11 25 22 Vol. 44 No. 16

ADVENT

Simon

Due assists his 2-year-old daughter Marykhin Ngwe with lighting the traditional Advent wreath as his 1-year-old daughter Stephanie Due looks on. Simon, his wife Helena and the two girls are members of the Chin Burmese Community of St. Patrick Parish in Kansas City, Kansas. Advent begins on Nov. 27.

NO LEAVEN NEXT WEEK

Because of the Thanksgiving holiday, there will be no issue of The Leaven on Dec. 2. The Leaven will resume its weekly schedule on Dec. 9.

PROMISE OF ADVENT

What does Advent mean for Pope Francis and mothers everywhere? Find out in this special Advent cov erage.

LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER

Make Advent a time when you both give and receive mercy

Recently, while leaving an event that supports one of our pastoral ministries, a woman approached me asking if I had time for a con versation.

She shared with me that a decision I had made several years ago had caused significant pain and distress for her and several mem bers of her family. She wanted me to know that she had worked hard to forgive me.

She obviously thought my decision was wrong and wanted me to be aware of how it negatively impacted her and the faith life of many of her family members.

She shared why she thought my decision was wrong. Part of what she needed to do in her sincere efforts to forgive me was to communicate direct ly to me the pain my decision had caused in their family.

I was grateful for her honesty. I acknowledged that it was important for me to hear the nega tive repercussions of my actions. I have a great respect for this woman. It was obvi ous that it gave her no pleasure to share her negative experience with me.

I hoped that I lis tened to her concerns with respect and empa thy. I was edified that, even though she had been upset with me, she was present at this event, supporting one of our church’s minis tries. Throughout the Advent season, I will be praying for her and her family.

This past Saturday morning, I celebrated Mass at Christ the King Parish in Kansas City, Kansas. After Mass, we processed together to pray outside the

ARCHBISHOP JOSEPH F. NAUMANN

Planned Parenthood facility that opened re cently on Leavenworth Road. We prayed a bilingual rosary as we walked to the Planned Parenthood site.

Once we arrived at Planned Parenthood, abortion advocates made it difficult to pray communally. They had a loud speak er system which they used to spew vulgar ities and mock our religious faith.

A group of Hispanic pro-lifers began to sing beautiful hymns prais ing God and invoking his mercy on our country and communi ty. One particularly ob noxious pro-abortion advocate attempted to insert himself into the pro-life choir in order to disrupt their singing. He appeared determined to provoke an altercation.

I was proud of our pro-life advocates. They remained serene and prayerful despite the verbal attacks. Before processing to Planned Parenthood, we had counseled our pro-life advocates to pray for God’s pro tection of pregnant mothers and their babies from the trage dy of abortion, as well as for God’s grace to touch the hearts of the Planned Parenthood staff and those advo cating for abortion.

I found myself won dering what type of wound could motivate abortion advocates to engage in such verbal ly violent behavior.

This past Saturday night, I attended the 38th Viviano Holiday Variety Show that was held at Rockhurst High School’s Rose Theater. Jerry Vivi ano, a parishioner of Holy Cross Parish in Overland Park, began the variety show as a way to celebrate the Thanksgiving, Advent and Christmas holi days, while also raising significant financial support for Catholic charitable ministries in both Kansas and Missouri.

It was a bittersweet evening because this was the final Viviano Variety Show! During the past 38 years, the Viviano family has raised nearly $2.5 million for worthy charities. From this finale event, Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas received a $100,000 donation.

Jerry Viviano concluded the eve ning by thanking the talented performers, the backstage workers, the financial benefac tors and the audience for making the final show a huge success.

Jerry shared with the performers and the audience his love for Jesus, his Catholic faith and the sacrament of reconciliation.

Jerry acknowledged that there was a time

in his adult life when he did not frequent the confessional.

Jerry recalled a conversation with a non-Catholic therapist who expressed his ad miration and respect for the sacrament of reconciliation. The therapist acknowl edged that a sacra mental confession is often able to assist individuals in finding peace and the power to forgive themselves, where psychological therapy often fails.

As we approach the Advent season, I encourage you to make receiving the sacra ment of reconciliation a huge priority. This sacrament of mer cy has the power to relieve penitents from the burdens of guilt and sorrow.

Confession also mo tivates and empowers us to bring the mercy we have received to others: spouses, children, relatives, co-workers and neigh bors.

I also encourage you in your Advent prayer to ask the Lord to reveal to you individu als whom you need to forgive or from whom you need to ask for mercy. Make Advent a season where you seek to give and receive mercy.

In the Gospel, Jesus was constantly forgiv ing people. It should not surprise us that Our Lord empowered his church to continue his ministry of mercy through all time.

In the confessional, it becomes clear that Jesus came to liberate us from the enslave ments of our sins. He also wants each of us to be ambassadors of reconciliation, lavishly offering forgiveness to others.

I have been told that Irish Alzheimer’s is a condition in which

Nov. 27

ARCHBISHOP NAUMANN’S CALENDAR

Mass — Church of the Ascension, Overland Park Nov. 28

Podcast interview — Paul Thies

Visit to juvenile detention facility — Juvenile Cor rectional Complex, Topeka Nov. 29

Clergy Eucharistic Amazement training — Father Quigley Faith Formation Center, Lenexa

Recently ordained priests vespers and dinner — residence Nov. 30

Donnelly College board of directors meeting — Donnelly College, Kansas City, Kansas

Confirmation St. Ann, Effingham; St. Louis, Good Intent; and St. Mary, Purcell — St. Louis, Good Intent

Dec. 1

RAAP board meeting

CFNEK annual board meeting — chancery Confirmation — Sacred Heart, Tonganoxie Dec. 2

Shalom House open house and blessing Dec. 3

Evening prayer and dinner with deacon candidates and aspirants — Savior Pastoral Cen ter, Kansas City, Kansas Dec. 5

Staff open house — residence Dec. 6

Confirmation — Sacred Heart, Ottawa Dec. 7

St. Lawrence Catholic Campus Center board meeting — St. Lawrence

St. Lawrence Catholic Campus Center Mass and board social — St. Lawrence Dec. 8 St. James Academy Mass and lunch Dec. 10

Christmas with the homeless — Blessed Sacra ment Church, Kansas City, Kansas

City Lights Mass and gala meal blessing — Oliver Building, Kansas City, Missouri

you forget everything except your grudges! I know a few with Ger man ancestry that have a similar affliction.

During Advent, let us forgive those who

have hurt or harmed us in order that we might experience the peace that the Prince of Peace wants to bring to our hearts.

LIFE WILL BE VICTORIOUS

Nashville artist tours archdiocese this Advent

By Katie Peterson Special to The Leaven

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — An eve ning of music infused with a message of hope and prayer is what awaits attendees of the “Light Has Come” Advent Tour with Catholic worship leader and songwriter Sarah Kroger.

The archdiocesan rural youth minis try outreach is offering two opportuni ties for young Catholics to experience the evening as Kroger, along with her husband Dominic Quaglia and their band, will perform from 6-8 p.m. on Dec. 17 at Sacred Heart Church in Sabetha, and from 6-8 p.m. on Dec. 18 at Eleanor’s White Barn in Scranton.

The tour will replace the usual summer and fall events the rural youth ministry usually sponsors for families.

“In December, it’s hard not to get overly busy and take time to really pre pare for Christmas, so I’m excited that this is happening just before school gets out,” said Angie Bittner, rural youth ministry outreach coordinator. “It’ll be a really beautiful, intentional time to spend with your family or youth group and to just focus on Jesus.

“You just get to come as you are and enjoy a night of really prayerful — but also really joyful — music, and Sarah is so gifted. It’s such a joy just to listen to her, and I think that anybody that comes will leave with their hearts in a better place than it started and more ready for Christmas to come.”

‘Faith took on a person’

Kroger has been a Catholic since birth, having grown up in Melbourne, Florida, and attending the nearby St. Joseph Church where her parents, Betty Ann and Daniel Kroger, served as choir directors and music ministers.

“I grew up in a musical household and going to church every single weekend,” Kroger said. “We were up from sunup to sundown because [my parents] were di recting choirs and doing ministry.”

But it wasn’t until her junior year in high school that it went from being a routine to something she wanted to do. That is when she attended the Francis can University of Steubenville Youth Conference, which featured Christian artists Matt Maher and Audrey Assad.

“It was the first time that I ever really heard music that personified Jesus in a personal way and gave me relationship language around the person of Christ,” Kroger explained. “It changed every thing for me because rather than just going to Mass and checking off a box and going through the motions, it became, ‘This is about a real person who wants an actual relationship with me and wants to be involved in my life and the decisions that I’m making.’”

“Faith took on a person,” she added simply.

“It became, ‘I want to go because I want to feed this relationship that’s been start ed,’ and it ignited this fire within me,” she continued. “Just like any other relation ship, in the beginning, it was magical, and I wanted as much time with God as possi ble, in as many ways as possible.”

ADVENT IS MY FAVORITE TIME OF YEAR. . . . JUST THE WHOLE IDEA OF THE INCARNATION OF JESUS IS SO HOPE-FILLED AND SOMETHING I NEED TO HEAR AND BE REMINDED OF EVERY SINGLE YEAR.

SARA KROGER CATHOLIC WORSHIP LEADER AND SONGWRITER

To satisfy that hunger, Kroger said she joined the youth group and began getting involved with the church choir.

“Up until that point, even though music was a part of my life, I was terri fied to sing in front of people for many years, and it really was that conference that changed it for me,” she said. “There was a leader on that conference that said, ‘If you have a gift from God and you’re not using it, you’re denying the glory of God within you.’”

“It was this massive moment of realiz ing this isn’t just for me. This isn’t just my little thing that I like doing on the side,” Kroger continued. “This is something

that God wants me to give to the world in my own little way. I didn’t know what that looked like at the time, but now I can see the fruit of being able to say ‘yes’ in that moment, which is pretty insane.”

A night of hope

The music also fed that growing per sonal relationship with God, she said.

“It became the way I communicated with God, once I realized there was lan guage around worship music for that,” she said.

And she’s used that language to become a music missionary, taking that message to the faithful across the world for the last 10 years.

Kroger has served as a worship leader at conferences and events and regularly put on performances such as the Advent Tour for many years.

“Advent is my favorite time of year, and my favorite season in the church,” Kroger said. “Just the whole idea of the incarnation of Jesus is so hope-filled and something I need to hear and be re minded of every single year, so I’m grate ful that the church has these consistent calendars to remind us of these very important truths that can be so easy to forget in a dark world.”

Plus, she said, Christmas serves as a

“common denominator” among people, whether they’re a believer or not.

“People can invite their friends, their neighbors to a night like this because it’s nonthreatening,” Kroger said. “The whole night is infused with hope.”

Noting the theme of “Light Has Come,” she continued, “it’s this idea that on the darkest night, light broke through, and we still celebrate that light today. It’s this idea that it wasn’t just that Jesus was born into the world, the incarnation of God, the Word made flesh, but it was lit erally when light entered the world in a sense and is permanently here with us to stay.”

“It’s this idea that even if we feel like we’re living in the darkest times, there is this hope that light is always with us, within us, around us, leading us, guiding us,” Kroger added. “I hope people are re minded of that and feel encouraged after the evening.”

The power of music

And it’s the power of music that brings it together, too, Kroger said.

“Music has this really interesting way of breaking through a human heart, a human mind, in a way that just words sometimes can’t. It’s something about this magical combination of this melody mixed in with the lyric, and it just melts defenses in a way that words sometimes fail to do,” she said.

“One of my favorite things about wor ship,” Kroger said, “is that in a church, people can come with all kinds of polit ical beliefs, perspectives on life, back grounds, what have you, and yet, when we are lifting up a song of praise togeth er, it is this one-in-Christ sound.

“To me, it echoes what it’s going to be like in heaven, united under the king ship of Christ. It’s not being exactly the same, it’s not being replicas. It’s being uniquely different, but being able to still be unified.”

