10 27 23 Vol. 45 No. 12

THELEAVEN.ORG | VOL. 45, NO. 12 | OCTOBER 27, 2023

LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER

An appeal for help from Father Nick Blaha during the pandemic led John Gillcrist, a member of Holy Spirit Parish in Overland Park, to put together an abbreviated accounting class for priests.

This year, from left, Fathers Bryan Amthor (of the Diocese of KC-St. Joseph), Brandon Farrar, Bill Porter, Jonathan Dizon and Kent O’Connor are taking advantage of the five-week offering.

HITTING THE BOOKS Priests tackle the basics of accounting

By Joe Bollig joe.bollig@theleaven.org

K

ANSAS CITY, Kan. — This may be news to most Catholics, but not everything a priest needs to know is taught in the seminary.

Seminaries do not — and indeed, cannot — teach a man all the practical things that go along with being a pastor.

Things like the financial aspects of operating a parish.

A pastor simply must know what’s going on, financially speaking, with his parish — even if he has a great bookkeeper, a wonderful parish finance council or an awesome parish business manager — because the parish is ultimately his responsibility.

Father Nick Blaha, pastor of Blessed Sacrament and Christ the King parishes

I WANTED TO REALLY UNDERSTAND MORE HOW OUR FINANCES WORKED, WHAT TO LOOK FOR AND JUST BASIC KNOWLEDGE SO I WASN’T AT A LOSS WHEN I LOOKED AT THE REPORTS. FATHER JONATHAN DIZON PASTOR OF ST. DOMINIC PARISH IN HOLTON AND ST. FRANCIS XAVIER PARISH IN MAYETTA in Kansas City, Kansas, knew this — and knew he needed help. “[In 2020,] I was taking on large, new

responsibilities,” said Father Blaha. “I realized I had been looking at balance sheets and accounting reports, but I didn’t know if I was looking at them correctly. I felt very much like I was faking it, and I wanted to know the things I needed to look at and pay attention to.”

Fortunately, he had connections, and was able to hook up with a guru.

The guru was John Gillcrist, a member of Holy Spirit Parish in Overland Park. Gillcrist worked for 35 years for Bartlett and Company in Kansas City, Missouri. When he retired from Bartlett as president in 2018, he became an adjunct faculty member at Donnelly College in Kansas City, Kansas, teaching leadership in the business program.

But he also had a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Tennessee. For seven years before going to Bartlett, he worked as an accountant,

HIT US WITH YOUR BEST SHOT

Is your parish celebrating Día de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead? Send your best home altar, “ofrendas” or other related photos by email to Moira Cullings at: moira.cullings@theleaven.org. Submissions might be shared on our social media platforms and the very best might make it into print! Watch for other “Hit us with your best shot” features in upcoming issues.

accounting manager and comptroller.

“Father Blaha went to Holy Spirit School with my oldest daughter Kate,” said Gillcrist. “During the pandemic, I got a call from Father Blaha, and he asked, ‘Can you teach me some accounting? I’ve got three parishes and we have finance committees and look at financial statements. I don’t know what I’m looking at. Can you help me with this?’”

Gillcrist put together a syllabus and a 180-slide PowerPoint presentation for an overview of accounting principles.

He taught the course one day a week for five weeks to Father Blaha and one other person at Christ the King School.

Thus, the Basic Accounting Tutorial course was born. It’s not about teaching priests how to be accountants, rather to just provide them with a basic >> See “CLASS” on page 7

2 ARCHBISHOP

I

OCTOBER 27, 2023 | THELEAVEN.ORG

Prayer, not politics, is needed for peace in the Holy Land

urge everyone to pray a daily rosary for peace in the Holy Land.

The brutality of the Hamas terrorist attacks against Israel were crimes against humanity. The brutal murders of innocent civilians, particularly children, were morally appalling.

Israel has a right and responsibility to defend its citizens.

Hamas’ plea for a ceasefire, after initiating the war and inflicting a heavy death toll on Israeli civilians, is a disingenuous and self-serving gesture. Hamas should immediately release all hostages.

I have been to the Holy Land five times.

The Holy Land is often referred to as the “Fifth Gospel.” The ability to visit sites such as — 1) the actual sites of the Annunciation and the Nativity of Jesus; 2) Nazareth, the hometown of Our Lord; 3) Galilee where Jesus exercised much of his public ministry; 4) the Upper Room in Jerusalem where Our Lord celebrated the Last Supper, appeared on Easter night to the apostles and the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples on Pentecost; 5) the Garden of Gethsemane; 6) Calvary; and 7) the empty tomb, the place of the Resurrection — allows the Gospels to come alive. These sacred shrines make clear that Jesus was not a

LIFE WILL BE VICTORIOUS

ARCHBISHOP JOSEPH F. NAUMANN mythical figure, but a historic person.

The re-establishment of Israel as a Jewish state after World War II and the horror of the Holocaust was a tremendous blessing for the often persecuted Jewish people. The ability for Jews to have their own land where they can be in control of their own destiny and protect themselves from future persecutions was the fulfillment of centuries of prayer. At the same time, it also came at a significant cost to the Arab Christians and Muslims, who had their own claims to the land.

Fifty years ago, Christians made up 50% of the population of the Holy Land.

Today, Christians are less than 2%. Why? Because it is very hard for an Arab Christian or Muslim to make a decent living. In order to protect the Jewish population, many restrictions have been placed on the freedoms of all Arabs, no matter

their religion or political allegiances. These lost freedoms result in severe limits on educational, professional and employment opportunities.

Since my first pilgrimage to the Holy Land, Israel has systematically increased its “settlements,” which have resulted in the Jewish takeover of more land that previously belonged to Palestinians. Israel’s justification for usurping this land is to protect Israelis from Palestinian extremist terrorists.

The frustration of Arab Christians and Muslims is also understandable, since Jewish barriers and checkpoints have made it impossible for some Arabs to have access to significant portions of their own property. Of course, this latest act of terrorism by Hamas reinforces the Israeli claim for the need for extreme security measures.

Israel is on constant military alert because they have so many geographic neighbors who desire the

STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP, MANAGEMENT and CIRCULATION

(Act of October 23, 1962; Section 4369, Title 39, United States Code) PS Form 3526 1. Title of Publication: The Leaven 2. Publication Number: 0194-9799 3. Filing Date: Oct. 1, 2022 4. Issue Frequency: Weekly September - May, except Friday the week after Thanksgiving and New Year’s, and Friday after Easter; biweekly June August.

5. Number of Issues Annually: 41 6. Annual Subscription Price: $24 7. Complete Mailing Address of Known Office of Publication: 12615 Parallel Parkway, Kansas City, KS 66109 8. Complete Mailing Address of Headquarters or General Business Office of Publisher: 12615 Parallel Parkway, Kansas City, KS 66109 9. Full Names and Complete Mailing Addresses of Publisher and Editor and Managing Editor: Publisher: Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann, Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, 66109-3718 12615 Parallel Parkway, Kansas City, Kansas Editor: Rev. Mark Goldasich, 12615 Parallel Parkway, Kansas City, Kansas, 66109-3718 Managing Editor: Anita McSorley, 12615 Parallel Parkway, Kansas City, Kansas, 66109-3718 10. Owner: Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas 11. Known Bondholders, Mortgagees, and Other Security Holders Owning or Holding 1 Percent or More of Total Amount of Bonds, Mortgages, or Other

Securities: None 15. Circulation:

extermination of the state of Israel. Israelis live under a constant threat of attack. As soon as there is any hope of peaceful co-existence, Arab Muslim extremists undermine the possibility with violent acts of terrorism.

It is hard to conceive of a political solution acceptable to all parties. This is why we need to pray more fervently for peace in the Holy Land. Only divine intervention will be able to make an abiding peace a possibility.

Last weekend’s first reading for Mass was uniquely appropriate for the current state of conflict and confusion in the Middle East. The prophet Isaiah identified King Cyrus of Persia as a messianic figure.

Persia corresponds to modern-day Iran.

The Persian armies, under the leadership of Cyrus, defeated the Babylonian (modern day Iraq) empire.

Previously, the Babylonians had defeated Judah and destroyed its capital of Jerusalem. The Babylonians took Jewish leaders captive, relocating them in their empire, where there was little respect for religious freedom.

King Cyrus, on the other hand, took a much more benign approach. Cyrus actually helped to fund the rebuilding of Jerusalem and its temple. Cyrus, even though he had no faith in Israel’s God,

ARCHBISHOP NAUMANN’S CALENDAR Oct. 28 Gaudeamus — Overland Park Convention Center Oct. 29 Mass and dinner — St. Isidore Catholic Campus Center at Kansas State University, Manhattan Oct. 30 Confirmation Sacred Heart, Paxico, and Holy Family, Alma — Sacred Heart, Paxico Nov. 1 Bishop Ward Mass — Cathedral of St. Peter, Kansas City, Kansas Nov. 2 Religious Alliance Against Pornography board meeting Nov. 3 ROME - EOHSJ Consulta — Rome

was hailed by Isaiah as “anointed” — a messianic term — because he made it possible for Jews to return to Jerusalem.

Pope St. John Paul II in a 1986 visit to a Roman synagogue said: “You are dearly beloved brothers and in a certain way, it could be said that you are our elder brothers.” As Christians, we have a special affection for the Jewish people.

We cannot truly understand the Gospels without knowing the Jewish Scriptures, the Old Testament.

Jesus, Mary, Joseph and all the apostles are all Jewish. Jesus makes clear that he is the fulfillment of the promises made to Abraham, Moses and

the prophets.

At the same time, we respect every human being, no matter race, ethnicity or creed, because all are made in the divine image. We desire peace and welfare for every member of the human race.

At this moment, humanly speaking, it is difficult to see a realistic path for peace in the Holy Land.

That is why we must storm heaven with our prayers and seek the intercession of Mary, Our Lady and Queen of Palestine. God can raise up a new Cyrus to bring peace to Jerusalem, to the Israelis and to all who live in the land made uniquely sacred by the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus.

SOLUTION Av. No. copies each issue during preceding 12 mos.

Single issue nearest to filing date

A. Total no. copies printed (Net press run) 48,974 48,766 B. Paid Circulation 1. Mail Subscriptions 48,596 48,390 3. Sales through dealers and carriers, street vendors and counter sales 0 0 C. Total Paid Circulation 48,596 48,390 D. Free or Nominal Rate Distribution 1. Outside-County copies included on PS Form 3541 178 176 4. Free Distribution Outside the Mail (Carriers or Other Means) 0 0 E. Total Free Distribution 178 176 F. Total Distribution (Sum of C and D) 48,774 498,566 G. Copies not Distributed Office Use, Left-Over Unaccounted, Spoiled 200 200 H. Total (Sum of 15 f and g) 48,974 48,766 I. Percentage Paid and/ or Requested Circulation 99.6% 99.6% I certify that the statements made by me above are correct and complete.

