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THELEAVEN.ORG | VOL. 42, NO. 15 | NOVEMBER 13, 2020

FIT TO SIT

With no budget for new chairs, schools welcome donation from Lenexa company STORY BY JOE BOLLIG / PHOTOS BY JAY SOLDNER

LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER

Eric White, principal of Most Pure Heart of Mary School in Topeka, loads chairs by the Scott Rice Office Works warehouse in Lenexa into his pickup truck bed.

LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER

Eric White, principal of Most Pure Heart of Mary School in Topeka, starts the first of his many trips from his truck to the school, as he unloads chairs donated with the help of CEF Futures board member Rachel Hewitt.

EAVENWORTH — If Goldilocks had gone to Xavier School here in Leavenworth instead of the three bears’ cottage, she would have tried out three chairs instead of three beds. She’d try out the school secretary’s chair: “This one is broken!” And then the school nurse’s chair: “This one is broken, too!” And finally, the principal’s chair: “Oh dear, this one is also broken!” Poor Goldilocks would have to limp home with a backache, vulnerable to a bear attack on the way.

“The chair backs no longer stay in position, so they are constantly reclining further and further back all day long,” said Janelle Hartegan, Xavier principal. “They are very uncomfortable, but there isn’t money in the budget [for new chairs], so we just figure out how to make it work.” By no means is this situation unusual at some archdiocesan schools. They don’t have near the financial resources of public schools, so they have to do more with less, and follow the old U.S. Marine Corps slogan to “improvise, adapt and overcome.” This applies especially to furniture for staff and teachers.

Thankfully, seven Catholic schools with Catholic Education Foundation students will soon receive some much-needed and appreciated chairs thanks to a donation from Scott Rice Office Works in Lenexa. The chairs were made available to the schools thanks to Rachel Hewitt, a member of St. Elizabeth Parish in Kansas City, Missouri. She’s a workplace consultant with Scott Rice Office Works and a board member with Catholic Education Foundation Futures. CEF Futures is a group of young professionals who are active in their parishes and have a passion to help >> See “QUALITY” on page 4

ARCHBISHOP

NOVEMBER 13, 2O2O | THELEAVEN.ORG

Jesus’ peace can calm any storm COVID experience I am grateful for all the prayers and words of encouragement that I received during my recent experience of the COVID-19 virus. It was worse than any flu virus I have experienced in the past 71 years. I am grateful that I did not contract the virus until after the death of my mother. I have now even more empathy for all those who have lost a loved one to this virus. During this month of November, when we remember those who have died, I pray especially for eternal life for the members of the archdiocese who have died from COVID-19 and ask the risen Jesus to comfort their families. I am thankful that I was able to recover from this vicious virus through a combination of rest and the immune system God designed into the human body. Fortunately, my symptoms were not considered severe enough to require any kind of drug therapy, much less hospitalization. It is amazing that a virus as debilitating, and even potentially deadly, as COVID-19 — in the vast majority of cases — can be overcome by the defense system imbedded in the body.

Vatican McCarrick Report By the time this edition of The Leaven

On that occasion, Pope Francis reflected on a passage from Chapter 4 of St. Mark’s Gospel in which the apostles are crossing the Sea of Galilee when they get caught in a ferocious storm. Several of the apostles were fishermen. They spent their lives on the sea. They had weathered many storms. Yet, this storm was unusually severe and had them in a panic. Mark contrasts the terror of the disciples to the absolute calm of Jesus who is asleep in the stern of the boat. During this violent and terrifying storm, Jesus is completely at peace, sleeping serenely while his disciples are terrified. This passage is the only time in all four Gospels that Jesus is depicted sleeping. The disciples wake Jesus and accuse him of not caring that they are about to perish. After calming the wind and the sea, Jesus asks the disciples: “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?” Jesus might pose the same questions to us: Why are we so terrified? Pope Francis reminded us back in March, no matter the turmoil in the world around us, Jesus is with us. If we desire peace, we must draw close to Our Lord. With the blessed assurance that Jesus is in the boat with us, we can be fearless. For the disciple of Jesus, even on Friday the 13th, we are called to be not afraid!

LIFE WILL BE VICTORIOUS ARCHBISHOP JOSEPH F. NAUMANN

Post-election hope

arrives in your mailbox, the Vatican’s McCarrick report will have been released to the public. The bishops of the United States did not receive an advance copy of the lengthy report, so I am not able to comment on its content until I have had time to read it carefully. However, regardless of the report’s findings, I encourage all of us to renew our prayers for all victims of sexual abuse and to recommit our efforts to assist with their healing. I am grateful to all those in the archdiocese that minister to victims. It is also a moment to recommit to the efforts of the past 20 years to create the safest possible environment within our parishes, schools and ministries. I am grateful to all those in the archdiocese and in our parishes who help keep our church vigilant in our efforts to prevent abuse and to protect all those who are vulnerable.

Prior to the election, the church emphasized the responsibility of Catholics to be well formed and well informed voters. The Catholic laity has a special responsibility to bring the principles of our Catholic faith into the public square and to be engaged citizens. Elections are important. They have consequences, good and bad. However, it is also important to remember that our hope as Christians is not tied to election results. Our hope is not in any earthly leader, but is anchored in the love of God revealed in Jesus Christ. This is a hope no election result can provide or deny us. Jesus remains with us no matter the exterior circumstances of our lives. Our Lord is faithful to his promise to be with his disciples until the end of time. This past March, during the worst days of the worldwide pandemic, Pope Francis led a eucharistic Holy Hour in an empty St. Peter’s Square.

Announcement Joseph A. Butler & Son Funeral Home has re-opened as

Cheryl (Waage) and Greg Miller, members of Holy Spirit Parish, Overland Park, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on Nov. 21. The couple was married at Trinity Lutheran Church, Mission, by the Reverend Martin Yauk of Trinity Lutheran and Father William Vincent of St. Agnes Parish, Roeland Park. They will celebrate with Mass followed by dinner with their daughters Kym Brungardt and Melissa Grzymala-Busse. A vacation is planned for later with all eight grandchildren.

ANNIVERSARY SUBMISSIONS POLICY: The Leaven prints 50, 60, 65 and 70th anniversary notices. They are for parishioners in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas DEADLINE: 10 days before the desired publication date. INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: • The couple’s names • their parish • the date they were married • church and city where they were married • what they are doing to celebrate • date of the celebration • names of children (no spouses) • number of grandchildren and great-grandchildren; WHERE TO SUBMIT: Email notices to: todd.habiger@ theleaven.org.

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LOCAL NEWS

NOVEMBER 13, 2020 | THELEAVEN.ORG

LEAVEN PHOTO BY JOE BOLLIG

Father Mike Scully, OFM Cap., pastor of Holy Family Parish in Eudora, stands with Mark Schieferecke and Janet Campbell at the original Holy Family Church in Eudora, which was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in October. Schieferecke, Campbell and fellow parishioner Peter Bock led the effort to get the church on the registry. The church was built in 1864.

Eudora Catholics get first church on historic register By Joe Bollig joe.bollig@theleaven.org

UDORA — The president was Abraham Lincoln and Americans were dying in a brutal civil war when the first Mass was celebrated at Holy Family Church here in 1864. But the tides of history washed around — rather than over — the old, sandstone church, leaving it a rare Kansas survivor of that turbulent era. On Oct. 14, the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas received recognition of the historic nature of the church in a letter from the State Historic Preservation Office: “We are pleased to inform you that the Holy Family Catholic Church was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on Oct. 2, 2020.” Parishioners Janet S. Campbell, Mark Schieferecke and Peter Bock led the effort to get the church on the registry. “I grew up right across the street from the church,” said Campbell. “It’s always been a part of my life.” Campbell remembers attending the old, wood-frame parish school (now gone) and attending Mass in the little stone church. When the new school and church were built in 1963, the old

church was boarded up and largely neglected for the next 20 years. In 1981, a group of townspeople — Catholic and non-Catholic alike — decided to form a committee to repair and maintain the church. Today, the church is used for Saturday evening vigil Masses, eucharistic adoration, private prayer, community Christmas concerts and occasional weddings and funerals. The effort to get the old church on the historic register began in the parish council. “It was in 2017, and I was on the parish council,” said Campbell. “We had finished the parish’s 150th anniversary and it’s the oldest Catholic church in Kansas still in use. I’m a bit of a history buff, and the council decided it would be good to get the church some recognition.” What followed was a period of research, report writing and correspondence until the recognition was granted. Holy Family Church was built in 1864 from sandstone quarried east of Eudora and mortar made from sand from the Kansas River. Parishioners dressed the stone with custom-made chisels that left distinctive marks on the stone. The building has 18 Gothic Revival style arched windows.

The building became L-shaped with the addition of a one-room sacristy in 1891 and a vestibule and tower in 1896. Electricity was installed possibly as early as 1916, and parishioner Frank Sommer (Campbell’s grandfather) built the current altar in 1926. Stainedglass windows were added in 1942. The plastered interior (rumored to have murals) was covered with fiberboard panels in 1946. The church lost its pointed steeple sometime in the 1950s — it is unclear whether the cause was by storm damage or deterioration. The church has a bell again that can be pulled by a rope, thanks to a flea market find by Campbell. The original two bells were hung in the 1963 church/ school building. According to the application, “the building remains in excellent condition and retains significant historic integrity . . . [and] completely retains its original exterior and interior appearance,” and the historic alterations contribute to the building’s “overall character-defining features.” Ongoing maintenance is a perpetual challenge, said Peter Bock, chairman of the parish building and grounds committee. Just this summer, volunteers replaced louvers and deteriorated wood in the steeple. “The challenge of the old church 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; fax: (913) 721-5276; or e-mail at: sub@theleaven.com. Postmaster: Send address changes to The Leaven, 12615 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City, KS 66109. For change of address, provide old and new address and parish. Subscriptions $21/year. Periodicals postage paid at Kansas City, KS 66109.

Production Manager Todd Habiger todd.habiger@theleaven.org

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

Senior Reporter Joe Bollig joe.bollig@theleaven.org

How to get there

o visit historic Holy Family Church in Eudora, take Highway K-10 and exit at Church St. Go north on Church to 10th St. Go west on 10th and then north on Birch St. The rectory is at Ninth and Birch, and the church is on the west side of the rectory. To get the passcode to enter the church, go to the parish office (the red brick former school), which is located north of the cemetery. Call the parish office beforehand at (785) 542-2788.

is that we’ve had a very little, if any, budget,” said Bock. “It’s been volunteer donations and sweat equity.” Having a listing on the register qualifies the old church for Kansas Rehabilitation Tax Credit and the Heritage Trust Fund grant program. “Hopefully, we’ll be able to apply for some grants [for] some more renovations,” said Bock. “There’s been a lot of deferred maintenance. Renovations could be done with grants or other financial assistance in the form of partial tax credits. A nonprofit [like the church] can sell the tax credits.”