“It’s really exciting when that hap pens and it’s good for the church,” she concluded. “The more that we can do things like this, come together and sing, sing the name of Jesus, the more we will figure out how to stand together even when we’re different.”

Kroger and her husband are based in Nashville and are parishioners of St. Joseph Church in Madison, Tennes see.

Both evenings of the Advent Tour are open to all. Freewill donations will be accepted at the door. Refreshments will also be available.

The Dec. 17 event will also include follow-up activities. The evening is co-hosted by the Sacred Heart Knights of Columbus. The Dec. 18 event is being co-hosted by St. Patrick Church in Osage City and St. Patrick Church in Scranton.

For more information, send an email to Bittner at: ruralyouth@archkck.org, or visit the website at: archkck.org/ rural/events/sarah-kroger-advent- tour.

Kroger will also lead a night of wor ship at 7 p.m. on Dec. 16 at St. Michael the Archangel Church in Leawood. For the full tour schedule, visit the website at: sarahkroger.com/tour.

PHOTO BY KATIE PETERSON

Catholic worship leader and songwriter Sarah Kroger will perform from 6-8 p.m. on Dec. 17 at Sacred Heart Church in Sabetha, and from 6-8 p.m. on Dec. 18 at Eleanor’s White Barn in Scranton as part of her “Light Has Come” Advent Tour.

ONE FOR ALL — AND ALL FOR ONE

Lawrence parish school makes inclusivity a priority

By Susan Fotovich McCabe Special to The Leaven

LAWRENCE — When Chris Reffett recently walked the halls of St. John School here, he did so as both a principal and a parent.

That’s not all that unusual. Many Catholic school teachers and admin istrators choose to make their parish school a family affair.

But on this day, Reffett was assess ing the school’s vibes — its inclusivity vibes. Reffett is a father of two daugh ters who have Down syndrome, and the school was recently awarded new funding for its inclusion initiatives for students with special needs.

The staff of St. John and Reffett have made it a part of St. John’s mission to ensure students with special needs feel welcomed, embraced and supported.

“Our Catholic faith is at work here,” Reffett said. “It’s about being inten tional and teaching. We can talk about being inclusive from what we have learned from our faith. And if a student or a parent asks why this is important, I say, ‘This is what we’re taught to do — to include everybody.’”

Funding the future

St. John recently received a $5,000 grant from National Catholic Part ners on Disabilities (NCPD) through the Angel in Disguise organization. The school currently has three staff members dedicated to supporting stu dents with special needs. Some of those students receive itinerant services through the Lawrence public school district.

Although St. John is still assessing the best use of the financial support, Reffett hopes this and the school’s “lead by example” reputation will speak for itself and spread to new families con sidering a Catholic education.

Vince Cascone is superintendent for schools of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas. He said the archdio cese’s Catholic faith positions it well for embracing needs of all kinds.

“The Catholic Church is the uni versal church. As Catholic schools, we need to do everything we can to wel come students with special needs,” Cas cone said. “The mission of our schools centers on bringing our students into a relationship with Jesus Christ. This mission is so much more profound than any academic goals we could have and certainly applies to students with special needs.”

Still, Cascone says, Catholic schools,

like their public counterparts, are chal lenged by not having adequate resourc es. This includes financial resources for hiring special education teachers and funding more opportunities for professional development for all staff.

Inclusion is a win for all students

Reffett said St. John is already working toward a classroom model

that recognizes the benefits of modi fications and accommodations for all students. One of the school’s strate gies is to work within peer groups.

Reffett’s daughter Mila is in fifth grade; daughter RayLee is in seventh grade and spends half her time at St. John and half at a Lawrence middle school. His middle daughter, Sophie, attends St. John and is in seventh grade. Reffett recently had the chance to see the benefits of small group work with Mila.

“I walked in one day and saw her class working in small groups on a debate,” he said. “Mila was included, and the group and the other students valued what she was contributing. They gave her their respect. She’s not an outlier.”

That encounter was especially nice for Reffett who, with his wife Jill, decided to home school RayLee and Mila during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Inclusivity teaches respect

As a principal, Reffett sees what an inclusive school setting is doing for

LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER

From left, RayLee Reffett, Lucy Godfrey and Sophie Reffett work as a group to make a poster advertising St. John’s Fall Food Drive in their StuCo class.

LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER

Chris Reffett, principal of St. John the Evangelist School in Lawrence, is not only the principal but also a parent of three St. John students — two with special needs. From left are: Sophie, seventh grade; Mila, fifth grade; and RayLee, seventh grade. The staff of St. John has made it a part of St. John’s mission to ensure students with special needs feel welcomed, embraced and supported.

LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER

St. John the Evangelist fifth grader Mila Reffett works on a project with her paraprofessional Micah Naeger. Naeger helps Mila throughout her day with academic and behavior support.

Celebrating 25 years of the Catholic Education Foundation

By Jill Ragar Esfeld jill.esfeld@theleaven.org

OVERLAND PARK — When emcee Christa Dubill asked at the end of the Gaudea mus gala Oct. 29, “Do we have a number for tonight?” she was met with a drum roll — literal ly. It came courtesy of Topeka’s Mater Dei Grade School drum line, one of the highlights of the annual benefit.

“We have set a new Gaudeamus record tonight,” announced the board chair of the Catholic Education Foun dation Jeff Jaworski. “The 2022 Gaude amus grand total is $2,443,000.”

One hundred percent of that, Dubill added, would go directly to fund Catho lic school scholarships.

Twenty-five years ago, the founders of CEF had a simple vision of helping underprivileged children attend Cath olic schools. They would be amazed at the results of this year’s event.

Jaworski set the theme for this year’s event, held at the Overland Park Con vention Center, when he opened the evening by expressing gratitude for those founding members.

“Tonight is going to be another fan tastic chapter in the story God’s been writing for CEF,” he said.

Reminding patrons that currently 300 children are in need of financial as sistance, CEF executive director Vince Anch then introduced the evening’s speaker, Vicky Simms.

Simms, a senior at Hayden High School in Topeka, began her Catholic school education in sixth grade at Holy Name School there.

“I was one of those kids who re ceived a scholarship,” Simms said in her introduction.

She went on to speak of the great impact the faculty and staff at her Cath olic schools had on her life.

Faith makes a firm foundation for inclusiveness

>> Continued from page 4

all students. Typically developing stu dents clearly benefit from working with students with special needs, he said. It teaches compassion, patience, respect and a host of other values driven by the Catholic faith.

“What struck me is that parents, in general, are telling me that their kids are looking for an environment that is loving and accepting,” Reffett said. “I’ve had parents in her class tell me how much it means to have their kids part ner with Mila and how much they ap preciate that their kids are getting the experience of learning with a student with special needs. It’s how the world should be.”

Creating an inclusive school setting is not without its challenges for stu dents and staff, he said, but it’s a step in the right direction. Once again, he leans on the school’s Catholic teachings to find a way forward.

“Unfortunately, we still must work toward inclusion and achieve that in any and every way possible. As a school community, we’ll find support by lean ing on the power of our faith,” Ref fett said. “I think this is exactly how it should be. But it can be done.”

VICKY SIMMS HAYDEN HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR

“My dream for the immediate future is to attend college,” she said, “and major in communication with a minor in digital marketing. And become an architect. And become a radiologist.”

The crowd laughed and applauded her momentous goals.

“Catholic education has shaped me into the person I am today,” she said. “From the bottom of my heart, I want to express my gratitude to all donors.

“Your commitment to Catholic edu cation changes lives like mine.”

The evening had several highlights, including the Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann CEF School of Excellence award being presented to St. Gregory the Great School in Marysville.

And the inaugural CEF Lifetime Achievement Award recognized the organization’s founders: Blake Mulva ny, Tom Zarda, Rich Henry, Archbishop James P. Keleher, Sister Vickie Perkins, and Leonard and Ellen McKinzie.

CEF’s first board chair and vice board chair respectively, Zarda and Henry, came on stage to accept the

Local Scouts earn Eagle Awards

LEAWOOD — Three Boy Scouts from Troop 0395 at Curé of Ars Parish here recently received their Eagle Scout Award.

Ethan Janssen, a member of St. Agnes in Roeland Park, planned, designed and led others to donate basic necessities for Uplift. Uplift is a mobile organization that pro vides meals, clothing and basic necessities for the homeless in the Kansas City metro area. Janssen’s team donated clothing, canned goods, blankets and basic hygiene products and organized and sorted them for Uplift.

Conor Sexton, a member of St. Ann Parish in Prairie Village, planned, designed and helped col lect and donate adult-male cloth ing for Lazarus Ministries. In addition to delivering many bags of clothing to Lazarus Ministries headquarters, Sexton and his team distributed items and fed meals to the homeless and needy served by the ministry in Kansas City, Mis souri.

Christian Vogt, a member of St. Ann Parish in Prairie Village, helped a team beautify Linwood Cemetery. Vogt’s team cleaned up trash and debris, mowed, mulched

and replanted flowerbeds, cleaned headstones and raised a new Amer ican flag. His work honored both the Memorial Day celebration and the veterans buried there.

Save the date

Mark your calendars for: Gaudeamus 2023 Oct. 28, 2023

Overland Park Convention Center For more information or to make a donation, go online to: cefks.org.

award and talk about the importance of the organization and the people who continue to support its mission.

“Our work is not finished,” Henry said. “Not until every child who de sires a Catholic education can receive one.

“That is the task we continue to be charged with this evening.”

Zarda agreed, praising the efforts of Catholic school teachers and facul ty and the critical part they play in the lives of children.

“I’m confident CEF will continue to grow,” he said. “I’m confident every one of you and yours will help make that happen.”

Archbishop Naumann closed the evening with a prayer and praise for all the people who have worked diligently to make the first 25 years of CEF a suc cess.

“I’ve gotten to go to our schools and see some of the wonderful work that’s happening,” he said. “It’s beautiful to see.”

In addition to a quality education, the archbishop pointed out, our Catho lic schools provide “an opportunity for our young people to know the Lord and to build a friendship with him.”

That signals a promising future.

“Some of the great young people you are helping tonight are going to be future leaders in our community and our society and our church,” he said.

Vivian and Dan Reynoso, members of St. Matthew Parish, Topeka, will celebrate their 65th wed ding anniver sary on Nov. 30. The couple was married at Holy Name Church, Topeka. The couple will cel ebrate with a Mass of thanksgiving and dinner with family. Their children are: Laura Smith, Lawrence Reynoso, Lance Reynoso, Lisa Hahn, Leslie Reynoso and Lyle Reynoso. They also have 15 grandchil dren and 10 great-grandchildren.

Phyllis (Quigley) and Richard Hampton, members of St. John the Baptist Parish in Kansas City, Kansas, marked their 50th wedding anniversary on Nov. 18. They celebrated with a Mass on Nov. 20, followed by brunch with family and friends at the Strawberry Hill Museum. The couple was married at Christ the King Church in Kansas City, Kansas. Their children are: Robert Hampton and Sara Morrow. They have two grandsons.

LEAVEN PHOTO BY JILL RAGAR ESFELD

Vicky Simms, a senior at Hayden High School in Topeka, explains how receiving a scholarship from the Catholic Education Foundation made her bright future possible.

CATHOLIC EDUCATION HAS SHAPED ME INTO THE PERSON I AM TODAY. FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART, I WANT TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE TO ALL DONORS.

COURTESY PHOTO From left, Christian Vogt, Conor Sexton and Ethan Janssen — members of Boy Scout Troop 0395 — recently received their Eagle Scouts Award, the highest honor given to Boy Scouts.

Does incessant worry prevent you from seizing the day?

ne of my daughters recently reunited with college roommates on the opposite coast. It was her first airplane flight since COVID-19, and the first time she would be away, over night, from her almost 2-year-old daughter. She was nervous.

The 2-year-old? Not so much.

“How’s the baby doing?” I asked my sonin-law. “Is she worried about where Mom is?”

