www.theleaven.com | Newspaper of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas | Vol. 33, No. 1 july 1, 2011
All-American Indian-born priest will have much to celebrate this Fourth of July By Joe Bollig | Photos by Elaina Cochran
Father Arul Carasala recites the Pledge of Allegiance at a ceremony in which he became a citizen of the United States on May 20 in the state capital. Father Carasala is pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Onaga, St. Patrick Parish in Corning, St. Bede Parish in Kelly and St. Columbkille Parish in Blaine.
T
OPEKA — It might have not been his most dignified moment. But it sure was fun. When Father Arul Carasala saw his first snow, he was 37 years old, and the pastor of St. Vincent de Paul in Onaga, St. Patrick Parish in Corning, St. Bede Parish in Kelly, and St. Columbkille in Blaine. And he made the most of it. “I went out and rolled and rolled in it, and caught it in my hand,” enthused Father Carasala. “I never had done so before in my life.” That was in 2004 — his first winter away from his native India. But that was only the first of many adventures in this exotic, faraway place called Kansas. Adventures that have led Father Carasala to a moment that was very dignified indeed. On May 20, at the Federal Courthouse in Topeka, Father Carasala raised his right hand, swore an oath, and became an American citizen.
Archdiocesan vicar for clergy Father Brian Schieber congratulates Father Carasala on becoming a U.S. citizen. Everything that is America — all its history and celebrations — is now his. “I’m really going to celebrate this
Fourth of July,” he said. “Before, every time I’ve been to a Fourth of July celebration, I considered myself an outsider.”
That’s right, everything American is his — including the national debt. “Yes,” he laughed. “Now I’m part of the problem.” All kidding aside, becoming an American means a lot to Father Carasala. “The judge who received the new citizens opened up the floor to any of the new citizens to give a testimony of what the day meant to them, and Father Carasala was one of three who volunteered to speak,” said Father Brian Schieber, vicar for clergy and one of the priests who accompanied Father Carasala to the momentous occasion. “So Father Carasala got up and spoke about how he appreciated the religious freedom we have in the United States,” continued Father Schieber, “and how wonderful it is that he could be welcomed here as a Catholic priest and preach the
Turn to “dream” on page 7
2 local news
THE LEAVEN • July 1, 2011
THE LEAVEN • july 1, 2011
A fine
Five apostles
Archbishop Naumann’s
50
weekly calendar
July 2 Wedding — St. Mary Church, St. Benedict
Joy magnified at history-making ordinations
July 3-10 Vacation
A gift
Photos by Susan McSpadden
Robert and Annie Wagner receive a gift blessed by the archbishop at the end of the anniversary Mass.
Couples across the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas joined Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann on June 5 at the Cathedral of St. Peter to celebrate 50 years of marriage.
July 12 Vespers and dinner for priests ordained five years or less — residence July 13 Dinner — Shalom House, Kansas City, Kan. July 16 Wedding — St. Louis July 17 Mass for Catholic HEART Work Camp — Bishop Miege, Roeland Park July 18 Comcast “Newsmakers” taping — Negro League Baseball Museum July 19 Case Review Task Force meeting July 21 School of Faith meeting
Archbishop Keleher’s weekly calendar July 7 Wedding rehearsal July 8 Wedding July 10 Prison Mass
Blessed
Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann blesses the gifts that will be presented to the couples celebrating 50th wedding anniversaries in the archdiocese.
July 17 Parish Mass
Cardinal Burke to headline conference in Kansas City
Praise
Participants in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas’ golden wedding anniversary celebration raise their hands in praise June 5 at the Cathedral of St. Peter in Kansas City, Kan.
renewed
Thomas and Rita Moylan renew the vows they made 50 years ago, along with nearly 100 other couples.
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Cardinal Raymond Burke, prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signature (the Vatican’s Supreme Court), along with the daughter of a canonized Catholic saint, will headline a seminar on the Catholic treatment of the disabled and dying here on July 23. The event will be held at Savior Pastoral Center, 12615 Parallel Pkwy., from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. The workshop aims to provide a medical, legal and doctrinal analysis of Catholic care of the disabled and dying. Cardinal Burke’s address is titled, “The Mystery of Human Suffering and Dying.” The cost to participate in the conference is $65 per person. A full schedule and registration form can be found at the Web site at: www.defendingnaturallife. org. Interested persons may also call 1 (888) 345-3343 for more information.
SECOND FRONT PAGE 3
By Joe Bollig Leaven staff
OVERLAND PARK — The ordination of five men at Holy Spirit Parish here on June 18 was cause enough for joy, but that joy was magnified by a touch of tech. Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann ordained four men priests and one a deacon — all members of the Apostles of the Interior Life — in a liturgy that was livestreamed over the Internet to family and friends in Italy. Through the ancient and apostolic tradition of the laying on of hands, the archbishop ordained to the priesthood: Father Edward Ahn from Chicago; Father Vincent Huber from Leawood; Father Scott Kallal from Jerseyville, Ill.; and Father Mirco Sosio from Semogo, Italy. Archbishop Naumann also ordained Deacon Alessandro Borraccia from Milan, Italy, to the diaconate. The four men made history by becoming the first priests of the Apostles of the Interior Life, a public association of the faithful that was founded in Rome under the leadership of Father Salvatore Scorza. The Apostles, because they do not as yet have the canonical status of a religious order, needed the assistance of a friendly diocese; and hence the special relationship with the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas. “In the church’s wisdom, gained from centuries of experience, it is not possible for the Apostles of the Interior Life to have men ordained for their community per se,” said Archbishop Naumann in his homily. “In these circumstances, it is necessary to find a benevolent diocese to ordain men as priests and deacons,” he continued, “who ‘belong’ to the diocese and who owe obedience to the diocesan bishop, but who are ordained with the understanding that they will be given the opportunity to pursue living the charism and the common life of their religious community.” The five men were in Rome until a week before their ordinations. They will stay in the archdiocese until the end of September, but will then return to Rome to complete their studies. “When we began our journey together, we didn’t know when it would happen,” said Father Vince Huber, a 2000 graduate of St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Overland Park. “At the beginning of the community, we fell in love with its charism and felt a desire to follow it and the spirituality of God’s call,” he continued. “But at the same time, we had very few guarantees for the future. So, to see God’s promise come to fruition is very rewarding and very beautiful.” In his homily, the archbishop thanked the families of the ordinandi for their formative roles. “Each of them has been given the great grace because of the faith of their
Leaven photos by Susan McSpadden
Deacons Vince Huber (bottom left), Scott Kallal, and Mirco Sosio look on as Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann lays hands on Deacon Edward Ahn during the ordination rite. The four were ordained to the priesthood for the Apostles of the Interior Life on June 18. Alessandro Borraccia (left), Mirco Sosio, Scott Kallal, Vince Huber and Edward Ahn present themselves to Archbishop Naumann for ordination. Borraccia was ordained to the diaconate while the other four were ordained to the priesthood.
“Each of them has been given the great grace because of the faith of their parents to grow up in a strong and believing family where the faith was celebrated and lived.”
”
Archbishop Naumann
parents to grow up in a strong and believing family where the faith was celebrated and lived,” said the archbishop. “They have received the beautiful example of parents, faithfully living their marriage vows,” he continued. “They have seen in the lives of their parents what God’s grace can accomplish in those who surrender their lives to Our Lord and seek to follow him on the path of heroic love.” Archbishop Naumann was the ordaining minister and celebrant. He was
joined at the altar by Archbishop Emeritus James P. Keleher; Father Salvatore Scorza, the founder of the Apostles; Msgr. Stewart Swetland from Mount St. Mary’s University in Emmitsburg, Md.; Father Tony Dittmer, from Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary in Winona, Minn.; Father Stephen Sotiroff, from the Diocese of Springfield, Ill.; and Bishop Thomas John Paprocki, from the Diocese of Springfield, Ill. Father Huber was vested by Father Francis Hund; Father Kallal was vested by Father Patrick Gibbons from the Diocese of Springfield, Ill.; Father Ahn was vested by Father Dittmer; Father Sosio
Publication No. (ISSN0194-9799)
Editor Reverend Mark Goldasich, stl frmark@theleaven.com
Senior Reporter Joe Bollig joe@theleaven.com
Reporter Jessica Langdon jessica@theleaven.com
President Most Reverend Joseph F. Naumann
Managing Editor Anita McSorley anita@theleaven.com
Production Manager Todd Habiger todd@theleaven.com
Advertising Representative Jennifer Siebes jennifer@theleaven.com
was vested by Father Scorza; and Deacon Borraccia was vested by Father Sotiroff. Each Apostle received an assignment for the balance of his time in the archdiocese. Father Huber was assigned as parochial vicar at the St. Lawrence Catholic Campus Center in Lawrence; Father Kallal, parochial vicar at Ascension Parish in Overland Park; Father Ahn, parochial vicar at St. Patrick Parish in Kansas City, Kan.; and Father Sosio, parochial vicar at St. Peter’s Cathedral in Kansas City, Kan. Deacon Borraccia is also assigned to St. Patrick Parish in Kansas City, Kan.
Published weekly September through May, excepting the Friday the week after Thanksgiving, and the Friday after Christmas; biweekly June through August. Address communications to: The Leaven, 12615 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City, KS 66109. Phone: (913) 721-1570; fax: (913) 721-5276; or e-mail at: sub@theleaven.com.Postmaster: Send address changes to The Leaven, 12615 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City, KS 66109. For change of address, provide old and new address and parish. Subscriptions $18/year. Periodicals postage paid at Kansas City, KS 66109.
4 LOCAL NEWS
THE LEAVEN • July 1, 2011
THE LEAVEN • July 1, 2011
Giving abortion the boot
Boot camp stresses pro-life as a way of life Continued from page 4 Park on June 2. During the threeday session, they prayed outside the abortion clinic in Kansas City, Kan., and Planned Parenthood in Overland Park. Participants also visited the Wyandotte Pregnancy Clinic to see how it helps mothers-to-be.
‘An issue for everybody’
Leaven photo by Elaina Cochran
Young people gather outside an abortion clinic in Kansas City, Kan., to pray as part of a pro-life boot camp. The presence of young people at the clinic caused a woman seeking an abortion to reconsider and think about other options.
Pro-life boot camp gets youth involved
K
By Jessica Langdon Leaven staff
ansas City, Kan. — They’re young, they’re confident, they’re prolife — and they’re making a difference. Just how much of a difference, they might never fully know. A young woman — pregnant and leaning toward abortion — noticed the group of teens praying outside an abortion clinic in Kansas City, Kan., in early June. The teens didn’t know it at the time, but the mother left the clinic without undergoing the abortion she had come to procure. She has since sought medical care as she faces a future still filled with uncertainties. One reason she gave for changing her mind was the sight of all those young people who cared outside the clinic. The teens’ visit to the abortion clinic was one of several stops of a first-of-itskind pro-life boot camp in the area. Formally called the Truth Illuminated Teen Pro-Life Boot Camp, it brought together close to 40 people from Kansas and Missouri June 2-4. Their duties were to pray, learn — and grow in their prolife convictions.
