10 20 23 Vol. 45 No. 11

THELEAVEN.ORG | VOL. 45, NO. 11 | OCTOBER 20, 2023

LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER

Students from Holy Cross School in Overland Park hold up signs of appreciation in the school gymnasium on Sept. 13, thanking the Catholic Education Foundation for naming Holy Cross the 2023-24 Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann School of Excellence. Archbishop Naumann and several friends of CEF toured the school that day.

MOST EXCELLENT

Holy Cross named CEF’s School of Excellence Special to The Leaven

K

ANSAS CITY, Kan. — “The future generation is currently in our building,” said Dr. Melissa Wagner, principal of Holy Cross School in Overland Park. “They are the future of our church and they are the future of our world. And I see kind, generous, faith-filled children, ready to take on the challenges of the world and be evangelists of our faith.”

Leading with their Catholic faith, Holy Cross serves students in preschool through 8th grade, with families from 35 different zip codes in the Johnson County metro. While their diverse student population is not without its challenges, Holy Cross partners with parents to help students grow spiritually and excel in their academic pursuits.

The success of these initiatives and their faith-focused mission earned Holy Cross this year’s Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann School of Excellence Award from the Catholic Education Foundation (CEF) and was on display recently when the archbishop and visitors from

About the Catholic Education Foundation For more than 25 years, the Catholic Education Foundation (CEF) has transformed the lives of children and families by providing access to an exceptional K-12 Catholic education at schools in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas. In total, CEF has provided more than $28 million in tuition assistance since 1997, with the highest percentage of students living at or below the poverty level.

Visit the website at: www.cefks.org to learn more about CEF and scholarships for this school year.

LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER

Mary Thompson listens to a speaker during a tour of Holy Cross School in Overland Park. The Byron and Jeanne Thompson family is being recognized as this year’s Angels Among Us honorees. Mary is married to Paul Thompson, one of Byron and Jeanne’s sons. They are members of Church of the Nativity in Leawood. the Catholic Education Foundation visited Holy Cross.

“Holy Cross has worked exceptionally hard to be one of the best elementary

schools in our community,” said Vincent Anch, CEF executive director. “It shows in their academic achievement, the faith formation of their students

and how they operate so efficiently.”

Programs like their Family Literacy and Math Nights and innovative STREAM curriculum have helped Holy Cross experience remarkable improvements in the standardized assessment scores across all grade levels in recent years. >> See “AWARD” on page 6

2 ARCHBISHOP

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OCTOBER 20, 2023 | THELEAVEN.ORG

It is our privilege to be instruments of cultural change

n last week’s column, I observed that the most significant reason for the defeat of the “Value Them Both” amendment in Kansas was the large turnout of young, first-time voters. For some, this might seem surprising, especially if you have ever been to Washington, D.C., in January for the annual March for Life.

Every year, hundreds of thousands of Americans come to our nation’s capital, usually amid frigid temperatures, to advocate for the sanctity of every human life, especially the child in the womb. A large majority of those participating in the March for Life are under 30.

Some have even referred to the under-30 crowd as the “pro-life generation.”

It is true that there are many, many passionately pro-life young people, but sadly, as the vote in Kansas revealed, there is an even larger number of American youth who identify themselves as pro-choice. Of course, they have been subjected to a steady diet of pro-abortion propaganda from government schools, the entertainment industry and the news media.

Perhaps, even more influential upon the attitude of young adults has been growing up in a pop culture where the seeking of pleasure is the goal of life. With the widespread availability and use of contraception, they believe in sexual intimacy without consequences. They do not allow for the possibility of the conception of a child resulting from sexual intimacy, even though the failure rate of contraceptives is significant. Similarly, the culture has formed our young people to ignore or even to deny that sexual intimacy

LIFE WILL BE VICTORIOUS

ARCHBISHOP JOSEPH F. NAUMANN communicates a profound commitment to another person.

When pregnancy does occur, it is experienced as a problem, not a cause for celebration.

With the high cultural divorce rate, many of our young people have not witnessed committed and faithful love from the adults in their lives. They are immersed in a culture in which one is considered freakish and a social failure without the experience of sexual intimacy. If sexual intimacy is only about pleasure and sensual gratification, then abortion becomes an essential backup for failed contraception.

They cannot imagine a world without easy access to abortion — to the ability to kill their own unborn.

Sexual promiscuity is not good for young people’s physical health. Though it is rarely acknowledged as a significant public health problem, sexually transmitted diseases have been at epidemic levels for decades. Nor is promiscuity good for our young people’s emotional and psychological health. There is a natural and inevitable bonding that occurs from sexual intimacy.

A man and a woman can attempt to redefine the meaning of sexual intimacy, but the language of the body — complete physical giving of oneself to another — is too

powerful. There are inevitable hormonal and emotional consequences.

It is good that our society is paying attention to the high levels of loneliness, anxiety, depression and even suicide among our young people. However, we are mistaken if we think this is only a result of the societal response to the COVID pandemic. Certainly, the increased isolation caused by public health protocols made the problem worse, but high levels of loneliness, anxiety and depression were already problematic.

Frankly, I have grown weary of the mantra that many young people reject the Catholic Church because we are the “Church of No!” Actually, it is to the church’s credit that our Catholic moral teaching has remained clear about the harm that we do to ourselves and to others when the experience of sexual pleasure becomes a higher personal priority than faithful and committed love.

Of course, our moral teaching is not only about saying “no” to using others for our pleasure, but it is about saying “yes” to authentic love — a love where we seek the other person’s good.

The vows that married couples pronounce are beautiful and powerful because they are both bold and radical.

Striving to live those vows daily, by seeking the good of one’s spouse over one’s own personal desires and preferences, makes the

marital embrace authentic and beautiful.

What a married couple expresses physically to each other corresponds with what they are striving to live in every other dimension of their lives.

It is in the context of the marriage covenant where the gift of new life can be welcomed and is a cause for joy.

What possibly could be more meaningful than the love of a man and a woman being the human instrument God uses for the creation of a new and unique human life?

What could be more important than the forming of a family, where true love is experienced and taught by the example of a devoted married couple?

St. John Paul II challenged Catholics to build a culture of life and a civilization of love. Laws reflect culture. They express what a culture values.

The gurus of the sexual revolution and the advocates for abortion gave birth to a culture of death and a civilization of self-absorption.

Cultures are formed by the individual choices of its members.

The cultural changes that I have witnessed in my lifetime are startling. From today’s vantage point, they seem to have happened very rapidly. In reality, the cultural upheaval we are experiencing is the result of decades of gradual changes in priorities and behaviors. Two thousand years ago, Christianity changed a hedonistic pagan culture in a relatively brief time (a couple of centuries).

This cultural change was the fruit of the witness of love, hope and joy observed in the Christian community.

The loneliness, anxiety and sadness in our current culture makes it ripe for change.

We begin to build a “culture of life” and a “civilization of love” by

ARCHBISHOP NAUMANN’S CALENDAR Oct. 22 National Charismatic Conference Mass — Savior Pastoral Center Poor of Jesus anniversary of founding of fraternity Mass — Christ the King, Kansas City, Kansas Oct. 23 Pastoral Council meeting — Savior Pastoral Center Oct. 24 St. Paul’s Outreach Mass and breakfast — residence Catholic Charities members meeting — Savior Pastoral Center Catholic Charities annual joint board meeting — Savior Oct. 25 Confirmation for St. Dominic, Holton, and St. Francis Xavier, Mayetta — St. Dominic Oct. 28 Gaudeamus — Overland Park Convention Center Oct. 29 Mass and dinner — St. Isidore Catholic Campus Center, Manhattan

fostering respect for human life, reverence for the dignity of every human person and the renewal of Christian marriage and family life. When our Catholic faith is lived well and with integrity, it is attractive. When others see in us a love for one another, a compassion for others and a joy even in the midst of the difficulties of life in this sin-fractured world, they will be drawn to the source of our love, our peace and our joy.

Of course, the source of our concern for others, our indomitable hope and our infectious joy is our friendship with Jesus and the truth of his Gospel. Though they may not realize it yet, our young people are longing for what we possess in the beauty of our Catholic faith.

We change culture by one relationship, one friendship, one soul at a time. Christianity is infectious. It is more infectious than COVID-19.

It is our responsibility and privilege to be instruments of

cultural change. Our young people know the shallowness of the dominant culture and its inability to satisfy the longings of their hearts. All we have to do is to be authentic witnesses of the joy and the love of the Gospel.

Ideas and teaching are important. We must proclaim the truth of the Gospel.

However, Pope Emeritus Benedict once remarked: “The world has grown weary of arguments.” However, the beauty of living the Christian life remains powerfully attractive.

Living the joy of the Gospel in our families, in our friendships, in our professional and work life is the most effective tool of evangelization. We have what the millennials and Generation Z long for and desire. The truth of the Gospel of Jesus is as true today as it was 2,000 years ago. We can create a “culture of life” and a “civilization of love” by living the Gospel of Jesus in the ordinary circumstances of our lives.

LOCAL NEWS 3

OCTOBER 20, 2023 | THELEAVEN.ORG

PHOTO BY KELSEY GROSS

From left, Sarah Hemman, Sarah Agorua and Brett Braza laugh at the Kansas City Colleges SPO Chapter Hog Roast during Welcome Week. St. Paul’s Outreach will become a new mission partner to the St. Lawrence Center at the University of Kansas in Lawrence at the start of the 2024-25 school year.

PERFECT PARTNERS

St. Lawrence Center to team up with St. Paul’s Outreach

By Molly McKeithan Special to The Leaven

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AWRENCE — The start of the 2024-25 school year will bring changes to the St. Lawrence Center at the University of Kansas here as the center welcomes new mission partners St. Paul’s Outreach (SPO) to campus. Over the course of the last two years, St. Lawrence has been in discernment and discussion on what the partnership would mean for the student center and if they would work well together.

“KU is a very difficult but exciting mission field,” said Father Mitchel Zimmerman, director and chaplain at the St. Lawrence Center.

With a focus on radical evangelization, the St. Lawrence Center currently runs both Newman and Fiat houses as a part of its ministry, which allows students to serve as student leaders, live a life with intentional prayer and find ways to connect with students on the fringes of Catholicism.

“Over the past few years, we have seen an organic movement of students opting to live in similar expressions of missional households,” said Nick Labrie, director of Missionary Discipleship at the St. Lawrence Center.

OUR STUDENTS ARE HUNGRY FOR THIS INTENTIONAL LIFE OF COMMUNITY, PRAYER AND OUTREACH. WE BELIEVE THAT A PARTNERSHIP WITH SPO IS AN ORGANIC NEXT STEP IN NURTURING AND AMPLIFYING THIS MOVEMENT. NICK LABRIE DIRECTOR OF MISSIONARY DISCIPLESHIP AT THE ST. LAWRENCE CENTER “Whether in our St. Lawrence-run Newman and Fiat Houses or in apartments and houses around Lawrence, our students are hungry for this intentional life of community, prayer and outreach,” he added. “We believe that a partnership with SPO is an organic next step in nurturing and amplifying this movement.”