“She seems pretty happy,” he said. Her older sister was play ing with her, and she loved having Daddy’s attention.

And when she would ask about Mom, they would both say, “She’ll be back tomorrow,” and that seemed to be enough.

I laughed, because of course my granddaugh ter has no conception of what tomorrow means. There were a series of tomorrows involved in this trip, but each “tomorrow” sounded reassuring. She trusted them. Why worry?

Sometimes, when we hear Jesus say we must be like little children to enter the kingdom of heaven (Mt 18:3), we might find it beneath us to be so infantilized. He doesn’t mean me, does

he? We fancy ourselves to be intellectuals, ma ture, capable of adult understanding.

What does Jesus mean when he says this?

I think Jesus is speaking to our human tendency to worry, sometimes ceaselessly, about tomorrow, about yesterday, about the far-off future and the long-dead past. Regrets can nag us from one direction, fear from the other. They squeeze out the once-in-a-lifetime moment that is this one precious day.

A friend of mine who is a financial adviser deals with many retir ees. A number of them, he said, have a tendency to worry that they won’t have “enough.”

“Some of my richest clients have this con stant worry,” he said.

And yet, the message of Jesus was the opposite. Look at the lilies of the field, he reminds us. They don’t have any bank accounts and they don’t keep their eyes on the stock market.

My granddaughter worries about the immediate present. If cookies suddenly ap pear, she demands one.

If her sister is getting generous parental attention, she wants to be right in the middle of the hug.

But she doesn’t spend one minute of her time wondering what tomorrow brings, or even what tomor row is. And she pays no attention to what happened yesterday, whatever that word means.

“Do not worry about tomorrow,” Jesus said in Matthew 6:34, “tomor row will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil.”

Some translations of this text have the last line reading: “Each day has trouble enough of its own.”

And while both translations are beau tiful and true, it’s im portant to also realize that if we pay attention to each day, we find that most of them have great goodness and joy enough of their own as well.

The writer Annie Dillard wrote: “How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.” I think that’s what Jesus meant, too, when he pointed at little kids as models.

We all look to the past at times, and we all plan for the future. We

put money away for re tirement, and we get the roof fixed so it doesn’t leak “tomorrow.”

But Jesus reminds us that we can be over come by these concerns to the extent that we don’t enjoy today or make it productive.

These are troubled times, and anxiety about climate change, politics and war can plague us. So we do our part, then put it in God’s hands, as a child relies on a trusted par ent. Then we can focus on this great gift, this one irreplaceable day.

EFFIE CALDAROLA

Effie Caldarola is a columnist for Catholic New Service.

Collection benefits elderly religious here at home

By Joe Bollig joe.bollig@theleaven.org

KANSAS CITY, Kan.

— There’s an old saying that parish ioners of the Arch diocese of Kansas City in Kansas know well: Family takes care of its own.

The same is true of the family that is the church.

Catholics have a long tradi tion of taking care of others, but especially the retired re ligious and clergy of various orders who faithfully served them.

On the weekend of Dec. 10-11, the archdiocese will hold its annual national Retirement Fund for Religious collection in parishes. Last year, parish ioners gave $100,712.

Two orders in the archdi ocese benefited from the col lection. In 2022, the Sisters, Servants of Mary Ministers to the Sick and the Benedic tine monks of St. Benedict’s Abbey in Atchison received a combined total of $272,803 in financial support from the na tional collection.

The Sisters, Servants have 86.52% of their retirement needs not funded. The Bene dictine monks are at 60.81% not funded.

“From the beginning of our institute and under the inspi ration of our foundress Saint Maria Soledad Torres, we have been dedicated to care for the

sick in their own homes free of charge, with love and dedica tion,” said Sister Ema Munoz, local superior.

“Today, our elderly Sisters are happy and satisfied be cause of the care they receive,” she said. “This is due, in part, by the kind donations received year after year from the Re tirement Fund for Religious. We continue trusting in God’s providence that is manifested through [parishioners’] gener osity.”

The Retirement Fund for Religious and the National Re ligious Retirement Office were established in 1988 to address a crisis: Most U.S. religious orders had a serious lack of re tirement savings and could not care for their elderly.

How did it happen? There were a couple of factors.

For many years, religious orders served for low wages that did not include retirement benefits. Additionally, retired religious now outnumber

the wage-earning members in their communities. Thus, many religious communities are being squeezed between declining income and rising costs for caring for their elder ly members.

“The care of our aging reli gious presents an enormous financial responsibility,” said Sister Stephanie Still, NRRO executive director and a member of the Sisters of the Presentation of San Francisco.

“It is our privilege to care for

those who gave a lifetime of tireless service, and I feel we are deeply blessed by all the U.S. Catholic donors who have steadfastly contributed to this fund.”

Fortunately, Catholics have responded generously each year. In 2021, the appeal raised almost $28.5 million, and funds were distributed to 271 U.S. religious communities.

What would happen to the elderly Sisters, Servants if they did not receive help from the collection?

“Probably the quality of their care would not be as we would so desire,” said Sister Ema. “Since our service in caring for the sick in their homes is free of charge, we would not be able to afford a quality of care desired by us for our sick and elderly.”

The religious who benefit from the collection — espe cially the elderly needing care — are profoundly grateful for the love expressed for them by generous Catholics who donate annually to this cause. Sister Ema hopes this love will be expressed again.

“These sick and elderly Sis ters have given their lives for others — in many ways —ac cording to our charism: ‘I was sick and you visited me,’” said Sister Ema. “Would you like to help them as they have helped others by financial help and a generous donation?”

Safe environment volunteers celebrated at Nov. 8 event

By Moira Cullings moira.cullings@theleaven.org

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — When Shannon Holcomb got the call to participate in Virtus facilitator training, it didn’t matter where she was.

“I was actually on vacation,” she said. “In the back seat of my husband’s truck driving down the road, I took my facili tator’s training the first day.”

By the second day of training, she was safe and sound at home.

“I had been really interested in be coming a facilitator for about three years,” said Holcomb. “When they called, it didn’t matter [where I was]. It’s an important ministry.”

Holcomb, an administrator of pre school at Xavier School in Leavenworth and a Virtus facilitator, joined other facilitators and safe environment co ordinators (SEC) from around the arch diocese for an SEC/Virtus Facilitator Appreciation Day on Nov. 8.

The event was hosted by the archdi ocesan office for protection and care (OPC) and held at St. Joseph Parish in Shawnee.

Jenifer Valenti, OPC director, and Sandy Vielhauer, protection compli ance administrator, said their office was eager to show their gratitude.

“Our OPC team is so grateful for our front-line volunteers and employees who work tirelessly to raise awareness about abuse and make sure we do ev erything [we] can to safeguard our most vulnerable members,” said Valenti.

Forty-four people attended the ap preciation day, including members of the OPC team, presenters and Father John Riley, chancellor and vicar gener al for the archdiocese.

Attendees were brought up to speed on updates to policies and processes that are forthcoming in the ministry and participated in a Q&A panel discus sion with experts in safe environment and abuse awareness.

They also had opportunities to net work with others, something Ashley Vardijan, SEC at Prince of Peace Parish

in Olathe, appreciated the most.

“I enjoyed building camaraderie through our challenges and sharing some of the successful ways to overcome those struggles within our roles,” she said.

The day left Vardijan feeling “re newed and appreciated.”

“I feel that the OPC does a great job of communicating and helping with co ordinator needs on a regular basis,” she said. “But getting together in person helped build on that sense of belonging to the ‘team.’”

Holcomb agreed.

“Sandy and Jenifer — the whole team there — are so welcoming,” she said.

“Monica Lane and Franchiel [Nyaka tura], the veteran facilitators, just wel come you with open arms and are right there to support you.”

The ministry of protecting children and vulnerable adults is something near to Holcomb’s heart.

She was previously a trainer for Army Child Development Services, where she focused on identifying and reporting child abuse, as well as pre venting and responding to child abuse.

Becoming a Virtus facilitator was a logical next step for Holcomb, who wanted to be a resource for the Xavier School community, as well as Leaven worth parishes. She was moved by the idea of the appreciation day.

“To feel appreciated that we’ve taken on that role — I did not expect that,” she said. “That just showed the archdio cese’s commitment to this ministry.”

Valenti and Vielhauer said their office plans to host an appreciation day each year.

“This ministry would not be possi ble or successful without the dedicat ed work of our local safe environment coordinators and Virtus facilitators,” said Valenti. “We also recognize at times this work can be difficult.

“We hope days like this help to bring about renewal and provide encourage ment. We also hope to develop a net work of support for each other.”

To learn more about the office for protection and care, go online to: arch kck.org/protection-and-care/office.

LEAVEN FILE PHOTO BY LORI WOOD HABIGER

Sister Lidia Ortíz, left, and Sister Silvia Juárez of the Sisters, Servants of Mary leave the Sisters’ convent in Kansas City, Kansas, and head out into the night to give care to those in need during the height of COVID in 2020. On the weekend of Dec. 10-11, the archdiocese will hold its annual national Retirement Fund for Religious collection in parishes. That collection helps fund the retirement of elderly religious like the Sisters, Servants of Mary and the monks of St. Benedict’s Abbey in Atchison.

LEAVEN PHOTO BY KATHRYN WHITE

Jenifer Valenti, director of the archdiocesan office for protection and care, addresses facilita tors and safe environment coordinators (SEC) from around the archdiocese at an SEC/Virtus Facilitator Appreciation Day on Nov. 8 at St. Joseph Parish in Shawnee.

THE PROMISE

‘O Come, O Come,’ everyone

By Susan Hines-Brigger Catholic News Service

Ever since I became a mom — more than 20 years and four kids ago — the Advent and Christmas season has taken on a whole different perspective for me. That perspective has opened up the meaning of the season for me and brought me closer to Mary in a motherto-mother kind of way.

I understand the feelings of hope, worry and anticipation of meeting your child. And I think about Mary. I wonder if she felt those same emotions that I did as she neared the end of her pregnancy.

After all, she was a mom. She would have felt Jesus’ stirrings within her for all those months. And now, the end was near and soon she would welcome her son.

Perhaps that’s why every year when I hear the Christmas song, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,” I hear it from a differ ent point of view.

Based on my own pregnancy experi ences, I can imagine the pleadings of a very pregnant Mary in her final weeks of pregnancy, wishing to meet her son, both out of anticipation and exhaustion.

Recalling my own discomfort those final weeks before I gave birth, I can’t even imagine having to leave your home and travel in that condition like Mary did. All those thoughts bring that song alive for me.

I am acutely aware, though, that not everyone has the unique perspective of motherhood. That does not mean, how ever, that this song doesn’t have implica tions for others during this season.

After all, what better song to remind us of our call to extend our care and love to all during the holiday season, a season that is all about welcoming Christ into our world and lives?

Often, that welcoming spirit can be seen in the hospitality we show at this time of year to friends and family. We welcome them into our homes and show them our love and hospitality. Come and sit with us, we tell them. You are wel come here. There is room at our table.

Unfortunately, though, that type of hospitality is not something that every one in society experiences. Mary and Joseph certainly did not encounter it during their travels.

Similarly, there are those in society today that encounter the same unwel coming spirit. Many people — the home less, the troubled, the immigrant, anyone who society deems unworthy or suspect — encounter closed doors and minds.

Rather than people saying to them, “O Come, O Come,” we tell them that there is no room at our table for them.

And that reality is something that as people of faith we must face and wrestle with. The Advent season by nature is a time of preparation. It is a time for us to prepare our hearts to welcome Christ, and by that, we mean all.

Currently, we are living in times of deep division and animosity. During Advent, we should ask ourselves what part we are playing in the journey to Christ’s birth. Are we ready to open the door when the time comes? Or will it be closed? Will there be room at our table or will it already be full?

These are good questions to ask our selves as we travel closer to Christmas. By doing so, we may discover something profound about ourselves and our faith. This Advent, we, too, are on that jour ney with Mary and Joseph. And we want to meet this precious baby, our Savior. Are we prepared to call out, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” to all?

