 4th St., Kansas City, Kansas Weekends through Sept. 21
The exhibit highlights Don Lipovac’s love of his Slovenian heritage and the expansive range of his musical talents. For reservations, go online to: strawberryhill museum.org.
Parish Mission
St. Francis de Sales Parish
900 Ida St., Lansing Sept. 7 - 11
The “Enter the Journey Mission” will begin at 6 p.m. in the church and will last about 75 minutes, followed by a time of fellowship and refreshments in the parish hall. For more information, call Todd Giefer at (913) 406-0471 or Teresa Wilson at (913) 553-1897.
Encounter with God Through Art (in Spanish only)
Sophia Spirituality Center
751 S. 8th St., Atchison
Sept. 24 from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
This is a retreat day of prayer through silence, Scripture and creative expression, led by Sister Helga Leija, OSB. No art experience is needed — just an open heart. Materials are included. Space is limited. For information, visit: www.mountosb.org.
Stop Trafficking Project
Sept. 25 from 7 to 8 p.m.
St. Michael the Archangel Parish 14251 Nall Ave., Leawood
This presentation is about keeping kids safe online and is geared toward youth (grades 6-12). School administrators and adults are also welcome. For more information, contact Sister Lucia Maria Sol, SCTJM, at (913) 402-3950.
DAILY READINGS
NINETEENTH WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME
Aug. 10
NINETEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Wis 18: 6-9
Ps 33: 1, 12, 18-22
Heb 11: 1-2, 8-19
Lk 12: 32-48
Aug. 11
Clare, virgin
Dt 10: 12-22
Ps 147: 12-15, 19-20
Mt 17: 22-27
Aug. 12
Jane Frances de Chantal, religious Dt 31: 1-8
(Ps) Dt 32: 3-4b, 7-9, 12
Mt 18: 1-5, 10, 12-14
Aug. 13
Pontian, pope, and Hippolytus, priest, martyr Dt 34: 1-12
Ps 66: 1-3a, 5, 8, 16-17
Mt 18: 15-20
Aug. 14
Maximilian Kolbe, priest, martyr
Jos 3: 7-10a, 11, 13-17
Ps 114: 1-6
Mt 18:21 – 19:1
Aug. 15
THE ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
Rv 11: 19a; 12: 1-6a, 10ab
Ps 45: 10bc, 11-12ab, 16 1 Cor 15: 20-27
Lk 1: 39-56
Aug. 16
Stephen of Hungary
Jos 24: 14-29
Ps 16: 1-2a, 5, 7-8, 11
Mt 19: 13-15
TWENTIETH WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME
Aug. 17
TWENTIETH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Jer 38: 4-6, 8-10
Ps 40: 2-4, 18
Heb 12: 1-4
Lk 12: 49-53
Aug. 18
Monday
Jgs 2: 11-19
Ps 106: 34-37, 39-40, 43ab, 44 Mt 19: 16-22
Aug. 19
John Eudes, priest
Jgs 6: 11-24a
Ps 85: 9, 11-14
Mt 19: 23-30
Aug. 20
Bernard, abbot, doctor of the church
Jgs 9: 6-15
Ps 21: 2-7
Mt 20: 1-16
Aug. 21
Pius X, pope
Jgs 11: 29-39a
Ps 40: 5, 7-10
Mt 22: 1-14
Aug. 22
The Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Ru 1: 1, 3-6, 14b-16, 22
Ps 146: 5-10
Mt 22: 34-40
Aug. 23
Rose of Lima, virgin
Ru 2: 1-3, 8-11; 4: 13-17
Ps 128: 1b-5
Mt 23: 1-12
Could I ask a favor from everyone receiving this Leaven? Please go to page 11, read the article and cut out the photo there. Then, post that photo on your refrigerator, bathroom mirror or any place you’ll see it every day.
I scrapped the column I was originally writing for this issue after seeing that photo. The desperation on the people’s faces — the absolute horror of what they’re enduring — shook me.