Starting next fall, SPO will provide four full-time missionaries to live with students in the homes that St. Lawrence

currently operates as the Newman and Fiat houses. This number will increase to six full-time missionaries over the course of the next three years.

“In the first year, our SPO missionaries and students in household at KU will aim to be in contact with over 1,000 students on campus, with as many as 200 experiencing our men’s and women’s environments,” said Brigitte Pinsonneault, director of operations for SPO Kansas City. “We plan to be strategic in reaching the corners of campus so that students on the ‘fringes’ will be met and won over by Jesus.”

For some students, this will be their first time interacting with SPO, but others are excited to continue their journey with SPO. Garrett Clifford, a junior studying marketing, attended the Ascend conference hosted by SPO two years ago and encountered Jesus Christ in the Eucharist for the first time.

“It shocked me and opened up my eyes to what my faith could be and how I could love God,” Clifford said. “Seeing that for the first time, getting to share the joy for the Lord, was a really cool experience, and I am very excited for them to have a spot on campus.”

Clifford is a current member of the Newman House but says that he would be “overjoyed” to get to live with the

President Most Rev. Joseph F. Naumann

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missionaries next year because of their model of creating household environments where students are empowered to reach out to people.

The SPO model consists of four steps: reach, call, form and send.

“We reach students and young adults by building relationships and community through relational evangelization,” said Nick Redd, director of SPO Kansas City. “We call students and young adults to embrace faith in Jesus Christ and his church through weekly small groups, prayer events and retreats. We form them to maturity in the Catholic faith and life through households and SPO’s formation program.

And we send them out on mission as leaders.”

To date, the St. Lawrence Center has already had many students apply for the opportunity to live with the SPO missionaries, and they are excited to get to share the message of the Gospel.

“No matter who lives in the house next year, it is going to be a great group,” Clifford said. “With the help of SPO, KU will be changed, people will see God in a new way and people will be challenged to share their hearts with God in a new way.

“I am really excited to see that happen.”

Editor Rev. Mark Goldasich, stl frmark.goldasich@theleaven.org

Senior Reporter Joe Bollig joe.bollig@theleaven.org

Managing Editor Anita McSorley anita.mcsorley@theleaven.org

Advertising Coordinator Beth Blankenship beth.blankenship@theleaven.org

Social Media Editor/Reporter Moira Cullings moira.cullings@theleaven.org

4 LOCAL NEWS

OCTOBER 20, 2023 | THELEAVEN.ORG

Attorney Terry Brady honored at KC metro area Red Mass

By Joe Bollig joe.bollig@theleaven.org

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ANSAS CITY, Mo. — The pro-life response to an entrenched abortion mentality in society requires “an elevation and intensification of educational, pastoral and advocacy efforts” as well as prayer, said Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann at the annual Red Mass.

The Mass was celebrated on Oct. 6 at St. Thomas More Parish in Kansas City, Missouri. The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas and the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph alternate hosting the Mass.

It was celebrated for the Catholic Lawyers Guild of Kansas City, which draws its members from the Greater Kansas City area. Traditionally, the Red Mass is for judges, lawyers, law school deans and professors, students and current political office holders.

Approximately 100 people attended the Red Mass. The fourth-degree Knights of Columbus provided a color guard.

The Red Mass is one of the “color” Masses, along with the “Blue” Mass for those in public safety, “White” Mass for those in medical professions and “Gold” Mass for those in the sciences.

The tradition of the Red Mass goes back to 13th-century Europe, celebrated as a solemn votive Mass in honor of the Holy Spirit at the opening of the judicial year. The first documented Red Mass was in 1245 in Paris, but also in 1310 in London and in Rome, where it marked the opening of the Tribunal of the Roman Rota (the supreme judicial body of the Catholic Church).

Because red is the color associated with the Holy Spirit and thus the vestments of the clergy for the Mass, as well as the color of judicial robes, it became known as the Red Mass.

The main celebrant was Bishop James V. Johnston Jr. of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph. The homilist was Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas. Concelebrants were Father Kenneth A. Riley and Father Charles Rowe of the diocese.

Assisting were Deacon Ralph Joseph McNeal of the diocese and Deacon John Weist of the archdiocese.

In his homily, Archbishop Naumann recalled St. Thomas More, the patron

LEAVEN PHOTO BY KATHRYN WHITE

Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann chats with a few attendees at the annual Red Mass on Oct. 6 at St. Thomas More Church in Kansas City, Missouri.

Traditionally, the Red Mass is for judges, lawyers, law school deans and professors, students and current political office holders. saint for statesmen and lawyers. More was considered a legal genius and renowned for his fairness and integrity.

He served as a judge and chancellor of England before being martyred by King Henry VIII in 1535.

Archbishop Naumann spoke about religious faith in the public square, civility in public discourse and the U.S. Supreme Court’s June 2022 Dobbs decision overturning its 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, which legalized abortion nationally.

“As fate would have it in Kansas, we were in the midst of attempting to correct by state constitutional amendment a horrific ruling by the Kansas Supreme Court that claimed to have discovered a right to abortion in the Kansas Constitution,” said the archbishop.

The effort was “defeated by a

startling margin” because of a “proabortion tsunami” of abortion industry money, as well as media misinformation and failure to fact-check, he said.

In response, “the church and the entire pro-life community must expand our educational efforts,” he continued, “making thoughtful and well-reasoned arguments aimed at changing minds, while at the same time appealing to the hearts of our fellow Americans.

“We must help people recognize all of the victims of abortion — not only the baby in the womb, but the mother and father who are emotionally and spiritually scarred by abortion.”

Also during the Mass, the guild gave its annual St. Thomas More Award to attorney Terry Brady. The award honors the guild member who best exemplifies the character of St. Thomas More, who

was executed for refusing to deny the Catholic faith.

Brady was a longtime partner of the law firm Lathrop & Gage in Kansas City, Missouri. He served as head legal counsel for the Kansas and Missouri Metropolitan Culture District (bistate) Commission, and special counsel to Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt. He is a former secretaryattorney for the Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners and special assistant attorney general for Missouri.

He served as treasurer, vice president and president of the Board of Police Commissioners for the City of Kansas City, Missouri.

Additionally, he has served as a longtime attorney for the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph and adviser to local bishops.

LOCAL NEWS 5

OCTOBER 20, 2023 | THELEAVEN.ORG

Hog and Grog event shows off uniqueness of Our Lady of Unity School

LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER

Our Lady of Unity School principal Cally Dahlstrom addresses the crowd at the school’s annual Hog and Grog for Scholarships fundraiser, held on Oct. 7.

By Moira Cullings moira.cullings@theleaven.org

K

ANSAS CITY, Kan. — One glimpse inside Our Lady of Unity School here is all it takes.

“That’s the one thing everybody has always said: If you get in our doors, you’ll fall in love with us,” said principal Cally Dahlstrom.

A group of supporters had the opportunity to experience that love during the school’s annual Hog and Grog for Scholarships fundraiser, held on Oct. 7.

The evening began with Mass at Sacred Heart Church, which is connected to Our Lady of Unity (OLU).

Participants then had the opportunity to tour the school before enjoying dinner, drinks and entertainment.

This was the fourth Hog and Grog — the third in-person — and the first time the entire event was held on the parish grounds.

The event raised over $110,000 for OLU students and their families, the vast majority of whom receive scholarships to attend the school.

“It’s crucial to get this funding so we can get more students into OLU and help them be successful,” said Rob Cowdrey, president of OLU’s business team.

“We know sometimes financial struggles can get in the way,” he continued, “and we don’t want that to be a reason that we don’t have students coming to OLU for Catholic education.”

Business team members, made up of volunteers from various parishes, lend their talents to the school’s marketing and fundraising efforts.

“We try to help Cally out where we can, where she needs help [and] where the school needs help by providing some guidance,” said Cowdrey.

Since the team was created, OLU has experienced increased enrollment, upgrades to infrastructure and more.

“It really is Cally doing a phenomenal job leading the school,” said Cowdrey. “But it’s great to see how we can help assist her to be more successful.”

Dahlstrom is grateful for the work her business team has accomplished to spread the word about the exciting things happening at OLU. “It’s really easy to refer to us as a poor school in Wyandotte County,” she said. “Financially, we might struggle with dollars, but we are very rich in culture and family traditions.

“We are excited to share some of our traditions at Hog and Grog this year with our sponsors and guests.

“Plus, we have a twist with having a large percentage of Hispanic and

LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER

Hispanic dancers entertain the crowd at Our Lady of Unity School’s fourth annual Hog and Grog for Scholarships fundraiser. The event raised more than $110,000 for OLU students, the vast majority of whom receive scholarships to attend the school in Kansas City, Kansas.

LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER

Deacon Mark Stukel of St. Michael the Archangel Parish, Leawood, looks at student art during a tour of the school on Oct. 7.

Latino families, [so] we are able to share traditions that many other schools may not celebrate.”

Participants experienced a taste of that culture during Hog and Grog.

Alejandra Arevalo, who’s been part of the school’s kitchen staff for around three years, cooked tacos for the event.

“We offer quality food with Hispanic flavors more traditional to real Mexican food,” she said. “This is a traditional

recipe that our parents taught us when we were young.”

For Arevalo, sharing her Hispanic culture and the OLU “family” with the wider community was exciting.

“It always has been a special place where we all feel like a big family and we all feel welcomed,” she said.

Arevalo is thankful for those who have supported Hog and Grog over the years. Without it, she would not have

been able to send her three children to OLU. “Some of us don’t have family members here around us,” she said. “Being in this Catholic event, we feel that [people] support us because they care about us.”

One of those supporters is Ann Ekis, chairperson for the Companions in Faith committee at St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Leawood, OLU’s sister parish.

She also serves as chairperson of OLU’s development and fundraising committee, which assists Dahlstrom in the areas of fundraising, grants and development.

Ekis hoped Hog and Grog would benefit the school and its supporters.

“Hog and Grog is a celebration for our partners who have either made a financial gift for scholarships or have helped the school by providing in-kind goods or services that we need,” she said.

Volunteering in the school’s library has given Ekis insight into the power of Catholic education.

“I have seen the growth of these students both in academics and maturity,” she said, “and it will be very rewarding when this event can provide scholarships for those families that need one.

“I am also excited to have more people see and feel what a wonderful place this is in Kansas City, Kansas.”

6 LOCAL NEWS

OCTOBER 20, 2023 | THELEAVEN.ORG

Award honors the success of entire school community >> Continued from page 1

“Holy Cross is a great example of why Catholic schools across the country are so successful right now,” added Anch.