Susan Hines-Brigger is a mother of four. She is also an executive editor of St. Antho ny Messenger magazine.

CNS PHOTO/LISA A. JOHNSTON

A sculpture showing an expectant Mary with Joseph traveling to Bethlehem is seen in a Missouri church during the season of Advent, the time of anticipation and hope before Christmas. Advent begins Nov. 27 this year.

LEAVEN FILE PHOTO

The angel Gabriel greets Mary in this church window at St. Columbkille Church, Blaine, depicting the Annunciation where the angel proclaimed that Mary would be the mother of Jesus.

PROMISE OF ADVENT

How Pope Francis views Advent’s call to hope

By David Gibson Catholic News Service

Advent is a “continuous call to hope,” says Pope Francis. It seems, then, that a key aim of this pre-Christmas season is to focus attention on hope’s immense importance for ev eryone.

But why? Is hope a problem? Sure, it can be. Human hopes frequently get dashed, driven underground.

Sustaining hope can mean surviving big disappointments and surmounting temptations to give up when our finest plans encounter confounding obstacles. Sometimes hope’s challenge is to start over, to pursue again (in new ways?) a goal whose pursuit only recently drained our energies.

Starting over can be hard. Are we tired? Do any embers of the hope that originally motivated us still glow?

It seems important here to say some thing about what “hope” means. Along with faith and charity, hope is accord ed a central place in Christian life. Yet, when the topic of “hope” arises, it often remains undefined.

Not for Pope Francis, however. He wants to make its meaning concrete. In doing so, he shows that he takes serious ly the best of our dreams in life.

“Hope speaks to us of a thirst, an aspi ration, a longing for a life of fulfillment, a desire to achieve great things, things that fill our heart and lift our spirit to lofty realities,” his 2020 encyclical on fra ternity and social friendship observed.

Hope can “open us up to grand ideals that make life more beautiful and worth while,” he added (“Fratelli Tutti,” 55).

It makes sense to zero in on the much-needed virtue of hope during Advent. Don’t the coming days of Christ mas, so focused on Jesus’ birth, announce a new birth of hope in our world?

Christmas affirms emphatically that God is not distant. Instead, God is near and involved with our actual lives. This point should not be overlooked when considering the relevance of hope in Advent, Pope Francis suggests.

It is not idle chatter when he speaks of hope. He understands what wounds hope. People need “courage” when they are “under duress or suffering,” he re marked on Advent’s first Sunday in 2020. Advent is a reminder to them that “God is not distant” and “does not aban don” people.

Pope Francis made those remarks after the coronavirus pandemic took hold in the world. The pandemic posed threats to hope by generating “worry, fear and discouragement.” There was for many a risk of “falling into pessimism,” he commented.

He understands that powerful forces can darken people’s lives, wreaking havoc with the hope they need. One such force is fear.

Would it surprise you to hear that Pope Francis has spoken repeatedly of fear’s negative influence? He seems con cerned that fear can gain too much con trol over people’s thinking and actions.

IF THERE IS MUCH TO FEAR IN THE WORLD, POPE FRANCIS THINKS THERE ALSO IS MUCH TO BE GAINED BY VENTURING FORWARD WITH COURAGE. NOTABLY, HE ENCOURAGES PEOPLE TO VENTURE FORWARD TOGETHER WITH OTHERS.

Fear has a way of paralyzing people, he suggested in his 2019 apostolic exhor tation “Christ Lives,” directed above all to young people.

“Keep following your hopes and dreams,” the pope urged. He added that it

is important to “avoid the paralysis of the living dead,” whereby a fear of making “mistakes” leads to forgetting that if mis takes are made “you can always get up and start over, for no one has the right to rob you of hope” (142).

Naturally, not all fear is negative. Healthy fear steers us away from clear sources of harm. From the youngest age, children learn not to stick their fin gers into a flame for fear of the pain and damage fire can cause.

But if there is much to fear in the world, Pope Francis thinks there also is much to be gained by venturing forward with courage. Notably, he encourages people to venture forward together with others.

He cautions that fear has a way of driving people inward, prompting them to think that what is best is to go it alone. But his encyclical on fraternity and social friendship stresses that “isolation and withdrawal into one’s own interests

are never the way to restore hope and bring about renewal.”

What is needed, instead, “is close ness.” The pope insisted: “Isolation, no; closeness, yes” (30).

That encyclical focused in a partic ular way on the larger relationships of nations or racial and ethnic groups, for example. But what he said there reflects what he says elsewhere about relation ships closer to home.

In the context of today’s advanced “means of human communication,” a challenge emerges to assure that “great er possibilities for communication” become “greater possibilities for en counter and solidarity for everyone,” the pope wrote in 2013 in “The Joy of the Gospel,” his very first apostolic exhorta tion.

Taking this route, he added, “would be so good, so soothing, so liberating and hope-filled” (87).

CNS PHOTO/PAUL HARING

Pope Francis presents a rose at an icon of Mary and the child Jesus as he begins his general audience in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican Dec. 9, 2015. A rose symbolizes Mary in the old German hymn, “Lo, How A Rose E’er Blooming.”

Paris Dominicans turn property into home for families, students, Sisters

By Elisabeth Auvillain Catholic News Service

PARIS (CNS) — One by one, the 20 Sisters who live in the Maison St.-Charles in the 15th arrondissement walk to the dining room for lunch. Sister Dominique, who has been working in the garden, takes off her dirty shoes. They sit around small tables in the new house they moved to recently.

The Sisters live in small new apart ments on the right-hand side of the yard. The building, with its square shape, still looks like a cloister. People who benefit from social housing — single parents and their children and students — live in apartments, mostly on the other side of the yard.

The Dominican Sisters of Chari ty of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin bought a property in 1870 in a place that had just become part of the city of Paris in 1859. Many religious institutes also purchased property inexpensively in the 18th and 19th centuries to build their convents and schools.

Now, things are different: There are fewer and fewer religious men and women, and congregations have been selling these properties. The sales bring a lot of money, because the properties usually are in nice areas of the capital, in the center or the western part of Paris. The Maison St.-Charles, for example, is in a lively neighborhood where families enjoy good schools, shops and services.

“Usually, aging congregations of women religious wait until there is no other choice than to sell their prop erty. We made another decision. We were eager to ensure the perennity of our vocation,” Sister Veronique Mar gron, prioress of the Dominican Sis ters of the Presentation and president of the Conference of Men and Women Religious in France, told Global Sis ters Report.

“We wanted to create something useful, strong, lasting and beautiful that was in accordance with our voca tion of hospitality and solidarity, the values of our congregation, [and] a place of spirituality, too.”

Sister Margron said Father JosephCharles Bayle bought the property in 1862 to house an orphanage that was larger than the one the congregation ran on Rue Notre Dame des Champs, closer to the center of Paris, which “had become too small to welcome children.”

After taking ownership in 1870, the Sisters built a primary school sur rounded by a park where neighbor hood children liked to play. The Sis ters finally closed the school in 2016; the building needed heavy mainte nance, and the Sisters were getting older. Nearby families were sorry to see the park close, and the students, some of whom did not have relatives to care for them and had been sent by social services, had to go to different schools.

What could the Dominican Sisters of the Presentation do with such a big piece of land?

“We started examining the pos sibilities in 2012, looked at different plans. Finally, a project designed by Habitat et Humanisme, a nonprofit structure that manages social hous ing in France, came up with one that seemed to fit with our wishes,” Sister Margron said. “Of course, we never thought it would be so huge. We took a risk. It would have been easier to sell the piece of land.”

Habitat et Humanisme is a donorfunded association that finances housing projects for people in need. It was founded in 1985 by Father Bernard Devert, who worked in real estate before joining the priesthood.

The Dominican Sisters trust ed Habitat et Humanisme to run the Maison St.-Charles, said Michel Ancery, office manager.

It took 10 years for the plan to become reality. In 2017, the final plan was selected. Part of the land was sold to a real estate company to build 35 high-class apartments. The sale

enabled the congregation to finance its ambitious project for the rest of the property: housing people who applied for low-rent apartments run by the city of Paris. Everything was finished and people moved in earlier this year.

In addition to social housing, the Maison includes a big room for co-working and three meeting rooms for rent. Fifteen guest rooms are also available to visitors coming to Paris who cannot afford hotel bills. For ex ample, members of a French associa tion that holds its annual general as sembly in Paris may have difficulties finding a place to stay at a reasonable rate for those traveling from places far away.

On an average day, about 100 people live or work in the Maison St.-Charles. During the day, the place is very quiet — “people who live here all have jobs,” Ancery said. Volunteer workers take care of the garden, where they planted flowers, fruit and vegetables.

Residents are invited to help there during workshops on weekends.

The chapel was redone: The high ceiling made it possible to cut the room in half from the bottom, and it now stands on the second floor above the hall. It is much smaller than the former chapel and boasts beautiful stained-glass windows from a local artist. The Sisters meet in the chapel for 6:30 p.m. vespers before dinner. They also have a community room on the third floor with a view over the chapel’s tabernacle.

Only 12 of the 20 Sisters who live there are Dominicans; nuns from four other orders live there, too. All are between the ages of 70 and 97. All volunteered to come to the Maison St.Charles.

“I liked the idea of being with Sis ters from other congregations. I also thought it was a good idea to live in a place where different generations would live together,” Sister Marie Ar melle, 84, told Global Sisters Report.

“I had a very bad case of COVID, then I had to rest for a year, so I stopped a lot of my activities,” the former teacher said. “Now, I read sto ries to children with a handicap who attend a nearby school.”

Other Sisters take coffee to home less people or help children attending nearby schools.

Social workers paid by Habitat et Humanisme come to Maison St.Charles twice a week to help residents deal with daily challenges. Most get an allowance from the city to pay their rent, but once they have a job, they may apply for a longer-term place to stay. Volunteers help residents figure out these new challenges so that they can become independent.

In the meantime, sunflowers in the garden give a wonderful touch of color to the place.

“It is a place where different people meet,” said one of the gardeners, who is retired and lives in the neighbor hood. “I find it really nice.”

CNS PHOTO/ELISABETH AUVILLAIN, GLOBAL SISTERS REPORT

The Dominican Sisters of the Presentation took a proactive approach to how to use their Paris property as their membership dwindled. Pictured here is their Maison St.-Charles, a facility that houses Sisters as well as people who need low-cost housing, a co-working space, three meeting rooms for rent and 15 guest rooms.

CNS PHOTO/GLOBAL SISTERS REPORT

Nuns are pictured during lunch at Maison St.-Charles in the 15th arrondissement of Paris. Of the 20 Sisters who live there, 12 are Domin ican Sisters of the Presentation, whose congregation in France dates to 1697.

POTLUCK HOLIDAY LUNCHEON

Most Pure Heart of Mary (Culhane Room) 3601 S.W. 17th St., Topeka Nov. 27 from 1 - 3 p.m.

The Christian Widow and Widowers Organization will host the potluck dinner. There is no cost to attend. For more infor mation, call (785) 233-7350.

‘WAITING FOR THE ANGELS TO SING: AN ADVENT RETREAT’

Via Zoom

Nov. 28 - Dec. 1

Times will be emailed daily to those registered

What message did the angels in the Advent Gospel stories come to share? What was their invitation? As we wait for them to sing this Christmas, let’s explore what message they may have for us today, and what song they are inviting us to sing. Register online at: mountosb.org. In the search box, type “Waiting for the Angels to Sing: An Advent Retreat.” The retreat is facilitated by Mary Kay Whitacre. Register by Nov. 27.

‘PREPARE FOR THE UNIMAGINABLE’: AN ADVENT EVENING OF REFLEC TION AND PRAYER

Rockhurst High School 9301 State Line Rd., Kansas City, Missouri Nov. 29 at 7 p.m.