Rev. Mark Goldasich, Editor

NEED HELP HEALING FROM A PAST ABORTION?

Call or text 913-621-2199 Compassionate, Confidential, Free

LOCAL NEWS 3

OCTOBER 27, 2023 | THELEAVEN.ORG

A ‘TERRIFIC SPACE’ FOR PRAYER

Hundreds gather to dedicate new Marian grotto at Holy Spirit Parish

LEAVEN PHOTO BY KATHRYN WHITE

Liam Schmitz, son of Holy Spirit parishioners Emily and Jake Schmitz, prepares to join the candlelight dedication of the new Marian grotto at Holy Spirit Parish in Overland Park on Oct. 11.

By Moira Cullings moira.cullings@theleaven.org

O

VERLAND PARK — Even 5-year-old Liam Schmitz is delighted by the new Marian grotto at Holy Spirit Parish here.

“Liam said his next birthday party will be at Mary’s grotto,” said his father Jake, “so that’s a good indicator of how excited we are for the amazing things happening here at the parish and school.”

The Schmitz family was among nearly 600 parishioners who gathered at Holy Spirit on Oct. 11 for a candlelight dedication of the parish’s new grotto.

“The candlelight dedication was a way for us to both bless the Marian grotto and consecrate the parish to Our Lady,” said pastor Father Andrew Strobl, “which just meant to entrust the parish in a special way to the Blessed Mother.”

The entire evening was a celebration of the Parish Year of Eucharistic Revival.

It began with a free dinner followed by a talk on the Eucharist by Joe Heschmeyer from Catholic Answers for adults, and breakout sessions and activities for children.

Families then came back together for a guided meditation and discussion about sacred art with Sebastian D’Amico before spending time in eucharistic adoration.

The evening culminated with the grotto dedication led by Father Strobl — a moment two years in the making.

According to parish manager Shaw Leach, Holy Spirit has had a large statue of the Blessed Mother that sat in a small flower garden outside the church since at least the mid-’90s.

“A couple of years ago,” said Leach, “our youth minister Doug Leikam mentioned that having a grotto to elevate Mary would be incredible.

“So, we took the idea and ran with it.”

The parish held a Fund-A-Need at its annual gala two years ago for various projects around the grounds, including a new preschool playground, a shelter for its sports field and the grotto.

“Getting the right design and crew to

LEAVEN PHOTO BY KATHRYN WHITE

Father Andrew Strobl, pastor of Holy Spirit, leads nearly 600 parishioners in prayer during a candlelight dedication of the parish’s new Marian grotto. During the dedication, Father Strobl blessed the grotto and consecrated the parish to Mary.

THE GROTTO IS A GREAT ADDITION TO OUR PARISH. THERE IS AN ELEGANCE IN ITS SIMPLICITY, WHICH HELPS YOU FOCUS ON WHAT IS IMPORTANT. JAKE SCHMITZ HOLY SPIRIT PARISHIONER

build it took a while,” said Leach. “But we ended up with a new elevated home for our beloved Marian statue.”

The grotto project began at the beginning of summer.

Leach and Fernando Vazquez, the parish’s head of maintenance and an architect, worked together with its construction crew on the grotto’s design.

Parishioner Matt Logan restored the statue of Mary, Enriquez Construction did the construction work and Speed Fabrication made custom miraculous metal pieces for the grotto’s entrance.

Rosehill Gardens and the McLenon family added the finishing touches to the landscaping around the grotto.

When Father Strobl first saw the finished product, he was thrilled.

“I thought, ‘This is going to be a terrific space that is very clearly for prayer,’” he said.

And he was right.

“I’ve already seen parishioners out there praying,” said Father Strobl, “and it’s been beautiful.

“It’s a great space because it’s right

President Most Rev. Joseph F. Naumann

Publication No. (ISSN0194-9799) Published weekly September through May, excepting the Friday the week after Thanksgiving, and the Friday after Christmas; biweekly June through August. Address communications to: The Leaven, 12615 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City, KS 66109. Phone: (913) 721-1570; or email at: sub@ theleaven.org. Postmaster: Send address changes to The Leaven, 12615 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City, KS 66109. For change of address, provide old and new address and parish. Subscriptions $24/year. Periodicals postage paid at Kansas City, KS 66109.

Production/Business Manager Todd Habiger todd.habiger@theleaven.org

at the front of the church, so after Mass on Sundays, people are out there. For pickup for school, kids are out there with their families.”

Schmitz and his family are thankful for spaces like the grotto that enhance their prayer experience.

“The grotto is a great addition to our parish,” he said. “There is an elegance in its simplicity, which helps you focus on what is important.”

For Father Strobl, seeing how eager his parishioners are to get involved in the life of the parish is gratifying.

“As a pastor, it just warms your heart to know that the parish is alive,” he said, “and there’s so much vitality. “[Parishioners] want to do something beautiful for God. It’s just awesome.”

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 27, 2023 | THELEAVEN.ORG

A radical ‘yes’ to God led seminarian to his U.S. citizenship

By Moira Cullings moira.cullings@theleaven.org

K

ANSAS CITY, Kan. — A chance encounter with a group of Benedictine Sisters at a Leavenworth Walmart changed the course of Cesar Gomez’s life.

Born and raised in Puruandiro, Michoacan, Mexico, Gomez joined a religious community after high school and was content there.

Unbeknownst to him, his father had applied for Gomez to obtain a United States green card.

Gomez was in the middle of consecrating his life to Jesus through Mary when he received a letter in the mail saying he was accepted to become a permanent U.S. resident.

“It took me by surprise because I didn’t ask for it,” said Gomez.

He called his dad, who explained what he had done.

Unsure of what to do, Gomez went to a local chapel and asked Mary for a sign.

“After a week,” he said, “I got another letter from the U.S. saying that I have an appointment in Ciudad Juárez on December 12, the [feast] day of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

“When I saw the date of the appointment,” he continued, “I was like, I think this is the sign that I asked for.”

Gomez’s father suggested he begin contacting dioceses in the United States to see if they would welcome him.

“But I never heard anything from anybody,” said Gomez.

That was until his father, who was working in Leavenworth at the time, stopped by Walmart for some groceries.

The Benedictine Sisters who happened to be there approached him and asked if he was Catholic.

“I think he was trying to redirect the conversation,” said Gomez, “so he told them, ‘I am Catholic. Honestly, I don’t go to Sunday Mass, but I have a son who is interested in becoming a priest.’

“Those Sisters got so excited. They asked him for my contact information. They contacted me, and then they were the ones who actually invited me to the Archdiocese of Kansas [City in Kansas].”

Moments of divine intervention and a radical “yes” to God’s call have led Gomez to a life he never imagined.

On Sept. 14, Gomez became a U.S. citizen.

He’s slated to be ordained a transitional deacon next May, and a priest for the archdiocese in 2025.

‘Called here by God’ “Cesar is here in the United States due to a clear experience of being called here by God,” said seminarian Dan Mauro.

“I firmly believe in this calling,” he

COURTESY PHOTO

Father Anthony Saiki, rector of the Cathedral of St. Peter in Kansas City, Kansas, congratulates archdiocesan seminarian Cesar Gomez on becoming a U.S. citizen on Sept. 14 at the Fort Scott National Historic Site. Gomez was born and raised in Puruandiro, Michoacan, Mexico. added, “and already see that Cesar’s ‘yes’ has greatly benefited our archdiocese.”

Gomez never dreamed of becoming an American citizen, but he knew he wanted to be a priest from a young age.

He grew up with a mom, dad, older sister and two older brothers. He was raised Catholic, but his family didn’t practice the faith.

Gomez was able to attend religious education, and it was there he felt the desire to become a priest.

At age 13, he finally shared that aspiration with his parents, who were confused and surprised but ultimately supportive.

In 2015, that dream carried him to Kansas, where he stepped foot on U.S. soil for the first time at age 20.

He didn’t speak English and needed a translator to talk to Father Scott Wallisch, the archdiocesan vocation director at the time, who welcomed him with open arms.

“I have been impressed by Cesar since I first met him,” said Father Wallisch. “He has always worked hard to integrate himself into our culture here.”

During that time, Gomez also met Father Anthony Saiki, who assisted with translations. Since then, the two have formed a friendship.

“Cesar is a very thoughtful and sincere person,” said Father Saiki. “He is incredibly intelligent and truly desires to share the Lord with everyone he meets.”

Gomez began studying English while he lived at the Cathedral of St. Peter in Kansas City, Kansas, for six months.

He went on to study at Conception Seminary College in Conception, Missouri, before attending Kenrick-Glennon Seminary in St. Louis.

Mauro has witnessed one of Gomez’s virtues that stands out most: generosity.

“Throughout his years in [the] seminary, Cesar has been extremely generous with giving his time to serve others in ways beyond what is expected by the seminary schedule,” he said.

Gomez has trained couples in natural family planning, taught online courses, helped women in crisis pregnancies, served as a translator “and, in additional to all of this, without fail, he says ‘yes’ to a seminarian who asks if he has time to give him a haircut,” said Mauro.

Last year, Gomez served at St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Leawood.

It was there he chose to apply for U.S. citizenship.

The decision to leave his family and homeland behind wasn’t an easy one.

“The life of the priest is the life of self-denying, renunciation and all of that,” said Gomez. “I was thinking the Lord was asking me to do that as a sign of my willingness to follow him.”

‘The grace to persevere’ Gomez swore an oath pledging his loyalty to the United States of America during a naturalization ceremony in Fort Scott.

He was accompanied by Father Saiki, archdiocesan vocation director

Catholic Cemeteries to host memorial Masses for deceased KANSAS CITY, Kan. — On Nov. 4, Catholic Cemeteries of Northeast Kansas will host Masses at three locations to commemorate all persons buried and entombed in cemeteries and mausoleums operated and managed by the archdiocesan organization.

Masses will be offered at 9 a.m. at the following locations: • Holy Redeemer Chapel at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, 126th and Parallel, Kansas City, Kansas.

• Prince of Peace Chapel at Resurrection Cemetery, 83rd and Quivira

Rd., Lenexa.

• Holy Trinity Chapel at Mt. Calvary Cemetery, 801 S.W. Westchester Rd., Topeka.

For information, call (913) 371-4040; email: information@cathcemks.org; or go to the website at: www.cathcemks.org.

Father Dan Morris and Kelly Kmiecik, administrative assistant for the archdiocesan vocation office.

Father Saiki was impressed by Gomez’s decision to undergo the arduous immigration process.

“Along with being a sign of Cesar’s patriotism and love for our country,” he said, “it is a sign of Cesar’s priestly discernment, his charity and his heart for service to us here in the archdiocese.