Taking a stand Christina Saiki, 15, and Kembry Fellhoelter, 16, might be young, but they are veterans when it comes to taking a stand for life. Both are members of St. Paul Parish in Olathe and of its Truth Illuminated pro-life youth group. Both have logged hours praying in front of local abortion clinics. Neither will soon forget what it felt like to pray there with a larger group during the boot camp. “You just feel so confident in yourself when you go in these huge groups, especially with people your own age,” said Kembry. When Kembry heard this boot camp was in the works, she told her sister Claudia, 16, it would be cool to be part of the first one. They enlisted. Christina and her brother Michael, 17, also signed up together for the boot camp, which was a joint project of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas and the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph. Now, Christina would recommend it to others. “They would not regret going at all,” she said. “They would come out a better person because of it.” And so it was that teens, seminarians and adult volunteers reported for duty at Church of the Ascension in Overland
Turn to “boot camp” on page 5
Bringing the boot camp to life By Jessica Langdon Leaven staff
It’s definitely not your usual summer camp. But pro-life boot camps seem to be catching on, and organizers of the first one in the Kansas City area hope to see it grow and thrive. In fact, they’re hoping it becomes an annual event here. The Kansas City experiment started when local chapters of Truth Illuminated, a pro-life youth group, were looking to offer a camp here in the Kansas City area. Justin Nelson, a seminarian of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, had participated in a pro-life boot camp in Texas and was equally enthusiastic about transplanting the idea to the archdiocese. Upon his return from boot camp in 2010, in fact, Nelson talked with Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann about the idea. The archbishop liked what he heard about the Texas program. Nelson went on to talk with others in the archdiocese, and things came together in time for this summer’s program. Nelson believes boot camps are a particularly good way to bring younger people into pro-life efforts — and he’s not the only one. Several of his fellow seminarians also participated — an indication of their commitment to the prolife cause, since seminarians don’t get a lot of time off during the summer. That’s because seminarians have gone to abortion centers to pray, said Nelson, and they see people go in. “More importantly,” said Nelson, “they see how broken [those who procure abortions] are afterwards.” He also noticed that people in their teens and 20s were outside clinics in the Dallas area, and he would like to see younger generations involved here. He hopes the boot camp experience will show people what they can do to help. “Hearts and minds need to be changed before any law will ever change,” he said.
LOCAL NEWS 5
But that was only the beginning. Hopefully, what the teens learned at the boot camp will make a big difference much closer to home. Justin Nelson, a seminarian of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, said people who are having abortions are often close to the ages of the teens that participated. If, in the future, a friend facing an unplanned pregnancy confides in them, these teens will be well-prepared to help them. They have to have absolute conviction in their beliefs, said Nelson, who helped bring the boot camp about. That conviction will keep them from being swayed by emotion during the friend’s crisis and stop them from saying an abortion would be OK just this once. Young people have to be able to acknowledge a friend’s problem, said Nelson, and still let her know that an abortion “is going to give you two problems — the second is going to be much worse than the first.” The teens were tackling what Nelson believes to be the biggest evil we face today. But when faced with a challenge, he said, young people are ready to tackle it. “It’s an issue for everybody,” he said.
Value in every life Sidewalk counseling and peaceful prayer were not the only topics covered by the boot camp. It also
treated Catholic teaching on sexuality and chastity. Nelson’s friend Jennifer Widhalm — a sidewalk counselor and cofounder and president of a mission called LifeFront — addressed the topic of purity in a session on the theology of the body. She also gave a presentation on Planned Parenthood. Maria Graham, a volunteer with the Catholic Pro-Life Committee of North Texas, also struck a chord with the teens. She talked a bit about sidewalk counseling, but focused on “pro-life as a way of life and not a position on abortion.” She wanted the teens to understand that “every person is created equal and priceless.” That value is based on God’s love. Every person has it, said Graham, even in a society that challenges that idea on many levels.
Power of prayer On the day the boot camp group visited the abortion clinic in Kansas City, Kan., the participants saw Graham reaching out to a young woman who appeared to be putting together the money she needed for an abortion. When Nelson recognized what was happening, he engaged the group in the moment. “We began a rosary at that time with the intention of this woman and her child,” Nelson said. Graham emphasized to the mother that all the young people out there were praying for her. When the teens left the clinic later that day, the outcome of the young woman’s story was not yet clear. Nelson called the news he received later about her change of heart an “incredible testament for the power of prayer.”
Leaven photo by Elaina Cochran
Donna Kelsey, director of the Wyandotte Pregnancy Clinic in Kansas City, Kan., addresses the youth at the pro-life boot camp during the group’s tour of the center.
On the front lines in the fight against abortion By Jessica Langdon Leaven Staff
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Ask Jennifer Widhalm if it’s convenient to stand outside an abortion clinic during a sweltering Kansas City summer or on a bone-chilling day in the deep freeze of winter, and she’ll say it’s not. But ask her if it’s worth it, and she will tell you in a heartbeat: absolutely. Every time she hears a mother say she changed her mind and didn’t have an abortion, she has no doubt she’s right where she’s supposed to be. “It’s really indescribable,” Widhalm said of learning about a mother’s change of heart. “You have to experience it for yourself.” Widhalm is cofounder and president of LifeFront, a ministry with a two-fold mission — to pray peacefully outside Planned Parenthood and to do sidewalk counseling with people who are there for abortions. Widhalm presented information to local teens on purity and on Planned Parenthood during the first Truth Illuminated Teen Pro-Life Boot Camp in June. LifeFront, a grass-roots mission, builds on a foundation in the pro-life movement that Widhalm says she
learned from her mother. “If we’re going to be anywhere as a people of life, we have to be at the darkest place . . . accompany these children in their last moments and offer their mothers one last choice,” she said. LifeFront places volunteers outside the place where abortions take place. The mission started in 2007 when Widhalm and friend Justin Nelson, who is a seminarian of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, decided that, for Lent, they were going to pray at Planned Parenthood in Overland Park. When they arrived, they were horrified to find that two men were the only people out there. They wanted to see a much stronger pro-life presence. “Our goal is to be out there every hour they are open for business,” Widhalm said. “We are very far from that goal.” One misconception people often have is that it is too controversial and it involves screaming at people. That’s not what it’s about, she said. A major goal is to get information into the women’s hands to let them know things they’re not likely to find out inside. “We tell them abortion is not safe,” Widhalm said. Some of the efforts involve sharing information over a loudspeaker to make
sure the women going inside have every opportunity to hear from and talk to the volunteers. Babies have been saved just because of written materials that made their way into the hands of the mothers. The LifeFront representatives want to know what brought the mothers to this place, why they think they can’t have this baby. People often think the volunteers care only about the babies and don’t think about the mothers. Widhalm said that also isn’t true. “You can’t care for one without caring about the other,” she said. “We’ll help her. We’ll stay by her. . . . We’ve had baby showers for a couple of women.” One that holds a special place in Widhalm’s heart is a little girl she calls “our Valentine’s baby,” because that was the day in 2009 the mother changed her mind and chose life instead of abortion. Widhalm went to a couple of doctor’s appointments to offer support and help during her pregnancy. “I got to go to the hospital the day after our Valentine’s baby was born and hold her,” she said. The feeling of holding a baby who would not be here if a different choice had been made “is amazing,” said Widhalm.
Contacting LifeFront Phone: Call Jennifer Widhalm at (816) 223-0035 E-mail: lifefront@gmail.com On the Web: www.lifefrontkc.org She went to the little girl’s baptism this past year. A lot of people also believe the work is futile and are discouraged before they even try, said Widhalm. “My attitude is: ‘That’s the last chance,’” she said. “All you can do is make it better.” She thinks of the babies who have lost their lives and of the mothers who now say, “If I had known . . . If I had known . . . If I had known . . . ” She hopes more volunteers will add to the pro-life presence outside the clinic and help keep more women from one day living their lives thinking about what could have been different “if I had known.” LifeFront offers periodic training for people interested in sidewalk counseling. Widhalm encourages anyone even remotely interested in volunteering to attend the training. She also encourages anyone interested in LifeFront to contact her about opportunities to go through training or pray outside the clinic.
6 LOCAL NEWS
THE LEAVEN • july 1, 2011
THE LEAVEN • july 1, 2011
Reporter returns to her roots
Dream of religious freedom becomes reality
By Jill Ragar Esfeld
Continued from page 1
Special to The Leaven
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Sometimes things just work out. Take, for instance, the situation of Jessica Langdon, a talented young writer in Texas who happened to be missing Kansas City at just the same moment The Leaven newspaper here was missing a reporter. When staff reporter Kara Hansen recently left The Leaven to pursue a career in social work, editor Father Mark Goldasich posted an ad to fill her position. But he did so with reservations. “The older I get, the more I hate change,” he said. “So I was both sad when Kara left us, and anxious about the process of replacing her. “But I needn’t have been.” Indeed, Father Goldasich needn’t have worried at all — because the ideal candidate was only 500 miles away. “I wasn’t anxious to leave Wichita Falls, by any means,” said Langdon, the newest addition to The Leaven staff. “I have friends and places and people that I love down there. “But I was looking for an opportunity to get closer to home.” Langdon has a brother and sister who live in the area; both are more than 10 years her senior. So although she’s happy to live closer to them again, it’s her father she really wanted to move back for. “My mom died when I was 10, so it’s kind of been me and my dad,” she said. Langdon was raised in St. Ann Parish, Prairie Village, where she attended St. Ann School. After graduating from St. Teresa Academy in Kansas City, Mo., she attended the University of Kansas in Lawrence. “I came back and visited a lot,” she said, “but I haven’t lived [in Kansas City] full time since I was a senior in high school.” While earning her degree in journalism with a broadcast communication emphasis, Langdon interned at WIBW, the CBS affiliate in Topeka. The timing worked out, and the station offered her a position when she graduated. “It was wonderful,” she said. “I had a chance to report on the weekend and I couldn’t have asked for a better experience.” Langdon also produced newscasts for WIBW. But after a few years, she wanted a full-time reporting job, and eventually found one in Wichita Falls, Texas. “I spent two-and-a-half years there at KAUZ, and got a chance to do everything,” she said. “It was reporting every day, plus some anchoring and assignment editing.” Langdon continued to broaden her experience when she left KAUZ for a position with the local Wichita Falls
Leaven photo by Joe Bollig
New Leaven reporter Jessica Langdon discusses the upcoming issue with Father Mark Goldasich, editor of The Leaven. Langdon, who previously worked at a newspaper in Wichita Falls, Texas, was raised in the Kansas City area.
“[Faith] always plays a role in my work. It’s something I bring to the table regardless of what job I’m doing. It’s part of who I am in that I approach everything honestly and try to do everything as accurately and as positively as I can.