Have you every wondered how Mary could have responded to the Angel Ga briel like she did? Do you desire to slow down and enter Advent with more intent?

Father Thomas Pesci, SJ, will guide you in an evening of inspiration, music and time for reflection to open yourself to the won ders of Advent. The Ignatian Spirituality Center of Kansas City is presenting this event. There is no cost to attend. For more information and to register, go online to: www.ignatiancenterkc.org/events/2022/ advent-evening.

CATHOLIC ADVISORS NETWORK

Offices of Polsinelli

900 W. 48th Place, Kansas City, Missouri Nov. 30 from 5:30 - 7 p.m.

Attorneys, financial planners, accoun tants and life insurance consultants are invit ed to a reception and networking social with a speaker. This event is sponsored by the Catholic Foundation of Northeast Kansas. RSVP online at: cfnek.org/events/catholicadvisors-network-inaugural-event.

SILENT ADVENT RETREAT

Conception Abbey 37174 State Hwy. VV, Conception, Missouri

Dec. 2 - 4

Advent is a time of waiting and anticipa tion. Set aside time, like Mary, to ponder in your own hearts the Nativity of Our Lord. In the silence, allow the real presence of Christ dwelling within you to comfort and awaken your own spirit. The Dec. 2 con ference will prepare you with ways to use the silence well. Spiritual direction will be available, as well as eucharistic adoration. For more information, go online to: www. conceptionabbey.org/guests or send an email to: guests@conception.edu.

THE CHRISTMAS SHOPPE

Queen of the Holy Rosary Parish (basement)

7023 W. 71st St., Overland Park

Dec. 3 from 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Dec. 4 from 7:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Come join us for some fun and Christmas shopping, while grabbing lunch and taking a casserole home for dinner. There will be homemade items of all kinds, stained glass, olive wood carvings from Bethlehem, floral decor, woodworking pieces, honey and much more. Bring the kids at 1 p.m. on Dec. 3 for a visit with Santa.

ADVENT SILENT RETREAT

Christ’s Peace House of Prayer 22131 Meagher Rd., Easton Dec. 2 - Dec. 4

The retreat will begin on Dec. 2 at 5:30 p.m. and end on Dec. 4 at 4:30 p.m. Prepare your hearts for the coming of the Lord this Advent. There are conferences, eucharistic adoration, Mass, confession, and time for pri vate prayer, reflection and walking. Cabins/ courtyard rooms are $170 single, $250 couple. Single guest rooms are $100 (meals included). To attend, fill out the retreat reser vation form online at: ChristsPeace.com.

DISPLAY OF NATIVITIES

Cathedral of St. Peter (parish center) 425 N. 15th St., Kansas City, Kansas Dec. 3 after the 4 p.m. Mass Dec. 4 from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Over 200 unique Nativities will be on display. Come and enjoy a magical expe rience that reflects the true meaning of Christmas. You can shop the holiday bou tique for tasty holiday treats. There will also be a raffle. Admission is free. Call or text Julie at (913) 515-0675 for more infor mation.

‘YULETIDE RINGING’

St. Joseph Parish 11311 Johnson Dr., Shawnee Dec. 2 at 7:30 p.m.

Ring in the holiday season with a con cert of Christmas classics performed with festive fervor! This event is free to attend.

‘HUMILITY’

Church of the Nativity (Magi Room) 3800 W. 119th St., Leawood Dec. 3 at 8:15 a.m.

The Daughters of St. Francis de Sales invite women to learn more about its for mation for deepening and practicing ho liness in everyday life. Come reflect with us after Mass on the topic of “Humility” in the tradition of Salesian spirituality. All ma terials are provided, and coffee and light refreshments will be served. To attend, please contact Ruth Owens by email at: rowens4853@gmail.com, or call Barba ra McClung at (816) 535-4531 or send an email to: willabird1960@gmail.com. For more information, visit the website at: https://www.sfdsassociation.org/.

SEVEN SISTERS APOSTOLATE WOMEN’S RETREAT

St. Andrew the Apostle Parish 6415 N.E. Antioch Rd., Gladstone, Missouri

Dec. 3 from 6:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.

There will be a Rorate Mass followed by First Saturday devotions and confes sions (check-in at 9 a.m.). Lunch is $15. A freewill offering will be taken up. Retreat talks include “Curbing Distractions in Prayer” and “Seven Privileges of Prayer for Priests.” A relic of St. John Vianney will be present for veneration and prayer. To register, go online to: sevensisterskcsj@ gmail.com.

FATHER MITCH PACWA EVENT

Mother Teresa Parish 2014 N.W. 46th St., Topeka Dec. 3 at 8:30 a.m.

Father Pacwa is known for appearanc es on EWTN where he hosts two television programs and a weekly radio program. He has also written many books on both Scrip ture and the Catholic faith. For more infor mation and to register (required), go online to: mtcctopeka.org.

These sessions will teach you how to take full advantage of the Advent season — not by doing more but by pausing, lis tening and refocusing on Jesus’ invitation to meet him anew this Christmas. The ex perience will be led by Father Don Will, CPPS. To register, go online to: pbrenewal center.org, scroll to “Advent Prayer Experi ence: Let every heart prepare him room” and then scroll down and click on the “Register” button.

CALLED TO LOVE MINISTRY HEALING EVENT

Church of the Ascension 9510 W. 127th St., Overland Park Dec. 3 at 6:30 p.m.

The event will begin with refreshments in the gathering space. Following refresh ments, Father Joel Haug will give a pre sentation on the church followed by a Holy Hour with confessions available.

‘ENCOUNTERING THE WORD MADE BEAUTIFUL: THE ART OF THE ST. JOHN’S BIBLE’

Church of the Ascension (St. Mark’s Room) 9510 W. 127th ST., Overland Park Dec. 5 from 10:30 - 11:30 a.m.

Come and learn how the beauty of sacred art can enrich your understanding of Scripture and pave the way for a deeper encounter with God this Advent season, presented by Carolyn Pirtle of the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame.

‘ST. JOSEPH THE WORKER ADVENT RETREAT’

St. Agnes Parish 5250 Mission Rd., Roeland Park Dec. 10 from 8 a.m. - noon

Prepare your heart for Christmas. Join us for a half-day “St. Joseph the Worker Advent Retreat.” We will explore the theme with guided reflections, small group dis cussions and prayer. Come listen to reli gious people and colleagues speak about how we can prepare ourselves for the Christmas season.

TRADITIONAL HOLIDAY DINNER

Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish 134 N.E. Lake, Topeka Dec. 10 from 5 - 8-p.m.

Come enjoy a delicious traditional holi day dinner. The cost is: $15 for adults ages 18 and over; $8 for kids ages 3 - 17; and kids under 2 eat free. All proceeds will benefit Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish. For more information, call the parish office at (785) 232-5088.

BINGO NIGHT

Sacred Heart Parish

2646 S. 34th St., Kansas City, Kansas Dec. 10 at 7 p.m.

The Sacred Heart Knights of Columbus will be hosting bingo for cash prizes. Re freshments will be sold. For more informa tion, call Bob at (913) 850-3348.

LIVING NATIVITY

Douglas County Fairgrounds 2120 Harper St., Lawrence Dec. 11 from 2 - 5 p.m.

Come experience the joy of the first Christmas. Join the Franciscan Servants of the Holy Family for a living Nativity experi ence. There will be live animals, music and more. Admission is free.

BREAKFAST WITH SANTA

Sacred Heart Parish (hall)

ST. LUCY DAY CELEBRATION

Precious Blood Renewal Center 2120 St. Gaspar Way, Liberty, Missouri Dec. 13 from 10 a.m. - noon

Prepare for Christmas by sharing sto ries, songs and poems while planting wheat. Join us for a traditional celebration of St. Lucy Day. If you are not familiar with this ancient tradition as part of your Christ mas rituals, join us and learn more about it. Go online to: pbrenewalcenter.org, scroll down to “St. Lucy Day Celebration” and then scroll down and click on the “Regis ter” button.

ROSARY AND MEDITATION

St. Michael the Archangel Parish

14251 Nall Ave., Leawood Dec. 14 at noon

Are you or your family grieving the death of a loved one and experiencing the pain of loss? Approaching the Christmas season can often accentuate our feelings of grief and sadness. As we approach Christmas and the birth of Jesus, may we find comfort and peace in the manger. There will be lunch and fellowship after the rosary. RSVP (requested but not re quired) by Dec. 8 to: stmichaelcp.org/griefsupport-groups. For more information, call Mary Connor at: (913) 402-3920 or send an email to: mary.connor@stmichaelcp.org.

HEARTACHE TO HEALING

Johnny’s Tavern

8719 W. 95th St., Overland Park Dec. 13 at 5 p.m.

Heartache to Healing is a support/social group for those widowed early in life.  Men and women around ages 35 to 65, please come join us on Dec. 13 for some holiday cheer. This month, we will meet at John ny’s for some laughter, food and drinks. Feel free to wear an ugly or not-so-ugly Christmas sweater and come join the fun. For more information and to RSVP, send an email to Laura at: khaeus1@hotmail.com; Heather at: hmbimpens@gmail.com; or Damon at: damon452@yahoo.com. Your RSVP is appreciated, but not necessary.  We look forward to spending some time with you!

‘ADVENT

PRAYER EXPERIENCE: LET EVERY HEART PREPARE HIM ROOM’

Precious Blood Renewal Center 2120 St. Gaspar Way, Liberty, Missouri Dec. 3 from 10 - 11:30 a.m. or Dec. 6 from 7 - 8:30 p.m.

2646 S. 34th St., Kansas City, Kansas Dec. 11 from 8 - 11 a.m.

The Sacred Heart Knights of Columbus will host an all-you-can-eat pancake break fast with Santa. The cost is: $6 for adults; $4 for kids ages 4 - 12; and free for kids under the age of 3.

EMPLOYMENT

Advancement director for Manhattan Catholic Schools - The Diocese of Salina is seeking appli cants for the leadership position of advancement director for Manhattan Catholic Schools. The direc tor is responsible for leading the fundraising efforts of Manhattan Catholic Schools, Manhattan, Kansas. The director creates and executes a plan to meet and explore donor wishes. This leader also works dil igently at maintaining a book of donors, ensuring the plan submitted is realistic and achievable. Summary of key areas of skill needed include experience with donor cultivation and enhancing alumni connections. The ability to develop and maintain positive parent relationships is vital for this leadership role. The di rector will work with key stakeholders as we develop, maintain and execute our strategic plans. If you have thought about making a successful career change and moving toward a role of significance, we would love to hear from you. Working daily at leveraging your experience, gifts and talents for the mission of the church will exceed your expectations. See if the time is right for you to make a change. Call Kim Hoelt ing, director of human resources for the diocese, for a confidential inquiry, to talk about this job or to request a full job description at: Kim.hoelting@salinadiocese. org or by calling at (785) 342-0819. This is a full-time, exempt position, $55,000-68,000, with a competitive benefits package.

In-home child care needed - I am a first-time Mom and nurse living in Prairie Village seeking in-home child care for my infant son when I go back to work March 1 for two - three days per week. Days vary but work schedule is set six - eight weeks out. Call Mau reen at (913) 548-6660.

Part-time chiropractic assistant needed - Busy chiropractic office in NW Olathe (K-10 and Ridgeview Rd.) is looking for a part-time assistant for six - ten hours as needed. $12 per hour, plus bonuses. Job duties include answering phones, scheduling and checking in patients, insurance, assisting with pa tient therapies, etc. If you are professional, friend ly, hard-working and would like to help others, our office may be the place for you! Must be a people person and have a flexible schedule. Insurance ex perience is a plus, but not necessary. We will train on patient therapies. Ridgeview Chiropractic, 17775 W. 106th St., Suite 105, Olathe, KS 66061. Email resume to: Dr. Craig Koshlap at: drk@ridgeviewchiropractic. com or fax to (913) 890-7372.