“I felt enormously blessed to be present there and be a part of that huge moment in Cesar’s life.”

Gomez said he felt “excited, because I couldn’t believe that I was going to become an American citizen.”

Learning a new language and moving to a new country on his own hasn’t been easy.

“But I think that God has given me the grace to persevere,” he said.

Another part of his experience has surprised him.

He misses his family, but “I have never experienced homesickness,” said Gomez. “I think that is a grace from God.” Gomez believes he couldn’t do it without the support he’s received from the archdiocesan community.

“It means the world to me,” he said.

“I feel their support. I experience their friendship. I feel that they are with me.”

Gomez looks forward to learning more about the American way of life while also sharing his Mexican culture.

“I feel that my life is like a bridge that has the potential to connect two communities in one church,” he said.

Apply for KEEP awards The Kansas Education Enrichment Program (KEEP) is nearing capacity, so apply now for a $1,000 award per K-12 student. Families earning 300% or less than the Federal Poverty Guidelines ($90,000 for a household of four) can purchase approved goods and services.

See if your students qualify and apply now online at: KEEP.ks.gov.

LOCAL NEWS 5

OCTOBER 27, 2023 | THELEAVEN.ORG

THE SEMINARY’S NEW LOOK Program of Priestly Formation implements new norms

By Joe Bollig joe.bollig@theleaven.org

K

ANSAS CITY, Kan. — If you look closely at the latest archdiocesan vocation office poster, you’ll see subtle but significant changes underneath the names of archdiocesan seminarians.

Gone are the words like “College II,” “Pre-Theology I” and “Theology II.” Instead, you’ll see “Propaedeutic Stage,” “Discipleship Stage,” “Configuration Stage” and “Vocational Synthesis Stage.”

What’s up with that, you may wonder?

Archdiocesan seminarians — indeed, all seminarians around the world — are being educated and formed under a new Program of Priestly Formation (PPF).

Parts of it have been around for a long time under a different name, but most of it is new.

The changes have been percolating their way down through the church bureaucracy from the Vatican Congregation for the Clergy’s 2016 revised and updated “Ratio Fundamentalis Institutiones Sacerdotalis.”

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations used that document to draft the new norms in 2019 and presented the new sixth edition of the PPF on June 24, 2022. Seminaries have been implementing the program since then.

“This has some of the most significant changes of any of the previous Programs of Priestly Formation,” said Father Scott Wallisch, archdiocesan co-director of seminarians.

Looking for the better Changes in PPF are not unusual and happen every few years, said Father Dan Morris, archdiocesan vocation director.

“This is a universal mandate,” said Father Morris. “It comes from Rome.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops read the proposals and as a conference makes suggestions.

“The bishops are always looking for better formation for the man’s sake and the church’s sake. They’re always looking to improve. [They ask] ‘Is this man called and do I ordain this man?’ So, anything that will help in that decisionmaking process is an improvement.

Every version of the PPF addresses the situation of the culture and the world with the Gospel.”

The new program is designed to meet the challenges of the times.

“I would say it is in response to our current climate,” said Father Wallisch.

“It’s also in response to the abuse scandal,” he continued. “And it’s in response to the lack of formation that some men experience as they grow up.

Certain things can’t be taken for granted anymore when you bring a man into seminary.

“Seminarians in the past tended to grow up in a Catholic milieu that was stronger than what many of our new seminarians experienced when they were growing up.”

COURTESY PHOTO

Seminarians Andrew Buyle, John Donart and Zach McGuinness study in the Cardinal Stafford Library at St. John Vianney Theological Seminary.

Advancement by stages There are some big differences between this latest and the previous program, said Father Morris. These include the first year Propaedeutic Stage and the ordination of transitional deacons after completion of seminary studies.

“Rather than assessing a man’s progress by years [of study] completed and formation, it is now very intentionally being based on ‘Is this man showing the marks and fruit of his relationship with Jesus Christ,” he said.

Under the new program, seminary formators ask if the seminarian is meeting such benchmarks as attaining self-possession, giving his life freely as a gift, demonstrating pastoral charity and taking ownership of his own formation.

“If the data comes back and says ‘no,’ they say this man is not ready to be ordained,” said Father Morris. “If that persists long enough, the church needs to say this man should not be ordained.”

So, what about those stages?

The first is called Propaedeutic, which lasts for one to two years. “Propaedeutic” means “introductory,” “foundational” and “preparatory.” During this time, the seminarian separates from contemporary society and is set aside for a lifestyle of prayer, work and some study.

“The two biggest components of that are to make sure their knowledge of God and self are built upon truth, so each man coming from different cultural and familial environments are purified and healed during this year,” said Father Morris.

Seminarians undergo a media and technology fast, spiritual direction and growth counseling, and different kinds of prayer. Often, seminarians describe this as their favorite year, said Father Morris.

Interestingly, something very close to the Propaedeutic State, called the Spirituality Year, has already been a part of St. John Vianney Seminary in Denver for almost two decades.

“I think the Propaedeutic Stage will

help men discern better and earlier in the process to avoid men being far along in formation when they discern this isn’t what God is calling them to,” said Father Wallisch.

“I think the emphasis on being conformed to Jesus Christ — although that was already present in our seminaries — it’s nice to have verbiage attached to it, because it will keep this in front of seminarians’ eyes during their formation,” he added.

Seminarian John Donart, who entered St. John Vianney in fall 2019, is in the second year of his Configuration Stage. He, like all archdiocesan seminarians, is getting used to the new program and its new terminology. So far, he likes the new program.

“Being free from a lot of the stresses [during the Propaedeutic State] helped me grow personally and approach learning with a whole new angle,” he said. “Study becomes getting to know God better, for the greater glory of God. . . . It allowed me to enter more deeply into the year, into my vocation. I’m really grateful for that.”

The second is the Discipleship, which lasts two to three years. The emphasis during this stage is on human formation and virtue, building on the Propaedeutic Stage. The goal is growth in an intimate relationship with Christ.

Men without a college degree work toward a philosophy degree. Men with a college degree study philosophy to prepare for theology study. By the end of this stage, the archdiocese should be able to determine whether a man is called to be a priest.

The third is the Configuration, which should last a bit more than three years.

During this time, the emphasis switches from vocational discernment to priestly preparation. He begins to develop skills such as preaching, celebrating the sacraments and pastoral counseling. The seminarian begins to dress like a priest.

When the Configuration Stage is completed, the seminarian’s time at the seminary is over. He is ordained a transitional deacon and then enters the fourth stage

LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER

Seminarian Andrew Buyle, who is at the Discipleship Stage at St. John Vianney Seminary in Denver, takes part in World Youth Day this past summer. called Vocational Synthesis. During this six-month period, he serves in a parish before being ordained to the priesthood.

It is similar to the former Pastoral Year.

The views from the pews What does the new program mean in the parish setting?

“I think the parish will see it most significantly when we have deacons in a parish for six months and then are ordained priests, and possibly continue in a parish but with more faculties because of their priestly formation,” said Father Wallisch. “That will be an interesting transition for the people to navigate, getting used to someone being a deacon and then six months later, getting used to them being a priest.”

Transitional deacons will be ordained in December, while priestly ordinations will occur in June.

6 FAMILY

OCTOBER 27, 2023 | THELEAVEN.ORG

What’s it take to be a good Catholic grandparent?

By Bill Dodds OSV News

F

irst, the comforting news: Being a good Catholic will help you be a good grandparent. Being a good grandparent will help you be a good Catholic.

And, of course, there’s also that tight relationship between better Catholic and better grandparent.

Oh, that God of ours! Always one step ahead of us. Well, more than one, obviously.

For example, you may have noticed that God seldom gives the job of grandparenting to someone who hasn’t already paid his or her dues parenting.

Yes, there are exceptions, but it seems most often, in many ways, grandparenting is the equivalent of golf ’s mulligan. It’s God giving you a doover to deeply influence a child’s heart, soul and mind — from tot to teen . . . and beyond.

To love that grandchild with your whole heart, mind and soul . . . and spend some time minding them.

You, free babysitter, you! But unlike becoming a new mom or dad — where you learn (and make mistakes) on the fly — now, as a veteran parent, you know a thing or two.

Looking back since the birth of your own child or children, you can be keenly aware of “what you have done

and what you have failed to do” (to borrow a line from the Confiteor). You know you weren’t, and aren’t, a perfect parent. You know you won’t be a perfect grandparent.

But! That little child, those little children, are God’s way of — no, not turning back the clock — giving you another at-bat. A second chance to step up to the plate. Hot dog!

Apparently, God has faith in you helping a brand-new generation be a witness. To see firsthand, to learn one to one, what the faith means. How it can be lived out and loved.

Being Christlike We all know the Gospels never described those early followers of Christ as monkey-see, monkey-do, but they did learn a lot by watching how Jesus did what he did.

The love, the compassion, the feeding, the healing, the putting others first, the sacrifices, forgiveness, and yes, the telling of some colorful and memorable stories to make his point while teaching.

So . . . how ’bout that? To be grandparent-like is to be

COPYRIGHT © BY CLIFF LEITCH, THE CHRISTIAN BIBLE REFERENCE SITE, WWW.CHRISTIANBIBLEREFERENCE.ORG. USED BY PERMISSION

Christlike. And to be Christlike is to be one jim-dandy grandparent.

Come to think of it, your baked cinnamon rolls or gingersnap cookies, barbecued burgers, grilled Oscar Mayer wieners or some other family favorites, are not unlike Jesus having the coals ready on the beach for cooking the fish the disciples had just caught (Jn 21:9-19).

Then, too, since his Resurrection, “the living bread that came down from heaven” (Jn 6:51), continues to feed us, to offer us himself under the appearances of bread and wine.

ACROSS 1 Floral leaf 6 Compass point 9 Sports channel 13 Relinquish 14 Make lace 15 Ditto (2 wds.)

16 Small island 17 Grow older 18 Land of Pharaoh 19 Heavenly light 20 Where Noah’s ark landed 22 Compass point 23 Lay 24 Noah’s boat 25 A Roman emperor 27 Land 29 After Bronze age (2 wds.)

33 Congressional vote 34 Eye infection 35 Eagerness 36 Plague of Egypt 39 Route 40 Holy book 41 Walking stick 42 A name of God 43 Spacecraft detachment 44 Timeless 46 South American animal 49 You are the __ of the earth

50 51 53 56 58 59 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68

Yes, there may have been times you might have preferred he had said, “I am the warm chocolate chip cookie that has . . . ” — not to blaspheme here — but think about it: God saved that role (no, not “roll”) for you and your grandchild.

You, the grillmaster/ cookie-queen, chosen by heaven to make that youngster or youngsters such divine-ish treats.