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

LOCAL NEWS

NOVEMBER 13, 2O2O | THELEAVEN.ORG

Red Bag becomes family tradition at St. Ann in Prairie Village By Moira Cullings moira.cullings@theleaven.org

RAIRIE VILLAGE — Christmas will be much brighter this year for 145 kids and 33 families thanks to the generosity of St. Ann School here. “We donate gifts to people who don’t get as much for Christmas, and we pack them up in red bags,” said St. Ann School sixth-grader Donnie Evangelidis. “It feels good,” he said. “People like us can help people that are in need just by giving little things like toys.” The donations are part of the Red Bag program, which has been a tradition at St. Ann for more than 35 years. Gifts — including toys, clothing and basic necessities — were gathered by school families, wrapped, put in red bags and then loaded into a truck Nov. 6 by the students themselves. They will go to children and families in need this Christmas. For assistant principal Jessica Loveland, the school’s effort “means we are living our faith by reaching out to others, helping them in their time of need and praying for them as a community.” “We hope our students learn that it is so much better to give than receive,” she added, “and [see] the power of coming together and supporting all of God’s children, especially during such an unprecedented holiday season.” Families of the parish are grateful for the opportunity to give back year after year — and this time was even more special. “Red Bag to our family is something that we really hold near and dear to our hearts,” said Michaela Pearce, who has two sons at St. Ann — one in preschool and one in second grade. “Especially in a year like 2020, where so many families are feeling a deeper financial impact due to COVID-19, financial hardships seem to be putting a greater strain on so many,” she said. Sixth-grader Courtney Reiser was excited to help other children have a special holiday. “There’s basic stuff like T-shirts and things kids need,” she said. “Each kid makes a list of their favorite colors and favorite things, so you have an idea of what to get them. “It’s [for] kids that don’t get a lot of

Above, from left, Peter Sexton and Joe Clark, sixth-graders at St. Ann School in Prairie Village, help load a large gift into the back of a truck picking up Christmas gifts donated by the school as part of its Red Bag program. Right, Tammy Laudan, Red Bag co-coordinator for St. Ann, keeps track of a gift being loaded by St. Ann School sixth-grader Luke Creger. The Red Bag program has been a tradition at St. Ann for more than 35 years. presents and aren’t as blessed as we are.” Tammy Laudan has been involved with the program for 20 years and said the enthusiasm of her fellow parishioners is moving. “We just love this program,” she said. Laudan also explained the program isn’t just for Catholic school families. “Anybody can adopt a child,” she said. “There’s 33 families that have been taken care of [here]. That’s everything on their list — toiletries and food and gift cards. “They’re really in need.” Pearce said programs like Red Bag

are why she and her husband sent their children to a Catholic school. “Giving the kids the opportunity to understand the importance of giving back,” she said, “and especially giving back in our faith, really embodies everything that we want to teach our kids.

“It’s just an incredible program that teaches them to give unto others.” To learn more about the Red Bag program, visit the website at: redbagskc. com.

Quality, supportive task chairs called ‘a blessing’ to teachers “ WE JUST DON’T BUY THOSE

children get a Catholic education. “[Scott Rice] is a commercial furniture provider with a large focus on education in Kansas City,” said Hewitt. “We happened to have a lot of chairs that needed new homes, and we wanted them to go to local schools and nonprofits.” Staci Chivetta, a project manager in the education division of Scott Rice, examined the firm’s inventory to determine what new and used chairs were overstocked and needed to be cleared to make way for new inventory. She asked employees if they knew of any churches or schools that could use the excess chairs. “We didn’t want these to end up in a landfill because they are very highquality chairs,” said Hewitt. “They’re mostly task seating — desk chairs, office chairs — that are ergonomically supportive for people who are sitting for long periods of time sitting and stand-

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>> Continued from page 1

KINDS OF THINGS WITH OUR RESOURCES. TYPICALLY, WE SPEND OUR FUNDS ON THINGS THAT WILL DIRECTLY HELP THE STUDENTS. ERIC WHITE PRINCIPAL OF MOST PURE HEART OF MARY SCHOOL, TOPEKA ing. They can make all the difference, especially for teachers who endure long hours of virtual and in-person teaching.” The firm wound up donating 111 chairs to archdiocesan schools on a first-come, first-served basis. One of the schools that received chairs was Christ the King in Kansas

City, Kansas. “Any time there is an area in which we can save money — whether it’s a donation of furniture, equipment or school supplies — that’s one less expense. And it frees principals up to allocate our money to other needed areas,” said Cathy Fithian, principal. “The opportunity of these new chairs is a blessing for our teachers,” she added. Donated chairs also went to Most Pure Heart of Mary School in Topeka — some to furnish the teacher staff room. “We take gifts [of chairs] as hand-medowns from businesses,” said Eric White, principal. “We have several chairs that when you sit in them, [they] gradually sink down. Eventually you have to raise them back up to sit at table height. But they weren’t scheduled for replacement. “We just don’t buy those kinds of things with our resources,” said White. “Typically, we spend our funds on things that will directly help the students. It’s

infrequent we’d use school resources [otherwise]. “[The donations will make] life a little better for the adults in the building, and that’s important, especially in this time of COVID. Everybody’s giving a little more, and job responsibilities have changed. To have something more for the adults is a good thing.” Her school is not only grateful for the new chairs, said Hartegan, but for the good community relations it represents. “If there is a generous community partner willing to make a donation,” she said, “and there is a need in a Catholic school, I think it’s good to work in partnership.” “We don’t budget for new furniture for the staff,” she continued. “We get new furniture for students, but we don’t always have the money to prioritize staff desks and chairs. “So, when we had a community partner, we were grateful that they were willing to invest in Catholic education. We are grateful for their generosity.”

NOVEMBER 13, 2020 | THELEAVEN.ORG

LOCAL NEWS

Wyandotte County Family Support Center has new home By Joe Bollig joe.bollig@theleaven.org

PHOTO BY MONICA CASTELLON

Father Mark Mertes, pastor of St. Patrick Parish in Kansas City, Kansas, blessed the Wyandotte County Family Support Center on Sept. 18. The new building offers more space and is on a bus route, which offers improved accessibility for Catholic Charities clients.

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ANSAS CITY, Kan. — This year it was goodbye to the “house that Hunkeler built” and hello to a new, more efficient home for the Wyandotte County Family Support Center. This summer Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas moved the support center out of 2220 Central to another building at 600 Minnesota (Sixth St. and Minnesota Ave.). The move was completed by the end of June. Father Mark Mertes, pastor of St. Patrick Parish in Kansas City Kansas, blessed the building on Sept. 18. The building at 2220 Central was built by Archbishop Edward J. Hunkeler in the mid-1950s. It was the first “modern” chancery in the history of the archdiocese, and it centralized the growing administrative offices and ministries of the church in northeast Kansas. In the early 1990s, the archdiocesan chancery was moved to Savior Pastoral Center. Next, the former chancery housed the administrative offices of Catholic Charities until 2007, when they were moved to 9720 W. 87th St. in Overland Park. The property then housed the Wyandotte County Family Support Center from 2007 to 2020. The archdiocese now seeks to sell the building at 2220 Central, listing the price at $785,000. The 25,700-square-foot building at 600 Minnesota has a basement, first floor and second floor. The new location offers several advantages, said Denise Ogilvie, chief mission officer for Catholic Charities. “One of the advantages of this new space is that it is larger than 2220 Central,” said Ogilvie. “We have more room for staff and more classroom space. Also, it is more convenient. Many times, when people seek services, we make referrals to other agencies. At the location on Central, we were out there on our own. There weren’t any other social service agencies around us, but in downtown there are several.” The new building is also on a bus route, which offers improved accessibility for Catholic Charities clients.

“ WE HAVE MORE ROOM FOR STAFF AND MORE CLASSROOM SPACE. ALSO, IT IS MORE CONVENIENT. MANY TIMES, WHEN PEOPLE SEEK SERVICES, WE MAKE REFERRALS TO OTHER AGENCIES. AT THE LOCATION ON CENTRAL, WE WERE OUT THERE ON OUR OWN. DENISE OGILVIE CHIEF MISSION OFFICER FOR CATHOLIC CHARITIES

The Wyandotte County Family Service Center has offices for 55 Catholic Charities employees. It has conference rooms, classrooms and other spaces dedicated to offering services and programs. These programs and services are: • The Family Support Center: shortand long-term case management to

families who need assistance in the form of emergency services (rent and utility assistance), a clothing closet and a food pantry. • Asset Development programing: a suite of financial education and strengthening programs consisting of VITA (Voluntary Income Tax Assis-

tance); KLPP (the Kansas Loan Pool Program), which is the predatory loan refinance program); and FFT (Family Financial Transformations), which offers intensive financial education and mentoring. • Workforce Development programing: St. Rita (employment and skillsbased training and job placement); refugee and immigrant employment placement; and New Roots for Refugees, a farm training program. • Refugee and Immigration Services: refugee resettlement and the La Luz Immigration Clinic (immigration legal services, citizenship classes, paperwork assistance, green card assistance and help with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals issues). • Foster Grandparents: A program for low-income elderly who receive services and help students in local schools.

Archdiocesan deaf minister featured in national ASL podcast By Moira Cullings moira.cullings@theleaven.org

ANSAS CITY, Kan. — Ninety-nine percent of deaf people are not affiliated with any church, according to Katie Locus, consultant of deaf ministry for the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas. “One of the reasons for that statistic is lack of access, and this includes lack of access to Catholic resources,” she said. One resource lacking for the deaf community is Catholic podcasts, which today are a popular form of receiving information for the hearing community. To combat this problem, Catholic News Agency made its first podcast episode accessible in American Sign Language (ASL). The episode, titled “More Than Words,” was published to YouTube on Oct. 26 and includes the input of Locus, who shared part of her faith journey as a deaf person.

Catholic News Agency made its first podcast episode accessible in American Sign Language. The episode, titled “More Than Words,” was published to YouTube Oct. 26 and includes the input of Katie Locus, consultant of deaf ministry for the archdiocese. “I’m very honored that they thought to ask me to be a part of this,” said Locus. She said the lack of access to proper

faith formation starts at home, as many hearing parents who have deaf children don’t learn to communicate with them beyond basic signs.