Part-time fundraising and marketing assistantCatholic Charities is looking for a part-time fundrais ing and marketing assistant who is creative, charis matic and who has experience in graphic design and photography. This position plays an important role assisting the initiatives of both the marketing and development teams. Some nights and weekends are required and strong organizational and collaboration skills are essential. For more information and to ap ply, go to: catholiccharitiesks.org/careers/ and scroll down and click on “Job Openings.”

Second grade teacher - Sacred Heart of Jesus is a vibrant school in western Shawnee, Kansas, with about 400 students. We are currently seeking a sec ond grade teacher for the second semester of the 2022-23 school year (beginning in January). Appli cants must hold a current state of Kansas teaching or substitute teaching licensure. Interested applicants should complete the teaching (or substitute teaching) application process at: www.archkckcs.org and con tact principal Kathy Rhodes at: kathy.rhodes@shoj. org for consideration.

Business manager opening - St. Francis de Sales Church in Lansing is seeking a business manager. The ideal candidate should have a college degree, and/or significant business experience. He or she must have a working knowledge of QuickBooks and Microsoft Office applications. You must be able to work independently and with other staff/volunteers. This is primarily a bookkeeping job, with a heavy em phasis in Human Resources and contracting. Appli cant must be a practicing Catholic. This is a full-time position (32-40 hours per week), 401(k) included; health care benefits available. For more informa tion, contact Father Balachandra Miriyala or Nancy Elmer at: balamiriyala@hotmail.com or nelmer@ stfrancislansing.org respectively.

Communications specialist - The Diocese of Kansas City – St. Joseph is seeking a full-time communica tions specialist. The primary objective of this position is to create targeted and strategic content for a vari ety of print and digital platforms to reach a diverse Catholic audience. This position is full time, benefit - eligible based upon 40 hours per week, and officed in the chancery building in downtown Kansas City, Missouri. For a full job description and to apply, visit the Job Openings page at: www.kcsjcatholic.org.

Administrative assistant - The Archdiocese of Kan sas City in Kansas is seeking qualified candidates to fill the full-time position of administrative assistant for the office of marriage and family Life. Qualified appli cants must have experience handling general office duties; assisting with event preparations; creating and maintaining databases; using software platforms to create fliers and promotional materials; must be proficient using Microsoft Suite of office products in cluding Word, Excel and PowerPoint. A high school di ploma or equivalent, plus a minimum of three years’ prior experience working in a professional office en vironment, are required. To see additional job duties or to apply for this position, visit: archkck.org/jobs.

Case manager - Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas is currently hiring a case manager for our Mobile Resource Bus to bring vital services to our ru ral communities. This exciting position will serve our neighbors, and engage with community partners and volunteers, all while visiting some of the most beauti ful places in the archdiocese. The ideal candidate will have direct service experience in a human service agency, be organized and passionate about serving rural communities. Learn more or apply at: catholic charitiesks.org/careers.

Director of liturgy and music St. Ann Church in Prairie Village is seeking a director of liturgy and mu sic to facilitate worship experiences that celebrate and strengthen our parishioners’ faith journey. This position serves as the principal musician and choir director for the parish and assists the pastor in liturgy planning. The director is responsible for playing the organ and/or piano at weekend, school and holy day Masses; recruiting and directing adult, children and handbell choirs; training cantors; and providing art and environment direction. Position will also assist the pastor and families in planning funerals and wed dings. The director must be flexible and work well with staff and parishioners. Hours are negotiable. The qualified candidate should be a practicing Cath olic, have a bachelor’s degree in music or equivalent program of study and have prior experience as a music director. Please email your resume with cover letter to: bschafer@stannpv.org.

Investigator/auditor - The office for protection and care (OPC) is seeking a full-time investigator/ auditor. The investigator/auditor is responsible for investigating allegations of abuse by persons of au thority in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas. This is a safety-sensitive position, exercising a high degree of discretion. The investigator/auditor will operate under the guidelines set forth in the poli cies of the archdiocese and will collaborate with the director of the OPC and the victim care advocate. For a complete job description and to apply for this position, please visit: https://archkck.org/jobs.

Administrative assistant - Queen of the Holy Rosa ry, Bucyrus, is seeking an administrative assistant for the parish. General assistance in many areas such as managing the church calendar, creating the bulletin, registering new families and other dayto-day office duties. The applicant will be working 30-35 hours per week with archdiocesan benefits. Please email your resume to: mpetz@qhrwea.org or call (913) 879-7059 for additional information.

Custodian - Bishop Miege is seeking a FT eveningshift custodian. Hours are M - F, 3:30 p.m. – mid night, with occasional days and weekends. The cus todian will maintain cleanliness of school building and grounds, and ensure a safe and pleasant learn ing environment for students, staff and the public. Duties include, but are not limited to, general house keeping and sanitation duties, event setup and light maintenance. 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 to: rwrigley@bishopmiege.com.

Early childhood educators – With multiple locations in Johnson County, Special Beginnings Early Learn ing Center provides high quality child care in a safe, loving Christian environment. Our classrooms are full, and we are looking to add to our amazing team. We are looking for both full-time and part-time teachers for all ages of children. If you have an excellent work ethic, a heart for children and a willingness to learn more about early childhood education, we would love to meet you. For more information or to apply, call Carolyn Andruss at (913) 894-0131, ext. 102.

Maintenance/custodian - Queen of the Holy Rosary/ John Paul ll School in Overland Park is seeking a fulltime maintenance/custodian person. The employee will perform general facility maintenance, including HVAC, plumbing and electrical on both church and school grounds. Minimal supervisory activities in clude scheduling/monitoring licensed work activities and developing facility improvement plans. Regular cleaning and assistance with occasional special proj ects will also be expected. Salary range is $22 - $25 per hour dependent on the skill set. Benefits include: medical, dental, vision and a 401(k). Must have mode of transportation. For more information on specific duties and responsibilities or to apply, contact Paul Coquillette at: qhradmin@qhr-opks.org or (913) 4324616, ext. 212.

Custodian - The Church of Nativity Catholic Parish School has an immediate opening for a full-time hourly custodian. Qualified applicants should have prior custodial experience, specifically in a school environment, and must be able to work 7 a.m. – 3 p.m. shift with some holiday work expected. Appli cants must have compatible work history, references, dependable transportation and be willing to partici pate in a background check. Compensation of $17 to $19 per hour will depend on experience, negotiable with the right qualifications. The Church of Nativity is located just west of 119th and State Line in Leawood. Nativity offers a comprehensive benefit program in cluding medical, dental, vision, vacation and 401(k). Interested applicants should email resumes and work history to: jobapplication@kcnativity.org. Resumes welcome by fax or mail. No phone calls please. Fax: (913) 491-5065; mail to: Church of the Nativity, Attn: Custodial Position, 3800 W. 119th St., Leawood, KS 66209.

Residential life interim director and/or directorMaur Hill–Mount Academy in Atchison seeks candi dates with an interest in mentoring international and domestic high school students in a private, Catholic, college-preparatory, day-and-boarding high school, sponsored by the Benedictine order. Maur Hill-Mount Academy works in close association with Benedictine College. The director of residential life is responsi ble for the educational leadership, direction, budget management, supervision and overall operation of a 100-student residence life program. This role in cludes supervision of seven professional staff and liaisons with facilities and housekeeping staff. The role also includes oversight of the student conduct process in the residence halls and liaisons with the residential dining program. The director of residential life supervises the work of others, including planning, assigning, scheduling and reviewing work of the staff, ensuring quality standards. They are respon sible for hiring, terminating, training and developing the residential life staff. They are also responsible for reviewing performance and administering corrective action for staff. They plan the organizational structure and position content for the office. The residential life staff initiates, plans and coordinates weekend activ ities and coordinates transportation for residence. This position is responsible for working with the president to report physical needs and to determine costs associated with needed and planned improve ments. This position also helps to facilitate resource allocation in securing dormitory supplies, adminis ters student allowance and weekend meal money. The successful candidate will have a servant heart and be in concert with all teachings of the Catholic Church. We require a bachelor’s degree. A master’s degree (or desire to obtain one) in the field of study in education, counseling, higher education or stu dent affairs strengthens the application. We require a minimum of two years of related work experience and management experience. This posting is for an interim director and/or director. We expect the posi tion to start as soon as possible. If interim, we seek a candidate with significant experience in a similar role to help transition to the new director. The search will remain ongoing until we name a director. Job responsibilities include working with the residential life team to: serve as in loco-parentis to ensure that residents are safe, nurtured and supported; create a welcoming, supportive and respectful living commu nity, while ensuring that boarding school policies are communicated and followed; ensure all medications are administered; encourage and support student leadership opportunities and participation in commu nity service events; support and celebrate the ethnic, religious and cultural backgrounds of the boarding students; interpret, enforce and review policies and procedures that relate to student conduct concerns; provide transportation to residential life for school events and activities in school vehicles; help stu dents navigate life as a boarding student as it relates to personal well-being, academics and environment; authorize student departures for activities off-cam pus; oversee the proper operation of the physical dorm, report maintenance issues to the head of maintenance and co-create an environment condu cive to improving education; foster relationships by building community with boarding students, parents and colleagues; offer creative after-school, evening and weekend activities and programs; authenticate travel plans during break times and college visits; upon employment, completion of Virtus: Protecting God’s Children training and successful completion of criminal offender record information and sexual offender registry information checks; other duties as assigned. Review of applications will begin immedi ately. To apply, please submit the following applica tion materials via email to the director of HR, Debbie Schneider, at: dschneider@mh-ma.com: cover letter, resume and contact information for three profession al references. Candidates must be able to provide proof of eligibility to work in the USA. We offer no visa sponsorship for this position.

Business manager - St. John the Evangelist Parish and School in Lawrence seeks a full-time business manager. The manager will administer the finances of the parish and school, and maintain accuracy of all financial operations. Applicants need computer/ new technologies competencies. Candidates with a degree in business/accounting with 1-3 years of experience or its equivalency, and bilingual (English and Spanish) are preferred. Please see full job de scription and requirements at: www.sjevangelist. com. This position is eligible for the archdiocesan benefits package. The position will be open until filled. Please send cover letter and resume to Father John at: frjohn@sjevangelist.com or 1229 Vermont St., Lawrence, KS 66044.

Faculty and adjunct faculty job openings - Donnelly College, Kansas City, Kansas, a Catholic college of fering higher education for those who may not oth erwise be served. Adjunct faculty job openings in clude: biology; clinical nursing and math coordinator. Faculty job opening available for the nursing school. Find job descriptions and details at: www.donnelly. edu/careers.

Part-time companions needed - Perfect job for any kind-hearted, energetic person wanting to be a team player in a small growing family company. Must have reliable transportation. Job entails driving clients to appointments and running errands. Person must be personable, able to talk, do puzzles, play cards and entertain. We are not a hands-on caregiving com pany. Some clients may be standby assist. Driving around metro area may be required. Trip charge or mileage also given. Drug and background checks are mandatory. Call Jen at (913) 530-1795. Clarkson Companion Care.