Now in its 19th year, the Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann School of Excellence Award is bestowed annually by CEF to a K-8 Catholic school in northeast Kansas receiving support from the foundation’s traditional scholarship program.

Each school is evaluated based on five main criteria: joyfully Catholic, diligently achieving, intentionally self-giving, prudently managed, and forwardly thinking.

“This recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication everyone here puts into providing an exceptional Catholic education for all of our students,” said Wagner.

Saint Benedict School in Atchison was selected as the first finalist, followed closely by the second finalist, Our Lady of Unity School in Kansas City, Kansas.

Established in 1997, the Catholic Education Foundation has transformed the lives of children and families by providing access to an exceptional K-12 Catholic education at schools

in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas.

For the 2023-24 school year, CEF is providing more than $4.7 million in scholarships to support nearly 2,000 students at Catholic schools throughout northeast Kansas, with the highest percentage of students living at or below the poverty level.

“CEF’s Archbishop Naumann School of Excellence Award is a great honor that is well-deserved by the school community of Holy Cross,” said Dr. Vince Cascone, superintendent of Catholic schools for the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas.

“Under the leadership of Dr. Melissa Wagner,” he added, “Holy Cross Catholic School has thrived and has been moving in a very positive direction.”

In addition to bragging rights and additional funding from CEF, Holy Cross will be recognized at Gaudeamus, CEF’s annual benefit gala, on Oct. 28 at the Overland Park Convention Center.

“Gaudeamus,” which is Latin for “Let us rejoice,” is CEF’s annual fundraiser, and proceeds from the celebration support scholarships for students in need.

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Mary Ann Finch receives 2023 Vincentian Charism Award from Sisters of Charity

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EAVENWORTH — Mary Ann Finch of Pittsburg, California, is the 2023 recipient of the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth Community’s Vincentian Charism Award.

The Vincentian Charism awardee is nominated by a member of the SCL Community and must not be directly associated with the community.

Sister Eileen Hurley, chair of the SCL Vincentian Charism Award committee, commended Finch’s commitment to the poor, saying that “Mary Ann lives the Vincentian charism every day. She has not only ministered in the Tenderloin District [in San Francisco] but also empowered many others to do the same through her massage therapy school.”

For Finch, receiving the Vincentian Charism Award is a momentous honor.

“What an honor it is to receive this award. I want to thank you, Eileen, and your community. This award symbolizes the presence of the Care Through Touch Institute in the community,” she said.

Finch’s journey toward social justice and her dedication to serving the marginalized began in her formative years.

Her father, a firefighter, instilled in her the importance of helping others by taking her to migrant camps in California during his days off. He was her first mentor, demonstrating unwavering support for those in need.

Her awakening to social justice continued during her graduate studies in

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42 Rooster’s mate 43 Show your muscles 44 Plague of Egypt 45 Answered 48 Weight measurements 49 Fish eggs

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COURTESY PHOTO

Mary Ann Finch is the 2023 recipient of the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth Community’s Vincentian Charism Award. Her work recognizes the impact of the body on spirituality, particularly through touch or massage. theology and spirituality at the Jesuit School of Theology at Santa Clara University in California. It was there that she recognized the profound impact of the body on spirituality, particularly through touch or massage. She embarked on doctoral research focusing on the relationship between the body and spirituality, including the study of movement and massage.

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DOWN 1 African country 2 Dalai __ 3 Against 4 Guy 5 Biblical predictions 6 Add to a mixture 7 OT book of prophecy 8 Avenue 9 Recites 10 Body of water parted by God 11 East 12 Marketplace 13 Canal name 22 Possessive pronoun

24 25 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 35 37 40 41 43 46 47 48 50

Reverend ( abbr.)

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LOCAL NEWS 7

OCTOBER 20, 2023 | THELEAVEN.ORG

Archdiocese announces substantiated clergy offender

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ith deep sorrow for the suffering of victims and survivors of abuse, the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas announces that former priest Robert Aiduk, who left the priesthood in September 1967, and was subsequently voluntarily laicized in 2016, has been the subject of substantiated allegations of sexual abuse of two minors while he was serving at Sacred Heart Parish, Mound City.

The archdiocese first received these allegations in December 2022, stemming from abuse alleged to have occurred 1963-67. In making this announcement, the archdiocese reaffirms its commitment to all who have been harmed by an agent of the church, to atone for the harm and to accompany survivors using restorative processes as they work toward healing and peace.

The Archdiocese Substantiated Clergy Offenders listing on the website has been updated and can be found at: Substantiated Clergy Offenders - Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas (archkck.org).

Aiduk served in the following

parishes/schools during his time in the archdiocese: • St. Ann Parish, Prairie Village, May 1957 - June 1959 • St. Agnes Parish, Roeland Park, June 1959 - August 1961 • Cathedral of St. Peter, Kansas City, Kansas, August 1961 - June 1963 • St. Theresa Parish, Perry, June 1963 - September 1963 • Sacred Heart Parish, Mound City, September 1963 - September 1967 The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas takes all allegations of misconduct by church personnel very seriously and works to respond to survivors’ needs with urgency, respect and compassion. We encourage anyone with knowledge about any misconduct by a church volunteer, employee, religious or clergy member — regardless of when the abuse may have occurred — to contact civil authorities first, and then make a report to our confidential report line at (913) 6473051 or online at: www.archkck. org/reportabuse.

We care about survivors of abuse. Victim Care Advocates can be reached at (913) 298-9244 or (913) 433-6701.

Mary Beth (Fangman) and Gerard Steinlage, members of Sts. Peter and P a u l Parish, Seneca, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a family vacation in June at Milford Lake.

The couple was married Oct. 27, 1973, at St. Mary Church, St. Benedict, by Father Wilfred C. Fangman, OSB. Their children are: Debra, Christina, Renee, Tim, Jonathan, Cathy, Rodney and Matt.

They also have 18 grandchildren.

Barb (Kolde) and Mick Leeper, m e m bers of St. Stanislaus Parish, Rossville, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a trip to Ireland.

The couple will also have a reception on Oct. 28. The couple was married on Oct. 27, 1973, at Immaculate Conception Church, St. Marys, by Father Luke Byrne, SJ. Their children are: Justin Leeper and Sarah Muller. They also have two grandsons.

Gary and Barbara (Norris) Long, members of St. Agnes Parish, Roeland Park, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on Oct. 20. The couple was married on Oct. 20, 1973, at Christ the King Parish in Kansas City, Kansas, by Father Paul Miller. They renewed their vows at the archdiocesan 50th anniversary Mass and will celebrate with a family reunion at Thanksgiving. Their children are: Jennifer Watson, Aurora, Colorado; Christopher Long, Albuquerque, New Mexico; Elizabeth Chrisman, Shawnee; and Robert Long, Glendale, Wisconsin.

They also have 13 grandchildren.

Patty and Tom Horton, members of Holy Family Parish, Kansas C i t y , Kansas, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on Oct. 20. The couple was married on Oct. 20, 1973, at Holy Family Church, Kansas City, Kansas, by Father Heliodore Mejak.

They will celebrate with a family dinner. Their children are: Tom Horton, Tricia Heintz and Patrick Horton. They also have four grandchildren.

GLADIATORS OF THE GRIDIRON

O

PHOTOS BY JAY SOLDNER

n any given Saturday in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, hundreds of young men can be found strapping on shoulder pads and lacing up cleats in preparation for a game of tackle football sponsored by the Catholic Youth Organization of Johnson and Wyandotte Counties. The organization makes it possible for young athletes like these to learn the fundamentals of football and good sportsmanship in a Christ-filled environment. On Sept. 30, Leaven photographer Jay Soldner captured the action of two games played on the football field of St. James Academy in Lenexa.

QUICK CUTS

Shawnee Catholic’s Crosby Jenkins (#36) tries to make a move on Holy Southern’s Charlie Carter (#26) after eluding the grasp of Ben Lueger (#34) in a match-up of fifth grade teams.

The game turned out to be a defensive battle with Holy Southern winning 6-0.

STACKED UP

Holy Southern’s Matthew Brown (#37) is swarmed by a host of Shawnee Catholic defenders and stoppe

LAUNCH PAD

Shawnee Catholic’s Matthew Herzet (#6) lets one fly as Holy Southern defenders James Anderson (#55) and Samuel Doherty (#85) close in fast.

LITTLE EXTRA

Holy Southern’s Marcus Brown (#42) tries for an extra point out of the hold of Noah Neugebauer (#50). The extra point was no good, but not needed as Holy Southern prevailed in the end.

HIGH JUMP

Southern JoCo’s Cooper Comfort (#7) climbs the ladder to try to reel in a lo he could not come up with the reception. In a match up of sixth grade team

ed cold in his tracks as teammates Brandon Gunderman (#12) and Ben Lueger (#34) look on helplessly.

ong pass between Holy Southern’s Johnny Brulez (#17) and Leo Rucker (#18). Despite Comfort’s efforts, ms, Holy Southern came out on top 27-13.

POWER BACK

Southern JoCo’s Brody Thomas (#12) has his sights set on the end zone as he finds running room against the Holy Southern defense.

OPEN FIELD

Holy Southern’s Gabriel Harper’s (#30) eyes shift downfield as he makes it past the first wave of Southern JoCo defenders.

D-FENCE

Southern JoCo’s Jackson Ostendorf (#4) finds no room to run as he meets a wall of Holy Southern defenders led by Leo Rucker (#18), Jack Frausto (#11), Joaquin Paredes (#16) and Nathan Sharbaugh (#20).

A guide to the teams The four teams featured on these pages each features a combination of players from several archdiocesan parishes.

FIFTH GRADE Shawnee Catholic St. Joseph, Sacred Heart and Good Shepherd parishes, all of Shawnee Holy Southern Prince of Peace, Olathe; Holy Spirit, Overland Park; and Holy Trinity, Lenexa

SIXTH GRADE Southern JoCo St. Michael the Archangel, Leawood, and Queen of the Holy Rosary, Wea Holy Southern Holy Trinity, Lenexa, and Holy Spirit, Overland Park

10 VATICAN

OCTOBER 20, 2023 | THELEAVEN.ORG

Pope’s message on climate crisis reverberates in Africa

By Fredrick Nzwili OSV News

N

AIROBI, Kenya (OSV News) — When Pope Francis released his apostolic exhortation “Laudate Deum” (“Praise God”) on Oct. 4, its message echoed loudly across Africa, where millions of ordinary people are victims of the global climate crisis.

Priests, women religious and bishops on the continent continue to care for communities battered by droughts, famine, floods and storms.

“This is real,” Father Gerard Matolo, a priest in the newly erected Wote Catholic Diocese, told OSV News in a telephone interview. “My congregants often tell me how the rains in the 1980s used to be enough to sustain a harvest, but now we are going year after year without any due to poor rains.”

“We have to give food aid to people who often come to our parish offices.