” Jessica Langdon, Leaven reporter
newspaper, the Times Record News, where she has been a reporter for the last seven years. When her father, who is still a parishioner of St. Ann, sent her the clipping advertising for a Leaven reporter, Langdon saw opportunity knocking again — and a chance to move back home. Though there were many applicants for the position with The Leaven, Langdon stood out. “Jessica brings to The Leaven an impressive amount of reporting experience in both television and print journalism,” said Father Goldasich. “So she was able to step right into her responsibilities here.” Langdon brings more than reporting skills to the table. “She also brings a younger Catholic’s
outlook on the church and a better understanding of their reading habits and how to reach them,” said Father Goldasich. “I’d really like to get involved with the younger crowd and help them feel connected to their faith through the work that we’re doing,” said Langdon. Langdon has plenty of experience working with young people. For the last several years, she has been chair of the committee organizing Teens Make a Difference Day in Texas. “It’s an annual event,” she explained. “It’s a Saturday in October when between 2,000 and 3,000 teens go out and do community service projects at different sites throughout the area.” Langdon hopes to work on a similar event to our area. “I definitely think there’s room for that here,” she said. “So if there’s an opportunity, maybe it’s something I can get involved in.” She also hopes to get involved in taking more of a multimedia approach to spreading archdiocese news. “I think today you have so many opportunities to combine the elements of video and print and Internet into packages that people want to look at, want to read, want to hear about.” Father Goldasich likes that plan. “Hopefully, she can help us chart a course vis-à-vis our Web site and maybe some social media in order to help us broaden The Leaven’s outreach to younger Catholics,” he said. For now, Langdon continues to settle
in at The Leaven. So far, she likes what she sees. “I love it,” she said. “The people are great; I’ve learned a lot already.” Langdon’s pleased to be surrounded by people who share her Catholic faith. “[Faith] always plays a role in my work,” she said. “It’s something I bring to the table regardless of what job I’m doing. “It’s part of who I am in that I approach everything honestly and try to do everything as accurately and as positively as I can.” And now that she’s had a chance to get her feet wet, so to speak, Langdon is anxious to get out in the field. “I’m excited to go out into the area and start talking to people and getting to know their stories,” she said. “I think learning about other people’s faith adds to my own.” A winner of multiple state journalism awards, Langdon prides herself most on her service to her readers. “I think one of the biggest compliments I’ve gotten as a reporter has come in a form of letters saying, ‘You told my loved ones’ story as if you knew them,’” she said. “So I want to offer people that kind of window to share their experiences with the community.” Langdon admits she’ll miss her friends and favorite places in Texas. But there’s one thing she’s pretty sure she won’t miss. “The summers. I don’t think I’ll miss those,” she said with a laugh. “It’s 110 degrees there this week.”
Gospel. He felt proud to be a United States citizen and enjoy religious freedom.” Father Carasala was ordained a priest on March 4, 1994, for the Diocese of Cuddapah, located on the southeast coast of India. The diocese has more than 90,000 Catholics, but they only represent 1.4 percent of a population that numbers more than 6 million. About 80 percent of the population is Hindu. The diocese includes Chennai (also known as Madras), the fifth-most populous city in India. Father Carasala was invited to visit Kansas by Archbishop James P. Keleher to possibly serve as a pastor. Father Carasala agreed . . . and has been in Kansas since 2004. He briefly served as an associate pastor at St. Augustine Parish in Fidelity, and then was named pastor of four parishes: St. Vincent de Paul in Onaga, St. Patrick Parish in Corning, St. Bede Parish in Kelly, and St. Columbkille in Blaine. This month, he will become pastor of Sts. Peter and Paul Parish in Seneca. Moving to Kansas meant culture shock, followed by adjustments. For example, small-town Kansas is downright calm compared to Chennai/ Madras, which is “commotion 24/7, day and night,” according to Father Carasala. And the wide-open spaces of Kansas are very wide and very open compared to Chennai, but you can get around faster. “The distance from Onaga to the chancery is 100-plus miles, less than two hours,” he said. “In India, it would be five to six hours. The traffic is so huge, and the roads are so narrow. I had no clue you could travel that distance [in Kansas] in that short amount of time.”
He also found that the America of his imagination didn’t quite match the Kansas he discovered. “When I came to America, I had my own imagination,” he said. “It would be all skyscrapers and huge, tall buildings. When I came to Onaga, I said, ‘Where are all the buildings and people?’ It’s far, wide-open land, and you don’t see anybody and those busy streets.” Kansas, he learned, is cattle country. So is India, but with a twist: They don’t eat the cows. Hindus — the majority population of India — regard the cow as sacred. Consequently, a good steak is hard to find. “I never ate beef in my life until I came here,” said Father Carasala. “My friend Father Harry Schneider took me to a Kansas City barbecue place.” “I was not fully open to eating beef,” Father Carasala continued. “He talked to me and ordered barbecue ribs. So I started to eat it.” After picking the bones clean, Father Carasala is now a confirmed ribs man. Another revelation concerned Kansas agriculture. There are farms in India, of course, but there the work is done manually. “I talked to a farmer and asked how many days it would take to harvest 100 acres, and he said he could do it in a day,” said Father Carasala. “I said, ‘What? In India, it would take almost a month.’” Becoming an American doesn’t mean cutting ties to India, said Father Carasala. As an American of Indian birth, the Indian government grants him OCI status — Overseas Citizen of India. As an OCI, he doesn’t need a visa to go to India. And his American citizenship makes travel here and elsewhere easier. “It’s not exactly dual citizenship,”
said Father Carasala. “My primary citizenship is United States.” Fortunately, however, his new home boasts a diversity of culture that allows him to become fully American while retaining his cultural identity. “I can be a part of America and not lose any part of my individuality,” he said. And part of this whole journey through place and culture is his priesthood. The priesthood — indeed, the church — is universal. The church is home wherever he is. “One thing that is universal about me is being a priest — able to be part of the one, universal and apostolic church,” said Father Carasala. “I needed training in every bit of my transition into the culture — the language, the society and the system,” he added. “But the only thing I needed [to transition into the church in Kansas] was to show myself at the sacristy, get ready, and present myself at the altar and celebrate the Mass.” Oftentimes, an immigrant hears about that vague and nebulous concept called “The American Dream.” It means different things to different people. For Father Carasala, it has meant a whole new way of life, and religious freedom to top it all off — all gain, no loss. “I am not losing anything by becoming an American citizen,” he said. “I am adding more to my individuality. I can identify myself with where I came from and who I am, and continue that into the next transitional stage: being American. “And it will help me to grow and have more opportunities to grow for the betterment of myself, my faith, and my goals.”
Summer program looking for homes to repair KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Home is where the heart is — and a work mission wants to bring some Catholic HEART to homes of people in need this summer. In this case, HEART stands for “Helping Everyone Attain Repairs Today.” The Kansas City Catholic HEART Work Camp will send youth teams and adult leaders to work sites in the area the weeks of July 17-23 and July 24-30. The
work will take place Monday through Thursday of both weeks. Agencies requesting work for residents will complete assessments of the needs and provide necessary materials, such as paint, wood, doors and locks. Catholic HEART supplies the workers and their transportation, food, drinks and tools. Catholic HEART Work Camp manager
Rick Cheek asks anyone who knows of someone in need of home repairs this summer to contact him at (913) 2841725. Part of the mission of Catholic HEART Work Camp is “to revitalize communities and beautify homes for the elderly, disabled and those who cannot afford needed repairs.” It also fosters spiritual growth in each participant.
LOCAL NEWS 7 Catholic Cemeteries to manage Mt. Calvary in Topeka TOPEKA — In an effort to provide enhanced services for parishioners of Topeka and surrounding communities, Catholic Cemeteries of Northeast Kansas has assumed management of Mt. Calvary Cemetery here. “We will gain the expertise and extensive experience of Catholic Cemeteries’ staff by becoming part of this larger operation,” said Father Jerry Volz, pastoral leader of the Topeka Region. “At the same time, Catholic Cemeteries has an excellent reputation as a ministry with commitment to compassion, dignity and respect.” The advisory board of Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Topeka unanimously supported the transition, explained Larry Krische, chairperson. Some of the benefits of this new relationship include centralized computer software for recordkeeping, strong perpetual care and a viable strategic plan for the future. “We are pleased to welcome Mount Calvary, Topeka, to our family of Catholic cemeteries serving northeast Kansas,” said Robert W. Chenoweth, executive director. “We have already expanded hours of the Topeka office, which is now open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. We also offer 24-hour availability of our family service counselors at the time of an individual’s or family’s personal loss.” Formerly known as Catholic Cemeteries of Wyandotte and Johnson Counties, the organization is changing its name to Catholic Cemeteries of Northeast Kansas to reflect its broader geographic reach. Catholic Cemeteries manages and operates seven other cemeteries, three of which are former parish cemeteries that continue to serve church congregations. Mt. Calvary, Topeka, will remain a multiparish cemetery. In addition to Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Topeka, Catholic Cemeteries of Northeast Kansas manages and operates Gate of Heaven, Mt. Calvary and St. John cemeteries in Kansas City, Kan.; Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Olathe; Resurrection Cemetery in Lenexa; St. Joseph Cemetery in Shawnee; and St. John Cemetery in Lenexa. For more information, visit the Web site at: www.catholiccemeterieskc. org or call (913) 371-4040 (Kansas City area) or (785) 272-0820 (Topeka area).
NFP conference cancelled atchison — The NFP conference scheduled for July 11-16 at Benedictine College has been cancelled due to the effects of the flooding on major access routes and the impact it is having on getting registrants and speakers to Atchison in a timely fashion.
Wagner’s Mud-Jacking Co. Specializing in Foundation Repairs Mud-jacking and Waterproofing. Serving Lawrence, Topeka and surrounding areas. Topeka (785) 233-3447 Lawrence (785) 749-1696 In business since 1963 www.foundationrepairks.com
Want to help someone heal from an abortion?
Call Toll Free 888-246-1504
Big heart in little Louisburg By Joe Bollig
By Jessica Langdon
Parish milestones
Leaven staff
LOUISBURG — They used to call this place “Little St. Louis.” But there was no way anyone in 1870 could have mistaken the hamlet of 400 souls for the “other” St. Louis on the banks of the Mississippi. Nevertheless, the railroad insisted. The village became “Louisburg.” It was lose a saint, gain some transportation infrastructure. On June 18, the solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, a son of that “other” St. Louis came to Immaculate Conception Parish in Louisburg to lead the 125th anniversary celebration of its founding in 1886. “Anniversaries are wonderful opportunities to recall beautiful memories of how God blessed us,” said Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann in his homily. “We remember today particularly the founder of this parish. In 1886, it was the beautiful faith and unselfish sacrifice of those first families who planted the Catholic faith so deeply in what has become Immaculate Conception Parish in Louisburg.” Those deep pioneer roots are still alive. Bradley Hennigh, a member of the Knights of Columbus honor guard at the anniversary Mass, lives in Osawatomie, but belongs to Immaculate Conception. “My family goes back to its founding,” said Hennigh. “My great-grandmother Margaret McGuirk Hennigh’s parents were among the founding families of the parish. And to me, it’s a beautiful thing to be a part of this [celebration]. My grandparents were here for the centennial, and I feel as if they were here at this occasion. They’re both gone now.” The departed were remembered symbolically at the Mass — a silver chalice used by a former pastor, the late Father Charles Andalikiewicz, who died in April 2009; a stained-glass window from the original church, donated by Larry and Diana Day of Wea; and the original bell in the belfry. Those absent were remembered, too. The pastor Msgr. Robert Bergman read a letter from Father George A. Seuferling, who was celebrating Mass that evening in Osage City. “My prayer and wish is that God continues to bless you to make his kingdom grow through your cooperation with God’s graces,” read Msgr. Bergman. “I
Waverly parish is ‘small but strong’ Leaven staff
1856 — The first settlements were established in the township. The land was home to the Confederated Tribes of Wea, Plankashaw, Peoria and Kaskaskia, who came to northeast Miami County in 1827. 1866 — A settlement named St. Louis began to form on the banks of Wea Creek, also known as Rabbit Creek or Indian Creek. 1870 — The railroad comes to town, and “Little St. Louis” was renamed “Louisburg” in 1871 or 1872 so as not to be confused with the larger St. Louis in Missouri. 1882 — Louisburg, with 400 residents, was incorporated as a city. 1886 — Once a mission of Wea and Paola, a parish was formed and a foundation laid for a church under the leadership of Father John Redecker of Wea. 1887 — Immaculate Conception Church was completed. 1903 — The first parish rectory was built. 1911 — Father J. Heuberger was named the first resident pastor. 1951 — Sister Suzzanne Bauer took her final vows as an Ursuline Sister of Paola on Aug. 21. 1953 — Construction of a new church began in November. 1954 —Archbishop Edward J. Hunkeler dedicated the new church on Nov. 9. 1956 — Parish native Father George Arthur Seuferling was ordained to the priesthood on March 17. 1962 — A new rectory was completed. 1979 — The parish celebrated the 25th anniversary of the dedication of the new church. New stainedglass windows were installed. 1986 — A wheelchair ramp was completed on the south side of the church. The parish celebrated the 100th anniversary of its founding, and the church was renovated for the centennial event. 1999 — The men of the parish formed Knights of Columbus Council No. 12437. James Morgan was elected the first Grand Knight. 2000 — Father Anthony Lickteig became interim pastor and set about reorganizing the parish and establishing committees. A meeting room was built in the parish hall and the rectory was refurbished. Twenty acres of land north of town was bought as an investment. 2006 — The Knights of Columbus erected a statue of the Holy Family as a pro-life monument. 2006 to 2007 — The basement of the rectory and the classrooms were remodeled. 2009 — Current pastor Msgr. Robert Bergman was appointed. 2011 — Deacon George Karnaze, a parishioner, was ordained as part of the first permanent diaconate class of the archdiocese.