That message was driven home in an Aug. 5 post on X from the U.N. Children’s Fund (UNICEF): “Death by bombardments. Death by malnutrition and starvation. Death by lack of aid and vital services. In Gaza, an average of 28 children a day — the size of a classroom — have been killed. Gaza’s children need food, water, medicine and protection. More than anything, they need a ceasefire, NOW.”
For the moment,
Help them have their fill
MARK MY WORDS
let’s set aside all the politics. Just look at the photo and let it put real faces to the statistics. How does it make you feel? I see myself as the rich man in last Sunday’s Gospel. Having a bountiful harvest and no room to store it all, he never once thinks to share with others, especially those in need. No, he’ll be selfish, build larger barns and “rest, eat, drink and be merry.”
In my homily last
Lweekend, I commented that sometimes when an Amazon package is delivered to my home, it’s like Christmas. Why? Because I can’t remember what I ordered, so opening the box is a surprise. What that tells me is that I honestly didn’t need what was ordered; I only wanted it. Wow, I don’t want to end up like that rich “fool.”
A year ago, I read these haunting words from Jonathan F. Sullivan in the JulySeptember issue of the Living Faith periodical: “My stuff is a statement that I would rather spend money on myself than for the benefit of the poor and marginalized. It an-
chors me in place and weighs me down.”
Apparently, I have a hard time changing and need to hear — over and over — Jesus’ admonishment: “Take care to guard against all greed.”
I suspect many of us are in the same boat. Rather than become depressed about the immensity of the problem in Gaza, though, let’s do something about it.
The box on page 11 has information on how to support Catholic Relief Services (CRS). Granted, money is often tight, especially now with school starting, but explore creative ways to generate funds:
• Go without one meal a week. Set up a jar to collect the cost of that meal and donate to CRS.
• When at a sporting event or the movies, skip the concessions — just once — and donate to CRS.
• Buy one less outfit or accessory when shopping for school clothes and donate to CRS.
• When dining out, commit to sending an equal amount of your bill to CRS.
• Instead of immediately ordering items online, pop them on your wish list and visit them a few days later. Often, these “wants” will disappear. Donate what you would have spent to CRS.
• Hold a garage sale and earmark all the proceeds for CRS.
• If you throw away food, calculate the cost of what’s going into the trash and send that amount to, yes, CRS. Matthew Good, a Canadian singer and songwriter, says: “Actions speak louder than words, but sometimes inaction speaks louder than both of them.”
Pope Francis called that a spirit of “indifference” to the sufferings of people.
Let’s resolve not to be as foolish as that rich man but instead hear — and answer — the cries of the poor, especially those in Gaza, and become rich in what matters to God.
Earthly treasure weighs us down, warns chilling Gospel
ast Sunday’s Gospel reading and this Sunday’s Gospel reading are really one. You should read them together. The teaching Jesus offers is layered and rich and radical.
Jesus has been preaching against what causes fear, about what we should really fear instead. We shouldn’t fear what can kill the body, for instance, but instead fear him who can cast the soul into hell (Lk 12:5). We shouldn’t worry about things like inheritance, money, food or possessions, for “your Father knows that you need them” (Lk 12:30).
possessions or money or food completely; he is not saying that each Christian should become a beggar like St. Francis.
Rather, he is talking about the proper perspective believers should have and how such perspective should order their lives.
against the future. Instead, Jesus tells his disciples to focus on “a treasure in the heavens that does not fail” (Lk 12:33). And you do that, Jesus says, by selling your possessions and giving alms (Lk 12:32).
Jesus is not telling his disciples to shun
What Jesus is trying to do is to get his listeners to focus on one treasure rather than another. That is, he is saying that when we fail to account for eternity, for the kingdom of God, our fear will too likely cause us to store up treasures for ourselves to hedge
Now we may understand better the strange ethics found in the Acts of the Apostles, why the first Christians “had all things in common,” selling their possessions and distributing goods “as any had need” (Acts 2:44-45).