Passing down the faith

For instance, the “Lord of the Long View,” having your parent or grandparent patiently help you learn about cupcakes or sub sandwiches.

About this or that or another skill, as you went on to do with your children. And can now do with your grandchildren. God willing, they may end up teaching those same how-tos to their kids or grandkids.

Beyond food, there was, is and later may be: Playing patty cake.

Hosting a “tea party.”

Drawing a stickman, woman or dog. Playing Crazy Eights. Whistling. Folding and flying a paper airplane. Knitting and/or spitting.

It may come to be said one of the finest legacies passed down from generation to generation in your family is how to make the world’s best snickerdoodles.

Which, thank you, God, can also be a conduit for passing down the faith.

So much can be said, shared and shown while rolling that dough in sugar and cinnamon. It’s not multiplying the loaves and the fish, but it is love — love, so necessary to even imagine a God who is love.

Small wonder it’s easier to believe in a heavenly Father after being so close to an earthly grandma or grandpa.

Again, our dear God, is always infinite steps ahead of us.

Supreme Being Fall mo.

Espy Staggered __-a-sketch Hard to pass through a needle?

Box Sound of a sneeze Excessive interest Winter hazard Knight’s game Tableland Gain Cake

DOWN 1 Cheese type 2 Holiday for Jesus’ resurrection 3 Roman governor 4 Declare 5 Allow 6 Severe 7 Heroic tale 8 Time with no end 9 Electroencephalograph (abbr.)

10 Eye infection 11 Pas 12 Memo 15 Railway 20 Military unit

21 24 26 28 30 31 32 34 36 37 38 39 40 42 43 45 47 48 50 52 53 54 55 57 58 60 62

Visionary Alack’s partner New York Indian Heavenly beings Loose gown worn at mass Young lady East northeast Surface to air missile Farm credit administration (abbr.)

Remnant Only Ashcan (2 wds.)

Brazen Island Slog Initial Honor your father and __ Approach Civet cat’s cousin Not these Filthy film Comfort Flightless birds Plague of Egypt Reverberate Epoch Skit

Solution on page 2

LOCAL NEWS 7

OCTOBER 27, 2023 | THELEAVEN.ORG

Mt. Calvary Cemetery, KCK, to observe ‘Día de los Muertos’ with Spanish Mass

K

ANSAS CITY, Kan. — For this year’s observance of All Souls’ Day, Catholic Cemeteries of Northeast Kansas plans to incorporate special features of the Mexican celebration of Día de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead.

On Nov. 2 at 10 a.m. in the mausoleum chapel at Mt. Calvary Cemetery, located at 38th and State Ave. in Kansas City, Kan., Father Peter Jaramillo, SSA, will celebrate an indoor Mass in Spanish for the deceased.

Father Peter is pastor of All Saints Parish and St. Mary-St. Anthony Parish, both in Kansas City, Kansas.

Persons of all cultures and ethnicities are invited to bring photographs of their deceased loved ones and flowers — items customary to the observance — to place on a nearby altar.

Both All Souls’ Day and Día de los Muertos remember the dead.

The traditional All Souls’ Day observance encourages Catholics to pray for family members, friends and others who are deceased and for those who may be in purgatory, awaiting transition to eternal life in heaven. Church teaching holds that prayers of the living support this transition.

Beyond praying for the deceased, Día de los Muertos welcomes the departed for an annual visit to celebrate their living memory. Families gather at the gravesites of loved ones for a reunion of sorts. “Ofrendas” (“offerings”) on home altars remember

Lynda (Little) and Don Bruna, members of St. Gregory the Great Parish, Marysville, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on Oct. 20. The couple was married on Oct. 20, 1973, at St. Gregory.

Their children are: Misty Phillips-Petersen, San Diego; Philip Bruna, Marysville; and Courtney Halverson, Topeka. They also have eight grandchildren. The couple will be going on a family vacation in November to celebrate with all of their children and their families.

Gerald H.

On Nov. 2 at 10 a.m. in the mausoleum chapel at Mt. Calvary Cemetery, located at 38th and State Ave. in Kansas City, Kansas, persons of all cultures and ethnicities are invited to bring photographs of their deceased loved ones and flowers — items customary to the observance — to place on a nearby altar. and rejoice over the deceased with photographs, candles, their favorite foods and marigold flowers. Skulls and skeletons are prominent symbols of the Day of the Dead to remind

the living that life is short.

For more information, call Catholic Cemeteries at (913) 371-4040 or send an email to: information@cath cemks.org.

and Patricia Ann Klimas, members of Church of the Ascension, celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on Oct. 26 at the noon Mass at the parish. Following the Mass, they gathered with family and friends. The couple was married at St. Hughes Church in Huntington Station, New York, on Oct. 26, 1963. They have two children and four grandchildren.

ANNIVERSARY SUBMISSIONS POLICY: The Leaven prints 50, 60, 65 and 70th anniversary notices.

WHERE TO SUBMIT: Email: todd.habiger@theleaven.org.

Class gives priests the tools to understand the bigger picture >> Continued from page 1

understanding of what they are dealing with.

When Father Blaha enthused about the class to other priests, Gillcrist realized that here was an unmet need. He met with Msgr. Stuart Swetland, president of Donnelly College, to get permission to develop a short Accounting Tutorial for Priests. Msgr. Swetland, eager to do something for the priests in the surrounding area, gave Gillcrist permission.

Since that first unofficial class in 2021, Gillcrist has held courses in 2022 and this year, too.

The current Accounting Tutorial for Priests class, open to priests and seminarians from the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas and the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, is two hours every Wednesday, Oct. 11 to Nov. 8, at Donnelly College. The cost is $50 per student. Seven priests are in this year’s class.

Is it a difficult class? Not at all, said Father Kent O’Connor, pastor of Good Shepherd Parish in Shawnee.

“It’s a class in the loosest sense,” said Father O’Connor. “There are no grades, tests or homework. Mr. Gillcrist is a pretty engaging speaker. It’s not like going back to school by any means, no more than the yearly workshops [for priests] at Conception Abbey. I would not compare this to going back to school at all.”

I THINK IT WILL HELP ME TO UNDERSTAND MORE OF WHAT OUR PARISH FINANCE COUNCIL IS SAYING, AND WHAT MY ACCOUNTANT IS SAYING . . . AND GIVE ME A BETTER GRASP OF THE TERMINOLOGY. FATHER KENT O’CONNOR PASTOR OF GOOD SHEPHERD PARISH, SHAWNEE

He believes the class will help him in practical ways in the future.

“I think it will help me to understand more of what our parish finance council is saying, and what my accountant is saying — making the words coming out of their mouths make more sense for me, and give me a better grasp of the terminology,” said Father O’Connor.

“I can apply that [knowledge] and talk about the bigger picture from a pastor’s perspective,” he added. “The parish financials don’t tell the entire story of the parish but applying them to the bigger picture will be helpful for

me to have a better understanding of the concepts and language of the financial pieces of the parish.”

Like most other priests, Father Daniel Stover didn’t have any accounting or finance experience or education before becoming a pastor. He took the course in 2022.

Father Stover went to the University of St. Mary of the Lake Mundelein Seminary in the Archdiocese of Chicago.

Many of his classmates went on to big Chicago parishes that have business managers. Other classmates, like himself, have gone to smaller parishes with limited to no staff support.

“I wanted to have a more systematic approach to viewing the parish financials,” said Father Stover, pastor of Holy Angels Parish in Garnett and St. John the Baptist Parish in Greeley.

“I had an accountant I know walk me through them when I first got here . . . what numbers tied in from different documents.”

He found Gillcrist an engaging, well-prepared teacher who often used anecdotes from his real-world experience.

“When I brought actual copies of my parish financials, he was more than happy to teach using our real examples and documents as things we were looking at,” said Father Stover. “It was really practical in that way.”

Father Jonathan Dizon, pastor of St. Dominic Parish in Holton and St.

Francis Xavier Parish in Mayetta, is taking the class this fall. The reason is simple: He wants to be a more effective pastor.

He admits that, in the past, he’d attend parish finance council meetings and try not to “look like a deer in the headlights,” and pretended knowing what they were talking about.

“Over the years, I’d look at the numbers, and as long as we weren’t in debt I thought [the parish] was OK,” said Father Dizon. “I wanted to really understand more how our finances worked, what to look for and just basic knowledge so I wasn’t at a loss when I looked at the reports.

“I want to do things well and fulfill my duty as a pastor well. Part of it is managing and making sure we are good stewards. For me to do that well, I need to know some things so I can make better decisions and have insights as to how well the parish is doing.”

Father Blaha recommends that other priests take Gillcrist’s course — but with a qualification: Take it when you’re ready.

“They should take it when they actually need it,” he said. “In general, it’s the kind of thing that needs to be applied immediately. It would not have had the same value for me until I was actually a pastor trying to understand how things worked and [encountering] things that should have attention paid to.”

CHURCH CAN HELP TO RAISE AWA

Church urged to address suicide risk factors with education, r

By Kimberley Heatherington OSV News

S

uicide, it is sometimes said, is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. But for at least 49,449 Americans during 2022, feelings of distress were so acute they took their own lives.

As CNN recently reported with the release of provisional data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “the suicide rate spiked in 2021, reversing two years of decline.

And with the continued increase in 2022, rates surpassed the previous record from 2018.”

According to the CDC, suicide rates rose 37% between 2000-2018 and decreased 5% between 2018-2020. However, rates nearly returned to their peak in 2021.

“There is no suicide epidemic, as that term is used within epidemiology,” explained David Jobes, a psychology professor at The Catholic University of America in Washington and director of its Suicide Prevention Lab. “Cause for concern? To be sure!”

A story more frequently overlooked, Jobes thinks, is the high number of those who contemplate suicide. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reported that 2021 survey data indicates for every individual suicide death, about 265 people seriously considered suicide in the previous 12 months.

“If we were better at identifying people with serious ideation and treating them upstream,” said Jobes, “we’d have fewer of them going on to attempt and die by suicide.”

Suicide risk factors cited by the CDC include “racism and discrimination in our society, economic hardship, poverty, limited affordable housing, lack of educational opportunities, and barriers to physical and mental health care access.”

Other factors, the CDC adds, are “relationship problems or feeling a lack of connectedness to others, easy access to lethal means among people at risk, experiences of violence such as child abuse and neglect, adverse childhood experiences, bullying and serious health conditions.”

Deacon Ed Shoener, president of the Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers, said he wasn’t surprised by the latest CDC figures.

“There’s a misperception out there that people have a rational choice — like Hamlet, ‘To be, or not to be,’” said Deacon Shoener. “Shakespeare used suicide as a plot twist quite often — suggesting that it’s some sort of rational thing. There’s nothing rational about suicide.”