WAVERLY — From the harmonies in the choir loft and the full-bodied responses from the pews below, you would never guess this is the smallest parish in the archdiocese. But it is, with slightly more than 40 families. That’s about twice the number the parish boasted when it was founded in 1886. St. Joseph Parish is “small but strong,” said pastor Father Marianand Mendem at the parish’s 125th anniversary celebration June 19. And he can point to exactly what makes it so strong. “It’s a family,” he said. “They really love their parish.” Janet French is a case in point. French grew up in a family of 10 children. She was four years old when she first came to St. Joseph. Now 75, she has countless memories of her brothers serving Mass and her sisters singing in the choir. But she didn’t share that information from the sidelines. She and two of her sisters sang in the choir at the anniversary Mass. The church holds special meaning to French and her husband George. “We were married here in 1955,” said French. “It’s a big part of my life.” Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann was the main celebrant of the anniversary Mass; he was joined by concelebrants Father Mendem and former pastors Father George Klasinski, Father Ken Kelly and Father Mike Hawken. The highlights of the day were threefold — it was the solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, Father’s Day and the anniversary celebration. “Anniversaries in the life of any family are a time to celebrate precious memories,” Archbishop Naumann said in his homily. “We remember today particularly the founders of this parish,” he said. “In 1886, it was the beautiful faith and unselfish sacrifice of those first families who planted the Catholic faith so deeply in what has become St. Joseph Parish in Waverly.” This is a time for some nostalgia, he continued: for remembering the sacraments received at the parish, the faith formed in children, the comfort provided in times of grief, the friendships formed. Anniversaries are important, too, in the life of a parish family, Archbishop Naumann added. The congregation gathered for a barbecue feast in the parish hall after Mass — a hall that is itself a testament to the strength of this parish. When the old parish hall had passed its useful life, Father Mendem, the parish and the rest of Waverly — Catholic and non-Catholic alike — poured their hearts into planning for a new one. The work resulted in a building that was ready to open in late 2009 with no need for loans. In this small community, everyone
125 celebrating
Leaven photo by Joe Bollig
Deacon George Karnaze, Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann and Msgr. Robert Bergman, pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish in Louisburg, celebrate the parish’s 125th anniversary. have such wonderful memories of Immaculate Conception: when I served Mass for Father Phelan, my first solemn Mass, and many weddings and funerals there since. I ask for your prayers that I will continue to grow in the Lord.” In addition to being the main celebrant, Archbishop Naumann was the homilist; Msgr. Bergman concelebrated.
Leaven photo by Joe Bollig
Archbishop Naumann greets parishioner Harry Krafft, age 4, held by his father Chris, as his mother Pam looks on.
Louisburg is no longer just a little hamlet a skip from the Missouri border, said Msgr. Bergman. Highway 69 has turned Louisburg into somewhat of a bedroom community of bustling Johnson County to the north, where many Louisburg residents find employment. The parish of about 250 families is a neat blend of new people and folks whose roots run deep in the community. “It’s a city, but people here want a small town where you know your neighbors and care about your neighbors,” he said. Msgr. Bergman has tapped into the vitality of the parish, increasing liturgical participation and helping to establish a youth group. That youth group recently sent contingents to a Steubenville Conference in Springfield, Mo., and to help in tornado relief efforts in Joplin, Mo. “They’re also collecting rosaries, holy pictures and crucifixes for those who have lost them in Joplin,” said Msgr. Bergman. Following the Mass, Archbishop Naumann joined the pastor and Immaculate Conception parishioners for a potluck dinner at the American Legion Hall, a couple of blocks away from the parish.
Leaven photo by Elaina Cochran
Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann greets members of St. Joseph Parish in Waverly following the parish’s 125th anniversary Mass on June 19.
Parish milestones
Leaven photo by Elaina Cochran
Celebrating Mass at St. Joseph Parish’s 125th anniversary are: (from left) former pastor Father Michael Hawken; Archbishop Naumann; current pastor Father Marianand Mendem; former pastor Father Ken Kelly; and former pastor Father George Klasinski. depends on one another, said Kenneth Combes, a member of the parish council and chairman of the stewardship committee. “We’re just one large family here, working together,” he said. Carol Robbins, church secretary and treasurer, loves that everyone has stayed together for so long. “We’re thankful to have our parish,” she said. “Anytime you have anything going on, everybody just jumps in to help,” said Marc Lee, parish council president.
“In 1886, it was the beautiful faith and unselfish sacrifice of those first families who planted the Catholic faith so deeply in what has become St. Joseph Parish in Waverly.” Archbishop Naumann
Ministers from the Baptist and Methodist churches were even on hand to help celebrate the anniversary with St. Joseph’s congregation. Parish council member Marie Drumm sees pieces of St. Joseph’s past in the church today, in both its physical appearance and in its work to bring people closer to their faith. “I can see the stamps of each priest who has been here,” she said. After the anniversary dinner, some St. Joseph parishioners drove over to the St. Joseph Cemetery for an additional ceremony there. Although always a Catholic cemetery, it has never had anything to mark it as such, and the three acres of land sit next to two sections of the city cemetery. “My husband died just a year ago,” said Mary Lou Efinger, pointing out the site where her husband Fred is buried. During her visits she realized, “This cemetery needs something.” She asked if she could do some research, which led to a proposal for action. A committee organized landscap-
1881-82 — Father Luke LaGierse, pastor in Emerald, tried to organize Catholic families and said Mass occasionally at homes in and around newly developing Waverly. 1886 — Father Joseph Walsh, pastor in Emerald, formally organized Waverly’s Catholics. June 1886 — First written records of St. Joseph Parish. About 20 families’ names appeared in the first pages of the financial record books. 1886 — St. Joseph’s first church was built. Aug. 15, 1902 — Minnie McGrath was the first person interred in the Catholic cemetery. 1902 — St. Joseph boasts a congregation of 125 people. October 1915 — The church is moved from northwestern Waverly to its current location on Pearson Avenue. 1980 — St. Joseph numbers 38 families. 2007 — Efforts are begun to build a new parish hall, which was completed in 2009. Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann dedicated it in 2010. ing, concrete work and the addition of a St. Joseph statue, a bench and a crucifix. On the day of the cemetery’s ceremony, church members saw only a cross, but looked forward to the arrival of the corpus to complete the design. Archbishop Naumann dedicated the statue, blessed the cross, and praised the committee’s idea. “It makes our cemetery look like a Catholic cemetery,” said Efinger. “It has great meaning to me.” Parishioners shared hugs and kind words after the dedication. To them, this is just another way that St. Joseph Parish, though small in numbers, is huge of heart.
10 NATION
THE LEAVEN • July 1, 2011
Amid new media, newspapers still have major role PITTSBURGH (CNS) — Although social media is the rage in today’s world of communication, one Catholic bishop offered an impassioned speech in support of Catholic print publications. During a panel discussion June 23 at the 2011 Catholic Media Convention, Pittsburgh Bishop David A. Zubik said Catholic newspapers and magazines continue to be the best way to reach people in the pews. “There has been no greater and more consistent success in Catholic communications in the United States than through the use of print,” the bishop said. He cited figures from the Catholic Press Association’s official directory, which showed that Catholic newspapers and magazines in the United States and Canada reach almost 13 million households. “That is an extraordinary number and that is still going on today,” said Bishop Zubik. “We can and we must use every means of social communications available to us today: television, radio, Twitter, Facebook, Skype and whatever has evolved since you and I began our meeting this morning. But I believe that it is incumbent on us as bishops and on us as church to maintain a vital Catholic print presence.” Bishop Zubik noted that he could not predict whether the printed word would still have the same impact in 20 years, but today, “absolutely and fundamentally the best option . . . to evangelize the evangelizers, is through Catholic print.”
Coffee, chocolate, Catholicism merge in CRS fair-trade program WASHINGTON (CNS) — Coffee, chocolate and Catholicism are three words that rarely appear in conjunction with one another, but the fair-trade division of Catholic Relief Services manages to tie them together to promote solidarity with workers around the world. CRS, the international humanitarian agency of the U.S. Catholic community, says it values promoting fair-trade operations and putting it on the agenda for Catholics by educating them about its purpose. Based in Baltimore, CRS is known for providing world-wide assistance to the poor, suffering and vulnerable, and its advocacy of fair-trade is one way the agency works to alleviate poverty and work toward global economic justice. By focusing on coffee, chocolate and artisan crafts, CRS gives Catholics a way to purchase with a purpose. “It’s faith-based but takes place in a secular dimension,” Jackie DeCarlo, CRS fair-trade senior program adviser, told CNS in a phone interview May 23. The goal of fair trade is to create a market that values those who produce the food people eat and create the goods they use. CRS fair-trade materials point out that the concept is in keeping with Catholic social teaching by promoting human dignity, environmental stewardship, subsidiarity and a commitment to helping the poor through one’s daily choices.
THE LEAVEN • July 1, 2011
Twin Franciscans die the same day ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (CNS) — Identical twins and Franciscan Brothers Julian and Adrian Riester — who were born seconds apart and died hours apart June 1 at St. Anthony Hospital in St. Petersburg — were remembered by friends, family members and colleagues for their constant companionship. The twins, natives of Buffalo, N.Y., who spent the past three years in retirement at a Franciscan friary in St. Petersburg, had been Franciscan brothers for 65 years. Both men were admitted to the hospital just days before both died of heart failure at age 92. A funeral Mass for the two men June 6 at St. Mary Our Lady of Grace Church in St. Petersburg was attended by only 50 or so people, but their story had spread far beyond the confines of their own community. Franciscan Father Dominic Monti, provincial vicar of Holy Name Province, which includes 12 East Coast states, said he was amazed at the widespread coverage of the brothers’ deaths. He said he did an online search on the two men and found more than 375 stories. “I think they would crawl under the table right now if they knew all this attention that’s being devoted to them,” he told the Tampa Tribune. A major part of the Brothers’ story is not just the coincidental timing of their deaths, but their constant togetherness — spending only their first assignments apart. From 1946 to 1951, Brother Adrian was a sacristan at St. Francis of Assisi Church in New York, and Brother Julian was general manager of St. Anthony Shrine in Boston. They also were separated from 1951 to 1956 when Brother Julian was assigned to St. Patrick’s Parish in Buffalo and Brother Adrian was at Bishop Timon High School in another part of town. The brothers were born Jerome and
CNS photo/Octavio Duran
the Buffalo News: “If ever there is a confirmation that God favored them, this is it. They weren’t even separated for 12 hours.” He said his cousins will be remembered as “exemplary men and holy men” who lived their lives in a truly Franciscan spirit. “They had this intimate bond, in which neither was selfish at all,” he said. “And because they were so in tune to God and to each other, it’s not surprising at all.” After the June 6 funeral Mass, the brothers’ bodies were flown to Buffalo and buried June 8 at St. Bonaventure Cemetery, across the street from the university.