Sacramental preparation classes aren’t much better and often don’t provide interpreters, she said, and online resources available for the deaf Catholic community are scarce. Locus hopes more podcasts and resources will be provided to the deaf Catholic community in the future and that her part in the “More Than Words” podcast will have a positive impact. “I had a thought that perhaps, by sharing my story,” she said, “it might help other families who have deaf children to see the benefits of making their Catholic faith accessible to their children by learning how to communicate with them. “Who knows what the fruits would be when parents are able to teach their deaf children about what we believe as Catholics?” To view the “More Than Words” ASL podcast, visit Catholic News Agency’s YouTube channel at: you tube.com/user/catholicnewsagency/ videos and click the video called “ASL Translation | CAN Newsroom podcast, featuring deaf Catholics.”

FAMILY LIFE

NOVEMBER 13, 2O2O | THELEAVEN.ORG

Holidays offer opportunity to really listen to each other

hen I visit my family in Italy, I have the pleasure of sitting through lengthy delicious meals and endless conversations with friends and family. Often, these conversations can get loud. The loudest are about politics. Italians feel strongly about their political opinions. These discussions start as friendly exchanges, then gradually the volume increases, the pace accelerates, several people are talking all at the same time and, sometimes, personal attacks may follow. My sister, who often is the host, intervenes by calling a halt to the debate. Everyone quiets down and gradually the meal continues. We recognize that we are one family and we are there to enjoy each other’s company and not to argue. Today, we live in a polarized world and

JOHN BOSIO John Bosio is a former marriage and family therapist, director of religious education and diocesan family life coordinator. He is a member of the National Association of Catholic Family Life Ministers.

people have strong opinions about many subjects — from politics, to COVID-19, to climate change and even the weather. Unfortunately, many of our discussions seem to miss three ingredients I find also missing in many of my family’s arguments: 1) a willingness to listen without inter-

rupting; 2) the ability to welcome a different opinion without feeling defensive; and 3) a desire to truly understand the other person’s point of view. Since we are in the post-election season and holiday gatherings, this is an opportune time to develop a game plan for our conversations. Although our gatherings this year may be more limited and subdued, there are still opportunities for exchanging ideas with relatives and friends around our family table. To have a fun family time and let everyone talk about what they want without restrictions, keep in mind the following pointers: 1) When someone expresses an opinion you disagree with, stay calm. Don’t be offended or take this as a cue to start a debate. In most cases, it is not intended as a personal attack. It is just an opinion, a point of view, regardless of how

wrong you think it is. Do your best to listen, trying to understand the other person’s thoughts. If you want to be sure that your silence is not misconstrued as agreement, you may want to say: “I am interested in what you think, although I may not agree. So, tell me . . .” 2) If you decide to engage, do so gently. Put on an inquisitive attitude instead of a judgmental one. Ask clarifying questions. Find out how the person came to his/her position. Then listen. Listen to the emotions and personal experiences that drive this person’s opinions. There is always something that you can learn. Keep your mind open. Avoid being silent while preparing a rebuttal. 3) Let the person know that you understand their viewpoint and say it with words that honor their opinion rather than tear it down. Then ask

if there is anything else you should know about the subject. If yes, continue listening. When the person is done, ask if you can share your point of view. Peter Bregman, a leadership expert, writes that arguing does not change minds. People become more entrenched in their viewpoint while arguing. He believes that listening is far more persuasive than speaking. Sitting around my sister’s table in Italy, I often find myself at a disadvantage. My proficiency with the Italian language has greatly diminished after living in the United States for over 50 years. However, this disadvantage can turn into an advantage during these family debates. Not being familiar with the current hot topics for Italians, I just listen with interest. In doing so I find that the animosity of

Question for reflection: What is your plan for keeping your family gatherings and discussions from evolving into painful debates?

whoever is speaking tones down. I am not arguing, so they calm down. In my listening, I often find that the person arguing does not actually feel very strongly about the issue, and may even admit that they argue just for the sake of arguing. Today’s social climate is making it difficult to disagree with ideas. Unfortunately, we seem to attack one another for our ideas. This is damaging to our relationships. In the coming weeks, make an effort to approach others with respect, regardless of their ideas. Just listen! “The first duty of love is to listen” (Paul Tillich).

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NOVEMBER 13, 2020 | THELEAVEN.ORG

NATION

President of bishops’ conference issues statement on election

ASHINGTON — Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles and president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has issued the following statement on the 2020 presidential election: “We thank God for the blessings of liberty. The AmerEditor’s note: At ican people the time this issue have spoken of The Leaven went to press, there were in this elecstill challenges in tion. Now is the courts to vote the time for counts, which have our leaders not yet been certito come tofied. gether in a spirit of national unity and to commit themselves to dialogue and compromise for the common good. “As Catholics and Americans, our priorities and mission are clear. We are here to follow Jesus Christ, to bear witness to His love in our lives, and to build His Kingdom on earth. I believe that at this moment in American history, Catholics have a special duty to be peacemakers, to promote fraternity and mutual trust, and to pray for a renewed spirit of true patriotism in our country. “Democracy requires that all of us conduct ourselves as people of virtue and self-discipline. It requires that we respect the free expression of opinions and that we treat one another with charity and civility, even as we might disagree deeply in our debates on matters of law and public policy.

CNS PHOTO/JONATHAN ERNST, REUTERS

President-elect Joe Biden visits family graves at St. Joseph on the Brandywine Cemetery after attending Mass in Wilmington, Delaware, Nov. 8. “As we do this, we recognize that Joseph R. Biden Jr. has received enough votes to be elected the 46th President of the United States. We congratulate Mr. Biden and acknowledge that he joins the late President John F. Kennedy as the second United States president to

profess the Catholic faith. We also congratulate Sen. Kamala D. Harris of California, who becomes the first woman ever elected as vice president. We ask the Blessed Virgin Mary, patroness of this great nation, to intercede for us. May she help us to work

together to fulfill the beautiful vision of America’s missionaries and founders — one nation under God, where the sanctity of every human life is defended and freedom of conscience and religion are guaranteed.”

Alex Trebek, host of ‘Jeopardy!,’ was educated in Catholic schools By Carol Zimmermann Catholic News Service

ASHINGTON (CNS) — When the death of Alex Trebek — beloved longtime host of “Jeopardy!” — was announced, celebrities and fans around the country took to social media to express their grief. Many did this in the form of a question, paying tribute to the format of the game show Trebek hosted for 36 years. Trebek, a Canadian-born American who was educated in Catholic schools, died of pancreatic cancer at his home Nov. 8. He was 80. He was consistently described as calm, reliable, intelligent and personable with a dry sense of humor. He was known as a comforting presence in America’s family rooms with a show that always stayed with its simple format. The iconic host and winner of multiple Emmy awards announced in a video last year that he had been diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. A year later, this March, he gave

At first, he pursued a career in jouranother video update saying there had been “moments of great pain . . . and nalism, but in 1966, he began hosting massive attacks of great depression a Canadian game show. Seven years that made me wonder if later, he came to the United States for varit really was worth fightious roles hosting TV ing on.” game shows before setTo give up, he said, tling into “Jeopardy!” In would have betrayed his 1998, he became a U.S. friends and family who citizen. were helping him surIn early January, vive. In an interview last Trebek and his wife Jean received Fordham year with ABC’s “20/20,” University’s Founders’ he said: “Laughter is one Award in Los Angeles. of the greatest cures that “If there’s one thing we can possibly have. I have discovered in the It’s right up there with past year, it is the power prayer, believe me.” He of prayer,” he said in also said he wanted to CNS PHOTO/FRED PROUSER, REUTERS accepting the Fordham be remembered as a “nice man” who “helped Alex Trebek, host of the game award. “I learned it people through his show “Jeopardy!,” is seen in this from the Jesuits when charity work” and was 2006 file photo. He died Nov. 8 I was a kid. I learned “kind to everybody he from complications related to pan- it from the Oblates of creatic cancer. He was 80. encountered.” Mary Immaculate when Trebek was born in northern OntarI was in boarding school.” io, Canada, and attended Jesuit schools In her remarks, reported by the unithere until age 12 when he went to versity’s news site, Jean Trebek said: a boarding school run by an order of “We understand how education, and women religious. probably more importantly, higher

education, is one of the linchpins of society.” She referenced the scholarship she and her husband established at Fordham about five years ago, explaining that seeing how a scholarship can change a life inspired them. In 2015, the Trebeks established the Alex Trebek Endowed Scholarship, with a $1 million scholarship for students from the New York City neighborhood of Harlem. In 2019, they added another $1 million to the endowment to aid students from North Harlem and East Harlem. Jesuit Father Joseph McShane, president of Fordham, called Trebek, who was raised a Catholic, “a brilliant man who is the nation’s schoolteacher.” If people think the “Jeopardy!” host is a good man, “you don’t know the half of it,” the priest said. “He’s better than you think,” calling him a man of “quiet generosity.” “He teaches us about how to live each day with purpose, with focus, with determination, with love, and without being obsessed with oneself,” he added.

Blessed McGivney’s vocation, formation, ministry are focus of virtual series

ALTIMORE (CNS) — St. Mary’s Seminary & University here will launch a virtual discussion series in honor of the beatification of an alumnus — Blessed Michael McGivney, a member of the class of 1877 and founder of the Knights of Columbus. “The McGivney Series” began Nov. 12 with the segment “Who Was Michael McGivney and What Does He

Have to Say to Us Today?” It will explore the essential qualifications and qualities of effective priestly ministry in the 21st century. This first segment was a livestreamed conversation between Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore, the Knights’ supreme chaplain, and Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson, the CEO of the Knights. The moderator was Sulpician Father Phillip J. Brown, who is president-rector of St.

Mary’s Seminary & University. Registration details for the series can be found online at: www.stmarys.edu. This first conversation, Father Brown said, shed light on Blessed McGivney’s ministry, what really motivated him, and how that exemplifies the ideals of priestly formation that prepared him to go forth and do that work. Speaking on the eve of the Oct. 31 beatification, Father Brown noted that

now-Blessed McGivney had written many times about how much he owed to the Sulpicians, as the members of the Society of Priests of St. Sulpice are known. The order operates St. Mary’s. Blessed McGivney credited the Sulpicians’ ideals of priestly formation and described how at St. Mary’s he fell in love with the idea of being a parish priest.

CNS PHOTO/GREGORY A. SHEMITZ

Darcel Whitten-Wilamowski directs the Sister Thea Bowman, Servant of God, Mass Gospel Choir during a Black History Month Mass of thanksgiving on Feb. 16 at the Immaculate Conception Center in Douglaston, New York. Sister Bowman (1937-1990), a noted evangelist and member of the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, is among the U.S. Black Catholic sainthood candidates who receive special recognition during National Black Catholic History Month, observed every November.