Now we know why Luke said of that community, “There was not anyone needy among them” (Acts 4:34). The whole wisdom of the Scriptures, the clear teaching of Jesus, can’t be set aside. The matter is urgent. As St. Basil the Great preached once, “Think reasonably about that which is and that which shall come, and what you might lose through shameful profit.”
Really, I can’t say anything more chilling or truer than that. Just that maybe it harrows the soul to think of so many Christians who ignore such teaching, so weighed down by their possessions, unaware how eternally weighed down they really are.
Create encounters, not just content, pope tells digital missionaries
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — In an everevolving era of technological advancement, including the adoption of artificial intelligence, Catholics in the digital space must focus on being authentic witnesses rather than providing endless streams of content, Pope Leo XIV said. Arriving after the conclusion of the July 29 Jubilee Mass with digital missionaries and Catholic
influencers in St. Peter’s Basilica, the pope said Catholics have “a duty to work together to develop a way of thinking and a language of our time that gives voice to love.”
“It is not simply a matter of generating content, but of creating an encounter between hearts,” he said. “This will entail seeking out those who suffer and need to know the
Lord, so that they may heal their wounds, get back on their feet and find meaning in their lives.”
Hundreds of young Catholic influencers and digital missionaries participated in the Mass at the altar of the Chair of St. Peter, which was presided over by Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization.
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.
FATHER
MARK GOLDASICH
Father Mark is the pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Tonganoxie. He has been editor of The Leaven since 1989.
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.
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.
REAL ESTATE
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.
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.
FOR SALE
For sale - Single funeral plot at Resurrection Cemetery in Charity Garden (lot 146, section D, space 3). Directly across from mausoleum. Asking $2700. Willing to negotiate the transfer fee. For more information, call (913) 961-4040 or (913) 544-9931.
Small farm/business operation opportunity - STA Home Repair is moving to another state. Looking to sell property and business assets: 1955 Oregon Road,Princeton, Kansas. 3 buildings, 1 Barndo/Shop, RV hookups – 200 Amp service with portable heat and AC – office, kitchen area – 10-foot garage door and entry door, 1 cabin with wood stove and AC/shop, 1 pole barn, 2 sinks, 1 shower, 1 toilet, stocked pond, boat and equipment storage over half fenced, multiple gardens, minifarm, bring the horses. Great for contractor with trailers, 25-30 minutes to Gardner or intermodal facility; 35-40 minutes to Olathe and Overland Park; and less than 10 minutes to Ottawa. Close to the Hillsdale and Pomona lakes. Asking $290,000. Cash and/or pre-approved financing. Showing by appointment only. Text name and number to (913) 579-1835.
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)
For sale - One cemetery plot located in Lenexa at Resurrection Cemetery, 83rd St. and Quivira Rd. Location lot 116, section A, space 4. Asking $2000. Buyer pays transfer fee of $250. Contact Terry at (913) 888-9590 or email: terryhensel22@gmail.com.
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.
CAREGIVING
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.
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.
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.
HOME IMPROVEMENT
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.
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!
‘PINOT & PICASSO’
Evening of artistry features Our Lady of Guadalupe
By Jill Ragar Esfeld
Special
to The Leaven
LENEXA — “It’s a time to enjoy yourself and be with your friends, to get together and do something different,” said Jeremy Heinen, director of adult faith formation and evangelization at Holy Trinity Parish here.
Heinen was addressing a group of 25 couples equipped with canvases, paints, chocolates and wine.
As French music played in the background, they were beginning an evening of “Pinot & Picasso” — creating their own works of art.
Wives seemed enthusiastic, husbands were hesitant but willing, and Father Gerard Alba, a talented artist and pastor of St. Pius X in Mission, was on hand to coach, demonstrate and cajole.
He was also willing to share laughter, which ended up being a main outcome of the evening.