It’s usually for a few and most needy.

They are also in serious need of water,” he said a day after the papal exhortation was issued. “There is some borehole water, but it has too much fluoride.

That’s why most children in my parish have brown teeth,” a condition called fluorosis, which is caused by overexposure to fluoride.

“Laudate Deum,” released on the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, stresses that time is running out and that irreversible damages to the planet have already occurred. It also notes that climate change is real, cannot be denied and has been caused by human action.

Among other messages, it observes that progress on limiting greenhouse gas emissions, pollution, deforestation and soil erosion has been slow.

Climate change “is a global social issue and one intimately related to the dignity of human life,” “Laudate Deum” said, adding that “the African bishops stated that climate change makes manifest a tragic and striking example of

CNS PHOTO/MIKE HUTCHINGS, REUTERS

Clouds gather but produce no rain as cracks are seen in the dried-up municipal dam in drought-stricken Graaff-Reinet, South Africa. structural sin.”

The situation could really be called “tragic” in the Horn of Africa, the region that is still recovering from a severe drought — the worst in 40 years — that continued to unfold in 2023. Until the arrival of the rains, the drought had displaced an estimated one million people and left millions of others on the brink of famine.

Scientists blamed the situation on rising temperatures, which, accordingly, had disrupted weather patterns in Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia, resulting in a fifth consecutive rain season failure.

On Sept. 10, the opposite unfolded in

Libya, a country in North Africa, where devastating floods resulted from the Mediterranean storm Daniel.

The storm and flood killed thousands of people, with the initial death toll placed at over 10,000, but later revised to nearly 4,000, with almost 9,000 still missing, according to news reports.

On Oct. 8, flooding in Cameroon killed 27 people in the country’s capital.

According to Father Edward Obi, a specialist in the ethics of natural resource management in Nigeria’s Niger Delta region, “Laudate Deum” is a shocking yet timely reminder that the

NEED HELP HEALING FROM A PAST ABORTION? Call or text 913-621-2199

world as we know it is in grave peril on account of the recalcitrance of world leaders on the climate change phenomenon.

For Father Obi, climate change is an unfolding existential calamity for sub-Saharan Africa.

“Just think of the fact that this region contributes only 2-3% to global warming from all human and industrial activities, while the U.S. is unabashed at about 30% of global total. Yet, despite our small contribution to a big problem, we bear a disproportionate burden in terms of real-time impact,” he said.

THE SHEPHERD’S VOICE 8:30 a.m. Sundays on 92.9 FM and KEXS AM 1090 Encore Monday at 11:30 a.m.

WORLD 11

OCTOBER 20, 2023 | THELEAVEN.ORG

Catholic colleges condemn Hamas attacks on Israel

By Gina Christian OSV News

W

ASHINGTON (OSV News) — Catholic colleges and universities throughout the U.S. have condemned a devastating attack on Israel, while calling for prayers for peace.

Peter Kilpatrick, president of The Catholic University of America in Washington, said in an Oct. 12 statement that the university “continues to pray” for victims and “for all those impacted by the violence, for an end to hostilities and for a lasting peace.”

“Hamas is a terrorist organization and seeks the annihilation of the state of Israel. Its abhorrent acts of terrorism against Israel merit the strongest condemnation,” said Kilpatrick. “There is no justification for the acts of violence against innocent civilians that we witnessed this week.”

Referencing remarks made by Pope Francis in an Oct. 11 general audience, Kilpatrick said that “as the Holy Father noted . . . Israel has a right to self defense.”

“The Holy Father has also rightly added an expression of concern for the ‘total siege under which the Palestinians are living in Gaza, where there have also been many innocent victims,’” said Kilpatrick.

He said “the war in the Middle East has its roots in a history that is as long as it is complex,” and quoted Pope Francis’ Oct. 11 warning that “terrorism and extremism do not help,” and that the current war, according to the pope, will “fuel hatred, violence, revenge, and only cause each other to suffer.

The Middle East does not need war, but peace, a peace built on dialogue and the courage of fraternity.”

“Shamefully, on some college campuses there have been acts of antisemitism or hateful comments made against Muslim students,” said Kilpatrick. “There is no room on a Catholic campus for words and actions that do not uphold the respect and dignity due to every single member of this community. My hope for Catholic University

OSV NEWS PHOTO/MOHAMMED SALEM, REUTERS

Smoke billows following Israeli airstrikes Oct. 13 amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas in Gaza. is that we join together to support the cause of peace.”

On Oct. 7, Hamas militants stormed from the Gaza Strip into approximately 22 locations in Israel, gunning down civilians and taking more than 150 hostages, including infants, the elderly and people with disabilities.

The coordinated attack took place on a Sabbath that marked the final day of the Jewish holiday of Sukkot, which celebrates the gathering of the harvest and the divine protection of the ancient Israelites as they escaped from slavery in Egypt.

Israel declared war on Hamas Oct. 8, placing Gaza under siege and pounding the region with airstrikes. Hamas has continued to launch strikes against Israel. To date, more than 1,300 in Israel, including 27 U.S. citizens, and close to 1,800 in Gaza have been killed.

Israel placed Gaza under siege, and has warned some 1.1 million in Gaza to move south within the enclave ahead of an expected ground offensive by Israeli forces.

Fordham University President Tania Tetlow called for the school’s community to “come together to pray hard for peace.”

In an Oct. 10 statement, Tetlow said that “many members” of the university’s community “are in unimaginable pain, terrified for loved ones in both Israel and Gaza, or mourning friends and family already lost to the horrific attacks and now to the war.”

She said that “for many of our Jewish students, colleagues and alumni, this is yet another brutal reminder of their vulnerability, of rising antisemitism in the U.S. and around the world — an attack not just on a nation but on their identity.”

In addition, “many of our Muslim students, colleagues and alumni also face the fear of collective blame and reprisals, worried about violence and discrimination,” said Tetlow.

La Salle University president Daniel J. Allen announced an Oct. 18 interfaith prayer service, following the return of students from the school’s fall break.

“We condemn the acts of terror and violence against innocent civilians by Hamas,” said Allen in an Oct. 12 statement. “We are reminded of our Lasallian values and the expectations we hold as Lasallians that our community members will demonstrate respect for all persons and will not engage in or promote violence and hatred in any form.”

“With that shared interest in our minds and our hearts, we will gather to pray for peace . . . to come together as one and pray as sisters and brothers for our common good,” Allen said. “We gather to pray for an end to violence and hatred; and for a peace that is just, fair and equitable for all people.”

In an Oct. 9 statement, Allen had noted that members of Philadelphia’s La Salle community “have been personally impacted and have lost loved ones in this conflict,” although “thankfully . . . our colleagues at Bethlehem University are safe.”

Bethlehem University is a fellow Lasallian university in the West Bank.

SOLUTION

12 CLASSIFIEDS EMPLOYMENT Catholic high school principal - Bishop Ward School in Kansas City, Kansas, is seeking an individual with demonstrated skill in the academic and spiritual formation of students, as well as in the recruitment, development and retention of high caliber, joyfully Catholic faculty and staff. The principal must be current regarding best practices in Catholic education and be able to lead a diverse community in continually striving for greatness. Proficiency in speaking Spanish is preferred!

Bishop Ward has approximately 300 students in grades 9 - 12 and employs 33 teachers. Applicants for principal must be practicing Catholics, understand the mission of Catholic schools and have or be eligible for Kansas licensure in educational leadership. Apply online at: www.archkckcs.org/apply. For more information, contact Jay Dunlap, president, at: jdunlap@wardhigh.org.

Bishop Ward is accepting applications until the position is filled and will reach out to candidates as applications are submitted. Deadline for applications is Nov. 15.

Full-time custodian - The Church of the Nativity Parish School has immediate openings for full-time and parttime custodians. Qualified applicants should have prior custodial experience, specifically in a school environment. Maintenance experience would be a plus. The full-time position is scheduled to work M-F from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and the part-time from 4 to 8 p.m. M-F. Some holiday work is expected. Applicants must have a compatible work history, references, dependable transportation and be willing to participate in a background check. The Church of the Nativity expects to pay market compensation commensurate with experience and qualifications. Nativity has a history of retaining its employees, who enjoy the advantages of working at a vibrant, collaborative, faith-based place of worship and education. Nativity Parish School is located at 3700 W. 119th, Leawood. Nativity offers a comprehensive benefit program including medical, dental, vision, vacation and 401(k). Interested applicants should send resumes and work history to: mhyde@kcnativity.org. No phone calls please.

Nonmedical caregivers - Saint Rita Home Care is hiring nonmedical caregivers for seniors. Seeking compassionate individuals to fill all shifts. We serve people in Johnson, Douglas, Miami, Franklin and Leavenworth counties. Kansas state licensed, nonmedical home care agency. Call or text Renee Margush at (913) 229-4267, or rmargush@saintritahc. com. Member of Prince of Peace Parish, Olathe.

Organist/choir director - St. John the Baptist Parish on Strawberry Hill in Kansas City, Kansas, is seeking an organist/choir director for an established adult choir. The successful candidate would accompany the choir on a 16-rank organ for weekly rehearsal, Sunday Masses, as well as other liturgies and liturgical holidays throughout the year. Knowledge of Catholic liturgy preferred.

Interested applicants should send a letter of interest, resume and references to St. John the Baptist Parish office at: ourcroatianparish@gmail.com.

Infant caregiver needed - Family seeks in-home caregiver for 4-month-old. Home located in the 66103 area code. Full time with flexibility for part time every other week. Willing to provide additional hours if needed for tasks such as meal prep, light housekeeping and errands. Experience preferred. Text Andrew at (913) 669-8665.

Part-time accountant - St. Pius X Parish in Mission is looking to hire a part-time accountant. This position usually requires two - five hours per week and requires working from home with a church-provided computer loaded with QuickBooks accounting software. Responsibilities include overall financial management, payroll, accounts payable, posting weekly deposits, preparing monthly financial statements and annual budget, reconciliation of accounts and other financial tasks. The successful candidate will preferably have an accounting degree with five years’ experience along with strong interpersonal and communication skills. If interested, please submit a cover letter and resume to: galba@spxmission.org.

After school care assistant needed - Holy Cross Catholic School is looking for an After School Care Assistant every weekday Monday-Friday 3:30-5:30 p.m. We are looking for someone who loves being with children. The job role includes playing games with students, distributing snacks, and helping with homework. All interested candidates should be Virtus trained and contact the school principal, Dr. Melissa Wagner at mwagner@holycrosscatholicschool.com.