BLACK SAINTS AMONG CHURCH’S EARLIEST, LATEST What our Black saints can teach us this Black Catholic History Month By Marc and Julie Anderson mjanderson@theleaven.org

e was born a slave. Not one seminary in the United States would accept him. He had to study for the priesthood in Italy. But he died a priest and might someday be canonized. The story of Father Augustus Tolton was just one of many stories shared by archdiocesan Catholics ahead of Black Catholic History Month, which began Nov. 1. Established in 1990, this special month was the idea of the

National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus to recognize the contributions people of color have made to the Catholic Church. The first celebration commemorated the 350th anniversary of the death of St. Martin de Porres, patron saint of those of mixed races and those suffering from discrimination. Canonized in 1962, St. Martin was born in 1579 in Lima, Peru, to a Spanish father and a mother who was a freed slave of African or Native American descent. At 15, he longed to join a religious order; however, Peruvian law forbade people of mixed race to do so. In order to join the Dominicans

of the Holy Rosary Priory in Lima, St. Martin had to become a servant, accepting menial tasks such as sweeping the floor. Eventually, he was allowed to become a Dominican lay brother and was later assigned to the infirmary. He became wellknown for his care of the sick and the dying as well as his unconditional love of all, regardless of race or wealth. According to the National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus, three other November dates are significant. All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day provide an opportunity to review the lives of hundreds of saints of African descent in the first 300

CNS PHOTO/ELIZABETH BACHMANN

This statue of St. Martin de Porres, patron saint of those of mixed races and those suffering from discrimination, appears to stand watch at the entrance of St. Augustine Church in Washington. years of the church and a time to remember all those Africans lost to cruel treatment in the Middle Passage crossing of the

Atlantic Ocean. St. Augustine’s birthday, Nov. 13, provides a chance to honor the first doctor of the church

BLACK CATHOLIC AMERICANS IN CONSIDERATION FOR SAINTHOOD

ix Black Catholic Americans are being considered for sainthood. Their official canonization websites are listed below. Catholics can access them to learn more about these individuals and/or to report favors received through their intercession.

MOTHER MARY LANGE Lange Guild 701 Gun Road Baltimore, MD 21227 (410) 242-6861 www.motherlange.org LEAVEN FILE PHOTO

Bea Swoopes, holding the mic, is a longtime member of the gospel choir of Our Lady & St. Rose in Kansas City, Kansas.

CNS PHOTO/ELIZABETH BACHMANN

This stained-glass window depicting St. Augustine and his mother St. Monica graces the wall of St. Augustine Church in Washington. St. Augustine is the first doctor of the church from North Africa. from North Africa. For Peggy Robinson, a parishioner at Our Lady & St. Rose in Kansas City, Kansas, the saints, including Black saints, provide her strength. “These people overcame such obstacles so that they could have a seat in the Catholic Church, and that gives me faith and hope,” she said. “So, whenever I get discouraged about racial justice in the church and otherwise, I think of them and — if they could do it — then I need to carry forward.” National Black History Month might not have happened except for one man. In the l880s, Daniel Rudd founded the Ohio Star Tribune, which later became the American Catholic Tribune, the first national Catholic newspaper owned and operated by a Black man.

In May 1888, Rudd used one of his columns to call for a Black Catholic Congress to gather Black Catholics “and let them exchange views on questions affecting their race; then uniting on a course of action, behind which would stand the majestic Church of Christ, they must inevitably become — what has already been said they should be — the bearer of their race.” In January 1889, President Grover Cleveland received 100 Black Catholic men at the White House as part of the first National Black Catholic Congress, a tradition which continues today. Father Tolton celebrated the opening Mass. At that first congress, Father Tolton said, “The Catholic Church deplores a double slavery — that of the mind and that of the body. She endeavors to

free us of both. I was a poor slave boy, but the priests of the Church did not disdain me. . . . In this Church we do not have to fight for our rights because we are black. She had colored saints — Saint Augustine, Saint Benedict the Moor, Saint Monica, the mother of Saint Augustine. The Church is broad and liberal. She is the Church for our people.” Celebrating such a Mass was probably something Father Tolton never dreamed of doing, especially since no American seminary would accept him. In 2019, Pope Francis declared Father Augustus Tolton to be Venerable, meaning he is worthy of private devotion and nearing canonization. Born in Missouri to slave parents, Father Tolton started life roughly 200 miles from Kansas City. “He was here in Missouri. He was close,” explained Barbara Bailey, Our Lady & St. Rose pastoral associate. “They really didn’t want him to be a priest. He just had the patience and the fortitude to hang in there.” His life inspires her to “continue to have patience with people and to know that God is in control. If something is supposed to happen, God will make it happen.” One hundred years after that first congress, Sister Thea Bowman, FSPA, who is also moving toward sainthood, became the first African American woman to address the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Suffering with cancer while sitting in a wheelchair, she said, “What does it mean to be Black and Catholic? It means that I come to my church fully functioning. . . . I bring myself, my Black self, all that I am, all that I have, all I hope to become.” “I bring my whole history,” she continued, “my traditions, my experience, my culture, my African American song and dance and gesture and movement and teaching and preaching and healing and responsibility as a gift to the Church.” While Sister Thea is not her patron, Frances Smith, another parishioner at Our Lady & St. Rose, said she has prayed for >> Continued on the next page

For further reading: “The Finger of God: A Story of Courage” by Sharon Knecht

FATHER AUGUSTUS TOLTON

Father Augustus Tolton Archdiocese of Chicago Attention: Bishop Joseph N. Perry 835 N. Rush Street Chicago, IL 60611 (312) 534-8376 tolton.archchicago.org

For further reading: “From Slave to Priest” by Caroline Hemesath or “Father Augustus Tolton” by Deacon Harold Burke-Sievers

JULIA GREELEY

Julia Greeley Guild 1663 Steele Street, Apt. 707 Denver, CO 80206 www.juliagreeley.org For further reading: “In Service of the Sacred Heart: The Life and Virtues of Julia Greeley” by Father Blaine Burkey, OFM Cap.

MOTHER HENRIETTE DELILLE

Henriette Delille Commission Office Sisters of the Holy Family 6901 Chef Menteur Blvd. New Orleans, LA 70126-5215 (504) 241-3088 www.henriettedelille.com For further reading: “Henriette Delille: Servant of Slaves, Witness to the Poor” by Father Cyprian Davis, OSB

PIERRE TOUSSAINT

Venerable Pierre Toussaint Guild Archdiocese of New York 1011 First Avenue New York, NY 10022 (646) 794-2681 For further reading: “Pierre Toussaint” by Arthur Jones

SISTER THEA BOWMAN

Sister Thea Bowman Canonization Cause Diocese of Jackson 237 E. Amite Street Jackson, MS 39225 www.sistertheabowman.com

For further reading: “This Little Light: Lessons in Living” from Sister Thea Bowman by Brother Michael O’Neill McGrath and “Thea Bowman: In My Own Words” by Maurice J. Nutt, CSSR.

Catholics find inspiration in lives of Black saints >> Continued from previous page Sister Thea’s intercession in the past because she, too, suffered from cancer. She finds Sister Thea’s concern for others more impressive, though. “In times of racial strife, she sought peace and reconciliation,” Smith said, adding she tries to emulate her example by praying for everyone she encounters. “I think that’s what really blesses us is when we pray for one another,” said Smith. Bailey, who met Sister Thea, said the nun’s presence was powerful. “She was that type of magnetic personality that would just grab you. It was just like you couldn’t let go. You just couldn’t,” she recalled. “She was always joyful. I never saw her down. . . . She knew no strangers. She was just very open. That was that community she wanted to share with everyone. It’s like what we are trying to do at Our Lady & St. Rose.” Taking care of each other in a community was also important to Pierre Toussaint, declared Venerable in 1996 by St. John Paul II. Born into slavery in 1766, he was brought to New York City in 1787 and apprenticed to one of the most wellknown hair stylists by his owners, the Bérards. On her deathbed, Madame Bérard granted him his freedom. Because he served as a hairdresser to New York’s upper class, Toussaint was able to purchase the freedom of other family members. Additionally, he became one of the major benefactors of charities throughout the city, causing some to call him the father of Catholic Charities. Sister Therese Bangert, SCL, particularly admires Toussaint. She has spent much of her religious life working on social justice issues. “My prayer to him would be that we would be generous in our care of each other — not just giving our old things or our extra time. But his generosity was amazing, and I loved it that he was a hairdresser,” she said. “Hair is a very important thing, I’ve learned, in the Black community.” Sister Therese said she thinks Toussaint should be remembered for his generosity, a virtue she has witnessed countless times at Our Lady & St. Rose. “People don’t necessarily have big salaries, but they share with each other and with the church,” she said. “I’ve been very aware of that.” And the sharing has meant the world to Beatrice Swoopes, another parishioner. “We come to our faith from a different perspective, a perspective of long-term suffering which makes the social issues — those of poverty, racism, criminal justice, education equality, health care — more of dayto-day issues that concern us,” she said. “From my point of view, we see ourselves more of a family striving and caring for each other.” Franchiel Nyakatura, yet another parishioner, said she cherishes the rich diversity of her Catholic Church family and all its saints, regardless of their ethnicity. One she admires is St. Peter Claver.

LEAVE FILE PHOTO

Father Mark Mertes is the former pastor of Our Lady & St. Rose Parish in Kansas City, Kansas, the archdiocese’s only Black parish. Currently the pastor of St. Patrick Parish in Kansas City, Kansas, Father Mertes shared his thoughts on racism with The Leaven.

Former pastor of Our Lady & St. Rose shares what he’s learned about racism By Marc and Julie Anderson mjanderson@theleaven.org

ather Mark Mertes, pastor of St. Patrick Parish in Kansas City, Kansas, served as the pastor of Our Lady & St. Rose Parish from 2010-2019. While there, he participated in events celebrating Black Catholic culture, including the National Black Catholic Congress. Recently, he provided a few ideas on ways to promote inclusion and diversity in society.

1. Acknowledge prejudice and discrimination still exist. “I don’t think it’s subtle at all. I think it’s very obvious. Ask any African American when they go into a predominantly white church. They will speak immediately of not feeling welcome or feeling like they’re getting looks that say, ‘Why would you be here?’ It’s less than it used to be, but it certainly has not by any stretch of the imagination disappeared as a reality.”

.Examine your own life and actions for any bias.