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reported that 2021 survey data indicates for every individual suicide death, about 265 people seriously considered suicide in the previous 12 months.

Suicide risk factors cited by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention include “racism and discrimination in our society, economic hardship, poverty, limited affordable housing, lack of educational opportunities, and barriers to physical and mental health care access.”

Public attention, emphasized Deacon Shoener, is critical.

“We haven’t placed enough resources into understanding the psychology of suicide — and the mental health issues that go along with it — to be able to get these rates back down,” he said.

“No one wants to die by suicide. I’ve talked to a number of people that have survived the attempt, and they all say — once they’re mentally and psychologically stable — ‘Thank God I didn’t die; I didn’t want to do this,’” Deacon Shoener recalled.

“But somehow, their brain gets them to the point where they think it’s the best thing to do —

in fact, they think it’s the only thing to do.”

For Deacon Shoener, the pain is personal. In 2016, he lost his own daughter Katie to suicide. “This life is not for me,” she wrote in a final note, before turning a gun on herself.

His loss launched Deacon Shoener on a ministry of mental health accompaniment — and his cumulative experience equipped him to suggest ways the Catholic Church can do the same.

Deacon Shoener and Phoenix Bishop John P. Dolan are co-editors of “When a Loved One Dies by Suicide” and its

complementary film series, “Responding to Suicide: A Pastoral Handbook for Catholic Leaders” (Ave Maria Press).

“The church’s role in mental health, mental illness and even suicidality, is to reassure people Christ is with them in the midst of their struggles,” Deacon Shoener said. “Just like when someone’s living with cancer, or multiple sclerosis, we can’t make these physical illnesses go away. But what we can do is reassure people Christ is with them; that he understands their suffering.”

And the church can help dissolve the sting of stigma.

“The church can guide people, and reassure them it is a gift from God to go get mental health care. You’re not a bad Catholic if you go see a therapist or a counselor, or take psychiatric drugs,” Deacon Shoener stressed. “That’s a gift from God, too.”

Like Deacon Shoener, Marian Father Chris Alar, a provincial superior of the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception, has known the shock of a loved one suddenly taking their life.

“Using a small handgun that was kept in the house for protection, my grandmother shot herself in the bathroom and lay in a pool of blood for what authorities estimated to have been about two hours,” Father Alar wrote in the book he co-wrote with fellow Marian Father Jason Lewis, “After Suicide: There’s Hope for Them and You” (Marian Press).

“The main reason Father Jason Lewis and I wrote the book was to educate and provide a pastoral aid for people who were despairing of their lost loved ones because they had always learned if you take your own life, you are automatically damned to hell,” Father Alar shared. “That is not church teaching — surprising to some — because the only way we lose our soul is to die in an unrepentant state of mortal sin.”

The Catholic Church teaches that for a sin to be mortal, three conditions must be present: grave matter; knowledge that an act is a sin; and free will.

While Father Alar is convinced most people know suicide is both a grave matter and a

ARENESS AND PREVENT SUICIDE

resources sin, “it is the third condition we have to look at — you must have complete free will and want to choose it. Now, my grandmother, in taking her life, I know for a fact did not have free will,” he reflected. “She didn’t want to take her life. She was struggling for years with the most intense pain and suffering that she fought, and fought, and fought. And I know God knows she tried to fight the pain and the suffering. She just couldn’t take it anymore.”

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states, “We are stewards, not owners, of the life God has entrusted to us. It is not ours to dispose of. . . . We should not despair of the eternal salvation of persons who have taken their own lives. By ways known to him alone, God can provide the opportunity for salutary repentance.”

Father Alar stressed God’s compassion is not a basis for presumption. But he also agrees with Deacon Shoener that more needs to be done.

“The church is finally learning mental health is a major influence on our spiritual life,” Father Alar observed.

“We need to talk to our pastors. . . . We need our people to go to their bishops and dioceses, and request support services for the grieving and for mental health,” said Father Alar. “This is something people need to ask their bishops for.”

Sister Kathryn J. Hermes — a Pauline nun and author of “Surviving Depression: A Catholic Approach” (Pauline Books & Media) — suggests that an immersive homiletic practicum for seminarians could help them realize the impact of their words upon those struggling with mental illness.

“You give a homily,” she imagined, “and in your assembly is someone who’s suicidal; someone who’s manic depressive; someone who’s been abused — a variety of individuals who represent the people you will have in your parish one day.

And after you give your homily, you sit down and hear from each one of those people what they heard,” said Sister Hermes.

“How do you hold together the truth and the pastoral reality?”

The goal, said Sister Hermes, isn’t for everyone to become a therapist, but to realize the impact language and actions can have for those struggling with mental health issues.

“Does the parish even see them?” Sister Hermes asked.

“People are putting on their Sunday clothes and going to Mass, and they’ve got it together for the time they’re in public — but has anyone touched the depth of the pain? They don’t even realize how much this is needed.”

Nothing can separate us from the love of God

By Bishop David M. O’Connell OSV News

I

read with alarm and deep concern the recent report of the Centers for Disease Control that the number of suicides in the United States reached an all-time high last year.

Approximately 49,500 Americans took their own lives, making suicide one of the leading causes of death in our country. National statistics indicate that one person commits suicide every 11 minutes.

Especially concerning is the rate of suicide among young people ages 14-24. It is the second leading cause of death among Americans in that age group. One main driver of suicides in the U.S. is “the growing availability of guns,” according to Jill Harkavy-Friedman, senior vice president of research at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

“Suicide attempts involving guns end in death far more often than those with other means.”

Another big driver, especially among the young, is the ready availability of drugs.

Suicide cuts across every level of American society.

Studies indicate that males are more likely to take their own lives more frequently than females; Caucasians more than other racial or ethnic groups; ages 25 to 64 more than other age groups, with elderly (ages 65 and older) and youth (ages 10-24) numbering in the thousands.

People with or without religious affiliation commit suicide (with Catholics and Protestants in higher percentages than other religious groups).

Most experts across the board agree that suicide is the result of untreated mental illnesses, depression, pain or some other personal suffering.

In my pastoral experience, few occasions are as sad as meeting with families who have lost a family member or loved one due to suicide, especially a young person. They are often understandably inconsolable and many blame themselves as they question what more could they have done, should they have done to prevent these deaths among loved ones.

Confronting death is never easy for anyone — the experience of death of those we love hurts — but death from suicide brings its own unique heartache, even desolation.

Guidance from the church With due regard for the respect for human life enshrined in the Fifth Commandment (“You shall not kill”), the

A big driver of suicide, especially among the young, is the ready availability of drugs. contemporary Catholic approach to suicide is expressed in the Catechism of the Catholic Church: “Grave psychological disturbances, anguish, or grave fear of hardship, suffering or torture can diminish the responsibility of the one committing suicide” (2282).

Also, “We should not despair of the eternal salvation of persons who have taken their own lives. By ways known to him alone, God can provide the opportunity for salutary repentance. The Church prays for persons who have taken their own lives. (CCC, 2283) In a 2014 article on suicide published in the Catholic Digest, Jesuit Father William Byron wrote: “No one can appreciate the unimaginable pain that is the ultimate explanation for such a tragic action. No one, therefore, can judge a person whose choice we cannot fathom, whose life we can remember, but cannot restore, and whose pain we cannot understand. This is how the church tends to look upon suicide today. Pity, not condemnation, is the response of the church.”

“Prayers are offered for the deceased. Mass is celebrated.

Burial with dignity, in consecrated ground, is provided for one who dies this way,” he continued. “So, for those of us who remain, the church encourages paying attention to the pain that produced the action. Then, look forward, not back, to pain within ourselves and pain in others, especially when we see no signs and hear no calls for help.

“The church teaches through liturgy, and the liturgy on occasions like these stresses divine mercy.”

I am no expert on these matters. I am not a psychologist or behavioral scientist or therapist. I am simply a man of faith who has lived long

Resources • For a list of local and national mental health resources, go online to: archkck.org/special-needs/mental-health.

• For a list of local Catholic counselors, go to the website at: archkck.org/family/care-support/catholic-counselors.

• For more information about the Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers, go online to: catholicmhm.org.

• For more information on the archdiocesan mental health ministers program, send an email to Josh Ruoff, lead consultant for the archdiocesan special-needs ministry, at: jruoff@archkck.org.

enough in a variety of pastoral contexts to cherish God’s gift of life, no matter how long or short it may be, and to encourage others to consider that gift through the eyes of faith.

When a person has decided to end his or her life, whatever the reason or set of circumstances, we need to act with compassion not judgment and to beg God for his infinite mercy.

As a man of faith, I take great encouragement from St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans: “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (8:38-39).

Combatting suicide Those who have committed suicide are in the hands of a loving and merciful God. I truly believe that with all my heart. Their families and loved ones deserve and need our understanding, respect, prayer, support and compassionate care.

For those contemplating suicide, help is available. Talk to someone. Contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline if you are experiencing mental

health related distress or are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support. Call or text 988 or chat at: 988life line.org. Connect with a trained crisis counselor. 988 is confidential, free and available 24/7/365. Visit the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline for more information at: 988lifeline.org.

In the meantime, whether prompted by religious faith or just human concern, we need to listen carefully and to watch out for signs of mental illness, depression, pain and despair in those whom we love or to whom we are near — family members (especially the young), friends, neighbors, classmates, co-workers, bosses and even people with professional responsibilities.

Don’t ignore these signs. Do something. Reach out or encourage others to reach out.

No one is alone. We are all part of the human family; we are all part of God’s precious family.

Reach out, lend an ear or a hand or a heart. And pray. Our efforts can and might just save a life.

Editor’s note: Edited for length and clarity.

Bishop David M. O’Connell, CM, has served the Diocese of Trenton in New Jersey since 2010. He is a member of the Congregation of the Mission and a past president of The Catholic University of America.

10 NATION

OCTOBER 27, 2023 | THELEAVEN.ORG

Franciscan friars unify nationwide

By SueAnn Howell OSV News

K

ANSAS CITY, Mo. (OSV News) — The Order of Friars Minor — affectionately known as the “lesser brothers” of the Franciscan orders for their humility and simple brown robes — have formed a new, unified Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe that spans the United States coast to coast.

The minister general of the Order of Friars Minor, Brother Massimo Fusarelli, established the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe Oct. 17 during a meeting in Kansas City, Missouri, called the “synodal Chapter of Unity,” during which the province’s first minister provincial, vicar provincial and seven councilors were installed.

The new province, with headquarters in Atlanta, unifies more than 700 friars who were previously part of six legacy provinces, which were established over the long history of the Order of Friars Minor in the United States. They include the provinces of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Wisconsin, Holy Name in New York City, Our Lady of Guadalupe in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Sacred Heart in St. Louis, St. Barbara in California and St. John the Baptist in Cincinnati.