Community engagement coordinator - The Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth community engagement coordinator works as part of a three-person team in the office of justice, peace and integrity of creation (JPIC). The position’s primary responsibility is to im plement the Laudato Si’ Action Platform (LSAP) and help the community live its mission of doing justice through the lens of integral ecology. This position will lead the congregation’s response to the LSAP through coordination and collaboration with Sisters, associates, staff, partners in ministry, and the local community. Job duties include: coordinate the con gregation’s LSAP response by serving as a central resource for Sisters, staff, associates and partners in ministry on the development and implementation of responses to the seven platform goals; manage and monitor projects related to the Laudato Si’ Ac tion Platform; develop educational materials and opportunities regarding LSAP and integral ecolo gy; engage relevant internal stakeholders in the development and implementation of the platform; network with external organizations and individuals doing activities/projects to build partnerships; share outcomes of projects internally and externally, and seek, where beneficial to mission advancement, outside partnerships and funding to implement projects; in collaboration with the rest of the JPIC office, develop workshop materials and facilitate workshops on Laudato Si’ and best practices in in tegral ecology; participate in conferences, webinars and other informational opportunities; serve as the liaison for the congregation to the LSAP religious orders working group; manage LSAP reporting re quirements through the platform website; work to ensure that the goals and journey to integral ecology extend beyond the platform’s life; and other duties as assigned. Qualifications: associate’s (bachelor’s preferred) degree in political science, sociology, theology or similar program; a team player and good communicator who is open to new ideas and eager to learn; demonstrates an understanding of integral ecology; strong commitment to and demonstrated passion for justice; strong project management skills; willingness to learn or understands the con gregation’s charism; knowledge of Catholic social teaching; have the ability to: analyze and effectively articulate the justice agenda; motivate others on be half of justice issues and concerns; engage others in active dialogue and reflective thinking; present effectively to diverse populations; strong organiza tional, written and verbal communication, and tech nology skills (Zoom, Microsoft); openness to varied points of view and cultures; sensitivity to language as it impacts race, gender and culture; limited trav el to conferences and local meetings (10%); strong self-motivation and decision-making ability; ability to manage flexible hours. Physical requirements: carrying, bending, stooping, grasping, standing, twisting, sitting, lifting, walking, filing; communi cating with Sisters, associates and co-workers via face-to-face, phone and other technological means; push, pull, lift or carry up to 20 pounds occasionally; generally sedentary. To apply, send resumes to: re cruiting@scls.org.

Janitorial assistant - Queen of the Holy Rosary, Wea, is seeking a janitorial assistant. This is a parttime position requiring 15 - 20 hours per week. Work hours are flexible and can be negotiated with the employee’s supervisor. Basic duties include general cleaning of the church, school and adoration chapel. For a full job description or to apply for the position, visit: archkck.org/jobs.

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. Retir ees encouraged to apply. Make a difference in your community by helping those in need. Call (913) 5214955 for more information. EEO

Assistant director - Prince of Peace Early Educa tion Center is seeking a highly qualified, flexible, resourceful, self-starter for our assistant director. The ideal candidate has previous teaching/admin istrative experience and demonstrates excellent communication skills with staff and parents. Job requirements: All applicants must meet the follow ing requirements in order to be considered for hire: a minimum of six months or more teaching in a li censed child care center with proof of work; have a BA/BS or higher in early childhood education or related field with 12 or more college credit hours in early childhood education. We offer competitive pay. Benefits include: paid vacation and sick time; paid holidays; 401(k) match, and health, vision, dental, life, as well as short- and long-term disability insurance. To apply or for more information, call Ja mie at (913) 829-2718 or email: jwessel@popolathe. org.

Stylists needed - Are you addicted to the TV show “Say Yes to the Dress”? Are you self-motivated, love fashion and enjoy helping people look their best? If so, we want to talk to you! Sincerely Susan, a unique des tination shop boutique is a warehouse environment where clients come in by appointment only. You must have a sense of style and a great personality to be able to interact with our “moms.” Hours are flexible. Must be willing to work a minimum of one evening per week and weekends. Must be able to stand and walk on con crete for long periods of time and reach overhead to pull gowns. Previous retail experience preferred, but not necessary. Hourly rate is based on experience. If interested, call (913) 730-8840.

Staff job openings - Donnelly College in Kansas City, Kansas, has the following staff job openings avail able: admissions counselor; advancement officer; business curriculum coordinator; financial aid coun selor and vice-president of business affairs/CFO chief financial officer. Find job descriptions and details at: www.donnelly.edu/careers.

Caregivers - Daughters & Company is looking for several compassionate caregivers to provide assis tance to seniors in their home, assisted living or in a skilled nursing facility. We provide light housekeep ing/light meal preparation, organizational assistance, care management and occasional transportation ser vices for our clients. We need caregivers with reliable transportation and a cellphone for communication. A CNA background is helpful, though not mandato ry. We typically employ on a part-time basis, but will strive to match up hours desired. Contact Gary or Laurie at (913) 341-2500 if you want to become part of an excellent caregiving team.

Extended day care position - Holy Spirit Catholic School in Overland Park is seeking an enthusiastic person to be the group leader in our after-school care program. This well-established program runs from 3 - 5:45 p.m. each school day. We are looking for a faith-filled, responsible, organized and creative person. Applicants should have knowledge of child development and be able to implement age-appro priate activities. The ability to communicate clearly with children, colleagues and parents is most import ant in order to foster positive relationships. Appli cants must attend Virtus training, ongoing childcare training and be at least 18 years old. Contact Tessa Piscitello at (913) 492-2582 or email: tpiscitello@hs catholic.org for more information.

Nurses and nurse aides - The Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth are currently seeking full- and parttime registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and certified nurse aides at our beautiful long-term care facility. Our private nursing facility offers a quiet and pleasant working environment plus low resident (Sisters only!) to staff ratios! We offer a generous paid time off and benefits package, which includes Blue Cross/Blue Shield health insurance for as low as $90/month! Work 36 hours a week and get paid for 40, plus you’ll receive shift differentials and bonuses! To apply, please email your resume to: recruiting@scls.org or visit our website at: scls.org.

FOR SALE

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

For sale - Lladro figurines, Spanish porcelain that are universally recognized for their unique beauty, for sale. These figurines were very popular in the 1970s. The figurines are a Don Quixote and a Landing Dove. Call Virginia at (913) 438-0882.

For sale - Two plots at Resurrection Cemetery in Lenexa. Valued at $5190 for both, asking $4000. Lo cated in the Assumption section near the front of the cemetery, lot 64, section D, spaces 3 and 4. Call (816) 388-3573 and leave a message or email: cindzers@ bellsouth.net.

For sale - 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe with 239K km (148.5K miles) and a couple of little problems; needs new owner who can repair and appreciate it. Dents in one door, leaks oil, but a steal for $5500 or best offer. One owner, no wrecks. Photos, details available. Text (913) 948-3127 for more information.

For sale - Authentic Hummel figurines, plates and bells at a discounted price. Call and leave a message: (913) 999-9922.

For sale - Four plots at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens, section B; spaces 1, 2, 3 and 4 at the end of the row. Easy to get to. Selling for $3500 - $4000 each, but will negotiate. Call (913) 721-1558 or (816) 215-0352.

CAREGIVING

Retired nurse - Looking for home-care position. Will do caregiving, light housekeeping, cooking, cleaning and laundry. Call (913) 602-1289.

Family member with dementia or need help at home? - We specialize in helping seniors live SAFE LY at home, where they want to live! We also offer free dementia training and resources for families and caregivers. Benefits of Home - Senior Care, www. Benefitsofhome.com or call (913) 422-1591.

Christian private duty care – Retired nurse with years of experience. Day-to-day general care. I’m a reliable, trustworthy, positive person. References available. COVID and flu vaccines. Call Barbie at (913) 645-3779.

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

HOME IMPROVEMENT

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

DRC Construction

We’ll get the job done right the first time.

Windows- Doors - Decks - Siding Repair of replace, we will work with you to solve your problems. Choose us for any window, door, siding or deck project and you’ll be glad you did.

Everything is guaranteed 100% www.windowservicesoverlandpark.com drcconstructionwindows@gmail.com (913) 461-4052

STA (Sure Thing Always) Home Repair - Basement finish, bathrooms and kitchens; interior & exterior repairs: painting, roofing, siding, wood replacement and window glazing. Free estimates. Call (913) 5791835. Email: smokeycabin@hotmail.com. Member of Holy Trinity, Lenexa.

Popcorn ceiling texture removal

Interior painting

Call Jerry at (913) 206-1144. 30 years’ experience. Member St. Joseph Parish, Shawnee.

Gearing up for spring! We now offer financing on all your home improvement projects with approved credit. Here is a list of the construction services I offer: flooring; tile; interior/exterior painting, as well as deck and fence staining; ceiling scraping/re-tex turing; bathroom, kitchen and basement remodeling; siding; decks and covered porches. We also do cab inet refinishing! Look me up on Facebook at “Father & Son Home Exteriors & Remodeling.” I work on all jobs, no subcontractors. Thank you to all my clients! (913) 709-7230.

Concrete construction - Tear out and replace stamped, stained or colored patios and drives. Re taining walls, footings, poured-in-place safe rooms, excavation and hauling. Asphalt drives and lots. Ful ly insured; references. Call Dan at (913) 207-4371 or send an email to: dandeeconst@aol.com.

REAL ESTATE

We buy houses and whole estates - We are local and family owned, and will make you a fair cash offer. We buy houses in any condition. No fees or commis sions and can close on the date of your choice. Sell ing your house has never felt so good. Jon & Stacy Bichelmeyer (913) 599-5000.

WE WANT TO BUY YOUR HOUSE - There are so many new companies in town advertising to buy houses. But we’re the only ones that have been here and we’re local Holy Trinity parishioners. I will give you a fair price on any conditions you are up against. Call Mark Edmondson. (913) 980-4905.

SERVICES

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

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

Catholic counseling - For individuals, couples, fam ilies, adolescents and young adults. Sam Meier, MA, LPC. Call (913) 952-2267 or book an appointment at: StillwatersKC.com, in-person or Telehealth.

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

Garage Door Repair New Garage Doors

A Total Door - KC family owned since ‘83. www.ATotalDoor.com or (913) 236-6440 A Total Door (913) 236-6440. (913)205-0926 cell

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

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, Shaw nee.

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 Sa cred Heart Parish, Shawnee.

Wanted to buy - Do you have a car or truck that you need to get rid of? If you do, CALL ME!

I’m a cash buyer. We’re Holy Trinity parishioners. My name is Mark. (913) 980-4905.

PILGRIMAGE

Pilgrimage to Medjugorje - March 14 - 22, 2023. The cost is $2500 per person, which includes airfare, bus transportation, accommodations, two meals per day and daily local guides. Hosted by visionary Mirjana Sol do. For details, call Grace Legaspi at (913) 449-1806.

DAILY READINGS

FIRST WEEK OF ADVENT

FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Nov. 27

Is 2: 1-5

Ps 122: 1-9

Rom 13: 11-14

Mt 24: 37-44

Nov. 28 Monday

Is 4: 2-6

Ps 122: 1-9 Mt 8: 5-11

Nov. 29 Tuesday

Is 11: 1-10

Ps 72: 1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17 Lk 10: 21-24

Nov. 30

ANDREW, APOSTLE

Rom 10: 9-18

Ps 19: 8-11

Mt 4: 18-22

Dec. 1

Is 26: 1-6

Ps 118: 1, 8-9, 19-21, 25-27a Mt 7: 21, 24-27

Dec. 2 Friday

Is 29: 17-24

Ps 27: 1, 4, 13-14 Mt 9: 27-31

Dec. 3

Francis Xavier, priest

Is 30: 19-21, 23-26

Ps 147: 1-6 Mt 9:35 – 10:1, 5a, 6-8

SECOND WEEK OF ADVENT

Dec. 4

SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Is 11: 1-10

Ps 72: 1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17 Rom 15: 4-9 Mt 3: 1-12

Dec. 5

Is 35: 1-10 Ps 85: 9-14 Lk 5: 17-26

Dec. 6

Nicholas, bishop

Is 40: 1-11

Ps 96: 1-3, 10-13 Mt 18: 12-14

Dec. 7

Ambrose, bishop, doctor of the church

Is 40: 25-31

Ps 103: 1-4, 8, 10

Mt 11: 28-30

Dec. 8

THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, Patronal Feast Day of the United States of America

Gn 3: 9-15, 20

Ps 98: 1-4

Eph 1: 3-6, 11-12

Lk 1: 26-38

Dec. 9

Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin

Is 48: 17-19

Ps 1: 1-4, 6

Mt 11: 16-19

Dec. 10

Our Lady of Loreto

Sir 48: 1-4, 9-11

Ps 80: 2-3, 15-16, 18-19

Mt 17: 9a, 10-13

Read it and leap (into a deeper life of faith)

So, do you prefer apophatic or kataphatic?