Early childhood educators - With multiple locations in Johnson County, Special Beginnings Early Learning Center provides high quality child-care in a safe, loving Christian environment. Our classrooms are full and we are looking to add to our amazing team. We are looking for both full-time and part-time teachers for all ages of children. If you have an excellent work ethic, a heart for children and a willingness to learn more about early childhood education, we would love to meet you. For more information or to apply, call Anne at (913) 894-0131, ext. 102 Microscope service/repair - Are you looking for something new and exciting to do? A locally owned, family business is currently seeking candidates to provide preventive maintenance and repair service on microscopes. No previous experience necessary, on-the-job training provided by seasoned technicians. Good communication, time management and customer service skills needed. Hours are flexible depending on customer needs. Some travel is required.

Please contact us at: techneeded23@gmail.com.

OCTOBER 20, 2023 | THELEAVEN.ORG Staff job openings - Donnelly College in Kansas City, Kansas, has the following staff job openings available: nursing school faculty, admissions counselor, director of development. Find job descriptions and details at: www.donnelly.edu/careers.

Now hiring - drivers and aides - Assisted Transportation is hiring safe drivers and aides to transport general education students and students with special needs in mini- and full-sized vans, to and from school, job sites and other locations in the community throughout the day, for the Blue Valley, Olathe and Shawnee Mission school districts. Drivers earn $14 - $16 per hour plus bonuses. A CDL is not required.

Aides earn $12 - $14 per hour plus bonuses. Part-time and full-time hours available. Retirees encouraged to apply. Call (913) 521-4955 for more information or visit: www.assistedtransportation.com to apply. EOE. Assistant direct support professional - L’Arche Heartland is seeking an assistant direct support professional. This person would report to the community home supervisor. Key responsibilities include: utilize person-centered support plan to provide guidance, support, growth and development opportunities to each core member through attentiveness and caring; be a strong role model of appropriate behavior; foster positive and supportive relationships among core members as well as families and professionals; follow all policies, procedures and protocols to ensure core member safety; participate and contribute to house team meetings to ensure household is maintained to include regular upkeep, meal planning and preparation as well as event planning and community interaction; monitor and assist core members with the following as needed: personal hygiene, appearance, laundry, meal preparation, cleaning, personal finances and leisure activities while promoting core member independence; perform all documentation activities (financial, medication, behavior, etc.) as required by policy/programming while maintaining confidentiality; transport core members as assigned; administer medication, properly document and assist with securing refills; participate in and adequately complete training and recertification as required, both ongoing and upon hire; participate in community events and activities as appropriate. Required skills/ abilities: exhibit respect and caring for core members and all those involved in the support of group home residents; demonstrate excellent communication and organizational skills; have the ability to problem solve and manage conflicts objectively. Experience and education requirements: experience with persons with developmental disabilities (highly preferred). Have a valid driver’s license; have a high school education or equivalent. Pass all required background checks; maintain CPR/first-aid certification. Physical requirements: must be able to lift up to 25 pounds at times; must be able to perform activities of daily living such as cooking and cleaning; able and willing to assist in house maintenance/yard work. Include signature and printed name with application. Email: Assistant@ larcheks.org or call (913) 341-2265.

Scientific equipment technician - Would you like to make a difference in a small growing company?

Seeking individuals looking for flexible part-time work maintaining and repairing small equipment for our family company which has been in the local area for over 40 years. Service is completed at customer’s locations locally and within a four-state area.

Dependable transportation is a must. Positive attitude, dependability, time management and self-motivation skills, as well as being quality- and customer-oriented are required. Mostly on-the-job training.

Electrical knowledge a plus. Please send resume to: Yourcareer101@gmail.com.

WELLERBEEF.COM - Let us be your local farm source for beef for your dinner table. Local, Catholic, family farm. Humanely raised. No antibiotics/hormones. Grass fed and traditional. Starter pack to a whole cow. Free delivery in Kansas City area. We pay the butcher’s processing fees.

Faculty and adjunct faculty job openings - Donnelly College, Kansas City, Kansas, is a Catholic college offering higher education for those who may not otherwise be served. Faculty job openings include nursing school faculty. Adjunct faculty job openings: clinical nursing and psychology pool, math and English both at Lansing Correctional Campus. Find job descriptions and details at: www.donnelly.edu/careers.

Caregivers needed - Daughter & Company is looking for compassionate caregivers to provide assistance to seniors in their home, assisted living or in a skilled nursing facility. We provide sitter services, light housekeeping and light meal preparation, organizational assistance, care management and occasional transportation for our clients. We need caregivers with reliable transportation and a cellphone for communication. We typically employ on a part-time basis, but will strive to match up hours desired. Contact Gary or Laurie at (913) 341-2500 if you want to become part of an excellent caregiving team.

Make a meaningful impact today - Join L’Arche Heartland as an assistant in our Day Service Program. Contribute to the empowerment and enrichment of adults with developmental disabilities as they engage in meaningful daytime activities. Enjoy evening and or weekend hours, Monday - Friday from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. We have immediate full-time positions available. We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes 100% coverage for medical, dental and vision expenses. Conveniently situated in downtown Overland Park. Training provided. Apply now by visiting our website at: www.larcheks.org/ join-our-team.

In-home caregiver - We are looking for an engaging in-home caregiver for our son with special needs in western Shawnee. He loves music, interacting with others, reading books, and is learning new life skills.

Help needed weekdays (anytime between 3-10 p.m.) and some shifts on weekends @ $17/hr. Please call (785) 393-1589.

Drivers and riders needed - Drivers needed part time. We take patients to behavioral health facilities around town. Retirees welcomed. Two employees (don’t need to be drivers) ride in the company van on every trip. See Geminitransports.com or call Robert at (785) 766-5763 for more information.

SERVICES Double A’s lawn service Lawn mowing, mulching, gutters, leaf removal, brush removal and hedge trimming Free estimates, insured and insured.

Alex Spoerre (913) 488-5195 ACT Prep - Founded by a Bishop Miege graduate, pathway Prep has helped over 250 students during the last four years improve their scores. In-person or virtual sessions available. For more information, visit: pathwayprepkc.com and contact Alex Pint at (913) 991-8217 or: alex@pathwayprepkc.com.

Faith-based counseling to cope with life concerns - Kansas City area. Call Mary Vorsten, licensed clinical professional counselor, at (913) 909-2002.

Garage Door Repair New Garage Doors A Total Door - KC family owned since ‘83. www.ATotalDoor.com or (913) 236-6440 A Total Door (913) 236-6440.

(913)205-0926 cell Free estimates - We are offering free estimates to all those thinking about painting this year. At Stone Painting, we put the customer first. We provide interior, exterior house painting along with deck staining, fence painting, etc. Stone Painting ensures a professional, clean and fair-priced job. Call today for your free estimate. (913) 963-6465.

Concrete construction - Tear out and replace stamped, stained or colored patios and drives. Retaining walls, footing, poured-in-place safe rooms, excavation and hauling. Asphalt drives and lots. Fully insured; references. Call Dan at (913) 207-4371, or email: dandeeconst@aol.com.

Memory quilts - Preserve your memories in a keepsake quality quilt, pillows, etc. Custom designed from your T-shirt collection, baby clothes, sports memorabilia, neckties . . . Quilted Memories. (913) 649-2704.

Catholic counseling - Counseling for individuals, couples, families, adolescents and young adults.

Sam Meier, MA, LPC. Call (913) 952-2267, book an appointment online at: StillWatersKC.com.

Masonry work - Quality new or repair work. Brick, block and chimney/fireplace repair. Insured; secondgeneration bricklayer. Member of St. Paul Parish, Olathe. Call (913) 271-0362.

Custom countertops - Laminates installed within 5 days. Cambria, granite and solid surface. Competitive prices, dependable work. Call the Top Shop, Inc., at (913) 962-5058. Members of St. Joseph, Shawnee.

Mike Hammer local moving - A full-service mover.

Packing, pianos, rental truck load/unload, storage container load/unload, and in-home moving. No job too small. Serving JoCo since 1987. St. Joseph, Shawnee, parishioner. Call Mike at (913) 927-4347 or send an email to: mike@mikehammermoving.com.

HOME IMPROVEMENT 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) 5791835. Email: smokeycabin@hotmail.com. Member of Holy Trinity, Lenexa.

EL SOL Y LA TIERRA *COMMERCIAL & RESIDENTIAL *LAWN RENOVATION *MOWING *CLEANUP AND HAULING *DIRT GRADING/INSTALLATION *LANDSCAPE DESIGN* FREE ESTIMATES HABLAMOS Y ESCRIBIMOS INGLES!!

CALL LUPE AT (816) 252-1391 Tradesman - I do bathrooms, kitchens, basements, tile and all kinds of flooring, as well as painting, staining, sheetrock, knockdown ceilings, decks and fences. My family and I always appreciate the support. Please call Joshua at (913) 709-7230. Check out my Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/ FSHomeExteriorsandRemodeling. Call or email Joshua to set up a free estimate at (913) 709-7230 or at: josh.fser@gmail.com.

Haus to home remodeling - Let’s give that room a nice face-lift! Specializing in affordable room remodeling. From small projects to bathrooms and basements. We have lots of other services, too: tile, paint, carpentry, wood rot, decks, drywall, etc. Free estimates. For photos of our projects and to find out more about our company, visit us at: Haustohomekc. com or call Cole at (913) 544-7352.

Popcorn ceiling texture removal Call Jerry at (913) 206-1144. 30 years’ experience.

Interior painting specialist.

Member St. Joseph Parish, Shawnee.

Local Handyman - Painting int. and ext., wood rot, mason repair), gutter cleaning (gutter covers), dryer vent cleaning, sump pump (replace, add new), windows, doors (interior and exterior) honey-do list, window cleaning and more! Member of Holy Angels Parish, Basehor. Call Billy at (913) 927-4118.

FOR SALE For sale - Medacure adjustable twin bed. Electric, headboard, footboard, partial side rails; lifts head, lifts feet and lowers whole frame. No mattress. Like new. Asking $850. Call Jackie at (913) 271-5010, leave message.

For sale - Two plots at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Olathe. Lot 25, plots 3 and 4. One burial vault and one interment fee. Current value is $6200, asking $3500. Seller to pay conveyance fee. Call Bob at (913) 768-0668.

Residential lifts - New and recycled. Stair lifts, porch lifts, ceiling lifts and elevators. St. Michael’s parishioners. KC Lift & Elevator at (913) 327-5557. (Formerly Silver Cross - KC).

For sale - Single plot suitable for regular burial or cremation. Mt. Calvary Cemetery, KCK. Section 11, lot 80, space 3-A. Valued at $2200. Sell for $2100 and I pay conveyance fee. Contact David at (913) 980-0042.

For sale - Three plots at Resurrection Cemetery.

Plots are located in Queen of Heaven Garden, lot 145, space 4, and lot 145, spaces 1 and 2. They are flat marker spaces. Current value is $2595 each, asking $2300 each and will pay conveyance fee.

Call Kevin at (913) 488-4440.