Bishops leads prayers after fire destorys shrine TUCSON, Ariz. (CNS) — Across the state from the more publicized Wallow fire, a second wind-whipped wildfire forced thousands of people in southern Arizona to evacuate their homes and destroyed a Marian shrine. Just a fraction of the size of the enormous Wallow fire farther northeast that had burned more than 527,000 acres as of June 21, the fast-moving Monument fire in the Huachuca Mountains south of Sierra Vista had left more than 27,000 acres and about 65 homes and businesses in ashes. More than 10,000 people were evacuated June 29 from the southern sub-
Professor says pro-life faculty often feel isolated on campus
Franciscan Brothers Adrian and Julian Riester are pictured in 2010 at St. Anthony Friary in St. Petersburg, Fla. The religious brothers, who also were twin biological brothers, died together June 1 at age 92 at St. Anthony’s Hospital in St. Petersburg. The funeral was scheduled for June 6 in St. Petersburg, where they had lived for three years, serving with or near each other for most of their religious lives. Irving March 27, 1919, to Dr. Julian Riester and his wife, Clara, who also had five daughters. They took saints’ names when they became Franciscan brothers. The twins were together at St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute in Buffalo, then radio technology school in Los Angeles and years of ministry, including 35 years at St. Bonaventure University near Buffalo, where they were campus carpenters, gardeners and chauffeurs. “It really is almost a poetic ending to the remarkable story of their lives,” said St. Bonaventure spokesman Tom Missel, who said the timing of their deaths was “hardly surprising given that they did almost everything together.” A cousin and close friend, Michael Riester, echoed that sentiment, telling
divisions of Sierra Vista, a city of about 43,000 adjacent to the Army’s Fort Huachuca. Meanwhile, Tucson Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas celebrated Mass at St. Andrew the Apostle Parish in Sierra Vista June 18, leading the community in prayers for the firefighters. He also reminded the congregation packed into the church that God’s mercy and love can be seen in times of crisis in the way people step up to help those in need. Father Greg Adolf, pastor of St. Andrew, had taken in the tabernacle and sacred vessels from Our Lady of the Sierras Marian Shrine, a hillside chapel and prayer spaces built by Jerry and Pat
Chouinard in Hereford, south of Sierra Vista, as a place of prayer and comfort. The rock walls of the shrine survived the fire that blazed across the hill a few days after it started June 12. But the shrine’s wooden roof and interior were destroyed, as were the Chouinards’ home on the property, the Stations of the Cross, a prayer grotto, a prayer house and a guesthouse. Bishop Kicanas said the fire turned the chapel’s rock walls into a blast furnace. “The heat [was] so intense that the tabernacle was left scorched, the pyx and ciborium blackened and twisted and barely recognizable.”
Elmer Rottinghaus
CNS photo/Charles Dharapak/pool via Reuters
U.S. first lady Michelle Obama hugs youths after participating in a community service project at Vhuthilo Community Center in the Soweto community of Johannesburg, South Africa, June 22.
First lady urges young people to lead Africa’s future CAPE TOWN, South Africa — First lady Michelle Obama urged a crowd of more than 2,000 that included hundreds of young women to help shape Africa’s future by combating corruption, building strong democratic institutions and working to improve the lives of the poor and sick in a speech at Regina Mundi Church in Soweto. Obama “spoke from the heart for 45 minutes,” in what Oblate Father Benedict Mahlangu described as a powerful and inspiring presentation. The church, the largest in Soweto, served as a refuge for anti-apartheid activists for decades. Bullet holes in the ceiling and the broken marble altar have been preserved and serve as reminders of the apartheid era. Obama invoked the memory of leaders of the U.S. civil rights movement and South Africa’s anti-apartheid struggle to encourage young leaders, including 76 women from across Africa who were brought to Soweto to hear the speech and to meet her. “It is because of them that so many of these young women leaders can
Member of Queen of the Holy Rosary Parish
Harvey M. Kascht (913) 262-1555
K E A T I N G Mud Jacking Cracked • Bowed • Settled Wall Repair v Wall Bracing v Waterproofing v Steel Underpinning Kansas City (913) 262-9352
TOUCH OF HEAVEN Catholic Store 119 SE 18th Topeka, KS (785) 232-2543
Any type of repair and new work Driveways, Walks, Patios
334-2222
FOUNDATION REPAIR
now pursue their dreams. It is because of them that I stand before you as first lady of the United States of America. . . . All of you, the young people of this continent, you are the heirs of that blood, sweat, sacrifice, and love,” Obama said. She said her husband, U.S. President Barack Obama, is focused “on partnering with Africans who will shape their future by combating corruption, and building strong democratic institutions, by growing new crops, caring for the sick. And more than ever before, we will be looking to all of you, our young people, to lead the way. “You can be the generation that ends HIV/AIDS in our time, the generation that fights not just the disease, but the stigma of the disease,” Obama said. “You can be the generation that holds your leaders accountable for open, honest government at every level, government that stamps out corruption and protects the rights of every citizen,” she said. “True leadership often happens
Concrete Work
6420 Parallel, KCK Life • Home• Auto Commercial
9870 Quivira Rd. Lenexa, KS 66215 Office: (913) 754-3106 Residence: (913) 492-8649 E-Mail: don@dkmayerteam.com Web Site: www.dkmayerteam.com
Raise & Level
Lawrence Topeka (785) 865-0006 (785) 246-0128
Hrs. T-F - 10 a.m. 5:30; Sat. 9 a.m. to noon
ERA Manning & Associates, Inc.
MUD JACKING v Patios v Drives v Garage Floors v Slab Houses
WORLD 11
Don & Kathy Mayer
Your Catholic connection to residential real estate.
Multiple listing service
MLS™
Each ERA® Office is Independently Owned and Operated
with the smallest acts, in the most unexpected places, by the most unlikely individuals,” Obama said, noting that in Soweto in 1976 it was schoolchildren who led an uprising against apartheid that is now commemorated in a national holiday. Before Obama’s speech, Archbishop Buti Tlhagale of Johannesburg, president of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference, told of his own experience in South Africa’s struggle against apartheid. Father Mahlangu said the archbishop explained that Regina Mundi Church “has always been a place of protection and of hope.” The archbishop also reminded people that the struggle for human rights is not over in South Africa and that the church has a crucial role in play in such work, Father Mahlangu said. Father Mahlangu said two young female parishioners, Ayanda Mbatha and Lungile Nkutha, told him afterward that Obama’s talk would influence the direction of their lives. He said he told them: “Stand up now, I want to hear your voices.”
NOTRE DAME, Ind. (CNS) — Many prolife faculty on college campuses in the United States and Canada have experienced a strong sense of isolation and disrespect for their views, said the newly installed president of University Faculty for Life. They also often are denied university resources that are commonly available to other faculty and some have experienced rejection or little review of their articles or books that take the pro-life perspective, said Teresa Collett. Modern academia is “very skeptical” of claims about objective truth, so young faculty in particular are limited in defending or even exploring the idea that law should protect the unborn, she added. Collett, a professor in the School of Law at the University of St. Thomas in Minneapolis, made the comments in an interview with Today’s Catholic, newspaper of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend. She was at the University of Notre Dame for the University Faculty for Life annual conference June 10-11. It drew about 100 attendees and featured more than 30 scholarly papers on pro-life topics. The organization was founded in 1989 by professors to support and foster pro-life scholarship in the face of discrimination they felt at both secular and religious colleges. Today it has more than 250 members in the United States and Canada who represent more than 50 academic disciplines. “In most institutions, particularly before tenure but even after tenure, the reigning orthodoxy on abortion is enforced by faculty review committees and administrators,” Collett said.
Bishops say democracy cannot be reached through violence BEIRUT (CNS) — Maronite Catholic bishops, lamenting the violence in the Middle East, said democracy cannot be achieved through violence.“Democracy is a long way, built brick after brick,” with the aim of reaching a civil system built upon equality, equal opportunities and liberty of expression and beliefs, the bishops said in a statement at the conclusion of their June 5-11 synod at the patriarchal seat in Bkerke, Lebanon. Pointing to the region’s “historical stage,” the bishops reiterated the message of the special Synod of Bishops’ for the Middle East in Rome last October, saying that “violence cannot establish democratic values quickly.” In an apparent reference to the situation in Syria, the bishops said they joined their prayers with Pope Benedict XVI for an end to the violence and for “the concerned authorities [to] initiate dialogue with their citizens, to respond to the legitimate expectations of the rising young generations” who are hoping for “a promising and stable future.”
12 CLASSIFIEDS
THE LEAVEN • JULY 1, 2011
Employment
Services
Associate superintendent of schools - The Diocese of Kansas City – St. Joseph is accepting applications to fill this administrative position in the Catholic schools office. This position reports directly to the superintendent of schools and assists in carrying out supervisory and administrative responsibilities, and participates in planning and carrying out the mission of the diocesan schools. For a complete job description, send an e-mail to: ostrom@diocesekcsj.org. Applications are available on the Web site at: http:// jobs.diocese-kcsj.org. Application deadline is July 15.
Computer repair and upgrades/virus, spyware & malware removal - Microsoft certified, 11+ yrs. experience. Member of Sacred Heart Parish. Call Matt at (816) 876-6619 or send an e-mail to him at: mattcomputerfix@gmail.com.