The Franciscan friars hail from 26 states, the District of Columbia and 16 countries.

As Franciscans, they trace their history to St. Francis, a 13th-century saint in Assisi, Italy, who left a life of wealth and influence to live in poverty and penance while preaching and serving the poor, and St. Clare, who founded a community of women inspired by St. Francis’ model for living the Gospel.

The U.S. friars believe combining provinces paves the way for a renewal of Franciscan life, spirituality and fraternity by living the Gospel through service to the poor and people living on society’s margins.

Provincial Minister Brother Lawrence Hayes said he would like for people “to experience us as we are, as we attempt as best we can to embody the values that the Gospel,

PHOTO BY BROTHER FRANK JASPER, OFM

From left, minister general Massimo Fusarelli, OFM, and Brother Lawrence Hayes, OFM, of the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe share a brotherly embrace after Brother Lawrence is installed as provincial minister.

St. Francis and St. Clare call us to.”

The new provincial administration includes Brother Hayes, Vicar Provincial Brother Mark Soehner and a provincial secretary to be named in the future. The provincial council includes Brothers John Eaton, Erick Lopez, Roger Lopez, Samuel Nasada, Rommel Perez Flores, José Rodriguez and Edward Tlucek. They will serve a three-year term.

The Franciscan friars chose Our Lady of Guadalupe as the province’s name to “reflect the order’s Marian devotion,” Brother Tlucek said.

“St. Francis had a deep devotion to Mary,” he said. “Our Lady of Guadalupe is the Lady of the Americas.

That’s really who we are, when you look at the fact that our friars are in the Americas. She’s our intercessor for this mission we are on.”

As one province, friars expect to renew Franciscan life in America and shape their fraternity’s future within the context of the worldwide Order of Friars Minor by developing contemplative fraternities capable of sharing the Gospel in American society. They also plan to launch new initiatives, prioritize vocational growth and use resources more effectively.

“It’s an exciting time,” Brother Tlucek said. “We hope we would be a powerful blessing for the church in

the United States. I really feel we have something to offer the church here.

There is a certain freedom of spirit about us that I think can generate a more engaged Catholic community.”

He noted that in context of the global Synod on Synodality underway at the Vatican, “we’ve been doing synodality for a long time: We simply call it ‘discernment.’ We’ve been doing it for centuries. That was a gift St. Francis offered us. I believe we can offer the church modeling for how to be our best selves as Catholics in this country.”

The Franciscan friars will continue to serve the poor, the forgotten and the marginalized alongside people of goodwill in locations across the United States, Cuba, Puerto Rico and Jamaica.

“The great blessing to the friars themselves, to the order and to the church in the United States in creating this new province at this moment, is that the friars have — under the guidance of the Holy Spirit — taken charge of what is happening rather than simply drifting along,” said Father Jack Clark Robinson, a Franciscan historian, in a statement about the new province.

“They are reconsidering as brothers how to be better agents of renewal, evangelizers and stewards of God’s generous gifts.”

“We are proud to be a locally owned family funeral home serving our community.”

Las Vegas elevated to archdiocese LAS VEGAS (OSV News) — In a sign of the growing Catholic community of southern Nevada and the Western United States, the Archdiocese of Las Vegas has become the newest archdiocese in America.

A solemn Mass Oct. 16 at the Shrine of the Most Holy Redeemer in Las Vegas formally celebrated the designation of the archdiocese and the appointment of Archbishop George Leo Thomas by Pope Francis May 30.

During the Mass, Cardinal Christophe Pierre, the pope’s representative as apostolic nuncio to the United States, placed the pallium — a woolen liturgical garment worn by a metropolitan archbishop — upon Archbishop Thomas’ shoulders. The pallium represents a pastor’s care of his flock and his unity with the pope. Pope Francis gave the archbishop the pallium in June at the Vatican.

The 350,000 Catholics among a total regional population of more than 1 million in 1995 has ballooned to an estimated 750,000 Catholics among more than 2 million residents today, according to the archdiocese.

Justice backs SCOTUS ethics code MINNEAPOLIS (OSV News) — Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett indicated Oct. 16 she would support adopting a formal code of ethics for jurists on the high court.

Barrett’s comments follow allegations of gifts received or other improper financial activities by some of her colleagues. All federal judges other than the justices on the high court must adhere to a formal ethics code, but the Supreme Court, which is the only federal court created by the Constitution, is not included in that code. Justices on the high court are subject to legislation requiring annual financial disclosures, limiting their income earned outside the court. Critics of the court have called for it to adopt a formal code of ethics.

In remarks at a University of Minnesota Law School event that was briefly interrupted by protesters of the court’s 2022 decision reversing Roe v. Wade, Barrett argued an ethics code would formalize the justice’s efforts at transparency.

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

FUNERAL HOME • CREMATORY • MEMORIAL CHAPELS 10901 Johnson Drive Shawnee, Kansas 66203 Telephone 913-631-5566 Fax 913-631-2236 Gregg Amos

www.amosfamily.com

NEED HELP HEALING FROM A PAST ABORTION?

Call or text 913-621-2199 Compassionate, Confidential, Free

WORLD 11

OCTOBER 27, 2023 | THELEAVEN.ORG

Members of the assembly of the Synod of Bishops pray with Pope Francis before a working session in the Vatican’s Paul VI Audience Hall Oct. 20.

CNS PHOTO/LOLA GOMEZ

Synod challenges members to be synodal at home

By Carol Glatz Cztholic New Service

V

ATICAN CITY (CNS) — Synod members will soon face the challenge of bringing back to their home dioceses, regions and continents the synodal way of inviting others, listening and discerning together what they are experiencing at the synod on synodality, two archbishops said.

“We all, as people, get into our habits and our ruts and you have to very consciously say, ‘We’re going to do things differently now,’” Archbishop Gintaras Grušas of Vilnius, Lithuania, said at a synod briefing Oct. 20.

“With yourself you can do it. When you try to bring a whole diocese or a whole nation or a whole continent with you, it takes a lot more work,” said the archbishop, who is also president of the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences.

“Being here for a month and really living the spiritual conversations, having them and valuing them,” he said, challenges members to try to bring that experience “into the same structure from which we came with all the same daily grinds that we have.” However, “I’m looking forward to it.”

Archbishop Tarcisio Isao Kikuchi of Tokyo said the challenge in Japan is an ongoing lack of in-person activities as a consequence of the pandemic. “The people are still afraid, especially the elderly people are afraid, so we don’t have much opportunity to gather the people together to do this synodal process together.”

Also, “Asian countries are really quite clerical; still the clerics decide,” he said, and “I think we have to involve many more laity in the decision-

Synod assembly to issue ‘Letter to the People of God’ at session’s end

By Justin McLellan Cztholic New Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Members of the Synod of Bishops will issue a “Letter to the People of God” at the close of the first session of the synod assembly, which ends Oct. 29, the Vatican said.

The letter, the drafting of which was approved by the synod assembly, will be discussed both during small group working sessions and among the entire assembly Oct. 23 after a Mass for synod participants in St. Peter’s Basilica, the synod general secretariat announced in a statement Oct. 19.

It added that additional time will be made for synod participants to discuss the methodology and steps for the next phase of the synodal process to take place between the first session’s close Oct. 29 and the second session scheduled to take place at the Vatican in October 2024. The statement said the assembly’s synthesis document will not be presented to and discussed by synod participants in two parts — “A” and “B” — as originally indicated on the synod’s schedule.

Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich, relator general of the assembly, will present the outline for the synod’s synthesis document to participants Oct. 25, which will be read by each participant individually before being discussed both in small groups and at a general congregation the afternoon of Oct. 25 and the morning of Oct. 26.

The entire synod assembly will meet in a general congregation in the afternoon of Oct. 26 “to gather proposals on methods and stages for the months between the first and second sessions” of the synod assembly rather than hold small group working sessions to discuss the synthesis document, as was originally scheduled.

The synod general secretariat announced that working sessions originally scheduled for the afternoon of Oct. 23 and for the whole day Oct. 24 will not be held.

Participants were also encouraged to attend a prayer for peace in St. Peter’s Basilica Oct. 27, on which no sessions were scheduled.

making of the church.”

The challenge there is “we have to be serious” about how to involve lay men and women who are already short on time with very busy lives and families to take care of, the archbishop said.

The archbishop, who also is secretary-general of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences, said he also wants to work more on introducing into church life the Asian spirit of hospitality as expressed in the Asian

continental report to the synod.

Their culture of welcome asks that people take off their shoes “and be free from daily life, be free from the daily worries, [and then] enter your house,” he said. “It is true that our structure is really Western structure, of course, the Catholic Church,” he said, but it is possible to “introduce our hospitality spirit into the parish activities.”

“First welcome all the people,” he said, to “take off your shoes, come in, don’t stand outside, but come into my house and let’s talk about your life.”

Sister Mary T. Barron, superior of the Sisters of Our Lady of the Apostles and president of the International Union of Superiors General, told reporters, “We need to listen more to the emerging churches, the younger churches, who still have that kind of grassroots participation in the life of the church.”

She compared her experience coming from Ireland where Christianity has existed since the fifth century and her missionary work in East Africa. One parish there, she said, was established in 1950 and had only two priests for an area nearly half the size of Ireland.

It was a “very vibrant faith community,” she said, and her role of accompanying young people and women’s groups in the parish was a synodal process. “We listened to each other, the decisions were taken together,” which then radiated out to the wider parish and “fed into the diocese.”

“I think possibly one of the advantages in the younger churches is that many people come to the faith as adults and make that choice to be baptized as adults, and are confirmed into a faith where they are challenged to be missionary disciples from the outset,” she said.

12 CLASSIFIEDS EMPLOYMENT Rockhurst University associate director of advancement and planned giving - This position assists the university community in relationship building and obtaining financial resources necessary to fulfill its mission and achieve the ongoing vision of the board of trustees and the executive leadership team. This person helps identify prospects, develops unique solicitation strategies, personally solicits gifts, tracks and reports gift visits, and manages a stewardship strategy for the portfolio. To apply, go to: www.rockhurst.edu/ about/human-resources/faculty-staff-positions/. Click on “View Current Job Openings.”

Part-time LIFEChoice associate - The purpose of the LIFEChoice intern is to assist in the execution of the Coalition Life mission of “Ending Abortion Peacefully and Prayerfully” through sidewalk counseling activities at the local abortion facility in Overland Park and collaboration with volunteers, churches and donors.

Furthermore, the LIFEChoice intern assists with officeand outreach-related tasks as assigned by the intern’s supervisor. Requirements include: pray daily for the mission of Coalition Life; no experience needed; flexible work schedule; 20 - 29 hours per week; work three - four shifts per week; maintain equipment and signs at sidewalk counseling/prayer vigil locations; and assist with banquet and other fundraising or outreach activities. To apply, go online to: coalitionlife.com/jobs.