While not of African-American descent, St. Peter Claver enjoys a large following among Black Catholics due to his ministry among the slaves in modern-day Colombia. His service included bringing food, administering the sacraments, and caring for the sick and dying. Nyakatura said service is at the core of Christianity. “Anyone who studies his life can see that it is our responsibility as Catholic Christian people to see the need of another human being, regard-

One of the most powerful articles Father Mertes said he ever read was “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack,” by Peggy McIntosh. It discusses some of the “unearned advantages” white people experience in their lives versus Black people. “The best thing we can do is to do our homework and try to understand the unearned advantage that we’ve had. To me, unearned advantage is less of a lightning rod than white privilege.”

. Do your homework. Learn from others, including the saints. “We need to look again at our whole history. So, studying the lives of the saints is a great way to do that and just realize that these saints and what they encountered are not a thing of the past. It’s still a thing of the present in terms of resistance to being welcomed in society, shortage of economic opportunities, inability to borrow money, inability to live wherever you want to live.” Father Mertes also recommended a book titled, “History of Black Catholics in the United States,” written by one of his former seminary professors, Father Cyprian

less of their race, to see that need and to attend to that person as an ambassador of Christ,” she said. “And that’s what Peter Claver did.” “All of our patron saints,” she continued, “regardless of their race, are there to give us these beautiful examples of how to help another human being.” Parishioner Marilyn Baker agreed. “We should be living our lives in a way which will increase the saintliness of even ourselves and those sitting next to us in the pews,” she said.

Davis, OSB.

. Reach out to other Catholics different than you by attending Mass or an event there. “I’m absolutely supportive of going to other parishes. After you do that, the question becomes, ‘What do you do with that?’”

. Realize the most important place you can effect change is in your own home, your own workplace or your own parish. “The only place I can really live out [what I’ve learned] is where I started — in my own home, in my community. And I think after we had experiences of universality, it’s in our own parishes where we can affect the most change.” “It will transform one’s heart. Once you get enough of those hearts transformed, then good things happen. That’s what Jesus calls us to. He didn’t take on the Roman Empire. He just took on human hearts. “If you want to be someone, be last. If you want to be great, serve. So, that was his road map. His road map was very much a metanoia, a change of heart.”

“We’re all called to be saints, and I’m just grateful to the church that we have those holy men and women which we can follow. And I pray that I, too, can be an example of that.” Eleven-year-old Diomi JohnsonHamilton, also a parishioner, said that it is Jesus Christ who ultimately draws everyone in love. But just as Jesus drew people together, so, too, do the saints. And their examples instruct us. “What happened in the past makes us better in the future,” she said.

CLASSIFIEDS

NOVEMBER 13, 2020 | THELEAVEN.ORG

EMPLOYMENT Community live-in assistants - L’Arche Heartland of Overland Park serves adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities in day program support services and in residential services. We are seeking assistants who are looking for a unique opportunity in a faith-based organization. We are in immediate need of live-in assistants and potential live-out assistants to work in our day program serving 30 adults. We have a recycling program and community activities. Our core members participate in distributing for Meals on Wheels and Rise Against Hunger. They also attend community events such as the library, movies, bowling and going to parks. We also have a need for livein and live-out assistants in our five residential homes. If interested, contact Jamie Henderson, community leader, by email at: jamie@larcheks.org. Caregivers needed - Daughters & Company, a non- medical, companion care provider is looking for several compassionate caregivers to provide assistance to ambulatory seniors in their home at this time. We provide light housekeeping, light meal preparation, organizational assistance, care management and occasional transportation services for our clients. Caregivers need to have reliable transportation and a cellphone for communication. We typically employ on a part-time basis, but will strive to match up hours desired per week. Please contact Laurie or Gary at (913) 341-2500, or send resume to: ghamilton@daughters online.com if you would like to become part of an excellent caregiving team. Drivers and aides - Assisted Transportation is now hiring safe drivers and aides to transport students with special needs in Johnson, Wyandotte and Clay County, Missouri, in company vans. Drivers earn $14 - $16 per hour. Aides earn $12 per hour. Part-time and full-time schedules available. CDL not required. Retirees encouraged to apply. Make a difference in your community by helping those in need. Call (913) 521-4955 for more information. EEO Are you a fun, exciting, dynamic lead toddler teacher looking to make a difference? We know that there are a lot of early childhood teacher positions. You owe it to yourself to see what makes us different! You will be treated as a professional teacher, not a day care worker. Our lead teachers create and implement their own lesson plans. These lessons can be tailored or adjusted as needed for the students. Our management team is here to help you. They will ensure you have the proper training, curricular resources, classroom supplies, coaching or whatever you need to be successful in your classroom. Our owner is on-site every day to support our staff and our families. She takes great pride in creating a fun, supportive work environment for our team. You will have scheduled planning time (lead teachers), lunch and bathroom breaks. 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Send resume to: olathe2ks@goddardschools.com, attention: Janice Kennedy. Custodian - Bishop Miege has an immediate opening for a full-time, evening shift custodian. Hours are M - F, 3:30 p.m. – midnight, with occasional days and weekends. The custodian will maintain cleanliness of school building and grounds and ensure a safe and pleasant learning environment for students, staff and the public. Duties include, but are not limited to, general housekeeping and sanitation duties, event setup and light maintenance. The candidate must be able to navigate stairs, stand for extended periods and lift 50 lbs. regularly. Must have good communication skills and be able to relate positively and cooperatively with staff, students and the community. Send resume to: Ryan Wrigley, 5041 Reinhardt Dr., Shawnee Mission KS 66205, or email: rwrigley@bishopmiege.com. 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Must be patient and able to respond to difficult situations calmly; have good interpersonal skills with coworkers, parents and children; and be able to lift 25 pounds on a regular basis. There are opportunities for career advancement. Salary range is $9.50 - 11.50 per hour. For more information or to apply, call Carolyn Andruss at (913) 894-0131, option 3. Art teacher – Holy Trinity School in Lenexa is seeking a fulltime K - 8 art teacher starting as early as December 2020. Semester graduates awaiting licensure are eligible. Please contact Scott Merfen, principal, at: smerfen@htslenexa.org or call (913) 895-0610 to inquire further and apply.

Service technician - Are you a retiree who is looking for part-time work? We are looking for someone who is mechanically skilled and is handy with small equipment. Our local, small, family-owned company needs technicians with a positive attitude, time management skills, dependable, self-motivated, results-oriented and, above all, adaptable. This team member would be trainable with exceptional relationship building skills. Electrical knowledge is a plus. Some regional travel is required so dependable transportation is a must. Please send your resume to: Yourcareer101@gmail.com.

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Concrete construction - Tear out and replace stamped, stained or colored patios and drives. Retaining walls, footings, poured-in-place safe rooms, excavation and hauling. Asphalt drives and lots. Fully insured; references. Call Dan at (913) 207-4371 or send an email to: dandeeconst@aol.com. DRC Construction We’ll get the job done right the first time. Windows - Doors - Decks - Siding Repair or replace, we will work with you to solve your problems. Choose us for any window, door, siding or deck project and be glad you did. Everything is guaranteed 100% (913) 461-4052 www.windowservicesoverlandpark.com drcconswindows@gmail.com Popcorn texture removed and apply knockdown texture Renew your walls with a fresh coat of quality paint! Cracks repaired. Fully insured, serving Kansas for 27 years Call or text Jerry at (913) 206-1144. Painting - Diamond Painting, (913) 648-4933, Residential/Commercial, Exterior/interior, Free Estimate, Affordable, Decks, DiamondPaintKc.com, Kcmo/Overland Park Metropolitan area. 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) 579-1835. Email: smokeycabin@hotmail.com. Member of Holy Trinity, Lenexa. Local handyman - Painting int. and ext., wood rot, power washing, staining, masonry (chimney repair, patios) gutter cleaning, water heaters, junk removal, lawn mowing, window cleaning, honey - do list and more!! Member of Holy Angels Parish, Basehor. Call Billy at (913) 927-4118. EL SOL Y LA TIERRA *Commercial & residential * Lawn renovation *Mowing * Clean-up and hauling * Dirt grading/installation * Landscape design * Free estimates Hablamos y escribimos Ingles!! www.elsolylatierra.com Call Lupe at (816) 935-0176

WANTED TO BUY Wanted to buy - Antique/vintage jewelry, paintings, pottery, sterling, etc. Single pieces or estate. Renee Maderak, (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. Wanted to buy - Old cars or hot rods. Uncompleted project cars in any condition, with or without titles. Cash buyer. Call (913) 980-3559.

FOR SALE 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 - Double lawn crypt at Resurrection Cemetery in Lenexa, Garden of Hope section, double lawn crypt, lot 78 C, space 4. Conveyance fee included. $7500. Call Lou at (512) 656-1801. For sale - Three plots overlooking the lake at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens in Kansas City, Kansas. Each space $3900. If interested, call or text Jan at (913) 593-1854. For sale - Handicap-accessible van. 2018 Toyota Sienna van with in-floor ramp and passengers’ transfer seat. 8000 miles and well taken care of. Please call (785) 273-4160.

REAL ESTATE Rental properties - Getting into this kind of investment can be scary. How about if you could have access to a seasoned investor after the sale as a consultant? I am selling some of my investments that are in the KCMO area that you might be interested in. I am not a realtor, but I have owned these properties for a long time. Call (785) 883-2936, leave me your contact information and I will return your call within 24 hours. Whole Estates Need to sell a home and everything in it? We buy it all at once in as-is condition. Call (816) 444-1950 or send an email to: www.wholeestates.com. 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 as is never felt so good. Jon & Stacy Bichelmeyer (913) 599-5000 CASH FOR YOUR HOME (913) 980-4905 Any condition in the metro area Mark Edmondson - local parishioner http:/www.buykcproperty.com

DRIVE-BY FISH FRY St. Theresa Parish 310 Oak St., Perry Nov. 14 from 4 - 7 p.m.

The meal includes fried fish, hot potatoes, mac and cheese, coleslaw, bread and homemade cookies for dessert. The suggested donation is $10. Call (785) 597-5558 or drive by. Reservations are not necessary.

REKINDLING THE LIGHT Live - online Nov. 14 from 12:30 - 4:30 p.m.

This is a session of spiritual refreshment for caregivers i the holiday season. For registration and agenda, go online to: www.archkck.org/special-needs. For more information contact Toma Racunas at: tracunas@archkck.org or call (913) 647-3054.

ROSARY IN HONOR OF OUR LADY OF FATIMA All Saints Parish 229 S. 8th St., Kansas City, Kansas Nov. 15 from 3 - 4:15 p.m.

We will pray the joyful, sorrowful and glorious mysteries of the rosary. Benediction will follow, as well as an opportunity for attendees to enroll in the brown scapular. For more information, visit the website at: www.rosaryrallieskc.org.