Business/technology teacher - Bishop Ward High School, Kansas City, Kan., is seeking a faith-filled full-time teacher for the 2011 - 12 school year to teach a variety of business and technology classes. Must have appropriate state certification. Interested applicants may submit a cover letter and resume, via e-mail, to Dr. Judy Warren at: jwarren@wardhigh.org. One-to-one laptop/technology coordinator St. James Academy, Lenexa, is seeking a one-to-one laptop/technology coordinator. Applicants should be a practicing Catholic. The position will primarily deal with technology support for both teachers and students. Applicants should be familiar with Macintosh computers. The applicant must possess computer troubleshooting skills to be effective and efficient in meeting the technical support needs. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills are needed, as this position will have a high degree of interfacing with staff, students and parents. Skills may have been attained through formal education or significant related experience. To apply, visit the Web site at: www. sjakeepingfaith.org. For information, contact Theresa Lyons at (913) 254-4200 or send an e-mail to her at: tlyons@sjakeepingfaith.org. Cristo Rey Kansas City - A high school that works, is seeking certified applicants for positions beginning Aug. 1. Openings include: English teacher, math teacher, physics teacher, college counselor and an admissions assistant. Cristo Rey’s mission is to provide a Catholic, college-preparatory education, enhanced by an innovative corporate work-study program to a diverse population with economic need. If you are interested in filling one of these positions, submit your resume, via e-mail, to: khanlon@cristo reykc.org. Summer job - Looking for a reliable, strong, hardworking high school boy with reliable transportation to work in construction 5 or 6 days a week, 8 - 10 hours per day. Prefer someone that intends on coming back each summer. No experience needed. If you can handle the heat, I will teach you a trade! Call Josh at (913) 709-7230. Youth minister - Queen of the Holy Rosary Parish, Bucyrus, is seeking a dynamic, faith-filled and passionate Catholic for full-time employment who will reach out to youth with the Gospel and have a direct relational ministry with teens. The pastoral youth minister will provide vision and coordination for the parish’s efforts in ministry to young people in grades 6 - 12. This includes high school and middle school sessions (weekly or bi-weekly gatherings), monthly activities, catechesis and sacramental preparation (confirmation). Strong organizational, interpersonal, public speaking, and computer skills are required. A degree in youth ministry or a related field is required. Previous experience with teens in a faith-based setting preferable. Salary commensurate with education and experience. For a complete job description or to apply, send and e-mail to: holyrosarywea@yahoo. com. Child care coordinator - St. Ann Young Child Center, Prairie Village, is seeking to fill this position for its extended care program. Hours are 3 - 6 p.m., Mon. - Fri. Must be at least 21 years of age and have a minimum of 12 college credit hours in early childhood or elementary education. Starting pay is $12 per hour. If interested, call Tati at (913) 362-4660. Part-time teacher - Prince of Peace Early Education Center, Olathe, is seeking a part-time teacher for the after-school care program from 2:30 - 6 p.m., Mon. - Fri., beginning in August. Must have at least one year child care experience. Competitive hourly wage. Call Amanda at (913) 829-2728. Financial representative - Due to the success and growth of the Knights of Columbus, we are adding financial representatives in the Kansas City area. This position is ideal for a determined, high-energy, high-expectation, professional, self-disciplined, independent individual desiring to serve others, yet earn a better-than-average income. We provide top-rated financial products to our members and their families and will provide excellent benefits and training. For information or an interview, contact John A. Mahon, 307 Dakota, Holton KS 66436; or call (785) 364-5450.
Machine quilting - by Jenell Noeth, Basehor. Also, quilts made to order. Call (913) 724-1837. Faith-based counseling to cope with life concerns - Kansas City area. Call Mary Vorsten, Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, at (913) 909-2002. Bankruptcy - When debt becomes overwhelming, seek professional help. Experienced, compassionate Catholic attorney Teresa Kidd. For a confidential, no obligation consultation, call (913) 422-0610; or send an e-mail to: tkidd@kc.rr.com. Tree service - Pruning trees for optimal growth and beauty and removal of hazardous limbs or problem trees. Free consultation and bid. Safe, insured, professional. Cristofer Estrada, Green Solutions of KC, (913) 378-5872. www.GreenSolutionsKC.com. Need a ride? Where to? I am available to take you to your doctor’s appointment, hairdresser or shopping. Maybe you aren’t driving anymore or just prefer a chauffeur; I’ll get you there. I can also run errands for you or do the grocery shopping. Just give me a call to discuss your needs. Johnson County only. Call (913) 469-6211 or (816) 806-0564.
Caregiving Retired nurse - Available to care for your loved one. Prefer nights; will work days and weekends, too. Will consider live-in. References; salary negotiable. Call (913) 579-5276. Caregiving - We provide personal assistance, companionship, care management, and transportation to the elderly and disabled in home, assisted living and 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, Debbie or Gary. Looking for high quality home care? Whether you’re looking to introduce care for your family or simply looking to improve your current home care quality, we can help. Our unique approach to home care has earned us a 99% client satisfaction rating among the 1,000-plus families we have assisted. We are familyowned and based in Lenexa. Call Benefits of HomeSenior Care at (913) 422-1591 or visit our Web site at: www.benefitsofhome.com.
Home Improvement Interiors By Karri Cody - Spruce up your house with custom window treatments, pillows, or blinds. Call Karri at (913) 488-7605 or send an e-mail to: in teriorsby karricody.com. Join us on Facebook! Swalms Organizing Service - Basement, attic, garage, office, shop – any room organized. Items sorted, grouped, boxed and labeled; areas clean when finished. 20 years experience. $30/hour. Spring special: first two hours FREE with any organizing job lasting one day or longer. To view pictures of current jobs, visit the Web site at: www.swalms.com. Tillar Swalm (913) 375-9115. Insured! Clutter getting you down? Organize, fix, assemble, clean . . . we do it all! For a free consultation, call your professional organizing handyman, Kevin Hogan, M Ed, today at (913) 271-5055. Insured; references. Visit the Web site at: www.koatindustries.com. Wood treatment and refinishing - We strip, refinish and treat woodwork. Restoration of pews, altars, stairways, cabinets, desks, paneling and more. Work in churches, homes and businesses. Insured and guaranteed. Family owned. Call (816) 241-1900. Tile and painting - Complete tile and paint repairs and renovation. Ceramic, porcelain, certified limestone tile master. Complete interior paint services and drywall texture finishes. Over 20 years experience. Fully licensed. Service 7 days a week. Contact Mike at (913) 488-4930. Member of Church of the Ascension Parish, Overland Park. The Drywall Doctor, Inc. - A unique solution to your drywall problems! We fix all types of ceiling and wall damage — from water stains and stress cracks to texture repairs and skim coating. We provide professional, timely repairs and leave the job site clean! Leadcertified and insured! Serving the metro since 1997. Call (913) 768-6655.
THE LEAVEN • JULY 1, 2011 STA (Sure Thing Always) Home Repair - Basement finish, bathrooms and kitchens; interior & exterior repairs: painting, roofing, siding, wood replacement and window glazing. Free estimates. Call (913) 4915837 or (913) 579-1835. E-mail: smokeycabin@hotmail. com. Member of Holy Trinity, Lenexa. Masonry work - Quality, new or repair work. Brick, block and chimney/fireplace repair. Insured; secondgeneration bricklayer. Member of St. Paul Parish, Olathe. Call (913) 829-4336. Brick masons - Installation and repair of all types of masonry work — brick, stone, and concrete. 17 years of residential and commercial experience. Small and large jobs accepted. KC Metro area. For a free quote, call Jim or John at (913) 485-4307. Adept Home Improvements Where quality still counts! Basement finishing, Kitchens and baths, Electrical and plumbing, Licensed and insured. (913) 599-7998 Tim the handyman - Small jobs are my specialty! Faucets, garbage disposals, toilets, light fixtures, ceiling fans, handrails, window screen repair, bush trimming and garden tilling. Free estimates. JoCo only. Call (913) 859-0471. Interior and exterior painting and wallpaper removal - 30-plus years experience. Quality work; excellent references; reasonable rates. Senior discount. Member of St. Ann Parish, Prairie Village. Call Joe at (913) 620-5776. Detail construction and remodeling - We offer a full line of home remodeling services. Don’t move — remodel! Johnson county area. Call for a free quote. (913) 709-8401. Father and son team looking for outside work Painting, wood rot repair, decks, fences, retaining walls, concrete — you name it, we can do it all for a fair price! We do inside work as well. Call Josh at (913) 709-7230. Electrician - Free estimates; reasonable rates. JoCo and south KC metro. Call Pat at (913) 963-9896. Master electrician - Licensed in Missouri and Kansas. 35 years experience in residential and commercial electrical needs. Call Rick, L & M Electric, at (913) 3621501 or (816) 781-1501. 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. EL SOL Y LA TIERRA *Commercial & residential * Lawn renovation* Mowing * Clean-up and hauling * Dirt grading/installation * Landscape design * Free estimates Hablamos y escribimos Ingles!! Call Lupe at (816) 252-3376
For Sale For sale – Prime space in the Prince of Peace Mausoleum at Resurrection Cemetery, Lenexa. Regardless if it is raining, snowing, icy or blistering hot, you may visit your loved one in this space. Retail value $7434. Will consider all reasonable offers. Call Mary at (913) 642-2628. For sale – One burial plot at Mount Calvary Cemetery, Kansas City, Kan. $1000.00 Call Tamara at (913) 461-3875. Mausoleum crypt - Mount Calvary Cemetery, Kansas City, Kan. Patio 1; tier F; crypt 6. $2800; seller will pay transfer fee. Call Ann at (913) 302-8413. Max’s rosaries - Custom-made, locally for all occasions – first communion, confirmation, baptism, graduation. Rosary bracelets and beaded earrings too! I also de repairs. Member of the Church of the Ascension, Overland Park. Call (913) 839-3106. Traditional archery equipment for sale - Two longbows, sold together or separately. One bow – Ben Pearson, 6 ft. in height, 65# pull, 28’’ draw. Other bow – Martin, 50# pull, 28” draw. Call Rich Ubert at (816) 509-2933. Residential lifts - Buy/sell/trade. Stair lifts, porch lifts, ceiling lifts and elevators. Recycled and new equipment. Member of St. Michael the Archangel Parish, Leawood. Call Silver Cross KC at (913) 327-5557.
For Rent
July
Overland Park - Tastefully decorated 2 BR with full basement, one-car garage for rent in lovely Greenbriar. Rent is $850 per month. Includes lawn service, pool and exercise facility. To view, call (913) 383-1343.
Real Estate Live near St. Thomas Aquinas High School, Overland Park - Three amazing homes within a tenminute drive. For information or to view any of these properties, call Myra Kanatzar, Prudential Kansas City Realty, at (913) 636-6369. 12705 Richards - One-and-a-half-story home with 5 BR and 4-1/2 BA with in-ground pool that backs to golf course. Mid $600s. 13114 W. 127th Terr. - One-and-a-half-story home with possible 6 BR and 4-1/2 BA is updated to perfection. Low $600s. 12605 Nieman - One-and-a-half-story classic Colonial with 4 BR and 3-1/2 BA with a lovely treed yard. Low $400s. Kansas City, Kan., home FSBO - 2407 Woodend Ave. 3 BR, 1 BA, spacious living room, one-car garage. In Our Lady of Unity Parish. $86,000. Call John at (913) 238-3141. Kansas City, Kan., home - 315 N. 17 St. Large three-story brick home. 4+ BRs, 2 BA, two-car garage. Newer HVAC and roof. $155,000. Cathedral of St. Peter Parish. Call John at (913) 302-1621.
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*** I buy coins, older watches, silverware, slot machines, old rifles and shotguns, stoneware crocks and jugs, old furniture from basement or attic. Call Chris at (913) 593-7507 or (913) 642-8269 Want to buy – Well maintained 1990s automobile. Call Bill (913) 403-9191.
Vacation Bahamas beachfront condo - Enjoy the crystal clear waters, beachfront pool and beautiful sunrises from our newly remodeled condo that sleeps four. $125/night; $750/week. Local owner will rent to mature adults and families. To view, visit the Web site at: www.coralbeach1602.com or send an e-mail to: coralbeach1602@gmail.com. Travel to Tuscany, Italy - With the Ottawa Area Chamber of Commerce from Nov. 2 - 10. The cost of only $2,149 per person includes RT airfare from KCI, meals, lodging, tours and much more. For information, call Sherri Lund at (785) 242-1000; send an e-mail to her at: chambersl@ottawakansas.org; or visit the Web site at: www.ottawakansas.org. Naples, Florida - Furnished 2 BR, 2 BA condo. Located two blocks from the beach and two blocks off 5th Ave. South. Rent or sell. To learn more, call Andy at (239) 261-6233. Lake of the Ozarks rental - Osage Beach; milliondollar view; fully furnished; 2 BR, 2 BA; sleeps six. No smoking, no pets. For special rates or pictures, call Steve or Sheryl Roederer at (913) 244-2022. Branson condo nightly rental - 2 king BRs, 2 BA; sleeps 6. Sun porch overlooks public golf course. Walkin level (no steps), flat screen TVs, DVD player, filtered water and fully equipped kitchen. Two blks. from the Hwy. 76 strip. Easy to get to shows, Wal-Mart, groceries, dining. No smoking; no pets. Parishioners of Holy Cross, Overland Park. Call (913) 851-8886.