Every year around this time, I suggest some books to consider if looking for Christmas gift ideas, or maybe to add to your personal wish list. Guessing that most peo ple prefer kataphatic, this list reflects that.

Now, what the heck do apophatic and kata phatic mean? The words describe two ways to pray. Neither is better and both are firmly found in Scripture and Christian spirituality. Simply put, kataphatic prayer uses images, words, ideas and sym bols; apophatic prayer stresses silence (such as found in centering prayer) because God will always surpass human understanding or concepts.

OK, if you’re still with me, you probably see why kataphatic prayer — one that uses images and words — is easier for most folks to practice.

Let’s start with imag

es. Two incredibly stun ning books highlight the role that Christian art plays in portraying and deepening faith.

• “Catholica: The Visual Culture of Ca tholicism,” by Suzan na Ivanič (Thames & Hudson, 2022; 256 pgs.; $35) is chock-full of the vast variety of artistic expressions of our Cath olic faith — paintings, statues, architecture, religious objects and

On the first Sunday of Advent, the church in vites us into a season of grace that prepares us to celebrate God’s definitive answer to our sinful human condition.

Jesus, Son of God, is sent as the light of the world to dispel the darkness of sin and its cruel consequences.

In the midst of the world’s turmoil, the Advent readings invite us to prepare our hearts and minds to recognize the divine plan to restore human ity to friendship with God and peace among peoples.

As St. Paul exhorts the Christians of Rome, “It is the hour

now for you to awake from sleep. For our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed; the night is advanced, the day is at hand. Let us then throw off the

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out the week. Rather than keeping faith a solely private matter, these authors show how to grow the faith in families and engage the world that we live in.

much more. Its 450 il lustrations will intrigue and amaze.

• “Jesus in Art and Literature,” by Pierre-Marie Dumont (Abrams, 2022; 288 pages; $50), as the title suggests, compiles 150 spectacular color illustrations of Jesus and events and people associated with him.

Complemented by se lections from literature and Scripture, as well as engaging explanations from art history, this book is a bargain for the price.

The next two books help Catholics find practical ways beyond Sunday Mass to make their faith real through

• “The Catholic Cat alogue: A Field Guide to the Daily Acts That Make Up a Catholic Life,” by Melissa Mu sick and Anna Keating (Image, 2016; 418 pgs., $17) is a treasure chest of marvelous ideas and explanations. From its opening chapter of “Smells and Bells” (about Catholic objects and devotions) to cele brations specific to the seasons of the church year (like appropriate prayers and crafts) to navigating the seasons of life (like suggestions for gifts for first Com munion, confirmation, etc.), this book covers it all.

• “Practice Makes Catholic: Moving from a Learned Faith to a Lived Faith,” by Joe Paprocki (Loyola Press, 2011; 201 pgs; $9.95) is one that should be on every Catholic’s shelf.

The author explores five areas of Catholic life: a sense of sacramentality; a commitment to com munity; a respect for hu man life; a reverence for Scripture and tradition; and an attitude of faith and hope. If you think this is some dry, boring manual, you’d be sorely mistaken. The layout of the book is fresh and airy; it’s filled with illus trations, simple explana tions of Catholic beliefs, cartoons and prayers; and it offers creative ways to put “flesh” on faith’s “bones.”

The biggest advan tage to the above books is that you don’t need to read them cover to cover. They can be opened to any chapter or particular interest and provide plenty of food for thought and prayer.

I’ll conclude with these wise words of Napoleon Bonaparte, “Show me a family of readers and I will show you the people who move the world!”

Read, family of faith, and change the world.

The paths of the world lead to rivalry and jealousy, drunk enness, promiscuity and lust, as St. Paul writes.

war again,” as Isaiah promises.

works of darkness and put on the armor of light.”

Advent is a season of waiting in hope for God’s powerful re sponse to every form of human infidelity, division and war. So, Isaiah invites the peo ple of Israel, and us, to “come, let us climb the Lord’s mountain, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may in struct us in his ways, and we may walk in his paths.”

Yet God has done something radically new by sending Jesus, his only son, to heal, teach, suffer, die and rise from the dead to free us from sin and its ugly effects. This is the cause of our Advent hope and joy.

Once God took human flesh in Jesus, it is truly possible to imagine a world where “they shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; one nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall they train for

Jesus echoes this vision of peace and reconciliation he comes to inaugurate in his person, life and mission. This inbreak ing of God into our fallen world requires that we “stay awake” and “be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.”

The first Christians expected Jesus to return soon. His first coming in the flesh would be a foretaste of his glorious return at the end of time.

In this time of wait ing in Advent hope, we welcome the promise of peace as we pray, “Speak to me, Lord.”

Love the Lord by loving the poor, pope says at Mass

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Wars, famine and calamities of every kind can tempt Christians to a paralyz ing fear that the world is about to end; what they must do instead is act, even in a small way, to make the world a better place, Pope Francis said.

Loved by God, “let us love his most discarded children. The Lord is there,” the pope said Nov. 13, cele brating Mass for the World Day of the Poor.

In Italian villages and other places, too, there is a tradition at Christmas to set an extra place at the table “for the Lord who will surely knock on the door in the person of someone who is poor and in need,” the pope said. “And your heart, does it always have a free place for those people?” he asked those at Mass.

“My heart, does it have a vacan cy for those people?” he asked. “Or are we so busy with friends, social events and obligations that we never have room for them?”

After Mass and the recitation of

the Angelus prayer, the Vatican set a place for 1,300 people to share a festive meal in the Vatican audience hall. Pope Francis joined them for lunch. And, thanks to a donation from a supermarket chain, the Vat ican sent 5,000 boxes of pasta, rice, flour, sugar, salt, coffee, milk and oil to Rome parishes for distribution.

In addition, with the help of vol unteer doctors, nurses and techni cians, the Vatican set up a free medi cal clinic in St. Peter’s Square for the week, offering physical exams and blood tests to anyone in need.

JEM SULLIVAN

Sullivan is a professor at The Catholic University of America.

FATHER MARK GOLDASICH

Father Mark is the pastor of Sa cred Heart Parish in Tonganoxie. He has been editor of The Leaven since 1989.

Advent: Waiting for God to respond to a fallen world

Small steps of gratitude can lead to deepening faith

November is the month of Thanksgiv ing.

Family, football, the Macy’s parade, our favorite foods in amounts that our heart could never imagine, and perhaps the most “famous” Thanks giving tradition, the family table “What are you thankful for?” discussion.

My least favorite part of Thanksgiving is the countless num ber of social media posts about being thankful. Many people feel they have to make that long Facebook or Instagram post stating how thankful they are, which can spark

JOSHUA RUOFF

jealousy and compari son in others, and limit our ability to see the blessings that God has

placed in our lives.

Now, before some one goes and looks at my social media histo ry and wants to cancel my columns, let me be the first to admit that I am guilty of having done this.

I am not saying that it is bad. Of course we should be extra mindful

on Thanksgiving to give thanks to God for all his blessings. We need, however, to be express ing our gratitude and thanksgiving to God every single day.

The word “thank,” and variations of the same are used at least 139 times in the Bible, most often with the thanks being directed at God.

I was always taught that every prayer that we offer to the Father should start with a prayer of thanksgiving and praise. By doing this, we are shaping our minds and atti tudes to always be thankful. Especially if we begin our day with a prayer of thanksgiving,

we are setting our day up for success by hav ing a grateful attitude right from the start.

“An attitude of gratitude” as Sponge Bob would say. Look up the song and thank me later for having it stuck in your head.

As you begin to make changes to start your day with grati tude, don’t overthink it. Make small changes at a time and grow from there. Maybe it can start with a simple “thank you” to God as you begin to step out of bed.

Allow the Spirit to guide you from there as your heart yearns for a deeper relation ship with Christ.

A popular “tool” for a thankful heart and mind is to keep a daily list of 10 things that you are thankful for from that day.

Sometimes it can be challenging to come up with 10, which is a sign that we need to be more cognizant of the blessings in our daily life.

So, as we end this month of Thanksgiv ing, I ask you: What are you thankful for, and have you thanked God for it today?

“Our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name.”

— 1 Chr 29:13

Happy Thanksgiv ing!

Women who choose adoption for their child should be lifted up

It is likely that each of us has been touched by adop tion in some way.

One of my dear friends was adopted, and some friends have adopted chil dren, while others are waiting to adopt. Since November is Adoption Awareness Month and a time for thanks giving, it is fitting to say thank you to birth mothers!

We all agree that ideally a mother and child should not be separated. However, life can be messy and there are many compli cated and even dan gerous situations that make parenting truly challenging.

Opening one’s

heart to adoption is not easy. It is often scary and it is loss. Yet, forming an adoption plan in these circumstances

is a selfless act of love. The women who choose this path for their children should be lifted in prayer for their courage and heroism.

One birth mom shared that when she found out she was pregnant, she was heading down a dan gerous path, unable

to care for herself, let alone a child. She said, “I just wanted her to be loved. There is a lot of vulnerability to surrender your child and put trust in the Lord’s plans and in oth er people.”

Another said, “I wanted to do what was best for her. It was very hard, but looking back, I’m so glad that I chose adoption. She is healthy, loved and taken care of, and the fact that we can have a relationship now is just beautiful to me.”

Others who also have adoption as part of their life story shared their apprecia tion for birth mothers.

Deacon Tim Ruoff said he knew he was

adopted since he was old enough to under stand, but was hesitant to make contact with his birth mother until he saw the movie “Un planned.”

During a Holy Hour, he felt the Holy Spirit’s nudge to find his birth mother if for no other reason than to say “thank you.” He now has a relationship with her and reminds her each time they talk how thankful he is that she chose life for him.

Siblings are also grateful for birth moms. My friends’ biological daughter once wrote an essay in appreciation of her adopted sister’s birth mother.

A high school senior at the time, she had

great empathy for the fear and challenges the birth mom expe rienced as a pregnant teenager.

“One woman’s brave choice has given my sister a full life with a loving family. I cannot imagine life without her and I am eternally grateful,” she wrote.

Let’s pray for expectant women con sidering adoption that they may know their sacrificial love is he roic. Thank you, birth mothers, for choosing the loving option of adoption!

Birth mothers who need information and support can go online to: catholiccharitiesks. org/adoption or bravelove.org.

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

DEBRA NIESEN

Debra Niesen is the archdioc esan consultant for the pro-life office.

CELEBRATING THE SISTERS

Earlier this month, Xavier School in Leavenworth part nered with the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth to celebrate Mother Xavier Ross, the Sisters’ foundress. Leavenworth Mayor Camalla Leonhard visited the school and declared Nov. 6-12 Mother Xavier Ross Week. Throughout the week, students in various grades prayed the rosary, went to see Mother Xavier Ross’ grave, completed service projects and visited the Sisters at the motherhouse.

From left, Sisters M. Francine Stubbs, Katherine Mary Westhues, M. Jane Schmitz and Jean Lind receive a certificate of appreciation from Xavier students. The Sisters were recognized for their dedication to and support of Xavier School and Catholic education.

From left, Tate Skaggs, Jadyn Holcomb and Andra Reyes, Xavier Preschool students, color circles with words that describe Mother Xavier Ross, who is pictured in the middle of their coloring sheet.

Starting from the back left and moving clockwise: Mary-Margaret Schnorf, Audri Louk, Jaxon Johnston, Jaylin Fink, Aurelia Spurrier, Cooper Weigman, Scout Schumpis, Rowan Holcomb, Jesus Depaolis, Leo Sweet, Louise Schnorf and Sam Wempe show off food items their school collected for three charities.

Xavier School in Leavenworth celebrated Mother Xavier Ross, foundress of the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth, beginning on Nov. 3. Here, to conclude their weeklong celebration, they partic ipated in a parade to visit the Sisters at the motherhouse in Leavenworth. The students made signs and sang songs honoring Mother Xavier Ross and veterans.