‘JULIAN OF NORWICH: MYSTIC FOR OUR TIMES’ Sophia Center via Zoom Nov. 21 from 10 a.m. to noon

This charming 14th-century English mystic has never been more relevant than today. She teaches that God is at home with us, showing us how to find God in the ordinary and how to pray from the nitty-gritty of life. Delight in Julian’s positive, affirming words and images — a striking counterpoint to the pessimism of her time and our own. The cost to attend is a freewill offering. To register, go online to: mountosb.org, click on “Ministries,” then “Sophia Spirituality Center,” then “Retreats” and finally “Program Offerings.” From there, scroll down to “Julian of Norwich: Mystic for Our Times” and go to the end of the description of the retreat to complete the registration.

PROJECT CHRYSALIS MASS Church of the Ascension 9510 W. 127th St., Overland Park Nov. 30 at 7 p.m.

Join us for the Project Chrysalis Mass for parents and grandparents who have lost children or grandchildren. The Mass is open to all in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas and the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph. If you would like to celebrate with us and wish to reserve a memory candle, send an RSVP no later than Nov. 23 by email to: pbillinger@ kcascension.org or call (913) 681-3348 and include the following information: correct spelling of the name of the deceased, your name and relationship, and whether you plan to be present.

‘ORA ET LABORA’ RETREAT FOR HIGH SCHOOL/COLLEGE STUDENTS Christ’s Peace House of Prayer 22131 Meagher Rd., Easton

Christ’s Peace House of Prayer has openings for applicants to participate in an “Ora et Labora” retreat, designed for high school and college students who are looking for a fun and unique way to fulfill community service hours or simply have a new experience. There is no charge for this retreat. Masks and social distancing are implemented at this time. Invite friends and schedule a date for a prayer and working retreat designed to your needs. Contact us if interested at (913) 773-8255 or by email at: info@christspeace.com.

WORLD

NOVEMBER 13, 2O2O | THELEAVEN.ORG

McCarrick report cites lack of serious investigations of rumors By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service

Francis, Benedict questioned for McCarrick report

ATICAN CITY (CNS) — Although dogged for years by rumors of sexual impropriety, Theodore E. McCarrick was able to rise up the Catholic hierarchical structure based on personal contacts, protestations of his innocence and a lack of church officials reporting and investigating accusations, according to the Vatican summary of its report on the matter. In choosing then-Archbishop Theodore E. McCarrick of Newark in 2000 to be archbishop of WashTo read the McCarrick ington and Report in its entirety, later a cardigo online to: vatican.va, nal, St. John click on English. The rePaul II likely port can be found under overlooked the “News” section. rumors and allegations about McCarrick’s sexual misconduct because of a long relationship with him, McCarrick’s own strong denial and the pope’s experience with communist authorities in Poland making accusations to discredit the church, the summary said. But, in fact, rumors of McCarrick’s conduct, especially knowledge that he had young adult men and seminarians sleep in the same bed with him when he was bishop of Metuchen, New Jersey, led the Vatican to decide it would be “imprudent” to promote him when looking for candidates to become archbishop of Chicago in 1997, New York in 1999-2000 and, initially, of Washington in July 2000, the report said. One hour before the release Nov. 10 of the “Report on the Holy See’s Institutional Knowledge and Decision-Making Related to Former Cardinal Theodore Edgar McCarrick,” journalists were given the document’s 14-page introduction, which described the two-year investigation that led to the report’s compilation and gave an “executive summary” of its findings. In June 2018, the Vatican suspended McCarrick from ministry after an investigation by the Archdiocese of New

CNS PHOTO/PAOLO COCCO, REUTERS

Then-Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick of Washington faces the press in the shadow of St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, on April 24, 2002. U.S. cardinals met for a summit with Pope John Paul II at the Vatican, April 23-24, 2002, as the sex abuse crisis unfolded in the United States. Cardinal McCarrick was a key spokesman for the bishops during the summit. York found credible a charge that he sexually abused a teenager. McCarrick resigned from the College of Cardinals in July, and in February 2019, after a canonical process found McCarrick guilty of “solicitation in the sacrament of confession and sins against the Sixth Commandment with minors and with adults, with the aggravating factor of the abuse of power,” Pope Francis dismissed him from the priesthood. In August 2018, Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, former nuncio to the United States, called on Pope Francis to resign after claiming that he had informed Pope Francis of McCarrick’s abuse in 2013 and that top Vatican officials knew of McCarrick’s abusive behavior for years. That claim led Pope Francis to initiate an investigation into how McCarrick was able to continue to rise through church ranks despite the repeated rumors, anonymous letters, allegations and even settlements with alleged victims.

Vatican report reveals omissions in Archbishop Vigano’s ‘testimony’ VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The which detailed the sexual abuse he Vatican’s extensive report on Theo- allegedly suffered at the hands of dore E. McCarrick revealed several McCarrick. A week later, Archbishop Vigano crucial details that call into question the 2018 “testimony” of Archbishop reported the accusations to CardiCarlo Maria Vigano, innal Marc Ouellet, prefect of cluding that he did not inthe Congregation for Bishops, and sought instrucvestigate the former cardinal when ordered to do so tion on how to proceed. by the Vatican in 2012. Cardinal Ouellet replied Archbishop Vigano, who in September 2012, asking Archbishop Vigano to inserved as apostolic nuncio vestigate the accusations, to the United States from first by verifying “the per2011 to 2016, published his testimony in August 2018 sonality and the reliability of [Priest 3] by inquiring of and called on Pope Francis the vicar general or vicar to resign, claiming the pope Archbishop Carlo for the clergy of Metuchen” knew about McCarrick’s Maria Vigano and “to reply to [Priest 3], sexual misconduct and yet eased restrictions on McCarrick’s requesting that he clarify his accusations against the aforementioned ministry and travel. Though informed that the report ecclesiastics in order to determine their truth or lack thereof.” on McCarrick was being compiled, The Vatican said it interviewed “he never came forward” to be interviewed or give evidence, a Vati- both the vicar general and vicar for can official said Nov. 10, the day the clergy of the Diocese of Metuchen, report was released. as well as Priest 3. All three testified According to the report, in that they were never contacted by August 2012, Archbishop Vigano the former nuncio. received a letter from “Priest 3,”

The report summary said, “No records support Vigano’s account” of his meeting with Pope Francis “and evidence as to what he said is sharply disputed.” Until the allegations about child sexual abuse were made to the Archdiocese of New York in 2017, “Francis had heard only that there had been allegations and rumors related to immoral conduct with adults occurring prior to McCarrick’s appointment to Washington,” it said. “Believing that the allegations had already been reviewed and rejected by Pope John Paul II, and well aware that McCarrick was active during the papacy of Benedict XVI, Pope Francis did not see the need to alter the approach that had been adopted in prior years,” the summary said. The introduction to the report said it is based on documents found at the Vatican and the apostolic nunciature in the United States as well as interviews — “ranging in length from one to 30 hours” — with more than 90 witnesses in the United States, Italy and elsewhere. They included survivors, cardinals, bishops and former seminarians. In a statement issued with the report, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, said the contributions of survivors were “fundamental.” The introduction of the report cautions survivors of abuse that certain sections “could prove traumatizing” and warns that some portions of the document are “inappropriate for minors.” According to the summary, St. John Paul’s decisions to name McCarrick bishop of Metuchen in 1981 and archbishop of Newark in 1986 were based on “his background, skills and achievements. During the appointment process, McCarrick was widely lauded as a pastoral, intelligent and zealous bishop.” The summary also said that, at the time, “no credible information emerged suggesting that he had engaged in any misconduct.” But in October 1999, Cardinal John J. O’Connor of New York wrote to Archbishop Gabriel Montalvo, then nuncio in the United States, summarizing allegations about McCarrick, then-archbishop of Newark. The letter was given to St. John Paul, who asked Archbishop Montalvo to investigate. The nuncio did so by writing to four New Jersey bishops, the summary said without naming the bishops. The bishops, named in the full report, were Bishops James T. McHugh of Camden, 19891998; Vincent D. Breen of Metuchen,

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — In an unusual move, both Pope Francis and retired Pope Benedict XVI subjected themselves to questioning by Vatican investigators charged with compiling a report on how church decisions were made regarding the career and ultimate expulsion of Theodore E. McCarrick. “Pope Francis was questioned closely regarding the 23 June and 10 October 2013 meetings” during which Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, former nuncio to the United States, claimed he told Pope Francis about McCarrick’s history of sexual misconduct and about supposed sanctions imposed on him by Pope Benedict, said the report released Nov. 10. The footnotes indicate that McCarrick himself also was among the more than 90 people interviewed for the report. In the interviews, “Pope Francis did not recollect what Vigano said about McCarrick” during the two 2013 meetings with Archbishop Vigano, the report said. “However, because McCarrick was a cardinal known personally to him, Pope Francis was certain that he would have remembered had Vigano spoken about McCarrick with any ‘force or clarity.’” 1997-2000; Edward T. Hughes of Metuchen, 1987-1997; and John M. Smith of Trenton, 1997-2010. “What is now known, through investigation undertaken for preparation of the report, is that three of the four American bishops provided inaccurate and incomplete information to the Holy See regarding McCarrick’s sexual conduct with young adults,” the summary said. In response to Cardinal O’Connor’s accusations, the report said, McCarrick wrote to now-Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, St. John Paul’s secretary, claiming: “In the 70 years of my life, I have never had sexual relations with any person, male or female, young or old, cleric or lay, nor have I ever abused another person or treated them with disrespect.” “McCarrick’s denial was believed,” the summary said, adding that because of “the limited nature of the Holy See’s own prior investigation, the Holy See had never received a complaint directly from a victim, whether adult or minor, about McCarrick’s conduct.” “Though there is no direct evidence,” the summary added, “it appears likely from the information obtained that John Paul II’s past experience in Poland regarding the use of spurious allegations against bishops to degrade the standing of the church played a role in his willingness to believe McCarrick’s denials.” In addition, McCarrick had a relationship with the Polish pope going back to his days as the cardinal of Krakow. The summary said, “McCarrick’s direct relationship with John Paul II also likely had an impact on the pope’s decision-making.”