REAL ESTATE We are local people who can buy your house - Big companies from all over the nation come here buying houses, but that’s not us. We are parishioners of Holy Trinity Parish and we enjoy giving you personalized service. We can offer you a fair price and are flexible to your needs. If I can help, call me, Mark Edmondson, at (913) 980-4905.

We buy houses and whole estates - We are local and family-owned, and will make you a fair cash offer.

We buy houses in any condition. No fees or commissions and can close on the date of your choice. Selling your house has never felt so good. Jon & Stacy Bichelmeyer (913) 599-5000.

For sale by owner - 1950s ranch-style home for saleby owner, across the street from Bishop Miege. Home is 1,539 square feet; three bedrooms, two-and- a-half baths, basement and two-car garage. For more information, go to: www.5200reinhardt.com.

CAREGIVING Caregiving - We provide personal assistance, companionship, care management, and transportation for seniors in their home, assisted living or nursing facilities. We also provide respite care for main caregivers needing some personal time. Call Daughters & Company at (913) 341-2500 and speak with Laurie, Pat or Gary.

Family member with dementia or need help at home? - We specialize in helping seniors live SAFELY at home, where they want to live! We also offer free dementia training and resources for families and caregivers. Benefits of Home - Senior Care, www.

Benefitsofhome.com or call (913) 422-1591.

Caregiving - We provide personal assistance, care management, transportation and much more. We specialize in dementia, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s. We will provide a loving family environment for your loved one, while giving them the proper care/ companionship that they need and deserve. Please call Mike or Krystyl at (913) 219-5880.

WANTED TO BUY Wanted to buy - Do you have a car or truck that you need to get rid of? If you do, CALL ME! I’m a cash buyer. We’re Holy Trinity parishioners.

My name is Mark. (913) 980-4905.

Wanted to buy - Antique/vintage jewelry, paintings, pottery, sterling, etc. Single pieces or estate. Renee, (913) 475-7393. St. Joseph Parish, Shawnee.

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.

Cash paid - for old tools, old jewelry, old furniture, military items, fishing lures, hunting items, old crocks, arrowheads and old signs. I buy all kinds of older things — house or barn contents, an estate or just one item. Call Patricia any time at (913) 515-2950. Parishioner at Holy Trinity Parish in Lenexa. >> Classifieds continue on page 13

CALENDAR 13

OCTOBER 20, 2023 | THELEAVEN.ORG

GIFT AND CRAFT BAZAAR St. Joseph Parish (McDevitt Hall) 11311 Johnson Dr., Shawnee Oct. 21 from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

This event is hosted by the Ladies’ Guild.

McDevitt Hall is in the basement and is elevator accessible. The bazaar will have more than 50 tables with hundreds of gifts and craft items. Lunch is available at a nominal fee. Raffle tickets will be sold for an outdoor Nativity silhouette with solar flood light, and a large fall mum will be included.

LIVING FLAME St. Pius X Parish 5500 Woodson Rd., Mission Oct. 21 (first of seven gatherings)

Living Flame Contemplative Outreach offers Living Flame, seven once-a-month half-day retreats focused on deepening one’s centering prayer practice and related spiritual practices. This ecumenical experience is offered in-person. The cost is $140 for all seven sessions. For information and registration, go online to: https:// contemplativeoutreachkc.org, then scroll over to “Living Flame Registration.”

BINGO AND CHILI Sacred Heart Parish 1100 West St., Tonganoxie Oct. 21 at 6:30 p.m.

There will be bingo as well as chili and soup. The cost is $10 for dinner and $10 for 10 games of bingo. Cash prizes only.

LIVE PARISH AUCTION St. Philip Neri Parish 514 Parker, Osawatomie Oct. 21 at 10 a.m.

BEREAVEMENT MEETING Curé of Ars Parish (Father Burak Room) 9405 Mission Rd., Leawood Oct. 21 at 8:30 a.m.

The bereavement ministry will have a grief support meeting after the 8 a.m. Mass.

For more information, call (913) 649-2026.

CALLED TO LOVE AGAIN DIVORCE SUPPORT MINISTRY Holy Spirit Parish 11300 W. 103rd St., Overland Park Oct. 21 at 6 p.m.

Find community. Find healing. Find joy.

For more information, send an email to Katie at: katie@thecall2love.com.

DAUGHTERS OF ISABELLA LITTLE FLOWER CIRCLE Christ the King Parish (Yadrich Hall) 5973 S.W. 25th St., Topeka Oct. 22 at 12:40 p.m.

A rosary will be followed by the business meeting and social time. If anyone knows of a member or family member of Daughters of Isabella in need of the circle’s prayers, call Diana Ortiz at (785) 5544256 or chancellor Gen Orozco at (785) 213-0374.

ANNUAL FALL FUNDRAISER St. Leo Parish 1320 1st Ave. East, Horton Oct. 22 from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.

There will be chicken and noodles, chili, broccoli and cheese soups, baked potatoes and desserts for a freewill donation.

There will also be games and activities for kids (all you can play for $10), a mystery bottle wall for the adults, cookie sale, pie auction, bingo and a cornhole tournament.

Join us for fun and fellowship!

ST. PATRICK SCHOOL SHAMROCKS FOR SCHOLARSHIPS Kansas Speedway 400 Speedway Blvd., Kansas City, Kansas Oct. 23 from 6 - 10 p.m.

Join us for Shamrocks for Scholarships and enjoy Slap’s BBQ, drinks and live music by Twice on Sunday, voted Best Wedding Band in Kansas City in 2022 and 2023. The emcee will be Karli Ritter from FOX 4. There will also be a raffle and an auction. Tickets are $100 per person ($75 for St. Patrick alumni.) To purchase a ticket, go online to: stpatrickkck.org/shamrocks-for-scholarships. Questions? Call Jane at (913) 568-3700.

DISCOVERY DAY/TEACHER RECRUITMENT EVENT Holy Spirit Parish 11300 W. 103rd St., Overland Park Oct. 24 from 6 - 7:30 p.m.

Come by to learn more about: benefits, tuition remission, curriculum, faith formation, teacher autonomy and careers. Register online at: archkckcs.org/register.

BLOOD DRIVE Savior Pastoral Center (gym) 12601 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City, Kansas Oct. 24 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

To schedule an appointment, call 1 (800) Red-Cross (1-800-732-2767) or visit the website at: RedCrossBlood.org and enter: SaviorPastoral.

HEARTACHE TO HEALING Church of the Ascension (St. John’s Room) 9519 W. 127th St., Overland Park Oct. 26 from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Widows and widowers around the ages of 40-60, come join us and make new friends and play games like blackjack, Jenga, spades and more. Feel free to bring an appetizer and/or beverage to share. Your RSVP is appreciated but not necessary.

Send an email to Laura at: kheaus1@hot mail.com; Heather at: hmbimpens@gmail. com; or Damon at: Damon452@yahoo. com. We look forward to enjoying some friendly game-night competition with you!

PREPLANNING FOR SOCIAL SECURITY AND CHARITABLE GIVING Sacred Heart Parish 5501 Monticello Rd., Shawnee Oct. 26 from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Learn when it would be best for you to start taking your SSA benefits, and learn more about Medicare benefits, ways to use the U.S. tax code to enhance your charitable giving and ways to avoid capital gains or inheritance taxes. Register online at: cfnek.org/events or call (913) 647-0365.

OUR LADY’S MONTESSORI SCHOOL FALL GALA Grand Street Cafe 4740 Grand Ave., Kansas City, Missouri Oct. 28 at 9 a.m.

Join us for an elegant brunch, inspiring reflection and joyful gathering benefiting the school community. For more information and to buy tickets, go online to: olmskc.org/gala.

‘ILLUMINATING SCRIPTURE’ Christ’s Peace House of Prayer 22131 Meagher Rd., Easton Oct. 27 - 29

The retreat beings on Oct. 27 at 5:30 p.m. and ends on Oct. 29 at 4:30 p.m.

The St. John’s Bible is the first completely handwritten and illuminated Bible to be commissioned by a Benedictine abbey.

Join us in discovering and praying with the beautiful illuminations contained in this masterpiece. There are conferences, eucharistic adoration, Mass, confession and time for private prayer, reflection and walking. Cabins/courtyard rooms: $170 single/$250 per couple or single guest rooms $100 (meals included). To attend, fill out the online individual retreat form at: ChristsPeace.com or call (913) 773-8255.

LINGER OVER BREAKFAST MANDALAS: CIRCLE OF GRACE Avila University (Whitfield Center) 11901 Wornall Rd., Kansas City, Missouri Oct. 28 from 9 - 11 a.m.

Awaken your inner artist with your neighbors as we explore your connection with your inner self and identity. We will create individual mandalas. Each mandala is unique, made with the artist meditating or praying. Creating one is a journey of discovery, going outside the box that results in a one-of-a-kind creation.

FALL DINNER BAZAAR St. Philip Neri Parish Osawatomie City Auditorium 439 Main, Osawatomie Oct. 29 from 11:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.

There will be homemade chicken and noodles, mashed potatoes, salad, green beans, bread, desserts, and coffee and tea.

The cost is: $12 for adults; $6 for kids ages 6-12. There will also be a raffle, country store and bingo, as well as a live silent auction at 10 a.m. at 514 Parker, Osawatomie.

ORGAN CONCERT Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral 415 W. 13th St., Kansas City, Missouri Nov. 3 at 8 p.m.

The concert will be presented by Olivier Latry, currently in a three-year residency at the University of Kansas. The concert is a benefit for the unemployed workers of Notre Dame Cathedral. Due to limited seating, registration is required prior to the event. Register by contacting our events coordinator online at: events@conception. edu or call (660) 944-2881. Overnight accommodations are available.

SPAGHETTI DINNER FUNDRAISER Our Lady of Unity Parish 2646 S. 34th St., Kansas City, Kansas Nov. 4 from 4 - 8 p.m.

Dinner comes with spaghetti, salad, garlic bread, dessert, and lemonade, tea or water. Tickets are $10 each. Cash raffles, cash prizes (first: $1500; second: $1000 and third: $500). If you are interested in purchasing a ticket, please contact Jolene Pryor at (913) 302-2575 or Sherry Johnson at (913) 207-0900.

PROJECT RACHEL RETREAT Lenexa Nov. 4 from 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.

It is never too late to seek healing for the suffering caused by an abortion. Give yourself the gift of healing before the holidays get into full swing. Sign up for our Unfailing Mercy Retreat today. To register, send an email to: projectrachelkc@arch kck.org or call (913) 621-2199.

SOUP LUNCHEON St. Patrick Parish (Corning Community Center) 6606 Atlantic, Corning Nov. 5 from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

We will be serving chili, chicken noodle and beef vegetable soups, sandwiches, hot dogs, chili dogs, pies and desserts.

There will also be chance drawings, bingo and games for the kids with an auction to follow. The cost is a freewill donation.