Misc. Donate a vehicle. Make a difference. Donate your vehicle to Catholic Charities to support those in need. Your tax-deductible donation helps children and families served by Catholic Charities and is an environmentally wise way to recycle your vehicle. Cars for KC Kids is a partnership between Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas and Catholic Charities of Kansas City - St. Joseph. Call 1 (866) 430-9499 or visit the Web site at: www.cars4kckids.com.
2 The Militia of Immaculata will meet every first Saturday of the month from 10:30 a.m. to noon at the Redemptorist Social Service Center, 207 W. Linwood, Kansas City, Mo. For more information, call Christine Rossi at (913) 268-0208.
5 The Atchison Region Serra Club will meet from 7 - 8:30 p.m. on July 5 in
the ACES chapel, beginning with a Mass for vocations. Father Mitchel Zimmerman, vocations director for the archdiocese, will be the speaker. For information, call Tim or Susan at (913) 367-2227.
6
“Life Skills for Women – Job Readiness Workshop,” a personal enrichment class for women, will be offered from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. on July 6 at Keeler Women’s Center, 2220 Central Ave., Kansas City, Kan. Lunch is included; reservations are required. For information or to register, call (913) 906-8990 or visit the Web site at: www.mountosb. org/kwc.
7
A women writers group will meet from 1 - 2:15 p.m. on July 7, and every first Thursday of the month, at Keeler Women’s Center, 2220 Central Ave., Kansas City, Kan. For information or to register, call (913) 906-8990 or visit the Web site at: www.mountosb.org/kwc. “Journaling for Personal Growth,” a program for women only, will meet from 2:30 - 3:30 p.m. on July 7, and every first Thursday of the month, at Keeler Women’s Center, 2220 Central Ave., Kansas City, Kan. No previous writing experience is required. For information or to register, call (913) 906-8990 or visit the Web site at: www.mountosb.org/ kwc.
9
St. Patrick Parish, 1086 N. 94th St., Kansas City, Kan., will host its annual ice cream social from 6 - 10 p.m. on July 9. There will also be bingo and a cash raffle. For information, call Mickie at (913) 788-7085.
10 Sacred Heart Church, Baileyville, will host a parish picnic on July
10. There will be a roast beef and ham dinner beginning at 5 p.m. The cost is $7 for adults; $4 for children under 10 years old. There will be games for all ages and a quilt auction at 9 p.m. A citywide Christian singles picnic will be held from 4 - 9 p.m. on July 9 at Quivira Park, 11901 Quivira, Overland Park. All are welcome, including children. Meat and soft drinks will be provided; bring a side dish to share. A donation of $10 is appreciated.
11
Would you like to reach out and make a difference in someone’s life? The Wyandotte Pregnancy Clinic, 3021 N. 54th St., Kansas City, Kan., will host a volunteer information night from 7 8 p.m. on July 11. For information or to RSVP, call Nora or Tammy at (913) 2878287 or send an e-mail to: volunteer@ wpcnetwork.org. “Anger Management: Beginning to Gain Control,” a self-help program for women, will be offered from 10:30 a.m. - noon on Mondays, beginning July 11, at Keeler Women’s Center, 2220 Central Ave., Kansas City, Kan. For information or to register, call (913) 906-8990 or visit the Web site at: www.mountosb. org/kwc. “The Family as a Path to Holiness,” a presentation by Janet E. Smith, Ph.D., chair of life ethics at Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit, will be offered at 7 p.m. on July 11 in the O’Malley-McAllister Auditorium, located on the Benedictine College campus, 1020 N. Second St., Atchison. This event is free and open to the public.
11-16
July 13 in the O’Malley-McAllister Auditorium, located on the Benedictine College campus, 1020 N. Second St., Atchison. This event is free and open to the public.
15
“Conscience and the Rights of Medical Professionals,” a presentation by Robert George, Ph.D., coauthor of the Manhattan Declaration, will be at 12:30 p.m. on July 15 in the O’MalleyMcAllister Auditorium, located on the Benedictine College campus, 1020 N. Second St., Atchison. This event is free and open to the public.
17
St. Augustine Church, Fidelity, will host its annual parish picnic on July 17. A family-style chicken and ham dinner will be served beginning at 4:30 p.m. The cost is: $8 for adults; $4 for children ages 4 - 10 years; children 3 years and under eat for free. There will be a cakewalk, bingo, a bounce house and more.
29
The St. Benedict Circle of Holy Cross Church, 8311 W. 93rd St., Overland Park, will host a luncheon and card party from 11:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. on July 29. The cost is $10 per person. To RSVP, call Helen at (913) 381-4295 or Doris at (913) 381-2781.
31
St. Francis Xavier Parish, 301 E. James, Mayetta, will host a celebration of the enthronement of the Divine Mercy image at 3 p.m. on July 31 with Benediction and a Holy Hour. A reception will follow. For information, call (785) 246-1338 .
The natural family planning conference scheduled for July 11 - 16 at Benedictine College has been cancelled due to the effects of the flooding on major access routes and the impact it is having on the ability to get registrants and speakers to Atchison.
Misc.
13 “Positive Discipline,” a threepart parenting program, will be of-
Notre Dame de Sion High School, 10631 Wornall, Kansas City, Mo., will offer two soccer camps for girls. The first session will be held from July 11 - 14 for girls entering 2nd - 5th grades. The second session will be held from July 18 - 21 for girls entering 6th - 8th grades. Both sessions will be held from 9 - 11 a.m. The cost is $75. For information or to register, visit the Web site at: www.sionstorm. com or send an e-mail to Matt Darby at: mdarby@rockhursths.edu.
fered from 9:30 - 11 a.m. on Wednesdays, beginning July 13, at Keeler Women’s Center, 2220 Central Ave., Kansas City, Kan. For information or to register, call (913) 906-8990 or visit the Web site at: www.mountosb.org/kwc. “The Future Church,” a presentation by John L. Allen Jr., Vatican analyst for CNN and NPR, will be held at 7 p.m. on
Villa St. Francis
16600 W. 126th Street • Olathe, Kansas 66062 Phone: (913) 829-5201 Fax: (913) 829-5399 Daily Mass in the Chapel at 10 a.m. • Medicare and Kansas Medicaid certified • 24 - hour nursing care • Dementia/Alzheimer’s unit • Physical, occupational and speech therapist on staff/ Rapid recovery • Nutritious Home cooked meals • Private and Semi Private rooms • Beauty and Barber Shop • 24 hour snacks Affiliated with the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas
CALENDAR 13
Divorced? Widowed? Beginning Experience Weekend gently helps people move through their loss to a new beginning in their lives. The next weekend for the Kansas City area will be July 22 - 24 at the Heartland Center, Parkville Mo. For information or for registration material, call John at (913) 219-3465 in Kansas City, Michelle at (785) 478-3481 in Topeka, Jerry at (785) 843-2079 in Lawrence, or visit the Web site at: www.beginningexperience.org. Sophia Center, 751 S. 8th St., Atchison, will host a silent directed retreat from 4 p.m. on Aug. 2 to 1 p.m. on Aug. 7. Come away to the quiet of a monastic setting and experience the sacred through personal prayer and daily meetings with a certified spiritual director. Give yourself time to listen to the deep desires of your heart, with opportunities for daily centering prayer, shared lectio and a choice of clay, art or tai chi experiences. The cost is $350. For information or to register, call (913) 360-6151 or visit the Web site at: www.mountosb.org/sophia.html. An iconography workshop sponsored by Good Shepherd Church, 12800 W. 75th St., Shawnee, will be offered from Aug. 4 - 7. This contemplative workshop will be presented by master iconographer, Elizabeth Zeller, in the traditional method of egg tempera. The cost of $495 includes instruction and all materials. The registration deadline is July 26. For information, call Lisa Cummings at (913) 221-5928 or send an email to her at: lrckc@sbcglobal.net, or call Elizabeth Zeller at (816) 833-3312 or send an e-mail to her at: elizabeth@ elizabethzeller.com. Do you or your loved one need support to break free from pornography, infidelity, or lust? The My House Men’s Group provides prayer and accountability for sexual integrity. Sam Meier, MA, LPC, is available for men’s groups and counseling; call him at (913) 647-0378, or send an e-mail to him at: smeier@archkck.org. The women’s group provides hope and healing for women who are dealing with their loved one’s struggles. Contact Beth Meier at (913) 647-0379, or send an e-mail to her at: bmeier@archkck.org. The Singles of Nativity, for all singles 35 and better, welcomes newcomers to its weekly Bible study on Sundays at 9 a.m. in the Nativity conference room, 119th & Mission Rd., Leawood, followed by 10:30 a.m. Mass. For more information or questions, send an e-mail to Tom or Mike at: spiritual@son-ministry.org.
14 COMMENTARY
THE LEAVEN • July 1, 2011
THE LEAVEN • July 1, 2011
Mark my words
Catholic Press Association Award Winner 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
fourTEENTH WEEK of ordinary time July 3 fourteenth sunday in ordinary time Zec 9: 9-10; Ps 145: 1-2, 8-11, 13-14; Rom 8: 9, 11-13; Mt 11: 25-30 July 4 Elizabeth of Portugal Gn 28: 10-22a; Ps 91: 1-4, 14-15; Mt 9: 18-26 July 5 Anthony Mary Zaccaria, priest Gn 32: 23-33; Ps 17: 1-3, 6-8, 15; Mt 9: 32-38 July 6 Maria Gorreti, virgin, martyr Gn 41: 55-57; 42: 5-7a, 17-24a; Ps 33: 2-3, 10-11, 18-19; Mt 10: 1-7 July 7 Thursday Gn 44: 18-21, 23b-29; 45: 1-5; Ps 105: 16-21; Mt 10: 7-15 July 8 Friday Gn 46: 1-7, 28-30; Ps 37: 3-4, 18-19, 27-28, 39-40; Mt 10: 16-23 July 9 Augustine Zhao Rong, priest, martyr, and his companions, martyrs Gn 49: 29-32; 50: 15-26a; Ps 105: 1-4, 6-7; Mt 10: 24-33
W
ell, it was not meant to be a mystery, but it turned into one by mistake. In the June 17 issue of The Leaven, our center spread on pages 8 and 9 featured a story about the Collins family. Entitled “Sheltered from the storm,” it brought to light the misfortunes of this family of seven, who found themselves suddenly homeless in Johnson County. The Collinses were hit by a perfect storm: the mom, Jamaica, got ill; husband Michael was laid off; they lost their home and totaled their car. Then, two of their sons were diagnosed with a neurological birth defect that required extensive surgeries. Soon, the family was forced to put all their possessions into storage and live in shelters. In fact, things got so desperate that the family found itself visiting the storage unit every day to get things out. Why? “Just to eat, we were selling everything we owned,” said Jamaica. Things hit rock bottom when the cello went. You see, Jamaica had played this instrument since she was 16; it was her most prized possession. “But we had to eat,” she said matter-of-factly. It was at this point that our Leaven story began to turn into a mystery by mistake. Through the help of the Interfaith Hospitality Network, things were turning around for the Collins family: Michael was employed, the children were healthy and doing well in school, and finances were improving. Life was looking much brighter, so much so that the family was looking to eventually replace some treasured items. In addition, the article said, Jamaica had another “little dream.” And that’s, unfortunately, where The Leaven story ended. By mistake. There was one more seven-word line that brought everything to a touching conclusion. Of course, you didn’t see that ending. Hence, the mystery for you was:
fifTEENTH WEEK of ordinary time July 10 FIFTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Is 55: 10-11; Ps 65: 10-14; Rom 8: 18-23; Mt 13: 1-23 July 11 Benedict, abbot Ex 1: 8-14, 22; Ps 124: 1-8; Mt 10:34 — 11:1 July 12 Tuesday Ex 2: 1-15a; Ps 69: 3, 14, 30-31, 33-34; Mt 11: 20-24 July 13 Henry Ex 3: 1-6, 9-12; Ps 103: 1-4, 6-7; Mt 11: 25-27 July 14 Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, virgin Ex 3: 13-20; Ps 105: 1, 5, 8-9, 24-27; Mt 11: 28-30 July 15 Bonaventure, bishop, doctor of the church Ex 11:10 — 12:14; Ps 116: 12-13, 15-18; Mt 12: 1-8 July 16 Our Lady of Mount Carmel Ex 12: 37-42; Ps 136: 1, 10-15, 23-24; Mt 12: 14-21
Help us turn mistake into music!