“Pinot & Picasso” is one of many events sponsored by Communio, a ministry supporting marriage and families in its third year at Holy Trinity.
“One of my other titles is Communio coordinator for the parish,” Heinen explained. “So, this is one of the activities we came up with to draw in those on the fringes.”
“They might not come to just your normal everyday Bible study,” he explained. “But they might be interested in having a glass of wine and painting while making a connection with some topic that is relative to their spiritual health.”
Julie and Dan Melchior have been married for almost 29 years and acknowledge their relationship is always a work in progress.
They enjoyed this unusual event.
“It provided a relaxing date night in a setting that fosters the community and fellowship the parish is trying to offer parishioners,” said Julie.
Father Alba started the evening with a prayer inviting God into the moment, saying, “You are the great creator and you invite us to be co-creators with you.”
“If there is any fear, anxiety or sense of wanting to have control,” he continued, “may we be truly free of it starting with the canvas in front of us, but also in our life and in our relationships, trusting it to your Spirit.”
Father Alba had prepared two examples of paintings to inspire the evening’s artists. Each was an enlargement
of a portion of the Our Lady of Guadalupe’s tilma.
“I love the Blessed Mother,” he said.
“She has always been a mother to me. Since I was little, my mom presented her to me as a mother to have; her own mother did the same.
Father Alba explained that his grandmother passed away when his mother was only 6 years old. On her deathbed, she promised her young daughter that the Blessed Mother would watch over her.
“And so, my mom is always turning to our Blessed Mother to be a mother for her,” said Father Alba. “And so, she taught us how to turn to her.”
In June, Father Alba visited the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City.
“So, she’s been in my imagination, really, and in my heart since then,” he said.
Father Alba gave some brief instructions and then demonstrated the
process of creating each painting as his work was projected on a large screen above him.
“I wouldn’t say I have painting skills,” said Julie. “But I can follow instructions. So, I did exactly what Father Gerard did.
“I enjoyed the way he walked everybody through the process.”
Some participants chose to do their own thing and Father Alba encouraged that, suggesting they use his examples as inspiration.
Holy Trinity pastor Father Mike Koller took part in the event as well, creating a piece of art parishioners might see in this year’s fundraising auction.
“I think he had a good time,” said Heinen. “He likes these events that are community builders.
“He likes reaching out beyond our normal congregation to try to get people in to experience Holy Trinity.”
To achieve that community interaction, participants were encouraged to
walk around and view works in progress.
“It was fun to see the variety of couples there — every age,” said Julie. “And there were so many people we did not know, and we’ve been at the parish for 14 years.”
Heinen said that’s exactly what he finds special about these Communio events.
“I see people here that I’ve never seen before, which I love,” he said. “It really reaches beyond.”
As couples left with their artwork in hand, they were already asking about the next event.
“I told them we may do a courtyard concert this fall when the weather is nice and cool,” said Heinen.
The Melchiors are already looking forward to it.
“We want to keep striving to live our vocation and be the married couple God intended us to be,” said Julie. “And it’s a lifetime effort.”
LEAVEN PHOTO BY JILL RAGAR ESFELD
Father Gerard Alba, pastor of St. Pius X in Mission, gives painting tips to Holy Trinity pastor Father Mike Koller at Holy Trinity’s Pinot and Picasso event July 19. There, a group of 25 couples enjoyed an evening of wine, chocolates and painting instruction from Father Alba, who was on hand to coach and demonstrate.
LEAVEN PHOTO BY JILL RAGAR ESFELD
Pat Maiorano looks at her phone for guidance as she creates a work of art at Holy Trinity’s “Pinot & Picasso” evening.
LEAVEN PHOTO BY JILL RAGAR ESFELD
Alex Kain uses the techniques taught by Father Alba to bring his painting to life.
LEAVEN PHOTO BY JILL RAGAR ESFELD
Dan Melchior takes a close look at his progress thus far before deciding on the next step.