WWW.THELEAVEN.COM | NEWSPAPER OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF KANSAS CITY IN KANSAS | VOL. 30, NO. 30 MARCH 20, 2009
CASH COW Youth group rounds up some assistance for relief efforts overseas By BOB HART Special to the Leaven EMPORIA — “There’s a Catholic cow in our yard!” boasted 3-year-old Audrey Scheeley to strangers in the grocery store last week. The odd remark from the sweet little girl drew predictable smiles and laughter. But, as it turns out, little Audrey knew what she was talking about. A “Crazy Cow” had indeed shown up on the Scheeley lawn — the result of a fundraising project conceived by Emporia’s Sacred Heart Parish youth director Cindy Roush to raise funds for Catholic Relief Services (CRS). Inspired by a package of creative fundraising ideas she’d received in the mail, Roush took two clip art cows, enlarged them many times over, and then tapped some help for stage two. “My husband Kent cut out the cows and did a base paint on them,” Roush said. “Then we had the Sacred Heart youth group do the final painting.” Since then, Roush has been busy sneaking around town, planting the “Crazy Cows” in the yards of unsuspecting parishioners. The way the fundraising works is simple: • For $5, a parishioner (or anyone else in town) can send a “Crazy Cow” to the yard of their Three-year-old Audrey Scheeley is reluctant to give up the “Crazy Cow” that mysteriously appeared on her lawn last week. The cows are part of a youth group fundraiser of Sacred Heart Church in Emporia. Leaven photo by Bob Hart
Cash and the cows $5 A parishioner (or anyone else in town) can send a “Crazy Cow” to the yard of their choice. $10 Those waking up to a cow on their lawn can have the intruder removed — and decide where it goes next. $15 Anyone can choose to be “vaccinated” — the only sure-fire way to keep his or her lawn cowfree through April 5.
choice. • For $10, those waking up to a cow on their lawn can have the intruder removed — and decide where it goes next. • For $15, anyone can choose to be “vaccinated” — the only sure-fire way to keep his or her lawn cow-free through April 5. “We had no idea how it would go over,” Roush said. “But the parish has just loved it, as has the community.” Roush said the idea sprang from a desire to try new, fresh ideas for involving students in charitable activities. “We already had a ‘Homeless Night’ set up, and we do the Rice Bowls, of course,” she said. “But we just thought we could try something fun and different and see how it went. It’s been so popular, we may do more than two cows next year.” The Lenten fundraiser, which began March 1, will continue through April 5. While the youth group has been the prime moo-ver behind the activity, no one’s been left out of the fun. Turn to PARISHIONERS on page 4
KANSAS CITY HERE IT COMES
LECTIO DIVINA
TRASH TALK
The National Catholic Young Conference is returning to Kansas City this November. More than 20,000 youth are expected.
If midway through Lent you’re still fighting for traction, consider giving the ancient practice of lectio divina a try.
Youth from Resurrection School took a day off from classes to help clean up their neighborhood.
3
8-9
16