NOVEMBER 13, 2020 | THELEAVEN.ORG

WORLD

What Pope Francis has done to fight abuse By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service

ATICAN CITY (CNS) — In more than seven years as leader of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis has issued numerous new laws and guidelines for handling accusations of clerical sexual abuse and its cover-up by church officials. He also has insisted that church leaders must take the lead as true shepherds and guardians to protect the vulnerable out of love for the Gospel, truth and justice — not because of papal mandates or legal coercion. As such, tackling abuse and fostering healing require constant personal conversion, he has said. The pope has also widened the scope of abuse to include not just sexual abuse but the abuse of power and of conscience and the corruption of authority when it is no longer lived as service but as the wielding of power. Like his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, Pope Francis has tried to be a role model: meeting with survivors, launching investigations, dismissing negligent or abusive clerics and tightening loopholes with the aim of fulfilling what St. John Paul II wrote in 2002: “There is no place in the priesthood and religious life for those who would harm the young.” In a push for greater accountability, transparency and honesty, he has also shown what “mea culpa” looks like: admitting he made “serious mistakes” in his handling of clergy sexual abuse cases in Chile and expressing the “pain and shame” for the “crucified lives” of those who suffered abuse. Pope Francis has shown that fighting abuse and protecting the vulnerable require both the sword of St. Michael the Archangel and the silent and protective heart of St. Joseph — two icons that prominently adorned St. Peter’s Basilica during the 2018 Synod on young people. While ignorance, complacency and denial remain primary accomplices in the crime of abuse, here are some of the significant measures and changes put forth by Pope Francis: • He set up a task force of qualified experts and canon lawyers in February 2020 to help bishops’ conferences and religious orders draw up or revise guidelines for the protection of minors, especially in countries experiencing extreme hardship, conflict or a lack of resources. It came ahead of a handbook prepared by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith clearly outlining leaders’ responsibilities and the procedures for handling allegations of abuse. • In December 2019, he issued a number of amendments to a 2001 law; he waived the obligation of secrecy for those who report having been sexually abused by a priest and for those who testify in a church trial or process having to do with clerical sexual abuse. Vatican officials are still obliged to maintain confidentiality but that does not prevent complying with civil laws, including mandatory reporting and following civil court orders. Pope Francis changed the definition of “child” from a person under 14 years of age to a person under 18 regarding what qualifies as “child pornography.” He also spelled out the procedural norms for how the tribunal of the doctrinal congregation is to be composed and conducted. • In May 2019, Pope Francis issued “Vos estis lux mundi” (“You are the light of the world”) for the universal church, revising and clarifying norms and procedures for holding bishops and religious superiors accountable.

CNS PHOTO/VATICAN MEDIA

Pope Francis and church leaders from around the world attend a penitential liturgy during a meeting on the protection of minors in the church at the Vatican on Feb. 23, 2019. Pope Francis has issued numerous new laws and guidelines for handling accusations of clerical sexual abuse and its cover-up by church officials.

CNS PHOTO/YARA NARDI, REUTERS

Sex abuse survivors Denise Buchanan and Alessandro Battaglia are pictured in front of St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican Feb. 24, 2019, on the final day of the Vatican’s four-day meeting on the protection of minors in the church. It requires all priests and religious to report suspected abuse or cover-ups and encourages any layperson to report through a now-mandated reporting “system” or office that must be set up in each diocese. It insists leaders will be held accountable not only for committing abuse themselves, but also for interfering with, covering up or failing to address abuse accusations of which they were aware. It also established that bishops and religious superiors are accountable for protecting seminarians, novices and members of religious orders from violence and sexual abuse stemming from an abuse of power. • Pope Francis approved a sweeping new law and set of clear safeguarding guidelines and procedures for Vatican City State and the Roman Curia in March 2019. Beefing up existing criminal laws, it is mandatory to report quickly suspected or known abuse to the Vatican tribunal and it covers all forms of physical, sexual and emotional abuse, as well as serious

forms of mistreatment, neglect, abandonment and exploitation against minors and vulnerable adults. Any Vatican employee around the world can be tried by the Vatican court for violations. • The pope made public in March 2019 his document, “Communis Vita” (Community Life), which amends canon law to include an almost automatic dismissal of religious who have been absent without authorization from their community and out of contact for at least 12 months. • To drive home that abuse and safeguarding require immediate, concrete action by the entire church and not just the pope, Pope Francis convened a fourday summit in February 2019 for the presidents of the world’s bishops’ conferences, representatives of religious orders and heads of Vatican dicasteries. By sharing experiences and best practices, the summit sought to inspire all church leaders to feel in solidarity with each other and above all with the victims, families and communities that have been wounded by the scandals and, therefore, to take urgent action.

• After mandating an investigation into allegations of abuse in the church in Chile and admitting to making “serious mistakes in the assessment and perception of the situation,” Pope Francis called the nation’s bishops to Rome in May 2018. He admonished them for “grave defects” in handling abuse cases and requested all the bishops offer their resignations. He also apologized to and met with victims. • Pope Francis issued a motu proprio, “As a Loving Mother,” in 2016, expanding on canon law that allows for the removal of bishops and superiors for “grave reasons,” by including “negligence” in the exercise of one’s office, in particular in regards to the sexual abuse of minors, where even “the lack of diligence” is considered to be grave enough for potential dismissal. This, together with “Vos estis lux mundi” of 2019, the two documents are meant to correct what had been a lack of or unclear procedures for investigating the way a bishop or religious superior complies with norms and clearly expresses the consequences of noncompliance or cover-ups. • The pope sent a letter in February 2015 to the president of every bishops’ conference and religious superior ordering them to have safeguarding guidelines in place for handling cases of sexual abuse as called for in a 2011 letter from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. • In November 2014, Pope Francis established a new board within the doctrinal congregation to review and speed up the process of hearing and ruling on appeals filed by priests laicized or otherwise disciplined in sexual abuse or other serious cases. • The pope formally established the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors in March 2014. The body of experts, with input from survivors, is meant to make proposals and spearhead initiatives to improve safeguarding norms and procedures. It remains an advisory body for the pope and it offers concrete assistance to every level of the church worldwide.

COLUMNISTS

This is definitely not the same old same old

DAILY READINGS THIRTY-THIRD WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME Nov. 15 THIRTY-THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Prv 31: 10-13, 19-20, 30-31 Ps 128: 1-5 1 Thes 5: 1-6 Mt 25: 14-30 Nov. 16 Margaret of Scotland; Gertrude, virgin Rv 1: 1-4; 2: 1-5 Ps 1: 1-4, 6 Lk 18: 35-43 Nov. 17 Elizabeth of Hungary, religious Rv 3: 1-6, 14-22 Ps 15: 2-5 Lk 19: 1-10 Nov. 18 The Dedication of the Basilicas of Peter and Paul, apostles; Rose Philippine Duchesne, virgin Rv 4: 1-11 Ps 150: 1b-6 Lk 19: 11-28 Nov. 19 Thursday Rv 5: 1-10 Ps 149: 1b-6a, 9b Lk 19: 41-44 Nov. 20 Friday Rv 10: 8-11 Ps 119: 14, 24, 72, 103, 111, 131 Lk 19: 45-48 Nov. 21 The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Rv 11: 4-12 Ps 144: 1-2, 9-10 Lk 20: 27-40

Margaret of Antioch Fourth century This virgin and martyr, the patron saint for a difficult childbirth, is associated with a series of stories about Pelagia of Antioch, who may have been martyred when Emperor Diocletian ordered the last persecution of Christians in 303. St. John Chrysostom in the sixth century and later St. Ambrose knew of a Margaret or Pelagia in Antioch (Marina in the Eastern Church) who jumped off a building to save her chastity. Margaret had a strong following as one of the 14 helper saints in the Middle Ages, and was one of the “voices” that St. Joan of Arc heard, urging her to save France.

NOVEMBER 13, 2O2O | THELEAVEN.ORG

hree score and five years ago, my parents brought forth on this continent, a new child, conceived in love and dedicated to the proposition that with one so perfect, who needs any more kids? With apologies to Abe Lincoln for the above, I’ve started to celebrate, one week early, a milestone birthday for me. Several weeks ago, a classmate from my time in Rome celebrated his milestone birthday. His wife thought it would be a great idea to invite family and friends via Zoom to mark the occasion. It was a delightful time but turned awkward when the birthday boy proudly held up his new Medicare card and declared, “Now, all of us have one of these!” At that, another classmate piped up, “No, Goldy doesn’t. Don’t forget: He’s the baby in the class!”

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.

(By the way, he meant that with regard to my comparative age and not my temperament!) Well, on Nov. 20, I’ll join that august group. Although I don’t feel “that old,” apparently, I am if these “signs of aging” gathered from the internet are any indication: • The gleam in your eyes is from the sun hitting your bifocals. • Your favorite part of the newspaper is

“20 Years Ago Today.” • Your knees buckle and your belt won’t. • You’re asleep, but others worry that you’re dead. • Your arms are almost too short to read the newspaper. • You send money to PBS. • You get into a heated argument about pension plans. • When you bend over, you look for something else to do while you’re down there. • At the breakfast table, you hear snap, crackle and pop . . . and you’re not eating cereal. • You wake up look-

ing like your driver’s license photo. • It takes two tries to get up from the couch. • Happy hour now means a nap. • Your idea of weightlifting is standing up. • You sing along with the elevator music. There is, however, a quick and surefire way to determine if you’re old: Just fall down in front of a group of people. If they laugh, you’re still young. If they panic and start running to you, you’re old! In all seriousness, though, I can understand why birthdays, whether milestone or not, deserve to be celebrated. They provide an opportunity to step back and give thanks. First of all, I’m grateful that God has given me another birthday. I’m also humbled and thankful for all that my parents did for me and the things they taught me: a love

for my Catholic faith; a respect for others, especially the elderly; an appreciation of my Croatian heritage; a desire to be of service to those in need; an embracing of simplicity; and a joyfulness in life, whether through singing, dancing or spending time with family and friends. Each birthday, I recall the timeline of my life, relishing all of the many people from so many phases of my life who have shaped me into the person I am today. And now, thanks to the miracle of Facebook, birthdays usher in a slew of well wishes from friends far and wide. How could I feel anything but blessed? I’ll close with this quote from Woody Allen on aging. When asked what he’d like people to be saying about him in a hundred years, he quipped: “I’d like them to say, ‘He looks good for his age!’” So would I, Woody, so would I.

Can you recognize the gifts God has given to you?

dith Eva Eger was an energetic, talented teenager when Nazis marched into her hometown city of Kassa, Hungary, to begin their cruel extermination of thousands of innocent Jews in that country. The Nazis forced Edith and her parents and older sister onto cattle trains bound for the concentration camps at Auschwitz. There her parents would be murdered while the young girls experienced terror, starvation and unspeakable humiliations at the hands of the Nazi guards. As Auschwitz survivors, Edith and her sister pieced together their lives slowly but surely in the decades after the war. Edith went on to be a mother,

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

a grandmother and a clinical psychologist devoted to helping others overcome life’s challenges. Last year, she wrote a book titled “The Gift: 12 Lessons to Save Your Life” recounting how her worst experiences became her best teachers and how she

chose the gift of hope in the dehumanizing events of the war. When she wrote the book, her second, she had just turned 92! Each one of us has received a measure of God’s goodness in the graces, gifts and talents we have received. In Sunday’s Gospel (Mt 25: 14-30), Jesus begins his parable with this simple yet profound truth: God’s generosity is real and knows no bounds. Before he set out on a journey, the master in the parable called his servants and entrusted his possessions to them.