FALL BAZAAR Holy Trinity Parish 601 Chippewa, Paola Nov. 5 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

A turkey dinner will be served. The cost is $10 for adults and $5 for children. Takeout is available from 11:30 a.m. until 2 p.m.

The cost for takeout is $11 for adults and $6 for children.

TAKE-A-LOOK THURSDAY Holy Spirit School 11300 W. 103rd St., Overland Park Nov. 9 from 9 - 11 a.m.

Come join us for information, tours of the school and refreshments. Choose a learning environment that is welcoming and Christ-centered. For more information, call Anita Pauls at (913) 492-2582 or send an email to: apauls@hscatholic.org.

ST. JAMES ACADEMY OPEN HOUSE 24505 Prairie Star Pkwy., Lenexa Nov. 11 from 9 - 11:30 a.m.

It’s never too early to start exploring which high school is the best fit for your student and family. Open house is the perfect place to start. Come and see how our mission is lived out daily. Learn more and sign up online at: sjathunder.org/admissions/ events/open-house.

WORLDWIDE MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER Savior Pastoral Center 12601 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City, Kansas Nov. 10 - 12

Husbands and wives, if your busy lives have you passing each other coming and going, maybe it is time to stop and get reacquainted with the most important person in your life. The Worldwide Marriage Encounter experience is a perfect way for married couples to step away from the world and reconnect. To register online for an upcoming weekend, visit: www.WWME.org. Questions?

Contact Maggie Harris at (405) 206-1600.

CRAFT SHOW AND BAKE SALE Mother Teresa Parish 2014 N.W. 46th St., Topeka Nov. 16 from 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Nov. 17 from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Shop for the holidays! Enjoy a large selection of handcrafted items and homemade treats. Many new and unique gifts and decor. Soups and cinnamon rolls will be available for purchase during lunch.

‘GOSPEL OF NONVIOLENCE: LIVING THE WAY OF JESUS’ Keeler Women’s Center 759 Vermont Ave., Suite 100-B Kansas City, Kansas First and third Wednesdays From 1 - 3 p.m.

In a world where bullets enter homes and violence disrupts neighborhoods, where the news seems to report more and more killings and war, come experience the message of nonviolence preached by Jesus. Register by calling or texting (913) 689-9375.

ANGSTROM BRASS PRESENTS: ‘MEMENTO MORI’ Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception 416 W. 12th St., Kansas City, Missouri Nov. 18 at 7 p.m.

Ticket cost is $25. For more information, go online to: angstrom-brass-memento-mori-2023. eventbrite.com.

>> Continued from page 12 Wanted to buy - I buy coin collections, military items, pocket watches, jewelry, class rings, old toys, holiday items and more. Cash in hand. Call Kirk at (913) 2139843.

PILGRIMAGE Pilgrimage to Medjugorje - Dec. 27, 2023 - Jan. 4, 2024. Come ring in the New Year with us! Hosted by visionary Mirjana Soldo. For details, call Grace Legaspi at (913) 449-1806.

Classified Advertising The Leaven reaches approximately 50,000 subscribers.

Cost is $20 for the first five lines, $1.50 per line thereafter.

To purchase a Leaven classified ad, email: beth.blankenship@theleaven.org

14 COLUMNISTS DAILY READINGS TWENTY-NINTH WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME Oct. 22 TWENTY-NINTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Is 45: 1, 4-6 Ps 96: 1, 3-5, 7-10 1 Thes 1: 1-5b Mt 22: 15-21 Oct. 23 John of Capistrano, priest Rom 4: 20-25 (Ps) Lk 1: 69-75 Lk 12: 13-21 Oct. 24 Anthony Mary Claret, bishop Rom 5: 12, 15b, 17-19, 20b-21 Ps 40: 7-10, 17 Lk 12: 35-38 Oct. 25 Wednesday Rom 6: 12-18 Ps 124: 1-8 Lk 12: 39-48 Oct. 26 Thursday Rom 6: 19-23 Ps 1: 1-4, 6 Lk 12: 49-53 Oct. 27 Friday Rom 7: 18-25a Ps 119: 66, 68, 76-77, 93-94 Lk 12: 54-59 Oct. 28 SIMON AND JUDE, APOSTLES Eph 2: 19-22 Ps 19: 2-5 Lk 6: 12-16

No doubt about it: The Catholic Church is a big tent

“I

n your compassion, O merciful Father, gather to yourself all your children scattered throughout the world.”

You’ve probably heard those words many times over the years. They come from Eucharistic Prayer 3 in the Mass. Until September 1977, they were mostly that — words.

The autumn of 1977, however, gave me one of the greatest blessings of my life: the opportunity to study theology in Rome for four years.

Although I lived with fellow Americans at the North American College there, classes were held at the Jesuit-run Gregorian University, only a block or so away from the famous Trevi Fountain.

Because my Gregorian classmates hailed from all over the world, our courses were taught in a “common” language: Italian! (That was an adjustment for English speakers as we somewhat arrogantly expected the whole world to accommodate us in the language that

“I JOHN OF CAPISTRANO 1386-1456

This Italian studied law in Perugia, where he married the daughter of a leading family and became governor of the city in 1412. Imprisoned during a civil war, he had a vision of St. Francis, followed by a spiritual conversion. Dispensed from his marriage vows, John joined the Friars Minor in 1416 and was ordained four years later. Going barefoot and wearing a hair shirt, he became a great preacher, worked diligently to reform the Franciscan orders, served as the friars’ vicar general and was named papal legate in a number of places in Europe and Palestine. He also led a wing of the Christian army in a victory against the Turks who besieged Belgrade in 1456. John is the patron of jurists and military chaplains.

OCTOBER 20, 2023 | THELEAVEN.ORG

MARK MY WORDS

FATHER MARK GOLDASICH Father Mark is the pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Tonganoxie.

He has been editor of The Leaven since 1989.

was comfortable for us.)

During breaks between classes, the hallways were abuzz with conversations in a vast array of tongues.

It was my first practical lesson that this Catholic Church is a whole lot bigger than I imagined.

My mind continued to be stretched as I traveled throughout Europe my first summer and attended Mass in Germany, Austria, France, Denmark, Norway and Sweden. While the languages were unfa-

miliar, the ritual of the Mass was not.

By my third summer in Rome, I’d just been ordained a deacon and was headed to serve for three months in the Diocese of Nyeri in Kenya. Seeing the vibrancy of the church in East Africa amazed me.

The Mass took as long as it took — no worries about clearing out the parking lot before the next Mass — and was filled with dancing, full-throated and lovely singing, and enthusiastic responses. And the welcome and generosity of the people were like nothing I’d ever witnessed before.

All these memories flood my mind as we celebrate World Mission Sunday this coming

weekend. Pope Francis has set this year’s theme as: “Hearts on fire, feet on the move,” referencing the Gospel story of the disciples on the way to Emmaus (Lk 24: 13-35). Like those early disciples, we’re called not just to know Jesus, but to share our faith experience with others.

World Mission Sunday gives us an easy opportunity to be missionary disciples, simply by contributing financially to support the church’s work in some of the remotest and poorest areas of our world. Our contributions assist some 844,000 catechists sharing the faith; 258,540 Sisters working with families and children; 38,140 seminarians; education for 26 million kids; medical assistance in 12,000 clinics; and comfort in 8,750 homes for orphans and the elderly.

World Mission Sunday challenges us, particularly in this country, to confront our narrow-mindedness and prejudice. This little story gives us a great example to follow:

A first grader left for her first day at a newly integrated school. Her anxious mother met her at the door afterwards and asked, “How did everything go, honey?”

“Oh, Mother! You know what? A little Black girl sat next to me!” said the girl.

“And what happened?” asked the mom worriedly.

“We were both so scared that we held hands all day!” she said.

(Found in “Illustrations Unlimited,” edited by James S. Hewett.)

Our Catholic faith is something that transcends all the boundaries of nationality and race. This was celebrated beautifully a few weeks ago at a Mass with Archbishop Naumann at Prince of Peace in Olathe where migrants and refugees from Burma, Korea, Kenya, Brazil and elsewhere gave us a glimpse of the world right here in the archdiocese.

May we never tire of making these words of Jesus a reality: “That all of them may be one.”

Do you give to God what rightfully belongs to him?

am the Lord, there is no other,” the prophet Isaiah tells us in simple, evocative words. God’s power is universal, loving and mysterious.

And all earthly power comes from God, as Isaiah reminds the Israelites.

To confess God’s power has profound meaning for our personal life. For when we trust that God is the source of all power, we place ourselves in the merciful hands of God, with confident faith and humble thanksgiving.

It is this Christian attitude of thanksgiving and deep trust in

JEM SULLIVAN Sullivan is a professor at The Catholic University of America.

God that Paul praises in Sunday’s second reading. The apostle describes the Thessalonians as an early Christian community whose

faith, hope and love of Jesus Christ radiated from their words and actions. This was the path of Christian discipleship then and it remains the essence of every follower of Jesus today.

The challenge of Sunday’s Gospel lies in finding the balance between being disciples of Jesus Christ and being good citizens of society and the world.

Jesus offers the religious leaders of his day an answer to this perennial task by answering their question with a question. He asks them to produce a coin used to pay taxes and asks them to describe the coin — “Whose

head is this and whose inscription is on it?”

Then Jesus tells them that the coin that bears the image and name of Caesar should be given to Caesar. With that, he reminds them of their religious obligations: “Give to God what belongs to God.” Jesus confronts them, and us, with a fundamental question.

Do we give to God what rightfully belongs to our Creator who is the all-powerful origin of the universe — the gift of our entire heart, mind and soul?

The religious leaders of Jesus’ time set up the question in such a way that one had to choose between

loyalty to political power or faithfulness to God. They create an either/or situation, a false dilemma between choosing to pay taxes, as good citizens would do, and serving God with one’s words and actions.

Jesus’ answer cuts right through their false dilemma to show that the Christian life is not an either/or situation. A disciple of Jesus strives to be both a law-abiding citizen and a person of faith who loves God and neighbor. We do so, confident that serving God is our highest priority.

Love, forgiveness liberate, break cycles of violence, pope says VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The life of St. Josephine Bakhita, a former slave from Sudan who became a nun, demonstrates how love liberates people from oppression and frees them to forgive their oppressors and break cycles of hatred and violence, Pope Francis said.

“Often a wounded person wounds in turn; the oppressed easily becomes an oppressor,”

the pope said Oct. 11 at his weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square.

In contrast, he said, St. Bakhita teaches people that “forgiveness takes away nothing but adds dignity to the person; it makes us lift our gaze from ourselves toward others, to see them as fragile as we are, yet always brothers and sisters in the Lord.” Continuing a series of audience talks highlighting saints who

demonstrate zeal or passion for evangelization, Pope Francis said St. Bakhita’s life story shows how “forgiveness is the wellspring of a zeal that becomes mercy and calls us to a humble and joyful holiness.”