OCTOBER 27, 2023 | THELEAVEN.ORG RN needed - RN, Kansas-licensed for private internal medicine office. Permanent part time, hourly wage.

Excellent location and collegial work atmosphere. Call (913) 491-6633.

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.

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.

Catholic elementary school principal – St. Matthew, Topeka, 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. St. Matthew has approximately 140 students in grades K-8 and employs 15 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. Proficiency in Spanish is preferred. Please apply online at: www.archkckcs.org/ apply. For more information, please contact Rev. John M. Torrez at: jtorrez@archkck.org. Deadline for applications is Nov. 30.

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.

Driver needed - The Mission Project, a not-for-profit organization, is seeking a part-time driver to assist in providing transportation for our participants to and from employment. Company-owed vehicles. Based in Mission, Kansas; 10 - 20 hours per week. Excellent driving record, criminal background check and references required. Call Alvan at (913) 269-2642.

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.

Accounting and finance manager - Good Shepherd Parish and School in Shawnee is looking to hire a fulltime accounting and finance manager. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, overall financial management, general ledger record-keeping, reconciliation of accounts, annual budgeting and monthly reporting to the parish manager. The successful candidate will have: familiarity and competence with accounting systems and current technology. A minimum of a bachelor’s degree in accounting and five-plus years of relative experience.

Strong communication and interpersonal skills are required, with the ability to manage a small staff. Spanish language skills are an asset. Parish experience is a plus.

A demonstrated commitment to the Catholic faith and mission is essential, along with a desire to work in a positive, faith-oriented environment. This full-time position is eligible for parish and archdiocesan benefits. Please submit a cover letter and resume to: pthacker@gsshawnee. org. Resumes will be accepted until the position is filled.

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.

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.

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.

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 adjunct, and psychology pool, and math 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 parttime. 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

For sale - Two plots at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Kansas City, Kansas. Located in section 3 Old, lot 126, plots 6 and 10. Flat markers only. Contact Ann at (913) 620-5687.

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.

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.

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/FSHomeExteriorsand Remodeling. 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.

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.

REAL ESTATE

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.

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.

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.

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.

Tutoring - for K - Adult. Sessions are fun and meaningful. For more information please call Kathleen at (913) 206-2151 or email: Klmamuric@yahoo.com

For sale by owner - 1950s ranch-style home for sale by 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.

Garage Door Repair Expert New Garage Doors Garage Floor Coatings A Total Door Inc., Sine ‘83. Leaven discount joe@atotaldoor.com (913) 236-6440 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.

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.

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.

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.

Saint Rita Home Care - Compassionate care in the comfort of home. We serve people in Johnson, Douglas, Miami, Franklin and Leavenworth counties.

Kansas state licensed, nonmedical home care agency. Contact us today for supportive care at: www. saintritahc.com; rmargush@saintritahc.com; or (913) 229-4267.

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.

Companion care - Will do light housekeeping, light cooking and light caretaking, no lifting. Retired nurse.

Will do short term or part time, or weekends. Call (913) 602-1289. >> Classifieds continue on page 13

CALENDAR 13

OCTOBER 27, 2023 | THELEAVEN.ORG

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.

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.

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.

‘HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN KANSAS CITY’ St. Michael the Archangel Parish (Father Porter Hall) 14251 Nall Ave., Leawood Oct. 30 from 7 - 9 p.m.

Did you know that human trafficking is in Kansas City, in Johnson County? You can learn about how victims are brought into human trafficking, the signs that someone is being trafficked or groomed for trafficking and how survivors get out. There will be anti-trafficking organizations represented to provide more information. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with a display of survivor-made items available, and end with a Q&A period. For more information or questions, contact Lynn Pollock at (913) 645-7958 or Susan Drouse at (913) 486-7707.

ALL SAINTS’ EVE VESPERS SERVICE Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish 3333 Broadway, Kansas City, Missouri Oct. 31 at 7:30 p.m.

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.

CRAFT FAIR Holy Angels Parish 15498 Leavenworth Rd., Basehor Nov. 4 from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

The craft fair will have 25 vendors and food available for purchase. There will be free admission.

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

We will b 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 $12 for adults and $6 for children.

SOUP LUNCHEON AND FALL BAZAAR Holy Family Parish 1st and Kansas, Alma Nov. 5 from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Serving chili, chicken noodle soup, vegetable soup and pie for dessert. The cost is a freewill donation. There will also be a country store, bingo, bounce house and raffle with many great prizes and lots of cash! For more information, see Facebook event or send an email to: holyfamilyparishalma@gmail.com.

FALL FESTIVAL Sacred Heart Parish 106 Exchange, Emporia Nov. 5 from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Join us in celebrating the saints! Come for a beautiful hour of evening prayer with eucharistic adoration, a special Litany of the Saints and Benediction on the eve of the solemnity of All Saints.

There will be turkey and dressing, potatoes and gravy, green beans, sauerkraut, assorted salads, dinner rolls and homemade desserts. The cost is $15 for adults and $5 for kids ages 3 - 10.

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

ANNUNCIATION PARISH TURKEY DINNER Annunciation Parish (Cigna Center) 402 N. Maple St., Frankfort Nov. 5 from 11 a.m. - 1:30 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

A turkey dinner with all the trimmings will be served. The cost is $14 for adults and $6 for kids ages 5 - 10. There will also be a country store with food items, crafts and handwork items.

THE BEV VYHANEK FALL LUNCHEON AND CARD PARTY St. Ann Parish (hall) 7231 Mission Rd., Prairie Village Nov. 9 from 10:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

This annual event is hosted by the St. Ann Women’s Club. Grab some friends and join us for bridge, mahjong, crafts, bunco, board games or just come for lunch and visiting!

Tickets are $25 per person. Register online at: www.stannpv.org/lunchandcardparty.

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.

FULLY ALIVE - MIND, BODY AND SPIRIT MINISTRY Corpus Christi Parish 6001 Bob Billings Pkwy., Lawrence Nov. 9 at 7-8:30 p.m.

The Fully Alive ministry will have a presentation on mental wellness, anxiety and depression for adults. The guest speakers will be Jacquelin Pfeifer, Ph.D., and Deacon Mike Moffitt, Ph.D.

‘LIVING FREEDOM IN THE CHURCH’ Christ’s Peace House of Prayer 22131 Meagher Rd., Easton Nov. 10 - 12

The retreat begins on Nov. 10 at 5:30 p.m. and ends on Nov. 12 at 4:30 p.m.

Pope Francis urges us to prepare for the Jubilee Year of 2025 by studying the Vatican ll documents, focusing this year on the four dogmatic constitutions. Join us as we explore these vital teachings important in our world as it seeks a deeper experience of freedom beyond personal willfulness. 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.

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.

CITY ON A HILL; TUESDAYS AT THE BOULEVARD Sacred Heart-Guadalupe Parish 2544 Madison Ave., Kansas City, Missouri Boulevard Brewing Co. 2501 Madison Ave., Kansas City, Missouri Nov. 14 at 5:30 p.m.

Young adults in their 20s and 30s are invited to join City on a Hill for the last of the group’s signature events of the year.

Confessions will be available, and Mass will begin at 6:30 p.m. After Mass, we will go to Boulevard Brewery for an evening of good drinks, pizza and conversation.

YEAR-END TAX REDUCING STRATEGIES LUNCH AND LEARN St. Patrick Parish (center) 1086 N. 94th St., Kansas City, Kansas Nov. 15 from 12:15 - 2:30 p.m.

Mass begins at 12:15 p.m. (optional) with

Father Mark Mertes as the celebrant. After Mass, head over to the parish center for a free lunch. Bill Eckert will begin the presentation about year-end charitable giving, ways to give through stocks, life insurance and IRAs. Learn ways to minimize capital gains taxes. Register online at: cfnek.org/ events; send an email to Jane Schmitt at: jschmitt@archkck.org or call (913) 6473060.

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 2killings 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.

Join the musicians of Angstrom Brass for this unique concert experience, based on the classic “Lessons and Carols” format of alternating musical selections and Scripture readings. This will be a meditation on the Four Last Things: death, judgment, heaven and hell. Tickets cost $25.

For more information, visit the website at: angstrom-brass-memento-mori-2023. eventbrite.com. >> Continued from page 12

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.

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

Put to death any fear of visiting a cemetery

DAILY READINGS THIRTIETH WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME Oct. 29 THIRTIETH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Ex 22: 20-26 Ps 18: 2-4, 47, 51 1 Thes 1: 5c-10 Mt 22: 34-40 Oct. 30 Monday Rom 8: 12-17 Ps 68: 2, 4, 6-7, 20-21 Lk 13: 10-17 Oct. 31 Tuesday Rom 8: 18-25 Ps 126: 1-6 Lk 13: 18-21 Nov. 1 ALL SAINTS Rv 7: 2-4, 9-14 Ps 24: 1bc-4b, 5-6 1 Jn 3: 1-3 Mt 5: 1-12a Nov. 2 THE COMMEMORATION OF ALL THE FAITHFUL DEPARTED (ALL SOULS’ DAY) Wis 3: 1-9 Ps 23: 1-6 Rom 5: 5-11 Jn 6: 37-40 Nov. 3 Martin de Porres, religious Rom 9: 1-5 Ps 147: 12-15, 19-20 Lk 14: 1-6 Nov. 4 Charles Borromeo, bishop Rom 11: 1-2a, 11-12, 25-29 Ps 94: 12-13a, 14-15, 17-18 Lk 14: 1, 7-11

VIRGINIA CENTURIONE BRACELLI 1587-1651

Unable to persuade her parents that she had a religious vocation, Virginia was married at age 15 to the son of another notable Italian family. But he gambled, lived dissolutely and died after only five years. Virginia, despite her unhappiness in the marriage, nursed him at the end. She vowed to live celibately thereafter, bringing up her two daughters and caring for abandoned children, especially girls. She founded several schools and the Sisters of Our Lady of the Refuge on Mount Calvary. She was canonized in her hometown, Genoa, in 2003.

OCTOBER 27, 2023 | THELEAVEN.ORG

W

ell, it’s time once again to assemble

“the kit.”

I’ve already gathered some of the essential items. Large screwdriver? Check. Two small containers of holy water? Check. A couple of ratty T-shirts? Check.

A dozen bouquets of “fake” flowers? Check.

Large bottle of regular water? Check. The only thing still missing is to draw up a “plan of attack.”

So, what am I preparing for? I’ll give you a hint: It has to do with the month of November.

I’m sure the first thing that occurred to a good number of readers is: How is Father Mark going to use the items in this kit to celebrate his November birthday?

(OK, probably nobody thought this!)