Here is an image of God who is generous in ways that may surprise us. God entrusts his possessions to us in the form of many gifts — life itself, the beauty of creation, the web of human relationships around us, our material goods, our particular talents and the gift of faith. All of these belong to God, the creator of the universe, who entrusts them to us freely and abundantly. Do we recognize the many gifts and talents that come from God’s generosity? Or do we focus instead on life’s challenges and the things we do not have by comparing ourselves to others in envy and resentment? Through this parable, Jesus invites us to recognize that each of us, without exception, has been given some

particular grace, talent and gift, even in the difficult situations of life. Some talents we recognize and others we may not see or accept. But everyone has received some measure of God’s generous goodness. Each servant in the parable makes a different return on their talents. Two of the servants doubled their talents, while the third servant buried his talent in the ground out of fear. Jesus concludes his teaching with the responsibilities that come with talents. Our first responsibility is to recognize God’s gifts with humble gratitude. For gratitude is the daily choice that empowers us to multiply God’s gifts and talents, even in difficult situations, as we pray, “Speak to me, Lord.”

Even in darkest nights, God’s light awaits, pope says VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Trust is needed on life’s journey, Pope Francis said. Even if life often is marked by “pain, uncertainty and moments of crisis, it is a story of salvation,” he said in the preface of a new book. People of faith know that “in Jesus our every exile ends, and every tear is dried in the mystery

of his cross, of death transformed into life like the grain of wheat that breaks apart in the soil” and grows, he said. The pope’s comments appear in a new book by Italian psychologist and family counselor, Salvo Noe; in 2017, Pope Francis had posted on the door of his study a sign Noe had given him, which read: “No

complaining” and “Offenders are subject to a syndrome of victimhood that dampens your mood and ability to solve problems.” The new book, titled “The Power of Trust: Ten Steps for Conquering Fear and Developing Self-Esteem,” was published in Italian by the St. Paul publishing house in early November.

COLUMNISTS

NOVEMBER 13, 2020 | THELEAVEN.ORG

Charities offers much more than emergency assistance

s part of our culture at Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas, we share “hope stories” internally each month. These stories, read aloud before our meetings, come from each of our programs and are about the services provided to an individual or family who turned to us for assistance. Take Danny, for example, a single father. Although he had joint custody of his children, he did not live close by. Due to a family emergency, he unexpectedly had to relocate to the area to help his former wife with the care of their children. He stayed with a friend and sought

INSIDE CATHOLIC CHARITIES

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

temporary housing, but was struggling to care for himself and his family. He reached out to Catholic Charities. Like many, Danny thought that Catholic Charities only provided

food and help with housing and utilities. He quickly learned that our services go beyond emergency assistance. We have a Workforce Development team dedicated to helping with skills training and employment. For Danny, the first step was to update his resume, highlighting his skill set.

Next, the team began providing him with job leads. I am happy to report that he is now working full time with an employer who offers benefits. In addition, he has been able to obtain stable housing. Danny’s story does not end there. He had been considering returning to school. After high school, he had received some training through Job Corps, but needed a certification to help him earn a livable wage and a true career. Danny was eager to provide a better future for himself, but most importantly, his children. Danny decided that he wanted to obtain a degree in construction management. But how?

during a critical time for him and his family. Danny recently shared that his children are happier and are doing well now that he lives closer to home and is able to co-parent with their mother. He has a brighter outlook about his future. These “hope stories” certainly are inspirational for those of us who work, volunteer or support our agency. We pray that each person entering the doors of Catholic Charities finds help, feels hospitality and leaves with a renewed sense of hope. These stories serve as a profound reminder that, as Pope Francis said, “No one learns to hope alone.”

As part of our Workforce Development programming, we offered our St. Rita Program. Through this program, individuals can earn a certification or degree in a variety of industries. We have educational partnerships with Kansas City Kansas Community College, Johnson County Community College, Donnelly College and University of Saint Mary. Danny was an ideal candidate for the St. Rita Program. He is now enrolled at Johnson County Community College and will be starting classes in spring 2021. Catholic Charities was able to help this father rebuild his life

Restorative justice can help mend a broken criminal justice system “ DO UNTO RESTORATIVE JUSTICE EMPOWERS OTHERS

DEACON BILL SCHOLL Deacon Scholl is the archdiocesan consultant for social justice. You can email him at: socialjustice@ archkck.org.

15 years. The father said to me, “You know, if we could have just gotten the state of Kansas to help us with $4,000 for my son to go to Washburn, it wouldn’t have to be spending

$40,000 a year now to keep him in prison.” I was reminded of that father and his son when I attended the “Harm, Healing, and Human Dignity: An All-Virtual Catholic Conference on Restorative Justice,” organized by the Catholic Mobilizing Network, sponsored in part by our archdiocese. We live in a culture that promotes the idea that bad people hurt

good people and the solution is to lock up as many as possible. However, the truth is rarely so cut and dried. The reality is that HURT PEOPLE hurt people, and until we as a society recommit to applying the wisdom of the Gospel to our criminal justice system, we will only continue to increase violence and the trauma that leads to violence. This Gospel wisdom is called restorative justice, which has two goals: 1) to help victims and their families heal from the traumatic effects of crime; and 2) to break the cycle of crime by increasing public safety through helping offenders rehabilitate and then reintegrate into their communi-

“

s the archdiocesan social justice consultant, I sometimes get calls that haunt me. One such call came early in my career from a father calling about his incarcerated son. He shared the story of how his son was going to go to college, but couldn’t afford it. His son liked concerts and got caught up in the music scene, which meant he got caught up smoking marijuana, which meant he started selling to support his lifestyle, which in turn caught him up in the criminal justice system when his supplier turned on him to get a lesser sentence. As the lowest on the totem pole, he got the longest sentence:

VICTIMS, COMPELS THE OFFENDER TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND ENGAGES THE COMMUNITY IN THE PROCESS OF RESTORATION. ties. This is an alternative to our current adversarial criminal justice system, which often re-traumatizes the victims, discourages the perpetrator from repentance and disregards the punishment’s impact upon the community. Instead, restorative justice empowers victims, compels the offender to take responsibility and engages the community in the process of restoration.

As a Catholic, I encourage you to learn more about restorative justice. It won’t just change your perspective on public policy; it will equip you with tools to practice and master the art of forgiveness, both in the giving and the asking. As a great place to start, read the U.S. bishops’ pastoral letter “Responsibility, Rehabilitation and Restoration” and then go online to: catholicsmobilizing.org to learn more.

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SCRIPTURE

NOVEMBER 13, 2O2O | THELEAVEN.ORG

Joy awaits those who discover the kingdom in our midst By Catherine Upchurch Special to The Leaven

“A

ntiques Roadshow” is a perennial favorite among viewers of public broadcasting. Folks bring in all kinds of objects to discover the monetary values and also to share or learn more about the history of their particular items. Some pieces and their accompanying stories have been handed down for generations. Other pieces were purchased at garage sales. Everyone is hoping to discover from the experts that their item is a treasure beyond compare. It is fair to say that EMBRACING THE Jesus wants his listeners and his followers to discover OF that we too hold a treasure that is unique in all the world. It is not something we earn or can purchase at bargain basement prices. It is a gift that requires some effort to appreciate. It is an awareness of the kingdom of God in our midst; it is in fact the kingdom itself. Matthew puts together two simple parables from Jesus to help us understand the value of this gift. Recall that for Matthew’s predominantly Jewish audience, “kingdom of heaven” is preferred — not to fix our eyes elsewhere but to avoid uttering the name of God. “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field” (Mt 13:44). It’s hard to imagine today why the person buries the treasure and then purchases it when he already had it in his possession. Perhaps the person was a simple laborer who unearthed the treasure while plowing his master’s field. It would not have been unusual for people in ancient times to bury coins and valuable items when they were being invaded, for example. Later, others, like this laborer, would find the stash. Jesus does not dwell on whether the man should have told the landowner. Instead, the simple story focuses on the man’s zeal and his joy. He is “all in” and sells everything he has to possess the treasure. A second short parable follows the buried treasure parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes

KINGDOM GOD

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and sells all that he has and buys it” (Mt 13:45-46). This person is of the merchant class, and we can presume that he has some means to buy what he finds. He is searching for that one thing that will pay off, and when he finds it, he is ready to act. Both men know that whatever else they have pales in comparison to what they find. Similarly, we are being invited to understand that whatever we possess in this life is of little value in comparison to the kingdom of God. Making the discovery of God’s kingdom in our midst is a cause for joy, for zeal and for a reordering of values. In both parables, immediate and full possession is not possible without some personal investment. There is some time between discovery and ownership. S i m i l a r l y, there usually is time between our discovery of God’s care for us and our complete surrender to this reality. There is time between Jesus offering us the kingdom of God and our ability to rid ourselves of lesser values in order to experience it fully. On the “Antiques Roadshow,” not all participants go away finding they possess some valuable piece of art, jewelry or dinnerware. These folks may discover that their possessions are nonetheless valuable for sentimental

Matthew writes: “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” reasons or simply for enjoyment. But what about those who discover that old painting they brought in is rare and its monetary value far exceeds what they imagined? Do they part with it at auction to make a profit? Or do they treasure it, hoping to pass it on to future generations?

Such is the kingdom of God. Catherine Upchurch is the general editor of the Little Rock Catholic Study Bible. She writes from Fort Smith, Arkansas.

With your heart Jesus invites us to discern what we value. A simple way is to pray about it and look at where our money is spent, what takes up our time and where our energy is invested. Are we moving toward or away from discovering what is of greatest value, the kingdom of God?

Questions for reflection or discussion: • In a culture like ours that places a great value on security, do you find the zeal of the treasure-finder and the pearl-hunter a bit scary? Irresponsible? Intriguing? Challenging? • We sometimes discover the presence of God in our midst through relationships with others. How are you nurturing relationships that help you value the things that really matter? How does the kingdom of God manifest itself in your conversations and in your shared values? • Look around your home at what you consider to be treasures. Do you have a level of detachment from these things so that you could part with them for something of greater value? Is this a spiritual discipline you want to develop? • The man who bought the field with the treasure does so out of joy. How does joy show up in your life? Do others see in you a deep sense of joy in being a Christian?