What was Jamaica’s “little dream”? The mystery to writer Jill Ragar Esfeld and all of us at The Leaven was: Hey, where did that last line go? As you might suspect, many hands go into producing and polishing a story before you see it in print. I could have been the guilty party and knocked out the line when I was doing corrections to the article on the computer; Todd, the production manager, could have deleted the line as he further refined the look of the spread; our proofreaders might have been distracted by a phone call as they hit the end of the article and didn’t notice the line was missing; even the printers could have messed things up as they transferred things from the computer to their presses. In any event, Jill was sad that her excellent article lacked that last “punchy” line that tied it all together; Anita, our managing editor, was sullen; and I was surly. It did remind me once again that, as careful as we try to be, technology can be your undoing. Naturally, things could have been worse. Take, for example, the priest who totally forgot about a prayer service that he was leading at the local funeral home for a parishioner named Edna, who had died. Because Edna had a good number of non-Catholic friends who would be in attendance, the pastor had intended to pass out a program so that all could follow and participate better. Scrambling to his computer, he saw,
to his delight, that he’d saved a copy of a wake service done just the week before for a woman named Mary. The priest diligently changed the name on the cover of the program, and then did a quick search and replace: Wherever the program said “Mary,” the priest had the computer replace it with “Edna.” The pastor, after printing out copies, distributed them at the funeral home. All went well until the very end. There, in the program — in a paragraph noting Edna’s devotion to the Mother of God — all were encouraged to join in the special prayer honoring the Blessed Virgin Edna by saying, “Hail Edna, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. . . . Holy Edna, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.” (It’s said the priest was never seen in public again.) Happily, our recent Leaven error was not of this magnitude. But it was still embarrassing and maddening that that final line somehow disappeared. I won’t hold you in suspense any longer. What was Jamaica’s little dream? Here’s that missing sentence: “I might try teaching cello,” she said. But first — and there’s no mystery here — Jamaica obviously needs a cello, as she sold hers to provide food for her family. So, how about it? Any of our readers have a cello to give to Jamaica? Let’s see if we can’t make her little dream come true. Not only would it bring some muchneeded income into the Collins’ new home; its beautiful music would soothe and lift their spirits as well. And that’s something about which I’m certainly not mistaken.
Dale and Doris Hammond, members of Sacred Heart-St. Joseph Parish in Topeka, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary anniversaries on July 10 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Sacred Heart Church hall. The couple was married in St. Joseph Parish in Topeka on July 1, 1961. Their children and their spouses are: Theresa and Danny Schmidtlein, Lynette and Dan Carson, and Mike Hammond, all of Topeka; and Rick and Kristie Hammond, Las Vegas. They also have nine grandchildren and two great-grandsons. The couple attended the golden wedding anniversary celebration on June 5 at the Cathedral of St. Peter in Kansas City, Kan. Julie and Jim Jumet, members of Sacred Heart Parish in Ottawa, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on July 1. The couple was married on July 1, 1961, at St. Barbara Church in Chicopee. They will celebrate with family at a later date. Their children and their spouses are: Mike and Tara Jumet, Garnett; Steve and Pamela Jumet, Osawatomie; Dan Jumet, Osawatomie; and John and Stephanie Jumet, Richmond. They also have 13 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Frances (Vandekerchove) and Andre VanMeerhaeghe, members of Good Shepherd Parish in Shawnee, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on July 8. The couple was married on July 8, 1961, at Sacred Heart Church in Kansas City, Kan. Their children and their spouses are: Andy and Dana VanMeerhaeghe; Phillip and BJ VanMeerhaeghe; Yvonne and Todd Wallen; Monique VanMeerhaeghe; and Nicole and Erik Bode. They also have 10 grandchildren. There will be a Mass and reception in July to celebrate. Glenn and Rosalie Schreiber, members of Church of the Ascension in Overland Park, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on July 8. The couple was married on July 8, 1961, at St. John the Evangelist Church in Hoisington. Their children and their spouses are: Kevin and Shelley Jaderborg, Shawnee; Rob and Suzy Willis, Lenexa; and Brett and Jennifer Schreiber, Overland Park. They also have seven grandchildren. A family celebration will be held later in Estes Park, Colo.
To help, call The Leaven at (913) 7211570, ext. 136, or write Father Mark at frmark@theleaven.com.
Z
nection to this world and its concerns. At times, these words have confused certain Christians. They have thought that St. Paul was advocating a disdain for the created world, the world of flesh and blood. They have believed that St. Paul was promoting an otherworldly piety which despised the material world. In its extreme version, this interpretation led to the heresy called Manichaeism, which maintained that Satan, not God, had created the physical world. That idea obviously does not fit in with our Christian faith. In interpreting this passage, it is important to realize that often St. Paul is not speaking literally. Instead, he will frequently use “flesh” as a metaphor to mean “that which is opposed to God.” In this passage, St. Paul draws out a sharp contrast between the flesh and the spirit. This contrast between flesh
Sister Gertrude Greathouse, OSB atchison — Sister Gertrude Greathouse, 84, a Benedictine Sister of Mount St. Scholastica here, died June 16 at the monastery. Sister Gertrude was born April 23, Obituary 1927, the daughter of Guy Remington and Mary Elizabeth Young Greathouse of Moberly, Mo. The first 10 years of her education were in Moberly schools; she graduated from Mount St. Scholastica Academy in 1944. She earned her bachelor’s degree in piano, with a minor in English, from Mount St. Scholastica College, Atchison. She entered the Mount Benedictine Sisters in 1948 and made monastic profession in 1949. Sister Gertrude continued her music study at DePaul University, Chicago, and earned her master’s degree in music education from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Sister Gertrude was a classroom teacher and a music instructor from 1950-1972 in Kansas City, all three of the Catholic elementary schools in Atchison, and elsewhere in Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, and Missouri. When she returned to the monastery, she became organist and liturgist for the Mount St. Scholastica community. Sister Gertrude composed many of the liturgical melodies used by monastic communities nationwide. She also served as parish organist at St. Benedict’s Church in Atchison. She was a member of Sigma Alpha Iota music fraternity, Benedictine Musicians of the Americas, and the National Association of Pastoral Musicians.
Catholic Soccer Camps
Paul explores what it means to be human and spirit resembles in some ways the contrast between light and darkness. It is the contrast between two attitudes of heart, two ways of life. St. Paul describes the respective consequences of following these paths. One leads toward life; the other, toward death. In addition to this metaphorical language, St. Paul also speaks literally at times, for example, when he writes: “the one who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also.” Because St. Paul switches back and forth between metaphorical language and literal language, he can be a bit confusing. After all, he is dealing both with the life that will come to our physical bodies through resurrection from the dead and with the life of grace that comes to our souls when we are in good relationship with God: “For if you live according to the flesh, you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” St. Paul is pointing toward the life which comes from Jesus Christ, the life which makes us fully human. Father Mike Stubbs is the senior parochial vicar of Holy Trinity Parish in Lenexa and has a degree in Scripture from Harvard University.
Kenny and Elaine (Dosch) Olson, members of Sacred Heart-St. Joseph Parish, Topeka, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on July 2 with a renewal of vows with Father Tim Haberkorn officiating, followed by a family dinner. The couple was married on July 1, 1961, at St. Matthew Church, Topeka. Their children and their spouses are: Derron and Julie Olson, and Kenneth Olson II, all of Topeka. They also have two grandchildren.
Anniversary policy: The Leaven only prints 50, 60, 65 and 70th anniversary notices. Announcements are due by 5 p.m. eight days (Thursday) before the desired publication date.
second thoughts on the second reading
ombies and vampires lurk in the dark recesses of the popular imagination, as a casual glance at the latest films and books will confirm. These fantastic figures operate with only a semblance of life, deprived of the fullness of humanity. While zombies generally look quite gruesome, and vampires considerably more refined, they both lack fourteenth something essential sunday in to humanity. They ordinary time are monsters which Rom 8: 9, 11-13 scare us for our entertainment. But they also allow us to explore the question of what it means to be a human being. That is the same question which St. Paul addresses in his Letter to the Romans, although in a far less dramatic and sensational way. Most importantly, St. Paul approaches this question from the viewpoint of faith in Jesus Christ. For example, in Sunday’s second reading — Rom 8:9, 11-13 — he writes: “You are not in the flesh; on the contrary, you are in the spirit.” On the surface, it might appear as though St. Paul is claiming that we are disembodied spirits, having little con-
Joan ( Schrick ) and Ed Navinskey, members of Corpus Christi Parish, Mooney Creek, will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary on July 9 with family and friends at the Knights of Columbus Hall, Nortonville. The couple was married on July 9, 1951, at Corpus Christi Church. The couple’s eight children — Mike, Terry, Shelly, Cindy, Mark, Connie, Scott and Brenda, along with their spouses — will host a dinner party. They also have 21 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. Cards may be sent to 14631 214th Rd., Cummings KS 66016.
Local news 15
800 SW Sixth Avenue | 785.354.7706 | www.brennanmathenafh.com
July 18th to July 22nd Metro Kansas City Featuring Pro Soccer Coaches From Italy Day Camp and Overnight Camp Male and Female – Ages 7 to 17 Combining High Level Soccer Instruction with the Catholic Faith and Italian Culture
Tel: (913) 549-4871 Email: martinez@CapistranoGlobal.com
www.CatholicSoccerCamps.com
16 local news
THE LEAVEN • July 1, 2011
Pange Lingua, Gloriosi!
Corpus Christi procession celebrates the Savior’s glory Photos by Lori Wood Habiger
SACRAMENT MOST HOLY
With great reverence, Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann processed with the Blessed Sacrament during the fourth annual Corpus Christi procession on June 26 at Holy Trinity Parish in Lenexa.
MICROCOSM
The procession, let by an honor guard of the fourthdegree Knights of Columbus, presented a microcosm of the church as it drew people from throughout the Greater Kansas City metropolitan area and beyond.
Holy moments
Vanessa Gonzalez, a member of Holy Spirit Parish in Overland Park, paused for reflection as she joined other first communicants who helped lead the procession. The observance was jointly sponsored by the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas and the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph.
Cool and collected
Twins Benjamin (left) and Gabriel Joerger, members of Church of the Ascension in Overland Park, didn’t seem to mind the oppressive heat as they processed in their first Communion suits.