Seriously, the answer is: November is the month that the Catholic Church sets aside to remember those who have died, and my “kit” is what I’ll take when I visit the graves of many

I

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.

of my relatives and friends who are buried at Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Kansas City, Kansas.

The large screwdriver is used to poke a hole in the ground in front of the gravestones, to anchor the “fake” flowers. A little history here: As my mom got older and discovered the “reasonably priced” — that is, cheap — artificial flowers at Walmart and

Dollar Tree, she insisted on using them at the cemetery. She liked that we could bring these flowers much more often to the graves and they could be easily (and economically) replaced when they faded or blew away in the wind.

The regular water and ratty T-shirts are used to clean off the gravestone from dried grass, accumulated dirt or, in the case of my Grandpa Modrcin’s grave, bird droppings.

Grandpa had a birdbath in the backyard which he made sure was always full. It was a standard joke in my family that the birds left these little “thank yous”

on his side of the gravestone in remembrance of his kindness to them.

Finally, each grave is blessed with holy water while silently praying, “Eternal rest grant unto . . .”

As the years have gone on, the number of graves that I need to visit has greatly increased.

That’s why I assemble my “plan of attack,” to make sure that I don’t forget anyone while at the cemetery.

From a young age, I remember heading to the cemetery regularly with family to pray at the graves of deceased loved ones. It never struck me as scary or strange. It was a chance to honor those who had “gone before us in faith” and to savor memories of their impact on our lives.

I’d highly encourage everyone to visit a cemetery during November.

Ideally, head to one where your relatives are buried. And you don’t even need to take a “kit” with you (although that’s not a bad idea). A prayerful and grateful

heart are all that you really need.

Another valuable practice in November is to spend time flipping through old family photos, visually reconnecting with the people pictured there.

Sharing those photos and memorable stories with younger members of the family can help them to feel a connectedness with relatives they may not have known in person.

I’ll close with this inscription found on a 100-year-old Indiana gravestone: “Pause Stranger, when you pass me by.

As you are now, so once was I. As I am now, so you will be.

So, prepare for death and follow me.”

An unknown passerby read those above words and scrawled the following beneath them: “To follow you, I’m not content, Until I know which way you went.”

Amen!

The greatest commandment(s) are inextricably bound

n this Sunday’s Gospel, when the Pharisees confront him with what they think will be a confounding question — “Which commandment in the law is the greatest?” — Jesus answers them directly: “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.”

But then he goes a step further. He answers a question he wasn’t asked. “The second is like it,” he explains. “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

What we glean from this encounter is commonly understood as “The Two Greatest Commandments,” and

DEACON GREG KANDRA Deacon Greg Kandra is an award-winning author and journalist, and creator of the blog “The Deacon’s Bench.” He serves in the Diocese of Brooklyn, New York.

they form the very foundation of JudeoChristian thought.

“The whole law and the

prophets depend on these two commandments,” Jesus tells the Pharisees.

But that’s just the beginning. Binding these two commandments together, Jesus makes clear the profoundly important point that you can’t have one without the other. He is showing the Pharisees (and us) that if you think you can simply worship God and ignore your neighbor, think again. We cannot neglect those around us in need. In fact, we should not just care for them; we need to love them.

More than that, we should love them as much as we love ourselves.

In Luke’s account of this episode, the Pharisees are so taken aback by Jesus’s talk of loving your neighbor, it leads one of them to ask, “Who is my neighbor?”

The answer, of course, unfolds as one of Christ’s greatest parables, the good Samaritan, serving to emphasize (if anyone was missing the point) that we are responsible for one another, even those who are different from us and may not believe what we believe. Their culture may be alien to us. But that makes no difference. They are still — in a very human sense — our neighbors.

Jesus dared to answer a question

nobody asked. We need to be courageous enough, and humble enough, to ask ourselves questions we might not want to answer. Questions like: Who are the ones we consider alien? Who are the “neighbors” we ignore or shun or go out of our way to avoid? Are we capable of loving these people as much as we love ourselves?

Finding the answers to those questions can draw us closer to living as Jesus lived and loving as he loved.

Which can only help us fulfill that first commandment — and lead us to loving the Lord, our God, more completely.

Water is a precious, finite resource to be protected, shared, pope says VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Water must be safeguarded and managed in a “wise, careful and sustainable way, so that everyone can enjoy it,” Pope Francis said.

“The arbitrary management of water resources, their distortion and pollution, are particularly damaging to the poor and are a shameful affront to which we cannot

remain indifferent,” he said. “Access to safe drinking water is a basic and universal human right, since it is essential to human survival and, as such, is a condition for the exercise of other human rights,” he said, citing his encyclical “Laudato Si’, On Care for Our Common Home.”

The pope made his comments in a written message marking the Oct. 16 celebration of World Food Day. The

theme of the 2023 celebration was: “Water is life, water is food. Leave no one behind.”

The U.N. Development Program estimates about half-a-billion people face water scarcity year-round; approximately 4.2 billion people lack sanitation; 2.2 billion people lack safe drinking water; and 700 million people could be displaced due to scarcity of water by 2030.

COLUMNISTS 15

OCTOBER 27, 2023 | THELEAVEN.ORG

Help us welcome those with special needs to our church family

W

e often hear that we are called to respect the dignity of the human person.

A call in this sense is a verb; it’s a call to action, not just words that sound nice and make us feel good.

What does it mean to be called to respect the dignity of the human person? It means respecting every living person, who is made in the image and likeness of God, from conception until natural death, through our actions.

October is Respect Life Month and there are so many ways that you can put this call into action. You can

LEARNING TO LOVE LIKE HIM

JOSHUA RUOFF Joshua Ruoff is the lead consultant for the archdiocesan special-needs ministry. He can be reached by email at: jruoff@ archkck.org.

volunteer in a pro-life, foster care, end-of-life or prison ministry at your church.

I recommend you

check out all of the amazing ways the pro-life office of the archdiocese is providing ways that you can serve.

If adding one more thing to your already busy life seems too much, start with how you talk to people. Maybe you have heard of person-first language.

It is a simple way that you can respect the dignity of a human person.

For example, when speaking to or about someone with a disability, you would say their name first or recognize their humanity in some way before saying “disability” or “special needs,” thereby referencing their disability after having recognized their humanity. Or saying “individuals with disabilities” not “disabled individuals” is another example.

It is a small gesture but it goes a long way in making those children of God and their loved ones know their identity in Christ

and feel a part of his family.

Oftentimes when someone makes this faux pas when speaking, it is unintentional and may be due to lack of awareness or experience around individuals with special needs.

If you would like to have an experience interacting with individuals with special needs, we need the help of joy-filled volunteers ages 14 and older at our next BREATHE respite care event at St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Leawood on Jan. 27.

Mark your calendars now so that you can experience the night with us! We do lots of fun activities,

share a meal together and grow closer to God together. You don’t need any prior training (other than Virtus training for ages 16 and older). Any training you need, we will provide. Please visit our website or call our office for more information.

Individuals with disabilities teach us how to love and respect one another — and we oftentimes don’t pay attention.

This Respect Life Month, let us ask the Holy Spirit to open our eyes, our minds and our hearts so that we may better love and serve him through those we love and serve in our everyday life.

MEDIA 16

OCTOBER 27, 2023 | THELEAVEN.ORG

Four tips for building a media-smart family

By Sister Nancy Usselmann and Sister Hosea Rupprecht

W

hen a group of teenagers were asked what they need to do to live well with their media, many of them said “to limit time spent” on screens. Others said, “Be purposeful instead of using them to fill time.” Still others insightfully commented that they “avoid what makes them feel uncomfortable.” They recognize the need to balance time with their screens with other meaningful activities and relationships.

Catholic parents can be heartened by that, especially as they grapple with the unprecedented challenges of navigating the gadget-filled lives of their children, and teaching them how to use media in accordance with the values of our faith. When families talk about the morals and messages of the latest viral YouTube video, young people learn to examine media content according to their own family’s values. Asking children about the newest video games shows that parents are invested in their children’s lives. Talking with teens about the latest social media apps allows both you and them to reflect on your respective online behavior. And this is only the beginning of parents’ involvement in their kids’ media engagement.

Living virtuously within our media world Living our Catholic faith in everyday life means we look to Christ to learn how to make good choices according to Gospel values. He is the way to follow that leads to a blessed life now and in heaven. Jesus shows us how to love, to be merciful, grateful, kind and chaste.

Jesus shows us that choosing the good is the way of blessing. Living virtuously leads to happy living.

To build a media-smart family, here are four tips based on the cardinal virtues:

Temperance: Locate computers and devices in a central area of the house.

Temperance is the virtue of selfcontrol. We want to use and create media without letting it rule our lives or lead to addiction. Positioning all media in central areas of the house is one way to hold each other accountable. That means putting phones on the kitchen counter at night to charge or using all laptops and gaming consoles only in public areas. Leaving space in our lives for other activities requires temperance in our digital media use.

Prudence: Discuss online safety and behaviors.

The online world breeds scammers and predators. Talk to children about how scammers install ransomware for

identity theft, and how to avoid them.

Recognizing the red flags of predation in online relationships is essential for kids, so they can alert parents to what makes them feel uncomfortable. Open communication leads to cautious online behavior and prudent actions. Prudence also means no double standards. If you have rules or protocols for your children, follow them yourselves. Modeling good digital behavior is one of the best ways to help your kids make good choices when it comes to their own media.

to others. Children may ask for smartphones at a young age because their friends have one, but that doesn’t mean they should have them. Parents make the judgment of what is reasonable and fair while considering the ability of the child to obey the family rules on technology use. This goes for screen time, too. Talking together — and allowing children to express their thoughts — is appropriate and will help them become discerning citizens but parents always make the final decision.

Justice: Discern together what is appropriate technology and screen time.

Justice is the virtue of moderation between having more or less than one’s share. It is realizing the fulfillment of our needs in relation to our obligation

Fortitude: Question the values in media messages.

Being courageous in the media culture often means going against the cultural norms. Evaluating media messages according to personal and Gospel values can be the determining factor of whether the family engages in a particular television program or video game.

We can always ask ourselves: How does our relationship with Jesus affect our daily media choices?

Digital family plan Living virtuously with our media requires communicating together to become a media-smart family. Making a pledge or plan makes these choices concrete, so we encourage you to make a “digital family plan,” whereby each member holds the others accountable to what is agreed upon. Post the plan on the refrigerator door as a reminder.

Begin today being virtuous media consumers and creators.

For more information on parenting and media literacy, visit the website at: bemediamindful.org.

Sister Nancy Usselmann is director of the Pauline Center for Media Studies in Los Angeles. Sister Hosea Rupprecht is a workshop presenter and film critic for the Pauline Center for Media Studies.

Both Daughters of St. Paul are media literacy education specialists.