The pope also used the occasion to pray for peace in Sudan, where a power struggle unleashed violence in April and fighting continues although, as he noted, very little is said about it in the news.

COLUMNISTS 15

OCTOBER 20, 2023 | THELEAVEN.ORG

Challenge yourself to be a better advocate for the vulnerable

I

n October, we celebrate Respect Life Month, but every single day in our shared Catholic faith is a day to promote the dignity and sacredness of all people.

What does it mean to respect life? The first thought that often comes to mind is the United States’ movement to end abortion.

While as a community, state, country and, most importantly, a church, we should never cease fighting for an end to abortion, we need to recognize that respecting life must include — and go beyond — fighting for the rights of the unborn.

At Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas, all of our ministries

INSIDE CATHOLIC CHARITIES

LAUREN SOLIDUM Lauren Solidum is the executive director of Catholic Charities.

center around respecting the lives and the human dignity of those we serve. Our founding ministry, adoption, matches children from birth to 6 months of age with their forever

families. For those who choose to parent, we advise and connect them with community resources to help prepare for a healthy birth and beyond.

Catholic Charities preserves the dignity of families through food and nutrition assistance, financial assistance and programs aimed at ending

the cycle of poverty through employment, higher education and advanced skills training. Shalom House provides a dignified, safe place for up to 60 men experiencing homelessness. It serves as a sanctuary of hope as they engage in longterm programming to change the trajectory of their lives.

Welcoming the stranger is not political despite what our mainstream media would like each of us to believe. For nearly 50 years, Catholic Charities has welcomed the stranger through our refugee resettlement, citizenship and immigration services.

These families seek refuge much like

Joseph, Mary and Jesus once sought refuge.

They add sincere value to their communities, schools, workplaces and economies.

Through our Foster Grandparent Program, we value the experience and knowledge of older adults. They gain a sense of purpose as they volunteer with children who have special or exceptional needs, providing nurturing, guidance and support.

This October, what is one respect life action that you could take? Below are a few suggestions.

• Volunteer your time or financially donate to one of our ministries.

• Assess within

your own family the ways you promote the dignity of human life.

• Use your voting power to support legislation that motivates an end to abortion, moves to cease the death penalty and advocates for immigration reform.

• Pray often for our world to respect life at every stage.

Our archdiocese is a vibrant witness for the promotion and defense of protecting all life.

October is a wonderful time to recognize and celebrate these efforts throughout our archdiocese and to challenge ourselves to become stronger advocates for the poor and vulnerable.

Gospel calls not for ‘vague compassion’ but gift of ourselves

F

or the past 50 years, the Catholic Church in the United States has designated October as a time to focus on the value and dignity of human life.

How can you make this celebration meaningful for your family?

First, know and share the beautiful “gospel of life” message with those you love.

In his Respect Life Sunday homily, Archbishop Naumann said, “Just gaze upon a crucifix if you want to see a visual image of the worth that God places upon every human life, no matter age or stage of development, no matter the level of

LIFE MATTERS

DEBRA NIESEN Debra Niesen is the archdiocesan consultant for the pro-life office.

intellectual or physical gifts, no matter ethnicity or race, no matter poor or rich. In God’s eyes, the embryo in

the womb has the same dignity as an elite athlete; the elderly person with signs of dementia is no less valuable than a Rhodes Scholar; the child with Down syndrome has no less worth than the class valedictorian. Each and every human life is sacred — not because

of what we can do or produce, but because we are children of God.” If you have children, be intentional about helping them to know that they are created by a God who loves them, desired their existence and made them as his son or daughter. This is our true identity that gives us our dignity and value.

The “gospel of life” also reminds us that as Christians, we are called to defend and help those who are vulnerable. The Respect Life Month theme, “Radical Solidarity,” asks us not to simply have a “vague compassion or shallow distress” at the misfortunes of others, but rather “to

make a sacrificial gift of ourselves for the sake of our neighbor. (See the website at: respectlife. org/radical-solidarityreflection).

Most importantly, pray for a culture and leaders in our country that cherish and protect the most innocent and vulnerable among us.

Here are some concrete suggestions for making the most of Respect Life Month: • Read St. John Paul II’s 1995 encyclical “The Gospel of Life” and the archdiocesan Catholic Guide for End of Life Planning to know and understand the church’s teaching on difficult life issues.

• Pray a rosary while

participating in 40 Days for Life.

• Show a video of the development of a baby in the womb to your children.

• Make a meal for a family with a new baby.

• Donate diapers to and visit a local pregnancy center.

• Mentor a child in a foster residential home.

• Become an extraordinary minister of Communion to the elderly or dying.

• Remain joyful and hopeful, and remember Archbishop Naumann’s episcopal motto, “Life Will Be Victorious!”

For more ideas and resources, explore the website at: www.arch kck.org/prolife.

Engaged families are crucial to the success of Catholic schools

O

ur Catholic community is blessed to have many strong families. It is apparent at weekly Masses and during the celebration of the sacraments. Strong families create strong parishes, schools and neighborhoods.

One of the key differentiators between Catholic schools and public schools across the country is the strength of the families and their involvement in their children’s education. Research has proven that when parents are engaged with their children’s education, grades are higher, attendance is better and there is a

CEF CENTERED

VINCENT ANCH Vince Anch is the executive director of the Catholic Education Foundation.

stronger appreciation for lifelong learning.

A major obstacle to improving education for our children comes from policymakers that focus on

budgeting, facilities and course curriculum. Very few address parental involvement.

Harvard professor Robert Putnam suggests that given a choice between a 10% increase in school budgets or a 10% increase in parent involvement, he would invest in parent involvement.

Professor and author Lawrence Steinberg estimates that nearly one in three parents in this country is disengaged from their adolescent’s life and particularly their education. Nearly one-third of students say their parents have no idea how they are doing in school.

Karen Bogenschneider and Carol Johnson from the University of WisconsinMadison found that lack of parental interest and involvement in their children’s schooling is not the only influence on poor academic achievement.

School failure is also associated with a peer culture that downplays

academic success.

Catholic schools have always had engaged families. This is reinforced by students’ participation in the sacraments together, along with their fellow students’ families. High academic achievement has also been a major tenet of Catholic schools and guides students to reach their academic potential.

It’s easy to understand the importance of parental engagement on children’s learning. What is rarely measured, though, in national research studies is the impact that parents have on the spiritual development of children. We know as Catholics that

parents are our first teachers and first spiritual mentors. Jesus certainly benefited from two loving parents who were devoted to their faith and their son’s well-being. The Holy Family is the best example for all parents to follow when raising children. Our Catholic schools focus on the Holy Family as role models for developing children, which in turn helps students learn and develop academically and spiritually.

While some schools have statues of their mascots to inspire their students, Catholic schools have the Holy Family to inspire our students.

LOCAL NEWS 16

OCTOBER 20, 2023 | THELEAVEN.ORG

LEAVEN PHOTO BY MARC ANDERSON

Altar server Ian Mead, Deacon Jody Madden, Deacon Bob Ortiz, Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann and Father Matt Nagle pray during the Introductory Rite of the Mass celebrated Oct. 9 to mark the reopening of Assumption Church, one of two churches utilized by Topeka’s Mater Dei Parish. The Mass was the first one celebrated at the church since March 2020. The Mass also served as one of a weekend’s worth of events, all timed to celebrate the centennial of the church building itself.

Assumption celebrates reopening, centennial of church building

By Marc and Julie Anderson mjanderson@theleaven.org

T

OPEKA — Sometimes, you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone — or in the case of Assumption Church here, until it was closed.

Like the rest of the archdiocesan churches, Assumption, one of two churches utilized by Topeka’s Mater Dei Parish, closed for Mass in March 2020 due to COVID. Never did parishioners dream it would be more than three years before Sunday Mass would be celebrated there again.

Although the church temporarily reopened for daily Mass in early 2021, an inspection conducted in November of that year revealed significant structural issues involving the church’s twin bell towers. On March 1, 2022, the church closed to begin necessary repair work.

In addition to taking the bell towers down and capping them, parishioners also engaged contractors to complete a process known as tuckpointing in which poor mortar was removed and replaced all along the church’s exterior.

Known as “the oldest Catholic church in Topeka” as well as the “Mother Church of Topeka,” Assumption was originally built in 1862. In 1922, that church burned down. Construction of the current church building began in 1923. Earlier this year, the church’s iconic bell towers were removed altogether to allow construction crews to replace the roof.

So, it was with great anticipation that parishioners welcomed the reopening

LEAVEN PHOTO BY MARC ANDERSON

Catholics from the Topeka Region participate in a eucharistic procession during the afternoon of Oct. 9. The procession began at Assumption Church — which celebrated its reopening and centennial earlier that day — and wound its way around the Kansas Capitol. As the procession made its way to the south side of the Capitol, which faces the Kansas Supreme Court building, Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann offered prayers in defense of human life. of the church for Mass on Oct. 8, even if the iconic bell towers are not yet restored. For now, parishioners have turned their attention to the parish’s second church building, that of Holy Name, as it, too, is also in need of some repairs. Both churches are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Prior to the official reopening, parishioners offered public tours of the church on Oct. 6 as part of a weekend of festivities to mark both the centennial of the church building and its reopening. The weekend also included a trivia contest on Oct. 7.

Approximately 200 people participated in the re-opening Mass celebrated at 8 a.m. by Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann on Oct. 8, followed by a breakfast hosted by the Knights of Columbus.

In his homily, Archbishop Naumann expressed gratitude for “those who helped to build this church” and noted the church’s “very strategic and important” location across the street from the Kansas Capitol. He also commented on the church’s beauty.

“Part of the reason why our churches are different is that for us, they’re not

just meeting rooms. They’re not just places where we gather, but we believe that the real presence of Jesus Christ is present in the Eucharist.”

The archbishop acknowledged all that went into that beauty, however.

“So, as we celebrate the 100 years this church has been in existence,” he said, “we give thanks for those who sacrificed greatly to be able to build this beautiful, beautiful space where we honor and worship God.” Likewise, Father Matthew Nagle, who has served as pastor since July, said he’s thought a lot about the connection parishioners and the entire Topeka Catholic community have to not only a parish church, but also Assumption itself.

“Assumption is the Mother Church of Topeka, so I think it’s important we stay connected to our history and our roots,” he said. “So much of Topeka Catholic history began at Assumption.

Also, Assumption is very strategically located downtown. It is very important to have a vibrant Catholic presence next to the Capitol.”

Finally, he added, “Since I came to Mater Dei, I’ve thought a lot about the connection people have to a church building. Some of the most important moments in our lives happen at the parish church: baptism, first Communion and confirmation, weddings, funerals, etc. In the process, a church becomes a second home.

“I’ve only been here a few months, but in talking to people, it was obvious how much they loved Assumption and how much they longed to attend Mass there once again.”